HEtherto did I alwayes hope that shortly we should so open our eyes as we should neede no farther prouoca­tion to stirre vppe our iust displeasure against the auncient and captiall en­nemies of the Flower de Luce, vntill being reassembled together vnder the French bāner, we should passe ouer the Pirinean mountaines for the deliuery of the poore Nauarrean slaues out of captiuity, who doe stretch foorth their armes to that mightye prince to whōe God hath vouchsafed these two goodly crownes, the one by discent from his father, the other from his mother. But sith that after so many vaine hopes one in an others neck whereinto we haue beene forced in this towne of Paris, for the lulling a sleepe of our sences and the deceiuing of our extreame misery, we still in the end doe see that they from whome wee expected our felicity (as sometimes it hath fallen out, that such as haue bene authors of great mischiefes, haue also bene ministers of great remedies) sith I say that in liew of acknowledging their lawfull king, they haue passed the pikes: and plunged themselues head­long in the horrible goulfe of Spanish bondage, I can no lenger keepe this long silence, for so long as we re­teyne any sparke of the humor of our auncient French [Page] liberty, we cannot but send forth some speeches, some sighes the testimonies of our intent. Before we giue vppe the ghost we must euen with our bloud write this our last testament for our posterity, to the ende they may know that their auncesters were no such traytors to their Princes, that voluntarily would suffer them­selues to be chayned vppe vnder the locks of this cruell and most barbarous nation.

O Innocent posterity, who in secret shall read these last lamentations of your dying mother, euer-more re­member that your selues are discended of the race of those who time out of minde, haue made other nations of the earth to tremble, who haue passed the Alpes, and the Pirinean mountaines, who haue sayled ouer euery sea, to make their weapons to glister in the bowels of forren empires: who neuer fered any thing except that the sky should fall vpon them, as being assured to con­quer and tame whatsoeuer vpon the face of the earth durst medle with them. This onely remembrance will so inflame your mindes with spite and rage, that in time you shall gather strength, yea albeit all wea­pons should fayle you, euen with your handes to stifle these serpents who hauing once wrethed you within their traines will sucke forth the very marow out of your bones.

Neuer thinke deere children that those shamefull couenants whereinto your parents are entered did proceede of their voluntary good will, neither measure the intent of a great nation according to the notable wickednesse of a number of mutinous not frenchmen, but bastards heere ingendred by Spanyardes: No it is not to be thought that any so infamous or wretched [Page] cogitation could euer penetrate the harte of any man discended of a perfect french race. I will not heere bring into consideration the horrible cruelties that haue dispeopled the Indians, in putting to death more then remaineth vpon the rest of the face of the earth: neither will I set before you the insatiable couetize that hath dried vp the minds of Peru, and banished the welthiest houses in Portugall and the Low countryes, all this beseemeth those that seeke to haue a stranger to their maister, yet will they haue one that is tolle­rable. France hath no skill in such a choyce: France acknowledgeth none but her owne children, those whome she hath suckled, noursed and brought vp in her bosome, ouer whome shee commandeth, her king onely excepted, whome God hath made to be borne the eldest of the most ancient, greatest and most flori­shing famely in the world, that hath swaied the french scepter so many yeares. France giueth eare to that on­ly child whome she cherisheth, and loueth most ten­derly, to whome she beareth an extraordinary affecti­on, as accompting nothing difficult or dangerous that may tende to the exalting of him aboue all other Prin­ces of the earth. In him hath she shewed all her con­tentation: her glory and maiestie are shadowed and doe wholy glister in her eldest sonne, whose enterprises may for a while so long as his mother sleepeth be some­what slacked, but in the ende if she waken and that the potion which by her enemies hath bene ministred to lull her on sleepe, hath lost all force: when she re­turneth to the knowledge of her selfe and beginnes to stirre her benummed armes, in how short space shall we see all these spanish forces cut in pieces? all these [Page] garrisons of moores died in their owne bloud, the wo­ful countenance of France changed into ioy and mirth, and all these stormes driuen away by the beautifull beames of the sonne which shall restore vnto vs the light-some day of contentation and perfect liberty? our churches shall not (as they seeke to perswade) be desolate, but contrariwise they shall bee replenished with that ancient multitude which vsually we haue seene among vs. We all together shall render praise to God for the felicity vnto vs graunted, when round about vs we shall behould not the spanish insolencie full of pompe and vanity, but the sweetnesse of our pa­rents and the delightsome company of those that haue bene borne in the same towne with vs. Oh happy day, most prosperous and so long desired of all good men in this poore towne, who groane vnder the bur­den of forrein dominion with whom we may without feare bewayle our passed calamities, reioyce our pre­sent felicity, and still hope for a more full accomplish­ment thereof.

