forces there nigh at hand and ready to succour him although that so oftentimes hee had been deaffe at his most reasonable counsells The king being at Tours the first thing which hee did was in the beginning of Aprill there he depriued the Duke Mercure of his gouernment of lands dignities offices and prerogatiues to him granted by him for his treasons committed against his Maiestie in his gouernment In the beginning of Aprill the king being at Tours and perceiuing the great dangers which compassed him about on euery side hauing many Leaguers of his counsell and about his person the Citie for the most part leagued bent against him by the meanes of some of his saythfull counsellers as of the Marshals Biron and Hautmont and others and considering more deepely the reasonable and modest protestation of the K. of Nauarre who in his great prosperitie yet of late craueth for peace desireth to be taught proffereth his seruice to the king willeth them to deuise some good wayes to remedie the horrible confusions which doe ouerflow France began to hearken to some good and moderate counsell as to take some truces with the said king of Nauarre to vse his counsell and forces for his iust and lawfull defence In the moneth of March following after the taking of the Citadel of Orleans by the rebels and the ennouatious which they had made in Paris in the changing of the State and treading downe vnder foote the kings royall authoritie The Dukes of Mayne and Aumale began to shew such ielousies and suspitions which ambition did worke in their hearts as it did before in the two brethren to wit the Dukes of Guize and Maine For the Duke de Mayne was caryed to the vsurpation of the Monarchy after his brothers death as if it were vpon the shoulders o. rebells and would haue had been sory if his cousin the Duke de Aumale should haue had either the whole or else any part thereof in superioritie but rather desirous that he should depend of his commaundements and therefore did holde him short with secret practizes and factions The Duke d' Aumale would haue beene glad to haue had all to himselfe rather than his cosin and if not all yet he thought to get as good part in the cake as he might but the factious were not so fauourable vnto him as to the other Fearing therefore some Guizien trick such as hee was well acquainted with to be played against him by the helpe of the mutinous Parisiens he putteth on a good countenance and after infinite sackings riflings and manifolde robberyes committed vpon the rich Marchaunts and others in Paris for in those dayes all rich men were either royalls or hereticks he departed out of the Citie into Picardy where he thought his parte might bee stronger and hee mought bee in greater safetie Mercure on the other side for his part was content if he might make sure vnto himselfe the Dutchie of Britaine supposing that the throte of his ambition was not so wide as that he might swallow down the whole kingdom Crown of France yet betweene them 3. the glorious name of the League and holy vnion holy Church and holy Catholick Religion did rowle among them and were patched by the Fryers and Iesuites for an olde gaberdine to hide vnder all their treacheries against the king and robberies against his subiects All these things did flie abroad vnder the authoritie of the newe great generall Protector of the Crowne of France to wit the Duke de Mayne to whome that title was giuen by conspirators assembled at Paris vnder the name of States as it is afore sayde All these three did well agree together in resisting the kings authority and oppressing the kings subiects euery where euery man reseruing to himselfe his owne thoughts yet would they not be kept so secret but that their enuies ielousies and enimities sometime would flame out so that they could be euidently spied by other men The Duke d'Aumale absented himselfe from Paris and in the I le of France Picardie Brie Tartenoys and Vermandoys went about to doo his busines as well as he could his part as strong as strong might be made with those great summes of money which for his share he had made of the spoyle of the rich men of Paris The Citie of Paris is one of the greatest Cities in the world but doubtles the greatest in Europe It is deuided into three parts The one and the greatest part lyeth in Belgik on the banck of the riuer Seyne in a low fayre and plaine situation That part is called the towne Among other edifices on the lower end by the riuer nigh Newgate is the kings house called the Loure and right ouer against it on the other side of the streete is the auncient house called L'hostel de Bourbon about a mile and a halfe vpon the same side of the riuer is the town house called by a temple nigh to it Saint Iahn en Greue There is a long street from the pont anchange directly to Saint Denis warde called Saint Martins streat which deuideth that parte of the Citie well nigh through the middest The other part lying in the celtick on the south side of the riuer is the Vniuersitie lesser than the former part it is full of Monkeries Friâ—ries and Nunneryes of all feathers and colours vnder the heauens So that a man comming out of a strange countrey and seeing so great diuersitie of fantasies would think himselfe to wander into a countrey of monsters or a Citie of mad men but if he consider well he shall finde himselfe in the middest of Sodome so cleane is their conuersation Beside these infernall Locusts there is a great number of colledges and houses of learning for the which cause it is called the Vniuersitie wherein are chiefly two colldges to wit Sorboune and Nauarre Sorboune is a colledge where Diuines and students of Diuinity cheefly haue allowance and beside it is an association of Diuines whersoeuer they haue taken degrees it is more famous than Nauarre by reason of their ignorance but Nauarre is greater in liuing and multitude of students This Vniuersitie was founded or rather reformed I feare me from better to worse by Charles the great by the helpe of his schoolemaster one Alboinus an Englishman sometime scholler of the learned Beda who as it seemeth changed the former order of studie and fashioned them to the forme of doctrine laide downe by the learned S. Augustine This forme there continued vntill y t time that a visioÌ„ was seen in the ayre to wit a man naked hairy and deformed carying a wallet ful of stones gnawing on a stone which he had in his hand Immediately after that forme of studie was changed and diuinitie reduced to vaine speculations carnall Philosophy and fâ—iuolous questions without edifiyng or breeding any knowledge or wisedoms in the students Then began Aristotle to beare sway in the Diuinity schooles and to fitt in the chayre of Moses The
their going away out of the Castell they of the League should all retyre away Last of all that euery one should haue one thousand crownes in money and a good Horse with a pardon from the king and security that they should neuer be called to any accompt all these Promises were faythfully kept to them At their comming foorth they deuided amongest their friendes the mouable goods of Brissak as Plate Aras and other such thinges as they could not cary and loded themselues with the best iewels as much as they could carry away The 21. of October the Princes companies began to march from the campe where the rendes vous was giuen through a narrow way toward the place of execution nigh the Suburbes There by the forrunners were three souldiours taken not supposing the enemie to haue been so nigh who reported that the Trenches were very strong and would be stoutely defended They also tooke certaine peasants who reported Rochemort to be dead and the castell to be surrendered for a great somme of money but they were not belieued The same day the Prince sent certaine Harquebusiers to Pontdesel which is a towne situated vpon the fall of Lolion into Loyre where is a bridge to passeouer the riuer where they of Anger 's had put a strong garison to keepe the bridge At the discouering of the approache of the Princes power both the towne and also the castell gaue a hot alarum and sounded the Toxin in all the parish Churches of the Citie and also at the high church called Saint Maurice This was a maruelous thing that in so great and populous a Citie wherein were more men of warre strangers then the Prince had in all his armie yet no sallie out was made no more then if there had beene no man considering also that the place where the Prince was in battell aray did fauour greatly them of the towne for there was but a broad way where the horsemen onely stoode and on both sides were vineyards and copses In that broad way were set in battell aray all the Harquebusiers where the Minister of the church L. Blanchardiere pronounced a forme of praier before the army And vpon this preparation were receaued certaine newes of the rendering of the Castel the day before which thing made all men beleeue it because that at the ariuing of the armie there was no taken from thence notwithstaÌ„ding the alarum pieces of shot giueÌ„ out Others that were against that opinion alleaged that it was no maruaile if they did not discharge the canon out of the Castell because they were so few that they were not able to remoue it They added also that the fire which they of the towne had set to an house betweene the armie and the Castell which continued all the day by the smoake was to let them of the Castell to see the troupes which came to succour them Vpon these coniectures the captaines according to the commandements receaued set vpon the subburbs of Passiguie and Magdalen and forced the same euen to the Bariâ—ados which they of the towne had made out of the gates within the subburbes which were forsaken There the Captaine Flesche was wounded with a shot who dyed within few dayes after he had protested before that either he would dye or else he would enter the Trenches passing not for death seeing that it was in and for his countrey both hapened vnto him Hee was borne at a towne named Flesche situated vpon the Riuer Loyre flowing from Vendosme to Anger 's a gentleman borne of good parentage All that day passed away in skirmishes for the armie of the Prince had also trenched themselues in the subburb of Pressiguy The horsemen were al that day in battel aray vntil nigh at the end of the subburbs while the Harquebusiers wonne by little and little the Trenches of the enemie pearcing the houses to aduaunce to the gate That day the Prince sendeth his Troumpet into a medow vnder the Castell in the sight of them that were within to giue them token with the sound of the Troumpet but seeing no token out of the Castell they began to suspect in deede that the Castell was surrendered At euening it was thought good to retyre and that the Souldiours should giue ouer their Trenches in the subburb and houses which they had gotten for feare that they within the towne in the aduauntage of the night should issue vpon them being many against few the towne being able to bring forth foure thousand strangers onely beside the forces of the towne with the aduauntage of their ordinance The Lordes Trimouille Boulay and Auantignie with their companies were appointed to make the retire which was no further then the houses next to the subburb of Pressigny The horsemen lodged that night in the nearest parishes about the Prince with his company and the Lord Rohan dis lodge at the Pont of Sorges not without great confusion by reason that there was but few lodgings In the night they of the towne issued foorth ouerthrew and burned the Trenches and Barricadoes which were made the day before and lodged within certaine houses in the subburb euen in the hospitall of the leapers so that they could not bee displaced thence the nextday The 22. about eight a clock the Lords Trimouille Auantigny Saint Gelayse with their companies resorted to the crosse way nigh the place of execution where all companies were commaunded to appeare Then they of the towne shewed a countenance as though they would haue issued foorth and certaine demilances appeared within the subburb of Pressigny There was a great alarum which hasted the companies from their lodgings to put themselues in battell aray where they did the day before Then were the footemen commaunded to set on the subburbs but they went not to it with that courage as they had done the day before for many had not refreshed themselues some the day before had lost their horses when they left them to fight at the Trenches some did steale away and returned to Beaufort The Captaines were discontented that they had been enforced to giue ouer the aduantage which they had the day before within the subburbs which they could not recouer without great losses The armie was scattered here and there the high waies were couered with bagage cariage charets horses mules seruants which wandered al night not knowing whether to retire To be short all things went farre otherwise then the day before yet they recouered within the subburb as much as they could not without hazard and difficultie The Prince arryued from Pont Forges and got him within the Suburbe of Pressigni where he perceaued the countenance and courage of his men chaunged and amazed but on the contrary them of the towne to haue taken hart Then euery one alleaging what might haue happened to them in the Castel some obstinately affirmed that they had shot in the night other sayd the contrary The Prince assembled the Nobles and Captaynes at the crosse
Nauarre ioyned themselues with the Lord Turenne who within a short space grew to the number of sixe thousand With this power the Vicount Turenne kept the field in Limosin Perigord and about the time that the Prince departed from Browage to his iourney to Anger 's letters came vnto him from the Prince by the which he willed him to drawe néere Browage to fauour the siege thereof Vppon the receipt of these letters the Lord Turenne called his counsell together to knowe what was to be done There was then reasoned among them of the necessitie of his presence at that siege On the other side aduertisement was giuen that the armie of the League vnder the conduct of the Duke de Mayne was drawing nigh toward Guyenne although it was not yet scarse out of Paris and that the same was beaten with diuers disseases and among others the Swissers which made them conclude that occasion might be giuen to worke some good exployt vpon that armie and if not discomfited yet greatly it might be molested Agayne he had receaued letters of the King of Nauarre who aduertized him that he was at the poynt to depart out of Bearne to Bergerake ward in Perigord and therfore warned him to be in a readines that if néede should be he might ioyne with his Maiestie So that considering all these waightie occasions hée could not succour the siegr of Browage staying for the Duke de Mayne and expecting the King of Nauarre his comming He had many good occasions to enterprize vpon certaine Townes in Limosin as vpon the Citie of Trile Brune la galiarde and others in those quarters Trile is a Citie in Limosin a Bishops seate situated in a valley compassed about with high hilles which doo commaund the Towne It hath thrée fayre Suburbs about it and there is a little riuer named Vestere which washing the walls passeth by the Suburb which is greater than the citie Therein is a Frierie of the Franciscans which is inclosed about with a strong wall and for that cause the inhabitants had retyred and committed their goods to the Friers keeping which thing fell out very ill for them The high suburbe is like the first in greatnes the third is lesser than the other twaine The 8. day of Nouember the Lord Choupes with a great number of Gentlemen and Souldiers set on the lowe Suburbe The Lord Turenne who commaunded ouer the Harquebusiers which came out of France staying at the Franciscans house which is situated at the ende of the Suburbe set the gate on a fire and vppon occasion entered further euen to the Trenches which they of the Towne had made and after long skirmishing and killing of some of both parts wonne the same The high Suburbe at the same time by other companies as they were appoynted was also assaulted which they of the Suburbe did resist at the Trenches but at length enforced did retyre within the Towne They of the Towne being besieged all round about defended themselues vpon the walls without issuing out at all for the space of sixe daies The 13. day of Nouember were applied two péeces at the gate which made some way to enter in but they of the Towne did their endeuour to defend the breach which being not assaultable the assault was giuen ouer The siege continuing many of the Towne were slaine which caused the rest fearing to bee forced not to refuse the perswasions of Amaury who counselled them to capitulate Hostages being giuen of both sides the Kings Lieutenant with some of the chiefest Citizens came foorth to the Lord Turenne who was lodged at the gray Friers the agréement was long debated and at length concluded The 16. day of Nouember they of the Towne consented to redéeme the Towne and the ransaking of their houses with a certaine summe of money Furthermore it was agréed that a Captaine stranger with such as were left of his companie for most of them had béen slaine should goe foorth out of their Towne and they should receiue Captaine Amaury This Captaine Amaury was he of all the armie whom they feared most and yet did they requested to haue him whom they receaued for their gouernour and there he remayned in that charge vntill the comming of the Duke de Mayne About the 10. of December considering that the place was not sufficient to resist such an armie he gaue ouer the Towne into the hands of the Citizens and within fewe dayes after was slaine as followeth Within a while after the taking of this Citie the Lord Turenne retired his companies in garrisons in places of greater importance The 25. of December Amaury was aduertized that the Lord Sacramore of Birague this is that Sacramore whom after the Duke de Mayne killed in his anger with his owne hand one of the Leaguers was not farr from Turenne with a companie of Harquebusiers to lay in ambush and as he aduaunced himselfe one of his owne Souldiers too hastie to shoote with his péece hit him by misfortune and killed him and after they retyred to Turenne The Duke de Mayne sporting himselfe made good théere at y e Priests costs but it was no matter for holy Roode did pay for all and doth conquer Kingdomes in Perigord and Limosin and about the 27. of December tooke Montignake le conte an olde Towne and ruinous Castle belonging to the King of Nauarre He tooke also Beaulieu such a Fort as no man which hath any skill in warlike affayres would make any accompt of And ten daies after the inhabitants who were al of the reformed religion redeemed their Towne with one thousand Crownes which were payed to Antefort About the 17. of December the Duke de Mayne recouered Trile which the Lord Turenne had caused Amaury to surrender into the hands of the inhabitants about ten daies before because that place was not defensable The D. de Mayne at length perceiuing y t his practises against the Cities and Townes of Limosin Perigord would not frame determined to passe the riuer Dordonne at Souliake into Quercy leauing behind him Monfort a strong place and many other Townes and Holds because hee could not carrie them away with him It is sayd before how that the King of Nauarre in August last went into Languedock to S. Paul de Cadeioux where he met with the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Monmorency to aduertise them of their defence The sayd King remayned afterward in Bearne in great silence and quietnes viewing how farre all this league and vnion would proceede expecting the producing of some lamentable euents and as if it were out of his watch would become of the thrée great armies prepared for Guyenne Languedock and Daulphine and being hidden vnder the wing of the most high mused what would bee the end of the fierie threatnings and bragges of his enemies bearing patiently their insolencie euen to the danger of his owne person It is also sayd how that the Leaguers had procured an excommunication from Frier Sixtus
