The French Historie That is; A lamentable Discourse of three of the chiefe, and most famous bloodie broiles that haue happened in France for the Gospell of Iesus Christ. Namelie; 1 The outrage called The winning of S. Iames his Streete, 1557. 2 The constant Martirdome of Annas Burgeus one of the K. Councell, 1559. 3 The bloodie Marriage of Margaret Sister to Charles the 9. Anno 1572. Published by A. D. [i.e. Anne Dowrich] |
 |
|
 | The French Historie |  |
About the verie yeere of Christ his Incarnation
A thousand fiue hundred fiftie seuen by just cōputation:
Henrie ware the Crowne the second of that name,
In whose vnhappie Reigne began this fearfull fierie flame.
For now in France began Gods truth for to appeere,
Whose ioiful beames in Germanie at this time shone ful cleer.
But as the Iewes sometimes Gods Prophets did despise,
And as the Scribes and Pharisies did set their whole deuise
To shade the shining light, which God to them had sent:
So France in furie blindlie set against Gods truth is bent.
Which truth but latelie sowen, and scant appearing greene,
They seeke by force, by fire & sword to roote & raze it cleene.
But though proud Pharao did Gods chosen long oppresse,
Yet still amiddes the fierie broiles his people did increase.
So now amiddes the flame Gods word a passage found,
Which did increase his chosen flocke by force of siluer sound.
VVhich sound in Gods elect did worke such sodaine change
In all estates, that at the first in France it seemed strange.
Gods mightie Spirite did worke his mercie still was prest,
That some of all estates were calde their blindnesse to detest.
Though riches be a let, and noble birth some staie,
That verie few of these (saith Christ) do finde the perfect way:
Yet God to bring to passe the worke he did intend,
Did also raise some Noble men the poorer to defend.
So now they fall at square, now here began the strife:
For Sathan could not beare to see a new reformed life.
That Prophesie is true (for Christ did speak the word)
I came not to giue peace to mine, but strife, debate, & sword.
The sonne against the sire, one frend against another,
The word shal brothers part, & set the daughter gainst the mother.
So fel it out in France, his word did now deuide
His chosen, from the rest of those that tooke the aduerse side.
The Land deuided thus, two parts there fell at first;
Gods people were in number least, the greater was the worst.
Now Sathan was afraid, for now he striued sore
To keepe the King and chiefest States in blindnes as of yore.
It pincht him to the quicke to lose his kingdome so,
It greeude him to the hart that he should let his seruants go.
He sits not idle now, he calls his wits in place,
Some cunning knacke for to contriue to help him in this case.
His wilie wilfull craft by long experience bred
Hath taught him now an ancient feat to crush the gospels head.
Now summons he his men and seruants to appeere;
Now help me at this need (quoth he) my frends & felows deer:
Now is the time to stirre while matters yet be newe,
While blinded mindes in doubting hang, not knowing what is true.
For if the word of God do once begin to shine,
“Then farewell all, I shalbe faine my kingdome to resigne.
“But if you will agrce and follow mine aduise,
“We shall cut off this sowen word, as fast as it shall rise.
“And first we must giue out some vile and leud report
“Of such as doo professe the truth, and such as doo resort
“Vnto their Sermons: so this waie it will be best,
“To make the King and manie more their dealings to detest.
“And when as they shall meete in Church to serue the Lord,
“VVee'l saie they do defile thēselues, to make thē more abhord.
And when in fields they ioine their ioifull Psalmes to sing,”
VVee must giue out that they conspire which waie to kill the King.”
So to their filed talke the King will giue no heed,”
But giue vs leaue, and ioyne with vs against them to proceede.”
And manie that shall heare this smooth inuented lie,”
VVil neuer seek the truth: but then condemne them by & by.”
So shall we haue our will, so shall we set a staie”
For those that seek to know the truth to stop thē in their waie.”
And that we maie the more their dealings quite deface,”
I must deuise to point you all your office and your place:”
For some must Captaines be to lie in waite for blood,”
And burne them in their temples all, to doo your master good”
And such must alwaies be abroad to range the coasts,”
In euerie place to lie in waite, and meete them at their hoasts.”
And some must staie at home to lie in Princes eare,”
That of these men within his sight not one may dare appeare.”
If force will not preuaile, if Nobles take their part,”
By flattrie then some must attempt these Nobles to subuart.
A thousand fiue hundred fiftie seuen by just cōputation:
Henrie ware the Crowne the second of that name,
In whose vnhappie Reigne began this fearfull fierie flame.
For now in France began Gods truth for to appeere,
Whose ioiful beames in Germanie at this time shone ful cleer.
But as the Iewes sometimes Gods Prophets did despise,
And as the Scribes and Pharisies did set their whole deuise
To shade the shining light, which God to them had sent:
So France in furie blindlie set against Gods truth is bent.
