so much that rather than they wyll go home they will se his realme in daunger of ruyne which they saye is euident and not possible to be auoyded This is the loue whiche they beare to theyr countrey into the which they brynge foraine power to pylle and spoyle it and if god holde not his hande ouer it to subdue and vtterly destroy it ¶ Syth they require a decree which shal remayne for euer vpon thestate of relygion And where as wee required that that shoulde be obserued whiche is alredy made vntyll the kynge shoulde come to age they aunswered that it was an vnciuyle and an vnreasonable requeste for that it is in the kynges power and wyll to change lymitte enlarge and restrayn his decrees when so euer he thinketh good And that we in requyrynge that that whiche is alredye decreed by him and his counsel should be kept and obserued durynge his nonage desyre to kepe his maiestie in pryson captiuitie And yet this notwithstanding they will that the decre which thei thre haue made shal remaine in force vnchanged for euer But if the reason which they aledge againste vs are to be receaued we wyll also by the selfe same conclude that they them selues wil keepe the king prisoner both in his nonage and lawful age But by like they thinke they are able to master and keepe at commaundement not onely the kynges person but also the whole realme Seing that in a thinge of so greate weighte and whyche bringeth with it so many incōuenience they dar◠take vpon them to present a decree allowed onely by them thre what more did euer August Marke Antonius and Lepidus whan by their wicked shamful triumuirate they subuerted the lawes common wealthe of Rome If they had ben mooued with a good and peasible zeale as they say not sedicious with a zeale of religion and not of ambition they woulde neuer haue begon with rigorous punishement as they haue done they woulde haue cume vnarmed and presented them selues with all humility and reuerence They would haue declared the causes which moued them to mislike the decre of Ianuary They woulde haue humblye besoughte the kinge and Queene to consider with their counsel with the aduyse of the parlementes and of other estates If any other meane mighte be founde to remedie these troubles to the conseruation of Goddes honour with the sauegarde and encrease of the kinge and of this realme And in so speaking they shoulde haue shewed that they had ben ledde by none other affection but onely by the zele of their consciences But their maner of proceadinge sufficiently declareth that their religion serueth them to gette folowers and partakers and to so we strife and diuision amongest the kynges subiectes and with the one part hauing the straungers ther unto adioined to make thē selues lordes of the whole vnto whom I am constrained to say that the princes of the bloude royall vnto whom they haue euermore ben enemies and thrust them backe in al y t they might will in no wise suffer that strange nation and such as be not called to the gouernaunce shall take vppon them to make statutes and ordinaunces in this realme Moreouer they wyll and require that the churche of Rome which they call the catholicke and apostolicke Church be onely receaued and acknowledged in Fraunce and that they which professe the reformed religion be excluded from preaching receuing of the sacramentes It is a duke of Guise an out landishe prince a lorde of Montmorency and a lorde of S. Andre which make an ordinaunce contrary to the decre of Ianuarye which was agreed vpon by the king and the quene his mother the king of Nauarre the princes of the bloudd◠royal with the kinges counsel forty of the chiefe of all the parlementes They be three whiche make an ordinaunce againste the requeste presented by the estates that is to say the nobility and the third estate at Orleans firste and sith at S. Germaine The whiche two estates require that it wyll please the kynges maiestie to giue and appoyncte churches for them that professe the forsaid reformed religion They are three whiche make an ordinaunce that can not be executed with out ciuile warre and with out putting the realme in daunger of euident ruine And they them selues see it and confesse it Lo thus is the realme bounde vnto them and this fruit bringeth forth their konwledge and good zeale or that I may more trulye speake their practises their conueyaunces and ambition of rule and commaundemēt ¶ The Duke of Guise and hys bretherne takinge vpon theym this enterprise to banishe awaye the professours of the refourmed religion what good zele so euer they pretend to haue can not deny but that they willingly go aboute to trouble and bring into daunger this realme wher as they se that in the lyke enterprise their matters had so euyle successe in Scotlande In the which contrey the one parte and the other liued in peace vnder the obedience of that good and vertuouse princesse the queene dowagier vnto such time as it was by the aucthoritie of the forsayd Guise published and proclaymed that the kyng minded not to permit that any other religion wer receaued in the sayde contreye but onely the religion of the churche of Rome whyche was cause that a certayne smal number of people of the common sort rise and put thēselues in armes who were by the prudēce of the saide lady and the helpe of the nobilitie within short time dispersed This beginninge might haue serued for an admonition to the sayde Guise of the daunger whiche mighte ensue of greater troubles if they geue not ouer theyr enterprise of whiche thinge yet not withstandinge they would take no regarde at all but contrarywise beinge in greater heate than euer they were theretofore writ vnto the sayde lady verye sharpe letters blaminge her for that she had vsed to much gentlenes especially in the quarell of religion And that for the amēdes of her faultes passed it was needeful that she shoulde bluddie her handes vpon them especially whiche were the chefe And for this purpose they sente vnto her the bishoppe of Amiens and M. de la Brosse whoo to declare theym selues at their firste cumminge good catholickes of the Romishe secte they woulde haue constrained euery man to cum to masse They obiected oftentimes to the said lady and to M. de Oysel that thei had marred al. They proclaymed their purpose which was that they would vse force and constraint in the matter The bishoppe of Amiens as the popes legate lokynge for the bulles of his legacie promised that he would refourme the most parte of them which he said were out of the way M. de la Brosse promised within the space of one moneth to banysh them which woulde not be refourmed And for so much as couetousenes is euermore the companion of crueltie they cast a pleasant eye vpon the landes and possessions of the nobilitie They
