Anti-Coton, or, A Refutation of Cottons letter declaratorie lately directed to the Queene Regent, for the apologizing of the Iesuites doctrine, touching the killing of kings : a booke, in which it is proued that the Iesuites are guiltie, and were the authors of the late execrable parricide, committed vpon the person of the French King, Henry the Fourth, of happie memorie : to which is added, a Supplication of the Vniuersitie of Paris, for the preuenting of the Iesuites opening their schooles among them, in which their king-killing doctrine is also notably discouered, and confuted / both translated out of the French, by G.H. ; together with the translators animaduersions vpon Cottons letter.

CHAP. III.

That the Iesuites are guilty of the murther of our de∣ceased King, Henry the fourth.

WHosoeuer shall consider the crime of this wicked (wretch) Rauillac, in euery part and circumstance of it shal easily perceiue that the Iesuites had their fingers in the Pie, and that the mischiefe came none otherwise then by their instruction.

It is some fiue yeares since that at S. Victors, there was a Maide possessed with a Diuell, whose instru∣ment she was for the tel••ing of diuers things that see∣med admirable. Father Cotton, either moued with curiositie, or grounding himselfe vpon the familiari∣tie he had with his Spirits, tooke a iourney thither, to question with this Spirit on diuers points which he had a desire to know. And to helpe his memory, hee wrote in a ticket the points whereon hee was to de∣mand: Amongst other points these were some: What should be the issue of the conuersion of Mounsieur de la Val: and of the enterprises against Geneua: and of the continuance of Heresie: and of the estate of Madamoy∣selle Acarie; and about the life of the King. There were many like vnto these: but so it fell out, that Father Cot∣ton, deliuering vnto Mounsieur Gill••t, Counsailour, in in the great Chamber a booke which he had promised

him there, through some ouersight, left behinde him his memoriall, which falling by this meanes into the handes of the said M^r. Gillot, he communicated it vn∣to certaine others, and amongst others to my Lord the Duke of Sully, and so the matter came abroad. Had this fallen out at some other time, while some vi∣gour of spirit yet remained in men, this had beene sufficient to haue entred an inditement against the Ie∣suite; it being a matter capitall for a man to enquire about the tearme of his Princes life: (and that) not onely by the Romane lawes,* 1.1 the Authors whereof were Pagans and Idolaters;* 1.2 but euen by the lawes of God,* 1.3 as we may read in the 18. Chap. of Deutronomie. And Tertullian giues the reason of it in his Apologe. ticus, to wit, that such a one hath imaginations against the Princes life, that makes such inquirings about it.

Two yeares after this, so it fell that Mounsieur de le Forze, Lieutenant for the King in Bearne, by the in∣telligences which hee had from Spaine, by reason of his neighbour-hood vnto it, was aduertised that a Spaniard of such a stature, of such an hayre, and in such apparrell, departed such a day from Barcelo∣na, to go into France, with intendment to make away the King, by poyson or other meanes. Well, this Spa∣niard came to Paris, addressed himselfe to Father Cotton, who brought him vnto the King, & gaue high commendations of him. A while after came the Let∣ters of Monsieur de la Forze: when the King had read them, hee sends (forth) to seeke Father Cotton, and shewes him the Letters of Mounsieur de la Forze, and commands him to bring backe againe that same

Spaniard. Father Cotton answeres, he could not be∣lieue it, and that the aduertisement was false: neuer∣thelesse, he would go seeke out the said Spaniard, and bring him before his Maiestie. Whereupon he goes forth, and returning a good while after, hee tels the King, he could not finde him, and that hee was gone. To see clearely vnto the bottome of this, but a little good sight is too much.

It is not aboue a yeare agoe that Father Cotton wrote vnto a prouincial of Spaine diuers things which our King had vttered in secret, and reuealed in Con∣fession, and such as turned to the disgrace of his Ma∣iestie. The discouery whereof was the cause why hee continued in disgrace for the space of sixe Moneths. Neuerthelesse the late King (through a clemencie (that was) fatall vnto his owne destruction) forgaue him, and receiued him into fauour. But it may be re∣membred, how not many daies after, our young King being importuned by him, gaue him a gird, by such an answere as he well deserued, in these tearmes; I will tell you nothing, for you will writo in into Spaine, as you haue done the confession of my Father.

