the Sonne of God So the Lord knoweth who are his Herein also appeareth euidently the mercifulnes of God who worketh all things to the best and comfort of his children For when as the Rebels and murtherers supposed that by the Kings death they might easily make an alteration of the state and transferre the Crowne vpon the head of the Duke de Mayne and so disappoynt the Princes of Bourbon of their right of succession the Lord turned al their counsels vpside downe For the Lord mooued the King lying on his death bed when he was in perfect memorie and farthest as the manner in such a case from all manner of affection and parciality to pronounce his sentence and decrée or rather supplying the person of God to proclayme the King of Nauarre right heire and successor of the crowne and by the inuocation of the glorious name of GOD bâ—und the Princes péeres Nobles Captaines and Souldiours to yéeld him dutifull obedience so that God himselfe hath béene the iudge of his cause giuing sentence on his side by him whome he appoynted his officer in that behalfe It will stand Thus much of the vnworthy death of so great a King in whom ended the issue of the noble house of Engolesme according vnto the fatall period of great Noble and mighty families which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein we haue to note the whole family excepted onely Francis the first as Henry the second Francis the second Charles the ninth Francis Duke of Aniou and this last King Henry the third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per sanguinem ruit and haue died of an vntimely or violent death because they were polluted with that accursed woman Catherine Medicis Pope Clement his sisters brothers daughter And so making an end of the Epitasis of this vnnaturalltragedie played by leaguers we will make an end likewise of this 6. Booke Here endeth the 6. Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE NOw we will follow the Catastrophe and last act which although it be full of Calamities yet it is like to bee ended with a ioyfull and happie successe The King beeing dead great heauines and sorrowe seazed vppon men of all degrees the Campe was full of sorrow and lamentation the wise saw this to be new seeds of a world of euils which wil worke the vtter subuersion of France On the other side great reioysing was seene among the rebels and traitors authors and procurers of the murther their ioye they shewed diuers waies but speciallie with contumelies and sarcasmes demaunding one of another whether the Friers knife was sharpe enough or not The rebels in Paris certified of the assured death of the King and supposing that the army had béen greatly dismayed replenished with teares and lamentation conceaued a good hope to do some great and notable exploit and imagining that it were easie in this mourning of all men to defeat the Kings forces all that night the Duke de Mayne did muster and prepare a mighty army and early in the morning issuing out of the Suburbs was so receaued by the Kings forces that he was enforced to retire within the Citie with blowes and dishonor That morning being the third of August but by the right calender the 23. of Iuly the King of Nauarre who was appointed the Kings Generall lieutenant by the King after that hee had receaued the wound assembled the Princes Lords Nobility and Captaines to deliberat how to remedy those great euils and to put out that combustion which the rebels had kindled in all partes of the realme First there was a capitulation made and concluded betweene theKing and the said Princes and Nobles Lords gentlemen and souldiers that there should be no innouation made in the Romish religion but the same should stand and be exercised peaceably without any interruption And that the reformed religion should be contained with all liberty in the exercise thereof within the places where it was then at that present time established prouided that the Romish religion should bee there exercised also without any disturbance And that men professing these two religions liuing peaceably like good subiects should be protected by the Kings authoritie in their liues goods liberties and franchizes vntill that by a nationall Councell some good and peaceable order should bee taken for some reconsiliation or vniformitie touching religion Which thing the King promised by the faith of a Prince to kéepe inuiolably and with as much speede as might be to prouide that a Councell and méeting of the learned might be assembled This order being concluded and the obseruation thereof promised by the King all his Princes Nobles Lords Gentlemen and Captaines promised vpon their othes all duetifull fidelitie and obedience vnto the K. and to assist him with their liues goods and meanes as well in the defence of his royall authoritie agaynst all traytors rebels and Leaguers which goe about to vsurpe the state as in the execution of the exemplary punishment vpon them who haue procured or committed that haynous disloyaltie felony and treason vpon the Kings person last deceased and all others who shall be knowne consenting knowing or accessarie to the same This order being taken as the readiest and most expedient to vnite the subiects with the King being promised and sworne the King of Nauarre was saluted declared proclaymed and crowned King of France and Nauarre by the name of King Henry the 4. And whereas in this historie hée had béen discerned from the King of France by the title of King of Nauarre now in the course of this historie following he shall be simply named King without any other addition or title This noble King being proclaymed King is crowned and put in the possession of the Crowne of France due vnto him by right not with triffling childish and Monkish cerimonies with holy oyle holy water holy toyes and holy trashes but after the ancient manner of the Emperours of the Romanes in the Camp by the whole army Princes Péeres Nobles and Captaines of the kingdome Here Christian Reader is to be noted Gods most gracious fauour toward France and prouidence toward this great King for except the Lord had prepared this heroicall Prince to restablish this decayed state which was cast downe headlong into such a depth of miseries by the Leaguers as in mans iudgement it was impossible that it could euer haue been vnited againe but rather reduced into a lamentable desolation But the Lord in his mercie beholding from heauen his holy habitation with his lightfull countenance after so many tempests hath raised vp lead by the hand and placed by his own authoritie and power this great Prince on the Throan of that state whom hee hath endued with wisedome prudence fortitude moderatnes modestie iustice and pietie to bee able to heale the deadly wounds of that sickly state to pacifie the controuersies of religion to lodge therein iustice and iudgement so long exiled out of that common wealth and to restore peace so long wished and desired Againe
the Realme of France THE FIRST BOOKE CLaude of Vaudemont otherwise of Lorrayne came into France in the time of Lewis the xii in a manner with a wallet and a staffe that is to say a beggerly gentleman in comparison of the great reuenewes which hée and his haue had afterward in France For all his reuenewes when he came into France was not aboue xv M. Franks He began to growe vnder King Francis the first by crouching and capping and double diligence vnder whom after that all offices had béen bestowed hée obtained to bée the Kings Faulkner at the suite of other Noble men That was an office giuen before that time to Gentlemen of small accompt Notwithstanding y e basenes of his degree in Court he was beholden with a suspicious eye by King Francis carying in his mind a certaine presage of that which hath happened afterward For when he had marked with a wise prudencie the sawcines of him and his children hee vttered his iudgement concerning them in these words That they will turne his children into their doublets and his subiects into their shirts The yeare 1515. in the absence of the Duke of Guelders he had the charge of the Swizzers which King Francis had hyred for his iourney to Millaine The yeare 1523. the Lord Trimouille left him the gouernment of Burgondie The yeare 1527. at the suite and intercession of Noble men the King erected his Village of Guize situated vppon the riuer Oyse in the confines of Vermandoyse into a Duchie His Children were the Dukes of Guize Aumale the Marquise D'albeuf the two Massing Priests of Lorraine and Guize These Faulkners did so apply their busines partly with flattering partly with the aliance of lagrand Seneschal which was the Paramour