Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
parliament_n	king_n	lord_n	request_n	3,284	5	9.6659	5	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10586	A legendarie, conteining an ample discourse of the life and behauiour of Charles Cardinal of Lorraine, and of his brethren, of the house of Guise. Written in French by Francis de L'isle; Legende de Charles, cardinal de Lorraine et de ses frères, de la maison de Guise. English	La Planche, Louis Régnier de, ca. 1530-ca. 1580.	1577 (1577)	STC 20855; ESTC S115805	138,427	198

marchants among other beholding this shamefull dealing did after diuers motions finally offer to acquite the party deceased of al his dettes for one quarter or at the most a third part of the yerely reuenue of al his benefices and yet could come to no end part of them neuertheles did finally obteine some a quarter others a fifth part others a tenth part some more some lesse but the greatest number coulde get nothing at al. And yet for so much as ech one did acquitte al or at the least the most part were driuen to giue acquittance as for money receiued to what end ech one may sone perceiue namely to defraud the creditors of their honour the Cardinal of the remembrance and thinking vpon their liberalitie Thus by litle and litle he dispatched away the Marchants of Paris and such others to the end the more easily to fight against the mightiest and generally against al the estates of the realme whome he and his brethren must necessarilie subdue before they can attaine to touch the white whereat they do leuel their shot They had wrested a promise from King Henrie whiles he was Dauphine whereby when he were King the Countie of Prouence and Duchie of Anjou should returne into their haÌ„ds But because the General de la Chesnay had therfore clawed them to the quicke that matter lay stil vntil the Kings entrie into Anger 's for then they begun afresh to quarel this Duchie desiring the only title thereof for one of them Howbeit one only frowning looke of the Constable did quite so ouerthrowe them that from that time they neuer durst once open their mouthes any more for that matter In the meane time therefore they went another way to worke which was by seeking openly to become princes both openly secretly to suppresse the princes To which effect their practises haue bene of long continuance and as strange as possibly might be as by the onely historye of the late Prince of Conde is most euident and our selues wil heere and there shew by diuers particularities worthy to be remembred First in as much as neither the worthines of their blood neither their family could preferre them before diuers french gentlemen but only the prerogatiue of their lands therfore to couer the default of their race they haue caused to erect their simple baronages into Duchies priÌ„cipalities Marquisates and Counties which is the thing that hitherto hath blinded the eyes of the commons who are vtterly ignorant of matters of estate Secondly they haue endeuoured to make the estate of the Peeres for the Cardinal was one equal vnto the Princes yea euen to preferre the said Peeres before the Princes whereupon happened in the yere 1551 a notable matter as thus The court of ParliameÌ„t of Paris had sent six of the chiefest members of their body vnto King Henry to vnderstand his wil and pleasure concerning certaine articles whereof one was The second point is to enquire of the King whether it be his pleasure that my Lordes the princes of the blood with other great Lords entring into the said Courte may weare their swordes For time out of mind that hath bene lawful for the King onely as an especiall prerogatiue of his Royal dignity who hath the haÌ„d of iustice as being iustice himself mainteyning in assured safety the ministers of the same And notwithstanding sundry times some princes or lordes haue entred with their swordes that hath bene only when comming sodenly they haue founde the dore open or els by entring at vnwares either haue so done by the Kings expresse commandement at such time as he hath bene displeased or prouoked to wrath against his said Court vpon some other occasions whereof neuertheles no rule or custome ought to take place For contrariwise the late King Francis when he was Dauphin together with the Lord Charles of Bourbon comming in left their swordes at the dore which order King Lewes the twelfth caused stil to be obserued This iudgement of that courte which according vnto right and equitie preferreth the princes before al lords whomsoeuer togither with the sitting to this day obserued in the same and the arrest pronounced against their father did so grieuously moue the Lords of Guise that to the end to breede some debate contrarietie betweene the iudgement of the King of his said Court of Parliament also to augment their owne credit and so by litle and litle to exalt them selues aboue the PriÌ„ces they closely practised that wheras the secretary accoÌ„modating himselfe vnto the request of the court the order in the same obserued had in his rowl as hiÌ„self hath since testified named the princes first they were neuertheles in the Kings answere placed after the Peeres in maner folowing The Kings pleasure is that when soeuer in his absence the Peeres of France the princes of the blood the Constables and Marshals of France shal come enter into his Court of Parliament into the chamber of Audience whether the dores be open or shut they shal neuertheles stil weare their swordes the which the said King meaneth not that any other of what estate or calling soeuer he be shal doe Giuen at Fountainebleau the last day of August in the yere 1551. signed Henry and contresigned Du Thier. Thirdly they practised a wonderful subtiltie whereby with the time to yelde a kinde of prescription vnto such principalitie as they sought to vsurpe which was in seeking to allye themselues on al sides in the most high and riche maner that possibly they could and so to slyde in among the princes and beare the like port as they As also at the entry of King Henry into the towne of Suse Francis Duke of Guise presumed to marche cheeke by ioule with the King of Nauarre the first prince of the crowne Also at king Francis the second his first comming forth of his chamber in his mourning weed the said Lord of Guise intruded him selfe betweene two princes of the blood to the ende with them to beare vp his traine Againe during the reignes of Henry the second Francis the second and Charles the ninth and euen at this present also euery man both hath seene and plainely may beholde with what presumption the house of Guise both haue and stil do encroche aboue the said princes of the blood whom they haue oppressed and troden vnder foot as we will more plainely declare after that we haue yet touched a few matters more tending vnto the discouery of their raging ambition in this respect Fourthly the house of Guise being thus aduanced grew very suspicious and ielouse of their honour stoutly opposing theÌ„ selues against al such as withstode their atteÌ„pts as is manifest in this The FreÌ„chmen doe so highly reuerence their princes that as they are not to be accoÌ„pted wronged or in their honours diffamed for any thing that their said princes either doe or say vnto them so doe they also neuer set hand to their sword

his iudgements whereof the Guisians toke occasion the more to trouble the estate For King Henry dyed sodenly being one of the chalengers at the tilt with the Duke of Guise who followed him at the stripe wherof he receiued his deathes wound We haue already plainely perceiued how by the warres of Picardie and Italie the Guisians emfeblished the estate of King Henry Now let vs therefore marke their dealings toward this princes person as wel in his life time as also at his death This Prince naturally was milde courteous as al men do knowe but in briefe they marueilously altered his nature so that had he liued any longer the peace with the King of Spaine would haue hatched terrible tragedies in this kingdom Before his comming to the crowne he was committed to the gouernmeÌ„t of the Cardinal who sought only to corrupt and spoyle him becomming his baude and minister of amorous behauiours The very stones cabbins and hangings of the house of Reims wherein infinite whooredomes haue bene committed doe yet speake of the same yea not content to entertaine about his person the Duchesse of Valentinois to the Queenes great griefe and spite they did through other inferiour seruants entise other ladies gentlewomeÌ„ on al sides to the end through such accursed meanes to winne the fauour of this prince through the losse of his soule We wil not here speake of the filthie and foule adultery which they procured him to commit at his returne out of Piedmont while he was yet Dauphine neither of that that they haue brought vnto him such as belonged very neere vnto them selues to the end he might take his pleasure with them that is pollute him selfe in sundry and strange wise How oft hath the Cardinal fretting at his brother the Duke of Guise said vnto him that neuer uckold sung faire song Let others weye with them selues whom he touched Peraduenture Henry had companions but he was the first lost in these filthinesses through the dealing of these men Hereof it came that for the destruction both of his body and soule soone after his comming to the crowne they inuented a thousand meanes to entertaine him in wantonnes and turning his minde from God in succession of time to set al in trouble whereby themselues might fish the better We must therefore view some particularities Queene Katherine de Medicis remained barrein sundry yeres wherof King Henry being yet Dauphine was very sorowful These our lords hereupon hauing brought in the Seneschal endeuoured to procure Henry to send home his wife into Italie Yea once at Rossillon vpon Rosne they helde a great parliament in ful determination to send home this Queene who afterward was wel assisted by the Cardinal of Chastillon in the same matter Then seemed she an earnest Christian on the one side the Bible was stil vpon the table wherein sometime her selfe read sometime she caused others to reade On the other side it chanced that vpon the commandement of the great King Francis Clement Marot had translated thirtie psalmes into French which were set in musicke by sundry good musitions for both the King and the Emperour Charles the fifth had allowed of this translation as appeared both in their wordes and rewards But whosoeuer loued or feruently embraced them ordinarily either singing or causing them to be soung this yong Prince Henry then Dauphine was nothing behind wherupon the Godly praised God and his minions yea the Seneschal her selfe counterfeited a loue of them would say to him My lord Shal not I haue this you shal giue me that if it please you Wherby sometimes he had enough to do to satisfie both his own fancy and theirs also Howbeit he especially kept for him selfe the hundred eight and twentieth Psalme beginning thus Blessed art thou that fearest God c. Whereto himselfe set a tune both verie pleasant and correspondent vnto the wordes The same did he so often sing and cause to be sung that euery man might thereby perceiue howe desirous he was to be blessed in stocke as that