honour and that of the rest of the sayd Marshals bretherne there should not remaine one Finally the rather to allure him to such an horrible acte they sealed their last offer with a dampnable promise of xxx thousand crownes in recompence and xxx thousand Frankes of perpettritie out of the towne of Paris besides the fauourable good wil all days of his life as wel of the Quéene mother Duke d'Aniow as Cardinal of Loraine and the whole courte Dalbe yelded so farre to their murderous enticements as he gaue his worde and promise to kil the Admirall Wherupon was deliuered him by the sayd la Riuiere certaine white pouder which was known afterwardes to be either Reagar or Arsinicke with a large pasport from the sayd kinges brother wherwith he departed and came to the lord Admirall his maister at the siege of Poictiers his long abode in the Catholikes campe together with other suspicious circumstaunces appearing at hys arriual persuaded a ielous iudgement of his dealing therupon was committed to prison his processe pursued ended sentēce lastly pronoūced in these terms Judgement pronounced the xx of September 1569. in the councell established by the princes of Nauarre and Conde present and assisted with the Prince of Orange the Counte Wolrard de Mansfelde lieuetenaunt generall of the Almaignes vnder the sayd princes the Countes Lodouike and Henry de Nassau bretherne Menard de Chomber Marshall of the Almaignes campe Hans Boucq Renard Gracco Henry Destain Hans de There 's Colonels of the Reistres Guieryn Gangolf Baron of Grelesee Colonell of a regiment of Launceknightes Theodore Wegger professor of the law and Embassadour from the Duke de Deux ponts with many other lordes knightes colonels and Reistremaisters of Almaigne the lord of Corras councellour to the king in the parliament of Tholouse and chaunceller to the Quéene of Nauarre and the army the lord of Francourt Bricquemau de Mouy de la Nouē de Renty de Soubize de Mirambeau de la Caze de Puch-perdillan de Biron de Lestrange with many other lordes gentlemen and captaines of Fraunce Seing the processe made by the cōmissaries deputed by the said princes of Nauarre Conde against Dominique Dalbe groome of the chāber to the L. Gaspard Coūte de Coligny lord of Chastillon Admiral of France the iij. examinations of the sayd Dalbe afore the Prouost generall of the camp two other afore the cōmissioners assigned for the purpose lastly the confessiōs of the said Dalbe reiterated v .iij. seueral times wherin he acknowledgeth to haue bene instantly sollicited vrged pressed by la Riuiere captain of the garde and one Laurence de Ruze secretary to the kings brother to practise procure the death of the sayd L. Admiral either by sword or poison which he promised to the said la Riuiere to effect with poison only receiuing to that end of the said la Riuiere certaine mony poison in forme of white powder which he hath shewed since to the sayd Prouost and commissioners seing also the verification and proofe of the said poyson tried by Phisicions and Apothecaries assembled at la Haye in Touraine the xiij of this moneth together with a very large pasport graunted to the sayd Dalbe the 30. of the last month by the kings brother lying then at Plessis les Tours and now for due punishment and reuenge to such a traiterous and detestable attempt so often acknowledged as wel in his priuate cōfessions as publike assembly the sayde councell hath and doth condempne the sayd Dalbe to be deliuered into the handes of the executioner of high iustice who tieng him vpon a hurdels with a halter about his necke shall drawe him thorow the stréetes and corners accustomed of this town de Fay la Vineuse with this inscription in parchment about his bodye This is Dominike Dalbe traitoure to the cause of God his Countrey and Maister trailing him first to the lodgyng gate of the sayd Lord Admirall and there with no other garmentes than his shirte ▪ the halter remaining stil about his neck holding in his hand a torch of burning wax shal demaund pardon of God the king the law the lord Admiral confessing there the wickedly disloyally traiterously he had professed promised practised to kill by poyson the sayd L. admiral his maister at the same instant in his presence the said poison which he confessed to be geuē vnto him by the said la Riuiere to be cast into the fire and burned All which being done he shall be led keping still the inscription about his body to the place of publike execution and there to be hāged and strangled on a gallowes set vp for that purpose And that also humble sute be made to the king to do iustice vpō the said la Riuiere and Laurence with their complices and with all if his maiestie be of minde to verifie more ample their sayd conspiracie with the sayd Dalbe the same not withstāding resembling a sufficient truth against them by his voluntary confession to proceede against them with punishemente due to so horrible a facte and the same both to terrifie hereafter others of like villanous humor and also to remaine to all nacions as a President of the noble nature and disposition of Fraunce in abhoryng suche trayterous attemptes declaryng the said la Riuiere Lawrence with all other sectes sortes of traytours keping schoole and open shop to poyson persons of name and vertue to bee traytours villaines and men vnworthy of honor either in themselues or their posteritie to the iiij generacion Lastly it is iudged that afore the execution of iudgement the said Dalbe shal be put on the racke to the end to confesse further practises with his said confederates with other things contained in interregatories geuē to the Pronost This sentence thus pronounced the morrowe after being the xxj of September the racke was vsed accordingly where he confirmed his former confessions and so the same day the sentēce was put in execution Whilest the kinges brother kepte at Chynon in the country of Touraine whether he was retired as is said great nūbers of men of war flocked to him from many partes of the realm together with the horsmen to whom he gaue liberty for recreacion and the xx ensignes of footmen Parisiens whereof we spake before these forces assembled hee made marche hys Vauntegarde out of Chynon the sixe and twenty of thys moneth vnder the conducte of the Lorde Mont-pensier hymselfe followyng wyth the battaile lodgyng neare Lodune the Princes campe drue towardes Partney the .xxix. of this moneth whome the Catholikes followed neere to prouoke them to battail as in respect of the aduauntage and fauor of certaine townes which they held thereabout either campe was within the view of other and both of equall desire to gain Mont-gontour vsing like diligence the rather to obtaine it For which cause the admirall made his footemen aduaunce all night his horssmen being in point of battell the
regimeÌ„ of footemen albeit béeing discouered by the garrison of Grenoble by whom he endured certeyn waspish skirmishes and after enforced to retire aboue an ordinarie speede to the territories of the duke of Sauoy leauing his lieutenant De sainct Marie in the borow D'oysons the same being wonne by hym not many dayes afore and nowe enforced to leaue it and accompany the sayd Lord de la Cloche into Sauoye And seeyng besides the difficultie to ioyne with the L. D'acyer he wandred with his coÌ„panies diuiding them into .viij. enseignes of footmen certein horsmen marched towards Almayney the same Regiment being for the most part al of Lyonnoys and Dauphynoys and thether retired to eschue the persecutions of their owne countries The RegimeÌ„ts of Dauphyne being passed the riuer of Rosne as is sayd the Lord D'acyer began then to marche with suche spéede and happy trauell that about the xxiij of September the armie arriued at the said All'es and from thence drew a direct way to Myllan in Roargnes deuiding notwithstanding his companies into seueralties in respect of the sterilitie of the countrey of victuals and other necessities for warre and so came to the said Myllaw the last of the sayd September The â–ª xxviij of the same moneth was published at Paris an edict wherin the king drawes out at length al chaunces hapned and passed within his realme for the matter of Religion preferring amongest the rest that the Edict of Januarie gyuing the firste sufferaunce or leaue to the Protestants to vse an exercise of their religion was but prouisionall vntill his full age and that his maiestie had no meanyng to force obseruation of any Edicte made touching the sayd Religion and therefore being nowe at the age of maioritie he pronounced general defence ageynst all vse exercise of the same religion thorough all his realm and contreys of his obedience charging by an arest irreuocable and that vpon peyne of confiscation of body gods not to haue any other practise of Religion within any of his sayd countreys and landes than according to the catholike church of Rome which bothe he and his predâ— essours haue so long tyme helde and maynteined enioyning precisely vpon like pâ—in al ministers of the sayd reformed re ligion to auoyde his sayd realme within .xv. days with this prouision at last that they of the sayd religon should not be in any sort cyfted or searched in their consciences albeit both after and notwithstanding the sayde Edict they haue ben oppressed more than afore and that with such violeÌ„ce as diuers haue reuolted The same day also was published another edict in the sayde parlyament at Parys wherein the king gaue absolute order that not only from thensforth he wold not be serued with any officers professing that religion but also they shoulde be immediately suspended of their estates and charges with coÌ„maundement to resigne them into his handes within .xv. dayes otherways he wold prouide supplies of the Romish sort it is long since these edicts were vppon the presse albeit they were not proclaymed afore now Now the Lorde d'Acyer parting from Myllaw the v. of October tooke his way too Cadenat as of purpose to passe there the riuer of Lot and in his waye caused to sommon the towne of Marzillac the whiche without great denyall and vnder certeine conditions set open her gates and the morow after he tooke the tower called Sainct Christophle with a pretie garison of priests in it And so marching further he ariued at the said Cadenat the .x. of October with entent to passe the ryuer of Dordone at Solliac where in respect the Lord de Mont-luâ— coasted him to withstaÌ„d his passage he assembled all his armie in a place called â—erac in Quercy finding vpoÌ„ that view â–ª xvij thousand harquebusiers and vij thousand Pykes and nyne hundred horsmen in good poynt and well disposed to fight In the same place he deuided his armie into two parts the auantgard battaileâ— in the vantgarde he set .vj. regimens of the Dauphynoys with the horsmen of the same countrey and in the mayne battayle hée bestowed the regimens of Languedoc Prouence Viuâ—rez and Roargues with the regimen of the Lord d'Orose Dauphynois al which coÌ„panies passed by force ouer the said riuer of Dordone on the side of Solliac froÌ„ whence the sayde Lord of Mont-luc was departed the day before as hauing sounded the sayd ryuer and founde it passable almost in euery place and he not strong ynough to hinder the passage of suche an armie his was the xiiij day of the sayde October in the yeare abouesayd Now that the Prince of Conde had receyued the force and troupes whiche the Lorde Dandelot brought to hym he came to besiege the towne of Angoulesme causing to be drawne thither from Rochel iiij canons and. iâ— Culuerins with the which he made a breache on that syde towarde Perigueux the same albeit not sufficient and therfore remoued his batterie on that syde which they cal the Park and bicause they that wer within vsed great diligence to fill vp the breache he made to be mounted vpoÌ„ the vault of the temple of S. Claire two culuerins to beat within the breach the same distressing so straytly them within that in the end hauing mainteyned the siege aboute viiâ— dayes the Marquise of Mâ—zieres their gouerner yeldes the town by composition to the Prince Duryng this siege arriued the Quéene and yong prince of Nauarre her son with madame Catherine her daughter accompanied with .iij. regiments of Gascoyn footmen the one vnder charge of the Lord De Pilles conteyning â–ª xxiij enseigns an other gouerned by the Vicount de Montamma of .x. enseignes and the third of .ix. enseignes led by the Vicount de Sainct Magrin with viiâ— cornets of light horsmen of the the same countrey The sayd Queene being at Bergerac vpon her waye dispatched to the Maiesties of the king and Queene the kings brother and Cardinall of Burbon seuerall letters vpoÌ„ the occasions y moued hir to come to the Camp with her son and daughter and ioyne them selues to the generall cause with the Prince of Conde her brother the expedition was by the Lord De la Motte who afore was sente to her by their Maiesties In her Letters to the Kyng shée complayned chiefly of the rage and passion of the enemie stretched already so far that in effect it had confounded the hope of quiet promised in the edict of pacification not only euill obserued but altogither reuersed contrary to the royall promyses of his maiestie to all his poore subiects of the reformed syde the same mouyng by the synister inuentioÌ„s of the Cardinal of Lorain as hauing by general letters to the parlyaments and others writen in particular wherof her self was witnesse in Guyenne brought the effects of the sayd edicts bothe vain and without execution besides whilest he kept matters in suspence he had procured suche horrible