THE REQVESTES PRESENTED VNTO THE FRENCHE KINGE and the Queene his mother by the three Rulers or Triumuirat With an aunswere made to the same by the prince of Conde ⸫ W. S. A requeste presented vnto the kynge and queene by the three rulers or Triumuirat WE the duke of Guise pair great maister and greate chamberlaine of Fraūce the Duke of Montmorencie pair and Constable of Fraunce S. Andre marshall of Fraunce to the ende it may appeare vnto youre maiesties and all the worlde that oure hartes and intentes whiche haue ben sufficiently knowen declared by all our doynges heretofore and the whole course of oure tyme lyues whiche haue ben bestowed spent none otherwise but in the faythfull seruice of the maiesties of our good kinges deceassed whō god pardon to the main teinynge and increase of their honoure power estate and crown neyther were euer heretofore neyther presentlye are nor shal by goddes grace hereafter durynge our liues be any other then suche as tende to the same good and faythfull ende tofore declared and that by iuste reasonable lawfull and lowable meanes Wherunto next after the seruice of God we haue vowed the rest of oure foresaide liues goodes and fortunes Wee moste humbly beseke your maiesties our soueraigne Lorde Lady to vnderstand the botomes of our thoughtes and intentes the whiche we disclose and declare vnto you in all sinceritie by this present writing and therwith also the causes of our comming abode nere about your maiesties for the which we iudge in our Faythes and Consciences consyderynge our estates and the charges whiche we haue taken vpon vs that we maye in no wise departe therefrom without desert of euerlasting shame and reproche not only to our selues but also to our posteritie as vnfaythfull seruauntes and officers forsakers abandoners of the honour of God the righte of the churche the honour welfare and sauegarde of our kynge and countrey of the peace and quietnesse of thestate of the same whiche we see in daunger of euident and ineuitable ruine if it be not quickly and without delay prouided for by the onely remedy of suche ordinaunces as we suppose ought to be made by your maiesties sealed set forth and alowed as well in your great counsell as also in the Courte of parlement of Paris and other courtes of your Royalme suche as these be which be conteyned in thartycles folowyng the which we propone with all reuerence and humilitie ¶ First we thinke it necessary not onely for the discharginge of our owne consciences but also of the kynges and of his othe made at his coronation for the quietnesse and vnion of all his subiectes and thauoydinge of the confusion of all diuine humaine and politike orders vpon whiche confusion dependeth and foloweth necessarily the ouerthrowe of al Empires Monarchies and common wealthes That the kyng by an act remayninge for euer declare that he neyther willeth ne purposeth to permit allowe nor suffer within his royalme any diuersitie of religion nor churche preachinge mynistringe of sacramentes or assemblies ministeries nor ministers ecclesiastical But willeth and purposeth that onely the churche Catholike and apostolike and Romaine receyued kepte and alowed by his maiestie and of al his predecessours with the prelates and mynisters of the same preachinges ministring of sacramentes by them and their deputies shall take place in his whole royalme and countreye obedient to hys crowne al other assemblies for the like effecte being vtterly reiected reproued ¶ That all offycers of Fraunce of the housholde of his maiestie and of my lordes his bretherne and sister all officers as well of iudgement as of warfare to accomptes and finances of this realme and others hauing charge administrations or commissions frome his maiestie shal kepe and obserue the same religion shal make therof expresse declaration And all suche as refuse delaye or withstande the same shalbe depriued of their estates offices wages charges and administrations or commissions without to wchinge for the same their goodes or bodies except they haue made tumulte sedicion monopolies or vnlawfull assemblies ¶ That all prelates benefyced persons and suche as apperteine vnto the church of this realme shall make like confession And the refusers or withstāders therof shall be depriued of the tēporalities of their benefices which shalbe gouerned vnder the hande of the king and men of honestie and good religion shall be appointed to the administratiō of the same by their superiours suche as oughte of duetie to see thereunto Who shall accordinge as they shall se it necessary and fitte depriue theym of their tytles and prouide other in theyr places by due lawfull meanes ¶ That al churches within this realme whiche be violated broken and spoyled to the great dishonour of god and of his churche of the kynge and of his lawes and ordinaunces as wel auncient as of later tymes al which haue forbeden suche sacrileges vnder peine of death shal be wholly repayred and restored to their fyrst and due estate