meane time the Cardinal boasted that he would kil more betwene two trestles thē the King could with al his power sent word ordinarily to Rome other places that they had dispatched more Huguenots in one day during the peace then in one moneth whiles the warres continewed Besides al this the Cardinal doubting lest the Catholiks woulde not sufficiently rebel procured them to make brotherhoodes leagues and associations wherein sundry of the Parliaments and nobilitie assisted them gathering together of money giuing their othes enrowling of souldiers together with such other matters concerning the entertainement of their brotherhoodes which they called of the holy Ghost As in the towne of Dijon through the driftes of the Lord of Tauannes and one named Begad a counselour of the parliament the like league was made and when certaine standers by demanded whether it were by the Kings authoritie the said Begad answered that he had his maiesties letters for that purpose which Tauannes had deliuered to one of his secretaries who thē could not be found Also that though the King liked not thereof yet they nede not to feare for he knew wel enough whither els to repaire Morouer that they were not to regard such letters as the King ordinarily writte to the said Tauannes or vnto the court of Parliament tēding to the obseruatiō of the edict for they cōteined another mistery which al the world vnderstood not The like was also done in Bourgundy other places In the meane time the exercise of religion was forbidden in the hie and low countreis of Auuergne and in al other parts pertaining to the kings brethren and to certain Princes of the blood In other prouinces were dayly preparations for the apprehending of the principal yet by letters directed vnto such gouerners as had the wachword they were charged to let the gentlemen of the Religion vnderstand that the Kings minde was wel to intreat them and to maintaine them in the exercise of their Religion therby giuing them to wit that he accounted them as his faithful and good subiects and seruants and that such broyles as they heard of tended only to the assuring of his estate against sundrie townes men insolent and seditious persons and so afterward to the restoring of al things into quiet estate and to the fauouring of the nobilitie as wel of the one as other Religion for that they are his principal strength causing them to liue in agreement vnder the authoritie of his Edictes These now were faire wordes but least certaine Catholikes not being sufficiently trained in the Cardinal and his adherents affayres hearing such letters might quaile there were also other secret letters sent with commandement to communicate the same vnto such as were accompted meete to be called to like accomptes This enterprise did the Cardinal also communicate vnto the Cardinal of Crequies agent at the Castle of Madrit in August 1568 whereof the saide agent did at large write vnto his master the verie wordes of his letter which was surprised and brought to the Prince of Conde haue we here set downe They haue saide the Cardinal to this agente taken good order euerie where that the King may remaine master that the chiefe maye be caught and all opportunitie of gathering together taken from them to the ende that hauing brought them to that point as by the order alreadie taken it wil be easie to doe we may then vtterly roote out this vermine for so did the Cardinal call the Protestantes beeing enemies vnto God the King and the estate and not leaue one infected person in the Realme because it is such a seede as still will budde out newe mischiefe vnlesse we shoulde take this waye whereof our neighbours doe set before vs so goodly examples Attending which time that can not be past this moneth it is thought best in all the prouinces to speake fayre to the principal of them and to such of the Nobilitie as seeme least affected to the saide Religion thereby onely to content them in dalying and as much as may be lulling them on sleepe as already diuers haue hearkened therto and doe beginne to assure them selues yea some come of their owne accorde doe burne their winges in the candle yet doe we hope wel that more will doe the like who we know are already shaken This way vndoubtedly we shal sone winne our processe and obteine assured victorie without any great labour or resistance against the enemies of our faith These were the Cardinals fetches which togither with diuers other practises whereof we wil in more conuenient place make mention did kindle the fire of the third ciuil warres being of longer continuance and more tedious then the rest The Prince of Conde toward the ende of the same moneth in great haste saued him selfe by departing from Noyers in Bourgundie where he should haue bene enclosed within two dayes after gat to Rochell against which place the Cardinal had already practised many things but he troubled his head in vayne Then was the warre open and whyle they prepared to cause the Catholicke army to march vnder the conduct of the Duke of Anjou the Cardinal deuised two Edictes published both in one day in the Parliament of Paris namely the 28. of September to wit the third day after that they had bene framed in the councill In the first the King making a long discourse of things happened in his Realme through the Religion declareth among other things that the Edict of Ianuary wherein he granted the Protestantes leaue to exercise their Religion was but prouisionall attending his maiority also that now he was no lenger minded to permit the edictes touching Religion to stand any longer in force Also that now being come to his maioritye he forbiddeth all excercise of the same within his dominions willing perpetually that there be no other exercise of Religion sauing the Romaine in all his iurisdictions vnder payne of confiscation of body and goods Also vnder like penalty he chargeth al ministers of the said Religion to auoyde his Realme within fifteene dayes forbidding neuertheles that any of the said Religion be researched in their consciences so long as peaceably they wil liue in their houses In the other he declared that from that time forward he did not intende to vse the seruice of any of the said Religion and thereby did suspend them from their offices and functions commanding them to come and giue vp the same into his handes within fifteene dayes or else him selfe woulde otherwise prouide These two Edictes had long bene vpon the file and the Cardinall a farre of shewed the same to the Catholickes to moue them to come to the offring and to bring in coyne for the armyes paye wherein he the Queene mother and their mynions vsed their wonted sportes But these Edictes were more preiudicial to the Catholickes then they supposed for most of the Protestantes who otherwise were not determined to haue gone out at the
