Nobility his Arms and Mareschalsy and to condemn him to the loss of his head Nevertheless as they were proceeding to execution King Henry calling to mind that he had made him Knight of the Order sent him his pardon so that five or six moneths after what of old age and what of grief he died a natural death and who would have liv'd after such an injury and disgrace The Judicature of France is not without Cortels for there are enow who should the King put into their hands the honestest man of his Kingdom would find out enough against him as Cortel boasted who said that deliver up to him the most upright Liâ—utenant in the Kingdom of France provided he had been but a year or two in that employment and he doubted not but to find matter enough to put him to death This poor Lord had perform'd a Soldier-like action if ever man did at the Fort of Montrean when the English â—allied out of Bullen to give him Battel he had with him the Count Rhinâ—graves Regiment and as I think the Count himself was there that of the French commanded by Monsieur de Tais and seven Ensigns of Italians So soon as the Enemy charg'd our Horse they were immediately put to rout and fled when the said Sieur seeing the disorder of the Cavalry he ran to the Battaillon of Foot and said Oh my friends it was not with the Horse that I expected to win the Battel but it is with you and thereupon alighted where taking a Pike from one of the Soldiers to whom he deliver'd his Horse and causing his Spurs to be pull'd off he began his retreat towards Andelot The Enemy after they had a great way puâ—sued the Cavalry return'd upon him who was four hours or more upon his retreat having the Enemies horse sometimes in his Front and sometimes in his Flancks and their Foot continually in his Rear without their ever daring to break into him and I was told by the Captains who were present in the Action that he never advanc'd fifty paces without facing about upon the Enemy by which thâ—s may be call'd one of the bravest reâ—reats that has been made these hundred years I should be glad any one could name me such another having upon him the whole power both of Foot and Horse and his own Cavalry all run off the Field Behold what this poor Lord did for a parting blow at above threescore and ten years of age and yet he was used after this manner Let any one ask the Cardinal of Lorrain who it was that did him this courtesie for at the Assembly of the Knights of the Order before King Francis the second he reproach'd him with this busines and they grew into very high words upon it for my part I am too little a Companion to name it though I was present there and also there were some Ladies who had a hand in the business A year after I saw another pranck plaid Monsieur de Tais wherein he was accused to have spoken unhandsomely of a Court Lady 't is a misfortune France has ever had that they meddle too much in all affairs and have too great credit and interest for upon this the command of the Arâ—illery was taken from him and he never after return'd into favour The King of Navarre entreated the King not to take it ill if he made use of him in the taking of Hâ—din which his Majesty gave him leave to do and he was kill'd in the Trenches of the said Hedin doing service for him to whom his service was not acceptable which is a gâ—eat heart-breaking and the greatest of all vexations to die for a Prince that has no regard for a mans service wherein our condition is of all others most miserable notwithstanding I believe the King would in the end have made use of him again for in truth he was a man of service and I moreover believe that his Majesty was sorry he had banisht him the Court but very often those of both Sexes who govern Princes make them do things against their own natures and inclinations and afterwards they are sorry for it but it is too late to repent when their Traverses have brought upon a Prince such an inconvenience as is irreparable and those who would afterwards seem to excuse them endeavour to make the matter worse by contriving new accusations and laying other aspersions upon them I shall not mention the Constables business which drave him also from Court and all as it was said about women nor that of the late Monsieur de Guise we have seen them sometimes out and sometimes in The King would do well to stop the mouths of such Ladies as tattle in his Court for thence proceed all the reports and slanders a prating Gossip was cause of the death of Monsieur de la Chastaigneray who would he have taken my advice and that of five or six more of his friends he had done his business with Monsieur dr Iarnac after another manner for he fought against his conscience and lost both his honor and his life The King ought therefore to command them to meddle with their own affairs I except those that are to be excepted for their tittle tattle has done a great deal of mischief and after as I said it is too late These are the good offices that in my time I have seen done several great persons and also such poor Gentlemen as my self all which proceed from the jealousie and envy they bear to one another who are near unto the persons of Princes In the time that I have been at Court I have seen great dissimulations and several carry it very fair to one another in shew who would have eaten one another if they could and yet outwardly who so great as they embracing and caressing one another as if they had been the greatest friends in the world I was never skill'd in that Trade for every one might read my heart in my face By this one may judg that the misfortune into which this Kingdom is fallen is not come upon it through any default of courage or wisdom in our Kings nor for want of valiant Captains and Soldiers for never Kings of France had so many both of Horse and Foot as Francis Henry and Charles who had they been employed in forreign Conquests would have carried the War far enough from our own doors and it was a great misfortune both to them and the whole Kingdome that they were not so employed and yet can we not lay the blame thereof either to the Church or the third Estate for all that have by the Kings been demanded of them have been freely granted Every Child then may judg where the fault lay and from whence sprung the Civil Wars I mean from the great ones for they are not wont to make themselves parties for the word of God If the Queen aâ—d the Admiral were together in a Cabine and the
that the â—attel was begun they mounted all the Harquebusiers they could on horseback and coming all the way a gallop arrived in so opâ—â—â—tune a season that they found Monsieur d' Anguien in pursuite of the Enemy not having one Harquebusier in company with him where alighting from their horses they put themselves in the Rear of them whilst the said Seigneur d' Anguien with his Cavalry one while in their Flâ—nk and another in their Front still push'd on the victory Hee then sent a Trooper to us in all hast to bid us turn that way for there was more work to do which messenger found us at the Chappel hard by the Gate of Câ—rizolles having just made an end of killing with so great fury and slaughter that not so much as one man remained alive save only a Colonel call'd Aliprando de Mandrâ—ca Brother to the Cardinal of Trent who being laid amongst the dead with seven or eight wounds upon him Caubois a light horsâ—â—â—longing to Monsieur de Termes as he came thorough the dead bodies saw him 〈◊〉 yet alive but stript stark naked spoke to him and caused him to be carried to 〈◊〉 to redeem Monsieur de Termes in case he should recover and live as he 〈◊〉 did The Swisse in killing and laying on with their two-handed Swords 〈◊〉 â—iâ—d out Montdevi Montdevi where those of their Nation had received no 〈◊〉 and in short all that made head against us on our side of the field were slam We had no sooner received the command from Monsieur d' Anguien but that immediately the Battaillon of the Swisse and ours turn'd towards him I never saw two Battaillons so soon reunited as these were for of our selves we rallyed and drew up into Battalia as we went marching all the way side by side In this posture the Enemy who went off at a great rate firing all the way and by that means keeping the horse at distance discovered us coming up to them who so soon as they saw us advanc'd within five or six paces and the Cavalry in their Front ready to charge in amongst them they threw down their Pikes surrendring themselves to the horse but here the Game began some killing and others endeavoring to save there being some who had fifteen or twenty men about him still getting as far as they could from the crowd for fear of us Foot who had a mind to have cut all their throats neither could the Cavalry so well defend them but that above half of them were slain for as many as we could lay our hands on were dispatch'd Now you shall know what became of me Monsieur de Valence my Brother had sent me a Turkish horse from Venice one of the fleerest Coursers that ever I yet saw and I had an opinion which all the world could not dispossess me of that we should win the Battel wherefore I gave my said horse to a servant I had an old Soldier in whom I reposed a very great confidence bidding him be sure always to keep behind our Battaillon of Pikes and telling him that if it pleased God I did escape from the skirmish I would then alight and engage with the Pikes and that when we came to close if he should see our Battaillon overthrown that then he might conclude me to be slain and should save himself upon the horse and on the contrary if he should see us prevail over the Enemies Battaillon that then he should still follow without offering to break in in the Rear of our Battaillon when so soon as I should be certain of the victory I would leave the execution and come to take my horse to pursue the Cavalry and try to take some prisoner of Condition I had a whimsy came into my head that I should take the Marquis de Guast or dye in the attempt trusting to the swiftness of my horse for which I had already in my imagination swallow'd a mighty ransom or at least some remarkable recompence form the King Having then a while follow'd the victory I staid behind thinking to find my man and indeed I was so weary with fighting running and moreover so spent with straining my voice to encourage the Soldiers that I was able to do no more when I was assaulted by two great mastiff Germans who had thought presently to have done my business but having rid my self of one of them the other betook him to