A PLEASANT satire OR POESY: Wherein is discovered the Catholicon of Spain, and the chief leaders of the League.  
FINELY FETCHED OVERDO, AND laid open in their colours.  
Newly turned out of French into English.  PROVERBS 19.25. 
Smite a scorner, and the foolish will be wary, etc.   printer's device of Thomas Orwin BY WISDOM PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY. 
AT LONDON, Printed by the Widow Orwin for Thomas Man, dwelling in Paternoster row at the sign of the Talbot. 1595.   

A satire MENIPPIZED, THAT IS TO SAY, a Poesy, sharply, yet philosophically and wisely rebuking vices without regard of persons. Touching the virtue of the 
* Amongst the Physicians it is a name given to medicines, used to purge all humours, & here applied to the bribery and other corruptions of the Spaniard.  Catholicon of Spain, and concerning the holding and assembly of the States of Paris.  
Anno. Dom. 1594. The Printer of the French Copy to the Reader.  
THis discourse, touching the assembly of the States of Paris, and touching the virtue and strength of the Catholicon of Spain, was made and written in the Italian tongue, by a Gentleman of Florence, which was at Paris, whilst the Estates were held and assembled there, of purpose (as is to be supposed) to carry the same to his Master the Duke of Florence, that so he might represent unto him the wonderful estate of the affairs of France. But it fell out, that as he did return into his country, and passed by Amiens to go into Flanders, his horse keeper being a Briton borne, and unwilling to hazard himself in so long a voyage, and having perceived that his Master was no good Catholic (& yet he gathered it by nothing but this, that he called that 
a He meaneth the King now reigning, who hath this name of Bearne, a country subject unto him.  Biarnois the King of France) he gently parted from him, without telling him any thing that grieved him, or that troubled him in his quiet estate: and to comfort himself for the keeping and feeding of two horses, he carried away the better of them, together with the cloak bag or mail, in which was the original of the said discourse. But God would have him taken by certain religious persons of Chasteawerd, and brought before the Mayor of Beau●ois, where he had been declared and taken for a good prize, by reason of some booty or bag of 
* He meaneth as I take it, double pistolets: sure I am it is some Spanish coin. Gross & palpable superstition, believe it who will.  Doublons found in the mail, but that he showed them an ounce of Catholicon, which he carried in his purse, with seven hallowed grains, and a shirt of Chartres, which had remained nine days and nine nights at our Lady's feet under the ground, being a preservative to hinder the battery of the cannons and artillery, and to let the taking of the town either by war, or by justice. In so much that he freely confessed that he had forsaken his Master, after he knew him to be an heretic by this, that he called the Biarnois, King of France. Now amongst the instruments or stuff found in the mail, 
Robbers pretend right.  (whereof there was a solemn Inuentoire taken and made, in the presence of the Mayor, and of Doctor Lucain, the superintendant or overseer of the prizals and pillages) there was found the original or first copy of this Italian discourse, which the Mayor did not understand, and therefore prayed the aforesaid Doctor Lucain, to translate it into good French. Of which the said Doctor excused himself, affirming, that though he had skill well to speak the language of Rome, 
Better a bad one then none at all.  yet he was not able, or knew not to appropriate it to the French fineness or naturalness of their own tongue. So that indeed they were enforced to give it to a certain little Monk or Friar called Romipete, who the next day after did disrobe and unapparell himself from his usual garments, even for very haste that he had to be at Paris, at the solemn blessing & general procession, 
Devotion good enough for so bad an action.  which the Legate should make for that same holy and Catholic enterprise, that Peter Barriere of Orleans was to do, & had undertaken and sworn it unto him, namely, to assault & murder his Majesty at Melun Howbeit, it so fell out, that the said poor Monk was taken by certain Gentlemen, and found charged with the said discourse, which seemed so pleasant unto them, that presently one of them turned it into French, & so from hand to hand the translation of it came even unto me, which I have caused to be printed, as well to relieve from pain such as are curious to behold all news or novelties, as to provoke them that yet languish under the yoke of that tyranny: for they must needs be rotten & infected lepers indeed if they feel not this pricking goad, & do not at the leastwise send forth some groans for their liberty, that is ready to yield up or die. Farewell.   

THE VIRTVE OR STRENGTH OF THE CATHOLICON.  
BEcause that the Catholic States, not long sithence held, and assembled at Paris, are not States by the douzzen, as we may say, or common and accustomed, but have something in them very rare and singular above all the rest, which as yet have ever been held in France, I have thought I shall do a work pleasant to all good and zealous Catholics, and serving much to the edification of faith, to set down by writing the sum thereof, which is as it were some 
* An Arrabian word, and expounded by that which followeth.  elixir, or quintessence abstracted and drawn, not only out of the orations, but also from the intentions and pretensions of the principal persons, that played their parts upon this scaffold or stage. But because both the provinces appointed and summoned long time before, and their assignations also were sundry times made frustrate by the white scarfed soldiers, 
He meaneth the King's forces, who did commonly wear white scarves. Goodly things to comn end men to the counsel of Estate.  who crossed the ways of the deputies, that they could not pass, nor assemble themselves at the day set, the assembly indeed was not so great, as some did hope and desire it might have been. And yet notwithstanding there were found in it, very notable & famous officers, who nothing at all gave place, for the length and greatness of their beards, and the burlines of their body or corpse, to the ancient Peers of France. And among them, there were three at the least, of very good knowledge & mark, that did wear coifs, after the catholic manner, and one that did wear the great hat, and very seldom put it off. Which things the politics (who yet in Paris are more than sixteen,) took in the worst part, and said, that the three that did wear coifs, 
That is bald, as his was, read the history.  were scurvy and scabbed, and he that did wear the great hat, had a head like the Poet Aeschilus', in so much as their common speech was, that in the said Estates, there was none but three scurvy or scalled persons, and one that was peeled or bald: and if the Inquisition of Spain had been in good time brought in, 
A holy house.  I saw more than five hundred of them (what say I five hundred?) yea five thousand, which by their blasphemies deserved nothing less, than the colling and embracing of the precedent Brisson. But the lot fell not upon any of them, but upon a certain poor miserable man, an Ass leader, who to hasten forward his miserable dullard altogether wearied and tired, with blows and burdens, spoke with a very high and understandible voice, these offensive and blasphemous words, Let us go (gross john) to the Estates: which words being taken, at the pond head, 
He meaneth the fauourits of Spain.  as we say, and ere ever they were fully fallen, by one or two of the number of the four squared Cuba, and brought to two Inquisitors or Promoters of the faith, namely, Machault, and de Here: this blasphemer was holily and Catholikelie condemned to be beaten and scourged naked with rods at his Ass tail thorough all the four corners or quarters of Paris: which was an infallible prognostication, and a very famous and plain prelude, to testify to all the people that were assembled for that solemn action, that the proceed of all the orders and States should be full of justice and equity, 
A scabbed horse good enough for a scaled squire.  as the said judgement itself, which was the scantling of the great piece of the justice of the Estates that were to come.  
But whilst men were making preparations and scaffolds in the Lovure, (the ancient temple and dwelling place of the Kings of France) & while they were looking for the Deputies of all quarters, 
Pomp enough for so paltry a meeting.  who from month to month should come thither, with small noise, and without pomp or show of train, as men were wont to do in old time, before the pride and corruption of our fathers had brought in riot & vicious superfluity, 
The French word signifieth such as play legier de main, and use sleights to deceive men's sights, and bringing drugs cut of far countries, would persuade men the excellency of them by receiving them themselves.  there were in the Court of the said Lovure, two crafty jugglers or Apothecaries, the one a Spaniard, and the other a Lorraine, which it would have done a man marvelous much good to see them vaunt their drugs, and to play their juggling tricks all the live long day before all them that would go to see them, and that without paying any thing. The Spanish juggler or Apothecary was very pleasant, and mounted upon a little scaffold, playing rex, as we say, or showing his knacks and rugling tricks, and keeping the bank or seat, much like to many of those that a man may see at Venice in the place of S. Mark. Upon his scaffold there was tied or set up a great skin of parchment written in divers languages, and sealed with five or six seals, of gold, of lead, and of wax, 
He meaneth the Cardinal of Plaisance power Legantine from the Pope.  with certain titles in letters of gold, having therein these words: Letters touching the power of a certain Spaniard, and of the marvelous effects of his drug called Higuiero of Hell, or a Catholicon compounded. The sum of all this whole writing was, that this treacle maker, the young son of a certain Spaniard of Grenado, banished into Africa for Mahometisme, the Physician of Ceriffa (who made himself King of Marroco, 
A fit instrument for the Pope and the Spaniard.  by a certain kind or sort of Higuiero) his father being dead came into Spain, caused himself to be baptised, and put himself to serve at Toledo, in the College of the jesuits there: who having learned that the simple Catholicon of Rome had no other effects but to build up souls, and to cause salvation and blessedness in the other world only, being weary of so long a term or time, took counsel and was advised by the counsel of his father's will or testament, 
A word much used amongst Physicians, Apothecaries and Distillers.  to sophisticate this Catholicon so well, that by means of handling of it, of removing and stirring of it, drawing it thorough a Limbeck or stillatory, and bringing it into powder, he made thereof, within that College, 
That is a sovereign and choice thing.  such a sovereign electuary, as surpassed all the Philosopher's stones of what sort soever, the proofs and trial whereof also were diducted and laid out by fifty articles, such as ensue hereafter.  


I.  
That which that poor unhappy Emperor Charles the fift could not do with all the united forces and all the cannons of Europe, 
The principal of Dame Venus' Knights.  his brave son Dom Philip, by the mean of this drug, hath been able to perform it, serving himself therein but with a simple Lieutenant over twelve or fifteen thousand men at the most.   

II.  
That if this Lieutenant have of this Catholicon in his Ensigns & Cornets, 
And into what town will not an Ass laden with gold pierce?  he will enter without giving blow into a kingdom that is enemy unto him, & the people there will mere him, and will go before him with crosses & banners, Legates and primates. And though he destroy, ravin, 
Witness the West Indies, and the Low Countries.  usurp, murder, and sack all: yea though he carry away, ravish, burn, and make all a wilderness, yet the people of the country will say: These are our people, these are good Catholics: they do this for peacesake, and for our mother holy Church. 
The name of his place or house at Madrill.  Let a King (who is a sluggard and keepeth at home) but assay and endeavour to affine or try this drug in his Escurial, & write but one word to father Ignatius, (the engrosser and close keeper of this Catholicon) he will find him out a man who (his conscience kept safe, or as we say, with a safe conscience) will murder his enemy, whom he was not able by force of arms to vanquish in twenty years.   

III.  
If this King purpose to assure his Estates and territories to his children after his death, and to invade another man's kingdom with small expenses, let him write but one word thereof to Mendoza his Ambassador, 
It is against the order of the Alphabet to set a liar before a lesuite.  or to father Comolet, and that beneath in his letter he writ with Higuiero of hell, I the King, they will furnish him with some one religious Apostata or other, who will go under some godly show, as a judas, to murder and that in cold blood, a great King of France, 
He meaneth Henry the 3.  his brother in law, in the midst of his Camp, without any fear of God or man. Nay they will do more, they will canonize that murderer, and place that judas above S. Peter, 
Worthy fruits of a right religion.  and will baptize this prodigious and horrible misdoing or offence with the name of a blow or a stroke from heaven: and the gossips at this baptism shall be Cardinals, Legates and Primates.   

FOUR  
Let a great and a mighty army, of pitiful, and yet feared and renowned Frenchmen, be prepared and made ready to adventure honourably, or to do well for the defence of the Crown and country, and to revenge so fearful an assault and murder, 
A strange metamorphosis, but yet no untrue tale.  let them cast in the midst of this army but half a dram of this drug, it will benumb all the army and strength of these brave and noble warriors.   

V  
Serve for a Spy in the Camp, in the trenches, at the cannon, in the King's chamber, and in his counsels: yea, though men know you for such a one, yet if you have taken in the morning but one grain of Higuiero, whosoever shall tax, reprove, or accuse you for it, 
A sound judgement.  shall be taken for an Huguenot, or a favourer of an Heretic.   

VI  
Fight and play on both sides, as we say, be unfaithful and traitorous, yea so far that you touch and take the king's coin, to make war even against himself also: be not grieved any whit at all for so ungracious a deed: practise with the enemy, etc. yet if you glue your sword within your scabbard with this Catholicon, you shall be taken to be a very good man.   

VII.  
Will you be an honourable scoffer and neuter, cause your house in every part to be painted, not with the late S. Anthony, but with the cross of Higuiero, and behold you shall be exempted from armour, proclamation, proscription, etc.   

VIII.  
Have about you but half an ounce weight of this Catholicon, you need no more strong or available passport to procure you as good entertainment, and to be as well welcome to Tours, 
These are leaguer towns.  as to Mante, to Orleans, as to Chartres, to Compaigne, as to Paris.   

IX.  
Be acknowledged and taken for the pensionary or feed man of Spain, seek private profit, betray, change, sell, barter, disjoin and set Princes at jar, so you have one grain of Catholicon in your mouth, 
Strange effects  they will embrace you, and will enter into as great distrust against very faithful and ancient servitors, as against Infidels and Huguenots, how free and faithful Catholics soever they have always been before.   

X.  
Though all go from evil to worse, though the enemy advance his purposes and practices, and departeth not from peace, but the better to bring in again & assault it, considering the goodly shows that men make him: though the Catholic Church itself run at random, as we say: 
A small matter to move such stirs.  though there be perverting of all order, ecclesiastical or secular, through default of speaking good French, do but closely and cunningly sow a little of Higuiero thorough the world, no man will regard what you say or do, nay, no man dare speak of it, fearing lest he should be accounted a Huguenot.   

XI.  
Make yourselves Cantons, and install yourselves tyrannously in the King's towns, even from Newhaven to Meziers, and from Nantes even unto Cambray: be a villain, a runagate, or traitor: obey neither God nor the King, nor the law, have notwithstanding thereupon in thy hand a little of this Catholicon, and cause it to be preached or commended in your canton or town, you shall be a great and catholic man.   

XII.  
Have a dishonest and shameless face, 
For evil example, as we say.  and a blistered forehead, as have the unfaithful jailors of Pontheau de mer and Vienne: rub your eyes but a little with this divine or heavenly electuary, you shall be taken and reported to be a very honest and rich man.   

XIII.  
If a Pope, as for example Xistus the fift, do any thing against you, you shall be permitted, 
Papists against the Pope.  and that without hurting the conscience, to execrate, curse, thunder out against him, yea to blaspheme him, so that there be in your ink never so little of this Higuiero.   

XIIII.  
Have no religion, mock in sport and as much as you will the priests and sacraments of the Church, and all law both Gods and man's: eat flesh in Lent in despite of the Church, you need no other absolution, nor better pardon, then half a dram of this Catholicon.   

XV.  
Would you very quickly become a Cardinal? 
An easy stepping stone to promotion.  rub one of the horns of your cap with Higuiero, it will become red, and you shall be made a Cardinal, though you were the most incestuous and ambitious Primate of the world.   

XVI.  
Be thou for any thing as guilty of death as moth Serrant: be convicted for coining and counterfeiting money as Mandreville, be a Sodomite as Senault, 
A marvelous change, yea contrary to all reason and religion.  a wicked person as Bussie, an Atheist and ungrateful as the Poet of the Admiralty, wash thyself with the water of Higuiero, behold thou art become an unspotted lamb, and a pillar of the faith.   

XVII.  
Let any sage Prelate or Counsellor of the estate being a true Catholic Frenchman, thrust in and oppose himself against the wolvish or foxish enterprises of the enemies of the state, so you have a grain of this Catholicon upon your tongue, 
God make it to prosper every where, as there, & there and elsewhere better, as he shall see good. They are good by excellency, or in the superlative degree.  you shall be permitted to accuse them, yea to have a will and desire (so long as God will let you alone) to let religion perish and decay, as it doth in England.   

XVIII.  
Though some good preachers, not able to teach children, do go out of the rebellious towns, to aid the simple people elsewhere to arm themselves, if he have but a corn of Higuiero in his cowl or hood, he may very well and safely return back again.   

XIX.  
Let Spain set his foot upon the throat of the honour of France: let the Lorraines strive to take or rob rather the lawful inheritance from the Princes of the blood royal, let them debate and discourse upon their own, no less furiously then subtly, and affirm that the Crown is their own, use but thereupon a little of this Catholicon, and you shall perceive that men will more marvel to see some question out of season moved, concerning a Bishop's cope, or about Plessis monument, then to travail with oars and sails, as they say, to make fortish and foolish tyrants, that tremble for fear, to forego or let loose their prey. This is almost the half of the articles, which the whole writing of the juggler or Apothecary of Spain did contain, time shall cause you see the residue.   

XX.  
As concerning the juggler or Apothecary of Lorraine, he had but a small or little stool before him, covered with an old napkin, and above a Larks voice or call on the one side, and a box on the other side, full also of Catholicon, whereof notwithstanding he sold very little, because it began to smell, lacking the most necessary ingredient, that is to say, gold, and upon the box there was written, Fine Galamathias, otherwise named Catholicon, compounded or made for to heal the King's evils. This poor juggler or Apothecary, did not live by any thing but by this occupation, and he was almost dead for cold, although he were clothed or covered with a cottage or cabin furred all of skin, 
He alludeth to both the Cardinals, Cardinal de Plaisance, being for Spain, & de Pelleve for the Guises. Strange diseases healed by strange medicine.  whereupon the pages called him Monsieur de Pelleve. And because the juggler or Apothecary of Spain was very flatterative and pleasant, they called him Monsieur de Plaisance. Indeed this man's drug was very sovereign: I have seen that it hath healed Monsieur d'Aumale County of Boulongne, of the yellow jaundice, whereof he languished. The Poet of the Admirakie was thereby healed of the itch, wherewith he was gnawn even unto the bones. The Register Senault of the bloody flux: and more than ten thousand zealous or hot Catholics of the high or great evil of the heart, and a hundred thousand that were ready to die in Chaitres, and pining away, without this Higuiero And if the jailor of Vernueil had in time & place had of this drug, he had well passed or escaped the cruelty of S Romain of Rouen. Monsieur du Maine taketh of it every day in a posset of ass milk, to heal the most disloyal and wicked hickcock of the world. The Duke of Savoy took also of it, to heal him of his greedy appetite & yet gluttony therewithal, but he vomited all up again poor man. There are worse Saints in Bretaigne, 
If worse can be.  than the Catholic servant of Monsieur de Fontaines governor of S. Malo, who out his master's throat in his bed, by means of two thousand crowns, for our mother holy Church. 
That is they that dwell in base Bretaigne.  The devout Christian is by the base Bretons esteemed a second S. Yves, because he is never unsurnished of Higuierb and Catholicon. To be short, all the cases reserved in the bull, in the Lord's Supper, are purely and plainly absolved by this Catholic, lesuisticall, and Spanish quintessence.    

A SHORT SUM OF THE ESTATES of Paris, called together the tenth of February 1593. and drawn out of the notes and remembrances of the Lady of la Land, otherwise called Bayonnoise, and out of the secret talk and speeches that passed between her and the father Commelaid.  
MOnsieur the Duke of Mayenne, Lieutenant of the estate and Crown of France, the Duke of Guise, the Constable d'Aumale, the County of Chaligny, Princes of Lorraine, and the other deputies of Spain, Flanders, Naples, and other towns of the union, being assembled at Paris, being found amongst the estates called together thither on the tenth of February 1593. would that before they began so holy a work, there should be kept a procession, like unto that which was played in the presence of Monsieur the Cardinal Caietan, which was almost as soon done as it was said. For Monsieur Roze not long since Bishop of Senlis, and now the great Master of the College of Navarre, and Rector of the University, caused the morrow after, and that by his most ancient beadle, or staff bearer, both furniture and persons to be prepared therefore. Now the procession was on this manner. 
A good procession where the devil beareth the cross  The foresaid Doctor Roze, leaving off his Rectors hood, took his Master of Arts gown, with a camaile and a linen garment, and a tippet uppermost: his beard and his head were new shaven, his sword by his side, and a pertisane on his shoulder. The Curates, 
Holy men, holy matter.  Amilthon, Boucher, and Lincester being somewhat more strangely armed, made the first rank, and before them marched three little Monks and novices, their gowns or frocks being trussed up, having every one a headpiece on their heads, under their hoods or cowls, and a target hanging at their neck, in which were painted the arms and devices of the said Lords. Master james Pelletier, curate of S. james, marched on the one side, one while before, another while behind, clothed with violet, in a soldiers scholastical attire, his crown and his beard were new shaven, he had a coat of mail upon his back, with a rapier and a dagger, and a halberd upon his left shoulder, after the manner of a Sergeant of a band, who did sweat, pant and breath, to place every man in his rank and order. Afterwards there followed three by three, some fifty or threescore religious persons, as well Franciscane Friars, as jacobins, black Friars, hoodded Friars, Minims, bon hommes, Fevillants, and others all covered with their cowls and habits, buckled and armed, according to the ancient catholic fashion, 
Much.  and according to the manner of the Epistles of S. Paul. Amongst the rest there were six Capuchins, or black jacobine Friars, having every one a morraine on his head, and upon the same a cocks feather, clothed also with coats of mail, their sword girt to their side upon their habits, one carrying a spear, another a cross, the one a sword, the other a arqebus, and the other a crossbow, all rustical and clownish through Catholic humility: all the rest almost had pikes, which they did oftentimes shake, for want of better pastime, saving a fueillant Friar which was lame, who armed all upon the bare, assayed to make room with a two handed sword, and a battle axe at his girdle, his Portuise hanging behind, and he made a goodly show upon one foot, turning as it were a little mill before the Ladies. And at his tail there were three Minims or Friars all in one array or apparel, that is to say, every one of them having upon their habits a plate or armour of carrays or proof, & the hinder part discovered or unarmed, a salad on their head, and a sword and a pistol at their girdle, and every one a arqebus a crock, without fork or stay for it. Behind was the Prior of the jacobins, very well appointed, drawing a bowed or crooked haldberd after him, and armed lightly or slightly, as one in a dead pay. I could not perceive either Charterhouse Monks or Celestins that were excused or exempted from this traffic or business, but all these went forward and marched in much good order, I mean Catholigue, Apostoligue, and Roman, and they seemed to be the ancient Cranequiniers of France. They meant as they passed by to salute them with a volley or peal of shot: 
Wise enough to look to himself.  but the Legate forbade them that, for fear lest some such mischance might happen to him or some of his, as did to Cardinal Caietan. After these goodly fathers, there marched the four sorts of begging Friars, 
Lean like locusts.  which were multiplied and increased to many orders, as well ecclesiastical as secular: after, 
Belike some of them were dead, or else they were four more, but not to the course of their conversation. Such cup, such cover.  the parishes: then the sixteen great persons of Paris four and four together, reduced to the number of the Apostles, and attired like them that play at Corpus Christ-tide. After them marched the Provost of the Merchants, and Sheriffs or Aldermen, arrayed with diversity of colours: afterwards the Court of Parliament, such a one as it was: the Italian, Spanish and Wallon guards of Monsieur the Lieutenant: afterwards a hundred Gentlemen newly advanced by the holy union: and after them certain old soldiers of the brotherhood of Saint Eloy. There followed afterwards Monsieur the Bishop of Lion, and that very sweetly: the Cardinal of Pelue, very humbly: 
Great praises.  and after them Monsieur the Pope's Legate, a very mirror of perfect beauty, and before him marched the Dean of Sorbonne, with a Cross, upon which hung the bulls of his power. Also there came Madam de Nemours, representing the Queen Mother, or the grandmother (but that is doubtful) of the King that should be, and there bore up her tail, or (if we should speak courtlike) her train, mademoiselle de la rue, the daughter of that noble and discreet person, 
Honourable attendance.  Monsieur de la rue, heretofore a cutter of garments, or a tailor, dwelling upon S. Michael's bridge, and now one of the hundred Gentlemen and Councillors of the estate of the union: and then followed Madam the Dowagir of Montpenfier with her green scarf, which was very foul with much using of it, and Madam the Lieutenant of the estate & crown of France, waited upon with the Ladies of Belin, and of Bussie the Clerk. Then Monsieur the Lieutenant set forward and caused himself to be seen, and before him two Heralds furred with Hermines, and at his sides two Walloons carrying coats of arms very black, all beset with the red crosses of Lorraine, having before and behind, a devise in imbroiderie, the body whereof represented the history of Phaeton, and the poesy was this: 
Phaeton's story fit for this procession.  In magnis voluisse sat est: that is, in great matters it is enough to have a will. As soon as they were come in this apparel and order into the Chapel of Bourbon, Monsieur the Rector Roze, putting off his half cowl, or tippet, as also his sword and partisan, went up into the pulpit, 
As well as he could.  where having proved by good and forcible arguments, that this was the time, wherein all should go well with them, propounded unto them one godly, expedient and profitable way, to put an end to the war within six months at the furthest, reasoning thus. In France there are seventeen hundred thousand steeples or churches, whereof Paris is accounted but for one alone: 
Soon said.  now take out of every church one catholic man to be a soldier, and to go to war at the charges of the parish, and let the moneys be managed by the Doctors of Divinity, or at the least by certain Graduates to be named, we shall make twelve hundred thousand fight men, 
They need many for so great underminings.  and five hundred thousand pioneers. Then all the assistants or company were seen to leap for great joy, and to cry, O stroke or blow from heaven. Afterwards he did lively exhort them to war, and to die for the Lorraine Princes, yea and if need were, and rather than fail, for the most Catholic King: and this he did with such earnestness and vehemency, that hardly could they restrain his regiment of Friars, & tutors, or schoolmasters, that they had not presently run to take the forts of Gournay, and S. Denis, 
A strange power in so simple a mean.  but they were restrained and kept back with a little holy water, as men quiet and pacify flies & bries with a little dust. After this Monsieur, the pulpit man ended with this conclusion, 
But he & they were none of them.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, etc. The sermon being finished, Mass was sung in a high note, by Monsieur the most reverend Cardinal of Pelue: at the end whereof the chanters & songs men did thunder out this verse: 
If a man knew them.  How beloved are thy tabernacles, etc. Then all those that were to be of the assembly, accompanied Monsieur the Lieutenant to the Lovure, 
No marvel where there was such a confused troop.  the rest did confusedly withdraw themselves, some hither, some thither, every one to himself or his own.   

The pieces of the tapistry, wherewith the hall for the Estates was hanged.  
BEfore I speak unto you, touching the ceremonies, and the order of the seats of the said Estates, it shall not be besides the purpose, to portrait and figure out unto you the disposition and order of the hall where the assembly was to be kept. The carpenters work, and the scaffoldship for the seats, was altogether like to that of the estates which were held at Troy's, 
A pretty, though not so right a resemblance.  in the time of Charles the 6. at the instance & pursuit of the K. of England & the Duke of Burgundy, when Charles the 7. the Dolphin, and true heir of the Crown of France, was degraded by the said estates, & declared uncapable to succeed in the kingdom, & he and all his adherents and favourers excommunicated, aggravated and reaggravated, 
Or as we say, with book bell & candle.  bells founding, and candles put out, afterwards banished (howbeit but for a season). But the tapistry wherewith the said hall was hanged, being twelve pieces or thereabout, seemed to be made in our age, and plainly wrought, yet richly garnished, in the upper border, and the cloth or chair of estate, under which Monsieur the Lieutenant should sit, was of the same. At one of the sides and parts of the cloth or chair of estate, there was lively represented one Sertorius, appareled after the French fashion, amongst the Spaniards, ask counsel of a hind appointed thereto, from which he he said, he understood the will of the gods. On the other coast or side there was the shape of Spartacus, making his oration to an army of slaves, whom he had caused to be armed and to revolt against the Roman Empire. In the third there was the portraiture of the foresaid person, having a torch in his hand, and came to set fire on a temple: & at the neither part of the same side, there was written, If I cannot by water, by ruin I will quench. The fourth could not be seen by reason of the obscurity or darkness against the show of it. On the head and below the said cloth or chair of estate, there was a crucifix, 
New things best please.  according to the present stamp of Paris, having the left hand tied to the cross, and the right hand free or unbound, holding in it a naked sword, about which was written this saying, Upon thee, and upon thy blood. Without the three coasts or sides, and before, there were the falls of Icarus and of Phaeton, very well wrought, and it made a goodly show to see the sisters of this young fellow, by metamorphosis, to be turned into popular trees, one of which, who had broken her hip in running to secure her brother, did naturally & lively resemble the Dowager of Montpensier, all her hair hanging about her ears.  
The first piece of tapistry nigh to the cloth or chair of estate, was the history of the golden calf, as it is described in the 32. chap. of Exodus, where Moses and Aaron were there represented by King Henry the 3. lately dead, and Monsieur late Cardinal of Bourbon: 
Some fitness in these representations or expositions.  but the golden calf was the figure of the late Duke of Guise, lifted up on high and adored by the people: and the two tables signified the fundamental law of the Estates of Blois, and the Edict of julie made in the year 1587. and in the lower part of the piece these words are written, In the day of vengeance I will visit even this their sin.  
The second piece was a great country as it were of divers histories both old & of this age, distincted and separated one of them from another, and notwithstanding very wittily referring themselves to the same perspective. In the upper part of it there was to be seen that goodly entrance by night, which john Duke of Burgundy made into Paris, and when the Parisiens' cried Christmas from the feast of all Saints. At one of the corners was Harelle of Rouen, where a Merchant called le Grass, 
A good choice and a meet man for that place.  that is, gross or fat, was chosen King by the common people. At the other corner were the jacke men of Bevoisin, with their Captain Guillaume Caillet: at the corner below were the pretty pigs or hogs of the league of Lions: and at the other corner were the noble acts of the ancient Maillotins, under these captains Simonnet Caboche, and jacques Aubriot, the Kings of Butcher's and Pillars, and the whole in men cut short and serving for nothing but for the country. But at the bottom and in the midst of the piece there were expressed by figure and lively set out the barricadoes of Paris, where men might behold a King (who was simple, plain, and a good Catholic, and who had done so many good turns, and given so many privileges to the Parisiens') to be driven out of his own house, and beset on all sides with tons and barrels to take him. There were represented also divers brave stratagems, or warlike devices, 
Meet men to manage such matters.  of the Sirs or Knights, who did lead Tremont, Chastigneray, Flavacourt, and other rammers of the pavement (we call them paviers) to the place of honour: and in the lowest part of the said piece were written these four verses: 
jupiter with his tons or fats  
Doth bring us good and ill also:  
But by these new upstarts he doth  
The whole cast down and overthrow.   
The third piece contained the history of Absalon, that with barricadoes distressed his father, and drove him out of the city of jerusalem, having by unworthy entertaining and making much of, gained and corrupted the most base and beggarly porters of the common people. Afterwards there was showed the punishment that he received therefore, and how Achitophel his wicked counsellor, did accursedly finish his days: all the faces and countenances approached nigh unto, or were like to some of the said Estates: and there were easily known the Precedent janin, Marteau, Ribault, & others, to whom the late Duke of Guise made so many goodly shows in the assembly of the Estates at Blois: 
Fair words make fools feign.  also there were seen Choulier, la Rue, Pocart, Senault, and other butchers, and horse coursers, evon as base and low as dike-clensers, and kennel rakers, all people and persons of honour in their occupations, which the foresaid dead martyr did kiss on their mouths for zeal of religion.  
The fourth represented in gross the feats of arms of the murders done in old time and in our age also, otherwise called Bedovins and Arsacides, who feared not to go and kill, even in the chamber and in the bed, those whom their imagined Prince Aloadin, 
It seemeth to me he meaneth the Pope, or some that hold that part.  surnamed the old, of six or seven mountains, should command them. Amongst others there were two very apparent figures, the one of a certain County of Tripoli, murdered by a Sarazin, zealous of his religion, whilst he kissed his hands: the other of a King of France and Poland, traitorously stricken with a knife, by a wicked Monk or Friar, yet pretending zeal upon his knees, presenting unto him a letter sent him: and upon the forehead of the said Monk or Friar, there was written in great letters, the transposition of the letters of his name, Friar james Clement, IT IS HELL THAT HATH CREATED ME.  
In the fift men might behold the battle of Senlis, where Monsieur d'Aumale was made Constable, and had given him for his labour, the winged and hot spurs by Monsieur de Longueville, a politic Prince, and an arm of iron by la Nouë and Giury his suffragan. About the same were written these verses, by sours, as we say, or one four after another.  
Nature giveth to every one  
Feet to secure them from fall:  
Feet save the man, and he  
Needs but to run well with all.  
This valiant Prince d'Aumale  
Though he run full well in breath,  
And though that he did lose his mail,  
Yet could he not overrun death.  
They that were of his train  
Did not sleep in any place,  
Saving by their happy flight  
Of their doublets the fine case.  
When the barricade is ,  
For fear of blame to come,  
Tarry not, I say, behind:  
It needs but well to run.  
To run is worth a crown:  
Runners, men honest are:  
Tremont, Balagny, and Congis  
The same can well declare.  
To run well is no vice:  
Men run to get that is aught:  
It is an honest exercise:  
A good runner was never caught.  
He that runs well is able man,  
And hath God for his stay:  
But Chamois and Meneville  
Did not run enough away.  
Oft he that doth abide  
Is cause of his own pain:  
But he that flieth in good tide  
Perhaps may fight again.  
It's better to fight with feet  
To rive the air and wind,  
Then to be killed and beaten  
For coming slow behind.  
He that in life hath honour,  
Should therefore death sure shun:  
When out of life he goeth  
There needs but well to run.  
And at the corner of the said piece, there was to be seen Pigenat in his bed, sick, enraged, mad, and furious, with this fortune, and waiting for an answer of the letter, which he had written and sent in post, to Madam Saint Geneviesue, a very good Frenchwoman, if ever there were any.  
In the sixth was painted out the miracle of Arques, where five or six hundred discomforted & weak men, ready to pass the sea and to swim, nodded their heads at them, mocked them, and put to flight, by the enchantments of this Biarnois, 
He meaneth the Duke du Maynes forces, who bragged as much as ever did he.  twelve or fifteen thousand Rodomonts, renders of small ships, and eaters of iron chariots. And which was the goodliest thing that could be to be seen, the Ladies of Paris were in the windows, and others which had kept place ten days before in the shops and working houses of S. Anthony's street, to see this Biarnois brought prisoner in triumph, bound, whereas he came decked with jewels, & (as he gave it them) beautiful also, because he came in another habit or kind of apparel by the suburbs of S. jaques and S. German.  
The seventh contained the battle of jury la Chaussee, where a man might have seen the Spaniards, Lorrains', and other Romish Catholics in mockery, or otherwise, 
Those that took part with the king.  to show their bare breech or tail to the Maheustres, and the Biarnois altogether heat, who with his bridle abated, carried the union behind him on horseback. There a man might well have seen Monsieur the Lieutenant cursing the hindermost, & leaving the County d'Aiguemont for pledges, & being deceived with more than the moitre of the just prize, to run away upon a Turkey horse, & to get Mante by a wicket or postern gate, and to say to the inhabitants in a very low note or voice, My friends, save me and my people: all is lost, but the Biarnois is dead. Above all it was a wonderful pleasure, there to see them wisely to make an Inventory of his coffers and chests, and to see them also religiously to reach out of his coffer and to spread abroad the standard of the faith, wherein was painted a Crucifix upon black taffeta, with this inscription, Christ being guide, such a one as a man may see hanging in the Church of Mante. This, good Christian people, is that standard which should have served for a golden flank, for the King's successors in time to come, if the cord had not broken. At the corner of the said tapistry, there was a dance of shepherds and peasants, and behind or neete unto them, as it were a table, in which was written this song following.  
Let us begin the dance,  
Let us go, it's very well:  
Spring time gins in France,  
The Kings are passed we can tell.  
Let us take a little truce:  
Forwe are full weary:  
By Kings chosen by bean  
Still vexed and tired are we.  
One King alone remains:  
The sots are chaste away:  
Fortune even at this time  
With broken pots doth play.  
You must yield all again  
I say, ye hindered Kings,  
That would take what you can,  
And yet possess no things.  
A captain great and stout  
Hath brought you down I say:  
Let us go jeane du Maine,  
The Kings are passed away.  
The eight was a representation of the Paradise (or rather Paradises in the plural number) of Paris, within which, and over the holy Pixe, were the images of three Saints, newly printed since Pope Gregory his calendar, bringing with them double fasts. 
james Clement.  One of them was clothed with black and with white, 
Fit resemblances.  having a pricking or sharp foot, and a little knife in his hand, as it were a cutpurse, far different from that of S. Bartholomew. 
The Pope's Legate.  The second was clothed with a red gown, and a curate or breastplate upon it, and a hat of the same colour with long cords or strings to it, having in his hand also a cup full of blood, whereof he made semblance as though he would drink, and out of his mouth came forth a writing, in these terms: Stand with your headpieces, polish your spears, and put on your coats of mail. The third was a Saint on horseback, as it had been S. George, 
The Cardinal Pelue.  having at his feet a great many Ladies and Damosels, to whom he reached out his hand, and showed them a crown in the air, towards which in sighing he aspired with this devise or saying: The things that are fair are hard. The people brought them store of candles, and said new Suffrages and Litanies, seeing that they did miracles: but the wind carried away and blew out all. The borders of the said piece were of white processions, and of sermons, and Te Deums strengthened again, where men might see in a small volume the faces of Boucher, Lincestre, & the little Fuillant friar, exhorting the people to peace, by a figure named Antiphrasis. 
That is contrary meaning.   
The ninth set out to be seen, as it were naturally, a great giantess lying upon the ground, which brought forth an infinite number of vipers and monsters of divers sorts: some called Gualtiers, other some Catillonnois, Lipans, Leaguers, zealous Catholics, and Chasteauverds: and upon the forehead of the said giantess there was written: This is that goodly Lutetia or Paris, who that she might commit whoredom with her minions and darlings, hath caused her father and his wife to be slain. Madame of Spain served her in stead of a Midwife, and a nurse, to receive and to nourish her fruit, or to give it suck.  
In the tenth there was very well described the history of the taking of the town of S. Denis, by that worthy Knight d'Aumale, and there appeared the Lord of Viq, and the holy Apostle of France, who did strengthen his leg or thigh of wood: and S. Anthony of the fields, who put fire to the powder to make the Parisiens' afraid. Above upon the same piece was a writing containing these words: 
Saint Anthony being rob by a head of the leaguers conjoined,  
Went (as to one more strong) to S. Denis to lay open his mind,  
Who to revenge this wrong, hath given him sure promise.  
Some little while after, this great robber did assay  
To take S. Denis, but S. Dents took him by the way,  
And revenged upon him both the one and the other enterprise.   
And below was the epitaph of the said Knight d'Aumale, 
That needeth not, for it is here mentioned.  even as it followeth, saving that it maketh no mention that he was eaten with rats and mice: 
He that lieth here a taker was  
Right bold and hardy sure,  
Against S. Denis who a fine  
Enterprise did procure.  
But yet S. Denis more subtle  
Than this taker of renown,  
Did take him, and both slay him eke  
Within his taken town.   
In the eleventh there was to be seen, and that nigh at hand, the piteous countenance of poor precedent Brisson, as also of his Deacon & Subdeacon, when one spoke unto them of confession: in giving them the order of the union, also their elevation and lifting up in charge. And because that the aforesaid piece was not large enough to cover the door of the entry or coming in, there was tacked unto it half a piece of the Apotheosis, or canonisation of the four Evangelists and Martyrs, Saints, Louchard, Ameline, Anroux, and Aymonnot, making a long letter or writing, & at their feet was written these 4. verses.  
You crack ropes lewd & wicked men, that judges hang on high,  
Impunity unto yourselves you do pretend thereby:  
But you ought clean the contrary attend & wait again,  
Awicked wretch never yet could put his righteous judge to pain.  
The twelfth and the last near unto the windows did contain at length, and that very well drawn, the portraiture of Monsieur the Lieutenant, attired as Hercules Gallicus, holding in his hand innumerable bridles, wherewith also there were haltered & mousled calves & colts without number. Over his head, as if it had been a cloud, there was anymph, which had a writing containing these words: Look that you play the calf. 
A goodly poesy & promise.  And from the mouth of the said Lord Lieutenant, there issued another, wherein were written these proper terms, I will do it. And this is that as near as I was able to observe and mark it, which was in the said tapistry.  
As concerning the benches & seats, where Messieurs or my Lords the Estates should sit, they were covered all with tapistry, be sprinkled with little crosses of the Lorraines, some black and some red, and with arms parted in two, of true and false argent, the whole being more empty than full for the honour of the feast.  Touching the order held and observed for their seats or places. 
AFter that the assembly was entered somewhat forward within the great hall, drawing near unto the steps, where the cloth or chair of estate was exalted, and the chairs were prepared, there was place assigned to every one by a Herald of arms, entitled Court joy, 
A fine fiction for the same.  or as we say, short joy S. Denis, who called them very loud three times together after this manner: Monsieur the Lieutenant, Monsieur the Lieutenant, Monsieur the Lieutenant, of the estate and Crown of France, come up on high into this kingly throne, in the place of your master. Monsieur the Legate, place yourself at his side. Madame, representing the Queen Mother, or the grandmother, set yourself on the other side. Monsieur the Duke of Guise, Peer of the lieutenancy of the estate and Crown of France, place yourself very finely the first for this time) without prejudice or damage of your right to come: 
It may be it shall never be so again.  Monsieur the most reverend Cardinal of Pelue, Peer (though but for a while) of the lieutenancy, place yourself right over against him, but at no hand forget your Calepin or Dictionary: Madam the Dowager of Montpensier, as a Princeste of your estate, seat yourself under your nephew. Madame the Lieutenant of the lieutenancy of the estate, without prejudice of your pretences & claims, set yourself over against her. Monsieur d'Aumale, Constable & Peer of the lieutenancy, advanced into Peereship by reason of your County of Boulongne, place yourself side to side by the most reverend Cardinal, but beware that you rend not his cope with your great spurs. High and mighty County of Chaligny, that have this honour to have Monsieur the Lieutenant for your younger brother, take your place and fear no more Chiquot that is dead. Monsieur the Primate of Lions, and without doubt he that shallbe Cardinal of the union, and now is Peer & Chancellor of the lieutenancy, 
He kept her as his concubine.  leave your sister there, and come hither to take your place in order. Monsieur de Bussie the Clerk, heretofore the great penitentiary of the Parliament, and now the great Steward spiritual of the town and castle of Paris, set yourself at the feet of Monsieur that Lieutenant, as the great Chamberlain of the lieutenancy. Monsieur de Saulsay, Peer and great Master of the lieutenancy, 
Yea of a better.  for default of another, take this staff, and go very gently to sit in this soft seat prepared for you. And you Messieurs, the Marshals of the lieutenancy de Rosne, Dom Diego, Boisdaulphin, and Signior Cornelio, lo here is a bench for you four, saving that you may be augmented or diminished, if the case so fall out and require the same. Messieurs the Secretaries of the Estate, Marteau, Pericard, de Pots, and Nicolas, 
A tall man belike.  this form below is for you four, if Monsieur Nicolas buttocks or breech can reach so high. Monsieur de S. Paul, County of Rethelois, but yet under the title of hiring it, and having it at a price, come not so nigh Monsieur de Guise, lest you ovetheate him, but keep yourself nigh to the Lord de Rieux. Messieurs the Ambassadors of Spain, Naples, Lorraine, and County of Bourgongne, this bench on the  hand is for you, and the bench on the right hand appointed for the Ambassadors of England, Portugal, Venice, the Lords, Counties and Princes of Germany, Suisserland and Italy, and are absent or appear not, shall be for the Ladies and Damosels, according to the date of their impression. Furthermore, let all the deputies take place according to their pensions. And this was almost the sitting of Messieurs the Estates, all without disputation or debating, 
Churchmen strive for high places.  by reason of the great presences, saving that the warden of the Franciscane Friars, and the Prior of the jacobins, made some small protestation which of them should go foremost: but Madam de Montpensier rising up, 
A goodly drudge, and a worthy reason of conclusion.  gave the first place to the Prior of the jacobins, for remembrance, as she said, of S. jaques Clement. There was also a little garboil between my Ladies of Belin and of Bussie, by reason that the one of them having let go a certain evil pseudcatholike wind, Madame de Belin spoke very loudly and loftily to Lady Bussie, Let us go Mistress Proctoresse, the tail doth befume us: you come hither belike to perfume the crosses of Lorraine. But Monsieur the great Master of Saulsay, hearing this noise, & knowing the cause thereof, cried unto them holding his staff in his hand, Good words Mesdames, ye come not hither to trouble and disquiet our estates, 
It is an evil bird that defileth his own nest.  as mine own sister not long time since, danced the galliard of the late king in this very hall itself. The noise being pacified, and the ill sent or savour past, Monsieur the Lieutenant began to speak after this manner, with the great silence and attention of Messieurs the Estates.   

