you to thinke what good husbandrie there was made The Comissarie was founde there hidde in the bedstrawe and wyth these marchants was carryed prisoner to Thoul the victuals and prouisions dispearsed and spoyled as much as they coulde They did as much at Espinau a castle scituate vpon Mozelle and Rimiremont where great violence was offered to the Abbesse and Ladies especially by the Italians which were newly come from the Emperous campe to the Kings seruice The Duke of Neuers had sent Chastellus Lieutenant of Bordillons companie towardes Metz with like number of Cauallerie to learne out and make a certaine report of the truth of this retrait Who passing by the Pont Camouson founde that the Count of Aiguemont with his regiment of Cauallerie was departed thence where was onely remayning a great number of miserable sicke creatures From whence he passed as farre as Metz where hee found that the Dukes of Alua and Brabanson with the greatest part of the imperiall armie were dislodged in straunge disorder departing in the night with two fires onely for signall the most secretly that they could without anie noise trumpets fifes and drums sleeping the tents lefte behind and great quantitie of all sorts of harnesse and weapons pipes full of cannon pouder with an infinite deale of moueables and stuffe and vnder the ground a great part of theyr artillerie remaining for hostages an incredible multitude of sicke persons towards whom the Duke of Guise and the rest of the chiefe euen to the simplest French souldiers vsed most great charitie furnishing them with all necessaries and such releefe as poore sick strangers had need of Vpon the tayle charged the Vidasme of Charstres so as hauing defeated a companie of light horse and caused a great deale of theyr pouder which hee had taken awaie in theyr sight to be burned hee returned wyth more prisoners than he was willing wythout the losse of anie one of his owne The Marques Albert remayned the last to serue for helpe and arreregard not without great paine and hazard thorough the continuall alarums which daie and night hee receyued Besides that he prayed the Duke of Neuers to hasten him to go so as the third of Ianuarie he departed from Thoul with his men at armes and cauallerie and three Ensignes of fanterie accompanied with Bordillon and sundrie other Gentlemen and Captaines After he went to dine at Pont Camouson where the rest of that daie he tarryed to heare newes of the Marshall of Saint Andre who was gone the lower waie hauing in lyke sort sent Mouie to the Duke of Guise praying him to aduertise him of the resolution of that affayre whose aunswere hee attended But Chastellus being returned and by him assured of the whole especially how the Marques sought all meanes to saue himselfe and retire hee went forwards towardes Metz with two hundred horse The rest of that daie the Princes tooke great pleasure to see the braue sallies and skirmishes of theyr souldiers Vpon the Marques his Germanes whom they went to seeke out in their owne forte and giue them thrusts of pikes and harquebuze shot euen within theyr tents to prouoke them to come out into the plaine to fight which they woulde not doo but by constraint keeping still close together and vnited wythout breaking or seuering themselues In this estate and paine were they constrained to tarrie from morning vntill night not once daring to inlarge themselues so much as to seeke out victuals For as soone as they were found in anie small number by and by by the Marangetz and Fouillardz villaines of the Countrie they had theyr throates cut and were defeated Wherewith being the more annoyed they ought rather to come out as the French desired considering that they coulde not inforce them but with greate losse Therefore to the end they might the more vexe them the Duke caused foure meane Culuerines to bee placed in a lyttle Ilande aboue Pont au Mores which shot euen within them In summe they dyd so sore annoye them as two dayes after the Marques hauing lost the better parte of his men departed thence in a farre lesse number than hee came with taking his waie towards Treuues Hee was a little followed after and they made a good market wyth his people being combatted inough wyth colde famine and other miseries But the French moued with pittie made no account thereof but in stead of tormenting them they opened vnto them the passage and suffered the members to go scotfree wishing onely that they might haue gotten the head to haue paid for all The Duke of Guise aduertised the King by Randan of all the successe of his siege who after hauing yeelded thankes vnto God for so good an issue commaunded that they should make publyke and general processions throughout his Realme to praise and thanke God of so great and especiall a grace for all France The Duke of Guise dyd the lyke at Metz wyth a generall procession where he himselfe was present with all humilitie and deuotion as also dyd the rest of the Princes and Lordes which accompanyed him to wit the Princes of D'anguien de Conde Montpensier la Roche Suryon de Nemours Horace Farneze Pierre Strossie le Vidasme de Chartres Montmorencie D'anuille de Gonor gouernour of Metz De la Brosse Lieutenant of the Duke of Lorraines companie and De la Rochefoucaut the Vizecount of Turaine and De Martiques D'elangues Entragues De Biron and Saint Remy and generally all the Captaines Gentlemen and souldyers which remayned after the siege Afterwardes hauing ordered the garrison which should remaine there within and disposed of all the rest of the affaires the musters being taken as wel of the men at armes as the fanterie he gaue leaue to all to go repose and refresh themselues in their owne houses and he himselfe went to the Court leauing De Gonnor to command in his place During the time that the Emperour patiently carryed the misfortune happened vnto him vnder a hope of a more fauourable to come and as hee retired to the Low Countries hee excused himselfe towardes the Princes and Cities of the Empire of so pittifull successe laying it vpon the slacknes of theyr forces and meanes For which cause sayde hee hee was inforced to set vpon that place in the dead of winter The King of France triumphed ouer his miseries and increasing them by his Letters and Embassages to all Christian Princes the more to diminish the authoritie and credite of his enemie whose power hee sayde was altogether broken by the issue of so miserable a siege passed the most parte of the times for reuenge of so great raines and sicknes as had beene indured by the continuance of the warres passed in ease and reioycings which hee tooke in feastings tiltings turney and other royall pleasures among which the marriage made at Paris wyth rare magnificence betweene Horace Farneze Duke of Castres and the Ladie Diana his natural daughter was most famous But
