King The Presence Authority and intreaty of his Maiesty was of Force to smother the remembrance of all iniuries and to reconcile their willes Let vs nowe see what they haue done in the Nationall Synode helde at Gap held by them of the reformed Religion A Synod held at Gap whereas many beleeued that in giuing audience to Ambassadors and receiuing Letters from Forraine Princes and Common weales they had done more then their condition would allowe and had taken the way to make an Estate in the Estate I will say no more The passion of Religion might diminish the beleefe of the Trueth Peter Mathâ—w The Synode began the first of October It Treated of things touching Doctrine Discipline and the Gouernement of the Churches giuing a good Testimony that there are among them men full of zeale to the aduancement of their Religion and who in their Resolutions can ioyne Wisedome with Doctrine causing them to blushe that haue so much suffered the ancient constitutions of the Church to degenerate and haue so much neglected the Gouernement and Discipline as the Synodall Assemblies of Diocesses so necessary and profitable are nothing but vaine and fond Ceremonies where they doe onely exhort them to do well hereafter not caring to correct or amende the ill that is gone and past Of many meanes which the Church in her infancy did vse to preserue this spirit of Peace and Charity which gaue life vnto all the members and intertained the Cyment and bond of the whole building The profit of Synodes that of these Assemblies hath beene held the most fruitfull and should bee made twise a yeare if they will follow the Canons of the Apostles and the Decrees of Nice and Sardinia Thâ—re they conferred of the Order and Direction of all affayres There the Pastors taking knowledge one of an other entertayned their friendships renuyng the bonds of their affections It serued for a bloud-letting and a good purgation for badde humours in a corrupted Body to preserue and keepe it in Health Purytie and Chasterye of the Fayth There they shewed the power of the Spirituall Sword vppon the incorrigible who in the ende found the pappes of the Church drye for them when through Errour Malice or Obstinacy they made themselues vnworthy of the swetnesse of her Milke There in the ende they did strayne the strings of the Policy and Discipline of the Church the which beeing through negligence growne slacke made no Sounde nor Harmony In this assembly of Gap after that all the Deputies of the Prouinces of the Realme had shewed their Commissions they began by the Inuocation of the name of GOD the which was followed by the reading of the confession oâ— the Fayth wherein they did expound those things that were not playne enough The common desire of the Ministers te see the schisme pacified that was betwixt them and the other Congregations of Germany England and the Low Countryes made them resolue that the Assembly should write vnto the Vniuersityes both Lutherans and Caluinists to deuise some meanes to reconcile these contrarieties in some poynts of their confession This yeare the King did graue in the register of his vertues a memorable example of Iustâ—ce The cause is considerable and the subiect of consequence A yong gentlewoman of Normandie visited and courted by her Brother disdayned her husband A memorable example of a crime and of Iustice. by whome she had two Children for that he was some-what aged and made no profession of Armes This inequality of age togither with his condition made the Coniugall aâ—fâ—ction like vnto a small Brooke whereof when the spring is stopt the bedde remaines drie and there is nothing left but filthe for Toades and Frogges The greene graâ—â—e that was vpon the bankes withereth yea the trees that were planted along die This marriage hauing lost the radicall humor of Loue it made all pleasure and content to wither produced nothing but noise disdaine contempt and quarrell This miserable woman carâ—d no more for her husband bâ—t to drawe meanes from him to make her selfe more pleasing in the eyes of an other delighting in Luxâ—riosnesse and excesse oâ— Apparell vnder the which the Diuill is accustomed to make open Warre to Chasterie and to rauish the Honour of a woman without the which her life is a life without a Bodie a Bodâ—e without a Soule a Soule with out a Spirit a Spirit without Breth and a Breth without Aâ—re It seemed that the first acquaintance of this woman with her Brother was nothing but a perfect Loue such as Honour and that which they were one vnto another might well allowe Who so had seene the familiarities of this Sister with her Brother would not haue beleeued that they had made Loue the Lawe of Nature beeing of greater force then Reason or Truth it selâ—e In the meane time this furie prooued Adultery and Incest making the Wife to abandon the Company of her Husband to cleaue vnto her Brother who forgetting nothing that might be sayd or done to couer â—iâ— crime and to auoyde punishment waâ—dâ—ed vp and downe the Counâ—ry with hâ—r vnder disguised names but carrying still in his Conscience the sting and vlcer of so execrable a pleasure She grewe bigge with Childe and beleeuing that in hiding her great Beâ—lie her offâ—ence should bee also hidden shee caused her selfe to bee conductâ—d into that great forest of Paris where she continued with her Brother the exercises of Cupid and Psyches The figge leaues could not couer their shame The al-seeing eye oâ— the diuine Iustice discouers them and will not suffer that so Infamous a Lust should continâ—e These violent streames beeing runne out the Mudde and filthe that was in the bottom appered presently The husâ—band opprest with so iusta greefe as the Lawe doth not hold him puâ—nishable whom it forceth to kill the Wife beeing surprised in Adultery came to Paris and discouered those which had depriued him both of rest and Honour hee causeth them to be apprehended and committed prisoners the one in the great Chastâ—let the other in Four l' Euesques The Sister confesseth her-selfe guilty of Adultery to free her Brother from Incest laying the Childe to one that was aâ—togither innocent Vpon the difficulty of proofes the Lieutenant Cryminall condemned them both to the racke Hee might well haue proceeded to sentence A sentence giuen by the Lieutenant Criminell Bâ—t considering that they must deliberate well before they iudge of the life of a Man which is not made without care he desired rather to proceed coldly therein then ouerboldly The Husband whose heart could not be mooued to pitty by the consideration of his two Children appeales from this sentence of the racke The Court confidering that mildenesse doth norrish and giues more scope to vice declares the appellation and sentence from the which he had appealed to be voide and amending it A sentence oâ— the Court. they iudge the accused sufficiently conuicted of the crimes of
of a very renowned people who might both hurt and helpe by their multitudes and their valour of theiâ— Armes The style of this desseine which I haue vndertaken doth only note the thing for your vnderstanding without spending time in longer proofes This Apprentiship of the FRENCH by their many voyages into Gaule contynued a hundred and thirtie yeares for so much it was from Gallienus to Honorius vnder whome they began to sett footing into Gaule vpon this occasion Those of the Citty of Treues tyred with the Tyranie of the Romaines were infinitely grieued that Lucius their Gouernour a Romaine had by force taken the wife of a notable Cittizen This excesse ministred a subiect to call the French-men to their ayde who expelled the Romaines seased quietly on the Citty with the consent of the Inhabitants and so proceeding in their conquest they possessed their neighbour Countries and in time became Maisters of all that lyes beyond the Riuers of Escaut and Some and in the end hauing woone Paris and the territories about they gaue their name to the conquered Country I doe briefely touch what shall be represented in particular in euery place and sett downe truelie the originall of the FRENCH in this Realme PHARAMOND layd the first stone in the buylding of this estate CLODION followed in this desseine MEROVE made it appeare aboue ground in a more goodly forme hauing purchased credit among the Gaules both by his valour and the happy succeesse of his Armes CLOVIS adding the profession of Christ to his Predecessors valour and his owne did so winne the hartes of the Gaules who were for the most part Christians as by their hearts he got their voluntary obedience and the assured possession of these newe Conquestes Two nations vnited in one by the Conquerour giuing lawe to the Conquered with so wise and mylde a discretion as they held him worthy of this Alliance and Name â—nd the fruite of this mariage was to happy as the nâ—we name of FRANCE was generally receiued in Gaule Thus this newe estate increased dayly in thâ— râ—ce of PHARAMOND by diuers occurrentes during the space of three hunâ—â—â—d yeares But iâ— was much more augmented by the famous race of PEPIN And â—â—d the Author of all good order in mankind giuing him to Sonne CHARLEMAIGNE to preuent the ruine of the Empire inriched him with singular graces and confirmed in him that great authoritie and power of the King of FRANCE and Emperour of ROME which greatnesse God would make profitable to all Christendome But his race Inheritor of these great honours did not inherite his valour and happinesse hauing scâ—rce continued 237. yeares but degenerating from his vertues they lost both Authoritie and Crowne so much augmented and beautified by him and CHARLES MAâ—TELL So this second race vnworthy of the blood and name of their Grandfathers was spoyled of their Kingdome by their negligence But God the Guardian of Monarchies who changing the persons would preserue the State râ—â—sed vp HVGH CAPET a wise and modest Prince arming him with wisedome and dexteritie fitt for the preseruation of his Crowne accompanying his Armes with lawe and his royall authoritie with well gouerned Iustice. It is to HVGH CAPET that the Realme of FRANCE standes most indâ—â—ted for the establishment of those goodly Ordinances by the which together with the vallour and fidelitie of the FRENCH this great Monarchy halfe withstood the stormes of so many ages and maintaines euen vnto this day the lawfull heire in the same race for the space of fiue hundred and thirtie yeares So as gathering the summe of all these yeares they reckon from PHARAMOND to HENRY the fourth that now Raignes 1175. yeares This is the Plot or desseigne of the whole History of France the which being thus laid before we raise this great building in euery part according to the true measâ—res and iust proportions let vs make a Diagramme as a liuely figure which may conteine nakedly and without circumstance the names of our Kings according to the order of these three royall Races To the which we will adde a particuler Chronologie The order forme of thâ—â— Inuentorie which shall be proued by the discourse of our Inuentorie I haue distinguished it into three parts according to the order of the three royall Races In the front of euery part I note the names of Kings and the time they haue reigned that at my first entrance you may obserue all that is represented in this pâ—rticuler discourse wherein the wise Reader that shall take the paines to conferre this modell with the whole Historie will iudge that I haue omitted nothing that may concerne the subâ—ect of the History with all principall circumstances to the end the truth in this short simple and vnseemly weed appointed for euery day may serue aswell as that which the Learned and eloquent writers shew forth in open Theaters at Festiuall times To Actions carefully described I adde sometimes my Iudgement for the vse of the History examined by the Maximes of State To actions I say generally aduowed as for the rest I leaue them â—emembring that I am a Witnesse and no Iudge to do seruicâ— to such as could not see the Originals I note in the beginning the Elections the Birthes Liues Aduentures Intents Desseignes Maners and Complections of our Kings the Motiues Actions Alterations Crosses Issues and Successe of their affaires both in Warre and Peace their Enterprises taking of Citties and Countries Battels Encounters Victories Ouerâ—hrowes Aduantages Disaduantages and other things remarkeable in State Finally I obserue their ends in their death as the Catastrophe of their Life and closing vp of their Reigne But to make this disâ—ourse more proportionable for the knowledge of our Monarchie it was necessary to explaine it by that which hath chanced of most import in forreine Estates especially in the Church Empire the most famous Theatâ—rs of the world by reason wherof I haue added a most carefull Collation of the one and the other with our Realme I intreate the wise Reader to way with iudgement what I shall report concerning matters most subiect to comptroule as those of the Church I doubt not but that hee shall finde that I haue conteined my selfe within the limits of State talking nothing of Religion nor medling with the diuerse humors of this age I haue onely treated of the politique gouernment of Rome with as much modesty as the subiect would permit I know likewise that making profession to write a History no man will wish mee eyther to disguise or to conceale the truth the which will warrant it selfe and free me from reproche in making knowne to iudicious and modest wits that I haue no other passion but my duty whereof I can giue no better proofe theÌ„ in iustifying my discourse with the Original if there appeare any difficulty I protest I haue only had a true desire to serue the publique whose profit is the only scope of my labours As for the Computations
a people which had possessed a part of Thrace neere vnto Constantinople he was slaine in the conflict Hee had one sonne named Staurat who by reason should succeed him but Michel his brother in law seizeth on this poore young man and makes him a way and hauing corrupted the chiefe men with gifts hee vsurpes the Empire The Empire conâ—iâ—med to Charles and least that Charlemagne should crosse his desseignes he seekes to insinuate with him not onely ratifying what Nichâ—phorus had done for the diuision of the Empire but by a new contract doth acknowledge him Emperour of the West Thus the affaires of our Charles were daily confirmed but his minde toiled with these new losses and the painfull difficulties he had suffered throughout the whole course of his life required nothing but rest All his life time he held the Church in great reuerence Charles his care to â—â—le the Church had imployed his authority to beautifie it and bountifully bestowed his treasure to inrich it but this great plenty in so happy a peace made the Churchmen to liue loosely Charles well instructed in religion knowing how much it did import to haue doctrine and good manners to shine in them that should instruct others he doth call fiue Councels in diuers places of his dominions for the gouernment of the Church At Mayence at Rheims at Tours at Châ—alons and at Arles and by the aduise of these Ecclesiasticall assemblies A good instructiâ—n 〈◊〉 â—rinces to louâ— piety hee sets downe orderâ— for the reformation of the Church in a booke intituled Capitula Caroli magni which they read at this dayâ— for a venerable proofe of the piety of this great Prince A worthy president for Princes which seeke true honour by vertue whereof the care of piety is the chiefe foundation He held likewise a great Councell in the Citty of Francford â—These are the very words of the History of the Bishops of France Germanie and Italy the which hee himselfe would honour with his presence where by a generall consent The false Synode of the Greekes I 〈◊〉 the very words of the Originall vntruly called the seuenth was condemned and reiected by all the Bishops who subscribed to the condemnation 〈◊〉 there fell out a new accident which drew Charles againe to armes Adelphonse King of Nauarre surnamed the chaste by reason of his singular temperance did careâ—ulâ—y adâ—ertâ—se him New warre in Spaâ—nâ— crost by secret practises that there was now meanes vtterly to subdue the Sarazins in Spaine Charlemagne who desired infinitly to finish this worke so oft attempted without any great successe giues â—are to this aduise leuies an armie and marcheth into Spaine relying on the Spaniards fauour being Christians Adelphonse meant plainly but so did not the chiefe of his Court nor his associates who feared his forces no lesse then the Sarazins and euâ—n the most confident seruants of Adelphonse doubted to be dispossessed of their gouernmeÌ„ts by a new Maister So they crosâ—e Adelphonse in countermanding of Charles but the lots were cast his army is in field and he resolute to passe on He enters into Spaine where he finds so many difficulties as he returnes into France and so concludes all his enterprises imbraciâ—g againe the care of religion and of the Church as a subiect fit for the remainder of his dayes A happy concâ—usion of Charlemagnes life Hee was thâ—ee score and eight yeares old when he left the warres so he spent three whole yeares in his study reading the Bible and the bookes of Saint Augustin whom he loued aboue all the Doctors of the Church He resided at Paris â—o haue conference with the learned where hee had erected a goodly 〈◊〉 â—urnished â—ith learned men such as that time could afforde and enriched 〈◊〉 goodly priuileges Hee had an extraordinary care to haue the seruice of the Câ—urch suppâ—â—ed as a Nursery of the holy Ministery Thence grew so many Colledges of Chanoins with such sufficient reuenues 81â— Thus Charles spent three yeares happily in the onely care of his soule leaâ—â—ing a goodly example to Princes to moderate their greatnesse with pietie their enioying of temporall goods with the hope of eternall and to thinke of their departure out of this life in time He makes his 〈◊〉 Thus foretelling his death wherevnto he prepared himselfe by this exercise he made his will leauing Lewis his sonne sole heyre of his great Kingdoms and bequeaths to the Church great treasures as more at large is conteined in his will set downe in the Hâ—story His Testament was the messenger of his death for soone after he fell sicke He dyes and continued so but eight dayes dying happily vnto the Lord in the yeare of grace 814. of his age the 71. and of his raigne the 47. including 15. yeares of his Empire He was interred at Aix La Chapelle where hee was borne and his memory honoured with a goodly Epitaph set downe in the History The true 〈…〉 and Hee was one of the greatest Princes that euer liued His vertue is the patterne of Princes his good hap the subiect of their wishes The greatnesse of his Monarchie is admirable for he quietly enioyed all France Germanie the greatest part of Hungaâ—ie all Italy and a part of Spaine But his vertues were greater then his Monarchie his clemencie wisdome and valour his learning yea in the holy Scripture his vigilancie His vices magnanimitie and singular force be the theater of his immortall praises And yet his vertues were not without some blemish as the greatest are not commonly without some notable vice for hee was giuen to women adding Concubins to his lawfull wiues by whom hee had bastards I haue noted elsewhere the number of his wiues and children Lewis the weakest of them all remained alone the sole heire of this great Monarchie of France the Romaine Empire but not of his noble vertues We are now come to the top of this great building we shall see it decline and therein note the admirable prouidence of God who amidest the confusion of this estate hath alwayes preserued the Maiestie of this Crowne LEWIS the gentle the 25 King 815. and Emperour of the West LODOWICKE I. KING OF FRANCE XXV AS the vertues of Charlemagne had raised this estate to an admirable greatnesse so the small valour or rather the vices of his posterity caused the declining and if God had not preuented had beene the ruine thereof His intent was onely to change the race vnworthy to raigne but not the realme the which hee hath preserued vnto this day by his prouidence in the bosome of one country and in it his Church for the which he maintaines both the estates where it remaines and the whole world which cannot subsist but in regard of it Thus the French Monarchie being come to the heigth of her greatnesse The declining of this race the lawe imposed vpon all humaine things would haue it decline that of
with them in the same religion See nowe the effects of their protestations The Baron of Grandmont marcheth into Bearne to plant the ancient religion They troupe togither within the Countrie retayne him prisoner In Viua â—z Daulpâ—inâ— and cut the most of his men in peeces Saint Romain was chiefe of the Protestants in Viuarez Mombrun in Daulphiné The first held Villeneufe the last seized vpon Orpierre Serres Meuse and by diuers courses he became terrible in the Diocesse of Die and the neighbour mountaines Thâ—se newe broyles thrust their neighbours into like reuolts and the King who thought by the abolition of the Edict of the yeare 1570. at the least by the departure of his brother into Poland and a peace granted before Rochelle to enioye an assured rest finds himselfe incombred with newe and generall combustions Those of Quercy Languedoc their neighbors Protestations against the peace of Rocheâ—le planting an order and rule for the warre and the administration of Iustice protest against this Edict terming it captioâ—s and a forerunner of of newe massacres Our Capitall enemies saied they the authors of forepassed disorders remayne the onely Councellers and gouernours of the King and his estate all the Churches of France are depriued of the publike exercise of religion sollemnly graunted and nowe by this Edict abolished all the contents of this last pacification and whatsoeuer else is promised vs are but words without effects it is a generall abolition of what is past the murtherers are absolued and no mention made of any iustâ—ce to be done to them All Ecclesiasticall discipline being forbidden vs they will plonge vs in Atheisme This treaty is but coloured by some priuate persons without any generaâ—l aduow whose approbation cannot preiudice the vniuersall boâ—ie neither ought they to yeeld to any thing without the common conâ—ent of our Churches Tâ—ese complaints and Protestations cause them to assemble at Mâ—llaâ—d and after at Montauban and there diuiding Languedoc into two gouerments thâ—â— make Montauban câ—ief of the one the Vicont of Paulin gouernour in that part Nismes of the other The 〈◊〉 in Langâ—eâ—oc for the neerenes of Seuennes and Viuarais vnder the commaâ—â—d oâ— Saint Romaine but bâ—th subiect to the authoritie of the Estates of the Countrie who gaue them councell and furnished them with money being chosen in either gouernment of the worthiest men of the Countrie yet in such sort as the particular estates of euery Diocese did in matters of importance confer by their Deputies with the estates of the whole gouernment and according to their conclusions the gouernour should carrie himselfe and receiue money from their hands To fortifie this order they decâ—â—e That the soldiars should be content with his entertainment without spoyling of the Countrie that the Townes and villages of the contrary partie should be taxed and forced to contribute for the entertaynment of garrisons to the end their labour reaping of their fruits might be free The reuenues of benefices was appointed to make a stocke of money to be imployed in their greatest affaires the which they had leysure to effect for the election of the King of Poland busied the Court and Councell in feasts dancing pleasurâ— So they man many places from whence they might at need draw forth almost twentie thousand men and by seising on the Clergie lands and the contribution which came from all parts they weaken their enemies Many Catholikes otherwise discontented growing familiar with them and beginning to ioyne their forces togither lay great desseins which shall soone breake out in all parts Matters thus handled gaue a beginning to the fift troubles in France but before it brâ—ke forth the Protestants of Languedoc sent their Deputies to the King They humbly thanke him for the affection he had seemed to haue to the maintenance of peace within his Realme and necessarie meanes to restore an estate threatned with eminent râ—ine they protest of their obedience but they beseech his Maiestie not to find it strange if they assemble to preuent the pernitious attempts of wicked Councellors who by their fraudulent and violent practises had induced him to declare himselfe both by mouth and his letters pattents to the great blemish of his reputation among strangers the Author of the massacre committed at Paris the which he had few daies before disauowed That they cannot beleeue he should willingly condiscend to so blâ—odie effects and the feare they had to fall into the like forced them to seeke all meanes they could to warranâ— themselues with the losse of their companions bloud so vniustly shed They request therefore That for the effect of the peace those of the religion shoâ—ld iâ— those Townes they held in two others of euery Prouince chosen by â—oure Deputies haue garrisons entertayned at the Kings charge the 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 free and publike to all such as would demaund it the 〈…〉 Eccâ—esiasticall discipline the buriall of their dead without distinction 〈…〉 câ—urchyard the exemption of contributions for the Ceremonies of the Romish Church Reception of their children into Colleges vnder tutors of their owne reâ—â—gion Legitimation for such as should be borne of the marriage of Priests conuerted to their doctrine Eâ—ection of a new Parliament in euery Prouince composed of iudges of the same religiâ—n The tythes which they payed to the Preests to be reserued for the maintenance of their ministers Punishment of the authors Councellors and executioners of masâ—acres as theeues and distuâ—bers of the publike quiet Moreouer they demaund that the Admiral with all those that had beene murthered and that were then liuing should be reputed to haue beene and to be faithfull seruants and subiects to the King and his estate innocent of rebellion and guiltles of conspiracie A nullitie of all acts made against them as calumnious Restitution of goods honours and offices to the heires of them that were murthered Abolition of all infamous monuments and generall procâ—ssâ—â—ns instituted in memorie of so execrable a day â—heâ—e were the principall points of their propositions amongst other articles concerning the gouernment But they treated partly as humble seruants partly as armed subiects like vnto such as beg for almes with their swords in their hands And as a new alteration flyes easily and sodenly from one Prouince to another so those of Prouence Daulphiné Lionnois and others ioyne with the first and by the mouth of a Deputie present their petition and admonitions to the King The King sends hâ—m to certaine Commissioners to conferre thereof and promiseth that after he had conducted his Brother out off the realme he would do all things necessary for the contentment of his subiects The apprehension of Charles This hardy resolution taken in Languedoc and the neighbour Countries made out Charles to change both his countenance and his speech Hee sees well the more he hasted the more impatiently they did beare his Brothers departure namely the Queene mother the Duke of Guise