The speech of Monsieur the Lieutenant.  
MEssieurs, you shall all be witnesses, that since I have taken arms for the holy League, I have always had mine own preservation in such great recommendation and respect, 
No lie.  that I have with a very good heart & courage, continually preferred mine own particular interest, before the cause of God, who knoweth well enough to keep himself and it without me, and to revenge him of all his enemies. Yea I can say further, and that in truth, that the death of my brethren hath not so far caused my passions to break forth (whatsoever goodly show I made thereof) as the desire I have to walk in the ways and paths that my father and my good uncle the Cardinal had traced out before me, and which my brother the Balafre was happily entered. You know that upon my return from my expedition of Guyenne, which the politics call up and down, up and down, I did not effect in this city that which I thought, by reason of the traitors, 
The Duke de Maynne was none.  who advertised the tyrant their master: and I received no other fruit by my voyage, but the taking of the inheritress of Caumont, whom I did appoint for wife unto my son: but the changing of my affairs have made me at this present, to dispose otherwise thereof. Moreover, you are not ignorant, that I would not engage mine army to any great exploit, or hard siege, (wherein notwithstanding Castillon deceived me, which I thought to take and carry away in three days) to the end that I might keep myself more whole and sound, and the better able to execute my Catholic purposes. Concerning mine army in Dauphin, I caused it always to stop and stay, and I kept me on my skoutes to attend and wait, whether in the Estates of Blois ye should have need of me. But the matters there having taken the left foot, and falling out cross to our wishes and attempts, you saw with what great diligence I came to find you in this city, and with what dexterity my cousin, the Constable d'Aumale here present, 
So holy a man could not but give so holy a thing.  caused likewise the holy spirit in haste to come down upon a great part or company of my Masters of Sorbonne. For as soon as it was said, it was as soon done. And from thence have proceeded all our goodly exploits of war: from that have taken their first original these hundred thousands of holy French Martyrs, which are dead by the sword, by famine, by fire, by rage, by desperation, and other violence, for the cause of the holy union: from thence hath come the correction of so many bragger's and boasters, which would play the gallants, and compare themselves with Princes: from thence hath proceeded the ruin and overthrow of so many Churches & Monasteries, which hurt the safety of our good towns: from this hath flown such great sack and pillage, as our good soldiers, free archers and novices have committed in many cities, towns and villages, who also have served in stead of a Curate for the faith, to the devout children of the Mass at midnight: yea from hence hath it been that so many fair daughters and women without marriage and against their wills, have been filled with that, which in marriage they love best of all. And God knoweth, whether these young Monks and Friars, 
A great doubt, their chastity considered.  newly turned out of their frocks or gowns, & these disordered priests have therein devoutly turned the leaves of their porteous, and gotten plenary pardons. To be short, this is the only cause of the prompt and zealous decree of my Masters of our mother Sorbonne, 
Full cups make men of sharp judgement.  after that they have drunk well, which hath caused in the end many strokes from heaven to clatter and sound. And through our good diligence, we have brought to pass that this kingdom which was nothing else but a pleasurefull garden of all pleasure and abundance, 
A very good change.  is now become a great and large universal burial place, full of all violences, fair painted crosses, coffins, gallows and gibbets. As soon then as I was arrived in this town, after that I had sent to heal the city of Orleans of too much ease, and to forbid the trade and traffic of the Loire, 
The name of a ruin passing by it.  which maintained their delights, I meant to do as much in this town also. And it fell out well, in which Madam my mother, my sister, my wife, and cousin d'Aumale (who are here to give me the lie for it, if I do not speak true) did very catholicly assist me. For they and I had no more great pain and care, then to lay a groundwork for the war, and in so doing to comfort and discharge all the devout habitants good Catholics, of the weight of their purses, and to give them leave curiously to rove up and down, with their feet and their hands, to seek and to seize for us the rich jewels of the Crown, belonging unto us in the collateral line, and by the forfeiture of Lord of the fee. We found much unprofitable treasure: we discovered with a little expense, by the revelation of a catholic mason, and the holy innocency of Monsieur Machaut (whom I name here for honour's sake) the goodly and large muguot of Molan, 
Because he served your turn  notwithstanding his devils and familiar spirits that kept it, whom the said Machaut knew powerfully and skilfully to conjure, secretly filling the bottom or souls of his host with crowns of the sum. And without this divine succour, Messieurs, you know that we knew not yet of what wood to make arrows: for which the holy union is greatly indebted to the painful labour and great good husbandry of the said Molan, who did so honestly refuse his master and all his friends to aid them with money, and to preserve it for us, 
A right recompense of treason, namely, idolatrous services. Add drunkenness unto thirst, and glory in your own 〈◊〉  so fitly for our purpose. And forget him not, to cause to be sung to him a salve or good morrow, whatsoever it be, forget not to promise him a Mass to be sung with holding up of hands, when he shall be constrained to make his will quite and clean contrary. I will not forget the costly movables of gold, silver, tapistry and other riches, which we made to be taken, sold, yea to make port sale of them, appertaining to these wicked politics favouring the King, wherein my cousin d'Aumale did her duty very well, foiling herself in the coffers and caskets, yea stooping so low, that she went to the ditches and holes, where she knew that there was vessel of silver hidden. In so much that afterwards our dearly beloved cousin her husband, she herself and her chief page, did greatly perform their businesses, and were healed of their catholic jaundice, wherewith they were made yellow from the time of the wars that they had for their County of Boulongne, catholicly & lawfully devolved unto them, by the merit of their paternosters and devout processions, and not by usurpation, or domestical thievery, as these relapsed heretics say. This being done to declare my liberality and magnificence, after that I was assured of sundry towns, castles and churches, which easily suffered themselves to be persuaded by good preachers, upon whom I bestowed part of my booty, I prepared this puissant and glorious army of old soldiers used to the wars, all freshly furbished, which I brought in a very good order and discipline, directly to Tours, where I thought to say as a catholic Caesar, I came, I saw, I overcame. But that favourer of heretics caused to come in post this Biarnois, whom I would not attend over nigh, nor see him in the face, 
For coming to nigh an heretic, or joining battle with him.  left I might be excommunicate: and further you know, that the levying of the siege of Senlis, where my cousin here present, hath done well (to speak of him) joined to the discomfiture of Saveuse, gave me colour to turn my countenance: which also I did as willingly, as you Messieurs of Paris would desire it, and ardently request it of me. Besides, you know to what point we were brought, when that tyrant fortified with the heretics, came to beard us, and to take Estampes and Pontoise; but by the good and devout prayers of the fathers jesuits, and the intercession of Madam my sister, and the intercession of divers holy and religious confessors, we found out that holy martyr, which caused to sound that blow from heaven, and delivered us out of the misery and captivity, into which we were ready and like within few days to fall. In so much, that having taken breath, and made new attempts, and new bargains with our good most Catholic King and nursing father, I lifted my horns on high, and with a gallant army divided into two parts, I went to hasten to go 'gainst the Maheutres, who following the good advise, which my said Lady and sister had received concerning the same, would have fled beyond the seas with a small train: but because they found not their vessels ready at deep, where I was to visit them, I put myself in endeavour to bring them all prisoners to you in this city, and you do well remember, 
But not performed, the greater shame.  with what assurance I promised it to you, and with what preparations you looked for it. Notwithstanding, when I saw that these heretics made us beards of dung, and all to bewrayed us, and that they would not suffer themselves to be taken without mittens or winter gloves, I fled into Flanders to seek such things there, and left them in the mean while to make that pack of stuff in the suburbs of this city, and afterwards suffered them to go and walk all the winter long to Vendosme, to Man's, Laval, Argentan, Faleze, Alencon, Vernueil, Eureux and Honfleur, which I let them take very plainly, certainly assuring myself that shortly after I should have all their booty in gross, when they should have taken a very great cold, and be ready to die therewith. 
Bravadoes are but simple feare-bugges.  And indeed I did very bravely make them lift up their breech at Dreux, and they had fled away, if they would have believed me. But you know that this putting off and on, protracting also the time, cost us well: for these wicked politics would have nothing but me, and they would have dishonoured me, if they could have joined with me, from which I knew well how to keep myself, by the good example of my cousin of Nemours, and of my beloved and trusty cousins also the Duke d'Aumale, and the Knight his brother, who had not forgotten the way to Mante. I cannot Messieurs, I cannot speak of this cross blow of fortune, 
Pathetical passions.  without sobs and tears: for I should now be all on doing, you know well what. In stead that I was to go, to seek, and beg a master in Flanders, and there it was that I changed my French coverture or cloak into a cape after the Spanish manner, and gave my soul to the Southern devils, to ungage that, which I had as most dear within this city. But I tell you plain I would have as soon become Lucifer's servant, as servant to the Duke of Parma, that I might work despite to the heretics. I will not pass under silence the cunnings, sleights & inventions, which I used to busy and to retain the people, and those that thought to escape us, wherein I cannot but acknowledge, that Madam my sister here present, and Monsieur the Cardinal Caietan have done very express and notable services to the faith, by subtle news and Te Deums sung to purpose, and by counterfeited clothes in the street of the Lumbards', who have given occasion to many to die cheerfully with the rage of famine, rather than to speak of peace. And if a man would believe Monsieur Mendoza (a marvelous zealous man for the faith, 
He loveth it on the ridge.  and a lover of France, if ever there were any) you should never have more this horror, to see so many dead men's bones, in the churchyards or burial places of S. Innocent and of the Trinity; and that the devout Catholics would rather have brought them into powder, drunk them and swallowed them up, and incorporated them into their own bodies, as the ancient Troglodytes did their fathers and friends that were dead. 
Open confession shall one day have open punishment.  Must I needs recite the vile and slavish submissions that I made to bring our new friends to our succour? And yet I myself am witness, that I always had my purposes and practices apart, whatsoever thing I said or offered to that good Duke, and I always reserved to myself with my straight and secret counsel, to do some good thing for me and mine, in keeping the pledges if I could, and come what would, I would not undo it, but by force: and I shall always find difficulties enough, to execute that which men demand: neither will I want bulls and excommunications, thanks to Monsieur the Legate, who knoweth all the Tu autems thereof, to deceive and bring into a fools paradise, they that will believe them. We have already practised two most famous Legates to help us to sell our snail shells: We have had pardons gratis, or of free cost, without untying our purses, & we know with what bias we must take our holy father, threatening him a little with making peace, if he yield & grant us not that which we demand of him. Have we not had from Rome lightnings and thunderings, by hook and by crook, against our politic enemies? Have not we caused them to be excommunicate, and to become black as devils? We have caused Paradises to be continued to our purposes and attempts: 
He meaneth the city and university of Paris.  we have before hand instructed the preachers, that are faithful, and such as have learned to lay pawns to gage, under good title. We have caused the brotherhoods of S. Francis, and of the name of jesus, to renew their oaths: we have had ordinarily incomparable processions, who have obscured the glittering and glory of the goodliest mummeries that ever were feene. We have caused to be sown under hand, and that throughout all France, the Catholicon of Spain, yea some such Doublons, or double Ducats, as have had marvelous effects, even to the blue politic cords. What could I have done more, but to give myself to the devils for the pledge and advancement of Hyrie, as I have done? Read josephus books, touching the wars of the jews, for that is as it were such another fact as ours is, and judge whether those hot fellows, Simon and john, have had more inventions and disguisements of their matters, to make stiff and obstinate the poor people of jerusalem, to die thorough the rage of famine, than I have had, to caufe to die with the same death, a hundred thousand souls within this city of Paris: yea to proceed so far, that the mothers should eat their own children, as they did in that holy city. Read this history I pray you, and for the cause above specified, and ye shall find that I have not spared any more than they did the most holy relics and things of greatest use in the Church, that I could cause to be melted for my affairs. I have a hundred times broken my faith, particularly sworn to my friends & kindred, that I might come to that which I desired, without making show of it: and my cousin the Duke of Lorraine, and the Duke of Savoy, know well what to say concerning this point, whose affairs I have always set behind the cause of the French Church, and mine own matters. And as touching public faith, I have always supposed that the rank or degree which I hold, did sufficiently dispense with me therefore: and the prisoners which I have held with me, or caused to pay ransom against my promise, or against their composition that I made with them, cannot any whit at all upbraid me, because I have absolution for it from my great amner and confessor. I will not speak of the voyages which I have caused to me made against the Biarnois, to astonish and at once to amaze him, where I never thought it. The cunningest on my side have been embarked therein, and have felt nothing thereof, but the freshness of the razor. Neither should this displease Ville-roy, who went not thereto, but in good faith, as you may believe, I have indeed alured others, that brag not of it neither, and who have treated for me to two divers ends or purposes, as well to hasten forward our friends to secure us, as to astonish and amaze our enemies with mustard. And if the Biarnois would have believed some one or other of his Council, who have a grain of this Catholicon upon their tongue, and who have always cried out, that they must make nothing more sharp, for fear of making all desperate, we should now have fair play, in stead that we see the people, even of themselves disposed to wish and demand peace, a thing that we ought all of usto fear, more than death: and I for my part would love a hundred times better to become a Turk or a jew, with the good grace and leave of our holy father, then to see these same relapsed heretics to return and to enjoy their goods, 
Long prescription.  which you and I now enjoy, and that by just title, and good faith, a year and a day, and above to. O God, my friends, what will become of us if we must render all back again? If I must return to my old condition, how shall I maintain my plate and my guards? Must I pass thorough the Secretaries and treasurers of the Exchequer, and warriors, altogether new fellows, whereas ours pass thorough mine own hands? Let us die, yea let us die, rather than come there. It is a brave burial, even the ruin and destruction of so great a kingdom as this is, under which it is better for us to be buried, if we be not able to grasp or catch that which is above. There was never man that ascended so high as I am, that would come down but by high force. There are many gates to enter into the power which I have, but there is but one only issue to get out of it, and that is death. This is the cause why I (seeing that a heap of politics that are amongst us would offer unto us the head of their peace, and of their French monarchy) have advised myself to present unto them a mask and mummery of the Estates, & after that I had differred it, as long as I could, to illude, and make to wax cold the present pursuits of their deputies, and I have called you here together with you to give order thereto, & to turn over together their quires, that so I may know where the disease holdeth them, and who are our friends, and who are our enemies. But yet not to lie unto you herein, 
A man of good conscience.  I do it for no other purpose then to shut up their beaks and bills, and to make them believe that we travail very much for the public good, and mind very willingly to make an agreement for the good people (notwithstanding all this) shall not piss much better contented. I know there are none here but our friends, no more than there was in the Estates at Blois: & by consequent I assure myself, that all of you would do as much for me, as for every one of you namely that I, or some one Prince of our house might be King, 
If you be not deceived.  and you shall find that the best for you. Yet so it is, that this cannot be done so soon, and there is yet a Mass to be said, and there must be made a great breach in the kingdom, because it will be convenient, that we give a good part of it to them that should help us in this business. On the other side, you well foresee the dangers and inconveniences of peace, which setteth all things in order, and yieldeth right to whom it appertaineth: and therefore it is much better to hinder it, then to think of it. And concerning myself, I swear unto you, 
A holy and religious oath.  by the dear and well-beloved head of mine eldest son, that I have no vein that reacheth not thereto, and I am as far from that, as the earth is from heaven: for although I have made show by my last declaration, & by my subsequent answer, that I do desire the conversion of the King of Nanarre, I pray you to believe, that I desire nothing less: and that I love rather to see my wife, my nephew, and all my cousins and kinsfolks dead, then to see this Biarnois at Mass, that is not the place where I itch. I have not written and published it, but with a purpose and devise, even no otherwise than Monsieur the Legate maketh his exhortation to the French people. And all those escripts or writings which Monsieur of Lions hath made, and will make concerning that subject or matter, are not but of an intent to hold the people in waiting for some good adventure (you understand me well) which the fathers jesuits will procure to make a second holy martyr. And from else where, it is as much division and as great weakening and enfeebling to our enemies, and as great preparatives for the third side, where we have also a good part, as being a great mean, if it clatter and make noise, for us well to perform our businesses, and for the advancement whereof, I pray you to employ your alliances and intelligences, as I do mine: not to constrain the heretic to turn his coat, for I neither desire it nor mean it, and I assure myself that he will never do nothing that way, he hath so great an obstinate heart: which is the thing I demand, to the end that he may always remain in his skin, which will get us very many good Catholic, Apostolic and Roman friends, inspired with the holy spirit, which will much hinder him on their behalf, and will put him into a great accessory: and I assure myself, 
It were hard, if not monstrous, that he should  that the King which they will make, will not counterpoise me in the balance. Whatsoever fall out, we have sent thick & threefold our agents to Rome, as Monsieur the Cardinal of Pelue, my good master, can witness unto you, to overthrow the negotiation of the Cardinal of Gondy, who will not chafe therefore more than he ought, and the practices of the Marquis of Pisani, who is too good a Frenchman for us, who are gone to Rome to seek & find, if they can, a good way for peace. But we have stirred up our Ambassadors of Spain, to protest against their audience, and against that that the Pope would do, concerning the pretended conversion of the Biarnois. Monsieur the Legate hath aided us to make our remembrances and instructions, and for his part will employ therein all his abilities and strong confederations of the Consistory. 
Strong props.  And if his holiness do otherwise, I know well how we must have reason therein and bring him thereto, namely, by threatening him that we are very well able to make in this case our own agreement and accord with the politics, and that with the losses and disadvantage of the Church of Rome. Also would you not counsel me that for one Mass, which the King of Navarre should cause to be sung (which God forbidden) I should demise myself from the power that I have, and of a half King that I am, to become a servant, that so I might cause the tempest of this war to fall upon the head of these good Catholic Spaniards our friends, 
Good teachers for such scholars,  who will teach us to believe in God. It is very true, that if the said conversion fall out in good earnest, I shall be in great pain and trouble, and shall hold the wolf by the ears. Notwithstanding, Monsieur of Lions, and our good preachers have taught me, that it is not in the power of God to pardon a relapsed heretic, and that the Pope himself cannot give him absolution, no not in the very article or point of death, which we ought to hold for the thirteenth article of our faith, 
New Creeds joined.  and add it to the Apostles Creed: yea, that if the Pope would intermeddle in it, we would make him himself to be excommunicate by our mother of Sorbonne, who knoweth more Latin than he, 
Good praise.  and drinketh more catholicly than the Consistory of Rome. This then is the point, upon which we must principally insist, by what means we shall hinder the peace, and shall make immortal war in France. Monsieur of Lions knoweth very well that the King of Spain and I, have promised him upon our honour, a red hat, if he can do so much by his rhetoric, to come to that end; and his sister hath already received for pledges a carcan or little chest of three thousand Ducats, and a chain of Catholic pearls, with a hundred thousand Doublons, or double Ducats. We have also certain politics in the conventicle and simple Senate of the enemies, who spin already some cords or strings of the said red hat, and if we send them but a little crimson silk, to make the reins of their mule, they will aid us well, and much hinder that these wicked Huguenots out of their wits, shall not enter into the Estates, and that nothing shall be done or passed there, to the hurt and dishonour of our holy father, and the holy Apostolic sea, no though that the privileges of the French Church should be lost therefore. I conjure then all this holy assembly to hold their hand, and to employ wet and dry even all that they have, that the Parisiens' & other towns come not upon us, to break the head of their peace, but that they take death in good part, and suffer their utter ruin, rather than to think of it, or to open their mouth for it. We must raze out of the Church prayers, these grievous words (Give peace, O Lord) as Monsieur the Legate will by and by give you to understand, that they are not of the essence of the Mass, nor words appertaining to the Sacraments: only let us make colour and good show If Ville roy be weary of it, 
No scarcity of bad men.  we have Zamet, who for the pleasure that my good cousin the Duke of Elbeuf hath done to him, will not complain of his pains and voyages, and will easily suffer himself to be abused, upon the hope of his salt lofts. Whatsoever it be, yea fall out what can, if we understand ourselves well, and continue our intellgences, with this happy third side, we shall so well jumble together the affairs, that they of Bourbon shall not see themselves these thirty years, where they think to be: for I will never make any more account of them, 
The Cardinal of Bourbon.  than I made of their uncle, whom I let die in prison and in necessity, without remembering or caring any whit at all for him, after he had served us for a pretext, and a plank (whom these Huguenots called a rotten plank) to mount to the place where I am: for I know very well, that so long as there shall be of this race of Bourbon (that maketh better proof, than myself, of the descent from S. Lewes) never, neither I nor any of mine shall reign without quarrel. This is the cause why you ought not to doubt, that I will do all that I am able, to rid myself of them. At the least one thing comforteth me, which is, that if the enemies hold Saint Denis, where the ancient Kings are buried, we possess the jewels, relics, and kingly ornaments thereof, which are freed from them, by the holy devotion of my brother of Nemours, who caused the Crown to be melted. But which is more, 
Confess and be hanged, as they say.  the holy Ampoule or viol of Reims, is in our ponwer, if we had any thing to do with it: without which you understand me well. This is a great blow from heaven. Therefore we pray all good Confessors, Preachers, Curates, and other devout pensionaries, to be outrageous about this subject and matter, to the end that God may do that therein that liketh us. For mine own regard, I will keep as much as I can the matters in a balance and appearance, as I have always done in the government of this city, not suffering that the party of the politics should be too much taken down, nor that of the sixteen too much lifted up and insolent, for fear lest the one of them, making itself the more strong, would not also make it a law to me: which thing my cousin the Duke of Lorraine upbraided me withal, which also I have learned of the Queen Mother, 
A catholic man's prayer for a catholic woman.  whom God have mercy upon. Furthermore, I believe that there is not one of you, that doth not remember the death of Sacremore, after that he had done me many good services: I have hope that I and my nephew shall do many other to the honour of this good God, because that you the rest Messieurs, serve us with the like affection, and wait for the like recompense in this world or in another. Concerning the pill or poison that certain politics have a mind to hit me in the teeth with, accusing me that Saint Cere, 
A foul fault easily wiped & washed away.  or la Loüe (I know not whether of the two) had given him, they lie in it, wicked men as they are, I never so much as dreamt of it: and indeed it is nothing but a certain heat of the liver, which the Physicians call falling off of the hair, 
A great execration.  and Monsieur of Lions knoweth that gouts come very often without that: and if it be otherwise, I would to God the wolves might eat up my thighs, praying you for the honour of the holy union, to believe nothing of that matter, and to regard your affairs, for we have an enemy that sleepeth not, and who useth more boots than shoes. You will, I hope, give order for it, and will keep yourselves from the kings evil, and from falling from the highest evil, if you can. I have said.  
Monsieur the Lieutenant having finished his speech, with the great applaud of the affistants or company, (where the precedent de nullie, and Acharie the lackey of the League were seen to weep for joy) the Dean of Sorbonne, the great datary of the Legate rose up and cried with a loud voice, Humiliate vos, etc. Humble yourselves to the blessing, and afterwards ye shall have an oration. Then Monsieur the Legate, three deep and bountiful blessings being first made, began to speak after this manner following.   

The Oration of Monsieur the Legate.  
IN the name of the Father, ✚ ✚. I take great joy, and am almost out of myself (O Lords, and people, more Catholic then even the Romans themselves) to see that you are here gathered, for a matter so great & Catholic. But on the other side, I find myself much amazed, to perceive so many gross opinions amongst you which are the Catholic leaguers, 
Such as were sometimes in Italy.  and it seemeth unto me that those ancient factions of black and white are revived, for as much as some demand white, and other some black. But one only thing seemeth to me needful, for the health and salvation of your souls, that is, not to speak at any time of peace, and much less to labour and procure it, before that first, all the Frenchmen be dead after the manner of the Macchabees, and that also so valiantly, as Samson was, slain and buried amongst the ruins of this captivated earthly Paradise of France, 
Paris he meaneth.  that so you may the better enjoy the immortal quietness of the heavenly Paradise. War then, war, O valiant and magnifical Frenchmen: for it seemeth unto me, that when men discourse and reason of peace, and that they speak of truce, with these heretic rascal knaves, 
Hot burning charity.  that there is offered unto me a glister of ink, considering that it is a great deal better for the quietness of Italy, and for the security of the holy Apostolic sea, that the Frenchmen and the Spaniards should war one of them with another in France, or else certainly in Flanders for the religion, or for the Crown, then in Italy for Naples or Milan. Wherefore to tell you the truth, the most holy father doth not care for all your affairs further, 
A good shepherd.  but so far as it toucheth him not to be spoiled of the Annates and commendanes, and other expeditions and dispatches which be made in Rome with your gold and silver. Give your souls as much as you will to the devil of hell, it is a small matter to him, provided that that which issueth unto him out of Bretaigne, 
The crown and the belly wholly respected.  and the ancient reverence due unto his holiness, do not fail him. So much more great and reverend shall be his holiness, by how much you other little mannikiens shall become little and very little ones. And speak not any more of so great good turns and such excellent favours, as your predecessors have done to the holy Apostolic sea, and much less of the riches and countries, that the Popes hold by the benefit of Charles the great, and of his successors Kings of France, that is a thing done already. The Pardons that you have received a few years since, 
or else.  with the few Indulgences or forgiveness, and the jubilees are of a much greater price. It is enough that the Crowns & Sceptres of the world, be at the disposition of his holiness, and so may be changed, jested withal, translated and taken and given, after his own manner: for it is written, 
Well said devil, speaking his words, and in his spirit.  I will give thee all these things. And that I may proceed to speak unto you in the Latin tongue, lest happily some did not sufficiently understand the Italianan, I will tell you the sum of my legation, which is taken out of the tenth chapter of Matthew. Think you not, I pray you, that I have come to send peace into this land: I came not to send peace but a sword, for I have nothing more in charge and secret instruction, then that I may continually exhort you to battle and fight, and with all my strength may let, that you should not at any hand treat, touching reconciliation and peace amongst yourselves: which verily should be a great crime and unworthy Christian and Catholic persoas. And another point that I have to do with you, is touching the election of some good Catholic Prince to be your King, shaking offutterly this family of the Bourbonians, which is wholly heretical, or a fautrix and favourer of heretics. But I know that ye shall do a most grateful and gracious thing to our Lord the Pope, and to the holy Apostolic sea, and also to my most christian benefactor, and most Catholic King of Spain, and of so many other kingdoms, if you conserve the Duchy of Britannia Armorica, to his most famous daughter the infant, and bestow the kingdom upon some Prince of his family, whom she will choose for her husband, and will vouchsafe worthy of the dowry Crown of France wholly to either of the competitors. But of this point, that most reverend Cardinal of Pelue, 
Elegantly spoken.  shall dispute vato you, and for the residue shall supply it, for he knoweth better than me myself your businesses, which for twenty years space, as well Lotharingically as Spanishly he hath handled at Rome, and that so subtly and faithfully, that he hath brought your matters to that point, into which you see them now reduced. 
Ask my fellow and I be a these.  Wherefore when this godly Prelate and citizen did believe, that his mother France was in the agony of death, and did draw the last breath, he came lately to visit her, as a good and a devout confessor, and the best compatriot, to help you in the funeral, or rather vulnerall pomp and exequys thereof. But if you would choose some one seeking out of his benefactors of Lotharingie, and Guisie, surely you should do to him according to his heart, and he would cheerfully anoint and consecrate him with the oil of the holy pot, crewse or crewer, which he hath at Reims expressly reserved, and very well kept under the custody of S. Paul, Duke of Campania and Rotelia: look you to it. I by the express mandate of our Lord, if you shall do any thing in this matter against the laws & manners of this king do me, or against the Counsels of the Church, 
And what not?  or against the Gospel and Decalogue (specially according to the impression of heretics) do promise you full absolution and indulgence, and that freely for ever and ever, Amen. Alas for me, I did not remember to cause you to understand a much and marvelous good news, which I have received in haste from Rome, by means of Zametto, that is, that his holiness doth excommunicate, charge, accurse all Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priests & Friars which are politics royal, or favouring the King, how much Catholic soever they be. And for to take away all differences and iealousnes betwixt the Spaniards and French, the most holy father shall make, 
But yet the Spaniards had it first.  that the French shall have the kings evil, aswell as the Spaniards, & shall become also as great bravaders or bragging fellows, & bouggerers as they. Moreover he giveth full indulgence and pardon to all, how great good Catholics soever they be, be they Lorraines, or Spaniards, or French men, the which shall murder their fathers, brethren, cousins, neighbours, superiors, royal Princes, politic heretics in this most christian war, during three hundred thousand years of true pardon. 
A very good reason.  And doubt ye not that the holy spirit shall be wanting unto you, for the holy Consistory will cause it to come down from the arms of God the father, at their pleasure or commandment, as ye know that he hath denied these many years to create any Pope, that hath not been an Italian or a Spaniard. In fine, I pray you for my sake make a King: and I do not care whosoever he be, although he were the devil, so that he be a servant and a feudatory of his holiness, and of the Catholic King, by whose means I stand, and have been made a Cardinal, thanks to the good Duke of Parma for it. This I will tell you, that my voice of choice, shall willingly be for the infant or daughter of Spain, 
More (it is said) them she should  for she is a valiant and worthy Lady, and much beloved of her father. Nevertheless, do you that which shall please the Lord the Duke of Feria, and Monsieur the Lieutenant. But take you heed in the mean time, how you open your mouth to speak or reason of peace or of truce: otherwise the holy College will deny Christ himself. I commend myself heartily unto you. Again I say unto you farewell.  
These words being finished, little Launay, heretofore made minister in the university of Geneve, and at this present the basest person of Sorbonne, after that he had eaten up the great breviaries and heures of the late king, to make banquets to Monsieur the Lieutenant, fell upon his knees with Garinus the Franciscan Friar, and apostle apostata, and assisted with Cuilly the Curate of S.  Lauxerrois, and with Aubry the Curate of S. Andrew des Arts, coming back from shriving Peter Barriere, thundered out with a loud voice, before Monsieur the Legates cross, O cross all hail, our only hope in this time of the passion.  
Some of the assembly thought not well of it, notwithstanding every one followed them, singing the same song, and the stir being ended, the lot fell to Monsieur the Cardinal of Pelue to speak, who lifting himself up upon his two feet like a goose, after that he had made very deep reverence before Monsieur the Lieutenant's seat, he having put off his red had into his hood behind, and afterwards making such another before Monsieur the Legate, 
Great preparation to hear a goose hiss.  and last of all one most low of all the rest before the Dames or Ladies, did in fine sit himself down again, & having coughed or sneezed three good times together, and that not without avoiding of some phlegmatic matter, which also provoked every one to do the like, he began to speak after this manner, directing his words to Monsieur the Lieutenant, who three times said unto him, Cover a thousand, or put on my master.   

The Oration of Monsieur the Cardinal of Pelue.  
MOnsieur Lieutenant, you shall excuse me, if to content this learned assembly, and to keep decorum, and the dignity of the rank or place that I hold in the Church, by the providence of you & yours, 
Man setteth up such mates.  I make some discourse in the Latin tongue, in which you know that I have a long time studied, and know almost as much thereof as my grandfather, 
A learned race.  who was a good soldier and a good farmor, and that under Charles the eight. But when I shall have spoken three words, I will then come to you and your affairs. Wherefore I will now direct myself to you famous men, 
Never word of this kind more true.  and the most picked out of all the filth and stinking dirt of France, that I may make you to understand many things, which cannot sufficiently enough be expressed in the French language. For it is most fit, that we chief that have studied in the most famous university of Paris, 
High points doubtless.  and are more witty than the tag rag of the people, should have some secret matters in us that women should not understand. I will therefore that you know (and yet let these things be spoken to godly ears alone) that there hath gone out an edict, or if you will rather, a rescript, from our Lord the Pope, by which it is permitted us to choose, create, sacrate, and anoint a new King, what a one shall please you, 
A shrewd limitation.  so that he be of the stock of Austria or Guise. You have therefore to provide a Prince of whether nation you will, for of these Bourbonians there are no speeches nor words, how much less of this heretic relapsed, whom the same our Lord the Pope, by the foresaid rescript affirmeth, to be even now damned in hell, 
A sober judgement. So it appeareth.  and that his soul shall shortly serve Lucifer for an afternoons beaver. Indeed I am a Frenchman, neither will I deny my country: but if this choice might go according to my liking: verily for my good, and the good of mine, yea and for your good to, I would willingly pray you, that you would give your voices to some of the Lotharen family, whom you know to have done so well in the Catholic commonwealth and Church of Rome. But peradventure my Lord Legate hath another intent, 
Who doubteth of that.  to please the Spaniards: but he speaketh not all the things he hath in the ambrey or chest of his breast. In the mean while hold you this firm, 
An egg not more like an egg, than this lewd fellow like the Legat.  that you must at no hand speak or hear concerning making of peace with these damned politics: but rather arm yourselves, and prepare yourself to suffer all extremities, yea even death, famine, fire, and the ruin of the whole city or kingdom. For ye can do nothing more grateful and acceptable to God, and to Philip our most Catholic King. I know well enough that Luxenburgh, and Cardinal Goudiu, and the Marquis Pisanus, are gone to Rome to prepare the mind of our Lord the Pope, to hear the legation of this Biarnois, treating of his conversion. But look how safe the Moon is from the monkeys or wolves, 
Speak again, and speak better if can be  so much averse is the heart of our Lord the Pope, from such businesses. Be strong and secure even as I, so I be within the Parisiens' walls. Verily I had prepared some good thing to say unto you, concerning the blessed Paul, whose conversion was yesterday celebrated, because I did hope that yesterday it should be my good hap to speak in my order. But the over long oration of my Lord de Mania, 
A right name, if it be well understood.  deceived me: and therefore I am constrained to put up the sword of my good Latin, into the sheath or scabbard which I would have whet and sharpened against this conversion, concerning which sundry politicians, sow I cannot tell what into the common people, which notwithstanding I neither believe nor desire. For blessed Paul did much differ from this Navarre: for he was noble & a citizen of Rome: & that he was noble, & descended of a noble race, appeareth by this, that at Rome he had his head cut off. 
Belike none be beheaded but noble personages.  But this fellow is infamous for heresy, and all the family of the Bourbonians doth descend from a poulterer, or if you had rather have it so, from a butcher, that sold flesh in the butchery of Parisijs, as affirmeth a certain Poet, greatly a friend of the holy Apostolic sea, and therefore because he would not lie. 
Thou art judged by thine own mouth unthrifty servant.  Paul also was converted with a miracle, but this not, unless some would say, that he did by besieging enclose this city about some four months with six thousand men, whilst there were within more than a hundred thousand: and that this is a miracle, that he took so many cities and strong holds, without the subversion of walls, but by place without ways, by holes and strait caves, that could scarcely be pierced by one only soldier. Add ye: that Paul feared, and was affected with great fear by lightning from heaven: but this man is fearless, neither is afraid of any thing, neither thunder, nor lightning, nor flashings, nor showers, nor winter and ye, or heat, no not our set battles nor our armies, so well furnished and ordered as they are, 
More miracles yet.  which he dare expect and come before with a handful and small force, and either overthrow them, or put them to flight. Let this swift and unsleeping devil perish ill, which doth so laboriously weary us, and letteth us from sleeping as much as we list. But this much concerning Paul, lest Policarpus, whose feast is kept this day, may perhaps envy, whom yet I will pretermit, 
Unskilful in vitas patrum.  because I have foreseen or premeditated nothing concerning him. I remember indeed when I was at Rome in the time of Pope Gregory, that I propounded in the Consistory five protests or problems to be disputed of, which all respected this most holy congregation, concerning the choosing of a King of France. For from that time, wherein this dead Henry the fautor of heretics spoiled me of my Bishopric of Senon, and put my rents and benefices, which I had in his kingdom, in in his own hand and purse, I always had a mind and intention of revenging myself, 
A holy prelate overcome evil with well doing.  and did all that I could, and will do for ever, though I should give my soul to the devil, that this most notable injury might fall upon the head of all the French, that suffered it, neither did oppose themselves against my sname & opprobry: which when I had often protested, I did at the last effectual, and you knew well what to say. 
A notable beholder of forms, and a singular flatterer.  But these men Princes, and these women, the famous pearls and marvelous genis of all the world, call me else whether, to whom both men and women now the matter requireth that I should speak, as also to the rest of the troop of deputies & deputing, for whom it is behoveful that they should understand me disputing and reasoning in the French tongue, which I have almost unlearned to speak, I have so greatly forgotten mine own country. Then I will return to you Monsieur the Lieutenant, and I will tell you, that if I had found in France the affairs to have passed, according to the practices and intelligences, which I have managed, for these five and twenty years space, with the Spaniards at Rome, 
A good French man.  I should now see the late Monsieur your brother, in this royal throne, and we might have occasion to sing with that good Patriarch, Nunc dimittis. But sith that this was not the will of God that it should be so, patience perforce: he goeth far enough that passeth beyond fortune. Yet by the way I will tell you, 
Fie for shame that you will swear by such great and holy things.  that of my faith, credit and honesty, it is a pleasant sight for you, yea Monsieur Lieutenant, it is a pleasant sight for you to be seen sit there where you are, & ye have a goodly show, ye fit your place well, and it will not be evil for you to be made the King, and you lack nothing but a good peg or pin to hold you well therein. You have even the very self same fashion and manner (I always reserve and except the honour which I own to the Church) that some Saint N●colas of a country town or village hath. By the faith that I own to God, me thinketh that we celebrate here the feast of Innocents', or else the day of the three Kings of Colen. If you had now a full glass of good wine, 
Then he might be Hugo bon companion.  and that it would please the majesty of your Lieutenantship to drink to all the company, we would all cry the King drinketh, even as well that it is not long sithence that the 
* He meaneth the twelfth day  Kings are passed where we did very much let, that they should not make a king of the bean, for fear of inconvenience, and of evil prefage or prediction: but if ye were here, in the midst of this Lent coming, we would ride all with you about the streets, and would keep there mid Lent on horseback, if we could retain until then all this Catholigue assembly, to which I will now address my speech in general, 
A sore protestation, and a great loss if he should sorgoe it.  and that all the world may understand me. Messieurs, hold me not for an honest man and a good Catholic, if the malady of France (I mind not to speak of the French disease) I would say your miseries and poverties, have not caused me to come this far, where I have carried myself, as a very hypocrite, 
Correct it not, for it is no lie.  I would have said Hypocrate, but my tongue hath made me to trip. This great Physician, seeing his country afflicted with a certain epidemical disease and cruel pestilence, that did root out all the people, counseled them to cause to be lighted great store of fires throughout all the countries, to purge and drive away the evil air. And me, altogether of the same manner, 
A medicine to expel poison.  to the end I might come to the butt of all my Catholigue devices and purposes, and for an antidote to our holy union, which is smitten with the plague, I have been one of the principal authors (I speak it without vaunting) of all these fires and flames, 
Neither need you boast of that.  that break forth and burn now all France, and which have even already brought and consumed into ashes, the bravest and best that the Goths and Visigoths left therein. If the late Cardinal of Lorraine, my good master, were alive, he would give you a good testimony thereof, for having drawn me from the great pot of the hooded Friars of Montague, and afterwards placed me in the Court of Parliament, where I well discovered the college, or told tales out of the school, where he made me Bishop, afterwards Archbishop, and in the end Cardinal, and this was always upon this express and plain condition, that I should bring this business to his perfection, and should oblige myself & my soul for the advancement of the greatness of Lorraine, and the detriment of the house of the Valois, and of the Bourbons, whereunto I have not been wanting in all that was possible to me, and that my brain or sconce could stretch unto. And in these latter days, the precedents Vetus and janin have aided me with notes, 
Like will to like quoth the devil to the collier.  remembrances and practices, and have as it were upheld my credit with their foot, and somewhat before them my colleagues David and Piles, could not have done any great matter without me, 
He meaneth their practices.  nor I without them. Poor Salcede knew somewhat of our secrets, but not all, and he had not a good bill or beak, for he discovered the pot with the roses, whereupon he miss but a little to destroy us together with himself, notwithstanding we have well had reason from all these Valesiens', and shall have (God helping us) from these Bourbonists, if every one of you will play the gallant man. As for me, Messieurs, behold me at your commandment, to set and to sell, to spend and dispend, so that as good zealous Catholics, you subject yourselves to the Archcatholikes Princes Lorraines, 
This eloquence almost passeth intelligence.  & to the supercatholikes the Spaniards, who do so greatly love France, and do so much desire your soul's health, that even of catholic charity, they would therefore lose their own, whereof there is great pity, and I pray you in good time to advise, lest this Biarnois do not play us, or give us a trick or a badge of his occupation. For if he should go to convert himself, and hear a wicked Mass only (ah ha, ah ha) we should be stricken down, and we should even at one blow have lost all, both our double Duckers, and our pains or travail also. But though these honest people of Luxenburgh and Pisani, do promise it to our holy father, it may be that there will no such thing fall out. This is the reason wherefore in doubt, 
He would or should have said without doubt.  ye ought to make haste to put yourselves into the hands of Physicians, these good Christians of Castille, who are skilled in your sickness, and know the cause thereof, and by consequent, are so much the more proper, to heal it if you will believe them: for they which say, 
Physicians dealing by practice rather than skill.  that the Spaniards are dangerous empirikes, and do as the wolf that promised the sheep to heal her of her cough, that is false, they are all heretics that say it, and every good Catholic ought to believe under pain of excommunication, and the censure of the Church, that the faithful and valiant King of Spain, would have lost his kingdoms of Naples, Portugal, and Navarre, 
And why not the Indies and all as well as these?  yea his Duchy of Milan, and the County of Roussillon, & all the rights and titles that he hath in the Low Countries, which the Estates keep for him, and that all the Frenchmen should be good Catholics, and would willingly and in haste receive his garrisons, together with the holy Inquisition, which is the true and only touchstone to know the good Christians and zealous Catholics, children of humility and obedience. Believe not then that this good King sendeth you so many Ambassadors, and causeth to be sent unto you these good persons, the Legates of the holy father, of any other intention but to make you to believe that he loveth you above all nothings. 
As right as can be.  Can you think rightly, that he that is the Lord of so many kingdoms, that he cannot count them nor call them by the letters of the cross row, and so rich, that he cannot tell what to do with his treasures, would so much as take pain only to wish so small a thing as the signory of France? 
The fox saith he will eat no grapes.  All Europe, by a manner of speech, is not so much as one country, in comparison of the new islands conquered against the savages: when he sweateth, these are his Diadems: when he wipeth his nose or face, these are his Crowns: when he tosteth himself, these are his Sceptres: when he goeth about his affairs, these are nothing but Counties & Dukedoms that come out of his body, he is so well stuffed and replenished therewith. It should be then to very great purpose to suspect that he would be King of France. But what, what? I say not therefore to heal the kings evil or great pox (wherewith his Southerly countries are very sore infected) he maketh not any reckoning of the prayers of the devout inhabitants of his good town of Paris, who have besought him by plain letters signed with their hands, to receive them as his good subject; and servants, & to accept the weighty burden of the Crown of France: or if his back were so bowed, and charged with other Crowns more precious, that that of France could not find place, that yet at the least he would recompense therewith one of his Nobles or Princes, who should do him fealty, homage and reverence for it. Marry otherwise, I beseech you for the honour of God, 
A reasonable request.  think not that he thinketh thereof. His behaviours in the Low Countries, and in the new found lands, should assure you that he thinketh of no evil, no more than an old ape. And though it were so, 
Begin Cardinal with thyself and thy friends, and then it may be thou shalt the better persuade.  that he had caused you all to kill one another, and to perish by fire, sword, and famine, should not you be very happy to be placed on high in Paradise, above Confessors and patriarchs, and to mock at these Maheutres, which you should see underneath you to roast & boil in Lucifer's fires? Dye when you will, we have Moors, Africans, Walloons and Foruscites to set in your place: kill, murder, and burn hardly all: Monsieur the Legate will pardon all: Monsieur the Lieutenant will advow all: Monsieur d'Aumale will adjudge all: Monsieur of Lions will seal all, and Monsieur Marteau will sign all: I myself will serve you for a father confessor, and all France also, if it have the heart or spirit to suffer itself to die a good Catholic, & to make the Lorraines and Spaniards her heirs, as I beseech you all in general and particular, assuring you next after Monsieur the Legate, that your souls shall not pass thorough the fire of purgatory, 
A gracious grant  having been already sufficiently purged by the fires which we have enkindled in the four rivers, and in the midst of this Realm, for the holy League, and by the penance, fastings, and abstinence which we would make you do in devotion. As touching the election of a King, I give my voice to the Marquis of Chaussons, 
Acquaint qualities for such a place.  he is neither thick lipped, nor flat nosed, but a good Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman. I recommend him unto you and me for myself: In the name of the father, the son, and the spirit, Amen. These words being finished, all the Doctors of Sorbonne, and masters of Arts there present, struck the palms of their hands together, and cried, Vivat, that is, let him live, sundry times together, so mightily, that all the hall sounded with it: and after that the noise was a little ceased, the Prior of the black Monks rose up out of his place, and mounted upon his bench or seat, from whence he pronounced very loudly, and that with good grace also, these four little verses, as if he had composed them ex tempore. 
Or ex trumpery rather.  
His eloquence he was not able to cause to be seen,  
For fault of one book, in which all his knowledges been:  
My Lords the Estates, this very good man excuse,  
His Calepin at Rome he left and could it not use.   
And even presently after, a little master of Arts, stood out on his feet, and turning his visage towards Monsieur the Cardinal of Pelue, replied upon the same point in so many carmes or verses. 
Add but h. and it will be charms.  
The ignorant Friars had very good reason  
To make you their head, Monsieur most grand:  
For they that have heard your goodly oraison,  
Have beknowne you to be of other the most ignorant.   
All the world thought this rhyme very pleasant, and after they had made a second clapping of the hands, & yet not so long as the first was, Monsieur of Lions rose up, & made a sign with his hand that he would speak. 
Great preparations to hear a goose hiss.  Wherefore after that all the world had sonorously and theologically coughed, hauked, spit, and respitted, that they might the more attentively hear him, by reason of the reputation of his eloquence, he discoursed thus or thereabout.   

