the Emperour prompt and actiue in his actions pricked besides with an extreame desire of reuenge which by all meanes in all places hee practised soone troubled this good cheere for in the beginning of the spring with such a number as hee was able to assemble and first vnder the conduct of du Reux hee sent to besiege Terroanne But preuented by death that charge was giuen to Binecourt a knight esteemed one of the most sweet gracious among them That Citie albeit that it was little of circuit had a renowne great inough throughout all Europe of which the Romanes make honorable mention in their writings It was scituated vpon the little riuer of Liz in the confines of Gaul Belgique a nation of a long time esteemed warlyke by the historiographers called by the Latins Morini now they call it the Cauntie of Ponthieu somwhat neer the great Ocean sea in situation somwhat hanging inuironed with fens marishes woodes and great forrests Besides curiously fortified by the Kinges of Fraunce to whose handes it hath a long time since beene fallen to serue them as a bulwarke and frontire as well against the English as Flemings and Hanuiers among which it is inclosed hauing done a thousand spoyles and an hundred sundrie enterprises which they woulde attempt vpon Picardie Wherefore it was once cleane raysed and made euen to the earth by the Englishmen and there was salt sowen in signe of eternall ruine But yet is it much more odious to the Flemings Burgonians and Hanuiers who for this occasion importunately induced the Emperour to this enterprise Now forsomuch as it was esteemed impregnable that as well by intelligence as other considerations not thought that the Emperour woulde conuert his forces to that place but rather into Champagne towardes Mezieres and Yuoy they had not so carefully furnished it with victuals sure munition as was requisite for so long a siege Whereof the neighbours being aduertised the enemyes vsed so greate diligence that it was sodainly besieged De Losses beeing alone within the principall and chiefe with his light horse and some people of the Country in no great number nor of anie great defence Ioyn that thorough the couetousnes and neglygence of former gouernours a thing naturall to vs French men this key remained bare and vnfurnished of all prouisions therefore it was necessarie to make a vertue of necessitie where prudence could not take place there it was necessarie that force should second it In such sorte as euen in the beard of the enemy and in spight of them being as men iudged for the most parte not vsed to the arte of warres they strengthned it with men victuals and whatsoeuer they were able D'esse otherwise called Panuilliers knight of the order most renoumed for his vertue and prowesse beeing sent thether Lieutenant for the King and with him Frances of Montmorencie eldest sonne to the Constable with the most part of theyr companies followed wyth a great number of other Lordes Gentlemen and souldyers who entered therein to seeke for honour and the rest following theyr Captaines to defend and keepe the place But as such a victualling thereof despighted the Emperor and making him obstinate reiterated his despight to cause it to bee battered and assaulted the King contrarywise assuring himselfe of an impossibilitie to force it slacked it in such sort as without anie other succours or preparatiues hee lefte his enemie to doo whatsoeuer hee listed For albeit that they wythin and the Duke of Vendosme wyth the men at armes of the garrisons about impeached and gaue alarums vnto them as much as was possible yet theyr number beeing much greater and stronger than the French they could not so hinder them but that they made their approaches where they themselues thought best euen to plant their batterie where they pleased and knew might most annoy the towne putting the verie mouth of theyr artillerie neerest and vpon the brinke of the ditch betweene the castle and the towre Du Chapitre vppon a little hill where the gallowes stoode hard by Hauing brought from many townes and castles of Flanders and Artois all sortes of Artillerie with innumerable munitions of pouder and bullets So glad was that nation to see it inuironed that not onely women and litle children ranne thether but for ioy sung songs and vulgar rimes carrying and bringing into the campe all sortes of graine drinkes beasts and other victuals by heapes which made their armie seeme farre greater in number than well furnished of good souldiers Theyr batterie began about the end of Iune straunge and furious inough but albeit the bullets fell as thicke within the towne as great hailestones out of the skie and that there was not vpon the rampires thorough the streets or within the houses any sure place and without danger yet they within besieged were smally seared therewith Now making continuall sallies and recharges vpon their enemyes in the midst of these thickes and smoakes they sought them out and by heapes beate them within theyr owne forts and trenches and sometimes constrayned them to abandon theyr trenches and had leasure inough to sticke vp some of theyr peeces with nayles and set theyr pouder on fire so as they dragged into the towne one of theyr culuerines and after shot many shootes at them albeit the great store of artillerie and munition which was continually brought to the campe hourely repayred anie disorder or annoyance which the French with great labour and daunger could doo them being a