The Nature of a Preface doth not allow me to enlarge myself any further upon that Subject, it would be an easy matter to prove that these our Enemies Charges proceed rather from their hatred against us, than from any fettled principle of Duty and Allegiance to Kings and Magiftrates, or from any Conviction of their Confcience; but that would be needlefs, THEY SHOW THEIR FAITH BY THEIR WORKS. Now to come to this part of our History: I have been obliged to divide this Volume into two Parts. This firft hath been fwelled up with fome Relations which may appear, at the first fight, to be fomething foreign to our main defign. The fhort Account I give of the Council of Trent; of the Rife, Progrefs and Settlement of the Jefuits in France; of the Reformation in the Low Countries, and the cruel Government of the Duke of Alva, could have been omitted, it is true, but not eafily, without leaving the Reader at a lofs, when he will fee in this Hiftory, that how favourable foever to the Popes the Kings of France have been, the Parliaments, efpecially that of Paris, could never be prevailed upon to receive the Council of Trent, and to publish it in the Kingdom; That the Jefuits, whereof no mention is made before this time, have done fuch and fuch things; That the Reformed of France and thofe of the Low Countries, did mutually affift one another in feveral Occafions. Therefore I hope he will excafe thefe neceffary Digreffions, intended only only for faving him the trouble of perufing If I have been fome thing out of humour An Author must not be deemed Partial, unless when he magnifies the Objects on each fide, when he conceals the right and good Actions of the contrary Party, and good Qua- lities and Virtues of an Enemy; and the Wrongs and Injuftices of his own, the Vices, bad Qualities and Faults of Friends, and it is what I have not done, as far as I remember; and if I am guilty in that refpect, and shewn of my Faults, I am ready to fubmit. But for venting one's Indignation by fome fcornful or odious Epithet, that I don't take to be Partia- lity, provided it fhould be defervedly bestowed And now it remains only to warn the Rea- der, that the next Contents are the most correct, Containing the Hiftory of eleven Years, two Months, INTRODUCTION. Means made ufe B. petitions for Justice: The fourth National Sy- nod. The Conclufion of the Council of Trent. A bort Account of that Council. The King takes under bis Protection the Queen of Navarr, fome Arfhbishops and Bishops. A General In- terview of the Catbolick Powers propofed. The King is intreated by feveral Powers to re- ceive the Council of Trent. Why he did not comply. The King's Edit for beginning the Year by the first of January. He begins the Vifit of his Kingdom. Injustices of Damville in Languedoc. The King comes to Rouillon. The Edict of Rouffillon. A Plot against the Queen of Navarr difcovered. Cardinal of Lorrain affronted at Paris: Why. The King's Inter- view with the Queen of Spain at Bayonne. A Law-Suit between the University of Peris and the Jefuits. Afport Account of the Rife, Pro- grefs, and Settlement of the Jefuits in France. The Cardinal's War. The fifth National Synod. Affembly of the Notables at Moulins. Execution of Simon May at Paris. Afhort Account of the Reformation in the Low-Countries. Trial and Sufferings of Merula. Continuation of the State of Religion in the Low-Countries. Of the Car- dinal of Granvelle. Continuation of the Affairs in the Low-Countries. The Queen-Mother makes great Preparations for oppreffing the Reformed. Several Occurrences of the Year 1567. The fixth National Synod. Every thing difpofed to a Rupture between the two Parties in France. The Prince of Condé and his Coun- cil refolve upon a War. Jured. Attempts to feize the King at Meaux. The fecond Civil War. Several Parleys between the Court and the Prince. Battle of St. Denis. St. |