The Oration of Monsieur of Lions.  
MEssieurs, I will begin my speech by a pathetical exclamation of the royal Prophet David: Quam terribilia judicia tua, etc. O God, how terrible and admirable are thy judgements? They that will very narrowly look or take heed to the beginnings and proceed of our holy union, shall have very good occasion, with their hands joined together, 
Ah mannerly Prelate.  and lifted up into heaven to cry: O God, if your judgements be incomprehensible, how much your graces are they more admirable, and to say with the Apostle, Where sin abounded, there superabounded grace also. Is not this a very strange thing, Messieurs, yea zealous Catholics, to see our union now, so holy, so zealous, & so devout, that was almost in all the parts of it composed of people that before the holy barricades, were all beiewelled and enriched with some note ill solfaied, 
War worketh wonders.  and also ill agreeing with justice? And as it were by a miraculous metamorphosis, to see suddenly and at one blow, 
Or rather ordure.  atheism converted into ardure and fervency of devotion: ignorance into science of all novelties, and curiosity of news: concussion and extortion, into fastings: robbery, into generosity and valiantness: to be short, vice and crime transmutated into glory and honour? These are the strokes from heaven, as Monsieur the Lieutenant hath said, even from God himself: I say so fair and beautiful, that Frenchmen ought to open the eyes of their understanding profoundly for to consider these miracles, and thereupon ought the good people of this Realm, and those that enjoy goods to, to be red with shame, with almost all the Nobility, the more sound part of the Prelates, and of the Magistrates, yea the most clear sighted, who make show to have in horror, 
As they should indeed.  this holy and miraculous change. For what is there in the world more admirable? And what can God himself do more strange, then to see all turned upside down in a moment, valets and varlets to become masters: small ones made great ones: the poor, rich: the humble, insolent and proud: to see them that obeyed, to command: those that borrowed, to lend to usury: those that judged, to be judged: those that imprisoned, to be imprisoned: and those that were feign to stand, 
What man? whither wilt thou?  to sit O marvelous case! O great mysteries! O the secrets of the profound casket of God, unknown to mortal caitiffs. The yards & else of shops are turned into partisanes: the penners into muskets: the breviaries or portuises into targets: the copes into corselets, and the hoods into bevers and salads? Is it not another great and admirable conversion of the greatest part of you, Messieurs, the zealous Catholics, (among whom I will name for honour's sake, the Lords de Rosne, de Mandreville, lafoy moth Serand, the chevalier Breton, 
more than a good many.  and five hundred others of the most famous of our side, which would make me make a hyperbaton and overlong parenthesis, and that they whom I name not, would not take it well at my hands?) Is not this I say a great matter, that you were all not long sithence in Flaunders, bearing arms politicly, and employing your persons and goods against the archicatholike Spaniards, in the favour of the heretics of the Low Countries, and that you are now so catholicly ranged, even all at once into the lap of the holy Roman league, 
Fit fellows for such service.  & that so many good sots or fools, bankrupts, saffron sellers, desperate persons, hault-gourdiers, forgers, or counterfeiters, all people given to the spoil, and worthy of the rope, should so courageously set themselves forward, and be of the first in this holy part, to do their affairs, and should become Catholics with double ears, very long before others? 
Very passionate exclamations.  O very patterns of the prodigal child, whereof the Gospel speaketh: O devout children of the Mass at midnight: O holy catholicon of Spain, that art the cause that the price of Masses is redoubled, the holy candles and lights cherished again, and made more dead offerings augmented, and saluez multiplied, that art the cause that there are no more traitors, robbers, burners, falsifiers, cutthroates and thieves, sith that by this holy conversion, they have changed their name, and have taken this honourable title of zealous Catholigues, 
Quid non mortalia pectora cogis, auri sacrafames?  and of soldiers of the Church militant. O deified double Ducats of Spain, that have had this efficacy to make us all young again, and to renew us into another better life: this is that which our good God speaking unto his father saith, in S. Matthew the 11. Thou hast hid them from the prudent and wise, and hast revealed them to babes. Certainly, Messieurs, me thinks I see again that good time, in which the Christians to expiate and satisfy for their offences, crossed themselves, and went to make war beyond the sea as pilgrims, against the miscreants and infidels. O holy pilgrims, thou of Lansac, and thy good brother the bastard Bishop of Comminges, who have caused to be enrolled by throngs and troops in your quarters, so many honest people, who being like unto minstrels, had nothing in so great hate as their house. I will not here comprehend many Gentlemen and others, who are of the wood, whereof some have made them whatsoever it be, and have the show of it, and show themselves valiant coxcombs upon the pavement of Paris, who having been pages on foot, or serving the Catholic princes, 
If this be not good, tell us what is?  or their adherents, have bound themselves in liveliness of heart, to follow their part, yea if they should become Turks: liking better to be traitors to their King and country, then to fail of their word, to a master, who is himself a servant and subject of a King. In truth we are greatly obliged to these people, lo, as well as to those, who having received some storm or damage, of the tyrant or his followers, have through indignation, and a spirit of revenge, turned towards us, and have preferred their particular wrong, to all other duty: and we ought also as much to thank them, who having committed some murder, or notable wickedness, and robbery on the enemy's side, have catholicly cast themselves into our arms, to escape the punishment of justice, and to find amongst us all freedom and impiety, 
He would have said impunity.  for these more than none other, are bound to hold good, and that even unto death for the holy union. And this is the cause why you must not distrust the baron d'Alegree, nor of Hacquiville, gardien of Ponteau on the sea, nor of the jailor of Vienne, and others who have given so fair blows and strokes, to gain paradise, with the dispensation of their oath: nor likewise those, which have courageously put their hand to blood, and to the imprisonment of politic magistrates: in which Monsieur the Lieutenant hath a great deal of dexterity, to engage them, and to cause them to do things irremissible, and which deserve not ever to have any pardon, no more than that which he hath done. 
Cursed counsel.  But let us take heed of those nobles, that say they are good Frenchmen, and that refuse, to take pensions and double ducketts of Spain, and have conscience to make war, against merchants and labourers: these are dangerous people (I cannot tell you) and are able to make us false sleuces. For they brag that if the Biarnois would go to Mass, their sword should never cut against him or his. Remember you the enteruiewes and parlements, which some make so often at Saint Denis, and of the passports that they receive, and that they send so easily on the one side, and on the other. These people, 
A heinous offence.  Messieures, hear not mass but on one knee, neither take they holy water in entering into the church, but in their body forbidding it. O, would to God, that they were all like to that holy pilgrim, confessor, and catholic zealous martyr, Monsieur de la moth Serrand, who being in the prisons at Tours, for yielding testimony to his faith, refused to dine, and take his refection of porridge upon a friday, 
Stumble at a straw, & leap over a block.  fearing lest they had put some fat in his sop: and this champion of the faith, this Macabee, this devout martyr, protested to suffer death rather, than to eat any other sop, than that which was catholic. O famous assistants, chosen and tried at all adventures, for the dignity of this notable assembly, the very pure cream of our provinces, 
A country metaphor.  the very wine lees of our government, which are come hither with so many travails, some on foot, some alone, other some in the night, and the greatest part at your own costs and charges. Do not you wonder at the heroical acts of our Louchards, 
Gentlemen of the new stamp.  Bussis, Senaulds, Oudineaux, Morreliers, Crucez, Goudards, and Drovarts, who have so well come by the feather? What think you of so many Caboches as are found, and God hath raised up at Paris, Rouen, Lions, Orleans, Troyes, Toulouze, Amiens, where you see butchers, tailors, fillipers, jugglers, tumblers, cutlers, and other sorts of persons of the very dross and scum of the people, to have the first voice in council and assemblies of the estate, and to give law to them, that before were great of race, of riches, and of quality, who now dare not cough nor mutter before them. 
Scripture rightly applied.  Is it not in this, that the prophecy is accomplished, which saith, he raiseth the poor out of the dungehil? Should not this be a crime to pass over under silence, that holy martyrfryer james Clement, who having been the most unorderly and wicked of all his covent (as all the jacobins of this city know well enough) and having many times had the chapter, and the diffamatory whip, for his thieveries and wickednesses, is notwithstanding sanctified at this day, and now is aloft to debate and dispute with S. jago of Compostella, 
Affections fit enough for such a fact and fellow.  who shall have the first seat? O blessed confessor and martyr of God. How gladly would I be the paranimph and encomiast of thy praises, if my eloquence could attain to thy merits? But I love better to hold my peace therein, than to speak too littlethereof. And continuing my discourse, I will speak of the strange conversion of mine own proper person: although that Cato saith, Nec telaudaris, nec te culpaveris ipse, 
A great clerk, good latinist and singulat versifier.  thou shalt neither praise thyself, neither shalt thou blame thyself, yet I will freely confess unto you, that before this holy enterprise of the union, I was no great devourer of the crucifix, and some very near about me, and that haunted me most familiarly, have had in opinion, that I did a little smell of the faggot, because that being a young scholar, I took pleasure in reading the books of Caluin, and being at Tolouze, I had mingled myself to preach and teach in the night with the new Lutherans, and afterwards made no great conscience nor difficulty, to eat flesh in Lent, nor to he with my sister, 
A beast: for abusing thy sister and God's word also.  following the examples of the holy patriarchs of the Bible. burr since that I had signed the holy league, and the fundamental law of this estate, accompanied with double ducats, and of the hope that I had of a red hat, no man hath doubted touching my belief, neither hath there any further inquiry been made, touching either my conscience, or my carriages. Verily I confess, that I own this grace of my conversion next after God, to Monsieur the Duke d'Espernon, who (having upbraided me in the Council with that, whereof none doubted in Lions touching my sister in law) was the cause, that of a great politic, and a very slender Caluinist that I was, 
From evil to worse.  I became a great and coniuredleaguer, as I am at this present the director and ordainor of secret affairs, and such as import the estate of the holy union, neither more nor less, than blessed Saint Paul, who of a persecutor of christians, was made the vessel of election. This is the cause wherefore he faith: where sin hath abounded, there shall grace also abound. Doubt not then any more to continue firm and constant in this holy party, full of so many miracles, and of strokes from heaven, of which you must needs make a fundamental law. As touching the necessities and oppressions of the clergy, you shall or may advise thereof, if it please you, for for my regard, I will put pain that my great pot be not overthrown, and I shall always have credit with Roland and Ribault, that will not fail to pay me my pensions, from whatsoever part silver come. Every one will advise to provide for himself, if he think it so good, and for my part I desire not peace, unless first I may be a Cardinal, as they have promised me, 
If thou mayest be judge.  and as I myself have well deserved. For without me Monsieur the Lieutenant could not be in the degree where he is, because it was me myself, that retained the late Duke of Guise his brother, who would willingly have gone from the estates of Bloys, distrusting of some deaf devise and ambushment of the tyrant: but I caused him to remain, and to wait for a dispatch from Rome, which should be brought me within three days, and that was the cause, why Madam his mother here present, hath many times reproached me, that I was the cause of his death: whereof Monsieur the Lieutenant and all his, aught to yield me thanks, because that upon this pretext, and to revenge this goodly death of his, 
Hot passions and bad persuasions.  we have stirred up the people, and taken occasion to make another King. Courage therefore, courage I say my friends: fear not to expose your lives, and that which remaineth of your goods for Monsieur the Lieutenant, and for them of his house. These are good princes and good Catholics who love you to the full and on the ridge. Speak not here of abrogating from him his power, which some murmur and mutter, that it was not given him but until some next holding or assembly of the Estates: but these are the accounts of the Stork. They that have tasted this morsel, they will never bite. Would you demand a more goodly and brave king, and one that is more gross, and more grass or fatty than he is? 
Good parts to commend to a kingdom.  He is (by S. james) a fair piece of flesh, and I think you cannot find one that overweigheth him. Messieurs, of the nobility, that keep the towns and castles, in the name of the holy union, are you not very glad to levy and gather up all the taxes, tenths, aids, shops, fortificatious, watches, imposts, and that which is given for all wares, as well by water as by land, and to take your rights and customs upon all prices, ransoms, and pillages, without being bound to make an account thereof to any man? Under what King would you find a better condition? You are Barons: you are Counties and Dukes in the propriety of all the places and provinces which you hold. You command absolutely therein, 
Right as can be, of clubs, spades and all save the hearts.  and as it were kings of the cards. What would you have better? Leave and forget these glorious names of French monarchy, and remember no more your ancestors, nor them who have enriched and ennobled you. To be brief, he that standeth well, let him not remove himself. As touching you, Messieurs, the ecclesiastical persons, of a truth I lose my Latin in speaking to you, and I see very well that if the war last, there will be a shameful number of poor priests: but also hope not you for your recompense in this brittle and frail world, 
What text showeth that?  but in heaven where the crown of eternal glory waiteth for them that shall suffer and die for the holy League. Let him save himself that can. As concerning myself, I am capable enough to bear and wear a red hat, but to remedy & meet with the necessities and oppressions of the Clergy, it is not in my power, neither indeed will my gouts give me leave or leisure to think thereupon. Notwithstanding, I fear one thing, that is, that if the King of Navarre revoke the passports and strive for benefices, which he hath given to the Monasteries and chapters, 
Prayer for their patrons.  there will be danger lest ye all cry to the murder, after the holy father, and Monsieur the Legate, and the most reverend Cardinal here present, that might well leave the boots in France, if they did not in good time save themselves beyond the mountains. I leave it to my masters the preachers, to hold always in breath their devout parishioners, and to repress the insolency of these demanders of bread or of peace. They know the passages of scripture, to accommodare cheni to their purpose, and to turn them and to use them to the occasions as they shall have need. For it was nover said for nought, that the Gospel is, 
A homely resemblance, & a foul abusing of scripture following.  a tripe wife's knife, that cutteth on both sides: according to that, And out of his mouth there went a sword sharpened on either side: And as the Apostle S. Paul saith: The word of God is lively and effectual, and more piercing than a two edged sword. Now that which for the present most importeth our affairs, is to build and set up a fundamental law, by which the French people shall be kept and held to suffer themselves to be coyffed, biggened, haltred, and lead at the appetite of my masters that sit in chairs and pulpits: yea they shall suffer themselves to be barked and peeled to the very bones, and their purses to be cleansed even unto the bottom, without speaking a word, or ask any cause why. For you Messieurs know, that we have to do with our pensions. But above all, cause oftentimes to be renewed the oaths touching the union, upon the precious body of our Lord, and continue the brotherhoods of the name of jesus, and of blessed S. Francis: for these are good collars for the rascal people, with which matter we charge the honour and conscience of our good fathers the jesuits, and we recommend also unto them our spies, to the end that they continue to cause to be held surely our news in Spain, and receive also secret mandates from his Catholic majesty, for to cause them to be kept for Ambassadors, Agents, Curates, convents, Churchwardens, and Masters of brotherhoods: and that in their particular confessions, they do not forget to forbid under pain of eternal damnation to desire peace, 
Counsel fit for one that should be a Cardinal to give.  & much more to speak of it, but to in●… borne and make stiff the devout Christians, to sacking, to blood, and to fire, rather than to submit themselves to the Biarnois, though indeed he should go to Mass, as he bathe given in charge to his Ambassadors thereof to assure the Pope. But we know well enough the counterpoison, if this should fall out, & we would give good order, that his holiness should believe nothing of it, and though he should believe, 
The end of all.  yet he should do nothing, and though he should do, that we would receive nothing of it, if I be not Cardinal. 
Better a bad example than none.  And why should not I be, seeing Master Pier de Frontac, being but a simple advocate of Paris, of the time of King john, was so well, for having diligently defended the causes of the Church? And me that have forsaken my master, and betrayed my country, to uphold the greatness of the holy Apostolic sea, should not I be so? And I will be so: yea I assure you I will be so, or my friends shall fail me. I have spoken.  
After that the said Lord Archbishop had finished his Epiphonema, 
It was fit it should be so.  with great moving of the body and contention of voice, he did very basely demand permission of Madame de Montpensier, to withdraw himself to change his shirt, because he had overheate himself in his harness. The beadle of Monsieur the Rector, which was at his feet, caused the press to be reffed into two: afterwards sliding down by the seats of the deputies, my said Lord the Rector Roze, clothed with his Rectorall habit above his roche and portable camail of a Bishop, putting off his cap divers times, began thus.   

The Oration of Monsieur the Rector Roze, beretofore Bishop of Senlis.  
MOst famous, most noble, 
As right as can be.  and most Catholic Synagogue: even as the virtue of Themistocles waxed hot, by the consideration of the triumphs and trophies of Miltiades: so do I feel myself to have my courage in warmed, in the contemplation of the brave discourses, of this river of rhetoric and flood of eloquence, I mean Monsieur the Chancellor of the lieutenancy, 
Oh what source there is in elvish examples.  who cometh to triumph in speech. And after his example, I am moved with an untolerable ardure, to set out my rhetoric, and to set upon a stall my merchandise in this place, where oftentimes I have made preacliments that by the means of the late King, have made me of a miller to become a Bishop, 
Great preferments.  as by your means, I am of a Bishop become a miller. But I think that I have sufficiently declared by my passed actions, that I am not ingrate, and that I have not done any thing, but that which I have seen to be done, by divers others of this noble assistance, who yet have received more benefits than me of the dead King, and have notwithstanding bravely chased him out of his kingdom, and caused him to be murdered, for the good of the Catholic faith, under hope to have much more, as we were gently promised. Now I will not here rub again the things passed, 
It needeth not.  nor catch your benevolence by a long exordium or entrance, but summarily I will tell you, Messieurs, that the eldest daughter of the King, I say not of the King of Navarre, but of the King that we shall choose here, if God be pleased, and waiting for that I will say, the eldest daughter of Monsieur the Lieutenant of the Estate and crown of France, the university of Paris doth declare unto you in all observance, that from her very swaddling clouts, and first beginnings, she hath not been so well nurtured, mannered, modest and peaceable, as she is now, by the grace and favour of you the rest Messieurs. For in steed that we were wont to see so many men and women sellers of old apparel, sellers also of old mantles, pattens, great pots, & other sorts of wicked people to run up and down the streets, 
Notable orders.  to haunt brothel houses, to draw wool, and to brawl with the cooks of the little bridge, you see no more a man of such people throughout all the colleges: All the supposts of the faculties and nations, that made hurlie burlie for the suits of licenses, appear no more: they play no more these scandalous plays, and biting satires upon the scaffolds of colleges, and ye see there a goodly reformation, all these same young regents being retired, that in disdain would she we it, that they knew more Greek and Latin then other men. These factions amongst the master of arts, wherein they did beat one another with the blows of their caps and their hoods, are ceased: all these scholars of great or good house, little and great have given us the slip. The book sellers, printers, binder's, guilders, and other people of paper and parchment, to the number of more than 30000. have charitably divided the wind, in a 100 quarters, to live thereof, and have yet left sufficient for them that have remained behind them. The public professors, who were all royal and politics, come not any more to break our heads, and trouble our brains with their orations, and with their congregations in the three Bishops, 
Spoken cunningly, & like an Alchemist.  they have put themselves to do Alchemy, every one by himself. Briefly, all is quiet and peaceful: and I will say much more unto you. Heretofore in the time of the politics and heretics Ramus, Galandius and Turnebus, no man made profession of letters, unless he had with a long hand and great charges studied, and gotten arts and sciences in our colleges, and passed through all the degrees of the scholastical discipline. But now by the mean of you the rest Messieurs, and the virtue of the holy union, and principally, by your blows from heaven, Monsieur the Lieutenant, the butter men and butter wives of Vanues, the ruffians of Mont-rouge, and of Vaugirard, the vine dressers of Saint Cloud, cobblers of Villejuifue, 
A monstrous change.  and other catholic cantons, are become Masters in arts, bachelors, principals, prefidents, and bousiers of colleges, regents of classes, and so sharp, subtle and argute Philosophers, that better than Cicero, now they dispute de inuentione, 
Or rather Assodidactos.  that is of invention, and learn every day to be aftodidactos, that is teachers of themselves, without any other Master than you, Monsieur the Lieutenant, they learn I say, to die of famine, perregulas, that is to say, by rules. Also now you hear no more in the classes that clamorment and brawling of latin, amongst the regents, that did batter and beat the ears of all the world: in steed of this bablerie and peddlers French, you hear every hour of the day the Argentine harmony, 
marvelous Metaphors.  and the very idiom and proper speech of kine, and weaned calves, and the sweet singing of asses, and of swine, as if it were of the nightingales, that stand us in steed of clocks or bells, for the first, second, and third. Sometimes heretofore we were wondrous desirous, to learn and to have the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin tongues, but at this present we have more need of an ox or neat's tongue salted and powdered, that would be a good commentary, I can tell you, after our oaten bread. But le Mains and Laval, and these infallible weigh Masters of Angers, with their Capons of high grease, and their wonderful fat hens, have deceived us as well as the tongues, and we have no more but a sour and bitter remembrie of these same academical messengers, that came down or lighted at the cross, and other famous Inns, in the harp street, and that at the day and very point of time named, to the great contentment of the scholars waiting for them, and of their regents felling old garments. You Monsieur Lieutenant, are the cause of all this: and all these miracles and monstrous things are the works of your hands: 
A high commendation.  and yet it is true that our predications, preachments and decrees, have not hurt or hindered them: but yet for all that, you were the principal motive and instrument thereof: and to speak to you in one word, you have undone us, and more than undone us: Excuse me if I speak so, I will say with the Prophet David, Loquebar in conspecturegum, 
Such as you Monsieur are.  & non confundebar. I did speak in the sight of Kings, and I was not confounded, nay I did not blush, no more than a black dog. 
Whether wilt thou Rector.  You have I say so defiled and defamed this fair eldest daughter, this shamefast virgin, this flourishing damsel, the only pearl of the world, the diamond of this France, the carbuncle of the Kingdom, and one of the most white flower deluces of Paris, that foreign and strange universities make Greek and Latin sonnets thereof, Et versa est in opprobrium gentium, And it is turned into the shame of the nations. In the mean while my masters our doctors, find nothing therein but to laugh: for they have not the quodlibetarie questions so frequent: 
He would have said proceed.  there pass out no more Bachelors, Licenciats, nor Doctors, where they were wont to have their banquets, drink one to another and feasts, and did cram themselves up to the throat: the wine of Orleans cometh no more here, much less that of Gascoigne, so that all ergoes are ceased and laid aside. And though some one of these that are most Spaniolized by means of some double Ducats, and do receive some pension of the Legate closely or secretly, yet that is not as much to say that the others feel it. Moreover, Monsieur the Lieutenant, you have caused Louchard, 
And why not? for of like there should be the like consideration.  your steward or pursebearer, and a very zealous man, to be hanged, and have by consequent declared to be hangable, all they that have been present at the ceremony of the order of the union, which hath been given to the precedent Brisson. Now so it is, that all the young Curates, Priests and Friars of our university, and our other Doctors for the most part, 
That is, we are caught in the lime twig.  we have all been promoters of this tragedy, therefore gluc. And I tell you, that if you had not basted yourself to come, we had indeed served our turns with others, and we had not remained in so fair a way, and such speech at this day is very high to them, whose teeth could have done no evil, if you had yet lingered but three days to come. But to come back to my first theme, I argument thus: Louchard and his companions were justly hanged, 
Doctorly done  because they were gallowclappers and deserved hanging. Atqui, but the more part of our other Doctors were consorts and adherents, and counsellors of the aforesaid hanged one: therefore crackropes, gallowclappers, are pendable, or worthy to be hanged. And it serveth to no purpose to allege the abolition that was granted unto us, touching the Catholic tholike murder, for the maxim of the law will be strong, Remissio non dicitur nisiratione criminis: that is, remission is not said to be, but as in regard of a crime, the aforesaid abolition not being able to abolish the merited pain, no though you should mollify or soak it a hundred times in the Catholicon of Spain, which is a soap that scoureth, and that clean away, every thing. And therefore we must necessarily argument thus in Baroquo. 
He concludeth in mood and figure full finely.  Whosoever causeth zealous Catholics to be hanged, is a tyrant, and favourer of heretics: but Monsieur the Lieutenant hath caused Louchard to be hanged and his companions, the most Catholic Catholics, and zealous zealous above all: therefore Monsieur the Lieutenant is a tyrant, and favourer of heretics, worse than Henry of Valois, who pardoned Louchard, & la Morliere, worthy of the gibbet, three years before the barricadoes. And that it is not so, I prove the minor, à maiori ad minus: that is, from the greater to the less. That Biarnois held in his hands prisoners, the principal heads of the League, as Boisdaulphin, Pescher, Fontaine, Martel, Flavacourt, Tramblecourt, the Cluzeaux, and many other, that own me thanks, if I name them nor, whom he caused not to be hanged, though he were able & might have done it before: 
Well spoken, and like a Divine.  Quia non vult mortem peccatoris, sed ut resipiscat: that is, because he will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent, as some have done: and notwithstanding he is an heretic, or accounted for such a one: Ergo, Monsieur the Lieutenant is worse than an heretic, because he hath caused to be hanged his best friends, who put the bread into his hands. To say that this was done, ad maiorem cautelam: that is, for better heed and greater subtlety, or to bring down the pride and insolency of the sixteen, that is good: notwithstanding in the mean while they were hanged. And this saying cannot hinder, that we be not always judged and reputed great dolts & blockheads, that is in Latin and French sots, for that we have endured him so long: and which is worse, that the politics may conclude in mood and figure, that Sorbonne can err: a matter I tell you, that would make me once again to become mad, and run up and down the streets. For if this one should have place, we should never be able to prove, by all the flowers of our rhetoric, nor by all the fundamental laws of the kingdom, on which Monsieur of Lions hath relied so much, and made so great reckoning, that so many ten thousands of poor christians, as we have made, and daily do make to die, with sword, 
Death for treason, counted martyrdom, with these reverend doctors.  with famine, with fire, by our headlong decree, should be judged true martyrs, if it be so that our foresaid decree be not able to absolve them from the oath of fidelity and natural obedience, that subjects own unto their Prince. Wherefore Messieurs, I supplicate you, in the name of our Academy, to cover with a cloak this worthy fact here, the most catholicly that you can, as Monsieur the Legate doth the intentions of Pope Sixtus, who loved not the League so dearly as some said he did. Furthermore, I will furnish you with so many places and passages of scripture, as you would have, for I have of them even to sell again. But above all things, I recommend unto you, 
The belly hath no ears, though it have a mouth to speak.  Messieurs, our pensions, and of my masters or fellow Doctors of the holy faculty of theology, as also of my masters the Curates and Preachers for whom I speak. For you have to do with us, and you are not able to pass these things. And Madam of Montpensier knoweth well enough to say, that she gained more towns, and dispatched more work with a very few double Ducats, which she distributed to the preachers and Doctors, than the King of Navarre did with all his taxes and armies. I do in good time advertise you, that if you furnish and fit not the appointment, there is danger, lest we give ourselves wholly over to prove, 
He meaneth their rents and revenues, ordinary or extraordinary.  that it is best to have a lawful King, though wayward and wicked, seeing he will leave unto us the bread of the chapter, and purgatory, without innovating any thing till the Council that shall be. But in expecting that, advise ye whether we shall make a King or no. I know that Monsieur the Lieutenant would gladly be he: so also would his nephew be: and likewise his brother the Duke of Nemours: and I doubt not, but that the Dukes of Savoy and of Lorraine have as great desire of it: for of a truth they have as much right to it one as another. Now concerning Duke Mercury, his agents will do as much for it as he himself. If he had taken in good faith and earnest Don Anthonio the King of Portugal, 
Practise to apprehend Don Anthonio.  and had delivered him to his very good friend, the most Catholic King, as he promised him, I believe that he would have been content with the rights and claims that he hath to the Duchy of Bretaigne, like unto those which his grandfather john had by his wife. But here, he that is not he, taketh not he. First of all, I counsel you not to stay yourselves upon the Duke of Savoy, or upon the Duke of Lorraine: for they are not (in speaking with reverence) but cod or bladders that have enough to do in their own house: and I assure myself that they will be content with very little. If you will leave to the Savoyard, Dauphin & Provence, with some little part of Lionnois & of Languedoc (yet so that you make him to take Geneva also) I would engage my life that he will demand no more of you, 
If you can, or be able.  but the confiscation of Esdiguieres. 
The name of a worthy man that holdeth him touch.  As touching the Duke of Lorraine, take from him the Dukedom of Bovillon, and give him Sedan, Mets, all Champagne, and part of Bourgongne, which is for the good seating of him, you shall appease him afterwards for a morsel of bread, though it be but brown. I come now unto you Monsieur of Guise, the son of a good father and of a good mother, one whom the prophecies have of long time destined to kingdoms and empires, and have surnamed you Pepin the short, or curtalled. You, behold you, upon the point to be another great Charles the great, your great great grandfather, if the fair or market hold. But regard, I pray you, that you suffer not yourself to be deceived. These Messieurs of Spain, 
Spaniards painted out.  although they be our very good friends & good Catholics, be not merchants at one word, and buy & sell with no more: and that is found true in them, not at this time only, for there are almost two thousand years since that they have meddled with more matters than they should, and that men have given them this name to be fine and cunning in doubling of points. They promise you this divine damosel or daughter in marriage, to make her a Queen in solidum, that is, altogether and wholly with you: but take you heed that the Duke de Feria have not filled his seats signed without charge. He hath a box full of such things, wherewith he serveth himself upon all occurrences, as of a last for every shoe, and as one saddle for all horses: he dates them, or he antedates them with his chamber pot when pleaseth him. I have fear, something that he hath propounded unto us, that this is nothing but art and subtlety to amaze us withal, when he hath seen that we will not understand, or be of mind to break the law Salic. If you have but never so little nose, you shall smell it. For we know in good part, that the marriage is already accorded of her and of her cousin the Archduke Ernest. Add, that is, join hereunto, that those of the house of Ostrich do as the jews do, that do not marry but in their tribe or family, and hold one another by the tail as hannekins and hannetons do.  
Leave of therefore this vain hope of Gynecocratie, 
That is government of women together.  and believe that little children mock at it, and go from it to mustard. I heard the other day one, that coming very bravely from the tavern, did sing these four verses.  
The League finding itself flat nosed,  
And the Leaguers much without repose,  
Advised themselves of a fetch, which is  
To make a King without a nose.  
But if I had been able to have made him to have been caught by the commissary Bazin, who ran after him, he had had no less than the miller that mocked our Estates. What will you say to these impudent politics, that have put you in a shape in a fair leaf of paper, 
A pretty devise.  already crowned as a king of the cards, by anticipation, and in the same leaf have also put the figure of the said infant or daughter, crowned for Queen of France as you, you regarding huze a huze one the other? And in the neither part of the said painture, have placed these verses, which I have kept by heart, because that therein it goeth as on your side.  
The French Spanalized have made a King of France,  
To the daughter of Spain they promised have this King:  
Aroyaltie very small, and of slender importance:  
For their France is comprised within Paris, a strange thing.  
O Hymen marriage god, for this cold marriage  
Thy quiet torch, I pray at this time do not bring:  
Of these disjoined corpse, men set out the image,  
That make the love of eyes both two within one thing.  
It is a royalty only in show most sure:  
Deceit and not true love hatched hath this marriage:  
Good cause that being King of France in portraiture,  
They cause him to espouse of a Queen the image.  
If Monsieur of Orleans in the quality of Advocate general, would cause to be searched out these same wicked politic Printers, it is his charge, and they might be known by their characters, and his good gossips Bichon, N. Nivelle, Chaudiere, Morel, and Thiere, will discover the matrice. Touching myself, I willingly forbear it, for these heretics are evil speakers as devils, & I should fear they would make some book against me, as they did against the Catholic Doctor and Lawyer Chopin, under the name of Turlupin. 
And never mend it is likely.  Messieurs of the hall, or place of hearing, will therein do their duty, more & loco solitis, after their wont manner and place. I will hold myself content to preach the word of God, to maintain my Beadles, and carefully to solicit my pensions. Let all this be spoken by a parenthesis. But Monsieur de Guise my good child, believe me, and you shall believe a very fool: stay no more upon that, 
Never better spoken.  it is not food for our fowls or birds. Lift not up your train for all this: we do not enlarge or make longer your table by reason of this. There is hay: there are none but beasts that delight in it: but do better: obtain of the holy father a crusade, or an expedition and voyage against the Turks, and go and reconquer that goodly kingdom of jerusalem, which appertaineth to you by reason of Godfrey, your great uncle, even as well as that of Sicily and the kingdom of Naples. How many sceptres and crowns are prepared for you, if your horoscopus lie not, as you yourself are wont to say, that you have not a limited fortune. Leave this same wretched and miserable kingdom of France to him that will vouchsafe to take the burden of it. It is not fit that your spirit borne for Empires, and the universal monarchy of the habitable world, should stoop to so small morsels or matters, and unworthy of you and of your late father, 
A careful caution.  whom God absolve, if it be permitted to speak so of Saints. And you monsieur the Lieutenant, to whom I must needs now speak. What think you to do? you are gross and fully paunched: you are heavy and deformed: you have head big enough indeed to bear a crown. But what? you say you will none of it, and that it would too much over burden you. The politics say, that the fox said so touching mulberries which he would feign have had. 
The fox will eat no grapes.  You hinder under hand that your nephew should not be choose: you forbidden the deputies, that none of them be so bold as to touch this great string of the royalty or kingdom. What shall we do then? We must have a King: who as the politic doctors say, is better taken than sought. You make the K. of Spain believe, that you keep the kingdom of France for him, & for his daughter: & under this hope, you suck & draw from the honest man all that that the Indies and Peru can send him, he maintaineth unto you your plate, he sendeth you armour & armies, but not at your devotion or disposition. For he looketh to himself for all you, and he distrusteth you both one and other, as though ye were blind, 
A just judgement.  and taketh you as thieves. In the mean while, ye have provoked the sixteen, who accuse you to be a merchant of crowns, and have offered this of France to him that would give most. They make books of this to your prejudice, wherein they decipher all your actions. They say that you have close practices with the Biarnois, and cause words and messages to be carried unto him by Villeroy and Zamet, to lull him a sleep, and to cause him to understand that you are a good Frenchman, and will never be a Spaniard, and that you can give him Paris back again, and make peaceable unto him all his kingdom, when he shall have been at Mass, and acknowledged our holy father, and under this bait and deceit, you have drawn or gotten forty thousand politic crowns for three months, which indeed should be rated for four, 
A good arithmetician.  every one ten thousand crowns a piece, making you to understand that the Spanish King would pair and clip your distributions, if he knew that you treated concerning accord and agreement with heretics. But it is discovered that secretly you send your agents to Rome and into Spain, to let that the Pope should not give him absolution, if he demand it, and to stir up the King of Spain, to send new forces towards the frontiers, you think you are very subtle: but your subtleties and fetches are sown together with white thread: 
And therefore easily discovered.  in fine, all the world seethe them. For these politics have dragons in the fields, that take all your packets, and by devilish art divine and decipher all your ciphers, as also those of the King of Spain and of the Pope, though they be never so subtle and crafty, so well that they know all your affairs, both at Rome, and at Madrill, and in Savoy and in Germany. You juggle and deal craftily with all the world, and all the world doth deal so with you likewise. Danger there is that you become not that, that the County Saint Pol constable of France, in the time of King Lewis the eleventh was: who after that he had abused his master, and the Duke of Bourgongne, 
That is, lost his head in the place of execution, as we would say at Tyburn, or the tower hill.  and the King of England all at one time, in the end was made Cardinal in grieve. As for being King of your head, look not for it: your part is perished, frozen, or run into the fire: all your elders set themselves against it Your cousines competitors, would rather go and depart to the other sides, than to endure it, the sixteen make no more account of you, for they say that they have made you that that you are, and you hang them up and diminish their number as much as you can, the people had hope upon your word, that you would unlock and open the river, and make the wares and trade free: but they see to the contrary, that they are more locked up and straightened then before, and that the bread and the small good they have to live of, cometh not thorough your well doing nor by your valour, but of the liberality of the Biarnois, and of his good nature, or of the covetousness of the getters of it, which draw out of it all the profit. Briefly, the greater part believeth that you will prolong as long as you can, the lieutenancy, in the which men have placed you, and live always in war and in trouble, and yet well to your ease, well served, well entreated, well guarded of the Swissers and of the Archers, that there lacketh nothing, but the coats of arms, and the applause of the people to be King, whilst all the rest of the people dieth stark mad through famine. You will keep the pledges, and be the perpetual person, who will have the charge of, and look well to the goods that are vacant, which hindereth and prolongeth, as much as he can the deliverance of the things cried, lest he should render an account. 
Monsieur Lieutenants lets.  Besides you cannot be King by the marriage of the infant or daughter of Spain, you are married already, and would you put your finger in the hole? For you have ridden the old one, that keepeth herself well from the he Coat: and beside there must be another more lusty fellow than yourself, for this girl of thirty years, black as pepper, and of an oaken appetite. Moreover though we should have chosen you King, yet you should have to do with the Biarnois, who knoweth a thousand feats or pranks of Basque, and who sleepeth not but as much as he will, and at the hour that he will, who making himself a catholic, as he threateneth you he will do, will draw on his side all the potentates of Italy, and of Almain, and withal, the heart of all the French gentry, or gentlemen of France: of which you see already the greatest part, with so many poor afflicted towns, weary of their war and of their poverty, part to shake in the haft, and to make a writing of their retreat, that demand nothing else but that colour and good occasion, to withdraw themselves from the couple, & therewith to cover or colour their repentance. Do you dream thereof, Monsieur the Lieutenant for the like you have counterfeited the King, and ye have farted against, or like the Biarnois, in edicts and declarations, in seals, in guards, and great provosts, and masters of requests of your house. Though you would burst, and would blow up yourself, great as an ox, as doth the female frog, yet shall you never be so great a Lord as he, although some say, that he hath not so much fat upon all his body, as is able to feed a lark. But do you know what you do? I would counsel you, but that you have been Bigamus, or have had two wives, to make yourself an Abbot: 
A good preferment for so great a service.  whosoever shall be King, he will not refuse to bestow upon you the Abbey of Clugny, which is of your house: you love a fat sop or brewis as we say, and you thrust yourself willingly into the kitchen: you have a very ample and spacious belly, and so you shall be crowned, I say crowned with the same crown, and your crown made with the same cissers, 
It needeth not: an honest man may be taken upon his word.  that Madam your sister said hung at her girdle, to make the monkelike or frierly crown of the late Henry of Valois. You will not demand of me neither fidelity nor oath for this matter, but I am of this advise. I will not speak here of Monsieur of Nemours, your uterin (but the politics say adulterin) brother: 
Speak cleanly for shame.  he hath done his caca or needs in our little chests: he hath his purposes and attempts by himself, and is like to Picrocolus, that by discourses well reasoned of, made himself Monarch of the world, foot by foot. If he can govern the King of beasts, as he hath done the ship of Paris, I will say that he hath skill to do more, than Master Mousche, or fly. These beasts forget some times their governors, specially if they change their habit or attire: he shall not be ill parted with, if he come to his pretensions, whereto you Monsieur the Lieutenant, and Monsieur of Lions will do him, I believe, very good offices. The whole sum, Messieurs, you are too many dogs to gnaw one bone: you are jealous and envious one of another, and you can never tell how to agree, or live without war, that would put us into worse estate than before. But I will tell you: let us do, 
Deep counsel.  as they have done in the consistory, for the election or choice of a holy father: when two Cardinals sued and laboured for the popedom, the other Cardinals, for fear they should incur the hatred of the one or of the other, chose one amongst themselves, the weakest backed of them all, and made him Pope. Let us do so, you are four or five robbers in the realm, all great Princes, and such as have no want of appetite and stomach. I am of advise, that not one of you should be king: wherefore I give my voice to Guillot Fagotin, the keeper of Gentilly, a good vine dresser, and an honest man, who singeth well at the desk, 
A worthy example.  and knoweth all his office or service book by heart. This will not be found without example, in such times as this is: witness the Harelle of Roan, where they made king one named le Grass, or the fat, one as we would say, who was much worse advised than Guillot. And thus you see whereupon I found and ground mine advise. I have read sometimes the great and divine Philosopher Plato, who saith, that those realms are happy, where Philosophers are kings, and where kings are Philosophers. Now I know that it is little more than three years since that this good guardian of Gentilly and his family, together with his kine meditated day and night Philosophy, in a ball of our college, in which there is more than two hundred good years, that men have read and treated, and disputed publicly, philosophy, and all Aristotle, 
The place sanctifieth the person with these men, in all matters.  and all forts of good moral books. It is not possible that this good man having raved, slumbered and slept, so many days and nights, within these philosophical walls, where there have been made so many skilful lessons and disputes, and so many goodly words uttered, that there should not something thereof abide, that hath entered, pierced and penetrated into his brain, as it did to the poet Hesiodus, when he had slept upon mount Parnassus. And this is the cause why I persist and mean, that he may as well be king as another.  
Now as Monsieur Roze ended these words, there sprung out a great murmuring amongst the deputies, some approving, other some reproving his opinion, and the princes and the princesses were seen, to whisper in the ear one of another: yea it was hard that Monsieur the Lieutenant said very basely to the Legate, 
A prophesy and no lie.  this fool here will mar all our mystery. Notwithstanding, the foresaid Roze would have continued his speech: but when he saw the noise to begin again, with a certain general clacking of hands, he rose up in choler, and cried with a very loud and outstretched voice. How now, Messieurs? Is it permitted here to speak what one thinketh? Have not I liberty to speak and conclude my arguments, as Monsieur of Lion hath done? I know well that if I had been a courtier as he, I should not have named a person: for he hath charge from the clergy, to name County du Bouchage, Friar Angel, for the hope that this Prince loving change, would change also our miseries, into strokes or blows from heaven. But I pray you keep him to be are the golden torch in the battles: for it ought to be enough for him, that he hath quite forsaken the bag and the wallet. At these words every one began again to cry, to whistle, to hiss: and though the heralds, the ushers, porters and all cried aloud, 
Hush and be still: the word peace is a bullbeggar.  let every man hold his tongue (not daring to speak the word peace there) and that Monsieur the Lieutenant sundry times commanded them to make silence, yet it was not possible to appease the bruit and noise, in so much that the said Lord Rector, sweat, fret, foamed, and stroke with his foot, and seeing that there was no more mean to take his theme again, cried as loud as he could, Messieurs, Messieurs, I see well that you are in the Court of King Petault, where every one is master. I leave it to you, and you to yourselves: let another speak: I have spoken.  
And thereupon he set himself down again, mumbling very much, and wiping the sweat from his forehead, and there scaped from him, as some say, certain odoriferant belchings of the stomach, that smelled of the perfume of his choler, with certain words in a low note, 
Good stuff: but there can come nothing else from thece.  complaining that they had defrauded the assignation sent out of Spain, for my masters the Doctors, and that others had made their profit of it, but that this was the gold of Tholouze, which should cost them very dearly. At the last, the rumour beginning a little to be reappeased, Monsieur du Rieu the younger, County and gardien or keeper of Pierre-font, deputy for the Nobility of France, appareled with a little cape, after the Spanish fashion, and a certain high coppin tancked hat, lifted up himself to speak, and having twice or thrice put his hand to his throat, which did itch, he began in form following.   

