VPON the letters parentes publysshed vnder the Kynges name , the viii . of Apryl , in the whiche it is sayde , that there runneth a bruite through this realme , the king and the Queene his mother , shoulde bee againste their pleasure withholden and caried where it should seme good to some princes and lordes that are aboute their Maiesties : but yet that the same reporte is an vntrewe and false sclaunder : foras muche as their personnes are in the same libertie that at all tymes they haue been : it hath been thoughte good to publysshe this smalle discourse , to the ende that thereby the subiectes of the Kynge myghte the more cleerely vnderstande , and put their myndes oute of all doubte and cumbre , whereby they maye yealde vnto hym that obedience and feaultie , which they owe vnto hym lyke good and faithfull subiectes of his maiestie .

Euerye man knoweth the enterprise that the last wynter was taken in hande for the hauynge the Duke of Orleaunce out of this Realme : menne knowe also bothe by whome and to what ende the same was doone . But least those whome this matter toucheth shoulde complayne as though men in the report offred them wrong : we wyll simply sette beefore all men the wytnesse and deposition of the sayde yong Duke of Orleaunce : vppon the whiche we wyll stay our selues without preiudice of his authoritie : leauynge to them that shall fynde themselues greued , libertie to attempt the diminishyng of his credite , as to them shal seme good . The tenor of the said deposition is thus . The Saterday whiche was the daye his maiestie began first to come oute of his chaumber after the recouerie frome his sycknesse , the Duke of Orleance being in the kynges chaumbre , the duke of Nemours came vnto hym , who asked hym , whether he were a Hugenot or a Papist . Whereunto the Duke of Orleaunce answered , that he was of the religion of the Quene his mother . Than sayde the Duke of Nemours , myght it not please you that I spake vnto you halfe a doseyn of wordes ? The other aunswered ( yes . ) The duke of Nemours than tooke hym asyde vnto a coffre whyche was nere vnto the doore of the kynges bedchambre . and sayde vnto hym . Syr I see the realme of Fraunce is vndoone and ruyned by these Hugenots , and the Kynge and you bee not in suretie : because the kynge of Nauarre , and the Prynce of Conde wylle make theym selues kynges , and wyll so handle the mattier as they wylle bothe cause the Kynge and you to bee putte to deathe . Syr yf you wyll auoyde this daunger , it is nedefull , that you doo well aduyse your selfe . And yf you wylle , the house of Guyse and I wylle healpe and succoure you , and wylle sende you eyther into Lorayne or Sauoye . The Duke of Orleaunce answered that he would not leaue the king nor the quene his mother : The other yet replyed therto , saying , Aduise your selfe well of that I tell you . For it is for your aduantage . Wherevnto the other sayde nothyng . Than sayd vnto hym the duke of Nemours : Doo you not verye well truste Carnaualet and Villarquier ? Yes sayd he . Than sayd the other : Tel them nothyng of this I haue sayde vnto you , nor of the purpose I haue so long holden with you : but if they aske you what it was that I sayde vnto you , tel them that I tolde you of certayne playes and Comedies . and so the said duke of Nemours lefte hym . While this was a doyng , the duke of Guyse ( who standyng afore the fyre , talked with his sonne the prince of Ginuille ) perceyuynge that the Duke of Nemours hadde left the Duke of Orleaunce , came towardes hym and sayde : Syr I haue hearde saye , that the Quene wyll sende the Duke of Aniew and you , into Lorayn to a verye faire castell , that you maye there take the ayre : Vppon condicion that you would come thyther , we woulde make you good cheere there . Whereunto the Duke of Orleance answered : I do thynke the Quene my mother woulde not that I should leaue the Kyng . Wherevnto the prince of Ginuille replyed , sayeng : If you wyll come into Lorayne , and thynke vppon that whiche the Duke of Nemours hath sayd vnto you , it will come you well to passe . The Duke sayd nothing thervnto . The morowe after , the prince of Gynuille came agayne towardes the Duke , and sayde vnto hym the selfe same that he had doone before , addyng further , that yf he would vnderstande the meane how they woulde carye hym away , he would tell hym . The duke aunswered , that he woulde gladely learne it . The prince of Gynuille sayd : They wyll carie you away euen whan it is mydnyght , and wil helpe you to comme oute at a wyndowe , whyche is ryght ouer the brydge in the parke , and immediately they wyll sette you in a coche , and so shall you bee in Lorayn afore any man bee ware thereof . The Duke aunswered nothyng herevnto , and so he lefte the said prince . The morowe after , the duke of Nemours departed , and came to take his leaue of the kyng . and in takynge leaue , sayde vnto the Duke in his eare : bethynke you of that I haue sayde , and tell no body therof . And so the sayde Duke of Nemours went on his way . This conspiracie happenyng al togither otherwise than those , whiche are reckened the heades and authors thereof looked for : it is nat to bee meruayled at , if men of a long tyme exercised in the feats of warre , seeynge they had nothyng profited by these ambusshes and coouert enterprises ( nor yf I maye so terme theym ) by these vnder grounde woorkes , yf they determyned to entre by open force and manyfest violence , as men doo into a strong holde or towne . Natwithstandyng yet to be sure of a backe doore ( as the prouerbe sayth , leaste happelye theyr seconde attempte myghte speede as euyll as the fyrste : The house of Guyse ( who a long whyle afore hadde written to one of the greatest princes of Germanie , and one of that religion whyche is called Protestant , to entreate hym to enter with theym into somme conference of the Ausburgh confession , wherein they gaue hym somme hope they woulde gladly bee instructed ) wente theyr wayes into Lorayne , and frome thence to a lyttell towne neede vnto the Rhyne called Sauerne : In the whyche place they hadde suche communication with the sayd prince the fyftenthe , syxtenthe , and seuententhe of Februarye , as after they hadde all promysed to folowe the Relygion of the Gospell : In the ende the sayde Duke of Guyse ( in token of the fauour he bare to that Religion ) prayed hym to doo so muche with the other Protestantes princes , that for as muche as of olde auncientie the house of Lorayne hadde bene of the Empyre : By that meane , bothe hee and his bretherne , myghte also bee aduowed as Prynces of the Empyre , hauynge theyr voyces and consentes in all Commyssyous Imperyall , that by that meane they myghte withdrawe and exempte theym selues frome vnder the kynges subiection : offryng theimselues to signe and subscribe vnto the said Confessyon of Awsburghe , and that they woulde putte theym selues in the rolle and numbre of the sayde Protestantes . Wherevnto the sayd prince was so wyllyng to putte to his healpyng hande ( hopyng by this meane to wynne the sayde house of Guise to the religion of the gospell ) as he fayled not to put foorthe the same in a dyete , a lyttell whyle after holden by sundry of the sayde princes in the toune of Brouxell , about the begynning of Marche folowyng . and was neuer the lesse refused of the other princes for many considerations , but chiefly by reason of the newes of the horrible bouchery of Vassy : as the sayde prince since that tyme hath expresly wryten vnto the sayd Duke of Guyse : sendynge hym woorde that the sayd companie was muche offended and prouoked against him by occasyon of that cruell murther : and prayed hym that he woulde sende hym the trewe certaintie with a full declaration of his intent and purpose therin without any disguysing : For suche are the propre woordes of his letter . Vpon this departyng frome the court , in taryeng while the winter ouerpassed , it was determyned betwene the sayde Duke of Guyse , the Constable , and marshall saynct Andrewe , that duryng their absence euery one of theym should practise with the greatest numbre of gentlemen , and other men of warre as muche as in theim lay , to cause theim meete togyther in armes at Nantheull , and neere to Parys aboute the laste of wynter in the moneth of Marche .

