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] |
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The first outrage and horrible murder of the
the Godlie, called The winning of
Saint Iames his Streete. |
 | The French Historie |  |
The first outrage and horrible murder of the the Godlie, called The winning of Saint Iames his Streete.
Now at this verie time when Philip King of Spaine
Came to Sanquintines, garded with a great and mightie traine:
The Constable of France to meete him made some hast,
VVhose power was vanquisht there, and he fell prisoner at the last.
The faithfull which beheld great danger nigh at hand,
VVhich God did threatē now to fal, on thē, their prince, & lād.
VVith one consent they meete, to God they crie and praie:
VVhich is the onlie meanes for sin Gods heauie wrath to stay.
But once aboue the rest, as in S. Iames his streete
In Paris towne they did agree great numbers for to meete,
To pray vnto the Lord to quench this flaming fire,
They might receiue his Sacraments, & eke his word to heare;
The spies that laie in waite such vantage for to get,
Intumult armde the common sort their houses to beset.
VVhose follie thus abusde, which furie did incense,
VVith weapons rann, as if these men had done some great offence.
The faithfull closed thus, no waie there was to flie,
The rage and tumult was so great, they yeelded all to die.
To God they did commend their bodies and their life,
And with their hūble sutes assaid, to swage their raging strife.
But all could not preuaile, their words could not be heard,
For furie to their iust excuse did giue but small regard,
But God that neuer failes his seruants at their neede,
By stretching out his helping hand, did stand thē now in steed.
For as to Peter once in prison closelie pent,
To lose his lockes and set him free an Angel there was sent;
So God now made a waie a passage strange to giue,
By opening of a mightie dore the weaker to releeue.
By which the fainter sort without all danger fled,
The greater sort were taken then, and straight to prison led.
Among which godlie troope that did their bodies yeeld,
Were women of great parentage which were with shame reuilde
(Of them whom furie fed) to prison as they went,
Yet for all this these noble mindes their deedes did not repent.
And that which was the worst, in prison where they were,
The theeues and bloodie murtherers did find more fauor ther.
For they that death deserude were taken from their clinke,
And in their colde & vglie pits which breathd a deadly stinke
These men were thrust & bound, & kept with watch & ward,
That al accesse of worldly joy from them might quite be bard.
Yet now because they had not roome inough for all,
In diuers wardes alone to pen, these captiues thus in thrall;
Great numbers they were faine together for to place,
To comfort them God did deuise to bring it so to passe.
The prisons now did ring with Psalmes and ioifull songs,
They praied god whē he thoght best to ease thē of these wrōgs
When this was noisde abroad and some were thither sent
To know the cause: then this was found the sum of their intēt,
At first when they did meete, a lecture there was red
In vulgar tongue out of Gods book, wherby their soules were fed.
Then did the preacher show, & there he did recite
The vse of that most sacred feast whereof S. Paule did write,
Vnto the Corinthes once: In which he shewed plaine
The vse and abuse of the same, to comfort or to paine.
When this was done, againe they fell vpon their knees,
And for the King & Cōmons all they praied with watrie eies:
That God would yet withhold his iust reuenging hand,
And blesse with perfect truth & peace, their King, & eke their land.
Then did they all receiue Communion bread and wine
To staie their faith in Christ his death, where of this a signe.
Now this was all the hurt which they did then procure,
For which this raging tumult rose, & they these paines indure.
But marke the creeping craft of Sathan in this case,
How he by false report doth seeke the truth for to deface.
His seruants now he sends, and bids them ride in post,
These new inuented lies to spread abroad in euerie Coast.
First how the Lutherans, (so Sathan did them name)
Great wickednes did put in vse in places where they came.
And how that in the night when other were at sleape,
In darknesse where no candles were, great numbers on a heap
Of men and women both together did resort
To match themselues; for to fulfill a stinking filthie sport.
And how these godlie men all sitting in a round,
Vpō the tables where they sate, great dainties there were foūd,
As wine, and bellie cheere, and each with others wife,
In these their priuie Bacchus feasts did lead a filthie life.
And how among the rest to worke their wicked will,
Their vsage was (ô shamelesse lie!) their infants for to kill.
These godlie men (saie they) that seeme to shine so cleere,
Now vnder show of godlie life most filthie doo appeere.
The Monkes as Legates leaud of Plutoes bloodie minde,
Do sweate & fome to blaze abroad this stinking hellish wind.
As men that were most fit to spread this lying fame,
Which in their liues as dooth appeare do dailie vse the same.
But they in open place these matters so dilate,
That in the mindes of blinded fooles, they raise a deadlie hate
Against these seelie soules, which neuer meant this ill,
That eke the common sort did long these godlie men to kill.
