Certaine orations and answeres made by Iohn Casimire Countie Palatine of Rhyne ... vnto the French king & his embassadours in defence of ye maintenance of his peace, and Christian religion. Translated out of French. 1579.

❀The Answere of my said Lord the Duke, vnto the afore said Chardge.

THe Lord Duke Ihon Cassimire hauing heard of the Lord of Villiquier what so e∣uer hee had to say to him in the behalfe of the King his Maister, did request his Ma∣iestie to take in good parte this answere from poinct to poinct, and the same to re∣ceiue with as good a will as the said Lord Duke is affectionate to the aduancement cōmoditie and seruice of his Maiestie and the Crown of Fraunce.

First the said Lord the Duke most hum∣bly thāketh his maiestie for y^e gréef which he séemeth to perticipate in for the death of his late Lord and Father, assuring his Maiestie that he hath great cause so to doo in respect of the zeale, care and singuler a∣fection whiche he alwayes hare euen to the last gaspe of his life, vnto the ad∣uancement and preseruation of his Ma∣iesties person, togither with the comoditie

and quietnesse of the whole Realme of Fraunce.

The said Lord Duke hopeth also that his Maiestie shall finde that my Lord the E∣lector his brother hath succéeded not only, in the Electorall Dignitie, but also in like goodwil and affection, wherin hée the said Lord Duke dooth also assure his Maiestie that for his parte he wil follow the steps of his late Lord and Father, so néere as possible he may, and will alwaise by Gods help professe y^e same, not only to his Coun∣try, but also to his Maiestie with as good a wil as euer hée did.

Wherfore as his Maiestie dooth the said Lord Duke so much honor, as by the way to cause y^e Lord of Villiquire, to visit him and to comunicate vnto him of his newes can hée not also forget as wel moste hum∣bly to thank his maiestie, as also plainly to declare vnto him, that vnderstanding his intent to be such as the said Lord of Villiquire hath both giuen him to vnder∣stand and left with him in writing, is vn∣to him newes indéed.

First because that this his Maiesties ple∣sure is vtterly repugnant vnto the pro∣mises,

othes, and assurances, wherw^t his Maiestie hath alwaies protested bothe by mouth and wrighting, that he would maī∣tain his Edict of Pacification, concluded, and sealed by the autoritie of his Maiestie the Queene his mother, the Prīces of his blood, and his priuie counsail, at such time as his Maiestie had such store of his pow∣er about him, that easely he might haue doon what he had pleased, and this he did to the end for euer to testifie that hée did conclude, sweare and solemply confirme the same, of his owne pure, méere, frée and liberall goodwil, for the proffit, and quiet∣nesse of his Kingdome, and Subiects, as not onely the said Lady Queene his Mo∣ther, the Princes and other Lords haue by woord of mouth protested vnto the said Lord Duke at the concluding of the said peace, whervnto for the greater cōfima∣tion of the same they also requested the said Lord Duke to subscribe, as indéed hée did: but also his Maiestie him self hath bothe sent him woord and confirmed the same.

More ouer this his Maiesties intent sée∣meth so much the more straunge to

the said Lord Duke, as that to his great gréef he therby forséeth the finall perditiō whervnto his Maiestie for the putting of his determination in executiō, dooth hed∣long cast his owne person and whole Re∣alme, wherof togither with the present e∣state of his affaires and the generall ruin to come, the said Lord with the rest of the Princes of Germany who doo wish the pre¦seruation of the French Monarchie, béeing dayly truely aduertised, as the said Lord of Villiquier may by them selues vnderstand, and shall sée the writings bothe written and printed which the said Lord Duke trusteth wilbe sufficient to reuoke his said Maiestie from his resolution, and wherby hée shall perceiue the malice of his Ser∣uāts hired héervnto, who vsurpīg the title of the Estates in y^e name of all his subiects haue made this request wherof they neuer receiued commission of his Subiectes, either were by them advowed, as the said Lord of Villequier shall at his return very well vnderstand.

The said Lord Duke may (thanks he to God) plainly testifie, that hée hath of moste

faithful and sincere affection aduertised his Maiestie aswel by letters and Emba∣ssadours as by his Maiesties Messenger.

First béeīg in Fraunce, hée warnded him of the holy league, the frutes wherof, hée may now euidently perceiue to be vtter∣ly contrary to the faith and reputation of his Maiestie and quietnesse of his Sub∣iects.

