YOV haue sondrie tymes requested mee to impart vnto you that hope which I had conceyued of the Queene Mother our Misterisses late iourney . All your letters doe obiect vnto me too much breuitie in this argument : Now therefore must I satisfie you , which I would sooner haue done if I could haue satisfied my self : But to tell you the truth , I alwaies had small hope of this treatie . I doubted to send you my aduice least you should haue dislyked it , neither could I alowe of yours in respect of sondrie great reasons which I gathered therein , considering they haue holden out against your authoritie . Beleue me my Lord , in a place of quiet you cannot iudge of our disquiet : At Rome it is not possible for you well to consider of such controuersies as are in France : you would be of another opinion , if in liewe of tryumphant Porches you should make your walkes through a wasted Countrey : In stead of polished Marble you should vnder your feete see the bodies of your friends and fellowe Citizens : and in place of fayre Fountaynes the streames of blud should runne round about you . If with your owne eyes you should behold our mischiefes they would seeme greater vnto you then eyther the paper can conteyne or your eares admit , which finding to bee so , you would perceyue the remedie to bee the more difficult .

I remember when the Queene began her voyadge you thought nothing vnpossible that she tooke in hand , and did accompt the peace fully concluded if shee were but willing to speake of it : and for my owne parte , my selfe did beleeue that if shee fayled , it was not for any other to take it in hand . I was euer of that opinion , that her person was cunningly chosen , neuerthelesse in that commoditie I founde diuers discommodities , & in that which seemed most perfect sondrie defaults : I was not ignorant that the Guyzes she had made greatly beholding vnto her , and so consequently might do much with them : but withall she had highly prouoked the house of Bourbon , who might iustly burden her with their last warre , aswell as the others held the last peace of her . I perceiued that shee chose such Counsailors as were meete to suppresse whatsoeuer ielozie the League might conceiue in her actions : but withall fit to cause those of the Religion to repose no confidence in her : Neither was this al : for as I thought some of them very vnfit for this treatie , so likewise was the time in my opinion wel worse chosen . At one instant I saw the Queenes prouision made readie , and at the same tyme three or fower Armies leuyed : I thought it a hard matter to bring those whome they made resolute to the warre , of themselues to be well disposed to peace : and in deede the Queene somewhat deceiued my expectation , for she departed soner than I could see any reason for her so to doe . Now shall you haue the whole discourse of our voyadge , the perticularities whereof I haue diligently noted , as wel to satisfie your curiositie , as also to answer your opinion conceiued of my diligence : and I would to God wee could as easely refourme such ouersights as our great Counsailors haue committed , as your selfe can readily espye them out .

You knowe that at one and the same tyme she gaue notice to the King of Nauarre of her setting forwarde , and to the Lords of Montpensier and Montmorency of her purpose , requesting them both to worke the King of Nauarre to the peace . This first action did diuers men diuersly conster : some sayd that too euidently she confessed to the King of Nauarre that she had offended him , in that she ( beeing his Mother ) did procure sollicitours to moue him . Those of the League feared this beginning , and those of the Religion had it in suspect . Some doubted the Duke of Montpensiers authoritie , others his facilitie . Those of the League sayde that the Queene set him at one with the chiefe of his famelie : Those of the Religion , that the Queenes counsayle tended to make him a solliciter of peace to the King of Nauarre , thereby to turne him from being his companyon in the warre . Thus you see both parts grow into mistrust , and resolue the one to defend , & the other the more fiercely to offend : and in deede so fast as the Queene hasted forwarde , the Duke of Maine hasted to come to Paris , and so sone as the treaty of peace began , the purposes of the League proceeded . The Abbot of Gadaigne beeing the first tyme sent to the King of Nauarre was very well enterteyned , whervpon euery one assured himselfe of the wished benefite : but this hope vanished like a flash of lightning : for euen at his second voyage which he made while the Queene was at Chenō●eau wee smelt out that bitternesse which the courtesies & first offers of seruice had before cloked and sweetened . Gadaignes passage by Brouage the Rochellers did suspect , and the reuictualing of Brouage did they accompt to bee a storehouse against their Towne . Neuerthelesse , the Queene Mother came forwarde to hasten the enteruiewe : The King of Nauarre would come with safetie & credite . The Queene willed him wholly to repose himself vpon her : The King would that she should trust him . She alleadged her goodwill : and he