Albeit our goods be wasted, and that we inioy but euen halfe a life euell compacted in a weake body, fal­len away with extreame famine, yet may we at the least speake bouldier: Our misery shall be at an ende: and the affliction of things passed shall neuer be ag­mented with feare of such as are to come. We shall no longer see this proud Rodomontes presidents of the counsails of the bastards of France: our eares shall not be filled with their proud threates, & vaine bragges of their mighty armies that should driue the warres a hundred leagues from vs, winne so many fieldes and cary our king into the Bastille.

[Page] Neuerthelesse sith this day shall be so fortunate vn­to vs, why doe not we endeuour to hasten it, euen with the hasard of our liues: must the feare of death make vs shamefully and cowardly die for hunger, when o­therwise we might with weapon be r [...]u [...]nged of those that draw vs into these extremities, by making vs so obstinately to with-stand our countery and king? and yet doth the superfluity of their expenses euidently declare vnto vs, that with them this time is as easily ouerpassed, as to vs it is hard and intollerable. The great pentions that they daily receiue from their good maister, causeth them to acknowledge him, and to terme him The mightie king: the vniuersall king: the Catho­licke king: the king of kings: the great Monarck, victorious both by sea and by land, and whatsoeuer other flattery may be inuented, they will heape vppon him in exchange of his duckats. What more assured testimony cā we craue to proue that such people are no frenchmen? The Ac­hayans bring already entered into acknowledgement of the Romane empire Aristaenetus the Megapolitain a man of great credit amongst them, on a time in open connsaile said that it were good to honour the Romans and not to shew any ingratitude toward them, wher­vpon Philopoemen, a man who iustly was by the history­graphers termed the last Grecian, hearing this speech, a while held his peace, but in the end so pressed with impacience and choller that he could no longer keepe silence said. Aristaenetus, why makest thou such hast to see the wretched destiny of Greece. For thefe thirty yeares haue there bene among vs a geuerall complaint prosecuted not only by the nobility, but euen by al men of courage, for y ^t the king of Spaine hath presumed to thinke to [Page] cause his Embassadors to take the precedence from ours. What frenchman hath not with iust indignation complained hereof? and yet now euen at once he that intituleth himselfe the pretector and liutenant of the crowne, of the mightienesse and maiestie of France, hath shewed himselfe such a coward, or rather such a traytor, to terme the king of Spaine the great king, and in what comparison; but that the king of France must be little

Why Charles of Lorraine, canst thou find any ex­ample that by letters patents sealed with the Flower de Luce the title of Great was euer attributed to any forreine kings, nay but contrariwise many times haue the fields flowed with blood for the preseruation of the title of Augustus to the kings of France, the first, the ancientest and the most mighty princes in Christian­dome, who doe inioy the crowne of liberty and glory aboue all other kings, yet now aloud publiquely in let­ters patents sealed with the Flower de Luce by thee falsified, thou callest the Spanyard, the great king, a ti­tle which in our fathers dayes would alone haue cost thee thy life. Why Duke of Mayenne, art thou in such hast to aduance the wretched destinies of France. He hast, sayst thou, succoured our Catholicke religion: nay, say, thy am­bitious and the practizes of thy family against this e­state. To the ende to vndermine a crowne of many yeares standing, and to lay hould againe vppon the sundrie vaine pretences euer since Charlemagne, by hi­stories conuicted of falshood, as shewing that it is not past sixe score yeares since the race of Vaudemont entered into the house of Lorraine, which in lesse then 460. yeares haue fallen into seauen seuerall families: To [Page] strike, I say so great a stroke, to extinguish the blood royall, and to stepe into their place, it is requisite to haue great support and a woonderfull plausible pretence: this forteresse is not to be assaulted with weake bat­tery, considering that in such actions the lest errors are so perilous. The support hath bene the king of Spaine, the ancient enemie to France, and one who by inheri­tance purposeth to become Monarck ouer all Christi­andome. The onely pretence any way to be taken, was for religion, all others being farre to weake. Vp­on this ground haue they long since hired those whose tounges haue bene saleable in the pulpits dedicated to the truth, by whose meanes they haue cast vppon the people al those charmes that haue brought this estate so neere to distruction. Herevppon likewise haue they long since sent the Ieswistes, very Spanish Colonies, who haue shed forth the poyson of their consperacy vn­der the shadow of holinesse, and vnder the colour of confession (O woonderfull policie:) haue abused the deuotion of the French nation, whom by seceret othes they haue bound to their league. Who also in liew of instructing our people in the Catholike religion, are become trumpets of warre, firebrands of sedition, pro­tectors and defenders of murther and robbery, to be briefe, who are waxen forein leuine to sower the dowe of our France and to alter the fedility into trechery and rebellion, so cunningly conducting their masters af­faires that they haue filled this realme, before flouri­shing, with fire and blood, and euen with the French swords murthered so much braue and valiant nobility as had bene of force and power sufficient to reconquer Naples and Millan which this Gothicke race hath stol­len [Page] from our fordfathers.

