BEfore I ſpeake vnto you, touching the ceremonies, and the order of the ſeates of the ſayd Eſtates, it ſhall not be beſides the purpoſe, to portraite and figure out vnto you the diſpoſition and order of the hall where the aſſemblie was to be kept. The carpenters worke, and the ſcaffoldſhip for the ſeates, was altogether like to that of the eſtates which were held at Troyes, in the time of Charles the 6.A pretie, though not ſo right a reſemblance. at the inſtance & purſuit of the K. of England & the Duke of Burgundie, when Charles the 7. the Dolphin, and true heire of the Crowne of France, was degraded by the ſayd eſtates, & declared vncapeable to ſucceed in the kingdome, & he and all his adherents and fauourers excommunicated,Or as we ſay, with booke bell & candle. aggrauated and reaggrauated, bels ſounding, and candles put out, afterwards baniſhed (howbeit but for a ſeaſon). But the tapiſtrie wherewith the ſayd hall was hanged, being twelue peeces or thereabout, ſeemed to bee made in our age, and plainely wrought, yet richly garniſhed, in the vpper border, and the cloath or chaire of eſtate, vnder which Monſieur the Lieutenāt ſhould ſit, was of the ſame. At one of the ſides and parts of the cloath or chaire of eſtate, there was liuely repreſented one Sertorius, apparelled after the French faſhion, amongſt the Spanyards, asking counſel of a hind appointed thereto, from which he he ſaid, he vnderſtood the will of the gods. On the other coaſt or ſide there was the ſhape of Spartacus, making his oration to an armie of ſlaues, whom he had cauſed to be armed and to reuolt againſt the Romane Empire. In the third there was the portraiture of the foreſayd perſon, hauing a torch in his hand, and came to ſet fire on a temple: & at the neather part of the ſame ſide, there was written, If I cannot by water, by ruine I will quench. The fourth could not be ſeene by reaſon of the obſcuritie or darknes againſt the ſhewe of it. On the head and below the ſayd cloath or chaire of eſtate, there was a crucifix,New things beſt pleaſe. according to the preſent ſtāpe of Paris, hauing the left hand tied to the croſſe, and the right hand free or vnbound, holding in it a naked ſword, about which was written this ſaying, Ʋpon thee, and vpon thy bloud. Without the three coaſts or ſides, and before, there were the falles of Icarus and of Phaeton, very well wrought, and it made a goodly ſhew to ſee the ſiſters of this young fellow, by metamorphoſis, to be turned into popular trees, one of which, who had broken her hippe in running to ſuccour her brother, did naturally & liuely reſemble the Dowager of Montpenſier, all her haire hanging about her eares.

The firſt peece of tapiſtrie nigh to the cloath or chaire of eſtate, was the hiſtorie of the golden calfe, as it is deſcribed in the 32. chap. of Exodus, where Moſes and Aaron were there repreſented by King Henry the 3. lately dead, and Monſieur late Cardinall of Bourbon:Some fitnes in theſe repreſentations or expoſitions. but the golden calfe was the figure of the late Duke of Guiſe, lifted vp on high and adored by the people: and the two tables ſignified the fundamentall law of the Eſtates of Blois, and the Edict of Iulie made in the yeare 1587. and in the lower part of the peece theſe wordes are written, In the day of vengeance I will viſite euen this their ſinne.

The ſecond peece was a great countrie as it were of diuers hiſtories both old & of this age, diſtincted and ſeparated one of them from another, and notwithſtanding very wittily referring themſelues to the ſame perſpectiue. In the vpper part of it there was to bee ſeene that goodly entrance by night, which Iohn Duke of Burgundie made into Paris, and when the Pariſiens cryed Chriſtmas from the feaſt of all Saints. At one of the corners was Harelle of Roan, where a Merchant called le Gras,A good choiſe and a meet mā for that place. that is, groſſe or fatte, was choſen King by the common people. At the other corner were the Iacke men of Beuoiſin, with their Captaine Guillaume Caillet: at the corner below were the pretie pigges or hogges of the league of Lions: and at the other corner were the noble acts of the ancient Maillotins, vnder theſe Captaines Simonnet Caboche, and Iacques Aubriot, the Kings of Buchers and Pillers, and the whole in men cut ſhort and ſeruing for nothing but for the countrey. But at the bottome and in the midſt of the peece there were expreſſed by figure and liuely ſet out the barricados of Paris, where men might behold a King (who was ſimple, plaine, and a good Catholike, and who had done ſo many good turnes, and giuen ſo many priuiledges to the Pariſiens) to be driuen out of his owne houſe, and beſet on all ſides with tunnes and barrels to take him. There were repreſented alſo diuers braue ſtratagems, or warlike deuiſes,Meet men to manage ſuch matters. of the Sirs or Knights, who did leade Tremont, Chaſtigneray, Flauacourt, and other rammers of the pauement (we call them pauiers) to the place of honour: and in the loweſt part of the ſayd peece were written theſe foure verſes: Iupiter with his tunnes or fats Doth bring vs good and ill alſo: But by theſe new vpſtarts he doth The whole caſt downe and ouerthrowe.

The third peece contained the hiſtorie of Abſalom, that with barricados diſtreſſed his father, and draue him out of the citie of Ieruſalem, hauing by vnworthie entertaining and making much of, gained and corrupted the moſt baſe and beggerly porters of the common people. Afterwards there was ſhewed the puniſhment that he receiued therefore, and how Achitophel his wicked counſellor, did accurſedly finiſh his daies: all the faces and countenances approched nigh vnto, or were like to ſome of the ſayd Eſtates: and there were eaſily knowne the Preſident Ianin, Marteau, Ribault, & others, to whom the late Duke of Guiſe made ſo many goodly ſhewes in the aſſemblie of the Eſtates at Blois:Faire words make fooles faine. alſo there were ſeene Choulier, la Rue, Pocart, Senault, and other butchers, and horſe courſers, euen as baſe and low as dike-clenſers, and kennell rakers, all people and perſons of honour in their occupations, which the foreſayd dead martyr did kiſſe on their mouthes for zeale of religion.

The fourth repreſented in groſſe the feates of armes of the murthers done in old time and in our age alſo, otherwiſe called Bedouins and Arſacides, who feared not to goe and kill, euen in the chamber and in the bed, thoſe whom their imagined Prince Aloadin,It ſeemeth to me he meaneth the Pope, or ſome that hold that part. ſurnamed the olde, of ſixe or ſeuen mountaines, ſhould commaund them. Amongſt others there were two very apparant figures, the one of a certaine Countie of Tripoli, murthered by a Sarazin, zealous of his religion, whileſt he kiſſed his hands: the other of a King of France and Poland, trayterouſly ſtriken with a knife, by a wicked Monke or Frier, yet pretending zeale vpon his knees, preſenting vnto him a letter ſent him: and vpon the forehead of the ſayd Monke or Frier, there was written in great letters, the tranſpoſition of the letters of his name, Frier Iames Clement, IT IS HEL THAT HATH CREATED ME.

In the fift men might behold the battaile of Senlis, where Monſieur d'Aumale was made Conſtable, and had giuen him for his labour, the winged and hot ſpurres by Monſieur de Longueville, a politike Prince, and an arme of yron by la Nouē and Givry his ſuffragan. About the ſame were written theſe verſes, by foures, as we ſay, or one foure after another.

And at the corner of the ſayd peece, there was to bee ſeene Pigenat in his bed, ſicke, inraged, mad, and furious, with this fortune, and waiting for an anſwer of the letter, which he had written and ſent in poſte, to Madame Saint Geneviefue, a very good Frenchwoman, if euer there were any.

In the ſixt was painted out the miracle of Arques, where fiue or ſixe hundred diſcomforted & weake men, readie to paſſe the ſea and to ſwimme, nodded their heads at them, mocked them, and put to flight, by the inchantments of this Biarnois,He meaneth the Duke du Maynes forces, who bragged as much as euer did he. twelue or fifteene thouſand Rodomonts, renders of ſmall ſhips, and eaters of yron chariots. And which was the goodlieſt thing that could be to be ſeene, the Ladies of Paris were in the windowes, and others which had kept place tenne daies before in the ſhops and working houſes of S. Anthonies ſtreete, to ſee this Biarnois brought priſoner in triumph, bound, wheras he came decked with iewels, & (as he gaue it thē) beautifull alſo, becauſe he came in another habit or kind of apparell by the ſuburbs of S. Iaques and S. Germaine.

The ſeuenth contained the batta le of Ivry la Chauſſee, where a man might haue ſeene the Spanyards, Lorrains, and other Romiſh Catholikes in mockerie, or otherwiſe, to ſhew their bare breech or taile to the Maheuſtres,Thoſe that tooke part with the king. and the Biarnois altogether heate, who with his bridle abated, carried the vnion behind him on horſebacke. There a man might well haue ſeene Monſieur the Lieutenāt curſing the hindermoſt, & leauing the Countie d'Aiguemōt for pledges, & being deceiued with more then the moitie of the iuſt priſe, to run away vpō a Turkie horſe, & to get Mante by a wicket or poſterne gate, and to ſay to the inhabitants in a very lowe note or voyce, My friends, ſaue me and my people: all is loſt, but the Biarnois is dead. Aboue all it was a wonderfull pleaſure, there to ſee them wiſely to make an Inuentorie of his coffers and cheſts, and to ſee them alſo religiouſly to reach out of his coffer and to ſpread abroad the ſtandard of the faith, wherein was painted a Crucifix vpon blacke taffeta, with this inſcription, Chriſt being guide, ſuch a one as a man may ſee hanging in the Church of Mante. This, good Chriſtian people, is that ſtandard which ſhould haue ſerued for a golden flanke, for the Kings ſucceſſors in time to come, if the cord had not broken. At the corner of the ſayd tapiſtrie, there was a daunce of ſhepheards and peaſants, and behinde or neere vnto them, as it were a table, in which was written this ſong following.

The eight was a repreſentation of the Paradiſe (or rather Paradiſes in the plurall number) of Paris, within which, and ouer the holie Pixe, were the images of three Saints, newly printed ſince Pope Gregorie his calender, bringing with them double faſts.Iames Clemēt. One of them was cloathed with blacke and with white, hauing a pricking or ſharpe foote, and a little knife in his hand,Fit reſemblances. as it were a cut purſe, farre different from that of S. Bartholomew. The ſecond was cloathed with a red gowne,The Popes Legate. and a curate or breaſt-plate vpon it, and a hat of the ſame colour with long cords or ſtrings to it, hauing in his hand alſo a cup full of bloud, whereof he made ſemblance as though he would drinke, and out of his mouth came forth a writing, in theſe tearmes: Stand with your head-peeces, poliſh your ſpeares, and put on your coates of maile. The third was a Saint on horſeback, as it had been S. George,The Cardinall Pelue. hauing at his feete a great many Ladies and Damoſels, to whom he reached out his hand, and ſhewed them a crowne in the aire, towards which in ſighing he aſpired with this deuiſe or ſaying: The things that are faire are hard. The people brought them ſtore of candles, and ſayd new Suffrages and Letanies, ſeeing that they did miracles: but the winde carried away and blew out all. The borders of the ſayd peece were of white proceſſions, and of ſermons, and Te Deums ſtrengthened againe, where men might ſee in a ſmall volume the faces of Boucher, Linceſtre, & the little Fuillant frier, exhorting the people to peace, by a figure named Antiphraſis.That is contrary meaning.

The ninth ſet out to bee ſeene, as it were naturally, a great gianteſſe lying vpon the ground, which brought forth an infinite number of vipers and monſters of diuers ſorts: ſome called Gualtiers, other ſome Catillōnois, Lipans, Leaguers, zealous Catholikes, and Chaſteauverds: and vpon the forehead of the ſayd gianteſſe there was written: This is that goodly Lutetia or Paris, who that ſhe might commit whoredome with her minions and darlings, hath cauſed her father and his wife to be ſlaine. Madame of Spayne ſerued her in ſtead of a Midwife, and a nurſe, to receiue and to nouriſh her fruite, or to giue it ſucke.

In the tenth there was very well deſcribed the hiſtorie of the taking of the towne of S. Denis, by that worthie Knight d'Aumale, and there appeared the Lord of Viq, and the holie Apoſtle of France, who did ſtrengthen his leg or thigh of wood: and S. Anthonie of the fields, who put fire to the powder to make the Pariſiens afrayd. Aboue vpon the ſame peece was a writing contayning theſe words: Saint Anthony being robbed by a head of the leaguers conioynd, Went (as to one more ſtrong) to S. Denis to lay open his mind, Who to reuenge this wrong, hath giuen him ſure promiſe. Some little while after, this great robber did aſsay To take S. Denis, but S. Denis tooke him by the way, And reuenged vpon him both the one and the other enterpriſe.

That needeth not, for it is here mentioned.And below was the epitaph of the ſayd Knight d'Aumale, euen as it followeth, ſauing that it maketh no mention that he was eaten with rats and mice: He that lieth here a taker was Right bold and hardie ſure, Againſt S. Denis who a fine Enterpriſe did procure. But yet S. Denis more ſubtill Then this taker of renowne, Did take him, and both ſlay him eeke Within his taken towne.

In the eleuenth there was to be ſeene, and that nigh at hand, the piteous countenance of poore preſident Briſſon, as alſo of his Deacon & Subdeacon, when one ſpake vnto them of confeſsion: in giuing them the order of the vnion, alſo their eleuation and lifting vp in charge. And becauſe that the aforeſayd peece was not large enough to couer the doore of the entrie or cōming in, there was tacked vnto it halfe a peece of the Apotheoſis, or canonization of the foure Euangeliſts and Martyrs, Saints, Louchard, Ameline, Anroux, and Aymonnot, making a long letter or writing, & at their feet was writtē theſe 4. verſes.

AFter that the aſſembly was entred ſomewhat forward within the great hall, drawing neere vnto the ſteps, where the cloath or chaire of eſtate was exalted, and the chaires were prepared, there was place aſsigned to euerie one by a Herault of armes, intituled Courte ioy,A fine fiction for the ſame. or as we ſay, ſhort ioy S. Denis, who called them very lowd three times together after this manner: Monſieur the Lieutenant, Monſieur the Lieutenant, Monſieur the Lieutenant, of the eſtate and Crowne of France, come vp on high into this kingly throane, in the place of your maſter. Monſieur the Legate, place your ſelfe at his ſide. Madame, repreſenting the Queene Mother, or the grandmother, ſet your ſelfe on the other ſide. Monſieur the Duke of Guiſe, Peere of the Lieutenancie of the eſtate and Crowne of France, place your ſelfe very finely the firſt for this time) without preiudice or dammage of your right to come:It may be it ſhall neuer be ſo againe. Monſieur the moſt reuerend Cardinal of Pelue, Peere (though but for a while) of the Lieutenancie, place your ſelfe right ouer againſt him, but at no hand forget your Calepin or Dictionarie: Madame the Dowager of Montpenſier, as a Princeſſe of your eſtate, ſeate your ſelfe vnder your nephew. Madame the Lieutenant of the Lieutenancie of the eſtate, without preiudice of your pretenſes & claimes, ſet your ſelfe ouer againſt her. Monſieur d'Aumale, Conſtable & Peere of the Lieutenancie, aduaunced into Peereſhip by reaſon of your Countie of Boulongne, place your ſelfe ſide to ſide by the moſt reuerend Cardinall, but beware that you rend not his cope with your great ſpurres. High and mightie Countie of Chaligny, that haue this honour to haue Monſieur the Lieutenant for your younger brother, take your place and feare no more Chiquot that is dead. Monſieur the Primat of Lyons, and without doubt he that ſhalbe Cardinall of the vnion, and now is Peere & Chancellor of the Lieutenancie,He kept her as his concubine. leaue your ſiſter there, and come hither to take your place in order. Monſieur de Buſſie the Clerke, heretofore the great penitentiarie of the Parliament, and now the great Steward ſpirituall of the towne and caſtle of Paris, ſet your ſelfe at the feete of Monſieur that Lieutenant, as the great Chamberlaine of the Lieutenancie. Monſieur de Saulſay, Peere and great Maſter of the Lieutenancie,Yea of a better. for default of another, take this ſtaffe, and goe very gently to ſit in this ſoft ſeate prepared for you. And you Meſſieurs, the Marſhals of the Lieutenancie de Roſne, Dom Diego, Bois-daulphin, and Seignior Cornelio, loe here is a bench for you foure, ſauing that you may bee augmented or diminiſhed, if the caſe ſo fall out and require the ſame. Meſſieurs the Secretaries of the Eſtate, Marteau, Pericard, de Pottes, and Nicolas,A tall man belike. this fourme below is for you foure, if Monſieur Nicolas buttocks or breech can reach ſo high. Monſieur de S. Paul, Countie of Rethelois, but yet vnder the title of hiring it, and hauing it at a price, come not ſo nigh Monſieur de Guiſe, leaſt you ouerheate him, but keepe your ſelfe nigh to the Lord de Rieux. Meſſieurs the Ambaſſadors of Spayne, Naples, Lorraine, and Countie of Bourgongne, this bench on the left hand is for you, and the bench on the right hand appoynted for the Ambaſſadors of England, Portugall, Venice, the Lords, Counties and Princes of Germanie, Suiſſerland and Italie, and are abſent or appeare not, ſhall be for the Ladies and Damoſels, according to the date of their impreſſion. Furthermore, let all the deputies take place according to their penſions. And this was almoſt the ſitting of Meſſieurs the Eſtates, all without diſputation or debating, by reaſon of the great preſences,Churchmen ſtriue for high places. ſauing that the warden of the Franciſcane Friers, and the Prior of the Iacobins, made ſome ſmall proteſtation which of them ſhould goe formoſt: but Madame de Montpenſier riſing vp,A goodly drudge, and a worthie reaſon of concluſion. gaue the firſt place to the Prior of the Iacobins, for remembrance, as ſhe ſayd, of S. Iaques Clement. There was alſo a little garboyle betweene my Ladies of Belin and of Buſſie, by reaſon that the one of them hauing let goe a certaine euil pſeudcatholike winde, Madame de Belin ſpake very loudly and loftily to Ladie Buſſie, Let vs go Miſtris Proctoreſſe, the taile doth befume vs: you come hither belike to perfume the croſſes of Lorraine. But Monſieur the great Maſter of Saulſay, hearing this noyſe, & knowing the cauſe thereof, cried vnto them holding his ſtaffe in his hand, Good words Mes dames, ye come not hither to trouble and diſquiet our eſtates,It is an euill bird that defileth his owne neaſt. as mine owne ſiſter not long time ſince, daunced the galliard of the late king in this very hall it ſelfe. The noiſe being pacified, and the ill ſent or ſauour paſt, Monſieur the Lieutenant began to ſpeake after this manner, with the great ſilence and attention of Meſſieurs the Eſtates.

