Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquesse of Hamilion yet the power of the Qu. Dowager with her French faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquesse Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000. crowns by the yeare and Duchy of Castle Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquesses chiefe kindred the Marquesse resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Loraigne Qu. Dowager a thing for a woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedome of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her friends in plain tearmes that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely then they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young-man whom she seemed to bewaile being slain for that his father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded toward the Professours thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish custome For these and divers other overtures of her Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vaine She told the Earle of Glencarne and Sir John Cambell who were sent unto her that performance of promises was to be expected from Princes no farther then stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all obedience and duty toward her Violence now with art was to be used for effecting her purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the people being bereaved of their heads would after be easily brought to undergo any yoake but that things might appeare with a more pleasing colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her adversaries in Religion by no other way but by arguments Into Scotland were sent 3. Sorbon Doctours with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed enemies and there was greatest feare of violence from the disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against these Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another mind only We are not informed that the Qu. Regent put in practice the fore-going counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor doe we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens words the Counsellours and Commanders intents and purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the world Not long after the Qu. Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easie taske to goe about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grievous unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men people of another Nation It may be objected from the above named arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a brothers and sisters children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine here that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be found better then by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are thorough the sides of such Kings and Queens as are projectors and maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by word and example I will smite the Shepheard and the sheepe shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should goe about any such matter that she professed that she would follow the example of her cousin Qu. Mary of England which was no other thing then maintaining in her dominions the Pope and Popery and punishing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or els where would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the plot chiefly layed by Papists It rather was undertaken against the life of this Prince by some to make way for their own family to inherit the Crowne of Scotland by others to get the Kingdome and admit any Religion But those which look farther into matters judge this act to be committed against a Professour of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater power and friends to bring to passe what K. Henry the Queens husband had a mind but not power enough to do And that made those which were no enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the ends sake I cannot be of their minds altogether who judge that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earle Bothnile and presently to desire a divorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens suit of divorce to have proceeded from the changing fancy of the Queen not so much from conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earle Bothnile had a wife living when he married the Queen in so much that at the publishing of the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made suit unto her He indeed
of the Court of Parliament in Paris they were both declared guilty of Treason and condemned to be hanged upon a gibbet which was accordingly executed The Queen-Mother leading the King her two sonnes and the King of Navarr her brother in law to see the Execution Her Counsellours thinking that at this last exploit what they had wickedly projected namely the false transferring of the cause of this bloody massacre on a treasonable plot intended by the Admirall and others of the Religion against the King as was fore-mentioned would now be wrought out and effected if Briquemant in presence of all the people now at the time of his expected death would aske pardon of the King withall to worke it on the more sending one to him to certifie and assure him that so he might easily save his life for the King was mercifull and that he should have pardon if he would desire it confessing this fact wherewith hee was charged But Briquemant answered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not unto him but to the King