MY Maisters you were heretofore sufficientlie aduertised that the league , notwithstanding whatsoeuer it promised , would breede great calamities in this Realme , and yet do smal harm to the king of Nauarre , and his partakers . Likewise that it was made properlie against this Realme , and so acknowledged at the first by both the king & all your selues . The K. of N. as he in him selfe feeleth the least harme and you the principall , so is he but the ●ullor and pretence .

The worst is that you had more minde to see it then to preuent it , & to feele it , euen to the quick , then to beleeue it . Notwithstanding in deede I know that manie of you haue serued for Cassandra●s vnto Troy , as hauing small authoritie to turne away the mischiefe , though wise inough & sufficientlie aduised to foretel it .

The authors of this League to the ende the more easilie to induce you to enter into this warre , did propound great facilitie therein . It woulde be done in three daies , the best houldes were not to hould out the first sounde of their name . The K. of Na. was by & by stumbled : there wanted no more but the making of his Epitaph : If anie man presumed but once to make mention of 25. yeres euil spent in this like purpose , that is to say , much time wasted in consuming our selues , it was an offence and prooued heresie , neither wanted there these ordinarie replications , namelie that the League that now was taken in hand was a farre other matter , and that these Capteines knewe other sleights , and thus vio●ence in lieu of reason made them to preuaile .

Marke here my maisters the progresse of their affaires in one yeere , measure by that yeeres worke all the ●est , notwithstanding their principall ●eate be vanished in smoke , and the most part of their choler conuerted into flegme , and thereby you maie bee able to iudge of the successe of that which is to come : for you shall see that as wearied and tired as alreadie we be , wee haue not set forward anie one good step , but that we haue gone backe two for it .

After the edict of Iulie which proceeded by the violence of the league , the Lorde of Mayne tooke vpon him the prouince of Guyenne , and to that ende had beside the forces of the league , al the kings power committed to him , whereby eche one may iudge what armie that was : ( for of two reasonable strong armies hee made but one ) hee departed possessed with a great masse of monie , and had in a maner dried vp the whole deuotion of the Clergie : he wanted neither artillerie nor munition . But besides if you will but call to minde either their brags , or your owne imaginations a● that time , you shall finde that all the walles in Guyenne mouldered away and vanished in dust : yea euen the King of Na. wist not where to become to shroud himselfe .

And in deed it is most certaine that he was then vnarmed as one that neither woulde , neither could be persuaded that the obedience which he still yeelded to the king , coulde haue turned to his destruction : hee was armed with sure confidence in God the mainteiner of the right , yea , euen naked against armed iniurie , hee thought him selfe sufficiently couered vnder his kings armour , which should haue defended him , sith he had so far honored him , as to acknowledge and take his quarell for his owne .

Well the said L. of Mayne commeth into Poictou and Xantoigne : he leaueth behind him Rochel , and S Iohn d'Angely , Pons , &c , And setting vpon nothing ( yet were these places neerest the hart of the realme , & occasion fell verie well out , for at that time they were so vexed with the plague , that the souldiers could scarce a bide to continue among them ) he thence tooke his way through Perigord , where by composition , he tooke the Castle of Montignac le Conte , a place that had bene as it were the banner of all the former troubles as euerie one knoweth , and the course of his voiage did beare as if hee shoulde haue gone to Bergerac , there to haue tried the first furie of his armie , but he tooke his way by Souillac , where hee passed ouer Dordonne leauing Monfort , Turenne , Saint Cere , places belonging to the Vicount of Turenne vntoucht . Thence he entred into Queacy , where the aduersarie held Figeac , Cadenac , Ca●earc , and other places , hee was lodged in the middest of them three whole weekes , hee was desired by the estates of the countrie , vrged by the Bishop of Cuhorls , & importunatly called vpon by the Seneschall , to deliuer them : yea it is not vnknowen to what words the Lordes of St. Supplice and Camburat grewe vnto with him , when they see all the countrie wasted and brought into famine , & all without profit , and in deed he did nothing but compound with two or three gentlemen of the weakest lodged , with condition that they might exercise their religion in their houses , so that they prosecuted no warre from their holds , sauing that in their owne persons they might do it in anie other place .

