A frightening piece for London Being A True Relation of the Bloody Massacre OF THE PROTESTANTS IN PARIS, By the Papists and Cavileers: In which Bloody Massacre, they murdered many of the chief of the Noblity, with thousands of Men, Women and Children, which knew nothing till the Murtherers broke into their Houses, and murdered them, flinging their dead bodies into the open Streets and stinking Ditches.  
Wherein you may take notice of the Barbarous and Bloody Religion of the PAPISTS, by their many Conspiracies and Treasons against Queen ELIZABETHS own person, and 88. the Gunpowder-plot, and the unheard of Cruelty they have and still do use in this their Rebellion in Ireland, Which should make all true Protestants to beware of them, notwithstanding their faire pretences or Oath.  
London, Printed for Joseph Hunscott, 1642.   

A Declaration of the furious Out-rages of FRANCE, with the slaughter of the admiral.  
IT were to be wished that the memory of fresh slaughters, and of that butcherly murdering that hath lately been committed in a manner in all the Towns of France, were utterly put out of the minds of men: For so great dishonour, and so great infamy hath thereby stained the whole French Nation, that the most part of them are now ashamed of their own Country, defiled with two most filthy spots, false-hood and cruelty; of the which, whether hath been the greater it is hard to say. But forasmuch as there fly every where abroad pamphlets written by flatterers of the Court, and men corruptly hired for reward, which do most shamefully set out things feigned and falsely imagined, instead of truth, I thought myself bound to do this service to posterity, to put the matter in writing as it was truly done indeed, being well enabled to have knowledge thereof, both by mine own calamity, and by those that with their own eyes beholded a great part of the same slaughter.  
In the year of our Lord, 1561, when there seemed to be some peril of troubles to arise by reason of the multitude of such as embraced the Religion( which they call reformed( for before that time the usual manner of punishing such as durst profess that Religion, was, besides loss and forfeiture of all their goods to the Kings use, to burn their bodies) at the request of the great Lords and Nobility, there was holden an Assembly of the Estates, in the Kings house at Saint germans in Lay, near to the Town of Paris; at which Assembly, in presence, and with the royal Assent of King Charles the ninth, which now reigneth, it was decreed, That from thenceforth it should not be prejudicial to any man to profess the said Religion, And that it should be lawful for them to have public meetings and preachings for the exercise thereof, but in the suburbs of Towns only.  
At this assembly, Francis Duke of Guise, being descended of the House of Lorain, and at that time grand Master of the Kings household, was not present. But when he was informed of this Decree, he boiled with incredible sorrow and anger, and within few dayes after, at a little Town in campaign, called Vassey, while the professors of the said Religion were there at a Sermon, he, accompanied with a Band of Souldiers, set upon them, and slay men and women to the number of two hundred.  
There was among these of the Religion( for so hereafter, according to the usual phrase of the French tongue we intend to call them) Lewes of bourbon, of the Blood royal, commonly called the Prince of Conde, after the name of a certain Town, a man of great power, by reason of his kindred to the King. Therefore when the Duke of Guise most vehe, mently strived against that Law, and as much as in him lay did utterly overthrow it, and troubled the common quiet thereby established, Gasper de Coligni, admiral of France, and Francis d' Andelot his brother, Captain of the Fantarie, and other Princes, Noblemen, and Gentlemen of the same Religion, came daily by heaps to the Prince of Conde, to complain of the outrageous boldness, and untemperate violence of the Duke of Guise.  
At that time catherine● de Medices, Pope Clements brothers daughter, and mother of King Charles, born in Florence, a City of Italy, had the governance of the Realm in the Kings Minority. For though by the Law of France, neither the Inheritance, nor the Administration of the Realm is granted to women, yet through the cowardly negligence of Anthony King of Navarre, the said Katherine de Medices, the Kings mother, against the custom of t●e Realm, was joined with him in that Office of protectorship. She fearing the presumption and fierce pride of the Guisans, wrote to the Prince of Conde with her own Hand: which Letters are yet remaining, and at the Assembly of the Princes of Germany at Franchford, holden under Ferdinand the Emperour, were produced, and openly red about ten yeers past; wherein she earnestly besought him, in so great hardness and distress, not to forsake her, but to account both the mother and the children, that is, both h●r self and the King, and the Kings B ethren, committed to his faith and natural kindness, and that he should with all speed provide for their common safety: assuring him, That she would so imprint in the Kings mind his travel taken in that behalf, that he should never be loser by it.  
Within few dayes after, the Duke of Guise well knowing how great authority the name of the King would carry in France; and to the intent that he would not seem to attempt any thing rather of his own head, than the privity of the King; and having attained fit partners to join with him in these enterprises, he got the King into his power. Which thing known abroad, and many hard encumbrances thereupon suddenly rising, and a great part of the Nobility of France marvelously troubled with it, the Prince of Conde, by advice of his friends, thought it best to take certain Towns, and furnish them with garrisons; which was the beginning of the first civill war. For the prince of Conde alleged the cause of his taking armor, to be the defence of the Kings Edict, wherein consisted the safety of the Common-weal, and that it could not be repealed without most assured undoing of the Nation of France, and destruction of the Nobility, by reason of the exceeding great multitude of those that daily joined themselves to that Religion. Of which number such as being of Noble Birth, were in power, dignity, wealth, and credit above the rest, thought it not meet for them to suffer the punishments and cruelty accustomend to be extended upon the professors thereof, beside that, they held them discontented, that the Duke of Guise, a new-come stranger, translated from the Forrests of Lorain into France, did take upon him in France so great courage, and so high dominion and power. Thereto was added the Queen-mothers singular care( as was reported) for conservation of peace, and repressing the rage of the Guisans. Upon which opinion it is certain, That above twenty thousand men having regard onely to the Queens inclination, joined themselves to the side of those of the Religion, and to the defence of their profession, which at that time had besieged the force of the Kings power.  
After certain Battels, and many losses on both parts, and the Duke of Guise slain, within a year peace was made, with this condition, That they of the Religion should have free Liberty thereof, and should have assemblies and preachings for the exercise of the same in certain places.  
This peace continued in force, but not in all places, during five yeers: for in the most Towns and Jurisdictions, the Officers that were affectionate to the Romish side, whom they commonly call catholics, did all the displeasures they could to those of the Religion. Therefore, when Ferdinando Alvares de Toledo, commonly called Duke of Alva, was leading an Army not far from the frontiers of France, against those of the Low-Countrey which embraced the reformed Religion, against the will of the King of Spain, the Queen-mother caused to be levied and brought into France six thousand swissers for a defence, as she caused it to be bruited; but as the success hath proved, for this intent, That the Prince of Conde, the admiral, and other Noble men of the Religion, if they escaped the Treasons prepared for them, and listed to defend themselves by fo ce, and try it by battle, might be suddenly oppressed ere they were provided. For the Courtiers which then had the managing of these matters, did not at that time well trust the Souldiers of France. Many thin●s pertaining to the course of that time, and the renewing of the War, must here for hast to our present purpose be necessary omitted.  
When the War had endured about six months, peace was made with the same Conditions that we have above rehearsed, That all men should have free liberty to follow and profess the Religion reformed. For this was ever one and the last Condition upon all the Wars. But within few dayes or months after, it was plainly understood, that the same peace was full of guile and treason, and finally, That it was no peace, but most cruel war, cloaked under the name of Peace. For forthwith all those Towns which they of the Religion had yielded up, were possessed and strengthened with Garrisons of Souldiers of the contrary side, saving onely one Town on the Sea-coast in the parts of Xantoigne commonly called Rochell. For the men of that Town about two hundred yeers past, had yielded themselves to the Kings Power and Allegiance, with this Condition, That they should never be constrained against their will to receive any Garrison Souldiers.  
Also the Prince of Conde, and the admiral were advertised, That there was Treason again prepared to entrap them by Tavagnes, a man given to murder and mischief, which had lately been made Marshall of France, and that if they did not speedily avoid the same, it should shortly come to pass, that they should be deceived and taken by him, and delivered up to the cruelty of their adversaries.  
Upon the receipt of these advertisements, they immediately make hast to Rochell, carrying with them their wives and young children, which was the beginning of the third Civill war, the most sharp and miserable of all the rest.  
There was at that time in the Court, Charles cardinal of Lorain, brother to the Duke of Guise, which( as is above said) was slain in the first War; one accounted most subtle and crafty of all the rest, but of a terrible, cruel, and troubelsome disposition, so as he was thought intolerable even at Rome itself. This man, they of the reformed Religion reported to be the most sharp and hateful enemy of their profession, and him they abhorred above all other for the cruelty of his nature, and name him the fire-brand of all civill flames. He at the beginning of the third Civill war, persuaded the King to publish an Edict, That no man profess any Religion but the Romish or Popish, and that whosoever would embrace any other, should be counted as Traytors. In that same Edict Printed at Paris, the sentence was expressly contained, and for the strangeness of the matter, and for that it stained the Kings name with the most dishonourable spot of perjury, and breach of Faith, it was in other impressions afterward omitted. And it was further then declared, That albeit the King had in many Edicts before that time permitted the freedom of Religion, yet his meaning ever was to retain and cause to be retained of all men, the onely Romish or popish Religion within his Realm.  
After many overthrows on both parties given and received, whereas the end of this third War was thought likely to he harder, by reason of the breach of Faith in the yeers before, and on the o●her side the state of the Realm, by reason of the waste that the Cities were brought unto, and the extreme poverty of the mean people, and husbandmen, old require some Treaty of Composition, the King sent Messengers to the admiral, to signify unto him in the Kings name, That the King h●mself had at length found out a most sure way of peace and concord, namely, That the Armies of both parties joined together, should go into the Low country against the Duke of A●va, which had been the author of the late calamities in France. He signifieth further, That he had great causes of quarrels against the King of Spain, and this principally, That he had invaded and held by force, suddenly sl●ying all the Souldiers there, an iceland of the new-found world, called Florida, which had been taken by the French King, and kept under his Dominion; and likewise the Marquesdom of final, the inhabitants whereof had but a little time before yielded themselves to the Kings subj●ction and allegiance. He said that the most steadfast band of concord should be that foreign War, and that there could no other better mean be devised to drown the memory of the former dissensions in eternal forgetfulness.  
To the performance whereof, he said it was a matter of most apt opportunity, that Lodovic Count of Nassaw, Brother to the Prince of Orange, had been now two yeers in the Admirals Camp, to whom the admiral gave principal credit in all things, and that by him and his fellows of the Low country, and other whom he understood to favour his part, it might easily be brought to pass that certain Cities might be surprised, and thereby great advantage be attained to the achieving of the War.  
The admiral hearing these things was marvelously troubled. For albeit he doubted not of the Kings fidelity, yet therewithal many things fell into his mind to be considered: as the power of the cardinal, and the rest of the Guisans, who were well known to have been at all times most affectionate to the King of Spain. For the Duke of Guise had left a son, a very young man, called Henry, to whom the Queen had given all the Offices and places of honour that his father had born before, being unfit thereto by age, and against the ancient Laws and customs, and also through the traitorous infidelity of certain of the Kings Councellors, whom she knew for their affection to popish Religion, to be most addicted to the Spanish King, and that divers of them had great yearly pensions of him, and did disclose unto him the affairs of the Realm. He remembered how hereby it came to pass, That the same Kings ambassador( which among strange Nations seemed utterly incredible) was admitted into the privy council of France; and that one Biragio a lombard, and( as it is reported) a traitor to his own country, otherwise altogether unlearned, and specially ignorant of the Civill Law, was yet for th● subtlety of his wit advanced to so great honour, that he executed the Chanc llors Office, Michael hospital being displaced, a man known to be such a one, as there was not in all degrees of men, any eithermore wise, or more learned, or more zealously loving his country. herewithal he considered the slanderous cavillations of his adversaries, to whom hereby might seem an occasion given, as if the admiral were of a troublesone nature, and could not abide any quietness, nor could long rest at home without some tumultuous stir. Hereunto the messengers replied as they were able, and therewithal alleged this cause of so sudden hatred against the Spanish King, that one Albenie, late returned out of Spain, had informed the King, and the Queen-mother for certain, That King Philip a few months before, had poisoned his wife the French Kings sister, and had spread many rumours of her throughout all Spain, such as for the honour of many persons, are meet not to be disclosed. But nothing moved the admiral so much as the cheerful earnestness of Lodovic of Nassaw, who as soon as he was advertised of that purpose of the Kings, omitted nothing that he thought might serve to encourage the admiral thereunto.  
The admiral persuaded hereby, nothing fearing the infidelity of those of the Court, gave his mind to harken to Composition. And so was the third Civill War ended, and the peace concluded with the same Conditions that were before, That every man should have free liberty to use and profess the Religion.  
Within few months after this, divers Princes of Germany, that favoured the Religion reformed, and amongst those the three Electors, the Palsegrave, the Duke of Saxony, and the marquis of Brandenburg, sent their ambassadors into France, to th● King, to gratulate unto him for the new reconciliation of his subjects. And because they accounted it greatly to behove themselves, that the same concord should remain steadfast, and of long continuance, they promised, That if any would for that cause procure trouble, or make war upon him either within his own Dominions, or without, they and their followers should be ready to defend him. To this embassage the King first by words, and afterwards by a book, subscribed with his own hand, answered, and gave his Faith, That he would for ever most sacredly and faithfully observe his Edict of Pacification.  
Hereby so much the more willingly the admiral suffered himself to be drawn to the said purposes for the Low-Countrey, although oftentimes calling to mind the nature of the Queenmother, he used to say to divers, and especially to Theligny, to whom he afterward married his daughter, That he greatly suspected the rolling wit of that woman. For( said he) so soon as she hath brought us into that preparation against the Low-Countrey, she will leave us in the midst.  
nevertheless, the Count of Nassaw writeth to his brother, and they conferring their advices together, sand Messengers to the King, That if it please him to deal with the matter of the Low-Countrey; they will shortly so do, that he shall by their many and great services, well perceive their affection and devotion toward him. The King writeth again to them in most loving terms, saying, That their Message most highly pleased him, and he gave to them both his hearty thanks.  
About the same time Maximilian the Emperour, pitying the state of the Prince of Orange( as he said) treated by his ambassadors with the King of Spain, and had in manner obtained that the Prince should have all his goods restored unto him; but with this C●ndition, That he should have no house within the Territory of the Low Country; but settling his residence and dwelling elsewhere, he should freely enjoy all his Revenues. Which matter being reported to the French King, he immediately sent Messengers to the Prince of Orange, willing him to look for nothing by that dealing of the Emperour, saying that it was but a fraud and guileful device, intended for this purpose, Only to break up his levying of Souldiers that he had begun in Germany, and assuring him, That if he would credit and follow him, he would give him aid sufficient to recover his Estate.  
The Prince of Orange, persuaded by these promises of King Charles, continued his Mustering, and determined a while to bear the charges, though they were heavy to him, while such things as were necessary for the War were in preparing. In the mean time Lodovic, in disguised apparel, went to Paris to the King, Forasmuch as the season of the year by this time seemed not commodious to levy an Army, for the winter was at hand, by assent they deferred the matter till the next Summer.  
These things thus hanging, the Prince of Orange his Captains by Sea, did oftentimes set upon the Spaniards and Portugalls, and such Ships as they took, they brought into the Haven of Rochell, which then was in the power of the Prince of Condees part; and there they openly uttered and sold their prizes to the men of the Town, and other Merchants of France, whereupon the ambassador of Spain made often complaints to the Kings Privy council.  
And forasmuch as they thought it very available to this enterprise, that Elizabeth Queen of England might be brought into league with them, the King committed the dealing in that matter to the admiral. For, a few months before, the King had with most sweet alluring Letters, gotten him to the Court, where he was most honourably entertained: and to take from him all occasion of distrust upon his adversaries, or of otherwise suspecting of the Kings, or Queen-mothers affection to him, first, all the Guisans of a set purpose departed the Court. Then the King gave the admiral free liberty to take with him such company, and with what furniture he would: and because it was thought that he had more confidence in the Marshall Cosse, then in the rest, therefore the King commanded the said Marshall to be ever at hand with the admiral, and to assist him in the Kings name, if any need were.  
The matter of the league with England, the admiral so diligently and industriously handled, that within short space after, by the ambassadors assent, and by faith given and received, and Oaths solemnly taken on both parts, it was confirmed. Concerning the procurement of other Leagues and Amities, such as might seem to further the enterprise of the Low country, the admiral also traveled in the Kings name, and by his commandment, and had in a manner brought all these things to an end. And of all those Leagues, the first and principal condition was, That the liberty of Religion should continue, and that the King should most diligently and sincerely observe this Edict of Pacification.  
Though these things seemed to be handled secretly, yet by the Letters both of Biragio the Vice-chancellor, of whom we made mention before, and of Morvilliers, whom from his hypocritical leanness children commonly called the Chimera or bug of the Court, and by advertisements of cardinal de Pelve, a man most fit, either to invent or execute any Treason, they were carried to the Bishop of Rome, who by advice of his cardinals, sent by and by one of their number, called Alexandrine, in the midst of most sharp Winter into France, with these instructions to persuade the King to enter into the society of the league of Trent, when eof the first and principal Article was, That the Confederates should join their pow rs and make war upon the Turks and heretics, meaning by the name of Heretic●s, all those Princes that did permit the use of the reformed Religion, within their Dominions.  
The cardinal Alexandrine was honourably received in the Court, but yet dism●ssed without achieving his purpose. For so was it bruited among the People, and comm nly believed throughout France: Albeit, he himself secretly seemed to return very mer●y and cheerful to the Pope; and as it is reported, did sometime say, That he received such answer of the King as was needful, not to be published, And that the King and Queen-Mother had largely satisfied him.  
Forasmuch, As it was thought a matter greatly availing to the enterprise of the Low-Countrey, to sand certain Ships into the English Seas; That if any aid should be sent into the Low. country to the Duke of Alv●, out of Spain, it might so be stopped, Str●zzi and the Baron de la guard were appointed for that purpose, to whom the King gave in Commandment to rig forth certain Ships of bordeaux and Rochell, well Armed and well appointed, and to provide with all speed all things needful for those Ships. The Ambassador of Spain s●mewhat moved with this preparation, made divers complaints to the Kings counsel, on the behalf of the King his Master, and yet never received any other Answer, But that the King thought it not likely, and that he would sand Commissio●ers to bordeaux and to Rochell, with Letters and Commandment, that there should be no preparation made to the Sea, and if any had been made, it should be inquired of. What instructions were secretly and closely under hand given to these two Captains of that Navy, we do not certainly know. But this no man can doubt of, But that they had Commission to distress all such Ships, wherein any Spanish Souldiers should be tr●nsp●rted into the Low-Countrey, And that all this preparation to the Sea, was ordained against the Spainsh King, and the Duke of Alva.  
And moreover, That the admiral at the same time, received Commandment from the King, to sand Espialls into Peru, an island of the new found World, most plentiful of Gold above all the other, now being in the Spaniards Dominion, to learn if there were any good enterprise to be attempted, or achieved for the getting of it. Which matter was committed to a certain Gentleman, one of the admirals train, who went thither accompanied with a certain Portingall, a man most skilful of those Navigations, whom the admiral had joined with him by the Kings Commandment, and is not yet returned.  
Now it cannot be expressed how many, and how great tokens of most loving mind t●e King at that time shewed to the admiral, and to the County Rochfaucault, and to Theligny, and to the rest of the chief Noblemen of the Religion. First, All such things as in the former warres had been taken away in the Towns, Ferms, and Castles of the admiral and d'Andelot, the King caused to be sought out and restored. If there were any other whom the King understood to be beloved and esteemed of the admiral, or to h●ve at●ained any special honour in the said late warres, those he liberally benefited and rewarded. To the admiral himself he commanded one day to be given a hundred thousand pounds of his own treasure, in recompense of his former losses. w en his Brother the cardinal Cbastillion, endowed with many great and wealthy benefice, was departed his life, the King gave him the fruits of one whole year. Also the King wrote to Pbilibert Duke of Savoy, That he should do him a most acceptable pleasure, if he did not onely de●l more gently with those that in the former warres had aided those of the Religion, but also would use clemency and mildness toward all other that professed the same Religion within His Dominions.  
And for that there was old enmity between the Guisians and the admiral, whereby it was to be doubted, that perilous contentions would arise in the Realm of France, the King willed it to be signified to them both in His Name, That they should for His sake, and the Common-weals, give over those displeasures, and He prescribed them a certain form of Reconciliation and Agreement; the same whereof, the Foundations had been laid almost six yeers before in the Town of Molins, where the King calling to him the greatest estates of His Realm, after consultation and deliberation had upon the matter, pronounced the admiral not guilty of the death of the Duke of Guise, wherewith he was charged by the young Duke of Guise and his Kinsmen: And so the King by the advice of His counsel had ended that controversy.  
Furthermore, The cardinal of Lorain( who as we have said, was the very forger of all the former warres) to take away all jealousy of new practices, was departed to Rome, and took with him his familiar friend the late created cardinal Pelvey, one reputed a most subtle and crafty person, under pretence of going to the election of a new Pope in place of the old Pope then lately deceased.  
But there was none greater, and more assured token of public peace and quietness then this, That the King purposed to give His Sister Margaret in marriage to the Prince Henry, the son of the Queen of Navarre; which Prince had in the last war defended the cause of the Religion, and been sovereign of their Army. Which marriage the King declared, That it should be the most streight bond of civill Concord, and the most assured testimony of His good will to those of the Religion.  
Yea, and also because it was alleged, That the said Prince Henry was restrained in conscience, so as he might not mary the Lady Margaret, being of a contrary Religion, a catholic, and given to the Rites of the Romish Church, the King for answer said, That He would discharge her of the Popes Laws; And notwithstanding, the crying out of all His Courtiers to the contrary, He permitted him, That without all Ceremonies, in the Porch of the great Church of Paris, the marriage should be celebrate in such a form, as the Ministers of the reformed Church misliked not.  
Which thing being by report and Letters, spread through the World, It cannot be expressed how much it made the hearts of those of the Religion, assured, and out of care, and how it cast out all fear and jealousies out of their minds, what a confidence it brought them of the Kings good will towards them. Finally, How much it rejoiced foreign Princes and States, that favoured the same Religion. But the Admirals mind was much more established by a Letter, which about the same time Theligny brought him with the Kings own Hand and sealed, wherein was contained, That whatsoever the admiral should do for the matter of the intended war of the Low-Country, the King would allow and ratify the same, as done by his own Commandment. About that time Lodov●ck of Nassaw, with the Queen of Navarre, a Lady most zealously affencted to the Religion, came to the French Court. The league was made between King Charles and the Prince of Orange, and the Articles thereof put in writing. The marriage was appointed to be holden in the Town of Paris. For which cause the Queen of Navarre, during those few dayes, repaired thither, to provide things for the solemnity of the Wedding. For the same cause, the King sent to the admiral one Cavaignes, a man of an excellent sharp wit, whom for the admirals sake, the King had advanced to great honour, requiring the admiral to go before to Paris, as well for the said preparation, as also for the matter of the war of the Low-Country, promising, that he himself would within few dayes follow after him; Assuring him, that there was now no cause for him to fear the threatenings and mad outrages of the Parisians. For in as much as the same town is above all other given to superstitions and is with seditious preachings of Monks and Friers daily enflamed to cruelty, it is hard to express how bitterly they hated the admiral and the professors of that Religion. Whereto was added a grief of their mind conceived certain dayes before, by reason of a certain ston cross gilted and built afte the manner of a spire steeple, commonly called Gastignes cross, which the admiral with great earnest suit obtained of the King to be overthrown: for he alleged, that being erected in the midst of the rage of the civill war, as it were in triumph to the reproach of one of the Religion, it was a monument of civill dissension, and so a matter offensive to peace and concord.  
The King well knowing this deadly hate of the Parisians to the admiral, wrote his letters to Marc●ll the provost of the marchants( which is the highest dignity in Paris) with sharp threatenings if there should be raised any stir or trouble by reason of the Admi●als coming. To the same effect, also the Duke of Anjow the Kings Brother, and the Queen-Mother wrote to the same marcel and the rest of the Magistrates of Paris, So that now there seemed utterly no occasion left for the admiral, to fear or distrust. And within few dayes after, the King sent Briquemault a man of g eat virtue and estimation, to the admiral, with the same instructions, saying, Th●t the matter of the Low-Countrey could n●t well be dealt in without his presence.  
The admiral persuaded by thus many means, and filled with good h●pe and courage, determined to go to Paris, where so soon as he was arrived, and had been honourably and lovingly entertained of the King and His Brethen, and the Q●●en-Mother, and consulta●ion entred among them, about the preparation for the Low-Countrey, he declared to the King at large, how the Duke of Alva was in levying of great power, and prepa●ing an Army, and that if the King should dissemble his purpose, it would come to pass●, that many hereby would show themselves slower and sl●cker to the enterprise, and that now were offered great means to do good, which if he let slip, he should not so easily recover the like again hereafter. And therefore it was b●st to take the advantage of this opportunity.  
A few dayes before, Lodovick of Nassaw went secretly into the Frontie●s of the Low-Countrey, and took wi●h him as Partners of his journey and Privy to His counsel, three Frenchmen of great credit with the admiral, namely Saucourt, la Nove, and Genlis, to whom the King had given in charge to see if they could by any means attempt and poss●sse any Towns bordering upon his Realm. They gathering divers other Gentlemen into their company, went speedily into the Low-Countrey, the admiral not knowing of it. Who as soon as he understood of their going thither, wrote unto them, th t he much marveled what they meant, saying, that he well knew there could be no power g●tten ready before forty dayes end, and that th●y should be well advised to do nothing rashly, nor to overthrow with hast their devices that seemed not ripe to be executed.  
The County of Nassaw inflamed with the sight and desire of his country, and fearing the mutablenesse of the King, did first at the sudden set upon Valentiennes, but being repulsed by the Spanish Souldiers that were in Garrison in the Castle, he hastily departed to Montz, and took the Town, being a place very strong by nature and well furnished with all things necessary for the war. Which thing being by report and messengers spread abroad in the Low country, and carried into France and Germany, both encouraged all them of the Religion with great hope, and also seemed to have now plainly and openly deciphred and disclosed the mind of the French King. Moreover, G●nlis returning to Paris, when he had made report to the King of all the matter as it had proceeded, easily obtained of him, that by his assent he might levy certain Bands of footm●n and horsemen of France, and carry them to succour Montz. But by the way when he was entred into the Bounds of the Low-Country, having with him to the ●u●ber of four thousand footmen, and about four hundred horsemen, they were beset by the Duke of Alva, and the most part of th●m ●istressed; which thing was well known to have been wrought by the means of the Guisians, which by daily Messages and Letters, advertised the Duke of Alva of their purposes and preparation. Which falsehood of theirs, many most ●ffectionate to the Romish Religion, were highly offended with, because a great number addicted to the same Romish Religion were in that company.  
With this loss, and with the rescue of the Town of Valentiennes, the King seemed to be much troubled for he feared least h s counsels being disclosed to the Spanish King, would at length breed some cause of quarrel and war. Howb●it, when he began to remember, that a great part of his secrets was already revealed to the Duke of Alva, he oftentimes resolv●d to utter his mind plainly, and to make open war. But he was withdrawn from that purpose by certain men, which the admiral had long before conceived, that they w●uld so do. Howbeit, he gave the admiral liberty to sand whatsoever he thought meet to further the Prince of Orange his enterprise, and as great supply either of footmen or horsemen as he could to the Army, which the Prince of Orange had levied in Germany. When the admiral for that cause had made request, that he might levy thir●y trow pes of horsemen, and as many ensigns of footmen, he easily obtained it.  
For the entertainment of these footmen it behoved to have money; wherefore at the request of the admiral, the King called for his Treasurer, and commanded him to deliver to the admiral so much money as the admiral should think meet, and charged him, that h sh uld not in any wise after the usual manner of the accounts of Finances, writ the causes of the receipt, but only set it down in this form: This sum of money was paid to the admiral such a day by the Kings commandment, for certain cause● which the King h●th commanded not to be written: and to this warrant the King subscribed with his own hand.  
Also the King wrote to Monducet, his Ambassador in the Low-C●untrey, to travel a●e e●r●e●tly as he could, for their deliverance, that were taken at the overthrow of Genlis, which commandment it is said that Monducet did most faithfully and diligently execute.  
Not long before this, Joan Queen of Navarre above mentioned, died in the Court at Paris of a sudden sickness, being about the age of forty and three yeers, where, as the suspicion was great that she died of poys●n, and her body was for that cause opened by the Physitians, there were tokens of poison espied. But shortly after, by the detection of one A. P. it hath been found that she was poisoned with a venomed smell of a pair of perfumed Gloves, dressed by one Renat, the Kings Apothecary, an Italian, that hath a Shop at Paris upon S●i●t Michaels Bridge, near unto the palace; which could not be espied by the Physitians, which did not open the head, nor looked into the Brain. It is well known that the same man about certain yeers past, for the same intent, gave to Lewes prince of Conde a poisoned Pomander, which the Prince left with one le G●osse his chirurgeon: le gross delighted with the same, was by little and little poisoned therewith, and so swelled, that he hardly escaped with his life.  
By her death, the kingdom came to Prince Henry her son, to whom, as is above said, the Kings sister was promised and contracted.  
Things being, as it seemed throughout all France, in most peaceable estate, and the concord of all degrees well established, the day was appointed for the marriage of the King of Navarre, which day all they that fancied the Religion esteemed so much the more joyful to them, because they saw the King wonderfully bent thereunto; and all good men judged the same a most assured pledge and establishment of Civill concord; whereas on the contrary part, the Guisans, and other enemies of common quietness, greatly abhorred the same Marriage.  
When the day came, the Marriage was with royal pomp solemnized before the great Church of Paris, and a certain Form of words so framed, as disagreed with the Religion of neither side, was by the Kings Commandment pronounced by the cardinal of B●rbon, the King of Navarr's Uncle; and so the Matrimony celebrate with great joy of the King, and all good men, the Bride was with great train and pomp lead into the Church to hear mass, and in the mean time the Bride-groom, who misliked these Ceremonies, together with Henry Prince of Conde, son of Lewes, and the admiral, and other noble men of the same Religion, walked without the Church door, waiting for the Brides return.  
While these things were in doing at Paris, Strozzi, who as we have said, had the charge of the Kings Power at Sea, hovering upon the cost of Rochell, did now an● then sand off his Captains and Souldiers into the Town, under colour of buying things necessary; and som●t●me● he came thither also himself. The like was done at the same time in another pa●t of France, by the horse-men of Gonz●gue, Duke of Nivers, near to the Town of la Charité, which hath a Bridge over the River of loire, and remained t ll that time in the power of those of the Religion, by reason of the great number of them there inhabiting. This Troop was of those horse-men which the King hath accustomend to keep in ordinary wages in every country, whereof the most part were It●lians, Condtrey-men to their Captain Lewes Gonzague, to whom the Queen-mother had given the daughter and heir of the Duke of Nivers in Marriage. They r●q●●sted of the Towns-men, That they might make their Musters within the Tow●, saying, That they had received warrant from the King so to do, and shewed the Kings Letters therefore. At Lions the governor of the Town, commanded a view to be taken of all those that professed the Religion, and their names to be written in a Book and brought unto him; which Book shortly after, according to the success, was called the bloody Book.  
After the marriage ended at Paris, which was the time that the admiral had appointed to return to his own house, he moved the King concerning his departure. But so great was the preparation of plays, so great was the magnificence of Banquets and shows, and the King so earnestly bent to those matters, that he had no leisure, not onely for weighty affairs, but also not so much as to take his natural sleep. For in the French Court, Dancings, Maskings, stage-plays( wherein the King exceedingly delighteth) are commonly used in the night time: And so the time that is fittest for counsel and mat●ers of Governance, is by reason of nightly riotous sitting up, of necessity consumed in sleep. So great also is the familiarity of men, and the women of the Queen-Mothers train, and so great liberty of sporting, entertainment, and talking together, as to foreign Nations may seem incredible, and be thought of all honest persons a matter not very convenient for preserva●i●n of noble young Ladies chastity. Moreover, if there come any pander or bawd out of Italy, or any Schoolmaster of shameful and filthy lust, he winneth in short time marvelous favour and credit. And such a multitude is there begun to be of Italians, commonly throughout all France, specially in the Court, since the administration of the Realm was committed to the Queen-Mother, that many do commonly call it France-Italian, and some term it a Colony, and some a common Sink of Italy.  
These madnesses of the Court, were the cause that the admiral could not have access to the Kings speech, nor entrance to deal in weighty matters. But when they that were sent from the reformed Churches, to complain of injuries commonly done to those of the Religion, understood of the Admirals purpose to depart, they did with all speed deliver to him their Books and Petitions, and besought him, not to depart from the Court, till he had dealt in the cause of the Churches, and delivered their Petitions to the King and His counsel. For this c●use the admiral resolved to defer his going for a while, till he might treat with the Kings counsel concerning th●se requests: For the King had promised him that he would shortly intend those matters, and be present with the counsel himself.  
Besides this delay, there was another matter that stayed ●im. The●e was owing to the Rutters of Germany, which had served on the part of the Religion in the last war, great sums of money for their wages, in which matter the admiral traveled with incredible earnestness and care.  
Concerning all these affairs, the admiral( as he determined before) having access and opportunity for that purpose, moved the Kings privy council the twenty second day of August, which was the fift day after the King of Navarr's marriage, and spent much time in that treaty. About noon, when he was in returning home from the counsel, with a great company of Noblemen and Gentlemen; behold, a Harquebuzier out of a Window of a house near adjoining, shot the admiral with two bullets of led through both the arms. When the admiral felt himself wounded, nothing at all amazed, but with the same countenance that he was accustomend, he said, through yonder Window it was done; go see who are in the house. What manner of treachery is this? Then he sent a certain Gentleman of his company to the King to declare it unto him. The King at that time was playing at Tennis with the Duke of Guise. as soon as he heard of the Admi●als hurt, he was marvelously moved as it seemed, and threw away His Racket that he played with on the ground, and taking with Him His Brother in Law, the King of Navarre, He retired into His Castle.  
The Gentlemen that were with the admiral broke into the house, from whence he received his hurt, there they found only one woman, the keeper of the house, and shortly after also a Boy, his lackey, that had done the dead, and therewithal they found the Harquebuze lying upon the Table in that Chamber, from whence the noise was heard: him that shot they found not, for he in great hast was run away out at the back Gate, and getting on horse-back, which he had waiting for him ready saddled at the door, he road a great place to Saint Anthonies Gate, where he had a fresh horse tarrying for him if need were, and another at Marcelles Gate. Then by the Kings Commandment a great number road out in post into all parts to pursue him; but for that he was slipped into by ways, and received into a certain Castle, they could not overtake him.  
At the suite of the King of Navarre, and the Prince of Conde, and others; the King by and by gave Commission for inquiry to be made of the matter, and committed the examining thereof, to three chosen persons of the Parliament of Paris, Thua● and Morsant, and Viol a counselor.  
First, It was found, That the same house belonged to a Priest, a Canon of Saint Germain, whose name is Villemure, which had been the Duke of Guises Schoolmaster in his youth, and still continued a retainer toward him. Then the woman which we said was found in the house, being taken and brought before them, confessed that a few dayes before, there came to her one Chally, sometime a Master d'Hostel of the Duke of Guises house, and now of the Kings Court, and commanded her to make much of the man that had done this dead, and to lodge him in the same Bed and Chamber where Villemure was wont to lie, for that he was his friend and very familiar acquaintance, and that Villemure would be very glad of it. The name of him that shot, was very diligently kept secret. Some say it was Manrevet, which in the third civill war, traitorously slay his Captain Monsieur de Movy, a most valiant and noble Gentleman, and straightway fled into the enemies Camp. Some say it was Bondot, one of the Archers of the Kings guard. When the womans confession was brought to the King, he immediately called Monsieur de Nance, Captain of His guard, and commanded him to apprehended Challey, and bring him to Him. Challey as soon as he heard the stroke of the peace, fled into the Kings Castle called the Lovure, and hid him in the Duke of Guises Chamber, from whence he conveyed himself away as soon as he had heard of the Kings Commandment. When de Nance was informed of his departure, he answered that Challey was a Gentleman of good worship, and there was no doubt, but when need were, he would appear before the King and the Magistrates.  
While these things were doing, and the admirals wound in dressing, Theligny went by his commandment to the King, and most humbly besought him in the name of his Father-in-Law, That His Majesty would vouchsafe to come unto him, for that ●is life seemed to be in peril, and th●t he had certain things to say, greatly importing to the Kings safety, which he well knew that none in his Realm durst declare to His Majesty. The King courteously answered, That he would willingly go to him; and within a l ttle while after he s●t forward. The Q●e●n-mother went with him, and the Duke of A●j w, the Duke of M●npensier, a most off ctionate subject to the Church of Rome; the Count de Rhetz, the Queen-mothers great familiar, Chavigny, and Entragny, which afterwards were chief ring-leaders in the butchery of Paris.  
When the King ●ad lovingly s●luted the admiral as he was wont to do, and had gently asked him some questions concerning his hurt, and the state of his health, and the admiral had answered with such a mild and quiet countenance, that all they that were present, wondered at his temperance and patience, the King being much moved( as it seemed) said, The hurt, my admiral, is done to thee, but the dishonour to me: but by the death of God( saith he) I swear I will so severely revenge both the hurt and the d sh●nour, that it shall never be forgotten. He asked him also how he liked of the Judges th●t he had chosen to whom he had given Commission for examining the matter. The Admi all answ●red that he could not but very well like of those that His Maj sty had allowed of, yet he besought him, if he thought it good, That Cavagnes might be called to couns ll with them, albeit that it was no hard matter to find out; for it was no doubt( sai● he) that this good turn was done him by the Duke of Guise, the revenge whereof he r●ferred to God. T●is only be most hea●tily and humbly besought of His royal Majesty, that the fact might be duly enqui●ed upon. The King answered that he would take e●rnest care of it, and revenge that injury with no less severity, then if it had been don● to himself. Then the Kings brethr●n and their mother withdrawing themselves a while, the admiral, as it was afterward known by his own report, began to advice the King to have in mem●ry those things that he had often  told him, of the dangerous intentions of certain pers●ns; and he  told him, That though he himself had received a great wound, yet there was no less hanging over the Kings head: and that long ago there was Treason in practising against his life, which if he would do wisely, h● should avoid betimes. Further he said, That alth●ugh so soon as God should take him to him●e●f out of this life, and doubted not but that his famed should be brought into sundry sl●nders by envious persons, and such as owed him evil will, by reason of the late Warres, neverth●lesse he had oftentimes disclosed unto the King the authors of the dissensions, and opened the causes thereof, and God was his witness of his most faithful heart to the King and the Common-weal, and that he had never holden any thing dearer then his country, and the public safety.  
