life after the skirmishe is reenforced the space betwéene the troupes is now couered with the horsemen that flée about to the taking the ruine the death one of another his is it that causeth some to turne the noses of their péeces for â—o shoote right on the battel this is it that makes Ienlis when he saw that the light attaches waxed still hoter and hoter and encreased euery moment fearing that the Catholikes would not charge his troups in grosse to go vnto the Prince to demauÌ„d of him if he were not of the aduise that he might charge according to the occasion estate of the skirmishe But as he returned with permission to do it he sawe that Vardes was in fight For the chiefe Captaine séeing that the Catholikes augmented their number vpon the skirmishers had no sooner made them to retire but that two companies marched for to ouerrunne them Then was he constrayned to take part to range and close togither his men as well as he coulde and hauing desired them not to breake their araye and to charge with might and mayne and to entersuccour one another he auaunced apace for to receyue the Catholikes who chaunging their pace into a trot reencountred them with such furie that the most assured made their Launces to flée into shiuers the other that coulde not assigne so right péerced the bodies of the horses all in generall came vnto the Pistoles and Coutelas which hasted death to aboue fiftie in that first charge and there were a good many moe hurt that fought not after namely by reason of the pellets which the harquebusiers that were in the trench made to rayne vpon them that first came to attach Vardes who perceyuing that he shoulde not be long able by reason of his small number to stande vp agaynst the Catholikes that came to renforce their first men retired by little and little for to rallye his men with the helpe of the ditche out of the which came such a strong salué of harquebusses that many made conscience for to approche neare vnto it At the same â—yme Ienlis who had assured the rest of his fellowes that he had lefte the Prince and the Admirall who were readye vpon the poynte to go vnto the charge fullye resolued to die all of them before that the Catholikes should gaine vpon them one foote of grounde and lesse of honour encouraged them so much that without making any oration but only going before his troupes as guide â—he was folowed of them all after that he had made the harquebusiers to come forwarde who being assured by the countenaunce of their horsemenne woulde méete in the face the foremoste of the Catholikes that woulde present themselues who no otherwise than the noble Greyhounde doth growe in courage for the first pinche that he hath giuen vnto the chafed beast and as you sée the gentle Faucon to founder and to encourage hir selfe the more vpon a bird of praye bicause that she hath once giuen hir a grype with hir tallons so in like maner they were allured out to the entier hazard of a iourney by the encounter of Vardes They being all rallyed and incorporated vnder their Ensignes had it might be layde on the grounde all the Cornets Protestants if that their harquebusiers who had nowe cleared and made thinne the formost and most strongest rankes had not caused the courage of manye to quayle so that they charged no more so couragiously and therewithall to they were receyued with a resolution so harde and reencountred with suche pertinacie that the greatest euill fell vpon themselues The first charge of Ienlis was more cruell than the seconde although that the least of the thrée was verye bloudie for the death of many braue gentlemen that neuer after strake blowe with the sworde But this is true that neyther obstinate desperatenesse nor the helpe of the harquebusiers coulde haue sure warranted them to stande vp long séeing that the most of the forces Catholike turned into that quarter if that the mortall charges of the Prince and the Admirall had not made manye to turne tayle whilest that Ienlis and manye of his companions entertayned the fight against the hotest of the Catholikes giuing leysure vnto them that were most wearied with so long and furious a fight to remayne quiet and aranged in battell and to prepace themselues for the first occasion that shoulde present it selfe vnto them Nowe cast your eyes towarde Saint Ouin and you shall sée the Admirall well forwarde and also immediatly followed by the Prince and all the rest of the armie who would giue and receiue their part of blowes You haue séene the good meane that the Catholikes had to preuayle with their artillerie and howe it serued them During the time of this great thunder the Captaines of both armies waited for the time of their charge the coÌ„maundements of the Generals namely the confederates who founde the tunes of that Musicke more than verye violent and all according with their intention bicause they had not one Canon for to aunswere to that sâ—â—ching diuelrie which vomited so many curses vpon them sometime to high and oftentimes more lowe than the gunners thought but alwayes doing lesse hurte than the Generall Catholike desired Herevpon the Admirall had no sooner founde his aduauntage but that he sent to aduertise the Prince of all that he had marked concerning the state of the Catholikes who stayed not long after to followe him The Conte of Colignie made his harquebusiers to hasten their pace and hauing made them to aduaunce themselues on his side they serued him to so great purpose that the reencouÌ„ter was through them much the more fortunate vnto him At the same instant he so lustily charged the red Coates and those troupes that were neare vnto them on the left side who had come to séeke him that they were not able long time to susteyne the furious pursuite and were in the ende chaced euen vnto the Chappell Those men that haue flight more naturall and ordinarie than resolution in such affaires canassure you that troupes broken and hotly pursued haue no discretion and consideration of the places through which they passe for to saue the prison of the soule This caused the greatest part of them to make waye with the force of their horses who had their sides scorched through the Parisian bandes whome they very much brake and also much more affrighted so that they were not able long time after to reassure them oute of the trembling feare of Saint Denys And not onelye the footemen were discouraged but also many of the braue horsmen had augmented the number of the other companies Vpon this the Mareschall Cossé séeing those of Ienlis his regiment to retire by little and little after that he had appoynted certaine companies for to make heade if they woulde begin agayne made all the rest of his troupes to turne directlye towardes the encounter whereof we nowe come to speake sending one to
