themselues sooner beaten then assailed by those whose very first March they alwaies before despised Then after manye and light brunts with the common faith receiued in Fraunce since the sure and publicke establishmentes of Christian Religion by Berenger of Tours Abeyllard Breton Amaury of Chartres Arnold of Bresse and other followed by a great number of Sectaries as well in this Realme as else where it neuer was so earnestly assaulted as by the Vaudoios and their successors in Guienne and Countries about which they named Albigeois of the towne of Alby chiefe of Albigeois scituate betweene Languedos and Quercy Who in spight of all the Potentates of Christendome sowed about the yeare 1100. and euen since their doctrine smally differing from the Protestants at this day Not onely through Fraunce but almost all the Countries of Europe For the French Spanish English Scots Italians Germaines Bohemians Saxons Polonians Lithuaniens and other people haue mightily defended it vntill this present After that this doctrine had a while crept thorough Fraunce in the end as the heate of burning coles doth exhalate and pearce thorough by little and little the thicknesse of the Sinders not able to quench it it grew more commonly knowne by Prayers publike exhortations administrations of Sacraments and other vses the course whereof the Clergie not being able to hinder sought vnder the authoritie of the Pope aide and force at the hands of Christian Princes whome they speedely armed against the Albigeois Whom after a number of assaults battels reencounters losses ruines victories and reciprocal aduantages from the yeare 1200. For 50. yeares after euer maintaining by armes and force the outward shew of their liues their doctrine and their Countrie together vntil that the chiefe of them were defeated and empouerished other gained by faire protestations promises of better hap and all in generall together wearie with the continuance of so long Ciuil warres The Christian Princes and Prelats of the Church left as in contempt a wandering people of all parts terrified with so cruell a warre insisting in their first opinion which rather the ease of the rest they after felt caused them to chaunge then any rigour of their enemies So as all the French anon after returned to the same doctrine from which their fathers had so much swarued except such as retired themselues into the mountaines chiefely the Prouencaux Sauoyarts Dauphinois and Piemontois of whome there were many sent into Lombardie Calabria Pouille Sicille Germaine and other places to the end they might plant the fruite of that doctrine which they stoode assured was the most true auncient of Christendome Now the English was Lord of Guienne in the time of these Albigeois wars by reason that Henrie of Aniou after the death of Stephen became king of England Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou Tourraine and Maine And afterwards grew to be Earle of Poictou and Duke of Aquitaine called Guienne by vertue of Eleonor his wife daughter to Guillame last Earle of Poictou whom king Louys le Ieune had diuourced So as sundry English men which ordinarily came into those countries either by reasons of trafique and marchandise or warre against the French had speedely enough being imbrued with the same opinions spread them abroad in their owne Countrie Which hauing beene conceiued and explaned by manie in the end fell from hand to hand into the heade of Wicklife about 50. yeares after a greatly renowned Diuine in the Vniuersitie of Oxford and Curate of Luteruorth in the Diocesse of Lincolne Who in the end being a Doctor in Diuinitie thorough his eloquence and rare Doctrine gained so farre the harts and vnderstandings of the English and chiefely of the greatest sorte as the Duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard Henrie of Persye Lewes Clifford the Chaunlor Kegli the Earle of Sarisburie others as a long time after he preached wrought and dispersed with all libertie what best seemed good vnto him Most chiefely vnder King Edward True it is that Pope Alexander thorough the sollicitings of the chiefe of the Clergie animated Richard his successor much against him in the yere 1382 Who preuailed so farre that after sundrie disputations of the Articles of his faith hee was banished afterwards called home and dyed 1387. But 40. yeares after his decease his body was puld out of the grounde by the Popes commandement and his bones burned at Oxford 1410. before the Abbot of Shrewsberie then Chancelor And albeit that 13. yeares after his death 1401. his doctrine was vtterly condemned in open Parliament with an Iniunction to all men to seeke out those Lollards so called they such as professed that order of doctrine according vnto those of Pologne and borderers vnto it yet for all that could it not hinder the multiplying thereof as well in that Countrie as else where Chiefely in Germanie by reason of the great learning which was taught by the famous Fathers of the Vniuersitie of Oxford Wher among other a Scholer of Bohemia being much delighted in a booke of Wicklifes called The Vniuersales caried a Coppie thereof with him into his Countrie where the Vniuersitie of Prague was of great commendations In which Iohn Hus more renowned then the rest for his quicknes of spirite made himselfe for all that much better knowne after the reading of those bookes which he explaned and so much thereby encreased the doctrine which long since was spread abroad in those quarters that many of the people Scholers and of the very Nobles and Clergie themselues followed the same as a matter worthy to bee receiued among men Now among the rest of the people which for their conscience were persecuted the Bohemians had beene long before Iohn Hus by Venceslaus King of Bohemia who made great search after them roundly punished them And by the Pope who long before that had sent thither an inquisitor of the ill affected of the faith who Iohn Hus liuing was named Bishop of Nazaret Be it then that the persecutions either coolled this kinde of people thorough out Christendome or that the Princes and Cleargie made no accounte of those who standing fauoured by no great personages became all simple people and inhabitants of the Montaignes as those of Piemont Sauoye Calabria and other the Bohemians stoode at that instant most renowned and worst ment to Especially after that Hus had reformed his preaching leassons and writings by the tradition of Wicklife So as in the yeare 1414. the Counsell being summoned at Constance for the controuersie of the Popes and reformation of the Cleargie Iohn Hus a Batchelor in Diuinitie to the end to purge himselfe of the heresie which was laide to his charge was cited thither by the Pope and after hauing refused to come accounting it no safe or sure place hee was perswaded by Sigismond the Emperour that they might safely goe thether and returne againe at the request of his brother Venceslaus King of the Countrie and besides that
sects the said court hath ordained doth ordaine that al the houses builded in the same place shalbe pulled down razed and laied euen with the ground and the said place be lefte vnhabitable so that none shall reedifie or builde there without the pleasure and permission of the K. likewise that the Castle and den ram partes forts being in the rockes and woods of the land of the said Merindol shalbe ruined and laid in such sorte as none shall be able to make there any more residence and that the places shalbe vncouered and the woods where such fortes are cut downe and grubbed 200. paces about and further it prohibiteth and forbiddeth that no parte of the inheritance of the saide place shalbe let to farme rente or otherwise to any of the sirname or lyne of the aboue condemned Published in iudgement at the Parlament of Prouence sitting at Aix the 18. of Nouember 1540. Afterwards the court ordained to euery iudge ordinary of Aix Tomes S. Maximia and Apt the execution of what might concerne him in the Arrest which many found very strāge as a thing done too headily against persons which neuer were once heard or come to their answere yea so cruelly against the feminine sexe and yong infants and the execution made against all of a whole country albeit the proceedinges had only bene against certain perticular men therin mentioned Others holding with the arrest said that in case of Lutherane sect iudges were not bound to obserue either common or ordinary law so as it tended to the rooting out of those which are suspected to be such And to set forward the execution the Archbishop of Arle the B. of Aix and others met oftentimes solliciting the President La Chassane and other to the same effect so farre as to assure them to furnishe their charges and to turne vppon them any the Kings indignation or other mens who saide he might very well be angry at such a destruction of his subiectes and that it was rather made to holde in awe the Lutheranes being so great a number of them in Prouence then to execute it according to the Tenor and moreouer that it was not definitiue and that the lawes and ordinances of the Realme doe not permit the execution before other procedings yet they preuailed so far as he cōdescended vnto thē and stroke vp the drum to assemble the people of Prouence which were commaunded to march which