warres caused it to bee secretly spredde abroade among the people that hee was descended from Charlemaine and therefore had some right and title to the Crowne of Fraunce And as though hee meant one day to put in his clayme had so ordered the matter that great numbers of the Nobilitie and sundrie of the principall Citties of the lande were wholie at his deuotion but hee was cutte off in the middest of his hope as is alreadie sayde before Orleaunce and all his deuices came to naught sauing that he left behind him a sonne as hautie as aspiring and as ambitious as euer was the father Henrie duke of Guise his ambitious turbulent nature and one that attempted greater matters then euer did any of that line This man beeing growne into great credite with Charles the ninth and likewise with Henrie the thirde so aduaunced himselfe by their fauours that he gaue the lawe to Fraunce and did euery thing as he lysted And practising those rules which his father and vncle had left him was euermore deuising howe to trouble the state and to holde the King at continuall strife with his subiects as the readyest and speedyest way to compasse that which that factious and turbulent house had so greedily gaped after for these many yeares VVhereupon hee pondering with himselfe that if this late reconciliation which was made betweene the King and his subiects shoulde continue that the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde with their adherents and associates would quickely growe mightie and so with theyr power and authoritie easily ouerthrowe all his councelles and that in such sort as hee should neuer bee able to accomplish and fulfill his intended purpose thought it best and most expedient for his aduantages to beginne newe broyles and sturres and with a sixt ciuill warre to bring France againe into a Chaos and confusion The better to effect this and to lay as sure a foundation as might bee for so badde a buylding it was deuised that the Bishop of Paris and a certaine Aduocate called Dauid as craftie as wilie and as wicked a fellowe as anie lyued in those dayes shoulde bee sent to Rome The Bishop of Paris the aduocate Dauid sent to Rome to haue the direction of the Pope and his Cardinalles howe it were best to beginne and afterwards most circumspectlie to proccede and go forwardes in so hautie and weightie an enterprise There were many bitter complaints and sharpe accusations framed agaynst Henrie the third the French King against Monsieur his brother the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde against the race of the Valoises the Burbons Accusations against the houses of Valois and Burbon all the princes of the blood and the auncient Nobilitie of Fraunce they were all either heretikes or fauourers of heretikes and by their late pacification entended the vtter subuersion of the holie Church of Rome There it was shewed to make the King and all his Princes the more odious howe the house of Capet had alwayes withstoode the Bishoppes of Rome and had in olde time maintained the Valdensis and Albigeons and nowe were either Hugonots or else great fauourers and abettors of them But on the contrarie that the house and lynage of Charlemaine which was wrongfully dispossessed of the Crowne had a speciall grace giuen them by the Papall benediction to support and helpe holie Church and that yet there were some of that ofspring left and those stoute maintainers of the Papall dignitie meaning those of Guise and such as had alwayes like notable Champions valiauntlie defended the Romaine fayth and therefore it was expedient nay most necessarie for the preseruation of the Catholike Religion to roote out the houses of Valois and Burbon and to restore the ofspring of Charlemaine which was endewed with all excellent vertues and throughly furnished with most notable gifts requisite for the execution of all commendable and honourable attempts The Councel holden at Rome for the rooting out of the blood Roiall of France And for the more speedie accomplishment hereof it was resolued that the Guises with their partakers should procure newe commotions in the lande and nourish the warres by all possible meanes that might bee That they should league the Nobililtie by oath to persecute the Gospel and to choose for their heade and principall of their league Henrie Duke of Guise whom the King shoulde bee counsayled to let alone and suffer him to proceede as he liked best seeing he was a man of that iudgement that knewe well enough what hee had to doo The Queene mother likewise should bee sent to perswade Monsiour her sonne to beat the assembly of the States which should bee holden at Blois Whither the king shoulde solicite the king of Nauarre and Prince of Conde to come by all the faire wordes that could be deuised And in the meane while there should be sundrie cunning fellowes and such as were most deuoted to the league sent abroad into the seueral prouinces who should secretly labour that such Deputies might be chosen as would further the designements of the Leaguers all that might be During which priuie practises the Friers and Iesuites shall incense the people agaynst the Hugonots by their seditious Sermōs The priests in their parish churches shal secretly take the names of all the able men for the warres and in their shriuings shall charge them to prouide them of all such weapons as shal be appoynted them by their captaines The States shal sweare to obserue and obey whatsoeuer shal be concluded And if Monsieur the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde and the rest of the princes of the blood do not appeare at the said assembly they shall be condemned as rebels and likewise all other that shal any way oppose themselues against the proceedings of the said States who shal sweare their obedience to the Sea of Rome and to obserue the Councell of Trent and withall a request shall be made to the king that if any man shall resist and refuse to giue his allowance thereto that he shall appoynt the Duke of Guise his generall and giue him authoritie to pursue him to the death who hauing so great forces shall cause them to be in a readinesse to march towarde Blois assoone as the assembly of the states is begun All things being thus contriued there shall be certaine commissioners chosen to enquier of the life and deedes of Monsieur and certaine iudges appoynted to condemne him for ioyning himselfe with the Heretikes and so his processe shal be drawene forthwith after the godly example of the king of Spaine who put to death Charles of Austrich his naturall sonne As soone as Monsieur is condemned then shall the forces march to strengthen the execution and shall set vpon all the Hugonots and put as many of them to the sworde as they can come by and the Duke of Guise beeing so strongly appoynted shall seyze vpon the persons of the King and Queene mother and by
anie wayes diminished or his former authoritie impayred that for the maintenaunce thereof hee vexed himselfe in most straunge and pittifull sort Hee woulde not at anie time come abroade nor bee seene but of some fewe in whome hee reposed a speciall confidence His Court Gates were continuallie guarded yea his verie Chamber Doore so surelye watched The miserie of Lewis the 11. as that it was impossible to keepe a prisoner in more strayte manner then hee kept his owne selfe And beeing a king that in former tymes had taken his delight in so manie rich beautifull and flourishing Cittyes and solaced himselfe in so manie stately Pallaces and pleasaunt Gardeyns was nowe to his vnspeakeable torment confined in a narrowe rowme sequestring himselfe from all companie and euerye other thing which might breede his delight or encrease his comfort and so continued in this miserable estate alwaies languishing in feare The death of Lewis the eleuenth King of France vntill his death which was in the yeere 1483. and hauing raigned two and twentie yeeres left behinde him a sonne who succeeded in the kingdome in whose dayes fell out many strange and admirable occurrences as shall appeare in the Chapter following CHAP. II. Charles the eight inuadeth Italy and conquereth Naples Alphonsus and Ferdinando flie into Cicilia the Venetians and other Princes leuying a great power driue the French out of Italy The battell of Tarro The French king dieth sodainely ALbeit that Lewis the eleuenth not long before his death Charles the eight succeeded his father Lewis in the kingdome of France had oftentimes and that very seriously aduised his sonne Charles who was to succeed him in the kingdome to maintain peace and amitie with all his neighbours rounde about and by no meanes to enter into warres with any forraigne Princes before hee were growne to ripe yeeres and that the Realme which had endured so many calamities and miseries wherewith it was greatly impouerished should be growne rich againe and better prouided to resist any violence that should be offered yet could not the graue and strong perswasions of so wise and well experienced a Prince take such deepe rooting in the heart of this yong King but that thorow his owne ambitious desire to make himselfe great and the manifolde reasons alleaged by sundrie of his aduisants partly to flatter him in his owne honour but more especially to serue theyr owne turne they were quickly plucked vppe againe and hee fully resolued to enter into a warre which of all other was thought most daungerous and which wrought as straunge effectes as much varietie and as singular alterations and chaunges as any other whatsoeuer All which to the ende they may bee the better vnderstood it shall bee verie conuenient to rippe vp the matter from the beginning and in as fewe words as may bee to shewe the originall of so great trouble as afterwardes ensued Charles the eight King of Fraunce pretending a title to the Kingdome of Naples as heire to Reynard Duke of Aniow Lewis Sfortia D. of Millan perswadeth Charles the eight to conquere Naples was no sooner settled in his kingdome but he was forthwith enduced by the colourable perswasions of Lewis Sfortia who had not long before vsurped the Dukedome of Millan to put in his claime and with might and mayne to assay to gette so noble so rich and renowmed a Diademe Notwithstanding for that it was a matter of no small importaunce it was thought good to haue it thorowly debated in Councell and to heare the opinions of the wisest and the best experienced in the lande who when they had with great maturitie of iudgement pondered euerie circumstance as the danger the king was likely to thrust himselfe into the infinite treasure that must bee expended as also what a multitude of valiant mens liues that would cost before so glorious a victorie could be atchiued and the difficultie that would be in keeping that beeing once gotten The Kings Councel disswadeth the King from the conquest of Naples they wholly resolued that it was an enterprise in no wise to be attempted Notwithstanding the king who was yong desirous to eternise his name by some memorable attempt could in no wise be diuerted being moued as it were by some diuine instinct and incouraged by sundrie remonstrances of two of his principall fauorites called Vere and Brissonet both which were but meane politicks and of all other most ignorant in militarie affaires These two were daily solliciters of the king Vere and Brissonet encite the king to enter Italy who otherwise was but too willing of himselfe to prouide all necessaries for his intended voyage and to set forwarde with as much celeritie as possibly might be The yonger sort of the French Nobilitie and such as had least experience were likewise exceeding desirous to enter Italy by force of Armes and to shew their valour and noble courage to forraigne Nations Al things seemed to concurre for the furtherance of this happy attempt saue that which was most necessarie and that was wise and wel experienced Captaines and store of siluer and gold which are accounted as the veines and sinewes of the warres There were men enough but such as were most fitte were most vnwilling the Kings Coffers were emptie and nothing could bee borrowed but vpon great interest and good assurance Thus the lets were many and the meanes to effect any thing with honour very small and in the end if the successe were such as was desired yet should there be nothing gotten as Lewis the eleuenth was wont to say but infinite trouble and imminent perill and that with the effusion of much French bloud The King resolueth to go to Naples contrarie to the opinion of his councell The King resoluing to passe into Italy notwithstanding whatsoeuer could be alleaged to the contrarie made a league with Ferdinando King of Spaine with Maximilian king of the Romanes and with Phillip Archduke of Austria and Duke of Flanders as also with the King of England least being occupied in his warres abroade he might happen to be molested at home by some forraigne enemie and deferring his iourney vntill the spring following which should be in the yeere 1493. in the meane while commanded that all things should be in a readinesse which were requisite for the maintenance of his Armie All men of vnderstanding wondered at this strange resolution of the King and the best affected towardes the Crowne of Fraunce did maruailously feare the sequel of so dangerous a iourney The more to encourage the King and to stirre him vp to prosecute his intended voyage The D. of Millan commeth to Ast to the French King Lewis Sfortia who vsurped the Dukedome of Millan as is alreadie sayde and had beene the first motioner of this warre did not onely promise vnto the King all the ayde and furtherance that might be by his embassadours but also came himselfe with the Duchesse his wife very nobly accompanied vnto