and amendes made vnto them of all their losses and damages receaued And the offenders breakers of the lawes and spoylers punished according to their desertes ¶ That all armoure borne within this realme by any person who so euer he be or for what coloure occasion or reason so euer he pretende be lefte of and done away by them who bore the same with out thexpresse cōmaundement to the cōtrary of the kyng of Nauarre lieuetenant generall of the kinges maiestie who representeth his person in al his realmes and countreyes obediente to his crowne And that suche as haue borne armoure in such sorte and continue yet stil with the same be pronounced rebelles and ennemies to the king realme ¶ That it shall be lawefull onely to the king of Nauarre as who is lieutenant generall of the kynges maiestie and representeth his person and to such as by hym shalbe ordeyned and appoynted to assemble and haue with thē any power in this realme for thexecution mayntenance of the thinges aforesaide and others suche as may be thought expedyent for the wealth of the king and of his realme ¶ That the handes alredye begun to be assembled by the said prince of Nauarre for the seruice of the kinges maiestie to thententes afore declared shalbe mainteyned and enterteyned vnder his sayde auctoritie by the space of certayne monthes whithin which tyme there is good hope if it be your maiesties pleasure to se the fruite of the remedies before rehersed of the quietnes of this realme ¶ All other prouisions requisite and necessary apperteyning to the wealth and quietnesse of this realme which may be here by vs omytted shall be taken and supplied by the counsaile aduise whiche was geuen by the courte of parlement of Paris when you sent last vnto the same M. de Auansō to haue his aduise concernynge the Remedies whiche he thought conuenient for prouision against the troubles of this realme and concernyng that whiche the
also for that they sawe well that the Queene wente about rather the kinges profyte and the comforte of hys people than to please them or that I may more truely speake to satisfy their couetousenesse already knowen abhorred of euery man they laid their heades together and sought awaye howe they might be restored to their power and recouer their aucthoritie to commaunde euerye man in more ample wyse then eeuer they had done theretofore And for that they wel vnderstode that they could loke for noo helpe at all neyther of the people nor yet of the nobylitie and that all honeste pretence all meanes all fauour and assistence of the kinges subiectes woulde faile them so well haue they behaued theÌ„ selues syth the time of their gouernaunce they grounded theyr purpose and enterprise vpon religion trustinge that the prestes suche as depende vpon them and haue gayne by theyr order woulde aide them with men and money And to assure theym selues the rather of the victorye they cauled vnto theÌ„ straungers to be partakers of their practises whyche thynge shall one daye be scene and iudged to the ende they which come after vs may take example therof and so being prepared and trusting vpon folishe and vain hopes they determined to call vnto theym all theyr frendes as they haue sythe doone from all partes of this realme howe bee it the number of theim was not verye greate They appoyncted to visyte the kynge and queene beinge so furnished and accompanied as that no manne durste be bolde to wythstande what so euer it shoulde please theÌ„ they shoulde commaunde And for the more assuraunce of their longe raygne they made a rowle of all suche as should suffer deathe and of them whych should be banyshed and of an infinite number of others whiche they purposed to putte oute of theyr offyces and estates and depryue them of theyr goodes Emongste the firste number was the Chauncelour and diuers good men of the priuy counsell and other which were in honorable place and estymation nere aboute theyr maiesties The men were alredy chosen and appoincted which should supply the rowme of them whych they purposed to murther or exile And it pleased god that they should shewe their good iudgement by the sixe whiche they chose to be of the pryuye counsell in place of other syre whych they purposed to put oute of the same The comparison of the one parts vnto the other is suche that children are compelled to make songes of them The queene shoulde haue ben sente vnto Chenonceau there to haue occupyed her selfe in makyng of gardeynes My lorde the prynce de la Roche Surion a prynce of the bloude royall a man wyse and of greate vertue shoulde haue bene remoued from the kynge and the place which he hath ben geuen and appoincted to others which shoulde haue taught the youth of his maiestie neuer to here speake of god nor of any suche thing as might nourishe his wytte whiche of it selfe is enclined to all goodnes and godlinesse And yet muche lesse shoulde he haue ben taught to vnderstand his own affaires and how he should vse his men as his ministers and not as his masters to geue audience to euery one to honour his Nobilitie to leue armes because of necessitie to mainteine Iustice to comforte his people and to fauour the pore especially and to defende theim from all oppressions and vyolence and aboue al other thinges not to suffer any Idole to remaine nere about him that is to say a man whiche maketh the kynge and who vnder pretence of frendshippe or longe seruice vsurpeth his auctoritie ouer his subiectes Suche is the bringynge vp whiche the queene hath bestowed vpon the kinge and whiche offendeth these gentil men verye muche who desire rather to frame him for their owne toothe and to make a kinge of him whiche can daunse well ryde a horse beare his staffe wel make loue loue as they say his neighboures wyfe better then his owne and in the rest to be all together ignorante For it is not syttynge for a kynge saye they to haue knowledge