This practise coulde not bee so closely conueyed , but that the Quene was quickly aduertised thereof , not onely by some of this realm , but also by certain strange princes : Who could so well appoynt her the tyme as they tolde her afore hande , that it was in the month of Marche , that execution woulde bee done : yea ( that more is ) a certaine gentleman stranger , gaue the kynge of Nauarre so sure foretokens , as he tolde hym that they would go about to wynne hym to th intent they myghte helpe themselues with hys title and authoritye for a season , but in the ende laughe hym to scorne : Wherupon the sayd kynge of Nauarre brought hym to the Queene to cause her vnderstande the sayde aduertisementes , and to preserue her from suche enterprises . Well , this practise neuerthelesse goyng on for the beehoufe of the sayde kynge of Nauarre ( and GOD wyll ) Those vnto whome the appoyntemente was geuen , fayled not to fynde theym selues with all their force in tyme and place : so as the sayde Duke of Guyse commynge to Nantheull at the appoynted season , was by and by mette with the Constable , the Duke of Aumale , the Marshall Saincte Andrewes and others of theyr faction : Among whome were the Lordes of Mezieres , and of Courtenaye , by whome men maye coniecture the peryllous poynte and daungerous enterprise : by this that makynge theym readye to go to the place of this assemble , they putte theym selues in suche ordre as like personnages are wonte to dooe when they shall entre the battayle or any daungerous aduenture : shriuynge them selues to a prieste , and receyuyng theyr housell ( as it is reported ) after they hadde well and deuoutely hearde theyr Masse .