psalme doeth importe Shortly hereafter the Dauphine multiplied in children but her husband Henrie in steade of acknowledging such a benefite began to followe the abominations of this villanous Seneschal doing worse then before so that I may as I suppose say this blessing was turned into a curse wherevnto the Cardinal of Lorraine was a fit instrument For he perceiuing that Henrie delited in these holie songs which are the bulworkes of chastitie and capital enemies vnto al filthines fearing lest thereby with the time he might be wonne the better to loue his wife and to send away his harlot and so consequently the credite of my Lords of Guise being builded vpon so filthie a foundation shoulde fall downe began first to reproue the translation and then the Psalmes them selues substituting in their steades the lasciuious verses of Horace together with other foolishe songs and abominable loue matters of our French Poets whome he brought into credit Then began Ronsarde Iodelle Baife and other vile Poets to come into estimation And God no longer permitted his Name to be so prophaned but plucked away his praises to the end to commit them to the mouthes of infants and babes The Psalmes and Marot him selfe were together banished Al kinde of vile songs and lasciuious musike tooke place through the especial fauour of the Cardinal the Mecenas to al these villanous inuenters And the better to end al their labour they through the Seneschal tooke from the King al godly musike and depriued the Queene of her chaplaine Boteyler who in those daies preached the word syncerely giuing vnto King Henrie a Sorbonical doctor of their owne a man both ignorant and wicked euen to the end and so plucked out of his heart that litle sparke of godlines which peraduenture was entred therinto Afterward they became King Henries companions especially after he was King yea in more wise then honestie could endure Here therefore to rehearse and stirre vp such villanies it were but to much to trouble the readers Let such therefore as can call to minde all the time passed since the yere 1550. euen vnto death with me reduce before their eies the wicked practises which the Guisians haue practised vpon this poore Prince First in the destructioÌ„ of his soule maintaining a harlot in his bosome and behauing them selues so vnworthilie in his seruice as that willingly I wold to God I had neuer heard speaking thereof The verie tablets made and presented vnto the Cardinal him selfe together with his countenances and maners of behauiour haue sufficiently shewed it Againe what goodnes haue they done to the Queene Nay what euil haue they not committed against her Henrie left foure sonnes aliue First how they dealt with Francis we shal presently perceiue What confusions haue we through their meanes bene tossed withal during the raigne of Charles Or if the Cardinal liued how would he handle Henry the third through the meanes of Queene Louyse

treasurer of the purse to pay him the most part of a summe of fiftene thousand francks which he pretended to be due vnto him Throughout the whole realme there remained not so meane an artificer or so poore a citizen who was not contributorie vnto the Kings reliefe and for the same cause was not most extreemely delt with al whilest in the meane time the Cardinal becomming a sergeant executed King Henry in the chiefest time of his miserie and when his affaires were in greatest danger dalying with the spoyled King with such impatieÌ„cie that he would not forbeare vntil the said treasurer of the purse had gathered vp so much money but draue him to borowe the same summe wherwith to satisfie his request Also at the same time the king obteined in the name of a gift of the citie of Paris the summe of three hundred thousand franckes whereof the Cardinal had the disposing which how or whereabout they were employed God knoweth Let this therefore be sufficiently spoken for a simple proofe of infinite such like practises wherby it is to be doubted in which of these two the Cardinal did most exceede either in vnreasonably hoarding together or in excessiue appetite to wast al France which he had chosen as a pray conuenient for his ambition But how was the Duke of Guise occupied in Italie while the French nobilitie was in the King of Spaines prisons in laying the foundation of the greatnes though inuisible of these our Lords and masters The Duke had led with him a reasonable number of noble men and had dried vp al the Kings reuenues endeuoring in the meane time nothing in Italie sauing that for the augmentation of his brothers credite and the practising of conspiracies vnder colour of simplicitie he went with his famous principalitie to prostitute the dignitie of one of the king of France his lieutenants general in Rome to dallie among priests to make vp a lower messe and last seruice at the table of Cardinals of whome the chiefe part are but the Popes Marmosets and Apes Whereupon sundrie haue commended the free stomacke of one of the masters of requests that accompanied him in the said voyage who misliking of the said Duke of Guises behauiour without anie leaue of the Cardinalitie sate downe gallantly by the Dukes side least it should haue bene reproched vnto the Frenchmen that the Kings lieutenant general had serued as a cloke bearer vnto such lickorous griediguttes of the Popes cauldron who vpon their owne dunghil do so lightly accompt of Christian Kings and Princes But what of this It was necessarie that France with the cost and losse of men should put vp yet two iniuries more in Italie The one by the said Lord of Guise who left his campe idle and his masters busines vndone to the end to loyter and dauÌ„ce after the Popes court there to create as the Cardinals hope was he would some and so manie new Cardinals after his brothers minde that in case the Papaltie should be voyd he might be as certaine to succeede in the said roume as a Cardinals faith could extend The other through the follie of the said Duke of Guise in that in his owne person being a lieutenant general he permitted his Kings honour and reputation so shamefully to decay The enemies of the crowne laughed hartily at such his folishe ambition the wisest Frenchmen supposed that the King the Constable had suffred theÌ„ selues to be intangled in such enterprises to the end to be released of an intolerable burden hanging coÌ„tinually vpon their armes through such continual alarmes as the inconstancie couetousnes vaine glorie of the Guisians did daily minister vnto the Kings affaires exceeding the cost of two such conquests Now the Cardinals drift was so sone as he were Pope to transport the warres into Naples Sicil which conquest was the way to haue ouerthrowen their whole race or els in achiuing their enterprise wherein France should haue wonne more then by keeping them vpon her hands as she hath done to haue bound them selues for their life time about their neckes a bonde of the maintenance and keeping of their new conquered dominions Howbeit vnder this pretence the Cardinal pinched at al assaies insomuch that for this cause and others he iested with them in good earnest who so cunningly turned the letters of the name of Charles of Lorraine that thereby he found this which truely we might reproch vnto him to be most true RACLE AS L'OR DE HENRIE signifying Thou hast scraped away al Henries golde But hereof we wil speake some what more particularly Proceding therefore in our matter after the losse of so manie men at S. Laurence battaile together with the taking of the Constable and other contrarie chances the Cardinal finding as he supposed the best occasion possible offered for the aduancement of his familie displaied at that present his whole witte toward the execution of his purposes The first was by making his brother in effect during the reigne of King Henrie a King The other so wel to wrappe his yuie about the pinakle that finally the one might ouerthrow the other which was by motioning a double alliance the one of his niece Marie Stuard Queene of Scots vnto Francis King Henries eldest sonne the other was of his cousin Charles Duke of Lorraine vnto the Ladie Claude of France Againe the Constables absence of whome the Cardinal stoode in great awe and feare whom also marueilously he hated did altogether hearten him on As for the first point the affayres being troubled in Picardie and the realme voyde of forces the Cardinal thought it best to cal home those that before were sent into Italie the whiles to watch least any other shuld haue vndertaken the superintendence ruling of the affaires hoping seing the Constable detained to coÌ„mit the same into the hands of his brother the Duke of Guise presently vpon his returne who about the same time had bene repulsed from before Ciuitella so that this commandement came fitly to him The esquire Scipio also was sent to hasten him away and to wil him to bring his power with him being come the Cardinal caused him presently to be sent to Compiegne there to muster the armie whither as the King shortly after followed him publishing in the presence of his knights of the order and Captaines of his armie that the Duke of Guise was come in fit time to preserue his realme and minded to haue made him Viceroy or vnder King of France but forasmuch as that title seemed strange he commanded to dispatch him a warrant for the Kings lieutenant generalshippe throughout al the said Kings dominions the which du Thyer secretarie of commandements soone made in such maner as it pleased the Cardinal to deuise being also afterward receiued and verified by the court of Parliament of Paris and sundrie other Parliaments of the Realme whereby the Princes of the blood were contemptuously put backe as also after the taking of Calais

