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
maruelously diminished and lessened euery day both by reason of sicknesse among the Souldiers as of the companies which were sent vnto the townes which were threatned with a siege at hand This done the D. of Vendosme knowing his Souldiers to be very wearye with the long trauaile of this voyage to refresh and solace them brake vp his Campe and sent certaine companies of men at armes of the most tired to winter in their ancient Garrisons and his light cauallerie in places neerest to the enemy and to helpe and succour the poore people to husband and sowe their fieldes The foote companies of French English and Scottish were lodged in the Townes and Borroghes all alongst the the banke of the Riuer of Some The Almanes of the County of Reingraue and Baron of Frontenay at S. Esprit de Reux which they caused to be fortefied for a counterforte to Mesmil and those of the Count Rocdolphe and Reifberge tooke their way towardes Piemont and Italy The Historie of Fraunce THE THIRD BOOKE YOu haue already seene how the French and the Imperialles sought out one another with as great stomacke as euer eche of them the more forward thorough the presence of their Princes which as then conducted the armies when as Henry with great fury battered the castle of Renty and had carried it had not the Emperour broght thither all his forces the better to encourage them which were besieged and allaye the fury of the French by the skirmishes and hotte sallies which he caused to be vndertaken by the cheefest of his army so as the Erench albeit they carried away the honour of the memorable reencounter which I haue mencioned in which the Spanish Fanterie put to rout the Almane Pistoliers of Count Vul-uensort since called Reisters were broken and put to flight by the French Cauallerie were yet in the end constrained to quit the place retyring themselues in march as if they should haue presented battaile to the Imperials from which the Emperour kept them thorough the fauour of his trenches Afterwards the two Princes hauing for the reasons which I alleadged elsewhere broken dissolued their armies wherof they placed a good part in the garrisons of their frontiers the better to be able continually to vndertake an enterprise more secretly as opportunity serued helde themselues a long time vpon their garde without much discouering themselues through the discommodities of the Autumne and violence of the blustring Winter employing themselues onely in some surprises and secret intelligences whereof verye fewe succeded so well as the vndertakers desired These two Princes in the meane space pricked forward no lesse with enuye then a reciprocall ambition boyling with a worldlye desire of reuenge by the remembrance of so great losses old new offences made ready al kinde of preparatiues for a war at hād and much more bloudye then the former so as the brute being spread throughout France of the rodes which the Imperial garrisons stil made the French therby soone tooke occasion to march vnder the Marshall of S. Andre for to surprise scale at breake of daye and cutte into peeces whomsoeuer they should finde in armes in the Castle of Cambresy At what time the Spaniards had notwithstanding the fauour of a faire warre to retire themselues whether it liked them best About the beginning of the same spring Bouillon as the K. lieutenant in the absence of the D. of Neuers Gouernour of Champaigne was sent thither to rescue those of Mariembourg afterwards to enterprise vpon the enemy as occasion should be offred for the Imperialles meant no lesse to the place then to the Garrison because that this Towne hauing before beene a Village and pleasant seate of Mary widdowe to Lewis King of Hungarie which she had caused to be most curiously builded and fortefied whilest that she was gouernesse of the Countrye for the Emperour her Brother was builded and raised vp much stronger and farre better prouided then before yea the K. would needs bestowe his owne name thereof as this Princesse before had done hers which notwithstanding more happye in that could not out of the memorye of the people bordering round about The three and twentith of March Pope Iulye the third of that name deceased after hauing taken great paines in the latter end of his yeares to reconcyle these two great Lordes whome himselfe before had set to debate an occasion that the ninth day of Aprill the Cardinall Marcel Ceruin of Montpulcien in Tuscane was chosen and proclaimed Pope who by no meanes would change his name as the rest were wonte to doe He was Bishop of Nicastre and Cardinal of the tittle of Holye crosse in Hierusalem who died poysoned for all that as some affirme the two and twentith day of his election for that he was of too good a life But in very truth as hee was before giuen to be sicke of the yellowe Iaunders the disease grewe so sore vpon him in his olde yeares as hee dyed the three and twentith day of his Papacye True it is that a fewe dayes before his death he made himselfe be crowned with very small expences and very modestly Now as he was very wise so men had a great hope that he would correct many thinges in the Romish Church and especially that he would chase away all the dissolution and superfluitie thereof from whence the brute of his poysoning did growe for indeede hee abolished the superfluities of gardes and other honours which the first Bishops of Rome knew not once what they meant Afterwards the three and twentith of May the Cardinals those in their conclaue the Cardinall Iohn Pierre Caraffa Deane of the Colledge called Theatin Neapolitain named Paul the fourth esteemed to be a man very eloquent and learned The first author being a Monke at Venise of Iesuistes of whome I will speake else where For at diuers times and throughout all the Prouinces of Christendome yea as farre as the East and West Indies they haue engrauen and thundred out the name of their profession thorough the merite of their paines incredible hazardes and cruelties which they haue suffered among the Barbarians for the name of Christ In this time Philip of Austria by Mary King of England as well to appease the mutinyes which were growne betweene the English malcontentes thorough the alliance with a Stranger and other greeued with the change of the Protestant Religion for the Romane as the better to entertaine traffique and other commodityes with the French one parte of the great riches of that insularie kingdome curious on the other side of the generall good and repose of Christendome refused not with Charles the Emperour his Father and Henry the second to hearken to a vniuersall peace especially at the perswasions of the English Cardinall Poole who hauing passed betweene the Emperous and the King of France did maruelouslye sollicite them to a good accorde whereunto the rather to induce them he insisted both by