France Peter Versoris Aduocate in the Couâ—t of Parliament at Parâ—s Orator for the third estate The third Estate more in difâ—ereâ—t and moderatâ— iâ—sists especially for the vnion of al the kings subâ—â—ctâ— in one religion but by mild meane and without warre he beseecheth the King to maintaâ—ne his people in peace to reconcile his Princes and exactly to examine the bad gouernment of his treasor The King seemed to incline onely to alter some articles in tâ—e last Ed ct of pacification and not to abolish it quite but he was needie and feared that wheâ—ewith they threatned him That no man would assist him but vpon condition to make â—aâ—re against the Huguenots Thus the perswasions and promises of the Clergie Nobilitie preuailed more then those that preferred pâ—acable proceedings before violent making him resolue to armes warre concluded to roote out all other exercise of religion but the Catâ—â—like to banish all ministers deacons and ouerseers of the pretended reformed religion and yet to take all his other â—ubiects of the said religion into his protection attending that by better instructions they might be reclaymed to the bosome of the Church But the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Marshall of Montmorencie d' Anâ—â—lle and other Noblemen Protestation against the the Parliament both of the one and the other religion had well foreseene these conclusions and refusing to assist at this pretended Parliament conclude a Nâ—llity of all that should be decreed to preiudice the Edict of pacifiâ—ation protesting that they were resolued to maintaine themselues in the rights liberties and freedomes which the last Edict had granted them That the troublers of the publike quiet and the 〈◊〉 enemies of France should find them in a iust defence and they should answere before God and men for all the miseries that should ensue thereby For answere it was ordeined that men should be sent to winne some to the Catholike Church and all to the obedience of the Kings new Edict tending to maintaine the Romaine religion to roote out all other exercise to defend the King and to preserue his people The King thought by this opposition to stay this new faction which fortified it selfe daily It was a great indiscretion to countenance an association and League The King of 〈…〉 â—o the â—â—tates which vnder the ashes of the last warre being yet hot couered the coales of a generall flame The King of Nauarre beseecheth the Estates by the Duke of Montpeâ—sier who was sent vnto him not to infringe the Edict of peace and to suffer them of the religion to inioy that which had beene so sollemnly granted He offers to â—â—bmit himselfe if they shew him how he erres but he intreats them 1â—â—7 that in a matter of â—o great importance they will giue him time to thinke seriously thereon and to attend the opinion of an assembly of those of his religion and of the Catholicks associats which shortly shall be made at Montâ—uban The Prince of Condé answers more sharply That he doth not acknowledge them that are assembled at Blois for the Estates of the Realme but a conuenticle of â—ersons corrupted by the sworne enemies of the Crowne who haue sollicited the abolition of the Edict to the ruine and subuersion of the realme That if they had beene lawfully called he would haue assisted for the sincere affection he beares to the Kings seruice and the quiet of his country That hee will neuer giue his consent to the counsels of the Authors of so many confusions which hee foresees wherevnto hee hath alwayes knowne the Kings disposition to be repugnant and a friend to vnion being the sure and principall meanes to preserue his Crowne That hee hath alwayes honoured the Clergie and Nobilitie and will maintaine them with all his power but he pittâ—es the people whom these pretended Estates of Bloâ—s seeke to ruine The chiefe of the Politicks protest The dâ—clâ—raâ—ion oâ— the Politikes That they doe not cleaue to any other religion then that of their Fathers but as touching a generall peace they cannot allow of this resolution To take from the Protestants the publike exercise which had beene so solemnly granted them The Duke of Montpensier being returned perswaded to haue the Edict confirmed The third estate presented a new petition vnto the King beseeching him to vnite all his subiects in one religion but without violence Doubtlesse a King may well destroy euery priuate man but not all mankinde in generall One succeeds another and the children whose age and innocency doth naturally free from the rigour and violence of armes doe inherite the humours passions and quarrels of their fathers The Protestants ioyntly beseech the King The Protesta t s supplication not to suffer this assembly which they cannot allow for a generall Parliament to consult vpon the point of religion due vnto a free Councell The Estates sayd the King should neyther be free nor generall if I should make this prohibition And as they may demand what they pleâ—se so may you doe the like and I promise you in the word of a King and of an honest man that whatsoeuer I ordaine shall bee for the contentment of all my subiects and the quiet and peace of my realme In the meane time they consult how to leuâ—e mâ—ney for the warre The King giues notice to his Gouernours and publisheth by â—is Letters Pattents That hee is resolued to grant the Estates their requests touching the exercise of one onely religion And Villequier is sent to the Princes of the Empire to diuert some from their affection to the Prince of Condé and his adherents and to obteine from others a leuie of Reistres The sixâ— ciuill warre Thus the warre begins in Guyenne The King of Nauarre attempts vpon Marmande a Towne of his gouernment but without effect The Duke of Mayenne comes for the King and whilest hee is the strongest in field hee batters takes and sackes Thone-Charante Marans and other places thereabouts During the Parliament By the Duke of Aniou and the Deputies of the Lowe Countries came to demand succours of the King and the Duke of Aniou for Protector of their liberties and priuileges against the tyranous gouernment of the Spaniards He is now declared the Kings Lieutenant general They deliuer him a mighty army with the which contrary to the othe taken by him in the obseruation of the accord and promise past with the Prince of Condé and the Duke Cassimir hee besiegeth and takes La Charité by composition and Yssoire in Auuergne by force where the bloud of the inhabitants shed without pitty by the Duke of Aniou confirmed the Protestants in the bad opinion they had conceiued off him Rochelle crossed the practises of the contrary party of Mayenne whose happy exploits caused the Duke of Mayenne to send forth a Nauie to Sea vnder the command of Lansâ—c which presenting it selfe Before the Isle of Ré retyred seeing the Ilanders resolued
the Estate and necessarie for his people offering in the name of them of his order the zeale faith and dutie which the gentlemen of France haue alwayes borne vnto their Kings their armes meanes liues persons to maintaine the obedience honour feare respect whereunto the lawes both of God and man tie the subiects to their Soueraigne Michell Martâ—au Prouost of the marchants at Paris President for the third estate first thanked God The third Estaâ—e who had cast his eyes of pittie vpon this realme in the extremitie of their afflictions then the King to haue yeelded to the humble petitions of his subiects heard their greefes and complaints and shewed a great desire to restore his people to their former Estate religion to her former dignitie to rule and settle all orders in their ancient forme being disordered by ths iniurie of times protesting that in so doing their most humble and faithfull seruice should not faile vnto the last breath And so the first sitting ended In the second the twesday following the King at the instance of the Arche-bishop of Ambrun The oâ—h of the vnion renued the Earle of Brissac and the Aduocate Bernard speakers for the three Estates to content the importunitie of the League did againe sweare the oth of the vnion lately made at Rouan and making his Edict of Iâ—ly last a fundamentall lawe of the Realme to bind him them and all their posteritie yet not derogating from the liberties and priuileges of the Nobilitie he caused it to be publikely read by Ruze Seignieur of Beaulieu his chief Secretarie of State And to make the memorie of so solleÌ„ne an othe more autentike to posteritie he commaunded the said Secretarie to make an act that all the orders of the realme had sworne in the bodie of the state all with one voyce the Clergie laying their hands vppon their brests and the rest lifting them vp to heauen An oth performed with great ioy and generall reuâ—uing of that happie acclamation of God saue the King so many yeares forgotten among the French nation and followed with a singular testimonie of the Kings clemencie remitting the Parisiens offence for the common good of the Catholikes of France and the ease of his people whose miseries made him treade vnder foote his iust displeasure Hold saith hee to the Prouost of marchants of Paris this word assured as from the mouth of your King and take heed that Paris fall not into a relaps which will bee fatall and not recouerable Bâ—t there was a brute spred ouer all France that vnder colour of this assembly they practâ—sed an exemplary reuenge against the chiefe of the Estates Aduertisements came from all parts this feare went from Chamber to chamber the most apprehensiue desired to be satified The Arch-Bishoppe of Ambrun makes report vnto the King I knâ—we saied the King the liberties and prerogatiue of the Parliament they ought to 〈◊〉 in my word It is a sinne to growe in iealousie of your King â— and thâ—se reports come not but from such as haue no loue to their King but seeke to make him odious to his people There 〈◊〉 neuer any cause growe from me to disturbe this assembly In the end the familiarity 〈◊〉 shewes of loue from the King to the Duke and Cardinall of Guise and for their saâ—es to the chiefe of the League made them lay aside all sâ—sâ—ition of a bloudie â—ct whereof they were adueâ—tised from all parts And without doubt if the League had not stirred vp the coales of forepassed indignities the fiâ—e of â—is wrath had not perchance deuowred them This blast past ouer there are other attempts no lesse dangerous The League sets them on woâ—ke that beares their badge to hit the marke whereat they aymed To put the King in disgrace and to install the Dâ—ke of Guise in his thorne for the King oâ— Nauarre is nowe by this new fundamentall lawe excluded from the royall succession But what meane they to do The Collosse they seeke to build shall bee their 〈◊〉 the fire they kindle shall burne them the knife they forge shal be sherâ—ed in their owne bowells and finally shall leaue of this League a shamefull and reprochefull memory To hit this pretended marke Practises to make the king odious they must make the Kings actions oâ—ious to all the world reproch to him his vnreasonable prodigality his dissembling the oppression of his people the erecting of newe offices thereby to bandie against him the most apparent families of the third Estate wronged in the suppression of them or else neglecting to redresse it they should declare him an enemie to the people and a tirant ouer his realme and so the people should presently resolue to confine him into a monastery They still lay before him the wonderfull coldnesse of the greatest part of the Catholikes to his loue and obedience seeing themselues forced to liue amongest them that had burnt their Churches profaned their altars massacred the Preestes spoiled their goods They beseech him to defend the Church and to prefer the iniuries done to religion before the violences coÌ„mitted against the state They propound vnto him the excessiue impositions and subsidies which had already withdrawne most part of his subiects and the filthy auarice of strangers who by continual inuentions did cruelly impouerish France They represeÌ„â— vnto him the abuses of the gouernment the bestowing of benefices to all men indifferently either married or souldiars the lechery dissolutnes and ignorance of Prelats the sale of Offices and places of iudgement They exhort him not to deale in spirituall causes or at the least to proceede holily as it belongs to holie things To degrade a great number as well of Prelates as of ciuill maâ—â—strates in soueraigne Courts and inferior Iurisdictions and to punish with death those ministers which by corruption haue crept into the Church Iustice and gouernment else hee cannot preserue the Estate In the ende they presse him to reforme the excesse and disorders of his Court the which are odious to so many Noble spirits fraught with holinesse magnanimity and courage to so many great and rich mindes as be among the Nobility which beeing imployed would in fewe moneths repaire the ruines of this Estate Sâ—ch as find themselues interessed in the cutting off the superfluous number of offices and in the buying of their places disswade the King from this resolution but to maâ—â—taine them in the honours which they enioye vnder the countenance of his Maiesty The third Estate exhibit their complaints of the excesse of taxes and subsidies wherwith they are oppressed of the customes forraine impositions rents vpon salt entries â—oans gâ—ifts increase decrease of the prises of money with many other exactions and surcharges whereof the King receiued not any benefit but what was dipt in the bloâ—d of his poore people The Nobility complaines of seruices done without recompence indiscreet distributioÌ„ of the Kings liberality The Clergy exclaime that money which hath
in the mildnesse of his gouernment and that the common feeling of so many miseries which they had suffered and which had continued together should perswade them to grow familiar and friendly together and to haue no more occasion to remember things past then his Maiestie had meaning to remember his owne wrongs Warre is not dead in an Estâ—te whereas Consciences are diuâ—ded it doth but sleepe a small matter awakens it there is nothing more apprehensiue or that doth pierce more violently into the perswasion of Men to bandâ—e them one against another then Religion Euery man thinkes his owne the better and so iudgeth of it more by his owne Zeale and Passion then through Knowledge and Reason The King during the Warre had runne to those things which did most presse him and to the dangers that did most import he had deferred to reconcile this diuision being grieued in his Soule that the impietie of the Warre would not suffer him to make shew of the fruites of his Pietie They of the Reformed Religion made many and great complaints that the Kings Edicts were not obserued nor kept that they were not prouided of all things necessarie for the exercise of their Religion the Liberty of their Consciences Complaints oâ— them of the Religion and the safetie of their Persons and Fortunes They sayd moreouer that they desired not that the order of gouernment of State should bee changed to their profit or of any forraine Prince nor to haue the State torne in peeces to please the Ambition of some fewe Men but onely to enioy their Consciences with Peace and their liues in safetie That so many iust requests being granted vnto them by the Edicts of Kings Predecessors to his Maiestie demanded and defended by himselfe with so great Zeale Vertue had not been hearkened vnto vnder his raigne when as they should best hope and vnder whom and had it not been for the affection which they had vnto his Greatnesse and the foundation which they laied on his good will towards them they might lawfully and profitably haue practised the wayes which they were forced to hold vnder Kings his Predecessors But they could not despaire any thing of him whom God by the Protection of his Church had brought vnto the succession of the Crowne nor obtaine lesse then Libertie and Liâ—e hauing spent their blouds so freelie for him They complained that Preaching was banished from his Maiesties Court to banish them consequently from his house where they could noâ— serue him without seruing of God No good man might remaine there but hee was dayly in danger of murthering or to bee hurt without hope of comfort or assurance of grace That they practise dayly to exclude them of the Religion from all Charges and Offices in the State 1599. Iustice Treasurâ—â—nd Pollicie which they did neuer greatly affect Exclusion froÌ„ publike charges shamefull No man is held a Cittâ—zâ—Ì„ if he be not partaker of the honors of the Cittie as his Maiestie can best witnesse They beseech him to iudge if it be reasonabâ—e they should doe wrong vnto their Children to depriue them by their dulnesse to be held in future ages for Iewes within the Realme in steed of the honorable ranke which their progenitors had left them and which their seruice done vnto his Maiesty should haue purchased them That it was more tollerable to liue vnder the truce of the deceased King who was an enemie to their profession yet he did grant vnto them the exercise of their Religion both in his armie and in his Court allowed the Ministery at his owne charge and gaue them a Towne of retreate in euery Bayliwike With these and such like complaints the King was daily importuned the end of all these assemblies was to obtaine an Edict from the King so cleere and plaine concerning all their necessities as they should not be constrained to sue for any other as they did not cease vntill the King had signed it the last yeare being at Nantes after that hee had reduced that Prouince vnto his obedience conteining a Declaration of the Edicts of Pacification of the troubles growne in France for matter of Religion the which was not established in the Court of Parliament at Paris The last Edict for religion at Nantes in April 1598. vntill the 25. of February this yeare 99 by reason of many oppositions and difficulties that were made At Saint Germaine in Laye Berthier one of the Agents for the Clergie made many petitions vnto his Maiestie and did greatly importune the Lords of the Councell to consider of it In like sort the Bishop of Mâ—dena who was then the Popes Nuncio in France dealt in it beseeching the King so to deale for his Subiects that were gone astray as the honour of God might â—emaine whole and the Church receiue no preiudice In so doing his Holinesse would endure all things for the peace of Franâ—e Berthier demanded that his Maiestie would not suffer the Ministers of the Reformed Religion to haue any other libertie on this side the Riuer of Loire but to liue quietly and not to bee sought after That the Catholike religion should bee generally restored in all places and Churchmen doe their offices without any danger And thirdly that the Clergie men should be wholy freed from the vexations which they had suffred vntill that day in Townes and Places held by them of the Religion where they had taken away their Pensions and Reuenues and in some Prouinces had forced them His Maiestie granted the second and third Article and as for the first the King not being able to make any such prohibition without some trouble it was let alone There was also great conteâ—tion in particular betwixt the said Berthier and some of the Reformed Religion touching the Assembly of their Synods the which they would haue free without demanding leaue from his Maiestie maintaining that they might go freely into forraine Countries Contestation touchinâ— their 〈◊〉 with Strangâ—rs and assist at their Synodes and other Actes and in like sort receiue Strangers into theirs the which the Marshall Bouillon had managed with some who perhaps had not foreseene the danger but Berthier contested it so vehemently against the Marshall in the Kings presence as his reasons being heard and the importance of the thing considered that it was a meanes to continue their Leagues and Intelligences with Strangers to bee ready to take Armes at their pleasures the which could not bee but with the ruine of the State The King hauing heard by their Contestations finding of what importance it was hee presently caused that Article touching forraine Synodes to bee razed forbâ—dding them expreslie to go to any Assemblies without his permission vpon paine to be declared Traitors The Rector for the Vniuersitie of Paris was also a sutor vnto his Maiestiâ—s Councell that none of the Reformed Religion nor their Schoole-maisters and Tutors might bee admitted into any Colledges of the Vniuersitie but to bee excluded
Emperour Hunault and Ieffroy being authors of this warre remayned yet vnpunished Martel was diuerted by the warre he made against the Frisons whome he vanquished and forced to become Christians and to that ende he sends them Doctors A pardonable zeale in a warrior for in truth mens soules cannot be wonne by the sword nor religion forced but must bee planted in the heart by reason The punishement ofthese turbulent men was reserued vnto Pepin who knewe well howe to effect it as we shall see At this time King Thierri died hauing raigned fiue and twenty yeares in conceit and left Childeric his sonne not heire of the realme but of his idlenes to make the last release of the Crowne and consigne it into a better hande CHILDERIC the fift the 21 King of France and the last of the first race CHILPERIC .5 KING OF FRANCE XXI HE was King in shewe nine yeares 741. fiue vnder the authority of Charles Martel and foure vnder Pepin who dispossessed him made him a Monke and seated himselfe in his place as wee shall see in order But let vs obserue what remaines of Martel The care and toyle of great affaires with his old age hauing soare broken him hee resolues to dispose of things in time and to leaue a peace to his Children He had foure sonnes Caroloman Pepin Giles and Griffon all of diuers humours The disposition children and death of Martel Caroloman and Giles more modest and of a milder spirit Pepin and Griffon more rough and ambitious Whilest he liued hee greatly honored the Kings person neyther did he in open shewe meddle with that maine point of royaltie but in effect diuiding his authority to his Children with the title of gouernments He purchased them an inteâ—est by his vertue in time the possession of the realme To his eldest son Caroloman he left Ausstrasia to Pepin whom he knew to be of a more quicke and hardie spirit France as the bodie of the Estate And seeing Giles vnfit for armes and giuen to deuotion hee made him Arch-bishop of Rouan To bridle the turbulent spirit of Griffon and to take from him all occasion of debate he would not giue him any certaine portion but the good will of his elder brethren being taught by the experience of former raignes that many commanding brethren are dangerous to an estate shewing himselfe more wise and happy therein then Clouis Thus Charles Martel hauing liued fifty fiue yeares died in the yeare of grace 741. hauing commaunded absolutely in France twenty and fiue yeares as Maior or Prince of the French vnder the raignes of Chilperic Thierri and Childeric One of the worthiest men that euer liued either in this Monarchie or in any forraine Estate He was religious wise iust valiant modest in prosperity resolute in aduersity temperate in authority not passionate nor reuengefull dilligent and happie By these excellent vertues hee did quietly purchase this goodly degree whereby his posterity hath mounted to the royall throne although he had but the payne to get it and the honour to preserue the realme from ship-wrake in the weakenesse of these Kings and the stormes of many confusions His Children according to the diuersity of their humours had diuers euents Caroloman wanted no valour but hauing accompanied his Brother Pepin in diuers exploits in the ende he resignes him all his authority becomes a Monke and dies so at Vienne Giles full of ambitious heat not pleased with the wise resolution of his father did all he could to crosse his brother Pepin although hee had giuen him a sufficient portion in Normandie Transported with this spleene hee stirres vp the Saxons Bauariens and those of Guienne against him at diuers times In the end beeing sâ—ppressed in all places he vndertakes a voiage into Italie to attempt some thing against his brother but he was slaine by the way by a gentleman of Bourgongne as a man of no valour nor quality This fire was thus quenched and Giles died vnworthily leauing this lesson to postâ—rity That ambition hastens ruine and contrariwise That the one halfe is better then the whole Forerunnings or preparatiues to the raigne of Pepin PEPIN seeing himselfe alone in great authority vnderpropt by the merits of his Grand-father and father resolued so to behaue him selfe as his owne deserts should not onely confirme this reputation left him by inheritance but also perswade the French that hee was worthy of a greater command and by their free consents hold him capable of the Crowne He knew the humor of the French who loue and honour their King with an especiall deuotion and cannot bee induced to doe otherwise but by great and vrgent reasons Hee manageth this desseigne with such dexteritie 742. as hee effects it and the meanes which the prouidence of God did minister vnto him did as it were guide him by the hand for to him wee must attribute the principall cause of this notable change The Sarazins infinitly greeued with these two defeats prepare an other armie Ieffroye was also on this partie and it seemed this third League did threaten France with a greater confusion Pâ—pin remembring that his father had beene surprised sends forth his spies and being speedily aduertised he assembles all the forces he could with an incredible celeritie and finding himselfe first in armes he enters into Guyenne and seizeth on the passages of the Pyrenee mountaines Ieffroy being thus surprised sets a good face on it promising obedience to Pepin and is a mediator for the Sarrazins vndertaking that they should renounce their interest and neuer enter more into France Pepin obteining his desire being glad to haue preuented this storme and forced so redoubted enemies to receiue a law from him applied himselfe to the peoples humor who loue peace better then a bloudie victorie He dismisseth his armie busying himselfe in repayring of the Churches which the Sarazins had ruined in diuers places to ease the Citties that were spoiled and in giuing them meanes to recouer themselues to establish Iustice to vnburthen the subiects of publike charges and finally to let the French vnderstand that he was as fit for peace as warre The Church of Rome was then in great reputation throughout all Christendome and the Popes did onely busie themselues with the seruice of God Estate of the Church to maintaine Princes in concord and subiects in their liberties the which purchased them great credit for the singular respect Christian people baâ—e to religion Zacharie held then the Pontificall seat and had the Lombards for a cause of continuall feare being his neere and irreconciliable enemies against whome he could not haue more assured and speedie helpe then in France and by Pepins meanes who held the soueraigne authoritie Martel had alreadie auoided a most dangerous warre through the amitie he had with Luitprand King of the Lombards after whose death Rachise Duke of Friol chosen in his place threatens the Pope openly for all the Lombards faire shewes and his large
beseegeth Rauenna the chiefe Citty of the Exarchie 757 The Pope sends his Nuncio vnto him to expostulate the cause of this so sodaine warre against his subiects desiryng him to yeeld what he had taken and not to proceed in this hostile manner without any reasonable cause vpon paine of excomunication By his owne practises At that instant there fell out a great occasion to increase the hatred betwixt Charles and Didier for that Hunault who had beene vanquished in Guienne retired himselfe to Didier and is not onely courteously receiued but honored with the charge of generall of the army the which he had leuied against the Pope Didier suffred himselfe to be so abused with the perswasions of Hunault touching the meanes to attempt against the Estate of Charlemagne that holding Italy vndoubtedly his owne hee plotted a warre and assured himselfe of a certaine victory in France Thus pride and iniquitie hastens his ruine The Pope hauing no other defence but his excommunication not defensible against the armies of Didier flies againe to Charlemagne as to his sacred Anchor or last hope intreating ayde from him in his necessity Charlemagne had great reason to arme against Didier who had alwaies crossed his affaires fed his brothers â—ealousies receiued his widow and children labored to haue them chosen Kings of France to trouble or ruine his Estate entertayned his rebellious subiects and with them practised to make warre against him The sute and summons of the Romaine Church was a great motiue to induce him to arme against him who professed himselfe an open enemy to Christian religion whereof the Kings of France had alwaies shewed themselues protectors and gardiens But not to attempt any thing rashely Charles opposeth himselfe against the Lombaâ—d hee first sends his Ambassadors to the Pope to assure him of his good will the which should not be wanting in his necessity but hee thought it best to try mildnesse before hee vsed force against the Lombard He therefore sends his Ambassadors to Didier and doth summon him to restore what hee had taken from the Pope and to suffer him to liue in peace Didier who relied much vpon his policy giues good words to the Ambassadors promising to perfome all that Charles demanded but in effect hee would haue the Pope accept of conditions of peace from him and that the children of Caroloman should be declared Kings of France These demands were found vnreasonable on either side the treaty is broken the French Ambassadors returne and Didier renewes the warre more violently then before against the Church and hauing spoyled all the territory of â—auenna he takes Faenze Ferrara Comachia Compagnia and Romandiola townes of the sixe gouernments Charlemagnes Ambassadors informe their master that the warre with the Lombard is inâ—uitable and find all things at their returne readie to inuade Italy for Charlemagne beeing forced to suppresse the rebellious Saxons who impatient of the French yoake reuolted daylie had leuied a goodly army the which was readie to be imployed against the Lombard He makes warre by the aduice of the Estates But Charles would not attempt any thing in a matter of so great consequence without the aduice of his Estates Yet loath to loose time he causeth his army to march and makes his Rendezuous at Geneua a towne vnder his obedience vpon the way to Italy and hauing diuided his army into two he seizeth vpon the passages of Mont Cenis and Saint Bernard which are the two entries from France to Italie The Estates hauing found the causes of warre against Didier King of Lombardie to be iust Charlemagne causeth his army to aduance with all speed and ioynes neere vnto Verteil Didier attends him there and giues him battaile but at the first encounter he is vanquished by Charlemagne The Lombard twise defeated by Charles The Lombard hauing rallied and fortified his troupes receiues a newe defeate and so great a one as he is inforced to suffer his enemy to be master of the field An infallible entrance to his ruine Thus hauing tumultuously trussed vp what hee could he sends his sonne Aldegise to Verona with the widowe and children of Caroloman casting himselfe into Pauia the which he had carefully fortified as the dungeon and â—ortresse of his last fortune Charlemâ—gne pursues him at the heeles beseegeth him with all his forces in Pauia and resolues to haue it at what price soeuer And to shewe his resolution 775. hee sends for his wife and children into France to the end the Italians that were doubtful might knowe his minde and without attending any newe occurrents resolue to obeye the victor Hauing coopt vp Didier in Pauia and seized vpon all the approches hee resolues to take Verona which they held the strongest place of all the Lombards estate So leauing his Vncle Bernard to continue the seege at Pauia he marcheth with part of his army to Verona His resolution accompanied with these goodly beginnings and this checke of Didier shut vp as it were in a prison gaue a great alteration to the affaires of either party amidest these people of diuers humors The Spoletins the Reaâ—iâ—s those of Ancona of Ferme and of Ossino as it were in spight one of an other yeeld to Charlemagne and detest the wretched estate of Didier as a worthy reward of his trecherous iniustice and violence The Venetians beeing Neuters spectators of this tragedie who neuer had delt in any sort with Didier offer amity and succors to Charlemagne who was desirous they should keepe the sea quiet least the Emperour should be an actor in this quarrell for Didier Charlemagne stayed not long at Verona before the Cittie beganne to yeeld Berthe the widow of Caroloman beeing the chiefe instrument to drawe them to composition his forces beeing as shee saied verie fearefull Aldegise the sonne of Didier finding himselfe vnable to resist so resolute a consent of the Cittizens nor to releeue his fathers misery flies secretly to the Emperour of Constantinople Thus Verona yeelds to Charlemagne by composition Verroâ—a taken by Charles who receiues both Berthe and the Inhabitants to mercie to whome hee performes his promise he inflicts no other punishment vpon Berthe and her children but a gentle admonition of their vnciuill rashenesse and to returne into France there to do better and to liue more honorably This was about Ester which drewe Charles to Rome Charles entertayned at Rome where hee remayned onely eight daies to visit the holy places and to conferre with Pope Adrian They write wonders of the great entertaynment the Pope gaue him and of the shewes of amity of Charlemagne Hee confirmed all that his father Pepin had giuen vnto the Pope and greatly augmented it The Pope made Charles a Patritian of Rome a degree to mounâ— vnto the Empire from thence Charles came to Pauia the which beeing for the space of ten monethes pressed without by warre and within by pestilence and â—amine Pauia taken and Didier 〈◊〉 it in