of Pons hauing taken the Castel by composition and sent the Lord and Ladye of the place prisonners to Rochel marched with his Artillerie to ioyne with the Princes campe which the kings brother thought to intercept and for that cause passed Vienne by a Bridge of boates which he caused to be made at Chastellerant drawing directly to Pamprou néere vnto which his vauntgarde gouerned by the Lorde Montpensier came the .xvij. of Nouembre The Princes campe likewise marched to ioyne with the Lord de Boccard arriuing the same day somewhat late at Pamprou néere the Lord de Montpensier the same euening there were offred and receiued certaine shorte skirmishes by reason the night gaue let to their longer fight the army of the Princes camped nere the very houses of Pamprou halfe a league from the lord Mountpensier who caused to kindle great fires as though he would encampe there stealing away albeit about midnight and went to Jazenail to ioyne with the kinges brother that was there with the battell The morrow after being the xviij of the same month the Princes army was ready ringed in battel at the first appearing of the day who hoping to finde eftsones the lord Mountpensier where they left him the day before determined to bidde him battell but séeing he was so gone as neither forme nor figure remained of his being there the Prince spedde him so swiftly in the pursuite that he ariued at Jazenail almost as soone as he there began a warme skirmishe from noone till night the Admirall was not there at the beginning as following the chase of certaine troupes drawing towardes Menigours where he toke about lx chariotes charged with baggage of the kings brothers campe and amongest others the baggage of the duke of Guyse and the Countie Bryssack with the most parte of their siluer vessell all being a pray to the souldioures In the euening the Admirall arriued with the troupes which he led Immediatly after whose comming the skirmishe qualified the Princes army retiring into a wood nere to that place towarde Menigours This was the first proofe and experience of the Dauphynoys which were in the Princes campe who not withstanding did so wel as they deserued and had high commendacion they driue the Catholikes from thrée or foure of their trenches and enforced them to leaue the next towne to their campe albeit they had sundry aduauntages of the Princes footemen aswell by the multitude and numbers of shotte which thundred violently to defeÌ„d their trenches as also that their horsemen were alwayes a redy and singuler succour to their footemeÌ„ which the princes horsemen could not do by reason of hedges and maine ditches besides the naturall and troublesome situation of the place In this skirmish were brought to the earth on both sides about thrée hundreth bodies and almost all footemen the number notwythstanding of the dead being farre greater of the Papists than Protestants whose armie being now in great néede to be refreshed as hauing had neyther rest nor releese for two dayes for horsse nor man caused their footemen to marche the morning after to Menigours to recreate themselues and ioyne with the Lord de Boccard and all the horsemen after they had presented themselues in order of battell at the place where they were the day before retired also thither without any thing doing The Kings brother after thys skirmishe tooke his way to Poytiers and the Princes drewe towardes Mirebeau a Towne in Poictou foure leagues from Poytiers which was rendred wythout resistance to the Princes who with theyr armie soiourned there aboute eyghte dayes The Quéene of Nauarre being now at Rochel wrote to the Quéenes Maiestie of England the reasons of her departure from her owne and soueraign countreis in the first she preferred the cause of Religion so oppressed with the inueterate and barbarous tyrannie of the Cardinall of Loraine assisted by people of his owne humor that shée accompted in shame to bée numbred amongst the faithfull if she did not oppugne that horrible error with all such helpes as God would sturre vp confederating her selfe and sonne with so holy and honorable societies of Princes resolued vnder the fauoure of the great God of Armes to spare neyther bloud lyfe nor goodes to effect so blessed a purpose Her second reason resemblyng also the first was in respect of her Seruice to the king making the ruine of the church the confusion of him and his kingdome with whome because she and hir sonne hadde the nearest affinitie they thoughte it also theyr firste and propre office of duetie to intercept suche as vsurping vppon the naturall goodnesse and enclynation of theyr King woulde make hymselfe the Author of his owne destruction with suborned imposition albeit he is one of the most true princes of the world to be a falser of his promise and that by inuentions of their owne contriuing to infringe the edict of pacification which so long as it was preserued enterteined a ioyfull peace betwene the king and his faithful subiects and now being broken doth conuert the said fidelitie of his people to a lamentable warre and so inforced as there is not any one of them which hath not bene drawne into armes by violence The third cause peculiar to her selfe sonne was in that she sawe the auncient enemies of God her house with a shamelesse and perillous malice bent vtterly to exterminate their race Besides as she behelde on the one side with pitifull eyes the Prince her brother who to escâ—ue the mortal peril pretended against him was constrained afore hée entred into armes with his biggebellied wife and little children to searche places of securitie and that in such desolation as the very remembraunce is able to kindle remorse in any christian harte so on the other side being credibly informed of diuers expeditions and traines to rauish from betwene her handes her dere and onely sonne she could do no lesse thaÌ„ to imparte her selfe and sonne with the said consociacioÌ„ and to share with them in their generall fortunes according to the due office and bonde of blood and yet not to vndertake armes to contende against heauen as the good catholikes do suggest and much lesse to warre vpon the soueraigne maiestie of the king but rather to confront those who with their auncient spite to the generall cause do conioyne that wherof they haue geuen so many particular and publike effectes About the ende of Nouember the Admirall departed from Mirebeau in the night with all the horsemen and shot of the vauntgarde drawing towarde Pontd'Auzance as hauing aduertisemeÌ„t that there wer at that place certain troupes of the soueraigne lieuetenaunts campe And being there he founde in deede the Regiment of footemen of the Counte Brissack whom he charged and put them in part to flight killing two or thre hundred of them he was in minde to charge their horsemen which were also there sauing for the vehement rayne which enforced them to retire to Mirebeau besides he had
with the troupe hée had left afore the Castell with charge not to departe till it were taken M. de Sallâ—â—â—s to whome bothe the place and charge belonged lay very sicke who in respect of his small strength hauing not aboue sixe souldiers and withall douting spedy succours made no great resistance but yelded the Castel by composition to haue only their lyues saued whiche albeit was faithfully promised yet traiterously perfourmed because both her husbande was killed and she led prisoner to Saint Floure charged to be the onely cause of S. Heran's hurt The taking of the towne of Oryllac whereof is spokeÌ„ before amazed greatly them of Auergne wherefore hauing gathered people from many partes determined to besiege it afore they within could haue meane to fortify them selues And for this purpose the Lorde Rochebonne gouernour of Puy and the graunde pryor of Auergne with their regimentes of footmen came to Marzillac in Roargues attending there as it was sayde certaine cannons which shuld be sent from Rhodes to batter Orillac In the meane while also the Lord de Saint Heran with no lesse diligence aduaunsed at S. Folure the other forces and also the Nobilitie of Auergne whom hée summoned spéedely to repayre thether Albeit hearing in the heat of his diligence of the Princes comming to Argentall be let fall his enterpryse The men of Auergne fearing the princes would sease vpon the lowe countrey called la Lymagne ther to winter in respect of the generall fertility of that place drew in troupes of paisants comminalties into the straites of the mouÌ„taines by which they imagined the army shoulde passe and there hewing downe greate numbers of trées bestowed them athwart the highe wayes to trouble the passage of the horssemen The rest of the countrey were bestowed by the Lorde de S. Heran in townes and Castels â–ª to the end they should not be sodenly taken the princes beguyled their opinion as not passing the way but directed their iorny ouer Dordone so into Quercy and beneath Cadenat passed the Riuer of Lot and so from thence arriued at Montaubon in Nouember 1569. The Lorde de Mirabell and Foulques hauing remained about Oryllac since the charge they hadde neare to Rolliat tooke way about this tyme with their troupes to ende their voyage who passing the riuer of Lot beneath Cadenat and after they had trauersed the mountaines of Rouarges and Sauennes arriued withoute let at Priuas and Aulbenas townes in Viuarez holden by those of the religion The siege continued all this whyle afore S. Fean d'Angely where the King the Quéene mother and Cardinal of Lorrain were in persone The morrowe after that the breache of the Fort was assaulted the King procured the protestants to be commoned withall to the ende to render the Towne by composition Wherein they vsed this persuasion the rather to entice them that his Maiestie hadde determined to erect a puissant Armie to make warre in Allemaigne wherein as they might steade that seruice in speciall turne so his Maiestie was carefull not to spill men of such experience value and other wayes if they would not embrace his Maiesties offer and composition he would thunder vppon them all hys forces till he hadde wonne the Towne They aunswered as before that they would not render the Towne till there were a peace assured to the profit quiet of the whole realme where vppon the King required to speake with the Lorde de Personne