receiued of the Citizens with surpassing ioy honour and gratulation For whilest his Father was yet liuing he had perceiued the singular fauour and good will of his subiects and found it also after his death because as long as he liued he sought for nothing else but golden peace and the quietnesse of his subiects and to kéepe them happie and blessed without anie harme Whereby he gathered together so great riches and treasure as scarce anie king that euer liued before him had gotten So Abdallas raigned alone certaine yéeres and kept his Court by turnes one yere at Fesse and two at Marocco vntill such time as hée made an heire apparant and instituted a successor After Abdallas had raigned long time in singular quietnesse and had alone vsed exercised the supreame rule gouernment he determined with himself to abrogate disanul the law the his Father with the péeres of the kingdome had made for the succession in the crowne which should in order still descend alwaies to the elder brother liuing And although that Abdallas did priuelie secretlie practise it with those in whom he reposed greatest trust yet notwithstanding the matter came at length to the notice of his brothers of whom some béeing carefull of their liues and fearing to bée made awaie by some trecherie fled out of the kingdome as Abdelmunen and Abdelmelec who not without passing great perill because there were many priuie awaites laide for them in their iourney by the seruants of their brother Abdallas fledde to Tremissen And béeing there they were curteouslie entertained by the Turkes as young Gentlemen of the bloud rotall And anone after they withdrew themselues to Argier that they might liue more safelte there vnder the defence of the Turkish Emperour When Muley Abdallas who as we told you before priuelie compassed the murther of his brothers that hée might safelie leaue the kingdome to his sonnes heard that they sought to saue them selues by flying out of the Countrie hée dissembling his anger for it greeued him at the heart that some of them had escaped least the rest of his brothers should bée also afraide gathered together all his forces out of hand vnder pretence of going to the Citie of Fes Wherefore being first encamped before the Citie of Marocco and anone after his Campe remooued as though he woulde goe to Fes When he heard that his Brothers were come to salute him hee leauing his youngest brother whose childish yéeres hée contemned staied for them feare daies iourney from the Citie of Fes So then when they were come together and hadde saluted one another it happened that a littie while after they suspecting no ill nor fearing anie falschoode were with monstrous crueltie all thrée beheaded in their Tentes The which thing dyd not pricke the kinges subiectes a little at the heart but déepelie pearced it yet they were forced to dissemble their sorrow After that hée had done this so Tragicall an act hée finished his iourney to Fes to the intent for to thrust his sonne Muley Mahomet vpon the Fessans for their Prince and sole heir of all his kingdomes so force them to sweare faith obedience vnto him For although he had other childreÌ„ and in déede more worthie of the Empire yet because this was his eldest and also for other causes he rathest made choice of him to be his successour Wherfore as soone as hée came to Fes he assembling the States brought the matter to that passe that they gaue their allegeance to his sonne sware to be true liegemen vnto him rather constrained by feare than brought to it by loue and good will towards the Prince or for anie right that he could pretend to the kingdome After he had dispatched these matters and séeing the al things had succéeded as he did wish then that he who was now almost broken with age might passe the rest of his life in quiet idlenesse he returned with his armie to Marocco leaning his sonne in the Citie of Fes for to gouerne that Prouince Things standing in this state in Barbarie the two brothers got then to Argier for to escape and auoide the furie of their brother Muley Abdallas and the younger of them Muley Abdelmelec went to Constantinople Where he did serue so well both by sea and by land that for his noble courage of heart and passing strength of bodie he allured many men to his loue through his valiant acts and victories gotten of his enimies he wan the fame of a great name not onelie among the people but also with the Prince of the Turkes himselfe The which thing got him not onlie singular fauor honor full of good will but also gained him immeasurable riches That I may omit with what how great promises the Emperor of the Turkes loded him in how great hope he did put him that he wold reduce him into his fathers kingdome out of the which he had ben driuen by his brothers iniurie But Muley Abdelmunen that abode at Argier was so simple witted that by the perswasioÌ„ of his brother Abdallas he returned again to Tremissen whether Muley Mahamet â—eÌ„t thrée cut throte villains for to dispatch him out of the way And it fel out to as he wold haue