condemned to be beheaded confessed maintained and affirmed euen vntil his last gaspe that the Cardinal had caused to giue this commission both to him and manie others Al which notwithstanding they bent against the Protestants and although that a moneth or fiue weekes before they had published a sufficient rigorous Edict against the said Protestants yet did the Cardinal now set on a fresh onset of three Edictes in Nouember 1559. In one of the which these wordes were expressed That in the assemblies both by day and night of the Protestants not only the vse of the Romish church was villanously prophaned but also that ther were sundrie vile wordes both infamous and reprochful against the King and such as in deede tended only to the encouraging of the commons to sedition were there also dispersed and spred abroade But al this serued onely to prouoke sundrie persons yea such as were indeede enemies to the religion and to moue them to suspect that there was other matter then religion which in this point as also in manie others serued but for a shadow In the meane time the Guisians raised such a blotte vpon their nephue that although he were no leper yet after those reportes he lost most part of his reputation Hereupon also arose two new accidents which brought the Cardinal againe out of temper the one was because the president Minard one of his slaues of the Parliament of Paris was slaine with a dagge by vnknowen persons another was that one of his good seruants named Iulian Ferme was also killed neere vnto Chambourg where the King was This Ferme was departed to carie manie remembrances to Paris concerning the making of the processes of diuers of the greatest Princes and Lords of the realme togither with manie notable persons fauourers of the religion The Cardinal therefore taking his aduantage of these occasions gaue a new onset with this slaunder aforesaid vpon the Protestants and by letters patents forbiddeth the bearing of armes more straightly then before through such reportes bringing the King into the hatred of the people which neuer was wonte so to be suspected During these affaires namely the three and twentieth day of December the Counsailer du Bourg was put to death togither with sundrie other Protestants in diuers places to the great displeasure and griefe not onlie of sundrie Frenchmen but also of manie forraine Princes Howbeit al this is nothing in respect of such confusions and mishappes as the Guisians did afterward entangle the King and his dominions in For their dealings openly importing tyrannie their vsual threates against the mightiest in the realme their setting backe of the Princes and great Lords their despising of the estates of the realme their corrupting of the chiefest of the iustices who were reduced to the deuotion of these new gouernours the reuenues of the kingdome at their commandement deuided and giuen where they pleased as likewise were al offices and benefices and to be briefe their violent regiment being of it selfe vnlawful had altogether prouoked moued such hatred against thē both of great and smal that thereof proceeded the enterprise wherof la Renaudier was captain in the name vnder the aduow of the second Prince of the blood the handling breaking whereof we wil more largely declare in the title of their behauiours to the nobilitie At this present let vs marke how at that time they mocked the king and his estate A certaine aduocate of Paris named des Auenelles had warned them that there were certaine practises in hand against them wherevpon they vsed the helpe of the Queene mother in calling the lords of Chastillon to the court where by their aduice they framed a new edict in the Kings name in the which they qualified the rigours of such as before stoode in force against the protestants This did they only to the end to breake of the said enterprise minding incontinently after to reuoke the same as by particular letters they certified their bond slaues of tne Parliament of Paris whereas this edict was immediatly published and the qualifications inregistred in the secret register in such wise neuertheles that some counselers so farre forgat themselues as to say that it was but a false trap to catch the protestants in This was their dalying with the Kings faith bringing vpon our Kinges an infamous blot blemish namely to be periurers and vnfaithful In the meane time hauing fresh aduertisements instead of thinking vpon their regimēt or effectually declaring that they ment not to be such mē as hitherto they had bene reported either that they sought to treade downe the Kings authority they now gathered power on al sides gaue money out of the Kings coffers to Auenelles and other spies sent men of warre euery way and kept the king in the middest of them selues procuring during these broyles certaine letters whereby the Duke of Guise was made lieutenant general for the King with al absolute authoritie then was there no talke but of putting al to fire and sworde and slaying of infinite noble men and gentlemen and so blemishing the name honour sight reigne of this yong King with the most horrible cruelties that euer were knowē for the firmament earth sea shal be witnesses of the barbarousnes of these monsters who haue replenished al France with blood the heauēs with witnesses and iudges and the earth with complaintes Their trechery appeared in that they would neuer permit the King to heare as he ought to haue done the iust complaints of his subiects whom they so villanously entreated before his eies He oft demanded euen with teares what he had done against his people why they should be so moued against him for these Lords stil blew in his eares that they sought to slaye him and vnder pretence thereof had enuironed him with troupes of armed men gathered from among the worste members of the whole realme whome since they haue continewed to the end to keepe themselues about our Kings whose dignitie they haue thereby conuerted in to I wot not what kinde of Persian pompe or Turkish terrour and said that he would gladly here their complaintes reasons yea sometimes he would say to his good vncles I wot not what these commotions meane I heare say that you be they whō the people is offended withal I would to God you would for a while depart to the end we might be the better certified whether this people be grieued at you or me But as the murderer that helde his enemies father in his armes did by that meanes saue his owne life so the Guisians ioyning them selues as the yuie about the pyramide close to the yong Kings sides did conningly warde these blowes wherewith vndoubtedly they should haue bene pearced through They did therefore reiect al these the Kings wordes assuring him that neither he nor my Lords his brethren should remaine one houre after their departure because say they the house of Burbon through the support of the heretikes
abide that desirous that in France there might shortly appeare as many robberies euen at the Kings his poore peoples costes as there be bridges and passages ouer riuers To be briefe to the end there might be no trafficke letters or purses which thirtene ribbauldes were not sufficient to visite from one place to another thereof to make reporte vnto the said Cardinal we must marke what order he tooke vnder colour said he to keepe the Protestantes from assembling togither to conspire against the Kinge As indeede that was one marke that he shot at together with certaine other more high attempts in case his enterprises against the Prince of Condye and the Admirall had had good successe Howbeit the commissiō which then he procured more manifestly did reueile the iniurie which he did to the King and the realme also his vehement desire to trouble al the estate to the ende to exalt his owne race through his enemies ouerthrowe This therefore was the tenour of the commission made about the time of the edict afore set downe namely in the moneth of Maye 1568. The King hath ordeined captaine N. in the towne of N. there to remaine Captaine and keeper of the bridge and passage to whome shal be deliuered twelue men to assist his person whome he may command whatsoeuer he thinketh meet conuenient for the Kings seruice which twelue men his maiestie shal pay ouer and besides the entertainment alowed to the said captaine He shal first procure to make a drawbridge ouer the sayde passage which he and his twelue men shall daye and night diligentlye and warily watche and keepe not permitting any to passe vnlesse he first knowe whence he commeth whither