K. in Piemont The K. Letter in behalfe of the Vaudois Confession of the Vaudois faith The proceedings vsed in the proces of them of Merindol The war lie exploit of Minier vpon the execution of arrest The princes of Germany write to the King of Fraunce in fauour of such of his subiects as were persecuted This touch at the poynt of death leaueth neither King not subiect vnsought without any respect an especiall warning to all princes Guerin hanged at paris The voiage of the army of Henry King of Fraunce for the succour of the protestant princes of Germany against the Emperour Charles the fifth Priuiledges of Metz debated Metz Toulh Verdun Nancy c. taken by the French Priuiledges of the townes maintained The armie of Fraunce represented in the fielde and first the Fanterie The men at armes and light Caualierie Light Caualerie Harquebusiers mounted Englishmen The K. army before Metz. The K. entry into Metz and priueledges graunted to the towne The K. aprocheth to Strasbourg The K demaund to them of Strasbourg Strasbourg leuieth men fortifieth it selfe by the eâ—â—mple of Metz. The Princes deputies sent to the King The Germanes beâ—â—â—â—h the K. not to enter Germany but retire The K. answer to the Deputies The exploits of Maurices army vpon the Emperors troupes The princes gaine the straites of the mountaines The defeating of the Emperors people Sedition in Maurices Campe. The Emperour flyeth The D. of Saxe deliuered out of prison but followeth the Emperour throughout Germany Ministers and Schoolemasters restored by the Protestant princes in Germany Maurice his complaint against the Emperour The French Embassadors oration The confederate Princes answere to the French Embassadour Familie of Luxembourg Albert of Austria The Q. of Hungary causeth the K. army to returne The Imperials army in Luxembourg The K. armie aduanceth forward What place the army was first to attempt Roc de Mars besieged battred taken sacked by the French Deanuille represented besieged battred and rendred to the K. discretion· The K. entry into Verdun The Prince of Salerne quitting the Emperour commeth to the King Yuoy and his representation siege batterie and yeelding vp to the K. The Gouernour of a place his dutie Mommedy yeelded vp The first conquest of Luxembourg De Anâ—ille Yuoy The Marshall of Sedan heire to the house of La March vndertaketh the conquest of the duchie of Bouillon A wile to make ones troupes seeme greater and astonish the enemy Cimetz battered taken sacked and burned by the French The principall demaunds of Maurice The French Embassadours answere to the Commissiones for peace Peace throughout Germany and the occasions thereof The Emperour perswadeth the Protestant princes and other to succour him against the K. of Fraunce for the recouerye of Metz Thoul and Verdun The Emperours army against the K. of France for the recouery of Metz Thoul and Verdun Albert of Brandebourg why not comprehended in the peace and banished the Empire with the exploites of his malcontent armie The answere of Marquesse Albert to the B. of Bayonne and his behauiour against the K. and Emperour and their reciprocallie towards him The behauiour of Marquesse Albert of Brandebourg towards the D. of Guise gouernour of Metz and his towards the Marquesse his armie The French armie assembled with all diligeÌ„ce at S. Michael a little towne of Lorraine The imperiall army at Deuxponts scattered ouer the Country of Vaulges The Marques Alberts armie verie dissolute about Pont Camouson The last answers or resolution of the marques to the French and the behauiour of his armie Colonel Reif-berg with a regiment of the marques Alberts retireth himself to the kings seruicâ— The Marques demandeth pasport to returne The D. of Aumal appointed to accompanie the Marques Aduice counsell among the Emperors Captaines if they ought to besiege Metz at that time of the yere Vireton surprised and besieged through the secret and great diligence of the D. of Neuers Vireton rendred vp to the discretion and mercy of the D. of Neuers The Imperial armie approcheth within 7. or 8 leagues of Metz. The D. of Alua and Marquesse of Marignan came to descry Metz. The D. of Aumales aduertisemeÌ„t to the K. vpon the determination of the Marquesse of Brandebourg The D. de Aumales trumpeter staied by the Marquesse Albert. The couragious perswasions of the Marquesse to make his people to fight The D. de Aumelle and the French charged vpon fiercely The D. companies put to flight by the Marquesse The D. de Aumelle sore hurt taken Prisoner Death of Vicecount Rohan The Castle of Clermont in Argonne surprised by Chastillon Du Reux with the imperiall army would faine surprise La Fere in Picardie Hedin besieged by Du Reux Hedin yeelded to the Emperour by de Rasse Admirall de Anebaut dieth at La Fere. The D. of Grise assured within Metz. The distribution of the Imperiall army about Metz. The D of Ne-Lieutenant generall ouer all the K. forces in Loraine Chastillon being made Admirall of France bringeth all the K. army from out of Picardy toward Hedin The D. of Neuers his companies make roads to cut off victualles from the enemies The Italians of the