the end yeelds by composition and Didier who had hated Charles without cause and attempted warre vpon an houre â—alâ—s into his hands who shewes himselfe wise and modest both to vndertake a warre and to vse the victory Thus Charlemagne hauing wisely vndertaken a iust warre and ended it happily hee ruined the Kingdome of the Lombards carrying Didier prisoner to Lion or to Leege The Kingdome of the Lombards ruined for writers speake diuersely of the place of his imprisonment This was in the yeare 776. A notable date to represent the tragicall end of so great a Kingdome the which continued in Italy onely two hundred and â—oure yeares vnder Princes of diuers humors But iniustice tyranie and pride prouoked the wrath of God against them so as thinking to take from an other they lost their owne to vsurpe the liberties of others they fell into an ignominious slauery and their subtilty was the cause of their owne misery A mirror for Princes and great States neuer to attempt an vniust and vnnecessary warre to vsurpe an other mans right neuer to thinke to preuaile ouer a good cause by craft and policy Charlemagne vsed his victory with great moderation towards the conquered nation to the great content of all the Italians who held it a great gaine to haue lost their old master and to be rightly free being subiect to so wise a Lord for he left them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were vassals to Didier their Seigneuâ—ies to Aragise sonne in lawe to Didier hee left the Marquisate of 〈◊〉 He placed French Gouernors in conquered Lombardy meaning to haue theÌ„â—â—treated with the like mildnesse as the ancient patrimony receiued from his Predecessors During the seege of Pauia a Councell was held at Rome by Pope Adrian in fauour of Charlemagne 778. to giue him honours answerable to his deseruing of the Church and namely the right to giue all benefices throughout all Christendome was said to belong vnto him Charlemagne being returned into France Aldegise the sonne of Didier sought to disquiet Italie aided by the Emperour Constantine and the practises of Rogand to whome Charlemagne had giuen Friul who reuolted from his obedience but all these rebellious were â—oone suppressed by the faithfull care of the French Gouernours whome Charlemagne had left in the Countrie newly conquered and Rogand being seized of it suffered the paines of his treacherous rashnes being beheaded by the Kings commaundement Thus Italie remayning quiet to him and his as conquered by a iust warre it shal be hereafter incorporate to the French Monarchie in this second race being giuen in partage to the chidren of France whilest that the good gouernmeÌ„t of our kings maintaines the dignitie of the Crowne A memorable warre in Germanie But the end of this war was the beginning of an other in Germanie wherof the Saxons were the chief darwing vnto them according to the diuersitie of occasions other people of Germanie their neighbours This war continued 33. yeares not all successiuely but at diuers brunts seasons the Saxons hauing for a perpetual subiect to crosse Charlemagne in his desseins especially being busied in many other matters of great consequence I will breefly relate this war of Saxony reporting with one breath what hath beene seuerally dispersed in the whole history without confusion of times or mater following a stile fit for this history In those times Germanie was subiect to the Crowne of France although it had particular Estates vassals to our Kings whatsoeuer the Germaines say who confesse but a part thereof The Saxons were subiect to our Crowne as appeares by that aboue written and namely vnder Martel and Pepin his sonne The motiues of this warre were diuers the impatiencie of a people desiring their ancient libertie not able to beare an others command as the Germains say the hatred and iealousie of a mighty neighbour thâ—eatning them with seruitude the controuersie for the limits of their lands but the greatest and most important cause of these wars The causes of this wâ—â—re was the diuersitie of religion for that the Saxons would obstinatly hold the Pagan superstition which they had receiued from their Ancestors and Charlemagne vrged them to forsake their Paganisme and to make open profession of the Christian faith moued with zeale to the generall aduancement of the truth and the priuat dutie of a Prince to his subiects to prouide for their soules health A thing very worthie obseruation Belial did then fight against Christ The differeâ—ce betwixt the warres which Câ—arles 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 this day Pagan superstition against Christian veritie But alas by whome and wherefore are these vnciuill warres at this day Christian fights against Christian the most sacred signe of Christianitie appeares on either side in Christian and French armies Christians bloud is spilt by Christians through a blind furie want of vnderstanding in the fundamentall accord of the sauing trueth These are not onely different but coÌ„traâ—ie wars to those of Charlemagne and our inâ—aged tumults are begun nourished without reason both against the good of the Estate and Church Vpon this controuersie of religion the Saxons made war eight times against Chaâ—lemagne especially when they found him busied elswhere watching their oportunitie either to crosse him in his desâ—eine or to frustrate his attempts At such time as hee was in Italie they played the wild colts not onely in reiecting the French coÌ„mand but also making open war against those Cities in Germanie which obeyed Charlemagne they had taken Eresbourg from the Crowne of France euen vpoÌ„ his returne beseeged Sigisbourg robbing spoyling al the Country about Charlemagne assembling a Parliament at Wormes Hee subdues the 〈◊〉 and perswades 〈◊〉 to be a Christian leuies a great armie to charge the Saxons in diuerse places This Councell succeeded happily for hauing vanquished the Saxons twise in one moneth in a pitched field he reduced them to their ancient obedience vsing his victorie with much modestie and wisedome desiring rather to shew them the power of his authoritie then the rigour of his force The chief among them was Widichind as religion was the chief motiue of these ordinary rebellioÌ„ so Charlemagne seeking the establishmeÌ„t of Christian religion in Saxony with great zeale happily eâ—â—â—cted it Hauing vanquished this Widichind by reason and humanitie and brought him to the knowledge of the truth by his graue wise conuersatioÌ„ whom he perswaded without any violence to leaue the Pagan superstition 784. which force of armes could not effect in him nor in the Saxons for Mens soules are not gained by force of armes but by reason By the meanes of this Widichind the greatest part of the Saxons were drawne to the knowledge of the true God and the obedience of the French monarchie the most obstinate were forced eyther to obey or to abandon the country as in deed great numbers of the Saxons retyred themselues into diuers strange
Guise his brother the command in warre This was properly to giue the Constable to vnderstand that without warrant hee should take his leaue the which hee did after that hee had conducted his good maister to the graue And to play their parts absolutely without controule they send the Prince of Conde into Flanders vnder colour to confirme the peace and him of Roche-sur-yon to carry the order of France to the King of Spaine then at his returne they depute him with the Cardinall of Bourbon to conduct Elizabeth to Philip her husband In the meane time the Guisians call the Cardinall of Tournon from Rome a man fitte for their humors They displace part of the ancient officers of the Kings house and place new at their deuotion they furnish Prouinces and fronter Townes with gouernours of their owne choise they obtaine a declaration from the King sitting in parliament whereby he made it knowne that touching all affaires which concerned the estate of his Crowne and house his pleasure was they should hereafter repaire to his two Vncles To conclude they do and vndoe place and displace in Parliament and priuie Councell like to a King of absolute power And the Queene mother challengeth the gâ—ft of money growing of the confirmation of offices and priuileges of Townes and commonalties the which by right cannot be exacted but when the realme falls into a collaterall line Now are they setled in this vsurped gouernment they haue officers at their pleasure But there is yet a moate in their eye Those of the religion who then were called reformed let vs hereafter call them Protestants for their common cause with the Protestants of Germanie multiplied infinitely Some Princes and many Noblemen did countenance them and were ready to take their protection To weaken them nay rather to ruine them quite the Kings letters pattents are granted the 14. of Iuly with a Commission to certaine Iudges for the triall of Anne du Bourg and foure of his companions prisoners It was to be feared their proceeding against these fiue Counsellors would preiudice the whole party They beseech the Queene by their letters who had made shew to incline to their doctrine when as she was barren to vse her aâ—thoritie in the restraint of these rigorous pursutes She passeth her word to the Prince of Condé and Admirall so as they will liue secretly and without any scandale Herevpon Anthonie King of Nauarre greatly prest by some Princes and Noblemen the Constable at the death of Henry had perswaded him to seize first on the gouernment arriues in Court being at S. Germaine in Laye Anthony King of Nauarre comes to Court and is disgraced hauing at Poitiers giuen good hope to some Ministers of the Protestant Churches to make open profession of their religion But what entertainment do they giue to this first Prince of the bloud of France his harbingers finde no lodging for him within the Castle It shall cost me my life and ten thousand more with me said the Duke of Guise to his harbinger before they take from me the place and lodging which the King hath giuen me neere vnto his person No man goes to meete him those of Guise looke that he should go to salute them and which is worse the next day he haâ—h no place in Councell After some dayes the King sayes vnto him that his Vncles hauing the charge of affaires hee desired them that would haue his fauour to obey them in all things So hauing obtained confirmation of his offices and pensions he approued by his silence the vsurpation of the house of Guise who lead the King to Rheims where he was triumphantly annointed the eighteene of September by the Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop of that place Soone after the Coronation The Princeâ— and chiefâ— officers of the Crowne disgraced the Queene mother gets a resignation from the Constable of the office of Lord Steward in fauour of the Duke of Guise in recompence made his sonne Marshall of France The Admirall foreseeing that they would dispossesse him of the gouernement of Picardie hee first gaue the King to vnderstand that it belonged to the Prince of Condé for that his predecessors had long enioyed it 〈◊〉 resignation was willinglie accepted but not the condition It was better to pâ—â—chase a good seruant and partisan which was the Marshall of Brissac Thus the Prâ—â—ces and chiefe officers of the Crowne were disgraced but those that were 〈…〉 among the people were not mute They had a good share in the priuate discontent of these great personages foreseeing the disorders that might ensue and require a Parliament as the Soâ—etâ—â—â— cure for such diseases whereby the Queene Mother might be excluded from the Regencie and those of Guise put from the Kings person To please the King theâ— perswade him that they sought to bridle him and to make him a ward that hee should hold them enemies to his authority and guiltie of high â—â—eason that talke of a Parliament The King of Spaine crosseth them and by letters written to the King his brother in Lawe the which were read in Councell in the presence of the King of Nauarre he declares himselfe saieth hee for the good affection he did beare Tutor and Protector of him his Realme and his affaires against those that would change the gouernment of the estate as if the King were not capable of the gouernment Pleasant people which reiect so much the word of lawfull Tutâ—lage and yet they vsurpe it against the Lawes and orders of the Realme holding it onely by tyranie This other affront sent the King of Nauarre home into Bearne whence he came All this did but increase the hatred of great and small against the Guisians Many treaties are published written and printed and all tend to proue That it belonges to the Estates to prouide gouernours for Kings in their minorities that these two bretheren are incapable of the gouernment being both strangers the one a priest the other presuming to say in the life of the decreased King that the Realme belonged to the house of Lorraine as issued from Charlemagne from whome Hugh Capet had vsurped it A proposition which they haue presumed to publish in these latter times but so often confuted as it needes no further discours The King began to growe and euen nowe hee complayned that they kept him from hearing of his subiects complaints but he was so sickely as there was no hope of long life To get â—â—re footing in the gouernment of Estate they resolue to purchase many seruants in the Courts of Paliament to winne the affections of Courtiers and men of warre and by a burning zeale to the rooting out of Protestants to purchase the loue of the Clergie and people Anne du Bourg executed They publish sundrie Edicts against them they promise great recompences to them that discouer their assemblies many Townes fill their prisons they imploy aire fire and water to ruine them and yet it seemes that the more
storme which threatned them flie to Nerac to the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé they present themselues and their meanes shewing them the wrongs done by them of Guise to the King and the Realme and beseech them to vndertake the deliuery of his maiestie and maintenance of the estate These two Princes had alreadie resolued to vse all their meanes to chase the tâ—o Lorrains from the gouernment of France This request confirmed them and euen then they sought out all Noblemen and gentlemen which by their armes and meanes might aduance this worke The Constable with the Vidame of Chartres and a great number of others promise to maintaine their iust quarrell against all men except the King the Queenes and his bretheren Their letters fall into the hands of them of Guise the Prince his Agent is imprisoned and the Vidame of Chartres shut into the Basâ—ill and shall not bee fâ—eed vntill the day before the Kings death and himselfe shall die within fewe dayes after An Assembly of Princes Noblemen Thus all things tend to an open warre The Queene Mother desired to see these two parties fight but not with the ruine of either side for the fall of any one of them had set her beside the sadle She therefore caused to bee propounded in Councell by the aduice of the Chancellor and Admirall whome as yet she did willingly heare That it was expedient to assemble all the Princes Noblemen of the Realme and men of authority to aduise of the meanes to pacifie the troubles growne principallie by reason of the persecutions for religion Those of Guise approue this desseine this was in shewe a pitfall to take the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé Moreouer they hoped to sâ—borne so many witnesses as all things should second their desires and so for that time should dissolue the conuocation of the Estats So the King sends forth his letters into all parts intreating them all to bee at Fontainebleau the twentieth fiue of August especially the King of Nauarre and to bring his brother and those Noblemen that were then with him The Guisiâ—ns also by their letters giue many good hopes and promises But we haue sayd they had in the beginning lodged spies in the King of Nauarres house By their meanes they woâ—ke so as the King of Nauarre stirres not and le ts slippe an oportunitie that he had to settâ—e a lawfull gouernment within the realme The Constable better resolued thinking the Princes would assist arriues with eight hundred horse and by this troupe makes the Lorrains to shewe him a good countenance At the opening of the assemblie the Admirall presents a petition to the King for the Protestants who required to haue Temples graunted them and free exercise of religion throughout the whole Realme There-vpon Charles of Marillac Archbishop of Vienne shewed with such libertie of speech the necessitie to assemble a nationall Councell to remedie these controuersies growne for religion and a Parliament to order the gouernment of France as hee suruiued but fewe dayes after his oration The Amirall toucht the cause of religion and state more vehemently taxing by inuectiue such as giuing the King gards vpon gards entertayned him in distrust of his subiects and his subiects in hatred of their owne King As they had made shewe to like of this assemblie so they seemed to allowe of a Parliament They appoint it first at Meaux and afterward at Orleans the x. of December and the Sinode for the Clergie at Paris the twentieth of Ianuary folowing to determine of what should bee expedient to bee treated of in a generall councell whereof they gaue them hope But as they had vnderhand withdrawne the Princes from comming to this Assemblie so must they make them vnwilling to bee present at the Parliament To this intent those of Guise in the Kings name command the companies of ordinary souldiars to be readie the 20. of September they lodge them in such sort as those whome they suspected had them in front in flanke and behinde them and spies likewise to discouer them and they giue charge to the commanders to cutte all them in peeces that they should finde marching to ioyne with the Princes If their forces were not sufficient to diuert the Prince of Condé whom they knew to bee more busie and to endure lesse they doe also procure Letters from the King to the King of Nauarre whereby hee doth charge the Prince to haue attempted against the estate of France and to haue sought to seize vpon some of the good Townes of the realme Hee desires him therefore to send him his brother with a good and sure garde if not hee himselfe will fetch him well accompanied The answer of Anthonie and Lewis incountring the Lorraines with their owne armes holding them guiltie of the same crimes wherewith they charged them made them to change their note They send a second commandement Policie to abuse the Princes whereby the King giues his word to the Princes to come in safetie hee promiseth to heare all mens admonitions and iustifications willingly to receiue them according to their estates and dignities not to disturbe any Prince in his religion whereof hee now made open profession and that they should returne when they pleased free from iniurie and outrage And to draw them on the Cardinall of Bourbon a Prince not well able to discouer the deceites of the enemies of his house is expresly sent vnto them They marche and are no sooner come to Limoges but seuen or eight hundred Gentlemen well appointed do visit them The Deputies of Prouinces offer them six thousand foot Gascons and Poiteuins foure thousand horse and foote out of Languedoc as many or more out of Normandie and the other Prouinces promise to rise on all sides to fortifie them at this assemblie of States so as it will please the King of Nauarre to declare himselfe Protector of the King and Realme against them of Guise But the Cardinall of Armagnac Escars â—arnac and some other Councellors of the same mould bad seruants to their maister propounded so many dangers so many inconueniences vpon their comming to Court with force and why should they not resist their enemies force as hee sent back all his companie and countermanded such as came promising notwithstanding to imploy himselfe couragiously in the Parliament for the good of all France Heâ—evpon they giue the King to vnderstand that the Lutherans of Orleans practised something to subuert his estate as they had of late attempted at Lions The King câ—mes to Oâ—leans To assure themselues of the Towne and to punish some which were noted in the booke of death whose confiscation was good the Guisiens first send Sipiere Lieutenant to the Prince of Roche-sur-yon gouernour of Orleans to disarme the people and to fill the houses suspected with men of war they call together the nobilitie men at armes of France then they conduct the King thether to make his entry with the
Guise to set a good countenance on a bad cause And the Queene mother seeking to hold her authority by supporting them of Guise calles the King of Nauarre into her closet As he was entring a Ladie of the Court sayd to him in his eare My Lord denie the Queene Mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead So he signed what shee desired A grant of the right which hee might pretend to the gouernment of the King and Regencie of the Realme and his reconciliation with them of Guise Vpon this graunt she promiseth to make him the Kings Lieutenant in France both for peace and warre and nothing should passe but by his aduice and of the other Princes who should bee respected according to the degree they held in France In the meane time death presseth the King The death of Fancis the 2. and those of the house of Guise shut vp in their lodging and seized vpon three or foure scoore thousand frankes which remained yet of the treasor came not forth in two dayes vntill they were assured of the King of Nauarre who hauing imbraced one an other all quarrells seemed to be layd vnder foote In the end this Catarre with a feuer brought the King to his graue the fourteenth of December hauing giuen no time by reason of his yong age and the shortenesse of his â—aigne to discouer any thing in him but onely some shewes of courtesie continency and modestie vertues which his Vncles had easily corrupted by the tast of crueltie which they began to make an impression of in his soule as they did in his successors little lamented for his person but of such as possessing him in his â—oâ—age grounded the greatnesse of their vsurped estates vpoÌ„ his life to ouerthrowe the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme whatsoeuer some wretched writers do babble whose soules haue beene as vendible as the Guisiens armes were then new in our France This death gaue life to the Prince of Condé opened the prisons for such as had beene committed for his cause reuiued an infinit number whome the Princes condemnation had drawne into danger countermanded the troupes of Spaine which aduanced towards Bearn disapointed Montluâ— of the Earldome of Armagnaâ— the which he had deuoured in hope by the promises of the house of Guise and brought many of their most secret seruants to the King of Nauarres deuotion CHARLES the 9. the 61. King of France CHARLES THE .9 KING OF FRANCE 1560. NOW we fall from a feuer into a frensie Wee shall see vndâ—â— aâ—â—ther pupill King of eleuen yeares of age raigning in the wrathâ—â— God the heauens to powre vpon this Realme all the curses 〈◊〉 promised against a nation whose iniquities hee will punish 〈…〉 dâ—â—pleasure A raigne cursed in the Cittie and cursed in the 〈◊〉 cursed in the beginning and cursed in the ending Mortality 〈◊〉 and â—amine haue followed it euen vnto the end The heauens aboue are of brasse and the eaâ—th vnder iâ— of iron the carcases are a prey to the birds of the aire to the bâ—â—sts of the field and no man trouble them They suffer no thing but wrongs and robberies and no man releâ—â—es them Men marry wiues but others sleepe with them They 〈◊〉 and plant but the nations whom they haue not knowne deuowre the fruit To conclude there is nothing but cuâ—sing terror and dissipation The 23. of December the Parliament began and that which the Queene mother most desiâ—â—d the coâ—firmation of heâ— Regencie allowed by the Chancellor and afterwards by those that were the speakers Iohn Quintin of Autun a doctor of the Cannon Lawe at Paris A Parliament â—â—ld â—t Orleans for the Clergie the Lord of Rochefort Damoisel of Commerâ—y for the Nobility Angelo then Aduocate of the Parliament at Bourdeaux and afterwards Councellor there for the people The Chancellor propounded manie articles touching the meanes to pacifie the troubles and the remedies for that which concerned the estate and religion to discharge the Kings debts Quintin would haue the ministers of the Church inforced to discharge their duties not altering any thing in the reformation thereof the which cannot erre not to suffer any other then the Chatholike Apâ—stolicke and Romish religion Against such as demanded Temples and against the deliuerer of their petition meaning the Admirall against whom said he they should proceed according to the Canon and Ciuill constitutions for the prohibiting of such bookes as were not allowed by the Doctors of the Sâ—rbonne and for the rooting ouâ— of Lutherans and Caluinists â—ochfort did speake against the iurisdictions vsurped by the Clergie against the disorders growne among the Nobles against the wrong done to the true Nobilitie against the confusions growne by confiscations for matter of religion against seditions of the meanes to order the Clergie to containe them in their vocation for the releefe of the people especially in matters of Iustice the which should be reduced to a certaine number of Officers Ange insisted much vpon the ignorance couetousnesse and dissolution of the Clergie whence proceeded the greatest part of these present scandales The next day vpon the Admirals complaint to the Queene Mother Quintin excused himselfe vpon the instructions which were giuen him in writing and in his second speech hee did moderate his pleâ— to the Admirals content The Estates continued their conferences and made the beginning of this yeare famous by some prouision for matters of religion whereby it was forbidden vpon paine of death noâ— to reproach religion one to another and commandement giuen to all Iudges and offiâ—ers to set at libertie all such as had beene imprisoned for the said religion Many other good necessary lawes were published but with more confusion then profit And in truth a number of lawes ill obserued peruert Iustice and giues the people occasion not to regard them But when they come seriously to handle the discharge of the Kings debts and that the Nauarrois submits himselfe to restitution If it be found that he hath receiued any extraordinary guifts those of Guise and others which could not make the like offer found meanes to frustrate this proposition by the referring of the Estates to Ponâ—oise hoping hereafter to find some deuise to preuent their yelding vp of any accoumpt Put of to Ponâ—â—oise And in truth all these assemblies vanished away like smoake without any other resolution then to lay the paiment of the Kings debts vpon the Clergie The King of Nauarre the other Princeâ— of the bloud the Constable seeing themselues held to no end in Court and that for matters of State they had but the leauings of them of Guise it made them trusse vp their baggage to retire with an intent to crosse the regencie of the Qâ—eene Mother and the Guisiâ—ns authoritie To frustrate this desseine she makes a new accord with the Nauarrois doth associate him in the gouernement of the realme and concludes with him that leauing the title of Regent he should