his heels but he went not very far in truth I there saw very brave blows given I then went to seek out that Son of a whore my man but the Devil a man that I could find for as the Enemies Artillery plaid upon our Battaillon and very often shot over the shot falling behind it had remov'd my Gentleman from the place where I thought to find him who very discreetly went and put himself behind the Swisse when seeing the disorder of the Fribourgers and Provençals he very learnedly concluded us to be in the same condition and thereupon fled back as far as Carmagnolle Thus are men oftentimes deceived in their choice for I should never have suspected that this fellow would so soon have had his heart in his breeches and have run away with so little ado I then found Captain Mons having no more than one servant only with him who had done a great deal better than mine for he had kept a little pad Nag ready for him upon which he took me up behind him for I was extremely weary and so we pass'd on still seeing the Germans knock'd down all the way as we went till being sent for by Monsieur d' Anguien we both alighted and went on foot till the entire defeat of the Germans and Spaniards when presently I saw my man come back calling him a hundred Rogues and Cowards for so basely running away who replyed that he had not done it alone but in company with better men and better clad than himself and that he had only run away to bear them company by which pleasant answer my anger was appeased and upon my word he hit upon it in a lucky hour for I was very near showing him a trick of a Gascon We then rallyed together some twenty or five and twenty Horse what of those of Monsieur de Termes of Signior Francisco Bernardin and the Sieur de Mauré and rid a round gallop after the Marquis de Guast and with us moreover a Gentleman whose name I have forgot but he was one of those who came post from Court to be at the Battel and as we went we met by the way two light horse leading prisoner Signior Carlo de Gonzaga whom they had taken in the rear of the Enemies party which still more encourag'd us to spur forward So soon as we came so near to the Enemy as to discover what posture they were in we perceived that they were rallyed and closed up to the Crupper still marching on in very good order at
with my face still towards the German Foot the lesser evil of the two and by good fortune both for me and my Company the Enemy in my rear pursued us coldly enough At my coming to the Portal I spoke of before I there found a great Troop of the Enemies Horse commanded by Don Ferdinando de Gonzaga for it was he who gave the charge so that to recover the Portal I must of necessity fight with a resolution either to pass thorough or die I made my men therefore to give them a volly of Harquebuze shot for I for my part had nothing wherewith to fight but my voice upon which volly they made me way so that having pass'd the portal I fac'd about and stood firm At which time their Harquebusiers also came up who at once altogether charged upon us with all their united power both of Horse and Foot when seeing this torrent coming upon me I recover'd the back side of the Trench with my Harquâ—busiers only who had saved themselves from the first encounter which the Marquess seeing he was in so great a perplexity that he gave us all over for lost I there disputed the portal a long half hour from the back side of the Trench for it remained free as well on their side as on ours they durst not attempt to pass neither did we dare to approach it If ever Soldiers plaid the men these did it at this time for all that I had with me could not arise to above an hundred and fifty men The Marquess then came up to Captain Arteguelaube to make him rise they being all couched upon one knee for had they stood upright the Spanish Foot had had them in their aim and cryed to him Captain Arteguelaube I beseech you rise and charge for we must of necessity pass the Portal But he returned him answer that he could not do it without losing the best of our men as it was very true for all the Spanish Foot were then come up I was close by the Portal and heard all but the Marquess not satisfied with this answer spurred up to the black Regiments commanding them to march up towards the Portal which they accordingly did I knew by the manner of their motion what command they had received which was the reason that I stept out and cried to Captain Arteguelaube Camrade you are about to be disgraced for ever for here are the Black Regiments that upon my life are making towards the Portal to carry away the honor of the service at which words he started up for the man wanted no courage and ran full drive towards the Portal when seeing him come I suddenly threw my self before the Portal and passed with all those who followed me marching straight towards the Enemy who were not above a hundred paces distant â—rom us we were immediately followed by the Foot sent by the Marquess but as we were half passed thorough the Marquess gave the word from hand to hand to make a halâ— and to advance no further The Enemy seeing us come on with such resolution and the Cavalry following in our Rear thought it the wisest course to retire I was by this time advanced where we were plying one another with good round vollies of shot at fifty paces distance and we had a good mind to fall on to the Sword when the Marquess and another Gentleman with him came himself on horseback to stay me I think he did ill in it for had we all passed thorough we had certainly pursued them fighting up to the very Gates of Naples There was in this place very many on both sides beaten to the ground that never rose again and I admire how I escaped but my hour was not come That which occasioned the Marquess to retire was the fear he had of tempting fortune a second time he was contented with what he had already lost without being willing to hazard any more so that tired out and over spent we return'd to repass the Portal that had been so long disputed where a great many good men lay dead upon the place There it was that the Gentleman who was with the Marquess when he came to command me to retire I have forgot his name said to him for I heard him very well Monsieur I now see that the antient proverb is true which says that one man is worth an hundred and an hundred are not so good as one I speak it by this Captain who has his arm in a scarf and leans to the Rampire for in truth I was quite spent for it must needs be acknowledged that he is the only cause of our preservation I heard likewise well enough though I took no notice of it the Marquess make him this answer That man will always do well wherever he is A passage that although it be to my honor and my own commendation I would however insert it here without bragging nevertheless or vain glory I have acquir'd honor enough besides but this may perhaps serve to excite the other Captains who shall read my Life to do the same upon the like occasion And I must needs confess that I was then better pleased with this Character that this Gentleman and the said Marquess were plâ—ased to give of me than if he had given me the best Mannor in his possession though I was at that time very poor This commendation made my heart to swell with courage and yet more when I was told that some one had entertained Monsieur de Lautrec and the Prince with the same discourse all the time they sate at Supper These little points of honor serve very much in matters of War and are the cause that when a man shall again happen to be in the like service he fears nothing it is very true that men are sometimes mistaken and gain nothing but blows but there is no remedy for that we must give and take You Captains and Lords who lead men on to death for War is nothing else when you shall see a brave act performed by any of your followers commâ—nd him in publick and moreover relate it to others who were not present at the service if his heart â—it in a right place he will value such a testimony more than all the treasure of the world and upon the next occasion will strive to do still better But if as too many do you shall not design to regard or to take notice of the bravest exploit can by man be performed and look upon all things with an eye of disdain you will find that you must recompence them by effects since you would not vouchsafe to do it by word of mouth I have ever treated the Captains so who have been under my command and even the meanest of my Soldiers by which they thought themselves so obliged that I could have made them run their heads against a wall and have stood firm in the most dangerous post in the world as for exâ—mple I did here This was the
moreover that was not a place considerable enough for a man of his worth and condition to dye in but that he was to reserve himself for a noble breach and not to loose his life in a paltry Mill. Whilst these things were in doing Monsieur de Castelpers arriv'd and leaving his party behind the Church came up to us on foot and upon this the day began to appear wherefore I entreated Monsieur de Tavannes and de Castelpers to retire behind the Church for the shot flew very thick in the street where they could see any one pass telling them that I would go draw off Belsoleil whereupon they both accordingly retir'd and as I was drawing off our men one after another running down on both sides the street Monsieur de Castelpers presented himself with his twenty Horse at the end of the street by the Church wherein he did us very great service for the Enemy might otherwise have â—allyed out upon us I had only seven or eight men hurt who nevertheless were all able to march one Gentleman only excepted called Vigaux whom we set upon an Ass of those we had found in the Mill and presently began to retire towards the top of a mountain which was almost the same way by which Monsieur de Castelpers had come when the Enemy discovering us to be so few they all fallyed out in our Rear but we had already gain'd the top of the Hill when they arriv'd but at the foot of it and before they recovered the heighth we were got into the valley on the other side ready to climb another there being many little hills in that place and yet we never marched â—aster than a foot pace and so went straight on to Aubaigne I had given order to the Soldiers that went along with us that every one should take with him a loaf of Bread which they eat by the way and I also had caus'd some few to be brought which I divided amongst the Gens-d ' Armes of Monsieur de