an assembly The French Embassadors oration in the Councell of Trent The choise of Bishops and Cleargie denied to the Pope The enacting of La Pragmatique Sanction 12. Articles in Fraunce The K. letters and complaints against the Pope The K. answere to the Emperours obiection The originall and differēce of Christian religion in Fraunce How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Albigeois was dispersed thorough Europe Opinions soner changed by ease and rest then violence The English Lords of Guienne in france Normandie Poictou Anioy c. The Religion of the Vaudois dispersed thorough England VVicklife his Doctrine Lollards in England Liuonia Sermatia c. How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Wicklife was carried into Polonia Bohemia and other countries of Almaine The Bohemians and Almaines persecuted by the Popes inquisitors before Iohn Hus. Councell of Constance summoned for the refomation of the Church Iohn Hus cōdemned and burnt as an heretique at Constance notwithstanding the Emperours safe conduct Popes deposed Ierome of Prag condemned and burned at Constance as Iohn Hus. The Bohemians angrye growe more resolute by the death of Hus and Hierom. Captain Zischa leuieth men against the Priests Monkes of Bohemia Luther his beginning 1518. Generall pardons published through Christendom 1517. Luther cited to Rome What caused a stay of Luthers reformation Martin Luthers beginning profession and carriadge of life Luther himselfe confesseth it in his answer to the book which H. D. of Brunwick wrote against him 1541. as Sleyden reporteth in the 14. of his history repeating Luthers words who discouered the occasions which moued him to preach and write against pardons My name saith he began to grow famous because no man was found else that durst oppose himselfe This little glory was pleasing as then vnto me c. Selim King of Turkes dreadfull to his enemies Selims crueltie towards his father bretheren and race Pope Leo endeuoureth the Christian Princes to enter league against the Turkes How the Christians armie should be bestowed to annoy the Turke Christian Princes rather respected their perticular then the common cause Selim dieth Soliman succeedeth The palorepiscopal mantle how made and giuen by Popes (4) Made of the wool of two white Mattons set vpon the Aulter in S. Agnes Church while Agnus Dei is sung vpon that holy day and afterwards giuē to the Subdeacons of S. Peters who shere them at shering time and of the yarne which cōmeth from them among other maketh a mantle three fingers broad reaching from the shoulders to the calfe of the leg with little knobs of lead at the skirts from thence laide vpon the corps of S. Peter S Paul with certaine praiers and kept there one night with great ceremony after deliuered to him that must haue it and is only for Archbishops Luther appereth before Caietan the Popes Legat. Luther apealeth from Caietan The foundation of pardons and Indulgences Luther eager against the Court of Rome Erasmus his opinion of Luther Luther condemned by Pope Leo. Luther appealed againe from the Pope Luther publiquely burneth the cannon law and Popes Bull. Luther banished by Charls his letters pattents at Wormes The Masse first abolished in Germany Iohn Hus prophecieth of Luther The Emperour visiteth in person the K. of England Images broken downe in Germanie Luther misliketh the breaking of Images by the people Leo 10. dieth Adrian 6. succeedeth Adrian dieth Clement 7 de Medices succeedeth Letters from the Pope to the Parliament of Paris King Francis writeth in the behalfe of Iacques Faber League betweene the regent and Henrie the 8. King of England Peace concluded between the Emperor Charles and Francis y e first Suissers reformed Geneue a first retreate to French Lutherans The decree of Spire permitted euerie mā to maintaine his Religion without alteration The beginning of the league of Smalcade among the Protestants Whence the name of Protestants first sprong The opinion of the Supper being diuers among the reformed is cause of great inconueniences The King of Fraunce and England succour the Lutheranes The Protetestants demaund of the Emperour Election of the K. of Romanes Frederic of Saxe elector dieth Accord between Fredederic K. of Bohemia and the D. of Saxe Peace thoroughout Germany and Religion free The race and descent of Medices in which the translator doth desire the indifferēt Reader to consider what scandalous libels haue of late yeares by to humorous affections bene cast out in disgrace of the house of Medices onely to a base the royal race of Vallois of this look Guicciardin in his first booke c. The Q. Mother descended out of the house of Bologne by the mother side K. Frauncis aideth the Protestants Pope Clemēt dieth Paul Ferneze succeedeth Persecutions in Fraunce The Pope hath no authoritie to assigne a councell (4) According to the Romaine Emperours who named the informers quadruplatores The Emperours Interim The Protestants oppose themselues to the decree of the Emperour Councell of Trent Decree of the Councell of Trent Martin Luther dieth 1546. The Emperour writeth to the townes for succour The townes send answers Speach betweene the Emperour and Landgraue The holy league betweene Pope Emperour and other Princes The Emperors army against the Lutheranes The Emperor banisheth and condemneth the D. of Saxe Protestants defie the Emperour The Emperors deuice to draw Maurice against his Cosin Elector of Saxe The Protestants fault and error Maurice warreth against his cosin and the Protestants The Elector hurt taken broght to the Emperour Great ransomes which the Emperour had of the Germaines The Emperor would haue the Councell remoued frō Bolonia to Treat Melancthons answere Persecution of Lutherans Diet of Ausbourge The Landgraue discouered minding to haue made an escape Difference about succession in the empire Councell Maurice demaundeth a more safe-conduct The Catholiques helde that faith was not to be holden with heretiques Safe conduct from the coūcell at Basle for the Bohemians Magdebourg deliuered vp Embassage from the king of Fraunce to Maurice Maurice and Brandebourg Embassadors speech The Princes Embassadors Maurices demaunds at the councell Diuersities of opinions in the Councell of Trent The Councell of Trent deferred for 2. yeares Crescence Cardinall Legat and president for the Pope died of an apprehension The birth of H. 3. K. of France and Pologne The Baronnie of Montmotency erected into a Duchie with right of a Petre. The K. letter to the Electors Hostages of Fraunce and Germany The propositions of Maurice The resolution of peace deserred and wherefore The Vaudois of Prouence how when by whom and wherefore persecuted as Heretiques Arrest of the parlament of Aix They were about 24. as well inhabitants of Merin dolas other their neighbours Particular iudgements vpon the merite of the arrest The president La Chassane differreth the execution of the arrest and his reasons Cause of delay of the execution Catalogus gloriae mundi made by Chassane and printed at Lions Guillaume du Bellay L. of Langeay lieuetenant for the
battered vndermined taken and sacked by the Imperials Horace Farneze D. of Castres De Magny the Vicount of Martigues Moninuille Cizieux Dampierre Lusignan and others dead at Hedin The French army assembled neere Amiens and Pequigny The D. of Ascoâ— prisonner The French army in the field A new ordinance of harquebusiers mounted Bapaulme represented The dessein of Charles 5. Emperour against the French Their answere of Cambray to the King Skirmishes before Cambray Description of the towne of cambray This towne of Cambray was euer coueted of the K. of France but neuer able to be reduced to the Flower delice vntil Francis D. of Brabant Aniou and Sonne of France and onely brother to the King had by siege taken the same and so annexed by his prowes at this day to the Crowne of Fraunce The Citadell of Cambray Feeble places ought not so much as to offer to holde out against an army bringing canon Representation of the Imperials forte The order of the French army hoping to gaine the battaile neer Valenciennes An inuention of the French so to order as all their troupes in one day should fight in battaile taken from the ancient Romanes How the artillery was ordered and disposed The K. presence giueth great encouragement to the Souldiers The charge of the French Cauallerie Consultation whether the enemies were to be assailed within their own forte or no. Retraite of the French Retrait departure of the French army The Marshall S. Andre sent with part of the army to recouer the County of S. Poul Count Reingraue A marriage treated between the K. of Spaine and the infant Mary new Q. of England Cardinal Pole sent to treat a peace betweene the K. and the Emperour Birth of Mounsier The K. army assembled in diuers pleces The French entreth in 3. places within the Emperours country The army of the D. of Neuers and his exploites The difficulty of the Ardennes The fort of Linchant ruined Streame of Semois The Castle of Orcimont summoned besieged battered and yeelded vp by the flight of the Defendants Valsimont the 4 lodging of the D. of Neuers armie Streame of Vouye The Castle of Beaurin summoned Beaurin Castle yeelded Cap. Salsede commissioner generall for victuals conquered al the Castles along the riuer Mariembourg taken by the French Rocroy a small village between Maubert-fontaine and Mariembourg fortified for the safetie of the passage Their answere of Disnan to the D. Harroâ—lde and trumpeter The K. armie Bouines furiously battered and taken by assault Forts punished for holding against the K. power A chiefe of an armie ought not to be to ventrous English Scotts takeÌ„ at the ports of Giuets by the Bourguignons The Emperours armie vnder the prince of Piemont An act of a most christian K. The imperial armie followeth the French from place to place Marimont a hous of pleasure to Q. Marâ—e burned The imperials enterprises vpon the French armie Marriage of Philip of Austria Mary Q. of England Courtesie of England Iane of Suffolke and her husband with sundry other beheadded at London The K. army before Rentry and his desseines The Emperour before Renty his disseines The Emperours and K. Henries desseines before Reinty The Imperial army to giue battaile to the French The French army represented before Renty to giue battaile The D. of Guises speech to the gentlemen of his company The K. answere to the Zuizers The second combate in which the imperials were ouerthrowne Number of the dead French and Imperial The K. army dissolued Mariembourg Pope Iuly 3. deceased Pope Marcel poysoned Pope Paul 4. Iesuistes Cardinal Pole his perswasions to a peace The place appointed to treat of the Peace Captaine Saluoson The Turks scoured the coast of Tuscane D. of Sauove Isle of Corse Syene desieged by the Marques of Marignan Ciuitelle besieged by the French A Captaine punished for cowardly yeelding vp a place furnished Turkes come to the aide of the French sacke all the coast of Italy Siene besieged by the Imperials Pope Marcel more deuout then watâ—er Montalcin the retreate of the Sienois Setean taken Port of Hercule a road for the french Gallies surprised by the Marquisse Ferdinand Gonzague disapointed by the Emperour The Duke of Alua Lieutenant generall in Italy for the Emperour The Marquisse of Marignau malcoÌ„tent with the Duk of Alua retyreth to his owne home Affaires of Piemont The first exploits of the D. of Alua rigorous to astonish them of the countrie Vulpian victuaaled by the D. of Alua. Saint Iaco besieged battered lest by the Imperials The D. of Alua retireth vulpian besieged battered and assaulted yeeldeth to composition Montcaluo taken Certain captains hanged for so slightly yeelding Combat at the sharpe betweene 4. French and as many Spaniards and Italians Surprises of certain companies in Piemont Desseins of the Imperial army A notable accident The part of a Brother Appeale of the last refuge of the condemned and safegarde of innocencie Charles 5. Emperour yeeldeth vp all his estates and retireth into Spaine to liue priuately Mary Q of Hungarie Gouernesse of the Lowe Countries Grace sweetenesse the first actions of Princes Letters plaints of Mary aspiring the Crowne of England Libels against the Spanniardes in England An accorde beetweene the King and the Duke of Estampes for his clame to the Dutchie of Bretaigne Occasions which moued K. Philip Marie of England to harken to a peace Charles Cardinall of Lorraine and his vyage in into Italy Perswasions to periurie Marriage of Mareschall Montmorency eldest sonne to the Conestable The Pope the last succour to flie vnto for breach of truce and oathes The King of Spaines answere to such griefes as the K. alleadged on the Popes behalfe Particular causes of the breache of Truce by the Imperialles Iean de Lune a Fugitiue into Fraunce Plaisance rendred to Octauian D. of Parmâ—â— Point of Honour in a Cardinall The Duke of Alua beseaâ—e hâ— Rome with the Pope and cardinals so harde as he thought to famiâ—lâ—e them The meanes which the French and Italians helde to a liâ—e Rome and the Pope against the enemies attempts attending succours out of Fraunce Ostia taken by the D. of Alua. The Venetians succour not the Pope The D. of Guise matcheth to Rome with the French armie The port of Ostia rendred by composition to the Spanyardes Truce betweene the Pope and the D. of Alua. D. of Ferrara named the Defender of the Church League between the Pope the K. of Fraunce and D. of Ferrara Italie in armes upon the comming of the French The D. of Alua his disseins The first attempts of the French armie ioyned with the Mareschal Brissae Valence yeilded vp to the D. of Guise Ostia and 〈◊〉 fort there of taken 〈◊〉 Stroâ—zy Monlâ—c To vnes taken from the Spaniardes The D. of Guise taketh Counâ—â—h of what is best to be done attâ—… taking of Valence Dauid George heretique deâ—… the discourse of his life Informations proceedinges iudgementes of the
