The Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, Appendix (2 of 4)

The Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms · Appendix (2 of 4)

p. 21PipinbbFab. par. 6. …. 154. Gaguin the Gen. Hist. o… France. deceasing, Charlemain and Charles the great, his sons, reigned joyntly over the Frenchmen, by their joyous admittance. Having now two Kings instead of one ccFab. par. 6. c. 2…4. Grimst. …mper. Hist. p. 390, 391. Gaguin▪ The Gen. hist of France, Turpin Antoninus, Munst. Crespin, Papyr. Masson, and others.Lewes, sirnamed the godly, sonne of Charles the great, (a pious, yet unfortunate Prince) by meanes of his sonne Lothair, was first imprisoned, and then by a Councell and Parliament held at Compaygne, by authority of the spirituall and temporall Lords, and of that Parliament, discharged of all rule and dominion, as well of the Empire, as of the Realme of France; after that shorne a Monke, and thrust into the Monastery of Saint Marke, where he was strictly guarded; and when some of the Nobles and people afterwards desired Lothair to release and restore him to his former dignity; he answered them: That the deposing of him was done by the whole Authority of the Land; wherefore if he should be againe restored, it must be by the same Authority, and not by him onelyonly: After which by the Lords assents hee was restored.

ddFab. par. 6. c. 175. Gaguin. Gen. hist. of France.Lewes and Charles, after Lewes Balbus their fathers death, were joynt Kings of France, and being very young, by a Parliament held at Meaux, Lewes the Emperour, their Vncle, was declared to be more apt to rule the Kingdome of France, then these Infants, or Barnard their Guardian, and these Children held by some illegitimate. Whereupon, by the greater number of voyces an Ambassadour was sent to the Emperour, to come and take upon him the Rule of middle France, which he comming to doe, his Nephewes friends compounded with him, and then caused these Infants to be c…owned and proclaimed Kings.

eeFab. par. 6. c. 175. Gaguin. Gen. hist. of France, Herma-Schedel, Crispin and others.Charles the simple, at his Fathers death, Anno 895. being too yong to take upon him the charge of the Realme, the Lords of France put him under good and convenient guiding, and of assent they chose Eudo, a man of great fame and worth, to be King of the Land, for the terme of his life, and to guide the Land, till Charles should come to his lawfull age, whom they put under Eudo his tuition, making him King in his stead, who was crowned of Walter then Archbishop of Senys. After which when Eudo knew he should dye, he called before him the Lords and Nobles of France, charging them by solemne Oath, that after his death they should immediately crowne Charles for their King (whom he had brought up with diligence in learning and all Princely vertues) being then of age to governe. Charles comming to the Crowne, the Danes miserably wasted …is Kingdomes; Whereupon his Nobles and people assembled themselves in sundry companies, and w…nt to the King, shewing their misery and blaming his fearfulnesse p. 22and negligence, that he no more for him resisted the Danes cruelty; Whereupon (he out of feare belike, lest they should chuse another King to protect them) compounded with Rollo chiefe Commander of the Danes, giving him all Normandy, and his owne Daughter in Marriage, to purchase peace; ffFabian. p. 6. c. …82, 183. 186, 201. Gaguin. Turpin, General Hist. of France.Charles being afterwards slaine by Hebert Earl of Vermendoyes, Algina his wife mistrusting the Frenchmen, fled secretly with her young sonne Lewes (Heire to the Crowne) to Edward the Elder into England: Whereupon, that the Land might not be without a Ruler, the Lords of France assembled at Paris, and there tooke Councell to elect a new King: where, after long debate, they named and crowned Raulfe, sonne to Richard Duke of Burgundy King, as next Heire to the Crown but young Lewes: Raulfe dying after he had reigned 12 yeares, the Nobles hearing that Lewes was alive in England, sent for him into France and crowned him their King.ggFab. par. 6. c. 201. 202. Gaguin. Turpin, Chron. Chron. Opmerus, Crisp. Gen. hist. Fran. Lewes the 6. dying without issue, being the last King of Pipens blood (who enjoyed the Crowne 10. discents) Hugh Capet usurped the Crowne, putting by Charles Duke of Loraigne, Vncle and next heire to Lewes, whom by the Treason of the Bishop of Lao…, he took prisoner: After which the Crowne continued in this Hugh and his Heires.hhFab pa. 7. c. 243, 244. Gaguin. the. Gen. hist. of France. Turpin Thea…. of honor, l. 2. c. 12. Philip the 2. of France, by a counsell of his Prelates was excommunicated for refusing to take Ingebert his wife, whom he unlawfully put from him, and to renounce Mary whom he had married in her stead; And calling a Parliament, they concluded, that King Iohn of England should be summoned to appeare as the French Kings Liege-man, at another Parliament to be holden at Paris within 15. dayes after Easter, to answer to such questions as there should be proposed to him for the Dutchy of Normandy, and the County of Angeou and Poytiers; who not appearing at the day, Philip hereupon invaded and seized them: After which, iiFab. pa. 7. An. 1259. p. 68.Lewes the 9. and Henry the 3. of England in a parliament at Paris, made a finall composition for these Lands.

kkFab. pa. 7. p. 102, 103. &c. Gaguin.Lewes the 10. being under age, was thought of many unsufficient to governe the Realm and when he had a mind to goe to the holy Warre (as it was then deemed) he did not undertake it, but by the advice of his great Councell of Spirituall and Temporall Lords and persons, who assisted him therein.llFab. pa. 7. p. 187, 188. the Gen. hist. of France. Philip the 4. in the 27. yeare of his Raigne, raised a great Taxe throughout France, (which before that time was never heard nor spoken of) by his absolute Prerogative, without consent of his Estates in Parliament, which had the sole power of imposing Taxes: Which Taxe all Normandy, Picardy and Champaigne allying themselves together, utterly refused to pay: which other Countries hearing of, tooke the same opinion, so that a great rumour and murmur was raised throughout the Realme of France, in such wayes, that the King for pacifying the people, was faine to repeale the said Taxe.

mmFab. pa. 7. p. 187, 188. Gagu. Gen. hist. of France.Lewes 11. of France dying without issue male, left his Queen great with child, whereupon Philip his Brother reigned as Regent of France, till the childe was borne, which proved a male, named Iohn: who dying soone after, Philip was crowned King at Paris, albeit, that the Duke of Burgoyn and others withstood his Coronation, and would have preferred the Daughter of King Lewes. But other of the Lords and Nobles of France, would not agree, that a woman should inherit so great a Kingdome, it being contrary to the Salique law: This Philip by advise of evill counsell set a great Taxe upon his Commons to the Fifth part of their movable goods, at which they murmured and grudged wondrous sore, and before it was levied, hee fell into a Feever Quartan and great Flixe, whereof hee dyed: which Sickenesse fell upon p. 23him by prayer of the Commons for laying on them the said grievous Taxes. nnBodin. Common…cal. l. 3. c. 1. p. 254.Charles the fifth of France,See the generall Hist. of France in his life. having a purpose to drive all the English …u… of Aquitaine, and other parts of his Kingdome; and being provided of all things which he thought needfull for the doing of it, yet would not undertake the warre without the counsell and good liking of the Nobility and people, whose helpe he was to use therein: Wherefore he commanded them all to be assembled to a Parliament at Paris to have their advice, and by their wisdome to amend what had by himselfe not altogether so wisely been done, and considered of. And this warre being at last decreed by the Councell, prospered in his hand, and tooke good successe. Whe…eas when the Subjects see things done, either without counsell, or contrary to the wills and decrees of the Senate or Co…ncell, then they contemne and set them at naught, or elfe fearfully and negligently do the command of their Princes; of which contempt of Lawes, Magistrates, and sedditious speeches ensue among the people; and so at length most dangerous rebellion, or else open conspiracy against the Prince, as Bodin observes. ThisooFabian. part. 7. p. 192. 193, 263, 274. Speeds Hist. p. 687, 694, 786, 787, 788. Halls Chron. 2. H. 5. See the generall Hist. of France, and Gaguinus in the life of Iohn. Charles dying without Issue Male, leav…ng his Wife great with Childe, Philip Earle of Valoyes, his Nephew, was by the Barons and Lords made Protector and Regent of the Realme of France, untill such time as the Queene was delivered; who being brought to bed of a Daughter onelyonly, hereupon Philip was crowned King. Betweene him and King Edward the third of England, and their Councells, arose great disputations for the Right and Title to the Crowne of France; for it was thought, and strongly argued by the Councell of England, for so much as King Edward was sonne and sole Heire to his Mother Queene Isabel, daughter to King Philip le Beaw, that he should rather be King of France, then Philip de Valoyes, that was but Cousin German to Philip le Beaw: Of which disputations, the finall resolution of the Lords and Parliament, was, That for an old Decree and Law by Authority of Parliament long before made, (which the English much oppugned) that no woman should inherite the Crowne of France; therefore the Title of Edward by might of the Frenchmen, was put by; and Philip by an Act of the whole French State, (by which his right was acknowledged) admitted to the Government of the same. After which one Simon Poylet was hanged in Chaines, Headed, and Quartered at Paris, for saying in open audience, that the right of the Crowne of France belonged more rightfully unto King Edward, then to King Philip; who had long warres about these their Titles to the Crowne.