IN the name of the Father, ✚ ✚. I take great ioy, and am almoſt out of my ſelfe (O Lordes, and people, more Catholike then euen the Romanes themſelues) to ſee that you are here gathered, for a matter ſo great & Catholike. But on the other ſide, I find my ſelfe much amazed, to perceiue ſo many groſſe opinions amongſt you which are the Catholike leaguers,Such as were ſometimes in Italie. and it ſeemeth vnto me that thoſe ancient factions of blacke and white are reuiued, for as much as ſome demaund white, and other ſome blacke. But one onely thing ſeemeth to me needfull, for the health and ſaluation of your ſoules, that is, not to ſpeake at any time of peace, and much leſſe to labour and procure it, before that firſt, all the Frenchmen bee dead after the manner of the Macchabees, and that alſo ſo valiantly, as Sampſon was, ſlaine and buried amongſt the ruines of this captiuated earthly Paradiſe of France,Paris he meaneth. that ſo you may the better enioy the immortall quietnes of the heauenly Paradiſe. Warre then, warre, O valiant and magnificall Frenchmen: for it ſeemeth vnto me, that when men diſcourſe and reaſon of peace, and that they ſpeake of truce, with theſe heretike raſcall knaues,Hot burning charitie. that there is offered vnto me a gliſter of inke, conſidering that it is a great deale better for the quietnes of Italie, and for the ſecuritie of the holie Apoſtolike ſea, that the Frenchmen and the Spanyards ſhould warre one of them with another in France, or els certainly in Flanders for the religion, or for the Crowne, then in Italie for Naples or Millan. Wherefore to tell you the trueth, the moſt holie father doth not care for all your affayres further,A good ſhepheard. but ſo farre as it toucheth him not to be ſpoyled of the Annates and commendanes, and other expeditions and diſpatches which be made in Rome with your golde and ſiluer. Giue your ſoules as much as you will to the diuell of hell, it is a ſmall matter to him, prouided that that which iſſueth vnto him out of Bretaigne,The crowne and the bellie wholly reſpected. and the ancient reuerence due vnto his holines, doe not faile him. So much more great and reuerend ſhall be his holines, by how much you other little mannikiens ſhall become little and very little ones. And ſpeake not any more of ſo great good turnes and ſuch excellent fauours, as your predeceſſors haue done to the holie Apoſtolike ſea, and much leſſe of the riches and countries, that the Popes hold by the benefite of Charles the great, and of his ſucceſſors Kings of France, that is a thing done alreadie. The Pardons that you haue receiued a few yeares ſince,Or els. with the fewe Indulgences or forgiuenes, and the Iubilees are of a much greater price. It is enough that the Crownes & Scepters of the world, be at the diſpoſition of his holines, and ſo may bee chaunged, ieſted withall, tranſlated and taken and giuen, after his owne manner: for it is written,Well ſayd diuell, ſpeaking his words, and in his ſpirit. I will giue thee all theſe things. And that I may proceede to ſpeake vnto you in the Latin tongue, leſt happily ſome did not ſufficiently vnderſtand the Italianā, I will tell you the ſumme of my legation, which is taken out of the tenth chapter of Matthew. Thinke you not, I pray you, that I haue come to ſend peace into this land: I came not to ſend peace but a ſword, for I haue nothing more in charge and ſecret inſtruction, then that I may continually exhort you to battaile and fighting, and with all my ſtrength may let, that you ſhould not at any hand treate, touching reconciliation and peace amongſt your ſelues: which verily ſhould bee a great crime and vnworthie Chriſtian and Catholike perſons. And another poynt that I haue to doe with you, is touching the election of ſome good Catholike Prince to bee your King, ſhaking off vtterly this familie of the Bourboniās, which is whollie hereticall, or a fautrix and fauourer of heretikes. But I know that ye ſhal do a moſt gratefull and gracious thing to our Lord the Pope, and to the holy Apoſtolike ſea, and alſo to my moſt chriſtian benefactor, and moſt Catholike King of Spayne, and of ſo many other kingdomes, if you conſerue the Dutchie of Britannia Armorica, to his moſt famous daughter the infant, and beſtow the kingdome vpon ſome Prince of his familie, whom ſhe will chooſe for her husband, and will vouchſafe worthie of the dowrie Crowne of France whollie to either of the competitors. But of this poynt, that moſt reuerend Cardinall of Pelue,Elegantly ſpoken. ſhall diſpute vnto you, and for the reſidue ſhall ſupplie it, for he knoweth better then me my ſelfe your buſineſſes, which for twentie yeares ſpace, as well Lotharingically as Spaniſhly he hath handled at Rome, and that ſo ſubtilly and faithfully, that he hath brought your matters to that poynt, into which you ſee them now reduced.Aske my fellow and I be a theefe. Wherefore when this godly Prelate and citizen did beleeue, that his mother France was in the agonie of death, and did draw the laſt breath, he came lately to viſite her, as a good and a deuout confeſſor, and the beſt cō patriot, to helpe you in the funerall, or rather vulnerall pompe and exequies thereof. But if you would chooſe ſome one ſeeking out of his benefactors of Lotharingie, and Guiſie, ſurely you ſhould do to him according to his heart, and he would cheerefully annoynt and conſecrate him with the oyle of the holie pot, crewſe or crewet, which he hath at Reims expreſſely reſerued, and very wel kept vnder the cuſtodie of S. Paule, Duke of Campania and Rotelia: looke you to it. I by the expreſſe mandate of our Lord, if you ſhall doe any thing in this matter againſt the lawes & manners of this kingdome, or againſt the Councels of the Church,And not? or againſt the Goſpell and Decalogue (ſpecially according to the impreſſion of heretikes) doe promiſe you full abſolution and indulgence, and that freely for euer and euer, Amen. Alas for mee, I did not remember to cauſe you to vnderſtand a much and merueilous good newes, which I haue receiued in haſte from Rome, by meanes of Zametto, that is, that his holines doth excommunicate, charge, accurſe all Cardinals, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, Prieſts & Friers which are politikes royall, or fauouring the King, how much Catholike ſoeuer they be. And for to take away all differences and iealouſnes betwixt the Spanyards and French, the moſt holy father ſhall make,But yet the Spaniards had it firſt. that the French ſhall haue the kings euill, aſwell as the Spanyards, & ſhall become alſo as great brauaders or bragging fellowes, & bouggerers as they. Moreouer he giueth full indulgence and pardon to all, how great good Catholikes ſoeuer they be, be they Lorraines, or Spanyards, or French men, the which ſhall murther their fathers, brethren, couſins, neighbours, ſuperiours, royall Princes, politike heretikes in this moſt chriſtian warre, during three hundred thouſand yeares of true pardon.A very good reaſon. And doubt ye not that the holie ſpirit ſhall be wanting vnto you, for the holie Conſiſtorie will cauſe it to come downe from the armes of God the father, at their pleaſure or commaundement, as ye knowe that hee hath denied theſe many yeares to create any Pope, that hath not been an Italian or a Spanyard. In fine, I pray you for my ſake make a King: and I doe not care whoſoeuer hee bee, although hee were the diuell, ſo that he bee a ſeruant and a feudatarie of his holines, and of the Catholique King, by whoſe meanes I ſtand, and haue been made a Cardinall, thankes to the good Duke of Parma for it. This I will tell you, that my voyce of choiſe, ſhall willingly bee for the infant or daughter of Spayne,More (it is ſaid) thē ſhe ſhould for ſhe is a valiant and worthie Ladie, and much beloued of her father. Neuertheles, doe you that which ſhall pleaſe the Lord the Duke of Feria, and Monſieur the Lieutenant. But take you heed in the meane time, how you opē your mouth to ſpeake or reaſon of peace or of truce: otherwiſe the holie Colledge will denie Chriſt himſelfe. I commend my ſelfe heartilie vnto you. Againe I ſay vnto you farewell.

Theſe words being finiſhed, little Launay, heretofore made miniſter in the vniuerſitie of Geneue, and at this preſent the baſeſt perſon of Sorbonne, after that he had eaten vp the great breuiaries and heures of the late king, to make banquets to Monſieur the Lieutenant, fell vpon his knees with Garinus the Franciſcan Frier, and apoſtle apoſtata, and aſſiſted with Cuilly the Curat of S. Germain Lauxerrois, and with Aubry the Curat of S. Andrew des Arts, comming backe from ſhriuing Peter Barriere, thundered out with a lowd voyce, before Monſieur the Legats croſſe, O croſſe all haile, our onely hope in this time of the paſſion.

Some of the aſſemblie thought not well of it, notwithſtanding euery one followed them, ſinging the ſame ſong, and the ſtirre being ended, the lot fell to Monſieur the Cardinall of Pelue to ſpeake, who lifting himſelfe vp vpon his two feete like a gooſe, after that he had made very deepe reuerence before Monſieur the Lieutenants ſeate, he hauing put off his red had into his hood behind, and afterwards making ſuch another before Monſieur the Legate,Great preparation to heare a gooſe hiſſe. and laſt of all one moſt low of all the reſt before the Dames or Ladies, did in fine ſit himſelfe downe againe, & hauing coughed or ſneezed three good times together, and that not without auoyding of ſome phlegmatike matter, which alſo prouoked euery one to do the like, he began to ſpeake after this manner, directing his words to Monſieur the Lieutenant, who three times ſayd vnto him, Couer a thouſand, or put on my maſter.

