of the same were led by the will of God or whether therein they enterprised any thing repugnant thereto especially sith the question concerneth the maintenance of the peace liues and soules of so many millions of parsons who either might or are already lost vpon this quarell And this I will say more that sith the fault hath proceeded of our Prelates who haue fallen a sleepe and haue not mainteined the fare that they ought for the nourishment of their Flockes who being ignorant in the most part of the principles of their religion haue gone out of their ranck and doe perticulerly require the reasons thereof it is most necessary gently to giue them a taste of the same without sword or fire vntil the condemned bee at large heard in their defences and lawfully conuict 14 Moreouer I dare aduowe that in Realmes and Empires natural Succession receiued by the estates is of such force that the best and most Catholicke Parsons neuer enterprized against y ◠progresse of the same as occasions haue bene ministred no not for Heresie although it were condemned and with all solemnitie accursed by the Church of GOD Notwithstanding vndoubtedly by other dealing they might haue hoped for better and that they were in maner assured of manifold afflictions at hand Had not certein Bishops Arriens infected Constantius whē he succeeded his father although he were very yong What was the cause that Zeno being an heritick was neuerthelesse made Emperour after his father in lawe Leo but that the Empire was atteyned for his wife AriadNe and little Leo sonne to the said Zeno whom his Grandfather had instituted to bée his heire in consideration whereof the Christians were content to beare that affliction Constantine the third and the fifth whē they were called to the Empire were heretickes but yet in asmuch as they were lawfull successors to the last deceased the Church would not meddle with them When Anastaze the first was chosen no other cause moued y e Patriarke of Constantinople and the people to force a promise from him that afterward hee should be a Catholicke or at the least that he should not make any alteration or stirre vp any broyle in the Church of God but onely because he was then an Eutichian who was condemned by the Counsaile of Chalcedon and the same is the onely caution that you may exact or require of your King in cace he were other then a Catholicke sith the Christian Church neuer desired greater assurance of the aforenamed then their faith and royall promise I might bee tedious if I should rehearse vnto you an infinite number of other examples whereby euery one may manifestly perceiue that the holy Primitiue Church neuer accoumpted it so smal a matter to violate the lawes of the Estate or to habandon that obligation that wee owe to such a Prince as is either lawfull successor to the deceased or els solemnly elected Who is he that wil not thinke the Bishoppes of those former tymes that I speake of to haue bene farre more zealous in their charge and better liuers thē the most parte of ours in respect whereof they might euen with their credite only haue sooner perswaded the people that thei gouerned for Religion and godlinesse sake to haue expelled deposed and banished those hereticall Emperours aswel as to haue admitted them into that succession that by the politick order of the Empire was vnto them due either to obey or yeeld them al fidelitie was it want of power all the world being Christian euen in the Prime of the Church about one hundred yeeres after that the Temples of the Greeke Idols had bene shut vp whereby not so much as the memorie of them remained among the subiects of this great Monarchie I will by the way rehearse vnto you a Decree of the Church made for y e posteritie of Kings least you shuld thinck me either to be led by affection or to haue told you fables Heare therfore the wordes of the Fathers assembled in a Counsaile Like as the Insolencie of wicked Kings haue euermore bene odious and abominable to the subiects so haue the people alwaies liked wel of the prouident foresight of the good who therefore could suffer or beholde a Christian offending in that poinct or that were desirous to expell the posteritie or ligne Royall from such rights and dignities as thereto doe apperteyne Such dealing doe we therefore expressely forbid in fauour of the posteritie of the most excellent Prince Chintillus we doe renew and cōfirme the decree that was made the last yere at the Synode houlden in this Church concerning the loue and good will that euery one is bound to beare to the Kings ligne and to the defence and preseruation which all subiectes of the Estate doe owe thereto to the ende the successors be not maliciously defrauded of the merites of their predecessors in the augmentation of their Crowne or their great liberalitie toward their subiects Also that none doe enterprize to hurt them because it is meete that by the authoritie of a Counsaile we do graūt peace to the succession and posteritie of those by whose meanes and vnder whose protection wee haue aforetyme bene preserued Admit therfore that the Church made this Decree in respect of that obligation that she deemed the subiectes ought to the posteritie of their Kings either for the loue and reuerence of those that had well gouerned their Commonwealths euen as GOD who is the author and holder vp of Monarchies would neuer take the Scepter wholy from Iuda for his seruaunt Dauids sake yet if our selues would but call to mind so many good Kings of this race especially the father of the house of Bourbon the Lorde S. Lewes whō for his good life the Church hath canonized and whose memorie ought to be vnto vs holy honorable we should shewe our selues most wicked periurde vnthankful and disloyall persons if wee should seeke or but make any countenaunce to thinke vpon innouating any thing against this posteritie 15 Good men are not ignorant of the pretences that these great bucklers of the faith doe take hold of which are first that the King of Nauarre being King would polute subuert abolish Catholick Religiō in France and force his subiects to become huguenots But to say the trueth this vizard is lesse then nothing for his former behauiours will presently force vs to confesse the cōtrary because our selues haue seene with what importunacie he hath besought our Kinges as beeing their subiect and perswaded them to suffer him and his partakers to liue vnder their obedience in all libertie of conscience Wherefore then should we thinke that when he were soueraign he would practize against his people any enterprize repugnant to that lawe which himselfe being in their race sought to enioye vnder the Kings his Lords Shal we presume that such a Christiā wise Prince instructed in the feare of God would become a Tyrant torment the soules of his subiects against
Greece Also among other the Ecclesiastical aunswers of the Patâ—iarkes of Constantinople is to bee seene this of Germanus to the Bishop of Ara who enquired how he was to proceed against a maiden that had bene blessed and corrupted before her ripe age also against the Priest that had ministred these ceremonies Whereto aunswer was made that the maid should be seperate and the Priest put from his charge 5 As in trueth in all well ordered Commonwealthes there haue euermore bene established a certaine age for the conioyning and mariage of the Citizens of the same because as saith Fulâ—entius the lawe of mariage is by the will of God ordeined fâ—r hauing of issue it is meete that it be contracted at lawfull age So as by the pollicie of some Citties it was considered that the tyme of generation doth for the most part by nature ende in the man at the 70. and in the woman at the fiftie yeere Aristotle is of opinioÌ„ that after that age mariage is not to be permitted Whereto seemeth to agree that which is found in the establishment of the Romaines Among whom those Citizens were not iudged to haue satisfied the lawe Iulia which was made for mariages who to the ende not to be subiect to the penalties limitted in detestation of vowed chastitie did contract matrimonie the man after sixtie yeres or the woman after fiftie For Iustinian also writeth that some accompted it almost a wonder in nature to see a woman with childe after she were fiftie yeres of age And it seemed such marriages were contracted not so much in hope of begetting children into the CommoÌ„-wealth as in respect of some wealth or other perticuler commoditie that the one hoped for of the other by which reazon wee reade that Antigonus