turned to the great good of the French who otherwise had beene in maruaylous danger to haue beene ouerthrowne at that encounter The Marques fought valiauntly and pearcing through the middest of the horsemen hard to the Ordinance ouerthrew a great bande of Gascons which were appointed to guard them The French being encouraged with the presence of their king laide about them like men and the Switzers beeing promised double pay like Tygres tare and rent in peeces as manie as fell into theyr handes And had not the earle of Petilia at that present escaped from the French and by comming to the flying Italians with all the forceable reasons hee coulde perswaded them to renew the fight the whole power of the Venetians had beene vtterly ouerthrowne Both armyes being well wearied with a long and bloody fight The French K. looseth all his baggage they sounded the retreate The French had lost all their baggage and the riches of Naples which was going into Fraunce was taken by the Italian souldiours a great number of their brauest men were slaine and amongst others the bastarde of Burbon a man of surpassing great valour The King himselfe hauing likewise lost all his plate and houshold stuffe was in extreme peril and had vndoubtedly bin taken had it not beene for the excellencie of his horse which was a cole black with one eye And although he gate the victorie and remained maister of the field yet were his losses verie great and farre surmounted the gaine he had gotten in that long and wearie voyage He was constrained to lie the night following in a simple cottage The distresse of the French King and all his great Lords were lodged round about him in the open fields who had nothing to eate nor any chaunge of apparell to put on So that they resolued to dislodge in the dead of the night and with al speed to recouer Ast. The French run out of Italie The Armie was sore afrighted and euery man coueted to bee in the Vauntgard supposing thereby to be furthest from daunger and nearest vnto places of safest retreate And thus marching forward in tumultuous maner with much ado got to Ast where they staied not long but went to Thurin and so to Lions The king was no sooner in France but all things went backewarde in Italie The great alteration in Italie all places reuolted and well was he that could first teare in peeces the Flower de Lis. Whosoeuer had beene friends before now became enemies and nothing was so hastily gayned but it was as speedily lost And the French Nation who not long before had beene the terror of the Turke the Pope the Emperor the Venetians and in a maner of al Europe were now in nothing more famous then in their dishonourable flight out of Italie leauing vnto posteritie a notable example of the chaunge and mutabilitie of these worldly affayres And as it vsually falleth out if fortune begin once to chaunge it neuer ceaseth vntill it haue throwne a man groueling to the ground so it fared with this king who began to decline a pace and to be crossed euerie day more then other His yong sonne the Duke of Orleance began to be desperately sicke and so continued languishing vntill at last he died wherewith his father was immesurably greeued The death of the yong D. of Orleanes and from that time forwards nothing thriued that he tooke in hand his friends forsooke him and his enemies dayly encreased and almost all matters stoode in verie bad tearmes Euill newes was brought from euery corner and the worst of all other was this death suddenly sendeth forth a messenger to summon him to appeare before him and to giue an account of his stewardship For as he was in a Gallerie at Ambois looking vpon such as played at tennis The sudden death of Charles the 8. King of France hee was suddenly stroken with an Apoplexie and liued not past some fiue or sixe houres after but yeelded vp the ghost 1497. hauing reigned fourteene yeares And albeit he were a very mightie Prince and had exceeding many goodly Castels beautifull houses and statly Pallaces and had conquered so many earledomes Marquesats Dukedoms and Kingdomes had made all Italie to stoope and bend at his becke had triumphed at Naples and atchieued so glorious a conquest and that so easily yea almost without drawing of his sword so that hee was now become one of the most redoubted worthies of the world yet did hee ende his dayes on the sudden and died in a verie miserable and beggerly place which sheweth the lamentable estate of all sorts and that the most mightie Potentates are subiect to a maruellous chaunge and alteration CHAP. III. Lewis the 12. King of France entreth Italy conquereth Millan taketh the Duke thereof prisoner He ioyneth with the Spanish King to conquer Naples who expelleth him and keepeth the kingdome for himselfe The battaile of Rauenna The Switzers driue the French out of Millan The death of King Lewis AFter the decease of Charles Lewis Duke of Orleance Lewis D. of Orleance K. of France and next heire to the Crowne succeeded in the kingdome who entituled himselfe king of Ierusalem Naples and Cicil and Duke of Millan intending to conquer the Dukedome and for that purpose prouided all things necessarie with all the speed that might be But by reason of the former kings expenses he foūd small store of treasure so that for to furnish himselfe he set to sale all the offices of France except such as were iudiciall a daungerous practice and none of the least occasion of that great confusion which afterwardes ensued Lewis D. of Millan forsaketh the French king Lewis Duke of Millan feared the Venetians more then the French and therfore ioyned with the Florentines to recouer Pisa But hee erred exceedingly herein for Lewis of Fraunce hauing made peace with other Princes bent all his forces agaynst Millan with whom also the Venetians ioyned in the ende Whereat the Duke was maruellously astonished and began to fortifie his owne territories so strongly as hee might But hee putting those in trust who were in most fauour and not such as had the greatest vertue and fidelitie too common a fault among great estates lost one thing after another and in a short space all things going backewarde Millan yeeldeth to the French hee was forced to forsake Millan and flie to the castell by reason the Citie was yeelded to the French Which ioyfull newes beeing brought vnto the King who was then at Lions hee determined forthwith to passe in person ouer the Alps The French K. goeth to Millan and being in Italy compounded with all the chiefe estates there and did in a maner whatsoeuer he listed The King hauing remained a while in the Duchie of Millan and taken such order for his affayres there as he liked best returned home leauing the Cardinall of Ambois for his Lieutenant in those quarters But he was no sooner
in the taile with a troupe of horsemen but beeing ouerthrowne from his horse was presently slaine with a Pike which was thrust into his side and so died most vnfortunately when hee had gotten a most glorious and honourable victorie The Lord Lautrech his cousin Germaine being hurt with aboue twentie wounds lay besydes him almost dead but beeing succoured in time was afterwards recouered The number that was slaine on both sides were well neare tenne thousand persons the thirde part of which were French men whose losse was farre the greater by reason of the death of Foix with whom the courage strength life and fiercenesse of that army was in a maner vtterly extinguished howbeit they entered Rauenna which they sacked and spoyled Rauenna sacked and spoyled and tooke sundrie other Cities raunging vp and downe at theyr owne pleasure But presently they began to be afflicted with newe crosses for the Switzers passing the Alpes and ioyning with the Venetians The Switzers expell the French out of Millan tooke Cremona and Bergamo and approching Millan Triultio being without hope to defende the Citie secretly stole away into Piemont and vpon the newes of his departure Parma Placentia Bologna and almost all Romagna returned to the Pope and Geane likewise reuolted from the French choosing Fregosa who had beene generall of the Venecian armie for their Duke Thus the French Kings affaires began to be quailed in Italy and by reason the king of England was nowe readie to enter France he was compelled to looke to the defence of his owne countrey The death of Lewis the twelfth king of France and to suffer the Switzers to take their pleasure in Millan But the French King reconciling himselfe with England married the Kings sister with whom he liued not three moneths but died at Paris 1514. after he had raigned seauenteene yeeres and was buried at Saint Denis CHAP. IIII. Francis the first King of France winneth Millan from the Emperor His great vertues he besiegeth Pauia and is taken prisoner He is sent into Spaine A league made against the Emperour The French King is deliuered and falleth out with the Emperour He dyeth at Rambouillet LEwis the twelfth was no sooner deceased Francis the first King of France but Francis Duke of Angolesme succeeded in the Kingdome who continuing the former quarrell for the Dukedome of Millan and kingdome of Naples left no stone vnroled to bring his desires to passe but forthwith there approched many impediments and sundrie blocks were cast in his way which maruailously altered his course extreamely crossed al his designements for the Emperour Maximilian growing aged and beeing wearie with the burthen of the Empire sent Embassadors to the Electors and to the Pope to desire them to choose Charles of Austriche and king of Spaine for their Emperour but the French king thinking him to be mightie inough already labored by all possible meanes to hinder that election Before that any thing could be accomplished Maximilian died The King of France laboreth to bee Emperour whereupon the French and Spanish kings became earnest competitors and each endeuored to win the Goale from other The French King was put in some hope by the faire promises of the marquesse of Brandenburge one of the electors howbeit in the ende Charles of Austriche was chosen which spited Francis to the heart Charles K. of Spaine chosen Emrour And now hee daily picked quarrels at the Emperour and at last fel flat out with him for being a Prince of great courage wise industrious rich and ambitious hee in a sort disdained that the yong king of Spaine should be preferred before him and therefore he presently hired Switzers who for money became his mercenaries and sent Monsieur de Lantrech to besiege Millan which was valiantly kept by Prospero Colonno The rumour whereof being spread beyond the Alps The great commendation of Francis the first caused Antonio de Leua to fortifie Pauia so that now all Italy began to bee in an vprore and the French kings comming was greatly feared for that hee was a Prince vniuersally furnished with all royall vertues and fit to enterprise great matters And vnderstanding that the Emperiall power had not onely expelled the French men out of the Duchie of Millan The great commendation of Francis the first but were entred France and by besieging of Marseiles in Prouence seemed to dare him within his owne dominions hee gathered a strong power and marched towardes his enemies with all speede who hearing of his comming brake vp their siege and hasted to Italy whom the king pursued so fast The King of France taketh Millan that the emperials were no sooner entred into Millan but that hee was hard at the gates where hee stayed not long but that the Cittie was yeelded vnto him the emperiall forces forsaking it and flying to Lody after a very tumultuous and disordered sort The King vsed the Citizens verie graciously and hauing somewhat reposed himselfe and refreshed his wearie troupes marched discreetely towardes Pauia The K. besiegeth Pauia wherein was Antonio de Leua with fiue thousand Lansquenets fiue hundred Spanish footmen with two cornets of horsemen The king encamped before the towne and besieged it very straightly the emperials beeing aduertised heereof gathered all theyr forces together and hauing an army wherein were seauen hundreth men of armes and as many horsemen a thousande Italian horsemen and aboue sixteene thousand footemen Spaniardes and Almans they sette forwarde from Lody with a full resolution to remooue the siege or to fight with the French and hazard all vpon a battaile The King was no sooner certified hereof but that sending for all his Captaines and men of war he fully determined to continue his siege and to expect the comming of his enemie whatsoeuer coulde bee alleaged to the contrarie often affirming that hee hadde rather dye then to stirre one foote before he had taken the Citie The emperiall Captaines beeing driuen into great necessitie for want of money and other necessaries and hauing much adoo to pacifie theyr souldiours The Emperials enuade the french Kings camp thought it best to vse expedition considering that it was impossible for them to continue long their men growing mutinous for want of pay and thereuppon as those that stoode in very desperate estate hasted to inuade the French who prepared with great courage to meete them they were exceedingly encouraged by the presence of theyr King who should bee an eye witnesse of theyr valour and prowesse The marquesse of Pescara with three thousande Spanish footemen assayled the French trenches where hee slew fiue hundreth men and poysoned three peeces of great ordinance This vnexpected accident dismaied many of the French souldiers and the rather for that the Admirall who carryed the cheefe sway in the Army next vnto the king was hurt in the thigh with a shotte and was carried to Placentia to bee cured of his wounds Sixe hundred Grisons were called