Tavannes and we our selves eat as we went which I here set down to the end that when any Captain shall go upon an Enterprize where he is to have a long march he may take exemple to cause something to be brought along to eat wherewith to refresh the Soldiers that they may be the better able to hold out for men are not made of Iron So soon as we were come to Aubaigne two leagues from Marselles where we had thought to have halted and to have taken some refreshment we heard the Artillery of the Gallies and of the Town which at that distance seem'd to be volleys of Harquebuze shot an Alarm that constrainâ—d us without further delay or taking any other refreshment than what we had brought along with us to march forwards and to enter into consultation amongst our selves what course we were best to take we already took it for granted that the Emperor was arriv'd before the Town and that he would certainly sit down before it and thence concluded it impossible for us to get in again which made us often repent and curse the enterprize that had shut us out the misfortune whereof was wholly laid to my charge as the Author of all â—n this uncertainty what course to steer Monsieur de Castelpers was once resolved to go charge desperately thorough the Enemyâ—s Camp to get into the City but when he came to acquaint us with his determination we remonstrated to him that that would be to throw himself away out of an humor and that since we had together performed so brave a service and with which the King would be so highly pleased we ought likewise together either to perish or to save our selves Captain Trebous Guidon to the Company of Monsieur de Montpezat told him the same so that we concluded in the end to leave the great high way and crossing the Mountains on the left hand to fall down behind Nostre Dame de la Garde making account that in case we could not enter into the City the Captain of the said Cittadel would receive us in there So we turn'd out of the way and it was well for us that we did so for Vignaux and les Bleres keeping on the great Road straight to Marselles had not gone on â—ive hundred paces but they met with four or five hundred Horse which the Emperor having had intelligence from those of Auriolle of what had been done had sent out to meet and fight us upon the way and had not the Emperor parted from Aix by night to go before Marselles so that the Messengers of a long time could meet with no body to whom to deliver their errand I do believe we had certainly been defeated but the Emperor knew nothing of it till break of day whereupon he presently sent out those four or five hundred Horse upon the Road to Aubaigne who did no other harm to Vignaux and those who were with him but only took away their Arms. In this manner we travail'd all day from mountain to mountain in the excessive heat without finding one drop of water insfomuch that we were all ready to dye for thirst always within sight of the Emperorâ—s Camp and ever within hearing of the Skirmishes that were made before the Town Monsieur de Castelpers and his Gens-d ' Armes marching all the way on foot as we did and leading their horses in their hands till coming near to Nostre Dame de la Garde the Captain of the Castle taking us for the Enemy let fly three or four pieces of Canon at us which forc'd us to shift behind the Rocks From thence we made signs with our hats but for all that he ceas'd not to shoot till in the end having sent out a Soldier to make a sign so soon as he understood who we were he gave over shooting and as we came before Nostre Dame de la Garde we saw the Emperor who was retiring by the way he came and Christophle Goast who had all day maintain'd the Skirmish beginning also to retreat towards the City We then began to descend the Mountain when so soon as Monsieur de Barbezieux and Monsieur de Montpezat who with some other Captains were standing without the Gates of the City had discover'd us they would have gone in again taking us for the Enemy but some body saying that then those of the Castle would have shot at us the said Sieur Montpezat presently knew Monsieur de Castelpers and we thereupon arriv'd at the Gate of the City where we were mightily caressed especially when they heard of the good success of our enterprize and they talk'd with the Captain of the Mill who was wounded in the arm and in the head and after every one retir'd to his own Quarters I made no manner of question but that Monsieur de Barbezieux so soon as the king should come to Marselles would have presented me to His Majesty and have told him that I
pass to get to them wherefore we agreed that Peloux should take a little path on the right hand and I another on the left and that the first which came up to them in the plain should fall upon them the one in the Front and the other in the Rear which we had no sooner concluded but that the Enemy rose up and we discovered them all plainly at our â—ase Monbasin Chamant St Laurens and Fabrice who were all on horseback would needs go along with me at which Peloux was a little discontented forasmuch as they all belong'd to Monsieur Brissac as he himself did excepting Chamant who belonged to Monsieur le Dauphin Artiguedieu and Barennes likewise went in my Company From the very beginning of our descâ—nt the Enemy lost sight of us and we of them by reason of the wood and of the Valley which was pretty large Le Peloux with his Guide took his way and I mine when so soon as I came into the Plain I was as good as my word for I charg'd the Enemy thorough and thorough breaking in after such a manner amongst them that above twenty of them at this encounter were left dead upon the place and we pursued them fighting as far as the bank of the River which might be some four hundred paces or more But when they saw us to be so few they rallied and as I was about to retire march'd directly up to me whereupon I made a halt as they did also at the distance of four or five Pikes length only from one another a thing that I never saw done before As for Peloux when he was got to the middle of the Mountain he began to think that I had taken the better way which made him suddainly to turn off and to follow my steps and fortune also turn'd so well for me that as we were Pike to Pike and Harquebuze to Harquebuze at the distance I have already said grinning and snarling at one another like two Mastiâ—â—s when they are going to fight Peloux and his Company appear'd in the plain which so soon as the Enemy saw they turn'd the point of their Pikes towards us and their faces towards the River and so fell to marching off whilst we pursued pricking them forward with our Pikes and pelting them with our Harquebuze shot in their Rear but they march'd so very close that we could no more break into them as before and when they came to the bank of the River they made a halt facing about and charging their Pikes against us so that although Peloux and his Company made all the hast they could to come in to our relief we were nevertheless constrain'd to retire fifteen or twenty paces from the â—nemy who immediately all on a thrump leapt into the River and through water middle deep pass'd over to the other side Moâ—basin in this engagement was hurt with a Harquebuze shot in his hand of which he remain'd lame ever after St Laurens and Fabriâ—e had their horses kill'd under them and mine was wounded with two thrusts of a Pike la Moyenne my Lieutenant was wounded with two Harquebuze shots in one arm Chamant who was lighted off his horse had three thrusts of Pikes in his two thighs and Artiguedieu one Harquebuze shot and one thrust of a Pike in one thigh to be short of betwixt thirty and five and thirty that we were there remain'd only five or six unhurt and only three dead upon the place The Enemy lost one Serjeant of great repute amongst them together with twenty or five and twenty others killâ—d and above thirty wounded as we were told the next day by two Gascon Soldiers who came over to us In the mean time Messieurs de Brissac and de I' Orge doubting it would fall out as it did mounted to horse and came so opportunely to the Castle of Tantavel that they saw all the fight and were in so great despair at the Charge I had made that they gave us twice or thrice for lost an â— very sorely rebuked Peloux for not having observ'd the agreement we had concluded amongst us which if he had done we had infallibly cut them all to pieces and brought away their two Colours yet I am apt to believe it might not be altogether his fault for he was a very brave Gentleman but his Guides that led him the worse way as Peloux himself since told me However so it fell out that the field was mine with the loss of three men only and not one of the Gentlemen dyed Soon after the Baron de la Garde came to Nice with the Turkish Army conducted by Barbarossa which consisted of an hundred or six score Gallies a thing that all the Christian Princes who took part with the Emperor made a hainous business of that the King our Master should call in the Turk to his assistance though I am of opinion that towards an Enemy all advantages are good and for my part God forgive me if I could call all the Devils in Hell to beat out the brains of an Enemy that would beat out mine I would do it with all my heart Upon this occasion Monsieur de Valence my Brother was dispatch'd away to Venice to palliate and excuse this proceeding of ours to the Republick who of all others seem'd to be most offended at it and the King would by no means lose their Alliance who made them an Oration in Italian which I have thought fit to insert here until he shall think fit to oblige us with his own History for I cannot believe that a man of so great learning as he is reputed to be will dye without writing something since I who know nothing at all take upon me to scribble The Oration was this THe Emperor having been the cause of all the ruines miseries and calamities which have befallen Christendom for these many years it is a thing most illustrious Princes which to every one ought to appear exceeding strange that his Ministers should be so impudent and frontless as to lay the blame thereof to the thrice Christian King my Lord and Master and unjustly condemn him for keeping an Ambassador resident in the Court of Constantinople â—ut I would fain ask those people whether they can imagine that the practices which have been set on foot by the Command of the Emperor and the King of the Romans with the Grand Signior for ten years past have been kept so secret that the greatest part of Christendom are not fully enformed thereof Does not every one know what Truces and what treaties of Peace 〈◊〉 general but particular have been concluded and what offers have been several times made to pay yearly a vast Tribute to the Great Turk for the kingdom of Hungary and yet he makes it a case of Conscience to endure that a little King should hold that Kingdom under the favour and protection of the Turk as a thing inconsistent with Christianity and unbeseeming a Christian Prince To which