they did but they were as soon countermanded discharged by the liuely propositions among other of a very learned gentleman named D. Alence how that this proceeding by way of acte and force was against all forme and order of iustice and without distinction of the culpable and innocente Now it was so as this President had put in light and published in print a booke intituled Catalogus gloriae Mundi in which by way of pastime he set downe the proceedings which he fained had sometimes bene helde against the Rats by the officers of the spirituall Courte of the B. of Authun as if it were that through all the Bailliwick of Laussois there had beene such a quantitye and great multitude of Rats that they destroied and eate the corne of all the Country whereupon it was thought good that some body should be sent to th'officiall of Authun to excommunicate these Rats and that thereupon the Official hauing heard the plaintife of the Proctor fyscall ordained before that he would proceede to excommunication that a warning should bee giuen by order of iustice wherby the Rats should be cited at 3. peremtorye dayes and for default of apparance then to proceede c. The three daies being passed the Proctor presented himselfe against the Rats and for fault of apparance obtained default by vertue whereof he demaunded that they would proceede to excommunication wherupon it was iudicially concluded that the Rats should bee prouided of an Aduocate to heare their defence c. considering it was a question of their totall rooting out and destruction This Gentleman seruing his turne herewith saide to the President Sir remember the councell which you wrote in a matter of nothing when as being the K. Aduocate at Authun you defended the Rats and declared that the time giuen vnto them to appeare in was to shorte and moreouer how there was so many Cats in the villages as the Rats had some reason to absent thēselues c. with many other rightes passages alleadged by you and amply handled in your book made at pleasure Now so it is Sir as by such a pleading of a matter of vaine importance you haue gotten the brute to haue rightlye set downe the manner whereby iudges ought to proceede in criminall matters now will you not learne right by your owne booke which wil euen manifestly condemne you if you proceed any further to the destruction of these pore people of Merindol is it not as conuenient that they should haue as much law and equity as you wil giue to Rats Through these perswasions the President was so much moued that incontinently he reuoked the commission which was giuen and caused the men of war to retire who was come within one league a halfe of Merindol whereof they of Merindol rendred thanks to God comforting one another and animating thēselues for euer to retain the feare of God and submit thēselues to his prouidence The brute of this enterprise and execution of the said arrest together with the patience constancy of them of Merindol grew so great and esteemed of such importance that it was not hid to K. Francis who sent letters to Langeay who at that time was his lieutenant in the country of Piemont to make diligēt enquiry of the truth of the whole matter whereupon he sent into Prouence two personages to whom he gaue charge to bring him the coppie of the Arrest and to enquire of all that which followed and likewise of the life manners of them of Merindol and the rest which were persecuted in the country of Prouence which they did and counted vnto him the iniustice pilferies villanies which as wel the ecclesiastical as secular iudges dayly vsed against thē of Merindol other And as touching the life māners of the said persecuted persons they made report that the greatest part of the inhabitants of the country of Prouence affirmed that those which were persecuted were people of great trauaile that since 200. yeares they retired out of the country of Piemont to dwell in Prouence and had taken to see farme many hamlets destroied by the wars and other desolate places besides so great labourers they were so good husbands that in the places where they inhabited was great abundance of corne wine oyle hony almonds and great cattell so as the whole country about was releeued thereby yea that before they came to inhabite in the said countrie Merindol was vsed to be let for foure crownes by yeare and now it amounteth
out of their country to practise the war vnder a certain Lord vpon geldings and little nags swift prompt without being much armed clad in short Ierkins red caps according to their māner and a lance like a halfe pike which they very well know how to handle They are good men desirous to know and exercise the warres as such haue very well proued as haue bene with them But as all men muzed much at the sight of this armie euen such as were appointed to keep the baggage a number of souldiers seruāts pesants come out of Theonuille brake in cheefely on the side of the Lance-knightes from whom they caried the better before people could be appointed to follow thē which occasioned since many yong Frenchmen especially of the light horse to attache the garrison and to try thēselues against those of Theonuille with more pleasure warlike exercise notwithstanding thē harme that happened to the one part or the other The King hauing taken great pleasure at the order equipage behauiour and salutation which all they did vnto him commanded them to march continually in battaile armed at all peaces afterwards he was saluted by his artillerie placed a little aboue the army within the vignes vpon a platforme to wit 16. great Canons 6. long Culuerines 6. lesser 12. bastard culuerins the whole conducted by D'Estre great master and generall of the artillerie of Fraunce the next morrowe the King entred into Metz at the gate Champanoise with great magnificence vnder a Canapie carryed by foure of the best Gentlemen of marke in the Countrie marching after the Officers the Cleargie before followed by Cardinals then the Constable barehead armed at all peaces bearing a naked Sworde before the King who at the gate of the great Temple sware vpon the Euangelists to maintaine them in their rights and ancient priuiledges after hauing giuen order to the gouernement and fortifications aboue all to cut the towne to raise there a rampier vpon the height of a mount which commaunded and hauing lefte Arthus de Cosse called Gonor brother to the Marshall Brissac gouernor with 200. light horse a cōpany of ordinance twelue ensignes for the garde of victuals which from all partes was to come to the army he departed the 20. of Aprill after his Auantgare ledde by the Constable and leauing behinde him in forme of arreregarde foure hundred men at armes with a number of light horse to aduaunce and assure the rearegarde in like sorte the three troupes marched continually in battaile and all their armes on their back how dangerous a time and place soeuer they found An occasion that many who before had liued at great ease and delicacie died and many more for hauing drunke too much of those olde waters fel sick at their returne The armie rested two dayes in the faire and rich plaine of Sauerne about the beginning of May 1552. to refresh the Souldiers after the Caualiere gaue within one league of Strasbourg In the meane season and while the King remained at Sauerne to repose his armie and attende newes from the Germane Princes they of Strasbourg wise by the example of the Messins negociated with the King as well for the commoditie of his armie as suretie of their towne the King had already demaunded them to prouide victuals for the armie and for that cause they deputed Pierre Sturme Gotessem and Sleiden who brought vnto him great quantity of Come and wine but the Constable no whit regarded what they offered by reason of the greatnes of the armie And albeit the Embassadors were departed from him in such sorte that they were to aduertise the Senate and after to yeeld him answere yet the very next morning he sent two gentlemen by whom he pressed thē to answere with a long discourse of the Kings good will towards Germany and for what cause he had entred into armes and bene at so great a charge to wit to recouer their libertie now eslaued by the Imperials his other demaund was that by reason the men at armes stoode in need of sundry things that it might be lawfull for them to buie them within the town and that it might be permitted to the artificers to bring their ware to the Campe and sell it there whereupon the Senate answered that in matters of so great importance they were not accustomed to conclude of ought but by aduise of the generall councell of all their Seignory and that after hauing consulted with them they would send Deputies to declare their minde so leaue being giuen them to departe the next morrowe the same men were sent to the Campe which as yet remayned at Sauernes Their tale being heard ioyned thereto that they brought a little more munition then at first and their reasons set downe why they might not suffer anye men at armes to enter the towne the Constable began to speake in choller and in deliuering how vniustly they iudged of the benefites of the King and of the iniuries of the Emperour he added certaine biting tearmes the end of his tale was that the next morrow the King would speake with them in person and