they were not able to withstand so great a power and that they might be vndone ere euer they should perceaue it vseth two shifts to auoide the tempest hee sawe comming First writeth a letter full of flattering prayers protestations and feare for he with an humble stile endeuoureth to make the king beleeue that he had been gentle and tractable neuer refusing the means of a good peace Thē he prayeth the King to thinke no hurt in that which they had done as not proceeding from any malice but rather frō zeale of the Catholike Religion and inflaming him to oppose himselfe and all his forces against the Germanes the auncient enemies of the Realme promiseth him for that purpose a strong ayde and succour against them Last of all hee fayned himselfe his partakers and all the Catholikes to stand in great feare of a successour vnknowen and like to be much inferiour vnto him and an enemie of the Catholike Religion and that if hee would resolue his subiects in that matter doo assure him that all things would prosper and succeede after his owne wishing The King with his armie of Catholikes should stay for them in Berry and keepe their passages ouer the Loyre but should suffer them to goe forward betweene the riuers of Sene Loyre that at length when they had gone forward in that sliue betweene the said two riuers the Catholikes on the one side and the Leaguers on the other side following after them either should enforce them through difficulties to retyre homeward the selfe same way that they came or else by some occasion or surprize should oppresse them The Duke Ioyeuse with his armie should goe to get the aduantage betweene the K. of Nauarre and the Germanes Upon this occasion the Duke Ioyeuse as is sayd repayred to Paris there to haue his instructions to receaue the Kings commandements According to this orer the Duke Mercure almost then king of Britaine taked out of Britaine as many Leaguers as he could and being sent vnto the Duke of Guyze vnder the conduct of the Lord Hautboys they miscaried by the way for about the beginning of September they were met and slayne by the King of Nauarre being then at Monsorean During which time of the soiourning of the King of Nauarre at Mōsoreau the Duke Mercure tooke his iourney out of Britaine to ioyne with the armie of the Duke Ioyeuse his brother in law who hauing encreased his armie with a new supplie of men of armes artillery and inunicion stayed at Tours to march against the King of Nauarre The Vicount Turenne hauing intelligence thereof set vpon him and tooke his rich carriage nigh Saumur and shortly after the sayd King of Nauarre hauing receaued the County of Soyssons with his French companies returned to Xainctonge and so went to Rochel where after he had remayned some dayes at length he departed thence the tenth of October there he tooke some peeces of artillery and going through Taillebourg repayred to Pons where hauing assembled and mustered all his forces determined to passe into Gascoyne partly to gather more forces in going partly to ioyne with his army of Germans which were already farre entred into Bourgundy passing through the Prouinces which were fauourable to him For to execute this determination it was needfull for him to passe the riuers Droune and Lisle which were the nearest with resolution to fight with Ioyeuse if neede were The Duke Ioyeuse had aduaunced already to Saint Mexent when the king of Nauarre departed out of Rochel and knowing the intent of the said King of Nauarre thought to cut his way and with great iourneys passing through Poytow Engomoys came to Barbesieulx so to Rochechalays in Perigord with commaundement as he sayd not to spare the extremity of the battayle if other meanes would not serue concluding that by the ouerthrow of the king of Nauarre which hee made sure in his conceit the army of the Germans would not bee able to continue The chiefest aduantage in this exployt was to passe ouer the sayd riuers for it seemed that hee who first might goe ouer these two Riuers would haue great aduantage vpon the other for the which cause the king of Nauarre vsing that prouidence and accustomed diligence which doth render him admirable accompanied with the Princes of Conde and Soyssons the Lords Trimouille and Turenne and others taketh his way to passe the riuer Droune and lodged at Archiak and Montlieu and other places thereabout The Marshall Matygnon had geuen counsell to the sayd Ioyeuse to seaze vpon Coutras a towne and castell situated somewhat aboue the meeting of the sayd riuers Lisle and Droune a place of importance Both the King of Nauarre and Ioyeuse did striue to get that towne the one did striue to passe ouer the riuer Droune the other to stop the passage thereof The Lord Ioyeuse caused his light horses to aduaunce to the place who arryued there one hower sooner then he could haue done himselfe But as they were taking theyr lodginges there they found the companyes of the king of Nauarre which came thither also to whom the enemy gaue place quickly as beyng the weaker The king of Nauarre therfore passed his forces ouer the foord of Droune but the Duke Ioyeuse hauing great desire to do some great exployt and considering that the king of Nauarre was inclosed betweene two great riuers he promised himselfe an assured victory of him as not able to auoyd any way Therefore he giueth the rendes vous the morrow morning after beyng the 20. of October to a certayne place betweene Rochechalays and Coutras The day being come he tooke his place for the battayle with as much aduantage as he could choose within halfe a league of Coutras Here is the place the persons the causes and euentes to be consideres The place is in the very edge of Xainctonge where he had committed horrible and sauage cruelties and other excesses against them of the reformed religion which haue no names in any language The persons were Leaguers for the most Atheistes walking among them vnder colour of zeale of popish religion men besides polluted for the most part with the bloud of the Saynts which they had spilled like water vpon the earth and other abominations which follow treasons Idolatry Atheisme they were more in number without comparison better armed and furnished with all necessaryes The causes were that after they had for these foure yeares refused all reasonable offers of the king of Nauarre they hated him without a cause they did draw theyr tongues and swords agaynst the God of heauen and his Gospell with a Ciclopicall rage Therefore Adrasta did stay them in that place swolen with pride arrogancie contumelie vaine hope and confidence in the arme of flesh which could not deliuer them There they do◠prooue the force of the God of Battels and drinke a harty draught or rather a carowse of the Dregges of Gods wrath and iustice least that theyr abominable
crueltyes should be knowen further And also that the saincts as it were out of the middest of those prouinces which do embrace the Gospel might see that the Lord is the iust reuenger of such abominations and defender of the iust cause And that they may learne to feare him and in him onely to trust and repose themselues Here therefore Adrastia doth stay them to answere vnto Gods iudgement Now let vs come to the euents The King of Nauarre early in the morning being first aduertyzed of this preparation was not mooued at it no more was hee vpon the second warning But at the third tyme he shewed no lesser desire to fight then the enemy to whom twise before he had proffered the occasions He taketh horse rydeth forth out of Coutras to méet y e enemy commaundeth the Lord Clermont master of his Ordinaunce in all hast to passe ouer the canon for he could not do it the day before he putteth his army in battayle array placeth his artillery in the forefront so commodiously that all peeces did seruice without harming any man of his owne greatly did endomage the enemy At length hauing encouraged his souldiers to the battayle whom he found full of desire and readines caused prayers to be made from company to company About 9. a clocke in the morning the artillery began to play on both sides the ordinance of the king of Nauarre was so commodiously placed that it did wonderfully annoy the men of Armes which the Lord Ioyeuse had at his right hand and the regimentes which did flanke those men of armes Many being beaten downe with it some of the heads tooke resolution rather to goe to the charge then to die so miserably without any fight The Harquebuziers in like maner began to ioyne and there was no man on both sides who shewed not to haue a great desire to do well The Ordinance of Ioyeuse did let flye certayne shot towards the company of the Prince of Conde but without any effect saue a horse whereon a page did ride which was slayne The cause of this small effect was a litle rising of the ground which did let the free aspect and ayming of the Ordinance so that many shot did light vpon the ground About nine a clocke the light horsemen of the Lord Ioyeuse to the number of foure hundred horses conducted by the Lord Lauerdine and captain Mercure set on the horsemen of the king of Nauarre but after some fight began to wauer and to make roome The rest of the horsemen of the king of Nauarre consisted of 4. Squadrons distant the one from the other in this wise The Squadrons of the King of Nauarre and of the Prince of Conde were distant about a hundred and fifty paces The Squadron of the Prince of Soissons at the left hand of the king of Nauarre about three score paces The Squadron of y t Vicount Turenne distant so much from the Prince of Conde at his right hand The Lord Lauerdine charged the Vicount Turenne but without any endomaging of him These three squadrons where stoode the Princes of the blood standing fast did behold all this fight vntill the Lord Ioyeuse followed with his mayne force of horsemen and hauing both on the right hand and the left two great hedges of horsemen aduanced to giue the generall onset Then these three Princes marching euery one at the forefront of his squadron close first went a soft pace then began to gallop last the watch word being giuen with a loosed bridle set on so liuely euery one seuerally by himself according to his course vpon that multitude that incontinently the companies were mingled and came to handiblowes The speares which were in great number in the armie of Ioyeuse did but small seruice for they ioyned néerer It is a wonderfull thing that in a moment such a furious troupe as was that of the Lord Ioyeuse armed furnished to the aduantage flanked both on the right hand and the left with two great battaillions of footmen was ouerthrowne and vanquished by a troupe which had neither in number nor in furniture nor in armes nor in situation of the battell any aduantage at all God who gouerneth all things and holdeth in his hands the balance of victories and ouerthrowes made then courage to preuayle against multitude the iust cause against iniurie and the lawfull defence against bragging and the great preparation of warre And as the men of armes were quickly ouerthrowne trodden vnder foote and put to flight so in as little space were the footmen discomfited being set on by the regiment of the King of Nauarre where commaunded as Masters of the Campe Castelnaw Parabiere Salignake and others And at the left hand of the King of Nauarre Charboniere Preau Orges and others who all euery man right forward following the occasion of the victorie cut in péeces all that made any resistance and put to flight the rest which were on the side of copses at the right hand as on the side of the riuer Droune at the left hand And as a little before nine a clocke these two armies came to hands the quarrell was so soone decided that at ten a clock there was found not one onely man of the enemies which stood to his defence nor that was in sight but such as were laied dead vpon the ground or taken prisoners or in flight The place where the battell was fought remayned so couered with men of armes horses and armours but specially of Launces matted so thicke that they stopt the way There remayned the Lord Ioyeuse and also his brother with a great number and notablest Lords The King of Nauarre the Princes of Conde and Soissons with the rest of the armie pursued the victorie There were taken many notable Gentlemen and among others the Lord Belegarde gouernour of Xainctonge the Lords S. Luke and Montigny of Berry who commaunded ouer a companie of horsemen hee was noted in ioyning of the battell to haue pearced further then any of the companie for hee entered euen to the side of the gardes of the King of Nauarre which were at his right hand and there by them beaten downe was taken by some of the sayd gardes God gaue this notable victorie to the King of Nauarre and in that iorney did shine the valour wherewith hee hath indued him in all the speciall graces which may decke a noble and vertuous Prince and great Captain not onely for the counsell resolution diligence and wise gouernment but also in the execution of armes For doing the office of a Captaine Souldier he pressed so farre as to take the enemie by the coller The Prince of Conde also shewed himselfe valiant for he had his horse slaine vnder him the Prince of Soissons also tooke prisoners with his owne hand The horse of the Vicount Turenne was also slaine God made these Princes strong in this dayes worke according to the order of their preheminence by them to doo the execution
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
the said congregation confessed that for feare of death he had consented to the abominations of Poperie and with many teares very feruently prayed to God to forgiue him exhorted the Church to take heede not to followe his frailtie willing them not to be offended with his fall and with an earnest inuocation of Gods most holy spirit promised euer hereafter by Gods grace constancie and stedfastnes in the confession of the trueth After a long and wofull warre the particular accidents whereof I here omit as hastening to my purpose and referre the reader in that respect to such treatises as are of purpose written concerning those matters at length a peace was concluded about the 27. of Iuly 1576. which was sworne vpon by the King by the King of Nauarre Monsieur the Kings onely brother the Prince of Conde and Casimire other Nobles with the lifting vp of their hands The King to wit Henry the 3. to shew how well pleased he was with this peace willed and commanded that it should bee called his peace because he had graunted it with his owne will and proper motion The King of Nauarre then had not onely a iust cause but also opportunitie to complaine of diuers iniuries done vnto him at and after the murther of Paris and also to demaund amends for his great losses yet he neuer mooued one word least by any priuate commodities of his owne the peace should haue béen hindered By that conclusion of peace the King graunted eight Townes beside them which they held before vnto them of the reformed religion to bee gouerned vnder his obedience by the King of Nauarre for the space of sixe yeares It was agreed also at the request of the reformed religion that the King should call the States of the Realme to confirme this peace and to restore the ancient dignitie of that kingdome These States were so cunningly handled that it did almost fall to the vtter vndoing of them of the religion For the Guizes with the collusion of the King made such meanes as none other might be admitted to the same States than the professed enemies of the Gospell For they caused conuocations to bee assembled in the seuerall Prouinces who appoynted such as were farre from peace with secret instructions to bee presented at the saide States without making the Townes Cities or Commonalties priuie to the same They also caused infamous Libels to be printed and proposed in their seuerall conuocations denouncing open warre vnto them of the reformed religion and vnto all that would not consent to the vndoing of them Furthermore they deuised also the meanes to interrupt that peace which of late concluded by their consent and yet so politickly that the causes should not bee founde in themselues but in the professors of the Gospell For they procured infinite iniuries and violences to be done vnto them of the Religion by their partakers hoping that through dispaire and impatiencie they would breake the peace and so the King would arme the Duke of Guize against them that in the meane time hauing the Kings power in hand he might growe in authoritie and the King decrease Immediatly after the conclusion of peace made the Guizes perceiuing that these three noble Princes had auoyded their clawes for the King of Nauarre was gone into his kingdome the Prince of Conde had auoided into Germanie Monsieur had bin set at libertie without any hope to bring them againe within their reach and that not onely they were a terror but also would be great lets to their drifts and that they were able to cut them out more worke than they would be able to patch as long as they should liue considering the name roome authoritie and power that they were of both in France and with forraine Nations To the ende that at the States appoynted they might oppresse these Princes with the rest of the Nobilitie which would not take part with them to ground a sure foundation vpon a strong Councell then sent they their agent the Bishop of Paris and the aduocate Dauid a worse man did not liue then vpon the earth to Rome the holy Citie to take good aduise and spiritual counsell of their ghostly father The Bishop of Paris and Dauid with him came to Rome the Schoole of all murthers treasons poysonings and slaughters against all the Princes and States of Christendome There assembled all the schoolemasters and teachers of the Sciences aboue saide I meane the Cardinalls among whome Sir Hugh bon companion Vicar of Rome for so was his right name afore he was Pope was the forman There was great complaints framed against the King Monsieur his brother the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde against all the house of Burbon and the Nobilitie of France The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were heretickes and relapse The King and his brother with a great number of the Nobilitie if they were not heretickes yet were they fauourers of heretickes they caused heresies to grow and to take roote by making peace with heretickes to the vtter ouerthrowe of holy Church of Rome And that it was high time that Sir Hugh Vicar of Rome should prouide for some speedie remedie to preuent the mischiefe There it was shewed to render the King and all the Princes odious how the house of Capet had alwaies withstood the holy Church of Rome and that they had supported in old time the Valdenses and Albigeoys and now that either they are ioyned with the Hugonets or els are fauourers of them But on the contrary side the house of Charles the great which was wrongfully dispossessed of the Crowne by the Papall blessing had a speciall grace giuen them to helpe holy Church and had left yet some lustie buds which are they of the house of Guize in whom is all the hope of holy Church to roote out the hereticks and to restore all things The fable of this Popish blessing heere aboue mentioned is in the Chronicles of Rhegimon a Monke of S. Benet In the time of Pipin father to Charles the great Stephen Pope of Rome being a factious and turbulent man through his ambition did trouble Italy And when Arstulphe King of the Lombards a nation not vsed to bee controulled by Priests went about to chastize him fled into France to stirre Pipin which a fewe yeares before had vsurped the Crowne of France by the helpe of Pope Zachary against the sayd Arstulphe This Pope being at S. Denis nigh Paris fell brainsicke and in his sicknes the diuell deluded him with an entusiasme making him to see in a vision Peter and Paule before the high Altar in their Surplesses by the which as he sayd he knewe them Then came in S. Denis with a leane face hauing a Censor in his hand whom Peter and Paule sent to the sayd Stephen to heale him who charged him to hallowe the sayd Church Pope Stephen could this vision to them which were present there and being about to rise out of his
the towne was deliuered from danger of changing of mastery the people from death and vndoing and the tumult ceased This spéedy execution did greatly weaken and preuent the monopols of the League in the countrie of Prouance About the 15. day the Leaguers hasting to seaze vpon as many townes and houldes as they could in all France to make their part strong as well by force as faction but speciaily in Belgik where they could do more then in any part of France there they committed great cruelties in many places where hauing the vpper hand they were withstoode namely in the towne of Chastilion vppon the riuer Marne in the countrey of Brie they murthered as well the Catholikes as the Hugonets because they made resistance against them About the 20. day the Leaguers did present their association which they had set forth in writing to many Noblemen and Gentlemen vnder the name of the King requiring them to allow of it and subscribe to it But contrary to their expectation many refused so to do and diuers who had allowed it considering more déeply in the matter perceiuing their intentes abiured and forsooke it with protestations set forth in writing printed wherein they do open the secret thoughtes of the Leaguers and Leagued First they do protest that they do acknowledge none other faith then that in the which they haue béen baptized which then they did promise to beléeue and defend and to that promise they do stand still Secondly they do refuse and condemne all manner of associations vnder what soeuer color which binde them to obay any other then their Soueraygne Thirdly they do shew the League to bee nothing else but the circumuention of the king the confusion of the State a dangerous alteration of y â— Realme the bringing of a new Prince of a strange blood and finally caryeth with it selfe a proscription hauocke and bondage of all good men in all degrées About the 22. of Aprill the King of Nauarre in silence beholding the rage of this League and their declaration published in the which they had made him the obiect of their insurrection sent the Lordes Clairuant and Chassincourt with letters to the King in the which he complaineth of the iniuries of the Leaguers proffered vnto him in their declaration requiring iustice to be done for the sayd iniuries done vnto him He offereth also his seruice power to the King for to represse the traiterous intentes and attempts of the said Leaguers About the 30. of Aprill the King willeth the said Lordes Clairuant Chassincourt to giue this gentle answere to the King of Nauarre from him That he doth hold the sayd King of Nauarre as his sonne and heire of his crowne willeth him also to arme himselfe with patience to cause the edict of peace to be obserued by them of the reformed Religion Furthermore that hee acknowledgeth the driftes of the Leaguers aswell against his own person as against the said King of Nauarre but hopeth that he shal be able himselfe alone to represse their furies and to punish them wel for their desertes The second day of May the King by edict and proclamation doth condemnethe Leaguers and Leagued guilty of high treason commaundeth his edict of pacification to be proclaimed a new in all partes of the realme charging all men vpon paine of death to obay and kéepe it inuiolably At the same time also the King answered to euery point of their declaration of the said Leaguers whereof the summe followeth First the King protesteth of his Catholike Religion and calleth to witnes his actions victories daungers and labours taken for the same Secondly he sheweth that the peace was made and approoued by the counsell of the Cardinall in whose name they do séeme to autorize their rebellion and of the rest of the Leaguers not to fauour heretikes as hee tearmes them but to restore the decayed state of the realme to assault them of the reformed religion in conuenient time with greater forces Thirdly he declareth how he hath fauored the Cleargie in giuing them liberty to call prouinciall counsels and to refâ—rme such abuses as the ciuill warres had brought in how he hath also preferred the woorthiest sort to the best Ecclesiasticall liuinges and hath restored to their liuinges them who were dispossessed thereofby the former ciuill warres Fourthly that the Leaguers haue no cause to complaine for the geuing of offices For his predecessors and he after them haue bestowed vpon the Guyzes the best sort and most honorable dignities and that in great number when the Princes of his blood haue béen neglected Fiftly that it is to force nature and tyme to compell him by violence of armes to appoint a successor hée being aliue in strength health and flower of his age and not out of hope to haue issue Last of all he complayneth that this new commotion is very vnfit and out of season considering that he was now earnestly bent and occupyed to restore the Nobilitie to their ancient honor and dignity and the people to their due liberty But by this leauie of armes they haue stopped his godly procéedinges and haue taken the way to oppresse and root out the Cleargy nobility and people About the same time also the King sent Ambassadors into forreine countryes and commaunded his ordinary Ambassadors in the courtes of forreine Princes to geue them knowledge of the wicked intentes and trayterous attemptes of the Leaguers The Leaguers in a short space had scattered abroad the Pistolets of Spaine and about the beginning of Iune they began also to take money and therefore thought good to supply the want of Pistolets with French crownes which is somewhat purer gold for they exacted in diuers places great and excessiue summes of money vpon the townes and cities which they had either seduced to their faâ—â—ion or otherwise surprised As by one we may gather the rest Bourge being a small towne in Xainctonge situated vpon the fall of the riuer Dordonne into Garomne a towne leagued and extreamly addicted to the Leaguers was by them raunsomed to ten thousand crownes and afterward the inhabitantes so cruelly intreated that in leaping by night ouer the walles were enforced to steale away for feare of worse supposing them selues to haue sped well in escaping with their liues About the same time the Lord Saint Luke gouernor of Browage sent a certayne Captayn into the Iles of Maran vnder colour to buy Oates for his prouision to see whether hee could worke some surprizing of the Castell But the Captayne was so roughly shouldered and coursed that he was glad to retire with his whole skinne And after that least the Papistes should put some into the Castell euery night 6. or 7. of the reformed religion with Caliuers conuayed themselues priuily in the darke of the night into the gate of the Castell vntill day The Papistes vnderstanding this and also hearing the threatnings ofthem of the Religion to wit that if they should bee driuen