vnto him Hee sent Cotteblanch Prouost of Paris and the president Neuilly to Paris to see whether they could reduce that seduced people to their dutye the Lords Vilaguier and D'Abin did the like but neither of them could do any good About the fifteenth day these strange alterations beeing done in Paris vnder colour of the authority of the States there called and holden by few seditious persons letters were sent from they sayd assembly of rebels there vnto all citties of their confederacy to go forward in the like outrages and furie as they had done And first to autorise their seditious procéedings with great honourable tytles they call their letters a declaration of the Princes Catholikes vnited with the three estates of France touching the Massacre committed vppon the persons of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinall his brother First they doo warne their fellowes to beware of any manner of instructions giuen vnto them by the King himselfe or any others contayning any excuse of the execution committed at Bloys vppon the Duke and Cardinall his brother Secondly they doo aduertise them that they haue as yet of that broode the Dukes de Mayne Aumale Mercure and Nemours and that the Duke de Mayne hath a great armie in readines to defend them Thirdly they go about to cléere the Duke of Guize of the crime of treason saying that it is but calumnies of hereticks denised against that house the space of 25. yeares So with them to spye from time to time the trayterous attempts and Note secrecies of the house of Guize is heresie and a worke of heretickes Fourthly they accuse the King of violating the publike faith and prophaning their corpus Domini as they tearme it vpon the which hee had sworne the edict of reunion But in déede the King swore the edict and not to suffer himselfe to bée murthered by the Duke of Guize Note At length they doo aggrauate the death of the Cardinall of Guize and the imprisonment of the Cardinall of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lions and exhort their companies to vnite themselues and to followe theyr example In the first page of this letter was this marke in the other side the Image of the Duke of Guize Now wee will leaue these confusions of Rebells assembled vnder the colour and name of the States of France to procéede further to fill the measure of their trespasse and will goe to see what the King doth at Bloys and elsewhere Immediatly after the death of Guize the King thought good to make Orleans sure of his side The Citadell in the middest of all these tumults and rebellions of Cities was and did hold for the King And the Lord Antragues who a little before had giuen ouer the League did all that euer he could doo to hold the Citie in the Kings obedience But the inhabitants being seduced afore hand by the Leaguers partakers of the Duke de Mayne encouraged by the conduct of Captain Breton and others who did promise to the inhabitants readie succour from the Duke de Mayne tooke weapons and by the confidence which they had in their riches and strength of their walles did openly reuolt It is commonly said that the Citie of Orleans is the Citadel of France as well for the commodious situation of the same vpon the riuer Loyre as for the fortifications thereof These reasons among others caused the King to trie by gracious and fayre meanes to bring them backe to their duetie But reason not preuayling with a people carried away with passion and seduced by the louers of alteration from the obedience of their King he was compelled to trie by force the meane of the Citadell He therefore sendeth the Marshall Haumont with forces as well of footmen as of horsemen with him hee sendeth part of his gardes and the Swissers The inhabitants on their side goe about by all meanes possible to rid themselues of the Citadell as of a heauie burthen they doo besiege it within the towne side doo trench themselues and couer themselues with horsmen and platformes doo vndermine it to blowe vp that Fort which nothing els but onely one of the gates commonly called Porte-bamere they make issues out and euen vpon the Swissers with some successe they doo thunder and rase that Fort with shot of Ordinance on the inside thereof They of the Kings side doo what they can there is a great number slaine on both sides The Lord Antragues promiseth notwithstanding to the King to keepe during the space of a moneth the out side although it were but broken walls and ruines during the which time he might call backe the armie which was in Poytow at the siege of Ganache vnder the conduct of the Lord of Neuers The inhabitants made two Mines vnder the Citadell but they were vented by them within About the 17. of Ianuarie there went forth out of Paris thrée thousand men well furnished but young souldiours and not trained vp in warre to goe to succor Orleans but they were discomfited by the Lorde Montigny and other Gentlemen who charged them betwéene Estampes and Orleans many of them were slaine the remnant were turned home naked The Duke d'Mayne about the last day of Ianuarie sending some supply of succour to Orleans stayed so their estate which did seeme to hang a side that they tooke courage partly by ruines partly with shot of ordinance and other meanes so wrought that they of the Kings side were inforced to giue ouer the ruines that rested of that which was called the citadell By these meanes Orleans remained hardened at the deuotion of the League So good Christian reader thou séest how the right of God and man is turned vpside downe their popish religion which they would séeme so much to honour reuerence and defend they haue most wickedly prophaned vsing it for a couering of their rebellion thou séest how the reuerence of all soueraigne power and authoritie is blotted out of the minds of them the respect of all lawes troden vnderfoote the sanctuarie of iustice violated and poluted thou séest here a damnable and diuelish anarchie the séeds and foundation of a barbarous and intollerable seruitude laied downe in France by the Duke d'Mayne and his partakers in a manner in like sort as Mahomet began his rebellion against the empire of the Romans Therefore yée O Noble Princes and Nobles of all the Kingdoms of Europe all men who are the louers of vertue and ciuility desirous to resigne to the posteritie good lawes christian libertie and discipline vp make hast to runne vppon these accursed enemies of all mankinde put out by time that fire which dooth threaten all authorities and powers of an horrible cumbustion Now there remaineth but thrée things for the League to bring to passe to set vp and dedicate their Idoll which they haue made to wit the Duke d'Mayne and to finish that piece of worke which his brother the Duke of Guize had brought almost to an end if he had
Bishop of Paris called Lombard went about to amend the fault and to haue pulled him downe out of that sacred chayre propounding to the students a book of common places such as it was called commonly Magister sententiarum Then came the begging Fryers with their wallets full of stones and among them Scotus and Thomas Aquinus they layd down a forme of their dreames questions they turne the bread of life into stones wholy There came after them worse then these more ignorant these harpyes defile both the word of God this booke of sentences though not pure before w t vnnecessary questions and vnlearned gloses to be short as many writing Fryers so many Alcorans they conceaue and bring forth they did reuoke the studie of Diuines from Gods word the reading of the learned antiquitie whose monuments they buryed in dust in their libraries to the descanting of Scotus Thomas the book of Sentenices with their corrupted dreames pro contra After that these frogs rising out of the infernall gulfebeing striken with giddines as they of Sodome at the dores of Lot by the angel of the Lord were deuided among themselues and to shew that they were no more of Christs people tooke other names and would be called by the names of their master some Scotists some Thomists some Simmonists but rather they should be called by their qualities Soccist Momists and Foolists This palpable darknes of Aegipt was had in admiration as the onely wisedome of the world fed and entertained by these seducing Friers and Monks vntill the wasting of that noble and in olde time famous Greece by Amorith the prince of the Turkes For then many learned men being the keepers of pure learning flying from that barbarous and cruel tiranny repayred some into Italie some into Germany some into France who were entertained by the liberalitie of Princes and common wealths by whose exile we were deliuered from y e darke bondage of ignorance which the legions of Fryers had brought into the world About the same time the most noble arte of Printing was reuealed of God vnto a noble man of Germany whose name shall be blessâ—d for euer in the generation of the righteous wiâ—h facilitie to performe the worke which hee had determined Francis of Valoys first of that name a prince whose fame no age to come shal blot out of mens remembrance with his princelike liberalitie restored in this Vniuersitie a purer learning and an easier traditine by calling thether famous men of all parts of the world This his liberalitie the Leaguers for the space of this twentie yeares haue vsed to the supplanting of the state of his posteritie The third part of that Citie is an Iland betweene the Towne and the Vniuersitie called commonly the Citie that Iland is of the forme of an Egge It is beautified with three special things first the palace of iudgement which heretofore had béen a Sanctuary of iustice Secondly a most sumptuous and rich Hospitall the like whereof is not in the world Thirdly the Temple of our Lady much like vnto Diana of Ephesus Temple the Bishops seate and a sinke of Idolatry The Suburbes bee of a wonderfull greatnes and may bee compared with a great and sumptuous Citie As this is great and large so is it populous to admiration surpassing the report which may be made thereof The most sort of the inhabitants is a rascall people of all sorts of handicrafts and of seruile nature The people generally is of small stature swartie of complexion of countenance like Spaniards or Italians fewe like one to another as it is commonly seene among them that are a mingled sinke of diuers Nations not like Frenchmen they are craftie and deceitfull great bablers and pratlers suspicious mutinous and factious cruell cowardly and effeminate lewd of life and behauiour desperatly supersticious and idolatrous foolish and sottish so generally that through all France they are prouerbially and reproachfully called badins de Paris that is a malapert sot of Paris of nicenes and purposed folly disguising and corrupting their tongue and going The Duke de Mayne perceiuing the King almost destitute and forsaken of his subiects compassed about with enemies at home with domesticall foes in the Citie with vnfaithfull subiects abroad in the field with sedicious and rebellious robbers thought to haue a fit opportunitie to oppresse the King Therefore in a great heate he doth gather and muster a great and mightie armie of the basest sort of this people but specially of such as were desperate and had nothing to lose and had conceaued good hope to doo well their busines with gayne and aduantage caused the Citie to prouide for them they were lodged in the suburbes and small Townes about Paris The Duke hauing this great armie doth from weeke to weeke from day to day so delay his iourney representing to himselfe continually the valianâ—nes victories faithfulnes and celeritie of the King of Nauarre who was not a dayes iourney from Tours who would not suffer the King to be oppressed nor easily surprised These mutinous and rebellious companies did commit such intolierable insolencies that the people both in Paris and about did cry out and complayne with great discontented mindes both of these oppressions and also of the scarâ—enes of victuals which did growe in the Citie by reason of the long soiourning of that armie about Paris To pacifie therefore the vprore about the middle of Aprill he did venture to goe foorth and taketh the field making great boast that now within fewe dayes he trusted to reduce all France to the obeisance of the League and the least of his promises was that he would bring the King to that passe that the most mutinous fellowes in Paris desired to haue him Taketh order for the safetie of the Citie and whereas in the alteration of the state of Paris done in Ianuary last they had made eighteene Colonels and Captaynes of so many wards as the Citie was deuided into euery Colonell should haue twelue hundred horsemen and footmen to walke about the Citie and to the Boys of Vicennes least that Castle should be surprised by the enemies the Lord of Mayneuille being left gouernour of the Citie with a strong garrison beside to see well that in the absence of the great Protector of the Crowne of France the malcontent people of Paris should not enterprise against him and exclude him from their Citie if at any time for feare of the King of Nauarre he should runne away So the Duke de Mayne bringeth this holy and inuincible armie for so it was commonly called into Beausse where was some good store of victuals which aboue all things his holy armie desired So that as well to ease the countrey about Paris as to hast his wicked intent he bringeth his armie as farre as Vendosme wherein hee entred by the helpe of them who were of his confederacie There hee tooke the Kings great counsell prisoners so that none could escape