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE THE HISTORIE OF FRANCE THE FOVRE First Bookes LONDON Printed by Iohn Windet 1595. TO THE RIGHT EXCELENT and vertuous Lady the Lady Anne Countesse of Warwicke and to the right Noble and worthie Ladie my Ladie and Mistrisse Katherine Barones Howard of Essingham and to the rest of the illustrious Ladies of her sacred Maiesties most Honourable priuie Chamber IF in this Epistle Excellent Ladies I containe not my stile within the bounds of breuitie let the large scope which the fielde of your vertues proffereth bee a sufficient excuse to my imputed blame if in the course of the worke which this Epistle presenteth to your Patronage multitude of errors haue beene ouerslipped yet I humbly beseech it bee so much graced by your beautie as what is good may bee acceptable vnto you and my infirmities which are most may with all other who bee they neuer so great are or haue beene seruantes to some in your place for your sake lye couered my weaknesse beeing the more augmented in that my pen is so meere a straunger to my profession entertayning it onelye and that rarelye to ouercome that Idlenes of time which to my selfe is ouer familiar rather in wast and void papers exercising the fame then fit for any ende or purpose Among which a few parcells haue â—â—ne Translated by me some yeeres since vnseene or vnthought of and had stil so continued had J not Noble Countesse beene by those which had full power ouer me otherwise enioyned Wherein I haue sooner chosen to eternise my own insufficiencie the render their perfections any waies vnsatisfied And therfore haue made choice to publish these fower first Bookes by an vnknowne without name but a most iust and faithful Author at the first digested in a forren tongue wherein J must needes yeelde to adde so much more to my owne vnperfectnesse as shall come within the view of your eyes or ponder of your iudgement as then receiuing most blemish when you shall vouchsafe the Author in his owne and proper language Who cannot in himselfe but much satisfie such is his stile iudgement truth and varietie of matter wherein the minde of man most delighting doth vndoubtedly couet Historie before all other writinges and if Historie what more pleasing then is in him contained So many euents and alterations disclosed secret disseins and intentions of mightie Princes reuealed Emperours not enduring equalitie Kings disdained swelling warres treacherous truces Popes practisers and triumphing in periuries generall Councels disauowed Empires voluntarily resigned princes murthered Crownes vsurped Popes deposed Rome beseaged his holines and Cardinals in danger to be hunger starued descriptions of Citties Townes Castles and fortes representations of Royall armies Inundations Plagues Earthquakes famines and other Gods wrathfull iudgementes Sects and Scismes in hollie Churches hot persecutions Religion made a Couerture to faction and ambition the selfe same Kings at one instant prosecuting in their owne Realmes what in person they assisted and protected in the Empire with the true cause roote foundation of al the miseries which the state of Christendome at this day and since fiftie yeares hath endured vnder the discourse of the French estate ouerrunning al worthie occurents of Europe Turkie and America A Historie though modern familier to many now liuing Actors therein yet yeelding precedence for matter methode knowledge and iudgment to none but thee triumphant Tacitus sacred Emperors lying subiect to thy pen and the mightiest Monarchy of the earth to thy censure As my poore trauailes which most of all kept me from being willing to diuulge the same obscured by thy stately Sauile Exquisite Sauile honour to thy Vniuersitie though in thy vertue an enemy to me ouerdropping and shadowing my endeuours as the high broade Oke doth young and tender sproutes wrong not thy selfe and country with longer silence of thy pen proude in thy Author proude in thy Sainte and not least proude in the commender of thy worke thy A. B. thy secret and haughtie Mecaenas disguised in the two first letters the whole Alphabet not being enough to set foorth his worthe but he may not so escape in a shaddowe his eloquence discouereth his Arte his iudgement his experience and his experience in hauing assaulted the dreadfullst Monarch of our world to the verie gates of his chiefest Cittie hath confirmed his valour to his neuer dying glorie But how much the more naked I stande frustrate of countenance subiect to errors so thorough error to reprofe as whatsoeuer is mine can be no other worth so much more high and worthie Countesse doth the power of your patronage in my protection extend it selfe and the grace of your fauor in vouchsafing the reading of this worke vnworthie only by my owne vnablenesse to set it forth vnto you like it selfe The subiect whereof though loftie in mannaging the glorious actions of anointed Soueraignes and representing the fierce exploits of vnmercifull and bloudy warres can no waies yet be strange or dissonant to your eares daughter to so great an Earle of Bedford graue Councellor commander and gouernour sometimes of that Royall towne and Garrison which bordereth on the Scottish soyle and deare wife to that redoubted Ambrose Earle of Warwicke expert and faithfull Councellor Sonne to so puissant and Magnanimious a Duke his name his fame his valor resounding in foraine Regions while he had the honour to bee commaunder and Lieutenant generall ouer a Royall English armie by your birth and Marriage seeming to be chosen and consecrated to Mars himselfe happie in father more happie in husband but most happie in your Soueraignes grace ornament of her Courte true patterne of pietie deuotion charitie and vertue And you Excellent Mistrisse to whome as well for your honour bountie and fauours my fruites and Labours are most due as hauing first vndertaken the same eating of your bread vouchsafe your Patronage disdaine not my Authors English weede who presenteth his attendance vpon your Person at such time as wearied with other occasions you are accustomed to retire your selfe to your Bookes and Muses Verified is that in you that neuer Les alone then when most alone for the more part spending your vacation of time either in Meditation of holie letter or conference and reading of some notable and famous Historie which whether it treate of peace pollicie war or martiall exploits can hardly discouer ought new or strange vnto your wisedome the one by your high place long seruices and Courtelie conuersation made familiar vnto you the other by nothing more then the signall acts and heroicall prowes of Magnanimious and victorious Charles your Lo. and husband true patriot carefull Councellor vigilant commaunder rightlie and iustly deere to his Soueraigne and Countrie dreadfull to the enemie terror to traytors and scourge of Spanish Monarchie which the defeate of that inuincible army for so in Print theÌ„seues published can best testifie the glorie whereof can not but stirre vp those two young Jmpes of
vanished from among vs yet doth their goodnesse and memorie stil remaine fresh and fixed in the minds and harts of manie But how can it otherwise fare Illustrious Ladies but that you must needes succeede or rather abounde in all or greater worthinesse hauing the honour and blisse to bee trayned vpp in the same Schoole from the which they and all other borrow their light as the Moone doth frō the Sun at the mouth of that diuine Oracle Ex cuius ore melle dulcior fluit oratio that sacred Queene vnmachable and victorious Virgine Supereminens omnes Mans mirror Ioues darling worlds wonder and natures perfection whose Angelicall face so often as I doe beholde as behold to often I can not me thinketh J still with daseled eyes see as it were in full aspect Solarem Maiestatem cum Saturnina grauitate That the powerful and essentiall thing of things may number the peaceable yeeres of her Raigne like the sands of the Sea that the shadow gonne downe in the Dyall of Ahaz may be ten and ten degrees brought backward that the Sunne abide and the Moone stand still vntill she may be auenged of her enemies Let all her Subiects pray our age rest thankefull posteritie admire and the heauens eternise her name for euer The Historie of Fraunce THE FIRST BOOKE NOw that those our Actions are most worthy of praise which can both please profit together wherein a History ought to haue the aduantage to excell all other I do not wel know though I did hardly could I tell whether in representing vnto you the estate of Fraunce and nations neighbours vnto it since fortye yeeres past I might doe a generall pleasure considering the mallice enuye and diuersitie of iudgements of euery man True it is that if I be not deceiued through the selfe liking of my owne labour the truth herein so clearely represented the free desire of euery ones profit in sundry sortes the varietie and notable euente of so many accidents doe sufficiently promise vnto mee a gratious acceptance euen at the handes of the more gentle and better vnderstanding sort of strangers who being farre from my knowledge and thereby lesse tickled with enuie an ordinary compagnion of the liuing shall be more rightly able to iudge of my labours I doe lesse doubt how small or much pleasing soeuer the first Treatises of this Historie shal be but that all wil euen hasten to see the progresse and issue therof some allured thereunto through the pleasure which the diuersitie of so strange and memorable an Argument offereth vnto them and other of a curiositye praise worthie to be willing to know the meruailes of Gods iudgments the great hatreds and small charitie So many peaces broken so many warres renewed so strange cruelties so small fauours in summe al the Potentates of christendom at banding for and against the French who most miserably haue made themselues the foole in the play and the vnhappy end variable reencounter of more rare miseries then euer worldlings did practise I cleane contrarye knowing the verye causes and meanes through which wee haue beene cunningly ledde to such pouertye endeuour as much as possibly I may to estrange from my selfe the consideration of so miserable effects and fetch my history from more high reaching somewhat beyond the beginning of our ciuill warres where wandring in a true discourse of forraine affaires and such as are common vnto vs with our neighbours I seeke the recompence of my paines In this chiefely that as maister of my selfe I cōmand my owne affections for a while to forget our calamities passed from which I may boldely borrow so much leasure as I shall esteeme necessarie to turne awaye for a season so sorrowfull and pitious a remembrance as thereby I am howrely put in minde of and albeit the memory of such greefes ought not any wayes to cause a vertuous disposition to swarue from the truth no more then the frendship of some hatred of other or respect of great personages should doe and though hee is verye rarelye to be found which is not spyed in the ende if not throughlye gained yet at the least tempted by some one of these passions especially in so confuse graue and deepe a matter I will notwithstanding be found so little partiall as all men shall haue more cause in other matters to disgrace me then in the truth of such accidents as are heere set foorth which if they shal bring a form of a more agreeable setting forth either by the number of strange occurrents or exceeding by a more excellency of deliuery the rudenes of my naturall language howsoeuer it be so farre am I from enuying so great a benefite to those of my age that I shall holde my selfe for well satisfied when I shall not gather any other profite of my long watchings then to see my selfe at the end of so great trauailes to haue vndertaken more for the pleasure of others then my owne particular And now that among Historiographers my name resteth as obscured their high valour number which are able to shadow the light wil bring me some comfort ioyned therewithall is that my qualitie holding more of action then of contemplation doth dispence with me to make any profession of writing but in matter of consequence wherein I am most delighted which being the cause that I best iudge of my insufficiency for being able to conduct and profit so laboursome a trauaile I will call vpon his grace which is able to blesse the beginning pursuite and last end of such a labour Being then resolued to lay before your eyes the estate of Fraunce and her neighbours since fortye peares passed and considering how the causes of humaine accidents are maintained by an eternall bonde and knowne of fewe people I thought I should make my worke a great deale more commendable if I did fetch the matter from more high thogh not from the first spring yet at the least from the more apparāt occasions which haue brought forth so strange occurrents For when I should entreat but of the wars between Charles the Emperour and Philip his sonne against the Kings of Fraunce or of the change of Religion throughout Christendome or of the Seditions that ensued thereon I should worke you very small pleasure and lesse profit in laying downe these matters so rawly vnto you leauing in the meane time vndiscouered the roote and cause of these great ones enmities the beginning and progresse of the reformation the paines and pursuites against such as were wilfull in the faith when whence and how the Lutherans were dispersed throughout the whole world by what meanes and successe they haue beene maintained against the Catholiques in euery Countrie together with the motife and conduite which both the one and the other pretended to bring to the defence of the true and auncient religion And hereby in shewing you the beginnings and preparatiues of the stomacking warres among the Christians I shall make you to iudge
continuall instance of the Cardinals and other of the Cleargie about the King who besides would make him selfe appeare most Christian throughout all Europe especially for the reasons aboue mencioned the Court was so pressed that all the articles of the Edict were there in publique audience read the 3. of September 1551. in the Chamber called Doree Of all which Pierre Seguier the Kings Aduocate demaunding the ingrossing of the behalfe of the Proctor generall saide that it was well knowne how the Kinges of Fraunce had bene alwaies zealous protectors of christianitie of the faith and vnion of the Church for which they worthily deserued the name of most Christian that there was no doubt but zeale of Religion was one of the principall causes for which it pleased God to maintaine the estate of that Realme in that greatnes it was vntill that day that historyes did witnes among all the misfortunes and vnhappines which fell out betweene the Romaine Kings the raigne of Numa Pompilius to haue beene found most long happie and peaceable because hee was most zealous in Religion And Titus Liuius and Plutarch write Quod Numa Primus condidit templum fidei primus fidei solemne instituit And albeit that the Religion of Numa was not ruled after the worde of God yet hauing had so great an increase of good fortune in his Heathenishe Religion it may verye well cause vs to thinke that the care and zeale which the Kings of Fraunce haue had for Christian religion hath greatlye auailed and helped towards the maintenance and enlarging of the Monarchie of Fraunce Contrarywise negligence of Religion the leauing and apostacie of faith and the scismes and diuisions in the Church are the beginning and spring of all mischiefes and the forewarning of desolation and ruine to a Common-wealth The examples are verye common De neglecta Religione both in Valerius and other our owne Histories as the Bookes of Moses doe testifie that the children of Israel while they helde themselues vnited in the faith of God and precepts of Moses prospered and ouercame all aduersities but when they withdrew themselues from religion they fell into great ruine The most Christian King considering and well vnderstanding these things hath studiously diligently searched by all possible meanes how the error of the Pseudo-christians might bee extermined and cleane rooted out of this Realme and to this end hath commaunded these letters now read to be approued in this Courte and further said that he could not omit to yeelde due thankes vnto the King for his most gracious royall and most Christian will moste humblye beseeching God that it would please him to preserue the King in this charitie deuotion and zeale many yeares and hereupon concluded and required the publication and approuing of the letters enioyning the Prelates and Cleargy in what appertained to their charge to obey the contents thereof Then the Presidente after the counsellers had deliuered their opinions gaue this sentence The Court in obeying of the Kings will