Corne Dates and Wine as in store houses which order he sendeth to the sayd Townes to be put in execution The King being thus deluded by his Counsell and busying himselfe about these matters of warre agaynst them of the reformed religion whether it were in earnest or by dissimulation God knoweth but at length it turned to earnest he giueth leaue and time to the Leaguers to grow greater in strength and number and forgoeth the occasions and opportunitie to prouide for necessary remedies agaynst them These Counsellers at length when they saw time came once more vpon the stage And on a sudden they terrified the King agayne as of a thing happened beside their expectation with the great strength of the League shewing what great danger might insue if he should seeme to saile against that violent tempest Considering that the resolution of restoring the Catholike religion and of the suppressing the reformed had possessed generally the mindes of the people So that if he should seeme to withstand the zeale of the Leaguers for their treason was with them zeale of the popish religion he would be commoÌ„ly thought to be a fauourer of heretikes and thereby an vniuersall rebellion of his subiects might ensue to the vtter vndoing of him and his estate Therefore that as a good Pilot he must obey the weather and seeke for some reconciliation and make peace with them as much to his aduantage as the necessitie of the affayres may suffer him And that in such an extreame case hée must holde with the strongest side These and many other considerations propounded vnto him which had lost his authoritie and that by them which wholly ruled him through a iust iudgement of God for despising the voyce of him and for persecuting him by whom he raigned and from whom he had receiued all royall authoritie and soueraigne maiestie he began to wauer and hearken to some spéeches of vnion Thus the King through Gods iust iudgement and the pernicious perswasions of his vnfaithfull Counsell bewitched doth determine to make peace with enemies as good cheape as he may and for that thing he must seeke out some good chapman skilfull and practised in olde Italian trickes Therefore he thought that his Mother was most fit as most skilfull in such markets This accursed woman as she had alwaies an ambitious and busie soule so she had also a double mind by the which she studied to haue great thanks for doing no good and to kéepe her selfe in authoritie and in the possession of the gouernment thought it should cost her the subuersion of her owne house and children and the vtter desolation of the Realme For the which cause she thought to kéepe the King alwaies busied hampered in trouble vexation and daunger that she might alwaies haue thankes for her bad seruice The King as a naturall sonne put her alwaies in great trust iudging of her naturalnes and loue towards him as he did iudge of his towards her The Leaguers on the other side were assured that she would doo nothing for the Kings aduauntage and ease for feare she should bee no more employed Therefore she was well liked on both sides Up then old Medea you must shewe yet once againe some of your olde Italian trickes Old Catie must bee the market woman she shall make the bargayne But for as much as two eyes doo see more than one she shall haue some counsellers appoynted her in that negotiation such as would not suffer her to doo any good vnto the King and the Realme if she had béen willing so to doo for they were al the Kings enemies addicted to the Leaguers and such as would haue taught Italian trickes the busâ—est head of all Florence yea such as would haue sent the great Prophet of Italy Machiuell with all his diuellish Prophecies to his Christcrosse Now we will leaue the Q Mother with her counsell to doo their market as well as they can whilest wee discourse of some other matters incident to the cause and the time About the beginning of Iuly the King of Nauarre hearing of the Kings wauering and what was like to passe betwéene the sayd King and the League writeth a letter to him from Nerat the 10. day of Iuly in the which hee repeateth the Kings procéedings against the Leaguers as the condemnation proscription and execution of some of their partakers hée aduiseth the King that if hee make peace with the Leaguers hee armeth rebells agaynst himselfe his state and Crowne he doth lament the miserable state of him and of his Realme comforteth himselfe in his integritie and innocencie referreth all things to Gods diuine prouidence reposeth himselfe in the Lord and trusteth in God that he will assist him in his iust defence But this good counsell of the King of Nauarre will not serue his turne the King must followe the streame and will bee shortly promoted to a higher degrée For he shall be one of the fellowes of the League who shall pay for all and haue least to doo in it It is sayd before how the Papists and they of the reformed religion consented ioyntly to keepe the Castle of Marans Now about the beginning of Iuly the Lord S. Hermin had gathered together some thrée hundred men of the Leagued in Poytow to bring them to the Lord S. Luke into Browage as he sayd but indéede it was to seaze vpon the Castle of Marans and other Forts in the Iles. The sayd S. Hermines with them would haue passed through Marans but they of the religion withstood his passage and began to fortifie the Fort called Alowete so that hée was enforced to take his iourney through Maillezais and Ronde and in that iourney shortly after they were discomfited and slaine by them of S. Ihan d' Angely The night following the comming of S. Hermin nigh Marans there was a great alarum in the Towne and the Papists which were in the Castle to the number of fiue and twentie supposing that S. Hermin and his companie had entered the Towne began to reioyce sing and daunce at the sound of a bag-pipe which they caused to play the most part of that night threatning them of the religion who were but foure in number But these foure standing on their warde charged them not to make any innouation with them of the League so that not onely they kept the Papists in feare but also at length with a certayne amazement of them caused their pag-pipe to cease About the same time the Prince of Conde vnderstanding how things were like to passe betwéene the King and the Leaguers departed from Rochel to repayre to the King of Nauarre and leaueth the Lord Rohan in Poytow to ouerlooke and withstand the attempts of the Leaguers there The sayd Lord. Rohan about y t 12. of Iuly departed from Rochel with foure score horses and rode to Marauns to assure those Ilandes The Papistes had already seazed the fort called Brune where through the sayd Lord should passe but their hartes so
these three riuers in one are receaued into the riuer Mayne and so altogether in one about 2. miles beneath Anger 's 3. miles beneath Pont de Sell do run into Loyre Vpon this riuer of Loyre are situated these townes following Flesche Lude Lauerdine Chastean de Loyre Vendosme Chasteaudine Betwéene Chasteaudine and Reisgencye which lyeth vpon Loyre betweene Orleance and Bloys is the Towne Forest of Morchesuoyr in that Forest was the army of the Prince scattered and as it were became inuisible as shall be shewed in the discourse following The 16. of October the whole army began to passe ouer with great discommodity For from Saint Gemes they had but three meane boats wherwith they passed into the Iland which lyeth in the midle of the riuer On the other side of the Iland to passe to the towne of Rosiers they had but two boats and few Ferry-men who were Papistes they did the woorst they could and ready at euery hand to steale away These discommodities caused great confusion at the passage which was encreased with a great number of cariages which followed the Campe. At this passage euery man did presage the euill successe which afterward ensued For although there was no want of corage yet one might perceaue a certayne sadnes vnaccustomed which caused many to say let vs goe and dye for euery man was resolued to vanquish or to dye But the Lord disposed otherwise for a more meruâ—lous deliuerance hath not béen seene in our dayes For neither did they vanquish neither dyed but euery one dranke a reasonable draught of the cuppe of bitternes At this passage did arise great diuersity of opinions among the heads for none of the Captaynes thought good that the Prince should passe ouer for the care which they had of his safety their reasons were that it was most like that the enemie would not withstand their passage but would winke at it that afterwardes they might bring all their forces together to stop their returne thinking it an easy thing with many to ouercome few For they had already newes that Ioyeuse hasted to Anger 's with all his forces which were about three hundred Horses twelue hundred of Suissers and some regiments of Frenchmen They alleaged also that there was nothing sure at Anger 's and that it was to be feared that it would be surrendered before they could aryue thither so that their passing ouer stood vpon no reason but vpon an vncertaynty to venture such an army with all the state of their defeuce There was also newes brought to them though false that Brissake had seazed vpon Beaufort a towne betweene the riuer Lotion and Anger 's whither the Prince thought to haue gone to lodge that day The 17 of October notwithstanding the reasons aforesayd the Prince passed ouer at the town Rosiers with some noble men and Captaynes where he took about thirty gentlemen of the company of the Lord Boulaye who was already passed and certayne Harquebusiers with him commaunding them to lye in ambush in a wood nigh Beaufort and commaunded the Lord Valiere who was among the said gentlemen to make semblance towardes the gates of Beaufort and to draw them who should issue out into the aduantage of them which lay in ambush in the wood But when they came to Beaufort there they found none but the inhabitantes who did profer their Towne to the Prince and assured that there came no man except the County Carauas to whom they denyed entrance Upon this report the Prince determined to passe the rest of his army grounded vpon many reasons but especially vpon the newes which he had receaued of y t Lord Clermont whom he had heard to be about Anger 's with sixe or seauen hundred men who was not willing notwithstanding that the Prince should enclose himselfe in that sleeue All this while the Lord Rohan with his company made a road toward Saumur and the Lord Laual downe the riuer toward Anger 's for he passed last of all The Prince also sendeth a trompet vnder the colour of certayne prisonners to know of Anger 's what hee might But they of Anger 's would not suffer him to goe further then the Suburbs who reported onely that they which kept the Trenches were resolued to stand to their defence manfully Few dayes the Prince Monpensier had gone to Anger 's to profer his seruice but within few dayes he went away discontented because they of the citie had preferred the Lord Bocage before him which thing caused some to thinke that the sayd Prince Monpensier would ioyne with the Prince of Conde considering that this warre was agaynst the League and for the same cause the Lord Auantignie was sent to him from the Prince but all was in vayne The 18. the rest of the companies passed all ouer Loyre with leasure but with much discommodity by reason of the great continuall rayne The Prince left Captaine Serpent with a stronge garrison at the Abbey of Saint Maure to fortify the passage and to fauour their repassing at their returne The 19. they departed from Rosiers to passe the riuer Lotion which lyeth betweene Loyre and the towne Beaufort a riuer narrow but very déep then specially which for the great aboundant rayne was ouer the bankes There the passage was more troublesome then at Loyre because the countrey all about is coppses and Marishes daungerous for the horsemen They of Beaufort being so mened to open the gates to the Prince did it without any delay and taking away their Gard receaued such as were placed in their stead Thether the Prince arryued the same day at euening with his army and left the Lord Laual for the safety of theyr passage of Lotion who came to the Prince the next day after The same day about noone the Lord Clermont came to the Prince at Beaufort with thirty horses his horsemen were about nine hundred lodged in the villages betwéene Beaufort and Anger 's The twentéeth day being the Lordes day they soiorned at Beaufort and the night following they began to march toward Anger 's and appoynted the rendes vous at a certayne place within a league of Anger 's The Lord Ioyeuse vnderstanding the Prince of Conde to bee at hand fearing least hee might enterprize vpon the Castell by the helpe of those few men being onely 16. in all by reason that he thought them to bee of the religion or otherwise to fauour the Prince and that thence he might molest the League and hold the whole countrey in subiection he thought that it were not good to delay the regayning of the sayd Castel but to recouer it at any price whatsoeuer Therefore he conditioned with them who were within that the Papistes which were there nine in number might there remayne if they thought it good They of the religion 7. in number should be safely conducted to y t Princes camp and that they should not bee searched Also that they might carry away what they would Furthermore that at
way nigh the place of execution saue them which were assaulting y t Suburbs on horsebacke their helmets on they consulted whether they should set on the Trenches yea or us Some perswaded to giue the attempt saying that it would be a shame to haue come so farre and so nigh execution without blowes giuing and that they could doo no lesse then to see the enemie in the face and seeing that they woulde not come foorth they should goe to finde them out they said further that they of the Castell could not see their succour if they presented not themselues at the Trenches Others reasoned to the contrarie and among others the Lord Rohan withstoode strongly that aduise aleaging many euident reasons And first that it was too plaine that they of the Castel had yeelded to the enemie hauing not giuen one token to th◠contrarie that it was no reason to say that they had no knowledge of their comming considering so many signes giuen them for the space well neere of two daies Secondly that it were a rashenes to hazard so great and braue forces and such a notable companie of Nobilitie to so imminent danger vpon vncertainties and that they were to be reserued to a better opportunitie For the enemie was as strong within as they were without and that it was as easie to take the citie as the Trenches so well fortified and that there was no hope of any to shew them any fauour much lesse out of the castel which was already surrendered or else dissembled with them to intrap them and to cast them away headlong Thirdly they ought to consider that they were in a strange land in the enemies countrey inclosed betweene two daungerous riuers which they must repasse in a countrey couered with woods enemie to the horsemen whereof consisted all their forces Finally that there was no doubt but that the King on the one side and the League on the other were not idle but did their endeuour to gather their forces on euery side to seaze vpon the passages and fortifie the banck of Loyre to stop their repassing That the forces of Anger 's were on their backes which were equall in strength to them and all the countrey was fauourable to the enemie Therefore they concluded to retyre and that delay might bring them great hurt and that the Lord Laual who was at Beaufort to make the rereward should goe backe to repasse the Loyre The greatest part followed this aduise It gréeued greatly the Prince to retyre and as hee sayd to the Lord Clermont to vnbit But ouercome with reason he concluded that the Lord Trimouille Auantigny and Boulay should retyre the Harquebusiers from the suburbs so that about two of the clocke in the afternoone they marched toward Beaufort In retyring they first met with y e Lord Laual with two hundred gentlemen galloping toward Anger 's who being aduertized of the retyre went neuerthelesse forward to the Prince In the retyring there was confusion at Beaufort for it was two houres within night afore they arriued there many had but a short supper The same day the companie of Captayne Fresche whom we haue sayd to haue béen killed at the assault giuen in the suburbe of Pressigny the day before guided by his Lieftenant was sent to get boates for the repassing of Lotion The 22. day the Prince with all the troupes soiourned at Beaufort to take aduise how to repasse Loyre There the Lord Plessis gete was appoynted to search out boates and men to conduct them to auoyde the disorder which they had the first passing and to that intent money was deliuered him The same day the Lord Campoyse was sent with his company of light horsemen to seaze vpon certayne houses vpon the banck of Loyre right agaynst the Abbey of S. Maure The same day whilest the Prince with the Nobles soiourned at Beaufort came to the Lord Clermont the foure men which he had sent to Rochemort who were entered into the Castle of Anger 's and there remayned vntill the day of the rendring thereof conducted by the Lord Suze There they shewed to the armie what was passed in the Castle of Anger 's one of them shewed a Crosse which he had for his part made of pure gold hauing two and thirtie great Diamonds and a great Saphir which made the head of the Crucifixe the ladder and all other things accustomed to be paynted in the passion as they call it was all of Diamonds no lesse artificially than costly wrought he was proffered for the same fifteene hundred Crownes The 24. of October whilest the Prince with many Noble men soiourned at Beaufort to pacifie a quarrell risen among certayne Gentlemen the Lord Laual in the afternoone passed ouer Loyre his mē of armes and light horses to defend S. Maure and to fauour the passage of the rest This day soiourning at Beaufort was the cause of the disorder which followed after and many marueiling at so long abode there foresaw what would ensue knowing that Ioyeuse had set certayne boates in a readines with small peeces at Saumur to let them downe the riuer to stop the passage If they had passed that day and night all things had gone well and safe but God had otherwise determined The same day the Lords Ioyeuse and Chastre went vp the riuer Loyre on the South side of the sayd riuer from Anger 's to Saumur with 150. horses The Lord Laual being passed ouer and vnderstanding that the sayd Lords had passed on that coast toward Saumur early in the morning made a roade toward Saumur and tooke the Mules and rich carriage of Ioyeuse The Lords Trimouille and Boyseuly passed the Lotion encamped themselues in a Common vpon the bancke of Loyre whilest the Prince and the rest passed Lotion There was at that passage of Lotion aboue fiue hundred horses and two boates onely for that cause the confusion was so great that one being ouerladen sunke though without any losse of men because it was nigh the bancke The same day about nine of the clocke in the morning was heard on a sudden a peale of Ordinance with some small shot which put the Armie in great rumour Some sayd that it was at Anger 's in token of ioye for the rendring of the Castle But within a while after were seene two great boates furnished with Ordinance and men of warre who cast anker a little beneath the Abbey of S. Maure in the place where the passage ouer was appoynted to be and immediatly began to shoote on both sides of the riuer both agaynst them who had passed and agaynst them that were about to passe The newes of the sayd boates were brought to the Prince incontinently with amplification of the impossibilitie to repasse and it was indeede so for lacke of two field péeces to haue shot from the banke agaynst the boates which by these meanes could haue béen easily sunke but they had carried none although they had once determined so to doo
Nauarre ioyned themselues with the Lord Turenne who within a short space grew to the number of sixe thousand With this power the Vicount Turenne kept the field in Limosin Perigord and about the time that the Prince departed from Browage to his iourney to Anger 's letters came vnto him from the Prince by the which he willed him to drawe néere Browage to fauour the siege thereof Vppon the receipt of these letters the Lord Turenne called his counsell together to knowe what was to be done There was then reasoned among them of the necessitie of his presence at that siege On the other side aduertisement was giuen that the armie of the League vnder the conduct of the Duke de Mayne was drawing nigh toward Guyenne although it was not yet scarse out of Paris and that the same was beaten with diuers disseases and among others the Swissers which made them conclude that occasion might be giuen to worke some good exployt vpon that armie and if not discomfited yet greatly it might be molested Agayne he had receaued letters of the King of Nauarre who aduertized him that he was at the poynt to depart out of Bearne to Bergerake ward in Perigord and therfore warned him to be in a readines that if néede should be he might ioyne with his Maiestie So that considering all these waightie occasions hée could not succour the siegr of Browage staying for the Duke de Mayne and expecting the King of Nauarre his comming He had many good occasions to enterprize vpon certaine Townes in Limosin as vpon the Citie of Trile Brune la galiarde and others in those quarters Trile is a Citie in Limosin a Bishops seate situated in a valley compassed about with high hilles which doo commaund the Towne It hath thrée fayre Suburbs about it and there is a little riuer named Vestere which washing the walls passeth by the Suburb which is greater than the citie Therein is a Frierie of the Franciscans which is inclosed about with a strong wall and for that cause the inhabitants had retyred and committed their goods to the Friers keeping which thing fell out very ill for them The high suburbe is like the first in greatnes the third is lesser than the other twaine The 8. day of Nouember the Lord Choupes with a great number of Gentlemen and Souldiers set on the lowe Suburbe The Lord Turenne who commaunded ouer the Harquebusiers which came out of France staying at the Franciscans house which is situated at the ende of the Suburbe set the gate on a fire and vppon occasion entered further euen to the Trenches which they of the Towne had made and after long skirmishing and killing of some of both parts wonne the same The high Suburbe at the same time by other companies as they were appoynted was also assaulted which they of the Suburbe did resist at the Trenches but at length enforced did retyre within the Towne They of the Towne being besieged all round about defended themselues vpon the walls without issuing out at all for the space of sixe daies The 13. day of Nouember were applied two péeces at the gate which made some way to enter in but they of the Towne did their endeuour to defend the breach which being not assaultable the assault was giuen ouer The siege continuing many of the Towne were slaine which caused the rest fearing to bee forced not to refuse the perswasions of Amaury who counselled them to capitulate Hostages being giuen of both sides the Kings Lieutenant with some of the chiefest Citizens came foorth to the Lord Turenne who was lodged at the gray Friers the agréement was long debated and at length concluded The 16. day of Nouember they of the Towne consented to redéeme the Towne and the ransaking of their houses with a certaine summe of money Furthermore it was agréed that a Captaine stranger with such as were left of his companie for most of them had béen slaine should goe foorth out of their Towne and they should receiue Captaine Amaury This Captaine Amaury was he of all the armie whom they feared most and yet did they requested to haue him whom they receaued for their gouernour and there he remayned in that charge vntill the comming of the Duke de Mayne About the 10. of December considering that the place was not sufficient to resist such an armie he gaue ouer the Towne into the hands of the Citizens and within fewe dayes after was slaine as followeth Within a while after the taking of this Citie the Lord Turenne retired his companies in garrisons in places of greater importance The 25. of December Amaury was aduertized that the Lord Sacramore of Birague this is that Sacramore whom after the Duke de Mayne killed in his anger with his owne hand one of the Leaguers was not farr from Turenne with a companie of Harquebusiers to lay in ambush and as he aduaunced himselfe one of his owne Souldiers too hastie to shoote with his péece hit him by misfortune and killed him and after they retyred to Turenne The Duke de Mayne sporting himselfe made good théere at y e Priests costs but it was no matter for holy Roode did pay for all and doth conquer Kingdomes in Perigord and Limosin and about the 27. of December tooke Montignake le conte an olde Towne and ruinous Castle belonging to the King of Nauarre He tooke also Beaulieu such a Fort as no man which hath any skill in warlike affayres would make any accompt of And ten daies after the inhabitants who were al of the reformed religion redeemed their Towne with one thousand Crownes which were payed to Antefort About the 17. of December the Duke de Mayne recouered Trile which the Lord Turenne had caused Amaury to surrender into the hands of the inhabitants about ten daies before because that place was not defensable The D. de Mayne at length perceiuing y t his practises against the Cities and Townes of Limosin Perigord would not frame determined to passe the riuer Dordonne at Souliake into Quercy leauing behind him Monfort a strong place and many other Townes and Holds because hee could not carrie them away with him It is sayd before how that the King of Nauarre in August last went into Languedock to S. Paul de Cadeioux where he met with the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Monmorency to aduertise them of their defence The sayd King remayned afterward in Bearne in great silence and quietnes viewing how farre all this league and vnion would proceede expecting the producing of some lamentable euents and as if it were out of his watch would become of the thrée great armies prepared for Guyenne Languedock and Daulphine and being hidden vnder the wing of the most high mused what would bee the end of the fierie threatnings and bragges of his enemies bearing patiently their insolencie euen to the danger of his owne person It is also sayd how that the Leaguers had procured an excommunication from Frier Sixtus