to aske pardon of God for such an heynous offence That hee would never aske pardon for a fault wherein hee had not offended but knew himselfe to bee most innocent whereof hee called GOD to witnesse desiring him to pardon the Kings so great disloyalty and cruelty Cavagnes also the other noble Gentleman did the like untill hee dyed Insomuch that this execution contrary to the Kings expectation served to no other end but more to publish the iniquity of all those cruell homicides and of all their most pernicious counsels The treacherous murther of Henry the 3d King of France by a Jacobine Monke Anno 1589. extracted out of the French History Henry the 3d. King of France making warre against a great associatâ—on of his Subjects assembled together in Paris under the name of the Leaguers for the advancement of the Catholicks in France and under the command and conduct of the Duke de Main and other heads of that League whose wicked practises and insolencies against those of the Religion the King much distasted and discountenanced The King of Navarr also joyning with the King of France in pursuit of the Leaguers to bring them into better obedience and therby having chaced the forces of the Leaguers and put them to the worse and cooped them up at last within the wals of Paris and by that meanes brought them into much danger and distresse and feare of a totall overthrow Hereupon the Duke de Main and his confederats within Paris began to sit close in counsell to advise what was best to be done and seeing the K so neare them and strong about them either of necessity like to urge them to a battell or els to begirt them so close with a siege that there would be small or no hope to escape And considering that by these the Kings late so prosperous progressions in his affaires their own thereby went much to ruine Resolved that there was no other meanes left them to stand it out especially being proclaimed guilty of high-treason against their chief head the K. than by executing some notable exploit in procuring the death of the K. their Mr. and Soveraigne Lord. Now some certaine weekes before a young Iacobine Monck by name Fryer Iaques Clement a man drowned in all wickednesse having passed through the hands of certaine Confessours and conferred with some Iesuites and others of that rabble he was for a kind of promising dexterity in any villany found meet to strike so great a stroake Was urged and put forward therin yea and in the end the D. de Main himself the sister of the D Montpensieur and others of that Catholick Combination had conference with him in divers places who requested and encouraged him to persevere in this good determination of his which they said they knew to arise in him from extraordinary inspirations from above for the full performance of so renowned a service to the holy Union the Catholick Church of Rome and his deare Country they promised him also Abbot-ships Bishopricks and whatsoever els he vvould desire this wicked fellow thus divellishly documented and stimulated to this desperate deed remained for certaine dayes sometime with the Dutches Montpensieur vvho among the Parisians vvas termed the holy-vvidow sometimes vvith his Prior and sometimes vvith the Iesuites This Monck I say being thus made to drinke in fury and madnesse to the deed by so many allurements entertainments promises and protestations of felicity temporall and eternall resolved within himself and seriously promised them all to kill the K. Now in the interim the Parisians or common-people of the City vvho thought nothing nor knew any thing of their cruell practises began to talke of nothing more than of yeelding themselves to their K and had greatly rebated their spleene and choller against their Soveraigne Which the Duke de Main together with his complotters perceiving they caused the most zealous Sorbonists and Iesuites to preach and exhort that they should yet have patience for 7 or 8 days longer in which interim assuring them they should see and perceive some wonderfull matter come to passe that would make amends for their patient expectation and produce much good to their holy Union The Monck being now fully ordered and instructed for the execution of the designed plot departed from Paris and went toward St Clon As soon as he was departed the D. de Main caused more then 200 of the principall Citizens and other rich men whom he knew to have friends and credit with the K party to be taken prisoners as a gage to save his Monck if after the attempt he were staied or arrested The Monck being come to S. Clon and presented to speak with the K. he having fained that he had letters from the president of Harlay and Credence on his part the K. caused him to be called into his Chamber vvhere was none with the K save only the L of Bellegard chief Gen. of the same and the Procurator generall whom he desired to retire a while the more privately to give eare and audience unto him the undaunted villain having addressed himselfe with a countenance very modest and demure neare the K. person The Monck now perceiving himself alone with the K. and an oportunity put into his hand to do the deed he mainly came for confirming his audacious countenance more and more fixedly drew out of one of his sleeves a paper which he presented to the K. and out of the other a sharp knife with which he violently and suddainly sheathed a thrust within the K. small ribs the K. being seriously reading the presented paper but thereupon perceiving himself wounded pluckt the knife out of the vvound and therewith struck the Monck above the eye and thereupon some of hâ—s Gentlemen hearing a noyse and much bustling within came running in most violently who seeing what vvas done and moved with vvrath at the indignity of so execrable a fact could not