of King Henry the second and the Duke D' Aumale maried her daughter as good as the mother but especially by the facilitie or rather fondnesse of the saide Henry the second that within fewe yeares they obtayned in land and pensions one milion of Frankes beside their Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall offices dignities liuings which did amount to so much But specially they aduaunced themselues greatly in the time of King Francis the second by reason of their aliance with him who had married their Néece the Quéene of Scots In his time they disposed of all things after their owne willes For the King sawe nothing but by their eyes heard nothing but by their mouthes did nothing but by their hands so that there remained nothing but onely the wearing of the Crowne vpon their owne heads and the name of King In this great prosperitie they lacked nothing neither will nor meanes to attaine to their intent but that the Nobilitie of France was a perilous blocke in their way which they could not lep ouer for to ascende to so great and high seate of Maiestie and in stead of a veluet cap to weare a Crowne of pure gold In this prosperous successe it hath happened to them as the Prouerbe is Set a begger on horsebacke and he will ride vntill he breake his necke which the tragicall end of them hath verified But they fearing no such bloodie euents and intending to turne their master out of the house and to seaze on the possession and to lodge themselues therein they vsed cunning and policie The first steppe to reach to that which they intended to get was a dreame in this Iulling of Fortune vnaccustomed to them or theirs For they in their dreame dreamed and sawe in a vision that they were descended from Charles the great and consequently that they had right to the Crowne and that Capet who had dispossessed their auncestors as they say and his posteritie which now enioy it are but vsurpers But considering that to enter into any action of law about such a matter would be a dangerous course and that a peaceable state would rather helpe them backward than forward and that such a fish would bee caught rather in a troublesome than in a cleare water the streame must needes be stirred The occasion of the time fell out fitly to further their intent and to trouble the state They therefore tooke the dissension of Religion to colour the same than the which they thought no better could be deuised for the people was alreadie in ielousie one against another through the diuersitie of religion Unto this opportunitie came many helping causes as the minoritie of the house of Valoys the ambition and atheisme of the Q. Mother the great credite and power which the parties themselues had gotten alreadie afore hand in the Realme the facilitie or rather inconstancie of Anthonie of Burbon King of Nauarre and last of all the headie frowardnes of the Constable and Annas of Monmorency which things conspiring together fitly to further their desires they thought it was time in stead of Atheisme to put on Popish superstition and their ambition should runne for burning zeale of Poperie This part they tooke not for any religion which they cared for but being the stronger and more fauourable side by the which they might get both credite and strength By these meanes the ciuil warres being easily stirred vp they thought all by one meane both to weaken the Nobilitie and to oppresse the house of Burbon which being made away they supposed either that they could easily subuert the house of Valoys being all children or els to suruiue them and as then to make an open claime to the Crowne The ciuill warres being by them and their meanes begun they haue entertained them from time to time And when through wearines or weakenes of their part they haue come to peace they haue through treacherie so manured it that peace hath been more domageable to the professors of the Gospell than open warre as it may appeare by the murthers which they procured and performed at Paris and in other Cities in France the yeare 1572. After the which murther they also procured King Charles the ix to imprison the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and afterward Monsieur the Kings yongest brother The King of Nauarre hauing béen kept prisoner with a garde the space of thrée yeares and more at length in the yeare 1576. went foorth out of Paris to hunting in the Forrest of S. Germayne en faye accompanied with a great number of Catholike Gentlemen among whom was also the Duke Espernon When he came to the Forrest hee opened his minde vnto them that hee was not determined to returne to the Court The Gentlemen considering his hard intertainement and the greatnes of his person were so farr from compelling him to returne from whence he came that they profered to conduct him wheresoeuer he would and so they brought him to the Towne of Alenson 45. leagues from Paris where was a great number of them of the reformed Religion whether also he had requested the Gentlemen to accompanie him Shortly after his arriuing there when the reformed Church had assembled together the said King in the face of
one Salcedo a Spanyard which before had escaped the gibbet of Roan for coyning false coyne with his false gold and siluer wrought by Alchimie fled into Spayne and from thence into Lorrayne where the Guizes hiered him for sixe thousand Crownes which they payed him at Nancie in Lorrayne to murther Monsieur This Salcedo therefore hauing his money and his lesson without the booke went into France proffered his seruice to Monsieur afore he went into the Lowe Countrey and at the recouerie of Cambray shewed some token of dexteritie and in the Low Countrey did all that could be to creepe into greater fauour with Monsieur But withall entered in familiaritie and communication with the yongest sonne of Egmond for which cause the sayd Egmond began to be suspected both of Monsieur and the Prince of Orenge who being examined by the sayd Prince about Salcedos familiaritie answered that their communications were about Alchimie The Prince with a certaine presagious minde replied that he feared that a more dangerous Alchimie would ensue of their familiaritie admonished the sayd Egmond to call to remembrance the dealing of the King of Spayne with his father The Prince of Orenge and Monsieur departed from Antwerpe to Bridges in Flanders where they arriued the 17. day of Februarie Now this conspiracie deuised at Rome confirmed in Spayne brought from thence by Frier Mathewe the Pardoner set in readines to Nancie in Lorrayne the Duke of Parma aduertized thereof thought good with one dayes worke to dispatch these two noble Princes He thought good to bring somewhat of his owne least the Leaguers onely should haue the glorie of this murther therefore to Salcedo he ioyned two companions knowing that a string twisted is not so easily broken These two fellowes were Francisco Baza an Italian of the band of Fernando Gonzago which was in the Campe of the petie Duke of Parma and a Wallon During the time these two Princes were in Bridges Salcedo aduanced himselfe so neere Monsieur that vpon suspition he was apprehended then stayed there in the Court without the sayd Italian and the Wallon tarying for Salcedo This Italian expecting with great desire when Salcedo should come foorth asked of another whether Salcedo were within still Answere was made that he was being asked the question whether hee knewe Salcedo When the Courtier was gone in againe the Italian entring in feare would haue fled but being suddenly layd hold on was examined and confessed the whole conspiracie Salcedo which would not know the Italian before now when he was accused by Baza sayd that the sayd Baza was a muletier and a lyer But Baza answered he would shewe before Salcedo his face such proofes of this matter that his declaratioÌ„s should be found true The malcontent Wallon fled away The 24. of Iuly the young Egmond being brought to the Court to Monsieur perceiuing how Salcedo had accused him reuealed all whatsoeuer Salcedo had opened vnto him Vpon which confession Egmond was committed prisoner to the Magistrate of the towne The 28. Francisco Baza the Italian was examined vppon the Racke who confessed and reuealed horrible things The 30. this desperat Italian with a knife which he had craftily gotten first strooke himselfe in the bellie nigh the nauell and after in the breast on the left side and so killed himselfe And immediatly after by the Magistrate of the Citie was condemned for a murtherer and a Traytor The Wallon malcontent named Nicholas Hugo alias de la borde being afterward taken and examined confessed the