confirme whatsoeuer he had vttered The same daye the Embassadours repaired to the King with whom was the Cardinal of Lorrain the Prince of Vendosme and the Constable where they recited as much as had bene deliuered by them to the Constable at two parlies and presented vnto him as much Oates as they had done before Wheate and a little more Wine beseeching him that for the ancient amitie which the signorie of Strasbourg had with the King of Fraunce and for his owne curtesie hee would take in good parte their offer the rather for that there was a great Garrison within the Towne called thether for feare of surprise and a great number of Paisants were likewise retired thither out of the Countrie which caused the Cittie not to be so well able to spare her prouision The King after hauing conferred with his Councell began himselfe to repeate the cause which made him come into Germany in like sorte as the Constable had the day before deliuered how that victuals was a matter most necessary and not to be denyed to any person in the warde offring to pay for them were he not an enemy otherwise if his stoode in any need he would finde meanes to finde it cost as it could which would turne to a great damage as euery man might perceiue In the meane time he refused nothing which was offred but would needs haue bread the Deputies on the other side besought him that hee would be contented with corne as they could not fall to agreement so away they went without doing ought the Deputies being returned into the Towne the Senate ordained that albeit they were not able to deliuer any of the Corne within the towne yet they should make bread in the Countries neere hand as much as they might be able for they had both tolde the King and
being at his tayle without any great preiudice notwithstanding by reason of the good order which he gaue in the discamping conduct of his armie the which was furnished with victuals in the Placentine Countrey by the commaundement of Octauian Farneze D. of Parma which the D. of Guise caused to be payd for expresly forbidding any souldiar to doe wrong to the subiectes of this Prince We will leaue then for a while the D. of Guise marching with his forces in Italie to the Popes succour to enterlace you here an accidente as straunge as any which hath happened in the memorie of our forefathers Dauid George who since made himselfe to be called Iean de Bructe borne at Delph in Hollande an authour of a peruerse secte making himselfe to be named by his followers King and Christ immortall dyed the yeere passed 1556. the 24. day of August and his wife a little before retired with a verie great familie of her owne to Basle in the yeere 1544. He sayde he was fled his owne Countrey for the Gospels sake and there bought houses and a Castle neere vnto the towne called Buiuignen with landes of great reuennewe He was verie cunning of great Spirite and had his eyes addressed on all partes to gayne the heartes of many and an exteriour reputation which was mainteined and greatly augmented by his riches his money and most precious moueables which he had brought thither and which men brought vnto him day by day as well out of the high as lowe Countries of Flaunders as it falleth out that almost all men suffer themselues to be cousined with an apparaunce magnificence of worldly things rather thē to be caried away with the vertue truth of euery thing Two things presaged vnto him his death one of his houses which he had at Basle was smotte with lightning and another sumptuously builded within his pastures was likewise burned with parte of his rarest and most exquisite moueables shortly after the floure of the house wherein he lay fell all downe at one blowe and sodainly yet nothing happened more grieuous vnto him before his death then the comming of a man of authoritie out of Base Almania to Basle For from thenceforth as well aduised and forecasting hee knewe that by little and little he shoulde easily be discouered His disciples were marueilously astonished at his death for that he had assured them of his immortalitie yet their hope was somewhat vpheld because he had giuen them to vnderstande certayne dayes before howe he shoulde take life againe by the space of three yeeres and perfect most excellent things Hee kept a porte within his house almost like a King in like sorte was the gouernement of his house and castle very well ruled Euerie man had his estate and office their charges and dueties being so distributed as he shoulde neede to employe no other therein then his owne In gouerning their common wealth they obserued verie straightly 3. things thereby more and more to conceale their pernitious secte First that none of them once published the name of Dauid George Secondly that none reueyled of what condition hee had bene whereupon it grew that many thought hee had beene yssued out of some great noble House other that hee was some great Marchaunt which had his factours abroad both by Sea and by land Thirdly that they shoulde not discouer so much as any one article of their doctrine to any man in Basle not so much as to a Swizer nor shoulde not endeuour to drawe any man vnto their doctrine the summe whereof was The doctrine of Dauid George Heretique THat whatsoeuer had bene heretofore giuen from God by Moses by the Prophetes by Iesus Christ himselfe or by his Apostles was imperfecte and vnprofitable for the obtayning of the true felicitie thereby And was onely giuen for this vse that vntill then it mought represse men as babes and young children and to contayne them within their office But the doctrine of Dauid George was perfecte and had efficacie to make him happie which shoulde receaue it as being the true Christ and Messias the welbeloeud of the Father in whome hee tooke his delight not borne of fleshe but of the holy Ghost and Spirite of Iesus Christ hauing bene kept vntill that present in a place vnkowen to all the Saintes to restore in spirite the house of Israel not by crosses or tribulations or death as the other Christ but by loue grace of the Spirite of Christ In the yeere 1559. the 5. of March his children his sonnes in lawe and all them of his familie with some other adhering to his Secte were adiourned before the Senate of Basle after information made of that pernicious secte which he had alwayes helde in his life time The Atturney declared vnto them howe the Seigneurie stoode duely infourmed that they were retyred to the Castle of Buiuignen not as men persecuted for the Gospell as they had falsly giuen out but for the secte of Dauid wherewith they had bene alreadie infected Eleuen were made prisoners to draw out the trueth of the whole The greater part examined by a more straight inquisition confessed the truth who in the ende obtayned pardon Then the first day of May the Ministers Rectour Professors and Scholemaisters of Basle hauing all with one voyce condemned the pointes of the doctrine the Senate fully informed of the whole proceeded the 13. of May to the conclusion of the proces to wit That all his writinges as full of iniquitie mortall poyson Item his bodie or his bones and whatsoeuer shoulde be founde more within his graue shoulde be burned together with his picture which they founde in his house representing him verie liuely and that generally all the goodes of so wicked a man wheresoeuer they were founde shoulde be confiscate and adiudged to the Seigneurie This sentence was proclaimed according to the Custome of the place and all the fourme of righte and ordinances of the Towne was kepte in the obseruation thereof Before that I handle againe the tearmes of warre betweene the Frenche and Spanyardes I will finishe and in fewe wordes the Empire and managing of the affayres of Charles of Austria the fifte Emperour of the Almanes About the ende of August Charles of Austria resolued to passe into Spayne for the occasions before rehearsed wente from Bruxelles to Gaunt the place of his natiuitie where he assembled the 27. of that moneth all the Embassadours one after an other resiant about his Person within his chamber vsing in generall no other speech vnto them but of the declaration of his old age indisposition praying thē to perfourme all good offices for the repose due vnto Christendome Protesting to the Nuncio that is the Popes Embassadour how all his life long hee had loued and defended the holy apostolike Sea to the Venetian how much hee honored that Seigneurie common wealth whose libertie preseruation he had all his life long desired knowing howe