The Oration of the Lord of Rieu, Lord of Perrierefont, for the nobility of the union. 
Or Roration rather, as you shall perceive by the things contained herein, and the manner of the handling thereof.   
MEssieurs, I know no cause why they have deputed me, to bear the word in so good a company, for all the Nobility on our side. I must needs say, that there is some divine thing or matter in the holy union, seeing that by the means thereof, of a commissary of the artillery, poor & miserable enough, I am become a gentleman, and the governor of a very fair fortressc, yea that I may equal myself to the greatest, and am one day to mount very high, either backward or otherwise. I have good occasion to follow you, Monsieur the Lieutenant, and to do service to this noble assembly, by black or by white, 
He dwelleth by evil neighbours.  by wrong or by right, seeing that all the poor Priests, Friars, and good people, devout Catholics, I assure you, do bring me candles, and adore me, as a S. Maccabee of times passed. This is the cause wherefore I give myself to the liveliest and quickest of the devils, that if any of my government thrust in himself to speak of peace, I run upon him as a grey or russet wolf. Let war live: there is nothing but to have it, of what part soever it befall. I see I cannot tell, what niceness of our nobility, that speak of preserving religion and the estate altogether: and that the Spaniards shall lose in the end the one and the other, if we suffer them to do it. Touching myself, I mean nothing of all this, provided that I levy taxes daily, and that they pay me my appointments, I care not what betid the Pope, 
Well and wisely added.  or the pretty wench his wise. I am after my intelligences to take Noyon: if I can bring it about, & to effect, I shall be Bishop of the town, and of the fields to, and shall make a mouth at them of Compeigne. In the mean while I chase the cow, and the inhabitant also, as much as I can, and there shall not be peasant, husbandman, or merchant round about me, and within ten mile's compass, that shall not pass by my hands, and that shall not pay me custom and ransom. I know inventions to make them come to reason: I give them whipcordes, 
A right comparison.  or the ends of cords tied with knots upon them, after the fashion of the Franciscane friars girdle: I hang them up by the arm holes: I heat their feet with a red hot frying pan: I put them in irons and in the stocks: I shut them up in an oven: in a chest that is powered full of water: I hang them as a capon to be roasted: I beat them with stirrup leathers: I salted them, I make them to fast: I tie them, being stretched out, within a fan. Briefly, 
If cruelty be gentleness.  I have a thousand gentle means to draw out the quintessence of their purses, and to have their substance, and to make them beggars and vagabonds for ever they and all their race. What care I for that so I have it? Let no man speak to me hereupon, touching the point of honour: I know not, what it meaneth. There are that boast they are descended of these old Knights of France that chased the Saracens out of Spain, and put King Peter again into his kingdom. Othersome say, that they are of the race that went to conquer the holy land with S. Lewis. Others, that they are come down from them that have sundry times placed the Popes again in their seats, or that have driven the Englishman out of France, and the Bourgognons out of Picardy, or that have passed the mountains for the conquests of Naples and of Milan, 
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  which the King of Spain hath usurped against us. I care not for all these titles and goodly conveyances, nor for arms, whether they were timbered or not timbered. I would be a villain of four descents or races, so that always I may receive taxes without yielding an account. I have not read, neither the books, nor the histories and Annals of France: & I have nothing to do with this, to know whether it be true, that there were Paladins and Knights of the round table, that made profession of nothing but of honour, and to defend their King and their country, and would rather be dead then receive a reproach, or suffer that one should do injury to an other. I have heard reckoned up by my grandmother, in carrying her butter to market to sell, that there had been sometimes one Gaston de Fois, one County de Dunois, one la Hire, one Poton, one captain Bayart, & others who became enraged for this point of honour, and to get glory to the Frenchmen. But I take my leave of their good graces as in this regard. 
An example or description of a lusty cutter, such a one as was Kain, Lamech, or Nimrod.  I have a good rapier and a good pistolet, and there is neither Sergeant, nor Provost of merchants, that dare summon or arrest me. Fall out what may, it is sufficient for me that I am a good Catholic. justice was never made for gentlemen, such a one as I my felse am. I will take the kine, and the cocks and hens of my neighbour, when it shall please me: I will raise up the rents of his lands: I will take them away again, and shut them up with mine own within my inclofure, and yet he shall not dare to mumble or grumble at it. All shall be for my good comeliness: I will not suffer my subjects to pay taxes or tolls, but to myself, and I counsel you, Messieurs the nobles, to do even so. And so indeed there shall be no need of treasurers and financiers, or recesuers of revenues, that may make themselves fat with, and use the substance of the people, as the coleworts of their garden. 
Ill sworn, and like a new upstart gentleman.  By the death of God, if I find either sergeant, or receiver, or man of justice doing exploit upon my lands, without demanding leave of me therefore, I will make them eat their parchemine: we have endured enough: are we not free? Monsieur Lieutenant, have not you given us licence to do all things? and Monsieur the Legate, hath not he laid the bridle in our necks, 
Good counsel of a ghostly father.  to take all the goods of the politics, to kill and to murder kinsfolks, friends, neighbours, father and mother, provided that therein we do our own businesses, and that we be good Catholics, without ever speaking either of truce or of peace? I for my part will do so, and I pray you also to do the like. But I have yet another thing to remonstrate unto you, that is, not to speak any more of this Salic law. I know not what it is, 
He meaneth double ducats.  but Seigneur Diego hath given it me by memory, with some round pieces that will do me great good. This in the whole is the matter, that we must go sack these same furred hoods of the court of Parliament, that play the gallants, and meddle with the affairs of the estate where they have nothing to do, but to see and behold. O that you would give them me but a little to manage: never did Bussie the clerk do his work so well. If Monsieur the Legate command me only to go to them, and put my hand on their neck or breast, there is not either square cap or hood, that I will not make fly about, if they heat mine ears over much, yea to this Monsieur Maistre, and to this du Vayr, that set all the rest in train. Monsieur Lieutenant, why give you not order for it? Know you not well, that the precedent de nullie hath told you, & named by name & by surname all they that have spoken for this wicked law? Why do you not send for them, and throw them into the river, as he hath counseled you? And this goodly fellow Marillac, that was so much heat at the beginning, 
Cruelty causeth it.  and spoke of nothing but fire and blood, I fear at the end he will become ban querout to the League, if they promise him to be Councillor of Estate to this Biarnois. Let us take heed of these people that turn their coats so easily, and follow the wind of fortune, when they see that their side goeth ill. 
O worthy commendation.  Ha brave Machault: Ha valiant Bourdeaux, you are worthy to be as myself exalted to the highest degree of the honour of nobility! Amongst the long gowns, I love none save you, and that famous precedent, which I will yet name here by honour, Monsieur de nullie, who besides the courageous beginning and progress that he hath made for the League, whereof he may be well said to be the putative father, 
Wickedness wrought by evil means, and therefore a double transgression.  hath worthily vouchsafed to expose his daughters, and to prostitute their reputation to the brothel house, that he might do service to Messieurs the Princes, and to my masters his Curates & Preachers. Shall I speak of also the heroical deed of that good man Baston, that so valorously signed the League with his own very blood, drawn out of his hand, which afterwards by miracle remained maimed and benumbed, so much would this glorious martyr suffer for the holy union? And thou noble are boutant of the union, Lewis of Orleans: thy catholic Englishman, and thy expostulation: and thy oration made in the favour and for the honour of the Legate, and of the Spany ards, did deserve that they should have put thee in the place of precedent Brisson: 
A good sentence ill applied.  but men recompense not good people as they should, no more than thy companion in office, for having written so curiously the laws of the uncle against the nephew. These are just and virtuous men, and not those dunghill churls, and beshitten fellows, who seeing that there was nothing more to be grabeled and sifted in their palace of this town, and that all their sacks were void and empty, or hung upon the hook, departed from hence and went to Tours, and to Chalons, where they knew that the manger was full, and the racks garnished. 
A ready, it may be a right judgement.  Brief, take away five or six of all this misled troop, all the rest is nothing worth, and the best to the devil. I cannot tell what these persons and people of justice have done unto me: and yet I love them not. I did once show my hand unto an old Gipsy woman, who told me that I had a round thumb, and that I should keep myself therefore from the round and half round. I believe that she meant to say from these people that wear the round cap. In fine Messieurs, I have charge from the Nobility, to remonstrate unto you that you must once again abate and take down the insolency of these hochebrides and swallowers of mists, and do your affairs whilst the weather is fair: If the law Salic be maintained and upheld, I fear lest Monsieur the Legate will be sore troubled therewith, and the infant or daughter of Spain be in danger to be shaven. But for this matter, I refer myself to Monsieur the Lieutenant, who hath good skill to break the stroke, and totricke his cousin's beard, yea and shave it to, and that without a razor. Furthermore, if you must needs choose a King, I pray you think upon me and my merits. Some have made me believe, that there have sometimes been chosen worse than me. 
If that can be.  The Lydians (but I know not what kind of people they are) made one, that did drive or hold the plough. The Flemings made one their Duke that was a brewer of beer: the normans, a cook: the Parisiens', a pillar of the bark of trees. I tell you I am more than all these: for my grandfather was a ferrier in France, or of France: and if he got hell, I shall gain paradise. Consider I beseech you Monsieur de S. Paul, now County of Rethelois, Mareschall of the union and Archbishop of Reims, who indeed had his father not long since dwelling in a cave or odd corner covered with straw nigh unto Nangy, 
A noble race, and worthy descent.  and who as yet hath his sisters married one of them with a taverner, and the other with a tysser maker: and yet behold he is Peer and Mareschall of France, and one that dareth money, but yet upon good pledges, to Monsieur de Guise his master and good benefactor. By this reckoning you may well make me King, and so you shall do well: for if you do, I will let you do all you would. I will abolish all these stables of justice, I will suppress all these Sergeants, Proctors, Pettifoggers, Commissaries, and Councillors, except them that be of our friends: but there shall be no more speech of summoning nor of seizing, nor of paying men's debts: ye shall be all as rats in the chaff, and it shall suffice me, if you call me Site. 
And good reason to.  But ye shall advise hereof. For the least, I know well that I am as well worthy of it, as another, and I will say nothing more of it but this, that I am thrust forward to go and execute mine enterprise upon Noyon, after that I shall have combated with the governor of this city: and hereupon I kiss the hands of your mercy.  
After that the Lord of Rieu had finished his military or soldierlike sermon, every one of the assistants declared by his countenance, that they had taken pleasure in his natural eloquence, for a man that had no letters or learning: and who might make good fruit, if he did so a long time in this world. Hereupon rose up one of the deputies, named the Lord Angoulevent, who very loudly caused them to understand, that he had a charge from the new nobility, & on the behalf of the honest men & masters of the union, to remonstrate unto them some thing of importance, touching this quality, and that it was reasonable, that he should be heard before the third estate, which was not composed or made but of town dwellers, requiring Monsieur the Lieutenant to cause audience to be given unto him, and calling upon the people of the King of the union, and namely the advocate general of Orleans (who sometimes before had written in the favour of the said nobility) to cleave unto his request, and speaking that he rose up, and stood altogether upright, upon the seat where he was set, and began to say, 
A very unmannerly interruption of a wise noble man.  Monsieur the twelfth: but suddenly he was interrupted by reason of a great noise of peasants, that were behind the deputies, which noise being a little ceased, he began again, Monsieur the twelfth, and by and by the noise arose more great than before, and yet he ceased not the third time to say, Monsieur the twelfth of May. And afterward arose up the Lord of Aubray, which had in charge to speak for the third estate, and contested that it did belong to none but to him, to speak that day of the barricades, and that they were never accustomed in France, to make more than three estates, and so he let that the deputy of the new nobility was heard, as being but a dependence, and a member of the said third estate. The said Lord of Angoulevent, disputed long time on his part, saying that every one was there for his money, and began again sundry times these three words, Monsieur the twelfth, and at every time he was interrupted. At the last as the rumour increased, and the factions for the one and the other were already heat, so far as to come for it to the blows of the fist, the advocate of Orleans remonstrated, that it was no more time now to rest upon the ancient forms, which were but for shoemakers and cobblers, nor yet upon the ceremonies of times past, save only in the fact of faith and religion: 
A strong exception, or else that will down also.  and that the assembly of the said estates should be unprofitable, if they did not all things therein after the new manner. And as for him that he had seen the remembrances and instructions of the new nobility, which deserved very well to be considered of. Notwithstanding considering now that it was some what late, and that Monsieur the Lieutenant was fresh and fasting, and the hour of Monsieur the Legates dinner was past, he required, 
Well added: for it is not easily done.  that the said Lord of Angoulevent should put his speech in writing, and deliver it up, and should hold his tongue, if he could: otherwise and for default thereof, he should be sent to the County de Choysie: which thing Monsieur the Lieutenant approved with his head. And the rumour being by little and little ceased, and the foresaid d'Angouleuent hardly set down again, the said Lord d'Aubray, deputy of the third estate, having laid aside his sword, spoke his oration very nigh after this manner.   