ordaineth that vpon the plight of the said letters shalbe set downe Lecta publicata Registrata audito requirente procuratore generale Regis and that the Iudges Presidiaux and such as assist them in iudgement of criminall enditementes shall vpon sight thereof cause the prisoners to be brought before them and heare them speake in person and such iudgements as shall be so giuen by the Presidiaux and their assistantes shall not be helde and reputed for sufficiently concluded and awarded except it passe the consent of two at the least according to the ordinance And gaue in charge to the Court of the said Iudges that after iudgement giuen vpon the said criminall enditements they should make them safely to be kept by such Greffiers as the court should appoint to haue diligent care of the same to the end they might both deliuer answere the same whatsoeuer they should be called vpon Moreouer he warned exhorted the Court the Archbishops and Prelates that resorted thereunto enioyning them to keepe and fulfill the contentes of the saide letters in whatsoeuer might concerne them the 3. of September 1551. Now let vs handle againe the imperials practises against the French you shal belowe see in place fitter for it the second meanes which the King had to iustifie himselfe for his actions in the occurrence of Parma If the Emperor were angry knowing of the Kings resolution in fauour of the Farnezes Pope Iulye made no lesse shew thereof and thereupon the 11. of Aprill hee bitterly accused Octauian by a writing published to that end When said he he receiued Parma at my hands and the estate of Supreame Gouernour hee promised me vpon his faith that he would neuer serue other Prince nor put any Garrison of Strangers into Parma without my leaue and assoone as any apparance was of any change I oftentimes very louingly admonished him by men expressely and by his own brother the Cardinall Alexander that he should remember his dutie But because he answered very strangely I threatned him by letters vnder great paines if hee should forget himselfe hoping in time to haue wonne him But since being aduertised how farre he swarueth from the accord I haue great cause to be extreamelye angrye that one whom I had enriched and aduanced to honor should offer me such an iniurye Now then though it were lawfull for me to pronounce iudgement in so apparante and cleare a matter yet to the end to make him know my curtesie I charge him to appeare at Rome within 30. daies to answere to his accusations and to put in good security for his comming if hereof he make no accompt I condemne and holde him for guilty of treason disloyaltie and other crimes willing and meaning that all his goods shalbe confiscat for which I require aide of th'emperour that he will holde a strong hand to helpe me to punish the same forbidding all in generall to yeelde him any releefe or succour The King of Fraunce in the meane time to appease the Pope and his Cardinals declared by his Embassador Paul de Termes of purpose sent vnto Rome that he was no whit at all to blame for receiuing of Octauian into his protection considering it a matter proper to the office of Kings to succour the afflicted Besides sayth hee he sought no particular profit to himselfe but all for the benefit of the Church of Rome according to the example of his progenitors which had inriched the same more than all other and oftentimes defended it with the sword for considering that Parma was of the patrimonie of the Church he would especially seeke to preuent that it might not fall into the handes of anie stranger which was the verie reason that hee was at so great ordinarie an expence Therfore he earnestly besought him to take it in good part and not to remaine in that harde opinion hee had conceiued of him a matter which should bring great profite to the commonwealth
they were all as well strangled as burned There was not then any kinde of cruelty that was not practised some but very few escaped the slaughter who saued themselues at Geneue and places bordring vpon it Now for that the K. before continued the persecutions and burning paines against the Lutheranes In the moneth of May the Protestant Princes of Germany besought the K. by letters written from Ratisbone for his subiects who were so researched pursued for the same faith which they helde And for that some made their owne peace redeeming their life their goods and estates by abiuration of their faith they besought him that that condition might be taken away declaring how dāgerous a thing it was so to wound and make seruile the consciences of men But the brute of so strange an effusion of bloud animated them the more and offended many which greatly abated the credit which the King had gotten throughout Germanye no lesse then in Zuizerland where the reformed ceased not as neerest neighbors to be mediators towards the K. that he would take pittie of th'escaped but for a full answere he sent vnto thē word that for iust cause he had commaunded that execution to be done and that they had no more to doe with what he did in his owne country or what punishment of iustice he made ouer his malefactors then he had to intermeddle with their affairs See now how the will and nature of men changing with the affaires and reportes King Frauncis ordained a punishment for the Authors of this tragedie how his sonne Henry carryed himselfe in the execution thereof and all that which followed to serue for most remarqueable occurrences which may possible happen to any estate That which moued Henry 2. King of Fraunce to publishe his letters pattentes in forme of adiournement against those of the Parlament of Prouence who had shed the bloud of the inhabitants of Cabriere and Merindol and other neighbours about was that his Father King Francis at the point of death touched with remorce and greefe that he could not before he died make a punishment in example of such as vnder his name authority had wrought so strange cruelties against his subiectes of Prouence charged his son with great obtestations not to defer the punishment how otherwise God who leaueth no such outrages and sackings vnpunished would worke the reuenge and so much the more saith he as this affaire toucheth our honour among all nations it cannot be better repaired then in making all them suffer who in such cruelty abused the dutie of their charge without sparing great or small weake or mightye that by their example all men hereafter might take heede of any the like enterprises This was the occasion why King Henry decreede by his letters pattents as followeth Letters pattents against the executioners of the arrest in Prouence vpon Cabrieres and Merindol HEnry by the grace of God King of Fraunce to our first Hussier greeting Our Proctour in our great Councell appointed by vs Proctour in causes after mentioned hath caused to be deliuered and tolde vnto vs how in the yeare 1540. the 18. day of Nouember there was a certaine iudgement giuen in our Court of Prouence which they would call and terme the arrest of Merindol by vertue of which 14. or 16. particular men therin named inhabitantes of Merindol stoode condemned for defaulte and contumacy to be burned as heretiques and Vaudois and in case they could not be apprehended to be burned in picture and their wiues infants and maidens were defeated and abandoned and in case they could not be taken they were then pronounced banished and their goods confiscate a matter notoriously iniust against al law reason And albeit that the inhabitāts of the said Merindol were neuer heard nor called to their answer yet by the said iudgemēt it was set down that al the houses of the said Merindol should be thrown down the town made vnhabitable And in the yere 1544. the said inhabitāts made their repair to the late K. of famous memory our father last deceased whom God absolue others who were likewise helde for heretiques declaring how against all truth they were tearmed Vaudois and heretiques They obtained letters of our said late Lord and father whome they had let to vnderstand how they were dayly troubled and molested by the Bishops of the Countrie and by the Presidents and Councellors of our Parliament of Prouence who had already sued for their confiscations and landes for their kinsfolkes minding hereby to driue them cleane out of the Countrye beseeching our saide late Father that he would search out the truth Whereupon it was ordained that a Maister of Requests and a Doctor of Diuinity should goe downe to those places and throughly enquire of their manner of liuings and for that the said Lord could not so readilye send thither he should in the meane time take into his owne hands all such sutes as were depending by reason thereof and forbid all cognoissance thereof to the people of our courte of Parliamēt of Prouence the which euocation was signified to our said court the 25. of October following which standing much discontented with the contents therof sent to the K. an Hussier to pursue letters of reuocation which were obtained the first of Ianuary after by which vpon information made to the late Lord the King how they had beene in armes in great assemblie forcing towns and Castles pulling prisonners out of prisons and rebellious to all iustice keeping it in subiection the saide late Lord permitted them to execute the Arrestes giuen against them reuoking the saide letters of euocation in regarde of the relapse hauing not abiured And ordained that all such as should be found charged and culpable of heresie and the Vaudoise sect should be extermined And that to that end the Gouernour of the Countrie or his Lieuetenant should therto imploy his forces wherby iustice might be obeyed which letters were not signified but kept vntill the 12. of Aprill following which was the day of Quasimodo on which day after dinner the first President Master Iohn Minier caused the said Court to assemble and caused our Proctour to present the saide letters and require execution of the saide pretended Arrest of the 18. of Nouember 1540. of which no mention was made in the said letters but only in generall termes of arrests giuen against the Vaudois and hereupon it was set downe that the said pretended arrest should be executed according to the forme and tennor making like errour as before And that the saide Commissioners already deputed should goe to the saide place of Merindol and other places requisite and necessary for the execution thereof and that all those that were of the saide sect should be extermined and such as were taken prisonners should be led into the Gallyes for a prison there were appointed for the executioners Maister Francis de la Fond second President Honore de Tributiis and Bernard
Commissioners chosen by vs Iudges of the saide proces to the end hee might be receaued appellant of the execution of Merindol and of that which ensued thereon And for that to receaue our saide Proctor appellant of an approued execution by an arrest or iudgement of a courte of Parlament depended onely of our authority and the power and commission of our said commissioners stretched not so far and for that it grew also a case wherein iudgement was to be giuen against one of the courts of our parlaments we willed ordained that our court of parlament of Paris which is the first and principall court of all our soueraigne courts should haue the proceeding and triall thereof and to that end we made our letters pattents be dispatched the 21. of Ianuary but it was found how the very day that the said first appellations which were of the saide conclusion to burne made at Cadenet of the execution done in the person of him which was shotte thorough with harquebusies of the forbiddance to giue no foode were pleaded by our saide Proctor before our said Commissioners and that in pleading of the said appellations the said Presedents Minier de la Fond de Tributijs Badet coūcellors stood principally to the points not to receiue saying that they were the arrests iudgments of our court of parlament of Prouence that by the letters pattents of our said late Father the said execution was allowed so as he could not be receaued appellant but that his request and appellations were ioyned to the proces criminall for that cause he presented another request to be receaued appellant of the said iudgments or pretēded arrests as giuen by such as were no iudges without euer hearing of the parties vpon simple requests of the Proctors of our said late father without cognoisance of the cause and contayning vnrighteous errors cruelties inhumanities persisting to that that according to our said letters pattents the said appellations might be pleaded in the great Chamber of our Parlament of Paris c. For this cause it is that we after hauing vnderstoode the quality of the fact which is in question the scandale which was and is not only throughout this Realme but also strange countries and to the end that in like sorte as so miserable executions hauing bene done in the said places were publiquely done so they may be publiquely repaired if there be any faultes and the trueth knowne not onelye to our Iudges but also to all our Subiectes and Strangers who may stand therein amisse conceaued as well as for the dutie of iustice and preseruation of the memory of our saide late L. and Father haue by these presents of our certaine knowledge full of puissance and royall authoritie euoked and doe euoke to our parson the instance of the request made by our said Proctor of the Queenes Chamber presented before the Iudges of the said chamber and the appellations formed by him of the executions done in the said place of Merindol and other Villages vpon which the parties haue already bene heard before the saide Iudges appointed to councell and ioyned to principall proces to be anew pleaded as the saide requests and appellations being inseparable with the request and appellations a new cast in by our Proctor with the request likewise presented tending to the end to be receiued to carry himselfe for appellant of the pretended iudgements and executions of the saide letters pattentes aboue specified and all the whole we haue by these said presents sent back and do send back into our Court of Parlament of Paris in the saide great Chamber of pleading on the 20. day of May next comming there for to be publiquely and with doore wide open pleaded and the parties being heard to ordaine theron what shall seeme fit by reason So we command and ordaine by these presents that the people of our Parlament of Prouence together the saide Minier De la Fond Badet and Tributijs and others to whome it may appertain be cited at the saide day to our said court of Parlament at Paris in the said great chamber of pleading to maintaine and defend their said iudgements and executions and of the said letters pattentes and the proceedinges and other wronges and greefes and to see them repaired corrected and amended if neede so require if not to proceede further according to reason and to adiourne at the saide day the saide people of our Parlament of Prouence to appeare in our saide Court by Sindic or Proctor who shalbe appointed by them to defend the saide appellations and answere to our saide Proctor and likewise the said Minier De la Fond de Tributijs Badet and other the aduerse parties of our saide Proctor if any there be commaunding them that they be and appeare at the saide daie in our saide Court if they see it needfull and that the saide appellations may any waies touch them or appertaine vnto them making vnto them such inhibitions and forbiddances as are in such cases required to which our said Court of Palament of Paris in the said chamber of pleading of our speciall grace full of puissance and royall authoritie we haue as is aboue saide attributed and do attribute the cognoisance and decision of the saide appellations notwithstanding any establishing of our saide Parlament of Prouence or any appointments giuen by our said Commissioners vpon the request of our said Proctor ioyned to the criminal proces with the first appellations already pleaded wheerin we wil not preiudice our said Proctor and what other edicts soeuer cōmandements restraints forbiddances to the contrary notwithstanding from which wherin it shalbe needfull we haue derogated and doe derogate of our said puissance authority by these said presents for such is our pleasure Yeouen at Montereau the 17. of March in the yeare of grace 1549. of our Raigne the 3. So by the King Sealed with the great seale of yellow waxe vpon a single Lable These letters of euocation being signified and the Parlament of Paris possessed of the cause there appeared in person the President Minier L. of Opide de la Fond de Tributijs Badet and the ouerplus of the Parlament of Aix by a Proctor The cause was pleaded in the great Chamber of the Pallace by the most famous aduocates of that time Riant was for the King Robert for the Iudges of Prouence Auberi for thē of Merindol Cabrieres an other for the Lady of Cantal to the number of 12. their pleadings and declarations endured a long time more then 50 hearings Euery man ran thither out of al parts to hear such matters as neuer were heard the like for excesse of cruelty and albeit the Aduocates of the Plaintifes parte did not recite the tenth parte of that which was yea rather dissembled the cause for which so much innocent bloud had bene shed yet so it was as all men were rauished with a kinde of astonishment hearing so great and strange matters
