vnion and quietnesse amongst the Kings subiectes as well of the one Religion as of the other And to bring it the better about he shall gently call before him in open or priuate place as he shall see best cause for his Maiesties seruice herein the Gentlemen of the places and the Burgeses of the Cities of his gouernement that be of the Religion and shal declare vnto them cause them to vnderstand the truth of the sayd commotion least any haue misreported it to them otherwise than it was in deede And shall tell them that vnder the colour of the L. Admirals hurte wherefore his Maiestie would haue caused iusticâ— to be done according to the good order that he had appointed the sayde Admirall and Gentlemen of his Religion which were in the Citie with him without looking for the execution of the sayde Iustice had made a mischeuous vnhappie and detestable conspiracie against the Kings Maiesties person the Queene his mother the Lordes his brethreÌ„ the King of Nauarre and other Princes Lords with them and against the whole estate euen as certaine of the chiefe and adherents of the sayd cospiracie acknowledging their faulâ— haue confessed VVherfore his Maiestie was constrayned to his great griefe to resiste and preuent so mischieuous pernicious and abhominable a purpose And that which he suffered to be done on Sunday the .xxiiij of August vpon the Admiral and his complices was not for any Religion nor to goe against the Edict of Pacification he entending neuerthelesse that they of the Religion should still liue and abyde in all libertie and safetie with their wiues childreÌ„ and families in their houses as be hath and will maintaine them if they be content to liue quietly vnder his obedience as he desireth For the which cause he willeth that the Counte Charnye shall offer and giue to them his letters of safe garde in good and authensâ—yke fourme which shal be of as good force and vertue as if they shoulde come or be taken from his owne Maiestie and by the authoritie of them they shall be preserued from all wrongs violences and oppressions enjoyning and forbidding most expressely all his catholike subiects whatso euer they are to attempt nothing vpon the persons goods or families of anye of the Religion which kepe themselues quietly in their houses on paine of death And if any be so rashe or euil aduised to do against this Iniunction or to violate the safegard promysed his Maiestie willeth that readie and rigorous punishment be donâ— to the intent that their example may serue to holde in others not to doe the like which is the true and onely meanes of assurance that his Maiestie can giue to them of the Religion with his word and promise which he giueth them to be their good and benigne Prince protector and preseruer of them and of all that toucheth them so long as they liue and continue vnder his obedience without doyng or enterprising any thing against his will and seruice And bicause his Maiestie hath ofteÌ„ knoweÌ„ that the enterprises and coÌ„sultations taken in hand by them of the Religion against his seruice haue bene concluded amongs them as assemblies at seâ—mons which Gentlemen had libertie to cause to be made in their houses and Lordships therfore my L of Charnye shal particularly giue to vnderstand to Gentlemen which were wont to haue such sermons that his Maiestie in consideration that nothing hath more moued and set on the Catholikes against those of the Religion thaÌ„ such preachings and assemblies and if they continue it is certaine that it wil be a cause to encrease and maintaine the sayd commotions desireth that they should cause them to cease off vntill he hath otherwise prouided and appointed and that they applie themselues herevnto as a thing greatly seruing the effect of his intention which is gently to bring his sayd subiects to a true and perfect amitie vnion and concord one with another committing all diuisions and partialities to obliuion And bicause this may seme â—ard at the begiÌ„ning my L. of Charnye shall cause it to be faire and gently spoken to them least they enter into some straunge coniecture or suspition For so his saide Maiestie would proceede in all true sinceritie towardes them which conforme them selues to his will and obedience wherin he exhorteth them to liue with all the best perswasions that he can and shall assure them in so doyng to be surely maintained and preseued as his other subiects the Catholikes as his Maiestie would that he shoulde doe And to the intent his sayd subiects the Catholikes should knowe howe to vse and behaue them selues herein my L. of Charnye shall tell theÌ„ that his Maiesties pleasure neither is nor hath bene that any wrong or oppression should be done to them of the sayde Religion which like good and loyall subiects will gently kepe themselues vnder â—is obedience Declaring vnto the sayd Catholikes that if they forget themselues and hurt those of the Religion which in such sort behaue themselues toward his Maiestie and those also which for that ende haue receiued of his Maiestie or of my L. of Charnye letters of safeconduite he will cause them to be punished and chastised in the fielde as trangressours of his commaundementes without any hope of grace pardon or remision VVhich the sayd L. of Charnye shall expresse and declare vnto them with as plaine words as is possible and cause it also to be as straightly executed And after that following his Maiesties intent he hath pacified them by this meanes which is the waye that his Maiestie best liketh of searched the di ectioÌ„ to assure a traÌ„quillitie betwixt the subiâ—ctes and to set some assuraunce betwixt the one and the other such as shall conforme themselues herein to his sayd Maiesties will he will comfort and make them the beste and most gentle entertainement that he possibly can But if any of the Religion become selfe willed and stubborne to his Maiestie without hauing regarde to his sayde warnings and shall assemble in armes together making practises and deuises against the weale of his seruice then the L. of Charnye shall runne vpon them and hewe them in pieces before they haue power to fortifie them selues and ioyne together And therfore he shall assemble as muche force as he can as well of the ordinarie as of other men of warre Souldiers Footemen of the garrisons and inhabitants of the Catholikes within the Cities of his gouernement and shall besiege them which holde and make them selues strong in Cities about of his gouernement so that the victorie and authoritie may remaine in his Maiestie At Paris the .xxx. of August 1572. Signed CHARLES and vnderneath BRVLARD THE KINGS LETTERS TO the L. of Gwich wherby it may plainely be perceiued how they would search out all them of the Religion which had anye charge in hand during the troubles MY L of Gwiche I vnderstand that the iij. brethren Daggonels and one Porâ—â—er the host at the
kepe you in his holie tuition VVritten from Paris the .xxviij. of September 1572. Signed CHARLES And vnderneath BRVLART REMEMBRANCES SENT BY the King to all gouernours and Lieutenantes of his Prouinces to put out and remoue all those of the Religion from their estates and charges although they would abiure the same sauing such as haue but small estates and offices to whom his Maiestie permitteth continuance on conditioÌ„ that they abiure the sayd Religion according to the forme of Abiuration sent for that purpose THe King considering how much his officers and Magistrates of Iustice and such as haue the administration and dealing of his Fynes and payments which be of the newe Religion are suspect and hated and put his Catholike subiects in great mistrust if they should presently exercise their offices after these freshe commotions for cause that the sayd offices be in their handes that nowe kepe them therfore least the people shoulde therby be brought to a newe occasion of stirre they of the new Religion be in dauÌ„ger or bazard of their owne persons although they woulde abiure their sayde newe Religion and professe the holy faith and Catholike Religion of Rome his Maiestie desiring to auoyde the new mischiefes and troubles which maye come hath aduised to discharge the sayd officers from the exercise of the sayde offices vntill he shall otherwise appoint And yet neuerthelesse in the meane while if the sayde officers be obediente vnto his will and liue quietly in their houses withoute attempting practising or taking any thing in hande against his seruice they shall receiue their wages and they that will resigne their sayd offices to Catholike persons and come to his Maiestie shal be verie honorably prouided for And as touching other small offices without wages which cannot be troublesome as Notaries Sergeants and such where the officers haue none authoritie which caÌ„not be so odious nor mistrustfull to the people as the other his Maiestie is aduised that such smal officers which will abiure the sayd newe Religion and professe the faith Catholike Apostolike and Romishe and therin liue continually hereafter shall continue in the exercise and enioying of their estates but they that will continue in their newe opinion shall depart from their offices vntill his Maiestie hath otherwise prouided And this is for the great mischiefe and inconuenience that maye betyde them if they shoulde exercise their sayd estates bicause of the great mistrust and suspition which the Catholikes haue conceiued of them of the newe Religion Neuerthelesse his Maiestie well considering that the moste part of the sayd officers haue none other way to liue but the exercise of their said offices willeth that they shall be in thoyse to resigne to Catholike and capable persons and then to come to him for that effect and he will graunt them the greatest fauour and moderation of his treasorie that is possible The which resolution and pleasure of his Maiestie he willeth to be declared to the sayd officers of the new pretended opinion as well by gouernours and Lieutenants generall of his Prouinces as by them of his Courtes of Parliament of the Chamber of his accomptes of the Court of his aydes them of his great Counsell of the Treasorie of Fraunce the Generals of his Fynes his Baylifes Seneshals Prouosts Iudges or their Lieutenants and euery one of them as shall appertaine And to this intent his Maiestie willeth and intendeth that euery one of them in their calling shall send particularly and apart for euery of the sayd officers of the newe Religion which be of their incorporation charge and Jurisdiction and shall admonish then in this behalfe to conforme them selues to his Maiesties minde and if any of them in authoritie bicause of their said estates wil returne to the bosome of the Catholike and Romish Church it shall be sayd to them that his Maiestie liketh verie well of it and that he taketh a great and singular affection therein and that it shall giue him the greater assurance and credit of their good will and that his Maiestie will not bar theÌ„ from his seruice hereafter but will prouide for them as their behauiour shall deserue And notwithstanding for the reasons abouesayd he willeth that they shall cease from the exercise of their estates and offices vntil he otherwise appointeth And bicause that in many places of the Realme they haue proceeded by way of seasing the goods of them of the newe Religion which be deade or absente and hide themselues and sometymes of those which be in their owne houses although his Maiestie gaue to vnderstande by his declarration of the .xxviij. of August last that be would and intended that they of the new Religion should enioy their goods neuerthelesse to the intent there should be no doubt of his purpose and that no mistrust might arise thervpon he declareth willeth and intendeth againe that according to his declaration of the .xxviij. of August they of the newe Religion which be lyuing whether they be present or absent and be not culpable or charged with the last conspiration or to haue attempted against his Maiestie or his estate since his Edict of Pacification shal be restored to their houses and put in possession of all singular their goode moueable or vnmoueable And that the wydowes and heyres of them that be deade may and shall succede them and appres bend all and singular their goodes and that they shal be mainteined in them and kepte vnder the protection and safegard of his Maiestie so that no hurte shal be done or sayd vnto them in any maner of wyse or sort VVilling for this purpose that all necessarie suretie shal be giuen them and that all officers Magistrates Mayors and others which haue publike charge shall maintaine them in al safetie forbidding al persons of what estate qualitie or condition so euer they be not to hurt them in person or goodâ—s vppon paine of deatâ— And neuerthelesse his Maiestie willeth that they of the newe opinion shall submit themselues and promise vpon paine to be declared rebells and traiâ— tours to his Maiestie that they shall hereafter liue vnder his obedience without attempting any thing to the contrarie or taking their parts that do attempt against his Maiestie and estate or things against his ordinances and to acknowledge none but his Maiestie or such as he shall appoint vnder him to haue authoritie to commaund them And if they knowe any that shall enterprise against his Maiestie and service to reueale them incontinent to him and his officers as good and faithfull subiects And to take away all doubte and suspicion as wel from the nobilitie as others bicause that in the declaration of the â–ª xxiiij of the last moneth these wordes are contained Except they be those of the chiefe which had commaundement for those of the newe opinion or those which made practises and deuises for them or those which might haue had intelligence of the sayd conspiracie His Maiestie declareth that he