His excuses were that he would goe clense the riuers and assure the traficke of the countrie . Also the most trustie he tolde in their eares , that he would surprize & assaile the K. of Na. wheresoeuer hee were . A truantlike stratageme if euer there were anie , which neuertheles was their foundation , as if Fraunce had beene a chesse board , wherin a prince could not haue walked aboue foure steps , & in deede the K. of Nau. hauing as well as hee could furnished such places as hee left behinde him , passed ouer the riuer of Garonne betweene the two armies of the said Duke of Mayne , and the marshall of Matignon which laie not past foure or fiue leagues from him , and so came to Bergerac euen in the face of the Duke of Maynes armie and there aboade a whole moneth togither without either riuer or brooke betweene them , and yet had neuer so much as one all arume giuen him , and so finallie went into Xantogne setting forward toward Fraunce , and visiting his gouernment euen to the bankes of Loyre . This did he whom they should haue chased awaie within foure moneths , yea hee whome they shoulde haue brought to the baie , vnlesse hee had resolued speedely to auoide the realme .

The marshall of Matignon had besieged Castetz , a house of the L. Faba● standing vpon Garonne , when the L. of Mayne came . The said Lord of Mayne without his knowledge , to the ende to rob him of that small glorie , compounded for xii . thousande crownes to haue it yeelded to him , which was an vnusuall matter among souldiers , that a place being beaten & the breach made should be assaulted with siluer .

Since that time he tooke S. Bazeill , Montsegur and Castillon , places vnknowne before these warres : places neuer mentioned in the most particuler maps : places of no name but onlie for the resolution of defence , and yet such places , especiallie Montsegur and Castillon , as haue cost him deere euerie waie . And it is most certaine that had not the pestilence vexed Castillon more then a man would weene , hee had bene hardlie set before it , considering that the Lord of Turenne did succour & refresh it euen in the sight of the said D. of Mayne . This is the summe of al that he hath done in Guyenne in one whole yere : Where you are also to note that the K. of N. hath increased himselfe with Tayllebourge and Royan , places that be strong both by arte and nature , hauens , yea the mouthes of Charent and Garonne , I speake not of St. Iohn d'Angely Tonnay-Charent & others , which besides them are recompence sufficient for Castetz and St. Bazeile .

I leaue to saie that Garonne which was promised to be opened for the contenting of Tholouze and Burdeaux doe stil remaine shut , yea more straitlie then before the war : for you must not thinke that after the taking of St. Bazeile the said Lorde of Mayne durst set vpon Caumont which hauing the riuer betwene them stoode in his face , neither Mas and the other places that commande ouer Gàronne , besides that at the same time they fortifi●d the towne of Meillan , which is more worth then all that he hath taken , as the countrie men knowe well inough , besides also certeine sorts on each side of the water , which since they haue builte beneath Clairac , whereby the marchants to whom he had giuen his word to make free the trafick before the last Christmas , forbidding them expresselie vpon paine of death to compounde for the libertie and assurance of the passage for them , and their wares doe finde themselues further to seeke then at the first , while in the meane time for want of traffike they haue incurred sundrie losses wherebie diuerse are become Bankerupts , haue finally growen to composition , cursing the League and all the fauourers thereof . But that was it which marshall Matygnon verie well perceiued , which also howe modest soeuer otherwise , hee coulde not in some of his letters conceale , namelie , that the Duke of Mayne had enterprized more vpon Tholouxe and Burdeux , meaning by Castle Trompet , then vpon Mas of Verdun or Caumont .

Nowe iudge you what likelihoode there is that herafter they maie make anie great account of the rest of Guyenne : For all such places as at the entry into the warre , that began about the latter ende of the yeere , might haue wanted victuals , haue nowe at ease made their prouision , euen with their neighbors consents , whether it were , that common necessitie of both parts vrged them to such mutuall offices , either els that they abhorre such extremities and detest the miserie of the time : & yet in their notes which they exhibited to the King wherebie to perswade him of the easinesse of this affaire , the same was set downe as an especial mene that they pretended against the principall townes , a meane truelie that holdeth more of the nature of extremitie then of a meane , & which is more , such a meane as they cannot come to againe in two good yeres and more .

Neither haue the affaires of the League prospered anie better in other Prouinces . For the L. of Mountmorancye , who in respect of the iniurie that he perceiued to be done to the K. of Nauar , hath associated himselfe vnto him ▪ hath brought to his deuotion Lodeue and Pons two Bishoppes ▪ Seas , with their Dioceses . He hath fortified both the bankes of Rhosne , Hee hath shotte out his rootes so farre into Prouence that they haue beene forced to graunt to the Gentlemen free exercise of Religion . All that maie be saide to be wonn in Languedock is the forte of Montesquyon , latelie won rather by treson then strength , which may be counterpeized with a number of Fortes of like mettle taken in Prouence , and Marueyolz , which hereafter will serue onelie to make all other resolute , in respect that contrary to the promised faith there were such cruelties & excesses committed therin that hereafter wee must seeke to finde out newe names wherwith to describe them . But the siege of Mas St. Puels alone is enough to counterpeise all the glorie thereof , as beeing the most miserable and weakest place of all L'A●ragois , which giuing the repulse to the armie of the L. of Ioyeuse slewe him 32 capteins and 5. hundred Harguebuts , dispersed or barred his regiments , and cracked his credite with the men of warre , yea droue him to such an exigent , that in the estates since holden at Castelnaudarry he resolued to meddle no further therin .

