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
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
but before this thorough their subtilties and wilines they haue preuailed so farre as the most famous Prince King Frauncis was condemned for an enemy without being heard It is true that that redounded to their particular profite but to the great dammage of the Common-wealth for it may euidently enough be perceiued how hard a matter it is to decay the liberty of Germanye and to build their Realme to make it last so great and so long as the amity betweene these two nations hath endured for because at this present standing in feare of the French armies they proceede therein more slackely and insist not so liuely to impose their Spanish yoke they be they for certaine which haue obtained peace at the Turkes handes by praiers and tributes and who vnder colour of Religion and obedience haue brought a thousand enormities and factions into Germany which haue beaten her with her owne rodde warring against her with her owne power which haue drawne monie from all and rendred the condition of Germany into so pitious an estate as may be wel seene by the Spanish Garrisons disposed on the one side and the other which haue vnfurnished those places of armes where they were kept in store which haue made open the way to the examination of the treasure for it is growne to that passe at this day that the seale of the Empire and the iudgement of the Chamber and the right or priuiledge of imperiall dayes is in the sleeue of the B. of Arras for what meaneth this to execute by way of iustice or to banish in offring great rewardes to the murtherers all those as for their maintenance haue put themselues into the wages of strangers I omit so many murthers so many whordomes pilferies and sackings of Citties and aboue all religion which now was handled of one sorte and now of another accordingly as the time serued Certes whatsoeuer hath beene done since some yeares passed hath tended to no other end then to trouble the lawes of the Empire or constraine or allure King Ferdinand by faire promises as also to terrifie the Princes by feares and dreades to the end the Prince of Spaine might be chosen Emperour were it not rather to be wished by men of valour to dye then to see the light of the Sunne in such miseries and calamities I doe not think that any man can be found so blockish or barbarous that hee doth not feele himselfe galled with these thinges Therefore no man ought to maruell if at the last some Princes haue bene found and among them the Electour Maurice D. of Saxe which stand resolued to hazard their liues for the recouerie of the liberty of their common Countrie and which finding themselues too feeble and not able alone to sustaine the charge haue demaunded succour and alliance of the King of Fraunce who cleane forgetting any mislikes of the time passed hath not onely employed thereto all his wealth and treasure but also hath not spared his owne person in a matter of so great consequence contracting an alliance with them wherein among other thinges there is set downe that they shall not make any accorde with the enemy without the Kings good liking and albeit that Maurice be bound thereunto yet desiring the prosperitie of the Countrie and to accommodate himselfe to Ferdinand which did so earnestly require it he very lately besought the most christian King to signifie vnto him vnder what conditions hee would haue the peace treated of that to say the truth fell out otherwise then he hoped for considering his benefite towards them to haue beene such and so great that hee thought it fitter to entreate neerer hand and not so farre off of matters which so neerely concerned him neuerthelesse forsomuch as he euer preferred the publick weale before his owne particular hee would deny nothing to a Prince his allie wherefore if the soares of the common wealth might be healed as they ought and that good assurance may be giuen that in time to come they shall not be refreshed if the Captiue Princes may be released vnder the conditions set downe in the treatie further if the ancient alliances betweene Fraunce and the Empire and the last Capitulation with Princes may be so confirmed as that for euer they may remaine in force if these thinges I saye may bee well brought to passe he is so affectionate to the Common wealth that not onely he will willingly accord to a treatie of peace but also yeeld most humble thanks to God that herein he hath aided you with councell and succours As touching priuate matters as the Emperour hath detained from him many things by force and made warre vpon him without any iust occasion the King thinketh it a matter very reasonable that he which hath beene the occasion of the iniury should firste shewe the way of satisfaction The King in truth no whit distrusteth at all of his owne power nor yet of the equitie of his cause and notwithstanding hee will giue them to vnderstand how much hee loueth peace and how much hee desireth to agree with them all and with Maurice The Princes answered hereunto that his discourse fet from antiquitie as concerning the coniunction of Germany and Fraunce was most agreeable vnto them and no lesse that the King preferred the common wealth before his particular profite making no refusall to the confederate Princes accorde with the Emperour for it is not onely the profite of one nation but of all Europe which hauing beene turmoyled with ciuill calamities tended to an euident ruine As for the conditions which the K. demaunded they doubted not but that they might be obtained for the Emperour alwaies bare good will towards the common wealth both heretofore and in these present troubles he neuer vnderstoode that the libertye of Germany was any waies diminished There was likewise great hope that in very short space hee would set at libertie the Captiue Princes As touching the renewing of their ancient alliances the King well vnderstandeth in his owne wisedome that a matter of so great weight could not be brought to passe in this assembly notwithstanding they greatly desired that the amitie which euer had beene betweene the two nations might remaine firme and inuiolable they likewise desire aboue all the rest that the differentes betweene the King and the Emperour might be pacified protesting that therein they would neither spare trauaile not diligence whatsoeuer But forsomuch as the K. said that the Emperour did possesse sundry places which appertained to him and openly made shew of many which he would repeate it seemed vnto them a matter very reasonable that he should declare what they were for they were determined fullye to infourme the Emperour thereof and to be a meanes in the cause Further they besought the King to take the same in good parte That which the Embassadour spake of the familye of Luxembourg grew vpon this Henry Earle of Luxembourg had a sonne named Henry who afterwards was the
fifteene Ensignes of French Fanterie and almost two thousand horse against nineteene Ensignes of the Spanish Fanterie which lay encamped about the little towne for that the inhabitants had shutte the gates vpon them fearing to be sacked by them as their neighbours had beene The skirmish lasted almost a whole day eche partye being obstinate to the gaining of the victory which after a long hazard vncertaine combate remained to the French very few of them being either dead or hurte but many more of the Spaniards whereof in like sort diuers were brought away prisonners After all this coyle the French returned to Anchy and about Hedin where the Almanes were put in garrison the bayliwick whereof was giuen by the King to the Count Reingraue In summe towards the end of the moneth of October some companies as well of the French Fanterie as light cauallerie being cast the rest were deuided and put into garrisons to passe ouer the winter which drew on In the meane time the Emperour proceeded on to pursue a marriage betweene his son the K. of Spaine and the infant Mary new Q. of England with such earnestnes as he forgot nothing which might serue to the consummation thereof seing him selfe almost out of all hope to haue succour elsewhere or recouering of any monie at neerer hand which many of that Realme sought to hinder foreseeing an immortal warre with the French which was prepared for them by this meanes remembring well the losses and damage which they had alreadye sustained in hauing vpholden the warre against this nation from whence the Countrie of England reaped great commodities Notwithstanding so much auayled the perswasions of the Emperor with the instigation of the two Queenes Mary and Elenor and aboue all the inductions of Cardinall Pole cosin to the Q. that she being cleane rauished with this new loue and with the ambition to see her selfe wife to the Sonne of an Emperour the better to assure her estate against the reformed and other malcontents in spite of the aduise and liking of the greatest of her Realme keeping her sister Elizabeth likewise a prisonner consented to this marriage Afterwards with as much speede as was possible she affianced by Proctor which was the Earle of Aiguemont Philip K. of Spaine hoping shortlye after to perfit and consumate the ouerplus The K. knowing that all these things tended to no other end but cheefely to endamage and annoy him made a great masse of monie calling such to his aide and succour as he knew were most obedient and faithfull vnto him and as hee thought best able to aide and do him seruice Pope Iuly to the end to pacifie these great troubles of Christendome had sent the Cardinall of England to mediate a peace betweene the King and the Emperour for you must vnderstand that vpon the pursute of the warres of these two Princes Pope Iuly seeing all Europe as it were much moued with the feare of mischeefes which was likely to ensue to euery Countrye by reason of the particular quarrels of these two Monarcks with a secret remorse and gnawing of conscience for himselfe had beene the Author had sent the Cardinall of England his Legate to the King and the Emperour to aduise and by all meanes to vnite and cause them to condescend to a good peace in which he imployed himselfe so vertuously that laying aside all ambition or feare of hatred or other cōsiderations he neuer ceased to lay before them the infinite miseries wherewith the poore Christian people were afflicted togither with the vncertaintye and miserable estate whereunto the Catholicke Church by their dissentions was reduced And albeit that many accounted him to fauour the Emperour more then the King yet hee seemed to haue so well managed their hartes that the hope of a peace was alreadye common thorough out Fraunce and quarters neighbouring about yea so great that the poore borderers of the one and other Lord perswading themselues thereof so assured themselues by little and little that they reedified and began to reinhabite their cottages and small tenementes as yet besmoaked with the fire wherewith they had beene burned to ashes so farre as euery man promised vnto himselfe a happy repose if it would please God to mollifie the harts of these two great Princes But euen as all the tokens of Moses and Aaron hardened the more the obstinate courage of Pharaoh to the end afterwards to make the great wonders of the Lord to appeare so this great God not yet satisfyed and content with so small a punishment for our enormous sinnes would not permit vnto them the vnderstanding to receaue a good and assured peace for the ease and repose of all Christendome wherfore the Legate after many trottings to and fro of each side returned very sorrowfull vnto the Pope leauing in the harts of these two Princes this so inueterate an enmitie whereof the clamors could not so soone mortifie the effects The Queene was deliuered at Fontaine-bleau about nine of the clocke and three quarters past in the morning the eighteenth of March 1554. of a sonne named Hercules by Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Anne de Montmorency Constable and the Duchesse of Guyse daughter to the D. of Ferrara afterwards leauing that name he was called Francis D. of Alencon and of Aniou In the meane space and about the first of the spring there arose a certaine brute of a warre at hand betweene these Princes and much furniture and weapons were dispersed whereby they might bee polished and made readye to the seruice afterwardes to be mustered as soone as the fame was spread throughout France how the Emperour had prepared a great leauye of men of warre and all other sortes of prouisions towardes the Countries of Liege and Ardennes with intent to besiege the Towne of Mesieres hauing established Mariembourg and Auanes as store places and markets to his armye so as Bourdillon who then was at the Courte was presently sent back to fortifie strengthen this little Towne with whatsoeuer should be necessary to attend their comming On the other side the K. foreseeing the Empeperours determination and intent made all meanes to assemble his forces to the end to meet him and preuent him of this small enterprise hauing sent sufficient enough of succour into Piemont and Italye thereby to pursue and continue such good beginning as fortune in that parte had presented vnto him Besides hee dispatched Captaines and commissioners to bring him men of warre as well out of Germany as from those Cantons of Zuizers as were his confederates This was about the ende and issue of the Spring when as the Sunne raysing him selfe high to send among vs his great heates burned and consumed the fruites of the earth with so strange a drouthe that togither with the long trauayle of the warre the poore people expected nought els to the aggrauating of their miseryes then a great and mortall famine for the heape of all theyr pouertyes
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
places Nowe albeit there was no talke of any warre in Fraunce but onely by murmurs and particular presages more then any publique declarations many presumed that the warre of Italie woulde giue a beginning to that of Fraunce yet the bruite being giuen out howe the Arthois and Henaute Garrisons were reenforced to make a checke vpon some of the Frontiers the Admirall Gouernour of Picardie thinking to playe with the cunningest meant to preuent them and first of all himselfe to breake the Truce in Picardie In such sorte as about the beginning of Ianuarie 1557. hauing ambushte himselfe neare Douay hee had entred in in the night while the most parte of the Garrison was droncke with drinking and crying the king drinkes had not an olde woman by her long and lowde cryinges out of Arme Arme the Frenche giuen in the ende the Alarme thorough out hauing soone ynough discouered some indiscreete persons among the formost of the French But being retourned to Lans in Arthois and entered within he suffered it to be so pilled as the Imperialles for a long time reproached those cruelties to the Frenche besides that they alleadged the taking thereof among the first occasions of the breache of Truce You see then on this and that side the Spanyarde and Frenche disposed to warre seeking all meanes to ruyne them selues more furiously then euer Nowe for that the broyles in Piemont as the first seeme to mee more remarkeable Iointe that certaine monethes passed ouer in Fraunce and the Countries bordering about in the preparations of a future warre without any other more notable effectes then aboue rehearsed I will remember againe the Mareschall Brissac to shewe you howe hauing taken the Imperialles at vnawares he pursued the poynte of his aduauntages After the departure of the Duke of Guise and his armie the Mareschall gaue himselfe to fortifie and munition Valence with all that was necessarie abiding notwithstanding a certaine time in Lomline to holde the Generall of the Imperialles in suspence of his disseins And had vndertaken matters of greater importaunce had money beene in his handes to contente his people and furnishe out such thinges as were needefull for him But for want thereof resolued to retire himselfe and keepe his aduantages hee furnished Casal Montcalue Valence and Santia each of them with ten Enseignes of Fanterie and some Cauallerie against the enterprises of the Marquesse whose Forces grewe greater to the diminution of the French for the occasions abouesayde And albeit that the want of money and the cutting off alreadie made by the King of certaine Companies of Piemont as well in nomber as in paye were sufficient occasions to hinder the Estate of his affayres in that Countrey he sente vnto the Mareschall notwithstanding about the ende of Februarie that in any sorte soeuer hee shoulde not meddle with the dead payes And that euery moneth he shoulde send him an accounte to the ende he mought assigne warrant for money to the Treasourer of the extraordinarie without any whitte regarding howe nothing hauing bene sente for the artillerie carriages Pioners munitions commissaries and matters vnlooked for the Mareschall saide hee was fayne to helpe himselfe with those dead paies So as founding vpon such defaults the smal aduancement which he made in Piemont seeing how he preached to a deafe eare hee besought but in vaine his Maiestie about the moneth of May to sende some Gentleman vnto him to controle his actions to the ende that no euill mought bee presumed of him This notwithstanding albeit that hee durste not muster his armie for feare of mutinies thorough wante of paye and that he was resolued not to remayne ydle hee employed his credite to recouer a summe of money to make a loane vnto the companyes of Fanterie attending the Kinges money And hauing thus made them to goe into the fielde hee ledde them for the execution of the Counsell to batter and take in parley the 22. of Aprill Valeserniere notwithstanding the great and continuall raynes all the while that the siege endured A Towne which wasted all Piemont and scowred the way from Ast to Cony Queras and Emerast and Queras being with the selfe same furie besieged battered and suddainely assayled was taken by force the 29. of Aprill the fourth day of the siege Whereupon to encrease this fire of good will and make the poore souldier to liue more vpon the expence of the enemie then of the allie the siege of Cony was resolued vpon and begonne in the same moneth Whether the K. sent money which very little exceeded the only pay of the Zwizers The Mareschall notwithstanding appointed mustars to be taken of the French and Italian Fanterie But as soone as the souldiers knewe that they woulde giue but a crowne a piece to a man and that by the handes of the Treasourer the souldiers were not slacke to mutinie and goe away in great Troupes considering their long seruices which had neuer beene acknowledged and the newe fashion of paying them by other mens hands then their Captaines who shewing themselues no lesse grieued and resting the beholders of such insolencies without stirring to punish any they made the Mareschal goe himselfe to procure them to returne backe and assure them that the money should be deliuered vnto their Captaines to distribute as they were accustomed And albeit that so little money did not much content them yet the siege was continued In which the Mareschall seeing that the batterie wrought no great effecte and yet they which were besieged shewed a countenaunce as if they woulde yeelde if they were lustily pursued it was agreed that a myne shoulde bee made right against the Batterie Wherein they wrought long with daunger and difficultie notwithstanding But in in the ende being finished well closed and sealed vp the fire put and the assaulte giuen by the ruyne which it had lefte the order established for the assaulte was so euill kepte and besides the Souldiars wente so slackely to worke as the Maister of the Campe being slayne and a nomber of Gentlemen and Souldiers who were the first which aduaunced formost being dead on the earth and the rest beaten backe with the hurte of many gallaunt men the euente shewed howe of an armie euill satisfied full of Captaynes and Souldiers discontented and disobedient no other successe ought to be hoped for then vnfortunate In the meane time the Mareschall sente to declare vnto the King together with the necessities of his armie and the feare least all woulde turne to ruyne for him the instance which the Duke of Ferrara made to cause the French armie to approache to the Dutchie of Milan to the ende to helpe it with his forces and disseins and likewise the impossibilitie of beeing able to satisfie it without paying at least the Fanterie Not long after the Mareschall hauing receyued newes howe the Marquesse of Pescare was ariued at Fossan with some forces in intention to approch neare Cony to fauour them within or assaye
vanished from among vs yet doth their goodnesse and memorie stil remaine fresh and fixed in the minds and harts of manie But how can it otherwise fare Illustrious Ladies but that you must needes succeede or rather abounde in all or greater worthinesse hauing the honour and blisse to bee trayned vpp in the same Schoole from the which they and all other borrow their light as the Moone doth frō the Sun at the mouth of that diuine Oracle Ex cuius ore melle dulcior fluit oratio that sacred Queene vnmachable and victorious Virgine Supereminens omnes Mans mirror Ioues darling worlds wonder and natures perfection whose Angelicall face so often as I doe beholde as behold to often I can not me thinketh J still with daseled eyes see as it were in full aspect Solarem Maiestatem cum Saturnina grauitate That the powerful and essentiall thing of things may number the peaceable yeeres of her Raigne like the sands of the Sea that the shadow gonne downe in the Dyall of Ahaz may be ten and ten degrees brought backward that the Sunne abide and the Moone stand still vntill she may be auenged of her enemies Let all her Subiects pray our age rest thankefull posteritie admire and the heauens eternise her name for euer The Historie of Fraunce THE FIRST BOOKE NOw that those our Actions are most worthy of praise which can both please profit together wherein a History ought to haue the aduantage to excell all other I do not wel know though I did hardly could I tell whether in representing vnto you the estate of Fraunce and nations neighbours vnto it since fortye yeeres past I might doe a generall pleasure considering the mallice enuye and diuersitie of iudgements of euery man True it is that if I be not deceiued through the selfe liking of my owne labour the truth herein so clearely represented the free desire of euery ones profit in sundry sortes the varietie and notable euente of so many accidents doe sufficiently promise vnto mee a gratious acceptance euen at the handes of the more gentle and better vnderstanding sort of strangers who being farre from my knowledge and thereby lesse tickled with enuie an ordinary compagnion of the liuing shall be more rightly able to iudge of my labours I doe lesse doubt how small or much pleasing soeuer the first Treatises of this Historie shal be but that all wil euen hasten to see the progresse and issue therof some allured thereunto through the pleasure which the diuersitie of so strange and memorable an Argument offereth vnto them and other of a curiositye praise worthie to be willing to know the meruailes of Gods iudgments the great hatreds and small charitie So many peaces broken so many warres renewed so strange cruelties so small fauours in summe al the Potentates of christendom at banding for and against the French who most miserably haue made themselues the foole in the play and the vnhappy end variable reencounter of more rare miseries then euer worldlings did practise I cleane contrarye knowing the verye causes and meanes through which wee haue beene cunningly ledde to such pouertye endeuour as much as possibly I may to estrange from my selfe the consideration of so miserable effects and fetch my history from more high reaching somewhat beyond the beginning of our ciuill warres where wandring in a true discourse of forraine affaires and such as are common vnto vs with our neighbours I seeke the recompence of my paines In this chiefely that as maister of my selfe I cōmand my owne affections for a while to forget our calamities passed from which I may boldely borrow so much leasure as I shall esteeme necessarie to turne awaye for a season so sorrowfull and pitious a remembrance as thereby I am howrely put in minde of and albeit the memory of such greefes ought not any wayes to cause a vertuous disposition to swarue from the truth no more then the frendship of some hatred of other or respect of great personages should doe and though hee is verye rarelye to be found which is not spyed in the ende if not throughlye gained yet at the least tempted by some one of these passions especially in so confuse graue and deepe a matter I will notwithstanding be found so little partiall as all men shall haue more cause in other matters to disgrace me then in the truth of such accidents as are heere set foorth which if they shal bring a form of a more agreeable setting forth either by the number of strange occurrents or exceeding by a more excellency of deliuery the rudenes of my naturall language howsoeuer it be so farre am I from enuying so great a benefite to those of my age that I shall holde my selfe for well satisfied when I shall not gather any other profite of my long watchings then to see my selfe at the end of so great trauailes to haue vndertaken more for the pleasure of others then my owne particular And now that among Historiographers my name resteth as obscured their high valour number which are able to shadow the light wil bring me some comfort ioyned therewithall is that my qualitie holding more of action then of contemplation doth dispence with me to make any profession of writing but in matter of consequence wherein I am most delighted which being the cause that I best iudge of my insufficiency for being able to conduct and profit so laboursome a trauaile I will call vpon his grace which is able to blesse the beginning pursuite and last end of such a labour Being then resolued to lay before your eyes the estate of Fraunce and her neighbours since fortye peares passed and considering how the causes of humaine accidents are maintained by an eternall bonde and knowne of fewe people I thought I should make my worke a great deale more commendable if I did fetch the matter from more high thogh not from the first spring yet at the least from the more apparāt occasions which haue brought forth so strange occurrents For when I should entreat but of the wars between Charles the Emperour and Philip his sonne against the Kings of Fraunce or of the change of Religion throughout Christendome or of the Seditions that ensued thereon I should worke you very small pleasure and lesse profit in laying downe these matters so rawly vnto you leauing in the meane time vndiscouered the roote and cause of these great ones enmities the beginning and progresse of the reformation the paines and pursuites against such as were wilfull in the faith when whence and how the Lutherans were dispersed throughout the whole world by what meanes and successe they haue beene maintained against the Catholiques in euery Countrie together with the motife and conduite which both the one and the other pretended to bring to the defence of the true and auncient religion And hereby in shewing you the beginnings and preparatiues of the stomacking warres among the Christians I shall make you to iudge