A DISCOVERY OF THE POPES PRIDE AMBITION and CRUELTY In a Tyrannicall Barbarous and Bloudy manner exercised on Emperours Kings and Kingdomes The Miseries Ruine and Desolations by them brought on the Christian world WITH Their vitious and unchaste lives their wicked practices for obtaining the Popedome by Murthers Poysonings c. By J. V. LONDON Printed for William Raybould at the Sign of the Unicorn in Pauls-Church-yard 1651. The Contents PHilip the second King of Spain his offer of Marriage with Q. Elizabeth rejected The practice of the Guises with the Q. of Scots against the Crowne of England The Rebellion of the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Pope sends Letters to the King of Spaine and K. of Portugall to send an Army to invade England Leo Dacres joyning with the Rebells indevoureth to deliver the Q. of Scots after a sharp conflict with the Lo. of Hunsdon is put to flight Iames FitZ-Morris of the House of Desmond raiseth Rebellion in Ireland Thomas and Edward Stanley with others conspire against the Queene Don Iohn of Austria his perpetuall but treacherous Edict for Peace Stucley his designe against Ireland turned another way by the K. of Portugall Iames Fitz-Morris his second attempt to reduce Ireland to Popery San Iosephus an Italian sent by the Pope and K. of Spaine with 700. Spaniards and Italians into Ireland Campian Sherewin and others comming into England taken and condemned for Treason Somervile his desperate attempt against the Queenes Person Mendoza the Spanish Embassador thrust out of England for practising with Throgmorton and others to invade the Land D. Parry for practising the Queenes death executed Savage and others their attempt to kill the Queene The French Ambassador his plot to kill the Queene The Spanish Armado in Anno 1588. D. LopeZ his attempt to poyson the Queene Squires practise to poyson the Queenes Saddle Tyrone his Rebellion in Ireland Garnet Catesby and others their attempt for Invasion of England The Hellish Gun-powder Treason Sir Griffin Markham and others their conspiracy against King Iames. The present bloudy Rebellion in Ireland The cruell Massacre at Paris The Murther of Henry the 3d. The Murther of Henry the 4th Gentle Reader THou mayest evidently see by this ensuing discourse what are the fruits and effects of Popery how the Popes have kindled the fier amongst all the Princes and States of Europe and like Balaam the false Prophet troubled us with their wiles cursed the Church and State of England and by their Incendiaries the Priests and Iesuites for effecting their owne pernicious and divellish designes have stirred up one Nation against an other and all Christendome against the English tainted many a great House and endangered their Lives and Estates to the ruine of great and Noble Families in this Kingdome Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Forraigne Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdomes of England Scotland and IRELAND c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience ease to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our eyes in those little draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great trouble and losse of time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherfore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgement of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdomes I have here collected out of divers Authours which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief conspiracies and attempts against the Kingdomes alone and immediately of great Brittany and Ireland or els mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or forraigne Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present yeere I begin no higher then Queene Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his sister Qu. Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopefull young Prince that was not rather from ambition if there was any such then from a desire of subverting Religion Not but thaa the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdome had us then in their minds but other wayes there were before bloody and desperate practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of lesse difficulty and more hopefull successe And these are the steps the adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Aegypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calvs of Rome introducing ignorance and blindnes that we may when our eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of slavery If this course fail the next is by poyson murder and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Aegypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are joyntly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of soule and body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangenesse of the discoveries of their mischiefes sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authours have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate Gods goodnesse to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewise So that for these mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own work and continuall thankes for his mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the dayes of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have lost it easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can indure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learne also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortened that he cannot save nor his eare heavy that he cannot heare those that call upon him lifting up pure hands in