the Camp I acquitted my self of my charge towards Monsieur d' Anguien and presented him my Letters from the King who was infinitely overjoy'd and embracing me in his arms said these very words I knew very well that thou wouldst not bring us peace and turning to the Gentlemen about him Well my Masters said he the King is pleased to gratifie our desire we must go to 't I then gave him an account of the difficulty I had met witht in obtaining that leave and that the King himself was the only cause of it which ought the more to encourage us to behave our selves bravely in the Battel He was moreover very glad when I told him that the forementioâ—ed Lords were coming after me being certain that several others would also follow after them as they did Bidding me by all means go discharge my self of his Majesties commands to all the Colonels Captains of the Gens-d ' Armes Light horse and Foot which I did not observing one that did not mightily rejoyce when I gave them to understand what assurance I had given the King of the victory Neither did I satisfie my self with speaking to the Officers only but moreover went amongst the Soldiers assuring them that we should all be highly recompenc'd by the King making the matter something better than it was for a man must now and then lye a little for his Master During the time of my absence Monsieur d' Anguien had block'd up Carignan being he could not carry it by fine force without infinite loss quartering in the mean time at Vimeus and Carmagnolle and soon after the arrival of these Gentlemen the Marquis de Guast departed with his Camp upon Good Friday from Ast and came to lodge at the Mountain near Carmagnolle and upon Easter day remov'd his Camp to Cerizolles The Company of the Count de Tande was this day upon the Guard to which Captain Vanrines was Lieutenant who sent word to Monsieur d' Anguien that the Camp was upon their march and that their drums were plainly heard Monsieur d' Anguien thereupon commanded me presently to mount to horse and to go in all hast to discover them and to bring him certain intelligence of their motion which I also did Captain Vaâ—rines giving me twenty Launciers for my Guard I went so far that I discover'd the Cavalry who march'd thorough the Woods belonging to the Abby of Desteffarde and heard the Drums some marching before and some following after which put me to a stand to guess what the meaning of this order might be At my return I found Monsieur d' Anguien Messieurs de Chatillon de Dampierre de St. André Descars the Father of these now living d' Assier and de Iarnac in the Chamber of the said Seigneur d' Anguien talking with him having caused their Arms to be brought and laid upon the Beds in the said Chamber where I made a report to him of what I had seen whereupon all the Gentlemen cryed out to him Let us go Sir let us go to fight to day for it is a good day and God will assist us Upon which the said Seigneur commanded me to go bid Messieurs de Tais and de St. Iulien to draw out their Regiments into the field at the same time sending another Gentleman to the Gens-d ' Armes and the Light horse to do the same which was perform'd in an instant and we drew out of Carmâ—gnolle into a plain leading toward Cerizâ—lles where we were all drawn up into Battalia Monsieur de Mailly Master of the Ordinance was there ready with his Artillery as soon as any of us all and we heard the Enemies Drums almost as plainly as we heard our own In my life did I never see so chearful an Army nor Soldiers so well disposed to fight as this of ours was excepting some of the great ones of the Army who were evermore persecuting Monsieur d' Anguien not to put it to the hazard of a day representing to him what a blow it would be to the King should he lose the Battel which might perhaps occasion the loss of the Kingdom of France and others were still perswading him that he ought to fight the King having granted leave and expecting he should now so do so that amongst them they put this poor Prince being yet very young into so great a perplexity that he scarce knew which way to turn him nor what to do You may imagine whether I was not mightily pleased with these doings and whether I would not have spoke at mouth had I had to do with my match neither as it was could I altogether forbear The Lords who were lately come from Court were all for fighting and I could very well name both the one and the other if I so pleased but I shall forbear to do it for I have not taken my Pen in hand to blemish any one but the Admiral Chatillon and Monsieur de Iarnac who are both living know it as well as I. Both the one and the other had reason for what they said and were not prompted by any fear of their own persons but only the apprehension of losing all witheld them and some perhaps as I have often seen argue against their own inclinations and the plurality of voices to the end that if any thing fall amiss they may afterwards say I was of a contrary opinion I told him as much but I was not to be believed Oh there is great cunning in dawbing and in our trade especially of all others Just as we should have march'd to go to fight four or five drew Monsieur d' Anguien aside alighting from their horses where they entertained him walking up and down for above half an hour whilst every one gnash'd their teeth for rage that they did not march in the end the result of all was that all the Regiments of Foot should return to their Quarters and also the Artillery and the Gens-d ' Armes and that Monsieur d' Anguien with four or five hundred Horse and some of the Captains of his Council should go to the plain of Cerizolles to discover the Enemies Camp that I should bring after him four hundred Harquebusiers and all the rest to retire to their Quarters I then saw a world of people ready to run mad for veaxtion and do verily believe that if God had so pleas'd that Monsieur d' Anguien had march'd according to his determination he had won the Battel with very little difficulty for the Drums that I had heard return into the Enemies Rear were all the Spanish Foot who went back to draw off two pieces of Canon which were set fast in such manner that they could not be stirr'd either backward or forward so that we had had nothing to fight with but the Germans the Italians and the Horse none of which nor even the Marquis himself could have escap'd us But after we had stood above three hours facing the Enemy which were
Duke of Alva remov'd his Camp and took his way towards Tivoly twelve miles distant from Rome I know not whether because he understood the City stood better upon its Guard than before and that the order of things was changed there or that his intention was not to approach any nearer to the City And being that in Tivoly was Signior Francisco Vrsino with five Italian Ensignes and that the Town was not strong the Mareschal the Cardinal Caraffa and the Duke de Palliano were afraid that the Duke of Alva was gone to take Tivoly and cut all those in pieces within it which was the reason that they entreated me to march all night to go fetch off the said Signior Francisco giving me the two Troops of light horse of the Popes Guards two Troops of horse of the Duke de Paliano commanded by the Captains Bartolomeo and Ambrosio and four hundred Harquebuzeers under the command of my Son Marc Antony and Captain Charry Cardinal Caraffa had assur'd me upon his honor that the Enemy could not pass the Tiber and that I might make my retreat at pleasure having evermore the Tiber betwixt the Enemy and me By Sun-rise I was at Tivoly with the Horse and the Foot arriv'd two hours after where I found that Signior Francisco had heard no manner of news of the enemies and after I had told him I was in no small doubt what would become of us for I very well knew before I set out from Rome that the Duke of Alva had taken the way of Tivoly and now perfectly understood that he came privately to surprize Signior Francisco forasmuch as he had had no intelligence of his motion I therefore eating only a snap or two causing the horses to be baited and the foot to have a little refreshment ordered Signior Francisco to cause the Drums to beat that we might presently dislodge and put our selves into the field entreating him to lend me a Troop or two of his people who were acquainted with the Countrey for that my self would go play the Scout whilst every one was making himself ready to depart and it was well for me I did so for Signior Francisco having sent out two of his men to discover they return'd as we sate at dinner and had brought word that there was no news of any Enemy in all the Countrey but I would not trust to that and therefore went with my two Troopers when so soon as I was out of Tivoly upon a ridge of a hill I plac'd my self under a Tree for it began to be very hot when presently all along a little Copse I perceived a great number of horse maâ—ching straight down to the Tiber and others in a valley who came directly towards me and in the midst of a plain on this side the little Copse I saw something which I could not discern what it should be I then presently sent word to Signior Francisco that I had discover'd the Camp and that he should in all diligence get his men out of the Town and march them away on the other side of the Tiber. The Soldier whom I had sent to carry him this intelligence was scarce got into the City when behold eighteen or twenty Spanish Ensigns who were laid down in the Plain got up and put themselves upon their march I then gallopped away my self where I found that as yet not so much as one man was got out of the City and hasted the Italian Ensigns with all diligence to march away causing the gate of the City to be shut and there I played a very cunning trick for I carried the keys along with me thinking the enemy could not of a long time break down the gaâ—es for the Tiber passed through the middle of the Town where there is a Bridge and very fair and good Mills in the City it self which I had caused to be begun to be broken