perswaded his sonne Demetrius to marrie an old woman named Philla vsing the authoritie of Euripides which he altered to his purpose and in liew that the verse said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he sayd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the ende the sence might importe that for some benefite hee should not differ the mariage of a wife though of a contrary age As on the other side also ouermuch youth was neuer accoumpted meete for the coniunction of mariage because therein generation cannot bee but lame and vtterly vnperfect the mother in greater daunger at her childbirth the father more vndiscreete in the coniunction and so the more hindered from atteining to that perfection and force which Nature reserueth to their bodies wherevpon the auncients imagined that the Idoll of Apollo gaue the Trezenians warning when he had them beware of casting their seede ouer hastely vpon the fieldes of their countrey 6 Finally concerning this present argument although the sayd Lady Iane of Albret had offended in marying with the late Antonie of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme because she had beene afore married to the Duke of Cleue yet were that no let why the King of Nauarre now raigning should not bee borne of the lawfull mariage of the sayd Antony of Bourbon his father who doing amisse that vpon simplicitie vnder the authoritie and in the face of the Church with publicke credite did solemnize the said mariage in which cace there is no doubt but the ChildreÌ„ of a putatiue mariage as say the Canonistes are legitimate because in a doubtfull cace senteÌ„ce must passe in fauour of the marriage and of the children borne in the same the question depeÌ„ding vpoÌ„ the simple meaning conscience of him that meaneth to marrie a wife for by the lawes and decrees of the Church opinion hath the vpperhand of trueth so as by the common resolution it is enough for the legitimation of children that either the one or the other of the coÌ„tracters ment good faith in that coniunction beleeuing it to be a thing lawful for him Thus doe you briefly see how children borne of such mariages are legitimate In our cace wee haue moreouer aduowed that the pretended marriage of Lady Iane of Albret mother to the now raigning King of Nauarre was voyd and of no effect and for such by all reason iustly broken and disanulled by the iudgement of the Church with whose authoritie the sayd Lady Iane was permitted to marie where she pleased which was not done without president For wee reade in the auncient Chronickles that for the like cause the Emperour Ottho the fourth was diuorsed from Margaret Daughter to the Duke of Brabant Lewes Daulphin of Viennois sonne to King Charles y e sixt a litle before he dyed vsed as some say the like pretence to returne Catherin daughter to y e Duke of Bourgondy home again In later tyme King Charles the eight of Fraunce in the yeere 1480. was by his father Lewes the eleuenth before hee was foreteene yeeres old affianced by words present and so by indissoluble marriage vnto Margaret of Austrich daughter to the Emperour Maximilian who being then but two yeeres olde was conueyed into Fraunce and there brought vp for the space of ten whole yeeres after the which they were neuerthelesse diuorced by a dispensation from Pope Innocent the eight who also for the like reason dispensed with Lady Anne of Brittaine and gaue her leaue to marrie where she pleased notwithstaÌ„ding during her minoritie her father Francis Duke of Brittaine had matched her with the Emperour Maximilian by proxye had celebrated the sayd mariage Nicholas Duke of Lorrain while his father Duke Iohn liued did in the yeere 1460. by present words affiance Lady Iane of France daughter to King Lewes the eleuenth and yet comming to the age of foreteene yeeres he did through the Popes dispensatioÌ„ betroth Lady Mary of Bourgondy Daughter to Charles the last Duke of Bourgondy whom he was going to marrie when death euen during the preparatiues of the solemnitie of the mariage preuented him So the manifolde decrees and iudgements passed in like matters doe manifest vnto vs the exceeding malice of the enemies of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre 7 Their seconde obiection importeth that the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre is an Hereticke and therefore vnworthy to succeede in the Realme of Fraunce whose Kings are intituled most Christian in respect of the oath that they take at their sacring in the hands of the Archbishop of Rheimes which is that to their powers they shall defende the Catholicke Religion and faith which the sayd Lord King of Nauarre cannot doe as professing an opinion already condemned by the Church and so consequently can not pretend aught in the sayd Crowne neither may the subiects thereof obeye him according to the decree of the generall Counsaile holden at Roome vnder Innocent the third about the yeere 1215. repeated out of the auncient constitutions of Theodosius the yonger Valentinian the 3. and Martian all most Catholicke Princes vpon the confirmation of the general Counsailes of Ephesus and Chalcedon and afterward recited by Iustinian the first in the fifth Counsaile of
Constantinople about the the tyme whereof he thereupon declared his will as is to bee gathered by the dates of the sayde Counsaile and the Emperours decree inserted into his last Code and afterwarde confirmed by sundry the nouell constitutions of the sayd Prince whereby hereticks are debarred all right of â—uccession Assuredly this obiection at the first blush beareth a great shewe but we must therein of necessitie resolue two poyntes the one of the lawe the other of the deede In the first wee are to dispute whether an heretick may be depriued of that Realme that falleth to him by succession as this doth to the King of Nauarre In the other whether in this present action the King of Nauarre may bee termed an Hereticke and as such a one bee depriued of his succession 8 For the first I saye and maintaine that those Ordenances of Emperors and Canonicall decrees which doe depriue hereticks of successions are written and speake onely of particuler Christians whose goodes and successions are subiect to the politicke lawes of the Magistrates of the land but it is otherwise in cace of Empires and Realmes which may not bee wrested out of their handes that are the true Lordes of the same either for heresie or other cause whatsoeuer because they be holden immediatly of the hand of almightie God and not of meÌ„ as it was argued and concluded in the Counsaile of Paris holden vnder Lewes the meeke Lothair his sonne Kings of France and Emperours about the yeere 829. which was ratefied vpon the saying of the Wise man Counsaile equitie wisedome knowledge are myne by me do Kings raigne and Counsailors publish their decrees in righteousnesse of me are Empires holden The like is to be read in the prophesie of Daniell The sentence is according to the decree of the watch men and according to the worde of the holy one to the ende the liuing may knowe that the most high hath power ouer the kingdome of men and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will and appointeth ouer it the most abiect among men The same Prophet soone after saith as much to Balthazar King of Babylon in representing to him the force of Nabuchodonozer the Monarke of Assiria The Prophet Ieremie in his speech of the King of Kings teacheth vs also I haue made the earth and man and beast vppon the face of the earth through my force and with my outstretched arme haue giuen it to whom it hath pleased me So that â—ubiects are not to search into their Kings neither are borne but to obey and serue whatsoeuer their Princes be without any further enquirie of their righteousnesse Feare the King and knowe that his election is of God saith the Apostle And when any of them doe commaunde or wield the Scepter royall it commeth of the fauour goodnesse and grace that God purposeth to extende to his people in graunting them a good King endued with pietie iustice and Christian Religion the others also are the scourges and roddes of his wrath and iustice whereof the Prophet Ozee saith In my wrath wil I giue thee a King And Iob Who maketh the hypocrite to raigne for the sinnes of the people for Gods wrath being kindled against vs he will sende vs a King such a one as our offences shall deserue because as it is written in the same booke of Iob If wee haue a wicked King wee are yet worse then he The place of Isidore is very