Magdalene of Savoy the Conftable's Confort, Charles IX who was extremely averfe to the Reformed, 1561. Pope and a fecret Enemy to the Colignies, because the Pius IV. Constable preferred them always to her Brothers, incenfed continually her Hufband against the Prince, and the three Brothers De Coligni on account of their Religion. It was, faid fhe, by the Admiral's Artifices, that he was lefs in favour with the Queen, than her Reconciliation with the King of Navarr had given him reafon to expect. For he had perfuaded the Queen, that he could do nothing better for her own Intereft, than to countenance, or at least to connive at the defigns which the King of Navarr had formed for the Propagation of the new Religion; fhe added, that he ought to remember his Pedigree; being defcended from the moft illuftrious of France, as it was evident by his Motto: DEUS PRIMUM CHRISTIANUM SERVET, God preferve the first Christian (in other places the word BARONEM, Baron is added:) therefore he was in Duty bound to do all his Endeavours to protect and maintain the Religion of his Ancestors, and by confequence the Roman Church.

cold to the

To this the Marshal of St. Andrew, a very XXXIII. fly Man, and noted for his wickedness, fub- He grows joined, that it had been by the fecret Intrigues of Prince of the Admiral, that mention had been made in the Condé, and Affembly of Paris, to call to an account thofe his Newho had had the management of the Exchequer; phews. and by fuch a piece of ingratitude had expofed an Uncle, whofe Benevolence he was unworthy of. In short, the Conftable being continually befet by his Lady, the Marshal of St. Andrew, the Count of Villars his Brother-in-law, and feveral others, could not refift any longer; and, notwithstanding the most humble Remonftrances of his eldest Son the Marfhal of Montmo

1561. Pope Pius IV.

Charles IX rency, who fhewed forth, that it was imprudent to forfake and lofe good old Friends, in order to get new ones; efpecially fince the Faith of an Enemy newly reconciled is a thing fo precarious; that he ought to confider that the Prince of Condé, the Colignies, and the Count of La Rochefoucault being once loft, he loft the best fupport of their House; and though they made then an open Profeffion of the Reformed Religion, he ought to confider that many abominable Errors had crept into the Church, to the difhonour of God; that it was very uncertain whether his Union with the Guifes would not disoblige the Queen-Mother, as well as the King of Navarr : fo it feemed that it would be better for him, while the Guises and the Colignies fhould difpute together, to fit ftill and put himself in a Condition. of becoming the Umpire betwixt them; that, if he took that Course, very likely the Guifes already loaded with the publick Odium, would be obliged to yield, and then as he was the first Magiftrate of the Kingdom, and a Man whofe ftrict Adherence to his Religion, and Fidelity to his King was obvious to every one, he might become the Arbitrator even of the Differences arose about Religion, remembring always that he was not obliged to defend and maintain the manifold Errors crept into it. As for what had been faid and done in the Affemblies of Paris upon his account, he ought rather to wish that the StatesGeneral of the Kingdom fhould take cognizance of his diligence, trouble and fidelity in the management of the publick Affairs; because it would be known by that, what immenfe Expences he had made for the publick good, for the fupport of his Dignity, and to redeem himfelf and his Sons out of Captivity; and that there would be none, not even the most unjust,

who

who would not adjudge to him a great deal more Charles IX than what he had received from the Beneficence 1561. Роре of the King; that after an exact Account it Pius IV. would be found that he had not received the feventh part of all thofe Profufions of the King's, which had been fwallowed up by the Duchefs of Valentinois, St. Andrew, and the Guifes themfelves; and fuch an Examination, far from being prejudicial to him, would redound much to his Honour.

Many other reafons were made ufe of to deter him from his intended Union with the Guifes; but the Remonftrances of his Son, and the Intreaties of the Colignies were of no effect for that purpose: The good old Man anfwered, that be he knew certainly that a change in Religion would produce a change in the Government; and that being a conftant adherent to the King, and his little Mafters, (fo he called the King's Brothers) he was not afraid of ever being called to an account for the difcharge of his Office, or for his Fortune bis Confcience bearing him a good Teftimony. But be could not bear to fee the Edicts of his good Mafter Henry II, annulled; that as for the Colignies, who were no lefs dear to him by reason of Friendship, than by that of Confanguinity, he wished that they would fhew themfelves by Deeds, as good and true Worshippers of God, as they did by Words.