conspiracie The King vnderstanding what was done purposed and attempted sent two of his Counsell into the Lowe Countrey to Bridges to bring the said Salcedo into France tooke the paynes in his owne person to examine him and hauing by the said Salcedo his owne confession knowne what was intended at Nancie attempted at Bridges caused the sayd Salcedo to be condemned of treason by the Court of Parliament of Paris and by their sentence the sayd Spanyard Salcedo was drawne and torne with foure Horses There were also some prisoners at Paris about that matter About the same time or not long after one Monsieur de Muy being wounded at the siege of Fere the Duke of Guize went out of Paris in post to be his ghostly father and to giue him some good ghostly counsell not to tell tales out of the schoole nor to discouer holy mysteries The Archdeacon of Toul in Lorreyne named des Rosiers had written a booke of genealogies of the Lorreyns bringing them out of the belly of the house of Eroy to the defacing and disalowing the possession of the crowne by the Valoys About the same time the King sendeth the president Brulard to make his processe and by him was condemned of high treason but afterward by intercession made was quited by recanting and condemning his booke before the Kinges counsaile The Guyzes being thus disappointed of their driftes with the losse of 6. thousand crownes faint not for all y t but follow on their course for they must néeds to see an end of Monsieur whom they thinke to be such a blocke in their way as they cannot ouerlâ—ape without stumbling dangerously There was a holy woman in Paris by name Madam sainte Geneuieue who was so holy that both the King Henry the third and Monsieur his brother would often times goe a pilgrimage to her with much Romish deuotion but with litle honesty she must do the feat for the aduauncing of the holie League and vpholding of the holy Church The Guyzes therefore to spéede well must offer a candell to that Saint of Paris to bée good to them and to doe for them that which God would not doe at their earnest prayers to repaire to Monsieur which was thenat Chasteautierry vpon the riuer of Marne in Brie and that she should haue with her boxes of Concerues This blessed Virgin therefore tooke her iourney to Monsieur ward with her holy boxes with her shée was the more welcome to Monsieur because he had not séene her of a long time he being otherwise somewhat pensiuâ— for missing of his purpose in the low Countrey and for the losse of his credit which he left behinde him at Antwerpe yet for the recreating of him selfe with his olde acquaintance they must banquet together and haue a good merry day once ere they depart Shée came forth with her holy boxes where holy dregges of Rome had béene out of the which she gaue him a bole so hard of digestion that it did him no good for it did lie so heauie vpon his heart that he neuer left vomitting of blood as long as there remained life in him and in like maner as his brother Charles the ninth did before him he died the 10. day of Iuly on the which day his father Henry the second died 24. yeares before As soone as the King was certifyed of the death of his brother he sendeth the Duke de Espernon to the King of Nauarre to aduertise him that he held
of Nauarre as hee was vpon the way to goe to the place appointed for the second interuiew The sayd Lady also had made him more particular declaration and also commaunded him to make acquainted the other nobles and gentlemen which were with him and to send her answere the morrow after Which thing the said king of Nauarre shewing her to be impossible to graunt after hauing supported for so many yeares the weight of armes for the defence of the selfe same thing onely and that if so it were indeede that there was no neede to take so much payns as she did to loose it She persisted therein notwithstanding so that thereupon the sayd king of Nauarre tooke his leaue of her And the selfe same day at night the sayd king of Nauarre geuing notice to the sayd Lordes which were there at Iarnak of the kinges determination all answered with one mind and consent that it was impossible the said determination to be obeied and performed The morrow after by a common accord they sent to her the Lords Montguyon and Force to desire her most humbly to declare again whether that was the last resolution of the king For as much as they were all resolute after hauing shed their bloud and fought for so iust a quarrell to liue and die yet for the defence of the same and vpon that to finish the truce which was to end six dayes after Vpon that occasion shee sent the Lord Monpensier and the Marshall Biron to excuse her selfe that shee had not spoken so rawly and that her discourse about that matter was of aduise and not of resolution desiring that they would stay vntill the sixt day of Ianuarie next whilest she sendeth the Lord Rambouillet to the king to knowe his answere and expecting the kinges answere the truce hath béene continued according to the articles agreed vppon for that purpose Since the K. of Nauarre returned from Rochel whens he had likewise sent a gentleman to the king to notifie vnto him what was passed in that interuiew to the end that he might also know the dutie of the king of Nauarre therein Which thing likewise he hath done to the churches and to the chiefest who make profession of the religion to let them vnderstand in what maner he hath proceeded least the aduersaries should giue out thinges otherwise then they are as their manner is to doo for to sow hatred and dissention among vs to deuide vs by such crafty meanes The selfe same message hath the King of Nauarre sent to other prouinces and Lords strangers our partakers of whom wee do expect succour Now therefore knowing the state of the affaires the king of Nauarre prayeth them to giue him their aduise what is expedient to be done greatly desiring in that which concerneth the honour of God and the common quietnesse of his whole church to proceed as he hath done before not in following his owne opinion but by the common aduise and consent of all He willeth them to know that as partaker of the miseries of the griefs vexations which so many persons do suffer in their soules bodies goods being partaker of so many gronings and teares of so many poore families scattered and depriued of their commodityes he hath alwaies desired that for their deliuerance it might please God to giue vs a good peace But perceauing the crafts and deceites of our aduersaries and their hardnes of heart hee hath bent himselfe to patience finding all his paines and labours whatsoeuer light and easie in the defence of so good and iust a cause wherein hee hath felt in himselfe a wonderful great fauour and assistance of God hauing seene that which he durst not haue thought on and done that which he would neuer haue beleeued Whereupon he exhorteth them that haue remained constant expecting the goodwill and pleasure of God to perseuer and hope shortly of a good issue And them which through feeblenes or heauy burthen of euils haue fallen to keepe their hartes to God and that they will not suffer that fire of zeale whereof they do feele yet the heat to be cooled and quenched hoping for their deliuerance that by the meanes thereof and the grace of God they may reunite themselues and ioine to that body where from they are gone That they will assure themselues both the one and the other that there shall neuer be peace before affaires be established as wel beyond as on this side of Loyre and that the said king will prouide for necessarie safety in case of imminent danger for their safe retire otherwise there should be nothing done As the king of Nauarre beareth to them and all that concerne them a singular loue and affection that they would render vnto him the like that Godblessing such a correspondance of good willes we may all enioyne to his honor and glorie the fruit which such vnity and concord would bring to the confusion of Gods enemies Also other particularities necessarie to this Argument the said gentleman N. shall shew vnto them of the Religion following what he hath seene and heard by the course of the affaires being otherwise impossible to reduce them all in writing And aboue all thinges hee shall assure them of the good firme and constant resolution of the said king of Nauarre and of them who do assist him to employ their liues and meanes for the glorie of God and deliuerance of his Church At Rochel the 29. of December Henry below Berzeau The end of the third Booke THE FORVTH BOOKE IT is sayd before how the Duke of Guize in the apprehension of a great