Whyle this was in hande the prouost of the Marchauntes of Parys ( who is one of the principall mynisters and instrumentes of this faction ) hadde so ordered all mattiers , and prepared the waye to brynge these troupes into the towne of Parys , that the quene beeyng aduertised , that theyr determynation was for to goe thyther , sente sundrye tymes vnto the sayd duke of Guyse that he woulde comme to her in her house at Monceaulx , where he shuld be very welcome , forbyddyng hym expressly the entraunce into Parys with suche a company , meanyng thereby to auoyde those troubles and inconueniences whych she foresawe woulde come to passe : specially remembryng the execution and boucherye newely commytted in the towne of Vassy : vppon the whiche moste instantely menne cryed for Iustice to the Kyng and her , who harde nothynge but Playntes and Lamentations in euery place where they wente in this Realme concernyng that crueltie . Hytherto than it appeareth , that this enterprise of puttyng on armour , was apoynted on , long afore hande by the duke of Guise as the Quene her selfe , & the kyng of Nauarre were right well informed : for the day of meetyng was iustly kepte : wherein men came thether from all partes in open armour and order fitte for the warr : where as before their comming to gether , the realme was in a deepe reste and quietnesse : tyll suche tyme as harnesse was putte on contrarye to the kynges proclamations , and so continued against the expresse plesure and prohibicion of the Queene so often renued : Finally tyll the sayd Duke of Guise made his entre into Paris , in open armes against the very countremoūdyngs and forbiddyngs by the Kyng and the Queene his mother .

Nowe lette vs see what folowed . The abouesayde capitaynes of this armye beynge at Paris , they beganne to holde a councell as though the same hadde bene a councell royall : makyng to assemble the presydentes , the councellours , the kynges officers , the shriefes or hed officers of the Toune , euen as though they had had the kynges Superioritie in their handes , notwithstandyng that the quene were nothynge at all aduertised hereof , neyther that she had any vnderstanding or communication with that whiche passed in the said councel , so as her will & appoyntmente whiche she had determined to go on with her voyage towardes the toune of Bloys increased with her more and more : to th end she myght withdraw her selfe to some place where she shoulde nat be compelled : if happly the reportes and aduertisements which she had harde afore should be founde true .

Now are we come presently to the knot and chiefe poynte of this question . For the Quene who was with the Kyng , and the duke of Orleance her children in his house of Fountainbleu , and beeyng in her way towardes Orleance , goyng on of her iorney , hauyng sent folkes to Amboise to cause the yong Duke of Aniow her sonne to be brought vnto her to Orleaunce : and hauynge no force in the worlde aboute her , neither of horseman nor of footeman : sodeynely arriued the forsaid capitains of this enterprise with an armie of horsemen in faire armure , & planted themselues afore the said Fountainbleau , and rounde about . Nowe I aske those that vnder the kynges name publyshe those letters patentes , whereof afore mencion is made , whether , to compasse a yong kyng of the age of a leuen or twelue yeares beyng onely accompanied wyth hys mother and hys little brother with pistolyers , & harquebusiers , be not properly the same thing , that in good termes men call ( the besieging of the kyng ) or yf that terme mislyke theym , what other worde they coulde deuise for the namyng of such an acte ?

But let vs be content yet that all thys bee esteemed as a thynge of none importance . We wyll onely see what folowed of this siege layde afore Fontaynbleau , it is well knowen that the Queene abydyng constantlye in this her pleasure to goe to Orleans and desyryng to make thytherwarde : Great importune instancye , to muche vnworthy of her maiestye , was made vnto her , to cause her tourne hed , and come backe her way to returne to Melune . Men knowe also that she her selfe persuadyng with teares the naughtye aire and other reasonable causes of her refusall , dydde a greate whyle wythstande the departyng from the said fountainebleau : declaring vnto theim there was no cause why they shoulde geue the kyng suche an alarm . Menne knowe also that the kyng seyng hymselfe compassed aboute wyth those that ouerruled hym , beganne to weepe exceadynglye , and protested , that he would not depart thence , pronouncyng these wordes with the teares in hys eyes . Wherefore wyll ye carye me hence where I fynde my selfe well ? What neade is there thus to putte on armour ? Yf it bee for religion , I wyll take order for it as I shall ware elder : In the meane season why doe not menne obserue the lawes ? Alas lette no manne trouble my state . Men knowe that after the Queene had roundly declared , that she wold not depart from the said Fontainbleau : These wordes folowyng were sayde vnto her : Madame , of necessitye you muste come , and whanne you wyll not soo dooe , we shall bee constrayned to carye the kynge wyth vs . To conclude , menne knowe that vppon thys matter , and after the Queenes resistence , after the teares and sighynges of the kinge , they were bothe led awaye , fyrst to the castell of Melune , nexte to the castelle of Vincenes , and lastely into Parys , beeyng continually compassed about with the sayde armye , and all the force of footemen and horsemen , that synce that tyme haue bene assembled there .