Emperours campe repaired to the Duke of Neuers to be intertained in the kings seruice The castle of Hedin yelded vp by de Reux his son to the D. of Vendosme for the king The D. of Neuers at Vaucoâ—leuâ—s to stop such victuals as came from the French countie to the Emperors camp his courses to anoy the imperials A guile to passe amidst ones enemies without danger The Emperours battery at Metz. Mines begun to be made by the imperials before Metz to make a breach The Emperour vpon the point to retire from Metz. Retreat of the imperiall armie before Metz. * There were aboue seuen thousand men put into Abbies by the D. of Guise and releeued as ofteÌ„ hath ben reported vnto me the Translator by the most renowmed Lord C. H. L. high Admirall of England who himselfe saw all remained in the towne all the siege and serued the daie that the Duke of Aumall gaue battell to the Marques narowly escaping being of the suit of the Vidasme of Chartres in al those warres Sallies skirmimishes between the soldiers with in Metz. Marques Alberts campe Thankesgiuings to God by the French for the siege raised at Metz. A furious assault to Terroane by the Fleminges Hanuiers helde out by the French A stratageme of the Captaines Breuill Saint Romain Terroane surprised â—ppon the tearmes of composition The crueltie of the Germanes Burgonians at the taking of Terroane The principall prisoners taken within Terroane The humanitie of the Spaniards towardes the French soldiers Soliman the great Turke causeth his sonne to be slaine Religion lightlâ— a colour for anie villanie Teroene razed to the foundation by the Emperours commandement The D. of Bouillon within Hedin Lieutenant for the King Great diligence vsed by the imperials to besiege Hedin Hedin besieged
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
Venceslaus of Dube and Iohn De Chlum Gentlemen of Pologne should accompanie him But so farre was hee from being suffered to present himselfe to the assembly of the Councell to render accounte of his faith as the Emperour and his brother would haue had it that the Cardinals clapt him vp close prisoner cleane contrarie to the earnest requests which not onely many Gentlemen of Bohemia but the very Vniuersitie of Prague made that he might not bee condemned before hee were publikely hard But in the end the Emperour being perswaded that there could bee no defence safe conduct or other meanes yeelded to him which had beene alreadie condemned as an heretique and especially a Protestant publike profest and that he ought rather to prepare woode and fire to consume him into ashes if he would not decline from his obstinacie the seuenth of Iuly presiding amidst al the Princes Prelates with his imperiall robes in the great temple of Constance after certaine Articles there drawne out of his writings as hereticall one of the deputies which examined him pronounced that the Councell declared him for an heretique a Disciple and fauourer of Wicklife whose books had beene already burnt by a Councel at Rome that he was wilfull in his heresies for the appeale which he had cast in from the Councell to Iesus reprouing his appellation as scandalous and iniurious to the Popes authoritie and Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and therefore hee was to bee disgraded of his Priestly order with all infamie and reproch afterwardes the Bishops attired him in a profane garment and estate and gaue him a crowne of Paper one cubite high painted with three blacke and ougly Deuils hauing for deuise Heresiarcha as one shoulde saye the chiefe and Prince of heretiques This doone the Emperour into whose handes the Cleargie had put him as the secular arme commanded D. Louis of Bauiere kneeling before him with his ornament in his hand an Apple of Golde and the figure of the Crosse to deliuer him to the hangman who hauing burned his bookes and tyed him fast with an yron cheane to a stake piled vp with woode and strawe to his chinne soone consumed him to ashes which they flong into the Rhine to the end no more memorie should remaine of him Hereupon the Princes for to remedie all abuses and replante the Church in her first glorie deposed Pope Iohn 24. of that name as a Simonous heretique and man-slaier who fled disguised to Scafusen and from thence to Fribourg in Brisgoe But being taken in the fift yeare of his Pontificate was three yeares kept prisoner Gregorie who likewise had held him selfe for Pope dismissed himselfe of the popedome And Pierre de la Lune named Pope Benoist was condemned for sundrie offences Iohn Gerson Chauncelor of the Vniuersitie of Paris which had sent him with others to Constance sayde that neuer there woulde bee any Peace in the Church vntill the Moone were taken awaie Martin the fift of that name before called Ame de Sauoie was chosen and approued of all Hierosme of Prague companion to Iohn Hus vnderstanding of his entertainement departed out of Bohemia and the 4. of April 1415. arriued neere Constance to comfort him and offered to answere all such iniuries in open councell as were giuen out of them of Bohemia if they would giue him any safe-conduct which being refused by the Emperour he