farre greater losse to loose one man besieged than ten besieging Vppon this the tempest and thundring batterie of the enemies grew greater dayly there remained not within the towne tower or turret to the least battlement that fell not to the ground there was not anie defence without or within which they raysed not Briefly in seeing it thus battered throwen downe one would easily beleeue that they determined to laie it all to dust They within without anie respect at all of theyr owne liues to the same place whether they sawe the bullets bend from moment to moment carried vpon their backes earth faggots turfes and dung which notwithstanding much weakned them by reason of the continuall toyle which they in the daie had to rampire and in the night to watch to keepe sentinell and sustaine diuerse alarums with litle rest for a necessitie practising the office of souldiers and labourers both together by reason of the small number of artificers and pioners and lesse store of anie necessarie tooles that was in the towne at a pinch as pickaxes spades shouelles mattockes crowes and such sort of yron workes whereof they stood in so great need as the soldiers within were constrained to peck the ground with spits daggers fire shouels and as a man maye saie euen scratch it wyth their nailes for which and such like wantes many townes in France haue bene gotten by the enemie albeit that they were well furnished besides for good men for help
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
vnto him pursued in such sorte Don Iean de Lune as he being angrie at the small respecte which was carryed to the great seruices which hee said hee had done the Emperour lefte Milan and came into Fraunce without euer making any practise against the catholike K. The Emperors partisans in the meane time the better to settle his affayres in Italie seeing how greatly Octauian Duke of Parma and his territories the defence whereof had coste the Frenche so much mought aduauntage him especially in such an occurrence employed the Cardinall of Trent to gayne him vnto the Emperour quitting King Henry who had done him so great good and for his sake had made warre against the Pope and Emperour to the ende that the Duchies of Parma and Plaisance might bee restored and assured vnto him In summe the Cardinall Madruch Bishoppe and Lorde of Trente was he who according vnto the Accorde betweene the Catholique King and Octauian restored him into the possession of Plaisance where hee made his entrie verie sumptuously and declared himselfe against the Pope and all his allies The Duke of Alua in the meane space ouerranne and spoyled the terretorie of Rome and besieged the citie of Anagne which the Popes souldiers abandoned hauing burned all the powder and munition The which astonied in such sorte the Cardinalles at Rome as they gotte the Pope to sende to the Spanish Generall to parley of Peace but all in vayne for as much as the Popes deputies were not at the breake of day appoynted for the Pourparley Which made the Duke so angrie against the Pope as hee rushte vpon Pilastrine and Segue which yeelded whilest that the Cardinall Caraffe fortified Bellitre attending certaine troupes out of Germanie which he caused to come in hope of which and of the frenche Succoures he would by no meanes suffer any parley of Peace saying that it was not beseeming for the Pope to seeke him who was but a minister of a vassall Prince feodarie to the holye Sea Alreadie did the forces of Tuscane ouerspread the countrey of Rome where the Mareschal Strozzie was In such sorte as Monluc was to viewe Tiuoly to see if it were tenable conducting seuen hundred Gascoignes to defende it in case there were any meanes to fortifie it But seeing the place too feeble to endure a siege and lesse proper in any shorte time to be fortified he lefte it giuing leaue to the Citizens to prouide for themselues and to yeelde it with the best aduantage they coulde possiblie make for themselues as they did After Monluc being returned to Rome and F. Vrsin to Vico-Valerio the Tiuoliens yeelded them selues vnto the Duke of Alua which were followed by them of Vico-Valerio in despight of F. Vrsin who woulde haue defended the place for the Pope seeing howe necessarie it was to hinder any victualles comming to the Spanishe campe from Naples side Beholde howe the Duke of Alua was able to holde Rome in subiection hauing the places rounde about at his deuotion Afterwardes he made a nomber of fortes on the side of Ostia to holde the Romanes yet in greater necessitie and cutte off their victualles from all partes to the ende to famishe them Attending the succours out of Fraunce notwithstanding Alexander Colomne which followed the Popes partie was of opinion that Rome being deuided into diuers quarters there shoulde be in euery one a seuerall Captaine put with his troupes to defende it Therefore Alexander was made Colonell of all the Romanes which mought amount to 7. or 8. thousand whom he dispersed into places as he sawe neede entermingling among them some Enseignes of souldiers as well Italians as Gascoignes So as Lansac had in guard the gate called De Populo hauing 1000. Gascoignes vnder his charge The D. of Palliane nephewe to the Pope had the keeping of the gate S. Agnes hauing 800. Almanes in his company Iourdan Vrsin come out of Corse cōmanded 6. Italian companies at the gate of S. Lawrence the Cardinall Caraffe at S. Sebastian hauing 500. Italians and the rest of the