fright in a great heate went both to complaine to the King how all the heretickes of France had conspired to ioyne their forces together to oppresse his brother the Duke de Mayne almost destitute of defence and also to giue him counsell how to let such a dangerous association of them to wit by diuerting their forces And that could not be done but by sending seuerall armies into seuerall Prouinces where they of the religion were strong It is also sayd how vpon this aduise the King prouided sixe armies whereof be sent one into Poytow and another into Languedock the third into Daulphine the fourth into Auuergne and the last was a Nauie conducted by the Commaunder la Chastre and the sixt most daungerous was lead by his Mother agaynst the King of Nauarre vnder the colour of parley of peace hauing with her a legion of Italian wrenches and figges which did her no seruice Whilest the King was left alone and his forces scattered farre wide from him the Duke of Guize aduised himselfe of a dilemma that either he might easily oppresse the King or els at least might worke iollily the seduction of the people Therfore he called his brother the Duke de Mayne began to complayne greatly of the King and to impute the ill successe of his brother in Guyenne to him to wit how his brother was forsaken destitute of
men money and munition That this was the argument that the Catholikes were betrayed that the King was corrupted by counsell and that he hated and despised them whom hee should loue and embrace and that he had intelligences with the heretickes And that if he would not dishenerite and degrade the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde then there was no cause why the Catholikes should commit their liues to a dissembling King who had nothing in his tongue but warre and in his hart did seeke for peace with heretikes And therefore they cryed out that the enemie was at hand and stoode at the doore and that omitting and leauing all others he onely was to be assaulted This was the text whereupon the Friers Priests and Iesuits made their chattering discourses in the pulpets This was the lesson which his fauourers should repeate with great vehemencie among men of all degrees when they met in companie By these false reports and trayterous slaunders much hatred and misliking of his gouernment was procured to the King Yet considering that both he and his partakers were very néere daunger the Q. Mother was sent out of Poytow where she had béen parlying and brawling with the K. of Nauarre foure or fiue moneths seeking occasion to make her Italian pipes play She in great hast fearing the breaking of good fellowship betwéene the King and the Duke of Guize for by such frayes she had kept her selfe alwayes in authoritie commeth to the Court and by the Leaguers who were about the Kings person easily doo perswade him to holde with the Leaguers and so once more the heads of the Leaguers do obtayne securitie and doo pause a while wayting for a better opportunitie For as much as the voyage and practizes of the Q. Mother agaynst the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde in the parley and interuiew at Saint Brice could not bring to passe the effects pretended her returne to Paris and the intelligences of the leauie of the Germanes gaue matter vnto the King to enter into newe deliberations to defend the Leaguers For without his counsell power and countenance they had béen reduced to that plunge as they had neuer béen able to get out With this newe yeare therefore 1587. we will begin this fourth booke which will shewe marueilous tempests and euents to haue béen brought foorth to the small aduantage of Gods enemies yet to the great furtherance of that rebellion which hath ensued wrought and procured by the Leaguers But first wee will speake and begin by the exployts of warre which had béen done specially in Daulphine and then wee will returne to pursuing of the great stirres and preparations of this yeare It is said before how the Duke Espernon appointed for Daulphine and Prouance did there what hee could and in displacing the Leaguers out of many townes and holdes he did good seruiâ—e to the King but seeing that warre in that countrey to be endlesse committing the remnant of his forces to his brother the Lord Valete repayred to the King in Nouember 1586 after the siege of Sorges After his departure out of Daulphine the Lorde Diguieres recouered the towne of Sorges and imployed three-moneths to wit Ianuarie Februarie and March in visiting the countrey viewing of the places fortifying the holdes and repairing the ruines which the armies had made the yeare before looking to haue a new armie vpon his back the spring folowing which notwithstading came not to passe by reason that the King made all preparations which could bee possible against the Germanes both in the heart of France and on the way which they should come in to receaue them with small courtesie This thing caused that the Lord des Diguieres had apportunitie to doo great things this yeare 1587. in that Prouince as foloweth In the beginning of Aprill the Lorde Diguieres tooke the Castel of Champer two Leagues from Grenoble at which time the Court of Parliament there opened a way to a truce which notwithstanding did not let the exploytes of war for as much as in the meane time the said Lord Diguieres brought three pieces of batterie to Nants to batter Venterol towne and Castell but they surrendred themselues before they saw the cannon The 7. of May the companie of men of armes of the Lorde Diguieres conducted by the Lorde Poligny his Lieutenaunt and the companie of the Lord Rosse a popish Gentleman lead by himselfe did drawe foorth to skirmish the Garison of Saults There they killed sixe skore men among whom there were twentie of commaundement tooke sixe prisoners and wel nigh had entred into the towne mingled with the enemies all this was done with the losse of one man onely of the religion The 31. and last of May the Castell of the Lord Menestrier strong and situated vpon a rock builded againe at the charges of the Countrey to keepe them of the religion in bondage was rendered by composition and rased after it had sustayned 14. dayes siege by the Lord Diguieres assisted by the Lords Brikmaut Morges and others A little before that the Pont of Coignet surprised few dayes before by the Lorde Valete was yeelded at the diseretion of the Lorde Diguieres The towne of Quinsieur in Merindol was compassed about by the Lorde Gouernet and a while after the Lord Diguieres assisted with the Lordes Poet Blacons Montbrune Vacheres Brikmaut the younger and the troupes of the Prouince there conducted three pieces of artilerie at the ariuing and sight of the the which towne was surrendred with their safetie and the Castell at discretion The 18. Beniuay was surrendered likewise The 19. the townes of Pierrelongue and Esgalieres were taken The 22. Ionquieres a towne belonging to the principalitie of Orange was compassed and the same day taken after it had sustained 25. voleys of Ordinance Gygondas also was rendered at the newes of rendering of Ionquieres The 23. Poet Laual was besieged and after it had sustained one hundred and fiftie shot of two field pieces at length was surrendred the 29. of the same moneth although that the breach was not sufficient and that they who besieged had set vp the ladders and after tooke them vp with further assault The thirteenth day of Iuly the Lorde Valete tooke Pierrelongue by composition after sixe score shotte of pieces of battery They who were within the towne came foorth with their armour their stuffe and baggage safe their Ensigne open the drumme playing and their match fired The eightenth day the Lord Diguieres went to Oste a towne vnwalled and bestowed the rest of the moneth in fortifiyng of that place wherein he imployed the Lord Vacheres to make warre against the towne of Cerf halfe a mile distant from that place The Lord Chastilion hauing gathered certain forces in Languedock to ioyne with the Suissers who were comming into Daulphine was expected vpon the Rosne by all the forces of Daulphine from the 19. of Iuly The Lord de Poet gouernour of the towne of