out of their country to practise the war vnder a certain Lord vpon geldings and little nags swift prompt without being much armed clad in short Ierkins red caps according to their māner and a lance like a halfe pike which they very well know how to handle They are good men desirous to know and exercise the warres as such haue very well proued as haue bene with them But as all men muzed much at the sight of this armie euen such as were appointed to keep the baggage a number of souldiers seruāts pesants come out of Theonuille brake in cheefely on the side of the Lance-knightes from whom they caried the better before people could be appointed to follow thē which occasioned since many yong Frenchmen especially of the light horse to attache the garrison and to try thēselues against those of Theonuille with more pleasure warlike exercise notwithstanding thē harme that happened to the one part or the other The King hauing taken great pleasure at the order equipage behauiour and salutation which all they did vnto him commanded them to march continually in battaile armed at all peaces afterwards he was saluted by his artillerie placed a little aboue the army within the vignes vpon a platforme to wit 16. great Canons 6. long Culuerines 6. lesser 12. bastard culuerins the whole conducted by D'Estre great master and generall of the artillerie of Fraunce the next morrowe the King entred into Metz at the gate Champanoise with great magnificence vnder a Canapie carryed by foure of the best Gentlemen of marke in the Countrie marching after the Officers the Cleargie before followed by Cardinals then the Constable barehead armed at all peaces bearing a naked Sworde before the King who at the gate of the great Temple sware vpon the Euangelists to maintaine them in their rights and ancient priuiledges after hauing giuen order to the gouernement and fortifications aboue all to cut the towne to raise there a rampier vpon the height of a mount which commaunded and hauing lefte Arthus de Cosse called Gonor brother to the Marshall Brissac gouernor with 200. light horse a cōpany of ordinance twelue ensignes for the garde of victuals which from all partes was to come to the army he departed the 20. of Aprill after his Auantgare ledde by the Constable and leauing behinde him in forme of arreregarde foure hundred men at armes with a number of light horse to aduaunce and assure the rearegarde in like sorte the three troupes marched continually in battaile and all their armes on their back how dangerous a time and place soeuer they found An occasion that many who before had liued at great ease and delicacie died and many more for hauing drunke too much of those olde waters fel sick at their returne The armie rested two dayes in the faire and rich plaine of Sauerne about the beginning of May 1552. to refresh the Souldiers after the Caualiere gaue within one league of Strasbourg In the meane season and while the King remained at Sauerne to repose his armie and attende newes from the Germane Princes they of Strasbourg wise by the example of the Messins negociated with the King as well for the commoditie of his armie as suretie of their towne the King had already demaunded them to prouide victuals for the armie and for that cause they deputed Pierre Sturme Gotessem and Sleiden who brought vnto him great quantity of Come and wine but the Constable no whit regarded what they offered by reason of the greatnes of the armie And albeit the Embassadors were departed from him in such sorte that they were to aduertise the Senate and after to yeeld him answere yet the very next morning he sent two gentlemen by whom he pressed thē to answere with a long discourse of the Kings good will towards Germany and for what cause he had entred into armes and bene at so great a charge to wit to recouer their libertie now eslaued by the Imperials his other demaund was that by reason the men at armes stoode in need of sundry things that it might be lawfull for them to buie them within the town and that it might be permitted to the artificers to bring their ware to the Campe and sell it there whereupon the Senate answered that in matters of so great importance they were not accustomed to conclude of ought but by aduise of the generall councell of all their Seignory and that after hauing consulted with them they would send Deputies to declare their minde so leaue being giuen them to departe the next morrowe the same men were sent to the Campe which as yet remayned at Sauernes Their tale being heard ioyned thereto that they brought a little more munition then at first and their reasons set downe why they might not suffer anye men at armes to enter the towne the Constable began to speake in choller and in deliuering how vniustly they iudged of the benefites of the King and of the iniuries of the Emperour he added certaine biting tearmes the end of his tale was that the next morrow the King would speake with them in person and confirme whatsoeuer he had vttered The same daye the Embassadours repaired to the King with whom was the Cardinal of Lorrain the Prince of Vendosme and the Constable where they recited as much as had bene deliuered by them to the Constable at two parlies and presented vnto him as much Oates as they had done before Wheate and a little more Wine beseeching him that for the ancient amitie which the signorie of Strasbourg had with the King of Fraunce and for his owne curtesie hee would take in good parte their offer the rather for that there was a great Garrison within the Towne called thether for feare of surprise and a great number of Paisants were likewise retired thither out of the Countrie which caused the Cittie not to be so well able to spare her prouision The King after hauing conferred with his Councell began himselfe to repeate the cause which made him come into Germany in like sorte as the Constable had the day before deliuered how that victuals was a matter most necessary and not to be denyed to any person in the warde offring to pay for them were he not an enemy otherwise if his stoode in any need he would finde meanes to finde it cost as it could which would turne to a great damage as euery man might perceiue In the meane time he refused nothing which was offred but would needs haue bread the Deputies on the other side besought him that hee would be contented with corne as they could not fall to agreement so away they went without doing ought the Deputies being returned into the Towne the Senate ordained that albeit they were not able to deliuer any of the Corne within the towne yet they should make bread in the Countries neere hand as much as they might be able for they had both tolde the King and
to be the freest of all other was gouerned by strangers how the authoritye of the Princes Electors was from day to daye diminished how many thinges were done without euer once demaunding their aduice how sundrye appertinances were dismembred and cleane aliened from the Empire and the meanes sought how their right might be vtterly taken away from the chusing of the Emperour how in the imperiall daies for the most part they left behinde the opinions of the Electors how the particular assemblies of the Electors remained there I know not with what feare how their iurisdiction diminished for so much as contrarye to the ancient custome the Chamber receiued the griefes and complaints of those which were the appellants of that which they had ordained the differents of the estates of the Empire were therby increased and could not be pacified vntil both partes were greatly interessed how it grew to too great an expence and trouble but to haue audience in the Emperours Court for that causes could not ordinarily be throughlye vnderstoode for want of well vnderstanding the language how not onely great charge grewe thereof but much time there spent without any profit how at the imperiall dayes there was small amitye for if any one proposed ought for the benefite of the cōmon wealth it was strait construed in the worst part how Germany drew it selfe clean dry through these so often and long assemblies and in the meane time many things went to racke at home and yet for all that the publicke estate waxed not better but worse and stil enwrapped in more miseries how it was forbidden by a rigorous Edict that none shuld be entertained in wages by strangers how such as are reconciled are bound not to carrie armes against any of the Emperours prouinces and by that means are seperate from the Empire how those which in the warre of Smalcade serued but their owne Lords were condemned in great fines and how they leuied monie in like sorte of those which during the saide warre continually remained in the amitye of the Emperour yea vpon paine of seeing their goods solde before their eyes except they made a quick dispatch and because their Deputies accorded together incontinently proclamation was made that they should departe from the Court vpon paine of death how often they had brought strangers men at armes into Germany and after the last watre dispersed them throughout the prouinces where they committed a thousand villanies and disorders and bragging how they had tamed Germany and boasted that she should be annexed to the Emperours patrimony and how in the cheefe and principall Citties should be erected fortes and bulwarkes to bridle them in how as it were in mockery they carried out of Germany to strange nations great quantity of peeces of artillerie and furniture of warre how some for extreme couetousnes of vaine glorye haue engraued in such peeces as they caused to bee newe cast the armes of the Princes of Germanye as who would say that they had wonne them from them how they had imprinted little bookes yea with priuiledge of the Emperour to the great dishonour of Germany as if she had bene vtterly tamed and brought into bondage how at publique assemblies some were receaued to the number of the Princes and estates vnder the name of the Emperours prouinces which was craftily done to the end that the number being encreased they might gain their wils by multitude of voyces how foure yeares passed they had erected a Parlament of the Chamber and how lawes were priuatelye made by some and since published not without the great damage of a number and especially of those of the religion of Ausbourg for they gaue vnto them no place at all in this assemblye it is then most necessary said he that the lawes should be examined at the very first assembly Maurice proposed these things and sundry other more requiring to haue them amended considering how they touched the Empire and that the Empire might be restored to her antient brightnes and that it might not be lawfull for other to scoffe them or despise them the Commissioners after hauing consulted together iudged that these demaunds contained nothing in them but great equitie and yet to the ende the Emperours honour might be preserued and that himselfe might the rather be perswaded thereunto they were of opinion that many matters which concerned the reformation of the publique estate might very well be reserued to an imperiall day There was also Du Fresne the French Embassadour who made his oration in full audience of all the Princes the 13. of Iune saying That in olde time and long before euer the name of French was heard of among men there had bene so great a conformitie of life betweene the Gaulois and the Almans that at other times they were called by the Latins Germanes as brethren to the Gaulois but after that the French had seated themselues in Gaul the two nations were so vnited together that it was one selfe same Empire vnder the same Prince and the same lawes Afterwards as in change of time the empire was transferred to Germany so did the Saxons and other Emperours alwaies entertaine amitie with the French for because they were descended from the Kings of Fraunce in such sorte as Philip Augustus caused to be engraued in letters of golde that ancient alliance which was as it were cleane abolished thorough antiquitie and to be set vp in the most holye place and not without cause for whilest that this coniunction endured the common welth of both the people flourished and the force of Germany was so great as it gaue lawes not onely to the Hungarians Bohemians Pollakes Danes but also to the very Italians and the Kings of Fraunce in like sorte curious to amplifie Religion did often beare armes against Sarazins Turkes and other enemies of Christendome through Asia Affrica and Europe in atchiuing of most glorious victories Since that we are come in a more vnhappie age when as some Emperours as it were engraffed in and not of the naturall stocke of Germanes and vnworthye of their estate haue cleane abandoned this amitie of the Kings of Fraunce whereupon there ensued great misfortunes in the Common wealth But this soare was healed by the grace of God by meanes of the noble families of the Princes of Luxembourg out of which some Emperours descended men of high renowne and great freendes to the Kings of Fraunce for the Father of Charles the fourth died in fighting for the King of Fraunce The Princes of Austria haue bene in like sorte affected among whome Albert the first could not possibly be induced by any of the Popes promises or threats to make warre against Fraunce which hee recited to the end it might be vnderstoode how ill some of the familiars and and seruants to the most puissant emperour Charles the fifth order the common wealth not only seeking by all their trauell to disioyne these two most excellent Nations the one from the other