contented himselfe in obtaining of the Lords and Protector of Bohemia their letters sealed with their seales witnessing his innocencie and that he was come to answere such reproches as his aduersaries had giuen out but as hee thought to haue returned hee was taken and carried to Constance where he was so straightly vsed and examined that in the end he publiquely rehearsed a forme of abiuration which they deliuered vnto him confessing further that Iohn Hus was lawfully punished But as they let him goe neuer a whit the sooner for that and thereuppon certaine Carmos of Bohemia being come with new accusations he recanted and stucke so fast to his first opinion that the councell condemned him as before they did Iohn Hus whence he appealed vnto Iesus Christ so that said hee after one hundred yeares you shall make account for me but the hangmen did as much for him as the other Poge Florentin being present at all greatly commended in a wrighting which he sent vnto Leonard Aretin the eloquence grace knowledge and maruellous constancie of Hierosme thinking nothing wanting in him but a conformitie of the common faith Now when these newes were carried into Bohemia such Gentlemen and other as had beene instructed in this doctrine growing maruellous angrye sent their letters to the Princes and Prelates of Constance to testifie their conceiued displeasure and their resolution to persist in the same opinion euen to the death and cost of the most mischieuous foure and fiftie of the best calling signed and sealed it with their seales And indeed as rigours onely doe not cause men to change opinion but oftentimes make them more wilfully to persist therein the Hussite Bohemians multiplying more and more besought of their King Venceslaus many Temples in which they might exercise and aduaunce their doctrine being such a number of people as hourely were gained among the rest Iohn Zischa of Trosnouie one of the most renowned warriers that followed the King and which had lost one of his eyes in the former factions leuied a number of men to the ruine of as many Priests and Monkes as they found to haue beene authors of the matter of Constance and so began to pul downe Temples bruse the Images throwe downe the Monasteries and pull out the Monkes whome they named Swine fatted in their Cloister finally in smal time were assembled more then fortie thousand men maintaining the doctrine of Iohn Hus. In the mean while Sigismond the Emperour true heire to the kingdom of Bohemia by the decease of his Brother going thither to take possession found all passages shut by the people who extreamly hated him for breach of his faith so as after many a good and badde reencounter on the one side and the other he lost his other eye likewise at the siege of Rabi and yet ceassed not for all that to conducte and gouerne his army yea oftentimes breaking the troupes of Sigismonde composed of Hungarians Bohemians Moraues Almanes and Danes for Eric King of Denmarke was come thither to succour him with Pierre Infant of Portugall in sorte that the Emperour perceiuing that hee could not otherwise remedye it gained him by faire promises of graunting vnto him what charge soeuer he would require But Zischa as hee was going to the Emperour dyed of the Plague and being asked in his sicknesse where hee would be buried answered that he would haue them flea his body after his death and with his skinne head a Drumme at the sounde whereof hee doubted not but all his enemies would soone betake them to their heeles From
aliue the first of Iuly 1523. Hereupon Adrian died the 13. of September 1523. to whome Clement of Medices 7. succeeded vnder whome the doctrine of Luther began to creepe in amidst the French among whom albeit couertly and secretly the Lutheranes were soone enough suspected and known afterwards examined of their faith were very often pursued by the Clergie so as the French army being broken vp and the King taken before Pauie by Fernand Daual Marquisse of Pescaire Charles of Bourbon and Charles De Launoy Viceroy of Naples 14. of Februarie 1525. who caried him prisoner into Spaine his mother Loyse regent in his absence desiring in this so great an affliction to entertaine the good fauour of Christian Princes especially of the Pope besides the good affection and singular reuerence which by her letters shee protested to carrie towards the Church of Rome demaunded at their hands succour against such an accident and Councell how shee might staie the course of heresies which were already hatched thorough out the whole Realme Then Clement the seuenth besides his priuate letters full of hope and comfort signified from Rome the 20. of March 1525. to the Parliament of Paris that he had vnderstoode by letters from the regent how those wicked heresies began to slide thorough the whole Realme and whom by great prudence and good aduise they had deputed certaine to whom they gaue charge to see the punishment of such as stroue to abolish the faith and auncient Religion whom so deputed he confirmed by his owne authoritie It is necessarie saith he that against this great and maruailous disorder sprong from the malice of Satan