Gascons were vnder Monluc his charge at the gate S. Paul Aurelie Fregose kept betweene the Tiber with 1500. souldiars Camille Vrsin commaunded the quarter of S. Peter with 2000. footemen So as these troupes pefourming well their duetie the Spanish Generall durst not hazzard himselfe to make any attempt to the towne onely hee kept himselfe slyelie watching his commodities aboue all to cutte off victuals whose temporising notwithstanding was an occasion that the Cardinall Caraffe went into the fielde ouerranne wasted the Neapolitane countrie whilest that the D. of Alua was busied about the Isle Citie of Ostia whereof he made himselfe Maister to the great disaduantage of the Romanes This place being seated vpon the mouth of the riuer Tiber where shee falleth into the Tyrrhene Sea which vpon this occasion serueth as a chiefe Magasin for the bringing of victuals to Rome Notwithstanding hee tooke not the Towre and Forte of the Cittie at that blowe In the meane time the Pope hastened forwardes the Kinges succours and sollicited him harde not to suffer the Duke of Alua thus to spoyle the holy Sea as he likewise did vnto the Venetians hoping to drawe some succour from them but that Seigneurie comforting him with woordes condoled his grieuous mishappes without vsing any other duetie or office of amitie sauing that they tooke paynes to seeke to appease the differents and mediate a peace betweene him and the Spanyardes While these thinges were a doing and the Spaniard battering the Forte of Ostia the Mareschall Strozzie came to the succour of it with such Troupes of Fraunce as he had rearing vp certayne rampiers and retrenches that the enemie shoulde not carrie away the cattell and other goodes of the Romanes enclosed within that Isle About the ende of December the King as I tolde you aboue dispatched the Duke of Guise for to be Generall of the armie which his Maiestie sente to the succour of the Pope and with him Duke Aumalle and Duke Elbause his brethren the Duke of Nemours the Earle of Eu the Vidasme of Chartres and other Chiefetaines all which mette together in Ianuarie 1557. hauing ouercome with a constant and opinatiue patience the sharpenesse of Winter and difficultie of the Alpes at Turin the chiefe Citie of Piemont For feare of whome the Spaniardes fortified Milan knowing that the Frenche armie was composed of such a nomber of men as I haue tolde you During which time such as were besieged in the Forte of Ostia hauing abidden many assaultes their powder fayling their souldiars and citizens for the most parte hurt in the ende yielded them selues by composition which Ascaigne de la Corne caused to be accorded reasonablie enough whereat the Romanes were sore abashed So as by the meanes of the Cardinalles of S. Iaques and of S. Flour they came to make a Truce for tenne dayes During which the Duke of Alua finished the Forte
colloquie continued Hereupon the councel of Trent published the yere passed on the 15. of March began in the end of the yeare 1546. The Pope hauing sent thither as his Legats Iohn Maria de Monte Marcel Seruin and Reinold Pole an Englishmā all Cardinals Iacques Mendose came thither to excuse the emperours absence vpon the testimony which he had often rēdred of his diligence in purchasing of that assembly and his dutie and obedience towards the holy Sea and that which should be ordayned But more then the Monkes orations to the fathers and publication of the Bul of the Popes great pardons there was nothing done because the Fathers hastned no whit thither sauing that the 7. of Ianuary where besides the Cardinalles were foure Archbishops thirtie three Bishops two French fiue Spaniards one Illiric the other Italians thirtie fiue Monkes and twelue not Monkes as the number of Bishoppes grewe somewhat greater the Councell began and after they were all assembled in the great Temple and that Masse was saide the Legats read their Orations to the Fathers Afterwards it was declared how that the Councell was helde for three causes to roote out heresies restore the discipline of the Church and recouer peace vpon that they said that the fault of the present calamitie ought to be imputed to the Ecclesiasticall estate considering that none did their dutie nor diligent to labour in the fielde of the Lord whence heresies sprung vp like thornes and albeit that they were not of their owne parte the inuenters of any heresies yet they were to be charged for not well tylling of the Vineyard they haue not sowen the fielde they haue not plucked vp the Darnell which began to spring vp that they then ought to aduise and euery man to examine his owne conscience and trye if he haue perfourmed his dutie it is certaine that they were to be blamed for that all the discipline of the Church had been so trodden vnder foot the third euill is warre which is a punishment sent from God in respect of carelesnesse in religion and want of discipline for Christendome standeth not onely inuaded by Turkes and strangers but also by ciuil and domesticall armes during that the Kings combate or that they which are reuolted from the obedience of their Pastors doe ouerthrowe all order and pyll the goods of the Church they haue administred the occasion to the euils by their most wicked example of life through ambition and couetousnes God then is the iust Iudge which afflicteth them by these meanes and yet the paine is much more gentle then their deserte True it is that such are happy as endure for righteousnes