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
Emperour who yet had not his campe well entrenched nor the succour of ten thousand Fantassins and foure thousand Horse which the Counte de Bure brought vnto him they also lost the time at Nerlinge so as the Emperour being seased of the places bordring of Danube and hauing it so at his deuotion as he could cause all sorte of victuall to be brought pursued them then with great aduantage for they ill husbanding the opportunities which presented themselues and adding thereunto that they were two heads equall and banded in their opinions Schertelin first afterwards other retyred themselues from them Maurice in the meane time had praied his Cosin the D. of Saxe by his Father in lawe the Landgraue to take in good parte that he seased of his liuing but perceiuing himselfe refused ioyned with Ferdinande who to enforce the Bohemians to ouerrunne Saxe vtterly refusing it considering the alliance which they had made with that house and for that they verilye thought hee had wrong doone him caused his cauallerie of Hussaries of Hungaries to come downe and some Silesians with whome he put all Saxe to fire and sworde Maurice euer saying that hee had rather sease thereof himselfe then a straunger should considering that the mynes of siluer were common to him with his cousin and that his landes were shutte in within the others which hee made sure by this meanes besides that hee did nothing but by the aduise of the estates who had written to that end to his Cosin and further that the Emperour had sworne vnto him that hee ment no harme but to the Rebels and not to Religion wherefore in all cases the faith excepted one ought to obeye that Magistrate which suffered in his Countrie the exercise of religion and so determined to pursue his owne right and the differentes which so long time he had had with the Elector fearing least his landes should fall into the handes of Strangers offering when hee should be reconciled to the Emperour and Ferdinand that he would restore vp al vnto him whereof he certified his Cosin and his Sonne so as the Hungarians following of him he tooke all the places except Gothe-aenac and Witemberge binding all the subiects to sweate vnto him For which he was misliked by euery man rendring so poore a recompence vnto him whom he ought to haue held for a father author of all his good He was sonne to Henrie whose brother George Duke of Saxe had ordained by his testament that the Emperour should enioye his prouince vntill that his brother had renounced the Protestant Religion But the Elector and Landgraue hindered it making his testament to be broken tooke Henrie and his children into their league Moreouer whreas George had giuen vnto him a pension in mony that they feared for spight of Religion he would refuse to pay it the Protestants promised him in case it should so fall out to furnish the somme vnto him themselues so the Saxon being called on that side and seeing the Landgraue hauing left vnto him his people retyre himselfe and that the Allies furnished no more supplies hee went aganst Maurice out of whose hands in the end he got againe all the places and tooke a number of his people and whatsoeuer Ferdinand had taken from him shutting both them into Bohemia he subiected to himselfe also the Bishoppricke of Magdeburg and Halbestat hauing conuented with Iohn Albert the Bishop The Emperour in the meane time triumphed thoroughout Germanie ordayning and imposing great ransomes to al the Princes and Protestant Cities euen to the Elector Palatine who before as a Neutre was readye to haue reformed his Churches by Paul Faggius had not this accident fallen out and was faine to haue pardon of the Emperour for the 400. horse which hee had sent to the Protestants albeit hee protested that it was not ment against him but by right of Obligation carried by a particular contract with the Duke of Witemberg Whome likewise and his sonne Christopher hee pardoned but woulde not his brother George all renouncing the Leage and not speaking of Religion Afterwards the Emperour pursuing of the Saxon the 22. of Aprill 1547. ariued at Misnes which Frederic had quit and burning the woodden bridge encamped himselfe at Mulburge neare the riuer of Albye the Emperour still hastening for feare he should enclose himselfe within Witemberg So as with a thousand Spanish Harquebusiers which waded into the water to passe forward he assailed the garde on the other shoare notwithstanding the Cannon shot which showred downe on euerie side Afterwards with the small Boates which Frederic had abandoned hee made a bridge ouer which the Hungarians of Ferdinand and the light horse passed first followed with the rest hastning to follow Frederic who was reencountred 3. leagues from Albye neare the forrest Lochane where hee charged him so hard that after a long combat he was defeated hurt taken and brought by the Duke of Alua vnto him to whome hauing said I render my selfe thy prisonner most mercifull Emperour and pray thee to giue me entertainment worthy of a Prince he answered Now then thou doest acknowledge me an Emperour but I wil handle thee according to thy desert Shortly after being condemned to death the Elector of Brandebourge so much appeased the Emperour that he had his life not refusing any conditions offred vnto him sauing to obey the Emperours ordinances or the Councell chusing rather to die It was then ordained that the Emperour should confiscate all his goods which he gaue to Ferdinand and Maurice vpon condition that Maurice should yeerely pay vnto the Saxon and his children fiftie thousand crownes If it so seemed good to the Emperour and Maurice he should enioy Gote so as he raysed the Castle and fortefied not the Towne And for that hee was much in debt Maurice should giue vnto his children one hundred thousand crownes to be employed to the payment of his debtes growne before the league of Smalcade and that Maurice should discharge all such debts as his lands which had beene confiscat and giuen vnto him by the Emperour were lyable vnto And so all suites to be had at an ende and his children to haue the vsufruite of the goods mentioned if they approued these conditions and the people likewise And in respect his life was saued he should for euer after remaine prisoner to the Emperour and to his sonne the Prince of Spaine Hee surrendred likewise his right and dignitie of Elector into the handes of the Emperour who put Maurice as well in possession of the dignitie as lands of Frederic And by his decree it was ordayned that if the other should chaunce to dye without heires masles Augustus his brother and his children should be in remainder thereunto which was doone the 24. of Februarie 1548. at Witemberge Frederic regarding the ceremonies of his house all the Electors present the Landgraue vnder suertie of Brandebourge Maurice and Volfange his sonnes in law rendred himselfe