MEſſieurs, I will begin my ſpeech by a patheticall exclamation of the royall Prophet Dauid: Quam terribilia iudicia tua, &c. O God, how terrible and admirable are thy iudgments? They that will very narrowly looke or take heede to the beginnings and proceedings of our holie vnion, ſhall haue very good occaſion, with their hands ioyned together,Ah mannerly Prelate. and lifted vp into heauen to crie: O God, if your iudgments bee incomprehenſible, how much your graces are they more admirable, and to ſay with the Apoſtle, Where ſin aboūded, there ſuperabounded grace alſo. Is not this a very ſtrange thing, Meſſieurs, yea zealous Catholikes, to ſee our vnion now, ſo holie, ſo zealous, & ſo deuoute, that was almoſt in all the parts of it compoſed of people that before the holie barricades, were all beiewelled and enriched with ſome note ill folfaied,Warre worketh wonders. and alſo ill agreeing with iuſtice? And as it were by a miraculous metamorphoſis, to ſee ſodainly and at one blow,Or rather ordure. atheiſme conuerted into ardure and feruencie of deuotion: ignorance into ſcience of all nouelties, and curioſitie of newes: concuſſion and extortion, into faſtings: robberie, into generoſitie and valiantnes: to be ſhort, vice and crime tranſmutated into glorie and honour? Theſe are the ſtroakes from heauen, as Monſieur the Lieutenant hath ſayd, euen from God himſelfe: I ſay ſo fayre and beautifull, that Frenchmen ought to open the eyes of their vnderſtanding profoundly for to conſider theſe miracles, and thereupon ought the good people of this Realme, and thoſe that enioy goods to, to be red with ſhame, with almoſt al the Nobilitie, the more ſound part of the Prelats, and of the Magiſtrates, yea the moſt cleere ſighted, who make ſhewe to haue in horror,As they ſhould indeed. this holy and miraculous chaunge. For what is there in the world more admirable? And what can God himſelfe doe more ſtrange, then to ſee all turned vpſide downe in a moment, valets and varlets to become maſters: ſmall ones made great ones: the poore, rich: the humble, inſolent and proude: to ſee them that obeyed, to command: thoſe that borrowed, to lend to vſurie: thoſe that iudged, to bee iudged: thoſe that impriſoned, to bee impriſoned: and thoſe that were faine to ſtande, to ſit. O meruailous caſe! O great myſteries!What man? wither wilt thou? O the ſecrets of the profound casket of God, vnknowne to mortall caytifes. The yards & elles of ſhoppes are turned into partiſanes: the penners into muskets: the breuiaries or portuiſes into targets: the copes into corſelets, and the hoods into beuers and ſalades? Is it not another great and admirable conuerſion of the greateſt part of you, Meſſieurs, the zealous Catholikes, (among whom I will name for honours ſake, the Lords de Roſne, de Mandreville, la mothe Serand, the cheualier Breton,Mo then a good many. and fiue hundred others of the moſt famous of our ſide, which would make me make a hyperbaton and ouer long parentheſis, and that they whom I name not, would not take it well at my hands?) Is not this I ſay a great matter, that you were all not long ſithence in Flaunders, bearing armes politikely, and imploying your perſons and goods againſt the archicatholike Spanyards, in the fauour of the heretikes of the Low Countries, and that you are now ſo catholikely ranged, euen all at once into the lap of the holie Romane league,Fit fellowes for ſuch ſeruice. & that ſo many good ſots or fooles, banquerouts, ſaffron ſellers, deſperate perſons, hault-gourdiers, forgers, or counterfeiters, all people giuen to the ſpoyle, and worthie of the rope, ſhould ſo couragiouſly ſet themſelues forward, and be of the firſt in this holie part, to doe their affayres, and ſhould become Catholikes with double eares, very long before others?Very paſſionate exclamations. O very patternes of the prodigall childe, whereof the Goſpell ſpeaketh: O deuoute children of the Maſſe at midnight: O holy catholicon of Spayne, that art the cauſe that the price of Maſſes is redoubled, the holie candles and lights cheriſhed againe, and made more dead offerings augmented, and ſaluez multiplied, that art the cauſe that there are no more traitors, robbers, burners, falſifiers, cutthroates and theeues, ſith that by this holie conuerſion, they haue changed their name, and haue taken this honorable title of zealous Catholigues,Quid non morta • ia pectora cogis, auri ſacra fames? and of ſouldiers of the Church militant. O deified double Duckets of Spayne, that haue had this efficacie to make vs all young againe, and to renue vs into another better life: this is that which our good God ſpeaking vnto his father ſayth, in S. Matthew the 11. Thou haſt hid them from the prudent and wiſe, and haſt reuealed them to babes. Certainly, Meſſieurs, me thinkes I ſee againe that good time, in which the Chriſtians to expiate and ſatisfie for their offences, croſſed themſelues, and went to make warre beyond the ſea as pilgrims, againſt the miſcreants and infidels. O holie pilgrims, thou of Lanſac, and thy good brother the baſtard Biſhop of Comminges, who haue cauſed to be inrolled by throngs and troupes in your quarters, ſo many honeſt people, who being like vnto minſtrels, had nothing in ſo great hate as their houſe. I will not here comprehend many Gentlemen and others, who are of the wood, whereof ſome haue made them whatſoeuer it be, and haue the ſhewe of it, and ſhewe themſelues valiant cockſcombes vpon the pauement of Paris, who hauing been pages on foote, or ſeruing the Catholike princes, or their adherents, haue bound themſelues in liuelines of heart,If this bee not good, tell vs what is? to followe their parte, yea if they ſhould become Turkes: liking better to bee traytors to their King and countrie; then to fayle of their word, to a maſter, who is himſelfe a ſeruant and ſubiect of a King. In trueth we are greatly obliged to theſe people, loe, as well as to thoſe, who hauing receiued ſome ſtorme or dammage, of the tyrant or his followers, haue thorough indignation, and a ſpirite of reuenge, turned towards vs, and haue preferred their particular wrong, to all other duetie: and we ought alſo as much to thanke them, who hauing committed ſome murther, or notable wickednes, and robberie on the enemies ſide, haue catholikely caſt themſelues into our armes, to eſcape the puniſhment of iuſtice, and to finde amongſt vs all freedome and impietie,Hee would haue ſaide impunitie. for theſe more than none other, are bounde to holde good, and that euen vnto death for the holy vnion. And this is the cauſe why you muſt not diſtruſt the baron d'Alegree, nor of Hacqui ville, gardien of Ponteau on the ſea, nor of the Iailor of Vienne, and others who haue giuen ſo faire blowes and ſtroakes, to gaine paradiſe, with the diſpenſation of their oath: nor likewiſe thoſe, which haue couragiouſlie put their hand to blood, and to the impriſonment of politike magiſtrates: in which Monſieur the Lieutenant hath a great deale of dexteritie, to ingage them, and to cauſe them to doe things irremiſſible, and which deſerue not euer to haue any pardon, no more than that which he hath done.Curſed counſell. But let vs take heede of thoſe nobles, that ſay they are good Frenchmen, and that refuſe, to take penſions and double ducketts of Spaine, and haue conſcience to make warre, againſt merchants and labourers: theſe are dangerous people (I cannot tell you) and are able to make vs falſe ſleuces. For they brag that if the Biarnois would goe to Maſſe, their ſwordes ſhould neuer cut againſt him or his. Remember you the enteruiewes and parlements, which ſome make ſo often at Saint Denis, and of the paſſeports that they receiue, and that they ſend ſo eaſilie on the one ſide, and on the other. Theſe people, Meſſieures, heare not maſſe but on one knee,A heinous offence. neither take they holy water in entring into the church, but in their bodie forbidding it. O, would to God, that they were all like to that holie pilgrime, confeſſor, and catholike zealous martyr, Monſieur de la Mothe Serrand, who being in the priſons at Tours, for yeelding teſtimonie to his faith, refuſed to dine, and take his refection of porridge vpon a friday, fearing leaſt they had put ſome fatte in his ſoppe: and this champion of the faith,Stumble at a ſtraw, & leap ouer a blocke. this Macabee, this deuoute martyr, proteſted to ſuffer death rather, than to eate any other ſoppe, than that which was catholike. O famous aſſiſtants, choſen and tried at all aduentures, for the dignitie of this notable aſſembly, the very pure creame of our prouinces, the very wine lees of our gouernement,A country metaphor. which are come hither with ſo many trauailes, ſome on foot, ſome alone, other ſome in the night, and the greateſt parte at your owne coſts and charges. Doe not you wonder at the heroicall actes of our Louchards,Gentlemen of the new ſtampe. Buſſis, Senaulds, Oudineaux, Morreliers, Crucez, Goudards, and Drouarts, who haue ſo well come by the feather? What thinke you of ſo many Caboches as are found, and God hath raiſed vp at Paris, Roan, Lions, Orleans, Troyes, Toulouze, Amiens, where you ſee butchers, taylors, fillipers, iuglers, tumblers, cutlers, and other ſortes of perſons of the very droſſe and ſcumme of the people, to haue the firſt voyce in councell and aſſemblies of the eſtate, and to giue lawe to them, that before were great of race, of riches, and of qualitie, who now dare not cough nor mutter before them.Scripture rightly applied. Is it not in this, that the prophecie is accompliſhed, which ſaith, hee raiſeth the poore out of the dungehil? Should not this be a crime to paſſe ouer vnder ſilence, that holy martyr fryer Iames Clement, who hauing been the moſt vnorderly and wicked of all his couent (as all the Iacobins of this citie knowe well inough) and hauing many times had the chapter, and the diffamatorie whip, for his thieueries and wickedneſſes, is notwithſtanding ſanctified at this daye, and now is alofte to debate and diſpute with S. Iago of Compoſtella,Affections fit enough for ſuch a fact and fellow. who ſhall haue the firſt ſeate? O bleſſed confeſſor and martyr of God. How gladlie would I bee the paranimph and encomiaſt of thy praiſes, if my eloquence could at • aine to thy merits? But I loue better to holde my peace therein, than to ſpeake too little thereof. And continuing my diſcourſe, I will ſpeake of the ſtrange conuerſion of mine owne proper perſon: although that Cato ſaith, Nec te laudaris, nec te culpaueris ipſe, A great clarke, good latiniſt and ſingular verſifier. thou ſhalt neither praiſe thy ſelfe, neither ſhalt thou blame thy ſelfe, yet I will freely confeſſe vnto you, that before this holy enterpriſe of the vnion, I was no great deuourer of the crucifix, and ſome very neare about me, and that haunted me moſt familiarly, haue had in opinion, that I did a little ſmell of the faggot, becauſe that being a yong ſcholler, I tooke pleaſure in reading the bookes of Caluin, and being at Tolouze, I had mingled my ſelfe to preach and teach in the night with the new Lutherans, and afterwardes made no great conſcience nor difficultie, to eate fleſh in Lent, nor to lie with my ſiſter,A beaſt: for abuſing thy ſiſter and Gods word alſo. following the examples of the holy patriarches of the Bible. But ſince that I had ſigned the holy league, and the fundamentall lawe of this eſtate, accompanied with double duckets, and of the hope that I had of a redde batte, no man hath doubted touching my beliefe, neither hath there any further inquirie been made, touching either my conſcience, or my cariages. Verily I confeſſe, that I owe this grace of my conuerſion next after God, to Monſieur the Duke d'Eſpernon, who (hauing vpbraided me in the Councell with that, whereof none doubted in Lions touching my ſiſter in lawe) was the cauſe, that of a great politike, and a very ſlender Caluiniſt that I was,From euill to worſe. I became a great and coniured leaguer, as I am at this preſent the director and ordainor of ſecret affaires, and ſuch as importe the eſtate of the holy vnion, neither more nor leſſe, than bleſſed Saint Paul, who of a perſecutor of chriſtians, was made the veſſell of election. This is the cauſe wherefore hee ſaith: where ſinne hath abounded, there ſhall grace alſo abounde. Doubte not then any more to continue firme and conſtant in this holy partie, full of ſo many miracles, and of ſtrokes from heauen, of which you muſt needes make a fundamentall lawe. As touching the neceſſities and oppreſſions of the clergie, you ſhall or may aduiſe thereof, if it pleaſe you, for for my regarde, I will put paine that my great pot bee not ouerthrowne, and I ſhall alwaies haue credite with Roland and Ribault, that will not fayle to pay mee my penſions, from whatſoeuer part ſiluer come. Euery one will aduiſe to prouide for himſelfe, if he thinke it ſo good, and for my parte I deſire not peace, vnleſſe firſt I may be a Cardinal, as they haue promiſed mee, and as I my ſelfe haue well deſerued.If thou maieſt be iudge. For without mee Monſieur the Lieutenant could not be in the degree where he is, becauſe it was me my ſelfe, that retained the late Duke of Guiſe his brother, who woulde willinglie haue gone from the eſtates of Bloys, diſtruſting of ſome deafe deuiſe and ambuſhment of the tirant: but I cauſed him to remaine, and to waite for a diſpatch from Rome, which ſhould be brought me within three dayes, and that was the cauſe, why Madame his mother here preſent, hath many times reproached me, that I was the cauſe of his death: whereof Monſieur the Lieutenant and all his, ought to yeelde mee thankes, becauſe that vpon this pretext, and to reuenge this goodly death of his,Whot paſſions and bad perſwaſions. we haue ſtirred vp the people, and taken occaſion to make another King. Courage therefore, courage I ſay my friends: feare not to expoſe your liues, and that which remaineth of your goods for Monſieur the Lieutenant, and for them of his houſe. Theſe are good princes and good Catholikes who loue you to the full and on the ridge. Speake not here of abrogating from him his power, which ſome murmur and mutter, that it was not giuen him but vntil ſome next holding or aſſembly of the Eſtates: but theſe are the accountes of the Storke. They that haue taſted this morſell, they will neuer bite. Would you demaund a more goodly and braue king, and one that is more groſſe, and more graſſe or fattie than he is?Good parts to commend to a kingdome. Hee is (by S. Iames) a faire peece of fleſh, and I thinke you cannot finde one that ouerweigheth him. Meſſieurs, of the nobilitie, that keepe the townes and caſtles, in the name of the holy vnion, are you not very glad to leuie and gather vp all the taxes, tenths, aydes, ſhoppes, fortifications, watches, impoſts, and that which is giuen for all wares, as well by water as by land, and to take your rights and cuſtomes vpon all prices, ranſomes, and pillages, without being bound to make an account thereof to any man? Vnder what King would you finde a better condition? You are Barons: you are Counties and Dukes in the proprietie of all the places and prouinces which you hold. You command abſolutely therein,Right as can be, of clubbes, ſpades and all ſaue the harts. and as it were kings of the cardes. What would you haue better? Leaue and forget theſe glorious names of French monarchie, and remember no more your anceſtors, nor them who haue inriched and inobled you. To be briefe, he that ſtandeth well, let him not remoue himſelfe. As touching you, Meſſieurs, the eccleſiaſticall perſons, of a trueth I looſe my Latin in ſpeaking to you, and I ſee very well that if the warre laſt, there will be a ſhamefull number of poore prieſts: but alſo hope not you for your recompence in this brittle and fraile world, but in heauen where the crowne of eternall glorie waiteth for them that ſhall ſuffer and dye for the holie League.What text ſheweth that? Let him ſaue himſelfe that can. As concerning my ſelfe, I am capable enough to beare and weare a red hat, but to remedie & meete with the neceſſities and oppreſſions of the Clergie, it is not in my power, neither indeed will my gowtes giue me leaue or leiſure to thinke thereupon. Notwithſtanding, I feare one thing, that is, that if the King of Nauarre reuoke the paſſeports and ſtriuings for benefices, which he hath giuen to the Monaſteries and Chapiters,Prayer for their patrons. there will be daunger leſt ye all crie to the murther, after the holie father, and Monſieur the Legate, and the moſt reuerend Cardinall here preſent, that might well leaue the bootes in France, if they did not in good time ſaue themſelues beyond the mountaines. I leaue it to my maſters the preachers, to holde alwaies in breath their deuout pariſhioners, and to repreſſe the inſolencie of theſe demanders of bread or of peace. They know the paſſages of ſcripture, to accommodate them to their purpoſe, and to turne them and to vſe them to the occaſions as they ſhall haue neede. For it was neuer ſayd for naught, that the Goſpell is,A homely reſemblance, & a foule abuſing of ſcripture following. a tripe wifes knife, that cutteth on both ſides: according to that, And out of his mouth there went a ſword ſharpened on either ſide: And as the Apoſtle S. Paule ſaith: The word of God is liuely and effectuall, and more pearcing then a two edged ſword. Now that which for the preſent moſt importeth our affayres, is to build and ſet vp a fundamentall lawe, by which the French people ſhall be kept and held to ſuffer themſelues to be coyffed, biggened, haltred, and lead at the appetite of my maſters that ſit in chaires and pulpits: yea they ſhall ſuffer themſelues to be barked and pilled to the very bones, and their purſes to bee cleanſed euen vnto the bottome, without ſpeaking a word, or asking any cauſe why. For you Meſſieurs know, that we haue to doe with our penſions. But aboue all, cauſe oftentimes to bee renued the othes touching the vnion, vpon the precious bodie of our Lord, and continue the brotherhoods of the name of Ieſus, and of bleſſed S. Francis: for theſe are good collers for the raſcall people, with which matter wee charge the honor and conſcience of our good fathers the Ieſuites, and wee recommend alſo vnto them our ſpyes, to the end that they continue to cauſe to be held ſurely our newes in Spayne, and receiue alſo ſecret mandates from his Catholike maieſtie, for to cauſe them to be kept for Ambaſſadors, Agents, Curats, Conuents, Churchwardens, and Maſters of brotherhoods: and that in their particular confeſſions, they doe not forget to forbid vnder paine of eternall damnation to deſire peace,Counſell fit for one that ſhould be a Cardinall to giue. & much more to ſpeake of it, but to inſtubborne and make ſtiffe the deuout Chriſtians, to ſacking, to bloud, and to fire, rather then to ſubmit themſelues to the Biarnois, though indeed he ſhould go to Maſſe, as he hath giuen in charge to his Ambaſſadors thereof to aſſure the Pope. But wee know well enough the counterpoyſon, if this ſhould fall out, & we would giue good order, that his holines ſhould beleeue nothing of it, and though he ſhould beleeue, yet he ſhould doe nothing, and though he ſhould doe,The end of all. that we would receiue nothing of it, if I be not Cardinall. And why ſhould not I be, ſeeing Maſter Piere de Frontac,Better a bad example then none. being but a ſimple aduocate of Paris, of the time of King Iohn, was ſo well, for hauing diligently defended the cauſes of the Church? And me that haue forſaken my maſter, and betrayed my countrie, to vphold the greatnes of the holy Apoſtolike ſea, ſhould not I be ſo? And I wil bee ſo: yea I aſſure you I will bee ſo, or my friends ſhall faile me. I haue ſpoken.

After that the ſayd Lord Archbiſhop had finiſhed his Epiphonema,It was fit it ſhould be ſo. with great mouing of the bodie and contention of voyce, he did very baſely demaund permiſſion of Madame de Montpenſier, to withdrawe himſelfe to change his ſhirt, becauſe he had ouerheate himſelfe in his harneſſe. The beadle of Monſieur the Rector, which was at his feete, cauſed the preaſe to be reffed into two: afterwards ſliding downe by the ſeates of the deputies, my ſayd Lord the Rector Roze, cloathed with his Rectorall habit aboue his rochet and portable camail of a Biſhop, putting off his cap diuers times, began thus.