this time forwards the persecutions cōtinued in the church almost throughout all Christendome at the pursute of the Inquisitors who were annimated enough against the ill affected in the faith but more againe some perticular and simple people then persons of marke vntill the comming of Luther which then they the more augmented as they saw mens faith beleefe and charitie to diminish towards men of the Church so as the Christian faith being receiued and oppugned almoste in euerlye countrie though in some one lesse sharpely then other where great ones countenanced them out by credit force of arms and other means you may not finde it strange if the religion lesse common and more secret seeking in all times and places but occasion and meanes fit to lifte vp and spread it selfe abroade knew well how to take her time in the end 1518. to make her selfe knowne by the negligence of the Germaine Prelates and the diligence and hardines of Luther who reuiuing of these olde opinions and adding thereunto what before but by the ignorance of the simple people he thought omitted afterwards explaining the same by a well ordered deliuery and expressing it in his Sermons and wrightings through his eloquence and doctrine discouered vnto vs such a kinde of reformation as hath engendered more strange effectes then euer any man could see read or vnderstand to haue bene practised in any other place Now for that the particulars are very memorable and worthy to be left to the posteritie I am contented to fetch the narration therof from the first originall to the ende I would not leaue any thing vnto you which might staye you from the entire knowledge of so notable accidents as vpon this occasion made all christendome both admire and stand wonderfully astonied The pardons which Pope Leo published throughout the world 1517. to get mony and prouide for a warre pretended against the Turke were an occasion together with the abuses his Treasorers offred in the leuying thereof as the most learned and notable writers as well of Germany as Italy hath left that Luther first declared himselfe an enemy to the ouercharging of consciences then a Censor of Popes and ecclesiasticall abuses to reforme in the ende the more receaued doctrine in the Christian Church for first he found himselfe agreeued at the pardons next banded himselfe against the insolencies of Receiuers and hauing put in question the autoritye of the Pope which defended them he came by little and little cleane to contemne the doctrine of the Church of Rome next to reforme it and in the end vtterly to reiecte it Now as Leo say they vsed too licentiously the authoritie of the Romish Sea chiefly in such graces as the Court gaue of spirituall and beneficiall matters by the councell of Laurens Puccy Cardinall of the title of 4. Sains so hee scattered throughout without distinction of time or place his generall pardons of pleanary remission aswell for the quicke as the dead and deliuered soules out of the paines of Purgatory And because such fauours were deliuered so there were mony and that the Treasurers bought their offices at the Popes handes and that little which did come vnto his hands was spent badly enough in other affaires that hee sawe many of his Ministers sell for small price yea play away at Tauernes power to deliuer soules out of Purgatorye and that the Pope who by the meekenes of his owne nature exercised in many things his pontificall office with little enough Maiestie had at one blowe giuen vnto his sister Magdelaine the profit of such Indulgences as might be reaped in sundry Countries of Germany who deputed for her the Bishop Arebaut that executed his charge but with too much couetousnes and extortion and that Leo had permitted the King of Fraunce to vse the last payments of his own Realme as should please him vntill the warre against the Turke all sauing 50. thousand crowns which he gaue to Laurence de Medicis his Nephew Luther a Regent Doctor in diuinitie thought thē he had read seene and heard enough to despise such Indulgences and to be able to taxe therein the authoritie of the Pope but afterwards a great number of Auditors running thither to the end they might heare some noueltye to delight them the popular winde no lesse then the fauour of the Duke of Saxe one of the electors of the Empire and the greatest landed of all Germany so egged him forward that hee did not only band himself against the power of the Popes and authoritie of the Church of Rome but yeelding himselfe to the anger conceiued for the iniuries and sharpe pursuites of the Receiuers and such as spurned against him hee grew in the ende to make open warre against the doctrine of the Church The Pope as they say bestirred himselfe well in the beginning for to quench this fire but not vsing the proper remedies medicines he did but impaire so great a maladie for he cited Luther to Rome he forbad him to preach and after seeing of his disobedience he gaue him ouer to the censure of the Church neuer himselfe in all this time abstaining from many things of euill example which hauing bene with reason