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
thousand more entring already into France with foure thousand Rutters which were euery day expected he must needes prouide money for them For these shameles Mercenaries who sell themselues to dye at other mens commaundement neuer considering the iustice of the cause will make no warre longer than they are fed with money Considering the great charge which he through euil couÌ„sell had drawen vpon his armes he gathered a great summe of mony vpon the Courts of his Parlâ—aments wherewith he payed those Souldiers But whilest the K. was so busie to fight against the God of battells his Sonne whome he had anoynted vpon his holy hill Sion and pollâ—d his iudges and Magistrates that they might recouer money with aduantage by peruerting indgement Beholde a preamble of that rebellion which followed against him in Paris the moneth of Maie next ensuing There was a certaine Masse Priest Parson of Saint Seuerine at the lower ende of Saint Iames streate named Preuost who preached most seditiously against the King and certain other Lords who were his faithfull seruaunts without any respect of persons degree or dignitie This Priest being threatned to be had before the King a certaine notarie made a great assembly both of armes and men for to defend the Priest The King being aduertized of this misâ—emeanour commanded one of the porters of his chamber accompanied with two Archers of his garde to goe to the sayd Notary to bid him come to speak with the King They which were assembled in the Notaries house seeing the sayde company to enter into the house set vpon them with great violence and enforced them to saue their liues by flight â—rying arme arme and so put al the side of the Vniuersitie in such a wonderfull commotion that there was nothing else to be hoped but a tragicall euent and afterwarde vntill the 8. day of the sayd moneth the whole Citie was in an vprore keeping watch al night at the corners of the streates Now to returne to the course of the history The King hauing three great mighty armyes and no money to entertaine them turned himâ—elfe to the olde shifts broughâ— into France by the Cardinall of Lorreyne and paltring Italians who came with the Q. Mother and gouernd King Henry the second father to this King at their pleasure when they were disposed to make him a slaue to their passions For the ninth of September the King went to Parliament for to establish fifteene Edicts among the which there were three notable the first was of the establishing 27. Secretaries The second was to choose the sixt chamber of enquests consisting of twenty counsellers and two presidents The third was the creation of the Masters of accounts with two presidents out of the which estates he made his reckoning to pluck two Millions of golde Where thou mayest see gentle Reader in what miserable state France was then from the highest to the lowest The Leaguers secretly agaynst the king They openly made warre agaynst God distroyed his subiectes to bring to passe his owne subuersion and to hide the treasons of his enemies refusing to harken vnto any motion of peace proffered him by the king of Nauarre or to any good counsels and for to maintayne this his enterprises iustice must be peruerted by plurality of offices which is one of the principallest pillers of kingdoms by the which magistracy is vpholden mans society entertayned As concerning the armies which were in hand that which should bee lead by the king himselfe consisted of foure score and eight companyes of men of armes and ten thousand footmen twelue thousand Swissers 4. thousand Rutters he caryed twelue double Canons and two thousand Pioners and about the 1. of September the companies began to repayre to Montereau faut Yoynne with commaundement to stay there abouts about Sens in Bourgony vntill his comming and then to repayre all to S. Florentine there to be mustered The king sent to Marshal Biron to Montereau to view the place where they should campe for the king had determined to campe alwayes and for that cause all the Lords had prouided tentes He tooke for his counsel the Lords Villeroy and Bruslard secretaries the Dukes Espernon Danuile Retes and the Marshals Biron and Aumont The Prince Soyssons was with the king of Nauarre and the Prince County was in NormaÌ„dy Mayne Aniow to gather as many companies as he could to ioyne with the Germans knowing well that these great armies were specially prouided to destroy the house of Bourbon vnder the colour of defending the popish religion The Duke d'Aumaule was appoynted Colonel of the Swissers this armie went not further Eastward then Sens from thence turning South and West ward and crossing the Countrey of Auxeroy and Gastinoys passed Loyre into Berry after the determinatiun of the Germanes was knowne As for the third armies thus is it the Duke of Guize Lorreyne at the beginning of September were at Nancy there they had between 20. and 25000. men among them were many horsemen there they receaued 400. Launces of the Duke of Parma all olde Souldiers 2000. footemen Italians and betweene sixe or seauen hundred light horses they made no great account of the Italians the sonne of the Lord Antragues gouernour of Orleans about the 15. of September brought vnto the Duke of Guize beside horsemen about 700. footemen when a little before all the companies of the Leaguers of Britayn sent vnto him by the Duke Mercure vnder the conduct of the Lord Hault Boys were discomfited by the King of Nauarre nigh Monsoreau vpon Loyre as is before reported The army of Germans for y e king of Nauarre when it departed out of Germany was of fiue thousand Rutters fiue thousand Launceknights armed with corsâ—ets and launces sixteene thousand Swissers foure thousand harquebusiers on horsebacke and about thre hundred horses of French men But after they had passed the mountayne of Sauerne the further it went forward the more it did encrease for the Lord Mouy brought two thousand Harquebusiers French men on horsbacke The L. Villeneufue Cormon one thousandand the Lord Lours one thousand The Lord Chastilion the 22. of September brought to it fifteene hundered Harquebusiers about 200. horses so that the totall summe myght amount to 34. or 35. thousand besides the companies which the Prince County brought afterward They had 16. pieces of ordinance to wit foure great culuerines eight field pieces and three peeces which were taken from Salabrine The Lieutenant of the King of Nauarre was the Prince Bullion assisted with a counsel consisting of these which follow the Lordes Guitri Oneaulx Cleruan Beauuoys la Nocle Vezins Digoyne Louet Ramboillet Laube Cheuorles Huguery and Beauuieu This army was the terror of the one side and the hope of the other and yet both were disappointed of their expectation For God shewed to the one part that he hath means ynough to chastife whom and when he pleaseth to the other part hee shewed that they are not safe who do
trust in man and make their force the arme of flesh Beside these three mighty armies and the armies of the king of Nauarre and Ioyeuse whereof it is spoken before The Lords Mommorency and Diguieres had the fifth in Daulphine agaynst the Lord Valete beside the armes and assembled forces scattered elswhere Such was the state of miserable France which had great cause to grone vnder the heauy burthen of so many so great and mighty armies This tempest was very blacke and thicke and at length thereout issued dreadfull thunder clappes But now we haue to speake of these three armyes conioyntly to wit of the Leaguers lead by the Guyzes of the Catholikes conducted by the king himselfe and of the Germans guided chiefly by the Duke of Boillon Here we haue to consider the iudgementes of God which were powred vpon these armies First y e Leaguers by the K. forces did work y e K. vndooing y t by his fall they might be lifted vp on high The king in pretending y e defence of the Catholike religion which no man did oppugne by violence but the Leaguers went about to root the Gospell of Christ out of France The Germans for the most part were mercenaries who regarded not the right of the cause neither came to serue him who procured them but did in mynd swallow downe the spoyle of France And some among them who were lead with an vpright mind yet being mingled with prophane and irreligious men and trusting in the outward apparance of that army turned theyr confidence from God to the arme of flesh therefore all were disappointed of theyr intents for neyther of them all had any benefit by this great warre but blowes slaughters and calamityes About the latter ende of August after this great armie had passed the mountaine of Zauerne and began to enter into Lorreyne the Dukes eldest sonne with certaine regiments approached so nigh them at Salabrine that 3. of his companies were discomfited and six Ensignes sent to Strasbourg and proceeding further they tooke Blasmond The said army drawing neere to Nancy about the beginning of September certayne seruantes going about to forrage with their cartes were set on by certayne companies which issued out of Nancy when they had seazed vppon some cartes were pursued and beaten into the very gates of Nancy This army of Germans being about Nancy there was a counsell holden to wit agaynst whom they should first turne theyr armes The French men were of that aduile to make warre in Lorreyne and that it was the pleasure of the king of Nauarre that they who had of lustines kindled that miserable warre in France might first of all feele the heauy burthen of the same but specially the Duke of Lorreyne who was one of the heads of the League The Germans in taking a certaine summe of money which the Duke of Lorreyne proffered them were at length content to passe by as neighbours and friends yet notwithstanding they concluded warre did there many acts of hostilitie such as warre doth commonly drawe after it This armie being yet newe and lustie did neglect a notable occasion to oppresse the enemie at the bridge S. Vincent vpon what occasion that opportunitie was neglected it is vncertaine But it is confessed of all men that if they had come to hands that day they had seene the end by the iudgment of men of that warre assoone as the beginning Thus some exployts of warre being done there the scarcitie of victualls beginning to growe they determined to goe foorth out of Lorreyne But vpon the determination of the way which they should followe there was great difficultie found For the Germans desired to passe toward Sedan from whence they might hope of many good commodities and if néede should be they might haue a newe supply of forces out of Germany which thing could not bee if they enclosed themselues among so many riuers which are on the South side of Seyne Some French men on the contrary sayd that they should turne right to the riuer of Loyre for to ioyne with the King of Nauarre The Lord Boillon desired greatly that they would approach to Sedan as they had as he sayd promised him and that in hope of it he had made great preparations of powder and artillerie which hee had made of purpose Considering also that he had to prouide for the securitie of his places which might incurre some daunger if they were not prouided for All reasons debated and weighed on both sides the course to the riuer of Loyre was concluded Whilest these things so passed in Lorreyne the Lord Chastilion the 22. of September came to the armie with his troupes he had much adoo to passe and was as if it were enclosed in the towne of Gresille but was rescued by the Countie de la Mark yonger brother to the Duke of Boillon The armie drawing néere to Chaumont in Bassigny there it was put in deliberation to execute a certaine enterprize which the Lord Chastilion had in hand but it could not be done The armie came to Chasteauuilaine where they soiorned some dayes and in the meane while they tooke a Gentleman named Viliers comming from Rome his iourney to Rome was to solicite the Pope to helpe his master with money to make warre against them of the reformed religion and also to pray the Pope Frier Sixtus to name the King head of the League assuring him that it would greatly mooue him to warre and roote out them of the religion whom he named heretickes The answere which the Pope made him as it appeared by his words was that they should liue in peace with their neighbours and that hee could not furnish them with money being not willing to make warre against any man who desired peace among all men The sayd gentleman carried a letter very ill written which he sayd to be the hand of the Duchesse of Lorreyne mother of the Duke contayning thus much I am very glad to vnderstand the state of your affayres and I aduise you to goe forward for neuer a fayrer occasion was offered you to put the Scepter in your hand and the Crowne vpon your head This letter gaue occasion to them of the Counsell to agree that this Gentleman should be kept carefully and brought to the King of Nauarre The armie soiourning at Chasteauuilaine the King with his great armie stayed about Montereau faut Yonne and Sens but vnderstanding the determination of the Germans retyred with his armie into Berry beyond Loyre there to stop the passing ouer to the King of Nauarre and to giue them freer accesse betwéene the two riuers of Seyne and Loyre where hée thought either to weary them or by ioyning his with the armie of the Leaguers at the tayle of them easily he might oppresse them During this soiourne the Baron Oneau brought the artillerie before the Abbey of Cleruaulx which compounded to giue a certaine summe of money and some quantitie of wine and meale notwithstanding that capitulation
may raigne at their discretion and no longer then it shall please them The second article is that the King shall cause the counsell of Trent to be published authorised and receaued in his dominions onely the execution to be stayed for a time concerning the reuoking of certaine exemptions and priuiledges of some Chapters Abbeys and other Churches from their Bishops This article they doo set foorth to bee the seede of immortall warres knowing well that it cannot be published without the sound of the trumpet Note and double Canon The third article is that the King shall establish the holy inquisition of Spayne at the least in good townes which is the onely way to roote out hereticks and suspected so that the officers of the said Inquisition be strangers or at the least be not borne in the places where they may haue neither kindred friends nor alyaunce This is the meanes to execute the decrees of the counsell which in the former article they haue giuen to the kingdome of France for a law that by Note that law all the inhabitants of the realme who shall be to the Inquisitors either hereticks or suspected for who will not be suspected if it pleaseth master Frier the Inquisitour Secondly the inquisitors must needes be either Lorreines or Spaniards two nations delighting in the blood of Frenchmen as the Wolfe in the blood of Lambs or else they may not haue any kindred say they that is that neither blood duetie of nature nor friendship may let theÌ„ from euill doing and from subuerting the french nation The summe of this article is that the french nation may bee destroyed without mercy or compassion The fourth article is that the King shal grant licence vnto the churchmen to redeeme at any time the Church goods and landes which they haue sould of whatsoeuer quality the said goods and lands be or they that haue bought them And that the King shall compell the beneficed men to make such a redemption within a certaine time that shall be prefixed to them according to the abilitie that they shall be found to bee of by them that shall be appoynted to see the state of their reuenewes and lands The Leaguers haue made the churchmen to blowe the Trompet of Note ciuill warres vpon that condition that they should not fight themselues but pay money to them that would fight for them and so haue made them sell their church landes Now they will enforce the poore Priests to buy againe their church lands that they may sell them againe when the Leaguers haue neede of them The fift article is that the King shall put into the handes of some of them certaine places of importance which shall bee named to him In the which it shall be lawfull for them to build Fortresses and put in men of warre as they shall think good and all at the charges of the townes cities and countreys the like also they shall doe in the places which they hold at the time of the making of these articles The leaguers doo thinke that the King had too great a portion in the Note last deuision of his kingdome which they made with him in Iuly 1585. and that the King was too strong for them yet Therefore by this article they doo call him to a new deuision wherein they goe about to doo three things First they would haue more strong places and such as they themselues shall appoynt It is to be thought that they will not make choyse of the worst For if the King should put them to their choyse I dare affirme that they would choose Paris Calis Anious Reymes Bologne Newhauen Caen Roan Orleans Tours Naunts Poytiers Bourdeaulx Limoges Perigeulx Tholouse Bayone Narboune Marseilles Lyons Dijous Auxone Langaes Seus Mets and other such which they doe meane by places of importance Secondly they would haue the King this to doe for them as to suffer them quietly to build citadels and therein to put garrisons which they gently call fortes and men of warre to keepe out the King if at any time he should change his mind and call for his owne The third is that the king and his poore subiectes shall beare the charges of fortifiyng and keeping these places from his obedience that thence they may easily oppresse him when they shall spie time and tyramze his subiects The sixt article is that the King shall giue pay to men ofwarre to be maintained in Lorreyn vpon the borders of Germany to let the entrie of the Note strangers their Neighbours and for that ende shall cause out of hand the goods of herelikes and others which be associat with them to be sould The cause of this article was feare of the vengeance which their conscience represented continually before their eies for the great enormityes iniuries execrable abominations by them committed in the County of Noubeliard for they perceauing their weaknes in strength and wealth against that hot vindicatiue and mighty nation of Germany would haue the King to defend them and so doing iustify their vilanous actions and thereby to begger himselfe and procure the hatred of that Nation which had beene alwayes at amity with the Crowne of France Secondly whereas they require the goods of heretikes and their associats by the which they do vnderstaÌ„d the Princes of the bloud the Duke Mommorency Noble men and other qualities of men which shall please them to be sold I maruell when they will go into Guienne and other Prouinces to pluck sheaue with them it will be hard for them to get y â— sheaue out of their hand yet the king must do all this to iustify the murthers whoredomes Sodomiâ—ryes and other abominations committed agaynst the frendes and alied of the Realme of France The seuenth article is that al they who haue beene heretikes or holden for hereâ—ikes euer since the yeare 1560. of what degree soeuer may bee taxed to the third or fourth part of their goods A research must be made of the space of 28. years past and all liberty geuen Note so oft by the Kings proclaymed by their edicts must néeds be made coÌ„yne Euen they who were reunited by the last ediâ—t of July 1585. made at their owne discretion must be called to account and this is to make the warre immortall vntill they attaine to the marke they shoot at if they do not catch a fall by the way The eight article is that the Catholikes shall pay the tenth part of their reuenues euery yeare And that commissioners be appointed to make the sallies and taxes as well of ecclesiasticall as lay persons others notwithstanding then officers of the Soueraygne courts that all things may be executed more speedily and with lesse charges In this article first the Leaguers spare neither friendes nor foes but Note that they are somewhat more fauourable to the Catholikes then to the heretiks For whereas they were promised at the first rysing of the league to be eased of