The King after such answer made hereunto as he thought best, spake aloud, and hearty entrea●ed the admiral to suffer himself to be removed into his Castle of the Lovure, for that he thought some peril, lest there should arise some sedition among the commons already in disorder, or any stir in that mad and troublesone City. Whereto this speech of the King tended, could not then be understood. For though the comm●nalty of Paris hath ever been accounted the most foolish and mad of all other, yet is it ever most easily appeased, not onely with the coming and presence of the King, but also with the very sound of his name. The admiral most humbly and largely thanked the King,& made his excuse upon the counsel of the physicians, which feared that shaking would increase his pain, and therefore had taken order that he should not be stirred out of his place. Then the Count De Rheiz turning to certain Gentlemen of the Admirals friends, said, I would the admiral would follow the Kings counsel, for it is to be feared that some such stir may arise in the town, as the King shall not easily be able to appease. Which speech being uttered, although no man did yet suspect whereto that advice tended, yet the admiral& his friends thought it good to request of the King to assign unto him certain of the Souldiers of the guard for his safety. The King answered that he very well liked of that advice, and that he was fully determined to provide as well for the admirals safety as for his own, and that he would preserve the admiral as the ball of his eye, and that he had in admiration the constancy and fortitude of the man, and that he never before that time believed that there could be so great valiantness of courage in any mortal person.  
Therewith the Duke of Aniow the Kings brother commanded C●ssin captain of the Kings Guard, to place a certain band of Souldiers toward before the Admirals gate. There could hardly a man be found more hateful against the Admirals part, nor more affencted to the Guisians than this Cossin, which the success plainly, proved, as her●after shall appear. The Duke of Aniow further added, that he thought it should be good for the admiral, if more of his friends, and familiars that lodged in the Fauxburges, did draw nearer unto him: and forthwith he commanded the Kings herbingers to warn those to whom they had assigned lodgings in that street, to remove from thence, and to place the Admirals friends in their rooms. Which counsel was such, as none could possibly be devised more fit for those things that followed. For those which might have by flight escaped out of the suburbs were now holden fast enough, b●ing enclosed not only within the walls of the town, but also within the compass of one narrow street. The next day after, the undermasters of the streets commonly called Quartermen, surveied all the victualling houses and Inns from house to house, and all the names of those of the Religion, together with the place of every of their lodgings they put in books, and with speed delivered over the same books to those of whom they had received that commandement.  
After noon the queen mother led out the King, the Duke of Aniow, Gonzagne, Tauaignes, the County De Rhetz called Gondin, into her Gardens called Tegligers. This place because it was somewhat far from resort, she thought most fit for this their last consultation. There she shewed them, how those whom they had long been in wait for, were now sure in hold, and the Admi all lay in his bed maimed of both his arms and could not stir, the King of navarre and Prince of Conde were fast lodged in the Castle the gates were kept shut al night& watches placed, so as they were so snared that they could no way escape, and the Captaines thus taken, it was not to bee feared that any of the Religion would from thenceforth stir any more. Now was a notable opportunity( said she) offered to dispatch the matter. For all the chief Captaines were fast closed up in Paris, and the rest in other towns were all unarmed and unprepared, and that there were scarcely to be found ten enemies to a thousand catholics: that the Parisians were in armour and were able to make threescore thousand chosen fighting men, and that within the space of one hour all the enemies may be slain, and the whole name and race of those wicked men bee utterly rooted out. On the other side( saith she) if the King do not take the advantage of the fitness of this time, it is no doubt but that if the admiral recover his health, all France will shortly be on fi●e with the fourth civill war.  
The queens opinion was allowed. Howbeit it was thought best, partly for his age, and partly for the affinities sake, that the King of Navars life should be saved. As for the Prince of Conde, it was doubted whether it were best to spare him for his age, or to put him to death for hatred of his fathers name. But herein the opinion of Gonzague took place, that he should with fear of death and torment, be drawn from the Religion. So that counsel broke up, with appointment that the matter should be put in execution the next night early before day, and that the ordering and doing of all should be committed to the Duke of Guise.  
The admiral being informed of stir and noise of armor, and threatenings heard every where throughout the town, and preparation of many things pertaining to tumult, sent word thereof to the King: who answered, that there was no cause for the admiral to fear, for all was done by his commandement,& not every where, but in certain places, and that there were certain appoynted by him to be in armor, least the people should rise and make any stir in the town.  
When th● Duke of Guise thought all things ready enough, he called to him the abovesaid marcel, and charged that he should a little after midnight assemble together the Masters of the streets whom they call Diziners into the Towne-house, for he had certine strange and special matters in charge from the King, which his pleasure was to have declared unto them. They all assembled by time. Carron the new provost of Merchants, guarded with certain Guisians, among the rest Entrange and Pnygallart, made the declaration: he said that the Kings meaning was to destroy all the Rebels which had in these late yeares born arms against his Majesty, and to root out the race of those wicked men, it was now very fitly happened that the chieftains and ringleaders of them were fast enclosed within the walls of the town, as in a prison,& that the same night they should first begin with them,& afterward for the rest as soon as possibly might be, throughout all parts of the realm the King would take order:& the token to set upon them, should be given, not with a trumpet, but with tocksein or ringing of the great bell of the palace, which they knew to be accustomend onely in great cases: and the mark for them to be known from other, should be a white linen cloth hanged about their left arm, and a white cross pinned upon their caps. In the mean time the Duke of Guise made privy thereunto the Captaines of th● Ki●gs Guard, both Gascoignes, Frenchmen, and Swizers, and bad them bee ready to go to it with good courage. Shortly after the Duke of Guise and the bastard son of King Henry, commonly called the Chevalier, with a great band of armed m●n following them, went to the admirals house, which Cossin kept besieged with barquebuziers placed in order on both sides of the street.  
The admiral advertised of the stir and the noise of the armor, although he had scarcely ten persons in his house able to bear hardness, and in his chamber only two chirurgeons, one Preacher, and one or two servitors, yet could not be made afraid, trusting( as he oft rehearsed) upon the Kings good will toward him, approved by so many and so great means of assurance, having also confidence the commonalty of Paris if they once understood the King to mislike of their mad fury, how much so ever they were in outrages yet so soon as they saw Cossin warding they gate, the would be appeased. He repeated also the Oath for keeping of the peace, so oft openly sworn by the King and his brethren and their mother, and entred in publke records, the league lately made with the queen of England for the same cause, the Articles of treaty covenanted with the Prince of Aurenge, the Kings faith given to the Princes of Germany, some Towns attempted and some taken in the low country by the Kings commandement, the marriage of the Kings Sister solemnized but 6 days before, which it was not like that he would suffer to be defiled with blood, finally the judgement of foreign nations and of posterity, shane and the honour and constancy of a Prince, public faith, and the sacred respect of the law of the nations, all which it seemed monstrous and incredible, the King could assent to be stained with so outrageous a cruel dead.  
Cosson when he saw the Noblemen draw near, knocked at the gate, which as is abovesaid, he was commanded by the Du. of Amow to keep. whereupon many applied the old proverb, a goodly guard to make the wolf keeper of the sheep. When he was entred without any opposition, he carried in with him divers armed men& Lords. Such as Cossin found at the entry of, and within the porch of the House, he slay with a partisan that he had in his hand. Which when the admiral understood, he caused those that were about him to lift him out of his bed, and casting on a night gown upon him, he rose upright on his feet, he bad his friends and Servants to shift for themselves, and to take no care for him, for he said that he was ready with most willing heart to render into the hands of God the spirit that he had lent him to use for a time, and said that this violent cruelty was prepared not so much for his destruction, as for the dishonouring Christ, and the tormenting so many Churches, the defence of which Churches, he had at the Petition of all godly men, with his many dangers ●nd calamities sustained.  
In the mean time their came up the stairs into the higher part of the House, one Benvese Germain, brought up in the house of the Duke of Guise,& to whom it is said, that the cardinal of lorraine had given one of his bastard daughters in marriage; and with him came C●ssin the Gascoine. Attin a Piccard, a retainer and familiar of the Duke de Aumal, one that a few yeares before sought to murder de Andelot by treason, and also one Haford an Avernots, all weaponed, and armed with shirts of mail.  
When they were broken into the Admirals chamber, Benvse came to him, and drawing his sword upon him, said, art not thou the admiral, he with a quiet and constant countenance( as we have since understood by them) answered, I am so called, And then seeing the sword drawn upon him he said, young man, consider the weak case that I am now in. But the fellow, after blaspheming God, first thrust his sword into the Admirals breast; then struck him upon the head,& Attin shot him through the breast with a pistol. When the admiral was with this wound not quiter dead, Benvese gave him the third wound upon the thigh,& so he fel down for dead. When the Duke of Guise, which stayed in the Court with the other Noble men, heard this, he cried out aloud, hast thou done Benvese? he answered, I have done. Then said the Duke of Guise, our Chevalier( meaning King Henries bastard abovesaid) unless he see it with his eyes, will not believe it: throw him down at the window. Then Benvese with the help of his f●llowes took up the Admirals body and threw it down through the window. When by reason of the wound in his head, and his face covered with blood they could not w●ll discern him, the Duke of Guise kneeled down on the ground& with a napkin wiped him& said, now I know him, it is he. And therewithal going out at the gate with the rest of the Lords, he cried out to the multitude in amour, saying; my companions we have had a good lucky beginning: now let us go forward to the rest, for it is the Kings commandement: which words he did oft repeat aloud, saying, thus the King commandeth: this is the Kings will, this is his pleasure. And then he commanded the token to be given by ringing tocksein with the great bell of the palace, and alarm to be raise●, and he caused it to be published, that the conspirators were in armor and about to kill the King. Then a certain Italian of Gonzagues band, cut off the Admirals head, and sent it preserved with spices to Rome to the Pope and the cardinal of lorraine. Other cut off his hands, and other his secret parts. Then the common labourers and rascals three dayes together draged the dead body thus mangled and bewrayed with blood and filth, through the streets and afterward drew it out of the town to the common gallows, and hanged it up with a rope by the feet.  
In the mean time, those of the Noble mens bands broke into all the Chambers of the Admirals house, and such as they found either in their beds, or hidden, they mangled them with many wounds, and so slaughtered them. Of that number were two young children, pages, of honourable birth. There was also the Count Rochfaulcault, which for the excellent pleasantness of his wit, and for his valiantness was highly beloved of King Henry, and so seemed for the same cause also to be beloved of the King. Him was De Nance abovesaid commanded to kill, but he refusing it for their old acquainta●ce and familiarity: one Laberge an Avernais offered himself to do it, but with this condition, that the King should give him the Captaineship of horsemen which Count Rochfoucault had. There was also slain Theligny the Admirals son in Law, a young man of singular towardness both of wit and courage, to whom the King thief many yeeres had both in words and countenance made show of so great good will, as that no man was thought to be more highly in his savour. He crying cut, that it was now grievous to him to live, for that he had ever commended to his father in law the faithfulness of the King, refused not the death offered him. And many other most flourshing yo●g Noble men and Gentlemen were every where butcherly murdered in that street. Then the Noble mens bands, and Cossins souldiers went ransacking from house to house: and the Admirals house and all the other houses were all sacked and spoyled, even in like manner as is used to be done by souldiers greedy of prey, in a town taken by assault: and many by this robbery, were of beggars suddenly become rich men. For the Duke of Guise; the Duke of Monpensier, the chevalier King Henries bastard, Gonzague, Tauaignes, and the other great Lords, did with reward of the spoil and booty encourage the multitude to the slaughter, and cried out aloud that this was the Kings will. So all the rest of the day from morning to evening, the rascall multitude, encouraged by spoil and robbery, ran with their bloody swords raging throughout all the town: they spared not the aged nor women, nor the very babes, in ioy and triumph they threw the slain bodies out at the windows; so as there was not in manner any one street or lane, that seemed not strawed with murdered carcases.  
While these things were thus a doing in the town, the King of Navarre and the prince of Conde, whom the King had lodged in his own castle of the lower, were by the Kings commandment sent for and conveyed unto him. But their company, their servitors of their chamber, their friends retaining to them, their schoolmasters, and those that had the bringing up of them, crying out aloud to the Kings fidelity for succour, were thrust out of the chambers, and by the Kings guard of swissers hewed in pieces and slaughtered in the Kings own sight. But of that number of persons slain, no mans cause was so much lamented of many, as Monsieur de pills, in whom it is hard to express whether there were more godly zeal in Religion, or prowess in war, Whereby having in the light yeares, specially by the defence of the town of Saint John d'Angeli, which the King then besieged, gotten great honour of chevalrie, he was thought very well beloved and highly esteemed of the King, Him and Leran●e the son of Odou, by the French Kings commandement( which was not then understood whereto it tended) the King of Navarre had stayed in a wardrobe adjoining to his own chamber, and caused them to lodge there all night. A little afore day, hearing the running of men, and noise of armour, and cries and killings, they rose in hast, and immediately de Nance, whom we have before spoken of, came to them, and commanded them in the Kings name to come down into the Court, and to leave their weapons behind them, and lastly to depart out of the castle. When de pills saw himself thrust out among the multitude of the murdering souldiers, and beholded the bodies of them that were slain, he cried out with a very loud voice that the King might well hear him protesting upon the Kings fidelity, and detesting his traitorous infidelity, and therwith he took off a rich cloak which he wore, and gave it to one of his acquaintance, saying, take here this token of pills and hereafter remember pills most unworthyly and shamefully slain. Oh my good Monsieur de pills, said the other, I am none of them: I thank you for your cloak, but I will not receive it with that condition, and so refused to take the cloak: and immediately de pills was thrust through by one of the guard with a partisan, and died. And this end had this most valiant and noble gentleman. And then his body was thrown into the quarry with the rest, which when they that passed by did behold, the souldiers cried out, there they be that made assault vpon us, and would have killed the King-Leranne being thrust through with a Sword, escaped and ran into the queen of Navarres chamber, and was by hir kept and preserved from the violence of those that pursued him. Shortly after, she obtained his pardon of hir brother, and committing him to hir own physician, restored him both to life and health.  
While things were in doing at Paris, Strozzi, which( as we have aforesaid) was come withall his powe● to Rochell, sent a great number of his souldiers into the town, under colour of a banquet to be made to his friends in the castle la chain, e but by reason of the iealousy and wathes of the towns men, by whom he saw his treason was espied, he went away without his purpose. But they of la charity which as we haue before shewed, were trapped by the Italian horsemen, taking less heed to the safe keeping of their town, were a little before night supprised, and within few dayes after put to the Sword.  
The next day following, were many that had hidden themselves in corners at Paris could be found out, the slaughter was renewed: also common labourers and porters, and others, to have the spoil of their clothes, stripped the dead bodies, and threw them into the River of scene. The profit of all the Robberies came to the hands of these labourers, and to the Kings treasury little or nothing. The onely gain the King had, was that which might be made of the Vacations, as they term them, of Offices and of places of charge whereof he gave a great part freely away to divers of the Court. For the Admirals office, he gave to marquis de Villiars,& so forth: for al the rest, he sold them to such as gave ready money for them. For it hath been the custom now lately of certain Kings of Fran●e( such as among foreign nations hath not been heard of) to put to sale all the profits, rights, and benefits of the crown, and to keep a Market for money, of all judicial offices, and of all the rooms belonging to his treasure or firnances, according to a rate of price set upon every one of them: and there is not in manner one in all France, that doth not openly justify that he bought his office for ready money, and that no man ought to marvel if he desire to fill up the empty hole of his stock again. And therefore justice is through all France usually bought for money, and though there be never so many murders committed, yet is there no process awarded to inquire thereof, till present coin be paid to the rakehells and scribes.  
This butchetly slaughter of Paris thus pe●formed, and four hundred houses( as is abovesayd) sacked, immediately messages were sent in post into all parts of the realm, with oft shifting their horses for hast, to command all other Cities in the Kings name to follow the example of Paris, and to cause to be killed as many as they had among them of the reformed Religion.  
These commandements it is wonderful to tell how readily and cheerfully the greatest part of the Cities of France did obey and execute. But the King, fearing( as it was likely) the dishonour of false treachery and perjury, sent letters to the Governours of his Provinces, and also speedy messengers into England, Germany, and Switzerland, to declare in his name, that there was a great commotion and seditious stir happened at Paris, which he was very sorry for, that the Duke of Guise had raised armed men and made an assault upon the band that was assigned to the admiral for his guard, and had broken in to the house, and slain the admiral& his household servants,& that the King had hardly kept safe from those dangers his own castle of the Lower where he kept himself close with his mother and his Brethren: the true copy of which letter is hereafter inserted, but the same most mighty and by the consent of all Nations commonly called the most Christian King, within two dayes after came into the Parliament accompanied with a great train of his brethren, and other Princes. The council being assembled, he sitting in his throne, began to speak unto them, he declared that he was certified, that the admiral with certain of his complices had conspired his death, and had intended the like purpose against his Brethren, the Queen his Mother, and the King of navarre, and that for this cause he had commanded his friends to slay the said admiral and all his confederates, and so to prevent the treason of his enemies.  
This his testification and declaration, the King commanded to bee written and entred in the records of the Parliament, and that it should be proclaimed by the Heraldes, and published by Printers. And he willed a book to be set forth to this effect, that the slaughter of the admiral and his adherents was done by the Kings commandement, for so was his majesties express pleasure, because they had conspired to kill him and his brethren. and the queen his Mother, and the King of navarre.  
And further, that the King did forbid that from thenceforth there should be more assemblies holden, or preachings used of the Religion.  
After the Kings oration ended, Christopher Thuane President of that Parliament, a man very notable for his light brain and his cruel heart, did with very large words congratulate unto the King, that he had now with guile and subtlety overcome these his enemies, whom he could never vanquish by arms and battle, saying therein that the King had most fully verified the old saying of Lewes the eleventh, his progenitor King of France, which was wont to say that he knew never a latin sentence but this one, Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare, He that cannot skill to dissemble, cannot skill to be a king. But Pibrace, the advocate of the Finances, made a short oration, the sum whereof was to this effect, that although the King had just and great cause to bee displeased, yet he thought it more agreeable with his majesties clemency and goodness to make an end of the slaughters and common spoil, and not to suffer such outrages any longer committed without judicial proceeding in the cause: and besought his majesty that from thenceforth it would please him to use the Law, which is well known to be the onely establishment of kingdoms and Empires: and that there had been already given to the commonalty too perilous an example to follow. An arrest of Parliament with the Kings royal assent being made to that effect, there were immediately Heralds and trumpeters sent round about all the town, and an edict proclaimed in the Kings name, that from thenceforth the slaughters and common butcherly murtherings should cease, and that all persons should abstain from pillage and robbery.  
This being known, there were divers speeches used of this matter throughout the town, and specially of learned men: The most part said, that they had red many histories, but in all memory of all ages, they never heard of any such thing as this. They compared this case with the horrible doing of King M●thridates, which with one Messenger, and with the advertisement of one letter, caused 150 thousand Romans to be slain; Some compared it with the doing of Peter of arragon, who slay eig●● thousan● Frenchmen in Seicilie, which Isle they had surprised in his absence. But yet this di●feren●e appeared between those cases and this. that thos● Kings had exercised their cruelty upon foreignes and strangers: but this King had done his outr●ge upon his own subject, being yielded, not so much to his power, as to his faith& ●re●it. Thos● Kings were bound by no promise, but such as was given to the strangers themselves: this King was with a new made league bound to the Kings and Princes his neighbours to keep the peace that he had sworn. Those Kings used no guileful means unworthy for the Majesty of a King, to deceive: this King for a bait and allurement abused the marriage of his own Sister, and in a manner besprinkled her wedding rob with blood, which dishonour and indignity, no posterity of all ages can forget. Some again discoursed, that though this wicked advice seemed to many Courtiers to have been profitable, yet not onely the honour of the King, but also the estimation and good famed of the whole nation was against that show of profit. They alleged how Aristid●s did openly in the audience of all the people, reject the counsel of Themistocles, concerning the burning of the Lacedemonian navy, although it must needs have followed, that the power of the Lacedemonians their enemies, should thereby have been utterly weakened. furious Camillus received not the children of the chief Phalisce, betrayed to him by their schoolmaster, but stripped him naked, and delivered him to be whipped home with rods by the same children. Pausanias hath left it repo●ted, that the posterity of Philip of Macedon fell into many calamities, for this cause, that he was wont to set light by the conscience of an oath, and his faith given in Leagues. Some cited the law of the twelve tables, Si patronus clienti fraudem facit, sacer esto. if the patron or sovereign defraud his client or vassal, be he out of protection, They disputed also that like faith as the vassal oweth to his Lord, the Lord oweth also to his vassal, and for what causes, and for what felonies the vassal loseth his tenancies, for the same causes and felonies the Lord loseth his signiory. Some said that the right hand in ancient time was called the pledge of the Faith of a King, and that if a King shall despise, there is no communion of right with him, and he is no more to be accounted a King, neither of his own subjects, nor of strangers. Kingly virtues in times past have been reported to be these, justice, gentleness, and clemency: but cruelty and outrage have ever been dispraised both in all persons, and specially in Princes. Scipio hath in all ages been praised, who was wont to say, that he had rather save one Citizen, then kill a thousand enemies, which sentence, Antonius the Emperour, surnamed pus the kind or virtuous did often repeat. It was a most shameful by-word of young Tiberius, to be called day, tempered with blood. They say also, as Kings have power of life or death over their subject●, but not without hearing the cause, and the judicial proceeding: that there can be alleged no greater authority, then the Dictators had at Rome, in whom was the sovereign power of peace and war, of life and death, and without appeal, yet was it not lawful for them to execute a citizen, his cause unheard. Onely thieves and Murtherers take away mens lives without order of Law,& hearing their cause. Who can doubt( said they) but that this so great outrage, so great shedding of Christian blood is the fruit of the cursed life of the Courtiers? For( said they) now throughout all France, whoredom and loose lewdness of life are so free and usual, that now the most part of the women of France seem to be in manner common: and the wicked blasphemies and continual execrations and dishonorings of Gods most holy name and majesty, are such as God cannot longer bear: and true it is, though incredible among foreign Nations, that the catholics of France have prescribed themselves this for a special mark to be known from other men, that at every third word they blasphemously swear by the head, death, blood,& belly of GOD: and wonderful it is, that the King himself is so much delighted in this custom of swearing and blaspheming: and this as it were a pestilent infection is spread abroad and common among the very Plough-men and Peasants, so as none among them now speaketh three words without most filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of God. Who can longer bear the vile unchastities, the Bawds and Ruffians of the Court? Finally, very nature itself doth now as it were expostulate with God for his so long sufferance and forbearing, and the very earth can no longer bear these monsters.  
Now as touching the Admirals supposed conspiracy, who can think it likely that he should enterprise any such thing within the walls of Paris? For in the Court there is continually watching and warding a garrison of the Kings: and at the entry of his Castle the guards of Gascoines, Scots and swissers, are continually attending; and the King himself both always before, and specially at that time, by reason of his sters marriage, had a great train of Princes, great Lords, Noblemen and Gentlemen about him. Moreover it was well known, that in Paris within three houres space might be assembled and put in armor, threescore thousand chosen armed men, specially against the admiral, whom no man is ignorant that the Parisians most deadly hated: beside that, the Noble young men that came thither with the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde by reason of the marriage,& brought with them their wives, their sisters and their kinswomen, thought at that time upon nothing but upon triumph, and exercises of pastime, and gay furniture of apparel and ornaments. Finally, at whither of these two times can it be likely that the admiral attempted this conspiracy? was it before he was hurt? why? at that time he found the King his most loving, or at least his most liberal and bountiful good Lord: neither could be hope ever to have a more favourable sovereign in France. Was it then after he was hurt? as though forsooth he lying sore of two so great wounds, aged, maimed of both his arms, the one whereof the Phisitians consulted whether it were to be cut off, accompanied with three hundred young men, would set upon threescore thousand armed men, or in so small a time could lay the plot for so great, and so heinous a fact: for he lived scarce forty houres after his hurt, in which time he was enjoined by the Physitians to forbear talk. again, if he had been detected of any such crime, was he not committed to Cossin and to his keeping, and so environed, all the wries beset about him, and so in the Kings power that if it had pleased the King he might at all times in a moment be carried to prison? why was not orderly inquiry and judicial proceeding used according to the custom and laws and general right of Nations, and witnesses produced according to the form of Law? but be it, that the admiral and a few other of his confederates and followers had conspired? why yet proceeded the outrageous cruelty upon the rest that were innocent, why upon ancient Matrons? why upon noble Ladies and young Gentlewomen and Virgins that came thither for the honour of the Wedding? why were so many women great with child, against the laws of all Nations and of nature, before their delivery thrown into the River? why were so many aged persons, many that lay sick in their beds; many Gowne-men, many Councellors, Advocates, Proctors, Physitians, many singularly learned Professors and teachers of good Arts, and among the rest Petrus Ramus, that renowned man throughout the world; many young students, executed without hearing, without pleading their cause, without sentence of condemnation? moreover, i● the admiral had slain the three Brethren, who doubteth but that all Countries, all Cities, all Parliaments, finally, all sorts and degrees of men would have speedily taken armour and easily have destroyed all of the Religion, having them enclosed within their towns, and having just cause to render to all foreign Nations for their common sl●ughters and killing of men? As to that which toucheth the King of Navarre, what can be imagined more ab●u●de and unl●kely? had not the admiral him four yeares in his power. Did not he profess the same Religion that the admiral did? which of those of the Religion, which of them I say( as Cassius was wont to reason) should have gained or received profi● by the killing of the King of Navarre? did not the catholics hate him? and the admiral could not hope to have any man more friendly to him, nor by any other mans means to have r●venge o● his injury, Las●l●, in their houses that were sl●ine, what armor, what weapons were found, by which conjectu●es Judges use to b●●led to trace ou● a fact? These matters wise men throughout the town of Paris commonly mut eared.  
But now to return to our purpose. At such time as the Kings prohibition abovesai●, was proclaimed a● Paris, not only in other towns, as a Orlea●ce, Angiers, V●aron, Troys, and Auxerre, ●h● like Butcheries and slaughters were used, but also in the town of Paris 〈◇〉 self, in th very go●les that are ordained for ●he keeping of Prisoners, if any had escaped the cruelty of the day before, they were now tumultuousl● slain by the rag●ing and out-rageing m ltitude, in which num●er were three gentlemen of grea● r●putati●n, captain Monius a man very fam●us in Martiall prow●ss●, Lomen t●● K ngs Secretary, a man of great est●mation for his long service in the Court, and chaps a lawyer, near four●score yeares old, a m●n of great renown in the Court o Paris. And because we h●ve made m●ntion of Angiers, we think it good no● to omit the ca●e of Masson de Rivers. This man was a Pastor of the church, and esteemed a singular ma●, o●●h in vertuou●nesse of lif●, and in exce●lencie o● wi and l●ar●ing, and w●s the first that had laid the foundation of the Church at Paris As soon as the slaugh er was begun at Paris Monsorell a m●st cruel en●mie of the Religion, was sent to Angiers in post, to prevent all other that might carry tidings of the murderi●g. As soon as he came in o the town, he caused himself to be brought to Massons House, there he met Massons wife in the entry, and gently saluted her, and after the manner o● France, sp●c●●lly of the Court, he kissed her, and asked her where her Husband was, she an●wered, that he was walking in th● Garden, and by and by she br●ught Monsorell to her Husband; who gently embrac d Masson, ●nd said unto him. canst thou tell why I am come hither? it is to kill the● by the K●ngs commandement at this very iust●●r time for so hath ●h● K ng commanded, as thou mayst perceive by these letters, and therewith he shewed him his dag ready charged; Masson answered that he was not guilty of any crime, howbeit this one thing only he besought him, to give him space to call to the mercy of God, and to commend his spirit into Gods hand; which Prayer as soon as he had ended in few words, he meekly received the death offered by the other, and was shot through with a pellet and died.  
Now to return to Paris, the admirals body being hanged up by the heels upon the common gallows of Paris, as is aforesaid, the Parisians went thither by heaps to see it; and the queen Mother to feed her eyes with that spectacle, had a mind also to go thither, and she carried with her the King and both her other sons, but the next night following, the body was conveyed away, and( as it is thought) butted about that time, whereas many of the Court secretly muttered that the King should by this fact incur dishonour, not only among foreign Nations, but also with all posterity in time to come for ever, Morvillier, of whom we have made mention before, one that is accounted the principal lewd practiser and wicked sycophant of all France, and the first author and chief means of bringing the jesuits into France, came to the queen Mother and  told her, that it was best that some of those that were lately taken flying and hiding themselves, should for manners sake be brought to open judgement, and after the accustomend manner should be inquired upon, that they might be condemned by the sentence of certain Judges picked out for that purpose, and so openly executed in sight of the people. There were called to counsel hereupon Birage, Limege, Thuan, and Belleure. They not only allowed Morvilliers opinion, but also gave advice, that a man of hey made in figure for the admiral( for his body, as we have said, could not be found) should be dragged by the Boureau through the streets, his arms and ensigns of honour broken, his memory condemned, his Castles and farms razed, his children pronounced infamous, unnoble, and intestable, and all the trees in his woods to be hewn down to the height of six foot. There was among those that were apprehended, one Cavaignes, master of Requests to the King, and Briquemault, of whom we have before spoken; This Briquemault had spent his time in Service in the old wars, in the time of King Francis and King Henry, and was for the war accounted a man of great experience among the best now living, and was near about threescore and ten yeares old. As soon as they were carried into prison, there were presented unto them all the tormenter and the hangman, and they were threatened with torture and tearing their bodies in pieces, unless they would presently subscribe with their own hands, that they were of council with the admiral to kill the King and his brethren, and the queen Mother, and the King of Navarre. They all cried out that they were ready to suffer death most willingly, forasmuch as the Kings pleasure was it should be so: but so great torture they could not bear, and therefore humbly besought his royal goodness and clemency to pardon them that torment, and yet trusting upon the mercy of God, they hoped that they should suffer exceeding great pains, rather then stain themselves with so great shane, or confess an untrue crime against themselves. They that were first assigned their judges, hearing their cries and defences, and fearing the judgement of the world, said plainly that they would not draw upon themselves most assured infamy for condemning them. Therfore there were new Judges appointed in their places: to them was adjoined such a tormenter and notary, as were thought fittest for the purpose. And so Briquemault and Cavaignes were quickly condemned by a shadowed form of Law, and lead to the gibbet standing in the principal street of the town, and in the sight of many thousands of men gazing at them, To this spectacle the queen-mother lead the King and her other sons, and her son in law the King of Navarre.  
It was thought commodious for playing of this last act, that Briquemault should in hearing of all the People ask pardon of the King, and for that purpose there were some suborned to put him in mind, that if he would he might easily purchase his life, for the King was of nature full of clemency and mercy, and if he would ask pardon of his majesty with confessing his offence, he should easily obtain it. he answered with a valiant and bold courage, that it was not his part but the Kings to ask pardon of God for this fault: and that he would never crave forgiveness of that offence whereof he well knew himself and had God to witness that he was clear and innocent. N●verthelesse, he besought God to forgive the King this fault. So were thief two excellent and famous men with halters fastened about their necks thrown by the hangman from the ladder and hanged, and therewithal also the man of straw made for figure of the admiral, was tied fast and hanged with them, after a preposterous order of Law, whereby the admiral was first slain and then condemned.  
But whereas in a manner in all towns there were great sl●ughters committed, yet was there none more horrible nor more outrageous then the Butcherly murder at Lions. So soon as the Letters from the Court were brought to Mandelot governor of the town; first, by a crier and trumpet he caused to be proclaimed, that all the professors of the Religion should appear presently before him at his house. They without all delay repaired to him: As soon as they were come, he commanded them all to suffer themselves to be lead to prison by such officers as should be assigned them. They obeied his word and followed the officers that lead them. By reason of the great multitude, they sorted them into sundry prisons; then Mandelot willed the common Executioner to be commanded in his name to take some to help him, and to kill those that were in prison. The executioner answered, that he used not to execute the Law upon any but such as were condemned, and in public and open places, and therefore willed him to seek another slaughterman if he would. Mandelot thus refused by the Executioner, commanded the garrison Souldiers of the Castle to do it, the Souldiers answered, that it was against their honour, to use weapons upon men bound and lying suppliant before them; if they had raised any rebellion, or had offended or provoked them, they said they would most readily have fought with them; being thus refused by them also, at the last he committed the matter to the watermen and Butchers, those fellowes being let into the prisons, went to it with chopping knives and Butchers axes. Such as they found prostrate at their feet, pittiously holding up their hands to heaven, crying upon the mercy of God and men, they did for sport cut off their fingers and the tops of their hands, and throughout the whole town was heard such a cry and lamentable howling of women and children, that innumerable people, even such as were zealously given even to the Popish Religion, did detest that cruelty, and judged that not men but outrageous savage beasts in shape of men were entred into the prisons. It is well known, that a great number of honest women in the town great with child, were so flighted with the horror of it, that they were delivered before their time; and out of the Court of the goal called the Arch-Bishops prison, the blood was seen in the broad day light, to the great abhorring and fear of many that beheld it, run warm and smoking into the next streets of the town, and so down into the River of Sene. There was in that same Arch-Bishops prison an aged man called Francis Collut, a merchant of caps, and two young men his sons, whom he had ever caused diligently to be taught and instructed in Religion, when he saw the Butchers come toward him with their axes, he began to exhort his Children not to refuse the death offered by God. For( said he) it is the perpetual destiny of Religion, and that often such sacrifices do betid in Christian Churches, and Christians in all ages have ever been, and for ever to the worlds end so shall be, as sheep among Wolves, Doves among hawks, and sacrifices among Priests. Then the old Father embraced his two young sons, and lying flat on the ground with them, crying aloude upon the mercy of God, was with many wounds both he and his sons slaughtered by those Butchers: and long time afterward their three bodies had, knit together, yielded a piteous spectacle to many that beholded them. In the mean time Mandelot in jest and scorn( as it seemed) caused to be proclaimed by the crier, that no man should commit any slaughter in the town, and that if any would detect the doers of any such slaughter, he would give him a hundred crownes in reward for his information. And from that time they ceased not to kill, to rob, and to spoil. The next day after, which was the first day of September, the greatest part of the dead bodies were thrown into the River of Sene, and the rest of them Mandelot, to feed and glut his eyes and heart with blood, caused to be carried by boat to the other side of the water, and there to be thrown down upon the green grass near unto the Abbey called Esue.  
There the people of Lions, specially the Italians, of whom by reason of the Mart there is geat store in the town, satisfied their eyes a while, and did such spites as they could to these heaps of carcases, and so exercised their cruelty not upon the living onely, but also upon the dead. And there happened one thing which for the abominable cruelty is not to be omitted. There came to that spectacle certain Apothecaries, and among those bodies they perceived some very fat ones, by and by they went to the Butchers, and  told them that they did use to make certain special medicines of mans grease, and that they might make some profit thereof. Which as soon as the Butchers understood, they ran to the heaps and choose out the fattest, and lanced them with their knives, and pulled out the fat, and sold it for money to the Apothecaries.  
While these things were doing at Lions, the King being informed that divers of the Religion had left their wives and children, and were fled out of the other towns, and lurked some in the woods, and some among their friends such as took pitty on them, he practised with faire words to 'allure and call them home again. He sent to every part messengers and letters, affirming that he was highly displ●ased with those slaughters and horrible butcheries, and that he would that such cruelty sh uld be severely punished: and if the admiral with a few of his confederates had entred into any secret practise, it was no reason, that so many innocents should bear the punishment due to a few. Many sweetly beguiled with these words of the King and with the letters of the Governours, retired home again to their dwellings and houses, specially they of evan, deep, and Tholouse. There were scant two d●y●● passed when they were again commanded to prison, where they were all shut up. Then were murtherers a new appointed of the most base and rascall of the people, to t●rment them with all kind of torture, and then to slay them. And throughout the whole realm of France for thirty dayes together there was no end of killing, slaying and robbing, so that at this day there are about a hundreth thousand little babes, widows and Children, that were well born, that now fatherless and motherless live wandering and in beggary. About this time the King caused to be proclaimed, that such as had any office or place of charge, unless they would speedily return to the catholic, apostolic and Romish Church, should give over those their temporal rooms. There was no town nor any so small a village or hamlet wherein all the professors of the Religion were not compelled either to go to mass, or presently to take the sword into their bosoms: and in many places it happened that such as being amazed with the suddainenesse of the matter had abjured their Religion, yet notwithstanding were afterward slain.  
And while these things were still in doing, yet the King in the mean while sent abroad his letters and messag●s into all parts, and caused to be proclaimed with Trumpet, that his pleasure was that the Edicts of pacification should be observed: and although they could not have freedom to use and exercise their Religion in open places, yet they should have liberty permitted them to retain and profess it within their own houses, and that no man should meddle with or disturb the goods and possessions of those of the Religion.  
And the same King which but few dayes before, had by letters directed to all the Governours of his Provinces signified that his cousin the admiral was slain by the Duke of Guise to his great sorrow, and that himself was in great danger, the same King I say, now caused it with sound of Trumpet to be proclaimed that the traitorous and wicked admiral was slain by his Will and Commandement. He that in few dayes before had by new authority confirmed the liberty of Religion permitted by his Edicts of pacification, the same King did now not onely take from the professors thereof their offices and honours, but also prescribed them in precise form of words a form of abjuring and detesting their Religion. Which things least any man should doubt of, we shall hereafter set down the very true copies of the said Letters, Edicts and Abjuration.   


