The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 1 · History of century 16 · Biography 5
Rodulphus.
AFter the death of Maximilian, Rodulphus his sonne was made Emperour. In his time the warres in France, which seemed to be well quieted by the last edict of pacification, began to kindle vp againe with greater flame. For the adversaries of religion besought the Kings Maiestie to restraine the pernitious liberty of the edict of peace: but perceiving him not to bee sufficiently moved to breake the peace, and to take knife in hand, they began to assemble at Perone,The league of Peron 1576. for the extirpation of the Protestants. Anno 1576. and to binde vp a league amongst themselues for the extirpation of the Protestants, and for the revocation of the edict of peace, wherein they swore obedience and service to the Generall tha… …hould bee appointed over this fellowship, ingaging their liues and honours, never to seperate themselues for any commandement, pretence,The causes moving the Leaguers to proceed in their association. excuse, or occasion whatsoever. There were two things that greatly animated the Leaguers to proceed in their association, to wit: First, that the Protestants yeelded not vp the townes which they had gotten for their assurance, for the space of sixe yeeres. The sixe yeeres being ended, they complained to the King that conditions were not kept vntounto them, and that for the abolishing of warres, and setling of peace in France, it was needfull that they should hauehave those townes a longer time in their maintenance, whereto the King condiscended.
This grieved the Leaguers: but another thing grieved them more, that Alauscon the Kings brother for griefe of the hard successe of his affaires in the Low Countries, died at Chasteau Thierry. And the King himselfe having no children, the feare that they conceived of the King of Navarres succession to the Kingdome, caused the Leaguers rage. While the flame issued out of this furnace, the King of France easily perceived that the drift of all the Leaguers enterprises was against his life and crowne,The drift of the Leaguers enterprise against the K. and crowne. and to set vp another whom it pleased them in his place. For the Leaguers pretended warre against the Hugonots, and yet they seazed vponupon the best townes of the Catholikes, in all the Realme. The religion was preached in Guyen, and they went to driue it out of Picardie. The Hugonotes were in Rochell, and the Leaguers army marched straight to Paris. They are at Montpelliere, and the league set vponupon Marseille. Likewise the pasquells and libells without names, dayly throwne downe in the towne of Paris, and the disdainfull speeches dayly vttered of the King, speaking of him as a Sardanapalus, and a Prince drowned in his pleasures and delights, and for his third crowne which hee looked for in heaven, promising him one made with a rasour in a Cloyster: all these things presented to the Kings minde a sufficient vnderstanding of the resolution and purpose of the Leaguers▪ Notwithstanding feare so possessed his minde, that in stead of couragious resisting of the Leaguers in due time,The King for lacke of courage maketh himself a slaue to the appetites of he Leaguers. hee made himselfe a slaue to their appetites. The army of the Duke of Guise (who was made Generall of the fellowship of the league) at the first rising, exceeded not the number of a thousand horsemen, and foure thousand footmen: which company might easily hauehave beene dispersed, if the valorous courage of the King had not beene vtterly abashed: who in stead of commanding with authority, desired the Queene mother to procure that the Duke of Guise might leaue off armes, and to assure him of his favour, and that he would giuegive him what part of his Realme hee would aske to let him liue in peace.
This their enterprise succeeding so well, farre aboue their owne expectation, mooved them to set forward, and to desire of the King that hee would make and sweare an irrevocable edict of extirpation of Heretikes: To take by force the townes holden by those of the new religion: To renounce the protection of Geneva, to authorize their warres, to reconcile them vntounto him, to bee of their league, and of a King to become a participant. Wherevpon followed an edict prohibiting the exercise of the new religion,An edict against the Protestants. and revoking all other edicts that favoured it, commanding all the Ministers out of the Land, and all subiects in France within six moneths after to make profession of the Catholike religion, or to depart out of the Realme. Dispersing also the tripertite chambers of Parliaments, likewise ordayning that the townes given in hostage to those of the religion, should be yeelded vp, and approving the warre which the Leaguers had begun, acknowledging it to be done for his service.
And not content with this, they asked of the King for their further surety, the townes of Chalon, Thoul, Verdium, Saint Desier, Rhems, Soissons, the Castle of Dyon, the towne and castle of Beaume, Rue in Picardie, Dinan and Con que in Brittaine, to be delivered vntounto them.
The King of Navarre all this while kept himselfe quiet, being solicited by the King so to doe. But when hee saw the King had rendered himselfe to the appetite of the Leaguers, hee set forth a declaration of the cause, why the Leaguers had taken armes, of the vanity of their pretences, and of the fruits which the Estates in France might reape by the conclusions of Peronne,The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condie with diverse others, oppose themselues to the Leaguers. Nemours, and Nauty, (for in those places the Leaguers had bound vp their league) with protestation that with him, the Prince of Condie his cousen, the Duke de Mommerencie, with Lords, Gentlemen, Provinces, and Townes, both of the one religion and of the other, so many as would concurre with him, should oppose themselues to the authors of these troubles.
In the meane time, while the King of Navarre is so busied with the King and the Leaguers, who were now as it were incorporate in one bodie: the third assault commeth on,The Pope excōmunicateth the King of France. and Pope Sixtus the fift, with his thunderbolts of excommunication setteth vponupon him, declaring him to be vncapable of the crowne of France, abandoning his person, and his countrey for a prey to such as should obtaine them. At the same time also, the Electors of Germany, who in all the former warres had beene so helpfull to the Protestants of France, was not vnmindfull of them at so strait a pinch, but sent Ambassadours to the King,The Prince… of Germany send Ambassodors to deale for the Protestants helpe. desiring him to heare the requests of his neighbours, and to pity the case of his poore subiects, and not to keepe backe the edict of peace, that hee had lately graunted vntounto them. The King answered that hee thought strange that forrain Princes should meddle with his affaires: and that he would doe nothing against the honour of his conscience, nor the fatherly care he had vntounto his people. With this answer the Ambassadours returned, not well pleased.