discretion their liues saued he would cause them al to passe by the edge of the sword so as hauing a while considered of the danger they yeelded themselues to the mercy and discretion of the Duke which happened in very good time for there remained no more but two bullets of a Culuerin left they being gone out to the end no leasure should be giuen to the French souldiers to amuse about the spoile fire was put in diuers places of the Towne as for the Prisonners the Duke of Neuers had alreadye giuen them leaue to departe when as they were as well known vnto the Captaine Sapoigne their neighbour Sonne to Gilles de Leuant sometimes gouernour of Luxembourg against whom Sapoigne declared vnto the Duke that the honestest man among them all had one hundred times deserued death and how hee should shew them too much fauour to saue their liues for if he should set thē at liberty it would be a means to make them do more harme to the French Therefore the greatest part of them were retained and carried prisonners to Satenaye afterwardes some were sent backe the principall being reserued cheefely the Captain Dalumont otherwise Malladerie and his ensigne named Arbonniere all these matters being thus happely atchieued in one onely day the armie returned the same very night to lodge at Satenay with all the companies except those of Mommedy who in respect they were neere hand retired as then from the place cōmandement being giuen that they should dayly repaire thither by hundreds to make euen with the ground the rest of Vireton which the fire was not able to waste or consume and on the next morrowe hauing dispatched S. Simon to carry newes vnto the K. who continually remained at Reims and cōmanded Despotz Gouernour of Satenay to receaue of the inhabitants within the town the oath of fidelity in the K. name he dparted towards the cōstable who caused the armye to temporise attending what the Emperour would attempt who finding all his forces assembled and the succours which he attended out of the low Countries being arriued took the high way againe towards Metz and was approched as farre as Sarabuc seuen leagues from thence and a few dayes after the D. of Alua Lieutenant generall of the Emperour and the Marquesse of Marignan Colonell of the Italian Fantassins with fourteene thousand foote foure thousand horse and sixe fielde peeces approched so neere as to discouer the Towne and the fittest places for to pitch their Campe in which was not doone without a furious and braue skirmish of the French souldiars who being sallied forth for a beginning made them well to perceiue and feele with what affection they were determined to defend themselues and maintaine the place wherein the French as then atchiued great reputation as well of the Duke of Guise as of their enemies who afterwardes retired themselues to S. Barbe two leagues back with small aduauntage and losse of neere hand eight or nine score men and of French men there was lost Marigny Picard issued out of the auncient and most renowmed house of Salezart and fiue Souldiers which were slaine on the place Sylly Mompha and the Captaine La Vaure dyed there of their wounds In the meane time the D of Aumalle standing well assured of all the plattes and sollicitings which they practised with the Marquesse Albert aduertised the K. thereof who was at Reims to the end to prouide of all sides as wel on that part as towards Picardie certifying him that the most expedient way was rather to set vpon him thē to suffer him to ioyne with the enemy and so to make him the stronger and to bring that to passe he let him to vnderstand that with such meanes as hee already had two hundred men at armes would be sufficient to defeate him The King made answere that hee liked his deuice very well prouided that it were wisely executed and without too much hazard and presently hee commaunded Bourdillon to goe and ioyne with him with a hundred men at armes and obey him wherein soeuer for his seruice hee would imploye him whereupon hee came towardes him within three leagues neere vnto which place hee readily aduertised him how by the Kings commaundement with all possible diligence he had made his repaire towards him to obey him beseeching him to signifie his pleasure and what he was to doe The D. of Aumalle answered him that he was maruelously contented at his so great diligence vsed and that the Marquesse hauing already passed ouer the riuer of Muze was ready likewise to goe ouer the other of Madon to retire himselfe to the Emperours Campe and he knew not any great means how to follow him any longer wherfore in breefe he determined to retire himselfe to Thoul to make warre against the enemie This answere was the cause that Bourdillon stirred not from Blanieau attending his returne Three daies after notwithstanding the D. of Aumalle sent his Trumpetter with letters to the Marquesse to suck alwaies some intelligence from him but so it was as finding him at the borough of S. Nicolas whether he was gone with a small companie to conclude with the Emperours Deputies making small account of those letters the Trumpetter was staied to the end that readily returning hee might not discouer the secret nor make reporte of what he had seene who maruelling greatlye at this strange entertainement went to the Marquesses truchman for it was tolde him that hee had beene brought vp in Fraunce thinking by that meanes that hee would haue carried some good affection to haue pleasured those of that Nation whence he had receaued all kinde of curtesie but contrariwise hee found him a braue and presumptuous Gallant who iudged himselfe of the highest valour by reason of the familiaritie which he had with his Master The Trumpetter be sought him to procure his dispatch and returne He contrariwise without making any answere at al to his request railed extreamely at the French and wishing vnto them a thousand curses he protested with great oaths that before it were long he would bathe himselfe in their bloud So the Trumpetter was enforced to tarrie vntill the Thursday before the day wherein the defeate should be accomplished as they tolde him and how that the morrowe after he should returne with his answere which came not to passe for all that for that day all things being changed to the worse the Trumpeter was more rigorously entreated then before led bound fast wrong hard and trained as if how-erlye hee expected nought else then to be hanged or dye miserably Thus the Marquesse had determined the next morrowe to take his way to the Emperours Camp and there rested nothing but to vnite and appease some of his Captains Souldiers who had no great minde to turne their face to take oath to the Emperor in respect of the euill entertainment which they had found both at his hands and the Spaniards in the wars passed The