he goeth what his businesse is and who himselfe is Also seeing any numbers of men approching to the passage ouer the sayd bridge he shall presently cause it to be drawne not suffering the passage to be taken before he be assured of the same do know that they haue no meanes to hurt him Also to the ende that he his twelue men with him may continually remaine at the said bridge with al conuenient commodities he shal immediatly take order for the making of a lodge neere vnto the said bridge whither he and his souldiers may retire lodge and accommodate thē selues in not going from the saide bridge or abandoning the custodie thereof and to the same effect his maiestie hath written to the inhabitants of the same towne that they at their owne cost do make the said lodge and draw-bridge Also forasmuche as it may greatly aduantage the said captaine towarde his sure keeping of the said bridge and prouiding that there be no meanes to surprise the same to haue knowledge of things done in the said quarters he shal endeuour to discouer to his power the actions and intentes of those of the new religion and hearing of any thinge preiudicial to the Kings maiesties seruice he shal looke diligently to his charge and giue warning vnto the Captaine of the next bridge passage or towne and the like shal all other captaines do who haue commission for the keeping of any other bridges or passages til time the King be thereof aduertised so that he may take some order And although the principal cause which moued the King to commit this captaine to the charge of the bridge or passage aforesaid is for the safe custodie thereof yet shal he for his part take diligent heede that the Protestants haue no preachings or other exercises of their religion in any other place then his maiestie hath to them ordeined and established as wel by the contents of his edictes of pacification as also by the rule prescribed since the publication of the last edict He shal hearken and take good hede as much as possibly he may that the protestantes make no enroulings of men of warre no leuyes or collections of coyne no vnlawful assemblies or no motions of warre either where his charge lyeth or in any other place thereabout but shal prouide for faithful men to aduertise him and if neede be to send some of the skilfullest about him and such as haue any vnderstanding or do seme meet to penetrate into the said Protestants affaires to the end they may certifie him of whatsoeuer they can learne out He shal endeuour to knowe whether there be any gentlemen of the Kinges side that be displeased or do shewe anie countenance to fauour or followe the said protestants any whome they haue suborned or motioned to make any practises or drifts tēding to the surprising of any the Kings towns haue not disclosed the same to the end to keepe the said practises or enterprises the more secret farther from suspicion He shal also labour whē the said Protestants do holde their Synodes assemblies thorowly to detect vnderstand the causes of the same together with the conclusions therof He shal finde meanes to get in vnder such pretence as he shall thinke best some wise and trustie person who may know and smel out the ende of their intentes and giue him a good accompt of al that hath bene propounded or agreed vpon in the said assemblies he shal take hede that there be no assemblies made in any towne or place forbidden and defended either any secret exercise of their religion To the end also that his maiestie may be serued as appertaineth with good knowledge among his trusty faithful subiects the said captaine shal often commune with the gouernour who hath the charge of the towne of such matters as may fal out touching his said maiesties seruice the one not to encroche vpon the others authority lest any displeasure or controuersy should breed betweene the said gouernour him He shal curiously enquire who be the superintendēts ouer the protestants affaires in the said country what their pensions are and whether they do send any messengers into forein coūtries to what end He shall also certify the King of al such matters as he hath learned touching any the said matters or other things tending to his maiesties seruice neither shal he faile of sending weekly one or more messengers according as matters shal fal out the same shal he addresse to my Lord the Kings brother and lieutenant general who shal giue him answere And the said captain may certifie the King my said lord his brother of al that he knoweth by sēding his letters to him that shal haue the custody of the next bridge so from hand to hand shal the same be conueied by other captaines hauing like commission vnto the King or my Lord his brother Now may any man hauing wit or discretion consider in this cōmissiō wonderful policies of the Cardinal new preparatiues for warre by the meanes wherof he aduanced him self Also how by these drifts the third ciuil warre was sone kīdled for in lesse thē two moneths after the peace there were aboue ten thousand persons slaine here there in the
that it was euil done of those who had thus armed their Prince against his subiects and said plainely that in case the Kings officers feared to be displeased they should take away the occasions also that the displeasure was not against the King as to what purpose should it so be seing he was but a childe who stirred not neither did anie thing without the coūsaile or prompting of his vncles but against those who had the dealings in the affaires of the kingdome whereto it was easie to prouide so that al might be cōpassed orderly and according to the lawes of the realme The rest of his oration tended to the same end as did Marillac He spake some thing also of Religion Then did the brethren of Guise shew that they were Kings for besides that al the Knights of the order there present durst not define but said only that they were of the Cardinals opinion they bent them selues chiefly against the Admiral insisting vpō the new gard and briefly shewing that their nephue Francis serued but as a maske cloke to their fellonie Which also the letters sent immediatly after this assembly vnto al Bayliefes and Seneschals did euidently declare For the Cardinal had framed them who promised a mightie reformation in the Church but thinke with your selues how the harlots do vse to reforme the stues togither with the estates which were summoned to the tenth day of Decēber in the towne of Meaux and that in the meane time that al gouernours and lieutenants of the Prouinces for the most part seruants and slaues of the house of Guise should deliberately visite their townes to the end particularly to vnderstand to make report vnto him of the cōplaints of the people that is to say on al sides practise the establishment of their tyrannie Thus did they scoffe at the Kings authoritie making void frustrate this so notable assemblie as by the effects did incontinently appeare They added hereunto an other practise of wonderful presumption against the King which was by raysing in armes all the companies of Ordinances vnder colour that the enterprise of Amboyse was yet not fully quenched although in deede to destroy the princes of the blood to depriue the estates of libertie and to make an ende of marring all Also for their better fortification vnderstanding the returne of the French troupes come out of Scotland by reason of a treaty of peace wherin the King had bene constrayned to agree to certaine both dishonorable and hurtfull articles through the foolish ambition of his vncles they ioyned them vnto the old bandes of Piedmont Metz and Picardie for their owne garde besides twelue hundred others whom they had reserued ouer and