blamed by Luther were by his Sermons lessons and writings rendred a great deale more odious to euery man so as proceeding against him with Ecclesiasticall weapons without amending matters of euil example in his own Court at Rome and which since they were made and constrained to reforme so much the more grew the reputation of Luther among the people as they sawe him more persecuted for the innocencie of his life and pure doctrine which he preached then any thing else And albeit that many were of opinion both at Rome and elsewhere that it were lesse inconuenience to dissemble the fire of such follie which peraduenture would growe of it selfe into smoake then in kindling and blowing it through the sharpenes of such pursuites to make it encrease and growe in greater blaze then before and chiefely for that a little wealth and honor had in the beginning made him to eate his worde namely at such time as hee was banished by the Emperour at the Diet of Wormes assuring themselues to haue seene him in such a fright as if the iniurious and threatning wordes of the Cardinall S. Xixte Legat had not led him to a last dispaire hee would gladly enough haue beene reconciled to the Church and beene made to leaue his opinions So it came to passe as men are rather enclined to remedie inconueniences by vehemency and rigour then fair means and curtesie that not onely the persecutions which augmented daylye against him and his Lutheranes but also a terrible excommunication being resolued against the Duke of Saxe rendred this Prince more feruent thē euer to the defence of the cause True it is that the opinion which was helde among many Princes that the followers of this doctrine were no lesse enemies to the temporall Lordes then to the
faith necessary to the Sacraments Thirdly that hee preferred his owne opinions and rauinges before the Scriptures and that hee referred nothing to any councell which hee offred to approue whensoeuer it pleased his superiours Then hee besought the Emperour and the rest of the Magistrates that for the honor of God and defence of a Councels libertye they would receaue his appeale that they would bridle the tirannie of the Pope that they would not account his Bul any manner of way able to touch thē and that they would innouate nothing vntill the cause might be worthely pleaded for all this notwhithstanding the Pope vrged Frederic to burn all his Books and that he should either cut of his head or making him Prisonner deliuer him vp to be punnished in example Frederic praied him not to proceede so eagerlye but to choose good and skilfull Personages to confer of the whole matter amyablye to giue sure safe-conduct to Luther and that his bookes might not bee burned before hee had defended his cause then if he were conuicted by sure testimonies of the scripture he would not approue his enterprise albeit that alreadye hee consented not to his doctrine and though he should not be able to maintain his fact yet hee hoped the Pope would not require at his hands a matter which he could not performe for the rest he hoped by Gods assistance to fulfill the office of a Prince of th'empire and of an obedient Sonne to the Church To which the deputies of Leo hauing in vaine replyed the end of the conference was that necessity pressed them to do according to the contents of the Popes Bull wherfore anon after they burned Luthers bookes then began he much more eagerlye to goe to worke for being aduertised of all this passed hee assembled together all his schollers of Witemberge and in the presence of many learned personages hee publiquely burned the Cannon law togither with the Popes new Bull the 10. of December Afterwards to render reason of his exploite he alleadged these First that it was an ancient custome to fling corrupt bookes into the fire as it is seen in the Acts of the Apostles besides it is his part which is baptized into Christ which is a professor and publique teacher of the Scriptures to combat against false doctrine and propose that which is wholsome for mankinde as touching the Pope and his sequel they are so miserable and accursed that they doe not onely withstand the holy ordinances but condemne the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles to make their owne shine for the brighter from thēceforth he imploied himselfe euer after to write against the excessiue abuses and mischiefes which hee said was in the Court and doctrine of Rome as others on the other side very bitterly maintained the contrary each with many iniuries and reciprocall inuectiues far vnworthy of Christians So as a certaine desire of honor stirred vp by a dutie to the explaining according to his charge of the holye scripture made him become so resolute and stubborne by the peeuish thwarts of his aduersaries that then he became open banker out to the catholicke and romain doctrine so as hauing bene summoned to the Diet of Wormes whither he had the Emperours safe-conduct to render an account of his faith there to be punished or iustified according as he should maintaine he said frankely the 18. of April 1521. that he would not recant one inch except lawfully they made the contrary to appeare vnto him being the cause that the Emperour on the next morrowe sent his letters to the assemblye of Princes in which hee contained that his ancestors who had made profession of Christian Religion had euer obeyed the Church of Rome now since Luther oppugned the same his dutye was to followe the steppes of his Predecessors and to defende Christian Religion in succouring the Church of Rome wherefore hee determined to banishe Luther and his Adherents and vse other remedies fit for the quenching of this fire but because of his faith which he had plighted hee would send him home safe The 24. of Aprill the Archbishop of Treuues and other of the Lords called him to them where after hauing wished him to recant or at the least submit his writinges to the iudgement of the Emperour and of the councell