charge with the Lord of la Ferté Vsseau Captaine of the gard makes an ample collectioÌ„ of al the articles of the Christian Doctrine expounds those which are in controuersie toucheth by the way the discipline of the Church protests that both he his Companions and all those that aduowe them desire nothing but the reformation of the Church that they will liue and die in the Kings protection deâ—est those that seeke to sequester themselues and pray to God for the prosperity of his Maiesty of his mother his Councell and his Estate then hee presents vnto the King the Confession of the Protestant Churches desires the conference may be made concerning it The King hauing receiued it by the sayd Captaine of his gard deliuered it vnto the Prelats The point vpon the reall presence in the Sacrament had troubled them They conclude that the Cardinall of Lorraine assisted by Claude Dâ—spense and some other Doctors not by way of disputation but not to faile of a replie should answer to two points only of the Church and the Lords supper And the 16. of the sayd moneth he makes his oratioÌ„ discourseth at large of these two points then he intreates the king to continue constant in the religion of his Predecessors to suÌ„mon the ministers to subscribe to that which he had deliuered before they passed to the other articles otherwise to deny them audience and to send them out of the realme which could alow but of one faith one law and one King The foure and twentith day Theodore made answer to the Cardinall disputed with the Doctors Despense Sainctes and the 26. day he treated with him againe touching the Lords supper the other ministers replied likewise to some obiections of other doctors of the Sorbonne finally al was conuerted into priuate coÌ„fereÌ„ces without any resolutioÌ„ or coÌ„clusion that might end these troubles The Prelats sent backe their doctors in Octob. refer al reformation to the CouÌ„cel at Trent whether the Cardinal of Lorraine the doctor of Sainctes went of whoÌ„ wee will speake a word by the way seeing it fits with the matter We find by a fragment originall drawne out of the writings of a Chanoine of Reims and published in the yeare 1598. by the means of Perrequin Maior of Langres That the Kings Ambassadors at the Councell of Trente were amongest other instructions signed Charles Katherine Alexander which was Henry the 3. Anthony and vnderneth it Charles of Bourbon Francis of Lorraine Montmorency M. Hospital S. André Francis of Montmorency charged to demand To haue the cerimonies corrected al other things wherby the people might be abused vnder a sure piety That the Cup might be restored in all coÌ„munions within his realme all his dominions That al administrations of SacrameÌ„ts to the Laitye might be done in the French tongue That in the parish Churches not collegial Cathedral or monacal the vse of the prosâ—e should be instituted according to the first most holy institutioÌ„ that during the high Masse in the parish Churches the word of God should be red and interpreted at the houre accustomed with then catechising of youth to the end that euery one might be instructed capable of that which he should beleeue how he should liue according vnto God and that in steed of the Prosâ—e publike prayers should be made in the French tongue That without changing of any thing of the accustomed seruice of the Church in the latin tongue some houres shold be appointed as wel at Masse as at Euensong wherein it might be lawful to sing psalmes in the open Church perused first corrected by the Bishops ordinary superiours approued by famous vniuersities or prouincial Councells 1562. And also to complaine of the vnchast life of Clergy men which breed so many 〈◊〉 and corruptions among the people These articles concluded had without douâ—â— made the way to reduce many realmes and Prouinces to the Vnion of the Chuâ—â—â— â—â—peased the troubles of this realme satisfied many troubled conâ—ciences and preuented a greater schisme But hatred and humane passions makes vs yet to attend a stroke froâ— heauen to draw vs ioyntly into the fold of one vniuersal Bishop Thus the conference at Poissy hauing not yeelded that remedie which was expected for the common â—â—schiefe now diuers factions grow in France The Protestants which before had by many petitions required Temples for the exercise of their religion they nowe takâ— them by force in many places and without further attending the approbation of 〈◊〉 demands they assemble at diuers times The Catholikes mutine especially at Paris and pursue thâ—m with stoanes swords staues fire in their returne from Cerysaâ—â— a garden without the Temple gate and in the suburbs of S. Marceau they ring â—he 〈◊〉 bell at S. Medard they wound kill take and hang many Gabaston amongest others Knight of the watch to appease the people lost his head To make some Edict for the ordering of these broyles the Q Mother assembles the chiefe of the ParliameÌ„t with the Princeâ— of the bloud Noblemen Councellors of the priuy Councell Masters of requestâ— other men of authority and to giue some contentment to those that vehemently required places and Temples for their assemblies with liberty The chiefe Catholikes especially those of Guise dissallow of this course they accuse the Que. facility murmure openly against the King of Nauarre the Prince of Condé the Admiral his bretheren These crosse theÌ„ with an enterprise made to carry the Duke of Orleans the Kings yonger brother into Lorraine so as they retire from Court tâ—e Duke of Nemours who had plaied the principall part in this tragedie saues â—imâ—elfe returnes not before the Ciâ—ill wars haue fiâ—ed all France This newe change seemes to drawe the Regent to the Protestants party she desires to know their forces and their means Tâ—ey giue her a list of two thousand a hundred and fifty protestant churches the deputies whereof offred their goods persons to the K. to withstand the forces of them of Guise who called the Spaniard into France The Cuisians absence made easie the grant of that famous Edict Edict of Ianuary which beares vnto this day the name of Ianuary the which disanulling that of Iâ—ly gaue liberty to the protestants the 17. of the sayd moneth to assemble without the Townes and prouided that all men might liue in peace one with an other But alas in steed of peace it shall breed horrible confusions The dâ—fficultie was in the execution The Parliaments publish it as slowly as may be that of Dijon â—euer Tâ—ose of Guise the câ—â—stâ—ble ioyned with them diuerted theÌ„ by their authority But they had an other string to their bow which preualed according to their desires They imploy the Ambassador of Spaine the Cardinall of Tournon Escars some other house-hold flatterers to the K. of Nauarre to peâ—sâ—ade him That carrying himselfe a Neuter
Montpensier hauing published the Edict of the Parliament of Paris To pursue all them that should bee any way suspected of the Protestant religion many Gentlemen and others about Anger 's during these furies lost both life and goods At Blois they were maisters both of the Towne and Castle but being too weake to incounter the forces of the Duke of Guise At Blois all the men of warre retyred to Orleans Those which remained in the Towne payed for their companions for besides them that were beaten downe in the streetes at the Duke of Guises entry many tyed to stakes were cast into the riuer wiues and maides were rauished houses spoyled and as it often chanceth in these inciuill tumults many Catholikes were slaine in these confusions as liberty giues euery man meanes to reuenge his priuate quarrells They complaine to the Duke There is no remedie saith he we haue too much people in France I wil deale so as victualls shall bee good cheape As if the disposition of seasons were in thy power oh Duke or if the earth should desire to be watered with mans bloud to become fertill At Mer. The towne of Mer was spoyled ten dayes together Beaupas a minister of the 〈◊〉 hanged some men slaine some women rauished died some of them in the 〈…〉 them that rauished them others of griefe soone after The foresaid decree was pâ—blished euery sunday in places depending on the Parliament It was a meanes to 〈◊〉 theeues vagabonds villaines leud and idle persons it made the plough-man to 〈◊〉 the plough and the crafts-man to shut vp his shop to conclude it did change the multitude into Tygers and Lyons and flesht them against their owne countrimen A troupe of these rascalls fall vpon Ligneul hang some men pull out a ministers eyes and then burne him Another company runs vppon the marches of Comeri l'isâ—â—-bouchart Loches Azè the burnt and neighbour places beating downe and murthering men women and children Those of Tours were seized of the towne but hauing spared the images no more then the rest the Duke of Montpensier comes in Iuly and summons them to yeeld They had no meanes to keepe the towne At Tours nor the Prince of Condé to succour them So they make three Enseignes of foote and two Cornets ofhorse and ioyned with them of Chinon and Chastelleraud making a troupe of a thousand men of warre This was but a fire of strawe seuen or eight companies of men at armes and some Cornets of light horse of the Earle Villards charge and ouerthrowe them kill some and carry other prisoners to Chastelleraud some recouer Poitiers others which had yeelded tâ—emselâ—â—s at the first in this defeat being â—ent back to Tours with paâ—poâ—ts 1562 1563. fell out of Scilla into Caribdis The multitude receiues them disaâ—med beats thâ—m down About three hundred recouer the gates of Tours with running hoping to finde a Sanctuarie at their houses But the people arme and murther most of these amazed men cast their bâ—â—ies into Loiâ—e massacre their companions remaining within the Towâ—e sacke their 〈◊〉 and in thiâ— furious liberty die the riuer with the bloud of their fellow Citizeâ—s men women and children Chauigny armes by his presence doth countenance tâ—â—s popular insolencie Bourgeau President of Tours no Protestant but onely suspâ—cted to â—auouâ— their partie had redeemed his life out of the hands of Cleruaux A horrible crueltie Lieutenant to Câ—auigny for three hundred Crownes and a Basin of siluer but in the end being â—urthered with staues and swords hanged by the feete his head in the water vnto the bâ—est they open his beâ—ly teare out his bowels and cast them into the riueâ— plâ—cing â—is heart vpon the top of a Lance they carry it through the towne crying Behold the President of the Huguenots heart The Duke Montpensier arriues by gibbets â—heeâ—es other tortures plaies the last act of this inciuil Tragedy The Protestantâ— of Poitiers beiâ—g maisters of the towne did not forget to beaâ— downe the Images The Earle of Villars the Marshall S. André besiege them Pâ—iâ—ieâ—s S. Gemme coÌ„manding there for the Pâ—ince of Condé sustaines a furious assault making the assailants to determine of a retreat wheÌ„ as Pineau Captaine of the Castle practised by the assailaâ—ts giues them a signe to retâ—rne he shoots against theÌ„ that were at the gate forced tâ—em to leaue the defence The gate being thus wonne they come to fight for the maâ—ket places The Protestants began now to yeeld to the vâ—ctors force when as Mangot â— Caâ—taine of Lodun bâ—eaâ—ing the locks of S. Cyprians gate makes a way for the Citâ—izens sâ—lâ—iars to saue tâ—eÌ„selues leauâ—ng the Towne and country about subiect to all the insolencies incident to a countrie of conquest Corneille a Scottish Captaine escapes from Poitiers wâ—th his troupe to suppresâ—e the peasants furie greedy oâ— bloud and spoile he laies an Ambush then he cunningly ioynes with them and by this stratagem takes from them all desire to assemble together againe for the like effect The vnrestrained liberty of armes made the strongest of all sides to seize vpon their Townes thinking delayes to breed danger But alas how many pitifull catastrophes grew by these inciuill and fatall tumults Rouen was not the last to make triall thereof The 15. of April 1562. the Protestants seize vpon the Towne enter the Churches tumultuously beat downe and ruine relikes Rouen images and altars in aboue fiftie parishes Abbies religious houseâ— the exercise of the Catholike religion surceased the Court of Parliament retired to Louuiers During these broiles the Duke of Aumale comes as the Kings Lieutenant generall Villebon Bailiffe of Rouen seizeth vâ—oÌ„ Pont de Larche the Baron of Clere on Caudebâ—e The first siege of Rouen so block vp Rouen both aboue beneath the riuer the Magistrate ceaseth to administer iustâ—ce the marchant his traffick the handicrafts man shuts vp his shop heauy foretellings of a horrâ—ble confusion to come Many difficulties did now presse them of Rouen when as Moruilliers comming from the prince of Condé slipping cunningly by water into the towne prouides for the soldiars disorders for the gard of S. Katherins Fort prolonging the hope of the besieged The Duke of Aumale assailes the fort and tires them with daily skirmishes but most fatall for himselfe he looseth at the first charge 100. men the besieged S. Agnan Languetot braue Captaines at the second a great number of men two Ensignes carried into the towne The xi of Iuly the Duke giues a generall assault and so furious as three ensignes of the enemies planted vpon the rampaâ— did so inflame the courage of the besieged as they ouerthrew both enseignes and men puâ—sued them to their campe forced them to dislodge the night following in confusion with losse of their victuals munition and bagage to go and reuenge the dishonour lately receiued at
Rouen by the taking of Ponteau de Mer and Honfleur Moruilliers content to haue preserued Rouen at this time retires to his house leaues the charge to the Earle of Montgomery called by them of Rouen out of base Nâ—rmandy The 〈…〉 About the end of SepteÌ„ the King the Queene the King of Nauarre come to the armie consisting of sixtene thousand foot two thousand horse besiâ—es Reâ—sâ—res Lansquenets fiue dayes are spent in skirmishes but with most aduantage to the bâ—sieged 1562. The sixt day most part of the souldiers go to refresh themselues within the 〈◊〉 A Captaine named Lewis who had intelligence with the enemy giues them 〈…〉 They runne hotly to the assault during these skirmishes they had made a breach in the wall with fiue or six hundred canon shot they kill many good souldiars many pâ—â—ners The â—oâ—t takeÌ„ 28. women and take the place but with the losse of Lewis his life slaine b◠〈◊〉 of his souldiars as he did helpe the assailants to mount A worthy reward for sâ—â—â—â—â—ble a treachery Three hundred Burgesses did runne to the defence but the fury of the assault carried some to their graue and others to prison and made the way easiâ—â—or the taking of the Bulwarke of Martinuille and the fort of Montgomery The 13. of October a hot assault was giuen against the Towne from the morning vntiâ—l 〈◊〉 and many men on both sides slaine The next day about eleuen of the clocke they renue the assault and plant three Enseignes vpon the Rampar of S. Hilary Montgâ—meâ—ie repells them and driues them back beyond the trench killing of his enemieâ—â—bout eight hundred men and loosing of his party foure or fiue hundred men women and children The next day was fatall to the King of Nauarre If I may said he to a Nobleman escape from this seege The King of Nauarre slain I will neuer carry armes more for this quarrell A certaine foretelling of the mischiefe that followes vs doth commonly touch our hearts Hauing visited the trenches and dined neere vnto the wall without the battery he was shot in the shoulder as he made water the bullet being drawne out too late by the Surgâ—ons and his wound inflamed by his voluptuousnesse accompanied with a feuer hee gaue his soule to God the 17. of Nouember following as we haue said before â—n the meane time the battery continues many thousands of shot beat downe diuers towers many mynes play without effect The fourth assault was more aâ—aileable the 26. of October Rouen taken Therby the assailants win the breach at the port Hilarie they enter in troupe and kill all they incounter force houses rauish wiues and maides and commit all acts ordinary in the like accidents Montgomerie vnable to withstand this last violence saues himselfe in a gally with such as could get in the rest remaining in prey were spoiled slaine drouned and made prisoners The Parliament returnes three dayes after the taking of the towne and at theiâ— first sitting Execution at Rouen the president of Mandreuille lost his head Soquence and Berthonuille Councellors and Marlorat a Minister were hanged and the next day fiue Captaines and diuers Burgesses of the towne Moreouer enuy and hatred amidst these popular furyes brought in question the Seigneur of Anthot chiefe president and â—oisâ—oger the Kings aduocate being catholikes but enemies to sedition and wise politicians In ciuill tumults the vulgar doth commonly take for essential markes of religion the insolencies and excesse which fury and the sufferance of the magistrate doth suggest Diepe serued for a retreat to many Protestant families but the ouerthrow of some troupes which Briquemault sent to Montgomery for a supply Diepe yeelded and the taking of Rouen terrified the most part of the inhabitants who being pressed by Aumale and Villebâ—n were content to yeeld and to cease the exercise of their religion Ricaruille and Bacqueuille had the gouernment and taken againe the former of the Castle the other of the towne But howe many Captaines by indiscretion haue lost both liues and places Ricaruiâ—le going out off the Castle to see his horses is slaine and sodainly the Castle is seized on by Cateuille and Captaine Gascon who going from thence into the Townes takes Bacqueuille and restore the exercise of the Protestants vnder the gouernment of La Curee Montgomery laboured with all his power to mainteyne the Protestants in base Normandy but he had the Duke of Estampes and Matignon to incounter him In May hee had taken Vire Viâ—e beaten downe the Images and carried away the relikes The last of Iuly the Catholikes awaked at this first rumour surprize the Protestants comming from the preaching reuenge their losses by the death of some and hurting of others About the end of August la Mothe Tibergeau Auaines and Deschamps sent by Montgomery with â—ixe score horse surprize the towne and spoyle both it and the countrye The 4. of September the Duke of Estampes comes with eleuen Cornets of horse 1562 1563. they force the towne kill Auaines take the Castle stabbe two hundred men that were fâ—ed into it rauishe and kill women and children Tibergeau and many others ransomed their liues So as generally there was nothing but taking and retaking of townes with most cruell and inciuill stratagemes The Vidame of Chartres and Beauuoir la Nocle his brother in lawe hauing assured themselues of Newe hauen the Vidame going into England Newe hauen deliuered â—o the English treated with the Qâ—eene to succour the Protestants and for assurance of her men and money deliuered the sayd place into her hands with protestation as well by him as by the Queene no way to preiudice the Kings soueraigne authority nor the estate of the Realme Also she shall shortly yeeld it without any difficulty According to the treaty there arriues sixe thousand English in Normandy vnder the command of the Earle of Warwike and are dispersed to Rouen Diepe and Newhauen After the taking of Rouen the Reingraue brought his Reisters before Newhauen But his violence preuailed as little as fifty thousand crownes did with a collar of the Order a coÌ„pany of men at armes entertayned which the Queene Mother promised to Beauuais to corrupt him to yeelde vp the towne Brittain continued vnder the moderate gouernement of the Duke of Estampes both for that the Queene mother liued in suspence and entertayned both partyes Brittaine as also for that the factions of Normandy had drawne away the worst affected Those of Guienne Languedoc and other places made warre against the Images and altars ministring occasioÌ„ to shed the bloud of liuely Images at Grenade Castelnaudarry Cahors where aboue six score Protestants assembled to heare the preaching were slaine On the other side Bury and Montluc scourges to the Protestants reuenged the beating downe of Images throughout all Guienne with infinite murthers and lamentable spoiles Duras hauing abandoned the protection thereof vpon a commandement
the Duke of Guise and the Admirall This apparent meanes to confirme a publike concord did please the Admirall beleeuing this marriage should be the ground of a most happie peace and the Queene of Nauarre feares least delay should alter the Kings good meaning But the accomplishment of the marriage was hindred by some leâ—â—s The Pope made some dâ—fficulty to dispence therewith as well by-reason of the consanguinity of the parties the one being petie Nephewe the other grand-childe of Francis the 1. King of France as also for the difference of their religions The Qâ—eene of Nauarre likewise made some scruple of this disparity of religion of the ceremonies and of the place of the sollemnitie She would not haue the marriage celebrated after the manner of the Catholike Church and feared the Citty of Paris as most affected to their religion and of long time an enemie to the house of Nauarre Contrariewise the King would haue Paris to be the Theater Pretexts for the lowe Countrie warres where this notable act should be sollemnly celebrated in the vewe of the Capitall Cittie of his Realme without changing any thing in forme of royall mariages In the end the respect of ciuill reason preuayled As â—or the motiues of this warre pretended in the Lowe Country they were goodly in shâ—w for besids this hereditarie hatred of the French against the Spaniard beeing reuiued by the outrages and warres made in France by Charles and Phâ—â—ip his sonne the remembrance whereof was yet fresh they renued the ancient quarrells of many possessions in the Lowe Countries depending of this Crowne Moreouer they pretended newe causes which seemed lawfull to breake the allyance betwixt the two Kings That his Maiestie had most certaine intelligence of poyson giuen by Philip to his wife the Sister of our Charles vpon some discontents and filthie iealousies These reasons had a shewe of truth and the Admirall to the end the French who cannot liue long togither in mutuall concord and that by a long vse of warre breathed nothing but warre should not seeke some newe seeds of ciuill diuision held it good to diuert this vehement heate against some stranger and nation a faâ—â—e off Many necessarie considerations fortified this ciuill Councell The forces of the Prince of Orange and his bretheren who spoiled by the Spaniard of many rich possessions both in the Lowe Countries and in the Countrie of Bourgongne had long time sought to recouer it by armes The credit and fauour of the Lowe Countrie men in Germany by reasoÌ„ of the exceeding crueltie of the Duke of Alba Lodâ—wike of Nassau brother to the sayd Prince a man of great courage and resolution prest it forward and his presence was a spurre to the Admirall Moreouer to the end it should seeme this warre was managed with the Kings consent his Maiestie did suffer the Prince of Auranges fleete to ride about Rochelle annoying the Spaniards and Portugalls which sailed vpon that coast the trafficke of the Lowe Countries and for the Comte Lodowike to sell the bootie hee had taken from the enemie freely and publikely at Rochell So the Admirall a wydower by reason of Charlotte of Laual deceased in the second troubles after he had espoused the Contesse of Antremont in Sauoye at Rochelle The Admiral comes to Court and giuen his daughter Louyse to the Lord of Teligny to wife he comes to Court relying vpon the Kings assurances so often confirmed by messengers and especially by the Marshall of Cossé whome the King had sent to accompanie him presuming the Admirall would giue more credit to the Marshalls words by reason of their familiarity The King receiued him with all demonstrations of loue those of Guise leaue him the place not to yeeld any thing vnto him but to returne soone after with greater authoritie and to take from him all iealousies distrusts which were giuen him froÌ„ al parts the King at the first doth recoÌ„pence the losses which the Admiral had sustained during the former warres by the gift of a hundred thousand frankes and grauâ—ts him for one whole yeare the reuenues which his brother the Cardinall of Chasâ—â—â—ha enioyed being lately deceased in England He giues him a place in the priuy Councel doth ofte times conferre with him touching the warres of Flanders and mâ—kes shâ—we to be gouerned therein by his aduice and Councell he honours him with that plaâ—sible name of father and treats with him so familiarly as the Countries tooke this familiarity for a seale of his Masters affection to the Admirall and the people begâ—n nowe to murmure that Charles not onely fauoâ—ed the Huguenots but would shortly himselfe become a Huguenot A Cunning bayte to free the Admirall from suâ—pition by the aduertisments wich had beene giuen him to the Contrary Hee could nowe tast no admonitions his spirit was so transported with the Kings Countenance and words Doubtlesse the wisdome of man failes euen in the wisest when it pleaseth him that giues it to weaken the strongest spirits and by a iudgement incomprehensible to man to cast a vayle before his eyes and to make him vnable to conceiue the iustice and horror of the iudgement which hee meanes to display For the better aduancing the enterprise of the Lowe Countries the Admirall thought it fit the King should make a peace with Elizabeth Queene of England They might treate it with a very honest colour to the preiudice of the Spaniards Elizabeth was not married and Henry Duke of Aniou had no wife the dignitie of so high an alliance was honorable for the Duke and the qualitie of a Kings Brother was not to bee contemned by the Queene hauing also in his yong age purchased great glorie and reputation Peace â—â—th the English This charge is giuen to the Marshall of Montmorency Bâ—t the issue did shewe that besids this negotiation of peace their meaning was to abuse both the Admirall and all others whome it was expedient to â—buse for the execution of the Councell of Saint Cloud and by the same practise to send the Marshall farâ—e from Court least by his ordinary conueâ—sing with the King hauing a good iudgement and smelling out the complots of this pitifull Tragedie hee should discouer them to the Admirall his Cousin and by meanes of this newe peace the English in the midest oâ— this indignity should bee restrayned from attempting of any thing in fauour of the Protestants as it chanced During this time the Admirall retires to Chastillon and in the meane season they prepare a fleete at Bourdeaux and Brouage vnder the Commande of Strossy Landereau and the Bâ—ron of la Garde The pretext was the warre of Flanders yet had they expresse Commission to attempt vpon Rochell and by open or secret practises to get it in their owne powre The Admirall hauing sounded the fourd vpon his assurance to the Queene of Nâ—uarre of the Kings singular affection to her and to all her house The Queene of Nauarre comâ—s to Court in