and the rage and impietie of his supporters the whole world should bend their forces to preserue the common health considering that this forcenerie woulde not onely confound and broyle Religion but also all principalitie Nobility lawes orders and degrees For his owne parte he would neither spare any diligence or labor to remedie such an inconuenience that they in like sorte whose prudence and vertue hath euery where beene highly renowned ought to employ themselues to the preseruing of the true and right faith And moreouer that to the end the weale of their Realme and dignitie of their estate should be exempt from the perill and domesticall misteries which this pernitious and pestilent heresie sowed round about they needed not to bee pricked forwards considering how great testimonie of their prudence they had already yeelded yet to make his dutie appeare and shew the good will which he bore vnto them he would doe no lesse then adde this For that which they hetherto had done was most agreeable vnto him and was the cause why he exhorted them from thence forth to keep good watch against so mischieuous a plague of heretiques for the honour of God and safetie of the Realme In some hee assured them that this their diligence should bee greatly acceptable to God and worthy of much praise before men that he in like sorte would set to his helping hand and giue vnto them aide and all possible fauour Vpon this then the Diuines of Paris during the imprisonment of King Francis the first tormented greatly among other Iacques Le Feure of Estaples who hath left behinde him many bookes in Philosophie and Diuinitie In sort that hee was enforced to retire out of Fraunce The King aduertised hereof especially by the recommendation of his sister Marguerite who greatly fauoured Le Feure for his vertue sent letters to the Parliament of Paris in which he signified how hee had beene giuen to vnderstand that they had indited Iacques De Feure and sundry other of excellent knowledge before them at the pursute of the Diuines who deepely hated Le Feure for euen before his departure out of France some of that facultie had highly accused him before himselfe but wrongfully and without cause That if it had beene so saith he he gaue charge to the greatest personages and most notable in all erudition to canuisse out his bookes and writings wherewith he was charged which they diligently executing euery thing thoroughly examined a most ample and honorable testimonie was deliuered vnto him touching the said Feure considering then that the truth is such as hee did afterwards vnderstand that he was highly esteemed among the Italians and Spaniards for his doctrine and vertue he would stand maruailously discontented if they should offer any iniurie or put in any danger so innocent a person And for that at that instant he ment to haue iustice more rightly rigorously administred thoroughout his Realme then before as also for that he resolued to shew all fauour and amitie towards learned men to that end hee commaunded that if they had put any men of knowledge in question since his departure that it should be suspended by his mother the regent to the end he might be aduertised by her and that they should therein attend his intention and good pleasure In the meane time not to proceede any further but surcease vntill his returne which he hoped would be shortly by the grace of God or vntill that he or his mother should bee otherwise aduised These letters were dispatched to goe from Madrila Cittie in Spaine the 12. of Nouember and presented vnto the Parliament of Paris the 28. of the same month Loyse shortly after seeing that she was not able to winde the Emperour to such an accord as shee desired for the deliuerie of her sonne made alliance with Henrie the 8. King of England about the end of August 1525. The first Article purported that they should imploy them selues to the repelling of the Turkes strength and courses together with the pestiferous sect of Luther no lesse dangerous then the Turkes Now as the Emperour perceiuing the King to grow verie sicke in respect the pretended accord could take no good effect feared least by the encreasing of his sicknesse he might loose thorough a suddain death so certaine aduantages as presented themselues he went to see him at Madril comforted him and put him in better hope then euer In the end the 14. of Ianuarie 1526. the treatie was concluded Among the Articles whereof it was specially set down that the Emperours and Kings principall end was to haue the enemies of the faith and heresies of the Lutherans cleane rooted out And that a peace being concluded between them they should settle the common wealth and vndertake a warre against the Turkes and heretiques excommunicate and cut off from the communion of the Church A matter aboue al most necessarie and to which the Pope had often dealt and sollicited them to become watchfull To satisfie then his good pleasure they resolued to beseech him to commaunde Embassadours from all Kinges and Princes to meete at a day in some certaine place with generall charge and commission to aduise how they might well make a war against the Turke and defeate the heretiques enemies of the Church that the Pope would permit euerie Prince according