The Kings Letters, to the Governours of burgundy, whereby he chargeth those of the house of guise, for the murder committed upon the Admirals person, and for the sedition which happened at Paris, and commandeth that the Edict of pacification should be kept and retained.  
COVSIN, you have perceived what I wrote unto you yesterday, concerning my Cousin the Admirals wounding, and how ready I was to do my endeavour to search out the truth of the dead, and to punish it wherein nothing was loft undone or forgotten. But it happened since that they of the house of guise, and other Lords and Gentlemen their Adhe●ent●( whereof there bee no small number in this City) when they certainly knew that the Admiral friends would proceed to the revenge of his hurt and because they were suspected to bee the authors thereof were so stirred up this last night: that a great and lamentable sedition arose therof, insomuch that the Guard by me appointed for his defence about his house was set upon and he himself with certain of his Gentlemen slain, and havoc of others made in divers places of the city: which was handled with such a rage, that I could not and the remedy that I would but had much ado ●o employ my Guards and other defence for the safety of myself and my brethren within the Castle of Louure, to give order hereafter for the appeasing of this sedition, which is at this hour well appeased thankes bee to God, and came to pass by a particular and private quarrel of long time fostered betwixt those two houses. Whereof when I foresaw that there would succeed some mischievous purpose, I did what I could possibly to appease it as all men know. And yet hereby the Edict of Pacification is not broken, which I will to be kept as straightly as ever it was as I have given to understand in all places thro●ghout my realm, ●nd because it is greatly to bee feared that such 〈◇〉 execute on might sti●re up my Subjects one against another and cause great mur●ers through the Cities of 〈◇〉 realm; whereby I should be greatly grieved, I pray you cause to bee published and understood in all places of your government that every person abide and continue in the safg●rd of his own house,& to take no weapons in hand nor one to hur● another n●r pain of death commandi●g them to kee●e and diligently to ob erve our Edict of Pacification. And ●o make the offenders and resistors and such as woul● disobey and break our w ll to bee punished you shall assemble out of hand as great force as you can as well of your friends a● of them that be appo●n●ed by me and of others, advertisi g the Captaines of Castles and Cities in your government to take heed to the safeguard and preservation of the said places, so that no fault ensu● o● their behal●e advertising me also so soon as you can, what order you have given herein, and how all things have passed within this circuit of your gov nment. Hereu●on I pray God to keep you cousin, in his holy safeguard.  
●t Paris the xxiii●. of ●ugust. signed CHARLES and underneath BRVLARD.   