KingqqFabian. part. 7. p. 280, to 298. Gaguinus, the generall Hist. of France, in the life of this Philip and King Iohn. Iohn of France, in the fifth year of his reig…, had by authority of the three estates of his Realme assembled in …arliament (to wit of the spirituall Lords and Nobles, and Heads of Cities and good Townes of his Kingdome) 3000 men waged for a yeare, granted to him to defend him and his Realme, aga…n…t Edward the third King of England; who the next yeer following took King Iohn prisoner in the field: Whereupon Charles Duke of Normandy, his eldest sonne, and Heire apparent, assembled the 3 Estates at Paris in a Parliament there held, craving aid of them to redeem their captivated King; who promised their uttermost help herein, desiring convenient time to consult thereof: Which granted, the three Estates holding their Councell at the Gray Fryers in Paris, appointed fifty person▪ among them to take view, and make search of the grieyances and evill guidance of the Realme; who after examination appointed six of themselves to acquaint the Duke, That the Realme before time had beene misguided by ill Officers, and except remedy for it were shortly found, it should stand in perill to be lost; wherefore they besought him to discharge all such as p. 24they would name unto him, and over that to forfeit their Goods to the Kings use. And first they name Peter Archbishop of Roa…, Chancellor of France, Sir Simond de Bury, chiefe Counsellor of the King and Parliament too, Sir Robert de Lorize before time Chamberlaine to the King, Sir Nicholas Brake Master of the kings Palaces, Engueram Burgesse of Paris & under Treasurer of France, Iohn Pryll Soveraigne of the money & Kings accounts, and Iohn Channeon Treasurer of the Kings wars. All which Officers they would should be discharged all royall Offices for ever: Also they would that the King of Naverne (then imprisoned by the King of France) should be set free, and that Duke Charles himselfe would be contented to be advised and counselled by such as they should appoint unto him; namely, by foure Prelates, twelve Knights, and twelve Burgesses, which eight and twenty persons should have authoritie to rule and ordaine all things necessary for the Realme, to set in and put out all Officers appertaining to the Realme, with divers other requests which unto the Duke were nothing agreeable: VponUpon which requests the Duke gave answere, That he would counsult with his Councell, and thereupon would shape unto them some reasonable answere. But first he desired to know, what aide the three Estates would give unto him, for delivery of his Father: Whereunto was answered, that the Clergie had given a disme and a halfe to be paid in a yeare, with that, that they may have license of the Pope, and the Lords as much to be levied of their lands, and the Commons the tenth penny of their moveable goods. The morrow following the Duke and his Councell met, and after many Messages betweene them and the three Estates, offers to reforme some part of the Articles. But the Estates firmely answered, That unlesse he would reforme all the said faults, and confirme the said Articles to their minde, for the Commonwealth of all the Land, they should not aide him with their Goods, like as they shewed him. The Duke hereupon secretly acquainted King John of these proceedings, who wrote to him againe, that in no wise he should agree to the said requests, and to the end that these matters should not be touched in open Parliament, he deferred the debate of them from day to day; and at last by advice of his Councell, dis…olved the Parliament of the three Estates, and commanded every man to returne home without any effect of their long counsell: Wherewith many of the said persons were grievously miscontent, saying among themselves, that they perceived well this was done by the Duke to the intent the requests by them devised, should not take place, but that the old misgovernance might continue like as before times it had done: Wherfore divers of them assembled againe at the Gray Fryers, and there made out divers Copies of the said requests, to bear them into their Countries, and shew them unto the good Townes. And albeit the Duke after this Councell thus disolved, asked ayde of the Citie of Paris, and other good Townes to maintaine his wars; he was plainly answered, **Note this.That they might not ayde him, unlesse the three Estates were againe reassembled, and that the grant of the ayde might passe by their authority: Whereunto the Duke in no wise would agree. In the mean time the 3 Estates of Languedock assembled in their Province by the Earle of Armenake, the Kings Lieutenant, to make ayde for the Kings deliverance, agreed to purvey at their proper costs 500 men at Armes, with a furniture to every speare, and a 1000 souldiers on horsbacke, 1000 Arbalestres, and 2000 others called Gunsiers: all which to be waged for a whole yeare; and farther ordained, that no man should weare any furres of great price: that women should leave the rich attire off their heads, and weare neither pearle nor gold upon them, nor silver in their girdles; and that all p. 25manner of Minstrelsie should be put to silence, so long as the King remained prisoner. The Duke and his Counsell after this, proclaimed at Paris certaine coynes and values of money, newly ordained by them; with which Proclamation the Commons of the City were grievously moved: And for reformation, the Provost of the Merchants with others, rode to the Earle of Angeou the Dukes Brother and Lieutenant, (who was then absent at Meaux) requesting him to cease the use of that money; And if not they would use such meanes, that it should not be suffered to be put forth nor taken within the City: Whereupon after long debate it was agreed, that the money should be stopped till the Dukes pleasure was knowne: VponUpon whose returne, the Dukes counsell sent for the Provost, and desired him to suffer the said money to run and be currant throughout the said City; Which, the Provost with his company utterly denyed: and after many great and bold words, departed from the Counsell in great ire, and after their returne unto the City, incensed so the Commonalty, that they set apart all workmanship and Occupation, shutting in their Shops, and drew unto their Armour and Harnes. The Duke informed of this murmure of the Commonalty of the City, straitly commanded the Provost, that the Kings peace were kept within the City; and that he with certaine Citizens should appeare at the Palace before him and his Counsell the next day, at an houre assigned: at which time the Provost with his company came and were conveyed into the Parliament Chamber, where the Duke and his Counsell were present. Then the Duke after certaine Challenges made to the Provost for his obstinacy and misleading the Commonalty of the City, said: That, albert the King by his **So it hath been co…ceived by some, the King by Law might do this in England but Sir Edward Cooke in his Institutes on Magna Char…a, f. 575. to 5…9. hath largely proved the cont…ary; that the King by his Prerogative and Proclamation cannot alter, enhanse or abase his coyne, but in and by the Parliament onelyonly, because it is contrary to sundry Statutes, it is the sinues and life of trade, and every mans estate consists in it, and so all have a common interest therein, which cannot be altered but by common consent in Parliament.Prerogative, might at his pleasure, and for his advantage, make his monies when he would, and so to suffer them to be currant thorow his Realme; yet for the weale and ease of his Subjects, considering their manifold and late charges, he was content, that at this season, this new money should be spared; and that the 3. estates should be againe assembled, and that they should deprive all such persons then bearing Offices as they should thinke prejudiciall to the Realme, and over that, to ordaine such Money as might be beneficiall for the Land: Of all which Grants the Provost, to the intent, that he might of authority shew them unto the Common…lty of the Citie, de…ed a writing: The which the Duke to appease the people, though it were much contrary to his minde and his pleasure, granted unto his request. The thirtieth day of Ianuary ensuing, the Duke, at the request of the said Provost, sent certaine Officers to the houses of Simon de Burg, and others accused of misgoverning of the Realme, whose houses the said Officers seized and made Inventories of their goods: That done, the Duke sent out Commissions, and assembled the Three Estates againe at Paris, the 15. day of February: Where, in the parliament chamber in the presence of the Duke, Estates, and divers Nobles, Robert Coke Bishop of Laon by command of the Duke, made a long Oration, of the misguiding the King and the Land by meanes of evill Officers, as well by changing of money, as other many unlawfull Excises and Taxes, to the great impoverishment of the Commonalty of the Realme, and to the singular enriching and advancement of the said Officers; Wherefore the Three Estates prayed, that all such Officers may be removed from their Offices, and other that shall be thought more beneficiall for the King and his Realme to be admitted: Of which Officers the Archbishop of Roan (then newly made Cardinall) was noted for one, and other to the number of 21. whereof some were right neere to the Duke. After which Oration, Sir Iohn de Pigquine, in the name of the Three Estates offered, That the Three Estates should p. 26finde to the King 30000. men for an whole yeare, so as all things might after that day be ordered as the Bishop had before devised: All which Articles were unto them by the Duke granted, and incontinently all such Officers as they before had named were cleanly avoided, and other such, as by the said 3. Estates were thought most necessary, were put and chosen to their roomes, except that some of the old (as Masters of Accounts and some of the Pr…sidents and Masters of the Requests) were holden in for a time, to shew unto the new, how they should order and guide their said Offices: And the 26 of March was a new money proclaimed thorow Paris, such as the said 3. Estates had newly devised. The King informed of this, sends the Archbishop of Sennes and two Earles from Burdeaux where he was prisoner, with a Proclamation, which they caused to be proclaimed in Paris the 6. of April, That the people should not pay such Subsidies, as the 3. Estates had ordained for the waging of the 30000. men aforesaid, or for the Kings fine; and also that the 3. Estates after that day should no