ought to haue done cōsidering how much the Turk at this day wasted Hungary albeit that they furnished all against the Infidels yet except there were a mutuall consent by a peace and brotherly beneuolence among the estates no thing could be brought about aduantagious against so puissant an enemye the Deputies notwithstanding gaue vp their appeale in writing and in the end had leaue to departe so as all being deliuered in councell the 14. of October 1529. the Princes and others assembled towardes the end of Nouember at Smalcade where the difference of Religion hindering as yet any resolution they departed vnder condition that whosoeuer would in each point consent to this doctrine and receiue it should meet at Noremberg the sixt of Ianuary 1530. there to deliberate of what were to be done Now they concluded nothing but to tarry vntill the day which the Emperour should publish in the Spring which was at Ausbourg the 8. of April 1530. Charles the fift elected Emperour in Iune 1519. at Francforde vpon the Rhyne notwithstanding the contrarye pursuites of the French for their Prince after the death of Maximilian the 12. of Ianuary and sacred at Aix in the end of October was crowned at Bologne le Grasse the 24. of February by Clement And whereas vpon the 20. of Iune when the day assigned by him at Ausbourg where he made his entry began he commaunded the Duke of Saxe to carry the Sword before him going to the Masse according to the office of Marshall to the Empire Hereditarie to the house of Saxe the Elector would first take the aduise of his Doctors who perswaded him that it was lawfull considering that he went thither to execute his office and not to heare the Masse he was there then onely accompanied by George of Brandebourgh After many affaires proposed and debated in the end he caused to be published this decree for religion that hauing reiected the confession of the Protestants faith hee ordained in summe that nothing should be changed in matters concerning faith and diuine seruice that whosoeuer should doe the contrary should be punishable both in body goods that reparation should be made of all the iniuries which had beene done to the Churchmen and to the end this decree should remaine inuiolable for religion he assured that he would imploye all the meanes which God had giuen him thereto euen to the spending of his bloud and life yea it was forbidden that any should be able to pleade in the imperyall chamber which astonished a great many for the Emperour took good assurance of all the rest for the execution thereof whereupon the Protestants being assembled the 22. of December 1530. at Smalcade concluded a forme of alyance to succour one another to the which the Princes at that instant bound themselues and with them many other Lords and free Citties thinking good to trye therein the King of Denmarke and Princes of Pomerania and Magdeburg with all to write to the Kings of Fraunce and England to disswade them from such false reportes as their enemies might make runne of them and their religion which they accordingly did the 16. of February 1531. The Landgraue allied himselfe with them of Zurich Basle and Strasbourg in Nouember vpon condition to succour one another for their religion but after the breaches betweene the fiue little Cantons and the rest which passed in certaine reencounters where the reformed had the worst and the accord made betweene them since that in October 1531. was put this clause that they of Zurich Berne and Basle should quit the allyance of the Landgraue and Strasbourgh with the fiue Cantons of K. Ferdinandes Afterwards the 29. of March 1531. they met againe at Smalcade where they receiued but slender answers from Denmark and Pomeranye they consulted of meanes how to haue succours ready at need of men monye and munition and for that they had had the opinion of learned men before they confederated together and that Luther had before taught and published in writing that it was not lawfull to resist the Magistrate hee now changed his minde for when as their Lawyers did declare in this meeting that such a case might bee offred as the Lawes permitted a man to resist as they did in this he said he was cleane ignorant of that point for that the Gospell did not impugne the lawes pollitick but often times confirme them and because they sayd that such an accident might arise in which necessitie and duetie of conscience did put the sworde into their hands he made a book by which he admonished all men in generall not to obey the Magistrate if he sought to imploy them in such a warre for they stoode well assured how that the Emperour sollicited by the Pope and other went about some mischeefe for them vnder colour of hauing a care for the common wealth of Germany King Frauncis the first wrote curteously back vnto them the 21. of April 1531. with offer of his helpe so did the K. of England the 3. of May. Now after the decree of Ausbourg the Emperour being sollicited by the Pope and other of the Cleargye seemed that he would make the Protestants