Pistoll and when as these three wounds were not able to ouerthrow him Besmes wounds him on the legge euery one of the rest giues his blow and thus they cast that body miserably to â—he ground whom liuing and in health they durst not looke in the face The Duke of Guise hearing the noyse of their armes in the base Court enquires if it bee done and commands them to cast him out at the window who yet breathing layes hold on the pillar but these butcherly murtherers hurle him downe headlong where the Duke wiping his face with a handkerchefe I know him sayeth hee it is the very same and so spurnes him with his foote then going into the streete Courage companions we haue begun happily let vs proceed to the rest the King commands it An Italian of the houshold of the Duke of Neuers cutts off his head and carryes it to the King and Qâ—eene Mother which causing it to bee imbaulmed sent it to the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for an assurance of the death of his most capitall enemie The Palace clocke strikes and the people flie to the Admiralls lodging like madde men one cutts off his hands another his priuie members The Protestants masâ—acred and for the space of three dayes they dragge this poore carcasse with all indignity through the streetes and then they carry and hang it by the feete at Montfaucon His lodging is spoyled his household seruants murthered Those which attended on the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé are driuen out of their chambers they were in the Louure where the King had lodged them to the end sayd he that those of Guise hauing the people at their deuotion they should not in like maner feele the effects of their violence and murthered in the base court the Noblemen and Gentlemen lodged in the Admiralls quarter vndergo the like fortune The like furie oppresseth the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Suburbes of all ages conditions and sexes men women and children riche and poore There is nothing to be heard in Paris but a horrible noyse of armes horses and Harguebuses a lamentable crye of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy and the pittilesse showts of murtherers The streetes are strewed with carcases the pauements market places and riuer dyed with bloud One day alone by the murtherers saying hath ended the quarrell which neyther Pen Paper decrees of Iustice nor open warre could see determined in twelue yeares About ten thousand â—oules makes this Sunday famous for euer polluted with the spoyling of goods and the effusion of their bloud that were asleepe disarmed and at such a season as they thought themselues most safe And doubtlesse the horrible catastrophes happened since to our Charles to his brother and successors and to the bretheren of the house of Guise in the last acts of their liues and generally to all this realme euen vnto our dayes forceth vs to confesse That mans bloud violently spilt when as the manner of it may not lawfully be qualified with the name of Iustice cannot please his sight who hath created them to his owne image and liknesse and sels them deerely to the authors of this effusion The fame of this massacre had already passed from the Citty to the Suburbes when as the Earle of Montgomery Iohn of Fâ—rrieres Vidame of Chartres Beauâ—aâ—◠〈◊〉 Nocle Fontenay and many Gentlemen lodged in the suburbes of Saint Germâ—ine perceiuing a number of men to crosse the riuer to make them equall with their companions they abandon their baggage go sodenly to hoâ—se and saue themselues â—ith speed being pursued halfe a dayes iourney by the Duke of Guise But he that shouâ—d haue brought the Keyes of S. Germains gate hauing mistaken them gaue them sâ—me leisure to get the aduantage The King sends for the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condé and giues theâ— to vnderstand The King aduowes the murther That hauing been crost many yeares with a continuance of warre he had in the end found an assured meanes to cut off all motiues of confusions to come that by his commandement they had slaine the Admirall the pernicious author of passed troubles that now they did the like to others in the Citty that were infected witâ— the poyson of heresie and the ministers of his wickednesse That he remembred well the discommodities hee had receiued by their two meanes making themselues the heads of a troupe of desperate men That now the cause and opoâ—tunity giues him meanes to be reuengâ—d of such outrages but notwithstanding hee doth pardon their offence by reason of consanguinitie and their young age beleeuing that all had beene committed not by their fault and councell but by the Admirall and other wickeâ— sâ—biects who now haue suffered and doe suffer a iust punishment due to thâ—iâ— deserts so as hereafter they repaire their faults pasts by fidelity and obedience and renouncing the doctrine of their prophane superstition they cleaue to the Catholike relâ—gion and returne into the communion of the Church That hereafter he will haue but one religion within his realme euen that which hee hath receiued from his Ancestors That they should aduise whether they would obey him in this point if not let them resolue to yeeld their heads to the like punishments of their companions The King of Nauarre beseecheth his Maiestie to remember his promise aâ—d the alliance lately contracted and not to force him in the religion which hee hath leaâ—ned from his infancie The Prince of Condé answers That the King hath giuen his faith to all them of the religion and that he cannot perswade himselfe hee will breâ—â—e â—o sollemne an othe As for the obedience saith he you require of me I haue fâ—itâ—fuâ—â—y performed it vnto this day neyther will I hereafter straye in any thing from my duty But as for my religion A noble resoluâ—ion of a yong Prince my Liege I am resolued to continue constant and with the hazard of my life mainteine it to bee true you haue granted me the exercise tâ—ereof and God hath giuen me the knowledge to whom I must yeeld an account leâ—uâ—â—g my body and goods to the disposition of your will This resolute answer puts Charâ—es into choller who full of threats giues the Prince but three dayes libeâ—ty to aduiâ—e whether he would soone loose his head vpon a scaffold In the end both abâ—ure the doctrine they had followed and by the intercession of the Cardinall of Bourbon their Vncle they obteyned pardon of the Pope and were receiued into the bosome of the Church After the massacre those of Guise according to the conclusion of the Councell should retyre themselues into some one of theyr houses out of Paris and Charles should expreslye charge and command the Gouernours of Prouinces and Townes to obserue the Edict of peace and to punish the breache thereof seuerely to the end the people of France and their neighbours should impute all
buried the which the greatest â—earcâ— of his enemies could neuer discouer They therefore make the forme of a man dragg it through the Cittie and then cause it to be hanged Moreouer the King commands by his letâ—ers pattents That those of the pretended religion should be maintained in safetie in their houses bodies goods and libertie of consciences And to excuse what was past they cast abroad many libels defaming the memory of the Admirall and his followers They giue new charges to the Ambassadors being in Germanie Polanâ— England Suisserland and other forraine Countries to iustifie the actions of the King and of the Catholikes to the confusion and shame of the Admirall and his paâ—tie But all these proceedings were meanes to discouer the iniquitie of their perâ—â—tiâ—us Councels For the intent of this declaration in fauour of the Protestants was presently discouered by the tenor of the letters which the Duke of Guise did write vnto his wife the day that Briquemault was executed The King said he hath decreed in Councel vtterly to roote out this seditious vermine But few would be taken and the practises against the Prince of Auranges and others being discouered by this letter vanished into smoâ—ke In the meanetime they continued their attempts against Rochell and Essars being chosen cheefe of the warre for the Rochelois hauing taken one of the Baron oâ— la Gards galleys who had approched too neere vnder colour of bringing a letter to the whole bodie of the Towne caused Biron to publish the Kings letters pattents giuen the sixth of the moneth and to make open warre to the Rochelois Bâ—t Charles waâ— not willingly drawne to aâ—mes hee sees well that hee had kindled a fire which hee â—hould not queâ—ch when hee would Hee now tries the last stratageme La Noue sent home by the Duke of Alba after the taking of Monts in Hainault had great credâ—t amâ—â—g the Protestants as one of the cheefest Captaines which remained The King sollicits him to bee a meanes to bring the Rochelois to composition The impossâ—biliâ—â—e of the thing ansâ—eres hee and my conscience will not suffer mee to aduise the Rochelois to offer their throtâ—s to them that will cut them Yet the Kings authoritie makes him tâ— accept of tâ—is charge but râ—ther with an intent to serue the Rochellois and to retire himselfe from Court then to hurt them of his religion After hee had giuen an account of his Ambassage to Biron who was then at Saint Iean d' Angâ—li hee returnes to Rochâ—ll where hee performed his dutie so well and carefully as they acknowledge him for one of the cheefe Instruments of the preseruation theâ—eof during the seege Then appered there a new starre in heauen hauing the forme of a Lozenge of foure points A Comet and continued beginning the ninth of Nouember the espace of nine moneths immouable by the saying of the Astronomers the first three weekeâ— resembling that which serued as a guide to the wise men that came out of the East to worship Iesus Christ in Bethlem An other repealâ— of the 〈◊〉 Protestants The nineteenth of the said moneth the King by an other Edict called home all his subiects to their houses vpon paine of losse of their goods and sollicited the Protestant Suisses to chase away such as were fled to them for succour But the Ambassadors instance was of no force the taking of Sommiers by the Marshal of d' Anuille from the Protestants the perswasions of Gourdes to drawe into the bâ—sâ—me of the Cathoâ—ike Câ—urch Monbrun Mirabel and Les Diguieres who euen then made shew of a most valiant most wise and most happy Captaine for their party and shall hereafter haue a good share in our History the assurance hee gaue them Tâ—at the King was resâ—lued to suffer but one religion within his realme with all the preparations for the destâ—â—ction of them in diuers Prouinces tooke from them all desire to returne Seeing then that no Edicts can draw them home to their houses and that Rochell â—â—â—câ—rre and other places being threatned prepare for defence they must at the least take from the Protestants such refuges as they haue within the realme To shut vp Rochell Biron enters into the Country of Onis in the beginning of December with â—euen Cornets of horse and eighteene Enseignes of foote Those of Sancerre runne yet â—t libertie but the opinion of their chiefe Commanders that they would attempt some other thing and the vaine presumption they had of the situation of their hilly place made them the more negligent both to furnish it with victuals and to repaire the necessarie fortifications to endure a siege against the which they should haue foreseene the small hope of succours and the constant resolution of the assaylants Let vs consider of these circumstances and prepare our selues to see the greatest reâ—oâ—uâ—ion of men lead by Captaines to whom the necessitie of the time gaue more credit then their beginning gaue them authority Martignon Pilard Marâ—inat La â—eur Chaillou Montaubâ—n Buisson Paquelon La Minee and Doriual commanded there â—uer sixe hundred and fifty men and for Colennel they had Andrew Ionneau Bayliffe of the Towne A hundred and fifty strong labourers in the Vines wrought great effects â—ith their slings which were called the Pâ—stols of Sancerre for seruices vpon the wall in assaults scalladoes and â—allies In Ianuary La Chastre Lieutenant for the King in the gouernment of Berry and generall of this armie came before it with about fiue hundred horse 1573. and fiue thousand 〈◊〉 sixteene enseignes of Pioners Siege of Sancerre and a great number of pesants gathered together at the first he offers a reasonable composition to the besieged if they will accept it As the beginning of the Generall was courteous so was the proceeding of the bâ—sieged inciuill disdainfull and contrary to the lawe of nations They reteyne the â—â—rum and make no answer To make his approches La Chastre builds a fort withâ—â—â—â—ure hundred paces of the Towne towards Pontenay another vpon the way of â— â—â—â—â—â—ult a palissadoe in the field of S. Ladre intrenched the approches and wayes â—bâ—ut the Towne planted ten peeces of Artillery in the field of Saint Ladre and sixe â—thers at Orme au Loup it is a â—igh mountaine vpon the South side of Sancerre which commands the Towne he shootes against the walls and houses at randon and spends in two moneths aboue six thousand Canon shot and yet the besieged lost not aboue fiue and twentie men giues an assault but with the losse of many that were slaine and a great number hurt The 18. of March La Chastre by a second battery in three diuers places beates downe the defences both of Towers and wall makes a breach of about three hundred paces gâ—ues a generall assault presents a scalado on an other side mines and sappes on the third that the Sancerrois wearied with so many difficulties might shriâ—ke vnder thâ—ir burthen But well assayled and
commentâ—ries in steede of pacifying all things past as he might easily haue done and haue giuen vs peace they cause him to resolue vnto warre making him beleeue that entring into Daulphiné all would yeeld vnto him where as the least dog-hoole made head against him the best of his conquests could neyther recompence the bloud of his men nor the treasure he should spend in this warre The Queene mother the Dukes of Guise and Neuers the Marshall of Retz the Chancellor Birague and some other newe bread Frenchmen disposed of the affaires at their pleasure in the secret Councells of the Cabinet Bad Councelâ—loâ—â— The King did willingly giue them authority and what might bee expected of men who gladlie would people France with newe Colonies of Italians Lorrains and Piedmontoâ—s carying onely to Court Ladies from the which he had beene sequestred almost a yeare with this nation which is lesse lasciuious then ours These pernitious Councellors cause him to protest by sundrie proclamations of his loue to the good of his subiects and to abolish what was past Ill Councell so as they lay aside arâ—es deliuer him all his Townes and liue quietly in their houses without any search constraint or molestation for matter of conscience A policy practised by them to entertaine the fire of ciuill diuisions to rule in this confusion and to fortifie a third partie which in the end we shall see will oppresse the King and bring the Realme to a very miserable estate The Protestants stood then the more vpon their gards they are full of iealousie distrust doubt and feare All those pattents made no mention of libertie for their religion neither of a Parliament for the politike gouernment nor of a nationall Councell for matteâ—s of conscience And what was it to graunt vnto the Rochelâ—oâ—s libertie of conscience and to forbid the exercise of their religion for a certaine season but to keepe their partie at a gase whilest by their great preparations which were made in all parts they should bee able to put a mightie armie to field to râ—ine them without hope of rysing So they arme on all sides espeally in Poictou The Baron of Frontenay afterwards Lord of Rohan in Brittanye beeing followed by threescore gentlemen and sixe hundred good soldiars puts himselfe into Lusignan which the Duke Montpenâ—â—er threatned and according to the leysure hee gaue him hee prouided for the fortifications and all things necesâ—arie to maintayne a memorable seege which might by the meanes of some succours consume an armâ—e before the Castell Seege of Lusignan About the beginning of October the Duke incampes before it and with a batterie of about two thousand three hundred Cannon shot thinkes to drawe the beseeged to a composâ—tion Their importuneâ— them but they answer they will attend a generall peace for all them of their religion He salutes them with twelue hundred and fiftie Cannon shot more makes a breach giues an assault vpon them and is repulsed and beaten back with great losse Fiue daies after the beseeged sallie forth and to reuenge the bloud of seauen yong gentlemen sixeteene soldiars and twentie that were hurt at this first assault they cloye fiue Cannons fire their powder kill nine Captaines and many soldiars bring away many Enseigns and returne laden with spoiles armes and prisoners This disgrace dispersed a part of his campe and made him to spend all the moneth of Nouember without any attempt against the beseeged In December the Duke fortified with twelue hundred Reistres and sixe hundred French foote presseth Lusignan againe and the more to hinder them he batters downe a mill which did furnish them with meale So their hand-mills not able to suffice they began to want bread To ease them of some superfluous mouthes they craue a pasport for some gentlewomen and other persons vnfit for the warre to returne to their houses or some other places of safetie But the hatred this Prince did beare to the Protestants had more force in him than the ordinary curtesie which FrenchmeÌ„ beare vnto Ladies He supposed the wiues Children should be an vrgent sting to draw their husbands and Fathers to yeeld speedely Nowe their horses serued them for foode the soldiars almost starued tooke away the bread violently as they carried it from the Ouen they brake into many houses in the night to seeke for victualls they had no wood but mouables and the ruines of houses ill clothed ill shod ill lodged no cleane linnen toyled with continual trauell to defend themselues both aboue and vnder ground to frustrate the mines which the Duke caused to bee made two of the which in their ruines buried many of the assaylants and gaue the beseeged courage to continue firme in their resolution The 23. of the moneth they begin to thunder with eighteene Cannons and foure Culuerins and the next day they continue the same furie with fiue and twentie peeces After diner they come to the assault the showers of musket shot comming from sundrie flankes makes the enemie retire and to leaue the breach full of dead bodies The greatest force was against the rauelin of la Vacherie which being woone by the assaylants makes them retire to the Castell that had it in gard At the first port of the Castell euery man did shewe his resolution all fight in the midest of the thunder fire and smoake and fiue houres togither dispute it with a doubtfull and bloudie fight In the end both the one and the other being tired with so furious an assault take breath the beseeged remayning masters both of the Towne and Castell being reduced to foure score cuirasses and foure hundred and fiftie harguebuziers resolute to liue and die both in the defence of the place and of their quarrell hoping that la Noue would finde meanes to send them some releefe Lasignan yeelded Not courage but force fayled them So as Frontenay the 25. of Ianuary accepted the articles of composition which the Duke offred vnto him by the Collonel Sarrieu Himselfe and his gentlemen to depart with their armes horses and baggage the Captaines and other Commanders euery one with a curtall if they had any their armes and baggage the soldiars with their harguebuzes their matches out and their Enseignes wrapt vp the gentlewemen and all others that would depart safely to be conducted to their houses or else to Rochelle Thus it was concluded This seege caused aboue twelue hundred men to be slaine a great number to bee maimed and ruined a mighty armie They endured ten thousand Cannon shot with many assaults and lost 25. gentlemen and about two hundred soldiars And the Duke for a memory of his losses caused the Castel of Lusignan to be razed being in former times one of the goodliest fortresses in Europe Such conquests were of more difficultie in Daulphiné the Protestants had mo places and mo Captaines at their deuotion Pousin Liuron Priuas and others did greatly hinder thetrafficke of Marseilles and Lions and
ruine the house of Bourbâ—n and to aduance that of Guise sowe a pernitious seed of rebellion throughout the Citty and frame a petty Councell of the chiefe Cittizens who take the câ—arge of the sixteene quarters of the Citty and Sâ—burbes to practise all they could aâ—d to entertaine them with discourses grounded vpon the malice of the time full of schisme heresie and tyrannie This petty Councell compounded of Rocheâ—lond Compans a Marchant Cruce a Proctor La Chapelle Louchart a Comissarie aâ—d Bussy le Clâ—â—â— a Proctor brought their deliberations and proiects to the grand Councell â—hich coâ—sisted of Doctors Curats Preachers and other men of marke Iâ— short time they make a great brotherhood and fiâ—ding themselues strong they adueâ—tise the Duke of Guise of the affection of the good Catholikes of Paris that is the name which the Leaguers challenged to themselues and their zeale to the preseruation of religion and the rooting out of the contrary and the ruine of tyrannie Hee conferres with his bretheren and sends both to giue and to take an othe in an assembly held in Reims a place at Paris Then the most fact ous are sent to the Townes and Prouinces of the realme with good instructions to ioyne new confederates to their body vnder a pretext to fight against heresie and tyrannie Trumpets of rebellion Then might we haue seene the chiefe pillars ouerthrowne that support a Prince loue and authoritie and hatred and contempt to supply their places The Preachers publikely in all places diâ— terme the King a tyrant and fauourer of heretikes The people did applaud them and from this deadly hatred which they had conceiued against the King his Councell aâ—d fauourites sprung that fury which was soone after dispersed ouer all the body of France The better to countenance this League they present it to Pope Gregorie the 13. that he might blesse it and declare himselfe the God-father The League presented â—o the Pope as made for the ornament and support of the Catholike and Apostolike Romane Church Gregory was well pleased they should attempt any thing against the Huguenots but he did not approue those popular rebellions which were made against a most Christian and Catâ—olike King neither would he be the fire-brand of a warre which he could not quench And â—o he sent the Deputies back without aâ—y answer But not approued The Leagâ—e impatient to attend the resolution of Rome layes open his desseignes and makes them plausible causing one of the chiefe Princes of the bloud to be an actor and carry the bable They publish that the King dying without children hee hath no heyre nor successour but the Cardinall of Bourbon a Prince broken in yeares without hope of issue or to suruiue the King who was sound lustie and yong But they secretly season the simple peoples mindeâ— wiâ—h that vniust vsurpation of the Capets vpon the â—eires of Charlemagne they Print Bookes they cast forth diuâ—rs Libels yea some Preachers make it the text of tâ—eir Sermons Two principall fire-brands inflame the League Assembly at Montaubaâ— The assembly made by the King of Nauarre and the Depâ—ties of that party at Montauban to resolue of the meanâ—â— to mainteine themselues if the League abusing the Kings name and authoriâ—ie should seeke to offend them And the voyage of the Duke of Espernâ—n to the Kâ—ng of Nauarre to conferre priuately with him in the Kings name 1585. The chiefe of the League presume that the King meanes to arme and to impâ—oye the King of Nauarres forces against them D Espernons voyage into Gasconiâ— They seeke to preuent him and to that intent they send forth many Commissions but least any should controule them they cloake them with the Kings name wherwith they maintaine themselues to be well allowed as a thing done for his Maiesties seruice The King in the end of March desauowes them and forbids all leuies of men of warre Motiues of the League To iustifie themselues and their rysing they publish the motiues of the Cardinall of Bourbon who notwithstanding serued them but as a Cipher with the Princes Noblemen Townes and Catholike Commonalties to oppose themselues against heretikes That they had contemned the resolution of the Estates to make warre against heretikes and to disanull all Edicts made in their fauour That the succession of the King of Nauarre whereof hee hath conceiued a great hope sence the death of the Duke of Aniou would cause great confusions within this realme That preparations were alreadie made both within and without That by an accord made at Magdebourg the fifteenth of December last past the troupes of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Condé the Queene of England the King of Scottes the Count Palatin the Dukes of Saxony Pomerania and Wirtemberg of the Landgraue of Hessen the Suisses and other Protestants should ioyntly enter into France before the fifteenth of Aprill next following That the Huguenots would not yeeld vp the Townes which they held for the assurance of the last Edict of peace That there is great abuse in the prouision of offices in the leuies of money in the inuention of excessiue imposts Then they complaine of the mignons in Court who abusing the Kings name and bountie keepe the Princes and Noblemen that were truely Catholike from all accesse to his Maiesty perswading him that it is necessary for the preseruation of his Estate to diminish their authority they braue the Nobility dispose of gouernments in fauour of their followers wast the treasure oppresse the people restrayne the libertie of Iustice ruine the Clergie with tenthes and extraordinarie charges And then they declare That these iust motions and the sodennesse of the mischiefe had thrust them into armes the small credit they had with the King hauing no other meanes to let him vnderstand their complaints and in the end they protest that their taking armes was onely to restore the Church of God to her true and auncient dignity vnder the exercise of one religion throughout the realme To restore the Nobility to their honour and freedome to ease the people of extraordinarie charges inuented since the raigne of Charles the ninth and not to imploy the money leuied thereby but for the Kings seruice To require the King to prouide for his succession against the publike and priuate calamities which the pretentions and contentions for the same might cause and to chase from the Court such as abused his fauour and authority In the ende they protest and vowe not to laie downe armes vntill their proposition bee fully executed and that his Maiestie had preuented the daunger the feare whereof hath made them to take armes These false impressions had wonderfully incensed the people but when as they talke to them of a sinode held at Montauban and of a Diet in Germanie where they complotted to inuade France and to chase away both masse and Priestes they take the words of these passionate men for Oracles of truth They presse
of the League Sedan and all that Principalitie â—erued as a retreat for the neighbour â—rotestants and as a Port for strangers to enter into France These are the Pretexts â—herewith he couers his desseins but hee had another principall motiue from Seâ—an the King had intelligence of all that was practised in Champagne and Lorraine in tâ—e â—â—aâ—e 1585. When hee sees himselfe master of Douzy Rocroy and Raucourt Duke of Bouillon chieâ—e oâ— the Germaine armie hee passeth the Meuze enters into the soueraintie of Sedan afflicts the countriemen with all the cruâ—â—ties that warre could imagine whilest that famine presseth them within the Towne To diuert this storme which threatned Sedan the Duke of Bouillon causeth Schelandre Gâ—â—ernour of Iamets to sett vpon Verdun a Towne on the side of Champagne which had tumuâ—teously runne into the League The Duke of Guise runs to succour it and by 〈◊〉 abâ—ence giues the Duke of Bouillon meanes to succour Sedan Thereuppon the Queene mother at the request of the Dâ—ke of Montpensier vnckle by the mothers side to the Lords of Sedan procures a truce for fifteene dayes betwixt the two Dukes 〈◊〉 the which the enterprise vppon the Castâ—e of Iametz for the Duke of Guise 〈◊〉 fatall for the vndertakers disposed their wills to a second truce of a moâ—eth This fell out happely for the Germaine armie whereof hee was named Lieunant generall vnder the Duke Iohn Casimir who substituted in his place the Baron de Onaw the minoritie of the Elector Palatin nephew and pupill to the said Duke hindring him from marching in person prepared to make their musters in the plaine of Strashourg So the Dâ—ke of Bouillon goeth into Alsâ—tia with foure hundred horse and eight hundred harguebusiers to make them aduance and the Duke of Guise comes to the King to Meaux to receiue said hee his maiesties commaundements in â—o great and so important a cause but in effect to complaine That sinâ—e the reuocation of the Edict of peace The Duke of Guise complaines of the King hee had followed the warre against heretiks with so small fauour as the King had suffered them in their howses to inioy their goods and estates peaceably That in steed of selling and imploying them to their ruine hee caused the reuenues of the Cardinall of Pelleué to be seized on a man borne in France but Espanâ—olised at Rome for that in open consistorie hee had vertuously maâ—â—taiâ—ed the iust motiues of the taking of armes by the Catholike Princes against tâ— Huguenots That tâ—is warre had more aduanced the Mignons then ruined the Heretikes and that the money raysed by the subuention of the Clergie serued to entertayne the said Mignions That neither the Kings Councell the Parliament of Paris the inferiour Iudges nor the Prouost of Paris had sworne this last Edict That the Townes which had demaunded the extirpation of heresie and the reuocation of the last Edict â—f peace were treated like enemies That hee had caused the Cittadells of Lions and Mascon to bee beaten downe surprised that of Valence disgraced Brissac Crusâ—lles Gessâ—â— Entrâ—gues and others and peruerted the assignations which he had giuen him to be repaied the money the which hee had disbursed in this last leuie of men of warre But the King knew well how to counter-ballance these complaints of the League with their owne breach of the articles of Nemours Hee had well obserued The King complaines of the Duke that their insolent passions aspired to some greater desseins then the articles made 〈…〉 Those of Guise had demaunded Townes of assurance against the Proteâ—tants in those Prouinces where they were not at all to bee feared The Duke of â—umaâ—e had newly surprised Dourlans and Pontdormy but hee had failed of Boulâ—â—n through the fidelitie of Saint Marâ—a They had lodged in their Cittadell of Vitri le Fraâ—scâ—is an Italian at their deuotion and toke an oth of many Gouernours to hold their places for the Dâ—ke of Guise Bâ—t the Kings meaning was to liue and reigne yea though he did buie a good peace to the contentment of both parties But the contrary desseines of the King 〈…〉 and the Duke of Guise could not bee reconciled and hee had no meanes to 〈…〉 betwixt both but must leane to the one or the other side nor oppresse the one â—â—tâ—out raysing of the other To conclude not daring to shew himselfe a King hee 〈◊〉 all the cheefe of the League The King desires peace to become counterfeit Kings Hee exhort 〈◊〉 Duke of Guise not to expose the Estate in prey to procure the contentment 〈…〉 King the libertie of the Clergie the dignitie of the Nobilitie and the peoples â—aâ—e by other meanes then that which destroyes the honour of the Soueraigne 〈◊〉 the Churches sacks the gentlemans bloud and driues the people into despaâ—â—e and inuites him vnto peace by promises of aduancement for his house and partie But a warlike mind will haue nothing but warre The Duke could neither endure the seaâ—â—â— nor the cure thereof Thus peace is banished The Duke seeks all meanes to assault the Huguenots The Duke will haue war and beseecheth the King to stoppe the armie of strangers whicâ— were euen now vpon the fronter that they might not returne into Germanie with a victorie ouer France and a triumph ouer the Catholike Church Still must this venerable pretext of religion serue to colour the wicked passions of men He procures many commissions Warre concluded especially for his brother the Duke of Mayenne in Daulphine for the Duke of Ioyeuze in Poitou and for himselfe against the Protestants armie If the King had not shewed the like care on his part the people would haue sayd that as long rest doth dull the courage of a horse so since the Duke of Ioyeuzes â—arriage the pleasures and delights of Court and the solitarines of Vincennes had much deâ—aied his accustomed generositie He therefore diuides his forces into three armies The first at Chaumont in Bassigni consisting of fiue and twentie companâ—es of men at armes The Kings forcâ—s twelue enseignes of foot in the regimeÌ„t of â—sâ—luseaux sixe of Ioannes sixe of Gie with many other blankes signed for other commissions at the will of the Duke of Guise who increased this armie with foure hundred Lances and two thousand Italian foot sent by the Duke of Parma the Duke of Lorraine suffering himselfe as the eldest of the house to be caâ—â—ied away with the vaine hopes that were giuen him of a good poâ—tion in the pretended succession of Charlemagne held also goodly and great forces vpon the fronter at the Duke of Guises deuotion The Duke of Montpensâ—r commanded the second at Saint Florentin neere vnto Troyes The King with his presence honoured the third at Gyen stretâ—â—ing along the riuer of Loire to keepe the King of Nauarre from ioyning with his stâ—angers on this side the riuer The Duke of Ioyeâ—ze presuming of an assured victory lead an other army