but before this thorough their subtilties and wilines they haue preuailed so farre as the most famous Prince King Frauncis was condemned for an enemy without being heard It is true that that redounded to their particular profite but to the great dammage of the Common-wealth for it may euidently enough be perceiued how hard a matter it is to decay the liberty of Germanye and to build their Realme to make it last so great and so long as the amity betweene these two nations hath endured for because at this present standing in feare of the French armies they proceede therein more slackely and insist not so liuely to impose their Spanish yoke they be they for certaine which haue obtained peace at the Turkes handes by praiers and tributes and who vnder colour of Religion and obedience haue brought a thousand enormities and factions into Germany which haue beaten her with her owne rodde warring against her with her owne power which haue drawne monie from all and rendred the condition of Germany into so pitious an estate as may be wel seene by the Spanish Garrisons disposed on the one side and the other which haue vnfurnished those places of armes where they were kept in store which haue made open the way to the examination of the treasure for it is growne to that passe at this day that the seale of the Empire and the iudgement of the Chamber and the right or priuiledge of imperiall dayes is in the sleeue of the B. of Arras for what meaneth this to execute by way of iustice or to banish in offring great rewardes to the murtherers all those as for their maintenance haue put themselues into the wages of strangers I omit so many murthers so many whordomes pilferies and sackings of Citties and aboue all religion which now was handled of one sorte and now of another accordingly as the time serued Certes whatsoeuer hath beene done since some yeares passed hath tended to no other end then to trouble the lawes of the Empire or constraine or allure King Ferdinand by faire promises as also to terrifie the Princes by feares and dreades to the end the Prince of Spaine might be chosen Emperour were it not rather to be wished by men of valour to dye then to see the light of the Sunne in such miseries and calamities I doe not think that any man can be found so blockish or barbarous that hee doth not feele himselfe galled with these thinges Therefore no man ought to maruell if at the last some Princes haue bene found and among them the Electour Maurice D. of Saxe which stand resolued to hazard their liues for the recouerie of the liberty of their common Countrie and which finding themselues too feeble and not able alone to sustaine the charge haue demaunded succour and alliance of the King of Fraunce who cleane forgetting any mislikes of the time passed hath not onely employed thereto all his wealth and treasure but also hath not spared his owne person in a matter of so great consequence contracting an alliance with them wherein among other thinges there is set downe that they shall not make any accorde with the enemy without the Kings good liking and albeit that Maurice be bound thereunto yet desiring the prosperitie of the Countrie and to accommodate himselfe to Ferdinand which did so earnestly require it he very lately besought the most christian King to signifie vnto him vnder what conditions hee would haue the peace treated of that to say the truth fell out otherwise then he hoped for considering his benefite towards them to haue beene such and so great that hee thought it fitter to entreate neerer hand and not so farre off of matters which so neerely concerned him neuerthelesse forsomuch as he euer preferred the publick weale before his owne particular hee would deny nothing to a Prince his allie wherefore if the soares of the common wealth might be healed as they ought and that good assurance may be giuen that in time to come they shall not be refreshed if the Captiue Princes may be released vnder the conditions set downe in the treatie further if the ancient alliances betweene Fraunce and the Empire and the last Capitulation with Princes may be so confirmed as that for euer they may remaine in force if these thinges I saye may bee well brought to passe he is so affectionate to the Common wealth that not onely he will willingly accord to a treatie of peace but also yeeld most humble thanks to God that herein he hath aided you with councell and succours As touching priuate matters as the Emperour hath detained from him many things by force and made warre vpon him without any iust occasion the King thinketh it a matter very reasonable that he which hath beene the occasion of the iniury should firste shewe the way of satisfaction The King in truth no whit distrusteth at all of his owne power nor yet of the equitie of his cause and notwithstanding hee will giue them to vnderstand how much hee loueth peace and how much hee desireth to agree with them all and with Maurice The Princes answered hereunto that his discourse fet from antiquitie as concerning the coniunction of Germany and Fraunce was most agreeable vnto them and no lesse that the King preferred the common wealth before his particular profite making no refusall to the confederate Princes accorde with the Emperour for it is not onely the profite of one nation but of all Europe which hauing beene turmoyled with ciuill calamities tended to an euident ruine As for the conditions which the K. demaunded they doubted not but that they might be obtained for the Emperour alwaies bare good will towards the common wealth both heretofore and in these present troubles he neuer vnderstoode that the libertye of Germany was any waies diminished There was likewise great hope that in very short space hee would set at libertie the Captiue Princes As touching the renewing of their ancient alliances the King well vnderstandeth in his owne wisedome that a matter of so great weight could not be brought to passe in this assembly notwithstanding they greatly desired that the amitie which euer had beene betweene the two nations might remaine firme and inuiolable they likewise desire aboue all the rest that the differentes betweene the King and the Emperour might be pacified protesting that therein they would neither spare trauaile not diligence whatsoeuer But forsomuch as the K. said that the Emperour did possesse sundry places which appertained to him and openly made shew of many which he would repeate it seemed vnto them a matter very reasonable that he should declare what they were for they were determined fullye to infourme the Emperour thereof and to be a meanes in the cause Further they besought the King to take the same in good parte That which the Embassadour spake of the familye of Luxembourg grew vpon this Henry Earle of Luxembourg had a sonne named Henry who afterwards was the
halfe a league from Mezieres to which it had doone many shrewde turnes because the Lord pretended certaine rightes besides that it was a retraite to all lewde persons an occasion that Frauncis the first had there builded a blockhouse which for all that serued to no purpose by meanes of the euil gouernement thereof The Lord of which had beene brought vp a Page in the Kinges house and euer held the French partie vntill that vpon some spite he changed for the Bourgonion crosse with which he dyed of the shiuer of a peece which hee tryed afterwards the King being determined of his returne and hauing made the D. of Niuernois Gouernour of Luxembourg all also furnished Roc de Mars and the other places with all necessaries notwithstanding the daily roades of Theonuille and other imperial places sent his armye to batter take and cut in peeces all those that were retired into the Castle of Trelon which was vndermined and raised as Glaion and other places and to content the olde Ensignes the sacke of Cimetz was bestowed on them a Towne and Castle of the Duke of Ascottes whither many of the Countrie and of Ardennes were retired with cheefest goods of valewe but seeing the batterye they cleane lefte the towne and ranne into the Castle the great Tower whereof was no sooner battered downe but those that were besieged being willing to parley were knocked downe by the Portail and other places where they found an entrance to sacke and rifle with so great greedines and indiscretion as within one of the towre vautes where the Powder lay were aboue sixe score Souldiars roasted by meanes of the fire which the kindled matches of some of the Harquebusiers put thereto After the Towne and Castle was consumed to ashes which greatly astonied the Bourguinions and other the borderers which already feared the siege of Auanes whether the King had indeede caused his armye to marche had it not beene for the sickenes which day by day encreased among the Souldiers of whome a good parte were alreadye secretly stolne away some charged with good booties some with sicknesse some with tedious and long paines and many with blowes more then riches hard to be endured in warre although but soddaine and of small continuance euen of the most hazardous An occasion that in the end of Iuly the armye was parted into Garrisons attending what the Emperour now would vndertake who much troubled with the Protestant Princes army of Germany saw him selfe then brought as it were into two extremeties either to accorde almost whatsoeuer Maurice and his cōpanions would demaund as well for Religion as the libertye of Germanye and so to enter into Fraunce and reuenge such iniuries as he had receiued by King Henry or else to let him alone at his ease to gaine the Countrie whereby he might another time enforce the Germanes to submitte themselues to the yoke of his power notwithstanding whether it were that an iniurye receiued from an equall seemed vnto him more hard to be abidden then the offence of an inferiour and one especially bound with a kinde of dutie of subiection or whether hee thought himselfe in better readines against the French or whether as some say that his hatred conceaued against King Henry did more passionate him then against any other Prince the Emperour resolued himselfe of a peace with Germany as it were to espouse a warre with Fraunce by such meanes as I will deliuer vnto you Maurice stood principally vpon two pointes besides the deliuerye of the Landgraue the one that Ferdinand with Maximilian his Sonne and the commissioners might from thence take notice of such matters as were hurtefull to the libertye of Germanye and iudge thereof according to the ancient custome of Germanye the other that Religion should be let alone in peace and no harme in respect thereof to any man in the Worlde vntill the difference might be decided The Commissioners allowed of this forme but the Emperour shewed what hee desired and iudged fitte how it was reasonable that such as had euer remained loyall towards him and thereby greatly fallen into calamities might receiue recompence for their losses After long debating and some articles eased it was concluded that the Emperour should giue his full answere by the third of Iulye and that in the meane time there should bee a truce and cessation of armes The Commissioners then sent their letters to the Emperour the 26. of Iune to exhorte him to a peace Afterwards the French Embassadour being pressed to deliuer the occasions of his Maisters discontentment and vnder what conditions he would enter into a peace hauing receaued newes from his Master answered that the King had not vndertaken this warre in respect of his own particular but to succour Germany so farre going to decay as touching the conditions of peace it was not the custome of the Kings of Fraunce to demaund it as became themselues in all respects therefore he did not thinke he had any cause to propose ought without an assured hope of obtaining the same especiallye considering that the Emperour had most vniustly made warre against him while he marched for their succours notwithstanding he would quit much for a peace so as he might see it generall and refused not but that they might take knowledge and determine of these differents to which if Charles would not doe reason he protested the fault shuld onely light of his necke for all the miseries which might ensue thereon In summe that these Princes perceiuing the delaies of the Emperour had no sooner besieged Francforte where was a great Garrison of the Emperours but by the aduise of the most parte of the Princes of Germanye the peace was concluded the last of Iulye 1552. See the occasions which draue the one and the other to conclude the same Among other reasons the great danger was laide before Maurice which he should stand in as well on the Emperours side which had alreadye prepared a great armie as of his Cosins behalfe Iean Frederic whom the Emperour meant to send home free into his Countrie The Emperour likewise stoode in feare of the force of the Germanes and of the French The Landgraues sonne for the long detention of his Father Among other articles the Captiue Princes were to be set at libertie no disquiet for their Religion which they would aduise of at the first assembly within sixe moneths the King of Fraunce was to declare vnto Maurice his demaunds Albert was comprehended therein if he layde downe armes The King misliked with the whole course yet hee sent back the Hostages and Maurice his to wit the Earle of Nanteuil and Iametz The Historie of Fraunce THE SECOND BOOKE YOu haue heere before seene what preparatiues the Emperour and the Catholicke Princes confederate for Religion made of all partes against the Protestant Princes to furnish the great armye that they might be able to the end they might range them at deuotion The Germanes notwithstanding