besides the departing of the companies placed and sent into all gouernments Hauing then thus the sword in their handes and being on cocke horse they made a dispatche from the King their nephue vnto the King of Nauarre whereby the prince of Conde was charged with treason therefore for his heartes ease the said King desired the King of Nauarre to send him his brother in sure and safe custodie if not him selfe should be driuen to fetch him and that with such companie as the force shal remaine to him The King of Nauarre and his brother answered so wisely and with such constancie as the Guisians did well perceiue that withall their power they could hardly come to an ende and therefore they determined to vse the Kinges faith and promise whereby to deceiue these Princes and to get them into their trappe and did incontinently frame another packet wherein the King sent worde to the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde that they might safely come to him and returne againe when they listed assuring them in the worde of a King that nothing should in any wise be attempted against their persons that peaceably he would heare their declarations and iustifications that they should not come into any prison neither that any man should make their proces only he desired an answere of the Princes owne mouth vnto such points as he was charged with all and which he could hardly beleue to be briefe that they should be receiued according to their estates and dignities yea they should enioye the ranck which vnto them appertained in the dealing in the affayres to the ende to haue their aduice and counsayle whereby to bring all things into good policie and order Also as for the Religion whereof the said lord Prince had made open declaration and protestatiō he would not neither mēte that by reason thereof they should susteine any trouble or disquietnesse These poore princes as true Frenchmen leaning vpon so solemne a promise although they were not so blinde but that they saw the lyons pats of the Guisians which waited to deuoure them neither so deuoyde of meanes but that they coulde by force of armes haue raunged these vsurpers and well enough come to an ende yet trusting in their innocencies and in the meane time led as in an other place we will more particularly shew they tooke their iourney and by litle and litle dismissed their companie to the ende with a smal traine to fall into their enemies nets Now let vs behold how they caused their nephue to performe his faith so solemnly promised The same day of the Pinces arriuall who were very vnworthily receiued litle or nothing at all regarded the King causing them to follow him into the Queene his mothers chamber addressing him selfe to the Prince of Conde said vnto him that he had bene certified out of diuers places that the said Prince both did make and had made sundry practises against him and the estate of his Kingdome by reason whereof he had sent for him hy his owne mouth to know the trueth The Prince hauing pertinently answered and shewed his innocencie also hauing discouered the malice of the Guisians who fearing the touchstone were absente was neuerthelesse presently committed to the handes of Chauigny the Captaine of the garde and bondeslaue to the Guisians and by them sent expressely to conueye the said Prince to prison for they would not suffer him to remaine in his brother the King of Nauares custodie who vpon his life answered for him for he had enough to doe to saue him selfe Now as a wicked conscience doeth neuer cease seeking like meanes to leane vnto so the Guisians seing that they had vndertaken a worke which they should hardly bring to an ende vnlesse they were supported by others then Frenchmen notwithstanding that many had alreadye renoūced their liberties they determined to practise draw vnto them forein Princes through whose helpe at their neede to preuayle A man may well gesse whether the King payed the players of these tragedies also whether his auctoritie were manifestly vsurped in this case The peace before concluded with the King of Spayne cōteined among other this cōdition that both the Kings should with al force persecute the Lutherās with al extremity This
the Prince had made manifest declaration thereof hauing caused Genly and others to certifie King Francis that he was so in deede Yea euen in the hardest time of his affliction he draue out of his chamber a priest whom the Guisians had sent thither to singe Masse As for the Admiral he had in the full assembly at Fountainbleau presented their supplication to the King tending to the ende to obteine some Churches and publik exercise thereof He had also declared to the Queene mother that he would neuer abiure his Religion but offred to dispute against the Cardinal The lorde d'Andelot had of long time bene of the same profession and it is knowen that at the accusation of the Duke of Guise and by the solliciting of the Cardinal the late King Henry had almost slaine him when on a time he asked him if the Masse were good and that he answered that it was a prophane and wicked thing The Cardinal of Chastillon also began by litle and litle to forsake the Papaltye This then in their eyes seemed a fit occasion to bende the Constable against both the Prince and his owne nephues of Chastillon the which they artificially afterward did as shall be shewed in place conuenient They concluded therefore a while not to medle with the Religion for said the Cardinal of Lorraine as yet there were none but rascales of that profession and therefore it were best to let some great and welthy men also enter into it to the ende by their destruction to get some thing Now in making warre against the Protestantes they shotte sundry wayes with owne selfe arrowe for first they obteined the fauour of the Pope the King of Spayne and others of whom they looked for some helpe Secondly they were assured that sundry of the best townes in the Realme were so deepely rooted in Poperie that it would be harde to plucke away their olde skinne without good store of stripes also that with the least staye in the worlde they would vse all resistance possible Thirdly they knew the Queene mothers disease who woulde hardly permit her children to be brought vp in Religion for her selfe was of none at all also that such countenance as for a while she might shewe shoulde be only to the ende to winne the Protestantes and to set them against the Catholickes that whiles they were the one sorte bent against the other her selfe might rule all and so that they should haue no leysure to consider of or examine her actions They had also a number of secret seruantes who to the ende to robbe and make hauocke of the Protestantes goods woulde become most Catholicke The courtes of Parliament also were so compounded that vnlesse iustice were reformed from the crowne of the head vnto the sole of the foote the Protestantes should neuer prosper Againe hauing through the Queene mothers helpe the King and his brethren in their handes they might easely vnder that shield fight against all their enemies and in time order them as they listed yea through their ouerthrowe become mightier then euer before But yet there was one thing which troubled them namely the prolonging of time and the inconstancie of the Queene mother which the Duke of Guise more feared then any other thing togither with the Prince of Condes liuelinesse To remedye therefore all this they procured as is afore said their atonement with the King of Nauarre which was so brought about that by the same meanes he resigned to the Queene mother in presence of the Duke of Guise and of the Cardinal of Lorraine all such right as he might