A Pattern of Popish Peace, Letter 3 – Letter 4
THE KINGS LETTERS to Monsieur de Gordes his Lieutenant generall in Daulphine, wherein he sendeth him word, that the best proofe 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 monethmonth, I perceived the order which you appointed in your Government since the advertisement which you had of the execution of the Admirall and 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 the more means to make your selfe knowne, I have prepared that the souldiers of Corsica, which I had appointed to go into Province, should returne to you, and thereupon have written to my Cousin, the Count of Tende, who will not faile to send them unto you, for as much as there is no need of them now in that Countrey. Hee should also send you word of the time of their departing, to the end that you might have leisure to provide to receive them, and appoint their places where they should bee in garrison. I have seene that which you writ to me concerning the continuall payment in Daulphine, what is due for the last yeare, whereupon I will advise of the state of my fines the meanes that may be, and according thereunto there shall be no fault, but they shall be provided for. For the reparation of the Bridge of Grenoble, they of the same place must devise the means wherein they should best help themselves therein, and when they have advertised me, I will appoint them necessary provision. Touching the souldiers appointed for the Baron of Adresse, because the occasion why I appointed them to be levied now ceaseth, I have written to him to send them back and dismisse them again: wherefore 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 have presented against you. For your doings are well known and plain unto me, and thereupon I will take no better proofe than their accusation. Wherefore you shall put your selfe to no more pain on that side. Moreover, I have herewith sent you a copy of the declaration which I made of the Admirals death and his adherents, and made to be understood that it should be observed and followed, and that all murders, sackings, and violences should cease. Neverthelesse I have heard complaints of diverse places that such extraordinary waies continue, which is a thing, that doth much displease me. By the meanes whereof I advise you, in doing this charge once againe put unto you, that you give order thorow-out 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, seeing my intent is that they should be punished as behoveth, and to marke them which wincke or dissemble thereat. This present Letter shall serve also for an advise of the receipt of those Letters which you wrote the fifth of this present, whereby you send me word, that you received no message by word of mouth from me, but only Letters of the 22, 24, and 28, of the monethmonth past, whereof put your selfe to no further paine, for that charge was onelyonly for such as then were neare about me, which is all that I have at this time to say unto you. Praying hereupon the Creator to keepe you in his holy and worthy tuition.
Written at Paris the fourth day of September. Signed, CHARLES, and beneath FIZES, and above,
To M. de Gordes, Knight.
THE KINGS LETTERS to the Duke of Guise, his Lieutenant generall in Champaigne, and in Prye.
COusin, 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 professe the new Religion, and quietly use themselves in your Government, should by you be maintained and preserved in all surety under my protection and safeguard, without giving them any hinderance by trouble in their persons, goods, and families: yet neverthelesse I have been advertised that in certain places of my Realme there have been many sackings and pillings done by such as dwell in the houses of them of the said new Religion, as well in the fields as in the Cities, under colour of the commotion which happened in my City of Paris the 24. day of August last, a thing beyond all measure displeasant and disagreeable unto mee, and for the which I would have provision & remedy. Wherefore I pray you, Cousin, that above all things, as you desire that I should know the good affection you beare to the good weale of my service, you take that matter next your heart, to preserve and maintaine within your Government, according to that which I have so plainly told and written to you heretofore, that all such of the new Religion which behave themselves quietly, take no wrong or violence, whether it bee for the preservation of their goods or persons, no more than to my Catholike subjects. And where any wrong or out-rage shall be offered them against my will, as I have before declared, so do I now by these presents declare; I will and intend that you shal 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 my self throughly obeyed herein as I would be, and my cōmandements received amongst all my subjects in another sort than they have been heretofore. Assuring you cousin, that the best newes that I shall receive from you, shall be to heare say that you chastise those wel, of whom I am disobeyed. And thus Cousin, I pray God to keep you in his holy tuition.
Written from Paris the 28. of September, 1572. Signed CHARLES: And underneath BRULART.