st to the
cardinalles orders devised for reformation toching religion: the said
Siggier, Rancongnet, and another President, with the rest of the
counsaillors, were all against the cardinalles. Whereupon it is judged,"
he adds, "that the House of Guise hathe taken this occasion to weaken
the constable: and because they wold not directly begynne with Siggier,
for feare of manifesting their practise, they have founde the meanes to
cause these counsaillors to be taken; supposing, that in th' examination
of them somme mater may be gathered to toche Siggier withall, and therby
to overthrow him." Despatch of June 13, 1559, Forbes, State Papers, i.
127.]

[Footnote 693: Hist. eccles. des egl. ref., i. 106.]

[Footnote 694: When President Seguier was defending himself and his
colleagues from the charge made by the Cardinal of Lorraine that they
did not punish the heretics, and alleged as proof the fact that only
three accused of "Lutheranism" remained in their prison, the cardinal
rejoined: "Voire, vous les avez expediez en les renvoyant devant leurs
evesques! Vrayement voyla une belle expedition, a ceux mesmes qui out
faict profession de leur foy devant vous, tout au contraire de la
saincte eglise de Rome!" Pierre de la Place, Commentaires de l'estat de
la rel. et rep., p. 11.]

[Footnote 695: "Non, non, dict-il, monsieur le president; mais vous
estes cause que non seulement Poictiers, mais tout Poictou jusques au
pays de Bordeaux, Tholouse, Provence, et generalement France est toute
remplie de ceste vermine, qui s'augmente et pullule soubs esperance de
vous." Ib., _ubi supra_.]

[Footnote 696: Ib., _ubi supra_, Hist. eccles., i. 107, 108.]

[Footnote 697: La Place, Comm. de l'estat de la rel. et rep., p 12.]

[Footnote 698: Idem. Serranus, de statu, etc., i., fol. 14.]

[Footnote 699: "There is another consideration of the proceadings of
these maters, whiche (savyng your Majestie's correction) in myne
opinion, is as great as the rest: ... that forasmuch as the multitude of
Protestantes, being spred abrode in sundry partes of this realme in
diverse congregations, ment now amiddes of all these triumphes to use
the meane of somme nobleman to exhibit to the King their confession
(wherof your Majeste shall receive a copie herwithal) to th' intent the
same mighte have bene openly notified to the world; the King being
lothe, that at the arrivall here of the Duke of Savoy, the Duke of Alva,
and others, these maters shuld have