a straight commaundement to all his ordinance and men of armes to assemble themselues at Pierreport in as warlike maner as might be there to attend his further pleasure and to be in a readinesse to be employed as occasion should be offered King Philip of Spaine had likewise gathered a very strong power and al things were prouided by these two mightie Monarkes as though they ment to determine all their controuersies by some one cruel bloody battell But God who ruleth the hearts of princes disposed of their intentions far otherwise then their blind affections led them For vpoÌ„ the sudden their hard harts began to be mollified and each party inclined to peace so that the place being appointed and the deputies on both sides agreed vpon they met about the midst of October following at Cercam betweene Artoys and Pycardy There were many complaints on both sides and a commemoration of sundry indignities offered on either part Each defended others doings neither was there any likelihood of better agreement so that after many contentious words their assembly brake vp without any coÌ„clusion for peace and yet for that winter approched the soldiers were not able to keep the field Peace concluded between France and Spaine both princes dissolued their armies and licenced their men of warre to repose themselues vntill the next yere But before that time by reason of newe occurrences there was a generall peace proclaimed betweene these two nations each linked with other with very strait alliances For King Philip whose wife Mary Queene of England was lately deceassed was contented to take in marriage Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Henry the French King and Pilebert Emmanuel duke of Sauoy was affianced vnto madame Margaret his sister so that by reason of these new coÌ„iunctions there insued much quietnes to all Christendome but especially to these two kingdoms who now had made an end of all their quarels contentions and seemed to study of nothing but how they might honor and solemnise in most royall maner these new marriages There was exceeding sumptuous preparation against the appointed time all the Nobilitie of France were assembled at Paris to attend the king to honor these espousals The lady Elizabeth was coÌ„ducted by the king her father to our Lady Church at the day prefixed in most pompous and stately maner and there married by the Cardinall of Burbon to the Duke of Alua was who constituted Procurator of the king of Spaine his maister The Duke of Alua marrieth the French kings daughter for his maister the king of Spaine There were all the princes of the bloud attending in their order and many cheefe Prelates and all the officers of the crowne The Duke of Alua was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Count Egmond and sundrie other very honourable personages The marriage being finished there was exceeding feasting banquetting and cheering with dauncing masking and all other pastimes that could be imagined both to delight the eye and please the eare The king reioyced to see his daughter so honourably aduanced the Nobilitie and commonaltie were maruailously glad to remember what ease peace and tranquilitie they should enioy by this newe affinitie and all sorts seemed to triumph hoping there would be a perpetuall league and corespondency betweene these two Nations but now behold a woful mishap and lamentable mischance wherewith all this mirth and iollity was turned into weeping wailing and great sorrow so enterchangeably doo these two accompany each other so certainely do they follow one another The French king who had bin the principall challenger at tilt assisted by the Duke of Guyse Alphonse the Prince of Ferrara and the Duke of Nemours hauing borne himselfe very nobly that day and broken many staues to his great honor and high commendation would needes in the end run a course with count De Mont-gommery a valiant gentleman of France who at the first refusing The French King slaine with running a course at â—â—lt yet commanded by the king accepted the condition and offered so freely that theyr staues flying in peeces some of the shiuers getting in at the sight of the beuer pearced into the kings head greeuously wounded him that he died within eleuen daies after to the immesurable greefe of his subiects after hee hadde raigned twelue yeeres three moneths and tenne dayes CHAP. VI. Francis the second the French King The Guises authors of all the confusion in France The Guises ioyne with the Queene mother against the King of Nauarre The King of Nauarre yeeldeth to the Queene mother The Duke of Guise made Lieutenant for the King and Henrie Cardinall of Lorraine made L. Treasurer of France They incense the King agaynst the princes of the blood The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudie The hatred of the Guises towards the three Chastillons The Prince of Conde beeing discontented goeth from the Court The order of the States of France The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the Hugonots to the king The Prince of Conde committed to prison and is condemned to die The death of the King THe Kingdome of France had for manie yeares togither beene verie well acquainted with the variable and changeable estate of vnconstaunt fortune and vnder Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Francis the first and Henrie the seconde had by wofull experience found how subiect the most flourishing estates kingdoms coÌ„monwealths are to a continuall change and alteration and therfore hauing by long obseruatioÌ„ perfitly learned that the best means to maintain her selfe in her wonted grandeur and glory was to be leagued with her neighbour Countries and to be at peace and vnitie at home beganne to haue a flexible heart and to encline to quietnesse as much as might bee so that hauing ended all quarrels and buried all wronges and indignities in the pit of obliuion and by a neare coniunction with the Spanyard her ancient and mightie enemy in the opinion of most men procured her selfe a perpetuall peace began as it were to clap her handes for ioy and seriously to tryumph in so incomparable a benefite But the fatall and ineuitable mishap of this most noble kingdome which had florished for so many hundred yeares and had been the paragon of her neighbor nations could not as it seemeth be auoyded but that it must needes take place and wanting forraigne enemies to worke her ouerthrow must needes hatch a viperous brood which by gnawing out the belly of their owne mother haue most vnnaturally sought the destruction of her who haue most tenderly fostered and brought them vp The house of Guyse the principall cause of all the sturres in France The principall cause to produce so lamentable an effect and the only means in a maner to hatch so horrible a mischiefe was the immesurable ambition of that haughtie and aspiring house of Guyse who albeit they were straungers and no natural French men yet fortune so fauoured their attempts and made some of them
so gracious with their soueraignes that they did not only contend for the superioritie with the greatest Princes of the blood but at length as ambition hath neuer any end striued with their liege Lords and through their rebellious counsels and most trayterous plottes assisted by a multitude of Guysards and Hispaniolized French draue their soueraigne Lord out of his chiefe Citie and not contented to offer so great indignitie to so mightie a potentate neuer left practising vntill they had most wickedly murthered him whose life in all dutie should haue beene vnto them more precious then their owne and with their diuellish sorceries haue so bewitched and sotted sundry of the French nation that at this day to their perpetuall shame and ignominy they will not be reduced vnto any dutifull obedience vnder their most lawfull and liege Lord. Francis Duke of Guyse and Charles Cardinal of Lorrain the two fire-brands of France One of the most notorious plotters of so many mischiefes was Francis Duke of Guyse who with his brother Charles Cardinall of Lorrain as proud subtil and as ambitious a prelate as euer was grew to that height through the benefit of their good fortune that they commanded all France and brought the greatest Princes of that natiō to be their vnderlings and by reason of a mariage between Francis the second with Mary the yoong Queene of Scottes their neece they bare themselues so loftely and so egerly stroue to aduance their house that they turned all France topsy turuy so chaunging the gouernment and altering the state that it seemed in a short time to be a meere Chaos and confusion For after the death of Henry the secōd and that Francis his sonne was crowned King these two so craftily handled the matter that ioyning with Katherin de Medices the Queen mother of France who contrary to the auncient lawes and ordinances of that Realme which permit not women to rule sought to haue the gouernment of the yoong King and to exclude Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and chiefe Prince of the blood after infinite troubles to themselues and vnspeakeable misery to their owne Country they gat the gouernment into their hands and swayed euery thing after their owne likings And albeit the state of that kingdome had begun long before to be much afflicted and through the horrible persecutions of those whom they termed Hugonots maruellously decayed and weakned by reason of a secret diuision bred in the hearts of infinit multitudes who once dissenting in Religion could neuer after well agree in matters of state yet was the land at peace within it selfe and euery one seemed to be enclinable to their princes pleasure choosing rather to endure any affliction then by seeking to defend their liues and liberties by force of armes to bring in any intestine warres the most deuouring plague and sharpest punishment of all other but after that the house of Guyse began to rule and that their factious deuises cloaked with a zeale of mainteining the Catholicke cause had once stirred the coales the flame presently brake foorth and finding conuenient matter to nourish it withall spread it selfe in a short time ouer the face of the whole kingdome of France to the consuming of infinite multitudes of all sorts and the extreame impouerishing of the whole land There were sundry and diuers meanes to hasten this so wonderfull and lamentable alteration in France but the principall of all other was the vnexpected death of t e late King The Queene mother the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Guyse contend for the gouernment during the noneage of the King who albeit hee verie seuerely punished all such as were accounted Protestants and that principally at the instigation of the house of Guyse yet did he so politikely carry himselfe that during his raigne he kept that ambitious monster in some reasonable good order and the whole lande from tumult and rebellion but he was no sooner dead but that all things beganne to hasten to a confusion and the whole common wealth to bee daungerously infected with sundry fearefull diseases the originall whereof arose in this maner In the beginning of the reigne of Francis the second being but sixteene yeares olde there grewe a controuersie betweene Katherin de Medices the Kings mother Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and Francis of Lorraigne Duke of Guyse touching the gouernment of the young King during his nonage The Queene-mother alleaged many reasons to strengthen her claime as the lawes of Nature which would that the mother should haue the bringing vp of her children as one hauing a most tender care ouer them and most willing of all others to doo them good the customes and vsages of sundry nations and the auncient order of the lande which made the mother Gardien of her childe and so by consequent gaue her the Regency of the kingdome The king of Nauarre on the contrary affirmed that he ought in right to be gouernour of the young king for that he was the next Prince of the blood and nearest of kinne vnto him besides that there were fundamentall lawes of that nation which did not only shut out all straungers by whom he vnderstood the house of Lorraine and of Guyse but also disabled the Queene mother by reason of her sexe which the Salique lawe did expresly exclude from all regency and succession to the Crowne The Duke of Guyse had also diuers reasons for the aduauncing of his owne title as that hee was the kinges vncle that by his seruice the whole state had bene in a maner mainteined and the land from sundry imminent perilles deliuered Besides he excepted in a sort against the king of Nauarre for that hee and his brother the Prince of Condy gaue euident tokens of their liking of the Gospel and their hatred of the Romish Religion so that if Nauarre shoulde haue the gouernement of the King it was to bee feared saide hee that the whole lande would fall into heresie Thus did these three contende with might and maine for the superiorite each of them deuising al the reasons they could imagine for the furtherance of their cause But in the ende the Queene Mother and the Duke of Guise doubting that they shoulde not bee able nor sufficient to preuaile and also fearing least that the King of Nauarre by reason of the great preheminence and authoritie that the princes of the blood shoulde by right haue besides his iust tytle shoulde in the ende preuayle and get the better agaynst them both thought it best to ioyne togither agaynst the King of Nauarre The Queene mother and D. of Guise ioine togither against Nauarre and eyther by force or by policie and fayre meanes to winne him vnto their willes and by some deuise or other to make him surcease from his iust claime and interest The better to effect this the Duke of Guise seysed vppon the king whome hee conducted and brought to the Louure in Paris with the yong Princes his