MOſt famous, moſt noble,As right as can be. and moſt Catholike Synagogue: euen as the virtue of Themiſtocles waxed hot, by the conſideration of the triumphs and trophees of Miltiades: ſo doe I feele my ſelfe to haue my courage inwarmed, in the contemplation of the braue diſcourſes, of this riuer of rhetorike and flood of eloquēce, I meane Monſieur the Chancellor of the Lieutenancie, who commeth to triumph in ſpeech. And after his example,Oh what force thete is in eluiſh examples. I am moued with an vntollerable ardure, to ſet out my rhetorike, and to ſet vpon a ſtall my merchandiſe in this place, where oftentimes I haue made preachments, that by the meanes of the late King, haue made me of a miller to become a Biſhop,Great preferments. as by your meanes, I am of a Biſhop become a miller. But I thinke that I haue ſufficiently declared by my paſſed actions, that I am not ingrate, and that I haue not done any thing, but that which I haue ſeene to be done, by diuers others of this noble aſſiſtāce, who yet haue receiued more benefites then me of the dead King, and haue notwithſtanding brauely chaſed him out of his kingdome, and cauſed him to bee murthered, for the good of the Catholike faith, vnder hope to haue much more, as wee were gently promiſed. Now I will not here rubbe againe the things paſſed,It needeth not. nor catch your beneuolence by a long exordium or entrance, but ſummarily I wil tel you, Meſſieurs, that the eldeſt daughter of the King, I ſay not of the King of Nauarre, but of the King that we ſhall chuſe here, if God be pleaſed, and waiting for that I will ſay, the eldeſt daughter of Monſieur the Lieutenant of the Eſtate and crowne of France, the vniuerſitie of Paris doth declare vnto you in all obſeruance, that from her very ſwadling cloutes, and firſt beginnings, ſhe hath not been ſo well nurtured, mannered, modeſt and peaceable, as ſhe is now, by the grace and fauour of you the reſt Meſſieurs. For in ſteed that we were wont to ſee ſo many men and women ſellers of old apparell, ſellers alſo of old mantles, pattins, great pots, & other ſorts of wicked people to runne vp and downe the ſtreetes, to haunt brothell houſes, to draw wooll, and to braule with the cookes of the little bridge,Notable orders. you ſee no more a man of ſuch people throughout al the colledges: All the ſuppoſts of the faculties and nations, that made hurlie burlie for the ſuites of licenſes, appeare no more: they play no more theſe ſcandalous playes, and biting ſatyres vpon the ſcaffolds of colledges, and ye ſee there a goodly reformation, all theſe ſame young regents being retired, that in diſdaine would ſhewe it, that they knew more Greeke and Latine then other men. Theſe factions amongſt the maſter of artes, wherein they did beate one another with the blowes of their cappes and their hoods, are ceaſed: all theſe ſchollers of great or good houſe, little and great haue giuen vs the ſlippe. The booke ſellers, printers, binders, guilders, and other people of paper and parchment, to the number of more than 30000. haue charitably deuided the wind, in a 100. quarters, to liue thereof, and haue yet left ſufficient for them that haue remained behinde them. The publike profeſſors, who were all royall and politikes, come not any more to breake our heads, and trouble our braines with their orations, and with their congregations in the three Biſhops,Spoken cunningly, & like an Alchymiſt. they haue put themſelues to doe Alchymie, euery one by himſelfe. Briefelie, all is quiet and peacefull: and I will ſay much more vnto you. Heretofore in the time of the politikes and heretikes Ramus, Galandius and Turnebus, no man made profeſſion of letters, vnles he had with a long hand and great charges ſtudied, and gotten artes and ſciences in our colledges, and paſſed thorough all the degrees of the ſcholaſticall diſcipline. But now by the meane of you the reſt Meſsieurs, and the virtue of the holy vnion, and principallie, by your blowes from heauen, Monſieur the Lieutenant, the butter men and butter wiues of Vanues, the ruffians of Mont-rouge, and of Vaugirard, the vine dreſſers of Saint Cloud, coblers of Villejuifue,A monſtrous change. and other catholike cantons, are become Maſters in artes, bachelors, principals, preſidents, and bouſiers of colledges, regents of claſſes, and ſo ſharpe, ſubtill and argute Philoſophers, that better than Cicero, now they diſpute de inuentione, that is of inuention, and learne euery day to be aftodidactos,Or rather Aſſodidactos. that is teachers of themſelues, without any other Maſter than you, Monſieur the Lieutenant, they learne I ſay, to dye of famine, per regulas, that is to ſay, by rules. Alſo now you heare no more in the claſſes that clamorment and brawling of latine, amongſt the regents, that did batter and beate the eares of all the world: in ſteede of this bablerie and pedlers French, you heare euery houre of the daye the Argentine harmonie,Meruailous Metaphors. and the very idiome and proper ſpeech of kine, and weaned calues, and the ſweete ſinging of aſſes, and of ſwine, as if it were of the nightingales, that ſtand vs in ſteede of clockes or belles, for the firſt, ſecond, and third. Sometimes heretofore wee were wonderous deſirous, to learne and to haue the Hebrew, Greeke, and Latine tongues, but at this preſent wee haue more neede of an oxe or neats tongue ſalted and poudred, that would bee a good commentarie, I can tell you, after our oaten bread. But le Mains and Laual, and theſe infallible weigh Maſters of Angers, with their Capons of high greaſe, and their wonderfull fatte hennes, haue deceiued vs as well as the tongues, and we haue no more but a ſower and bitter remembrie of theſe ſame academicall meſſengers, that came downe or lighted at the croſſe, and other famous Innes, in the harpe ſtreete, and that at the daye and very poynte of time named, to the great contentment of the ſchollers waiting for them, and of their regents ſelling olde garments. You Monſieur Lieutenant, are the cauſe of all this: and all theſe miracles and monſtrous things are the workes of your hands: and yet it is true that our predications,A high commendation. preachments and decrees, haue not hurt or hindred them: but yet for all that, you were the principall motiue and inſtrument thereof: and to ſpeake to you in one worde, you haue vndone vs, and more than vndone vs: Excuſe me if I ſpeake ſo, I will ſay with the Prophet Dauid, Loquebar in conſpectu regum, Such as you Monſieur are. & non confundebar. I did ſpeake in the ſight of Kings, and I was not confounded, nay I did not bluſh, no more than a blacke dogge. You haue I ſay ſo defiled and defamed this faire eldeſt daughter,Whether wilt thou Rector. this ſhamefaſte virgin, this flouriſhing damſell, the onely pearle of the world, the diamond of this Fraunce, the carbuncle of the Kingdome, and one of the moſt white floure deluces of Paris, that forraine and ſtrange vniuerſities make Greeke and Latin ſonnets thereof, Et verſa eſt in opprobrium gentium, And it is turned into the ſhame of the nations. In the meane while my maſters our doctors, finde nothing therein but to laugh: for they haue not the quodlibetarie queſtions ſo frequent:He would haue ſayd proceede. there paſſe out no more Bachelers, Licenciats, nor Doctors, where they were wont to haue their banquets, drinkings one to another and feaſts, and did crambe themſelues vp to the throate: the wine of Orleans commeth no more here, much leſſe that of Gaſcoigne, ſo that all ergoes are ceaſed and layd aſide. And though ſome one of theſe that are moſt Spaniolized by meanes of ſome double Duckets, and doe receiue ſome penſion of the Legate cloſely or ſecretly, yet that is not as much to ſay that the others feele it. Moreouer, Monſieur the Lieutenant, you haue cauſed Louchard,And why not? for of like there ſhould be the like cō ſideration. your ſteward or purſebearer, and a very zealous man, to be hanged, and haue by conſequēt declared to be hangable, all they that haue been preſent at the ceremonie of the order of the vnion, which hath been giuen to the preſident Briſſon. Now ſo it is, that all the young Curats, Prieſts and Friers of our vniuerſitie, and our other Doctors for the moſt part,That is, we are caught in the lime twigge. we haue all been promoters of this tragedie, therefore gluc. And I tell you, that if you had not haſted your ſelfe to come, wee had indeede ſerued our turnes with others, and wee had not remayned in ſo faire a way, and ſuch ſpeech at this day is very high to them, whoſe teeth could haue done no euill, if you had yet lingered but three daies to come. But to come backe to my firſt theame, I argument thus: Louchard and his companions were iuſtly hanged,Doctorly done becauſe they were gallowclappers and deſerued hanging. Atqui, but the more part of our other Doctors were conſorts and adherents, and counſellors of the aforeſayd hanged one: therefore crackropes, gallowclappers, are pendable, or worthie to be hanged. And it ſerueth to no purpoſe to alleadge the abolition that was graunted vnto vs, touching the Catholike murther, for the maxime of the law will be ſtrōg, Remiſſio non dicitur niſi ratione criminis: that is, remiſſion is not ſayd to bee, but as in regard of a crime, the aforeſayd abolition not being able to aboliſh the merited paine, no though you ſhould mollifie or ſoake it a hundred times in the Catholicon of Spayne, which is a ſope that ſcoureth, and that cleane away, euery thing. And therefore we muſt neceſſarily argument thus in Baroquo. Whoſoeuer cauſeth zealous Catholikes to be hanged,He concludeth in mood and figure full finely. is a tyrant, and fauourer of heretikes: but Monſieur the Lieutenant hath cauſed Louchard to be hanged and his companions, the moſt Catholike Catholikes, and zealous zealous aboue all: therefore Monſieur the Lieutenant is a tyrant, and fauourer of heretikes, worſe then Hēry of Valois, who pardoned Louchard, & la Morliere, worthie of the gibbet, three yeares before the barricadoes. And that it is not ſo, I proue the minor, à maiori ad minus: that is, from the greater to the leſſe. That Biarnois held in his hands priſoners, the principall heads of the League, as Boiſdaulphin, Peſcher, Fontaine, Martel, Flavacourt, Tramblecourt, the Cluzeaux, and many other, that owe me thankes, if I name them not, whom he cauſed not to be hanged, though he were able & might haue done it before:Well ſpoken, and like a Diuine. Quia non vult mortem peccatoris, ſed vt reſipiſcat: that is, becauſe he will not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he ſhould repent, as ſome haue done: and notwithſtanding he is an heretike, or accounted for ſuch a one: Ergo, Monſieur the Lieutenant is worſe then an heretike, becauſe he hath cauſed to bee hanged his beſt friends, who put the bread into his hands To ſay that this was done, ad maiorem cautelam: that is, for better heede and greater ſubtiltie, or to bring downe the pride and inſolencie of the ſixteene, that is good: notwithſtanding in the meane while they were hanged. And this ſaying cannot hinder, that we bee not alwaies iudged and reputed great dolts & blockheads, that is in Latin and French ſots, for that we haue indured him ſo long: and which is worſe, that the politikes may conclude in mood and figure, that Sorbonne can erre: a matter I tel you, that would make me once againe to become mad, and runne vp and downe the ſtreetes. For if this one ſhould haue place, wee ſhould neuer bee able to proue, by all the flowers of our rhetorike, nor by all the fundamental lawes of the kingdome, on which Monſieur of Lions hath relied ſo much, and made ſo great reckoning, that ſo many ten thouſands of poore chriſtians, as wee haue made, and daily doe make to dye, with ſword,Death for treaſon, counted martyrdome, with theſe reuerēd doctors. with famine, with fire, by our headlong decree, ſhould be iudged true martyrs, if it be ſo that our foreſayd decree be not able to abſolue them from the oth of fidelitie and naturall obedience, that ſubiects owe vnto their Prince. Wherfore Meſſieurs, I ſupplicate you, in the name of our Academie, to couer with a cloake this worthie fact here, the moſt catholikely that you can, as Monſieur the Legate doth the intentions of Pope Sixtus, who loued not the League ſo dearly as ſome ſayd he did. Furthermore, I will furniſh you with ſo many places and paſſages of ſcripture, as you would haue, for I haue of them euen to ſell againe. But aboue all things, I recommend vnto you,The belly hath no eares, though it haue a mouth to ſpeake. Meſſieurs, our penſions, and of my maſters or fellow Doctors of the holie facultie of theologie, as alſo of my maſters the Curats and Preachers for whom I ſpeake. For you haue to doe with vs, and you are not able to paſſe theſe things. And Madame of Montpenſier knoweth well enough to ſay, that ſhe gayned more townes, and diſpatched more work with a very few double Duckets, which ſhe diſtributed to the preachers and Doctors, then the King of Nauarre did with all his taxes and armies. I doe in good time aduertiſe you, that if you furniſh and fit not the appoyntment, there is danger, leaſt wee giue our ſelues whollie ouer to proue,He meaneth their rents and reuenues, ordinarie or extraordinarie. that it is beſt to haue a lawfull King, though wayward and wicked, ſeeing hee will leaue vnto vs the bread of the chapiter, and purgatorie, without innouating any thing till the Councel that ſhall be. But in expecting that, aduiſe ye whether wee ſhall make a King or no. I know that Monſieur the Lieutenant would gladly bee he: ſo alſo would his nephew bee: and likewiſe his brother the Duke of Nemours: and I doubt not, but that the Dukes of Sauoy and of Lorraine haue as great deſire of it: for of a trueth they haue as much right to it one as another. Now concerning Duke Mercurie, his agents will doe as much for it as he himſelfe. If he had taken in good faith and earneſt Don Anthonio the King of Portugall,Practiſe to apprehend Don Anthonio. and had deliuered him to his very good friend, the moſt Catholike King, as hee promiſed him, I beleeue that he would haue been content with the rights and claimes that hee hath to the Dutchie of Bretaigne, like vnto thoſe which his grandfather Iohn had by his wife. But here, he that is not he, taketh not he. Firſt of all, I counſell you not to ſtay your ſelues vpon the Duke of Sauoy, or vpon the Duke of Lorraine: for they are not (in ſpeaking with reuerence) but cods or bladders that haue enough to doe in their owne houſe: and I aſſure my ſelfe that they will be content with very little. If you wil leaue to the Savoyard, Daulphin & Prouence, with ſome little part of Lionnois & of Languedoc (yet ſo that you make him to take Geneua alſo) I would ingage my life that he will demaund no more of you,If you can, or be able. but the confiſcation of Eſdiguieres.The name of a worthie man that holdeth him touch. As touching the Duke of Lorraine, take frō him the Dukedome of Bouillon, and giue him Sedan, Mets, all Champagne, and part of Bourgongne, which is for the good ſeating of him, you ſhall appeaſe him afterwards for a morſell of bread, though it bee but browne. I come now vnto you Monſieur of Guiſe, the ſonne of a good father and of a good mother, one whom the prophecies haue of long time deſtined to kingdomes and empires, and haue ſurnamed you Pepin the ſhort, or curtalled. You, behold you, vpon the poynt to be another great Charles the great, your great great grandfather, if the fayre or market hold. But regard, I pray you, that you ſuffer not your ſelfe to bee deceiued. Theſe Meſſieurs of Spayne,Spanyards paynted out. although they be our very good friends & good Catholikes, be not merchants at one word, and buy & ſell with no more: and that is found true in them, not at this time only, for there are almoſt two thouſand yeares ſince that they haue medled with more matters then they ſhould, and that men haue giuen them this name to bee fine and cunning in doubling of poynts. They promiſe you this diuine damoſel or daughter in mariage, to make her a Queene in ſolidum, that is, altogether and wholly with you: but take you heede that the Duke de Feria haue not filled his ſeates ſigned without charge. He hath a boxe full of ſuch things, wherewith he ſerueth himſelfe vpon all occurrences, as of a laſt for euery ſhooe, and as one ſaddle for all horſes: he dates them, or he antedates them with his chamber pot when pleaſeth him. I haue feare, ſomething that he hath propounded vnto vs, that this is nothing but arte and ſubtiltie to amaze vs withal, when he hath ſeene that we will not vnderſtand, or be of minde to breake the law Salick. If you haue but neuer ſo little noſe, you ſhall ſmell it. For we knowe in good part, that the marriage is alreadie accorded of her and of her couſin the Archduke Erneſt. Adde, that is, ioyne hereunto, that thoſe of the houſe of Auſtrich doe as the Iewes doe, that doe not marrie but in their tribe or familie, and hold one another by the tayle as hannekins and hannetons doe.

Leaue of therefore this vaine hope of Gynecocratie,That is gouernment of women together. and beleeue that little children mocke at it, and goe from it to muſtard. I heard the other day one, that comming verie brauely from the tauerne, did ſing theſe foure verſes.

But if I had been able to haue made him to haue been caught by the commiſſarie Bazin, who ranne after him, he had had no leſſe then the miller that mocked our Eſtates. What wil you ſay to theſe impudent politikes, that haue put you in a ſhape in a faire leafe of paper,A prety deuiſe. alreadie crowned as a king of the cardes, by anticipation, and in the ſame leafe haue alſo put the figure of the ſayd infant or daughter, crowned for Queene of France as you, you regarding huze a huze one the other? And in the neather part of the ſayd painture, haue placed theſe verſes, which I haue kept by heart, becauſe that therein it goeth as on your ſide.