it for when these villains were come to Tremissen they so well eied Abdelmunen the one fridaie as he was praying in the temple they wounded him with an arow of that which wound he died within 2. daies after no auctor of the trecherie and villanous fact being knowen When newes was brought to Abdelmelec at Constantinople of the death of his brother he was verie heartely sory therefore Which caused Solyman themperor of the Turkes to promise him aide to recouer his kingdome But that this promise was not performed the death of Sultan Solyman that followed shortly after was the let But when Sultan Amurathes was come to the Empire now reigneth ouer the Turkes Abdelmelec obteined more fauour and credit then euer he had before About the same time Muley Abdallas fell sick and dyed within thrée daies after in the Citie of Marocco His death was concealed kept close thrée dayes not onely that in the meane time Muley Mahamet who was then in the citie of Fes might be certified of the decease of his father but also least that if his vncles had knowen of the death of their brother Abdallas before him they would make themselues Princes of the citie of Marocco in the possession whereof the state of the kingdome consisted But the subiects bare more good will to the two brothers of Mahamet although they were younger then he But when Mahamet had receaued newes of his Fathers death he caused himselfe to be proclaimed king of Fes and immediatly after went out of the Citie with an armie and came to Marocco the head and Metropolitan citie of the whole kingedome and there although the people were vnwilling dyd assume the dignitie royall no man resisting nor impeaching him
rested himselfe as he could finding meanes the next daie to get againe to the armie both finelie and fortunatelie Vpon this the Prince and the Admiral séeing the auantgard also to come vppon them who hadde not yet rallyed moe than about two hundred Frenchmen of whome one onelie hadde a Launce praied the Reisters to staie readie for the recharge But they being alrâ—â—ie packing away sayd that they must goe to recharge their Pistolles Moreouer when they saw their footemen both French and Allemans ranne away themselues pursuen they flung away a galloppe and the French men with them so that the Prince was constrained to doe so likewise was hurt in the hand his horse that had receaued an Harquebusse shot in his legge had not gone aboue 300. pace but that he halted downe right and before he could be remounted O. Anuille was on the backe of him to whome he yéelded The Reisters and the French men hauing crossed a woode cut downe found a little valley the which they passed stayed vpon an high péece of ground in the sight of the Admiral who had taken his flight more on the right hande with a number of other a long the side of the same wood to make head to their enimies that closed it vpon thother side and both th one thother were aboue a good quarter of an houre without other aduauncing or making in one to thother wherein a number of Catholickes curious quite to ouerthrow thenimie noted a grosse fault committed by S. Andre and the Duke of Guyse assuring that if they had liuely folowed their victorie the Protestants trembling at such fearefull accidents would neuer haue rallyed together in grosse But the Admirall as a wise resolute and diligent Capitaine had done all that he could possible to rallye his horsemen dispersed thorough the whole field and in great disorder and finding that he had assembled about 250. horses French that had nothing but their swords pistolles and about 1000. Reisters of whome he set th one halfe on his right side and thother on his left and being accompanied with the Prince of Portian Rochfoucaut and other gentlemen well deliberated he resolued to goe yet once more to fight with thenimie what price so euer if shold cost him after that he had vsed a few words to the Chiefe men of the Horsemen that accompanied him and the Marshall of Hessen the Truchmen and certaine Captaines Allemains that vnderstoode French for to encourage them the better to the charge Although it séemeth to mée a matter néedelesse to vse anie speach to them that haue sufficient assurance in their owne vertue and valour and to make tryall whereof ye are come yet whilest we doe stay vntill all our people be rallied I may well saye vnto you that vnlesse great enterprises were accompanied with great perills and difficulties the praise could be but small to them that should attaine to the honour of them But as the high desseines for to maintaine the honour of God and the good of theyr Countrie can not be executed without infinite bazardes and paines incredible so must they also assure themselues that the price and rewarde of so manie extreame labours is not onelie prest and certaine but also great when the vertue is great whereof we constantlie poursue the end This is the reason why that hearts that would be knowen to be gentlemanly doe alwayes pourpose and attempt enterprises of great hazard because that they doe know that héereby