OVR Trustie & Beloued : Wee doubt not , but that in the sequel of those proceedings which haue passed , since the death of the late King Our most honored Lord , and Father , you haue euidently obseru'd , how Marshall D' Ancre and his wife , abusing Our minoritie , and the power which of long time hee possessed with the Queene our most honoured Lady and Mother , did practice to vsurpe the whole authoritie of our State , to dispose absolutely of all affaires , and to remooue all meanes , from our comming to the knowledge or vnderstanding thereof ; A disseigne which they so wrought and effected , that hitherto Wee carried but onely the bare Name , and title of a King : They condemning it as a capitall crime in any of our Officers or Subiects ( when they did visite vs in particular ) to entertaine vs with any serious discourse . Which God of his infinite bountie giuing Vs the grace at last to discerne , and pointing out vnto Vs as it were with his omnipotent finger , the imminent perill that hung ouer Our person , and State , through such an insatiable and irregular ambition ; Wee gaue testimonie at length of our apprehension in this point , and of the singular desire Wee had , to take requisite and due order for the same : Yet were Wee enforced in all our exterior actions , to disguise and couer that , which inwardly in heart Wee determin'd and resolued vpon , while it might please the same our good GOD to open Vs a fit way , and conuenient opportunitie , to apply thereunto some preualent remedy . Vpon these intentions , not many daies since , it fel out , that sundry persons , both of Our capitall Citie of Paris , as also others of diuerse parts of Our Kingdome , taking occasion , of the said Marshall D' Ancre his absence ( who was gone into Normandie , with a deliberation there to soiourne for some time ) addressed them-selues to the Queene Our said Lady & Mother , and to such Ministers as the said Marshall and his wife had established , ( who vnder them , at their will and pleasure , should carry and sway all proceedings within this State ) and effectually layd open their reasons to them , why it was most necessary and expedient , that Wee our selfe should readily and seriously assume the sole Administration of our weightie affaires ; otherwise , that our Realme which now began to rise and reuolt in all parts by meanes of this want and defect , could not auoyde an absolute and lamentable subuersion .

Whereof Marshall D' Ancre hauing been aduertised , and returning with all expedition , began to employ his power and policy , not onely to stop the course of these prouident propositions and ouertures , as repugnant to his owne ends , but further he resolued to depriue Our selfe of all meanes to put them in practice , by certain counsells and courses , which I think yet more fit to conceale , than publish . All which being comne to Our perfect vnderstanding and notice , and considering that besides the danger of Our person , the mortall hatred that almost all our good subiects and seruants did beare towards the vsurped and insolent authority and gouernement of these people , would in such sort exasperate , and obdurate , the mindes of men within Our kingdome , as it would be in danger to growe to an vnquenchable flame and combustion :

Moued I say , by these iust , and most weightie considerations , & by the heauenly instinct , that God vpon this occasion put into Our heart : Wee resolued to secure Our selfe of the person of the saide Marshall D' Ancre , giuing expresse charge to Sieur de Vitry Captaine of Our Guards , to apprehend and arrest him within Our Castle of the Louure . The which Our pleasure hee intending to put in execution , the said Marshall ( who according to his accustomed manner , had many followers about him ) himselfe with some other of his company , made offer to resist : wherupon , certaine bullets were discharged ; of which some light on the said Marshall , so as hee remain'd dead vpon the place .

Afterwards , Wee caused his wife to be arrested , and also his aboue mentioned Ministers ; hauing furthermore entreated the Queene Our saide Lady and Mother , to bee content that from thenceforward , We might take the gouernement of Our State into Our owne hands , and so labour to diuert from it those extreamities and miseries , whereinto it hath beene plunged , by the sinister counsels which shee formerly had made vse of . The accomplishment of which businesse Wee hope , God of his gratious goodnes will the more readily grant Vs , in that all our intentions haue no other ayme or scope , but his glorie , and the good of Our subiects . Which We thought good to aduertise you of , to the end you may make it knowne through all your precincts ; adding to these formerly specified , any other reasons you shall thinke fit and conuenient , for containing euery man within the bounds of obedience and dutie ; Taking vigilant care , that none may rise , or mutine , within Our said territories , & that nothing may disturb the peace , and quiet , which We desire to haue maintain'd . But if there be any that haue Complaints , or Requests to make , let them bee assured , that if they repaire to Vs , by those mediations and waies , that subiects ought to vse , when they would petition to their King , they shall alwaies find Vs enclining to whatsoeuer standeth with reason , or iustice .

This Action hath here beene so approued and allowed , that here is nothing but applause , and euery mans benediction vpon Vs for the same , because We attempted it in so due and necessarie a time : and We hope it will receiue no lesse approbation in other places . In the meane while , Wee haue writ to all our Lieutenants , and Generalls of our Armies , to keep them still afoot , that if occasion serue , We may imploy them against those , that will not acknowledge Our soueraigne Authoritie . Wee will shortly dispatch vnto you Letters of instruction more at large .