in any thynge at all Let hym kepe his reputatioÌ„ with vsinge a certaine notable grauitie towardes pore people who haue to do with hym Let him auaunce his seruantes commytte vnto theym his affaires and the whole gouernemente of his realme let him neuer giue audience to any man let hym neuer looke vppon any letters neyther subscribe theym with his owne hande to thentent he neuer vnderstand the deceptes whiche be vsed and passe vnder his owne seale Lette him esteme onely twoo or three whiche he shall him selfe chuse whoo shall be at debate one with an other for the pryncypall place of hys fauour or for the especial meane and aucthoritie to robbe and polle Let hym be prodigall towardes those whom â—e fauoureth but nygardely and myserable towardes all others Lette him be cruell towardes hys people and spoyle theym of all theyr goodes Lette the estates of iudgemente be solde for readye money into the handes of ignoraunte men couetouse and ennemies of iustice And fynallye lette the kynges house be tryumphant in vanitie and superfluitie of garmentes and other ornamentes a receptacle of men of euyll lyfe and behauyoure I speake not these thynges without cause but euery man may wel vnderstande what I meane the queene alredy knoweth the newes These lordes therefore who presente this request haue made this goodly faction more hurtefull and noysome vnto this realme and therewithal more blud dye than euer were the factions of Sylla or Cesar or the TriuÌ„uirat of Rome whiche sithe chaunced the whiche they had erecuted before this time if god had not geuen me the grace to withstaÌ„d theÌ„ And surely I maruaile greatlye at their boldnes with what face thei dare speke in presence of the quene such thinges as they do speke But more I woÌ„der at the pacieÌ„ce of the forsaid lady who caÌ„ endure to here theÌ„ especially where as from the time that they first beganne their prac 〈…〉 ses she hath ben aduertised and had intelligence day by day of that which they haue done and purposed to doo And at this present she receiueth their glosingâ— wordes euen so as though she had neuer ben made priuie of theyr purposes wherin she declareth euidentlye that she is a prisoner in dede and more then a prisoner For she taketh vpon her as though she neuer eyther vnderstode or suspected so wicked an acte and suche one as deserueth publike reueÌ„ge wherof she hath ben fully informed And if she had not ben afraide lest she should haue ben straÌ„gled in her bedde as she hath ben many tymes thretened wherein I reporte me to her othe she wolde not haue missed to haue denied their requeste and to cast in their teethe that they haue ben the causers of al this trouble by their couâ—tousnesse and ambicion And sithe the danger wherein presently she remayneth is cause that she can not eyther dare not as
wryte vnto them who had sent them that by taxinge the people and putting to death out of the way such gentylmen as fauoured and folowed y t reformed religion meane might be found both to encrease the kinges reuenues two hundreth thousand crownes by yere to furnyshe a thousand frēche gentilmen with houses goodes who might continuallye dwell there and serue as an ordinarie garrison of men of war This condition was wyllingly receiued well lyked and alowed to the great commendation of theym who were the authours therof And notwithstanding al demonstrations that the foresaid lady and M. de Oysel were hable to make that the Scottes coulde nat so easely be brought vnder yoke but y t if they wēt about to cōstrayne thē they wold put thē selues into the handes of strangers by whose ayde to assure thē selues of the whole they wold banishe the name and obedyence of the churche of Rome that therupō they shulde put in danger the estate so much as aperteined to the aucthoritie of the king queene Al this was mislyked reiected The queene was a good gentylwoman but she hadde marred all M. de Oysell was but a fole without all vnderstandynge because he wolde not lose that whiche he had by his labour and diligence kepte so longe In conclusion these gentilmen who se so far in a mylstone handled the matter so wel by their wytty deuises that the chief and greatest part of the nobilitie aryse and in armes ioyned them selues with their ancient and that I maye so say with their natural enemies And within short tyme dryue away all their priestes who might wel inoughe haue liued and continued in their estate if they coulde haue ben contente with a common peace betwyxte the one parte the other So that bothe the name of Guise the name of the churche of Rome was sent backe agayne on thys side the sea And so those folke which wold haue had all to them selues lost al. Hereof shuld the duke of Guyse and his brethern haue taken exāple and haue acknowleged the fault which he committed in putting the realme of Scotland in dangier shulde haue kepte in those wordes whiche so many times they haue rehersed and publisshed whiche are that thone of these two religions muste of necessitie be banished out of the realme of Frāce and that thone part must nedes geue place to thother These wordes are not sitting to be spoken of a subiect or seruaunt These are the wordes of a king being in his ful age auctoritie who hath bē aduised not onely by his ordinaries coūsel but also by the wisest of y t thre estates of this realme For in such a matter wherein cōmeth in question the diminishing of the force of a king of the halfe I speke of the least of his nobilite of the people which is able to serue we must not go so generally and roundly to work as wel because there is no king which feleth not as sensibly such a losse as if a man cut away the halfe of his limmes from his own bodye as also consideringe the daunger whiche shoulde ensue at the leaste at this presente tyme where as our kyng by reason of his tēder age ruleth onely according to the opinion and affection