Pope Francis II. near Relations, that no Empire could be of any 1560. long duration, which is preferved only by fears and jealoufies, and that the Reverence and Allegiance vanished away by degrees, when it was enforced by other means, than by the ancient Laws of the Kingdom. Pius IV. LXXV. rain's Vote. Then he added that Errors were to be expelled out of the Houfe of God, by the easiest ways that could be found out, forbearing Perfecutions only for Religion's fake, till the decifion of a free and holy Council, general or national; and that in the mean while the King fhould grant them the liberty of affembling together to pray to God, to hear his Holy Word, and to receive the Sacraments, and for that end to grant them alfo fone Church, or other commodious Place in every City and Town, and to appoint fome Judges to fee that nothing fhould be done against the King's Authority, and the publick Peace; that he was fure that by fuch a method, the Tranquillity of the Kingdom would be restored, and the Subjects fatisfied. He voted likewife for the Convocation of the States of the Kingdom (u). Cardinal of Lorrain voted the laft, and mighCardinal tily oppofed the Petitions tendered by the Adof Lormiral. He faid, that though they were penned in words feemingly modeft, nevertheless nothing was more prefumptuous and haughty; that the Authors profeffed themselves faithful and obedient Subjects to the King; but that this ought to be took with this provifo, that the King should comply with their corrupted Tenets. For to what other purpofe, faid he, did they boaft of having their Petitions fubfcribed by fifty thousand Men? As to the Temples, if they were granted, that would be nothing elfe but approving their Tenets which had been already condemned; that the (u) Id. ubi fuprà. the drift of their defigns was obvious to every FrancisII. one, and was evident by those famous Libels a- 1560. Pope gainst the Government, fcattered in publick; out Pius IV. of the vast number of which, he had two and twenty upon his Table which he kept very carefully, as fo many marks of Honour, for he looked upon it as a great Commendation to be backbited, flandered, reviled and curfed by fuch defpicable Cheats; that nothing was more deceitful than a falfe Religion, the Profeffors of it were always ready to make ufe of the Gospel and Christian Faith, to obtain their ends, changing Religion into Faction; that they ought therefore to be feverely profecuted and punished. But as for those, who out of a fincere Principle of Religion and Confcience affembled together without Arms for their Religious Worship, he thought likewise, that they ought to be spared, fince they could more eafily be reclaimed by perfuafion than by force; that he was ready to put down his Life for fuch a good purpose, if it could avail any thing. That it was the Duty of Bishops and Parish Priefts to endeavour to redeem the time paft by their prefent Application to fuch a work. That the Governors of Provinces ought to be ordered to repair immediately to their refpective Governments, and attend there to the Duties of their Charge, and as it was queftion only of Difcipline and Reformation of Manners, he could not fee what need there was to convene a general or a national Council. But if there was any occafion for one, Orders fhould be given to the Bishops and Curates, to draw a Roll of the Errors which wanted to be reformed, and to fend it to the King in two Months time. As for the reft, he thought that it would alfo Francis II. alfo be requifite to convene the General States of 1560. the Kingdom (x). Pope Paul IV. LXXVI. When the Cardinal had done, the Knights voted, and almost all of them, being Dependants of the Cardinal of Lorrain and of the Duke of Guife, were of his Opinion; which, having the Majority of Votes, was approved. Then the King and Queen-Mother, having Conclufion returned thanks to the Affembly, faid, that their of that Af- Counfel fhould be followed. A Decree of the Jembly. Refolutions, taken in it, was delivered to them, the 7th of September, by which the 10th of December was the day appointed for holding the General States of the Kingdom in the City of Meaux. If a General Council could not be affembled fo foon, a National one was promifed; but as the Pope gave hopes of re-affembling that, of Trent, the Bishops were to meet the 20th of January following, at the Place which the King fhould appoint, to confider of the matters proper to be propounded in that Council; or if their hopes were fruftrated, to deliberate upon the Ways and Means to convene a national one; that in the interim, every one should retire to his own home, and return better informed, when it fhould be time; that the prefent capital Punishments for Religion's fake fhould be forbeared, except against thofe that should disturb the publick Peace, and raise civil Commotions in the Kingdom; fo little by little, the Reformed Religion, fo odious before to the Nation, began to be tolerated and confirmed, even by the connivance of its Adverfaries: Such was the refult of LXXVII. the famous Affembly of Fontainebleau. Reasons of The Cardinal of Lorrain and the Duke of the Guifes Guife had been prevailed upon by these three Confent to Confiderations to confent to an Affembly of the the holding of the States General, (x) Id. ubi fuprà. States 1560. Pope Pius IV. States General, to which they were at firft fo FrancisII. averse. Ift. To take away the pretence for rifing in Arms. 2d. Because it was the best way to infnare the King of Navarr and the Prince of Condé his Brother, and oblige them to come to Court; or to have them declared Rebels, if they refused to comply. 3d. Because they intended to make themselves fure of the Elections, and to bribe the Electors as well as the Elected into an entire dependance upon them. And finally, they had fo well contrived their Plot, that had not the King died in the very nick of time, there is no doubt but they would have fucceeded in their attempt, at least as far as human Understanding can guess. The Affembly of Fontainebleau having broke up, they took proper measures to fecure to themfelves the Provinces and chief Cities of the Kingdom; in order to this, they reinforced the Garrisons, and fent trufty Officers, to watch over the Conduct of the Governors of Provinces or Places which were fufpected by them. A few days before La Sague, that Gentleman LxxvIII. of Bearn already mentioned, who was at Fon- La Sague is arrested, tainebleau to get and fend intelligence, to the Prince of Condé, of every thing material tranfacted in the Affembly, having disclosed what he knew of the Prince of Condé's fecret Defigns to one Bonval, an old Acquaintance of his, with whom he had ferved in Piedmont; this Bonval, who was petitioning at Court for a Recompence of his paft Service, thought he had a fair Opportunity of obtaining his ends with the Duke of Guife, thanked La Sague for his Good-will, and defired him to affure the Prince, that he was entirely devoted to his Service. But as foon as he parted from him, he went and informed the VOL. I. Duke T FrancisII. Duke of the whole Secret, who ordered him out. But the latter recollecting the Blunder he had done, and mistrufting Bonval, fet out of Fontainebleau, without taking his leave of him, the Day before that he had appointed; but all his Diligence could not fave him from being arrested at Estampes. All his Papers were feized, and he was fecretly brought back to Fontainebleau. His Letters were opened, feveral of which were but Letters of Civility to the Prince, as thofe of the Conftable of Montmorency. But thofe of the Vidame of Chartres caufed great Sufpicion, because of his ambiguous Expreffions; for he faid, that if there was any Defign laid for the King's ufe, he promised to be ready to forward the execution of it. The Duke of Guife having read this Letter, fent immediately, in the King's Name, an Order to arreft the Vidame of Chartres, which was executed, and he fent Prifoner to the Baftille. La Sague perfifting in denying every thing, was threatned with the Torture, but being brought upon the Place, and as he was not used to the fight of fuch terrible Preparation, he confeffed what he knew, to which he added fome Conjectures of his own. He charged the King of Navarr and the Prince of Condé, with a Defign of coming to Court with a numerous Attendance of armed Men; that their Design was, to make themselves in their way Masters of Poitiers, Tours and Orleans, thefe Cities being at their devotion. That the Constable of Montmorency was to do the fame of Paris, whereof the Marfhal his Son was Governor; that Senerpont and Bouchavanes were to caufe Picardy to revolt; and Mr. D'Estampes |