like as the nature of mans witte is too seeke some locall and bownded presence of the Godhead too be worshipped in some certeine places after which sort God exhibited his presence in old tyme in the arke of the couenant so the Admirall required a certeine mingled presence of Christs body flesh blud and bone in the breade and the wyne At length when he had bin at a Sermon that was made priuily to a fewe in the towne of Vateuille at the end wherof the Lords supper was to be ministred he besought such as were present that they woulde not be offended at his infirmitie but pray to God for him and therwith all he requested the preacher to treate a litle playnlier of the misterie of the supper Then the preacher spake to this effect namely that of the Lords supper there were two parts the one humane and naturall which is seene with the eyes of the bodye and the other diuine and heauenly which is seene with the eies of the minde and that the first consisted of the minister or giuer and of breade and wyne furthermore of the eating drinking of them whereof the whole action was performed after an humane and naturall maner and this other consisted of God the giuer of it of the whole frute of the crucified requickened and glorified body of Christ which frute God gaue in the supper moreouer of the faith beleef wherby the sayd frute was receyued of Christians the whole action wherof was misticall performed after a diuine heauenly supernaturall meane And furthermore that forasmuch as the same action was ordeyned not for the bread wynes sake but for the Christian mannes sake was to be referred too that end it was in vaine to be ouercurious in seeking whether any thing be mixed in the bread with the bread vnder the bread within the bread or about the bread The bread and wine belonged to the outward dooing like as water and the dipping in it do in Baptim Therfore the mindes of men ought too be lifted vp too the heauenly and inward action to consider what God woorketh in that Sacrament which thing Paule sheweth in these woords Is not the bread which we breake the parttaking of Christs body they must cry out with him It is a secret misterie importing the coniunction of Christ and his Churche And finally it is very trewly sayd of Austin that to eate the meate which perisheth not but abideth vnto euerlasting life is too beleue in Christ. Why preparest thou teeth belly beleeue and thou hast eaten And agein prepare not thy iawes but thy hart That is it wherewith that supper is to be eaten Behold wee beleeue in Christ whom wee receyue by fayth By which woords the Admirall being taught gaue thanks first to God and secondly to the congregation determining with him selfe too be present at the communion as soone as it should be ministred agein and too be made parttaker of that most holy misterie Whereof when the fame was blowen abrode ouer all Fraunce it is wonderful to say how greate ioy and comfort all the congregations conceyued For although that vntoo that tyme the followers of the reformed religion were afflicted with most rigorous edicts of the Kings and with continuall persecutions and punishments of the iudges and Iusticers of the Realme so as they were fayne too keepe priuy assemblies after the maner of the primitiue Churches yit was religion maruelously spred abrode throughout all the Shyres of Fraunce whereof a man may see many records in the Edicts or Proclamations of King Henry of King Frauncis the second who make complaint in them that the more labour they tooke after the example of Frauncis the first in repressing the religion the more it krepeth foreward from day to day sheading it selfe into all parts of the Realme and growing still stronger and stronger Ere it was long after there roze a commotion at Amboys many noblemen conspyred the destruction of the howse of Gvvyse whose ouerlustines lordlines a nomber of the french nobilitie Lords could no longer away with now when as the Prince of Condey seemed to aly that waye and there was so me likely hode that his brother the Kinge of Nauarre woulde make some stirre ere long after the howse of Guyse thought it most expedient that the King shoulde call an assembly of the noble men at the towne of Fountaynbleavve to knowe how euery man was minded concerning religion When the day of that meeting came which was the xxiiii of August 1560. and that the King desired such as sate in counsell with him to say their iudgements the Admirall rysing out of his place and comminge honorably vnto the Kinge did put vp two supplications intitled after this manner The supplication of such as vvorship God rightly godlily throughout diuers prouinces of this Realme Both the bookes were deliuered too Mounsyre de l'Avvbespyne the Kings Secretarie to reade them alowd as they were written This deede of the Admirals for the straungenesse of the matter and in respect of the former tymes that he had past and of the Kings mind which was most extremly bent against religion and of the great authoritie of the house of Guyse seemed somewhat with the boldest both to the King and too the whole counsell The effect of the bookes was this That the godly and right worshippers of God taking the opportunitie of that tyme besought the Kinges maiestie most humbly to extend his clemencie and gentlenesse towards the greatest nomber of his subiects who hauing thitherto bin combred with many distresses had abidden many miseries bitter brunts for religions sake beseeching him most humbly too vowtsafe too take intelligence of their cace and too admit the holie scripture too the iudgment of so greate controuersies for therby he should eazely perceiue how greatly they abhorred not only heresie of which cryme they had bin accuzed of late yeeres but also sedition forasmuch as in the vttermost extremitie of all their mizeries they mynded not too resort too violence and force of armes but too the only clemencie and goodnesse of the king Wherfore it myght pleaze his maiestie too inhibit the iudgments that were woont too bee executed vppon them wherthrough no part of his Realme had escaped theis former yeeres vnimbrewed with the blud of his subiects by reason wherof their state had thithertoo bin miserable forasmuch as they were driuen too pleade their cace before such iudges as being the Bishop of Romes benefyzed and feede men did rather beare the persones of aduersaries than of vpryght iudges or indifferent vmpers and therfore they prayed him too haue an eye to the greate number of the calamities of his freendes and leege people which had alwaies acknowledged him for their King and moste mercifull Lord and earnestly and godlily honored him according too Gods commaundement and would not refuze too spend their lyues herafter for the mayntenance of his estate if