made accompt of his fidelitie and innocencie . She obiected to him that he was the onely hinderer of the enteruiewe : he replyed that shee was the onely let , that France was not at quiet : also that he was readie to see her , so that it might bee in a safe place and the way free . And for the place , he offered to come to Champigny , in case the Marshall of Birons troupes might depart and goe ouer the Riuer of Loyre : this he seemed to request as well for his owne safetie , as also to put in hope his partakers , of whom some perswaded him to succour Castillon : others not to trust to words , but rather hereafter to looke for like enterteynment as he had had before tyme . I must not lye . The King of Nauarre for his part , shewed himself greatly affected to the weale & benefit of this Realm , and in case the Queene deceiued mee in going to him , he did farther fayle my expectation in tarying for her . But see : euen as they were determining vpon the place and maner of the enteruiew there appeared an Army vpon the Sea before Rochelb . Consider I pray you whether those that misliked and withstood this meeting , had a large argument to declayme vppon : All was at the poynt to breake of . The King of Nauarre could not perswade himselfe that they which so pursued him both by Sea & by land , had any desire or meaning to do him good . The Queene was counsailed to wearie him with warres thereby to obteyne the better peace , and yet perceiued not that these counsaylors did vse her fauour to the ende to driue the King of Nauarre into dispayre ; who therevppon complayned to the King by the Lorde of Reaux , and besought their Maiesties to call backe the sayd Armie , declaring that hee could not leaue a Towne of so great importance as Rochell in that estate : and iudging without parcialitie , I find that he had reason : how beit the Nauy stirred not away so long as it had victuals , notwithstanding whatsoeuer the king of Nauarres petitions , but famine hoysed the sayles thereof , and not the Kings commaundement : For to the contrary , euen the same day that it wayed ancre , Captayne Harman was taken with the Queene Mothers letters to the Commander of Chatte , enioyning him not to depart , or at the least not to goe farre away . These letters fell into the King of Nauarres hands , yet he , neglecting whatsoeuer imaginations he might iustly conceyue , did neuerthelesse offer to see the Queene vppon the conditions aforesayde , requiring that in the meane tyme al hostilitie might cease : The Queene desired the publication of a truce , whereto he sayde he could not agree , because hee had before bene driuen to promise his partakers that hee would not agree vppon any peace or truce without their aduice and consent . This answer she found very strange and had a better taste thereof then when it was foretold her by the Lords of Lenoncourt & Poigny . Which putteth me in mynd of the Carthagenians , who wept and howled when they should pay their tribute to the Romains , but were nothing moued when they became their tributaries . When the King of Nauarre told these our Maisters that he would yet sixe moneths attende the Kings succour before he would employ his friends , and that he would be denyed of peace before he would resolue vpon warre , they did but laugh at his pacience : but now that wee see he hath giuen his word , we weepe , and truely for no other cause but for that we wept not when we enfringed the Edicts , when we accompted the innocent guiltie , the obedient subiectes Rebelles , and iust men offenders . Well , after many difficulties and diuers iourneys too and fro the Queene sent sondry Passeports which the King of Nauarre had demaunded to the end to aduertise his frends , and presently therewith published a Truce , which was like to haue mard all againe : for the King of Nauarre suspected that they would take aduantage of the publication thereof against a leauie of Reysters that he then made in Germany , and therefore declared to her Maiestie that in as much as this act had relation to a common assurance , it ought also to haue bene concluded by a common consent : wherevpon this publication was made voyde . Afterward treating vpon the solemne reiterating of the same , certeine troupes of the regiment of Neufuy were assaulted , which wonderfully displeased the King of Nauarre . The want of discretion in our Capteynes made men to weene that we had great stomacks . In the end little Roche so trotted to and fro , that the enteruiewe was concluded and the truce published . The King of Nauarre came the eleuenth day of December to Iarnac , and the thirtenth of the same moneth , being very well accompanyed , saluted her Maiestie at S. Bris. Here do I leaue to your imagination the manifolde complaynts on eyther part .

The Queene charged him with disobedience , and ouerslipping all former actions stayed chiefly vpon the present calamities ▪ she gaue him to vnderstand that the king , for sauing his owne estate , was forced to make peace with the League : that without that shift all had bin lost : that for the ceasing of the warres in the Realme , hee must of necessitie habandon all pretence of Religion .