those of Guise against whom he was not able to make speedie resistance in time as his Maiestie desired And in this quarell we the Gentlemen Capitaines and other that make you this answere are readie to trie it by combat man to man or otherwyse to maintaine the honour of our King against all those that so prophane holy things and as much as in them lyeth do by such wordes and titles vilainously defile the excellence of his Maiestie and of the noble Princes of his bloude VVhich wee maye righte well coniecture and estimate by the slaughters that are yet in doing as well in the towne of Paris as else where vpon so many noblemen gentlemen and other men women and children and vpon a great number of yong schollars the maintenance vnder God of Realmes and common weales in time to come and by many other barbarous vnnaturall and vnmanly actes generally committed VVe thinke therfore iudge that herein treason is enterprised against the person of his Maiestie and of my lords his brethren that the Guisians meane to inuade the Crowne of the Realme as they haue of long time practised and how so euer it be we say that his Maiestie is forced by the power that they haue taken vpon them and vsurped by meane of the rebellious stirre of the commons of Paris As for that which they saye that the Admirall and those of the Religion had conspired against the Kings Maiestie and his brethren these be allegations of as great truth and of as good likehoode as their maner of proceeding in iustice hath hene orderly beginning at executiō before examination of the fact But it is now no neede to tarrie for time to discouer it for the matter is plain to be seen with eye and groped with hand and all those of the Romishe Religion that haue remaining any droppe of nature of man doe confesse it and hold downe their heads for shame cursing both with hart mouth the cruell executers of this abhominable enterprise and the wicked disturbers of common quiet which can yet no more suffer than they hetherto haue done that this poore Realme shoulde long enioye the benefite of that peace which the King alone next vnder God had wisely caused to be made and to be accordingly obserued whereof this Realme began to feele the good taste to the great contentment of all persons except the enimies of peace and of this Realme namely the Guisians Finally when his Maiestie being oute of their handes and power shall declare what is his pleasure we will endeuour vs to obey him in all things wherin our consciences which are dedicate to God alone shall not be wounded in which case we will rather forsake the earth than heauen and our fraile and transitorie houses rather than the heauenly mansons But hetherto the lawe of nature and the duetie that we owe to our naturall Prince to the preseruation of his Crowne and to the safetie of our lyues oure wiues and children doth commaund vs to stand vpon our garde and not to put vs in the mercie of those that haue receiued the same bloody commission from the Guisians vnder the pretended name of the King to vse vs in the same manner as they haue wickedly traitorously and vnnaturally done to those about his Maiestie and as it were vnder his wings and vnder the skirtes of his robe which the traitors strāgers haue stained with the true French blood without that his Maiestie hath bene able to remedie it nor to staye their cursed attemptes so much lesse is he able now so farre off to defend vs as he would which his Maiesties good wil being knowne vnto vs doth arme vs for our defenc◠and for the safegarde of our liues and of the priuileges which he hath giuen vs vntill such time as he shal be able by himself to defende vs against his enimies and ours
of Anthonie King of Nauarre the said Catherine de Medices the kings mother against the custome of the realme was ioyned with him in that office of protectorship She fearing the presumption and fierce pride of the Guisians wrote to the Prince of Conde with hir owne haÌ„d which letters are yet remayning and at the assemblie of the Princes of Germanie at Franckforde holdeÌ„ vnder Ferdinand the Emperoure were produced and openly read about ten yeares past wherein she earnestly besought him in so gret hardnesse and distresse not to forsake hir but to account both the mother and the children that is both hir selfe and the King and the Kings brethren committed to his faith and naturall kindnesse and that he should with all speede prouide for their common safetie assuring him that she would so imprint in the Kings mind his trauell taken in that behalfe that he should neuer be loser by it VVithin few dayes after the Duke of Guise wel knowing how great authoritie the name of the King would carie in Fraunce and to the intent that he would not seeme to attempt anyâ—thing rather of his owne head than by the priuitie of the King and hauing atteyned fit partners to ioyne with him in these enterprises he got the King into his power VVhich thing being knowne abrode and manye hard encombrances therevpon sodaynely rising and a great part of the nobilitie of Fraunce maruellously troubled with it the Prince of Conde by aduise of his friends thought it best for him to take certaine townes and furnishe them with garrisons which was the beginning of the first ciuill warre For the Prince of Conde alleaged the cause of his taking armour to be the defence of the Kings Edict wherein consisted the safetie of the common weale and that it could not be repealed without most assured vndoyng of the nation of Fraunce and destruction of the nobilitie by reason of the exceeding great multitude of those that daylie ioyned themselues to that Religion Of which number suche as being of noble birthe were in power dignitie wealth and credite aboue the rest thoughte it not meete for them to suffer the punishments and crueltie accustomed to be extended vpon the prâ—fessors thereof beside that they helde them discontented that the Duke of Guise a newe come a straunger translated from the forests of Loraine into Fraunce did take vpoÌ„ him in Fraunce so great courage and so high dominion power Therto was added the Queenâ— mothers singular care as was reported for conseruation of peace and repressing the rage of the Guisians Vpon which opinion it is certayne that aboue twentie thousande men hauing regarde onelye to the Queenes inclination ioyned themselues to the side of those of the Religion and to the defence of their profession whiche at that time had besieged the force of the Kings power After certayne battayles and manye losses on both partes and the Duke of Guise slaine within a yeere peace was made with this condition that they of the Religion shoulde haue free libertie thereof and shoulde haue assemblies and preachings for the exercise of the same in certeyne places This peace continued in force but not in all places during fyue yeeres for in the most townes iurisdictions the Officers that were affectionate to the Romishe side whom they commonly call Catholikes did all the displeasures they could to those of the ReligioÌ„ Therfore when Ferdinando Aluares de Toledâ— commonly called Duke of Alua was leading an armie not farre from the frontiers of Fraunce against those of the lowe countrey which embraced the reformed Religion againste the wyll of the Kyng of Spayne the Queene mother caused to be leuied and brought into Fraunce sixe thousande Switzers for a defence as she caused it to be bruted but as the successe hath proued for this intent that the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other noble men of the Religion if they escaped the treasons prepared for them and listed to defende themselues by force and trie it by battayle might be sodaynely oppressed ere they were prouided For the courtiers whiche then had the managing of these matters dyd not at that time well trust the souldiers of Fraunce Many things pertayning to the course of that time and the renewing of the warre must here for hast to our present purpose be necessarily omitted VVheÌ„ the warre had endured about sixe moneths peâ—ce was made with the same coÌ„ditions that we haue aboue rehearsed that all men should haue free libertie to follow and professe the Religion reformed For this was euer one and the last condition vpon all the warres But within fewe dayes or monethes after it was playnly vnderstoode that the same peace was full of guile and treason and finally that it was no peace but most cruell warre cloaked vnder the name of peace For forthwyth all those townes which they of the Religion had yelded vp were possessed and strengthened with garrisons of souldiers of the contrary side sauing onely one towne on the sea coast in the partes of Xantoigne commonly called Rochell For the men of that towne aboute two hundreth yeares past had yelded themselues to the Kings power and allegeance with this condition that they should neuer be constrayned agaynst their will to receyue any garrison souldiers Also the Prince of Conde and the Admirall were aduertised that there was treason agayne prepared to entrap them by Tauaignes a man giueÌ„ to murther and mischiefe which had lately bene made Marshall of Fraunce and that if they did not spedely auoyde the same it should shortly come to passe that they should be deceyued and taken by him and deliuered vp to the crueltie of their aduersaries Vâ— on the receyt of these aduertisementes they immediatly make hast to Rochell carying with them their wiues and yong childreÌ„ which was the beginning of the third ciuill warre the most sharpe and miserable of all the rest There was at that time in the court Charles Cardinall of Loraine brother to the Duke of Guise which as is aboue sayde was slayne in the first warre one accompted most subtill and craftie of all the rest but of a terrible cruell and troublesome disposition so as he was thought intollerable euen at Rome it selfe This man they of the reformed Religion reported to be the moste sharpe and hatefull enimye of their profession and him they abhorred aboue all other for the crueltie of his nature and named him the firebrande of all ciuill flames He at the beginning of the third ciuill warre persuaded the King to publish an Edict that no man professe any Religion but the Romishe or Popish and that whosoeuer wold embrace any other should be compted as traytours In that same Edict Printed at Paris this sentence was expressely conteyned and for the strangenesse of the matter and for that it stayned the Kyngs name with the most dishonorable spot of periurie and breache of faith it was in other impressions afterwarde omitted And it was further then declared that albeit the
