The Furious Outrages of France and the Horrible Slaughter, Letter 4
A LETTER OF THE TREAsorer of the leagues of the Switzers, written by the kings commaundement vntounto the sayd Leagues, of the same argument that the former letters were.
NOble Seigniours, Monsieur de la Fontaine, Ambassador for the King your assured and perfect friend & confederate, and I his Treasorer in this countrey, hauing commaundement of his maiestie to communicate with you, as with them whome he accompteth his chiefe and sure friends, of a chaunce which lately happened in the Citie of Paris, his owne person and court then being there, wherof he receiued so much more griefé and displeasure, bicause it befell on such a time as he least feared, or loked for such a thing. The matter is this. On the .xxvij. day of August last, the Admirall as he went from Louu…e, was with an harquebuze shot hurte in the hande and arme, whereof when his maiestie was aduertised, he commaunded incontinent that search and punishment were had of the offendour, and the authors of such a mischiefe; whervnto when he had readilie layde his hande by his officers, and committed the inhabitantes of the house, where the harquebuze was shot, to prison, they which were the cause firste of the mischiefe (as it maye easily be presupposed) bicause they woulde preuente the inquisition therof, heaping one transgression vponupon another, on the .xxiij. and .xxiiij. of the said monethmonth assembled a great troupe of people in the night, and moued the people of Paris to a very… great sedition, who in a rage set vponupon the Admi…rals lodging, and enforcing the Garde which his Maiestie had set for the Admirals suretie and keping, slewe him with certaine other gentlemen in his companie, as the like also was committed vponupon others in the Citie, the matter growing in the verie same instant to suche an outrage and commotiō, that whereas his Maiestie had thought to prouide remedie for appeasing therof, he had much a doe with all his Gardes to kepe his house at Louure, where he lodged with the two Queens, his mother and the Spouse, the Lords his brethrē, the King of Nauarre and other Princes. Thinke therefore ye noble Seigniours, in what a perplexitie this yong and couragious King now standeth, who, as a man may saye, hath helde in his hande thornes in steade of a Scepter euer since his comming to the Crowne, for the great troubles which hauehave almost euer since beene in his Realme, and therefore by the good and wise counsell and assistance of the Queene his mother and the Lords his brethren, thought to enioy and establishe a more sure repose in his Realme, and a more happie gouernement for himselfe and his subiectes, after he had taken away (as he thought) all occasions of dissentions amongst his subiectes by the meanes of his Edicts of Pacifications, and of the mariage of the King of Nauarre to the Ladie his sister, and the Prince of Code to Madome de Neuers Besides all this, to the intent nothing should be lefte vndone that mighte serue for the quieting of all things, and especially for the Admirals safegard, his Maiestie as eueryevery man knoweth, hath done his endeuour to the vttermost, to appease and reconcile his principall and most daungerous enimyes vntounto him. And so God the true iudge of the Kings Maiesties good and pureintent, brought to passe, that the peoples rage being quieted within a few houres, eueryevery one went home to his house and the king had speciall regard to nothing more than to see nothing attempted or innouated contrarie to his Edicts of Pacification, and the repose of his subiectes as well of the one Religion, as of the other. And for that purpose hath sent to diuerse of his Gouernours and Officers in his prouinces, to loke diligently to the obseruing of his Edictes, with expresse commaundement to holde their handes there, that euerie one might pe…ceiue that the chaunce at Paris happened for some priuate quarell, and not for any purpose to alter his Edicts, which his Maiestie will in no wife suffer. VVhichWhich is the principall thing, noble Seigniours, that his Maiestie hath commaunded vsus on his parte to assure you, and to let you vnderstand the daungers that depende ouer him and his neighbours, not so much for this sedition, for he trusteth in God that shall growe no further, and his Maiestie wil kepe his Realme in as good repose as it hath bene since his last Edict of Pacification, but for the great mustering and assembling men of warre in many places, specially in the low coū treyes, where it is yet vncertaine on which side God will giuegive the victorie, nor whether the conqueror will employ his force, after his conquest. VVherefore his Maiestie prayeth you, continuing the good louelove and intelligence which hath always bene bewixt the Crowne of Fraunce and his allied and confederate friendes the Seigniours of the Le…gues, to hauehave good regarde to him, and his Realme, in case that neede shall require, as he will hauehave to you and your prosperous estate, if it be requisite, employing in the meane whyle your great and singular wisedome to the preseruation of the vnion of the Nation in League, which is the onelyonly cause to make you, not onelyonly able to send succour to your friends, but also maintaine your selues in estimation, that you may be a terrour to your neighbours, how great so euer they be, his maiestie promising you in all occurrentes as much friendship, fauour and assistance, as you can desire, and to be as entier and perfect a friend, as euer your nation had any.