As for Daulphine , that prouince which euerie man knoweth ( if we respect the contrarie partie ) to haue bin the weakest of al other when the trobles began : to be briefe , the prouince wherin the Lord of Mayne thought to haue made the first triall of his fortune , whereupon also he assured himself of an easie ouerthrow of the rest , no man is to learn how they suffered Mōlimart a notable towne be taken , also Ambrū , the metropolitane of the countreie , those two that they thought they had woon to the league , which now the L. of Desdiguires hath made impregnable , besides that they haue let them recouer Dye , Liuron , and other places of whose conquest the Lord of Mayne triumphed and grounded the foundation of his glorie .

I leaue sundrie castles in diuers prouinces taken with lesse then ten pound of pouder , for the which the league would haue rung al their belles , & enriched al the mercers of the Pallace , if it had won them with the canon : neither doe I saie that these small holdes which the Lord of Mayne soundeth in our cares , doe euerie of them coste a million of golde , besides the liues of the best of our souldiers , whereas the good townes afore mentioned , coste not the K. of Na. and his associates past some Petronel shot , & scarce one man . Also that in all the small bickerings that haue happened ( for there haue beene no great battaile ) wee shal finde that the greatest losse haue fallen vpon the League , so as we may truelie saie that for one of the pretended reformed Religion there haue died at the least 30. of the League . To be short , all things considered , wil anie man be so fond as to exchange Royan & Taillebourg in Guyen , Lodeue and St. Ponsun Languedock , Mountlimart , Ambrin and Dye in Daulphine &c. for Montgnac , Castetz , St. Bazeil , Mountsegur and Castillon , the tokens of the victories of the League , the Trophyes of the Duke of Mayne , but costlie and ruinous triumphes , yea I dare wel saie funerall triumphes

Now that they haue spit all their fire commeth in a mightie Forreine armie to the succour of the K. of Na. what miracle will the League here bring forth to couer vs ? When beefore the King it was alleadged that vndoubtedlie hee shoulde haue ayde from the Princes that professed the same Religion with him , though they shott expreslie at Religion , and that they would needes haue the visard pulde of , they had , if wee woulde beleeue them , long beefore seene to that : Concerning the Queene of Englànde they should cutte her out so much worke from the Scottish partes euen in her owne Realme , that shee should haue inough to doe , and it is no doubt but they haue kindeled all fire brands , stirred vp all ashes , and blowen at euerie sparke that they might , and yet it hath pleased God to breathe such a blast vpon their purposes that Englande was neuer so quiet , neuer so stronglie vnited to Scotland ▪ neither had euer more euident viewe of Gods blessings either at home or abroade , for that God manie times and freelie hath miraculouslie discouered those practises that the Iesuites stirred vp against the said Q. of England her person and estate , and contra wise fauoured her enterprises that she hath taken in hande for the defence of those whom she knew to be wrongfullie oppressed .

To the ende to take away al difficulties , they did in a maner enter into bond to the King , that the K. of Na. shoulde haue no succour out of Germanie . To colour this vaine hope , they alleage those old controuersies vpon some points of religion betweene the French & the Dutch churches , which they promised by their practises to nourish . And now to the contrarie , we see that such polices haue serued onlie to reunite their hearts , and ceasse their disputations : that they are most firmelie reconciled together to the ende hencefoorth to make it all one bodie and one cause : that the King of Denmarke , the Princes & Electors of the Empire , the L. of the Cantous of the Swytsers , and the Grisons do finde them selues greeued in the person of this prince , feeling themselues hurt in his woundes , and teinted in his iniuries . As in deed , who would not haue bene moued : who would not perceiue the consequence of that which was framed against him ? When for the religion that they professe , which themselues first admitted into their countries , his state , life and honor , are g●uen in praie , himselfe incapable of all dignities and goods ? They shoulde haue armed the Germans , one against another : they should haue renued the olde braules betweene the Catholicke and Protestant Princes , neither , said they , did they want deuices to deuide the Protestantes among themselues . Where be now these great pollicies ? what is become of all these discourses , sith that Germany was neuer at better vnion in it selfe , or more disposed to succour their enemies : or now what wil they doe to that wretch Casimire ( for so doe they terme this Prince ) who one of these dai●s ( which wil be no nues vnto them ) wil march ouer the bellie of the trunke of these goodlie waterboughes , of the eldest of Lorrayne .