settling his residence and dwelling elsewhere he shoulde freely enioy all his reuenewes VVhich matter being reported to the French King he immediatly sent messengers to the Prince of AureÌ„ge willing him to loke for nothing by that dealing of the Emperour saying that it was but a fraud and guilefull deuise intended for this purpose only to breake vp his leuying of souldiors that he had begon in Germanie and assuring him that if he woulde credite and followe him hee would giue him ayde sufficient to recouer hys estate The Prince of Aurenge perswaded by these promises of King Charles continued his musters and determined a while to bear the charges thogh they were heauie to him while such things as were necessarie for the warre were in preparing In the meane time Lodouic in disguised apparell went to Paris to the king Forasmuch as the season of the yeare by this time seemed not commodious to leuie an armie for the winter was at hande by assent they deferred the matter till the next sommer These things thus hanging the Prince of Aurenge his capitaynes by sea did oftentymes set vpon the Spaniards and Portingals such ships as they toke they brought into the hauen of Rochell which then was in the power of the Prince of Condees part and there they openly vttered and solde their prizes to the men of the towne and other merchantes of Fraunce wherevppon the Embassadoure of Spayne made often complaintes to the Kings priuie councell And forasmuche as they thought it very auaylable to this enterprise that Elizabeth Queene of Englande might be broughte into league with them the King comitted the dealing in that matter to the Admirall For a fewe moneths before the King had with most swete alluring letters gotten him to the Court where he was most honorably entertayned and to take from him all occasion of distrust vppon his aduersaries or of otherwise suspecting of the Kings or Queene mothers affection towards him first all the Guisians of a set purpose departed the court Then the King gaue the Admirall free libertie to take with him what companie and with what furniture he would and bycause it was thoughte that he had more confidence in the Marshall Cosse than in the rest therefore the King commaunded the saide Marshall to be euer at hand with the Admirall and to assist him in the Kings name if any nede were The matter of the league with Englande the Admirall so diligently and industriously handled that within short space after by Embassadours sent and by faith giuen and receyued and othes solemnely taken on both parts it was confirmed Concerning the procurement of other leagues and amities suche as mighte seeme to further the enterprise of the low cuntrie the Admirall also trauelled in the kings â—â—ame and by his commandemente and had in a manner brought all these things to an ende And of all those leauges the first and principall condition was that the libertie of ReligioÌ„ shuld continue and that the king shoulde most diligently and sincerely obserue this Edict of pacification Though these things seemed to be handled secretly yet by the letters both of Biragio the vicechancellor of whom we made mentioÌ„ before and of Moruilliers whom for his hipocriticall leanenesse children commonly called the Chimera or bugge of the Court and by aduertisements of Cardinal de Peiue a man most fit either to inuent or execute any treason they were caried to the Byshop of Rome who by aduise of his Cardinals sent by and by one of their number called Alexandrine in the midst of most sharpe winter into Fraunce with these instructions to perswade the king to enter into the societie of the league of Trent whereof the first and principall article was that the confederats should ioyne their powers and make warre vpon the Turks and Heretikes meaning by the name of Heretikes all those Princes that did permitte the vse of the reformed Religion within their dominions The Cardinall Alexandrine was honourably receyued in the courte but yet dismissed without atchieuing his purpose For so was it bruted among the people and commonly beleeued throughout Fraunce albeit he himselfe secretly seemed to returne very mery cherefull to the Pope and as it is reported did sometime say that he receyued such aunswere of the King as was needfull not to be published and that the King and Queene mother had largely satisfied him Forasmuch as it was thought a matter greatly auayling to the enterprise of the lowe countrey to sende certayne ships into the Englyshe Seas that if any ayde shoulde be sent into the lowe countrey to the Duke of Alua oute of Spayne it might so be stopped Strozzi and the Baron de la Guarde were appoynted for that purpose to whome the king gaue in commandement to rigge for the certayne ships of Burdeaux and Rochell well armed and well appoynted and to prouide with all spede al things needfull for those ships The Ambassador of Spayne somewhat moued with this preparation made diuers complaints to the kings counsell on the behalfe of the king his master and yet neuer receyued any other answere but that the king thought it not likely and that he wold send Commissioners to Burdeaux and to Rochell with letters and commaundemente that there shuld be no preparation made to the sea and if any had bene made it should be enquired of VVhat instructions were secretlye and closely vnder hand giueÌ„ to these two captaines of that nauie we do not certaynly know But this no man can doubte of but that they had commission to distresse all such ships wherein any Spanishe souldiers should be transported into the lowe countrey and that all this preparation to the sea was ordayned against the Spanish king and the Duke of Alua. And moreouer that the Admiral at the same time receiued commaundement froÌ„ the king to send espials into Peru an Islaind of the new found world most plentifull of gold aboue all the other now being in the Spaniards dominion to learne if there were any good enterprise to be attempted or atchieued for the getâ—ing of it VVhich matter was committed to a certayne gentleman one of the Admirals trayne who went thither accompanyed with a certayne Portingall a man most skilfull of those Nauigations whome the Admirall had ioyned with him by the kings commaundement and is not yet returned Nowe it can not be expressed how manye and how great tokens of most louing mynde the king at that time shewed to the Admirall and to the Countie Rochfoucault and to Theligny and to the rest of the chiefe noblemen of the Religion First all such things as in the former warres had bene taken away in the townes fermes and castels of the Admirall d' Andelot the king caused to be sought oute and restored If there were any other whome the king vnderstoode to be beloued and esteemed of the Admirall or to haue attayned anye speciall honour in the sayde late warres those he liberally benefited and rewarded To the Admirall
himself he commaunded one day to be giuē a hundred thousand pounds of his owne treasure in recompence of his former losses VVhen his brother the Cardinall Chastillion endowed with many great and welthie benefices was departed his life the king gaue him the fruites of one whole yeare Also the kyng wrote to Philibert Duke of Sauoy that he should do him a most acceptable pleasure if he did not onely deale more gently with those that in the former warres had ayded those of the Religion but also would vse clemencie and mildenesse toward all other that professed the same Religion within his dominions And for that there was old enmitie betwene the Guisians and the Admirall wherby it was to be doubted that perillous contentions wold arise in the Realme of Fraunce the king willed it to be signified to them both in his name that they should for his sake and the common weales giue ouer those displeasures and he prescribed them a certaine fourme of reconciliation and agrement the same whereof the foundations had bene layed almost sixe yeares before in the towne of Molins where the king calling to him the greatest estates of his realme after consultation and deliberation had vpon the matter pronoūced the Admiral not guiltie of the death of the Duke of Guise wherwith he was charged by the yong Duke of Guise and his kinsmen and so the king by the aduise of his Counsell had ended that controuersie Furthermore the Cardinall of Loraine who as we haue sayd was the very forger of all the former warres to take away al ielousie of new practises was departed to Rome toke with him his familiar friend the late created Cardinall Peluey one reputed a most subtil craftie persō vnder pretēce of goyng to the election of a newe Pope in place of the olde Pope then lately deceassed But there was none greater and more assured tokē of publique peace quietnesse than this that the king purposed to giue hys sister Margaret in marriage to the Prince Henry the sōne of the Queene of Nauarre which Prince had in the last warre defended the cause of the Religion and bene soueraigne of their armie VVhiche mariage the kyng declared that it should be the most streight bond of ciuill concorde and the most assured testimonie of his good will to those of the Religion Yea and also bicause it was alleaged that the sayd Prince Henrie was restrayned in conscience so as he might not marrie the Lady Margaret being of a contrary Religion a Catholike and giuen to the rites of the Romish Church the king for aunswere sayd that he would discharge hir of the Popes lawes and notwithstanding the crying out of all his courtiers to the contrary he permitted him that withoute all ceremonies in the porch of the great church of Paris the mariage shoulde be celebrate in such a fourme as the ministers of the refourmed Church misliked not VVhiche thing being by reporte and letters spread through the world it cannot be expressed howe muche it made the hearts of those of the Religion assured and out of care and howe it cast out al feare ielosies out of their minds what a confidence it brought them of the kings good will toward them Finally how muche it reioyced forreine Princes and states that fauored the same Religion But the Admirals minde was much more stablished by a letter which about the same time Theligny brought him with the kings owne hand and sealed wherein was conteined that whatsoeuer the Admirall shuld do for the matter of the intended warre of the lowe coūntrey the king would allow and ratifie the same as done by his owne commaundement About that time Lodouic of Nassaw with the Queene of Nauarre a Lady most zelously affected to the Religion came to the Frenche Courte The league was made betweene king Charles and the Prince of Aurenge and the articles thereof put in writing The mariage was appointed to be holden in the towne of Paris For whiche cause the Queene of Nauarre during those fewe dayes repaired thether to prouide things for the solemnitie of the wedding For the same cause the king sente to the Admirall one Cauaignes a man of an excellent sharpe witte whome for the Admirals sake the king had aduanced to great honoure requiring the Admirall to go before to Paris as well for the said preparation as also for the matter of the warre of the lowe countrie promising that he himselfe would within fewe dayes followe after him assuring him that there was now no cause for him to feare the threatnings and mad outrages of the Parisians For in asmuch as the same towne is aboue all other giuen to superstitions and is with seditious preachings of Monks and Friers dayly enflamed to crueltie it is hard to expresse how bitterly they hated the Admirall and the professors of that Religion VVherto was added a griefe of their mind conceiued certaine dayes before by reason of a certaine stone crosse gilted and builte after the manner of a spire steeple commonly called Gastignes crosse whiche the Admirall with great earnest sute obtayned of the king to be ouerthrowne for he alleaged that being erected in the midst of the rage of the ciuill warre as it were in triumph to the reproch of one of the Religion it was a monumente of ciuill dissention and so a matter offensiue to peace and concord The King well knowing this deadly hate of the Parisians to the Admirall wrote his letters to Marcell the prouost of the marchauntes whiche is the highest dignitie in Paris with sharpe threatnings if there should be raised any stirre or trouble by reason of the Admirals comming To the same effect also the Duke of Aniow the kings brother and the Queene mother wrote to the same Marcell and the rest of the magistrates of Paris so that nowe there seemed vtterly no occasion lefte for the Admiral to feare or distrust And within few dayes after the king sente Briquemault a man of greate vertue and estimation to the Admirall with the same instructiōs saying that the matter of the lowe countrey could not well be delt in without his presence The Admirall perswaded by thus many meanes and filled with good hope and courage determined to go to Paris where so sone as he was ariued and had bene honorably and louingly entertayned of the king and his brethren and the Queene mother and consultation entred among them about the preparation for the low coūtrey he declared to the king at large how the Duke of Alua was in leuying of great power and preparing an armie and that if the king should dissemble his purpose it would come to passe that many thereby wold shew themselues slower and slacker to the enterprise and that nowe were offered greate meanes to do good whiche if he let slippe hee should not so easily recouer the like againe hereafter And therefore it was best to take the aduantage of this opportunitie A fewe dayes before Lodouie of Nassaw
