For a Stage play can not haue good grace to make the people laugh except there be a popish Priest to play the Deuils part All this whispering among them was about a great summe of money which the king of Spaine should lay out for to beginne the play and least the sayd king of Spaine should be cosened of his money the Duke of Guyze to deliuer him the dukedome of Britayn y t Cityes of Bourdeaux and Marseilles and for the performance thereof he should send some of his children to the Duke of Sauoy in hostages Therefore now the Guyze is as full of Spanish pistolets as a Dogge is full of Fleas as the Prouerbe is when wee will signify great aboundance of thinges He geueth great summes of this Spanish liberality to his partakers but specially to discontented persons He profereth also of this Spanish money to many which neither require it neither would haue of it But all men did excéedingly wonder whence should come this plenty séeing that it was well knowen that he was déepely indebted Now when all thinges séemed to be in a readines to begin the tragedie the Fryers of the society of Bariese the sorcerer named by cutting short Iesuits do play the prologue for they steppe vp into Pulpits euery where whom they haue turned to trompets and drommes of the Deuill to blow and sound the alarme of sedition and rebellion There they do shew the decay of popery which they call the Catholike faith they do vrge the miseries of euery degrée to procéede from the Hugonoets and their fauorers meaning and in a maner openly declaring the king They do propound y e great dangers which did hang ouer the heads of the Catholikes There they did tell how that there was a certaine confederacie of the Hugonoets with the heretikes of Germany England Denmarke and Swisserland to oppresse the Catholike Church It is said before that in September last there was holden a certayne conuenticle of conspirators against Christendom in Paris by the Bariesuits commonly called the Iesuits where they forged a certaine infamous libell to serue them for a firebrand of the sedition There they say and lye all at once that the 14. day of December 1584 ther was concluded at Magdebourge in Saxonie that the kings of Nauarre and Denmarke the Queene of England the Princes of Germany the Princes Palsgraue and Orenge the Landsgraue of Hessen they or their Embassadors should appeare at Basill the next moneth of May following Where is to be noted the impudencie of these lying Fryers For the Princes Palsgraue and Orenge were dead the one a whole yeare before the other they had procured to be murthered in Holland by one of their owne Iesuits 6. moneths before But these two Princes they should raise vp by the Boriesu their master whom these Coniurers founde in their Pamphlets to appeare at Basill They affirmed also in the said infamous libels that the King of Nauarre should haue taken armes the 18. of Aprill the yeare 1585. which in déede was the time appointed for the League to rise vp They affirmed also that the king of Nauarre had promised in the assemblie of Montaulban that in case he should suruiue the king and that hée might attayne to the Crowne he would roote out of France all Popish religion and depriue them of the said religion of all state dignity and autority They said also that the ministers had perswaded the king of Nauarre to reuenge the murther of Paris and that it was concluded that out of euery towne and citie 3. of the chéefest Burgeses should be deliuered to requite the said murther They did reade these forged lyes in their Pulpits where they omitted no point of Monkish railing rhetoricke in their sermons to stirre vp the people to sedition and warre against them of the reformed religion They crye out they rage and fume saying that now the time is come that holy Church for by this word they meane the pride pompe and voluptuous life of Bishops Cardinals Monkes Fryers and Priestes do craue their helpe or neuer They do exhort the people both in their Sermons and prinate confetence and in their shriuing of the people to ioyne with the Leaguers made them great promises of heauenly rewardes they extolled the noble buds of Charlemaigne meaning the Guyzes which haue vndertaken the defence of holy Church against the force and attemptes of heretikes and fauorers of them They preached also their valure their wisedome their woundes and noble feats for the defence of the realme and holy Church They shewed how easie it would be to roote out the heretikes out of all France hauing such Captaines to manage the warres About the beginning of this yeare 1585. there was a Bachiler or rather a lodger of diuinitie in Sorboune which dyed a holy Martir in this wise let good men iudge This Diuine had holden in disputation publikely in the Colledge of Sorboune this Theologall proposition ful of Iesuitical diuinity which he dedicated to the Abbot of Cluny bastard sonne to the Cardinall of Lorreine that was to wit That it was lawfull for any man priuate or otherwise to depose or kill any King or Prince which were wicked euill men or heretikes The king hearing of this new and strange kinde of Diuinitie aryued now of late into the land was greatly offended and intended to call this Bachiler to accompt but he was preuented by these meanes For they which had made him so speake with Pistolets of Spaine hired a good fellow likewise with Pistolets which slew this diuine with all his diuinity in the court of the Colledge which act done fled auoided least he who had set both of them to worke for Pistolets should be disclosed Thus the Prologue being so well played and the hartes of the beholders so prepared the Duke of Guyze also with his Pistolets hauing drawen the Malcontes to helpe to playe the rest and the principall Authors themselues almost readie to come forth There rested one practise more to be set downe before the entrance which was as followeth Betwéene the riuers of Charante Botonne and the townes of Niort Fonteney and Ralmond cituated vppon the Ocean sea lyeth a Countrey called Annix pertaining to the gouernement of Rochel the Riuer Seure comming downe from Niort afore it falleth into the sea méeting with an other riuer running from Fontency deuideth it selfe into many channels which do make diuers Ilandes commonly called the Ilandes of Maran by the name of the chiefe towne there called Portmaran At euery accesse into those Ilandes there are fortes builded vpon the channels of the sayd riuer The third day of February the Minister of Maran being at Rochel was aduertised by the letters of a friend that there was greater and more cruell preparation of warre against the reformed religion than euer had béen afore time and also that there were drifts to seaze vpon the Iles of Maran the Castle and other Forts if it were not looked to For the Guizes
concluded a truce as is aforesaid in Daulphine and set that Prouince in some good stay with his campe marched toward Prouance to ioyne with the Lord Valete to reduce that countrey to the Kings obedience It is said before how the King during the déepe winter did great exploytes with prosperous successe in subduing the Countries of Beausse Anjou Toureyne Mayne Lauall Perche and most part of Normandie in reducing them to their duetie of aleageance restored them peace iustice and iudgement vtterly subuerted and troden vnder foote by the Leaguâ—rs and how hauing continued few dayes at the siege of Falaize tooke it by assault Now we will returne againe to few matters which were done in the end of this yeare It is said how the Duke de Maine after the Kings departure from Paris gaue himselfe to fight with the Coffers and counting houses of the Parisiens But for recreation sake also he put on the armor of Venus to fight with the Curtizans of Paris so that beeing molten in all filthy pleasures the Lady Saint Beufue or some other such Uirgin did so dresse him that his name shortly after was writteÌ„ in the Chirurgians hall among them that had the pockes and lying in Paris about two moneths with his army about the Citty without dooing any thing for the aduancement of the holy Union onely that it might appeare that he was a King of Fryers he was first annointed King of Fryers by the Chirurgians of Paris with that holy Oile and extreame vnction wherewith the Popes Priests Monks Fryers and Iesuits are oftentimes annoynted and after that crowned with such a crowne as the Fryers themselues are crowned with and about the time that he had somewhat recouered his strength and téeth began to be somewhat fast in his head and his drabbling had left him Fryer Sixtus who somewhat afore the Kings death had called home his Legat who was a Uenetian Bishop of Brixia for that he was thought in Rome to fauour very much the kings affaires vnderstanding the kings affaires to haue better successe then hee would wish or had expected sent a new Legat into France to comfort assist and further the affaires of the Rebels he sent I say Fryer Henrique Cardinall Caietan his brother Canuillo Caietan Patriark of Alexandria when he can haue it Frier Philip Siga Byshop of Placentia Frier Francis Pauigarola Bishop of Aste Hieronimo Moceuigo Bishop of Ceueda Laurence Bauchet Iudge de Rota and Secretarie of this Legacy all whelps of one litter and by one ye may know all the rest who were sent in company with their traine to rid Rome of so many Caterpillers These routes of filthy Friers with their Mouchachos arriued in Paris about the middle of December with loads of such blessings and holy reliques of Rome as the Mules of Frier Campegius did ouerthrow and scatter in Cheapside when hee came into England about the diuorsement of King Henry the eight and Queene Catharine of Spaine his first wife This Frier Henrique called the heads of the League to counsell keepeth a stirre with them chid them that they were lurking in taking their pleasures without dooing any thing for holy Church and holy vnion but now they must go about their businesse handsomly wherefore comprehendeth the whole affaires in four principall points whereof three of them he would performe himselfe And first after the maner of Fryers which is alwaies in their Sermons to remember their conuent to begin with the Deuill hee proclaimed a Iubile through all France to prooue yet whether hee might with that old patched net of robbery called indulgences fish any money to helpe his master who had sent him to fish to maintaine in their brauery the holy Mochachos and Curtizans in Rome During the time of this Iubile which began at the feast of the natiuity of Christ Frier Henrique do replenish the minds of the Parisiens with superstitions the streates of Paris with processions the Churches with sottish Idolaters his belly with the best meat he could get and his purse with as much money as he could This Fisher with his ragged net was not so much superstitiously receaued in Paris as he was despised and laught to scorue euen by the Catholiks generally through all France maruelling that this Saint Peter fisher had no better tooles to goe about his busines and so as the Prouerbe is seldome doo speede the fowler neuer the fisher for beside what he did in Paris in any where else he get not a poore peny to blesse himselfe Secondly he goeth about to weaken the King for hee wrote letters to the Cardinals Bishops and Nobility of the Catholick religion wherewith he warned them of the great danger of their soules in following ayding assisting a King heretick shewing them the great harme which this schisme would doo in time to the Catholick Church by which word he meant the Legioss of Locustes of Priestes Monkes Friers and Iesuites He wrote this supposing that his bare letter would haue caused the Catholicks by heapes to forsake the Kings defence and to ioyne with the rebels This letter of Frier Henryque had thrée diuers effects for first some Bishops thought good to repayre to the King to sée whether they could make him a Catholick to whome the King answered as he had once before answered a Cardinall that he was able sooner to make a Cardinall a Hugonet then a Cardinall would make him a Catholick Others as the Cardinals of Vendosme and Leuoncourt with diuers other Byshops were of opinion that it was most expedient to call a nationall counsel according to the which the king had promised to reforme himselfe But vnto this Frier Henrique the Legat would not harken by any meanes fearing both the light and the pinch The nobility answered that they did hold him for the true heire and successor of the Crown whom they would establish in the full possession therof and when the king had pacifyed the Realme they will thinke on that matter The third thing was to encourage the rebels to set vpon the king two manner of waies by counsell and money First he shewed vnto them that it was shame for them that while the king and hereticks had made great conquests they had done nothing but lurke and take their pleasures That Frier Sixtus his Masters pleasure was to set vppon the king with all their forces before hee were strengthened and confirmed in the kingdome the longer they should delay and linger the harder it would be for them to preuaile against him Now they ought to beate the yron while it is hot and followe the matter while the rebellion is vniuersall the number of partakers great the hearts of them animated while there is great store of money gotten out of the coffers of the inhabitants of Paris out of the confiscations and proâ—criptions of the Royalls they had receaued great store of the Catholick K. of Spayne and he had also charge from Fier Sixtus to deliuer to them fiftie
of Conde Other companies out of Brie Champaigne Vermandoys and other countries there bordering retyred to Sedan the capitall towne of the principality of Boillon Out of Burgondy and the countries about retyred to Geneua and into the signory of Berna The professers of the reformed religion out of Normandy low Britayn and Picardie passed ouer into England for their safety Good Christian Reader I beseech thee to stay here a while and learne both to feare and tremble at the dreadfull iudgementes of God and also his mercie toward his Church shewed at this time which when I do consider it putteth me in remembrance of the like euent which did happen a litle while afore the siege and destructions of Hierusalem by Vespasian and Titus his sonne That citie which here on earth had borne the Image of the true heauenly Hierusalem hauing most wilfully resisted the sonne of God stopped their eares at his voyce When it had fulfilled the measure of her iniquity and that God would make it a wonder a hissyng and nodding of the head vnto all Nations of the world for her obstinacie and vnthankefulnes a litle before the siege there was at midnight heard a voice in the Temple thus Migremns hinc at the rumor thereof all men were greatly amazed musing what should be signifyed by that warning The Saints which were there tooke that to be the voyce of God who according to the threatninges of the law of the Prophets and of Christ against that City would powre downe his wrath vpon that sinfull City directed vnto them commaunding them to depart and to geue place vnto hys wrath So the Church that was there remoued to the City Pella which was beyond Iordan in the ancient inheritance of the Rubenites where it was preserued and out of a place of safety did behold the mighty stormes of Gods tempestes which fel vpon that so noble and famous a City which by Strabo was thought to be the greatest and fayrest of all the East Euen as Abraham long before did behold the subuersion of Sodom so when the Lord had determined to powre the stormes of his anger vpon those Nations which are betweene the Loyre and the English Seas for their offences lyke vnto them of Hierusalem first hee taketh his Church which was scattered among those Nations Townes and Cities and bringeth most of them beyond Loyre some into England some to Sedan some to Geneua some to Suisserland some to Germany least the presence of them who do call vpon his name should hinder the execution of his wrath vpon his enemies for the publication of the edict of vnion commonly called the edict of Iuly although that in another forme was as it were the voyce of God heard out of the Temple Migremus hinc For those nations lying on the North side of Loyre who had conspired to destroy the Gospell of Christ haue drawen the warre from the Prouinces which doe professe the Gospell vpon their owne heads For not onely haue they felt all the former oppressions and outrages of the Leaguers but also by this edict all the burthen of this last ciuill warre raysed vp by the Leaguers hath fallen vpon them beside the horrible murthers and seditions which they haue committed among themselues by the euill Angels which the Lord in his wrath hath sent among them which also do continue still with greater calamities then euer before and is like to continue vntill that those wicked Nations polluted with idolatrie blood of the sayntes and whoredome be vtterly rooted out that God may be auenged of his enemies giuing in the meane tyme a litle rest vnto the reformed churches beyond Loyre and to make them thankful for his great mercyes who hath rewarded his enemies with euil which they had imagined agaynst his people without a cause So the Lord doth turne all thinges to good vnto his Sayntes Now the Leaguers are masters of all for the king had deliuered his royall authority vnto them and deuided his kingdome among them reseruing vnto himselfe the name of a King haue all the Countrey at theyr deuotion and do replenish all France with armes violence and boastings Now they wil play S. George they wil kil the Deuil eyther on horseback or a foote they will worke miracles or else the Deuill shall fayle them And for to begin these miracles the Duke Mercure brother in law to the King and by the last partition of the kingdome a pety King of Britayne was perswaded by his Counsell that now the publishing of the edict of vnion had of it selfe killed all the Hugonets in Poytow and that easily hee might tame all the Countrey and that bâ—ing in the field not one Hugonet durst lift vp his head therefore supposing there to haue to fight with dead men and making himselfe sure of the conquest to make proofe of his valure the 23 of August passed Loyre at Nantes out of Britayn in Poytow with two thousand men entending to roue and ransake all and hauing sacked many popish Churches spoyled the Abbeys at Saint Florent and Plainpied by Saumure like an horrible tempest did march forward sparing neither holy nor prophane thinges making hauocke of all thinges vntill he came as farre as Fontenay The Prince of Conde turned from Saint Paul Decadewalx to Saynt Ihan D' Angelye hauing assembled some friends as wel out of Xainctonge Poytow as other parts within few dayes saw himselfe to haue a lusty company as well of gentlemen as Harquebusiers on horsebacke and with that force expecting the rest tooke his iourney with as much diligence as hee could to meete with the sayd Mercure The Prince arriued at Chandeuier a towne not farre from Niort vnderstoode that the sayd Mercure was about Fontenay where he determined to giue him battaile Mercure hearing that the Prince approched with his companies so ready and willing to fight was amazed considering that it fell out contrary to the counsell giuen him before and that now be must fight with men aliue This increased his feare so much the more for that hee had not so soone heard of the Princes comming but that presently hee was certifyed that the said Prince was in battell array Whereupon he resolued to retyre home but being hardly pressed by the sayd prince he was fayne to retire to Fontenay And because the gouernor of the towne knowing not well how thinges had passed betweene the King and the Leaguers would not suffer him nor his to enter the towne yet otherwise shewing him such fauors as he might therfore he with his troups betook themselues to the Suburbe of Fontenay called the Loges The Prince desirous to see his enemy face to face aduanced toward the Suburbe in battaile aray to prooue whether he might prouoke the enemy to skirmish But the Duke would none of that play But after the Prince had kept the Duke besieged in the Loges for certaine dayes the said Duke fearing eyther at length to be forced or else that the Prince would
out of a good and sound iudgement free wil without any compulsion He willeth them to remember also how on a sudden all these thinges haue béen chaunged and the kinges will not chaunge but partly enforced and partly by the craft of the enemies with ill counsell induced to contrary actions Fourthly he complayneth of the iniuries done to them of the reformed religion who heretofore had béene suffered with liberty of the free exercise of the same without any offence by them geuen and armed by the kinges authority against the Leaguers now to be condemned in respect of their religion as guilty of capitol cryme Fiftly hee declareth how for the auoyding the calamities incident to warre to satisfy vnto the Leaguers he hath debased himselfe so farre vnder his degree as to proffer to the heads of the League the combat to be performed by himself in person or by more number to number as by the aduersary it should bee accepted Sixtly he letteth them vnderstand that hee feareth not their armes whereof he hath had the experience so long time whereby he knoweth well what they are able to do Last of all hee cannot but lament their bloud which they haue and do spill against him for whose seruice they should haue reserued it in stoare But specially this doth greeue him that in the lot of the battell he may not discerne them whom in mind hee discerneth from his enemies Vnto the third estate he writeth to the same purpose as he hath done to the Nobility and besides sheweth vnto them first the horrible miseries which they haue sustained by the ciuill warre and what confusions are like to ensue of these troubles He sheweth also how the end of all the former wars hath béene a peace Secondly whereas they meaning the Leaguers do pretend to ease the people of taxes and charges hee aduertyzeth them that by this warre the taxes impost and subsidies must needs to double and that their rysing in armes hath done already terrible hauocke and wast He warneth them also to consider how that the reformation of impost taxes subsidies they haue turned to their priuat commodity hauing done nothing but enforce the king to deuide his realme among them and to weaken his authority without making mention not one word of the easing of the people Hee writeth the same effect to the inhabitantes of Paris but surdis narrat fabulam The contempt of the Gospel the innocent blood of the Saintes which they haue spilled like water must be better reuenged The wrath of God must walke now beyond Loyre to execute his iudgements vpon these nations that lye betweene the low countrey and Loyre because they haue not repented at the former scourges but haue hardened their hartes and haue blasphemed the God who liueth for euermore The dispersing of the Princes armie and declaration of the edict of vnion dated the seauenth day of October did cast a marueilous amaze and dread vppon all them of the religion generally but specially vppon them who were left through the Popish countreys in France hoping for a better time There were also many of the contrary religion who being louers of the State and wishing well to the house of Bourbon and to the right of the cause began to wauer and to alter their minds according to the vnablenes of fortune and the nature of the euents There followed after in December the bloudie procéedings of Ruze Bishop of Anger 's and the Kings Iniunction to his officers to execute his edict with the allowing of y e abiuration penned by rauening Ruze These things made a great dissipation in the families of them of the religion For by these meanes the rage of the Papists encreased agaynst the reformed religion and emboldened to attempt any violence and iniurie agaynst them For the enemies supposing that the Prince had béen lost for it was very long time afore it was knowne what was become of him they iudged also that the faith and hope of them of the reformed religion had béen buried with him The inconstancie of many of them who had remayned in France after the declaration of the edict of Iuly did appeare For many estéemed more the commodities of their houses and the pleasures of their countrey than the quietnes of their consciences and the keeping of those good precepts which they had learned in the schoole of Christ which is rather to dye vnder the Crosse than to liue in committing Idolatrie The Papists on the contrary side forgat no meanes to throwe downe them that stoode on slipperie places for beside the rigour of the edict which had abridged the time of anoydance to fifteene daies with dreadful threatnings the Iesuites Friers Massing and parish Priests and other firebrands of the Romish route thundered agaynst them whom they tearmed hereticks in their bloudie and sedicious sermons And if they could not disswade them from their religion then they stirred vp the people to murther them or els pursued them before the Magistrates who were eagerly set against them being for the most part of the League They who had béen of the religion or had béen suspected to haue fauoured the same persecuted them who remayned constant thereby to terrifie that they had neuer béen of them Their friends on the other side had no small power to trie the constancie of those simple soules who before had fastened too much the aâ—cker of their safetie in the forces of man There were also which did great pleasure to their friends and kindred in obtayning to them prorogation of time to giue order to their affayres and after to retyre some where Many remayning constant in the trueth estéeming more their faith to God than worldly goods foreseeing also a more stormie tempest than that which was past would ensue without any further bargaining left al and retyred some to the principalitie of Sedan some into Germany great number to Geneua great multitudes to Saint Ihan d'Angely Rochel and England It was a lamentable thing to see the wofull vanishments and dissipation of so many families without any succour or comfort They which were touched with a greater zeale would not leaue their children behinde them in daunger to bee throwne into the myre of Idolatrie which they detested esteeming of the conscience of their children as of their owne knowing that they should answere before God for the same This caused many of them to carrie their children vppon their shoulders for lacke of other meanes God shewed in such a stormie tempest that he hath hauens of safetie alwaies in store for them who being tossed and tormoyled vnder the heauines of the Crosse doo cast as children vpon their fathers their eyes vpon him For this is a wonderfull worke of GOD that for the space of thrée whole yeares the pestilence had so afflicted Rochel that there was no part free of the same Saint Ihan d'Angely also when this persecution waxed so violent was so beaten with it that the towne was almost destitute