Another Letter from the King to the Lo●d of ●rye, his lieutenant general in Touraine, upon the same matter that the former Letter was.  
MOnsieur de pry you have understood how my cousin the Admiral was hurt the last ●ay and in what readiness I was to do as much as in me lay, for the trial o● the fact, and to cause so great and speedy justice to be done as should be an example throughout a● my realm wherein nothing was omitted. Since it is so happened that my cousins of the house of Guise, and other Lords and Gentlemen their adherents, which are no small party in this Town, as all men know hav●ng go●ten certain intelligence that the friends of my said cousin the admiral intended to pursue and execute upon them the revenge of this hurt, for that they had them in suspicion to be the cause and occasion thereof, have made such a stir this night passed, that among them on both parts hath been raised a great and lamentable tumult: the Guard that was set about the Lord Admirals house was distressed himself slain in his house, with divers other Gentlemen, as also great slaughter hath been made of other in sundry places and quarters of the town, which hath been done with such fury, that it ● was impossible for me to give such remedy as was to be wished, I having enough to do to employ my Guard and other forces to keep myself in safety in the Castle of Louure, to the end to give order for the appeasing of the whole uproar, which at this hour( thankes bee to God) is well quenched, for that the same happened by the particular quarrel that hath of long time been between those two houses: whereof always having some doubt that some unhappy effect would ensue, I have( as is well known to all men) before this time done all that I could for to appease it: nothing in this last fact tending to the breath of my Edict of Pacification, which contrary wise I will in all things to bee maintained, as at any time heretofore as I do give it to understand throughout my realm. And forasmuch as it is greatly to bee feared that this may stir up and cause my subjects to rise one against another, and to commit great slaughters in the towns of my realm, whereof I would be marvelously sorry, I pray you that immediately upon the receipt hereof, ye cause to be published and done to understand in all places of your charge, that every man as well in town as in country, remain in rest and surety in his house, and do not take arms one against another, on pain of death, and that more diligently than at any time heretofore, ye cause the last Edict of Pacification to bee kept and carefully maintained and observed: To the intent abovesaid, and to punish such at shall do to the contrary, and to distress all such as shall rise and disobey our pleasure ye shall immediately assemble all the strength that ye are able, as well of your friends being of our allowance as others, advertising the governors, and captaines of towns and Castles within your charge, that they take good heed to the surety and safe keeping of their pieces, in such sort as there ensue no default, informing me with speed of such order as you shall take therein, and how all things shall proceed within the compass of your authority. I have here with me my brother the King of Navarre, and my cousin the Prince of Conde, to take such hap as myself. I pray the creator, monsieur de pry, to hold you in his holy safeguard.  
From Paris this xxiiij. of August. Thus signed CHARLES, and underneath PINART.  
These Letters are all of one argument as the former bee, and written all in one form, and all one day to monsieur de pry the lieutenant of Touraine.   