defeated and no hope left for the Catholikes had not the Duke of Guise reserued his forces whole and entyre and with a sudden charge crossed the happy course of the victorious Prince whose battaillons of footmen being bared of their horse could not endure the furious assault of the Guisards but fled as fast as they could to saue their liues notwithstanding all the encouragement vsed by Dandelot who perswaded them all that he might to abide their enemies Moreouer Danuille one of the sonnes of the Constable espying the princes horsmen disordered with pursuing their victory charged theÌ„ before they could be rallied afresh and hauing first wounded Conde in the hand and then slain his horse the red crosses so pressed on him on all sides before he could be remounted that he was constrained to yeeld himself prisoner Conde taken prisoner to the immeasurable grief of all the confederates The Admirall gathering togither so manie as possible he might of his dispersed troupes gaue a fresh charge vppon the Guise where there was a sore and cruell fight but for that he was not able to match his enemies after the death of many braue men on both sides Dinothus saith that there were 10000. Catholikes slaine The Mareschal S. Andrew slaine he retired to Neufuil leauing the honour of that iourney to the Guise At the last encounter were slaine the Mareschall of S. Andrew Monbrune the Constables sonne the Lord Picues Annebaut Brossy Giury and many other leaders The Duke of Aumaile was greeuously hurt and likewise the Duke of Neuers who dyed shortly after The principall prisoners which were taken were the Constable who was forthwith sent to Orleanâ—e with Orayson Rochfort Esclauoles and sundrie other Gentlemen of good account There were slain on the Princes side verie neare a thousand fiue hundred footmen seuen hundred Almains some foure hundred horse as Dinothus reporteth The principall of which were the Baron of Arpaion Saux Shandeu Liencourt Fredomere Carliere Rongnac Mazelles Saint Germier al which for the most part were of the Cornet of Mouy who was taken prisoner at this last conflict The newes of this battaile was verie vncertaine each side supposing yea and constantly reporting their owne ouerthrowe But vpon more certaine intelligence how that both Generals were taken and that they had parted in a maner with equall losse each faction beganne to rowse vp themselues and to hope for better successe in their future wars wherupon they resolued to choose them new Generals vntill the old were againe restored to libertie The duke of Guise was thought the meetest to commaund ouer the Catholikes The D. of Guise chosen generall ouer the Catholiks and the Admirall ouer the protestants and the Admirall ouer the confederates who pondering their harmes lately receiued by the death of so many braue men and their want of many necessaries requisit for to keepe the field thought it best to retire the one to Paris the other to Orleance and there to repaire their broken armies The Duke of Guise lay not long idle but assayed to recouer certaine townes from the Confederates as Pluuiers Estamps and some others The Admirall on the other side beeing as carefull to maintaine heade agaynst the enemie besieged Selles in Berry which was yeelded vpon composition where he found good store of gold and siluer for the payment of his Reisters Rochfaucont tooke S. Agnan and the Prince Portian entered Monrichard The gayning of which Townes greatly countenanced the wauering estate of the Protestants Thus did these two armyes flote vp and downe each seeking to encroach vppon other so much as might bee At length the Admirall espying the drift of the Guise which was to inuest Orleance on the sudden put himself with all his forces within the Citie Where notwithstanding vpon better aduice he remayned not long but marched towards Normandie to meet with the Englishmen The admiral goeth towards New-hauen to meete with the Englishmen whose landing was dayly expected at New-hauen which was the place appoin for that purpose and that by the consent of the confederates The Queene mother being aduertised hereof laboured to stop his intended voyage by propounding a parle of peace but the Admirall being well acquainted with such stratagems would in no wise hearken thereto but folowed his formed proiect and so with some 3000. horse passingly well furnished and far better then at the battel of Dreux held on his course And being a man of great experience and singular expedition in all his enterprises he surprised on the sudden sundry places which proued afterward of no small moment for the aduancing of the affaires of the confederates The duke of Guise hauing his armie in a readinesse and vnderstanding of the Admirals departure from Orleance leauing Dandelot his brother for the guarde therof vntill his returne thought it best to besiege them who were there assembled while the Admirall with the flower of all their troupes was busied other wheres With this resolution he dislodged and planted his siege about the towne The Duke of Guise besieheth Orleance which he so sore battered and couragiously assailed that the Citie was in imminent perill and all the confederates were in a wonderfull feare least it should haue beene taken Yea the Duke so assured himselfe thereof that hee wrote to the King and Queene Mother that he hoped now to extirpe the race of the Hugonots who had for so many yeares troubled the whole land and that he would send them newes therof within foure and twentie houres But while he was thus in his ruffe firmely perswading himselfe that all was his bebold there fell out a straunge and vnexpected accident which brake the necke of all his deuises There was a poore Gentleman named Iohn Poltrot The storie of Poltot that killed the Duke of Guise one of verie little stature but full of spirite and lyfe and generally reputed of such as best knewe him to bee somewhat a rash headed fellow and verie vndiscreete and one that durst attempt any thing Who being brought vp for a long time in Spaine had learned the language verie perfectly And for that both for his colour complection and stature he was so like vnto them of that nation he was commonly called the little Spaniard This fellow seruing sometime vnder Soubize who commaunded at Lyons woulde often vaunt that this was the hande stretching out his arme that shoulde kill the Duke of Guise and deliuer Fraunce from that monstrous and cruell Tyrant And this hee vsually vttered in great brauerie so that as manie as heard him knowing the humour of the man laughed at his follie little imagining that hee meant as hee sayde for if hee had then it was lykely hee woulde haue kept his purpose more secrete and not haue beene so open mouthed It happened so that immediately after the battaile of Dreux Soubize sent this Poltrot with a Letter to the Admirall who was nowe at Selles in Berrie whither hee was no sooner
after hee had braued them for a good space and had wasted and spoyled hard to the suburbs seeing that no man durst appeare to impeach his proceedings considering that victuals and other necessaries for his army waxed scant and that the Catholikes hourely reenforced themselues as also vnderstanding that Cassimer was comming with a great army to his ayde he dislodged then from S. Dennis the fifteenth of Nouember and went towards Lorrayne to receiue his Almaines Beeing on his way at Montargis hee receiued letters from Truchares who was a little before elected Maior of Rochell that if hee would sende some especiall man of account to be Lieutenant in his absence they would yeeld the towne to his deuotion The Prince was wonderfull glad to heare this good newes knowing that to bee a place of no small importance and therefore hee foorthwith dispatched Saint Hermin his Cousin with letters to the Mayor and Shriues of the towne giuing them hearty thankes for their great fauour and kindnesse with a request to remaine constant and to receiue his Cousin as his Lieutenant in his absence Rochel yeelded to the Protestants This gentleman was very welcome to the Rochelers where hee arriued the tenth of Februarie 1568. and so Rochell being a maruailous strong place accomodated with a goodly hauen by which meanes it was growne very rich remained euer after at the deuotion of the Confederates The troups of Poictou Xaintoigne c. By this time were there newe troupes leuied in Poictou Guyen Xaintoigne Angolesme and Gascongne vnder the leading of Saint Cyre Soubize Puuiant Pilles and other chiefetains amounting to the number of eighteene Cornets of horse and twenty leauen ensignes of footmen who marching to ioyne with the Prince tooke by the way Dorat Lusignan and Pont Sur Yon where they ioyned with the vauntgard ledde by the Admirall Chastillon from thence passing by Sens they tooke Bray Nogent Montereau and Espernay Thus did the Protestants stil aduance their affaires the Catholikes being not able to impeach or hinder them notwithstanding all their practises and deuises Monsieur Duke of Aniou made the Kings lieutenant generall Now was Monsieur the Duke of Aniou brother to the King by reason of the death of the Constable proclamed Lieutenant generall ouer all his brothers territories and Dominions who beeing assisted by the Prince de Nemours Longauille the Mareschall Cossy Tauannes Martigues Carnaualet Losses and sundrie other great Captaines was commaunded to bridle the Protestants as much as might be The Duke of Aumaile was sent into Lorraine to ioyne with the Marques of Baden who had raysed a power of some three thousand horse for the seruice of the King and the Duke of Alua sent the Count of Aremberg with a thousand and two hundred horse and two thousand footmen Spaniards and Burgonians who shoulde ioyne with Monsieur against the Prince of Conde The marques of Baden and the Duke of Alua send forces to Monsieur and the rest of the Confederates The yong Lonsac was sent to the Count Palatine to hinder the leuie of the Reisters made by his sonne Cassimer and nowe readie to march for the succour of the Protestants Thus was there great preparation made on all sides to continue the warres and to consume Fraunce with the flame of ciuill broyles The Prince being aduertised of all this hasted to meete with his Reisters and with much adoo being followed in the taile by the Catholikes at length arriued at Saint Michaell where hee passed the Riuer of Meaux and so entered into Lorraine still proceeding forwardes vntill hee came as farre as Mousoâ— where hee met with Cassimer and his Almaines The Prince of Conde meeteth with Cassimer his Almains who accompanyed with the two young Countes of Barbie the Count Holo the Mareschall of the Palatinate Scomberg and manie others of great reckoning and account had long expected the comming of the Confederates After some stay made for the refreshing of their wearied troupes they determined to returne towards the pleasant and fertile fieldes of the Flower de Lis there to assay if they could bring their enemies to any honest and reasonable conditions Monsieur had speedie intelligence of the returne of both Armyes wherefore hee sent great numbers both of horsemen and footemen to stoppe all the passages and amongst others commaunded the Duke of Neuers with his Italian bandes to defende the Riuers of Merne Seyne Yon The Duke of Neuers appointed to stop the passage of the Almains into France and sundrie other places And that if hee could not hinder theyr course yet he should annoy them by all possible meanes to the ende that beeng wearied and wasted so much as might bee his excellencie might fight with them afterwards in grosse with more aduauntage The Protestants minding not to forslowe theyr businesse dislodged from Chalons and marched towards the head of the Riuer of Meuse and so leauing Comercyon on their right hande passed ouer at Marne and went towardes Chastillon where they were assayled by certaine troupes of Italians and French who set vpon the taile of the army to cause them to hasten their pace But Scomberge Certain Italian troupes ouerthrowne by Scomberg being sent with part of his owne Regiment assisted by some fewe of the French gaue them such a furious charge that hee wholy defeated them and brought theyr colours to the Prince The armie was forthwith aduaunced and marching through Hurepoise by Bleueau and Montargis arryued at last in Beausse and encamped before Charters which they determined to besiege for that it was verie rich and well able to relieue the armie with manie necessaries The comming of this great power encouraged diuerse who had kept them selues close to put forth theyr heads and to attempt manie things in fauour of the Confederates Those of Languedocke Prouence and Gascoigne were presently vp in armes vnder their leaders Sipteres Montbrun Moâ—â—ans Senas Bâ—urinqâ—et Rapin Montacut and sundrie other Chieftaines and suddenly surprised Nismes Montpellier Saint Marcell Saint Esprit Saint Iean Boue all which they fortified for their greater profite and securitie The Catholikes were not idle but sought to catch whatsoeuer they coulde come by which might any way tend to their aduauntage Montaret gouernour of the Countrey of Burbonois with Terride La Valette and Monsales surprised certaine troupes of the Protestants whom they quickely defeated and put to flight Mascon was taken by the Duke of Neuers Mouluc likewise tooke certaine Isles in Xainctoigne and prepared all necessaries to besiege Rochell one of the principall retreates of the Protestants The Count Martinengo Richleu and sundrie others besieged Orleance Thus were they in euery corner of Fraunce vp in Armes and no man knewe where to bee safest from the violence of the souldiours and men of Armes Now were all things in a readinesse for the siege of Chartres Charters besieged so that hauing raysed theyr mounts and planted theyr artillarie they began to beate