to fight for maintenance of them which were redie to be besieged within he retyred leauing his sonne in the castle to whome hee vowed and swore great punishment if hee yeelded the place with dishonour and reproch With the same charge he left with him his companion a Henault Gentleman named Harenuille So the breach beeing made farre stronger by them than before and standing prouided and strengthened with whatsoeuer they could imagine to bee necessarie for them they sowed a bruite that both the one and the other woulde rather die there within than yeelde themselues so good cheap as they that first went out thence Shortly after the French armie beeing arriued the Duke of Vendosme Lieutenant for the King in Picardie caused his approaches to bee made and one of his batteryes to bee planted in the verie same place where the Bourgonians had addressed theirs and the other vppon the slope of a little hill of the side of Therouanne So Hedin began to bee cannoned the seuenteenth of December most furiously and there were discharged foure thousand three score and sixe shot of Cannon without making anie breach or ouerture that had not yet a rampire behinde eighteene or twentie foote high Yet faintnesse of heart and feare of death ceazed the besieged who yeelded themselues by composition theyr liues and goods saued theyr Ensignes displayed with two meane peeces of artillerie at theyr tayle wythout taking awaie ought or transporting of anie thing els of that which they had found within so the castle of Hedin was yelded and rendered vnto the Kings obedience by the conduct of the Duke of Vendosme the eighteenth of December And albeit that the chiefe was acquited of his dutie in keeping it yet fearing his fathers cholar he remained a long time not daring to present himself before him Sodainly after the Duke of Vendosme beeing aduertised that the enemies meant to passe ouer the riuer to giue him battel at the houre that he parled with them of Hedin by the Kings aduise hee purposed to ease them of that paine and him selfe went to seeke them out with his forces with intention to fight with them if they would abide But not finding themselues strong inough they retired towardes the strong townes and further into the heart of the Countrie quitting vnto him the passages to execute his good pleasure and a means to reuenge himselfe of those cruelties which they had committed vpon his lands At such time as these affayres thus passed there the Duke of Neuers hauing caused on the side of Saint Michael many and sundry roads to be made to the great damage of the enemies of the crowne of Fraunce departed thence by an intelligence which he had how that on the side of Espinaux by the Countie of Vaudemont ordinarilye came downe great quantitie of victuals prouisions to the Emperors campe Therfore with those few men of warre which he was able to recouer beeing two hundred men at armes two hundred light horse and as many harguebuziers on horseback he retired towards Vaucouleurs a little French village renouned inough vpon the riuer of Meuse within fiue leagues of Thoul included within many of the lands of Lorain from whence within two daies after he departed to go towardes Thoul thether causing his forces to approach which he made to be lodged in a verie faire and great village named Blanieau a temporall lordship roialtie of the Chapitre of S. Stephens of Thoul and in other little ones adioyning Shortly after their comming was a role made of the men at arms and archers the most likely and best mounted to the number of sixe score conducted by Mouy to breake and cut vp the head of a maruellous great pond in the countie of Vaudemont thereby to drowne and destroy a number of villages which were vnderneath it whether many victuals had retired themselues and where the enemies forages found yet great store of corne and forage which notwithstanding was alreadie found broken and cut vp to the great hinderaunce of the Countie The French men hauing made the hole greater and returning homewards met with a great troup of waggons chariots laden with all sortes of victualers and munitions addressed to the imperiall campe Whereof hauing made the greatest spoile that they were able with a great deale of wines of Arbois and marred the ouerplus and hauing slaine some of the guides and waggoners led away as many horses as they were able and retired with great daunger notwithstanding that they were constrained to passe at full daie through sundrie villages where some of the enemyes were lodged as wel of foot as horse The which notwithstanding fell out without the losse of anie one in respect they were not knowen apparelled like marchants without anie white crosses or scarfes seene and their harnesse couered with their cloakes beeing likewise thought to be auantcouriers to drawe them to an ambuscade or fearing least the greater troupes of the enemies were couered and laie hid Wherefore the D. of Neuers verie much contented herewith anon after retired to Vaucouleurs Now to looke backe againe to what the Emperour did before Metz hee trauelled there with small aduantage all the thunder and strange impetuositie of his artillerie not able to make one hole or passage fit to giue the assault which the Marques Albert demaunded of him thinking thereby further to aduaunce himselfe into his good fauour for that hauing well neere shaken all the great tower D'enfer all the great parte of wall betweene the tower and the porte Champenois with the bulwarke which couered it he could not raise the vaumure otherwise termed fanse-braie which held vp the quarters of the wall that fell and were stayed the one vpon the other betweene this vaumure and the foote of the wall no wayes filling of the ditch which remayned as neate large and deepe as before nay they serued them within for a stronger rampire Wherefore it was thought good the batterie shoulde bee chaunged to another place a little aboue and to vndermine that parte to turne topsie turuie into the ditch that same vaumure and fanse-braie whereof the Duke of Guise beeing aduertised hee caused countermines to bee made within in sundrie places in which hee might haue anie knowledge and prouide for theyr passages in such sorte as they had not long digged and hollowed theyr mines but the sentinels and scoutes of the besieged might easily heare and perceiue them the which began to discourage them to daunt and quayle greatly in theyr enterprise Ioyne that then as well by reason of the maruellous coles as thorough the necessities and defaultes of sundrie thinges for the men of warre the verie Germanes beganne euen to fayle of courage who caused to bee signifyed vnto the Emperour that it woulde please his maiestie to command a reasonable breach to bee made to enter and take the towne choosing rather to die honourable at an assault than miserably to fall by colde and extreame