of the Princes and generall councell to come hee would not in any case but that all should be resolued by the authoritie of the holy scripture which Eccius the Lawyer and others saide was not reasonable considering the diuers sence of Scripture which euery man interpreteth after his owne fansie and that further by this meanes should neuer any thing be sure or clearely determined that it was not to be suffered that euery man should aske a reason of euery point as of a matter impossible in nature Breefe that since it was not a thing reasonable to dispute a matter alreadye resolued or condemned by the Church men ought simply and absolutely to holde that doctrine which their good Fathers had left vnto them In summe Charles the 5. of the age of one twenty yeares banished him the eight of May 1521. by his Letters Pattentes by which considering it was his duetye to take order that no filthe should enter into the Empire by the example of his Predecessors hee assembled all the Princes and States of the Empire at Wormes where hee communycated the matter of Luther and diligentlye examyned it Now albeit the lawes forbid to heare a manifest heretique so many times condemned and seperated from the communion of the Church yet to stop the passage to all calumnie he sent him a letter and dispatched his Herald with safe conduct to cause him to come vnto him and render account of his writings afterwardes hauing recited the propositions desseines Luthers answeres and all that had passed at Wormes he said that in case Luther did still defend his errors and wilfully perseuere in them he approued the Popes bul and to witnes that he would maintain it he cōdemned and banished Luther as an author of schism and an obstinate heretique cōmanding al men to hold him for such and after 21. daies which he gaue him of fauour to reclaim himself he charged euery man with all force to endeuour to take him and deliuer him vp into his hands he banished also all such as any manner of way whatsoeuer fauoured him enioyning his bookes to be vtterly abolished with great paines from thence forward for any booke-binders that should sell any of them and ordained that his decree made in the councell of the Princes and all the estates should remaine for euer inuiolable Luther then much spiting at his hauing beene thus condemned and his bookes burnt by the Deuines of Cologne and Louaine after 1521. by those of Paris was at Rome giuen vp to the Diuell the 28. of March 1521. by the Pope togither with all heretiques Pyrates Imposers of new tributes falsefiers of Buls Marchants furnishing the enemies of
Germanie Then the Embassadors of these two Princes being come in the beginning of December after hauing most humblye saluted the Emperour in the name of their masters spoake in this sorte You know most mercifull Emperour in what paine remaine at this day the most excellent Princes Electors Maurice and Brandebourge for the detaining in hold of the Landgraue a matter happening vnto them beyond all expectation such time as thorough a singular affection which they carried vnto you by reason whereof they were desirous to prepare vnto you the way to an easie and notable victorie they sought nought else then to ease you of a great charge by a long warre and restore the Countrie to peace and tranquillitie For which respect they haue so often bene suters vnto you as wel in their proper person as by their Embassadors that it might please you to regard them and release the prisoner your answere to their last Embassador was that you could not doe it vntill you saw the issue of the day prefixed to bee held besides that you made no other promise but that he should not alwaies remaine captiue if heâ—… cpt the accord But for so much as they being busied about other affaires haue not beene able at the same day to bee in person themselues they againe sollicited you at Ausbourge by their Councellors and reiterated letters In answere whereof you wrote backe vnto them the reasons of your conceiued displeasure against him pronouncing the Princes absolued of their obligation towards the children of the Captiue Wherefore they determyned to importune you in the like againe And had come themselues in person had it not beene for what you know they were both of them employed in the warre of Magdebourge besides that Brandebourg himselfe was sicke which was the cause that they haue giuen vs in charge to declare vnto you for the first point That when you did ordaine that the Landgraue should yeeld himselfe vnto you vpon condition they vnderstoode your intention by the B. of Arras which was that he should receiue and keepe such conditions as you had proposed and imparted vnto them If it stoode a matter needfull to perswade him to yeelde himselfe in such sort it was as needfull to declare vnto him that he should not bee kept as a Captiue nor worse dealt with then the treatie of peace contained The Princes then were his pledges which your Councellers also well enough vnderstoode And where as the Landgraue still insisted that they should declare vnto him some Articles of th'accord and required that for the dispatch thereof he might not be stayed aboue sixe daies it was graunted vnto him after that the matter had beene proposed to the B. of Arras As touching the rest of the points the Princes obtained therein more then they demaunded And admit that in this proceeding matters should not be a like vnderstoode of the one side and the other that the Landgraue being come was imprisoned against the faith promised yeat had the Princes neuer accused you for the same had they not the same time hauing bene graciously promised by your selfe gon themselues in person to Halle set him thence at such time as the Landgraue approaching sent vnto them to come vnto him to Numbourg For at that time they spoake with you signifiyng vnto you that they had perswaded him to stand to the conditions proposed and that he was not far off yea that if it pleased you they