wente secretly into the frontiers of the lowe countrey and toke with him as partners of his iourney and priuie to his counsell thre Frēchmen of great credite with the Admirall namely Saucourt la Noue and Genlis to whom the king had giuen in charge to see if they coulde by any meanes attēpt and possesse any townes bordering vppon his realme They gathering diuers other gentlemen into their companie went speedily into the lowe countrey the Admirall not knowing of it VVho as soone as he vnderstode of their going thether wrote vnto them that he much maruelled what they mēt saying that he well knewe there coulde be no power gotten readie before .xl. dayes end and that they should be wel aduised to do nothing rashly nor to ouerthrowe with hast their deuises that seemed not ripe to be executed The countie of Nassaw inflamed with the sighte and desire of his countrey and fearing the mutablenesse of the king did firste at the soden set vppon Valentiennes but being repulsed by the Spanish souldiers that were in garrison in the Castell he hastily departed to Montz and toke the towne being a place very strong by nature and well furnished with all things necessarye for the warre VVhiche thing beyng by reporte and messangers spred abrode in the lowe countrey and caried into Fraunce and Germanie both encouraged all them of the Religion with great hope and also seemed to haue now playnely and openlye deciphred disclosed the mind of the French king Moreouer Genlis returning to Paris when he had made reporte to the king of all the matter as it had proceded easily obtayned of him that by his assent he might leuie certaine bandes of footemen and horssemen of Fraunce and carie them to succoure Montz But by the way when he was entred into the bounds of the lowe countrie hauing with him to the number of foure thousand footemen and aboute foure hundreth horssemen they were beset by the Duke of Alua and the most parte of them distressed which thing was well knowne to haue ben wrought by the meanes of the Guisians which by dayly messages and letters aduertised the Duke of Alua of theyr purposes and preparation VVhich falsehod of theirs many most affectionate to the Romish Religion were highly offended with bycause a great number addicted to the same Romishe Religion were in that companie VVith this losse and with the rescue of the towne of Valentiennes the King seemed to be much troubled for he feared least his counsels being disclosed to the Spanish king would at length breede some cause of querel and warre Howbeit when he began to remember that a great parte of his secrets was already reuealed to the Duke of Alua he oftentimes resolued to vtter his minde plainely and to make open warre But he was withdrawne from that purpose by certaine men whiche the Admirall had long before conceyued that they would so do Howbeit he gaue the Admirall libertie to send whatsoeuer he thoughte meete to further the Prince of Aurenge his enterprise and as great supplie either of footemen or of horssemen as he could to the armie which the Prince of Aurenge had leuyed in Germanie VVhen the Admirall for that cause had made request that he might leauie thirtie troupes of horssemen and as many ensignes of footemen he easily obtayned it For the entertainement of these footemen it behooued to haue money wherefore at the request of the Admirall the king called for his Tresurer and commanded him to deliuer to the Admirall so much money as the Admirall should thinke meete and charged him that he should not in any wise after the vsuall manner of the accompts of finances write the causes of the receipt but only set it downe in this forme This summe of money was payde to the Admirall suche a day by the kings commaundement for certayne causes which the king hath commaunded not to be written and to thys warrante the King subscribed with hys owne hand Also the King wrote to Monducet his Embassadoure in the lowe countrey to trauell as earnestly as he could for their deliuerance that were taken at the ouerthrowe of Genlis which commaundment it is said that Monducet did most faithfully and diligently execute Not long before this Ioane Queene of Nauarre aboue mentioned died in the Courte at Paris of a sodaine sicknesse beeing aboute the age of fortie and three yeares where as the suspition was great that she died of poyson and hir body was sort hat cause opened by the Phisitions there were no tokens of poyson espied But shortly after by the detection of one A. P. it hath bene found that she was poysoned with a venomed smell of a pair of perfumed gloues dressed by one Renat the Kings Apothicarie an Italian that hath a shop at Paris vppon sainte Michaels bridge neare vnto the pallace which could not be espied by the phisitions which did not open the head nor loked into the brayne It is well knowne that the same man about certayne yeares past for the same intente gaue to Lewes Prince of Conde a poysoned pomander which the Prince left with one le Grosse his Surgion le Grosse delited with the same was by little and little poysoned therewith and so swelled that he hardly escaped with his life By hir deathe the Kingdome came to the Prince Henrie hir sonne to whom as is abouesaid the Kings sister was promised and contracted Things being as it seemed throughout all Fraunce in most peacible estate and the concord of all degrees well established the day was appointed for the marriage of the king of Nauarre which day all they that fancied the Religion esteemed so muche the more ioyfull to them bycause they sawe the King wonderfully bent therevnto and all good men iudged the same a most assured pledge and stablishmente of ciuill concord whereas on the contrary part the Guisians and other enimies of common quietnesse greatly abhorred the same marriage VVhen the day came the marriage was with royall pompe solemnized before the greate Churche of Paris and a certaine fourme of words so framed as disagreed with the Religion of neither side was by the kings commandement pronounced by the Cardinall of Burbon the king of Nauars vnkle and so the matrimonie celebrate with greate ioy of the king and all good men the bride was with greate trayne and pompe led into the Church to heare Masse and in the meane time the bridegrome who misliked these ceremonies together with Henry Prince of Conde sonne of Lewes and the Admirall and other noble men of the same Religion walked withoute the Church dore wayting for the Brides retourne VVhile these things were in doing at Paris Strozzi who as we haue said had the charge of the kings power at sea houering vpon the coast of Rochell did now and then send of his captaines and souldiers into the towne vnder colour of buying things necessarie and sometime he came thither also him selfe The like was done at the same time in another part
feare of many that beheld it runne warme and smoking into the next stretes of the town and so downe into the Riuer of Sene. There was in that fame Archbishops prison an aged man called Francis Collut a marchant of cappes and two yong men his sonnes whome he had eucr caused diligently to be taught and instructed in Religion VVhen he sawe the butchers come towarde him with their Axes he began to exhort his children not to refuse the death offred by God For said he it is the perpetuall destinie of Religion and that often suche sacrifices do betide in christian Churches and Christians in all ages haue euer bene and for euer to the worlds end so shal be as sheepe among wolues doues among hawkes and sacrifices among priests Then the old father embraced his two yong sonnes and lying flat on the ground with them crying aloude vpon the mercie of God was with many wounds both he and his sonnes slaughtered by those butchers and long time afterward their three bodies had knit together yelded a piteous spectacle to many that beheld them In the meane time Mandelot in iest and soorne as it seemed caused to be proclaymed by the cryer that no man shoulde committe any slaughter in the towne and that if any woulde detect the doers of any such slaughter he woulde giue him a hundred crownes in reward for his information And from that time they ceassed not to kill to robbe and to spoyle The nexte day after which was the first day of September the greatest parte of the dead bodies were throwen into the Riuer of Sene and the rest of them Mandelot to feede and glut his eyes and heart with bloud caused to be caried by boate to the other side of the water and there to be throwen downe vppon the greene grasse nere vnto the Abbey called Esne There the people of Lions specially the Italians of whom by reason of the maâ—te there is great store in the towne satisfied their eyes a while and did such spites as they could to these heapes of carcases and so exercised their crueltie not vppon the liuing only but also vpon the dead And there hapned one thing whiche for the abhominable crueltie is not to be omitted There came to that spectacle certaine apothecaries and among these bodies they perceiued some verye fat ones by and by they went to the butchers and told them that they did vse to make certaine special medicines of mans greace and that they might make some profite thereof VVhiche as soone as the butchers vnderstoode they ranne to the heapes and chose out the fattest and launced them with their kniues and pulled out the fat and sold it for money to the apothecaries VVhile these things were doing at Lions the king being â—nfourmed that diuers of the Religion had left their wiues and children and were fled out of the other â—wnes and â—â—ked some in the woodes and some among their friends such as toke pitie on them he practised with faire words to allure and call them home againe He sent to euerie part messengers and letters affirming that he was highly displeased with those slaughters and horrible butcheries and that he would that such crueltie should be seuerely punished and if the Admirall with a fewe of his confederates had entred into anye secrete practiâ—e it was no reason that so many 〈◊〉 should beare the punishment due to a few Many swetely beguiled with these worâ—es of the king and with the letters of the gouernours retired home againe to their dwellings and houses speciallye they of Rhoan Diepe and Tholouse There were scant two dayes passed when they were againe coÌ„maunded to prison where they were all shutte vp Then were murderers a new appointed of the most base and rascall of the people to torment them with all kind of torture and then to slaye them And throughout the whole realme of Fraunce for thirtie dayes togither there was no ende of killing slaying and robbing so that at this day there are about a hundreth thousande little babes widowes and children that were well borne that now fatherlesse and motherlesse live wandering and in beggerie Aboute this time the King caused to be proclaimed that such as had any office or place of charge vnlesse they would spedily returne to the Catholike Apostolique and Romishe Churche should giue ouer those their temporall roomes There was no towne nor any so small a village or hamlet wherin all the professors of the ReligioÌ„ wer not compelled either to go to Masse or presently to take the sword into their bosomes and in many places it happened that such as being amazed with the sodainenesse of the matter had abiured their Religion yet notwithstanding were afterward slaine And while these things were still in doing yet the king in the meane while sent abrod his letters and messages into all partes and caused to be proclaimed with trumpet that his pleasure was that the Edictes of pacification should be obserued and although they coulde not haue freedome to vse and exercise