the Dâ—ke kept the Castell the Citadell was at his deuotion might by either of them drawe innecessary succors to vngage him The Seigneur of Tagens the Dukes Cousin aduanced with succors Bordes Captaine of the Citadell beeing prisoner among the conspirators loued the liberty of his place more then his owne life Mere Messeliere Macquerole and Bouchaux summoning the beseeged found nothing in them but a constant resolution to die rather then to yeeld and the people were willing to capitulate when as Tagens by his arriuall pacified the sedition armes were laied aside and the prisoners of both parts deliuered The Duke of Guise hauing made his peace with the King and disapointed his most faithfull Councellors yet one thorne troubled his foote The Huguenoâ—s Estate Hee therefore ceaseth not vntill hee sees them assayled in Poitoâ— and Daulphiné and whilest the Duke of Neuers prepared his armie for Poictou hee sends the regiment of Saint Paul to the Dâ—ke of Mercoeur to annoye the Protestants and not to suffer them to reape any commoditie in the Countâ—ie The Duke of Mercoeur goes into base Poictou beseegeth Montagu repaired by Colombâ—ers whome they of Nantes had hourely at their gates But at the first bruit that the King of Nauarre was come out of Rochelle to succour Montague hee retires straight to Nantes and left the regiment of Gersey to make the retreat Gersey defeated the which â—as ouertaken beaten and defeated two leagues from the suburbs of Nantes On the other side the Duke of Mayenne marched towards Daulphiné but hee planted the limits of his voiage in Lions Now are two mightie armies in field the one vnder the Kings authoritie the other all of Leaguers But this is not enough The King by a solemne oth in the Cathedrall Church at Rouan had sworne the execution of the Edâ—ct of vnion he hath sent it vnto the Bishops and commaunds them to presse the Huguenots in their diocesses to make profession of their faith and to abiure their errors in open Parliaments royall iurisdictions and comonalties This Edict then must bee confirmed as a fundamentall law of State and the King prest to assemble the three Estates of the Realme as hee had promised by tâ—e articles of the peace Henry grants a conuocation the first day of September at Blois Conuocation of the Estates there in the presence of the notablest persons of euery Prouince Seneshalâ—y and Baylewike to propound freely the complaints and greefes of euery man but not medling with any practises or fauouring the priuate passions of any But amidest these Commissions from the King the League wanted no policie to send secretly to them that were most affectionate to the aduancement of their desseins and to the most passionate Leaguers of the Realme articles and remembrances which they should put into their instructions and labour to bee chosen of the Parliament So as in a manner all the Deputies carried the badge of the League and their instructions were conformable to those which had beene sent vnto them The King comes first to Blois hee giues order for the place and for the Deputies lodgings The Duke of Guise followes but it was a great indiscretion for the Duke to goe to Blois seing the King would not come to Paris The Deputies come one after another but the King finding not the number sufficient to begin so sollemne an act he defers it vntill October In the meane time the King studies by the credit which his authoritie giues him oâ—er the three estates of his Realme to bring the Duke of Guise into open vewe and to receiue punishment for all his offences past And the Duke assâ—â—es himselfe that the most part of the Deputies would countenance his cause and would serue him as instruments to controll the Kings power So euery one labours to aduance his desseine and to deceiue one another but hee which shall bee deceiued will verifie that there is danger in delayes The sixteenth of October all the Deputies were readie for the Clergie a hundred thirtie and foure Deputies amongst others foure Arche-Bishops one and twentie Bishops and two Generalls of Orders for the Nobilitie a hundred and fourescore gentlemen for the third estate a hundred fourescore and eleuen Deputies all lawyers or marchants The seuenteenth day being the fiâ—st sitting of the best wits of all France rauished euery man with hope to heare rare propositions The Kinâ—â— speech and resolutions of great affaires for the reformation of the State The Kings oration being full of liuely affection true magnanimitie and pertinent reasons deliuered with an admirable eloquence and grace without any stay will testifie for euer that he exceeded all the Princes of his age in speaking well and that hee could grauely pertineâ—â—â—y and very sodenly make answere to the most important occasions that were offered Montelon keeper of the seale continued his proposition commended the zeale and integritie of his maiesties intentions promised the Estates Mantelon keâ—per of the seale that vnder his happie coÌ„maund they should reape in this conuocation the same effects which had bin tried in diuers raigâ—es hee exhorteth the Clergie to restore the beautie and dignitie of the Church The Nobilitie to frame themselues after the mould of pietie bountie Iustice and other vertues of the French nation so much honoured in all histories The people to reuerence Iustice and to obserue good orders to flie wrangling sutes sweariâ—â— blâ—â—phemies play lust vsurie vniust getting corrupt trading and other vices which be 〈◊〉 seeds of troubles and seditions and the ruine of flourishing Estates He layes open the Kings great debts his charge and care to roote out heresies his religion pietie and deuotion ending his speech with a commendation vnder the Kings obedience of the vnion and concord necessarie for the maintenance of religion The Clergie Renauld of Beaulne Arche-Bishop of Bourges Patriarke and Primat of Aquitania thanked the King for his loue to his subiects and God to haue installed on the throne of this Crowne a King endued from his youth with the spirit of wisedome to gouerne his people who had cast the lightning of the high God euen vpon the face of the enemies of his diuine Maiestâ—e hauing by diuers and dangerous voyages through diuers nations gotten the knowledge of affaires who by his onely wisedome and vertue had lately dispersed a great and mightie armie of strangers and giuen vs hope that vnder so good and great a King wee shall see heresie suppressed peace confirmed the seruice of God established Churches and Temples restored Iustice and peace embraced charitie abound among men by vnitie of religion begin here on earth to raigne with Christ the Idea and patterne of that heauenly kingdome whereunto wee aspire The Baron of Senesei testified the Nobilities affection to the Kings seruice confessing that to him alone belongs to worke those good effects The Nobilitie for the establishment of the honour of God the Catholike religion things profitable for
bin drawn from theÌ„ had nothing aduaÌ„ced the cause of religion FroÌ„ coÌ„plaints of the languishing people grew the suppression of officers of the new creation and an intent to ease their subsidies Bâ—t oh politike 〈…〉 King yeelding to haue them reduced to the yeare 1576. sees himselfe deâ—riâ—ed 〈…〉 meanes to leuy his armies and to entertayne the greatnesse of his Mâ—iestie◠〈…〉 he refuseth it an occasion is giuen to mutine the Estates to chase away such as are neere his person and to giue him a gouernour The Duke of Guise on the one side disswades the King to subiect his authoâ—ity so much but on the otherside he prickes them forward to be vehement in their pursuites In the end the King passeth this graunt of reduction but he hopes to make it knowne vnto the Estates that with so smal meanes he cannot mayntaine his royall dignity nor the warre against the heretiks which they had so sollemnly sworne They deuâ—se of meanes to make vp the stocke and demande an account of such as had gouerned the treasor and abused the Kings bounty Effects of the Duâ—e oâ— Neuers army But whilest they turne ouer their papers at the Parliament let vs see the progresse of the two armies which we had left in field That of the Duke of Neuers consisted of French Suisses and Italians with many voluntary gentlemen Sagonne was Marâ—hall of the light horse la Chastre Marshall of the field Chastaigneray Lauerdin and many others coÌ„manded the troupes Mauleon was the first obiect of their armes It is a rashenesse to be obstinate in the defence of a place which is not to be held but it is a tâ—eachery to ill intreate them whome we haue receiued to composition So this fiâ—st victorie was bathed with their blouds who trusting in the force oâ— their courageâ— â—egâ—â—cted the weakenesse of their walls Montagâ— was defended some daies by Coâ—ombiers who at the first saluting the Duke with a furious skirmishe putts him to some losse But the Cannon hauing both shaken their walles and their constancies â—â—ey entred into capitulation the which was honourablie graunted the last day of Nouember La Ganache situated vpon the marches of Brittaine and Poictou annoyed both the one and the other Prouince The Duke of 〈◊〉 stâ—â— at â—ion suspect to Mandeloâ— Let vs leaue the armie there to see howe the Dâ—ke of Mayenne spends his time at Lion The desseins too lightly grounded vpon a peoples mutiny are alwaies ruinous The Duke of Mayenne knowes it well and moreouer there is nothing but blowes to be gotten in Daulphiné He desires rather to attend the issue of the Parliaments in a pleasing and delightfull aboade but this stay is a great scourge to Mandelot He feares to bee dispossest of his gouernment It is giuen to the Duke of Nemours and therefore he wonderfully suspects the Duke of Mayennes presence Finally hee grewe so iealous as seized with apprehension with the choâ—iâ—e a feuer the goutte and the flixe he carried the foure and twentith of Nouember this testimony into the other world by the mouth of father Edmond Anger a Iesuite in his funerall sermon That he had neuer signed the League that he died firme in his religion and the Kings seruice Whilest the King labored at the Parliament to cut off all difficulties which prolongued the warre and the Duke of Mayenne beeing at Lion suffered the heate of of his passage into Daulphiné to growe colde Charles Duke of Saâ—oye foreseeing the dissipation of this Estate hee thought that as a sonne and husband of two daughters issued froÌ„ the bloud of France he should be the first which shold set his hand to the diuision The marquisate of Salusses is in the midest of his territories he thinkes that for such a prise he may well breake friendship and alliance with the King his neere kinsman who of meere curtesie had newely deliuered vnto him Sauignan and Pignerol The 〈…〉 by the Duke of 〈◊〉 With this desseine seeing the Kings thoughts otherwise ingaged then beyond the Alpes he makes a leuy of men threatens Geneua makes a shewe to beseege Montferrat causeth the Marquis of Saint Sorlin to go to horse and on all Saints night surpriseth the Towne of Carmagnole and then the Cittadell beeing vnfuâ—nished oâ— victualls which Saint Siluie successor to la Coste had drawne forth with hope saied hee to refresh them so as in lesse then three weekes he possessed all the Marquisate leauing a reprochefull suspition against the Captaines of the Cittadell to haue treacherously exchanged the double Canons of that ancient arcenall of the warres of France beyond the Alpes with the double pistolets of Spaine This conquest made the Duke proud and already in conceite he had deuoured both Prouence and Daulphiné For a colour he writes both to the Pope and King That the generall respect of the Church had made him seize vpon these places least Les Diguieres should make it a retreat and refuge for Huguenots and the priuate interest of his Estates which hee desires to maintaine in the puritie of the ancient religion vnder the obedience of the holy Sea and by his Ambassadour hee disguiseth this wrong with the goodlyest colours that may be Hee makes a shew not to hold these places but vnder the Kings authoritie but in time hee vsurpes all actes of Soueraignty hee displaceth his Maiesties officers beates downe the armes of France sets vp the crosse of Saâ—oy and in a brauery hee causeth peeces of siluer to be coyned with a centaure treading a Crowne ouerwhelmed vnder his foote and carrying this deuise Oportuné The Kings desâ—eâ—gne vpon this surprise The King iustly moued with this vsurpation applies this branche to the body of the conspiracies of the League he resolues now to pacifie the ciuill warres to attend after forraine and euen then hee determines to giue the Protestants a peace and to vse their assistance against such as make a benefit of the discords of the realme Such as respected truly the glorie of the French gaue him to vnderstand that hee must appease both Huguenot and Liguer and seeke reuenge of this new indignitie and hunt the Wolfe which breakes into the fold whilest the Shepheards are at variance Shall a petty Prince take from a King of France the pawne which remaines to recouer Naples and Milan foure hundred peeces of Canon which might beate the proudest Fortes of the Spaniards to pâ—â—der that ancient fee of Daulphiné comprehended in the gifts which Prince Hubert made to the Crowne of France whereof our Kings haue so often receiued homage and fealty of the Marquises and haue often seized thereon for forfeiture and treâ—chery All the Kings seruants all the Courts of Parliament all the assemblie of Estates iudge that these be the effects of the League Duke of Guises dissembling and that this inuasion is not without the â—â—telligence of the Duke of Guise euen those which fauour his part cannot digest it But to auoyde
the marke of their enraged faction This furious combustion of Paris setts all the realme on fire Sâ—range reuolts Townes and Prouinces frame themselues after the mould of the Capitall Cittie Chartres begins the dance expells Sourdis their gouernor and receiues Reclaimuâ—lle a gentleman of Beause a partisan of the League This Towne imports much for the estate of Paris as one of their chiefe graniers for corne The Duke of Mayenne postes thether to bee assured thereof and the people receiue him as their redeemer Being arriued there Rouan sends for him He goes and in all places as hee passeth they meet him present him their keyes and sweare to obey him Those of Mans murther many of the Kings offiâ—ers and seruants spoyle others seize vpon Fargis their Gouernour and send him prisoner to Paris Anger 's was assured for the King but the Duke of Mercoeur Gouernour of Brittaine subdued in a maner all the Prouince to his partie Thoulouse murthers Duranti their first President a man who in all the fires he had formerly kindled did neuer shew that hee had any tast of a Huguenot in him and Dafâ—s the Kings Aduocate Aix Arles and Marseilles plaâ—t vp sodenly the enseigns of the League and followe the dance with the rest Lion iumps with them and growing â—uspitious of the passage of Colonnel Alphonso Corse now Marshall of France vnder the title of Ornano to command the armie in Daulphinè which the Duke of Mayenne had abandoned they declare the occasion why they take armes sweare to maintaine good correspondency with the Princes gentlemen and Inhabitants of Paris other Townes vnited and to put in excution all the Duke of Nâ—mours commaundements who was now escaped out of the Castle of Blois But we shall see this people as easie to mutine against him as they were now readie to allow him for their Gouernour Chaalons retayned almost all Champaigne in their dutie and obedience Rosne was Gouernour there But the whole bodie of the Cittie aduertised of this great execution at Blois let him vnderstand That seing the Duke of Guise his maister was dead his authoritie was extinct and that acknowledging no other Soueraine but the King they would preserue their Cittie from all strange enterprises Langres deserues an honorable tesâ—â—monie to haue lesse then all other fostered rebels and to haue constantly opposed themselues against all the attempts of the League In other Prouinces the Townes bandie directly one against another and the most modest affecting neither partie keepe themselues from the storme The King beholds this pittifull Tragedie acted vpon the Theatre of his Estate and thinkes yet to reclaime his subiectâ— by mildnes He pardoneth he abolâ—sheth The Kings facilitie turned into â—ury hee forgets all so as euery one will performe the dutie of a subiect and againe promiseth the obseruation of his Edicts of vnion in fauour of the Catholikes and for the extirpation of heresies But in the end patience prouoked turnes into furie Hee sees that these Princesses the Prouost of marchants and the Sherifs of Paris which were dismissed do like vnto Noes rauen they cast oyle in stead of water vpon the fires that are kindled Seing therefore the more hee seekes by mildnes to reduce these strangers to the right way the more violent they grow in their furious passions he now vseth his authority he makes sundrie proclamations aswell against the Duke of Mayenne the Duke and Cheualier of Aumale as against the Citties of Paris Orleans Chartres Rouan Amiens Abbeuille and other adherents pronounceth both heads and members disloyal rebels guiltie conuicted of the crimes of rebellion treachery and treason in the highest degree degrades them and their posteritie of all honoâ—r if by the beginning of March they submit not themselues to his obedience And to ioyne armes to his declarations he makes a speedy leuie of twelue thousand Suisses by the Lord of Sansy who molested the Duke of Sauoye vnder the Kings authoritie about Geneua where hauing taken the Townes of Bonne Gex Thonnou and their Castels he beseeged the fort of Ripaille where the Dukes succours led by Cont Martinengues were defeated Martinengues slaine in battaile with about 2000. men and the place yeelded in the end hee cals the Nobilitie vnto him sends forth many Commissions to leuie soldiars transports the execution of Iustice to Tours which was wont to bee in his Parliament at Paris hee commaunds his chamber of accounts and all his officers of the marble table to repaire presently to Tours to attend their charges and depriues from all honours charges dignities and priuileges all Townes adhering to these new reuolts This did but kindle more the fires of rebellion The Duke of Mayenne armes both horse and foot practiseth without the Realme seekes to the King of Spaine The Dukes attempts sends out pattents and Commissions vnder a new seale vsurpes all the parts of royall Maiestie striking stroake His Maiesty aduised to giue his enemy a free passage to returne It were a follie saied he with a pleasant Countenance to hazard a double Henry against one Carolus the which is the Duke of Mayennes name A double Henâ—y is a doâ—blâ— ducat and a Caâ—olus is but a pâ—nny Insolency of the soldiâ—â—s It is a horror to thinke of the insolencies spoiles murthers rauishings sacrilege blaspemies irreligions which these braue Champions armed for the defence of the Catholike religion did practise in these suburbes euen in the Church of Saint Symphorian The vicar and the Chapplaine beaten and bound all night did see the cofers broken the goods carried away women and maides that were fled thether as into a sanctuary rauished which is worse them steale away holy things as Coapes Ornaments of the Altar the Roabes and Vestments of Preests and many Chalices of diuers mettalls carrying away those of siluer as belonging to heretikes and royallists as they termed them and therefore good prize and the others that were not siluer they left behinde beeing say they of the vnion The Cheualier d' Aumale and his people shewed themselues braue artisans in these exploits Doubtlesse the vnion hath more disunited the Church and more ruined the Cathoâ—ike religion in fewe yeares then the Protestants had done in many We haue seene their soldiars and amongest them many Preests and Monkes that had cast away their frockes force the vicars and Curats of Parishes in lent with a dagger at their throats to giue them calues sheepe lambes pigges kidds hens Capons and other fâ—esh vnder names of Pikes Carpes Barbles soles turbotts herinâ—s whiâ—est the College of Sorbonne and their Preachers thunder out against their lawfull Prince and Soueraigne The essentiall forme of a zelous Catholike was then to robbe Churches to rauâ—sh wiues and virgins to murther men against the Altars and to spoile the Câ—ergie not to bee the Kings seruants which that age held for a crime but to vomit out against him all the indignitieâ— and all the wickedâ—esse which irreligion
but la Noue whome the King had especially commaunded to assist the Duke of Longuâ—uille with Councell in matters of warre did so wisely make choise of the houre and oportunitie to charge as the Duke of Aumale Balagni Gouernour of Cambray Of the Duke of Aumale and Balagni at Senliâ— and the rest puting in practise the vse of their long spurre rowels lately inuented as a mournfull prediction to the League saued their persons by the swiftnes of their horses and left the field died with the bloud of fifteene hundred slaine vppon the place in the â—light and poursuit verifying the saying He that flies betimes may fight againe Chamois Menneuille and diuers others could not runne fast inough The artillerie baggage and many prisoners remained at the victors discretion who by the Kings commaundement went to receiue the army of strangers which were come to the fronters The Kings meaning was to subdue Paris The greatest of the Hidraes heads being cut off did weaken the whole bodie and gaue hope to his Maiestie by that meanes to find what hee had lost the loue and obedience of his subiects To this end hee sends the Duke of Espernon to take from the Parisâ—ens the commodities aboue the riuer and assembles his forces to compasse them in beneath Thus the warre growes hot The Nobilitie goes to horse on all sides to reuenge the wrong done vnto the King but the more his troups increased the more bitter his subiects grew against him No prosperitie is so gâ—eat but it hath some crosses As the King attends the forces which the Prince of Dômbes now Duke of Montpensier brings him from Tours Losses for the King newes comes that the Earle of Soissons whome he had sent to commaund in Brittanie had beene defeated at Chasteaugiron three Leagues from Rennes and led prisoner with the Earle of Auaugour and many other Lords to Nantes That the Duke of Mayenne had taken Alenson That the Lord of Albigni a yonger brother to the house of Gordes and a partisan of the League had chased the Colonnel Alphonso out of Grenoble and seized on the Towne The taking of these Earles caused the King to send the Prince Dombes thither who more happily reduced many places to his Maiesties obedience The happie successe of the Kings affaires made men to iudge Towneâ— taken that the League would soone bee ruined the Kings armie increasing hourely Three hundred horse of la Chastre who presently after the Tragedie of Blois had made shew to iustifie himselfe vnto the King for the strict familiaritie hee had with the Duke of Guise were defeated by the Duke of Montâ—ason and the Marquis of Nesâ—e his Lieutenant and fiftie of his companie slaine the taking of Iargeau Pluuiers Ianuille and Estampes terrified the Parisiens They call backe the Duke of Mayenne and he finding the Duke of Longueuille farre off goes into Brie assures some places and takes Montreau-faut-yonne by composition from the Duke of Espernon but the Kings approch carried him sodenly to Paris where suffering his troupes to liue at discretion in the suburbs hee caused an ill impression to grow in some which could not well digest this confusion in the State An armie of about twentie thousand men gathered to gither by the Duke of Longueuille ioyning with the Suisses Lansquenets of Sansy Pontoise returned to the Kings obedience soone after the Kings arriuall all the Kings forces ioyned in one bodie being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and the taking of Saint Cloud made the Parisâ—â—ns readie to yeeld when as a deuilish monke an excrement of hell a Iacobin by profession Iames Clement of the age of two or three and twentie yeares Paris beseeged vowes said hee to kill the Tirant and to deliuer the holy Cittie beseeged by Sennacherib Thus resolued hee imparts his damnable proiect to Doctor Bourgoing Prior of his Couent to father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the chiefe of the sixteene and to the fortie of Paris All encorrage him to this 〈◊〉 desseine they promise him Abbaies and Bishoprikes and if he chance to be made a Martir no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Pâ—eachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight dayes for before the â—nde of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at liberty The Preachers of Orleans Rouan and Amiens clatter out the like at the same time and in the same termes The first of August the Monke goes out of Paris and marcheth toward Saint Cloud vpon his departure they take aboue two hundred of the chiefe Cittizens and others prysoners whome they knewe to haue goods friends and credit with the Kings partie as a precaution to redeeme that cursed murtherer in case he were taken before or after the deed Being arriued at Gondyes house where the King lodged he goes to la Guesle the Kings Proctor generall in his Court of Parliament at Paris and saies that he had brought some matter of importance which might not be imparted to other but to his Maiesty and had letters of credit from the first President The King who for the reuerence he bare vnto Church men gaue free accesse vnto such as vnder the habit of religion made shew to bee deuoted vnto the seruice of God commands hee should bee brought into his Chamber willing the Lord of Bellegarde and the saied Proctor generall to retire who were then alone nere the King hoping both by the quality of the person whome he did counterfeit whose long imprisonment in the Bastille had giuen sufficient testimony of his faith and integrity to his Maiestie and the simple demonstration of the Wolfe disguised into a Lambe to learne some secret matter of importance and receiues this counterfet letter from him The King did no sooner begin to reade it but this wretch seeing himselfe alone growes resolute and drawing a Knife out of his sleeue made of purpose thrusts his Maiestie into the botome of the bellie and there leaues the knife in the wound The King drawes it forth and with some striuing of the Monke strikes him aboue the eye Many ranne in at this noyse and in the heate of choller killing this monster of men preuented the true discouery of this enterprise and the authors thereof worthie to be noted with a perpetuall blot of disloyaltie and treason The Physitians held the wound curable and the same day the King did write of this attempt The death of Henry the â— being murthered and of his hope of recouery to the gouernors oâ— Prouinces to forraine Princes and to his friends and confederates But fealing that the King of Kings had otherwise determined of his life hee did first comfort himselfe in foreseeing that the last houre of his crosses should be the first of his felicities then lamenting his good and faithfull seruants who suruiuing should finde no respect with those whose mindes
