His maiestie neuerthelesse desiring to reunite all his Catholike subiects , did by his first edict extinguish this fault , vppon their goodly promises neuer to returne to the like : which notwithstanding , his forces being occupied in the wars , as well in Guyen as in Prouence & Daulphine , the said D. yet seised vpon other strong holds , and spared no practises or deuises dayly to withdraw more out of his maiesties obedience .

The seising vpon Paris , was the tipe of al mischief : which notwithstanding his Maiestie purposing to eschew all occasion of warre among his said Catholike subiects , endeuoured also to bury this transgression with a second edict , and hoping to mollifie the hardnesse of the said D. of Guises heart , by fauours and courtesies bestowed vpon him , so many as hee seemed any way to demand .

But his ambition hauing a farther intent then to depend vppon any other , in lieu of acknowledging his dueties to his maiestie , and conuerting the same to his service , he vsed them as bridges to new practises and attempts .

He neuer left practising the good townes that yet remained stedfast in his maiesties obedience , and it may be said , that in such of them as he yet could not draw wholly to his side , the deuision was through the saide drifts so great , that the magistrates in the most part were not able any longer to restraine the inhabitants from murthering , & cutting ech others throat .

His partakers being detected of diuers heynous crime , were vnder his support maintained in al freedome , so as the magistrates haue not beene able to minister iustice .

The insolencie as well of himselfe as of his , proceeded so far , as to face , threaten , and terrifie those that would not be other then his maiesties seruants , to the end to force them to abandon him , that they might afterward the more easelie vse them at their pleasures .

In the assembly of the states they spared no means through the ministery of diuers their partakers whom they had practised throughout the prouinces , to let fall the elections , so to take away all authoritie and obedience from his Maiestie , and make him odious to his subiects : whom they had stirred vp to make vnto him sundry absurd requestes , to the end by obteyning them to cast downe the dignitie of his Maiestie , or being refused , to take thereof a pretence to break off , and then to impute the cause to his Maiestie , and so bring him into hatred with his sayde subiectes .

His Maiestie hath vsed all discretion possible , euen so farre foorth , that he knewe himselfe to haue encurred the contempt of his sayde subiects , which was a great preparatiue to the sayde duke of Guize to strike his long forecast blowe : and indeede his Maiestie hath receiued aduice from sundrie places , euen from such persons as otherwise were affected to the saide duke of Guize , and yet abhorred his bad minde , that without speedie regarde to his affayres he was in hazarde to loose both crowne and life .

All this importing not onely his owne person but his whole kingdome , to the preseruation whereof , togither with the peace of his subiectes , he oweth all care , as taking himselfe to be answerable before God if he looke not thereto , finding the mischiefe otherwise irremediable , but onely by the death of him that was the author , and purposed thereof to reape the profite he was forced to put the saide D. of Guize to death , which hee performed the ●●● of December last , 1588.

And because there might hereof r●●ne diuerse reportes , also that according to mens passions the truth might be disguised , and so the action misliked ▪ which neuerthelesse can not bee imputed but to Gods iustice , which the sayd Duke had by all means prouoked against himselfe , his Maiestie thought it good to publish this briefe discourse , to the ende as well his subiectes , as all others might thereby bee made capable of the truth of the matter , attending greater light which may in few dayes be gathered .

As also he willeth his sayde subiectes to assure themselues of his perseuerance in his purpose to prosecute the rooting out of all heresie , a matter not depending vppon the affection of the sayde Duke of Guize or any other , but onely of his saide Maiesties proper motion and firme intent , who in heart doth not desire any thing more then to see God honored and serued , and the Catholike Apostolike Romish religion to flourish throughout this realme as much as euer it did .

He is also in the same mind that he alwaies made solemne declaration of , viz. to relieue his subiects so much as possibly he might and hath giuen to vnderstande to the deputies of the generall estates assembled in this town , that his pleasure is , the same to be finished in all libertie , as also that they open vnto him whatsoeuer good motions they can conceaue for the attayning to the sayde reliefe , which next vnto the seruice of God , his Maiestie dooth most affect .

Howbeit his will is , that all partialities , leagues , associations , intelligences and practises doo cease among his subiectes , to the ende from hencefoorth next after God to rely vpon no other but their king , whom the diuine goodnesse hath giuen them , assuring them , that in so doing he will loue and cherish them as his owne children . As also hee is determined no longer to suffer the contempt of his authoritie , but to vse such seuere punishment of those that shall forget their duties in this behalfe , as may be to the example of all others .