they shall gette them eternall honour and their long trauailes be recognised with immortall renowne On the contrarie part those that are of small stomacke baselie minded and of a vile cowardise doe neuer addresse themselues but to things base and easie as also their name doeth dye as soone as the effect of that they enterprised Moreouer as assurance of the will of God is necessarie for to testifie all actions can we fight more lawfully or for a thing of so great importaunce then for the libertie of our conscience and doe they not take away the bright light of the worlde that will take from vs the libertie of our faith or can wée kéepe warres more iust then this which is of necessitie Be not our weapons forced and therefore consequently holy and religious in the handes of them that haue no other hope to liue but by the helpe and endeuour of them In in valiant hearts In in It is not the multitude but the valour of courage that giueth the victorie God fighteth for vs as he hath done heretofore for so manie small troupes which you haue séene and heard of being well conducted to haue broken those that were ten times greater then themselues And otherwise also ye shall mightely enrich your selues as well by the incredible bootie and spoile as for the great raunsomes that ye shall get As touching the rest ye haue alreadie vanquished the greatest part which are rallied with them that durst not aduaunce themselues vppon vs after the taking of their Generall Is it likely to be true that they which haue bene alreadie tamed and subdued haue taken force by their fall and that the victorious haue ben made more vile worse by their felicitie March then resolutely to the defaite of the rest folowing the good houre that hath louingly welcomed you It is a common saying he that hath begon well hath halfe done which is not spoken to make slouthfull or to bring a sléepe him whose first attempts haue bene happie no but contrarie for to prick him forward still so much the more to the poursuit and perfecting of his desseine But as it is more dishonor for him that through negligence or lack of courage doth let the satisfaction contentment to be lost the which he had almost thoroughly gotten theÌ„ for him that had alwaies bene infortunate at the beginning in the poursuite and at the ende of his enterprise so you must assure your selues that God dyd not send into your hands the beginning of so renowmed victorie through the strange hardinesse and not credible valoure of my Lord the Prince but for to heate and enchafe you to attempt the aduauncement and entier gaine of accomplished happinesse O thrise fortunate ye that shall retourne vnto your houses triumphing of the victorie loaden with the spoiles of your enimies which ye shall bring out of the field and sée your selues embrased and swéetely welcomed home by your kinsfolkes wiues children neighbours and allies who shall for euer from Father to sonne sing the eternall praises of you that haue so willniglie exposed your liues for the honour and glorie of God suretie of the king and publick good of your countrie For although to die be a thing common both to the good and the wicked whatsoeuer they be yet death is not honorable nor worthie of praise in any man but in those the shot at no other marke then the vertuous actions of their life Goe then my maisters and shew thenimie by effect
horses vpon whom he was slaine euerie man taking him for his maister Le Conte of Rochfort called Damoisel de Comeri de Beauuois Brichanteau were sore hurt Beauuois died in the end the rest escaped Saint Heran was saued by the meanes of one of the Princes Trumpetters that was his Countriman wherefore he was afterward in great danger to be hanged Pienne whom we told you departed from Orleans fell into the hands of la Loue an honest valiant Gentleman one of his olde friends Who notwithstanding rehearsing vnto him his fault wold haue carried him away prisoner but he could do and speake wel so assuring him at the last that he should soone die in his armes he was so sore hurt that he let him goe and Pienne recouered D'aumalle was hurt had one of his shoulder plate thrust out of ioynt whereof he remained long time hurt Ausson a gentleman of Gascogne so renowned in the parts of Piemont that he had made a Prouerbe of his hardinesse ran away with the first euen to Chartes where he died of an ague that he tooke for griefe sorrow so much can the feare to léese reputation do in a gentlemanly heart But the death of Frances of Cleues duke of Niuernois gouernor of Champagne the heire of the late Frances of Cleues his Father is most remarkable of all things that happened in this Battaile This young Lorde béeing so wonne by Desbordes a Gentleman of Niuernos by whome and by his Secretarie called Vigenaire he let himselfe be so wholie possessed that notwithstanding that he had made profession of the same religion that the Protestants did and had twice promised the prince to come vnto him and follow him yet he liked better to fight that daie for the Catholikes whome he had