more assemble for any causes or matter before touched, till they had farther knowledge of the Kings pleasure: For which Proclamation the Citizens of Paris much blamed the said Bishop and Earles, who purchased it, who as soone as this Proclamation was made, for feare of the people, fled from Paris. VponUpon this Proclamation the Commons waxed so mad, that they left their occupations, drew them to Conventicles and Companies, and used many unfitting words of the King and his Counsell: Whereupon to avoid inconvenience, the Duke commanded a Watch to be kept in the City day and night, and certaine Gates of the City to bee kept shut. VponUpon the 9. day of April, another Proclamation was made all contrary to that other. By vertue whereof, it was charged, that the fore-said Subsidies should bee levyed, and also that the 3. Estates shouldre-assemble at Paris, the 5. day after Easter, and there to proceed upon all such matters as were before by them bega…. When the Estates meet againe there grew a difference between them and the Duke, about the subsidies for the finding of 30000. men, the summe assessed for that pu…pose being too small by much, the Clergy and Lords th…n refusing to pay any more then they were first sessed unto: By meanes of which difference, the assembly of State was dissolved. Whereupon strait command was given by the Duke to the Provost of Paris and others (who bare principall sway within the City, and were great stricklers and doers in the Assemblies of the 3. Estates, so that much of the businesse was ruled by them and their meanes;) that they should cease their Authority, and not to deale any more with the rule of the Realme, but onelyonly with the good rule and government of the City of Paris: That done, the Duke rode about to divers good Townes, making request to them for ayde, and to have this new money currant among them. But he sped little of his purpose. Then shortly after he assembled at Paris certaine person of 20. or 30. Townes next adjoyning, with whom he held a Counsell for sundry dayes; who in the end shewed him; that they might bring no thing to effect without the assembling the 3. states, besought him that they might be eft-soon assembled, trusting that they would then satisfie his minde: Upon which the Duke sent forth Commissions, charging the said 3. Estates to appeare before him at Paris the next Wednesday after All Saints day; which they did, where the Duke condiscending to their former Articles he gave the King of Navarre and the 3. Estates full content; who promised that they would demeane themselves to his Father and him, as true and dutifull Sub…ects; and advising … to take upon him the Government of the Realme, they created him Regent of France, during his fathers imprisonment. After this hee assembled the Estates and p. 27chiefe Burgesses of Cities at Paris, and acquainted them with the King of Englands large demands for his fathers inlargement; which were so displeasing to all the company, that they answered, The said Treatie was neither honourable nor profitable: And rather then the King should binde him and his land to such inconveniences, they would prepare to m…ke sharpe Warre against England: whereupon they granted to finde divers thousands of men at Arms, at their owne costs, for certain moneths, to relieve the King: And atqqFabian, part. …. p 305, 306, 311, 312. Generall Hist. of France, Gaguin▪ and others. another Parliament assembled when Iohn was dead, and Charles came to the Crowne, they granted an excise of every 4 penny of all things bought and sold for the maintenance of his warres, the spiritualty granted him a disme, and the Lords and Gentlemen were stinted at a certaine. And in the eleventh yeare of his reigne, he assembled his great Councell of Parliament at Paris, where among many Acts made for the weale of the Realme; he, with the assent of the Lords and Commons there assembled, enacted for a Law after that day to be continued, That all Heires of the Crowne of France, their fathert being dead, may be crownned as Kings of France, so soone as they attained to the age of fourteene years. And in the fifteenth yeare of his reigne, therrFabian. part. 7 p 3 7. se… p. 190, 191. 266, 477, &c. 355, 326, 357, 358, 359, 460. Walsing…em, Hist. Angl p. 235, 236. Duke of Flanders granted to those of Gaunt such Articles of agreement, for the confirmation of their liberties, the repealing of illegall taxes, the electing of their owne Officers, the Dukes Councellours, and the like (which you may read in Fabian) as plainly manifest this whole Dukedome and people to be of greater jurisdiction then himselfe, though invested with regall authoritie, and that he had no power to impose any taxes on them, without their grant and consent; the contrary whereof caused many bloudy warres among them.

Charles ssFabian. part. 7. p. 324. 355, 356, 357, 358, 363, 364. The generall Hist. of France… Gaguin… and others in his life.the seventh (after Fabians account, but sixt after the French History) a Childe of thirteene yeares, by reason of the difference between the Lords who should be Vic…gerent, was by the advice of the major part of the Lords, for the common good of the Realme, Crowned at Raynes within the age of fourteen yeares, contrary to a Law made in the eleventh yeare of his Father. In the fourth yeare of his reigne, the Citizens of Paris murmuring and grudging for divers impositions and taxes unduely leavied upon them, suddenly arose in great multitudes, intending to have distressed some of the kings Houshold: Whereupon soone after, the Kings Councell considering the weaknesse of the Treasure, and his great charges and needs; and assembling a Parliament of the Rulers of Paris, Roan, and other good Townes, exhorted them to grant the King in way of Subsidy, twelve pence in the pound, of all such Wares at that day currant, for the defence of the Realme and subjects. …o the which request, after consultation taken, it was answered; That the people were so charged in times past, that they might not beare any more charges till their necessity were otherwise relived: and so the King and his Councell at this time were disappointed. In his seventh yeare, by the Duke of Angeau his procuring, a tax was laid upon the Commons of France (without the three Estates:) Which to bring to effect, many friend… and promoters were made, as well of Citizens, as others. Whereupon the Commons of Paris and Roan became wilde, assembled in great companies, chose them Captains, and kept watch day and night, as if enemies had been about the Citie; utterly refusing to pay that Tax. This Charles being none of the wisest Prince, ruled by his houshold servants, and beleeving every light Tale brought unto him,ttFabian. ibid. Generall Hist. of France, p. 226. 227, 228, 229. marching against the Duke of Brittaine, as he came neare a wood, was suddenly met of a man like a Beggar, which said unto him, Whither goest thou Sir King? beware thou p. 28goe no further, for thou art betrayed, and into the hands of thine enemies thine owne Army shall deliver thee. With this monition the King was astonied, and stood still, and began to muse. In which study one of his followers that bare his Speare, sleeping on Horsback, let his Spear fall on his fellowes Helmet; with which stroke the King was suddenly feared, thinking his enemy had come unawares upon him; wherefore in anger he drew his sword, slew foure of his owne Kinghts ere he refrained, and took therewith such a deadly fear, as he fell forthwith distracted, and so continued a long season, being near at the point of death. VVhereupon his brother Lewes of Orleans, being but young, the States of France thought it not convenient to lay so heavy a burthen upon so weake shoulders; wherefore his two Vncles the Dukes of Berry and Burgoine, BY AVTHORITY OF THE STATES OF THE LAND, specially assembled in Parliament upon this occasion, tooke upon them to rule the Realme for that season, it being ordered by a speciall Law, that they should abstain from the name of Regent, unfit in this sudden accident, the King being alive, and of years: And because the Duke of Berry had but an ill name, to be covetous and violent and was therefore ill beloved of the French, his younger brother Philip Duke of Burgoyn, had the chiefe charge imposed on him; and though the Title was common to both, yet the effect of the author tie was proper to him alone, who changed divers Officers. After which the Duke of Orleance was made Regent, being the Kings younger brother, who p…essing the people with quo…idian taxes and …allages, and the spirituall men with dismes and other exactions, he was at length discharged of that digni…ie, and the Duke of Burgoyne put in that authoritie. After this our KinguuChron. 2. &. 5. H. 5. Henry the fift, gaining a great part of France, and pretending a good title to the Crowne (recited at large byxxHist p. 786. to 782. Hall and Iohn Speed) the Frenchmen to settle a peace, made this agreement with King Henry: yyFabian. part. 7. p. 399, 400, 475. Generall Hist. of France, Holingshed, Fabian, Walsingham, Graf…on, Hall.That he should marry Katharine the French Kings daughter, and be admitted Regent of France, and have the whole government and rule of the Realme, during Charles his life, who should be King of France, and take the profits of the Crowne whilest he lived; and that after the death of Charles, the Crowne of France, with all rights belonging to the same should remaine to King Henry, and to his Heires Kings: That the Lords spirituall and temporall, and the Heads and Rulers of Cities, Castles and Townes, should make Oath to King Henry, to be obedient to his lawfull commands concerning the said Regency, and after the death of Charles to become his true subjects and liegemen; That Charles should in all his writing name King Henry, his most dearest sonne, Henry King of England, and inheritour of the Crowne of France; That no imposition or tax should be put upon the Commons of France, but to the necessary defence and weale of the Realme; and that by the advice of both Councels of the Realmes of England and France, such stablished Ordinances might be devised, that when the said Realme of France, should fall to the said Henry, or his Heires, that it might with such unity joyne with the Realme of England, that one King might rule both Kingdomes as one Monarch; reserved alwayes to either Realme all Rights, Liberties, Franchises and Lawes, so that neither Realme should be subject unto other, &c. VVhichWhich Articles were ratified and agreed with the consent of the more part of the Lords spirituall and temporall of France: ButzzFabian, part. 7. p. 475, 478. Generall Hist. of France, Hall, Holinshed, Speed. Charles dying, his sonne Charles the eight, was by some part of France, and many Lords, reputed and knowledged King, but not crowned whiles the Duke of Bedford lived and remained Regent, our Henry the sixth, both in Paris and many p. 29other cities, being allowed for king of France. After his death, his sonneaaFabian, part. 7. p. 479. 