After being come, home by Prayllon him self (who is now héer present) hée gaue his Maiestie to vnderstand of the true aduer∣tismēts which hee had receiued of y^e drifts and practises prepared for prouiding and corrupting in each parte, and bringing to the deuotion of those whome wée doo perceiue, suche as should enioy the ti∣tle of the Estates: that is to say, to pro∣uide that no Estates should be holden frée∣ly▪ lawfully and without respect of Religi∣on, where at might be present (as at all times aunciently they haue béen accusto∣med) the Princes of the blood, togither with all such as haue wherof to complain. Moreouer the said Lord Duke hath true∣ly aduertised his maiestie after what ma∣ner the Edict of peace hath béene executed

nothing is doon: that y^e Estates haue béen ordered in such wise as already hée hath béen aduertised: that the Princes of the blood haue thervnto béen called to the end to intrap them. How such men haue béen fauoured, as haue offered to lay houlde vp¦pon their Parsons, and to surprise those Townes where the Edict is lawfully and fincéerely executed, togither with the pla∣ces where those of the Religion haue béen forced to kéep them selues, and not to for∣sake the same by reason of the euil execu∣tion of the Edict. Hée hath béen moreouer truely aduertised of the othe lately made to his Maiestie, the Copye wherof was sūmarely deliuered to y^e said Lord of Vil∣lequier, a matter, to say trueth, horrible to be knowen among men, and so straunge that y^e said Lord Duke could neuer haue beléeued it, had not the continual and late contrauensions against the Edict moste manifestly declared y^e same, & the Kings proposition made by the said Villequier fully confirmed it, as also the said matters doo ioyntly cause the said Lord Duke to beleeue that his Maiesties determination is correspondent to the declaration of the

aforesaid Lord of Villequier.

Howbeit the said Lord Duke trusteth that in asmuch as it is a month since the departure of the said Lord of Villequier, God hath otherwise inspired his Maies∣tie and caused him to smel out this poyso∣ned counsail, togither with the vanitie of the offers of these pretended Estates, to the end to put his Maiestie in minde, yea to cause him, euen as it were with his fin¦ger to touch that which héertofore wise∣ly and ripely, hée hath had in woorthy consideration, which also his faithfull and truely affected Seruants and Fréends not only in F••aūce, but also through out Chri∣stendome, haue manifested vnto him, which also finally necessitie it self hath gi∣uen to vnderstand, not only to his Maies∣tie, but to his Predecessors, by so much experience when they haue endeuoured (but euer in vain) to root out the reformed Religion, and all exercise of the same by warres, persecutions, and other meanes, euen horrible to be rehersed, which the said Lord Duke could not ouer passe, by reason of the sincere affection which he be∣reth to the conseruation of the mightines

of his Maiestie: And to the end to sée him at peace w^t his Subiects, the way is, to set before his Maiesties eyes this litle whi∣ch followeth.

First, that it may please his Maiestie to call to minde the coūsail of Gamaliel that against that which commeth of God, no power or practise of man can preuaile: al∣so that whatsoeuer is not of God: waste∣th and perisheth of it self.

Secondly y^t in matters of estate that is good, which is necessary, wherin his Ma∣iestie may looke in the looking glasse of Germany, Poland, Hungary, Boheme, Suisserland, and the lovv Country, not as things are cloked: but according to the trueth, as him self hath séen, for to com∣pare a Prince of Germany with his ma∣iestie or with all Fraunce is an absurde thing, but to compare Fraunce, with all Germany: is an equall proportion.

Thirdly, that his Maiestie perceiueth that all the same Contries doo floorish, be∣cause they haue found meanes to content the consciences of their subiects, by whi∣ch Examples his maiestie may knowe y^t not the permission of the Religion, but the

hinderaunce of the exercise of the same, hath engendred the mischéefs and calami∣ties which now he beholdeth through all his Realme.

Fourthly, that his Maiestie not béeing able to confirme the laste peace without his Edict of Pacification, and not béeing a¦ble to kéepe that without maintaining the same and putting it in execution: hée may plainly sée that, the maintenance of his Edict is the only fundation, and meanes of peace, yea it is the very peace it self.

Fiftly, like as the vpholding therof is a meane of peace and auoiding warres, so is it the only way wherby his maiestie may recouer the obedience of his subiects: for it is a thing most certain y^e a King be∣coming Captain of any faction among his subiects, can neuer be wel obeyed, for it is requisite y^t hée should shew him self a com∣mon Father to all his Subiects, in endeuo¦ring to reconsile them one to an other.

Also sixtly to deale and sweare against y^e vpholdīg therof, is the only meane to brīg his maiesties subiects in greater mistrust then before, and so to areare more cruel warre then before time.

Seuenthly to alleadge y^e soueraigne au∣toritie of a King for the dooing or swering to such matters, to bring his maiestie vnto a perpetuall rebuke among all the world, wherby he shall be accoūted a Prince void of all faith, lawe, honor and vertue. For his maiestie may call to minde how often he hath bothe by woord and writing pro∣fessed himself to be a true Prince, such a one as wil promise nothing but what he entende••h to performe, yea and mindeth rather to promise nothing, so that no man of honour can otherwise conclude but that either he ought not to haue made the con∣tents of y^e edict: or else he ought to obserue it, as his maiestie in his owne person hath vsed to say.

For y^e eighth especially the Lord Duke assureth him self that his maiesty may wel perceiue that with any man who would ob¦serue the coutēts of their othe, or folow the counsail of these pretended states which is no other then the othe it selfe, notwith∣standing it had neuer béene sworne: it would be vnpossible to haue any trafique, because that neither worde, promise, othe, obligation, seale, or other thing whatsoe∣uer

ordinary and lawfull for the assurance of faith among men, especially betwéen the Prince and his subiects, considering the imbecilitie of the said subiects, would be of any more force, but contrariwise should serue only for nets and snares wherwith to entrap eche other.