authoritie of the Churchmen was an occasion that many soueraign and other Magistrates diligently hindred and with great seueritie the publication therof in their countries Besides that the multitude and contrariety of most absurde heresies which crept in at that very time did maruelously retarde the beginning yea and bring a maruellous abatement to the doctrine it selfe but the liberty which the people in the end resumed in their manner of life I will holde my peace as concerning the merite of the doctrine and the couetous obstinacy of great ones who could neuer be broght to leaue any more their ancient manners then the goods which they vsurped of the Church did adde vnto him so strong winges that many presaged his more high and loftye flight then hath as yet beene seene howsoeuer in a worde to teach perticularlye the beginning of his reformation Martin Luther borne the 10. of Nouember 1483. at Islebe in the Countye of Mansfelde sent to Magdeburg and Iscena to plye his studye and then being giuen altogither to Logique and Philosophie at Erforde shortlye after rendred himselfe Munke in the Conuent of Augustines against the will of his parentes and friendes giuing himselfe to the studie of Diuinitie in liew of the Ciuill and Cannon law to the expectation whereof as well his first bringing vp as the desire of his parents would haue destined him So as Stupice Vicar of the order of the Augustines who had the charge of the Vniuersitie lately erected at Witemburge in Saxe vpon the Riuer of Albye made Luther goe thither to reade Diuinitie Lecture since being returned from Rome whether in the yeare 1510. his brethren had sent him to sollicite and followe a sute which they had there hee passed himselfe Doctor at the expences of Duke Frederic of Saxe elector of th'empire vnder whome as he seldome employed himselfe but in his studie and that more then 2. thirds of Christians with one consent approued the faith and catholique Romane religion the suddaine and vnlooked for accident of generall pardons occasioned him though vnskilfully to debate in the beginning by way of Colledge disputations some pointes different in Religion Afterwards the fire of an ambitious anger inflamed by the vndiscreet couetousnes of certaine Questors encreased by the iniurious gain-sayinges of such and other his aduersaries ioyned thereto the zeale which he had to guide the more simple sort in a way which seemed better vnto him encouraged him to reforme and in the ende to reiect almost all the doctrine which had beene generally receiued of our fathers as soone as he saw himselfe excommunicated by the Pope and banished by the Emperour Charles the fifth 1519. See heere the beginning of pardons and true motife of the Croizade the fruites whereof at firste being ordained for the defence of the Christian faith and nation were imployed notwithstanding as you shall perceiue Selim King of Turkes a naturall and ancient enemie to the Christians had made himselfe in that time so much more dreadfull to them all as besides the consideration of his new conquests whereby he had increased the Ottoman empire he dreamed of nothing more puffed vp by reading of the happy carriages of Alexander the great then to make the conquest of the worlde more easie to himselfe then the other for hauing caused Baiazet his Father who had thought to haue made Acomat his eldest brother King with Acomat Corcu his brethren and all their race to be murthered was halfe perswaded to haue done as much to his owne onely sonne Solyman he tamed the Aduliens defeated the Zophy in battaile took Tauris chiefe Cittie of Persia and parte of the Realme which being forced to leaue for want of victuall and turning toward Syria ouerthrew two Souldanes of Egipt and after hauing made a cleane end of Mamelus race principall of the Souldanes he inuested himselfe in their kingdomes for gouernement whereof hauing left a Lord in Caire chiefe Cittie of the Countrie almost doubled his reuennues and entertaining armes both by Sea and land for th'execution of higher intents made himselfe so horriblye feared of his neighbours as the lesse assured tooke all paines to animate the rest of the Potentates to oppose themselues against his enterprises who fearing least the good hap of his so great victories atchieued would make his hart swell to the aspiring of their ruine chiefely considering that he so prosperously accompanied his power valour with a burning desire of making himselfe a Monarque and by his famous enterprises his name appeered most glorious to posteritie determined at the earnest solliciting of the Emperour Maximilian and Pope Leo to make the greatest masse of men armour and monie that they were able to the end they might at least exclude his entrie into Christendome if they found not themselues able to perfourm any way his ruyne imagining that he would attempt Rhodes or Hungarie if hee ment not to discende into Italye by the example of Mahomet his Grandfather who surprized Otrante with a very smal power which hee sent thither The Pope then the whole Court of Rome after certain solemne Processions in which they went bare-footed sent briefes to all Princes to giue them warning of the imminent danger and to pray them that all their quarrels set aside they would readily aduise for the defence of Religion and common health growing so vncertaine if by a generall force and agreement they would not make warre in Turkie to assaile the enemy in his owne home whereupon hauing well considered of the estate between the Turks and Christians it was resolued that the Emperour accompanied with Hungarians Polonians and Germanes shuld set forward through Danube in Bossine anciently Misia to the end to passe into Thracia and so approch Cōstantinople the cheefe seate of Ottomans that the King of Fraunce with the Italians and Zuissers should passe from the Port of Brundiese into Albanie a very easie and shorte passage to conquere Greece which being peopled with Christans in generall too rigorously handled by the Turkes was in a māner readie to reuolte that the King of Spaines Portugal Englands forces ioyned by Sea at Carthage and hauens thereabouts should prepare for the straight of Gallipoly to assault Constantinople after hauing taken the Dardanes otherwise the Castles seated at the mouth of the straight that the Pope should followe from Ancone with one hundred Gallies and that for the maintenance therof should be made the greatest prouision of monye that was possible by a voluntary contribution among the Princes and a forme of Impost free in generall to be gathered thoroughout Christendome This act proclaimed vniuersall Truce for fiue yeares thoroughout Christendome vnder paines of great censures to the breakers thereof and to the end that all particulars of greater importance which sprung from so high an affaire might be the better resolued of the one side and the other by the aduise of the Princes Embassadors which were resident about his
almost to the discretion of the Emperour who afterwards proposed a league at Vlme to appease all such troubles as might ensue either for Religion or otherwise But the whole was referred to Ausbourge Hereupon the Landgraue hauing demaunded and receiued pardon and promise that he should not remaine prisoner was stayed and commaunded to follow the Emperour after that he had accomplished all the rest of the conditions For which Maurice and Brandebourge being his suerties for his libertie grew in great rage so as the Emperour to defraye the expence of his warre got what with these ransomes and otherwise among the Catholiques and Lutherans aboue sixtene hundred thousand crownes and well fiue hundred peces of Artillerie which hee sent into Spaine Naples Milan and the low countrie The Emperour after these victories assigned a day first at Vlme then at Ausbourg to accord points in Religion reforme the Iustice of the chamber obey the Councell The Palatin Maurice and Brandebourge would not consent to any but in place free and sure In the end that thereby they might the sooner get the Landgraue out of prison they accorded one and by their example the more resolute Citties by writing graunted somewhat of their demaunde So as the Emperor being very ioyfull thereof made great instance towardes the Pope that hee woulde remoue the Councell to Trent from Bologne where he had appointed it to be held 1544. in respect of the vnholsomnes of the aire said Hierosme Fracastor who monthly had a great pension from him And vpon the difficultie which the Pope made therein hee sent Mendoza to protest of his parte before the Pope and the rest of Bologne that hee held of no account whatsoeuer should be there concluded declaring that he would prouide thereto well enough by a lawfull conuocation of the estates of Germanie 1548 which were of his very opinion being assembled at Ausbourge And further for that he would not haue the Councell to bee cleane in dispaire of being held the delaying thereof so much importing him when as power was giuen vnto him to chuse the Collocutors Iudges and witnesses he tooke Iules Flug Bishoppe of Numbourg Michael of Sidoine Iohn Alebe Agricola who 18. yeares before had beene a Lutheran Melancthon and Brence who very secretly wrote a Booke of Religion and after they had againe perused and corrected it presented it vnto him But Bucer finding many things contained therin refused to signe it saying that the Popes doctrine was there manifestly confirmed and since that in like sorte they added sundrie other things So as both the Pope and Protestants alowed of it albeit small reformation was had therein of any such Articles as were generally receiued of the Catholiques Romee generall of the Iacobins wrote against it at Rome and so did Robert Bishoppe of Auranches in Fraunce for that this booke permitted marriage to Priests and the Supper vnder both kindes The Emperour notwithstanding pressed the estates hard to sticke fast vnto it and not to innouate any thing either in their preachings or writings to the contrarie attending the decree of a Councell Afterwards the fiftenth of May the Archbishop of Mayence cheefe of the Electors thanked him for his so great care of the publike in the name of them all and saide that all ought to obey his decree The which he accounted as a common approbation and woulde not for euer after admit of any other reason or excuse to the contrarie whosoeuer would say that they had not consented thereunto In sort that he caused it to be imprinted both in the Latine and vulgar Germaine tongs Fower daies after he besought the estates to contribute by hed towardes the remedying of such inconueniences as either for Religion or otherwise might fall out in the common wealth and that the money might bee reserued as a publike treasor in some places fittest for that purpose to haue succours readie at neede and Ferdinand required as much to releeue him against the Turke the fiue yeares of truce being expired Afterwardes the Emperour somewhat and superficially reformed the state of the Church about the end of Iune 1548. and caused a Booke to be imprinted Maurice departing from Ausbourge about the end of 1548. went into his owne countrie where his estates vrging him with his promise to maintaine among them the pure confession of Ausbourge in the end hee caused to be made a forme of Religion which all ought to holde from whence great Scandale arose All the Princes and Cities except Breme and Magdebourge consented to the decree of Ausbourge an occasion that the latter was by the Emperour exposed as a pray to all such as would warre vpon him in the yeare 1549. Now as this decree of Ausbourge was alreadie as it were generally receiued throughout all Germany so greatly did the victorie and Spanish Garrisons of the Emperour together with the Saxons and Landgraues imprisonment astonish the people at such time especially when there was an apparant chaunge of Religion thoroughout all the countries of Maurice the ministers of the Churches of Lubec Lunebourg and Hambourge confuted well at length the Booke and decree of Ausbourge by another contrarie which they caused to be put in printe whereof Iohn Epin was the principall author Shortly after the Doctors of Magdebourge Nicholas Amstroff and aboue all Mathias Flaccius an Illiricque borne in the Citie of Albonne who since was one of the principall authors of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Magdebourge and Nicolas Le Cocq opposed themselues stoutly against them of Witemberge and Lipsa and condemned them in sundrie printed Bookes as dissemblers ouer simple to timorous and by indifferent and meane things how they had made a high way to the papisticall Religion the which at the first proceeding from a good beginning grew in simplicitie afterwards suffered it selfe to corrupt thorough a disordinate lycence of such thinges among the Christians of the primitiue Church who ouercome by little and little with to great a feare of displeasing and roundly resisting such as at the first woulde bring in their fantasies for sure rules of Faith in the end cleane marred vnder a Maske of things indifferent and such like humaine traditions the true and pure worde of God For conclusion they set downe this rule that all ceremonies and fashions how indifferent soeuer they may be of themselues are no more neare at this present considering that the vertue opinion and necessitie of seruice is now annexed thereunto and that the occasion of impietie is yeelded thereby Illiricque one of the authors of this learned and laborious Ecclesiasticall historie had beene certaine yeares an Auditor and Disciple of Melancthon but in this different retyred himselfe to Magdebourge and caused a Book to be imprinted wherein he rendred the reason of his act They of Hambrough wrote likewise to them of Witemberg especially to Phillip Melancthon making a Catalogue of such things as they termed Neuter or indifferent setting downe what might bee
Germanie Then the Embassadors of these two Princes being come in the beginning of December after hauing most humblye saluted the Emperour in the name of their masters spoake in this sorte You know most mercifull Emperour in what paine remaine at this day the most excellent Princes Electors Maurice and Brandebourge for the detaining in hold of the Landgraue a matter happening vnto them beyond all expectation such time as thorough a singular affection which they carried vnto you by reason whereof they were desirous to prepare vnto you the way to an easie and notable victorie they sought nought else then to ease you of a great charge by a long warre and restore the Countrie to peace and tranquillitie For which respect they haue so often bene suters vnto you as wel in their proper person as by their Embassadors that it might please you to regard them and release the prisoner your answere to their last Embassador was that you could not doe it vntill you saw the issue of the day prefixed to bee held besides that you made no other promise but that he should not alwaies remaine captiue if heâ—… cpt the accord But for so much as they being busied about other affaires haue not beene able at the same day to bee in person themselues they againe sollicited you at Ausbourge by their Councellors and reiterated letters In answere whereof you wrote backe vnto them the reasons of your conceiued displeasure against him pronouncing the Princes absolued of their obligation towards the children of the Captiue Wherefore they determyned to importune you in the like againe And had come themselues in person had it not beene for what you know they were both of them employed in the warre of Magdebourge besides that Brandebourg himselfe was sicke which was the cause that they haue giuen vs in charge to declare vnto you for the first point That when you did ordaine that the Landgraue should yeeld himselfe vnto you vpon condition they vnderstoode your intention by the B. of Arras which was that he should receiue and keepe such conditions as you had proposed and imparted vnto them If it stoode a matter needfull to perswade him to yeelde himselfe in such sort it was as needfull to declare vnto him that he should not bee kept as a Captiue nor worse dealt with then the treatie of peace contained The Princes then were his pledges which your Councellers also well enough vnderstoode And where as the Landgraue still insisted that they should declare vnto him some Articles of th'accord and required that for the dispatch thereof he might not be stayed aboue sixe daies it was graunted vnto him after that the matter had beene proposed to the B. of Arras As touching the rest of the points the Princes obtained therein more then they demaunded And admit that in this proceeding matters should not be a like vnderstoode of the one side and the other that the Landgraue being come was imprisoned against the faith promised yeat had the Princes neuer accused you for the same had they not the same time hauing bene graciously promised by your selfe gon themselues in person to Halle set him thence at such time as the Landgraue approaching sent vnto them to come vnto him to Numbourg For at that time they spoake with you signifiyng vnto you that they had perswaded him to stand to the conditions proposed and that he was not far off yea that if it pleased you they would goe and meete him In the meane time praying you that since hee yeelded himselfe vpon their faith and assurance he might be charged no farther to which you condiscended Now in the last dispatch there was no mention at all made either of prison or detention as your owne people the Bishoppe of Arras and of Selde can verie well witnesse For the first had all the charge in this matter and sometimes called the other to assist him for after that the conditions were accepted of and pardon demaunded the Princes stood fully assured that he shuld be incontinently released which they had reason to imagine for sundry causes First for that the Councellors neuer made once mention of retaining him which was a principall point in the treatie which the Landgraue perceiued and considered of aboue all Moreouer sundry thinges are contained therein which is not possible for any Prince captiue to accomplishe but for him onelye which is at libertie After that he had besought you pardon you remitted his fault and were contented to reuoke his banishment and giue him letters of reconciliation besides that you receaued pledge and assurance wherein it was set downe that if he did not perfourme the accord the people should deliuer him vp vnto you and the pledges should by force of armes constraine him to do his dutie All these things certes had serued to nothing and had beene meere superfluous if they had thought he should haue endured corporall punishment but they imagining nothing lesse considering especially that the Councellors neuer made menâ—ion thereof brought him vpon this assurance promising to deliuer him backe againe before his children and to endure like punishment that he should doe if any outrage were offred him Such was their intention which was since more confirmed when after great request the Duke of Alua inuited them to Supper at his house with the Landgraue It was not possible for them to conster in so ill a sence this summons and hospitalitye considering the custome and fashion of the Princes of Germany that he should goe into the D. of Alua his house as into a prison and that they should goe with him side by side and beare him company thither which had they neuer so little made doubt of who can imagine what they would haue done for considering how they are Princes of Germany and also Electors issued from right honourable familyes neuer would they haue bene a meanes that a Prince of an excellent house both their allie and freend should haue bene brought to such a banquet to fall into so great troubles and that they should leade him as captiue and they were no whit at all made priuie to the fact vntill after supper when the D. of Alua tolde him that hee must remaine in the Castle as in prison howsoeuer the matter was they went to worke with a good meaning as we sayde in the beginning and for so much as they haue plighted their faith you may well perceiue how hard and greeuous a matter it will be both to them and their children if after hauing bene often put in minde of their promises and after caution giuen the Landgraue he detayned prisoner you perceiue likewise most puissant Emperour you who deriue your race from the Germaines considering that the Children of the Captiue Prince pursue their right presse theÌ„ to redeliuer him vnto them according to the condition of the bond what becommeth them to doe according to the ancient custome of the Nobilitie of Germany for to preserue their
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
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
holy Ghost comforter and teacher of the truth of the Church which they saide to bee assembled of all the chosen hauing Iesus Christ for head Of ministers Of the Magistrate whome they confessed ordayned of God to punish malefactors and defend the good to whom it sufficeth not onely to carrie honour but also to pay taxes and Imposts without acception of state whatsoeuer that at the example of Christ who did likewise practise it Of Baptisme which they maintained to be a visible and exteriour signe representing vnto vs the regeneration of the spirite and mortification of the members Of the Lordes Supper which they holde for a thankesgiuing and commemoration of the benefite receiued by Christ Of marriage which they saide was not forbidden to any by how much it was holy and ordained of God Of good workes wherein they ought to employe themselues continually Of mans traditions which they ought to shunne protesting in some that the rule of their faith was the olde and new Testament and that they belieued al which was contained in the Apostles Creede In conclusion they besought the King to giue credit to their saying offering themselues to proue it false if ought else had beene otherwise reported against them whensoeuer it shoulde please him to giue them audience In the meane time the Bishoppe of Aix and of Cauaillon pursued the execution of the arrest so as it was ordered by the Court of Parliament of Prouence that according to the Kings letters pattents master Iohn Durandy a Councellor of the Court with a secretarie and the Bishop of Cauaillon with a doctor in Diuinitie should goe to the place and perswade the inhabitants of Merindol and cause them to abiure those errors which most plainely they should make appeare vnto them and in case that conuicted by the word of God to haue followed and lyued in errors and heresies they would not make recantation that then of all that had beene doone Verball proces should be made to proceede against them as the Court should thinke good But as the Church-men were in hand with them to make them recant their doctrine they refused offering to proue it by the word and truth thereof and offering to renounce if they could be proued heretiques thereby They were questioned with and aunswered simply so as by little the persecution not the hatred ceased against them especially vpon the suddaine death of Cassane the President of Iohn De Roma Monke a seuere inquisitor who woulde fill Bootes with hot scalding grease and after make them to pull them on Of which and such like behauiors Francis the second being aduertised gaue commaundement by his letters pattents to the Parliament that hee shold be arrested his proces made But hauing warning therof he fled to Auignon where being ryfled of his owne seruants and from great wealth become a begger he was tormented with so horrible griefes that nothing could yeeld him any rest So as no man being able to endure the stincke of his vlcers he desired nought but to dye which he did In the ende Iohn Minier of Oppede President neare to Merindol and Cabriers the inhabitants whereof had at an other time made heade against him and put him to his heeles hauing giuen the King to vnderstand that as many of them being assembled as came to fiftene thousand they were gon in armes to take Marseilles and to Cantonise it besides that all the Countries round about were in great danger of being lost being all Lutherans hee obtained letters to enable him to execute the arrest by meanes of the Cardinall of Tournon and other so as he prepared himselfe to the execution of the arrest against Cabrieres Merendol and twentie two Villages Whereof they being aduertised repayred again to King Francis in the yeare 1544. to whom they gaue to vnderstand how from the yeare 1540. his Maiesty hauing perceiued the euident oppression and nullitie of the saide arrest of contumacie had caused the execution thereof to be differred forbidding there should be any more proceeding in such rigour And how notwithstanding many had oppressed them and ment to oppresse them more and more briefly they presented vnto him the whole proceedings as aboue said An occasion that he reuoked the execution of the arrest of contumacie and all such proceedings as had beene before doone and agreed by the Parliament as well from which as from his Proctor generall hee tooke away the Conisance of the cause vntill he might be informed by one of the masters of requests of his house and a D. in Diuinitie of the Vniuersitie of Paris whome hee had deputed to goe to those places to the end they might well and amply inquire of the life faith and conuersation of those of Merindol and the rest This reuocation was published in Parliament and insinuated to the Proctor general in the end of October following The Parliament at the instigation of Oppede commaunded Philip Courtin Husser of the Parlament to make great suite for the obtaining of the K. letters to execute the arrest and notwithstanding the interdiction the Articles and instructions were made by the said president with a request signed by the Proctor generall yea the pursute was made for money which had beene ordained by the Parliament for the charges of the suite Whereupon Courtin did so much by his diligence and subtiltie that thorough the fauour of the Cardinall of Tournon he obtained letters in the moneth of Ianuary following vnder the name of the K. Proctor generall from the priuie councell to put in execution the arrest of contumacy notwithstanding the reuocation aboue mentioned Iohn Minier cheefe President hauing receiued the letters sent vnto him in Ianuary 1545. which he concealed vntill the 12. of Aprill assembled the Court and there recited the K. letters by which it was commaunded that the arrest should be put in execution so as certaine of the Parliament were appointed Deputies for the execution Minier promised to aide them for because in the absence of Grignan he was lefte his Liuetenant in the gouernement of Prouence he had before at the K. commaundement leuied troupes of men of warre to goe against the English but he serued his turne with them against these Moreouer he had sent a commaundement to Marseiles Aix and Arle vnder great paines to all such as caried armes that they should put themselues in readines and march at their first call there came likewise succours vnto him out of the Countye of Auignon a possession of the Churches Their first course notwithstanding was not against Merindol but ouer the Countrye neere to the towne of Pertuis so as the 15. of April Minier accompanied with a number of Gentlemen and Captaines came to Cadenet in the time that some of his companie ouerrunne two Villages neer vnto Durance where practising a thousand pillages and insolences they put all to the fire and sworde except a great number of Cattell which they carried away with them there was no lesse