asswaged the rage and passion which caried away many would haue stayed the persecutions against them of the reformed Religion and would haue made a way to some reasonable agreement but the Leaguers and other enemies without any remorse of conscience without feeling of their owne priuate or publike griues so much the more made hast to worke the vtter subuersion of the sayde religion oppressing with greater crueltie the professors thereof than they did before Sathan therefore the captaine of murtherers of the Saints deuided his forces one part to assault the remnaunt of the Church left in the popish prouinces of France and the Churches of the principalitie of Boillon which we will in order recite As after the breaking of the armie of the prince of Conde in Vandomoys in the yeare of our Lord 1585. they thought that with the same Prince al their hope had been gone which thing made them increase their crueltie euen so did they after the dissipation of the armie of the Germanes supposing that they should shortly see the end thereof The authors of these persecutions were the King the Leaguers the Bishops the Iesuytes the Fryers the Monkes the parish Priests and Magistrates In these assaults appeared the cowardlines of a great many of them who had professed the true religion who looking more on the euents and present dangers than to the end of such skirmishes where we ought to shew a proofe of our fayth and with pacience to expect an happyend for feare were caried away to vnlawfull things against their conscience But the Lord as at all other times left not his truth without witnesses for many in diuers parts of the Realme being cruelly persecuted shewed their constancie in maintaining their faith and religion whereupon it seemeth me not to be out of purpose to make mention of the constancie which God gaue to a man of base condition in defending of his religion who in this respect shewed the way to many which in the sight of the worlde had greater meanes to doe it than he had There was in the towne of Marchenoyre in Beausse a poore man borne in Boysgencye vpon Loyre named Francis Tixier as if wee shoulde saie weauer this man by his occupation was a maker of packsaddles who by reason of his family had not departed out of the Realme according to the Kings Edicts neither had obeyed the Kinges commandement in conforming himselfe to the Popish religion but had alwayes constantly remained in the profession of the true religion praying dayly in his house often times ioyning himselfe secretly to others to the same effect and to sing Psalms as it is vsed among thē who do professe y e reformed religion He visited also them who were sicke and strengthened them and if any were which stoode in neede by the meane of some small collections which was made among them secretly hee helped them as he was wont to doo when the reformed Church did assemble at Orges in the which he did beare the office of an Elder God blessed that zeale in time so hard and difficult for some of the villages thereabous by the meane of that small exercise without feare of the persecution forsaking the Romish Church ioyned themselues to the pure religion But this course was not continued long for by the watches and searches of them who in the former assaults alarumes could get nothing vpon this man he was at length discouered and complained off to the Magistrate So that the King passing through Marchenoyre the accusers addressed themselues to one of his Aulmoners and instructed him of certaine accusations against that poore man to wit that hee had not obeyed the Kings edict but on the contrarie did perseuer in his heresie and dogmatize so they kindled the Aulmoner in such a sort that they agreed altogether to put a complaint to the King they made also a booke of others of the religion which they caused the sayd Aulmoner to present to the King For his custome belike was so to bestowe the Kings almes The King commaunded that they should bee apprehended Tixier as the most hatefull was first taken and with great solemnitie brought before the King who was desirous to see him for he was informed that hée was a Minister The King himselfe examined him when he had appeared with great assurance When the King had asked him whether he was an Hugonet and wherefore he had not gone out of the Realme being one as he did confesse and whether he would goe to Masse once or twise and so to escape from punishment The poore man answered that he had not the meanes to auoyde and that he would not goe to Masse nor alter his religion which he knewe to be the trueth When the King perceiued his constancie he sent him to Bloys with letters to his Iudges there commaunding them straightly to make his processe according to the rigour of his edicts There in the Kings presence he was greatly reuiled by the Lords Courtiers and Clawbackes Being carried to Bloys there he was assaulted by three manner of enemies the Iudges his friends and the rest of prisoners First the Iudges had him in hand and after they had gone about to withdrawe him from his religion to Poperie with such bald reasons as they could affoord he made them a plaine answere that he knewe the true Catholike and Apostolike Church and that hee was one of the fellowe citizens of the same but for the Romish Church he neither knewe it nor cared to knowe When these great Deuines had spent all their reasons euen to the bottome they began to drawe out their threatnings to hang him and to giue him opprobrious words The poore man despising their reasons and the dregges thereof made them a flat answere that as he had liued in that religion which they call heresie so was he readie to dye for it if so it were Gods will And after many examinations all about on thing to wit whether hee would goe to masse one asked him of whom he held his religion and who had taught him he answered that hee held it of God who had taught him by his holy spirit Vpon this answere one Saint Seuerine an Italian replyed my frend thine holy spirit will hang thee if thou come not to thy selfe The Lord reproue the spirit of blasphemy This was the miserable state of that realme then that the most vile saucy blasphemous Atheistes were raysed vp by the Q. Mother to high and honorable dignities Saynt Paul had learned the Pharisaisme at the feete of Guualiel but this lewd Italian had learned Atheisme at the Popes feete in Italy and is welcome in France by them of his religion to teach Atheisme and to shew the way to the Frenchmen how to blaspheme a l'Italiane Many other such like trifling talke they had with the pore man more fit for gatherers of old shooes and ragges vppon the dunghil of Bloys then for magistrates The Prisoners did greatly afflict him
horses of carriage the onset was giuen within two leagues of Pilmil suburbe of Nantes The King after giuing of thankes vpon that place where the skirmish was fought for that prosperous successe and victorie made a light dinner vnder a tree and after retyred to his lodging at S. Georges where hee soiourned the whole day following for the long daies iourney which he had made the day before notwithstanding that day hee went a hawking for Partridges and in the euening viewed the towne of Montagne to take order for the fortifications and garrisons of the sayd towne and purposed to haue layed the siege to the towne Clisson not farre thence The King being yet at S. George was strengthened with foure regiments of footmen to wit of Charbonieres Sallignak Preau and the regiment of his gardes commanded by the Lord Querine there also he receaued the light horsemen of the Lord Trimouille who had discomfited the regiment of Lestele and taken foure Ensignes which they presented vnto the sayd King The selfe same day being aduertized of the daunger wherein the Duke Espernon stood within the Towne of Engolesme besieged there within the Castell by a conspiracie of the Leaguers caused him to giue ouer his enterprise vpon Clisson the day following being the 15. of August departed from Saint George purposing to make toward Engolesme to succor the saide Lorde Espernon but hearing by the way how the tumult there was pacified went not so far as that place It is saide before how that the Leaguers in their request presented vnto the King made a great complaint against the Duke Espernon charging him to haue intelligences with the King of Nauarre and them of the religion to haue been the cause that their armies had heretofore small successe and that if he should grow to greater authoritie it were danger that in time he would deliuer the places of his gouernement to the King of Nauarre that he is the onely cause that the politick state is so corrupt and out of frame and therefore the King must needes put him from about his person and fauour This Lord Espernon of the auncient house of Valette grew in great fauour with the King through his faithfull seruice a man altogether sold to popery yet a louer of the Kings person crowne and state a louer of the realme and peace of the same a hater of conspirators and perturbers of the quietnes of the King and his subiects who neuer could bee drawne to the conspiracies of the Leaguers neither by faire promises nor other meanes whatsoeuer which thing was the cause that the Leaguers hated him as the onely man about the Kings person who did hinder the execution â—f their enterprises that man therefore must not be about the King nor be admitted into the assembly of the states The King to giue place to their hatred for a time and to auoyde the inconueniences which through y e malice of his enemies might befall to such a trustie seruant determined to send him out of their sight and where hee thought that they should be least able to practise against him And giuing him a very great power and commission in a most ample manner to commaund in the Prouinces of Aniou Toureyne Poytow Engomoyes Xainctonge commaunded him to depart the Court about the same time that the edict of reunion was made by the Leaguers who hauing soiourned a while in the Tower of Loches situated in Toureyne vpon the riuer Vndre which falleth into Loyre betwéene Tours and Samure to fortifie and assure the said place to the Kings obedience against the practises of certaine Gentlemen of the League made against that place From thence he tooke his iourney to Engolesme where he vnderstoode that many enterprises were a working by the League against the Kings seruice There commaunded the Lorde Tageus his kinseman vnder the charge of the Lord Valette his brother The saide Lorde Espernon arriuing at Engolesme accompanied with a great number of the nobilitie was honorably receaued by the Maior and Aldermen of the Citie by the officers of iustice policie with great numbers of people who went to meete him at the gates of the Citie hee was likewise receaued by the Bishop and his Priests at the doore of Saint Peters Church where they sung solemnly a great te Deum laudamus in the worship of him Not long after the said Lord Espernon called together the Bishop and his Priestes the Maior and the Escheuins the Kings officers and other chiefe Citizens to giue them notice of the occasions of his comming which was first to preserue them all in the Catholicke Romane religion for the which and for the Kings seruice he would willingly aduenture his life against all manner of men Exhorting them to aduise what was requisit for their conseruation and that they would propound the same vnto him All answered with one consent that they would dye vnder his authority in the same resolution and for to testify their willes the better they would haue his authority from the King printed read and published as the manner is through all the towne The said Lord hauing many companies both of horsemen and footmen yet would he innouate nothing not so much as to change any part of the garrison of the Citty and to testify vnto them more apparantly of the confidence which hee had in the promises and fidelity of them he would not lodge in any stronger place nor more aduantagious for his preseruation but in the Castell which is called the Kings house wherein he found his Cosin the Lord Tageus lodged as the gouernours heretofore had accustomed to do This Castell hath no strength which is any thing worth nether in Ditches nor in any handy worke except some great Towers of stone very olde but otherwise very commodious for the store of chambers which are therein The said Lord had brought his Lady with him and had also lodged the Lady Tageus there Hee went the same day into the Citadell wherein he commaunded the Lord Bordes with all the nobility which accompanied him could euen then haue lodged there if he had had any diffidence of the inhabitants for the keies were presented to him by the Lord Bordes That Fortresse was sufficient to haue bridled the inhabitantes considering the strength and great store of Munitions of the said place as well in Ordinance as in other necessary things But specially hauing a gate to get out of the towne whereby may be let in as many men as one would But the sayd Lord in stéed of mistrust kept an open house as well for the nobility of the countrey as for the inhabitantes of the citty without any respect of persons whereof a great number but specially the Maior of the town with his conspiratours sat ordinarily at his table with great curtesy and welcome shewed vnto them by the sayd L. Espernon He walked familiarly with them through the citty and suburbs with a small company of his
the said congregation confessed that for feare of death he had consented to the abominations of Poperie and with many teares very feruently prayed to God to forgiue him exhorted the Church to take heede not to followe his frailtie willing them not to be offended with his fall and with an earnest inuocation of Gods most holy spirit promised euer hereafter by Gods grace constancie and stedfastnes in the confession of the trueth After a long and wofull warre the particular accidents whereof I here omit as hastening to my purpose and referre the reader in that respect to such treatises as are of purpose written concerning those matters at length a peace was concluded about the 27. of Iuly 1576. which was sworne vpon by the King by the King of Nauarre Monsieur the Kings onely brother the Prince of Conde and Casimire other Nobles with the lifting vp of their hands The King to wit Henry the 3. to shew how well pleased he was with this peace willed and commanded that it should bee called his peace because he had graunted it with his owne will and proper motion The King of Nauarre then had not onely a iust cause but also opportunitie to complaine of diuers iniuries done vnto him at and after the murther of Paris and also to demaund amends for his great losses yet he neuer mooued one word least by any priuate commodities of his owne the peace should haue béen hindered By that conclusion of peace the King graunted eight Townes beside them which they held before vnto them of the reformed religion to bee gouerned vnder his obedience by the King of Nauarre for the space of sixe yeares It was agreed also at the request of the reformed religion that the King should call the States of the Realme to confirme this peace and to restore the ancient dignitie of that kingdome These States were so cunningly handled that it did almost fall to the vtter vndoing of them of the religion For the Guizes with the collusion of the King made such meanes as none other might be admitted to the same States than the professed enemies of the Gospell For they caused conuocations to bee assembled in the seuerall Prouinces who appoynted such as were farre from peace with secret instructions to bee presented at the saide States without making the Townes Cities or Commonalties priuie to the same They also caused infamous Libels to be printed and proposed in their seuerall conuocations denouncing open warre vnto them of the reformed religion and vnto all that would not consent to the vndoing of them Furthermore they deuised also the meanes to interrupt that peace which of late concluded by their consent and yet so politickly that the causes should not bee founde in themselues but in the professors of the Gospell For they procured infinite iniuries and violences to be done vnto them of the Religion by their partakers hoping that through dispaire and impatiencie they would breake the peace and so the King would arme the Duke of Guize against them that in the meane time hauing the Kings power in hand he might growe in authoritie and the King decrease Immediatly after the conclusion of peace made the Guizes perceiuing that these three noble Princes had auoyded their clawes for the King of Nauarre was gone into his kingdome the Prince of Conde had auoided into Germanie Monsieur had bin set at libertie without any hope to bring them againe within their reach and that not onely they were a terror but also would be great lets to their drifts and that they were able to cut them out more worke than they would be able to patch as long as they should liue considering the name roome authoritie and power that they were of both in France and with forraine Nations To the ende that at the States appoynted they might oppresse these Princes with the rest of the Nobilitie which would not take part with them to ground a sure foundation vpon a strong Councell then sent they their agent the Bishop of Paris and the aduocate Dauid a worse man did not liue then vpon the earth to Rome the holy Citie to take good aduise and spiritual counsell of their ghostly father The Bishop of Paris and Dauid with him came to Rome the Schoole of all murthers treasons poysonings and slaughters against all the Princes and States of Christendome There assembled all the schoolemasters and teachers of the Sciences aboue saide I meane the Cardinalls among whome Sir Hugh bon companion Vicar of Rome for so was his right name afore he was Pope was the forman There was great complaints framed against the King Monsieur his brother the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde against all the house of Burbon and the Nobilitie of France The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were heretickes and relapse The King and his brother with a great number of the Nobilitie if they were not heretickes yet were they fauourers of heretickes they caused heresies to grow and to take roote by making peace with heretickes to the vtter ouerthrowe of holy Church of Rome And that it was high time that Sir Hugh Vicar of Rome should prouide for some speedie remedie to preuent the mischiefe There it was shewed to render the King and all the Princes odious how the house of Capet had alwaies withstood the holy Church of Rome and that they had supported in old time the Valdenses and Albigeoys and now that either they are ioyned with the Hugonets or els are fauourers of them But on the contrary side the house of Charles the great which was wrongfully dispossessed of the Crowne by the Papall blessing had a speciall grace giuen them to helpe holy Church and had left yet some lustie buds which are they of the house of Guize in whom is all the hope of holy Church to roote out the hereticks and to restore all things The fable of this Popish blessing heere aboue mentioned is in the Chronicles of Rhegimon a Monke of S. Benet In the time of Pipin father to Charles the great Stephen Pope of Rome being a factious and turbulent man through his ambition did trouble Italy And when Arstulphe King of the Lombards a nation not vsed to bee controulled by Priests went about to chastize him fled into France to stirre Pipin which a fewe yeares before had vsurped the Crowne of France by the helpe of Pope Zachary against the sayd Arstulphe This Pope being at S. Denis nigh Paris fell brainsicke and in his sicknes the diuell deluded him with an entusiasme making him to see in a vision Peter and Paule before the high Altar in their Surplesses by the which as he sayd he knewe them Then came in S. Denis with a leane face hauing a Censor in his hand whom Peter and Paule sent to the sayd Stephen to heale him who charged him to hallowe the sayd Church Pope Stephen could this vision to them which were present there and being about to rise out of his
meanes as is aboue sayd in the Prouinces for the making of a strong league with as many as they were able they procured the towne of Montmarsan in Gascoyne to rebell against the King of Nauarre which he shortly after surprized in one night and brought the inhabitants to their duetie without any bloud shedding By their meanes also the Towne of Rause in the Countie of Armignake belonging to the King of Nauarre as the sayd King had entered into the Towne without any mistrust with eightéene Gentlemen the partakers of Guize there let the Percullis fall at his heeles and setting vppon him one offered the Caliuer at his breast But the sayd King neuerthelesse seazed vppon a Tower with his companie and made way to the rest of his traine to enter into the sayd Towne not suffering any of the inhabitants to be put to death buâ— onely him which had leuelled the Caliuer at his breast and that at the earnest sute of the Magistrates of the Towne accusing him with diuers other crimes In Ianuary the King sendeth an Ambassador to the Prince Casimier Palatine of Rhine named Vilaquier to excuse his doings with lyes surmizâ—s and slaunders as that they of the reformed religion had seazed vppon diuers and had committed murthers and cruelties vpon the Catholikes and that they required not the exercize of the religion for any conscience but for fashion sake only and that his States will not suffer him to execute the Edict of peace Vnto this message the Prince Casimier answered as shewing how the King was abused by the States which were none other but such as were enemies of his estate and perturbers of the peace vnder the name of the States and lastly willeth him not to cast his Realme into a miserable flame of ciuill warres for other mens pleasure The Prince Casimier also sendeth Butrich his Ambassador to the King to perswade him if possible were to entertaine the pâ—ace which was made so solemnely which he also willed to be called his peace The sayd Ambassador had audience at Bloys the 23. of February The 7. of March ensuing the sayd Butrich Ambassador surrendred in his Masters name the lands Lordships pensions and offices which the King had giuen him at the concluding of the peace For as much as the Guizes had spread abroad both through France Germany and other countries that the said Prince in consideration and respect of his particular profite was preiudiciall to the publike commoditie of his Souldiers The parish Priests about this time tooke the names of able men Souldiers were euery where secretly mustered according to Sir Hugh his counsell as is aforesaid The Iesuits also began to take the matter in hande to further conspiracies by rayling Sermons who by these meaues crept so deepely into the Kings fauour that he preferred the sawciest of them and them who could thunder most furiously against the reformed religion to Bishoprickes Abbeyes Prebends and other fat Benefices nourishing in his bosome from time to time the firebrands to set him and his Realme in combustion at the first opportunitie The Guizes seeing they could not win them of the religion to fauour their doings but rather that their agents were taken forbeu cozba considering also that they were not able to haue their desire vpon them fearing greatly the King of Nauarre whose wisedome vertue and valour they knewe well goe about to make him to some hatefull and to others contemptible Therefore the Admirall Villars father in lawe to the Duke de Mayne raised vp vpon him the old lye and flander reported of the Christians of the Primitiue Church vp the Pagans to the end that Sathan might bee like to himselfe to wit that the sayd King being at Agen in the night the candles should be put out That false report was spread abroad throughout France afore that any man had heard of it in the Citie of Agen. It was also reprooued for a most false lye by many Noblemen and Ladies of both religions which were then present Now the conclusion or rather collusion of the States was that they required the Edict of peace to bee reuoked the exercize of the reformed religion inhibited and Poperie to be set vp euery where The King was as desirous to graunt them as they to require the breach of the peace wherevpon fearefull persecutions were raised vp euery where great cruelties effected in diuers places vpon them of the religion and open warre denounced And for as much as the condemnation and execution of Monsieur could not be brought to passe as yet for many coÌ„siderations it was kept close and deferred to a fitter time But specially for that he might be a good instrument to be occupied against the King of Nauarre and them of the reformed religion Therefore they thought good to make him and the Duke of Guize Generall ouer the Kings forces Him I say to giue the more authoritie to the actions and enterprizes with greater terror The other was ioyned in Commission to preuent what might happen that Monsieur should not in any wise fauour the King of Nauarre nor his partakers any whit at all The King of Nauarre hauing such power as he could make in Guyen prepared himselfe vppon the defensiue and hauing a mightie power of Germaines readie to enter into France his enemies hearts were somewhat cooled and began to faint On the other side the King wanting money nothing was done By this expedition a great terror of the Germaines hauing seazed France the King now sheweth himselfe as desirous of peace as he was not long before of warre and sendeth his Mother to the King of Nauarre to treat for peace Now old Catie must shewe some Italian iuggling or els farewell Poperie After much chopping and chaunging of words the bargaine was made The King of Nauarre being at Nerack in Gascoyne receiued the peace with some restructions of the former Edict abhorring the slaughters of the Nobilitie and oppressions of the people This peace being concluded at Nerack the Guizes tooke it very grieuously as vnprofitable for the aduancing of that mysterie which did lye hidden in their braine and also for that the King went about to reforme many abuses brought in by warre and to restore the Nobilitie to ease the people of diuers charges For the Guizes would haue all these abuses to continue that in time it might serue for an olde cloake to couer withall their treacherous drifts as they did afterward at the rising of them in armes 1585. Diffidence and iealousies therefore did growe daylie betweene the King and the Guizes But the King to obtaine his intended purpose thought good to pacifie them calleth them to the Court dooth assigue them great pensions bestoweth great gifts and honors vppon them Yet they hauing alwaies a hartburning tickled with their accustomed ambition watching for the death of Monsieur determined to hasten them forasmuch as they feared him more than the King In the yeare 1579. the Guizes sent Frier Claude Mathew