the Kings will and promise made vnto him proffered vnto him their faithfull seruice Thus the present estate and summe of affairs being managed he retired into Normandy hauing not with him aboue eight thousand men of all sortes and stayed there a while beholding what the enemy would enterprise Now we wil leaue the King about the Sea coast in Normandy where we haue brought him with eight thousand men of all sorts and will goe to see what is done in other places what preparations the Leaguers do and after we will passe ouer the Alpes to see how doth Frier Sixtus and what iolly diuinity is with him and his Chaplains About the 31. of Iuly which to the Papistes is the 21. of August the D. of Lorreine thought good to blow the fire of rebellion to make it burne more furiously There is Langres a noble City in that part of Bourgondy which commonly is called Bassigny the citizens had euer remayned faithfull to the King and could neuer bee brought to associat themselues to the League smelling the breath of the Lorreins as nigh Neighbours to Nancie This noble Citie the Duke of Lorreine desired greatly to bee of the association of the rebellion knowing the importance of that place by reason of the strong situation thereof to make much for the affayres of the rebellion First he sheweth his sorrow for the Kings death to be so great that hee cannot keepe himselfe from weeping This weeping and teares are to be supposed to proceede from ioy he himselfe beeing one of the procurers of the murther Secondly he fayneth a great feare least the Gospell which he calleth heresie entring into their City should breake the necke of Popery and so rid their Citie of that deceitfull guest which by all meanes possible hee would haue courteously entertained Thirdly he exhorteth them to admit none of the Kings fauorers within their walles and in so doing promiseth them all ayde and fauour The noble Citie of Langres after curteous thanks geuen him for an answere the third of August doth first protest of their zeale goodwill and constancie in the Catholike faith Secondly doth protest of their great sorrow conceaued for the death of their late King of blessed memorie proffering themselues their liues their goods and whatsoeuer is deare vnto them for the iust and due reuengement of that most vilanous and execrable deede Last of all doth protest of their dutifull obedience to their King promising all assistance with all their meanes todefend him and nobility ioyned with him both in the defence of the Crowne and State and also in pursuing the authors of that murther vntill that a sufficient reuengement be taken of them The Citizens of the Noble Citie of Langres perceauing by these letters of the Duke of Lorreine that further matters might be attempted to procure a rebellion within their Citie to preuent all that might happen the third day of August and in their Popish calender The twelfth they assembled al the Magistrates Officers Citizens and Inhabitants of their Citie in the Towne-house after ripe consideration of the euils procured by the Leaguers and rebels and of their duties of their lawfull obedience did all with accord and minde promise and sweare First the keeping of the Catholike faith Secondly they do sweare neuer to admit any confederacy society faction or conspiracie neither with the Lorreyne nor any other forreine nor within the Realme without the expresse commandement of their King Thirdly doo acknowledge Henry of Bourbon the 4. to bee their lawfull King and naturall heire and successour to the Crowne of France and sweare neuer to depart from his obedience but to obey him and to defend him and the fundamentall lawes of the right succession of the Crowne proffering all their liues goods and meanes to preserue his person his state Crowne and kingdome and not to admit any sedition or conspiracie against him Last of all doo sweare to assist him with all their power and meanes to reuenge the vnworthie death of Henry de Valoys lately deceased Many other Townes on the North side of Loyre as in Gastinoys Hurepoys Auxerroys Bourgundie Bassigny and Champaigne being wauering encouraged with the example of the noble Citie of Langres did resolue themselues in reiecting the entising perswasions of Rebels to remayne in the Kings obedience and tooke the like oath voluntarily as the sayd Citie of Langres had done As the Rebels in the rest of Townes and Cities tooke occasion by the proclayming of the King to stirre the people to their societie of vnion that is to rebellion crying still the Catholike the Catholike religion heresie heresie heretikes heretikes so in like manner the heads of the rebellion doo prepare all the forces that euer they can for the Duke of Lorreyne gathered a great power of horsemen and footmen which he sent to the Duke de Mayne to Paris conducted by his eldest sonne the Marquesse du Pont. The Duke de Mayne also sent to the Duke of Parma for succour supposing that with the great forces which he was able to make within Paris the succour which was expected from Lorreyne and some companies of horsemen of Wallons and Germanes he would easily make an end of the warre The Duke of Parma therefore sent lustie companies of horsemen and Wallons vnder the conduct of the Duke of Brounswicke and Countie Egmond who did arriue about the beginning of September Now let vs leape ouer the Alpes to see Frier Sixtus and pray to God that the pockes may neuer depart from him nor from that holy sea seeing that his predecessor Iulius the great warriour being either the first or one of the first in all Italy which was infected with it if Ihuigo doth not lye and of a speciall grace and Apostolicall fauour left it to all the legions of Friers and Massemongers for a token of their honest and chast life The Rebels hauing committed that sauage murther vpon the person of their Soueraigne King and Prince whom God commaunded them to obey serue and reuerence and such as in Catholicisme did surpasse the best Catholike in the world and to bee short with one blowe hauing executed the secret counsell of Rome for the rooting out the rase of Valoys and put out the Lamp of France as for the Bourbons they had made their account to haue destroyed them all ere now they sent in post to Rome to congratulate Frier Sixtus for their good successe and also to haue his Frierlike counsell to bring their worke to perfection according to the sacred counsell of Rome as is aforesayd In this message as it appeared in Frier Sixtus oration they had certified him how miraculously the Frier went out of Paris in great daunger to be searched out and afterward miraculously passed through the Campe of the heretikes and through the Kings gardes not perceiued of any man but as if the diuell should conuey him inuisible in a clowde vntill he came into the Kings presence so that no man had no power
King I say aduertised of these things sent from Deepe to the Quéene of England for some succour who as her Maiesty neuer fayleth to helpe them who are vniustly distressed sent him forces according to his request All the Kings forces at Deepe were not about nine thousand men before the Englishmen arriued to him The Duke d'Mayne hauing a mighty army of fiue and twenty thousand men set foorth out of Paris about the beginning of September giuing foorth that he went to a certaine victory and vaunting that he would briâ—g to Paris the King dead or a liue or else he would driue him into the Sea approached toward Deepe But the God of battels turned as easily with few as with multitude all these bragges to vanitie and shame For the King hearing that the enemy approached very fast encamped himselfe at Arques about two myles from the towne of Deepe by the prudent counsell of the Marshall of Byron The King viewing the place iudged by and by what the enemy was able to doo against him whereupon hée caused trenches to bée made on the top of the hill in most substanciall manner as farre from Arques as a Canon can shoote so that all the army for a néede might bée couered therewith out of all danger Vpon the same trenches hée caused foure pieces of ordinance to bée placed right against a great plaine where hée supposed the enemy would come to fight whether also he might come without any danger the kings companies were quartered in the Villagâ—s round about Whilest these things are a dooing at Arques the enemy approached more and more very fast and on the 15. of September lodged his vauntgarde within three miles of Deepe The King that morning perceaued that they intended to spoyle the subburb Paulet before he enterprised vpon any thing at Arques Therefore with spéed he fortified the said Suburb but specially the milles which steed most open to the enemy This thing being done the King determined as nere as could bee and with small company to view how the enemy was lodged and perceauing by occasion of some that they were too forward commaunded fiue or sixe of his company to giue them the charge in the which seauen of the enemy remained vpon the place which thing being done the king returned to lodge at Arques The 16. before day many issued out of Deepe who made hot skirmishes vpon the enemy where the Lord Chastilion commaunding ouer the footemen shewed himselfe a most skilfull warriour The King had placed certaine horsemen betweene his footemen and the enemy to represse the Leaguers of the Souldiours least rashly they might haue bred some confusion The skirmish was such that the Harquebusiers did neuer discharge a bullet that day in vaine That day the King permitted certayne English gentlemen to skirmish with the enemie who imployed themselues so valiantly and with such a noble courage that in lesse then the turning of one hand they ouerthrew slew or tooke prisoners all that encountred them The same day about 25. of the enemies had passed the brooke which did runne betweene the Kings armie and the enemie and were already in the medow to haue assaulted a Village named Boteille where the Kings Cornet was lodged great troups of horsemen came downe the hill to passe in like maner the brooke to haue assisted them but there came out of the Village sixe gentlemen well armed to meete the enemy among whom were the Lords Saint Marke and Slurbe with two Harquebuziers on foot charged the enemy so hard that they were faine to retire with swift flight feare and sorrowfull countenance All this day there continued hot skirmishes at the milles which are at the end of the Suburbe named Paulet and whereas the King aduaunced still to view the enemies doings an Harquebuze shot strooke his horse in the thigh The same day the King sent the company of the Prince County conducted by the Lorde Armilie his Lieftenant to the Marshall Biron who was at Arques which immediatly commaunded them to goe and spie the lodgings of the enemy who did lye in a Village called Martinglize where were the Dukes Aumale Nemours and the Lord Sagonne this company of light horses comming to the place and forgetting to bring word to the sayd Lord Biron of that which they had seene ran so fiercely vppon the enemy that they killed aboue an hundred and fifty and among them the Marques of Meneiay they tooke many Captains and other prisoners and ouerthrew their rampiers and Barricadoes being still on horsebacke The rest being foure regiments of footmen fled with great terrour Aumale Nemours and Sagonne shewing to these companies the way to flee and striuing among themselues who should flee y e swiftest The Lord Armilie was dangerously wounded through the body with a sword The King from Diepe vnderstanding the skirmish made hast thither with three hundered horses but the enemy was already chased before he came The 17. of September the King caused a Canon to bee discharged against the enemie on the side of Arques whilest the Lord Chastilion did valiantly skirmish with the enemie at the ende of the Suburbe Paulet where he slewe many of the enemies and tooke many prisoners without the losse of any one man saue onely fewe of his were wounded Another company of the Kings Campe at the same time went to view another Village on another side where they surprised the enemies slewe thirtie of them and put the rest to flight During these skirmishes a great number of Gentlemen and Souldiers came to the King and of their owne voluntary motion and goodwill yéelded themselues and their seruice They were part of the troupes of the Lord Rabempré who a little before was taken by the enemie at Gournay a Towne situated in Beauuoysin betwéene the Cities of Beauuoys Roen who had followed the enemies for their safegard The enemie trusting in his great multitude determined to passe ouer the little riuer which ran betwéene them and the King and hauing made certaine bridges of wood to bee cast ouer the 19. day of September about fiue of the clock in the morning the enemie marched from Martinglize in battell aray well ordered strong and thicke Their footmen well placed at their wings their faces set toward Arques the quarter of the Swissers The Lord Billing with two thousand shot was appoynted to giue the onset The Duke de Mayne stood behind with great strength in battell aray readie to giue succour where néede should be The King had watched all night before on horsebacke to giue order in euery place which hee did so diligently and circumspectly that the enemie could doo him no hurt without great disaduantage and losse to themselues But in the morning hauing seene the order of their battell aray incontinently he sent foorth his light horsemen and the company of the Prince County lead by the Lord Montater he sent also his Cornet wherein were the Lords graund Prior the great Squier the Countie
Lords Clermont Antragues one of the Captaynes of the Kings gards who deceased nigh the Kings person The Lord Tischombert who had borne great charges in warre and now would needes serue as a souldier in the Kings Cornet The Lord of Longauluay in Normandy of fourescore yeares of age the Lord of Creuay Cornet bearer to the Prince Montpencier the Lord Vienne Lieftenant to the Lord Benuron the Lords of Manuille Fequers Valoys and twentie Gentlemen more at the most There were hurt the Marquesse of Neste the Earle of Choysy the Lord d'O the Earle Lude the Lords Montluet Lauergne and Rosny and about twentie Gentlemen more without any danger of death The King going to chase the enemie and hauing deuided his companies as is aforesayd left the Marshall Byron with the rest of his forces to conduct them and followe after him Here good Christian Reader thou hast to note certaine fatall periods of things to wit the circumstances of the persons time and place in the execution of Gods iustice vpon his enemies The 23. day of December 1559. Claude Duke of Guize and Charles Cardinall of Lorreyne his brother in the raigne of Francis the second procured Annas du Borg one of the chiefest Senators of the Court of Parliament of Paris to be burned for the Gospell at Saint Ihan in Greues in Paris The 23. of December as their Calender is now which was the day of the natiuitie of Henry of Bourbon which now raigneth in the yeare 1588. the last Duke and Cardinall of Guize were slayne at Bloys when they had concluded to murther the King the next morning following that day The fourth day of March 1561. Claude of Guize father to this last tooke armes agaynst the edict of Ianuary and committed the cruell murther of Vassie by the which breach of the peace were ciuill warres raised vp in France and euer since haue béen entertayned and nourished by his posteritie which warre was his vndoing The same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1585. the last Duke of Guize sonne to the sayd Claude tooke armes against the King which was the beginning of these last ciuill warres of the League by the which they haue procured their owne vndoing and of many others The same day of the moneth the Duke de Mayne brother to the sayd last Duke of Guize and heire of the Captainship of the rebellion made a shipwracke of all his forces at Saynt Andrewes plaine without hope euer to recouer the like forces Claude Duke of Guyze in December in the year 1561. fought the first battell that was giuen in all these ciuill Warres with Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condie Prince of famous and blessed memory in the plaine of Dreux with an vncertaiue issue but in equall losses so that to this day it is vniudged who had y e victory but well knowen that the Duke of Guyze had the greatest losse The Duke de Maine fought agaynst Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name now King of France and Nauarre at the plaine of Saint Andrew next adioyning to the other and the places not distant passing a mile a sunder with a reparable losse The Lord Rendan a rebellious Leaguer in Auuergne with such power as he could make in the sayd countrey but specially in the Townes of Rions and Brion rebelled and holden in the same rebellion by the Iesuits besieged Isoire a great and populous towne in the said Auuergne because it continued in the Kings obedience The Lords Chasseran and Rochemayne willing to do some honorable seruice to the King and good to their countrey gathered such power as they could of the Kings subiectes to rescue the sayd towne of Isoire from falling into the handes of the rebels and with a meane power trusting in GOD the defender of his Ordinance and wayghing the right of the cause marched towards Isoire The sayd Lord Rendan vnderstanding of their approach raysed vp the siege and went intending to meete the sayd Lordes Chasseran and Rochemayne and at the same day and time of the battell at Saint Andrewes playne meeting in a playne field not farre from Jsoire tried the quarell by the sword There the sayd Rendan was ouerthrowen and aboue fourescore Gentlemen of his were slayne on the place all his footmen cut to pieces the artillery bagge and bagage with many prisoners taken so the Towne of Isoyre was deliuered from the danger of the enemie retayned and confirmed in the Kings dutifull obedience It is said how after the victory the King deuided his army into foure parts three of them were appointed their quarters to follow the chase and the Marshall Biron to follow after the King with the residue of the army The King hauing taken this order followed after the Duke de Mayne but finding the bridg broaken was faine to go thrée miles about to passe the riuer afoord and in that way he found many straglers whom he tooke prisoners which was a good turne for them or else they had béen slaine by others he came so fast after the Duke d' Mayne that hee did misse him but a little but vnderstanding how he was receaued in Mant the king lodged that night at Rosni as is said very simple The fift day the Duke d'Mayne very early fearing to be besieged there retyred from Mante to Pontoyse where he soiourned few dayes to take some sure order for the safety of the Towne and after went to Saint Denis The same day the King sent to sommon the Towne of Mante which deliuered the keyes of their towne to his Maiesty receaued and acknowledged him their king and prince and continued there vntill the twentie day of March to refresh his army wearied with so many labours and hardnes of winter to take counsel of the course which he was to take hereafter and to expect certaine munition of warre which was comming to him from Diepe The Citie of Paris first author of this warre had conceaued an assured confidence of all prosperous successe by the vaine bragges which the Duke d'Mayne did cast foorth afore hee went out with the army The Friers Iesuites increased this vain confidence in their pulpets by assuring them either of a certaine victory or else of recoyling of the King as farre as beyond Loyre so that euery day they looked for the King dead or aliue and all his spoyles to be brought for a spectacle and to bee solde and bought among them or else to heare of his flight as farre as the riuer of Loyre This great confidence made them to liue very secure and carelesse in prouiding for the Citie besides that they rested much vpon the great multitude which is within the sayd Citie there beeing great bablers and boasters for the Parisien is as Epimenides speaketh of the Cretayns a lyer euill beast and slothfull belly The towns also which then did hold round about their Citie as Pontoyse beneath vpon the same riuer Charonton Meaux Laguye Corbeil Melun Montereau aboue vpon the riuer