be shewed in his place So he made the world beleeue that he had been the onely instrument by the which that armie had receaued all the harme which they receaued And whereas the Kinges onely pollicy had vndone that army yet made he the world beléeue by his horsecorsers whom he sent to walke the said Dutch horses whom bee vsed for sowers of false rumors that not onely the king had willingly let them to escape but also had geuen them the meanes to retire some into Germany and some into Languedock and from thence to the king of Nauarre so that the pulpits of Fryers and Iesuits in Paris and other cities did sound nothing else but of these newes extolling the valour wisedome and glory of the Duke of Guyze with procuring to him much popular authority and good will and making the King hatefull among the Catholikes for glosing and dissembling with them and fauouring the heretikes to that end that when oportunity should be offered the sayd Duke of Guyze might easily bring to passe his enterprizes and the king should not be able to let him Now let vs know what became of the fragments of this armie First the promise was not obserued to them for a great number of theÌ„ were slaine robbed and spoyled in dyuers places The Duke of Lorreynes eldest sonne called Marthuis de Pont accompanyed with the forces of the League set on them in diuers places and enuaded the county of Montbeliard where hee committed horrible cruelties putting all to the sword with execrable whoredoms and abominations Many dyed in the way many dyed when they came in place of safety euen of the cheefest noble men The Lords Boillon Cleruaut and Vau with many other noble men retyred to Geneua where after so many labours and greeues they dyed in the Lord. The like happened to the Swissers whose Colonels and Captayns who were the authors of the first parley and capitulation with the king were punished by their seignories so that few either of the Germans or Swissers returned home or escaped vnpunished It is said before how that France in this yeare was groaning vnder the burthen of seuen great armies besides many particular assemblies wherof it is said how Ioyeuse and his armie was made sure at Coutras and their reduced carkasses were left in perpetuall infamy not for their death but for the causes of it The Germans haue made shipwracke vppon the Rockes of Lancy in Mosconoys the eight of December and after The kinges armie was broken against the banke of Loyre and from thence scattered euery man home The Leaguers are excluded out of Daulphine where the Catholikes and they of the reformed religion after much bloodshed at length agreed to liue like good fellow cityzens vnder the lawful gouernment of theyr king and so the yeare is ended and Christ raigneth for euermore The end of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE THis yeare is notable not so much by reason that it was holden by the Mathematicians to bee fatall to the world as by reason of the great and tragicall euents which happened to many great and Noble personages For this yeare dyed the Duke of Boillon and other Nobles at Geneua The Prince of Conde at Saint Ihan d'Angelye The Duke of Guyze and some of his partakers The inuincible armado of Spaine intending to haue inuaded England was beaten both by God and man And last of al the famous enterprize atchieued by the French King Henry the third with the famous victories of the Church of God in the principality of Boillon against the conspirators and enemies of mankind of the League It is said before how after the capitulation of the King with the army of Germanes at Lancy in Masconoys the Duke of Boillon the Lordes Cleruaut Vau and others retired to Geneua where these three especially dyed Not long after their aryuing there the Prince of Boillon fell sick the 27. of December feeling in himselfe his end to be at hand that he had to passe to a most blessed life carefull for the state of the Church of God gathered in his Soueraigne principalitie of Boillon disposed of his affayres as followeth He made his soule heire generally of all his goods holden as well in Soueraigntie as otherwise the Lady Charlote de la mark his sister vpon condition y t she shal neither alter nor innouate any thing in the state nor in ReligioÌ„ the which there she shal maintaine as it is established Also that she shall not marrie without the aduise of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and the Prince Monpensier her Uncle vpon paine of forfeiting the right of those Soueraignties from the which in case she should otherwise doe he vtterly excludeth her And in case the said Lady of Boillon should decease without heires the Prince of Monpensier her Uncle is substitute as next to inherit and after him the Prince Dombees his sonne conditionally that they shal change nothing in the state nor Religion vpon paine of the like forfeiture And in case the said princes should make there any innouation he doth substitute the King of Nauarre and in like case the Prince of Conde in case the first should fayle in the performance of the premises The said Lord Boillon made executor of his Testament and the Lord la Noue the which done the first of Ianuarie he was deliuered out of this mortall liâ—e to enter into the full enioying of the societie of God being the day of his natiuitie and the 25. of his age This was a Prince of great auncient and famous nobilitie issued by the father side out of the stock of that renowmed Argonante Godfrey of Boillon who was crowned King of Ierusalem a noble and vertuous man his Mother was one of the most vertuous women of our age daughter vnto the Prince Monpensier and sister vnto this Prince now at this yeare liuing her vertue godlines and constancie in the confession of the true doctrine shall be in an euerlasting remembrance For shee being very oftentimes requested by her Father a great deuout Catholick to forsake the Gospell and to returne to poperie at length she agreed vnto him with this condition that if the popish Doctors could bring better proofes for their religion then the ministers of the reformed would for hers shee would fulfill his will Whereupon a disputation being obteyned at the hands of King Charles the ninth and the matter being reasoned betweene two Doctors of Sorbonne and two Ministers of the Gospell for many dayes in her presence her owne husband sitting as moderator it fel out that in stead of that which her Father looked that she should haue been conuerted to popery she was confirmed in the trueth by whose singular wisdome and speciall care afterward the Churches of the Soueraigntie of Boillon were reformed This Principalitie of Boillon is a small countrey holden in soueraigntie yet commonly vnder the protection of the Crowne of France between the riuers Mose and Moselle a
asswaged the rage and passion which caried away many would haue stayed the persecutions against them of the reformed Religion and would haue made a way to some reasonable agreement but the Leaguers and other enemies without any remorse of conscience without feeling of their owne priuate or publike griues so much the more made hast to worke the vtter subuersion of the sayde religion oppressing with greater crueltie the professors thereof than they did before Sathan therefore the captaine of murtherers of the Saints deuided his forces one part to assault the remnaunt of the Church left in the popish prouinces of France and the Churches of the principalitie of Boillon which we will in order recite As after the breaking of the armie of the prince of Conde in Vandomoys in the yeare of our Lord 1585. they thought that with the same Prince al their hope had been gone which thing made them increase their crueltie euen so did they after the dissipation of the armie of the Germanes supposing that they should shortly see the end thereof The authors of these persecutions were the King the Leaguers the Bishops the Iesuytes the Fryers the Monkes the parish Priests and Magistrates In these assaults appeared the cowardlines of a great many of them who had professed the true religion who looking more on the euents and present dangers than to the end of such skirmishes where we ought to shew a proofe of our fayth and with pacience to expect an happyend for feare were caried away to vnlawfull things against their conscience But the Lord as at all other times left not his truth without witnesses for many in diuers parts of the Realme being cruelly persecuted shewed their constancie in maintaining their faith and religion whereupon it seemeth me not to be out of purpose to make mention of the constancie which God gaue to a man of base condition in defending of his religion who in this respect shewed the way to many which in the sight of the worlde had greater meanes to doe it than he had There was in the towne of Marchenoyre in Beausse a poore man borne in Boysgencye vpon Loyre named Francis Tixier as if wee shoulde saie weauer this man by his occupation was a maker of packsaddles who by reason of his family had not departed out of the Realme according to the Kings Edicts neither had