from my first arrival but that work could not be finisht I left Captain Charry at the Gate and my Son Marc Antony at the Bridge to sustain him and I went and came running to and fro to hasten the Italians to march when so soon as they were all out of the Gate I went to draw off Captain Charry and we began to break the Bridge which was of wood and immediately the Enemy was in the City I placed Haâ—quebuzeers all along in the houses that looked into the street the Soldiers using extraordinary diligence to break the Bridge after which I marched directly to the Gate I had placed the Cavalry before the Italians and we were inevitably to pass through the streight of the Rocks where we could only pass one by one Till we came to the going out of the Gate we had the Enemy continually upon us and it is no more than fifty paces from the Gate to that straight so that seeing they could not themselves get to us but one by one they gave us over and returned to risle the City Their Italian foot came after the Spaniards and thought to have entred the City to have had their share of the spoil but the Spaniards would never let them in but held them in talk at the Gate whilst they were busie at their plunder So soon as we came to the Pein I made my Son and Captain Charry with the four hundred Harquebuzeers turn on the right hand along the ridge of a Hill about a thousand paces distant from us and the two Companies of the Duke de Paliano telling them the mysterie that in case the Enemy should pass the Tiler they should still make forwards along the ridg towards Rome and take no care for me And indeed we had as good have lost all the Ensigns Monsieur de la Mole had as these four hundred Harquebuzeers for they were the very â—lower of all the Companies I was not got half a mile into the Plain when behold all the Cavalry upon the banks of the Tiber and their Germans who began to pass and particularly some horse by the Mill where they could onely pass one by one I then gave all for lost for I was to retire twelve miles before the whole Army and made no question but that the Cavalry would carry over a great many of Foot behind them but if I lost the one I would not lose the other Now Signior Francisco marched still at a good round rate at about a Harquebuz shot distance from the Tiber and the others along the ridg over against us When fifty or threescore of the Enemies Horse came up to us I then took one of the Captains of the Guard with his Cornet whilst the other still march'd on in the rear of the Foot causing them to mend their pace and faced about upon the Enemy who thereon made a halt and so soon as I made a shew as if I would charge them turn'd their backs to retreat though I cannot imagine why and I turn'd about to pursue my way
charge me Captain Alexis then said to me Quelli primi checi sequitano sono graci per che l◠ò intesi à lorogridi Me ne vo a vedere si potero fermar li per tratener mi con essi loro which he did demanding to speak with them upon their word whilst I in the mean time made Monsieur de la Molle march off his Foot recovering a little descent â—o that the Enemy could no more see what we did when I order'd them to make towards the pillars of an Aqueduct by which the Romans in former times conveyed their water to Rome commanding the Horse to keep still in their Rear at a good round trot and all them to march as fâ—st as they could I then return'd to Signior Alexis having fiâ—st coold my horses mouth in a ditch by the Tower whom I found after as fresh as he was but new taken out of the S able Now so soon as the two Troops were clos'd up together and had made a halt the great party behind did the same and the Foot likewise halted Captain Alexis still talking with them I could all this while from the place where I stood see our people when so soon as I saw them got near to the Aqueducts I call'd to Captain Alexis sayâ—â—g to him Retiriamo si Capitano retiriamo si upon which the Enemy asked him who it was that commanded in chief whereupon naming me they began to exclaim sayâ—ng that in eight or nine days time they had three times faild of taking me which was at the retreat of Tivoly at my return from Balistra and now which made Captain Alexis retiring laugh at them when seeing him turn his horse to go away several of them call'd out to me A dio Signior di Montluco a dio and I also cried to them a dio a dio who thereupon faced aboâ—t and went directly to Marino where they heard news that the Baron de la Garde had reimbark'd our people and was gone to Civita Vechia Signior Ascanio sent me back three Launceâ—rs I had lost by the way but not their horses for as their horses stumbled they fell down when I leaping into the way with my Turk stroke them upon the buttocks with the flat of my sword and made them close up to the Party He sent them back by a Trumpet of his who made us laugh when speaking of his Master he said that had he known I had been of the Party he would have accompanied me to the Gates of Rome to have taken me prisoner but never by the way asked his Prisoners who commanded them till after we were got off And the Trumpet moreover had told me that had I been taken I had not needed to fear that any one would have offer'd me the least injury or offence for I should have been as much made on and used with as much honor and respect as in our own Camp Neither indeed can it be said that ever any Prisoner went out of my hands or any place where I had to do discontented or dissatisfied with my behaviour to him and it is a great baseness to flea men to the bones when they are persons of honor and bear arms especially in a War betwixt Prince and Prince which is rather out of sport than unkindness to one another After this manner I made my retreat to Rome where after I had put off my Arms I went to seek out the Mareschal the Cardinal de Caraffa and the Duke de Paliano whom I found in a house of the Town altogether being newly return'd from the Palace of St. Peters who all of them fell upon me saying that it seem'd as if I had a mind to lose my self out of wantonness and that had they known of my design they would have stopt my journey They would then needs know the occasion of my Enterprise which I recounâ—ed to them from point to point telling them that all the way as I went I accounted Marc Antonio as sure my prisoner as I was alive and had already set his ransome at fourscore thousand Crowns which had not been unreasonable being no more than one years revenue of his Estate of which fourty thousand I intended to give to Monsieur de la Moâ—â—e the Captains and Soldiers and the other fourty thousand I meant to keep to my self to purchase me an Estate in France somewhere near to the King for Gascony was too remote from Court and that I already fancied I had a house near Paris of which I was so confidently perswaded that it would not out of my head of all night At which account of my project they all burst out a laughing to that excess that I think they never laugh'd so much at one time in their lives to think that I had made my self so sure of my prize the ransome and purchasing of Lands and Castles in the Isle of France whereupon the Marâ—schal who when he has a mind to rally alwayes spoke Italian said to me with a very good grace Signior quando che vi anderemo visitar fareti voi à noi altri tre bonn chiâ—ro nei castelli que volete comprare a presso parigi they were merry at my expence They were at this time busie about sending a dispatch to the King and sent Monsieur de Porrieres of Provence to his Majesty who had his share of laughing and all the rest that were with them And as there are a sort of people who are prone to do more hurt than good some honest man sent news by the way of the Bank of Lions that I had lost all the Pope Cavalry in the Roman Plain and was my self run away no body knew whither nor could any one hear what was become of me I do believe these men are hir'd and suborn'd to disperse ill news only to discourage those of our party This was writ by the Post from Lions to the Constable and by him told the King who was very much troubled at the news and Monsieur de Porrieres being to pass through the Grisons Countrey could not arrive so soon at Court but that the news was got thither four dayes before him insomuch that whereas the Mareschal and the rest had laughed at my folly the King was very much offended with me saying that it was the most ridiculous and senseless piece of folly that ever was committed by man adding moreover that I had hitherto been fortunate but that now I had lost my fortune and my reputation which he was very sorry for especially that such a disgrace should befall me at the Gates of Rome This news was not kept so secret at Court but that it was presently carried into Gascony where I leave you to judg how I was dissected by them that did not love me for one must be a God to have no Enemies nor emulators or else must take upon him to meddle with nothing but his Garden or his Orchard But so soon as Monsieur