to me poore Crookebacke and at the instant drawing out his dagger hee stabbed himselfe so farre into the bodye as hee fell downe starke dead which being knowne to his Father hee maruelouslye mourned and notwithstanding he spared not to sease of all his goods which caused a great tumulte in Mustapha his Campe but it was nothing in respect of that they did after they vnderstoode of his death In such sorte as Solyman with great daunger of his life was constrained to banishe Rostan and depriue him of all honors and dignities This death fell out very fortunatelye for the Christians to whome Mustapha was a sore enemye and tooke singular pleasure in shedding of their blood it was likewise taken so greeuouslye of the Turkes that from thence forth this prouerbe is growne among them Gietti Sultan Mustapha all is ended since that hee is dead all is done whatsoeuer we thought of for they imagined in their own fancie that it was he which should enlarge the bounds of their Empire in another manner of sorte then euer did his Ancestors which they could not expect at the handes of any other Let vs handle againe the siege of Teroene The Emperour lying at Bruxelles and being promptlye aduertised of the taking of Teroene conceaued a verye great pleasure thereat sweetening by the happe of this good fortune the bitternesse of his former disgraces so as throughout all the Countryes of Flaunders Arthois and Henaute were seene great bonfyers Afterwards he commanded that it should be razed and throwne down to the very foundations to the end nought might rest but the place where it might be sayd Teroene had beene Afterwardes hee sent the Prince of Piemont his Nephewe Lieutenant generall in his armye to quenche a sedition and a certaine enuye which the Princes and great Lordes bare to Binecourt a worthy Cheefe of these troupes But such is the malice among men that it was neuer nor euer shall bee but that enuye will bee among equalles albeit that often tymes it maye lye dissembled The King vnderstoode of these sorrowfull newes as soone as the Emperour which at the instant seemed as strange vnto him as any thing which they could haue made reporte of considering how hee had before receiued an entire contentment of that furious assaulte which the French had so resolutely sustained but being certified by diuers reportes how all the matter was handled hee was greatlye greeued at the taking thereof and much more bewayled his men which he thought to be in a farre greater number dead then afterwardes it was found to be Now albeit that among the French the plainte was great and the losse very preiudiciall yet necessitye the inuentresse and mistresse of all Artes sharpning the wits of men to assay strange things stirred vp the Kings spirit in a sorte ioynte with the sorrowe and greefe of the losse so that being aduertised how his enemies shortlye after this ruyne took their way and prepared themselues to come and do as much at Hedin he made ready all preparatiues to fortifie the same with men and all thinges fitting to staye them shorte or at the least vntill such a time as hee imagined his armye coulde be in a readines to the end to raise the siege and driue them into their owne Countrie Now the D. of Bouillon Marshall of France desirous more and more to perseuer in the K. seruice had long time before vndertaken the defence of this Castle to which would needes accompany him Horace Farneze D. of Chastres and the Earle of Villars with a great number of other Lords Gentlemen and good Souldiers who to make proofe of their courage of their own accord presented themselues to this seruice albeit that the K. stoode in some doubt of the force and validitie of that place and had no affection at all to expose thither such personages of such authoritie they notwithstanding preferring an immortall renowne before their goods or liues went to enclose themselues within this forte to this verye ende were dispatched couriers and commandements to the Captaines of the men of warre to haue in readines all their companies and as soone as it were possible to cause them to march and to render themselues neere Amyens where the Constable was hoping to assemble together there the Kings army commissions were distributed to the Captaines of the Fanterie to make their leuies as soone as they were able and to those of the olde Ensignes and entertained companies to furnish them compleate and wel armed to conduct them surely and without plaints vnto the Rendeuous there was also proclaimed throughout all the Realme that the Rirebands according to their dutie and the Kings ordinance should forthwith march and furnish themselues to the same place afterwards they aduertised and besought the Zuizer cantons of the French league to send to their succour a certaine number of footemen of their nation the best armed and compleate that they could according to the agreement between the Kings of Fraunce and them The King in summe caused great diligence to be made and commaunded that all thinges should be prouided for the putting of his power into the fielde where his enemies being aduertised and well assured that if they did not imploy that small time which they could get within which the Kinges army might be made readye so to purpose as they might enforce Hedin hardly they should attaine to the cheefe of their enterprise or retire without a battaile or other peiudiciall accident they aduaunced with such diligence their affaires that the Towne being voide of inhabitants who were fled and retired into France with whatsoeuer they could carry away of their goods was in very short time taken by them in respect it was not much defended by Souldiers who shutte vp themselues within the Castle esteeming it impregnable There they planted on the one side one of their batteries and the other towards the parke and the greatest of all by the Towre Robin where the French had already made theirs but notwithstanding any resistance which they within besieged were able to make they were not able to diuerte them This Castle being little which in al could contain but 2000. men and that hardly hauing in times past beene builded by the Dukes of Burgondie onely for the pleasure of hunting not to fortifie it in any sort so not loosing one sole hower by day or night to batter it so furiouslye as was possible they trauailed not onelye to throwe it downe by their artillerie but vndermined it so diuerslye and in so many places that it was impossible that a Cony berry could haue more holes and hollowes vnder the ground then were vnder the foundations of this castle all the countermines secrets within being known practised by many of the enemies the place besides being very subiect to this imperfection Now the enemies had already battered and digged downe the greatest parte of the parapette and rampire of the great breach
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