about the walles wherin too comme couertly and priuily to the ditches When the Admiral saw that the most part of the wal was cast downe with the continuall batterie and a greate breache open into the towne and the enemies readye to giue the assault he incouraged his souldiers to abide that one brunt saying that if they foyled their enemies at that time they would not be ouer hastie to aduenture againe and therupon he him selfe stoode to defence where he sawe the breache wydest assigninge the other parts of the towne to his brother and to the rest of his friends to defend The enemies beholding so strong a coūterforce on that side assaulted the towne on two other sides Whereof when tydinges was brought to the Admiral he left such as he trusted best at his standinge and hyed him to the nexte where he found his men driuen away and the place gotten by his enemies and a part of the Citie pestered with armed men There was with him a noble yong gentleman called Auentignie whome he had brought vp in his house of a child and a page and a child of a noble howse that bare his iauelin which were suddeinly assayled and inclozed about by certaine Spaniards who hauing knowledge of the Admirall tooke him prizoner and after the winning of the towne conueied him to Antvverp where being attached with sore sickenesse and vexed fortie dayes with an agewe at suche tymes as his fitts lefte him he commaunded a Byble to be brought vnto him to ease the griefe and sorrowe of his minde with reading of it And he studied so much vpon it that he began from thensforthe to haue a taste of that pure religion trew godlinesse to lerne the right maner of calling vppon God. When he had payed fiftie thousand pound for his raunsome and was come home agein frome captiuitie hauing gotten some leyzure and being weery of the broyles of the Court he set his mynd earnestly thensforth vppon Religion by the Kings permission gaue ouer his Colonelship of the footemen to his brother Mounsyre d' Andelot his Lieuetennantship of the I le of Fraunce too his Neuew the Marshal Memorancie his sisters sonne by the Cunstable And it was not long after ere he sent a familiar freēd of his too the King certifying him in moste humble wise that he was mynded too giue vp his charge in Picardie beseeching him too looke wel about him too whome he committed it The King answered that he thought this sewt of his very straunge and that he delt not wizely in dispossessing of him self of so many roomes and offices at once From thensforth manie began to suspect the Admirall that he had chaunged his religion and in deede he shewed a mynd vtterly voyd of all ambition and desyre of authoritie Within a while after King Henry dyed and his sonne Frauncis succeeded This Frauncis had taken too his wife Mary Queene of Scotts the dawghter of the Duke of Gvvysis sister by reason wherof the howse of Gvvyse grew in greate fauour and authoritie with the King and oftentymes bragged to him of the kingdome of Ingland which they affirmed to belong too their sayd kinswoman so that in the Court they were comonly called the Kings Uncles The Admiral knowing their cruel barbarous and feerce nature and perceiuing that they woulde neuer desist from troubblesum deuyses and specially that they would most eagrely persecute religion stacke to his accustomed purpoze and determined to giue vp his lieftēnantship Heruppō he brake his mind to Levvis of Burbon a Prince of the blud royal cōonly called the Prince of Codey who had maryed his sisters dawghter counselling him to sew to the King for that charge So the Admiral being discharged of diuers cares and set free from a nomber of affayres which withdrew his godly mynd from the study of religion kept himself at home in his castle of Shatilion and that so much the willinglier bycause his wife Sharlot de Lauall a woman of a noble auncient stocke was wonderfully giuen to the following of godlinesse which he tooke too be a singular benefite of God insomuch that she euen incoraged hir husband too forsake supersticion and the worshipping of Idolls and to imbrace the christian religion with his whole hart When the Admirall perceyued that she delt often and very earnestly with him in the matter he himself also determined to deale earnestly with her at once And therfore he told hir in many words that in all his life he neuer sawe or hearde of any man eyther in Germanie or in Fraunce but he was in daunger too be ouerwhelmed with great miseries and calamities if he imbraced the religion any thing earnestly and that the Lawes of King Frauncis the first of King Henrie the second being looked to most streightly in all Courts of Iustice commaunded that all such as were condemned of that Religion should be burned quicke in publike places and all their goods be forfeyted to the King and yet neuerthelesse he trusted that his heart was so settled as he should not refuze the comon cace of all the protestants nor fayle of his dewtie Shee answered that the cace of the protestants of that time was none other then the cace of the true Christians of all ages had bin nether dowted she but it should be the same still to the worlds end When they had plyghted their faithes on both sides ech to other the Admirall began by litle and litle to frame his household familiar freends to the knowledge of God by godly speeches and to deliuer them not only the holy bible but also other books written of religion in french to reade forbidding them all swearing blasphemous banning comonly vsed in the Realme of Fraunce but specially among the Courtiers Moreouer he set godly gouerners and teachers ouer his children so that within a few monethes the howse of Shatilion was of a new hewe and his other two brothers Odet whome I haue shewed afore to haue bin made a Cardinall and Mounsyre d'Andelot were greatly inflamed to religion by that example For the Admirall had alwaies euen from his yong yeares bin trayned vp in the pleazures and corrupt manners of the Kings Court and he was not thought to haue bin cleere of that infection Notwithstanding when he once began to haue a taste of the trew religion there appeered sodeinly so greate an alteration in his life and conuersation as a man might easily perceaue the force of Gods spirit in that so sodein chaūge find this saying of Christs too bee most trew that they which are indewed with Gods spirit are after a sort borne ageine and made new men And this seemeth worthy of memorie that befell him before he durst prepare too the Christian feaste and Sacrament of the Lordes supper He had oftentimes talked with al the best learned Ministers of the Frenche Churches not only of transsubstantiation as the Sorbonists terme it but also of consubstantiation
sowldiers a feawe dayes respit to refresh themselues he led them to the Citie of Tholowse and tooke manie of the small townes abowt it whereof somme yeelded themselues to his tuicion and freendship and somme were woone by force and yit had he but twoo battering peeces in his hoste which he had browgt with him from Mountalbane When he had set those townes at somme stay he determined to take his iourney to Viuaret and to the riuers side of Rhone And bycawse many had put on armour in Delphinoys that fauored his side and hild certein townes there he sent part of his armie ouer thither to attemp the wynning of mo Cities if he could The performance of which charge was committed to Levvis of Nassawe of whom I haue made mention before who passing ouer on a bridge of boats did strike such a feare into the rest of the people of Delphinoys that they fled all of them intoo the townes Howbeeit forasmuchas he had no battering peeces he thought it was not for him to tarrye there any longer but that he had done ynowgh for the commendacion of his owne valeantnes and therfore when he had wasted their feelds he browght backe his armie agein safe to the Admirall within feawe dayes after which exployt of his purchaced him greate prayse as well among the Frenchmen as among the Almanes both for the noblenesse of his corage and for his skill in behauing him self Anon after the Admirall being appalled with ouergreate labour care and watching fell sicke wherwith although he were sore cumbered yit notwithstanding forasmuchas he thought it best to come to the riuer of Loyre with as much speede as might bee he determyned to tarry long in no place but cawsed himself too bee conueyed with his armye in a horslitter For a two thowsand men were assembled abowt Sharitie and Sanxerre whom he thowght greatly for his aduantage too bee ioyned with him and that so much the rather bycawse Mounsyre Cossey the Marshall of Fraunce whom the King had set in the roome of the Duke of Aniow after the victorie at Santone was reported too bee comming towards him with all the Kings power To whom the Admirall sent woord by a Herault of his that was come intoo his Camp for the raunsoming of prisoners that Mounsyre Cossey should not neede too take so much peynes too come vntoo him for he would visit him with as much speede as he could and ease him of the trauell of that iourney When the armye was come too the Forest behold