the towne was deliuered from danger of changing of mastery the people from death and vndoing and the tumult ceased This spéedy execution did greatly weaken and preuent the monopols of the League in the countrie of Prouance About the 15. day the Leaguers hasting to seaze vpon as many townes and houldes as they could in all France to make their part strong as well by force as faction but speciaily in Belgik where they could do more then in any part of France there they committed great cruelties in many places where hauing the vpper hand they were withstoode namely in the towne of Chastilion vppon the riuer Marne in the countrey of Brie they murthered as well the Catholikes as the Hugonets because they made resistance against them About the 20. day the Leaguers did present their association which they had set forth in writing to many Noblemen and Gentlemen vnder the name of the King requiring them to allow of it and subscribe to it But contrary to their expectation many refused so to do and diuers who had allowed it considering more déeply in the matter perceiuing their intentes abiured and forsooke it with protestations set forth in writing printed wherein they do open the secret thoughtes of the Leaguers and Leagued First they do protest that they do acknowledge none other faith then that in the which they haue béen baptized which then they did promise to beléeue and defend and to that promise they do stand still Secondly they do refuse and condemne all manner of associations vnder what soeuer color which binde them to obay any other then their Soueraygne Thirdly they do shew the League to bee nothing else but the circumuention of the king the confusion of the State a dangerous alteration of y â— Realme the bringing of a new Prince of a strange blood and finally caryeth with it selfe a proscription hauocke and bondage of all good men in all degrées About the 22. of Aprill the King of Nauarre in silence beholding the rage of this League and their declaration published in the which they had made him the obiect of their insurrection sent the Lordes Clairuant and Chassincourt with letters to the King in the which he complaineth of the iniuries of the Leaguers proffered vnto him in their declaration requiring iustice to be done for the sayd iniuries done vnto him He offereth also his seruice power to the King for to represse the traiterous intentes and attempts of the said Leaguers About the 30. of Aprill the King willeth the said Lordes Clairuant Chassincourt to giue this gentle answere to the King of Nauarre from him That he doth hold the sayd King of Nauarre as his sonne and heire of his crowne willeth him also to arme himselfe with patience to cause the edict of peace to be obserued by them of the reformed Religion Furthermore that hee acknowledgeth the driftes of the Leaguers aswell against his own person as against the said King of Nauarre but hopeth that he shal be able himselfe alone to represse their furies and to punish them wel for their desertes The second day of May the King by edict and proclamation doth condemnethe Leaguers and Leagued guilty of high treason commaundeth his edict of pacification to be proclaimed a new in all partes of the realme charging all men vpon paine of death to obay and kéepe it inuiolably At the same time also the King answered to euery point of their declaration of the said Leaguers whereof the summe followeth First the King protesteth of his Catholike Religion and calleth to witnes his actions victories daungers and labours taken for the same Secondly he sheweth that the peace was made and approoued by the counsell of the Cardinall in whose name they do séeme to autorize their rebellion and of the rest of the Leaguers not to fauour heretikes as hee tearmes them but to restore the decayed state of the realme to assault them of the reformed religion in conuenient time with greater forces Thirdly he declareth how he hath fauored the Cleargie in giuing them liberty to call prouinciall counsels and to refâ—rme such abuses as the ciuill warres had brought in how he hath also preferred the woorthiest sort to the best Ecclesiasticall liuinges and hath restored to their liuinges them who were dispossessed thereofby the former ciuill warres Fourthly that the Leaguers haue no cause to complaine for the geuing of offices For his predecessors and he after them haue bestowed vpon the Guyzes the best sort and most honorable dignities and that in great number when the Princes of his blood haue béen neglected Fiftly that it is to force nature and tyme to compell him by violence of armes to appoint a successor hée being aliue in strength health and flower of his age and not out of hope to haue issue Last of all he complayneth that this new commotion is very vnfit and out of season considering that he was now earnestly bent and occupyed to restore the Nobilitie to their ancient honor and dignity and the people to their due liberty But by this leauie of armes they haue stopped his godly procéedinges and haue taken the way to oppresse and root out the Cleargy nobility and people About the same time also the King sent Ambassadors into forreine countryes and commaunded his ordinary Ambassadors in the courtes of forreine Princes to geue them knowledge of the wicked intentes and trayterous attemptes of the Leaguers The Leaguers in a short space had scattered abroad the Pistolets of Spaine and about the beginning of Iune they began also to take money and therefore thought good to supply the want of Pistolets with French crownes which is somewhat purer gold for they exacted in diuers places great and excessiue summes of money vpon the townes and cities which they had either seduced to their faâ—â—ion or otherwise surprised As by one we may gather the rest Bourge being a small towne in Xainctonge situated vpon the fall of the riuer Dordonne into Garomne a towne leagued and extreamly addicted to the Leaguers was by them raunsomed to ten thousand crownes and afterward the inhabitantes so cruelly intreated that in leaping by night ouer the walles were enforced to steale away for feare of worse supposing them selues to haue sped well in escaping with their liues About the same time the Lord Saint Luke gouernor of Browage sent a certayne Captayn into the Iles of Maran vnder colour to buy Oates for his prouision to see whether hee could worke some surprizing of the Castell But the Captayne was so roughly shouldered and coursed that he was glad to retire with his whole skinne And after that least the Papistes should put some into the Castell euery night 6. or 7. of the reformed religion with Caliuers conuayed themselues priuily in the darke of the night into the gate of the Castell vntill day The Papistes vnderstanding this and also hearing the threatnings ofthem of the Religion to wit that if they should bee driuen
Corne Dates and Wine as in store houses which order he sendeth to the sayd Townes to be put in execution The King being thus deluded by his Counsell and busying himselfe about these matters of warre agaynst them of the reformed religion whether it were in earnest or by dissimulation God knoweth but at length it turned to earnest he giueth leaue and time to the Leaguers to grow greater in strength and number and forgoeth the occasions and opportunitie to prouide for necessary remedies agaynst them These Counsellers at length when they saw time came once more vpon the stage And on a sudden they terrified the King agayne as of a thing happened beside their expectation with the great strength of the League shewing what great danger might insue if he should seeme to saile against that violent tempest Considering that the resolution of restoring the Catholike religion and of the suppressing the reformed had possessed generally the mindes of the people So that if he should seeme to withstand the zeale of the Leaguers for their treason was with them zeale of the popish religion he would be commoÌ„ly thought to be a fauourer of heretikes and thereby an vniuersall rebellion of his subiects might ensue to the vtter vndoing of him and his estate Therefore that as a good Pilot he must obey the weather and seeke for some reconciliation and make peace with them as much to his aduantage as the necessitie of the affayres may suffer him And that in such an extreame case hée must holde with the strongest side These and many other considerations propounded vnto him which had lost his authoritie and that by them which wholly ruled him through a iust iudgement of God for despising the voyce of him and for persecuting him by whom he raigned and from whom he had receiued all royall authoritie and soueraigne maiestie he began to wauer and hearken to some spéeches of vnion Thus the King through Gods iust iudgement and the pernicious perswasions of his vnfaithfull Counsell bewitched doth determine to make peace with enemies as good cheape as he may and for that thing he must seeke out some good chapman skilfull and practised in olde Italian trickes Therefore he thought that his Mother was most fit as most skilfull in such markets This accursed woman as she had alwaies an ambitious and busie soule so she had also a double mind by the which she studied to haue great thanks for doing no good and to kéepe her selfe in authoritie and in the possession of the gouernment thought it should cost her the subuersion of her owne house and children and the vtter desolation of the Realme For the which cause she thought to kéepe the King alwaies busied hampered in trouble vexation and daunger that she might alwaies haue thankes for her bad seruice The King as a naturall sonne put her alwaies in great trust iudging of her naturalnes and loue towards him as he did iudge of his towards her The Leaguers on the other side were assured that she would doo nothing for the Kings aduauntage and ease for feare she should bee no more employed Therefore she was well liked on both sides Up then old Medea you must shewe yet once againe some of your olde Italian trickes Old Catie must bee the market woman she shall make the bargayne But for as much as two eyes doo see more than one she shall haue some counsellers appoynted her in that negotiation such as would not suffer her to doo any good vnto the King and the Realme if she had béen willing so to doo for they were al the Kings enemies addicted to the Leaguers and such as would haue taught Italian trickes the busâ—est head of all Florence yea such as would haue sent the great Prophet of Italy Machiuell with all his diuellish Prophecies to his Christcrosse Now we will leaue the Q Mother with her counsell to doo their market as well as they can whilest wee discourse of some other matters incident to the cause and the time About the beginning of Iuly the King of Nauarre hearing of the Kings wauering and what was like to passe betwéene the sayd King and the League writeth a letter to him from Nerat the 10. day of Iuly in the which hee repeateth the Kings procéedings against the Leaguers as the condemnation proscription and execution of some of their partakers hée aduiseth the King that if hee make peace with the Leaguers hee armeth rebells agaynst himselfe his state and Crowne he doth lament the miserable state of him and of his Realme comforteth himselfe in his integritie and innocencie referreth all things to Gods diuine prouidence reposeth himselfe in the Lord and trusteth in God that he will assist him in his iust defence But this good counsell of the King of Nauarre will not serue his turne the King must followe the streame and will bee shortly promoted to a higher degrée For he shall be one of the fellowes of the League who shall pay for all and haue least to doo in it It is sayd before how the Papists and they of the reformed religion consented ioyntly to keepe the Castle of Marans Now about the beginning of Iuly the Lord S. Hermin had gathered together some thrée hundred men of the Leagued in Poytow to bring them to the Lord S. Luke into Browage as he sayd but indéede it was to seaze vpon the Castle of Marans and other Forts in the Iles. The sayd S. Hermines with them would haue passed through Marans but they of the religion withstood his passage and began to fortifie the Fort called Alowete so that hée was enforced to take his iourney through Maillezais and Ronde and in that iourney shortly after they were discomfited and slaine by them of S. Ihan d' Angely The night following the comming of S. Hermin nigh Marans there was a great alarum in the Towne and the Papists which were in the Castle to the number of fiue and twentie supposing that S. Hermin and his companie had entered the Towne began to reioyce sing and daunce at the sound of a bag-pipe which they caused to play the most part of that night threatning them of the religion who were but foure in number But these foure standing on their warde charged them not to make any innouation with them of the League so that not onely they kept the Papists in feare but also at length with a certayne amazement of them caused their pag-pipe to cease About the same time the Prince of Conde vnderstanding how things were like to passe betwéene the King and the Leaguers departed from Rochel to repayre to the King of Nauarre and leaueth the Lord Rohan in Poytow to ouerlooke and withstand the attempts of the Leaguers there The sayd Lord. Rohan about y t 12. of Iuly departed from Rochel with foure score horses and rode to Marauns to assure those Ilandes The Papistes had already seazed the fort called Brune where through the sayd Lord should passe but their hartes so
assure themselues of those prouinces townes cities and holdes as had not in a maner one of the reformed religion left among them but they either had béen murthered or else so vexed and disquieted by the continuall dangers which euery day compassed them that they had retyred most into those prouinces in France which were safer from the violence of the Leaguers or into forreine Countries So they warre agaynst the heretikes by subduing the Catholikes to their deuotion They warre against the heretikes where none were to make them resistance and dare not looke on the prouinces where the heretikes as they tearme them were in great number But to the matter Although the vniust and inconstant dealinges of the house of Valoys had empayred greatly their honor and renowne and that this king by his own actions at the massacre of Saint Bartholemy had greatly stayned his garments with a spot that would neuer be washed yet did hee alwayes retayne the authority and reputation of a Soueraygne Prince vntill that for hatred of the Gospell hee suffered the ambition of the house of Guyze to encroch too much vpon his royall authority and prerogatiue vnder colour of Catholike zeale Thus hee weakened his royall authority by following the counsell of Italians thrusted into his seruice by the cunning of the Guyzes for that intent These Italian scholemasters did endeuour alwaies to rule him by the preceptes of Machiauell the Italian prophet so that after he came to the Crowne the Guyzes with their adherents interrupted diuers times the peace made with them of the religion made continuall monopols and secret practises and associations with his subiects to the great empayring of his royall authoritie as is afore sayd and still vnder colour of Popish deuotion so that at length hauing by the means abouesayd seduced the harts of the Priestes Monks of many of the Nobillity and people hauing specially woon his Senators and Counsellers and robbed him of the good will and loue of his subiects in the end by this market they haue made themselues equall to him they haue set their seat as high as his so that now the king is nothing which they are not except onely that as yet they do not take vpon them the name of king but suffer him for a while to enioy the same So that the king now hauing not onely lost part of his Princelike strength which consisted in his townes cities and holds but also part of his authority which lyeth in commaunding alone as a soueraygne is become a fellow of the League If you demaund why the question is soone answered because he set himselfe agaynst him of whom he had receaued all power and authority Hee which had giuen him tooke it agayne for his vnthankfulnesse But now let vs returne to the League These articles called the holy League being concluded to the kinges great disaduantage and dishonor the edict must be made thereafter which was published the 18. day of Iuly and is commonly called the edict of vnion wherein the king doth all that it pleaseth the Leaguers to commaund him to do as a good obedient fellow of that holy association Fyrst hee forbiddeth the exercise of the reformed religion throughout all his Dominions commaunding the ministers of the Gospell to depart the realme out of hand Secondly he commandeth all men to professe the popish religion and that the professors of the Gospell without any respect of persons either shall beleeue poperie or else within sixe moneths shall depart out of the Realme with licence in the meane time to sell their goods to their owne vses Thirdly that as many as haue been infected with heresie for so hee calleth the Gospell of trueth or are knowne to fauour it shall bee incapable to be are any office within the Realme Fourthly he dooth dissolue the bipartit and tripartit chambers of iudgements which were ordayned for the indifferent ministration of iustice in respect of religion Fifthly that the townes graunted to the keeping of the King of Nauarre at Saint Germane the yeare 1584. shall bee surrendred into the Kings hands Sixtly that all whatsoeuer offensiue actions haue been committed by the Leaguers their adherents Townes Cities or comunalties of their association shall be hereafter iudged as lawfull good and acceptable seruice to the King done for the defence of the holy Catholik Romain Religion And that all declarations proclamations iudgements prescriptions condemnations and executions whatsoeuer against the Leaguers or any of them for the said offences pronounced shall be voyd as vniustly wrongfully pronounced against them Where note gentle reader that the King is come to that bondage that hee is perswaded to alowe and approue all the murthers exactions spoylings excorsions treasons rapes whoredomes blasphemies and sacriledges as done for his seruice the defence of the Church and aduauncing of Gods honour Will not the Lord reuenge this pusilanimitie in such a great Magistrate with some notable example of his iustice according vnto his threatnings woe be to you which call euill good Last of all he commaundeth all manner of officers and the Nobilitie to sweare the obseruation of the said edict which he caused to be published and sworne in the Parliament of Paris hee himselfe sitting in iudgement the 18. day of Iuly The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde vnderstanding the conclusion and publication of the edict of Iuly appointed a certaine meeting with the Duke of Monmorency at Saint Paule de cadioulx in the Prouince of Albigerys to take aduise together what were to bee done in those extremities They therefore the tenth of August concluded a certaine protestation in the which shewing what the intents driftes and demeanours of the Leaguers haue been also what the Kings iudgement was of them not long since what meanes the King of Nauarre hath sought and what hee hath proffered for the preseruation of the state What his behauiour had been euer since the League did rise how hee hath kept himselfe quiet and vnarmed to the extreame danger of his person when he had great occasions to doo great exploites At last they protest that they are not the cause of al those miseries which are like to ensue out of those troubles and seeing that no reason will take place committing their innocencie and equitie of their cause vnto God doo resolue vpon the defensiue This resolution being made the King of Nauarre returned to Nerak the Prince of Conde to Rochel and Monmorency to Languedock to view the attempts and expect the euents of this new and strange vnion This vnion being concluded the King considering that in some manner hee had been enforced to breake the edict of peace and that it was not the proclayming onely which would cause the edict of vnion to be obeyed but that a certaine cauell warre would ensue and that there must be some sâ—newes to holde it Therefore hee turneth all his thoughts to make some preparation for the warre for the which cause the 11. of
cut his way in his returne to Nantes by night secretly did steale away and with the mayne galop amaze and many alarms which he gaue to himself feare making him to imagine thinges which were not recouered to Nantes without any bayte the fourth day of September leauing behinde him his companies with great disorder and discontented mindes some of his troupes with decestation of his euill leading cursed the houre that euer they knew him Some of the Princes companies pursued the disaray and setting vpon the carriage tooke it and many prisoners with it Thus happily succeded the beginnings of the vnion and the miracles of these great Captaines whose heat was some what cooled and their hornes beaten in with this blow About the 5. day of September the Prince returning from Fonteney passed through Mele where the Countrey of Rochefocault which not long before had repayred to him left him againe taking his iourney to his own house And for as much as the plague was very sore at S. Iohn D'Angelye the Prince tooke his way to Iarnak vpon Charante where the Lorde Lauaughion and other Gentlemen left him to retyre to their houses Whilst these Princes soiorned at Iarank the Lord Laual a yong Noble man in a little bodie hauing a minde endued with notable godlines vertue with a ripe wit and couragious heart which did make him no lesse beloued and honorable vnto all honest vertuous and peaceable men then feared of all wicked and perturbers of the state of France This Lord accompanied with his three brethren the Lords Rieulx Taulay and Saulye the 8. of September departed from his house of Vitre in Batangue with a 150. Rutters and 300. Harquebusiers on horseback and with that companie passed ouer Loyre partly a forde and partly with boates at Manues three Leagues about Nantes by the help of the Lord Chargroys who was afterward his Lieutenant From thence he tooke his iourney through Poytow to S. Iohn D'Angelye where he entred not because of the pestilence which was there but passing through Tailborge went to the Prince at Marennes when the said Prince besieged Browage about the 12. of September About the 9. of September from Iarnak the Lord Saint Gelays with the Lord D'Aubigny and some other Gentlemen tooke their iourney toward Mele for some great affaires There they had knowledge that certaine companies of the League were comming to compasse them about which thing being found true the Lord S. Gelays Marshal of the Princes campe sendeth all night to the Lord Charboniere who was two leagues of with his companie hee sendeth also to certaine Gentlemen there abouts who were of the religion which with great diligence came toward him all night and at the breake of the day ioyned with the said Lord Saint Gelays The Leagued companies were conducted by Captaine Saint Katarine and others who perceauing themselues on a suddaine and beside their expectation compassed about without any further a doo required parley with the Lord Saint Gelays who after few words yeelded and promised to forsake the League and to cause their fellowes to doo the like and also that they would neuer carrie armes against them of the reformed religion which agreement they quicklie sealed and performed Many of these companies went to the Prince being then at Pons they which would not were sent away without weapons And this is the second miracle which the Leaguers did in Poytow About the same time the Lord Saint Mesmes Ranques and Orges went toward Tonnecharante at whose approaching the Lord Saint Luke who was then at Soubize with nigh two hundred Souldiours with great terrour departed and burning the bridge and gate of Soubize retired to Browage leauing most of all his garisons at the bourg of Moses These Lords mought haue pursued taken the Lord Saint Luke but delaying the time from Friday to Sunday they lost the occasion The 13. day these Lords tooke the tower of Foncras vpon Charante which did holde for the League About the same time the Prince of Conde least he should keepe his companies idle with the Lord of Rohan and others with him from Pons withall their companies tooke their way toward the Iles of Xainctonge for to recouer Sonbiez and the castell Augle which the Lord S. Luke had fortified with Garisons of the League and also to sease vpon the salt of the Iles whereof great summes of money might be made And for to bring to passe these things more easilie to haue munition and meanes of artilerie and other necessarie things in the meane whiles the Prince with a certaine number of horsemen tooke his iourney to Rochell notwithstanding the plague was very great there where hee obtained of the Citie both munition ships and power of men to conduct all to Browage Oleren and other places there abouts About the same time these Lords Douault Boysdaliz Sanuere Campos with many other Gentlemen hauing giuen the rendes vous in Berry as is aforesaid repayred to the Prince then being at Pons in Xainctonge About the 15. of September the Lords Saint Mesmes Ranques and Orges after the taking of the Tower of Foncras vpon Charante pursued the Garison which had fled from Soubieze and had stayed at the bourg of Moses as is said betweene Soubieze and Browage and followed them to a place called Graund Garison right against Browage on the north side of the riuer where after they had skirmished a while in the sight of the towne and of the Lord Saint Luk who was on the other side of the water on the key of Browage and being reduced there at the low water and hardly set on by them of the religion through dispayre of rescue cast themselues into the oose where the most part were slaine others that could not get out were drowned when the tide came The Lord Saint Luk was in great agonie to sée the best of all his Garisons so cast away without any remedie to saue one of them certaine shot of ordinance was discharged but it was all in vaine Among other prisoners were the Captaines Luchet Meanbourg and Sauage with some other whom the Lord Orges sent home without any ransome to the great discontentation of the Prince because they were they who did most seruice in the defending of Browage against the saide Prince About the same time the Lord Clermont enterprised to passe ouer Loyre with few with him among whome was one Captaine Rochemorte for to assemble them who could not dwell in their houses by reason of the publication of the edict of vnion About the 16. of September the prince hauing done his busines in Rochel assembled his forces at Saint Gennes and so marched toward the siege of Browage and from thence to Saint Iust. Here is to be noted that in that part of Xainctonge lying betweene the riuer of Browage and Garemme commonly called Almert there be foure townes to wit Saint Iust distant a mile and a halfe from Marennes Hyers betweene Marennes and Browage whereof