pretende vnto the regencye of the King and the Realme neuer to quarell demaunde or accept the same againe and thereof gaue them an acquittance sealed with his owne hande Hauing thus gotten this poinct they concluded that if the Prince seemed to deale with them he should haue to doe with so strong a match as that soone they should ouercome him also that this might be the meanes to bend his brother against him and so they should draw the one party to the Catholickes As for the Queene they determined a while to let her paunch some times one way and some times another curiously watching to what ende her behauiours would come Againe they were well assured that hauing this aduantage ouer the King of Nauarre she would so practise the estates that her auctority should be allowed of also that them selues had such parte in her that her inconstancie would turne to their commoditie also that before the yere were passed they should see some stirringes whereby to helpe them selues vp againe One parte of that whereof they perceiued some likelyhoode came to passe but in the rest they were shrewdly deceiued For whiles they sufficiently tormented the Protestantes with foure ciuill warres a horrible murder vnder Charles the ninthe fiue of them came short home and the most doulte of all remained behinde as for the most apparent of their discent who at this present is Duke of Guise he is in such estate as according to the prouerbe which runneth of such as are vpon the sea A man can not well say whether he be aliue or dead for God hath giuen him such a blow on the face that he shall remaine blasted for euer We must therefore consider what hurte they haue done to the King his Realme and them selues in all these ciuill warres and as the thunderclappes alwayes before their comming doe shew by some tokens which goe before their following to be at hande euen so the Guisians before that they shotte their thunderboults into France gaue forth certaine deafe noyses practising here and there whereby to become more furious after that they were once fortified Being deliuered of that which they most feared which was the researche for the Princes imprisonment through such assurance as the Queene mother had rooted in their heartes also being reconciled to the King of Nauarre hauing as is afore said procured the King lately deceased to declare that he of his owne absolute auctoritie had caused the Prince of Condye to be emprisoned they determined to goe to the estates there to heare what would be said and so helpe their matters as much as might be possible But before they goe any further they enter league with the Cardinals of Tournon and of Armignac the Duke of Nemours the Marshals of S. Andrewes and of Brissac the lordes of Rendan Martigues Sipierre Monluc la Motte Gondrin la Suze Sanssac Sauigny and many other lordes and captaines who hoped to become mighty riche and welthy through the ciuill warres which said the Guisians the Princes would bring in togither with the alteration of the Principalitie The voice hereof caused they to be sounded in the King of Nauarres eares who in stead of prouiding according to his duety there against began to faint and to resigne all his auctoritie as anon we will more amplye declare Therof ensued the order the one and twentieth day of December 1560.
established in the Kings council touching the gouernement of the estates of the Realme wherein the Queene mother was planted vpright In the meane time happened a chance very agreable to the Cardinal but his ioy continewed not The deputies of about fourty baylywickes and Seneschaltyes of the realme alleaged that their auctoritie was out because King Francis had summoned them he being now dead they must needes haue new remembrances The Cardinal his faction supposed that although this could not wholly dissolue the estates yet would it somewhat delay them whiles in the meane time they might practise some thing but through the wisdome of the Chaunceler and others it was agreed that they should proceed seeing that the royal dignitie died not but was represented in his successour Also in case these declaratiōs had delaied the estates then had it gone wrong with the Guisians for in their new remembrances they also should haue receiued new commissions The Queene mother also fearing lest they should smel out the writing which with threats she had wrested from the King of Nauarre and thereupon had examined her doings and corrected her as appertained for working so trecherously against the peoples libertye hasted the matter forwarde whereby the Guisians gotte most They therupon gessed that which was true namely that at this assembly they would deale in matters as wel of Religion as of estate they were also assured that at that time Religion should be the chiefest which greatly reioyced them yea they determined with all their might to heaue at that wheele to the ende the other might remaine vndecided or if necessity driue them to giue accompt of their administratiō they entended to present vp their reckoning in a warlike fielde there to be examined proued at the swordes poinct wherein they assured them selues to make so fayre a broyle that their wronges together with the rights of their aduerse party should there stray away together They must therefore earnestly deale in Religion and with the same to cloye the Huguenots who with earnest affection purposed no other matters but to thinke vpon the liberty of their consciences accompting al bodily bondage somewhat tolerable so that the principal might remaine in his ful perfection But yet they were sore discontented for the one could not consist without the other also Godlinesse without iustice in this world hath but a feeble foundation as there were some that said at the same time that if the establishment of the realme in her pristinate glorie and the reformation of Religion did not both goe together we shoulde yet beholde and finde greater mischiefes then before which experience hath now taught to those who then woulde beleeue nothing and God grante that the French nation may in time learne This determination being taken the Cardinal of Lorraine practised al meanes to haue the charge of making the oration in the name of the three estates vnto the King whereunto the Clergie did consent and therfore did send one named Griueau a Canon of the holy Chappel vnto the third estate for to obteine their graunte but he had presently an open answere that they would not accept him to speake for them of whom they minded to complaine and vpon this occasion he refrained from speaking to the nobilite taking in the meane time such hold of this answere as thereby he might turne it to his owne commoditie for he assured the Catholikes namely the Clergie that now the Huguenots would tread them downe vnlesse in time they withstood their determinations and therfore consequently they ought in the oration for the clergie especially to stand vpon that point for seing the third estate had so detected it selfe and protested against him who was one of the principal members of the Apostolike seate they now would not spare the other smaler dependances Hereupon the Clergie chose for their speaker one named Quintin a forsaker of the religion and at that time a doctor of the Canon Lawe at Paris The nobilitie chose the Lord of Rochforte and the third estate Lange an aduocate of Burdeaux The estates began to be holden the thirtenth day of December in a house prouided for the same purpose Thither came the Cardinals of Lorraine and Guise also the Duke of Guise to the end by hearing the oratiōs to apply the same so much as they might to their own cōmodities The first day was spent in hearing the Chancelers