of an other man that this halfe seinge it selfe persecuted dyd not instede of departure and geuing place take courage and driue out the other And as concernyng the estate of the Romishe relygion they whiche go about by force of armes to plant the same onely in this realme put it in danger of dimynishing euery day more and more in that they tōmytte it vnto the force and defence of armes And it had ben farre better to haue kept the one the other in peace vnion not to haue disputed of these matters any other wise but with paper parchmēt not with māslaughter effusiō of blud which peraduenture hath prouoked the anger of god and called vpon his vengeaunce in suche sorte that the priestes and the other of their order who might haue liued quietly in their charges and enidyed their goodes shall be the fyrste whiche shal susteyne the daunger of the folly and that whiche is worse of the rage of the people And what soo euer come to passe hereof the protection of these gentilmen the peticioners can not but brynge vnto them a certain losse and the danger of an huge ruine For seynge they were once assured that they shoulde not be troubled or molested in their lyuing in their charges nor in their goodes they could not say that they hadde any occasion at all to complaine excepte they wyll take vppon them that they were moued with compasshion for the losse of our soules But how is it come to passe that they are lately become so carefull where as there is neyther byshop nor curet emongst them who can proue that he hath heretofore regarded theym any thynge at all Seing therfore that it was of our parte determyned that no man shoulde in anyewise trouble thē what neded you to name them in this quarell and to couer your selues with the name of them of the church of Rome Is not this the way to prouoke and kindle the one part against the other Is not this the way to make this order odiouse to the whole people which already is to muche offended with it Is not this the way to kyndle if god do not set to his helping hand emongst them which lyued in peace the lyke furyouse hate vnto that which was in Scotlande And what so euer chaunce therof seinge it is so that one of the two partes must nedes be banished that the petycioners wyl haue it so ther neuer chaunced in this realme so piteous◠a spectacle as that is lyke to be Is there any profit in the world is there any commoditie is there any power yea and if it were for the king him selfe that ought to be bought so deare and with such a ruine and desolation What pardones what in dulgences what bulles of the pope can euer recompence the losse of the bloud whiche shalbe shedde for this quarell These thre peticioners may saye vnto the kinge sometime hereafter that in the defence of that which no man did assault in maintenaunce of the religion of Rome which no man troubled nor letted they haue caused him or would haue caused him to lose the halfe of his nobilitie and of the best of hys maiesties subiectes A man may and that according to the trueth lay to their charge that euen as with their fayned and false opinions they put the realme of Scotland in daunger of an euident ruine and were causers of a great and piteouse effusion of bloude so wyth the same opynyons the same purpose the same mynysters theye haue cast the apple of discord amidde this realme so haue instigate one against an other that these thre peticioners and their ministers shalbe noted to
posteritie as the onely authours of all the harmes and inconueniences which shal chaunce both to those that be of the refourmed church and also of the church of Rome Moreouer least they should faile to cause troubles ynough they require that all officers whether they be of householde of ordinaunce of iudgement of finaunces and others hauing administration or commission likewise prelates of the church shall make confession of their fayth And they which delay or refuse the same shall be depriued of their estates and pensions and the men of the churche of their benefyces These be three priuate personnes which make a law contrary to the lawes of this realme For it hath neuer ben eyther seene or vnderstoode that the kynges heretofore haue at any tyme constrayned their subiectes to make other confessyon of their Fayth eccept onely their ordinarye beliefe or Credo This lawe is contrary to the lawes of the churche I vnder stande of the churche as they do that is taken of the general counsells and of those auncient fathâ—rs whiche they allowe Wherfore he who endyted theyr request who is of so great knowledge shuld haue brought some example therewith to haue cloked his wycked pourpose the whiche in dede he canne not do excepte he brynge into this realme the inquisicioÌ„ of Spain The whiche was iudged so vniust of al other nations that not one emongest them all would vse or accepte it And yf I shall say the trueth this law is the trappe whiche they hadde sette at Orleans sumwhat before the death of king Frauncis lately deceassed the which can tende to no other but to the ruine and vtter subuersion of al the kinges subiectes For the foresaid peticioners do knowe wel that there be ten thousande gentle menne and an hundreth thousand men after them able to beare armoure which neither for force nor authoritie will euer forsake the religion which they haue receaued Neyther wil they suffer that eyther preachinge administration of the sacramentes be taken from theym And the kynge beinge vnder age as he is there is no man that hathe aucthoritye to commaunde them to avoyde the realme yea they wyll defende theym selues with the sworde againste them who in this behalfe wil abuse the aucthoritie of his maiestie This great and notable companye can not be ouercome ne vanquisshed if it so come to passe which god forbidde with out the ruine of these whiche shall assayle them So that the straungers the whiche they haue