enter into a Fryery But if the king would follow good counsell he should keepe himselfe as he is For the eight point he praieth the king to geue ouer the preferring and placing of Abbots and Bishops to their liuings but to referre that to the Priestes themselues to the Chapters of Canons and Monkes and to leaue the disposition of Bishoprickes and Abbeyes to their elections and discretions Here Sir Henekyn is very carefull for the king he willeth him to forbeare to swallow such big morsels as Bishopricks and Abbeyes for the Note daunger which may ensue which is choaking but to leaue such fat morsels to them that haue throats big ynough to swallow down whole Stéeples The king hath resigned part of his royall authority to the Leaguers now to do well he shall resigne another part to Frier Syxtus and the third to the Priestes and then let him walke carelesse Ninthly he prayeth the king to take some good order that the Priests may be honoured renerenced and capped and that their iurisdiction may be restored to them and not interrupted hereafter Dixi. Here is the fourth part of the kinges authority which Sir Henekyn Note would fayne to wrest out of his hand that the Priestes may execute an infernall tyranny ouer the soules and bodies of men And to conclude his chattering hee doth promise to the king great blessinges here vppon earth and afterward the kingdome of heauen so that he will roote out and destroy them whom hee calleth heretikes Note here that Sir Henekyn doth call them heretikes who doth distroy their vngodly lewd liues and filthy pleasures as dronkennes glottony whoredome and worse then that Also he would haue the King to roote out that is to kill all whom these ghostly fathers shall appoint him Last of all to play the Turke to make hauock of all things to fill the earth with bloud is the way to ascend vp to Heauen quoth Sir Henekin well said sir Henekin by Saint Mary you haue said as well as euer I heard any of your occupation About the 30. of Nouember the King of Nauarre being at Bergerak and vnderstanding that his paâ—iencie had kindled the rage of his enemies and his moderatenes had increased the insolencie of the Leaguers and that after the dispearsing of the Princes armie the crueltie of the edict of vnion and declaration thereof the 7. of October was euery where executed with proscriptions murthers losses of goods dignities and honours dooth make an edict throughout his gouernement of Guienne to be executed wherein hee sheweth that whereas his silent patience and moderatenes had serued nothing but to increase the outragious excesses and cruelties of the seditions and rebells he is inforced to folow the course and order folowing First that all the goods lands rents fruites debts actions and accounts of all the inhabitants of those townes and places where the edict of Iulie and declaration thereof hath been published and executed and also of all Gentlemen or others bearing armes with the Leaguers and their partakers also of all Ecclesiasticall persons wheresoeuer who are contrarie vnto his part and of all whatsoeuer who are contributaries vnto his enemies within the Gouernement of Guienne to bee seazed vpon stayed and put in the hands of his commissioners to bee sould or farmed to him that will giue most Secondly forbiddeth all manner of persons who are indebted vnto such to pay them or their assignes or partakers any debt but commaundeth them to repayre vnto his Lieutenants generall or officers of his receites to declare and reueale al debts vpon paine of death and to pay fourefold that the said goods may be employed to the vse of warre al graines and fruites to be put in such places for store houses as shall be appoynted by his officers Thirdly he commaundeth the like to be executed vpon them who shall refuse to pay the contributions or the worke men at the fortifications and also that shal refuse to be contributaries in the deuiding of their fruites for the prouision of stoare houses which shall be conueniently made for the sustaining of the warre Fourthly the like intertainement to be done vnto the aboue said as the enemies shall intreate them of the reformed religion or Catholicks who haue ioyned themselues to him in that iust cause and necessarie defence charging all officers both to publish and execute the same edict without delay About the 25. of December the King as a man that studied nothing else but onely how to vexe molest trouble torment and vtterly euen with the losse of his realme and estate to roote out them of the reformed religion setteth forth an order of persecution which he commaundeth to be published at euerie court and in euery market wherein to help the memorie of persecutors he commaundeth then to haue books deuided in fiue chapters The first of them that hauing borne armes haue retired back and meant to be conuerted to poperie The second of them who haue or doo beare armes The third of them that according to the edict haue departed out of the realme The fourth of them that haue not departed out of their houses but are returned to poperie The fift of them that haue remained in their houses and doo persist in the reformed religion which he calleth heresie All the penaltie came to this that they shall bee persecuted all to death except they will abiure and all their goods seazed vpon and imployed to the vse of warre Furthermore he dooth promise a certaine forme of abiuration to bee sent into the countrey and willeth the Bishops to appoint in townes of their dioces their vickars generals to receaue their abiuration and to giue them absolution About the same time one Sir William Ruse Bishop of Anger 's did set foorth in his dioces vnto al Priests a forme of abiuration which the said Priests should enforce vpon them that had professed the true religion and had obeyed or would obey the Kings edict Wherein first hee dooth propound vnto them the Nicen simbole Secondly they shall allowe all the traditions of the Apostles and of the holy Mother Church of Rome By the traditions of the Apostles and holy Church hee vnderstandeth Note all the intusiasmes and dronken dreames all the sottish and heathenish devises of the phantasticall frantick dronken Popes Cardinalls Bishops Monkes and Friers which wee must needes to holde for articles of the faith because sir William hath said so Thirdly they shall beleeue that there is seauen Sacraments And why shall we not beleeue seauen thousand as well as seauen seeing Note that the seauen thousand are as well proued by the worde of God as the seauen Fourthly that all rites and ceremonies vsed in the ministration of the said seauen sacraments are good Al the crossings charmings duckings kissings howlings chauntings Note mumblings iuglings coniurings blowings slomberings gaddings turnings moppings c. Are either articles of faith or else as good as the articles of our
of inhabitants and Souldiers Notwithstanding neither the Gouernour the Lord S. Mesmes nor the Ministers would at any time forsake the remainant of that Church which was there All the fields about were full of Tents and Cabbins replenished with men infected of the plague the villages all round about were in the same case The faithfull exiled out of their owne countreys and houses flowing from euery side of France flying from the contagious pestilence of their soules estéemed lesse than nothing the plague and sicknesse of the bodie rather than should cast away their soules in denying the sonne of God was to bée wished for of them But God according to his trueth kept to them both the one and the other for euen then the pestilence vanished away from all those places as if God had commanded the sicknesse to make roome for them who were exiled for his name for after that there was no more sicknesse seene In this auoydance there was a number murthered but specially in those Prouinces where the gouenours were most passionate and addicted to the League by whose permission the common people tooke much libertie to commit cruell murthers vpon them of the religion They who had not the meanes to recouer some place of refuge and continued in the purenes of religion and escaped the slaughter did lye sousing in prisons and dongeons where they sustayned many combats looking euery day when they should be had away to death Many of them who forsooke the confession of the trueth went to Masse and so were sent to their houses agayne but by a certaine iudgement of God they for the most part dyed euery where through sorrowe or by the pestilence Some of them who had charge in the Church died of notable kindnes of death For some going into the Countrey about theyr businesse fell of their horses and brake their neckes and some dyed otherwise verifying the saying of Christ he which will saue his life shall loose it It is sayd how the Duke de Mayne powred his fuâ—y vppon the olde walles of the vilages of Montigne le Conte Beaulrien and how he tooke Trile which no man will keepe In the latter end of Ianuary the sayd Duke drawing into the furthest part of Perigord set vppon Gaignak a poore little vilage belonging to the Vicount Turenne a place voyde of all fortifications saue that at the endes of the streetes there remayned yet few old walles which did shew that there had béen a gate the inhabitants being poore husbandmen first sustayned an assault supposing to haue to doo with companyes of robbers for so they tooke them But at length being not able to withstand such a multitude they fledde another way and saued themselues except onely foure who either for age or woundes could not auoyd them this great Duke caused to be hanged to powre his gall vpon those poore simple countrey men Thus this great Emperour weary to conquer vilages in Perigord and seeing that his practises agaynst the great and populous Cities of Limoges and Perigueux would not frame he turned short Southward towards Quercy and passing ouer the riuer Dordonne at Soilak left at his left hand the townes of the vicount Turenne Saynt Cere and Turenne in Perigord and coasted Figeak Cadenak and Cayak in Quercye whom hee knew to bee well furnished with garrisons Hee coasted also the houses of the Vicount Gourdine and Montfort a strong place vpon Dordonne which hee sent to view This Duke soiorned long in Quercy sent commaundement to the marchantes of Tholouze and Bourdeaux and others which do traâ—fike vppon Garonne that vppon payne of death they should not agree with the townes which did hold for the king of Nauarre and situated vppon that riuer did stoppe the commerce thereof promising that shortly hee would set all that riuer at liberty yea that he would Whilest hee soiorned so long in high Quercye rouing and wasting the countrey the Bishop of Cahors the Lords Saynt Sulpice and Comburat did instantly require him that he would assault those places aboue said which being holdeÌ„ by them of the religion did dayly annoy molest them which thing when the Duke could not be perswaded to do The Bishop blessing him with his Episcopall benediction and the two sayd Lordes with hot tearmes licensed him to depart out of their countrie in the deuils name Besides eating drinking spoyling and whoring he did no good there saue that he licensed some Gentlemen of the countrey for money to haue the exercise of the reformed religion in their houses so that thence they would not make warre and to colour his cowardlines hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Bishop and other Lords aboue saide that hee would goe to open the riuer of Garonne and to put the commerce vpon that riuer at libertie Thus this secoÌ„d Hannibal coasting the riuer of Lot at his left hand and Dordonne at his right hand for he would haue that riuer of Lot as a wall betweene him and mount Auban entring in Agenoys there issued out certain companies out of Montsâ—anquine vpon the taile of his armie which did slay in one conflict two hundred Harquebusiers of his and discomfited the companie of Captaine Guerche At length he came with his Ianissaries to the fall of the riuer of Lot into Garonne where is situated an olde Towne called Tunnings consisting of lowe and high Towne and Castle That place about the insurrection of the League certaine Ruffians of Agen had seazed vppon where they did greatly molest the countrey The King of Nauarre in August after passing by sent Captayne Lestele to take that towne which thing he did at the first approach and did cast downe those â—â—lthie ruffians with their harlots out of the windowe into the ditch and kept the sayd towne vnto the Dukes comming which then was giuen ouer and that small garrison that was there retyred to the other side of Gharonne to Caumont and Clerake to reserue themselues to a better opportunitie The Duke de Mayne tooke valiantly the sayd towne of Tunnings which no man kept agaynst him And hauing done this valiant exploit he doth coast the riuer Garonne descending toward Bourdeaux In that way he sent a Coriero to the king promising him that he will doo him such notable seruice as neuer no man did for in great sadues hee will take the King of Nauarre dead or aliue if he did not resolue himselfe to depart out of the Realme and if hée can take him he will send him his head in a Charger as Herode did S. Iohn Baptist As this great Duke went downe the riuer the forerunners met with thirtie scattered and vnarmed poore lads which belonged to the garrison of Chaumont they were sent to cause the prouision contributed by the countrey to be brought to the sayd towne of Chaumont These poore lads were killed by these stout warriors which notable victorie was afterward published in Paris by the title of the notable ouerthrowe of the garrison of
to him appertayneth and to bereaue the king of the faythfullest friend and seruant hee had But they will not haue such men as I am aboue the king sayd he for thereby they should be miserable he should be better serued and all his subiects better gouerned To this answere the Queene replyed nothing but went about to make himselfe feele the discommodities which hee suffered by meanes of that religion which hee professed I beare them willingly said hee when you haue layed them vpon me as it seemeth to ease your selfe Atlength she reproached him that he did not in Rochel what he would Yes Madam said he for I will nothing but what I should The Duke of Neuers tooke the word that he could not set an impost in Rochel True sayd he for wee haue no Italians among vs. After these speaches shee opened vnto him agayne a generall truce for a yeare on that condition that there should bee no exercise of the reformed religion within the realme and within that time the states should be called He answered that if they of y t religion should so lightly geue ouer their holdes that the League would bee stronger the king weaker and the states more vnprofitable Also that it were impossible to cease the religion in France except it were by a counsell duly assembled So he taking his leaue of the Queene she oftē tymes repeated the same speeches which she had with the Vicount Turenne willed him to let the nobility which folowed him vnderstand of it which thing themorow after he did with great griefe fearing to cause some alteration in theyr mindes After that hee sent two noble men of the mildest spirites in all his troupes to wit the Lords Mauguyon Force to witnes vnto her what sorrow euery one of them had conceaued to see things reduced to such an extreame resolution and also to knowe whether they had any other thing to hope of the power which the king had giuen her The Queene seeing that all was vpon the poynt to be broken said that shouee wld send the Lord Ramboullet to the king to know his last determination She after told the Prince Monpensier that all which she had sayd to the Vicount Turenne was but by the way of discourse dissembling to haue had such speeches in playne tearmes to the king of Nauarre and willed the sayd Prince to let the king of Nauarre vnderstand that shee had a great desire to see him agayne and also prayed him to make meanes of some prorogation of truce which thinge the sayd Prince shewed to the king of Nauarre when hee went to take his leaue from him These double dealings of the Queene was diuersly spoken for some thought to content the League she would not open the meanes topeace Others thought that her Counsell being Leaguers fed her with new hope grounded vpon the afflicted affayres of the religion promising her at length to obtaine a peace to the kinges contentation so they lead her closly to entertaine a warre profitable for the League The Lord Rambouillet returned from the court brought the oth which the king had sworne in the solemnities of the order of the holy ghost neuer to consent to the exercise of the reformed religion at whose returne the Q. Mother was very important to haue a third parley with the king of Nauarre geuing forth that the returne of the Lord Rambouillet should be agreeable to him to the which thing hee was very vnwilling to condescend supposing the hope which he had conceaued of that interuiew would be if not lost yet farre wide out of the way They of his side discouraged him fearing that he would not only continue the speaches which shee had vttered before and also to reiterate often times the truce hauing aduertizements that the truce was sent into Germany and Suisserland Others aduised him that she held him in hand about a treatie of peace in the meane time to prepare warre against him That shee proposed him of hard conditions to induce him to breake off and by that meane to make him hatefull to all France as the onely hinderer of the peace thereof Some others gaue him notice that she solicited the next townes and cities to execute the kinges last edict and that fayning to seeke the common benefit of the state she did much hurt in particular to the state of Rochel Vppon this earnest sute of the Q Mother in Februarie the Leaguers tooke by force the Towne of Vouans and fayre Montau the which being places of no importance caused men to suspect some treachery The K. of Nauarre also thought that hee might not expect y t they would giue him any good thing which tooke so great pains to take away so litle from him notwithstanding the Queene did so presse him that hee graunted the third interview either to make the world know and see that the fault was not in him if they did not obtayne peace or else that he perswaded himselfe that the Queene would not take so much paines to bring him ill newes Shee therefore tooke her iourney to Fontenay The 20. of February the king of Nauarre came to Marans accompanied with many noble men and company of Rochelers about threehundred men guyded by the Lord Gargoleau and other Captaynes hauing the Colonels ensigne of Rochel his comming thether was to parley with the Q. Mother which was already at Fontenay But for because the interuiew was to be made first in the I le Ellen and after for her ease at the Fort Veluyre the Lordes Biron and Sarisack with many other came to the king of Nauarre to agree of the place As the will to see one another did encrease so the mistrust did growe in their counsels For the Q. Mother or rather some of hers did feare to goe to the place where the Rochelers were stronger And for as much as it was reported that the Ensigne Colonell was at the foord Veluyre they made as though they did feare to approach considering also that the Rochelers had set vp strong Barriers for the safetie of the King of Nauarre These things she pretended to bee the causes that she would not come thether But in very deede she and hers sawe not there the commoditie how to execute that which they pretended to doo The King of Nauarre did feare the entrances and turnings of these Marishes for the naturall situation of that countrey is such that a man may doo a feate without great hazard Whilest these going too and fro were betwéene them the League tooke the alarum by these actions of the Q. but partly to let the peace which they did greatly feare and partly seeing some occasion to execute their intended purpose did conspire against the Kings person The Q. Mother perceiuing that she could not execute that for which she was sent for no doubt she neuer entended to make any peace but to commit some treacherie vpon the King of Nauarre his person and by the iust iudgement of God
white staffe in their handes and they of the countrey to remayne vpon discretion The tenth of October the Castell of Quyras besieged since the 25. of September was surrendred to the Lord Diguieres assisted with y e Lord Brikmaut and Morges where is a thing worthy of remembrance that the wayes being so high and difficult for the artillery to be caryed ouer the mountaynes contrary to the impossibility which wee thought to be and the expectation of the Papistes yet it passed ouer They were sixe hundred Souldiers 15. hundred Pioniers in drawing the same ouer the mountaynes but foure Leagues in the space of 15. daies At the same tyme the Lord Diguieres knowing that the enemy fortifyed a temple in the towne of Saynt Peter in the Marquisat of Saluces sendeth thether y e Lord Brikmaut with his companies who forced that place in the middle of the day the twelft of October tooke the captaine prisoner and cut to pieces the rest this was the first exployt beyond the mountaynes The eight of Nouember the Lords Ramefort Espornakes and Signak through intelligences which they had in Ionquieres had seazed vpon al the towne saue one tower onely the newes were brought to Orange to the Lord Blacons the which three howres after the taking thereof appeared before the towne with 30. horses This his sodaine and vnlooked for comming did so terrify the footmen who were within the towne calling to remembrance the entertaynment which they had at Montlimart that they sorsooke the place the captayne being not able to hold them although they were in number foure hundred footmen and sixe score horses which were not yet entred into the towne whom the Lord Blacons let goe without any pursuing content onely to enter into the towne for to chastize the traytors In the moneth of Aprill the States of the countrey and Senate of Grenoble had some speeches of peace as is aforesayd but it was delayed Decemb. from tyme to tyme the people being not willing to conclude any thing without the good will and aduise of the King of Nauarre knowing him faythfull to the king louer of the good and prosperity of the realme and that he desireth nothing more then the wealth and quietnes as well of the State in generall as of their prouince as also to be a true Prince of the blood a Prince true and faythfull in his word hauing neuer altered his word in respect of any person whose singular valiantnes mildnes and gentlenes if there were no other thinges in him might mooue the people to honor and acknowledge him according to that degree which he hath in the realme of France These were the causes which moued the States people of Daulphine to conclude nothing without his direction The Articles proposed in the prouinciall States of Daulphine were three First that protestation be made to the obedience due to the King and to the issue male which it shall please God to giue him And that for lack of yssue the king of Nauarre be acknowledged as head of the Princes of the bloud first successor of the crowne and after him the other Princes according to y e primâ—geniture of their degree with detestaon of the manifestes and other such libels whereby they of the League haue gone about to alter this succession Secondly that the reformed religion be receaued throughout all the Prouince of Daulphine indifferently and that they of the reformed religion shall permit the Romish and suffer the church men to enter and enioy their goods and liuinges on both sides they do promise to acknowledge the court of Parliament of Grenoble and to obay the Lord Maugyron that whatsoeuer alteration may happen to the State the king of Nauarre shall imploy his authority present and to come to the obseruation of the agreement namely in that which doth concerne the dignity of the court of the Lieutenant of the King and of the church men Thirdly that in expecting a peace in more ampie maner euery one shal keepe that which he holdeth shortning notwithstanding the garrisons as much as shall be possible This was concluded and agreed in the prouinciall States of Daulphine with an agreement vppon their common defence about the 20. of December Although the Lord Espernon be a most zealous and deuout Catholike that he did agaynst them of the reformed religion all that euer he could yet with some moderatnes he had committed the gouernmeÌ„t of his charge to the Lord Valete his brother which vsed the same valiantnes with the like modesty God did so blesse the good intents of these two noble Catholikes indeede as issued out of an ancient and noble stocke without any degenerating that hauing well rid that Prouince of Daulphine of seditious and factions Leaguers afterward the Catholikes and reformed haue fallen to a good and peaceable composition by the which they haue entertayned themselues in amity and kept their countrey from ransacking and subuersion So wee see now these two great and large prouinces Languedock and Daulphine the one through y e sauage cruelty of Ioyeuse the other through the faithfull seruice and modesty of the Lords Espernon and Valete bretheren to be set in good peaceable state It is sayd how the king of Nauarre had certaine meetings and parleys with the Q. Mother and how the last parlâ—y appoynted was interrupted by the conspiracies of the Leaguers seeking to lay the foundation of their greatnes vnder colour of defending the Romish religion after the which interruption the King of Nauarre retyred into Rochel where he continued vntill the end of Aprill Now let vs lay downe what the sayd King of Nauarre did from this time to wit the latter end of Aprill vnto the end of December and then we will take the course of those things which haue passed in other countreys and by the setting downe of other men About the ende of Aprill the King of Nauarre departing from Rochel with certayne péeces of ordinance tooke Chizay by composition and Sassay by assault where he commaunded certaine robbers of Niort who had obstinatly resolued to withstand him to be hanged From thence he went to S. Mexent which yéelded vpon composition after they had seene the Canon From thence fayning to goe somewhere els departed in the euening and in the morning earely was before Fontenay and on a sudden without great resisting tooke the Suburbe called Loges and at the same instant compassed the towne on euery side least any succour should enter in But seeing that he had neede of more ordinance than he had speedily departed to Rochel to haue more which thing the Rochellers did very willingly and speedily graunt so that within lesse than fiue dayes he returned and began to batter Fontenay with nine péeces The Prince also brought certaine peeces from S. Jhan d' Angely so that Captaine Rossiere who commaunded there ouer the Albaneses and inhabitants were enforced to yéeld by composition almost at the discredition of the said King of Nauarre who