And not the common sort are now deceiud alone,
But this assailes the Noble men, and strikes the Princes throne.
Which lie no sooner came before the Princes face,
But stood in hope by Sathans meanes, to finde assured grace.
Whose minde by light beleefe in furie so was bent,
That to destroy these hurtles men he plants his whole intent.
So now he giues in charge to haue their dealings tride,
And chosen men he did appoint the same for to decide.
These men in office put, no time could idle spend,
But hard against these seely sheepe their woluish wits do bend.
This poore afflicted flocke that now in prison laie,
In godlie ioy, but worldlie greefe did passe the time away.
And they that were in faith more stronger than the rest,
To cōfort those that were but weak, their will was euer prest.
And those that were at large did trudge from place to place,
To ease the outward greefe of such as saw this heauie case.
Declaring by the word that this came not by chance:
But God was he for some intent which lead this woful dance.
Perchance to shew his will, perchance to trie their faith,
Perchance to plant his hidden truth by their most happy death:
Perchance to be a meanes their foes for to confound,
As once amids the flouds he strake proud Pharao to the groūd.
Perchance amidst our mirth, our God we did forget:”
And youthly bent, to vain delights perchance our mind did set”
So God in mercie now to call'vs home againe,”
And see our selues: hath thought it good to let vs feele some paine.”
Yet still amids the flame let this be all our rest,
That all things done to Gods elect are alwaies for the best.
Thus did they still remaine; to God they did commend
Themselues, their case, content to beare what euer God should send.
And now with solemne fasts & praier put in vre,
And eke by writing they assaic, some fauor to procure.
The King they doo request that truth might trie their deedes,
That Iustice cicle might deuide the Roses from the weedes;
That fickle flying tales from credit might be bard,
“Till that by iust and equall proofe both parties haue ben heard.
“And if it were his will that they might now dispute,
“They doubted not by written word the Sorbons to confute.
Yet this could not preuaile for all this good deuice:
For some stood by, that told the king, their writings al were lies
The godlie greeued thus, as reason did them binde,
By other letters trie to change the Kings affected minde.
Came to Sanquintines, garded with a great and mightie traine:
The Constable of France to meete him made some hast,
VVhose power was vanquisht there, and he fell prisoner at the last.
The faithfull which beheld great danger nigh at hand,
VVhich God did threatē now to fal, on thē, their prince, & lād.
VVith one consent they meete, to God they crie and praie:
VVhich is the onlie meanes for sin Gods heauie wrath to stay.
But once aboue the rest, as in S. Iames his streete
In Paris towne they did agree great numbers for to meete,
To pray vnto the Lord to quench this flaming fire,
They might receiue his Sacraments, & eke his word to heare;
The spies that laie in waite such vantage for to get,
Intumult armde the common sort their houses to beset.
VVhose follie thus abusde, which furie did incense,
VVith weapons rann, as if these men had done some great offence.
The faithfull closed thus, no waie there was to flie,
The rage and tumult was so great, they yeelded all to die.
To God they did commend their bodies and their life,
And with their hūble sutes assaid, to swage their raging strife.
But all could not preuaile, their words could not be heard,
For furie to their iust excuse did giue but small regard,
But God that neuer failes his seruants at their neede,
By stretching out his helping hand, did stand thē now in steed.
5
To lose his lockes and set him free an Angel there was sent;
So God now made a waie a passage strange to giue,
By opening of a mightie dore the weaker to releeue.
By which the fainter sort without all danger fled,
The greater sort were taken then, and straight to prison led.
Among which godlie troope that did their bodies yeeld,
Were women of great parentage which were with shame reuilde
(Of them whom furie fed) to prison as they went,
Yet for all this these noble mindes their deedes did not repent.
And that which was the worst, in prison where they were,
The theeues and bloodie murtherers did find more fauor ther.
For they that death deserude were taken from their clinke,
And in their colde & vglie pits which breathd a deadly stinke
These men were thrust & bound, & kept with watch & ward,
That al accesse of worldly joy from them might quite be bard.
Yet now because they had not roome inough for all,
In diuers wardes alone to pen, these captiues thus in thrall;
Great numbers they were faine together for to place,
To comfort them God did deuise to bring it so to passe.
The prisons now did ring with Psalmes and ioifull songs,
They praied god whē he thoght best to ease thē of these wrōgs
When this was noisde abroad and some were thither sent
To know the cause: then this was found the sum of their intēt,
At first when they did meete, a lecture there was red
In vulgar tongue out of Gods book, wherby their soules were fed.