Religion would accept of any conditions But they beeing too often before beguyled with fayre wordes woulde not hearken thereto least the world should thinke that they were no longer able to maintaine their cause a speciall plotte sayd they to discountenaunce the rest of theyr proceedings The Protestants refuse a peace VVhereupon both the Catholiques and Protestants still continued to vexe each other in all hostill manner The Count de Lude and Puygalliard recouered Marans Browages and many other Islandes from the Confederates which were againe regayned by La Noue and stronglie fortifyed for the further aduauncement of the affayres of the Protestants Who preuayled also verie mightily by Sea taking manie great pryses which were no meanes to further theyr designements Whilest things fell out in this maner about Rochell the Princes the Admirall and the rest of the chiefest of the confederates had greatly encreased their forces and hasted to ioyne their troupes with Montgommerie Moubrune and other Chieftaines who had gathered a great number of harquebuziers to supply those bandes which had beene broken at the battell of Mountcounter And hauing thus reenforced their army they marched towards Lorrain there to attend the comming of theyr Almaynes And as they passed through Languedocke and came neare vnto Mountpellier La Loue one of the Mareschals of the campe was slaine as he was fast asleepe in the dead of the night through the great neglâ—gence of the Sentinels La Loue slain through the negligenâ—e of the Sentinels who beeing suddenly surprised by the garrison within the Towne were the cause of the death of this braue Chieftaine who for his valour courage and noble conduct was highly commended of all the Protestants Many townes were gayned by the Princes in these quarters as Lunell Nismes Margarite Saint Ambrose Saint Iean Saint Priuâ—te Bezouze Castillon Alâ—ts with sundâ—y other of good importance by which happy exploits the confederates did begin afresh to countenance themselues and to recouer much of their former honour and renowme When as the K. was aduertised of all their designes and how that they dayly encreased their forces surprised many castels strong holds and were now almost ioyned with their Reisters with whose ayd they resolued to returne againe into the heart of France and peraduenture once more to besiege the capitoll of all the Kingdome he dispatched forthwith the Mareschall Cossy with an armie wherein were 4000. Switzers 6000. French harquebuziers some 3. or 4000. horse and twelue great peeces of Ordinance with which forces he marched towards the princes Mareschal Cossy sent against the Princes who were incamped at a place called Saint Iean in Burgundy with some 2500. harquebuziers 2000. horse and eighteene cornets of Reisters These two armies came no sooner in view each of other but that their Enfans perdus began the game so that there was a hot skirmish on both sides The Prince of Berne and Conde were there in person each of them in the front of their Regiment and resolutely bent to go to the charge and there to make the first triall of their fortune The fight continued long and many were slaine but the Catholikes hauing the worse after they had lost Monsieur de Bellegard Monsieur de Bellegard slaine one of the Knights of the order besides diuerse others of good accouÌ„t were forced to suffer the Protestants to passe who hasting on their way after great trouble and a long and painefull iourney hauing in a maner rounded all Fraunce at the last they drewe neare to La Charitie Sancerre Antrin Vezelay and other Townes of the Religion where they defended themselues to theyr maruaylous comfort and contentation Nowe was the treatie of peace before mentioned reiterated and earnestly pursued by diuerse who perswaded the King The King perswaded to a peace that these intestine warres consumed none but his Subiectes that the murthers robberies burnings and such like miseryes woulde bee the confusion of the whole state and that who so euer gayned yet hee lost to the great impouerishing of the Crowne of Fraunce and the vtter destruction of that noble kingdome which had beene the paragon of all Europe These and the like reasons induced the King at length to condiscend to a peace which was accepted by the confederates and published in the yere 1570. to the great comfort of all the French and exceeding quiet of the whole lande where we may see the strange and wonderful mutabilitie of mens minds which as they are not long contented with one the self same estate so do they seldom or neuer like the better before they haue beene well scourged with the rod of their owne folly and taught by wofull experience howe to discerne betweene good and bad CHAP. XIIII Peace proclaimed in France The mariages of the King the Duke of Montpensier the Duke of Guise and the Admirall The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court The Admirall goeth to the Court The death of the Queene of Nauarre Peace proclaimed THe kings Edict for the establishing of a peace was no sooner published but that the forces on both sides were forthwith licenced to depart euery man to his owne house which hee had not seene for a long time before to the vnspeakable ioy of the protestaÌ„ts no small comfort to the better and honester sort of the Papists who as mariners that haue escaped some dangerous troublesom tempests and are arriued safely in their wished port held vp their haÌ„ds to heauen with giuing thanks for so vnspeakeable a blessing and earnestly entreated the almightie that they might spend the rest of their dayes in peace and quietnes The Princes with the Queene of Nauarre and sundry of the chiefe of the Protestants as the Admirall the Count Lodowick of Nassau Teligny La Noue and diuerse other withdrew themselues to Rochell for their greater securitie vntil they might see how the kings Edict would be executed Now began there a great alteration in the minds of the French all mens actions were suddenly changed as a man would haue thought after a strange wonderfull maner For where as not long before there was no talke but of hatred wrath murther bloodie broyles and most cruel and vnnaturall warres now was there nothing so much spoken of as loue amitie friendship and making of mariages The King was espoused to Isabel the second daughter to Maximilian the emperor The King marrieth whose nuptials were solemnised with great pompe and magnificence Lois of Burbon and Duke of Montpensier maried with the Duke of Guises sister Duke Montpensier marrieth and the Duke of Guise matched with the widowe of the late Prince Portion D. of Guise marieth one of the principall of the Confederates The Mareschall Cossy and Prontiere one of the Secretaryes of estate were sent vnto Rochell to treate with the Queene of Nauarre as touching a marriage betweene the Prince of Barne her sonne and the Ladie Margaret the Kinges sister a
poynted to the house from whence the peece was shotte and willed some of his Gentlemen to go search who was within sending Captaine Pilles and Captaine Monius to aduertise the King of his hurt Whilest he was led home by the lord Guerchy another gentleman the doore of the house beeing broken open the harquebuz was found but the harquebuzier was fled out at a backe gate and finding a spanish Gennet which was there prouided in a readinesse galloped away with all speede crying as hee went that now there was no Admirall in France Captaine Pilles finding the King at â—ennis with the Duke of Guyse The notable dissimulation of the King related vnto him the Admirals hurt which hee no sooner vnderstood but he leauing his play threw down his racket looking very pensiuely went to his Chamber the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Count Rochfaucont and many other Lords knights and Gentlemen of the Religion beeing enformed of this mishap went presently to visit the Admirall The King taking with him the Queene mother The king goeth to visit the Admiral his two brethren and most of the principall Catholikes went likewise to comfort him shewing many signes of great sorrow for his harme complaining that indeede the Admirall felt the harme but the dishonour was done to the King vpon whose faithfull promise hee was come to the Court and therefore both hee that had committed the fact and all that consented thereto should bee most seuerely punished to the example of all other villanous and notorious malefactors whereto the Admirall answered that hee would leaue the reuenge to God and the execution of Iustice to the King but as for the authour hee was knowne well inough and because hee could not tell how long hee had to liue hee besought the king that hee might talke with him in secret touching things of very great importance and such as were most necessarie for the state of the Kingdome The King seemed to bee willing herewith but the Queen mother by a deuise brake off their talke for that time so that there was no further conference and because the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and diuers others moued the king that they might haue leaue to carrie the Admiral to his house at Chastillon which was some two daies iourney from Paris as to a place of greater quiet and securitie the king not willing to condiscend thereunto answered that so long a iourney would very much endanger his health and therefore he thought it better to haue him lodged in the Louure neere vnto his owne person where he should be safe from all perill furthermore he willed all the cheefe of the Protestant Nobilitie to place themselues as neere him as they could in case that if there were any need they might be readie to succour one another and appointed the Mareschall Cossy with a band of harquebuziers to guard his lodging The wolfe appointed to keepe the Lambe Vpon the Satterday which was the twenty three of August the councell sat about the examination of certaine witnesses touching the fact and sundrie other suspected persons taking great paines as it seemed to boult out the truth as though they meant to punish the offender with all rigour and seueritie With these and the like apparances the protestants helde themselues well satisfied neuer suspecting that all was but dissimulation and that so great mischiefe did hang ouer their heads The same day there was a sodaine rumour ouer al the Citie that the king had sent for the Mareschall Memorancy commanding him to come to him with al the forces hee could make and therefore the Parisians were best to stande vppon their guard but all was founde in the end to be vtterly false Teligny beeing giuen to vnderstand by the Admirals trumpetters that there were sixe cart loades of Armour brought into the Louure answered that hee did not like that men should bee so suspitious without cause for his part hee was well assured of the Kings good fauour and wished other men were so likewise seeing it was not possible that there should be any harme intended towardes them whome the king had honoured so many waies and had oftentimes so solemnely sworne to remaine theyr gracious and louing soueraigne But the king with all those of his secret counsell seeing that they had nowe brought all things about euen as they had desired and that the Admirall was taken in a trap and all his principall associats so snarled in their nets that it was impossible for them to get out thought it high time to putte in execution that which they had purposed so long before and at that instant to finish the dayes of all the Protestants Whereuppon a signall was giuen in the dead of the night by the touling of a Bell in the Louure which was no sooner heard by Cossy who as is alreadie sayde with a bande of harquebuziers guarded the Admiralles lodging but that hee commaunded his men to breake open the doores and to kill as many as they sounde in their wayes The Admirall hearing the noyse and fearing some seditious enterprise willed one of his Gentlemen to call to the guard which was appointed him by the King little imagining that it was they that came to offer him such violence and arising out of his bedde putte on his night gowne and kneeled downe to pray By this time were sundrie of the murtherers gotten in had slaine such as they found in the house The first that entred into the Admirals chamber was one Besme an Almaine a desperate ruffian one of the Duke of Guyses houshold seruants who with his drawne sword in his hand sayde Art thou the Admiral who answered with great constancie So I am called Which hee had no sooner vttered but that Besme runne him through with a sword and another called Atinius The Admirall murthered shot him into the brest with a Pistoll and the rest as Causius and Sarlaboix stabbed him with their daggers and threw him out at the window to the Duke of Guyse and Aumaile and the Cheualier of Angolesme who was King Henry his bastard all which stood crying out to make a quicke dispatch and would not departe thence vntil they were assured of his death and for that hee was so bloudied about the face by reason of his woundes vpon his head that it was hard to know him the Guyse kneeled down and wiped away the bloud with his handkercheffe and seeing it was hee whom they looked for cryed out that they hadde made a happie beginning willing them to proceede for it was the Kings pleasure and that the K. commanded them to spare none of the Hugonots and this hee vttered very often and with a loude voyce A certaine Italian cutte off the Admirals head and hauing embaulmed it sent it to Rome as a present to the Pope The Admirals head sent to Rome Some cutte off his handes and others his secret partes and hauing trayled his
