SInce Saint Bartlemewes day , at what time the most cruell and detestable murthers whyche euer were committed had driuen mee out of France , by reason of the simple safetie which I perceyued that honest men should in time to come enioye in those countreys , I haue diuers tymes thought vpon a discourse , which once I heard geuen in the presence of the Kyng , the Q. mother , my Lorde the Duke ▪ since K. of Poole , and now King of France , and the Countie of Re●z , being at Bloys in the yeare . 1572. a litle before the Q. of Nauarre lately deceased came thether , and it was made by a gentleman , named the Knight Poncet , whom as I haue since learned , the Countie of Retz had sent for into Germany , for that he had heard him accompted to be a man of great forecast , iudgement , and discourse , who also had lyued eight or nine yeares in Turquye , and now hauyng sundrye tymes with my selfe weyed the sayde discourse , I perceiue that out of the same might be spronge the originall of the aforesayd murders , rather then of any other thing . And therefore bicause that by diuers thinges which since the same discourse haue chanced , all men might more assuredly iudge of the same , vnlesse my opinion deceiueth mee , I thought my selfe bound to put the same in writing , and to the end that I might shake of all name of vnthanckfulnesse , for suche great courtesies , fauours , and benefits , as in the space of 18. yeares which I spent in that countrey , I had receiued of the good and myld French nation , to giue the same vnto some suche person as might admonishe them thereof , to the ende that fynding my iudgement not to be far amisse , they might take heede vnto them selues and looke better to their own affayres , then hetherto they haue done , and so to preuent such pernicious practises as might be put in execution agaynst theyr persons and estates . The sayde Knight Poncet , in his discourse dyd fyrst let them vnderstand in howe many Countreys , Principalities , Kingdomes and Monarchies he had bene , then that in anye of the same he could neuer fynde anye perfect obedience vnto the souerayne , except in Turquy only , and that the same there proceeded principally of the causes which hereafter shall be expressed .

First the Turke hath no prince or great Lord throughout his Empire but such as him self haue created and made of his owne liberalitie and proper cost , neyther suffreth he any such to ascend so high , but that he may plucke down and dispatch them at his owne wil and pleasure .

Secondly , he permitteth no other nobilitie to be in estimation through out his empire , but hys Ianissaryes , who being from their chyldehood by him brought vp and enterteyned as his owne creatures , are so bound to his deuotion , that by their meanes and by the auctority of hys ministers and officers , all kynde of obedience is presented vnto hym , as well by the meane man as by the welthy person , neither is there any kinde of accompt of preeminence , by reason of any antiquitie or greatnesse of houses and families , nor any excuse for any man not to obey him whom the Turcke putteth in office .

Thirdlye , hee neuer permitteth throughout his owne dominions any other religion then him selfe doth exercise , except in those countreis which he hath lately conquered , whom he will not constrayne to alter theyr profession , bicause by such meanes he may the more easely enlarge his limittes , and yet there , no man is permitted to dispute of religion . Moreouer in all the countreys of his dominions , are no Lordships nor seigniores , for all the landes belong to hymselfe , and those doth he by his officers , ferme out vnto his subiectes for a few yeares , which being expired , the farmers or possessors are dryuen to purchace a newe graunt , and the same to acknowledge from fyue yeares , to fyue yeares , insomuch that no man can say , that that which he possesseth is his owne , and so euery man endeuoureth more and more to shewe his obedience , to the end that therby he and hys children may continew in possession in the sayde farmes , and by this means the great Turcke is continually so well stored with riches , that vpon no kind of occasion he euer is forced to rayse taxes or subsidies of his subiectes .