advancing of their Catholike cause Now the Scots-Queen led on by her blind guides dealt most importunely with the Pope and Spaniard by Sir Francis Englefield that by all meanes they would with speed undertake their intended businesse namely the invasion of our Realme For the advancing wherof the Pope and Spaniard had resolved on these points 1. That Qu. Elizabeth should be deprived of her Kingdom 2. That the King of Scots a manifest favourer of heresie should utterly be dis-inherited of the Kingdom of England 3. That the Scots-Queen should marry some noble man of England that was a Catholike 4. That this man must be chosen King of England by the Catholikes of England 5. That this choice so made must be confirmed by the Pope 6. That the children of him so chosen begotten of the Scots-Queen must be declared Successours in the Kingdom All these things were confirmed to be true by the testimony of one Hart a Priest Who was that noble English-man that should marry the Scots-Queen was much enquired after by Sir Francis Walsingham with all diligence but not certainly found out yet there was strong suspition of Henry Howard brother to the Duke of Norfolke who was noble by birth unmarried and a fast favourer of that Religion and in great grace and favour with them All these things were discovered by this Creighton the Jesuites torn Papers as afore-said And all this their plotting and contriving of France Spaine and the Pope against Queene Elizabeth and King James for no other cause but for their Religion which they had now fairely begun to establish among their people Parry executed for Treason IN the yeare 1585. William Parry a Welch-man and Doctor of Law spake against that Law which in the Parliament then held was exhibited and called it a bloudy Law Presently after he was accused of practising the Queens death He confessed voluntarily in the Tower that having obtained the Queens pardon for breaking into the chamber and wounding one Hare for which he was condemned he being a sworne fervant to the Queen From England he went into France and was reconciled Afterward at Venice in consultation with Benedict Palmeus he told him that he had found out a way to help the afflicted Catholikes in England if the Pope or some learned Divines would approve it as lawfull The Jesuite Palmius approved it Next in France one Morgan drew him to consent to murder the Queen if it should prove lawfull This act the Popes Nuntio Ragazonius commended Parry afterward having accesse to the Queen shewed her all and not long after Cardinall Come his letter approving the enterprise Now he taketh a new resolution to perform it encouraged specially by D. Alins Book teaching that Princes excommunicate are to be spoiled of their Kingdoms and lives These with many other things Parry confessed before the Lord Hunsdon Sr. Christopher Hatton and Sr. Francis Walsingham In Westminster Hall the heads of his accusation being read he confessed himself guilty He died in the Palace-yard before Westminster Hall not once calling on the name of God At this time also Henry Earle of Northumb for entring into traiterous counsels with Paget and the Guises to invade England was cast into the Tower where he was found dead being shot with 3. bullets under his left pap the chamber door bolted in the inside A pistoll was found in his chamber and himself the author of his own death Thus from time to time the most noble Families of England have bin seduced and ruined by the false and bewitching counsels of Jesuits and Seminaries Savages attempt to kill the Queen NOw againe there was a most abominable treason conspired and voluntarily confessed by the conspirators One Gifford a Doctor in Divinity Gilbert Gifford and Hodgeson Priests perswaded one John Savage a bloody fellow to undertake to kill Queen Elizabeth To hide their mischievous intents more cunningly from the Queens Counsell who were very carefull to fore-see all danger they wrote a Book in which they advise the Papists in England not to goe about to hurt the Queen For they were to use no other weapons against their Prince then the Christian weapons of Teares Fasting Prayers and the like and most cunningly also these Foxes spread a rumour that George Gifford one of the Queens Pensioners had sworne to kill the Queen and for that cause had gotten from the Guises a very great summe of Mony The Easter following John Ballard an English Priest of the Colledge of Rhemes was come into England who had bin trying the minds of Papists in England and Scotland He had dealt with Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador in France Charles Paget and others for the invasion of England And although it seemed to be a very hard work yet he had sworne to use his utmost endeavour in it and also for the liberty of the Queen of Scots At Whitsuntide in a Souldiers habit and under the name of Captain Fortescue he had a conference in London with Anthony Babington a young Gentleman of Darby-shiere Romishly affected who not long before in France had conference with Thomas Morgan and the Bishop of Glasco the Scotch Queens Ambassadour He was drawn by them shewing him most assured hopes of honour from her to addict himselfe to them and by their meanes had favourable letters