before followed But it happened vpon the pricke of the first charge that Desbordes himselfe ill handling his Pistoll wounded the Duke in the thigh thrée fingers belowe the hanch and towards the knee so grieuouslie that there could be no meanes found to saue his life And being so hurt hée was carried as well as it could then be vnto a village and from thence to Dreux passing vpō the waie with fiue or six of his men who carried him néere to Dandelot who enquiring what he was and hauing vnderstood that it was the Duke of Neuers wounded to death would not staie him but bidde him thinke vpon his faultes and offences But as for Desbordes hée leauing his maister did for despaire that he had slaine him or for some other cause runne so farre into the thickest of the enimies that hée left his life in the place But the poore Lord dyd sore torment himself but hee was somwhat comforted by Mouie who onelie of all the Chieftaines of the Prince had béene taken in the last charge and hée hauing beene in his youth greatlie loued of the Duke of Neuers serued him for a comforter and as a minister euen vntil he died The principall prisoners besides the Constable was D'Oraison De Rochfort D'Esclauoles certain other Gentlemen On the Princes part were slaine the Baron of Arpaion de Saux de Chandien de Liencourt de Ligneris de la Fredonniere de la Carliere de Rougnac de Mazelles Saint Germier almost all of them of the Cornet of Mouy who was taken prisoner in the last charge hauing ben hurt and afterward tarrying long on foote in the wood adioyning Throckmorton the Ambassador of England Fances Perrucel the princes minister thinking the all had been lost saued thēselues in the néere town of Nogeant wher was the Dewager of Bouillon the daughter of the great Seneshall who had giuen a tast to the Prince the day before And although they were deliuered prisoners to the Catholickes the next daye yet Perrucel was afterward sent to the Prince to whom he serued well for to fortifie him during the time of his imprisonment Also two other Ministers were sore hurt but neither of them dyed they were both gentlemen and bare armes The one being Minister of Mouy his company had scarsely made an ende of prayers going to the charge but that he was stroken to the ground with the blow of a stone that hit him on the reines and from thence after a thousand strange chaunces carried to the next village and afterward to Dreux and finally to Paris and was so well thought of among his enimies without euer being knowen or constrained to doe any thing against his conscience that in the ende he came againe safe and sound to Orleans The other being brother of de la Cour de Chire a learned gentleman of Poitou had receaued an harquebusse shot in his reines which carried a peece of his harnesse into his bodie and the bullet going to the other side euen to the skinne néere to the nauell was so well thought of and holpen the euening after the battaile that the péece of the harnesse being taken out at the entrie of the wound and the bullet at the ende he being shut vp in the castell of Maintenon was readie to take horse againe within thrée wéekes The newes of the battaile was soone brought by the runawaies both to Paris and to Orleans both the one and the other reporting that all was lost on their side The first that gaue the affright to Paris was Guilaureau d' Orleans folowed by many other of whome some were good great ones who all affirmed the ouerthrow of the battaile and the taking of the Constable as true it was in so much that the partakers of the Catholickes stoode in no great sure state when Losses ariued reporting the taking of the Generall of the Protestants and how the Duke of Guyse had recouered all adding also that the Admiral was intierly defaited Vpon the which report there were made at Paris and in all other places to whome these newes were written with all diligence all kinde of ioye as bonefires feasts dauncings Maskes accompanied with Processions ringing of Bells with all ioye and mirth On the other side the most speedie to flie made all things vncertaine at Orleans but not quite desperate which helde all the people in suspense vntill the next day being the xx of the moneth when certaine newes came with them that brought the Constable prisoner to whome they had giuen but a little refreshment on the way after his taking they making him march without once resting all that night and the day folowing vntill he came to Orleans and was put in the Princes lodging He was not rescued as he looked for by 100. light horses eight companies of French men ouer whome Charry commaunded at Chartres within sight of whom they made him passe a pace But for to come againe to the two armies the Duke of Guyse encamped néere Dreux vsing all graciositie towards the Prince who also on his part shewed himselfe nothing astonned and so they passed the night hauing supped simply enough In the morning the Duke who now