him nor good for his master to meddle with the Kings affayres we sayd the Lord Byron hold the King for the true and naturall heire of the Crowne of France That the King maintained their lawes and liberties inuiolable and had none for enemies but fewe straungers thrust forward by ambition who vnder y e pretence of religion sought to ouerthrowe all good lawes to lay downe the foundation of their tyrannie to giue entrance to the Spanish King and for religion to bring in all Atheisme The Frier protested that his master was free from medling in any such enterprises But his doings his practises his ministring of money to the Rebels his conuersation and familiaritie with Bernardine Mendoza was so auerred to the foolish Friers face that he was proued a lying false flattering Frier Thereupon master Frier his stomacke being not yet satisfied would haue a saucie Frierlike fling against the King and demaunded the Marshall Byron how they being professors of the Catholike religion made so light account of his masters holines and purposes to carrie armes against the Catholikes their brethren The Lord Byron answered that they carried armes agaynst rebels and traytors and told him agayne that it were very wisely done for him his master to looke somewhat neerer to his owne estate For if he so encroached and medled with them they would quickly excommunicate him And that there were diuers Bishops in France as good Catholikes as his master who would bee glad to bee made Patriaches in their seuerall Prouinces and would finde as good Scripture to maintaine their authoritie as his master had any to defend his Some reasoning being vpon this poynt Frier Paniguerola was found to be so great a Clark that he could answer little or nothing But at length to conclude the talke he shewed the somme of his Ambassage to wit he desired a good peace to be concluded and some paynes to be taken to bring the King to be a Catholike But he shewed not his intent which was to delay the siege of Paris if the king had intended to besiege it out of hand The other Ambassadour to wit Vileroy was sent by the King to the Lord Plessis Morney a noble man of great wisedome and profound learning who handled the sayd Vileroy very plainly and roughly reproaching vnto him his vnfaithfull and treacherous seruice to his old master Henry the third And when he had denyed these things wherewith he was charged the Lord Beaulieu both condemned his fayre flattering wordes and promises which he brought now full of dissimulation and verified his olde trayterous practises agaynst his olde master it was thought that iustice should haue been executed vppon him for his treasons according to the Kings edicts The King hauing soiourned at Mante fewe dayes tooke his way to Vernon which lyeth between Mante and Pont de larche which also yéelded vnto him From Vernon the Gentlemen of Normandy to the number of fifteene hundred horses retyred to their home about the eight of March The Lord Chartres gouernour of Deepe returned to Deepe sicke in whose absence certaine Leaguers inhabitants there went about to haue seazed vpon the towne for the League who being detected and preuented at his returne were exiled out of the Towne to the number of sixe score among whom were many of the richest sort of all the towne About the same time that the King soiourned at Vernon the Duke of Longueuile the Lord of Tinteuille arriued to the King with eight thousand Rutters The King hauing seazed on Vernon and Mante and stopped the traffique of that riuer with the Citie of Paris on that side and prouided for the safetie of the sayd Townes concluded in his counsell to besiege Paris the principallest Citie of the Realme where it was considered that the Citie being populous and great would easily be woon by famine which would eschewe slaughter both of his owne Souldiers and Citizens whome hée would by all gentle meanes bring to their duetie of obedience and therefore it was thought good to stop the passages of the riuers Oyse Marne and Seyne aboue Paris For in stopping Oyse the Towne of Pontoyse also should bee distressed Therefore the King deuideth his armie as followeth The Duke of Longueuile should haue part of his armie to besiege Beaumont vpon Oyse He sent the Marshall Byron with another part of the armie to scoure the riuer Marne where he tooke Cressie a towne situated in Brie betweene Meaulx and Corbeil where a Parisien named Peter was Captaine for whose raunsome was proffered eight hundred Crownes but the King for some speciall causes commaunded him to be hanged and fiue and twentie of the chiefest of the towne with him The sayd Marshall Byron immediatly after the taking of Cressie layed the siege before Lagnye vpon the riuer Marne right agaynst Corbeil The Citizens required space of time to send vnto the King which was yet in Normandy to craue his gracious mercie which they obtayned The King about the 21. of March hauing receiued certayne munitions from Deepe and taken order for the safetie of Normandy with part of his armie coasted betweene the riuers of Seyne and Eure and tooke the townes of Possie and S. Germain and the Pont S. Clow and marched toward Corbeil to seaze vpon the riuer of Seyne on that side It is said before how the Leaguers had compacted with the King of Spayne vpon some conditions of receiuing a certaine somme of money to haue deliuered the Citie of Marsels a great strong Citie in Prouance vpon the Mediterran Sea but being disappoynted of his purpose as is said in the first Booke that Citie continued faithfull vnto the King vntil the Duke of Guize his death The King of Spayne had corrupted aforehand the chiefe gouernour of the Citie by giuing him pay to the summe of fifty Crownes a day he had also drawne to his faction three score of the chiefest Citizens paying to some forty crownes some more and some lesse a day Thus the hearts of a great number of Citizens being disposed the death of the Duke of Guize was bruted euen to the coast of the Mediterrane Sea The gouernour and his complices hearing of that began to â—nuaigh and bring the City to a wauâ—ring and inconstancy of wills counsels some would haue the Towne to yéelde to the League and some would not so the Citie remayned as neuter hanging neither to Spayne nor to France In the meane time the Lord Valete as is said hauing made peace with the Lord Diguieres and considering the wauering of that Citie had prepared a nauy of Galeys on the Sea before the said City to controule such Ships or other vessels as might come or goe that way to benefit the said Towne whome he molâ—sted as Leaguers The gouernour and the rest of malcontents hired by the King of Spayne practized that the said King of Spayne and the Duke of Sauoy should send Galleys thether in shew to clense the Seas but in déede
to bring with them thrée thousand men that should vpon a luddaine be landed there at the time appoynted and should seaze vpon the City to the King of Spaynes vse At the time appoynted came the Galeys and Souldiours and tooke land The second magistrate of the city being a faithfull Citizen and in that neutrality of the City suspecting some treason thought to preuent it by diligence and as it pleased God that night tooke vpon him to view the watch and in his way met with certaine Mariners all amazed and frighted requiring him to prouide for the safety of the city for that there were a great number of Spanyards already landed wherupon he commaunded the townesmen presently to arme themselues And going a little further accompanied with some good Citizens did light on the company where the chiefe gouernour was there taking order with the enemy for the entring of the Towne This magistrate dnderstanding of these things already well accompanied with townesmen commaunded the dromme to sound the alarum and with great courage charged vpon the Spanyards whome they slew in great number he tooke many of them and the gouernour of the City prisoner with them and such of his complices as were with them so the City was yet once preserued from the Turkish bondage of the Spaniards Euen as the shéepe straying from their shepheards runne into the Wolues daunger so townes and Cities euen whole Prouinces with drawing themselues from the obedience of their Lords are dayly in danger to be made a pray to their enemies It is said how the Duke d'Mayne after his flight from Saint Andrews plaine went to Saint Denis to sée what entertainement the Parisiens would shew him and after he with few had concluded to holde Paris and Saint Denis specially fast from the Kings power and so he and the Spanish Moore Commendator Moreo went into Picardie thence to Bruxels to the Duke of Parma The Duke d'Mayne soiorned at Pâ—ronne a towne in Picardie situated vpon the riuer Sonie betwéene Amiens and Saint Quintine to gather such forces as he could he craued aide from al parts but they are as slowly to come to him as he is earnest to enuite them Balagny Gouernour of Cambray did promise him fiftéene hundred horses out of Picardie There the Duke d'Mayne séeing that al things went contrary yet to ease his stomack he maketh great braggs how that he will make againe an army of thirty thousand men These great bragges did procéede of the vaine hope which they had already conceaued of the King of Spayne for while these things aboue saide were a dooing by the King about the 20. of March they sent foure Ambassadors into Spayne first from the Duke d'Mayne and another from the Duke of Lorreyne the third from the Duke Merceur and the last in the name of the whole body of the League They arriued at Vadolit in the latter end of Aprill The somme of their Ambassage was to begge and not much neither but thrée Milions of Gold and thirty thousand men vpon that condition that they would make him King of France if he could get it yet promising their furtherance So after much capping and crouching begging and crauing chopping and changing what money they obtayned it is not certaine but it is reported that they were promised one Milion and that they had thirty thousand Crownes which they tooke in hope that more would come and an army out of the Lowe Countreyes of Flanders The King of Spayne was willing to hearken to these Ambassadors for thrée causes ambition feare and desire of reuenging First by the proffer of this Ambassage hée was put in some hope that considering the great power of these three Dukes and the great power of the League that is of the Townes Cities and commons rebelled hée might perhaps spéede better then he looked for And if he should not spéed in the whole yet he might in part thereof The second cause was feare which caused him with all his meanes to keepe the King from growing mighty for considering his great valoure and the iniuries which both his predecessors he had receaued at the Spaniards handes would in time call them to remembrance and seeke the means to recouer his owne The third cause was desire of reuenge supposing that in working him mischiefe he might bee reuenged of the losse reproch and dishonour of his Spaniards and Flemmings who had remayned to dung the playne of S. Andrew by reason of these particular affections not for any loue which hee had to the Leaguers or Leagued he wrote to the Duke of Parma to passe in person with such Forces as hee had and could spare in the lowe Countreis to succour the rebels in France In the meane while that the King soiorned at Mante the Parisiens beeing hardened by the Deuillish and seditious Sermons of the Fryers and Iesuits as the Egyptians were by the enchauntmentes of Iamnes Iambres they elected for gouernor of their city the Duke of Nemours by whose conduct they began to fortify their walles men women and Children night and day they pulled downe many houses in the Suburbs they receaued into the City three thousand Germans whom they placed part of them in the Arsenall and others in watch and ward in the most needfull places of the city They gathered corne and wine into the Citie so much as the could They fortified also Saint Denis Corbeil Melun Montereau fault yonne and Sennes The King passing in the sight of the Citie of Paris layed the siege before Corbeil which shortly after yelded the King stopped the riuer of Seine with a chayne of Iron so that no boats being neuer so little could passe by From Corbeil the King went to lay the siege before Montereau which is a great towne situated vppon the fall of the riuer Yonne into Seine which yeelded without any resisting From Montereau the King returned to Melune a strong towne vppon Seine this town part of it lyeth vpon the South banke of Seine and part is in an Iland within the sayd riuer there the Rebels had placed a strong garrison but the Citizens and Souldiers perceauing that they would be forced and that there was no hope of succour yeelded the place and put themselues in the Kings seruice The King hauing placed a strong garrison there wentbacke agayne to Sens compassed it doth plant sixe pieces of Ordinance agaynst the wall sent a Tâ—ompeter to the City to sommon them to render the place promising them all good and gracious fauour The Gouernor called the Lord Chambalon determined not to receaue him except first he would become a good Catholike Whereupon the K. began to batter the towne in two seuerall places gaue two assaults where he was repulsed beeing within the town one thousand and eight hundred Souldiers besides the Citizens and Inhabitants who were able to make two thousand Souldiers more The king therfore thought good to leaue of that enterprise and to follow the
the towne was deliuered from danger of changing of mastery the people from death and vndoing and the tumult ceased This spéedy execution did greatly weaken and preuent the monopols of the League in the countrie of Prouance About the 15. day the Leaguers hasting to seaze vpon as many townes and houldes as they could in all France to make their part strong as well by force as faction but speciaily in Belgik where they could do more then in any part of France there they committed great cruelties in many places where hauing the vpper hand they were withstoode namely in the towne of Chastilion vppon the riuer Marne in the countrey of Brie they murthered as well the Catholikes as the Hugonets because they made resistance against them About the 20. day the Leaguers did present their association which they had set forth in writing to many Noblemen and Gentlemen vnder the name of the King requiring them to allow of it and subscribe to it But contrary to their expectation many refused so to do and diuers who had allowed it considering more déeply in the matter perceiuing their intentes abiured and forsooke it with protestations set forth in writing printed wherein they do open the secret thoughtes of the Leaguers and Leagued First they do protest that they do acknowledge none other faith then that in the which they haue béen baptized which then they did promise to beléeue and defend and to that promise they do stand still Secondly they do refuse and condemne all manner of associations vnder what soeuer color which binde them to obay any other then their Soueraygne Thirdly they do shew the League to bee nothing else but the circumuention of the king the confusion of the State a dangerous alteration of y â— Realme the bringing of a new Prince of a strange blood and finally caryeth with it selfe a proscription hauocke and bondage of all good men in all degrées About the 22. of Aprill the King of Nauarre in silence beholding the rage of this League and their declaration published in the which they had made him the obiect of their insurrection sent the Lordes Clairuant and Chassincourt with letters to the King in the which he complaineth of the iniuries of the Leaguers proffered vnto him in their declaration requiring iustice to be done for the sayd iniuries done vnto him He offereth also his seruice power to the King for to represse the traiterous intentes and attempts of the said Leaguers About the 30. of Aprill the King willeth the said Lordes Clairuant Chassincourt to giue this gentle answere to the King of Nauarre from him That he doth hold the sayd King of Nauarre as his sonne and heire of his crowne willeth him also to arme himselfe with patience to cause the edict of peace to be obserued by them of the reformed Religion Furthermore that hee acknowledgeth the driftes of the Leaguers aswell against his own person as against the said King of Nauarre but hopeth that he shal be able himselfe alone to represse their furies and to punish them wel for their desertes The second day of May the King by edict and proclamation doth condemnethe Leaguers and Leagued guilty of high treason commaundeth his edict of pacification to be proclaimed a new in all partes of the realme charging all men vpon paine of death to obay and kéepe it inuiolably At the same time also the King answered to euery point of their declaration of the said Leaguers whereof the summe followeth First the King protesteth of his Catholike