Almaynes thrusting them in in those vnarmed places wyth theyr daggers and commyttyng a greate slaughter they were nowe come almost vnto the middes of the battel among whome the Gascoigne footemen hauyng gotten the way betwéene the Riuer and the Rampyre had charged the Italian footemenne who although they hadde receyued greate losse by the greate ordinaunce yet hadde repelled them to theyr singular commendation if Alegres hadde not gyuen a violente charge on them wyth hys Horsemen wyth greater force than good fortune for when hée sawe hys sonne Viuerroes slayne in his syght almost at the very fyrst encounter hée vnwillyng to lyue after so greate griefe flang in wyth hys Horse into the thyckest of hys enimies and fyghtyng as became a most valiaunte Captayne after he had slayne many was slayne hymselfe The Italian footemenne when they coulde no longer susteyne so greate a multitude beganne to shrinke but parte of the Spanyardes commyng to theyr succoure they kepte styll in the battayle and the Almayne footemenne béeyng oppressed by the other parte of the Spanyardes coulde scarse stande vppe anye longer But nowe all the Horsemenne being put to flight Foix with a great multitude of Horsemen sette on the Spanyards who rather retiring thā driuen out of the field did with their aray in no parte broken take the way that lyeth betwéene the riuer and the high banke marching with equall pace with their front very thicke of men and so repelling the Frenchmen with the strength thereof began to retire and departe out of the field whiche Nauarro beholding was more desyrous of deathe than of life and therefore not departing out of the battell was taken prisoner but when Foix coulde not abyde to sée the Spanishe footemenne thus goe away safely and victor-like with their whole rankes vnbroken and perceyued that the victorie was vnperfect vnlesse they were broken as well as the rest in great fury charged on the tayle of them with a troupe of Horsemen but he incontinently being enclosed by them and throwen off from his Horse or as diuers say oppressed with the foundering of his Horse was slayne with a pyke thrust into his syde and certesse if they ought to wishe for deathe as the common opinion is that are come vnto the highest degrée of felicitie then doubtlesse this noble Gentlemans death was most fortunate hauing gotten so glorious a victorie He dyed a very yong man hauing now wonne among all men immortall fame for that within the space of thrée monethes being a Generall almost before he was a Souldyer he had with incredible celeritie and ferocitie gotten so many victories The Lord Lautrech his Cousin germaine béeyng hurt wyth twentye woundes lay besydes him almost dead but béeyng carried to Ferrara was saued by the diligent cure of the Chirurgians Thorough the deathe of Foix the Spanishe footemen were suffered to go theyr wayes without impeachment The rest of the army was nowe scattered and put to flight all the bagge and baggage taken togyther with the ensignes and ordinance and the Popes Legate Iohn de Medici Fabricio de Colonna Nauarro and the Marquesses of Palude Bitonto and Pescara and many other Princes the chiefe of the nobilitie and men of name of the Spanyards and Neapolitanes The number of them that were slayne in this battell is altogyther vncertaine yet among the varietie of many reports most do affirme that on both sydes there were at the least tenne thousand slayne of whome the third part were Frenchmē and the rest of theyr enimies but without all doubt according vnto the common mannet of Mars the valiauntest and the stoutest men among whome of the Papistes or the Popes bandes was Raphaell de Pazi a Captayne of famous renowne and innumerable were hurt But without cōtrouersie the losse on the victors side was farre the greater by reason of the death of Foix Alegres and many of the French nobilitie and of Iacob and other of the valiauntest Captaines of the Almaine footemen vnto whose prowesse this victorie bought with no little effusion of bloud was chiefly attributed Moreouer many of the Captaynes of the Gascoignes and Picardes the which nations that day lost al their glory among the Frenchmē were slaine with Monsieur de Molard but the death of Foix surpassed all other losses with whome the courage strēgth life and fiercenesse of that army was vtterly extinguished The greatest part of the vanquished that escaped out of the battell fledde vnto Cesena and from thence vnto farther places neyther dyd the Viceroy stay anye where before he came to Ancona whither he brought but very few Souldyers many béeing spoyled and slayne in their flight for the Duke of Vrbine not only stirred vp the Countreymen against thē but also sent Souldyers to doe the like in Pesaro they only escaped safely that passed through the dominions of the Florentines But although that after this battell the victor army tooke and sacked Rauenna yet within very short time when the couetous Treasoucer of Normandy to saue charges had dismissed the Italian Souldyers and part of the men of armes had returned into France and the Emperoure had reuoked the Almaynes they were by a new army of Switzers that came downe to the Popes aide with whome also ioyned the Venetians quite dispossessed of the whole Duchie of Milane and all that euer the French King had in Jtaly besydes ¶ The Battell of Riotta or Nouara fought in the Duchie of Milan betvveene Iohn Trivulzi and the Lord Tremouille Generalles for the French King Lewes the twelfth on the one syde and Maximilian Sforza the Duke of Milan and the Switzers on the other in Anno. 1513. out of Iouius his historie THe French King Lewes the twelfth not brooking his losse of Milan chose two Captaynes of greate authoritie and skill to passe the Alpes they were Trivulzi and Tremouille and also sent for Robert de la March out of the lande of Luke with the blacke regiment of Almaynes and Lewes Lorde Beamont out of the frontiers of Nauarre with those bands of Gascoignes that serued Signeur de la Palice a little before at Pampelona againste the Spanyards Among them he also mingled certayne ensignes of footemen consisting of very chosen men for then euery Gentleman whyche was not appoynted vnto an Horse dyd with singular chéerefulnesse thynke it for hys worshippe to serue on foote All thys power béeyng verye well appoynted with a greate furniture of greate ordinaunce hée commaunded to hasten into Jtaly Maximilian Sforza the Duke of Milane hauyng intelligence of this prouision in Fraunce agaynste hym solliciteth the Switzers to come into Lumbardy in hys defence the whyche hée easily obteyneth And firste of all the Hamans or Maiors of the Cantons of Vry Switz and Vnderwald as nexte vnto Jtaly passed the Alpes whome the bandes of Glaron Zuch Lacerne Sciphausen Zuriche and Berne followed in another companye And in the thirde and last companye were fyue thousande footemen vnder the conduct of Altosaxe an experte Captayne But Sforza