range themselues to the common doctrine but for that certain Princes more peaceably addicted among the Catholicks saw that that could not be brought to passe but with great inconueniences to all Germanye considering that the Protestant Princes and confederate Citties had already prepared themselues they councelled the Emperour to assigne some daies to examine therein their doctrine and to seeke meanes of peace and accord in religion which often had bene assaied and euer in vaine by reason of the great difference thereof and that the Princes as Luther at other times had done by Pope Leo his Bull had appealed from the Decree of Ausbourgh to a future councell to whom properly appertained the debating of Religion In the end notwithstanding about the beginning of October the Princes wrote againe to the deputies Embassadors for peace that if any did thinke or could proue that their doctrine proposed at Ausbourg were erronious in any point or in default of so doing would submit himselfe to the testimony of the holy Scripture they held it most agreeable that if the Emperour would assigne a day at Spire and giue safe conduct and ostages to themselues their associates and Luther which they ment to bring thether besides if he would permit their free and publique preachinges together with the vse of the Supper according to Christs institution and not constraine them to make difference of meates they or their Deputies would be present with ful power and if their doctrin were not confuted they trusted the Emperour would no more hinder them in their Religion In the mean time since that they had formed an appeale to a lawfull Councell they besought the Emperour that he would not in the meane season innouate ought against them Now besides the point of religion the election of Ferdinande to
and taken prisonners among other of the French the Captaine Fort and his Lieutenant Courcelles Hereupon the Duke of Guise who from the beginning had vndertaken the defence of this wood and by his presence animated and seemed to grace these martiall actions hauing carefully considered of the whole dessein of the Imperialles aduised the King that by their countenance and fury wherewith they went to the combate hee verily thought that that day should not passe without a battaile The King then which was in the plaine on this side the wood about 5000. pace in length and 2000. in breadth caused his battailes of foote to be put in order to scituate them in a place commoudious and easie to combate with the men at armes because that place was vnproper for them both together as by the aduice of the Constable and sundry other Princes and Captaynes he had the day before perceaued Notwithstāding for the better countenance and to make head to the enemy there was lodged both the one and the other as commodiouslye as could be the first battell of foote were French the second Almanes the third Zuizers which followed one another with Regiments of men at armes ordained for their flancke on their right hand And for as much as on the lefte there was a little Valley which as well from the quarter of the Zuizers towards Fauquemberg as towards the wood widening made a glade easie and commodious enough as wel to lodge foote as horse in the opening of that plaine they set the most parte of the rest of the Regimentes of men at armes for the other flancke And right before towards Fauquemberg was the D. D'aumale with all the light Cauallerie and certaine Harquebuziers on foote to fight without keeping any order to the end they might giue notice if the enemy should come that way And in the mean space the Duke of Guise not being able readily to haue the K. answere vpon such occurrents being likewise no lesse curious to draw the enemie into the place most aduantagious for himselfe then fearefull of the losse of the three hundred Harquebuziers in the wood in the end resolued to make them retire from place to place through the trauerses of the wood euer refreshing them with some companies of Cauallery which notwithstanding so encreased the imperials courage as assuring themselues of victorye they caused their battailes of Alamanes to march with al diligence which alwaies flankred them on the rightside as they sawe their harquebusiers haue aduauntage ouer the French And euen then Dom-Ferrant sent word vnto the Emperour that he should hasten the rest of his army for the Vantgarde of the French said he was already sore shakened ready to set themselues in disorder the which the Emperour did and his army passed all along the Valley aboue and at one of the corners of the wood himselfe tarried to be partaker of the pleasure or annoy of the good or bad which should fall out it was then as the K. answere came to the D. of Guise that if occasion offred it selfe to receaue battaile he should not refuse it that he would come himselfe thither in person with as good a will to fight as the most valiant of his whole army Then the Duke of Guise went back to his Regiment in the sight and face of all vppon the plaine towards Fauquēberg where of a famous warrier gratious notwithstanding and with a smiling countenance hee vsed some words