their Religion in open places yet they should haue libertie permitted them to retaine and professe it within their owne houses and that no man should medle with or disturbe the goods and possessions of those of the Religion And the same King which but fewe dayes before had by letters directed to all the gouernours of his Prouinces signified that his cousin the Admirall was slaine by the Duke of Guise to his great sorowe and that himselfe was in great daunger the same King I say now caused it with sound of trumpet to be proclaimed that the trayterous and wicked Admirall was slaine by his will and commaundement He that in fewe dayes before had by newe authoritie confirmed the libertie of Religion permitted by his Edicts of pacification the same king did now not onely take from the professors there of their offices and honours but also prescribed them in precise fourme of wordes â— fourme of abiuring and detesting their Religion VVhich things leaste anye man shoulde doubt of we shall hereafter set downe the verie true copyes of the sayde Letters Edictes and Abiuration THE KINGS LETTERS TO the Gouernours of Burgundie wherby he chargeth those of the house of Guyse for the murder committed vpon the Admirals person and for the sedition which hapned at Paris and commaundeth that the Edict of PacificatioÌ„ should be kept and reteined COusin you haue perceyued what I wrote vnto you yesterday concerning my cousin the Admirals wounding and how readie I was to do my endeuour to search out the truth of the deed and to punish it wherein nothing was left vndone or forgotten But it happened since that they of the house of Guyse and other Lordes and Gentlemen their adherents whereof there be no small number in this Citie when they certainely knewe that the Admirals friendes would proceede to the reuenge of his hurt and bicause they were suspected to bee the authours thereof were so stirred vp this last night that
of diuine seruice and to assist the same which I thinke be to drawe Christian people to pitie and turning to their God as fasting absteyning from meates obseruation of holy dayes and ecclesiasticall pollicie according to the tradition of the Apostles and holy Fathers continued since the primitiue Church till this time and afterwards brought into the Church by the ordinances of Counsels receiued in the same of long and auncient time or of late be good and holy to the whiche I will and ought to obey as prescribed appointed by the holy ghost the author and director of that which serueth for the keping of Christian Religion and of the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church I beleeue also and accepte all the articles of originall sinne and of Iustification I affirme assuredly that we ought to haue and kepe the Images of Iesus Christ of his holy mother and all other saincts and doe honor and reuerence vnto them I confesse the power of indulgence and pardons to be left in the Church by Iesus Christ and the vse of thē to be verie healthfull as also I acknowledge and confesse the Church of Rome to be the mother and chief of all Churches and conducted by the holy ghost and that other pretended particular inspirations against the same come of the suggestion of the Deuill the Prince of dissention which woulde separate the vnion of the mysticall body of the sauiour of the worlde Finally I promise straightly to keepe all that was ordayned at the last generall councell of Trent and promise to God and you neuer more to depart from the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church and if I do which God forbid I submit my selfe to the penalties of the canons of the sayd Church made ordeyned and appointed against them which fall backe into Apostasie The which Abiuration and Confession I haue subscribed THE KINGES LETTER TO M. de Guyse and other Lieutenantes and Gouernors of his Prouinces by the which he wholly abolisheth and subuerteth al the Edictes of Pacification and willeth that onely the Romishe Religion shoulde take place in his Realme THe King knowing that the declaration which he made vpon the occasions which lately chaūced in the Citie of Paris the remebrances and instructiōs of his will which be sent round about to all Gouernours of his Prouinces and Lieutenants generall therin and particular letters to the Seneshals and his Courts of Parliament and other officers and Ministers of Iustice can not his therto staye the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the cities of this Realme to his Maiesties great displeasure hath aduised for a more singular remedie to send all the sayde Gouernours into euery of their charges and gouernements assuring him selfe that according to the qualitie and power which they haue of his Maiestie they can well followe and obserue his intent the which more fully to declare his Maiestie hath caused his letters patentes to be dispatched which shal be deliuered them Besides the contentes wherof M. de Guise the gouernour Lieutenant generall for his Maiestie in Champaigne and Brye shall call before him the gentles men of the newe Religion abyding within his gouernement and shall tell them that the Kings wil and intent is to preserue them their wyues children and families and to mayntaine them in possession of their goods so that on their parte they liue quietly and render to his Maiestie obedience and fidelitie as they ought in which doyng the King also will defende them that they shall not be molested or troubled by waye of Iustice or otherwise in their persons and goods by reason of things done during the troubles and before the Edict of Pacification of August ▪ 1570. And afterwardes be shall louingly admonishe them to continue no longer in the Error of the newe opinions and to returne to the Catholike Religion reconciling themselues to the Catholike Romishe Church vnder the doctrine and obedience wherof Kings his predecessors and their subiects have alwayes holily lyued and this Realme hath ben cares fully conducted and maintained Shewing to thē the mischiefes and calamities which haue happened in this Realme since these newe opinions haue entred into mens spirites Howe manye murders haue bene caused by such which haue fallen from the right waye holden by their Auncestors First they made them separate them selues from the Churche then from their nexte of kinred and also to be estranged from the seruice of their king as a man may see since his raigne And althoughe the authors and heades of that side would haue couered their doyngs vnder the title of Religion and conscience yet their deedes and workes haue shewen well inough that the name of Religion was but a visarde to couer their driftes and disobedience and vnder that pretence to assemble and subborne people and to make and compel them to sweare in the cause vnder the title of disobedience and by suche wayes to turne them from the naturall affection which they owe to the King and consequently from his obedience being notorious that what commaundement so euer the King could make to them of the newe Religion they haue not since his raigne obeyed him otherwise than pleased their heads And contrariwise when their sayd heads commaunded them to arise and take to their weapons to set vpon Cities to burne Churches to sacke and pill to trouble the Realme and fill it with bloud and fire they which went so astray to follow them forgot all trust and duetie of good subiects to execute and obey their commaūdements VVhich things if the gentlemen will well consider they shall easely Iudge how vnhappie and miserable their condition shal be if they continue longer therein For they may well thinke of them selues that the king being taught by experience of so great a daunger from the which it hath pleased God to preserue him and his estate and hauing proued the mischiefes and calamities which this Realme hath suffred by the enterprises of the heads of this cause their adherentes and complices that he will neuer willingly be serued with any gentleman of his subiects that be of any other Religion than the Catholike in the whiche also the king following his predecessors will liue and die He willeth also to take away all mistrust amongst his subiects and to quench the rising of discordes and seditions that all they of whom he is serued in honorable places and specially the gentlemen which desire to be accompted his good and lawfull subiects and would obtaine his fauour and be employed in charges of his seruice according to their degrees and qualities do make profession hereafter to liue in the same Religion that he doth hauing tryed that discords and ciuill warres will not cease in a state where there be many Religions and that it is not possible for a King to maintaine in his Realme diuersities in Religion but that he shall leese the good will and beneuolence of his subiectes yea and they which are of a
contrarie Religion to his desire nothing in their hart more than the change of the King and of his estate For the reason abouesayde the Duke of Guise to bring the matter to this passe shall take paines to persuade the nobilitie and others infected with the sayde new opinion to returne of them selues and of their owne frewill to the Catholike Religion and to abiure and renounce the new without any more expresse commaundement from the king For how so euer it be his maiestie is resolued to make his subiects liue in his Religion and neuer to suffer what so euer may betyde that there shall be any other forme or exercise of Religion in his Realme than the Catholike The sayd Duke of Guise shall communicate with the Principall officers and Magistrates hauing the Principall charge and administration of Iustice in Cities of his gouernment his Maiesties declaration to the intent they should know his minde and the good end wherevnto he tendeth for the vniting and quietnesse of his subiects to the intent the sayd M. de Guise the sayd officers and Magistrates should with one concorde intelligence and correspondence proceede to the effect aboue sayde so that fruit and quietnesse may thereof ensue such as his Maiestie desireth not onely for himselfe but for the whole Realme The Baylifes and stuardes which are not in Religion accordingly qualified shall within one moneth resigne their offices to gentlemen capable and of the qualitie required by the Edict which may keepe and exercise the same And to the intent this should be done his Maiestie doth nowe presently declare them depriued after the sayd moneth if they do not then resigne that they shall haue no occasion or colour of excuse to delay their resignations and yet permitteth them in the meane while to resigne without any syne paying All Baylifes and stuardes shal be resident at their offices vpon paine of losse of the same if they can not so be thē they shall be boūd to resigne All Archbyshops and Bishops shall likewise be resident in their dioces and such as for age and other disposition of person can not preach the word of God nor edifie the people and do other functions appertaining to their charge and dignitie shall be bounde to take a conductor to comfort them and to employ them selues to the duetie of their charge To the which conductour they shall appoint an honest and reasonable pension according to the fruites and reuenue of their liuing Also persons and vicars shall be resident at their benefices or else shall be admonished to resigne them ▪ to suche as will be resident and doe their duetie Archbyshops and Byshops shall take information of them which holde abbeyes Prioryes and other benefices in their dioces of what qualitie so euer they are and how they do their duetie in the administration of them wherevpon they shall make processe by worde vnto the Gouernours which shall sende them to the King to prouide therin as reason shall moue him They shall compell the Curates actually to abide at the places of their benefices or else shall appoint other in their steades according to the disposition of the Cannons At Paris the .iij. day of Nouember 1572. Signed CHARLES LETTERS OF M. DE GORDS the Kings Lieutenaunt in Daulphine to certaine of the Religion in his gouernement wherby the exhorteth them to come backe againe to the Religion of Rome how the King is determined to suffer none other SIr I am sufficiently aduertised of you behauior but you should remember what aduertisements I haue before sent you to returne to the Catholike Religion of your selfe which is the best hold and