standard set forward For at that instant they dislodged for to aduertise la Noue that abode at Luson of all that we haue folde you before and to exhibite into consultation of the counsail what was to be resolued vpon in this matter The which la Noue dyd also soone doe as well for to sound the hearts of his as also not to misse but with the opinion of them all if that fortune should make their first desse in fall out ill The opinions were diuers and the assembly was diuided into two aduises as it doth ordinarely happē in a matter of such importance namely among the Chiefeteines that would manage their affaires considerately and rather by the common aduice then their own particular motion The chiefe Captaines being assembled la Noue did declare vnto them the enterprise that they had made against the Fort and the occasion thereof that now it was come to this point that they could not longer abide before the place but that they must either fight or else retire them selues As touching the first the armie of the enimie is great well furnished both for men and equipage and a third mo in number then the Protestants But that which is more to be considered in this occurrence is that although we doe obtaine the victorie yet we shall thereby not aduaunce at all the affaires of the publicke and the totall cause if that fortune fall out ill to our great armie vnder the conduct of the Admirall which euery day is in doings with the Marshall of Cosse and vppon the point to darreyne battaile with the kings forces for then shall this victorie of ours be rather lamentable then profitable For as it can not be obtained but with great effusion of bloud and the death of manie braue Captaines and valiant souldiours so that if the armie of the Princes be broken those that shall dye in this fight now at hand will so lessen our forces that we shall not be able to maintaine Rochell against the Catholickes who may soone repaire and leuie an other armie because they doe swarme in people vnder the auctoritie that they haue stolen from the king But séeing that he remitted the resolution of the one and the other vnto the pluralitie of voices those that maintained the fight carried it away in number Besides the dishonor sayde they that the armie shall gette by such a retraite it can not be done but with an other greater losse of men then shall be spent in the battaile namely séeing that the Catholickes march vpon them with so great spéede Adde therevnto that the Italians as they thought had sette foorth for to cut of the way for none other consideration but to impeach them of all wayes of retires Wherevpon Puuiant tooke the word out of their mouthes and of a particular motion sayd aloud So that wée doe goe resolutely to the charge the victorie is certainly ours for they are all so werie so couered ouer with dust by reason of the long iourney that they haue made and besides they are so charged with sléepe that they will not be able to sustaine the first charge of our people As touching the rest God who is as great as strong and as well willed towards his as euer he was hath prouided for farre greater inconueniences than those that can befall to vs if our great armie hap to be broken If in all occasions that are presented to men man shew himselfe noble and couragious God will supply the rest and furnish vp the imperfection of man of whome he demaunds no more but his deuoire Let vs then doe that lieth in vs he that hath guided vs herevnto for to maintaine his cause will of his almightie power accomplish that which our feeble power lacketh The auctoritie and no lesse the good fortune that accustometh to fauour such a Chiefeteine was of so great force with the rest of that troupe that la Noue had no sooner asked them all whether they were resolued to fight but that their long acclamatiōs laughing countenances assured him of the good will that they had to doe it In so much that hauing admonished them not discharge before they were néere their enimie to pursue their poinct furiously to recharge without cease as long as they should sée any number of their enimies in troupe for feare least they should rallie after they were broken gaue commaundement to euery Captaine for to goe order and encourage his troupes and that the Ministers should presently preach vnto euerie companie praying God to send them an happie successe in this battaile so daungerous as euerie man is more religious when he sées him selfe pressed néere to any ill but if all things laught vpon him at pleasure then our nature is to forget him quickly to whom we were so deuout whē we feared the bastonnades of a mischief néere at hand But I will leaue them at their prayers and preparing of themselues to the reencounter the which they held assured and bring Puigaillard forward who staying for nothing lesse then for feare of raising of Puuiant and his companions out of their beddes hasted amaine But he was scarse at Cheurettes but that the companies of the Kings gard who being the spéediest had made a stand for a certeine tyme staying for the rest gaue soone enough into the barries of Sainct Gemme for the Protestants had shutte vppe the wayes of