Then did the preacher show, & there he did recite
The vse of that most sacred feast whereof S. Paule did write,
Vnto the Corinthes once: In which he shewed plaine
The vse and abuse of the same, to comfort or to paine.
When this was done, againe they fell vpon their knees,
And for the King & Cōmons all they praied with watrie eies:
That God would yet withhold his iust reuenging hand,
Then did they all receiue Communion bread and wine
To staie their faith in Christ his death, where of this a signe.
Now this was all the hurt which they did then procure,
For which this raging tumult rose, & they these paines indure.
But marke the creeping craft of Sathan in this case,
How he by false report doth seeke the truth for to deface.
His seruants now he sends, and bids them ride in post,
These new inuented lies to spread abroad in euerie Coast.
First how the Lutherans, (so Sathan did them name)
Great wickednes did put in vse in places where they came.
And how that in the night when other were at sleape,
In darknesse where no candles were, great numbers on a heap
Of men and women both together did resort
To match themselues; for to fulfill a stinking filthie sport.
And how these godlie men all sitting in a round,
Vpō the tables where they sate, great dainties there were foūd,
As wine, and bellie cheere, and each with others wife,
In these their priuie Bacchus feasts did lead a filthie life.
And how among the rest to worke their wicked will,
Their vsage was (ô shamelesse lie!) their infants for to kill.
These godlie men (saie they) that seeme to shine so cleere,
Now vnder show of godlie life most filthie doo appeere.
The Monkes as Legates leaud of Plutoes bloodie minde,
Do sweate & fome to blaze abroad this stinking hellish wind.
As men that were most fit to spread this lying fame,
Which in their liues as dooth appeare do dailie vse the same.
But they in open place these matters so dilate,
That in the mindes of blinded fooles, they raise a deadlie hate
Against these seelie soules, which neuer meant this ill,
That eke the common sort did long these godlie men to kill.
And not the common sort are now deceiud alone,
But this assailes the Noble men, and strikes the Princes throne.
6
But stood in hope by Sathans meanes, to finde assured grace.
Whose minde by light beleefe in furie so was bent,
That to destroy these hurtles men he plants his whole intent.
So now he giues in charge to haue their dealings tride,
And chosen men he did appoint the same for to decide.
These men in office put, no time could idle spend,
But hard against these seely sheepe their woluish wits do bend.
This poore afflicted flocke that now in prison laie,
In godlie ioy, but worldlie greefe did passe the time away.
And they that were in faith more stronger than the rest,
To cōfort those that were but weak, their will was euer prest.
And those that were at large did trudge from place to place,
To ease the outward greefe of such as saw this heauie case.
Declaring by the word that this came not by chance:
But God was he for some intent which lead this woful dance.
Perchance to shew his will, perchance to trie their faith,
Perchance to plant his hidden truth by their most happy death:
Perchance to be a meanes their foes for to confound,
As once amids the flouds he strake proud Pharao to the groūd.
Perchance amidst our mirth, our God we did forget:”
And youthly bent, to vain delights perchance our mind did set”
So God in mercie now to call'vs home againe,”
And see our selues: hath thought it good to let vs feele some paine.”
Yet still amids the flame let this be all our rest,
That all things done to Gods elect are alwaies for the best.
Thus did they still remaine; to God they did commend
Themselues, their case, content to beare what euer God should send.
And now with solemne fasts & praier put in vre,
And eke by writing they assaic, some fauor to procure.
The King they doo request that truth might trie their deedes,
That Iustice cicle might deuide the Roses from the weedes;
That fickle flying tales from credit might be bard,
“And if it were his will that they might now dispute,
“They doubted not by written word the Sorbons to confute.
Yet this could not preuaile for all this good deuice:
For some stood by, that told the king, their writings al were lies
The godlie greeued thus, as reason did them binde,
By other letters trie to change the Kings affected minde.
In which they warne his Grace to looke vnto himselfe,
Not to preferre before his God this wicked worldlie pelfe.
And therewithall to view the state of that his Land,
How all things prospered well which he did take in band,
“So long as to the truth he bent a willing eare,
And to the godlie Christian flocke a faithfull heart did beare.
But since he brake his faith he gaue the Germaine band,
And to that greasie Priest of Rome againe did giue his hand,
How all things since haue gone a cleane contrarie waie,
“And nothing prospered well sith he the truth did so betraie.
“And now ô Prince (quoth they) except thou do repent,
“Assure thy selfe to plague this sinne the Lord is fullie bent,
“And he that now hath lent to thee this happie Raigne,
“Will for thy sinne most surelie turne thy pleasure into paine.