would goe and meete him In the meane time praying you that since hee yeelded himselfe vpon their faith and assurance he might be charged no farther to which you condiscended Now in the last dispatch there was no mention at all made either of prison or detention as your owne people the Bishoppe of Arras and of Selde can verie well witnesse For the first had all the charge in this matter and sometimes called the other to assist him for after that the conditions were accepted of and pardon demaunded the Princes stood fully assured that he shuld be incontinently released which they had reason to imagine for sundry causes First for that the Councellors neuer made once mention of retaining him which was a principall point in the treatie which the Landgraue perceiued and considered of aboue all Moreouer sundry thinges are contained therein which is not possible for any Prince captiue to accomplishe but for him onelye which is at libertie After that he had besought you pardon you remitted his fault and were contented to reuoke his banishment and giue him letters of reconciliation besides that you receaued pledge and assurance wherein it was set downe that if he did not perfourme the accord the people should deliuer him vp vnto you and the pledges should by force of armes constraine him to do his dutie All these things certes had serued to nothing and had beene meere superfluous if they had thought he should haue endured corporall punishment but they imagining nothing lesse considering especially that the Councellors neuer made menâ—ion thereof brought him vpon this assurance promising to deliuer him backe againe before his children and to endure like punishment that he should doe if any outrage were offred him Such was their intention which was since more confirmed when after great request the Duke of Alua inuited them to Supper at his house with the Landgraue It was not possible for them to conster in so ill a sence this summons and hospitalitye considering the custome and fashion of the Princes of Germany that he should goe into the D. of Alua his house as into a prison and that they should goe with him side by side and beare him company thither which had they neuer so little made doubt of who can imagine what they would haue done for considering how they are Princes of Germany and also Electors issued from right honourable familyes neuer would they haue bene a meanes that a Prince of an excellent house both their allie and freend should haue bene brought to such a banquet to fall into so great troubles and that they should leade him as captiue and they were no whit at all made priuie to the fact vntill after supper when the D. of Alua tolde him that hee must remaine in the Castle as in prison howsoeuer the matter was they went to worke with a good meaning as we sayde in the beginning and for so much as they haue plighted their faith you may well perceiue how hard and greeuous a matter it will be both to them and their children if after hauing bene often put in minde of their promises and after caution giuen the Landgraue he detayned prisoner you perceiue likewise most puissant Emperour you who deriue your race from the Germaines considering that the Children of the Captiue Prince pursue their right presse theÌ„ to redeliuer him vnto them according to the condition of the bond what becommeth them to doe according to the ancient custome of the Nobilitie of Germany for to preserue their
would but releeue them with his succor To which the K. of Fraunce being councelled to listen yeeld all fauour for naturall and ancient desire to abate the greatnes of such an enemye before that hee would put his forces into the fielde to which hee gaue the Rende-uous at Vitry in Partois hauing already sent the Gouernours into their Prouinces to leuye the best trained and most voluntary Souldiers that they coulde hee caused to be published throughout his owne Realme Italye high and lowe Germanye and other quarters the declaration of his will and true purpose touching those succours which hee was minded to yeelde vnto them The letter which he caused to be made to this effect at Fontaine-bleau the 3. of February 1552. which Du Fresne broght with him into Germany for the same end were of this tenor That the greatnes of an estate Royall fetching his encrease from the enterprises which redounded to the profit of many and aboue all to the freendes of a Crowne he in like sorte was euer studied from his infancy in this holy exercise and in a desire to shew himselfe gratious and succourable to the whole worlde and that therefore comming to be King he had likewise vndertaken the protection of the Queene and Realme of Scotland renued the ancient alliance with the Suizers and in the end concluded peace with his Brother the King of England that the Emperour had lesie no craft or wilines whereby he might breake this peace to the end that Fraunce might be enwrapped with warre and discordes albeit that hitherto himselfe was neuer willing to haue begun the broile or to arme against him standing onely to his own defence But hauing heard the particular complaintes and greefes of sundry Princes Lords and States of Germanye as touching the tirannie and violence which the Emperour vsed ouer them vnder colour of reuniting those whome the diuersitie of religion had separated and disioyned of reforming of abuses and ouerrunning the Turke a common enemye to Christendome And seeing that herein he went about nothing else thē to encroche vpon the Monarchie and make it successiue to the house of Austria for these considerations the K. remembring that he was descended from the bloud of the ancient Franks or Francons issued out of Germany and the perpetuall alliance and amitie which in all time had bene betweene the Gallique nation and the Germane the which the Emperour and his Grandfather euer went about to breake he could doe no lesse then haue regarde thereunto and prouide for such mischiefes as are offred