If Monſieur of Orleans in the qualitie of Aduocate general, would cauſe to be ſearched out theſe ſame wicked politike Printers, it is his charge, and they might bee knowne by their caracters, and his good goſsips Bichon, N. Niuelle, Chaudiere, Morel, and Thiere, will diſcouer the matrice. Touching my ſelfe, I willingly forbeare it, for theſe heretikes are euill ſpeakers as diuels, & I ſhould feare they would make ſome booke againſt me, as they did againſt the Catholike Doctor and Lawyer Chopin, vnder the name of Turlupin.And neuer mend it is like lie. Meſsieurs of the hall, or place of hearing, will therein doe their duetie, more & loco ſolitis, after their wonted manner and place. I will hold my ſelfe content to preach the word of God, to maintaine my Beadles, and carefully to ſolicite my penſions. Let all this be ſpoken by a parentheſis. But Monſieur de Guiſe, my good child, beleeue me, and you ſhall beleeue a very foole: ſtay no more vpon that,Neuer better ſpoken. it is not foode for our foules or birds. Lift not vp your traine for all this: we doe not inlarge or make longer your table by reaſon of this. There is hay: there are none but beaſts that delight in it: but doe better: obtaine of the holie father a croiſade, or an expedition and voyage againſt the Turkes, and goe and reconquer that goodly kingdome of Ieruſalem, which appertaineth to you by reaſon of Godfrey, your great vncle, euen as wel as that of Sicilie and the kingdome of Naples. How many ſcepters and crownes are prepared for you, if your horoſcopus lie not, as you your ſelfe are wont to ſay, that you haue not a limited fortune. Leaue this ſame wretched and miſerable kingdome of France to him that will vouchſafe to take the burthen of it. It is not fit that your ſpirit borne for Empires, and the vniuerſall monarchie of the habitable world, ſhould ſtoope to ſo ſmall morſels or matters, and vnworthie of you and of your late father,A carefull caution. whom God abſolue, if it be permitted to ſpeake ſo of Saints. And you Monſier the Lieutenant, to whom I muſt needes now ſpeake. What thinke you to doe? you are groſſe and fully panched: you are heauie and deformed: you haue head big enough in deede to beare a crowne. But what? you ſay you will none of it, and that it would too much ouer burthē you. The politikes ſay, that the foxe ſayd ſo touching mulberies which he would faine haue had.The foxe will eate no grapes. You hinder vnder hād that your nephew ſhuld not be choſē: you forbid the deputies, that none of them bee ſo bold as to touch this great ſtring of the royaltie or kingdom. What ſhall we do then? We muſt haue a King: who as the politike doctors ſay, is better takē thē ſought. You make the K. of Spaine beleeue, that you keep the kingdom of Frāce for him, & for his daughter: & vnder this hope, you ſucke & draw from the honeſt man all that that the Indies and Peru can ſend him, he maintaineth vnto you your plate, he ſendeth you armor & armies, but not at your deuotion or diſpoſition. For he looketh to himſelfe for all you, and hee diſtruſteth you both one and other, as though ye were blinde,A iuſt iudgement. and taketh you as theeues. In the meane while, yee haue prouoked the ſixteene, who accuſe you to bee a marchant of crownes, and haue offered this of Fraunce to him that would giue moſt. They make books of this to your preiudice, wherein they diſcipher all your actions. They ſay that you haue cloſe practiſes with the Biarnois, and cauſe wordes and meſſages to be caried vnto him by Villeroy and Zamet, to lull him a ſleepe, and to cauſe him to vnderſtand that you are a good Frenchman, and will neuer be a Spaniard, and that you can giue him Paris backe againe, and make peaceable vnto him all his kingdome, when hee ſhall haue been at Maſſe, and acknowledged our holy father, and vnder this baite and deceite, you haue drawne or gotten fortie thouſand politike crownes for three moneths, which indeede ſhould bee rated for foure,A good arithmetician. euery one tenne thouſand crownes a peece, making you to vnderſtand that the Spaniſh King would pare and clip your diſtributions, if he knew that you treated concerning accord and agreement with heretikes. But it is diſcouered that ſecretly you ſend your agents to Rome and into Spaine, to lette that the Pope ſhould not giue him abſolution, if hee demaunde it, and to ſtirre vp the King of Spayne, to ſend new forces towards the frontiers, you thinke you are very ſubtile: but your ſubtleties and fetches are ſowen together with white thred:And therefore eaſilie diſcouered. in fine, all the worlde ſeeth them. For theſe politikes haue dragons in the fieldes, that take all your packets, and by diueliſh arte diuine and decipher al your ciphers, as alſo thoſe of the King of Spaine and of the Pope, though they bee neuer ſo ſubtile and craftie, ſo well that they know all your affaires, both at Rome, and at Madrill, and in Sauoy and in Germanie. You iuggle and deale craftily with all the world, and all the world doth deale ſo with you likewiſe. Danger there is that you become not that, that the Countie Saint Pol conſtable of France, in the time of King Lewis the eleuenth was: who after that he had abuſed his maſter, and the Duke of Bourgongne,That is, loſt his head in the place of execution, as wee would ſay at Tiburne, or the tower hill. and the King of England all at one time, in the end was made Cardinall in Greue. As for being King of your head, looke not for it: your parte is periſhed, frozen, or runne into the fire: all your elders ſet themſelues againſt it Your couſines competitors, would rather goe and departe to the other ſides, than to indure it, the ſixteene make no more account of you, for they ſay that they haue made you that that you are, and you hang them vp and diminiſh their number as much as you can, the people had hope vpon your word, that you would vnlock and open the riuer, and make the wares and trade free: but they ſee to the contrarie, that they are more locked vp and ſtraitned than before, and that the bread and the ſmall good they haue to liue of, commeth not thorow your well dooing nor by your valour, but of the liberalitie of the Biarnois, and of his good nature, or of the couetouſnes of the getters of it, which drawe out of it all the profit. Briefelie, the greater parte beleeueth that you will prolong as long as you can, the Lieutenancie, in the which men haue placed you, and liue alwaies in warre and in trouble, and yet well to your eaſe, well ſerued, well intreated, well guarded of the Swiſſers and of the Archers, that there lacketh nothing, but the coates of armes, and the applauſe of the people to be King, whileſt all the reſt of the people dieth ſtarke mad through famine. You will keepe the pledges, and bee the perpetuall perſon, who will haue the charge of, and looke well to the goods that are vacant, which hindereth and prolongeth, as much as hee can the deliuerance of the things cried, leaſt hee ſhould render an account.Mōſieur Lieutenants lets. Beſides you cannot be King by the mariage of the infant or daughter of Spaine, you are maried alreadie, and would you put your finger in the hole? For you haue ridden the olde one, that keepeth hirſelfe well from the hee Goate: and beſides there muſt bee ano • her more luſtie fellow than your ſelfe, for this girle of thirtie yeres, blacke as pepper, and of an oken appetite. Moreouer though we ſhould haue choſen you King, yet you ſhould haue to doe with the Biarnois, who knoweth a thouſand feates or prankes of Baſque, and who ſleepeth not but as much as he will, and at the houre that hee will, who making himſelfe a catholike, as he threatneth you hee will doe, will drawe on his ſide all the potentates of Italie, and of Almaine, and withall, the heart of all the French gentry, or gentlemen of France: of which you ſee alreadie the greateſt parte, with ſo many poore afflicted townes, wearie of their warre and of their pouertie, part to ſhake in the haft, and to make a writing of their retraict, that demaunde nothing elſe but that colour and good occaſion, to withdrawe themſelues from the couple, & therewith to couer or colour their repentance. Doe you dreame thereof, Monſieur the Lieutenant for the like you haue counterfeited the King, and yee haue farted againſt, or like the Biarnois, in edicts and declarations, in ſeales, in guardes, and great prouoſts, and maſters of requeſts of your houſe. Though you would burſt, and would blow vp your ſelfe, great as an oxe, as doth the female frogge, yet ſhall you neuer be ſo great a Lord as he, although ſome ſay, that he hath not ſo much fat vpon all his bodie, as is able to feede a larke. But doe you knowe what you doe? I would counſell you, but that you haue been Bigamus, or haue had two wiues, to make your ſelfe an Abbot:A good preferment for ſo great a ſeruice. whoſoeuer ſhall be King, he will not refuſe to beſtow vpon you the Abby of Clugny, which is of your houſe: you loue a fatte ſoppe or brewis as wee ſay, and you thruſt your ſelfe willingly into the kitchin: you haue a very ample and ſpacious belly, and ſo you ſhall be crowned, I ſay crowned with the ſame crowne, and your crowne made with the ſame ciſſers,It needeth not: an honeſt man may be taken vpon his word. that Madam your ſiſter ſaide hung at her girdle, to make the monkelike or frierlie crowne of the late Henrie of Valois. You will not demaund of me neither fidelitie nor oath for this matter, but I am of this aduiſe. I will not ſpeake here of Monſieur of Nemours, your vterin (but the politikes ſay adulterin) brother:Speake cleanly for ſhame. he hath done his caca or needes in our little cheſts: he hath his purpoſes and attemptes by himſelfe, and is like to Picrocolus, that by diſcourſes well reaſoned of, made himſelfe Monarch of the world, foote by foote. If he can gouerne the King of beaſts, as hee hath done the ſhippe of Paris, I will ſay that he hath skill to doe more, than Maſter Mouſche, or flie. Theſe beaſtes forget ſome times their gouernours, ſpeciallie if they change their habite or attire: hee ſhall not bee ill parted with, if hee come to his pretentions, whereto you Monſieur the Lieutenant, and Monſieur of Lyons will doe him, I beleeue, very good offices. The whole ſumme, Meſſieurs, you are too many dogges to gnawe one boane: you are iealous and enuious one of another, and you can neuer tell how to agree, or liue without warre, that would put vs into worſe eſtate than before. But I will tell you: let vs doe,Deepe counſell. as they haue done in the conſiſtorie, for the election or choyſe of a holy father: when two Cardinals ſued and laboured for the popedome, the other Cardinals, for feare they ſhould incurre the hatred of the one or of the other, choſe one amongſt themſelues, the weakeſt backed of them all, and made him Pope. Let vs doe ſo, you are foure or fiue robbers in the realme, all great Princes, and ſuch as haue no want of appetite and ſtomacke. I am of aduiſe, that not one of you ſhould be king: wherefore I giue my voyce to Guillot Fagotin, the keeper of Gentilly, a good vine dreſſer, and an honeſt man, who ſingeth well at the deske, and knoweth all his office or ſeruice booke by heart.A worthie example. This will not be found without example, in ſuch times as this is: witneſſe the Harelle of Roane, where they made king one named le Graſſe, or the fatte, one as wee would ſay, who was much worſe aduiſed than Guillot. And thus you ſee whereupon I founde and grounde mine aduiſe. I haue read ſometimes the great and diuine Philoſopher Plato, who ſaith, that thoſe realmes are happie, where Philoſophers are kings, and where kings are Philoſophers. Now I know that it is little more than three yeares ſince that this good gardian of Gentilly and his familie, together with his kine meditated day and night Philoſophie, in a hall of our colledge, in which there is more than two hundred good yeares, that men haue read and treated, and diſputed publikely, philoſophie, and all Ariſtotle,The place ſanctifieth the perſon with theſe men, in all matters. and all ſortes of good morall bookes. It is not poſſible that this good man hauing raued, ſlumbred and ſlept, ſo many dayes and nights, within theſe philoſophicall walles, where there haue been made ſo many skillfull leſſons and diſputes, and ſo many goodly wordes vttered, that there ſhould not ſomething thereof abide, that hath entred, pierced and penetrated into his braine, as it did to the poet Heſiodus, when hee had ſlept vpon mount Parnaſſus. And this is the cauſe why I perſiſt and meane, that he may as well be king as another.

Now as Monſieur Roze ended theſe wordes, there ſprong out a great murmuring amongſt the deputies, ſome approuing, other ſome reprouing his opinion, and the princes and the princeſſes were ſeene, to whiſper in the eare one of another: yea it was hard that Monſieur the Lieutenant ſaide very baſely to the Legate, this foole here will marre all our miſterie.A propheſie and no lie. Notwithſtanding, the foreſaid Roze would haue continued his ſpeech: but when hee ſawe the noyſe to begin againe, with a certaine generall clacking of hands, he roſe vp in choler, and cried with a very loude and outſtretched voyce. How now, Meſſieurs? Is it permitted here to ſpeake what one thinketh? Haue not I libertie to ſpeake and conclude my arguments, as Monſieur of Lyon hath done? I know well that if I had been a courtier as he, I ſhould not haue named a perſon: for he hath charge from the clergie, to name Countie du Bouchage, Frier Angell, for the hope that this Prince louing change, would change alſo our miſeries, into ſtroakes or blowes from heauen. But I pray you keepe him to beare the golden torch in the battailes: for it ought to be enough for him, that he hath quite forſaken the bagge and the wallet. At theſe wordes euery one began againe to crie, to whiſtle, to hiſſe: and though the heraulds, the vſhers, porters and all cried aloude,Huſh and be ſtill: the word peace is a bull-begger. let euery man holde his tongue (not dating to ſpeake the worde peace there) and that Monſieur the Lieutenant ſundrie times commaunded them to make ſilence, yet it was not poſſible to appeaſe the bruite and noiſe, in ſo much that the ſayd Lord Rector, ſweate, fret, fomed, and ſtroke with his foote, and ſeeing that there was no more meane to take his theame againe, cryed as loude as hee could, Meſſieurs, Meſſieurs, I ſee well that you are in the Court of King Petault, where eueryone is maſter. I leaue it to you, and you to your ſelues: let another ſpeake: I haue ſpoken.

And thereupon he ſet himſelfe downe againe, mumbling very much, and wiping the ſweate from his forehead; and there ſcaped from him, as ſome ſay, certaine odoriferant belchings of the ſtomacke, that ſmelled of the perfume of his choller, with certain words in a low note, complaining that they had defrauded the aſsignation ſent out of Spayne, for my maſters the Doctors,Good ſtuffe: but there can come nothing els from thēce. and that others had made their profite of it, but that this was the gold of Tholouze, which ſhould coſt them very dearely. At the laſt, the rumour beginning a little to bee reappeaſed, Monſieur du Rieu the younger, Countie and gardien or keeper of Pierre-font, deputie for the Nobilitie of France, apparrelled with a little cape, after the Spaniſh faſhion, and a certaine high coppin tancked hat, lifted vp himſelfe to ſpeake, and hauing twiſe or thriſe put his hand to his throate, which did itch, he began in forme following.