at last consented unto and that he had been himself twice to speak with him in disguise having with him three Soldiers who were also of the Plot which he was to name to him a day before the said execution which also he was to execute before Don Arbro de Cenda should arive who was coming to Sienna to command the Souldiery and that if I would he would order the business so as to put them all three into my hands In conclusion we agreed it should be within four days and that he should that very night return to Sienna to conclude the business with the Cardinal de Burgos which being concluded betwixt us I put him out of the Town over the wall for the Gates were already shut and in the morning dispatch'd away a Messenger to Colonel Charemond at Grossette that he should come the next day to Pagamegura half way betwixt Grossette and Montalsin and the same day that I sent away to the Colonel I call'd in the Captains who were at Chuze Montizel and the Hospitallet by Piance whom I swore upon the Crucifix to discover nothing of the Enterprize and so sent them back to make themselves ready against I should send for them I then sent away my light horse to la Rocque de Baldoc under pretence of keeping Garrison there and the next day went to meet the Colonel at Pagamegura with whom I concluded that he should have four hundred Harquebuâ—â—â—â—s in readiness My design was that as the enemy should give the Scalado Colonel Charemond should come behind them and the Garrisons of Chuze and Montizal should step betwixt them and the Palace and my Company also and so soon as they should be repulsed I was to sally out upon them with four hundred men from the City At my return from Pagamegura I found the said Phebus return'd but he said not a word to me of all night which gave me a little suspicion of him In the morning he came to tell me that the Cardinal would not put the business in execution yet a few days and so drave me off from day to day till in the end I was advised to take him prisoner and to compel him to discover the truth he being no other than a crafty Râ—gue sent purposely to betray me which I accordingly did and clapt him into a close Dungeon of the Castle where by misfortune he found some piece of wood or iron Now because he was a Siennois I was willing to try if the Siennois themselves could win him by fair means to tell the truth which made me deferre puâ—ting him to the question but in the mean time with this piece of iron he broke through the wall and fled away to Sienna by reason of which accident I could do nothing considerable in this Enterprize He was too cunning for me I have nevertheless this obligation to him that he has taught me in an affair of this importance never to spare a Prisoner again but to squeez out the sudden truth for without doubt this fellow was a Traytor After my arrival at Montalsin I procur'd Signior Marioul de Santa Fiore to return into his Majesties service together with the Prior his Brother who thorough some disobligation had withdrawn themselves from his dependance We had been very intimate friends ever after the skiâ—mish at Sienna so thaâ— in the end I made shift to overcome him and they went to Court where the King receiv'd them with great demonstration of favour and esteem His Majesty gave him a Troop of light horse and the Prior a Pension who both of them afterwards were continually with me At this time Don Arbro de â—enda contriv'd an Enterprize to come and take Piance a little Town near unto Montizel which I had caused to be repair'd after the best manner I could and there lodg'd a Company of Italians I therefore gave to Signior Marioul my own Company and those he had gathered together of his own together with part of that of the Count de Petillano and sent him to Piance to fetch off the Italian Company I had left there and to carry them to Montizel where was Captain Bartolomeo de Pezero Some few dayes before Don Arbro came out of Sienna Captain Serres who was Lieutenant to my Company of Light-horse and my Kinsman had fought Captain Carillou Governor of Bonconvent in the fight of Montalsin who had with him ten men at arms of the Marquis of Piscara's Company and the Ensign of the Company had eight Launces of a Company of light Horse and eight Harquebuzeers on horseback who were come to vapour before Montalsin below in the Plain towards the Inn not thinking there had been any Cavalry in Montalsin for I had taken my Company along with me to Grossete and had sent Captain Serres with eighteen Launces to scoure the field on the left hand towards Sienna where they met and fought about Chuze so that mine had the better At his return Captain Serres went to repose himself a day or two at Montalsin afterwards to come and find me out at Grossette and to conduct me back to Montalsin Captain Serres then seeing himself thus brav'd by the Enemy sallied out with his eighteen Launces two Gentlemen of Sienna arm'd with Coaâ—s of Mail and two foot Soldiers that followed him When so soon as Captain Carillon saw the Launceers he would have retir'd Captain Serres always following in his Rear when as Captain Carillou would pass a narrow Rivoleâ— Captain Serres charg'd him with might and main and so close that he took them all saving one Captain who had his Company in Bonconvent These Harquebuzeers on horseback belong'd to him and he receiv'd a shot from one of the two Harquebuzeers that went out with Captain Serres quite thorough the Body but he got over the Rivolet and another with him who conveyed him to Bonconvent where he died at the very gate of the Town and â—ll the rest I kept prisoners at Montalsin Don Arbro marched directly to Piance with three pieces of Canon and two Culverins which made me suspect that he did not carry so much Artillery with him for Piance it being not so strong as to require Canon and so soon as Signior Marioul understood that he was within three mile of Piance he went out with all the horse to meet him commanding the Captain who was there before in the mean time to draw out his Foot and to make with all speed to Montizel which was no more but two miles from thence In the mean time to hold the Enemy in play he skirmish'd so briskly and engag'd so far that he could not afterwards dâ—singage himself but was charg'd by three Troops of their horse at once with so great fury that twelve or fourteen light horse of my Company were there taken of which Captain Gurgues who belong'd to the Mareschal de Strozzy was one and of those of the Count de Pâ—tillano and Signior Marioul as
broad day and the Sun began to rise all our people being beaten off and sculking behind certain walls that were there when at the same time Captain Bartolomeo sent me word that they were all beaten off on his side also I then leapt from my horse to the ground for I was not yet alighted and call'd all the Captains together Avanson Son to Monsieur d' Avanson who was Ambassador at Rome excepted who was hurt in the hand with a Harquebuz shot where I began to remonstrate to them that I was come to no other end but to take the Town or to lose my life and that if they would follow me I would lead them the way but withal that I was resolv'd to turn back upon those who should be resty and would kill every man that did not behave himself as he ought to do upon so brave an occasion Let us go on then friends said I follow your Captain and you shall see we will acquire honor Which having said with my sword in my hand and a Page with my Halbeâ—t close by me I went directly up to the Gate I had twelve Swiss of my Guard that follow'd me and also did all the rest where I observ'd as I had done at other times before what the example of a Leader can do when he goes on in the head of his men and leads them the way I presently put my self under the Gate where three or four men might stand unseen from the Flanks of the Bastion whilst the Enemy who were over the Gate plyed our people with a tempest of shot and stone The Swiss in the mean time with their Halberts did their endeavour against this Wall of Brick I had my sword in my left hand and my dagger in my right with which I broke and cut the bricks when having made a hole wide enough to put in my arm I gave my sword and dagger to the Captain of my Swiss and thrust both my arms into it The Wall was the thickness of one brick only and there was but very little clay for it was in a manner a dry Wall when having found the inner rim of the Wall and theâ—thickness of it I pull'd the Wall towards me with such force that all the upper part fell upon me and cover'd me all over insomuch that the Captain of my Guard was fain to draw me out from under the bricks and the rubbish which he did and again set me upon my feet after which with our Halberts we presently beat it totally down to the ground The Enemy had not finisht the Terrass they had cast up behind this Gate of which there wanted about two foot to the top of the Arch and there I had two Swiss kill'd and the Captain wounded with a Harquebuz shot in his thigh and fourteen or fifteen Soldiers slain or wounded I again made the Ensignes by the two Ladders renew the Assault to the Bastion but for all that they ceased not to shoot from the Flancks of the Bastion Now from the Bastion to the Gate where I fought it was no more than thirty paces only I then call'd out to the Soldiers to go fetch me the Ladders that had been broken against the Bastion telling them that the shortest were the best for the height of the Terrass was not above two yards I think hardly so much and so soon as the Ladders were brought I clapt them side to side and put a Harquebuzeer upon the one Ladder and my self upon the other and three one in the heels of another after the first Soldier and two of my Swiss after those three I then spoke to him who was foremost and went up first that he should presently get up and discharge his Harquebuz amongst them within which he accordingly did and as he fir'd I took him by the breeches and pusht him in making him take a leap he never intended for our two Ladders toucht and then I began to cry out to those who were upon the other Ladder and to push them forwards saying leap Soldiers and I will leap in after you which said I pusht that fellow in another after him and the other after him and when they were all tumbled in he that could first rise clapt hand to his sword my two Swiss leapt in after seeing which I leapt down on our own side and again began to cry fall on Captains fall on the Town 's our own our men are in whereupon they one after another threw themselves headlong into the place Those Gentlemen of mine who were entred by the hole had been perceiv'd at break of day and being charg'd by the Enemy had recover'd a house the door of which they stoutly defended which did me a great deal of good part of those who defended the Gate being run thither not thinking it possible I should enter there and so soon as the Enemies who assaulted the Gentlemen heard the cry of France France behind them they forsook the Gentlemen and would have return'd to the Gate when the Gentlmen sallying out after them and hearing the same cry of France France they knew our people were entred the Town so that by fortune they were engag'd betwixt our two parties and there all â—ut to pieces Now immediately upon the killing of these an Ensign of theirs who was in the place came running directly towards the Gate but my Gentlemen being joyned with those that entred last the said Ensign found whom to talk withal and they handled him as they had done the rest At the same time that our people entred I cried out to them that they should assault the Bastion on the inside within the Town which they did but they there found a very great resistance by reason that the greatest part of the Company of Gens-d'arms was there who fought it to a miracle Now as the courages of men encrease when they see themselves in hopes of victory to forget nothing of that they ought to do in well and furiously assaulting having encourraged my people I left the Gate and ran to the Ensigns who were upon the Ladders of the Bastion crying out to them that all our men were got in and that therefore they should throw themselves headlong into the Bastion which they did without meeting the opposition they expected forasmuch as our men held them so short that they were not able to answer us both within and without and so soon as I saw our Ensigns got in I remounted to horse and with the Commissaries and Treasurers rode all along by the walls where all those that leapt over the walls to escape away I caused to be slain Now to return to our first Prisoners our people followed their execution till they came to the place where they found Signior Bartolomeo de Lesteffa with the remainder of his Company who made no great defence for already our people ran all along the streets of the Town and even along the very Walls of it The Italians