the middes of the battell and with greate force beates backe the insulting Epirotes and slaying Alexio Bosigno a noble Geeke their captain â—â—ite defeateth them And with the same fease is also carryed into the ennimyes Campe and there the drudges and stragglers beeing slayne and the Souldiours of the station disordered tooke the carriages and baggage But a little before these thynges were doone by Mottine an other company takyng a longer iourneye thoroughe the Corne fieldes then growen vppe and thereby receyuing small hurte by the ordinaunce had charged the syde of the enimye The Frenche power was deuided into three battailes Tremouille and De la Marche hauyng the leadyng of the wyngs and Trivulzi of the middle battayle and the Batallion of the Lancequenetz hadde gotten them within a ditche betweene the battailes of the horsemenne bycause theyr Trenche beeyng of a newe and wounderfull workemanshippe inuented by Roberte de la March for to enclose them agaynste the chaunce of battayle coulde not bee pitched and sette vp in that suddayne commyng of the ennimie Vppon this Esquadron of the Almaynes the Switzers brynging about their battell towardes the right hande courageously tourned them selues for that they vnderstoode the victorye woulde bee easely obtained after they had once defeated the chiefest force of their enimies armye The Frenche Captaynes seeyng this incontinentely commaunded the greate ordinaunce to bee shotte off vppon them the rankes to bee broken thoroughe wyth greate slaughter and anone after the menne of armes also vehemently charged them on the lefte syde In this tumulte the Amans of Berne and Zuche were slaine yet the Souldiours nothyng appalled wyth their Captaines deathes neyther with their owne perill nor the horrible slaughter of their fellowes gathering their strength togither do cast them selues into a ring and wyth greate valoure doe propell the horsmen and straightway as they had before determined passing ouer the ditche set vppon the Almaines Whervppon incontinently began a bloudye and cruell fight yea and that without either wordes or noise on eyther side sauyng onlye an horrible clashyng of armour and weapons and the softe sighes of them that fell downe deade The Almaines that they mighte reuenge the slaughter of their countreymen the laste yeare at Pauia and now by newe renowne redeme the glory of warfare lost fourteene yeares before at Bruderholtz in the confines of Basill foughte very fiercely But the Switzers that they myght yet one daye quite destroye their olde and peculiar enimies fellowes that had runne out of Germanie and serued the Frenche Kyng in reproche of the Emperour were no whitte behind either in strength or feruencie of courage But whilest the Switzers and Almaines thus fought at push of pike newes was brought vnto Trivulzi and Tremouille that the baggage was taken those that were appoynted to kéepe the Campe slayne and all places fylled full of tumulte and slaughter The fame whereof so troubled the Frenchemens myndes that a greate parte of the horsemen euery man being carefull for his bagge and baggage ranne thither without commandement to recouer the praye Also in another quarter almoste at the same instant the third companye or battell of the Switzers shewed themselues at the fronte of the Frenchemen which battell whilest the Frenchmen hadde in vayne shotte off their ordinance into the woodde that stoode béefore them by reason the Switzers to deceiue the ennimies had politikely lefte among the trees certayne vnprofitable drudges to make a shewe of armed men hadde crepte along by a syde way by little and little stoupyng and traylyng theyr pykes after them And nowe so greate was their contempt of the flying bullets and so terrible their chardge that the Frenche and Nauarrine footmen their Captaine Beamont being slayne and twoo bandes of Genouese and Salucians were quickly defeated and also their ordinaunce taken and tourned on the backs of them that fled When the reste of the horsemen sawe the greate ordinaunce gotten by the enimie in whome the Frenchemen hadde in all warres reposed more truste than in theyr armes and prowesse that the Almaines were nowe almoste quite destroyed their tents taken the enimie ouerthrowing all now large lords of the field betwene shame and feare they tourned their backes When all men were thus dismayed the Captaines themselues were fearlesse enough considering the fearefulnesse of the state and went about to rallye the rankes that were disordered and turned them selues towardes the dissonant cries of their own fellowes made them to abide and fighte encouraged the petye Capitaines and ensigne bearers to put away feare and so long to susteine a fewe pesants of weary vnarmed and nowe weakened wyth woundes vntill the lighte armed had enclosed them The Lansquenetz beare the brunt of the battell and the fight is repaired in all places But the horsemen being nothing moued wyth the wordes of the encouraging and commaunding captaines shamefullye flye For the Switzers althoughe their Captaine Mottine were slaine by a péece of ordinaunce yet hauing gotten the Campe did al bloudy fiercely inuade the lefte side of the horsemen and on the righte syde and on the back a greater power with terrible pikes did very sharply vrge the affrighted and disordered horsemen There perished in repairing the fielde Monfalcon Captaine of the Duke of Albanies companye of horsmen and Coriolano Trivulzi a yong Gentleman of singular hope But the Almaines who leesing halfe their men and two ensignes and their Generall Floranges greeuously hurte had foughte very constantly a long time Nowe when they sawe themselues to bee forsaken by the horsemen and the reste of the footemen in all quarters to be defeated and the great ordinaunce taken thinking that flight was shamefull and yet nothing safe did set the points of their weapons vpright accordyng vnto their manner and yeelded themselues seeking mercye of the victor enimys In this grieuous vproare Robert de la March Lorde of Cedan attached with impotent sorow to see his two sonnes the lords Floranges and Gemese enclosed by the enimye and almoste in desperate daunger of life burst in euen into the midst of his enimies battell wyth a troupe of horsemen and toke them vppe lying among the dead bodyes miserably berayed and embrued wyth the bloude of their woundes and being halfe dead layde them ouerthwarte the neekes of two horses like vnto twoo cloke bagges and thus wyth singular praise bothe of fatherly pitie and warlike prowesse he caried them away preseruing their liues to purchase renowne in future and more fortunate fieldes Thus the Switzers fighting in thrée companyes or battells within an houre and an halfe dyspatched and finished a famous battell and a moste weyghtye warre Neyther yet althoughe the Switzers sawe so many of their enimies lye slaine before their face canne they once to the spoyle notwithstanding that precious furniture of household and al the baggage of the riche army did allure their minds for they remembring their country discipline which doth not permitte them to take anye armed man prisoner in the