there came Commissioners ageine from the King too treate of composition and peace For when the Courtyers heard that the Admirall who a litle afore seemed too bee forlorne and past hope of recouerie had gathered so greate a power ageine and renewed his armye they were striken in great feare least the Admirall ioyning with the power of Sharitie shoulde come ryghtfoorth too Paris and set fyre vppon the goodly howses and pleasant manours of the Burgesses of Paris and of the Courtyers neere abowt the Citie after which maner they had heard that he had plaged the Burgesses of Tholowse When the Admirall had gone part of his iourney by horslitter as I sayd before his diseaze began to growe sorer vppon him and the phisicions letted not to say that he could not long indure the force of it specially being ouerloden with so manie cares And therfore the talke of the Commissioners was broken of the treatie of peace was let alone for a time which intermission when certein noblemen of great authority among the protestants tooke in displeazure bicause of the prolonging of the warres made complaint to the Commissioners that it was not meete that the cōmunication of peace should be broken of for the sicknes of the Admirall being but one man for though he happened to die he should leaue a great sort alyue behynd him with whom they might treat of composition the Commissioners made them answere that they woondered very much to see that they perceyued not of what estimation the authoritie of their Admirall was for if he should dye to day quoth they tomorrowe wee would not offer you a cuppe of water as who should say yee knewe not that the only name of the Admiral is more worth among you than such another armie as greate as this Within feawe dayes after when the Admirall was sommewhat cheered and strengthened they fell to consulting agein of peace and certein were chozen too go with the Kings Commissioners and to carye these Instructions with them That nothing was more wished of the protestants than peace nor nothing greeued them worse than warre but yit ther was not any of them which minded not to aduenture much greeuowser peynes yea and death it self rather than to forsake Gods Religion which they had professed Wherfore if the king woold graunt them libertie too vse the pure religion as he had doone in former yeeres and priuiledge certeine townes for the same there was none of them all but he woold most willingly and gladly lay away weapō for euer The Admirall hauing giuen theis instructions too the Commissioners dislodged his Campe and ere long after tooke the Towne of Reneleduc in his way whither certein of the foreryders of Mounsyre Cosseyes hoste were come And from thenceforth there scaped not almost any day without somme skirmish and one day the hartes of all the sowldyers were so inflamed too battell that a little more woold haue made the matter too haue coome too a pitched feeld bycawse that wheras there was but a Brooke betweene bothe the hostes Mountgomrey breaking the aray of the aduersaries Uaward wherof one Mounsyre Valet a Gascon a man of greate estimation in his Countrie had the leading did put them too flyght Within feawe dayes after the king sent Commissioners agein too the Camp too ask trewce but so long till the things concerning the composition myght bee dispatched For the Burgesses of Paris who were of verie great estimation with the king were sore afraid of the wastings and burnings that were threatened them nother is there any kynd of people in all Fraunce that is more feerce in prouoking warre when it is farre of from their doores nor more cowardly in accepting any conditions of peace whan warre commes home to them When the Cōmissioners had gone too and fro on both sides a good sort of tymes at length an Edict was browght from the King wherby he gaue men leaue to exercyze and maynteine the Religion in certeine places and for the assuring therof gaue thē fower cities in pledge namely Rochell Mountalbane Conyak and Sharitie When this peace which is reckened as the third was made and the Kings Edict proclaymed ouer all Fraunce the Admirall hauing first conueyed home the Almane horsmen to the borders of Germanie browght backe the twoo yong Princes of Nauarre and Condey too Roehell too the Queene of Nauarre determyning too abyde there vntill he might perceiue that the peace was throwghly setled
In that tyme the Queene Moother sent messengers oft tymes too the Admirall and also wrate with hir owne hand too the Prince of Condey that he should succour hir and hir yoong children and haue a care of the welfare of the realme The Prince being moued with theis things and moreouer perswaded by the intreatance of moste of the noblemen of Fraunce determined too put on armes and too make warre vppon the howse of Gvvyse too set the King at libertie protesting oftentymes openly that he feared not the slaunderous speeches of some men as thowgh he ment too inlarge the religion by force of armes or too make warre ageinst the king being a chyld For a general assembly of the whole realme had bin hild at Orleance wherin bothe the comons and the nobilitie had requyred the reformation of Religion and afterward an Edict was made in that greate assembly that it should bee lawfull too exercyze the same in suburbes and villages And what ryght in the kingdome of Fraunce had the Duke of Gvvyse being borne in Lorreine Or vppon what grownd should he presume too execute such crueltie vppon the kings subiects Finally there was no good too bee doone ageinst force but by force and therfore he himself did not moue warre but bi warre defend peaceable people ageinst warre made vppon them Saying it was alredy bruted ouer all Fraunce and also reported intoo Germanie that the Duke of Nemovvrs at the prouocation of the Gvvisians had with fayre woordes intyced Henrye the kings brother a little chyld who since that tyme was created king of Poole too haue conueyed him owt of the precint of the Realme which purpoze and drift the chyld bewrayed too his moother and so that discouerie of that matter was at that time in all mennes mouthes that the Gwisians despyzing the authoritie of the generall assembly and of the king executed butcherly crueltie at Vassey with extreme furie and pryde layd violent hāds vppō the king Queene moother caryed them away ageinst their willes to Melune and Paris as seemed moste for the Gwisians commoditie went intoo the borders of Germanie a little before and requested certeine princes of Almanie too bee admitted intoo the nomber of the Protestants Inuited Christopher Duke of Wirttemberg a prince of great corage and wisdome too Sauerne a towne next too Strawsborow where the Cardinall of Loreine made twoo such Sermons openly in the Churche before the sayd Prince and a greate nomber of the professers of the religion bothe Germanes and Frenchmen as he perswaded verye manie that bothe he himself and also his brethren imbraced the Religion and were desyrous too professe their names among the protestant princes When theis things were knowen the prince of Condeyes enterpryze was so well lyked in manie places of Fraunce that within feawe dayes dyuers Cities yeelded themselues too him and ioyned with him in societie of the warre Among those were Orleance Bloys Towres Burgis Roan Lyons Vien Valentia Nemowrs and Mountalbon which were the beginners of the Ciuill warre wherof the butcherly slawghter of Vassey is certeinly knowen too haue bin the cawse Now when as on the part of the protestants the cheef charge of the warres was by comon consent of all men put too the Prince of Condey soodeinly the Prince with lyke consent of all men surrendered the charge of his gouernment too the Admirall and for the singular opinion that was had of his Iustice grauitie and wisdome ordeyned him too bee his leeuetennant and deputie too rule in his sted Whyle these things were a doing the Queene moother began too treate of peace for the dooing