think fortune would have smil'd upon us for they say she favours the bold In the morning I sent Captain Sarlabous to give the Duke an account of what we had seen for I would not go my self being certain he was very angry The Mareschal was still with him who laughing said would you have a Breach better discover'd than by giving an assault This was a Gascon trick you was not aware of The thing that most troubled the Duke of Guise was that word would be sent to the King that we had given an Assault and were repuls'd otherwise he had not cared so much His incredulity and my despite were the loss of a great many good men When we had brought up our Trench within fifty paces of the Tower one morning by break of day the Mareschal would retire to his Tent to shift himself and I also would do the same Now as our approaches came nearer to the Town I still made my back returns a little longer to the end that two of them might receive a whole Company I had evemore an opinion that the Enemy would make a Sally upon us but it would never sink into the Mareschal's head for he would always say Would you have them such mad men as to make a Sally to lose their Soldiers never any men of sense did such a ridiculous thing to which I made answer why should they not sally for in the first place they are able from the walls to secure their mens retreat on the other side they are in the Town twelve Ensigns of Foot four hundred Spaniards choice men pickâ— out of all the Spanish Companies and a good Chief to head them which is Joanne Gayetano a man they esteem above all the Captains they have and a hundred Horse besides and the Town would be sufficiently defended with half the forces they are within I could not for all this make him understand it I know not why for the reason of war I am sure was on my side This very morning I had plac'd Captain Lago the elder and his Company in two of the long back returns on the right hand whom I caus'd to enter before day that the Enemy might not perceive them so that it was as a man may say a kind of Ambuscado The Captains who mounted the Guard had in charge that in case the Enemy should make a salley and attaque the head of the Trenches they should put themselves into the Field and run to charge them in the Flank and those at the head of the Trench had likewise order that in case they should attaque the returns they should likewise leap out of the Trench to assault them in their flank also We had every night four German Ensigns quarter'd there where we began our Trench to assist us in time of need but what Regiment it was that was that night upon the Guard I cannot remember and before the Mareschal and I were got to the end of the Trenches it began to be fair broad day The Mareschal trifled the time a little talking with a German Captain and also to stay for a horse which I had sent for to lend him to pass over the bridge to his Tents being at a stone Cross close by the village the horse I had lent him came when as my footman was alighting on a sudden we heard a mighty noise and saw the Enemy fighting with our men at the head of the Trench and leaping headlong into the Trenches and had it not been for those back returns had doubtless gain'd them from us With them there sallied out also fifty or threescore horse Captain Lago did there approve himself to be a valiant and a prudent man for he cried to his Lieutenant in the return behind him to run with his Pikes charg'd full drive upon the horse whilst he himself ran upon the Enemies Flanck who were disputing the head of the Trenches Seeing this I mounted upon the horse whilst the Mareschal remain'd at the Cross spectator of the whole action nor ever staid till I came up to our own men who were at it pell-mell with the Enemy who so soon as Lago came up to them would have retir'd when our people leapt out of the Trenches and flew upon them and so we pursued them wounding and killing up to the very Tower on the right hand I then presently sent back the horse to the Mareschal who found Monsieur de Guise and all the Gentlemen that were quartered near him on horseback coming to relieve us but he told them there was no need for that he had seen all the fight and the victory was ours As we retir'd from the pursuit all the remainder of their Harquebuzeers were upon the Walls and fir'd so round upon our retreat that it seem'd as if it had been only a Volley in complement to us I was alone on horseback in the middle of our men and therefore let any one judge whether God did not by miracle preserve me in such a showre of Harquebuz shot considering what a fair mark they had of me The Captains cried out to me to gallop off though I would never leave them but came along with them to the edge of the Trenches where I alighted and presently deliverd the horse to my Lacquey to carry him to the Mareschal as I said before and with the rest threw my self into the Trenches where I found a Captain and a Lieutenant of ours left dead upon the place I do not remember their names for they were French and I was but lately come to command in the Army with twelve or fourteen what of theirs and ours dead in the Trenches And yet notwithstanding the brave Volley they gave us from the Walls we had not above ten men hurt and thus their sally did not so much endammage us by a great deal as it did themselves You may here Captains take a good example concerning Trenches and the order I took for the sally the Enemy might make with the advantage we had by it For never dispute it the Defendants have need of men and therefore will be loath to attempt to force your Trenches 't is true if you sleep in them you will be surpriz'd Take notice also when you make your Trenches to make them high and sloping and that they have back returns or corners capable of lodging men for they are as Forts to repel an Enemy There was now no more talk of Monsieur de Guise his being angry with me the Mareschal and he holding no other discourse all dinner time but of the fight and principally of the providence and circumspection wherewith I had proceeded saying that it would be a hard thing ever to surprize me And also in truth I walk'd whilst others slept without fearing either heat or cold I was inur'd to hardship which all young Gentlemen who will advance themselves by arms ought to study betimes and learn to suffer that when they shall wax old it may not be
the head of the Captains commanding the Waggoners to take two or three sacks of Oats and to throw them upon the Punchions and a little hay Which being done I ran to my own Tents which were behind the Regiment and fell to eat taking the Captains of the seven Ensigns to dinner with me Messieurs de Tavannes de Bourdillon and d' Estree made so good haste that they found the King but newly risen out of his Bed where they presently propos'd the business to him Whereupon the King would have call'd all the Council at which Monsieur d' Estree began to curse and swear as he told me afterwards and he is as good at it as I saying Sir Montluc told us true when he said you would still delay time in debates and consultations whether it be to be done or no whereas if your Majesty had resolv'd last night the relief had by this time been ten Leagues upon their way and he says moreover that if he have not what he demands immediately sent him he will not stand to his word for the Spaniards shall not triumph over him Monsieur de Guise then prosecuted the affair with great vehemency and vigour and Messieurs de Bourdillon and de Tavannes did the same when upon the instant without further deliberation it was concluded and Monsieur de Guise sent to Monsieur de Serres immediately to send the five and twenty Mules loaden with bread The King then sent me word by Monsieur de Broilly a Gentleman belonging to the Duke of Guise that he had approv'd of my opinion saving that he could not consent I should go because he had no other person to command the Regiments in case he should be put to the necessity of a Battel for no body knew whether or no the King of Spain was not coming with a resolution to present it he making a shew of attempting great matters but that he was going to make choice of one to lead the succours and that I should make all things ready in the mean time The said Broilly return'd in all haste to the King to tell his Majesty that he had seen the seven Ensigns drawn out into the Field ready to march and that I staid for nothing but the Bread and at the same time that Broilly was return'd towards the King the Mules arriv'd and by the way he met with Captain Brueil Governor of Rue and Brother in Law to Salcede who told him that the King had made choice of him to conduct the relief to Corbie Captain Brueil staid to eat four or five bits only whilst waiting for two servants he had sent for who presently came and so they began to march I accompanied them above a long League on their way still talking to him and the rest of the Captains representing to them that God had given them a fair opportunity which also they ought to have purchas'd at the price of half their estates wherein to manifest to the King the affection they bore to his service and also to give a testimony of their own valour in the sight as it were of the King himself who would be ready to relieve them and to fight a Battel rather than suffer them to be lost I found by their answers that they went with great chearfulness which made me leave them to go through the files of the Souldiers and to remonstrate to them that it was their own faults if they did not signalize themselves for ever that the King so long as he liv'd would acknowledge their service and that I had done them a great honor in choosing out them from the rest