already called which is treason and an offence worthy of death shal beare away the fruict of this ciuile warre And for a conclusion speakinge as I doo bothe for my selfe and for a number of great lordes of thys realme and for ten thousande gentelmen and other of oure trayne who will liue and die in thys quarrell I saye that the forsayde decree was made by thre priuate persons who by their aucthoritie haue broken them whyche were made by the kynge and hys counsell And because they woulde execute it before they had by lawful consultacion approued it they put on armure toke by force the kinges person I say moreouer that the foresaide decre is against the lawes of this realme y t custome of whole christendoÌ„e againste the decre of Ianuary against the requeste of the estates against the quietnesse securitie of the kinges subiectes agaynst the concience the honour the life goodes of an infynite nuÌ„ber of honeste people who haue sought to brynge some to deathe to driue others out of their contreys vnder y t cloke pretence of coÌ„cience and religion This decre also is made against the libertie of going to the general counsell The which he that gaue theÌ„ the aduise should haue better marked For if it be sayd that in thys realme suche confession of faythe as they require shall be made with declaracion of maintenaunce of the doctryne and ceremonyes of the churche of Rome it is a sentence geuen against them of the refourmed churche wherfore neyther our ministers nor the ministers of other nations muste not go to the generall counsel seing they are condemned before they be hearde But before that the saide duke of Guise and the Cardinall his brother can sette foorth this decree of confession they muste renounce a number of artycles of the confession of August which they agreed vpon at Sauerne and promised a great prince of Almaine that they would cause theym to be obserued in Fraunce And if they wil denie this let them put it in writinge and they shal be answered by them vnto whom they made the promise The saide Cardinall must also put in writinge that it may be sen and publisshed whether he remaine in the same minde the whiche he ones hertofore declared vnto the quene in the presence of a great sorte of honestâ— men touching the articles of transubstanciacion of the keeping and bearing of the holy sacrament of Iustification of the innocation of Saintes of purgatorye of Images of al whiche articles he spoke contrary to the opinion of his catholike apostolike Romishe Churche ¶ In the request not muche after thys is made mencion of the breakynge of Images And requeste is made by theym that presented it that the damages shoulde be recompensed and the offendors punished Where vnto I will aunswere this worde that the bloudde of them who breoke the foresayde Images the whiche was shedde by the handes of certayne of oure retinue who woulde haue stayed them and syth by auctoritie of iustice in the same place of Orleans wyll beare wytnesse euermore before god and before men howe greatly suche executions done by the ignoraunte people alwayes myslyked me for manye respectes and specially because the same was contrary to the decree of Ianuary also to an assosiatioÌ„ which we had caused be published a fewe dayes before But if the breakynge of Images deserne any restitution and punishemente because it is done contrary to the kynges ordynaunce what punishement loke they for who garnyshe them selues so well with the name of the kyng for the murthers the which partely by theÌ„ selues and partely by their example and motion haue ben committed at Uassy at Sens at Castesna de Arry and at Angiers In whiche places it is well knowen that betwixt men women there haue ben slayne aboue v. hundreth persones for none other occasioÌ„ but for religion He who made the request should haue examyned his owne conscience and haue acknowledged that it is not found y t the deade image did euer crye vengeaunce but the bloude of man which is the liuely image of god requireth it in heauen as it were pullith causith it to come at y t leÌ„gth although it be for a time let passe ¶ Than the peticioners or that I may speake more truely the commaunders require that their armure shalbe taken from them who haue borne the same withoute the expresse commaundement of the kinge of Nauarre and that they whyche haue worn armure in that manner
be declared rebelles and ennemyes to the kynge and realme Now would I aske of these lords who say they are so wise so gret frendes of the common wealth If their requeste tende not to take a waye all hope of agrement Seing they require that I and they whiche be with mee be declared rebelles ennemies to the kinge and realme For they say not that they which will not leaue of their armoure but that they which be in that sorte armed shalbe declared rebelles Which is an article that deserueth an other maner of answeare than by writinge wherfore I trust within fewe daies to go and meete with theym and dispute with them with the sworde whether it be meete that an outelandishe manne with a couple of meane mates such as they are to pronounce a prince of the bloudde royall and the two partes of the nobilitye of this realme rebelles and ennemyes to the king Neyther behoueth it them to vse the name and authoritie of the kinge of Nauarre to whom they haue bene continually deadly ennemies euen from the time of other kings They haue thrust him backe and kept him behind so muche as possibly they mighte yea in soo muche that they wold not make mention of him ne of hys rightes at such time as question hath ben as concerninge the conclusion of a treatie of peace They cannot say that he euer obtayned at their hande any thing which he requyred whether it were for him selfe or for an other They can not say but that when soeuer occasion serued they put him beside the place which of duetie he oughte to haue