The Duke of Guise being advertised of the dislike the Ambassadours of Germany had touching their answere,The sixt civill war in France for religion. counselled the King to set vponupon the Protestants before the Rutters entred into France, so that in lesse then eighteene moneths the King of Navarre saw himselfe assayled by fiue Camps royall, vnderunder fiue severall Generals. Neverthelesse very few exploites worthy of remembrance were done by those armies, vntill the army of the Germanes entred into France,An army of Germans enter France in behalfe of the Protestants. vnderunder the conduct of the Baron of Othna, a man of greater courage then experience. The Duke of Bulloigne in the name of the King of Navarre, ioyned with the Baron of Othna, to leade this great army, wherein were moe then thirty thousand Switzers, Rutters, and French-men. They marched from Loraine to Cheaumont in Bassigny, and passed the river of Marne, also they crossed l' Anbe at Montigny and Seine aboue Casklion, and Cure aboue Vermentone and Yome, hard by Crenaunt, and so made haste towards the river of Loire. There began the complaints of the Switzers and the mutinies of the Rutters, because the King of Navarre came not to them, and the King of France was at the side of the river Loire, either to fight with them, or to stay their passage. At this time the King vsed a stratagem, which was the cause of his victory, and of the dissipation of the army of strangers. For hee considered that the onelyonly meanes to breake their army, was to impeach their ioyning with the King of Navarre. Therefore he commanded the Duke Ioyense to keepe the King of Navarre in Poictou, and rather to hazard battell, then suffer him to passe the river of Loire, as hee determined at the head thereof: to the which end the Duke de Ioyense that had an army fortified, both with men, munition, artillery, and meanes marched to Coutras, to passe la Drogne at Que, and vponupon tuesday the twentith of October, Anno 1587. he stayd with all his forces betweene la Rotch,The battell of Coutras betwixt the Kings army & the Protestāts. Chalais, and Coutras. The King of Navarre made toward him, fully resolved to fight, and about eight of the clocke in the morning, the King of Navarres artillery began to play, and that of Duke de Ioyense to answer them, but not very fortunately, for that either the ignorance or malice of the Canoners had placed it so low, that the mouth of the canon, shot right vponupon a little hill of earth, wherein the bullets stayed without piercing any further. The battell was so soone decided, that in ten houres this great army of the Kings (that had the vantage both for place and number) began to retyre and was sooner broken then fought withall.
The King of Navarre, the Prince of Condie, and the Earle of Soissons behaved themselues most valiantly, executing the offices both of Captaines and souldiers, and gaue thankes to God in open field.
In this battell Duke de Ioyense and Monsieur de S. Sauueur his brother were slaine,The death of D. de Ioyense. and fiue and twenty other Gentlemen of name: all their cornets were taken, with their artillery and baggage, and fourteene Gentlemen of account were taken and put to ransome. That done, the King of Navarre being eased of so many nets that were set vp to catch him, marched forward to ioyne with the forraine army, and to passe the river Loire. The King on the other part to impeach the meeting of the two armies of his adversaries, caused the ditches betweene Povilly and Dony to b…e broken vppe, filling them with thousands of trees, stones, and chaines to entangle the feet of the Rutters horse that should passe: and in truth the letting of that passage, was next to the helpe of God, the second cause the King had of the victory. For the Rutters being disappointed of their passage were compelled to recoile, and having failed of their enterprise at la Charitie, they entred in the way of Beauce, drawing towards Montargis. From this time forth a great mutinie began in the army of the strangers, being mooved with impatience, because they could neither hauehave money nor sight of the King of Navarre: whereof the King being then at Bonevall had intelligence, and thereupon vsed all the meanes hee could to sound the hearts of the Switzers, and perswaded them to separate themselues from the rest of the army, and retyre home: whereunto the Switzers condiscended, and vponupon agreement of 400000. crownes payed to them in ready money, they returned backe againe to their owne countrey. The Duke of Guise perceiving the army of the Rutters to be as a body dispersed, hauing nothing left but the armes and legges, tooke boldnesse to set vponupon them as they camped at Aunew,A skirmish betwixt the D. of Guise and the Rutters. and entred with his footmen into the streets, about the time that the carts and baggage were ready in the morning to issue out, and so couragiously surprised the Rutters at their breakefast: when the trumpets began to sound a chivall, having no meanes to issue out, they were constrained to retyre into their lodgings, at the pleasure of the assaylants. The booty was great, being 800. chariots, iewels and chaines of gold, and two thousand horse, both for the field and waggons. The gates being seazed vponupon, and the streets chained, there was no meanes to saue themselues but by the walles, which the Generall leaped ouer.
Notwithstanding of this surprise, the army of the Rutters was in such estate, that by reason of some small assurance they had of the King of Navarres arrivall, it was likely to hauehave overcome the Duke of Guise forces. And as it was at point to retyre backe againe, the Prince of Condie, the Duke of Bulloigne, and the Lords of Chastillion and Cleruant, promised to pay them all their wages, if they would march forward. The hope of their pay made them to march in a time not very convenient, towards the Forrest of Orleance. The King perceived that the longer the armie kept the fields, the greater would be the ruine of his Countrey, and that, being ioyned with the king of Navarre would doe great hurt, caused the Sienrs of the Isle of Cormont to certifie the Coronels that if they would yeeld vp their colours, and sweare to beare no armes in Fraunce without the expresse commandement of his Maiestie hee would giuegive them assurance to retire in safetie. They on the other part perceauing themselues to be farre from the king of Navarre, hardlie handled by the Frenchmen, beaten by the league, pursued by the king, and forsaken of the Switzers, assembled themselues together at Marsigni:The Rutters retire out of France. and accepted his Maiesties offers sent by Monsieur D' Esperno, and retired out of France toward Geneua.