Which truth but latelie sowen, and scant appearing greene,
They seeke by force, by fire & sword to roote & raze it cleene.
But though proud Pharao did Gods chosen long oppresse,
Yet still amiddes the fierie broiles his people did increase.
So now amiddes the flame Gods word a passage found,
Which did increase his chosen flocke by force of siluer sound.
VVhich sound in Gods elect did worke such sodaine change
In all estates, that at the first in France it seemed strange.
Gods mightie Spirite did worke his mercie still was prest,
That some of all estates were calde their blindnesse to detest.
Though riches be a let, and noble birth some staie,
That verie few of these (saith Christ) do finde the perfect way:
Yet God to bring to passe the worke he did intend,
So now they fall at square, now here began the strife:
For Sathan could not beare to see a new reformed life.
That Prophesie is true (for Christ did speak the word)
I came not to giue peace to mine, but strife, debate, & sword.
The sonne against the sire, one frend against another,
The word shal brothers part, & set the daughter gainst the mother.
So fel it out in France, his word did now deuide
His chosen, from the rest of those that tooke the aduerse side.
The Land deuided thus, two parts there fell at first;
Gods people were in number least, the greater was the worst.
Now Sathan was afraid, for now he striued sore
To keepe the King and chiefest States in blindnes as of yore.
It pincht him to the quicke to lose his kingdome so,
It greeude him to the hart that he should let his seruants go.
He sits not idle now, he calls his wits in place,
Some cunning knacke for to contriue to help him in this case.
His wilie wilfull craft by long experience bred
Hath taught him now an ancient feat to crush the gospels head.
Now summons he his men and seruants to appeere;
Now help me at this need (quoth he) my frends & felows deer:
Now is the time to stirre while matters yet be newe,
While blinded mindes in doubting hang, not knowing what is true.
For if the word of God do once begin to shine,
“Then farewell all, I shalbe faine my kingdome to resigne.
“But if you will agrce and follow mine aduise,
“We shall cut off this sowen word, as fast as it shall rise.
“And first we must giue out some vile and leud report
“Of such as doo professe the truth, and such as doo resort
“Vnto their Sermons: so this waie it will be best,
“To make the King and manie more their dealings to detest.
“And when as they shall meete in Church to serue the Lord,
“VVee'l saie they do defile thēselues, to make thē more abhord.
4
VVee must giue out that they conspire which waie to kill the King.”
So to their filed talke the King will giue no heed,”
But giue vs leaue, and ioyne with vs against them to proceede.”
And manie that shall heare this smooth inuented lie,”
VVil neuer seek the truth: but then condemne them by & by.”
So shall we haue our will, so shall we set a staie”
For those that seek to know the truth to stop thē in their waie.”
And that we maie the more their dealings quite deface,”
I must deuise to point you all your office and your place:”
For some must Captaines be to lie in waite for blood,”
And burne them in their temples all, to doo your master good”
And such must alwaies be abroad to range the coasts,”
In euerie place to lie in waite, and meete them at their hoasts.”
And some must staie at home to lie in Princes eare,”
That of these men within his sight not one may dare appeare.”
If force will not preuaile, if Nobles take their part,”
By flattrie then some must attempt these Nobles to subuart.
This said it was agreed, the Counsaile cried, Amen.
And euerie one to plaie his part did giue his promise then.
O poore vnhappie place, ô France how art thou led,
Thou gleanst the sap of deadlie food in steed of liuelie bread.
The Mother Queene as cheefe dooth promise to begin,
By treason ioynd with flatterie to trap them in her ginne.
And he that was ordaind to watch the Princes hall,
VVas bloudie Lewes of Loraine towne that filthie Cardinall.
And they that tooke in hand false rumors for to sowe,
VVere Priests, & friers, with deuice Gods truth to ouerthrow.
The Captaines that were glad to take this cause in hand,
The blinded Guises were, which swore to lead this bloudy bād.
Now let vs see the end, how these their parts doo plaie;
And marke where all things fal not out as we haue heard them saie.
And euerie one to plaie his part did giue his promise then.
O poore vnhappie place, ô France how art thou led,
Thou gleanst the sap of deadlie food in steed of liuelie bread.
The Mother Queene as cheefe dooth promise to begin,
By treason ioynd with flatterie to trap them in her ginne.
And he that was ordaind to watch the Princes hall,
VVas bloudie Lewes of Loraine towne that filthie Cardinall.
And they that tooke in hand false rumors for to sowe,
VVere Priests, & friers, with deuice Gods truth to ouerthrow.
The Captaines that were glad to take this cause in hand,
The blinded Guises were, which swore to lead this bloudy bād.
Now let vs see the end, how these their parts doo plaie;
And marke where all things fal not out as we haue heard them saie.
| The French Historie | |