At laft the Conftable, irritated for the private Injuries he thought he had received, and perfuaded by his Wife, the Duchefs of Valentinois, and other Emiffaries of the Guifes, thinking likewife, that Religion was at ftake, perfifted in his refolution. The Marshal his Son was vexed at this, and was obliged to fet out for Chantilly, his Lady being fallen fick, when he had opened the Seffions at Paris.

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Upon

CharlesIX

the Court

Upon which the Court fent Orders to Christo1561. pher De Thou, and Peter Seguier, Prefidents of Pape Pius IV. the Parliament and fome other Deputies, to fupply the place of the Marshal in thefe Affemblies; XXXIV. and to hinder the Decrees of the States of OrOrders of leans to be oppofed; but one Ruzé Advocate in the Parliament oppofed thefe Orders in the Name for the Affemblies of of the Nobility, fhewing forth, that it was conParis, op- trary to the Liberty and Privileges of thofe Afpofed. femblies to have Judges of the Court named by the King to be their Prefidents; for which he was afterwards imprifoned. Though the Deputies in that Affembly differed in many things, yet they agreed upon this, that in order to fupply the Treasury, exhaufted by the Wars and Profufions, and to eafe the People of the heavy Taxes and Impofts, the burthen of the Debts, for the discharge of which the States had been convened, fhould be laid upon the Clergy.

All the while, the Friendship between the Conftable and the Guifes received new Strength every day; having paid his Devotions on Eafter-Day at Fontainebleau, with the Dukes of Montpenfier and Guife, he invited them at Supper the fame day with the Prince of Joinville, Son to the Duke of Guife, and the Marfhal of St. Andrew, and the next day he fet out for Chantilly for the Wedding of M. De Thoré, one of his Sons, with Eleanor D'Humieres. A little after the Duke of Guife went to Nanteuil, which being but five Leagues diftant from Chantilly, not a day paffed without their paying Compliments one to another by their Meffengers.

The Queen-Mother, who to ftrengthen her Authority, entertained the Divifion amongst the great Lords, having notice of this, was vexed to her heart; fhe could not understand how fuch great Union and Friendship could be fettled in fo

short

1561. Pope Pius IV.

Coronation,

fhort a time between Men who were mortal Ene- Charles IX mies to one another. Nevertheless, that nothing fhould be wanting which might accrue to the King's Dignity and Authority, which was the Bafis of her own, fhe refolved to have him imme- XXXV. diately crowned. Therefore she set out from Fon- The King's tainebleau, and came with the King to Monceaux, from thence taking their way through Nanteuil, the Duke of Guife went along with him, and they arrived at Rheims; there the Guifes moved a Difpute about the Number of Peers and the Precedency: this they did, as it was faid, in order to do fome prejudice to the Dignity of the Princes of the Blood; (fince they could not come in competition with them as to their Birth-right,) and increase their own, that if an opportunity offered, they might improve it to their beft advantage.

The Difpute was decided by the Council in the Duke of Guife's behalf, on this fpecious pretence, that the Princes of the Blood's prefence was not fo much requifite in that Ceremony, as that of the Peers was, because of their Charge, and the Service they were obliged to perform upon fuch an occafion; fo the Duke of Guife walked after the King of Navarr, and before the Duke of Montpenfier (m).

The Ceremony of the Coronation, which was XXXVI. performed the 15th of May, by the Cardinal of Severe Remonftrances Lorrain, Archbishop of Rheims, being over, the of t faid Cardinal remonftrated to the King in a ve- dinal of hement Speech, without any regard for the Queen- Lorrain. Mother or the King of Navarr, what difhonour to a most Christian Kingdom, what Offence to God, and Scandal to the World accrued from the Liberty of Confcience granted to Men who made

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() Thuani Hift. ubi fupra.