offred And lesse will we endure who carry the title of most Christian that any damage shalbe done to the goods and persons of you most reuerende Prelates Abbots and other of the Clergy as it hath bene wrongfullye giuen out by our aduersaries rather we determine to receaue you into our protection and safegarde prouided that you declare your selues for vs and our allies and giue vs sufficient assurance of your intents hoping for the reunion of the Church which we attende by the recouering of the publique libertie to which we will imploy God willing all our power the which we were willing to let you to vnderstand most reuerend Prelates and most excellent Princes and other the estates of the holy Empire to the end you should not be ignorant of the true occasion of this warre by which we pretend to pursue the Emperour with fire and sword and albeit very loath to cut him of as a rotten member from the body of the common wealth or at the least to enforce him to cease offring you any more iniurie As touching ought which more particularly may touch vs or the affaires of the holy Empire you shall know it by our beloued and feal councellor and Embassadour Iohn du Fresne B. of Bayonne whome to this end we haue dispatched praying you to giue credence vnto him in whatsoeuer he shall deliuer on our parte and that by him you will aduertise vs of your intention Yeouen at Fountaine-bleau the 3. of February 1552. and in the 5. yeare of our raigne By this so autenticall a promise solemne league the K. made him selfe defendor of the Germanes and was called Father of the countrye and protector of the Germane nation holy Empire and was so proclaimed throghout al the imperiall cities with inscription triumphant arcks shewes recōmending this his curtesie that of gallantnes of minde he would at so great charge oppose himself to so happy puissant a Monarch On the top of this writing printed in the vulgare tongue there was a hat betweene two daggers and written about liberty vnderneath was the K. represented who called himselfe Protector of Germany and of the Princes in Captiuitie Wheras he said that the Emperor had ordained a price to such as could kil certain of his Colonels it was thus Charles 5. reuiuing his Edicts had againe banished out of th'empire the Colonels Ringraue Recrod Ritteberg and Schertelin all in the Kings wages so far as to promise 4000. crownes to whomsoeuer would bring any of them vnto him aliue or dead for they pushed hard at the wheele and after the league was concluded whereof we haue spoken carried souldiars into Fraunce In the meane season Maurice hauing lefte his Brother Augustus behinde him as his Liuetenant in his Countrie marched into the fielde and with the Landgraues sonne who tooke with him Du Fresne the K. Embassadour ioyned together the forces of th' associates at Tonouert Afterwards Albert of Brandebourg came vnto them with a great number of foot horse at Koburg they brought all as they passed alongst vnder their subiection and infringing whatsoeuer had bene ordained by th'emperour they established there new officers and a new kinde of gouernement constraining al to furnish them with mony albeit the Emperor and especially his brother Ferdinand besought thē of peace for which they promised their best endeuor notwithstanding that the emperor caused the drum to be stroke vp at the foot of the moūtains for the assembling of his army an occasion that Maurice wēt to Lincy in Austria to know of Ferdinand the conditions of peace for he was willing to pacifie matters at the wil of th'emperor who on the other side had exhorted by his letters the principall Princes of Germany that they would bestow some paines in quenching this vprore aduise of some means of peace to which his best endeuor shuld not be wanting and wheras some demanded succor of him not seeing thēselues strong enough against so great a force he assured them of a good hope answering that now they were in tearmes of making peace which as he hoped shuld take good effect if otherwise he would succour thē with his means the whole cōmon wealth of Germany Vlme was besieged 6. daies the 19. of April the Princes went to Stoach a town of Hegouia where in the name of the K. of France 3. months pay was giuen thē according to the accord and there was giuen for hostage on the French part Iames of the house of Marche for the other to wit the Earle of Nantueil died on the way The hostages which the Princes gaue vnto the King were Christophle Duke of Megelbourg and Philip sonne to the Landgraue The last of April the Princes returned to the Danube some leagues belowe Vlme In the meane space Albert of Brandebourg set fire on all the Townes and villages of Vlme and got as much monie as hee was able afterwardes hee tooke the forte of Helfesten scituated vpon an high mountaine and there put garrison that done he rated the towne of Gisling which is three leagues from Vlme with certain other villages about at 18. thousand crownes In the meane while Maurice arriued at Lincy proposed certaine articles touching the deliuery of his father in law for the appeasing of the difference in religion and doctrine of well and dulye establishing the common wealth of making peace with the K. of Fraunce their companion and alye of receiuing into grace the banished men as the Ringraue the other abouenamed among which was likewise Hedec who some yeares before had placed himselfe in the seruice of Maurice but the Emperour had not set downe any certaine price to him that could take him were it for feare of offending Maurice or any other occasion Vppon that Ferdinande who had with him his sonne Maximilian his sonne in law Albert of Bauieres and the Emperours Embassadors made answere to his demaundes that the Emperour made no refusal to deliuer the Landgraue prouided that they laid aside their armes for regarde of religion and the common wealth it pleased him well that they should aduise therof in the first assembly but it was a matter too noisome to the Emperor to comprehend therin the K. of Fraunce and yet that Maurice might do wel to know of the K. vnder what cōditions he would appoint it as for the banished persons they night reenter into grace so as they obserued such conditions as the Emperour would set downe Further Ferdinande demaunded of Maurice aide against the Turke in Hungarie after that the peace should be concluded and that he would not suffer any souldiers to retire towards the K. of Fraunce To which Maurice answered that it was not lawfull for him to conclude of anything without the consent of his companions so as they departed vpon condition that the 26. of May they shuld meet againe at Passau which is betweene Ratisbone and Lincy at the reencounter of Danube and Eno
to aboue 350. crownes yearely rent to the Lord and that it was euen so in Lormarin and sundry other places of Prouence which dad beene desarts and laide open to theeues vntill such time as they came thither to inhabite They found likewise by information made in Prouence that the Merindols other of the persecuted were a peaceable people beloued of all their neighbours of faire conditions keeping their promises and paying wel their debts without sute or brabling charitable not suffring any to be in need of great almes to strangers and other poore passengers according to their power The Prouenaeals affirmed likewise that they of Merindol and the rest might very well be discerned from all other of the country of Prouence for that they could neuer be brought so much as to name the Deuill or any waies to swear if it were not in iudgement or passing of some contract A man might likewise know them for that if they were in any companye where lasciuious speeche were vsed or blasphemy against the honor of God they would incontinently depart out of the same we know not any other matter against them sauing said they of Prouence that when they go to the market or about the towne they are so seldom seene go into the Minster and if they do chance to goe in they say their praiers without regarding of either he or she Saint and that in the high way as they passe by crosses and images they vse no reuerence The Priestes being likewise hard as touching the same said that they did not cause any Masse to be saide nor Libera me nor De Profundis and that they neuer took any holy-water and if any were giuen them at their houses that they would neuer say grandmercie to him that brought it and they perceiued very well that they conned him small thanks that they neuer went on pilgrimage to gaine pardons that they neuer made the signe of the crosse when it thundred but only looked vp into heauen sighing and prayed without crossing themselues or vsing any holy-water that they were neuer seene make any offring either for the liuing or for the dead In summe Langeay following his charge aduertised K. Frauncis of the whole who hauing fully vnderstoode it sent letters of grace not onely for such as were condemned vpon default and cōtumacy but also for all other within the country of Prouence who were either accused or suspected for the like case commanding expressely the parliament that from thence forward they shuld not in such a case proceed so rigorously as they had done for the past Beholde the letters FRancis by the grace of God King of Fraunce Earle of Prouence Forcalquier and countries adioyning to our welbeloued and feal the people holding our Court of Parliament in the saide Countrie of Prouence sitting at Aix health and loue As we hauing vnderstood how some swarued from the right way of faith and Christian Religion whome they call Vaudois assemble themselues in certaine places of our saide Country of Prouence where they continue in their errours through the seducing of some euill spirites whereto it were necessary to yeeld good and wholesome prouision to the ende this venome may not proceede any further we make you to know how we enclining rather to mercye and clemencye then to the rigour of iustice and willing to assaye rather by way of curtesie and perswasion to retire and redresse the saide wandred persons from the way of saluation then by rigorous