body through the streets hung vppe his dead carcase on a gibbet at Mountfaulcon and this was the lamentable ende of this noble Gentleman The great commendation of the Admirall who for his wisedome pollicie courage and constancie in the profession of Gods truth and maintenance of the same was one of the most excellent and famous men that euer was bred and brought vp in France The same day that the Admirall was hurt the king aduised his brother in law the king of Nauarre to cause some tenne or twelue of his trustiest friends to lodge neere him the better to defende him if the Duke of Guyse whom he tearmed a shrewd boy should happen to attempt any thing against him These Gentlemen and some others who were lodged in the king of Nauarres outer Chamber after the death of the Admirall and that they were disarmed by Nancy hauing their swords and daggers taken away were brought to the gate of the Louure and there were murthered before the kings face Then were the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde brought before the king The k ng of Nauâ—râ—e and the prince of Conde brought before the king who tolde them that hee would not suffer any more Religions in his Land then one and therefore if they loued their liues they must nowe become Catholikes and go to masse for hee meant not to beare with them any longer The king of Nauarre made a very submisse and humble answere but the Prince of Conde who was of more stout and couragious nature replying otherwise then the king expected was threatned with the losse of his head if hee relented not within three daies and so was sent to prison beeing first called obstinate seditious and rebellious traitor and the sonne of a rebellious traytor Nowe beganne the Courtiers with the kings guard who were appointed to massacre the Protestant Nobilitie to kill and murther all sorts in most outragious manner The Count Rochfaucont Count Rochfaucont so greatly beloued of Henry the second for his conceited and pleasant humour adorned with so many excellent graces and noble vertues fit for a perfect courtier was forced to yeelde vp his life to these mercilesse wretches who saluted him with this pittious godmorrow Teligny de Montreuill Teligny the Admirals sonne in Law and for his humble and milde spirit graced with a singular dexteritie in the mannaging of all publike affaires very deere vnto his Wife and prudent Father was seene of many but no man was so hardy as once to touch him vntill at last a stranger that knew him not ranne him thorow with a Rapier as hee was bewailing the death of so many braue men The Barron of Pardaillon The barrons Pardaillon the Barron of Pilles Pilles Soubize Soubize and Puuiant Puuiant all very famous and worthie men hauing beene commanders in Cheefe and well worthie for their rare vertues of better fortune were there murthered after a most disloyall and trecherous manner The marquesse of Reuell The marquesse of Reuell was hotly pursued as hee fled in his shirt towards the Riuer side and there was slaine by Bussy of Amboise his neere kinsman Monsieur the kings brother at the request of Archan the Captaine of his guard who was amorous of the Lady Chasteneray sent certaine souldiers to kill La Force her father in law who had thought that they had likewise slaine both her brethren but there was but one founde dead and the other beeing very sore wounded escaped by reason he was couered with the dead body of his Father where hee remained vntill the euening following and then secretly conueyed himselfe into the lodging of the Mareschall Biron his kinsman which when his sister Chasteneray vnderstood being sorrie that shee could not be heire as she earnestly desired she went to the Mareschals house fayning that shee was maruailously glad that her brother had so escaped desiring to see him that shee might comfort him but the mareschall smelling her intent would not bewray where hee was and by that meanes saued his life By this time was the signall giuen to such as commanded ouer the common people to make dispatch of the rest of the Protestants who beeing in a readinesse and encouraged by the Duke of Guyse Aumaile and Neuers slew euerie one that fell into their handes yea they so greedily thirsted after innocent bloud that in a short time they had made such a maruailous carnage and butcherie The carnage and butchery in the Citie that the streetes seemed to be paued with dead carcases and Carts were laden with the bodies of men women and children which were throwne into the Riuer death and desolation walked about in euerie corner of this Cittie and that in most gastly and greeuous manner to the extreme horror and dreade of euerie beholder There was nothing but weeping wayling and lamentation and a most wofull and fearefull crie throughout the whole Citie About the breake of the day the Duke of Guyse Neuers and Aumaile brethren in euill The Protestants in saint Germaines escape by flying away and the cheefest authors in that pittious tragedie went to awake sundrie of the Protestant Nobilitie who were lodged in the suburbs of Saint Germain as the Vidame of Chartres the Count of Mont-gommery the Lord of Fountenay Caumont Columbiers and many others who beeing aduertised of that which had happened supposed at the first that it had beene some vprore of the people and therefore purposed to haue gone to ayde the King fearing there had beene some danger towards his person but on the sodain they discouered 200. armed men and those of the kings guard who cried kill kill shooting at them and that in the kings sight who also as is reported took a harquebuz and swearing and blaspheming in most heathenish maner cried out shoot shoot The king helpeth to murther the Protestants Gods heart they flie they flie As those of the reformed Religion saw this they fled with all possible speede leauing whatsoeuer they had behinde them being pursued by those three Dukes before remembred The Bastard of Angolesme and diuers others who wounded some and had killed many had they not beene hindred by the negligence of the Porter who mistooke the keyes of the gates where they shoulde haue issued foorth was the occasion that the Protestants had some little time giuen them to prouide for their better securitie They were no sooner gone but the Switzers of the kings guard and sundrie courtiers spoyled their houses killing whomsoeuer they found cruelly murthering both man woman and child all that day being the 24. of August 1572. was spent in massacring rauishing sacking so that there perished by this turkish and barbarous villany aboue 10000. persons as well noble men as Gentlemen The number of Protestants slaine in Paris presidents of courts councellers aduocates schollers preachers phisitions proctors marchants artisans women maides and children All places were full of dead
the one for Guyen Two armies sent against the Protestants commanded by the Duke of Neuers the other for Dauphiny vnder the leading of the Duke de Maine All these troublous stirs being now ended the K. and the Leaguers beeing made friends it was thought good to call an assembly of the state to reforme the pollicie of the Land and to take some finer course for the prosecuting of the warres against the Hugonots and to that ende the king sent his writs to summon all prouinces Cities and townes This Parliament was appointed to begin the 15. of August yet afterward it was deferred vntill the ninth of October following to send their deputies to Bloys prouided alwaies that they were good Catholiks and such as neither had fauour nor were any waies suspected to fauour the king of Nauarre nor his associats and the Duke of Guyse and the rest of the Leaguers so handled the matter in the meane time that not any one man in a maner was chosen to be sent to that assembly but such as they were assured did either openly or secretly fauor their proceedings At this great Parleament there was much adoo and many things talked of but especially of the Edict of Reunion made the one and twentie of Iuly which tended to the establishing of Poperie the rooting out of Heresie and the disinheriting of the Princes of the bloud prouoking the king with many bitter words vehemeÌ„t exhortations to embrew his haÌ„ds in the bloud of the saints and with fire and sword to roote them out of France All which was assented vnto by the king and his three estates enacted as a fundamentall law of the land which they all swore to see inuiolably kept and obserued in al the kings dominions to the vttermost of their powers The king of Nauarre was quickly aduertised of whatsoeuer had passed at Bloys The Protâ—stants assemble at Rochel and therfore assembled all his principall friends followers at Rochel the 16. of Nouember following whither likewise all the reformed churches sent theyr deputies where they resolued vppon the defensiue and the meanes how to withstand their enemies The king continued at Bloys all this while and albeit hee shewed a faire countenance to the Guyse yet in heart hee loued him not for that indignitie which was offered him at Paris besides many other saucie and audacious Pranks which hee plaide since did breed a reuenging minde in the K. which he meant to shew more apparantly assoone as any oportunity was offered Now as it vsually falleth out betweene late reconciled enemies each still suspected other and many tarres â—ell out betweene their friendes and followers which bred sundrie sturres and hurleburlies in the Court but there were two especially which gaue the â—larum to the Courtiers and made euerie man to stand vpon his guard The first quarrell arose among the Pages and lackies some holding with the Burbons and some with the Leaguers wherewith the Duke of Guyse was so affrighted Two sodainâ— vprares at Court that hee ran into his chamber barred the doores and kept himselfe as close as he could The second was occasioned by a souldier who beeing hurt ranne to saue himselfe in the Guyses Chamber whither hee was followed by the kings guard with their drawen swords in their hands whereupon once againe all the Court was in an vprore not without great feare least some dangerous euent would ensue About the middle of December the Duke of Guyse shewed himselfe more disobedient then at any time before and a great contemner of the king and his authoritie The Guyse a maâ—â—â—â—ter of murtherers and Rebels in maintaining a number of Ruffians murtherers factious seditious persons and such as raised a rebellion in August last and had attempted the killing of the Duke of Espernan at Engolesme These were lodged in the Court and flocked about the Guyse and were so countenanced by him that no Magistrate durst say a word to them besides the king being daily enformed of many trech erous practises against his person and estate called al his Nobles and willed them to sweare that they should neuer attempt any thing against him The Guyse refuseth to take his oath for the preseruation of the King the Duke most disloyally refused and said in his presence that he would not take such an oath and if hee did any thing otherwise then he ought there were good lawes to punish him spare him not no other answere could bee gottten at his hands and fearing that the â—ing would be reuenged as well for this as for other notorious contempts as also considering that all the drifts of his councellers were so discouered that there was no way to hide them anie longer and therefore that now with all speede hee must put them in execution hee called a Councell of his most trusty friends as Lewis Cardinall of Guyse his brother the Archbishop of Lyons and some fewe others in which it was concluded The Guyse and his associats vow to kill the king that the king must needes bee dispatched out of hand and that all delaies were dangerous and therefore the twentie foure of that moneth was appointed for that tragical execution binding themselues to see the same performed with a solemne oath Thus was this great french king discouered of a very auncient and noble race honoured for a long time of his owne subiects and reuerenced of his neighbour Princes condemned to die by the hands of most disloyall traytors who had all their aduauncement by him and his predecessors CHAP. XXIIII The King resolueth to kill the Guyse The death of Francis Duke of Guyse and of the Cardinall his brother The terror of the Guysards The death of the Queene mother THough the King knew not of this sentence of death which was pronounced against him The King resolueth to kill the Guyse yet the olde and new iniuries offered vnto him by the Guyse did sufficiently exasperate him and made him watch all opportunitie to seeke his reuenge and assoone as euer he could to be ridde of so desperate a traytor This determination of the king could not be kept so secret but that the Guyse hauing many friends about the king who suspected some such thing aduertised the Duke the two and twenty of December by laying a little bill vnder his napkin wherin was written Looke to your selfe for some are about to play a shrewd play with you Hee perusing the writing wrote this answere They dare not and so threw it vnder the â—able The same day the king receiued diuers aduertisements of this horrible conspiracie of the Guyse against his person The aduertisements of the Duke of Maine and Aumaile to the King touching the attempt of the Guyse and especially from the Duke de Maine who sent Alphonso Corse to him with this message That it was an easie matter to carrie beades about and to put on a counterfeit shew of holinesse but hee was