themselues on that part as the Emperor shuld execute his plats and enterprises His most christian Maiestie fearing leash the alteration of the Germane libertie might proue the ruine of that Nation and by consequence a great shaking to the glorye and power of the Gaules which haue Germany for their rampire hath considered it to be a matter almost necessarie for all Christendomes preseruation that they should ioyne their forces together to came whatsoeuer he were any one that should presume to encroche ought vpon their liberties it imported further that his Maiestie had seene so great disorder among the Princes and States of th' empire that hee was not able to iudge whether all or parte of them had praied him to shewe himselfe a protectour and defendor of this Germane liberty almost shaken in peeces that at this time many Princes as well Electors as other had besought him to assist them and be their helpe in this so vrgent a necessitie And in case that he would not doe it he protested before God and men the mischiefe that was likely to befall them and of which his Maiestie onely should be the cause greatly iniurying his own reputation and doing wrong to that which he oweth to the ancient league betweene Gaule and Germany Besides that he shewed to those Princes Electors and others and to the free Citties that since that Charles and his brother had taken vpon them to commaund the Empire euery thing fell into confusion and disorder And that that was true a man might see with his eye how he had fleeced the Empire the Citties comminalties and other places as Gueldres Vtrech Cambray and Constance which he had made become proper to the House of Austria and that by a thousand deuices he went about to encroche vpon the Archbishop of Treues and the Dukes of Cleues and Witemberg and cleane to ruine the principalitie of Hess The King further complained how that Charles and Ferdinand had cleane excluded the Embassadours of Fraunce from the Dietts and generall assemblies of Germany where in times past they had their place and that contrary to the liberties of Germany he would bridle the liberty of the Souldiers and keep them from seruing any in the warres but himselfe and that it was not lawfull for them to come vnder his pay without incurring of condemnation as breakers of his Edicts and attainted of treason he blamed the Emperour of Fellonye and crueltye in causing many braue warriers to be cruelly put to death because they had receiued pay of the K. of Fraunce he made instance of the Colonell Vgesberg whome the Emperour caused to be beheadded in his own presence of the banishmentes and confiscations decreede against Captaine Recrod the Ryngraue Riffiberg and Schertelin against whom he shewed himselfe so obstinately and cruelly carried that hee caused to be proclaymed by sound of Trumpet 4000. Crownes to whosoeuer could bring aliue or dead any of these Lords to make a good pastime with the effusion of Germane bloud for the Spanish bandes This discourse and other matters finished he concluded that he had made an alliance with sundrye of the Princes of Germanye and that togither with them hee was resolued to imploye both his forces and his person for defence of the libertye of whole Germanye without expecting any other recompence then the honour in hauing doone his dutye and tyed vnto him so puissant a nation as the Germane of which this his desire and pretence hee gaue assurance vppon his oath taking God to witnesse and swearing that in the woorde of a King and faith of a Prince and that in generall hauing no other intention then to deliuer all the estates of Germanye from the oppression of the Emperour and of his in particular hee pretended to doe it in fauour of his most deare and most beloued Cosins Iohn Duke of Saxe and Philip Landgraue of Hess detained in miserable seruitude by Charles whatsoeuer hee had promised or sworne to the contrarye thereby to get immortal praise as somtimes did Flaminius for hauing affranchised Greece And towards the latter end of the letter were these wordes We promise you in liksorte by the almightie God before all the Kings Princes and Potentates of Christendome that we will not in any sorte suffer that either to you in generall or to any one in particular of what estate or condition souer he be to our knowledge any wrong or iniurie shalbe
but before this thorough their subtilties and wilines they haue preuailed so farre as the most famous Prince King Frauncis was condemned for an enemy without being heard It is true that that redounded to their particular profite but to the great dammage of the Common-wealth for it may euidently enough be perceiued how hard a matter it is to decay the liberty of Germanye and to build their Realme to make it last so great and so long as the amity betweene these two nations hath endured for because at this present standing in feare of the French armies they proceede therein more slackely and insist not so liuely to impose their Spanish yoke they be they for certaine which haue obtained peace at the Turkes handes by praiers and tributes and who vnder colour of Religion and obedience haue brought a thousand enormities and factions into Germany which haue beaten her with her owne rodde warring against her with her owne power which haue drawne monie from all and rendred the condition of Germany into so pitious an estate as may be wel seene by the Spanish Garrisons disposed on the one side and the other which haue vnfurnished those places of armes where they were kept in store which haue made open the way to the examination of the treasure for it is growne to that passe at this day that the seale of the Empire and the iudgement of the Chamber and the right or priuiledge of imperiall dayes is in the sleeue of the B. of Arras for what meaneth this to execute by way of iustice or to banish in offring great rewardes to the murtherers all those as for their maintenance haue put themselues into the wages of strangers