The oration of Monsieur d'Aubray for the third Estate.  
BY our Lady, Messieurs, 
A pathetical exordium.  you have given us a goodly speech. There is no need now that our Curates should preach unto us, that we ought to draw ourselves out of the mud, and to make ourselves clean. As touching that which I see by your discourse, 
It is a marvel, if ever they can come out.  the poor Parisiens' have enough of it already within their boots and it will be very hard, to pull them out of the mud and mire. From hence forth it is time for us to perceive, that the false Catholicon of Spain, is a drug that taketh men by the nose: and that it is not without cause, that other nations call us little quails, because that as poor quails that are hooded, and very credulous, the preachers and Sorbonists, 
No unfit resemblance.  by their enchanting quail pipes, have caused us even to give ourselves into the nets of tyrants, who have afterwards put us into a cage, and shut us up within our walls to teach us to sing: we cannot but confess, that we are at this time taken and made greater servants and slaves, than the Christians in Turkey, or the jews in Avignon. We have no more either will or voice in the chapter or assembly. We have no more any thing proper, or that we may well say this is mine. You, Messieurs, that set your foot upon our throat, and fill our houses with garnisons, have and possess all. Our privileges, franchises, freedoms and ancient liberties are overthrown, and taken away. Our town house, which I have seen to be the sure refuge of the succours of our kings in their urgent and weighty affairs, 
A sore change.  is become a but cherry: our court of Parliament is none at all: our Sorbonne is a brothel house, and the university become savage or wild. And yet the extremity of our miseries is this, that in the midst of so many mischiefs and needs, it is not permitted us to complain, nor to demand succour, and having death as it were between our teeth, we must of necessity say, that we are in good health, 
A pitiful and just complaint.  and that we are very happy, to be so wretched for so good a cause. O Paris that art no more Paris, but a den of outrageous beasts, and a citadel of Spaniards, Walloons and Neapolitans, a sanctuary and sure retreat of robbers, murderers and killers. Wilt thou never think again of thy dignities, and remember thyself what thou hast been, in comparison of that thou art? Wilt thou never cure thyself of this frenzy, that for a lawful and gracious king, hast begotten unto thyself fifty little kings, or wrens rather, and yet fifty tyrants? Behold thou art in irons: 
The spanish Inquisition.  behold thou art in the inquisition of Spain, more intolerable a thousand fold, and more hard to be borne and endured of spirits, that are borne liberal and free (as French men are) than the most cruel deaths that Spaniards can devise. Thou wast not able to bear a small augmentation and increase of taxes and offices, or some new edicts, 
The fruits of senseless treason.  that did not much import thee: and yet now thou indurest men to poll thy houses, to pill and to sack thee even unto blood, to imprison the Senators, to drive away, and banish thy good citizens, and counsellors, yea to hang and to murder thy principal magistrates. Thou seest this, thou indurest this: yea thou dost not only endure it, but thou dost approve it and praise it, and thou darest not, neither canst thou tell how to do otherwise. Thou couldst not support and bear with thy king, so gracious, so gentle, so easy, so familiar, that made himself a fellow citizen with thee, and burgess of thy town, that he enriched thee, that he hath garnished thee with glorious and sumptuous buildings, increased thy forts and stately ramperts, and adorned thee with honourable privileges and immunities. What say I, couldst not support and bear with? It is much worse. 
Kindness rendered for good.  Thou hast chased him out of his own town, out of his own house, out of his own bed. What, say I chased him? thou hast pursued him: what? pursued? thou hast murdered him, and canonised the murderer for a saint, and made bonfires for his death. And now thou seest how much that death of his hath profited thee. For that is the cause why another is ascended into his place, much more watchful, much more laborious, and a far better warrior, & that knoweth better to keep thee in, somewhat more straightly, as to thy damage and hurt thou hast already proved. I pray you, Messieurs, if it were permitted, to cast yet these last abois, in liberty, let us a little consider, what good or what profit hath come unto us, by this detestable death, which our preachers did make us believe, was the sole and the only mean to make us blessed. 
The great difference between good government and tyranny.  But I cannot discourse upon this point, but with very great grief to see things in the estate in which they are, in comparison of that they were then. At that time, every one had yet corn in his garner, and wine in his seller: every one had his vessel of silver or plate as we call it, his tapistry, and his costly movables: the women had then their girdles half of silver: the relics were hole and sound: they had not so much as touched the jewels of the crown. But now who is there, that can boast that he hath whereof to live for three weeks, unless it be these the eves and robbers, that have made themselves fat with the wealth of the people, and that have on all hands peeled and polled the movables, both of present and absent? Have we not by little and little consumed all our provisions, sold our movables, molten our vessel, and pledged all that we have to the garments on our backs, to live not only poorly, but very wretchedly and caitiff like? Where are our halls and our chambers so well garnished, and so decked with diaper and tapistry? Where are our feasts and banquets, and our liquorous and dainty tables? Lo we are brought to milk and white cheese like the Swissers. Our banquets are of a bit of beef, yea the beef of a cow, for all the messes and services we were wont to have: and happy is he that hath not eaten the flesh of horses and of dogs: and happy is he that always hath had oaten bread, and could make a little paste of it, with the broth of brawn sold at the corner of the streets, in the places where heretofore they did sell the delicious and dainty tongues, young quails, and legs of mutton. And it hath not been long of Monsieur the Legate, and of the Ambassador Mendoza, that we have not eaten our father's bones, as the savage and wild people of new Spain do. 
If he can, he is a man of no sense.  Can any man think of, or remember all these things without tears, and without horror? And they that in their conscience know well enough, that they are the cause thereof, can they hear speak of these things without blushing, and without apprehending the punishment that God reserveth for them, for so many evils and mischiefs whereof they are authors? Yea when they shall represent unto themselves the images of so many poor citizens, as they have seen fallen in the streets, all stark and stone dead through famine: the little infants and sucking babes to die at the breasts of their languishing mothers, drawing the breast for nothing, and not finding what to suck: the better sort of the inhabitants, and the soldiers to go through the town, leaning upon a staff pale and feeble, more white and more wan than images of stone, resembling rather ghosts than men: 
If they be so good, how bad are the rest  and the inhuman and discourteous answer of some, even of the Ecclesiastical persons, who accused them, and threatened them, in steed of succouring or comforting them. Was there ever barbarousness or cruelty like to that, which we have seen and endured? Was there ever tyranny and domination matchable to that, which we see and endure? Where is the honour of our university? Where are the colleges? Where are the scholars? Where are the public readings and lectures, to which people did run from all the parts of the world? 
Books turned into blades, a good change.  Where be the religious students in the covents? They have all taken arms, and behold they are become all of them unruly and wicked soldiers? Where are our chasses? Where are our precious relics? Some of them are melted and eaten up: other some are buried in the ground, for fear of robbers and sacreligious persons. Where is that reverence that men carried once, to the people of the Church or Clergy, and to the sacred mysteries? 
The devil a lie it is.  Every one now maketh a religion after his own manner, and divine service, serveth for no other use, but to deceive the world through hypocrisy: the priests and preachers have so set themselves on sale, and made themselves so contemptible, by their offensive life, that men regard them no more, nor their sermons neither, but when they are to be used to preach and spread abroad some false news. Where are the princes of the blood, that have been always sacred persons, even as the pillars and stays of the crown, and of the French Monarchy? Where are the Peers of France, that should be the first here to open to, & to honour the Estates? All these names, are no more but the names of porters, whereof some make litter for the horses of the Messieurs of Spain and of Lorraine. Where is the Majesty and gravity of the Parliament, heretofore the defender of Kings, and the mediator between the people and the Prince? 
A prison, as we would say here, the Fleet or Tower.  You have carried it in triumph to the Bastille: and authority and justice, ye have led them captive more insolently and more shamelessly, than the Turks would have done. You have driven away the best sort of people, and retained none but rascals or of scour: who are either full of passions or else base minded. Besides even of them that do remain, ye will not suffer so few as four or five to say what they think, and you threaten them also, 
He meaneth some kind of torture or torment.  to give them a billet, as unto heretics, or politics. And yet you would make men believe, that that you do, is for no other respect, but for the preservation of religion, and of the estate. This is well said: but let us a little examine your actions, and the carriage or behaviour of the King of Spain towards us: and if I lie one word, 
A fearful execration.  let Monsieur Saint Denis, and Madam Saint Genuiefue, the great patrons of France never help me. I studied a little while in the schools, and yet not so much as I desired: but since I have seen divers countries, and travailed into Turkey, and thorough out all Anatolia, and Sclavonia, even unto Archipelagus, and mare maior, 
A good touchstone indeed.  and Tripoli of Syria: where I found the saying of our Saviour Christ to be true: By their fruits ye shall know them. Men know sufficiently enough, what are the intentions and inventions of men, by their works and by their effects. First, I will speak it (and yet with an honourable preface) that the King of Spain, 
A mannerly man.  is a great prince, wise, subtle, and very advised, the most mighty, and having the greatest territories of all Christian princes, and that he should be yet so much the more, if all his lands, countries, and kingdoms were sure and joined one of them to another. But France which is between Spain and the lowe countries, is the cause that his separate and disjoined Lordships, 
No lie surely. Bear with bragging and lying a little.  cost him more than they are worth. For above all nations he feareth the French, as that which he knoweth to be most noble, and to have the greatest valour and impatience against the rest and rule of a strange people. And that is the cause, why being wise, provident, and well counseled as he is, since that he was constrained to make that miserable peace which was sealed and signed by the death of our good King Henry the second, 
Ah wily fox: but yet well discovered subtlety.  and not daring either openly to gainsay the same, or begin war, whilst that France was flourishing, united, agreed and of the same mind and will together, he endeavoured to sow division and discord amongst us ourselves: and so soon as he saw our princes to be miscontent, or to jar amongst themselves, he did secretly and closely convey himself into the action, and encouraged the one of the sides, to nourish and foster our divisions, and to make them immortal, and to busy ourselves, to quarrel and fight one with another, yea to kill one another, that whilst these troubles were amongst us, he might be left in peace, and so long as we did inweaken ourselves, to grow & increase, without loss and lessening. 
Plain & pregnant proofs.  This was the course and proceeding that he held, after that he saw the princes of Vendosme, and of Condie malcontent, who also drew and carried with them the house of Montmorencie and of Chastillon, and to set themselves against the advantageable advancements and proceed of your father, 
Blear eyed men and barbers, as it is in the proverb, are acquainted therewith.  and of your Uncles (Monsieur Lieutenant) who had invaded and usurped all authority and kingly power, in the time of young King Francis their nephew. I speak nothing but that all France, even to the smallest and basest of them, yea that the whole world knoweth. For all the bloody tragedies, which since that time have been played upon this pitiful scaffold of France, have all of them been borne and proceeded from these first quarrels, and not from the diversity or difference of religions, as without reason men do yet to this day, make the simple and idiots to believe. I am old and have seen the affairs of the world, as much as another, yea by the grace of God, and the goodness of my friends, I have been Sheriff, and provost of the merchants also in this city, in the time that men proceeded thereunto by free election, and that they did not constrain nor use violence to men, for their suffrages and voices, as you have done, 
Plain speech and particular application.  Monsieur Lieutenant, not long since minding and purposing to continue Monsieur Boucher at your devotion. But I remember yet those old times, as if it were but yesterday past, or this day present. I can remember well from the beginning of the quarrel, that fell out between Monsieur your late father, and late Monsieur the Constable, which proceeded from no other cause, but from the jealousy of one of them over another, both of them being the great minions and fauourits of Henry the second their master, 
Figulus figulun odit, as it is in the proverb.  as we have seen also Messieurs de joyeuse, and d'Espernon, under King Henry the third his son. Their first falling out was for the estate of great Master, which the King had given to Monsieur your father, when he made Monsieur of Montmorency Constable, who had been great Master before, and who had the King's promise, that the said estate should be reserved for his son. Another cause of their ill husbandry, or bad carriage of themselves, was the County de Dampmartin, which both of them had gotten after divers sorts: 
Sum ego mihi metipsi proximus: I love myself best.  and being entered into suit about the same, Monsieur the Constable got it by an arrest or decree. This did so alter and change them, that either of them endeavoured to east his companion out of the saddle, or as we say, to set him beside the cushion. And from thence proceeded the voyage, that Monsieur your father made into Italy, where he did no great matter, because that Monsieur the Constable (who caused him to be sent thither, that so he might the more quietly, wholly and alone possess the King) it may be hindered, or slacked the affairs: but he remained not long unpunished for it: for he was taken afterwards on S. Laurence day, while your father was absent, who being returned, did by a certain good hap, and the same indeed very wonderful, 
It was well done of the Guise to overcome evil with well doing.  take again the towns of Picardy (which we had lost) and Calais beside. And that he might the better revenge himself of the evil duties that he knew were done against him in his voyage, caused also the imprisonment of Monsieur the Constable to be prolonged, and forgot no art that might hinder or delay his deliverance, which gave an occasion to my Lords of Chastillon, to desire the aid, and to cast themselves into the arms and protection of the King of Navarre, this King's father, and of Monsieur the Prince of Conde his brother, who had married their niece. Also these two great houses fell into factions and partake, which were yet stirred up and incensed by the contention begun between the Prince of Conde, & Monsieur d'Aumale your uncle, for the office of the colonel of the light horse: there was as yet no mention of religion or Huguenots. Hardly did any know what was the doctrine of Caluin and Luther, 
A little fire maketh a great flame.  but by the death of them that we saw burn stiff in their opinions: and yet notwithstanding the matter of the wars, and of the enmities that we have seen, were then in preparing, and hath continued until this present time. But the truth is, that when my Lords of Chastillon, very courageous men, and not able to endure the injuries offered them, saw that the favour of your house did overtoppe theirs, and that they had not any mean to find credit and favour about the King, by reason of the lets that they of your race & house cast in the way, they were counseled to withdraw themselves from the Court, and as they were in their retreat, they showed themselves (but whether it were in good earnest, or of policy and prudence I know not) to favour the new Lutherans, who till then preached no where but in caves and dens, and by little and little joined themselves with them in faction and intelligence, 
It is not good to fall into the claws and paws of unreasonable men.  the rather to defend and keep themselves from your father & your uncle, then to attempt any stirring or bringing in of novelty, except then when the King, at the provocation of your uncle (who had made the Pope to write unto him thereabout) did himself take Monsieur d'Andelot at Crecy, and sent him prisoner to Melun. After this imprisonment, and that also of the Vidame of Chartres, and of certain counsellors of parliament, fell out the violent and miraculous death of the King, 
When the wicked rise up, men hide themselves.  which exalted your house to the sovereign degree of power, near about the young King Francis: and on the other side, did abate and almost altogether beat down the house of Monsieur the Constable, and of all those that did belong unto him. And this was then when his kindred (void of all hope of ordinary means, because that all was executed under the favour of your allies) joined themselves in secret intelligence with the Lutherans here and there scattered in divers corners of the kingdom. And though they had as yet but little credit with them, as who were people unknown unto them, and had not partaked, neither in the Supper, nor in Synod, or Consistory, notwithstanding by the means of their agents, well skilled and practised in secrets, they made that memorable enterprise of Amboyse, and assembled from all the quarters of the world, 
Taciturnity a good virtue.  and that with marvelous silence, such a great number of people, that they were ready at the day named, to accomplish a cruel execution upon your side, under this pretext to deliver the King out of the captivity, 
A judas amongst the twelve.  wherein your fathers and your uncles held him. But these good people could not keep themselves from traitors, whereupon followed the execution done at Amboise, which discovered also the authors of the faction. And thereupon ensued the rigorous commandment which they gave to the King of Navarre, and the imprisonment of Monsieur the Prince of Conde in the estates at Orleans, and sundry other heavy accidents too long now to recite: 
men's malice overthrown when God will.  which had continued and increased far worse, if the sudden death of the young King had not altered the course, and broken the blow, which some went about to cause to light upon these chiefest princes of the blood royal, and upon the family of Monsieur the Constable, and of the chastillon's. A man may easily judge, how much your house was shaken and tossed, as it were by this unlooked for death: and you may believe (Monsieur Lieutenant) that Monsieur your father, and Messieurs your uncles played all at one time, 
A fit comparison.  at one kind of game or blushing, as you might do if a man should bring you news of the death of your two brethren. But they lost not their courage no more than you do: and had afterwards very good counsels and consolations from the King of Spain (of whom we will speak by and by) who during these first dissensions was upon the skoutes, and watched to whom he might offer his favour, and how he might blow and stir the fire, on the one side & on the other, to make it to increase to that power and greatness, in which we have seen it, 
Holy purposes for so catholic a prince.  and do yet now see it burn and consume all France, which is the final but of his pretensions. Upon hope then of the support of so great a prince, which would not spare to promise men & money, your father without being astonished with so lumpish a fall, perceiving the King of Navarre to be placed in his rank of the first prince of the blood, for the safeguard of young king Charles, and Monsieur the Constable put in his charge or office again, knew so well & rightly to play his ball, that he practised them both, 
The recovery of Navarre & some such conceits.  and drew them to his lure, against their own brethren, and against their own kinsmen: feeding one of them with a hope that I dare not speak of, and flattering the other by submissions and honours, that he bestowed upon him. And this he did so artificially and well, that entering again into the paths and ways that he had forsaken, and taking his old advantage, after that Monsieur the Prince of Conde was set at liberty (who had fairly prevented him but two or three days only) he went with a number of men of war, and in great troops, to seize the young King and the Queen his mother at Fountainebleau, & brought them to Melun. And this was then when my said Lord the Prince, and Messieurs of Chastillon, perceiving themselves, neither by their head, nor by their houses, strong enough to resist so puissant enemies, covered with kingly authority and power, became Lutherans at one clap, and declared themselves to be heads & protectors of the new heretics, whom they called to their succour, and by their means did in open war seize and take many great towns of the kingdom, without making yet any mention of their religion, but only for the defence of the King and of his mother, and to deliver them out of the captivity & bondage, wherein Monsieur your father held them. And you Monsieur Lieutenant know, that these people always boasted, that what they did as in this behalf, it was at the request and commandment of the Queen Mother, whose letters written and sent by her to them for that purpose, they have caused to be published and imprinted. You are not ignorant of that which passed in this war, and how afterwards the King of Spain sent your father succour, but yet the same such, 
Fit fellows to fight a field.  as I am ashamed to speak of it: all labourers and handicrafts men, gathered together, who would never fight at the battle of Dreux, but covered themselves with the wagons and carriages appointed for the baggage. Notwithstanding, this was a bait to enkindle the courage of the partakers, and to cause them to hope that they should indeed some other time do some advantageable thing, if they would yet once again come to fight together. But afterwards the divers change and alterations of our affairs, did indeed offer unto the Spaniard another sport. For your father being dead, and peace being made, knowing notwithstanding these mighty families animated and stiffly set one of them against another, and that without hope of reconciliation, 
When a bad cannot prevail, a worse will be provided.  he practised Monsieur the Cardinal your uncle (which on his behalf did not sleep) to maintain the troubles and divisions in this realm, under the beautiful name of religion, of which in former time men made little or no account. Monsieur your uncle, 
Cardinal of Lorraine commended.  being (as he was indeed) witty, and pleasing whom he would, had skill in such sort to gain the heart of the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother the heart of the King her son, that he persuaded them, specially the Queen mother, that Messieurs the Princes of Bourbon, aided by them of Montmorency and Chastillon, sought nothing but her ruin, and would never be quiet or leave off, till they had driven her out of the realm, and sent her into Italy to her kinsfolks. God pardon that good Lady. 
A devout prayer for a holy woman.  But for the apprehension and conceit that she had of these things, I fear much that she was the cause of many evils, that we saw in her time. For upon this matter, she did so hate them, that she never ceased till she had destroyed them, as she did the one of them in the battle of jarnac, and the other at the massacre of S. Bartholomew, where if all they of Montmorency had been found, they had had no better market of it then the rest. To which point Messieur your uncle, did very nimbly put his hand, and valiantly pushed or lifted at the wheel, that so he might put fire in the head of that young King Charles: without whose death we need not doubt, but that he had had the like scorn, that Monsieur the Mareschall of Montmorency gave him and Monsieur your brother in this town, 
Doughty Dukes, and very cleanly,  when he made them do all in their breeches, because they bore weapons and armour forbidden them, without his passport and leave. But it seemeth, that the sudden death of these their Kings one after another, did always break & set out of square the goodly attempts of your house, and saved, or at the least prolonged the lives of your principal enemies. Now let us come to that which fell out afterwards, for it is time to speak of you, and of Monsieur your brother, who began from that time forward to appear in arms, and to walk in the footsteps and tracts of your predecessors. 
A farthel of frumps against Duke du Mayenne.  You have already caused your valours and valiances to appear in the siege of Poitiers, which you bravely defended, contrary to the advise of the first husband of Madame la Lieutenant, Monsieur of Montpezat, your predecessor, who counseled you to forsake all, and to get you packing thence. Afterwards you were at the battle of Montcontour: and after that, at the journey or exploit done upon S. Bartholomews' day: where the companions on the other side were taken napping, if not on sleep, and provoked to say, whence come you. 
Cardinal of Lorraine.  And though Monsieur your uncle at that time was turning over his porteous in Italy, yet the play was not performed without his intermeddling, and seeking to have the King of Spain's approbation of it, & the Pope's absolution, touching the marriage, which seemed for a lure, and a trap also to the Huguenots. Afterwards you continued your blows at the siege of Rochel, where men did perceive, that he that is at this day the King of Navarre, and Monsieur your brother, were but one heart & one soul: 
Men may mask, but dissimulation will break out.  and their great purity and familiarity, engendered jealousy and suspicion in all the world. But we must come to the matter. When you saw that King Charles was dead, who otherwise did not love you very much, & had sundry times repeated the saying of the great King Francis, 
For he had no cause so to do.  whereof he himself had made these four verses, now very rife and common in every man's mouth.  
King Francis was no whit beguiled,  
When he foretold that the Guisian race  
Would spoil his sons of all they had,  
And leave his subjects in worse case.  
When you saw him, 
A step to the sceptre as they thought.  I say dead without children, and the late King his brother married with your barren and unfruitful cousin, you began (Monsieur your brother and you I mean) to attempt and assay many practices and plots, which many people said were the cause of all our miseries. I am not of that number which believe that Messieurs your father and uncle, had from their time laid the foundation of the building that your brother & you have builded since, though there be that speak of the notes of David and of Piles, who have better than Nostradamus prognosticated & foretold all that which we have seen since their death: and though some assure ys, that Monsieur your uncle, 
Cardinal of Lotraine.  had framed a certain form of all the order that was to beheld therein. But I cannot believe, that he that had as much understanding as a man could have, could hope to make his nephews kings of France, seeing as yet three brethren, children of the King's house in the right line, all of them very puissant, and in the flower of their age, ready to be married; and be could not divine or guess, that they should die without issue, as they did afterwards. Besides, he saw a great number of the Princes of the royal blood, that kept not themselves warm with the rob of heretics; that should have cut off all hope from his desires. I know very well that in his time, he was the author that the Archdeacon of Thoul writ this much, 
A pedigree published, but to small purpose.  that those of the house of Lorraine were descended from Charles the great, by the males, that is to say, of Charles Duke of Lorraine, to whom the kingdom appertained, after the death of Lewes the fifth king of France: and that Hugh Capet having taken him at Laon, and brought him and his wife prisoner to Orleans, he had a son or male child, of whom he affirmed the Dukes of Lorraine are descended: this was under hand cast amongst the people, 
As all did well perceive.  and you were never a whit grieved with it, though that the common and true histories do plainly enough show and witness, that there was an interruption & breaking off of males in the race of Lorraine, by two women, and namely in the wife of Godfrey of Bovillon, named Idain. 
A worthy Archdeacon.  So the said Archdeacon made an honourable amends for it, according to the arrest and sentence given against him, and like a lewd fellow, and slothful, or faint-hearted man, unsayd that he had spoken. But in fine, there was small appearance, that at that time my said Lord your uncle could aspire to the kingdom, having so many hindrances and heads, either to fight against, 
Two worthy ways to work by.  or to cause to die by the sword, or by poison. It is very true, that even from his beginning, he was very ambitious and desirous of greatness, and of the government of the state, more than any other of his age: and I make no doubt of it, but that he desired to possess the Kings, and to have held them, had he been able, in tutorship and under government, as in old time the Majors of the palace did, that so he might dispose of all according to his pleasure, and set up or pull down those whom he had listed: 
Wicked men's purposes and practices are vain.  which is the thing whereto commonly the greatest aspire Notwithstanding, being almost come thereunto, while he was living, he gathered together and prepared for you the material sluffe, with which you have built this proved attempt, with your foot to hold the crown of France, having left in your hand, first great riches, great estates, the chief offices & charges of the kingdom, great governments, many soldiers bound by good turns done them, many servants also, great intelligences with the Pope & the King of Spain, and other Princes your kinsfolks and allies: and which is more, a great opinion amongst the common people, that you were good Catholics and sworn enemies to the Huguenots. You knew very well how to make great profit to yourselves by these preparations, and sundry sorts of stuff, which ye found after his death, all ready to bring unto the work. When I say you, I mean yourself brethren and cousins. After King Charles his death, many things succeeded well to you one after another, 
divers devices to strengthen the Guisian faction.  and to very good purpose. First the barrenness of the King, or of your cousin his wife: then the retreat and absence of the King of Navarre, of which you were in part a cause, for the distrusts into which you brought him: and after that the division and dissension between the King and Monsieur the Duke his brother, whereof you were the only authors and promoters, under hand and closely sharpening the spirits of the one against the other, and secretly promising them to aid them. Another thing wherewith you thought to strengthen yourselves well, was the assistance that Messieurs the Princes of Conty and of Soyssons, yielded for a time to the King of Navarre their cousin german, when they saw that the things you went about, were directly against all their family, and that you boasted you would supplant or undermine them: for thereupon you undertook the matter, which you have never since forsaken or forgotten, namely, to cause to be comprehended by and under the Pope's bull, 
If Spain play not a part in this pageant, nothing can be done.  and by oaths and protestations of the King of Spain, never to approve heretical princes, nor the children of heretics, and then ye found out and first devised these goodly names of adherents and fautors of heretics. After all this, ye made your practices with the King of Spain more openly, and assured your conditions, and covenanted then for your pensions, promising him the kingdom of Navarre & Bern for his share, with the towns that should serve his turn in Picardy and Champagne, and ye communed with him concerning the means, that you would use to get hold of the estate. And the pretext that ye pretended thereto, was the wicked government of the king, 
Good pretexts to countenance a bad cause.  the prodigalities which he bestowed upon his two minions, Esperon and Mercury, whereof you drew one to your own line, which was thought never a whit the better. You employed all your diligence to make the poor prince odious to his people: you counseled him to raise the taxes, to invent new imposts, to create new officers, by which you your selves profited: for some did maintain to Monsieur your brother at Chartres, after the barricades, that he had received half the money of three edicts made to fill the purse, 
Fine devices to shred him of his kingdom.  and which also were very pernicious or hurtful, whereof notwithstanding you cast and laid the hatred upon that poor king, whom you made to muse upon and dwell in ridiculous devotions, whilst you yourselves sued for the good favour of the people, and contrary to his liking, took upon you the charge and conducting of great armies, drawing unto you the heads and captains of war, & courting and making much of in words, the very simple and mean soldiers, that ye might get them to be on your side, practising the towns, buying the governments, and putting into the best places governors & folk at your own devotion. And this was then that you conceived the kingdom present almost (even as the appetite cometh many times by eating) when you saw King Henry without hope of issue, 
He must needs go that the devil driveth.  the chief Princes accounted for heretics, or fautors of heretics, the Consistory of Rome to lay the rains or bridle in your neck, and the King of Spain to give you the spur. You had no more to hinder you, but the late Monsieur, who was a shrewd hollow dreamer, and who understood well with what would you warmed yourselves. He must be dispatched out of the way: and Salcede his testament discovered unto us the means of it: 
Who can stand against such deadly attempts.  but force prevailing not, poison did the deed. All your servants foretold this his death more than three months before it came to pass. Afterwards ye made no more small mouths, or spoke closely for the dissembling of your purpose: you went no more creeping as coneys, nor in secret: but you plainly laid open yourselves. And yet notwithstanding the better to set forward your affairs, you would make honest people believe, that this was for the public benefit, and for the defence of the Catholic religion, 
Catholic religion a fair pretext.  which is a pretext and cloak, that seditious persons and stirrers up of novelties, have always taken to cover themselves withal. Into this insensible net you drew that good man Monsieur the Cardinal of Bourbon, a prince without malice, and ye were able so cunningly to turn and wind him, that ye seized him with a foolish and undiscreet ambition, that in the end ye might deal with him, as the eat doth with the mouse, that is to say, after ye had played with him, to eat him up. 
No unapt comparison. No untrue exposition.  You drew thereunto sundry Lords of the Realm, divers gentlemen and captains, many cities, towns, and commonalties: and amongst others this miserable city, which suffered itself to be taken as it were with bird lime, partly by reason of the hatred that they had against the misdemeanours of the late King: partly also by reason of the impression, which you put into them, that the Catholic religion would utterly be overthrown, if the King did die without children, & the succession of the kingdom should come to the King of Navarre, who called himself the first prince of the blood. Hereupon you forged & framed your first declaration or manifestation, that had not in it so much as one only word of religion, but you did indeed demand therein, 
They will hardly agree with others that diffent from themselves.  that althe states & governments of this kingdom, should be taken from them that possessed them, and were not at your devotion, which escape you amended in your second declaration, by the counsel of Rosne, who (to the end he might set alone a fire) said, that there needed nothing else but the setting out of religion: and then you preached unto us of a Synod at Montauban, 
A fine devise to foster the fire of faction in France.  and of a diet in Germany, where you said that all the Huguenots of the world had plotted together, to seize the Kingdom of France, and to draw the priests out of it. Some verily believed you, yea and I myself (who am not of the craftiest) had some opinion thereof, and thereupon joined myself with this party, for the feat that I always had, to forego my religion: many good people did as myself, that are for all that in no better estate. The others that demanded nothing but new hurly-burlies and stirs, made show as though they did believe it. 
A brave band and a very holy company.  Sundry saffron sellers, indebted and bankrupts, yea stubborn and criminous persons, and such as were worthy of death for the offences they had committed, followed you, as people that had need of civil war. Having thus played your part, and received many doublons or double ducats out of Spain, you put yourselves into the fields, with a very good and brave army. 
Whether it were or no: the fact was evil.  Some say that this, was not done without the knowledge and consent of Queen mother, who loved troubles, that she might make herself necessary, and a person to be employed in doing all things, whereunto she was very apt and fit. But as much Italicanated and crafty as she was, yet she was deceived therein For at the first she did not believe, that your designs and attempts did fly so high, and did not discover the lamp or light, which broke out somewhat late after that you had set your foot so forward, that there was no more mean for you to retire, this being not very likely, though she had conceived some discontentment against, and mislike of her son, (who indeed suffered himself to be governed rather by others, than by her) that she would suffer him to fall, 
Yet natural people commit unnatural things.  and to see him deprived of the crown, to establish your brother therein, in whom she trusted not but for fashion sake only. Wherefore the aid that that good Lady yielded you, was not to destroy her son, but to bring him to humility and acknowledgement of his fault: which she thinking she had done by your mean, she caused you afterwards to disperse your army, which served you for no other purpose, but to acquaint you with your forces, and to extort by violence, 
Law against law.  this edict of julie, which did frustrate and disannul all the other edicts, made for pacification, and did yet once again renew fire, faggot, slaughter, and all in France against the Huguenots. But you continued not in so fair and good a way. For having understood, that the good towns that had promised you to rise up for you against the King, (when they should see you in the fields with an army) had failed you and were yet retained, with some fear & reverence of the name of Kings, and of the royal majesty: you practised without unarming yourselves, 
And who will not such things make almost desperate.  and that within all the cities & towns, you practised I say, such of the inhabitants, as you knew had any credit, or dignity above the people. You corrupted some by money, that came to you in great abundance out of Spain: other some ye corrupted by promises of riches, offices, benefices: and other some by impunity of the faults they had committed, and for which they were pursued by justice and law: but principally you prepared your engines against this miserable city, 
For what will not wicked men do to obtain their purpose?  where you forgot no art or cunning, and that even unto the most abject and shameful submitting of yourselves, that so you might win and obtain the simple people. Your brother went for that purpose to arm himself in Champagne, and Bourgongne, that so he might surprise and take the places appertaining to the King, and not those of the Huguenots, whereof there was no speech in that country, saving at Sedan, 
Two armies and never a good or godly leader.  where he accomplished his businesses very ill. And you Monsieur the Lieutenant went into Guienne, with a mighty army, to watch the occasion to play your part: and this in my mind is the reason, that ye performed no greater matter there, because ye would temporize, and look to give your blow on the other side, as not long sithence you said. But the heretics of Xaintongne, ceased not to mock you therefore: for upon your return, they made a little time in their prittle prattle, which deserveth that you should know it, and lo it is this.  
Lift up ye vaults your great gates I say, 
Fine frumps in verse though not of the best.   
Ye gates of Paris lift up and give way.  
For so there shall enter the Duke of glory,  
Who a hundred Huguenots to kill,  
A thousand papists hath slain with good will:  
Hath he not well gotten thereby?  
The quatraine or four verses also that in those quarters were made thereof are common, touching the towns and places which ye took.  
Oronce is a goose, and Thevet a duck perchance, 
Two Geographers.   
Who in setting out the map or card of France,  
Have forgot to put down, or else left out in disdain  
The towns & castles, that this great Duke hath ta'en.  
I will not speak of the goodly taking that you made, of the castle of Fronsac, 
No, but rather he should be arraigned for it, at a better bar.  and of a young Lady that was there, who was the heir of the house of Caumont. That deserveth not to be rehearsed in this good company, though that that good man de la Vauguyon, died for grief of it, never being able to have justice against you for it. Neither indeed was this any thing in comparison of that that you had purposed to do in this town upon your return, whereof you know that I know some thing, though not all. 
Who could have known this, and have been silent.  For I knew not, that at that time you had plotted to take the King in the Lowre, and to kill, or to imprison all his best and chiefest servants, if the Lieutenant of the Provost Hardy had not revealed it, who discovered all your assemblies and enterprises by their limits and bounds: and was the cause that the King well advertised thereof, caused to be taken, both the great and little castle, the Arsenac, and the town house, and heartened and strengthened his guards, that he might hinder the execution of your purpose and attempt. You will confess, 
A little pity, spilleth a city.  I am sure, that had he done then, that which he should and could, that both you and all your agents and facients had been cast away, whom they then knew by their names, and by their surnames, even as well as when they were declared afterwards. But they proceeded therein too gently, and that by the counsel those, which then said, and yet at this day affirm, that we must not provoke or sharpen any thing. Afterwards you ceased not to practise and solicit all the world, 
They will prophecy for old shoes.  even openly, and principally the preachers and curates, upon whom you bestowed some small part of your double ducats: you sent another army into Guyenne, whereof you made great account, and which you thought should either have shut up or taken the King of Navarre. Oh goodly things, you went and thrust headlong, even into death and destruction, that young Lord, being over presumptuous of the hopes that you had given him, that he should be the King of Tholoze. Your brother had other forces on foot, that stood him in good steed, to beat back the Reisters', 
Pride goet● before shame.  that came to the succour of the Huguenots of Guyenne: and you Monsieur the Lieutenant, must needs go thither in person, and yet you were not able to hinder their passage. And if he had had no more but you and yours, who would needs meddle there withal (whatsoever thing ye would make men believe to the contrary) they had come to drink our wine even at our gates, and you had been brought to a marvelous exigent. And yet forsooth you would have all the glory of their overthrow given to you, and rob thereof the King and his good servants, who temporising therein, and setting themselves against their passage over the river Seyne, brought and wrought the greatest effects thereof, 
Some grow great by other men's actions.  that indeed got you a great deal of honour and favour amongst the Parisiens', the greatest part whereof knew not as yet at what you aimed: but they that were partakers of your secrets, and that then first took the name of zealous catholics, made already a God of your brother, called upon him in their affliction, and had recourse unto him, when men did threaten them with the King & justice. Whereupon he became so proud, rash and heady, that he durst enter into this city with eight horse only, and that against the very express forbidding, that the King had given him concerning the same, although we know well enough, that he had appointed five or six hundred horsemen, 
No pageant without the Pope play a part.  that should the same day approach & draw nigh unto him. Pope Xistus the fifth could well declare what punishment that deserved, when he understood the news of it, and would not have failed to have done and executed the same, had such a thing fallen out to him. But the good mother and the counsellors made by her hand, 
It is unnatural to be for others against her son.  and according to her humour (of whom we have yet too many remaining) were able so aptly to stamp and imprint fear, in the feeble spirit of this poor prince, that he durst enterprise nothing, lest he should exasperate the Parisiens', and lest he might yet bring again the troubles and miseries of war into his kingdom. For albeit he loved not the Huguenots more than you, yet so it fell out that having a long time tried their self willednes and stubbornness, and seeing that to no purpose, they went about to overcome them, and to carry them to reason, by the violence of war, he resolved with himself, no more to assay or use forcible means or ways, 
Or rather! esse cruelty.  but by a more gracious remedy began to draw them unto his obedience, and to the acknowledgement of their former faults, depriving them of his court and of his companies, of honours, charges, governments, offices, and benefices, from which the greatest part of them were grieved to see themselves excluded, which sell out so prosperously, 
Mischievous policy.  that I cannot but advow that their forces were less earnest and more diminished by five or six years of peace, than by ten years of open war. And there sprung up no new Huguenors, the old waxing cold and weary also of the length of their troubles, and the greatest number of them permitting their children to become catholics, that so they might be made partakers of honours, and benefits, or good turns, as well as others. But you and yours, being impatient of peace, and having always small regard of religion, so that you might come to your attempts and purposes, would not suffer this tranquillity, 
Fit similitude.  which was not healthful or good for you. You had learned that fishing was the best, when the water was most troubled, so that indeed you never had had rest, had you not seen borne this goodly day of the barrieades, which hath ruinated and overthrown both us to you, and you to us. Albeit it be notorious and evident enough, and your brother were he living would not deny it, and all they that were of the enterprise or attempt, and are here present will confess it with me, that if the King would have used his power and authority, we had been that day all cast away, he being very certain, that you were prevented and overtaken three whole days, and that the day of the exploit, which should have been done, was not appointed but upon the Sunday. So well, that the King, 
When men will not take oppoitunitie, and use the means God hath given them, good reason they should smart.  who knew all the enterprise (though those that came nearest unto his person, endeavoured to dissuade him, and to turn him away from believing the reports which we made unto him thereof) had his Swissers, and his guards, and other men of war all ready before day, who had already taken the places, four corner streets or ways, and quarters of the city, the morning before that your brother or any of his enterprisets or accomplices were awake, who (as you know) understanding upon his awaking that which was passed, thought himself so surprised, overtaken and undone, that he expected nothing else, but that they would come to besiege, and take, or kill him in the house of Guise, where he was resolute to defend himself, with his sword only, having for that purpose as yet made no preparation of any armour or weapons, east they should come thither to search, and to take away all suspicion concerning him. After the same manner the sixteen, and the most mutinous of the faction, hide themselves in caves and boles, and in their friends and neighbours houses, looking for nothing but present death, 
Every one that evil doth, hateth the light.  yea there was none of them so hardy, as that he durst be seen or appear in the street, except it were more than eight or nine of the clock at night. So that the King was able enough, and that without any resistance, to have seized upon them, and upon your brother also, and absolutely to have established his authority again, if he would have suffered his men of war, to have laid about them with their hands, and to have charged the first, that advanced themselves to make the barricadoes, and to stop the passages of the streets. But his fearfulness, 
A mitigation but how true, let mé regard.  or rather his natural goodness, together with the impressions, that his mother, and his traitorous counsellors had wrought in him, hindered him from using the advantage which he had in his hand or power, causing all his men of war, to be forbidden to strike or hurt any person, and to keep themselves quiet, without enterprising any thing, or offering violence to any of the inhabitants, which was the cause, that the mutinous taking heart and courage upon the ways of their plotted enterprise, had leisure to arm themselves, and to shut up as it were between two gulfs or streams those that before they durst not look in the face. And your brother also, seeing that they were so slow to come to take him, there came unto him, and that from all quarters, people in arms, whom those of the King's side did let freely pass, because they had no charge given them to look to him, and knowing that they of his part, began to acknowledge him, and to make head in the quarters, 
A dastard in the faint heartedness of his foe gathereth strength.  according to the order that they had before plotted, of a desperate man that he was, he became fully assured and resolute, and sent his appointed gentlemen through the streets and quarters of the city, to assist and encourage the inhabitants to take the gates and places. For his part, after that he was heartened by a great number of men of arms, who had their meeting at his lodging, he went out of his house, about ten or an eleven of the clock, that he might be seen in the streets, and by his presence give them the sign of a general revolt, which presently set fire in the head of all the conspirators, who as mad and furious people, fell upon the Kings Swissers, 
They that spare others are smitten themselves.  and cut them all in pieces, and the other men of war seeing themselves shut up between two barricadoes, before and behind, without daring to defend themselves, because that the King had forbidden it them, yielded themselves to the mercy of your brother, 
Cruelty covered with clemency.  who caused them to be conducted in safety out of the town, which he did not so much of clemency and gentleness, that was natural in him, as by sleight and subtlety, the better to come to his last but, which was to seize himself of the King, whom he saw to be in arms, and upon his guards in the house of Lovure, hardly to be forced so readily, without great murder. His cunning therefore was to spin gently, & to counterfeit a man of poor estate, saying that he was greatly grieved with that that had fallen out: in the mean season he visited the streets ' to encourage the inhabitants, he assured himself of the strong places, he made himself master of the arsenac, where he had good in telligence with Selincourt, 
Who it should seem, was as it were the master of the ordinance.  that he might have the Cannon, the powder & bullets at his devotion. He besotted with fair words, the poor knight that kept the watch, who yielded him the Bastille, because he lacked good furniture for defence of it. He lacked nothing but the Lovure. He had the palace: but that was no hard thing, because it held not the master, who had a back gate, to withdraw himself. And this was the cause why step by step, they advanced the barricades, that so they might gain the new gate, & that also of S. Honorus. 
He was sure in a pitiful taking  But the poor prince well advertised of that, which they purposed to do, & that they meant nothing against others but him, neither daring to trust his mother, neither the governor of Paris that then was, that entertained him with speech, & with agreement, took a courageous resolution, and such a one as was approved by many good people, which was to fly away, and to leave the place and all, with which your brother thought himself much astonished, 