obeyed the Kinges commandement in conforming himselfe to the Popish religion but had alwayes constantly remained in the profession of the true religion praying dayly in his house often times ioyning himselfe secretly to others to the same effect and to sing Psalms as it is vsed among thē who do professe y e reformed religion He visited also them who were sicke and strengthened them and if any were which stoode in neede by the meane of some small collections which was made among them secretly hee helped them as he was wont to doo when the reformed Church did assemble at Orges in the which he did beare the office of an Elder God blessed that zeale in time so hard and difficult for some of the villages thereabous by the meane of that small exercise without feare of the persecution forsaking the Romish Church ioyned themselues to the pure religion But this course was not continued long for by the watches and searches of them who in the former assaults alarumes could get nothing vpon this man he was at length discouered and complained off to the Magistrate So that the King passing through Marchenoyre the accusers addressed themselues to one of his Aulmoners and instructed him of certaine accusations against that poore man to wit that hee had not obeyed the Kings edict but on the contrarie did perseuer in his heresie and dogmatize so they kindled the Aulmoner in such a sort that they agreed altogether to put a complaint to the King they made also a booke of others of the religion which they caused the sayd Aulmoner to present to the King For his custome belike was so to bestowe the Kings almes The King commaunded that they should bee apprehended Tixier as the most hatefull was first taken and with great solemnitie brought before the King who was desirous to see him for he was informed that hée was a Minister The King himselfe examined him when he had appeared with great assurance When the King had asked him whether he was an Hugonet and wherefore he had not gone out of the Realme being one as he did confesse and whether he would goe to Masse once or twise and so to escape from punishment The poore man answered that he had not the meanes to auoyde and that he would not goe to Masse nor alter his religion which he knewe to be the trueth When the King perceiued his constancie he sent him to Bloys with letters to his Iudges there commaunding them straightly to make his processe according to the rigour of his edicts There in the Kings presence he was greatly reuiled by the Lords Courtiers and Clawbackes Being carried to Bloys there he was assaulted by three manner of enemies the Iudges his friends and the rest of prisoners First the Iudges had him in hand and after they had gone about to withdrawe him from his religion to Poperie with such bald reasons as they could affoord he made them a plaine answere that he knewe the true Catholike and Apostolike Church and that hee was one of the fellowe citizens of the same but for the Romish Church he neither knewe it nor cared to knowe When these great Deuines had spent all their reasons euen to the bottome they began to drawe out their threatnings to hang him and to giue him opprobrious words The poore man despising their reasons and the dregges thereof made them a flat answere that as he had liued in that religion which they call heresie so was he readie to dye for it if so it were Gods will And after many examinations all about on thing to wit whether hee would goe to masse one asked him of whom he held his religion and who had taught him he answered that hee held it of God who had taught him by his holy spirit Vpon this answere one Saint Seuerine an Italian replyed my frend thine holy spirit will hang thee if thou come not to thy selfe The Lord reproue the spirit of blasphemy This was the miserable state of that realme then that the most vile saucy blasphemous Atheistes were raysed vp by the Q. Mother to high and honorable dignities Saynt Paul had learned the Pharisaisme at the feete of Guualiel but this lewd Italian had learned Atheisme at the Popes feete in Italy and is welcome in France by them of his religion to teach Atheisme and to shew the way to the Frenchmen how to blaspheme a l'Italiane Many other such like trifling talke they had with the pore man more fit for gatherers of old shooes and ragges vppon the dunghil of Bloys then for magistrates The Prisoners did greatly afflict him
vttered to them as followeth The Queene my mother hath geuen me to vnderstand that you were all assembled and will repayre to me whereof I am well pleased being assured that you would not offend in such force being the first company of my Realme I haue promised to my selfe of you alwayes all faithfulnes and obedience such as you haue shewed heretofore to my predecessors Kings as vnto your lawfull and naturall Princes And I know that if it had beene in your power to let thinges there passed that you woulde haue done it I am sory for that which hath happened to the city of Paris notwithstanding I am not the first to whome such misfortune hath happenned And the more I am displeased that the spare of these foureteene yeares that I haue beene king I haue alwayes honoured it with my abode shewing all gentlenes and goodnes to the inhabitants and they haue alwayes found me a good king gratifiyng them in all that euer I could I know that in such a Citie as that is there be good and bad when they shall make their submissioÌ„ will acknowledge themselues I will be readie to receiue and imbrace them as a good father his children and as a good King his subiects Your dutie is to labour in the matter for therein consisteth the preseruation of the Citie of your selues your wiues and your familyes Furthermore continue in your charges as you haue accustomed the Queene my mother shall certifie you from time to time of my will In the after noone the King sent for them againe and vsed these speaches following I haue sent for you before you goe hence to let you vnderstand besides that which I tould you this morning that I was aduertised of certaine reportes giuen out that I would haue put Garisons in the Citie of Paris I doo greatly â—â—use that euer such a thing came in their mindes I knowe that Garisons are set either to vndoo a Citie or for the mistrust of the inhabitants They ought not to thinke that I would destroy a Citie to the which I haue shewed so many tokens and witnesse of my good will which I haue so much benefited by my long abiding therein for to haue remayned there more then ten of my predecessors before me had done which thing hath brought to the inhabitantes euen to the simplest sort of artifficers all the commodities which there doo appeare this day whereby ten or twelue other Cities might haue been made rich And when my officers or Marchants haue had neede of me I haue done them good and I may say that I haue shewed my selfe a good King towards them And therefore it was farre from me to conceaue any diffidence of them whome I haue so dearely loued and of whome I ought to assure my selfe for the friendship which I haue witnessed vnto them was enough to take away that opinion from them that I should bee willing to giue them Garisons neither can it in trueth bee said that any man of my gardes or Garisons hath put his foote in any house or taken from any man a loafe of bread or any thing else but contrariwise haue at my prouision been furnished of all needful things neither should they haue stayed there aboue foure and twentie houres but the morrow after without lying in any other place should haue been appointed to their charge as if they had been in the campe I intended to haue made exactly a search of many strangers who were within my Citie of Paris and desirous to offend no man I sent euen to the Lord of Guize and other Lords to that end they should giue me a booke of the names of their houshold seruants and to cause the residue to auoyde Whereof I was aduertised that there was a great number no lesse then fifteene thousand men which thing I did for the preseruation of the Citie and safetie of my subiects This is the cause that I will haue them to acknowledge their fault with sorrow and displeasure I knowe well that they are made beleeue that hauing offended me in such a sort as they haue done mine indignation is irreconsiliable I will you to let them knowe that I haue not that humor nor will to vndoo them and that as God as whose Image I am here vpon the earth though vnworthie desireth not the death of a sinner so doo I not desire their vndooing I will alwaies prooue the peaceable way and when they shall shew their duetie and confesse their fault and testifie