punishmentes to make them fall into dispaire considering especially the great multitude of them which they say are fallen into these faults and errours and that we may hope that through the bounty of God our creator they wil rather reduce themselues to the way of saluation thē to be out of the congregation of God faithfull christians and remain continually in the feare of the rigorous iustice as well of God as man We for these considerations haue giuen do giue by these presents grace pardon and remission as much as in vs lyeth to the said Vaudois And haue acquited thē do acquit them of al paines offences and of al punishments and condemnation which might touch them either in person or goods by vertue of any iudgement giuen or to be giuen Prouided neuerthelesse that within three moneths after notise of these presents duly made vnto them they returne to God our creator and make such an abiuration and solemne recantation as is requisite for all the errors and false doctrines into which they haue heretofore fallen from whence they shall entirely depart and promise to liue Catholiquely and faithfully as it is requisite necessarie for all good Christians liuing according to the law of God and the Church And to this ende and for to vnderstand if they will accept of this our present grace and mercy we will that they shall come or send vnto vs such a number of persons as shall bee thought fit and ordained by you in full suertie as well to come remaine as returne without that during the said time any disturbance or hinderance be offred vnto them in their persons goods or manner whatsoeuer And in case they shall not accept hereof but remaine in their obstinacy you shall make such punishment thereof as you shall thinke the case deserueth and for the better accomplishing hereof we haue giuen doe giue full power authoritie commission and commandement by these presents By which wee will and command all our iustices officers and subiects bee they of warre or otherwise that to you your commissioners and deputies they lend giue all aide fauour and assistance when as often as by you and your deputies it shall be required Yeouen at Fountaine-bleau the eight of February The yere of grace 1540. and of our Raigne 24. Thus signed by the K. Earle of Prouince Bayard These letters went for a time suppressed but in the ende they were signified to certaine prisonners who were detayned in the prisons of Aix of whome it was demaunded if they would take the benefit of those letters which should bee commnicated vnto them euerie one paying one crowne of the sum for the Coppie By this meanes the prisonners were enlarged in paying their expences and promysing to appeare at the Courte when and as often as they should be demaunded Afterwards hauing obtained that they might appeare in Parliament by Proctor they tooke out a Copie of the proceedings against them which before thay had not at the request of the Kings Councell which pursued them they sent a confession of their faith to Cardinall Sadolet Bishoppe of Carpentras and other and after to King Francis the first taught vnto them said they euer since 1200. yeares after the comming of Christ as their auncients and auncestors witnessed vnto them The which his ordinarie reader Castellanus read vnto him containing the Articles of God the father creator of all thinges of the sonne aduocate and intercessor for mankinde of the
of well choosing his aduantage rather then to accept of battaile no lesse assured himselfe to make vaine the attempts of the French in any place which they should goe about to besiege alwaies prouided that his would haue the patience to suffer the first heate of the French a little to euaporate as into smoake knowing that Henry notwithstanding the better to preuaile therein made account to sound Cambray as well for that the taking thereof would be an example to sundrye other of renowne as thinking to prouoke the imperials rather to battaile then that they would lose such a place in which especially he knew his owne credite not to be so deepely rooted but that for a small matter the inhabitants would shake of the yoke which not long before he had imposed of them ioyne that the towne hauing beene alwaies Neuters such occurrents might so happen as he might make it partaker with him or at the least fauourable if they would assist to the recouering of their auncient liberty considering that in terming it selfe Neuter it was not lawfull for him to haue any greater authoritie ouer it then the King and the rather for that the magistrates and popular sorte began to feele themselues outraged by the vsurpation which he had made ouer them hauing proceeded so farre to his own aduantage as to build a citadell to keep them in subiection he feared least they would euen make plaine onuerture to the King being as then the stronger In summe if the Imperialles shewed themselues of good courage the French caused no other brute to runne but of the desire they had to battaile and how the King sought no other occasion then such as the place and time yeelded vnto him to wit being there at hand in so large and spatious a plaine to present battaile or to summon the Towne according to the accord of neutralitie to make him onuerture and giue him victuall or proclaime it as his enemy and so not farre from that place neere to Peronne the French were encamped a two little leagues from Cambray And the next morrow by break of day the King caused his army to be set in order of battaile ready to fight sending a herald of armes to summon the towne of her duety signifying vnto them that he was not come thither to oppresse them but rather to restore and settle them in their auntient libertye which he well knew had beene already corrupted by the Emperour of which if they would be reuenged and leaue that bondage they could not haue better meanes then by his comming that if the Emperour would quarrell for other aduantages hee was there in person both to declare and fight with all his forces to the contrary if they did otherwise they would be an occasion of much mischeefe to themselues first in losing the title and priuiledge of being called Neuters which is not affectionate to either the one or the others quarrels by which meanes they had onely obtained the liberty to be able to traffique in both their Countries Moreouer they should thereby exempt their Countrie round about from the miseries of the warre otherwise they should remaine for euer subiect to imposts loanes subsidies and all other manner of exactions and be besides that in danger to be partaker of the sundrye trauayles whereto a particular Country is abandoned and accustomed to suffer for his Prince In summe they demaunded twise foure and twenty houres of the King to be aduised thereof and to yeelde their answere so the King caused his Campe to retyre a great league further backe being lodged at Creuaecaeur of the appertenances of the Queene and it was proclaimed thoroughout the whole armye that vpon a great paine of corporall punishment no man should dare take ought within the territorye of Cambray without paying for the same During this delay the Emperours partye within Cambray certified him of this summons as then lying at Breuxelles who to comforte and releeue them with hope and courage set downe many thinges vnto them among the rest that they helde of the Chamber of the Empire and that hee was the Emperour to defend and protect them not a King of Fraunce who sought nothing but their ruine so as hauing set before their eyes the example of Metz hee promised the deputies that in case they should be besieged hee would succour them by all meanes whatsoeuer And from thence gaue order to the Prince of Piemont who was gotten with his army towards Valenciennes that hee should yeelde vnto them as much succour as they would demaund or well needfull for them ordaining thereto for cheefe and principall Gouernours the Earls of Bossu and Brabanson The time of delay being expired albeit the King knew well all these newes yet hee sent againe to summon them to knowe their resolution but they sent worde that if it might so please his Maiestie they were all content to remaine his humble neighbors and freends no waies refusing to giue him victuals but that as yet they were not masters ouer their owne goods for that the Emperor spight of their teeth had put men and great garrisons into their towne wherefore it was cleane out of their libertye and power to be able to dispose of any more Vpon this answere and mylde excuse the towne was adiudged for enemy and the same day being the eight of September the Constable with two regiments of men at armes and 3. or 400. light horse and Rirebands followed by the Admirall with ten Ensigns of French fantery went to prie and view round about but in steede of hearing the crowing of Poultrie before now nothing was heard but Cannons harquebuze shot and noyse of all partes especially from the cytadell which made the earth to tremble with the artillerie shot wherewith they played vpon the French souldiers entring therewith as thicke out of the Towne as waspes vse out of the hole of a tree after him that stirreth them but so maintained and the skirmishes so gallantly handled that they continued sixe whole dayes togither in one of which there was killed De Brese captain of one of the French guardes and before the Cytadell Coruet was slaine Captaine of one of the companies of the French footmen Of the Bourgonians there was of reputation taken and brought prisonners the Earle of Pondeuaux of the French Countie De Trelon of the Duchie of Luxembourg and other In the meanetime Bourdillon sent vnto the King by Neuuy Ensigne of his companie two Cornets of Bourgonians broken and defeated at La Haiette neere to Maubert Fontaine the Gouernour of Cimetz one of their cheefe remaining there prisonner the Bastard of Auanes another of their cheefe leaders by his good speede and well flying sauing himselfe Now to returne before Cambray it was perfectly viewed and by the aduise of such as had marked round about from the one end to the other ioyne the reporte of the spyes and such as likewise had viewed it within found to be as