And to come neere the fact of Rauillac: like as af∣ter the death of Henry the third, a man might heare the Iesuites preach sediciously, and exhort their au∣ditors to do the like vnto his Successor: and amongst others, Father Commolet, crying out in his Sermons, We haue need of an Ehud, be he a Monke, or be he a Soul∣diour, we haue need of an Ehud. Right so at Lent last, might a man haue heard a Iesuite, by name Father Hardy, Son to one Mercier, dwelling on Nostre-Dame

bridge, preaching at S. Seuerins, and saying, that Kings heaped vp treasures to make themselues feared, but that there needed but a mattocke to kill a King. In witnesse whereof, I can produce Mounsier le Grand, and Mounsier de la Vau, Counsailours of the Court, who were present thereat, besides diuers others.

At the same time Father Gontier preached so se∣diciously, and so iniuriously against the King, that Mounsier the late Marshall of Ornano, as zealously af∣fected vnto the Catholique religion, as any man in France, being asked of his Maiestie what hee thought of his Sermons; made answere to him, that if Gontier had spoken as much at Burdeaux, he would haue cau∣sed him to be throwne into the Riuer. Euery one from that time might prognosticate some great mischiefe, and the murmure was so great amongst true French∣men, that my selfe falling on a time amongst good company, where some speach past between vs, one of them affirmed, that a iolly man of qualitie, called Mounsier de la Grange▪ Secretary to the Prince of Condy, would auouch to Fathe•• Gontier (s face,) that whiles (during these warres) he remained prisone•• at Perigeus, the said Gontier in presence of Father Sa∣phore, Rector of the Colledge, did maintaine against the said de la Grange, that it were a good deed to kill the King.

Yet this is not all: for to giue fire to the match at both ends, the Iesuites by meanes of a person named Guron, (who makes shew of much deuotion) would faine haue prescribed vnto the Curates of the pari∣shes in Paris, a forme of preaching the very last Lent,

giuing them in writing sundry discourses tending to sedition. But diuers honest Curates came to the Duke of Sully, beseeching him, that by his meanes they might speake with the King; to whom they made their complaints, saying; there were some that would prescribe them to preach things contrarie to their allegiance. The excessiue clemencie of this great King contented it selfe with making remonstrance hereof vnto Father Gontier; yea, and to winne his heart, he made him his Preacher, and gaue him a pension.

Like as before lightning a man shall heare some grumbling in the Clouds: euen so, these preachings and seditious meetings were the forerunners of this great blow, that hath shaken this State in the person of so great a King, whose losse we lament now, but shall feele it much more in the time to come.

Adde hereunto the Confession of Rauillac,* 1.4 who iu∣stified vnto Father Aubigny, that hee had told him in confession, that he had ben sent to giue a great stroke, and that hee shewed him the knife, hauing an heart grauen vpon it. But the said Iesuite protested, that God had giuen him this grace, that so soone as ought was reuealed vnto him in confession, hee forgat it incontinently. The Gallant saued his life by this: but had he beene in another Countrey, hee would haue beene taught the Art of Memorie.

They that haue sounded this Rauillac, and haue beene present at his examination, may perceiue that the said parricide hath beene (very) throughly in∣structed in this matter: for in euery other point of

Diuinitie hee shewed himselfe most ignorant; but in the question, whether it be lawfull to kill a Ty∣rant; he was well skilled in all manner of euasions and Iesuiticall distinctions, as my Lords the Commissio∣ners can testifie, the Sieur Coeffeteau Doctor of Diui∣nitie, and others, who had the examination of this Rauillac in this matter. And this parricide being de∣manded what moued him to this attempt, told them more then once, What the causes were why it was re∣quisite to kill the King, they might vnderstand by the Ser∣mons of the Preachers. His meaning was, that he was induced hereunto be the sermons before mentioned. But (more then this) it was easie to perceiue that be∣sides publike exhortations, he had (withall) receiued particular instructions at large, so well seene was hee in this argument.