erected to a Duchie in the yeare 1329. Lewis Duke of Bourbon and Mary the daughter of Iohn the 18. Earle of Hainault had Peter Duke of Bourbon and Iames Earle of Ponthieu Constable of France Peter had by Isabell the daughter of Charles Earle of Valois Peter Lewis Lewis and Iames. Lewis surnamed the good Duke of Bourbon had by Anne Countesse of Auuergne Lewis Earle of Clermont who died without children Iohn Iames. Iohn Duke of Bourbon had by Bonne Duchesse of Auuergne and Countesse of Montpensur Charles Iohn and Lewis Earle of Montpensier father to Gilbert of whome issued Charles the last Duke of Bourbon Câ—â—â—les Charles Duke of Bourbon had of Agnes the daughter of Iohn Duke of Bourgongne Iohn and Peter Iohn the second of that name married Ioane of France daughter to Charles the 7. and dying without lawfull heyres of his body the name and armes of Duke went to Peter his yonger brother Peter the second of that name Peter Duke of Bourbon had of Anne of France the daughter of Lewis the eleuenth one onely daughter Susanne the generall heire of Bourbon Châ—â—les the last Duke of Bourbon who was wife to the aboue named Charles the youngest sonne of Gilbert who likewise was the youngest sonne of Lewis aboue named Earle of Montpersur and brother to Charles Duke of Bourbon But no children growing from this marriage the branch of the eldest sonne of Lewis created Duke of Bourbon ended in this Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who died at the seege of Rome and the Duchie of Bourbonoâ—s beeing incorporate to the crowne Iames the yonâ—est son of Lewâ—s duke of Bourbon Iohn we must seeke the line of Iames of Pontieu they also giue him the titles of Earle of Charolois and la Marche Constable of France the yongest sonne of Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon Iames had by Ioue the daughter of the Earle of S. Paul Iohn his successor Earle of la Marche Iohn had of Katherine the onely daughter and heire of Iohn Earle of Vendosme issued from the Dukes of Normandy and Earles of Aniou Iames King of Naples who leauing none but daughters Lewis Earle of Vendosme transported his right of inheritance to Lewis his yongest brother Lewis had no children by Iane of Roussy his first wife the daughter of Ralfe Earle of Montfort and of Anne of Montmorency but of Iane the daughter of Guy Lord of Guare and of Anne heire of Lauall and Vitry in Brittany or of Mary the daughter of Engerard Lord of Coucy and of Isabel his wife the daughter of Edward King of England according to some opinions By his second marriage he had Iohn his successor and Earle of Vendâ—sme Iohn the second of that name Iohn the second had of Iane of Beauieu or of Isabel of Beauuais Frâ—nciâ— daughter to the Lord of Pressigni Francis his successor and Earle chiefe of the Nobility le ts them vnderstand the deceassed Kings will touching 〈◊〉 by a generall or nationall Councell whereof he protests to followe the instruction I giue leaue said he to all such as would leaue me so to doe Yet I am sorry they are no better Frenchmen for their owne good and safety I haue friends enough 〈◊〉 out them to mainteine my authority God hath neuer left mee and will not nowe abandon mee He hath not begun this so miraculous a worke to leaue it vnperfect 〈◊〉 for my sake alone but for his owne names sake and for so many soules affâ—â—cted in this Realme whome I desire and promise by the faith of a King to releeue so 〈◊〉 as God shall giue mee the meanes But how grieuous is this to mee that am your lawfull King and who leaue you in the liberty of your religion to see you go about to force mee to yours by vnlawfull meanes and without former instruction This declaration reteyned them that were least scrupulous in their duties and his promise not to alter any thing in religion might haue shaken many of the League To crosse him the Duke of Mayenne publisheth an Edict of the 5. of August iâ—â—is name and the Councells of the holy vnion established at Paris attending a generall Assembly of the Estates of the Realme to vnite said he all Frenchmen that were good Christians for the defence and preseruation of the Catholike Apostolike Romish Church and the mainteynance of the royall Estaâ—e in the absence of their lawfull King Charles the 10. of that name For whose liberty he inuited them all to armes But he desired no more the liberty of his pretended King then our Henry did to force religâ—on the support whereof serues them for a goodly cloake Some Parlements growe iealous of these sodaine changes in the State and seeme to entertaine the people in doubt and feare of the subuersion of their religion Violent decrees That of Bourdeaux commaunds all men vnder their Iurisdiction by a decree of the 19. of August to obserue inuiolablie the Edict of vnion to the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Church and declarations were thereupon made That of Tholouse is more violent They decree that yeerely the first day of August they should make processions and publike prayers for the benefits they had receiued that day in the miraculous and fearefull death of Henry the third whereby Paris was deliuered and other Townes oâ— the Realme forbidding all persons to acknowledge Henry of Bourbon the pretended King of Nauarre for King declaring him incapable euer to succeede to the Crowne of France by reason said the decree of the notorious and manifest crimes conteyned at large in the bull of excommunicatioÌ„ of Pope Sxtus the 5. Without doubt the authority of the Soueraigne court is much blemished in pronouncing a decree which they must reuoake by a contrary sentence Thus the League kindled anewe the fires which the seege of Paris had somewhat quenched The King raiseth hiâ—â—eâ—ge from Paris the Kings troupes decreased hourely sicknesse diminished their numbers and the Duke of Mayennes increased The King therefore diuides his armye into three one vnder the commaund of the Duke of Longueuille into Picardy the other into Champagne vnder the Marshall d' Aumont and he is aduised to passe himselfe into Normaâ—dy with twelue hundred horse three thousand French foote and two regiments of Suisses as well to receiue succours out off England as to assure some places passages fit for his desseines but with direction to ioyne at neede In his passage he causeth the Kings body to bee conducted and left at Compiegne and reduceth to his obedience His conquests Meulan Gisors and Clermont he receiues from Captaine Roulet both the place and the hearts of the inhabitants of Pont de l' Arche foure leagues from Rouan a passage very commodious for the trafficke betwixt Rouan and Paris He visits Deepe confirmes the towne of Caen forceth Neufâ—hastel to yeeld hauing by Hallot and Guitry his Lieutenants ouercome the
season and dangerous to make this election and that the assemblie reserued the conclusion thereof vntill they might see an armie readie by meanes whereof their resolutions might be supported and put in execution Courage this calme promiseth that wee shall soone anchor in a safe harbour And that which aduanceth the ship of our Estate with a more prosperous gale that great Senat of France remayning at Paris resumes their credit and the beautie of their scarlet robes they exhort the Duke of Mayenne to imploy his authoritie of Lieutenant that vnder colour of religion the Crowne fall not into strangers hands against the lawes of the Realme and to prouide speedily for the peoples quiet A decree of the Parliament at Paris and by a decree of the eight and twentith of Iuly they declare all treaties made or to bee made to that end voyde and of no validitie as being made to the hurt and preiudice of the Salique Law and other fundamental Lawes of State This decree did wonderfully moue the Duke of Mayenne and the agents of Spaine especially against the President le Maistre who deliuered the speech who encountring all their choller 's left them to bite vppon the bridle But see now the fatall blowe which ruines that third party 1593 by the which many Catholikes were readie to thrust the realme into newe combustions and cuts off all dfficulties as well in them which made a scruple to fight vnder the Enseignes of a King of any other religion then their owne as in others which had so long time shadowed their mutinies and rebellions with this goodly pretext The King after the taking of Dreux satisfied in his conscience by the instruction of the Arch-bishop of Bourges of Renè Benoist Curate of Saint Eustache of Paris and of some other doctors desires to be admitted into the bosome of the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Church The Kings Conuersion and the 25. of Iuly made a publike and sollemne profession at S. Denis to the sayd Arch-bishop assisted by Charles Cardinall of Bourbon Arch-bishop of Rouan and Nephew to the deceased nine Bishops with many other prelates and religious men hee protested to liue and die in the sayd Catholike religion swearing to defend it against all men hee made profession of his faith and performed all ceremonies requisite in so sollemne an act and then he receiued absolution and blessing with an admirable ioye and acclamation of the people Presently after this sollemne act his Maiesty sent the Duke of Neuers the Marquis of Pisani and Henry of Gondy Bishop of Paris to the Pope to yeeld obedience by them to the holy sea and to testifie that hee desired no lesse to imitate the example of Kings his Predecessors and to deserue the title and ranke of the first sonne of the Church by his actions then they had beene carefull to get it and preserue it and to beseech him to allowe of his conuersion and to countenaunce it with his owne blessing This is that great action of state which the chiefe of the League most feared for what could they nowe obiect against the King to contradict his right and to terme him incapable of his inheritance See nowe by what suttlety they seeke to crosse his Maiesties affaires and to support the strangers They complayne first of his sodaine change say they may not trust him That his Holines must begin end this worke That the King should make all submissions to the sea of Rome and attend if the Consistory would declare him capable to gouerne the realme of France That hauing commandement from the Conclaue they would aduise to do what should bee reason Vntill the which were effected they could not treat any more with the Kings deputies and till that this change of religion which the King had made were approued by the Pope whereof afterwards they would take aduise for assurance of the preseruation of the onely Catholike religion in this realme The Duke of Mayenne hauing to his great preiudice so often tryed the proude insolencies of the Spaniards and since knowne that their practises tended onely to feede a perpetuall fire of diuision among the French by meanes of the election of a newe King whome they promised to marrie to the Infanta had often protested that when hee should see the King returne into the bosome of the Church from the which his religion had excluded him he would presently yeeld him obedience as his most humble seruant The Kings conuersion doth nowe free him of this imaginarie scruple The King himse fe offring him offices and honorable aduancements seekes to drawe him out off those snares from the which hee would willingly bee freed But he is so farre engaged as hee can hardly retire himselfe and some hope that the decisions of Rome the resolution of the Estates the conclusions of the Colledge of Sorboane and the practises of Spaine would yet worke some good effects in his fauour do withhold him from accepting of his Maiesties offers But on the otherside he cannot digest the aduancement of the Duke of Guise The Duke of Mayenne seekes to crosse his Nâ—pheâ—â— whose marrâ—â—ge with the Infanta the Partisans of Spaine did solicit as being heire to his Faâ— ers prâ—tensions And to ouerthrowe it hee seemes in generall termes to approue so great an honour done vnto his Nephew but requiring for his owne particular so high and dâ—fficult things he giues them easily to vnderstand that he will not subiect his will to the appetites of Pope Clement nor of Philip King of Spaine neyther yet to the decision of Estates in that whilest that he crosseth the propounded election of the Duke of Guise The Conference at Surene giues the subiect meanes to taâ—t the liberty of the fields and the sweetenesse of peace concluding the last of Iuly a generall suspension of armes on eyther side for three monethes a meanes which shall soone reduce whole prouinces withdrawne from their ancient obedience A generall truce In the meane time the more the Agents of Spaine see their practises disapointed the more vehement they are that the Court of Rome should giue no audience to the Kings submission They oppose themselues by the meanes of the Ambassador of Spaine at Rome against the negotiation of the Kings Ambassadors with the Pope They speake of his maiesties conuersion as of a counterfeit thing to deceiue the Church and after his confirmation to ruine the Catholike religion To conclude they do their best to quench these coales of charity which were kindled in the peoples hearts and cause the Pope to reiect this faithfull and willing obedience whereby the King will shewe himselfe a successor of the piety of Clouis Charlemagne and Saint Lewis as well as heire of their scepter But see one of the most violent atteÌ„pts of the league which had almost dissolued this harmony which was prepared by a generall reconciliation of the French among themselues and of them to their lawfull and
a peace but desired warre and to entertayne it not only in Flanders but throughout all Europe whilest that the Turke most cruelly inuades and vsurps all he can vpon the Christians imbracing the occasion whilest that Christian Princes are troubled with the seditions of their subiects and by this meanes doth inlarge the limits of his most cruell Empire But aboue all the sayd Hollanders haue of late done a great and intollerable wrong refusing to heare the Ambassadors sent vnto them from the Emperour and the Princes of Germanie and yet the Emperour hath not forgotten the desire he had to seeke a Peace but hath sent a new Ambassage vnto them whereof the issue is yet vncertaine and yet the sayd Hollanders omitt not to do all kind of hostilities against their lawfull Princesse being growne proud by some happie successe in their opinions when as the Spaniards were busied in the warres of France Moreouer a Peace being made with the French they haue vsed all the policie they could to hinder the Conclusion And being required by the King of France to inclyne to a peace they haue not onely refused the treatie but haue also renewed the warre by their meanes who holding the Estate in their power haue no other care but to thrust all the world into combustion To them this inconuenience is to be imputed if no frute of peace hath beene imparted to any of the Belgick Prouinces In former times they pretended for their excuse that they could not giue eare to any peace whilest that Spaniards and strangers commaunded of whome they would not depend for that they could not trust them But the deceased King by his clemency had taken from them this pretext sending vnto them the Archdukes Ernest and Albert whose care and singular desire was only to imploy themselues for the publike good the which was knowne vnto all the world for that either of them did labour for a peace with great care and diligence offering to be mediators for them to recouer their Princes fauour Contrariwise they had contemned them and would not vse so great a benefit So as the poore people being opprest with tyrannie and reduced to dispaire contemne or cannot comprehend the things which are for their quiet and tranquilitie yea their Princes whome the King had appointed for them were contemned by them wheras the States of other Prouinces had exhorted them to acknowledge Her returning her Ambassadors which shee had sent vnto them not vouchsafing Her any answere The which may iustly bee held too vnworthie for that all the world wil so conceiue that no man ought to haue society nor confederation with them which make warre against God their Prince and their Countrie That vnto this day they haue had free libertie to trafficke the which hath produced no other frute but to make them more bitter for that they abuse the Entries Excises Imposts and Customes to imploy them for the mayntenance of the Warre whereof they haue raysed a great commoditie And as for the Archduchesse shee hath imployed all meanes by her Councell and with the intention of the King her brother to haue her Subiects liue in Peace and submit themselues vnto their duties Seeing then these people cannot be reclaymed by mildnesse nor any benefits shee as a Soueraigne Princesse by the aduice of her Councells namely of Cardinall Andrew forbids all her subiects to haue any more trafficke or commerce with the said Hollanders and Zelanders and that nothing bee vented vnto them by her subiects neither by Land nor Sea directly reuoking all letters and pasports concerning the Nauigation and fishing and also all other pattents for negâ—â—â—ation vnlesse within one moneth they resolue to harken vnto a Peace Which doing shee promiseth them all Clemency and Fauour although they haue so often refused it vnto this daie This Edict of the Infantaes was scarce proclaymed The answer of the vnited Prouinces to the Infantaes Proclamation when as the Estates made an o the contrary vnto it after this manner That it is easie to see what the Spaniards pretended as well by this Edict as by the other stratagems of thâ—ir Councells which tends to no other ende but to ouerthrowe all the liberty not onely of Flanders but of all other Nations will challenge vnto themselues a right and power not onely ouer Bodies and Goods but â—â—so vpon Soules and Consciences wherevnto tended those great late enterprises not â—nely by secret conspiracies and suborning of the subiects of France and England against their Princes but also the Spaniards haue sought by maine armes both by Land and Sea to inuade the sayd Realmes whereof being frustrate they haue attempted against the Princes of Germaine the Electors of the holie Empire to vexe them taking their Townes and Castells and spoyling their Countries making all desolate by Rapin Rauishing and Murthers without any respect of sexe or quality of persons hauing massacred Princes and Earles And they threaten neuer to lay aside armes vntill they haue reduced all them to the ancient Ceremonies that were fallen from the Romish Church So as they change Religion freely and the administration of the Common-weale by force and violence in Emperiall Townes and Citties Yea and they shewe by their proceeding and publish it euery where that they wish the Princes Electors and other Estates of the Empire would defend themselues by Warre taking armes so should they more comodiously effâ—ct what they pretended That in the same shop this present Councell hath beene forged by the which the King of Spaine hath forbiden all vse of trafficke and hath vsed the Marchants and Marriners most cruelly whome they haue taken seized vpon the Shippes stolne the Goods and Marchandise that was in them and violated his promises in diuers sortes whereof the Infanta following his example hath commanded the like should bee done in Flanders It is for that they are greeued that wee haue expelled the tiranie which did hang ouer our heads by meanes of vnion that is amongest vs and by our Courage Goods Meanes and Forces haue withstood their attemptes and made frustrate their fraudes relying chiefely vpon the fauour of God and then being aided by the Queene of England and other Kings and Princes The which we haue resolued to do and to endeauor with all our powers not onely to defend our limits from iniury but also to reuenge the wrongs which haue beene done vs not doubting but God will assist our endeauors with his fauour beeing so necessary and inspire the hearts of Kings and Princes with this good intention to prouide for their affaires and maintaine their Dignities against the wicked practises of them that seeke to supplant them In so doing they hope vndoubtedly that within short time the Spanish forces being expelled out of the limits of the Empire and aboue all out of Flanders a generall peace shal be confirmed as it is most desired with as great assurance as euer was And for as much as to perfect this
much honored This discontent was shewed in all the sorts the Malcontents could deuise The Images at the Kings comming to the Crowne at his entry into Madrid did speake They made the Image of Iupiter câ—rrying a globe of the World vpon his shoulders and discharging one moetie vpon King Philip with an inscription shewing that the Empire was diuided betwixt Iupiter Caeâ—sar there were found these words written in an vnknowne hand vnder Iupiters Image This is the Duke of Lerma The King coÌ„ming one day from walking â—ound vpon his table a letter sealed with this superscription To King Philip the third of that name King of Spaine being at this present seruant to the Duke of Lerma The King vnderstood al this and laughed at it saying to the Duke of Lerma See what they say of vs. There was a Tragedy made at Valladolid the speakers were the King the CoÌ„stable of Castille the Duke of Lemos and the People The argument was the Complaint and Insolencies of the Duke of Lerma The Catastrophe was the death of the Duke torne in peeces by the furie of the People A Iester going betwixt the King and the Duke of Lerma thrust the Duke in such sort as he made him stagger saying Stand fast for if thou fallest thou wilt neuer rise againe The King taking these words as spoken against him answered presently Wee will both fall then Great men which had laughed at the Bouffons speech were amazed at the Kings answere All Spaine admires his Fortune the most Happie thinke that they must be borne vnder the same planet that will be Happie But no man can say how long this happines will continue for in the end the great and vnmeasurable fauours of Princes are Preiudiciall and Ruinous to their Fauorites Courtyers burne themselues therein like Butterflies But they are wise that drinke of these fauours as the Dogges do of of the water of Nilus in passing and running least they be deuoured of the Crocodiles of Enuie and Iealousie Assemblie of the Deputies of some Princes of the Empire at Conâ—â—ans We haue sayd before that the Assembly of Collen was referred to Conflans which the Germains call Coblents the eight of March Thither came the Deputies of the fiue superiour Circles to consult of the meanes wherby they might defend and maintaine the liberties of Germanie and suppresse the insolencie of the Spaniard who attempted in hostile manner vppon all Estates This word of Circle according to the Germaine Custome and Phrase signifies properly a Canton of the Countrie but it is taken for the Allyance and League which certaine Princes and Imperiall Townes haue one with another And of these Circles there are fiue superiour that is to say of high Germanie and the fiue Inferior are those of Low Germanie and it is one of the causes for the which the Allemans are called Germains for that their Countrie doth all equally belong vnto Soueraigne Lords according to their titles one a Duke another an Earle a third a Marquis And as for the free Townes they be such as haue redeemed theÌ„selues from their Lords haue obteined the Lords Fee vnto themselues as they of Metz The Circles of Germanie who redeemed their Liberties froÌ„ Godefroy of Bullen going to the conquest of the holy Land The fiue Inferior Circles are Westphalia which is vnder the Iurisdiction of the Prince Elector of Collen Hamborough Lubeâ—k Vtrecht and East Phrise with the Countries adioyning and vnder them are comprehended the Hans Townes which be 72. in number the which haue very great Priuileges Those of the vpper Circles were such as assembled then at Conâ—â—ans the first is Mayence or Mentz Treues Collen and the Palatinat which makes one Circle The second is Brandebourg Wirtzbourg Henneberg Hohenlo and Noremberg The third is Wormes Simmer Hesse Nassau for the fourth is Munster Iuilliers Paderborne Lippe for the fift Magdebourg Brunswike Meâ—elbourg and Mulhous These haue an Allyance togither and it is lawfull for them to assemble when they please Beeing thus assembled all the Propositions formerly made vnto the Assembly at Collen by Rodowitz Commissioner for the Admiral were againe vewed and considered of with the iustifications of the States of the vnited Prouinces which were these in effect That they had receiued letters from the Princes Electors and others of Germanie conteining the complaints of the Estates of the Circle of Westphalia The Iustifications of the vnited Prouinces vpon the oppressions and outrages which the Countries of Cleues and Iuilliers of Collen and Westphalia did suffer by the men of warre of either partie whereby they were required to retire their men presently out off the territories of the Empire to restore the Townes which they held raze the Forts which they had built and to leaue the Countrie Townes and States of the Empire in their ancient Peace Rest and Quiet wherupon their answere resolution was also required For answere whereunto the sayd Estates declared that they were sorie to heare such complaints and the more for that they were put in the same ranke with the Spaniards and Admirall who had not forborne to Beseege Batter Force and Take Townes Castels Fortresses and Gentlemens houses in the Countrie of Cleues and others of the Circle of Westphalia by Murthers Burning Spoile and Rauishing of Wiues and Mayds without any respect of Estate Qualitie or Condition And yet not content therewith they had by their garrisons and threats forced some of the sayd Townes besides their Ransomes and concussions to change the Religion and Gouernment which they haue many yeares inioyed vnder the authoritie of your Excellencies and of other Princes whereas the King of Spaine had no interest nor could with any reason colour his attempts And contrariwise for their part â—ayd the States no thing had beene done but by extreame constraint and necessitie the which hath no Law for the Preseruation Maintenance and Assurance of thir vnited Prouinces and tâ—e which according to the Law of armeâ— and custome of warre may be done without any contradiction whereunto they had beene forced By reason whereof they did beseech their Excellencies and all men of Iudgement in matters of warre if considering the Admirals attempts â—eeing they had no other meanes to make head against the enemie but in preuenting him and occupying of those places which he himselfe would haue taken they haue first seized on them and put in men seeing that the Tolhuis which they had seized on was not sufficient to resist the Admirals forces who would not haue failed to come thither whereas the Inhabitants should haue beene treated with the same mildnes that he hath vsed in other places therby to haue had an entrie into their vnited Prouinces Besides they neuer had any intention to vsurpe one foot of ground belonging to the Empire nor of any Prince or neutral Lord to hold it in Proprietie as they sayd they had of late assured his Imperiall Maiestie and the Princes of
the Empire and namely the Prince Elector of Collen with whome they desired nothing more then to entertaine al good Alliance Amitie CorrespoÌ„dencie and good Neighbourhood maintayning themselues in that sort without diminution of their Estate vntil they might once see an end whereunto they did alwaies tend and aspire euen vnto this houre The which they haue made sufficiently knowne by their resolution to restore Rhinberg vnto the sayd Prince Elector of Collen The Towne of Rhinâ—eâ—g to hold it vnder the rights of neutralitie if it had not bin preuented by the seege which the Enemy layd before it whereby hee would haue giuen some colour to his attempts with such as thâ—ough ignorance or impatiencie haue not sounded the ground of the matter The which attempts are manifest by the surprises of Townes and places and change of Religion and Gouernment whereby he did not onely aduertiâ—e Princes and Lords but plainly teach them how he meanes to intreat them and their Subiects at his first oportunity to settle the Spanish Monarchie They had seene by experience how willingly and freely sayd the States they had the last yeere at the request of the sayd Princes and States of the Empire deliuered vp diuers places which they had wrested out of the enemies hands lying within the lymits of the Empire vppon hope that the enemies would also yeeld what they held depending of the Empire as they had promised to the sayd Princes and States which deliuerie vp by them and refusall of the enemie hath beene so preiudiciall vnto them as in the end they haue beene constrayned to beseege and force the Townes of Alpen Moeurs and Berck according to the good successe which they haue had It is also manifest how they restored the Townes of Alpen and Moeurs without restitution of one penie for the charges of the Conquest and how they had offered to do as much for the Towne of Berck with a declaration of the true meanes to entertaine the lymits of the Empire in Peace if the Enemie who sought the contrary had not hindred it Which their good and sincere intention hath beene so much the more manifested for that according to the order set downe by Prince Maurice their Captaine to expell the enemies garrisons out of the Towne of Emericke they did it restored the sayd Towne vnto the right Prince wherby your Excellencies and other Princes may see the sincerity of our actions without any farther doubt or distrust But rather that you would seeke the meanes whereby the Spaniards and their adherents may be chased out of Germanie and their pretended Monarchie preuented to the end that the members and Subiects of the Empire may be freed from so great dangers troubles for the effecting wherof said the States we haue these many years done our bâ—st indeuours mind so to continue trusting that God will moue the harts of Kings Princes Potentates Commonweals States to effect imbrace their coÌ„mon defeÌ„ce ruÌ„ning al iointly to quench this fire So beseeching their ExcelleÌ„cies to take c. These IustificatioÌ„s being conferred by the Deputies with them of the Admiral they acquainted Charles Nutzel Commissioner for the Emperour therewith who gaue them to vnderstand Propositions of the Dâ—puties of VVestphalia c. That it would please the Princes Electors to consider with what care and dilligence the Emperour had sent his commaundement and letters as well to Albert the Archduke as to Andrew the Cardinall who were not yet well aduertised how things had past That to leuie an armie onely vpon the teritories of the Empire they must take good aduice and that by a Diet or Generall Assembly of all the Estates of the Empire That the Spaniards and States had mightie armies and their souldiars had beene hardened and practised in armes for these thirtie yeares That both the King of Spaine and the said States hauing had warre with other Kings and Princes and their armies defeated they haue presently renued the warres and with greater forces That for many reasons he would not aduise them to take armes presently but to stay a time and in the meane while they should require both the one and the other againe to repaire the hurt done by them in the Emperours Countrie by some friendly composition and that in the meanetime the Emperour should call an Imperiall Diet where if it should be resolued to leuie an armie to chase as well the Spaniards as the States out off the territories of the Empire that the Emperour as the soueraigne head should consent thereunto and do any thing that was befitting his charge Contrariwise the Deputies of Westphalia of base Saxony and of the vpper part of the Rhine did shew that they could not attend to any othertime to resist the Spaniards and the Admirall who contrary to the promises made by them to restore the places taken did still rauage more and more ouer the Countries of Westphalia Cleâ—es Mark and Bergh That Albert the Archduke and Andrew the Cardinall had beene aduertised of the violence of their armies and that they must resolue to repell force by force Wherupon it was decreed by the consent of the greatest part in forme of an Imperiall Edict A decree made at the Assembly of Coâ—â—lâ—nâ— That they should giue necessarie succors to the Circle of Westphalia and to the other Estates of the Empire that were beseâ—ged According vnto this Decre Henry Iules Duke of Brunswike and of Lunebourg Postulus of Halberstat and Prince Maurice Landgraue of Hesse leuied good troupes of mâ—n with that which the States of the aboue named Circles did ad vnto them all which togither made a good bodie of an armie of Germains of ten thousand foote and three thousand horse Count of â—ippe Generall of Germaine armie whereof Simon de Lippe was Captaine Generall the Earle of Hohenloo commaunded the Duke of Brunswiks troupes and Count George Euâ—rard of Solms those of the Landgraue of Hesse And for Generall of the Artillerie they had Oliuer de Timpel Lord of Cruybeke This armie being on foote the Spaniards left their lodging about the end of Aprill in the quarters of Westphalia and Munster the which they had made very desolate and came and planted themselues along the Rhine about the Townes of Emeric and Rees And afterwards as the sayd armie approched hauing stayed to beseege the fort of Walsom right against the Towne of of Rhinberk vppon the riuers side which the Germaines did take in the end they continued almost two moneths vnprofitably in that quarter and neuer aduanced to the great discontentment of the said Princes of Brunswike and Hesse and of their Lieutenants In the end the Count of Lippe marching downe the Rhine on the same side the Admirall of Arragon retyred his Spaniards out off Emeric the 7. of May remouing his bridge which he had vpon the Rhine and placing it lower before the Towne of Rees After he had wel manned the said Towne with a