of Suranda they found a little forte called Villarcy of earth and timber all voide the which 25. or thirtie Couriers which had been there within had quited vnder the charge of the Captaine La Losse borne at Mesieres which euer since his tender age had beene brought vp in the seruice of Lumes and after his death continually followed the parties of his maister Abandoning thus this forte hee set fire of all the houses and surplus of the rest of the village whereby the Vastadors ordained thereunto by the D. were eased of much paines A Church likewise which the Ardennois had caused to bee fortified called Fort de Iadines was found open and abandoned which in like sorte was all razed and beaten downe sauing a great square tower whose coynes and fastnings in the building were broken and scattered about by the Cannon shot which the Prince in passing by caused to be giuen In somme al the villages faire enough cōsidering the barrenes of the Countrie were burned and destroyed And for that the fort of Iadines was the most hurtfull of all the rest to the French bordering vpon them the gouernours of Mesieres oftentimes assaied to take it but euer in vaine vntill this blow About the last day of Iune the Prince encamped at the village of Valsimont in the bottome of a vallie where a swift streame runneth called Vouye which commeth from the mountaines and falleth into Meuse neere at hand thence he sent the Harrowlde of Angoulesme with his trumpet or to sommon the Castle of Beaurin in the confines of Ardennes vpon the limits of the countrie of Liege which likewise appertained to Barlemont the Emperours fauorite Reporte being made vnto him how the souldiours had brought great booties out of the woods with a number of women and young maydens knowing that in this furie of warre they could hardly helpe and protect them selues he made them all to be shut vp with commandement vpon paine of life not to do them any force or violence but to bring them all into a certaine lodging wher hauing vsed great liberalitie towards the souldiers he made them be safely kept vntill the next morrow that the Campe was departed And then vpon the reporte of the Harrowlde of Angonlesme how they of Beaurin ment not to yeeld except they saw the Cannon they marched thitherwards Hereupon such as were appointed to take the view were receiued by them with the bullets of many harquebuses a croc and muskets willing to shew that they were prouided as well of courrage as other necessaries so attending vntill fower Cannons were presented vnto them readie to giue fire But finding what danger they were in and being aduertised that if they did not yeeld they should all passe at the swords point and such as escaped by the hangmans hand after hauing a while parlied and demaunded to escape life and goods saued they were in the end reduced to this extreamitie that they should yeeld themselues to the good mercie and pleasure of the Prince who caused the chiefe of them to bee kept prisoners and sent away the rest of the pettie companions euery man a white sticke in his hand Iohn Colichart borne at Bains in Heinault Captaine of this Castle was led away prisonner with 40. of his best souldiers Among which was the Captaine of the forte of Iadines named Le Grand Gerard and La Losse of whome I spoke before Captaine of Vilargy who was not put at all to any ransome but sent backe shortly after to Mesieres there to be punished as a traytor The D. of Neuers lodged within the Castle a companie of foote of the olde ensignes and 50. harquebusieres on horsebacke At their departure from this siege each man began to reioyce that he should out of this grieuous and painefull desert and enter into Liege a countrie so pleasant and delectable taking their discent by the ports of Giuets the most renowned vpon the ryuer of Meuse But before I passe any further I will not forget how as wel to render the Nauigation of this riuer which runneth all alongst the countries of Liege and Brabant easie and open vnto them as to enforce the rest of the small Castles and little forts alongst there was left there the Capitane Salsede generall commissioner for all the victuals and munitions with sixe companies of French fanterie and two Cannons Who after that by force he had taken the Castle of Sumet appertaining to the D. of Ascot he cleane abandoned that of Hurge which appertained to Barlemont As the Prince of La Roche Sur-yon burned all Artois and the borders about without any resistance at all made to his little armie so the Constable hauing caused the bruite to be giuen out that his determination was to besiege Auannes so farre as that the light cauallerie had more then once skirmished before it as though they ment to view it albeit it was well strengthened with a Garrison other munitions being notwithstanding aduertised how Mariembourge had but a bare ordinarie Garrison and that small the most couertly that was possible caused the Marshall S. Andre to depart with the Suisers and some companies of French foote assisted with two or three thousand horse and the most part of the artillerie who made so good speede hauing all that night cleared the waies and Lanes which the enemies had stopped and hedged in As the 23. of Iune at ten of the clocke in the morning he was come with all his troupes before Mariembourg Whereat they within being altogether astonished and much more the night after when they vnderstoode that the succours which they attended were driuen backe and no possibilitie for them to enter yet to shew themselues as men not dismaied they played infinitly with the Cannon which for all that would not serue the turne any whit at all to staie these new come guests from beginning their approches and trenches So as the next morrow the Constable being ariued with the rest of the armie and seeing the good beginning of this siege to bring it to a better end he caused the approches to bee continued with such diligence as the third day of the siege hauing made fiue or sixe Voleys of artillerie onely to breake the defences a parley was requested by the besiedged In somme many of their Articles being refused they condescended in the end to yeelde vp the place to the K. liues and goods saued all sauing armor munition and artillerie and De Rinsart remained prisoner with the Captaines and principals of the Cittie Which being well stored with al munition of an inestimable price was thus yeelded vp the 28. of Iune 1554. Whereat the K. much reioysing shortly after departed towards Laon ther to find againe his armie the last day of the month The which in signe of ioye at his ariuall was pitched in order of battell and the whole artillerie discharged yeelding a maruellous report and eccho betweene the woodes and the rockes of
the first for that there were spoyled consumed to ashes the most faire Castles and gentlemens houses which were possible to be builded Among the rest the most sumtuous house of Marimont was set on fire curiously builded for the singular pleasure of Q. Mary furnished with as many singularities as was possible to be imagined An other excellent faire Castle called Tragny was burned and the greatest part ruined where were found sundry moueables and rich vestements as well of men as women The 22. of Iuly the Towne of Bains being summoned and no waies willing to yeeld was most furiously presented with the Cannon and in another manner of sorte then when D'Alegre lost his life there Which hauing endured out sixe volleyes of the Cannon yeelded themselues to the Kinges mercie who for all that commaunded it to bee destroyed and burned not forgetting his Castle of Foulembray and other Townes of Picardie which Q. Marie had before caused to be burned entirely ruined at such time as he was in Germanie They did as much to a sumtuous Castle which she had newly caused to be built replenished with all exquisite things as of sundrie varieties of Marble Tables plate pictures and embost statues colours of all sortes whereof notwithstanding in smal space was made great wast destruction De Blosse who was gouernour thereof was brought away prisonner with the chiefest of marke which were found both there and within the towne the K. still vsing all meekenes towards the women young maidens litle children which he made be conducted put in safty by a Harrowld a trumpetor Afterwards the same morning de Giry Leiutenāt of the D. of Neuers company was sent with 4. other companies of men at armes to keepe scoute to those