Religion and calleth to witnes his actions victories daungers and labours taken for the same Secondly he sheweth that the peace was made and approoued by the counsell of the Cardinall in whose name they do séeme to autorize their rebellion and of the rest of the Leaguers not to fauour heretikes as hee tearmes them but to restore the decayed state of the realme to assault them of the reformed religion in conuenient time with greater forces Thirdly he declareth how he hath fauored the Cleargie in giuing them liberty to call prouinciall counsels and to refâ—rme such abuses as the ciuill warres had brought in how he hath also preferred the woorthiest sort to the best Ecclesiasticall liuinges and hath restored to their liuinges them who were dispossessed thereofby the former ciuill warres Fourthly that the Leaguers haue no cause to complaine for the geuing of offices For his predecessors and he after them haue bestowed vpon the Guyzes the best sort and most honorable dignities and that in great number when the Princes of his blood haue béen neglected Fiftly that it is to force nature and tyme to compell him by violence of armes to appoint a successor hée being aliue in strength health and flower of his age and not out of hope to haue issue Last of all he complayneth that this new commotion is very vnfit and out of season considering that he was now earnestly bent and occupyed to restore the Nobilitie to their ancient honor and dignity and the people to their due liberty But by this leauie of armes they haue stopped his godly procéedinges and haue taken the way to oppresse and root out the Cleargy nobility and people About the same time also the King sent Ambassadors into forreine countryes and commaunded his ordinary Ambassadors in the courtes of forreine Princes to geue them knowledge of the wicked intentes and trayterous attemptes of the Leaguers The Leaguers in a short space had scattered abroad the Pistolets of Spaine and about the beginning of Iune they began also to take money and therefore thought good to supply the want of Pistolets with French crownes which is somewhat purer gold for they exacted in diuers places great and excessiue summes of money vpon the townes and cities which they had either seduced to their faâ—â—ion or otherwise surprised As by one we may gather the rest Bourge being a small towne in Xainctonge situated vpon the fall of the riuer Dordonne into Garomne a towne leagued and extreamly addicted to the Leaguers was by them raunsomed to ten thousand crownes and afterward the inhabitantes so cruelly intreated that in leaping by night ouer the walles were enforced to steale away for feare of worse supposing them selues to haue sped well in escaping with their liues About the same time the Lord Saint Luke gouernor of Browage sent a certayne Captayn into the Iles of Maran vnder colour to buy Oates for his prouision to see whether hee could worke some surprizing of the Castell But the Captayne was so roughly shouldered and coursed that he was glad to retire with his whole skinne And after that least the Papistes should put some into the Castell euery night 6. or 7. of the reformed religion with Caliuers conuayed themselues priuily in the darke of the night into the gate of the Castell vntill day The Papistes vnderstanding this and also hearing the threatnings ofthem of the Religion to wit that if they should bee driuen
not to come within the reach of the King of Nauarre for feare of the Bastonado or Strapado or some such like thing being in good hope in the meane time that in walking and taking his pleasures in Guyenne at the Priestes costs he might make his part strong with seducing the forenamed Cities and other from the Kings obedience to his deuotion but he was as far deceaued in that as in escaping the Bastonado But now to returne to our purpose the Duke Ioyeuse was at the back of the Prince of Conde the Duke De Mayne passing through Orleans ouer the riuer of Loyre was at his right hand and as farre as Bloyse stopped all the passages least the saide Prince might passe ouer The King had sent Biron with forces into Beause which marched right against his face least hee should escape that way on the left hand the way to the sea through Britaine and Normandie was long difficulte and dangerous by reason of many townes and Garisons therein placed The Prince being thus compassed about with al these forces of enemies was in lesse daunger because that they knew not what and how things passed in his armie and supposing the same to be farre closer and stronger then it was in deede did greatlie feare to aboard it whereby he and all his Captaines had opportunitie to beguile them and to steale away from them Now to knowe well the rest of this voyage vntill the dissolution of the armie it is necessarie to know the situation of the country There is on the north side of Lorion a riuer called Loire washing the townes of Chasteau dune Vendosme Chasteaudeloy Lude Flesche and Luche which méeting with the riuer Sartre at Anger 's falleth into Loyre beneath Pont de sel The Prince at his departing from Beaufort folowed this riuer almost as far as Chasteau dune The 26. of October the Princes armie dislodged from Beaufort intending to lodge at the towne of Luche in Anjou belonging to the Lord Clermong there purposing to passe ouer y e sayd Loyre vpon the bridge into the countrey which lyeth betweene the sayd riuer Loyre and Sartre called Vaudeloyre but the riuer was so ouerflowen as though the foure Elements had set themselues agaynst that army that it did couer halfe of the sayd bridge and the Lord Clermont which is Lord of the place sounding the foord himselfe thought it were not passable whereupon they determined that day to goe to Lude There happened vnto them other things which increased greatly the amaze For newes came that the Duke Ioyeuse with greater forces than theirs pursued with great hast after them and that not long after the departing of the Prince he had seazed vpon Beaufort On the other side the countrey which before trembled for feare of them began to rise vpon them for they of the Flesche the selfesame day issued out and intercepted some souldiers and carriage That day according to the determination they lodged at Lude The 27. of October they would haue passed ouer Loyre vpon the bridge of Lude but it was so highly ouerflowen that although it was easie to passe the bridge yet at the further side of the said bridge there was another great riuer which they must néedes passe ouer by a foord for there was but a little boate which would scarse carrie three men without daunger The horsemen passed and set themselues in battell aray vntill all had passed there a great many gaue ouer their carriage they which had friends in the countrey gaue them their stuffe That day from Lude they sent the Lords Boysduly and Aubiguy towards Boysgency Mere and S. Die to finde some passage and that the morrowe after they should all méete at Orges or the Chappell S. Martine Whilest they stayed in that playne in battell aray for the safe passage of all the companies there happened a thing which would haue wrapped a superstitious soule into sundrie and fearefull thoughts for not farre thence beyond them was a Hare started by the enemies betwéene the Loyre and Lotion with a great crye after which gaue them the alarum and all prepared themselues to receaue the enemie couragiously but at length the Hare was seene with more than two hundred horses with fewe dogges That poore Hare passed and repassed among the horses feete with many stripes and yet was not taken but saued her self though she was pursued more than halfe a mile Some tooke this for an euill and some a good presage saying that if God had care to preserue that poore feeble and fearefull beast much more would hee haue care of that little flocke amazed which howsoeuer it was hollowed and pursued by all the forces of France notwithstanding would escape safe and sound in receiuing but feare without great hurt which thing also happened From Lude they at length arriued at Prillay two houres in the night this is a great towne belonging to the Prince County the Prince of Conde his yonger brother At their comming thither there was such a confusion and presse in the streates that they could neither goe forward nor backward for the space of an houre not the Prince himself vntil that the doores of some houses broaken gaue some roome The 29. day they marched through Vandeloyre and at night came to S. Arnol and the villages about not farre from Lauerdine but the sayd S. Arnol was a poore little village where was small store of lodgings so that the further they went the néerer they approached to their miseries There also newes came that the enemies followed after them as couragiously and with such hast as they went about to goe from them with great iourneys The Lords Espernon and Byron and most of the Nobilitie of the Court were at Bonaual in Beause to méete with this terrified armie The Duke de Mayn on the other side with a great armie was on the other side of the riuer of Loyre neere Bloys to cut them off by the way if by chaunce they should repasse The Townes betwéene Bloys and Orleans were all be set with strong garrisons The Lord Chastre had sent into Soloigne to kéepe the riuer of Loyre and to retire the boates and milles into the townes The Commons were set to watch readie to rise vpon them at the first sound of the Toxine The companies of the Prince were as wearie as their enemies were lustie and as men may bee wearie with courses and watches so horses much more with galloping night and day without resting The meanes to passe betweene Bloys and Amboyse fayled them all these things being knowne of all made them to haue little hope of their affayres Yet there is no doubt that if the enemie had appeared the necessitie had much increased their courage But it seemed that by a singular prouidence of God the enemies stood in such feare of these companies that he would haue them defeated through wearines that it might appeare to be Gods owne hand and his proper work to scatter them
of inhabitants and Souldiers Notwithstanding neither the Gouernour the Lord S. Mesmes nor the Ministers would at any time forsake the remainant of that Church which was there All the fields about were full of Tents and Cabbins replenished with men infected of the plague the villages all round about were in the same case The faithfull exiled out of their owne countreys and houses flowing from euery side of France flying from the contagious pestilence of their soules estéemed lesse than nothing the plague and sicknesse of the bodie rather than should cast away their soules in denying the sonne of God was to bée wished for of them But God according to his trueth kept to them both the one and the other for euen then the pestilence vanished away from all those places as if God had commanded the sicknesse to make roome for them who were exiled for his name for after that there was no more sicknesse seene In this auoydance there was a number murthered but specially in those Prouinces where the gouenours were most passionate and addicted to the League by whose permission the common people tooke much libertie to commit cruell murthers vpon them of the religion They who had not the meanes to recouer some place of refuge and continued in the purenes of religion and escaped the slaughter did lye sousing in prisons and dongeons where they sustayned many combats looking euery day when they should be had away to death Many of them who forsooke the confession of the trueth went to Masse and so were sent to their houses agayne but by a certaine iudgement of God they for the most part dyed euery where through sorrowe or by the pestilence Some of them who had charge in the Church died of notable kindnes of death For some going into the Countrey about theyr businesse fell of their horses and brake their neckes and some dyed otherwise verifying the saying of Christ he which will saue his life shall loose it It is sayd how the Duke de Mayne powred his fuâ—y vppon the olde walles of the vilages of Montigne le Conte Beaulrien and how he tooke Trile which no man will keepe In the latter end of Ianuary the sayd Duke drawing into the furthest part of Perigord set vppon Gaignak a poore little vilage belonging to the Vicount Turenne a place voyde of all fortifications saue that at the endes of the streetes there remayned yet few old walles which did shew that there had béen a gate the inhabitants being poore husbandmen first sustayned an assault supposing to haue to doo with companyes of robbers for so they tooke them But at length being not able to withstand such a multitude they fledde another way and saued themselues except onely foure who either for age or woundes could not auoyd them this great Duke caused to be hanged to powre his gall vpon those poore simple countrey men Thus this great Emperour weary to conquer vilages in Perigord and seeing that his practises agaynst the great and populous Cities of Limoges and Perigueux would not frame he turned short Southward towards Quercy and passing ouer the riuer Dordonne at Soilak left at his left hand the townes of the vicount Turenne Saynt Cere and Turenne in Perigord and coasted Figeak Cadenak and Cayak in Quercye whom hee knew to bee well furnished with garrisons Hee coasted also the houses of the Vicount Gourdine and Montfort a strong place vpon Dordonne which hee sent to view This Duke soiorned long in Quercy sent commaundement to the marchantes of Tholouze and Bourdeaux and others which do traâ—fike vppon Garonne that vppon payne of death they should not agree with the townes which did hold for the king of Nauarre and situated vppon that riuer did stoppe the commerce thereof promising that shortly hee would set all that riuer at liberty yea that he would Whilest hee soiorned so long in high Quercye rouing and wasting the countrey the Bishop of Cahors the Lords Saynt Sulpice and Comburat did instantly require him that he would assault those places aboue said which being holdeÌ„ by them of the religion did dayly annoy molest them which thing when the Duke could not be perswaded to do The Bishop blessing him with his Episcopall benediction and the two sayd Lordes with hot tearmes licensed him to depart out of their countrie in the deuils name Besides eating drinking spoyling and whoring he did no good there saue that he licensed some Gentlemen of the countrey for money to haue the exercise of the reformed religion in their houses so that thence they would not make warre and to colour his cowardlines hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Bishop and other Lords aboue saide that hee would goe to open the riuer of Garonne and to put the commerce vpon that riuer at libertie Thus this secoÌ„d Hannibal coasting the riuer of Lot at his left hand and Dordonne at his right hand for he would haue that riuer of Lot as a wall betweene him and mount Auban entring in Agenoys there issued out certain companies out of Montsâ—anquine vpon the taile of his armie which did slay in one conflict two hundred Harquebusiers of his and discomfited the companie of Captaine Guerche At length he came with his Ianissaries to the fall of the riuer of Lot into Garonne where is situated an olde Towne called Tunnings consisting of lowe and high Towne and Castle That place about the insurrection of the League certaine Ruffians of Agen had seazed vppon where they did greatly molest the countrey The King of Nauarre in August after passing by sent Captayne Lestele to take that towne which thing he did at the first approach and did cast downe those â—â—lthie ruffians with their harlots out of the windowe into the ditch and kept the sayd towne vnto the Dukes comming which then was giuen ouer and that small garrison that was there retyred to the other side of Gharonne to Caumont and Clerake to reserue themselues to a better opportunitie The Duke de Mayne tooke valiantly the sayd towne of Tunnings which no man kept agaynst him And hauing done this valiant exploit he doth coast the riuer Garonne descending toward Bourdeaux In that way he sent a Coriero to the king promising him that he will doo him such notable seruice as neuer no man did for in great sadues hee will take the King of Nauarre dead or aliue if he did not resolue himselfe to depart out of the Realme and if hée can take him he will send him his head in a Charger as Herode did S. Iohn Baptist As this great Duke went downe the riuer the forerunners met with thirtie scattered and vnarmed poore lads which belonged to the garrison of Chaumont they were sent to cause the prouision contributed by the countrey to be brought to the sayd towne of Chaumont These poore lads were killed by these stout warriors which notable victorie was afterward published in Paris by the title of the notable ouerthrowe of the garrison of