Neyther is it a circumstance to be neglected, that Father Cotton, hauing obtained leaue to speake with Rauillac in prison, amongest other things that he spake vnto him, this was one; Looke well to it, that you ac∣cuse not the Innocent: fearing (belike) least hee should accuse the Iesuites: but the Cordeliers, Carmelites, and other honest religious persons, who were not touched in conscience, they feared not lest any should accuse them.

But whence was it, that at Bruxelles and at Prage where the Iesuites dominiere, the Kings death was spoken of (some) twelue, or fifteene dayes before it came to passe? At Roan diuers receiued letters from their friends at Bruxelles, desiring to be infor∣med whether the report that went of the Kings death

were true, albeit at that time it was not so.

Mounsieur Argentier at Troyes, receiued letters from the ••utor of his children at Prage, wherein hee was aduertised that a Iesuite had giuen it forth, that the King was dead before it fell out to be so, and with∣all had tolde them, that after his decease Monsieur the Dolphin should not be King, but the King of Spaine, and that for the same reasons which Father Gontier gaue in his sermons at Aduent and Lent last.

I may not omit the prediction of the prouost of Petiuiers, (who was found strangled in prison) who being at Petiuiers, two days iourney from Paris, and playing at nine pinnes, amongst sundry of his friends, told them saying; This day the King is either slaine▪ or hath a blow. This prouost was in faction a Iesuite, and had committed a sonne of his vnto them, who at this day is a Iesuite.

Diuers haue obserued with what disdaine and ge∣nerall indignation it was taken of euery one, to see the Iesuites at the Louure, the (very) morning after this abhominable assassinacie, looking with a smiling and pre••umptuous countenance, as who should say, all things went well for them; and to be presented vnto the Queene by Mounsieur de la Varenne, their Benefactor and restorer; and to haue that boldnesse in this common heauinesse and sorrow, so speedily to demand the ha••t of the poore deceased King, which they carryed away in a kinde of conquest, wherewith∣all they had done well to haue buryed also the tooth which Iohn Chastel, a disciple of theirs, strooke out some yeares since.

But who did not wonder to see all the Orders of religious persons assist the funerals of the King, and pertake of the common sorrow, sauing the Iesuites? who alone hauing receiued more good turnes of this good King, then all other Ecclesiasticall persons put together, euen they alone vouchsafed not to accom∣pany his body vnto the graue. Which being obser∣ued by diuers of the Spectators, some said, the reason of their absence was, because they disdained all other Orders: but the most iudicious, their opinion was, that it was no small part of their wisedome: and that Tiberius and Iulia, hauing procured the empoysoning of Germanicus,* 1.5 in the publike mourning that was at Rome, would not appeare openly, for feare least the people should discouer their sorrow to be but false and counterfai••e.

After the Kings death, they did what they could to keepe his purpose from taking effect, and to thwart such courses as he iudged to be for the good of the State. Hee had resolued to send companies vnto Cleues, for aide to the princes of Germanie. Since that, Mounsieur the Marshall of Castres, Generall of these forces, prepared himselfe for the iourney, when behold two Iesuites who came to seeke him out, tolde him that he could not goe this voyage, not bring suc∣cour vnto Heretiques with a good conscience, and fought to affright his conscience with threats, as that if he did this, hee could not be saued. But the said Marshall giuing no credit vnto their words, within a while after, they come vnto him to change their lan∣guage, and to appease him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paulus. lib. 5.
• * 1.2

  Sentent. tit. 21. §. 9.
• * 1.3

  Qui de falute Principis vel summa Reipub. Mathematicos, Ariolos Aru∣spices Vaticina∣tores consulit, cum eo qui re∣sponderit capi∣te punitur. Cui auté opus est serutari su∣per Caesaris sa∣lute nisi à quo aduersus illam aliquid cogita∣tur, aut post illam speratur & sust••nctur?
• * 1.4

  This is to be found in the Records.
• * 1.5

  Tacitus. lib. 3. Annal. Tiberi∣us atque Augu∣sta publico ab∣stinuere, inferi∣us maiestate sua••rati, si palam la∣mentarētur, an¦ne omniū ocu∣lis vultum eorū scrutantibus, falsi intellige∣rentur.