sure that his brother had a dangerous enterprise in hand against his Maiestie which he knew not certainely when hee would put in execution but hee was well assured that the time was not farre off and that hee doubted least his warning should come too late And aduised him in these words That his Maiestie should beware of a desperate and furious mind The Duke of Aumaile sent likewise the duchesse his Wife to giue the King to vnderstand That there was great danger towards his person and that the conspirators were vpon the poynt of execution The king had also intercepted manie letters by which hee did euidently perceiue as much and how that the Guyses had sworne his death and destruction and disinhereting of the royall bloud of France in the houses of Valoys and Burbons and to sette vppe the house of Lorraine All these remonstrances made the king bestirre him and to deuise some speedie Course for the preseruation of his owne life Wherupon he got the keyes of the Castle doubled his guards and appointed a strong watch in the Town with commaundement not to open the gates without his speciall lisence all which was doone in the night without the knowledge of the Guyse and calling vnto him some seauen or eight of those fiue and fortie pensioners which daily attended on his person hee reuealed vnto them his purpose requiring theyr ayde and assistance who receiued most willingly their seruice with promise to execute his will and to doo as his Maiestie had directed them The next morning the Duke of Guyse the Cardinall his brother the Archbishop of Lyons with the Mareschall of Haultmont were assembled in the chamber neere vnto the king and readie to sit in councell howe and in what manner it were best to commit their detestable parricide The king hauing disposed of all things in the best manner that hee could deuise sent a Gentleman to call the Duke of Guyse to come and speake with him who comming forth and seeing the Guards more carefully disposed then was accustomed hauing a guiltie conscience beganne to suspect and as oftentimes the minde of man vppon the instant of so great aduentures presageth that which afterward ensueth so at this present the Dukes hart fainted and his colour charged as one fearing some imminent perill hee was readie to swound hee had sent his Page for a handkercheffe in one of the corners whereof his secretarie named Pellicart had knit vp a little written bill containing a warning to get him away with all speede or else he were but dead But this handkercheffe was intercepted with the remembrance as the Page was comming vppe and neuer came to his handes The Duke in going through a narrow passage to the King encreased his mistrust and was about to returne but still hee went forwards into the Kings vtter chamber where seeing the Lord Loiguake fitting vpon a chest whom of all other he most hated for that he had beene long perswaded that the same Lord determined to kill him hee set his hand to his sword with a purpose to set vppon the sayde Loiguake but by reason hee did weare his Cloake Scarft wise he was so troubled that he could not draw it past halfe way out of the sheath they who were appoynted for his execution The death of Francis D. of Guyse seeing him enterprise such an audacious act and that at the kings chamber doore preuented him and slew him at that instant The noyse was such in this tragicall execution that the Cardinall entred into a mistrust and made hast to get forth but he was stayed by a Gentleman of the Scottish guard The death of the Cardinall of Guise who had commandement to arrest him and not long after by reason of his former treasons and his presumptuous behauiour at that present mingled with some threatning speeches hee was strangled in the same placce where hee was taken prisoner The Archbishop rushed foorth in great furie and saide hee would helpe the Duke of Guyse but hee was quickly cooled and clapt vp in prison though afterwarde released vppon his submission and acknowledgement of his offence The Cardinall of Burbon the Prince Ieuuille sonne to the Duke of Guyse the Mareschall D'Albenfe with many other pertakers in this treason were apprehended and committed to safe keeping and likewise Pellicart secretarie to the Duke of Guyse with all his papers and writings whereby all the secret Councelles of the Guyses and the rest of the Leaguers as well of Princes and Nobles as of the Clergie Towne and Cities were manifested and discouered The fame of this execution was foorthwith spread abroade in the Towne albeit the Castle gates were shut which made all such as had guiltie consciences to packe from Bloys as speedily as euer did the Protestants from the suburbs of Saint Germaines on Bartholmew day The Guysards flie from Bloys and to seeke to shift for themselues some other where Thus were the Leaguers wonderfully crossed in their designements and many who the day before thought it an honour to bee called Guysards and were readie to challenge to the Combate such as reputed them Royalles were now altered on the sodaine and cast in a newe mould esteeming all that factious multitude worse then theeues and murtherers Shortly after that these things thus passed at Blois died the Queene mother The death of the Quâ—ene mother of France who was very olde and had liued too long for Fraunce where she had beene as the firebrand of the Country the nurse of all rebellions the bellowes of all ciuil dissention the instrument of the diuell to worke all impietie and vngodlinesse the procurer of the fall and destruction of her owne children and the principal worker of all this wofull and lamentable alteration happened in that noble and renowmed Kingdome CHAP. XXV The rebellion of Duke de Maine and most of the principall Cities of Fraunce The King of Fraunce and the King of Nauarre are reconciled The King of Fraunce murthered by a Frier The King of Nauarre proclaimed King of Fraunce THe King thought good to aduertise all his subiects of that which had happened at Blois and for that purpose wrote diuerse Letters to his seuerall gouernors of his prouinces duly enforming them of al these occurrences and sent to the assembly of the States to let them vnderstande that it was his pleasure that they should still continue and that he was fully determined to followe their reasonable counsailes in all things but they by little and little slyding away one after another got them home into their Countryes and by spreading of most accursed and damnable rumours deprauing the Kings fact with many hyperbolicall speeches which they amplified with sundry lying reasons and defamatorie libels tearming this execution by the name of the massacre committed at Blois caused an vniuersall rebellion of all those Townes Cities and Prouinces which had reiected the Gospel in former tymes The Duke de Maine no sooner vnderstood thereof
his bodie The death of Henry the 3 the French King not withstanding all the remedies that could be deuised or imagined hee yeelded vp his life into the handes of him that gaue it him hauing reigned fourteene yeares and seuen moneths And this was the ende of Henrie the third the French king and king of Polonia and the last of the house of Valois who being bewitched with the sorceries of his mother and inclyning to euill by his owne bad disposition opposed himselfe agaynst Gods true religion and being giuen ouer to worke his owne destruction followed the wicked counsailes of his notorious and sworne enemies who spake him fayre to his face but inwardly hated him and neuer ceased persecuting of their deuelish deuises vntill they had brought his state to confusion and procured his vntimely death and destruction CHAP. XXVI Henrie the fourth the French King ouerthroweth the Leaguers in two seuerall battels Great famine in Paris The Duke of Parma entreth into Fraunce relieueth Paris From whence he flieth againe in great haste into the Lowe Countryes The Pope excommunicateth the King VVho causeth his Bull to be burned at Towers The great Armie of the Germianes The Duke of Parma goeth the sâ—conde time into Fraunce and preuayleth greatly agaynst the King The Leaguers seeke for peace The King encline to Poperie His coronation Paris with most of the great Citties of Fraunce turne to the King IMmediately after the death of Henrie the third Henrie of Burbon King of Nauarre and the true inheritour to the Crowne of Fraunce both by his owne right and by the last will and testament of the late King The princes Nobles and souldiers take their oath of obedience to Henry the fourth was proclaimed King of Fraunce by the name of King Henrie the foorth and so acknowledged by all the Princes Nobles Colonels Captaines and souldiours in the Campe after the ancient maner of choosing the Romane Emperors giuing him their oaths of fidelitie and obedience with protestation to assist him to maintaine his royall and princely authoritie against all traitours rebels and leaguers to the vttermost of their powers The Prince Montpensier being then at Audly a towne vpon the Riuer of Seyne caused likewise all his army to take the like oath exhorting them to defend constantly the late kings wil and valiantly to oppose theÌ„selues against al seditious persons despisers of gods lawfull ordinance traitors to their King sworne enemies to their own couÌ„try This Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and now the French king and so hereafter he shall be tearmed considering the strength of his open enemies and fearing the treacherie of many in the Campe who were deuoted to the league knowing that they might be a meanes to distresse him beeing so neare vnto a great number of his euill willers who were likely to double their rage by reason of this exploit done vpon the late Kings person The French King retireth toward Norman de thought good to licence so many as he suspected to depart the campe and determined to retire with the rest into Normandie somewhat further from his enemies and to gather as great a power as hee could of his trustiest and most assured friends and in the meane time to view the attempts and preparations of the Leaguers The armie of the D. de Maine The D. de Maine besides all the bands which he had collected of the French rebels receyued certaine Swart Rutters vnder the leading of the Duke of Brimswicke The Duke of Lorraine sent his sonne likewise called the Marques of Pont. with certaine companies of horsemen with this great armie which amounted to the number of 25000. men The Duke de Maine marched towards Deep where the King lay with some nine or ten thousand men who vnderstanding of the approach of the enemie tooke the field with those forces which he had and encamped at Arques about two miles froÌ„ Deepe where he stayed not long but that the enemie appeared in fight at a village not far off called Martinglize The king sent out forthwith his light horsmeÌ„ to discouer between whoÌ„ the foreruÌ„ners of the Leaguers there were many hot skirmishes On the 19. day of September the enemie passed ouer a little riuer which ranne betweene both Armies and put himselfe in battaile array very well ordered strongly appointed and marched directly towards the king The Lord Billing with two thousande shot was appointed to charge first and the Duke de Maine stood behinde him with a strong battaile readie to succour as need required The king had quickly ordered his battailon hauing disposed of all things in as warlike maner as he could deuise sent forth his light horsemen to charge the enemie who were backed with the Prince of Conde led by the Lord Montaret His battailon of footemen was flanked with his owne cornet wherein were the Lord Graund Pryer of France the Count Rochfaucoult the Count Rossy his brother the Count Rochford with diuers other Gentlemen of great reckoning and such as were neerest about his person and hauing called vppon God to ayde him in his iust and righteous quarrell so furiously charged the enemie that hee left fiue hundred dead vpon the place at that instant The rest seeing the slaughter of their fellowes and the furie of the kings souldiers began to shrinke and in a short time to flie away in great feare and disorder The Principall men of the Leaguers which were slain were the Lord Saint Andrew Sagne Collonell of the light horsemen the Lord Saint Vidal Lieutenant of the Ordenance the Lord Vienuille Count Billing Temblecourt Sauelak and diuers others were taken prisoners The king lost the Count Rossy brother to Rochfaucont and the Lord Bake Ville a Gentleman of very worthy and commendable parts and not past some thirtie or fortie others The Duke de Maine seeing his bad lucke retyred his beaten troupes towards Picardy the king being strengthened with the forces of the Prince of Soysons Duke Languauille and Mareschall Haultmont besides foure thousand Englishmen newly sent him out of England The Lord VVillowby vnder the leading of the right noble and valiant Lord VVillowby departed from Deepe coasted the enemie til he came to Menlau and then returned toward Paris supposing that by that meanes hee should draw the Duke to follow him and so bring him to a battaile The king bringeth hiâ— army before Paris The King comming to Paris about the 28. of October determined to assault the suburbs and hauing prepared all things in a readinesse for that purpose assailed them the first of Nouember following where hee founde some resistance but the courage of the Souldiers redoubled with the presence of the Prince was such The suburbs of S. Germaines takeÌ„ that they quickly gayned them and slew aboue a thousand and fiue hundred of their enemies there were also taken fourteene ensignes and thirteene peeces of Ordenance The king seeing the Leaguers attempted nothing but