sake which may not be applyed to those which are worthye of more rude chastisement that euery one then acknowledge his sinne and endeuour to appease the wrath of God for if they doe not acknowledge that there will neuer be any amendment and for no end shall the Councell be helde and in vaine shall the ayde of the holye Ghost bee called vpon it is a singular benefite of God to haue giuen vnto vs the meanes to begin a councell after the Church deliuered from so long and greeuous a shipwrack taking harbour is no more nor lesse restored then was Hierusalem after so long a captiuitye Esdras Nehemias and the other Captaines being returned out of Iudea earnestly admonished the people of Israel to confesse their owne sinnes and their Fathers and to call vpon the diuine mercie we ought to follow the like example He found in that time scoffers which sought to hinder and mocked the Iewes which reedified the Cittie of Hierusalem we in our time haue no want of people which vndertake the like and in effect perfourme it but we must march on hardly in the assurance of Christ whose commaundement is heere executed and the busines set in hand But for so much they are heere as Iudges they ought well to aduise not to suffer themselues to be ledde by their affections but holde themselues neate from the hatred of wrath and enmitie not ordaining ought to please man in this world nor accommodating themselues to the eares or desire of any person but contrariwise yeeld all honor and glory to God alone for all estates are straied out of the right way and there is none which doth good God himselfe and his Angels are the beholders of this assembly and there is no thought of any the assistantes which is hid from him that they should then proceede roundly and soundly and that the Bishops which are sent from Kinges and Princes should so furnishe their charges that aboue all thinges they haue the reuerence and honor of God before their eyes without respect of hatred or fauour for considering the assembly is helde to establish peace they must cast farre from them all contention and partialitye The Oration finished the decree of the Synod was read by Iohn Fonseca B. of Castrimare a Spaniard by which all Christians were admonished to amend their liues feare God often confesse themselues and often visite the Monasteries of Saintes that they should pray to God for a publique peace that the Bishops and other Priestes should be attentiue to praiers and say Masse at the least euery Sunday praying for the Pope Emperour and whole Christendome that they likewise exercise themselues in fasting and doing of almes in the great Temple that euery Thursday in the weeke they say a Masse of the holy Ghost and during the saying thereof that all be attentiue to the Priest especially in time of the Sacrifice and that they keepe themselues from chatting that the Bishops liue soberly taking away all superfluitie of their tables shunning all idle and light discourse that they accustome their people to like discipline in sorte that they shew themselues honest in words apparell and whatsoeuer they shall doe And for so much as the end of the Councell is to endeuour that the darkenes of errors and heresies which since a good while haue raigned vpon the earth being chased away the light of the truth may shine forth all are admonished and especially men of knowledge carefully to aduise by what meanes this may be brought to passe in deliuering of their opinions that they followe the decree of the Councell of Toledo and doe all thinges modestlye without cryes nor be riotous or obstinate but pronounce all sweetely and leasurely The other Session was the fourth of Februarye where nothing was dispatched nor resolued saue onelye that they confessed the Creede of the faith and put ouer the other Session vntill the eight of Aprill by reason of such as were already on their way whom they thought good to attend to the end the authority of the decrees might be of greater waight During this Councell Luther of the age of threescore and three yeares sicke of a disease in his stomacke dyed the 18. of February 1546. at Illebe in the Countye of Mansfielde whether he was gone to appease certaine differents
offred And lesse will we endure who carry the title of most Christian that any damage shalbe done to the goods and persons of you most reuerende Prelates Abbots and other of the Clergy as it hath bene wrongfullye giuen out by our aduersaries rather we determine to receaue you into our protection and safegarde prouided that you declare your selues for vs and our allies and giue vs sufficient assurance of your intents hoping for the reunion of the Church which we attende by the recouering of the publique libertie to which we will imploy God willing all our power the which we were willing to let you to vnderstand most reuerend Prelates and most excellent Princes and other the estates of the holy Empire to the end you should not be ignorant of the true occasion of this warre by which we pretend to pursue the Emperour with fire and sword and albeit very loath to cut him of as a rotten member from the body of the common wealth or at the least to enforce him to cease offring you any more iniurie As touching ought which more particularly may touch vs or the affaires of the holy Empire you shall know it by our beloued and feal councellor and Embassadour Iohn du Fresne B. of Bayonne whome to this end we haue dispatched praying you to giue credence vnto