Sainct Gemme and Luson which they gotte and passed without resistaunce and ran thorough the borough in the houses whereof they founde the beddes yet hot wherewithall they finding themselues grieued did whilest they stayed for the armie some of them lay them downe to sléepe other fell to filling of their bellies and some ranne to hasten Puigaillard and to carrie him the newes of taking of Sainct Gemme whereinto he entred before the pricke of the daye crying in all quarters to his Souldiours to come out of the houses to putte them in order and range of Battaile for to folow the Protestants who some sayde were fledde to Marans and from thence to passe to Beraud In the ende séeing that the most part of the companies were out of the Borough he made them turne headde directly to Luson wher he hoped to be reuenged of the occasion that had hadde slipped out of his hande There fiftie souldiours Auantcourers of the best moūted of the Kings garde whome he had sent before the armie sent him woord that they had discouered the enimie who was prettie néere and in battaile These were a nūber of Gentlemen of the countrie who going out of Luson for to deuaunce the Armie hadde giuen in as farre as the tuffes of wood which were before marked vnto you being determined to trie the assurance and resolution of the Catholickes by some notable skirmish the which yet passed lightly enough as well on the one side as the other Vpon this certaine of the Catholicke armie being returning re-encountred x. or twelue valets of the Protestants
follow his point as long as he sawe himselfe accompanied by anie of his fellowes At the same instant he ordeined Puuiant to sustaine him if hée sawe him weake and to second his good houre if he sawe the first charge to beare it selfe as he hoped then he abode himself lower with all the rest for to succour al occurrances At that verie present Saint Estienne dismarched in view of all the Catholikes who would not set forward when they were so far of but suffered them to come within fiftie paces of them yea till they saw them change their pace to a trot that they might take a gallop for to charge them the 25. or 30. helmet men of Malicornes companie of men of armes whome D' Heruilliers lead disbanded themselues out of the troupe and hasting their pace receiued them after such a fashion that if the other that mooued not had seconded them as couragiouslie they had gotten more honour that daie But the confederates who as assailants went resolutely to the charge turning otherwise to their aduauntage the small account that the Catholikes made to remoue themselues pearced so lustelie and with such pursuite all that they reencountered that after the death and wounding of some the companie of D' Heruilliers found themselues not sufficient to sustaints them But being returned to the bodie of the horsemen who now setting forth made a good number of them without the remonstrances of Puigaillard who tooke all paine for to encourage and to aduance them to the defait of them that for the shocke receiued of D' Heruilliers were halfe scattered and readie to turne face if they were liuelie pursued to march When the two troupes of Puuiant presented themselues on the lefte side as though they woulde haue charged them on that side But séeing that the Catholikes came not forward at all like men resolute to fight as soone as they hadde receiued those that rested whole of the Cornet of Saint Estienne they turned vpon the right hand and charged them so furiouslie that not one of them had the heart to sustaine them but all tourned their faces thether from whence they came The worst was that they béeing hotlie pursued had no pittie and lesse feare to breake the companies of their footemen that came at their backes beeing scarce yet all in battaile araie thorugh whom they passed so spéedelie that the footemen felt their harme as soone as they had discouered their flight In summe their so sodaine departure out of the field of the battaile did so discourage all the rest of the horsemen by reason of the assurance that they had in the formost and farthest aduaunced with whome the Generall thought to arme the front of his horsemen that all the wordes threates and remonstraunces of Puygaillard who thought to staie them for to rallie them for the defence if not of their honour alreadie halfe lost yet at the least of the footemen whome they lefte to the boutcherie profited him nothing but was at last constrained himselfe béeing lefte alone and so neere his enimies to followe that long and large waie which the best mounted had traced vnto him Puuiant and many other pursued some so néere that those which were worse mounted were lesse happie and first vrged to yéelde their life Insomuch that the most parte béeing as of the Ordinaunces passing well mounted the poursuite profitted them nothing and they retired themselues within Fontenay which was with foure leagues where Puigaillard ariued about noone and yet the retrait could not be neere enough for them that thought themselues ouer hotly pursued