480, 481▪ …88. Generall Hist. of France. L…wes the eleventh, (as Fabian accounts) by strength of friends was crowned king of France; who refused the counsell and company of his Lords, and drew unto him, as his chiefe Councellors, villaines and men of low birth, as Iohn de Lude, Iohn Bal…a, Oliver Devill, (whos… name for odiousnesse he changed into Daman) with others, whom he promoted to great honours and places: VVhereupon the Lords murmured, and were so discontented, that the Duke of Brittaine, and others, withdrew them from the king, and refused to come unto his presence when he sent for them, raising a great power: And when no peace could be mediated betweene the king and them, they met in a plaine battell at Chartres, where many were slaine on both sides, but the king lost the field. After which an accord was made betweene them, but the king continued his old courses, delighting more in the company of lewd, irreverent persons, to eate and drink with them, and to heare them talke of ribaldry and vicious fables, then to accompany his Lords, which might have won him much honour, going liker a Serving man then a Prince: and being a great oppressor of his subjects to maintaine hi… prodigality, for lack of money, he was driven of necessitie to aske a preste of the citizens of Paris; who, after many excuses, which might not be allowed, they lastly denyed the kings pleasure. VVherewithall he being grievously discontented, removed divers from their offices, and put many of the richest and head men of the citie to death, upon surmised causes, without proofs of justice: For which causes, and many other oppressions, the Lords againe assembled their people, intending to subdue the king, and to set his brother in his place, or to cause him otherwise to rule the Commonwealth: To which end all the Lords met at a Towne called Stampes, where they continued their Councell fifteene dayes, and then marched to Paris, sending four severall letters unto the citie; one to the Bishops and spirituall men, the second to the Consulls and headmen, the third to the Vniversitie, the fourth to the Commonnalty, signifying, That neither they nor any of their company were come thither as enemies to the Citie, or to warre against it, or the Commonwealth of the Land; but for the increase and augmentation thereof to the uttermost of their powers. VVhereupon these foure parties sent certaine Orators for them to the Lords, who after long communication with them had, returned to the citie with this report; First, the Lords would that the inhabitants of the City should consider the conditions of the King, which yearly oppressed his Subjects with taxes and other grievous servages. Secondly, how he despised the noble bloud of his Realme, and drew to him villaines and men of no reputation, by whose counsell onelyonly all the Common-weale of the Land was guided and ruled. Thirdly, how hee ruled his Subjects by force and will without administration of justice, and himself in all Counsels and Parliaments is Iudge of all causes, and calleth himselfe Counsels and Parliaments more for this singular weale then for the Common-weale of his Realme. Fourthly, how he enhaunsed men of low birth to great honours, and caused Noblemen to be obedient unto them, intending to bring the said ignoble men to be equall with the Princes of the Land. Fifthly, how the Lawes be delayed and bolstered by such as stand in his favour, wherethrough at this day Law is will, and will is Law, and no man almost in any surety of life or goods; insomuch that daily many have been banished and put to death for unlawfull causes, and also to any Noble-man at this day no power or roome of honour belongeth; so that to the wild Beasts in the Forrests appertaineth more Liberty and surety then to the more p. 30party of the Kings subjects. Sixthly, The great taxes and summes of money which daily be levied of the Commons be not spent in the Kings honourable needs, and for the Commonweale of the Realme, but are spent vainly and riotously, and bribed out of the Kings Coffers; for which enormities and misgovernance with many other, the said Lords were come thither in defensible wayes for the safeguard of their owne persons, as to the head and principall City of the Realme, for to have aide and Counsell, to reforme the foresaid evills, not intending any harme to the Kings person, or yet to remove him from his regality or Kingly Majestie; but to induce and advertize him to that which should be for his honour and the weale of his Realme, and to live in wealth and honour, as his Noble Progenitors lived before him; For which causes and considerations, the said Lords, as the Kings true Subjects, and friends to the Commonwealth of the Land, and of that City, desired to enter there to refresh them and their people, and to pay truly for all things they should take, without doing harme or violence to any person. All which requests and matters of the Lords shewed to the Inhabitants of the City, by fauour of some friends they there had, it was with the more partie well accepted, and thought convenient they should be received into the Citie; but by meanes of the Earle of Davoise it was respited, till they had further knowledge of the Kings pleasure: who comming out of Normandie into, Paris after diuers Skirmishes, the King and Lords fell to a Treaty of peace, whereupon Commissioners on both sides assembled and communed together by sundry times two dayes; In which season new strength of Souldiers came to the King out of Normand…. The Treatie hanging long, and a longer Truce being proclaimed, the souldiers fell to robbing, and other unlawfull acts; and at last, through obstinacy on both parties, all offers were refused, and the day of the Truces expiration approached, without hope of accord; whereupon provisions for warre were made on both sides. Then begun g…udges and murmures betweene the kings souldiers and the citizens of Paris: and shortly after newes came to the king, that the Castle and Citie of Roan was yeelded up to the Duke of Burbon: VVhereupon the King considering what great advantage the Lords had of him, both by strength and favour of the Commons, which daily drew unto them by sundry companies, in avoiding of more danger, concluded a peace: which being proclaimed thorowout all France, the King and Lords met, to whom the King shewed great semblance of kindenesse, specially to his brother Charles Duke of Normandy; wherein appeared great dissimulation, Lewes being of such conditions, That what he might not overcome with strength, he would win with dissimulation and treachery. Not long after the King warred upon Charles his brother, the Duke of Burgundy and Brittaine, and a Treaty of peace being propounded betweene them, Charles answered, That if a perfect concord should be established between the King and him, it should be authorized by the whole consent and counsell of the Barons of the Realme. VVith which the King being content, at Turon, in the monethmonth of April, a…d tenth yeare of his reigne, assembled a counsell of his Lords spi…tuall and temporall, in the which the demands of Charles, and offers of the king were shewed: And after the said Counce…l had at length reasoned the said demands and offers, it was finally determined, That the Dutchy of Norm…ndy was so appropriated unto the King of France, and to his heires, that in …o wise it might be dissevered from the Crowne; but that a perfect unitie might be had betweene the King and his brother, the King should be instanced to give yearly to his brother in recompence of the said Dutchy, 12000 pounds of Turon money, with certain land to be assigned with the p. 31name of a Duke, and 40000 ann…all rent of like money during his naturall life, for such portion as he claimed to be his right, within the Realme. To all which the king agreed, and to pardon the Duke of offences against his Majestie, and all such Lordships as he had wonne from him in Britaine, to restore: which offers Charles refusing, was the yeare following contented with the Dutchy of Guyan onelyonly, and so the warre of Normandy ceased. After Lewes his death most of his speciall and dearest beloved Servants and ill Councellours (whom he specially recommended to his sonne Charles the ninth on his death-bed) came to disgracefull ends:bbFabian. part. 7. p. 490, 521, 522, 523. Oliver Damman was beheaded for Treason, and Iohn Doyacon for trespasse and hatred unto the common people by his desert, was with all shame brought to the Market place at Paris, and there bereft of both his ears, and then banished the Court for ever; by reason whereof arose this proverbe among the Frenchmen, Principibus obsequi haeredit arium non esse, The favour of Princes is not hereditary.ccPhili. d… Com. l. 5. c. 18. Philip de Commines living under Lewes the eleventh, and Charles the eighth, by whom he was made Lord of Argenton, being in high favour with them, and a great Councellor of State, hath this notable passage, against the French Kings power then to impose any taxes on their Subjects, without their free assents in a Parliament of the 3. Estates, though the contrary be now daily practised, to the intollerable grievance of the subjects; ccPhili. d… Com. l. 5. c. 18.Is there any King or Prince that hath power to leavie one penny upon his subjects, besides his demains, without leave or consent of those that must pay it, unlesse it be by tyrannie and violence? A man will say, that sometime a Prince cannot tarry to assemble his Estates, because it would require too long time. Whereunto I answer…, That if he move a Warre offensive, there needeth no such haste, for he may have leisure enough at his owne pleasure to make preparation; and further, he shall be much stronger▪ and much more feared of his enemies, when he moveth warre with the consent of his subjects, then otherwise. Now as touching a warre defensive, that Cloud is seene long before the tempest fall, especially when it is a forraine warre; and in this case good subjects ought not to complaine, nor to refuse any thing that is laid upon them: Notwithstanding such invasion cannot happen so suddenly, but the Prince