hee was not ignorant of permitted not that one should disfurnish a place of guarde chiefely of such importance of Metz of victuals and prouisions whereof it should be furnished to distribute them to a Campe which might be master of the field and follow any other way or Country as towards Sallines a most fertile Countrie wherin he should not onely finde all commodities but in eating and consuming thereof he should the more disaduantage the enemye in not being able to recouer the like there At which seeming to content himselfe he demanded some guide which knew the Country and might conduct him and lead him thither whereto was ordained by the Duke of Guise and expressely sent from Metz one Gaspard de Hus a natiue Gentleman of Metz notwithstanding in very short space he changed his minde for insteed of taking the waye towardes Sallines hee came the more neerer within one legue to Metz and encamped in a place called Aey where he made some stay vsing all the scales which he could imagine for vnder colour to gaine the good grace of the Emperour by some remarqueable seruice entising the Duke of Guise to giue him some trauerses or to trouble him by some disorder had not the Prudence of that Prince bene so great as to foresee and remedy the same Then hauing by diuers remoues trauersed all that Countrie and being turned towards Treues to fetche there a number of Souldiers which he had left there he came downe to Pont Camouson neuer hauing for al that resolued any thing with the B. of Bayonne either of his own appointment or pay of his people albeit that the King had againe sent back Lonsac vnto him for the very same cause notwithstanding he could conclude vpon nothing with him training alwaies the effect in diuersitie of demaundes coloured with faire wordes whereon it was a very vneasie matter to laye any foundation and therefore they entred into the greater suspition of him so as the first mistrust began to encrease more then before wherefore with as much speed as might be the King who hauing knowne the Emperours intents and preparatiues had alreadye caused all his Garrisons bandes and arriere bandes and other new companies to repaire vnto Champagne made his Campe to assemble at S. Michel a little towne of Lorraine vpon the riuer of Meuse sixe leagues on the side of Pont Camouson as farre from Verdun and ten long ones from Metz whether likewise repaired the Constable the D. of Neuers the Earle of Anguien the Prince of Conde the Earle of Aumale the Vice-count of Rohan the Marshall S. Andre Chastillon generall of the French Fanterie the Earle of Villars Bourdillon then ordained Marshall of the Campe the Earle Reingraue and Reiroc with their Regimentes of Lansquenets and sundrye other great Lords and Captains As touching the Imperiall armie it was altogether readie and grew great by view of the eye hauing so farre already marched as being arriued at Deuxponts it extended it selfe throughout all the Countrie of Vaulges in sorte that it was very requisite to lodge and cause to enter into Metz all such succours as well of men of artillerie and other munition as had beene determined to be sent thether and therefore the most commodiously that hee was able the Constable sent from Saint Michael the companies of horse and foote which were ordained to this purpose vnder the charge and conduct of Horace Farneze Duke of Castres carrying with him a number of pioners and store of pouder for the better strengthning of the towne though not in so great quantitie for all that as the Constable could haue wished and as hee had done without the feare he had of the Marquesse who was alwayes at Pont Camouson his men being ouer the plaine Country round about giuen to all insolencies of warre pilling leauing not ought but what they made no account of or could not carrie or beare away The which was found very strange and greatly augmented the distrust which might be had of him Notwithstanding to bring him to some reason they sent vnto him the Duke of Aumalle de Chastillon and the Earle of Reingraue to praye him to cause his people to leaue of their wasting and spoiling of the Countrie and finally to resolue with him the last accord of his appointment and paye of men Then they soone inough discouered what had bin before conceiued of him but as it were in a cloud rendering so ambiguous haughtie an answere with a spitefull and malecontent iesture that he demanded almost the moitie of a kings ransome for appointment And as touching the order of his mens liuing hee shewed that he had alreadie setled his affaires answering in the end with an assured resolution that he was a friend to the king and an allie to the house of Lorrain but hee meant that his souldiers should haue wherewithall to liue and take it where they could find it in case of refusall he was resolued what he had to do and whether to retire himselfe yea so far as refusing to receiue such monie as the Constable had sent vnto him Whereby they well perceiued how he was reconciled to the Emperor by the practise of some Who perceiuing that he was out of his reach for doing him any harme and that he had himselfe great need of people pardoned him all his faults and forbad that any should make his processe in respect of the war passed ratified the contracts made with the B. of Bamberg and Wicibourg released him of going to the war in Hungary yea so farre as to agree with him the more he pardoned the Earles of Itigen both father and son Albert de Mansfeld and his children Now the Emperor lying sicke of his gouts and as well for this cause as for the importunitie of the time his armie soiourning in the countye of Vaulges with as great dilligence as was possible they placed againe the French army at S. Michel strengthned it as well with the French Fanterie Germans Zuizers to the number neere hand of 30000. footmen and betweene seuen and eight thousand horse wherefore the French began to hope better than euer so as the aduise of some was to charge vpon the Marques whilest that the greater armie of the enemie was so far of the meanes were the gallantnes of the French armie the discontentment of the Marquesses people not able besides to make anie retrait into anie place wherein they should not be pursued as enemies for their insolencies passed present to come Other preuailed in councell which perswaded that it would be better to goe more couertly to worke and vnderhand to withdraw the better part of his captains souldiers by meanes of such Germanes as were alreadie come to the kings seruice with assurance of redie paie good intertainment to come Which was so wel handled that with a great mutiny hapned between themselues the colonell Reif-berg with his regiment accepted from thence forward
you to thinke what good husbandrie there was made The Comissarie was founde there hidde in the bedstrawe and wyth these marchants was carryed prisoner to Thoul the victuals and prouisions dispearsed and spoyled as much as they coulde They did as much at Espinau a castle scituate vpon Mozelle and Rimiremont where great violence was offered to the Abbesse and Ladies especially by the Italians which were newly come from the Emperous campe to the Kings seruice The Duke of Neuers had sent Chastellus Lieutenant of Bordillons companie towardes Metz with like number of Cauallerie to learne out and make a certaine report of the truth of this retrait Who passing by the Pont Camouson founde that the Count of Aiguemont with his regiment of Cauallerie was departed thence where was onely remayning a great number of miserable sicke creatures From whence he passed as farre as Metz where hee found that the Dukes of Alua and Brabanson with the greatest part of the imperiall armie were dislodged in straunge disorder departing in the night with two fires onely for signall the most secretly that they could without anie noise trumpets fifes and drums sleeping the tents lefte behind and great quantitie of all sorts of harnesse and weapons pipes full of cannon pouder with an infinite deale of moueables and stuffe and vnder the ground a great part of theyr artillerie remaining for hostages an incredible multitude of sicke persons towards whom the Duke of Guise and the rest of the chiefe euen to the simplest French souldiers vsed most great charitie furnishing them with all necessaries and such releefe as poore sick strangers had need of Vpon the tayle charged the Vidasme of Charstres so as hauing defeated a companie of light horse and caused a great deale of theyr pouder which hee had taken awaie in theyr sight to be burned hee returned wyth more prisoners than he was willing wythout the losse of anie one of his owne The Marques Albert remayned the last to serue for helpe and arreregard not without great paine and hazard thorough the continuall alarums which daie and night hee receyued Besides that he prayed the Duke of Neuers to hasten him to go so as the third of Ianuarie he departed from Thoul with his men at armes and cauallerie and three Ensignes of fanterie accompanied with Bordillon and sundrie other Gentlemen and Captaines After he went to dine at Pont Camouson where the rest of that daie he tarryed to heare newes of the Marshall of Saint Andre who was gone the lower waie hauing in lyke sort sent Mouie to the Duke of Guise praying him to aduertise him of the resolution of that affayre whose aunswere hee attended But Chastellus being returned and by him assured of the whole especially how the Marques sought all meanes to saue himselfe and retire hee went forwards towardes Metz with two hundred horse The rest of that daie the Princes tooke great pleasure to see the braue sallies and skirmishes of theyr souldiers Vpon the Marques his Germanes whom they went to seeke out in their owne forte and giue them thrusts of pikes and harquebuze shot euen within theyr tents to prouoke them to come out into the plaine to fight which they woulde not doo but by constraint keeping still close together and vnited wythout breaking or seuering themselues In this estate and paine were they constrained to tarrie from morning vntill night not once daring to inlarge themselues so much as to seeke out victuals For as soone as they were found in anie small number by and by by the Marangetz and Fouillardz villaines of the Countrie they had theyr throates cut and were defeated Wherewith being the more annoyed they ought rather to come out as the French desired considering that they coulde not inforce them but with greate losse Therefore to the end they might the more vexe them the Duke caused foure meane Culuerines to bee placed in a lyttle Ilande aboue Pont au Mores which shot euen within them In summe they dyd so sore annoye them as two dayes after the Marques hauing lost the better parte of his men departed thence in a farre lesse number than hee came with taking his waie towards Treuues Hee was a little followed after and they made a good market wyth his people being combatted inough wyth colde famine and other miseries But the French moued with pittie made no account thereof but in stead of tormenting them they opened vnto them the passage and suffered the members to go scotfree wishing onely that they might haue gotten the head to haue paid for all The Duke of Guise aduertised the King by Randan of all the successe of his siege who after hauing yeelded thankes vnto God for so good an issue commaunded that they should make publyke and general processions throughout his Realme to praise and thanke God of so great and especiall a grace for all France The Duke of Guise dyd the lyke at Metz wyth a generall procession where he himselfe was present with all humilitie and deuotion as also dyd the rest of the Princes and Lordes which accompanyed him to wit the Princes of D'anguien de Conde Montpensier la Roche Suryon de Nemours Horace Farneze Pierre Strossie le Vidasme de Chartres Montmorencie D'anuille de Gonor gouernour of Metz De la Brosse Lieutenant of the Duke of Lorraines companie and De la Rochefoucaut the Vizecount of Turaine and De Martiques D'elangues Entragues De Biron and Saint Remy and generally all the Captaines Gentlemen and souldyers which remayned after the siege Afterwardes hauing ordered the garrison which should remaine there within and disposed of all the rest of the affaires the musters being taken as wel of the men at armes as the fanterie he gaue leaue to all to go repose and refresh themselues in their owne houses and he himselfe went to the Court leauing De Gonnor to command in his place During the time that the Emperour patiently carryed the misfortune happened vnto him vnder a hope of a more fauourable to come and as hee retired to the Low Countries hee excused himselfe towardes the Princes and Cities of the Empire of so pittifull successe laying it vpon the slacknes of theyr forces and meanes For which cause sayde hee hee was inforced to set vpon that place in the dead of winter The King of France triumphed ouer his miseries and increasing them by his Letters and Embassages to all Christian Princes the more to diminish the authoritie and credite of his enemie whose power hee sayde was altogether broken by the issue of so miserable a siege passed the most parte of the times for reuenge of so great raines and sicknes as had beene indured by the continuance of the warres passed in ease and reioycings which hee tooke in feastings tiltings turney and other royall pleasures among which the marriage made at Paris wyth rare magnificence betweene Horace Farneze Duke of Castres and the Ladie Diana his natural daughter was most famous But
woordes and wrighting Among other meanes and perswasions wherewith hee serued himselfe to bring them to this poynt he vsed these Whilest that you make ciuill warre one vpon another the Turke stretcheth out at large his dominion and hath already taken two fortes by land and Sea to wit Belgrade and Rhodes by meanes whereof hee hath made his way as farre as Bude and is growne maister of the Danube that if God had not raised him vp the K. of Persia for an enemie it is very likely that long since he had put all Christendome vnder his obedience By this occasion many false Christians are so multiplyed in diuers places with such corruption of all kinde of discipline as well ecclesiasticall as ciuill as your power is not great enough to punish and correct them which the mutinies growne in so many places well declare the offices of religion left the schismes and heresies which in the meane time engender and grow throughout all Countries you ought to consider your own dutie and aboue all that you be Princes of christian religion And albeit that God hath permitted Satan the author of all mischeefe who goeth about to sifte the Church like Corne to moue warre among you who are the two most principall and noblest members of the Church yet hath hee not permitted his malice to exceede prophane and ciuill actions for hee hath counter garded you entirely in one religion in one same faith and opinion assembled and vnited in one selfe same body of the Church otherwise it were not possible to finde meanes to set you at accorde And albeit that many other Princes are reuolted from the Church and that the enemye of mankinde hath spread his malice throughout God notwithstanding hath looked vpon you in pittie and brought to nought the attemptes of the Deuill In which as for a certain signe of his bounty and clemency towards you he sheweth that finally he wil be serued by you and vnite you with one fraternall bond together with his Vicar on earth to take away these so perillous discordes and restore againe peace as well in the ciuill as ecclesiasticall estate Pole alleadged many other thinges to this purpose greatly threatning them with the wrath and vengeance of God if they did not leaue of these their passions and take compassion of the poore people so greatly afflicted And albeit that he preuailed nothing yet for so much as the affaires of England came to his wish hee insisted in such sorte as hee caused the Emperour and the King of France to come to this poynte to sende Embassadours on the one parte and the other The Queene of England who carried her selfe neuter in this cause caused a place to bee chosen neate and proper in the fielde betweene Cales Ardes and Graueline Townes vnder the subiection of England France and Burgondie scituate as in a tryangle then hauing made cast a trenche round she caused foure lodginges to be reared vp for the time onely but commodious enough where the three and twentith daye of May the Embassadours assembled On the Emperours parte the Bishop of Arras among other for the French King were the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Constable for England to mediate the Peace was Pole the Earle of Arundel and Paget The brute hereof being spread abroade gaue men occasion to think and hope for much especiallye those who vnderstoode not the deapth of the differences for there was question made of the Duchies of Milan