Commissioners chosen by vs Iudges of the saide proces to the end hee might be receaued appellant of the execution of Merindol and of that which ensued thereon And for that to receaue our saide Proctor appellant of an approued execution by an arrest or iudgement of a courte of Parlament depended onely of our authority and the power and commission of our said commissioners stretched not so far and for that it grew also a case wherein iudgement was to be giuen against one of the courts of our parlaments we willed ordained that our court of parlament of Paris which is the first and principall court of all our soueraigne courts should haue the proceeding and triall thereof and to that end we made our letters pattents be dispatched the 21. of Ianuary but it was found how the very day that the said first appellations which were of the saide conclusion to burne made at Cadenet of the execution done in the person of him which was shotte thorough with harquebusies of the forbiddance to giue no foode were pleaded by our saide Proctor before our said Commissioners and that in pleading of the said appellations the said Presedents Minier de la Fond de Tributijs Badet coūcellors stood principally to the points not to receiue saying that they were the arrests iudgments of our court of parlament of Prouence that by the letters pattents of our said late Father the said execution was allowed so as he could not be receaued appellant but that his request and appellations were ioyned to the proces criminall for that cause he presented another request to be receaued appellant of the said iudgments or pretēded arrests as giuen by such as were no iudges without euer hearing of the parties vpon simple requests of the Proctors of our said late father without cognoisance of the cause and contayning vnrighteous errors cruelties inhumanities persisting to that that according to our said letters pattents the said appellations might be pleaded in the great Chamber of our Parlament of Paris c. For this cause it is that we after hauing vnderstoode the quality of the fact which is in question the scandale which was and is not only throughout this Realme but also strange countries and to the end that in like sorte as so miserable executions hauing bene done in the said places were publiquely done so they may be publiquely repaired if there be any faultes and the trueth knowne not onelye to our Iudges but also to all our Subiectes and Strangers who may stand therein amisse conceaued as well as for the dutie of iustice and preseruation of the memory of our saide late L. and Father haue by these presents of our certaine knowledge full of puissance and royall authoritie euoked and doe euoke to our parson the instance of the request made by our said Proctor of the Queenes Chamber presented before the Iudges of the said chamber and the appellations formed by him of the executions done in the said place of Merindol and other Villages vpon which the parties haue already bene heard before the saide Iudges appointed to councell and ioyned to principall proces to be anew pleaded as the saide requests and appellations being inseparable with the request and appellations a new cast in by our Proctor with the request likewise presented tending to the end to be receiued to carry himselfe for appellant of the pretended iudgements and executions of the saide letters pattentes aboue specified and all the whole we haue by these said presents sent back and do send back into our Court of Parlament of Paris in the saide great Chamber of pleading on the 20. day of May next comming there for to be publiquely and with doore wide open pleaded and the parties being heard to ordaine theron what shall seeme fit by reason So we command and ordaine by these presents that the people of our Parlament of Prouence together the saide Minier De la Fond Badet and Tributijs and others to whome it may appertain be cited at the saide day to our said court of Parlament at Paris in the said great chamber of pleading to maintaine and defend their said iudgements and executions and of the said letters pattentes and the proceedinges and other wronges and greefes and to see them repaired corrected and amended if neede so require if not to proceede further according to reason and to adiourne at the saide day the saide people of our Parlament of Prouence to appeare in our saide Court by Sindic or Proctor who shalbe appointed by them to defend the saide appellations and answere to our saide Proctor and likewise the said Minier De la Fond de Tributijs Badet and other the aduerse parties of our saide Proctor if any there be commaunding them that they be and appeare at the saide daie in our saide Court if they see it needfull and that the saide appellations may any waies touch them or appertaine vnto them making vnto them such inhibitions and forbiddances as are in such cases required to which our said Court of Palament of Paris in the said chamber of pleading of our speciall grace full of puissance and royall authoritie we haue as is aboue saide attributed and do attribute the cognoisance and decision of the saide appellations notwithstanding any establishing of our saide Parlament of Prouence or any appointments giuen by our said Commissioners vpon the request of our said Proctor ioyned to the criminal proces with the first appellations already pleaded wheerin we wil not preiudice our said Proctor and what other edicts soeuer cōmandements restraints forbiddances to the contrary notwithstanding from which wherin it shalbe needfull we haue derogated and doe derogate of our said puissance authority by these said presents for such is our pleasure Yeouen at Montereau the 17. of March in the yeare of grace 1549. of our Raigne the 3. So by the King Sealed with the great seale of yellow waxe vpon a single Lable These letters of euocation being signified and the Parlament of Paris possessed of the cause there appeared in person the President Minier L. of Opide de la Fond de Tributijs Badet and the ouerplus of the Parlament of Aix by a Proctor The cause was pleaded in the great Chamber of the Pallace by the most famous aduocates of that time Riant was for the King Robert for the Iudges of Prouence Auberi for thē of Merindol Cabrieres an other for the Lady of Cantal to the number of 12. their pleadings and declarations endured a long time more then 50 hearings Euery man ran thither out of al parts to hear such matters as neuer were heard the like for excesse of cruelty and albeit the Aduocates of the Plaintifes parte did not recite the tenth parte of that which was yea rather dissembled the cause for which so much innocent bloud had bene shed yet so it was as all men were rauished with a kinde of astonishment hearing so great and strange matters
as well of life as goods which would ensue so cowardlye a resolution would make no other answere but that if the French did assaile him before they would dispatch him behinde In summe seeing them the farre stronger and notable but to curse his life and detest his ill happe hee set a French Gentleman at libertie to be a witnesse of his dutie Afterwardes being retyred with salte teares into his Chamber Strinchant made a Trumpeter goe vpon the side of the trenches to demaund a parle of the Constable which being graunted Strinchant went out hoping of some aduantagious capitulation which could be no other then that of D'anuille so the Earle hauing learnedly and eloquently as hee was very well studied in learning with the knowledge whereof hee honoured the profession of armes bewailed his miserie vnto the Constable was with the rest of the cheefe caried to Paris A notable example said some of the French for all such as reposing themselues in any prosperitie passed or in the merite of their owne valour consider not that the dutie of a Captaine is so inseparably ioyned to theirs which obey him that hee ought to stand no lesse assured and before the blowe come prouide for the same as well as his owne except hee would fall into the like inconuenience that this Earle did All the goods of Yuoy which were very great were giuen vnto the Constable who distributed the greatest parte vnto his owne companye and his sonnes Montmorency at which the olde bands openlye mutined and after that began to breake themselues and to quit their Ensignes So the Towne being rendred vp the three and twentith day of Iune receaued Blaineau afterwards Haucourt for Gouernour Mommedy which rendred it selfe life and Iewels saued had the Captain Baron a Parisian a yong Souldier but olde enough in warlike experience with a hundred horse and three Ensignes D'anuille Yuoy Mommedy Luxembourg and the most parte of the Duchie had beene before taken by Charles D. of Orleans third sonne to Frauncis the first and after rendred againe by an agreement betweene the King and the Emperour but they were not then in so good state D'anuille was as then but a little borough Towne and since all burned and after reedified according to the fortifications at this day with Bulwarkes Bastions and platformes of defence the rampires large and high and of good holde the whole newe repayred with walles of good stuffe Yuoy was strong and not taken by assaulte neither was there any reasonable breache made to enforce it but the Captaine Guelphe hauing inuented and himselfe made a great quantity of Mortier peeces which shot exceeding great bullets from the hyll downe so greatly astonished them that Gilles de Leuant cheefe for the Emperour yeelded himselfe life and iewels saued with some artillerie During the siege of Yuoy the Marshall of Sedan heire to the house of La March besought the King that hee would helpe him to recouer his Duchie of Bouillon which hee saide the Emperour vniustly detained from him at the perswasion of the B. of Liedge who gaue vnto him 4000. men and fiue peeces of artillerie wherewith he battered the castle of Bouillon which was seated vpon a high and steepe rocke going out of a mountaine from which it was seperate by a brode ditch and deepe of an hundred and fiftie pace in diameter made by chisell hammer with long trauell in the plaine and circumference whereof the better parte of the Castle is hewen out within the maine Rocke with like workemanship almost in forme of Ouall hauing on the dich side a platforme so high as it almost ouertoppeth one of the Mountains at the foote whereof is a forme of Casemate well perced to keepe it from any aproches on the other end is the Portall which goeth out of euerye side fifteene foote with lightes to keepe the flankers and which serue for the platforme within it is a core of antient building in forme of a square Pauillion couered with slate which vnderneath hath his sellers vauted within the very rock with an excellent good Well of fourescore fadomme the Castle is perced to so good purpose that a Chicken cannot peepe vp in any place but it will be discouered furnished with artillerie and all other prouisions for a long season receiuing but one way vnto it and that very narrow and painefull the borough is vnderneath in time past a faire towne but so torne asunder by the warres that it remaineth almost vnhabited Semoy which commeth towards Mommedy runneth there with a mighty fall of streame especially when it swelleth by reason of the Winter raines and snowes on the one side it is shadowed with another Mountaine full of woods and craggie rockes so sharpe that it is almost vnpossible to dwell there not to hurte the Castle on that side not able to bring any Cannon the rest of the places are very lowe vallies and dangerous The Marshall notwithstanding to make his troupes appeare greater then indeede they were made his companies to passe and repasse many times in one selfe same place to make it be thought that the whole French armye was there assembled afterwardes hee planted his peeces vpon the Mountaine but so vneasily as they were faine to binde them hard with great and huge Cables for feare of tumbling downe from whence there was not aboue six volleis shotte hauing onely a little scratte the toppe of the wall with small apparance of any breache when as the Captaine Bastard of the house of Haurion very ancient in that Countrie besought a Parley and obtained pardon so as if hee had no succour within three dayes hee should yeelde vp the place life and goods saued the artillerie and other munitions there reserued and his sonne in hostage The three dayes being expired he departed with his Liegers the Marshal confessing that he had vndertaken this conquest at an aduenture Likewise the Captaine had his hed afterwardes strooke of for his so good seruice Bouillon was yeelded vp the very last day of thirtie yeares that the Duchie had beene out of the handes of the right heires and afterwardes the Marshall easilye recouered all the appendances and hauing lefte there Des Auelles with a good Garrison hee returned to thank the King for this so great a benefite vpon this the army drawing towardes Cinets and de Lumes being dead the Castle of Lumes was deliuered vp to Vielle-uille Lieutenant to the Marshall S. Andre by Merembarque who kept the same for the imperials the fortes whereof were vndermined and throwne downe no more remaining but the dungeon which the King gaue with parte of the confiscation of this rebellious vassale to the D. of Neuers and Earle of Retel and the rest to De Conflant a French gentleman who had married the Neece true heire of the Lord the Castle is at the foote of a Mountaine where the riuer of Meuse runneth by it and on the other side a faire Medowe
halfe a league from Mezieres to which it had doone many shrewde turnes because the Lord pretended certaine rightes besides that it was a retraite to all lewde persons an occasion that Frauncis the first had there builded a blockhouse which for all that serued to no purpose by meanes of the euil gouernement thereof The Lord of which had beene brought vp a Page in the Kinges house and euer held the French partie vntill that vpon some spite he changed for the Bourgonion crosse with which he dyed of the shiuer of a peece which hee tryed afterwards the King being determined of his returne and hauing made the D. of Niuernois Gouernour of Luxembourg all also furnished Roc de Mars and the other places with all necessaries notwithstanding the daily roades of Theonuille and other imperial places sent his armye to batter take and cut in peeces all those that were retired into the Castle of Trelon which was vndermined and raised as Glaion and other places and to content the olde Ensignes the sacke of Cimetz was bestowed on them a Towne and Castle of the Duke of Ascottes whither many of the Countrie and of Ardennes were retired with cheefest goods of valewe but seeing the batterye they cleane lefte the towne and ranne into the Castle the great Tower whereof was no sooner battered downe but those that were besieged being willing to parley were knocked downe by the Portail and other places where they found an entrance to sacke and rifle with so great greedines and indiscretion as within one of the towre vautes where the Powder lay were aboue sixe score Souldiars roasted by meanes of the fire which the kindled matches of some of the Harquebusiers put thereto After the Towne and Castle was consumed to ashes which greatly astonied the Bourguinions and other the borderers which already feared the siege of Auanes whether the King had indeede caused his armye to marche had it not beene for the sickenes which day by day encreased among the Souldiers of whome a good parte were alreadye secretly stolne away some charged with good booties some with sicknesse some with tedious and long paines and many with blowes more then riches hard to be endured in warre although but soddaine and of small continuance euen of the most hazardous An occasion that in the end of Iuly the armye was parted into Garrisons attending what the Emperour now would vndertake who much troubled with the Protestant Princes army of Germany saw him selfe then brought as it were into two extremeties either to accorde almost whatsoeuer Maurice and his cōpanions would demaund as well for Religion as the libertye of Germanye and so to enter into Fraunce and reuenge such iniuries as he had receiued by King Henry or else to let him alone at his ease to gaine the Countrie whereby he might another time enforce the Germanes to submitte themselues to the yoke of his power notwithstanding whether it were that an iniurye receiued from an equall seemed vnto him more hard to be abidden then the offence of an inferiour and one especially bound with a kinde of dutie of subiection or whether hee thought himselfe in better readines against the French or whether as some say that his hatred conceaued against King Henry did more passionate him then against any other Prince the Emperour resolued himselfe of a peace with Germany as it were to espouse a warre with Fraunce by such meanes as I will deliuer vnto you Maurice stood principally vpon two pointes besides the deliuerye of the Landgraue the one that Ferdinand with Maximilian his Sonne and the commissioners might from thence take notice of such matters as were hurtefull to the libertye of Germanye and iudge thereof according to the ancient custome of Germanye the other that Religion should be let alone in peace and no harme in respect thereof to any man in the Worlde vntill the difference might be decided The Commissioners allowed of this forme but the Emperour shewed what hee desired and iudged fitte how it was reasonable that such as had euer remained loyall towards him and thereby greatly fallen into calamities might receiue recompence for their losses After long debating and some articles eased it was concluded that the Emperour should giue his full answere by the third of Iulye and that in the meane time there should bee a truce and cessation of armes The Commissioners then sent their letters to the Emperour the 26. of Iune to exhorte him to a peace Afterwards the French Embassadour being pressed to deliuer the occasions of his Maisters discontentment and vnder what conditions he would enter into a peace hauing receaued newes from his Master answered that the King had not vndertaken this warre in respect of his own particular but to succour Germany so farre going to decay as touching the conditions of peace it was not the custome of the Kings of Fraunce to demaund it as became themselues in all respects therefore he did not thinke he had any cause to propose ought without an assured hope of obtaining the same especiallye considering that the Emperour had most vniustly made warre against him while he marched for their succours notwithstanding he would quit much for a peace so as he might see it generall and refused not but that they might take knowledge and determine of these differents to which if Charles would not doe reason he protested the fault shuld onely light of his necke for all the miseries which might ensue thereon In summe that these Princes perceiuing the delaies of the Emperour had no sooner besieged Francforte where was a great Garrison of the Emperours but by the aduise of the most parte of the Princes of Germanye the peace was concluded the last of Iulye 1552. See the occasions which draue the one and the other to conclude the same Among other reasons the great danger was laide before Maurice which he should stand in as well on the Emperours side which had alreadye prepared a great armie as of his Cosins behalfe Iean Frederic whom the Emperour meant to send home free into his Countrie The Emperour likewise stoode in feare of the force of the Germanes and of the French The Landgraues sonne for the long detention of his Father Among other articles the Captiue Princes were to be set at libertie no disquiet for their Religion which they would aduise of at the first assembly within sixe moneths the King of Fraunce was to declare vnto Maurice his demaunds Albert was comprehended therein if he layde downe armes The King misliked with the whole course yet hee sent back the Hostages and Maurice his to wit the Earle of Nanteuil and Iametz The Historie of Fraunce THE SECOND BOOKE YOu haue heere before seene what preparatiues the Emperour and the Catholicke Princes confederate for Religion made of all partes against the Protestant Princes to furnish the great armye that they might be able to the end they might range them at deuotion The Germanes notwithstanding