him selfe to strike his stroke vnder the goodliest pretence possible namely the zeale of Religion all which was but the destruction of Henry his estate and succession For the Cardinall hauing once rooted this principall proposition in our Kings hearts namely that they ought to strayne their consciences also that vnto Heretikes they were not to obserue any faith thereby he strooke two wonderfull blowes first he drew to him most of the Catholike great lordes especially the Constable others very affectionate protectours of France whom he made his executioners in cutting of their owne armes and legges by persecuting their fellow citizens Secondly he should thereby make away the Princes many noble lords sundry gentlemen infinite true FreÌ„chmen who togither yelded the crowne impregnable and terrible in the eyes of their enemies But vnder these two fetches are hidden so many slights and practises as that it is vnpossible to name them all wherefore we will heare rehearse some to the ende the readers may the better call the rest to minde not forgetting how that since that the Cardinall had found this doore open neither the King neither his successours had euer any rest because they haue giuen ouer them selues vnto such pernicious counsayle as hath bene also the destruction of the Cardinall him selfe and of most parte of his abettours and supporters and vndoubtedly will in time intrappe his whole family and progenie in as much as it is the will of God the iust iudge that into the pitte which the wicked haue digged them selues shall first fall and so be ensnared in the net that they haue pitched for others and finally be strangled with the same coarde that they haue twisted for their neighbours To conclude the peace was granted to the great preiudice of France but the Cardinall forced not of the price so that it might in any wise serue his purpose The first article imported that both the Kings should procure a generall council wherewith to represse all heresies which was as much to say as after that the Pope and his adherents had concluded thereupon they should on all sides assayle the Lutherans wherein the Duke of Guise should be one of the first that should be set on worcke As for the rest of the articles they were such as that by the report of most men the Cardinall in them shewed him selfe so faithfull vnto the King of Spayne that most of them proceeded in his fauour without any or at the least with very simple controuersie And notwistanding both the Constable and Marshall of S. Andrewes were ioyned in commission with him yet did both he and Granuelle extremely prosecute the King of Spaynes coÌ„moditie As for the Constable notwithstanding he plainly beheld the open wrong offered to his master did somewhat smell out the Cardinals intent yet through an earnest desire which he had to returne into France there to represse through his credite with King Henry the ambition of the said Guisians who in his opinion tooke their flight ouer high the effects whereof were partly discouered in the practise of the mariage of their niece for he began to feare least this fire should take such hould as that in time it could hardly be quenched did therefore easely permit him selfe to be drawen away after the Cardinals lure in these affaires And the Marshall of S. Andrewes was no such man as durst withstand the Cardinall for hauing obteined his honour through such meanes as al men wot it was no newes though his mind were seruile and his hearte of smal force or courage Also although the Cardinall mistrusted that the Kings earnest affectioÌ„ vnto the Constable would procure that presently vpon his returne he should becom especiall principall counsaylour vnto him yet accounting the peace as the briefest and most ready way to hasten the course of his thoughts he earnestly pursued the publication thereof About the same time the Protestants through the fauour of sundry great lordes and iudges of the realme began to looke abroade and lift vp their heades but the Cardinal presently caught hould of this occasion thereby to further his intents His determination therefore was to quayle the vpright iudges hereby to discouer the best affected to the end to triumph either in suppressing their constancie or els in rooting them out to plant men of his owne begetting in their roomes whome afterwarde he might gouerne as he liste and through whome he also might vndermine al other proceding on stil he knoweth that the protestantes must either forsake their religion or els mainteine the same The forsaking of it is the meanes at better leisure to bring them into bondage and fleze them The mainteining of it must consist in the support of the mightie and men of authoritie who thereby shal consequently be excluded the court and al affaires of estate whereby he his supporters shal beare such sway as finally no man shal be so bolde as to withstand him he moreouer assured him selfe in such wise to prouoke King Henry against the mightiest that the place should remaine empty for him and his brethren of Guise He thought this also a very honest opportunitie to trippe the Constable by reason that his nephewes of Chastillon together with the King of Nauarre and the prince of Conde being wrested from him vnder pretence of religion he should lose the principal stay of his force Herevpon he striketh one of his greatest strokes against the Courte of Parliament of Paris beginning first with the President Seguier who was gone to the court there to sue for the pay of certaine pension due vnto him and his companions For when he had pronounced his oration before the King the Cardinal stepping forth said vnto him I suppose not that any man seeketh to stoppe your wages prouided that your selues do faithfully execute your vocations and then hauing sharpely rebuked in the whole body of the Parliament their wincking at the forming of proces against the said protestants caused the King bitterly to reproue theÌ„ and to command them to cal the Mercurial which was the very net wherwith to entrap the hardiest And hauing in the parliament many assured seruants through their reporte he so enflamed the King that he determined personally there to assist wheras hauing by course heard the definition of euery man he emprisoned Anna du Bourg and other couÌ„sellers This was the Cardinals proceeding against the fairest pearle in King Henries crowne procuring vnder the beautiful pretence of Religion the notablest company that was in any place to be found by litle and litle for the most part to be conuerted into a troup of slaues deuoid of al other honour sauing the robe and outward countenance so that among al the mischiefes which euer the Cardinal wrought in France this hath bene one of the principal Also God iustly moued against such confused abuses as then began to take roote especially Atheisme Magick vniustice whoredomes with other infamous dealings began to execute

but what they lusted because the Cardinal had so enured him to his signes that at the least motion of his countenance the King spake walked or helde his peace c. In so much that he was also termed the Kings life or soule for to say the truth he caused the King to moue or stand still yea to counterfaite what couÌ„tenance so euer he thought good Hauing scatered the princes and lordes whom they suspected let vs behold how they dealt with the rest As touching the priuy council after they had once assured them selues of the Chanceler Oliuer whom they reuoked who also so farre forgot God and him selfe that he gaue them his conscience they brought thereinto whomsoeuer them selues reposed any confidence in After the time of Henry the Parliaments consisted of such men as had brought in most money and the chiefest fauour of mighty men The Guisians considering that they stood in need of such men had brought in by litle and litle the children of the greatest vsurers and extortioners with such other maner of people who haue corrupted all diuine humane equitie and retailed such offices as they bought by great or had in recoÌ„pence of some bribes reueiled contrary to their othe the secretes of the Courte and finally violated iustice in all sortes so that it was an easie matter for the Guisians to order these courtes at their owne deuotions brideling some and replenishing other some with vaine hope That which touching these matters they had practised in the time of Henry they did now vnder Francis the seconde more hotely proceede in in so much that since they haue had great supporte on that side They began also to order the estates of the Kings houshold vsurping therein the office of the Constable as then great Master still To the ende to bring in their owne seruantes and men of their owne conditions they displaced parte of the late Kings officers who before had still continued from the father to the sonne whom they least vnder pretence of good husbandrie others they dismissed giuing them halfe paye in the name of pensions notwithstanding the new estate of houshold officers did farre surmount the other The prouinces of the Realme and frontier townes were furnished with their supposts and such as liked them not were sente home to their dwelling places All gouernours heades and captaines of warres and townes were commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the Kinges owne person The reuenues were put into the handes of such as the Cardinal most fauoured and all the courtes of Parliament were admonished that he had the superintendence ouer all matters of estate To the ende them selues only may remaine armed they forbid the wearing of all armes especially of dagges and fyer woods also of long clokes and great hosen For the Cardinal being of a cowardly nature was warned by a Necromantian at Rome that he should be slaine with some fyer staffe through the enuy of such enemies as he should procure in France when he were at his highest degree of honour Their first tyrannous practise was in persecuting the Protestantes in the persons of certaine counsaylers of the Parliament of Paris especially Anna du Bourg whose proces is amply described in sundry treatises and discourses especially in the history of Francis the second lately set forth which reueileth sundry villainous iniustices and wickednesse committed by certain iudges whom the Cardinal had apposed and suborned An other practise was in raising the commons against the Nobility in maner following For to suppresse such as might contrary them also to obteine the goodwill of the commons and to make their gouernement agreable vnto them they published letters of reuocation of all alienations as wel for life as yeres whether they were in recompence for seruice or otherwise except sales the coyne whereof had bene bestowed vpon the Kinges great and weighty affaires without any collusion togither with the appanage of the daughters of France and the dowry of the late Queene Eleonor which the infante of Portugal did possesse all the rest were thereby reunited vnto the Kings demaines and ordinary receyts This was the way to bring the mighty into their handes and procure them selues more seruants then before by obteining for them such declaratory letters as them selues listed The third practise was by driuing away the King of Nauarre the first prince of the blood through the most vnworthy meanes that might be which also shall be mentioned in the treatise of their dealings against the princes of the bloud By the fourth they wrested from the CoÌ„stable the office of great Master for the Duke of Guise bought the Marshall Brissac with the gouernment of Picardie which they plucked out of the handes of the Admiral of Chastillon In the fifth to the ende to fortifie them selues against the preparatiues framed for the repressing of their tyranny they made eighteene knights of the order at one clap making of a marke of knighthood throughly tryed and vnblameable a collar vnto all kinde of beastes For the sixt coÌ„sidering that al this was not sufficient but that with the time it was to be feared lest the estats would chaleÌ„ge their auncieÌ„t priuiledges liberty by meanes wherof their licentiousnes would lye on long first they caused the King woÌ„derfully to mislike of the voice that wente that the people was determined in the Kings minority to demande the estates this brought they very subtilly to passe through diuers sleights the principall wherof was to bring the mightiest into feare through some notable meanes so to winne the Queene mother that she might be the instrument to strike this stroke They therfore propounded vnto this woman who otherwise was sufficiently pinched with the burning yrons of her owne ambition that if the estates should take place as the enemies of her auctority wished she shold be sent to dresse trimme her gardeÌ„s or els coÌ„ueyed ouer the mountes therefore that as her faithfull seruaÌ„ts they counsayled her to loke to it Now they regarded not her so much for in case King Francis had ouerliued the King of Nauarre Prince of Conde whom they were determined to put to death a litle before that the estates were houlden at Orleans they would sone haue made her to haue scudded for they marueilously suspected her minde nature it was therfore their owne commodity wherat they leueled But this woman feining not to perceiue their subtilties told them that she beleued their words stil the more more to establish her self play them some fine praÌ„cke she writ to her sonne in law the King of Spayne complaining vpon the King of Nauarre the princes as if they had sought by meanes of the estates to reduce her vnto the estate of a handmayd Sone after returned the pacquet out of Spaine wherein King Philippe writ how he was certified that certaine seditious persons rebels endeuored to moue some troubles seeking to alter the regiment of the kingdome