the premises are according to trueth and for the certitude of the same wee haue sealed this report with our hands andseales at S. Ihan d' Angely the 6. day of March 1588. Medicis Bontemps Pallet Poget Mesnard Chotard About the same time the King of Nauarre came out of Gascoyne who being aduertized of his death commaunded that such as were suspected of that villanous fact should be pursued Whereupon a page suspected saued himselfe by flight many more were apprehended The processe was made vnto many with all the solemnities requisite thereunto whereof within a while after the condemnation of one Brillaut ensued the page also was condemned vpon centumacie executed in Picture Brillaut was drawne vpon a hurdle through all the streates of S. Jhan and in the chiefest place of the sayd towne was torne in peeces with foure horses Now we see how the Leaguers when they haue not been able to destroy the Princes by valour haue vsed treacherous procéedings For first hauing treacherously shortned the life of the Duke of Alençon by poyson as it is saide in the first booke and seduced the Cardinall of Bourbon making him dreame of a kingdome in his old doting age and to oppose himselfe to two Kings to wit the King and the King of Nauarre and to all the house of Bourbons out of which God had made him that honour as to haue issued one of the chiefest as is sayd in the second booke They also haue condemned the King of Nauarre to dye by their Italian figges and there uppon proclaymed his death which they had promised to themselues both in Lorreyne and in the Court and in Townes and Cities of their fauourers but God hath disappoynted them of their murtherous purpose At length by the long suffering of God to plague France they haue preuayled agaynst that good godly vertuous famous Prince of Conde and that vpon such a day as hath béen fatall to the house of Guize to work mischief murther and rebellion The death of this noble Prince amazed all men in Xainctonge knowing that God had some heauie iudgements to execute vppon France and that GOD had taken that noble Prince least he should see euill dayes as the Prophet Esay saith It is sayd before how the Lord Lauerdine who was master of the Campe saued himselfe by flight out of the slaughter of Coutras betooke himselfe to the towne of Niort to the Lord Malicorne his vncle where hée soiourned as his Lieutenant Here Christian Reader wee haue to obserue that although the King and the Leaguers hated in wardly one another and in outward appearance did deepely dissemble their affections yet wee doo see that as Herode and Pilate did excercise priuie hatred betweene them and at length in persecuting Christ did well agree as friends so in men of like degrées and in like actions the like affections are boyling in their hearts For the rumour of the death of the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde which the Leaguers hauing set some secret price vppon their heads had promised vnto themselues did cause the King and the Leaguers in outward apparance to be great friends and to promise vnto themselues an vtter rooting out of them of the religion and a sure subduing of all things beyond the riuer of Loyre With speede therefore they sent eight or nine regiments conducted by the Lord Courbe to the Lord Lauerdine Lieutenant of his vncle the Lord Malicorne at Niort in Poytow who with al the forces which he could gather both in the lowe and high Poytow the 16. day of March about two a clocke after midnight descended into Marans by boates through the marishes of Beauregard and with fiue hundred footmen seazed vppon the house and farme of the sayd Beauregard hauing found no resistance but onely of two of the inhabitants of Marans with a little boate who were gone to discouer the Iland Cicoigne these two discharging their peeces vpon the enemies retyred to the trenches of Beauregard there they found but fiue or sixe Souldiers as well of the inhabitants as others who also discharged certaine shot vpon the enemie who notwithstanding aduanced and came to land The cause why the Lord Lauerdine subdued these Ilands so easily was first the certayne newes of the death of the Prince of Conde and the rumours bruted abroade touching the supposed death of the King of Nauarre which thing caused great amaze and discouraging among all men Secondly the ill order and prouidence of the gouernour for if he his troups and inhabitants had done their duetie Lauerdine had not entered that Iland at that price or els had been chased out to his dishonour and losse The Lord Iarry had béen aduertized three dayes before of the enterprize of Lauerdine and might haue put into the Ilands forces sufficient to resist the enemie for the companies of the Lord Trimouille conducted by the Lord Boysduly returning from Cotaudiere were very nigh him to wit at S. Radagond Champaigne and Puyreneau who desired nothing more then to enter into Marans But the gouernour and the inhabitants fearing the preace of Souldiers which was excessiue indeede would not admit them but sent to Rochel the Captaine Plaute Lieutenant of the Gouernour to request them of Rochel to send them about fiftie Souldiers whom they would entertayne vntill they might see what the enemie would doo which thing they of Rochel could not doo for that time Notwithstanding this refuse and that the gouernour was well aduertized that he had not sufficient forces to let y e enemie to take land yet the companies of the Lord Boysduly passing through the Brault were sent further as farre as Esuand through foule wayes ouerthwart the Marshes whereas they should haue been stayed to be vsed as the necessitie had required They sent notwithstanding the same day at euening to the said Boysduly but arriuing not before ten or eleuen a clock in the night was the cause that succour could not come in time although that the diligence of the sayd Boysduly and his companies was wonderfull for without any leasure to lodge and without any respect of the indignitie proffered him and his troupes the day before they departed presently and repayred to the fort Brune one houre and a halâ—e before the enemie tooke lande at Beauregard But whilest the gouernour and the inhabitants made some difficultie to let in all his troupes being not willing to receaue aboue 50. or 60. the enemie on the other side entred at Beauregard as is sayd so that the entrie into Brune was not opened to the sayd Boysduly nor his troups afore that the enemy had already gotten the farme house of Beauregarde There had beene meanes to driue back the enemie if speedely the troups who were entred at Brune about three a clock after midnight had gone to meete the enemie as some did giue their aduise to doe For the L. Lauerdine was not yet well accompanyed and it had beene an easie thing to cut the way to the
couered with zeale of popish religion as with a Maske partly for their treacherous intents which shee knew they had against the Crowne of France Yet these petty Lords of Lorreyn must needs haue her whether she will or not but her they may not haue before they take Sedan the chiefest towne of her principalitie which they had terrified all this moneth of March by the barbarous inuasions of the Lord Rosne It is saide also how the besieged in Iamets haue kept off the enemies and had caused to trench themselues in villages thereabouts where they were dayly assaulted by them of Iamets Now in the latter end of March the armie before Iamets was greatly increased inforces so that all things being readie Iamets is pressed and besieged more narrowly then before and after many skirmishes betweene them the arâ—illerie is placed for the battery There remained to them of Jamets for hope of succour after mans iudgement the towne of Sedan in the which vnder the auâ—hority of the Duchesse commaunded the Lord Nieuile a Gentleman famous in counsell valour and experience he had within Sedan a small number of Gentlemen and good Souldiours The army which was before Iamets desirous to cut off all hope of succour from Sedan sent part of their horsemen Frenchmen Italians and Spaniards with a number of Harquebusiers about Sedan to spoyle and to seaze vpon all places and high waiâ—s by which they of Sedan might come to succour Iamets and among others they tooke Vaudelincourt Balan and other places Their courses were raging and their rage spared nothing the contempt which they had of so weake an enemie made them as the manner is both insolent secure and careles of their safetie which was the cause that diuers times and in diuers places they were charged by them of Sedan who issuing out fiercely made great slaughter of them as the time and small meanes which they had suffered them so that they were shamefully driuen out of their villages of Vaudelincourt and Balan But to preuent such inconueniences the Lorde Rosne and other Captaines who conducted the turkish troupes of the League determined to lodge hereafter more closely then they had done before and for that cause the fourth day of Aprill the greatest part of the horsenien and footemen which were on the east side of Mense went to Bemily situated on the west side of the sayd riuer where the L. Rosne lodged and the rest of his companies lodged at Aucourt Haracourt and Raucourt leauing on the east side of Mense the Baron of Saraxenbourg with foure companies of horsemen to wit his owne and the Lord Anthony Vize a frenchman a great friend of the Duke of Guyze the third was the company of the Lord Tilly a Lorreyne and the fourth was conducted by Captaine Carlo an Italian These companies placed themselues within the towne of Douzie belonging to the principalitie of Sedan That towne they determined to fortifie by reason of the situation which is good being situated vpon the riuer named Chize flowing from Iuoy and within a quarter of a league beneath Douzie falleth in the riuer Mense which caÌ„not be passed by foord in winter the sayd Douzie lyeth directly from Sedan to Iamets so that hauing Douzie they be masters of the way from Sedan to Iamets Nigh vnto the village of Douzie beyond the bridge at the ends of the meades at a place called Marie were two companies of horsemen lodged commanded by Ihan and Thomas Albaneses there they were set to succour Douzie for by the meanes of the bridge lying betweene them and the towne in a moment they could recouer the towne The companies which had passed the riuer Mense vnder the conduct of the Lorde Rosne were gone to besiege Raucourt appertayning to the Soueraignety of Sedan They besieged it when it was altogether vnprouided of all necessary things for which cause the Lord Nieuile determined by the aduise of the cousell to furnish it with all necessary things as well with prouision of victuals as munition of warre and by the way to charge three companies of light horsemen which were lodged in Haracourt and to that ende hee departed out of Sedan about eight a clock in the euening the tenth day of Aprill accompanyed with foure score horses and foure hundred Harquebusiers but there fellout such a terrible tempest and violent rayne that they were enforced to retire saue onely they victualed Raucourt The twelfth das of April the Lord Nieuile aduertized of the diligence which the Baron of Saraxenbourg vsed in fortifiyng Douzie he considered that the longer he should delay to charge him the greater the difficulty would be and that the sooner the better without giuing hun leaue to fortifie himselfe in that place which did so presse Sedan and tooke from him the meanes to succour Iamets he therefore called the counsel and propounded them two enterprizes which bee would willingly attempt the â—â—e was to goe to Haracourt the other to Douzie whither it was concluded that they should martch the same night They departed about ten a clock at night with foure hundered Harquebusiers and fourescore and twelue horses commauuded by the Lorde Arsoune and Falayses It was also ordered that the footemen should goe three diuers waies to wit that the Captaines Dorys and Parramentier with one hundred Hâ—rquebusiers should goe to get the bridge of Douzy vpon the riuer Chize to stop the sally of them who were within the towne and by the same meanes to let the companies of the light horsemen who were at Mary distant onely from Douzie the shot of an Harquebush betweene that place and the towne nothing being but the meades and the riuer least they shoulde goe into the towne to succour their fellowes Captain Cheuerdery Lieutenant to the Lord Caulmont should assault the lodging of the Lord Saraxenbourg with 50. Harquebusiers the Captaines Framond and Massart with their troupâ—â— should charge vpon the trenches through the which the horsemen should issue foorth The rest of the footemen commaunded by Captaine Villepoys Seriant Maior should stay with the horsemen for to helpe where neede should bee and to fauour our horsemen when they should ioyne with the enemie The thirteenth day about three a clock in the morning the troupes of Sedan did charge Douize and they who had the charge to sease the bridge came so fitly without finding any great resistance that quickly they were masters of the bridge But it was not so at the barritados whom the Captaine Framond and Massart did charge for there our men were violently resisted by the Barron of Saraxenbourg himselfe and the Lord Anthony Vize Dom Ihan Romeroa Spanyard who made a salley with fiue and twentie or thirtie horsemen who notwithstanding were receaued so coragiously by our footmen who had charged the Barricado that being beaten back they were faine to retire within their trenches so confusedly that our footemen in beating them before entred with them and seazed vpon the barricado In this
horses of carriage the onset was giuen within two leagues of Pilmil suburbe of Nantes The King after giuing of thankes vpon that place where the skirmish was fought for that prosperous successe and victorie made a light dinner vnder a tree and after retyred to his lodging at S. Georges where hee soiourned the whole day following for the long daies iourney which he had made the day before notwithstanding that day hee went a hawking for Partridges and in the euening viewed the towne of Montagne to take order for the fortifications and garrisons of the sayd towne and purposed to haue layed the siege to the towne Clisson not farre thence The King being yet at S. George was strengthened with foure regiments of footmen to wit of Charbonieres Sallignak Preau and the regiment of his gardes commanded by the Lord Querine there also he receaued the light horsemen of the Lord Trimouille who had discomfited the regiment of Lestele and taken foure Ensignes which they presented vnto the sayd King The selfe same day being aduertized of the daunger wherein the Duke Espernon stood within the Towne of Engolesme besieged there within the Castell by a conspiracie of the Leaguers caused him to giue ouer his enterprise vpon Clisson the day following being the 15. of August departed from Saint George purposing to make toward Engolesme to succor the saide Lorde Espernon but hearing by the way how the tumult there was pacified went not so far as that place It is saide before how that the Leaguers in their request presented vnto the King made a great complaint against the Duke Espernon charging him to haue intelligences with the King of Nauarre and them of the religion to haue been the cause that their armies had heretofore small successe and that if he should grow to greater authoritie it were danger that in time he would deliuer the places of his gouernement to the King of Nauarre that he is the onely cause that the politick state is so corrupt and out of frame and therefore the King must needes put him from about his person and fauour This Lord Espernon of the auncient house of Valette grew in great fauour with the King through his faithfull seruice a man altogether sold to popery yet a louer of the Kings person crowne and state a louer of the realme and peace of the same a hater of conspirators and perturbers of the quietnes of the King and his subiects who neuer could bee drawne to the conspiracies of the Leaguers neither by faire promises nor other meanes whatsoeuer which thing was the cause that the Leaguers hated him as the onely man about the Kings person who did hinder the execution â—f their enterprises that man therefore must not be about the King nor be admitted into the assembly of the states The King to giue place to their hatred for a time and to auoyde the inconueniences which through y e malice of his enemies might befall to such a trustie seruant determined to send him out of their sight and where hee thought that they should be least able to practise against him And giuing him a very great power and commission in a most ample manner to commaund in the Prouinces of Aniou Toureyne Poytow Engomoyes Xainctonge commaunded him to depart the Court about the same time that the edict of reunion was made by the Leaguers who hauing soiourned a while in the Tower of Loches situated in Toureyne vpon the riuer Vndre which falleth into Loyre betwéene Tours and Samure to fortifie and assure the said place to the Kings obedience against the practises of certaine Gentlemen of the League made against that place From thence he tooke his iourney to Engolesme where he vnderstoode that many enterprises were a working by the League against the Kings seruice There commaunded the Lorde Tageus his kinseman vnder the charge of the Lord Valette his brother The saide Lorde Espernon arriuing at Engolesme accompanied with a great number of the nobilitie was honorably receaued by the Maior and Aldermen of the Citie by the officers of iustice policie with great numbers of people who went to meete him at the gates of the Citie hee was likewise receaued by the Bishop and his Priests at the doore of Saint Peters Church where they sung solemnly a great te Deum laudamus in the worship of him Not long after the said Lord Espernon called together the Bishop and his Priestes the Maior and the Escheuins the Kings officers and other chiefe Citizens to giue them notice of the occasions of his comming which was first to preserue them all in the Catholicke Romane religion for the which and for the Kings seruice he would willingly aduenture his life against all manner of men Exhorting them to aduise what was requisit for their conseruation and that they would propound the same vnto him All answered with one consent that they would dye vnder his authority in the same resolution and for to testify their willes the better they would haue his authority from the King printed read and published as the manner is through all the towne The said Lord hauing many companies both of horsemen and footmen yet would he innouate nothing not so much as to change any part of the garrison of the Citty and to testify vnto them more apparantly of the confidence which hee had in the promises and fidelity of them he would not lodge in any stronger place nor more aduantagious for his preseruation but in the Castell which is called the Kings house wherein he found his Cosin the Lord Tageus lodged as the gouernours heretofore had accustomed to do This Castell hath no strength which is any thing worth nether in Ditches nor in any handy worke except some great Towers of stone very olde but otherwise very commodious for the store of chambers which are therein The said Lord had brought his Lady with him and had also lodged the Lady Tageus there Hee went the same day into the Citadell wherein he commaunded the Lord Bordes with all the nobility which accompanied him could euen then haue lodged there if he had had any diffidence of the inhabitants for the keies were presented to him by the Lord Bordes That Fortresse was sufficient to haue bridled the inhabitantes considering the strength and great store of Munitions of the said place as well in Ordinance as in other necessary things But specially hauing a gate to get out of the towne whereby may be let in as many men as one would But the sayd Lord in stéed of mistrust kept an open house as well for the nobility of the countrey as for the inhabitantes of the citty without any respect of persons whereof a great number but specially the Maior of the town with his conspiratours sat ordinarily at his table with great curtesy and welcome shewed vnto them by the sayd L. Espernon He walked familiarly with them through the citty and suburbs with a small company of his
siege two Gentlemen to wit the Lord Drow one of his house and one Villebeau Captaine of one of the companies of the Lord Salignak The inhabitants of the Iland Bouing had promised to the King of Nauarre who had vsed them very courteously that they would suffer none of the enemies to enter their Iland which promise they kept not The Lord of Guize though very busie at the States at Bloys yet ceased not but as he was very busie to supplant the King at home so was he very diligent to prouide for the affayres of warre and for to crosse in this siege the King of Nauarre if he could He sent to the Duke Mercure the regiment of S. Paule the fayrest and most dreadfull of all the companies of the League The 22. of October and the morrowe after the rendering of the Castle of Beauuoyre the inhabitants of the Iland Bouing against their promise receiued two of the fayrest companies of the sayd regiment of S. Paule But they had not so soone entered into the Iland but that immediatly they tooke such dreadfull feare that without any shame they sent a Drumme to the said king to beseech him to giue them safe conduct to retyre into a place of safetie They had some reason so to doo for the feare of his sworde put them in a fearefull apprehension For he had so prouided that they were at his mercie hauing sent his nauall armie to a place called Collet aboue Bourgneuf of Rhe which was the place where of force they must needes passe by But the accustomed clemencie of that Prince sustayned and eased the feare of these two companies who trusted that he would be no lesse fauourable to them then hee hath accustomably béen vnto others who did submit themselues vnto him Whereof they themselues among many other examples are and ought to bee hereafter witnesses for although hée might haue cut them in peeces yet of his good will leauing a marke of heroicall humanitie vnto the posteritie he gaue them their liues armour with a pasport for their safe returne so that they should retyre the selfe same day He forgaue also the Iland men who had falsified their faith and had rendered themselues worthie of sharpe punishment This clemencie to them shewed did so touch them that they haue remayned euer since most faithfull being otherwise most deuoted and addicted vnto poperie The saide King being desirous to passe into the Iland to sée it could not doo it for the contrarie windes hee left there for gouernour the Lorde Quergroy a Gentleman of Britayn of great reputation with a necessarie Garison And vpon the aduertisements which he receaued of the great preparation and marching of the royall army vnder the conduct of the Duke of Neuers who descended into Poytow he departed thence the 24. of October with all his army taking his way to Montagne where hee left the regiment of the Lorde Preau ordering all necessary things for the defence of that place which as was thought should be the first place where to that army would lay siege which also hee determined to rescue in conuenient time he deuided his garisons in the places which he iudged necessary and among the rest he put Garisons in Mauleon Ganache Talmond Fontenay and other places That being done he tooke his way to Rochel to be at the assembly of all the reformed Churches of France which hee had called thethere for diuers and notable considerations The deputies of all the Churches of all sorts and qualities stayed sometime in Rochel for him where the said King being ariued receaued them with great contentation and according to his naturall facility and mildenes to the great reioysing of all men which hoped for much fruite of this assembly for the preseruation of the realme of the Kings authority against whome the Leaguers vnder colour of the States at Bloys did worke dangerous conspiracies and for the iust defence of them of the religion so long time so cruelly intreated in all partes of the realme The said King being certified of the comming of all the deputies of this assembly of all degrees and conditions Lordes Nobles Iudges Kinges officers Maiors Aldermen and other notable men of the Prouinces gaue an opening vnto the saide assembly by the inuocation of the name of God the 14. of Nouember in the towne house of Rochel assisted by the Lordes of Turenne his Lieutenant general in the prouince of Guienne Trimouille Colonell of the light horses and many other Lords Barons Vicounts Gentlemen and other his counselers The same day were called all the deputies for the assembly the authority which euery one had of the Prouinces for whome they were sent There was almost no Prouince in France which had not sent their deputies to wit deputies were sent out of Gascoyn Amignak Albret and other places from beyond the riuer Garonne out of the Prouinces of Britayne Anjou Tourene Berry Lodunoys the I le of France Normandy Orleans Picardy Champaigne and others beyond the riuer Loyre out of the Prouince of high and lowe Languedock Daulphine Rowergue Mountalban and out of the gouernement of Terrides there were also out of the gouernement of Xainctonge on this side Charante out of all the Iles of Xainctonge other deputed for Rochel for the Prouinces of Limosin Perigord Agenoys for the towne of Bergerak in particular for the Prouinces of Poytow and Engomoys for the principalitie of Orenge and many others for the baily weekes townes and comunalties with sufficient shew of their charges and commissions The 16. day of Nouember after publick inuocation of Gods name the King of Nauarre accompanied as is aboue said represented to the whole assembly the chiefest causes of their conuocation the great necessities which should moue euery man to oppose himselfe to the enemies whose intent was too apparant for they went euen against the King and the whole estate he shewed that hee had hetherto in so iust and godly a cause spared neither goods nor life as his former actions could testifie and that if these mischieues should growe to the worst he for his part felt his courage to be increased of God in the resolution which he had long agoe taken to spend therein euen the last drop of his bloud and the last pennie of all his goods and desired onely that the world would iudge in this his resolution of his good intent as indifferently and truely as himselfe sincerely had walked before God and determined to doo hereafter He shewed how the long continuance of war and lisence of armes had to his great griefe bred and brought in many disorders to the which hee required them as well it might bée to prouide both in respect of the glorie of God of the King of the realme and in respect of all priuat men Prayed them that were of that assembly to bring with them cleane spirites voyde of all passion endued with the loue of the common wealth which thing if they did hee assured
