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THis Francis, King of Scotland by Mary Stuart his wife, at the age of fifteene yeares, and five Moneths, succeeded his father Henry, and was Crowned at Rheimes, Sep∣tember 1559. by the Cardinall of Lo∣raine,
Arch-Bishop of that See: after his Coronation, he went to conduct his Brother in law the Duke of Loraine, and the Dutchesse Claudia his sister as farre as Barle Duke: from whence hee returned into France, and sojourned for a while in the City of Blois, where he reformed some abuses of those that followed his Court. In the meane time this President Minard was slaine in his owne House, returning from Court: This murther was a cause that it was forbidden to carry trucheons and weapons. The Counsellor of Bourg was burnt for his Religion. The King having made preparations, sent the Lord of Martigues into Scotland, for the suppression of some Scots, who upon pretext of Religion were in Armes: during which time, Mary of Loraine Dowager of Scotland decea∣sed. At the same time also certaine Gentlemen of France, being assembled in Armes neare the City of Amboise,
where the King was attended by the Cardinall of Loraine, and his brother, the Duke of Guise, were discovered in a certaine enterprise, which they preten∣ded to be for the publicke good, and for the dispossessing of some strangers, usurpers of the Kings authority, and Kingdome, contrary to the ancient au∣thority of the three Estates of France; and also for making some remonstran∣ces to the King concerning Religion: for which many were executed to death, amongst whom the Baron of Ca∣stelnau was one. At that time the Chan∣cellour Oliver deceased, in whose place and dignity was instituted Monsieur de'l Hospital. Shortly after the King went to Orleans, there to settle himselfe, where he fell sicke of an Apostume in his left eare, whereof he dyed the foure∣teenth of September, Anno Domini 1560. having reigned about eighteen months and twenty dayes, and lyes interred at S. Denis.
The Protestants were very much per∣secuted in this Kings reigne, and there were foure prisoners of especiall note, Castelnau, Villemongis, Campagnac, and le Picard, who cryed out against the Chancellor that had signed the sentence of their deaths, who thereupon fell sud∣denly sicke, and when the Cardinall of Loraine came to visit him, cryed out: O Cardinall thou hast damned us all. While the King lay dangerously sicke, the Queene mother intending to support the Guisans, called the King of Navarre into her closet, to whom, as he was go∣ing a Lady of the Court said: My Lord, deny the Queen mother nothing that she shall demand, else you are dead: whereupon he signed what shee desired, and thereby obtained her fa∣vour. Afterward the King dyed of Catarch and a Feaver the 14. of Decem∣ber, whose seeds of vertue lay hid in his nature, and were not discerned, onely some shewes of courtesie, modesty, and
continency were in his younger yeares apparent, and therefore his death was not much lamented, but of such as in his nonage possessed usurped estates. After his decease the Prince of Conde turned the streame of affaires. To give a briefe Character of this King and his reigne, he was a picture of Majesty drawne in raw colours, being young in yeares and judgement, governed by his Mother, and his wives Uncles. The Princes of Blood were in his reigne not regarded, power and might prevailed in Court, and the Clergy sought protection from the disturbers of France. The Nobility were ingaged in warres, and the people divided in matters of Religion, and in the Court factions were maintained: this was the face and complexion of those times; miseries incident to the minority of Princes.