Herevpon nowe let men without affection iudge of the controuersie wherin we differ , to wete , whether the kynge and Queene be at thys tyme in libertie , or rather in captiuitie : whether theyr willes be free , or in bondage : whether they maye go to suche places to lye at , as to theymselues seemes good , or not rather be caryed and withholden agaynste their good pleasure and contentation .

Surelye all men ( yea though they haue but a commune sence or vnderstanding ) doe call to be in captiuitie :

WHAN A MANNE after he hathe bene besette not onelye contrarye to hys truste and opinion , but also againste hys expresse pleasure , by men that withoute comparyson are stronger than hymselfe : In steede of goynge to one place , whereto he hathe appoynted to goe , is not onelye lette from goyng thyther , but also broughte backe agayne , and ledde a contrarye waye : menne calle it also a captiuitie whan a man is so muche a prisoner , as he can no more bee able to flye ouer a rampiers of pistoliers and harquebusiers than ouer the toppe of a castell , beynge either stone or brycke : To be shorte , menne calle it a captiuitie whanne one is soo muche afrayde thorough the dreade of armed personnes , as he dare not vtter his wylle in suche sorte , as he woulde doo , the same menne beyng further from hym .

THIS thynge beeyng welle consydered , lette all menne iudge of this seconde poynte , whether to publysshe suche a Letter in the name of the Kynge , whereby they force hym to saye , that he is not in bondage , but in his large and fulle lybertie : whether to make suche a Letter to be printed and publyshed by the sounde of a trumpet thorough all the Realme , bee not as muche as to abuse and defyle most villainousely and vnnaturally the name of his maiestie , and to make the same despysed and skorned of all nations : where neuertheles the same shuld be holden holye and honorable , and nat to be vsed , but in matter clerely exempt frome all passion and affection of men , ( as muche as is possible . ) Lette men also iudge , whether the wytnesse of a persone that is reported to bee captiue through constraint and violence , oughte to haue suche a credite as to iustifie the doyng of those by whome it is sayd , that the same is withholden : Chiefly whan the question is of suche age and sexe as oure ennemies deale withall . But lett those , that woulde artificially cloke and coloure this theyr deede , remembre alwayes to make answere vnto these thre poyntes : Fyrst , wherfore the house of Guyse haue armed theym selues within a peasible Realme , that was full of reste and quietnesse : Secondely , who they bee that enforced the Kyng and Quene to wepe and lament at Fontainbleau : Lastly , wherfore the Queene going on her iorney to Orleance & Blois , was compelled to turne back with threttes , that in case she wolde nat so doo , they woulde carye the kynge awaye with them . Lette this shame and ignomie than whyche they haue doone to the maiestie of the kyngs name be accompted for one mattier . but immediatly after ther folowed an other . For the house of Guyse , and those of their faction perceiuing that the people complayned and lamented ouer the thraldom and oppression of theyr kyng , very wittyly deuysed an inuencion vtterly contrary : whiche was to publyshe , that the Prince of Conde was prisoner in the town of Orleance . And to geue colour and authoritie to theyr assemble of souldiors , haue so vyllainously played with the name of the Kynge ( euen as with a babyll or cockscombe ) that they haue caused hym to say and publyshe his letters patentes in his name , that the cause of gatherinig this people together was , to delyuer his deare and welbeloued cousyn the prince of Conde out of captiuitie . Nowe I demaunde of euery man of sounde iudgement , whether this bee not so muche as to buffette the kynge : and after to aske hym , Who is it that smote thee ? Natwithstandyng because we wyll forbeare from all vehemence of speeche , and talke of this matter without any moode or alteration , lette vs symply compare the state of the kyng , whome we say to bee captiue , with the condition of the sayde Prince : who yet matcheth not hym self with his maiestie , of whom he is a most humble seruaunt : but onely to make a iudgement of all lykelyhode , to whyche of both , the name of prysoner or captife may be ryghtlyer attributed . The kyng is of the age of about a leuen or twelue yeares . The Prynce is a father of fiue chyldren , all lyuyng . When the house of Guyse came wyth all their force to Fountaynbleau , The kyng hadde but his symple ordinarye garde : Whanne the Princes and Lordes whyche are at Orleance came to mete with the prince at Meaux , or otherwhere , he had with hym his force wherewith he was dryuen to strengthen hym selfe afore hande in the towne of Parys . All those of the faccion of Guyse came with one shuffe and in one troupe to Fontaynebleau . The lordes that ar with the prince came to fynde hym one after an other , and frome places farre a sundre . The kyng and the Queene his mother , dyd many and dyuers tymes commaunde all those that bee aboute theym to leaue of theyr armoure , and expresly forbadde theym commyng to the course with harneissed arme : The Prince because he woulde warraunte hym selfe frome the tempeste whyche he sawe commynge , sent and sente agayne , as welle somme of the noble menne of his companye as others , to requeste all menne , that camme to hym , that they woulde comme stronge and welle accoumpanyed . Those that are aboute the kyng waste his good , and sucke out the small remnant that was in his treasure to satisfie theyr creditoures : The noble menne that are at Orleaunce , are there vpon their owne costes and charges , yea almoste euery gentylman that there is .