oratiō which litle or nothing touched them for he spake but generally The Deputie of the third estate stood vpon taxing the ignorance couetousnes and dissolutions of the Ecclesiastical persons not particularly touching any Rochfort in the name of the Nobilitye did much commend the deliuery of the gouernment vnto the Queen mother noted certain abuses in the Clergy and Iustices after that he had desired the King to maintaine the nobilitie in their priuiledges he offred vp a supplication wherin he desired some churches for the gentlemen protestants Quintin on the clergies behalfe made a long oration or inuectiue against the protestants ioyning against the mightiest in couert wordes taxing the Admiral who had presented the supplication of them of Normandie which desired Churches These orations put the Cardinal and his brethren in good hope for they persuaded them selues that in case the estate of Religion went forward as it was very likely the same would be the vndoubted meanes to seperate the Cōstable frō the Chastillons to make the Catholikes striue against the protestants so in the meane time themselues would grow strongest In this thought chanced an other matter which somewhat serued their purpose although the pursuite thereof were to them preiudicial The deputies who were appointed to visite the roules of the estates hauing made their reporte vnto the priuie councill the King of Nauarre and the Chanceler to the couent of the Franciscans to speake with the estates there assembled where they began to talke of the restitutiō of excessiue gifts of discharging the Kings debts and such other like matters but this could not be cōpassed before that those who in the time of Hēry the secōd Frācis the secōd had had the whole dealīgs in matters of estate in the tresury were reduced into great extremity Of this motion was the Queene mother very glad as one assured that by reason of her regencie she should not be molested therfore determined to heaue at that wheele thereby to pul downe those whome she accompted to hie next her owne person The King of Nauarre had not medled at al but the Guisians the Constable and the Marshal of S. Andrewes were deepest in this matter there was therefore but one onely remedie wherwith to breake this blowe which was by troubling the whole estate of the Realme For the attaining whereunto and for the more cōmodious compassing of al things hereunto requisite in steade of proceeding in this point God who iustly was displeased minding to begin to scourge the French Nation permitted them
to remit the estates vnto the moneth of May next ensuing which was the thing that the Guises especially sought for neither was the Constable anie whit sorie notwithstanding he had often protested that he was readie to giue vp his accomptes The King of Nauarre being yet somewhat affected vnto the Religion his brother the Prince of Conde and the Chastillons sought to aduance the said Religion and that they might the better do in case for a while they deferred dealing in the other point which shortly after they might neuerthelesse easely enough take in hand againe But they were deceiued through the ambition of the Queene mother the dastardlinesse of the King of Nauarre the practises of the Guisians without the Realme and the driftes of the Constable within the kingdome whom vnder colour of Religion they had separated from his nephues In this meane time the yong King and his brethren were in the Queene mothers handes who onely marked which side would be strongest to the end to the same to commit both her selfe and her children and because she had suffred much at the Guisians hands in the time of Francis the second she could nowe haue wished that the Protestants might haue bene masters being assured that she could more easily haue delt with them for she had alreadie in her hands the Chastillons The King of Nauarre suffred him self to be led euerie way and as for the Prince of Conde in case she withstoode not the amends for such iniuries as he pretended through his imprisonment to haue bene done vnto him she accompted him as hers yea she looked to finde in him a new staffe wherewith to suppresse the Guisians The Cardinal of Lorraine vnderstanding the Prince to be readie to come to the court departed from the same vnder pretence of residence in his Archbishoppricke of Reims leauing behind him his brother as a spie and others to the end to practise according as matters might fall out After that the King had wel receiued the Prince of Condie and that in ful counsel he had iustified him selfe he was permitted to sue out more ample declarations for the same purpose went to Paris Soone after this fell an other controuersie which much molested the Duke of Guise and his partakers yea without the policie of the Queene mother who at this time stoode them in good stead and sought in time to come to aide her selfe they had at the same instant bene quite vnhorsed for the King of Nauarre through the solliciting of some who sawe meetly cleare did complaine to the Queene of the too great authoritie which the Duke of Guise tooke vpon him who at al times had bene her aduersarie also that the said Duke of Guise continuing about the King he could not remaine and therefoâ—â— that it was expedient that either the one or the other departed from the Court after that the Queene had alleaged some excuses tending to the ouerthrowe of this matter the saide controuersie proceeded so farre as that the next morning the King of Nauarre put on his bootes and was readie to depart accompanied with the Princes of the blood the Constable the Lords of Chastillon and manie other great Lords Now the Queene seing that remaining among the Guisians onely the world was at an end both of her selfe and of them also for her owne conseruation fained to procure their coÌ„moditie to the end in case they yet once againe got the masterie they should not harme her She sent therefore to fetch the Constable causing the King to command him not to depart by the compassing whereof al this matter was broken of and the King of Nauarre sent to fetch backe his mulets which alreadie were gone as farre as Melun This controuersie being dispersed raised a voyce that the Queene maintained the Guisians against the Princes of the blood insomuch that the particular estates of Paris proceded and began to touch the chiefe points of the estate not forgetting the article of yelding vp the accompts The Guisians were expressely named with ful determination to seeke al meanes possible to forbid them anie entry into the priuie council before they had giuen vp their aforesaid accompts The Queene mother of the one side greatly reioyced in seeing the Guisians her chiefest enemies by this meanes in danger Againe on the other side she was in some care as concerning her regencie To prouide therefore against al inconueniences she through the aide of the Constable made a new agreement with the King of Nauarre in such wise as the said King was pleased and moued the Duke of Guise to counterfeit humilitie which he now more then vsually did put in practise She sent also for the Prince of Conde to come and seale to this accorde vsed the helpe of the Marshal of Montmorencie in amending and correcting al that had bene concluded in the particular estates of Paris touching the gouernement of the Realme The Cardinal dealt with the Queen mother in al these matters to whom he writ often and notwithstanding eche of them mistrusted other yet had they so long kept householde together that the taking of this path seemed most necessary for both their conseruations And in deede we may wel say that al the policies of the Guisians did neuer stand