succour his enclosed and dying ensignebearer he being tossed among the pikes and halberdes of hys enimies and his horse wounded and the creste stroken off from his helmet gotte hymselfe out of thys daunger by the rescous of hys company of horsemen And nowe was the battayle hardely susteyned in moste places and the Switzers for that they had passed ouer the very yll ditche had with greate valor wonne the ordinance and defeating the footemen and disordering the horsemen had wonne the place where their enimies had stoode séemed to haue the better of the battell when the King aduauncing forward wyth him the middle battell and commaunding Alencon to folow him with the rereward with equall pace and many péeces of ordinance being bestowed by the Captaines in certaine places by whom the Esquadrons of the Switzers might bée annoyed on the sydes came in very good time wyth the blacke regiment and a mightye number of horsemen hée couragiously professing bothe to hys owne Souldiours and also vnto hys enimyes by hys coate armour of Skye colour poudered wyth Lillies of golde that hée was the King was conuersaunt in the fore front valiauntly laide on the enimye and perillouslye galloppyng hys horse hyther and thither encountred the hotest of the enimies finally inflamed his souldiors not only wyth words adhortations but also with singular example of true prowes for the Switzers did presse on so feruently and stoode to it so sternely and stoutly yea and so great was the valor and courage yea of them that were wounded and were dying that the Kyng in that iniquitie of fight muste néedes forget his maiestye contemne his life and repaire his enclined state rather by valiant hand and strength than by sleight counsell or aduice The horsemen also who had by running away at Nouarra and Turwin loste the olde opinion of their prowesse did now least that if they should againe giue place be marked for euer after with euerlasting ignomy contend to satisfy the Kyng who fought valiauntly in the sight of them all eyther by honorable death or else with noble victory There were slaine in this encounter the Prince of Talemonde sonne vnto Seigneur Tremouiile and Seigneur de Roy a man of greate nobilitie in Picardie and Seigneur Vantell who bare the extraordinary standerde of the Kyngs troupe and many moe of the valiantest horsemen and Mounsieur de Moy that bare the ensigne of a very noble company of horsmen bycause they beyng empeached and entangled wyth the ditches and vines could not get out and orderly range their bands But of the Switzers there was slaine Rafe Long that greate stirrer vp of the multitude and also Flech a man more renoumed for his valiauncye than his stocke and VVolter Offy who for his singular prudence mighty strength which are not lightly blended togither in men of that nation had gottē great opinion of prowesse in al warres especially at the battell of Nouara They fought continually seauen houres without ceassing ▪ for when the sunne had failed them in the mids of the heate of the battell the Moone that then shined bright kepte both armies in armes And the fighte was horrible and very bloudy as long as there was any light at all But anone when the Moone was hidden wyth the cloudes althoughe they being wearied with toile and woundes and their weapons blunted sought place for reste yet in the meane tyme through mutuall error both friends and foes were slaine by blind and frantike blowes For when the Almaines not beyng muche vnlike vnto the Switzers neyther in tongue nor habite were blended togither with the Switzers in dyuers places at length the watcheworde bewrayed them and then foule slaughter was committed in the darke Neyther ceassed the ordinance all night but as they were shotte off without any certaine markes so did they cause more terror than flaughter The Cardinall who had not this daye failed vnto his Countrymen in hope care and toile did by mistaking the place lighte among the Almaines but got himselfe out of the daunger by counterfaiting their tongue by a rougher voice and passying the ditche returned vnto the burnyng houses of the village whether Rosty and Anglarde being inuited with the shining of the fire and many other of the Captaines resorting as it were vnto the Generalls tent had caused the mighty horne of a wilde Vri the which being deliuered by hand from their ancesters is kept with great care and religion at Vri the authours of the libertye of the Switzers to be sounded that the dispersed and wandering Souldiours might be called vnto the ensignes This no doubte saued many that were intermedled in diuers places among their enimies bycause they coulde haue no certaine recourse vnto their fellowes the likenesse of the sounds of the drummes confounding their eares Both armies by reason of mutuall feare passed the whole night without sléepe yet were more readye in hearte than in strength for to fight againe for although the valiant also the cowardes were both tyred with the long toile of fight yet with dyuers habites of heart they were excited eyther with desire of fight victory or feare of death The Cardinall and the rest of the Captaines althoughe that the firste opinion séemed greately to haue deceyued them for that they had not as they hadde hoped vanquished at the firste charge their enimies yea being disordered with great slaughter and lost wyth almostle vaine attempt the stoutest of their men yet forsake not themselues and call many into counsell and when that it pleaseth them all to expecte the light and to fight againe they doe decrée that certaine be sent to Milan to requeste all kinde of helpe for that they had come foorth vnprouided of all things Iohn Gonzaga is sent to fill wyth newe hope Maximilian and the Citizens of Milan who were hofull of the euent of the battell and to sende from the Citie out of hand bread and meate ready dressed and many vessels of wine for the souldiours that fainted for wearinesse and thirste and to conuey vnto the Campe greate ordinance shotte and pouder with all possible spéede But when the Counsell was broken vppe the Capitaines and ensigne bearers spake dyuersly among the Souldiours according as euery man thought of the Cardinall and of the euent of the battell Some beyng desirous of honour and victory made light of the greate losse that they had in déede and did extoll and augment with false tales the valiant actes of their fellowes and the slaughter of the Frenchmen Contrariwise those of the aduerse faction that they might spéedilye prouide for their owne safety and also augment the daunger of dignitie and lyfe in the Cardinall who was enuironed with extreame difficulties disbended and returned to Milan Also the Popes horsemen who for their small number had serued to no greate vse did for a greate parte of them either for feare or despaire forsake their captaines and returne into the Citie But although the king were