in deede the sorrow which they haue of their offence I will receaue and imbrace them as my subiects in shewing my selfe as a father toward his children I will haue them to acknowledge me as their King and Master if they doo it not but delay the matter in drawing my hand as I may doo I will make them feele their offence so that the marke thereof shall remaine for euer For being the first and principallest Citie honored with the first and suprem court of my Kingdome and other courtes priuiledges honors and vniuersitie I can as you know reuoake and remoue thence all my courtes and vniuersitie which would turne to their great displeasure for these things ceasing all other commodities and traffick will diminish as it fellout in the yeare 1579. during the great plague by reason of my absence and ceasing of the Parliament a great number of my officers being retyred thence young Children were seene that yeare to play at the nine pinnes in the streates I knowe that there is a great number of good men in my Citie of Paris and that of foure parts three are of that number who are very sory of that which hath happened Let them therefore so deale that I may be content let them not inforce me to shew them what I may doo more to doo that which I am able and will not You knowe that patiency prouoked doo turne into furie and you knowe also what a King offended may do if I list to employe all my power and meanes to bee reuenged And although I bee not of a vindicatiue spirit yet I would that they should know that I haue courage as much as any of my predecessors I haue not yet since the time that I came to the Crowne by the death of my brother vsed any rigour toward any man yet will not I that they should abuse my clemency I am not an vsurper I am a lawfull King by succession and of a race which hath alwaies commaunded with clemencie It is a tale to speake of religion they must take another way there is not a Prince in this world more Catholicke which desireth more the rooting out of heresie then I my actions and my life haue giuen sufficient witnes in that behalfe to my people I would that it had cost me an arme that the last heretick were in picture in this chamber Goe home to your charges and bee of good courage you ought not to feare any thing while you
of the famine the wilâ—ull obstinacy of that damned people who will rather perish like the heathenish Saguntines then to try his clemenâ—y and fauour whom they knew to be therewith indued more then euer had béen any King in France before him hearing also of this sauage and barbarous act of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some that fled vnto him out of the City was greatly moued so that lifting vp his hands to Heauen before his nobility protested vnto the Lord as Titus did in like case at the siege of Ierusalem that hee was not guilty of those abominations which were there committed neither of the bloud of them that so desperatly perished That hee was their lawfull King ordayned of God to gouerne them that he had proffered vnto them contrary to their deserts mercy that he might haue forced them but to spare their bloud he had delayed it to his great hinderance hoping that néed would haue caused them to consider their duty But contrary vnto duty and nature they had obstinated themselues and committed more abominations then any City euer did among the heathens This good King his eyes full of teares retyred into his Chamber full of compassion admiration and loue of iustice Compassion was not in him only as it was in Scipio at the burning of Carthage an affection procéeding of a milde nature but a true Christian mercy by the which he did féele the griefes euen of his mortall enemies and therefore gaue certaine passeports vnto many to haue dayly out of his campe a certaine alowance of victuals and liberty to his souldiours to sell some victuals vnto the besieged for necessary thinges as shooes hose apparell and other such things which did somewhat relieue them and stopped the barbarous eating one another The admirations of this strange hardnes of hart of that people brought him to consider Gods iust and secret iudgements who in his wrath hath sent euill spirits of Idolomany in the mouthes of their false prophets that as through blindnes of Idolatrie this fiftie yeres past and more they had replenished their streates with burnings murthers and massacres of the Saints and had stopped their eares vnto the voyce of Christ so they should bee replenished with error and idolatrous hardnes by the wicked Friers and Iesuites possessed with lying spirites to bring them to that thraldome and obloquie neither will that Citie euer be restored to peace and iustice vntill that the streetes thereof be washed with the bloud of that damned generation The King considering his office and charge annexed and inseparably ioyned to his Crowne to minister iustice that is to punish the offenders and transgressors and that there began the rebellion there was by the consent of most wrought the death of the King and that by the reioycing and approbation of the sayd death they had rendred themselues accessarie and guiltie of the same euen their walles houses temples all whatsoeuer they had Therefore he considering correlatiuely his office their offence could not giue ouer the siege and seeing that they refused lawfull try all by their rebellion hee would followe that which in such a case God hath ordained that is force violence and warre yet hee determined to trye fashioning himselfe after Gods Image who is long suffering whether they might be prouoked to take pitie vpon their afflicted estate Here we will leaue the King for a time and will passe into other places to see what preparations of warre be made We haue sayd how the Duke de Mayne returned from Bruxels where hee was royally receaued as a poore simple lackie as is sayd into Champaigne thence he sent to the Duke Aumale and the Vidasme d'Amiens into Picardie to gather such forces as they could and to repayre vnto him with as much speede as they might to ioyne with the Duke of Parma who was comming with great forces Wherevpon about the middest of August the Lord Iumeges vnderstanding that the sayd Duke Aumale and Vidasme had gathered forces were going toward the Duke de Mayne to ioyne with the Spanyards comming out of the Lowe Countrey met with them nigh Amiens discomfited them and slewe thrée thousand of them as the common report is among whom was the Vidasme of Amiens The Duke Aumale by flight saued himselfe within Amiens The Duke of Parma in the meane time commanded the two regiments of Spanyards appoynted by the King of Spayne to keepe home and to doo their feate as they should vnderstand when the opportunitie should serue to march forward before him For although leauing the countrey vnprouided of sufficient forces the States would take occasion to do their busines and to surprise places yet according to the prouerbe he consented to some losse for feare of loosing all The Spaniards were very vnwilling to goe to that iourney but hee put them in hope of doing some great and waightie exployts which were not for euery man to knowe and which could not be effected without their counsell and helpe making them beléeue that they were the onely Souldiers of the world At length the Spanyards as a restie horse which striueth with the rider and goeth backward afore hee will take his way forward Vpon their departure hee sent foorth euery where to shewe his iourney into France hee setteth foorth a description of his armie how many thousand footmen how many thousand horsemen how many Princes Dukes and Earles what Caesars and Alexanders there was in that armie And when all came to all there were three which are by him called Princes euen such as he is himselfe such as may be a Knight here in England which do hold some small Dukedomes of small townes in Italy either of y e Pope or els of King Philip such as are holden in flauerie as the Bassas by the Turke to wit the Princes for so hee tearmeth them of Ascoly Castel Bertran and Symay two Princes as obscure as the name of their principalities There were y e Marquesse of Renty the Earle Berlamount There were also Dons of Spayne as Sanctio Layeua Iuan Baptista Tasis Alonso Idiaques Antonio de Zuniga Pedro Gaetano and Capechuca Romano All these Dons were such as might be twentie groates in the bookes of Subsidie so great noble men they were men that could haue shewed great prowesse vpon the naked Iudiens To be short there were three great Lords Pride Vanitie and Folly who were masters of the Campe. There were also fewe Carrowssers out of Flanders Henault and Brabant hee gaue them terrible names as Amutinados that is angry men Mansferidos and other such I wot not what as would make the poore heathnish women in Italy and Spayne crosse their foreheads thinking to heare some names of diuels He setteth foorth his furniture his stable his pages the couerings of his coffers and moyles and why not the belles of his moyles But a great ouersight was committed by him that made no mention of his Curtizans that was not for lacke of good will but