them in so good stead as did the only wit of the Queen mother who neuerthelesse did mortally hate theÌ„ but this shal be shewed in place more coÌ„uenient Here may we behold our poore king kingdome swimming waiting for present shipwrack for the coÌ„passing wherof the Guisians finding theÌ„selues to weake vnder preteÌ„ce of ReligioÌ„ do ioine to their faction the Constable prouoking him against his nephue the Admiral who openly professed the Gospel so do aide theÌ„selues with al conuenient policies The Marshal of S. Andrewes also herein stood theÌ„ in good stead for he did beat into the Constables head that whatsoeuer the estates had propounded concerning the reuoking of excessiue rewards the Admiral had procured to the end to bridle his vncle the said Constable and so to compel him necessarily to coÌ„sent to the alteration of Religion The Earle of Villars being moued against the Admiral for that he had reproued his euil demeanures in LaÌ„guedoc did also thrust at the same wheele so that notwithstanding whatsoeuer declaratioÌ„s or persuasioÌ„s the Marshal of Montmorency could alleage yet did the Constable ioyne to the Guisians who made their leagues to the inteÌ„t by robbing the King his realme of their faithful seruants to bring al into confusion The Catholikes finding theÌ„ selues through such leagues fortified began to rise therupon through the policies of the Guisians there was a noise raised that the Admiral had endeuoured to expel the Masse to plant the Religion in France without anie adoe The Catholikes therefore of Beauuais a bishoppricke pertaining to the Cardinal of Chastillon began being folowed by the Catholikes of Amiens PoÌ„thoise other places At Paris also were MuÌ„kes such
ready preste to deale and for my parte wil spare no cost thinking that the soner would be the better which maketh me desire you well to see vnto it and diligently thereof to consider togither with the said Lorde of Montpensier and to send me worde of your determinations to the end that according to the same I may take order with such of the Lordes and noble men as remaine hereabout and dwell within my gouernement who wil doe whatsoeuer I shal request Now must I not forget to certifie you that writing this letter I had the sight of the copye of another letter which the lorde of Montpensier wrote to the Marshal of Montmorency as an aunswere to that which the said Marshal had written to him concerning his goodly deede I pray you thanke him in our behalfes but chiefly in mine notwithstanding I doe it in the letter which I doe write vnto him we all are greatly behoulding to him Moreouer if you see the Bishop of Mans it were not amisse to moue him also in the same association for both he and his friendes would be gladde to hearken thereunto and we haue already conferred thereof You might doe well also to write vnto the Lorde of Martigues or if you can see him it were better to commune thereof togither I know his good will toward vs is nothing diminished and likewise he may be sure of ours as you may better giue him to vnderstande and I wil seale vnto whatsoeuer you and the said lordes shall agree vpon I send this messenger purposedly to the ende that by him I may the better be certified of your newes He may tary with you so long as you think good and then come to me into Champagne Written the foure and twentieth of February 1565. Seuen moneths before the said Guisians had practised an other league in Guyēne through the meanes of the lorde of Candales the Marquise of Trans and others whereof the Queene mother being aduertised she sent them word to passe on no further therein which notwithstanding afterward when they perceyued them selues strengthened through the aduow of the principal in the Realme they sought to bring to effect On the other side the Marquise d'Ellebeufe through the solliciting of the Duke of Aumale did practise his league in his gouernement of Touraine gathering togither from all partes all the thieues and common murderers of the countrie who vnder his protection dayly committed infinite robberies and slaughters so that neither any honest man might escape without trauaile nor quietnesse rest without troubles The Cardinal of Lorraine also for his parte practised sundry matters about the same time and endeuored to bring the Baronages of the Bishopricke of Metz vnder the Emperours protection if the lorde of Salcede the Kings lieutenant at Marsault had not through force stopped the publication of the said protection Vpon which occasion the Cardinall skirmished with him and arreared the warre called the Cardinals warre wherein he had as good successe as in his entry into Paris But albeit herein he became a laughing stocke and execrable altogither yet did he still beare a grudge vnto the said Salcede and razed him out at saint Bartlemewes murder procuring him to be slaine at Paris and his house vtterly to be sacked But the chiefe occasion of suspicion ministred touching this matter was that this drifte was not executed without the counsayl of the Baron of Poluiller the gouernour of Haguenau who for that cause came to the Cardinal to Rembeuiller in Lorraine who hath also bene a solliciter of the most parte of such enterprises as haue bene practised against the estate of France both during the warres of Picardie and after that they were ended This was he also who endeuored to surprise the towne of Lions and to procure the countries of Bresse and Sauoy to reuolte through the counsail of the Cardinal of Arras about the ende of the sayde warres This was the same Poluiller who practised the King of Nauarre to reuolt promising him in recompence the realme of Nauarre This is that Poluiller who being the Cardinall of Lorrains broker durst practise the Prince of Conde vnder pretence vayne hope of helping him to the landes of the Bishoprick of Metz in case he would haue professed the Romish religion wherefore the readers may well consider what coūsail is to be hoped for at such a counsaylours handes being also cōioyned vnto the Cardinall of Lorraine who during his aboade at Rembeuiller and in Lorraine did many goodly deedes for he pilled his subiectes of the Bishopricke of Metz vnder pretence of withdrawing the landes engaged vnto the Countie Iohn of Nassaw He perswaded the Duke of Lorraine to murder all his subiectes that were of the Religion which he had done in case the Lords of Castelet and Bassompierre had not with their counsaill restrayned him He procured him also to bannishe a great number of the inhabitauntes of Pont-amosson for hatred to the Gospell Moreouer he suborned some say he defiled and forcibly tooke the daughter of the Baylie of Rembeuillers wiues chamber mayde The originall of the Duke d'Aumales letters to his brother the Marquise whereof we haue seene parte of an abstract was presented vnto the King who thereupon hauing heard the depositiō of one of his Knights of the order who confessed that he had subscribed to the association aforementioned in the said letters caused in his priuie councill this acte folowing to be made which here we haue set downe to the ende thereby hereafter to consider certayn notable craftes of Italian Cardinallike policies This day being the 18. day of May 1565 the King being at Mont de Marsan assisted by the Queene his mother and his brother my lord the Duke of Orleans hath called and assembled the Princes of his blood his priuie councill and other his Lordes and Knightes of the order who were about his person to whom he hath giuen to vnderstande how he hath bene aduertised that in diuers places of his Realme there be made associations collections of coyne enroulings of men gatherings of armour and horses that some haue so farre strayed from their dueties as to sende men out of his Realme to haue intelligence and communication with forrein Princes without his knowledge contrary to his Edictes of Pacification of maioritie and other ordinances declarations and prohibitions against such like matters which he neither can ne yet will beleue by reason of such accompt as he maketh of the affection and syncere good wil of al his subiects to the obeying of his cōmandements the cōmoditie of his seruice and the quiet of his realme Neuerthelesse to the end better to be instructed in the trueth he admonished charged them to tel him the trueth of al that they haue heard Which they haue done moreouer do most humbly beseeche his maiestie to beleue that they are so farre wide of these so pernicious practises that rather they be ready prest to spend their liues