may have leisure at the least to call together certaine wise personages, to whom he may open the causes of the warre, using no collusion therein, neither seeking to maintaine a trifling warre upon no necessitie, thereby to have some colour to leavie money. Money is also necessary in time of peace, to fortifie the Frontiers, for defence of those that dwell upon them, lest they be taken unprovided, but this must be done measurably. In all these matters the wisdome of a sage king sufficeth, for if he be a just Prince, he knoweth what he may do, and not do, both by Gods Lawes and mans. To be short, in my opinion, of all the Seniories in the world that I know, the Realme of England is the Countrey where the Commonwealth is best governed, the people least oppressed, and the fewest buildings and houses destroyed in civill warre, and alwayes the lot of misfortune falleth upon them that be authors of this warre: NoteOur King is the Prince in the whole world that hath least cause to alledge that he hath priviledges to leavie what the listeth upon his subjects, considering that neither he nor any other Prince hath power so to doe; and those that say he hath, do him no honour, neither make him to be esteemed any whit the mightier Prince thereby, but cause him to be hated and feared of his neighbours, who for nothing would live under such a government: But if our King, or those that seeke to magnifie and extoll him, should say, I have so faithfull and obedient subjects that they deny me nothing I demand, and I p. 32am more feared, better obeyed, and better served of my subjects, than any other Prince living; they endure patiently whatsoever I lay upon them, and soonest forget all charges past. This (me thinks, yea, I am sure) were greater honour to the King, then to say, I leavie what I list, and have priviledge so to doe, which I will stoutly maintaine. King Charles the fift used no such termes, neither did I ever heare such language proceed from any king, but from divers of their servants, who thought they did their Master great service in uttering such speeches; but, in mine opinion they misbehaved themselves towards their Prince, and used such language, partly because they would seeme to be good servants, and partly because they knew what they said. But for a manifest proofe of the French mens loyaltie and obedience to their Prince, we need alledge none other example then that we have seene our selves of late by experience, when the Three Estates were assembled at Towrs, after the death of our Master King Lewes the eleventh, which was in the yeare of our Lord, 1483.Note. A man might have thought this good assembly to be dangerous for the kings estate▪ yea, and divers there wereof mean calling, and lesse honesty: that said then, and often said since, That it is Treason to make mention of assembling the Estates, and a thing tending to the diminishing of the Kings authoritie; but themselves are those that worke Treason against God, the king, and the Commonwealth; neither doe any use these speeches, but either such as are in authorities without desert and unworthy thereof, or such as are common Tale-carriers, and accustomed to talke of trifling matters, or such as feare great assemblies, lest their doings should there be ripped up and reprehended, &c. ddGen. hist. of France. p. 421. 423.Charles the eighth of France, beeing but thirteene yeares of age when the Crowned descended to him; hereupon in the year 1484. a generall Parliament was held at Towrs, with more free accesse then had beene usuall, yet not so effectuall as was expected, every one seeking rather to maintaine his private authoritie then to procure the peoples ease. In this Paliament the pragmatick sanction was restored, to use it as they had accustomed. The Constables sword was given to the Duke of Bourgon, the government of the Kings person to his Sister, a cunning woman, and somewhat of her fathers humour; but the name of Regent was forbidden to them all, to prevent jealousies: and there was a Counsell enacted of Twelve, by whom matters should be dispatched in the kings name; of the which Lewes Duke of Orleance should be President. Lewes discontented with the device, seekes to hold his ranke; he pretends, that being the first Prince of the blood, the Regency belonged unto him: he assists at the Councell in Parliament, and in the assemblies in Towne, and notwithstanding the last VVill of King Lewes, and the Decree of the Estates, yet will he by force have the name and effect of Regent. VVhereupon discontents arising, he leaves the Court in discontent, and raised a civill warre. However, the Estates setled the Regencie and affaires of the Realme.eeGen. hist. of France. p. 575. to 580. Grimst. Imper. hist. p. 647, 648. Anno 1525. Francis the first King of France was taken prisoner by the Emperour Charles the fifth in the Battell of Pavia; who by mediation of Friends for his enlargement, sent the Earle of Reux his Lord S…eward, to offer the King Liberty, so as he would resign all the right she pretended in Italy; restore the Dutchy of Burgongue, as belongeth to him by right, with Provence, and Dolphine for the Duke of Bourbon, to incorporate them with other Lands which he had formerly enjoyed, and to make all together a Kingdome. Moreover the Emperour offered to give him his sister in marriage, propounding many other conditions; so absurd and void of reason, as it is better to let the curious reade them in the Originalls themselves. Amongst all losses, that of Liberty toucheth neerest; p. 33but Francis having learned to withstand all adversity with a constant resolution, said, I will dye a Prisoner rather then make any breach in my Realm for my deliverance, whereof I neither WIL NOR CAN alienate any part without the consent of the Soveraign Courts and Officers, in whose hands remains the authority of the whole Realm We preferre the generall good before the private interest of Kings persons. If the Emperour will treat with me, let him demand reasonable things which lye in my power, then shall he finde me ready to joyne with him, and to favour his greatnesse. The Emperour seeing the King constant in this resolution, in the end yeelded to his delivery, upon these termes, That within six weekes after his delivery he should consigne the Dutchy of Burgongue to the Emperour, with all the dependancies, as well of the Dutchie, as of the County, the which should hereafter be sequestred from the Soveraigntie of the Realme of France; That he should resigne to the Emperour all his rights pretended to the Estates of Naples, Milan, Genoa, an… Ast: That he should quit the Soveraignty of Flaunders and Arthois, &c. Hereupon the King being enlarged, and arrived at Bayonne, he was required, to ratifie the Accord, which he had promised to doe when hee came to a free place: but he delayed it with many excuses, giving the Emperour to understand, that before he proceeded to such an act, it was necessary that he should pacifi… his Subjects, who were discontented with bonds which tended to the diminution of the Crowne of France, &c. After which, the Pope and the Venetians sending Messengers unto him, he complained of the Emperour, that he had wronged him in that he had forced him to make impossible promises, and that he would be revenged if …ver occasion were offered; and that he had often told him, **Not…that it was not in the power of a French King to binde himselfe to the alienation of any thing depending of the Crowne, without the consent of the Generall Estates: that the Lawes of Christians did not allow, that he which was taken in Warre should be detained in perpetuall prison, which was a punishment proper to Malefactors, and not for such … had bin beaten by the cruel…y of fortune: that all men knew that Bonds made by constraint in prison, were of no value, and that the capitulation being of no force, the faith likewise which was but accessary, and the confirmation of the same could not be bound: that by the oath which he had taken at R…emes at his Coronation, he was bound (according to the custome of other Kings of France) not to alienate the patrimony of the Crowne; and therefore for these reasons he was no lesse free then ready to abate the Emperors pride. The Emperor growing jealous of the Kings delayes, for ratification thereof sent one unto him, to be certified of his intent, who found him very unwilling to leave Burgundy; which being very prejudicall to the Crowne of France, he said, was not in his power to observe; and that hee could not alien the Bourguinans without their assents in an assembly of the Estates of the Country▪ which he intended to call shortly to know their minds. By which it is most apparent, that the Kings of France have no power at all to dispose of their Crown lands or alienate them to others (as other Subjects may doe) because they hold them onelyonly in the right of their Crowne for their Kingdomes use and service, the true proprieters of them. Upon which very groundttMatthew Paris, p. 270, 271. Philip Augustus King of France, Anno 1216. in a solemne Assembly of the States at Lyons, told Walo the Popes Legate (who came to prohibit his Sonne Lewes to goe to receive the Crowne of England, because King Iohn had resigned it to the Pope;) That no King or Prince can give away his Kingdom without the consent of his Barons, who are bound to defend the Kingdome; and if the Pope decreed to defend this errour, he should give a most pernitious Example to all kingdomes: p. 34domes: Whereupon all the Nobles of France began to cry out with one mouth, That they would stand for this Article unto death, That no King or Prince by his sole pleasure could give his Kingdome to another, or make it tributary, whereby the Nobles of the Realme should be made servants: And the next day Lewes his Advocate alledged, that King Iohn for his homicides and many of her enormities, was justly rejected by his Barons, that Hee should not reigne over them. That he could not give the Crowne of England to any one without the assent of his Barons; and that when he had resigned it, he presantly ceased to be a King, and the Kingdome became void without a King, and being so vacant could not be disposed of without the Barons, who had lawfully elected Lewes for their King: who in pursuance of this his Title, (which the Estates of France held just,) sailed into England, took possession of the Kingdome, received homage of all the Barons, and Citizens of London, who joyfully received him, taking an Oath upon the Evangelists, to restore them their good Lawes, together with their lost Inheritances.