one of the Realmes which holds in fee and doth homage vnto the Church of Rome and for that reason besides the eight thousand Ounces of Gold which they owe yeerely they are bound to take armes for defence of the Church They had their part also of the fruites of the Holy yeare during which time many Frenchmen and others of the Religion went to see for curiosities sake without any feare of the Inquisition whose iurisidiction doth cease in the yeare of Iubilé many great personagâ—s from diuers parts of Europe went to this Iubile The Duke of Bar goes to Rome disguized to the Cardinal Aldobrandin and Ossat and to Monsieur de Sillery among the cheefe was the Dâ—ke of Bar who went in a disguised habit to get absolution for that hee had beene married against the rules of the Church and without dispensation of the degrees of consanguinity that were betwixt him and the Kings Sister for which cause the Bishop of Lorraine refused him the holy Sacrament and held him for excomunicate The King assisted this Princes humility and submission with his letters of fauour to diuers Câ—rdinalls The Duke of Sauoy was not pleased with the long delaies of the Court he complained that he was intreated with to great rigour The Duke thought to finde a King â—f Complements And the King a Duke more easie to restore that which he held The Duke couered his discontent with silence and discretion In the end they agree to treat of their affaires and differences by Deputies Deputies for the King and Duke For the King were named the Constable the Chancellor the Marshall Biron the Marquis Rhosny and Villeroy Fâ—r the Duke Bely his Chancelor the Marquis of Lullins Iacob the Earle of Moret and Aâ—â—mes The Kings Deputies demand restitution of the Marquisate of Saluces in the same Estate it was in wheÌ„ the Duke surprized it The Dukes first propositioÌ„ was to haue the King renounce the protection of Geneua the which was not sayd they coÌ„prehended in the Treaty of Peace in speciall words as other Townes This did much offend the King and his Councell The Duke intreated the Popes Nuntio to make this proposition The Popes Nuntio intreatâ— the King to leaue the protection of Gâ—neua who hauing his soule as free from craft and dissimulation as it was full of zeale and integrity found meanes to speake vnto the King without trouble or alteration He sayd that there was a meanes to vnite the extremities of their wills for the same reason which required the Duke to restore the Marquisate did not hinder his Maiesty from the enioying of that which did belong vnto him It is true sayd the King There the Nontio repiled The Towne of Geneua belongs vnto the Duke and nothing hinders him from settling the authority which his Predecessors had there but the power of your protection Is it not then reason that as you will haue him restore the Marquisate which is yours you should suffer him to enioye the Towne of Geneua which is his The King to be speedily freed of this argument answered that things were different that hee had not made the protection of Geneua It was a Treaty whervnto he was bouÌ„d by faith for the reuerence he did beare vnto his Predecessors who had made them selues Protectors of that Common-weale from whom they had receiued seruice in their necessities And he would neuer oppose himselfe against the firmnes of their promises The Nuntio sayes presently vnto the King As you will not leaue the protection of Geneua for that it was made with your Predecessors in like sort the Duke is not bound to yeelde you the Marquisate of Saluces for that he tooke it not from you but from the deceased King Our difference replyed the King although for my part it consists of many points is reduced onely to that which concernes the Marquisate of Saluces The vsurper must restore the Duke of Sauoie hath vsurped my Marquisate there is nothing that doth free him from restitution I hold nothing of his and therefore must not restore him any thing I will neuer hinder him from hauing reason of Geneua so as hee get it without armes for when hee shall come thether with force I will alwaies resolue of that which I ought He thinkes that if I should abandon that Towne he might force them to acknowledge him but I should purchase in abandoning them much blame it being against the honor of this Crowne and the firmenesse of a Kings word The Duke had reason to affect this place he might make a great Bul-warke thereof against the Suisses to recouer that which they did hold from the ancient house of Sauoye and to make all things difficult for the French among the Cantons This proposition of Geneua was razed out of the Duke articles no more spoken of in the Assembly of the Deputies They did presse the restitution of the Marquisate or the exchange of the Countries of Bresse Pigneroll and Sauillan with some valleys for the passage of Piedmont The Deputies assembled but once The Duke fore-seeing what the issue would be They demand an exchange insteed of restititution and hauing vnderstood that the Chancellor speaking of the Restitution or Exchange had sayd that they must passe that way or by the sword he let the King vnderstand that to many delt in the busines and that it should be sooner ended if but one did faithfully report the intentions of either part The Patriarke of Constantinople was imployed therein but the Duke disliked thereof Hee resolued to free himselfe of these difficulties and to runne the hazard and shame of the refusall Then hee presented his first proposition of the Empire and Duchie of Millan giuing him very plausible meanes if they had beene as easie in the execution as in the discourse shewing that for all the fruite of the conquest he desired nothing but to hold the Marquisate of Salusses Whervnto the King answered That he was neither of that age nor his affayres in that estate that King Francis his were when he aspired to the Emâ—ire That there was not a Duke of Saxony nor a Langraue prisoner to giue him the Title of Protector of Germany and other Princes prisoners as vnto King Henry the second If a King of France should bee ambitious of any thing greater then his Crowne it might bee an Empire but not in the estate that it is nowe The Emperor hath little more then the title the soueraignty remaining to the States of thâ— Empire the title of an Emperour beeing little more then that of a Duke of Venice but as it was vnder Augustus when as Rome which commands but 7. hills had reduced all the world vnder one Empire or at the least as it was vnder Charlemagne As for the Duchie of Milan the King said that the enterprise was tedious and the issue vncertaine as of all other desseins and for the meanes which the Duke discouered vnto him there was nothing so
Iulliers after the decease of the Countesse of Valpurg He sommoned the Gouernor to yeeld who finding himselfe to weake abandoned the place The Gouernor complayned to his Master the Duke of Iulliers but the controuersies betwixt him Prince Maurice and the States were reserued to be determined by the Imperiall Chamber The Arch-duke beseeged Ostend Oâ—tâ—nd beseeged the which continued three yeares and eleauenth weekes it was noted for the most memorable seege that euer was in Europe whereas so many thousands of men ended their daies and which endured so many hundred thousand Cannon shot before it yeelded Ostend which hath beene the place whereas all the brauest subiects of Spaine for the Arch-dukes And al the valiant English and Hollanders for Prince Maurice and the States haue in emulation one of an other shewed their corrages and whereas many French according to their diuers affections haue â—ought Honour This Ostend is a Sea Towne in the CouÌ„ty of Flanders two Leagues from Oudenbourg three from Nieuport and foure from Bruges vpon the riuer of Iperle the which runnes into the Sea making it a good port for shipping It was walled about but in the yeare 1572. and in the yeare 1587. It was better fortefied by the States of the vnited Prouinces The particularities of this seege I omit because they are written at large and published by others Ferdinand the Archduke being at the seege of Canisia demanded succors from the Pope and the Princes of Italy The Duke of Mantoa was Lieutenant Generall The Pope sent him his Nephew Iohn Francis Aldobrandino hauing deliuered into his hands the blessed Standard with Ceremonyes The King of Spaine sent him sixe thousand Germaines and the Great Duke of Tuscany two thousand foote the time was spent in contending for command betwixt the Duke of Mantoa and Aldobrandino who beeing Marshall of the Campe would receiue no direction from the Archduke Great men for the iealousie of command loose great occasions but death ended this quarrell Aldobrandino dying three moneths after of a Qâ—otidian feauer the Troupes which he conducted continued still at the seege The Pope disposed of his Estates to Siluester Aldobrandino his Sonne his obsequies were made at Rome with great pompe Rochepot beeing Ambassador in Spaine 〈…〉 Ambaâ—â—aâ—or 〈◊〉 Spaine certaine French Gentlemen among the which his Nephew was had a quarrell with some Spaniards who did iniury them and cast their Clothes into the Water they being a swimming The Spaniards had the worst and some were hurt and slaine Their Kinsmen demanded Iustice of the King who commanded his Officers to doe it but the Ambassadors lodging was forced and the Gentlemen drawne forth to prison notwithstanding any thing that he could say or doe to maintaine the liberty of his place the which is inuiolable euen among enemies The King was so offended with this iniury as hee commanded his Ambassador to returne giuing the King of Spaine to vnderstand that hee assured himselfe that he would do him reason when hee had well considered what cause he had to complaine Wherevpon all Trafficke was forbidden betwixt these two Realmes The Pope fearing that this violence done vnto the Ambassador of France could not passe without some feeling and that this Coale might kindle the fire of Warre betwixt these two great Kings hee sent into Spaine to haue the prisoners the which were sent vnto him and the Pope deliuered them presently vnto the Lord of Betunes the Kings Ambassador at Rome and so the Peace was continued The Ambassadors of Venice were better intreated in France That great and wise Senate holding themselues bonnd by the Lawes of friendship An Ambassâ—ge from Venice to deplore the misfortune and to reioyce at the prosperity of their friends hauing beene long troubled for the afflictions of France they send a great and solemne Ambassâ—ge to congratulate the fruit of the Kings victories and the beginning of his Marriage The Ambassadors were chosen out of the Procurators of Saint Marck and of the cheife men of the State They came to Paris Donâ—t Dâ—lphin Procureurs of S. Marck Ambassadors Donat was in election to be Duke the King sent the Marquis of Rhosny to conduct them to Fontainbleau and to intreat them to bee contented with their Reception in that place whereas the Queene was seeing their Ambassage was common to both and that for the indisposition of her greatnesse it could not bee at Paris which occasion did renue the ioyes of the Court the which was in so great Tranquilitye as it seemed neuer to haue beene in trouble The Great Turke sent Bartholomew de Cueur his Physition vnto the King Bartlemew de Cueur of Marseilles a Christian Renegado sent to the King by the Turke to acquaint him with the Estate of his affayres and to intreat him to mediate a Truce in Hungary When as this man spake of the Turkes power hee did so extoll it as if hee had beene able to vanquishe all the Princes of Christendome not expecting Pope nor Emperor so as the King of France did not meddle in it Hee presented a Dagger and a Cymiter vnto the Kings Maiesty whereof the Hilts and Scabberds were of Gold garnished with Rubies and a Plume of Herons feathers The King related vnto him what hee had done in Sauoy and complayned that to the preiudice of ancient Capitulations not onely the English were distracted from the Banner of France vnder whose guide and protection they were bound to trafficke but also the Flemings Hollanders and Zelanders were comprehended vnder the Banner of England To this complaint hee added an other against the courses and violencies of the Pirats of Algier and the Coast of Barbary saying that if the Iustice of the great Turke did not cause these Pirracies to ceaâ—se he should haue no reason to beleeue his friendship It was at such a time as the Great Turkes affayres were very confused and troubled in Asia The Seriuano reuolted in Asia by the reuolt of the Seriuano and almâ—st desperate in high Hungary The King of Persia had sent Ambassadors to the Christian Princes to animate them to make War against him promising to contribute an Army of a hundred and fifty thousand horse The King of Persia sent his Ambassador to the Pope Emperor King of Spaine and threescore thousand foote offering vnto the Christians liberty of Religion and free Trafficke in his Kingdomes His Spays and Iannissaries murmured against him and the bad carriage of the Empresse his Mother who during his Delights and Dissolutions held the reyns of Gouernment did alwayes through the mallice and frailty of her Sexe support the worst Councells and Resolutions They complayned dayly of the Mother and the Sonne speaking of her as the Romaines did of Agrippina crying out that they should intreat her worse then by a simple banishment and of him as the Souldiars spake of Gallienus whom they esteemed not to be borne but for the pleasures which are in and vnder the belly
An other meanes did greatly ease the beseeged the diuision in the Dukes campe and the aduertisements they receiued from their friends following the armie So the ende of this seege beeing of exceeding charge and the graue of aboue twentie thousand men slaine in skirmishes encounters surprises assaults and dead of hurts hungar and diâ—eases caused the King to make great desseins for the repayâ—ing of many errors into the which the priuate ambition of some abusing the youth and the violent passions of this Prince had drawne him But too late for him for hee sees his Realme inflamed with the same fire which they perswaded him should haue beene wholie quenched with the bloud that was shed at Saint Bartlemewes and the warres of ciuill diuision vtterally extinct So the fealing hee had in himselfe of these actions whereinto they had drawne him shall soone lodge him in the sepulchre of his Predecessors The other exploits of warre done else where in diuers Prouinces of the Realme Warre in diuers Prouinces require some place in our historie The Baron of Serignac a wiseman vertuous and louing martiall discipline with some others of Quercy Foix and the neighbour Prouinces hauing caused Montauban to resolue to armes go to field with their troupes put garrison into Terride whereof Serignac named himselfe Baron tooke Buzet vpon Tar three Leagues from Tholouse by scaldo assure themselues of Villemur seize vpon many other places fortifie those they had held during all the former troubles warrant the passages then at an assemblie held at Realmont in Albigâ—â—is they made a diuision of their charges and gouernments The Vicounte of Goâ—rdon had a part of Quercy towards Cadenac and Serignac the other towards Montauban and Gasconie the Vicounte of Paulin Lauragais the Vicounte of Panas and his brother Rouergue the Vicounte of Caumont the Countie of Foix and the mountaine Countrie They were equall in their Commands but to auoide â—ealousie they decreed that one of them wanting succour the other commanders should succour him with all their forces and be commanded by him So they all retire to their gouernments In Languedoâ— euery one giues order for the preseruation of their estates Serignac occupies some neighbour places then hee campes with two thousand shot and some horse before Monricou makes a breach giues three assaults and one scaldoe is repulsed with losse Viouâ—e and Realuille make him receiue the like disgrace and kill many of his men But hâ— is reuenged to the benefit of one of his Captains beseeged in a village with foure score men he slue aboue two hundred men and put the rest to flight The Earle of Villars In Quercy Admirall of France and Lieutenant for the King against the Protestants in Quercy and the Countries there abouts gathers togither his troupes dispersed into garrisons beseegeth and takes Saint Geniez in high Quercy carries away the Lord of the place notwithstanding the coÌ„position made to depart with their liues and goods who was sent prisoner to Cahors It is better to hunt a farre off then nere at home The pursute of many against whome he had made cruell warre brought him to a scaffold as a spectacle and triumph to his enemies Brifenell in high Rouergue had a capitulation better obserued but the Admirall lost in counterchange in the moneth of May Soreze Montesquiou two Leagues from Tholouse Lodeue a Bishoprike and riche in the mountaines of Languedoc and Mas Saintes Puelles nere to Castelnaudarry The Marshall d' Anuille did likewise arme against the Protestants sixe Cornets of horse and ten thousand foote with foureteene peeces of battery pretending to beseeâ—e Nismes and then Vzez but the surprise of Sommieres nere to Bezieres and Montpellier called him from his enterprise He beseegeth it makes a breach and giues two assaults which were defended to the losse of the beseegers The Earle of Candale brother in Lawe to the Marshall arriues with a hundred horse and twelue companies of Gascons who desire to haue the forward at the third assault but with the losse of three hundred of the most resolute This checke amazeth the Earle What fooles are wee The seege of Sommecres saieth hee to the Marshall his brother in Lawe to cause our selues to bee thus beaten murthered and slaine for their pleasure who haue murthered our kinsmen friends and allies and will one day paie vs with the same money He had reason and the issue will teach vs soone the effect of this true deuinatio◠〈◊〉 if the Marshall of Montmorency had beene present this fatall 24. day o◠〈◊〉 the same furie had interred him with all his house vnder this common ruine as â—anie others yea Catholikes suffred the like violence by the practises of their priuâ—â—â—â—nemies to whome the time and force gaue meanes to reuenge their priuate 〈◊〉 vnder an other pretext There were foure moneths alreadie spent at this seege aboue fiue thousand Cannon shot had beaten the walles of Sommiers to powder victualls fayled and the beseeged demanded nothing but composition But the Marshall would haue it by force He exhorts his brother in Lawe to reuenge the death of his Captaines and soâ—diars who suffers him selfe to be perswaded but as he goes resolutely to the breach pâ—rfoâ—ming the dutie of a braue Commander and a resolute soldiar hee sees the place couered with a great number of his men and himselfe in the ende ouerthowne dead vpon the carcases This hens roust might haue beene the sepulcher of many more but Greâ—â—â—n to whome the honour of the taking and keping of Sommiers is chiefely due after they had performed the duties of valiant men accepted the composition was offred by the Marshall To depart their droms sounding Enseignes displayed their marches light in their cockes with seauen daies libertie to carrie away their bagage and to retire where they pleased So the Marshall seeing the resolution of them of Nismes and hauing lost two thousand fiue huÌ„dred of his best men dismissed his troupes and proceeded afterwards against the Protestants by seisures and sale of their goods within his gouernâ—ent The Admiralls army had an other successe Terride Flaignac and generally all which the Protestants held beyond the riuer of Garonne In Gasconic recompenced the losses he had receiued But Caussade stayed the course of his victories and made him vnable to do any thing worthie of fame La Motte-Puiols kept the Towne with sixe hundred â—arguebuziers and the repulse the Admirall receiued after a long wasting of his forces caused in the end the ruine of his army the which the Viconte of Gourdon shortned of a companie at the passage of Dordonne chasing the rest which marched to the seege of Rochelle The King of Nauarre had lately inuited his subiects of Berne to returne into the bosome of the Catholike Church They answered their Prince with excuses thinking it proceeded from an other motion then his owne and protest to other Churches of that partie to perseuer and maintaine themâ—elues
of Limoges should haue for her yeerely portion a hundred thousand Crownes and in case shee had any children they should carry the same titles and be prouided for And in case she did suruiue him she should inioy the Dâ—chie of Bar in Barrois with a yeerely pension taken out of the reuenues of Lorraine This done the ancient allyances which had bin betwixt these two houses were renewed and the marriage was consuÌ„mated but there was fiâ—st some quest on touching the reformed religioÌ„ in the which she had bin bred the which she would not change Why shee would not change her religion by reason as she said of her deceased mother Qâ—eene Ioan of Nauarre whose life actioÌ„s she held worthy to be imitated She did with all her heart affect that which did concerne the libertie of Conscience throughout all France beseeching the King often to let her see the assurances thereof whilest she was in France not to suffer his Edicts to remaine without execution being proclaymed and without a durable obseruation being executed Shee was Daughter to a Mother who preferred safety of coÌ„science before assurance of honours and greatnesse yea then life it selfe being accustomed to say to them of her part Ioan of Albret Queene of Nauarre caused 12. medailles to be mâ—de at Rocâ—â—ll wâ—th this insâ—riptioÌ„ Pai◠〈…〉 Mort honeste The King desiâ—es his sisteâ— should be â— a Catholike that armes should not bee layd downe but with these three conditions either an assured peace an absolute victorie or an honest death Moreouer Shee apprehended the reproche of inconstancie at that age if Shee should change her religion hauing returned vnto it after Shee had beene a while Catholike yet Shee promised her future husband to suffer herselfe to be instructed and to do what he pleased The King seeing his sisters resolution did what he could to reclayme her by mildnes propounding vnto her his own example and giuing her to vnderstand by some words that she must otherwise looke for no fauour at his hands Seeing hee could not pâ—euaile before he signed the sayd contract which was at Monceaux a Castell belonging to the Duckesse of Beaufort whome the King loued and the common bruite was that Shee did greatly presse this marriage by reason of her pretentions about the end of the yeare the King told her that his meaning was not to force her neither for her Religion nor for her Marriage He aduised his future Brother in Law to do his dutie and so discharge his conscience He also aduertised him of one expedient which was to remoue certaine women and other persons from about the sayd Lady for that her traine consisted of Catholikes and others and among those others there were some wilfull and contentious in whome the same Ladie trusted much for that they had bin bred vp in her seruice from her cradle but all that proceeded but from the bountâ—e of the saâ—d Ladie The sayd Prince of Lorraine accompanied with his Brother the Earle of Vaâ—demont The Prince of Loâ—â—aine arriueâ— at Paâ—is and other Noblemen of Lorraine with three hundred gentlemen well appointed a little before Ianuary this yeare 1599. arriued at Paris in which moneth the King had appointed the day of the marriage He entred by Saint Denis gate the King doing him the honour to enter with him hauing mett him in the field as hee came from hunting The King led the sayd Duke his Brother in Law calling him commonly brother to the Louure where they supped togither and Madam his Sister with them The time was spent in dancing and other exercises of recreation and pastime among the great Princes The Kings sister for her part shewed all the conteÌ„tment that might be as shee had good reason hauing attayned to that which shee was accustomed to say Grata superueniet quae non sperabitur hora the sayd Lady being wel instructed in the Latin tongue and sâ—ee did the more apprehend this Latin verse for that some had giuen it forth shee would neuer be married According vnto that which the sayd Ladie had promised to suffer her selfe to be instructed in the Catholike religion it was resolued by his Maiestie that there should be a confâ—rence betwixt some Catholike Doctors some Ministers of the reformed Relâ—gion in the presence of his Sister but they preuailed nothing for her conuersion The King foreseeing some inconueniences resolued as well to satisfie her conscience as to auoyd scandall to haue this instruction deferred vntill another time And in the meane time they should proceed in the marriage Hereupon there were some practises by the Ministers of the pretended Religion who would haue the honour sayd they that the Kings onely Sister should bee married by them and that the Prince of Lorraine should seeke his spouse where shee was and that it was not conuenient shee should seeke him in his Church In truth this was plausible and it seemed the Ladie had a great interest in it But the Prince on the other side protested neuer to be married by a Minister So as there was much arguing in what forme they should bee marryed But the King by his accustomed wisedome shewed the effect of his Authoritie The thirtith dâ—y of Ianuary being Sunday in the morning the King hauing aduertised his Sister ouer night of his intention and intreated the sayd Prince of Lorraine to be ready hee goes and takes his Sister at her rising and conducts her by the hand into his Cabinet where her future Spouse was already Hee commaunded the worthie and reuerent Archbishop of Roan his naturall Brother to marrie the sayd Marquis Prince and Duke with the sayd Princesse and Duchesse his Sister 1596. by words of the present Wherevnto the sayd Archbishop at the fiâ—st made some refusall saying That the accustomed solemnities must be therein obserued Wherevnto hee replyed most learnedly That his presence wâ—s more then all other solemnities and that his Cabinet was a sacred place And therefore hauing commanded the sayd Archebishop to go on notwithstanding all difficulties hee proceeded then to the Nuptiall blessing of the â—ayd parties present that were there conioyned in marriage euen as if they had beene in the greatest Church in Paris which done euery one went to his deuotion Afterwards the King commanded his Sister to attire her selfe like a Bride and so the feast was sollemnly celebrated All the great Officers did assist and serue there in their degrees with all the grace and Honour the King could deuise to giue vnto the Prince of Lorraine his Brother in Lawe This Marriage was Honoured with all kindes of sports and Dancing About the end of February the sayd Princesse went with her Husband into Lorraine whereas the Duke gaue her the greatest enteâ—tainement hee could deuise imbracing her as his owne Child There had beene great heart-burning and discontentment by reason of the diuersitie of Religion The Kings intentions were to drowne the remembrance of the bitternesse of forepassed raignes