surney all that region and to open the way vnto Gaza the which was combersome and troublesome by reason of the Arabians That Citie standeth on the Sea coaste and in the fines of Aegipt neare vnto the sandy desertes throughe whome they muste go with a harde and painfull iorney that will tranaile vnto the farther Aâ—gipt and vnto the Citie of Caire The Citizens of Gaza bycause they had no garrison of souldiors at the very first receyued Synambassa and subtilly thanked hym for that hée hadde vouchesafed to deliuer them out of the intollerable slauerye of the Mamaluches for the memorie of the which benefit they promised to be and remaine true and faithfull vnto Selym and his successors for euer But whilest that Synambassa expected in Campe wythin an arrowe shoote of the Citie the comming of Selym learning out diligently in the meane time the region that they must passe thoroughe to goe into Aegipt and endeuouring to winne the friendshippe of the Arabian Capitaines and suborning espies to goe vnto Caire to learne the counselles of the Mamaluches and Tomumbey whom they had chosen after the death of Campson to be Sultan the Citizens of Gaza who by nature were extreame enimies vnto the Turkes and nowe began to féele dayly great dammage through the present Turkishe army certified Tomumbey of the comming of Synambassa and also gaue hym to vnderstand that the same power of the Turkes might be easyly oppressed and destroyed before that Selym were come if that a strong crue of Mamaluches with skilfull Capitaines were sent vnto them for whilest the Mamalâ—ches did in the deade time of the nighte at a time agréed vppon betwéene the Citizens and them inuade the fléeping Tuâ—kes they would also at the selfe same momeÌ„t sally out of the Citiz and disorder and deface the enimies campe with fire and swood Temumbey and the Mamaluches doe incontinently like the deuise and sende Gazelles with sire thousande horsemen or Mamaluches and a greate multitude of Arabians But he was scarse departed from Caire but Synambassa had intelligence thereof by Syrian espies and howe they hasting without any cariages would be there within two daies The whiche newes as it saued the Turkishe army to also was it of greate moment to the obtayning of the entire victorye of the whole warres But althoughe Synambassa had no intelligence at all of the falshoode of the Gazans yet bycause he did suspecte as he was a man of a prouident and wise head that the like might happen vnto hym determined lefte that hée might haue to doe wyth twoo enimies at once to méete the Mamaluches by the waye and to trye the fortune of fight Therefore dislodging after the seconde watche hée wyth greate silence departed out of the sight of the Citie and marched fiftéene miles in the way towardes Caire Nowe hée was come neare vnto a small village where all trâ—uailers doe commonly vse to ledge by reason of the commoditie of a plentifull Spring that riseth in that place It fortuned that Synambassa was minded to stay in that village and also Gazelles had likewise thought to rest there certaine hours and refreshe his men and horses that he might fiye to Gaza in the night time on hys refreshed and â—ayted horses when almoste at one time it was tolde the Chieftaines on both sides by the auant-currers that there was a mighty duste raised and that the enimies approched Gazelles being vehemently troubled in mind with this vnlooked for chaunce for that he perceyued hée shoulde misse of hys purpose and entent and be vnable to matche the enimye if he wold encounter hym speciall ye séeing hyâ— dâ—oses were weary yet for all thys hâ—â— hearts fayleth hym not althought hée wors forced presently vppon a sodaine to deuise what was to bée done for the common safety of the whole armie and adhorteth his souldiours to make ready their weapons and to thinke that the thing whiche they coulde not doe by ambushe and stealth as they hadde ment they must now dispats he openly by true valor On the other side Synumbassa hauing his men farre sooner sette in array than Gazelles coulde bycause he had tolde them long before at leysure what he woulde haue to be done if they shoulde happen to sight vsed â—â—â—ng and chearefull spéeches vnto all the rankes of his souldiours but the ende of his oration was that they should quite forget all fleing away séeing that all places round about them wold do shal and â—â—â—urions to them vnlesse they were victors and speriasly that they shoulde fully persuade themselues this one thing that nouman shoulde perish that day but he whom God almighty had prodestinated to death by the most certaine lawes of fate and that with equall perill the valiant should finde safety in the minds of the â—â—â—â—nses sâ—â—ordes and also the fearefull death in their most safest â—â—ight throught the power of â—oauâ—â—â—â—ble lâ—t The harquebusâ—â—â— were in the wings the which were stretched foorth in leÌ„gth with a single array and one man not standing very nere vnto another that they mighte be able to vse their harquebusses more foâ—â—ly and compasse he theâ—â—nimy but the pike men were placed in the 〈◊〉 for to susteine the impression of the Mamaluches But Gazelles approching sent the troupes of the Arabians before for to disturbe the wings and he himselfe with a square battell charged the middle battell of the Turks The fight was very cruel a long time doubtful for that the Turks yea though superior in number wer not able is abide the foâ—ce of the armed horsmen now being beaten 〈…〉 ground and dispensed some one way and some an other by the Mamaluches that brake in among them looked rounde about for flight both with eyes and hearâ—es when by Synambassas coÌ„mandement the harquebusserâ— who had with the first storm of their shoâ—◠〈◊〉 a way the Arabians reducing their wings enelosed all the whoâ—â— battell of the enimies Then both men and horsmen were a fair◠〈◊〉 shenk endedâ— with mortall yellets whiche were shot by 〈…〉 and no place for prowesse was lefte vnto the enclosed for when that any troupe of Mamaluluches did run their horses violently vpon the Turkes they by reason of their lightnesse and nimblenesse being accustomed to giue grounde did very swiftlye flye backe and in all places this was their endeuour not to encounter them wyth their horses but to vse only their harquebusses When Gazelles sawe that his horses were tyred with extreame wearinesse and that nowe many of his stoutest men were eyther slaine or hurt and he himselfe was gréeuously wounded in thenecke hée wyth the reste makyng themselues away wyth their weapons fledde vnto Caire thoroughe those wildernesses that hée came losing all hys Ensignes There perished in this battell the Captaine of Alexandria and Orcomas the Gouernour of Caire men of greate accompt and besides them a greate number of Arabians and almoste a thousande horsemen of marke Neyther did Synambassa winne a ioyfull and vnbloudy victory for hée