BY our Ladie, Meſſieurs,A patheticall exordium. you haue giuen vs a goodly ſpeech. There is no neede now that our Curats ſhould preach vnto vs, that we ought to drawe our ſelues out of the mudde, and to make our ſelues cleane. As touching that which I ſee by your diſcourſe,It is a maruaile, if euer they can come out. the poore Pariſiens haue enough of it already within their bootes and it will bee very hard, to pull them out of the mudde and mire. From henceforth it is time for vs to perceiue, that the falſe Catholicon of Spayne, is a drugge that taketh men by the noſe: and that it is not without cauſe, that other nations call vs little quailes, becauſe that as poore quailes that are hooded, and very credulous, the preachers and Sorboniſts,No vnfit reſemblance. by their inchaunting quaile pipes, haue cauſed vs euen to giue our ſelues into the nettes of tyrants, who haue afterwards put vs into a cage, and ſhut vs vp within our walles to teach vs to ſing: wee cannot but confeſſe, that wee are at this time taken and made greater ſeruants and ſlaues, than the Chriſtians in Turkie, or the Iewes in Auignon. We haue no more either will or voyce in the chapiter or aſſembly. We haue no more any thing proper, or that wee may well ſay this is mine. You, Meſſieurs, that ſet your foote vpon our throate, and fill our houſes with garniſons, haue and poſſeſſe all. Our priuiledges, franchiſes, freedomes and auncient liberties are ouerthrowne, and taken away. Our towne houſe, which I haue ſeene to bee the ſure refuge of the ſuccors of our kings in their vrgent and weightie affaires,A ſore change. is become a butcherie: our court of Parliament is none at all: our Sorbonne is a brothell houſe, and the vniuerſitie become ſauage or wilde. And yet the extremitie of our miſeries is this, that in the middeſt of ſo many miſchiefes and needes, it is not permitted vs to complaine, nor to demaunde ſuccor, and hauing death as it were betweene our teeth, we muſt of neceſſitie ſay, that we are in good health,A pittifull and iuſt complaint. and that we are very happie, to be ſo wretched for ſo good a cauſe. O Paris that art no more Paris, but a denne of outragious beaſts, and a citadell of Spaniards, Wallons and Neapolitanes, a ſanctuarie and ſure retrait of robbers, murtherers and killers. Wilt thou neuer thinke againe of thy dignities, and remember thy ſelfe what thou haſt been, in compariſon of that thou art? Wilt thou neuer cure thy ſelfe of this frenſie, that for a lawfull and gracious king, haſt begotten vnto thy ſelfe fiftie little kings, or wrens rather, and yet fiftie tyrants? Beholde thou art in irons:The ſpaniſh Inquiſition. beholde thou art in the inquiſition of Spayne, more intollerable a thouſand folde, and more hard to bee borne and indured of ſpirits, that are borne liberall and free (as French men are) than the moſt cruell deaths that Spaniards can deuiſe. Thou waſt not able to beare a ſmall augmentation and increaſe of taxes and offices, or ſome new edicts,The fruites of ſenſeles treaſon. that did not much import thee: and yet now thou indureſt men to poll thy houſes, to pill and to ſacke thee euen vnto blood, to impriſon the Senators to driue away, and baniſh thy good citizens, and counſellors, yea to hang and to murther thy principall magiſtrates. Thou ſeeſt this, thou indureſt this: yea thou doeſt not onely indure it, but thou doeſt approue it and praiſe it, and thou dareſt not, neither canſt thou tell how to doe otherwiſe. Thou couldeſt not ſupport and beare with thy king, ſo gracious, ſo gentle, ſo eaſie, ſo familiar, that made himſelfe a fellow citizen with thee, and burgeſſe of thy towne, that hee inriched thee, that he hath garniſhed thee with glorious and ſumptuous buildings, increaſed thy forts and ſtately ramperts, and adorned thee with honorable priuiledges and immunities. What ſay I, couldeſt not ſupport and beare with? It is much worſe.Kindenes rendred for good. Thou haſt chaſed him out of his owne towne, out of his owne houſe, out of his owne bed. What, ſay I chaſed him? thou haſt purſued him: what? purſued? thou haſt murthered him, and canonized the murtherer for a ſaint, and made bonfires for his death. And now thou ſeeſt how much that death of his hath profited thee. For that is the cauſe why another is aſcended into his place, much more watchfull, much more laborious, and a far better warriour, & that knoweth better to keepe thee in, ſomewhat more ſtraitely, as to thy damage and hurt thou haſt alreadie proued. I pray you, Meſſieurs, if it were permitted, to caſt yet theſe laſt abois, in libertie, let vs a little conſider, what good or what profit hath come vnto vs, by this deteſtable death, which our preachers did make vs beleeue, was the ſole and the onely meane to make vs bleſſed.The great difference betweene good gouernement and tyrannie. But I cannot diſcourſe vpon this poynte, but with very great griefe to ſee things in the eſtate in which they are, in compariſon of that they were then. At that time, euery one had yet corne in his garner, and wine in his ſeller: euery one had his veſſell of ſiluer or plate as we call it, his tapiſtrie, and his coſtly moueables: the women had then their girdles halfe of ſiluer: the reliques were hole and ſound: they had not ſo much as touched the iewels of the crowne. But now who is there, that can boaſt that he hath whereof to liue for three weekes, vnles it be theſe theeues and robbers, that haue made themſelues fat with the wealth of the people, and that haue on all hands pilled and polled the moueables, both of preſent and abſent? Haue we not by little and little conſumed all our prouiſions, ſould our moueables, molten our veſſell, and pledged all that wee haue to the garments on our backs, to liue not onely poorely, but verie wretchedly and caytife like? Where are our halles and our chambers ſo well garniſhed, and ſo decked with diaper and tapiſtrie? Where are our feaſtes and bankets, and our licorous and daintie tables? Loe we are brought to milke and white cheeſe like the Swiſſers. Our bankets are of a bitte of biefe, yea the biefe of a cowe, for all the meſſes and ſeruices wee were wont to haue: and happie is he that hath not eaten the fleſh of horſes and of dogges: and happie is hee that alwaies hath had oaten bread, and coulde make a little paſte of it, with the broath of brawne ſold at the corner of the ſtreetes, in the places where heretofore they did ſell the delicious and daintie tongues, young quailes, and legges of mutton. And it hath not been long of Monſieur the Legate, and of the Embaſſador Mendoza, that we haue not eaten our fathers bones, as the ſauage and wilde people of new Spayne doe.If he can, he is a man of no ſenſe. Can any man thinke of, or remember all theſe things without teares, and without horror? And they that in their conſcience knowe well inough, that they are the cauſe thereof, can they heare ſpeake of theſe things without bluſhing and without apprehending the puniſhment that God reſerueth for them, for ſo many euils and miſchiefes whereof they are authors? Yea when they ſhall repreſent vnto themſelues the images of ſo many poore citizens, as they haue ſeene fallen in the ſtreetes, all ſtarke and ſtone dead through famine: the little infants and ſucking babes to die at the breaſts of their languiſhing mothers, drawing the breaſt for nothing, and not finding what to ſucke: the better ſorte of the inhabitants, and the ſouldiers to goe through the towne, leaning vpon a ſtaffe pale and feeble, more white and more wanne than images of ſtone, reſembling rather ghoſts than men:If they be ſo good, how bad are the reſt and the inhumaine and diſcourteous anſwer of ſome, euen of the Eccleſiaſticall perſons, who accuſed them, and threatned them, in ſteed of ſuccouring or comforting them. Was there euer barbarouſnes or crueltie like to that, which we haue ſeene and indured? Was there euer tyrannie and domination matchable to that, which we ſee and indure? Where is the honour of our vniuerſitie? Where are the colledges? Where are the ſchollers? Where are the publike readings and lectures, to which people did run from all the partes of the world?Bookes turned into blades, a good change. Where bee the religious ſtudents in the couents? They haue all taken armes, and beholde they are become all of them vnruly and wicked ſouldiers? Where are our chaffes? Where are our precious reliques? Some of them are molten and eaten vp: other ſome are buried in the grounde, for feare of robbers and ſacreligious perſons. Where is that reuerence that men caried once, to the people of the Church or Clergie, and to the ſacred myſteries?The diuell a lie it is. Euery one now maketh a religion after his owne manner, and diuine ſeruice, ſerueth for no other vſe, but to deceiue the world through hypocriſie: the prieſts and preachers haue ſo ſet themſelues on ſale, and made themſelues ſo contemptible, by their offenſiue life, that men regarde them no more, nor their ſermons neither, but when they are to be vſed to preach and ſpread abroade ſome falſe newes. Where are the princes of the blood, that haue been alwaies ſacred perſons, euen as the pillars and ſtaies of the crowne, and of the French Monarchie? Where are the Peeres of France, that ſhould be the firſt here to opē to, & to honor the Eſtates? Al theſe names, are no more but the names of porters, wherof ſome make litter for the horſes of the Meſſieurs of Spayne and of Lorraine. Where is the Maieſtie and grauitie of the Parliament, heretofore the defender of Kings, and the mediator betweene the people and the Prince?A priſon, as we would ſay here, the Fleete or Tower. You haue caried it in triumph to the Baſtille: and authoritie and iuſtice, ye haue led them captiue more inſolently and more ſhameleſlie, than the Turkes woulde haue done. You haue driuen away the beſt ſorte of people, and retained none but raſcals or of ſcourings: who are either full of paſſions or elſe baſe minded. Beſides euen of them that doe remaine, ye will not ſuffer ſo few as foure or fiue to ſay what they thinke, and you threaten them alſo,Hee meaneth ſome kinde of torture or torment. to giue them a billet, as vnto heretikes, or politikes. And yet you would make men beleeue, that that you doe, is for no other reſpect, but for the preſeruation of religion, and of the eſtate. This is well ſaid: but let vs a little examine your actions, and the cariage or behauiour of the King of Spayne towards vs: and if I lie one word,A fearefull execration. let Monſieur Saint Denis, and Madame Saint Genuiefue, the great patrons of Fraunce neuer helpe me. I ſtudied a little while in the ſchooles, and yet not ſo much as I deſired: but ſince I haue ſeene diuers countries, and trauailed into Turkie, and thorow out all Natolia, and Sclauonia, euen vnto Archipelagus, and mare maior,A good touchſtone indeede. and Tripoli of Syria: where I found the ſaying of our Sauiour Chriſt to bee true: By their fruites yee ſhall know them. Men knowe ſufficiently enough, what are the intentions and inuentions of men, by their works and by their effects. Firſt, I will ſpeake it (and yet with an honorable preface) that the King of Spayne,A mannerly man. is a great prince, wiſe, ſubtill, and very aduiſed, the moſt mightie, and hauing the greateſt territories of all Chriſtian princes, and that he ſhould be yet ſo much the more, if all his lands, countries, and kingdomes were ſure and ioyned one of them to another. But France which is betweene Spayne and the lowe countries, is the cauſe that his ſepara • e and diſioyned Lordſhips, coſt him more than they are worth. For aboue all nations hee feareth the French,No lie ſurely. Beare with bragging and lying a little. as that which he knoweth to be moſt noble, and to haue the greateſt valure and impatience againſt the reſt and rule of a ſtrange people. And that is the cauſe, why being wiſe, prouident, and well counſelled as hee is, ſince that hee was conſtrained to make that miſerable peace which was ſealed and ſigned by the death of our good King Henry the ſecond,Ah wilie foxe: but yet well diſcouered ſubtiltie. and not daring either openly to gaineſay the ſame, or beginne waire, whileſt that France was flouriſhing, vnited, agreed and of the ſame minde and will together, hee indeuoured to ſowe diuiſion and diſcord amongſt vs our ſelues: and ſo ſoone as hee ſawe our princes to be miſcontent, or to iarre amongſt themſelues, he did ſecretly and cloſely conueigh himſelfe into the action, and incouraged the one of the ſides, to nouriſh and foſter our diuiſions, and to make them immortall, and to buſie our ſelues, to quarrell and fight one with another, yea to kill one another, that whileſt theſe troubles were amongſt vs, hee might bee left in peace, and ſo long as we did inweaken our ſelues, to grow & increaſe, without loſſe and leſſening.Plaine & pregnant proofes. This was the courſe and proceeding that hee held, after that hee ſawe the princes of Vendoſme, and of Condie malecontent, who alſo drew and caried with them the houſe of Montmorencie and of Chaſtillon, and to ſet themſelues againſt the aduantageable aduancements and proceedings of your father, and of your Vncles (Monſieur Lieutenant) who had inuaded and vſurped all authoritie and kingly power,Bleare eyed men and barbers, as it is in the prouerbe, are acquainted therewith. in the time of young King Frauncis their nephew. I ſpeake nothing but that all Fraunce, euen to the ſmalleſt and baſeſt of them, yea that the whole worlde knoweth. For all the bloudie tragedies, which ſince that time haue been plaied vpon this pitifull ſcaffold of France, haue all of them been borne and proceeded from theſe firſt quarrels, and not from the diuerſitie or difference of religions, as without reaſon men doe yet to this day, make the ſimple and idiots to beleeue. I am old and haue ſeene the affayres of the world, as much as another, yea by the grace of God, and the goodnes of my friends, I haue been Sheriffe, and prouoſt of the merchants alſo in this citie, in the time that men proceeded thereunto by free election, and that they did not conſtraine nor vſe violence to men, for their ſuffrages and voyces, as you haue done,Plaine ſpeech and particular application. Monſieur Lieutenant, not long ſithence minding and purpoſing to continue Monſieur Boucher at your deuotion. But I remēber yet thoſe old times, as if it were but yeſterday paſt, or this day preſent. I can remē ber well from the beginning of the quarell, that fell out betweene Monſieur your late father, and late Monſieur the Conſtable, which proceeded from no other cauſe, but from the iealouſie of one of them ouer another, both of them being the great minions and fauourits of Henrie the ſecond their maſter, Figulus figulū • dit, as it is in the prouerbe. as wee haue ſeene alſo Meſſieurs de Ioyeuſe, and d'Eſpernō, vnder King Henrie the third his ſonne. Their firſt falling out was for the eſtate of great Maſter, which the King had giuen to Monſieur your father, when he made Monſieur of Montmorency Conſtable, who had been great Maſter before, and who had the Kings promiſe, that the ſayd eſtate ſhould be reſerued for his ſonne. Another cauſe of their ill husbandrie, or bad carriage of themſelues, was the Countie de Dampmartin, which both of them had gotten after diuers ſorts: Sum ego mihi metipſi proximus: I loue my ſelfe beſt. and being entred into ſuite about the ſame, Monſieur the Conſtable got it by an arreſt or decree. This did ſo alter and chaunge them, that either of them indeuored to caſt his cōpanion out of the ſaddle, or as we ſay, to ſet him beſide the cuſhion. And from thence proceeded the voyage, that Monſieur your father made into Italie, where he did no great matter, becauſe that Monſieur the Conſtable (who cauſed him to bee ſent thither, that ſo he might the more quietly, wholly and alone poſſeſſe the King) it may be hindred, or ſlacked the affayres: but he remained not long vnpuniſhed for it: for he was taken afterwards on S. Laurence day, while your father was abſent, who being returned, did by a certaine good happe, and the ſame indeed very wonderfull,It was well done of the Guiſe to ouercome euil with well doing. take againe the townes of Picardie (which wee had loſt) and Calais beſides. And that he might the better reuenge himſelfe of the euill dueties that he knew were done againſt him in his voyage, cauſed alſo the impriſonment of Monſieur the Conſtable to bee prolonged, and forgot no arte that might hinder or delay his deliuerance, which gaue an occaſion to my Lords of Chaſtillon, to deſire the ayde, and to caſt themſelues into the armes and protection of the King of Nauarre, this Kings father, and of Monſieur the Prince of Conde his brother, who had married their neece. Alſo theſe two great houſes fell into factions and partakings, which were yet ſtirred vp and incenſed by the contention begun betweene the Prince of Conde, & Monſieur d'Aumale your vncle, for the office of the colonel of the light horſe: there was as yet no mētion of religion or Huguenots. Hardly did any know what was the doctrine of Caluin and Luther,A little fire maketh a great flame. but by the death of them that we ſawe burne ſtiffe in their opinions: and yet notwithſtanding the matter of the warres, and of the enimities that we haue ſeene, were then in preparing, and hath continued vntill this preſent time. But the trueth is, that when my Lords of Chaſtillon, very couragious men, and not able to indure the iniuries offered them, ſaw that the fauour of your houſe did ouertoppe theirs, and that they had not any meane to finde credite and fauour about the King, by reaſon of the lets that they of your race & houſe caſt in the way, they were counſelled to withdraw themſelues from the Court, and as they were in their retraite, they ſhewed themſelues (but whether it were in good earneſt, or of policie and prudence I know not) to fauour the new Lutherans, who till then preached no where but in caues and dennes, and by little and little ioyned themſelues with them in faction and intelligence,It is not good to fall into the clawes and pawes of vnreaſonable men. the rather to defend and keepe themſelues from your father & your vncle, then to attempt any ſtirring or bringing in of noueltie, except then when the King, at the prouocation of your vncle (who had made the Pope to write vnto him thereabout) did himſelfe take Monſieur d'Andelot at Crecy, and ſent him priſoner to Melun. After this impriſonment, and that alſo of the Vidame of Chartres, and of certaine counſellors of parliament, fell out the violent and miraculous death of the King,Whē the wicked riſe vp, mē hide themſelues. which exalted your houſe to the ſoueraigne degree of power, neere about the young King Francis: and on the other ſide, did abate and almoſt altogether beate downe the houſe of Monſieur the Conſtable, and of all thoſe that did belong vnto him. And this was then when his kindred (voyde of all hope of ordinarie meanes, becauſe that all was executed vnder the fauour of your allies) ioyned themſelues in ſecrete intelligence with the Lutherans here and there ſcattered in diuers corners of the kingdom. And though they had as yet but little credit with them, as who were people vnknowne vnto them, and had not partaked, neither in the Supper, nor in Synode, or Conſiſtorie, notwithſtanding by the meanes of their agents, well skilled and practiſed in ſecrets, they made that memorable enterpriſe of Amboyſe, and aſſembled from all the quarters of the world, Taciturnitie a good virtue. and that with meruailous ſilence, ſuch a great number of people, that they were readie at the day named, to accompliſh a cruell execution vpon your ſide, vnder this pretext to deliuer the King out of the captiuitie,A Iudas amongſt the twelue. wherein your fathers and your vncles held him. But theſe good people could not keep themſelues from traitors, whereupon followed the execution done at Amboiſe, which diſcouered alſo the authors of the faction. And thereupon inſued the rigorous commaundement which they gaue to the King of Nauarre, and the impriſonment of Monſieur the Prince of Conde in the eſtates at Orleans, and ſundrie other heauie accidents too long now to recite:Mens malice ouerthrowne when God will. which had continued and increaſed farre worſe, if the ſodaine death of the young King had not altered the courſe, and broken the blow, which ſome went about to cauſe to light vpon theſe chiefeſt princes of the bloud royall, and vpon the familie of Monſieur the Conſtable, and of the Chaſtillons. A man may eaſily iudge, how much your houſe was ſhaken and toſſed, as it were by this vnlooked for death: and you may beleeue (Monſieur Lieutenant) that Monſieur your father, and Meſſieurs your vncles played all at one time, at one kinde of game or bluſhing,A fit compariſon. as you might do if a man ſhould bring you newes of the death of your two brethren. But they loſt not their courage no more then you doe: and had afterwards very good counſels and conſolations from the King of Spayne (of whom we will ſpeake by and by) who during theſe firſt diſſentions was vpon the skoutes, and watched to whom hee might offer his fauour, and how he might blow and ſtirre the fire, on the one ſide & on the other, to make it to increaſe to that power and greatnes, in which we haue ſeene it,Holy purpoſes for ſo catholike a prince. and doe yet now ſee it burne and conſume all France, which is the finall but of his pretenſions. Vpon hope then of the ſupport of ſo great a prince, which would not ſpare to promiſe men & money, your father without being aſtoniſhed with ſo lumpiſh a fall, perceiuing the King of Nauarre to be placed in his ranke of the firſt prince of the bloud, for the ſauegard of young king Charles, and Monſieur the Conſtable put in his charge or office againe, knew ſo well & rightly to play his ball, that he practiſed them both, and drew them to his lure, againſt their owne brethren,The recouerie of Nauarre & ſome ſuch conceits. and againſt their owne kinſmen: feeding one of them with a hope that I dare not ſpeake of, and flattering the other by ſubmiſſions and honors, that he beſtowed vpon him. And this he did ſo artificially and wel, that entring againe into the paths and waies that he had forſaken, and taking his old aduantage, after that Monſieur the Prince of Conde was ſet at libertie (who had fairely preuented him but two or three daies onely) he went with a number of men of warre, and in great troupes, to ſeize the young King and the Queene his mother at Fountainebleau, & brought them to Melun. And this was then when my ſayd Lord the Prince, and Meſſieurs of Chaſtillon, perceiuing themſelues, neither by their head, nor by their houſes, ſtrong enough to reſiſt ſo puiſſant enemies, couered with kingly authoritie and power, became Lutherans at one clap, and declared themſelues to be heads & protectors of the new heretikes, whom they called to their ſuccour, and by their meanes did in open warre ſeaze and take many great townes of the kingdome, without making yet any mention of their religion, but onely for the defence of the King and of his mother, and to deliuer them out of the captiuitie & bondage, wherein Monſieur your father held them. And you Monſieur Lieutenant know, that theſe people alwaies boaſted, that what they did as in this behalfe, it was at the requeſt and commandement of the Queene Mother, whoſe letters written and ſent by her to them for that purpoſe, they haue cauſed to be publiſhed and imprinted. You are not ignorant of that which paſſed in this warre, and how afterwards the King of Spayne ſent your father ſuccour, but yet the ſame ſuch,Fit fellowes to fight a field. as I am aſhamed to ſpeake of it: al labourers and handicrafts men, gathered together, who would neuer fight at the battaile of Dreux, but couered themſelues with the wagons and carriages appoynted for the baggage. Notwithſtanding, this was a baite to inkindle the courage of the partakers, and to cauſe them to hope that they ſhould indeed ſome other time doe ſome aduantageable thing, if they would yet once again come to fight together. But afterwards the diuers changings and alterations of our affayres, did indeed offer vnto the Spanyard another ſport. For your father being dead, and peace being made, knowing notwithſtanding theſe mightie families animated and ſtifly ſet one of them againſt another, and that without hope of reconciliation,When a bad cannot preuaile, a worſe will be prouided. he practiſed Monſieur the Cardinall your vncle (which on his behalfe did not ſleepe) to maintaine the troubles and diuiſions in this realme, vnder the beautifull name of religion, of which in former time mē made little or no account. Monſieur your vncle,Cardinall of Lorraine commended. being (as he was indeed) wittie, and pleaſing whom he would, had skill in ſuch ſort to gaine the heart of the Queene Mother, and the Queene Mother the heart of the King her ſonne, that he perſwaded them, ſpecially the Queene mother, that Meſſieurs the Princes of Bourbon, ayded by them of Montmorency and Chaſtillon, ſought nothing but her ruine, and would neuer bee quiet or leaue off, till they had driuen her out of the realme, and ſent her into Italie to her kinſfolkes. God pardon that good Ladie.A deuout praier for a holie woman. But for the apprehenſion and conceit that ſhe had of theſe things, I feare much that ſhe was the cauſe of many euils, that we ſaw in her time. For vpon this matter, ſhe did ſo hate thē, that ſhe neuer ceaſed till ſhe had deſtroyed them, as ſhe did the one of them in the battaile of Iarnac, and the other at the maſſacre of S. Bartholomew, where if all they of Montmorency had been found, they had had no better market of it then the reſt. To which poynt Meſſieur your vncle, did very nimbly put his hand, and valiantly puſhed or lifted at the wheele, that ſo he might put fire in the head of that young King Charles: without whoſe death wee neede not doubt, but that he had had the like ſcorne, that Monſieur the Mareſchall of Montmorency gaue him and Monſieur your brother in this towne, whē he made them do all in their breeches,Doubtie Dukes, and very cleanly. becauſe they bare weapons and armour forbidden them, without his paſſeport and leaue. But it ſeemeth, that the ſodaine death of theſe their Kings one after another, did alwaies breake & ſet out of ſquare the goodly attempts of your houſe, and ſaued, or at the leaſt prolonged the liues of your principall enemies. Now let vs come to that which fell out afterwards, for it is time to ſpeak of you, and of Monſieur your brother, who began from that time forward to appeare in armes, and to walke in the footſteps and tracts of your predeceſſors.A fardle of frumps againſt Duke du Mayenne. You haue alreadie cauſed your valours and valiances to appeare in the ſiege of Poictiers, which you brauely defended, contrarie to the aduiſe of the firſt husband of Madame la Lieutenant, Monſieur of Montpezat, your predeceſſor, who counſelled you to forſake all, and to get you packing thence. Afterwards you were at the battaile of Montcontour: and after that, at the iourney or exployt done vpon S. Bartholomews day: where the companions on the other ſide were taken napping, if not on ſleepe, and prouoked to ſay, whence come you.Cardinall of Lorraine. And though Monſieur your vncle at that time was turning ouer his portuiſe in Italie, yet the play was not performed without his intermedling, and ſeeking to haue the King of Spaynes approbation of it, & the Popes abſolution, touching the marriage, which ſeemed for a lure, and a trappe alſo to the Huguenots. Afterwards you continued your blowes at the ſiege of Rochel, where mē did perceiue, that he that is at this day the King of Nauarre, and Monſieur your brother, were but one heart & one ſoule:Men may maske, but diſſimulation wil break out. and their great puritie and familiaritie, ingendred ielouſie and ſuſpition in all the world. But we muſt come to the matter. When you ſawe that King Charles was dead, who otherwiſe did not loue you very much, & had ſundrie times repeated the ſaying of the great King Francis,For he had no cauſe ſo to do. whereof he himſelfe had made theſe foure verſes, now very rife and common in euery mans mouth.