The Marques Du pont, eldest sonne to the Duke of Loraine, and the Duke of Guise, against their faith giuen, followed the miserable troupe of the Rutters to the mountaine at Saint Clande, where they gaue thankes for the good successe of their companie: and from thence to please their hungrie troupes they trauersed the Countrie of Bourgoundie, entering into the Countries of Mombeliard and Hericourt, where his men vsed diuers great cruelties and spared not the lands of the Bishop of Basile.
After the bloodie ceasing of so lamentable vengeance vponupon a poore innocent people, which as yet doe feele the losse and destruction of two hundred villages, the violence vsed to a number of women and maids, the Massacre of so many old men, and the furious and beastlie inhumanitie of the League, they beare the signes of their spoyles into Loraine.
Neuerthelesse after this exploite of the Duke of Guise,The Duke of Guise honored by the Pope, and extolled by the Preachers of France for his crueltie. so full of crueltie, falshood & inhumanitie, the Roman Church extolled him aboue all measure. The Pope sent vntounto the D. of Guise a sword engraued with burning flames in token of his valiantnes, accompanied with burning zeale towards the Roman religiō. The Preachers of France advāced him aboue the king, saying that Saul had slaine his thousand, but Dauid ten thousand,The assemblie at Nancy of the Leagners against the King. and so the Duke of Guise puft vp with winds of popular praise, seeing also that the greatnesse of the Soueraigne maiestie was embraced, and that the Protestants were retired vntounto the Rotchell, also that England had a proud Spaniard embarked on her backe (meaning the great Spanish Nauie by Sea) hee assured himselfe to take the king without danger: and to this effect aduertised the Cardinall of Burbone not to neglect so good an occasion, but to gather his principall friends at Nancie there to aduise the meanes to passe forward, and to constraine the king as it were to make his will,The conclusions agreed vponupon, by the assemble at Nancie. and so that assemblie concluded that the King should be summoned to ioyne his forces to the league: to refuse the Counsell & amitie of such as should be named vntounto him: to establish the inquisition in euerie towne: to publish the Councell of Trent euen touching the things that derogated the priuiledge of the French Church: to consent to the restitution of the goodes that had bin alienated and sold, for the charges of the warres: to giuegive them townes wherein they might place men of warre, & to make such fortifications as the necessity of the time would require: ordaine the sale and confiscation of Hugonits goodes, also the disabling of their persons, & entertaine an armie vponupon the Fronteris of Loraine: against the returne of the Germans that would come to hauehave some recompence, for the cruelties by the league committed in the countie of Montbeliard.
The Duke of Guise came to the King at Soissons to constraine the King either to bow or breake, and to confirme the articles drawne, and deuised at Nancie and Dyion.
The King on the other part, by Mousieur de Bellieure gaue the Duke to vnderstand, that he should doe him a pleasure if he would abstaine from comming to Paris in so troublesome a time, wherein so many factions raigned: and if hee came thither against his will: hee would lay the cause of all the troubles that might arise by his presence vponupon him.
But the Duke of Guises heart, as it were attainted with a burning feauer could find neither appetite nor pleasure,The Duke of Guise contrarie to the king… commandement arriueth at Paris and is of the people receiued with ioyfull acclamations. but in that which liked his stomach, would needes for the loouer or die by the way: and therefore mounted on horsebacke with eight Gentlemen, about nine of the clocke at night, leauing the Prince de Iumueille his sonne at Soissons, and desiring the Archbishop of Lyons to follow him in the morning, and so arriued at Paris.
This maner of arriuall together with the peoples fauour vttered by their ioyfull acclamations at the Duke of Guises lighting increased the distrust of the kings heart, so that hee resolued to preuent the enterprises intended against him, and commanded the Marescall Biron to cause foure thousand Switzers to enter into the Towne and to lodge them in diuers quarters thereof, who seased incontinent vponupon the bridges of Nostredame and Saint Michael. The fearefull day of Barricadoes in ParisBut the Parisians being abashed at the sight shut vp their shoppes, and tooke their weapones in their hands, and brought forth their Barricadoes (which was a seditious invention of the league) each one distant from another thirtie foote, and reached almost to the Sentinell of the Loouer.
The Switzers were set vponupon and they yeelded, crying Viue Guise, and Monsieur de Brissac caused them to be disarmed: and Sienre de S. Paul caused the kings guarde to retire, holding down their armes with hatts in hand. The Queene mother got into her Coach in great feare, and went to seeke the Duke of Guise to appease the commotion. The D. although he layed the fault vponupon the people, yet neither would hee stay the commotion, neither goe the Loover to the king.
The Queen marking the stubbornnesse and resolution of the Duke of Guise, caused the king to be aduertised, who desiring not to stay any longer in that trance, issued out of Paris by the new-gate, and so happily eschewed the Tragedie of Chilperic,The king flieth out of Paris. and the new crowne of the razour prepared for him by the Leaguers: from Paris hee went to Chartresse, and from thence to Roane, fretting in heart for the indignation hee had sustained in Paris, and being determined, one way or other, to be auenged on the Duke of Guise; the chiefe Captaine of the league, and the author of the Barricadoes. The chiefe thing that hindred this resolution for a time was the two extremities wherewith hee found himselfe beset: for either he must make peace with the Protestants, or strengthen himselfe with their forces; or else of new againe adioyne himselfe to the league, because hee was not able to match them both at one time.
In the end hee resolued to ioyne with the league againe and by a new edict set forth in Iuly Anno, 1588.An edict published against the Protestants. he ratefied the decrees of the leaguers at Nemours which they had made, Anno 1585. containing in effect & substance the same things that were afterward decreed in Nancy.