condemned to be beheaded confessed maintained and affirmed euen vntil his last gaspe that the Cardinal had caused to giue this commission both to him and manie others Al which notwithstanding they bent against the Protestants and although that a moneth or fiue weekes before they had published a sufficient rigorous Edict against the said Protestants yet did the Cardinal now set on a fresh onset of three Edictes in Nouember 1559. In one of the which these wordes were expressed That in the assemblies both by day and night of the Protestants not only the vse of the Romish church was villanously prophaned but also that ther were sundrie vile wordes both infamous and reprochful against the King and such as in deede tended only to the encouraging of the commons to sedition were there also dispersed and spred abroade But al this serued onely to prouoke sundrie persons yea such as were indeede enemies to the religion and to moue them to suspect that there was other matter then religion which in this point as also in manie others serued but for a shadow In the meane time the Guisians raised such a blotte vpon their nephue that although he were no leper yet after those reportes he lost most part of his reputation Hereupon also arose two new accidents which brought the Cardinal againe out of temper the one was because the president Minard one of his slaues of the Parliament of Paris was slaine with a dagge by vnknowen persons another was that one of his good seruants named Iulian Ferme was also killed neere vnto Chambourg where the King was This Ferme was departed to carie manie remembrances to Paris concerning the making of the processes of diuers of the greatest Princes and Lords of the realme togither with manie notable persons fauourers of the religion The Cardinal therefore taking his aduantage of these occasions gaue a new onset with this slaunder aforesaid vpon the Protestants and by letters patents forbiddeth the bearing of armes more straightly then before through such reportes bringing the King into the hatred of the people which neuer was wonte so to be suspected During these affaires namely the three and twentieth day of December the Counsailer du Bourg was put to death togither with sundrie other Protestants in diuers places to the great displeasure and griefe not onlie of sundrie Frenchmen but also of manie forraine Princes Howbeit al this is nothing in respect of such confusions and mishappes as the Guisians did afterward entangle the King and his dominions in For their dealings openly importing tyrannie their vsual threates against the mightiest in the realme their setting backe of the Princes and great Lords their despising of the estates of the realme their corrupting of the chiefest of the iustices who were reduced to the deuotion of these new gouernours the reuenues of the kingdome at their commandement deuided and giuen where they pleased as likewise were al offices and benefices and to be briefe their violent regiment being of it selfe vnlawful had altogether prouoked moued such hatred against theÌ„ both of great and smal that thereof proceeded the enterprise wherof la Renaudier was captain in the name vnder the aduow of the second Prince of the blood the handling breaking whereof we wil more largely declare in the title of their behauiours to the nobilitie At this present let vs marke how at that time they mocked the king and his estate A certaine aduocate of Paris named des Auenelles had warned them that there were certaine practises in hand against them wherevpon they vsed the helpe of the Queene mother in calling the lords of Chastillon to the court where by their aduice they framed a new edict in the Kings name in the which they qualified the rigours of such as before stoode in force against the protestants This did they only to the end to breake of the said enterprise minding incontinently after to reuoke the same as by particular letters they certified their bond slaues of tne Parliament of Paris whereas this edict was immediatly published and the qualifications inregistred in the secret register in such wise neuertheles that some counselers so farre forgat themselues as to say that it was but a false trap to catch the protestants in This was their dalying with the Kings faith bringing vpon our Kinges an infamous blot blemish namely to be periurers and vnfaithful In the meane time hauing fresh aduertisements instead of thinking vpon their regimeÌ„t or effectually declaring that they ment not to be such meÌ„ as hitherto they had bene reported either that they sought to treade downe the Kings authority they now gathered power on al sides gaue money out of the Kings coffers to Auenelles and other spies sent men of warre euery way and kept the king in the middest of them selues procuring during these broyles certaine letters whereby the Duke of Guise was made lieutenant general for the King with al absolute authoritie then was there no talke but of putting al to fire and sworde and slaying of infinite noble men and gentlemen and so blemishing the name honour sight reigne of this yong King with the most horrible cruelties that euer were knoweÌ„ for the firmament earth sea shal be witnesses of the barbarousnes of these monsters who haue replenished al France with blood the heaueÌ„s with witnesses and iudges and the earth with complaintes Their trechery appeared in that they would neuer permit the King to heare as he ought to haue done the iust complaints of his subiects whom they so villanously entreated before his eies He oft demanded euen with teares what he had done against his people why they should be so moued against him for these Lords stil blew in his eares that they sought to slaye him and vnder pretence thereof had enuironed him with troupes of armed men gathered from among the worste members of the whole realme whome since they haue continewed to the end to keepe themselues about our Kings whose dignitie they haue thereby conuerted in to I wot not what kinde of Persian pompe or Turkish terrour and said that he would gladly here their complaintes reasons yea sometimes he would say to his good vncles I wot not what these commotions meane I heare say that you be they whoÌ„ the people is offended withal I would to God you would for a while depart to the end we might be the better certified whether this people be grieued at you or me But as the murderer that helde his enemies father in his armes did by that meanes saue his owne life so the Guisians ioyning them selues as the yuie about the pyramide close to the yong Kings sides did conningly warde these blowes wherewith vndoubtedly they should haue bene pearced through They did therefore reiect al these the Kings wordes assuring him that neither he nor my Lords his brethren should remaine one houre after their departure because say they the house of Burbon through the support of the heretikes

quiet estate considering what blowes these men strooke To procure therefore some remedie they first sent vnder the name of Theophilus an admonition vnto the Queene mother wherein the tyrannie of the Guisians was most liuely set forth the conclusion whereof was that it was necessarie to prouide for the gouernmeÌ„t of the estate also to counsel the King according to the auncient constitutions and customes of France and not after the appetite of the Guisians Also that the troubles for Religion were to be appeased by a holie and free Council The Queene mother being then in their clawes and seeking by all meanes to please them serued their turne in steade of a spie in al maner possible and caused the bringer of this admonition to be stayed and afterward hauing sought in al places for this Theophilus and put the bringer in feare euen of beating considering that such writings might in time quench their fires and turne the edge of their swords pointes they concluded to plant the Spanish inquisition in France hauing first by secrete seruants mainteined at the Kings charges as wel in Germanie as other where to their powers defamed with al kinde of slanders the said Protestants Howbeit the wisdome of the Chanceler de l'Hospital who politikely haÌ„dled these thornes after a maner brake this blowe For in place of the Spanish inquisition they framed the Edict called of Romorantin which forbad al vnlawful assemblies comprehending vnder that title al preachings and exercises of Religion But in steade of appeasing the troubles this Edict doubled them in all places The thing which most beganne to quicken their spirites was a booke intituled the Kings Maioritie written in the fauour of the Guisians by Iohn du Tillet a clarke of the court of Parliament of Paris notwithstanding his entertainment at the Cardinals hands should neuer haue procured his appetite thereunto but in those dayes all men worshipped these our Lords who in deed were euen as Kings To this booke was made a quicke and liuely answere which afterward was followed by a number of other smal pamphlets for the which there was great serch made yea such as to cause to hang Martin l'Hommet who had printed one called The Tygre of France wherein the Cardinal among his other brethren was painted out in al his colours On the one side the Cardinal fained a kind of ioy that he was thus made immortal and on the other side he practised men to answere these libels which discouered his sleights and alreadie made his Legend immortalizing in deede the filthinesse both of him and of his whole familie But among other Du Tillet who had receiued a shrewd yerke excused him selfe for euer after and exhorted the Cardinal to prouide for his affaires by some other means namely by vsing against both the persons goods of the Protestantes al kinde of rigours which he coulde deuise to the end they might take no sure footing neither haue their mindes at libertie shewing him that he might particularly write vnto the Princes whose counsayle the Cardinal immediatly followed as the most expedient Now to maintaine their credit among foraine Princes and to discouer whatsoeuer was said or done besides the ordinarie ambassadours who were at the Guisians deuotion they did with store of coyne winne diuers Princes seruaÌ„ts hauing in Spaine EnglaÌ„d Germanie pensioners at the cost of the Realme of France