We haue recited in as good order as such a deformed confusion could be reduced vnto those things which passed in Paris in that damnable commotion Now the King being at Trappes considering the treacherie of that house which he had fauoured and honoured more without comparison then the houses of his owne bloud the person also whom hee had loued and vnited to himself more then any other the sauagednes of his subiects and familiar houshold seruants representing to himselfe the rage of the people whom he had alwaies tendered almost more then all the residue of his Realme the ingratitude of that Citie which had béen alwaies his delights and to the which he had neuer denied any thing that he could do for the peace preseruation ease riches and greatnes of the same calling to minde the tumuits rage and violence attempted and executed against him their benefactor reasoning with himselfe how that they were Catholikes of his owne religion and that they had béen his right hand in persecuting them of the reformed religion how they were his fellowes followers in committing the most vile and sauage murther that euer was heard of in the world Calling to remembrance the long and daily warning geuen him by the King of Nauarre the Princes of the bloud noble men and gentlemen of all degrees and of many forreine Princes of the Guyzes intent against him his crowne and state Pondering in his mind the token which his eies had seene his eares had heard and all despised and contemned and withall in stéed of looking to his security against such practizes he had from tyme to time hardned his hart agaynst Christ and to shed innocent blood and vnder the colour of defending the Catholike religion had countenanced strengthened and armed his enemies agaynst himselfe whereby he hath receaued that foile shame and confusion this day Euery man may iudge in what distresse of minde this great King passed all that night full of iust indignation of sorrow which although in outward apparance it might be kept close yet inwardly inhart it could not be dissembled The selfe same day of the tumult in Paris the Duke de Mayne attempted vppon Lyons but he was put backe by the inhabitantes About the same time also the inhabitantes of Orleans Anious Bourges Abeuille and in other places did expell the Kings garrisons and officers with the Citizens who did hold with the King whom they did call politickes and many of them were taken prisoners The thirteenth day the King went to the Citty of Chartres where many of his faythfull seruantes resorted to him and also his gardes which had escaped the slaughter of Paris The Duke of Guyze though very sory that so foolishly hee had missed to take the King in the Loure as he made his ful reckoning the day before followed the victory as well as hee could and first beginneth to play the good husband in Paris to further the affayres to the premeditate intent First he brought to his house aboue seuen hundered thousand crownes of that which was none of his which there hee layed for an earnest of the whole The same daye also hee tooke the Kinges Arseuall at the Bastile and sealed vp the Kings treasury and in hope shortly to make all his owne in the meane time hee will carry the key When the Duke of Guyze had so played the good husband now hee will trie in a small matter how hee can play the Kings part in great and waighty matters For suspecting the Prouost of Marchantes named Perreuse the Escheuins to be politickes and fauourers of the King assembled the state of the citty and there in his presence the said Prouost and Escheuins were deposed and by his commaundement one Chapel a most treacherous and seditious man was elected Prouost and one Rowland Compan with other factious and mutinous companions all deuoted to the Duke of Guyze were elected Escheuins Immediatly after these thinges done in Paris the fame there flyeth abroad from towne to towne reports are spread abroad not as before that Cities are surprized that the people rise in armes that muster is taken but the king was besieged in the Loure and in great daunger to be slaine by the Duke of Guyze hee is fled from Paris the Duke is in possession of the sayd Citty It was incredible to many some made but a â—ush at it good men were greatly mooued as it for seeing that such a treason would draw after it many calamities But the Leaguers lifted vp their heads thes stoutnes and high courage of the Duke of Guyze was in the mouthes of them of his faction but specially the Priestes Monkes and Iesuits did in their Pulpits extoll him to heauen and vpon the newes of this exploit done in Paris by the aduertizements which the Duke of Guyze gaue euery where but specially by the preaching of the Friers and Iesuits the partakers make them selues ready to battaile A sudden feare came vpon the Duke of Guiz and them of Paris his partakers for after the Kings departure from Paris they considering their error and that now they are further to execute their enterprize vpoÌ„ his person than euer they were the guiltines of their consciences doe represent to them the reuengement and the King making already as they see in their fearfull vision an agreement of peace with the King of Nauarre and calling him with his forces to his ayde to chastize them according to their deserts Therefore they sent presently to their partakers to arme themselues The Fryers and Iesuites sound the allarum euery where their seditious and impudent tongues seruing them for trompets and their pulpits for a drumme and giue the rendes vous at Paris about the person of the Duke of Guyze When the Duke had so played the good husband and had no more to take and had played the king in altring the state of the citie and seazing vpon the kinges arseuall and treasurie and had shewed himselfe a good prouident Captaine yet considering that in a little while the king was like to wax stronger than the Leaguers specially if he should ioyne himselfe to the king of Nauarre whose name they not onely hated but also feared extreamly in the meane while they goe about both to strengthen themselues and to amend their error as well as they can espetially three maner of wayes by letters by spyalls and seeking the way of reconsiliation As for the letters the Duke himselfe playeth the secretary to shewe how pretily he can skill of that occupation when it pleaseth him And for that the part of a good Orator is to delight he hath a speciall care of that and supposeth that vanitie is the chiefest thing whereby to delight the Reader therefore to atchieue this part of eloquence happily he plucketh quilles out of one of Polypus wings wherewith hee maketh him three pennes and with the one he writeth to the gouernour of Orleans of whom he had alwayes asmuch assured himselfe as of the
agaynst their Soueraigne and benefactor and parricide among bretheren one to preuent another The newes of the death of Guyze beeing brought into the Prouinces the most part of Towns and Citties from the riuer of Loyre West North and East being already surprised aforehand and seduced from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers vppon the rumor of that execution were so greatly mooued the Duke of Guyze beeing accompted the onely piller of Popish religion by the perswasion which the Catholikes had conceaued of him that they began euery where to wauer and kindle to a manifest rebellion by the setting on of the Leaguers who were the greatest part in number euery where They did greatly by their inuectiues make heynous and odious that execution vppon the persons of Guyze and the Romish Priest his brother tearming it the Massacre committed at Bloys And thus the iust iudgement of God iustly taking vengeance for so many murthers shedding of innocent bloud and innumerable villanies committed vppon the saintes of God and for stopping their eares at the cleere and lowd voice of the Sonne of God who so louingly hath called them by his word promises by his threatnings and plagues ofpestilence famine and warre gaue them ouer to a reprobat sence with a senceles rage to fall to commit such cruelties among themselues that no enemy would or could haue desired or deuised greater their towns and citiesbeeing euery where replenished with massacres robberies banishments and proscriptions not committed agaynst them of the religion but euen of popish Catholikes against popish Catholikes of Idolaters against Idolaters of murtherers agaynst murtherers so the Lord hath sent euill Angels among them Paris the capitall cittie of the kingdome as they more hoped vppon the Duke of Guyze then any other did so they shew themselues most offended There were firebrands which kindled the sedition to the vttermost to wit the Duchesses of Guyze and Nemours who with their outcries and lamentations did animate the people to a raging madnes Thereunto also added the Iesuits and Fryers set on by the aforenamed all their inuectiues insolent and vnreuerent wordes in their ordinary tragicall outcryes in their Pulpits and philippicall sermons to make the people obstinate desperat and vntractable to be hereafter reduced to any obedience Other Cities followed the example of Paris as Orleans Roen Anieus Abeuille Reymes and Tholose whereby the conspiracy and setting on of the Bishop of the place in most cruel maner they tooke the first president of the court of Parliament there hanged him vpon a Gibet and afterward dragged his dead body about the streets beeing one of the most zealous romish Catholikes which then could liue in this world the onely cause was that he would not allow their rebellion The King vnderstanding the great sturres perilous flames of rebellion in most part of the townes and cities of his realme supposing by impunity which he calleth clemencie and gentlenes to quench that fire which was already too far kindled writeth his declarations emporting an obliuion of all iniuries to be published in all his Parliaments and other courts in Prouinces First he sheweth how oftentimes hee hath borne with the perturbers of his realme not onely in forgiuing them their offences whome hee might haue iustly punished but also by winning them by all fauours possible to be shewed onely thereby séeking the preseruation of the peace of his subiects and of the Catholick religion vntill that hee was certainely informed that they had conspired against his person life and estate so farre as he was inforced to make that execution extraordinarily Secondly he sheweth that although many had béen of that conspiracy whome he might haue iustly punished yet for the loue which he beareth vnto all Catholicks hée hath stayed the punishment vpon the two chiefest authors of the euill Thirdly he protesteth that he will haue the edict of reunion obserued in all poynts burying al the former offences in perpetuall forgetfulnes commaundeth his iudges and officers in all his courtes to make no inquisition of the former offences willing all men to liue in peace vnder his obedience and if not hee chargeth his officers to make exemplary iustice of the offenders The King hauing assembled his estates as is saide before supposing by their help and assistance to haue repressed the outragious attempts of the house of Guize sawe himselfe in the middest of them compassed with a company of mortall enemies to his person life and state Whereupon destitute of authoritie counsell and help through pusillanimity was faine to spare the liues of them who were in his power and of others whome he might easily haue apprehended who had their hands as déepely in the trespasse as the chiefe authors themselues This was the worke of the Lord to bring him to the consideration of his great errors in refusing so often the wholsome and brotherlike aduertisements of the good K. of Nauarre and other Princes both within and without the realme his louing and faithfull friends The more therefore he goeth about with impunity of most grieuous offences which in his declaration hee tearmeth clemency to bring that people of Paris seduced from his obedience to their duety y e more that miserable people condemned of God and in his wrath appointed to hauock and thraâ—dome for multiplying rebellion murthers and confusions vpon their former murthers Idolatries and abominations dooth rage and like mad dogs as out of their wittes doo run headlong to worke the full measure of their desperat rebellions accounting the Kings clemency cowardlines which they might haue called pusillanimitie in deed as though hée feared either to haue them his enemies or else to loose them from being his subiects Therefore hauing committed greeuous crimes all manner of wayes euen with greedines at length hauing concluded to withdraw themselues from their soueraignes obedience the chiefest players in this tragedie of rebellion to colour their diuilish passions with the authoritie of Gods law as though they would haue asked Gods wil out of his owne mouth adressed them themselues to the facultie of Theologie there commonly called the Colledg of Sorboune For that purpose they sent one Vrban one of the Magistrates of Paris to the sayd Sorboune hauing framed in manner of supplication two questions to be resolued by them First an populus regni Galliae possit solui liberari à sacramento fidelitatis obedientiae Henrico tertio praestito Whether the people of France may not be discharged and setfree from the oath of allegeance and obedience made vnto Henry the third Secondly an tuta conscientia possit idem populus armari vniri pecnnias colligere contribuere ad defensionem conseruationem Religionis Catholicae Romanae in hoc regno aduersus nefaria conscilia conatus praedicti regis quorum libet aliorum illi adherentium contra publica fidei violationem ab eo Blaesis factum in praeiuditium praedictae religionis Catholicae edicti sanctae vnionis
the Kings power that in lesse then an houre they were all taken with the losse of fifteene hundred men of the enemie There were also fourteene Ensignes taken and thirteene pieces of Ordinance The chase was followed with such a furie that the Kings men mingled among the enemies followed euen within the gates of the Citie and if the Kinges Ordinance had come as it was appointed the Gates had béen beaten downe before they could any way haue fortifyed them So the King came into the Suburbs of Saint Iames about seauen or eight a Clocke in the Morning the people crying in the Stréetes with a lowd voice Viue le Roy with more shew of ioy then of any feare at al. About a hundred and fiftie Harquebuziers of the enemies tooke for their defence y e Abbey of Saint Germayn making a shew as though they would hold it perforce which thing they might well haue done by reason of the strength thereof but about midnight beeing charged to render the place they gaue it ouer Then was the King master of all the Suburbs which do lye on the side of the Vniuersitie which are as big as the Citty of London within the walles The King being master of the Suburbs in the space of two hours saue the Abbey as is aboue said tooke such good order that none started from his company for any pillage vntill the Quarters were appointed vnto the Souldiers where they should haue their pray That day was employed about entrenching before the Gates of the Citye and watch and ward set in conuenient places About midnight following the said 1. of October the King was aduertised that the Duke de Mayne came into the Citie of Paris with his Forces whereof the King was exceeding glad for two causes first because the enemy was new retyred from Picardy Secondly because that hee was in good hope that he would bee drawen to a battayle for the defence of that Citie by which meanes he should not be enforced to execute his iustice agaynst the walles of the Citie and his owne subiects who were greatly seduced by the bad perswasions of the enemy The second day of October the King stayed all the day to see what the enemy durst attempt and whether hee would venture to come forth to fight but seeing they shewed no feeling of their losses receaued the day before The third day the King determined to yéeld them the Suburbs to see whether that would prouoke and encourage them to attempt any thing Therefore leauing the Suburbs set himselfe in battayle aray staying in the field from eight vntill a eleuen a clocke and seeing that no man appeared he marched thence quite for two causes First for very compassion which hee had of an infinit number of people seduced from their dutie and obedience supposing that time and this perill which came to theyr doores would make them wiser and call their dutyes to remembrance But if not that it was the iust and heauy iudgement of God who hardneth theyr harts as hee did the Egyptians in olde time that he might reuenge the idolatryes whoredoms contempt and hatred of his Gospell and the bloud of his Saynts which they had powred in their Stréets lyke water and that such a great City when theyr iniquity and rebellion had come to a full measure might be assaulted at any other tyme. Secondly he thought good to reduce into his obedience the Countreys which did lye betweene the riuers Loyre and Seyne which their enemies had seduced for two causes that hee might haue a sure way for munition and victuals out of those countreys which are very fruitfull Secondly to procure a safety vnto the countryes which are vnder his obedience but specially to the Citie of Tours which by his predecessor was made the seat of the Realme and was in a manner all compassed but specially on the North side with townes castles and holds rebelled and furnished with garrisons of rebels The Duke de Mayne playing the night Crowe fearing the day light arriued in the night at Paris neither proffered any issue nor skirmish vnto the King nor shewed any token of his being there no more then if they had béen fallen on a sudden into a lethargie The King being retyred from Paris the sayd Duke fell to a saffer and more profitable kinde of warre for his money being spent in erecting so many Trophées in Normandy with that mightie Army as he did after he had receaued so many stripes and bastonadoes as he sayd that he will no more of that play he determined to search the Coffers of his friends the Parisiens whom he loued well yet their money better And as it is sayd commonly that the man who desireth to kill his dog maketh himselfe beléeue that hee is mad so this valiant Duke to picke a quarrell doth easily make himselfe and the Parisiens beléeue that they had procured the King to come to Paris and that which the King had done by valour was done by winking of them and was enterprised vpon intelligences which they had with him and that if hee had not come with spéede they would haue deliuered the citie to the King No man could deny this for there was within the citie witnesses who were returned from Picardy to the number of twentie thousand who had the Fortresses of the Citie in their hands all these would beare witnesse agaynst them And who will not beléeue such a multitude of witnesses But yet if it had not béen so their goods were sufficient witnesses of the crimes aboue said so that whosoeuer was rich or so accounted was sufficiently conuicted to haue practised against the association and holy vnion Whosoeuer had goods was quickly conuicted to be an heretick and betrayer of the Catholike religion Therefore hot skirmishes were within the Citie deadly warre is proclaymed against the Coffers Closets and Counting houses of rich men Rich Marchants are sent for pulled out of their houses with their wiues and children their goods taken to y e holy vse of the holy League they are made fast to a payre of gallowes and there hanged for the very zeale and deuotion which the Leaguers haue to their Catholike faith and holy mother the Church they did throw into the water the wiues and children of many rich citizens least they should clayme any part of their goods All parts of the Citie were full fo horrible executions weeping mourning and heauie lamentation The King did neuer shewe the hundred part of that extremitie vnto his enemies as the heads of the League did vnto their friends whom they should haue defended from being executed by others So that the heads of the traytors hauing obtayned a profitable and gaynfull victorie agaynst the Counting houses and Coffers of their friends and hauing that which they most desired doo rest themselues take their case after so many skirmishes fought in Normandy but specially in Paris for now they haue money to spend The King being at the Village Liuars vnder