The Kings LETTERS to the Officers of burgess, upon the same matter that the former were.  
our loving and faithful, we doubt not but by this time you know of the sedition which to our great grief happened in Paris a few dayes sithence, wherein my cousen the admiral, and certain others of his side were slain; and a great murder committed upon divers in many places of this city. And least the news thereof should change the quiet estate, wherein burgess hath hitherto been maintained since the Edict of pacifition, if remedy were not foreseen, it is the cause that wee writ this letter presently unto you, whereby wee command and expressly ordain that every one of you according to his charge do see that no commotion or insurrection be against the inhabitants of the said City, nor that no murder be committed, as it is to be feared, by those which pretend to break the Edict of Pacification and thereby would execute a revenge of their long& private grudge, to our incredible vexation and anguish of mind. For this cause it is your part to give to understand and publish throughout that City of ours and other places pertaining to it, that every one should quietly and peaceably keep their houses, without taking weapons in hand, and offending one the other, upon pain of death, and well and diligently to keep our Edict of Pacification. And if any go about to contrary this our intent and mind, to cause them to be punished and rigorously chastised by penalties imposed on such offenders in our ordinances, having a watchful and diligent eye to the safeguard of that our City, in such sort that no inconvenience arise in your service towards us, as you would have us to know, that you are our loyal and obedient Subjects.  
Given at Paris the xxvij day of August, 1572. Thus signed, CHARLES and below. De nulf-ville.   