wherof she desired the Prince of Condey too come too her tent and to graunte hir the vse of Boigencie for a few dayes which towne hath a bridge ouer the riuer of Loyre and therfore was as shee sayd most fit for cōmunication The Prince vppon single promis made vntoo him without taking of any pledges but onely trusting to the faythfulnesse of his brother the King of Nauarre and too the promises of the Queene mother went to their Cāpe Only he desired the Queene that the Cunstable the Duke of Gvvyse the marshall of S. Andrevves which were comonly called the three rooters vp of the comon weale shoulde depart out of the Campe whyle that communication lasted Which thing being doone the garrison was withdrawen out of Boigencie and the towne deliuered to the Queene Byandby shee manned it and pretending a communication to outward showe of peace reconcylement not only reteyned the Prince but also tooke the towne and fortified it with all things needfull for the warre With which trecherie the Admirall being sore moued determined not to fayle in his dewtie towards the Prince but went out of hand with his horsemen to the Campe of his aduersaries and strake such a terrour into them that the Queene cōmaunded the Prince too be deliuered immediatly And within a fewe dayes after the Admirall leading his armie too Boigencie woone the towne by force not without somme losse of his owne people recouered it agein Abowt the same tyme the Admiralls eldest sonne named Iasper being consumed with sicknesse dyed at Orleance scarce nyne yeeres old but of singular towardnesse which cawsed the Admirall too take his death very sore to hart In the meane whyle the Gvvysians seeing them selues forsakē of many Frenchmen whom the cace concerned and perceyuing that the most part fauored the Prince of Condey mynded too seeke help of forren Realmes And therfore sending money into Svvisserland and into Germanie they hyred footmen of the one horsmen of the other which thing the Admirall did oftentimes avow to be a most sure proof of treason and of their enemy like mind to the Crowne of Fraunce For whither the cace quoth he bee to bee decyded by the auncient maner of the Realme there are publike decrees in force made by act of parlament the authoritie wherof is certeinly knowen to haue bin highest euer since the settling of the kingdome of Fraunce or if the matter bee to bee committed to rightful indifferencie of chalenge who seeth not that the greater part of Fraunce is on our side and that to call in forrein forces to oppresse our owne countrymen is not the nature of a frenchman but the token of a barbarous and sauage mind and a proof of an enemylyke hart Notwithstanding lest the Admiral might disappoynt the willingnes of so many of his freends the expectation of so many cities which had ioyned in freendship with him forasmuch as he was aduertized late afore of the singular good wil of certeine Germane Princes towards the churches of Fraunce to the intent to match straungers ageinst straungers he desired his brother the Andelot to go to those Princes and to sew to them for their helpe which thing he did and within three monethes after brought three thowsand horsmen and six thowsand footemen with him into Fraunce While theis thīgs were adoing word was
children from thence vntil shee had seene the fowndacion of the Hold laid When shee saw that the plage was crept euen into the Court Shee made one Mounsyre Lossie gouerner of Lyons a cruell and barbarous man and a most deadly enemy of Religion appoynting him a garrison of certein prowd and ruffianly souldyers too vex the Citizens which were giuen too religion wyth continewall wrongs and despites Afterward which way so euer the king made his progresse with that greate trayne intoo whatsoeuer Citie towne village or Manour he was browght woonderfull it is too report but yit most certeinly knowen and talked of in all mennes mowthes so greate a plage followed the kings traine continewally that for the space of three moonethes toogither he neuer lodged in any howse but the present perill of the plage draue him owt of it agein Whyle theis things were a doing the Queene mother communicated hir deuyces with hir dawghter the Queene of Spayne and with the king hir husbandes Ambassadours the Marshall Memorancie whom the king had left gouernour of Paris was certifyed that the Gvvisians wrowght secret practizes too stirre vp the comons of Paris ageinst such as professed the trew and vncorrupted religion and that the Cardinall of Lorrein woold bee there within a day or twayne with a greate trayne of armed men It had bin forbidden dyuers tymes afore by the kings Proclamations that no man should iourney with hargabusse or pistolet or haue anie abowt him When it was told the Marshall that the Cardinall and his companie were come intoo the Citie armed with such weapons by and by he went and met him with his garrison and commaunded them too lay away their weapons Which dooing of his the Cardinall and his brothers sonne the yoong Duke of Gvvyse taking in greate despyte and reproche were herd oftentymes afterward too say that that deede should cost Memorancie his lyfe When this vprore was stirred vp in the Citie where the Cardinall myght haue rayzed threescore thowsand armed men in one day too haue slayne Memorancie Memorancie thought it good too call his freends abowt him and specially the Admirall who being accompanied with three hundred horsmen or therabowts came too Paris the .22 day of Ianuarie which thing did so scare the feeble harted people giuen woonderfully too superstition and cheefly the Preests Moonks the Canons of the Cathedrall Churche that a great sort of them began too deuyze how too flee away The next day Memorancie sent for the prouostes of the Parlament and for such as bare cheef authoritie at that tyme in the Citie home too his howse Too whom in the presence of the Admirall he spake of the Cardinall of Lorreines ouerbold and seditiows enterpryzes and of the flocking toogither of certeine Citizens telling them that forasmuch as they had giuen it owt euerywhere that the Admirall leuyed men of warre and practized meanes too sacke that riche Citie whyle the king was farre of in his progresse he thowght it best too call him owt before them that he myght tell them playnely what he mynded too doo Then I knowe wellynough alredy quod the Admirall what things are spred abrode of mee by leawde and maliciowse persones as who shoulde say I sowght meanes too sacke this Citie which is knowen too bee the cheef fortresse of the Realme and the Noblest lyght of all Fraunce Theis kynd of dealings are meete for such as chalendge I wote not what kynd of ryght too the succession of the Crowne and beare the worlde in hande that certeine Dukedommes and Erldommes owght too bee restored vnto them As for mee I put yow owt of dowt I clayme not anie maner of ryght too the Kingdome nor too anie parte therof And if I did I beleeue there was neuer any Nobleman of Fraunce this fyue hundred yeeres that had so good oportunitie offered him too trubble the state Yee remember howe greate occasion of settyng the matter abroche I had at such tyme as the Duke of Gvvyse was slayne and the Cunstable my prizoner at Orleance if I had bin minded too rebell But I neuer sewed more earnestlye too the Queene Mother and too the Kings Counsell for peace than when I was in my cheefest prosperitie Who knoweth not that I sowght peace with moste earnest intreatance and sewte at such tyme as a nomber of noble Cities had alredye put themselues vnder my protection and manie mo bothe of Normandie and little Brittaine offred mee their freendshippe and societie vnrequested Who knoweth not that wheras vppon the conclusion of the peace I myghte haue serued myne owne turne by ambitiowse crauing of roomes of authoritye and honoure at the Kings hand yit I choze rather too get mee home and there too leade a priuate lyfe modestly and quietly vntoo this day