Bourgondie Sauoye Piemont Corse Nauarre Lorraine Luxēbourg of the Townes of Thou Verdun and Metz matters hauing beene long and stiffelye debated as among other difficulties the English mediators were of opinion that the knowledge of certaine of the differents were fitte to be reserued to the deciding of a Councell they all departed thence without doing ought The tenth of Iune Ferdinande and the estates of the Empire besought the Emperour by their letters that in treating of peace he would haue especiall regarde to what the K. of France had taken away from the Empire Now nothing being accorded betweene the Embassadours the Emperour wrote backe fifteene dayes after to the estates in like substance The Emperours letters to the states I Greatly reioyced to see that you tooke pittie of those whom the enemie to my selfe and the Empire hath sacked I alwaies had especial care that they shold be restored into their former estate and before I receiued your letters I gaue expresse charge to my Embassadours and principall Councellors deputed for a peace that they should in any wise presse this without yeelding one inche And albeit that in all the treaties of peace which I haue made I thought in respect of the publike tranquilitie they would not bee to obstinate yet they are departed away without doing ought and notwithstanding I doe not refuse a peace for the good of Christendome so as they make me any reasonable offers and as opportunitie shall be offred I will straine myselfe to get such goods as haue beene pluckt from the Empire restored into their former estate See how God which hath the harts of Kings in his hands making each partie to iudge the others demaunds to vnreasonable would not permit Christendome so soone to enioy a benefit so much desired In sort that each one keeping himselfe vpon feare of a surprisal easily made his neighbor thinke how the cariadges of the Garrisons round about tended to more high enterprises So as these two Princes tickled with the like feare and quickly taking one anothers actions for a sufficient defiance of warre as Henrie deuided his men where he saw it most needfull the Emperour first put his armie into the field of twentie thousand fighting men vnder Martin Roussan bastard of Cleues who after many roades burnings and vncredible wasts all along the Meuse encamped at Deux Giuets minding to build a fort vpon that mountaine at the foot whereof this riuer runneth there by to bridle all the quarters round about make a sure retreate there for al such as were able to endomage the French The D. of Neuers in the meane space hauing taken good order for Maizieres and other places of importance resolued by the K. commaundement to victuall well Mariemburg And to that end hauing speedily and secretly made ready all preparations as well of men as victuals munitions and companies vnder the Comte of Retheloix he sent three hundred harquebusiers as well French as English and Scots mounted to discouer and bring backe word to the cheefe of the eight hundred light horse which followed them what they should discry who with the leader of the vantgard of two hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins which marched after and a number of harquebusiers close to the winges of the wagons prouided therto whatsoeuer was needfull according to the generals commaundment who led the battell of three hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins hauing on his backe the arrieregard of two hundred men at armes
in Italy commanded the viceroy of Naples Dom Garzie de Toledo that assembling together all the forces which he possibly could he should blocke in the Sienois as much as in him lay Which he accordingly did in Ianuary 1548. with twelue thousand footmen and fifteene hundred horse as well Almanes as Neapolitanes In the meane time the K. had sent the Cardinall of Ferrare to Siene and De Termes with two thousand pioners assisted with the D. of Some Earle of Saint Flour and other of the Vrsins fortefying the places as they should see neede Corneille Bentinuogle entred into Rosie with fifteene hundred souldiers Iohn de Thurin with three hundred men had the charge of Mont-alcin Malian was giuen to Chiarmont and La Turrite was gouernour thorough Galeas de Saint Seuerin with three hundred men Ciusi to Paul and Iordan Vrsins with two thousand men vnder Asinolonga At Monticelle were Cipierre Guy de Bentiuogle and the Earle of Petiglian with fiue hundred light horse at Port Telamon was the Earle of Mirendolle and a Satean Ioachin a Gascoine Captaine accompanied with two hundred men So as all de Termes his forces deuided thoroughout all the garrisons amounted to twelue thousand footemen besides the Cittizens in great number all enemies to the Spanniards and Florentines But there was not aboue fiue hundred horse euerie man trauailing to fortefie and prouide for their places De Termes and other euen to the verie women tooke maruelous paines to assure La Capitalle whilst that the viceroye ouerranne the countrie and attempted the townes which hee thought to carrie by open force surprise or intelligence Conducting the armie with Ascanio de La Corne hee tooke some and was forced to discampe before other as at Moultacin which was succoured with the men which Bellegard nephew to De Termes caused to enter in The intelligence which he had in Siene was discouered and albeit the Cardinall cōmitted him vnto prison which carried the newes yet he set him againe at libertie wherupon this Prelate was euer since suspected of treason In this time did Charles D. of Sauoye driuen out of his countrie by the Kinge of France leauing for heire of all his rights his onely Sonne Philibert Emmanuel to whome for recompence of many seruices the Emperour gaue the Earledome of Ast to enioy it vntill he should be able to recouer his owne inheritance Charles was buried at Verceil almost in magnificence Royall In the meane space the Marshall Brissac Leiutennant generall for the K. in Piemont hauing taken Yuree and Verceill without the Castle and pilled the treasures of the Sauoyon within the Church of Saint Eustace astonied many men in Lombardie But approching neere Milan Fernand Gonzaque came verie fitly with forces for the Emperour An occasion that Brissac retired backe to Yuree and quitted Verceil which he was not able to keepe without the Citadell The Imperials then not able to master Siene retired by little and little so as De Termes had leasure enough to passe into Corse and there to take the Towne of Saint Florent and Boniface a porte of the Sea in times past the porte of Siracuse from the Genowaies which gouerned there in parte From whence retiring into France being called backe by his Prince he left behinde him a good Garrison and Iordan Vrsin his Maiesties Lieutenant to commaund there with a number of French Captaines The King in the meane time to be reuenged of the Duke of Florence who held the Emperours cause against him and the Sienois De Termes being called home sent Pierre Strossy for his Lieutenant General into Tuscane with a number of men at armes charged to draw vnto him his Brother the Prior of Capoue who was retired from the seruice of the French the which he did and went with him to La Mirandelle to raise there an army Being arriued at Siene and communicating his charge with the Cardinall of Ferrara he thought it not best that he should declare himselfe so soone for many reasons especially for that he had no iust occasion to warre against the Florentine except it were founded vpon the ancient and immortal hatred betweene the Strozzis and Medices Strozzy notwithstanding leuied at Rome Vrbin and other places where men make market of their life as many men as hee was able whereof the Florentine aduertised Pope Iuly exhorting him to driue the French out of Tuscane and suppresse the glory of the Sienois promising him that that done he would giue his daughter in mariage to the nephew of his holynes and giue her a better portion then all the rest of his children sauing the Prince setting downe in like hand vnto the Emperour the danger of his estates in Italy if the King should make himselfe more great in Tuscane and the meanes which might growe vnto him both in Lombardy and the kingdome of Naples in such sort as the Pope and the Emperor ioyning themselues with him gaue charge to Iacques Le Medecin Marquesse of Marignan a valiant and wise Cheefe to leauie an army to this effect who gathering together all his forces and assuring himselfe in his espials and diligences more then any other meanes did so much as the Sienois fearing nothing and forgetting the charge which their Gouernour had giuen vnto them to finishe the fortifications of theyr Towne Rodolphe Baglion Perusin generall of the light cauallerie comming about the beginning of Ianuary 1554. by night to Siene with such diligence and so secret was without the care of Laurens de Chastillon who made the round vpon the walles the Towne had become imperiall yea the Florentines themselues confessed that after the assault well defended if the Sienois had but salied out vpon them tyred with so long trauaile and sleepe they had bene all defeated But the Cardinall fearing least they might haue some intelligence within the towne contented himselfe with those which were slaine on the diches and rampire the Maquesse notwithstanding encamping before the Towne wasted the whole Country afterwards he battered the towne so furiously as he had put them in great necessity had not Strozzy who already had well furnished the strong places of the Country by his entry into the Town encouraged the harts of the besieged and diminished as much the hope of the enemies Of whome hauing vnderstoode how Baglion and Ascane de la Corne had enterprised vpon Chiusi one of the twelue ancient Citties of Hetruria he went to charge them with sixe hundred Souldiers so hottely as Baglion remaining there dead and de La Corne prisonner afterwardes sent captiue into Fraunce the affaires of the Emperour beganne to growe in euill case Ioynte that the Kinge to make himselfe the stronger in Italy sent ouer and aboue the supplye of fiue thousand souldiers Zuizers and Gascons with some light Cauallerie promising besides to send vnto him succours by Sea which entred into Siene without the enemies being witting thereof at all The which emboldned Strossi to come foorth with sixe
a peace with the Spaniarde Who in the meane time determined to plant agayne the siege before Rome not that hee was in anie hope to take it but onely to inforce the Pope to a peace which hee knew was greatly desired by the Catholike king But the Duke of Guise vnderstanding this desseine and the effects thereof fayled not to approach vnto Tiuoli a place scituated vppon the Teueron to front the enemie and to inforce him to leauie his siege The which was the cause that by all the meanes they possiblie coulde they hastned the treatie of the peace sought by the Venetians and the Duke of Florence The Pope sending on the eight of September in his name the Cardinalles Carlo Caraffe Saint Fior and Vitolloce with some Romane Lordes towardes the Duke of Alua who as then laie at Canie a place scituate in the Romane Countrie neere to Pilastrine to conferre of the whole Betweene whome it was concluded and agreed that the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe woulde resolue thereof together at Benessan which is not farre from them hauing each of them ample power and commission from theyr master to determine and conclude of all thinges according as the Popes Letters carryed for the Cardinall Caraffe dated the eighth daie of September 1557. at Rome and king Phillips for Don Ferdinande Aluarez de Toledo Duke of Alua dated the fiue and twenteeth of Iuly In summe the peace was concluded betweene the Pope and the Spaniard and such were the Articles That the Duke of Alua dooing all kinde of obeysances due and submissions in the name of the king of Spaine his master should beseech pardon of the Popes holynesse That hee shoulde receiue him as his good and obedient sonne participating vnto him such graces as were common to other That king Phillip shoulde doo the lyke by an Embassadour expresly sent from him to Rome That the Pope as a mercifull and debonarie Father shoulde receiue the Catholique king as his sonne and giue vnto him all such graces as hee was wont to doo and accorde to other Christian kings That his holynesse shoulde renounce the league with the French king and declare himselfe a father to the one and the other of both the kinges wythout anie one more than the other That the Catholique King shoulde render vp all the townes places castles and fortresses beeing of the domaine of the Church which had bene taken since the ouerture of this warre Hee shoulde make bee builded agayne and repayred all such as had beene ruined and dismembred by the Spaniardes That all the artillerie taken on the one side or the other in what sorte so euer shoulde bee restored againe into the handes of his auncient possessour That they shoulde forget all such executions as had ben done by iustice during this warre were it by death or bannishment and all confiscations of what persons whatsoeuer wythout anie mannes researching after into them As also all such as thorough this dissention were driuen out of theyr landes goods and dignities shoulde bee restored into theyr good renowme goods honours states and dignities right actions and Seignouries Prouided that they had lost these thinges by meanes of this warre to the ende this peace might not bee auaileable to Marke Anthonie Colone nor to Ascaigne de la Corne but that they shoulde remayne outlawed at the will and discretion of the holy Father That the Dutchie of Palliane should bee put in such estate as it was then by the consent and good liking of both partyes into the hands of Iean Barnardin Carbon which was the sequestrer who should sweare to the Pope and the Catholique King to keepe faith to both parties and obserue the articles and agreements made and accorded betweene the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe Which Carbon was to haue the keeping of the Towne of Palliane hauing vnder him eight hundred souldyers payed by the Pope and the Catholique king These Articles were sworne to in the name of the sayde Princes the Pope and king Phillip by the Cardinall Caraffe and the Duke of Alua according to the Commission and faculties giuen vnto them swearing by the soules of theyr Princes to obserue all the whole without fraude cauelling or anie exception whatsoeuer adding a truce for a certayne time contayning pasport and safeconduct to the Duke of Guise and to all the Captaines and souldyers of the king of France to departe out of Italie and the Countries appertayning vnto king Phillip as well by sea as by land Afterwardes they signed and sealed the whole in the presence of the Cardinals of S. Flour and Vitelle who lykewise signed the present Treatise And forsomuch as it was not set downe therein to whome Palian shoulde appertaine since that the sequestrer kept it in the name of both the princes contracting there were secrete articles agreed vpon between the Cardinal Caraffe and the Duke of Alua. In which it was contained how that it should remaine at the will and discretion of the catholike king either to ruine or leaue that place in her entire without being lawful for him to repair or fortifie it vntill the sayd Lord King had giuen some place of like value and reuenew to the Popes sonne for recompence And anie difference falling out vppon that exchange the Senate of Venice shoulde giue iudgement thereof wythout either the one or the other parties refusing to obey what shuld be ordayned by that Seignorie And the recompence beeing once made by king Phillip hee might then bestowe the place of Palian vppon whom it liked him best sauing anie such as were an enemie to the Church of Rome And that he which should haue Palian in sequestration should bee bound to depart so soone as the place were dismembred Such was the issue of the affayres of Italie and of the armie which the King sent for the Popes succour the which was followed with a strange ouerflowing inundation of Tiber as I will cause you to see elsewhere Now that each partie had of a long time turned his desseignes to the warre couered notwithstanding by the conclusion of this truce yet had the Spanish Councell much better and from longer hande prouided for the preparatiues and inconueniences thereof For Phillip put as soone an armie agaynst that of Italie by which he drew out of the realme the flower of the nobilitie and the most renowmed Captaines and souldiers which were there the most accomplished and best furnished with all necessaries of anie that had beene seene of long time To the end hee would not faile to set forward his first fortune which he meant to proue in the view of all the potentates of Europe especially of the French in whome hee meant to ingraue by the beginning of his enterprises such a dread of his forces means as that for euer after they should bee more stayed and lesse stirring against him than they had beene against anie of his ancestors Henrie on the contrarie as the