Moreouer hee remitted and excused the fact done against him in the towne of Paris: acknowledging it was done by them for the zeale of the Catholike religion. And lest he should seeme to foster in his minde some secret choler against the leaguers: he bestowed his liberalities and fauours vponupon the principall heads thereof. To the Duke of Guise hee gaue the office of Lieutenant Generall ouer all the forces throughout the Realme of Fraunce. To the Cardinall of Guise his Brother hee promised to procure the Pope to giuegive him the office of Legat of Anignon. To Duke De Maine was giuen a faire and great armie in Dolpkin.
He gaue the Duke Nemours the government of Lyons. Hee forgot not the Archbishop of Lyons, but made him one of his priuie Counsel, before being only of the counsell of estate: and finally declared the Cardinall of Burbon to be the chiefe Prince of the blood royall, thereby whollie to exclude the king of Navarre from the crowne, The leaguers on the other part hauehave the wind in their saile & fearing that this great goodnesse of the king would not continue, ceased not vntil they had procured all his wise Counsellers to be remoued, and two armies to be leauied against the Protestants, the one in Poictou vnderunder the conduct of the Duke of Neuers, the other in Dowphine vnderunder the Duke De Maine: all this contented them not except the edict aforsaid were christned with the name of a fundamentall law, and because it could not be done but by the three estates in Fraunce, they besought the king to hold a Parliament which was kept in Bloyes,A Parliame… holden in France. The death of the Duke of Guise. Anno 1589. There they played subtilie one with another, and hee who was deceiued, thought vponupon nothing else but to deceiue: for the Duke of Guise was slaine at this Parliament, and the Cardinall of Guise, the Arch-bishop of Lions was arrested, and Ianueille the Duke of Guises son, and the Cardinall of Burbon were deteined prisoners.
The Queene mother tooke this suddain alteration so grieuouslie that she tooke bed,The Queene mother dieth. & in the monethmonth of Ianuarie following, died. The two armies that were sent against the Protestants, the one staied in Lions awaiting on the issue of the Parliament, the other arriued into Poictou and had taken the Townes of Montagu, and Ganach lying in the Frontiers of Poictou and Brittannie: while the Parliament was at Bloyes the assemblie of the Protestants was gathered in Rotchell, which beganne the foureteenth day of Nouember, the king of Nauarre being present (now the Prince of Condie was dead in the monethmonth of March,An assemblie of the Protestants at Rotchell send a request to the states at Bloyes. Anno 1588. being poysoned by one of his owne seruants) and deputies from all parts of the Countries, by whose aduise and resolution came the request presented to the states at Bloyes, vnderunder the name and title of the Frenchmen exiled for the Religion: beseeching the King to restore them to the libertie of the first edict which was called the edict of Ianuarie: to ordaine that a nationall Councell might bee assembled where the Doctors of both parts with good securitie in presence of his Maiestie, and all the assemblie might debate those differences, and whollie decree and resolue vponupon the same: to grant them the free libertie of possessing their goodes: and to permit the registring of their supplication: to the end that nothing might be done in that assemblie to preiudge them. But the Deputies of the Parliament, being for the most part, composed of men that were taken out from among the passionate aduancers of the League, not onelyonly refused to agree to the foresaid petitions, but also ceased not, vntill both from the king himselfe and all the assemblie, they had procured a declaration of the perpetuall disabilitie, of the king of Nauarre to the succession of the Crowne.
But let vsus see what successe followed vponupon the death of the Duke of Guise. Two daies after the execution at Bloyes the sixteene Arch-leaguers of Paris, as Furies issuing out of hell, displaced the choler of their minds against the king, crying out murther, fire and vengeance. They presentlie made a collection of money to maintaine warres; the poorest artificer amongst them was content at least to import six crownes;The rebellion of the league against the king. gold ranne like a Riuer a long the streetes; they eleuated the Duke of Guise to the heauens and with open mouth spoke euill of the king, detesting his actions, abhorring his life, and accounting the execution done at Bloyse as most cruell, barbarous and inhumane. Many other townes followed the example of Paris, namely Amiens, Dijon, Orleance, Tullose. The Doctors of Sorbon published their decree, importing that the people of Fraunce, were freed and absolued from the oath of fidelitie and obedience made to Henry the third; and that the same people might lawfullie and with good conscience arme and vnite themselues together for defence of the Roman Church against the king or his adherents whatsoeuer.
The report of those vprores, hastned the dissolution of the Parliament, which was dissolued in Ianuarie, 1589. and the king made for warre to suppresse the rebellious insurrection of the league: and immediatlie hee translated to the towne of Tours such exercises of Iustice, as were accustomed to bee performed in his Court of Parliament of Paris, and depriued Paris with the townes of all offices, charges, dignitie and priuiledges whatsoeuer, as guiltie of rebellion, fellonie, and high treason against his Maiesties estate, and Person. Now the king was brought to that pinch by the insolencie of the league, that hee behoued to take truce with the king of Nauarre, and to fortifie himselfe with the assistance of his forces, and hee gaue to the king of Nauarre Saumure for securitie of his passage ouer Loire, by meanes whereof the king of Nauarre caused all his troupes to passe ouer on this side of Loire, to ioyne with the forces of Normandie, Maine, and other places which attended him with intention to approach the leaguers.
The Duke De Maine, Duke De Maine sendeth men to surprise the king but is preuented.on the other part being chiefe commaunder of the Leaguers armie, made a selection of their resolutest men, and marched into Vendesmois with an intention to surprise the king, in Tours where hee was not verie stronglie guarded; but the king was eased of this feare by the sudden arriuall of the king of Nauarre for his reliefe.