stay that you can chose for your preseruation and health putting from you all those which persuade you to the contrary who would abyde to see any commotion or disorder rather than abate any poynt of their opinion And by this meanes you shall make euident to the King the wil which you say you haue to obey his Maiestie counsailing you for as much as I desire your well doing that this is the best for you to do without loking for any more open commaundement otherwise assure your selfe there can but euill come of it and that his Maiestie would be obeyed And thus I pray God to aduise you and giue you his holye grace From Grenoble the sixt of Decēber 1572. Your entire good friend GORDES THE ANSVVERE OF THE Gentlemen Capitaines Bugeses and other being in the towne of Rochell to the commaundementes that haue bene giuen them in the name of the King to receiue garrisons WE the Gentlemen Capitaines Bugeses and other nowe being in this towne of Rochell doe giue answere to you Mounsier N. and to suche commaundementes as you giue vs in the name of his Maiestie that we can not acknowledge that that which is signified vnto vs and the Proclamation which you require that we should cause to be published dò proceede from his Maiestie And thereof we call to witnesse his Maiestie himselfe his letters of the .xxij. and .xxiiij. of August his owne signet and the publishing of the same letters by the which his sayd Maiestie layeth all the fault of all the trouble lately happened and of the cruell slaughter done at Paris vpon those of the house of Guise protesting that he had enough to doe to keepe himselfe safe within his Castell of Louure with those of his Garde And we shall neuer suffer our selues to be persuaded that so foule an enterprise and so barbarous a slaughter hath at any time entred into the mind of his Maiestie much lesse that the same hath bene done by his expresse commaundement as the paper importeth which you haue exhibited vnto vs nor that his Maiestie hath bene so ill aduised as himself to cut of his owne armes or to defile the sacred wedding of Madome his owne sister with the sheding of so much noble and innocent bloud and with the shame of so cruell a fact to disteine the nation of Fraunce and the bloud royall which hath heretofore euer among all nations borne the name of franke and courteous nor that he hath had minde to deliuer matter to writers to set forth a tragicall historie such as antiquitie hath neuer berd speake of the like and such as posteritie can not reporte without horror But that it was first layd at Rome and afterward hatched at Paris by the authors of all the troubles of Fraunce And howsoeuer it be we are readie to maintaine that out of the mouth of his Maiestie doth not procede hote cold white and black that he doth not nowe say one thing and by and by an other as he should do if the paper that you present vnto vs had passed from him protesting that he will inuiolably keepe his Edict and immediatly breaking the same in declaring that he commaunded those murders to be committed hauing also made protestation before that it is to his great griefe and done by the outrage and violence of
¶ A true and plaine report of the Furious outrages of Fraunce the horrible and shameful slaughter of CHASTILLION the Admirall and diuers other Noble and excellent men and of the wicked and straunge murder of godlie persons committed in many Cities of Fraunce without any respect of sorte kinde age or degree By ERNEST VARAMVND OF FRESELAND ¶ AT STRIVELING in Scotlande 1573. TO THE READER YOu must ceasse to maruell my good cuntreymen of Scotland that I haue caused this booke printed in our cuntrey of ScotlaÌ„d to be published altogither in the English phrase orthographie For the language is vvel enough knovvne to our cuÌ„treymeÌ„ And the chief cause of my translating it was for our good neighbors the EnglishmeÌ„ to whoÌ„ we are so hiely bound vpon whose good Queene at this present in policie dependeth the chiefe â—â—aye of Gods Churche in Christendome I knovv not vvhatrespects haue stayed the learned of that land from setting out this historie Therfore supposing the causes to be such as I conceiue them I haue ben bolde to set it forthe in their language in our cuntrey And you good cuntreymeÌ„ that haue receiued so honorable succors from England and froÌ„ vvhenceal Christendome hopeth for charitable assistaÌ„ce must be content to yelde that this is framed to serue their vnderstanding Ye Englishmen our good neighbors frends brethreÌ„ and patrons I pray you conster rightly of my labour that my purpose is not here to offend any amitie nor violate any honor nor preiudice any truth but to set before you astorie as I found it referring the confirmation thereof to truth and prooues as in all historicall cases is lavvfully vsed How many histories written in Latine Italian French by Iouius Paradine Belleforest and other are printed in Italie Fraunce and Flaunders and published freely had and read in your land although they contain matter expresly to the sclander of your state and princes Matters of that nature are published the burden of prouing resteth vpon the author the iudgement pertaineth to the reader there is no preiudice to anye part Bokes are extant on both parts The very treatises of diuinitie are not al vvaraÌ„ted that be printed you must take it as it is onely for matter of reporte on the one parte so farre to binde credit as it carieth euidence to furnish your vnderstandings as other bokes do that make rehearsals of the actes states of princes coÌ„moÌ„ weales and peoples But howsoeuer it be good Englishmen thanke God that you haue such a soueraigne vnder vvhoÌ„ you suffer no such things by the noble sincere aide that your good Queene hath giuen vs in Scotland I pray you gather a comsortable confideÌ„ce that in respect of such honorable charitie to his church in Scotland god vvil not suffer you at your nede to be succorlesse in England as by dayly miracles in preseruing your Queene he hath plainly shevved and the rather ye may trust hereof if ye be thankeful and faithful to God hir that ye pray hartily to God either by mediate operation of your Queenes iustice or by his ovvne immediate hand vvorking to deliuer his church people froÌ„ the coÌ„mon perill to both these realms to the state of al true religioÌ„ in christeÌ„dome Farewel and God long preserue bothe your good and oure hopeful soueraigne to his glory Amen A declaration of the furious outrages of Fraunce vvith the slaughter of the Admiral IT were to be wished that the memorie of the fresh slaughters and of that butcherly murthering that hathe lately bene committed in a manner in all the townes of Fraunce were vtterly put out of the minds of men for so great dishonor and so greate infamie hath thereby stayned the whole FreÌ„ch nation that the most part of them are now ashamed of their owne countrey defiled with two most filthy spottes falsehode and crueltie of the which whether hath bene the greater it is hard to say But forasmuche as there flee euery where abroade Pamphlets written by flatterers of the Courte and men corruptly hired for reward which do most shamefully set out things sayned and falsely imagined in stead of truth I thoughte my selfe bound to do this seruice to posteritie to put the matter in writing as it was truely done in dede being wel enabled to haue know ledge thereof both by mine owne calamitie and by those that with their owne eyes beheld a great part of the same slaughters In the yeare of our Lord. 1561. when there seemed to be some perill of troubles to arise by reason of the multitude of suche as embraced the Religion which they cal reformed for before that time the vsuall manner of punishing such as durst professe that Religion was besides losse and forfeyture of all their goods to the Kings vse to burne their bodies at the request of the great Lordes and nobilitie there was holden an assemblie of the estates in the Kings house at Saint Germaines in Lay neare to the towne of Paris at which assemblie in presence and with the royall assente of King Charles the ninth which now raigneth it was decreed that from thencefoorth it shoulde not be preiudicaill to any man to professe the said Religion and that it should be leefull for theÌ„ to haue publique metings and preachings for the exercise thereof but in the suburbs of townes only At this assemblie Francis Duke of Guise being descended of the house of Loraine and at that time Grand master of the Kings houshold was not present But when he was enformed of this decree he boyled with incredible sorow and anger and within few dayes after at a little town in Champagne called Vassey while the professors of the saide Religion were there at a Sermon he accompanied with a band of souldiers set vppon them and slewe men and women to the number of two hundreth There was amoÌ„g these of the Religion for so hereafter according to the vsuall phrase of the french tong we intend to call them Lewes of Burbon of the bloud royall commonly called Prince of Conde after the name of a certaine towne a man of great power by reason of his kinred to the king Therefore when the Duke of Guise most vehemently striued against that lawe and as much as in him lay did vtterly ouerthrowe it and troubled the common quiet thereby stablished Gaspar de Coligni Admirall of France and Francis d'Andelot his brother Captaine of the Fantarie and other Princes noble men and Gentlemen of the same Religion come dayly by heapes to the Prince of Conde to complaine of the outragious boldnesse and vntemperate violence of the Duke of Guise At that time Catherine de Medices Pope Clements brothers daughter and mother of King Charles borne in Florence a Citie of Italie had the gouernance of the Realme in the Kings minoritie For though by the lawe of Fraunce neither the inheritance nor the administration of the realme is graunted to women yet through the cowardly negligence
feede hit eyes with that spectacle had a mind also to go thither and she caried with hir the king and both hir other sonnes But the nexte night following the body was conueyed away and as it is thoughte buried About that time where as many of the Court secretly muttered that the king shoulde by this fact incurre dishonoure not only amoÌ„g forreine nations but also with all posteritie in time to come for euer Moruillier of whome we haue made mention before one that is accompted the principal lewde practiser and wicked sycophant of all Fraunce and the first authoure and chiefe meane of bringing the Iesuites into France came to the Queene mother and tolde hir that it was best that some of those that were lately taken fleyng and hiding themselues should for maners sake be brought to open iudgemeÌ„t and after the accustomed maner should be enquired vpon that they might be condemned by the Sentence of certaine iudges piked out for that purpose and so opeÌ„ly executed in sight of the people There were called to counsell herevpon Birage Limege Thuan and Belleure They not only allowed Moruilliers opinion but also gaue aduise that a man of hey made in figure for the Admirall for his body as we haue saide coulde not bee fouÌ„d should be dragged by the Boureau thorough the streates his armes and ensignes of honoure broken his memorie condemned his castels and fermes rased his children pronounced infamous vnnoble and intestable and all the trees in his woods to be hewen downe to the heighth of sixe foote There was among those that were apprehended one Cauaignes master of Requests to the King and Briquemault of whome we haue before spokeÌ„ This Briquemault had spente his time in seruice in the old warres in the time of king Frauncis and king Henry and was for the warre accompted a man of great experience among the best now liuing and was neare about threescore and ten yeares olde As sone as they were caried into prison there were presented vnto them all the tormenter and the hangman and they were threatned with torture and tearing their bodies in peeces vnlesse they woulde presentlye subscribe with their owne hand that they were of counsell with the Admirall to kill the King and his brethren and the Queene mother and the king of Nauarre They all cryed out that they were readye to suffer deathe most willingly forasmuche as the kings pleasure was it should be so but so great torture they coulde not beare and therefore humbly besought his royall goodnesse and clemencie to pardon theÌ„ that torment and yet trusting vpon the mercie of God they hoped that they should suffer exceeding great paynes rather than staine theÌ„selues with so great shame or confesse an vntrue crime against themselues They that were first assigned their iudges hearing their cryes and defenses and fearing the iudgemente of the worlde saide plainly that they would not drawe vpon themselues moste assured infamie for condemning them Therefore there were newe iudges appointed in their places to them was adioyned such a tormenter and norarie as were thoughte fittest for the purpose And so Briquemault Cauaignes were quickly condemned by a shadowed forme of lawe and led to the gibbet standing in the principall strete of the towne and in sight of many thousands of men gazing at them To this spectacle the Queene mother ledde the King and hir other sonnes and hir sonne in lawe the King of Nauarre It was thought commodious for playing of this last acte that Briquemaâ—lt should in hearing of all the people aske pardon of the king and for that purpose there were some suborned to put him in minde that if he woulde he might easily purchase his life for the king was of nature full of clemencie and mercy and if he woulde aske pardon of his maiestie with confessing his offence he shoulde easily obtaine it He answered with a valiaunt and bold courage that it was not his part but the kings to aske pardon of God for this fault and that he would neuer craue forgiuenesse of that offence wherof he well knew himselfe and had God to witnesse that he was cleare and innocent Neuerthelesse he besought God to forgiue the king this fault So were these two excellent and famous men with halters fastened aboute their necks throwne by the hangman from the ladder and hanged and there withall also the man of strawe made for figure of the Admirall was tied fast and hanged with them after a preposterous order of lawe wherby the Admirall was first slayne and then condemned But wheras in a manner in all townes there were great slaughters committed yet was there none more horrible nor more outragious than the butcherly murder at Lions So soone as the letters from the Court were brought to Mandelot gouernour of the towne first by a cryer and trumpet he caused to be proclaymed that all the professours of the Religion shoulde appeare presently before him at his house They without all delay repayred to him As soone as they were come he commaunded them all to suffer themselues to be led to priso by such officers as should be assigned them They obeyed his word and followed the officers that led the. By reason of the great multitude they sorted them into sundry prisons Then Mandelot willed the common executioner to be commaunded in his name to take some to helpe him and to kill those that were in prison The executioner aunswered that he vsed not to execute the law vpon any but such as were condemned and in publike and open places and therefore willed him to seeke another slaughter man if he would Mandelot thus refused by the executioner commaunded the garrison souldiers of the castle to do it The souldiers aunswered that it was against their honoure to vse weapoÌ„ vpon men bound and lying suppliant before them If they had raysed any rebellion or had offended or prouoked them they said they would most readily haue fought with them Beeing thus refused by them also at the last he committed the matter to the watermen and butchers Those fellowes being let into the prisons wente to it with chopping kniues and butchers axes Such as they found prostrate at their feete piteâ—â—sly holding vp their hands to heauen crying vppon the mercie of God and men they did for sport cut off their fingers and the toppes of their handes and throughout the whole towne was heard such a crie and lamentable howling of women and children that innumerable people euen suche as were zelously giuen euen to the popish Religion did detest that crueltie and iudged that not meÌ„ but outragious sauage beastes in shape of men were entred into the prisons It is well knowne that a great number of honest women in the towne great with childe were so slighted with the horror of it that they were deliuered befor their time And out of the Courte of the gaole called the Archbishops prison the bloud was seene in the broad day light to the great abhorring and
of Paris the xxiiij day of this present moneth of August least the said deede should be otherwise disguised and reported than it was in deede his Maiestie therfore declareth that which was done was by his expresse commaundement for no cause of Religion nor breaking his Edictes of Pacification which he alwayes entended and still mindetâ— and entendeth to obserue and keepe yea it was rather done to withstand and preuent a most detestable and curssed conspiracie begon by the sayd Admirall the chiefe captaine therof and his sayd adherents and complices against the kings person his estate the Queene his mother and the Princes his brethren the King of Nauarre and other Lordes about him VVherefore his Maiestie by this declaration and ordinaunce giueth to vnderstand to all Gentlemen and others of the Reliâ—gion which they pretend refourmed that he minâ—deth and purposeth that they shall liue vnder his protection with their wiues and children in their houses in as much safegarde as they did before folowing the benefite of the former Edictes of Pacification most expressely commaunding and ordaining that all Gouernours and Lieutenants generall in euerie of his Countreyes and Prouinces â–ª and other Iustices and Officers to whom it appertaineth do not attempt nor suffer to be attempted and thing in what sort soeuer vpon the persons and goodes of them of the Religion their wiues children and families on paine of death against the faultie and culpable in this behalfe And neuerthelesse to withstande the troubles slaunders suspicions and defiances that may come by sermons and assemblies aswell in the houses of the sayde Gentlemen as in other places as it is suffred by the sayde Edictes of Pacification it is expressely forbidden and inhibited by his Maiestie to all Gentlemen and others of the sayd Religion to haue no assemblies for any cause at all vntill his Maiestie hath prouided and appointed otherwise for the tranquillitie of his Realme vpon paine of disobedience and confiscation of bodie and goods It is also expressely forbidden vnder the paine aforesayd that for the foresayd occasions none shall take or retaine any prisoners or take raunsome of them and that incontinently they certifie the gouernours of euerie prouince and the Lieutenante generall of the name qualitie of euerie such prisoner whome his Maiestie hath appointed shall be released and set at libertie except they be of the chiefe of the late conspiracie or such as haue made some practise or deuise for them or â—ad intelligence thereof and they shall aduertise his Maiestie of such to know his further pleasure It is also ordained that from henceforth none shall take or arrest any prisoner for that cause without his Maiesties commaundement or his Officers nor that none be suffred to roame abroade in the fieldes to take vp dogs Cattell Beefes Kine or other beastes goods fruites graine nor any thing else nor to hurt the labourers by word or deede but to let them alone about their worke and calling in peace and safetie At Paris the .xxviij. of August 1572. Signed CHARLES and vnderneath FIZES THE KINGS LETTERS TO the officers of Burges of the same argument that the former declaration was OVr trustie and welbeloued we considering that vnder the colour of the death of the Admiral and his adherents and complices certaine Gentlemen and others our subiectes professing the Religion called Refourmed might rise and assemble together to the preiudice and hinderance of the tranquillitie which we haue alwayes desired shuld be in our Realme the doyng of the said murder being counterfeited and giuen out otherwise than it was VVe haue therefore made a declaration ordinance which we sâ—nd you willing you to publishe the same incontinently by sounde of Trumpet and setting the same vp in such places of your Iurisdiction where cryes and Proclamations are vsually made to the ende that euery one mighte knowe it And although we haue alwayes bene diligent obseruers of our Edicts of Pacification yet seyng the troubles and seditions which might arise amongst our subiects by the occasion of the sayd murder as well of the Admirall as of his companions we commaunde you and ordeine that you particularly forbid the principals of the Religion pretended refourmed within your Iurisdiction that they haue no sermons nor assemblies either in their houses or in any other places to take away all doubt and suspition which might be conceyued against them And likewise that you aduertise such as dwell in the Cities of your Iurisdiction what you iudge meete to be done to the intent they might in this poynt follow our mind and kepe them quiet in their houses as they may do by the benefite of our Edict of Pacification there they shall be vnder our protection and safegarde but if they will not so retyre themselues after you haue giuen them warning then shall you set on them with all strength and force aswell by the prouostes of the Marishals their Archers as others which you can gather together by Bell ringing or otherwise so that you bewe them all to peeces as enimyes to our Crowne Besides what commaundements so euer we haue sent by worde of mouth eyther to you or others in our Realme when we were in feare vpon iuste occasion knowing the conspiracie that the Admirall had begon of some mischaunce that might fall vnto vs we haue and do reuoke willing you and others that no such thing be executed for such is our pleasure Giuen at Paris the .xxx. of August 1572. Thus signed CHARLES and vnderneath De Neuf-ville Published in iudgement REMEMBRAVNCES AND INstructions sent by the King to the Counte of Charny his general Lieutenant in Burgundie of the same argument THe King considering the commotion lately happened in Paris wherein the L. Admirall Chastilion with other Gentlemen of his side were slaine bicause they had mischeuously conspired to set vpon the Kings Maiestie person the Queene his mother the Princes his brethren the King of Nauarre and other Princes and Lordes neare about them and vpon his estate and least they of the Religion called refourmed not knowing the true causes of the sayde rebellion should arise and put them selues in armes as they haue done in the troubles that he passed and deuise newe practises and fetches against the weale of his Maiestie and tranquillitie of his Realme if he should not cause the truth of the matter to be knowne to all Gentlemen and others his subiects of the saâ—e religion how it passed and what his pleasure and mind is in their behalfes And thinking that for remedie hereof it is verie needefull for the Gouernours of the Prouinces in his Realme to go rounde aboute their gouernementes for this occasion he willâ—â—h that the Counte of Charnye greaâ—e Eâ—qâ—ire of Fraunce and his Maiesties Lieutenant generall for the gouernement of Burgundie shall go diligently through all Cities and places of the sayde gouernement and as he arriueth in euery plâ—ce he shall deuise the best wayes that he can to make peace