as well to aduertise the Gentlemen of the faire occasion which that day was offred to attaine honour as to encourage those which might haue any neede and shewed them all in generall how the day was come wherein God presented vnto them in doing seruice to their Princes and encreasing their honor and particular reputation the matter and true subiect to make themselues for euer to be redoubted and feared of all the nations of the worlde whereof the K. assured himselfe so farre as he would honour this glorious victory with his owne presence which indeed encouraged them in such sorte as hauing called vpon the name of God and recōmended their soules into his hands euery man prepared himselfe well and faithfully to perfourme his dutie In the mean time the Constable passed ouer the riuer towards the Duke with a Regiment of the Captaine Glamay his footmen who caused the first order a little to be altered and retired the battaile of Zuizers towards Renty who according to their ancient custome sent vnto the King to demaund some men at armes to supporte them but the K. answered them how himselfe would liue and dye with them and that he so farre assured himselfe of their promise and good will that he determined no whit to abandon them resolute to shew vnto them how as well in life as point of death if it were offred he would honour them as his colleagues and faithfull freends both to himselfe and his kingdome whereat they were so stirred vp as there was no other intention among them but to fight valiantlye for his seruice Likewise as a testimonye of the pleasure which the King receiued therein he did that which I will shew you in another place As all this was thus a handling the Imperials were in such sort already advanced vpon the French as they had recoyled them and driuen thē out of the wood so farre as their harquebuziers began to come forth and shew themselues in front of the first battail of the French ready to ioyne with them pelting at them with a continuall and maruellous noyse of Harquebuze shot all along the glade The Imperial battaile supported with Pistoliers and cauallerie was aproched with one hundred pace of the French and there remained nothing but to charge at such time as the D. of Guise gaue a signe to the D. of Nemours to charge with his regiment of light Cauallerie vpon one of the corners of the Pistoliers and vpon the other hee set the Guidon of his owne company and Tauannes to scoure on their slancke whereupon there began a most sore and furious combat but the French were in the end valiantly put backe and there was slaine the yong Baron of Curton Randan sore hurte and his Lieutenant D'Amanzay dead the Cornet of Auannes sore hurt and his horse slaine vnder him Forges Guidon of the company of Tauannes slaine the Vicecount D'Auchy Guidon of the Duke of Guises sore hurt and sundry valiant men out of all the companies as the Sonne of Pied-pape yong Iouy Bourdilly yong Branches and many others whose death hurtes and retreates gaue such hart to the Imperialles so well to hope as they already encouraged one another as hauing gained an entire victory whereupon the Duke of Guise and Tauannes hauing assembled their troupes together againe the which the D. D' Aumalle with all the light Cauallerie went to ioyne began with one fronte so furiously to charge vpon the Imperials as they opened and threw downe the Pistoliers of
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
him aboue the Criminell to whome in very deede it ought to haue appertayned A little before the King hauing beene perswaded that by some fault of obedience in the iudges or thorough the strife for one an others iurisdiction and to auoide the expenses of the pursuites how that the Lutheranes were so sore multiplied and assemblies alreadie made by them in publike ordayned at Compiegne 24. of Iulie 1557. That the Ecclesiasticall Iudges shold not be troubled in the trial award of processe or iurisdictions of any crime of Heresie That the royall iudges should hold plea award Proces and punish all Sacramentaries disturbers of the publike repose vpon paine of death But the confiscations and fines which should growe vpon their iudgementes to charitable and publike workes not to the kinges vse who renounceth the giftes and whatsoeuer els might thereby growe vnto him Shortely after the Prince being as yet further animated by the Churchmen for the great assemblies which the Lutheranes made throughout his whole Realme especially in Paris aswel to celebrate the Supper and other exercises of their religion as to goe a whoaringe said they and commit other detestable actes forbad these conuenticles vpon payne of raising the houses in which they should bee made to what Lord soeuer they were proper at Vilier Cotteretz the 14. of September 1559. And for the better confirmation thereof King Francis the second added since payne of death to all such as should bee the authours of such assemblies whether they were made for religion or no and that as well by day as night and to all such as should assist without hope of euer hauing their houses builded vp againe at Blais in the moneth of Nouember 1559. And the 