in forme of excommunication or interdiction in payne of confiscation of bodie and goods as infringers and perturbers of the publique peace The court doth commaund the Ecclesiasticall persons by vertue of the Kings letters directed vnto them that they shall not suffer the liberty of the French Church to be in any sort diminished but beeing assisted by their K. their soueraigne Iustice to oppose themselues against all the Popes enterprises Thirdly the court doth declare the foresayd Marcilius Ladrianus Fryer Gregory his Nuncio acommon enemy of al men a kindler of hatred and a sower of sedition commaunding the sayd pretended Nuncio to be pursued taken and apprehended aliue or dead and to be deliuered to iustice if it bee possible to receaue the punishment according to the greatnes of his offence But if he cannot bee apprehended within three daye â—to be summoned by the voice of the publike Cryer in the towne of Pont de Larche that there it may bee proceeded against him according to the Lawes of the Realme The order of the courts of France is that after a man is summoned at 3. seuerall tymes if he doth not appeare he is condemned as conuicted and then executed in picture Last of al the Court doth declare Fryer Gregory his excommunication and Bulles infamous libels full of impiety heresie deceit and slanders condemneth the same to betorne and burned publikly in the place of execution by the publike executioner of iustice forbidding all men to receaue allow reade fauour or conceale the said infamous libell vppon payne to bee attainted conuicted of high treason commaundeth also all manner of persons quickly to reueale to the court if they should know any such to bee kept secretly on the paines aforesaid This sentence of the Popes banishment and of all his tyrâ—nnie out of France was pronounced the third day of August at Caen in Normandie The selfe same proceedinges were vsed in all Courtes of the Realme whereuppon ensued the burning of the sayd Bulles in diuers and sundry places of the Realme but diuersly but euery where in as infamous maner as could bee It was burned at Tours in this maner The Magistrats and the common people of Tours being assembled before the Pallace gate there a piller was crected a little distant from the foot therof there was a fire made by the common Hang-man of the town then did he take the Bull and hanged it on the top of the Piller which beeing done he kindled another fire at the very foot of the Piller which by degrees crept vp vntill it tooke hold of the Bull which presently was consumed with fire to the great ioy of all the beholders Now Master Fryer I ween you be one of them that did drop out of the horses belly of Troy but I will thinke rather that you dropped out of an Asses bellie because you haue an Asses head Did not a little before your Standard reproue you to your face and told you what would follow your saucines and to put you in consideration of your folly gaue you a souse vpon the pate And you beeing of Asses brood will goe about to get Bulles and lo your Bulles bee turned into gydie Calues You neuer read for reading belongs not to your occupation but scortari crebro crebro conuiuarier that it was writteÌ„ in the horse of Troy sero sapiunt Phryges but it shal be hereafter in Asino Romano scriptum erit sero sapiunt Romanenses You knew not when you were well now haue with you to Auignon The towne of Noyan being surrendered according to the agréement betwéene the King and the gouernour of the saide towne the King went to receaue the right honorable Lord Earle of Essex as is said in the towne of Gisors and from thence returned into Champaigne to ioyn with the Germans who approached the borders of France leauing the Marshall Byron to reconduct his army into Normandie During the siege of Noyan the Lord of Pierrefont had béen taken prisoner and had promised vpon his deliuerance to surrender the Castell Pierrefont a place situated vpoÌ„ a rock and inaccessable almost on euery side The said Lord of Pierrefont being a desperat Leaguer had rather breake his faith with dishonor then to fulfill his promise with honour whereupon the Marshall Byron layed the siege before the saide Castell and battered it with nine skore shot of Ordinance wherewith hee made but a very small hole the stuffe wherewith the said Castell is builded being of such qualitie as resisted the shot euen to admiration which caused the said Marshall Byron to breake off his enterprise and march toward Normandie who ioyned with the English forces conducted by the right Honorable Lord the Earle of Essex the ninth of September and the twenty one of the said moneth laide the siege before the towne of Gourney It is saide before in the seauenth booke how after the cruell death of King Henry the third and last of the rase of Valoys the authors of that murther vnder the conduct of the Duke d'Mayne with great bragges and confidence went with a mighty army into Normandie hoping to oppresse the King who with a small power had retyred to Diepe for the causes there alleaged It is said also how the Duke d'Mayne in that iourney tooke the said towne of Gourney and the Lord Rubempre which his companie therein This Towne is distant from Roan ten Leagues from Gisors fiue from Beauuoys sixe and by estimation somewhat bigger then Diepe The Leaguers had fortified it with fortifications munition of warre and strong garrisons for Leagued Gentlemen of the Countrey to the number of foure skore and such power as they thought good to entertaine had settled themselues therein and from thence issuing dayly made courses to the gates of Mante Vernon Pont de larche and Gisors spoyling and wasting all that was in their way and taking prisoners such as trauailed on the high way to Diepe This towne being besieged the enemy put on a stout countenance at the first and being summoned to surrender the said towne they answered that they had receaued it of the Duke d'Mayne and for him they intended to kéepe it neither would they render it but to him onely This answer being giuen the English forces intrenched themselues within a stones cast of the gate and in making and kéeping the said Trenches they had sixe men hurt and one killed The enemies attempted diuers times to put men into the towne but they were in such sort looked to by the English men that they durst neuer approach The 25. day of September at night the Marshall Byron planted nine pieces of Ordinance before the towne the 26. in the morning hee began to batter it and a breach being made the English men were called to the number of one hundred shot to giue the assault who with great gladnes approached within sixescore pases of the wals the breach was scarse assaultable the ditch was more then halfe full of water it is reported that they had within certaine sluces which they might haue opened and greatly molested the assaulters the French men were very vnable to giue the assault because of their long toyling and wearines yet on a suddaine the enemies demaunded parley which being graunted they yeeldéd to foure dishonorable conditions such is the fainting of rebels First that all Souldiours should depart without bagage and armour with a white rod in their hands But the Lord Earle of Essex excepted the Queenes Maiesties subiects therein was found none but one Irish man who was executed The second was that the Gouernour Captaines Lieutenants and Gentlemen of quality should remaine to his mercy It was thought that the Gouernour and some Captaines should be executed The third was that the Citizens should haue their liues but their goods rested at the Kings pleasure The fourth is that they should receaue such garrisons as should bee thought good The taking of this towne is a great ease to the Countrey and preparation for the siege of Roan About the 28. the army tooke his way toward Caudebeck a smal towne situated vpon a rock on the banck of Seyne betweene Roan and Newhauen entending to cleere all the coast round about Newhauen of all filth of rebellion FINIS ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Woodcock and are to be sould at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the black Beare 1591.