from her Ballard and Babington conferred together concerning the invasion of England but it was not deemed a thing could be done Queen Elizabeth being alive Then Ballard informed Babington that Savage had undertooke to kill her Babingtons advice was that it should not be committed to Savage alone least perhaps he might be hindered but to six resolute men of which number Savage should be one Vpon this Babington took into his consideration the Ports in which the invaders should land the confederates that should joyne in the act of murdering Q. Elizabeth and delivering the Scots-Queen In the mean time a letter was brought from the imprisoned Queen to Babington in a secret character blaming Babingtons long silence but he excused it because she was under the custody of Sr. Amice Paulet a severe keeper declared unto her that which Ballard and he had resolved before and that himself with one hundred more would deliver her The purpose by her letters unto Babington was commended and it was advised that it should be undertaken considerately and nothing should be moved before they were sure of externall forces that they should make an association as if they feared the Puritans that some tumults might be raised in Ireland while the thing should be done here That Arundell and his brethren and Northumb should be drawn to the side Westmerland Paget and others called home The way to deliver the Scots-Queen was appointed to overthrow a Coach in the gate or set the Stables on fire or intercept her as she rode to take the aire betwixt Chartly and Stafford Babington undertook for rewards to all that should give their help He had gotten unto him Edward Windsor
as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurred to punish the wickednesse of this time And think not slightly of this advertisement but retire your selfe into your Country where you may expect the event in safety for though there be no appearance of any storme yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no harme for the danger is past so soone as you shall have burned this Letter And I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it to whose holy protection I commend you Friday following the King read it who considering the sentence therein expressed that they should receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet should not know who hurt them and joyning it to the sentence for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burn'd this Letter did suspect the danger mentioned to be some sodaine danger of blowing up with Powder Afterward it was determined the Lord Chamberlaine should view both above and beneath the Parliament Houses Which the L. Chamberlaine having done found in a Vault under the upper House great store of Billets faggots and Coales and casting his eye aside a fellow standing â—y which called himselfe Percy 's man that had hired the Cellar The K. supposing that Gunpowder might be hid under that Wood and Coales caused a further search to be made Whereupon Sir Thomas Knevet went about the Parliament House with a small number to search more narrowly the mid-night next after where he found Fawkes standing without doores booted and spurd and apprehended him then in search under the Wood and Coales 36. Barrells of Gunpowder and about the Traitor three Matches and other Instruments fit for that wicked purpose were found which wicked intent of blowing up the House he instantly confessed affirming that if he had bin in the House he would not have failed to blow up both himselfe and them In this mine wrought Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter John Wright Christ Wright Guido Fawkes Gentlemen and Bates Catesbyes man Sir Everard Digby Ambrose Rookewood Francis Tresham Esquires John Grant Gent and Robert Keys were made acquainted with the plot but wrought not in the mine After Fawkes apprehension the Traytors poast away and pretending Religion they would fight for gathered in open Rebellion all they could which number never exceeded 80. They wandered thorough Warwick-sheire to Worcester-sheire and thence to the borders of Stafford-sheire and having gotten themselves into a House they obstinately refused to yeeld to the Sheriffe but through Gods providence a lesse quantity of Powder then 2. pounds taking fire did so mangle some disable others that having begged pardon on their knees for their crime of God they desperately exposed themselves to the peoples fury 3. of the chiefe joyned back to back and two of them were killed with one shot Catesby Percy Winter was taken alive So all of them were killed beaten or taken The conspiracy of Sir Griffin Markham and others ANno Dom 1603. George Brooke Sir Griffin Markham Watson and Clerk Priests entred into a conspiracy against K. James it was said to surprise Prince Henry to keep the King and Prince in the Tower or to carry them to Dover Castle and there to obteine their own pardons a toleration for Religion and Removall of some Councellors Divers beside these were accused and condemned but Brooke confessed he did it but by a Commission from the King to try the faithfullnesse of the Kings Subjects but he could produce no such Commission Sir Griffin Markham confessed that he intended forraine Invasion and Alteration of Religion but not to destroy the King as was in the inditement Watson and Clerk confessed they drew the Gentlemen into the plot houlding the King for no King till he was Crowned Of them all only Watson Clerk and Brook suffered death The Massacre and Treason in Ireland extracted out of the Irish