ggThe generall Hist. of France, p. 657. to 690.Henry the 2. of France being casually slaine by the Earle of Montgommery in running at the Tilt, left the Crowne to Francis the 2. being but about 16. yeares of age, the Queen Mother, with his wives Vncles the Duke of Guise, and the Cardinall of Loraigne, hereupon usurped the Government of his person and Realme, dispossessed the chiefe Officers of the Crowne, kept backe the Princes of the Blood from Court, the true and lawfull Governours of the State during the Kings minority, and plotted the meanes to raise their race to the Royall Throne, by displacing all great Officers, substituting others of their owne faction, and endeavouring to extirpate the Protestant party, whom they feared as most opposite to their treacherous designes; They doe and undoe, place and displace in Parliament and Privi… Councell, like absolute Kings; they revoke all alienations for life or yeares made by the deceased King in recompence of any services, except sales; they caused divers Protestants to be put to d…ath, imprisoned, pillaged: Wherewith the princes, Officers and people being generally discontented, to redresse the present and prevent all future disasters that might ensue, require a generall Parliament (as the Soveraigne cure for such diseases, whereby the Queen Mother might be put from her usurped Regency, and those of Guise excluded from the Kings person) who to please the king, perswade him, that their opposites sought only to bridle and make him a Ward, and that he should hold them enemies to his Authority and GVILTY OF HIGH TREASON THAT TALK OF A PARLIAMENT. The King of Spaine to crosse them, by Letters to the King his Brother-in-law, declares himselfe (for the good affection he bare to him) Tutor and Protector of him, his Realme and affaires, against those that would change the Government of the Estate, as if the King were not capable of the Government. Pleasant people, which reject so much the word of lawfull tutelage, and yet usurped it against the Lawes and Orders of the Realme, holding it onelyonly by tyranny. After this they cast many slanders on the Protestants, put Anne du Burge and other Councellours of Parliament to death, pistoll Anthony Minard president of the Parliament, publish sundry Edicts against those of the reformed Religion, promise great recompences to those that discover their assemblies, fill their prisons with them, imploy ayre, fire and water to ruine them, and kept the king from hearing his Subjects complaints. The princes were kept backe, the greatest of the Realme out of credit, threatned, and secretly pursued to death, the convocation of the Estates refused, the parliaments corrupted, the Judges p. 35for the most part at the Guisians devotion, and the publike treasure, offices and benefices given to whom they pleased. This their violent government against the lawes, and orders of the Realme, purchased them wonderfull hatred, and caused many which could no longer endure these oppressions, to consult VPONUPON SOME IVST DEFENCE, to the end they might preserve the just and ancient Government of the Realme. Note.They demand advice, TOVCHING LAW AND CONSCIENCE OF MANY LEARNED LAWYERS AND DIVINES: who resolved, THAT THEY MIGHT LAWFVLLY OPPOSE THEMSELVES against the government which the house of Guise had usurped, AND AT NEED TAKE ARMES TO REPVLSE THEIR VIOLECE; so as the Princes, who in the case are born Magistrates, or some one of them, would undertake it, being required by the Estates of the Realme, or by the sounder part of them. They who first thought of this Act of consequence, had severall considerations: Some, moved with a true zeale to serve God, the King and Realme, thought they could not doe a greater worke of pietie, then to abolish Tyrannie, rescue the State, and to finde some meanes to ease them of the Religion. There were others desirous of change, and some were thrust on with hatred, for the wrongs which the house of Guis… had done them, their kinsmen and friends: yet all had one designe to suppresse this unlawfull government. In these consultations it was held necessary to seize on the Duke of Guise, and the Cardinall his brother, being advowed by one chiefe member of the State, and then to require an assembly of the Three Estates, to the end they might yeeld an account of their Government, & provide for the King and Realm. After which they make the Prince of Conde acquainted with this their designe, & engage him in this quarrel; which being discovered, produced a long bloody civill war against the Protestants, under this and the two succeeding Kings; in which warre, those that died, departed this world with this singular content, to have couragiously sacrificed their lives for their countries libertie: So the generally History of France; in which and in Richard Dinothus you may read at large, both the History and the lawfulnesse of this defensive warre, overtedious to transcribe.

Francis ccGenerall Hist. of France, 692, &c. & Richardus Dinothus de Bello Civili Gallico Religionis causa suscepto. l. 2, 3, 4, 6. Speeds Hist. 1211, 1212 1213. K. lames Answer to Cardinall Peron.dying, the Crowne descended to Charles the ninth, being but eleven yeares of age, and a Parliament of the Estates being assembled on the three and twentieth days of December, 1560. The Queene Mother was thereby allowed and confirmed Regent during the Kings minority: In severall Parliaments contradictory Acts are made, some restraining, others granting the free exercise of the Reformed Religion thorowout the Realme. The Guisian Popish faction, being the strongest party, most powerfull at Court, and intimatest with the King, notwithstanding all Acts for the Protestants immunitie and libertie of conscience, impose divers illegall restraints upon them, commit many outrages and massacres on them, for which they could have no redresse; whereupon for their own defence and preservation, after many fruitlesse Petitions, & delusory promises, they take up Arms; whereupon many bloody civill wars ensue. Many propositions and overtures of Peace were made by the Guisian royall party, not one of them reall, but all to get advantages, and over-reach the Protestants, against whom they had the most mischievous designes in agitation, when they seemed most earnestly to desire Peace. Four or five severall conclusions of Peace were solemnly made and ratified betweene them, but no sooner made and proclaimed, but p. 36presently violated of the King and Popish party, by massacres, and new treacherous Plots to extirpate the Protestant party; so that every accommodation proved but a seminary of a new and more bloody warre, almost to the utter ruine of France. In the yeare 1592. when a publicke peace was made, and all differences to outward appearance, buried in eternall oblivion; the King, contrary to his faith and oath, caused the Admirall of France, (the Protestants chiefe pillar) as he departed from the Councell to dinner, to be shot with a Harguebuze, which carried away the forefinger of his right hand, and wounded him in the left arme The king to colour this treachery, sweares with an execration to the King of Navarre, and others who complained of this outrage, to take such exemplary punishment on the offendors, as the Admirall and his friends should have cause to rest satisfied, commands them to be pursued, appoints three of the Parliament to make information against them, protests after this again and again, to be exceeding sorry; that this act touched his honour, that he will be revenged for it, so as the memory thereof should remaine for ever; writes to the governours of the Provinces, chiefe Townes, and Magistrates, That he would take such order as the Authors of so wicked an act should be knowne and punished: And to his Ambassdours to forraigne Princes, That they should make it knowne to all the world, that this outrage did displease him. And for the Admirals safetie, he commands the Captaines of his Guards, to give him as many of his Guard as he pleased, to suffer no Papist to enter his lodging; and adviseth all the Gentlemen Protestants then in Paris to lodge about the Admirals lodging. But all this Court Holy-water was onelyonly to keep every Bird within his owne nest, and a Pitfall to entrap the chiefe of the Protestants: For the same day after dinner, the King and Queene Mother, the Duke of Guise, and others, take counsell to murther the Admirall, and all the chiefe Protestants, the night ensuing, not onelyonly in Paris, but thorowout all France, whiles they were sleeping in their beds. Which most tyrannicall barbarous Tragedie was accordingly acted, the Admirall slain in his lodging, and his head cut off, carryed to the King and Queen Mother, who causing it to be embalmed, sent it to the Pope and Cardinall of Lorrain, for an assurance of the death of their most capitall enemy: all the Protestants, Noblemen and Gentlemen, lodging in the Admiralls Q…arter, undergoe the like Butchery; the Streets of Paris are strewed with Carkases, the pavements, market places and river dyed with Protestant blood, about ten thousand of them being thus treacherously massacred in their beds, at such a season when they thought themselves most safe, and that on the Lords owne sacred day, a very unsutable time for such a bloody, prophane, infernall sacrifice. No sooner was this m…tchlesse treachery of this king against his owne naturall subjects executed, but he avowes and justifies that which he but the day before so solemnly and openly disclaimed, as a meanes to cut off all commotions for time to come. But this blood-shed begat new warres, and made the Protestants in Languedoc, Rochell; and other parts, to take up Armes in their owne defence, and stand more strictly on their guard than ever before: AndiiGen. hist. of France. p. 744. Fox Acts and… Mon▪ Vol. 3. p. 1026. Edit. u…t. God himselfe out of his Divine justice, after this horrible Butchery committed by this dissembling, cruell, blasphemous King, smote him with an answerable disease, causing him to wallow in his owne blood, which he pitifully vomited out in great abundance, by all the conduits of his body, for div…rs houres, till he dyed: (A just judgement for him that barbarously shed blood thorowout all the Provinces of the Realme) he in the mean time tossing in his bed, and casting out many horrible blasphemies. A notable spectacle p. 37for all unnaturall fidifragous Princes to looke on, who imbrue their hands in the blood of their Christian subjects. VVhichWhich crime (as the Authour of thekkGen. Hist. of France, p. 764. French History observes) made his reigne cursed in the City, and cursed in the field; cursed in the beginning, and cursed in the ending; mortalitie, sword, famine, cursing, feare, and desolation, following it even unto the end. I shall conclude his reigne with the words of the French History; Doubtlesse God loves not the Prince that thirsts after his subjects blood, for the subjects blood is the very blood of their Prince.