Some men's fear, spoils other of then hope.  
A vehement exclamation, and worthy wish doubtless.   seeing the pray that he supposed he had in his shares, was escaped from him. O memorable feast of the barricades. Let thy eevens, and thy octaves be long. From that time hitherto, what have we had but wretchedness and poverty? But anguishs, fears, tremble, onsets, overthrows, defiances, and all sorts of miseries? These were nothing else but subtleties, crafts, dissimulations and counterfeitings, on the one side, and on the other, practised and managed by him that could best take it, and that could deceive his companion: yea, began to go cheek by jowl with your master, and because you were not able to take him by open force, you took counsel, to set upon him by craft and subtlety. You made show, as though you had been heavy and sad for that which fell out, 
The Crocodiles tears.  specially to them whom you sent unto him, but to strangers you braved it, and vaunted your selves, 
Out of one fonntain cometh sweet & sour water.  that you were masters of all, and that there was no let but in yourselves, that you were not Kings: and that in that day of the barricadoes, you had gotten more, then if you had gained three battles or soughten fields. Concerning which matter, your own letters, and those of your agents give large credit. You sent divers times sundry sorts of Ambassadors to the King, as well to Rouen, as to Chartres, to make him believe that the people of Paris were then more at his devotion then ever, and that they did desire to see him, and to welcome him into his good city, and you endeavoured nothing but to draw him thither, that so you might perfect the business begun. But he would do nothing in that matter, and so he did well. In fine, after manifold declarations, which you drew from him (whereof he was no niggard) in which was showed how he did forget and remit all that was passed (wherein you would never suffer to be used the word of pardoning) you went and carried yourselves very churlishly and uncivilly in the promoting of the Estates, 
The more the wicked are forborn, the worse they are.  wherein you promised unto yourselves, that all should pass at your pleasure, by the means of your running up and down, and suits that you made in the election of the deputies of the provinces. In which never did any man see such shamelessness as you used, that sent from city to city, and from town to town, to cause men of your faction to be chosen, 
Fie upon such sree election.  that they might come to the foresaid estates prepared with notes and furnished with remembrances fit for your purpose: whereof some were chosen by violence, othersome by corruption of money or bribery, and othersome thorough fear and threatenings. Amongst others from this town you sent the precedent de nullie, la Chapelle Marteau, Compan, Rowland, and the advocate of Orleans, who were even in open show the principal authors of the rebellion, and the instruments which you most used to deceive the people. What need is there to rehearse here that which passed in the said Estates of Bloys, 
The Lord is known by executing judgement: the wicked is suared in the works of his own hands: Mark this, mark● this.  and how God blinded the eyes of them of your family, that they might go and throw themselves into the ditch or pit which they had prepared for another man? Then when ye thought to be aloft even above the wind, after that goodly fundamental law, by which you declared the late Cardinal of Bourbon to be the first prince of the blood, and the King of Navarre unworthy ever to succeed to the crown, as also his cousins, adheronts, favourers of heretics: even then I say, behold a great storm that took away those two great pillars of the faith, Messieurs your brethren, the one naming himself Lieutenant general, great Master and Constable of France, and the other the Patriarch of the French Church, and cast them into such a deep gulf of the sea, that they were never seen not heard of since. Was not this think you, 
Yes surely was it.  a great stroke or blow from heaven, and a wonderful judgement of God, that they that thought to hold their master in a chain, and made an account to lead him within three days, by force or otherwise, into this town, to cause him to be shaven for a monk, and shut up in a Cloister, should suddenly find and feel themselves taken and shut up by him, whom they thought to entrap and take? Some are of this mind, and have not spared to speak it, that you Monsieur the Lieutenant, being jealous of the greatness and high fortune of Mosieur your brother, 
If he did so, was well, though that he a, med at therein was evil.  did advertise the King that dead is, of the enterprise they had in hand, to lead him away, and that you admonished him to make haste to prevent it. Whether this be true yea or no, I report me to yourself: but this is a matter very vulgar and common, that Madam d'Aumale your cousin, was expressly at Bloys, to discover all the secret to the King: where she lost not her labour, and some say that her husband & she would from thence forward have been banqueroute to the League, if the King would have given him the government of Picardy and of Boulongne, 
A charitable, but whether a true judgement it is uncertain.  and have paid his debts. Concerning yourself, I think not that you had so dastardly and wicked a mind to betray your brethren, and men know well enough, that you were called to come and to be present at the marriage, where they would have made you of their livery. But whether it were that you disinherited the enclosing, or that you would not hazard all three together, you kept yourself at Lions upon the scouts, to watch the issue and execution of the enterprise, which was far otherwise than you hoped for, and it miss but a very little, that you yourself had not been of the play, saving that Seigneur Alphonsus Corse was somewhat before you, or indeed a little too forward. Madam your sister had the same fear that you had, 
A shrewd woman's wit.  who knowing the news, thought not herself sure enough in the suburbs, but got herself into the town. Oh how had we been now at peace and quietness, if this prince had had the courage to have proceeded further, and to have continued these blows and strokes? 
Bitter effects following want of execution of justice.  Then surely we should not have seen Monsieur of Lions sit so nigh you, and serving you for a gunner, or instrument, to perform your practices and his own by at Rome and in Spain, and to hinder by his sermons, and his reasons coloured with religion, that we cannot have peace, which we stand so much in need of. Then we should not have seen the furious administrations and governments of Marteau, nullie, Compan, and Rowland, who have brought the people to desperation, if that justice (the credit and renown whereof we have carried hitherto) should after their apprehension be executed, as indeed it ought. Then should we not have seen all the other great cities and towns burn with the fire of rebellion, as they do, if their deputies had passed by the same order. But the gentleness of that King (who in no sort was bloody) was content to see his principal enemy and competitor beaten down and overthrown: 
A pity marring all.  and then he rested or stayed when he should most lively and quickly have pursued his way. Notwithstanding, if the Lord d'Antragues had done that which he promised for the reducing of Orleans, (which he thought to heal, as he had indeed spoiled it) and had he not suffered himself to be out run and prevented by S. Maurice and Rossieux, 
As haste many times maketh waste, so there is a foreslowing that worketh great mischief.  matters had not been so far out of square, as they were for want of giving order to that first tumult: whither you came upon the very beginning of their first revolt, and encouraged them to rebel, and to be in good earnest obstinate: and according to their example you caused us to do as much. Afterwards, even as it were very suddenly, this fire inflamed all the great cities and towns of this kingdom, & there are very few thereof that can boast they were exempted therefrom, so skilful were you, 
Wily and wicked persuasions may do much: men are so inclined to the worst.  nimbly to practise men of all sides. And thereupon to make us without hope of reconciliation to our Lord and Master, you caused us to make out our process against him: you caused us to hang and to burn his picture: you forbade us to speak of him, but in the quality of a tyrant: you caused him to be excommunicate: you caused him to be execrate, detested, and accursed, by the Curates, by the Preachers, and by little children in their prayers. And can any thing so horrible and fearful be spoken or alleged, 
A fit instrument for such a foul fact.  as that which you caused to be done to Bussie the Clerk, the petty advocate, accustomed to kneel upon his knees before the court of parliament, of which he had the hearty affection and love; and the great rage to go and take him from the venerable seat of sovereign justice, and to lead him captive and prisoner in triumph thorough the streets, even unto his fort and den of the Bastille, from whence he came not out but in pieces, with a thousand concussions, exactions, and villainies, which he exercised against honest and good people beside? I cease to speak of the pilling of sundry rich houses, the selling of precious movables, the imprisoning and ransoming of the inhabitants and gentlemen, 
New baptisms in popery, besides them that are done at the font.  that they knew to have money, and to be furnished with silver, whom they baptised with and called by the names of politics, or adherents, and favourers of heretics. And upon this speech, there was made a pleasant time of that time, which I think worthy to be inserted into the registers and quires of our estates.  
To know them that are politics,  
Adherents, or favourers of heretics:  
Let them be close and hid as you can,  
You need little more, but these verses to scan.  
He that of times or men doth complain,  
In this golden world wherein we remain:  
He that all his goods will not freely bring  
To uphold this cause, is just worth nothing:  
He that is slow to the union to swear:  
He that his well furred gown daily doth wear,  
In steed of putting on his harnois:  
He that saith not the Biarnois,  
But saith the King, and him doth allow,  
And at the sixteen doth mock and mow:  
Thinking them men far from all credit still  
That murmureth at them, or of them speaketh ill:  
That by the forty a fig doth not set,  
That hath not his beard after the League very net:  
That hath seen letters from the other side of the land,  
Trust you not in all this, beware at any hand,  
That with the Princes and states doth not go,  
That at Easter heareth Masses two and no more:  
That hath not his beads about his big neck,  
Deserveth therefore a halter, rather than a check.  
That is greatly grieved when they him call out  
To watch at the gate, or by night to be a scout:  
To be called to the trenches, or to the rampart,  
He is none of the right side, he hath no good heart.  
He that speaks of peace, or conceives thereof hope,  
Shall be sure to feel the faggot or the rope.  
He that much trusteth in his odd devotions,  
And runneth up and down in all processions,  
Using many prayers and often pilgrimages,  
If therewith he intermingle in his suffrages  
A poor sigh, and say, Lord some peace do us give,  
He is at the least an adherent, not worthy to live.  
And though that he make a fair show every hour,  
Take heed he white you not with meal or with flower.  
He that loveth not these men preach to he are  
Commelae, Guincestre, and Bouchar the Friar:  
Or that willingly doth not bid, God speed  
To Louchard, Morliere, or la Rue indeed:  
He is a Maheutre, and a very sorry man,  
Worse by much than a Turk, or a Mahometan.  
He that honoureth not the Lordship say I  
Of Baston, Machault, and of Acarie:  
And that hath said, at any time or place,  
That the law will not go upright in any case.  
Who asks at his window by night or day  
Of his next neighbours, what this mean may  
By so many alarms, and Toxsains also,  
That all the saints doth not fear on a row,  
That the good and renowned feast perdie  
Of Barricades the blessed hath not kept holy.  
He that reverently hath not spoken or meant  
Of the bloody knife of Friar james Clement,  
Who, than when Bichon, or else Nivell  
Some news did print or began to tell,  
Doubteth thereof and inquireth of the author,  
I will pawn my credit he is sure a fautor.  
Some others there are that men mark full well  
With a more sure mark, than any we do tell,  
S. Cosme, Olivier, and the Clerk Bussy,  
Lay hands on these gallants and bring them to me,  
They are so, and why so? this is most sure,  
The money they have in their purse you cannot endure.  
I have kept these verses by heart or in memory, because they are so common, that women and little children have learned them, and because there can be nothing more naturally put down, 
It cometh now well in to lay open their sin.  to express our proceed, and the manner that we have used to find out money and silver. But they had forgotten to set in order therein the gold of Molan, and the treasure of the great Prior of Champagne, who holp us to set forward your voyage to Tours: which indeed was neither long, nor of great effect. For after that you had brought I know not what troop (gathered together of people missead thorough error, and with a love and desire of novelty, that you had put into their neads) to brave your master, whom you thought to take unprovided, or else in hope that they of Tours would make some tumult, to deliver him into your hands, so soon as you saw that they spoke unto you with cannot shot; & that the King of Navarre was come, to assist and secure his brother, having a notable interest and care indeed, that he might not fall into your hands, 
The ungodly flieth, when no man almost pursueth.  fear at the show & sight of the white scarves, did so seize and take hold of you, that you must needs retire with diligence, and that by wandering ways, where there were no stones. And this your foul flying you would have covered with the request, that we made unto you to secure us against the courses of Messieurs de Longueville, 
Better a bad excuse, than none at all.  de la Nouë, and d'Givry, after the shameful leuïe of the siege of Senlis. And being here, you disinherited yourself, that they would not long delay to follow you at your heels, having two so mighty whelps at your tail. Whereupon you gave some order for the defence of Paris, 
Fie upon such Physicians.  but it was by a medicine against poison, worse (if we had taken it) than the disease itself would or could have been. And this was then when the Parisiens' began to perceive, and see guests living at their own discretion and pleasure in then houses, contrary to all the ancient privileges, granted them by the former Kings: but these were but little fleurets or filips, in comparison of that which we suffered afterwards, and yet notwithstanding you suffered them to take even before and under your nose Estampes and Pontoise, without sutcouring of the. And you seeing that they returned upon you, minding either to draw you forth to the field, or to shut you up within our walls, you I say did then well perceive by the proceeding of the King's affairs, 
Need made them monks, or to use moks.  that yours went continually to ruin, and that there was now no more mean to save & deliver you, but a blow or stroke from heaven, which was by the death of your master, your benefactor, your prince, your king. I say your king, for I perceive emphasis or force in this, word which importeth a person, consecrated, anointed, & highly esteemed of God, as a mean betwixt angels & men, or as a man may say, mingled or made of them both. For how should it be possible, that one man alone, weak, naked, unarmed, 
A reason able good speech.  could command so many hundred thousand men, and make himself to be feared, followed and obeyed, in all his pleasures, if he had not, as we may say, some divinity or some part or parcel of the power of God intermingled therewith? as some say that the spirits intermingle, and cast the thunder between, and within the clouds, in which they make these strange and fearful fires, that do very far and much pass the material and elementary fire? I will not say, that you were he that chose particularly that wicked fellow, which hell created, 
He meaneth Friar Iames Clement.  to go and give that execrable blow, which the very furies of hell themselves would have feared to have done. But it is very evident, that before he went about this accursed enterprise, 
Sometimes it is not amisie to be a blab of a man's tongue.  you saw him, and I could well tell the places where, and the times when, if I would. You encouraged him: you promised him Abbeys, bishoprics, mountains and marvels, and ye left the rest to be done to Madam your sister, to the jesuits, and to the Prior of his order, who passed somewhat further, & promised him nothing less, than a place in paradise above the Apostles, if it fell out that he were martyred. That it was so, & that ye were very well advertised of all the mystery or secret, you caused the people, that spoke of yielding themselves to be preached unto and taught, 
Good reason: all lead by one murdering spirit.  that they would yet have patience but seven or eight days, and that before the end of the week, they should see some great matter, that should set us in our former rest and quietness. The preachers of Rouen, of Orleans, and of Amiens, preached it at the same time, and in the same terms. afterward so soon as your Friar possessed with a devil was departed, you caused to be arrested and apprehended for prisoners in this city, more than two hundred of the principal citizens and others, whom ye thought to have goods & friends, and to be of credit with them of the King's side, as a precaution or forewarning, wherewith you purposed to serve yourselves, 
The name of some devil, signifying thereby the murderer Clement.  to redeem that wicked Astaroth, in case he were either taken before the fact or after the fact. For having the pledge of so many honest men, you supposed that they durst never put that murderer to death, because of the threatening which ye had given out, that ye would cause to die in the way of change for him, those whom you kept prisoners: who in truth are much bound to them, that in a headlong heat or choler, slew with the blows of their rapiers that wicked wretch, after he had given his stroke. And you yourself ought not less to thank them. For had they suffered him to live (as they might have done) and put him into the hands of justice, 
It is almost as well discovered now.  we had had the whole thread of the enterprise, naturally and lively deducted, and you had been there incouched in white clothes, for a mark of your disloyalty and felony, that never would have been blotted out. But God did not so permit it, and we know not yet the end whereto he keepeth you. 
A very large assertion, but yet for the most part true.  For if the examples of former times do carry with them any consequence, to judge of the affairs of the time present, we never saw yet vassal or subject, that enterprised to drive his Prince out of his kingdom, to die in his bed. I will not strengthen this maxim or rule, by many histories, nor resute those, which our preachers allege, to defend and justify that horrible act. I will speak of no more but two, the one out of the Bible, and the other out of the Roman histories. You have heard it may be, some preach, that those that slew Absalon, though he were up in arms against his father, his King, and his country, were notwithstanding punished with death, 
A man shall hardly see such justice in France or Spain.  by the commandment of David, against whom he made war. If you have read the conflicts that were made between Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, for the Empire of Rome, you have read & found that Vitellius put to death, more than six hundred men, who bragged that they had slain Galba his predecessor, & had presented a petition to be recompensed therefore: 
It may be he meaneth Machivel.  which he did not, as saith the author (who at this day serveth instead of an Evangelist to many) for the friendship that he carried to Galba, nor for the honour that he meant to do him, but to teach all princes to assure their life and their present estate, and to cause them, that should dare to attempt any thing against their persons, to know & understand, that an other prince their successor (though perhaps their enemy) after some one sort or other would revenge their death. And this is the cause, wherefore you Monsieur the Lieutenant had great wrong, to make show of so great joy, 
Woe to them that laugh now, for they shall weep.  having known the news of that cruel accident that befell him, by whose death you should enter into the ways of the kingdom. You made bonfires, or fires of rejoicing, where you should indeed have observed funerals you took indeed a green scarf in token of rejoicing, whereas ye ought to have doubled and redoubled your blacks in sign of mourning. 
Good & imitable examples.  You should have imitated David, who caused Saules bones to be gathered together, and to be honourably buried, although that by the means of his death, he remained a peaceable King, and lost thereby his greatest enemy. Or to have done as Alexander the great, who caused sumptuous obsequies to be made for Darius: or as julius Caesar, who wept with hot and bitter tears, understanding of the death of Pompey his competitor, and deadly adversary, and put them to death that had slain him. 
What could a man of a base and bad mind do else?  But you contrary to the practices of these great personages, did laugh, & make feasts and bonfires, and all sorts of joy, when you understood of the cruel death of him, from whom you held all that you and your predecessors had or have, of wealth, of honour, and of authority. And not content with these common rejoicings, which did sufficiently witness, how much you approved this accursed act, you caused the murderers picture to be made, & showed it publicly abroad, 
All this whatsoever, is but the reward of iniquity.  as if it had been of a canonised saint. You caused his mother and kindred to be sought out, that you might enrich them with public alms, to the end that this might be a lure, and a bait for others, that would undertake to give yet such an other blow, to the King of Navarre, under hope & assurance, which they might receive by the example of this new martyr, that after their death, they should be so sanctified, & their kindred well recompensed. But I will not further examine your conscience, nor prognosticate unto you, 
A plain and true speech.  that which may fall out unto you for this fact. But God's word must needs be false and full of lying (which it is not nor cannot be) if you do not very quickly receive the wages & hire that God promiseth to manquellers and murderers, as your brother did, for having slain the late Admiral. But I will leave this matter to the divines to treat hereof, that so I may come to put you in mind of a great and stolen fault, which you committed at the very same time. For sith you feared not in so many places to declare, that your special mark was to reign and be a King, you had then, and by reason of the blow, a good occasion offered you to cause yourself to be chosen King, and you might better than have attained thereto, than you can at this present, when you sue, 
Many devices are in man's heart: but the Lords purposes shall stand for ever.  ride, run, corrupt and all to get it. The Cardinal of Bourbon (to whom unadvisedly you gave the title of the King) was a prisoner. Your nephew (upon whom they did bestow all the commendations and glory of his father) was so likewise, and neither the one nor the other could hurt you therein or hinder you, as your nephew doth at this day: you had yet the people heartened, earnest and running after novelty and change, who had a great opinion of your valour, from which you are much fallen since, and I make no doubt but that you had carried it away, thorough the hatred of the lawful successor, who was notoriously known to be a Huguenot. And beside, you had divers preachers, who had laid out a thousand reasons to persuade the people, that the Crown did belong rather to you than to him. 
Nay foul and false.  The occasion for it was fair, namely, the changing of it from one line to another. And although it be all but one family, and of the same stalk, as we may say, notwithstanding the distance of more than ten degrees (in which the doctors say, there ceaseth all the bond and right of consanguinity) made a goodly show, although that Doctor Baldus hath written, that this rule faileth in the family of the Bourbonians. Whereunto add, that you had the force and the favour of the time in your hand, wherewith you could not serve your own turn, or help yourself, but rather, through a certain fainthartednes, and very foul and gross cowardice, you would observe forsooth some little modesty, and form of the civil law, giving the title of the King to a poor priest that was a prisoner: 
The Cardinal of Bourbon.  although that in all other things, you did shamelessly violate all the laws of the realm, and all law beside of God and of man, whether it were natural or civil. You forgot all the maximaes and rules of our great masters, touching the matter of enterprise, upon the estates of an other man, even that of julius Caesar, which oftentimes for his excuse and defence spoke these verses, out of a certain Greek Poet.  
If that thou must needs wicked be, be so a kingdom to obtain  
But yet in other things be just, and eke the laws maintain.  
You were afraid to take the title of a King, 
Stumble at a straw, and leap over a block.  and yet you were not afraid to usurp the power of it, which you disguised and masked, with a quality or esstate altogether new, & such a one, as was never heard spoken of in France? And I know not, who was the author thereof, yet some attribute it to the precedent Brisson, or to janiu. But whosoever invented this expedient, failed in the terms of Grammar, and of Estate also. 
A fit and good reason.  They might have given you the name of Regent, or of Lieutenant general of the King, as they have done sometimes heretofore, when the Kings were prisoners, or absent off their kingdom and realm. But Lieutenant of the estate and Crown, is a title unheard of, & very strange, which also hath too long a tail, as it were a chimer, or monster against nature that maketh little children afraid. Whosoever is a Lieutenant, is Lieutenant to another whose place he holdeth, & who is not able to do his function or office, by reason of his absence, or some other hindrance or let: and a Lieutenant is the Lieutenant of some other man: but to say that a man should be the Lieutenant of a thing without life, as the estate or crown of a King, is a very absurd thing, & such a one as cannot be maintained. And it had been more tolerable to say, Lieutenant in the estate and crown of France, than Lieutenant of the estate. But this is but a small matter to fail in speech or words, 
A true assertion.  in comparison of failing in deeds. When you were clothed and cloaked with this goodly quality, you did so rudely & roughly empty our purses, that you had the mean to raise up a great army, with the which you promised to pursue, besiege, take and bring prisoner, 
He that reckoneth without his host must count again.  this now successor to the crown, who did not call himself Lieutenant, but in plain terms King. You had made us then to guard and keep our places, & to hire shops in S. Anthony's street, that we might see him pass in chains, when ye brought him prisoner from deep, what did ye withal this great army, (very groffe indeed by all your strange succours, of Italy, of Spain, & of Germany,) 
The horse and man are prepared against the day of battle, but victory is from the Lord.  but to lay open and cause to be known your own reachles weakness, & unorderly government, not so much as once daring with thirty thousand men, to set upon five or six thousand, which gave you the head at Arques, and in the end constrained you, shamefully to turn your backs, & you yourselves to seek surety & safety, in the river of Somme? We were greatly deceived, when in steed of seeing this new King in the Bastile, we beheld him in our suburbs, with his army as a certain lightning or clap of war, that prevented our thoughts, & yours also. But you came and succoured us, 
A needless work.  then when we were assured, that he would do us no hurt. And we must confess, that without the resistance that one (who is at this day his servant) made against him at the gate of Bussy, he had taken us before you arrived. From that time hitherto, you have done nothing in your Lieutenancy worthy the remembrance, 
If this be his commendation, praise him for tyrannic.  but the establishment of your council of forty persons, and of sixteen, which you have since revoked and scattered, as much as you could. And whilst that you laboured the advancement and estate of your own house, and that you suffered your imagined King to waste & wear away in prison, without succouring him, either with money or with means, to maintain his royal estate: he that is King indeed, put himself in possession of Dunoys, of Vendosmois, of Maine, of Perch, and of the better part of Normandy, in so much that at the last, when he had in conquering compassed the third part of his kingdom, you were constrained, partly thorough shame, 
Fit motives for such manner of men.  partly thorough despair, & partly thorough men's importunity towards you, to come before him, or into his sight, then when he besieged Dreux, where he showed you a trick of an old soldier, that so he might have the better mean to fight with you. For he raised his siege, & made show to retire into Perch, to draw you on more forward & to cause you to pass the rivers in following of him: but so soon as he saw you were over, and encamped in the plain, he turned his face directly upon you, & gave you the battle, 
It is all one with God to overcome by few, or by many.  which you lost more for lack of courage and good guidance, than for want of men, the number of those on your side far passing his. And yet in this great affliction you could not refrain yourself from giving us a new devised tale (which is a common thing with you) you and your sister feeding us with lies and false news, and the more to comfort us in this loss, you went about to make us believe that the Biarnois was dead, whose face you durst not look upon, 
They were wont to ●a●●a dead man hutteth none.  nor attend his recountring of you. But we saw this dead man quickly after, nigh unto our gates, and you yourself were so afraid of his shadow, that you were not at leisure to repose or rest yourself, till you were passed into Flanders, where you made that goodly market with the Duke of Parma, which since hath cost us so dear, & which hath so ruinated your reputation, and overthrown your honour, that I see not any mean at all, able for ever hereafter to raise you up again. 
The Spaniards he meaneth, and it is no lie: as also in particular the Prince of Parma.  For in steed of being a master, you went and made yourself a servant and a slave, of the most insolent and proudest nation under heaven: and you yourself served the most cruel and ambitious man that you were able to choose, as afterwards you proved, when he made you to serve him as a boy doth his master at tennis, yea to lackey after him, and to wait at his gate, before he would give you an answer, though when it came it was of very small importance also. Which thing the gentlemen of France that accompanied you, despised and disdained, and you alone were not ashamed to make yourself vile and object, dishonouring your lineage, race & nation, so much were you transported with a desire of revenge and ambition. But in the midst of these indignities, and dishonest submissions, which you made to the prejudice of the name of France, and of your quality, 
Carefulness & painfulness, two good virtues.  our new Kings stayed not, nor kept holy day, as we say, for want of work: for he shut up our river above and below, by taking Mante, Poissy, Corbeil, Melun, and Montreau: after that he came & took from us the plain of France, by the taking of S. Denis. That being done, there was no more difficulty to besiege us, as indeed we were by and by after. What did you to secure us? or rather what did you not to cast us away, and to make us most miserable? 
A kind and careful Captain.  I will not speak that, which some have reported of you, that ye did commonly say, that the taking of this city should be more hurtful to your enemy than profitable, and that his army should be destroyed and dispersed in taking of it. I could never believe, that ye would have taken pleasure to see your wife, your children, your brother, & your sister, to fall into the enemy's hand, and to stand at their mercy: And yet we must needs say, that the time which you set to come to secure us was so long, 
He giveth twice that giveth in good season: then what is the contrary.  that it made us ready many times to fall into despair: and I believe, that if the King had demanded some term or time of you to take us in, he would not have demanded more, than you would have given him. Oh how happy had we been, if we had been taken the morrow after we were first besieged? Oh how rich should we have been now had we made that lost? But we have burned in a small fire: we have languished and yet we are not healed. 
A worthy & no unfit comparison.  Then should the valiant and victorious soldier have taken away our movables, but we should have had silver to have ransomed and redeemed them again: but since, we have eaten up our movables, and our money also. It may be he would have enforced some women and maids: yet surely he would have spared the most noble, and then that had had any ability to heal or to help their chastity, by respect or by friends: but sithence they have of themselves put themselves into the stews, and are yet therein, thorough the force and power of necessity, which is much more violent, and of longer infamy and ill name, than the transitory and short violence of the soldier, which is dissembled, and is presently buried & forgotten, whereas this is spread abroad, is continued, and becometh at the last a very shameless custom without returning. 
Nothing spared in an anarchy or confusion.  Our relics had been safe and sound: the ancient jewels of the crown of our Kings had not been melted as they are: our suburbs had been in their former estate, and inhabited as they were, whereas now they are ruinated, forsaken, beaten down and spoiled: our city had been rich, wealthy, and well peopled as it was: our rents due to the town house, should have been paid, whereas you draw out the marrow thereof, and the last penny: our farms in the country had been laboured and tilled, and we should have received the revenues thereof, whereas now they are abandoned, forsaken, and unoccupied. We should not have seen die a hundred thousand men, by famine, 
A pitiful spectacle, and yet who had remorse.  sorrow, & poverty, who died within the space of three months in the streets and in the hospitals, without mercy or secure. We should yet have seen our university flourishing and frequented, where it is now altogether solitary and left alone, serving now for no other use, but for peasants, and for the kine and beasts of the villages nigh thereto. We should have seen our palace replenished with honourable persons of all qualities and estates, 
The difference between good government and tyranny.  and the hall and the gallery with Mercers, Haberdashers, etc. continually full of people: whereas now we see none but idle loiterers walking up & down at large; and green grass grow there, where men had hardly room or space to stir themselves: the shops of our streets had been garnished with artisans and handicrafts men, whereas now they are empty and shut up. We should have had press and multitude of cars, chariots, and coaches upon our bridges, whereas now in eight days space we saw but one only pass, and that was the Pope's Legates. 
Mischiefs foreseen and not remedied, increase grief.  Our storehouses & market places should have been covered with beasts, full of corn, of wine, of hay and of wood. Our places appointed for selling of victuals, and our markets had been thronged with the press and multitude of merchants, and of victuals, where now they are all void and empty, and we have nothing but at the mercy of the soldiers of S. Denis, of the fonrt de Gournay, Cheureuse, and Corbeil. Ha Monsieur the Lieutenant, suffer me as in this regard, to use one exclamation, by the way of some short digression, besides the course (I confess) and order of my oration, that I may bewail the pitiful estate of this city the Queen of cities, of this little world, and the abridgement of the world itself! Ha ye my masters the deputies of Lions, 
Happy is he who is warned by other men's harms.  Tholouze, Rouen, Amiens, Troy's, & Orleans, look upon us, & take example by us. Let our miseries make you wise by our losses. You all know well enough what we have been, & now ye see what we are. All of you know in what a gulf & bottomless pit of desolation we have been thorough this long and miserable siege: & if you do not know it, read the history of josephus touching the wars of the jews, 
Former examples and ours alike in many things.  & the besieging of jerusalem by Titus, which doth naturally & lively express this of our city. There is nothing in the world that may be so well compared one with another as jerusalem and Paris, excepting the issue and end of the siege. jerusalem was the greatest, the richest, and the best peopled city of the world: so was Paris.  
Which did her head lift up as far above all other towns,  
As the fir tree above the furze, or briars that use do clowns.  
jerusalem could not endure the holy Prophets, 
All that have grace may profit by this comparison as well as Paris.  that laid before them their errors and idolatries: & Paris could not suffer her Pastors & Curates that blamed & accused her superstitious & foolish vanities, and the ambition of her princes. We made war against the Curates of S. Eustachius, and of S. Mederic, because they told us our faults, & did foretell the miseries and mischief that should come upon us therefore. jerusalem put to death her King & her anointed one, of the race and stock of David, & caused him to be betrayed by one of his disciples, & of his own nation: Paris hath chased & driven away her prince, her king, her natural anointed one, & afterwards caused him to be betrayed & murdered by one of her Friars. 
God will cut out & destroy lying tongues: but they regard not that.  The doctors of jerusalem gave the people to understand that their king had a devil within him, in whose name he wrought his miracles: Our preachers and doctors have they not preached this unto us, that our late king was a sorcerer, & that he worshipped the devil, in whose name he did all his devotions? Yea some have been so impudent & shameless to show in the pulpit publicly to their hearers, certain shapes or images made according to their own pleasure & fantasy, which they did swear was the idol of the devil, that that tyrant did worship: so lewdly did they speak of their master and of their king. These same doctors of jerusalem proved by the scriptures, that jesus Christ deserved to die, and cried with aloud voice, We have a law, and according to the law he ought to die. 
The devil will allege scripture, but yet not rightly.  And have not our preachers and Sorbonists, proved and approved, by their texts applied according to their own fantasy, that it was permitted, yea praise worthy and meritorious to kill the King? and have they not yet preached it after his death? Which in jerusalem there were three factions, which caused themselves to be called by diverse names, but the most wicked of them, called themselves zealous, and were assisted with the Idumeans that were strangers. Paris hath been tossed and vexed altogether in the self same sort, with three factions, that is of Lorraine, Spain, and the sixteen, participating of both the other two, under the same name of zealous, who have their Eleazar's, 
A pretty allusion, and yet no illusion.  and their Zacharies', & Acaries, and more johns, than there were in jerusalem. jerusalem was besieged by Titus, a Prince of divers religion from the jews, he going at that time to the hazards and dangers of the assault, as a simple soldier, and yet so gentle and gracious was he, that he procured himself thereby to be called the delights of mankind. Paris was besieged by a Prince of a differing religion, but yet more courteous and gentle, more bold also, and ready to go to the blows, 
Would to God he had never strengthened your hope or heart that way.  than ever was Titus. Besides, Titus would not innovate or change any thing in the religion of the jews, no more doth this prince in ours, but contrariwise giveth us hope, that one day he will embrace it and that very shortly. jerusalem suffered all extremity, before it would acknowledge a fault, and acknowledging it, had no more power to redress it, and was hindered from it by the heads of the faction. How much have we suffered before we would know ourselves? And since our sufferings, how often have we desired, that we might yield, if we had not been hindered therefrom by them that hold us under the yoke? jerusalem had the sort of Anthonia, the temple and the fort of Zion, that bridled the people, and let them that they could not stirrre nor complain. We have the fort of S. Anthovie, the temple & the Lovure, as it were the fort of Zion, 
Comparisons fit enough.  that serve us for snaffles and for bits, to hold us in and to bring us to the appetite of the governors. josephus, of the same nation and religion that the jews were, exhorted them to prevent the wrath of God, and made them understand, that they themselves destroyed their temples, their sacrifices, and their religion, for which they said they fought, and yet for it would do nothing. 
Good counsel not regarded, bringeth sundry mischiess.  We have had in the midst of us many good French citizens, and catholics even as ourselves, that have given us the like exhortations, and declared by good reasons, that our self-willedness, and our civil wars, would overthrow the Catholic religion, & the Church, & all ecclesiastical order, causing the priests, religious men and religious women and all, to fall to wicked life, wasting benefices, and abolishing Gods service, throughout all the plain country, and notwithstanding we persisted as before, without having any pity of so many desolate and straying souls, forsaken also of their pastors, which languished and pined away, without religion, without feeding, and without administration of any Sacrament. In fine, sith we agree together, 
Like sins, like punishments.  and are like in so many meetings of things to the city of jerusalem, what other thing can we look for, than a whole ruin and utter desolation, as theirs was, unless God by an extraordinary miracle, give us again our right wit and sense? For it is impossible that we can any longer time endure thus, being already so beaten down, fainting & sluggish with long ficknes, that the very sighs and groans which we fetch, are nothing else, but the very hickcockes or pangs going before death. We are shut up, pressed, invaded, 
And that is not very good.  compassed in on all sides, and we take not the air, but the stinking air that is within our walls, from our mires and sinks, for all the rest of the air, from the liberty of the fields is withheld from us. Wherefore ye free cities, learn, learn, I say, by our damage and loss, to govern yourselves from this time forward, after another fashion, & suffer not yourselves to be misled, and haltred as you have been, by the charms and enchantments of the preachers, who are corrupted with money, & with some hope, which some princes give them, who aspire nothing but to engage you, and to make you so weak, so souple, & easy to be bend, that they may play with and enjoy at their own pleasure, yourselves, your riches, your liberty and all. For concerning that which they would make you believe touching religion, 
An apt comparison.  it is but a mask or visor, wherewith they busy the simple (as the foxes cover their footing, with their long tails) that so they might catch them, & eat them up at their pleasure. 
A common use indeed.  Have you ever seen any other respects in them that have aspired after tyrannous government over the people, than this, that they have always made, taken, and used, some goodly title and show of the common wealth or of religion? And yet when question hath been of coming to some agreement, their particular interest and profit, hath always been in the vanguard, and they have set the benefit and good of the people behind, as a matter that did not touch them. Or else if they were victors and did overcome, their end was always to bring under, and churlishly to use the people, by whom they were aided and assisted, to come to the very top of their desires. 
But so are not they that defend such things.  And I am abashed (seeing that all histories, as well old as new, are full of such examples) to behold, that yet there are found men so poor in understanding, as to rush upon, and to fly unto this false lure. The history of the civil wars, and of the revolt which was made against Lewis the eleventh, is yet fresh, and as we say, bleeding new. 
An example.  The Duke of Berry his brother, and certain Princes of France, raised up and heartened by the King of England, and yet somewhat more encouraged by the County of Charolois, used no other colour for levying of their armies, than the benefit and comfort of the people and kingdom. But in the end, when they were to come to composition or agreement, they entreated of nothing, but to increase to one his yearly pension, and to give offices and friendly conditions of agreement to all those, that had assisted them, without any more mention of the common wealth than of the Turk. If you will wade somewhat higher in the French Chronicles, you shall see that the factions of Bourgongne, and of Orleans, were always coloured with the comforting or easing of the taxes, or of the evil government of the affairs: and yet notwithstanding the intent of the principal heads thereof, was nothing else, but to keep under the authority of the kingdom, and to give one house advantage against another, as the issue hath always made plain proof of it. 
Though he should have done it, & did it indeed sometimes, yet of late you have unjustly detained the same.  For in the end the King of England carried always away some part of it for his share, & the Duke of Bourgongne did never departed, without some city or country, which he took for his booty. Whosoever will find leisure to read this history, shall find therein our miserable age naturally and lively set out unto us. He shall see our preachers the blowfires and bellows of contention, that ceased not to intermeddle therein, as they do at this day, though at no hand, there was then question touching religion: they preached against their King, they caused him to be excommunicated, as they do at this present. They set up propositions, and used disputations in Sorbonne, against the good citizens and common wealth's men, as they do now. A man might have beheld then murders and slaughters of innocent people, and of furies and outrages committed by the people themselves, even as ours do. Our minion the late Duke of Guise, is there represented and set out, in the person of the Duke of Bourgongue, 
False, and speaken like a Frenchman: for our Kings had and have a lawful right.  and our good protector the King of Spain, in that of the King of England. You therein see our easiness to believe, and simplicity, accompanied with ruives, desolations, sackings, burnings of towns and suburbs, such as we have seen, and see continually upon us, and upon our neighbours. The common good, was the charm or witchery that stopped up our predecessors ears: but indeed the ambition and the revengement of these two great houses, was the true and first cause, as the end discovered it. And thus have I deducted and laid out unto you, that first the jealousy and envy of those two houses, of Bourbon and of Lorraine, and since the only ambition and covetousness of these of Guise, have been and are the only cause of all our mischiefs & miseries. 
It is the cup of fornication mentioned in the Apocalyps.  But as for the catholic & Roman religion, it is the drink wherewith they have infatuated us, and caused us to fall on sleep, and a poison well sweetened with sugar, and which serveth for an obstupative, or benumbing medicine, to astonish or benumb all our members, which whilst we are on sleep we feel not, when they cut away now one piece, than an other, even one after an other, and that which remaineth be but as a trunk, which very quickly will lose all the blood and the heat, and the very life itself, thorough overmuch evacuation. In the same history do ye not find also, as it were the very type of our goodly estates here assembled? 
That remaineth yet to be proved.  Those that were held at Troy's, in which they difinherited the true and the lawful heir of the crown, as an excommunicated and reagravated person, are they not altogether like these of ours? God knoweth what manner of people were in those estates. Doubt ye not that they were all such, as you here my masters chosen out of the dregs of the people, openly mutinous and seditious, corrupted by money, and all pretending and aiming at some one particular profit, by change, and by novelty, 
Notable men and very fit for such an assembly.  as you my masters do. For I assure myself that there is not one of you, that hath not herein some special interest, and who desireth not, that the affairs may remain in the same troublous estate, wherein they are. There is not one of you, but he occupieth and enjoyeth the benefice, or the office, or the house of his neighbour, or that hath not taken their movables from them, or raised any revenues there of, or conimated some thieverie and murder thorough revengement, whereof he is afraid lest he should be tried, if peace were once made. Notwithstanding at the last after so many murders, and penuries, these wicked and ill disposed persons, must needs come and acknowledge Charles the seventh for their King, and throwing themselves down at his feet, demand pardon for their rebellion, though that before that they had excommunicated him, and declared him uncapable to be their King. 
A good and right application as now appeareth by the success.  As who seethe not and may easily judge, by the bad course that we take, that we even in the same sort must do as much as that cometh unto, though it be foreslowed for a while, and that in short space we shall be constrained thereto, by fine force of necessity, which hath neither law, nor respect, nor shamefastness. If I saw here some of the princes of the blood of France, and of the peers of the crown, who are the principal persons, and without the which cannot assemble nor hold just and lawful estates. If I saw here the Constable, the Chancellor, the Mareschals of France, that are the very officers indeed to authorize the assembly. If I saw here the precedents of the sovereign courts: the proctor's general of the King in his parliament, and a number of men of quality and reputation, known a long time to have loved the good of the people, and their own honour: ha, 
Good reason, for there were some probability at the least.  in truth I should hope that this gathering together and assembly, should bring us much fruit: and I would be contented, simply to declare the charge that I have of the third estate, which is to represent and set out the great desire that every one hath to have peace, and the great benefire or profit that shall come thereby. But I see here, none but strangers full of passion in thirsting after us, and altered from our blood, and from our substance. 
A worthy company to be the assembly of the estates.  I see here none but ambitious women, and such as are given to revengement. I see none but corrupted and wicked priests, and such as are full of foolish hopes. All the ros●is not hingels, but light chaff full of necessity, that love war & trouble, because they live of other good men's goods, and know not how to live of their own, nor to maintain their train in time of peace. All the gentlemen of noble race and valour, are on the other side near unto their King, 
And so would every honest man.  and standing for him and their country. I should be ashamed to speak the words for them, or in the name of them that are here for the third estate, if I were not indeed advowed and allowed by other honest people, that will not meddle with this rascal sort, that are come scatteringlie out of the Provinces, as the Franciscane Friars do to a provincial chapter. 
Plain & particular dealing  What doth Monsieur the Legate here, but to hinder the liberty of our free speech, and to encourage them that have promised to do marvelous things for the affairs of Rome and of Spain. He that is an Italian, and the vassal of a strange prince, ought not here to have either order or place. Here are to be handled the affairs of Frenchmen, yea such as touch them very nigh, and not those of Italy and of Spain. From whence should he have this curiosity, if it be not to profit thereby with our hurt? 
A Frenchman Italianated, Spaniolized, & Lorainized.  And you Monsieur de Pelue, do not you make a goodly show in this company, to plead the cause of the King of Spain, and the right or title of Lorraine? You I say, which are a Frenchman, and who (we know) was borne in France, to have proceeded so far, as to have renounced your chrism & your nation, to serve the idols of Lorraine, 
Spaniards well set out.  and the southernly devils? you should yet have brought and caused to sit here even above the flouredeluce, the Duke of Feria and Mendoza, & Don Diego to take their counsel, how France ought to be governed for they have interest in it, and you have wrong Monsieur the Lieutenant, 
Spaniards will seek and ask enough.  that have not admittod them thereto, as they did impudently demand the same. But indeed their presence should have been unprofitable, seeing that they have here their agents & advocates, that have spoken so worthily for them, and besides you will not forget to comniunicate unto them every thing of the issue of our consultations. But I would willingly demand of you, Monsieur the Lieutenant, to what end or purpose have you assembled these good and honest people here? Are the see those noble estates in which you promised us to give such good order to our affairs, and to make us all blessed? I cannot much marvel, that you have so much recoiled to be found here, & so long delayed, 
Meet men to attend such a master.  and made the poor masters of the deputies to troth so much up and down after you. For you doubted much that here would be found some blunt fellow that would tell you your own, and would scratch you where you did not itch. You always had a mind to draw out your lieutenancy to the length, and to continue this sovereign power which you have usurped, that so you might also continue the way, without which you could not be so well entreated, nor so well followed and obeyed as you are. But now we will put an end thereto, 
If you do so, it is well.  and in so doing put an end to our miseries also. We never bestowed upon you this goodly and new devised quality of the Lieutenant of the Estates (which in truth savoureth rather the style of some clerk of the palace, or of some petty schoolmaster, 
Things granted for a time are not so easily revoked.  than the gravity or weight of the charge) but for a time, and till such time as there were other provision made by the Estates and general. In so much that now it is time that you be put down therefrom & dispossessed thereof, and that we advise now to take another government, and another governor. You have lived sufficiently enough in anarchy and disorder. Is it your mind that for your pleasure, 
Necessary demands.  & to make yourself and yours great, against all right and reason, we should for ever continue miserable and wretched? Will you proceed to destroy that little that remaineth? How long will you be sustained and nourished with our blood and our bowels? When will you be full with eating us, and satisfied with seeing us to kill one another, to cause you to live at your ease? 
Let not thine own mouth praise thee, but another's.  Do ye not suppose that you have to do with Frenchmen, that is to say, with a warlike nation, which though it be sometimes easy to be deceived, yet very quickly returneth to their duty, and above all things loveth their natural Kings, and therein cannot be passed? You will be altogether astonished, when you shall find yourself abandoned of all the good cities and towns, who will make their agreement and composition without you. You shall see ere long, 
As fell out in Villeroy. Vitry, and others.  now one, than another, even of them whom you take to be your most familiar friends, that will treat without you, and will return themselves to the haven of safety, because they have known you to be an unskilful pilot, that could not tell how to govern the ship, whereof you had taken charge, and have made shipwreck of it, or cast it away very far from the port. Have you then the name of peace so much in horror, that you will not conceive any whit at all thereof? They that are able to overcome, do yet demand it. To what end then have served so many voyages, so many doings and come, which you have caused Monsieur de Villeroy, and others to make, under this pretext, to speak of agreement, and to bring the matters to some tranquillity, if it might be? You are then a cogger, and an abuser, that deceive both your friends and your enemies, and against the natural disposition of your nature, use nothing but crafts and deceits, to hold us always under your paws, at your own pleasure. 
A politic course to uphold their corruption.  You never yet would have public affairs handled by public persons, but in corners and secretly, by people of mean place, made by your own hand and depending upon you, to whom you whispered a word in the ear, altogether resolute to do nothing of that which should be agreed. By this means you have lost the credit, and good will of the people (which was the principal stay of your authority) and have caused to be slandered the proceed of sundry notable men that you have employed therein, in manner of purchase, and to grant some thing unto them that entreated you therefore. You have feared to offend strangers that affisted you, 
Ill works deserve ill words at the least.  who yet notwithstanding did not take it very well at your hand. For if you knew the speeches that they use of you, and in what terms the King of Spain writeth, concerning your deeds and manners, I think you not to have so slavish and abject an heart to entertain him, and to seek after him as you do. There have been seen letters surprised and deciphered, in which he nameth you hog, and sometimes swelling toad, and in others, Locho profiado: and generally their king mocketh you, and playeth with your nose, and commandeth his agents to entertain you with sweet and pleasant words, 
Fair words make fools feign.  yet void of effect, and to regard that you take not over sure footing, and too much authority upon you. Your adversaries on the King's side believe, that you demand and seek for truce to no other end, but to wait for your forces, & the better to prepare your party at Rome & in Spain, & we say that it is to make the war to continue, and the better to dispatch your private affairs. This being so, how can you (so feeble and weak as you are) hope to make men believe that you either would or could save us? It cannot be done but by a public and authentical negotiation, which justifieth, authorizeth, and giveth credit to a right meaning. This is the thing that you might do, under the good will or pleasure of the Pope, 
If he did, he showed not himself a man of peace.  to the end that ye may yield his holiness the respect which you own him. Can he take it ill, that you had a mind to hearken unto peace, with your neighbours, with your King? For though you would not acknowledge him for such a one, yet you cannot deny, but that he is a prince of the blood of France, and King of Navarre, who hath always held a higher degree and state than you, and hath continually gone before and above you, and all your ancestors. On the other side, 
A good persuasion touching a bad person.  we would believe that the holy Father, imitating the example of his predecessors, would stir you up to that good work, if he saw you inclined thereto, that so he might quench the fire of civil war, which consumeth so goodly a flower of Christenstome, and overthroweth the strongest pillar that upholdeth the Christian Church, and the authority of the holy seat, neither would he stand any longer upon this term heretics. 
A reason, but Popes may cross one another's persuasion and practice, and yet neither of them err any way.  For Pope john the second went indeed himself to seek the Emperor of Constantinople, and to entreat him to make peace with the Arrians, worse than these, and to commit and commend the whole quarrel into the hands of God, who would accomplish that, that men could not do. For mine own part (Monsieur the Lieutenant) I believe, that if you would take this way and course, without counterfeiting or dissimulation, it could not but be very sure & profitable to the generality of France, and to you, as in respect of your own particular very honourable, and to your great vnburthening, and the contentment of your spirit. Also that this is the one, and the only mean, and that there remaineth no other, to stay or uphold the present fall of all our building, I freely speak unto you after this manner, without fear of the rack or of proscription: 
That is great bragger's and boasters, as Rodomont was.  neither do I fear these Rodomontade Spaniards, nor the sour countenances, & writings of the mouths of the sixteen, which are but beggarly & needy fellows, which I will not vouchsafe ever to salute for the slender account that I make of them. I am a friend to my country, as becometh a good burgess, & citizen of Paris. I am jealous for the preservation of my religion, and am in all that I am able, your servant, & the servant of your house. To be short, every one is weary of war, in which we now very well perceive, there is no more question touching our religion, 
That is the point indeed.  but concerning our bondage, and to whom amongst you the carcases of our bones shall remain. Think not to find in time to come, so many men as you have done, that in liveliness of heart will cast themselves away, and betrothe or marry themselves to desperation, for the rest of their life, and of their posterity also. We very well perceive, that you yourselves are in the snares of the King of Spain, and that ye can never come out of them, but wretched, and as it were forlorn. You have done like the horse, 
A fable, but yet good in the moral and meaning of it.  who to defend himself from the heart, who (he perceived) was more lively and full of strength than he, called for man to his succour. But man put a bridle in his mouth, saddled him, and betrapped him, afterwards he put on his spurs & backed him, & brought him to the hunting of the hart, and to every other place, where he thought good, never coming off of his back, nor taking off his bridse and saddle, and by this means made himself subject to the holly crap, and to the spur, to serve his turn in every work, in every charge, yea and in the very cart itself, as the King of Spain hath done with you. And doubt ye not of this, 
This is no lie, for be hath practised it upon others, as nigh to him as he.  but if by your means be were once made master of the kingdom, but that he would very quickly be rid of you by poison, by slanders, or otherwise, for this is the fashion that he useth, & wherewith he commonly saith, he must needs recompense them, that betray their prince and their country. Let them serve for witnesses and examples, that wickedly delivered unto him the kingdom of Portugal: who coming unto him to demand the recompense which he had promised them, before he was in possession of it, sent them unto that council of his, which is called the council of conscience, where answer was given them, that if they had brought Portugal into the hands of the King of Spain, as a thing appertaining unto him, they had done nothing but that which good and loyal subjects should have done, and they should have their recompense and hire for it in heaven. But if they delivered it up, believing that it did not appertain unto him, meaning so to take it from their master, they deserved to be hanged as traitors. 
A good reason: for of like sins, there should be the like punishment.  And this is the wages that you must look for, after that you shall have delivered us up unto such people: which we for our parts are not purposed to endure. We know too well, that the Spaniards, and castilians, and Bourgognons, are our ancient and deadly enemies, which of two things demand the one, either to bring us under, 
Spain hath a double practice and purpose in assaulting France.  and to make us slaves if they can, that so they may join Spain, France, and the low countries, in one tenure and under one government: or else if they cannot (as indeed the best advised and most wise amongst them, do not hope for that) yet they may at the least in weaken us, and bring us so low that never or for a long season, we should never be able to relieve ourselves, nor withstand them to the face. For the King of Spain (which is an old fox) knoweth well the injury that he doth us, usurping against all right and justice, the Kingdom of Naples, the Duchy of Milan, and the County of Roussillon, which belong unto us: he knoweth the natural disposition of the french nation, that knoweth not how any long season to continue in peace, without setting upon their neighbours. Whereof the Flemings have made a proverb, 
A witty sentence.  which saith, that when the Frenchman sleepeth, the devil rocketh the cradle. Besides he seethe his estates and countries divided and almost all of them usurped by violence, against the good will and liking of the inhabitants, who are ill affected to him ward. He seethe himself to be old and brittle, and his eldest son smally valiant, & of evil health, and the rest of his family, to be in two daughters, one whereof he hath married with the most ambitious, 
The Duke of Savoy.  and yet needy prince of Europe: and the other that maketh a party, and cannot fail but find a great one. If after his death, (which cannot in the very course of nature be very far off) his estates and countries should be divided, and that one of his sons in law should set upon his own son, he knoweth that the Frenchmen would not sleep, and that they would wake again their old pretences, titles and claims. Doth he not then herein play the part of a very prudent, & foreseeing prince, to enfeeble us by ourselves, & to bring us to so low an estate, that we shall not be able to hurt him, no not after his death? You see also how he hath carried himself in the succours that he hath sent us: 
All bewrayeth the treachery of Spain.  the greatest part in paper and in hope, the waiting for whereof hath wrought us more evil, than the coming thereof hath done us good. His double ducats and his men came not, but even when we had a long time drawn our breath, and were not able to do any more, although he might much more soon have succoured & relieved us. He maketh us not fat to sell us, as the butchers do their hogs: but for fear we should die over soon, and minding to reserve us to a greater destruction, he prolongeth our languishing life, 
Weigh these comparisons.  with a little water, brewed and tossed with crumbs of brown bread, which also he giveth us, with a licked or clean finger, as jailers nourish and feed condemned persons, the better to reserve them to the execution of punishment. What is become of so many millions of double ducats, which he braggeth he hath spent for the safety of our estate? 
And why should not the people have them, seeing it is the price of themselves? except you will sell them for nothing.  We see none of them amongst the people, the greatest part thereof are in the hands of our adversaries, or amongst you Messieurs, the princes, governors, captains, and preachers, who keep them very fast locked up in your coffers: there remaineth to the people nothing, but red or copper coin, for the stamping whereof we have employed all our kettles, cauldrons, chafers, weights, chains and copper vessel, and will employ therein our guns and our bells, if our necessity endure yet but a small time longer: for the double ducats, and the twice double ducats of the fine gold of Peru are vanished away, and are no more to be seen. And this is the point upon which a Poet of our age, hath made a very pleasant and proper quartain, or sour verses in sort as they follow.  
By thee (O thou proud Spain) and by thy double ducats of gold,  
Whole poor France, we sots daily vex with troubles manifold,  
And yet of all the ducats, that so many troubles doeraise  
In fine nothing remaineth to us, but doublings and delays.  
Touching the same matter, another honest man hath not spoken much amiss, when though in another rhyme he said, 
The French that before simple were and kind,  
By double ducats are double now become,  
And the double ducats themselves are turned into wind  
Or into copper and red doubles, that hardly will run.  
Spanish practices savour not of, or favour not religion.   
To persuade ourselves this day, that that which this good prince doth in this behalf, is for no other purpose, but the preservation of Catholic religion and nothing else, that cannot be. We do very well know, and that by his agents, and by his notes of remembrance or instructions, what is his intent and purpose. We know how he hath lived, and treated heretofore with the Huguenots of the Low Countries. The articles of their agreement are imprinted and published by his authority, by which also he permitteth them the exercise of their religion. And made he no other reckoning but of this, it is long ago since he offered so much to Duke Maurice, and to Messieurs the Estates, that so he might have had peace with them. 
Father and son both alike affected to the Catholic faith.  He would not do worse than his father, who (as we have heard) yielded unto the protestants of Germany, and to the Lutherans, that that they desired to have, so that they would acknowledge him for their prince, and would pay him his rights and due. If he do so much love the Catholic religion, and hate them that are not such, how can he suffer the jews & Moors in his countries? how can he agree with the Turks and the Mahometists of Africa, from whom he purchaseth peace very dearly? It needeth not now, 
Away with such trash.  that his spies the jesuits Scopetines should come to sell us these snail shells or scallop shells of S. james: the sport is already very much discovered. The Duke of Feria hath let us see his remembrances or instructions, by degrees and piece after piece, as though he had brought out of Africa (a country fruitful in venims and poisons) by the commandment of his master, a wooden box full of divers drugs, of divers qualities: one that killeth quickly, another that killeth somewhat slowly, another more fit in summer, another that hath better operation in winter, 
Beastly and bad physic.  to serve his own turn therewith and to use them, as in respect of us, according to occasions and occurrences that may fall out: having in charge to give us such a one, if he find us disposed to such a humour, and to give us another, if he find us otherwise affected. Before that we gave out that we meant to maintain and uphold the law salic (a law that for these eight hundred years hath maintained the kingdom of France in his force and manly courage) they did speak unto us of the rare virtues of that divine daughter, 
To wit, of the K. of Spain.  that so she might be chosen inheritor of the crown, when they saw that we meant to hold the ancient custom of the males, they offered us to bestow her upon some prince that we should choose for King, and thereupon suits were made for the Archduke Ernestus, 
Many fetches, and all full of fraud.  to whom she is indeed appointed wife. Afterwards, when they perceived that this Ernestus was not the harness that would fit us, they spoke of some prince of France, to whom the daughter might be married, and so they would make them Kings of France wholly and together. 
A meet man to promote such a cause.  And yet for all this there were found notes of remembrances, instructions, & mandates very plain, signed also with the proper hand of, I the King: whereunto Monsieur the Legate served for a broker, to make the merchandise of value and prize: for he came not hither for any other end or purpose, as also he was not made Cardinal, but by the favour of the King of Spain, with protestation to ruinated France, or to cause it to fall into pieces, in the hands of them that have made it that it is: and we know that he hath a special brief or direction to be present at the election of the King of France. Ha Monfieur the Legate, you are discovered, the vail is taken from you, there are no more enchantments that hinder us from seeing clearly: our necessity hath taken the pearl out of our eyes, as your ambition hath put it into your own: you see clear enough into our destruction, but you see no whit at all into your own duty, of a pastor of the Church. 
So do all of his coat and order.  You come hither to pull away the fleece from the flock, and to take away her fat pastures, and her grasing. Your own private profit blindeth you: think well of this, that we respect our own. The interest, profit, and purpose of your masters (that set you on work, as a day labourer to his task, about the pulling down of a house) is to make themselves great with our morsels, and to hold their own seigneuries and Lordships in quiet. But it is our part to lay ourselves open, and to compound our disagreements, by taking away the foolish vanities, 
Good words, so they may be well performed.  that ye have put into our head, and by making of peace. We will get out of this same deadly labyrinth or maze, what price soever it cost us. Nò paradise, though never so well hanged with tapistry and orras, no processions, no brotherhoods, nor assemblies of forty, nor preachings, whether they be ordinary or extraordinary, give us any thing to eat. The pardons, stations, 
And will not feed the soul, or strengthen the body, but rather destroy both.  indulgences, briefs, and bulls of Rome, are all of them hollow and light meat that satisfy none but empty brains. Neither the glorious boasting of Spain, nor the bravery of Naples, nor the mutiny of the Walloons, nor the fort of Anthony, nor that of the temple or citadel, (wherewith men use to threaten us) that can hinder us from desiring and demanding of peace. We will have no more fear that our wives and our daughters should be ravished or defiled by soldiers, and that such of them, as need hath turned from regard of their honour and credit, 
Who could describe them better.  shall return to the right way. We will have no more of these horseleeches, exacters and greedy guts: we will remove these foul and shameful imposts, (which they have devised in the town house) set upon the movables and free merchandise, that come into the good towns (where there are committed a thousand abuses and disorders) the profit whereof redoundeth not to the public good, but unto them that manage the money, and give it away cheek by jowl as we say, and without discretion. We will have no more of these caterpillars, that suck & gnaw the fairest flowers of the garden of France, 
Notable comparisons and resemblances.  and paint themselves with divers colours, and become in a moment, of little worms that creep upon the ground, great butterflies, flying painted with gold and azure: we will cut off the shameless number of treasurers, that make their own benefit of the taxes of the people, and turn to their own use the best and the last penny of the treasure, and with the rest cut and lash out at their pleasure, to distribute it to them only, from whom they hope to receive the like, and invent a thousand elegant and fine terms, to show the need of the state, 
It is not alone in France, but it may be found elsewhere.  and to refuse to show courtesy or favour to an honourable person. We will have no more so many governors, that play the little Kings or wrens rather, and boast that they are rich enough, when they have a piece of a river of six foot long and large, at their commandment. We will be exempted from their tyrannies and exactions, and we will be no more subject to watchings, and wardings, and night scouts, in which we lose the half of our time, and consume our best age, and get nothing but catarrhs, rheums, and diseases, that overthrow our health. 
Do it, and do well.  We will have a King, who shall give order to all & shall keep all these petty tyrants in fear & duty: that shall chastise the violent, that shall punish the stubborn, that shall root out thieves and robbers, that shall cut off the wings of the ambitious, that shall cause these sponges and thieves of the common treasures, to cast their gorge; that shall make every one to remain in the bounds of his office, and shall keep all the world in peace and tranquillity. 
A fable, but yet applied to good purpose.  To be short, we will have a King, that so we may have peace: but yet we will not do as the frogs did, that waxing weary of their peaceable King, chose the stork who devoured them all. We demand a King, and a natural head, not an artificial: a King already made, and not to be made: 
If you do, woe to you.  and therein we will not take the counsel of the Spaniards, our old and ancient enemies, who by force would become our tutors, and teach us to believe in God, and in the christian faith, in which they are not baptised, and have not known it past three days. We will not have for Counsellors and Physicians those of Lorraine, who of a long time have breathed and thirst after our death. The King that we demand, is already made by nature, borne in the very plot of ground, of the floure deluce of France, a right branch and flourishing, and springing from the right stalk of Saint Lewes. They that speak of making an other deceive themselves, & know not therein how to come to an end. Men may make sceptres and crowns, 
A wise and godly speech.  but not Kings to wear them and bear them. Men may make an house, but not a tree or a green bough. Nature must needs bring it forth in time, out of the juice and marrow of the earth, that maintaineth the stalk in her blood and vigour. A man may make a leg of wood, an arm of iron, a nose of silver, but yet not a head: So we may make Marshals, Peers, Admirals, Secretaries, and Counsellors of estate, and that in gross also, and many at one time, as we say, but yet not a King. He alone must spring only from himself, that so he may have life and lustiness in him. That one eyed fellow Bourcher, 
A familiar example and fet from a bad person.  the petty schoolmaster of the most wicked and lewd people of this city and land, will confess unto you, that his eye, enameled with the gold of Spain, seethe not any thing: Even so an elected and artificial King, should never be able to see us, and so he should be not only blind in our affairs, but also deaf, insensible, & unmovable in our complaints. And this is the cause why we will not hear speech neither of the daughter of Spain, whom we leave to her father: 
If he can do any thing against them.  nor of the Archduke Ernestus, whom we recommend to the Turks, and to Duke Maurice: nor of the Duke of Lorraine, or of his eldest son, whom we will leave to treat of the matter with the Duke of Bovillon, and with them of Strausbourgh: 
Yea & shame him also in the wars against him.  nor of the Duke of Savoy, whom we put over to the Lord of Diguieres, that doth not much help him. That fellow should be content with this, that by fraud and treason he hath taken from us the Marquesdome of Saluces, in danger to yield it very quickly and that twice told, if we may have but a little time to take our breath in. In the mean season he shall have this favour, to call himself King of Cypress, and to draw his antiquity out of Saxony: 
A fine frump.  but France is not a morsel for his mouth: how double footed, and large mouthed soever he be, no more than Geneva, Genes, Final, Monaco, and the Figons, which have always given him the fig, or garbumble, as we say. Besides, he will make a goodly molehill, and a brave show indeed, 
He meaneth King Philip's daughter.  with the disdainful highness of the daughter he hath married, who will serve rather to overthrow him with expense and sumptuous pride, them to make him wax great. Concerning the Duke de Nemours (for whom the Baron of Tenecay hath remembrances and instructions, by which he minds to make him more worthy to be preferred, than the Duke of Guise) we would counsel him (for the good he hath done us, by freeing us from war, and for his valiant deeds, 
Scoff on, and that drily.  standing I tell you upon very good proof) if he be well there where he is, that he hold him there, and keep him from the beast. I will say nothing touching the Duke of Guise. 
You may trust him therein, but in nothing else.  Monsieur the Lieutenant shall speak for himself, and he will commend himself to his sister. But so it is that these robbers and thieves of the kingdom, are neither fit nor sufficient, nor serving for our taste to command us: beside, we mind to keep our ancient laws and customs, we will not at any hand have a king by election, nor by lot, as the zealous and not men of jerusalem, that chose for their prieft a country man named Phanias, contrary to the good manners, and contrary to the ancient laws of judea. In a word, 
Plain dealing ●●est.  we would that Monsieur the Lieutenant should know, that we acknowledge for our true King and lawful, natural and sovereign Lord, Henry of Bourbon, heretofore King of Navarre. This is he alone, who for a thousand good reasons, 
The person 〈◊〉 power of the King commended.  we do acknowledge to be capable of and able to uphold the state of France, and the greatness of the reputation of Frenchmen: he alone that can relieve and lift us up from our fall: that is able to put the crown in her first beauty and honour, and to give us peace. It is he alone and no other, that can (as a natural Hercules borne in France) discomfit these hideous monsters, that make all France horrible and fearful to her own children. It is he alone and no other, that will root out these petty half Kings of Bretaigne, of Languedoc, of Provence, of Lyonnois, of Bourgongne, and of Champagne: that will scatter these Dukes of Normandy, of Berrie, and Solongne, of Reims and of Soissons: all these vain visions shall vanish away at the glory of his presence, when he shall be set in the throne of his ancestors, and in his bed of justice, which waiteth for him in his kingly palace. You have nothing, 
To wit either of truth or of show of truth.  Messieurs, nor you Monsieur the Lieutenant have nothing, that ye can object against him. The Pretext of the Uncle before the Nephew, is taken from you by the death of Monsieur the Cardinal his Uncle. I will not speak of him either by flattery, or in slanderous sort: 
A very worthy sentence.  the one savoureth a flavish mind: the other is proper to the seditious. But I can tell you in truth (which thing also you yourselves, and all those that travail in the world will not deny) that of all the Princes which France hath set before us, marked with the floure deluce, and that appertain to the crown, yea of all those that desire to come nigh it, there is none deserveth so much as he, nor that hath so many royal virtues, nor so many advantages and prerogatives, above the common sort of men. I will not speak of other men's wants: 
A pretty preterition.  but if they themselves were all set out or written in the table appointed for election and choice, he should be found by very much the most capable, and the most worthy to be chosen. One thing indeed he wanteth, which I could tell in the care of some, if I lifted. I will not say it is his different religion from ours, which you so much upbraid him with: for in some good measure we know, 
No, GOD wrought not that work, but his own corruption.  that God hath touched his heart, and that he is willing to be taught, and doth already apply himself to instruction, yea that he hath caused word to be sent to the holy father, concerning his very nigh conversion: of which I make such account, as if I had already seen it, he hath always showed himself to have such regard of his promises, and to be so religious a keeper of his words. 
Put the hardest: the best will save itself, as we say.  But though it were so that he should continue in his opinion, must we therefore put him by his lawful right of succession to the crown? What laws, what counsels, what Gospel teacheth us to dispossess men of their goods, 
Good reasons, why Kings of erromous and corrupt religions are not to be deposed.  and Kings of their kingdoms for diversity of their religions? Excommunication stretcheth not but unto the souls, and not unto men's bodies and goods. Innocent the third, exalting the most proudly that possibly he could his popelike power, said, that as God had made two great lights in the firmament, to wit the sun for the day, and the moon for the night, so hath he made two in the Church, the one for men's souls, which is the Pope, whom he compared to the sun, and the other for men's bodies, which is the King. men's bodies enjoy outward goods, and not their souls: 
The right end of excommunication.  excommunication therefore cannot take them away, for that is but a medicine for the soul to heal it, and to bring it to health, and not for to kill it, it is not to condemn it, but to make it afraid of damnation. Some say that men would not fear it, if it did not take from them some sensible or worldly commodity touching this life, as for example, their goods, 
A bsurdities ensuing the abuse of excommunication.  and conversation or company keeping with men: but if that might have place, they must when they excommunicate a drunkard, forbidden him wine and strong drink, and when they excommunicate whoremongers, they must take from them their wives, or women, and forbidden the leprous to scratch and rub. Saint Paul to the Corinthians forbiddeth men to eat and drink with fornicators, backbiters, drunkards, thieves, but yet he faith not, that they must take their goods from them to make them afraid, and to draw them back from their vices. I would willingly demand when they have taken the kingdom, and the crown from a King, because he is excommunicate, or an heretic, whether then they must choose another, and put that other in his place, for it is not reasonable that the people should remain without a King, as you Messieurs, would worthily indeed provide for it. 
A question not easy to be absolved.  But if it should so fall out afterwards, that this King being excommunicated, and destituted of his estates, should come to repentance, and be converted to the true faith, & obtain his absolution either of the same Pope, or of another succeeding him (as they are very much accustomed to revoke and undo that, 
A gird indeed.  which their predecessors have done) how could it be, that that poor King spoiled of his kingdom, should enter into it again? Those that should be seized of it, and hold it by just title, as three years possessors thereof, 
The Duke de Main may speak to this.  would they put themselves from it again think you, and yield him the places, forts, treasures, arms and ordinances, which they withheld? These are but the reckonings and accounts of old doting men, neither is there reason nor show of reason in all of it, or in any part thereof. It is long since this axiom or sentence general was concluded, that the Popes have not any power, to judge of or concerning temporal kingdoms. 
Good authorities.  And it is long ago also since S. Bernard saith: I read that the Apostles stood to be judged, but that they sat and judged others, I never read. The Apostles appeared very humbly before judges, to be judged by them, but they never sat in the chair to judge others: we know also very well, 
He reasoneth from the greater.  that many Arrian Emperors, coming to the empire by succession or by adoption and choice, were not rejected or repelled, by their right believing people and subjects, but were received and admitted into the imperial authority and government, without tumult or sedition. And the christians always had this maxim or rule, as a perpetual mark or cognisance of their religion, that they did obey such Kings and Emperors, as it pleased God to give or set over them, whether they were Arrians or Pagans, 
Sufficient proofs.  conforming themselves therein to the example of jesus Christ, that did obey the laws of Tiberius the Emperor, imitating likewise Saint Paul and Saint Peter, that obeyed Nero, and have in their epistles expressly commanded, to obey Kings and Princes, because all sovereign power is of God, 
Application of that that was delivered.  and representeth the image of God himself. This differeth much from the minds of our mutinous men, that drive them away, and murder them. And it is contrary to you, Monsieur the Legate, that would have the whole race to be destroyed. In deed if we had no more of the blood of this noble kingly family & stock, or that we were in a kingdom that goeth by election, 
And yet his devise of destruction full of blood.  as in Polonia or in Hungary, I would not much stick to say, that men should hearken unto you. But having had time out of mind, this worthy law (which also is the first, and the most ancient law of nature) that the son should succeed the father, and the nearest kinsmen in degree of consanguinity, to them that are nearest of the fame line, stock, and family, and having one so brave and noble a prince in that degree or respect, without controversy or disputation, that he is the true natural and lawful heir, and most able and fit to succeed to the crown, there is now no more place for election: and we ought to receive with joy and gladness, 
Men must not fight (as it were giants) against God.  this great king that God sendeth us, who hath no need of our aid to make him to be, but is already without us, and will be still in despite of us, though we would, what we could, hinder him in it. But I have strayed from my purpose, that so I might say something, concerning that which men object against him, touching religion, but this is not it that I meant, when I said that he wanted somewhat, and which much hindereth the advancement of his affairs: neither is this it, that the preachers and praters, do upbraid him with touching the love of women. 