A Letter of the Treasurer of the leagues of the swissers, written by the Kings Commandement unto the said Leagues, of the same argument that the former Letters were.  
NOble seigniors, Monsieur de la fountain, Ambassador for the King your assured and perfect friend and confederate, and I his Treasurer in this Country, having commandement of his Majesty to communicate with you, as with them whom he accounteth his chief and sure friends, of a chance which lately happened in the City of Paris, his own person and Court then being there, whereof he received so much more grief and displeasure, because it fell on such a time as he feared least, or looked for such a thing. The matter is this. On the 27. day of August last the admiral as he went from Louure, was with an harquebuze shot hurt in the hand and arm, whereof when his Majesty was advertised, he commanded incontinent that search and punishment were had of the oftend●r, and the authors of such a mischief: whereunto when he had readily laid his hand by his Officers, and committed the inhabitants of the house, where the harquebuze was shot, to prison they which were the cause first of the mischief( as it may easily be presupposed) because they would prevent the inquisition thereof, heaping one transgression upon another, on the 23. and 24. of the said month assembled a great troupe of people in the night, and moved the people of Paris to a very great sedition, who in a rage set upon the Admirals lodging, and enforcing the Guard which his Majesty had set for the Admirals surety and keeping, slay him with certain other gentlemen in his company, as the like also was committed upon others in the City, the matter growing in the very same instant to such an outrage and commotion, that whereas his Majesty had thought to provide remedy for appeasing thereof, he had much a do with all his Guards to keep his house at Louure, whe●e he lodged with the two queens, his mother and the Spouse the Lords his brethren, the King of navarre and ot●er Princes. Think therefore ye noble seigniors, in what a perplexity this young and courageous King now standeth, who, as a man may say, hath held in his hand thorns in stead of a sceptre ever since his coming to the Crown for that great troubles which have almost ever since been in his realm, and therefore by the good and wise counsel and assistance of the queen his mother and the Lords his brethren, thought to enjoy and establish a more sure repose in his realm, and a more happy government for himself and his subjects, after he had taken away( as he thought) all occasions of dissensions amongst his subjects by the means of his Edict of Pacifications, and of the Marriage of the King of Navarre to the Lady his Sister, and the Prince of Conde to madam de Nevers; Besides all this, to the intent nothing should bee left undone that might serve for the quieting of all things and especially for the Admirals safeguard his Majesty as every man knoweth, hath done his endeavour to the uttermost, to appease and reconcile his principal and most dangerous enemies unto him. And so God the true Judge of the Kings Majesties good and pure intent brought to pass, that the peoples rage being quieted within a few houres, every one went home to his house, and the King had special regard to nothing more than to see nothing attempted or innovated contrary to his Edicts of Pacification,& the repose of his Subjects as well of the one Religion as of the other. And for that purpose hath sent to diver, of his Governours and Officers in his Provinces, to look diligently to the observing of his Edicts, with express commandement to hold their hands there that every one might perceive that the chance at Paris happened for some private quarrel and not for any purpose to alter this Edicts, which his Majesty will in no wise suffer. Which is the principal thing, noble seigniors that his Majesty hath commanded us on his part to assure you, and to let you understand the dangers that depend over him and his neighbours, not so much for this sedition, for he trusteth in God that shall grow no further and his Majesty will keep his realm in as good repose as it hath been since his last Edict of Pacification but for the great mustering and assembling men of war in many places, specially in the low Countries, where it is yet uncertain on which side God will give the victory nor whether the conqueror will employ his force after his conquest Wherefore his Majesty prayeth you, continuing the good love and intelligence which hath always been betwixt the crown of France and his allied and confederate friends the seigniors of the Leagues, to have good regard to him and his realm an case that need shall require as he will have to you and your prosperous estate if it be requisite employing in the mean while your great and singular wisdom to the preservation of the union of the Nation in League, which is the onely cause to make you, not onely able to sand succour to your friends, but also maintain yourselves in estimation that you may be a terror to your neighbours, how great soever they be his Majesty promising you in all occurrents as much friendship, favour and assistance, as you can desire, and to be as entire and perfect a friend, as ever your Nation had any.   

A Declaration of the King concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his adherents and complices, happened in the City of Paris the 24. of August. 1572.  
Imprinted at Paris by John Dallier Stationer, dwelling upon St. Michaels bridge, at the sign of the white Rose: by the Kings licence.  BY THE KING. 
HIs Majesty desiring to have all seigniors, Gentlemen, and other his subjects, understand the cause of the murder of the admiral& his adherents and complices, which lately happened in this City of Paris the 24. day of this present month of August, least the said deed should be otherwise disguised and reported than it was in dead: his Majesty therefore declareth that which was done, was by his express commandement, and for no cause of Religion nor breaking his Edicts of Pacification, which he always intended, and still mindeth and intendeth to observe and keep yea it was rather done to withstand& prevent a most detestable and cursed conspiracy begun by the said admiral the chief captain thereof, and his said adherents and complices, against the Kings person, his estate, the Queen his Mother and the Princes his brethren, the King of navarre,& other Lords about him. wherefore his Majesty by this declaration and ordinance giveth to understand to all Gentlemen and others of the Religion which they pretend reformed that he mindeth and purposeth that they shall live under his protection, with their wives and Children in their houses in as much safeguard as they did before, following the benefit of the former Edicts of Pacification, most expressly commanding and ordaining, that all governors and Lieutetenants general in every of his Countries and provinces, and other Iustices and Officers to whom it appertaineth, do not attempt nor suffer to be attempted any thing in what sort soever, upon the persons and goods of them of the Religion, their wives, children and families on pain of death against the faulty and culpable in this behalf. And nevertheless to withstand the troubles, slanders, suspicions, and defiances that may come by sermons and assemblies, as well in the houses of the said Gentleman, as in other places, as it is suffered by the said Edicts of Pacification: it is expressly forbidden, and inhibited by his majesty to all gentlemen and others of the said Religion, to have no assemblies for any cause at all, until his majesty hath provided and appointed otherwise for the tranquillity of his realm, upon pain of disobedience and consiscation of body and goods. It is also expressly forbidden under the pain aforesaid that for the aforesa●d occasions, none shall take or retain any prisoners, or take ransom of them, and that incontinently they certify the governours of every province, and the Lieutenant general, of the name and quality of every such pisoner, whom his Majesty hath appointed shall be released and set at liberty, except they be of the chief of the late conspiracy or such as have made some practise or device for them or had intelligence thereof: and they shall advertise his Majesty of such, to know his further pleasure; It is also ordained that from henceforth none shall take or arrest any prisoner for that cause, without his Majesties commandement or his Officers, nor that none be suffered to rome, abroad in the fields, to take up dogs, cattle, beefes, Kine, or other beasts goods, fruits, grain, or any thing else, nor to hurt the labourers by word or dead, but to let them alone about their work and calling, in peace and safety.  
At Paris the xxviij. of August. 1572. Signed, CHARLES, and underneath, FIZES.   

The Kings Letters to the Officers of burgess, of the same argument that the former Declaration was.  
our trusty and well-beloved, we consi●ering that under the colour of the death of the admiral, and his adherents and complices certain Gentlemen, and others our subiects, professing the Religion called Reformed, might rise and assemble together to the prejudice and hindrance of the tr●nquilitie which we have always desired should be in our realm, the doing of the said murder being counterfeited and given out otherwise then it was. We have therefore made a declaration& ordinance, which we sand you, willing you to publish the same incontinently by sound of trumpet, and setting the same in such places of your jurisdiction, where cries& proclamations are usually made, to the end that every one might know it,& though we have always been diligent observers of our Edicts of pacification, yet seeing the troubles and seditions which might arise amongst our subjects by occasion of the said murder, as well of the Admiral as of his companions. we command you,& ordain, that you particularly forb●d the principals of the Religion pretended reformed, within your jurisdiction, that they have no sermons nor assemblies either in houses, or any other places to take away all doubt and suspicion which might bee conceived against them. And likewise that you advertise such as dwell in the Cities of your Jurisdiction, what you judge meet to be done, to the intent they might in this point follow our mind, and keep them quiet in their houses, as they may do by the benefit of our Edict of pacification,& there they shal be under our protection and safeguard: but if they will not so reryre themselves after you have given them warning, then shall you set on them with all strength and force, as well by ●he provosts of the Marsha●s& their archers as others which you can gather together by bell ringing or otherwise, so that you hue them all to pieces as enemies to our Crown. Besides what co●mandements soever wee have sent by word of mouth either to you, or others in our Realm when we were in fear, upon just occasion, knowing the conspiracy that the admiral had began of some mischance that might fall unto us, we have and do revoke, willing you and others th●t no such thing be executed, for such is our pleasure.  
Given at Paris the 30. of August 1572. Thus signed, Charles, and underneath, De Nulf-ville.  
Published in judgement.   