On the other side the King of Nauarre complayned that all the domages that he had susteyned , had growne to him onely for his obedience to their Maiesties : That the League was waxen strong , onely because hee had remayned weake : That hee had put his life in hazard by keeping his faith : Further , reducing the present mischiefes to their first originall , he referred the miserie of this Realme to the peace concluded with the League : he affirmed that the King had bene euill counsayled rather then compelled : That the preseruation of the estate depended vppon the mainteining of his Edicts : That such were in deed his edicts as he had of his own accord sworn vnto : That the edicts of peace were those which banished warres , but not those which for the contenting of a few sedicious persons , start vp in one Prouince , replenished the whole Realm with vprores . Madame , sayde hee , you cannot accuse mee but of ouer much fidelitie : I blame not your faith , but your age , which doing iniurie to your memorie , causeth you sone to forget your promise vnto me . This was the end of that meeting , and almost the very last wordes . Men began to hope for much courtesie at the next , because the bitter taunts seemed to bee washed away in the former .

The Vicount of Touraine came to Cognac to conclude vpon some perticularities concerning the truce , where the Queene gaue him to vnderstand that for the perfect obteyning of a peace the king of Nauarre must needes become a Catholicke , and put downe all exercise of any other Religion throughout all those Townes which were in his possession : she farther gaue him perticuler charge to certefie the sayde King that such was the Kings pleasure and hers . As I heard , whiles the king of Nauarre was on his way to come and see the Queene , the Vicount of Touraine aforesayd , met with him , and at large deliuered him his charge : whervpon he was about to haue returned back againe . Neuerthelesse , imagining with himselfe that the Queene , for the feeding of her Counsailes humours , had propounded those speeches , he determined to goe forward , aswell for the satisfying of his own mynd , as also to the end to giue her Maiestie an answer : howbeit euen as soone as he with a sad and heauie countenance had kissed her Maiesties hands , she asked him whether the Vicount of Touraine had yet spoken with him , assuring him that that message was the Kings resolute determination : whereto hee answered her , that hee greatly marueiled her Maiestie woulde take vpon her so great a trauayle , only to tell him of a matter , with the hearing whereof his eares were alreadie euen benummed : That he wondered that she being a woman of so great iudgement would thus linger in seeking to dissolue a difficultie by the very difficultie it selfe : That she now propounded vnto him a matter which he could by no meanes performe without offence to both his Conscience & honor , yea such a one as she could not request without doing greate iniurie to the Kings seruice . Concerning the offence against his owne Conscience only GOD and his Conscience were the iudges therof ▪ and for his honor he besought her to consider what iniurie he should offer therto , if he should in any respect yeeld more to his enemies weapons , then vnto his Kings commaundements : That in case he should so farre ouershoot and forget him selfe , yet lay it not in him thereby to repoke all the rest that professed the same Religion : That thereby the pretence of the house of Guyze shoulde augment so much the more , by how much their hope should fayle them of being any way able to debarre him of all such right as vnto him may appertayne : That in the augmentation of their pretence consisted the force of their weapons , & in the force of their weapons the destruction of this estate : This only Madame , sayd he , should I doe to my owne contentation . viz. Beeing a Catholicke and winning to my selfe the fauour & goodwill of my Lord the King , I might , in approching nerer about him . enioye the honour and benefite to yeeld vnto him my bounden seruice : but withall I should doe more for my enemies , in this , that remayning alone I might minister vnto them sit oportunitie to take from you the most faithfullest seruant that euer you shall haue : neyther will they suffer any such about you , fearing least themselues might so growe miserable and wretched , you better serued , and all your good subiects more happie . Hereto the Queene made no answer , ( for in deede it had bin a harde matter to make any good ) but stood vpon the laying before him al such discommodities as by continuance of warre he did susteyne : I doe , sayd he , most patiently beare them , because that you , to the end to disburthen your self , haue wholly layd them vppon me . In this discourse she proceeded so farre that at length she obiected vnto him that in Rochell hee could not doe whatsoeuer he listed : Pardon me Madame , sayd hee , for I will or list to doe nothing but what I ought . Then the Lord of Neuers interrupting her , told him that it lay not in him there to leauy an impost : True , sayd he , neither haue we any Italians among