againe rather to their priuate present and sure commodities then to attempt dangerous enterprises Grounded vpon these reasons the seruants do determin vpon the death of their Lord the anoynted of the Lord and a man reuerenced of so many Nations is condemned to die by the bloudy swordes of them who might haue said that whatsoeuer they haue besydes their béeing they haue it of him and his predecessors liberality whose Grandfather came to begge to the dore of his auncestors Rise vp O Lord defend thyne Ordinance and the powers which thou hast appointed The 24. day of December is appointed for that cruell execution their desperat parricide is sealed with an oth so they depart The King ignorant of this sentence of condemnation geuen against him yet prouoked both by the old and new iniuries proffered him daily by the Duke of Guyze did meditate how and watched for the opportunity as by one blow to rid himselfe out of that danger and feare wherein he saw himselfe and perceauing well by the partialities and partaking of in a maner the whole assembly of the States and that contrary vnto his expectation for he thought by the consent of the States to haue conuicted condemned and executed both the Duke and few of the chiefest of his partakers he was in danger that which he pretended would be wrought against him either directly or vndirectly by the sayd estates determined to follow an extraordinarie way and to preuent his enemy knowing the Prouerbe to bee true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and knowing the cause so to do to be lawfull thought the course taken for the execution would be diuersly iudged yet hee thought to follow a iust cause some what vnlawfull necessity enforcing him so to doo might be well interpreted in a man of his degree and calling he pronounceth therfore sentence of death against the Duke of Guyze and few others Here Christian Reader thou seest the subiect and seruant to haue condemned appoynted to the slaughter his Lord and Prince only through aspyring vnlawfully vnto his Scepter and Throne Here thou seest the soueraigne power ordayned of God for to reuenge the euill doer to haue condemned his seruant for diuers crimes committed the procéeding is extraordinarie but necessarie and not at all to be condemned considering the circumstances but it is to be wished that it could haue béen done otherwise by ordinarie course Marke also Gods iustice vpon carnall men destitute of the right knowledge of God fellowes in a manner and companions of one affection of one minde of one consent in persecuting the Sonne of God in deuouring the innocent as if they would eate bread the Lord sent euill Angels among them to scatter them their counsels and power the one is possessed with an vncleane spirit of ambition the other bewitched with a spirit of hatred against the trueth of God is made secure and flacke to preuent the euill betunes vntill he is enforced to followe that course which commonly men will condemne vpon his companion his friend and familiar who went into the Temples of their Gods to take sweete counsell together O the depth of Gods iudgments how deepe and vnsearchable be they The Kings counsell and determination could not be kept so secret the King hauing so many Leaguers about him to smell his breath but the 22 of December as the Duke of Guize had set downe to dinner he found vnder his napkin a little bill wherein was written that he should take héede for they will play a shrewd play with him In the same bill he wrote with his owne hand a mocking answere thus They dare not and so cast it vnder the table The Leaguers neither could not keepe their breath so warily but that their determination tooke flight abroad For the same day the King receaued diuers aduertisements of this perilous conspiracie and determination of the Duke of Guize against his person But specially y e Duke de Mayne brother to the Duke of Guize sent Alphonse Corse expressedly to the K. to aduertise him to take heed of the Duke of Guize his brother it was an easie thing sayd he to carrie a rope of Beades about his necke but for certaine hee knewe very well that his brother had a shrewd enterprise in hand against him He knewe not when the execution would be but he knew very well that it would be shortly and that he was in doubt least this warning should come too late and warned him in these words that his Maiestie should beware of a furious and desperate minde The Duke Aumale likewise sent his wife to Bloys to the King to aduertise him of the same daunger and conspiracie against him and that the conspirators were vpon the poynt of the execution Also one of the conspirators themselues mooued in conscience disclosed vnto him the whole conspiracie the day appoynted the tokens the names of the conspirators but in such a short time that the King had scarse opportunitie and time to escape and preuent that imminent danger The King also had intercepted not long before many letters wherein in plaine tearmes the Leaguers had vttered their determination The King hauing receaued so many messengers of death and reduced to this extremitie doth perceiue that he is beaten with his owne rod. For calling to remembrance the great iniuries which hee and his brethren had receaued of that house euen from their infancie acknowledging now that all the former troubles as hee confesseth in a certaine letter of his to the Lord Tageus in his Realme haue béen by their practises and procurement how that hee hath seene all the euident tokens of their aspyring to his estate their clayming of the Crowne by their fayned geuealogies set foorth in the sight of the world He remembreth also the decay of his authoritie among all his subiects to haue béen their worke by the diffamatorie Libels dispersed abroade with diuers slaunders and calumnies He acknowledgeth the practising of the deliberation of Rome about the rooting out or disheriting the royall bloud in France in the houses of Valoys and Bourbons to set vp the house of Lorreyne Among other things he reckoneth the seditious preachers as Iesuites and other vncleane foules of that colour hired by them of Guize and Lorreyne to stirre vp sedition and steale away the people from his obedience thereby to strengthen their partes He calleth to remembrance the taking vp of armes against his will in the yeare 1585. the raising vp of the tumult in Paris against his owne person the letters of Guize intercepted wherein he discouereth his minde so deepely that thereby he might see euery veine and hole in their braine and hearts the saucie parts and manifest attempts which both hee and his partakers had vsed toward him in his owne presence both in words and behauiour the consideration also of these aduertisements from so many parts did cause great passions in his minde But did not consider from whence these blowes did come neither from
whence his slacknes in repressing and punishing by time those offences Specially when remembring the fauours that hee and his predecessors had giuen to that famely but he aboue all had more esteemed them then the Princes of his bloud had made him his fellow and companion in all the exploytes done against them of the reformed religion whome hee had fauored with diuers great dignities pardoned him of so many grieuous offences which he would not haue forgiuen to his owne brother to be short he loued and imbraced him as his own soule this incredible vnthankfulnes and treacherie did moue him to great indignation But specially what griefes and sorrowes did this â—nhappy King conceaue in his heart not onely to 〈◊〉 so vnthankfully rewarded of them whome hee trusted most but for that he in the space of 20 yeares had seen so many warnings giueÌ„ both to his Brother Charles the ninth and to himselfe of their aspiring working not onely by the Princes of the bloud by the King of Nauarre by many Lords Gentlemen and learned men in France but also by the Princes of forren nations and specially by the Princes of Germany who from time to time had proffered their seruices and their assistance vnto him for the repressing of their insolent presumptuousnes And namely when he considered how halfe a yeare before when he was in a manner dispossessed of his kingdome Authority after his flight from Paris how his faithfull subiects of all callings and degrees resorted vnto them both to shew him the vnsufferable indignities which he had receaued of that house and also to proffer him their seruice and assistance When hee called to minde how often and how faithfully the King of Nauarre had proffered him his forces and that in such sort that if it had pleased him but to holde vp his hand onely and let him alone with them he with his owne forces and charges would set him at hearts ease from any danger or sâ—ur of the League He I say as a man which is willingly and wittingly lead to his fatall destruction and fall had neuer regarded nor considered all these things vntil now when being destitute of all meanes and deliberation and scarse knowing whome to trust hee is with too late repentance driuen to shift for his owne life as well as hee may which he seeth is most certainely to be taken away within foure and twentie houres if he dooth not preuent the conspiratours The King in this agony and heauy sighes not considering the causes of these blowes and terrors of death full of sorrowes and indignation dooth determine with himselfe as well as hee can to preuent the treasons of his domesticall enemies in this wise The keyes of the Castell were brought euery night vnto the Duke of Guize as being great Master of the Kings house but the saide Duke of Guize the 22. of December the night before his death prouided not so wisely but that the keyes fell into other mens hands then them of his side So the King tooke the keyes of his house in his custody he also caused a rumour to bee noysed abroad that the day following hee will goe on pilgrimage to the Church called our Lady of Clery situated betweene Bloys and Orleans And according to his prudence he prouided that as well in the Castell as in the towne they of the League might not stir with any force against him for within the Castell he doubled his gardes In the towne hee tooke order that night that the gardes of the towne gates should not in any wise open the saide gates vntill they should haue expresse commaundement from him to the contrary so both the Towne Castell and keyes thereof are made sure in that night and all this was done vnknowne to the Duke of Guize The Lord grand Prior that night made a match to play at Tenis with the Lord Ianuile sonne to the Duke of Guize to whome he gaue his word that the next day very early hee would take him in his bed for that end So the King hauing dispatched many things but specially prouided to make all things sure which he thought needefull to preuent the determination of the Duke of Guize which was vpon the poynt of execution retired into his closet where he was all night to doo many needefull dispatches The same night hee wrote to the Duke of Neuers who was in the army at the siege of Smache hee wrote to Lyons and to diuers other places where hee thought it necessary for the assuring of his affaires and the preseruation of his person The same night the Duke of Guize Frier Lewis the Cardinall his brother and the Archbishop of Lyons to take opportunity to commit their parricide concluded to sit in counsell the next morning early The 23. of December the Duke of Guize the Frier Cardinal his brother the Archbishop of Lyons the Marshall Haultmont and others came to sit in counsell in a chamber nigh to the Kings chamber being but a narow aley betweene them The K. being in his closet with certaine Lords and gentlemen sent for 7. or 8. of those 45. Pensioners or gentlemen y t were daylie attendant vpon him very early in y e morning to whom he vsed some speaches about his affaires so greatly importing him so nearely touching his person abouâ— the assured aduise intelligences which he had receiued of the enterprize against his person State They prostered most willingly their ready seruice to execute his coÌ„maundement in such a iust cause and defence Within a while after the Duke of Guize being in the counsell chamber before they began to sit was called to come to the king He saw at his first comming the guards more carefully disposed than of custome so that as it happâ—neth oftentimes y t vpon the instant of great aduentures the mind of euery man is to him as a Prophet of y e euent or a heauy presage of his mishappe euen as hee had iudged of the enterprize of an other man by calling to remembranâ—e of that which he had in his owne mind and tâ—e stroke which he receaued by that which he intended he entred into a motion of extraordinary mistrust so far that his countenance changing at that calling his heart waxed cold as though he had been ready to fall into a swound whereupon hee sent to the L. Pre one of them who did waite in the K. chamber to aske some raysins which were brought him Afore his going out of the counsell chamber hee sent a page to his chamber to fetch him a handkercher his secretary had bound fast in one of the corners thereof a small bill written contayning a warning to get him out or else hee was dead The handkercher was brought but it was not deliuered for it was intercepted with the remembrance when the page came vp againe with it The Duke of Guyze being about to goe vnto the king when hee went forth of the counsell chamber into the
publike reuenger of Gods lawe and executer of his iustice who commandeth him that his eye shall not take pitie vpon such abominable contemners of Gods ordinance and iustice whose Image his person represented fearing men more then GOD and vnder the colour of clemencie consented to their crimes and through impunitie approoued their misdéedes God a righteous Iudge turned this his pusillanimitie to a snare and a blocke of offence by the which he wrought his owne ouerthrowe and miserable end Now leauing the euents which followed this tragedie played at Bloys we will fetch other matters and exploits which were done in other places that varietie may not onely delight the Christian Reader but also stirre him vp to feare tremble and reuerence Gods iudgements For not onely at Bloys he powred mightie streames of his wrath vpon the wicked but also in other places the Lord at the same time fed his enemies with shame clothed them with dishonour and rewarded them with confusion and in all places deliuered his Saints It is sayd before how at the making and concluding of the edict of reunion in Iuly last it was agreed that two mightie Armies should be mustered and made vp with as much readines as it could be done the one should be conducted by the Duke of Guize into Guienne and the other vnder the leading of the Duke de Mayne into Daulphine there to roote out them of the religion But yet the Duke of Guize aduised by his counsell to wit the Cardinall his brother and the Bishop of Lions altered his purpose for three causes First the cause of religion which he pretended was not the marke that he shot at neither did he greatly care which of the two went backward or forward Secondly he perceaued how he went to cast himselfe into the hazard of warre which is vncertaine but specially agaynst such a Captayne who hetherto had remained inuincible and knewe with fewe how to ouercome great multitudes and mighty forces whom hee feared as the slaue doth dread his Lord whom he hath greeuously offended Therfore he thought good not to hazard that way but to reserue himselfe to a better opportunity which would be offered him ere long The third cause was that if he should absent himselfe farre from Paris it might be that the King would enterprise it there uppon and carry it away from him Also if he should absent himselfe from the Court he were not able easily to bring to passe his intent nor giue the blowe which he had in minde long before Therfore another is to be sent yet it must not be any suspected person As for the Princes they are partiall in this cause and being of great authoritie of themselues are not to bee armed with power for els they may marre the play The Marshals Byron and Haultmont are good noble men good French men and valiant they are Royals and therfore we will haue none of them For it were not good to arme them with such forces for if wee say they should in the meane time execute our enterprise whilest they had such an armie they might marre all and begin a new tragedie vpon the players of the former Therefore such a Generall must néedes bee appoynted as may flatter with both sides and that will turne to the strongest part and if he should be lost in the battell it maketh no matter who that should be The Duke of Neuers of Nation an Italian an Atheist by religion a Spanyard by faction a Leaguer and a Royall both by policie and dissimulation in Nobilitie nouus homo For here is to be noted that in Italy there is no ancient Nobilitie remayning except it bee the Vrsins and Colomuae and some of the Patrilij in Venice For all the rest perhaps some fewe excepted are families raised vp within these few hundred yeares out of Colliers as the Medicis Porters and Chimney sweepers during the vniuersall rebellion of Italy against the Emperours vnder the factions of Guelpses and Gibelius and the Popes bastards also are the stockes of many families which now are accounted of the chiefest Nobilitie there as the houses of Parma Vrbines c. This Duke of Neuers hanging about the skirts of the Q. Mother maried the onely heires of the noble and ancient familie of Neuers whose father was slayne at the battell of Dreulx being of the house of Gonzages neuer heard of before these eight score yeares The noble Princes of the royall blood the ancient Nobility of France are no men but set behinde the doore they may not lead the kings armies not for lack of sufficiencie Why then Because they are suspected by the League to be true to their king good louers of their country and too naturall to their kings subiects and fellow Citizens Whilest therefore the States doe continue at Bloys and Rochel the Kings armie in Nouember taking their iourney into Poytow with great preparatioÌ„ intending as wel to recouer the places occupied by them of the Religion as also to beat the king of Nauarre in which doing not only they should make an ende of the warre by rooting out vtterly them of the Religion but also should recouer the losse of the honour of the armie which a moneth before had beene buried at Coutras by the King of Nauarre This armie was great and strong consisting of Frenchmen Swissers and Italians hauing a great number of armed men And as it marched forward so still it increased For light horses and Noble men with other qualities out of all partes out of the cities and communalties of the Prouinces neere about as well of the one as of the other side of the Loyre did voluntarylie ioyne themselues to it And among others out of the low Poytow were the Lords of Roches Beatault of Bourneueau Boucherie and Saint Andre with their companies The Duke of Neuers as is sayd before was generall assisted with the Lord Chastre and Sagonne two notable traytors Leaguers and Lauerdine loyall and faithfull to his Prince with other Lords and Captaines Ordinance munition and all kinde of preparation of warre was great The greatest part of this armie as well of the heads and commaunders as of the Nobilitie and others which did obey were Leaguers and leagued who thought that they could neuer worke mischiefe enough It is an incredible thing to heare the mischieues hauock and oppression which this armie did where it passed through but specially to them of the reformed religion who were found before them both in their houses and abroad the people men and women euen in diuers places the very cattell did flie before this armie as before a thundering tempest euen as a flock of sheepe before a heard of woolues sauage beasts or monsters neuer seene before Sultan Soliman Siech Selymogly did neuer cary greater cruelty sauagenes barbarousnes and terror into Austrich and Slireland when he came downe with three hundred thousand men to the siege of Vienne than did this râ—bble of turkish broode monstrous Cyclops God-contemners
sharpnes of the sicknesse but to a little Castle nigh that village where being the sicknesse did so increase that many doubted of his life He also resolued himselfe constantly to abide the good will of GOD readie willingly to end his life if Gods will was such the thing that only grieued him as that good King Ezechias was the néede which the Church of God might haue of his presence in France if he should fall and also the want of his fidelitie in that kingdome if in the middest of so many great troubles and confusions he should be taken out of this world Notwithstanding he ceased not as much as the disease which was sharpe and violent did permit him to prouide ordayne for the affayres of his armie according as the occasions did fall out He was let bloud and worthily serued and succoured by them who were about him as much as the discommoditie of the place could permit them He sent to all the Churches round about to make prayers and supplications for him which was done with much feruencie and sorrowe The newes of his daungerous disease were brought to Rochel in the euening being the 13. day of Ianuary The congregation was called spéedily with the ringing of the bell to repayre to the Temples This was about seauen of the clocke at night an houre not vsed to such méetings the necessitie notwithstanding requiring the same The people aduertised of the cause ranne with such multitudes to the places of prayers so that the like was neuer seene in that towne All manner of men indifferently euen children and apprentises forsooke the houses to repayre to the Temples the multitude was such that many being not able to goe in went home agayne heauie sad answering by their priuate prayers to those that were made in publike with much lamentation and teares For all men knewe well the greatnes of the affliction throughout all France generally if God at that time so troublesome and confused had taken out of this life that first Prince of the bloud whom he had endued wiâ—h so many graces The sayd extraordinary prayers were continued for the space of many daies vntill that the recouering of his health was certainly knowne The rumour of his death was spread into diuers places of the Realm euen at the Kings Court for the which reports all good and true men did greatly mourne The great contentation which the leagued receiued thereof dured not long for the King receiued newes shortly after of his recouerie It is sayd before how that after the execution done vpon the person of the Duke of Guize the King sent into the Prouinces to aduertise the Gouernours Magistrates and people of the iust causes and necessitie that inforced him to doo that execution And interrupting the continuance of the euents which followed that execution we descended into the lowe Poytow there to see what exployts the great royall armie conducted by the Duke of Neuers had done there and also what the King of Nauarre did all that while Now hauing seene that armie to haue made shipwracke and vanished out of sight we will leaue the King of Nauarre being in bed sicke of a dangerous pleurisie expecting health of the Lord which giueth saluation vnto Kings and to restore him to his health and strength and will come to the matter agayne and consider the horrible accidents which followed the death of the Duke of Guize and of the bounsing Priest the Cardinall his brother After this execution done vpon the bouldest authors of the conspiracie and the rest of the heads of the same being in holde there was great hope that the burning fire of all ciuill dissentions should be on a sudden quenched the flaming torches of tumults being put out But the newes of the sayd execution of the Duke of Guyze being brought into all parts of the Realme by them that fled without bootes and spurres out of the suburbs of Bloys the report came also to the Duke de Mayne being then with an armie in Liomoys he taking with him such as would followe him went out of the Countrey for two causes First fearing vppon these newes the neighbourhood of them of Daulphine Vienoys and Viuarets who might haue doubled their courage vpon that occasioÌ„ being there most of the reformed religion Secondly that because of the death of his brother the hope for the which he and his brother the Duke of Guyze did greatly enuie and malice one an other with mutuall haâ—red doth now proffer it selfe vnto him without any manifest competitour This Duke de Mayne therefore now swallowing downe the crowne of France in one morsell by imagination with as many as would follow him made hast into Burgondie and Champaigne and there made sure to himselfe in those Prouinces as many places as hee could preparing all thinges to warre agaynst the King Here it might bee thought strange how the Duke de Mayne doth so cruelly mooue warre and rebellion against the King seeing that it was he himselfe and his cosin the Duke d'Aumale who gaue aduertisement to the King of the conspiracy and intent of his brother the Duke of Guyze as is aforesayd The question is easily resolued there is no fayth nor fidelity among them who do aspire to the same one kingdome there is no society be it neuer so sworne and holie These three to wit the Duke of Guyze Mayne and Aumale did affect the Kingdome but because the Duke of Guyze was more fauoured of the partakers then the other two he was carryed theretoo as if it were vpon the shoulders by all the partakers who attaining vnto it would haue established the same to himselfe and to his Sonne already in mans estate and to his posterity The Dukes of Mayne and Aumale no doubt did loue more the Duke of Guyze and would haue had the Crowne rather vppon his head then wheâ—e it was yet according to the rules of the Diuinity of Sorboun that charity beginneth at it selfe they would haue worne the Crowne of France euery one vppon his owne head rather then that any other should haue had the occupying of it howsoeuer great and deare friend hee might haue béene This emulation about the affectation of the Crowne was the cause that these two to wit the Dukes de Mayne and Aumale each of theÌ„ in respect of himselfe discouered the conspiracy to the King to the end that he beeing made away they might march a playne way in the same steps which hee had traced before them reseruing to the craftiest or mightiest hereafter to oppresse his cosine for it is not to bee thought that there would haue beene more vnion and loue betweene the Dukes of Mayne and Aumale beeing but cosins then there was between the Dukes of Gnyze and Mayne being brothers Thus wee see what ambition did worke in these new men by affectation of that roall dignity which doth not touch them at all and without any likelihood euer to approch néere vnto namely rebellion