These cursed policies did long lie hidden, but at y ^e last the war begun with all extremity about the yeare 85. against a most Catholicke king, and so acknowledged by those that most hated him, against a king yet in the flower of his age, together with the detestable mur­der committed vppon his person fower yeares after, haue too euidently declared this pretence of religion to be vtterly false and of no apparance. This cruell and horrible murder of their king hauing brought them into execration with all courageous persons, now to couer their subtilties vsed in the compassing thereof, they doe in their declarations giue out this impression to the people, that the kings death was a blow from heauen. Oh abhominable impiety? Oh mightie king, whome all the subtilties of thy enemies, who abusing thy authority and too much lenity were become ma­sters of thy best townes, could neuer stop from inclo­sing them in the capitall city of thy realme, where they found themselues brought into such extreamity, that without that knife forged in hell, the had bene already chastized for all their notable treazons, Oh mightie king, who couldest not haue any fuller confession of the victory, euen at thy enemies hands then the kinde of thy death, is it possible that thy subiectes, euen thy children who yet do speake the french language should endure this cruell parricide, the like whereof was ne­uer seene, neither any thing so detestable? which hath replenished all men with sorrow and teares, to bee termed a blow from heauen? O God who neuer with­out punishment, sufferest thy holy name to be abused in such and so horrible transgrassions, canst thou permit [Page] the inuention, euen a blow of the diuel who tormenteth mankind to be attributed vnto thee, and that thou who art protector of kings shouldest be proclaimed their murderer? Suffer not O Lord such blasphemies, but with a stripe of thy mightie arme, euen a blow in­deede from heauen, breake the cursed head of these traytors to their king, of these bloody paricides who seeke to couer their detestable coniuration and conspi­racie vnder the vayle of thy holy name.

What an indignity is this, O ye french nation, that they, who impudent and shamelesse dare yet, though falsey, cause themselues to be called as you, should be­wayle the death of the Duke of Parma whome they intitle of happy memorie, a title neuer publickely attribu­ted to other but kings, and contrariwise wish vs to be­leeue our deceased king to haue bene such a one: that God who is all good, yea the fountaine of all goodnes hath caused the throat of his annointed to be cut, euen his who vpon his head did beare the chiefe crowne of all the nations that are baptized in his name. So that a petty forrein Prince, the vsurper of Saint Peters pa­trimony, is not onely compared with the king of France, with the king of the Flower de Luce, but is also magnified by the same tongue that blasphemeth against the memory of our deceased king. Yet were this tongue spanish in sound as it is in affection, it were the more tollerable, but a french tongue to be polluted with such impure speaches. Oh what an in­dignity? what a sorrow.

The reason of these so contrarie speaches is very apparant. The death of this Farnese who signed no o­therwise but Alexander, haue giuen a great blow at [Page] the affaires of this warre, as finding no successor that can approch to his reputation, so that for want of all others Don Philip hath bene constrained to set in such a Captaine as is not otherwise knowne but onely that he hath bene the chiefe executioner of the poore In­dians, by him murdred without resistance, whome also the inhabitants of the country will not receiue as fear­ing his extreame cruelty. On the other side the Guy­sardes imagined that the death of the late king should haue brought them to the royalty, and that by their pollicies they should soone disunite vs each from other, making vs to beleeue that no man can be a good Ca­tholicke vnlesse he be a spanyard or a Lorraine, vnlesse he weare the red crosse or the duble crosse. They haue aboue two yeares deteyned the people in Paris vpon an opinion that there was no masse said at Tours and haue drowned those that durst testefy y ^e contrary. But sith all their purposes are grounded vpō falshood, they be to be excused for the cruell punishmēt by them inflic­ted vpon those that testifie the trueth, their capitall en­nemy.