him in whatsoeuer he shall deliuer on our parte and that by him you will aduertise vs of your intention Yeouen at Fountaine-bleau the 3. of February 1552. and in the 5. yeare of our raigne By this so autenticall a promise solemne league the K. made him selfe defendor of the Germanes and was called Father of the countrye and protector of the Germane nation holy Empire and was so proclaimed throghout al the imperiall cities with inscription triumphant arcks shewes recōmending this his curtesie that of gallantnes of minde he would at so great charge oppose himself to so happy puissant a Monarch On the top of this writing printed in the vulgare tongue there was a hat betweene two daggers and written about liberty vnderneath was the K. represented who called himselfe Protector of Germany and of the Princes in Captiuitie Wheras he said that the Emperor had ordained a price to such as could kil certain of his Colonels it was thus Charles 5. reuiuing his Edicts had againe banished out of th'empire the Colonels Ringraue Recrod Ritteberg and Schertelin all in the Kings wages so far as to promise 4000. crownes to whomsoeuer would bring any of them vnto him aliue or dead for they pushed hard at the wheele and after the league was concluded whereof we haue spoken carried souldiars into Fraunce In the meane season Maurice hauing lefte his Brother Augustus behinde him as his Liuetenant in his Countrie marched into the fielde and with the Landgraues sonne who tooke with him Du Fresne the K. Embassadour ioyned together the forces of th' associates at Tonouert Afterwards Albert of Brandebourg came vnto them with a great number of foot horse at Koburg they brought all as they passed alongst vnder their subiection and infringing whatsoeuer had bene ordained by th'emperour they established there new officers and a new kinde of gouernement constraining al to furnish them with mony albeit the Emperor and especially his brother Ferdinand besought thē of peace for which they promised their best endeuor notwithstanding that the emperor caused the drum to be stroke vp at the foot of the moūtains for the assembling of his army an occasion that Maurice wēt to Lincy in Austria to know of Ferdinand the conditions of peace for he was willing to pacifie matters at the wil of th'emperor who on the other side had exhorted by his letters the principall Princes of Germany that they would bestow some paines in quenching this vprore aduise of some means of peace to which his best endeuor shuld not be wanting and wheras some demanded succor of him not seeing thēselues strong enough against so great a force he assured them of a good hope answering that now they were in tearmes of making peace which as he hoped shuld take good effect if otherwise he would succour thē with his means the whole cōmon wealth of Germany Vlme was besieged 6. daies the 19. of April the Princes went to Stoach a town of Hegouia where in the name of the K. of France 3. months pay was giuen thē according to the accord and there was giuen for hostage on the French part Iames of the house of Marche for the other to wit the Earle of Nantueil died on the way The hostages which the Princes gaue vnto the King were Christophle Duke of Megelbourg and Philip sonne to the Landgraue The last of April the Princes returned to the Danube some leagues belowe Vlme In the meane space Albert of Brandebourg set fire on all the Townes and villages of Vlme and got as much monie as hee was able afterwardes hee tooke the forte of Helfesten scituated vpon an high mountaine and there put garrison that done he rated the towne of Gisling which is three leagues from Vlme with certain other villages about at 18. thousand crownes In the meane while Maurice arriued at Lincy proposed certaine articles touching the deliuery of his father in law for the appeasing of the difference in religion and doctrine of well and dulye establishing the common wealth of making peace with the K. of Fraunce their companion and alye of receiuing into grace the banished men as the Ringraue the other abouenamed among which was likewise Hedec who some yeares before had placed himselfe in the seruice of Maurice but the Emperour had not set downe any certaine price to him that could take him were it for feare of offending Maurice or any other occasion Vppon that Ferdinande who had with him his sonne Maximilian his sonne in law Albert of Bauieres and the Emperours Embassadors made answere to his demaundes that the Emperour made no refusal to deliuer the Landgraue prouided that they laid aside their armes for regarde of religion and the common wealth it pleased him well that they should aduise therof in the first assembly but it was a matter too noisome to the Emperor to comprehend therin the K. of Fraunce and yet that Maurice might do wel to know of the K. vnder what cōditions he would appoint it as for the banished persons they night reenter into grace so as they obserued such conditions as the Emperour would set downe Further Ferdinande demaunded of Maurice aide against the Turke in Hungarie after that the peace should be concluded and that he would not suffer any souldiers to retire towards the K. of Fraunce To which Maurice answered that it was not lawfull for him to conclude of anything without the consent of his companions so as they departed vpon condition that the 26. of May they shuld meet againe at Passau which is betweene Ratisbone and Lincy at the reencounter of Danube and Eno