A ſteppe to the ſcepter as they thought.When you ſaw him, I ſay dead without children, and the late King his brother married with your barren and vnfruitfull couſin, you began (Monſieur your brother and you I meane) to attempt and aſſay many practiſes and plots, which many people ſayd were the cauſe of all our miſeries. I am not of that number which beleeue that Meſſieurs your father and vncle, had from their time layd the foundation of the building that your brother & you haue builded ſince, though there bee that ſpeake of the notes of Dauid and of Piles, who haue better then Noſtradamus prognoſticated & foretold all that which we haue ſeene ſince their death: and though ſome aſſure vs, that Monſieur your vncle,Cardinall of Lorraine. had framed a certaine forme of all the order that was to beheld therein. But I cannot beleeue, that he that had as much vnderſtanding as a mā could haue, could hope to make his nephewes kings of France, ſeeing as yet three brethren, children of the Kings houſe in the right line, all of thē very puiſſant, and in the floure of their age, readie to be married; and he could not diuine or geſſe, that they ſhould dye without iſſue, as they did afterwards. Beſides, hee ſawe a great number of the Princes of the royall bloud, that kept not themſelues warme with the robe of heretikes; that ſhould haue cut off all hope from his deſires. I knowe very well that in his time, he was the author that the Archdeacon of Thoul writ this much, that thoſe of the houſe of Lorraine were deſcended from Charles the great, by the males,A pedigree publiſhed, but to ſmall purpoſe. that is to ſay, of Charles Duke of Lorraine, to whom the kingdome appertained, after the death of Lewes the fifth king of France: and that Hugh Capet hauing taken him at Laon, and brought him and his wife priſoner to Orleans, he had a ſonne or male child, of whom he affirmed the Dukes of Lorraine are deſcended: this was vnder hand caſt amongſt the people,As all did well perceiue. and you were neuer a whit grieued with it, though that the common and true hiſtories doe plainly enough ſhew and witneſſe, that there was an interruption & breaking off of males in the race of Lorraine, by two women, and namely in the wife of Godfrey of Bouillon, named Idain. So the ſayd Archdeacon made an honourable amends for it,A worthie Archdeacon. according to the arreſt and ſentence giuen againſt him, and like a lewd fellowe, and ſloathfull, or fainthearted man, vnſayd that he had ſpoken. But in fine, there was ſmall appearance, that at that time my ſayd Lord your vncle could aſpire to the kingdome, hauing ſo many hinderances and heads, either to fight againſt,Two worthie waies to work by. or to cauſe to dye by the ſword, or by poyſon. It is very true, that euen from his beginning, he was very ambitious and deſirous of greatnes, and of the gouernment of the ſtate, more then any other of his age: and I make no doubt of it, but that he deſired to poſſeſſe the Kings, and to haue held them, had hee been able, in tutorſhip and vnder gouernment, as in olde time the Maiors of the palace did, that ſo he might diſpoſe of all according to his pleaſure, and ſet vp or pull downe thoſe whom hee had liſted:Wicked mens purpoſes and practiſes are vaine. which is the thing whereto commonly the greateſt aſpire Notwithſtanding, being almoſt come thereunto, while he was liuing, he gathered together and prepared for you the materiall ſtuffe, with which you haue built this proued attempt, with your foot to hold the crowne of France, hauing left in your hand, firſt great riches, great eſtates, the chiefe offices & charges of the kingdome, great gouernments, many ſouldiers bound by good turnes done them, many ſeruants alſo, great intelligences with the Pope & the King of Spayne, and other Princes your kinsfolkes and allies: and which is more, a great opinion amongſt the common people, that you were good Catholikes and ſworne enemies to the Huguenots. You knew very well how to make great profite to your ſelues by theſe preparations, and ſundrie ſorts of ſtuffe, which ye found after his death, all readie to bring vnto the worke. When I ſay you, I meane your ſelf brethren and couſins. After King Charles his death, many things ſucceeded well to you one after another,Diuers deuiſes to ſtrengthen the Guiſian faction. and to very good purpoſe. Firſt the barrennes of the King, or of your couſin his wife: then the retraite and abſence of the King of Nauarre, of which you were in part a cauſe, for the diſtruſts into which you brought him: and after that the diuiſion and diſſention between the King and Monſieur the Duke his brother, whereof you were the onely authors and promoters, vnder hand and cloſely ſharpening the ſpirits of the one againſt the other, and ſecretly promiſing them to ayd them. Another thing wherewith you thought to ſtrengthen your ſelues well, was the aſſiſtance that Meſſieurs the Princes of Conty and of Soyſſons, yeelded for a time to the King of Nauarre their couſin germane, when they ſawe that the things you went about, were directly againſt all their familie, and that you boaſted you would ſupplant or vndermine them: for thereupon you vndertooke the matter, which you haue neuer ſince forſaken or forgotten, namely, to cauſe to be comprehended by and vnder the Popes bull,If Spayne play not a part in this pageant, nothing can be done. and by oths and proteſtations of the King of Spayne, neuer to approue hereticall princes, nor the children of heretikes, and then ye found out and firſt deuiſed theſe goodly names of adherents and fautors of heretikes. After all this, ye made your practiſes with the King of Spayne more openly, and aſſured your conditions, and couenanted then for your penſions, promiſing him the kingdome of Nauarre & Bern for his ſhare, with the townes that ſhould ſerue his turne in Picardie and Champagne, and ye communed with him concerning the meanes, that you would vſe to get hold of the eſtate. And the pretext that ye pretended thereto, was the wicked gouernment of the king,Good pretexts to countenāce a bad cauſe. the prodigalities which he beſtowed vpon his two minions, Eſperon and Mercurie, whereof you drew one to your owne line, which was thought neuer a whit the better. You imployed all your diligence to make the poore prince odious to his people: you counſelled him to raiſe the taxes, to inuent new impoſts, to create newe officers, by which you your ſelues profited: for ſome did maintaine to Monſieur your brother at Chartres, after the barricades, that he had receiued halfe the money of three edicts made to fill the purſe, and which alſo were very pernicious or hurtfull,Fine deuiſes to ſhred him of his king • ome. whereof notwithſtanding you caſt and layd the hatred vpon that poore king, whom you made to muſe vpon and dwell in ridiculous deuotions, whileſt you your ſelues ſued for the good fauour of the people, and contrarie to his liking, tooke vpō you the charge and conducting of great armies, drawing vnto you the heads and captaines of warre, & courting and making much of in words, the very ſimple and meane ſouldiers, that ye might get them to bee on your ſide, practiſing the townes, buying the gouernmēts, and putting into the beſt places gouernours & folke at your owne deuotion. And this was then that you conceiued the kingdome preſent almoſt (euen as the appetite commeth many times by eating) when you ſawe King Henry without hope of iſſue, the chiefe Princes accounted for heretikes,He muſt needs goe that the diuell driueth. or fautors of heretikes, the Conſiſtorie of Rome to lay the raines or bridle in your necke, and the King of Spayne to giue you the ſpurre. You had no more to hinder you, but the late Monſieur, who was a ſhrewd hollow dreamer, and who vnderſtood well with what wood you warmed your ſelues. He muſt be diſpatched out of the way: and Salcede his teſtament diſcouered vnto vs the meanes of it:Who can ſtād againſt ſuch deadly attēpts. but force preuailing not, poyſon did the deede. All your ſeruants foretold this his death more then three moneths before it came to paſſe. Afterwards ye made no more ſmall mouths, or ſpake cloſely for the diſſembling of your purpoſe: you went no more creeping as cunnies, nor in ſecret: but you plainly layd open your ſelues. And yet notwithſtanding the better to ſet forward your affayres, you would make honeſt people beleeue, that this was for the publique benefite, and for the defence of the Catholique religion,Catholike religion a fayre pretext. which is a pretext and cloake that ſeditious perſons and ſtirrers vp of nouelties, haue alwaies taken to couer themſelues withall. Into this inſenſible net you drew that good man Monſieur the Cardinall of Bourbon, a prince without malice, and ye were able ſo cunningly to turne and wind him, that yee ſeized him with a fooliſh and vndiſcreet ambition, that in the end ye might deale with him, as the cat doth with the mouſe, that is to ſay, after ye had plaied with him, to eate him vp.No vnapt cō pariſon. No vntrue expoſition. You drew thereunto ſundry Lordes of the Realme, diuers gentlemen and captaines, many cities, townes, and communalties: and amongſt others this miſerable citie, which ſuffered it ſelfe to bee taken as it were with birde lime, partly by reaſon of the hatred that they had againſt the miſdemeanours of the late King: partly alſo by reaſon of the impreſſion, which you put into them, that the Catholike religion would vtterly be ouerthrowne, if the King did die without childrē, & the ſucceſſion of the kingdom ſhuld come to the King of Nauar, who called himſelf the firſt prince of the blood. Hereupon you forged & framed your firſt declaration or manifeſtatiō, that had not in it ſo much as one only word of religiō, but you did indeed demaund therein,They will hardly agree with others that diſſent frō themſelues. that al the ſtates, & gouernments of this kingdome, ſhuld be taken from them that poſſeſſed them, and were not at your deuotion, which eſcape you amended in your ſecond declaration, by the counſell of Roſne, who (to the end hee might ſet al on a fire) ſaid, that there needed nothing elſe but the ſetting out of religion: and then you preached vnto vs, of a Synod at Montauban,A fine deuiſe to foſter the fire of faction in Fraunce. and of a diet in Germanie, where you ſaide that all the Huguenots of the worlde had plotted together, to ſeize the Kingdome of Fraunce, and to drawe the prieſts out of it. Some verily beleeued you, yea and I my ſelfe (who am not of the craftieſt) had ſome opinion thereof, and thereupon ioyned my ſelfe with this partie, for the feare that I alwaies had, to forgoe my religion: many good people did as my ſelfe, that are for all that in no better eſtate. The others that demaunded nothing but newe hurlie burlies and ſtirres, made ſhew as though they did beleeue it. Sundry ſaffron ſellers, indebted and bankrouts,A braue band and a very holy company. yea ſtubborn and criminous perſons, and ſuch as were worthy of death for the offences they had committed, followed you, as people that had neede of ciuill warre. Hauing thus plaied your part, and receiued many doublons or double duckets out of Spaine, you put your ſelues into the fieldes, with a very good and braue armie.Whether it were or not the fact was euil. Some ſay that this, was not done without the knowledge and conſent of Queene mother, who loued troubles, that ſhee might make her ſelfe neceſſary, and a perſon to be imployed in doing all thinges, whereunto ſhe was very apt and fitte. But as much Italicanated and craftie as ſhe was, yet ſhe was deceiued therein For at the firſt ſhe did not beleeue, that your deſſeignes and attempts did fly ſo high, and did not diſcouer the lampe or light, which brake out ſomewhat late after that you had ſet your foote ſo forwarde, that there was no more meane for you to retire, this being not very likely, though ſhe had conceiued ſome diſcontentment againſt, and miſlike of her ſonne, (who indeed ſuffered himſelfe to be gouerned rather by others, than by her) that ſhe would ſuffer him to fall,Yet natural people commit vnnatural things. and to ſee him depriued of the crowne, to eſtabliſh your brother therein, in whom ſhe truſted not but for faſhion ſake only. Wherefore the aide that that good Ladie yeelded you, was not to deſtroy her ſonne, but to bring him to humilitie and acknowledgment of his fault: which ſhe thinking ſhe had done by your meane, ſhe cauſed you afterwards to diſperſe your armie, which ſerued you for no other purpoſe, but to acquaint you with your forces, and to extort by violence,Law againſt law. this edict of Iulie, which did fruſtrate and diſanull all the other edicts, made for pacification, and did yet once againe renew fire, fagot, ſlaughter, and all in Fraunce againſt the Huguenots. But you continued not in ſo faire and good a way. For hauing vnderſtood, that the good townes that had promiſed you to riſe vp for you againſt the King, (when they ſhould ſee you in the fields with an armie) had failed you and were yet retained, with ſome feare & reuerence of the name of Kings, and of the ro • all maieſtie: you practiſed without vnarming your ſelues,And who wil not • u • h things make almoſt deſperate. and that within al the cities & townes, you practiſed I ſay, ſuch of the inhabitants, as you knew had any credit, or dignitie aboue the people. You corrupted ſome by money, that came to you in great abundance out of Spaine: other ſome ye corrupted by promiſes of riches, offices, benefices: and other ſome by impunitie of the faultes they had committed, and for which they were purſued by iuſtice and lawe: but principally you prepared your engines againſt this miſerable citie,For what wil not wicked men do to obtaine their purpoſe? where you forgot no art or cunning, and that euen vnto the moſt abiect and ſhamefull ſubmitting of your ſelues, that ſo you might winne and obtaine the ſimple people. Your brother went for that purpoſe to arme himſelfe in Champagne, and Bourgongne, that ſo he might ſurprize and take the places appertaining to the King, and not thoſe of the Huguenots, whereof there was no ſpeech in that country, ſauing at Sedan,Two armies and neuer a good or godly leader. where hee accompliſhed his buſineſſes very ill. And you Monſieur the Lieutenant went into Guienne, with a mightie armie, to watch the occaſion to play your part: and this in my minde is the reaſon, that yee performed no greater matter there, becauſe ye would temporize, and looke to giue your blow on the other ſide, as not long ſithence you ſayd. But the heretikes of Xaintongne, ceaſed not to mocke you therfore: for vpon your returne, they made a little rime in their prittle prattle, which deſerueth that you ſhuld know it, and lo it is this.