In Normandie Duke Monpensier with forces for the king, besieged Salaize a Towne that held for the league, and Count Brissac, accompanied with two or three hundreth, gentlemen leaguers, and with them fiue or six thousand men came to support the towne. Duke Montpensier hearing of those newes left the siege of the towne and set vponupon Count Brissac and his armie, being lodged in three villages, and slew of them more than 3000. men; and tooke 1200 prisoners amongst whom were 30. Gentlemen of the chiefest. This was a bad presagement for the League.
In like manner at the siege of Senlis (a Towne of Fraunce lying betweene Paris and Picardie) which the Parisians besieged, because it was a Towne of great importance, the Duke of Longoveille came with support to the Towne; vponupon which, battell ensued: wherein, 1500. of the assailants were slaine and all their artillerie and baggage was taken.
The king encouraged by those prosperous beginnings determined to goe forward, and to besiege the Towne of Paris with his armie of 45000. men.
The Duke De Maine and other principall Leaguers in Paris …erc…ued their faction tending to a ruine,The leaguers procure a Iacobin Monke to kill the king. but found no …ued… except they executed some notable villanie by procuring the kings death. And they found out a young Iacobine Monke called Frier Iaques Clement, who for a kinde of Dextcritie obserued in him was found meet to strike so great a stroake. The Monke departed from Paris, and being presented to speake to the king the first day of August, said that he had letters from the president of Harley and credence on his part. The king caused him to be called into his Chamber, where there was none other but the … Belligard chiefe Gentleman of the same, and the procuror generall, whom hee procured to retire a part more priuatlie to giuegive …are vntounto him, who adressed himselfe (as it seemed) with a countenance verie simple and demure.
It is affirmed that in the selfe same chamber the massacre of Paris had beene concluded, Anno 1572. the king himselfe that was then Duke of Aniou being one of the chiefest. The Monke perceiuing himselfe alone, and opportunitie offered him drew out of one of his sleeues a paper which hee presented to the king, and out of of the other a Knife which hee violently thrust within the kings small ribbes, hee being attentiue in r… ding.
The king perceiuing himselfe wounded plucked the knife out of the wound wherewith he stroke the Monke aboue the eye, and therevpon some gentlemen came ru… ning in; who moued with the indignitie of so execrable fact, could not containe but killed the murtherer with their swords,The death of Henry the third. who went to the place appointed for him, and was canonized and adorned by the league. The king being carried to his bed, died about three of the clock… in the morning the day following. A little before his d…parture, hee named the King of Navarre his brother in law, lawfull successor to the crowne, exhorting his good subiects to obey him, and to referre the difference of religion to the Convocation of the Estates generall of the Realm, and to pray to God for him, vponupon these words he gaue vp the ghost.
After the Kings death, the image and portraiture of the traiterous Monke,The Iacobin who killed the K. canonized. who killed the King by the commandement of the chiefe of the league, was most artificially framed in brasse, & other paintings, wherewith they garnished both their houses and their Churches. Then was hee canonized, and amongst the superstitious prayed vntounto as a martyr, whom they called by the name of Saint Iaques Clement. The Leaguers had with all their might endeavoured in the former Kings dayes to disappoint the succession of the King of Navarre, to the crowne of France. Now therefore they caused that title by proclamaton to bee given to the Cardinall of Burbone,The Cardinall of Burbon proclamed K. by the Leaguers. being then prisoner, whom they called King Charles the tenth, and Duke de Maine was declared Lieutenant generall to the Estate and Crown of France, thereby disguising and colouring his vsurpation to the Crowne.
But King Henry the fourth, after he had buryed the corps of his predecessor, tooke his first iourney to Normandy, where the Pont to Larch was yeelded to him:K. Henry the 4. declared K. by K. Henry the 3. opposeth himselfe to the Leaguers. Then hee came to Deepe, wonne Caen vntounto his side, and constrained Neuscastle to be rendered into his hands. And hauing made a show to besiege Roane, it caused Duke de maine being called to the succour by Aumalle and Brissac, to set himself in the field with more then 3000. horsemen, and 5000. footmen, who promised to the Parisians, at that time to make an end of all warre, and to bring their enemy bound vntounto them both hand and foot. The King marching toward his enemies, encamped at a certaine village called Arques, about two miles from Deep, and so entrenched it about on all sides, that hee might easily ouerrunne the enemy at all times.
The Duke de Maine lay about Arques, from the end of August vntill the midst of September, gayning nothing but losse of his best approoved souldiers, and nine or ten of their Captaines.
This first enterprise against the King did truely presage vntounto them what successe they were like to hauehave in all their attempts to come, wherof followed nothing else but shame and sorrow. This done, the King by easie iourneys drew nigh to Paris, and entred by force the suburbs of S. Iaques, and being advertised that the Duke de Maine was come forth of Picardie, and with all his forces had entered into Paris, hee stayed foure long houres in battell, to see if any of the Leaguers would issue out to fight. Afterward hee departed from Paris, and tooke the townes of Vendosme, and Mans, and Falaize, wherein Count Brissac was taken prisoner: also hee recovered Honfleur, a towne vponupon the Sea coast in Normandie, and compelled the Duke de Maine to raise his siege from the towne and fort of Meulan. In the beginning of March, the Duke de Maine with all his forces passed over the bridge of Maule, which is about eight miles from Dreux: whereof the King being advertised, provided for his affaires, and the twelfth of the same monethmonth, set himselfe on the way to goe against his enemies. On the thirtith day the King after hee had ordered his army,The battell of Dreux, wherein the Leaguers were discomfited. made an earnest prayer to God, and looked for battell, but there were nothing but skirmishes, wherein the Leaguers had the worst. The next day the battels ioyned neere to the towne of Dreux, wherein the King obtained a great victory, and overthrew all the footmen of the Leaguers, which were counted to the number of twelue thousand men. OnelyOnly the Switzers who cast downe their weapons, and yeelded to the King, together with the Frenchmen who were mingled amongst them, had their liues spared: also fifteene hundred horsemen of the Leaguers were slaine and drowned, and foure hundred taken prisoners. The Duke de Maine fled towards Dreux, and when he was entred the towne, broke vp the bridge before his owne people were all come, which was the cause of the death of a great number of his army, especially of the Rutters, of whom a great sort were drowned. In this battell the army had their ioy mixed with sorrow, at the first: for they saw not the King returne, but within a while after, they espyed him comming all stained with the blood of his enemies, not having shed one droppe of his owne (whom they discryed onelyonly by the great plume of white fethers, which hee had in his creast, and that which his palfrey had on his head) all the army gaue hearty thankes to God for his safetie, crying with one voyce, God saue the King.