Ambassadors into Spayne at one clap and there the causes were shewed which moued the King of Spayne to hearken vnto their petition how he sent to the Duke of Parma to goe into France with such power as he could conueniently make to relieue and rescue Paris Now wée will shew the intent which the King of Spayne kept vncommunicable to himselfe The King of Spayne hauing placed the Duke of Parma as regent in the Low Countries and perceauing that he being setled in the Country and hauing purchased friends and partakers there began to suspect him as that hée should not bée able to haue him out without some wrangling and wrestling 〈◊〉 that the Duke would keepe that countrey in recompence of the Kingdome of Portingal whereof he thought himselfe vniustly defrauded This suspition made the King oftentimes to play the Phisition with the Duke and to minister him spanish phisick afore he was sick as boles pills and potions But the said Duke being skilfull in Italian Phisick prouided such counter phisick that by boles pills and potions he preuented the druggs of Spayne The Spanish King therefore séeing that his Phisick would not work tooke occasion by this Ambassage to rid his hands of him either by some blow y t he might receaue or else by preuention therefore he commaunded him to take such regiments of Wallons Italians as he knew well to fauour the said Duke such Lords as had any amity with him to go with all spéed to ayde the Leaguers y t by these meanes the Spaniards remaining in the countrey while another gouernour should be sent might seaze vpon the holds and forts of the land so to shut him out and exclude him from that gouernement to be sent into Italy from whence he came there to be a petty Duke and to busie his head about the prouiding of a Galey if the Turke should chance to inuade Italy But the Duke of Parma hauing learned this Latine in his youth fraudeÌ„ fraude fullere laus est thought good to obey his masters commaundement though little to his aduauntage for beside his commission hée purposed to take with him the two regiments of Spanyards that were appoynted to remayne in the Countrey and to haue shut him out of the doores The Duke of Parma had béene long sicke of the purre the pockes the murre the cough and the glaunders and yet his teeth were scarse fast in his head And beeing most resolued en his iourney then seemed hee coldest and most vncertayne The Spaniards hauing already through a brain sike imagination conquered France did vrge the iourney the Dukes friends did excuse the delay by his weaknes There was dayly quarrels betweene Spaniards and Italians some Spaniardes were so bold to call him Viliago tradidore The Duke did dilay his iourney to terrify the Duke de Mayne and to driue him of necessity to come in his owne person to begge his helpe The Duke de Mayne as is before sayd hauing taken some order to stay the Kings power from forcing the citie of Paris posted to Bruxels in Brabant there the Duke of Parma entertained him as a gentleman would entertaine a lackay There the D. de Mayne afore he might be admitted to come in the presence of that great Potentate was put to learne so many Italian abassios so many duckinges and Spanish ceremonies by crouching to euery rascall Spaniard that at length when hâ— had learned well to make a legge afâ—â—r the Italian or Spanish maner he was let into basiare las manos There he vrged and prayed very deuoutly for speedy helpe she wing the extremity that Paris stood in if it were not with speed relieued farewell all the League Leaguers and Leagued and Catholike fayth Vppon this extremity the Duke of Parma who had all things in a readines sent the D. de Mayne before him to put such forces in a readines as he could make vp against his comming that entring on the frontiers they might ioyne their forces together The Duke de Mayne returned into France put all the Leaguers in great hope of good successe reuiued y e hungry Parisiens with fair words sent to the Duke de Aumale and Vidsame d' Amiens who were gone into Picardy to relye such forces there as they could and to repaire into Champaigne to him Now hauing brought the Duke de Mayne from Bruxeles into Champaigne againe there we will leaue him to prepare for the comming of the Duke of Parma and returne to the siege of Paris Now in the latter end of Iulye the famin did so preuaile in the Citie of Paris and encreased more and more daily that they dyed by heaps euery where sinking downe in the Streetes starke dead They who were able to buy oaten bread were allowed no more but sixe ounces a day By the end of Iuly they had eaten in the Citie aboue two thousand horses and eight hundred Asses or Moyles great warre was denounced in the Citie agaynst Dogges Whelps Catteâ— Kitlings Rats Mice and other such thingâ—s which the bellie could deuise There was no wine in the Citie nor graine to brue beare They who had money did drinke Tisen made with water and liquorice which was to be sold in wine Tauerns in stead of Wine They who had no money did drinke with the Cow out of the riuer Sein which for the space of thirty yeares they had defiled and coloured red with the bloud of the Saints and now of late with the bloud of the royals In the beginning of August they sought all hearbs and weedes which could bee had and sed them in water without salt which they did sell for a Spanish Royall a pound to them which had money A bushell of wheat was sold for 70. crownes and more Blind Bernardine Ambassador of Spayne one of the chiefest workers of all these mischiefs hapned to tell in a company how he had heard say that in a certain fort of the Turke besieged by y e Persians in like case they did grind bones of dead men and made bread thereof Some who heard this tale told tooke that for a counsell tooke bones whereof is great store in Paris specially in the Churchyard of the Innocents ground them and made bread of that kind of stuffe Some did take the small dust of worm eaten posts mingled with a small deale of Oaten meale wherewith they made bread From the latter ende of Iuly vntill the time that the King raised the siege this miserable people did shift with that kind of poore fare About the 29. of Iuly the asses of Sorboun Monks Friers and Iesuits considering now that asse flesh could not be had any more or that they had no money to buy any and also that it would not bee had neither vpon credit nor for begging Considering also that the 50. thousand duckets which the Pope had sent which they thought to haue had either wholly or in part was bestowed vppon men and Souldiers not vppon Asses and
wicked desires and to deliuer them into the hands of barbarous tyrants as it fell out after more heauy and intollerable vnto them then the extremity of the famine it selfe that God might take vengeance of that sinke of accursed idolatrous rebels first by a long calamity like vnto a consuming and pining disease And to giue space vnto them there whome hee knew to bee his to goe out of that Babilon and cage of all abominations and vncleane fowles that in great wrath that blasphemous and rebellious City may be swallowed down in destruction It is said before how the King hauing missed to take Paris by Escalade gaue it ouer perceauing that God had a further and a heauier iudgement to execute vpon that City then he was determined to shew if it had come into his hands and therefore resting himselfe vppon Gods good will which will turne all things to the good and comfort of them that bee his returned to his army which had remoued from Chelles to Boundy The enemies notwithstanding the King Campe had remoued remayned still in their myre fearing still to be drawne where they were not resolued to goe The Nobility who vpon the newes and rumour of the battayle had resorted vnto the King without any prouision of necessary things and by the obstinacie of the enemies perceauing that they were not determined to come to handy blowes brged their departure The King in like manner being out of hope to come to hand with the enemie otherwise then leasure might afoord from Boundy tooke vp his lodging to goe to Gonesse The 12. day of September at Gonesse the King assembled the Princes officers of the Crowne and the expert and valiant Captaynes of the Armie which altogether made a noble and famous counsell There he discoursed how it was playne that the Prince of Parma cannot or dared not fight But that there was some hope that by coasting him still he might be hereafter had at aduantage To returne to Paris he shewed that he had not purposed and was not willing to take it by force And whereas the enemie would not warre after his maner he thought conuenient to apply himselfe vnto his And sith he would not haue the honour to fight with so many honourable personages as were assembled for that purpose it would be expedient to distresse him with other discommodities as want of victuals and surprises He shewed also that in furnishing the Townes round about Paris with strong garrisons and victuals the Citie would remayne still distressed as well as with an armie Also that a meane power was sufficient to coast the enemie and to bée at his heeles whatsoeuer he would attempt and that the rest of the forces might returne to the Prouinces whence they came which would be a great reliefe for them and by relieuing themselues might haue opportunitie still to get somewhat Lastly by these meanes in bridling the enemie from doing any exployt when forces of straungers should chaunce to enter into the Realme they might easily assemble together agayne thus refreshed be twise as strong as they are now These things being propounded by the King he required their good aduise and faithful counsell which things being debated by that noble counsell at length were approoued by the consent of all and followed And first the King did begin with the Towne of S. Denis which after great suit of diuers noble men it fell to the lot of the Lord Lauerdine who thankfully accepted it The King also prouided garrisons to fortifie the Townes of Melune Corbeil Sanlis Meulan Mante and sundrie others which did hold Paris distressed on euery side The King sent the Prince Countie into Toureyne Anjou and Mayne He sent the Prince Montpensier into Normandie The Duke of Longueuille into Picardie The Duke of Neuers into Champaigne The Marshall Aumont into Bourgondie Euery one hauing sufficient forces to keepe their Prouinces in peace The King himselfe with a companie of eight thousand and the Marshall Byron crossing the countrey lying betweene Marne and Oyse determined neither to goe farre from the enemie neither to spend his time in idlenes and therefore went to lay the siege before the town of Clâ—rmont in Beauuoysin where he stayed about ten dayes which he tooke partly by assault and partly by composition The Duke of Parma durst neuer come foorth out of the myre where hée had wallowed himselfe abouâ— 14. dayes vntill he heard the King was very nigh twentie leagues from him At length hearing the King to bee farre enough and that he had passed the riner Oyse towsing bunselfe out of the dyrt tooke his way to Paris in hast as one that is carried with a fearefull imagination At that time as many noble men who had repayred to the King vpon the rumour of a battaile which should haue been fought out betweene the King the Duke of Parma were returning to their home among others the Lord Guiche Ragny and Ciper returning into Normandy met with the Vicount Tauanes with fiue hundred horses néere to Meulay whome they charged and left aboue fiftie on the place and tooke as many prisoners with their baggage The King being at the siege of Clermont the Duke of Parma was receaued in Paris with great ioy and triumph For they supposed to haue receaued some of the petie Idols of the Heathens called Dij tutelares To be short he was welcome but his victuals which he brought with him yet better Hauing soiourned there fewe dayes the pride and vilanie of the Spanyards was so rife that no man was any longer master of his house wife children and goods all was exposed to the appetite and lust of fewe Gotes and Sarrazins confusedly heaped in Spayne as into the sinke of all Europe The triall of fewe dayes gaue the Parisiens a proofe of their folly who had reiected a lawfull King and had admitted most sauage monsters to oppresse them with barbarous tyrannie In these extremities they being not able to rid their hands of them if by any meanes they might be shifted off requested the sayd Duke of Parma that hee would open the riuer for the traffique without the which thing that mightie Citie could not be prouided of necessaries wishing that their neighbours might bee combred with them rather then they themselues The Duke of Parma to please the people made them beleeue that out of hand he would goe to take the Townes situated on the vpper part of the riuer then hee would goe to rescue Clermont then will hee take all the Townes betweene Paris and Roan At length with much adoo he vndertooke to assault Corbeil as next neighbour This is a small town seauen leagues from Paris vpon the selfesame riuer that Paris is famous onely in Paris by reason of the great aboundance of Peaches which growe in their vineyards which they sent to the markets of Paris otherwise it is nothing neither in greatnes nor in strength by nature nor by art This great Tamberlaine made such a preparation