The quatraine or foure verſes alſo that in thoſe quarters were made therof are common, touching the townes and places which ye tooke.

I will not ſpeake of the goodly taking that you made, of the caſtle of Fronſac,No, but rather he ſhould be arraigned for it, at a better barre. and of a young Ladie that was there, who was the heire of the houſe of Caumont. That deſerueth not to bee rehearſed in this good companie, though that that good man de la Vanguyon, died for griefe of it, neuer being able to haue iuſtice againſt you for it. Neither indeede was this any thing in compariſon of that that you had purpoſed to doe in this towne vpon your returne, whereof you know that I know ſome thing, though not all.Who could haue knowne this, and haue beene ſilent. For I knewe not, that at that time you had plotted to take the King in the Louure, and to kill, or to impriſon all his beſt and chiefeſt ſeruants, if the Lieutenant of the Prouoſt Hardy had not reuealed it, who diſcouered all your aſſemblies and enterpriſes by their limits and bounds: and was the cauſe that the King well aduertiſed thereof, cauſed to bee taken, both the great and little caſtle, the Arſenac, and the towne houſe, and hartened and ſtrengthened his gards, that he might hinder the execution of your purpoſe and attempt. You will confeſſe,A little pitie, ſpilleth a citie. I am ſure, that had hee done then, that which he ſhould and could, that both you and all your agents and facients had been caſt away, whom they then knewe by their names, and by their ſurnames, euen as well as when they were declared afterwards. But they proceeded therein too gently, and that by the counſell thoſe, which then ſaide, and yet at this day affirme, that we muſt not prouoke or ſharpen any thing. Afterwards you ceaſed not to practiſe and ſolicite all the world,They will prophecie for old ſhoes. euen openly, and principally the preachers and curates, vpon whom you beſtowed ſome ſmall part of your double duckets: you ſent another armie into Guyenne, whereof you made great account, and which you thought ſhould either haue ſhut vp or taken the King of Nauarre. Oh goodly things, you went and thruſt headlong, euen into death and deſtruction, that yong Lord, being ouer preſumptuous of the hopes that you had giuen him, that he ſhould be the King of Tholoze. Your brother had other forces on foote, that ſtood him in good ſteed, to bea • e backe the Reiſters,Pride goet • before ſhame. that came to the ſuccour of the Huguenots of Guyenne: and you Monſieur the Lieutenant, muſt needs goe thither in perſon, and yet you were not able to hinder their paſſage. And if he had had no more but you and yours, who would needs meddle therewithall (whatſoeuer thing ye would make men beleeue to the contrary) they had come to drinke our wine euen at our gates, and you had beene brought to a marueilous exigent. And yet forſooth you would haue all the glory of their ouerthrow giuen to you, and robbe therof the King and his good ſeruants, who temporizing therein, and ſetting themſelues againſt their paſſage ouer the riuer Seyne, brought and wrought the greateſt effects thereof,Some grow great by other mens actions. that indeed got you a great deale of honor and fauour amongſt the Pariſiens, the greateſt part whereof knewe not as yet at what you aimed: but they that were partakers of your ſecretes, and that then firſt tooke the name of zealous catholikes, made alreadie a God of your brother, called vpon him in their affliction, and had recourſe vnto him, when men did threaten them with the King & iuſtice. Whereupon he became ſo proud, raſh and headie, that he durſt enter into this citie with eight horſe only, and that againſt the very expreſſe forbidding, that the King had giuen him concerning the ſame, although we know well enough, that hee had appointed fiue or ſixe hundred horſemen,No pageant without the Pope play a part. that ſhould the ſame day approch & draw nigh vnto him. Pope Xiſtus the fifth could well declare what puniſhment that deſerued, when he vnderſtood the newes of it, and would not haue failed to haue done and executed the ſame, had ſuch a thing fallen out to him. But the good mother and the counſellors made by her hand,It is vnnatural to be for others againſt her ſonne. and according to her humor (of whom wee haue yet too many remaining) were able ſo aptly to ſtāpe and imprint feare, in the feeble ſpirit of this poore prince, that he durſt enterpriſe nothing, leſt hee ſhould exaſperate the Pariſiens, and leſt he might yet bring againe the troubles and miſeries of warre into his kingdome. For albeit he loued not the Huguenots more than you, yet ſo it fell out that hauing a long time tried their ſelfe willednes and ſtubbornes, and ſeeing that to no purpoſe, they went about to ouercome them, and to carry them to reaſon, by the violence of warre, hee reſolued with himſelfe, no more to aſſay or vſe forcible meanes or waies,Or rather leſſe crueltie. but by a more gracious remedie began to drawe them vnto his obedience, and to the acknowledgement of their former faultes, depriuing them of his court and of his company, of honours, charges, gouernements, offices, and benefices, from which the greateſt part of them were grieued to ſee themſelues excluded, which fell out ſo proſperouſly,Miſchieuous policie. that I cannot but aduow that their forces were leſſe earneſt and more diminiſhed by fiue or ſixe yeeres of peace, than by tenne yeeres of open warre. And there ſprong vp no new Huguenots, the old waxing colde and wearie alſo of the length of their troubles, and the greateſt number of them permitting their children to become catholikes, that ſo they might bee made partakers of honors, and benefits, or good turnes, as well as others. But you and yours, being impatient of peace, and hauing alwaies ſmall regard of religion, ſo that you might come to your attempts and purpoſes, would not ſuffer this trā quillitie,Fit ſimilitude. which was not healthfull or good for you. You had learned that fiſhing was the beſt, when the water was moſt troubled, ſo that indeede you neuer had had reſt, had you not ſeene borne this goodly day of the barricades, which hath ruinated and ouerthrowne both vs to you, and you to vs. Albeit it bee notorious and euident enough, and your brother were he liuing would not deny it, and all they that were of the enterpriſe or attempt, and are here preſent will confeſſe it with mee, that if the King would haue vſed his power and authoritie, wee had beene that day all caſt away, he being very certaine, that you were preuented and ouertaken three whole dayes, and that the day of the exploit, which ſhould haue been done, was not appointed but vpon the Sunday. So well, that the King,When men will not take opportunitie, and vſe the meanes God hath giuen them, good reaſon they ſhould ſmart. who knew all the enterpriſe (though thoſe that came neereſt vnto his perſō indeuoured to diſſwade him, and to turne him away from beleeuing the reportes which wee made vnto him thereof) had his Swiſſers, and his gards, and other men of warre all readie before day, who had alreadie taken the places, foure corner ſtreetes or wayes, and quarters of the citie, the morninge before that your brother or any of his enterpriſers or accomplices were awake, who (as you know) vnderſtanding vpon his awaking that which was paſſed, thought himſelfe ſo ſurpriſed, ouertaken and vndone, that hee expected nothing elſe, but that they would come to beſiege, and take, or kill him in the houſe of Guiſe, where he was reſolute to defend himſelfe, with his ſworde onely, hauing for that purpoſe as yet made no preparation of any armour or weapons, leaſt they ſhould come thither to ſearch, and to take away al ſuſpition concerning him. After the ſame manner the ſixteene, and the moſt mutinous of the faction, hid themſelues in caues and holes, and in their friends and neighbours houſes, looking for nothing but preſent death,Euery one that euill dooth, hateth the light. yea there was none of them ſo hardie, as that he durſt be ſeene or appeare in the ſtreete, except it were more than eyght or nine of the clocke at night. So that the King was able enough, and that without any reſiſtance, to haue ſeized vpon them, and vpon your brother alſo, and abſolutely to haue eſtabliſhed his authoritie againe, if hee would haue ſuffered his men of warre, to haue laide about them with their hands, and to haue charged the firſt, that aduanced themſelues to make the barricadoes, and to ſtoppe the paſſages of the ſtreetes. But his fearefulnes,A mitigation but how true, let mē regarde: or rather his naturall goodnes, together with the impreſſions, that his mother, and his traiterous counſellors had wrought in him, hindred him from vſing the aduantage which hee had in his hand or power, cauſing all his men of warre, to be forbidden to ſtrike or hurt any perſon, and to keep themſelues quiet, without enterpriſing any thing, or offering violence to any of the inhabitants, which was the cauſe, that the mutinous taking heart and courage vpon the waies of their plotted enterpriſe, had leaſure to arme themſelues, and to ſhut vp as it were betweene two gulfes or ſtreames thoſe that before they durſt not looke in the face. And your brother alſo, ſeeing that they were ſo ſlow to come to take him, there came vnto him, and that from all quar • ers, people in armes, whome thoſe of the Kings ſide did let freelie paſſe, becauſe they had no charge giuen them to looke to him, and knowing that they of his part, began to acknowledge him, and to make head in the quarters,A daſtard in the faint hartednes of his foe gathereth ſtrength. according to the order that they had before plotted, of a deſperate man that he was, he became fully aſſured and reſolute, and ſent his appoynted gentlemen through the ſtreetes and quarters of the citie, to aſsiſt and encourage the inhabitants to take the gates and places. For his part, after that he was hartened by a great number of men of armes, who had their meeting at his lodging, he went out of his houſe, about tenne or an eleuen of the clocke, that he might be ſeene in the ſtreetes, and by his preſence giue them the ſigne of a generall reuolt, which preſently ſet fire in the head of all the conſpirators, who as madde and furious people, fell vpon the Kings Swiſſers, and cut them all in peeces, and the other men of warre ſeeing themſelues ſhut vp betweene two barricadoes,They that ſpare others are ſmitten themſelues. before and behinde, without daring to defend themſelues, becauſe that the King had forbidden it them, yeelded themſelues to the mercie of your brother,Crueltie couered with clemencie. who cauſed them to bee conducted in ſafetie out of the towne, which hee did not ſo much of clemencie and gentlenes, that was naturall in him, as by ſleight and ſubtiltie, the better to come to his laſt but, which was to ſeize himſelfe of the King, whom he ſawe to be in armes, and vpō his guardes in the houſe of Louvre, hardly to be forced ſo readily, without great murther. His cūning therfore was to ſpin gently, & to counterfeite a man of poore eſtate, ſaying that he was greatly grieued with that that had fallen out: in the meane ſeaſon he viſited the ſtreetes, to incourage the inhabitants, hee aſſured himſelfe of the ſtrong places, hee made himſelfe maſter of the arſenac, where he had good intelligence with Selincourt,Who it ſhould ſeeme, was as it were the maſter of the ordinance. that he might haue the Cannon, the pouder & bullets at his deuotion. He beſotted with faire words, the poore knight that kept the watch, who yeelded him the Baſtille, becauſe he lacked good furniture for defence of it. He lacked nothing but the Louvre. He had the palace: but that was no hard thing, becauſe it held not the maſter, who had a backe gate, to withdrawe himſelfe. And this was the cauſe why ſtep by ſtep, they aduanced the barricades, that ſo they might gaine the new gate, & that alſo of S. Honorus.He was ſure in a pittifull taking But the poore prince well aduertiſed of that, which they purpoſed to do, & that they ment nothing againſt others but him, neither daring to truſt his mother, neither the gouernour of Paris that then was, that intertained him with ſpeech, & with agreement, tooke a couragious reſolutiō, and ſuch a one as was approoued by many good people, which was to flie away, and to leaue the place and al, with which your brother thought himſelfe much aſtoniſhed,

Some mens feare, ſpoyles other of their hope.

A vehement exclamation, and worthie wiſh doubtles.