Remembrances and Instructions sent by the King to the Count of Charny his general lieutenant in burgundy, of the same argument.  
THe King considering the commotion lately happened in Paris, wherein the L. admiral Chastilion with other gentlemen of his side were slain, because they had mischevously conspired to set upon the Kings Majesties person, the Q. his mother the princes his b●ethren the K. of navarre and other Princes and Lords near about them, and upon his estate: and least they of the Religion called Reformed, not knowing the causes of the said Rebellion, should arise and put themselves in arms as they have done in the troubles that be passed, and device new practices and fetches against the weal of his Majesty and tranquillity of his Realm, if he should not cause the tr●th of the matter to be known to all Gentlemen& others his subjects of the same religion how it passed, and what his pleasure and mind is in their behalves. And thinking that for remedy hereof it is very needf●ll for the Governors of the Provinces in his realm to go round about their governements: for this occasion he willeth that the Count of Charny great Esquire of france, and his Majesties Lieutenant general for the government of burgundy, shall go diligently through all Cities and places of the said government, and as he arriveth in every place, he shall device the best ways that he can to make peace. union and quietness amongst the Kings Subjects, as well of the one Religion as of the other. And to bring it the better about, he shal gently call before him in open or private place as he shall see best cause for his Majesties service herein, the Gentlemen of the places, and the Burgesses of the Cities of his government that be of the Religion, and shall declare unto them& cause them to understand the truth of the said comm●tion lest any have uns●●●orted it to them, otherwise th●n it was in dead: And shal tel them, t●● under the c●lo●r of 〈…〉. Ad●iralls hurt wherefore his majesty would haue caused Iustice to be done according ●o the good order that he had appointed, the said admiral and Gent. of his Religion which were in the City with him; without looking for the execution of the said Justice had made a mischievous, unhappy, and detestable conspiracy against the Kings Majesties person the queen his mother, the Lords his brethren, the King of Navarre and other Princes& Lords with them, and against the whole estate even as ce●taine of the chief and adherents of the said conspiracy( acknowledging their fault) have confessed. Wherefore his Majesty was constrained to his great grief) to resist and prevent so mischievous pernitions, and abominable a purpose. And that which he suffered to bee done on Sund●y the 24. of August upon the admiral and his complices, was not for any Religion nor to go against the Edict of Pacification he intending nevertheless that they of the Religion should still live and abide in all liberty and safety with their wives children and families in their houses as he hath and will maintain them if they be content to live quietly under his obedience as he desireth. For the which cause he willeth that the count Charnye shall offer and give to them his letters of safeguard in good and authentic form, which shall be of as good force and virtue, as if they should come to be taken from his own Majesty: and by the authority of them, they shall be preserved from all wrongs, violences, and oppressions: enjoying and forbidding most expressly all his catholic Subjects whatsoever they are to attempt nothing upon the persons, goods, or families of any of the Religion which keep themselves quietly in their houses on pain of death. And if any be so rash or evil advised, to do against this injunction or to violate the safeguard promised, his Majesty willeth that ready and rigorous punishment be done to the intent that their example may serve to hold in others not to do the like: which is the true and onely means of assurance that his Majesty can give to them of the Religion, with his word and promise which he giveth them to bee their good and benign Prince, protector and preserver of them and of all that toucheth them, so long as they live and continue under his obedience without doing or enterpriseing any thing against his will and service. And because his Majesty hath often known that the enterprises and consultations taken in hand by them of the Religion against his service, have been concluded amongst them at Assemblies, at Sermons, which Gentlemen had liberty to cause to be made in their houses and Lordships, therefore my L. of Charnye shall particularly give to understand to ●entlemen which were wont to have such Sermons that his Majesty in consideration that nothing hath more moved and set on the catholics against those of the Religion than such Preachings and Assemblies, and if they continue, it is certain that it will be a cause to encre●se and maintain the said commotions, desirerh that they should cause them to cease off until he hath otherwise provided and appointed, and that they apply themselves hereunto as a thing greatly serving the effect of his intention, which is gently to bring his said Subjects to a true and perfect amity union and concord one with another, committing al divisions and partialities to oblivion. And because this may seem hard at the beginning my L. of Charnye shall cause it to be faire and gently spoken to them, least they enter into some strange conjecture or suspicion. For so his said Majesty would proceed in all true sincerity towards them which conform themselves to his will and obedience, wherein he exhorteth them to live, with all the best persuasions that he can and shall assure them in so doing to be surely maintained and preserved as his other Subjects the catholics, as his Majesty would that he should do. And to the intent his said Subjects the catholics should know how to use and behave themselves herein my L. of Charnye shall tell them, that his Majesties pleasure neither is nor hath been that any wrong or oppression should be done to them of the said Religion, which like good and loyal Subjects will gently keep themselves under his obedience. Declaring unto the said catholics, that if they forget themselves and hurt those of the Religion which in such sort behave themselves toward his Majesty, and those also which for that end have received of his Majesty or of my L. of Charnye let●ers of safe conduct, he will cause them to be punished and chastised in the field, as transg●essors of his commandements, without any hope of grace, pardon, or remission. Which the said L. of Charnye shall express and declare unto them with as plain words as is possible, and cause it also to be straightly executed. And that after following his Majesties intent, he hath pacified them by this means, which is the way that his Majesty best liketh of, and preached the direction to assure a tranquillity betwixt the Subjects and to set some assurance betwixt the one and the other, such as shall conform themselves herein to his said Majesties will, he will comfort, and make them the best and most gentle entertainment that he possibly can. But if any of the Religion become self willed& stubborn to his Majesty, without having regard to his said warnings, and shall assemble in arms together, making practices and devices against the weal of his service then the L. of Charnye shall run upon them and hue them in pieces before they have power to forttfie themselves and join together. And therefore he shall assemble as much force as he can, as well of the ordinary, as of other men of war, Souldiers, Foot-men of the Garrisons, and inhabitants of the catholics within the Cities of his Government, and shall besiege them which hold and make themselves strong in Cities about his government, so that the victory and authority may remain in his M●jesty.  
At Paris the 30. of August, 157●. Signed, Charles: and underneath Brulard.   

The Kings Letter to the L. of Gwich, whereby it may plainly be perceived, how they would search out all them of the Religion which had any charge in hand during the troubles.  
MY L. of Gwiche, I understand that the 3. brethren Daggonels, and one Porcher the best at the sign of the Adventure, Mossoner, Cr●spine, and captain Grise, which were the principal in the faction in burgundy, and were the cause of the taking and recovering of the City of Mascon in the late troubles, and of all the decay which happened in that Country, be kept prisoners in Mascon. And because I understand they hope to escape o●t by ransom( which I would in no wise should be done) I ordain and command that you keep them safe, for as much as I hope by their means to discover a great many things which greatly touch the weal of my service. And if there be any other prisoners of the new Religion in Mascon, which have hin factious, you shall likewise keep them, so that they escape not by paying ransom for I would not for any thing in the world that there should be taking of ransom among my Subjects. And thus my L. of Gwiche I pray God keep you in his hol● tuition.  
Written at Paris the 14. of Septem. 1572. feigned, Charles, and underneath, Brulard.   

The Kings Letters to Monsieur De Gordes his Lieutenant general in dauphin, wherein he sendeth him word that the best proof of his doings is the accusations and complaints of them of the Religion against him, whereunto he should have care to answer.  
M. De Gordes, by your letters of the first of this month I perceived the order which you appoynted in your Government since the advertisement which you had of the execution of the admiral& his adherents: and since I am sure you forgot nothing which you thought might serve for your assurance of those places whereof you had occasion to doubt. And to the intent you should have this more means to make yourself known I have prepared that the souldiers of Corsica which I had appointed to go into province, should return to you,& thereupon have written to my Cousin the Count of Tend, who will not fail to sand rhem unto you, for as much as there is no need of them now in that country. he should also sand you word for the time of their departing, to the end that you might have leisure to provide to receive them,& appoint their places where they should be in garrison, I have seen that which you writ to me concerning the continual payment in dauphin, what is due for the last year, whereupon I will advice of the state of my fines the means that may be and according thereunto there shal be no fault, but they shall be provided for. For the reparation of the bridge of Grenoble, they of the same place mu●t device the means wherein they should best help themselves therein,& when they have advertised me I will ap●oi●● the● necessary provision. Touching the souldiers appointed of the Baron of Adre●se, because the occ●sion why I appointed them to be levied now ceaseth, I have written to him to sand them back and dismiss them again: wheerfore there is no need to make provision for their maintenance, nor likewise to tell you any thing else concerning the answers which you have made to the remembrances which they of the Religion haue presented against you. For your doings are well known and plain unto me,& thereupon J will take no better proof than their acc●sation. wherefore you shall put yourself to no more pain on that side. Moreover I have here with sent you a copy of the Declaration which I made of the Admirals death& his adherents& made to be understood that it should be observed and followed,& that all murders sackings, and violences should cease. nevertheless I have heard complaints of divers places that such extraordinary ways continue, which is a thing that doth much displease me. By the means whereof I advice you in doing this charge once again put unto you that you give order throughout your government to cause all hostility force and violence to cease, and that the said declaration be straightly observed and kept with punishing those that withstand, so rigorously, that the demonstration thereof may serve for an example seing my intent is that they should be punished as behoveth,& to mark them which wink or dissemble thereat. This present letter shal serve also for an advice of the receipt of those letters which you wrote the 5. of this present. whereby you sand me word, that you received no message by word of mouth from me, but onely letters of the 22. 24.& 28. of the noneth passed, whereof put yourself to no further pain, for that charge was only for such as then were near about me, which is all that I have at this time to say unto you Praying here upon the Creator to keep you in his holy and worthy tuition.  
Writ at Paris the 4. day of September. Signed Charles, and beneath FIZES. And above, To M. De Gordes Knight.   

The Kings Letter to the Duke of Guise, his Lieutenant general in champaign and in pry  
COusen, although in all my former Letters I have given you to understand well enough how much I desire that all my Subjects as well of the Nobility as others which profess the new Religion an● quietly use themselves in your government should by you be maintained& preserved in all surety under my protection and safeguard without giving them any hindrance by trouble in their persons goods, and families: yet nevertheless I have been advertised that in certain p ac●s o● my Realm th●re have been many sack●ngs and pillings done by such as dwell in the houses o● t●e said n●w religion, as well in the fields as in the Cities, under colour of the commotion which ●●p●●●●d in my City of Paris the 24. day of August last, a thing beyond all measure displeasant and disagreeable unto me and for the which I would have provision and remedy. wherefore I pray you, Cousen, that above all things as you desire that I should know the good affection you bear to the good weal of my service you take that matter next your heart to preserve and maintain within your govern●ment according to that which I have so plainly  told and written to you heretofore, that all such of the new Religion which behave themselvee quietly take no wrong or violence whether it be for the preservation of their goods or persons, no more than to my Ca●holick subjects. And where any wro●g or outrage shall be offered them against my will, as I have before declared so do I now by these presents d●clare, I will and intend that you shall make some evident and notorious punishment of such as are herein culpable, so that their correction may serve for an example of all other, that I may see myself thoroughly obeied herein as J would be, and my commandements received amongst all my Subjects in another sort than they have been heretofore. Assuring you Cousen, that the best news that I shall receive from you shall be to hear say that you chastise those well, of whom I am disobeyed. And thus Cousen, J pray God to keep you in his holy tuition.  
Written from Paris the 28. of September, 1572. Signed Charles, and underneath Brulart.   

Remembrances sent by the King to all Governours, and Lieutenants of his Provinces, to put out and remove all those of the Religion from their estates and charges although they would ab●ure the same, saving such as have but small estates and offices, to whom his Majesty permitteth continuance, on condition tha● they abjure the said Religion according to the form of Abjuration sent for that purpose.  
THe King considering how much his Officers and Magistrates of Iustice, and such as have the administration and dealing of his fines and payments, which be of the new Religion, are suspect and hated, and put his catholic Subjects in great mistrust if they should presently exercise their offices after these fre●h commotions for cause that the said offices be in their hands that now keep them: therefore least the people should thereby be brought to a new occasion of stir, and they of the new Religion be in danger or hazard of their own persons, although they would abjure their said new Religion, and profess the holy faith and catholic Religion of Rome: his Majesty desiring to avoid the new mischiefs and troubles which may come hath advised to discharge the said officers from the exercise of the said offices, until he shall otherwise appoint. And yet nevertheless, in the mean while, if the said officers be obedient unto his will, and live quietly in their houses, without attempting practising or mking any thing in hand against his service, they shall receive their wages, and they that will ●e●gne their said offices to catholic persons and come to his Majesty shal be very honourably provided for. And as touching other small offices without wages which cannot be troublesone as Notaries Sergeants, and such where the officers have none authority, which cannot be so odious, nor mistullfull to the people, as the other, his Majesty is advised, that such small Officers which will abjure the said new religion, and profess the faith catholic, apostolic and Romish& ●herin live continually hereafter, shall continue in the exercise and enjoying of their estates: but they that will continue in their new opinion, shall depart from their offices, until his Majesty hath otherwise provided. And this is for the mischief and inconvenience that may betid them, if they should exercise their said estates, because of the great mistrust and suspicion which the catholics have conceived of them of the new Religion. nevertheless his majesty well considering that the most part of the said officers have none other way to live, but the exercise of their said offices, willeth that they shall be in choice to resign to catholic and capable persons, and then to come to him for that effect, and he will grant them the greatest favour and moderation of his treasury that is possible. The which resolution and pleasure of his majesty he willeth to be declared to the said officers of the new pretended opinion, as well by governors and lieutenants general of his Provinces, as by them of his Courts of Parliament, of the chamber of his accounts, of the Court of his aids, them of his great Counsel of the Treasury of France, the generalls of his fines his baylifs, Seneshals, Provosts, Iudges or their lieutenants, and every one of them as shall appertain. And to this intent his majesty willeth and intendeth that every one of them in their calling shal sand particularly and apart for every of the said officers of the new Religion, which be of their incorporation, charge an jurisdiction and shall admonish them in this behalf t● conform themselves to his Majesties mind and if any of them in authority, because of their said estates will return to the bosom of the catholic and Romish Church, it shall bee said to them that his Majesty liketh very well of it& that he taketh a great and singular affection therein, and it shal give him the greater assurance and credit of their good will and that his majesty will not bar them from his service hereafter but will provide for them as their behaviour shall deserve. And notwithstanding, for the reasons abovesaid, he willeth that they shall cease from the exercise of their estates and offices until he otherwise appointeth And because that in many places of the Realm they have proceeded by way of ceasing the goods of them of the new Religion which be dead or absent and hid themselves: and sometimes of those which be in their own houses, although his majesty gave to understand by his Declaration of the xxviij. of August last, that he would and intended that they of the new Religion should enjoy their goods, nevertheless, to the intent there should be no doubt of his purpose, and that no mistrust might arise thereupon, he declareth, willeth, and intendeth again, that according to his declaration of the 28. of August, they of the new Religion which be living whether they be present or absent, and be not culpable or charged with the last conspiration, or to have attempted against his Majesty or his estate, since his Edict of Pacification, shalbe restored to their houses, and put in possession of all and singular their goods, movable or unmovable. And that the widows and heirs of them that be dead may and shall succeed them and apprehended al and singular their goods,& that they shall be maintained in them and kept under the protection and safeguard of hit Majesty so that no hurt shall be done or said unto them in any manner of wise or sort. Willing for this purpose that all necessary surety shall be given them, and that all Officers, Magistrates Majors& others whic● have public charge shal maintain them in all safety forbidding all persons of what estate quality or condition so ever they bee, not to hurt them in person or goods upon pain of death. And nevertheless his Majesty willeth, that they of the new opinion shall submit themselves and promise upon pain to be declared rebells and traitors to his Majesty, that they shall hereafter live under his obedience without attempting any thing to the contrary, or taking their parts that do attempt against his Majesty and estate, or things against his ordinances and to aclowledge none but his Majesty, or such as he shall appoint under him to have authority to command them And if they know any that shall enterprise against his Majesty and service, to reveal them incontinent to him and his officers, as good and faithful subjects. And to take away all doubt and suspicion as well from the Nobility as others, because that in the Declaration of the 24. of the last month, these words are contained ( Except they be those of the chief, which had commandement for those of the new opinion, or those which made practices and devices for them, or those which might have had intelligence of the said conspiracy.) His Majesty declareth that he meaneth not of things done and past during the troubles which were before the Edict of Pacification in August. 1570. and that there shall be no inquisition thereof, and none shall be troubled in goods or person therefore( but for that respect they shall enjoy the benefit of the Edict of Pacification) but that the said words extend onely to those which bee found to be guilty or accessary to the last conspiracy done against his Majesty and estate, and that other which are imprisoned, shall be set at liberty. And as touching them which will make profession of their faith, and return to the catholic Religion, his Majesty desireth that his Governours and officers shall excite and comfort them as much as they can, to that effect, and execution of that good will: and that their friends and Kinsfolks should also be exhorted to do the like for their part. And if any should hurt them in goods or body, his Majesty willeth ready and speedy execution to be done on them. And to the intent that they may follow the form which hath been kept, in professing the faith which they do make that return to the apostolic and Romish Church, there is sent herewith a memory thereof.  
From Paris the 22. day of September. 1572. feigned, Charles, and beneath Pinart.   