eye did méete with and redresse euery difficultie in this place and in that finallye in all partes sent about viij C. Spaniards harquebusiers to succour him who being sodenly spred rounde about at the backe sides of the Frenche horsemen beate downe a mightie number of them with their terrible storme of pellets And also he set streight after them a band of armed Pikes then the harquebusiers being safe through their garde did more boldlye and incessantlye vse their harquebusses When the Kinges horsemen had receyued this great incommoditie they not being able to abide thicke togither in troupe and thinking that if they did spreade abroade their wings they should be able to repugn with lesse peril brake their aray scattered themselues abrode But when by this deuise they met with more infestuous fortune they being relyed againe into a thicke troupe for shame and anger runne vpon the Harquebusiers But the Spaniardes being nimble by nature and light armed did swiftly flée backe loosing their aray and by turning and winding this way and that way eluded the violence of the horses and being augmented in number they did as they had ben taught both by long experience also by the new preceptes of Pescara scattered themselues all the field ouer without order twentie thirtie ten or sixtene as it hapned in a companie This was a new kinde of fight and not vsuall but very cruell and miserable bicause that the vse of noble prowes in the horsemen was vtterly lost the Harquebussers with great aduauntage dispatching all before they coulde reache them with their Launces neyther could yea the most strōgest armes do any good long but that they which were thicke and many togither were slayne by the thinne and fewe and often the most famous Captaines and horsemen were euerywhere stricken downe with vnreuenged death by the base and common footemen Also in another quarter Guasto hauing from the right wing aduanced his footemen bringing in his wing of horsmen had now prosperously encoūtred with Annas Montmorencie and his horsemen being defeated by the Harquebusiers he himselfe before other had gotten the enimies ordinance hauing slayne the Gunners But it happened in this encounter which I thinke is not to be passed ouer vnspoken of that Guasto and Montmorencie who afterwarde became most famous Chiefetaines did a good while as we haue learned of them both very sharply fight one with thother man to man with this euent that not long after Montmorencie hys horse being slayne by Gastald◠he was at length taken by Errera a Petie captaine of the Spanishe footemen Guasto being made more couragious by this successe of things did set vpon the lesser battalliō of the Switzers who were appalled with the losse of the ordinance and the flight of the horsemen and therefore did attache the fight with doubtfull and lingring actes But then might you see an incredible thing to be spoken that nation which a little before were feared of all men for their excellent approued valor in the fielde and specially in a battayle quite forgetting both honor discipline and also their ingrafted ferocitie to refuse to fight welny before they had once charged their Pykes and for feare of honorable death sought an infamous and most shamefull destruction in the very déepe riuer Floranges in vayne going about to kéepe them still in the battell and and to confirme them with great obtestations he who was of very familiar acquaintāce with that nation indignitie one of the Marshals of France offered professed that himself wold fight on foote in the forefront with his peculiar company of horsmen al of thē sending away their horses insomuch that either angry God or certes that fatall daye vnto the King did séeme to take awaye the wonted vigour of their huge and mightie bodyes and heartes Neyther with lesse deformitie didde also another battallion of Switzers flée which as it was fuller for number of bandes so it stoode a whyle vnmoued but when they were a farre ouerwhelmed by the Harquebussies spreading them selues rounde about them with certayne perpetuall shoure of pellettes and the valyauntest of the petie Captaynes as it doth moste commonlye happen were slayne in the foremost rankes and when they had séene the discomfiture of the Kings horsemen they hurling away their Pykes turned their backs They report that when Iohn Diespach who had the highest authoritie among the captains of the Switzers saw the bands shamefully to flée no not once attempting to fight slanding in their way all to chased was not able to stay the Ensigne bearers by reuiling and beating them backe he being compelled by moste gréeuous dolour woulde not lyue after so greate a foyle and shame receyued but in that decrée of hardye hearte ranne into the thickest of the enimies and died verye honourablye yet the Switzers that suruiued dyd laye the faulte of this ouerthrowe and slaughter in Alanson who had marryed the Kings sister bicause that he as a man nothing valiaunt and a long tyme a beholder of the inclining battayle at the length fléeing awaye whilest that the fight was yet hote with the vntouched and whole horsemen of the rerewarde had by ouerthwarte hasting crosse them and violent impulsion broken the battallion of the Switzers that fought noblye in good araye But in the right wing of the Frenche men the blacke Almaynes only of all their footemen sought sharply and valiantly with the Emperiall Almaynes as it were in the very dispayre of their lyues and of victorie yea they encountred togither almoste with greater hatred than strength the whyche yet did surmount for that their heartes being enraged one agaynst the other through long dissention they did thinke that vnto neyther of them that shoulde be beaten from his grounde or gyue backe and retire there woulde be left anye hope at all eyther of pardon or Martiall mercie The Emperialles were woode angrye that the blacke Almaynes contemning and scorning the Emperours Maiestie and despising the authoritie of the Almayne name had come with Mercenarye armes for to besiege and assaulte their brethren and cousins in the behalfe of the Frenche men their auncient ennimies On the other side the blacke Almaynes thought it most honourable to doe moste valiant seruice for that King who had maintained them so many yeares by his liberall wages to kéepe the sayth of their othe and in no case to admitte ought that should be vnfitting for olde souldiours Neyther in déede was there anye man among them that was not fullye persuaded that he ought in this doubtlesse last acte of lyfe and endeuour of warlyke worke reuenge the iniurie of insulting fortune with vnwonted valor and honourable death When the Esquadrons drewe neare one vnto the other Longamentes a verye noble Captayne of Auspurg came forth alone before the battallion of the blacke Almaynes chalenging vnto the combat George Frondesberg and Mark Sitsch by lyfting vp his hande and with a loude voyce But hée béeing refused with a