Ninthly his Maiestie ought to consider that neighbours and straungers cannot assure them selues of that Prince, whose subiects cannot trust him, as they of the Religion, who haue ouermuch béene per∣swaded. For to showe that they began not: we néede no other argument then the pro∣position of the said Lord of Villequier, namely that the King is not minded to ob∣serue the principall point of his Edict.

As touching the example of the Quéene of England, it is sufficiently knowen that that Ladyes hart is such, as if shée had a∣mong her subiects found such numbers of Princes, Lordes, gentlemen and others of the Romaine Religion within her domi∣nions, who should as his Maiesties sub∣iects haue doon, so oftē haue requested her, rather than to haue incurred such spoyles, and once onely falsifyed her faith and pro∣mise,

her maiestie would haue permitted them the exercise of their Roomish Reli∣gion.

Tenthly that his maiestie should beare at the least asmuch affection vnto his owne Subiects, as he hath shewed vnto the e∣states of the lowe Countryes, in reioysing with them for the determination that they haue taken, for the recouery of their liber∣tie, hauing also béene a mediatour to the saide Estates for the restoring againe of the Countie of Egmonde into his estates and honours, wherin he hath the more to consider of the pollicie of the Spaniarde, who séeketh nothīg but to continue warres in Fraunce, to the end thereby to turne a∣way the tempest from his owne Coun∣tryes after his good and vsuall maner.

Finally, whereas his Maiestie allea∣geth that willingly hée would leaue his Subiects the libertie of their consciences: that were much more to be mistrusted be∣cause it is moste vndoubted, that hée who can liue without exercise of his Religion, is vtterly deuoyd of all conscience, so that it is as much as if his maiestie should say, I will graunt my subiects their liues, but

in the meane time he should take frō them their foode, wherein the Papists doo showe a sufficient argument that they cannot liue without Masse, so that the said Lord Duke cannot giue his Maiestie any better counsaile, except that if hée minde to re∣maine a King, and to show him self such a Prince that a man may deale and trafique and trust to his maiestie, that thē he main∣taine his Edict, and obserue his faith in procuring the abuses of these pretended E∣states (wherof his maiestie speaketh) to be refourmed by such meanes as shall be thought reasonable, for the said assembly cannot be taken for true, frée, and lawfull Estates, but rather for traytors to his ma∣iestie & his crowne, neither are they y^e per∣sons promised by the Edict, for they should be kept for the maintenaunce and confir∣mation of the peace, but not for the subuer∣ting thereof, to which end they haue moste vilanously béene subbourned, as many times his Lordship hath aduertised his ma∣iestie. The rehearsall of all which things the said Lord Duke could very well for∣beare, were he not constrayned as well by the plainesse of his conscience and honour

which is engaged in the subscription of the peace, as also by reason of the singular affec∣tion which he beareth to the commoditie, aduauncement and seruice of his maiestie, in which minde he will continue all his life time, hauing nothing in more recōmendati∣tion then to bring to the crown of Fraunce, and the tranquilitie of his maiesties sub∣iects, what so euer meanes or counsaile God shall euer giue him without sparing ought, which the said Lord Duke moste humbly desireth his maiestie to beléeue, and for such a one to account him, placing him in the number of his moste faithfull and af∣fectionate fréends and seruants.

This is all which the said Lord Duke can imparte to his maiestie, in ought that appertaineth to his person. But as con∣cerning his armie that was in Fraunce, the said Lord Duke, his Colonels, Reystre∣maisters and Captains, hauing héeretofore thought it straunge that his maiestie kept not with them the promises which he had bothe made and so often reitreated vnto them, as well at Francfort as at Stras∣brough touching their payment and ho∣stages, doe now thincke it muche more

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straunge, and a matter almoste impudent, that such a Lord as the Lord of Villequier comming into these partes as Embassador for his maiestie, hath not onely not brought any assuraunce of the same: but also not so much as is spoken thereof sauīg by the way yea and which is more, that the effect of his message is vtterly repugnaunt vnto the Obligations and promises of his ma∣iestie.

Therfore the said Lord Duke, not in his owne name only: but also in the name of his whole armie requireth his maiestie to haue regarde to his honour and to kéep faith and promise wherby at the next faire at Franc∣forte aswel the said Lord Duke, as also his Colonels, Reistremaisters, and Captaines, may be satisfied, who in the name of the whole armie, will méete at the said Citie of Francforte, there to determine of their af∣faires, according as the Lord Beuterich and the other Captaines sent with him, may more amply aduertise his maiestie.

All this dooth the aforesaid Lord Duke moste hartely request the said Lord of Vil∣lequier to let his Maistie, fully, openly, and at large vnderstande, together with

what soeuer he hath aunswerd by woord of mouth, without any circumstances▪ or difficultie, with like plainesse, affection, and good will, as the saide Lord Duke in mak∣ing this answere hath procéeded and desi∣reth euer to pro∣céed toward his Maiestie.

❀Thus subscribed

I. Cassimire.