The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 1 · History of century 16 · Biography 3
Ferdinandus.
AFter that Charles the fift had surrendered the Imperiall crowne into the hands of the Electors of Germany, they assembled at Frankford, and there elected Ferdinand King of Bohemia, and brother to the forenamed Charles the fift to bee Emperour, who raigned seven yeeres. The ancient manner was that he should be crowned in the forenoone at masse: but because diverse of the Electors would not in any wise come to masse, the coronation was solemnized in the afternoone, and the masse with other like ceremonies omitted.
To this King before hee was elected Emperour, his Nobles in the countrey of Bohemia made earnest supplication that they might bee permitted to vse the Sacrament in both kindes, according to Christs institution: but he strictly commanded them they attempted no alteration in religion.The Bohemians obtaine of Ferdinand the vse of the Sacrament in both kinds. Persecution of the Protestants in France. Neverthelesse, the Nobility continuing constant in the purpose of their mindes, at last after many earnest suits obtained their desire.
In France about this time the persecution of the Protestants waxed hot, and King Henry the second was sore grieved, that the Parliament of Paris it selfe, could not be kept free of this new doctrine as hee called it. Wherefore hee caused Annas Burgeus, an honourable and wise Counsellor to be taken, to whom hee spoke in great wrath, that hee would stand by and see his body burnt for that new religion which hee favoured. But hee was wonderfully cut off before hee could get his heart satisfied with that pitifull spectacle of the burning of a noble Counsellor. For God so disposed the matter, that the King cloathed all in armour put a speare in one of his subiects hands, and compelled him against his will to runne at him, at which time the said speare broke, and a small splinter of it entring at the Kings eye,The death of Henry the 2. K. of France. Francis the 2. having maried the Q of Scots seeketh to reduce the Scottish Nobility to the popish religion: but his army was vanquished. pierced into his braine, whereby hee died. Yet by his death was not the foresaid persecution relented, but rather vehemently augmented for Francis the second, succeeding to his father Henry in the the kingdome, married Mary Queene of Scots, who was descended of the linage and stocke of the house of Guise. By this meanes the Guisians were in great credit and authority with the King, and presumed to high things, not onelyonly to suppresse the Gospell vtterly in France, but also in Scotland. For at this time a great part of the Nobility and people of Scotland had shaken off the yoke of the Romane Bishop, they had throwne downe Altars and Images, and had forsaken all the superstitious ceremonies of the Romane Church.
The Guisians purposing to supresse the Scotish Nobility, sent out of France into Scotland an army of 4000 men, vnderunder the conduct of Monsieur La Broch. This army assisted the Queene regent to reduce backe againe the kingdome of Scotland to the Romish religion: But the Scottish Nobility obtayned helpe of the Queene of England, and brought the Frenchmen to such extremity, that they were compelled to accept conditions of peace, and to retyre backe againe to France. So this first high attempt of the Guisians against the reformed religion in Scotland, was by the providence of God disappointed.
In France the King with advice of the Guisians had appointed a nationall Councell to bee kept in Orleance,A Councell kept at Orleance. for the quieting the tumults which were like to ensue for religion in France: but all was done in hypocrisie and with deceitfull mindes as evidently appeared: so soone as the King of Navarre and Prince of Condie came to Orleance, and had saluted the King,The Prince of Condie taken by the Kings guard is in danger. the Captaine of the Kings guard layd hands on the Prince of Condie, and the King was informed that the Prince of Condie had conspired against his honour and life. Thus by the craft and deceitfull practises of the Guisians, was the Prince of Condie brought into great danger and hazard of his life, and had assuredly died if the mercy of God had not provided timely reliefe: But the Lord pitying the estate of his owne poore Church in France,The death of Francis. shortned the life of Francis the second, who dyed of a putrefaction of his eares. And thus was the second high attempt of the Guisians against the Gospell marvailously disappoynted by the sudden and vnexpected death of Francis the second. After whose death the innocency of the Prince of Condie, was declared by a decree of the Parliament at Paris: and the government of the young King, Charles the ninth, was devolued in the hands of the Queen mother, and the King of Navarre. Those Gouernours with advice of the States of the Realme,A disputation at Poyssie. thought meet that a free disputation should be appointed at Poyssie a towne in France, neere to Saint Germane, wherein the controversies of religion should bee freely reasoned, in presence of the young King, the Queene mother, the King of Navarre, and other Princes of the royall blood.