Many who since the death of our late king neuer liued in this city of Paris, may perhaps geue credite to this declaration by them published, namely that they haue labored to bring his Maiesty now raigning into the bosome of the Church: But we who for these foure yeares haue continually heard their Sermons doe know the contrary, also that they neuer preached vnto vs any thing so much, as that albeit hee should become as good a Catholike as S. Lewes (these bee their very woordes) the Curate of S. Bennets saide in S. Mederickes, as good a Catholicke as I take him to be, yet is hee by no [Page] meanes to be receiued, as being a Relaps and impeni­tent. Such as would seeme the mildest, said. that hee might be admitted into the Church, but it was requi­site, for pennance of his fault, that he should resigne his crowne to those that had reclaimed him. That hee might bee a Catholicke, but no king. Thirty thousand persons not onely haue heard but do daily heare these speeches from the mouthes of Boucher and Comolet the Ieswistes, and yet would they faine perswade the rest of all France y ^t they haue endeuoured to conuert him. O ye hipocrites as you are, know you not in your con­sciences that you neuer desired his conuersion, but his estate, that you care not whether he haue a crowne in heauen, so you may get y ^t which he hath vpon earth? do not your consciences beare you witnesse that you could wish that tumulteously at his returne from some war­like exploit, he should enter into our church, to the end for euer hereafter he might be though an Atheist, vsing religion as a cloake to play his personage in, and so lose his credit with all Christian people. In your con­sciences doe you not know that of all things in this world, you must feare least in some lawfull counsell by the working of the holy ghost, his errors should be laid open before him? If you stand not in wonderfull feare therof, why do you so shrinke away? why had you ra­ther see all France on a flame and shortly brought into combustion, and so many miserable persons ouer­whelmed with the intollerable burden of these te­dious warres, and brought into such pouerty, that their misery hath farre surmounted the misery of their frendes deceased? why I say had you not rather trie this remedie which only is proper, and hath bene prac­tised [Page] by the ancient fathers in the cure of such diseazes. A remedy often times reiterated for one selfe error, for the truth which is alwaies like it selfe in all places, and at all times, is neuer tyed to one onely counsell: A re­medy that might serue not him onely, but all other of his religion. Why I say had you not rather vse this gentle and holesome medecine, then fire and sworde whereto mans conscience is no way subiect, weapons doe neuer breed any conuerts, but rather deniers of their faith. To bodely vlcers bodely matters, and to the wounds of the spirite, spirituall remedies doe agree. To seeke by maine force to plucke vp error in religion, is to seeke to cure the soule by the body, nay rather to kil then to cure: by darkenesse to shew light, and by cruelty to teach clemency. If yee list to destroy error, it is requisite you should instruct the man, and the way to instruct is in a free counsell to heare his reasons, and to let him vnderstand yours.

Yet if God by the successe of your armies, would de­clare y ^e same to be acceptable in his sight: If he would graunt you great aduantages ouer our king, and mi­nister hope to force so many mightie townes, which do daily encrease and fortefie with the ruine and spoyles of our poore Paris, your heat to prosecute your warres might some way be excusable. But hauing vtterly lost a great and notable battaile, euen when yee were assisted with the power of Spaine, Germany, Switzerland Lorraine, yea & the selfe same day as it were miraculosly hauing also lost a second battaile in Anuergne. Againe this last yeare the Duke of Ioieuse one of the principall pillers of the Spanish faction, beeing defeated and slaine in a pitched field with the losse of three thousand [Page] men, either drowned or left dead in the field, among whome were found all the Capteines of the rebells throughout the whole country, wherevpon they were forced to vncoule frier Angell, who in the end shall re­ceiue like recompence for breaking his vowe solemnly made vnto God, as his brother had for violating his faith to his king, who had so highly cherished and ex­alted his ingratefull famely. Likewise in the same moneth of October the generall of the armie of Lor­raine, hauing lost both his owne life and his masters armie, who were ouercome by a handfull of men, who for 10000 accompted the Duke of Bouillon for their head, of whose good fortune and aduancement, I meruel not though the Duke of Lorraine his neighbour maketh so many complaints, considering that in so short space he hath already defeated him of two strong townes & cut in peeces the flower of his men of war, who now might haue stood him in some steed for the defence of other his strong holds against 12000 men, and 20 canons that doe lay sore to them. After I say so many great losses, and all your great townes so straightly beseeged, what hope can there remaine, e­specially this Alexander of Parma being no longer a worlds man? True it is that hereafter we may per­aduenture haue some succour from the Sauoyan, who will bring his great forces to assist his cunning to bee crowned in our citie of Paris: for he hath maryed one of the daughters of Spaine: and sith that by the aduice of the Doctors of Millan, the Salicke law ought to sur­cease, he hath no doubt a part in the succession: for at Paris there is no prerogatiue of Eldership amonge the daughters, and therefore the towne may well enough [Page] be deuided. Let the eldest chose either the Loure or the Pallace, the one shall hold for Sauoy, the other for Spaine. But I doubt he hath other matters to thinke vppon, he seeth already the french ancients so forward toward the midest of Piedmont, that thirty thousand canon shot will hardly roote them out, and yet before he come to that, he must winne the field against those that haue profered him battaile any time these six monethes, whome he dare not encounter in the plaine field with al his owne power and the power of his father in law. This is a very Scipios policie. Our king hath procu­red the warre to be transported into Affrica, and the firebrand thereof into the dominions of the Spanyard and of his sonne in law, who already intituled him­selfe Earle of Prouence, from whence he hath found one of the heires of Gaston of Foix & of the valeant Nogaret, that shall not onely expell him but also proceed further, & euidently giue him notice of the old prouerbe which saith. That France was neuer so weake but a man might still find some cause of earnest fight, and that either soone or late she will giue him to wit that it is dangerous dealing with her.