as well in causes concerning the Towne as to sende him to the Princes in the meane and matter of peace Whereunto the Protestantes condescended and sent oute of the Towne the Lorde de Personne receyuing in hys pleadge and hostage the Lorde de Guyteniers After the King hadde conferred with the Lorde de Personne they grewe to capitulations as followed First that if the Lorde de Pilles were not succoured within ten dayes to render the Towne to the King their lyues and goods saued 2 That for the assurance of this there should bée deliuered in hostage .ij. Knights of the Order and they to bée sent eyther to Rochel or Angoulesme at the Protestantes choice 3 That during this space of the .x. dayes truce shoulde bée betwéene them with charge that neyther they should fortifie in the Towne nor they without vppon their trenches nor yet approche the wals of the Towne 4 Lastely that in the meane whyle the Lorde de Personne should go to the Princes with a Gentleman of his Maiestie to treate of peace According to the whiche the sayde L. de Personne with the Kings Gentleman went to the Princes in the Gentlemans place the L. de Guytiniers was sent oute of the Towne to the Campe. They which the Princes lefte as you haue hearde at Sainctes to defende the Towne maynteyned their charge tyll now And hearing that Sainct Iean d'Angely was in parleye and at point to yéeld fearing withall that it was their lot and turne to bée besieged nexte They forsooke the Towne and retired to the other garrisones whiche were theraboute wherin the King forgatte not to embrace the oportunitie sending foorthwith certayne companies to sease vppon it to the ende that by that meane the waye myght bee cloased from them of the Religion beyng at Angoulesme and Coygnac to goe or come to Rochell Lykewyse they of Rochell should bée harde to sende succoures to them The Lorde of Bricquemau laye all this whyle in the Towne of Bourg-dieu in Berry as hath bin sayde by reason of his sickenesse During whose aboade there his troupes made ordinarie warre vppon the garrison of Chasteau-roux vppon Indre wherein the Lorde of the place reteyned thrée companies of footemen for the Catholykes There were often incursions enterviewes betwéene them the same continuing almoste sixe wéekes in which tyme were killed of the one and other syde almost two hundreth men After the sayde Lorde Bricquemau was restored to health he retired in thys moneth of Nouember with his troupes to Charitié During the siege of S. Fean d'Angely the town of Nimes in Languedoc was taken by the religion the .xv. of this moneth and by this meane There is a mylne in the towne neare to the walles and to make it grynde there comes a spring or fountayne not farre of thorow a sluse or creuish in the wall dressed with grates or barres of yron They of the religion in that countrey practised intelligence wyth the myller by whose ayde they pluckt vp by night the sayd yron grate and so conueyed into the towne by that creuish and channell about a hundreth souldiers who â—id them selues within the myll attending the houre to execute their enterprise in the meane while they sent from Pryuas and Aubenas two hundreth horssemen and euery one a harquebushear behynde him who being in good point afore the gates of the towne at the houre appointed they within the mill issued out and got to the gate which with certaine engines and instrumentes apt to countermyne the locke they set open
hys promise This enterprise hadde bin of long practised and for the executioÌ„ of it the parties to the practise imparted it with the Lorde de Bricquemau de Guercy Liuetenant to the Lorde Admirall ouer hys men of Armes and Gouernour at the present of Charyte for the King vnder the Princes to the Lorde de Borry Baron of Reury des Essartz with others Lords and Captaynes in those quarters Who vnderstanding the enterprise at large with the meanes to execuâ—e it iudged with it as a thing verie conuenient to be pursued This Vrsyn Pallus in the meane while reuealed it to the Lord de la Charstre gonernour of the towne of Bourges and countrey of Berry and also to Capteine Martyn keeper of the greate towre of Burges who aduysed him to enterteine the enterprise and assure to them of Charite day place and meane to effect it who lykewyse applyed him selfe to their instructions In the meane while the sayde Gouernour of Charstres omitting no preparatiue fitte to welcome them deuysed gynnes of fyer and traynes of powder within the ditches of the place asseigned He bestowed also two grates the one at the entry of the little Forte and the other at the dore or false porte by whiche they enter into the greate towre bringyng lastly into the towne diuerse horsemen and footmen Italians for their better suretie and defence The daye and howre speciall for this purpose was asseigned by the sayd Pallus on S. Thomas night the one and twenteth of December at two of the clocke at after midnight whiche they of Charite fayled not to obserue in poynt And bycause they were dispersed in diuerse places the place of generall méeting was at Baugy a Castell taken before by the barron of Reury about six leagues from Bourges There met about a M. or twelue C. harquebusheares on foote of the troupes of the Lorde Borry and Loruaye with thrée cornets of horsemen guided by the Lorde Bricquemau all which in very good poynt obserued both the houre and place asseigned called la Grange Francois halfe a leage from Bourges where lykewyse mette them the sayde Vrsin Pallus assuring them still of the facilytie of the enterprise and that he bring them to the great tower without daunger whereunto to couer all cause of doute hée offered to bée their first leader They of the religion vnder the fayth of his worde made march first and formost with him the Lorde de Lespau accompanied with twelue aswell Captaines as souldiers and entred by a wicket towarde the fort of the false port where they pitched ladders to enter within the false port which was fyue foote aboue ground After him entred the baron Reury with fiue and twenty men and then the Lord de Sarts with fifty souldiers to sustaine the first but as his troupe entred the cordes of the grate were cut when they also within applyed their seuerall engynes to vse and put fyre to the traines and at the instant the artillery bestowed in flanks thundred vppon them that were to enter as also Captaine Martyn with his number of armed men charged such as were vnhappely entred who seing them selues and enterpryse betrayed deuised and labored for their safety aswell as they could some lept from the wall downe some gat out of the grate the same being somewhat hyer because Buysiere stewarde to the late Lord d'Autricour was inclosed vnder it being notwithstanding taken froÌ„ thence by his company who not able otherwyse to effect their enterpryse were constrayned to retyre They killed of theÌ„ of the Religion twelue or fourtene aswel captaines as souldiers and almost as many kept prisoners within the towne besydes such as were hurt the Lord de Lespau the baron of Reurye de Lessarts des Milles with certain other were taken within the grosse towre After this they of Bourges fearing y courses y they of the religion made euen to their gates aduertised the king of their necessity who succored them spedely with sixe cornets of horsmen which had bene before at the siege of S. Iean d'Angely they arryued at Bourges vppon the ende of December The Princes being come to Montauban as is sayd executed the cause of their comming adioyning to their army the forces of the two Vicounts and Montgomerye In this time the king sent back to Poyctyers the Duke d'Aumall with three cannons and one culuerine guyded by the Lord de Gouas and his regiment of footemen And so bestowing his campin garrisons to wynter lycensing afore the ItaliaÌ„s to go home his Maiestie came to the Towne of Angiers wherein hath bin since as is sayd certain conference for peace ⸫ The prince of Conde disarmeth him selfe The third cyuill warre Garisons put in the towns surrendred Those of the religion shut out of towns Meanes to disarme theÌ„ of the religion Letters of the king coÌ„trary to the Edicte of peace Counsell of the duke of Alba. Amanzay Hercules houshold seruant to the prince Request to offer an oth to the King. Generall musters The Prince and the Admiral watched Noyers Tanley Countie Rochefoucaut Rochell â—ssemblie â—f the Caâ—â—olikes â—ssemblie â—â— the â—rince Tallard taken 〈…〉 uke of 〈…〉 njou bro 〈…〉 er to the 〈…〉 ing Duke de Roauuoâ—â— prisoner The Lord d'Acier â—he Lord â—e Mouâ—ans â—euies of â—en in LaÌ„â—uedoc â—euiâ—e of â—e â—d'A 〈…〉 r in his Corner Kyngs edict Another edict of the King. Marz taken and the towre Sainct Christophle Number of of the L. Daeiers armie Angoulesme besieged Angoulesme taken The Quene of Nauarre his sonne Regiment of â—aâ—â—â—yn Letters of the Q of Nauarre The Princes Camp. Baudine hurt Ouerthrew of the L. of Mouuans P. Gourde Pons besieged The castle of Pons taken 〈…〉 ebeau 〈…〉 endred The castell of Mirebeau taken The meeting of the two armies Abbay S. florent taken The Abbay recouered A sale of the principall goods of the Churche The Queene of Nauarre returnes to Rochel The othe of the Prince of Nauarre l'Endureau reuoltes Brissac slaine Conte Pompadon slain The Lorde Boccard dead Charyte besieged and taken The Duke de deux Poâ—s dead Description of the dukes camp Description of the princes army Succours from the Pope The Quene mother encourageth the souldiours The Lord Strossi taken Strosies men slaine The death of the Lord â—f Moruil The siege of Nyort The Lord pluucau succours it 〈…〉 aâ—â—le 〈…〉 ig The Protestants requ to the king for peace whome troubles â—t to be â—uted Office of true subiects Luzig rendred Lords and Captaynes â—ithin Poyâ—yers Poict besieged Battery against Poye Battery against Poye Three assaultes gyueÌ„ to the subburbes of Roâ—l Assault of Italians The Lord de Mouy hurt S. Iean de Angeli besieged Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman dwelling in Knight Ryder streat at the signe of the Mâ—rmayde For Lucas Harrison and George Byshop
suche armes and weapons as they then had also such as neyther had nor neuer proued the vse of any were enforced to bye and delyuer them to the officers otherwyse they shold not haue ben receiued the same being an expresse manifest way to disarme them being once naked the easier to run vpon and deuoure them as it was truly supposed themselues in this mean while their faction bare weapons and raysed greater garde than in the tyme of warre This syngular licence or libertie to beare armes amongst themselues without that the Protestantes durste eyther wear any or argue with them did so whet theyr sharpe and eyger dispositions that they attempted vppon the naked Protestantes many actual and violent wrongs the same thundering indifferently as wel vpon the troupes retyred within the townes as suche as were denyed to enter whose state was so muche the more miserable as eyther they wandred in present perill or were incerteyne of any assured place or safe staye of aboade The matter thus diuoluing from euyll to worsse the enimies of the religion séeing themselues come almost to the last and extreme limit and end of their entent began to raise and doo many disorders altogyther contrary to the Edict of peace yea and albeit the king did expresly auouche his vnfained wil and pleasure to the execution of the sayd Edict simply and purely without any modification or restraynte yet his maiestie afterward gaue out a contrary declaration enclosed in certeyn letters sent to the lords of Montare and Sainct Heram to whom he signified y it was neuer his meaning that the Edict shold take place or tolerate prechings in the countreys of Auuergne and Bourhonois nor in any lands belonging to the Quéene his mother the lords of Aniou and Allenâ—on his brothers the L. Cardinal of Bourbon and Duke of Montpensier the same impugning manyfestly the sayde Edict which