And why not the Clergy men also, then and there present?  
A profane speech, and therefore to be read with judgement.   I am sure of this, that the greatest part of this company, and specially you Monsieur the Lieutenant, cannot give him that reproach, without blushing. For indeed, this is not the imperfection that can hinder valiant acts: but contrariwise there was never brave warrior; that loved not Ladies and women, and did not delight to get honour, that so he might be the better beloved of them. This is the reason why Plato wished to have an army or host, wholly compounded and consisting of amorous people, for they would be invincible, 
Grounds good enough for so bad a speech.  and would perform a thousand goodly exploits of arms and deeds of chivalry, to please their mistresses. Likewise the poets, good naturalists, and great masters in the knowledge of dispositions and manners, always have made Mars the God of battle, 
The more, the worse.  the friend of Venus. Consider, if you will, all the great captains, and monarches of the world, there shall very few of them be found sober, and stayed in this matter or business. Titus the Emperor, who is set forth unto us, for the most virtuous, most wise, & gentle prince, that ever bare sceptre, did not he desperately love the Queen Berenice, yet so notwithstanding, as that his love never prejudiced himself, nor brought any hindrance or backwardness to his affairs? 
True, but that is not in fleshly filthiness.  Prince's must have yielded unto them some refresh or recreations of their spirits, after that they have travailed in such serious affairs, as bring with them our quietness, and after that they have ceased from their great actions of besiegings, of fought battles, of pitching their tents, of dispersing and lodging their armies, etc. It is not possible, that the spirit should be always (as if it were a bow continually bend) occupied in these grave and weighty administrations, without some refreshing, and turning aside to other thoughts, 
A jolly proof.  more pleasant and comfortable. This is the cause why the wise man himself hath said, Bonum est pauxillum amare sanè: insanè non est bonum. To love a little and wisely also, is a very good thing, But foolishly to love & overmuch too, no goodness doth bring.  
It hath ever been too rife, that the people have given unjust judgements concerning their prince's actions, 
A bad collection.  and have always meddled wrongfully to interpret their manners and complexions, never thinking upon this, that there is not so much as one amongst them, that judgeth thereof, but he doth worse and hath greater imperfections. Kings, though they be Kings, cease not for all that to be men, subject to the same passions that their subjects are: and yet we must needs confess, that this man hath fewer faults in him, than any of those that have gone before him. And though he have an inclination to love fair and goodly things, he loveth none but such as are perfect and excellent, 
It is a foul fault to mitigate great sins.  even as he himself is excellent in judgement, and to know the price and the valour of all things. And yet this little withdrawing play or pastime in pleasure, is to him as it were an exercise of virtue, instead of hunting & hawking, without leaving even in the midst of his recreations, to know the matters that fall out in his army, 
These things are good, but yet cannot make vice to be virtue.  or to observe & mark the situation of cities & places, thorough which he passeth: the nature of men with whom he meeteth, of places and countries, which he traverseth: and he curiously learneth the passages and watches of rivers, and keepeth in memory the distances of cities and towns: marketh in what quarters it shall be fit and commodious to camp his army, when it shall pass that way, and always he inquireth and learneth some thing touching his enemy's acts, never having as yet undertaken such voyages, but that he had in hand one or two enterprises against certain rebellious places. But though it be a goodly thing to be continent, wise, temperate, austere, 
And who will deny it, but Atheists.  grave, and withdrawn, as a man may say, from the pleasures of this life, yet some men will have always somewhat to say against it. When men are once set upon hating of an other man, they interpret in the worst part all that he doth, yea even the verygood itself that he doth. It were a goodly thing I confess, to abstain from all pleasures, 
The power of truth and honesty will cause you to confess it.  & to do nothing but pray to God, and give alms: and yet some would say, this were but counterfeiting & hypocrisy. If it be lawful thus to judge of another man's actions, against the express forbidding that God hath made thereof, why shall it not be lawful for me to believe, that all these Moors and Spaniards, that make so many signs of the cross, and strike themselves so hard, 
Perhaps you may judge so, & not break charity.  & with such a noise upon their breasts in mass time, are notwithstanding jews & Mahometists, whatsoever goodly show they make? why shall I not say, that Monsieur of Lions is a Lutheran, as he was sometimes, although he turn up the white of his eye, and cause it so to appear, in lifting it to the Churchrooses or vaults, 
Better a bad excuse than none at all.  when be either worshippeth or maketh snow to worship the crucifix? But it is not in this age only, that men use to speak so of Kings, & there is an old proverb that saith, that jupiter himself when he raineth, pleaseth not all men. Some would have rain for their coleworts: others sear it because of their harvests. But that which I have deferred hitherto to speak of, and which as I think, is wanting unto him, it is that for which you and I are most bound unto him, that is, that he handleth us over gently, 
Commendation of clemency.  and spareth us too much. Clemency (in which he is abundant and excessive) is a very laudable virtue, and which bringeth in the end very great fruits, and such as will continue long, though that they be long and slow in coming. Howbeit, it belongeth to none but to Conquerors to use it, and to them that have none to resist them. 
Difference between clemency and fear, faintheartednes, etc.  Some attribute it to fain heattednes and searefulnes, rather than to valiancy and nobleres. For it seemeth that such as spare their enemies, desire that others should practise as much towards them, and that they demand recompense for their generosity: or else they fear, that if they show themselves severe, that they can have no reason of their other enemies, that rest yet to be subdued. Othersome name it very plainly, imbecility or weakness of heart, supposing that he that dare not use his right, is not yet assured of victory, but rather feareth that he should be overcome. But the Philosophers that have entreated this point to the full or to the bottom and depth of it, have not ascribed it to virtue, when those that enterprised to trouble an estate, have showed themselves gentle and courteous in the beginning of their attempts and executions, 
A bad example.  as that gentleness that julius Caesar used towards the soldiers and citizens of Rome before that he was conqueror, was not clemency but statterie, and ambitious courtesy, by which he would make himself acceptable to the people, 
A good sentence though not well applied.  and draw every one to his side. And this is it that that great master of Estates saith, The fame of clemency is profitable to such as affect authority, or else usurp rule. For to such as invade a kingdom against right and law (as you Monsieur Lieutenant do) the account or reputation of being gentle and gracious, is of very great use. But this rather was Caefars clemency, that having overcome Pompey, & discomfited all that might resist him, he came to Rome without triumph, and pardoned all his deadly enemies, putting them all in possession of their goods, honours and dignities, of which notwithstanding there was but a bad issue to himward: 
A foe well used, will continue a foe still.  for those whom he had pardoned, and showed most favours unto, were they that betrayed him, and miserably murdered him. Wherefore there is a difference between clemency and gentleness. Gentleness ordinarily is to be found in women, and in men of small courage: but clemency is not in any but in him that is an absolute master, and that doth good, when he is able to do all manner of evil. Wherefore let us conclude then, that our King ought to have reserved the use of his clemency, till he had had us all in his power. This is inclemency, yea cruelty saith Cicero, to pardon them that deserve to die, 
A good sentence in reason and religion both.  and the civil wars shall never have end, if we will hold on to be gracious, and show favour, where severity of justice is necessary. The malice of rebels waxeth more stiff & hard, by the gentleness that is used towards them, because they imagine that men dare not provoke them nor put them to do worse. I make no doubt of this, 
Nor any man else.  but had he hotly & earnestly corrected all those that fell into his fingers and hands, since these troubles, we had been all at this present under his obedience. But sith God hath been pleased to give him and to work in him a natural disposition, so sweet, gracious and favourable as we see and feel it is, let us yet hope much better of him, 
A good and strong reason.  when he shall see us lie flat at his feet, and to offer unto him our lives and our goods, and to ask him pardon for the offences past, seeing that finding us armed to resist and to assault him, he receiveth us to mercy, and giveth us our life, and all that we demand. Let us go, let us go therefore my friends, and that all of us with one voice, and demand peace of him. There is no peace so unjust, which is not much better than a most just war. 
A place of scripture, but not so rightly alleged as should be.  Oh how beautiful are the feet of them that declare peace, that declare good things and salvation, saith Isai? Oh how goodly feet have they that bring peace, and declare the health and safety of the people? Why stay we to chase away from us these troublous guests, cruel citizens, proud beasts, who devour our substance and wealth like grasshoppers? Are we not yet weary in furnishing, and that to riot and pleasures, these harpies? 
Monstrous birds having the faces of women or maids, but claws of marvelous capacity, yea rapinitie.  Monsieur Legate, let us go: and as for you, return to Rome, and lead away with you your porter of rogations and pardons, the Cardinal of Pelve: we have more need of holy bread, then of hallowed beads and grains: let us go Messieurs, the Agents and Ambassadors of Spain, we are weary with serving you, as fencers to uphold your pride, & with killing ourselves to show you pleasure. Let us go Messieurs of Lorraine, with your great company of princes, we hold you but for shadows of protection & defence, the horseleeches of the blood of the Princes of France, hapelourdes, little ships or foists without wares, relics of saints, that have neither force nor virtue. 
They are but feare-bugges in such men's mouths.  And let not Monsieur the Lieutenant think either to hinder us, or to backward us by his threats: we tell him aloud and plainly, yea we declare it to all you Messieurs, his cousins and allies, that we are Frenchmen, and that we will go with the Frenchmen to hazard our life, and that little that is yet left unto us, to assist there with our King, our good King, our rightful King, who will also very quickly bring you unto the same confession either by force, or by some good counsel, 
A necessary addition.  which God will inspire into you, if you be worthy of it. I know very well, that before I depart from this place, you will either give me some little pretty pill, or it may be you will send me from hence to the Bastille, where you will cause me to be murdered, as ye did Sacremore, S. Maigrin, the Marquis of Menelay, and divers others. But I shall account it for a good piece of favour, if ye will cause me to die quickly, 
Fear cannot put out fidelity to prince, etc.  rather than to let me languish a long while in these anguishing and grievous miseries. And yet before I die, I will shut up and finish my very long oration with a poetical epilogue or conclusion, such as I have made long ago.  
Messieurs the princes Lorraines,  
You are full weak in your reins:  
For the crown thus to quarrel,  
You cause yourselves to be beat well:  
You are valiant and strong amain,  
Yet your endeavours are all but vain.  
No force can be like in any thing  
To the puissance of a King:  
And reason this is not indeed,  
That on the children which succeed,  
The servants base should make war,  
Out of their land to drive them far.  
Great folly he doth perform and make,  
That from his master aught doth take:  
God against rebels and their main  
Kings and their good causes will sustain.  
To the Navarrias then leave and lay down,  
Of our mighty Kings the noble crown,  
Wrongfully by yourselves pretended,  
So well have you it molten and ended.  
If any right you had had thereto,  
You should not have melted it as you do:  
Or else you must have for name of renown  
The title of Kings without a crown.  
Our Kings from God set up renowned,  
Are always borne to us well crowned.  
The Frenchman true never doth range  
To King or prince that is but strange.  
All the villains, or the greatest part  
Have made you their head with all their heart.  
They of the nobility that do your part take,  
Are such as with haste their own wounds do make.  
But the very King of Frenchmen hard,  
In steed of his poor and Scottish guard,  
Is now assisted with none but great Princes,  
Or else with Barons and Lords of Provinces.  
Wherefore then my friends let us rise and go  
Our blessed S. Denis all unto,  
There devoutly to acknowledge and confess  
This great King our master, he is no less.  
Let us all go together as thick as the rain,  
Of him to crave peace, and the same to obtain,  
Unto his table without fear we will go,  
A prince so familiar he is, and gentle also.  
All the princes of the Bourbon race  
Have ever had in them this rare and good grace,  
Very meek for to be, and gentle also,  
And yet courageous in all whereabout they go.  
But o you princes that to us are strangers,  
And daily us thrust into thousands of dangers,  
And with nothing but smoke still do us feed,  
Keeping war kindled, and upholding it indeed,  
Get you soon packing into your own land,  
Very hateful to us, here do you stand:  
And reckon your race from Charlemaigne perdie,  
Upon the bounds and borders of upper Germany:  
Prove thee by your Romans or men of Rome,  
That from Charles the great you descend and come,  
That good people after the depth of their drink,  
Of that mystical matter somewhat may think.  
I have said.   

This oration being finished (which indeed was beard with great silence and attention) many people remained very flat nosed and much astonished, 
Plain speeches hath good effects.  and a good while after there were no coughing, hemming, spitting, nor any noise made, as if the hearers had been stricken with a blow from heaven, or brought into some deep dream, or drowsiness of their spirit, until a certain Spaniard one of the mutinous crew, first rose up and said with a very loud voice, Let all of us kill these villachoes, 
Take a Spaniard without pride and mutiny, and the devil without a lie.  or villains, which when he had said, he departed out of his place, without showing any reverence to any man. Where upon every one was willing to arise & to departed. But the Admiral de Villaris, the present & new King of juetot, did beseech the estates in the name of the catholic cantons, & of the leaguers of Catillonnois, Lipans, 
The firebrand of contention.  Gualtiers, & other zealous commonalties, not to make peace with the heretics, unless hemight remain admiral of the East, and of the West part, and were paid his costs, with the detaining of such benefits and favours as he thought belonged unto him: also that they would not choose a King, but such a one as should be a good companion, and a friend of the Cantons. After wards there rose up Ribault and Roland, and besought the assembly, 
Two honest men, I warrant you.  to frustrate and abrogate the law de Repetundis, that is a law made against such as were accused of extortion, or money unjustly taken, in time of their office, because this law as they took it, was neither catholic nor fundamental. This being done, every one rose up with a certain marvelous stillness: & in going out the herald advertised them at the gate as they went out to return to the council again, at two of the clock in the after noon. At which hour I that now speak, meant not to fail, 
Goodly things to be seen & heard at Paris garden.  for the great desire that I had to see rare and singular things, and the ceremonies that should be kept there, to the end I might the better advertise there of my master, and the Princes of Italy, which with an earnest desire wait for the proceeding and issue of these famous estates, held against all order & manner used and accustomed in France. Wherefore I came again to the Lovure after dinner, and that in good time also: 
You might do so, for your fare was but short.  and offering myself to enter into the uppermost hall, as I had done before in the morning, the herald or usher put me back, because he saw that I was not marked with L. and I had no token, as I saw many had that entered in much worse state, and more ragged and rend then myself, whereupon I conceived some small displeasure. 
Honourable persons for so high an assembly.  For amongst others, I saw admitted thereto, of butchers more than three, of taverners, braziers, sergeants, pelt or felmongers', that I knew, and who were to have a voice in the election. Yet my curiosity made me to pass my disdaigne: and that I might know whether the princes and princesses without tail, entered in the same ceremony and order that they did in the morning, I meant to wait their coming, and in waiting therefore, I gave myself in the mean while, to behold and consider the tables of open and plain painting, 
Neither is that material, but mark the devices.  which were set above the steps of the stairs. I know not whether they were there placed expressly to deck the place, or to sell. But this I can say, that I took marvelous great pleasure to behold them one after another, for the workman's hand in them was excellent, and the work itself was very neat and natural, full of dark speeches of divers meanings, which made all to bend their spirits, that they might divine or guess thereupon.  
The first, 
This was Duke de Maynne.  upon which I cast mine eye, was the figure of a giant, having both his feet upon a wheel that was ill greased, the spokes whereof were all writhe and crooked: and below his head, as if it were two foot and a half off, or thereabout, there was figured a crown of fine gold, but yet without precious stones, because Monsieur of Nemours had eaten them up, & near unto it was a kingly sceptre, 
A pattern of their presidency & government.  somewhat eaten with mice, and a sword of justice, but yet rusty, because it had not been worn & used: to which the said giant stretched out his arms as much or as far as he could, and lifted up himself upon his feet, with such advantage, that he stayed not himself upon the wheel, but upon the nethermost part of the artels, and yet he could not attain thereto, because it was altogether full of cities, and of good and great towns between them both. 
The King that now reigneth.  And on the right hand there was an arm crowned, that as it were with a small rod of iron did strike him on the fingers: under this wheel, 
And why might not these be women of his kindred?  there appeared (as there doth above that of Saint Katherine) a monster with three women's heads, who had their names written coming out of their mouths: Ambition, rebellion, counterfeited religion. I could not tell at the first show, what this might signify, but having looked somewhat more warily upon the visage or face of the giant, it seemed to me that it did resemble that of Monsieur the Lieutenannt, and had a head and a paunch as big as his, with all the linaments of eyes, of nose, and of beard, saving that he had not the Pelade of Roan, and above were written these sour verses, that made me to understand the whole mystery.  
O giant thou takest pleasure thyself up to rear,  
And above this wheel thyself to exalt,  
But if Godwill vouchsafe our prayers to hear,  
To the crows and ravens a mouth make thou shalt.  
Next unto this table, there was an other, 
The Cardinal Pelve.  of no less workmanship and pleasure, where there was painted a very little man, made and mingled of white and of red, appareled after the Spanish fashion, and bearing notwithstanding a french face, who had also two names. At his right side he had an inckehorne hanging, and at his left side a sword orrapier, which was fastened below: the pummel whereof was crowned with a garland of flowers, such as maids have when they go to be buried. His countenance was double, and so was his hat also, 
If he had said his heart also, he had not lied.  and his pouch or purse was four fold, and over his head on the side between the sun in the South and his setting, there showered a very small rain of gold, that caused him to betray his master. 
The daughter of Spain.  And he had in his hand a paper crown which he presented to a young Lady, that was speechless and withered, which made show to take it altogether, with a very fair little husband of butter, 
Duke Ernestus belike.  melted against the sun. I could not comprehend what the figure ment, but by the inscription which I saw beneath in these words. Vendidit hic auro patriam, dominumque potentem, imposuit: that is in plain english.  
This wretch his country for gold did sell,  
And his mighty master betrayed, a shame to tell.  
And below the same table there was this verse also.  
Eheu: ne tibi sit privata iniuria tanti.  
Alas, the private wrong or fear,  
Let it not be to thee so dear.  
Which made me to doubt, 
He meaneth the Lieuter of'̄t the legate, and Pelve.  that this was one of the persons of the Trinity, though indeed he had forsaken and shaken off the holy Ghost.  
I saw on the other side of the stairs, another table, that was more great and large than the first were, and mingled with sundry, divers and pleasant inventions, which made me to turn to look upon them, because also that on the top there was written the description of the Island of Ruach, newly augmented since the time of Rabelais. In the midst was a certain Lady, 
Belike he meaneth the Duchess of montpensier.  hooded or veiled after and living, and she had her hum or tail upon the ground, between two stools, and about her were a great company of Churchmen, Friars, jacobins, and jesuits, some of them bringing her packets sealed and bridled, 
Secret mutinous persons and light people easily led.  and unto others she herself delivered the like: the others that were appareled like priests, that had fat benefices or parishes, had the bellows of organs, wherewith they did blow in the breach of many of the inhabitants, who suffered themselves to be carried away with the wind. Others stood upright, their throat being wide and open, & the foresaid curates or priests did blow into their mouths, and nourished them with wind, as if it had been with some heavenly food, fit to heal the gouty, 
A description of the famine of Paris.  such as had the stone, or abundance of corrupt humours, in the whole body. In the nethermost part of the said figure, a man might see as it had been a public place, representing hals or markets, or the place Maubert or Paris, where instead of bread & meat, they set out to sale footbals, the skins wherein rams stones were, and the same skins much blowed up, and the great bladder of a hog, with which they trafficked in the market, and sold it from hand to hand, at a good reckoning. There was also an other sort of victual in paper, whereof some made great account, so that every one that would, could not have of it, which the retailers carried up and down the streets, and they cried news, news, 
News described.  as men cry, have you any mice or rats to kill. The foresaid Lady furnished the counter-cariers therewith, for from her, they came out in abundance from under her coat or gown: and there was great pleasure to behold the divers deformed countenances of them, that rooted as hogs do, under her tail, to taste thereof. The rest of the country of the said table, was full of windmills, turning empty, and having fanes or weather cocks in the air, together with sundry cocks of the Church. And at the four corners, 
It should seem he meaneth troubles from Spain.  there was the four winds reft into two, whereof it seemeth, that the southeast was the greatest, and blowed most mightily, and sent the clouds towards the North, north East. In the neither part of the said table, there was written this little quartain.  
Lo here you may see the new found land,  
Where the queen feedeth herself with wind,  
He that gladly would news know or understand,  
Let him smell to her forepart and not behind.  
Whilst I was ravished in the contemplation of this third table, and before that I had cast mine eyes upon the other that followed, the princes and princesses aforesaid passed by, and I must needs run after, 
A pretty fiction.  that I might enter as one of their followers: but because that the press was not very great, the herald or porter, that had once already put me back, marked me, and did more roughly and rudely thrust me back, than at the first, which made me to be fully resolved, to withdraw myself, and to leave there the Estates, very close and shut up. That was the first session, wherein at the evening I understood that they were in consultation, with what wood they should warm themselves the next lent, and upon what foot the union should go. 
High points in a low house  I also understood, that the issue of the council was, that men should observe sundry lents in a year, with often commandings of double fasts, which in continuance would turn themselves as double tertian agues do. Also they there forbade to sell speckled eggs after Easter, because that children had played with them before, which was a matter of very ill example. They forbade also the plays and games of Bourgongne, and the nine pins or nine holes of master john Roseau. 
Specially gentles & nobles.  Likewise they enjoined women to wear great bums, and in all safety to increase under the same, without fearing the babble and vain speech of midwives. Some whispered and murmured also, that dancings should be censured, and mules banished Paris. It was advised also, to turn the lodging house or Inn of Bourgongne, into a college for the jesuits, 
jesuits well deciphered.  who had need of recreation, by reason of the great quantity of blood, where with they were swollen and puffed up, as a filled bag, and had need of a surgeon to let them blood. Sundry other holy and praise worthy ordinances were made at the beginning of the play, whereof one promised to give me the list or catalogue. But above all other things, they commended the pains of Monsieur of Lions, 
A necessary law among many needless before.  who framed a fundamental law, by which it should be enacted, that whosoever within Paris, or within any other town, bridled by the union, should speak of peace for twenty years space, or should demand for traffic and trade, or should lament for the good time passed, he should be sent into exile to Soissons, as an heretic, or Maheuter, or should pay to the bag or purse of the union, a certain quantity of dales, towards the maintenance and entertaining of the Doctors. 
For there must always be an opposition, or else their state cannot stand.  Some also propounded this, that if the King of Navarre became a Catholic, Monsieur the Lieutenant must needs become a Huguenot, and that his late brother had indeed a mind to be so, if they would have received him. As touching the choice of a King altogether new, some say that it was ready to be adjudged and determined, but yet that it was not without great disputation, because that some spoke to this purpose, that it was better to have a Commonwealth, as the ancient French had: 
That is a confused government by the people. A state of government consisting of sew.  othersome demanded an anarchical democraty: othersome would have the Athenian oligarchy: othersome spoke of a perpetual Dictator & yearly Consuls, which was the cause, that by reason of the diversity of opinions, they could not resolve any thing thereof. Notwithstanding, there was some appearance that they spoke to have a King. For one named Trepelu the vine dresser of Suresnes, stoutly and stiffly defended, that the king was the very star, and the very sun, which so long since had governed and enlightened the kingdom of France, and with his heat nourished, 
Necessity of a king notwithstanding corruption in him that executeth the office.  fostered, and sustained the same. And what though sometimes the sun coming after a frosty night, it caused the vines to freeze, yet it did not thereupon ensue, that we should spit against it, and not use it any more, nor for all that to leave the good quaffing of quarts at a time, though that wine were very dear. And this is almost all that I could learn, and that I can report, of that which passed in the estates of Paris, from whom notwithstanding men look that there will come out very fearful claps and noises. 
I would it were so, that that Babylonian kingdom divided might come to ruin.  For they say that Kings and Popes will intermingle one with another, and that the Primate of Lions sleepeth not day nor night to hatch a writing, that will make all the world to lay down weapons and armour, and constrain all the Maheutres to fly from hence into England, or else that way. We shall in short time see what it will be. God is above all. The rest of the words and speeches, 
A pretty jest, though I approve not therein the use of scripture words.  and all the things that were done there, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the Kings, not of judah, but of Spain.  
Whilst these said estates were assembled, there were certain little verses made both in Latin and in French, which did run up and down the streets, where of I have made a collection, that the Italians, who are curious and desirous of such things, may see them.  

AN EPISTLE OF THE LORD OF ENgoulevent, to a certain friend of his, touching the oration that the Cardinal of Pelve made to the Estates of Paris.  
MY great good friend, you shall understand by this rhyme,  
That yesterday the estates were opened in good time,  
Where there were very many goodly orations made:  
But of all them that of tongues had the gift or trade,  
That great and grave Prelate of Sens the Cardinal,  
By his learned discourse hath ravished us of our wits all.  
Do you desire to hear it? unstop do your ears then,  
(So saith the song) and you shall have marvels amongst men:  
He spoke very largely of one father Pretion,  
Of whom that learned Livy maketh the ample mention  
In his Decade, where he saith, that in his time or age  
This worthy Pretion was a very great parsonage.  
He speaketh further of this, exivit edictum:  
But I know not whether he were a Greek or a Britton.  
He spoke also the Domino, and of the country du Maine,  
In a very well set countenance and a gravity Roman:  
Of S. Paul the convert he spoke much also,  
How fearful he was when upside down he fell tho.  
And so he said he was a gentleman brave and bred, 
A grave and great proof.   
Which appeared by this, that at Rome he lost his head.  
He spoke in French also, that was lame and a runagate,  
Of the Spaniard for sooth, and of the bonnet of the Legate,  
And of his blessed cross, 
For Gregory: this is eloquence passing intelligence.  and of Gringore the Pope,  
Of Luxembourgh and Pisani, of whom they have small hope.  
When he spoke of the place that was so foully arrayed,  
Some thought then how much he was defiled and afraid:  
When he danced lafoy volte, and a very great company say  
That this was for K. K. his niece or kinswoman gay. 
An incestuous Cardinal.   
Another added therewithal (howbeit a very good companion)  
Fie upon the same said he, it smelleth much of an onion.  
He bragged that if he might one day in the Consistory spend,  
With five protests all controversies he would soon hear & end.  
The fencer he played, and to them that heard him he seemed to vaunt,  
That jesus Christ himself had sometime been a protestant.  
Some danger there is that some one or other will him send 
They shall have a good catch.   
To the protestants in Germany, amongst them his life for to end.  
As for that which remaineth this bearer (that was nigh  
Herd all the matter, and whom of purpose send I,)  
Shall tell it you better: so much write doth my pen  
That its already reft, and laugheth loud now and then.  
Farewell.   

An excuse touching the said oration.  
His eloquence he could not make seen, yet had he a good will,  
For want of a little pretty book, wherein was all his skill. 
Learning lieth in his book.   
My Lords the estates, excuse this man good and kind,  
At Rome his learned Calepine he left there behind. 
A dictionary.    

Another touching the same oration.  
he ignorant friars had very great reason 
Like will to like quoth the devil to the collier.   
To make you their head, Monsieur most grant:  
For they that have heard your goodly oraison,  
Indeed have confessed you to be most ignorant.   

To the Spaniards concerning their double ducats  
Good Lord how yellow and how fair 
No good using of God's name.   
Do your double ducats appear.  
cause of them to be searched out great store  
Ye half Moors and more. 
Spaniards he meaneth.   
In the midst of your yellow and golden sands,  
Or from thence you shall be returned,  
all dried up and burned.  
Paris, which is not your prey,  
sends you clean away,  
With a hundred foot of nose thorough all lands. 
That is greatly derided.    

Upon the bruit that ran abroad, that they meant to make a Patriarch in France: and touching the hanging of four of the sixteen.  
Holy father, France to hold you have no hope,  
If they there set up against you another Pope,  
Sure you will lose it: think well of it yet,  
It's no small morsel to lose, when nought you can get.  
Those mischievous Maheutres, 
Reasons why the Pope shall forego France.  and shred politics,  
Though themselves they do call good Catholics,  
Yet surely good Romans they never will be,  
And much less the Huguenots of all them three.  
Our Paris the poor hath so much sustained sure,  
As impossible it is any more it should endure.  
Think well of it at the least if you will,  
The zealous Catholics there they hang do and kill: 
A kingdom divided can not long endure.   
From sixteen to twelve, the number is decreased,  
And so without doubt swept needs must be the rest:  
That after the first four brought down from above,  
They may be set on perches, as it were a stockdove.   

Touching Montfalcon, and the sixteen of Paris.  
That each have his own is justice indeed, 
The proportion is good.   
To Paris sixteen, by four quarters agreed,  
Montfalcon must have sixteen pillars high,  
So every one hath his own, who can this deny?   

Touching a treasurer who was committed prisoner to the Bastille.  
What hath he done that thus in prison they hold?  
In his chest good store had he of angels and gold. 
Gold many times bringeth his grief.   
Oh sore wicked man that to prison he goes,  
He did lodge too nigh him, his very great foes.   

Upon the imprisonment of a foolish advocate.  
For my part I know not by what good reason,  
That out of the Cannon or Civil law can be had, 
A dry blow against injustice   
They have thus put a sot or fool into prison,  
Sith thorough the streets, there run so many mad.   

Concerning the bonfires made at Saint Peter's feast. 1592.  
The fire at S. john's feast liked me well, 
Woe be to them that laugh, for they shall weep.   
They sing about it, dance roundly and turn:  
Concerning S. Peter's, nothing I will tell,  
But these fires our France, enkindle and burn.   

Whereupon they were called the zealous of the union.  
God speed ye Messieurs, ye Catholics,  
Without faith in God, or his son and delight:  
Greedily have ye devoured up the blessed relics, 
What will not these men do that deface their own religion.   
And the Crucifix ye have swallowed up quite.  
Some think that for your zeal, and no other things,  
Good men you zealous name do and call:  
But you have this name indeed of the wings,  
Because so well you do fly therewithal.  
The wicked spirit that doth you enrage,  
Under the colour of blessed religion,  
France hath razed and united in this age: 
Accursed be that union that maketh dissension.   
And thereof and not else, it is called the union.   

Touching the double crosses of the league.  
Tellme, I pray thee, what it doth signify,  
That the leaguers have a double cross with pain?  
Surely that in the league, 
An excellent mystery.  they mean to crucify  
God's son Christ himself yet once again.   

To Monsieur the Lieutenant touching the taking of Pelade.  
Pelade, 
Mock on hardly, and  him with shame.  sir, you have taken sure,  
By the breach that you do know,  
Keep it well I pray you Monsieur,  
It is of good worth, sith you have it so.   

To Monsieur dela Chapelle in the ursins.  
The advise of all Frenchmen is referred to one thing,  
When of you Monsieur de la Chapelle, they have any talk,  
You advise over late, 
Some must rush into their own ruin.  and are not sure of the most cunning,  
That enter into the league, when others from it walk.   

To Monsieur of Lions.  
Monsieur a Cardinal sure you shall be,  
Where the disease holdeth you, know well do we:  
But let it not of joy, 
The place of execution, where losing his head, he will have no place to set his hat on.  at all you bereave.  
That Master john Rouzeau, as he doth say,  
Oweth you the red hat in grieve.   