This disputation began the ninth of September, anno 1561. For the Protestants part were appointed Theodorus Beza Minister at Geneva, Peter Martyr professor of Divinity in Zuricke, Nicholas Gelasius, Augustinus Marloratus, Iohannes Merlinus, Franciscus Morellus, Iohannes Malo, and Espineus, a man of great learning, who had lately forsaken the Romane Church, and embraced the true reformed religion. On the other part the Cardinall of Loraine, with many other Cardinalls, Archbishops, and Bishops, to the number of fifty Prelates, besides many other Divines and Doctors were ready to pleade the cause of the Romish Church. In this disputation, after that Theodorus Beza had at length declared the summe of the Protestants faith, and the Cardinall of Loraine had answered: In the end the Romane Prelats devised a pretty shift to cut off all further reasoning:The Papists policy to cut off further reasoning. for the Cardinall of Loraine produced the opinion of the Germans about the matter of the Sacrament, extracted out of the cōfession of Ausbrugh, & Jemanded of the Protestants whether they would subscribe to it or no, to the end that if they consented to subscribe, they might seem to hauehave convicted themselues of errour in the matter of the Sacrament; and if they refused to subscribe, then it might bee knowne to the Princes that were present, that the Protestants agreed not amongst themselues.
To this it was answered by Theodorus Beza in the next meeting, that if the confession of Ausbrough should be subscribed, then it was good reason to require a subscription of the whole confession, and not of one line thereof onelyonly: also if they vrged the Protestants to subscribe that confession of Ausbrough, then let themselues first begin to subscribe the same: and when they hauehave yeelded to the whole confession of Ausbrugh, it will be more easie to finde out any way of agreement in matters of religion. After this the forme of disputation was changed, and a few in number, to wit, fiue onelyonly on either side, were chosen to conferre in quiet and peaceable manner, who beginning at the matter of the Sacrament, seemed all to agree in this forme: that Iesus Christ by the operation of the holy Spirit, offereth and exhibiteth vntounto vsus the very substance of his body & blood, and wee doe receiue and eate spiritually and by faith that same body which dyed for vsus, to the end we may be flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, and that we may be quickned by him, and receiue all things that are needfull to our salvation. And because faith leaning to the word of God maketh those things that are received to be present, by this faith indeed we receiue truely and effectually the very naturall body and blood of Iesus Christ, through the power of the holy Spirit. In this respect wee acknowledge the presence of the body and blood in the Supper. The article of the Sacrament being conceiued in this forme, was presented to both the parties, and many of the Romane Prelates condiscended to the article aboue specified: but when they had conferred with the Doctors of Sorbon, they all with one consent refused the same: and finding that the communers that were chosen for their part did persevere in their opinion, they cryed out against them, and would giuegive no further power to them to reason in that cause. Thus the disputation of Poyssie broke vp the 25. of November, without any agreement of the controversies in religion, but rather leaving in the harts of men a seed of greater contention and cruell wars, which afterward ensued. But before we speak of the warres in France for religion: somewhat is to bee spoken of the cruell persecution that the faithfull suffered in Piemont, in which countrey certaine townes had received the Gospell, and abolished the masse: namely, the townes of Angrona, Lucerne, Perose, Tallaret, with divers others in the convalles of Piemont: all which townes are subiect to the dominion of the Duke of Savoy, who hearing of the reformation that was made in the foresayd bounds of his dominion, sent out his Captaine Triniteus with an army of 500.The Duke of Savoy warreth against the Protestants within his dominions. men, against them, to sack and vtterly destroy them, except they would receiue the masse againe, and put away from them their ministers. The towne of Angrona was first assaulted, and the people fled to the mountaines, but being strictly pursued they turned themselues, and with slings & stones defended their liues and put their enemies to the worse, in so much that Triniteus the Dukes Captaine was to deale with them by subtilty and craft,Triniteus by policy spoileth those of Angrona both their money and armour. rather then by open force, and therefore promised vntounto the Convallenses that if they layd downe their armour, and sent messengers to the Duke to cuane his pardon, and would pay to him the summe of sixteene thousand crownes, then vponupon those conditions they should hauehave peace.