the Duke of Guise that after that hee had to his best aduauntage accorded with the Pope and the Spaniardes hee shoulde bringe awaye the Armye into Fraunce with as much speede as were possible This Prince sodenlie let the Pope to vnderstand thereof and made him priuie of the necessity which called him backe into Fraunce and how his Princes affayres went Beinge the cause which made him to beseech his holines to license him and permit him to retyre after such time notwithstanding as he had compounded to his owne profit the estate of his affaires The Pope then being alredy desirous to ende this warre from which hee knewe that on the other side to bee proceeded as hee sawe it euidently and doubted least it woulde take ende with the ruine of one of these Princes and finally with his owne together with a confusion of the Ecclesiasticall estate and infinitnes of other mischeefes purposed more then before to bee agreed with Kinge Philip which wrought that ende whereof I before made mention So as the peace beinge concluded and published with all magnificence on Sonday being the 19. of that moneth the Duke of Alua entred into Rome about one of the clocke in the after noone with great apparances of ioy aswell by the salutations of the artillarie as an infinite number of squibs and other merimentes which they are accustomed to make especially in those parts at the welcome and amiable entertainement of any great Prince The Monday following they helde Consistorie where there were chosen deputed two Legates to intreate of an vniuersall peace The one which was the Cardinall of Tiuoli towardes the most Christian Kinge of France and the other which was the Cardinall Carlo Caraffe towardes the Catholique King Philip. The Duke of Guise in the meane space departed out of Italie to take his way into Fraunce and to imbarke himselfe at Ostia in the gallies french vessels which attended him with a sorte of Lordes Captaines and two thousande harquebusiers the other parte of the Armye vnder the conducte of the Duke D' Aumalle returned through the Popes lands towardes Bologne and Ferrara and so from thence they passed all for the most parte through the Grisons and Zuizers into Fraunce where the Duke of Guise beinge arriued was sodenly sent for to addresse an armie at Compienne At which place the Kinge being anone after arriued declared all such as were then in Courte beeing present howe that the Duke of Guise was come iumpe for the preseruation of his Realme and it was proposed to treate him Viceroy of Fraunce But this title beinge thought strange it was commaunded that letters shoulde bee dispatched to make him Lieuetenante Generall ouer all the Countries within his obedience The which were dispatched by Du Thier secretarie of the Commaundementes and afterwardes receyued and verified by the Parlamente of Paris and other soueraigne Courtes of the Realme whereof notwithstanding shortely after the Kinge excused himselfe towardes his Goship so he named the Constable sendinge him worde by secreate Letters that hee was constrained to doe as hee did and that hee shoulde not bee greeued for ought in that hee still reserued his place for him for he was so farre off from hauing the frendshippe which hee boare vnto him any wayes cooled through his absence and captiuitie that contrariwise it inflamed him the more so farre as that hee most diligently aduertysed him of all his secretest affayres without communicating ought gently aduertysed him of all his secretest affayres without communicating ought to any other Whereof Kinge Philip being aduertysed knew well enough how to make his profit as you shall see else where In this same tyme there happened in like sorte straunge floudes and inundations of Riuers at Rome and likewise at Florence That at Rome fell out the same day of the peace beeing the fourteenth of September Tiber one of the most renowned Riuers of Europe which some notwithstandinge number amonge the swift snowie streames being greatly swelled as though it woulde threaten Rome with great ruines encreasinge howrely for the night followinge it began to inlarge it selfe ouer all the lowe groundes of the medowes and vineyardes rounde about The next day it being encreased and broken in throughout the towne all the channels and gutters of the streetes and houses standing full the depth thereof was found in some places of the towne of the height of a man and more in the place D'Agone A la Roconde and A la Doanâ— So farre was this meruelous and dreadfull inundation from giuing leasure to the people to reioyce at this peace as that it made them more astonished and desolate then before which caused a number to thinke that it happened as a signe and aduertisement from God eyther for matters present or to come or rather to moue vs to a conuersion and amendement of our sinnes Nowe this furie of the water endured all that day and vntill foure of the clocke at night that it began a little to ebbe and decrease so as by the next morning at breake of day it was ebbed more then a shaftemente and then by little and little decreasing euery man in the afternoone might easily goe about this busines The depth of the water as some haue saide in many places exceeded the marke which was left at the other inundation in the yeare 1530. Others were of opinion that it wanted an handbredth Whereupon they alleadged many reasons among other that the Caues which were made and coured within Rome for it is augmented in buildinges a third parte had receiued and swallowed vp a great parte of the water Some iudged that the great number of newe streetes was a cause of the depth and other affirmed howe that the earth which was raysed vp since that time caused it seeme higher then it was But they which iudged it to bee the greatest say that it fell out so for that in the towne of Horta and Narin and all other places where it passed alongest it left behinde it a great abatement and ruine of houses hauing caried away halfe the bridge of Saint Marie together with the excellent chappell which Pope Iulie the thirde caused to bee builded there it vndermined and remoued certaine great peeces of marble great quarters of stone which defended the bridge of Saint Ange. It raysed and renuersed a great parte of the bulwarkes and bastions which they had caused to bee builded a yeare since ioyning to the Castle Besides that it threwe downe halfe the Temple and most parte of the buildinges of Saint Barthlemewes monasterie seated in the Ilande of Tiber. Briefely there was not within all Rome either pallace or building alongest which this furious rage of waters had passed which carried not some marke and testimonye of the wrath and violence of this angrie Element As touching that of Florence by the breaking forth of the Riuer Arno men iudged it farre greater then that at Rome and to haue
that they hasted forwardes the Swizers and Almaines the Frenche Fanterie and Cauallerie to furnishe out the Rende-vous so as within fiueteene dayes they mought make vp the fourme of an Armie yet euen in the very beginning of September it yeelded vp The which was founde very straunge considering that the place was strong and well prouided of all that was necessarie to a Frontire at the least it was looked for that they shoulde haue tarryed the Assaulte An occasion that the King caused him to be clapped vp Prisoner as soone as hee was come to Paris But hee was set at libertie declaring howe hee had beene disappoynted of such necessarie Succoures as hee required of two thousand men in such sorte as D'Estre the Gouernour in former time had vpon any Siege Besides that the enemies hauing founde the Castle without any ditche on that side where they beganne their principall Batterie and a Bastion fallen downe not yet repayred vp in such sorte behaued themselues as that the ordinarie souldiers of the Guarde of that Bastion were soone constrained to abandon it thorough the great quantitie of Bricke and mould which endamaged them and ordinarily fell vpon them the Batterie beeing so violent and furious as in a small space it made a waye for a horse to be able to get vp vpon the Bastion the waye lying all open to come from thence to the breache which albeit it was not altogether sufficient waxed wyder within two volleyes of the Cannon and enlarged it selfe sixe score pace or more the Wall alreadye bowyng and yeelding of the same length and the earth opening a pace in breadth and in deapth the length of a pike Which the Souldiers once perceyuing who were not in the whole nomber three hundred nor halfe of them in health and strength they were so astonished and despayred that notwithstanding any perswasions which the Captaynes coulde vse many stucke not to saye they woulde not fight at all not knowing howe they were able to doe the King any Seruice therein and therefore they thought it better to reserue themselues for some matter of greater importaunce Howesoeuer it was whether grounded or no vpon the feare which they conceaued the Frenche were in least that the Imperialles woulde pursue further their good fortune and duetie against such an inconuenience King Philip to whome the besiegers of the Castelet came to vnite themselues at Fon-Some attended their aunswere of his aduertisement from the Emperour his Father to congratulate with him his prosperitie beseeching him further to commaunde and ordayne what next hee was to enterprise But as a blade rusteth if it be let lie continually within the sheathe so the souldier which is not employed doeth lightly abuse his rest For the Almaines and Spanyardes quickely mutined among themselues for the bootie of Saint Quentins and raunsome of the prisoners which were taken the day of the Battaile some alleadging among other occasions howe that King Philip and the Duke of Sanoye sought to retyane all the great prisoners which exceeded a certayne summe of purpose to pulle them out of the handes of the Almaine Lordes who without all doubte atchieued the greatest honour of the Battayle so farre forth as they were all readie to departe the rather for that the time of their oath was now expired An occasiō the french did turne the matter to their owne aduantage withdrawing out of that nation as many malcontents as they could finde vpon any occasion whatsoeuer Hereupon the Spaniarde addressed himselfe to Han to erect a stronge place vpon the frontiere which might serue for a succour and support to S. Quentins the which hee determined to make impregnable according vnto such models as the enioyners had prescribed vnto him thereby to establish from his lowe countries easie daies iourneyes of retreat when he would either goe in or come out of Fraunce as it shoulde seeme best vnto him Now as vpon new occurrents alwaies proceed new determinations the D. of Neuers being constrained to chaunge the estate and imagination of his defensiue retired his men of warre from sundry garrisons which he had into such places as were neerest vnto Han to the ende that the imperials shoulde not inlarge themselues into any greater a compasse likewise to the ende they might alwaies wast the country before them and famish them by cutting of their victuailes on all sides the french had deuised to make a remouing Campe which for this effect they might enclose and assure with trenches Palissades and other Romane inuentions but the longe delay of their prouisions and soddanes and their enemies cleane broke of this determination The Cheualier Hely with a number of horse entred within the place to succour it running ouer as many enemies as durst stoppe the passages of Han which hee found open without any thinge to commaande it beinge flankerde on the one side with the Riuer of Some and on the other with a Marish being in diuers places aboue one hundred thousande paces broade hauing very little firme or drie grounde to bee able to set foote vpon There is a village and a Castle the village in the state which it was then in was not able to holde out in any kinde of sorte and albeit that there were certaine foundations and fashions of bulwarkes yet they were so open and euill to bee defended as that there was no account at all to bee made thereof The Castle was of a goodly shewe and represented it selfe furious enough according to the olde fortifications beeing in forme square flankerde with fower rounde bulwarkes with a grosse square towre and massiue of a large thicknes seruing for a platforme to the Courtines which were ioyned vnto it and commaundinge in all and through all the Castle But the whole was of drye stones and Masons worke without any rampiers of earth or other fortifications according to the moderne inuentions to sustaine defend a place long time against the blusterousnes and furie of our Cannons Notwithstanding that the way might not bee altogether open and free to the Spaniarde to enter further in if he found not a stoppe Sepois which was Gouernour had giuen the Kinge aduise to burne the towne in case seege were laide vnto it whereby the enemie might haue no place to lodge in But as for the Castle men might holde and keepe it for a fewe dayes whilest that they shoulde bee the better able to fortefie themselues for it was easie to iudge that hauing taken Han hee woulde neuer ende there but passe on further where he might cast himselfe nowe on the right hande and nowe on the lefte and so daylie addresse himselfe to such places as were weake and likely in a shorte time to be caried to the ende he might not lose and euill employ the season which serued so fitte and proper for him I haue let you to vnderstande how that to bee meete with the inconueniences of the battell of Saynte Quentins among other preparatiues the Kinge had sent vnto