But if the worst fall out and for the breaking of all , when the R●ystres doe come in they wil bring an armie out of Italy that shall consist of the contributions of the Princes of the League . It lieth in an ambush in the Alps euen redie to breake foorth at the time appointed . The state of it trotted all ouer the Pallace , it was redde ouer the Court of the Loure , But where I praie you doeth it now sleepe ? why doeth it not appeare at this neede ? nay who knoweth not that to the contrarie the Lords of Venice the most ancient frends and confederats of this Realme haue offred the king succour against the League , and doe nowe exhort him to peace . That the king of Spayne vpon whom they build all their purposes , sith they haue not perfourmed what they promised , hath left them in the mid way and with reproch returned their agentes . And what will they saie to Pope Sixtus himselfe , who hath confessed to the Lord of Mountmorencie that they had ouerreached him in their declaration published against the King of Nau ▪ and the Prince of Conde , hee praieth him to pacific matters , euen he vnder whose shadow they sought to prouoke them : The Pope who euen in Auignon , and that by expresse treatie , permitteth to the contrarie partie of Daulphine & Prouence free accesse , to the end with his leaue dailie to draw thence victuals , weapons , pouder , and all other munition of warre .

This Itilian armie being thus either moulten , or not hauing bene built but in the aire , and contrariwise the dutch armie being in nature and hauing one foote alredie vpon the borders , who seeth not into what extremities thorough their illusions they haue brought the people ? who perceiueth not what peniworths they make of our calamities ? of all our blood ? of the kings honor and of the Realm ?

But they wil fight with them , and in deede that is one of the greefes published in their pamphlets , vz. that in the former troubles the straungers were not fought with vpon the frontiers : Faine would I learne who letted them when in the first troubles the late D. of Guyse commanded ouer the power of Fraunce ? In the second the D. of Aumale had an armie vpon the borders to debarre them the entrie , besides the death of the P. of Conde which fell out n●●● for his purpose : and in the last the D. of Mayne tooke it vpon him , who was 3. moneths before lodged vpon the passages : who had at leisure chosen out all places of aduantage : who also neuerthelesse in all that long voiage neuer gaue them so much as one allarme . But this is their wonted maner . To the end to haue weapon in hand and to become arbitrators of the affaires , they wil for a time be holden for Protestants . It is for the kings seruice if they be not alloued to fight : and when they haue the bridle l●t lose , they be the first that seeke excuses , and then doe like verie wel that anie man shal say , it is a dangerous and bad course to hazarde the Nobilitie of France against an armie of strangers yea and in the heart of all Fraunce .

To be briefe , wil you see the good that the League hath done generallie in all Fraunce . It hath kindeled the fire both in all the foure corners there of and in the midst also . It hath filled all the best Prouinces and the best townes with famine , and hath not yet set one step forward in all the pretended enterprize . It promised to roote out all the Protestants , and see they haue now taken more anchore holde . It should driue them into Germanie , and behold it hath brought Germanie into Fraunce . It promised to root out their doctrine , and now marke how it hath brought vs to striue with them who shal haue the staffe , and to make new lottes , and as it were to reenter into a new diuision with them , where before they were content with such share and condition , as wee listed to graunt them .