Oh Ingratefull Sauoyan, among all earthly people the most vnthankfull. France restored to thy mother, that which with the swordes point and vppon good cause she had taken from thy grandfather, and thou in liew of acknowledging this magnificence, and in all manner of good duety, reuerencing the maiestie of the french empire, dost by notable treasons endeuour to rent and dismember the same, still conspiring with her Capitall enemies. Remember that I doe progno­sticate vnto thee, that a Spanish wife shall procure to [Page] thee the losse of that which a French wife brought to thy father, nothing can defend thee. All the cunning speech of the Archbishop of Lions together with the ab­stract of all the seditious libells and orations, spued out against our kings, & by these pentioners of Castile, pub­lished vnder the title of a declaration, can no whit pre­uaile with this valeant nobility, whose eares and harts are stopped against such Mermaids as seeke to plonge them in the goulfe of all misery. All these latter poli­cyes they take as assured arguments that the strength of this detestable conspiracy draweth to decay. Your selues doe now know that this busy and seditious com­munalty is not able to vanquish the French nobility, cannot beare the first push of their horses, neither may any way abide the glims of their glistering armour. What will yee then doe, seeke some meanes by faire words to deuide these gallant gētlemen among them­selues, and in a pitcht field procure them to cut each o­thers throats. Oh what a happy day would that be vnto you, wherein there should be neuer a blow stro­ken in vaine: where the losse either of the one or the o­ther should be an equall gaine, and like aduancement of your drifts, which can haue no successe so long as there be any gentlemen in France. They are borne to liberty, to glory: They can brooke no forrein dominion or commandement. Any speeches of the king of Spaine, of the Sauoyan, or of the Lorraines, they cannot heare but that needes they must enter into choller, into indig­nation, into threats, yea and into armes to the end to exalt the name and honour of France aboue all things in the world. They cānot abide to heare any king but their owne, intituled the great king, without ouer­running [Page] of those that dare giue out such seruile, In­famous and base speeches. They are not acquainted with this tytle Vniuersall king, in whatsoeuer lan­guage it be disguized: They knowe not that ould ti­rant otherwise then by the name of kinge of Spaine, which no man dare now pronounce in their presence for feare least at that onely worde they should call to mind that it is the name of their capitall enemie, the sworne enemie to their fathers, the same who wrong­fully deteyneth from France the one halfe of her prouin­ces: who procured the death of his owne sonne, and of his wife the daughter of king Henry the second, and since holpe forward the deathes of his two brother in lawes, the late Monsieur and our last king. Likewise to the end yee may the better know him, he was son to Charles the fift, the poysoner of the french Dolphine: who by treasons stole y ^e greatest riches of this realme: who layd the foundations of his tiranny on the citie of Rome which his sonne hath since perfectly established & layd fast, purchasing with coyne the voyce of the con­sistorie and so bringing into the holy sea his nurcelings and pentioners, according to the degrees of their affec­tion to Spayne. Doe you then meruell that their bulles forged in Madrlt which tooke only their edge at Rome, wherwith they indeuor to make France through her diuision, tributarie to them, haue beene condemned by this imperial and sacred Senate of our king. A senate gouerned by a Cato, replenished with Phocions, and euer­more accustomed to reuenge the iniuries of the crowne.