being at his tayle without any great preiudice notwithstanding by reason of the good order which he gaue in the discamping conduct of his armie the which was furnished with victuals in the Placentine Countrey by the commaundement of Octauian Farneze D. of Parma which the D. of Guise caused to be payd for expresly forbidding any souldiar to doe wrong to the subiectes of this Prince We will leaue then for a while the D. of Guise marching with his forces in Italie to the Popes succour to enterlace you here an accidente as straunge as any which hath happened in the memorie of our forefathers Dauid George who since made himselfe to be called Iean de Bructe borne at Delph in Hollande an authour of a peruerse secte making himselfe to be named by his followers King and Christ immortall dyed the yeere passed 1556. the 24. day of August and his wife a little before retired with a verie great familie of her owne to Basle in the yeere 1544. He sayde he was fled his owne Countrey for the Gospels sake and there bought houses and a Castle neere vnto the towne called Buiuignen with landes of great reuennewe He was verie cunning of great Spirite and had his eyes addressed on all partes to gayne the heartes of many and an exteriour reputation which was mainteined and greatly augmented by his riches his money and most precious moueables which he had brought thither and which men brought vnto him day by day as well out of the high as lowe Countries of Flaunders as it falleth out that almost all men suffer themselues to be cousined with an apparaunce magnificence of worldly things rather thē to be caried away with the vertue truth of euery thing Two things presaged vnto him his death one of his houses which he had at Basle was smotte with lightning and another sumptuously builded within his pastures was likewise burned with parte of his rarest and most exquisite moueables shortly after the floure of the house wherein he lay fell all downe at one blowe and sodainly yet nothing happened more grieuous vnto him before his death then the comming of a man of authoritie out of Base Almania to Basle For from thenceforth as well aduised and forecasting hee knewe that by little and little he shoulde easily be discouered His disciples were marueilously astonished at his death for that he had assured them of his immortalitie yet their hope was somewhat vpheld because he had giuen them to vnderstande certayne dayes before howe he shoulde take life againe by the space of three yeeres and perfect most excellent things Hee kept a porte within his house almost like a King in like sorte was the gouernement of his house and castle very well ruled Euerie man had his estate and office their charges and dueties being so distributed as he shoulde neede to employe no other therein then his owne In gouerning their common wealth they obserued verie straightly 3. things thereby more and more to conceale their pernitious secte First that none of them once published the name of Dauid George Secondly that none reueyled of what condition hee had bene whereupon it grew that many thought hee had beene yssued out of some great noble House other that hee was some great Marchaunt which had his factours abroad both by Sea and by land Thirdly that they shoulde not discouer so much as any one article of their doctrine to any man in Basle not so much as to a Swizer nor shoulde not endeuour to drawe any man vnto their doctrine the summe whereof was The doctrine of Dauid George Heretique THat whatsoeuer had bene heretofore giuen from God by Moses by the Prophetes by Iesus Christ himselfe or by his Apostles was imperfecte and vnprofitable for the obtayning of the true felicitie thereby And was onely giuen for this vse that vntill then it mought represse men as babes and young children and to contayne them within their office But the doctrine of Dauid George was perfecte and had efficacie to make him happie which shoulde receaue it as being the true Christ and Messias the welbeloeud of the Father in whome hee tooke his delight not borne of fleshe but of the holy Ghost and Spirite of Iesus Christ hauing bene kept vntill that present in a place vnkowen to all the Saintes to restore in spirite the house of Israel not by crosses or tribulations or death as the other Christ but by loue grace of the Spirite of Christ In the yeere 1559. the 5. of March his children his sonnes in lawe and all them of his familie with some other adhering to his Secte were adiourned before the Senate of Basle after information made of that pernicious secte which he had alwayes helde in his life time The Atturney declared vnto them howe the Seigneurie stoode duely infourmed that they were retyred to the Castle of Buiuignen not as men persecuted for the Gospell as they had falsly giuen out but for the secte of Dauid wherewith they had bene alreadie infected Eleuen were made prisoners to draw out the trueth of the whole The greater part examined by a more straight inquisition confessed the truth who in the ende obtayned pardon Then the first day of May the Ministers Rectour Professors and Scholemaisters of Basle hauing all with one voyce condemned the pointes of the doctrine the Senate fully informed of the whole proceeded the 13. of May to the conclusion of the proces to wit That all his writinges as full of iniquitie mortall poyson Item his bodie or his bones and whatsoeuer shoulde be founde more within his graue shoulde be burned together with his picture which they founde in his house representing him verie liuely and that generally all the goodes of so wicked a man wheresoeuer they were founde shoulde be confiscate and adiudged to the Seigneurie This sentence was proclaimed according to the Custome of the place and all the fourme of righte and ordinances of the Towne was kepte in the obseruation thereof Before that I handle againe the tearmes of warre betweene the Frenche and Spanyardes I will finishe and in fewe wordes the Empire and managing of the affayres of Charles of Austria the fifte Emperour of the Almanes About the ende of August Charles of Austria resolued to passe into Spayne for the occasions before rehearsed wente from Bruxelles to Gaunt the place of his natiuitie where he assembled the 27. of that moneth all the Embassadours one after an other resiant about his Person within his chamber vsing in generall no other speech vnto them but of the declaration of his old age indisposition praying thē to perfourme all good offices for the repose due vnto Christendome Protesting to the Nuncio that is the Popes Embassadour how all his life long hee had loued and defended the holy apostolike Sea to the Venetian how much hee honored that Seigneurie common wealth whose libertie preseruation he had all his life long desired knowing howe