llGenerall Hist. of France, p. 765, &c.Charles dying without Heire of his body, the Crowne descended to his Brother Henry the third, then king of Poland, Anno 1574. his first designe was to extirpate the Huguenots and Protestant Religion thorowout the Realme, though the Emperour Maximilian told him, There is no sinne so great as to force mens consciences, and such as think to command them, supposing to win heaven, doe often lose that which they possesse on earth. His pernicious Cabinet Councellors, to effect this designe, cause him first to protest by sundry Proclamations, his love to the good of his subjects, and to abolish what was past, so as they lay aside armes, de…iver him all his Townes, and live quietly in their houses, without any search, constraint, or molestation for matter of conscience. A policie practised onelyonly to bring the Protestant party into slavery, all those Proclamations making no mention of liberty of their Religion, neither of a Parliament for the publike Government, nor of a nationall Councell for matters of Conscience: hereupon the Protestants stood the more upon their guards, they are full of jealousie, distrust, doubt, feare; the King and his Popish Councell indeavouring by this wile to keepe the Protestant party at a gaze, whiles they in the meane time made great preparations underhand to put a…mighty army into the field, to ruine them without hope of rising: So they arme on all sides, especially in Poicto…; the Protestants are besieged, assaulted in many places, and so manfully repulse their assailants, that they are willing to hearken to a Treaty of peace; wherein the Protestants demanding free exercise of their Religion thorowout all France, new Chambers in the Parliament for the execution of justice, punishment of the murtherers of them, ease of imposts, a free assembly of the generall Estates, and an assurance for the entertainment of the pretended peace. The King after fifteene dayes conference, promiseth to content them all, but he will have them to referre these demands to his will; and so the Treaty vanished into smoake, and new warres sprung up in every place with new Court-designes to undermine and circumvent the Protestants, who are aided by a German Army, Anno 1576. The Queen Mother seeing the Protestant party prosper in their warres, makes a peace betweene the King and them; who grants the Protestants all their former demands, restores divers of them to their goods, offices, honours: avows by a solemne Declaration the Massacres of them, Anno 1572. to have beene committed against all right and law of Armes; He ordained that the Children of such Gentlemen as had beene murthered, should be restored to their parents goods, and freed from all charges of warre, yea, he avowed their taking up of Armes, as taken for his service, &c. Which Articles, with the Kings Edict thereon, were allowed by the Parliament at Paris. But no sooner were their Forces disbanded, but they began to finde this peace to be counterfeit, being onelyonly made to dis-arme them, and divide their Commanders: none of the premises being really performed. In the mean time the house of Guise and their faction send their Agents to Rome, and Spaine, to joyne with them in a Catholike league, and under pretence of extirpating Heresie, p. 38and establishing the Roman religion thorowout France, endeavour to settle the Crowne upon themselves: their chiefe designes were, to overthrow the succ…ssion of the Crowne brought in by Hugh Capet, in the full assembly of the Estates, and to make the naming of a Successor subject unto the said Estates, to cause the Princes of the blood that should oppose against the Decrees of the Estates to be declared uncapable of succeeding unto the Crown; to make the Estates protest to live and die in the faith set downe by the Councell of Trent; to cause it to be signed in the open Parliament; to revoke and anull all publike Edicts in favour of the Protestants and their associates, and to pursue them to the death, that should hinder the extirpation of Heresies, &c. These Articles of Association were first drawne at Peronne in Picardy, but disguised with goodly shewes, to blinde those that would examine them more exactly, as being onelyonly to maintaine the Law, and restore the holy service of God; to preserve the King and his Successors in the estate, dignitie, service and obedience due unto them by their subjects; to reserve unto the Estates of the Realme, their rights, preheminences and ancient liberties. And for the execution of these Articles, a certaine forme of Oath was propounded, inflicting pains of eternall damnation to the associates, that for any pretext whatsoever should withdraw themselves from this league; and a Bond for such as should be enrolled, or imploy their goods, persons, and lives, to punish, and by all meanes to ruine the enemies and perturbers thereof, and them that should faile, or make any delayes, by authorities of the Head, as he should thinke fit. Soone after a Parliament of the three Estates is assembled at Bloyes, where the Catholike Leaguers, after much consultation, caused the last Edict of pacification, in behalfe of the Protestants to be revoked, and procured an Edict for the exercise onelyonly of one Religion (to wit the Popish) to be tolerated within the Realme. The King of Navarre, the Prince of Conde, the Marshall of Montmorancy, with divers other Noblemen of both religions, foreseeing these practices, and refusing to assist at this pretended Parliament, concluded a nullitie of all that should be decreed to prejudice the former Edict of Pacification; protesting, that they were resolved to maintaine themselves in the Rights, Liberties, and freedomes which the Edict had granted them. That the troublers of the publike quiet, and sworne enemies of France should finde them in a just defence, and they should answer before God and men for all the miseries that should ensue thereby: Yea the Prince of Conde answered more sharply, That he did not acknowledge them assembled at Bloys for the Estates of the Realme, but a Conventicle of persons corrupted by the sworn enemies of the Crowne, who have solicited the abolition of the Edict, to the ruine and subversion of the Realme: That if they had beene lawfully called, he would have assisted, for the sincere affection he beares to the Kings service and the quiet of his Countrey; that he will never give his consent to the counsels of the Authors of so many confusions which he foresees, &c. Hereupon a sixt civill Warre begins betweene these Catholike Leaguers, and the Protestants, whose good successe caused the King, An. 1580. to make a new peace with the Protestants, and grant them their former immunities. The Leaguers discontented herewith, begin to cast forth Libels against the King, disgrace him in companies as a Sardanapalus, and idle Chilpericke, … to be shaved and thrust into a Cloyster; They cause the Preachers publikely in all places, to terme him a Tyrant, an Oppressor of his people by Taxes, and a favourer of Heretikes: And under a pretence of suppressing Heretikes, reforming publike oppressions; and settling the succession of the Crowne in case the King should die without Heire, they, contrary to the Kings command, p. 39(who disavows them, and forbids all leavyes of warre) raise a great Army, and so enforce the king to publish a Declaration in his owne justification, and to procure his peace with them, to revoke all Edicts made in favour of the Protestants, and make open warre against them. Hereupon the King of Navarre (next Heire apparent to the Crowne) for preservation of his owne interest and the Protestants, complains against the kings proceedings. layes open the mischievous Plots of the Leaguers: and then with the Prince of Conde and other Nobles, Gentlemen, Provinces, Townes, and Commonalties of both Religions, He protests, by a lawfull and necessary defence to maintaine the fundamentall lawes of families, and the Estates and libertie of the King, and Queene his Mother. The Leaguers hereupon procure Pope Sextus the fift, to excomunicate the king of Navar, and Prince of Conde, to degrade them and their Successors from all dignities, from their pretentions to the Crowne of France, and to expose their Countries and persons in prey to the first that should seize on them. The Court of Parliament declares this Bull of the Pope to be void, rash, insolent, strange, farre from the modestie of former Popes, pernicious to all Christendome, and derogating from the Crowne of France: The Princes likewise protest against, and appeale from it, as abusive and scandalous, to the next free and lawfull Councell. The Leaguers pursue their begun warres against the King of Navarre and Protestant party; who protest to use all lawfull meanes to resist the violence of their enemies, and cast all the miseries that shall ensue upon the Authors thereof. Fresh warres are hereby prosecuted against the Protestants by the Leaguers, German Forces come in to ayde the Protestants; after macombates the King desires peace, but the Leaguers will have none; and assembling at Nancy, they endeavour to force the King to make his Will, and allow the Regency unto them; to which end they conclude, That the King should be urged to joyne his Forces effectually with the League, To displace such from their Offices as should be named, To bring in the in the Inquisition of Spaine, and publish the Councell of Trent, but with a moderation of such things as derogate from the priviledges of the French Church; To consent to the restauration of the goods sold by the Clergy for the charges of the warre, To give them Townes to be named and fortified as the time and necessitie required, To forfeit the Huguenots bodies and goods, and to entertaine an Army upon the frontiers of Lorraine against the Germanes. After which the Duke of Guise approaching to Paris, enters it against the Kings command, who was jealous of him; mutinies the Citizens against the King, who thereby is forced to retire from thence for feare of being surprized by the Duke, who plotted to seize his Person. After which the Duke by the Queene Mothers mediation, is reconciled to the King; who for feare of his power, by an Edict of re-union, admits no religion but the Popish, promiseth never to make Peace nor Truce with the Heretikes nor any Edict in their favour; bindes his subjects to sweare, never to yeeld obedience after him, to any Prince that shall be an Heretike, or a favourer of Heresie; degrades from all publike charges, either in peace or war, those of the Reformed Religion; promiseth all favour to the Catholikes, declares them guilty of High Treason who shall refuse to signe to this new union, and shall afterwards depart from it, But signing this forced Edict, he wept. To establish which Edict, and work their further ends, the Leaguers cause the King to summon a Parliament of the 3. Estates at Bloyes, procuring those of their faction to be chosen of this Assembly: where establishing the former extorted Edict, they thereby exclude the King of Navarre, (an Herelike as they deemed him) from the Crowne of France, to which he p. 40was next Heire: An Heretike cannot reigne in France, it is an incompatible thing with the Coronation and Oath which he ought to take; hurtfull to the honour of God, and prejudiciall to the good of the Realme: Then they declare the King an enemy to, and oppressor of his