Moreouer besides these they had in the courtes of these foreine Princes and of the Princes Lords of France also other secret seruants to whome they gaue such pensions that the onely expenses of secret seruants in France amounted to aboue twentie thousand franckes by moneth They had also ordinarie postes who ranne spying in the ynnes abroade in the countries to marke the behauiours of all men whereby sundrie not thinking thereupon were shortly after imprisoned and brought to that point that they were no more heard of These thinges thus established they renewed their league with the Queene mother wrote vnto al their partakers and gathered vp so manie men as they could in so much that the Duke of Guise durst make his vaunt that he had the promises of twelue hundred french gentlemen of name and the oathes of the captaines with whom together with the olde bands come out of Piedmont and others whome he had at commandement he would ouerrunne al his enemies The Cardinal also propounded vnto the Kings councill that it were good to sease vpon the Prince of Condes person who was burdened to be the chiefe captaine of the enterprise of Amboise and hearing that he was gone into Bearn they persuaded the King that it was to the ende to arreare new warre against him and so to escape punishment for his former offence This entrie beinge made they dispatched out new commissions for the raysing of men to the ende to assayle the King of Nauarre who had withdrawen the Prince his brother They sent also the Marshal of Saint Andrewes to espie the Princes demeanour They fetched through the meanes of the Queene mother one named la Planche to the end by him more particularly to heare the coÌ„playntes of the Huguenots of estate and Religion whereby they might with new subtilties arme themselues there-against Also from that time forwarde they were so impudent and she also if I be not deceiued as to affirme that the meanes to remedie so manie discontentations was by causing to march alwayes a Prince of the blood and then one of the house of Guise a Prince and a Guisian and so forwarde Wherein they sufficiently discouered what mind led them TheÌ„ they changed the gouernours as they thought best they sent la Motte GoÌ„drin into Dauphine and others of their own stampe here and there after this maner laying their nets the more easely to entangle their enemies And as Gods iudgements in this one poynt are admirable namely that the stoutest contemners of his maiesty haue for a while all things succeeding according to their desires to the end their fall afterward may be the greater so happened it to the Guisians For lying in watch and not knowing at which end to beginne la Sague a Biscain gentleman being sent from the prince of Conde to sollicite his friends was taken at Fountainbleau with sundry instructions by meanes whereof together with his owne confessions vpon the racke they did more euidently then before perceiue the string of their tyrannie to be in maner cut a sunder vnlesse they tooke the better heede First therefore they imprisoned le Vidame de Chartres and the Prince of Condyes mother in lawe then sent they the Countie Ringraue vnto the frontiers of Lorraine there to keepe in a readines a regiment of Lansquenets and two thousand harquebuziers They cause the olde bands comen out of Piedmont to descend along the riuer of Loyre into Dauphine faining that they would send them into Scotland but they soiourned in Gyen and about MouÌ„targis there at their need to assure theÌ„selues of the Admirals houses

other trompets of seditioÌ„ who greatly aduanced the Guisians practises In deed vpon the first noise of these broyles the Kings letters patents were sent forth to al iudges royal in the Realme with straite defence that no man should molest other by the name either of Papist or Huguenot wherby to prouide for the suretie libertie of either sort The court of Parliament of Paris which consisteth most of the seruants of the house of Guise sent earnest declarations vnto the priuie council as touching this Edict but al was but a new practise whereby to shuffle the cardes as we say and so to heape one discord vpon another vnder the goodliest title in the worlde namely of Religion In the meane time the Cardinal wayted for the yong King at Reims who was brought thither to be anointed wheras the Duke of Guise was so presumptuous as to steppe in betwene the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Montpensier so to march after the King and by such sleyghtes to become equal vnto the princes of the blood There the Cardinal finding his strength sufficient hauing wonne this point to propound Religion as a cloke to his ambition did then grieuously complayne of the protestantes declaring that during the parly concluded vpoÌ„ concerning the determination of these controuersies the King ought not to permit any kinde of innouation and that for the more assured prouision thereagainst it was requisite to make an inuiolable law also to the same end to assemble in the Parliament of Paris the Princes Lords others of the Kings priuie counsaile there to frame an arrest which euer after should solemnely be obserued But al this was no other sauing a newe policie whereby to hasten the practises of the house of Guise Now the Cardinal knew wel that in this asseÌ„bly of the Prelates for the determination of matters of Religion there would be nothing dispatched also that while things hung thus in suspense the King should be called vpon to permit the excercise of the Religion openly which being once granted the prince of Condye and the ChastilloÌ„s would step in afterward to withstaÌ„d him for the withstanding wherof he supposed that in preuenting this parly through an other assemblie at Paris where he had men enough at commandement he might get somewhat or at the least so bend the one sort against the other that him selfe should lose nothing This was the cause of the assignation of that assemblye whereunto the Queene mother agreed almost for the same considerations and the contrary parties in hope it would redound to the commoditie of the whole realme Here may the readers consider what iourneys to and fro the Guisians practised as well within the realme as without also how they for their owne maintenance remoued both heauen and earth The Spaniarde and diuers Italian Princes were daily aduertised of the estate of the affaires and then did the Queene mother stand the Guisians in steade of a secretarie to the end to make out goodly dispatches in the Kings name against the Princes of the blood whome in the meane time they seemed greatly to fauour For at that time namely the 13 of Iune 1561. did the Parliament of Paris al the chambers being assembled in their red gownes in the great chamber of pleas in the presence of the Duke of Guise the Cardinals of Lorraine and Guise with others pronounce their sentence concerning the innocencie of the Prince of Conde also about the end of August following was the atonement made betwene the said Prince and the Duke of Guise During these matters the Edict of Iuly was published in this assemblie of the Princes and Lords of the Parliament of Paris wherby the Protestants enioyed more freedome and libertie then euer before they had had There was it againe concluded that the prelates should be called and the ministers of the Religion should haue safe conduictes to the end to seeke some meanes of agreement Then began the Cardinal to hope wel of his owne matters for he was sure to finde a readie way how to bende the Churches of the Confession of Ausbourg against the reformed Churches of France by reason of the Supper This being brought to passe besides that he should bring the ministers into derision he should also hinder the Prince of Conde and the Chastillons who openly fauoured them from all prouision to withstand such driftes and preparatiues as the Duke of Guise and his adherents began to frame wherby to giue vp their accouÌ„ts vpon the speares pointe for so they might haue no succour of the Germanes who would easilie be persuaded that al these troubles in the Realme proceeded only of Religion The Guisians would faine haue found some meanes so to bring the Prince of Condie on sleepe that he might haue bene drawen from the Chastillons But their consciences did so reproue them because of so manie displeasures as they had done vnto him that they left him being sufficiently contented with setting the Constable and others against him Howbeit before they came to handle blowes they deemed it necessarie yet to strike one stroke more They perceiued the King of Nauarre and his brother the Prince of Conde to agree wel enough and supposed as it was most true that so long as these two Princes should continue in vnitie together al the French nobilitie and communaltie notwithstanding Religion would bend to them to the end to expel the Guisians or els to bring them to accompts so consequently restore the Realme to her pristinate brightnes dignitie They also persuaded the Queene mother how dangerous the vnion of these Princes might be vnto her she therfore requested theÌ„ to prouide so much as in theÌ„ lay and promised of her owne part not to be slacke in the matter as in deede she was not but vsed such dishonest meanes as in the discourse of her gouernment are at large set downe Now the Guisians during the raigne of Francis the second had gotteÌ„ to their seruice the Lord of Escars the King of Nauarres chamberlaine through the same espie had discouered al his masters secrets who finally hauing manifestly detected the said d'Escars through certaine letters which he had written did for the same turne him away Then did he halfe bend him self vnto the Guisians factioÌ„ who sent him word to endeuour to come again into fauour with his old master there to do theÌ„ such seruice as before time namely to entertaine his said master in al his pleasures doing his messages vnto the Ladies of the court so coÌ„sequently withdrawing him froÌ„ al Religion which required an vtter abandoning vnto al wantonnes abominations therupon so many men were set on worke that finally the King of Nauarre reuoked the said Descars wherat many begaÌ„ to foresee great mischiefs likely to follow and assuredly it is said that the Cardinal of Lorrain hearing of this his calling againe began to laugh as his custome was clapping one hand within the other said