come but that Feuquieres whome hee had serued in former tymes in the warres in Pycardie knowing him to bee a man of seruice commended him to the Admirall saying that he was a fit man to bee employed to discouer somewhat of the enemyes proceedings about Orleanâ—e for that he shoulde bee taken for a Spaniard and so a fauourer of theyr designes Wherupon the Admirall gaue him twentie Crownes and sent him to Orleance where hee continued not long but hauing got as good intelligence as he coulde returned backe to do his message The Admyrall lyking the man well for his diligence and secrecie in matters of such importaunce gaue him an hundred Crownes and bidde him buy him a good Horse that hee might with more celeritie dispatch his businesse With this money Poltrot bought him a verie excellent Spanish Genet and leauing the Admirall went backe to the Guises Campe where he awayted some oportunitie to put in execution his intended purpose Which shortly after fell out for hee espying the Duke somewhat late in the euening ryding towardes his Tent vppon a little Nagge onely attended on by a Gentleman Vsher which went before him and an other which talked with him hee approched as neare as hee could and discharged his pistoll vpon the Duke hitting him in the shoulder wounded him verie sore and so turning his horse fled as fast as he could And hauing ridden all that night by by-wayes for feare of those who pursued him he not knowing which way he went wandred vp and downe in the end came againe almost to the place where hee committed the fact Which when he perceiued he rode all the day folowing with as much speed as possibly might be to get out of the danger of his pursuing enemies But hauing with continuall trauell wearied both himselfe and his horse he rested at a farm house where he was taken vpon suspition and committed to safe keeping for his further triall Being examined and found culpable he was adiudged to be drawn in peeces with foure horses Poltrot drawne in peeces with horses to haue his head cut off and his torne bodie to be burnt to ashes This sudden blow did maruellously dismay the Catholikes and the rather for that it appeared to be deadly and not possible to be healed For he waxed worse euerie day then other and died very shortly after The Duke of Guise died within seuen or eight daies after his hurt to their vnspeakable greefe who had reposed their whole confidence in him and to the great reioycing of the confederates whose deadly sworne enemies he was alwayes accounted And this was the end of that turbulent spirit ambitious Guise who as he had massacred many so he in the end was murthered by others and that euen then when he thought least of any danger nay rather fully perswaded himselfe well neare to haue attained to the full period of his wished desires So vncertaine is the state and condition of the greatest and most mightie personages in this variable and changeable world The Guise was no sooner dead but there ensued a present alteration and those conditions which had beene before propounded were forthwith fully agreed vpon so was there a peace proclaimed the 19. of March folowing at S. Memen in the campe before Orleance Peace proclamed in the Campe before Orleance wherewith all sorts in generall seemed to bee maruellously well contented hoping to be freed froÌ„ those horrible miseries wherwith they had bin afflicted for so many yeres And indeed albeit this pacification held but for a while yet did the whole land reape great fruite thereby and acknowledged the gracious goodnesse of the Almightie in that it had pleased him to giue them some respite and to make an end of their Ciuill warres But this blessed peace could not continue long by reason there fell out many occasions of discontentment to either faction by meanes wherof they were soone entangled afresh in their former sorrowes and vexations CHAP. VIII The seditious humour of the Cardinall of Lorraine The Admirall accused for the death of the Duke of Guyse The complaints of the Protestants The League made at Bayon The King refuseth to heare the Protestants The second ciuill warre Paris besieged by the Protestants THe Cardinall of Lorraine The Cardinall of Lorraine seeketh new occasions of strife and brother to the deceased Duke of Guyse the especiall instrument of all these calamities which hadde continued for so long time in that noble kingdome of France inwardly vexed to see such a peaceable estate knowing full well that it did not stande with his commoditie and profit to see the Princes of the bloud to bee fauoured at the Court neither yet the Nobilitie and Gentlemen to liue in peace and amitie one with another and all sorts as brethren to liue euenly together deuised a way to set all men again together by the eares and to embarke themselues into newe troubles Hee therefore with the assent of his associats spread abroade diuers calumniations and slanderous rumours of those of the reformed Religion being a gratious man with the Queen mother for that their humors were but too agreeable and consonant each to other he perswaded with her that if shee should countenance the cheefe Princes and Lords of the Religion and suffer them to be neere the Court and beare a sway in matters of State they would draw on many followers after them and peraduenture gaine the yong King and the Princes his brethren to be their friends and then Conde being a man of courage and of that proximitie in bloud would looke to haue his place which if hee might peaceably enioy her authoritie would be quickly in the dust and the Burbons Memorancies and Chastillons would rule all and as it was most likely shee should bee called to an account for her former gouernement during the Kings nonage and by drawing on the hatred of the Catholikes of the Pope and of the King of Spaine loose al her credit and reputation The Queene mother being iealous inough of her estate before and nowe encouraged by the Cardinall to role euerie stone rather then to loose one iot of her authoritie discountenanced all that shee might those of the Religion and to be ridde of the Admirall whome for his wisedome integritie valour and vprightnesse of all his actions shee could not abide it was deuised that hee should be charged to haue hired Poltrot to kill the late Duke of Guyse and to colour the matter withalâ— there was a counterfeit deposition of Poltrot exhibited and the yong Duke of Guyse was animated to demand iustice of the K. for the death of his father The yong Duke of of Guyse set on to accuse the Admiral of the murther of his father But when this deuise came to the prince of Condes eare Lord howe exceedingly was hee offended protesting and that openly at the Councell Table that hee would spend all that euer hee had yea and his owne
him some of the ensignes who caused them to be set vp in Saint Peters Church from whence he went in procession with all his Cardinals to the temple of the holy Ghost to giue thanks for so ioyfull successe and so did likewise the Venetians and duke of Alua thinking that all the Protestants in France had beene wasted and consumed But the Admirall with the principall of the confederates gaue them quickly to vnderstand that the matter was likely to be farre otherwise then they imagined For they gathering togither their dispersed forces fortifyed Cognac Angolesme Pos Saint Gean d'Angely and other places wherein they planted strong garrisons to amuse the armie of the Catholiques vntill the comming of the Duke of Deux Ponts who was alreadie marching with a great power to the reliefe of the confederates And hauing chosen the young Prince of Nauarre for their Generall who promised to spende his life in defence of theyr cause The prince of Nauarre chosen generall of the protâ—stants after the death of Conde and neuer to abandon them vntill an assured peace were established reuiewing their troupes which amounted well neare to fortie thousand horse besids their footmen prouided all necessaries to begin the wars afresh and if it might bee to repaire their former losses Dandelot was sent into Poictou to view the strength of their forces in those quarters and to gather as much money as possibly hee could for the payment of the Souldiers where after he had very wisely and pollitikely aduanced his busines and gotten good store of gold and siluer for the maintenance of the warres in his returne fell into a burning feauer Dandelot dâ—eth of a burning feuer whereof hee died shortly after at Xaincts to the vnspeakeable greefe of the Admirall and all those of the reformed Churches Hee was very valiant pollitike and passing skilfull in all warlike affaires prouident to foresee all dangers couragious and hardy in all his enterprises liberall The praise â—f Daâ—delot courteous and affable and therfore wonderfully well beloued of his souldiers who thought themselues able to encounter with any whatsoeuer so long as they had him for cheefetaine and commander and therfore they bewailed the losse of him as of their father The Duke of Deux Ponts who was hasting to the aide of the Protestants The Duke of Deux Ponts commeth to ayde the protestants with a great power had in his armie seauen thousand and fiue hundred Reisters and sixe thousande Lansquenetes with whom were ioyned the Prince of Orenge the two Counts Ludouicus and Henry his brethren with a small band of their followers besides Moruilliers the marquesse of Reuel Fequieres Cleruant Mouy and Esternay with certaine culuerings sixe field peeces and a good number of Musqueters with those companies he got forward as fast as hee might still gayning ground and approching the territories of France notwithstanding al the hindrances and lets which were giuen by the Duke of Aumaile who with a great power was appointed to stoppe the passages and to barre this Almain Duke out of the fertile countrey of the Flower de Lis but that could not be for still hee passed foorth and at last rested himselfe before La Charite a towne of great importance La Charity besieged and taken by a composition and scituated as it were in the heart and bowels of France The Towne was verie straightly besieged and planting his battery he beate the wals in such furious maner that those within beeing not able to holde out and dispairing of any succours in time yeelded vpon composition to haue their liues saued and so was it sacked and spoyled by the Lansquenetes La Charity sacked The taking of the towne was no small aduantage to the confederates as also the losse thereof did much hinder the fortunate course of the victorious Catholikes who now began to consult how to impeach the two armies that they should not meete and vnite themselues together but doo what they could the Duke still aduanced forwardes passed through Lymosin so farre as Cars where falling sicke hee dyed of a quartaine Feuer tothe exceeding greefe of all his friendes and followers The Princes beeing aduertised of the comming of the Duke and the taking of La Charity hasted to meete them leauing La Noue Captaine in cheefe ouer Poictou Rochell and other places vnder their obedience and ioyning with the Germaines at length neere vnto Cars were not a little gladde in their hearts albeit they were mightily crossed by the death of theyr principall and cheefest leader The death of the Duke of Deux ponts * The Protestants had in their army som tenne or twelue thousand horse and twenty thousand foot men When all the confederates were ioyned together they first sent a supplicatication to the King desiring a peace but when they could not bee heard nor those miserable warres which had so long tormented poore France could haue any ende by faire meanes they proceeded on and purposed to assay if by fine force they could compell their enemies to any honest and reasonable conditions the better to effect this they determined to get as many strong townes as they could into their handes as well in the Countrey of Lymosyn as other where But the Army of his excellencie was nowe so strongly reenforced with the troupes of the Duke of Aumaile as also with one thousand and two hundred horse and foure hundred footmen all Italians and vnder the conduct of Saint Fior nephew to the Pope called Pius Quintus that they did continually coast them maintained sundrie braue skirmishes with the confederates barring them from executing many of their enterprises and at length each Army meeting together neere vnto Rockabeuille had almost tryed their quarrell by an entire battaile for Monsieur hauing encamped vppon a goodly plaine and entrenched his armie round about in most defencible maner sauing at one corner placed there a strong Corps du gard composed of the two Regiments sometimes commaunded by the valiant Counte Brissac and nowe ledde by the two Captains La Barthe and Goas who still lamented the death of their generous collonell to defende that quarter from all sodaine inuasions of the Protestants This Gard was quickly espied and the Admirall aduertised thereof who was very desirous to remooue them further off but for that hee did not well know their strength he thought it good to deale warily and to go with al his whole forces to this exploit beeing a matter of so great importance purposing to enterprise further if occasion serued Whereupon all the troupes were forthwith arranged and put in battaile array the Admirall assisted by Beaunois La Nocle Briquemant Soubize La Noue Teligny and others led the vantgard followed by their seueral Cornets and a great Hot of Reisters conducted by Count Ludouic brother to the Prince of Orenge who were flanked with the Regiments of Beaudisne and Piles and on the left hand with Rouuray Pouille a strong battailon