fit to this purpose It is saith he a hard matter to make the Prince amend if he be giuen to vice for the people stand in awe of the Magistrate but Kings if they be not withholden by the onely feare of God and dred of the torments of hell doe abandon themselues to all libertie and runne headlong into the bottomlesse pit of sinne I say therefore that it is not for the people otherwise then with humilitie and obedience to controule the actions and qualities of their King but their duetie is onely to cast vp their eyes to heauen and to consider with themselues that by the wil of God the Scepter is fallen into his handes and power that beareth the Crowne whether he bee good or bad especially being there to called by lawful succession such as is in our France wherein by the Monarchiall lawe the people haue not onely referred al their power into the Kings hand and might but which is more haue also tyed their owne hands so as they can haue no redresse so long as any male of the bloud royall doe remaine according to the lawe of the Realme being the neerest male in agnation to the deceased after the generall custome of France yea notwithstanding he bee vnable vncapable and do want discretion to gouerne the Estate in all which causes they may only appoynt him a tutor and administrator of the publicke affayres the order wherof haue bene practized in our Fraunce vpon Charles the Simple and Charles the sixt For notwithstanding the Realme especially ours be not properly hereditary patrimoniall or fâ—udall yet it is successiue and falleth to the neerest not in qualitie of heire to the deceased but as to the next in bloud in masculin ligne so that consequeÌ„tly what euer he be he is called and whatsoeuer default be in his person either of age iudgement or what els soeuer yet may the Estates and Peeres of the Crowne do no more but appoint a tutor to gouerne him and by counsaile to supply whatsoeuer his imperfections because he was elected in heauen so soone as he came into the world All such also as shal resist him who by succession is lawfull King shall encurre the wrath and displeasure of almightie God because we are not to staÌ„d in argument or murmure against the deuine wisedome who for the afflicting of his chosen people and the house of SioÌ„ did many times suffer them to be gouerned by yong wicked franticke and vnfaithfull Kings yea meere Tyrants such as in Iuda were Roboam Ioram Ochozias Amasias Achas Ozias and others who were either Idolaters or misbeleeuers in the true God of Abraham Likewise in Israell Nadab Baaza Achab with his wife Iezabell Manasses and the most part of the rest of their Kings who raigned with more Idolatrie and tyrannie against the fauoured of God then in mans opinion was requisite With the like scourges also God hath visited his Church since y â— time of grace wherin it pleased him to send his deare sonne into the world with his most precious bloud to redeeme vs from our sinnes permitting to sit therein not onely many vnfaithful Emperours and Kings conspired enemies to our faith and heretickes but also particuler Pastors ordeyned for the feeding of the soules of Christians euill liuers and of pernicious example Constantine sonne to great Constantine Valens brother to Valentinian the first and Zeno sonne in lawe to Leo the first Emperours were Arriens Anastase and Iustinian the first of that name were
shewe you the welth of the Church bringeth you into suspition among both rich poore Theeues and Slaunderers that seeke your spoyle besides that you are therby filled with cares lyings in waight braules strifes hatered feare couetousnesse and perpetuall sorrowe such as the miserie of our worlde can teach vs wherein it is true that the most part of the Clergie haue no other minde neither doe moue warre for any other cause but onely for feare of losing so great rents and reuenues which wrongfully they deuour out of the goodes of the poore Whereby wee may perceiue that in such men we haue no more left but the shadow remembrance and be wailing of the Christian Church springing and florishing in pietie for whose sake the Apostles would neuer possesse any thing and before Gods people nourished the Leuites widowes and Orphans For when the Church thought it good to haue reteine any thing for the reliefe of the poore and of the Pastors thereof it committed the distribution and ordering thereof to such among them as by the Church were thereto elected because the people but especially the Princes were either sworne enemies to the faith and persecutors of the Spouse of Iesus Christ either at the least weake of small zeale or but meanly grounded therein wherevpon the treasure and common Storehouse was vsually committed to the custody of the Bishop as vnto hym that was accompted most glorious in pietie and duetie in the holy distribution that he made whereof he reserued onely sufficient for the necessitie of his owne liuing Like as Socrates writeth that Chrisantus daily reserued onely two Loues for his owne sustenance Of this common store committed to the handes of the Bishop is it come to passe that when hee began to serue him selfe and badly to employ to his priuat commoditie like a thiefe that thing which to hym in the qualitie of a steward onely subiect to render accompt was committed he found him selfe farre richer more mightie and better at ease then the rest of the Clergie and therevpon by the sligtes of the Deuill who had thrust into his hands so much wealth to corrupt the holines example and eminencie of the Church of the sonne of GOD through the euill housbandry of the heads thereof began to bragge aboue all other But so soone as Princes began to taste of and auctorize Catholick Religion they sought also to become Stewards and housbanders of Church goods as making a part of their common wealthes because as Oâ—tatus Mileuitanus did verie wisely say It is certaine that the common wealth is not in the Church but contrariwise the Church is in the common wealth vnder the aucthritie whereof she displaieth the Sunne Beames of her fayre face Herevpon doe wee reade that the Emperour Constantine the great was the kéeper and disposer of the treasure and goods of the Church after the example of the auncient kings of Iuda of whome among other it is found of Ioas the he by the counsaile Ioiadas the Priest fearing lest the Priestes should bestow that money which the people had contributed towarde the reparations of the Temple amisse commaunded it to be put in a Cofer and distributed in the presence of one of his men And in deede at the beginning the Church was vnder the authoritie of Christian Princes not only in respect of the temporall goods thereof but also as concerning the institution of the charge Iurisdiction gouernment and correction of the maners of the Cleargie by the sayd reason of the aforenamed Bishop of Africke whereof I will seeke no better Testimony then that which saint Augustine writeth who teacheth vs that the notice of Ecclesiasticall causes was coÌ„mitted to the Emperour Constantin saint Hierom also aleadgeth very good reasons in his Commentary vppon Hieremy whose opinion is confirmed by Gratian in his Decrees For in troth kings by this care and diligence doe testifie their zeale and pietie to Religion In consideration whereof Gregory reporteth that the first Emperours and Christian Kinges did giue and conferre the Churches in which power the Cannon Doctors Bald. Archid. Panorm and some others are forced to graunt that by reason of their Crowne they are grounded vpon common Lawe And before them Saint Ambrose in his Discourse De tradendis Basilicis did maintaine the same Neuerthelesse such asdoe reade Histories are not ignorant what Tragedies the Popes within these sixe hundreth yeres haue for this article raised against the Emperours of Germany whome in the end they haue driuen to giue ouer the game so as there remaineth but little of that former aucehoritie Royall in Christendome sauing in the Maiestie of the Flowerdeluce which God bee praysed hath hitherto kept it selfe hole and a Virgin and so wil stil keepe it selfe if the good and naturall Frenchmen would put to their helping hand as by y â— oath of Nature that they owe to the Dignitie of this Crowne they are bound For they must vnderstand that it is one of y e greatest points wherevpon the Pope is so importunate to publish his pretended Counsaile of Trent in Fraunce through the assistance of the Spaniard by the ministerie of his Proctors the vnthankfull Nourse children of this Realme for the abasing and deminishing of the dignitie of our Crowne which euermore thankes be to God hath had soueraigne power institution iurisdiction and police ouer the Clergie and the Officers and Magistrates vnder the Kings aucthoritie in his Parliaments greate Counsaile euen since the planting thereof haue power and aucthoritie by appeale of abuse fallen before them by his Maiesties Subiecs to breake disanulle and cut of whatsoeuer shall bee found to haue bene made pronounced decreed adiudged established and ordeined by the Pope the Bishops or other Delegates of the Ecclesiasticall de audience against the holy Decrees Lawes Edicts and Ordenaunces of his sayd Maiestie or arestes of y â— sayd soueraigne Courts because in trueth the Prince is the guardian reuenger and reformer of Ecclesiasticall discipline as the auncient Bishops and Popes more honest and not so ambicious as the most parte of ours haue often openly confessed Yea it so appeareth in the Epistle of Pope Iohn the eleuenth which beginneth Inter claras C. de Tri. written to the Emperour Iustinian at such tyme as no doubt the Church was vnder the dominion of the Emperour as all men may perceiue by the first booke of IustiniaÌ„s Code by his nouell constitutions 3. 