shoulde retire vnto his quarter for to garde his lodging and not to shewe signe nor giue occasion vnto the Catholikes to thinke that they were afrayde or that they woulde refuse an other rencounter The whiche the captaines did vpon whom the Catholikes enterprised nothing séeming to content themselues with the remayning maisters of the fielde and the disposing at pleasure of all the fielde for to burie their deade and to leaue the despoyled Protestantes and to sende the wounded to Paris Those that were appointed to doe it taried there vntill midnight The Constable was borne backe wounded to death The Conte de Chaune Hierome de Turin and mo than fortie other as well Captaines and chiefe as members of companies left their liues there whome aboue thrée hundreth other did accompanie as wel then as afterward leauing behind them a great multitude of hurt men Of the Protestants Vidame of Amiens de Piquigny de Saux la Suse Saint Andre de Garenes and aboue fiftie gentlemen of marke were lost and mo than thrée hundreth other horsmē The flight of the footmen was more notable than the slaughter although that a good many died there but few of the Catholikes footmen This battell was fought the x. of Nouember The next day the Protestantes after that Dandelot Montgomery were returned with their forces came in aray of battel euen vnto the suburbes of Paris presenting battel vnto the catholike armie which was retired into the citie But they accepted it not being dismayed with the death of the Constable But when that the Catholike power hourely encreased and victuals fayled at S. Denys and also they had intelligence of the comming of Cassymire the Pfaliz graues sonne with a power of Almaines for their ayde the Protestants dislodged from Saint Denys the xv of Nouember and marched to the confines of Loreyne to receyue the Almaines ¶ The ouerthrow giuen by Lewes Conte of Nassau vnto Iohn Earle of Aremberg at Damme in Freselande and the discomfiture of the sayde Iewes by Ferdinande Duke of Alua at Hieminguen in Freselande aforesayde in Anno. 1568. Out of Popellenier CIuill troubles as it were a créeping contagion attaching also the dominions of the lowe countries or base Germanie Lewes the Earle of Nassau brother vnto VVilliam Prince of Oranges entred Freseland with a power of Almaines vnto whome within short time resorted a greate number of the inhabitants of the Prouince and he tooke diuers townes thereof among whom were Vedem standing in the marishes and Danuille nere vnto it and also lying on the sea coast whereof when that Ferdinand Duke of Alua Lieutenant generall of all the low countries had intelligence he sent into Freseland for to stay the course of Lewes his victory the regiment of Sardaigne and his master of the Campe thrée companies of the regiment of Lumbardy thrée hundreth horsmen Spaniards and Italians the Conte Melga Lieutenant of Ghelders with part of his owne troupes and fiue cōpanies of the regiment of the Conte of Aremberge besides a M. souldiours that the Lieutenant of the Conte had assembled at the comming of the Protestantes But this was not sufficient for to rembarre the Conte of Nassau who daily grewe in forces for any enterprise that coulde be done agaynst him Then the Duke sent Iohn de Lignes Conte of Arembergue Gouernour of Friseland and Ouerissell and Knight of the Golden fléece to whom he gaue one regiment of Spantards and one of Lansquenettes with a good number of horsemen for to chase Lodowick betwéene whom was a hote skirmishe and well interteyned Lodowick for to gayne the aduantage retired to Damme The youthes of Spayne boyling in courage tooke it for a flight and also pursued more couragiously but they perceiued not the ambush that he had prepared for them of fiftene or sixtene hundred horsemen behinde a woode at the wings whereof he did set thrée hundreth horsemen for to trayne the Spaniards who made a semblance as though they had a mynde to knowe what they were Arembergue séeing them hasted to gayne the bridges of the riuer whiche were betwéene them with all his forces at what time he discouered also thrée thousand footmen standing in ftrōg aray making shewe but of two bandes which had deceyued him Yet neuerthelesse the Spaniards hauing incorporated thrée ensignes into one distributed the whole armie into the shewe of fiue ensignes were so importunate on their Chiefe and also for that time their Generall who bicause the thrée hundreth horsemen woulde sometimes come for warde and prouoke thē and at other retire againe presumed some such thing as was in dede and therefore was loth to fight that they mutining called him traytor to the King and without staying for the Conte de Megue who was hard by them constrained him as our desire alwayes groweth greater in things denied for to leade them streyght vnto the iu. C horsemen who feygning that they retired for weakenesse of defence dre we the Spaniards beyonde the Bridges the whiche also still gaue more coulor vnto these inconsiderate footmen and made them still to aduaunce themselues further and further But the Conte of Nassau hauing gotten the Bridges enclosed them so straite both behinde and on the sides that he easily fiue them welneare all The Conte de Arembergue bicause he woulde not léese anye one poynte of his reputation defended himselfe valiantlye but when his horse was slayne and he himselfe throwne downe to the grounde deade with the blowe of a Pistolet he ended his dayes after that he had slayne the Conte Adolph of Nassau brother to Lewes who entred into suche furye that hée of choler caused thrée hundreth of the Spaniardes to be hanged vp although there had died twelue hundreth of them in fight and so many of other Sixe péeces of artillerie all the munitions parte of the souldiours wages the casket and plate of the Coute Arembergue and all the baggage of the Campe was lost The Conte de Megue and the Conte Curtie de Martinenguo drewe neare with one troupe of horsemen of whom Arembergue had lacke and the bandes of the Colonels Sambergo but being pursued by the armie victorious they were constrayned to retire into the Groningen the which the Protestantes sodenly besieged battred and enclosed in two quarters Moreouer they being maisters of the fielde roded all the countrie bicause the Spanishe forces were not vnited but scattered through this discomfiture But anon after Chiapino Vitelli master of the Campe generall assembled as manye men togither as he coulde and encamped before Groningen for to remoue the siege of the Protestants the which he coulde not doe Manye skirmishes were attached and fought The Conte Lodowicke sent twice to Vitelli to demaunde a iourney for to ende the warres by one generall battell the which he woulde not accorde vnto saying that it was not yet time to fight Also he expected the Duke of Alua and the rest of his forces of whome yet he was not well assured séeing