I omit so many murthers so many whordomes pilferies and sackings of Citties and aboue all religion which now was handled of one sorte and now of another accordingly as the time serued Certes whatsoeuer hath beene done since some yeares passed hath tended to no other end then to trouble the lawes of the Empire or constraine or allure King Ferdinand by faire promises as also to terrifie the Princes by feares and dreades to the end the Prince of Spaine might be chosen Emperour were it not rather to be wished by men of valour to dye then to see the light of the Sunne in such miseries and calamities I doe not think that any man can be found so blockish or barbarous that hee doth not feele himselfe galled with these thinges Therefore no man ought to maruell if at the last some Princes haue bene found and among them the Electour Maurice D. of Saxe which stand resolued to hazard their liues for the recouerie of the liberty of their common Countrie and which finding themselues too feeble and not able alone to sustaine the charge haue demaunded succour and alliance of the King of Fraunce who cleane forgetting any mislikes of the time passed hath not onely employed thereto all his wealth and treasure but also hath not spared his owne person in a matter of so great consequence contracting an alliance with them wherein among other thinges there is set downe that they shall not make any accorde with the enemy without the Kings good liking and albeit that Maurice be bound thereunto yet desiring the prosperitie of the Countrie and to accommodate himselfe to Ferdinand which did so earnestly require it he very lately besought the most christian King to signifie vnto him vnder what conditions hee would haue the peace treated of that to say the truth fell out otherwise then he hoped for considering his benefite towards them to haue beene such and so great that hee thought it fitter to entreate neerer hand and not so farre off of matters which so neerely concerned him neuerthelesse forsomuch as he euer preferred the publick weale before his owne particular hee would deny nothing to a Prince his allie wherefore if the soares of the common wealth might be healed as they ought and that good assurance may be giuen that in time to come they shall not be refreshed if the Captiue Princes may be released vnder the conditions set downe in the treatie further if the ancient alliances betweene Fraunce and the Empire and the last Capitulation with Princes may be so confirmed as that for euer they may remaine in force if these thinges I saye may bee well brought to passe he is so affectionate to the Common wealth that not onely he will willingly accord to a treatie of peace but also yeeld most humble thanks to God that herein he hath aided you with councell and succours As touching priuate matters as the Emperour hath detained from him many things by force and made warre vpon him without any iust occasion the King thinketh it a matter very reasonable that he which hath beene the occasion of the iniury should firste shewe the way of satisfaction The King in truth no whit distrusteth at all of his owne power nor yet of the equitie of his cause and notwithstanding hee will giue them to vnderstand how much hee loueth peace and how much hee desireth to agree with them all and with Maurice The Princes answered hereunto that his discourse fet from antiquitie as concerning the coniunction of Germany and Fraunce was most agreeable vnto them and no lesse that the King preferred the common wealth before his particular profite making no refusall to the confederate Princes accorde with the Emperour for it is not onely the profite of one nation but of all Europe which hauing beene turmoyled with ciuill calamities tended to an euident ruine As for the conditions which the K. demaunded they doubted not but that they might be obtained for the Emperour alwaies bare good will towards the common wealth both heretofore and in these present troubles he neuer vnderstoode that the libertye of Germany was any waies diminished There was likewise great hope that in very short space hee would set at libertie the Captiue Princes As touching the renewing of their ancient alliances the King well vnderstandeth in his owne wisedome that a matter of so great weight could not be brought to passe in this assembly notwithstanding they greatly desired that the amitie which euer had beene betweene the two nations might remaine firme and inuiolable they likewise desire aboue all the rest that the differentes betweene the King and the Emperour might be pacified protesting that therein they would neither spare trauaile not diligence whatsoeuer But forsomuch as the K. said that the Emperour did possesse sundry places which appertained to him and openly made shew of many which he would repeate it seemed vnto them a matter very reasonable that he should declare what they were for they were determined fullye to infourme the Emperour thereof and to be a meanes in the cause Further they besought the King to take the same in good parte That which the Embassadour spake of the familye of Luxembourg grew vpon this Henry Earle of Luxembourg had a sonne named Henry who afterwards was the