discommodities the opportunitie was escaped him far attempting any matter of great importaunce Especially for that he was repulsed from the Frontier of Champaigne whither they sayde his principall entente was And albeit that other were of a contrarie opinion assuring howe there was a certaine complotte an assured Rende-vous and a full foresight determined whither he meant to turne his Forces as vnto a matter which he helde alreadie halfe conquered beeing well aduertised of such wante as there mought be so farre as the Admirall did assure by intelligence receyued the Conestable his Vnckle how that the Prince meant to haue a blow at Picardie as a place very euill prouided Ioint that the Spanishe bandes which were within newe Hedin the best Troupes which they had were not as yet dislodged the Frenche as mens senses being dispersed doe lesse apprehende one of those things which they doe beholde then if they were all fixed vpon that alone being curious to furnishe the whole prouided not sufficiently either for the armie or any other of those places whereby they mought stay the enemie who still entertayned them with his long delayes and irresolutions thorough the vncertainetie of his dissein vntill that the Prince hauing made a showe as though he woulde first encampe before Guise then at Mariembourg had enclosed rounde S. Quentins with his light Cauallerie And at the same instant causing his whole armie to martche with extreame dilligence hee founde himselfe encamped rounde about it before that euer he coulde be thought to haue bene halfe way The suddainesse whereof made the whole Campe to doubte least the place woulde be taken by surprise as well for wante of men as other prouisions and fortifications within the Towne which had but the Captaine Brueil for gouernour and Telligny Lieutenaunt to the Daulphin of a Companie of one hundred men at armes the better parte of whome were therein Garrison at which the Inhabitauntes grewe so greatly discontented considering as they alleadged that their priuiledges did exempte thē from them as whatsoeuer ensued thereupon was rather attributed to their owne faulte then to any others The Admirall being commaunded by the Conestable to get into the Towne with as many men as hee shoulde be able vnder a hope of being succoured by him albeit that Iarnac and Lusarche offered themselues to goe thither and keepe him from aduenturing so great a danger perswading him to employ himselfe somewhere else where he shoulde be able to doe the King more signall seruice then to cast away himselfe there within did so much notwithstanding as with foure hundred fiftie men as well horse as foote he entred in Afterwardes hauing made the Rounde about the walles encouraged the Inhabitauntes whome he assembled together in the common Hall visited the whole Towne thorough ouerlooked the prouisions and munitions of warre and giuen the quarters vnto Companies he prouided for all the rest the best which he was able Now for that Iulian Romero and Carondelet spanish Captaines had alreadie gayned the bulwarke of Fauxbourg d'Isle where they had settled their Enseignes notwithstanding any resistaunce which could be made Iointe that it was without parapette and the earth without as high as within the Admirall yssued out to regayne it and to burne the houses about But the besieged were so euill receyued and hottely pursued as many returned hurte counselling the Admirall to abandon that Fauxbourg considering the small number of men which he had and the two passages to the Flankers thereof by which the enemie mought cutte betweene the Fauxbourg and the Towne and so hinder the retreat of such as shoulde defende it But he would needes still holde it vntill a greater occasion were offred to set a good countenance vpon it Hereupon beeing willing to viewe the encamping of his enemies he commanded Teligny to cause 50. horse of his Cōpanie to fallie out vnder the conducte of some assured man at armes onely to viewe enioyning them by no meanes to sight and especially that he shoulde not goe himselfe But seeing the Couriers engaged and in disorder he was no sooner aduanced without armour and vpon a bad court all to cause them to retire but he was wrapped in throwne downe to the grounde wounded to death stripte naked and afterwarde carryed away by a souldier who hazzarded his life for the rewarde which the Admirall had promised vnto him This done perceyuing the preparratiues of the enemie to batter the Fauxbourg d'Isle hauing carryed away whatsoeuer was portable and prouided for the burning of the houses vpon the watch worde giuen hee quitted it and caused the whole to be burned Nowe as the Inhabitantes had hidde their prouisions notwithstanding any commaundement or dilligence vsed to forbid them among whome the Maior aloane and the Sire de Gibercourte were noted to doe their duetie so their faulte in concealing the powder which had lyen a long time hidde in the Towres of the gate of the Fauxbourg d'Isle was a cause of great inconuenience For to the ende they mought carrie it away as soone as it was discouered the cakes being all rotten and mouldering into pieces they were fayne to put it into blankettes where the fire tooke so at vnawares with such violence of this diuelishe mixtion as it made a breache of more then fiue and thirtie paces besides the losse of sixe and thirtie seruiceable men which wente all into smoake Whereupon the enemie had a fayre occasion presented to vndertake some thing to his aduantage if the fire of the houses of the Fauxbourg which burned had not taken away the sight of this breache from the Spanyardes who mought easily haue entered in at the beginning for that euery man was retired to feede and other necessaries And albeit that the Conestable greatly payned himselfe to get succour into the Towne according to the aduise which he had receyued from the Admirall who to this ende had sente foorth Vaupergue and from the toppe of a steeple had shewed him by what wayes they were to take their course yet Dandelot his brother was not able to bring any in for that certayne Englishemen prisoners among the Spanyardes had aduertised them of this enterprise An occasion that hauing entrenched and furnished the high way to Han by which they were to passe with harquebusiers for so much as that quarter being allotted to such Englishmen as were ioyned vnto King Philips Armie was lesse peopled with men of warre the thirde parte was there slayne and the rest enforced to saue themselues albeit they had a nomber of men at armes and light horse to assiste them with hotte alarmes whilest that they shoulde enter in In the meane space to viewe the Countrie and to hinder the enemie from enlarging himselfe attempting vpon him as occasions were proffered But Vaupergue had not sufficiently marked the places which were shewed vnto him for his entraunce in but gaue straight vpon a Corps de guarde of Fantassins in steade of passing betweene