The poore people glad to accept conditions of peace, performed all that was required, but no peace could be obtained of the Duke, except they would put away their Ministers, and receiue the masse againe. Therefore being spoiled both of money and armour, by the craft of their enemies, and a new army also sent against them, they were compelled in time of winter to flie with their wiues and children to the mountaines all over-layd and covered with snow▪ and from thence to behold the pitifull spectacles of the burning of their houses, and spoyling of their goods. But necessity compelling them to make some shift for their liues, they tooke the strict passage of the mountains and resisted their enemies, committing the successe to God, who so prospered this poore vnarmed people,God prospereth the successe of the Protestants. that in few skirmishes there were killed a thousand of their enemies, and scarce fortie persons of their owne. Triniteus the Captain by the counsell of Truchetus, an expert Warriour, thought meet to besiege the Castles of Convallenses, but God fought against them in all their enterprises, and the Convallenses came vponupon them suddenly as they were besieging a certaine Castle,The death of Truchetus. and slew a great number: and Truchetus himselfe was first sore wounded with stones, & afterward was slaine with his owne sword by a poore Shepheard, that was keeping cattell in the fields. In the end when Triniteus was out of all hope to subdue the Angronians and their complices, he advertised the Duke of Sauoy how all matters went,Peace concluded with the Convallenses. and peace was granted to the Convallenses, with libertie to vse their owne Religion; providing they should render all due seruice and obedience to the Duke of Savoy their Soveraigne Lord and Master.
To returne againe to France. After the disputation at Rossie the number of the Protestants daily increased, and rumours of sedition & vprores were in the mouths of all the people. The Queene mother willing to prouide timely remedie for repressing of ciuill and intestine warre, assembled the estates of the land at S. Germane,The edict of Ianuarie in behalfe of the Protestants. where the edict of Ianuarie was made, bearing that the professours of the reformed Religion might assemble themselues together, to heare Preaching of the Word, provided those assemblies were kept without the towns & without armour. This edict was published throughout all the land, and sore grieued the hearts of the adversaries, namely, the Duke of Guise, the Constable Mommeraunce, and the Marescall Santandreus, who consulted together how they might hauehave this act vndone againe, but no way could be found out to bring this matter to passe, except first the King and Queene mother were in their hands, to the end that the force of the Lawes which they feared might be turned against their enemies, when as they had the Lawmakers in their owne hands. This was also thought to be an high attempt, and dangerous to be enterprised, so long as the King of Navarre was their enemie, and a fauourer of the reformed Religion; for this cause all meanes were sought out to divert the affection of the King of Navarre from his foresaid Religion. The Cardinall Ferrar being the Popes Ambassadour in France, put him in hope that by the Popes trauailes with Philip King of Spaine, the kingdome of Navarre should be restored to him againe, if he would turne to the Catholique Religion.The King of Navarre turneth Papist. Thus was the heart of the King of Navarre stolen away from his Religion, to the great encouragement of the Duke of Guise and his complices, who without further delay put hand to worke.
The first fruits of his martiall deeds after he raised his armie, was the cruell Massacre of poore vnarmed people, assembled to heare the Word of God at Vassiace, a towne in the borders of Champaigne, and neere vntounto his dominion. Those poore people to the number of a thousand and fiue hundreth,The Duke of Guise killeth 1500 people at a Sermon. being occupied as is said vponupon the Sabbath day, the Duke of Guise came vponupon them suddenly, and compassed the Church wherein they were with armed souldiers, that none might escape; also the Duke himselfe stood in the entry with a drawne sword in his hand, and sent in his souldiers, who most cruelly without compassion of sex or age, martyred the poore members of Christ, for hearing of his Word. After this, the Duke of Guise addressed himselfe toward Paris, where he was receiued with ioyfull acclamations of the people: and from thence he marched forward to Fonteblew,The Duke of Guise taketh the King, and the Queene mother, prisoners, for whose deliuerie the Protestants binde themselues together. The first ciuill warre. where the King was, and seased himselfe of the King and the Queene mother, and for greater securitie transported them both to Paris. On the other part, the Prince of Condie went to Orleance, to whom resorted a great number of the Nobles of France, namely, the admirall Castilion, Andelot, Princeps Porcianus, Rupsfocald, with many others, who all bound themselues together, to set the King and the Queene mother at libertie from captivitie, wherein they were deteined by the Guisians; as also to defend the true professours of the Gospell of Christ, that according to the act of Ianuarie they might without molestation assemble themselues to heare the Word of God.