King Antigonus séeing himselfe mocked for flying away with the fewe that were left him I fled not aunswered he but I pursued the profit that I sawe behinde mée So the Catholickes ranne to Fontenay for to finde there a neadeful commodie to saue their liues I haue tould you alreadie that the field wherein the horsemen of the Catholickes began to range themselues had but one entrie flanked on both sides with Vines fensed with high bushes betweene whome they must passe to charge the Catholicks these bushes couered a great number of haquebuziers who shot at Saint Estienne but they could not staye aboue thrée or foure but the rest of the horses furnished their carriere and carryed their men some of whome were hurte euen to the charge Granzay the youngest of the Bogifiere Courterne le Re and la Roche du Gue tarryed there Chasselandiere the Ensigne of Saint Estienne and fiue or sixe other although they were hurt yet went forward but being susteined by Malicornes men they were so hurt that they could liue no longer then the next day Now touching the Enfans perdus they marched so couragiously one against the other as though they would not fight but onely with their swords wherefore they approched so neere together that all of them cryed away harquebuzades Then the Captaines with their swords and targets the souldiours recharged as spéedely as the practise of warres would permit them sending fresh succours where néede required â—eming as though they would haue continued that play a long time But the Catholickes hauing heard the piteous crye of them whome their horsemen flying had broken dyd not so soone know that the Protestants folowed their victorie the which they pereeued by the long cryes and ioyfull acclamations of their enimies but that they began to tremble and shrinke backe in the meane time that their companions dyd their deuoire to defend themselues vnder the auantage of the hedges bushes that couered them But yet in the ende séeing the Protestants approch and stil come vpon them thorough the vines they forsooke their bushes for to cast themselues into the plaine where the rest of their fellowes had rallied with other and encouraged themselues for a certaine time for to susteine their enimies But when the Protestants were seased of the bushes behinde whome they shot at their ease without euer missing that great regiment they with many horsemen crying victorie cast themselues among them as on a lost bodie for to ouerthrow them intierely so that they were in the ende constrained some to flye other to put themselues to the mercie of the sword or the pitie of the victorious And to say the trueth if it had not bene for la Noue very few had escaped the furie of the Protestant namelie of the Lansquenet who came to the defait These souldiers doing the worst they could vppon these olde hands for to shew that they would be reuenged of the ill happe that had fell vpon them at Moncoutour spake nothing else but desticot Chelme Moncoutour villaine doest thou not remember Moncoutour vnto those that being disarmed could not defend themselues much lesse aunswere to their outragious speach And except their Colonell who contenting himselfe with pillage had appeased his wrath they were all determined not to returne into their Countrie but well reuenged for their companions that had bene so well feasted This battaile
made many Catholickes and Protestants note and marke as afterward some of them dyd often confesse that as footemen are at this day furnished and conducted they must not fight in the plaine against horsemen vnlesse they be flanked or sustained by horsemen séeing that the very Suisses who kéepe their rankes best and rest most assured to rallie in case they be broken wil no more march vnlesse they be flanked with French Harquebuziers and horsemen namely against the French horsemen Sée what happened to P. Valerius and L. Aemilius against the Vosces and Latines who had ouerthrowen their footemen if their horsemen had not come to their succour And what of our blacke bands before Naples who being incited by to much hardinesse as they which had passed wel before were so ill entreated by the Neapolitan horsemen because they had no horsemen to susteine them that their braue enterprise was bpoken as were the Suisses by the Protestants at the battaile of Dreux and by king Frances at the battaile of Saint Brigide néere Marignan vpon the Milanese The footemen in generall were endebted and bound to la Noue and Soubize who caused the boucherie of the Frenchmen to cease they yéelding to haue their liues saued except one Captaine Ensigne Colonell who preferring death before dishonor the which he thought he should deserue by suruiuing so many valiant souldiours slaine wold not abandon one so honorable a péece of silke but with the losse of his life And doubtlesse the suretie and sauing of an Ensigne is of such consequence that any good souldiour will neuer omit to doe his deuoire to kéepe it for any dauÌ„ger that shall be presented him in so much that he will resolue to fight