an assembly The French Embassadors oration in the Councell of Trent The choise of Bishops and Cleargie denied to the Pope The enacting of La Pragmatique Sanction 12. Articles in Fraunce The K. letters and complaints against the Pope The K. answere to the Emperours obiection The originall and differēce of Christian religion in Fraunce How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Albigeois was dispersed thorough Europe Opinions soner changed by ease and rest then violence The English Lords of Guienne in france Normandie Poictou Anioy c. The Religion of the Vaudois dispersed thorough England VVicklife his Doctrine Lollards in England Liuonia Sermatia c. How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Wicklife was carried into Polonia Bohemia and other countries of Almaine The Bohemians and Almaines persecuted by the Popes inquisitors before Iohn Hus. Councell of Constance summoned for the refomation of the Church Iohn Hus cōdemned and burnt as an heretique at Constance notwithstanding the Emperours safe conduct Popes deposed Ierome of Prag condemned and burned at Constance as Iohn Hus. The Bohemians angrye growe more resolute by the death of Hus and Hierom. Captain Zischa leuieth men against the Priests Monkes of Bohemia Luther his beginning 1518. Generall pardons published through Christendom 1517. Luther cited to Rome What caused a stay of Luthers reformation Martin Luthers beginning profession and carriadge of life Luther himselfe confesseth it in his answer to the book which H. D. of Brunwick wrote against him 1541. as Sleyden reporteth in the 14. of his history repeating Luthers words who discouered the occasions which moued him to preach and write against pardons My name saith he began to grow famous because no man was found else that durst oppose himselfe This little glory was pleasing as then vnto me c. Selim King of Turkes dreadfull to his enemies Selims crueltie towards his father bretheren and race Pope Leo endeuoureth the Christian Princes to enter league against the Turkes How the Christians armie should be bestowed to annoy the Turke Christian Princes rather respected their perticular then the common cause Selim dieth Soliman succeedeth The palorepiscopal mantle how made and giuen by Popes (4) Made of the wool of two white Mattons set vpon the Aulter in S. Agnes Church while Agnus Dei is sung vpon that holy day and afterwards giuē to the Subdeacons of S. Peters who shere them at shering time and of the yarne which cōmeth from them among other maketh a mantle three fingers broad reaching from the shoulders to the calfe of the leg with little knobs of lead at the skirts from thence laide vpon the corps of S. Peter S Paul with certaine praiers and kept there one night with great ceremony after deliuered to him that must haue it and is only for Archbishops Luther appereth before Caietan the Popes Legat. Luther apealeth from Caietan The foundation of pardons and Indulgences Luther eager against the Court of Rome Erasmus his opinion of Luther Luther condemned by Pope Leo. Luther appealed againe from the Pope Luther publiquely burneth the cannon law and Popes Bull. Luther banished by Charls his letters pattents at Wormes The Masse first abolished in Germany Iohn Hus prophecieth of Luther The Emperour visiteth in person the K. of England Images broken downe in Germanie Luther misliketh the breaking of Images by the people Leo 10. dieth Adrian 6. succeedeth Adrian dieth Clement 7 de Medices succeedeth Letters from the Pope to the Parliament of Paris King Francis writeth in the behalfe of Iacques Faber League betweene the regent and Henrie the 8. King of England Peace concluded between the Emperor Charles and Francis y e first Suissers reformed Geneue a first retreate to French Lutherans The decree of Spire permitted euerie mā to maintaine his Religion without alteration The beginning of the league of Smalcade among the Protestants Whence the name of Protestants first sprong The opinion of the Supper being diuers among the reformed is cause of great inconueniences The King of Fraunce and England succour the Lutheranes The Protetestants demaund of the Emperour Election of the K. of Romanes Frederic of Saxe elector dieth Accord between Fredederic K. of Bohemia and the D. of Saxe Peace thoroughout Germany and Religion free The race and descent of Medices in which the translator doth desire the indifferēt Reader to consider what scandalous libels haue of late yeares by to humorous affections bene cast out in disgrace of the house of Medices onely to a base the royal race of Vallois of this look Guicciardin in his first booke c. The Q. Mother descended out of the house of Bologne by the mother side K. Frauncis aideth the Protestants Pope Clemēt dieth Paul Ferneze succeedeth Persecutions in Fraunce The Pope hath no authoritie to assigne a councell (4) According to the Romaine Emperours who named the informers quadruplatores The Emperours Interim The Protestants oppose themselues to the decree of the Emperour Councell of Trent Decree of the Councell of Trent Martin Luther dieth 1546. The Emperour writeth to the townes for succour The townes send answers Speach betweene the Emperour and Landgraue The holy league betweene Pope Emperour and other Princes The Emperors army against the Lutheranes The Emperor banisheth and condemneth the D. of Saxe Protestants defie the Emperour The Emperors deuice to draw Maurice against his Cosin Elector of Saxe The Protestants fault and error Maurice warreth against his cosin and the Protestants The Elector hurt taken broght to the Emperour Great ransomes which the Emperour had of the Germaines The Emperor would haue the Councell remoued frō Bolonia to Treat Melancthons answere Persecution of Lutherans Diet of Ausbourge The Landgraue discouered minding to haue made an escape Difference about succession in the empire Councell Maurice demaundeth a more safe-conduct The Catholiques helde that faith was not to be holden with heretiques Safe conduct from the coūcell at Basle for the Bohemians Magdebourg deliuered vp Embassage from the king of Fraunce to Maurice Maurice and Brandebourg Embassadors speech The Princes Embassadors Maurices demaunds at the councell Diuersities of opinions in the Councell of Trent The Councell of Trent deferred for 2. yeares Crescence Cardinall Legat and president for the Pope died of an apprehension The birth of H. 3. K. of France and Pologne The Baronnie of Montmotency erected into a Duchie with right of a Petre. The K. letter to the Electors Hostages of Fraunce and Germany The propositions of Maurice The resolution of peace deserred and wherefore The Vaudois of Prouence how when by whom and wherefore persecuted as Heretiques Arrest of the parlament of Aix They were about 24. as well inhabitants of Merin dolas other their neighbours Particular iudgements vpon the merite of the arrest The president La Chassane differreth the execution of the arrest and his reasons Cause of delay of the execution Catalogus gloriae mundi made by Chassane and printed at Lions Guillaume du Bellay L. of Langeay lieuetenant for the