vs . Soone after the Queene motioned for a general truce to be taken for one whole yere , vpon condition that during the same all exercise of the Religion might cease throughout the whole Realm , & in the meane tyme the generall estates to be holden : To this he answered that in case those of the Religion should so easely habandon and giue ouer their holds and places of retreate , the league would therby grow the stronger , and so consequently , the estates the weaker : That he supposed it vnpossible to surcease & extinguish the exercise of the Religion in France by any other meanes then by a good Councell : also that the King remayning as yet the weaker , hee accompted the assembly of the estates to be in vayne & to no purpose : That the examples of the estates holden at Bloys did verefie the one , and the vayne endeuours of the Kings predecessors the other . Then as he was taking his leaue of her , the Queene did many tymes repeat vnto him the same discourse which as is aforesayd she had before holden with the Vicount of Touraine , charging him to impart the same to the rest of the Nobilitie that followed him , which euen the next morning he did , and that , as since I haue bene certefied , with very great griefe , fearing least it might worke some alteration in euery mans general desire of peace : besides that hee chose the most peaceable mynded persons in his troupe , namely , the Lords of Monguion and Force , as well to testifie to her Maiestie that great griefe which euery man had conceiued in seing themselues reduced to so extreme a necessitie through this her extreme resolution , as also to enquire whether there were no more to bee expected of that authoritie which the King had vnto her giuen . The Queene herevpon seeing her selfe at the poynt eyther wholly to breake , or at the least wise to morgage her promise , tolde them that she would send the Lord of Rambouillet to desire the kings Maiestie of his finall determination , which ( I wot not to what purpose ) she thought good to make vncerteyne , as it appeared aswell by this , as also by her speeches to the Duke of Montpenfier , whom she told that al that which she had said to the Vicount of Touraine was by way of discourse only , but she shewed him not that in expresse termes shee had deliuered it to the King of Nauarre , whom as she sayd she was very desirous againe to see , and therefore expresly charged him to motion the prolonging of the truce , which he did , beeing on his way to bid him farewell .

Among so many contrarieties no man wist what to say , or my selfe to write vnto you . Some supposed that to the ende to content and satisfie the League she would not open any meanes to peace , except in shewing her selfe to be thereto forced by necessitie . Others were of opinion that her Councell still fed her with some newe hope conceiued and grounded vpon the weake estate of the affaires of those of the Religion , and so promising her to procure the obteyning of some such peace as should be greatly to the kings liking , they did vnder hand leade her into such a warre as might redound to the benefite of the League . After that the Lord of Rambouillet was returned & had made his reporte , viz. That the King had sworne by all the solemnities of the order of the holy Ghost , that he would neuer in any wise consent to permit any exercise of the Religion : the Queene procured the King of Nauarre to bee earnestly mooued to an other enteruiewe , cunningly causing him to bee perswaded that he would very wel like of the Lord of Rambouillets returne , whereto neuerthelesse it was very hard to make him to condiscend , in that his hope which before hee had reposed in the seeing of the Queene , was now , if not quite quayled & lost , yet at the least very farre strayed awaye . His partakers earnestly diswaded him therefro , as mistrusting that her only purpose tended to continue the parley that she had before entered : himself douted the often renewing of the truce , and the rather for that he was giuen to vnderstand that the publication of the first was vndoubtedly put in print and transported both into Suitzerland and Germanie . Some sayd that shee still lingered him on with a treatie of peace , to the ende to attend fit opportunitie & conuenient time to make warre vpon him : Others , that she propounded vnto him most greeuous and intollerable conditions , thereby to force him first to refuse , and so to become most odious in the sight of all the French nation . Yea , some gaue him warning that she laboured the townes round about to put in practise the execution of the last Edict , also that fayning to seeke the general benefite of the whole estate , shee wrought perticulerly much mischiefe against the Towne of Rochell . This perswasion bare some shewe of reason , especially after that the Catholicks had surprized and seazed vpon Vouans and Fay-moniau : for notwithstanding they were things of small or no importaunce , yet happening during the tyme of the treaty , it bred a further suspition of other practizes : and withall the King of Nauarre himself began to thinke that hee could not hope to obteyne any great