did only reserue and exempt the Prouostie and Vicontie of Parys There rested nowe no more to the enimies of the Religion but procéede to the execution of their enterprise in deuouring the coÌ„trary part albeit folowing the counsel of the duke of Alba sent to the King to sease first on the chiefe and principall professers of the Religion to the ende to subdue with more ease the meaner sort vsing this phrase that the head of one Salmon was of greater value than fiue hundreth Creuises they resolued to entrap in euery Prouince the hyghest proppes and pillers of the sayd Religion executing their fyrst effect on the Lorde de Cipieres sonne to the Counte of Tande in Prouence who returning from Piedmount where he had visited with reuerence the Duke of Sauoy and lodging in Ferieux a towne in Prouence was there murdred with .xxx. geÌ„tlemen of his traine The Lord d' Amanzey lieutenant to the lord d'Andelot of his coÌ„panyes of â—â—eÌ„ at arms standing at the gate of his house with one of his litle childreÌ„ in his hande was also murdred many other murders and bloudy slaughters were horribly thundred vpon the syde of the religion during this time as the bouchery done at Blandy vpon Hercules houshold seruant to the prince of Conde and the Lorde de Rapyn who being dispatched into Langue dock for the seruice and vnder safe conduct of the king by the court of of parlyament of â—houlousâ— was sent headlesse out of this world the murders also doone at Roan Amyens â—ssoudun Bourges w infinite other places wherin diuers sorts numbers of the sayde religion haue bin vnnaturally cut in pieces and yet neither iustice done nor remedie applyed how soeuer they haue bin solicited by vehement sute In this meane whyle in the moneth of July the gouerners of the prouinces wer earnest suters to the Nobilitie professours of the religion to offer an othe of fidelitie according to a forme sent by them which they sayde his maiestie had already receyued whereof the sayde states of Nobilitie and specially they of Dauphyne excused theÌ„ selues bicause sayd they if wee only shold doo it and not they of the Romishe opinion they might charge vs secretly with the crime of Infidelitie as hauyng assisted the parte of the Prince of Conde and that for that cause suche othe should be required of them and not of others the contrary wherof was fully verified by the Edict of peace the king declaring that whatsoeuer was don in the sayd warre by the prince was done for his seruice By this mean cause they excused to tender any such othe offering notwithstaÌ„ding to doo it if they of the Romish side wold toyne with them so to be suters to his maiestie that it might bée so Now notwithstaÌ„ding the edict in place to enterteine obserue the purpose meaning of it the gouerners of the prouinces sent coÌ„mandement to all that were castle kepers within their charge to suruey make nuÌ„bers of all such of the Romish religioÌ„ only as were apt able to beare armes wherin they were redily obeyed with this further expresse charge that suche as had no armoure should forthwith prouide them remayning all in a perfect readinesse vppon their first sommons or warning In the next August after this view grew generall musters withoute enhabling or allowing any of the reformed Religion which made theÌ„ suspect the sequele with feare that all was raised for their ruyne and to restore and incense an other Ciuill warre séeing withal that they were handled worse and worse as charged with such intollerable exactions that in common likelihode and truthe suche time of peace was more perillous heauy hurtfull to them than the furie of an open warre whose violence they myght by meanes eyther auoyde or qualefie The Prince him selfe being thus disarmed was not without his high perill for that neyther hée nor the Lord Admiral could haue suche suretie in any of their owne houses as eyther their doings or lyues were without daunger so that being watched and warded in about their Castels and capitall places were dryuen to go from house to house with their wyues and children in their armes and finally the sayd Prince was constrayned to retire to Noyers in Burgongne and the Lorde Admirall to Tanley a house of the Lorde d'Andelot his brother There were sent also sundrie espialles to measure and iudge the heighte of the walles of Noyers â–ª and conspire meanes to take the Prince wherin least they should fayle in the effect of their enterprise there marched thither also diuers troupes of meÌ„ of warre The same albeit not so couertlie done but came to the knowledge of the Prince who after he had giuen the King knowledge of it departed from Noyers the .xxiij. daye of Auguste with the Princesse his wyfe great with childe the yong Princes his children the Lord Admirall Madame d'Andelot with their seuerall traines taking their waye into Angoulmois towardes the house of the Lorde De la Rochefoucaut And albeit all
and infinite murders and abused so long the milde pacience of the protestantes as thinking vppon no bridle to gouerne his furie he woulde not stick to lay haÌ„ds of the princes of the blood whereof she commended a present and lamentable experience in his conspiracie agaynst the Prince her brother whom his crueltie hath enforced to séeke succours amongst his parentes and allies so that for her part she and her son resembling the Prince so neere and dearely in proximitie of bloud coulde do no lesse than offer him that which the direct law of frendship and coÌ„sanguinitie did demaund and therefore as shee didde assuredly stay and repose hir selfe vpon the goodnesse natural affectioÌ„ of his maiestie enclined rather to norish preserue than teare rent them vp by the rootes so she besought him with al humilitie to tolerate in the best part their depar ture from their houses of entent to serue God the kyng their adherents in bloud and to impugne to the vttermost of theyr lyues and power the violente malice of such as publikely haue entred into conspiracie agaynst them and lastely to beléeue that for these thrée causes onely they had put their weapons betwéene their hands least they shoulde bée vtterly extermined from the view and face of the earth according to their sinister resolutioÌ„s like as also y sayd Cardinall deuysed to rauysh her son from betwéen her armes peruerting the power authoritie of his maiestie into vnnatural violeÌ„ce as though the simple commandement of his maiestie could not sufficiently gouerne her her son his maiesties most humble obedient seruants so finally if his maiestie wold waigh in indiffereÌ„t balance y faith of them and infidelitie of the sayd Cardinal measuring y one other by a direct straight lyne his maiestie shold fynde more truthe in their effects than in the wordes of the other In her letters to the Quéene she stoode vppon thrée poyntes that moued her to leaue her houses and offer her lyfe goodes and all her possible meanes to aduaunce the cause of Religion The fyrst was in respecte of the seruice of GOD seeing the Cardinall and his confederates studied to roote vp from the earth suche as made profession of the true Religion secondly to doo seruice to the souerayntie of the King and with mayne lyfe and goodes to helpe that the Edicte of pacification may be obserued and that Fraunce the mother couÌ„trey and nursse of so many sorts of people become not barreyn and so suffer her children to die Thirdly that bloud and coÌ„sanguinitie did call her to offer succoure and ayde to her brother harryed and pursued ageynst the Kyngs will by the malice of suche as possesse aboute his person such place as no waye is due to them neyther can shée better paynte out the Cardinall than by hys owne colours that is to say as well by a number of tragicall and lameÌ„table murders whose complaint doo sorowfully sounde in euery religious eare as also to see so many desolate soules hoping by the edict of pacification to enioy a plausible quiet and rest in their houses miserably dispersed to their aduenture and cruelly excluded from their soyle of naturall and auncient aboade The same Cardinall also and his wicked adherentes puffed vp with a generall pacience that euery one hath vsed to their barbarous tirannie attempted ageinst the Princes of the bloude with intent in common likelihod to roote vp the mayne grafte stock after they had wickedly defaced and spoyled y tender braunches And bycause the zeale of their Religion did in no sorte induce them as they haue affirmed she solicited the Queene to a remeÌ„braunce of the conspiracie done the laste tyme shee was sicke from the whiche the Cardinall of Bourbon her brother was not exempted albeit he was a Catholike So that it is only the bloude of Fraunce whiche gripes them so at hart wherof what better experience and example can be aduouched thaÌ„ their vngodly pursuite against the Prince of Conde and his little children to whose succours according to the dutifull office of bloude and kynred she would neuer fayle desiring notwithstanding aboue all things a good peace and so well assured as the Cardinall of Lorayne nor his adherents could eyther dissolue or corrupte it She declared in her letters to the kings brother how iustly she was enticed to her iourney to Bergerac with hope to pursue the ful voyage for the seruice of their Maiesties with requeste that it would please him in good earnest to put his hand to the worke and helpe to defend the poore countrey of FrauÌ„ce against the pollicies of such as séeke to aspire to confounde it with a thirste and desire as it semes to buylde their greatnesse and authoritie vppon the decayed and ruinouse stones of such as like firme pillers do and haue susteyned it By her letters to y Cardinal of Bourbon her brother that it was nowe more than tyme if there were any at all to gather stomacke to hym and laye afore their Maiesties the lamentable state and desolation of Fraunce whereunto he was bound aboue the reste in respect of the honour he bare to bee a Prince of the bloud Shée sommoned him also to remember the shame and outrage thundred vppon the persone of his proper Brother Systers and Nephews and all by a Cardinall of Lorraine who also abused him as one of his suffragans If all these could not moue him topitifull consideration of their case at least let him remember Vespra Siciliana pretended by hys coadherentes the laste tyme the Queene was sicke And lastly notwithstanding the separation of Religion shee coniured him by the proper office of friendship and dutie of nature and bloud concurring togyther to consider their present pursute against the Prince his brother All these letters were written and dated at Bergerac the xvâ— of September 1568. After the siege of Angoulesme the sayd Quéene with the yong Ladye her daughter retired to Rochel leauing the Prince her sonne in the Campe whiche afterwardes was called The Campe of the Princes bycause the sayd Princes of Nauarre and Conde commaunded togither in the Armie Whyles these things were thus ordered the Duke of Aniou brother to the King and Chief ouer the Catholykes forbare neyther diligence nor meanes to aduaunce his force and erect his Camp at O 〈…〉 and other places there about wherewith he diffended towardes Poytiâ—â— where vnderstanding of the comming of the Lord 〈…〉 er â—aâ—ching with the succoures he brought determined to fight with â—â—â— and â—o â—â—â—der him to ioyne with the Prince of Conde and for that purpose departed from Poytiers with .iiij. thousand horsemen .iiij. enseignes of footmen and entred with great iourneys the towne of Perigueux in like sort the Lord d'Acier marched euery day passing the ryuers of Leyllâ— and Vâ—serâ— in the sayd countrey and so the xxv of October being neer the town of Perigueux and lodged in a village called S. Chastie