But too let theis things passe and too go forward with the things that wee haue in hand being called by the Marshall Memorancie I made haste too comme vnto yow not of purpoze too make anie innouation or trubble in anie thing but rather too quenche such broyles as were lyke too bee stirred vp a late throwgh somme mennes ouerboldnesse I thinke there is none of you all but he knoweth how greate credit the professers of the purer Religion doo giue mee Surely a nomber of them being moued with theis straunge rumors and put in feare throwgh the factiows deuyces and enterpryzes of the Gvvisians resort vntoo mee dayly bringing letters intercepted concerning the flocking toogither of certeine vndercapteines which commaund their old souldyers too bee redye with their armour that they may step foorth owt of hand whensoeuer neede shall requyre What needeth manie woords Certein letters were intercepted written intoo Normandie and fathered vpon the authoritie of the Queene moother a Copie wherof I bring yow here owt of myne owne cofers and will reherce one poynt therof which is this There is no fitter vvay too restore the Crovvne of Fraunce too such as haue ryght too it by auncient inheritance and too destroy the hovvse ofspring of Valoys than by killing all the Hugonotes vvhich are the vpholders therof Therfore vvee must confiscate their goodes that the monny vvhich is made of them may yeeld vs armour and treazure And if the Hugonotes go too lavv for it the matter shal be so handled in iudgment as they shall haue smal list too make any sevvt for domages Besydes this what shall I speake of the slawghters and robberies that are committed almost day by day It is sufficiently knowen that since the proclayming of the peace aboue .500 protestants haue bin slayne in sundrie places and yit the magistrates haue not punished the murther of anie one of them They that complayne of it too the king or the Queene moother receyue nothing but words or sum emptie sheete of paper or els sum skin of parchment Who knoweth not that a greate slaughter was made alate of the protestants openly in the citie of Turon yea euen with standerd and antsignes displayed
as shee could with all speede and went too Rochell carying hir sonne Henry with hir to whom the inheritāce of the kingdome of Nauarre descended after hir death and one dawghter When the foresaid matters were set at a stay as is sayd alredy the Admiral toke certein peeces of ordinance out of Rochell and went to beseege the towne of Niort within feawe dayes after tooke it by composition From thence he led his armie too Angolesme This towne stādeth vpon a hygh hill cut steepe on all sides sauing one into the which Towne the aduersaries had conueyed a greate Garrison a feawe dayes since The Admirall cawsed his batterie too bee layd too that side of the Towne where it myght bee cumne vntoo and when he had assailed it certeine dayes it was yeelded vntoo him by the townesmen Anon after there was a battell fowght at Iaseneul betweene the vawardes of bothe the parties The Captein of our vaward was the Admirall who brake in vppon his enemies with such violence that they being vnable too abyde the brunt sowght too saue themselues by flyght and drewe towardes Lusignian leauing all their caryages behynde them The pray that was taken was esteemed almoste at fiftie thowsande Crownes The next day a letter of one of the Clerkes of the Counsell named Fizie wrytten too the Queene Moother was intercepted wherin he bewayled that losse adding also that since man was first made neuer anie sonne of Fraūce it is a vulgar phraze among the Frenchmen was in so great hazard of his lyfe as he had bin Not long after the Admirall going too Iarnacke a Towne neere by was driuen too fight whither he woold or no and he was euen at the verye poynte too comme intoo his ennemyes handes For his aduersaries spyes vnderstanding that he pourpozed too passe the Riuer that ronneth by the Towne which is not verye brode vppon a bridge of Boates ambushed them selues secretly on the other side of the Riuer and assoone as they perceyued the Admirall too bee there by and by the Hargabuts began too discharge at him and other some indeuered too get ouer the bridge by force As God woold there was one Hargabutter that stopped their brunte with his often shoting of of his peece but yit was he strikē through with a nomber of shot and fell downe dead Abowt twelue other being stirred vp with his noyze succeeded in his roome The Admirall himself stepping too the banke with his naked swoord for he had no leyzure too put on his corslet did cutte asunder the ropes wherwith the boates were fastened during the which tyme his aduersaries which hild the further side of the Riuer neuer left shooting at him which thing cawsed him too haue a gard abowt him from that day foorth for the defence of his persone against such suddein chaunces A twoo dayes after when the aduersaries had passed ouer the riuer of Sharent the Prince of Condey for feare of being inclozed by them althowgh he had lately hyred thre thowsand swart Rutters and had more ouer six thowsand Swissers whom he had interteyned from the beginning of the warres yit notwithstanding being a man of a noble and stowte stomacke in battell he determined too stop them of their passage howbeeit not too fight in pitched battell In the meane whyle woord came too the Admirall that his men which had taken the Towne next their enemies the day before were beset browght too vtter perill but yit stood manfully still too their defence The Admiral minding not to abandon them gathered certein horsmen quickly togither marched to them apace Whom when the enemies knew they suddeinly cast themselues in a ringe and beset him rownd abowt with greate force Wherof the Prince of Condey being certified and being much redyer in corage then fortified with strength brake into the middleward of his enemies and there being oppressed with multitude had his horse striken throwgh so that he was ouerthrowen slayne The Admirall being soore greeued with the greate losse and distrusting what might insew to the whole retyred with his brother the Andelot intoo the towne of S. Iohn d'Angeli And wheras the foyle that he had receyued in the bodie of the Prince of Condey he could haue reuenged vppon the bodies of dyuers his enemies that were of greatest power and nobilitie and haue requyted their dishonorable dealing with like for like yit determined he to hold himself within the bownds of nature and manhod and to giue the dead their dewes and in that mind did he continue as long as the warre lasted As I told you before Ioane Queene of Nauarre was the same time at Rochell who hearing of the greate losse that was receyued went with all haste intoo the Campe where hauing comforted the cheef of the whole host and incoraged the sowldiers too be myndful of their auncient prowesse shee told them that shee gaue and deliuered vntoo them hir only sonne Henry too whom the kingdome of Nauarre should descend after hir dicease to bee their Generall protesting openly that the life of hir only sonne was not deerer vnto hir then the welfare of the whole armie Henry Prince of Condey the sonne of the foresayd Levvis late deceased was ioyned with him in societie of the honorable charge Neuerthelesse the Lords and all the Capteines and vnder capteines betooke the charge of the warres and the ordering of all martiall affaires to the Admirall with one consent as to him that was knowen to be of greatest credit and authority among the protestants For besids his singular skil in martiall affaires and besids his iustice his stayednes it was wel knowen to all men that he was the first of all the nobilitie of the Realme which imbraced the trew religion and professed it openly which reformed the order of his howse according to the order of religion which durst breake with King Frauncis the second who was hild intangled with the alyance of the howse of Gvvyse concerning the demaunds of the Churches put vp supplications in their names to the Kings counsell which gaue example of godlines to the french nobilitie whom al men knew to haue bin most horribly infected with euill manners by reason of that wicked custome of the Kings court And it is further knowen that after he had once imbraced the religion he neuer gaue any cause of offence to the reformed Churches and that wheras men resorted vnto him on all sids in the name of those Churches he alwayes gaue them the wyzest counsell and tooke weapon in hand not to rebell ageinst the King as sum reported of him but at the request and intreatance of the Queene mother which thing neuerthelesse he did not vppon his owne head or to satisfie the Queenes mind but bycawse the King was not yit full twelue yeeres old he grownded himself vppon the authority of the generall counsell holden at Orleance as is sayd afore and also vppon the Kings edict that was wrotten and proclaymed at Paris