5. 6. 16. 37. 56. 57. 58. 59. 67. 83. 117. 123. 133. 146. Also since by the edict of Tiberius the seconde Basil Leo the Philosopher Alexis and sundry other Emperours of the East In our France the Pope and Clergie cannot deny the ordinary collations euermore made by our Kings as testefieth Gregorie of Tours Aimonius with the rest of the auncient Historographers of our NatioÌ„ neither the goodly orders reformatioÌ„s of y e Church made by Clouis in the Synode that he called at Orleans
briefe that to the ende by the death of the late Mounsier the Duke to insinuate himselfe further in his Maiesties fauour and to bee neerer vnto him he had determined to alâ—er his Religion Which was a subtile â—llicie both to bring him into suspition with his owne partakers and into contempt among the Catholickes so as by that meanes both parts might haue forsaken and despised him and so he might become a pray to their fayned League as a man light vnconstant and of small stedfastnesse which is one of the chiefest things that euery ChristiaÌ„ Prince ought to abhorre especially in causes of ReligioÌ„ which we may not lightly chaÌ„ge neither without great notice of the cause and the discourse thereof publickly argued in the Church of God but especially in our awne consciences Wherefore good men neither ought ne caÌ„ mislike that the sayd Lord King of Nauarre doth protest to liue and dye in his Religion permitted vnder the Kings authoritie by his Maiesties Edicts published euen by y e decree of the States of the Realm neither are wee to terme him an hereticke or obstinate person vntill wee haue lawfully by a free vniuersall or nationall Counsaile whether shall seeme most expedient condemned that opinion which he holdeth Will ye likewise that I shewe you what mistrust the Catholickes may conceiue of his goodnesse and singuler clemencie Then would I pray the most passionate to consider and looke vpon his famelie They shall finde the same to consist for the most part of Catholicke Officers But of what sorte Euen such as are neerest about his person who haue him in their haÌ„ds vpon their honors and consciences to whom he committeth himselfe and vpon whom of himself he doth depend as vpon his keepers Maisters of his Guardrobe Stewardes and many others who before his face with his liking and contentation being in his trayne do ordinarely go to the Masse assist at the deuine Seruice ministred after the maner of the Catholick Romish Church To be brief euen with this qualitie he acknowledgeth theÌ„ for his good faithfull and loyall seruants This could they not assure themselues of neither yet serue him with good hearts beeing such men of honor as they are if in his behauiours they could perceiue any mistrust which is the nource of hatred and mallice against the professors of their Religion or if they could finde which were easie to doe that he did euill entreate or forbid them to serue God after their maner and so sought to bee the tormentor of their consciences To conclude al these coÌ„siderations alledged against the King of Nauarre which are neither true neither of any outwarde apparence cannot in y e coÌ„sciences of good men truely FreÌ„ch debarre him from beeing sufficient and capable of the Crowne of France yea further I say that the same notwithstanding he is your true and lawfull King to whome onely you are bound to obeye in cace during his life the sayde occasion of substitution should fall out which God forbid and which also neither he ne wee ought or should desire if either wee were Christians either els did beare any iot of hartie good will or affection to our King 18 To proceede let vs see whether a king houlding the Scepter or raigning ouer any estate especially ouer ours may appoint and nominate any other successor then him whom nature and the Lawe of the Realme haue giuen him This question I do not moue without cause for in trueth the perturbers of the peace of this Crowne and such as iniustly do pretend to set thereinto a foote haue made a League which they entitle Holy but al good med doe truely name Bloody with the Pope the Spanierd and the Sauoyan the conspired enemies to France and the Royall blood thereof through whose helpe they hope to leauy an Army wherwith to come into the hart of the Realme onely say they simply to sommon the most Christian King to name a successor at their deuotions Oh what an execrable mischiefe to seeke to force vs to enfringe the successiue lawe of this Realme whereof we haue so many worldes enioyed the blessed good hap What impudency those that haue not almost whereof to liue in their owne houses to goe about to preuent and ouerthrowe the order and Estate of so great an Empire This is a wonderfull bouldnesse to endeuour to compell so mightie a Monarcke as the French King and their owne lorde being yong healthy and such a one as it if please God hee may graunt him the blessing of the posteritie of Abraham to choose him a man to be his Heir But the French men doe assure them selues that they haue a King that is of better bringing vp then so one that is valeant feareth God and is ielous of his honour yea such a-one as would not for the getting of the whole worlde make such a breache in his conscience reputation vertue and memory that our Children should haue cause atro carbone illum notare saying that he had so farre hated himselfe and his owne blood as to haue corrupted the Lawes whereby after his predecessors he doth raigne euen since the originall of the Monarchie and to haue transferred the Crowne out of his owne famely for the satisfying of the rashnesse of those who finding them selues in Armes might hasten his time to the end to cause him the sooner to leaue them his roume For what dareth not Ambition and desire to Raigne vndertake Moreouer I doe most humbly beseech his Maiestie to pardon me though I boldly shew him that it is a thing that hee may not doe Also that the Lawe of the Realme whereby him selfe is King forbiddeth hym to meddle therewith because the same taken order therin vnto whom it is commendable in the Maiestie of a Monarke to acknowledge him selfe bounden And thus was it iudged declared and put in execution by the Parliament of the Peeres of France for Charles the seauenth against the treaty which king Charles the sixt in the yere 1420. made in y e towne of Troye in Champagne at the Mariage of his daughter Lady Katherin vnto King Henrie the fifth of Englande which imported the graunt and minde of the sayd King Charles the sixt to be that the sayd King of England or his issue male comming of the sayd mariage shonld be called to y e Crowne of France the said Charles the seueuth be thereof debarred and disinherited for euer This is not now say our Maisters the first time that it hath bene and perpetually shall be obserued by y e Salick law of this florishing Crowne which the King that houldeth the Scepter cannot alter because he is but a tutor protector collector and administrator thereof salua eius substantia itaque nec donare nec perdere poterit neither otherwise dispose of the proximitie of his bloud then the law of the Realm will beare neither yet transferre it into any other hand then that whereto it apperteineth although hee