sortes of diseases in diuerse souldiours on both sydes and after dyed in lamentable numbers towardes the euening the Kings Lieuetenaunt retired to Chynon albeit certeyne Captaynes of the Princes armie charging vpon their tayle discomfited aboute vij or .viij. score Suyzers and thrée enseignes of footemen sodeynly set vpon as they were refreshing them selues in the village The Princes returned to Touars and the Admirall to Monstrueit-beley to winter there leauyng the Lorde d'Yuoy brother to the Lorde de Ianlis as gouerner within the towne of Loudun and for the garde of the same the regimens of the L. of Mont-brun Mirabel with .ij. cornets of horsemen the Lorde Ianlis not long after dyed of a disease in Almayne The Lord de la Coche who as is sayd was led prisoner to Metz was this .v. of January 1569. murdered by certein garrison soldiours of the towne who taking him out of prison and bynding him with Mychallon his ensigne bearer tolde him they were commaunded from the King to leade them to the Court and so exchange them for other prisoners within the princes Campe albeit they wer no sooner cut of the town than they were stabbed with daggers and so murdered Néere vnto Saulmur is an abbey called Sainct Florent wherin were two hundred footemen as a garrison to the Catholikes who with their abbay were besieged in this moneth of January by the vauntgarde of the Princes and they after they had beateÌ„ a breach entred by force-putting al that were beseeged to the mercy of the sworde immediatly after the garrison of Saulmur recouering the sayde Abbay vsed the like execution of all that they found Whiles the princes soiorned at Towars they dispatched into Gascoyne the Lorde de Pilles aswell to leuie newe force as other matters of speciall charge At his first arriuall he toke Bergerac and Saintfoy and hauing spéedily erected certaine forces of horsmen and footmen he bestowed his footmen and drew towards Perigueux with his horsemen and passing along the place where the Lords of Mouuans and Pierregourde were discomfited hée fyred many villages and killed as many peisauntes as hée mette as a reuenge of the bloud of so manye Souldioures whiche they hadde ouercome and slayne in the same ouerthrow The Kinges armye wintred at Chynon Saulmur Poyctiers and other places thereabout the princes armie in the beginning of February departed from Towars and Monstrueu-beley discending lower intoo the countrey to fynde vittells the vauntgarde drew to Partenay and the battell to Niort harbouring in the places thereabout The thirde day of this moneth the Lord de Boursaut captayne of a hundred lyghts horsmen and his company were sodeinly set vpon within a village néere to Towars by the Counte Brissac accompanyed with vij or .viij. hundred horsmen presently issued out of Saulmur There were many of them taken and many killed and the rest as the Lord de Boursaut and others saued themselues by help of the dark night In the beginning of February y quene of Nauarre came to â—â—orâ— where shee founde the Princes wyth dyuerse other greate Lordes with whome shee entred into Counsell for the affaires and disposition of the warre There was agreed a sale of temporal goods of the Churchmen toward the mayntenaunce of the generall cause for y purpose wer drspatched preseÌ„t letters vnder the names and authoritie of the sayd Quéene Princes of Nauarre and Gonde the Lorde Admirall Dandelot Rochefoucaut with wordes of ample power giuen to their procurors and commissaries to promise and binde them for warrant requisite in suche case These comissions were published in towns holden vnder their obedience with present sale and alyenation made accordingly the same raysing great summes of money Whilest the said Quéene Princes and other stats remained in consultation with in Nyort certeine horsmen of the Lord of Verac captaine of a hundreth light horsemen making often incursion vppon the next enimies toke the Lord of Cassac lieutenant of the men at armes to the Duke of Guyse as he was bayting in an Inne whome they ledde to Niort and so to Rochell The Counte Mountgomerey lodgyng in a village called la Motte was charged vpon the sodeyn by the Counte Brissac and enforced to retyre within the Castel of the same place seruyng somewhat to hys defence so that he receyued no other losse than his yonger brother whiche was led to the Castell of Luzignan this was the xij of February The Princes now determyned to perfourme their enterprise vppon the castell of Luzignan and to take it the same mouyng as it séemed eyther by a practyse of Montgomories brother or else by some secrete intelligence they hadde with the Gouernours Lieutenaunte of the same place where they were in good order and vppon the sodayne the .xx. of February very early in the mornyng dyuers of their Captaynes and souldiours entring within albeit being discouered their further attempt was intercepted and they returned without any thing doing The Counte of Tande gouernour for the King in Prouence in the begynning of Nouember the yeare before put himselfe vppon his waye with thrée thousand footemen and certeine horsemen of that country marching intoo Fraunce as hée was coÌ„maunded and passing by Dauphiné the baron of Adretz who also had leuyed a Regyment of footemen conteyning .xvij. enseignes ioyned with him too passe also in company into Fraunce In theyr waye they came by the siege of Sanserre whiche the Counte Mertiuengo an Italyan and gouernoure of Gyran had long continued where as they spente long tyme wythout aduauncyng the ende and purpose of the siege so procuryng the siege to bée raysed the Counte â—ande drew to Poyctou to the Kyngs Campe where hée arriued aboute the ende of Februarye and the baron of Adretz marched into â—orayn to the Duke d'Aumale sent thither as you haue heard to withstande the entrie of straungers into Fraunce The Kynges brother hauing receyued these newe succours and made shewe to his men of armes of two hundred thousande frankes which the house of Parys had lent the Kyng vpon the temporal goodes of the Church men he gathered ageyn hys Campe and drewe towardes Angoulmoys Immediatly after in the same moneth arryued two thousande and fyue hundred Reistres vnder the conduct of the Counties Reyngraffe and Bassompier who béeing much harried in theyr long and paynful iorney to come into France refreshed themselues certayne tyme aboute Poyctiers afore they ioyned wyth the Kyngs Campe whoe approched still to Angoulesme and taryed them And bycause hée woulde haue the libertie of the Ryuer of Charente to passe and repasse at his pleasure he dispatched the Lorde de la Riuiere a Gentleman of Poyctou for to sease vppon the Towne and also the Castell of larnacke The Princes nowe béeing truely enfourmed what waye the Kynges Campe tooke departed from Nyort and vppon the begynning of March aryued at Sainct lean d'Angely marchyng from thence with theyr battayle to Sainctes The Admirall with the vauntegarde lodged at Coygnac and
accompanied without displaying any banner Against his returne the Lord de Gordes gouernor ther had put in readinesse two Ensignes of footemen to send into Languedock whereof he presented the conduction to the sayd Baron of Adretz who refusing such charge the expedition was vsed by Captaine Mestral who led them thither vppon the beginning of July About this time the Queene of Nauar the Prince hir sonne the Prince of Conde the Lords Knights Gentlemen with others that accompanyed them presented a request to the King entreating an assured peace of the present troubles which for the importance of the matter is héer contained in euery singuler woord and poynt as foloweth ¶ Sir it is a thing no lesse strange than almost incredible that amongst so many people put vnder your obedience by the resolute wil and prouision of God as a blissed pawne and witnesse of his bountifull regard to wards you and the same conteÌ„ding in ordinary vauÌ„t to be so dearly enclined to the â–ª vpright proceeding of your affaires and preseruation of your crown ther is not one no not one amoÌ„gst so many nuÌ„bers that once offreth to put himself in indeuor to quenche or qualifie this vnnatural fire so burning daily with in your reaime as there lackes little of the vtter confusion of the same It is also no lesie true than the other maruelous y of the contrary infinite numbres do trauel infinitely not only to kindle y which is already burst into flame but also by sondry sortes of artificiall sleightes doe studye to entertaine aggrauate and encrease it â— And albeit it ought first rather to moue from suche who of a galantnesse of stomacke and to satisfie some particular respect in them selues haue inceÌ„sed these troubles against the will of your maiestie making bothe peace and warre at their pleasure then from those who besides they are iniustly assailed and pursued in their consciences honors lyues and liuelyhoods haue no other purpose meaning than to defend their liues agaynst such heauy and violent tyraÌ„nies lothing alwayes troubles and emotions louing with a singular zeale bothe peace it self and suche as laboure to entertaine it yet the Quéene of Nauarre the Prynce her sonne the Prince of Conde with the Lordes Knightes and Gentlemen that accompany them moued afore the rest with a naturall bonde and affection to your Maiestie and preseruation of your Crowne and Realme neyther can nor will suspend or deferre any longer to searche and apply for their partes as alwayes they haue done such most propre and conuenient remedies as they thought most apt to warrant and defend this your realme from a lamentable subuersion wherewith it both hath bene and is presently threatned And as in respect to establishe a peace and publike tranquillitie they haue hetherto more forwardly enclined than the rest happening by that meanes into such strange perils and adueÌ„tures as if God had not kept an eye vpon them there had now remayned but a lamentable remembrance of their general confusion so these things well considered with their seueral circumstances they haue small reason of hope and lesse cause of expectation to effect that which so earnestly they desire if God the incliner of al harts change not the mindes of their enimies that gouerne you and giue them a disposition to desire and embrace peace The said Princes Lords Knights with others parties to this humble request persuading rather that in place to allow this their franke and liberall will with their duetiful indeuor to aduaunce a perfect vnitie and peace amongst your subiects they shal be charged with slaunders and sinister interpretation of their godly purpose as héere to fore they haue bene vsed by those who neither hate nor feare any thing more than to sée this reconcilement And as the sayd Princes with the other parties to this motion haue neither had nor holdeÌ„ any thing in more dear regard than the publication to your maiestie froÌ„ time to time of their actioÌ„s procedings the same as impressions and witnesses of their singular desire to liue and die in the naturall obedience and awe of your maiestie and withall to make known afore the whole face of the world both how far their hartes and wils be from the slaundrous impositions of the Cardinal of Loraine and his adherentes pensionarie ministers and naturall enemies to your crown also that by their forces wherunto they haue bene drawne with their great euill will and griefe they intende no other than to maintain their religion liues honours and such portions of goods as God hath appointed to their shares in this world Euen so they persuade that such consideracioÌ„s neither can nor ought to hinder their vttermost endeuor to pursue and purchase the effect of so blessed and necessary a peace to this realme and yelding withall vnfained testimonie of the humble and reuerâ—t respect they owe to your maiestie which they had long ere this put in practise and proofe were not that their enemies would thinke persuade others to beleue that the onely necessitie of their case haue induced them to it séeing first their vntrue persuasion to your maiestie that there were no leuies of men of warre in Almaigne for the succours of the Princes Secondly that if any such were yet the Realme was of sufficient meane and force to withstande their entrie Thirdly if they did enter it was impossible to ioyne with the princes in respect of so many déepe riuers and passages of daunger betwene the one and other campe Fourthly albeit their armies did knitte and ioyne yet the princes pouertie coÌ„sidered the charges could not be long defrayed nor the plentifully long contented seming by these reasons to attend temporise till they had both ioyned payed their sayd forces assembled others which were dispersed and as the world knoweth of such numbers and facultie as besides their habilitie to resist easily their enemies they wanted neither way nor meane to execute any wicked attempte if they had had any will as is suggested and imposed vpoÌ„ them If then in the former troubles the late prince of Conde with the Lordes knightes and gentlemen of his part receiued the condicions of peace concernyng onely the matter of religion and libertie of their consciences and that immediatly after the death of the Duke of Guyse and Marshall Sainct Andre and the late Constable of Fraunce taken prisoner beyng thrée principall leaders of the army if also in the last rising as soone as was offered to the sayd prince and other lordes and gentlemen of his company the restablishmeÌ„t of the exercise of religion notwithstanding their great troupes and strength of straungers ioyned with them and vpon the very point to assaulte the towne of Chartres in the view and face of the enemies campe which was for the most disordred if at the only sound pronouÌ„cing of peace made by a trumpet seÌ„t vnder the name of your maiesty the sayd prince did not only