“The Constable of France a looking glasse may be,
“In whō the end of swelling pride your Grace may plainly see.
“Who proudlie swearing said, If he returned sound,
“He would not cease till he had quasht Geneua to the ground.
But God that sits aboue his follie did deride,
And at Sanquintines did confound his purpose and his pride.
So he that latelie swore against the Lord to fight,
Was taken captiue by the foe, his armie put to flight.
“Of wicked wilfull wits this is the wofull end,
“When fancie rulde by witles will, their strength will striue to bend
“Against the Lord. But now ô King we do not care;
“For whatsoeuer God shall send we willing are to beare.
But yet of this be sure, the blood that thou doost wring
From vs vniustlie, is the seed whereby the Church doth spring.
And though our bodies be consumed in the flame,
Yet of our ashes God will raise that shall defend the same.
To shade the shining light, no wit can well preuaile:
So vaine, to striue to staie the truth which God doth nowe reueale.
Not to preferre before his God this wicked worldlie pelfe.
And therewithall to view the state of that his Land,
How all things prospered well which he did take in band,
“So long as to the truth he bent a willing eare,
And to the godlie Christian flocke a faithfull heart did beare.
But since he brake his faith he gaue the Germaine band,
And to that greasie Priest of Rome againe did giue his hand,
How all things since haue gone a cleane contrarie waie,
“And nothing prospered well sith he the truth did so betraie.
“And now ô Prince (quoth they) except thou do repent,
“Assure thy selfe to plague this sinne the Lord is fullie bent,
“And he that now hath lent to thee this happie Raigne,
“Will for thy sinne most surelie turne thy pleasure into paine.
“The Constable of France a looking glasse may be,
“In whō the end of swelling pride your Grace may plainly see.
“Who proudlie swearing said, If he returned sound,
“He would not cease till he had quasht Geneua to the ground.
But God that sits aboue his follie did deride,
And at Sanquintines did confound his purpose and his pride.
So he that latelie swore against the Lord to fight,
Was taken captiue by the foe, his armie put to flight.
“Of wicked wilfull wits this is the wofull end,
“When fancie rulde by witles will, their strength will striue to bend
“Against the Lord. But now ô King we do not care;
“For whatsoeuer God shall send we willing are to beare.
7
From vs vniustlie, is the seed whereby the Church doth spring.
And though our bodies be consumed in the flame,
Yet of our ashes God will raise that shall defend the same.
To shade the shining light, no wit can well preuaile:
So vaine, to striue to staie the truth which God doth nowe reueale.
Thus while the Godlie worke their causes to defend,
The wicked impes of Sathan lurke to bring them to their end.
But one aboue the rest their death did dailie craue,
Munerius that bloodie wretch, that false and periurde knaue.
Who hauing now of late by falshood crackt his fame,
Did hope by hate of Gods elect againe to winne the same.
And hauing now attaind the Princes bill assignd,
In Paris towne before the States he shewes the Princes minde:
Which was, that presentlie (all businesse set aside)
The King would haue the prisners calde, their dealings to be tride.
And that they should proceed to judge, & eke beleue
According to the euidence Munerius then should geue.
These letters being read, the Senate all agree
Not to receiue Munerius, nor anie thing that he
Should laie against the life of those that faithfull were,
For that himselfe had falst his faith, which latelie did forswere.
And yet they did proclaime, that they would not refuse
If anie other would step forth the faithfull to accuse.
So, willing to performe the Kings intended minde,
Their cankred mallice plant the plot to haue the daie assignde,
When these afflicted soules from prison to their dome,
Before the whelpes of Pilates brood to iudgement now should come.
The daie is come, and they that were before ordaind
To shew the glorie of the Lord, could not be now constraind
By all their braue deuice the truth for to denie:
But for the same amidst the flame they willing were to die.
The bloodie sentence past, (which was the Kings desire)
The valiant troope of godlie men were drawne vnto the fire,
And chained to their stakes all naked as they stood:
Vnto the Lord their crie was heard from out amids the wood.
Butto the wicked troope which longd to see that daie,
They knowing sure their causes good, this or the like did say.
The wicked impes of Sathan lurke to bring them to their end.
But one aboue the rest their death did dailie craue,
Munerius that bloodie wretch, that false and periurde knaue.
Who hauing now of late by falshood crackt his fame,
Did hope by hate of Gods elect againe to winne the same.
And hauing now attaind the Princes bill assignd,
In Paris towne before the States he shewes the Princes minde:
Which was, that presentlie (all businesse set aside)
The King would haue the prisners calde, their dealings to be tride.
And that they should proceed to judge, & eke beleue
According to the euidence Munerius then should geue.