their owne and if they may to seaze vpon this Crowne which they haue leueled at euer since the decease of the late Henry the second without employing themselues in any other affaires then seeking the meanes to atteyne thereto yea euen partly they giue out that it were better to conquer the Realme of France then to goe to Hierusalem to seeke for the succession of Godfrey of Buillon I doe therefore most humbly beseech the Queene the Kings mother whom our Espaniolized Frenchmen doe call vpon for their succour to be ware of being deceiued in the faire pretences of these conspirators but to assure her selfe that notwithstanding whatsoeuer their flattering sweete tongue they will neuer bee satisfied but with the life and Scepter of her sonne her selfe Moreouer I beseech God to graunt the King the wisedome of SalomoÌ„ wheÌ„ his mother Bethsabe came to desire him to like of the mariage of Adonias with Abisag the Sunamite who had bene King Dauids Concubine in his latter daies vnder the pretence whereof he had vndertaken with the helpe of Abiathar the Priest Ioab and Semei to haue depriued the King of life and kingdome which this fountaine of wisedome speedely perceiuing after he had heard the petition of the Queene his mother in liew of graunting it and considering how this traytor vnder a false proposition had abused her commaunded to put him to death together with Ioab and Semei and depriued Abiathar of his Priestly office and function 28 Know we not the occasions of Dauid the Aduocates one of the wickedest men that euer liued iourney to the Pope and Court of Rome whose instructions these good Schollers doe from point to point ensue and those men that haue sene the same can tell whether their beginning and the course that still they take be not at large therein conteyned Who is he that perceiueth not the importaÌ„ce of the disputation holden at Sorbonne about three or foure yere since by a poore bachelâ—r draweÌ„ in who had dedicated his Theses to the Abbot of Cluny the late Card. of Lorrains Bastard Wherein hee did what in hym laye to prooue that it was lawfull for the people to depose driue out kill and murder tyrannous wicked euill liuing and Hereticall Kinges whereat the King beeing moued as at a most daungerous and detestable proposition this poore instrument of Satan was at the barre of the sayde Colledge of Sorbonne slaine by one who of late dayes haue withdrawen hym selfe loaden with Spanish Pistolets and Iewels and then cloked this goodly deede least the author of this so vnchristian learning and knowledge should by his mouth haue bene disclosed Might not we haue noted what seruants were procured to be placed abont Monsier the Kings brother and to what end amoÌ„g whom the forwardest had bene trayned vp in the Schole of these perturbers of our peace as being their creature witnesse that nowe he is with them and then vsed all his endeuour to plonge that yong Prince in all voluptuousnesse lechery and heate of youth yea hee did better his businesse for hee betrayed him to the King of Spaine sould the Spaniard to the States and the Huguenotes to all others Whereby hee made money of all with the price of the honor reputation and life of his Maiestie or rather of all France The like did also three or foure other bad parsons who all had bene brought vp and were giuen to his highnesse by one selfe hand to the ende to habandon hym for a praye to the first mischaunce that might happen among a greate number that night and day they deuised for the atteining to their entents yea they went so farre as to set him at debate with the King his brother and by meanes of some of theirs that were neere to either of them to cause nature and bloud to liue in mistrust of it selfe so to procure the ruine and losse of one or the other or of both togither and with them of this miserable Realme During which their sleightes they did neuerthelesse perticulerly thinck vpon the king whom when they found to be merueylous zealous in Catholike religion they began to practise some Spanish workemen to drawe vnto him and vnder the vaile of Religion to bewitch him and so wholy endeuoured themselues if they could to haue cast him headlong into some mishap as great as the same wherein they ê“longed poore King Sebastian of Portugall who by such meanes serued for a warme breakefast to the Spanish King and got hym a faire corner of lande through the subtelties of the Spanish Iesuites concurring with the Portingal Iesuites or peraduenture both coÌ„spired against the estate of that poore yong King so to cause hym desperatly to venture hym selfe whether he dyed with him the Scepter of Portugall which vndoubtedly God had long vsed to the great benefite blesse of all Christiandome These were the driftes of the good seruants of our Kings who thanked bee God was more circumspect and wary to put from about him such wicked spirites Certainly it is most necessary and expedient for a King to be Christian deuout zealous of Catholicke faith and to feare God but withall it is most daungerous for his person and Estate if hee become supersticious and an hypocrite First he thereby loseth all iudgement to discerne the enuious friends or enemies to his Scepter then he forgetteth the principall cause for the which he is a King which is the care and gouernement of his people for the exercize whereof onely he is bound chosen and bound to serue God in that ministerie lastly in the world that we liue in amoÌ„g the most corrupt soules that euer were the whole worlde doth mistrust and wonderfully suspect him whom they see make so great a shewe whether for enuy that euery one beareth to his more then common zeale either els for that in trueth it often falleth out that things of greatest apparance conteyne least trueth Now then these malicious persons haue but one onely subtile entent left which also it is meete for the people to knowe For yet they goe reasonably gently about their matters and doe giue out that they require onely abolition of the Edicts of pacification and to procure the exercize of one onely Religion in France to the ende vnder that pretence to embarke the King and almost to force him as aforetyme fearing least the ouer long peace of this Realme should close vp the passed vlcers they had done to breake off that amitie and good wil which it pleased him to shewe to the King of Nauarre and those of the pretended reformed Religion so that by such meanes they will cause him with the sworde that he should holde in one of his hands to cut off the other wherof must ensue the losse and sworne death of the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre against whose person perticulerly as beeing their principall mark they are determined to arme themselues After whose end also if the King of whom they shall then
stand no longer in neede will not in the meane tyme dye either through melancholy or choller so speedely quit them his roume they knowe in their Italian League Articifers enough to sende him into Abrahams bosome whereby they shall for so many good and commendable seruices done to our France bee thought more worthy to be crowned then now notwithstanding at this present they cause ouer loude to bee song their pretended merites by all the Spanish pentioners and feede Spyes in the Court at whose mouthes they set out their woundes receiued in the wasting of this Crowne after the maner of the auncient Romaines who exhibited themselues naked to the people in beggiug the Suffrages of dignities and offices Thus when through their wisedome they shal haue killed the King and the King of Nauarre who are y ◠two thornes that trouble their feete for the one they will procure the singing of a Deprofundis and for the other Te Deum laudamus whereby together with an absolution sealed in leade in the Cource of Roome they shall bee whiter then Swannes For of the rest of the Princes of the bloud they make no accoumpt neither doe thincke them subiect sufficient to put thē in any chafe about the rooting of them out so greate is the furie of Sathan in these daies This is the whole story which those that loue them are forced to confesse Neuerthelesse it seemeth that we sleepe our our mishap or ratherthat we make hast to this fire euen with our backe burdens of woode to kindle it in stead of water to quench it withall 29 Hereafter I pray you what dignitie or Maiestie may restraine from vice those that are so cruell to their King as to take armes against his person against the peace of his estate whose subiects they are and against the establishment of his Realme Neither Equitie Iustice Custome Lawes respect of land loue of their fellowe Citizens or reuerence to the