Moreouer , there be neyther fortresses , neyther any wauled townes in the harte of hys Empire , nor in any other places , but only on the borders and a fewe other , in the which his officers and Cap - pleasures of Kinges , whereby the sayd Princes and great Lordes may rightly be termed controulers and hinderers of the Kinges willes , and this proceedeth of the vnitie and agreement of the sayde three estates , and therefore it is sayde that Kinges be chiefe Lords and masters in outwarde apparence , but in effecte they are as it wer subiect to their own subiects , in that they can not accomplishe their owne desires , and that theyr own mocions and reasons for the most parte be neuer accepted , notwithstanding diuers tymes they tende to the augmenting of theyr liuing , and sometimes to the ayde of the necessitie of their affayres , and therefore the soner to dispatch himselfe of the sayde Princes and great Lordes , with the rest of the nobilitie , to the end by that means the straightlier to subduce the rest , and so to dispose & alter all things after his owne pleasure and will , it were necessary to vse the troubles for religion , for that they bee the best instruments that might be wished to murder and slay on all partes , and yet not to reiect suche meanes as the peace might minister , and which might be executed as well by the parties greeued , as by such as be ingaged and bound to his maiesties seruice , as the affaires may best minister occasion , also that hereof , they shall fynde choyse of deuises and inuentions inough among the ashes of debate and hatred , which the sayde troubles and deuisions haue brought forth . In the meane tyme to labour by all meanes possible for the deminishing of the sayde Princes , Lordes , and nobilitie , as well in persons , as in goodes , and not to graunt them any thing whereby to obteyne greater numbers of seruants and bondslaues to them at his maiesties charges , it is necessary that his maiestie absteyne from giuing any rewardes and recompences at the suites of the sayd Lordes , or of any other then of such as shall be founde trustie , and whom his maiestie myndeth to preferre vnto their dignities . Also that if it were possible , it were good that such as receiue any liberalitie should come to hys owne presence , to the ende they might perceiue vnto whom they were principally bound , and this ought especially to be obserued among those vnto whom his maiestie shal commit any publick offices , who also after theyr dispatches should be brought to take their leaues of his maieste , whereby he might let them know , him selfe to haue bene the only motioner of this honour and commodity , also that he might commaund them whatsoeuer hys maiesty should thinck good , for this be aling would greatly binde them vnto him and be very profitable . Moreouer that the decayed and ruinous castles and charges shold be giuen to the said Princes , Lords , and noble men which should remayne , vntill the tyme were come that they might bee dispatched . Also that in the meane tyme none of their estates , pentions , or wages , should be geuen to any other of them , then to such as his maiestie should see good , and that so by all meanes possible , their commodities might be taken away , or at the leastwise hindered , for that by those meanes he might be the better assured of them , & keepe them from practising any great enterprises , but all must bee wrought artificially and vnder fayre pretences . Also that his maiesty should not permit any assembly of estates to be holden eyther generally or perticulerly ▪ for that they serue only to bridle Kinges more & more , but rather he ought seuerely to punishe all procurers of the same , whereby the Kinges shall neuer be without occasion to dispatche such as should be odious vnto thē● and thus after that his maiesty be dispatched of all hys Princes , Lordes and nobilitie as is aforesayd , he may easely atteyne vnto the rest , when as all the chiefe force and principall parte of the sayde estates shal be voyde , and that his maiesty hath with the tyme , made and created others to hys owne mynde , for the common people of themselues dare not practise any thynge , vnlesse they haue some great Captaines which wil either beare them out in their doynges , or egge them forwarde to theyr practises . Lykewise his maiestie hauing made a peace , should in any wyse punish , and for the smalest occasion that might be , put to death all such gouernours and officers of townes , as during these troubles , haue bene contrary to hys seruice , for bicause at the first blast of any contrary wynd , they will not fayle but reuolt , to the ende to exempt themselues from such peyne and punishment as they should feare to haue iustly deserued for their former follyes and offences . Also at such tyme as hys maiestie hath reduced his subiectes to thys obedience , the people dare not with stand the beating down of fortresses , & vnmāteling of walled townes in the hart of his kingdom , or in any other place where his maiestie shall thinke them hurtfull : For assuredly the great number of Castles and walled townes , doe especially encorage seditious and euil disposed persons , to the practises of such enterprises , and doe make the inhabitauntes of the same more haughty and lesse obedient : And doubtlesse the greate number of townes in France were in tymes paste , built by sundrye Lordes , Princes , and common wealthes , which enioyed seuerall dominions , and then serued for bulwarckes & defences to the one agaynst the others , neyther were they gotten and incorporate vnto the crowne as presently they bee , insomuch that that , belonging now to one only , which was wonte to serue diuers , we must needes confesse that , in that the pluralityes and diuersities of the grauntes of the sayd townes doth cease , consequently suche of them as are situate in the harte of the realme , and farre from the borders , are not only to no vse , and vnprofitable , as touching the defence and conseruation of the kingdome , but contrariwise , stand in election to bee occasions of diuers euil demeanures and dealinges .

As concerning religion , at what time his maiesty hath atteined the commoditie & profite aforesayde , then may he easely force all men to receiue eyther his own , or any other that his maiestie shall thinke good of , and so not to permit , but one only throughout all hys dominions and countreys , which will bee farre more assured and strengthened , in case his maiesty would forbid all disputations of his sayd religion . Heare vpon the time drawing on to go to masse , the assembly brake vp , and the sayd Poncet was entreated to set downe these meanes which he had discouered and discoursed vpon , with such addicions as him self should think good , and that not without great promises and hope of wonderfull commoditie and reward .