Let vs ▪ therefore looke whether the League that hath confounded all this Estate , hath at the least done anie particular good to our estates . They were shrouded , as you all know , vnder the thr●edbare cloke of Common-wealth , ( for so doe they tearme it . ) They had promised to discharge the people : & gaue out verie loude that they were the verie ofspring of king Lewes the twelft , yea and that it went harde if they were not Successors to the beautiful surname that he deserued , namelie , Father of the people . Hereupon you had warning inough that you should bee more ouercharged then before . That a newe warre woulde bring in newe impostes . That the League to the end to binde you , gaue you an earnest penie , but vndoutedlie onelie to binde you to the bargaine , and to make you to pay the contract . Marke now therefore at one yeres ende the suttletie of the league Consider what this Commonwealth hath in gendred : Seuen and twentie new Edicts at one clap , which seuen and twentie yeeres could not haue brought forth : Burdensome edictes edictes to the whole world . The dregs and scum of all the inuention of the Italian Courtiers . What wanted there more to oppres the poore people ? to fulfil the confusion of this realm ? In the Estates holden complaint was made that multitude of officers in matters of Lawe was no other but multitude and delaie of causes , & now behold an increase of presidents , counsailers and other officers in soueraigne Courtes & presidiall seas : marke the alternatiue receiuers for the spices , in paying rent for the multiplying , mainteining , delaying and enhaunsing of processes . Infinite times had the suppression , or ordering of the vnbrideled number of Atturneies bene propounded , and now we see them not onelie innumerable , but also successiue or hereditarie . Now I saie we maie see our causes that holde margent and line ▪ and passing from hand to hand , from father to sonne in the atturneies , growe to be perpetuall to our posteritie . Howe much better had it bene to haue let the king alone quiet , who at the beginning of this League tended onlie to the reestablishing of the ministration of Iustice throughout his Realme ? who so carefullie consulted with the principall of his soueraigne Courts what meanes were most conuenient to restore all things into order ▪ Long inough had we perceiued that number of officers in the de●●●ng with the treasurie did breede nothing but losse and diminution , so as the crowne passing from the poore man , going through so manie treasurers hands , was scarce worth a testerne to the kinges purse , which bred the counsel to restore the auncient manner , which was that all the kinges coine should immediatelie be transported into the kings treasurie , so should they spare both the auditor and the accomptes : So might they saue two third parts of the treasurie , and by this sauing the K. might without hurting him selfe haue cased his people of one third and more . But what shall we doe now , now I saie that they giue vs newe generalles and generallities ▪ that they set vp againe without anie reason the elections which vpon so good reasons had bin suppressed ? that they make the offices of the chambers of accompts hereditarie and al other offices saleable ? which is as much to saie as to make the treasurie of the Realme patrimoniall , hereditarie , and saleable both to the dealers themselues & to those that should iudge of the dealing therein ? These be the goodlie successions that the controuersie of succession , so out of season propounded , haue taught vs . Successions of pleaders and triflers : Successions of theeues & robbers of the Commonwealth , Successions of deuourers , a thousand successors , euen during the kings life , to this Realme seeing they succeede in his treasure .

The king before these commotions propounded the releeuing of his poore people , but now we see them reduced into the extremitie of confusion : he purposed to redeeme his demaines , now he selleth them outright : to diminish courts and subsidies , hee nowe doubleth them , yea hee selleth them , which he neuer did before : he went about to abolish olde tributes , nowe from time to time he raiseth new , and those of so manie sorts that wee shall neede a Calepine to learne to knowe their names . All these newe charges and oppressions , al these inuentions , are the subtiltie of the League which would not giue the king leisure to benefite his people , as enuying the wealth , peace , and restoring of this Realme : enuying the honour that shoulde redound to the king for reestablishing it : and enuying the good affection & loue that hee shoulde winne with his people , by graunting them some release after so manie labours . Neither thinke but the Capteins of this league doe reape the cheefe commoditie , for besides that one part of these newe Edicts is dedicated to the maintenance of the warre that they haue bred , and is guided by their hands , and so consequentlie goeth through their fingers , it is not vnknowen that the Duke of Guyse hath gotten to himself particularlie the edict of tenne sellers of Sea fish , and the edict of twelue sellers of cattel at Paris , the edict that maketh vs the alternatiue receiuers for the spices , and the edict of amplification to all the seas royall to taxe throughout the realm . That the D. of Maine hath also had the Lieutenants of the long robes in euerie prouince , & that they both do participate in the heredity of offices venall , & of the chamber of accompts : they that shoulde by a new edict abolish all olde tributes , euen they that ( as they protest ) should b●ing againe the world of king Lewes the twelft in to this Realme .

It maie bee they haue dealt better with the Nobilitie , for they seeke so much as they maie to ●it●●gate their mindes , and peraduenture maie haue restored them into their prist●nate emine●c●e ▪ For they entitle themselues princes of credite and they promised it : Al we that haue tried their armies may know whether gentlemens houses which before were sacred , were euerles regarded then by their troupes , whether euer Huns , Gotths or Wandals could look for worse dealing than they haue had of them . Those of the contrary part ( because the League sought to turne all the hatred of the warre vnto the K. who was forced thereto ) found fauor , bicause also through their frends they compounded halfe with wares & halfe with warre . The Catholiks contrari●●se because they gathered assurance in themselues , their priuiledges , seruices and deserts , were as it were geuen for a p●a●e , and entreated like enemies and strangers .