which set fire on the Castle of Reux which the late maister therof had caused to be reedified and better masonned then euer it was when it was first builded beeing vowted from the bottome to the toppe from thence they were at Bais sur Bais a village afterwards at a litle towne of Bauets very anucient first builded by the Troians as they of the country tell which passed beyond the forest of Mormant calling it after the name of their Prince Bauo At this time smally inhabited but to ruine it the more fire was put in many places The imperial armie stil followed thē very neere being better strengthned as well by the succours of Almanes which the D. of Brunswich brought of 2000. Reistres which they cal in France Pistoliers as for that all the Emperors Garrisons which hee had distributed among the towns which he had left behind were retired thither The which caused the French to march in better order closer then before as alwaies ready to fight frō one place to another for doubt of the enemy being very vigilant subtil couragious wher he could spie any aduantage to assaile thē whereat the Constable well aduising to support the charges enterprises which the enemie might giue vpō their skirts ordinarily remained there with the vauward and dislodged euer last Thus the alarums redoubled at their departure thence hauing as it were couped thēselues in betwene six great Towns of their enemies to wit Mons in Haynault Auanes Landrecy Lequesnoy Valenciennes Cambray and the imperiall armie which was at their heeles had assailed them as by a dispaire had not been the good conduct of their chefes the imperials hauing aduentred so far as in clere day to force their whatch after they had surprised one of the sentinels of Tauannes his company notwithstāding not daring to aduenture further as sone as they were perceiued they were driuen in as farre as Lequesnoy Now this night their light cauallery skirmished long with lucke enough which was a cause to make thē forbeare take som rest the surplus of that night Hauing then frō Villie encamped at Souleine and frō thence at the burrowes Castle of Gommigny which they burned they marched forward the 24. of the month whē as their enemies as it were desperate in seing their country burned destroied sacked by thē without any doubt of being followed or feare of being famished proposed to giue thē a charge taking vantage of the raynie misty weather knowing likewise that they had two reasonable bad riuers to passe which were swelled that night where they hoped to delay thē and put thē in such dioder as they would haue them at deuotion hauing all their own garrisons ioyned together Therefore they deuided into two troupes about 4000. of the best horse they had laying part of thē in ambush within the woods vpon the way part of them within certaine villages at hand according as they might most cōmodiously sustaine one another the D. of Sauoy remaining behind with other 4000 horse some footmen hauing belaid the field with 4. or 5. hūdred couriers to entise forth their light horse wherby they being first discouered by the D. D' Aumale it was thought fit to send to the Marshall S. Andre who remained at their taile with two regiments of men at armes to know if it were best to charge thē who sent back word that he was not of that opiniō fearing they had a greter company Wherefore Paul Baptista the capitane Lanque were sent to view them more neere who made report each one of his side that they had descried two other troupes of 2000. horse a peece which anon after as soone as the wether grew clearer discouered thēselues at ful so neere as they attacked skirmish with the light cauallery of the French hard by the camp without setting or giuing in earnest vpon any of the other ranks of cauallery and men at armes which made thē hedlong enough in their view retired and passed this last riuer afterwards they returned without carrying the honour to haue had any aduantage at all ouer them The regiment of the Duke of Neuers was sent another way where certaine of their scoutes were defeated which brought great quantitie of baggage but parte thereof was againe reskewed Afterwardes they encamped that night in a village which the yeere before had beene burned called Viellie The same day a trumpetour which the Duke of Neuers had sent to the campe called La Capelle to vnderstand what was become of a man at armes of his company returned almost al naked stript by some souldiers of the enemies smally experiēced in feates of war But at the instant he was sent backe againe in the same estate with a trumpetor who was charged by the K. to tel the D. of Sauoy the Emperors Leiutenant general that if hereafter they vsed any more the like fashions al the priueledges liberties of war shold be thus abolished he wold do the like at his next siege Which being vnderstood by this gentle Prince to shew how sore he was displeased therat he caused diligent search to be made thoroughout his whole campe for
retire looking back sometimes to see if they were followed And so late enough arriued at Montcaure a league from Montereul where they soiourned 5. daies together stil to learn out vnderstand the enterprises of th'emperor the which as long as the French forces were still assembled the King might more easilye preuent and meete with them if they should put into the fielde But hauing certaine intelligence how the armie was not as yet departed from their first lodging in the plaines of Marque and that the Emperour expressely tarried to see the reparations and amendements of Rente the K. purposed in like sort to giue some rest and refreshing to his owne Notwithstanding that before the fiue dayes were out want of fourage and euill ayre of the marshes caused them to dislodge and come neerer to Montereul where they soiourned fiue other dayes entire the K. being lodged in the Charter house and the Campe pitched all along the little riuer of Cauche where the English and Scottish companies receiued an euill bobbe in being scattered and lodged two leagues farther thē the Vantgarde in a village called Marenlo where the imperials hauing receaued aduertisement thereof and being guided by one of the same village were to surprise them at midnight so as their lodgings being set on fire some of the masters seruants and horses tyed were burned some slaine and some caried away prisonners wherupon the Emperour being retired to S. Omer without hauing any meanes to be able to vndertake any matter of great importance or dammage to the French as also that the Winter and euill weather threatned him the K. departed thence with the D. of Guise and certaine gentlemen of his house to goe to Compeugne after he had well munitioned and fortefied the garisons of the townes of Ardres and Bolongne to make head keep strong against his enemy if he would besiege him the Constable remaining cheefe of the ouerplus of the army as well to keepe it vnited as the better and more readily to be able to prouide for whatsoeuer the Emperour could vndertake whose guiles the French haue alwaies feared especially vpon the end of a warre wherupon they took occasion to charge now then vpon his campe as well thereby to know and learne some thing as to keep scoute for the fouragers who were faine to goe very far to recouer victuals and fourage for their horses who hauing no more left to nourish them withall they were enforced againe to dislodge and passe ouer the riuer on the other side where the army was pitched encamped in the villages of Brameu Espimeu Beaurin al alongst the riuer shoare They taried there certain daies fearing least the Emperour should besiege Montreul Ardres or Dourlan notwithstanding being aduertised how his Souldiers for want of pay victuals and other commodities dissolued themselues the constable not to consume the rest of the victuals of the frontire which were alreadye greatly diminished and growne deare sent home the rirebands to their houses and dismissed the Zuizers well contented satisfied as wel with their pay as with the order of knighthood bestowed by the K. vpon Mandosse their Generall and vpon the Captains Theodore Inderhalden Colonel of the Cantons and Petroman Clery Colonel of the townes and Aonis who was afterwardes the K. Embassadour to the Grizons a few daies after being accompanied with the Marshal S. Andre he came vnto the K. who gaue the cōduct of the rest of the army to the D. of Vendosme wherupon the emperor who had alwaies delaied and dissembled his determination seeing his forces diminished suddenly called backe certaine companies which before hee had caused to departe the campe to drawe towards Hedin The which the D. of Vendosme foreseeing that he meant to be reuenged in burning the flat country as the French had done his caused his camp to dislodge stil to accost him and hold him in such awe as he shuld not scatter his army so as hauing passed the riuer of Authie hee encamped that night at Dampierre vntill the next morrow about noone when as hee was aduertised how the most part of the Imperial army and cauallery was come down to Auchy a Castle appertaining to the Count of Aiguemont and had fired the same broken defeated certaine companies of light cauallery which the Duke doubting of their cōming to hinder the passage of the riuer had sent thither The which caused him sodenlye