THe present and distressed estate of the Citie of Paris , as it is vnknowen to some , so it is well knowen vnto many thousand persons that daily féele the force and bitternesse therof . The same being most extreame and lamentable , I could doe no lesse but lay it open to the view of the whole worlde that all the Cities in Christendome may take example by the same , and feare hereafter to attempt the like inhumaine , vnnaturall and most vngodly actions , which aboue all other that Citie hath sundrie times committed , especially in two points : first , in slaughtering the bloud of many thousande innocents , and secondly for resisting and rebelling from time to time against the authoritie of their Soueraigne and Christian King , wherein they haue of long time péeuishly continued . For which their so insolent crimes , doubtles almighty God doth iustly plague and punish them , the rather to make it knowen vnto them and others , that he is a iust God , and will punish the bloud-thirstie and wicked , as he hath promised , euen to the third and fourth generation .

Such haue béene the crimes of those proude and disloyal Pariseans , ( who of late yeares liued in great prosperitie , and abounded in wealth ) that in the life time of that bloud-thirstie Butcher , and vnnaturall Murtherer of Christians called the Duke of Guize , with the consent of the Quéene mother and her associates , suffered to be accomplished and performed within the saide Citie , a lamentable Massacre of many thousand innocents in one night , and such especially as were of the flower and chiefe of the Nobilitie of France , the fact being yet so fresh in memorie , that the bloud of those then slaughtered asketh reuenge and craueth bloud againe vpon those hard hearted helhoundes and their posteritie , now maintayners of their vnholy League , that long time haue resisted the authoritie of the higher powers , and giuen their consents to séeke the dissolution and ruine of that kingdome , and the subuersion of their King , his Crowne and dignitie Royall , as they haue doone from time to time . For which their so horrible actions , together with their gréeuous crimes and detestable pride , whoredome , incest , gluttony , and such like abhominable vices which they of long time vsed , it hath pleased God to sende among them extreame famine ( a sharpe messenger of reuenge to punish them ) whereby they are at this present in such gréeuous distresse as it is lamentable to report . For the Citie is besieged round about by the kinges power which is very strong , and therby hath cut them off from hauing any victuals or other succour whatsoeuer , their victuals within was spent long since , whereby they are in wofull ease for want of foode . They are enforced to eate Horses , Asses , Dogges , Cattes , Rattes , Mice , and other filthie and vnaccustomed things for their sustenance , yea that which is more odious in respect of their necessitie , it is sayd that they are enforced to féede one vpon an other : and that through féeblenesse and want of victuals they fall downe dead in the stréetes and in their houses . A most lamentable and vnaccustomed thing to be done , yet constrayned so to doe by meanes of their want and gréeuous famine , which is now generally among them . This their necessitie may be compared to the want & miserable estate of the Iewes at the siedge of Ierusalem , where death threatned the destruction of all the inhabitants , thereby shewing them that for their wickednesse and wilfull stubbornnesse their destruction is at hand .

The Friers and Cleargie men who are the ring leaders and principall gouernours there at this present time , perceiuing the great necessitie whereunto the Citizens would bée driuen , by meanes of their detestable perswasions , dealt pollitickely , sending for the Citizens of Paris into seuerall Cloisters & religious Houses within the same Cittie , and commaunded them to bring in all their warlike furniture which they had in their houses , to the intent that they might sée if they were seruiceable or not for warre , so when they had gotten al the same furniture of pikes halbards , muskets , gunnes , dagges , swordes , and such like , they detained their weapons and sent euery man home again destitute of any furniture , wherwith to defend themselues if occasion should serue , whereby they haue weakened the whole multitude of Citizens , and drawen the strength of the Cittie into their owne direction and gouernment , fearing least that famine shoulde compell the generall multitude to rebell against them , and so constrayn the fatte fed Friers to yéelde to their daily outcries , which is to yéelde vppe the Cittie into the kinges handes , and to submitte them selues to his mercy , which to doe they can not compell them for want of weapons . Some here may happely demaunde , why the Cleargie men and chiefe Rulers , will not yéelde it vppe as well as the rest , rather then to taste of famine and so to suffer so grieuous and cruell a torment , which is more bitter then death , but for aunswer thereto let this suffice . The Leagers and Cleargy men of the Cittie , suspecting long before that such misery would come to passe , did vitaile themselues for a long time , so that those especially that are chiefe gouernours , Officers , Watchmen , and Guard to the Cittie , haue yet some sufficient maintenance , neuertheles the ordinary Friers are not far differing from the generall state of the lay men in that Citty , for they are almost starued by reason 〈◊〉 their small allowance , so that most of them looke like vnto wild men , whose countenance is leane and stearne , as willing to snatch at the quarter of a good dogge , as soone as any other , though it cost twentie shillings , as at this present it is worth among them . This is the true estate of the said Citty and inhabitants therein , whose misery is doubtles sent of God , as a sharpe scourge for their so great wickednesse and disobedience towards God and their Soueraigne . Thus doth God still harden the hearts of the Gouernours , and maketh them wilfull , blinde , and foolishe in their owne fancie , that their punishment for their wickednes might be the more sharpe and grieuous . The Prince of Parma for certaintie hath entered France with tenne thousand men of horse and foote , but soone after hee passed the borders , intending to aide those of the Legue , the Kings power gaue him a battaile and discomfited thrée thousand of his men . They of the League are very sorrowfull for that the towne of Moutriall in Pickardy is yeelded vp to the King , which is of certaine troth & done verie lately . A generall Battaile is daily expected forthwith , betweene the Duke de Mayne and the Christian King of Fraunce , for whome almighty God daily doth fight , and will doubtles spéedily deliuer his enemies into his handes , they are within foure leagues one of another on both sides of a riuer . It is therefore very conuenient that all Christians should pray for the good successe of the King , that it woulde please God to giue him victory ouer those rebellious and traiterous persons . At the comming of the Prince of Parma into the French countries , it is reported there was visibly séene in the Aire to all his army , thrée raine bowes , and betwéene euery one of them the forme of a toade , and presently the riuers ther about séemed nothing but bloud , and so continued for a short space , wherby his army was in great feare , and would willingly haue returned , but they were by their generall commaunded on paine of death to goe forwards . Sundry such sights haue lately béene séene vpon the coast of France , for one of her Maiesties shippes called the Vangard , being in the narrow seas , met with nine hulkes and flie boats of the lowe countries bound homeward from Spaine , where the Captaine examined them concerning sundry matters , who among other things tolde him , that they being on the coaste of France , on the one and twentith of Iune last , in a place called Bell I le , the Sea round about them was of the coulour of blood , for the full space of halfe an houre , and nothing was to be séene but bloud , so farre as they could discerne , & taking vp the water in their buckets , they could not perceiue it from bloud : this the Maister and other in the company did sweare to be true . Moreouer in Iuly last past the saide shippe of her Maiesties called the Vangard being at Sea , in an euening about setting time of the watch , all the men in the shippe at the rising of the Moone , did discerne in the ayre ouer the Moone the shape of a man , with a crowne on his head & the king of Spaines armes plainely displaide , which continued visibly to be séene for some small space , and soone after it was as a thing ouerthrowne and vanished away , and séemed to them as though it were falling .

All which visions generall , by the coniecture of sundrie of good iudgement , presageth the ruine and confusion of those vnwholy Leaguers , vpholden by the Pope and the king of Spaine , and contrariwise the good successe of the French King , whose ancient armes is the thrée toades . God for his mercie sake daily defende and protect him , that he may vanquish all his enemies , which séeke and pretend his vtter confusion , which God grant for his mercie sake . Amen .