agaynst their Soueraigne and benefactor and parricide among bretheren one to preuent another The newes of the death of Guyze beeing brought into the Prouinces the most part of Towns and Citties from the riuer of Loyre West North and East being already surprised aforehand and seduced from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers vppon the rumor of that execution were so greatly mooued the Duke of Guyze beeing accompted the onely piller of Popish religion by the perswasion which the Catholikes had conceaued of him that they began euery where to wauer and kindle to a manifest rebellion by the setting on of the Leaguers who were the greatest part in number euery where They did greatly by their inuectiues make heynous and odious that execution vppon the persons of Guyze and the Romish Priest his brother tearming it the Massacre committed at Bloys And thus the iust iudgement of God iustly taking vengeance for so many murthers shedding of innocent bloud and innumerable villanies committed vppon the saintes of God and for stopping their eares at the cleere and lowd voice of the Sonne of God who so louingly hath called them by his word promises by his threatnings and plagues ofpestilence famine and warre gaue them ouer to a reprobat sence with a senceles rage to fall to commit such cruelties among themselues that no enemy would or could haue desired or deuised greater their towns and citiesbeeing euery where replenished with massacres robberies banishments and proscriptions not committed agaynst them of the religion but euen of popish Catholikes against popish Catholikes of Idolaters against Idolaters of murtherers agaynst murtherers so the Lord hath sent euill Angels among them Paris the capitall cittie of the kingdome as they more hoped vppon the Duke of Guyze then any other did so they shew themselues most offended There were firebrands which kindled the sedition to the vttermost to wit the Duchesses of Guyze and Nemours who with their outcries and lamentations did animate the people to a raging madnes Thereunto also added the Iesuits and Fryers set on by the aforenamed all their inuectiues insolent and vnreuerent wordes in their ordinary tragicall outcryes in their Pulpits and philippicall sermons to make the people obstinate desperat and vntractable to be hereafter reduced to any obedience Other Cities followed the example of Paris as Orleans Roen Anieus Abeuille Reymes and Tholose whereby the conspiracy and setting on of the Bishop of the place in most cruel maner they tooke the first president of the court of Parliament there hanged him vpon a Gibet and afterward dragged his dead body about the streets beeing one of the most zealous romish Catholikes which then could liue in this world the onely cause was that he would not allow their rebellion The King vnderstanding the great sturres perilous flames of rebellion in most part of the townes and cities of his realme supposing by impunity which he calleth clemencie and gentlenes to quench that fire which was already too far kindled writeth his declarations emporting an obliuion of all iniuries to be published in all his Parliaments and other courts in Prouinces First he sheweth how oftentimes hee hath borne with the perturbers of his realme not onely in forgiuing them their offences whome hee might haue iustly punished but also by winning them by all fauours possible to be shewed onely thereby séeking the preseruation of the peace of his subiects and of the Catholick religion vntill that hee was certainely informed that they had conspired against his person life and estate so farre as he was inforced to make that execution extraordinarily Secondly he sheweth that although many had béen of that conspiracy whome he might haue iustly punished yet for the loue which he beareth vnto all Catholicks hée hath stayed the punishment vpon the two chiefest authors of the euill Thirdly he protesteth that he will haue the edict of reunion obserued in all poynts burying al the former offences in perpetuall forgetfulnes commaundeth his iudges and officers in all his courtes to make no inquisition of the former offences willing all men to liue in peace vnder his obedience and if not hee chargeth his officers to make exemplary iustice of the offenders The King hauing assembled his estates as is saide before supposing by their help and assistance to haue repressed the outragious attempts of the house of Guize sawe himselfe in the middest of them compassed with a company of mortall enemies to his person life and state Whereupon destitute of authoritie counsell and help through pusillanimity was faine to spare the liues of them who were in his power and of others whome he might easily haue apprehended who had their hands as déepely in the trespasse as the chiefe authors themselues This was the worke of the Lord to bring him to the consideration of his great errors in refusing so often the wholsome and brotherlike aduertisements of the good K. of Nauarre and other Princes both within and without the realme his louing and faithfull friends The more therefore he goeth about with impunity of most grieuous offences which in his declaration hee tearmeth clemency to bring that people of Paris seduced from his obedience to their duety y e more that miserable people condemned of God and in his wrath appointed to hauock and thraâ—dome for multiplying rebellion murthers and confusions vpon their former murthers Idolatries and abominations dooth rage and like mad dogs as out of their wittes doo run headlong to worke the full measure of their desperat rebellions accounting the Kings clemency cowardlines which they might haue called pusillanimitie in deed as though hée feared either to haue them his enemies or else to loose them from being his subiects Therefore hauing committed greeuous crimes all manner of wayes euen with greedines at length hauing concluded to withdraw themselues from their soueraignes obedience the chiefest players in this tragedie of rebellion to colour their diuilish passions with the authoritie of Gods law as though they would haue asked Gods wil out of his owne mouth adressed them themselues to the facultie of Theologie there commonly called the Colledg of Sorboune For that purpose they sent one Vrban one of the Magistrates of Paris to the sayd Sorboune hauing framed in manner of supplication two questions to be resolued by them First an populus regni Galliae possit solui liberari à sacramento fidelitatis obedientiae Henrico tertio praestito Whether the people of France may not be discharged and setfree from the oath of allegeance and obedience made vnto Henry the third Secondly an tuta conscientia possit idem populus armari vniri pecnnias colligere contribuere ad defensionem conseruationem Religionis Catholicae Romanae in hoc regno aduersus nefaria conscilia conatus praedicti regis quorum libet aliorum illi adherentium contra publica fidei violationem ab eo Blaesis factum in praeiuditium praedictae religionis Catholicae edicti sanctae vnionis
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
Rochefocault and the Countie of Rossie his brother with the Countie of Rochefort with diuers Gentlemen who were néerest to his person all them he set about his footmen deuiding the Swissers into two parts The enemies were 25. thousand and he had not aboue nine thousand and that to the vttermost With this small number the King knowing that God would consider iustice of the cause and was able to vanquish as well with fewe as with a great number hauing earnestly desired Gods ayde in his priuate prayers commaunded publike prayers which being ended marched against his enemies with such resolued and princelike courage that at the first encounter as it were with one blowe the enemie left vpon the place fiue hundred men beside a number of prisoners and wounded souldiers but the rest fled with great feare and disorder In the same méeting the enemie lost as is aboue sayd at the first encounter fiue hundred men among whom were the chiefest Sague Colonell of the light horsemen the Lord S. Vidal chiefe Marshall of the Ordinance the Lord S. Andrew brother to the Countie of Saulx the Lord Vienuille eldest sonne to the Marshall Vienel who were caried to Roen and there buried with many more of great account The Countie Billing Marshall of the Camp Temblecourt the Countie of Lorreyne who had the first regiment and the Lord Sauelak with diuers other Captaines were taken prisoners Of the Kings side dyed but 26. among whom were the Countie Rossie brother to the Lord Rochefocault and also the Lord Bakqueuile whose vertues were commendable among all men for whom the King was greatly grieued There was among the enemies one Lorde Sagonne a proud man greatly boasting of his valiantnes who with feeling escaped from the slaughter at Seulis the Lord Graund Prior prouoked him to fight who ioyning together the saide Lorde Graund Prior gaue him such a blowe that in retyring and lighting downe of his horse hee fell downe and brake his neck Thus the enemy hauing retyred with shame and losse the King commaunded all his forces to refresh themselues which thing being done fifteene hundred Launce-knights presented themselues to a little trench which was kept by some of the Kings Launce-knights and lifting vp their hands protested and desired to yéeld vnto the King so that the Kings seruants as well as they would put vp their weapons This caused great ioy in the army and euery man putting vp their weapons the Kings men scattered themselues among them without any suspition of treason shaking hands like good fellowes two of the Captaines went to meete the King and being examined suddainely faultring in their speach as knowing not what they said as men troubled in minde named themselues seruants to the Duke d' Mayne in the meane while they fed the Kings Souldiours with fayre words to delay the time till their troupes of horsemen shoulde drawe neere to assist them desiring very much to see the King The King hauing no liking of them commaunded his forces to march downe the medowes from them and whilest these villanous dissembling traitors passed toward the Suissers as though in deed they would yeelde themselues to the King seeing no more the kings horsemen before them and their horsemen approaching still then they seazed vpon the Countie Rochefort and began to set vpon the Kings troupes with all their might whilest fiftéene hundered horsemen came marching a long the medowes to assist them The enemies by these meanes being three thousand and the Kinges forces there beeing not aboue three hundered Horsemen put this small companie in great feare and began to retyre toward the Swissers The Swissers neuer shronk for all that multitude but stoode still firmely shewing such a manly countenance that the enemy suspected the retyre of the Kings horsemen to haue been a policy to draw them into the danger of the Swissers At the same instant that the treason was discouered the Lord Chastilion brought out of Deepe fiue hundred Caliuers Thus all these troupes were deuided into two parts the Harquebusiers of the Kings side were so fitly placed that the enemy durst not venture to set vppon them The Canons in the meane time played vppon them and killed manie The King in this extremity and suddaine discouering of this vnlooked treason hauing ordered all things set vpon the enemies and shewed himselfe both King Captaine and Souldier and by his princely courage did encourage all men to play their partes valiantly The King receaued a shot in his boete and his horse being hurt accompanied with the Marshall Byron fought on foote vntill hée was reuenged of his enemies The enemie retired with shame and losse leauing their dead on the place and hid himselfe at Martinglize The King remayned on the field and commaunded certaine pieces of Ordinance to bée discharged against Martinglize which thing being done he gaue thanks to God with earnest praiers for his gracious goodnes succour and presence in defending them and his iust cause This being done hée greatly commended the good and faithfull seruice of the Swissers in presence of their Captaines and dronke to them for their valiant exploytes done that day The 23. of September the Lord Staphord Ambassadour for the most Noble Quéene of England arriued at Diepe bringing both money and munition but hée sawe not the King vntill the next day following About midnight following the same day the King perceaued that the enemy had changed his opinion and that hée would rayse vp his armie The 24. of September very early in the morning the enemy raised vp his Camp without any sound of Drumme or Trompet in the sight of the King and of his army This their remoouing was done with such great feare and so cowardly that they left their wounded in the Villages behind them and without giuing warning to their Sentinels to retire and saue themselues they left their victuall and munition of warre in the way as they went They tooke their iourney as though they went to the towne of Hewe and at length they turned to Saint Vax Quinqueuile and Bures and camped themselues on the other side of Diepe entrenching themselues in the néerest Villages Ianuile Boutiles and Apeuile The King who was on the other side of the hill in battel aray séeing their departing to be like a fearefull flight while hee receaued the Lord Ambassador of England sent certaine companies to puriue them who also tooke many prisoners ofthem These Prisoners beeing demaunded the cause of the sudden retire answered diuersly for some said it was by reason of the comming of the English ships which lately arriued wherein they doubted great aid to bee sent to the King But some gaue another answere to wit that vpon the death of those Noble men who had béen slaine great strife had growen among them for placing other in their roome some allowing one some choosing another so that it seemeth that these two causes troubled the enemy The King seeing the enemy encamped in another side caused
thousand Duckets On the contrary he shewed vnto them how the King was destitute of men and meanes there were a great number against few their furniture and munition was farre passing that of the King they had the countrey fauorable and enemy vnto him They were strong â—usty rested long but the K. with his forces was wearie weather beaten and weake by reason of his long toyling and moyling all the déepe of winter They had Frier Sixtus blessings but the king had the accurle therefore he concluded that they should make no difficulty of the victory it was too sure on their side and in a manner if GOD himselfe would fight for him for the Friers former spéeches emported but little lesse he could not preuaile He shewed also that there were already in the way forces out of Flanders comming to them by the procurement of Bernardino Mendoza and Frier Cardinall Damnj the King therefore was to be set on before he had any leasure to employ forten Princes to assist him and to shewe the great good affection which Frier Sixtus had to this worke of mercie hée had sent them fiftie thousand Duckets The Duke d' Mayne with the heads of the League receaued this holy money with as great deuotion as the Iubile and pardons or rather greater And if Frier Sixtus had sent all Saint Peters treasures it had been yet more deuoutly accepted and spent as merrily in Paris inter bonas socias as in Rome but they were content to receaue that in hoping for more Now wée sée the state of the Leaguers and rebels very strong and rich for they had set and gathered an excessiue impost and somme of money vpon Paris they had made aboue a million of Gold of the robbing and confiscations and ransoms of the Royalls in the Citie They had receaued three hundred thousand crownes of the Spaniard They receiued fiftie thousand Crownes from Rome nowe they are very lusty they deck themselues all with gold and iewels and perswaded by Frier Henryque they prepare themselues to goe forth out of Paris soone after the holy dayes and to goe to séeke the King vntill they had found a mishap Here endeth the 7. Booke THE EIGHT BOOKE WE haue séene what the Legacie of Frier Henrique hath done in Paris how he hath heated the rebels set them on horseback and sent them packing to séeke ventures Now in this eight booke we will see how they haue sped after their departing from Paris Kind Henry the third intending to besiege Paris sent Captaine Saint Martin with a strong Garison to seaze vpon and kéepe the Castell Vicennes nigh Paris which the rebels had forsaken after their losse at Seulis from whence hée did so molest the Parisiens with continuall roades and courses that no man could venture that way The Duke d' Mayne to pluck that thorne out of the héele of the Parisiens and to set them at liberty that way had practized by all meanes the said Captaine to render the place and to ioyne himselfe with the Leaguers which he would neuer doo therefore about the beginning of Ianuary after they had made their * This is a dronken baÌ„quet vpon Twelf tide as wassellis in England Roy boy in Paris he went forth to besiege that Castell and battered it with foure péeces of Ordinance The said Saint Martin séeing that the King was farre of and he not able to defend the place yéelded it with condition for him and his to goe foorth with bag and bagage and to be suffered safely to repayre to Seulis which was performed It is said also how the said King Henry the third in his way to the siege of Paris had taken Pontoyse and set a strong garison there to intercept all manner of victuals prouisions or marchandize which were carried vp by the riuer Seyne to Paris which did greatly annoy and distresse the Citie The Duke d'Mayne hauing taken Vicennes mustered all his forces and found them all lustie and more glistering with gold then valiant in courage and found his forces to arise to thrée thousand horses and thirtéene thousand footemen with whome whilest his succour of Flanders should draw néere about the latter end of Ianuarie hee lead his forces against Pontoyse which hee besieged in hope to ease the Parisians of that heauie burthen and when he had battered the same they within considering that they were not able to defend it yéelded the place vpon the same conditions that the Leaguers had yéelded it to the King not long before to wit with their armies whereof part went to the King to continue in the Kings seruice and part ioyned with the Leaguers The Duke d'Mayne hauing taken Pontoyse more full of money and hope then courage determined to descend into Normandie And in his iourney with his great army was stayed at Meulan a Towne situated vpon Seyne betweene Mante and Pontoyse distant from Paris ten leagues and from Homfleur where the king was thirtie leagues There he boasted and threatned that he would goe to make the king to raise the siege or else fetch him out of Homfleur but he protracted so the time that the king had time both to seaze vpon the said Towne of Homfleur and to rest and refresh his army there some dayes The causes of the Dukes delay were two First the mistrust of his cause which did still abate his courage which otherwise was neuer great Secondly for that he expected great forces out of Flanders who were already comming vnto him vnder the conduct of the County Egmond and the Lord la Mote gouernour of Graueling Whereupon he tooke occasion to excuse the basenes of his heart who durst neuer see the king face to face except they were three to one or very nigh yet to ease his stomack hee casteth forth these vaine boastings and threatnings aboue said but he durst not come nigh the king afore he had ioyned with this new supply for feare of the bastonado The king on the other side hauing taken the Towne of Homfleur and rested there his forces for certaine dayes said nothing but about the middest of February tooke his iourney to high Normandie to cause the Duke to raise the siege from before Meulan and hauing trauailed thréescore miles in the déepe of winter proffered battell to the enemy But the Dukes heart fayling him and hauing aduertisement that the forces of the Low Countrey were entred into France after that hee had battered Meulan diuers dayes hee went to méete the Flemmings and to muster them The Duke de Mayne receaued in Picardie betweene foure and fiue thousand Wallons conducted by the Lord Mot Gouernour of Graueling and a little after arriued the horsemen conducted by the County Egmond with thirtéene companies of souldiers taken out of the garrisons of Flâ—nders three companies of Launces of Spanyards conducted by Don Iuan Moreo Don Pedro Moreo his brother Don Iuan de Cordoua and a great company of Harquebusiers on horsebacke led by Captaine Colin rising all