vnto diuers that he had not of long time heard anie newes that more contented him Ye haue heard already how the estates holden at OrleaÌ„s were proroged vnto May and afterward through diuers disturbances of such as intended to giue no account but on horseback in armour they were adiourned vnto the end of August at Pontoise where they had bene appointed There among other things which touched the Guisians but especially the Duke of Guise there present the propositioÌ„ of the lord Bretagne in his oratioÌ„ in the name of the third estate coÌ„cerning the euil dealings of the said GuisiaÌ„s did chiefly pinch them the wordes because they be notable haue we here set downe Your subiects said he speaking to the King haue bene molested with infinite subsidies both ordinary extraordinary wherupon haue ensued also the augmeÌ„ting of impost the wages of fiftie thousand footmeÌ„ the collations the twentie franckes vpon euery steeple in the Realme the leuie of eight crownes vpon the officers royal sixe vpoÌ„ the aduocates of the Parliament foure vpoÌ„ the Burgeses widowes artificers two vpon the rest of the aduocates practitioners notaries and sergeants borowed not borowed free holdes new gaines money leuied after the battaile of S. Laurence alienation of the demaines helpes gables fines taken vpoÌ„ offices both olde new the suppressioÌ„ of certain of the same money for coÌ„firmations coyne raised vpon houses towne houses pay leuied vpon consignatioÌ„s vessels of gold siluer billeted warlike munitions victuals for campes and armies leuied within these thirty yeres horse and furniture of artillarie erecting of sales of wine furniture apparrel and food for souldiers wages and pay for souldiers in diuers particular townes saultpeter and poulder which the people must furnish officers wages men of armes and footmen vnpayd conduct money into Bretagne with other infinite suÌ„mes vnder sundry names and titles and al tending to the getting of your subiects money so that by reason of the said in supportable charges your pore subiects are so weakened enfeebled impouerished that at this present Sir they haue nothing left to offer or present vnto your maiesty other theÌ„ their good faithful willes They ofteÌ„ haue examined them selues tryed their whole abilities in your maiesties affaires but to their great griefe they haue fouÌ„d themselues destitute of al meanes of helping or succoring you and therefore doe most desire that it may please you to deferre put of the succour which you at this time do attend at their haÌ„ds vntil some other time wheÌ„ through as wel their own diligeÌ„ce labour trauail sparing sobriety as also through such good entreaty as they hope for at your hands they shal haue recouered part of their former abilitie power Neither can they be perswaded considering the great subsidies of them leuyed during the reigns of the Kings your late father and brother that you can be so greatly endebted Calling also to minde whatsoeuer all auncient histories or recordes as wel holy as prophane haue left of al antiquitie as testimonies of valiant deedes they do finde that neuer any monarch King or soueraigne Prince hath died indebted in such excessiue summes as did the late King Henry your Honorable father how long or continual warres the said Monarches haue susteined or enterprised for the augmenting of the boundes and limites of their realmes and empires And to say the trueth so great and wonderful are the debts that quite emptying al the treasuries of your dominions and particularly researching euery subiect yet shal you hardely finde goulde or siluer in their possessions equiualeÌ„t vnto the said suÌ„mes Which notwithstanding it seemeth very hard and incredible yet is the knowledge thereof more grieuous vnto your subiectes because their power is not equal to their desires This therefore hath moued them to coniecture that such great summes of money leuied among your people neuer came wholy into your coffers neither was euer conuerted to the coÌ„moditie of your predecessors but through vnreasonable giftes and such other meanes haue in part remained in the hands of some particular persons whose houses do now triumph and florish through the harmes of your said subiects For the reparation therefore of such former gouernment also to preuent that in time to come you fall not into any such bottomles pit of debts they do most humblye besech you to ordeine that the treasurers ouer seers of your treasury who hitherto haue had the haÌ„dling disposing of the same during the reignes aforesaid may come bring in an accoÌ„pt of their administration before such delegates as your selfe shal chuse or through the assistance of the estates euery prouince and gouernment shal name by this meanes may such be quailed and reuoked to their dueties as in time to come might coÌ„mit the like trespas Again one of the first articles conteined in the roules which the third estate presented were these wordes That such might bring in their accompts as were accomptable had had the ordering of the treasurye for that the said thirde estate could not beleeue but that thereby sundrye great abuses might be found out also that in the meane time aswell such as were accomptable as also al other who had bene dealers in the treasurie euen being of the priuie counsaile might neuerthelesse be forbidden entrie into the said council together with the execution of their said offices vntil the said accomptes were made other where then in the chamber of accompts and in the presence of the delegates of the estates and that al restes and debtes were payed also that especial reuiew might be made of the accompts of those who had receiued the particular loanes of the sommes of eight six foure and two crownes the twenty frankes of eche steple the munitions and victuals the furnitures of the sales of wines and other necessary things for the warres the money leuied vpon the walled townes after the battaile of S. Laurence and al other extraordinary payes leuied vpon the people Also that al excessiue pensions vnreasonable giftes whatsoeuer might be reuoked without exception of any person sauing the Queene mother who had sollicited the estates to pursue these matters for the causes rehearsed in the discourse of her gouernement for that it was euident that this money had neuer bene employed vnto such vse as it had bene destined vnto namely the relieuing of the kings affaires now may we wel thinke whether these motions clawed the Guisians The Cardinal more staied theÌ„ his brother the Duke made no shew of ought as if he had sought to make ready his accompts but in the others forhead a man might reade a thousand threats against the estate of the realme the effects whereof appeared within fiue or six moneths after For their better prouiding therefore for their own affairs they determined as touching the giuing vp of their accompts that they would practise al meanes possible rather then be brought into any such necessitie also that in case

intendeth not to reuoke this Edict except within Paris the suburbs bayliwicke of the same where he will permit no other exercise then of the Romish religion These letters being repugnant to the Edict of Ianuarie were presently receiued and allowed in the Parliament This done the Guisians hauing first vsed the CoÌ„stables ayde to strike a stroke in Paris theÌ„ the king of Nauarres helpe to driue away the Protestantes did nowe sende out the Marshal of S. Andrewes on the one side who executed cruelties sufficient and them selues on the other side gathered power euery where tooke the fieldes and vsed terrible deedes of hostilitie agaynst the Protestantes We will therefore in this place onely briefly runne ouer matters for it is enough to touche them onely by the way referring the ample discourse vnto the historie of our time First therefore they vsed the helpe of the Quene mother of the King of Nauarre of the Parliament of Paris and of their owne secret seruants in the quayling of the Prince of Condies constancie and separating him from the Lords of Chastillon whom they minded first to ouerthrowe But getting nought that way for he had discouered their embushments and had both in the Realme and abroad fortified him selfe agaynst the same they now proceeded vnto violence murdering the protestants in diuers townes of the Realme and with incredible violeÌ„ce assaulting certayn places whither the sayd Protestantes had for their owne safeties withdrawen them selues And although the King of Nauarre were in name Lieutenant generall and that the Constable remayned in his estate yet did all thinges passe through the Guisians handes who in smal time raysed all the realme into armes Then the Constable the Marshal of S. Andrewes the Duke of Guise presented a request to the King Queene mother therin requiring the vtter abolishing of religion the exercise wherof had fower moneths before bin graunted That all officers of France the housholde seruants of the King his brethren sister all officers of iustice warre accompts excheker treasurie and others bearing office hauing charge administration or coÌ„mission from the King should professe the same religion and thereof make open declaration and that al such as refused delayed or withstood the same should be depriued of their estates charges offices wages administrations and commissions That all Ecclesiasticall persons should doe the like vnder payne of depriuation of their benefices That all temples which had ben razed should nowe be newe built and satisfaction made for all damages and the pullers downe of them punished That all weapons taken without the King of Nauarres expresse commaundement should be layde downe agayne and that all men persisting in the bearing of them against the will of the sayde King of Nauarre the Lieutenant generall representing the Kings person in all his Dominions should be declared rebelles and enemies to the King and his Realme That it may appertayne to the King of Nauarre onely to keepe and assemble power in France and the same to reteine certayne monethes for appeasing of the troubles This done they promised euery man to go home to their houses yea sayde they euen to the end of the world into perpetuall exile if nede so required This did they the fourth day of May 1562. The same day they procured the King to commaund them not to depart from the Court therefore presented an other request to the Queene mother therein offering to goe home to their houses to the ende sayde they to obey the King of Nauarre Vnto these requestes did the Prince of Conde sufficiently aunswere who largely discouered the sleights of the Guisians and did dayly fortifie him selfe as well by his authoritie in this point as also by certayne letters which the Queen mother wrote vnto him coÌ„mitting to his safegarde the mother and the children and openly enough condemning the tyrannie of the Guisians It is hard to say whether the policies or violences of the Guisians did most harme and as for the cruelties which their souldiers exercised in sundry partes of France especially the men of warre togither with some murderers in diuers townes the posteritie wil wonder more in reading the historie of the yere 1562 then we who were the beholders of such horrible tragedies as the Cardinal his brethren played to the confusion of King Charles his kingdome For in their behauiours they vsed some sleightes needefull to be marked The Prince of Condies troupes were wel armed and resolued to fight being compounded of the most valiaunt French Lordes Captaines and souldiers The Guisians therefore doubting the trial hoped by their iourneys to and fro to disperse his armie wherin the Queene mother and the King of Nauarre were emploied In the meane time they daily surprised some places which the Protestants helde gathered vp money called strangers out of all countreyes to the spoyle and seeing themselues at the point to be beaten about the ende of Iune through the ayde of the King of Nauarre they obteyned truce and within two dayes after the Duke of Guise departed from the campe at Baugencie with diuers others whereupon they immediatly sent the Prince of Conde worde that according to his request