hee was not ignorant of permitted not that one should disfurnish a place of guarde chiefely of such importance of Metz of victuals and prouisions whereof it should be furnished to distribute them to a Campe which might be master of the field and follow any other way or Country as towards Sallines a most fertile Countrie wherin he should not onely finde all commodities but in eating and consuming thereof he should the more disaduantage the enemye in not being able to recouer the like there At which seeming to content himselfe he demanded some guide which knew the Country and might conduct him and lead him thither whereto was ordained by the Duke of Guise and expressely sent from Metz one Gaspard de Hus a natiue Gentleman of Metz notwithstanding in very short space he changed his minde for insteed of taking the waye towardes Sallines hee came the more neerer within one legue to Metz and encamped in a place called Aey where he made some stay vsing all the scales which he could imagine for vnder colour to gaine the good grace of the Emperour by some remarqueable seruice entising the Duke of Guise to giue him some trauerses or to trouble him by some disorder had not the Prudence of that Prince bene so great as to foresee and remedy the same Then hauing by diuers remoues trauersed all that Countrie and being turned towards Treues to fetche there a number of Souldiers which he had left there he came downe to Pont Camouson neuer hauing for al that resolued any thing with the B. of Bayonne either of his own appointment or pay of his people albeit that the King had againe sent back Lonsac vnto him for the very same cause notwithstanding he could conclude vpon nothing with him training alwaies the effect in diuersitie of demaundes coloured with faire wordes whereon it was a very vneasie matter to laye any foundation and therefore they entred into the greater suspition of him so as the first mistrust began to encrease more then before wherefore with as much speed as might be the King who hauing knowne the Emperours intents and preparatiues had alreadye caused all his Garrisons bandes and arriere bandes and other new companies to repaire vnto Champagne made his Campe to assemble at S. Michel a little towne of Lorraine vpon the riuer of Meuse sixe leagues on the side of Pont Camouson as farre from Verdun and ten long ones from Metz whether likewise repaired the Constable the D. of Neuers the Earle of Anguien the Prince of Conde the Earle of Aumale the Vice-count of Rohan the Marshall S. Andre Chastillon generall of the French Fanterie the Earle of Villars Bourdillon then ordained Marshall of the Campe the Earle Reingraue and Reiroc with their Regimentes of Lansquenets and sundrye other great Lords and Captains As touching the Imperiall armie it was altogether readie and grew great by view of the eye hauing so farre already marched as being arriued at Deuxponts it extended it selfe throughout all the Countrie of Vaulges in sorte that it was very requisite to lodge and cause to enter into Metz all such succours as well of men of artillerie and other munition as had beene determined to be sent thether and therefore the most commodiously that hee was able the Constable sent from Saint Michael the companies of horse and foote which were ordained to this purpose vnder the charge and conduct of Horace Farneze Duke of Castres carrying with him a number of pioners and store of pouder for the better strengthning of the towne though not in so great quantitie for all that as the Constable could haue wished and as hee had done without the feare he had of the Marquesse who was alwayes at Pont Camouson his men being ouer the plaine Country round about giuen to all insolencies of warre pilling leauing not ought but what they made no account of or could not carrie or beare away The which was found very strange and greatly augmented the distrust which might be had of him Notwithstanding to bring him to some reason they sent vnto him the Duke of Aumalle de Chastillon and the Earle of Reingraue to praye him to cause his people to leaue of their wasting and spoiling of the Countrie and finally to resolue with him the last accord of his appointment and paye of men Then they soone inough discouered what had bin before conceiued of him but as it were in a cloud rendering so ambiguous haughtie an answere with a spitefull and malecontent iesture that he demanded almost the moitie of a kings ransome for appointment And as touching the order of his mens liuing hee shewed that he had alreadie setled his affaires answering in the end with an assured resolution that he was a friend to the king and an allie to the house of Lorrain but hee meant that his souldiers should haue wherewithall to liue and take it where they could find it in case of refusall he was resolued what he had to do and whether to retire himselfe yea so far as refusing to receiue such monie as the Constable had sent vnto him Whereby they well perceiued how he was reconciled to the Emperor by the practise of some Who perceiuing that he was out of his reach for doing him any harme and that he had himselfe great need of people pardoned him all his faults and forbad that any should make his processe in respect of the war passed ratified the contracts made with the B. of Bamberg and Wicibourg released him of going to the war in Hungary yea so farre as to agree with him the more he pardoned the Earles of Itigen both father and son Albert de Mansfeld and his children Now the Emperor lying sicke of his gouts and as well for this cause as for the importunitie of the time his armie soiourning in the countye of Vaulges with as great dilligence as was possible they placed againe the French army at S. Michel strengthned it as well with the French Fanterie Germans Zuizers to the number neere hand of 30000. footmen and betweene seuen and eight thousand horse wherefore the French began to hope better than euer so as the aduise of some was to charge vpon the Marques whilest that the greater armie of the enemie was so far of the meanes were the gallantnes of the French armie the discontentment of the Marquesses people not able besides to make anie retrait into anie place wherein they should not be pursued as enemies for their insolencies passed present to come Other preuailed in councell which perswaded that it would be better to goe more couertly to worke and vnderhand to withdraw the better part of his captains souldiers by meanes of such Germanes as were alreadie come to the kings seruice with assurance of redie paie good intertainment to come Which was so wel handled that with a great mutiny hapned between themselues the colonell Reif-berg with his regiment accepted from thence forward
them away parting themselues in sundrye companies within the Vallyes within S. Michel there were already the Ensignes of Captain La Prade and of La Mothe Gondrin on hundred lighthorse of captaine Pelous and one hundred Harquebusiers of Captain Lauenture and Bourdillon with his company who a little before was returned from that place whether the D. Aumalle had written vnto him As soone as the D. of Neuers was arriued at S. Michel there was a road made by his companie with certaine light horse and Harquebusiers on horseback vnder the charge of Mouy guidon of his company a valiant and resolute gentleman as farre as Malatour a little towne strong inough neere vnto Gorges and in other great villages which couered a valley strong inough full of hollowe woodes and daungerous places which they of the Countrie called La Veur into which certaine souldiers were retyred as well Spanish as Germanes of the imperiall auantgard Some were slaine and the rest carried awaie prisoners This misfortune fel vpon those as returned from the castle of Aspremont thinking to haue taken the Earle there in his bed to whom it happened so well as at that instant he was at Saint Michael neere vnto the Duke of Neuers For in stead of thinking to take they were taken carried awaie with some bootie Such roads there and abouts were continued by the Duke of Neuers for the space of three weekes himselfe beeing there sometimes in person which so sore annoied and troubled his enimies as they were inforced to forget the waie of that quarter Yea by reason of these continuall alarums the imperiall armie was oftentimes constrayned to remaine halfe a daie in battell with great trauell coldes and other necessities But if they endured much the French men were not cleane exempted because that oftenest times they were faine to mount on horsebacke at midnight induring so sharpe frosts and colde as some of them haue euer since had diuerse of theyr members benummed and other dead lost by the paine and insupportable torments which they indured hauing continually the snowe vp to their horse bellies in such equipage passed they the daie and night without food after in the daie time when they thought to repose themselues and take a litle breath in theyr lodging they were faine to keepe the watch for feare of surprisall so as as well to keepe themselues as to annoie and plague the imperials they endured theyr parte of the discommoditie of the time but much lesse as they wel witnessed which had abandoned thē the Italians aboue all who dayly went threedmeale from the Emperours campe to beseech the Duke of Neuers to receiue them into the Kings seruice who moued with pittie seeing some dead and halfe passing other hunger starued without monie vsed all liberalitie possible towardes them and caused monie to bee giuen them out of his owne coffers attending the kings paie Afterwardes he sent them to Captaine Andre de May More a man of approued hardinesse to dresse of them companies as well of foote as light cauallerie By them other spials the French were aduertised of the most great diligence and wonderful preparatiues which the Duke of Alua had made to addresse his batterie the great plaines the trenches so ample large and deepe as hath bin seene of long time the great number of artillerie and munitions the almost innumerable quantitie of baskets which hee caused continually without anie rest to bee made and filled making no account of the life of those miserable vascadors no more than of bruite beasts exposed to the mercie of the artillerie and counterbatterie of the towne They reported lykewise the great harmes and annoiances that they within did incessantly vnto them theyr resolute sallies so furious in such sort as some thought them rather ghosts and deuillish spirites than mortall creatures And others reporting how the conduct of the most part of theyr sallies was happily executed attributed all to a rashnesse and bolde hardinesse more than to wisedome or anie discreete foresight of the inconueniences lyke to happen in such sorte as one Sergeant of a band accompanyed with fiue or sixe souldiers onely with his halbard chased awaie and constrained to abandon the trenches more than three hundred men Some other in like sort durst goe and naile theyr artillerie and kill their canoniers vpon theyr peeces The which the enemies notwithstanding woulde not repute as a fact worthie either of them nor of a valyant and magnanimious heart Besides that twice or thrice a daie the cauallerie issued forth putting the imperials often inough in such disorder as some of the most hardiest Gentlemen which woulde doo anie act worthie of memorie or for the remembrance or loue of their mistresses would goe breake theyr lances and strike with theyr swoords euen within the enemies tents so farre as to cut their ropes asunder executing strange things and not heard of in our memorie Now if the French by such feates were desirous to shew themselues loyall subiectes to their king and curious of honour the Duke of Alua reposed not lesse of his part who shewed himselfe so desirous and inflamed to render into the obedience of his maister the Emperour that puisant Citie to reioyce him with the taking of so many princes great Lordes and valyant men as were there within that not sparing anie labor nor the liues of his he planted his batterie readie the twentith of Nouember beginning to shoote at the defences to wit at that of the portall of the port Champenois and of a bulwarke which is within a great tower the which is towardes the riuer called La Tour D'Enfen and surnamed La Tour de Lanques at a little Church being within the town where there was a platform in summe they razed and ruined as much as they could whatsoeuer might serue as they iudged to the defence of the towne The six twentith he began to cannon it with such an impetuositie as in the memory of anie liuing man was neuer heard the like hauing in front fortie great peeces which carrying bullets of an extraordinarie waight shot daie and night without anie intermission other than to refresh themselues In the mean time the besieged slept not but with the princes and great Lordes and generally euen to the verie least they carryed earth panniers to rampire in such diligence and carefulnesse as at any place where they imagined the breach should be made in lesse than twice foure and twentie houres they made vp the rampire the height of a perapect leauing betweene the old wall and the rampire conuenient flankers a trench farced with diuerse drogs to feast the most hotly disposed if they meant to goe to the assalt Attending which I will looke back againe into the exploits of the French armie As soone as de Reux with the Flanders armie which as yet remained about Hedin perceiued the French to approach without anie countenaunce at all made to be willing
there remayned not one man about his person to whome hee gaue not some commission and hee himselfe the most part of the time stirred not interrupting the ordinarie houres of his meales so greatly was he affectionate to that worke that there rested verie small time that hee sawe not some platforme made vp in defence which carryed his name De Bordillon was as busie about another and they seemed to bee almost iealous of the perfection of theyr workes Besides hee made search to be made throughout all the houses garners and sellers and to take an oath of all those which inhabited there to knowe what corne wines haie fourage and of euerie kinde of victuals might bee wythin the Towne to the ende that order might bee taken therein But there was a small deale founde hauing beene carryed awaye before by the Burgesses and those which were retyred to other places for feare of the plague and that which remayned wythin the towne was consumed and spoiled without reason by the souldyers and such as remayned there during this peryll Then beeing informed how that into two little townes Thoul and Gondeuille greate quantitie was carryed as well out of the plaine Countrie as little townes and French lands for feare of the enemyes hee sent to summon them and gaue commandement that it shoulde bee brought and stored vp wythin Thoul To Gondeuille was sent Eschenets followed a farre off by an Ensigne of footemen wyth a certayn number of horse The Prouost and the inhabitants after some difficulties sawe themselues so sodaynly surprised that in the ende they aduised themselues to obey They of Thoul grew stubborne forgetting themselues in the regarde of Mouie who was sent vnto them with fiftie horse of the Duke of Neuers his companie and an Ensigne of fanterie to summon them to obey the Kings Lieutenant Notwithstanding after his honest perswasions seeing the Prouost contestate and at his dissembled presumption the inhabitants rebellious hee caused the towne presently to bee scaled and taken as shee was by assault they somewhat felt the payment of theyr refusall Mouie notwithstanding caused the furie of the French souldyers to cease alreadie heated at the slaughter The Ensigne of Fanterie remained and lodged there vntill that all the victuals which were within were carryed to Thoul wythout taking or carrying awaie anie thing thereby to maintayne them alwayes in theyr Neutralitie so all victuals and munition were carryed to Thoul from all partes by the commandement of the generall with so good order as euerie man liued somewhat better and wyth more discretion than before And after hauing considered howe in case the siege shoulde bee the towne woulde bee verie ill prouided of footmen hee caused foure other companies to enter in which made vp the number of eighteene hundred fantassins some light horse ouer and aboue the ordinarie garrison The Duke of Neuers beeing heereupon aduertised how the Emperour euen longed to retyre himselfe and how his armie euerie daie broke and diminished seldome suffered anie daie to passe wythout sending some people ouer the Countrie to hasten theyr going so as oftentimes in stead of aduauncing forwarde they caused them to recoyle backe inough wyth a number of prisoners which they tooke Notwythstanding they founde them in so great pouertie as they were faine to let them passe wythout anie harme dooing In this estate remayned they vntyll the last daie of the moneth of December that the Emperour vnderstanding of the taking of the castle of Hedin seeing himselfe to fall and to diminish of euerie thinge fearing besides the returne of the Kings armie and to fall into greater losse was one of the first which retyred on new yeeres daie leauing all the charge to the Duke of Alua for the departing of his armie and ordering of the retreate As soone as his departure was knowen throughout the campe the wayes and villages rounde about were sodaynly full of souldyers which retyred themselues the one into theyr quarter the other whether they were able in so great miserie as verie beasts were they neuer so cruell woulde haue taken pittie of those miserable souldiers falling and staggering along the high waies in extreme necessitie and most commonly dying neere the hedges and at the rootes of bushes to become a praie to dogges and birdes And which is yet more to bee lamented by men of courage to bee inforced to die so poorelye without hauing made anie great proofe at all of theyr valor The which ought greatly to moue the heartes of such men as God hath rendered so happie in this worlde that they neuer felt nor assayed the hardnesse of warre And when they speake with a full belly and the cuppe in theyr hande it seemeth vnto them a wedding to liue in such an estate as consisteth not in thousand and thousand of perills more than in the daunger both of soule and bodie except it bee wisely iustly executed Not to loose anie time vppon the intelligence which the Duke of Neuers had receiued hee sent Mouie and the Captaine Andre de Maye More wyth about fiue hundred horse as well of men at armes as harguebuziers on horsebacke to put on theyr spurres agaynst the inhabitants of the Countie retyring themselues into theyr quarters where there wanted verie lyttle that the sonne of Granuelle the Baron of Carlaon and others had not beene there staied but doubting themselues of that comming by slacke and long treates they saued themselues Hauing failed of this their first enterprise they at one treat went at the point of day to lie in ambuscade neere Ramberuilliers within which was a Commissarie of victualles which came from the Franche comte to the Emperour and the master of the monie of Besanson with two other marchauntes which brought great quantitie of all kinde of victualles and prouisions The commissaries and marchants were before horsed and guided by a Lorrainer who serued for a spie by whome the Duke of Neuers was certainly aduertised what hee was to put in execution for theyr surprisall Wherefore as they were in ambuscade neere inough to the towne Andre de Maye sent certayne Italian souldyers which were to aduertise the ambuscade by a signe if they entered and gaine the port vpon the gardes so as faining to come from the imperiall campe and to indure great colde and hunger they lamented so much as they were let to goe seeke some victuals Anon after some other came thether who did as the first in such wise as seeming strong inough to repulse the gards from the ports who were but Lorain pesāts armed with old bils rotten staues and rustie brigandines Andre speaking excellent good Spanish was no sooner ariued but the soldiers who were aduertised of the signe made them charged vppon the porters halfe asleepe and the rest dronke of whome some were massacred other constrained to abandon the gates which were a little after opened to all the rest of the ambuscade who beeing aduertised thereof couragiously entered in I leaue
the Emperour prompt and actiue in his actions pricked besides with an extreame desire of reuenge which by all meanes in all places hee practised soone troubled this good cheere for in the beginning of the spring with such a number as hee was able to assemble and first vnder the conduct of du Reux hee sent to besiege Terroanne But preuented by death that charge was giuen to Binecourt a knight esteemed one of the most sweet gracious among them That Citie albeit that it was little of circuit had a renowne great inough throughout all Europe of which the Romanes make honorable mention in their writings It was scituated vpon the little riuer of Liz in the confines of Gaul Belgique a nation of a long time esteemed warlyke by the historiographers called by the Latins Morini now they call it the Cauntie of Ponthieu somwhat neer the great Ocean sea in situation somwhat hanging inuironed with fens marishes woodes and great forrests Besides curiously fortified by the Kinges of Fraunce to whose handes it hath a long time since beene fallen to serue them as a bulwarke and frontire as well against the English as Flemings and Hanuiers among which it is inclosed hauing done a thousand spoyles and an hundred sundrie enterprises which they woulde attempt vpon Picardie Wherefore it was once cleane raysed and made euen to the earth by the Englishmen and there was salt sowen in signe of eternall ruine But yet is it much more odious to the Flemings Burgonians and Hanuiers who for this occasion importunately induced the Emperour to this enterprise Now forsomuch as it was esteemed impregnable that as well by intelligence as other considerations not thought that the Emperour woulde conuert his forces to that place but rather into Champagne towardes Mezieres and Yuoy they had not so carefully furnished it with victuals sure munition as was requisite for so long a siege Whereof the neighbours being aduertised the enemyes vsed so greate diligence that it was sodainly besieged De Losses beeing alone within the principall and chiefe with his light horse and some people of the Country in no great number nor of anie great defence Ioyn that thorough the couetousnes and neglygence of former gouernours a thing naturall to vs French men this key remained bare and vnfurnished of all prouisions therefore it was necessarie to make a vertue of necessitie where prudence could not take place there it was necessarie that force should second it In such sorte as euen in the beard of the enemy and in spight of them being as men iudged for the most parte not vsed to the arte of warres they strengthned it with men victuals and whatsoeuer they were able D'esse otherwise called Panuilliers knight of the order most renoumed for his vertue and prowesse beeing sent thether Lieutenant for the King and with him Frances of Montmorencie eldest sonne to the Constable with the most part of theyr companies followed wyth a great number of other Lordes Gentlemen and souldyers who entered therein to seeke for honour and the rest following theyr Captaines to defend and keepe the place But as such a victualling thereof despighted the Emperor and making him obstinate reiterated his despight to cause it to bee battered and assaulted the King contrarywise assuring himselfe of an impossibilitie to force it slacked it in such sort as without anie other succours or preparatiues hee lefte his enemie to doo whatsoeuer hee listed For albeit that they wythin and the Duke of Vendosme wyth the men at armes of the garrisons about impeached and gaue alarums vnto them as much as was possible yet theyr number beeing much greater and stronger than the French they could not so hinder them but that they made their approaches where they themselues thought best euen to plant their batterie where they pleased and knew might most annoy the towne putting the verie mouth of theyr artillerie neerest and vpon the brinke of the ditch betweene the castle and the towre Du Chapitre vppon a little hill where the gallowes stoode hard by Hauing brought from many townes and castles of Flanders and Artois all sortes of Artillerie with innumerable munitions of pouder and bullets So glad was that nation to see it inuironed that not onely women and litle children ranne thether but for ioy sung songs and vulgar rimes carrying and bringing into the campe all sortes of graine drinkes beasts and other victuals by heapes which made their armie seeme farre greater in number than well furnished of good souldiers Theyr batterie began about the end of Iune straunge and furious inough but albeit the bullets fell as thicke within the towne as great hailestones out of the skie and that there was not vpon the rampires thorough the streets or within the houses any sure place and without danger yet they within besieged were smally seared therewith Now making continuall sallies and recharges vpon their enemyes in the midst of these thickes and smoakes they sought them out and by heapes beate them within theyr owne forts and trenches and sometimes constrayned them to abandon theyr trenches and had leasure inough to sticke vp some of theyr peeces with nayles and set theyr pouder on fire so as they dragged into the towne one of theyr culuerines and after shot many shootes at them albeit the great store of artillerie and munition which was continually brought to the campe hourely repayred anie disorder or annoyance which the French with great labour and daunger could doo them being a farre greater losse to loose one man besieged than ten besieging Vppon this the tempest and thundring batterie of the enemies grew greater dayly there remained not within the towne tower or turret to the least battlement that fell not to the ground there was not anie defence without or within which they raysed not Briefly in seeing it thus battered throwen downe one would easily beleeue that they determined to laie it all to dust They within without anie respect at all of theyr owne liues to the same place whether they sawe the bullets bend from moment to moment carried vpon their backes earth faggots turfes and dung which notwithstanding much weakned them by reason of the continuall toyle which they in the daie had to rampire and in the night to watch to keepe sentinell and sustaine diuerse alarums with litle rest for a necessitie practising the office of souldiers and labourers both together by reason of the small number of artificers and pioners and lesse store of anie necessarie tooles that was in the towne at a pinch as pickaxes spades shouelles mattockes crowes and such sort of yron workes whereof they stood in so great need as the soldiers within were constrained to peck the ground with spits daggers fire shouels and as a man maye saie euen scratch it wyth their nailes for which and such like wantes many townes in France haue bene gotten by the enemie albeit that they were well furnished besides for good men for help