forbeare the assalt but also raised forth with his siege retired his army reping notwithstaÌ„ding of so redy obedieÌ„ce but a bloudy peace promise full of infidelitie if also during the same sturre the morrow after the battel at Sainct Denys where both the Prince had the better the Constable principall leader of the army was slaine The said Prince dispatched to your maiestie the Lord de Theliguy aswel â—o warne you of the ruine and desolacion threatning from the instaunt your realme if the straungers were suffred to enter houering there vpoÌ„ the froÌ„tiers as also to mediate and sollicite in means and remedies to knit an absolute peace onely in the cause of religion if in short your edictes haue bene alwais published the peace accorded at such times as they of the religioÌ„ if they would haue abused the opinion of your purpose might in respect of their forces persuade and beleue that aswell in all your parleyes and treaties of peace there was no other mencion than of the matter of religion as also that their enemies haue not bene brought to it but by necessitie being vnable by open force to maintain any longer against them in what conscience or with what face or countenance may it be sayd that these troubles moue and continue for the matter and cause of religion And yet neuerthelesse the more to choke and conuince the Cardinall of Loraine and other his adherentes of their lies slaunderous impositions which they publishe daily the said Princes Lords knightes gentlemen and others of their companies forgetting the infidelitie and all disloyall attemptes heretofore conspired against them declare and protest this day both before God your maiestie y what so euer hath bene done or offred to theÌ„ in euill from the beginning to this houre they neither haue nor will once impute it to your maiestie as knowing your nature to be nothing touched with such iniust seuerities wherof you haue giuen so many publike experiences that there is now no cause of doubt neither haue or do they thinke to chaunge or diminishe in any respect their duetie and naturall regarde which they haue alwayes bente to the true aduancement of your greatnesse royall estate wherin also in so many effectes aforesaid if it be both knowne and seene that they enterteine no other purpose nor meaning than vnder the obedience and authoritie of your Edictes to serue God according to his will and as they are instructed by his holy word with desire to be maintained with equall care as your other subiectes in their honours liues and goodes they are now ready to geue such further manifest proofe witnesse as their most enemies shall haue lest cause henceforth to doubt theÌ„ And y neither to enter into any iustification of their actions passed as their innocencie iustice of their cause being sufficiently known to your maiesty al other kings princes poteÌ„tates what strangers so euer they be if they be not of the faction partie of Spain and much lesse to seke to capitulate with your maiestie knowing god be praised what is the duety of good and faithful subiectes to their souâ— raigne prince natural lord But sir in respect of the large peny worthes and common marchandize which heretofore hath ben made of the faith and worde of your maiestie which aboue all ought to be holy sacred and inuiolable and withall with what vnseming boldnes your authoritie name hath ben abused to the extreme peril of all your people of the reformed professioÌ„ it nede not seme strange if the sayd Princes with their coÌ„sociates do humbly besech you to declare by an edict solemn per petual irreuocable your resolute wil in a libertie exercise of their religioÌ„ to the ende y by the same such as heretofore at â— seueral times both rashly with al impunitie haue infringed and violated your former constitutioÌ„ in the cause may by this third be more brideled restrained wher in because such as wer not able to endure the vnitie vniversal rest maintained amoÌ„gst your people by the good obseruacioÌ„ of your edicts haue takeÌ„ occasion to alter corrupt theÌ„ by new constructioÌ„s modificacioÌ„s contrary to the true substace of the same sincere meaning of your maiestie And y also the sayd Princes with the rest of their factioÌ„ confesse to haue borne a most iust iudgemeÌ„t of god in more sorts of afflictioÌ„s in time of peace than when it was opeÌ„ war as in coÌ„senting to easily to y treaties of peace which haue ben made the same prouiding a general contentmeÌ„t on all sides y good should be serued only in certein places of the realme by certain persons as though in a souÌ„d conscience there belonged no other thing to the seruice of God. They most humbly besech your maiestie to accord and graunt generally to all your subiectes of what qualitie and condicion so euer frée vse of the said religion in all cities villages and boroughes and all other places corners of your realm and countreys within your obedieÌ„ce and protection without any exception reseruacion modificacion or restraint of persons times or places and that with suerties necessary in so high a cause and besides to ordeine and enioyne to make manifest profession of the one or other religion to the ende to cut of hereafter all meanes and occasions to many who abusing such benefite and grace are slipt into Atheisme and carnall libertie and who standing vpon no exercise and profession of religion desire nothing more than to sée an vniuersall confusion in this realm and all order pollicie and Ecclesiasticall discipline reuersed and abolished a thing so daungerous as not to be tollerated in any christian state And because sir we doubt not at all that those who hetherunto haue pitched the foundacion of their deuises vpon slaundrous reproches impudently published to make vs hatefull euen to such as God be praysed bée free from the seruitude and tyrannie of Antichrist will not sticke to impose vppon vs an inctuile obstinacie rather to defende without reason that we haue once resolued to beléeue touching the Articles of Christian Religion than to correct or retract our erroures Wée declare and proteste as hereunto we haue done that if in any point of the coÌ„fession of faith heretofore presented to youre maiestie by the reformed Churches of your realm it may bée found by the word of God comprehended in the Canonicall bookes of the holy Scripture that wée swarue from the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles we will foorthwith lend our handes and giue place to such as will instructe vs better in the word of GOD if we erre in any Article than we haue bin from the beginning For which cause and the better to effecte so happie a purpose wée desire nothing more than a conuocation of a councell frée and generall and lawfully called wherein as euery one may haue heaâ—â—ng scope to deduce his reasoÌ„s at
horse which the Lord de Mouy had geuen hym who notwithstandyng hys hurte determined not to depart the towne albeit beyng specially aduised by his frendes to be caried where hys hurte may bée cured hée left Nyort the seuenth day of October and came to Sainctes and from thence he was caried to Rochell where within fewe dayes after he died to the griefe of the armye for he was of stayed counsel in any cause of estate of great spéede and iustice in execution and of long experieÌ„ce in matters of warre as witnesse his actes as well in the battaile of Dreux as other places of worthy memorie the rest appointed vnder him within Niort left also the town together with the Lorde de la Brosse gouerner there retiring with .iij. hundred shot to Rochell This was the same Lord de la Brosse who with the ayde of the lord de Pluueau made headageynst the Conte du Lude at the siege aforsayd The kings brother finding the towne forsaken entred withoute let whether also came very shortly after the king the Quéene mother and Cardinall of Lorain being then néer Chynon they began ther to deuise and deliberate vpon their present businesse accompting it of speciall purpose to recouer the Castell of Lusignan wherin was gouernor the L. de Mirambeau and that afore the Protestants had eyther renued their strength or wel assured their present companies In this mynd they dispatched forthwith certein to summon the Castell who so preuayled with perswasions to the gouernour that easily inough he gaue vp the Castle only with liues and goodes saued certen days afore the battel there were bestowed in this hold fiue Cannons which discended to the catholikes by couenaunt this was .iiij. or .v. dayes after the battell of Mont-gontour Nyort being thus abandoned the Princes went to S. Jean d'Angely the â–ª ix of this month and so to Sainctes and bicause they gathered that the catholikes wold besiege it they determined to maÌ„ it with great numbres of men of warre causyng to enter forthewith the horsemen of the L. de la Motte wyth certein footmen like wise captein la Mures company beyng of the regimen of the L. de Virieu At that time was gouernor the L. d'Oryoll a gentleman of Sainctonge who after was content to giue order to the policie and state of the towne leauyng the consideration of matters of war to the L. de Pilles whom the prince established there for that purpose and who as yet was not fully cured of the hurte in his thigh receiued at the siege of Poyctiers Hee with the Souldiers and the reste of the inhabitauntes resolued to defende the Towne and endure the siege The morow after the princes came to Sainctes and there made their armie passe ouer Charante The tent he of this sayd moneth the Lord of Montbrun and Myrabell departed from the Campe to go into Languedocke a iourney pretended by them long tyme before so that they might lead thither their Regiments and for this cause at the siege of Poicâ—iers as is aforesayde the Lord de Pontais Marshall of the Princes Campe aswell in theyr owne name as for other Colonelles Captains and Gentlemen of Dauphyne were sutors for leaue to goe for a certaine tyme into Dauphyne and the more to enforce theyr motion they shewed howe long they had followed the Campe and that their Souldioures wearyed with so continuall warre stoode in néede to be releeued with the freshe aire and fellowshippe of their Countrey and lastly as their generall feare to bée so euill wintered as the yeare before dryue diuers numbres to retire without order to the Townes