The Sovereign Power of Parliaments Part 4, Appendix (2 of 4)

The Sovereign Power of Parliaments Part 4 · Appendix (2 of 4)

p. 21PipinbbFab. par. 6. c. 154. Gaguin the Gen. Hiſt. of France. deceaſing, Charlemain and Charles the great, his ſons, reigned joyntly over the Frenchmen, by their …oyous admittance. Having now two Kings inſtead of one ccFab. par. 6. c. 2…4. Grimſt. Imper. 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 Ʋncle, 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 crowned 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 walled his Kingdomes; Whereupon his Nobles and people aſſembled themſelves in ſundry companies, and went 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 Laon, 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 Theat. 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 govern 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. Gaug. 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 Fea…r 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 Taxe.nnBodin. Commonweal l. 3 c. 1. p 2…4. See the generall Hist. of France in his life. Charles the fifth of France, having a purpoſe to drive all the Engliſh cut 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. Whereas when the Subjects ſee things done, either without counſell, or contrary to the wills and decrees of the Senate or Councell, then they contemne and ſet them at naught, or elſe fearfully and negligently do the command of their Princes; of which contempt of Lawes, Magiſtrates, and ſeditious ſpeeches enſue among the people; and ſo at length moſt dangerous rebellion, or elſe open conſpiracy againſt the Prince, as Bodin obſerves. This ooFabian. part. 7. p. 192. 193, 263, 274. Speeds Hiſt. p. 687, 6…4, 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 Maie, leaving his Wife great with Childe, Philip Earle of Ʋaloyes, 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 reigne, had by authority of the three eſtates of his Realme aſſembled in Parliament (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, againſt 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 perſons among them to take view, and make ſearch of the grievances 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 Roan, 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 & King, 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, diſſolved 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: Wherefore 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 Earl 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 at tire 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, albeit the King by his **So it hath been conceived by ſome, the King by Law might do this in England but Sir Edward Cooke in his Inſtitutes on Magna Charta. f. 575. to 5…9. hath largely proved the contrary; 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 out 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 …ver 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 Commonalty of the Citie, deſired 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 incontinuently all ſuch Officers as they before had named were clearly 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 Preſidents 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. Ʋpon 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 ſhould re-aſſemble at Paris, the 5. day after Eaſter, and there to proceed upon all ſuch matters as were before by them begar. 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 purpoſe being too ſmall by much, the Clergy and Lords then 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 nothing 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 Subjects; and adviſing him 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 make 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, therrFabin. part. 7 p 307. ſee p. 190, 191, 266, 477, &c. …55, 326, 357, 358, 359, 460. Walſingham, 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 Vicegerent, 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. To 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 friends 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. 216 227, 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 Burgaine, 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 preſſing the people with quotidian taxes and tallages, and the ſpirituall men with diſmes and other exactions, he was at length diſcharged of that dignitie, and the Duke of Burgoyne put in that authoritie. After this our King uuChron. 2. &. 5. H. 5.Henry the fift, gaining a great part of France, and pretending a good title to the Crowne (recited at large by xxHiſt 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, Walſinghan, Grafton, 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▪ But zzFabian, 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 or 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 ſonne aaFabian, part. 7. p. 479, 480, 481, 488. Generall Hiſt. of France.Lewes the eleventh, (… 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 Balua, Oliver Devill, (whoſe 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 between 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 Hiprodigality, 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 againſt 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 Commonalty, 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 though 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 Normands. 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 grudges 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; therein 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 betweene 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, and tenth yeare of his reigne, aſſembled a counſell of his Lords ſpirtuall and temporall, in the which the demands of Charles, and offers of the king were ſhewed: And after the ſaid Councell had at length reaſoned the ſaid demands and offers, it was finally determined, That the Dutchy of Normandy was ſo appropriated unto the King of France, and to his heires, that in no 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 annuall 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 haereditarium non eſſe, The favour of Princes is not hereditary. ccPhili. de 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. de 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 anſwere, 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 tempoſt 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:Note. Our King is the Prince in the whole world that hath leaſt cauſe to alledge that he hath priviledges to leavie what he 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 thinkes, 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 ourſelves 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. A man might have thought this good aſſembly to be dangerous for the kings eſtate;Note. yea, and divers there were of 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 authoritie 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 Crowne 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 Parliament 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 Steward, to offer the King Liberty, ſo as he would reſigne all the rights he 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 Burgengue 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, and Aſt: That he ſhould quit the Soveraignty of Flaunders and Arthois, &c. Hereupon the King being enlarged, and arrived at Beyonne, 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 pacifie 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 ever occaſion were offered; and that he had often told him,**Note. 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 as had bin beaten by the cruelty 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 Rhemes 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 ground ffMatthew 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. 34Whereupon 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 other 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 Barens; and that when he had reſigned it, he preſently 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 Lawes 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. 6…. 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 ſeared as moſt oppoſite to their treacherous deſignes; They doe and undoe, place and diſplace in Parliament and Privie 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 death, 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 d…ſeaſes, whereby the Queen Mother might be put from her uſurped Regency, and thoſe of Guiſe excluded from the King 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 GƲILTY 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 dis 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 ƲPON SOME IVST DEFENCE, to the end they might preſerve the juſt and ancient Government of the Realme. They demand advice,Note 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 VIOLENCE; ſo as the Princes, who in that 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 Guiſe 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 Gonde 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 generall Hiſtory of France; in which and in Richard Dinothus you may read at large, both the Hiſtory and the lawfulneſſe of this defenſive warre, over tedious to tranſcribe.

Francis ccGenerall Hiſt. of France, 692, &c. & Richardus Din… thus de Bello Civili Gallico Religionis cauſa ſuſcepto. l. 2, 3, 4, 6. Speeds Hiſt. 1211, 1212 1214. K. Iames 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 day 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 Ambaſſadours 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 Quarter, 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 matchleſſe 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. ult. 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 divers 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 Poictou; the Proteſtants are beſieged, aſſaulted in many places, and ſo manfully repulſe their aſſa…lauts, 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 a vowed their …aking 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 ſucceſſion 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, inſticting 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 authoritie 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 Noble men of both religions, foreſeeing theſe practices, and refuſing to aſſiſt at this pretended Parliament, concluded a … 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…d fence, 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 ſolicated the abolition of the Edict, to the ruine and ſubverſion of the Realm: 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 with never give his conſent to the counſels of the Authors of ſo many confuſions which he foreſee, &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, ſit 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 Heretickes, 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 excommunicate 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 ſummen 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 Heretike 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 a freſh; 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, takes 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 yeers 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 Sennacherib. 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 ſuceed 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 Parliament 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 Ʋnion, 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 beſiegeth Paris above three moneths, where more then one hundred thouſand people died of famine, yet they force the Parliament to publiſh a Decree the fifteenth of Iune, 1590. For bidding 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 electior. 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 labouring 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 apprehended 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 notwithſtanding their former rebellions, 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 … 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 Kouure 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 takeup 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, in renouncing 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, for nnThe 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 he ooGen. Hiſt. of France, p. 914 915, 1070, 1071 1072, 1094, 1095, 1110, 113…, 1172, 1173, 1174, 1175, 1181, 1182, 1183, 1196, to 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 noble. Queen Elizabeth continuing conſtant in her Religion, notwithſtanding all allurements menaces and attempts upon her perſon, to withdraw her from the truth, was miraculouſly preſerved from all the bloody aſſaults of this infernall generation of Romiſh Vipers, and went to her grave in peace.