Directions from the King, to the governors of the Provinces, concerning the death of the Duke of Guise.  
Together with the king's letter to the Lord of Taian.  
Translated out of French into English by E. A.  
LONDON, Printed by john Wolf, 1589.   

Instructions to the L. of N. concerning the death of the Duke of Guise, to the end to inform all such as he shall think convenient, in place whether presently his Majesty hath sent him.  
THe first troubles moved in this realm by the D. of Guise, anno 1585. have given sufficient notice of a far other intent in him, than the same which he pretended, therewith to abuse the over great credulity of those that are more ready to embrace novelties, then wise to consider what ensue. For having cloaked his bad purposes with Catholic religion and the rooting out of heresy, all his exploits have been put in execution in the Catholic towns, even in the best that he could seize upon, to the end to begin to lay sure and firm foundations of his said purposes, notoriously contrived long since for the attaining to the usurpation of this crown. By means hereof, so far is heresy from weakening through his rising, that contrariwise it is grown and waxed much stronger than before it was in this land: and that the rather through his with drawing of a great part of his majesties forces and helps, whereby he hath been hindered from working those effects that are necessary to the rooting out thereof: whereof the said Duke hath been the only cause, who nevertheless hath made himself falsely to be proclaimed, The persecuter of the not Catholic religion.  
His majesty nevertheless desiring to reunite all his Catholic subjects, did by his first edict extinguish this fault, upon their goodly promises never to return to the like: which notwithstanding, his forces being occupied in the wars, as well in Guienne as in Provence & Dauphin, the said D. yet seized upon other strong holds, and spared no practices or devices daily to withdraw more out of his majesties obedience.  
The seizing upon Paris, was the type of all mischief: which notwithstanding his Majesty purposing to eschew all occasion of war among his said Catholic subjects, endeavoured also to bury this transgression with a second edict, and hoping to mollify the hardness of the said D. of Guise's heart, by favours and courtesies bestowed upon him, so many as he seemed any way to demand.  
But his ambition having a farther intent then to depend upon any other, in am of acknowledging his duties to his majesty, and converting the same to his service, he used them as bridges to new practices and attempts.  
He never left practising the good towns that yet remained steadfast in his majesties obedience, and it may be said, that in such of them as he yet could not draw wholly to his side, the division was through the said drifts so great, that the magistrates in the most part were not able any longer to restrain the inhabitants from murdering, & cutting each others throat.  
His partakers being detected of divers heinous crime, were under his support maintained in all freedom, so as the magistrates have not been able to minister justice.  
The insolency as well of himself as of his, proceeded so far, as to face, threaten, and terrify those that would not be other than his majesties servants, to the end to force them to abandon him, that they might afterward the more easily use them at their pleasures.  
In the assembly of the states they spared no means through the ministry of divers their partakers whom they had practised throughout the provinces, to let fall the elections, so to take away all authority and obedience from his Majesty, and make him odious to his subjects: whom they had stirred up to make unto him sundry absurd requests, to the end by obtaining them to cast down the dignity of his Majesty, or being refused, to take thereof a pretence to break off, and then to impute the cause to his Majesty, and so bring him into hatred with his said subjects.  
His Majesty hath used all discretion possible, even so far forth, that he knew himself to have encurred the contempt of his said subjects, which was a great preparative to the said duke of Guise to strike his long forecast blow: and indeed his Majesty hath received advice from sundry places, even from such persons as otherwise were affected to the said duke of Guise, and yet abhorred his bad mind, that without speedy regard to his affairs he was in hazard to lose both crown and life.  
All this importing not only his own person but his whole kingdom, to the preservation whereof, together with the peace of his subjects, he oweth all care, as taking himself to be answerable before God if he look not thereto, finding the mischief otherwise irremediable, but only by the death of him that was the author, and purposed thereof to reap the profit he was forced to put the said D. of Guise to death, which he performed the ●●● of December last, 1588.  
And because there might hereof r●●ne diverse reports, also that according to men's passions the truth might be disguised, and so the action misliked▪ which nevertheless can not be imputed but to God's justice, which the said Duke had by all means provoked against himself, his Majesty thought it good to publish this brief discourse, to the end as well his subjects, as all others might thereby be made capable of the truth of the matter, attending greater light which may in few days be gathered.  
As also he willeth his said subjects to assure themselves of his perseverance in his purpose to prosecute the rooting out of all heresy, a matter not depending upon the affection of the said Duke of Guise or any other, but only of his said majesties proper motion and firm intent, who in heart doth not desire any thing more than to see God honoured and served, and the Catholic Apostolic Romish religion to flourish throughout this realm as much as ever it did.  
He is also in the same mind that he always made solemn declaration of, viz. to relieve his subjects so much as possibly he might and hath given to understand to the deputies of the general estates assembled in this town, that his pleasure is, the same to be finished in all liberty, as also that they open unto him whatsoever good motions they can conceive for the attaining to the said relief, which next unto the service of God, his Majesty doth most affect.  
Howbeit his will is, that all partialities, leagues, associations, intelligences and practices do cease among his subjects, to the end from henceforth next after God to rely upon no other but their king, whom the divine goodness hath given them, assuring them, that in so doing he will love and cherish them as his own children. As also he is determined no longer to suffer the contempt of his authority, but to use such severe punishment of those that shall forget their duties in this behalf, as may be to the example of all others.  
Thus signed, Henry, and underneath, Renot. Given at Blois, Decemb. 24. 1588.   

The king's letter to the Lord of Taian.  
MY Lord of Taian, God hath at the last freed me from him that to the end to enfeeble my authority (as already he had well begun) and withal to wrest away both my life and sceptre, did keep my kingdom in trouble. Yesterday morning had he his deserved punishment, whereof I thought good to advertise you, and withal to send you a summary discourse of the truth of the matter, as well that it be not counterfeited unto you, as also that you might impart the same to my subjects in those parts, and withal set your hand to the containing of all men in peace and quiet: likewise, if any should peradventure be so foolish as to make any commotion, to take so good order that the same may receive due punishment for his trespass and disobedience, praying God (my Lo. of Taian) to have you in his holy and worthy custody. Written at Bloys this 24. of December. 1588.  
Signed, Henry, and underneath, Renot.  
The Superscription.  
To the Lo. of Taian, who commandeth in our name in our countries of Xantogue and Angumois.