part of the auncient Nation called Eburones hauing on the East side Lorreyne and Ardenues on the West Henault on the North Liege on the South Baroys and Champaigne it hath two strong places Sedan and Iamets and many other strong holdes and Castels the Countrey is Woody Moorish and strong lying altogether vpon the banck of the riuer Mense This Countrey since it had imbraced the Gospell and become the Garden of Eden hath been the place of refuge for them of the reformed religion of the Nations which doo lie betweene the riuers of Marne Seyne Mosselle and Saosne a place most fit to retire vnto in time of persecution There were two bretheren the Duke of Boillon and the Countie de la Mark two Noble young men of great vertue valour and godlines who had from their cradle as if it were sucked the true religion and vertue with the milke of their vertuous and godly Mother They ventured all that they had liues goods and state for the defence of the Crowne of France and true religion and opposed themselues against the conspiracies of the Leaguers not as Merceuaries but moued with a true zeale and loue toward both These two noble men were called out of this life vnto that which neuer decayeth and to inioy the inheritance of the Saincts in light whose names shall be in the euerlasting remembrance of the righteous The one to wit the Countie de la Mark dyed at Lancye about the beginning of October as is said before but the eldest to wit the Prince BoilloÌ„ at Geneua the first of Ianuarie as is said It is said before how the Duke of Guize set vpon the Rutters at Vimory where many were slaine and taken on both sides and the Duke of Guize tooke also about three hundred wagon horses and in like manner tooke some more in the surprise which he did enterprise vpon them at Aulneau in Beausse This man being possessed with a legion of vncleane spirits named Ambition this vncleane spirit did so torment him that it made him to thinke an houre a day a day a yeare and a yeare an olde mans age so he longed to see the royall familie rooted out and the crowne of France to fall to his lot hee aduised therefore himselfe of this point of policie to make his name ring ouer all France his victories sung out and to store vp the loue and admiration of the people toward him and to procure hatred and enâ—ie to the King He deuyded these horses and armour which hee had taken from the Rutters at Vimory and Aulneau into sundrie companies of horsecorsers and riders transported with affection and factious malcontents and vnquiet to make a progresse through the realme into those Prouinces whereunto they durst venture and into those Townes and Cities specially which were fauorable to him There these horsecorsers carried as if it were in a triumph through the cities the Germaines spoyles horses weapons and all other aray And when the people were flocked together in great troupes to see these new showes there were the Orators ready among them The number of the dead horses and Ensignes taken were increased by the figure of multiplication one killed a hundred and a hundred ten thousand as Pyrgopolinices in Plautus the manner of the fight was made very difficult and dangerous for the conquerours They shewed also how not one of the Guizes Souldiers were found wanting to be short vanitas vanitatis Then they applied their showes how that the Duke of Guize had atchiued himselfe all the difficulties of the warre and either slaine or taken the chosen and valiant Captaines and Soulâ—iers thereof and if hee had been assisted by the King he would haue gotten such a victory as neuer the like had been heard of in France For hee knew the meanes how to haue made such a slaughter of them as not one had been left to tell the newes in Germanie all the realme might haue inioyed the commodities of such a victorie But the King he retyred beyond Loyre as though he had beene vnwilling or afeard of them for he would or durst neuer shew his face or draw his sword against them and for to shew some outward countenance or for shame when the enemie were alreadie vanquished and that the Duke of Guize had left the small remnant who were but pages and scullions so hurt wearie and sick that they could not flie trusting that they would haue been dispatched by the King they were followed so slackly that not onely he gaue them leasure to escape without running but also helped them to ouercome so many distresses wherunto they were driueÌ„ by the said Duke of Guyze also vnder colour of a counterfeit yeelding and submission he granted vnto them their liues horses and furniture and to some of them their goods and by these meanes they came all to their iourneys end and safely arryued to the King of Nauarre Now the conclusion of these infamous reports was left to euery man to inferre that eyther there was not in the King such princelike vertues as should be in him or else that hee was a fauourer of heretikes and a dissembler with the Catholikes Then what should wee doe with such a King Let vs haue another And whome should we haue but him that hath done such exployts and deliuered France from so manie daungers and terrors By these deuises hatred and contempt was no lesse procured against the King as gloria in excelsis prayse loue fauour and authoritie to the Duke of Guyze The Iesuites and Friers on the other side tooke these lyings and slaunderous reportes for a theme to discourse vpon in the pulpits he that was of a timorous minde cryed that the King was a betrayer of the Catholikes he was become either a close and desembling heretike or a fauourer of heretikes and that it was to be feared ere long hee would forsake the catholicisme and ouerthrow the Catholike Religion in France Others which had a more warlike stomack discoursed vpon the other common place that the K. had a timorous mind durst not look few Pages and Scullions halfe vanquished in the face and that was the cause that many attempts vpon the heretikes had come to small effect because the warres were not pursued by men neither of courage nor wisedome But the Duke of Guize that noble branch of Charlemaigne the deliuerer of France the onely protector of the holy Church was the onely man to whome they owe their religion their liues and goods the onely hope of the Realme Thus the frogges that rose vp out of the bottomelesse pit did dayly in their pulpits crie croake croake croake There was great hope that the sundry lamentable euents which did beate the one and the other part in France by the scourge of warre and execution of armours as well in the losse of the battell at Coutras in the death of notable men as in the oppression and hauock which the armies did cary with them would haue
with their continuall brabling and brawling with him with few popish vnreasonable reasons which they tooke out of certayne Sermons of popish Frierly Doctors which they had among them and not onely did daily complaine vppon him to the magistrate but also were some time ready to set vppon him to murâ—her him and the more hee was feruent in prayers the more they did moiest and vexe him The third sort of enemies who did assault him were they which professed friendship who oftentimes came to aduertize him in the prison that the Iudges had concluded to condemne him to die and that it were high time to looke about perswading him to auoid the danger to goe to Masse once or twise and after he could make some shift to get him out of the way but he refused all that counsell So he made his will fully determined to die which hee sent to his wife yet the Iudges must haue a fling more to trye what he would do or otherwise resolue to condemne him made him sit vpon the stoole whereupon they that are condemned of capitall crimes are vsed to sit when they do receaue sentence of condemnation But behold on a sudden they changed their mynds and sent him againe into prison The King had written and set his owne hand to a letter commaunding them to make his Processe with all â—igour of the lawe The Iudges were cruell Papists and Leaguers the Italian was an Atheist contemner of all religions but a notorious blynd enemy of the trueth The opportunity of the time might haue encouraged them to vse all extremity But the Lord to the comfort of his children did put a ring in their Nostrels and after a long imprisonment the eight of Aprill they pronounced sentence agaynst the sayd Tyxier by the which they banished him out of the realme for euer and commaunded him vpon paine of death within two moneths to auoyde his goods were forfaited to the King Which sentence was signifyed vnto him the same day by the secretary of the same Court of Bloys It is sayd how the two noble Princes of Boillon and his brother the County de la Mark dyed the one in the Moneth of October at Lany and the other in Geneua in Ianuary The death of this noble Prince being published abroad the Leaguers tooke it for a presage of their good successe and occasion to encrease their power As for to enterprize any thing against Guyenne or the king of Nauarre the bad successe of de Mayne and the death of Ioyeuse at Coutras did not counsell them There was as little hope in other Prouinces where they of the reformed were strong in armes and fortes as in Languedock and Daulphine where now of late an assotiation vpon the defensiue was made betweene the Catholikes and them of the Religion To attempt the old plat agaynst the kings person the time was not yet come On the other side they did greatly feare the tempest which did threaten them on the side of Germany by reason of the fires which they had kindled in the County of Montpeliard and the execrable outrages by them there committed where as is aforesayd they charged the Rutters in them retyring homeward This feare caused the Duke of Lorreyne to send to the king for succour for they thought that it would be greatly for their aduantage if the King in defending them on that side might haue procured the hatred of the Germans and with all consumed his forces in defending and iustifying theyr vilanies and so all by one meanes should spoyle himselfe of the amity of his neighbours and of his owne forces in being after more easy to be oppressed by them Therefore among so many difficultyes nothing seemed vnto them more commodious to bestow and exercize their forces and by little and little to encrease their power then to inuade the said principallity of Boillon supposing that to be of an easy executioÌ„ considering the opportunity proffered it selfe thereby preparing the way by easy thinges to harder and more difficult matters The oportunity seemed vnto them very fit to wit the death of the two bretheren the amaze which fell vpon the subiectes in the territory of Sedan and Iamets The weakenes of the yong Princesse fatherles in tears and mourning by reason of the death of her two brethren a mayd euen vnder age destitute of men armour and Captaines and as if it were disdayned of the world forsaken of her friends not through vnfaithfulnes but being themselues hampered and busied in the selfesame daungers that shée was in Other friends of the contrary profession durst not shewe her any fauourable looke for feare to be heretikes or fauourers of heresie and so to prouoke agaynst themselues the bloodie power of the League And that which is more she being accounted an hereticke for professing of the trueth and therefore accursed by the Pope proscript by the League and as it were dead to the world by the articles of Nancy whereof it shall be spoken hereafter at large And to that ende they might the better both to inuade that yong Princesse and resist the Germans whom they feared by reason of the villanies wherewith they had prouoked them as is aboue sayd they had succour of the Duke of Parma Italians Spanyards Wallons Legeoys Germans vnder the conduct of the Baron of Sarexenbourg to the number of ten thousand men in all All these occasions opportunities causes forces mooued the Duke of Lorreyne to lay the siege before the Towne of Iamets next of the principalitie which lyeth nigh the borders of Lorreyne about the 20. of Ianuary In the meane while the Princesse caused the inhabitants to sweare fidelitie to her and gaue the gouernment of her affayres vnto the Lord Nueuile vntill she might vnderstand of the Prince Monpensier her vncle appoynted Warde and of the Lord la Noue executor of the Will of her brother but specially of the King of Nauarre whose counsel she desired greatly to followe The companie which she had were the Princesse her selfe the Princesse Bourbon and the Lord Laual a young child the heire of the Lord Laual who dyed at Taillebourg the yeare 1586. in Aprill as is aforesayd The forces were the inhabitants of the countrey and a certaine number of Frenchmen exiled out of their countrey by reason of the persecution of the League The Duke of Boillon being dead the King of Nauarre was certified thereof from Geneua and also from Sedan an expresse messenger was sent to the sayd King to let him vnderstand the state and necessitie of the affayres The King of Nauarre vnderstanding the state of Sedan the iniuries and violences of the League sent thether the Lord Reaulx and from thence to the King to put him in mind of the protection which he did owe to the sayd Princesse and of the seruices done by her predecessors to the Crowne of France but specially to shewe him the importance of the places which the Leaguers did intend to inuade
haue mee on your side I will you to let them vnderstand all that I haue tolde you During these practises of the Leaguers and their running to an fro to amend their errour to fortifie themselues to make a way to reconsiliation they stoope to the Q Mother who was left at the Loure there they cap and crouch vnto her they kisse her hands and giue her sugred words excusing the matter that they meant no hurt but were put in some feare by the kings forces being lodged and placed in Garison before their doores they were all the Kings most obedient and faithfull seruants they require nothing else but that a Catholick successe be nominated an immortall warre denounced against the hereticks vpon that condition they are ready to bee sacrificed at his feete that she would be a meane to pacifie his anger and displeasure she had been hetherto the onely vpholder of the state against the hereticks now she may shew a notable proofe of her great wisdome and do great seruice to the holy Church By these and such like perswasions she was easily wonne to bee a mediator yet once for them to the King The Q. Mother was as deeply fallen into the crime of treason as they saue onely in one degree for they had conspired the kings death and vsurping of his kingdome Shee was not desirous of the kinges death nor that his kingdome should be taken from him but she was glad and sought all meanes to keepe him wrapped in troubles during her life though it should cost him at length his life and state that shee might alwayes wrest the rule and gouernment out of his hand by throwing him headlong from time to tyme into troubles and dangers This accursed woman therefore seeth here an occasion proffered her to nourish still her ambitious humor to bind both the king and his enemies vnto her by the meanes of reconciliation She from tyme to time sendeth vnto the king maketh him beleeue that there is not so much fault in the Leaguers as it outwardly seemeth to bee they tooke armors to defend themselues standing in some feare and mistrust of his forces disposed in the streetes at their dores and that it was rather a fray which happened by the prouoking of some vnaduised persons then any intent of rebellion and that the people once mooued ranne somewhat rashly and inordinatly as the maner is in such a case shee warneth him to take heede not to kindle a new ciuill warre farre more dangerous then the former with the heretikes stronger in forces wealth and partakers if all the power of the realme had not béene able to extinguish the former it would bee an endles worke to bring this to an end which could not bee done without the subuerting or at least the renting of the kingdome that in tyme he may well be reuenged of the iniuries of some of whom hee feeleth himselfe greeued It is best to dissemble and winke for a time then by a precipitation of counsell to hazard life and state By this Cup which shee borrowed of Circe her countrey woman she transformed the king from a man hauing a Lyons hart into a sheepe cast him in a sound and vnsensiblenes whereby after he could not feele the good counsels of his faithful subiects who proffered him their help to reuenge such notorious and publike contumelies vntill that at length necessity enforced him to do it The rumor of such a notable treason attempted and performed by the Leaguers in expelling the king of such an ancient race out of his imperial Citty spread abroad there repayred vnto the king two maner of people to offer him their help in the reuengement of such an iniury to wit some Leaguers which seeing that the Lorreins had proceeded so far as to attempt agaynst his person and state now do change their minde do pitty their Prince so much abused vnder colour of Catholicisme The Catholikes both noble ecclesiasticall and commons the better sounder part of them come in post to the King exclaiming against the Guyzes and against their presumption requiring the K. to take punishment equall to the greatnes of the offence do counsell him to let alone the King of Nauarre and all the heretikes who neuer enterprised such a thing and to turne his forces agaynst such notorious offenders They prayed him to ouergoe his greefe they proffer him their seruice their liues goods and meanes for the performance thereof The King despiseth not their good counsell and affection toward him but being bewitched by the sorcering of his mother as is abouesaid answereth them quietly that he wanted neither courage nor force to reuenge his priuat iniuries sayth that he will not kindle a new ciuill warre in his realme thanketh them and sendeth them home intending already reconsiliation with the Leaguers It is sayd before how the Leaguers and the Parisiens leagued with them perceauing that the missing of the King might turne to their shame and vndooing tryed to iustify their actions by letters solicited other townes and citties to the like rebellion fortifyed themselues seazed vppon as many holdes as they could surprize and in the meane time searched and viewed the Kinges mynd by their secret spials sounded his mind a farre of by the hipocriticall Capuchins whether these vngratefull actions had any thing mooued him to disoaine poperie and to seeme to encline to them of the reformed religion but specially by them of the court of Parliament whom they sent to him to know his disposition to peace and how he digested the contumelious iniuries It is sayd also that in the meane time by the means of his mother they extinguished that Nemesis which is in great Princes and turned it into pusillanimity and how bee shewed some tokens of that basenes of hart in his speeches with them of his court of Parliament Now the Leaguers perceiuing by all these meanes that the Kinges heat was cooled more inclined vnto impunitie which he calleth clemencie then vnto punishment and reuenge Before they enter into treaty of peace they goe about to temper him somewhat better yet by a forme of petition and to giue some authority to the same they borrow both the person and the name of the Cardinall of Bourbon whose authority from the beginning they had made a couering of their negotiation and conspiracies This Cardinall being one of the first Princes of the blood was not ignorant long time before of all these cōmotions of the old hatred which they of the house of Guyze haue borne to the Princes friends and seruants of the house of Bourbon and that in seeking the decay and fal of thē they procured also his own But through a certaine vnhappines he had suffered himselfe to be possessed and handled by them of the contrary part and following their counsels they had made alwaies a buckler of him considering his qualitie and degree which he hath in that realme as well among the Princes as among the priests So
strong not so much with the outward force as with plurality of suffrages which in all places they had secretly suborued by premises and corruptions And so it came to passe that there came but few to that assembly but they which were of the Leaguers faction Here Christian Reader wee may see Gods iudgements calling this great King as it were by steps to a miserable and shameful fall for his vnthankfulnes He hath forsaken one part of his subiectes and that the best part though not the greatest in number holdeth them for enemyes and wil haue none of their counsell and by the selfe same means hath opened a dore to weaken himselfe in his Parliament and committed his person into the hands of them that were assembled to dispossesse him out of his kingdome either by murther or by captiaitie making the way plaine before his enemies to rule the matter as they would without controulement Now we will leaue the King with all his courtand traine with his Leaguers to goe soft and fayre for feare of sweating too much to â—loys there to take order for their Processions Massing and other solemnities And vsed by men of that religion and there to stay for the arriuing of the deputies while we do see what things had happened in other places While and after the Edict of reunion was a casting in Iuly and the States appoynted all meanes were sought out to vndoe the King of Nauarre and with him them of the Religion The sayd king of Nauarre of his part did make himselfe ready vppon the defensiue grounded vpon all his reasons propounded often times by his declarations and vpon the grieues and iniuries proffered vnto him and vnto them of the religion It is said before how the Lord Colombieres had brought certaine companies out of Normandy vnto the King of Nauarre and in Iune before had seazed vpon the towne of Montagne This was a towne belonging to the Prince of Conde which had beene miserablie defaced in the former ciuill warres The wall and the castell being one of the strongest places in all that countrey had beene beaten downe But the ruine of the towne was not so great but within few dayes it was reasonablie repayred and made defensible by the said Lord Colombieres and other Captaynes with him The companies of the said Lord Colombieres out of that towne made dayly long roades and courses toward Nantes and against other places holden by the papists whereby dayly they greatly molested them After the Edict of reunion Duke Mercure gouernour of Britaine and others of the countrie who did holde with the League but specially they of Nants who could not away with such neighbours gathered certaine regiments of the Leaguers to make certaine roades into the lowe Poytow as well to let the enterprizes of the king of Nauarre there as to prepare the way to that armie which should folow shortly after vnder the conduct of the Duke of Neuers but specially intending to lay the siege before Montagne to gett that place out of the hand of them of the religion The Duke Mercure therefore with as great forces as hee was able to make went in person to lay siege before the said Montagne abouâ— the eight of August and lodged the regiment of Gersay at Saint George And sending from thence to view the towne a hot skirmish was begonne against them of the towne in the presence of the sayd Mercure who stood in battle aray with two hundred horses on the side of Barrillery so called because there they make barrels tubbes and such like stuffe They within the towne at the discouering of the enemie issued so furiously and did so beat them back that many men and horses remained slaine vpoÌ„ the place among whom were some of the guards of Mercure who seing that it was so hard for him to lodge his men of war in y e suburb of Saint Jamets as he had determined to doe sent them againe to their lodgings at Saint George As for himselfe in the euening hee retyred to Elison hauing sent downe the riuer Loyre from Nantes three double cannons to pont Rosseau which is a towne situated on the fall of the riuer Seuie into Loyre The King of Nauarre aduertized of Mercures inuasion into Poytow gathered such forces as he could and vpon some other occasions also departed out of Rochel the ninth of August accompanied with a hundred horses onely and the harquebusiers of his gardes and taking his iorney toward Loyre went that day to lodge at Lusson The Duke Mercure being lodged at Clisson the tenth day of August vnderstoode that the King of Nauarre was gone foorth out of Rochel and vpon the shadow of his owne feare he perswaded himself that it is to raise vp the siege of Montagne so that hauing represented vnto himselfe the accustomed diligence of the King of Nauarre in his exployts of warre he imagineth to see him alreadie whereupon he determined to retyre before he had planted his siege and returned to Nantes the 11. of August two daies before the comming of the King of Nauarre he left the regiment of Gersay to make the retyre and lodged the 12. day at Mounieres a towne situated vpon the riuer Seure The King of Nauarre at his departure from Lusson went to lodge at Bourneueau where the Lord Boulay with his companie of armed men well appoynted and a companie of harquebusiers on horseback commanded by Captaine Nede ioyned to him From Bourneueau the King went to lodge at Essars where he was aduertised that the Duke Mercure was departed and retyred to Nantes and that the regiment of Gersay was lodged at Mounieres These newes did cause him to dislodge the day following very earely least he should lose the occasion to ouertake that regimeÌ„t he went through the Towne of Montagne with much toyle and there tooke the garrison commanded by Luzerne eldest sonne to the Lord Colombieres and with extreame diligence in a little space of time came to the riuer Seure which he passed ouer speedily on foord there he found that the regiment was parted from Mounieres purposing to retyre to Pilmil Suburbe of Nantes The garrison of Montagne being forerunners to the sayd King followed with diligence and ouertooke them in a way hollowe and couered very aduantagious for the enemie by reason of three little houses wherein they had put men to flancke them There the skirmish did continue about halfe an houre vntill the sayd King of Nauarre had arriued with all his companies at whose comming the enemie was discouraged begaÌ„ to faint and flée away in disaray and there was wholly ouerthrowne The King of Nauarre tooke to mercie as many as were taken prisoners to the number of foure hundred and fiftie and suffered none to be killed but such as were slaine in the battell The master of the Camp Gersay saued himselfe by flight by the meanes of a fayre Ienet of Spayne yet hurt with a shot There were eight Ensignes taken great number of carts