The Duke de Maine and other Captaines of the league being frustrate of their hope, and seeing their army thus spoyled; betooke themselues to their ordinarie shifts, which was to feed the Parisians with fable and lyes: publishing that in the battell they had almost eq…all losse, and that the King if hee was not already dead, hee was neare vntounto it. But the people being every day more and more ascertained of the truth, began to grudge, and to be desirous of peace, so that the Duke of Maine tooke his iourney towards the Duke of Parma, to obtaine support from him.
The King drew nigh to Paris,The King besiegeth Paris. and shut vp the passages of the river of Seane, being master of Mance and Poyssie on the one side, and Corbell Melum, and Monterean on the other side of Paris; so that neither from aboue, nor from below, could any provision bee carryed to Paris by the river of Seane: likewise by taking of Lagnay, and the fort of Gonrey, hee stopped the passage of the river of Merue, and by taking Compienge, Creil, and Beaumont, hee stopped the passage of the river of Oisso, or Ayne.
In that populous towne the famine was soone felt, and within the space of three moneths, moe then an hundred thousand dyed in the towne: yet the most part of them stirred vp by the seditious Preachers, were content rather to endure an hundred deathes, then to acknowledge their owne soveraigne King, whom they called an Heretique, and a favourer of them.
The Duke de Maine having obtained promise of support from the Duke of Parma, returned from Beuxellis, whom the King pursued from Laon to Meux, where hee inclosed himselfe betweene two rivers, waiting for the comming of the Duke of Parma. The King hoped for battell so soone as the Duke of Parma was ioyned with the Duke de Maine, but the Duke of Parma got vp to an hill to view his enemies army, and after hee had throughly noted it, hee tooke resolution not to fight,The Duke of Parma entreth France for the …eliefe of Paris. but to fortifie and entrench his army within a great marrash, and so by meanes of his intrenchments, hee eschewed the hazard of battell, and came to Paris, and named himselfe the deliverer of it. But after he had stayed a while in Paris, the principall Captaines of the league, began to giuegive the Duke of Parma thankes for his good will, and entreated him to goe with his people to Breuxelis againe.
This request or secret command, fell out very well for the Duke. For on the one part, his army was seene by all men dayly to waste, and himselfe did plainely behold that hee stood in the midst of an inconstant multitude. Therefore hee dressed himselfe homeward with all possible speed,The Duke of Parma returneth home. and the king pursued him to the very frontiers of Artoys. The Duke of Parmaes comming, serued to none other purpose but to fill their purses with the gold of Peru, and to entangle and bring their affaires vntounto a remedilesse end: for in the beginning of the yeere 1591. the King continued his siege, and the Parisians were fallen into their wonted distresses, as before. But we leaue for a while, and marke the estate of the rest of the countrey.
In the countrey of Dauphein, Francis de Bonne, Lord of Diguireres,In all other places of France the Leaguers went to ruine. chased the Leaguers out of that part, and became master of Grenoble. In Normandy the Duke of Montpensier, wonne Honfleur, and forced the Leaguers to forsake field. In Poictou the Vicount dela Guerche, commanding over certaine regiments of footmen, and horsemen, and finding about a thousand of naturall borne Spaniards, newly come from Brittaine to doe some great exployt, they were all charged by the Baron de la Rotche Pose, and others of the Kings chiefe servitors. In this conflict la Guerche was compelled to see 300. Gentlemen of his most assured favourers, slaine, and lying on the ground, at the which sight hee was so abashed, that hee fled to the next river, where finding the boat, and thinking to goe over easily, the throng was so great, that the boate and all the passengers sunke to the bottome: La Guerche was there drowned, with a great number of others. There perished in the water and in the fight, moe then seven hundred Spainards: some supposed this losse of the Leaguers to be little lesse then that of Coutras, by reason of the great number of the Nobility that dyed therein. Likewise the Lord Digners overthrew in the plaine of Portcharre, the Duke Savoyes army, commanded by Amedio, the Dukes bastard sonne, and Don Pleneres, a Spanish Captaine, and the Marquis of Treuic, and others. There were slaine vponupon that plaine, 2000. and 500. of the Dukes army, and a great number were taken prisoners, being for the most part Gentlemen of command. The booty which was gotten, amounted to the summe of two hundred thousand crownes.
The next day two thousand Romanes and souldiers of Millaine, who with their Commander, the Earle of Galcot of Belioyense, were saved within the Castle of d' Analon, at length yeelded themselues to the Kings mercy: but the fury of the souldiers could not bee quenched, till they had slaine sixe or seven hundred of them. The rest having white roddes in their hands given them in stead of pasports, were sent home to Italy.