vnder the shadow of his Ensigne euen to the last breath of his lyfe Sixtéene Ensignes and two Cornettes were taken and about 500. slaine and 700. or 800. prisoners sent away with a white rodde in their hand Many Captains died there as Marguarin other but all either Liuetenants or Ensignebearers for ther were not one but la Hiliere a Captaine in chiefe of a companie of the Regiment Reall Of horsemen lesse then thirtie dyed for they saued themselues by flight Vpon a sodaine the victorious presented their Ensignes before the Fort which yéelded the foure Ensignes whereof made vp the number of two and twentie brought to Rochel And because that Mascaron complained of la Noue for the contrarie to the promise of assured compositioÌ„ he had certain baggage taken froÌ„ him which had ben permitted him to carry away la Noue tooke 400. crowns of a prisoner which he caused to be caried to him to content him and to maintaine his promise But the carier being slaine at the taking of the Minister de Chire at Mozeuill as I will tell you in an other place the money was not deliuered vnto him But to returne backe againe to our battaile the dismissed souldiours retired attributing the occasion of all the ill hap vnto the ouer hot hast of Puigallard and for that it was accompanied as some say with a contemning of the Protestants In déede he little practised the example of Paulus Aemylius the Consull and Generall of the Romans who trauailing with an armie thorough Macedonie against Perseus the king of the Macedons had marched almost all one whole day a great pace for to ioyne with the enimie and to come to fight the which was presented vnto him But although his people made countenance of accepting of the good offerre crâ—ed of themselues that he should leade them to the enimie yet neuer the lesse because be saw theÌ„ wery by reason they had marched preatie long with their bagage on their back all bathed in sweat lilling their tongue half a foot out of their mouth for extreeme thirst that tormented them their eyes mouthes and faces full of dust and burnt vp and halfe roasted with the scorching heate of midday he would not present them to the battaile nor bring them in sight of a fresh and aranged enimie seeing that for lack of strength many rested and stayed themselues vppon their bucklers and iauelins sticked in the ground for to hold them vp but contrarie to the opinion of many commaunded the formost bands to lay downe their burdens and baggage that they carryed and measure out the front of a Romane campe They were not so delicate as our bands be for the meanest of whome a dosen of baggage carriers and so many gouiats or drudges after them be not sufficient And when Publicus Nasica one of the best qualited gentlemen in the army tould him that it were better to pursue the enimie who vnto that day had alwaies fledde before them then to leaue him one night frée for the flie longer and to renew the paine of the Romans in séeking him farther he aunswered modestlie without shewing of himselfe anie whit altered for that bold aduertisement I haue had héeretofore the minde that you haue now Nasica and you will one daie haue that which I haue now Many diuerse accidents of warre haue taught mée to know the time when to fight and when to refuse But séeing that leasure is denied mée to saie anie more content your selfe for this time with the authoritie of an olde Captaine neuer contemne your enimie more than you haue had good occasion One ought also to consider the commoditie of the place the circumstance of time the qualitie of the furniture the number of men of warre the forme the manner of the fight the good heart and hardinesse of his men the obedience of his souldiers the authoritie and braue reputation of the Generall which both serue oftentimes to bring to a good end an exploit wel conceiued But so it is that alwaies fortune doth saie and sing aloud and cléere that all is hers and she doth plaie in enterprises of warre as fréelie as the fish doth in the great and wide Ocean But of all other the olde bands that serued Puigaillard as the best footemen of this age did take verie impatientlie to bée spoiled of their weapons What said one after that I haue done notable seruice to my king for the space of fifteene yéeres together shal I suffer such dishonour And shal I after twentie yeres and I after thirtie and I after fortie sayd another beare the scorne of a souldier disgraded Good fellowe for Gods sake leaue me sayde they but my harquebusse but my pike but my sword take all euen to my shirt that the face of his maiestie may not sée me in the habite of a gouiat and drudge But the Souldiers victorious growing in despite because they could not take from them their liues for the countermaund of their Generall stopped their eares against such praters The which one of the Captaines an Ensigne Colonell perceiuing for to shew in what honour wee ought to holde the Armies and degrees that haue béen given vs and also what difference there is betweene a chiefe of marke and a simple Souldier loued