signe of the Aduenture Mossoner Crispine and Captaine Grise which were the principall of the faction in Burgundie and were the cause of the taking and recouering of the Citie of Mascon in the late troubles and of all the decay which happened in that countrey be kept prisoners in Mascon And bicause I vnderstande they hope to escape out by raÌ„some which I would in no wise should be done I ordâ—ine and commauÌ„d that you kepe them safe for as much as I hope by their meanes to discouer a great many things which greatly touch the weale of my seruice And if there be any other prisoners of the new Religion in Mascon which haue bene factious you shall likewise kepe them so that they escape not by paying ransome for I would not for any thing in the world that there should be taking of ransome among my subiects And thus my L. of Gwiche I pray God kepe you in his holy tuition VVritten at Paris the .xiiij. of September 1572. Signed CHARLES and vnderneath BRVLARD THE KINGS LETTERS TO Monsieur de Gordes his Lieutenaunt generall in Daulphine wherein he sendeth him worde that the best proofe of his doings is the accusations and complaintes of them of the Religion against him whervnto he shoulde haue care to answere M. De Gordes by your letters of the first of this moneth I perceiued the order which you appoynted in your Gouernement since the aduertisement which you had of the execution of the Admirall and his adherentes and since I am sure you forgot nothing which you thought might serue for your assuraunce of those places wherof you had occasion to doubt And to the intent you shoulde haue the more meanes to make your selfe knowne I haue prepared that the souldiers of Corsica which I had appointed to go into Prouince should returne to you and therevpon haue written to my Cousin the Counte of Tende who will not faile to send them vnto you for as much as there is no neede of them now in that couÌ„trey He should also send you word of the time of their departing to the ende that you might haue laysure to prouide to receiue them and appoint their places where they should be in garrison I haue seen that which you writ to me concerning the coÌ„tinuall payment in Daulphine what is due for the last yeare whervpon I will aduise of the state of my sines the meanes that may be and according thervnto there shal be no fault but they shal be prouided for For the reparation of the Bridge of Grenoble they of the same place must deuise the meanes wherin they should best helpe them selues therin and when they haue aduertised me I will appoint them necessarie prouision Touching the souldiers appointed for the Baron of Adresse bicause the occasion why I appointed theÌ„ to be leuied now ceaseth I haue written to him to send them backe and dismysse them againe wherfore there is no neede to make prouision for their maintenance nor likewise to tell you any thing else concerning the answeres which you haue made to the remembrances which they of the Religion haue presented against you For your doyngs are well knowne and plaine vnto me and thervpon I will take no better proofe than their accusation VVherfore you shall put yourselfe to no more paine on that side Moreouer I haue herewith sent you a copie of the declaration which I made of the Admirals death and his adherents made to be vnderstoode that it should be obserued and followed and that all murders sackings and violences should cease Neuerthelesse I haue heard complaints of diuerse places that such extraordinary wayes continue which is a thing that doth much displease me By the meanes wherof I aduise you in doyng this charge once againe put vnto you that you giue order throughout your gouernement to cause all hostilitie force and violence to cease and that the sayd declaration be straightly obserued and kept with punishing those that withstand so rigorously that the demonstration thereof may serue for an example seyng my intent is that they should be punished as behoueth and to marke them which wincke or dissemble therat This present letter shall serue also for an aduise of the receipt of those letters which you wrote the .v. of this present whereby you send me word that you receiued no message by word of mouth from me but onely letters of the .xxij. xxiiij and .xxviij. of the moneth passed whereof put your selfe to no further paine for that charge was only for such as then were neare about me which is all that I haue at this time to say vnto you Praying herevpon the Creator to kepe you in his holy and worthy tuicion VVritteÌ„ at Paris the .iiij. day of SepteÌ„ber Signed CHARLES and beneath FIZES And aboue To M. de Gordes knight THE KINGS LETTERS TO the Duke of Guise his Lieutenant generall in Champaigne and in Prye COusin although in all my former letters I haue giueÌ„ you to vnderstand well inough how much I desire that al my subiects as wel of the nobilitie as others which professe the new Religion quietly vse them selues in your gouernement should by you be maintained and preserued in all suretie vnder my protection and safegard without giuing them any hinderance by trouble in their persons goods and families yet neuerthelesse I haue beene aduertised that in certaine places of my Realme there haue bene many sackings and pillings done by such as dwell in the houses of them of the sayd new Religion as well in the fieldes as in the Cities vnder colour of the coÌ„motion which happened in my Citie of Paris the .xxiiij. day of August last a thing beyond all measure displeasant and disagreable vnto me and for the which I would haue prouision and remedie VVherfore I pray you Cousin that aboue all things as you desire that I should knowe the good affection you beare to the good weale of my seruice you take that matter next your hart to preserue and maintaine within your gouernment according to that which I haue so plainely told and written to you heretofore that all suche of the newe Religion which behaue them selues quietly take no wrong or violence whether it be for the preseruation of of their goodes or persons no more than to my Catholike subiectes And where any wrong or outrage shal be offred them against my will as I baue before declared so doe I nowe by these presentes declare I will and intende that you shall make some euident and notorious punishment of such as are herein culpable so that their correction may serue for an example of all other that I may see my self throughly obeyd herein as I would be and my commaundementes receyued amongest all my Subiects in another sorte than they haue bene heretofore Assuring you cousin that the beste newes that I shall receiue from you shall bee to beare say that you chastise those well of whome I am disobeyed And thus Cousin I praye God to
meaneth not of things done and past during the troubles which were before the Edict of Pacification in August 1570. that there shal be no inquisitiō therof and none shall be troubled in goods or person therfore but for that respect they shall enioy the benefit of the Edict of Pacification but that the sayd wordes extend onely to those which be found to be giltie or accessarie to the last conspiracie done against his Maiestie and estate and that other which are imprisoned shall be set at libertie And as touching them which will make profession of their faith and returne to the Catholike Religion his Maiestie desireth that his gouernours and officers shall excyte and comforte them as muche as they can to that effect and executiō of that good will and that their friends and kinsfolks should also be exhorted to doe the like for their parte And if any should hurt them in goods or body his Maiestie willeth readie and speedie execution to be done on them And to the intent that they may followe the fourme which hath bene kept in professing the faith which they doe make that returne to the Apostolike and Romishe Churche there is sent herewith a memorie thereof From Paris the xxij day of Septēber 1572. Signed CHARLES and beneath PINART THE FOVRME OF ABIVRAtion of heresie confessiō of faith which they which haue swarued from the faith and pretende to be receyued into the Church ought to make THIS IS THE ABIVRATION which they caused all of the Religion to make in France to saue their liues Printed at Paris by Nicolas Roffet dwelling in the new streate of our Ladie at the signe of the Mower with the Kings Priuilege FIrst they whiche haue swarued from the faith and desire to returne into the compasse of our holy mother Church ought to present themselues to their Curates or vicars to be instructed of that which they ought to doe that done they shal be sent vnto the reuerend ▪ Byshop of the dioces or his Chauncellour or officiall to make the sayd Abiuration and confession in maner and forme following IN. borne at c. in the dioces of c. and dwelling c. acknowledging by the grace of God the true faith Catholike and Apostolike from the which I haue through my fault gone astray and separated my selfe since c. and desirous to returne to the flocke of Christes true shepefold which is the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Church confesse to haue Abiured and cursed all the errours and heresie of the Lutherians Caluinistes and Hugonotes and all other heresie whatsoeuer wherwith I haue heretofore beene diffamed or touched and I agree to the fayth of our holy mother the Churche and desire you in the name of God of his sonne Iesus Church and of the glorious Virgin his mother Marie and of all the Sainctes of Paradice that it woulde please you to receiue me into the flocke and shepefolde of Gods people which liue vnder the obedience of the Pope ordained our Sauiour Iesus Christs vicar in the sayd Church submitting my selfe paciently to abyde and willingly to doe the pennance which it shall please you to enioyne me for the absolution of my faults committed whilest I was in the foresayd sectes whereof I aske and require pardon of God and of his sayd Churche and of you that be appoynted my pastor by God the Creator absolution with such penance as you shall iudge to be holsome for the satisfaction of my sinnes and offences And to the intent you shoulde knowe that I haue and doe make this Abiuration from my heart I confesse moreouer before God and you that I beleeue that which is contayned in the Simbole or Creede of the Apostles and Athanasius and other confessions of faith made and approued by the whole Councels of the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Church that is I beleeue in one onely God the father almightie Creator of Heauen and Earth and of all things visible and inuisible and in one L. our Lord Iesus Christ the onely sonne engendred by God the father before the constitucion of the worlde God of God Light of Light true God of true God engendred not Created Consubstantiall with the Father by whom all things were made who for vs mē and for our saluation descended from heauen c. as in the beliefe of Morning prayer I beleeue likewise acknowledge and confesse all that which is contayned in the bookes as well of the olde as of the newe testament approued by the sayde holie and Apostolike church of Rome according to the sense interpretation of the holy Doctours receiued by the same reiecting all other interpretation as false and erroneous I acknowledge the seuen Sacramentes of the sayde Catholike Apostolike and Romishe Churche that they were instituted by our L. Iesus Christ and that they be necessarie for the saluation of mankind although that all of them are not of necessitie to be conferred to all that is to say I confesse that the sayd seuen Sacramentes are these Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist which is the Sacrament of the altar Penance extreme vnction Order and Mariage and that the sayd Sacraments confer grace that of them Baptisme Confirmatiō Order can not be reiterated without sacrilege That the sayd Sacraments haue the effect whiche the sayd Church teacheth and that the forme vsage wherwith they be ministred to Christians is holie and necessarie I acknowledge also that the holy Masse is a sacrifice and oblation of the verie bodie and bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ vnder the forme of bread and wyne mingled with water whiche substaunces of bread and wyne vnder the sayde formes are in the Masse by the words which serue for consecration sayd and pronounced by the Priest transubstanciated and trans formed into the substance of the sayd body and blood of Iesus christ Notwithstanding that the qualities and accidentes remayne in the sayd formes after the sayd consecration and that the Masse is holesome and profitable as well for the quicke as the deade I acknowledge and confesse the cōcomitance that is to say that in receiuing the body of Iesus christ vnder the forme of bread alone I likewise receiue the blood of Iesus Christ. I confesse that Prayer and intercession of Sainctes for the quicke and the dead is holie good and helthfull for Christians and is not contrary for any respect to the glory of god That prayers made in the Churche for the faithfull which are dead do profit them for the remission of their sinnes and lessening of their paines incurred for the same That there is a Purgatorie where the soules abyding are succoured by the prayers of the faythfull I confesse that we muste honor and call vpon the sainctes which raigne with Iesus Christ and that they make intercession for vs to God that their Reliques are to be worshipped That the commaundements and traditions of the Catholike Apostolike and Romishe Church as well they which pertaine to the forme and ceremonies