to two thousand men all old Souldiers The Duke being flided away and the King seeing the opportunitie of battaile gone with him determined to do his businesse and to take Dreux garded by Captaine Falande with a strong garrison that if he had it in his obedience he might ouerlooke and bridle the Citie of Chartres vntill that conueniently he might haue opportunitie to enterprise vpon it The King in going to the siege of Dreux tooke Noueyncourt and being at Dreux and the breach being readie to giue the assault the King vnderstoode that the Duke was returning toward Seyne for to passe ouer the bridge at the Towne of Nante which then did hold for the Leaguers full of confidence and trust in that proude and mightie army which consisted of thrée and twentie thousand men of all sorts The King considered wel that the Dukes forces were but borrowed and that now out of hand hee must hazard or els his companies in a small time would disband themselues and retyre home and that with delaying with him he might dissipate his forces He knewe well also that they who doo proffer iniurie are commonly more desperat then they who doo withstand it He weighed well his small number in comparison of the great multitude and that there were forces comming to him out of Champaigne as good as these which his enemie had receaued out of the Low Countrey which he might in protracting the time receaue shortly He sawe well that the countrey was fauourable to the enemie which reasons might haue perswaded a great warriour by policie to haue weakened the enemie as Fabius did Hannibal But the King had more sufficient and substanciall reasons which did bid him to encounter the enemie as the assured confidence whereby he reposed himselfe in Gods goodnesse and protection and casted himselfe in his armes the equitie of his cause his lawful vocation agaynst mutinous traytors and parricides so that each of these reasons was stronger to him then so many hundred thousand men which made him to conclude that considering these causes God could and would dissipate his enemies notwithstanding their great forces as well with fewe as with many Being also confirmed by the experience which he had at Arques and in the Suburbs of Paris In the meane time while the King was at Dreux the Duke de Mayne hauing receaued the forces which came out of the low Countrey thought himselfe sure of a prosperous successe and promising an assured victory to his partakers passed his forces ouer the bridge of Manie and marched toward Dammartin which was but four miles off The King vppon the reasons aforesayd resolute to encounter with few that huge multitude on a sudden from before the breach raysed vp the siege from Dreux and departed the second day of March the besieged with great reioysing beholding and wondering at the cause of such a sudden departing The same day the King went backe the way that he was come and lodged in the Towne of Noueyncourt to cut the passage to the enemy of a little riuer which runneth by Assoone as he came thether hee caused warning to be giuen that on the next morning euery man should bee in a readines The night following that day the King set in order the manner of the battaile which in the morning early the third day of March he shewed to the Prince Montpensier to the Marshals Biron and Aumont to the Baron Biron Marshall of the field and to other Princes and Captains of the army who with one voice hauing considered of it according to the skill of warre they approoued and would change nothing of it That day hee gaue charge to the Baron of Biron to set euery man in his place and order and did choose that morning the Lord Vieques sargeant Maior of the battell who was one of the ancient masters of the footmen in France This thing beeing done the King willing to begin this great worke with prayer with great vehemency and confidence hee made his prayers vnto God in the hearing of all men wherein hee called God to witnes that hee knew the purpose of his hart and well vnderstood whether it were for desire of glory or for ambition or for desire of blood or longing for reuenge which made him resolute to this battaile that hee was his iudge and witnes vnreproueable that nothing mooued him thereto but the tender loue that hee did beare to his poore people whose peaceable and quiet estate hee esteemed more then the safety of his owne life he besought God so to direct his will as hee should best see to be good for the benefite of Christendome And as for himselfe he prayed God to saue and helpe him as he knew to be good and profitable to the weale and quiet of the state and not otherwise This prayer eloquent in words but more passing pure and deuout in sense did so rauish all those that were nigh that euery man after his example did the like And after that all that after noone was seene in Noneyncourt the Churches full of Princes Lords Gentlemen and Souldiers of all Nations hearing Masse communicating and playing the good Catholikes They of the reformed religion made their humble prayers and supplications to God The court of Parliament at Tours being aduertised of the things which were like to passe betweene the King and his enemies commaunded generall processions and prayers to be made the third and fourth of March for the King and for his good and prosperous successe Lyke commaundement was sent vnto the reformed Churches about to do the like in their congregations though not in the like forme so that at Tours the Catholikes did almost nothing else these two daies men women and children but pray after their maner This deuotion beeing done at the Campe the whole army did shew such countenances as though euery man had receaued a seuerall answer◠of God concerning the happie successe which each of them should obtaine The King had caused sommons to bee giuen to the Towne of Saint Andrew beeing from Noueincourt eight miles in the way going to Iury where he supposed the enemy and his army had béen lodged The Kings companies came to a great plaine nigh the towne Saint Andrew About the same plaine there are certaine villages and a litle wood called la haye de Pres that is the medowes border or hedge There the King with the Marshals Biron Aumont and the Baron of Birō marshal of the field began to set the battaile in order following the plot agreed vpon before The King hauing tryed in battels and skirmishes before that it is more aduantage to make horsemen fight in squadrons then in rings specially his that haue no launces deuided all his horsemen in seauen squadrons and all the footmen placed at the flankes of the said squadrons and euery squadron had a company of forlorne footmen The front of the battel was in a right line bending somewhat at the 2. endes The first Squadron on the
perswaded them that the King whatsoeuer might happen neither durst come neere them neither was able to let the carriage of the victuals to their citie which was the cause that they liued from hand to mouth and had prouided no more then in tyme of the greatest peace that can be But after the rumor of the ouerthrow of the Leaguers came to Paris all the Cittie was replenished with terror many of the Citizens came to the King to plead their innocency but specially two of the chiefest of the citie to wit Belieure who was one of the Kings lately deceased Secretaries of estate and Brulart President of the Court of Parliament in Paris These two men had béen wauering a great while not faythfull to their old maister King Henry the third who had preferred them neither did greatly trust the Leaguers and yet liued in some suspition of this King now raygning But when they heard of the Kings good successe contrary to their expectation like good Mariners they turned their saileâ— to the wind came to the King to make their excuse and submission and both of them were receaued curteously of the King The King said vnto Belieure that he had thought him to be an honest man vntill he fell to the Q Mother and ioyned to the company of Vileroy but Brulard was receaued with greater fauour whom the King hath employed since in great affayrs as to bee his Ambassador to the Cantons of Swisserland In this consternation the Parisiens who had liued in great security began to open their eies and see the danger whereto the great bragges of the Duke de Mayne the promises of the Fryers and Iesuits their vaine hope had cast them and did threaten them at their doores and caused them to bee deuided into diuers opinions for some who were of a hot nature would haue a new muster to be made in the Cittie and on a sudden afore he had suplyed the roome of them which were dead in the battell to set vppon him but this course was thought rash and dangerous for many eauses Other gaue a wiser counsell if it could haue béen followed to wit to try his elemency and that vpon reasonable conditions ther was no doubt but they should find fauour and peace and for the proofe thereof alleaged his gentle disposition far from all cruelty and desyre of reuenging which hee hath alwayes shewed in all his actions Some were of a contrary opinion and gaue counsell to take order for the prouision and fortifications and pollicy of the citie they shewed that by the multitude and other meanes which they had they were able to geue him a new battell if he would goe about to draw neere to their Câ—tie and at the worst they were able to abide a siege they shewed that he was not able with as great forces agayne as hee had to force them and that hee would not hazard his old experienced Souldiers so rashly knowing that it were hard for him to recouer the like againe to be short great variance rose among them as the manner is in such a case Whilest this variance was among them the Duke de Mayne came to Saint Denis to view the countenance of the Parisiens feare and shame warning him not to come into Paris None or few of the inhabitants of Paris went to salute him but they onely who had sent him to the butchery in the playne of Saint Andrew to wit Frier Henrico Caietano Frier Sixtus his Nuncio the blinde Captaine Bernardino Mendoza the Spanish Moore Ambassador of Spayne there and the incestuous Fryer Byshop of Lyons with few more to comfort him and to goe forward in his begun rebellion Therefore it was thought good to remedy the affayrs as well as they could deuise that the sayd Duke de Mayne and the Comendador Moreo who was then in Paris should goe with all speede into Picardie to stay the remnant of the forces of Flanders which were going home through Picardie after they had lost their guide the County Egmond and that there the Duke de Mayne should gather such new forces as he could the Comendador Moreo should goe to the Duke of Parma to bring him y e goodnewes of the victory of the County Egmond and his company but specially great care should bee had least Paris and Saint Denis should in any case yeeld to the King In the meane time Frier Henrico and Bernardino would take order to pacify the strife and diuersity of opinions They returning to Paris scattered few Pistolets of Spayne and Ducados Italianos among the Fryers and Iesuits to teach them Frierlike Rhetorike These rauing Prophets and among them one Peter Crestin such a one as was of my remembrance magister nostor de cornibus or magister noster Olyuer Maillard stept vp they fret they fume they fome lyke Boars they rayle they reuile there is nothing holy before them they shew how the King is an heretik a relapse son of an heretike father and mother they looke euery day for a new excommunication from Rome he is out of the bosome of holy Church incapable of the Crowne of France no obedience is due vnto him they descant vppon the praise of his gentle nature how it is but fayned and if he were once established hee would shew such cruelty vppon holy Church as hee did vppon Borgoyn Gessey and few other Fryers he would roote out the Catholik religion and plant here sie It were far better to die all then to admit such an heretike ouer them if they die in this quarrell they goe straight way to heauen they are blessed Martirs they shall be Saints as Frier Iames Clement was of late these raging furies of hell do so perswade the people that as a people destitute of reason and â—ereâ—t of their witts are lead to their owne destruction by these enchaunters so that afterward if any man should speake of peace with the King or of any thing besides warre fire and desolation hee was presently murthered by them or cast into the riuer in one day more then twenty persons were so murthered But fearing to bee compassed with a siege afore they had set order in their affayres and pollicy to daly with the King they sent from Paris Fryer Paniguerola Bishop of Aste and in hast and Vileroy to busie him and to dilay the siege which they supposed the K. would haue layedd presently with speeches of truces or peace that they might fortify themselues in the meane space The King would haue no speeches with such companions but yet of his accustomed clemency sent Paniguerola to the Marshall Biron to see what he had to say and what wisedome he had brought with him out of Italy After many salutations and popish blessings the Frier did wonder much to see sayd he that so great companie of Catholikes could finde in their hearts to followe after an hereticall King The Marshall Byron answered the saucie impudent malapert Frier that it would not be safe for
to bring with them thrée thousand men that should vpon a luddaine be landed there at the time appoynted and should seaze vpon the City to the King of Spaynes vse At the time appoynted came the Galeys and Souldiours and tooke land The second magistrate of the city being a faithfull Citizen and in that neutrality of the City suspecting some treason thought to preuent it by diligence and as it pleased God that night tooke vpon him to view the watch and in his way met with certaine Mariners all amazed and frighted requiring him to prouide for the safety of the city for that there were a great number of Spanyards already landed wherupon he commaunded the townesmen presently to arme themselues And going a little further accompanied with some good Citizens did light on the company where the chiefe gouernour was there taking order with the enemy for the entring of the Towne This magistrate dnderstanding of these things already well accompanied with townesmen commaunded the dromme to sound the alarum and with great courage charged vpon the Spanyards whome they slew in great number he tooke many of them and the gouernour of the City prisoner with them and such of his complices as were with them so the City was yet once preserued from the Turkish bondage of the Spaniards Euen as the shéepe straying from their shepheards runne into the Wolues daunger so townes and Cities euen whole Prouinces with drawing themselues from the obedience of their Lords are dayly in danger to be made a pray to their enemies It is said how the Duke d'Mayne after his flight from Saint Andrews plaine went to Saint Denis to sée what entertainement the Parisiens would shew him and after he with few had concluded to holde Paris and Saint Denis specially fast from the Kings power and so he and the Spanish Moore Commendator Moreo went into Picardie thence to Bruxels to the Duke of Parma The Duke d'Mayne soiorned at Pâ—ronne a towne in Picardie situated vpon the riuer Sonie betwéene Amiens and Saint Quintine to gather such forces as he could he craued aide from al parts but they are as slowly to come to him as he is earnest to enuite them Balagny Gouernour of Cambray did promise him fiftéene hundred horses out of Picardie There the Duke d'Mayne séeing that al things went contrary yet to ease his stomack he maketh great braggs how that he will make againe an army of thirty thousand men These great bragges did procéede of the vaine hope which they had already conceaued of the King of Spayne for while these things aboue saide were a dooing by the King about the 20. of March they sent foure Ambassadors into Spayne first from the Duke d'Mayne and another from the Duke of Lorreyne the third from the Duke Merceur and the last in the name of the whole body of the League They arriued at Vadolit in the latter end of Aprill The somme of their Ambassage was to begge and not much neither but thrée Milions of Gold and thirty thousand men vpon that condition that they would make him King of France if he could get it yet promising their furtherance So after much capping and crouching begging and crauing chopping and changing what money they obtayned it is not certaine but it is reported that they were promised one Milion and that they had thirty thousand Crownes which they tooke in hope that more would come and an army out of the Lowe Countreyes of Flanders The King of Spayne was willing to hearken to these Ambassadors for thrée causes ambition feare and desire of reuenging First by the proffer of this Ambassage hée was put in some hope that considering the great power of these three Dukes and the great power of the League that is of the Townes Cities and commons rebelled hée might perhaps spéede better then he looked for And if he should not spéed in the whole yet he might in part thereof The second cause was feare which caused him with all his meanes to keepe the King from growing mighty for considering his great valoure and the iniuries which both his predecessors he had receaued at the Spaniards handes would in time call them to remembrance and seeke the means to recouer his owne The third cause was desire of reuenge supposing that in working him mischiefe he might bee reuenged of the losse reproch and dishonour of his Spaniards and Flemmings who had remayned to dung the playne of S. Andrew by reason of these particular affections not for any loue which hee had to the Leaguers or Leagued he wrote to the Duke of Parma to passe in person with such Forces as hee had and could spare in the lowe Countreis to succour the rebels in France In the meane while that the King soiorned at Mante the Parisiens beeing hardened by the Deuillish and seditious Sermons of the Fryers and Iesuits as the Egyptians were by the enchauntmentes of Iamnes Iambres they elected for gouernor of their city the Duke of Nemours by whose conduct they began to fortify their walles men women and Children night and day they pulled downe many houses in the Suburbs they receaued into the City three thousand Germans whom they placed part of them in the Arsenall and others in watch and ward in the most needfull places of the city They gathered corne and wine into the Citie so much as the could They fortified also Saint Denis Corbeil Melun Montereau fault yonne and Sennes The King passing in the sight of the Citie of Paris layed the siege before Corbeil which shortly after yelded the King stopped the riuer of Seine with a chayne of Iron so that no boats being neuer so little could passe by From Corbeil the King went to lay the siege before Montereau which is a great towne situated vppon the fall of the riuer Yonne into Seine which yeelded without any resisting From Montereau the King returned to Melune a strong towne vppon Seine this town part of it lyeth vpon the South banke of Seine and part is in an Iland within the sayd riuer there the Rebels had placed a strong garrison but the Citizens and Souldiers perceauing that they would be forced and that there was no hope of succour yeelded the place and put themselues in the Kings seruice The King hauing placed a strong garrison there wentbacke agayne to Sens compassed it doth plant sixe pieces of Ordinance agaynst the wall sent a Tâ—ompeter to the City to sommon them to render the place promising them all good and gracious fauour The Gouernor called the Lord Chambalon determined not to receaue him except first he would become a good Catholike Whereupon the K. began to batter the towne in two seuerall places gaue two assaults where he was repulsed beeing within the town one thousand and eight hundred Souldiers besides the Citizens and Inhabitants who were able to make two thousand Souldiers more The king therfore thought good to leaue of that enterprise and to follow the
straine their wine hippocras and by reason of their flegmatick féeding they are all rotten and leapers afore they come to halfe of their age they doo crawle with lice and taken with that sicknes which the ancients doo call Hydrokephalia that is a madnes procured by rotten flegme enflamed The reformed Bernardines are of the dyet of the asse which féedeth vpon grasse and thistles for they eate nothing but hearbs sod or rawe which thing doth cause them to haue dry and skiruy bodies and that diseaze which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with all to haue asses wits they goe all in black hereby they doo represent to the world their melancholik humor The bare foote Friers doo shew what humor dooth trouble their braine imitating the frantick mad men which haue delight to goe bare foote winter and sommer for we account that man mad that will go bare foote when he may haue shooes to put on All these rakehels armed themselues vnder their lousie raggs doo march in battaile aray through the City mumbling their portuses and when they had giuen a sight of their prowesse vnto the Citizens they would also goe to sée what weather was out of the Towne and when they had marched a while the Kings gardes in the Suburbs tooke the alarum supposing to haue to deale with men but when they had the sight of this legion and perceauing that they were apes imitating men they turned their fury to â—aughter hooping shooting whereupon the apes returned with great speed into the City and this was the end of this skirmish They had for an ensigne a Crucifixe and our Lady carried before them to play the bulbegger About this time bread began to be scarse in Paris whereupon the masters of the Citie fearing the increasing of famine sought out all the poore within the Citie who came to thirty thousand and determined to haue turned them forth out of the City to take their fortune But some of the counsell of the Citie thought that it could not stand with the greatnes and honour of the Citie and therefore were stayed in which thing did greatly hasten the famine which shortly after followed In the middest of Iune the famine being very great there was little or nothing to eate the Souldiours had no pay neither was there money to pay them the Citizâ—ns refused any more to contribute aleaging the great and huge sommes of money which they had disboursed and for feare of some sedition in the Citie Frier Henrico Caietano Frier Goundj Byshop of Paris and the blinde Captaine Bernardino Mendoza consented to rob all the Gods which were in the Temples of Paris they take the golden cuppes of their Gods and all the shrines of golde and siluer which Demetrius his prentizes had made to Diana to Venus to Belona and to many Diuels of hell they turne their reliques old rotten bones of old Friers old dogges and horses which they had made the people worship for the bones of Apostles Martyrs and other Saints of God out of their coates of gold and siluer and make good money to pay the rebells to warre against their naturall and lawfull King contrary to Gods ordinance to that end that things most wickedly abused might remayne still in the same nature The blind Captaine Don Bernardino doth promise to bestow euery day in almes sixe score Crownes Frier Henrico Caietano said he would doo the like but that deuotion waxed as could as the weather was hot according to the Aphorisme of Hypocrates ventres hyeme calidiores estate frigidiores The King knowing well of the great extremity wherewith the Citie was distressed pittyed them and willed them to take some pitty of their distressed estate promised them mercy and fauour but the Friers Henrico Caietano and Goundi answered contrary to the meaning of the poore people that they had determined to dy all rather then to admit an hereticall King Vpon this answer of the Parisiens in the latter end of Iune many noble men and gentlemen began to mutter in the Kings army what great imminent danger was hanging ouer France the ruine of the nobility the decay of so great and noble a City as Paris was and the desolation of the whole realme which euills the King could redresse in making himselfe a Catholicke Of this faction tending to some enterprise was chiefest the prince of Soisson and went so farre as to speake openly that they will serue no longer vnder an hereticall King The King aduertized of this muttering called his nobles and Captaines shewed them what hee was what his right and cause was And whereas they willed him to become a Catholicke he put theÌ„ out of doubt that for to purchase many Kingdomes as great as the realme of France was hee would neuer so little depart from his religion which hee knewe was grounded vpon the infallible truth of God As for their seruice he made no great account knowing that it was God who was his strength force and defender of his cause willed them to depart from his army when they would and that hee had rather haue their roome as their company he knew that GOD would giue him the meanes and power in time to represse his enemies he knew that GOD would raise him friends enough to assist him It is sayd before how the King all in one worke did besiege S. Denis which is a towne walled within foure miles of Paris In this Towne in an Abbey where the burials and monuments of the kings were this towne was so gretaly distressed that they had neither bread nor munition to defend themselues they had consumed all their prouision Horses Asses Dogges Cattes Rattes Mice Hearbes Rootes and whatsoeuer the belly could aduise them Euen to haue tryed to make bread with flower of Oates huske and all and dust of old rotten postes some tryed straw grownd to dust The sayd towne therfore considering how the famin within the sword without did threaten them proffered parly and at length concluded to deliuer the towne to the King with liues reserued vnto all maner of men the souldiers and all manner of men to retire with all thinges which they would carry away who of his great clemency gaue them Horses and Cartes for their carriage The same day the King entred into Saint Denis with great reioycing of all men who had proued his gracious fauour and clemency And beeing setled in his lodging he spyed in the chamber of presence three men walking in the habit of gentlemen whom hee knew not but he suspected that they were there for no good They vppon that suspition were apprehended and examined by certayne noble men appointed by the King vppon a sudden they faultered in their answeres and changing their countenance were sent to prison but afterward being narrowly examined they confessed that two of them were Fryers of Saint Francis order and the third to be a Priest and they three were of the 24. who had coÌ„spired vowed and sworn the