Remonstrancâ— and Irelands Teares VPon the 23 day of October 1641. a most prodigious and nefarious viper gnawing the bowels of its native-parent Ireland burst out of the womb therof visibly appeared most epidemically destructive to that whole State and Kingdome It had lien long as some of the Rebels reported undiscovered but was all that while hatching by many hot and high-built hopes both by forraine and domestick encouragements The accursed Midwives of this bastard-birth were Popish-Priests Fryers and Jesuites together with other fire-brands and incendiaries of that State and Kingdom Their hideous and hellish hopes were mightily supported and corroborated by strong assistance from Spaine France and Flanders together with deeply engaged assurance of full correspondency in England and an equivalent party in Scotland besides their great encouragements by Popish Buls from Rome authorizing the speedy and immediate Surrender of all such places of strength as they had beleagured promising free pardon of all sins whatsoever before hand committed by any of them tending to the advancement of this great work thundring or rather roaring out excommunications against any that should refuse so to joyn with them therin terming themselves the Catholike Army and the ground of their work as all their abominable and bloody plots are the Catholike-cause Their desperate and most divellish resolution was therin not to leave a drop of English blood in Ireland and so consequently not the least sparke or glimpse of the Gospell and pure Protestant Religion giving out in words and designing in their hearts that the Tower of London the Castle of Edenborough and the Castle of Dublin were to be surprized by their Faction in all these places all upon one day In all which time this therefore might the more easily have bin done especially in Ireland there was not the least feare or suspition of treachery yet there were a little before the day of this bloudy-birth secretly gathered together about 400 Irish Papists elected out of most parts of Ireland desperate and damnably bloudy minded persons designed for this horrid and hellish attempt who had all privately convayed and sheltered themselves in severall places of the City and Suburbs of Dublin waiting and expecting the time and watch-word when to give the on-set In this plot all the Popish Nobility and men of quality in Ireland were interessed and it was professed by that most impious and barbarous Arch-Rebell Sr. Philim O Neal that what he and they did was by the consent of the Parliament in Ireland Yea some of them have bin so impiously audacious as to professe and perswade others of their accursed confederates to believe that they had regall authority for it and were so bold as to term themselvs â—he Queens Army And for the more strongly prosecution of this their most exorbitant villany the Conspirators and Traitors entred into
sufficiently supplyed with men and arms as is fit and much desired therfore I say the Lord of Hoasts abhorring and abominating such atrocious and hell-fomented blasphemies murthers and mercilesse cruelties makes his just indignation and wrath to prosecute and pursue them at the heeles giving those small and inconsiderable companies such admirable and even almost miraculous victories over them as most evidently declare the hand of the Lord to be against them and his gracious purpose utterly to supplant and exterminate such devillishly desperate and intolerably barbarous and bloody Rebels and Traitors the lively lims and lineaments of that bloody Strumpet of Rome The most bloody Massacre at Paris Anno 1572. extracted out of the French History truly and briefly related ANd now good Reader give me leave a little to seeme to digresse not so much from the matter as from the persons and places at first propounded and to looke but a little into our neighbour Kingdome of France where I say I shall only vary from personages but the subject matter the same with the former setting forth the bloody plots and conspiracies of the Popish Faction among them also against those of the reformed Protestant Religion in France and especially in that most butcherly and barbarous Massacre at Paris where it primarily and chiefly began to be cruelly acted and executed on Gods innocent lambes marked out to the slaughter before hand And thus it was in brief In the yeares 1571. and 72. Charles the ninth then K. of France the said K. the then Duke of Guise and others of the Romish Faction bearing a most inveterate hatred which was craftily concealed against those of the Religion and in speciall against the then most renowned Admirall of France whose Piety Prudence and Prowesse was such and in so high esteem of all both friends and foes also that whiles he subsisted and survived the Popish-party maugre their malice could doe nothing to any purpose to the prejudice of the cause of the Religion At last a plot was laid most craftily and cruelly under pretence of a marriage between the Prince of Navarr a noble and pious Prince of the Religion and the Kings Sister by which snare to bring the said Prince the Admirall and the rest of the heads of the Religion to the Court and City of Paris that so these heads being first smitten-off the inferiour members therof might the more easily be destroyed Under this colour I say the King invites the Admirall to the Court at Paris pretends a faire correspondence and agreement of all matters in difference 'twixt his Majesty and those of the Religion especially himselfe and the Admirall and a reconcilement