The french nobility hath sent y ^e Marquize of Pizani, to be assured of the truth. If it appeare that Rome is as surely tyed to the Spaniard as Siuill, and that their de­clarations [Page] can not be well enterteyned, they will well enough prouide remedies necessarie. This is not the first time that the holy sea hath beene transferred to this side of the mountes, albeit I be very well assured there shall be no such necessitie: For the French sworde is strong enough yet once againe to deliuer Rome out of the hands of this Gothik and Sarrazin stocke. Neither doe we beleeue that all that is beyond the Alpes doth loue this vniuersal king, but that contrariwise the clea­rer that their sight is naturally, the more they doe ap­prehend the effectes of his insupportable dominion and the execution of the hereditarie purposes of his father Charles. This French Cath. Nobilitie is of force sufficiēt to preserue both the Estate and their Religion, neither neede they the helpe of these soueraignes of Spaine, of Sauoy, or of Lorraine so often mētioned in your decla­ration, who vnder pretence of succour do seeke to driue them out of the inheritance purchased with their ance­sters bloud, y ^e like whereof haue happened almost to all the natiōs in the world, as histories do testifie. Our ho­ly Cath. Romish Religiō is not otherwise assaulted but by your wretched League, which withall breedeth A­theisme, defloratiō of sacred virgins, murder of priests, sacking of Churches in all parts of the Realme: so farre is our king from bringing any alteration whatsoeuer, or from contrarying his oath euen in the least title, that contrariwise he is carefull of all that cōcerneth our Re­ligion & the celebratiō of y ^e holy misteries as our selues. Witnesse all the townes that he hath subdued vnder his obedience, in the which it can not be found that he hath diminished the least relick, or one onely sacred ves­sel. (yet the most part of yours is either moulten, or trās­ported [Page] into Arthois) Neither is there any one Religi­ous person or Priest, that cōtained him selfe within his habit and his profession, that was euer molested, euen with the least word: whereas yours are either dead for hunger, or withdrawne into such townes as rest in his Maiesties obedience, where they haue bene receaued, susteined & found acknowledging those things which they could neuer haue imagined, and which your falshoodes and slanders continually preached forth did debarre them the sight of. Vpon what occasion, ween you hath God sent you these great afflictions, this wāt of all things, especially of siluer, but euē to the end that the people being by litle and litle slipped from you and retired into such townes as rest in their kings obedi­ence, should confesse their fault and simplicitie in that they haue so long suffered them selues to be abused by these enchantments, which made them see the things that neuer were, that made them beleeue that all the Princes, all the Officers of the Crown, so many braue Lordes and Gentlemen were no longer Catholickes, because they would not stoope to the commandements of this great Catholicke king, and the letters patents of Charles of Lorrayne. Is it not for this crime of heresie that ye haue robbed and spoiled the house of Neuers, and geuen the Dutchie of Rethelois to a Spartaque, whom ye haue procured to take the title of Duke of Rethelois & Peer of France? or haue ye so euill entreated this Duke of Ne­uers at the expresse cōmandemēt of the king of Spaine, who hateth him as much as any Prince vpō the earth, because that hauing more deeply penetrated and more manifestly reuealed to all France his pernicious pra­ctises, to the end to stoppe and cōfound them vnder the [Page] protection of our king, he dayly encreaseth in affection bringing of valour, couradge, diligence and militarie discretion so much as may be desired. And besides the matter which I accoumpt to fulnesse of all his commē ­dations is this, y ^t he bringeth vp his onely sonne, his Maiesties cosin germain in extreame dislike and ha­tred of this Spanish League.