matters at their hands , who tooke so much paynes to take such small trifles from him : How beit the Queene so whotly followed this matter and lay so sore vpon him , that finally he agreed to yeeld to a second enteruiewe , eyther to the ende to giue to all men to vnderstand that he was not in fault that they treated not vpon any meanes for peace , eyther els perswading himselfe that the Queene would neuer take so much paynes to the end twise to impart vnto him one bad tale . Vppon her comming therefore to Fontenaye hee came to Marans : and as their desires to see each other , encreased , so did mistrust also spring vp among their counsailes . The Queene , or rather some of hers , doubted to come to any place where the Rochellers were the stronger , and by reason there was a speech giuen out that the Coronell Ensigne of Rochell kept the passage of Veluire they made a difficultie to come ouer : The King of Nauarre feared the crookes and bywayes of these Fennes , and in deed the nature of the place is such , that euen one man alone may woorke a great feate there without any daunger . In the meane tyme the Queene was warned that the League grewe into mistrust of her actions : also that shee encroched too much vppon the Kings authoritie , and that her presence were requisite at Paris . Vppon this she sent to the King of Nauarre , willing him to send vnto her the Vicount of Touraine , with whom she offered to speak in all libertie , whereto he easely consented . This was the very knot of all the last treaty . The Queene gaue out that beeing enformed of his discretion and wisedome shee would treate with him : The King of Nauarre being assured of his fidelitie did consent thereto : euery man generally , knowing him to bee a louer of his Countrey , and such a one as sought the wealth and peace of this Estate , did wish for him . And my selfe was certefied by such others as did more perticulerly knowe him , that he was a most fit instrument , in case at the handes of the Queenes Councell he had bene so entreated as he ought . Well , he came to Fontenaye , where hee gaue the Queene to vnderstande of his comming , and that he there stayed to attend her Maiesties commandements : She propounded vnto him that it was expedient to agree vpon a generall truce , for that the affaires were suche , as it was no tyme as yet to speake of a finall peace : hereto he answered , that the King of Nauarre would sone condiscend to the same , and could be content still to alowe of the name of a truce , in case it might bring the fruites of a peace : but that as yet they had so stopped their eares against his requests , that , to the end to procure audience , he was forced to employe his friendes , without whose aduice and consent it now lay not in him to treate or conclude vpon eyther peace or a generall truce : That he was chosen protector of the one part , which the King had forsaken , consisting of sondrie particuler persons , who all had perticulerly bene iniuryed , and therefore could not bee satisfied vnlesse their complaints might be heard : That if it might please her Maiestie to graunt such Passeports as were requisite , with tyme conuenient to call them together , they would vse al diligence : Further , that for the speedyer prosecuting of this matter , it were not amisse , in his opinion , to conclude vpon a perticuler truce thorowout that Prouince for two moneths , during the which the King of Nauarre might come to see her , & with her to consult vpon some meanes for peace , for the concluding whereof the Deputies of the Prouinces might make their repayre thether : This truce the Queene misliking , she commanded her Councell to declare her reasons : whervpon one of them shewed it to bee preiuditiall to the King : for that , sayd he , during the same , the King of Nauarre might haue fit oportunitie to bring in strangers : The Catholicks waxing ydle should giue themselues to rest : Those of the League would take this truce to be a shadowe of peace , for feare of the bodie whereof they might raise a second Commotion . To all this the Vicount answered , that the place wherby the strangers might enter had no correspondence with either the high or low Poictow : also that the treatie of either peace or truce did rather hinder , than aduance the leauie of them : That the second reason was common to both parts , & that those of the Religion did more abuse their rest then the Catholickes , as hauing bene lesse accustomed thereunto : As for the risings of the League he knewe no remedie for them , as not hauing as yet tasted the inconueniences of the same : That the Duke of Guyze was but meanely accompanyed : That the Duke of Mayne had vndone his owne bande , and that of small ruynes men neuer vsed to raise any great buyldings . But because hetherto the sayd Vicount had spoken without commission , as one that came onely to heare , the Queene was of opinion that he should returne to the King of Nauarre , to the end by himselfe to bee more perticulerly enstructed of his mynd , which he did : and finding the king fully certefied of the leauie of his Reysters , by a messenger that came to him the same