The Prince of Condie was chosen to be their Chieftaine,The Prince of Condie chosen Generall for the Protestants. to whom the Queene mother sent many secret Letters, declaring that she was deteined by the Guisians against her heart. And if the Prince of Condie could set the young King and her selfe at libertie, shee would neuer be vnmindfull of so great a benefit. Thus in the beginning of the Warres the Queene mother fauoured the Prince of Condie, and stirred him vp with many Letters and secret advertisements, to procure her and her sonnes libertie: for greater euidence whereof, the Letters themselues are inserted in the French Historie.
Many great townes in France were taken and fortified by the Protestants,Many townes taken and fortified by the Protestants, whereof Burges & Roane were recouered by the Papists. The death of the Prince of Navarre. The death of Augustinus Marlorart. as namely, Orleance, Lion, Valence, Granoble, Roane, Bourgos, Towers, Poictiers, Montpellier, and Nimes. Many of those townes were recouered againe by the Guisians, namely, Bourges, and Roane. At the siege of Roane, the Prince of Navarre was slaine, and receiued a iust reward of his inconstancie and leuitie. And Augustinus Marlorart, a faithfull seruant of Christ, and Preacher of the Gospell, was taken by the Guisians, and afterward hanged. Many great cruelties were designed against those of the Religion in this first Warre, namely in Tullus, Aurange, Burges, Roan, Sens, and diverse other places. In Montargis, belonging to the Ladie Rence, daughter to Lewis the twelfth, Dutches Dowager of Ferrar, fell out a very remarkeable matter.
This Ladie was a retrait to diuers families of the Religion,Note. notwithstanding the threatnings of the Duke of Guise, sonne in law to the said Ladie, who sent thither one Malig corne, a new Knight of the order, to sease vponupon the Towne and Castle: who begun to threaten the Ladie with Canon shot, to batter her Castle, wherin were diuers of the Religion. But the Princesse answered him, that there was not any man in the realme, except the King alone, that had power to command her. And if he would proceed to such boldnesse as to batter her Castle with Canon shot, shee would first stand in the breach her selfe, to try if he durst be so bold as to kill the daughter of a King. Those words caused Malicorne, like a Snaile to pull in his hornes, and presently to depart.
Afeer this, the Prince of Condie perceiuing that great preparation was made against him, and the Queene mothers affection was turned away to the Guisians, thought meete to send for ayde to the Queene of England; and the Prince of Condie willing to ioyne himselfe with the English armie, marched forward to Normandie, but the Duke of Guise followed after him with so great celeritie,The battell of Dreux, wherein the Prince of Condie was taken by the Papists, and the Constable by the Protestants. that the Prince of Condie was compelled to ioyne Battell with the Guisians at Dreux in Normandie, before he was supported of the English armie.
This battell was fought with vncertaine victory, for on the one part the Prince of Condie was taken by the Guisians, and on the other part, the Constable was taken by the Protestants, and the Marescall Sanctandreus was slaine. The Duke of Guise after this battell renewed his Forces, and besieged the Towne of Orleance,The Duke of Guise his death. A new edict in behalfe of the Protestants. where he was slaine by a Souldier, called Portrot. This slaughter was the ground of a new Peace; for after the death of the Duke of Guise, a new edict was made the thirteenth day of March Anno 1563. although not so ample as the edict of Ianuarie: Yet by it some libertie was granted to the Protestants to enioy their owne Religion without disturbance of any. This was the end of the first ciuill warre in France for Religion.The end of the first ciuill warre.