within certeine dayes after by the full consent of all men wheras on the contrary part it was by the Gvvyses procurement and counsell that so many honorable and worshipful howses were turned out of all their goods and possessions that so many florishing and noble Cities were sacked that so many Princes noblemen Capteines and Maysters of chiualrie were slayne to the exceeding greate preiudice of the whole Realme and which is the cheef of all other that so many florishing congregations were oppressed welneere in al the townes of Fraunce finally the Realme brought to that point that it lay open to any forrein Prince as a bootie to pray vppō These things were no sooner finished but the Admiral had a sore mischaunce by the death of his brother the Andelot who died of a suddeine diseaze in the town of Santon not without suspicion of poysoning which was so much the more lykely bycawse Birague the Uicechauncelour who anon after was made Chaūcelour a man of Piemount was herd to say oftentymes in the Court that all these warres were too bee dispatched not by armed men nor with so great ado and with so great losses but by cooks skullions with small adoo And forasmuch as the Admirall wrate a letter with his owne hand a feawe dayes afore to his owne sonnes to the Andelots sonnes which were browght vp all vnder one Tutor to comfort them which letter of his written with his owne hand I haue now presently in my keeping I thowght it not amisse to translate it in maner word for word and too set it downe here in this place Although I dowt not quoth he but the death of my brother Andelot was a great greef vnto you yit notwithstanding I thowght it good to put you in mynd of your happines in that you be the Sonnes or Neuewes of so noble a gentleman whom I dare auow to haue bin both a faythfull seruant of God and worthy of singular commendacion and renowme for his excellencie in martiall affayres The remembrance and example of which vertewes owght too stand alwayes before your eyes that you may imitate them to the vttermost of your power And I thinke verily that I may well affirme this of him that in all Fraunce there was not any that went beyond him in matters of warre nother do I dowt but that forrein nations will yeeld him like record specially such as haue had experiēce of his prowesse heeretofore He purchaced not this so great estimation by sloth and ydlenes but by induring of greate peynes for his countries sake Surely I neuer knew man eyther iuster towards the world or more zealous of righteousnes to godward nother am I ignorant that it were not comly for mee too report these thinges of him among straungers But I am the bolder to speake them vnto you to the intent to incorage and sharpen you too the imitating of so great vertewes for I my self also do set this example before mee to followe the same praying beseeching our God and Lord to graunt mee to depart as godlily and blessedly out of this life as I saw him do And bycause I find myself to haue a great want of him to the intent I may beare this greef of mine the more patiently I craue of you that I may see his vertewes reuiue shine forth in you For your better atteinement wherof giue your selues with your whole hart to godlines religion and while you be in these yeeres spend your time in the study of such learning as may lead you into the way of vertew And although I can well abide that you should be from your books at such howres as your mayster giues you leaue too play yit looke to it that in your playing you nother do nor say ought that may offend god Specially reuerence your Schoolemaister and obey him no lesse then myself For I am sure that he will not giue you any precept or counsell which shall not bee both for your honour profit As concerning all other things if ye loue me or rather if ye loue your selues so deale as I may alwaies heare glad tydings of you looke as ye growe in yeeres and body so growe yee also in godlines and vertew God blesse you all and be your defence and vphold you euermore with his holy spirit From Sauton the xviii of May .1569 Shatilion Nother was the Admirals stowt corage in bearing out the greatnesse of that greefe vnknowen too straungers For although he had forgone such a brother as he knewe to bee peerelesse in godlinesse Iustice valeantnesse renowme of noble deedes and cōmendacion of chiualrie insomuch that for his owne part he termed him his right arme yit did he oftentimes protest among his freends that he himself rested vppon the prouidence of god For he both vnderstoode and also was wont to say oftentimes that nother the Churche of God was gwided by mānes pollicy nor the christian army ordered by the prowesse of the Capteines And in talking of his brothers death among his freēds he was wōt to cry out O happy Andelot which ended the course of his lise so godlily luckily About the same time word was brought of the cōming of VVoolfgang Duke of Bipount into Fraunce with a mighty armie of Germanes whome he browght to our reskew how he had already passed the Loyre with his power and had woone the towne of Sharity bicause there was a bridge ouer the riuer in that towne into Berrey When the Germanes were come to the towne of Shalluce in the borders of Limosin the Admirall determined to ioyne with them the which self same day the Duke of Bipount being oppressed with a sore sicknes departed out of this life and the cheef charge was by cōsent of al the Germanes committed to VVoolrade Earle of Mansfeld who had bin his lieuetennant The aduersaries were greatly abashed at this ioyning of thē togither there was no place in all Fraunce where this opinion was not spred that if the Germanes and Frenchmen might match togither the Kings power was like to go to wrecke and the Courtiers should be glad and fayne to stoope to their aduersaries Also such as shewed themselues desirous of peace and of publike quietnesse did openly both in the Camp and in the Citie curse the authors of falshod saying that it was neuer yit seene but that the end of periurie was alwayes mischeuous This was certeinly thought of all men that if the Admiral ioyning his owne power with the power of the Germanes had led them rightforth into the hart of Fraunce towards Paris many cities would haue yeelded vnto him and haue committed themselues to his tuicion This opinion was very greatly confirmed within feaw daies after For at such time as Henry Duke of Aniow being incamped neere vntoo him had giuen him battel he was easily driuen back and compelled to retyre with the losse of a greate number of his footemen with the taking of Mounsyre Strossie the
