TRusty and welbeloued . Being in our Towne of Paris , where we bent our only cogitations to no other thing but the appeasing of all sorts of ielouzies and disturbances in Picardy and else wher , which hindered our iourney into our Country of Poictou , there to prosecute the warres enterprized against the Huguenotes , according as we had resolued , our cosen the duke of Guize vnwares to vs , did there ariue the ninth of this moneth . His comming after that sort so encreased the saide ielouzies and distrustes , that wee were much troubled therewith : the rather for that before we had from diuers places beene aduertized , that he should come in such maner : also , that he was looked for , by sundry the inhabitantes of the same towne , who were suspected to bee the authors of the saide distrusts , besides that our selfe had before for the same cause giuen him to vnderstand , that wee were nothing desirous of his comming before we had appeazed the aforesayde troubles of Picardy , and quite taken away the causes of the same . Considering neuerthelesse , that he came accompanied onely with fourteene or fiftene horses , we were content to see him , and that the rather to the ende to endeuour so to deale with him that all occasions of ielouzie and distrust might be extinguished : wherein seeing how smally wee profited , as also that our saide Towne grewe dayly more and more replenished with Gentlemen and strangers , retayners to the said Dukes trayne : also , that such searches , as we caused the magistrates and officers thereof to make , were through the fear wherinto they were driuen , performed to halues : likewise , that the harts and affections of sundry the enhabitants were dayly prouoked , and more and more alienated : together with the ordinary aduertizementes wherby wee were from time to time enformed of some great troubles to fal out in the same towne , we determined to cause the said searches to be more exactly performed throughout al the quarters thereof thou the former , to the end thereby to discouer and truely finde out the state of the same , also to auoide such strangers as shoulde be found not to be aduowed as they ought . For the performance whereof wee thought it good to strengthen certaine the bodies of the gardes of the enhabitants and burgeses of the same Town whom we had appointed to be planted in foure or fiue corners thereof , with the companies of Suitzers , and such as were of the regiments of our guard : who before were lodged in the suburbs : also to commaunde diuers the Lords of the counsail & knights of our order of the holy ghost , to march along the streets & quarters thereof accompanied with the quarter masters and others the officers of the said Towne , such as haue bene vsually accustomed to make the saide searches , to the end by their countenaunce to authorize and assist them in the same , as hath sundry times bin practized . Wherof also we gaue notice to the said Duke , and all the enhabitantes of the saide Towne , leaste any thereof shoulde take allarom or any whit doubt of our entent in this point , which order at the beginning the Burgeses and dwellers seemed to take quietly and in good part : Howbeit within a while after matters grewe so whot and that the rather through the induction of diuers who wandering vp and downe enformed the said enhabitants that we had not brought in the said forces for any other end , but only to establish forrein garisons within the Towne aforesaid , yea , and to deale worse then so : whereby in short space they had so animated and stirred them vp , that if wee had not expressely forbidden the leaders of our troopes from attempting any thing against the sayde enhabitants , & withall commaunded them rather to beare and endure all extremities then to offer any violence , wee doe vndoubtedly beleeue that it had bin vnpossible to eschue the general sacke of the Towne and much bloudshed . This when we perceiued , wee determined to cease the execution of the searches aforesaid , also to cause our forces to retire whome wee had not brought in , but vpon that onely occasion : as also it was no other like , but that if we had ment otherwise wee woulde haue attempted , yea , and peraduenture put in execntion whatsoeuer our purposes before the rising of the said enhabitantes , eyther that they had drawne their chaynes or erected their defenses in the streetes , which immediatly after noone they went in hande withall , and in a manner in one instant thronghout all the streetes of Paris , being thereto induced and perswaded by sundry gentlemen , Capteines and other straungers sent in by the saide Duke of Guize , who to the same end , in very short space appeared , deuided and aranged , throughout euery quarter of the Towne . Hereupon causing the sayde Switzers and french companies , to returne , the sayd enhabitantes to our great greefe discharged diuers Harquebuze shot , & dealt some blowes which light cheefely vpon the sayde Switzers , whome the same euening we commaunded to retire and lodge about our Castle of the Loure , there to expect the euent of this commotion of the said townse-men : for the appeasing wherof , we did all that possibly we could , yea , so farre forth as the next day to procure all the sayd companies , except such as before their comming in we had placed in guard before our said Castle , to depart the town , as beeing enformed that in so doing , we might greatly content and pacify the said inhabitants : as also wee caused to stay some remaynder of the companies of foote-men of the regiment of Picardy , albeit they were as yet seuen or eyght leagues off , togither with diuers Lordes and gentlemen our seruaunts that drewe vnto vs : as considering that the same had bred some shadowe to this people , also that they took hold of this pretence , wher by the more to prouoke & stirre them vp . All this notwithstanding , in liew of finding our wished effect to their own benefite and our contentation , they neuerthelesse still proceeded in raising their bulwacks , strengthening their guarde night & day , & approching the same toward our said Castle of the Loure , euen to the very sentinels of our ordinary guarde , as also they seazed vpon the townhouse of the same towne , togither with the keyes of S. Anthonies gate and other the gates therof : so that by the thirteenth of this moneth , matters were runne so farre that it seemed vnpossible by mans power to stoppe the effect of greater violence and commotion , euen before our sayd castle gates . This when wee perceiued , and being neuerthelesse vnwilling to employ our sayd forces against the said enhabitantes , as hauing euermore helde the preseruation of the sayde Towne with the enhabitants thereof , as deere as our owne life , as in sundry their occasions they haue well tryed and is euident to all men , wee determined the same day to depart , and rather to absent our selues , and abandon the place which aboue all the world wee most loued , and so doe still desire to doe , then to see it encurre further hazarde or receiue greater domage : hauing withal entreated our most honourable Lady and Mother to stay , & try whether she might through her discretion and authoritie in our absence bee able to finde anye means , how to appeaze the said tumult , which notwithstanding , whatsoeuer her endeuours , she conlde not in our presence performe , and so are come into this our Towne of Chartres , from whence wee thought good immediatly to sende you these presentes therein desiring you to consider of the consequence of this cause , how preiudiciall and hurtfull it will be , in case it goe forward , vnto the common cause , especially to our holy catholike , Apostolike and Romish religion , sith that they who were wont to fight togither for the propagation therof , shal through this accident ( if it bee not remedied ) be disvnited and forced to turne their weapons eache against other : to eschue the falling wherinto we pray you to beleeue that for our partes we wil do whatsoeuer possibly we may : of such force is the zeale that we beare vnto our saide religion , as hetherto we haue sufficiently caused to appeare . We also , so much as in vs lyeth , exhort and pray you to procure supplications to God in your Churches for this revnion , as also that the obedience vnto vs due , bee obserued according as is meete , and not to suffer the enhabitants of our Towne of M. to depart the right pathes thereof : but to admonish and perswade them to remaine quiet and constant in their loyalties to their King : & in vnion and concord one with an other , so to mayntayne and preserue themselues vnder our obedience , and not to encurre the discommodities for them prouided , if they take any other course . Thus besides that you shal performe an action worthy your discretions , fidelities and duties , which may bee a notable example to all subiectes , we shal yeelde you thanks for euer , & acknowledge it to you and yours .