those as had cōmitted so base and lewd an act to haue thē punished in example so as hauing recouered the trumpetors clothes horse with recōpence for such other things as had beene taken frō him he caused him to be safely cōueied backe by one of his owne Now for that some of the imperials had caused the bruite to run how that the French did flie before thē that if they woulde but stay 24. howers the Prince shold giue thē battel they answered that they saw no cause to be so brag nor so lightly to vsurp such glory occasion of cōbat hauing already beene often enough presented vnto them if they themselues had listed Notwithstanding if the Prince had so great desire thereto as he made shew for he assured them on the K. behalfe that he would stay full 24. howers no more or if he would come find him out neer Cambray he did assure him that would tarry for him 8. daies together wher nothing should be refused him But whilst they sought out the most cōmodious places to lodge their battellons men at armes the imperials in the end retired to their first lodgings neere to Bauets An occasion that at their departure thence the French with one march got as far as Craeuecaeur neere Cambray where the enemies had determined to fortefie and repaire the Castle hauing already begun to make certaine trenches conduits to tast the water purposing there to lay their foundations which the same day being the 26. of Iuly their pioners began to raise where the first wound of the miserable Cambresius was renued who had already set vp builded some little cottages only to keepe thēselues dry imagining that a long time there would not so great misfortune befal them hauing according to their habilitie againe sowed part of their fields to haue wherwith all to nourish and keepe themselues from famine so as the richer sort glad to that they were with their best moueables retired within the strong townes were not exempt out of al these losses aduersities for whē the tennant is poore afflicted the Lord fareth neuer a whit of ought the better Now whilst that in the plain countrie they made wast of Corne alredy ripe ready to be reaped many braue salies and skirmishes dayly fel out between them of Cambray the French the Citadel stil troubling darkning the aire with shot of Cānon which lighted only among the worst sort without slaying of any person of renowne which they did only by al meanes possible seeking to hinder the losse ruine of their fruits being notwithstanding often enough repelled and driuen into their owne gates so as these bickerings continued for the space of 8. daies whilst that the French lay ther encamped The imperiall armie in the meane time was pitched and fortefied in a place called Arçon betweene Cambray Le Quesnoy Valeciennes vpon the little riuer of Montet which commeth towards the Castle of Cambresy a little lower falleth into Leascau still continuing their courses to cut off the waies which the Prince De La Roche Sur-yon well perceiuing came thither incorporating his armie with the K. which hee succoured with great quantitie of victuals whereof they stoode in great want and necessitie In this time was the marriage concluded betweene Philip of Austria and Mary of England though with much more honor to the English then to the Spanniards hauing taken from him by the contract of marriage many commodities which ordinarily are proper and incident vnto a husband yea so farre as to denie vnto him the curtesie of England which carrieth That a Queene enheritrice to England comming to be married to a Prince stranger and afterwards dying the husband shoulde enioy such goods as appertained vnto her during his life though no heires at al were issued by marriage wherein likewise may be very well noted the power of the estates and Parliament of England ouer the disposition whether liuing or testamentarie of their Prince This marriage notwithstanding though very honorable to their nation yet stucke sore in the minds of many Lords and other of the countrie as well for the displeasure which they tooke in that they were to be commaunded by a stranger as for the change of Religion and pollicie already as it were growne olde and setled in the harts of many so as with a full resolution to hinder the same and to set vp Iane of Suffolke as Queene they rose in armes vnder Henrie of Suffolke Thomas Wyat and sundrie other as well in Cornewale as the North countrie Wyat vndertooke to bring his men straight to London chiefe Citie of the Realme hoping to draw the Londoners vnto him vnder a pretext of the countries libertie hinderance of the alliance with a stranger The Q. on the other side hauing leuied a great number of men caused the Duke to flie to Warwicke from whence seeking to escape into Fraunce hee was apprehended and brought to London by the Earle of Huntington who marched against Wyat gathering men out of the Dutchie of Norfolke the Duke whereof being taken prisonner by Wyat in no case would be perswaded to combat with this partie but afterwards being released hee reuealed vnto the Q. all the enterprise of Wyat and his partners with whome stoode likewise suspected and kept as prisonner Elizabeth daughter to Henry and Anne Boulen Wyat notwithstanding being ariued at London was much astonied But the Queene though with small force hauing publikely to all men rendred the cause which moued her to take the Spanniard to her husband and how that the countrie should there by receiue much more good then by her alone or any other English Prince besides how she would loose nothing of her owne nor any waies diminish the libertie of her subiectes encouraged them so farre as Wyat cleane out of hope of entring the Cittie and seeking to retire into Kent being pursued was defeated by the Earle of Penbrooke afterwards brought to London within short space both the D. of Suffolke and himselfe had their heads cut off being not long after followed by Iane of Suffolke and her husband for not hauing refused the vnfortunate Crowne which was offred vnto them Thus began the marriage of Marie with th' effusion of her subiectes bloud as almost all the rest of her Raigne consumed in diuision and full of murther and punishments of the most notable personages of her Realme These troubles being appeased the Prince of Spaine ariued about the end of Iuly in the Ile of Wight from whence being honorably conducted by my L. Paget and other entring afterwards further in to England followed by the D. of Alua Earles of Padille Rigomes Aiguemont the Admiral of Castile and Marquis of Languillare the mariage was solemnised the 23. of Iuly at Winchester wher Masse being finished the Emperors deputies declared how in fauour of that marriage his Maiestie did giue vnto his sonne the realme of