In the meane time the King handled his affaires so busily, that hee had taken the townes of Chartresse and Noyon, and taken order that Paris should still bee inclosed on every side: so that the great tribute and taxes which were gathered for the bringing in of victuals to the Parisians, and for the maintenance of their troopes, did gleane away their money peece after peece, and brought the people to great poverty. Likewise the King after the taking of Noyon, sent som of his troops to Normandie, to tame those of Roan, who shewed themselues no lesse obstinate then the Parisians. The Leaguers had none other shift, but againe to cry for ayde of the Duke of Parma: who entred into France the second time,The Duke of Parma entreth France the 2. time in behalfe of the Leaguers, but with bad successe. with foure thousand footmen, and three thousand horsemen, besides some Italians conducted by S. Fondrat Earle of Mont Martian, and three thousand Switzers. At this his approaching to Roane, the towne of Candebec was yeelded to him, howbeit he did not keep it long: and hee entred into Roane, but made no tarrying there, because his purpose was to set forward to Paris.
The King on the other part, sent to all the neighbour townes, such as Louviers, Mance, Menlan, Vernon, and others, where his garrisons were, that they should march towards him, which was speedily performed: so that in sixe dayes, his army grew to more then three thousand horsemen, and six thousand footmen. With this companie the King followed the Duke of Parmaes army, and charged diverse times so roughly, that at one time they lost six hundred of their number, another time, two thousand and fiue hundred, and so fled shamefully towardes Paris, and from thence to Brie, and last they came to Artoys: where within few moneths the Duke of Parma with his troopes melted, like waxe in the Sunne. S. Fondrat saw his people also confounded.
The Kings favourites in diverse places prosper against the Leaguers.Besides this good successe, the Kings favourites in many other parts of the Land, still continued prevailing against their enemies. The Duke of Bouillone Mariscall of France, accompanied with foure hundred horse, and two hundred hagbuziers, onelyonly overthrewe before Beaumont, the Lord of d' Amblise, high Mariscall of Loraine, and the Dukes Lieutenant generall, accompanied with two thousand footmen, and eight hundred horsemen. Amblize was slaine in the field, with more then seven hundred others: his artillery wonne, all his corners and ensignes taken: and 400. Lance-knights sent away vnarmed.
In Languedocke Duke de Ioyense, the brother of him who was slaine at Coutras, had besieged Montaban, and Villemure, but Thimenes issuing out of Villemure, constrained the Duke to forsake the held, with the losse of three thousand men, three canons, and two culverines. The bridge which the Duke had builded over Tie was cut vp, and was almost the cause of all their deaths. Ioyense himselfe overcome with dispaire in this distresse, was heard to vomit out these desperate words. Farewell my great canons, ha, I renounce God, I runne this day an high fortune: and therewith desperatly hee plunged himselfe horse and all into the river Tae.The death of D. Ioyense. This was the miserable end of this cruell, proude, and blasphemous young Duke, who was much lamented of the Leaguers: for whom hee had done many great exployts.
The Kings army in that part consisting of fiue hundred horsemen, and two thousand and fiue hundred hagbuziers, besides those that were within the towne of Villemure, withdrew themselues in good order vntounto their garrisons, after they had given thankes to God, for so prosperous a victory. After all those successes which God granted to the King,The defection of the King from religion. followed his defection from his religion, in the monethmonth of Iuly, Anno, 1593. The Archbishops, Bishops, and Doctors of Sorbon, were appointed to meet at Mance, the fifteenth of Iuly, without any mention of the Protestants Ministers, who were before put from the King. By whose perswasion the King was induced to heare and see masse sung, in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Denise, the fiue and twentith day of Iuly. All this asswaged not the furie of the Leaguers, who still continued in their wonted malice against the King, and stirred vp a wicked man, called Peter Burrier, Peter Burrier stirred vp to slay the King.alias, Bar, borne at Orleance, to slay the King. This man was committed to prison at Melun, the sixe and twentith day of August, where hee confessed that hee was seduced by a Capushan Fryer at Lyons, and by a Curat and Vicar of Paris, and also by a Iesuit, closely to follow the King, and to murther him with a two edged knife, which also was found about him: He was drawne through the streets of Melun, where then the King was; they cut off his right arme holding the murthering knife therein, and after burned the same: also his armes, legs, and thighbones were broken vponupon a wheele, where he languished certaine houres till hee dyed.
The King seeing that the malice of his enemies still continued, resolued no longer to beare the same, wherefore hee caused a declaration to be imprinted and published in the beginning of the yeere,The K. opposeth himself to the Leaguers. 1594. containing an Oration of the mischiefes and vnfaithfull practises of the Leaguers. Prescribing a moneths liberty as well to the chiefe of the Leaguers, as to the clergie, cities, townes, communalties, yea, and to all men generally within the same, to acknowledge him their King, and to submit themselues to his gouernment. The time once past, hee would revoke his grace & favour, accounting them to be rebells, and guilty of high treason, for contempt of his Kingly offer.