Those of the faccion of Guise , payne themselues to cause straungers come into the realme , wythoute hauing eyther compassyon of the poore haried people , or respect to the manifest peryll that thereof maye folowe : Those of Orleaunce protest that althoughe strangers would come to theyr succours , yet they would rather spare the countrey of the Kynge and his poore subiectes , thanne theyr owne proper lyues . To be short , those at Orleaunce offer to laye downe all weapon , and to take leaue of the prince to wythdrawe theymselues euerye man to hys owne , condicyonallye that they whyche detayne the kyng and the quene hys mother , woulde first putte of their armour and gyue good exaumple : The house of Guise and theyr companions , lette not to saye dayelye in the hearyng of all the worlde , that they wyll rather see the ashes of all the realme , than to go from the kynges personne the dystance of .i. league .

Now lette all men iudge what lykelihode here is , nay rather what infamye it is , thus to prophane and abuse the name of the kyng , and to make hym say by his letters patentes , that his dere and welbeloued coosyn , the Prynce of Conde is prisoner at Orleaunce : and that for the delyuerie of hym he is constrayned to calle together his ban and ariere ban . But lette vs admytte , that it were so . Yf the Prynce of Conde be withholden prysoner , what rebuke haue they caused the kynge to receiue , and what iniustice haue they don , to declare the said prince a rebell and culpable of treason , because he came not to the courte nor laid doune weapon whanne they sente to hym so to doe ? For in good logicke they bee thynges repugnaunt , to bee kepte agaynste his wyll as a prysoner in a toune , and to deserue to be proclaimed a rebell bicause he commeth not thence .

These thynges considered , it is easye to conclude , fyrste that the kyng and the Queene hys mother wyth the Duke of Orleaunce , haue by a deuise of longe tyme handeled and contriued , bene violentlye and forceablye seased , caried awaye and possessed agaynste their wyll and pleasure , by those who thorough theyr insaciable greedinesse declare how fayne they woulde bee hys successours : Secondarily , that the aboue sayde letters patentes in the whyche it is sayde that the kynge is in his full libertye , and the Prynce a prysoner , is none other thanne a manifeste reproch agaynste the maiestye of the name of the kynge the whyche by this meanes is wyckedlye , vyllanously , and shamefully , defiled and layde abroade to all straunge nations to bee mocked , defamed , and taunted .

And that for thys respecte , none canne bee holden nor esteemed to bee a trewe Frenche manne , a good subiect , and faythefull seruaunt to hys maiestye :

Onelesse wyth all those good and honest meanes possyble , and accordyng to the degree of hys callyng , he doe endeuour hym selfe to restore hym to his full power and lybertie , and to delyuer hys name from that reproche and vnwoorthynesse whiche they haue caused hym to receiue in this his minoritie . Wherwyth we truste his maiestye , beynge comme to full age wyll fynde hym selfe touched , as well to the vengeaunce of his enemies as to the iuste rewardyng of hys good and lawfull seruauntes and subiectes .