also betweene this noble Admirall and the Duke of Guise In which interim one Lignerolles a French Gentleman was openly slain in the Court for discovering some secrets concerning this plot against those of the Religion and the Cardinall of Chastillon then in England and ready to depart thence for France brother to the Admirall of France was poysoned by one of his Chamberlaines and dyed therof to the great griefe of all his friends and servants The most noble and religious Admirall on the Kings invitation comes to Paris was with extraordinary fair shows of love and regall respect most welcomely entertained both he and divers others of the Religion that came with him The fore-said marriage was not long after solemnized in Paris with great pretences of joy and content on all sides expressed in most sumptuous and liberall feasts and banquets Maskes and dances the sweet innocent Princes little dreaming of such a dance to be now a leading by the King Queen-mother and Duke of Guise with the rest of their Romish bloody faction as stain'd nay steep'd all their dainties in streames of their hearts blood in so much as 't was admired to see such a seeming friendly mixture of those of the Religion with the Romish Catholiks just like so many lambs among so many greedy wolvs Now whiles every one imployed himself in such like mirth jollity divers that were sent for by the K. Q-Mother Du. of Guise that so they might be sure to be the stronger party speedily arrived in Paris the Catastrophe of all that follows having bin made not long before among them the Dukes of Guise and Anjon being the principall actors openly seen in this wicked work who resolved not to let the Admirall depart out of Paris but there to dispatch him and all such as should indeavour to defend him Now it so fell out that one morning the Admirall comming out of the Lonure and going to dine at his lodging being on foot and without least suspition of any villanie to be attempted against him as he was reading a Petition one shot at him with a harquebush the bullet wherof tooke away the fore-finger of his right-hand and hurt him in the left-arme the villaine that shot escaped by flight a horse standing ready to post him away after he had done the deed The noble Admirall being therupon brought to his lodging shewed most singular Piety Constancy and Patience under his Surgeons hands was visited by divers Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion the K. of Navarr now the K. of France his brother in law and the Prince of Conde The French K. also though a maine plotter in the work craftily complained to these Princes of the mischiefe thus happened protesting his sorrow and swearing revenge and severe execution of Justice on the offendor whosoever he were The K. himself also went to visit the Admirall making many serious and deep protestations of his high esteem of his loyalty and fidelity to his Person and Crowne alwayes and that he held and esteemed him a most discreet and valiant Commander in Arms and that therfore he much respected him with many such like French complements Immediately after the Kings departure the K. of Navarr and the Prince of Conde were certainly but very secretly enformed of the intended massacre on all of the Religion and advised as speedily as they could to get away out of Paris and to be assured that that blow given to the Admirall was but the beginning of the Tragedy but alas good Princes they so much confided on the Kings vows promises that they rejected this advise and counsel staied ther still About Saturday evening being the 23. of Aug. 1572. certain Protestant Gen. offered themselves to watch that night with the good Admirall but Teligny his son in law would not suffer them but dismissed them with many thanks little suspecting still any approaching or precipitating danger on his father Night being come-on the Duke of Guises Lieut. in this action which now at this present was to be declared to the Duke of Anjon sent for all the Captains of the Switzers and companies of Strangers which still increased into the Town shewing them his Commissions to kill the Admir and all his partakers exhorting them to be couragious in shedding of blood and making spoyle of
others on the roofes of houses and in whatsoever other places where they might be found It would be too tedious to recite at large the names and surnames of all the honorable personages of divers qualities that were then slain and butchered it sufficeth that their names are written in heaven and that their death though shamefull and despicable in the sight and presence of men of this world is precious in the sight of the Lords most holy Majesty Now let the tender hearted Christian Reader but consider and ponder in his heart how strange and horrible a thing it might be in a great Town or City to see at the least 60000 men with Pistols Pikes Courtlasses Ponyards Knives and other such bloody instruments run swearing and blaspheming the sacred Majesty of God throughout the streets and into mens houses where most cruelly they massacred all whomsoever of the Religion they met without regard of estate condition sex or age the streets paved with bodies cut and hewed in peeces the gates and entries of houses Palaces and publike places died with bloud A horrible plague of shoutings and howlings of the murtherers mixed with continuall blows of Pistols and Calivers together with the pittifull cryes of those that were murthered the bodies cast out at windowes upon the stones drawne through the dirt with strange noyse and