14. of Nouember hee pardoned the discloser thereof and gaue him for the first time one hundred crownes And afterwardes he willeth in February following that all Lords Iustices shall be depriued of their iusticeshippes and the royall officers of their estates and offices which shoulde any wayes bee founde negligent in punishing of the authours of these assemblies with an iniunction to the officers to aduertise him of their duetie within on moneth after any such assemblie made and his procters generall to whome they should send the coppie of the information and other proceedinges thereupon The Lutheranes in like sort to put out of mens heades especially of the Princes and Churchmen such vile conceites as had beene giuen out and imprinted within them as well of heresie as of their filthie and lewde behauiours in their assemblies which they made night and day aduised themselues to cause the articles of their confession of faith to be presented vnto the King and published in all places and to beseech his Maiestie that it might be permitted vnto them to assemble themselues in publike to the end all men might see how they behaued themselues offring to yeelde themselues to any such payne and punishment as it shoulde please him to ordayne in case they were founde of any worse conuersation then the rest of the Christians There ensued thereof what you shall belowe perceiue Now since that all Fraunce feeling the discommoditie of the disastre of S. Quentin no man could abstaine from pouring out complaintes some attributing the euill to haue proceeded from the ambition of the one side some from the couetousnes of the other parte there were enough founde which imputing the cause to arise no whit from any man saide that God was the sole authour thereof to stirre vp the flacknes both of great and small because they did not their duety in the prosecutinge of the Lutheranes of whome if Fraunce nay all Christendome were not in shorte space purged the Kinge himselfe ought not to expect any other progresse of his life managing of his estate then accursed and reprochfull to his whole posteritie In somme they so animated this Prince to renew and increase the punishment of those people that it neuer grewe so hot a time for them as then which not being able to remedie by any so earnest pursuites as by flight recantation or dissimulation they endeuoured to mollifie the courage of the greater sorte so hotly enflamed against them by a little writing wherein they inforced themselues to proue that all the scourges and calamities sent from God vpon that Realme proceeded onely from the contempt corruption of the true worde of God whereof they persecuted the true ministers and executors Adding in the end such meanes as the King should holde if he would see his Realme happie with a repose agreeable to all his subiects and cleare deliuered from all differentes which might fall out for the matter of Religion THe calamities and afflictions said they which possesse all Christendome cleane oppressed and left desolate were so great as euery man confessed that they proceeded from the iust iudgements of God and for that men suffred so many sortes of heresies to be hatched forth as raigne at this present But the mischeefe was indeede for that none of them which had the publicke gouernemente and to whome it appertained to prouide thereto did regard with any good iudgement founded vpon the holy Scriptures who were the Heretickes and what the true and false is thence to drawe out a true rule concorde and that the true office of a King was to giue himselfe to the knowledge of such differentes as had done to the good Kinges Ezechias Iosias and other And afterwardes hauing laide downe which were the markes and differences of the true and false Religion it was written in these termes Consider I beseech now Sir and you shall finde that all afflictions happened vnto you at such time as you vndertooke to runne ouer those whome you call Lutheranes When you made your edict of Chasteaubriant then did God sende warre vnto you But when you caused the execution thereof to cease and as long as you were enemie to the Pope being gon into Allemaigne for the protection of the Germaine liberty defended by the Protestantes and afflicted for religion your affaires prospered as your owne hearte coulde wish Contrariwise what is happened vnto you since that you are ioyned with the Pope hauing receiued from him a sworde which hee sent vnto you for his protection and who was the cause to make you breake the truce God hath turned in one instant your prosperities into such afflictions that they are no lesse to bee feared vpon your selfe then vpon your realme To what ende is Monsieur de Guise his enterprise in Italie turned going to the seruice of the enemie of God with full deliberation to ruine at his returne the valleies of Piemont to sacrifice them vnto God as a fruite of his victories The issue hath well shewed how that God is able to reuerse our deliberations as of late hee did that of Monsieur le Conestable at S. Quentins on S. Laurence day hauing vowed vnto God that at his returne he would go ruine Geneua if he obtained