Must we not also as heretickes condemne, excom­municate and proscribe Venise, Florence, Mantua, Soleure, Fribourg and other Catholickes our faithfull confede­rates, who are so presumptuous as to dare to vnder­take to stoppe the encrease of your great kings Mo­narchie, who also will be partakers in the glorious re­uendge of the murder of the first Prince of Christen­dome, whereto all Europe standeth bound? Beleeue me this beautifull and glistering cloake of Religiō, where­with your ambitiō hath bene so long shadowed is now threed bare, full of holes, we may see through it and eui­dētly discerne your wretched and pernitious purposes. Now that the incredible felicitie that had guided you euen to the marke, so as ye were ready to mount vnto the flower Royall, hath forsaken you, whom thinke you to perswade to enter into your ship halfe broken, when it is vpon the point of shipwracke? Whom wee [...] you to perswade to come starue for hunger amōg your sixtene robbers, who after the Spanish manner hung vp their chief Iustice in the view of all Paris, in the middest of the cōfederates of the conspiracie of the haulter, whose dagger is at y ^e throats of all those in whose harts there resteth any sparcke of humanitie or clemencie? to be brief, among so many fearefull tokens of Gods wrath, cruelties, diuisions, ruines, all sortes of desolations, [Page] yea and diseases vtterly new and vnknowen to the Frēch, of whom you are no longer. How I say do you now thincke to make such poisons to worke, conside­ring that in August and September 89. when ye see­med to haue atchieued your affaires, hauing murdered our king, and with an armie of 30000. men enclosed his successor in Dieppe, after you had published like pardons, like abolitions, yet could you not in all finde aboue three or foure remissionaries, and among them but one onely Gentleman, whose name will remaine infamous among all posteritie, vnlesse by some notable seruice he wash away so shamefull a blot of treason cō ­mitted immediatly after the slaughter of his king, his good maister and one who had so highly fauored him. Is it possible, Vitry that the tall, pale, and fearefull i­mage of this great king, should not continually ap­peare in thy sight or follow thee wheresoeuer thou goest? doest thou not see him with one hand houlding his bloudie wound, and with the other the red gore knife, continually following thee to be reuendged of thy notable trecherie? Is it possible that thou canst without trēbling and sighing heare him with a feare­full voyce obiect vnto thee thy trespas in these wordes? Oh traitor, while I liued thou diddest honor me, but the next day after my death thou hast worshipped my murderers: thou hast bowed thy knee in those places where they deified that monster more cruell then the Tygers: thou hast accompanied those that triumphed and publickly reioyced in my death? yet doe I more maruell how our Lieutenant general of the Spanish crowne in France, who seeth that in liew of so many Gentlemen that haue habandoned his rebellion and [Page] ranged them selues vnder the flower de Luce, he could not winne past two or three in foure yeares, how I say he is now perswaded that he may deuide the Princes of the bloud of France, and draw them to his partie. O ambitious Lorraine, hast thou dared to thincke that thou shouldest haue such subiectes to stoope to thy com­mandementes, or to obey to thy letters patentes, as ne­cessarily they must, if they had taken thy side? or wilt thou habandon to them thy Lieutenancie, and submit thy selfe vnder the lawes and Magistrats, ouer whom thou now doest so proudly commaund in those townes whcih thy tyrānie doth possesse? If thou wilt why hast thou not spoken the word? why hast thou not said that thou wert ready to lay away all thy power and to esta­blish them aboue thy selfe, and aboue all thy stocke of Lorraine? Thou hast bene warie inough for proceeding so farre, not that thou art not assured that they all are too magnanimous & too vertuous Princes to League them selues with those that are yet besprinckeled with the bloud of the slaughter of the eldest of their familie Royall, who loued them as his children: whose cruell and barbarous death all lawes of God and man doe binde them to reuendge, so long as their valiant soules shall be enclosed within their bodies: but by such offers, though fained, thou diddest feare to prouoke the ould tyraunt of Spaine, who abhorreth the whole name of Bourbon. And indeede what apparance is there of diuision among persons so well vnited? you Lorrains haue long time directed the heades of your speares a­gainst the whole race of Bourbon, and with fire and sword doe prosecute y ^e rooting out of their familie Roy­all: When fortune most smiled vpon you & that you see­med [Page] to be vpon the highest steppe to climbe to the Roy­altie, then did they togither resist you: And now that all true Frenchmen vpon the opening of their eyes doe manifestly discerne in your dri [...]tes with such dexteritie conducted that whereas your grandfather came into France weake in goodes, poore in honor, naked in dig­nitie, who in the yeare 1522. following the warres in Picardie vnder the Duke of Vandosme commanded onely ouer one companie of men of armes, you in our adge finde your selues among you seazed of the most important gouernments of this Estate, yea and had it not bene for the 23. of December 1588. had gone a­way with the rule of all France, vnder the commande­ments of your maister the king of Spaine. Now I say that euery one that is of any calling or courage tho­roughout this Realme, is gathered to his Maiestie to chastise your ambition, the cause of so many miseries, what ground can ye take, to imagine that the Princes of the bloud should deuide them selues, and purchase the ruine and death each of other, to the end to leaue their roome to the vpstartes of Lorraine? Well if you cannot thrust in the spirite of diuision into Bourbon, yet at the least ye will draw vnto you those mighty mē who within these foure yeares, haue so often put you so shamefully to flight. I thincke the Duke of Aumale looketh by meanes of this declaration, that this braue and couragious Lōgueuille, who with lesse then 1200. Frenchmen, who standing not vpon th [...]ir number, but vpon their valour in a pitcht field, ouerthrew him and all his armie consisting of 8000. men and 10. canons and pursued him euen to S. Denis, shall one of these dayes send to offer him his seruice, desiring pardon for [Page] his former faultes and craue to be reconciled with his high and mightie cosin, Lieutenant generall to this great king the Monarcke of Spaine, France and I­talie. Oh miserable Leaguers, into what frensie are ye entred, when ye thinke with your goodly figures of Rhetoricke to perswade those, who in one moneth doe heare more Masses then you do in a yeare: who vnder the kings auctoritie next to the Princes of his bloud are the very pillers of the state and of our Religion: to perswade them I say, that they all are heretickes, and that none but you onely, who are conspired with these new Christiās, as yet for the most part in hart Iewes and Sarazins, are true Catholiques: to the end y ^t ther­fore they may yeeld themselues bound into your hāds, so that without labour ye may in short time roote out all these great and noble houses, all these families fatal for expulsion of strangers out of France. No, no, if your Spanish remembrances import no other matter, I do well see that this ould dotard is at an end with all his sleights, sith y ^t to subdue France to him selfe he craueth the helpe of the French Gentlemē, who altogither vn­der one selfe banner seamed of Flower de Luces, haue so often chased his Spanish troupes, and who as bre­thren of one belly, crowned with like garlands atchie­ued in so many battailes, shall for euer be vnited to maintaine their liberties, franchises and preeminences, which with such woundes and so many hazards their predecessors haue left vnto them inseperably conioyned with the preseruation of the crowne vpon the head of the lawfull heire.