committed treason but also solicited others to the like offence The sayd Citty had admitted the Duke of Sauoy for their Soueraigne who had put in garrisons to keep them in subiection and about the beginning of this yeare began also to build a citadel in the Citie whereuppon the people fell to a mutiny refused to receaue any more garrisons in his be hoofe The Citie of Marseilles is an ancient Colonie of the Greckes named Phocoei who forsook their countrey when Cyrus king of the Persians did war and subdue Asia the lesser that citie had been commended in the time of the Romans by reason of learning and good discipline which florished there It is a Citie gouerned by their owne Magistrates as Rochel is vnder the protection and obedience of the kings of France and hath continued very long in their sidelity vntill now a dayes degenerating greatly from their ancient vertue they haue shewed great inconstancie in their duty of sidelity vppon these occasions The king of Spayn hath beene greatly iealous of that Citie and hath vsed all the meanes possible to reduce that Towne vnder his obedience since that he dreamed of some possibility to inuade FraÌ„ce supposing that it would haue been a fit Port as a gate for him to passe and repasse to goe in and out of France vppon all occasions at pleasure To bee short to make it an Arsenall to subdue all those Southernly Prouinces lying vppoÌ„ the Mediterran Seas Therefore at the beginning of the League this citie was one of the pledges that should haue béen deliuered him by the Leaguers which practises haue been put to execution twise all ready but through the watchfull dilligence of some faithfull Citizens haue beene disappoynted of their purpose The King of Spayn notwithstanding the great charges which hee sustayned by giuing great pâ—nsions vnto some Captayns and Inhabitants there to fauour his proceedings seeing himselfe still disappoynted yet would he not geue ouer but began to worke another way to wit to continue or rather increase his beneuolence towards the inhabitants perswading theÌ„ in the mean time to associat themselues to the League and to accept the Duke of Sauoy their neighbour for their Protector supposing by these meanes in time the faction of the League preuailing there to make himselfe master of that place The Citizens corrupted with Spanish money and otherwise greatly addicted to Popish vanity and superstition to continue this Spanish liberality among them and to please thus farre the king of Spayne at his request accepted the Duke of Sauoy for Protector of their City and in signe that they were Leaguers aduanced the Standerd of the holie League and set it vppon their walles which is an Idoll which they called the Crucifix in that state they continued nigh a yeare But now vnderstanding the cogging and double dealing of the sayd D. at Aix in intending and attempting there to build a Citadell and how both the nobillity of the Countrey had forsaken him and the people resisted his attempts pulled downe the Standerd of the League and erected the armes of France publishing that they would hold for the King of France Wee haue left the King with his Princes at Chartres there to take possession of that great riche and florishing Citie and haue walked through part of Piemont Daulphine and Prouance Now let vs returne to Chartres there to know what the King doth and shew also the prosperous successe which haue followed the taking of this Cittie of Chartres The Citie of Chartres beeing in the Kings power the Parisiens conceaued a great amazement and terror knowing very well that this exploit would be a scourge vnto them For as in the ancient time Alexandria and Sicilia were the Nurces of Rome so the countrey of Beausse and this Citie of Chartres were the chiefest prouiders for the Cittie of Paris Now therefore the carriage of any kind of victuals and prouisions beeing stopped both aboue and beneath the riuer from the North side and the South and finding themselues destitute of victuals money and all other warlike prouisions for their strength and succour they fall to their olde custome that is to demaund bread of their Idols therefore the Bishop of Placentia their Fryer Gregory the thirteenth his Legat after the returne home of Fryer Henrico Caietano Sponte insanientes instigat set them on to running and gadding about the streetes to carry their Idols with or a pro nobis there is mourning weeping and beâ—ayling there is stridor dentium horror â—empiternus and regnum tenebrarum Yet the Fryers and Iâ—suits do comfort them with seditious sermons and bitter wordes as well as they can but venter non habet aures During the Kings soiourne at the siege of Chartres the Duke de Maine with such power as he could make went and layd the siege before Chasteauthierij situated vpon the riuer Marne The gouernour which was within sâ—nt word to the King that he would hold it against the enemie a whole moneth The King hauing taken order of the safe kéeping of the Citie about the twelfth day of Aprill remoued his armie from Chartres to Aulneaw and Macheuile which townes were reduced to his obedience About the fiftéenth day the armie remoued to Dourdan which towne immediately his armie entred by force where was found great store of victualls gathered with intent to be conueighed to Paris The sixtéenth day the castell a very strong place was assaulted and taken So by this expedition Paris is disappoynted of victuals and prouision and distressed neerer and neerer The same day the King separated himselfe from his armie and leauing the same to the leading of the Marshall Biron with a great troup of horsemen took his iourney toward Chasteauthierij purposing to rayse the siege and to see his face whome he had not seene many yeares before and to craue more acquaintance The Duke de Mayne ashamed and afeard to shew his face for the guiltines of rebellion and parricide procured had no great liking of that acquaintance neither durst be so bold to stay there and contrarie vnto the promise of the captaine of the place and the Kings expectation the Castel being râ—ndred to the sayd de Maine he fled as fast as his horse could cary him to the Citie of Reames The King hearing not onely of the hastie retire of the Duke de Maine from Chasteauthierij but also that he had deuided his armie into sundry parts and that they should continue in that sort for a certaine time determined to stay at Sanlis there to view the countenance of the enemie and in the meane while to take the townes of Dowserie and Claye where the enemies kept garrison which thing was speedelie done In this pursuite the king also tooke the towne of Tremblay by Mountfort which is nowe a great hinderance fo the enemie by reason of the passage The one and twentith day of Aprill while the King pursued the enemies the Duke Espernon and the Lords d'Ho and Vicres
speedely put them to flight and followed them to their Barricadoes where master Kemp a Gentleman of that Cornet was slayne Anthony Sherleys horse was shot in the head and Charles Blunt his horse was killed vnder him with the Canon and he himselfe somewhat wounded The thirteenth day the enemie offered some light skirmishes but seeing that he could get nothing by it he refused to bitte The fourteene day the Prince expected the battell as vndertaken by don Iuan de Lagula generall of the Spaniards in the worship of Saynt Iohn whose day it was with them But fearing that bonfires would bee made to their cost and charges they gaue quite ouer the game prepared the same night to dislodge and the next day following repassed the hill for hauing spent al their victuals they must go forth to rob for more The Prince stayed sixe dayes vpon the Heath and in the meane while the enemie durst neuer presume to draw his armie into the Heath The sixteenth day the Lord la Now with the troupe of the Countie Mongomery and the Countie Chombourg came vnto Chasteau Laudran whose arriuall giueth hope of good successe in the Kings affayres They y t haue written the history of wilde beasts which doth recite that there is a wild beast in Asia named Pardalis it yeeldeth such a sauour that the Woolfe hath a great delight to follow a farre off but if it chance that this Pardalis dooth looke back immediatly the Woolfe retyreth and flyeth away So the Noble Princes of Bourbon doo yeeld sweete sauour of pietie vertue and valiantnes Merceur followeth them a farre off but if they turne their face hee runeth away as it hath appeared in the things which heretofore he hath attempted in Poytow There is a towne in Picardy situated vpon the riuer Oyse called Noyon commended if there were none other cause for being the place of the natiuitie vnto that man of God Iohn Caluin of blessed memory whose name is written in the booke of life and shall yeeld a sweete sauour to the true Church of God to the worldes ende whatsoeuer Sathan doth rage against the name of this seruant of God This towne was seduced long before from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers and through rebellion was possessed by the Kings enemies The King therefore after the taking of Louiers thought expedient to remooue his armie from Vernon and to draw Eastward that doing still some profitable exployt he might expect and receaue the forces that came to him out of Germany and considering that the sayd towne of Noyon did lye betweene S. Quintin Compeigne and Corbey which were long before vnder his obedience thought good there to stay for the approaching of the Germanes and during the moneth of Iuly hauing reduced the sayd towne to great distresse made his account shortly to be Lord of it The Vicount Tauanes head of the rebellion in the Citie of Roan and most hatefullest enemie of any that the King had enterprised to relieue the sayd towne of Noyon and for that intent in the beginning of August in the night season departed from Roan accompanied with foure hundred horse and fiue hundred footmen with good hope either to succour the said towne or els by surprise greatly to hinder the King But the King hauing intelligences of his comming met him about two or thrée leagues from Noyon as I haue heard reported where his power was discomfited slayne and taken prisoners and he himselfe after being wounded in the assault was also taken prisoner So the Lord knoweth bow where and when to stay his enemies The newes of this sorrowfull successe of the Leaguers flying abroad caused the Duke Aumale to assemble as great forces as he could make in the towne of Han which is situated vpon the riuer Some betweene Saint Quintin and Peronne vndertaking either to amend the fault committed by Tauanes or els to release the towne of Noyon accompanied with the Lord Largue and Lawney with all their forces ioyned all with the light horsemen the seauenth of August charged vpon the quarter of the Kings light horse where they were stoutly receaued and after more then twelue charges giuen the Kings companies yet very like to haue the victorie of their enemies began to retyre at which retyre that valiant man at armes the Lord Baron of Byron hauing twelue of his owne men did approach and the Kings forces supposing he had brought a supply of fresh Souldiers so soone as they heard him named tooke a wonderfull courage and seeing him in the middest of them gaue a fresh charge vpon the enemie with such force that they did driue the enemie euen into the gates of Han. To whom there was also comming a new succour and fresh supply of men who perceauing the euill successe of the rest retyred in agayne so that some of the Kings forces followed them euen into their Barriars In these so many charges geuen there were a number of armed men slayne on the enemies side and among them diuers of commandement In the number of the dead were found Don Francisco de Gueuara the best Captayne of light Horsemen which the King of Spayne had in the low Countreys also his lieutenant was slayne outright with diuers other of great accompt The Lord Longchamp one of the best Captains of the rebels was taken prisoner with more then foure score men at armes of account and lost aboue fifteene hundred of their best horses The King lost in this skirmish about twelue horse of his light horsemen and among a few which were slayne the Marshall of the light horsemen whose death was greatly bewayled beeing accompted a man of great valour The same day the Duke de Mayne arriued at the said towne of Han with all his troups of horsemen which he could gather which thing made the King thinke that he would goe about either to raise or to interrupt the siege or attempt some thing In the meane time he lost no opportunity about this siege for the same day that this exploit was done to wit the seauenth of August the Canon began to beat a church that standeth in the middest of the Suburbes which together with a great ditch did strongly defend the same The sayd Church beeing battered from the morning to three a clock in the after noone had by that time made a great breach in the same And a fierce assault being geuen there were slayne of the enemies about thirty and about fifty of the Souldiers retired into the vaultes of the said church The sayd Church beeing taken and consequently the Suburb in a maner as strong as the towne gaue occasion both to them that had retired into the vaultes to yeeld to the Kings mercy who sent them away safe with bagge and bagage and also to the Gouernor of the towne to mooue speaches of composition For the Gouernor called the Lord Vile considering how the Towne was slenderly furnished of all thinges but specially of men of armes and that the most
part of them had béene slayne in the assaults geuen to the Cittie and how the King was strong and not like to bee enforced to depart afore hee had the vpper hand ouer the sayd Towne And vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was come to Han with Forces in hope to relieue the sayd distressed towne and that the Lord Rosne who led the Duke de Mayne his army towards Lorreine was returning backe to Laon in Champaygne he delayed the time of composition to see what succor they would geue But at length seeing no reliefe comming and the King vrging the towne the sayd Lord Vile concluded an agreement with the King in this maner following The Lord Vile as well for himselfe as for the Gentlemen Souldiers and inhabitants of Noyon hath promised to yeeld the sayd towne vppon monday next following being the eighteenth of August together with all the munition for warre artillerie and victualls which at this present was therein conditionally if sometime of the day the Duke de Mayne doo not giue him a battell or by force put not within the towne one thousand souldiers or by some meanes doo not raise the siege Also that the sayd Ville Gentlemen and Captains shall depart with armour horses and baggage and the Souldiers with their weapons and horse And that the inhabitants shal be receaued into the Kings fauour entreated as good subiects in rendring him their duetifull obedience but specially and namely that the Lord of Ville his mother may freely remaine there enioy her goods in performing the submission of loyall fidelitie as other subiects Item that if any of the inhabitants be desirous to depart they shal safely passe among the men of warre Item that the Lord Ville shall be permitted to send the Lord of Brouly to the Duke de Mayne to aduertise him of the condition of this capitulation and that the King shall safely conduct him to that effect And for the accomplishing of the premises the sayd Lord Ville hath promised to sende hostages to the King the Lord Rieulx the Abbot of Genlis with foure of the towne such as the King shall choose whom the King doth promise to deliuer vppon the performance of the sayd conditions The King also doth graunt to send two Captaynes into the towne to keepe and see during the time from labouring to the contrary It had pleased the most famous and renowmed Queene of England during this siege to send a new supply of men to the King to assist him in the recouering the possession of his right vnder the conduct of thâ— most honourable and famous Earle of Essex whom the King leauing his power before Noyan went to meet at Gysors in Normandy whom hee receaued in most courteous sort accepting most thankfull her most excellent Maiesties gracious fauour and the said Earle his good and readie will for hazarding himselfe in such a dangerous iourney for his seruice After the death of Frier Sixtus which was hastened by the Spanish faction with a little slubber sauce was elected a newe Vicar of Rome of the house of Sfondraty if I remember well and is as much to say as burst bellie naming himselfe Gregory the 14. This Frier Gregory being set on horsebacke will ride as the prouerbe is vntil he breake his neck First in Ianuary he sent a Legate into France agaynst whom the King procéeded as agaynst an enemie of the publique peace of his subiects and in March last the sayd Frier Gregory pronounced a Bull agaynst the King his Princes Nobles subiects and realme Then not long after it is reported that he sent certain forces mustered out of the Stewes of Rome to the Duke of Sauoy to inuade Prouance conducted by some bastard of his and that Superstition Folly iniury and wrong might goe together he must coniure and charme the Standard of holy Church as all the sort of such idolatrous Antichrists haue bin Coniurers poysoners and Sorcerers many yeares together To play this Comedie he sitteth disguised in his Pontificalibus the Standard of holy Church holden before him he hisseth he bloweth hee mumbleth he crosseth he charmeth he stinketh but behold he that did hold it rather by some presage and token of the fall of that idolatrous rabble than by negligence let the Standard fall vppon the braynesicke Frier Gregories head which not onely did beate downe his triple Crowne from of his head but also gaue a knocke vppon his foolish pate All these companies shortly after were cut to peeces and the charmed Standard taken by the Lord des Diguieres as is reported Fryer Gregorie not content with all these iniurious prouocations sent one M. Marcilius Laudrianus by name an Italian by surname a Britaine but by sawcines and desperatnes a Iesuite vnder the name of his Nuncio to publish a certayne infamous libell full of impietie heresie and sedition vnder a Maske of religion in forme of Bulls against the King his Princes Nobles subieces but specially agaynst the French popish Church which this sawcie companion enterprized to publish at Pont de Larche in Normandie whereupon the K. finding himselfe sore iniâ—ried at the hands of this tyrannous vsurper commaunded his courts of Parliament to proceede by law agaynst these iniuries and so the Kings generall attourney in his court of Parliament holden at Caen in Normandie requiring iustice to be done vnto the King his Princes Nobles and subiects The court of Parliament therefore al Chambers assembled the third day of August did proceede agaynst Fryer Gregorie his person his vsurped tyranny his Nuncio and his Bulls First they doo declare the sayde Fryer Gregorie an enemie vnto the peace of Christianitie a troubler of the Catholick Romane Religion enemie to the King and Estate of France a conspiratour and associate with the rebells within the realme and accessary to the death of the late deceased King most trayterously murthered a firebrand of sedition and stirrer vp of warres and procurer of murthers Secondly they doe condemne his vsurped power vpon the state and Church of France to be vsurped abusiue and wrongful contrary to Gods worde holy decrees and liberties of the French Church commaunding all Primates Archbishops Bishops Colledges Couents Chapters Communalties bodies of Cities Curats Parsons and seruing Priests not to acknowledge any superiority or power of the same Fryer Gregorie nor to render him any obeisance neyther to assist or fauour anie excommunications publications or readings of any thing that should proceede from him The court also dooth forbid not to pursue or receaue of him or anie other whatsoeuer qualitie or conditioÌ„ they be his complices adherents any collations confirmations or prouisions for benefices graces dispensations or other expeditions nor to answere beare or cause to be borne by way of banque or otherwise any gold or siluer to y e court of Rome neither to pay any thing or render obeisance to the Archbishops Bishops his adherents who haue put in execution any of the pretended diffamatory libell