holden by the Religion in Viuares where they had sure aboade so if they bée not somewhat reléeued of theyr long and lothsome trauell alwayes in a campe it is also to be feared that by little and little they doe not abandon their Ensignes and leaue their Colonelles in the fields without Souldiors The same being already reuealed vnto them by certaine numbers of their Soldioures they could do no lesse than coÌ„mend their sute with humble request in themselues for leaue and libertie to depart nowe that the siege of Poictiers is raysed The Princes answered that they coulde not order their request and satisfie the tyme together bicause they were as yet incertaine what would bée the ende and issue of the siege and therefore they thought it conuenyent that they taryed till the ende of the Monthe of September hoping after they had seene the resolute proceedings of the Catholyques to bestowe their armie in garrisons to rest all wynter This answer qualified their requests with expectation of y end of Septembre When the armie being returned from the countrey of Touraiue and soiourning néere to Fay la Vineuse their sute was eftsoones put vpon new tearms for which cause the gentlemen capteins and colonels of those countrey men assembled to deliberate vppon the motion some were of opinion to pursue in generall a leaue and libertie of the Princes seeing their tyme of September is expired But others iudged the present season most inconuenient to entreate for leaue considering the state disposition of the warre euery day enclinyng to battayle where they were bounde in dutie to bée onlesse they wold deface the honor of their actions passed Which laste opinion so settled into the most of them that they resolued vniuersally bothe to mortifie their desire to go home and also to giue ouer to attempte further leaue attendyng eyther by battayle or by some happie peace to make them selues frée of the warre and so returne and remayne quietly in theyr houses And thus the Lord de Montbrun and Myrabell remayned in the Campe vntyl the tyme wherein they thoughte to execute theyr enterprise wherein after they had communicated with the Lorde de Verbelet brother to the bishop of Puy in Auuergne and many other as wel of Dauphyne as the countreys thereabout as of purpose to haue their company in the voyage they went to Angoulesme to the end to tary there for their furniture and strength This béeing knowne in the Campe many came to Angoulesme to assist the voyage so that they were in all about foure hundred horsemen in very good poynte to fyght with certeyn numbreof shotte on horsebacke with the whyche the sayde Lorde de Mountbrun Mirabell and Verbelet departed the fouretéenth day of the moneth of October and takyng theyr waye by Perigueux came to Solliac the Sondaye the sixtéenth of October aboute twoo of the clocke at after noone They thoughte there to passe Dordonne but it was so swelled by the greate raynes falne certeyn dayes before that it was not possible to wade ouer By whiche difficultie they were constrained to stay there sendyng for suche boates as they could find by which they beganne to ferry the same day and all the next night not with such spede in respect of their fewe boates but certaine numbers were not yet passed in the morning Which being espied of the Catholike garrisons
thereby and speciallye they of Sarba sent out three skore horssemen with certaine footemen and Paysantes to viewe the number of suche as were yet to passe and what watche and garde they kept Who with others to the number of two hundreth séeing neyther order vsed nor any shot his matche kindled fell vppon them and discomfited them wythout resistaunce manye were slaine and the rest stript into their shertes and so sent ouer the passage to followe their companie Some vsing a speede aboue the rest in passing the day before the better to refreshe them at their ease were sette vppon in the night within their lodgings and ledde away prisoners by the Catholikes Amongest whom were the Lord de Quintel a Dauphynois Mormoiron de Venesin guide to the whole company A Phisition called M. Mâ—rle with thrée others the Lord de Sarraz a Gentleman of Viuares was taken by the same a little before but forthwith set at libertie The noyse whych the Catholykes made in charging them in the water side gaue the Alarum to those that had alreadye passed the Riuer béeing in a Towne not farre off who falling forthwith into araye and order of defence after they hadde taryed sometyme to receyue them that eskaped to their succoures began to marche towardes Acyer wherein they entred the next morning and from thence wythoute other let they went to Oryllac in Auuergne from whence they departed as shall be héereafter declared After Niort was taken the Kings brother determyned to beséege the town of S. Iean de Angely in Sainctonge and for that same effecte drue hys armie and power on that side The Lorde of Byron marshall of his camp about the x. of October acompanied with certeine cornets of horsmen came to sommon the towne for the King to whom the garrison made an aunswer by the Lorde de la Ramiere that they ment not to surrender the town by other composition than a generall peace including the publike quiet and profit of the realme of Fraunce wherupon he returned And captaine la Motte accompanied with xv or xx horsemen went forthwith to skome and skoure the wais within halfe a league aboute the towne and specially of that syde to Niort fynding within a village certeine footemen of the catholiks wherof some were slaine som put to flight and v. or vj. taken and ledde prisoners into the towne In the meane whyle they of the towne prepared for the siege vsing great deuyse and diligence in fortifying dyuerse partes of it some did beate downe parte of the suburbes of Aulnis and Tailleburg too cutte from the Catholikes all conuenient meanes too encampe there Some fylled vp the ditches in necessarie places in effect they lefte nothing imperfect which necessarily belonged to the fortification of the towne the better to endure the siege The L. de Pilles gouernour there for the matters of warre as is sayd made a viewe of the footemen whiche were a thousand or .xj. hundred of all sortes as well straungers as others Immediatly after this muster the L. de Personne arriued there with .xxx. or .xl. horssemen and then bycause they would omit nothing tending to the defence of the Towne they beganne to make fire workes with other artificiall engines to annoye the enimies About the .xiiij. daye of this moneth the Kings brother planted hys siege before Sainct Iean d'Angely aboute three of the clocke in the after noone The Lorde of Gouas regimen with certeyne other was lodged in the Suburbes of Aulâ—â—s dealing not that daye with the Suburbes of Taillebourg as fearing they could not enter but with great perill They within the Towne hadde forsaken this Subburbe bycause they would not put theyr men to the hazarde in kéeping it Albeit the Catholikes forbare not to sease vppon it the next daye and lodge within it The Protestantes fortifyed the Fort or place of defence without the gate d'Aulnis filling it with earth rammed vp the gate omitting nothing necessarie eyther to force or pollicie wherein to enforce a general diligeÌ„ce in their fortificatioÌ„ proclamations were pronounced thorow the Towne that all people as well men women as children able or apte to trauell shold labour and worke at the rampiers and that euery one should haue alwayes before his dore three or foure sackes ful of dong to be employed in necessarie places According to these commaundementes there was a common assistence at the raÌ„piers as well of straÌ„gers as people of the towne by whom was performed a wonderfull indeuour As soone as the Catholykes had made them selues Lordes of the Suburbes aforesayde the Protestantes made a sallie with fortie horssemen by the gate De Matta and set vppon the Suburbes of Aulnis where they killed foure or fyue men and then fell on skouring the wayes towardes Nyort tyll the place of execution where they founde an Italian on horssebacke and brought hym into the Towne About the .xviij. day of this moneth the Protestantes made an other sallie by the gate d'Aulnis and issuing out aboue the forte they descended within the ditche by a ladder there were of this faction and conducted by Capteyn la Motte Cl. souldioures with white shirtes aboue their garmentes who charging so happily vppon the Suburbes d'Aulnis founde the Catholykes playing at Cardes and so withoute any watche to discouer them they killed about thrée score or foure score Souldioures and then retired vppon the false trenche of the ditche by the helpe of their harquebusears whiche were vppon the fort of the gate They wanne in thys exployte two footemen enseignes .xl. or .l. harquebusears certeyne morrions corcelets and pollaxes of stéele whiche they caried into the towne loosing not aboue .ij. or .iij. of their companie The Catholykes in the meane whyle drue neare their Artillerie whiche they planted so aptely in a vyne towardes Nyort as it might beate as well the gate of Nyort as the bulwarke of the Port d'Aulnis and also the tower betwéene the two gates Their batterie which they bestowed there was foure Canons and a Colueryne Afore they discharged any batterie they demanded to parley for that cause would that the Lord of Pilles should haue come foorth of the towne vpon their faith which the Protestantes thought not conuenient for their safetie albeit in hys place they sent oute of the Towne la Riuiere who was no sooner withoute than the Canon beganne to beate whiche caused him to cutte off hys further proceeding with spéedie returne Thus the batterie beganne the xxij daye of October beating the Tower of the Towne neare to the Port d A'ulnis and continued all the daye and towarde night it enforced a breach a fortie or fiftie pase wyde wherevppon the Catholykes sent one of their companie to viewe it who being come to the brink of the ditch and discouering hym selfe to suruey the breache was killed with a shotte so that that daye passed without assaulte or any other speciall attempte or acte In the night the Protestantes with great diligence repaired their