the Lord Argence As they were all ready there to signe the agreement behold a new commotion of the people who will not compound the reason was the arryuing into the towne of the Baron of Tonnerak with diuers gentlemen of the League also of captayne Caze Marshall of the lodgings of the L. Aubeterre who do assure them that the sayd Lord of Aubeterre will come with succour to them the next day morning with three hundred horsmen and fiue hundred footmen The Abbot by these occasions was enforced to get him to the castle agayne with greater danger then at the first by reason of the raging of this Leagued people For they brought him by force before the Citadell to forbid the Souldiers to discharge the ordinance agaynst the towne which thing notwithstanding in a while after they continued to do because that the people assaulted the castell continually vppon a vayne hope incited by those leagued gentlemen newly come The chiefest officers of the King and Bourgeses of the Citty hauing duly considered in the Bishops house the danger wherin their citty stood if so many strangers on euery syde should come in ioyned themselues with the cheefest Gentlemen agaynst the rest who were stubburne They sent agayne 2. of the chiefest Bourgeses to the Lord Espernon to beseech him that it may please him that the Lord Tageus his kinsman newly arryued in the Suburbs with his companies might signe and seale the agréement to the which they added onely that they who were detayned prisoners in the castell should be comprised therein and set at liberty according to the fayth which he had geuen them promising of their part to do the like to them whom they did detayne and all that which had been taken in the houses should be restored The Lord Espernon graunting vnto them their demaund sent againe the Abbot who went forth with them of the towne to the Lord Tageus to make him seale the composition which was done about foure a clocke in the euening Within a while after the trenches were broken the people went away the Lady Espernon was conducted by the sayd Abbot into the castell with all the prisoners detayned in the towne The Lord Bordes entred the Citadell the conspiratours and Maiors fellowes who were prisoners in the castell were set at liberty Mere with his complices went forth out of the towne and retyred into theyr houses vnder the conduct of the Lord Maumont captayne of light horses The dead on both sides were quietly buried and namely the Maior whose corps with the corps of his brother were freely deliuered to their friends to be buried When the agreement was concluded it was nine and thirtie houres that neither the Lord Espernon nor any of his had eate nor dronk There was no more powder for the shot he had determined the night following to issue forth vpon the enemies for to seaze vpon the well hee also looked that night to be rescued by his men to be short by the singuler goodnes of God he escaped a perilous snare of the Leaguers a marueilous great danger for the which to auoyde hee shewed himselfe both valiaunt and watchfull and if he would be thankfull to God for so great deliuerance and consider from whence for what cause these blowes came he should doe the part of a right noble man About the selfe same time that these things were done at Engolâ—sme against the Duke Espernon the Lorde Autragues gouernour of Orleans sent to the King to protest obedience with excuse that the things which he had done in fauour of the League had been for none other cause then for zeale of the Catholick religion but perceiuing that the chiefe Leaguers passed further then he thought he wholly doth renounce detest y â— League and vpon that protestation he was receaued in fauour by the King Whilest the King after hee had sent his writtes to the Prouinces Townes and Cities to make thoyse of their deputies men of wisdome discretion and louers of peace to send with speede to the States preparing all things to resort with a soft pace to Bloys to the States It is said also how the Leaguers peruerted all things suborned all the most vile and accursed traitors that could be picked out in all France It is said also how least that execrable company might be spied or crossed they had obtained by the edict of reunion that none of the reformed religion or suspected to fauour the same and that none of the Princes of the bloud shoulde bee admitted to that house least they shoulde bee spyed when they should go about to make processe against their lawfull King and naturall Prince The King considering the shortnes of the time reiourned his estates vntill the beginning of October following whatsoeuer other causes did moue him so to doo But toward the latter end of September he and his mother accompanied with the Duke of Guize with all their traine ariued at Bloys The Princes of Monpensier County and Soyssons did appeare at Bloys and for because the Prince County had ioyned himselfe to the army of the Germanes the yeare before his company was greatly suspected and many of his friends went about to perswade him to send to the Pope for an absolution but in that following the counsell of his best friends and seruants he did it noâ— The Prince of Soyssons had alreadie obtained a Bull of the Pope containing a pardon for hauing followed the part of them of the religion with a Renuoy for his absolution to the Legat of Venise who was also at the States hee made great difficulties in the matter so that they of the assembly had once resolued to require the King not to suffer the saide Prince to bee admitted but at length it was found good to stay their sute for that time Whilest these things aboue said do passe so diuersly in sundry places the great and mightie armie appoynted for Daulphine vnder the leading of the Duke d' Mayne dooth march and at length arriued in Liomoys there continued long daring not enter far into the Prouince of Daulphine for feare of scalding but soiourned vpon the borders betweene Liomoys and Daulphine as a man that came onely to see whether he could make the hereticks afraide or not The King arriued at Bloys with all his traine maketh readie all the solemnities fit for that assemblie whilest the deputies and assignes of the Prouinces doo make readie their instructions and hast to the place appoynted The King hauing more trust in his subiects then his subiects were to be trusted of him doth expect honest wise and indifferent deputies such as would seeke onely the good of the Common wealth But the Duke of Guize had so laboured of long time and so reduced the people that there was almost no citie towne nor prouince in all France but the complices of the Leaguers vnder colour of zeale of religion preuailed in sending such as were altogether factious and desirous of innouations
saide nor done any thing began in that kinde of rhetorick which hee was wont to vse among the seditious of Paris when he sharpened them against the King at the last rebellion in May of the same yeare onely altering the name of King into the name of hereticks So that as there was that day many good words cast away without dooing any good so there was many cruell bitter and seditious words vttered in the Kings presence to prouoke him to crueltie and slaughter by it to lull him asleepe to cast him into securitie to take away from him all mistrust the more easily and at some conuenient to oppresse him The 18. of October the King came into the hall with the body of the States for the second session where he began to say as followeth Sirs I haue testified vnto you on Sonday last the desire which I haue alwaies to see during my raigne all my faithfull subiects reunited in the true Catholick Romish religion vnder that authority which it hath pleased God to giue me ouer you and hauing to the same effect made my edict of Iuly last past that it might be holden for a fundamental law of this realme to binde both you and your posteritie to the intent that now the same may be confirmed before me as made by the common consent of you al and that no man may pretend ignorance of the nature and ofspring of it and that it may haue the marke of a fundamentall law of the realme for euer I will that this edict bee now read with a loude voyce and bee knowne of all and after that sworne vnto by all the States to the which thing I will sweare first of all that my holy intent may be knowne both of God and men The King hauing ended his speach commaunded Ruze one of his Secretaries of estate to reade with a loud voyce the declaration which he had made the same day vpon his edict of reunion Wherein he first sheweth his great and feruent desire which hee hath had from his youth and the noble acts which he hath done for the rooting out of heresie also how he hath vsed all gentle waies to call the hereticks to the holy Church againe But considering that all this would not serue but onely to make them more obstinate he dooth declare himselfe to haue made the edict of reunion for an irreuocable lawe of the realme condemning already by this his declaration all such as will not sweare nor obey the same as guiltie of high treason This declaration being read then followed the edict of reunion by the same Secretary which being done the Arshbishop of Bourges made a long exhortation to the States vpon the solemne oath to be taken by the King and required also to be taken by his subiects for the obseruing of the saide edict This faire and learned sermon about a naughtie matter and to couer their dissembling heart First did speak of the truth and of lying then shewed the vse of an oath the necessitie the forme and qualities thereof Secondly he speaketh of the Church which he saith in some respect to be visible and in some respects inuisible and that it is gathered of diuers nations and degrees of men without acceptation and distinction of persons He saith that it is called the Church of Rome in none other sence then that it imbraceth the word of God and true doctrine which S. Peter there taught to the which all other Churches haue vnited themselues by a generall and vniuersall consent hee saith that the triumphant and militant Church is but one in effect And that this Church is grounded onely vpon the stone which is Christ the true foundation and head corner stone thereof and that it hath sustained many assaultes which haue not preuailed He saith also that out of that Church there is nothing but death and that hee who will not holde the same for his mother cannot haue God for his Father Out vpon the heretick â—â—e vpon fowle hereticks so many words concerning Note the Church so many heresies or else they make great iniurie to the Hugonets whose death they doo conspire here in this assembly for holding so much in a manner as this saucie Bishop dâ—re speake here before one of the greatest Potentates of the world I lictor colliga manus caput obnubiâ—o quadrupedem constringito c. Loe the omnipotent power that shauelings haue they can make heresie good doctrine and true doctrine heresie when they list These things being spoken by an Archbishop are no heresie being spoken by another man as Theodorus Beza or some other which they doo not fancie there will bee picked out nineteene heresies a quarter and a halfe Thirdly he sheweth what a great matter vnion is but specially in the Church therefore hee exhorteth them being of one faith lawe and beliefe vnder one Sauiour in one and the same Church of one nation and tongue to vnite themselues for the defence of the same holy Church Fourthly he preuenteth by an obiection that whereof they may be charged saying we meaning the Priestes doo not proclayme waâ—re no no saith he the Church dooth not thirst after bloud but we doo desire them who are out of the way to returne into the right way and if they bee obstinate wee doo desire that they may be cut off as gangrâ—ned and putrified members See here godly Christian reader what hipocrisie goeth about to doo this Bishop would faine see the Kings horses to swim in the bloud of them Note of the reformed religion and bloweth the trompet giueth the watch word to the onset vnder the colour of reuniting the Catholicks yet hee would not for all the goods in the world that men should thinke that it were done by his approbation consent and counsell and therefore he saith that the holy Church seeketh not to spill bloud but that they that are in error may be coÌ„uerted into the right way Now my Lord shall I bee so bould to speake one word to your Lordship what way will you follow to conuert them from their errour as you say they are in my Lorde Bishop will answer that hee will first shewe them their errour and then teach them the certitude of his doctrine Then my good Lord I pray you be not angry why haue you denied this way to the King of Nauarre to the reformed Churches of France which onely thing they haue desired When once you haue followed that way and haue conuerted them of errour and taught them a better way if they shew themselues obstâ—â—at cut them off as rotten and gangrened members in deed But belike this is the methode which you will follow against them you will drawe a forme of aâ—iuration in the first part you will make them to abiure and renounce that forme of doctrine which they say is grounded vpon Gods worde the infallable rule of veritie then you will lay downe your fantasies traditions flowing out of the darke
illumination of your owne brayne and that you will make them beléeue for an vndoubted truth vpon your single asseueration and all the reasons which you bring for the confirmation of these your fantasies you lay downe sic volo sic iubeo I pray you my good Lord tell me whose voyces be these But what if they will not take your sic volo sic iubeo for reasons which may induce them to subscribe to your abiuration and will not suffer themselues to bee cut off neither being not conuincted of error but stand to defend themselues against an vniuersall contumelie iniurie and violence What will you doo My Lord Bishop hearing this newes what will they neither beléeue vs neither suffer themselues to be burned for our pleasures Now all my Lords religion is turned into madnesse his zeale to rage his authoritie to tyrannie and his mildnes that holy Church doth not couet after blood is turned to murther Then my Lord in his furie and in the trance of his hart he crieth Open the Kings Arseuall bring foorth his Ordinance gather together his men of armes and footmen and if néede bee the whole Realme set vpon them kill them slash them cut them spoyle them murther them and worse if you can This is not to warre quoth my Lord no no holy Church thirsteth not after bloud But here is good play which I doo offer you seeing that you must néedes to warre there is in France many legions of diuells of your haire put on your carnall armour for the spirituall armour you haue lost long agoe let your Myter serue you for an Helmet your Rochets for Corslets your Surplesses for shirts of male your Crosses for pikes your Crosier staues for Launces your red roundaches which the Cardinalls doo weare vpon their heads for Targets your Holy water tassels for Clubbes put on your Spectacles too that you may the better aime at your enemie call vppon all the he Saints and she Saints which the Popes haue deified with thousands of Ora pro nobis set you all in battell aray be fiue against one méete the heretikes if you dare in y ◠plaine open field I aduise you though you be desperate enough not to come within their reach least that with bastinadoes the pockes and the gowtes be wrong out of your rotten boanes against your wills But to returne to the purpose he exhorteth the States to vnite themselues and to sweare the foresayd edict which speaches being ended the King tooke the word thus Sir you haue heard the contents of mine edict and vnderstand the qualitie of the same the greatnes and worthines of the oth which you be about now to sweare And seeing that I perceiue your iust desires to agree with mine I will sweare and doo sweare before God in a good conscience the obseruing of this mine edict as long as God shall continue my life here and will do ordaine that it may be kept for euer as a fundamentall law of this realme and in witnesse of the correspondence and vniuersal consent of all the States of my Realme you shall now sweare the obseruation of mine edict of vnion all with one voyce you Churchmen laying your hand vpon your breast and the rest lifting vp their hands to heauen which thing was done with great reioysing and acclamation of all men crying God saue the King Now by this hee in his owne person and his subiects haue sworne an immortall warre in his Realme of which thing he commaundeth an act to bee made in writing to serue for a perpetuall remembrance of the fact The act is such as followeth This day the 18. of October 1588. the King sitting at Bloys in the assemblie of his generall states of his Realme hath sworne in his faith and word of a King to obserue this present lawe in all that shall concerne his Maiestie Also the Lords Cardinalls of Bourbon Vendosme Princes of Soyssons and Monpensier Cardinalls of Guize Leuoncourt and Gundy Dukes of Guize Nemours Neuers and Retes the Lord Kéeper and many other Lords aswell of his Counsell as Commissioners of the three estates of his Realme haue sworne to kéepe and entertaine inuiolable the sayd lawe as well in their proper names as in the names of the Prouinces which haue sent them to the said assemblie of the States This thing being done the King testified the great desire which he had to make an end of this assemblie and to prouide for all his subiects vppon their iust complaints and grieues and for that end promised not to depart out of Bloys vntill the finall end of the said estates commanding likewise them of that assemblie not to depart by any meanes whereof they gaue him most humble thankes The assemblie dismissed the King the Quéenes Princes and Princesses Cardinalls Prelates and other Lords with all the deputies of the States went to the Church S. Sauiour there to sing te Deum where they were alwayes accompanied with a generall voyce of the people crying God saue the King shewing an extreame ioy and gladnesse for their owne calamities and miseries which they had sworne Now good Christian Reader consider well three things in this history to see Gods wrath iustice and mercy the thing which they haue done the miseries which haue followed and the gracious godnes of God in vpholding the ruines and miserable fall of that kingdome For first in this session Gods wrath drawing them to work to sweare and to reioyce in their owne dreadfull destruction they haue degraded and disherited the Princes of the most noble and ancientest family of the world from that inheritance and preheminence which God Nature and Law had appoynted vnto them whose auncestors haue gouerned that kingdome with iustice and equitie aboue thirteene hundred yeares And now without cause contrary to Gods ordinance Lawe and Nature to plant another family vnknowen in France within these threescore and ten yeares the performance of this most vniust exheredation and degradation they haue sworne to execute an oath more damnable than witchcraft ioyning to that iniurie the persecution of the true church of God But O thou most highest rayse vp thy selfe bruse them like a Potters vessell What hath followed that execrable oath First the most wretched and infamous death of the chiefest authors of this coniuring and witchcraft Secondly an vniuersall rebellion against him who sware first and ministred the oath to others I am not a Prophet nor the sonne of a Prophet yet thus much I dare affirme grounded vpon the nature of Gods iustice who sayth that who shall do those abominations shall die the death That peace shall neuer be restored to France as long as there is one left aliue of that damnable and accursed company who with that abomination haue poluted the land either in their mind haue giuen approbation vnto that accursed execration and vntill the Lord hath washed away the polution of their execrable deede with their owne blood Last of all here we haue
siege two Gentlemen to wit the Lord Drow one of his house and one Villebeau Captaine of one of the companies of the Lord Salignak The inhabitants of the Iland Bouing had promised to the King of Nauarre who had vsed them very courteously that they would suffer none of the enemies to enter their Iland which promise they kept not The Lord of Guize though very busie at the States at Bloys yet ceased not but as he was very busie to supplant the King at home so was he very diligent to prouide for the affayres of warre and for to crosse in this siege the King of Nauarre if he could He sent to the Duke Mercure the regiment of S. Paule the fayrest and most dreadfull of all the companies of the League The 22. of October and the morrowe after the rendering of the Castle of Beauuoyre the inhabitants of the Iland Bouing against their promise receiued two of the fayrest companies of the sayd regiment of S. Paule But they had not so soone entered into the Iland but that immediatly they tooke such dreadfull feare that without any shame they sent a Drumme to the said king to beseech him to giue them safe conduct to retyre into a place of safetie They had some reason so to doo for the feare of his sworde put them in a fearefull apprehension For he had so prouided that they were at his mercie hauing sent his nauall armie to a place called Collet aboue Bourgneuf of Rhe which was the place where of force they must needes passe by But the accustomed clemencie of that Prince sustayned and eased the feare of these two companies who trusted that he would be no lesse fauourable to them then hee hath accustomably béen vnto others who did submit themselues vnto him Whereof they themselues among many other examples are and ought to bee hereafter witnesses for although hée might haue cut them in peeces yet of his good will leauing a marke of heroicall humanitie vnto the posteritie he gaue them their liues armour with a pasport for their safe returne so that they should retyre the selfe same day He forgaue also the Iland men who had falsified their faith and had rendered themselues worthie of sharpe punishment This clemencie to them shewed did so touch them that they haue remayned euer since most faithfull being otherwise most deuoted and addicted vnto poperie The saide King being desirous to passe into the Iland to sée it could not doo it for the contrarie windes hee left there for gouernour the Lorde Quergroy a Gentleman of Britayn of great reputation with a necessarie Garison And vpon the aduertisements which he receaued of the great preparation and marching of the royall army vnder the conduct of the Duke of Neuers who descended into Poytow he departed thence the 24. of October with all his army taking his way to Montagne where hee left the regiment of the Lorde Preau ordering all necessary things for the defence of that place which as was thought should be the first place where to that army would lay siege which also hee determined to rescue in conuenient time he deuided his garisons in the places which he iudged necessary and among the rest he put Garisons in Mauleon Ganache Talmond Fontenay and other places That being done he tooke his way to Rochel to be at the assembly of all the reformed Churches of France which hee had called thethere for diuers and notable considerations The deputies of all the Churches of all sorts and qualities stayed sometime in Rochel for him where the said King being ariued receaued them with great contentation and according to his naturall facility and mildenes to the great reioysing of all men which hoped for much fruite of this assembly for the preseruation of the realme of the Kings authority against whome the Leaguers vnder colour of the States at Bloys did worke dangerous conspiracies and for the iust defence of them of the religion so long time so cruelly intreated in all partes of the realme The said King being certified of the comming of all the deputies of this assembly of all degrees and conditions Lordes Nobles Iudges Kinges officers Maiors Aldermen and other notable men of the Prouinces gaue an opening vnto the saide assembly by the inuocation of the name of God the 14. of Nouember in the towne house of Rochel assisted by the Lordes of Turenne his Lieutenant general in the prouince of Guienne Trimouille Colonell of the light horses and many other Lords Barons Vicounts Gentlemen and other his counselers The same day were called all the deputies for the assembly the authority which euery one had of the Prouinces for whome they were sent There was almost no Prouince in France which had not sent their deputies to wit deputies were sent out of Gascoyn Amignak Albret and other places from beyond the riuer Garonne out of the Prouinces of Britayne Anjou Tourene Berry Lodunoys the I le of France Normandy Orleans Picardy Champaigne and others beyond the riuer Loyre out of the Prouince of high and lowe Languedock Daulphine Rowergue Mountalban and out of the gouernement of Terrides there were also out of the gouernement of Xainctonge on this side Charante out of all the Iles of Xainctonge other deputed for Rochel for the Prouinces of Limosin Perigord Agenoys for the towne of Bergerak in particular for the Prouinces of Poytow and Engomoys for the principalitie of Orenge and many others for the baily weekes townes and comunalties with sufficient shew of their charges and commissions The 16. day of Nouember after publick inuocation of Gods name the King of Nauarre accompanied as is aboue said represented to the whole assembly the chiefest causes of their conuocation the great necessities which should moue euery man to oppose himselfe to the enemies whose intent was too apparant for they went euen against the King and the whole estate he shewed that hee had hetherto in so iust and godly a cause spared neither goods nor life as his former actions could testifie and that if these mischieues should growe to the worst he for his part felt his courage to be increased of God in the resolution which he had long agoe taken to spend therein euen the last drop of his bloud and the last pennie of all his goods and desired onely that the world would iudge in this his resolution of his good intent as indifferently and truely as himselfe sincerely had walked before God and determined to doo hereafter He shewed how the long continuance of war and lisence of armes had to his great griefe bred and brought in many disorders to the which hee required them as well it might bée to prouide both in respect of the glorie of God of the King of the realme and in respect of all priuat men Prayed them that were of that assembly to bring with them cleane spirites voyde of all passion endued with the loue of the common wealth which thing if they did hee assured