French men esteemed themselues most happie to fall prisoners into the handes of more gracious Lordes from whose furie hardly could Frances de Montmorencie saue himselfe who onely remained there within lieutenant for the king whom in seeking to couer and defend D'ouartie was sore set vppon and hurt in his presence yet afterwardes hee was knowen and carried prisoner to Binecourt the Emperours Lieutenant The other more apparant prisoners as the Vicount de Martiques Dampierre de Losses Baudiment Bailet de S. Romain the Captaines Grille le Breul and Saint Romane yeelded themselues to diuerse masters as the hazard gaue them leaue and forasmuch as the simple souldiers were the first which entered in and not the captaines or Lordes of authoritie such prisoners as could readily make anye money went out good cheape as the Vicount De Martiques Dampierre de Saint Romane and the Captaine Breul But such as tarryed tardie were knowen and in great daunger there to abide by it long The surplus of the souldiers found at the Spaniards hands to whose mercie the most parte were fallen an honest entertainment taking of such as had meanes reasonable ransome and the poore hauing stript them of their weapons and best stuffe they sent backe safely and oftentimes themselues conducted them Within this little towne was found a great deale of good and grosse artillerie chiefly two verie faire and long Culuerines In this time the great Turke Sultan Soliman carryed himselfe too rigorously towardes the person of Sultan Mustapha his eldest sonne which he had of a slaue Who hauing beene sent with his mother from his first youth into the prouince of Amafia which was giuen vnto him was so well and carefully brought vp as hee there atchieued great honour and amitie not onely of all in that Countrie but thoroughout all the gouernments of his Father This mother beeing absent Soliman tooke another slaue vnto him named Roza of whome hee had foure other sonnes Mahomet Baiazet Selim Giangir the crooke backe and one daughter which was marryed to Bassa Rostan Roza being indued with admirable beautie accompanyed with all the flattering delights and allurements which possibly one could imagine knewe so well howe to plaie her part towardes Soliman who was as it were a man rauished that by the helpe of Muchthy as much to saie as the soueraigne Priest of the lawe of Mahomet and vnder colour of religion shee was not onely made free of condition but lawfull wife spouse of Soliman to which neuer anie before her attayned Raised now vnto such honour and seeing her selfe entirelie beloued she had no greater care than how to establish the Empire vnto one of her children after the death of the father But foreseeing that the singular vertues of Mustapha would bee so farre contrarie thereunto that whilest hee liued shee should neuer haue rest because that he had gotten the loue of the men of warre and how the eyes of all men were vppon him for the great hope of his magnanimious courage and singular dexteritie she studyed as much as she could to make him become odious to Soliman to which her sonne in law greatly aided her for that hee as then gouerned all the affayres Her reasons were how that Mustapha building vppon the loue and fauour which hee had gotten of all men thorough his great liberalitie courage dexteritie of spirit burned with such a longing to raigne as euerie man feared least in affecting the Empire hee would shorten the dayes of Soliman as alreadie Selim had done to his father Therefore shee vrged Soliman and besought him with many and great teares that hee would take order therein thereby to prouide for his owne safetie Now albeit in the beginning shee smally preuailed and that Mustapha had well discouered the crossebarres which shee ordinarilye prepared for him yet shee neuer ceased to continue by the helpe of a Iew a most renowmed inchantresse who hauing giuen vnto her certaine drugs shee caused the amitie of Soliman to bee redoubled towards Roza so well as she assured her selfe of a good euent at the last to her enterprises albeit a delaie might bee for a time Finally after many practises shee found meanes to suborne the gouernour of Mustapha and caused him to write though falsely vnto Soliman howe his sonne meant to take in marriage the daughter of the Kinge of Persia This olde man moued by the continuall plaintes of Roza and Rostan easily gaue credite to these newes and false aduertisements so as in the yeere 1552. hauing caused a bruite to runne of the Persians comming downe into Syria hee sent Rostan thether with a puisant armie for vnder colour of going to meete with his enimies to ceaze vpon Mustapha and bring him prisoner to Constantinople with expresse commaundement to kill him if otherwise hee coulde not take him But Mustapha aduertised of the whole matter and howe that the Persians were not at all in the field came towardes him with seuen thousand men of the best experienced in the warres which caused Rostan to make a quicke returne without dooing ought Whereat Soliman beeing the more prouoked the next yeere caused the same bruite agayne to runne and how hauing leauied a great armie he meant to go himself in person agaynst the Persians Beeing arriued in Syria hee commanded his sonne to come vnto him to his campe Mustapha knowing how it was him alone which they shot at albeit hee was prayed and greatly solicited to auoide the furie of his Father and retire himself into some other part trusting in his owne innocencie and thinking it a matter more commendable and worthie of his greatnesse to die in obeying of his Father than liuing to incurre a note of infamie and treason yea though thereby hee might gaine the Empire of the whole world thinking in like sorte that for that he neuer made anie refusal by his owne presence hee might appease the furie of his father went on his waie thether but being entered within Solimans tent hee was sodainly taken and strangled in his owne presence after at the same instant the Bassa his head of the Prouince of Amasia was stroke off This crueltie beeing come to the knowledge of Giangir the crooke backe one of the rest of the foure brothers hee manfully reiected the gifte and spoile which his father had presented vnto him so that lamenting the death of his brother he could not command himselfe nor refrain from vttering these speeches Ha cruell Traitor I cannot say Father take now to thy selfe the treasures the Horses the Tapistrie and the Prouince of Mustapha and gouerne it at thyne owne pleasure could it fall into thy thought O infamous man and without humanitye to cause to dye against all lawe so valiant a personage as neuer was nor neuer will be the like in all the house of Ottomans Ha ha it shall not bee true and I will take order that thou shalt neuer bee able impudentlye to vaunte that euer thou didst the like
to me poore Crookebacke and at the instant drawing out his dagger hee stabbed himselfe so farre into the bodye as hee fell downe starke dead which being knowne to his Father hee maruelouslye mourned and notwithstanding he spared not to sease of all his goods which caused a great tumulte in Mustapha his Campe but it was nothing in respect of that they did after they vnderstoode of his death In such sorte as Solyman with great daunger of his life was constrained to banishe Rostan and depriue him of all honors and dignities This death fell out very fortunatelye for the Christians to whome Mustapha was a sore enemye and tooke singular pleasure in shedding of their blood it was likewise taken so greeuouslye of the Turkes that from thence forth this prouerbe is growne among them Gietti Sultan Mustapha all is ended since that hee is dead all is done whatsoeuer we thought of for they imagined in their own fancie that it was he which should enlarge the bounds of their Empire in another manner of sorte then euer did his Ancestors which they could not expect at the handes of any other Let vs handle againe the siege of Teroene The Emperour lying at Bruxelles and being promptlye aduertised of the taking of Teroene conceaued a verye great pleasure thereat sweetening by the happe of this good fortune the bitternesse of his former disgraces so as throughout all the Countryes of Flaunders Arthois and Henaute were seene great bonfyers Afterwards he commanded that it should be razed and throwne down to the very foundations to the end nought might rest but the place where it might be sayd Teroene had beene Afterwardes hee sent the Prince of Piemont his Nephewe Lieutenant generall in his armye to quenche a sedition and a certaine enuye which the Princes and great Lordes bare to Binecourt a worthy Cheefe of these troupes But such is the malice among men that it was neuer nor euer shall bee but that enuye will bee among equalles albeit that often tymes it maye lye dissembled The King vnderstoode of these sorrowfull newes as soone as the Emperour which at the instant seemed as strange vnto him as any thing which they could haue made reporte of considering how hee had before receiued an entire contentment of that furious assaulte which the French had so resolutely sustained but being certified by diuers reportes how all the matter was handled hee was greatlye greeued at the taking thereof and much more bewayled his men which he thought to be in a farre greater number dead then afterwardes it was found to be Now albeit that among the French the plainte was great and the losse very preiudiciall yet necessitye the inuentresse and mistresse of all Artes sharpning the wits of men to assay strange things stirred vp the Kings spirit in a sorte ioynte with the sorrowe and greefe of the losse so that being aduertised how his enemies shortlye after this ruyne took their way and prepared themselues to come and do as much at Hedin he made ready all preparatiues to fortifie the same with men and all thinges fitting to staye them shorte or at the least vntill such a time as hee imagined his armye coulde be in a readines to the end to raise the siege and driue them into their owne Countrie Now the D. of Bouillon Marshall of France desirous more and more to perseuer in the K. seruice had long time before vndertaken the defence of this Castle to which would needes accompany him Horace Farneze D. of Chastres and the Earle of Villars with a great number of other Lords Gentlemen and good Souldiers who to make proofe of their courage of their own accord presented themselues to this seruice albeit that the K. stoode in some doubt of the force and validitie of that place and had no affection at all to expose thither such personages of such authoritie they notwithstanding preferring an immortall renowne before their goods or liues went to enclose themselues within this forte to this verye ende were dispatched couriers and commandements to the Captaines of the men of warre to haue in readines all their companies and as soone as it were possible to cause them to march and to render themselues neere Amyens where the Constable was hoping to assemble together there the Kings army commissions were distributed to the Captaines of the Fanterie to make their leuies as soone as they were able and to those of the olde Ensignes and entertained companies to furnish them compleate and wel armed to conduct them surely and without plaints vnto the Rendeuous there was also proclaimed throughout all the Realme that the Rirebands according to their dutie and the Kings ordinance should forthwith march and furnish themselues to the same place afterwards they aduertised and besought the Zuizer cantons of the French league to send to their succour a certaine number of footemen of their nation the best armed and compleate that they could according to the agreement between the Kings of Fraunce and them The King in summe caused great diligence to be made and commaunded that all thinges should be prouided for the putting of his power into the fielde where his enemies being aduertised and well assured that if they did not imploy that small time which they could get within which the Kinges army might be made readye so to purpose as they might enforce Hedin hardly they should attaine to the cheefe of their enterprise or retire without a battaile or other peiudiciall accident they aduaunced with such diligence their affaires that the Towne being voide of inhabitants who were fled and retired into France with whatsoeuer they could carry away of their goods was in very short time taken by them in respect it was not much defended by Souldiers who shutte vp themselues within the Castle esteeming it impregnable There they planted on the one side one of their batteries and the other towards the parke and the greatest of all by the Towre Robin where the French had already made theirs but notwithstanding any resistance which they within besieged were able to make they were not able to diuerte them This Castle being little which in al could contain but 2000. men and that hardly hauing in times past beene builded by the Dukes of Burgondie onely for the pleasure of hunting not to fortifie it in any sort so not loosing one sole hower by day or night to batter it so furiouslye as was possible they trauailed not onelye to throwe it downe by their artillerie but vndermined it so diuerslye and in so many places that it was impossible that a Cony berry could haue more holes and hollowes vnder the ground then were vnder the foundations of this castle all the countermines secrets within being known practised by many of the enemies the place besides being very subiect to this imperfection Now the enemies had already battered and digged downe the greatest parte of the parapette and rampire of the great breach
matter vntill about the 13. of that moneth when hauing had aduertisements how the Constable had caused 4. ensignes of the French fanterie and 2. companies of light horse to passe ouer the riuer of Some they determined with 4. regiments of their caualery to surprise and defeate them so readilye that as they would haue executed the enterprise before that those which were about Amiens should be aduertised thereof it fortuned that the Constable had addressed the same day another party to go visit them as farre as their owne Campe Paul Baptista hauing commission to passe the riuer with 50. horse to attacke the skirmish and draw thē to fight the D. of Neuers remaining in ambuscade with 3. companies of light horse in a wood vpon the banke of the riuer of Authia who finding himselfe at any time to be ouermatched had Sansac to rescue him who was behinde half a league of with 5. other light cōpanies the Prince of Conde was a quarter of a league on the right hand of him with 3. light cōpanies likewise the Marshall of S. Andre with 500. men at armes a mile farther behinde towards the campe the constable being halfe way between al his companies and the riuer accompanied with 4000. horse as wel of companies as Rirebands and 20. ensignes of Fanterie half French and halfe Lansknets and 4. feelde peeces but easing the French of the paines to goe seeke them out they approched neere the Marshall S. Andre hauing lefte all their light Caualerie behinde them so as three hundred horsecouriers rushed euen vpon the Constable without discouering any of the ambuscades Hereupon Sansac his light Cauallerie began the skirmish neerest to the Marshals ambuscade where the French were borne downe and rudelye put backe euen to the hindermost man so as they tooke two prisoners who tolde them that the Constable was not aboue a quarter of a league of with all his forces the which caused them to hasten to giue the charge vpon the companies of the D. of Vendosme and of Sansac who at the same instant was couered and charged by an other thousand horse and vpon this medley the Marshall began to march with a great trot right towardes them which quicklye stayed them and by and by they discouered the Prince of Conde in set battaile galloping to ioyne vpon them whom as soone as they saw they put themselues in such disarray as being recharged onely with fiftie helmets they were put to flight for the Prince of Conde so roughly set vpon them as he and his company pursued them a long League where were slaine of theirs betweene 7. and 8. hundred men among whome there was found of renowne the Earle D'espinoy and other great Lordes of the low Countries seauen as well Ensignes as Guidons gained neere 500. prisonners in number among whom the D. of Ascot was found On the French part for men of reputation the sonne of Canaples and of La Roche Guion and the Guidon of Sansac remained there prisonners with some other souldiers especially of the light cauallery not any great number either taken or slaine This reencounter so happily executed greatly quailed the courage of the imperials who since did no matter of importance for incontinentlye after they departed from Beauquesne where they were encamped so as hauing razed the towre and the forte they came by great iournyes as farre as Ancre Miraumont within 4. leagues of Peronne French lands where hauing put to the fire and lodged ten Ensignes of their brauest men within Bapaulme thinking that according to the common brute the first fury of the French would be there discharged without making any longer stay the body of their army retyred towards Arras which was not as then very great or puissant for many of them especially of the borderers of Artois and Henaulte retired to their owne houses to gather together the best of their goods and enclose it within strong townes or hide it in sure and secret places knowing that the Kings armie was all compleate and was to put into the fielde within a fewe dayes the which in the end of August was assembled to gether neere to Corbie and the first of September the Ensignes of Fraunce were displaied about the little towne with a mighty great number of men the which the K. would needs see vpon a little mount especially the Zuizers now they set their battailes in such ordinance as they caried the prise ouer many nations a thing which maruelously was agreeable pleasing vnto him The Constable being generall of the army and the first cheefe in the auantgarde was accompanied with the Princes Dukes of Vendosme Neuers Anguien Montpēsier and the Admirall each one of these Princes hauing a regiment of men at armes which is of 200. men at arms and ouer which they cōmanded 49. ensignes of French sundry making vp the number between 15. 16000. men of whom Chastillon Admirall of France was generall the Earle Reingraue colonell of the Lanseknets with Reisberg had 4. regiments which are 20. ensignes making the nūber between 10. 12000. men foure Ensignes of Scottes and two of English amounting betweene twelue and fifteene hundred men Sansac was the principall chiefe of the light Cauallerie neere to two thousand horse comprehending therein three or foure hundred English men braue men and well skilled in this occupation The nobles and rierbandes were compleat verie neere three thousand horse whereof La Iaille was generall there were few of the particular companies of harguebuziers on horsebacke for that the King had a little before made an ordinance therupon to euery Captaine of one hundred men at armes to leauie fiftie harquebuziers on horsebacke armed with corslets murrions vanbraces or sleeues of maile with an handgunne or harquebuze or a firelocke or cocke within a case of well tanned leather mounted vppon good curtailes and vnto euerie one of fiftie fiue and twentie in like equipage conducted by a man at arms of the greatest experience especially to that end to be chosen out of their own companie all which made wel vp the number of twelue or fifteen hundred A thing well inuented and by good counsell to assist a man at armes in anie narrow or vneaeasie place and which gaue great countenance and grace to the armie in beeing the first before the companyes together with the diuersitie of theyr apparell In this battell was king Henrie neere vnto him the Prince of Ferrara the Duke of Guise the prince of La Roche-Suryon and the marshall Saint Andre euerie one of these princes hauing a regiment of men at armes as the rest The great Escuyer de Boisi and Canaples wyth theyr bandes of the royall house and the guardes as well French and Scots as Suizers and a number of great Lordes and Gentlemen following the King as well in respect of their fidelitie as to make knowen vnto him theyr vertue and good will Of all sortes of artillerie there was about one hundred great and
much subiect to the Cannon mine as any place might be it is a great towne scituate halfe in a bottome and halfe hanging where there is not any shew of Bulwarkes Rampiers or fortifications according to the new fashion On the side of Fraunce and the East it is in a champion and arable Countrie discouered well eight hundreth or a thousand paces in breadth not so plaine notwithstanding but there is a little descent still vnto the Towne hauing certaine small bottomes and barricades betweene both but I call it plaine for that it is not ouershadowed with trees nor thornes nor other places hindring the prospect on the west side where it is most lowe and the suburbs lye there are gardens and groues of willowes with some medowe and marshe Southwards there is a little hanging plaine towards the Towne and a little further there are little hilles and vallyes on the North side is a little Mountaine which taketh parte of the coigns of the citadell mounted ouer the highest parte of the whole towne where there was wont to be an Abbey or Cathedral Church almost square notwithstanding one of the coigns stretcheth more towardes that little mountaine then any part of the rest resembling a coyne in forme of a spurre seruing for a defence to the flankers with a platforme As touching the scituation and foundation of the Citadell one would iudge it at the first apparance white earth as marse if it were stone within I would thinke it tender and easie to be hewen as you see ascler whereof some houses are builded but it is rather a white chalke then a hard stone so as some holde that it was rather builded to holde the newter towne in subiection then to make an impregnable fortresse for being ioyned to the Towne as it is it were needfull to fortefie it the one to succour the other by reason that the towne being taken would endemnifie the Citadell which also being forced would be the cause of the losse of the Towne but the Emperour partely in consideration that this great towne would hardly be fortified or at the least not of a great and long time and partely for that he would not oppresse the inhabitants with suddaine surcharges first builded this little citadell to set one foot within and to be meet with the mutynies rebellions of the citizens to the end that by little and little he might make himselfe maister of the whole Therefore they helde out thorough the hope of a great number of men sent vnto them furnished with victuals munitions and all other necessaries besides the Imperiall armye which fortified it selfe neer vnto them to cut of victuals and annoy as much as might be the French and lastly the raines which euer begin at that season in those low Countries so great presumptions had they to recouer the siege for besides the diuers alarms which they gaue vnto them with continuall and hot skirmishes they sent out of the campe part of the field peeces and caused it to be giuen out that there were farre greater comming from Amiens Corbie S. Quentin and Castelet a great number of Gabions being already prepared and sleddes made ready to draw them to those places where the approches should be made so farre as the Marshals of the Campe went to marke and viewe the scituation the better to order their quarters notwithstanding the councell had no such intention but to the end that still holding them in this iolitye and opinion they might breake and consume the Imperials by little and little who for that cause had more enlarged and seperated themselues wherefore without any longer delay all the fortes round about being throwne downe and ruined euen to the very Churches the Towers and Steeples being vndermined and battered and fire put to all the Villages Granges and cotages euen to the very suburbes and gates of the towne the French dislodged marching straight to the castle of Cambresy In the waye there were two fortes taken and ruined obstinate vpon very small reason whereby they well felte the effect of the conquerers choler The first endured sixe and thirtie Cannon shot and a great and wide breach before it would yeelde where the Captaine Pierre-longue was slaine and twelue French Souldiers slaine and hurt notwithstanding there was not one liuing soule found within hauing cōueyed thēselues vnder ground and hidden in some caues and mines therefore they stopped close all the ventes which they were able to finde The other was not so strong as the first for that it was but a skuruie poulier of earth hanging houelwise to the halfe of a great towre with drye ditches where they within standing very obstinately to their defence notwithstanding any summons made aboade two shot of the lesser sorte after which hauing answered that they would not yeelde without sight of the Canon they made a signe to yeelde but it was too late for the Souldiers not as yet colde of their first furie neuer stayed so long as the once discharging of a Canon but rushed in as madde men to beate downe the gates where afterwardes it was great pittie to beholde the slaughter which was there made for there was not so much as one man taken to mercye the battaile lay encamped round about the Castle of Cambresy without suffering any bodye to goe in sauing one Ensigne the which was lodged there to repell other if they should goe about to make any stirre for the inhabitants were in great doubt what should befall them His Maiestie and the most parte of the Princes and great Lordes was lodged in a sumptuous house of pleasure neere hand which appertained to the Bishop of Cambray where in stead of being reuenged of the burning of his Castle of Foulembray which was done by Du Reux a kinseman of the B. he not onely straitely forbad they should not set it on fire but that nothing should be carried thence or spoyled A little aboue the riuer the Constable remained with the Vantgarde Now all these boutes and deuises were but to marke the enemies countenance for the French being aduertised that they stirred in no sorte of the worlde to followe them without any alarme or semblance to come vpon them hauing soiourned a whole day in that place descended downe to Quesnoy approching within two leagues of Valenciennes where the imperial army was imparqued within a forte which they had there addressed The next morning the 17. of September the baggage remaining in that place and one hundreth men at armes with about 2000. foote for their garde the rest of the army aduanced forwarde to seeke out the imperials and to present them battaile Their forte was about a Culuerin shotte distant from Valenciennes vpon the same Riuer of Lescau which passeth along by Cambray compassed in forme of a square enuironed with trenches and diches of a Pikes length and betweene 10. or 12. foote hollow seated halfe on the hanging of the hill towards Valenciennes and halfe