the conduct of the Marshall Byron to employ it where he should thinke most expedient About the sixt of Nouember arriued at Compiegne a Towne in Picardie situated vppon the miéeting of the riuers Oyse and Ayne where immediatly after his arriuall he sent to the nobility of Picardy to inuite them to come and assist him to reconduct the Duke of Parma according to the honour and papall nobility of his house who had deserued that fauour at his hand if not for any seruice done yet for the small hurt that he had receaued by him The Duke of Parma departed from Paris and soiorned for some dayes in Brie about Chaust heaut herij there in that fat soyle to refresh his Soulours hungerbitten and weake to proue whether hee might procure any of the Leaguers vpon the misliking of séeking parley with the King to forsake the Duke d'Mayne and to make him their Soueraigne generall whereunto by secret practises he solicited a great number But specially he feared greatly to venture his way alone for being forsaken of the Frenchmen he assured himselfe that he would be assaulted in his retyre by the King who did waite for the opportunity not farre of Therefore hée instantly vrged the Duke d'Mayne that he would rely his forces to kéepe him safe caring little what might become either of the Duke d'Mayne or of the Leaguers so that hée might get out of this lurch that hée sawe himselfe in This feare was the chiefest cause of his long soiourne in Brie But whilest hée was carefull of his safe returne into Brabant the King had appoynted the Lord Gyury a man of great valour policie to make choise of some sufficient number of his best and most approoued souldiours and to march toward Corbeil there to seeke opportunitie to reuenge the cruel iniurie done to his subiects by the Spanyards and Wallons wherof part to the number of one thousand were left there in garrison The occasion of recouering Corbeil was thus The maner of Wallons and Spanyards and popish nations beyond the Seas is to drinke and quaffe very largely the tenth day of Nouember in the worship of that good Bishop S. Martin who gaue halfe of his cloake to the diuell when hee was through pouertie enforced to begge But it is most like that they doo keepe that ryot more in the worship of the diuell who begged then of that good man who in his life time knewe very well that it is not the custome of the Church of God to worship the Saints neither with drunkennesse nor by any other meanes els The Lord Gyury knowing that dronken fashion of them very well tooke that opportunitie to do his feate For he delayed the time to approach the Towne vntill he supposed them to bee so crammed with good cheare and wine that it was time for them to goe to sleepe Then about midnight when that Spanish garrison were vino somnéque sepulti he placed his peeces of Ordinance and on a sudden battered the same breach which the D. of Parma had made which was not yet fully repayred The breach being quickly opened the assault was giuen The Spanyards and Wallons halfe dronke and halfe a sleepe ranne as desperat persons to the walles and made a very forcible resistance which continued all that night vntill nigh seauen a clocke in the morning The Duke of Parma heard the battering of Corbeil and fearing least his Trophâ—e should bee marred sent presently a power of Spanyards to succour them but comming too late were enforced to cast away their weapons as Demost henes did that they might fight another time The 11. day betweene sixe and seauen of the clocke in the morning the Town was throughly taken by the Kings forces and reduced to his obedieuce who entred by the same breach which the Duke of Parma had done and entred before There were found slayne two hundred Wallons three hundred Spanyards and among them the Cheualier Aumale brother to the Duke of Aumale one of the greatest cutthrotes of all the Leaguers was found dead The cause of his being at that banquet was that he was appoynted to prouide victuals for Paris Foure hundred were taken prisoners There were taken also foure brasen peeces and two Canons ready charged There were taken many spanish Ensignes which were made newe and newly displayed vppon the wall in token of victorie and in spite of the King There were taken also two hundred fat Oxen and foure hundred sheep some killed and some dressed and some aliue which the Knight Aumale had prouided for Paris This exployt being atchieued the Lord Gyury with all his companies with feruent prayers gaue thankes to God acknowledging this deliuerance and happie successe to haue been the worke of his right hand and power The newes of the retaking of Corbeil caused diuers and contrary motions in diuers persons the King receauing the newes thereof did admyre Gods iustice which euery where thundreth the claps of his displeasure vpon them who doo resist his ordinance and more and more conceaued hope that the Lord would performe the worke which he hath begun first in cloathing his enemies with shame and dishonour as with a garment and secondly in him to restore that afflicted estate The Parisiens and the Duke de Mayne were replenished with rage and feare together for they feared least by the taking of Corbeil and the retyre of the Duke of Parma the shambles of horses asses and dogges should be opened again The Asses of Sorboun began to feare their skinne least for want of foure footed Asses they should be assaulted and brought to the shambles Therefore they ranne to the sayd Duke of Parma they adiured and coniured him by the name of God yea by Gog and Magog and Beelzebub to returne to the recouering of Corbeil But the Duke of Parma remembring the price that hee payed for the sayd Corbeil would no more of that play specially knowing that he which did possesse it was a man resolute of courage valour and industrie Yet to please them he fed them daily vntill he should receaue supplie of forces to gard him with fat morsels of words to wit that he would take Chasteautherij and Compeigne and in the meane while he walked in Brie and Champaigne in like sorâ— as the Hords of sauage Tartarians doo remooue from place to place to grase vp the countreyes so did this great Crimme saue that his cruelties and villanies which he vsed there are yet vnknowne to the Tartarians Whilest he dooth raunge ransacke and riffle that countrey some of the Kings Captaynes tooke the towne of Lagny another Trophee or monument of the Duke of Parma his crueltie which thing both encreased his feare and hasted his iourney out of France Now we will leaue this omnipotent Cham with his hords of Tartarians to deuoure that countrey whose comming the vnnatural inhabitants had procured to maintaine a most damnable rebellion and contempt of lawfull power and we will see what the king had
of Parma if he would haue taken it so and how the sayd King retyred to Saint Quintin in the beginning of December 1590. but what course he tooke nor what coast he followed I haue nothing to speake of for lacke of instructions except wee may gather some thing by the euents It seemeth therefore that the King after he had soiorned some dayes in Picardie hee returned to his army which he had leftin Normandie where he tooke aduise concerning the citie of Chartres great mighty strong and riche situated in the countrey of Beausse This is that Citie whereunto K. Henry the third soiorned for a time after hee was put to flight from Paris in May 1588. This Citie is ancient and famous for the ancient superstition of the Druides in our dayes for the renowmed Idoll of our Ladie of Chartres that Citie hath been therefore both with the Pagans with the Romanists a seat of most damnable Idolatrie and of late one of them which rebelled first of all agaynst Henry the third after the death of the Duke of Guyze and had continued still in the same rebellion In the beginning of Ianuary therefore the King hauing prepared all thinges determined to wrest this Citie out of the tyrannous bondage of Leaguers and to enforce the same to returne to theyr dutie And for lacke of instructions of al the notable exploits done in that siege wee haue to shew two things First of a stratagem vsed by the King and secondly of the yeelding of the same This town of Chartres is very strong both by art nature yet was it not very well prouided of Souldiers besides the Citizens and Townesmen After that the King acompanied with his owne forces and the Marshal Biron hauing laine long time about the said Chartres came to his campe he perceaued that it would be very difficult to obtaine the same by force therfore he aduised himselfe to prooue what might be done by stratagem And about the fourtéenth of Februarie he seperated himselfe from the Marshall Biron and faining to geue ouer that siege marched towardes Dreux geuing out that hee would goe to besiege the same and went but thrée miles from the said Chartres The Marshall Biron in like manner séemed the next day which was the fiftéenth of the saide moneth to raise vp the siege and to followe the King as though he dispaired to doe any good there They of Chartres with such forces as they had seeing that resolued themselues to make a sally and to set vpon the rereward of the Marshall Biron as hee was marching toward Dreux vpon this determination they issued out of the towne and roughly charged the Marshals hinder troups The Marshall first seemed to make head against them but soone after began to retire himselfe geuing place to the enemies The enemies followed him amayne continually skirmishing vntill they came about two miles from the Towne In the meane time the King lying in ambush when he saw his time got betweene the Towne and the men thereof that followed the Marshall of Biron and so couragiously charged them behind and the Marshall turning his face towards them agayne that in lesse then an hower that they fought he slew them all except thirty cuirasses which hardly escaped The King following the victorie entred presently one of the Suburbs of Chartres The townesmen seeing this began to make a motiō of peace with him and offered to deliuer him the towne fiftie thousand crownes vpon condition that hee would remooue his forces and place no garrison therein which the King refused to doo and thereupon prepared to batter the towne in two places hauing resolued not to leaue it vntill he were master of it For lacke of instructions we omit here many particularities exployts valiantly performed at that siege During the which siege the inhabitants enforced by y e rebellious Leaguers which were many shewed themselues very malicious and obstinate agaynst him refusing to acknowledge him for their Soueraigne with threatnings and breathing out most vnreuerent and vnnaturall speaches agaynst him The King in that siege hauing made diuers times many breaches gaue assaults vpon them which they endured with great losses vntill they saw theyr walls wonderously battered and beaten downe to the playn ground Then offered they diuers times to yeeld vp vppon certayne conditions But the King answered that it was for him to giue them lawe and for them to receaue it at his hands The King did delay the sharpnes of warre hoping through consideration of the extreame daunger to bring them to reason and duetie But when that would not preuaile about the 16. day of April there was a great and terrible assault giuen which the inhabitants notwithstanding sustayned but very hardly and with great losse The wisest and best sort of the inhabitants considering that it was in vayne to with stand the King and that in fewe such feasts all their citizens might bee spent and yet the King neuerthelesse would enioy the Citie by force which would redound to their extreame perrill agreed to yéeld themselues to his gracious clemencie There was a great number of Leaguers within the Citie who vnderstanding of this resolution shewed themselues greatly offended at it threatning the rest that they would make them repent that euer they went about such matter The rest of the citizens séeing this discontentation of the Leaguers consented that the sayd Leaguers who were so obstinately bent and so hot in the cause at the next assault should defend the breach So the eight day a newe assault being giuen so hot that a great number of them were there throughly cooled and the rest glad to retire and giue ouer and with the rest without any further disputation did submit themselues perceauing now that the League did nothing els but seeke the ruine and destruction of the countrey and that in vayne they did resist him whom God had sayd should raigne ouer them Therefore they agreed to send to his maiestie offering to acknowledge him their onely King and Soueraigne and to craue pardon for their disobedience and vnnaturall rebellion yéelding themselues and their Citie to his accustomed gracious mercie The King graunted their petition and hauing seazed vpon the Citie by such as were appoynted by his maiestie with his Princes and Nobles prepared to enter the towne The ninth day of Aprill the citizens considering with thankfull mindes the Kings great and gracious fauour who might haue had conquered them by force and by lawe of armes iustly taken away from them their lands and goods and for their rebellion put them to the sword they I say prepared themselues in their degrees to attend his Maiesties comming First the whole Cleargie went before in their attyre and order next vnto them the Magistrates with their robes and after them the Citizens followed euery man according to his place and all falling downe vppon their knees before the King did acknowledge him their Soueraigne with this acclamation God saue Henry
cause and wisedome and mistrusting the quarel of his side conceaued a great terrour and perceaued to haue cast himselfe so deeply into the Mire that if pollicy doth not plucke him out hee is like there to sticke fast a good while Therefore considering the small company which was about the King determined to assault him with many and for to bring to passe this his intent supposing the better to depart froÌ„ Monconter in time then to enioy it a while to his great domage he departed from Monconter about 11. a clocke in the euening with two hundred and fifty horsemen and sixe hundred Harquebuziers and trauelling all night came to Londiak by sixe a clocke in the morning beeing the twelft day of May. The King being at Londiak vnderstanding of the enemies coÌ„ming delayed no time but went immediatly to the field to receaue the said enemie The enemie perceauing the K. to haue determined to bid him battel to be already in the field left part of his footmen to force the trenches barricadoes of Londiak and this being done the enemie brought his horsemen and part of his footmen into the field to encounter the King there he deuided his companies into two troups in the one there was fiftie horsemen and in the other two hundred The King had but six score horsemen whome he deuided likewise into two troupes in the one thirty and in the other â—ourescore ten horsmen The King hauing set few footmen in battaile array called with a feruent prayer vpon the name of the GOD of armies and cheered vp his souldiers encouraging them to shew themselues men in defending such a iust cause as they had in hand which being done both armies ioyned and the enemie hauing made a verie small resistance was strooken with a sodaine terrour as if it were with a thunder-clap from heauen so that they began to wauer The Kings Souldiers perceauing this sodaine dread vpon the enemie gaue such a fresh and hot charge that they turned their backs and fled The King pursued them two miles from Londiak to a towne holden by their fauourers where these horsemen saued themselues There were fiftie horsemen slayne as many more taken prisoners many footmen slaine on the place and many both horsemen and footmen wounded The rest of the footemen saued themselues by flight into the woods which were neere at hand and there hid themselues Lo how there is neither strength nor counsell against the Lorde Lo howe the wicked is snared in his owne counsell The news of this foyle being blazed abroad throughout the enemies troups came also to Monconter by meanes whereof there rose such a sudaine feare among them that immediatly they retyred from the saide Monconter with al possible speed leauing the town frée from any strength of the enemie The Lord Tremblay being in the Castell and molesting the enemies daylie by sallies and slaughters of them as is sayd seing how wonderfully God had terrified that rebellious route went foorth of the Castell with his forces followed them and immediatly charged them so roughly that they were all slayne and taken prisoners by meanes whereof hee got both bagge and baggage from the enemie So was that accursed company enemies of mankind vtterly rooted out It is said before how the Lord D'ombes had gone from Renes into hase Britaine to a Towne called Quinpercorenten and in departing out of the sayd Towne to returne to Renes the garrisons of the enemies in townes about holden by them charged vpon the sayd Prince but were so receaued by him that there was slaine of the enemies side three Captayns of name and of great estimation among the Rebels seauen gentlemen of great account were taken prisoners all the rest in the pursuite were put to the sword Here thou mayst see Christian Reader that all these blowes slaughters and ouerthrowes euery where receaued cannot make these damned rebels consider the wrongfulnes of the cause which so obstinatly agaynst all lawes of nations agaynst nature and agaynst God they do defend As the rebels haue been beaten euen with a rod of yron by the Lords hand in his wrath both in Picardie and Britayn so now haue wee to consider an other example of Gods iustice executed vppon rebels in the Countrey of Caux in Normandie In this Moneth of May victuals beeing deare wares in the Citie of Roan one regiment appertayning to the Duke of Lorreine and the other to the Lord de la Lownde departed out of Roan planted themselues in a village called Cinqcens determining there to abide and to surprise such victuals for their maintenance as they could come by vntill the next haruest should prouide more plenteously there they fortifyed themselues with Trenches and Barricadoes this place is distant 9 Leagues from Diepe They fearing to be molested from Diepe had placed a troupe of horsemen in a wood distant two leagues from the place which they had fortifyed being fully in the high way from Diepe supposing if any forces should come from Diepe vpon them they might retire backe to geue intelligence vnto the sayd Regiments or else by making resistance should geue leasure to prepare themselues and to procure a fresh supply from Roan to back them if occasion should serue The Lord Chartres commaunder of Malta gouernour for the King in Diepe and Sir Roger Williams an English gentleman of great valoure and experience in militarie affayres who lately came thether hauing receaued intelligence of that fortification of Cinqcens and intent of the enemy resolued speedily to depart from Diepe in the euening the 19. day of May and trauailing all night came to the wood early in the next morning hauing with them four hundred French men and three hundred Englishmen There they found a troup of horsemen to stop their passage vpon whom they made a very fierce assault But they that came from Diepe gaue such a hot charge vpon them that all those horsemen were so slaine that none of them escaped any way Thus they leauing the dead bodies of the horsemen in the wood and taking some of their horses the Gouernor and Sir Roger Williams passed a long to Cinqcens and beeing come thether before noone they discryed the enemy with their Ensignes displayed within the Fort. The Gouernour of Deepe perceauing their fortification so strong alleaged that it was vnpossible to enter it therefore went about to perswade Sir Roger to goe backe agayne considering that the enemie was two to their one Sir Roger answered that it were a great dishonour for him so to doo and determined to set vpon them with his own thrée hundred men though it should cost both him and them their liues and with this resolution aduanced his Colours marching toward the enemie intended by the assistance of God to enter vpon them or els to lose his life in that place The Lord Chartres seeing that most honourable resolution of Sir Roger was wonderfully encouraged to the enterprise and thereupon protested to take
his battaile to bee pitched in the plaine of Arques and afterward in the euening brought his army into Diepe and the Suburbs of the same and all night caused great and large Trenches to bee made in a place called the hill of Cats and by the Morning the Trenches beeing strong he placed part of his footmen vnder the gouernment of the Lord Chastilion with thirtéene Ensignes of Swissers vppon the Fort of the side of Januile hee pitched two double Canons which did greatly endomage the enemy because they were all on an heape and their horsemen could not retire into their quarter without the danger of the Canon so that it neuer shot in vaine The King sent the Regiment of the Lord Garde into the Castle of Arques The first day of October the enemy planted sixe pieces of Ordinance vpon the top of the hill by Ianuile and shot fiue or sixe voleies of shot into the Towne wherewith was slaine one of the Kings Cookes a Woman a Maiden and a Boy and great hurt done to two Shippes which lay at Anker in the Hauen The Lord Staphord Ambassador of England had presented a Canonier to the King who beeing very skilfull with a shot killed the master Gunner and dismounted two pieces of the enemies Ordinance which caused them to remooue their Canon during this time the Kings troups dayly did set vppon them and drew them from their Trenches with blowes and deadly woundes who beeing weary of that continuall play the fourth day of October they brake their Rampiers and Gabions vpon intelligences of the comming of the Prince of Soisson the Duke of Longueuile Marshall Aumont retyred with shame and losse of men and in the Kings sight raised their camp and dislodged on a sudden taking their iourney toward Picardie and in the way shewed all crueltyes that could bee The King seeing the sudden and vnexpected departure of the Enemy supposed that he went to fight against the power which was broughtto him by the said Prince of Soissons Duke of Longueuile and Marshall Aumont afore they should ioyne with him which thing he mistrusted the more because the enemies shifted into three seuerall places and neuer frarre from him But the King knowing that these helpes were come within seuen or eight leagues tooke betweene three or foure hundred horsemen to goe to meet with them about the sixt day of October leauing the Marshall Biron in Diepe with all the rest of the armie The same day he tooke the towne and Castle Samache in the sight of the enemy The 8. day hée tooke the towne of Hew giuing great occasions to the Duke d'Mayne to fight Whilest these things were passing at Diepe and sometime before there was a méeting of the deputies of the Dukes d'Mayne and Parma in the town of Aras where the Duke d'Mayne bound himselfe to the Spanyards to deliuer all the townes of Picardie into their hanâ—s so that they would come to ayde him but the Spanyards would not styrre out of their places before hée had performed what hée was bound to doo The Duke d'Mayne therefore to colour his cowardlines shamefull flight and disgrace receaued at Diepe and for that hée durst neuer hazard the battell he bruted abroad that he went into Picardie to take possession of the townes of that Prouince to pledge them to the Spanyards and so hauing passed the riuer of Some he tooke away with him all hope from the King to come to any battaile The King knowing well the nature of the French men who though sometyme in their heat and naturall hastines they doo fall to sedition yet are vnpacient of a strange gouernment assured himselfe that they would neuer admit the gouernment of that nation whom they of all most hated neither would they yeeld vnto the Flemmings whom they hated also for the naturall iniuries which they do proffer one to another in time of warre as it falleth out commonly among Borderers Therefore he stayed yet a while in Diepe as well for the affaires of Normandie where hee left the Prince Montpencier for Gouernour as for to receaue foure thousand Englishmen sent vnto him by the renowmed Queene of England And the 21. of October hee departed from Deepe and with small iourneyes coasted the enemie betwéene the two Riuers of Seyne and Some vntill hee came to Meulan a Towne situated a little aboue Pontoys distant from Paris ten leagues and there vpon that bridge passing on the South side of Seyne with all speede went to Paris for two causes First for to drawe him to fight for although hee would not venture a battell for the winning of Deepe notwithstanding he had so promised to his partakers yet the King was in good hope that he would fight for Paris The other cause was to withdrawe him from Picardy where he had taken the towne of Fere and some other small Townes the most part of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the countrey being with the King About the 28. of October the King lodged his armie a mile from Paris in the villages about The morrowe after the king in his owne person went all about to view the Trenches along the Suburbes The last day of October the king hauing prepared all things by the aduise of the Princes Marshals and expert Captaines determined to assault the sayd Suburbs the next morning by breake of the day in three sundrie places and to that purpose deuided his forces into three seuerall companies In the one were the foure thousand Englishmen vnder the gouernement of the Lord Willoughby their Generall with two regiments of Frenchmen and one regiment of Swissers with the Marshall Byron and the Baron Byron his sonne the Lord Guittry diuers other Noblemen who had commandement to assault the Suburbs S. Victor S. Marcel The second troupe was of foure Regiments of Frenchmen two Regiments of Swissers and four companies of aduenturers with the Marshall of Aumont accompanied with the Lord great Esquire and the Lord Rieulx Marshall of the field with a great number of Nobles and Gentlemen who had charge to assault the Suburbs of Saint Iames and Saint Michael The third companie with ten Regiments of French men and one Regiment of Launceknights conducted by the Lordes de la Nouë and Chastilion should assault the Subutbs Saint German Bucy and Nille Euery troupe had a good number of Gentlemen well armed to assist the footmen if any great resistance should be made The King also commaunded two Canons and two Culuerins to be planted in the rereward of euery troupe He seperated also all his horsemen in three companies he himselfe commaunded ouer the first the Prince of Soissons ouer the second the Duke of Longueuile ouer the third each of them appointed to strengtheÌ„ the companies which were set to assault the Suburbs thus deuided as is aforesaid The first day of Nouember by breake of the day beeing a very thicke myst in this order the Suburbs were assaulted and so shaken by