day , he speedily returned to the Queene , whom he found at Nyort resolued vppon her returne to Paris . There had he audience , and did at large before her Maiestie discourse vppon the happie estate of the King of Nauarres affayres : viz. That he had borne the burden of fiue Armies , which had serued to no other purpose but to shewe what he was in respect of his enemies power : That contrarywise they were wasted as well in power as credite : That they had recourse to the conspiraties and seditions of a towne , as not able to prosecute the warres in the field : That they were to expect no further succour from the Spanyard , who now was so busied in his own defence , that he had not so much leasure as to dreame of ayding them with meanes to assayle : That notwithstanding the King of Nauarre hath lost some few sconces or rather Douecotes , yet hath he fortefied fiftie Houlds , & that albeit hetherto he stood vppon his owne defence , yet was it at his discretion to make his enemies take his part : That he hath in readinesse a great and strong forrayne ayde which no necessitie of his affayres did euer force him to call in , which also he was not purposed to haue vsed for warre , but to the end to conclude the better peace : That although he had bene diuersly and highly iniuryed , yet it neuer sancke into his mind to seeke any reuenge against those whom he knewe to bee seruants to this Crowne . The Lord of Neuers asked him whether hee had not bounde himselfe to any to the preiudice of the estate : But hee , prosecuting his discourse , most humbly besought the Queene to iudge of himself that he was neither rash , neither a lyer , also that he would not once set forth a foote to report any thing that he were not well assured of , & that knowing the trueth , he would not cloke it : which was , That the King of Nauarre had made no other contract with strangers then tended to the wealth and peace of the estate , and to the restoring of the King and his faithfull seruants vnto their due authoritie . And to the end Madame , sayd he , that you may the better iudge of his entent , I doe here protest vnto you that whensoeuer it may please your Maiesties to vse his power and forces , he will euermore most readily turne his face to what part soeuer that the benefite of this Realme , together with your commandements shal cal him . The King of Nauarre hath alwaies bene of that opinion , that in asmuch as the king entred into this warre because he was the weaker , it was not possible for him to make any peace vnlesse he could grow the stronger , which in trueth he shal do when the Princes of his blood shal haue in their hands sufficient power wherwith to procure the yeelding of that obedience which vnto him is due . This Madame is the last remedie , and I would to God wee could eschue it , and perticulerly I doe declare it vnto you as your Maiesties seruant , not as a professor of the Religion : That peraduenture it wil be more safetie for vs to attend an Armie then a Parley , and a battaile then an edict . Thinke not Madame , that the estate shall feele the discommoditie of her friendes . It is vnto you both profite and honor willingly to consent to a peace , and in tyme rather in your owne good affection to choose the meanes , them when necessitie shall compell you , to accept at al aduentures of such as force shal prescribe . Then the Queene sayde that it were meet to stay the forraine power , and a while stood vpon the forme of the Pasports , wherevppon the Vicount sayd : If Madame you doe stand in doubt to giue vs good words , we are not belike yet nere the poynt to looke for any good effects , which we should longer delay if we should stay that power that may moue you therto . It is no tyme for vs Madame , any longer to assure our selues vpon a bare promise , sith euen the most solemne edicts do fayle vs .

The Queene gaue so good eare to these reasons , that her heart seemed to bee by them the more bent to consider of such aduertisements as were daylie on euery side brought vnto her . Thei set before her the apparance of a mightie sedition : The King but badly accompanyed : The Duke of Mayne in Paris : The Duke of Guyze also readie to enter in . They shewed her what occasions the Capteynes of the League now had to shoote of the last shot of their dispayre , as that their hope to enioye England was now dead with the Scottish Queene : That our Cleargymens deuotion deminished as fast as their ambition encreased : That fower Armies had bene spoyled for default of meanes : That those of the Religion waxed stronger and stronger , and therefore that there was no further apparance that these our maisters can buyld any more vppon their ruynes . All these things which wee most feared so suncke into her imagination that shee returneth in haste , to stoppe , as it is likely , these sedicious persons , who haue no more left to enterprise or execute but finally vpon the Kings person . Thus may you see the effect of our treatie , and so the end of my letter which would haue wearyed me to write , had I not forgot the labour of my hande through that pleasure which I conceiue in enterteyning of you .