with the losse of thrée of his people and also the Gentleman his guyde The .xxix. day of Nouember Sebastian Luxenbourg CouÌ„te de Martigue Knight of the Order Capteyne of fiftie men at armes and Lieutenaunt generall to the King in his Duchie and countrey of Britayne beyng at the batterie was stroken in the head with a harquebushot whereof he dyed to the generall griefe of the Papistes In the beginning of December about nine of the clocke in the morning the Catholykes demaunded to parley with the Lorde de Pilles whereunto he listened with lesse difficultie in respecte he was not furnished with munition of war for one assault more if it had bin offered neyther had he hope to bée so spéedily succoured as his perill required which was the cause that the .ij. of this moneth after he had established extréeme actes and prouisions for the garde of the sayd Towne he was enforced to render it vpon the couenantes following 1 That the Protestants should depart the Towne their goods saued with their horsses and armour and banner displayed 2 That they should not beare Armes for the generall cause of Religion in .iiij. monethes after 3 That their whole companies as well straungers as inhabitauntes might retire whither they would in all suretie 4 That they should bée safeconducted to their place of suretie where so euer it were by the Lord de Byron according to which composition â–ª the morrow after the iij. of this moneth S. Fean d'Angely was yielded into the handes of the Lorde de Guyâ—â—iers The Lord de Pilles departing the same daye about noone by the Port de Matta with .viij. hundreth footemen of all sortes and about C. horsemen taking hys way to wardes Angoulesme Notwithstanding the conduct and presence of the sayd Lorde de Byron the most parte of the footemen were spoyled and diuerse slayn and the baggage of the horssemen taken ageinst their promisse of fayth During this siege dyed in the towne about a hundreth souldiers certain nuÌ„bres of laborers of the catholiks side without the town dyed aswell of the hand of the enemy as by diseases aboute two thousand amongst which were many great Lordes gentlemen and Captaines slaine as the greate Maister of the artillery whose office was giuen to the said Lorde de Byron the gouernment of the towne was giuen to the Lord de Guitiniers and for the garde of it the king bestowed eight coÌ„panies of footemen The same day the King Quéene mother the Cardinall of Lorrain wyth diuerse great Lordes of the Court entred the towne and visited aswell the forte of the gaâ—e â–ª Aulnis and the Castell as the first breach of the Tower on the wall so returned to their places where they were lodged afore Certaine of the Catholickes immediately after the towne was geuen ouer went towardes the yles of Marans and Mareâ—â—â—es holden of long by them of the religion from whence they were nowe withdrawen by special commaundement from Rochell whereby the catholickes entred and seased vppon them wythout resistaunce In this time were erecuted in Fraunce certaine iudgements diffinitiue pronounced afore against those of the reformed religion whose processes were begon and pursued by the kings procurers from the beginning of the warres aswel against such as were out of the realme as those that maintained part with the Princes The first sort sorsooke the realme immediately after the second peace as being denied to enter their houses goods contrary to the couenauntes of the same and lesse able to liue without mortall perill to their persons in the townes of their propper habitation being filled with garrisons of the contrary faction as hath bene touched in the beginning of these discourses the other sorte forsed eftsoones to fall into armes were knit and tyed to the army of the Princes to resist the voluntary infringers of the peace and coniured enemies to the whole realme both the one and other were procéeded agaynste by personall adiornements in thrée short dayes and for default of apparance their goodes were seased to the Kinges vse and gouerned by speciall Commissioners of sequestration many ydle officers busied themselues to effect the execution of their goodes in many prouinces the said iudgements did suspend and hang vntill after the battell of Montgontour when they awarded generall and speedy processe against all men by defaultes proceeding to execution in Effigie and adiudication of their goodes to the King wherein suche was the liberall zeale of the Judges that they executed by Effigie such as were dead long tyme before It hath bene said before that the L. de Sansac left the siege of Vezeley by reason bys cannons miscaried and nowe hauyng gotte newe prouision of Artillery to the number of twelue or thyrtene peeces and being withall aduertised by certaine of the Towne of Vezeley that the Lorde de Traues with a great parte of the Nobilitie present at the first siege were departed and lefte the Towne came to besiege it of freshe Hée battered still the tower of the Port du Barle right against the watering place soone after he remoued his batterie to that syde of the gray Fryars following with so vehemeÌ„t an assaulte that they came to hande strokes vppon the breaches albeit he was repulsed During this siege Albert de la Chasse a Bourgeys of the Towne wrotte letters to the Catholykes reuealing the partieular state of the Towne He threw his letters ouer the wall into a fielde where the Catholykes came and found them and as he was going to the Wall with a letter readie to conueye to the enimie he was taken with the facte and charging a schoole maister as partie to hys treason were both hanged foorthwith The batterie was such as there were spent aboue thrée thousande and fyue hundreth shottes of Canon and all not able to force the Protestantes which made the Lord Sansac rayse his siege the .xvij. of December 1569. losing in this siege about .xv. hundreth men amongst whome the Lorde de Foyssy Colonell of hys footemen was hurt to death with a shot vppon the trenches Within the Towne amoÌ„gst others M. Iaques Perrin a Minister was killed with a Canon The warre dyd still aggrauate in diuerse places of the Realm contrary to the opinion of such as thought it should haue qualified and vtterly quenched by the battaill at Montgontour They of Charité wherof hath bin spoken before strengthned them selues with great numbers of men of warre comme with the Lorde de Bricquemau and Borry with their retinue they maynteyned ordinarie warre against the garrisons of the catholikes thereaboutes making many enterprises one winning of an other The L. de Lespau a gentlemaÌ„ of Berry one called la Rose sergeant maior to Sanserre atteÌ„pted an enterprise vpoÌ„ the town of Bourges in Berry by meane of intelligence with a Souldiour of the Towne called Vrsin Pallus to whom was promised a great summe of money with a bill for the assuraunce payable within two monethes after hée had satisfied
last of Septēber in the very first discouery of the morning vpon a plaine within a league of Mont-gontour There the Admirall sent the Lord de La-louë and de La-nouē with .vij. cornets of horsmen and Captaine Normant harquebusiers on horssebacke to Mont-gontour to know if the Kings brother were there who finding no body returned with spéedy report to the Admirall accordingly who made marche foorthwith the footemen of the battel then the Artillerie and so the footemen of the vauntgard aswell French as Almains folowing them himselfe with the horssemen of bothe the one and other nation He left in the taile the Lord de Mouy with charge to gouern the retraict with fiue cornets of French horsmen two cornets of Reistres and a company of harquebushears on horssebacke of captaine Montarnaunt a prouinciall The catholikes coasted them very neere exspecting their artillery which was not yet come The admiral passed ouer a litle riuer half a leage from Montgontour very vneasie to marche ouer by reason of a marrish along the brinke of it the same making it impossible on all parts sauing in a little strait or gutter beneath certain houses along the high way There lacked no more but the Lord of Mouy and his troupe whom the Catholikes with .xl. cornets of horsmē charged togither with a voley of Cannons discharged also vpon them It was thought this charge was giuen by ◠lord de Tauannes gouernor for the king in Burgon it was withstanded a litle by the Lord de Mouy who vnable to sustain it thorowly in respect of the multitude retired The Admiral seing his perill gaue backe with the horssemen and retourned with no lesse sury the charge vppon them that had layde it vppon the L. de Mouy who in the meane time retired with the rest of his troupe with the losse of some fewe amongst the which was the Lord de Entrichaut ensigne bearer to the Lord S. Auban Dauphynois the Artillerie was by this at Mont-gontour and the footemen of the battel very néere who séeing that charge turned backe to the fight as also the Lord de la Nouē and la-Louë with their cornets all that day passed in skirmishing without offer of other charge The Catholikes shotte vehemently which albeit annoyed muche the Admiral yet he left not the field till night and then retired with those of the Religion to Mont-gontour and the Catholikes encamped vppon the place The next morow being saterday and first day of the month of October the said armie issued out of Mont-gontour lodged in the Uillages thereabout leauing the Lord de Mouy with his regiment of horssemen and two regiments of footemen within the towne to gard the passage There were certain light skirmishes albeit neither of long fight nor much losse They moued by certaine disordered shot of the Catholikes who thought to winne the Subburbs on their side but being repulsed their purpose was also intercepted and they forced to returne without any other thing doing The kings brother séeing that side closed from him and that he could not easly wade the Riuer of Viue the same being his only impediment to follow the Princes campe determined to passe aboue the head of the riuer in a village beneth Mirebeau In the meane while the Princes hauing bene at Nyort to sée the Quéene of Nauarre returned to the camp the second of October where they drue into counsel with resolution to take the way to Partney and Nyort and giue battell to the Catholikes if they assailed them in the way sommoning for this purpose the whole army to be ready by the dawning of the day and euery Colonel and captaine to labour accordingly in his charge The Catholikes were also of opinion to go to Nyort and beséege it and by that meanes to prouoke the Princes to battell The Princes campe according to the order resolute aforesayd was in a perfect readinesse ringed in battels and squares pitching the next morning the third of October vppon a little hill néere to Mont gontour well disposed as is aforesayd to giue battel if the ennimie aduaunced who also began to appéere and discouer on the left hand vppon an other round hill from the bottom wherof they might easily discern the disposition of the Princes armye which when he had well viewed he retired his marche as though he ment to draw directly to Nyort vsing notwithstanding such order as his rings and companies kept néere togither The Admirall bearing an eye to their doings espied their pollitie and purpose of proceding wherein as he suspected that they shotte at his aduauntage as labouring to win way vpon him made descend forthwith the Prynces armie from the hill where it was setled of purpose to gaine and occupie the plaine afore them wheruppon the Catholikes in place to marche forward commaunded a sodain stay holding their Pikes vpright and ringing them in square and mean battels turned face to their vauntgard winning by that meanes the hil from whence the princes armie were but now discended And being maisters in this sort of the hill aboue the opinion expectation of the Admiral beganne to dispose them selues to the shocke And at the first descending from the hil they ordred and ringed their footemen in the valey or side of the foote of the sayd hil not without great discretion and iudgement keping by that meanes their footmen in couert and defended from the storme of the artillerie which discharged vehemently as well on the one as other side In the meane while the kings brother dressed and disposed two batteries not sparing his body to trauell from one battell and square to an other with persuasion to the soldiors to haue good hart the like also did the Princes visiting in person euery ranke aswell of horssemen as footemen whose pleasant aspect specially in the prince of Nauarre gaue cause of singular corage to the soldiors whose stomackes besides they were firmly setled in the goodnesse of the cause yet they seemed to redouble in desire the rather at the gracious view and persuasion of the yong Prince Immediatly after two of the clock in the after noone the vantgarde of the Catholikes went to the charge with a square and wing of .xviij. cornets of Reisters and great numbres of horssemen as well French as Italyan who charged altogither so violently vpon the Lord of Mouy and la Loue that they were enforced to endure and take the charge retiring thorow the battell of the Lanceknights which gréeued them sore notwithstanding the Admirall supplyed the charge and gaue with such furye vppon the Catholike Reisters that he cutte great numbres of them in péeces and immediatly with the remainder of hys horssemen of the Uauntgarde repulsed with force the Uauntgarde of the ennemy wheruppon was raised a crye on the Admirals side Uictory Uictory the same sounding with suche noyse of comfort in the eares of the mayne battayle that diuers ranne thither to follow the victory When loe the Catholikes maine battell aduaunced bending