sharpwitted and of very greate foresight in this one cace he was by a kynd of destinie stark blynd Howbeeit forasmuch as there is a treatise set foorth alredy intitled the declaration of the Hellish slawghter conteyning the discourse of the whole matter with the tragicall issew therof and the celebrating of the king of Nauarres mariage with all maner of pomp and royaltie of showes I will as now set downe no more but the things that concerne the last time of the Admiralles life wherof I haue gotten most certein testimonies Notwithstanding I will first set downe a copie of a letter which he wrate the self same day with his own hand from Paris too his wife then great with chyld For seing I had the originall copie in my hād which seemed to cary greate weyght with it for the setting foorth of the truth of the storie I thowght it was not to be let passe in this place And therfore I haue trāslated it thus in maner woord for woord Greeting This day my right deer beloued wife is the mariage of the kings sister of the king of Nauarre celebrated Theis next .3 dayes wil be spēt in playes bākettings masks triūphs The king hath promised me faithfulli that afterward he wil bestow some time in heering the cōplaints that are brought to him from sundry partes of his realme for violating of his edict of peace In which matter it is good right that I should imploy myself to the vttermost of my power For although I haue great desire to see thee yit wold it be a greef both to me to thee also as I think if my indeuer duetie should want in the furtherance of that matter Neuertheles this let wil not stay my departure out of the Citie so long but that I may come away the next weeke If I had no further respect thā of my self it were more pleasure for mee too bee with thee thā to tary any lōger in this Court for causes which thou shalt know of mee when I comme home But I must haue more regard of the comon weale than of priuate loue or cōmoditie I haue diuers other thīgs too impart too thee as soone as I may conueniently talke with thee wherof I assure thee I am desirous night and day But all that I can tell thee of as now is this It was this day past fower of the clocke in the afternoone ere the mariage masse was celebrated Whyle that was a singing the king of Nauarre walked vp and downe with certein noblemen of our Religion which followed him in a certein yard with owt the Churche There are a nomber of smaller things which I will deferre till wee may talk toogither In the meane while I beseeche God too preserue thee my deerbeloued and moste louing wife At Paris the .18 of August 1572. A three dayes ago I was diseased with the cholik and the stone But as God woold it lasted not past a .9 or .10 howres and as now such is Gods goodnesse I am free from all such peynes I promis thee I will trubble none of them in the thronges of their feastes playes Once agein Farewell The subscription of the letter was this Thy louing husband Shattilion The .5 day after the Date of this letter which was the .22 day of August as the Admirall went homeward frō the kings counsel abowt dinner time and passed by the house of Villemure a canon scholemaister too the yoong Duke of Gwyse he was striken with a hargabus shot owt of a Lattiswindowe and wownded in three places For the forefinger of his ryght hand was broken in peeces and hys left arme shot throwgh with two pellets of brasse which thing the foremencioned storie of the hellish slawghter hathe breefly towched Hervppon the Phisicions and Surgions were sent for owt of hand among whom was Ambrose Parey the Kings Surgion which was takent too haue greate skill in Leachecraft He that was witnesse of the things insewing did bothe see them and also hold vp the Admiralles arme as he lay vppon his bed The sayd Ambrose began his cure at the broozed finger and did cut it of not without putting his patient to great peyne For inasmuch as his pinsons were not sharp ynowgh he was fayne to open them thryce and thryce to grype them ageine togither Afterward he launced bothe the sids of his left arme where the pellets had perced through the peyne wherof the Admirall abode not only with a stowt corage but also with a stedfast coūtenāce Yea and wheras they that hild vp his armes and behild those launcings were not able to forbeare weeping the Admirall perceyuing them too bee dismayd sayd vnto them Why weepe yee my freends I thinke my self blissed in suffering these wounds for Gods name sake And therewithall looking vppon Merline a minister of Gods word my freends quoth he these are Gods benefits In deede I am full of peine but I acknowledge this to bee the will of our Lord God and I think his maiestie that he hath voutsafed me so greate honour as to lay somme crosse vppon mee for his moste holie names sake Therfore let vs pray him too graunt mee the gyft of perseuerance Then beholding Merlyne moorning and lamenting My Merlyne quoth he why dost thou not rather comfort mee Yee say truth sir aunswered Merlyne nother is there any greater or surer comfort for you than to thinke continually that God doth you greate honour in deeming you worthye to suffer these greefes for his name and religions sake My Merlyne replyed the Admirall if God should handle mee according to my deserts and woorthynesse and deale with mee according too his iustice I shoulde haue farre other maner of greefes too indure But blessed bee his Name for vsing his mercie and clemencie towards mee his moste vnwoorthie seruant O Sir quoth another hold yee still in that godlye mynd For you haue cawse too giue greate thankes too him for his goodnesse in that he hathe left you the moste part of your bodie whole and sownde Therefore you haue in these wowndes a greater warrant of Gods mercye than token of his wrath specially sith he hath lefte you your head and mynde vnwounded Then answered Merlyne You do verye well too turne awaye your mynde and conceyt from your strykers and from them that gaue you these wowndes vntoo God alone For surely it was his hand that layd these strokes vppon you and it is no tyme for you too thinke now vppon the cutthrots and murtherers As for mee quoth the Admirall vndowtedly I forgiue freely and with all my hart both him that strake me and them that did set the striker to do it For I am sure it is not in their power too do mee anye harme no not euen thowgh they shoulde kill mee for I am out of all dowt that deathe is too mee a passage vntoo lyfe which saying he repeted ageine anon after too the Marshal Mounsyre Damuyle who came too him too
this was the Quene of Inglands Ambassadours answer Who when the Queene moother told him that the Admiral had coūseled the king too bee alwayes gelows of the power of Ingland answered surely that mind of his was euill towardes Inglande but singularly good towardes Fraunce When tidings of the slaughter at Paris was caried into Ingland Scotland and Germanie too such as hild the same Religion of the Gospell which the Admirall had doone it is incredible too tell how greate hatred it procured too the king and the Queene moteer specially forasmuch as in those feawe dayes almost ten thowsand Protestāts being striken in feare and amazed with that storme fled intoo those countries who making report that the Admirall was a noble gentleman a great and wise capteine and the glorie of their countrie blazed the authors of that wickednesse for ranke murtherers Too the increace wherof made also the speeches and complaintes of diuers yoong Gentlemen of Germanie who being sent into Fraunce too studie there and being striken in feare with the sayd storme returned home for the moste part spoyled and stripped owt of all that euer they had and therfore cursed not only the owtrageous heinousnesse of the fact but also the whole realme of Fraunce among their parentes and kinsfolke Othersomme which had serued the Admiral in the former warres commended his vertue euerywhere among the princes of Germanie For which is thowght too bee the hardest thing in Martiall affayres he excelled not only in counsell but also in prowesse wheras comonly wisdome breedeth fearfulnesse and corage breedeth rashnesse Furthermore not a fewe which were familiarly acquainted wyth the Admirals life and cōuersation at home in hys owne house going abrode among princes commended him with singular