to raise his Campe from Dampierre and imagining by the course which his enemye tooke that he meant to besiege Abbeuille or Dorlan hee approched neerer to these two places the which he furnished and fortefied with what euer was necessarye Afterwards on the morrow being the first of September he passed the riuer of Somme and pitched his Campe at Pondormy a place very commodious both to keepe the Country and passage of the riuer the same day the Imperials began to make waste and to burne the flat Country which the French had abandoned for two or three leagues compasse encamping at Saint Requier two leagues from the French whom they thought should not dislodge thence without battaile offred or some charges or other braueries perfourmed an occasion that the next morning early the D. of Vendosme sent his light cauallerie with three hundred men at armes to supporte them vnder the conduct of the Prince of Anguian who approched as neere their Campe as he was able and kept them so as they should not scatter to burne and destroye the villages holding them in such awe and subiection that they alwaies marched in troupes close together at night the French ouerthrew at their taile certain waggons laden with victualles which were nothing but apples bonillons and very naughtye bread the which caused them to think that in so great want and necessitie of victuals they would not long keepe themselues encamped notwithstanding they marched afterwards all along the riuer of Authie and set fire on the Castles and Villages alongst as they passed As at Dampierre Daurye Marchy Marchye Mainthenay and diuers other places an occasion that the Duke of Vendosme sent sixe score men at armes as well of his company as of the Marshall S. Andres with 9. Ensignes of foote to lodge in the Towne of Montereul which the Imperialles made countenance as though they meant to besiege whereof being aduertised and changing their purpose they returned back to passe the Riuer of Authye and descended into the Marshes belowe Hedin betweene the riuer and an other which commeth out of the County of S. Poul in a place called Mesnil fit to be fortefied for the keeping and assurance of the baliadge of Hedin and county of S. Pol. Then on the twelfth of September they began to reare and build vp a forte hauing for the more speedy dispatch of the defence leauied a great number of Pionners and labourers out of the Countryes about which they did without any let for besides that they were within their landes the French army was
cannot preiudice the rights of their Prince much lesse then Christians the right of the Pope especially in a case of such importance Iointe that Truces doe not forbid war but in Countries of obedience not in other places where they haue nought to doe Moreouer they do not hinder one from taking vpon him the defence of some friend or allie by a much more strong reason then of him to whome all Christians are redewable for what soeuer they haue in this worlde as to Gods Lieutennant on earth Anne de Montmorency and his nephewes Odet and Gaspart of Coligny called Chastillon with many others represented vnto him for the contrarie the eternall and generall dishonour in all countries which he should get by breaking his faith so solemly sworne for the repose of his subiects vniuersall good of all Christendome so miserably torne in peeces thorough the continuance of so vilanous warresl yea and that there was a time in which ther was demaunded of Princes only their word for all assurances by reason that they saw them so wise and vertuous as they woulde not change their promises for all the aduantages of the worlde But as the malice of men encreased whereto the Princes by little and little participated so subiectes and strangers haue required at Princes handes their faith and oath which all men yea the very Turkes and other of contrary Religion hold inuiolable sauing at this daye Christians which first made shew of being willing to dispence with so Religious a bond as an oath is which cannot but turne to the great dishonour and generall obloquic of all Christendome the which no longer acknowledging any assurance vailable among men will fall into such a confusion that the strongest and most malicious will make subiect the good right honour and all vertue at his pleasure By consequence then there is no apparance of honour to be gotten in succouring the Pope who of himselfe in respect of the dutie of his charge ought to be ashamed to aske it and to giue occasion to such periurie and disloyaltie Yea if he were asked how hee would truely iudge or practise in his owne act if he were a King he would make no difficultie to disswade so pernitious a deliberation much lesse the hope of a conquest of a Realme ought to stur him vp thereunto considering the impossibilitie of gayning it or at the least keeping it by men so farre off so euill husbands and bad prouiders against a nation so neere and wel aduised as the Spanniard and especially that this hope is founded vpon the amitie of Italians whome we haue found for the most part vnconstant and variable in their duties as so many examples passed may verye well make vs wise enough to counsaile well therein our suruiuours And it is so farre off that the farre distance of the Emperour ought to encourage vs to doe euill as the good aduices wherewith he hath instructed his sonne the aduised and prouident personages which he hath lefte vnto him for counsell the alliaunce of the English which will furnish him both with men and money together with the resolution which he hath not to degenerate in ought from the vertues of his father nay rather to encrease them higher if occasion did present it selfe ought to make vs the more to feare the vndertaking thereof and to assure vs that we shall find ynough nay more forces and meanes to stay vs euen in the best of the enterprise then if the father himselfe had taken the conducte thereof All this notwithstanding and many other reasons which were alleadged coulde not hinder the breach of the truce and the expedition which was made into Italie chiefely in the ende by the diligence of the Conestable For albeit that he helde a hard string to the contrarie yet hee slacked for two occasions First that he perceyued through the absence of these vndertakers he mought haue faire and easie meanes to make great and assure his house so as hee was not in the ende ouer sorrie to see them of the house of Guise bearing armes to quitte the Courte and goe the voyage whereof hee hoped for no happie euente Iointe that he sought to marrie his eldest sonne whom 50000. crownes had a few dayes before redeemed out of prison with the widdow of the D. of Castre the kings aduowed daughter Whereupon the marriage being accorded euen as it stood vpon the poynte to be accomplished his sonne let him to vnderstande in October by Odet and Gaspart of Coligny his cousin germanes howe he had made a promise vnto the Ladie of Pienes that he coulde haue no other Whereat the father grieuously displeased endeuoured notwithstanding by all meanes to accomplishe this marriage So as hauing caused Pienes to be put in sure guarde within the house of Filles Dieu he considered with himselfe that herein he shoulde stande in neede of the Popes assistance vpon that he sent his sonne to Rome where he found Pierre Sirossy mareschall of Fraunce and they beganne together so well to besturre themselues for the Pope as they recouered agayne the porte of Ostye and other places occupied by the Spaniardes about Rome which serued him but as a prison And yet all the meanes which mought be was wrought with the Pope that he should not dispense with him to marrie any other then Pienes fearing least that being once obtained the Conestable would breake the desseins of the warre Whereof he being aduertised and seeing howe the Pope vsed him but with delayes dissimulations he besought him to contente himselfe with the seruice which he had done vnto him So as hauing taken his leaue he retourned to Paris a few dayes before Easter 1557. declaring vnto his Father that that which he let him to vnderstande of the promisse which he had made vnto Pienes was only to induce him vnto the marriage but that in trueth there was no other matter in such sorte as presently after the marriage was accomplished with the Lady of Castres The denyall thereof notwithstanding proceeding from the promisse which he mainteined he made vnto Pienes was the cause of an Edicte which was then published for the reciprocall duetie of parents and children vpon the occurrance of their marriage Edicte of childrens marriages THe K. ordayneth That such children as shall contract secrete marriage against the will or vnwitting vnto their father and mother be disinherited and declared vncapeable of all aduantages and profites which they might pretende by the meanes of nuptiall conuentions or by the benefite of customer or lawes of the contrarie And that the fathers and mothers may reuoke any guifts and aduantages giuen by them They likewise declared punishable which shall giue counsell ayde for the consummation of such marriages That this ordinance shall take place as well for the time to come as passed because there is therein a transgression of the lawe and commaundementes of God wherein no man may couer himselfe by any ignorance or