people, a Tyrant over his Realme, that so the people should presently resolve to confine him unto a Monastery, and install the Duke in his throne. And at last, the King being certainly informed of the Dukes traiterous designes to surpize him, and usurpe his Throne, caused the Duke and Cardinall of Burbon (the chiefe Heads of the League) to be suddenly slaine, and others of them to be imprisoned. Hereuppon the Parisiens mutinie, and take up Armes afresh; The Colledge of Sorbone concluded by a publike Act of the seventh of Ianuary, 1589. That the people of France are freed from the Oath of obedience and fealty which they owed to Henry of Valoys, and that lawfully and with a good conscience they may arme against him, receive his Revenues, and imploy it to make warre against him. After which the Assembly of the Estates dissolving, the Parisiens imprison the Court of Parliament at Paris, till they condescended to their pleasures, and confirmed a generall Councell of the union, consisting of fourty choice men of the three Estates, to dispose of the publike affaires, and conferre with the Provinces and Townes of the League. To which many Assistants were afterward added by the Nobles, and a Declaration (in manner of an oath) for the entertainment of the Vnion, made, sworne, and subscribed to by many; one of which prickt his own Arme, to signe it with his owne blood, and became lame thereby. The people condemne, imprison, spoile, ransom of their absolute power, and sell the goods of any that bears not the mark of their inraged faction. Hereupon the King turning his lenitie into fury, Proclaims them Rebels and Traitors, if they come not in and submit by a day; and reconciles himselfe to the King of Navarre: They go on with greater insolency then before, set out a great Army under the Duke of Mayenne; crave assistance from the Pope and king of Spaine; surprize divers townes, robbe Churches, ravish Wives and Virgins, murther men of all sorts even before their Altars, commit all the outrages, wickednesses which irreligion and impiety could invent in madd Souldiers. The King at last besieged Paris, take some of the Outworks, and was like to master the Citie; but in the middest of this attempt he was stabbed in the belly with a Knife, by Iames Clement, a Iacobin Friar of two and twenty years old, (sent out of Paris to act this Tragedie on the kings person) who vowed to kill the Tyrant, and to deliver the City besieged by Se…nacherib. The Murtherer was presently slaine by those who came in to assist the king, who within few houres after died of this wound, which he received in the self-same chamber wherein the Counsell for the Massacre of the Protestants was held on that fatall day of Saint Bartholmew, 1572. A notable circumstance of Divine justice upon this Prince, who being ever a zealous promoter of the Romish Religion, was murthered by a Zealot of it, and had his owne blood shed by those who spurred him on to shed the blood of Protestants, in the very Chamber where the most babarous Massacre of Protestants that ever the world beheld, was contrived.mmGen. Hist. of France, p. 834, 835. Henry when the pangs of death seized on him, declared Henry the fourth, King of Navarre (his brother in law) the lawfull Successor of the Crowne of France, as in Truth he was, notwithstanding the Edict of Bloys to exclude all Heretikes from the Crowne. The Parisiens and holy Vnion refuse to accept him for their Soveraigne, proclaiming Charles the tenth for their King, and triumphing exceedingly at Henry his death. The Parliament at Bourdeaux commands all men p. 41under their jurisdiction, by a Decree of the nineteenth of August, 1549. To observe inviolably the Edict of Vnion in the Catholique, Apostolike and Romish Church; and Declarations are hereupon made. The Parliament of Tholousa is more violent; they decree, That yearly the first day of August they should make processions and publike prayers for the benefits they had received that day, in the miraculous and fearfull death of Henry the third, whereby Paris was delivered, and other Townes of the Realme; forbidding all persons to acknowledge Henry of Burbon, the pretended King of Navarre, for King; declaring him uncapable ever to succed to the Crowne of France, by reason of the notorious and manifest crimes contained at large in the Bull of Excommunication of Pope Sixtus the fifth. The Court of Parliement at R…an, no lesse violent and presumptuous then that of Tholousa, pronounced them guilty of High Treason, both against God and man, and the Estate and Crowne of France, that had opposed themselves against the holy Vnion, and all Royalists and their Successors deprived of all prerogatives of Nobility; their Offices to be void, not to be recovered, and all their Goods forfeited: Anno 1592. they renew this Edict every eight monethmonth. Thus the league kindled afresh the fire which the siege of Paris had somewhat quenched: the King raising his siege before it, and returning to Arques, the Leaguers Army followed him, and are there defeated: after which the King with a small Army gaines many great Conquests, which amaze the Leaguers; he be…iegeth Paris above three moneths, where more then one hundred thousand people died of famine, yet they force the Parliament to pub…ish a Decree the fifteenth of Iune, 1590. Forbidding upon pain of death all men to speak of any composition with Henry of Burbon, but to oppose themselves by all meanes, yea, with the effusion of their blood. But the Belly hath not Ears, the people are not fed with paper, or promises, they mutinie and demand peace; whereupon Deputies are sent to the King to treat a peace; who to defeat the Spanish Army called in by the Leaguers, raiseth his siege, and routs the Spanyard, with other Forces of the League in sundry places, which makes many desire peace; yet by meanes of Pope Clement the eighth his Bull, the Duke of Mayenne, and the Popes Legate, they intend to summon a Convocation of the Estates of Paris to elect a new King, desiring the Cardinall of Placentia to assist and confirme this their intended future election. The Parliament of Paris removed to Chaalons gives sentence against the Popes Bull, and nulls it: The King sets out a Declaration against the Leaguers as Traitors and Rebels, declares this Assembly of the Estates without his Authoritie, to be against the Lawes, against the good and quiet of the Realme, and all that should be treated or concluded therein, abusive, and of no force. On the contrary, the Popes Legate, by a publike exhortation full of injuries, labors to perswade the French, that the King, long since dismembred from the bodie of the Church, was most justly pronounced uncapable of the Crown. The Spaniyards lobouring the Estates to elect the Infanta of Spain king; the Parliament of Paris by a Decree of the eight and twentieth day of Iuly, declare all Treaties made or to be made to that end, void, and of no validitie, as being made to the prejudice of the Salique Law, and othe fundamentall lawes of State. The king to quiet these differences, and gain peaceable possession of the Crown, most unworthily deserts his Religion, reconciles himselfe to the Church and Pope of Rome; yet one Peter Barriere▪ seduced and perswaded by a Capuchin of Lyons, Aubry a priest of Paris, and father Varide a lesuite, was apprehend…d at Melua, and executed, for attempting to murther the King with a sharpe two-edged Knife, which fact he confessed, After p. 42this the Townes subject to the League, returne by degrees to the obedience of the Crown; the king is solemnly Crowned at Chartres, Rhemes shutting the gates against him. This done, he surprizes Paris, and notwitstanding their former …ebellions, grants them all free pardon upon their submissions. The Parliament at Paris disanuls all the Decrees of the League, and pretended assembly of Estates, as void, and done by private persons, without due election; grants Processe against the Iesuites, as chiefe pillars of the League, disgracing the new Kings Majesty, and the memory of the deceased King in their Sermons; and perswading the execrable attempt of Peter Barriere to stabbe him; the Cardinall of Burbon, the Duke of Nevers with others, protect and s…e for them; who soone after suborne Iohn Chastle, one of their Novices, (of the age of eighteen years) to stabbe the king; who creeping into the kings chamber at the Lonure in Paris, among the presse, December 27. 1594. and thinking to stabbe the king in the belly, as he resolved, struck him on the upper Lip▪ and brake a Tooth, as he stooped to take up some Gentleman who saluted him; for which fact he was condemned by the Parliament as guilty of High Treason, his body adjudged to be torne in peeces by four horses, then burnt to ashes and cast into the winde, and all his Goods confiscate to the king: All the Iesuites, with their schollers, were hereupon banished the Realme, as corrupters of youth, troublers of the publike quiet, enemies of the Kings State, and none of them to remaine above fifteen dayes, nor any to harbour them within the Realme under paine of High Treason. I have heard from a Gentleman of credite, which served this king, that when he was thus stabbed in the mouth by Chastle, one of the**Mounsieur Daubern. Religion gave him this Christian admonition, Sir, you have denied God already with your mouth, inrenouncing the protestant faith, which you once professed; now God in his justice hath permitted this Iesuite, of that Religion you revolted to, thus to stabbe you in the mouth: O take heed you deny him not in your heart, lest the next stroke they give you be to the heart. Which fell out accordingly, fornnThe generall Hist. of France, p. 976, 977, 982. after four or five more severall attemps of the Iesuites and Papists to murther him▪ which were discovered and prevented, he was stabbed to death with a Knife by one Francis Ravillac, (a Papist at the Iesuites instigation) as he was riding in his Caroch neare to Innocents church in Paris, for suffering two religions in the Kingdome, as the Traitor professed. This Villaine stabbed him first in the left Pap, and next between the fift and sixt Ribbe, cutting asunder the veine leading to the heart, and entring into the Cava vena; and being dead the Iesuites of his royall Colledge at la Fletche (whom heooG…n. Hist. of France, p. 914 915, 1070, 1071 1072, 1094, 1095, 1110, 1133, 1172, 1173, 1174, 1175, 1181, 1182, 1183, 1196, …o 1220. restored and favoured exceedingly, notwithstanding their former Treasons, and banishments of them out of France, causing the Pyramis erected by sentence of Parliament as a monument of their Treasons to be rased, and yet were found to have a chiefe hand in this his death) begged and procured his heart to be there interred: O the admirable passages of Divine Iustice, that those two Henries, who most advanced the Popish Religion, and abandoned the Protestant faith to humour the Iesuites and Papists, thereby to secure their Crownes and lives, as they beleeved, should thus fatally perish by those of that Religion, and their unlawfull revolts thus used to preserve their lives; whereas our nobler Queen Elizabeth continuing constant in her Religion, notwithstanding all allurements menaces and attempts upon her person, to withdraw her from the truth, was miraculo…sly preserved from all the bloody assaults of this infernall generation of Romish Vipers, and went to her grave in peace.