commaunded were it in tyme of warre or peace And for to make vp the matter in the time of king Frauncis last deceassed they made as little count of him as if he had bene the poorest gentilman in this realme and since they caused him by threatnings to come vnto them they caused that no man durst be so bolde as to go out of Orleans to mete him They forbed all knightes of the order and other gentilmen to vysite hym or communycate with him in any wise They sent a marshall of Fraunce with a bande of horsemen sore men to sease vpon his whole landes called in straungers to the spoile of the same as it is wel knowen to al the world And seing their enterprise broken by the death of the forsayd late kyng Fraūcis it is welknowen what counselles they helde to be faite him all together They continually so withstode him that he neuer could haue authority to cōmand The foresaide prince of Guise by the coūsaile of the Constable saide nowe a yeare ago that he woulde not departe from the court neyther at the request nor comman̄demente of the kinge of Nauarre The marshal of S. Andre said vnto him in full coūsel I wil obey the king and the quene none other And nowe they wyl vse his name for their profyte Whome in times paste they haue so naughtely entreated And they intende to vse the auctoritie of his name therby to destroy his owne brother And where as the foresaid lord king of Nauarre was so wel loued as euer he was they seeke meanes to make him hated of the moste parte of the nobilitie and people hoping that if they can wholly put him out of conceyte with them who haue so long and faithfully loued him thē they may well inough set him at naughte and handle him at their pleasure as they haue done in times past but the deceipt wherby they thought to come to their purpose is disclosed and wel knowen shal shortly be set forth and published throughoute all christendome to the shame and confusion of suche as haue bene the mynysters thereof As touching their request that the king of Nauarre maye assemble force to put in execution the things before rehersed they therin shewe euidently eyther great folye or a great desire that we neuer come toany agremente For seynge they haue determined to constrayne by force of armes them of the reformed religion to do that which they require they shoulde not haue tolde vs so before we had laide apart oure armes For seinge they haue so plainely geuen vs to vnderstande their purpose we wil take hede that we be not deceiued and wil not lay of our harnesse but with very good tokens ¶ Theye require also that certaine other articles whiche shalbe geuen by the court of parleament of Paris may be receaued wherin they declare the littel regard that they haue to the queene and king of Nauarre the kynges counsell And I maruaile greatly that at the least they had no respect to the sixe great wise personages which they placed in the coūsel at whose handes I doubt not but a man might easelye receiue good and notable aduertisement And I doubt not at all but that in the saide parlemente there be many good men who in vertue and knowledge represent the auncient integritie of the Senate Howebeit the thre peticioners haue taken so good order therin that partly by benefices partly by offices some sold and some halfe geuen and by other vnlawfull meanes and not to be suffered in this realme they haue made suche a number of friendes that the good mē be many times ouerlaide by the badde And concernynge this matter it shalbe sufficient to all edge that the legation hath ben twise refused folowing the edicte made and confirmed at the requeste of the states published and proclaymed in all the courtes of this realme And that whiche is more their refusall was grounded vpon their consciences and the conscience of the kynge And yet without loking for any other cōmandement but of a symple letter of the seale they haue receiued approued it through the sollicitation and practises of these iii. and their ministers Loo what hope we haue that wee shall there fynde good aduise and counsell ¶ By a remēbraunce presented with their requeste they desire that the townes may be rendred into the kinges handes with newe othe of fidelitye And they woulde gladlye as they dyd in the tyme of kynge Frauncis lately deceassed perswade the world that al they which will not endure their tirannie are the kinges enemies It myghte suffice the duke of Guise and hys brethern that they haue ones already had the vse of thys craftye inuencion to the greate displeasure of a number of honest◠men Whereas to defende them selues against suche as ought them euil will they couered theyr priuate quarell with the kynges If anye manne were eyther by priuate or publicke iniury susspected onely to haue spoken euyl of anie of them he was streight waye emprisoned persecuted and by letters patentes declared ennemie to the kynge and to the estate And bycause this goodlye inuencion of theirs hathe once hadde good successe wherwith they hadde brought to passe greater matters if god hadde not put to hys helpinge hande they would nowe returne agayne to the same and although there be at this day no manne