in the bottome along the Riuer hauing on the side of the French a little hillock which went sloping euen to the forte besides that it was very proper to place there the artillerie and shot leuell into the fort with great discommodities therefore euen as the armye marched their ordinary pace in battaile the auante couriers and light horse rushing before to attack the skirmish found a great number of their Cauallerie already in order of battaile vpon the little hillock ready for the Combate And hard by they tooke one of the Countrie on Horseback in habite of a Marchant some iudging him to be a spie who certified them that the auantgarde of the Imperialls had passed the riuer to come to fight with them so as being brought vnto the Constable and from him sent vnto the K. hee was the cause of the aduancing forward of the army and with as much speede as might be ordering of the battailes in their places In the meanetime the skirmish grew warme thorough the sallye of a number of the imperiall fantassins which greatly annoyed the lost children without any stirring of their men at armes at all who kept themselues a little aboue them sauing such as sometimes went out of their ranckes to breake a Launce where they saw their opportunitie against the French light horse encamped front to front During these skirmishes the Imperiall armye ranged it selfe part into one onely square battaile within the forte and the rest was deuided by the flankers especially the Harquebuze shot in the same manner as they vse at the assaulte of a Town The artillery was planted one part vpon mounts of earth which drew aboue the hillock that I saide was one the side of the French and the rest was disposed as well to scoure the defences as all along the trenches The ordering of the French army was in this sorte In the Vantgarde were two square battailes on the right hand whereof were 24. French Ensignes among which was the Constable the D. of Mompensier and the Admirall with their Regimentes of Demilances which was sixe hundred men at armes to each one and a little belowe a partie of the nobles and somewhat higher all their Harquebusiers on horsebacke that on the lefte hand was of 19. Ensignes of Lansknets there was in this wing the Princes and the D. of Vendosme of Neuers of Anguien with the like number of men at armes as the right and a party of the nobles a little more backward with their men of ordinances then the Constables were to conuer a little hill which was on their left hand and the Harquebuziers more forward neere vnto a little Village which was burned to keepe that the enemy should not so much as creepe on all foure by that way without being espied In the battaile were two other square battaillons that on the right side was of the olde Ensignes in number 25. In this wing was the King with his whole housholde and gardes and the Marshall of S. Andre with his Regiment of men at armes on the left side were of the Swizers and Grisons 30. Ensignes the most parte armed with corselettes vambrases cases and the best furnished that of long time hath come into France In this wing were the Prince of Ferrara the D. of Guise the Prince of La Roche sur-yon with their Regiments of demilances eche one 600. men at armes the Captaines Momus Eurard two of the most ancient and best experimented had the leading of the lost children Now for so much as the fielde was very fit plaine and champion neer hand a great league the whole was so equally handled that it hung with one same weight and measure especially the spaces which remained betweene the battailons of the footemen and the rankes of the men at armes were so well compassed that it seemed vnpossible to the French without some very great desastere that any harme at all should happen vnto them for to begin with the battailons of the footemen The order whereof was so well established as that the author seemed to take the inuention thereof from the practise of the Romanes that if the first rankes were at any time put backe they should retire into the second and the first and second into the third so might they three times resemble and fight vnto the very last each battaillon hauing his flankers of pikes and harquebusiers which were able to make head in all places and succour as well the horsemen as the core of their battailons The whole was so well armed and couered that when the Sunne had shone you would haue iudged all those troupes to haue bene heapes of Siluer As for the horsemen each regiment extended farre so as there were alwaies 200. men at armes in a front and their suite of Archers at their backe all along in such sorte as if a man at armes had beene ouerthrowne the second had straight stept into his place so as they had al meanes to fight euen to the very last The Ensignes of the men at armes were in the midst and the Guidons in the midst of the ranke of the Archers as touching the light cauallery it was deuided into foure squadrons that of the vantecourriers which was at the skirmish was led by Paul Baptista and Sansac kept the other in ambush within a little hollow on the hanging of a small mountaine on the left hand the Prince of Nemours had an other behinde a little hill betweene the army and the forte of the imperialles And the prince of Conde lay in ambush with his in a little bottome al along the high way to the Towne to stoppe the passage that way Touching the artillerie that of the vantgarde was vpon the front of the right wing and that of the battaile vpon the hanging of a little hillock on the lefte hand of the Zuizers and Grisons who had already made an end of their ceremonies with intention to fight and dye euen to the very last man before they would make one false pointe Now besides that the assistance of so many men was able enough to put courage into the most faint harted the presence of their King set them a gog much more who being accompanied with a great traine of Princes and other great Lords went notwithstanding to visite and encourage such as had any neede with so sweete and amiable language stirred vp with such vehemency and affection that eche one seemed most willing to dye for his seruice Now his whole army being thus ranged in order of battaile and the skirmish growing more and more eager on the one parte and the other the Imperiall caualery stood stil and seemed euer ready to al euents vpon the little hillock And so were they attending their comming more then three long houres a brute of their comming flying vp and downe so long among the French that night at the last approched In the end the Constable foreseeing that they cunninglye delayed vntill the night
grew darke either to surprise or put them out of order aduised the light Cauallerye to ioyne together to seeke out the height of the Imperiall Cauallerie The which was readilye executed but with such a cheerefulnesse and dexteritye that they beate them backe and liuelye droue them in lesse then nothing euen to the very boorde of their Trenches causing them almost all to fall huddle vpon one anothers tayle into them where of the French side of reputation was slaine Ienlis a gentleman of the Duchie of Bourgondie hauing beene brought vp of a Page in the Kings house it was then that their artillerie as well that of the flankers as that which was vpon the mountes of earth began to play their prise the which killed some and hurte more of the French then were found to haue beene hurte by any handstrokes Among the rest there was slaine the Captaine Steph an Italian Gentleman Lieutenant of the companyes of light horse to the Captaine Senetaire and De Ferriere Lieutenant of the companies of light horse to Giury of the house of Estanges This bickering endured for all that more then a long houre where on the French parte there was slayne of horse and foote about one hundred men so as when the retraite was sounded the Sunne was alreadye set and the night closed in Now had the Councell long debated whether they should assayle them euen within their owne forte or no considering the good happe of their firste charge But the better parte were of opinion that they were rather to content themselues in that they had already done them so great shame in their own Countrye as not onely to haue executed a parte of their Princes will but to haue presented vnto them the battaile which they still threatned to doe from the beginning and now coldely enough and with a slender excuse had refused Their reasons not to attempt any further were first that the French Souldiers were growne wearye and faynte as well with marching as with the weight of their armour contrariwise the enemies were fresh and reposed not hauing for certayne dayes together runne the fielde That the Countrie was theirs and their proper enheritance which would encourage them to fight the more couragiously Ioynt that considering the scituation of the place they could not be assailed but to their great aduātage as the battaile of Poitiers and La Bicoique might well serue for example Likewise that the French were not onely to fight at the first forte from which though it were lost the Imperials might easily retire into the towne ready to begin a fresh especially when they should be able to doe both the one and the other the French should be sure to be the first which should take all the paine and hazard of the enterprise a good parte of them lefte behinde in gage if not all as well for that it is not the propertie or nature of a Zuizer or Lansknet to assaile a towne or fortresse as in that they are not otherwise so affectionate or enclined as subiects are to their Prince whereby if it should so happen that the K. should be in an enemies Countrye vnfurnished of the better parte of his forces it were to be feared that many mischeefes would ensue according to the vncertain occurrence of feates of armes And therefore it was concluded that it was far better to retire with honor thē to hazard ought vnder the hope of an vncertain aduenterous good luck so they placed againe the battailons of fantery in single ordinance afterwards they returned to the place where their baggage was lost the Constable with all the Demilances and Cauallerie of the vantgarde was the last which departed to see if they would play the wagges in the end and set vpon them behinde which they neuer once offred so as by the light of the fires which burned the Farmes and villages for three leagues round about the French in the end found their first lodging where at night it was proposed in councell by some Lords that there was very great meanes and occasion offred to returne againe to seek out the enemye to fight with them and enforce them within their owne forte for that by the reporte of some prisonners which were newlye come thither it was not of so great defence as it was adiudged assuring that on the South side in the bottome by the riuer it was very weake and that there their trench was not perfited nor fiue foot high that there would be meanes enough to pitch and order the battailes and to make it be assailed by the lost children whilste that the artillerye planted vpon the hillockes of the flancker should shoote leuell in The which would either make thē to come out in disorder and so quit the place or suffer themselues to become a deadly marke to so many Cannon shot as would shoure downe vpon them But albeit that this aduice was at the first allowed for sound yet after that the olde and experienced Captaines had deliuered their minde and spoke as they thought good they found that the latter opinion was the more sure following which after one dayes abode to refresh themselues the army retired towards the castle of Cambresy where likewise the French remained another daye without setting fire either on that fayre house or the towne onely all the victuals within were taken out for that the enemies should not be releeued therewith Afterwardes they retired as farre as Fonsomme two small leagues from S. Quentin and there was the army dissolued about the 20. of September for the Zuizers well paid and contented had leaue to retire into their owne Countrie and parte of the Garrisons was put all along the frontiers and the rest sent home to the gouernement of their Captaines as much was done with all the Nobles and rirebands The other parte of the Demilances and light Cauallerie with the olde Ensignes and the Almanes were retyred and assembled at Auchy to Chasteau below Hedin led very shortly after by the Marshal S. Andre towards the Countye of S. Pol to destroy it vtterly and to waste and ruine for euer as well the Baylifwicke of Hedin as the Countye of Ponthieu and all the rest of the countrye of Arthois which was put in execution by him in the very viewe of his enemies without any resistance remaining stil superiour with such fury and desolation that there was not so much as the poor shepheards cottages or houels spared but the whol country set on fire ashes round about Aire S. Omer Lislars Perne the castle wherof was by force taken about 50. spanish souldiers slain hewen in peces Thus was the voyage of the French armye more remarquable for fires ruynes sackings and all other sorte of desolations by th'example and in reuenge of the Hannuyers and Bourgonians ouer France then for any tricke of notable vertue sauing a braue skirmish which the Vidasme of Chartres made before Lissars with
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
at Giuets were certain English Scottish companies pertaining to the French they suddenly went to surprise theÌ„ and constrained them to retire into a house tenable enough but brought away fowerscore and sixe of their horses The Emperor who as theÌ„ lay at Bruxelles neer enough being aduertised of al this and how the coÌ„mon bruit of the camp went that at their departure froÌ„ Disnan they meÌ„t to besiege Namur caused as many souldiers to be lodged ther as he estemed necessary knowing it otherwise but meanely fortefied for any artificial fortification and that as a great number of men were needful for the assailing of so great townes so as great careful diligence for their defence to be requisite Seing in like sort all the coÌ„mons of the plaine countrie so moued out of hart as all was abandoned he sent his nephew the D. of Sauoy for his Leiutenant general with as many souldiers as he was recouer readily to emparke himselfe in the towne side in a place called Giuelou betweene the two riuers of Meuse Sambre wher he got together and assembled his army with extreme diligence hauing sent for succours out of al places As sone as the Prince was fortefied in this place he scattered his Cauallerie vpon the way where he thought the victuals would passe for the French as wel to weaken theÌ„ and giue them occasioÌ„ to retire as to learne know their determination causing a bruit to be sowne reported by spies and prisonners that if they aduentured to march further or to passe the riuer of Sambre to enter into Henault he would present himselfe a hed to giue theÌ„ battel But the K. as not being so far entred into his enemies countrie to returne without passing further hauing likewise left the way of Namur staied to passe ouer the riuer of Sambre to burne the countrie of Henault whereby he might make proofe of the imperiall forces froÌ„ whence such being returned as went to view the places way which the army must passe thorough hauing sent backe Bourdillon with his companie to Mesieres to cause certain Bourgingnons to retire which burned certaine villages about the K. raised his army from this place the 16. of Iuly to continue his determination knowing notwithstanding the difficulty to recouer victuals how the enemie had gotten al within their strong townes broken down al mils he thought good to aduertise the whole companies to make prouision of as much victuals as was possible euen so farre as to lade their horses with prouision the D. of Neuers remaining vpon the Meuse side as wel to make the surplus of prouisions to be distributed as to tarrie the raysure of the Castle of Disnan and of all the rest of the small fortes about whence he departed the 18. day of that month and went to finde the King at Storne a small village where the Lord of the place as he was ready to goe to dinner was surprised by the light horse The next morning at their dislodging that was set on fire and all the villages round about Now as the armie lying betweene these two riuers there was no meanes honorably to retire but by the issue of an happie combat so already and resolute for the show marched in battell straight to this riuer Their couriers notwithstanding hauing giuen as farre as the brinkes of La Sambre founde not so much as one sole man to make them resistance and passed forwards freely so as the whole cauallerie followed after then the â—â—nterie and men at armes without the losse of any one vallet were it not by some other accident Likewise the imperials not finding themselues strong enough as then contained themselues close within their fort and insteede of going out to seeke them they were shut in and fortefied with good trenches the best that was possible Notwithstanding that night there were certaine troupes of their cauallerie discouered which presently drew backe into the woodes hauing perceiued a number of French companies which were ready to accost them So the poore popular people abused with the hope which they imagined of the imperiall armie were surprised within their houses with a mightie number of cattell other moueables not without great pittie all the plaine countrie being set on fire and extreamely ruined especially one little Towne called Forces within the countie of Assebais This night they encamped on this side the riuer in a Copice where the whole armie kept close and well vnited perceiuing the imperials to be but one league and a halfe of The twentie day of the moneth the French armie beganne to make her entrie so furiously within the countries of Hanault that there was nothing but fire cries flightes and all thinges pittifull to heare but much more to see without so much as one burrow daring to make resistance All the people flying away from the reencounter of this horrible furie which continued vntill euentide that they encamped in the village of Iumets very famous for the two new forts which were there froÌ„ one of which a number of imperials hauing bene aduanced thither to cut off the victuals from the army had already giueÌ„ the slip at the bruit of the vauntcouriers These Castles were in the strongest places ruined raised In this place the K. did an act worthie of a most Christian Prince for hauing beene told him by a guidon of the D. of Neuers company how a poore woman his hostesse was deliuered of a faire sonne himselfe would needs be godfather carried it vnto the Font their caused the Cardinall of Lorraine to Baptise it by the name of Henrie bestowing certaine presents of him besides that he made it be writteÌ„ ouer the house dore to the end it might not be destroied nor ruined with the rest Thus is the house where the K. Christned the child This night the comte Roquendolphe with his pistoliers his regiment of Almanes the D. of Bouillons companie two small field peeces vndertooke to goe surprise the little Towne of Niuelle the first town of Brabant notwithstanding finding it better furnished with men of war then he supposed he returned without doing ought else then burning the suburbs and villages abouts froÌ„ whence he broght away great booties At their dislodging thence the army drew straight to Bains one of the principal townes of Hennault leauing for all the waies behinde it nothing but flames of fire smoke and all kind of calamitie whome the D. of Sauoy still followed with the imperiall army from lodging to lodging giuen at their tayle as many alarums as he was able to annoy and weaken theÌ„ being of himself grieued enough to heare and see the plaints of the miserable common people so destroyed ruined to whom he could giue no other comfort but say that they still fled before him he followed stil after to be reuenged of theÌ„ An occasioÌ„ that the same day they encamped about Bains wher they lightned far greater fires then
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
woordes and wrighting Among other meanes and perswasions wherewith hee serued himselfe to bring them to this poynt he vsed these Whilest that you make ciuill warre one vpon another the Turke stretcheth out at large his dominion and hath already taken two fortes by land and Sea to wit Belgrade and Rhodes by meanes whereof hee hath made his way as farre as Bude and is growne maister of the Danube that if God had not raised him vp the K. of Persia for an enemie it is very likely that long since he had put all Christendome vnder his obedience By this occasion many false Christians are so multiplyed in diuers places with such corruption of all kinde of discipline as well ecclesiasticall as ciuill as your power is not great enough to punish and correct them which the mutinies growne in so many places well declare the offices of religion left the schismes and heresies which in the meane time engender and grow throughout all Countries you ought to consider your own dutie and aboue all that you be Princes of christian religion And albeit that God hath permitted Satan the author of all mischeefe who goeth about to sifte the Church like Corne to moue warre among you who are the two most principall and noblest members of the Church yet hath hee not permitted his malice to exceede prophane and ciuill actions for hee hath counter garded you entirely in one religion in one same faith and opinion assembled and vnited in one selfe same body of the Church otherwise it were not possible to finde meanes to set you at accorde And albeit that many other Princes are reuolted from the Church and that the enemye of mankinde hath spread his malice throughout God notwithstanding hath looked vpon you in pittie and brought to nought the attemptes of the Deuill In which as for a certain signe of his bounty and clemency towards you he sheweth that finally he wil be serued by you and vnite you with one fraternall bond together with his Vicar on earth to take away these so perillous discordes and restore againe peace as well in the ciuill as ecclesiasticall estate Pole alleadged many other thinges to this purpose greatly threatning them with the wrath and vengeance of God if they did not leaue of these their passions and take compassion of the poore people so greatly afflicted And albeit that he preuailed nothing yet for so much as the affaires of England came to his wish hee insisted in such sorte as hee caused the Emperour and the King of France to come to this poynte to sende Embassadours on the one parte and the other The Queene of England who carried her selfe neuter in this cause caused a place to bee chosen neate and proper in the fielde betweene Cales Ardes and Graueline Townes vnder the subiection of England France and Burgondie scituate as in a tryangle then hauing made cast a trenche round she caused foure lodginges to be reared vp for the time onely but commodious enough where the three and twentith daye of May the Embassadours assembled On the Emperours parte the Bishop of Arras among other for the French King were the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Constable for England to mediate the Peace was Pole the Earle of Arundel and Paget The brute hereof being spread abroade gaue men occasion to think and hope for much especiallye those who vnderstoode not the deapth of the differences for there was question made of the Duchies of Milan Bourgondie Sauoye Piemont Corse Nauarre Lorraine Luxēbourg of the Townes of Thou Verdun and Metz matters hauing beene long and stiffelye debated as among other difficulties the English mediators were of opinion that the knowledge of certaine of the differents were fitte to be reserued to the deciding of a Councell they all departed thence without doing ought The tenth of Iune Ferdinande and the estates of the Empire besought the Emperour by their letters that in treating of peace he would haue especiall regarde to what the K. of France had taken away from the Empire Now nothing being accorded betweene the Embassadours the Emperour wrote backe fifteene dayes after to the estates in like substance The Emperours letters to the states I Greatly reioyced to see that you tooke pittie of those whom the enemie to my selfe and the Empire hath sacked I alwaies had especial care that they shold be restored into their former estate and before I receiued your letters I gaue expresse charge to my Embassadours and principall Councellors deputed for a peace that they should in any wise presse this without yeelding one inche And albeit that in all the treaties of peace which I haue made I thought in respect of the publike tranquilitie they would not bee to obstinate yet they are departed away without doing ought and notwithstanding I doe not refuse a peace for the good of Christendome so as they make me any reasonable offers and as opportunitie shall be offred I will straine myselfe to get such goods as haue beene pluckt from the Empire restored into their former estate See how God which hath the harts of Kings in his hands making each partie to iudge the others demaunds to vnreasonable would not permit Christendome so soone to enioy a benefit so much desired In sort that each one keeping himselfe vpon feare of a surprisal easily made his neighbor thinke how the cariadges of the Garrisons round about tended to more high enterprises So as these two Princes tickled with the like feare and quickly taking one anothers actions for a sufficient defiance of warre as Henrie deuided his men where he saw it most needfull the Emperour first put his armie into the field of twentie thousand fighting men vnder Martin Roussan bastard of Cleues who after many roades burnings and vncredible wasts all along the Meuse encamped at Deux Giuets minding to build a fort vpon that mountaine at the foot whereof this riuer runneth there by to bridle all the quarters round about make a sure retreate there for al such as were able to endomage the French The D. of Neuers in the meane space hauing taken good order for Maizieres and other places of importance resolued by the K. commaundement to victuall well Mariemburg And to that end hauing speedily and secretly made ready all preparations as well of men as victuals munitions and companies vnder the Comte of Retheloix he sent three hundred harquebusiers as well French as English and Scots mounted to discouer and bring backe word to the cheefe of the eight hundred light horse which followed them what they should discry who with the leader of the vantgard of two hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins which marched after and a number of harquebusiers close to the winges of the wagons prouided therto whatsoeuer was needfull according to the generals commaundment who led the battell of three hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins hauing on his backe the arrieregard of two hundred men at armes