To Boucher the Preacher.  
Of civil war, O very flame & fury,  
And to the world an ensign sure:  
If thou canst not be the Bishop of a city, 
Happy man he, if he might have it.   
Yet of the fields, we will thee it procure.   

To the Advocate of Orleans.  
If thou wouldst be hanged, that which is good than do,  
Seeing that on thee poor wretch, no mercy men can have:  
But if some little of thy goods thou wouldst feign spare to, 
A desperate end for a desperate person.   
Then go cast thyself into the water, the rope so shalt thou save.   

Of two horses slain or dying in going to see the Duke of Parma.  
A certain precedent, Triboulet that had to name,  
Followed Monsieur Roland, that sheriff of great fame:  
The Duke of Parma and Plaisance to greet very sure,  
He had two horses, better french then he in that case, 
fools must buy their pleasure dear.   
That constrained to go thither, had thereat such disgrace,  
That both of them in two days were dead with displeasure.   

Touching the same matter.  
O coach man thou, when thy horses died,  
Because too sore they were run and tired,  
Thou oughtest in such a strange accident  
To have put in the coach the very precedent: 
A more fit place for him.   
For as some report in causes of request,  
He is worth two great beasts at the .   

Of two that sue and labour for the Kingdom.  
Two unto suit the Kingdom have bread,  
But their desire of it they shall lose withal,  
The one because he hath verily too great a head, 
The Duke de Maine. The Duke of Guise.   
An the other because his nose is too small.   

Touching the election of the Duke of Cuyse.  
The league did itself flat nosed find,  
And the leaguers much astonished were sure,  
Another subtlety they had then in their mind, 
The young Guise still.   
A King without a nose to themselves to procure.   

An answer for the Duke of Guise.  
The little Guisard makes mocks and moes,  
At all your verses and sonnets so quick, 
Want of sense and shame go together.   
For having a strong breath and a flat nose,  
He feeleth not when men do him prick.   

Touching the vow of a ship of silver, made to our Lady de Laurette, by Marteau provost of the Merchants. 1590.  
In danger of shipwreck, some vow to saints to make,  
And when they are on shore, 
Fie upon such trumpery.  the same from them to shake,  
Is a praisewort high thing, neit her will I it blame:  
But who is so foolish, 
Beg such a. one for a fool.  as that he will pay the same,  
Being yet on the seas, in the rage of the tempest?  
Thevet sure I am, never yet saw so great and gross a beast.   

A rebuke touching the same matter.  
What have I said? thereof repent do I,  
He is not a beast that maketh a vow 
No more than a Tiger.   
And playeth with our skin in hanging it hie,  
And acquits him with our loss, he careth not how.   

Touching the doctors of the union.  
The doctors of the counterfeit and dissembled union,  
By their foolish doctrine, which they themselves shape, 
Popery and paltry join always together.   
Suppose of the mantle, of their holy religion,  
To make the jolly Spaniard, a new and fresh cape.   

The Epitaph of the Chevalier d'Aumale.  
He sundry times escapeth that flieth out of war, 
Commendation of cowardice.   
But he that standeth to it, and putteth himself too far,  
Is oftentimes cast away, and trussed up into a male,  
For the proof hereof, I report me to Chevalier d'Aumale.  
Though he had in his hands some good pith and strength,  
Yet with his feet had he fought as well at the length  
At S. Denis, as in many encounters he miss the trap,  
We should not need here to plain of his grievous mishap.   

An other.  
He that lieth here a taker was, right bold and hardy sure,  
Against S. Denis that a fine enterprise did procure:  
But yet S. Denis more subtle, than this taker of renown, 
The pot goeth so often to the water, that at the last it cometh broken home.   
Did take him and both flay him eke, within his taken town.   

An other.  
S. Anthony being robbed, by a head of the leaguers conjoined,  
Went (as to one more strong) to S. Denis, to lay open his mind,  
Who to revenge this wrong, hath given him sure promise:  
Some little while after, this great robber did assay  
To take S. Denis, but S. Denis took him by the way, 
He goeth far in sin, that is never punished for it.   
Andrevenged upon him both the one & the other enterprise.   

A Sonnet upon this, that the said Chevalier d'Aumale, was slain near unto the lodging or inn, that had for sign the King's sword.  
1. 
Two notable examples alleged by the way of similitude.  As heretofore men saw when the great Greeian tempest  
Upon the walls of Neptune had his lightning sore expressed,  
Polyxena to fall, and Achilles provoked for to be,  
And eke upon the Trojan coast, the fall all too bloody:  
2. And as julius Caesar of an ambitious heart and hate  
Of the great Roman city, did overthrow the state;  
And being foe to Pompey, and the liberty also,  
At his image feet fell dead, with a hundred blows and more: 
The true redduion of the similitude,   
So at S. Denis town, of his kings the bloody foe,  
Ne are to their costly tombs, hath had a great overthrow,  
A sacrifice very late offered up upon their dust,  
Believe let us more than ever, that there is one God just:  
Sith of this rebel, 
The time, the place, the manner of doing and all would be observed, in God's judgements. Let popish & atheistical traitors mark this.  we saw the pain, the place and all,  
Yea that even at the sign of the King's sword he should fall.   

Another concerning the same subject or matter.  
There is but one God, who rebels doth overthrow  
And revengeth Kings: and their just quarrels also  
Takes into his hand, and them sustain he will,  
Such did not believe it, as now believes it still.  
This knight, that not long since men saw to be so  
Of the state and his master a very deadly foe,  
(So cruel, so presumptuous, so bold and so high,  
That with his lift up head, he thought to touch the sky)  
Is fallen, and that into a grievous ruin and decay,  
Wither God's wrath did carry him, and harry him away:  
At S. 
God is known by executing judgement, the wicked is snared in the works of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.  Denis he is found stark and stone dead,  
Fallen also into the snares, that for others himself spread:  
For his pride there fell upon him this grievous wrath and vengeance,  
Near unto the tombs of the ancient Kings of France,  
Whose bruised and broken bones in that same place do rest,  
And seem God's justice therein, religiously to have blest.  
Who (for the truth and faith that this wretch did violate)  
Would have this sacrifice to the Kings there to be immolate,  
And that his body with mice eaten up should be, 
As Hatto, the Archbishop of Mentz, was devoured with rats while he lived.   
(As great a wanton of the dames of Paris as was he)  
Before that to just burial, men could in season bring  
His body full of filth, and rottenness stinking.  
To cause the greatest of the leaguers to understand,  
That thus doing still, they shall be punished by his hand.   

Another touching the same matter, written in Latin, and translated out of the same.  
As the virgin of Priamus did fall upon the Phrygian shore, 
Two examples as before applied.   
And at the marble of her foes tomb, was constrained to die therefore,  
And as Caesar with many wounds, at his son in laws picture,  
Having conquered others, for all that fell at the feet of the conquered sure:  
So at the tomb of his own Kings, a foe to Kings in breath  
Falls dead, and imbloodeth the ground, with a just deserved death.  
Wherefore ye godly men even now rejoice, for why this offering odd  
Both at kingly tombs is punished, & showeth there is a God.   

Against the same Chevalier d'Aumale.  
This man by mighty guile did take, S. Denis town of fame, 
Oh how unsearchable are God's ways, and his judgements past finding out.   
But taker he, in taken town was caught, and perished in the same.   

A Sonnet upon the retiring of the Duke of Parma.  
But where is now this power so huge, so mighty & so great, 
An abrupt & pathetical exdium, but fit for the purpose.   
That when it came to us it seemed all the Gods themselves to threat?  
And that promised to itself to break, and down to the ground to fling  
The famous french nobility, with their armed prince or king:  
This preparation great & proud, to smoke or wind is turned.  
And that great Duke that thought himself, 
So God confoundeth pride of heart.  all the world to have burnt,  
Without doing aught, constrained is into Flanders to retire,  
Having lost his people, his time, his fame, & that he did desire.  
Henry our great king as a hunter good, doth him pursue and chase,  
He presseth him, he followeth him, and the fox flieth apace  
With his nose to the ground, ashamed, despised and blamed & brought to danger.  
Ye Spaniards proud learn this of me, 
Spaniards learn in time.  never yet did any stranger  
Entrap or take a Frenchman but with loss, danger & shame,  
The Frenchman is not vanquished, but by one of the same name.   

A Sonnet to all them of the League.  
O ye unnatur all Frenchmen, 
To all French generally.  and bastards of this land,  
That tamed cannot be, but by your own force and hand:  
Now put ye off this courage, inhuman and unnatural,  
That puss you up with pride, & by ignorance destroys you all.  
Ye petty princes of Lorraine, 
To the Lorrainists. He meaneth the Pope, or the Spaniard, or both. To the Parisiens'.  shake off your hope therefore,  
The error of that Cumane ass follow ye not any more,  
Who clothed with the skin of the Roman lion great,  
(Seeing the very lion stout) doth heart and hope forget.  
And you o ye Parisiens', recourse whither will you have?  
You must needs whether you will or no (void of hope yourselves to save)  
Subject yourselves to that duty, to which the laws you bind:  
But if against yourselves you stir your king that is sokind,  
Chastened you shall sure be: for on babes and fools we spend  
Some chastisement, or else indeed they will never sure amend.   

Touching the Lords of Vitry and of Villeroy, who have acknowledged the King.  
The union herself her force doth still untie,  
Vitry and Villeroy witness do this thing:  
To God therefore alone be infinite glory,  
Praise unto them, honour to the King.  
This Lieutenant in false conceit,  
This great pillar swelled with wind and no more,  
That thought the King to counterfeit,  
Shall be gross john even as before. 
The Duke du Maine.   
The League, itself to destroy goes about,  
Wherewith confounded are the wicked race:  
The seed thereof shall sure be put out 
A house divided in itself can not stand.   
By torture, sharp swords, or some other strange case.  
Ye people of blood, of spoil, and the rope,  
And still will be named zealous as yet: 
The Leaguers.   
Cry the King mercy, so may you have hope,  
Or else from hence ye shall go to the gibbet.  
Ye sixteen, Mount-falcon calleth for you, 
The sixteen appointed to govern Paris.   
To morrow the crows will cry very loud:  
The sixteen pillars of his chapel new  
Shall be your tombs, wherein you shall be shroud.   

To the King concerning his very great clemency.  
Amongst the goodly virtues, this is one very excellent,  
Pitiful to be to the vanquished, and to pardon all:  
But take heed of too much, chiefly to rebels impenitent: 
Too much pity spoileth a city, yea a kingdom.   
For Caesar as great a prince, as yourself, did thereby fall.   

Concerning the same matter in Latin, and turned into English.  
Pity in a great prince is a great virtue indeed, 
A good thing can hardly be too often repeated.   
And to be willing always his enemies to spare:  
But yet too much pity is not safe, as we may read,  
By the bloody death of Caesar, a prince very rare.   

Upon the same matter.  
Heretofore it was a virtue fit for a cour agious king,  
To the greatest of his foes, grace and pardon to show:  
But sith Caesar was murdered, and that for this thing,  
From a virtue to a vice, it is become, as many more.   

In Latin, but translated out of it.  
In former time for captains great pity was a virtuous trade:  
But sith that Caesar was destroyed, this virtue a vice is made.   

To the King.  
O thou victorious prince, and now the best of all that live,  
God out of his hand into thine, two sceptres great doth give: 
France & Navarre.   
And in a throne of longest endure hath placed thee again,  
In spite of all the sore attempts of that conjured Spain.  
The wishes of all Frenchmen good, are heard yet at the last,  
Thou race of Lewes S. shalt reign, in peace, and sit full fast.  
That which the heavens give thee sure, no man can take from thee,  
Though void of sceptre and of crown, thou shouldst command with glee.  
Notwithstanding all this, o King, a King thou shalt be sure,  
Its virtue that makes kings, 
A worthy sentence.  their crown, & alfor to endure.   

In Latin, and translated out of it.  
Unconquered prince, and of thine age, the glory eke alone,  
Even GOD himself doth set thee up, 
True, for king's reign by him.  upon thy grandsires throne:  
And with a happy hand doth reach, to thee two sceptres brave,  
Which taken from the Spanish foe, thou shalt uphold & have.  
In days past, one of the sisters three did spin this goodly thread:  
But though they should deny to thee, the gold crown of thy head,  
And eke the holy oil that was vouchsafed of France to the King,  
Which messenger both swift and fair, from heaven high did bring,  
That shall not let, but rule thou mayest, after thy father's rate,  
Virtue crowns the king, virtue, I say, the king doth consecrated.   
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
T.W.    

THE FRENCH PRINTERS DISCOURSE, TOUCHING THE exposition of these words, Higuiero of hell, and concerning other matters, which he learned of the Author himself.  
MY masters and good friends, the profit that I have made by the imprinting of this treaty, and that which jowe to this discourse, have made me very desirous to know who was the author hereof. For after that the French copy was first given me at Chartres, at the consecration of the King, by the gentleman of whom I have heretofore made mention, I did perceive that sundry learned men, yea and I myself, did very easily judge, by the style and language of the book, that an Italian was never able to make so good a french work, and so well polished, as this is, that showeth an absolute knowledge of all the affairs, and of the very natural disposition of all the most famous men of France. Wherefore we must of necessity conclude, that he was a French man that made it, yea such a French man, as had good understanding and intelligence, and was well trained up at court, & that the Florentine which was about to carry it into his country, from whom his servant stole it together with the male, had but only turned it out of French into Italian, that so he might cause it to be seen, and read in Italy. And this was the cause why I myself travailed with a certain wonderful care, to discover and find out him, who had made us indebted unto him for this worthy work, that hath given so great pleasure, contentment, and liking, to all good and honest people. But not withstanding all the inquiry, that I was able to make thereabout, I could not find a man, that told me any very certain and assured news, touching the same, but speaking only by presumptions, suspicions, and conjectures; till one of these days last passed, when I was almost past hope, to know any thing touching the matter, there did by fortune come unto me in the street, a very aged man, very lean also, and pale, which since I have heard to be called Master Polypragmon, 
That is Master busy body.  who abruptly and upon the sudden demanded of me, if it were not I that had printed the Catholicon of Spain. At the first I made some difficulty and doubt, to confess it unto him, fearing that he had been some one of them, that had been named therein, and had felt himself moved therewith, as divers had done: no, no, saith he, keep not close from me, that that all the world knoweth, I was at Tours when you first imprinted it, and know andeed the name of them, that gave you the original copy thereof: but for all that it may be, that neither yourself, nor they which gave you it, knew who was the author thereof. Perceiving then, that he knew so much of this matter, I could not but confess, that in truth I had printed it at Tours, but that I was not able to finish it, but in the very time that I must trusle up my baggage to come in to this city, after that the Parisiens' were returned to their former good understanding, and brought into the obedience of the King. That fell out well for you, said he, for before that you had set it abroad, divers men had seen sundry imperfect, and defective copies, which had very much stirred up their desire, to see the rest well polished and published. But you are much out of the way, when in your Epistle set before the book, you said that it was an Italian that made it, at the assembly of the Estates of Paris. For I know very well the name of him that composed it, who also lodgeth not far from hence. Whereupon I was very glad of this encountering, and I did very earnestly pray him to name him unto me, at the least wise, if it were lawful for me to know him: because that I had very many things of great importance, to tell him for his benefit and honour. I will said he, tell you his name, and will also show you his lodging, upon condition, that you will not disclose it to any man, for he is a person that doth not love to be so much visued, as many do now a days. Those that told you that he was of Italy, were deceived by one letter only, he is not of Italy, but of Alethie, 
That is, Truth.  which is far differing from the other: 
That is, Liberty. That is, Free speakers. That is, Lovers of money. That is, Desirers of honour. That is, Unknown. That is, a hater of gardens.  and he was borne in a little town, that men call Eleuthere, inhabited heretofore and built by the Parresiens', who have continual war against the Argytophiles, & Timomanes, a very puissant & populous nation. His name is the Lord Agnoste, of the family and stock of Misoquenes, a gentleman of good estate and no deceiver, which loveth the counsel of wine better, than the council of Trent. You shall know him by this, that he is always attired after one manner, and never changeth his apparel or garments, as if he had nothing else but to think upon, and to govern Lions. He is a great little man, that hath his nose between both his eyes, his teeth in his mouth, his beard upon his chin, and willingly wipeth his mouth, and his nose upon his slecues. You shall find him at this presem, lodged in the street of Good time, at the sign of the Rich labourer, and he goeth very often to walk in the black Friars, because he loveth them very well. And hereupon I recommend me unto you, for I have to deal in other places, by reason of certain packets that are come from Rome, which assure us, that our absolution hangeth by no more, but a twisted thread at this time of the year. As he had very brutishly & thickly spoken these words, he went his way, and left me yet in suspense, nor withstanding I was somewhat better satisfied, than I was before, sith I knew the name, and the lodging place of mine author. And at the same time I went thorough all the quarters of Paris, and inquired of the street, and the sign that he had told me, but no news were to be found, neither of Good time, nor Rich labourer. In the days following I did wear three pair of shoes, or there about, in running up & down the streets, & could learn nothing. To be brief, I had been in the same state still; but that by hazard, I met with a certain honest man, whom I had sometimes heard say, was a Parresien, of whom I asked the same question, which I had unprofitably made already ten thousand times, and that to some many men. He told me that he had heard speech of a certain gentleman of Eleuthere, and of the family of Misoquenes, but he knew not whether it were he that I asked for, because that there were divers of that name in Alethie. I besought him to guide me to the lodging of him whom he knew, which thing he did, and at the last, after many turnings and windings, thorough sundry & divers little streets, he showed me a little low door, into which I entered without knocking, and found in a little high chamber, very pleasant & well furnished, a man of goodly representation, leaning and reading upon a book, drawing very nigh to the cut and fashion that that man master Pol had described unto me. I demanded of him (greeting and reverence being presupposed) whether he were the Lord Agnoste Misoquene: men indeed (said he) call me Misoquene, but I am not Agnoste. He whom you inquire of, is indeed my very near kinsman, and we are both two of one country, and of one town, but it shall be very hard for you at this present to find him: for his lodging is more hidden and secret, than the nest of a Tortoise. Not withstanding, if you would have any thing with him, I can from hence at any time advertise him thereof. Then said I unto him, Monsieur, I believe that it is he, that is the author of that little discourse, that is made touching the holding and assembly of the Estates of Paris, and of the Catholicon of Spain, which he hath entitled, A Satire Menippized. I have heard him himself there of (said he) say so. That is a work (quoth I to him) which hath been very much received, and which I have imprinted (for I am a Printer at your commandment) without knowing the value thereof. Which may appear by this, that at the beginning thereof at Tours, I printed but seven or eight hundred copies, but so soon as it was seen at Paris (whither I brought it with my presses and movable goods) the whole world thought it so beautiful and so well done, that men ran unto it as to a fire, in so much that I printed it four times in three weeks, and I am ready now to print it the fift time, if I had conferred but only one half hour with the author. After this, this honest man said, I have oftentimes heard my cousin say, that he was very much grieved, that this treaty came into sight, before he had revewed the same, and cut off divers things, which it may be, he thought easy enough to pass then, when he composed the same: but in the time wherein we are, it may be they may engender some scandal, and offend some persons of quality, who are named therein, or pointed out thereby. For those which have acknowledged and amended their faults, do very well deserve, that men should suppress and bury the remembrance thereof, rather than refresh it, and make it perpetual, by such provoking and merry writings. Also I have heard him complain of a certain book seller, who either thorough covetousness, or of jealousy towards others, hath caused this work to be printed in very small letters, ill corrected, and very unpleasant: and who also hath been so rash and heady, to take from it, and to put to it, whatsoever pleased himself, which thing indeed justice ought not to endure. Notwithstanding the argument is public, whereunto every man may put additions, specially such as respect the matter: for otherwise, or besides that I know very well, that my said cousin, neither wisheth, nor hopeth to have honour or praise thereby. Then I de naunded of him, if there were not any mean for me to see the said lord Agnoste. And he answered me, that there was not any for that season, because that his said cousin did sometimes shut up himself for eight days space together, without seeing any man. But yet that if he had a mind to know any matter concerning his intent or purpose, he thought he was able to satisfy me, even aswell as his cousin himself, because that they had oftentimes discoursed together, touching this matter, as also concerning this, that some came unto him every day to report unto him the speeches which men used in the palace, and thorough out the city touching his book. I will therefore be bold, seeing that I cannot have this goodness to behold him, even I, I say, will be bold, to demand of you some doubts, whereat I see sundry men to stumble, and not to be able well to resolve themselves. First, wherefore did he affect this new title of Satire Menippized, which all the world understandeth not, seeing that in the written copies, it had this inscription, The abridgement and soul of the Estates. This question (said he) cannot fall but in ignorant spirits, for all they which have been brought up in learning, know very well, that this word Satire, doth not only signify a poesy, containing evil speech in it, for the reproof, either of public vices, or of particular faults of some certain persons, of which sort are those of Lucilius, Horace, Juvenal, and Persius: but also all sorts of writings, replenished with sundry matters, and divers arguments, having prose and verse intermixed or mingled therewithal, as if it were powdered neat's tongues interlarded. Varro saith, that in ancient times, men called by this name, a certain sort of pie or of pudding, into which men put divers kinds of herbs, and of meats. But I suppose that the word cometh from the Grecians, who at their public and solemn feasts, did bring in upon their stages or scaffolds, certain persons disguised, like unto satires, whom the people supposed to be half Gods, full of laziness, & wantonness in the woods, even such a one, as presented himself alive unto Sylla, and such a one of them as Saint Hierome rehearseth, appeared unto Saint Anthony. And these men disguised after this manner, being naked and tattered, took a certain kind of liberty unto themselves, to nip and to flout at all the world, without punishment. In old time, some made them to rehearse their injurious verses all alone, without any other matter in them, then railing and speaking evil of everyone, afterwards men mingled them with Comedy players, who brought them into their acts, to make the people laugh: at the last, the more grave and serious Romans chased them altogether out of their theatres, and received in their place, Vices in plays: but the more wise and witty Poets used them, to content there withal, their own bad spirit of evil speaking, which some of them thought to be the chief goodness. And there are great numbers of them found in our country of Parresie, who love rather to lose a good friend, than a good word or a merry jest, applied well to the purpose. Wherefore it is not without cause, that they have entitled this little discourse, by the name Satire, though that it be written in prose, being yet notwithstanding stuffed and stored with gallant Ironies, pricking notwithstanding and biting the very bottom of the consciences of them, that feel themselves nipped therewithal, concerning whom it speaketh nothing but truth: but on the other side, making those to burst with laughter, that have innocent hearts, and are well assured that they have not strayed from the good & right way. As concerning the adjective Menippized, it is not new or unusual, for it is more than sixteen hundred years ago, that Varro called by Quintilian, and by S. Augustine, the most skilful amongst the Romans, made satires of this name also, which Macrobius saith were called Cyniquized, and Menippized: to which he gave that name because of Menippus the Cynical Philosopher, who also had made the like before him, all full of salted jestings, & powdered merry conceits of good words, to make men to laugh, and to discover the vicious men of his time. And Varro imitating him, did the like in prose, as since his time there hath done the like, Petronius Arbiter, & Lucian in the Greek tongue, & since his time Apuleius, and in our age that good fellow Rabelaiz, who hath passed all other men in contradicting others, and pleasant conceits, if he would cut off from them some quodlibetarie speeches in taverns, and his salt and biting words in alehouses. Wherefore I cannot tell what manner of men these dainty ones are, that think some do evil, that according to the example of these great personages, meant to give unto a like work, a like title unto that of theirs, which is now become common, and as we say, appellative, whereas before it was proper and particular: as not long time since, a learned Fleming and a good Antiquarian, hath used the same. And this is all that I can tell you in this respect. If you desire any other thing, I will tell you my advise or opinion. Then said I unto him, I am sufficiently satisfied as touching the title; but there is very great disputation amongst some, what the author should mean by these terms, Higuiero of hell: for there are very many persons that know not what it meaneth, and make thereof sundry horned and ill favoured interpretations, such as in my mind the author himself never thought of. I know very well (said he) that there are divers that desire to play about the affinity of the words: some, to make themselves merry therewith: and others to draw the author into envy: but there is much odds between eight and eighteen, and a great difference between breathing and whistling. I have heard my cousin a hundred times say, and I know it also as well as he, that Higuiero of hell, signifieth no other thing in the castilian or Spanish tongue, but the Fig tree of hell. For the Spaniards, as also the Gascoignes, turn the F into H, as hazer, harina, hijo, hogo, higo, for fair, that is, to do, farine, meal, fills, a son, feu, fire, figue, a fig. And this at this time is but too common in Paris, where the women have learned to speak, as well as to do, after the Spanish manner. Where he saith then, that the drug of the Spanish juggler, or Apothecary, was called Higuiero of hell, it is for divers reasons. First, because the fig tree is a wicked and an infamous tree, the leaves whereof (as we may see in the Bible) have served heretofore to cover the privy parts of our first parents, after that they had sinned, and committed high treason against their God, their father and creator: even as the Leaguers to cover their disobedience and ingratitude against their King, and him that hath done them all good, have taken the Catholigue, Apostoligue, and Roman religion, and think therewith to hide their shame and sin. This is the cause also why the Catholicon of Spain, that is to say, the pretext which the King of Spain, and the jesuits and other preachers, won by the double ducats of Spain, have given to the seditious and ambitious Leaguers, to rebel against their natural and lawful King, and to fall away from him, and to make in their own country, war more dangerous than civil, may very properly be called, the Fig tree of hell, in steed that that wherewith Adam and Eve did cover their open sin, was the Fig tree of Paradise. And ever since that time this tree hath always been accursed, and of evil name amongst men, bearing neither flowers nor any buds, nor any thing else to garnish it withal, and the very fruit itself hath from thence been drawn to name the most dishonest part of women, and the most filthy and foul disease that breedeth in the parts, that we cannot well name. You are not ignorant of this also, that the ancient people did account this tree amongst the gibbets or gallows: as for example, when Timon the Athenian would have plucked up one of them that did him some annoyance in his garden, and whereupon sundry had in former time been hanged, he caused to be proclaimed with the sound of a trumpet, that if any were willing to be hanged, he should dispatch and come thither quickly, because he meant to cause it to be pulled up by the roots. Pliny teacheth us, that this tree hath not any scent or savour; no more hath the League. Again, that it easily casteth her fruit; and so hath the League done: that it receiveth all manner of corruptions, as the League hath received all sorts of people: and that it doth not last or live long; no more hath the League done: and that the greatest part of the fruit, which appeareth at the beginning, never cometh to ripeness; no more hath that of the League. But that which yet better agreeth with it, and hath many more conformities with the League, than S. Francis hath with our Lord, is the Fig tree of the Indies, which the very Spaniards themselves have named the Fig tree of hell. Concerning which, Mathiolus saith thus much for truth, that if a man cut but only one leaf from it, and set but the one half thereof within the ground, it will take root there, and afterwards upon that leaf there will grow an other leaf, and so leaves growing upon leaves this plant becometh high as it were a tree without body, stalk, branches, and as it were without roots, in so much that we may reckon it amongst the miracles of nature. Is there any thing so like and so much resembling the League? which of one leaf, that is to say, of a very small beginning, is become by little and little from one person to an other, to this great height wherein we have seen it: and yet notwithstanding, because it wanteth a good foot, or a good stalk to bear it up, it withered and decayed at the first blast. But this is not all. This Fig of the Indies, called (as you have heard) the Fig tree of hell, bringeth forth fruit like unto the common figs, but yet somewhat more grosie and great, finishing by the forepart in a crown, (these are the proper terms of Mathiolus) and are of colour between green and purple, within there is nothing, saving a certain kind of puffed matter, as in our figs, but yet so full with a certain red kind of juice, that it tainteth men's hands, as the mulberries or black berries do, and causeth them that receive it, to make urine as red as blood, whereof many people are greatly afraid. Have you not seen that the League hath had the very same effects? The fruits thereof have been great, and more puffed up and swollen than common fruits, and their end was a crown, that is to say, the crown of France, to which it tended: the colour of the League was green and red: green for the joy that they had of the death of the late king, whereof they did a long while wear the scarf: and red, as well that they might be known in the liveries of the Spaniards, as for the blood of the good Frenchmen that they meant to shed. This Fig tree of hell is so common in the Island of Hispaniola, newly discovered in the Indies, that a certain Italian author faith, that the whole country is full thereof, and that there it cometh as it were in despite, even unto the courts of their houses. There is also an other Spanish Physician, named john Fragosus, that writeth of the property of a certain oil (which they call the oil of the Fig tree of hell) in these terms: Some late men that writ of the things of the West Indies, have a peculiar chapter of a certain oil that they call, the oil of the Fig tree of hell, and they say, that it cometh from Gelisco, a province in new Spain. And a little after he saith: It is the same that they account Cherua, or Catapucia mayor, which the Italians call, Palma Christi, or Mira solis. All which plainly declareth, that that which the Italians call fico d'inferno, that is, the Fig tree of hell, it is called by the Spaniards, Higuera d'inferno, or in the castilian tongue, Higuiero d'infierno, that is as before, the Fig tree of hell. These than are the reasons that have moved my cousin, to name the Catholicon of Spain, the Fig tree of hell; because that the Spaniards so call that Fig tree of the Indies, that beareth her fruit full of blood, as indeed the League hath done. And if a man would proceed yet further, and say that that Fig tree is the Palmar, you shall find therein a thousand other conformities or agreements, which it would be too long to discourse upon: and amongst other, that which a certain Physician of Africa hath written, that of the tree Palmar alone, a man might make all manner of tools and provisions for a ship, yea the very ship itself, and that the fruit thereof may be applied to all uses, and serveth for bread, for wine, for linen cloth, for vessel, for table, for covering of houses, and in a word, for all that a man would have: as the League at the beginning of it, served for all sorts of people: for all sorts of hopes, and for all means, to cover all sorts of passions, as of hatred, of covetousness, of ambition, of revengement, and of ingratitude. There is indeed another tree, which Baptista Ramusius, calleth Higuero, and saith that it must be pronounced by four syllables: but I am sure it was not the purpose of my cousin to speak thereof, 
An herb of the kind of spourge. A kind of spourge, with a leaf like purslane.  no more than of Lathyris, or of Helioscopion, which the grammarian Nebrissensis calleth also Higuera del infierno, that is the fig tree of hell, because he witches and she witches commonly use it, to work their charms and enchantments by, as the Leaguers have used the name of Catholic religion, to charm and enchant the people withal. And this as I take it, may suffice or satisfy them, that would divine or dispute concerning this term. Some have told my cousin, that divers thought hardly of it, that he hath expressed the proper names of some of the seditious and principal authors, of all the misery and mischief of France. But I have heard him say, that he was of such a country, where they used to call bread, bread; & figs, figs. Those that for money had delivered their own city to Philip King of Macedonia, complained indeed that his soldiers, after the yielding of it, called them traitors, and upbraided them with their treason. I know not (said the King) how to do you any help in this, for my soldiers are gross and lumpish fellows, and call things by their own names. Those, who after they had caused sundry towns to revolt against the King, & had as much as they could maintained war, and exercised all manner of tyrannies against the poor people, and having ruinated all their neighbours, and who seeing themselves no longer able to hold out, and that there was no more to catch or take, did very dearly sell those places to the King, and delivered up the poor inhabitants to his mercy, shall those I say, be angry, if men call them traitors? But it were a hard matter, that no one word should scape the Parresiens', even against them that have taken gold and silver, and that have merchandized, & bought, and sold, to come to a certain price, I will have so much for doing it. For though that they had done that which they should have done, (as judges that execute justice, which they are bound to do) yet for all that, in taking money they have marred all, and ought not any longer to receive honour, for their good doing. They cannot save themselves from this, that men should not call them traitors, troublers of the state, merchants, and sellers of their country; and there is none but God alone, that can bring to pass, that things already done, should not be done, neither can he bring to pass, (unless it be by a certain kind of gross forgetfulness, which he can bring upon our spirits or understandings) that we should not remember any more, that which is already past. And concerning this matter one of our poets, (whereof our town Eleuthere, is very well furnished) hath spoken not many days since, in six small verses, 
Those that thorough civil wars, for gold and silver told  
Unto the King do sell, places and towns of hold,  
Though in my mind, good markets they do make:  
(For, for some small coin, they expose themselves to strife,  
And therewithal do sell their honour and their life)  
Yet never did honest man this trade upon him take.   
Notwithstanding, if any are to be found, that at the beginning suffered themselves to be carried away, with the flood of the League, whether it were for fear to forego their religion, or for some particular affection that they bore to the heads of that side, or for some displeasure and hatred, that they had conceived against the late King, they are they themselves, that submitted themselves to, and that acknowledged, the present King, so soon as they saw him to become a catholic: and have brought into his power, the places that they held without merchandise, or entering into composition with their master: and these are more excusable, for their first error or fault, than the other: yea they deserve recommendation and praise, and to be put in our chronicles, for that they have delivered their country from the Spanish cruelty, as we see to have been done to them, that have freed France from the English men. Fron whence have proceeded so many goodly privileges, to families, to towns, and to commonalties, who of themselves did shake off the strange yoke, that they might the better submit themselves to the sweet power of their natural Kings. But that which most grieveth all honest and virtuous people, is to see that they, that have not done it but by force and necessity, are yet notwithstanding joyfully entertained, received, and welcomed, and boast that they are the cause that the King is converted. These men cause me to remember a certain answer, that Fabius the great gave to a Roman captain, governor of Tarentum, who after that he had suffered the town to be lost by the treason of the citizens, bragged of this, that he was the cause, that Fabius took it again. Truly (said Fabius) I had not taken or recovered the town, if thou hadst not lost it: even so may these people brag and boast here, that they are the cause of so many Trophies & triumphs as the King hath achieved in conquering his realm again, for without their treason and rebellion, he had not gained so much honour, as he hath done by bringing them under, and ranging them to reason. I saw also others, that have not so much as stirred out of their houses, and from their quiet rest, to rend and tear the name of the King, and of the princes of the blood of France, as much as they were able, who also not being able any longer to withstand, by reason of the great necessity that pressed them, because they had two or three days, before the reducing of their town to the King's obedience, some good sighing and sense to do better, and yet notwithstanding at this day, those that speak most loftily, and have great estates, offices, and recompenses, and brag that they have done more service to the King, & to France itself, than those that forsook their houses, their goods, and offices, for to follow their prince, and who did willingly endure all manner of needs, rather than so much as to wink at the tyranny of these strangers, whether they be Lorraines, that is of the Guysian faction, or Spaniards. But this complaint deserveth an other Satire Menippized. But for this time I will tell you no more, but two small quartains or verses, which two of our good country men made by the way, or upon the sudden, as we say, at a certain time, when we discoursed upon this matter.  
If French men Lewd, in France recompensed be,  
And the best men advanced to no degree,  
Let us somewhat be lewd: men will forget the offence,  
He that hath not done ill, shall have no recompense.  
The other even at that very instant time also, pursued the self same matter, and to no less purpose, than the former verses were.  
To be welcome indeed, and our affairs well to do,  
During this tedious time, and miserable to,  
Agnoste my friend, canst tell what way we shall take?  
Some place let's surprise, and then our peace we will make.  
I know very well, that there are many people, that take no delight to hear men speak and write thus freely, and are offended at the first word, that any man mentioneth our afflictions already past, as though after so many great losses, they would take away from us our feeling and our tongue, & our speech, and liberty given us to complain withal. But herein they should do worse unto us, than Phalaris did unto them, whom he stifled and choked in his brazen bull; for he did not hinder them from crying, but this rather, that he would not hear their cries, as the cries of men, lest he might have pity upon them, but as the bellow of bullocks and bulls, the better to disguise the sound of man's voice. This is a hard case, that they that have been peeled, rob, imprisoned in the Bastile, ransomed, and driven from their towns, & from their charges, should not cast out some evil speech against them, when at their return, they find their houses void, forsaken, ruinated, wherein there is nothing but the bare walls, whereas they left them richly stored with movables, and handsomely trimmed up, with all manner of things. Who can ever stop the mouth of the posterity, and hinder them from speaking of the third part, and of them that have brought it out, & nursed it, & which keep it yet shut up in a chamber, nourishing it, and sustaining it with good meat, one day to bring it forth unto light, and to cause it to be seen, well savoured, and very great, when they shall see time and commodity fit for it? It was never yet heard of, neither shall it ever be, (what laws or ordinances soever, men may make therefore) that evil speech should not be better received than praise, specially when it is drawn from the truth itself: and that there is not a hundred times more pleasure, to speak evil of some slothful person, than to praise an honest man. This is the punishment that wicked men cannot escape, and though they have all their pleasures beside, yet at the least must they have this dipleasure, & this worm about their hearts, to know that the people teareth them in pieces, & secretly curseth them, and that writers will not spare them after their death. Thanks be to God, we are not under any Tiberius, that spied out the speeches of his subjects, or that made of all offences new articles of high treason against the Prince. He giveth to honest people, as much liberty as they should desire: he knoweth the natural disposition of French men, as one that cannot endure, neither all bondage, nor all liberty. Likewise it were not reasonable continually and for ever to stir up our old quarrels, and to use injurious fashions, that might hinder the kitting together again of his people, in one and the same devotion, under his obedience. For it were better to endeavour to sweeten our evils, than to make them more sharp, to the end that we may all of us range ourselves to the ancient fidelity, and humility which we own unto our King, without partiality, or variety of minds. Neither should any man think it ill, that we prick and provoke them, that show themselves to be restive, and seem as it were to repent that they have repent. In all events whatsoever, when there shall be no other, but those that are notoriously wicked, and yet will be offended therewithal, I believe that the Parresiens' will not be much grieved therewith. Neither doubt I, but that little Olivier, and Boucher, and d'Orleans, will be now much troubled, to make some Anticatholicon, and Apologies, against the tables and tapestries, for they have now leisure to sell them, and many men look for them, if their Lucubrations and studies, may deserve such expectation. As concerning myself, I will always counsel my cousin to busy himself about some other thing, than to answer them. But I know more than a dozen in our town, or city, whose paper and pen are eaten up, and yet attend but some compulsory matter, to make extracts, and vidimus, out of their Menippized satires, much more bloody than the first. If you learn any thing thereof, I pray you my good friend, cause me to understand the same. You perceive how to pleasure you, I have a little strayed from our purpose, and have suffered myself to be transported to indignation and wrath, which I have conceived against those people, that yet build upon the foundations of the first rebellion: and who also threaten us, to play with sharp and edged swords, whereas heretofore they have played but with rebated weapons. And indeed I was not far off from pouring forth my choler upon the jesuits: but because I understand they are not like to continue long in this country, and by that means the Spaniards shall have no greater present taste, (for as a deputy of Bourgongne said well, a Spaniard without a lesuite, is as a partridge without an orange, or some other sauce) I am contented to say nothing. But to return to the point, from which we have gone aside. I pray you, if you do again imprine the Saryre Menippized, to blot out of it the names of them, that are become the kings good servants, and who also continue therein with some good resolution. And albeit there are still some, that yet shake in the haft, and have need of a years trial at the least, before they may be nusted, or have their names razed out of the book notwithstanding, sith it belongeth not to you or to me to judge of them, the best way will be to take out of the book all proper names, and not to offend any one man of them, that may hurt, and be in the midst of us. And this is that, that I meant to say unto you for the last point. And so you shall leave nice, if you list, to my rest, for it is now supper time. And then I perceived very well, that he meant to give me leave to departed, and I prayed him, that he would pardon me, because I had been so tedious unto him, but I had taken so great pleasure to hear him, that the time seemed unto me not to be long. Notwithstanding I besought him that before I did departed, I might yet a little advertise him, that sundry men said, that the oration of the Lord of Aubray, was to too long, and over serious in comparison of them that went before it, which were all very short, and full of fictions: and that I for my part, could not tell either what to answer, or what reason the author had, to lead him so to do. Whereunto he answered and said, neither do I, for my part, understand any more thereof than you, but that I suppose that my cousin meant to imitate therein the natural disposition of the said Lord of Aubray, who is so abundant and plentiful in reasons, and can never find an end, either of his knowledge, or of his discourse, and specially in such an action, as wherein he ought to make show of all that he knew, and that with a desire to persuade, if he could. But in that he hath made him to speak so seriously, it was to procure unto him more dignity and credit, than to those other that went before him, who all of them are rank knaves, to whom it had not been seemly, to have made them speak any good thing: and indeed there was none found but he, in whose mouth it was fit to speak the truth, and to set out things that might serve for the instruction, and serious knowledge of matters already past. And this is all the craft, that men meant thereby, and the coin wherewith they should pay these delicate and sine cared men, in whose power it is, to pair and cut off from it, or else to read no more, but the fourth part or half of it, as they themselves list, if they think the whole too long. But in this matter I refer myself to men of better judgement, whether there be any thing in it, that a man may take away, and which is not very fitly applied to the purpose. Notwithstanding it is permitted you, to cut it, or pair it, as shall best like you, I for my part, will not think the wine the worse therefore. And so to conclude, I pray you leave me alone in peace to myself. Hereupon I durst not further press him, though indeed I had very great desire to know, whether he or the Lord Agnoste, had not done something touching the matter of the jesuits, but he stopped my mouth, and said unto me, we are accustomed according to the manner of our country, to speak that that we think. I will therefore tell you, that I suppose that we have discoursed enough at this time, and I yet once again pray you to leave me in peace, or let me be alone, which when he had spoken, he called his servant and said, let one come, and lay the cloth: whereupon I was ashamed to tarry any longer, and came away instructed and furnished with these good answers, which I thought good to communicate unto you, for the contentation and satisfying of them, that are as myself, curious to know the truth.  
FINIS.