praises for his innocēcie stayednesse mildnesse and woonderfull zelowsenesse in following the religion which thing might bee cheefly perceiued by the inward conuersation of his life at home wherof I wil adde sumwhat heere which I know for certeintie partly by the record of other men and partly by mine owne sight and beholding At his first rizing in the mornings which was meetly early adayes he woold cast his nightgowne abowt him and kneeling downe vppon his knees take vppon him too be as the mouth of his whole companie in praying and calling vppon god And so the residew kneeled all downe after his example and Prayer was made in the same maner that is vsed comonly in the Frenche Churches After the end of prayer looke what time was betweene that and the Sermon time he bestowed it euerywhit either in hearing of the delegates of the Churches that were sent vntoo him or in the dispatching of other publik affaires For afterward eche other day there was a sermon at warning giuē and some certeine Psalme of Dauid was sung Whē the Sermon was done he returned too his businesse vntill dinner time Which being redie all his household sauing a feawe that were occupied abowt dressing of the meate came togither into the hall where the table was couered and there if there had bin no sermon a Psalme of Dauids was sung in his presence standing at the table with his wife standing by his side and the Table was blissed with ordinarie grace Which kind of order he was woont too keepe euery day without faile not only at home in time of peace but also euen in the Camp. Wherof not only innumerable Frenchmen but also a greate nomber of Almaine Knightes Capteines and officers which were oftentimes bidden too his table can bee witnesses As sone as the table was taken away byandby the Admiral rose vp and standing on his feete with his wife likewise by him and the rest of the cōpanie that sate with him at his table did either himself pronounce the praier of thanksgiuing vnto God or cawse it too bee doone by the preacher And at Supper times not only the same thing was doone bothe in prayer in singing of the Psalmes but also forasmuch as he sawe it woold be harder for him too get all his folk togither too nightprayer at bedtime bicause that that time was vncerteine by reason of sundrie businesses which they had too doo he commaunded them too be all with him immediatly after supper and caused the nightprayers to bee sayd as soone as the Psalme was ended Through the which example it cannot bee sayde howe manie of the French Nobilitie tooke vp the same order in theyr howses the rather for that the Admirall warned them that if the maister of a howse intended to mainteine godlinesse aright it was not ynowgh for him too frequent sermons and too leade a godly and holie life to himself vnlesse he did also bring his household and acquaintance too the same trade of life by his example Certein it is that his godly and holye conuersation was had in so greate admiration euen among them that were of the Catholik side that if it had not bin for feare of the horrible persecution butcherie that followed afterward the greatest part of Fraunce had turned too the same religion and reformation of manners When the time of the Lords supper was at hand he vsed too call his houshold seruauntes and reteiners abowt him and too tell them that he was too yeeld account vntoo God not only of his owne life but also of their ordinarie dealings If any iarre were falne among them he appeazed it by setting them at one If any man seemed not altoogether so foreward in vnderstanding and reuerencing that greate misterie as he owght too bee him did he cause to be instructed more diligently in religion If any seemed ouer stubborne he wold tell them openly that he had leuer to dwel at home alone than to kepe a rowt of leud lozels Agein he thought the institution of schooles and the well training vp of yong children to be the singular benefite of god This he termed the seedleape of the Churche and the Nurcerie of godlinesse Affirming that the want of learning had cast a mist not only vppon the Common weale but also vppon Religion and that the tyranny of the bishop of Rome had bin bred and borne in that dungeon who had reigned ouer the blind and ignorant wretches as father Dis is reported among the Poetes too haue reigned ouer night and darknesse And therfore he founded a schoole in a pleasant wholesome place hard by the Shattilion howse and when he had finished the building of it at his great cost he mainteined many children and yoongmen there and manie lerned Hebricians Grecians and Latinistes too reade those languages too them Moreouer of his singular stayednesse this was one proof that wheras he was indowed with greate offices of honour and could haue sowght his owne commoditie and gleaned riches too himself after the example of other Courtyers yit did he not purchace one Acre of grownd nor increace his fathers inheritance wyth one cotage And although he played the good husband in vsing and spending of his owne goodes yit notwithstanding when any Princes noblemen gentlemen or men of any degree came vntoo him as they came vntoo him from all partes of Fraunce abowt the publik affaires of the Realme loke whatsoeuer monny he had gotten before by his sparing he spent it liberally vppon them in hospitalitie By meanes wherof it is certein that he left his heires or successors charged with the dette of not so little as fortie thowsand powndes besides the yeerly loan of six thowsand powndes which he payd too his creditors for interest And I must not heere let passe in silence the incredible vnitie of minde loue and concord that was betwene the three brethren Shattilions which was so greate that there seemed too bee but one mynd made of all the three The Admirall liued three and fiftie yeeres six monethes and eight dayes He was of stature meetly tall of colour ruddie of all his members well proportioned and agreeable of countenance stable and cheerfull of voyce gentle and sweete howbeeit of speeche sommewhat slowe and soft of helth meetly good of gesture and gate comly specially when he was at home in his gowne walking with his wife or his freendes a small drinker of wine euen by nature measurable in meate and sleepe for comonly he rested not aboue seuen howres And since the tyme of the last pacification he suffered no day to passe wherin he entered not intoo his daybooke with his owne hand before he laid him downe too sleepe the things that seemed woorth the noting in the former ciuill warres Which being fownd after his death and browght too the kings coūsell purchaced him great commendacion for his quiet and vncombered mind euen among such as hated him moste Besides this when the warre was once ended and he had withdrawen himself too Rochell as is sayd afore he let no day passe without reading one of Caluins Sermons vppon the storie of Iob bothe morning and euening which storie he termed oftentimes the comfort of his sowle and his necessarie medicine at all assayes in all his aduersities By his first wife he had fiue children of whom he left aliue his eldest daughter Loys maryed as is sayd heertoofore vntoo Mounsyre Telignie who was murthered in the same furiows slawghter the selfsame night that his father in lawe was and also Frauncis Odette and Charles of whom the twoo eldest were conueyed speedily from the butcherly slawghter and the third which was but seuen yeere old and eyght moonethes whom his father loued moste intierly for his pleasant conceytednesse being takē by the aduersaries was tawght too beare Christes crosse euen from the pryme of his chyldhod The Admirall left his later wife with childe of a dawghter wherof shee was deliuered a fower moonethes after and then returning home intoo the borders of Sauoy was committed too warde within feawe moonethes after by the commaundment of Philibert the Prince of that Countrie FINIS Laus Honorsoli Deo filio eius Iesu Christo.