The report of this declaration, and the preparations which the King made to chastise their stubborne opinions: amazed the very principall of the league, and the most part of the rebellious townes and commons. The towne of Meux in Brie,Diuers towns yeeld themselues to the King. a small iourney from Paris, yeelded themsselues to the King, the eleventh of Ianuary: and by a pithy letter, exhorted the Parisians to follow their example. Soone after the cities of Orleance, Lyons, Roane, Poicters, Bourges, Haure de grace, Pontean de Mervernueil at Perche, Pointoise, Riome in Anergne, Peron, and mondidier in Picardie, were received in favour: and those of Annens and Abeveil, after they had remained neuters a while, shortly after acknowledged their soveraigne King. Last of all, the towne of Paris yeelded to the King, in the monethmonth of March. Wherein it is to bee noted, that the Kings troopes entred so peaceably into the towne, that within two houres after, the shops were all set open, and the towne appeared so peaceable, as if there had never beene any change. In Picardie the towne of laon was fortified against the King, by the Spaniards forces, & yet was compelled to yeeld Soissons and La Fere, which were possessed by the Duke de Maine, and the Spaniards would not yeeld: and the towne and fort of Blauel in Britannie was also fortified against the King. But now seeing the League inclined to an hastie ruine, the last refuge was by horrible treason, to cut off Henry the fourth,Iohn Castill stirred vp by the Leaguers to murther the King, is disappointed of his purpose▪ as they had done Henry the third before. To this effect they stirred vp a young stripling, named Iohn Castill, about 18. or 19. yeeres of age, to slay the King as he was returning from Picardie to Paris. Thus vponupon the 27. day of December, Anno, 1584 …as the King was readie booted and spurred to returne from Picardie to Paris, within a chamber at Lououre, this stripling went into the chamber amongst the presse, and as the King was busily occupied in receiuing his Nobles, and in a princely manner kissing them for his farewell, suddenly he would hauehave stricken the King in the bodie with a knife he had in his hand. But by reason his Maiesty was very readie to take vp the Lords which were on their knees before him, in his stooping he strucke him in the face on the vpper iaw on the right side, therewithall cutting out one of his teeth. Presently this miserable caitiue was taken, and after examination, vnderstanding that he was a scholler of the Iesuites, the King said, And must it needs be that the Iesuits must be confounded by my mouth.
This parricide being brought to prison, freely declared all the circumstances of his euill intent, discouering many of the Iesuits secret practises. Amongst many other things he remembred he heard the fathers of that holy societie say, that it was lawfull to kill the King,Note. that he was excommunicated out of the Church, that he was not to be obeyed nor taken for their King, vntill such time as he was allowed by the Pope. The Court of Parliament condemning this Castile of Treason in the highest degree, caused him to be brought naked in his shirt before the principall part of the Cathedrall Church in Paris, holding in his hand a taper of waxe, lighted, there to confesse his haynous sinne, asking forgiuenesse of God, the King, and the lawes, which done, he was conveyed to the place of execution, carrying in his hand the murthering knife,The Parliaments decree about the execution of Castill, and the Iesuits of Clermonts banishment wherewith he intended to murther the King: the which was there first cut off, his flesh pulled off with hot burning Pincers, both from his armes and thighs; after that, his bodie was drawne in peeces with foure horses, and cast into the fire and consumed to ashes, and the ashes scattered in the winde. Likewise the said Court of Parliament ordeined, that all the Priests and Schollers of Clermont colledge, and all other of the same societie of Iesus, to be holde… and reputed as corrupters of youth, disturbers of the publique peace, enemies to the King and State: and to avoyde within three dayes after the Proclamation of this edict, out of Paris and all other townes and places where their Colledges are, and within 15. dayes after, out of the kingdome, on paine, if being found after the time prefixed, to be punished as guiltie of the said crime of treason.
Besides these horrible troubles that were in France in the dayes of this Emperour Rodulph, the King of Spaine prepared a great armie to invade the Realme of England. This armie was counted invincible, and of most admirable preparation,The preparation of the Spanish nauie Anno 1588. it conteined an hundreth and thirtie Ships, wherein were as many Regiments, having an hundreth seuentie two Ensignes, and 20000. fighting men, besides the number of 1000. moe that had nothing to doe with armes; also their furniture and provision was exceeding great, for they had 11000. Quintals of Biscat. 14170. Pipes of Wine. 6500. Quintals of Bacon. 3433. Quintals of Cheese. 8000. Quintals of dried fish of all sorts. 6320, Bushels of Beanes and Pease. 11398. Roues and Measures of oyle. 23870. Roues of Vineger. And 11850. Pipes of fresh Water: besides the victuals and necessaries of houshold, that were in great number, and of all sorts. The armes reserued for store were 7000. Caleeuers, & their furnitures, a 1000. Muskets, a 1000. Lances, a 1000. Partisants and Halbards. 6000. Pikes. More Pickaxes, Payles, and other instruments then would serue for 700. Pioners. With this number and in this manner being prepared, the armie departed out of Lisbone, vnderunder the conduct of the Duke de Medina Gidonia, assisted with 22. Lords, of estate, councell, and experience. But it had searce entred into the sea, sailing toward the Gnongnes in Gallicia, but there arose a storme with so great force,A storme co… …traineth the nauie to put to land. that the Navie was constrained to put to land, and there to stay till winde and weather serued: hauing lost in that storme three Gallies of Portugalls, and many of them so scattered and bruised, that they were not seruiceable for that Voyage. The storme being calmed and the weather good, about the 22. of Iulie, the Generall caused them to set saile so fortunately, that in lesse then fiue dayes after, they descryed the point or end of Cornwall, and at the same time they were seene from Plimmouth by the Admirall of England, and Sr Francis Drake, Vice admirall,The Spani… Navie ouerthrowne. who made them turne their faces, and gaue them such a skirmish, and that so neere, that the Ships were in disorder, and a great Gallion lost, wherein was found a part of the treasures that the Armie brought with it, and all the instructions which the Duke de Medina had, and what he should doe, having Conquered England. At the last the Navie got as farre as Callis, where it should hauehave ioyned with the Duke of Parma; but the Armie of England that fought to impeach it, followed it, and that so nie, that it was forced to leaue her Anchor-hold, & confusedly to flie away. Their principall Gallias, among other Vessels, was by the streames cast vponupon the sands hard by the hauen of Callis, & there with his Ordnance was left for the governor of Callis. After this, it made toward the North seas, passing betweene Norway and Scotland, and so toward Ireland, where those northerne seas, being as then risen according to the time of yeare, were very tempestuous, and vsed the rest of the armie very hardly, for it drowned and sunke 17. great Vessels vponupon the coast of Ireland, and spoyled, broke, and ouerthrew diuers others, in such manner, that of 130. Shippes, there were scarcely 30. that returned to SPAINE.
Here endeth the first Booke.