reuolt which could not but come to passe when the sword was once taken from the King and iustice and committed to the hands of the communaltie with al immunitie Also to the end to be assured that neuer a protestant might escape the Cardinal gaue the King to vnderstand that he should neuer remaine safe from the Huguenots practises vnlesse the townes which they had holden together with such as were their captaines neighbours were furnished with good and strong garrisons so that this was no sooner counselled but it was also commanded Also yet for their more assured delīgs herin if there were any captain renowmed for theuery or cruelty either any who had euer a priuate quarel or any company giuen ouer to al leudenesse those were sure to be preferred how many soeuer there were of them to the ende to replenish the townes so sone as they were yelded or to lye about the houses of the Prince of Condie the Admirall and other Lordes whome the Cardinal hated and stood in most feare of Also when one of the priuie Councill chaunced to shewe the sayde Cardinall that it was to be feared least hereby the Protestantes should ouer soone perceiue and smell that they would not obserue the edict also least the Catholikes should complaine of being ouerpressed the charges being so great that the King were not able to beare them he answered saying You knowe not what you say For the first of these two pointes the answere is ready namely that it is for the mainteining of both parties in peace according to the edict and as for the second for the Souldiers lodging among the Huguenots and so an hundred fould ouercharging of them as touching Cottisings all such matters shal light vpon their coffers howsoeuer it be their confiscations shall paye for all and ouer and besides such recompences shall discharge the Kings debts The Cardinal not yet content to the end to keepe the said lords of the Religion from comming to the court and more surely to prouide for the execution of his drifts persuaded the King that his person should neuer be in safetie without keeping him selfe as it were shut vp in Paris for a time and not to stray away thence but by litle and litle This when he had obtained for the better keeping of his prisoner he made drawbridges and other gardes in al the waies and entries into Paris as in time of open warre Hauing thus framed his nets he made an Edict in the Kings name wherewith to drawe all the Protestants into the townes there to murder them or keepe them prisoners in their owne houses at the mercie of a number of thieues vntil the appointed houre for the Sicilian euensong And to the end men might the better cōceiue hereof we haue set downe the Edict conteining as followeth Like as to procure the obseruing interteyning and inuiolable keeping of the contentes of our Edict made for the pacification of the last troubles chanced in this our Realme among our subiectes we haue heretofore written and sent word vnto our gouernours of our prouinces our intent and pleasure as followeth That the gates of our townes should be open vnto such our subiects as do professe the reformed Religion and that them selues shoulde be receiued and setled in their houses in ful possession of their goods as before the sayd troubles they were leauing their weapons at the gates of the sayd townes according to an order which to that end we haue sent into all partes and places of our dominions So nowe beeing since aduertised that sundrie our subiectes of the saide Religion taking an opinion that they can not be receiued into the saide townes either beeing entred cannot tarie without beeing oppressed and molested by other the inhabitantes haue therefore retired into the fieldes armed in great companies there committing infinite euils and oppressions against our poore people so that it is to be feared least they may procure in our Realme new troubles whereunto desiring to prouide as it is requisite we haue againe said and declared and now do say and declare that our intent alwayes was and stil is That the said of the Religion pretended reformed as well such as haue borne armes as all others comprehended in the bounds of our Edict shall haue free entrie and be receiued into their mansion houses whereinto we will and doe meane that they be admitted by the gouernours of our prouinces and townes bayliefs Seneschals and others our iustices and officers of the same by whome they shall be summoned so to doe with al gentlenes possible maintayned in peaceable possession and vse of their sayde goods and preserued from all iniuries and oppression to the end that in all suretie and quietnes they may with other our subiectes of the Catholike Religion vnder the benefite and according to the true meaning of our Edict of pacification liue in al assurance and quietnes taking them into our protection and sauegarde and giuing euerie man charge with the custodie the one of the other Also in case anie do goe against this our determination our will and pleasure is that all such be punished with the extremitie and rigour of our Edictes and ordinances of whatsoeuer Religion that they be without exception of persons Also wheresoeuer after these summons and calling anie shal be found enemies of common tranquilitie or still keeping the fieldes there to molest our subiectes or to gather together in armes to begin anie newe troubles We will and our intent is that all our saide gouernours of prouinces and townes all Bayliefes Seneschals and other our iustices and officers euerie man in his owne iurisdiction as to him appertaineth shal assemble such numbers of men of warre whether of men of armes of footemen being in our paye or inhabitants of townes and villages as they shal thinke conuenient and necessarie according to the aduertisements which they shal receiue of the perfect number of the said perturbers of the common quiet for to ouerset them and by all such meanes as them selues shall thinke conuenient them ouerthrowe and heaw in pieces in such wise as may be for our strength and obedience For such is our will and pleasure Giuen at Paris the 19. of May 1568. Charles Robertet This Edict conteineth infinite clauses and guiles of the Cardinal for the rooting out of the Protestants aswel with in the townes as in the fieldes which the murders following together with an other practise now to be seene did but ouer truely verifie to the great interest of the whole Realme and perpetual ignominie of the royal Name Al men do knowe that the profite of al countries consisteth especially in trafike and marchandise which is the thing which most commendeth France aboue al countries in the world Now did one of the Articles of pacification import that the townes should immediatly be restored into such estate as they were before the troubles al trafike marchandise restored The Cardinal not being able to