woulde giue no more eare therevnto than would Curiâ— and the Conte Lodron in the like cases At the verye same instant of the Princes death the disorder among the Protestantes marueylouslye encreased whose spurres were not so sharpe as to make their horses poste fast inough D'acier being aduertised by the Admirall of this rent counter made sixe thousande harquebusiers to marche with aâ— great diligence and spéede as be could possible but when he was yet one leage from Bassac for he came from Cognac which is v. great leagues from Bassac he vnderstoode of the losse of the battell by those that fledde which made him to leade his footemen towards Iarnac where yet he could be no sooner arriued but that he sawe the Catholikes at his héeles yet he made heade vnto them in suche sorte that he had afterwarde leysure to retire Then hauing intelligence that the greatest troupe was in Cognac he passed ouer the water with his footemen for to flée that waye and for to assure himselfe agaynst the pursuitâ— that might be made at his tayle be caused the bridges to be broken downe the which did impeache the passage of the pursuing Catholykes And also hereby the artillerie whiche some had caused to be brought oute of Cognac was also soone assured Then Iornac being abandoned was taken by those that pursued their victorie vpon the footemen Of so many Protestantâ— manye woulde haue rallyed themselues but they were chased so neare that they had no leysure Moreouer to the pursuite arriued a regiment of Reysters who with the rest of the Catholikes did verye hotelye pursue the fléeing soules one leage from the place of the battell but they continued their slight euen vnto fiue of the clocke in the afternoone The Admirall and Dandelot séeing the flight irreparable and the affraye so marueylous retired with a fewe of the Nobilitie but when they woulde not followe the waye that the greatest part of the afrighted tooke for feare of being pursued with the other they deflected into the way on the right hande and the tract that was least beaten retired vnto S Iean de Angely where they being aduertised that the yong Princes of Nauarre and Conde were at Xainctes whither they retired hauing giuen comandement to the rest of the footmen to tarie at Cognac they sought them there and made that the place for the Reindevous or abode for them that escaped out of the battell whither many who had taken the way to Cognac thinking to finde the Princes there came vnto them Many Protestants of marke besides the Prince of Conde saw the ende of their dayes in this iourney of Bassac Among other of the Poiteuins these were of greatest name Tour yong Chasteliers Portant Chandenier Mesanchere Brandaniere the eldest of the Bessons yong Tabariere Barette la Mesleray and aboue fiftie other gentlemen lamented in that countrie Few of the footemen and of the Captaines in chiefe none but Ogier called la Moriniere and certaine other of the regiment of Puivant Soubize Langvillier and ten or twelue other Poiteuins were taken of whom a little while after Soubize deceyuing his kéepers escaped As touching other Montigeau Breton Stuard a Scotte who was slayne with a dagge and certaine other died there Camtel of the race of Glas was slaine Captaine Corneile a Scotte and diuers other of the same nation coulde not suruiue the fiftenth daye by reason of their woundes Corbeson brother to Montgommerie and Lieutenant to the Prince was taken prisoner and after estarged on his fayth and being offended for that they woulde not chaunge Sessac for him he returned vnto his house Guerchye Ensigne bearer of the Admirall being hurt in diuers places was taken and being giuen by Monsieur vnto one of his kinsemen had libertie to returne vnto his house vppon hys fayth La Noue was chaunged for Sessac Lieutenaunt to the Duke of Gâ—yse The summe that this iourney did importe were neare foure hundreth of the Confederates and two hundreth Catholikes of whome there died Monsalez the Barons of Ingrande and of Prunay both of the house of Billy The Conte de la Mirande de Morete Moncanure Linieres and certaine other of marke but fewe or none in comparison of the Protestantes whiche made the Catholikes as well Frenchmen as Spaniards to compare this discomfiture vnto that which Charles the fifte Emperour gaue vnto the Almaines and doe account it for one nothing lesse and inferiour But certes the fruite was farre lesse for none other ensued therof but a frée running ouer all the Xantongeois Angumois and Limousin But while that Monsieur attempted in vayne Cognac and Angoulesme the Protestants gathered togither and vnited their dispersed power and creating Henrie the yong prince of Nauarre or Bearn to be their Generall in Iulye following ioyned with the power of the Duke of Deux pontz who died by the way which consisted of 7500. Reysters and 6000. Lansquenettes very well armed and appointed ¶ The Battell of Moncontour foughte in Poitou in Fraunce betvveene Henrie Duke of Aniou and Henrie Prince of Bearne the tenthe of October in Anno. 1569. THe Protestants hauing as I sayd receyued the aides of Deux Pontz became verye strong and did manye greate exploytes and at the last the x. of October ioined in battell with Monsieur who had eyght or nine thousand horsemen sixtéene or eyghtéene thousande footemen and fiftene or sixtene péeces of artillerie But the Confederates had sixe thousande horsemen aswell Frenchmen as Reysters eyght thousande harquebusiers and foure thousande Lansquenets of whoÌ„ some did vnhandsomelye helpe them selues with harquebusses sixe Canons two Culuerings and thrée Muschattes But the cause why that the Admirall who in déede ruled and gouerned the armie the Prince being scarce a man in yeares being ouermatched in number ioyned in battell was first necessitie bicause he coulde not commodiously neither go backe nor forward Monsieur was so neare vnto him and secondly desire of reteyning the auncient honour and reputation of the Protestantes who were alwayes accounted verye hardie and valiant but if that they shoulde nowe haue fled they might perhaps haue alienated from them the heartes of manye of their fauourers both in forreine countries and also at home The place where this battell was darreyned was a playne called Cron halfe a French leage from Moncountour and two from Eruaux This playne in some parts is charged with little hilles whom the Captaines might orawe to great aduantages for the future battell as the Admirall did who hauing marked that towardes the place where his Excellence woulde come the playne ended in certayne little hilles with small and swéete discents he purposed to place there the greatest part of his footemen and certaine Reysters bicause that they by reason they doe march in the forme of a battallion are more subiect vnto the mercye of the Canon than the Frenche horsemen of whome bicause they march and fight in length in the forme of wings one péece of ordinance can hit but one and