Courage therfore oh Frenchmē, the victory is yours, Parma is dead, Ioyeuse and all his power are layd along, [Page] the Lorraine & the Sauoyan shut vp in their capital towns in liew of giuing doe craue succour at the Leaguers in France. The horrible conspiracy against Rennes is disco­uered, the traitors are punished, & the duckats of such purchase of townes are conuerted to our vse. Behold Montmorencie marching with a braue army & the sword of Frāce in his hād: let vs set on w ^t like courage, a pow­er deuided yeeldeth no fruict: let euery man endeuour him selfe: cōmon interest craueth it & calleth you ther­to: your coūtrey inuiteth you: all the vaines of Paris are stopped, it must dry vp, vnlesse our selues will norish the rebellion, that is, kindle the fire which consumeth this Estate. Let y ^e king remember y ^e throughout the whole triumph of Silla the fortunate, there was nothing made so goodly a shew as the traine of y ^t most noble and rich of the Citie of Rome, returning through his victory frō exile whether y ^e dregs of y ^e people had driuen thē, & them crowned with garlands of flowers did accompany his triūphāt chariot, calling him their father & sauiour, be­cause that by his meanes they returned into their coū ­trey and recouered their goods, their wiues & their chil­drē. The ioy of so many good Frēchmē, who shall reen­ter into Paris will be no lesse and y ^e honor infinite times greater, made firme and assured to a lawfull king.

Let thē all the publicke treasure be employed to this effect: let euery one particularly let him selfe bloud to cure this burning feuer: let all these Iesuistes speeches, the onely procurers of a milliō of Frēchmē to slay each other, be stopped: let all those that build their particular purposes vpō the publicke calamities (which they hope for hereafter) be rased frō among the number of Frēch­men: let all those, who hauing no feeling of the grief of y ^e [Page] body, do not helpe to relieue it be cut of as rottē mēbers & the great goods that they enioy with expresse charge to succour y ^e state in such & so vrgēt necessities (a charge by solēne oath renewed at euery change) be taken from them & thēselues declared vnworthy of nobilitie, & those goodly inheritāces giuē to those braue Gentlemē, who for these foure yeares haue continually had the cuyrace on their backes, without whose helpe togither with y ^e conduct of this great king, y ^e true French Alexander, we all should be most miserable bondinē to the Spaniard, & this we must confesse: their names ought to be writtē in goldē letters & so consecrate to the posteritie, and the names of y ^e others withered with perpetual ignominie to them & all their posteritie. You Magistrates who in your hands do hold the Iustice of Frāce, come in with such vertue, with such courage, acknowledging y ^e affe­ctionate & seuerely chastising the traitors & trechours to their countrey, y ^t you may participate in the honor of the restauratiō of the Estate. Armies can not be but in certaine places, neither doe they terrifie any but those whom they draw neare vnto: the force of Iustice at one selfe time penetrateth into all places, yea euen into the most inaccessible: her scarres & woundes are farre more sharpe & of longer continuance then those of Bellona. To be brief, at this time let all those that list to liue and dye Frenchmen, set their hands earnestly to this worke, so excellent, & so necessarie for the reestablishment of this great crown in her first eminencie & ancient glory. Let vs no longer flatter the disease, & we shall soone see the wound purged & cured, we shal speedely see y ^e end of all these rebelles. We shall behold the chariot with the bo­dy of our late king brought frō Compiegne euen into Pa­ris [Page] by these rebelles euen in their shyrtes to the wonder­full consolation of all good men. You Syr whose me­morie we moisten with our teares, appease your iust wrath against this poore people, against your Citie of Paris, sometime of you so welbeloued, so fauored and so enritched: she hath committed the most notable ingra­titude & trecherie that euer was or shalbe in the world, but already she hath felt such a punishment that the scarres will remaine for euer: cast the rest of your in­dignation, of your iust vengeance vpon the guiltie, par­don the innocent: Cōfort your selfe in y ^t God hath giuen you such a successor as after your decease will make you to be acknowledged euen of all those, who in your life time did disauow you: who in your Louure will restore your defaced armes and garlands that were pulled downe, and will exalte your memorie into the highest degree of honor and glorie. Helpe vs also by your prayers to obteine for him at Gods hand so long life, that after the ending of his owne he may accomplish the course of your yeares that were cut of.