The form of Abjuration of heresy, and confession of Faith, which they which have swerved from the faith, and pretend to be received into the Church, ought to make.  
This is the Abjuration which they caused all of the Religion to make in France, to save their lives. Printed at Paris by Nicholas Roffet, dwelling in the new street of our Lady, as the sign of the Mower: with the Kings privilege.  
FIrst, they which have swerved from the Faith, and desire to return into the compass of our holy Mother Church, ought to present themselves to their Curates or Vicars to bee instructed of that which they ought to do: that done, they shall be sent unto the reverend Bishop of the Dioces, or his chancellor or official, to make the said Abjuration and confession in manner and form following.  
I, N. born at. &c. in the Dioces of. &c. and dwelling. &c. acknowledging by the grace of God the true faith catholic and apostolic, from the which I have through my fault gone astray and separated myself since, &c. and desirous to return to the flock of Christs true sheepfold, which is the catholic, apostolic, and Romish Church, confess to have Abjured and cursed all the errors and heresy of the Luthetians, Calvinistes, and Hugonotes, and all other heresy whatsoever wherewith I have heretotore been defamed or touched: and I agree to the faith of our holy Mother the Church, and I desire you in the name of God, of his son Iesus Christ, and of the glorious Virgin his mother Mary, and of all the Saints of paradise, that it would please you to receive me into the flock and sheepfold of Gods people, which live under the obedience of the Pope ordained our Saviour Jesus Christs Vicar in the said Church, submitting myself patiently to abide and willingly to do pennance which it shall please you to enjoin me for the absolution of my faults committed, whilst I was in the foresaid Sects, whereof I ask and require pardon of God, and of his said Church, and of you( that bee appoynted my Pastor by GOD the Creator) absolution with such pennauce as you shall judge to bee wholesome for the satisfaction of my sins and offences. And to the intent you should know that I have and do make this abjuration from my heart, I confess moreover before God and you, that I believe that which is contained in the Simbole or creed of the Apostles, and Athanasius, and other confessions of Faith made and approved by the whole Councells of the catholic, apostolic, and Romish Church: that is: I believe in one onely God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible, and in one Lord our Lord Iesus Christ, the onely son engendered by God the Father before the constitution of the world, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, engendered not Created, consubstantial with the Father by whom all things were made, who for us men, and for our salvation, descended from heaven, &c. As in the belief of Morning prayer. I believe likewise, aclowledge and confess all that which is contained in the books as well of the old as of the new Testament, approved by the said holy and apostolic Church of Rome, according to the sense and interpretation of the holy Doctors received by the same, rejecting all other interpretation as false and erroneous. I aclowledge the seven Sacraments of the said catholic, apostolic and Romish Church, that they were instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that they bee necessary for the Salvation of mankind, that all of them are not of necessity to bee conferred to all, that is to say. I confess that the said seven Sacraments are these, baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist which is the Sacrament of the altar, Pennance, extreme unction, Order, and Marriage, and that the said Sacraments confer grace, and that of them, baptism, Confirmation and Order, ca●● or bee rei●era●●d without sacrilege. That the said Sacraments have the effect which the said Church teacheth, and that the form and usage wherewith they be ministered to Christians, is holy and necessary. I aclowledge also that the holy mass is a sacrifice and oblation of the very body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ under the form of bread and wine mingled with water, which substances of bread and wine under the said former( are in the mass by the words which serve for consecration, said and pronounced by the Priest) transubstantiated and transformed into the substance of the said body and blood of Iesus Christ. Notwithstanding, that the qualities and accidents remain in the said forms after the said Consecration, and that the mass is wholesome and profitable as well for the quick as the dead. I aclowledge and confess the comcomittance, that is to say, that in receiving the body of Jesus Christ under the form of bread alone, I likewise recei●e the blood of Jesus Christ. I confess that Prayer and intercession of Saints for the quick and the dead is holy, good and healthful for Christians, and is not contrary( for any respect) to the glory of God. That prayers made in the Church for the faithful which are dead, do profit them for the remission of their sins, and lossening of their pains incurred for the same. That there is a Purgatory where the souls abiding are succoured by the prayers of the faithful. I confess that we must honour and call upon the Saints which reign with Jesus Christ and that they make intercession for us to God, and that their relics are to bee worshipped. That the commandements and traditions of the catholic, apostolic, and Romish Church as well they which pertain to the form and Ceremonies of divine Service, and to assist the famed, which I think be to draw Christian people to pitty and turning to their God, as fasting, abstaining from meats observation of holy dayes, and ecclesiastical policy, according to the tradition of the Apostles and holy Fathers continued since the primitive Church till this time and afterwards brought into the Church by the ordinances of Counsel, received in the same of long and ancient time or of late, bee good and holy, to the which I will and ought to obey as prescribed and appointed by the Holy Ghost, the Author and director of that which serveth for the keeping of Christian Religion, and of the catholic apostolic, and roman Church. I believe also and accept all the Articles of original sin, and of Justification. I affirm assuredly that wee ought to have and keep the Images of Jesus Christ, of his holy Mother and all other Saints, and do honour and reverend unto them. I confess the power of indulgence and pardons to bee left in the Church by Jesus Christ, and the use of them to be very healthful, as also I aclowledge and confess the Church of Rome to bee the Mother and chief of all Churches, and conducted by the Holy-Ghost: and that other pretended particular inspirations against the same, come of the suggestions of the devil, the Prince of dissension, which would separate the union of the mystical body of the Saviour of the World. Finally, I promise straightly to keep all that was ordained at the last general counsel of Trent, and promise to God and you, never more to depart from the catholic, apostolic, and roman Church: and if I do( which God forbid) I submit myself to the penalties of the Canons of the said Church, made, ordained, and appointed against them which fall back inro apostasy. To which Abjuration and Confession I have subscribed.   

The Kings Letter to M. de guise and other Lieutenants and Governours of his Provinces, by the which he wholly abolisheth and subverteth all the Edicts of Pacification, and willeth that onely the Romish Religion should take place in his realm.  
THe King knowing rhat the Declaration which he made upon the occasions which lately chanced in the City of Paris▪ the remembrances and instructions of his will which he sent ro●n● about to all Governours of his Provinces, and Lieutenants general therein, and particular Letters to the Seneshals, and his Courts of Parliament, and other Officers and Ministers of Justice c●n not ●ihterto stay the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the ●●●●ies of this Realm to his Majesties great displeasure: hath advised for a more singular remedy to sand all the said Governours into every of their charges and governments, assuring himself, that according to the quality and power which they have of his Majesty they can well follow and observe his intent, the which more fully to declare, his Maje●ty hath caused his Letter Patents to be dispatched, which shall be delivered them. Besides the contents whereof M. de Guise the governor and Lieutenant general for his Majesty in champaign and B●ye, shall call before him the gentlemen of the new Religion abiding within his government and shall tel them that the Kings will and intent is to preserve them their wives children and families, and to maintain them in possession of thei● goods so that on their part they live quietly, and ●ender to his Majesty obedience and fidelity as they ought in which doing the King also will defend them, that they shall not be molested or troubled by way of Justice or otherwise in their persons and goods by reason of things done during the troubles and before the E●ict of Pacification of August, 1570. And afterwards he shall lovingly admonish them to continue no longer in the error of the new opinions, and to return to the catholic Religion reconciling themselves to the catholic Romish Church, under the Doctrine and obedience whereof, Kings his predecessors and their Subjects have always holily lived, and this realm hath been carefully conducted and maintained: showing to them the mischiefs and calamities which have happened in this realm, since these new opinions have entred into mens spirits: How many murders have been caused by such which have fallen from the right way holden by their Ancestors. First they made them separate themselves from the Church, then from the next of Kindred, and also to be estranged from the service of their King as a man may see since his reign. And although the Authors and heads of that side, would have covered their doings under the t●tle of Religion and conscience: yet their deeds and works have shown well enough that the name of Religion was but a visard to cover their drifts and disobedience, and under that pretence to assemble and subborne people and to make them to swear in the cause under the title of disobedience, and by such ways to turn ●hem from the natural affection which they owe to the King, and consequently from his obedience, being notorious that what commandment soever the King could make to them of the new Religion, they have not since his reign obeied him otherwise then pleased their heads. And contrariwise, when their said heads commanded them to arise and take to their weapons to set upon Cities, to burn Churches, to sack and pill to trouble the realm and fill it with blood and fire, they which went so astray to follow them, forgot all trust and duty of good subjects, to execute and obey their commandements. Which things if the Gentlemen will consider they shal easily judge how unhappy and miserable their condition shal be if they continue therein. For they may well think of themselves that the King being taught by experience of so great a danger, from the which it hath pleased God to preserve him and his estate, and having proved the mischiefs and calamities which this realm hath fuffered by the enterprises of the heads of this cause their adherents and complices that he willingly bee served with any Gentleman of his Subjects that bee of any other Religion than the catholic, in the which also the King following his Predecessors, will live and die. He willeth also to take away all mistrust amongst his Subjects and to quench the rising of discords and seditions, that all they of whom he is served in honourable places, and specially the gentlemen which desire to be accounted his good and lawful Subjects& would obtain his favour& be employed in charges of his service, according to their degrees and qualities, do make profession hereafter to live in the same Religion that he doth: having tried that discords and civill wars will not cease in a state where there be many Religions, and that it i● is not possible for a King to maintain in his Real● diversities in Religion, but that he shall lose the good will and benevolence of his subjects, yet ●nd they which are of a contrary Religion to his, desire nothing in their heart more then the change of the K. and of his estate. for the reason abovesaid, the D. of Guise, to bring the matter to this pass, shall take pains to persuade the Nobility and others infected with the said new opinion, to return of themselves, and of their own free will to the catholic Religion, and to abjure and renounce the new without any more express commandement from the King. For howsoever it bee, his Majesty is resolved to make his subjects live in his religion, and never to suffer whatsoever may betid, that there shall bee any other form or exercise of Religion in his Realm then the catholic. The said D. of Guise shall communicate with the principal officers and Magistrates, having the principal charge and administration of Iustice in Cities of his government, his Majesties declaration to the intent they should know his mind, and the good end whereunto he tendeth for the uniting and quietness of his subjects, to the intent the said M. de Guise& the said Officers& Magistrates, should with one concord, intelligence& correspond●nce proceed to the effect above said, so that fruit& quietness may thereof ensue, such as his Majesty desireth not onely for himself, but for the whole realm. The bailiffs and stewards which are not in Religion accordingly qualified, shall within one month resign their office to Gentlemen capable, and of the quality required by the Edict, which may keep and exercise the same. And to the intent this should be done, his Majesty doth now presently declare them deprived after the said month, if they do not then resign, that they shall have no occasion or colour of excuse to delay their resignations, and yet permitteth them in the mean while to resign without any fine paying. All bailiffs and Stewards shal be resident at their offices upon pain of loss of the same, and if they cannot so be then they shalbe bound to resign. All Archbishop and Bishops shall likewise be resident in their Dioces, and such as for age and other disposition of persons cannot preach the word of God, nor edify the people, and do no other functions appertaining to their charge and dignity, shall be bound to take a conductor to comfort them,& to employ themselves to the duty of their charge. To the which conductor they shall appoint an honest and reasonable pension according to the fruits and revenue of their living. Also persons and Vicars shal be resident at their benefice, or else shall be admonished to resign them to such as will be resident, and do their duty. Archbishops and Bishops shall take information of them which hold abbeys, prioryes, and other benefice in their Dioces, of what quality soever they are,& how they do their duty in the administration of them, whereupon they shall make process by word unto the Governors, which shall sand them to the King to provide therein as reason shall move him. They shall compel the Curates actually to abide at the places of their benefice or else shall appoint other in their steads according to the disposition of the Canons.  
At Paris the 3. day of November, 1572. Signed, Charles.   

Letters of Monsieur De Gordes the Kings Lieutenant in dauphin to certain of the Religion in his government, whereby he exhorteth them to come back again to the Religion of Rome, and how the King is determined to suffer none other.  
SIr I am sufficiently advertised of your behaviour, but you should remember what advertisements I have before sent you to turn to the catholic religion of yourself, which is the best hold and stay that you can choose for your preservation& health, putting from you al those which persuade you to the contrary, who would abide to see any commotion or disorder rather then abate any point of their opinion. And by this means you shall make evident to the K. the will which you say you have to obey his Majesty, counseling you for as much as I desire your well doing, that is the best for you to do, without looking for any more open commandement otherwise assure yourself, there can but evil come of it,& that his Majesty would bee obeied. And thus I pray God to advice you and give you his holy grace.  
From Grenoble the 6. of Decemb. 1572. your entire good friend, Gords.   

The Answer of the Gentlemen, Captaines, Burgesses, and other being in the town of Rochell, to the commandements that have been given them in the name of the King, to receive Garrisons.  
WE the Gent. Capt. Burgesses and other now being in the Town of Rochel, do give answer to you Monsieur N. and to such commandements as you give us in the name of his Majesty, that we cannot acknowledge that that which is signified unto us,& the proclamation which you require that we should cause to be published, do proceed from his Majesty. And thereof we call to witness his Majesty himself, his letters of the 22.& 24. of August his own signet, and the publishing of the same letters, by the which his said Majesty layeth all the fault of all the trouble lately happened, and of the cruel slaughter done at Paris, upon those of the house of Guise, protecting that he has enough to do to keep himself safe within his Castle of Louure with those of his guard. And wee shall never suffer ourselves to be persuaded that so soul an enterprise and so barbarons a slaughter hath at any time entred into the mind of his Majesty, much less that the same hath been done by his express commandement, as the paper importeth which you have exhibited unto us, nor that his Majesty hath been soill advised, as himself to cut off his own arms, or to defile the sacred wedding of madam his own sister with the shedding of so much noble& innocent blood& with the shane of so cruel a fact to destein the nation of France& the blood royal which hath heretofore ever among all nations born the name of frank and courteous; nor that he hath had mind to deliver matter to any writers to set forth a tragical history such as antiquity hath never heard speak of the like& such as po●teritie cannot report without horror. But that it was first laid at Rome, and afterward hatched at Paris, by the authors of all troubles of Fraunct. And howsoever it be, we are ready to maint ine that out of the mouth of his Majesty doth not proceed hot and could, white and black, and that he doth not now say one thing and by and by another, as he should if the paper that you present unto us had passed from him, protesting that he will inviolably keep his edict, and immediately breaking the same in declaring that he commanded those murders to be committed, having also m●de protestation before that it is to his great grief, and done by the outrage and violence of these of Guise against whom he was not able to make speedy resistance in time as his Majesty desired. And in this quarrel we the Gent. Captains, and other that maketh you this answer are ready to try it by combat man to man, or otherwise, to maintain the honour of our King against all those that so profane holy things, and as much as in them lieth do by such words& titles vilainously defile the excel encie of his Majesty and of the noble Princes of his blood. Which we may right well conjecture and estimate, by the slaughters that are yet in doing as well in the Town of Paris as else where, upon so many noblemen, gentlemen and other, men, women and children, and upon a great number of young scholars( the maintenance under God, of Realms& commonweals in time to come) and to many other barbarous, unnatural and unmanly acts generally committed. We think therefore and judge that herein treason is enterprised against the person of his Majesty and of my Lords his brethren, and that the Guisians mean to invade the Crown of the Realm as they have of long time practised,& how so ever it be, we say that his Majesty is forced by the power that they have taken upon them and usurped by mean of the rebellious stir of the commons of Paris. As for rhat which they say that the admiral and those of the Religion had conspired against the K. Majesty and his brethren, these be allegations of as great truth and of as good likelihood, as their manner of proceeding in justice hath been orderly, beginning at execution before examination of the fact. But it is now no need to tarry for time to discover it for the matter is plain to be seen with eye and groped with hand and all those of the Romish Religion that have remaining any drop of nature of man, do confess it and hold down their heads for shane cursing both with heart and mouth the cruel executors of this abominable enterprise and the wicked disturbers of common quiet, which can yet no more suffer, than they hitherto have done that this poor Realm should long enjoy the benefit of that peace, which the King alone next under God, had wisely caused to be made and to bee accordingly observed, whereof this realm began to feel the good taste, to the great contentment of all persons, except the enemies of peace and of this realm, namely the Guisians. Finally, when his Majesty being out of their hands and power shall declare what is his pleasure, we will endeavour to obey him in all things, wherein our consciences, which are dedicate to God alone, shall not be wounded, in which case we will rather forsake the earth than Heaven, and our frail and transitory houses rather than the heavenly Mansions. But hitherto the law of Nature, and the duty that we owe to our natural Prince, to the preservation of his Crown, and to the safety of our lives, our w●o●● and children doth command us to stand upon our Guard and not to put it in the mercy of those that have received the same bloody Commission from the Guisians under the pretended ●ame of the King, to use us in the same manner as they have wickedly, traitorously& unnaturally done to those about his Majesty, and as it were under his wings, and under the skirts of his rob, which the traitors stranger have stained with the true French blood, without that his Majesty had been able to remedy it, nor to stay their cursed attempts: so much less is he able now so far●e off to defend us as he would, which his Majesties good will being known unto us, doth arm us for our defence, and for the safeguard of our lives, and of the privileges which he hath given us, until such time as he shall be able by himself to defend us against his enemies and ours.   
FINIS.