whistlings the breaking open of doors and windows with bils stones and other furious instruments the spoyling and plundering of houses Carts carrying away the spoyles and dead bodies which were throwne into the river of Soame all red with blood which ran in great streams through the Town and from the Kings Pallace into the said river As for the King of Navarr himselfe and the Prince of Conde they were called into the Kings presence who must himselfe speak with them who with his own mouth certified them what had thus past all this while adding that he had saved their lives only upon condition that they should renounce their Religion and follow his otherwise that they must look for the like punishment that their Adherents had and should receive The King of Navarr besought the King to remember his promise of alliance newly contracted and not to constraine him in his Religion The Prince of Conde also more fervently answered that the King had given his faith unto him and to all those of the Religion with so solemn a Protestation and Vow that he could not be perswaded that his Majesty would falsifie such an authentick oath and that thereupon he had thus farre yeelded to his Majesties demands and faithfully performed what he had required of him on this assurance But as touching the Religion whereof the King had granted him the free exercise and God the true knowledge to whom he was to make an account therin for this his Religion he said he was fully resolved to remaine most constant therin and which he would alwayes maintain to be true although it were with the losse of his life This answer of the Prince set the King into such a choller that he began to call him rebell seditious and son of a seditious person with horrible threatnings to cause them to loose their heads if within 3 dayes they tooke not better counsell and indeed these threatnings and other crafty carriages in this way so wrought on both these Princes at last that they forsooke their Faith and first Love and turned to Romish abhominations Now the King perceiving that this massacre of Paris would not quench the fire but rather kindle it the more fearing least those of the Religion in his other Provinces and Townes might assemble and unite themselves together and so give them new worke he with the speedy advise of his Counsellours sent two Messengers with two severall Messages the one to the Governours and seditious Catholikes of his remoter Townes wherein were many of the Religion with expresse command to massacre them the other containing certaine Letters to the Governours of Provinces by which he pretended this Massacre to be perpetrated by the Duke of Guise and the Admirall to be murthered on a particular and private quarrell twixt them two and that the Kings honest meaning and intention was utterly against these things and seriously to maintaine his former Edict of a generall Pacification and therfore that his care and vigilancy had ceased it the same day it began and yet as my Authour recordeth in his History on the Tewsday following being the 26. of the same August the King accompanied with his Brethren and the chiefest of his Court went to his Court of Parliament and there publickly declared in expresse tearms that whatsoever had hapned in Paris was done not only by his consent but also by his commandement and of his own motion And as for his other former mentioned Message and Letter to other Townes and Provinces for the massacring of those of the Religion among them also his bloudy command herein was immediately put in execution at Lyons and many other places where the poore Protestants were murthered and massacred in most hideous and horrible manner by those mercilesse and inhumane Butchers of bloody Rome who knockt down the innocent Christians among them as so many doggs cut their throats â—â—angled their bodies slash'd off their hands with great sharp knives as on their knees they held them up to the villains praying for the sparing of their lives yea and were knowne to rip up their bellies and take out their fat from their bowels and to sell it to their Apothecaries to make medicines Thus also in those remoter parts from Paris were very many thousands of the Religion murthered without any difference or distinction either of Sex or Age. And so deeply enraged was the King and his adherents and so desperately resolved to root out and extirpate the memory of those of the Religion especially of any note or eminency that the King having at last got into his custody one Briquemant a noble French Gentleman of the age of seventy yeares one that had valiantly imployed himselfe in the Service of the Kings of France having been found in the House of the Embassadour of England then resident in France wherein he had hid himselfe whiles the greatest fury of the massacre was executed was by the Kings command put in close prison together with another vertuous Gentleman Cavagnes Master of the Requests both which Gentlemen bare great affection both unto the Religion and also unto the renowned Admirall and were themselves of great esteeme and reputation in France but the King having them now fast in hould threatned to teare them in peeces upon the rack if they would not write and signe with their hands that they had conspired with the Admirall to kill the King his Brethren the Queene and the King of Navarr But they having most constantly and justly refused to avouch so horrible a lye against their owne and their godly friends innocencies were racked and cruelly tormented and by a most unjust sentence