in Italy commanded the viceroy of Naples Dom Garzie de Toledo that assembling together all the forces which he possibly could he should blocke in the Sienois as much as in him lay Which he accordingly did in Ianuary 1548. with twelue thousand footmen and fifteene hundred horse as well Almanes as Neapolitanes In the meane time the K. had sent the Cardinall of Ferrare to Siene and De Termes with two thousand pioners assisted with the D. of Some Earle of Saint Flour and other of the Vrsins fortefying the places as they should see neede Corneille Bentinuogle entred into Rosie with fifteene hundred souldiers Iohn de Thurin with three hundred men had the charge of Mont-alcin Malian was giuen to Chiarmont and La Turrite was gouernour thorough Galeas de Saint Seuerin with three hundred men Ciusi to Paul and Iordan Vrsins with two thousand men vnder Asinolonga At Monticelle were Cipierre Guy de Bentiuogle and the Earle of Petiglian with fiue hundred light horse at Port Telamon was the Earle of Mirendolle and a Satean Ioachin a Gascoine Captaine accompanied with two hundred men So as all de Termes his forces deuided thoroughout all the garrisons amounted to twelue thousand footemen besides the Cittizens in great number all enemies to the Spanniards and Florentines But there was not aboue fiue hundred horse euerie man trauailing to fortefie and prouide for their places De Termes and other euen to the verie women tooke maruelous paines to assure La Capitalle whilst that the viceroye ouerranne the countrie and attempted the townes which hee thought to carrie by open force surprise or intelligence Conducting the armie with Ascanio de La Corne hee tooke some and was forced to discampe before other as at Moultacin which was succoured with the men which Bellegard nephew to De Termes caused to enter in The intelligence which he had in Siene was discouered and albeit the Cardinall cōmitted him vnto prison which carried the newes yet he set him againe at libertie wherupon this Prelate was euer since suspected of treason In this time did Charles D. of Sauoye driuen out of his countrie by the Kinge of France leauing for heire of all his rights his onely Sonne Philibert Emmanuel to whome for recompence of many seruices the Emperour gaue the Earledome of Ast to enioy it vntill he should be able to recouer his owne inheritance Charles was buried at Verceil almost in magnificence Royall In the meane space the Marshall Brissac Leiutennant generall for the K. in Piemont hauing taken Yuree and Verceill without the Castle and pilled the treasures of the Sauoyon within the Church of Saint Eustace astonied many men in Lombardie But approching neere Milan Fernand Gonzaque came verie fitly with forces for the Emperour An occasion that Brissac retired backe to Yuree and quitted Verceil which he was not able to keepe without the Citadell The Imperials then not able to master Siene retired by little and little so as De Termes had leasure enough to passe into Corse and there to take the Towne of Saint Florent and Boniface a porte of the Sea in times past the porte of Siracuse from the Genowaies which gouerned there in parte From whence retiring into France being called backe by his Prince he left behinde him a good Garrison and Iordan Vrsin his Maiesties Lieutenant to commaund there with a number of French Captaines The King in the meane time to be reuenged of the Duke of Florence who held the Emperours cause against him and the Sienois De Termes being called home sent Pierre Strossy for his Lieutenant General into Tuscane with a number of men at armes charged to draw vnto him his Brother the Prior of Capoue who was retired from the seruice of the French the which he did and went with him to La Mirandelle to raise there an army Being arriued at Siene and communicating his charge with the Cardinall of Ferrara he thought it not best that he should declare himselfe so soone for many reasons especially for that he had no iust occasion to warre against the Florentine except it were founded vpon the ancient and immortal hatred betweene the Strozzis and Medices Strozzy notwithstanding leuied at Rome Vrbin and other places where men make market of their life as many men as hee was able whereof the Florentine aduertised Pope Iuly exhorting him to driue the French out of Tuscane and suppresse the glory of the Sienois promising him that that done he would giue his daughter in mariage to the nephew of his holynes and giue her a better portion then all the rest of his children sauing the Prince setting downe in like hand vnto the Emperour the danger of his estates in Italy if the King should make himselfe more great in Tuscane and the meanes which might growe vnto him both in Lombardy and the kingdome of Naples in such sort as the Pope and the Emperor ioyning themselues with him gaue charge to Iacques Le Medecin Marquesse of Marignan a valiant and wise Cheefe to leauie an army to this effect who gathering together all his forces and assuring himselfe in his espials and diligences more then any other meanes did so much as the Sienois fearing nothing and forgetting the charge which their Gouernour had giuen vnto them to finishe the fortifications of theyr Towne Rodolphe Baglion Perusin generall of the light cauallerie comming about the beginning of Ianuary 1554. by night to Siene with such diligence and so secret was without the care of Laurens de Chastillon who made the round vpon the walles the Towne had become imperiall yea the Florentines themselues confessed that after the assault well defended if the Sienois had but salied out vpon them tyred with so long trauaile and sleepe they had bene all defeated But the Cardinall fearing least they might haue some intelligence within the towne contented himselfe with those which were slaine on the diches and rampire the Maquesse notwithstanding encamping before the Towne wasted the whole Country afterwards he battered the towne so furiously as he had put them in great necessity had not Strozzy who already had well furnished the strong places of the Country by his entry into the Town encouraged the harts of the besieged and diminished as much the hope of the enemies Of whome hauing vnderstoode how Baglion and Ascane de la Corne had enterprised vpon Chiusi one of the twelue ancient Citties of Hetruria he went to charge them with sixe hundred Souldiers so hottely as Baglion remaining there dead and de La Corne prisonner afterwardes sent captiue into Fraunce the affaires of the Emperour beganne to growe in euill case Ioynte that the Kinge to make himselfe the stronger in Italy sent ouer and aboue the supplye of fiue thousand souldiers Zuizers and Gascons with some light Cauallerie promising besides to send vnto him succours by Sea which entred into Siene without the enemies being witting thereof at all The which emboldned Strossi to come foorth with sixe
thousand footmen and fiue hundred chosen horse manie Sienois following him whose going foorth was no lesse concealed from the Imperials then their entrance in Afterwardes hauing giuen Moriane a place appertaining to the Luguois for rendeuons vnto his armie which was to come out of Lombardie he ouerranne diuers places of the Flourentines He tooke Montalcin and Montcarles which he fortefied to the great astonishment of the Duke of Flourence who fearing to loose his owne while hee sought for an others caused the Marquesse to retire from the siege to defend the Countrie of Flourence because that Strossi his forces were ioyned vnto him Then the Marquesse finding him selfe not to bee strong enough put himselfe within Pescia there to attende the succours which Camille Colone and Iohn de Lunes were to bring vnto him Strossi was determined to charge him vppon the suddaine but hee retyred to Seraual and Pistoye with such disorder as it gaue occasion to manie to wish that there had beene a better iudgement in Strossi then hee had so faire meanes of hot pursuite beeing offered vnto him whereby hee might cleane haue taken awaie such an enemie out of Tuscane but Strossi saide hee did it to gratifie the souldiers which were wearie and tyred with the long march which they had made In the ende the Imperial armie growing stronger and the succours out of France not being come vnto him hee was faine to quitte the fielde and retyre himselfe into Siene In the meane time Leon the Brother of Pierre Strossi tooke certayne shippes of Genoway laden with Corne into which hauing put a number of souldiers hee ouerranne the coast of Tuscane and scouring the portes alongst the Fourentine Seas after manie harmes which hee had made them to endure he came and Ankered before Scarlin a small Towne and without renowne which while hee was viewing for the skaling of it hee dyed of an Harquebuse shot which perced his heade Whereuppon his Brother beeing greatlie passioned caused the siege to bee continued whether the succours of Fraunce came vnto him beeing conducted by Monluc Then hauing vnited together his forces hee made vp his armye of sixe thousand Italians two thousand Gascons as manye Zuizers two thousand fiue hundred Almanes and one thousande horse as well light as of the Ordinance with which leauing Monluc in Siene hee beesieged and battered Ciuitelle a little Towne of the Flowrentines which the Marquesse went to defende esteeming it a place of consequence in a fertile soyle and seruing as a porte and Bulwarke to the Dukes Countries Hee was there so secretelye and with such speede as hee defeated and astonyed manye of the Kinges parte but Strossi repulsed him in such a sorte as besides a great number of them were taken and the rest of them were slaine the garde pryor of Lomberdie and Marie de Saint Flour and sundry other of the Marquesse side remained there captiues Strossi in the meane time beeing enforced to discampe seeing that there was no possibilitye of carrying awaye the place by reason of the Marquesse his neighbourhoode addressed himselfe to Foyanbelle a strong and rich place which Carlot Vrsin helde who sent the Marquisse worde that hee was able to defend it but three dayes without succours But the assaulte was such vppon the verye first daye as Carlot and all his souldiours were put to the edge of the sworde and the place to fire and bloode Heereupon the Marquisse beeing approched the two armies passed certaine dayes in continualle skirmishes fauourable sometime to the one and sometimes to the other partie And for that the French Artillerie greatlie annoyed the Imperials who daye by day yeelded themselues vnto Strossi the rest were retained by offer of a larger pay especially the King partie if they woulde retire which some did and had beene followed by sundry other had not Strossi playde a Counter knacke in presenting more pay and fauour then the Marquisse But drawing towardes Montpulcian a number of Italians abandoned him which greatly encouraged the Marquisse to charge him in this aduantage which the better to auoide Strossi purposing to retire himselfe by the mountaines sent his Artillerie before for feare of loosing of it thinking thorough the fauour of the mountaines and ryuers bordering about to retarde the pursuite of the Marquisse Who notwithstanding pressed him so neere as hauing stayed him betweene Martian Lusignen and Foyan Royall Citties well beaten with the Artillerie and the Captaine Bighet an Italian carrying Strossi his Colonell being followed by manye others Strossi was in the ende constrained to turne his backe And albeit that the Gascons and Zuizers stoode well vnto it yet their rashnesse in going out of their forte to set vpon the Spanniards and Flourentines was no lesse damageable then the cowardlinesse of those which ranne awaie for the Cauallerie turning head against them they were all cut in peeces The Colonels of the Zuizers and Almanes Clermont Monbazon the Captaines Blaise Iean de Ville François de Record Agapite Tody and other to the number of three thousand and more then fiue hundred prisonners remained there the second daye of August 1554. The reporte whereof was brought vnto the Kinge before Renti to abate the ioye of his so fauourable a reencounter against the Emperour beeing himselfe in person thorough the sorrowfull newes of so pittiefull a defeate Manye which were hurt and sundrye other retyred themselues to Sienne there to attend such euent as the Imperialles shoulde bring thether Strossi and Aurele Fregose abandoning Foyan gayned Montalcin whether Bighet beeing come and the Earle of Elfe who had cowardly yeelded vp Lusignen a strong place and furnished withall necessaries they both had theyr heads stroken off The Marquisse in the meane time hauing taken almost all the little places about Siene encamped beefore the cheefe Cittie resolued as hee assured the Emperour by his letters not to depart thence before it shoulde bee yeelded during which siege the Turkes came into Corse to the succour of the French especiallye at the siege of Caluy and Boniface Afterwardes they returned pilling all the coast of Italie to besiege Piombin and and the Ile of Elbe which appertained to the Duke of Flourence Passing on further they dyd infinite mischeefes in the kingdome of Naples Sicilie and Calabria from whence they returned riche into Constantinople without anye mannes seeking to hinder them so great was the reciprocall hatred beetweene these Christian Princes that they choose rather to ruyne themselues then agreeing them altogether to make warre to the profite and honour of all Christendome Now albeit that the endeuours of the Marquisse and the solicitations of the Flourentine by letters together with scarcitie of victuals were very great occasions to mooue the Towne to yeelde yet Monluc resolued vppon the pointe of honour and the Sienois for the defence of theyr libertie ceased not for all that to make verie faire salies vpon the Imperiall campe An occasion that they battered it the more
all the charges of the Empire beseeching him to reconcile the Princes one to another in which the staye and encrease of the Empire wholly consisted the true and nearest cause of the ruyne thereof proceeding from diuision Then that hee woulde yeelde all ayde to his Sonne Philip as a neyghbour to such an enemye as the King of Fraunce was In the ende beeyng determyned to departe hee was stayed thourough the vyolence of his diseases contratyeties of windes long staye in the preparation of his Shippes and thourough a difference fallen out in some of the townes which would by no meanes receyue his sonne the father liuing and other which woulde haue his nephewe Ferdinande seconde sonne to the King of Romanes for their gouernour Ioint the male contentment of a number of Lordes and other who hauing employed all their meanes and often times their life in his seruice vnder a hope of great recompence sawe themselues by this his dimission and departure into Spaine frustrated of all their hope which they coulde not hope for at his sonnes handes who as ordinarily newe Kinges affecte newe seruauntes woulde employe his meanes but to the aduauncement of his fauourites or in recompencing their paines and seruice towardes him of whome himselfe had beene an eye witnesse About the ende of Nouember Ferdinande King of Romanes hauing assembled together the greatest parte of his men of warre wente downe the Danube as farre as Vienne to make head against the Turke who made great preparation for his descente into Hungarie to besiege agayne Vienne in Austria as I will shewe you To open vnto you the affayres and chaunges of the Realme of Englande in fewe woordes Henry the eyghte discontented in that he had no other heyre but Mary borne of Katherine aunte vnto the Emperour whome his brother Arthur had marryed at the age of foureteene yeeres and lefte her a Virgine by the aduice of the Cardinall of Yorke and many dyuines as well Frenche as Almaines and English diuorced her and hauing in full assemblie declared his daughter Marye illegitimate marryed Anne Bullen one of his wifes maydes the which Pope Clemente the seuenth so hardly coulde digest as that he condemned this diuorce as vniust and of euill example especially for that Anne was a Lutherane and he feared least the King and all his Realme woulde confourme them selues to the like religion Whereat Henrye tooke such disdayne as hee declared himselfe head of the Church thorough out all Englande with forbidding any to aduowe the Pope for head or to transporte any money to Rome or paye Peterpence a reuennewe which euerye house yearely payde according to the ordynaunce of Inas in the yeere seuen hundred and fourtie Whereupon there ensued a great alteration of Religion thorough out the whole Realme so confirmed by Edwarde his sonne as that the catholique was cleane banished out of Englande at the least in publique which caused many Englishe men to flye the Realme to seeke in some other Countrey a place of more free conscience Seeyng that the Dukes of Sommerset and Northumberlande gouerned the roaste in the yeere 1553. Notwithstanding as after the death of the Duke of Sommerset the Duke of Northumberlande seeyng howe the King was fallen sicke of a Fluxe which fell into his stomache from the moneth of Februarie had marryed his sonne Guilforde to â—anâ— daughter to the Duke of Suffolke and cousin vnto the sicke King hee wrought so much as that the young King reiecting his sisters Marye and Elizabeth declared for his heyre and Inherittice vnto the Crowne of Englande this Iane of Suffolke to the ende that by this meanes hee mought traunsferre the Royalle into his owne House and disinherite the true Heyres of their righte and legitimate Succession This Marriage and Testamentarie declaration beeyng done in the moneth of May gaue occasion to a number to thinke that this young King whome they helde for the piller of men of knowledge and gaue great hope of future vertue was poysoned and that beeing assured of the time of his death they had caused him to doe whatsoeuer they woulde haue him well were it of poyson or of a Caterre so it is that Edwarde the sixte of that name and the one and fourtie K. of England dyed the sixt day of Iuly the seuenth yeere of his Raigne and the sixteenth of his age solemly entered at Westminster not without the teares of his subiects who saide that his death was presaged by a Comet which appeared a little before his departure and by the great stormes windes tempests and thunders which had that yeere tormented London the chiefe Cittie of the Realme as the witnesses of such troubles as shortly after ensued in England for the people hating in secrete this Duke of Northumberland held for suspected the testament of King Edward as a thing made too much to the aduantage of the Duke and many Lords of the Countrie terming him too ambitious wrote vnto Mary the eldest daughter of K. Henrie the eight encouraging her to declare her selfe Queene and offring vnto her all dutie and seruice Marye who had no great meanes durst not so soone come to London to the ende that according to the custome she might remaine ten daies in the Tower before her Coronation but went into the Countrie and Dukedome of Norfolke bordering on the Sea coast from whence shee wrote to sundrie Princes and Lords of the Countrie complayning how that Iane of Suffolk had enterprised against her and that Edward was not able to dispose of the Crowne which appertained vnto her being the next daughter vnto the late Kinge Henrie she laide before them the wrong which had beene done vnto Katherine her mother and next vnto her selfe and that none of King Henrie his children were to succeede before her protesting that shee would pursue her right by the sworde and not suffer the Duke of Northumberland to vaunt how he would dispose at his pleasure of the Realme of England These letters being brought to London at the selfe same time as Iane of Suffolke against her will was proclaimed Queene within the Tower of London caused a great chaunge of dispositions among the Lordes there present and a strange alienating of their mindes touching the case of Iane whome sundrie from thence foorth left to take Maries parte The which caused the Duke of Northumberland to send certaine troupes of men at armes into the Countrie of Norfolke thinking thereby to hinder her desseins But in the meane time shee was proclaimed Queene in Suffolke by the principall personages of the land So as hauing recouered some succours from the Emperour on the coast of Flaunders albeit that the Duke had strongly armed vppon the Seas to hinder their comming shee practised with a number of the cheefe of the Duke his armie which in the ende incorporated themselues to hers In the meane time Northumberland to playe on the surer side woulde needes haue the Duke of Suffolke Father to Iane to goe as her Lieutennant
generall against Marye for hee durst not leaue London fearing least the Londiners woulde reuoulte But the Duke of Suffolke refusing to take this charge vpon him he was constrained to goe him selfe the other remayning to serue to giue counsell to his daughter within the Tower of London The mishappe notwithstanding of this poore Lord was such as of a great number of men which hee had in his trayne hee saw himselfe as it were euen in a moment left cleane destitute of them all And as one mishappe neuer commeth alone hauing for want of men sent to London for souldiours from thence to come to his succours and for some Lordes which might serue for hostages and warrant of his lyfe they were no sooner without the Cittie but they declared themselues for Marye Whereof it ensued that the Duke who hoped to see his Sonne Kinge of England sawe himselfe left of euery manne and deliuered into the handes of Marye his enemye afterwardes conueyed to London where his tryall beeing made hee then was condemned to loose his head the iudgement being executed in the moneth of September and Marie being proclaimed Queene at London by the Lords and coūcellors of the whole Realme of England as the lawfull heire apparant therevnto and in the end the miserable princesse Iane of Suffolke with her husband sonne vnto the D. of Northumberland had their heads stroken off at London for that shee would not release as some said the right which shee pretended to the Crowne Thus ceased the trouble on that side within the Realme of England Marie being thus receiued for Queene in England they propounded vnto her certaine points to effectuate as to reestablish the auncient Chatholique Religion the goods of the Church into their former estate then that it would please her to marie with some Prince worthie of her and her Realme thereby to draw a succour vnto the Crowne Whereupon to the end that better and more ready order might bee giuen vnto the first shee was counceled to send for her coussen Raynolde Pole then a Fugitiue at Rome for Religion who comming as Legate and with full power from the Pope might better aduance such a matter then any other within the Realme Pole being sent for and forward on his way with such authoritie as was required was entreated by the Emperour Charles the fift to visit him as he passed by at Bruxelles wher he so cunningly handled any Englishman as he promised him that he would further the marriage betweene his Cossin the Queene of England and his sonne Philippe Prince of Spaine which tooke such effect as you haue seene touching the seconde point which could not be so soone brought to passe The Legate being receiued with great deuotion and magnificence into his Country was in full assembly of the three estates of the Realme begon the 12. of Nouember 1554. restored vnto all his dignities goods and honours whereof he had beene depriued by K. Henrie the eight Afterwards vpon Wensday the twentie eight of that moneth the Parliament of England being assembled and in the presence of the King and Queene hee exposed his Legation and exhorted them to returne to the holy Sea of the Pope deliuering vnto them how greatly bound they were vnto almightie God who now had enlarged towards them his diuine grace hauing bestowed vppon them two such Princes as they had further he shewed vnto them how the holy Father ment to vse his benignitie and accustomed clemencye by him his Legate greatly thanking them for that they had receiued him into his Countrie and restored him in bloud where in hee had beene so long attaint and how in respect thereof hee helde himselfe the more bound to procure that they might be restored into the heauenly Court as his principall desire was That done he retyred to giue the better cōmoditie vnto the Lordes of the Parliament to resolue themselues And straight waies the Chancellour repeating the words of the Cardinall shewed vnto them how much they were to thanke God who had raysed vp such a Prophet of their owne seede to procure their saluation In such wise as al with a common accorde concluded to consent to the vnion and obedience of the Church of Rome So as on the next morrow it was ordayned that the Cardinals motion shoulde be accorded and to present with a common consent a petition to beseech their Maiesties as the head of the realme to entreate the Legate to procure an absolute remission of all their errors passed Promising to repeale all the lawes which had beene in former times established against the authoritie of the Sea of Rome The King sent the petition to the Legate and the daye after the Parliament reassembled in the place where the Kinge and Queene with the Cardinall were set There the Chauncellour rose vpp and with such greate reuerence deliuered alowde the resolution which had beene made by the Lordes of the Parliament beseeching in the name of them all that their petition might bee accepted which was written in Latine formed and sealed by the Chancelour The petition being opened by the Legate was deliuered vnto the Chancelour to publish who read it with a lowde voice and that done put it to the question which they all passed and vpon that the King and Queene arose and presented the petition vnto the Legate who read the same Afterwards hee gaue vnto them the Buls of his Legation to reade where by might appeare the authoritie which hee had from the holy Father to be able to absolue them that done he made vnto the man Oration in English shewing how much repentance was agreeable vnto God and how the Angels in Paradise make more ioye of a sinner which returneth to repentance then of nintie and nine iust And thereupon applied certaine examples out of the word to his purpose Then hauing ended his speech he arose vp and the King and Queene kneeled downe on both knees before him inuoking God and the Saints that it would please him to pardon the penitent people in the authoritie of him whose person he there represented all the faults which they had committed in times passed that done the Legate pronounced a generall absolution Afterwardes they all followed the King Queene and Legate to the Chappell where was song Te Deum And after that the Cardinall had made his triumphant entries he restored on the first Sunday in Aduent to the Bishoppes and other Ecclesiasticall persons all the power authoritie and prerogatiue which had beene taken from them On which day the Bishoppe of Winchester hauing beene before times of the Protestant Religion made a Sermon after a solemne Masse taking for his theame Nunc tempus est de somno surgere that is to say it is now time to awake out of sleepe as if he woulde saie that vnder the Raigne of Edward King of England he had alwaies beene asleepe The Queene had in the beginning sent Embassadours to Rome with commission to kisse the feete of his