Magistrate can permit those men that contemne the soueraign authoritie of the Maiestie royall and such as without respect to Iustice or publick honestie doe shew them selues more cruell and barbarous in procuring vnder pretence of reformation and zeale to Catholicke Religion the engendring in France of an immortall warre the mother of all impietie wrong reuenge ruine deformation and vtter subuertion of most mightie Kingdomes and florishing Empires to blush for shame What eminencie is the Church to looke for among the execrable blasphemies and infinite sacriledges that will be committed in the warres What power what authoritie what light may wee attend of Iustice when she is snared mastered become prisoner and ouerruled by the weapons of the most vicious and corrupt persons of this Realme What honour what degree what respect may the Nobilitie hope for beeing in perpetuall hazarde to loose life children wealth peace and free cōmandement ouer their vassals and subiects What ease what profite or what encrease may the ouertoyled laborer the venterous Marchant the quiet Burgesse or any other whosoeuer in this poore Realm buyld vpon Euery one must prouide for famine pestilence fire bloud and spoyle to be briefe for all the scourges that spring of the disorder barbarousnesse ambition and insatiable desire of those who if they maye finde assistance among the French will neuer lay downe weapons but either by an establishment of a perfect tyrannie proceeding out of their affections more grieuous and inspportable to those that shall remaine then warre it selfe or els by the selfe ruine and vtter extirpation of their wretched followers together with most of the good men that shal haue withstoode them Let vs not O Frenchmen perswade our selues that this mischiefe will be a matter of three or fower moneths onely For if it be Religion for the which they seme to bring you into the fielde your selues doe knowe that our Kinges haue not spared life state meanes or friendes for the remedying thereof within these fiue and twentie yeeres which notwithstanding what effect haue so many murders such plentie of battailes and such store of bloud spilt wrought Weene you that these who so long haue found meanes to defend themselues cannot withstand you but must so easely yeeld vnto you See you not the straunger that looke vppon you and doe prepare to hasten our destruction if we bee so foolish as to beate our selues The authors of this cōspiracie being now alone are no strōger then when they fought so sharply vnder the authoritie of King Charles the 9. and the King now raigning and were vpholden by the same meanes that now they assure them selues of out of Spayne Italy and other places You know they were chiefe of their Maiesties Counsaile Leaders of their Armyes or rather authors of all passed mischiefes enterteyning the King in that will and opinion wherein he then was namely that weapons were y e instruments to appease Gods wrath and to reunite vs in one onely Religion vntill his Maiestie vpon better aduice confessed the fruites and effects of the contrary and by the exāples of his neighbours did very wisely cōsider that the disease of Religion is so rooted in mans mynd that he were farre better to tollerate it sith we all agree in one belief and Creede of the Apostles then to hazarde his whole Estate by weening to heale vp a wounde which God willing maye by daylie conuersation bee suppled for vndoubtedly some diseases are of such a nature that it is more expedient for the Patient to beare the griefe thereof then for his cure to vse ouer daungerous and doubtfull remedies whose tryall is more sharpe and intollerable thē the disease it selfe With which counsaile truely royall fatherly and worthy a Christian and peaceable Prince these zelators of their own wealth rather then of Christianitie being offended doe now euidently shewe their bad mindes and do buyld their pretēces vpon the diuersitie of Religions vpon the oppressions of the people vpon the deformations of Iustice and vpon the distribution of Dignities notwithstanding all men knowe that in respect of the last they are better prouided and haue greater cause to praise the parting then to complaine of that honor that the King hath done them As for the rest themselues are the onely cause of all mischiefe engendred by ciuill warres which euer since the resolution vpon their forecast thei haue nourished in this Estate because it is certaine that peace is the mother of pietie establishment of Iustice and the true spring of mans ease Neither can we denie the good holy and commendable affection wherwith our most Christian and peaceable Prince set hand to the worke so long as it pleased God to let vs enioy peace whether in the example that he set vs in his Religion desire that hee shewed in reformation of Iustice or in the ease that so much as he might he procured to his good subiects What is there more to doe then fellowe countrymen but againe to sheath vp our weapons and deuoutly to pray to God to
doe now sufficiently lay open the trueth when vnder pretence of withstanding the King of Nauarre and hindering him from so much as the very shadowe of any vayne hope of succession they dare presently take armes against our Kings Maiestie and shake his Estate so to make themselues Lordes vnder the couerture of a sacke dipped in a fewe Imaginary rights as perniciously as lightly inuented For good men will euer confesse that it is not propter Iesum that now they runne to armes but rather for the satisfying of their insatiable ambition whereof how bad soeuer the intent be yet will the effects be more detestable except God take pittie vpon vs and the people with the Kings good seruants doe open their eyes to see clerely into this matter and to acknowledge it to be the catastrophe or last act of that Tragedie which these wicked people haue long played in this Realm vnder the shadow of zeale to Catholick ReligioÌ„ with the cloke whereof they goe about to shroude the most foolish in an irreconciliable diuorce from the King their soueraigne Lord and the naturall French Princes and perticulerly against the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre the neerest in bloud to his Maiestie whose destruction lieth them more vpon then all the rest 2 In his respect I will onely say that the crime of Treazon whereof falsly they accuse him ought not to be iudged by the sole occasion sayth Modestin for the reuerence of the Princes Maiestie but for the trueth Plinie writing in commendation of Traian sayth The crime of treazon was wont to bee singuler and almost peculier to him that could not bee charged of any other matter wherefore Traian abolished the same as one that contented himself with the force of other accusations this Prince holding opinion that sueh Monarkes as were so ieloux of their Maiestie had none at all And for the same cause was this kinde of accusation likewise abolished in the tyme of Claudius Adrian Pertinax Alexander Seuerus and other good Princes who deemed other publick accusations to be sufficient for punishment of euill liuers how farre soeur they should forget themselues Howesoeuer the case standeth coÌ„cerning the King of Nauarre he may yet more boldly speake in the presence and face of his enemies then might Cruentius Cordus beeing vnder Tyberius accused for saying that Cassius was the last Romaine when he shewed the Senat that they would punish him for his wordes because his deedes were irreprehensible For this Prince thankes be to God neuer offended his King in worde nor deede neither can his sclaunderers either generally or perticulerly taxe him of any action nere to rebellion or disobedience yea the whole pretence that these trouble some persons do take of his Religion is suppressed beaten downe by their owne ordinary and publick confession by the Princes Edicts and declarations and by infinite other writinges approâ—ued in all the Courts of Parliament of this Realme And in deede the whole rebellion fellonie wherwith they may charge him is that he would not suffer the knife to cut his throate but did quietly withdrawe himselfe out of the prease when he see that his enemies would force him to beare infinite iniuries vnworthy his greatnesse Otherwise who can say that euer he refused the duetie faith obedience and subiection which hee is bound to yeeld to the King his soueraigne Lord much lesse then that he hath coÌ„spired against his person that he hath sought to make himselfe King or enterprized any thing preiudiciall to the aduauncement