the Duke of Guise his partakers were returned to their owne houses Nowe was the Queene mother instructed what communication she should vse toward the Prince of Conde and the rest of the protestaÌ„ts as did manifestly appeare in a letter which the Duke of Guise wrote to his brother the Cardinall of Lorraine dated the 25. day of Iune which being surprised to the ende the playnlier to set forth these good peoples wittes I haue here inserted as foloweth I doe sende vnto you writeth he this bringer with all speede to let you vnderstande that yesterday al things were agreed and I may say vnto you that some are farre wide of their accomptes Our mother the Queene and his brother the King of Nauarre sweare no other but by the faith that they owe vs also that they will take no counsaile but of those whom you wot To conclude the reformed Religion in well gouerning our selues and standing stifly vnto the ende as we wil do wil come to nought and the Admirals partie be as euil handled as it possible Al our power remaineth whole theirs is broken and their townes yelded without any speach of either edictes or preachings or administration of Sacraments after their maner The next day after the Duke of Guises and his partakers departure the Prince of CoÌ„de went to submit him self in the hands of his brother the King of Nauarre and of the Queene mother at Baugency passing through the midst of the Guisians armie to the great dauÌ„ger of his own person The Quene mother being come to Talsy a village hard by did there sufficiently giue to vnderstand to the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other Lords whom she had sent for thither that her self was the Guisians assured instrumeÌ„t wherby to mainteyn

in this Realme since the death of the late King Henry are the declarers of the said Prince and his fautours to be seditious They who doe oppresse the Kings maiestie abolish his decrees and abuse his name and auctority to the ende with his ouerthrowe to establish their owne mightinesse are the same who haue declared vs guilty of treason Those those are guilty of treason against God whose workes haue alweys shewed that ambition is their God couetousnes their religion and worldly pleasures their paradise and last felicitie who haue sworne warre against the Sonne of God his worde and the defenders of the same who shew the deedes of Anabaptistes in rebaptising children baptised according to the ordinaunce of IESVS CHRIST whose houses are replenished with thefte and their handes bloody in all crueltye Those men also are guilty of humaine treason who haue violated the Kinges edictes armed them selues contrary to his commaundement and seased vpon his royall person who are inwarde friendes and to the same ende doe vse the helpe of those who in seeking to steale away the second person of the Realme endeuored to oppresse the King to bring his estate into ruine confusion And seing we must needes proceed I say that those men are guilty of treason who lately made a conspiracy in Prouence through the ayde of Lauris a president in the Parliament of Aix togither with Fabritius Cerbelone the Popes gouernour of Auignon teÌ„ding to the raising of fiftenth thousand men who as they sware marched at the commaÌ„dement of the Duke of Guise of whom the said Fabritius furnished a thousand footemen and two hundred horse which conspiracy being detected and in the court of Parliament of Prouence verified Entrages and Laydet the two chiefe captaines of this faction were beheaded by sentence of the said courte If this be not sufficient I wil say yet more namely that the Guisians made the like match in Dauphine by meanes of captaine Mantil hoping to arme the said two prouinces then to cause them togither to march where they thought best So that these conspiracies made for the abolishing of the preaching of the Gospel these leauyings of men and this othe to marche at the Duke of Guises commandement doe crye out that he and his confederates are rebels seditious persons and guilty of treason against both God man Also that contrariwise those are the Kings true and faithfull seruantes who both haue and still doe valiantly withstand their rebellions seditions and attemps against the Kings maiesty and the estate of this Realme Also hereof aboue all that is yet spoken the ouerthrowe of the policy and subuersion of the iustice of this Realme togither with the peruerting of the court of Parliament of Paris may be a sufficient testimonye The ayde of which court they haue vsed in this false and pernicious iudgement of rebellion because they could not light vpon any other coÌ„pany so corrupted depraued either so much bound to their willes and appetites as is the same for so many as now be members thereof either do keepe their rowmes through the said Guisians and their adherents fauour or els do liue in hope hereafter through their helpe to clime higher yea most of them are by name comprehended in the said conspiracie and league which the said Guisians and their adherents haue made Thus you see what was then published against the Guisians But vnto this policie of causing the Prince of Condies adherents to be proclaimed rebels the Cardinal yet added other sleights First he got the King and the Queen mother to be brought into his brothers campe by the King of Nauarre whom he sent to fetch them so caused both the Child and mother to march as it were in triumph the better to cloke the end of this warre Secondly he wonne to their parte al strangers eueÌ„ the Protestant Germains whome hee caused to enter into the Realme and in the meane season scoffed at the said Protestants religion because said they that with money they brought them to roote out the gospel in France which them selues had plaÌ„ted in Germany which also they stil professed yea the better to scorne the said Germaines the Guisians gaue them to vnderstande that of long time they had bene minded to establish the confession of Ausbourg in France which the Cardinal had openly detested in the assembly of Poissy notwithstanding that afterwarde at Sauerne he protested that he did allow of the same already had so done in case they had not bene letted by the Prince of Condye his adherents whom they charged to be rebels to seke to vsurpe the crowne to be Anabaptistes Atheistes and men deuoyd of al faith and religion Al this time in France there was no news but of teÌ„pests and horrible confusions throughout al the CouÌ„try as more largely is and shal be discoursed vpon in certaine treatises tending to the same end but the Cardinal endeuouring to assure his matters as wel as he might determined to leaue his brethren at worke in France whiles him selfe went to practise with the Pope the Spanierd and others assembled vnto the Councill of Trent and all vnder colour of religion which he did openly scoffe at for at Gyen and Bloys among other the articles whereunto he caused the King his council to subscribe to the end they might said he passe in the CouÌ„cil though in effect to bring the Pope and his adherentes to that whereat he shot were these fiue wherin his practises may plainely be perceiued First that the Canon of the Masse might be cut of and the rest corrected according to the forme of al auncient liturgies brought into Frenche Secondly that the Psalmes might be souÌ„g in Churches after the maner of that FreÌ„ch translation which the doctors of Sorbone had corrected who in deede are as rude Poets although they loue their drinke well as euill diuines Thirdly that indifferently al men might participate in the Lordes Supper vnder both kinds Fourthly that al flat paintings tending to the storie only should be permitted in Churches al Images taken away or at the least wise the people shuld be exhorted not to worship any of theÌ„ either simplie or by relation Fifthly and finally that all curates and priors shoulde either by them selues or by others interpret the epistle and gospel for the day vnto the people Thus did this troublesome member handle France who was against al men and al men against him yea euen in Rome the Cardinal Vitelly did sharpely rebuke him calling him a busie fellowe and molester of al things who only by his driftes cut out more worke in a day then the whole consistory of Cardinals could sowe in a yere The better to frame his ginnes he got forth with him nine bishops foure Abbots and certaine Sorbonistes and arriued at Trent in Nouember 1562. wherevpon the twentye thirde daye of the same moneth he made an oration conteining some matters worth the noting First

meane time the Cardinal boasted that he would kil more betwene two trestles theÌ„ the King could with al his power sent word ordinarily to Rome other places that they had dispatched more Huguenots in one day during the peace then in one moneth whiles the warres continewed Besides al this the Cardinal doubting lest the Catholiks woulde not sufficiently rebel procured them to make brotherhoodes leagues and associations wherein sundry of the Parliaments and nobilitie assisted them gathering together of money giuing their othes enrowling of souldiers together with such other matters concerning the entertainement of their brotherhoodes which they called of the holy Ghost As in the towne of Dijon through the driftes of the Lord of Tauannes and one named Begad a counselour of the parliament the like league was made and when certaine standers by demanded whether it were by the Kings authoritie the said Begad answered that he had his maiesties letters for that purpose which Tauannes had deliuered to one of his secretaries who theÌ„ could not be found Also that though the King liked not thereof yet they nede not to feare for he knew wel enough whither els to repaire Morouer that they were not to regard such letters as the King ordinarily writte to the said Tauannes or vnto the court of Parliament teÌ„ding to the obseruatioÌ„ of the edict for they coÌ„teined another mistery which al the world vnderstood not The like was also done in Bourgundy other places In the meane time the exercise of religion was forbidden in the hie and low countreis of Auuergne and in al other parts pertaining to the kings brethren and to certain Princes of the blood In other prouinces were dayly preparations for the apprehending of the principal yet by letters directed vnto such gouerners as had the wachword they were charged to let the gentlemen of the Religion vnderstand that the Kings minde was wel to intreat them and to maintaine them in the exercise of their Religion therby giuing them to wit that he accounted them as his faithful and good subiects and seruants and that such broyles as they heard of tended only to the assuring of his estate against sundrie townes men insolent and seditious persons and so afterward to the restoring of al things into quiet estate and to the fauouring of the nobilitie as wel of the one as other Religion for that they are his principal strength causing them to liue in agreement vnder the authoritie of his Edictes These now were faire wordes but least certaine Catholikes not being sufficiently trained in the Cardinal and his adherents affayres hearing such letters might quaile there were also other secret letters sent with commandement to communicate the same vnto such as were accompted meete to be