thought good the countermines little auaileable because that the Spanyarde being in the Ditche had alreadie gayned the toppe most of the souldiers wauering as well for that day by day they sawe the Cannon shotte redouble to the losse of many of them as thorough the small number of people which were lefte and the badde handling of the matter by the Inhabitantes which discouraged them as much as was possible Hereupon the Prince of Piemont iudging the breaches reasonable gaue order for the assaultes The first was giuen to Captaine Cazeres Maister of the Campe of the olde Spanishe bandes and to Lazare Colonell of fiueteene hundred Almaines who were there much endamaged The seconde to Captaine Nauarres with the Spaniardes and the Compte of Meigue with the Wallons The thirde to Captaine Iulian Romero with three Enseignes of Spaniardes two thousande Englishe who falling downe from the toppe of a breache brake his legge The fourth to Captayne Carrondellette with three Enseignes of Bourguignons who there loste a hande The Admirall in the meane time went and sent to all places to the ende euery man shoulde be readie to abide thē put them backe At the last he discouered three Enseignes at the foote of the Parapet being gotten vp thither without making any noyse or sounde of Dromme at which time he made euery man presente himselfe to fight But they coulde not represse them in that place but that they beganne to creepe and mounte vp by one and one to an high Tower which had bene battered with Artillerie at a corner of the Captayne La Garde his quarter When the Admirall sawe that they tooke that waye hee was very glad for there they grapeled and mounted verie vneasily and from the place where himselfe stoode he mought a little discerne them thorough a Flancker whereby he annoyed them as much as he was able with three harquebusiers which remayned with him thinking verily that it was vnpossible for them to force in that way In the ende he sawe those Enseignes which went vp to the top of the towre put themselues downe but he presumed that it was within some Trenche within the Parapet to be more at couerte vntill they tolde him that the enemies had forced the Breache Then turning himselfe towardes those which stoode about him he tolde them that they must goe helpe to succour it Vpon that Saragosse comming vnto him asked him whether he woulde goe and what he would doe to whom he aunswered that he meant to goe helpe to sustaine the force of the Breache which shoulde be offered where eyther they must all dye or put backe the enemie And thereupon hee beganne to goe downe from off the Rampire Nowe you must vnderstande that he was not as then farre from the Towre by which the Spanyardes entred but there was a long trauerse and a high which hindered them from seeing what was done there The Admirall being come downe from off the Rampire hee sawe all that quarter cleane abandoned without so much as one man to make head by reason sayde they that kept that guarde that they were not able to hinder the comming of the assailante it being not possible to descrie or perceyue them vntill they were come to the breache in such sorte as the Spanyardes aryuing there in aboundance and calling vp one an other it was an easie matter to make them selues Maisters finding no person to make resistaunce The Admirall onely accompanyed with foure whereof one was a Page and going to gather together his Troupes and make head as soone as he was there ariued sawe himselfe enwrapped of all partes Knowing then howe that it rested no more in his power to remedie this disorder the Towne being alreadie full of souldiers the Almaines entring in by great Troupes hee fought as much as hee was able to fall into the handes of some Spanyarde as it rightly chaunced vnto him chosing rather in that place to abide the brunte of a common generall fortune and all successe eyther good or badde then by flying away to attayne an immortall shame He which tooke him prisoner made him a while to repose himselfe at the foote of the Rampire where he was all aloane hauing loste all his Forces from thence hee ledde him and made him to enter into one of the Mines which hee had made to gayne the Ditche where hee founde at the entrie thereof the Captaine Alonce de Cazieres Mayster of the Campe of the olde Spanishe bandes to which place the Prince of Piemont ariued incontinently and commaunded Cazieres to carrie him into his Tente Thus was that fayre and riche Towne of S. Quentins conquered on the seauen and twentie daye of August 1557. in which they founde great booties and mightie riches in that it was the Staple of sundrye Marchaundises which were transported into the Lowe Countries and likewise brought from those places thither thorough the entercourse of trade and traficque Without comprehending besides many good Prisoners which they founde there as well of those of the Towne as of such other chiefe Persons and Captaynes as were come in for the defence thereof D' Andelot was likewise there taken but well remembring the badde entertainement which he had receyued at their handes during his imprisonment in Italy hee chose rather to aduenture his life in seeking to escape then to fall agayne an other time into that calamitie and miserie In such sorte as he crept vnder the fasteninges of a Tente and by night hauing sounded diuers passages within the Marshes hee founde meanes to escape their watches and Corps de guardes and saued himselfe at Han. De Iarnac was there taken Prisoner so were S. Remy De Humes De la Guarde De Cuzieux De Moulins the Captaines Brueile and Bretaigne De Rambouillet Saint Romain Saint Andre Lignieres and Soleil There were slayne there the sonne of La Fayette the Captaine Salleuert Enseigne to La Fayette his Companie the Captaynes Oger Vignes La Barre L'Estang Gourdes with sundrie other After the Sacke of Saint Quentin King Philip making no outwarde apparaunce of his intention caused the King and the Duke of Neuers his Lieutenaunt generall to prepare for all occurrentes the best that they were able and especially to prouide for such places as were nearest to that which was taken But as he was earnestly sollicited to this effecte by euery Gouernour to sende such prouisions as were requisite they were all astonished at the yeelding vp of Castelet which a fewe dayes before the taking of Saint Quentins the Compte of Aremberge otherwise called Brabanson enclosed about in one instaunte with a thousande horse all alongest the marishe and towardes Saint Martins Abbey a little aboue which were encamped three Regimentes of Lansquenettes of fourteene Enseignes with twentie peeces of Batterie planted in two places And albeit that the assurance which the Baron of Solignac who commaunded there had yeelded to the King and his Lieutenaunte caused them to repose on that side whilest
that they hasted forwardes the Swizers and Almaines the Frenche Fanterie and Cauallerie to furnishe out the Rende-vous so as within fiueteene dayes they mought make vp the fourme of an Armie yet euen in the very beginning of September it yeelded vp The which was founde very straunge considering that the place was strong and well prouided of all that was necessarie to a Frontire at the least it was looked for that they shoulde haue tarryed the Assaulte An occasion that the King caused him to be clapped vp Prisoner as soone as hee was come to Paris But hee was set at libertie declaring howe hee had beene disappoynted of such necessarie Succoures as hee required of two thousand men in such sorte as D'Estre the Gouernour in former time had vpon any Siege Besides that the enemies hauing founde the Castle without any ditche on that side where they beganne their principall Batterie and a Bastion fallen downe not yet repayred vp in such sorte behaued themselues as that the ordinarie souldiers of the Guarde of that Bastion were soone constrained to abandon it thorough the great quantitie of Bricke and mould which endamaged them and ordinarily fell vpon them the Batterie beeing so violent and furious as in a small space it made a waye for a horse to be able to get vp vpon the Bastion the waye lying all open to come from thence to the breache which albeit it was not altogether sufficient waxed wyder within two volleyes of the Cannon and enlarged it selfe sixe score pace or more the Wall alreadye bowyng and yeelding of the same length and the earth opening a pace in breadth and in deapth the length of a pike Which the Souldiers once perceyuing who were not in the whole nomber three hundred nor halfe of them in health and strength they were so astonished and despayred that notwithstanding any perswasions which the Captaynes coulde vse many stucke not to saye they woulde not fight at all not knowing howe they were able to doe the King any Seruice therein and therefore they thought it better to reserue themselues for some matter of greater importaunce Howesoeuer it was whether grounded or no vpon the feare which they conceaued the Frenche were in least that the Imperialles woulde pursue further their good fortune and duetie against such an inconuenience King Philip to whome the besiegers of the Castelet came to vnite themselues at Fon-Some attended their aunswere of his aduertisement from the Emperour his Father to congratulate with him his prosperitie beseeching him further to commaunde and ordayne what next hee was to enterprise But as a blade rusteth if it be let lie continually within the sheathe so the souldier which is not employed doeth lightly abuse his rest For the Almaines and Spanyardes quickely mutined among themselues for the bootie of Saint Quentins and raunsome of the prisoners which were taken the day of the Battaile some alleadging among other occasions howe that King Philip and the Duke of Sanoye sought to retyane all the great prisoners which exceeded a certayne summe of purpose to pulle them out of the handes of the Almaine Lordes who without all doubte atchieued the greatest honour of the Battayle so farre forth as they were all readie to departe the rather for that the time of their oath was now expired An occasiō the french did turne the matter to their owne aduantage withdrawing out of that nation as many malcontents as they could finde vpon any occasion whatsoeuer Hereupon the Spaniarde addressed himselfe to Han to erect a stronge place vpon the frontiere which might serue for a succour and support to S. Quentins the which hee determined to make impregnable according vnto such models as the enioyners had prescribed vnto him thereby to establish from his lowe countries easie daies iourneyes of retreat when he would either goe in or come out of Fraunce as it shoulde seeme best vnto him Now as vpon new occurrents alwaies proceed new determinations the D. of Neuers being constrained to chaunge the estate and imagination of his defensiue retired his men of warre from sundry garrisons which he had into such places as were neerest vnto Han to the ende that the imperials shoulde not inlarge themselues into any greater a compasse likewise to the ende they might alwaies wast the country before them and famish them by cutting of their victuailes on all sides the french had deuised to make a remouing Campe which for this effect they might enclose and assure with trenches Palissades and other Romane inuentions but the longe delay of their prouisions and soddanes and their enemies cleane broke of this determination The Cheualier Hely with a number of horse entred within the place to succour it running ouer as many enemies as durst stoppe the passages of Han which hee found open without any thinge to commaande it beinge flankerde on the one side with the Riuer of Some and on the other with a Marish being in diuers places aboue one hundred thousande paces broade hauing very little firme or drie grounde to bee able to set foote vpon There is a village and a Castle the village in the state which it was then in was not able to holde out in any kinde of sorte and albeit that there were certaine foundations and fashions of bulwarkes yet they were so open and euill to bee defended as that there was no account at all to bee made thereof The Castle was of a goodly shewe and represented it selfe furious enough according to the olde fortifications beeing in forme square flankerde with fower rounde bulwarkes with a grosse square towre and massiue of a large thicknes seruing for a platforme to the Courtines which were ioyned vnto it and commaundinge in all and through all the Castle But the whole was of drye stones and Masons worke without any rampiers of earth or other fortifications according to the moderne inuentions to sustaine defend a place long time against the blusterousnes and furie of our Cannons Notwithstanding that the way might not bee altogether open and free to the Spaniarde to enter further in if he found not a stoppe Sepois which was Gouernour had giuen the Kinge aduise to burne the towne in case seege were laide vnto it whereby the enemie might haue no place to lodge in But as for the Castle men might holde and keepe it for a fewe dayes whilest that they shoulde bee the better able to fortefie themselues for it was easie to iudge that hauing taken Han hee woulde neuer ende there but passe on further where he might cast himselfe nowe on the right hande and nowe on the lefte and so daylie addresse himselfe to such places as were weake and likely in a shorte time to be caried to the ende he might not lose and euill employ the season which serued so fitte and proper for him I haue let you to vnderstande how that to bee meete with the inconueniences of the battell of Saynte Quentins among other preparatiues the Kinge had sent vnto
finished their propositions before that the Kinge rose the Cardinall of Sens keeper of the greate Seale kneeled downe before the Kinge bowing downe his head verie lowe Afterwardes rysing vp hee returned towardes the assistantes and saide that the Kinge had commaunded him to vse this speeche vnto all the people That to beginne to restore all thinges into a good disposition for the comforte and repose of Fraunce euerie one of the Deputies of the Townes shoulde set downe in writing all theyr griefes and put those pointes into Articles which had most neede of reformation and then deliuer them into the saide Du Mortier his handes Vppon which the Kinge with the Lordes of his Councell would particularly order euerie one as hee shoulde see needefull and in such time as they shoulde bee made priuie vnto And that the Deputies shoulde not departe out of the Towne vntill they had more amplie vnderstoode the Kinges pleasure This being saide the Kinge arose and after himselfe being retyred euerie man tooke the waie of his retreate Certaine daies after the Deputies of the Townes were sent for to the Cardinall of Sens his lodging where they found the Cardinall of Lorraine with other of the priuie Councell There the Cardinall of Lorraine deliuered vnto the Deputies of the Townes the ende and scope of his assemblie to witte that the Kinge woulde borrow three Millions of Golde and that hee woulde haue found out three thousand persons within his Realme which might lend him euerie man a thousand Crownes declaring how that the Cleargie had alreadie offred a thousand men which should lend euerie man a thousand That the Townes of Fraunce should find two thousand men and that the K. would diminish his taxes for the ease of his common people which was greatly oppressed therewith And that there should bee no more custome put vpon marchandise for the entertayning of traficque charging the saide Deputies to doe one of the two thinges euerie man to giue a parte by him selfe the Roles of such as were able to furnishe money and the other to giue in writing to Du Mortier all such Articles as seemed good vnto them for the reformation of causes At their departure the deputies consulted together and concluded it touching the charge which was giuen vnto them they were not able to giue anie roles of names for that it was vnpossible for them to bee able to know the estate of the perticular persons for such a one is oftentimes reputed to haue money which hath least And for to discharge themselues from giuing anie such Roles they went the same daie to the Cardinall of Lorraine to whome they declared that it was vnpossible to giue vp any such Roles with any certaintie by reason that they were not possibly able to knowe and vnderstande the abilitie and meanes of the inhabitants for as much as some man hath store of goods in apparance which hath no money at all And for the regard of Marchants which worke vppon their credit many a one maketh great show and traficques outwardly which is neere enough at hand to be come bankroute Afterwards they of the priuie Counsell deliberated of the matter Whereuppon considering how that the Deputies of Townes were not able to make vp anie true Rowles thorough the vncertaintie of persons habilities they concluded that they would charge and taske in euerie Towne so many men as shoulde lend money and if they were not able to lend a thousand Crownes then to lende fiue hundred augmenting the number of persons The fourth estate afterwardes gaue vp Articles for the reformation of causes according as the present time required Briefely in the ende the Ecclesiasticall estate garunted vnto the King in a pure guift a Million of Golde besides the tenthes And the fouth estate two Millions of Golde declaring further vnto him that if that woulde not suffice to maintaine the warre and compell the enemie to harken to some good peace they would expose al that remayned of their goods and persons at his seruice Hereupon the King perceiuing all his forces to be ioyned together in one ouer which and his whole Realme throughout hee had already declared the Duke of Guise his Lieutenant generall determined that the conquest of Calais the countie there abouts should be the first exploite thereof and so the aduise of those which councelled him to assaie to recouer such places as were lost was differred vntill a better season considering that they were wel enough prouided to hold out a long time that winter approached on his troupes being come from so farre off especially his men at armes being altogether wearie with their great paines taking the Sommer before And the whole Countrie cleane wasted and especially vnprouided of all victuall and fourage thorough the continuance of the warres passed Now as the gentle harte awakeneth and groweth affected according to the good or euill example of an other and chiefely in seeking to doe best when any hatred or iealousie is intermingled so this Generall being curious to make it appeare that to blot out the Constables disgrace he had no smaller meanes vnder the winges of his Prince then the D. of Sauoie supported by the K. of Spaine endeuored by his long secrete and continuall diligence to take his aduantages as happily as the Prince of Piemont had done in his former exploits of Picardie Therefore vndertaking vpon his honour the conduct and finall execution of Senarpont Gouernour of Boulonnois his olde and so often differred secret enterprises to the pursuite wherof the Constable marched had not the desastre of S. Quintins crossed the course of his good happe and perceauing how all thinges had of a long time beene made ready aduised that the better to take away anye suspition from the Spanniardes of his intente and meaning the Duke of Neuers should carrie halfe the armie into Campagne giuing out that he went to batter Luxembourge Arlon and other places which Frontered vpon his gouerment and that the other part should remaine with the D. of Guise only to hinder any entire victualling which should bee brought to such places as had beene newly conquered But the Duke of Neuers seeing that nothing presented it selfe of suddaine taking that the Spaniard had dispersed his armie in fortefying the places about Luxembourg which were euill enough prouided sent backe his troupes with all diligence to the Duke of Guise who in the meane space bending towards Amiens as it were to victuall D'ourlen and after to strengthen Ardres Bolongne found meanes to vnderstand and learne the passages forces estate and desseins of them of Calais Wher vnderstanding how that al things remained in the same state as they left them with a great promptnes he presented the choysest of his men before the fort of Nieullay on the first day of Ianuarie Where finding at their ariuall a little fort palissaded raysed vp with earth which the English men had builded at S. Agathe a smal village neere hand and at the
Seigneurie of Basle vpon the bodie and goods of Dauid George and of the followers of his faith and religion The speech which Charles of Austria vsed to the Embassadors resiante about his person when as he lefte Flaunders to retourne into Spayne there to finish his dayes The meanes which the K. vsed to make the D. of Guises armie to passe into Italy to the succour of the Pope The breach of Truce begun by the assayling of Valence in the Dutchie of Milan The order which the Mareschal Brissac gaue in Piemont Enterprise of Milan What successe the French armies haue had in Italie especially in the conquest of the Realme of Naples Warre begunne in Fraunce against the Truce The Admirall breaketh the Truce in Fraunce D. of Ferrara at Venise and why Corregge taken by the Spaniards vpon the D. of Ferrara The French army in Italie D. of Alua in the Kingdome of Naples Ciuitelle rescued from the French The Pope retaineth the d. of Guise Peace negotiated and by whom Articles of peace between the Pope and the Spaniard The desseines old preparations of king Phillip Dessignes and preparations of king Henrie Roc Roy and his representation K. Phillips armie K. Henries armie The aduauntages which the Spaniards Flemings had ouer the French S. Quentin enuironed rounde before that the Frenche once thought thereof and lesse prouided for it Gaspard Coligny Admirall and Gouernour of Piccardie getteth into S. Quentin Howe a sallie ought to be made vpon the enemie Gunpowder Meanes to sende succours to the besieged and howe to be better assured Englishmen ioyned to K. Philips Armie The Prince of Pimont resalueth to charge to hinder the rest from entring in or to breake the Frenche Armie The occasion of the charge giuing The defeate and route of the Frenche at S. Quentins Frenchmē dead prisoners and escaped from the battayle of S. Quentins The Duke of Neuers Chiefe of such as escaped reassembleth the rest of the battaile and howe he prouided for the whole Paris scareth the comming of K. Philip no lesse then afore time his fathers Charles the Emperour The K. demaundeth succour of the Parissians The meanes which the K. of Fraunce vsed for his better assurance after the battaile of S. Quentin The Englishe which serued K. Henry gained by those of Philips side leaue their Captaine and flye Defeate of S. Quentins De Termes and De Anuille The K. meanes to drawe out of the Cleargies Nobilities reuennewes The Swizers goe out of Piemont The Vidasme of Chartres carieth 2000. Fantassins into Fraunce Death of Salueson Francisque Bernardin Gouernour of Casal Salueson gentleman of the Chamber The credit of a Gouernour is impared among his owne except it appeare somewhat about his soueraigne Pauan Baron of Adrek Bouual de parte The D. of Alua commeth in Piemont with his armie The Mareshal 〈◊〉 content Money leuied vpon Piemont The D. of Alua his armie at Gennes Captaine Lisle The Mareschall Brissac going out of Piemōt leueth Gonner his brother Liuetenant generall Assemblie of Lutherans discouered in S Iacques street in Paris Lutherans punished Ordinances against the Lutheranes Persecution of the Lutheranes K. Philip commeth for his Armie after the battayle The 22. of August the Spanyardes beganne their great Batterie at S. Quentins The great aduantages of the Spaniardes and small means which the Frenche had to endure the siege The Towne of S Quentins very riche and full of great booties Meanes of well employing an Armie Description of the situation of Han. The Duke of Guises departure The Duke of Guise made Liuetenant Generall by the K. ouer all his countries K. H. 2. letters to the Constable being prisoner Signes serue for admonitions from God Ruines caused at Rome by the floode Description of the floude at Florence Flood at Nismes in Languedoc Han battered taken by King Philip. Noyon surprised by disguising of rayments The diligence of the D. of Neuers at Compienne The meanes which the K. vsed to leuie an Armie against the Spanyard The generall Estates of France assembled by the K. to declare vnto them his necessities and seeke succour against Spayne at their handes The K. declaration to the estates of his Realme The port of Nieullay taken from the Englishmen and how The forte of Ricebank rendred vp to the Duke of Guise The port o◠Calais occupied by D' Andelot and his French companies Instruments by art inuented fo◠the siege of Calais Description of the Towne of Calais Guines Gr. line as it were two souldier support Cala◠Guines besieged the 13. of Ianuarie Mondragon a Spanniarde Hamas Castle abandoned The K. in his parliament at Paris The K. armie dismissed Madamoiselle de Rohan D. of Neuers The Castle of Hebermont yeelded