and peace of the French Commonwealth Shewed hee euer any token of desire to bee named his Maiesties heire or successor Hath he chaunged his garment or augmented his Estate for his approach to the King through the euill hap and misfortune of this Realme growne vpon the losse of the late Mounsier the Kings onely brother Hath he called together his friends or craued the counsaile of Atturneyes to learne whether himselfe bee now the neerest of the bloud Royall Who can shew that euer he vsed any confederacies which iustly he might haue made as King of Nauarre and soueraigne Lord of Bearne or did euer employ any other then to the seruice of the King and wealth of this Crowne who will bee so malicious vnnaturall and sencelesse as to impute to fellonie y e withdrawing and cherishing of his fellowe Citizens the professors of the same Religion wherein hee was borne bred and brought vp euen from his cradle when he found them in like misfortune as himselfe and oppressed with the force of their aduersaries who vnder the cloake of the Kings authoritie haue often endeuoured to roote them out either the withstanding of the stripes and fortefying of himselfe for the safegarde of his life Sith so soone as it hath pleased his Maiestie to stretch forth his arme to them and to offer them such conditions of peace as himself liked of with libertie of conscience he hath not onely together with them vnarmed himselfe and yeelded his Houldes into the handes and power of his Maiestie and fallen downe at his feete but which is more haue returned their whole power together against those that haue come to his and their succour witnesse the siege of Newhauen and haue disunited themselues from all confederaties and Leagues which in respect thereof they were entered into with straungers and all this to the ende to submit them selues to the Kings good will who hath liked thereof and so confessed in all his Edictes of Pacification with other the perticuler good deedes and fauours which the sayde King of Nauarre confesseth to haue receiued of the hand and good will of his Maiestie who hath freely and liberally for the wealth of his Estate permitted to those of the sayd Religion the free exercize thereof notwithstanding the coÌ„spired enemies to this Crowne and to the Princes of the bloud haue often gone about to bring into suspition the actions not onely of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre but also of all other the Princes of Bourbon who onely of the Royall famelie doe remaine Besides I assure my selfe if any man would endeuour as it were necessary and meete by effectual reazoÌ„s debated in a lawful assembly of Gods Church to enforme the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre that hetherto hee hath bene deceiued and that his bringing vp in his Religion hath bene very bad hee is not obstinate but easely may be reduced and brought to submit himselfe to sentence giuen by force of Gods worde In the meane tyme we cannot blame him whoÌ„ his mother hath noursed brought vp in a certaine Religion publickly permitted by his Maiesties Edicts and ordenances for standing firme in the same and desiring to continue in that which he beleueth to belong to his saluation O Frenchmen is it meete the Kings Edicts should stand the wicked in stead of a bayt to roote out with the sword or guile more then barbarous to destroye the hearts liues of the Princes whoÌ„ God hath graunted
that Religion which with vniforme consent haue so many hundred yeres bene receiued in the Church especially considering that himself could not abide to haue his owne brought into bondage Moreouer with you ye trompets of sedition I doe agrée that then he should be no more able then now that such as would perswade him that the third part of the French are Huguenots are no good Arithmeticians also that for our preseruation in that estate wherein we now liue we neede no more but to set against him our walles I would therefore aske you what cause you should haue to feare that he would endeuour to force you to liue in any other Religion thē the same wherein he find you and your selues doe desire when in so doing he may happen to haue but euill successe and therewithall lose the loue of the whole worlde were not this as much as according to the Prouerbe to goe about to shaue an Egge 16 As also the obiection that they make namely that in the lands of Bearne and low Nauarre where he is soueraigne the Catholick Apostolick Romish Religion is not permitted is in trueth full of subteltie slaunder and enuie for hereunto he doth pertinently in my opinion aunswere that in respect of the land of Bearne it was not he that forbad it neither are his aduersaries able to proue any inhibition thereof in his name or frō him but contrariwise he assureth himselfe that it will appeare that immediatly or soone after the decease of the late Queene of Nauarre his mother his Maiestie by the Lord of Grāmont dispatched his Letters into the country of Bearne importing that his will was to restore and therein to set vp againe the exercize of the sayd Religion Vpon which commandement the States being assembled they denyed to put the same in executiō fearing such troubles and seditions as might ensue the people beeing haughtie mutinous and difficult enough to bee contented together with such small store of Catholickes in the sayde Countrey to prosecute the execution thereof if need should require What would you then haue him to doe more He did not the harme but wēt about to cure it there was none that desired to take his medicine What more can the Phisition doe to his Patient but prepare him the potion which may bee to his health and for want of the which if he lose himself is he not rather to blame his owne obstinacie then him that could not make him take his appointmēt For since that time the Estates beeing diuers tymes assembled in the sayde Countrey did nener require his Maiestie to restore the sayd Catholick Romish Religion which alwaies hee offered to doe and still so long as he liue wil if they doe require it As for lowe Nauarre the exercize of Catholicke Religion is there most free yea which is more throughout that Countrey there is no assembly of the pretended reformed Religiō but onely in two places as is most euidently knowne neither hath his Maiestie innouated any thing at his cōming throughout the sayd lands of Bearne or Nauarre But what is it meete for these feares and friuolous doubtes of a matter that neuer can come to passe to destroye this poore Realme with immortall warres and so make vs miserable before the tyme crye out before we be touched and to hasten and aduaunce the sorowes of our pretended mischiefes will you begin to crucifie and tye vs to a Caucasus for our whole life tyme or will you force vs here to begin our hell Is not the King thankes bee to God yong enough in good health and of sufficient dispositiō to see the raking both of the King of Nauarre and of the rest of the Princes of his age why thē should we mistrust the grace of God 17 As for the Protestation that the sayde Lord King of Nauarre made the yere 1584. in a Synode by the Ministers of his Religiō holden in the Towne of Montauban wherby he protested and declared that he would liue and dye therein and defend the same I wot not well why wee are so slye as for that cause to blame him or bee more vehement against him then before as in deede a number of persons too much ouerruled with vnreasonable passions haue misliked it and haue thervpon gathered some sinister iudgement of the affection of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre to the Catholickes whome most hartely I beseech with me to consider First that his protestation imported not the rooting of vs out neither together with vs the Religion of the Romish Church as the League doth him and his partakers so that his protestation is simply defensiue and could not therefore be more gentle for the which wee are rather to commend then to reproue him sith our selues are bound daily to make the like profession in the Catholicke Apostolicke Romish Church also that euery faithfull Christian is likewise bound by the Sacrament of Baptisme to make the like declaration especially Kings and Princes who ought to be mirors spectakles to their subiects yea the confession of their faith should serue for a publick example in the assemblies made for the Estate of the Church such as are y e Counsailes Sinodes and other like wherein it hath euermore bene noted that Emperours Kings and Princes thereat assistant did make