publike reuenger of Gods lawe and executer of his iustice who commandeth him that his eye shall not take pitie vpon such abominable contemners of Gods ordinance and iustice whose Image his person represented fearing men more then GOD and vnder the colour of clemencie consented to their crimes and through impunitie approoued their misdéedes God a righteous Iudge turned this his pusillanimitie to a snare and a blocke of offence by the which he wrought his owne ouerthrowe and miserable end Now leauing the euents which followed this tragedie played at Bloys we will fetch other matters and exploits which were done in other places that varietie may not onely delight the Christian Reader but also stirre him vp to feare tremble and reuerence Gods iudgements For not onely at Bloys he powred mightie streames of his wrath vpon the wicked but also in other places the Lord at the same time fed his enemies with shame clothed them with dishonour and rewarded them with confusion and in all places deliuered his Saints It is sayd before how at the making and concluding of the edict of reunion in Iuly last it was agreed that two mightie Armies should be mustered and made vp with as much readines as it could be done the one should be conducted by the Duke of Guize into Guienne and the other vnder the leading of the Duke de Mayne into Daulphine there to roote out them of the religion But yet the Duke of Guize aduised by his counsell to wit the Cardinall his brother and the Bishop of Lions altered his purpose for three causes First the cause of religion which he pretended was not the marke that he shot at neither did he greatly care which of the two went backward or forward Secondly he perceaued how he went to cast himselfe into the hazard of warre which is vncertaine but specially agaynst such a Captayne who hetherto had remained inuincible and knewe with fewe how to ouercome great multitudes and mighty forces whom hee feared as the slaue doth dread his Lord whom he hath greeuously offended Therfore he thought good not to hazard that way but to reserue himselfe to a better opportunity which would be offered him ere long The third cause was that if he should absent himselfe farre from Paris it might be that the King would enterprise it there uppon and carry it away from him Also if he should absent himselfe from the Court he were not able easily to bring to passe his intent nor giue the blowe which he had in minde long before Therfore another is to be sent yet it must not be any suspected person As for the Princes they are partiall in this cause and being of great authoritie of themselues are not to bee armed with power for els they may marre the play The Marshals Byron and Haultmont are good noble men good French men and valiant they are Royals and therfore we will haue none of them For it were not good to arme them with such forces for if wee say they should in the meane time execute our enterprise whilest they had such an armie they might marre all and begin a new tragedie vpon the players of the former Therefore such a Generall must néedes bee appoynted as may flatter with both sides and that will turne to the strongest part and if he should be lost in the battell it maketh no matter who that should be The Duke of Neuers of Nation an Italian an Atheist by religion a Spanyard by faction a Leaguer and a Royall both by policie and dissimulation in Nobilitie nouus homo For here is to be noted that in Italy there is no ancient Nobilitie remayning except it bee the Vrsins and Colomuae and some of the Patrilij in Venice For all the rest perhaps some fewe excepted are families raised vp within these few hundred yeares out of Colliers as the Medicis Porters and Chimney sweepers during the vniuersall rebellion of Italy against the Emperours vnder the factions of Guelpses and Gibelius and the Popes bastards also are the stockes of many families which now are accounted of the chiefest Nobilitie there as the houses of Parma Vrbines c. This Duke of Neuers hanging about the skirts of the Q. Mother maried the onely heires of the noble and ancient familie of Neuers whose father was slayne at the battell of Dreulx being of the house of Gonzages neuer heard of before these eight score yeares The noble Princes of the royall blood the ancient Nobility of France are no men but set behinde the doore they may not lead the kings armies not for lack of sufficiencie Why then Because they are suspected by the League to be true to their king good louers of their country and too naturall to their kings subiects and fellow Citizens Whilest therefore the States doe continue at Bloys and Rochel the Kings armie in Nouember taking their iourney into Poytow with great preparatioÌ„ intending as wel to recouer the places occupied by them of the Religion as also to beat the king of Nauarre in which doing not only they should make an ende of the warre by rooting out vtterly them of the Religion but also should recouer the losse of the honour of the armie which a moneth before had beene buried at Coutras by the King of Nauarre This armie was great and strong consisting of Frenchmen Swissers and Italians hauing a great number of armed men And as it marched forward so still it increased For light horses and Noble men with other qualities out of all partes out of the cities and communalties of the Prouinces neere about as well of the one as of the other side of the Loyre did voluntarylie ioyne themselues to it And among others out of the low Poytow were the Lords of Roches Beatault of Bourneueau Boucherie and Saint Andre with their companies The Duke of Neuers as is sayd before was generall assisted with the Lord Chastre and Sagonne two notable traytors Leaguers and Lauerdine loyall and faithfull to his Prince with other Lords and Captaines Ordinance munition and all kinde of preparation of warre was great The greatest part of this armie as well of the heads and commaunders as of the Nobilitie and others which did obey were Leaguers and leagued who thought that they could neuer worke mischiefe enough It is an incredible thing to heare the mischieues hauock and oppression which this armie did where it passed through but specially to them of the reformed religion who were found before them both in their houses and abroad the people men and women euen in diuers places the very cattell did flie before this armie as before a thundering tempest euen as a flock of sheepe before a heard of woolues sauage beasts or monsters neuer seene before Sultan Soliman Siech Selymogly did neuer cary greater cruelty sauagenes barbarousnes and terror into Austrich and Slireland when he came downe with three hundred thousand men to the siege of Vienne than did this râ—bble of turkish broode monstrous Cyclops God-contemners
some afterward haue reported certayne discontentments which he said he had receiued which did discourage him in the performance of that seruice to which the occasions and many other reasons did binde him The Lord Preau on the other side said that the place might be reasonably defended That he was seruant to the king of Nauarre to whom he had promised to keepe faithfully that place so long as the skill of warre would permit him and that his credit did restrayne him from consenâ—ing to the rendring thereof Out of this diuersitie of affections the diuision began which afterward was the cause of the so sodaine losse of the place The Lord Colombieres had on his side y e Harquebusiers on horseback which had followed him were there in garrison The Lord Preau had on his side his soure companies some voluntary gentlemeÌ„ and strangers betweene them both were laboured by each partie of the inhabitants there were few or none â—â—t after long reasoning Colombieres the gouernour caryed it away knowing very wel y t the enemie was not ignorant of that diuision and sent to the camp Captayne Courbe his lieftenant to offer agreement to the L. of Neuers who tooke great pleasure in this occasion For the soiourne of 15. dayes before that plate in so fowle weather in so great scarsitie of victualls as was in that armie was a second wound of his dissipation The tearme of this agreement was so short that the king of Nauarre being vpon the poynt to succour them was compelled to breake his enterprize although it was agreed that the king of Nauarre should haue beene aduertized of it The conditions of the agreement were that the colours should be rendered the souldiers should goe forth with their match out and the gentlemen with their furniture that they should all be conducted by a Herault and a trompet as farre as Saint Albine with condition that they should retyre within three dayes The L. Colombieres conducted all the Garrison about halfe a league and then he asked if y t there were any in the companies that would follow him but almost all refused Captaine Courbe with six or seauen more as well of his houshold seruants as others followed him So he taking his leaue and induced either with discontentment or with some other affection he ioyned himselfe to that armie The rest of the troups were safely conducted nigh as farre as Lussen and Saint Gemmes and were left there vpon the conditions abouesaid by the Herault and Trompet But the Lord Sagonne Colonel of the light horsemen did so cut the time prefixed that desirous as it was supposed to reuenge the death of some friend of his in that armie who had been slayn before in that place surprized those companies who were at S. Albine and charged them so hardly that scarce they had time to get into a church and to shut themselues therein They were without munition of necessary things so that they were coÌ„pelled to render themselues yet once againe hauing little resisted This composition was not like the first for they had onely their liues they were vnarmed and ryfled and some few were slaine With a speedy retire they might haue auoyded that iniurie Montagne so surrendred the towne of Ganache was greatly threatned The Marquesse of Belisle who made his abode at Maschecow desired greatly to be dicharged of such neighbours And besides this place was very fit for him if by the meanes of that armie he coulde haue gotten it This place pertained to the Lady of Landimoys of the house of Rohan who had retired to Nantes obaying the kings Edict concerning the alteration of religion The King of Nauarre had giuen the gouernement of this place to the L. Plessis Gette the which diuers times but specially a few dayes afore the siege had been greatly laboured by the said Lady also by the Marquesse of Belisle with faire and large promises to yéeld the place into their hands to whome he would neuer hearken but determined to keep it faithfully The towne of Ganache being distant from Montagne but seauen leagues the Lord Plessis fore seeing the siege dispatched withall diligence to the King of Nauarre who was at Rochel the Lord Sabloniere and Iesserant to let him vnderstand the small commodities that they had to holde that place against a royall army That notwithstanding the saide Lorde Plessis with the rest of the Captaines with him had determined to doo him good seruice so that he would furnish them with meanes At these newes the King dispatched the Baron Vignoles with all his companies to strengthen that place He sent also by sea two Captaines of the regiment of his gardes vnder the conduct of the Lordes Aubiguy and Robiniere who imbarked themselues part at Rochel with powder pikes and other munition of warre part at Esande But the contrarie windes caused them to cast anker at the Iland of Rhe where they stayed eyght daies for winde during which time many being sea sick were found wanting so that at the imbarking againe in stead of two hundred were found fewer in number The Lord Plessis in the meane time laboured hard in the places where was most neede and caused the victuals as well for men as for horses to be brought in out of the vilages round about The L. Ruffigny arriued there with 50. Harquebusiers on horseback by the coÌ„mandement of the said King in staying y e succor which came by sea Ganache is compounded of a towne and Castell situated in the borders of Poytow and Britayn yet holding more of Poytow it is distant from the sea three leagues with an open prospect on that side of the side of Montagne and Maschecow it is woody and couered There is a great poole which compasseth a great part of the towne vppon the Castell side which with diuers brookes watereth the great medowes about it that maketh the waies to the towne moorish and foule but specially in winter The said poole dooth compasse almost two parts of the towne to wit from the suburb Saint Leonard to the suburb of Saint Thomas which is al the side of the Castell The towne is compassed with an indifferent good ditch cut out of a rock the wall is auncient flancked with small towers and made with loope holes after the olde fashion it was found better to resist the cannon then it was thought it would bee specially on the side where it was battered the which for being too feeble and naked hauing but an olde gate the Lord Plessis had fortified and couered with a spurre assoone as he had the gouernement of that place which did him good seruice during the siege Hee made two bulwarkes more on the other side of the towne toward thâ—suburb Saint Thomas the one to couer a tower of the Castell made after the forme of a horseshoo the other nigh vnto the causie which dooth kéep the issue of the poole ten dayes before the siege which was the fourth of December hee builded another
not béen ouerthrown by the way They follow on their accustomed course and method vsed by them these 14. or 15. yeares to wit to seduce the people more and more to make the King hatefull to his subiects that hee may bee forsaken of all men if it be possible and to render the King of Nauarre abhorted of all men in hope that if they could bring to passe any thing vpon the Kings person by these meanes the said King of Nauarre may be excluded from his right of succession The first poynt to performe was left to the assembly of the pretended states as it shal appeare hereafter the other two pieces of work were committed to the Iesuites Friers and other of like sorte de bacchandi calomniandiperitissimis for their dignitie runneth most of all vpon these two common places Whether the King considering the great necessities which hee should haue of money to maintaine a dangerous and long warre against the rebels and traitors had sent his coÌ„missions vnto his threasurors and receauers of his impost to continue the receauing and gathering of tallages and impost as they had done the yeare before or else that the rebells in Paris vsurping the name of the thrée estates of France had forged such a thing I am vncertaine But so it is that if they did not deuise yet they did vse his action to steale away the hearts of the people from his obedience and thereby to make their part stronger to aâ—ure the Kings subiects to ioyne hand with them in their rebellion For immediatly after the Duke d' Mayne came to Paris they set foorth a declaration bearing the name of the Princes Citties and commonalties vnited with the thrée estates of the realme where in deede there was not one Prince onely the Dukes d' Mayne Aumale Nemours and certaine other seditious persons of Paris Anious Roen Orleans and Abeuile with their generall counsell which consisted of seauen and forty persons most vile and for their wickednes picked out of the sinke of that rebellion whereof we haue spoken before First they doo still hide their damnable rebellion vnder the olde ragged gaberdine of defending the popish religion and because the poore people had béen of long time oppressed with diuers payments and greatly impouerished by long continuance of warre vnto the defence of popery they ioyne this plausible snare to wit to ease the people of the former accustomed payments Secondly vsurping the royall authoritie they forbid all manner of officers to gather any payments money tole impost or tallage for the King but to pay vnto their officers the tallages according vnto the rate of the yeare 1576. Thirdly they commaund that in case they haue payed the saide somms vnto their commissioners and the Kings officers should come to demaund the saide sommes or should goe about to compell them to pay the same sommes they to apprehend them and to bring them vnto the next prisons and there processe to be made as vpon publick extortioners Last of all they commaunde all officers and receauers of the Kings demaynes woods graines farmers of salt garners receauers of tenths and others whatsoeuer to bring pay and deliuer the same to none other then to them or their officers and that vpon paine of death It is said before that after the Oracle giuen out by the facultie of Theologie in the colledge of Sorboun the seditious brought it to the Senate of Paris to bee alowed inregistred and published who vppon the refusing of such a disloyall treacherie were all brought to prison and there as malefactors detayned Now vpon the Dukes comming to Paris they were called and offered either to remaine still in prison or else to doo two things First to alowe and approue the resolution of Sorboune Secondly to sweare to the new vnion which was a confederacy of the rebells This Senate in olâ—e time so famous and honorable for feare of this dangerous conspiratie of the Leaguers and rage of the people against their alegeance and loyaltie doo fall to this composition with the generall counsell of the citie aboue saide and the pretended states to wit the Senat shall ioyne with the rebells and sweare with them to persecute their King by all meanes without any respect of person or dignitie for the execution done by him vpon the persons of the Duke of Guize and the Cardinall his brother the 23. and 24. of December which they doo tearme with an odious name of massacre This excerable rebellion nowe hath gotten credit by that so famous and reuerent Senat the second Maiestie of France in olde time so renowmed The 30. day of Ianuarie all the chambers of the Senat with all the officers appertaining to that court to the number of 326. gathered together in the presence of the Duke d' Mayne the generall counsell aboue saide and the pretended states did sweare and subscribe some with their owne bloud as Catelina in olâ—e time in like case that forme of vnion which they had concluded the day before whereof the somme followeth First they doo sweare and promise to God to his mother to the Angels to al the hée saints and shee saints of Paradise to employ their liues their goods and all their meanes to the defence of the Catholick religion and doo protest that all that which they doo in this vnion is for the setting foorth of Gods glory and for the defence of the holy Church Secondly they sweare to defend the citie of Paris with the state there established also other cities of their association which then were or might be hereafter Thirdly they sweare to defend the Princes to wit the Dukes d' Mayne and Aumale for so they loue well to be called the Priestes Lords and Gentlemen vnited with them both in their persons and goods with the liberty of the states of the realme Last of all they sweare to pursue by al meanes possible them that haue violated the publick faith broken the vnion franchizes and liberties of the states meaning the King in committing the massacre so they cal the iust punishment of the Duke of Guize and the Cardinall his brother without any respect of persons dignity or prerogatiue whatsoeuer and also al them who shall fauour and assist the King by any meanes with promise neuer to forsake one another As this rebellious people did rage in the Senat house in the counsell of the citie and in their pretended states so the people are set at liberty to commit al outrages violences the poorer sort are against the rich the vile person against the honorable the wicked against the vertuous the ignorant and blinde against the learned to be short there is nothing but an infernall horror The Iesuits Friers other vncleane fowles of like feathers doo rage no lesse in the places and charges appoynted vnto them to wit in rayling most villanously against the King and slandering the King of Nauarre and them of the reformed religion for the causes aboue saide
making their pulpets the trompets of murther treason and rebellion for beside that they did inuaigh against the King in all manner of vile tearmes and interpreting all his actions maliciously to the worst they also forbad the people vpon paines of spirituall and bodily punishment for if they did it was a capitall crime to pray for the King Also the inhabitantes of the citie of Rhemes in Champaigne published an infamous libell comming forth out of the Iesuites forge bearing this title A grieuous lamentation of the inhabitants of the citie of Rehmes vpon the death of the Cardinal Archbishop of Rehmes peere of France and what may he not be if they would That libell was sawced with infamous inâ—ectiues vnworthy and outragious speeches against the king by their language the authors thereof did testifie sufficiently their consent in the rebellion of other towns and cities And seeing that the priests Iesuites and Friers did say such a masse at the funerall of their Bishop it was no marueile if the ignorant people who beleeued them answered Amen And for as much as among those rebellious countreys and cities there were none of the reformed religion vpon whome they might spew their gall they called their owne Priestes Parsons Vicars and Curates for to subscribe vnto their rebellion charging them vpon payne of death not to pray in their massing for the King But such as kept an vpright heart to their Prince and would not conient to their prohibition but in their prayers or otherwise did wish well to the King were executed as male factors and great fauour was shewed them vpon great intreatie of friends if they might escape with depriuation of their liuings or imprisonment and cary away their liues for a pray And by such iniuries shewed vnto their owne priests they placed such as were fit to serue their turnes in kindling more and more the fire of sedition The third taske appoynted to the Fryers and Iesuites was to render the King of Nauarre and them of his part execrable in the eares of all men that by the consent and generall misliking of all men if it were possible he might be excluded from his right of succession The occasion was thus The 26. of December the King of Nauarre had surprized the towne of Niort in Poytow of the taking it of the said Kings gracious goodnes and clemency shewed vnto the inhabitants his deadly enemies which had committed great outrages vpon them of the reformed Religion against his owne person against the Princes of the blood and of late agaynst the Lord Valette an officer of the Crowne of France as it is sufficiently spoken of before These writers of lies to testifie to the world whose Children they are did set foorth such ridiculous falshoods and execrable calumnies and that with as much assurance as they tell vs of their lies and lying miracles which they did worke with their holywater among the sauadge people of Giapane whether they be sure that no man will send to enquire about the truth of the matter with so bolde and impudent faces they did auerre most manifest lies which out of any parte of France might bee disprooued within foure dayes The shamâ—les pamphlet went abroade with this inscription The execrable cruelties committed by the heretiks against the Catholicks of the towne of Niort in Poytow The fable sayth that they of the religon would neuer haue taken that towne without the intelligences of the politicks that is to say of them which fauour the king which were within the sayde towne It is sayde in the Pamphlet that the Kinges officers of Iustice were slayne that the Maior and the Aldermen of the towne were hanged That many were hanged onely for that they would not denie their religion also that all the Priests and Monkes were hanged for companie Also a Priest was opened aliue before his fellowes by terror to make him denie God and his noble partes were pulled out but they remayned as constant as rocks for all those cruelties and valiantly suffered martyrdome That there were innocent persons killed in such great number through the towne euen betweene two or three hundred persons so that the streets flowed with blood and dead bodies That the heretikes as the fable sayth tooke a woman which reprooued them of their cruelties whom they would haue enforced to deny the Masse which thing shee refusing they filled her belly with powder and then set fire to it to make hir burst so that sayth the lyer there is nigh three hundered martirs there put to death which are now in heauen These holy Martyrs may be called in one word holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All this lying lybell is easily confuted euen by the inhabitants themselues by the Magistrates by the Priestes who there do liue in liberty of their Religion and by all the people who will testify that there was no such thing nor otherwise then is recited in the discourse of the surprise of their towne but will testify of the Christian mildnes clemency and moderatnes of the King of Nauarre and surprisers to haue béene far greater then euer they could haue expected or had deserued at his hands But this grosse kind of lying was spread abroad to hasten the rebellion of the Citties and to render the people vntamed and hard harted agaynst true and dutiful obedience whatsoeuer might fall hereafter as if to fall into the handes of the King of Nauarre and of them of the Religion were to fall among sauage beastes mad Tygers and cruell Lyons The King considering that the more he endeuored himselfe to winne the rebels by gentlenes clemency and promising of impunity the more hardned obstiuate insolent and bolde they became Seeing that he must be driuen by force to chastise their rebellions first he procéedeth against them by order of law And for as much as the Dukes de Mayne Aumale and Cheualier Aumale he as if it were subroged in the places of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinal his brother the King doth first and chiefly proceede iudicially agaynst them three by proscription as attaynted of fellonie rebellion and high treason First the King doth shew himselfe to be a King ordayned and geuen of God hauing receaued of God that sword and power which he had not by vsurpation but by lawfull and naturall right of succession Secondly hee doth shew the great benefites which hee and the Kings his predecessors had bestowed vpon them and namely that he hath spared their liues whom he might iustly haue punished for their diuers attemptes fellonies and disobedience for the loue which hee had vnto them and their house He sheweth also how he had since this their last rebellion sent vnto them diuers of his faythfull seruants with letters and euen Heraulds of arms to let them vnderstand his good will and readines to put vp all iniuries offences and to receaue them to his fauour But that in stead of humbling themselues and of accepting his gracious fauour