called to like accomptes This enterprise did the Cardinal also communicate vnto the Cardinal of Crequies agent at the Castle of Madrit in August 1568 whereof the saide agent did at large write vnto his master the verie wordes of his letter which was surprised and brought to the Prince of Conde haue we here set downe They haue saide the Cardinal to this agente taken good order euerie where that the King may remaine master that the chiefe maye be caught and all opportunitie of gathering together taken from them to the ende that hauing brought them to that point as by the order alreadie taken it wil be easie to doe we may then vtterly roote out this vermine for so did the Cardinal call the Protestantes beeing enemies vnto God the King and the estate and not leaue one infected person in the Realme because it is such a seede as still will budde out newe mischiefe vnlesse we shoulde take this waye whereof our neighbours doe set before vs so goodly examples Attending which time that can not be past this moneth it is thought best in all the prouinces to speake fayre to the principal of them and to such of the Nobilitie as seeme least affected to the saide Religion thereby onely to content them in dalying and as much as may be lulling them on sleepe as already diuers haue hearkened therto and doe beginne to assure them selues yea some come of their owne accorde doe burne their winges in the candle yet doe we hope wel that more will doe the like who we know are already shaken This way vndoubtedly we shal sone winne our processe and obteine assured victorie without any great labour or resistance against the enemies of our faith These were the Cardinals fetches which togither with diuers other practises whereof we wil in more conuenient place make mention did kindle the fire of the third ciuil warres being of longer continuance and more tedious then the rest The Prince of Conde toward the ende of the same moneth in great haste saued him selfe by departing from Noyers in Bourgundie where he should haue bene enclosed within two dayes after gat to Rochell against which place the Cardinal had already practised many things but he troubled his head in vayne Then was the warre open and whyle they prepared to cause the Catholicke army to march vnder the conduct of the Duke of Anjou the Cardinal deuised two Edictes published both in one day in the Parliament of Paris namely the 28. of September to wit the third day after that they had bene framed in the councill In the first the King making a long discourse of things happened in his Realme through the Religion declareth among other things that the Edict of Ianuary wherein he granted the Protestantes leaue to exercise their Religion was but prouisionall attending his maiority also that now he was no lenger minded to permit the edictes touching Religion to stand any longer in force Also that now being come to his maioritye he forbiddeth all excercise of the same within his dominions willing perpetually that there be no other exercise of Religion sauing the Romaine in all his iurisdictions vnder payne of confiscation of body and goods Also vnder like penalty he chargeth al ministers of the said Religion to auoyde his Realme within fifteene dayes forbidding neuertheles that any of the said Religion be researched in their consciences so long as peaceably they wil liue in their houses In the other he declared that from that time forward he did not intende to vse the seruice of any of the said Religion and thereby did suspend them from their offices and functions commanding them to come and giue vp the same into his handes within fifteene dayes or else him selfe woulde otherwise prouide These two Edictes had long bene vpon the file and the Cardinall a farre of shewed the same to the Catholickes to moue them to come to the offring and to bring in coyne for the armyes paye wherein he the Queene mother and their mynions vsed their wonted sportes But these Edictes were more preiudicial to the Catholickes then they supposed for most of the Protestantes who otherwise were not determined to haue gone out at the

office of some such person as hath leysure to deuise some politike discourses and reueale the blindnesse of the French Catholike Gentlemen who in professing them selues men of experience and practise haue suffered a priest to baffulle them who was more cowardly then a woman and who also in his sleeue in the coÌ„panie of his familiar friends with open throate scorned them as in place conuenient we shal hereafter see The Duke d'Aumale was vpon the borders of Bourgundy Lorraine accompanied with great troupes ouer whom he commaunded and there wayted to stoppe the passage of the Reistres who came to the protestants ayde Wherein he had as good successe as in other his martiall deedes For his souldiers openly sayde that he had more fleshe then witte or courage And in deed notwithstanding he were in a conuenient couÌ„try for his footmen of whom there were a great number and those trayned soldiers yet did he nothing worth the speaking of but sundrie tymes was in dauÌ„ger of being wel beaten yea he refused to meet with his enemies in a place greatly to his aduauntage But to say the trueth the Cardinall was also one cause of these kinde of dealings for he minded not that they shoulde so soone come to handy blowes but hoped eyther to winne the straungers or els to finde them at a better aduantage and so sought more and more to shuffle the cardes wherby he might meete with the better game As for the yong Duke of Guise through his great fauour with the Duke of Anjou proceeding of their straight acquaintance besides that he was great master he was now highly aduanced His vncle also placed about him many captaynes who at Poictiers stood him in good stead The Marquise of Maine his yonger brother was then through his youth of no countenance The great Prior and the Marquise d'Ellebeufe his vncles were dead a while before neither were they greatly regarded as men hauing no more witte then their brother the Cardinal of Lorraine had bestowed vpon them neither were they factious but as he taught and commaunded them But at all aduentures we haue extended this matter farre enough in this first parte of the legende of the lordes of Guise We will therefore permit the readers to take breath and giue our penne some respite whereby to proceede in the reste namely of the behauiours of the Cardinall and his adherents in the third Edict of pacification also of their meanes to atteine vnto the murder at S. Bartlemewes daye also of such things as of their partes haue since chanced to the confusion of King Charles and his estate Also of the euill pranckes which they haue played with King Henrye the third now reigning with all the princes of the blood the great Lordes the Nobilitye the Iustices the Clergie the people as well of the one as of the other Religion their fautours and friendes yea and one of them selues with an other Here before we haue seene parte of their dealinges vnder Francis the first Henry the second Francis the second and Charles the ninthe but the sundry particularityes which shal be set downe in the other bookes following will shew that in this first parte we haue only touched the matters and described as it were the entrye into the bloody villainous and accursed palace of the Guisians Let this therefore be the beginning of a greater worke I would to God that by this that is past the Frenchmen might though somewhat late and to their cost know part of those instruments wherwith the Lord for their offences hath scourged them to the end that returning vnto him as they ought they might receiue soner then I hope for some rest and ease FINIS The genealogie of the house of Guise â—e preâ—ment of ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ house of â—ise ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ Franâ—â—ateth â—ouse of â—e ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ house â—uise do â—le the â—dinal of â—rnon Their gratituâ— toward Constaâ— The original of the malice of the Guisiâ—ns against â—he Admiâ—al of Chastillon The practises of the Duke of Guise for getting of a wife The Guisians sought to expell Katherine de Medicis Their great â—es grouÌ„ded vpon an â—arlot Charles made Cardinall The Guisians dealing with Cardinall Iohn their vncle â—heir quaâ— for the â—uchie of â—niou â—hey â—ught to â—come the â—rinces feâ—wes â—meaâ— of the ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ of ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ toâ—â—he ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ of ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ â—aâ—â—f the â—ine Marie â—e of The taâ— of Calaiâ— â—e peace â—cluded â—o the kiÌ„g â—payne The Carâ—nals pursiâ— against tâ— ProtestaÌ„â— â—he Cardiâ—â—l ioyneth â—ue with â—e Parliaâ—ent of â—aris The behauâ—ours of the Guisians toward the person of King Henry â—eir behaâ—urs toâ—rd Franâ— the seâ—d Of the enterprise of Amboyse Warres in â—cotland by â—he Guisians â—eanes at â—e cost of â—rance â—he Guisiâ—s resist ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ order â—ew ruines â—f the â—ealme â—he assemâ—ly at FouÌ„â—â—inbleau â—the assemâ—e of the â—tates â—he Guiâ—â—ans make â—ing Franâ—s the 2 â—rsworne ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ vnfaithâ—l vnto his â—ne blood Their practises with strangers fâ— the destrâ—ction of France The Guisians practises broken â—heir beâ—â—uiour at â—e death of â—rancis the â—conde The Guisians behauiours in the time of Charles the ninth The estates â—t Orleans The Guiâ—â—ans called accompteâ— â—he poliâ—es of the â—uisians â—erewith bring the â—alme inâ— trouble Commotions of the Catholikes The Ediâ— of Iuly â—actises to â—rthrowe ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ King of â—uarre The estatâ— at Pontoise The diâ—tation ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ Poissy The Ediâ— of Ianuaâ— â—f the TriuÌ„â—â—irate and â—e capituâ—tion of the â—me â—e voyage Sauerne ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ beginâ— of the trouâ— â—he first â—oubles The triuâ—â—uirates râ—queste The Câ—nall prâ—reth thâ— be proâ—med reâ— who doâ— withstaâ— his prâ—ses The Cardâ—nals policâ— for the maâ—â—taining of his TyraÌ„â— The Carâ—â—nal goeth the Counâ— The siege of Bourges Rouen The battaiâ— of Dreux The Duâ— of Guise death The first pacificatâ— The Guâ—â—â—ans behaâ—ours betâ— the first ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ second tâ—bles The Artâ—cles of thâ— Councill which thâ— Cardinalâ— propouÌ„deâ— thereby agayne to trouble tâ— Realme The Cardâ—nalles entrâ— into Pariâ— ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ letter to ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ Duke Aumale The Duâ— d'Aumalâ— letter of â—spiracie â—e Cardiâ—â—lles praâ—ses new sleigâ— for procâ—ring of tâ—bles The seconâ— ciuil warre The secoâ—â— Edict of â—â—cification The Cardinals practâ—ses for thâ— third troubles The Kinâ— Edict of Cardinaâ— deuising to what Other of the Cardinals sleighâ— for kindlinâ— of the thiâ— ciuil warrâ— The leaâ— of the Câ—tholiks Counsâ— the deâ—tion oâ— Franâ— The third ciuil warâ—

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