These letters being read, the Senate all agree
Not to receiue Munerius, nor anie thing that he
Should laie against the life of those that faithfull were,
For that himselfe had falst his faith, which latelie did forswere.
And yet they did proclaime, that they would not refuse
If anie other would step forth the faithfull to accuse.
So, willing to performe the Kings intended minde,
Their cankred mallice plant the plot to haue the daie assignde,
When these afflicted soules from prison to their dome,
Before the whelpes of Pilates brood to iudgement now should come.
The daie is come, and they that were before ordaind
To shew the glorie of the Lord, could not be now constraind
By all their braue deuice the truth for to denie:
But for the same amidst the flame they willing were to die.
The bloodie sentence past, (which was the Kings desire)
And chained to their stakes all naked as they stood:
Vnto the Lord their crie was heard from out amids the wood.
Butto the wicked troope which longd to see that daie,
They knowing sure their causes good, this or the like did say.
Now shall you haue your will, now shall you do your worst:
Now shal ye haue our guiltles blood, for which ye lōg did thirst.
We feare not of this death, we know that al must die,
Yea happie are those sillie soules whō thus the Lord doth trie.
O welcome ioifull daie, ô welcome happie paine;
“A crowne immortall with this flesh, we shall receiue againe.
“Now hath the Lord here brought, and placte vs in this death,
“Not for because he hates his truth, but for to trie our faith.
“The counsell of the Lord hath sent what we receaue,
“And you to vs shal doo no more than God shall giue you leaue.
“And you that are our foes, beware the deadlie signe,
“Which showes you none of Gods elect; while thus ye doo repine
“Against his knowen truth: for which we vndertake
“To spend our blood in his defence, and suffer for his sake.
“The blood of Abel cride for vengeance to the Lord,
“Which fell on Cain & al his seed, (whō men & earth abhord)
“From which the Lord defend both you, and eke our land:
“O Lord reuenge not this our wrong, but stay thy furious hand;
“And giue them yet some space for to repent this thing;
“And for our death we doo forgiue both them & eke our King.
“Whose life the Lord preserue in health and perfect peace,
“And grāt that vnder him the truth may haue some ioiful ease.
“And though you haue some power this flesh for to destroy,
“Yet cannot vs your rage deuide from Christs immortal ioy.
“And though our breakfast seeme to flesh and blood some paine,
“Yet shall we sup with Iesus Christ, and ease receaue againe.
“Into thy blessed hands, ô Lord our soules receaue:
For of this earth and earthlie trash ô Lord we take our leaue.”
Now shal ye haue our guiltles blood, for which ye lōg did thirst.
We feare not of this death, we know that al must die,
Yea happie are those sillie soules whō thus the Lord doth trie.
O welcome ioifull daie, ô welcome happie paine;
“A crowne immortall with this flesh, we shall receiue againe.
“Now hath the Lord here brought, and placte vs in this death,
“Not for because he hates his truth, but for to trie our faith.
“The counsell of the Lord hath sent what we receaue,
“And you to vs shal doo no more than God shall giue you leaue.
“And you that are our foes, beware the deadlie signe,
“Which showes you none of Gods elect; while thus ye doo repine
“Against his knowen truth: for which we vndertake
“To spend our blood in his defence, and suffer for his sake.
“The blood of Abel cride for vengeance to the Lord,
“Which fell on Cain & al his seed, (whō men & earth abhord)
“From which the Lord defend both you, and eke our land:
“O Lord reuenge not this our wrong, but stay thy furious hand;
“And giue them yet some space for to repent this thing;
“And for our death we doo forgiue both them & eke our King.
“Whose life the Lord preserue in health and perfect peace,
“And grāt that vnder him the truth may haue some ioiful ease.
“And though you haue some power this flesh for to destroy,
“Yet cannot vs your rage deuide from Christs immortal ioy.
“And though our breakfast seeme to flesh and blood some paine,
“Yet shall we sup with Iesus Christ, and ease receaue againe.
“Into thy blessed hands, ô Lord our soules receaue:
8
Thus on the Lord they cride, which was their onelie trust,”
Till that the flame had staid their voice, & bodie burnt to dust.
Now we that doo remaine our parts are yet to plaie,
But when ô Lord our time shall come, grant vs like happy daie.
And when our triall drawes, no matter where nor when,
That God will giue like constant faith; let vs crie all Amen.
Till that the flame had staid their voice, & bodie burnt to dust.
Now we that doo remaine our parts are yet to plaie,
But when ô Lord our time shall come, grant vs like happy daie.
And when our triall drawes, no matter where nor when,
That God will giue like constant faith; let vs crie all Amen.
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