they became more insolent which they haue shewed in surprising his townes fortresses and in rebelling agaynst him his Officers and Magistrates couering their treasons vnder the name of Catholike religion Therefore he doth declare the sayd Dukes de Mayne and Aumale to haue forfayted all estates and offices honors power gouerments charges dignities and prerogatiues which they haue receaued of his predecessors and himselfe hee doth declare them attaynted of fellony rebellion and high treason commaundeth his Officers to proceed agaynst them by any maner of way and agaynst their posterity as agaynst such as he hath declared them if they do not submit themselues by the first day of March next following This proscription was declared the first day of February The same day also the King pronounced the like proscriptions against the rebellious and trayterous Citties of Paris Orleans Anjous Roen Abeuile and others declaring them conuicted of fellony rebellion and treason in the highest degree willing all his officers to proceede agaynst them and against al them that doo or shall assist them by any meanes and against their posterity as agaynst such as they be declared if they do not returne vnder his obedience by the 14. day of march next following The King intending by these thunderclaps to call them to their dutie purposing yet to haue forgotten all offences for the loue which he had to popish religion common to the rebels with him and for hatred of the reformed religion gaue them as is aforesaid a certayne day prefixed by the which tyme if they did not returne to their duty he determined to chastise them by force and therefore the sixt day of February hee sent forth his commissions to all Nobles Gentlemen and Captaynes to prepare themselues with all furniture necessary to repayre to him the 12. of March following Neither is the sentence of the King an ydle threatning but is as if it were a condemnation of Gods law pronounced by the soueraigne Magistrate whose punishments God hath partly executed and partly hath reserued to execute hereafter in the fulnes of time About the middle of February the King vnderstanding what had passed in Paris how the rebels had enforced the Senat to swear an vnion against him his life person and estate did transport the exercise of iustice and of all his courts and chambers of Parliament from Paris and also all other courts of iustice in the aforesaid townes of Orleans Aujous Abeuile Roen and others to his citie of Tours vpon Loyre deprauing the sayd trayterous cities of al offices dignities charges and priuileges commaunding al his Iudges Counsellers officers of al his courts in the said cities to repaire to the citie of Tours vpon Loyre by the fifteenth of Aprill next following there to execute their charges vpon payne of depriuation of their wages offices forbiddeth also that no apparance be giuen by any officer vnto any suter and also no parties to appeare in any other place saue in Tours onely before his Iudges there vpon payne to be declared rebels It is sayd before how wee haue left the King of Nauarre sicke in bed of a dangerous pleuresie whilest the League haue nigh filled the measure of their execrable treasons and rebellion Now the Lord reseruing that noble Prince if not to restablish the flourishing estate of that Realm yet he hath raised him as it were out of his graue to prolong the vtter dissipation of it and in the middest of the horrible confusions thereof to reunite the hearts and mindes of the godly and vertuous to saue some corner of the sayd Realme for a place of refuge for the remnant of the Israel of God Behold therefore O great King the Lord hath restored thée to health strengthened thine armes to warre and thy hands to fight he hath girded thée with force constancie wisedome and iustice the Lord of Armies doth call thee to restore true religion iustice iudgement Discipline and peace vtterly decayed through the malice of thine enemies be strong and faint not for the Lord will put a great worke in thine hand to execute Followe the vocation of God and the Lord will be a shadowe at thy right hand to kéepe thée from euill doo good things with good meanes and thou shall see thine enemies to fall before thy face thou shalt pitie them and do them good Whilest the King doth so thunder the threatnings of Gods lawe and the claps of his iustice agaynst those Rebels forsaken and reiected of God as is afore sayd the King of Nauarre perceiuing the King to be in distresse persecuted and dispossessed out of his Towns and Cities euen out of his owne houses by his enemies abroade and to liue in great mistrust of his domesticall enemies who did daily eate bread at his owne table did greatly lament his case keepeth himselfe quiet beyond Loyre ceaseth from all acts of hostilitie and exployts of warre least he should encrease his affliction and heauines And desirous greatly to make a proofe of his fidelitie towards the King and to crosse the actions of the leagued rebels proffereth peace to the King and watcheth diligently that his enemies might not set foote in any place where hee had meanes to make sure for the kings seruice as for the ease of them of the religion So that after the taking of Niort as is afore sayd in the latter end of Ianuary the inhabitants of S. Meixant and Maillezay two Townes nigh neighbours of Niort yeelded themselues vnto him The Lord Aubiguy was appoynted Gouernour of that Iland About the 14. of February the King of Nauarre hauing recouerd his perfect health and strength with part of his forces tooke the field marching toward the riuer of Loyre The inhabitants of Lodune Lisle Bouchard Mirabean Chastelerault Vinonne and other places and Castles of the countrey of Turenne and Poytow offered to open the gates of their townes vnto him and also proffered vnto him their seruices He receiued them very courteously and without innouation of any thing he suffered them of the Romish religion to liue with all libertie with their ordinarie exercises onely he commanded them of the reformed religion with the exercise of the same there to be established commaunding them of both religions to liue in amitie and peace About the same time many Townes and places in diuers parts of the Realme which before did seeme to bee at the deuotion of the Leaguers were made sure for the Kings seruice as well in Bourgondy as in other Prouinces and among others the Towne and Castle of Sancerre in Berry was seazed for the King That Towne had béen greatly defaced in the former warres for the walles of the Towne had béen rased by the Lord Chastre Gouernour of Berry who did put a Captaine within the Castle for the kéeping of the same and to bridle the inhabitants there who were all of the religion But after the death of the Duke of Guize the Lord of Requien of the house of Montigny Captayne of
Pope the said truce to begin the third day of Aprill and to continue a whole yeare The conditions of the said truce are as followeth First that the King of Nauarre shall not during the time of the said truce employ his forces within nor without the realme but for his seruice and at his commaundement and direction Secondly that wheresoeuer the King of Nauarre shall come he shall alter change nor innouat nor interrupt the exercise of the romish religion nor shew any displeasure to the Priests nor to the places of their deuotions Thirdly that whatsoeuer place Towne Citie Castell or Fortresse he shall take by any meane whatsoeuer immediatly deliuer the same to the Kings pleasure Last of all the King graunteth to them of the reformed religion the liberty of their consciences wheresoeuer within his dominions and the exercise of the same in places were it was exercised at the time of the concluding of this truce also that they all shall enioy their goods wheresoeuer so that likewise they shall suffer the Catholikes to enioy the freedome of their religion and goods in places which are in their power This was proclaymed and recorded in Parliament the thirtie day of Aprill at Tours the day of theyr interuiewe About the same time in like manner the king of Nauarre did set foorth a declaration of the causes of these truces wherein first he doth protest that in all these ciuill warres he hath armed himselfe and his friendes against his will nature and necessitie enâ—orcing him so to doe and sheweth that his warre of the League began vnder a pretence and shadow of religion but in very deede is found a war of estate Protesteth that his great desire hath beene alwayes to doe some good and acceptable seruice to the king Complayneth of the malice of his enemies disguised and coloured with fauourable pretences to ouerthrow the State Commendeth the king who at length hath with a good iudgement discerned his innocencie from their malice through so great and thick mist of colours and calomnies of his enemies Secondly he sheweth that the Leaguers making the world beleeue to warre against the reformed religion whome they doe cal heretikes neuer went to seeke them out where they were but abusing of the kings authoritie and power which they had â—â—il in hand to that end haue by the said forces surprized the townes and fortresses which were furthest and least suspected of religion Thirdly he sheweth that they haue not vsed their preachers and Iesitites to conuert the pretended hereticks as they should haue done but in all places where they haue borne the sway haue made them serue for trompets of sedition and firebrands to sound the alarum and to set the whole Realme on a fire and miserable combustion to rayse the subiects against their prince to seduce them from the obedience of their magistrats to dispose them to tumults alteration and noueities whereby they haue procured an horrible deformitie in the Realme a generall and incredible rebellion by the which they haue banished all pietie and iustice out of all Cities and places which are vnder their tyranny Fourthly he sheweth the causes of this their reconsiliation and interuiew to haue been no respect of religion at all But that he for his parte pitying the miserable state wherunto the enemies had reduced the realm when he mought haue vsed the publike calamities of the saide state for to doe well and assure his affayres forgiuing all iniuries and discurtesies receaued vnto the realme hath offered to the king his life and meanes to assist him to restablish his authoritie which proffers the king of his clementie and goodnes accepted And vpon that acceptation that hee might the better haue meanes to doo him good seruice the sayd King bath conciuded a generall truce throughout all his Dominions for a whole yeare including therein the Countie of Venisse and state of Auignon Last of all hee chargeth and commandeth all them of his side and religion to keepe the conditions of this truee inuiolable forbidding them to enterprise innouate or alter any thing either in religion or policie in any place of the Kings dominions And as the King of his gracious goodnes had giuen libertie to them of the reformed religion to enioy the freedome of their consciences goods he willeth also the like libertie to bee giuen to the Catholikes who are in the Prouinces Townes or Cities holden by them of the reformed religion so long as this truce shall endure Among all other Prouinces which through rebellion had forsaken the Kings obedience Picardy and the I le of France had waded most déepely in that rebellion hauing generally reuolted Calis and Boloigne excepted In the I le of France there is a small Towne named Seulis in the way bewéene Champaigne and Paris that Towne also had rebelled and ioyned to the vnion of the League a Towne of no strength neither in fortifications nor situation About the beginning of Aprill the Lord Thore of the house of Mommorency went vp and downe in the Towne of Seulis conferring with the good and faithfull inhabitants of the sayd Towne who with his good and graue reasons reduced them to the Kings obedience About the beginning of May the sayd Lord Thore within the space of three dayes made a choyse and muster of able men out of the villages of the Dutchy of Mommorency so that as well of his companies as of the inhabitants of the Towne he made a sufficient number of resolute men to the number of two thousand able to stand against any forces that should seeke to assault the Towne furnishing the same aboundantly with victuall and munition and all necessary things for the kéeping and defence thereof This he did not that the place was of any such strength but reposing his trust in God who is a defender of a iust cause and in the courage faithfulnes of the inhabitants and souldiers there The Parisiens amazed to see the sâ—daine reducing of the sayd Towne to the Kings obedience did all their diligence to put out that fire kindled so néere them The Lord of Mayneuile whom wee haue sayd the Duke de Mayne had left gouernour of Paris in great hast with a company of Parisiens well armed came to besiege the sayd Towne of Seulis The Duke d'Aumale with a braue companie of horsemen and a sort of footemen arriued incontinently there after the Lord Mayneuile so that on a sodaine they besieged the Towne being at the dash to the number of foure thousand men The fourth day the Parisiens and other partakers and fellowes of the vnion came posting from many places being well horsed and furnished and found themselues that day before that Towne to the number of sixe thousand men The fift day they sent to Paris for Ordinance whereof three were sent them to wit two Canons and one Culuerine and because none would enterprise to conduct the sayd Ordinance this way was deuised In the alteration which
the Sonne of God So the Lord knoweth who are his Herein also appeareth euidently the mercifulnes of God who worketh all things to the best and comfort of his children For when as the Rebels and murtherers supposed that by the Kings death they might easily make an alteration of the state and transferre the Crowne vpon the head of the Duke de Mayne and so disappoynt the Princes of Bourbon of their right of succession the Lord turned al their counsels vpside downe For the Lord mooued the King lying on his death bed when he was in perfect memorie and farthest as the manner in such a case from all manner of affection and parciality to pronounce his sentence and decrée or rather supplying the person of God to proclayme the King of Nauarre right heire and successor of the crowne and by the inuocation of the glorious name of GOD bâ—und the Princes péeres Nobles Captaines and Souldiours to yéeld him dutifull obedience so that God himselfe hath béene the iudge of his cause giuing sentence on his side by him whome he appoynted his officer in that behalfe It will stand Thus much of the vnworthy death of so great a King in whom ended the issue of the noble house of Engolesme according vnto the fatall period of great Noble and mighty families which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein we haue to note the whole family excepted onely Francis the first as Henry the second Francis the second Charles the ninth Francis Duke of Aniou and this last King Henry the third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per sanguinem ruit and haue died of an vntimely or violent death because they were polluted with that accursed woman Catherine Medicis Pope Clement his sisters brothers daughter And so making an end of the Epitasis of this vnnaturalltragedie played by leaguers we will make an end likewise of this 6. Booke Here endeth the 6. Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE NOw we will follow the Catastrophe and last act which although it be full of Calamities yet it is like to bee ended with a ioyfull and happie successe The King beeing dead great heauines and sorrowe seazed vppon men of all degrees the Campe was full of sorrow and lamentation the wise saw this to be new seeds of a world of euils which wil worke the vtter subuersion of France On the other side great reioysing was seene among the rebels and traitors authors and procurers of the murther their ioye they shewed diuers waies but speciallie with contumelies and sarcasmes demaunding one of another whether the Friers knife was sharpe enough or not The rebels in Paris certified of the assured death of the King and supposing that the army had béen greatly dismayed replenished with teares and lamentation conceaued a good hope to do some great and notable exploit and imagining that it were easie in this mourning of all men to defeat the Kings forces all that night the Duke de Mayne did muster and prepare a mighty army and early in the morning issuing out of the Suburbs was so receaued by the Kings forces that he was enforced to retire within the Citie with blowes and dishonor That morning being the third of August but by the right calender the 23. of Iuly the King of Nauarre who was appointed the Kings Generall lieutenant by the King after that hee had receaued the wound assembled the Princes Lords Nobility and Captaines to deliberat how to remedy those great euils and to put out that combustion which the rebels had kindled in all partes of the realme First there was a capitulation made and concluded betweene theKing and the said Princes and Nobles Lords gentlemen and souldiers that there should be no innouation made in the Romish religion but the same should stand and be exercised peaceably without any interruption And that the reformed religion should be contained with all liberty in the exercise thereof within the places where it was then at that present time established prouided that the Romish religion should bee there exercised also without any disturbance And that men professing these two religions liuing peaceably like good subiects should be protected by the Kings authoritie in their liues goods liberties and franchizes vntill that by a nationall Councell some good and peaceable order should bee taken for some reconsiliation or vniformitie touching religion Which thing the King promised by the faith of a Prince to kéepe inuiolably and with as much speede as might be to prouide that a Councell and méeting of the learned might be assembled This order being concluded and the obseruation thereof promised by the King all his Princes Nobles Lords Gentlemen and Captaines promised vpon their othes all duetifull fidelitie and obedience vnto the K. and to assist him with their liues goods and meanes as well in the defence of his royall authoritie agaynst all traytors rebels and Leaguers which goe about to vsurpe the state as in the execution of the exemplary punishment vpon them who haue procured or committed that haynous disloyaltie felony and treason vpon the Kings person last deceased and all others who shall be knowne consenting knowing or accessarie to the same This order being taken as the readiest and most expedient to vnite the subiects with the King being promised and sworne the King of Nauarre was saluted declared proclaymed and crowned King of France and Nauarre by the name of King Henry the 4. And whereas in this historie hée had béen discerned from the King of France by the title of King of Nauarre now in the course of this historie following he shall be simply named King without any other addition or title This noble King being proclaymed King is crowned and put in the possession of the Crowne of France due vnto him by right not with triffling childish and Monkish cerimonies with holy oyle holy water holy toyes and holy trashes but after the ancient manner of the Emperours of the Romanes in the Camp by the whole army Princes Péeres Nobles and Captaines of the kingdome Here Christian Reader is to be noted Gods most gracious fauour toward France and prouidence toward this great King for except the Lord had prepared this heroicall Prince to restablish this decayed state which was cast downe headlong into such a depth of miseries by the Leaguers as in mans iudgement it was impossible that it could euer haue been vnited againe but rather reduced into a lamentable desolation But the Lord in his mercie beholding from heauen his holy habitation with his lightfull countenance after so many tempests hath raised vp lead by the hand and placed by his own authoritie and power this great Prince on the Throan of that state whom hee hath endued with wisedome prudence fortitude moderatnes modestie iustice and pietie to bee able to heale the deadly wounds of that sickly state to pacifie the controuersies of religion to lodge therein iustice and iudgement so long exiled out of that common wealth and to restore peace so long wished and desired Againe
of Bourbon our mercifull and gracious King long may he liue the noble King of France with great reuerence and submission crauing pardon and shewing themselues sorrowfull for their rebellion and offences committed agaynst his maiestie The King considering their repentance and submission pardoned them with louing gracious and comfortable words whereupon were the keyes of their citie deliuered him who receaued them with amiable countenance These things being done the Citizens marching before the Magistrates after and the Cleargie following them conducted the King and his Princes in most triumphant sort to his lodging the people saluting him all the way with this acclamation Long liue Henry of Bourbon King of France and Nauarre It is sayd before how the Lord Diguieres had pacified Daulphine hath assaulted the Duke of Sauoy abroad and at home The Duke of Sauoy séeing himselfe hardly matched aduised how to molest the sayd Lord Diguieres sent to his good master the King of Spayne to bee reuenged therefore they tooke this aduise to send foure hundred light horses of Naples with some of the best of the olde garrisons there into Piemont which by reason of the swiftnes of their horses should molest the land of Daulphine with daily courses roades and inuasions These foure hundred Neapolitanes hauing taken counsell how to enter the land of Daulphine with a swift pace had not determined with what pace they should get out They therefore ranne as swift as their horses could goe as farre as the fort Bowe where the Lord Diguieres méeting stayed them so that they are not like to goe euer to Naples agayne to tell newes vnto their Curtizans of their light horses being there all slayne only a fewe excepted There it appeared to them that the best warre is not in Italy nor the best souldiour of Naples and that there is a great difference betweene the souldier trayned vp in Militarie Discipline and daily employed to great and waightie affayres and him who vnder the name of souldier is moulten in filthie pleasures in the Stewes of Curtizans as these were There appeared also how the horse is but a vayne thing to saue a man in an vniust cause and that they were but robbers who came to spoyle and molest them that had neuer proffered them wrong This exployt was done about the beginning of March as I can coniecture The Lord Digueres hauing cut short those insolent Italians determined to pursue some forces which were retiring out of Daulphine into Sauoy againe whome hee followed so short that hee entred the citie of Chamberie Metropolitan of Sauoy This is a great Citie famous for the straunge Idolatrie vsed in the same There is an olde filthy ragge some gowtie clowt of some gowtie Frier they haue made the world beléeue such is the spirit of Idolatrie in them that know not God and such is the spirit of Auarice in them that applie religions to gaine that it was the shrowd wherein Christ was buried therefore certaine times of the yeare there was a resort of infâ—nite mâ—ltitudes of people of diuers countreys and nations which came to worship that holy ragge and pray holy 〈◊〉 ora pro nobis The Lord Diguieres hauing taken the same sacked and spoyled it but hauing not forces sufficient to munit and keepe it left it and returned home with a fat spoyle without any losse Whilest the Lord Diguieres was in Sauoy the Duke of Nemours gouernour of Lyons descended from Lyons with his forces into Daulphine desirous to haue surprized some townes in that Prouince in the absence of the Lord Diguieres But the said Diguieres in returning home from Sauoy met him and so charged him that after he had slaine most of his horsmen put him to flight and followed him so hard that the inhabitants of the Citie cleane burned the suburb called Guiltiere being very fayre great and rich fearing least the sayd Lord Diguieres would haue entrenched himselfe in the sayd Suburb Whilest these things did so passe in Daulphine there happened in Prouance that certaine great practizes were discouered to the losse of the autor as the old saying is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord Dampuis Lieftenant to the Duke of Sauoy in Prouance being resident at Aix the Metropolitan Citie there had wrought a treason to surprize the Citie of Tarascon situated vpon the â—iuer Rosne by the meanes of certaine Dominican Friers and thirtie or fortie of the inhabitants of the towne to whome hee had made many fayre and large promises The bargaine being made the meanes and time must be sought out which were in this wise about midnight the black diuels Friers should rise to sing their holy mattens and black santus and should giue the watch word with three strokes of the bell whereupon the trayterous Citizens should seaze vpon one of the gates the L. Dampuis should haue come to the gate with fiue hundred Cuirasses 5. hundred Harquebusieres who should haue entred by the meanes of the traytors who were within This counsell could not be kept so close but it came to the eares of the Ladie of Oruano and one captaine Corses by whose diligence and good order vsed the treazon was disappointed in the manner as followeth The gouernour hauing intelligences of their intent and whole platforme caused the Friers and their complices â—he night before to be taken and layd in sundry prisons the night appoynted to worke the feate being come an ambush of certaine souldiers of his companies was set out of the town in a conuenient place the said gouernour also had appointed a companie as well of his souldiers as of the faithfull citizens to stand in silence within the gate of the Citie vntill the watch word agreed betweene the Friers and the enemies should be giuen with thrée strokes of the bell All things beeing in a readines and the time come to worke the Lord Dampuis came vnto the gate with his companies according to promise harkening to heare the watch word and to bee admitted into the Citie by the complices Well the three strokes of the bell were heard the ambush began immediatly behinde and the towns men opening the gate before to assault them so furiously not with the sounding of the bell but with sound of the Harquebuze shot that the enemies beeing compassed about within halfe an hower were slayne in a manner all and the Lord Dampuis taken prisoner and so wounded that two dayes after hee died of the woundes so the Towne was preserued from sacking and the people from murther and bondage and both the towne and People reserued to their kinges seruice this was done about the end of March. About the selfe same time the Countie of Carces had wrought another such practise also against the Towne of Tolon by the treason of the chiefest Consull and other Townes men which was in like maner discouered and the conspiratours apprehended and chastised We haue said before how the Senat of Aix in Prouance were rebels who not onely had