profession of their faithes with protestation to defend the same Hereof wee haue for testimonie Constantine the Great in the Counsaile of Nice Theodose the Yonger in the Counsaile of Ephesus Martian in the Counsaile of Calcedon Iustinian the first in the Counsaile of Constantinople Charlemaigne in the Counsaile of Francfort with infinite other Christian and Catholicke Princes Sith therefore the King of Nauarre hath bene brought vp in that Religion which he holdeth and that the King by his Edicts permitteth the free exercize thereof throughout his Realme why should wee mislike that hee assisting at an assembly thereof protesteth to liue and dye in the defence of the same especially seing that it is no let but that when by a lawfull Counsaile either generall or nationall which the King and his Counsaile shall thincke most sufficient for that purpose we shall haue perswaded him not to bee caried awaye without reason hee may immediatly returne and protest that hee hath bene misled and that hee weareth not the sworde but for the defence of the Romish Church as now hee voweth the vpholding of his owne Moreouer I would that such as are offended at the sayd Protestation should know that the occasion that moued the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre to bee present at the sayd assembly at Montauban was not small neither of small importance to the reputation of him and his Estate for it is not vnknowne to all that his enemies had raised a speech aswell among al forraine Nations and throughout Europe as also perticulerly in this Realme that the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre had put from about his person the Ministers of his Religion that hee went to Masse to be
graunt vs peace and by meanes thereof to reunite vs in the Faith and Religion of the Catholicke Church so to serue him faithfully with our good King to set to our shoulders to helpe to support the burthen of commaunding in this Realme layd vpon him in heauen yeelding our selues pliant simple and obedient to his commaundements to the end altogether we may serue and praise the deuine Maiestie holily and peaceably euery one according to his duetie the Prince in peaceable and wise gouernmēt of vs as hetherto through the grace of che holy Ghost he hath done our selues in louing reuerencing obeying and faithfully seruing his Maiestie as wee are bound vnder payne of eternall damnation For so long as we are in this world if we doe otherwise we shall resemble the Marriners that in the Ship quarrelling with their Pilot oppressed with the tempest and enuironed with the enemie doe in the ende finde themselues forced to saile away with some mercenary straungers who will no longer haue any care of their safetie then the commoditie and sweetnesse of their wages shall continue Surch surely will bee the life that we shal leade in case we become so detestable as to disunite our selues frō our King and the sacred bloud of his Crowne abroade standing in feare of the enemie at home not onely of our fellowe Citizens but also of our domesticall seruaunts our allies our cossens our brethren our parents our wiues and our children wherby we shal haue warre with the straunger sedition in the Citie and mistrust in the householde alwaies in in feare miserable needy and stil past hope of better for the good will habandon vs as vnworthy their succour and the bad will deuour vs. What blesse then what pleasure what contentation may we hope for so long as vppon earth wee leade this life and bee led by those y t bely the forme countenance gesture speech and behauiour of the man that they beare no lesse thē Satires Apes or Beares as also we may rightly terme them Wolues and monsters borne in this Commonwealth for the nourishing and bringing vp of whom I feare wee may bee called enemies to God and our owne nature which by companying with these wilde beastes we doe corrupt But to returne to our purpose Concerning the heresie falsly pretended against the King of Nauarre although the reasons aforesayd bee most true waightie and such as can haue no contrary aunswere vailable yet as a Catholicke I do most humbly beseech the said King of Nauarre diligently to thinck vpon his affayres yea although in his minde hee could conceiue no other consideration then the preseruation and peace of so much people in that he by whom the offence commeth is accursed of God whether he shal not more grieuously offende God and his owne conscience in being a cloake and pretēce of so many miseries to his Countrey and the French nation for whose defence he is borne then with his fathers and common custome of old receiued in erring if there be any error therein Let him also iudge whether he bee not bound to aunswer before God for the liues of so many persons who through his occasion shal perish also for the blasphemies that consequently will be committed Let him aduise himselfe whether hee were not better to doe as the good and gentle Householder who sometimes omitteth the seueritie of his age to play with his children and with clemencie giueth them space to measure the force of his amitie excusing their insolent youth and bolde rashnesse ioyning and going close with them after the example of the wise and well aduised Athenian when his people were most obstinatly resolued to oppose thē selues directly against his meaning For my parte Sir I beseech your Maiestie to giue mee leaue to tell you that all good Frenchmen true Catholickes and faithfull subiects to you this Crowne doe euen in humaine reason greatly bewayle the state of our poore Fraunce in seeing that your enemies are so well at ease or doe peraduenture nourish about your Maiestie some such persons as keepe their vizarde from bee plucked off For in truth Sir it lyeth in you through the grace of the holy Ghost to yeeld more fruite to the Church of GOD for the aduauncement whereof you haue hetherto thought to fight and more ouer to procure your selfe to bee esteemed more profitable commodious and honorable to all by planting peace in time in this Realm and giuing an example to the rest of Christiandom with assurance to the King that raigneth ouer you and his subiects who looke vpon you by your good life and gentle common conuersation which in all other actions your aduersaries them selues doe seeme to confesse then by any other worldly meanes that you cā choose Besides that it is an vndoubted and political maxime mislike it who will that it is not for Kings who haue authoritie and gouernment ouer so many seuerall braynes which GOD may reserue vnto you if it so please him or he be so determined in his priuate counsaile notwithstanding all the Deuilles do rage to set other where then in their Closets vpon any of these extremities because it would bee vnpossible to toyne and compose these together especially in the world wherin you are borne wherein also your selfe doe well knowe and haue by domesticall examples learned that it behoueth you and all other the Princes in this world to bow to make your selues to be obeyed to preserue your estates by meanes more then artificial and ful of humaine wisedome in respect of the frowarnesse peeuishnesse and bad nature of subiects But more perticulerly in this case wherein our common enemies haue for these 25. yeeres accustomed the French nation to the vse of weapons and the veryest fooles of whom there are ouer many to contemne the Maiestie of their King lawe and Iustice and to the contrary haue suborned flattered and stolne away the most of their hearts vnder a false pretence and zeale of Religion which your seruants do wish you to winne again as it were an easie matter to doe being desirous of your quiet honor and to the aduancement of Gods glorie the peace of this Realme and the encrease of the Crowne of France fearing least all Christiandome should swarme to the tearing of it in an hundred peeces or the mutinous Rebelles that are within the Realme should rent and dismember this goodly Kidney of Europe which without doubt is the goodliest and most perfect Kingdome vpon earth At the least sir sith these great Dukes of fained Catholichisine who in a iolitie haue declared themselues your aduersaries doe beare for their deuise the destruction bloud of the innocent Frenchmen which by their often murders they haue shed and are not yet satisfied as their Bugbearlike terrors that they propound vnto vs doe shew I doe most humbly desire you to the contrary to bee the Pelican and to beare the same deuise that the Great Alphonsus the 10. of that name King of Spayne