within this realme at the leaste emongest thē whiche be of our side which is not readie to endaunger his lyfe and goodes in the seruice of the kinge yet for al that they call vs rebelles There is no man of oure parte as god is oure witnesse who woulde not with all hys heart hazarde his lyfe to saue and preserue hys maiestie from harme or daunger whome we loue derely and honoure as a singuler and preciouse gift whiche god hath geuen vs. There is none emongest vs whyche hathe taken armes to aske anye thinge at all at the kinges hande ne at the queene◠hys mother ne yet at the kynges of Nauarre Wee require to haue none other king ne other prince but him who is oure naturall lorde We desire not to haue the custodie of his personne neyther any aucthoritie of rule and gouernaunce Wee require not the diminishing or releasinge of anye taxes subsides or other ryght appertayninge vnto hym but contra 〈…〉 wise our men haue neuer murniured what but then so euer haue bene layed vpon them And they haue offered and presently offer that they wyll wyth all their harte agree vnto al that it shal please him to require so farre as their goodes and landes wyll stretche The townes which are named to be rebelliouse haue not chaunged their maister ne lorde but acknowledge more gladly than euer heretofore the obedience whyche they ought vnto oure kinge And who so shal se the Aunswere whiche they haue made shal easely perceiue that their armes were not takē in hand against the kinge They shall perceaue that we haue not required any thing which concerneth the person aucthority the gouernaunce or life of hys maiestee They shall perceaue that oure armes are borne againste the house of Guise the Coustable and Marshall S. Andre And that doone with such modestie that wee seeke not their goodes their liues nor their estates Wherfore he that wil say that we beare armes against the kinge as they woulde make men beleue muste needes confesse that hee is a slaunderour or rather that he is willinge to helpe theym forwarde to vsurpe thys realme and to take vppon them the name and doynges of the kinge And those that shall counsell the kynge to receaue their protection to graunte vnto them the vse of his name and aucthoritie to lend them men and money against vs as though we made warre againste hys maiestye suche counsellours I say chaunce whan it wil shal one day be called to iudgement wher they must declare howe they coulde ioyne the quarell of three priuate persons wyth the quarrell of hys Maiestye and of the whole realme They muste also make accomptes of the money which shalbe spent in thys warre agaynste the decree of the estates and of the kynges counsel to defende that which pleaseth these three priuate persons for it is none other but their pleasure that is to say to be at the court or at home at theyr houses And if suche counsaylours haue goodes wherewith to make aunswere I truste that at the endethe warre shalbe made vppon their charges and the charges of such as be principall authours therof Upon whose goodes I hope to take so much as shalbe spēt and to restore the same vnto the kynges treasure to the comfort of the people ¶ For thend conclusion of their request they protest that if that which they desire be fully executed they are ready to withdrawe them selues home to their houses Yea if nede be to go to the worlds end So that we nowe vnderstande when we may trust that they wyl withdrawe them selues Than say they when the thynges beforesaid shalbe done accomplished and executed That is to saye when the decree of Ianuary shal by their auctoritie be broken when by their ordynances all the ministers shall be banysshed when they which be of the reformed religiō shal not be suffered to heare any sermon nor to receiue the sacrament but of theym of the churche of Rome When all that be of the foresaid religion shalbe depriued of their estates of their charges of their offyces and moreouer spoyled sent home to their houses in open danger of the rage of them who wyll deuoure them cause them to lese their lyfe with their libertie if they incurre any offence Interpreting offence as they haue in tymes past done not to come to the masse the assembly of neyghbours together to make their prayers to god Lo this is it that they call an offence When we shalbe proclaymed rebelles and ennemies to the kynge and realme because we haue borne armoure and whē thei haue taken away the same from vs and that no man maye beare it but in the execution of their determinations Loo these be the conditions whiche we may loke for at these noble mens handes Lo this is the moste honest pourpose that they pretend But they are wiser thē to declare to what pas they purpose after warde to attaine Nowe let my requeste be reported and set in comparison against theirs I require the maintenance of the decree of Ianuary and they wyl by their auctoritie breake it and disanull it They require the decay and ruine of an infinite number of houses as well of the nobylitie as of the thirde estate I require desire that all the kynges subiectes of what sorte so euer they be may be mainteyned and kept in their estate and goodes defended frō all iniurie and violence They purpose to banishe all them that be of the reformed religion And I desire that we may be reserued til the time that the king be come to full age at what time we wil be ready to obey al that it shal please him to commaunde vs in the meane season that thei which be of the Romishe church be not troubled molested ne hindred neither theyr goodes nor in the exercyse of their charges They require an armye wherwith to execut that which they haue taken in hand and consider not that they shal constrain an infinite number of good men to defende them selues They consyder not the lacke of expenses neyther the incommodities and ruines whiche ciuile warre bringeth with it And that which is the worst of all they haue sent for and haue agreed together to cause forrain soldiours to come into the countrey whiche is to say in plaine language to geue this realme in praye vnto forayners On the contrary parte I require not to haue men of warre remaine with mee I spende not the kynges money I call not straungers into my countrey but haue refused to receaue suche as were offered me as god is my witnesse I prayed them that they shulde not come and that they wold let others to comme eyther with me or agaynst me And I require as I haue done euer heretofore that we may put awaye our armes as wel on the one parte as the other beinge assured that on oure parte there shall neyther be rebellion ne disobedience that on our behalfe armes shall