of the Regiment entreating them not deceive the good opinion I had of them and that I would deliver to the King the names of those who should best acquit themselves of their duty in obeying what should be impos'd upon them after which I made them all lift up their hands and swear that they would march day and night which being done I return'd to the van to embrace Captain Brueil and the rest of the Captains and Lieutenants promising them immediately to go to the King and to acquaint his Majesty with the election I had made of their persons above all others of the Regiment for this service and so left both Officers and Souldiers chearful and very well resolv'd upon this long march saying to them at parting Remember Fellow Souldiers the diligences you have formerly seen me make in both Piedmont and in Italy for many of them had serv'd under me in those expeditions and believe that upon your diligence now depend both your lives and honors Now being I am not of that Countrey nor was ever there but at this time I am not able to make any judgement of their diligence but the King and all those who were acquainted with the Countrey said that never Foot before perform'd such a prodigious march neither did they ever enter into either Town or Village but when by day they met with a little River they made a halt and refresh'd themselves two hours at most taking a little nap and away again but march'd continually all night They were out but two nights and arriv'd by Sun-rise within a quarter of a League of Corbie where they met a Gentleman who was riding post to the King to give him notice that the King of Spain's Camp was just coming before the Town and who moreover told them they must run full speed if they intended to get in for that the Cavalry already began to arrive They then began to mend their pace the Gentleman returning back with them almost to the Town that he might be able to give the King an account that they were entred when so soon as they came within two or three hundred paces of the walls the Enemies Cavalry began to appear and our men run full carreer to throw themselves before the gate and upon the edges of the Graft where they made head The Enemy kill'd seven or eight Souldiers in the rear who were not able to keep pace with the rest and so all our people got safe into the City without losing any of their Mules or Waggoâ—s for they had made an end of all their bread and wine four Leagues from thence and had sent them back I had also given them one of my six Chests that I had conâ—â—â—v'd to carry powder in which was drawn by three horses and that arriv'd at the Gates as soon as the Souldiers There are yet living several Princes and Lords who were then of the Kings Council that can bear witness whether I speak the truth or no especially Messieurs de Tavannes and d' Estree who carried my deliberation to the King When ever Camrades the King or his Lieutenant shall put you upon a design that requires extraordinary diligence for the relieving of a place you ought not to lose so much as a quarter of an hour and you had much better work your body and your legs
in danger they being twenty for one and that therefore it was better to stay for Monsieur de Burie than commit such an error which would neither be approved of by the King nor by any other person whatever Whereupon I granted them that what they said was very true but that nevertheless we saw all the Gentry in Guienne in fear and though it be true said I that you are not here above thirty Gentlmen yet the whole Country is possest with so great a terror that they dare not rise against them to assist us which when they shall hear that we came to face them without daring to fight will be so augmented that in eight dayes time we shall have all the whole Country against us therefore fall back fall edge it is my opinion that we ought rather to hazard the losing our selves by fighting than by avoiding the Combat which is equally pernicious especially considering that all things are in the hands of God I have already tasted these people where I have had the fortune to meet them and have found them men of very little resolution believe me they will never stand us and we shall certainly rout them neither ought we to have come so near if we had not intended to fight and moreover you see that they are about to steal off and to escape away As to what concerns our overthrow should it so fall out Bourdeaux will notwithstanding be in no more danger to be lost for that Monsieur de Burie being there and a Court of Parliament to defend it Monsieur de Seignan then being the oldest in the Company answered and said that it was very true we should have all the Country infallibly upon us and therefore seeing we were reduc't to this necessity and that there was no hope of Monsieur de Burie's coming up to us we ought to fight whereupon they all in general began to cry let us fight let us fight when as we were mounting to horse the Mareschal de Termes his Quarter-master called Moncorneil came up to us and told me that their Company having been on horseback from the beginning of the night they had been necessitated to stay and bait at Seuve at which news I was almost fit to despair The two foot Companies were marching as fast as they could but it was so excessively hot that we scorcht as we stood however Moncorneil seeing us going to fight gallop't away to la Seuve to make Captain Masses mount to horse We then marcht on the left hand of the Enemy when being come within two Harquebuze shot of them I divided my horse into two Troops we might in all be betwixt a hundred and sixscore Light-horse for I had not above thirty Launces in my Company it having been that of Monsieur de la Guiche and the Soldiers being almost all gone home to their own houses excepting a very few and I could not supply their places with others The Enemy still by little and little mounted this Hill sending most of their Harquebuzâ—ers down into the Copse below which was there very thick and to come to them we were to march thorough a great high-way enclos'd on both sides with Vines I made Captain Charry follow in their Rear and gave one of my Troops to my Son Captain Montluc and Fontenilles with the Cornet of Guidons and kept to my self the other Cornet of Gens-d'armes which was carried by Monsieur de Berdusan the Seneschal of Bazadois When we came to the Vines I saw we could not pass them to come to fight and therefore took on the left hand under the Vineyards Captain Montluc was about two hundred paces before me who seeing us take on the left hand they marcht on by the higher way before us and when we were got clear of the Vines and some ditches that were there we saw Captain Montluc still making on to gain the top of the Hill to whom I then joyn'd Monsieur de Sainctorens with his Harquebuzeers on horseback and kept with me the Baron of Clermont who also had some few Now so soon as we came within betwixt twenty and thirty paces of them they began to fire and not before whereupon the Harquebuzeers of Monsieur de Sainctorens fir'd also whilst in the mean time Captain Montluc charg'd full drive into the middle of all their Horse I had an eye to him and at the same instant a little on the left hand charg'd quite thorough their Foot where we routed and put them to flight but not without having first stood our shock and maintain'd their ground Their Horse seeing their 〈◊〉 defeated fled down the Hill all along by the Wood and the Foot I enclosed in the Copse Though being we had no Foot to do execution for every one knows that Horse do not stay to kill but pursue the victory there was not many men slain yet though their loss was not very great the reputation of the Victory was of as great advantage to us as the shame of the defeat was prejudicial to them and every one on our side began to take heart as they and those of their Religion began to lose it boâ—h Gentry and Common people now taking aâ—ms and declaring for us My Son had two horses kill'd under him and was himself wounded in two places both the horses were mine and one of them was my gray Turk which next to my children I lov'd above all things in the world for he had three times saâ—'d my life or at least my liberty The Duke de Paliano had given him me at Rome I never had nor ever hope again to have so good a Horse as that was The Prince of Conde would fain have had him of me but I put him off as well as I could for I saw that such a Treasure was not every where to be found Monsieur de Seignan lost his the Vâ—count d'Vza and the Count de Candalle their 's also to be short after the charge we rallyed upon the very place where we had fought and found that in so great a necessity we could not make twenty horse to fight had the Enemy rallied upon us almost all the horses being either kill'd or shot and above the third part of our men but they had not the judgment to examine their own condition nor ours neither and I must needs say it was one of the rudâ—st and most furious charges without a Battail that ever I was in my whole life neither can it be said that they ran away for fear without being fought fâ—r they fac'd about upon us either to give or to receive the charge and in plain truth I did not expect to have found them so brave We lost upon the place but one Gentleman call'd Monsieur de Vigneaux only but two or three that were wounded died after of their wounds From the top of this Hill we discover'd the Enemy marching off as fast as they could and saw that they
be that did not heartily desire the King's ruine As for my own part I do really believe that never any ill entred into his heart and that which made him deferre things so was only the continual buzzing him in the ear that I would make him lose himself So soon as we came to Pecornet which belongs to Monsieur de Thoneins Monsieur de Burie vvould take up his Quarters there and I with my own Company and a good Troop of Gentlemen marcht on straight to Mirabel sending my Son upon the Forlorn Hope before who coming to Mirabel found the Enemy newly risen from their Quarters and marching away towards Caussade where he fell upon the Rear and defeated a Troop the rest putting themselves into two or three houses vvhich being near unto Caussade where their vvhole Army was and he having no Foot vvith him he was constrain'd to let them alone and to retire to Mirabel where I staid to expect him Now I had sent to Monsieur de Burie to entreat him to come and quarter at Mirabel it being no more than a league only from Pecornet to which he sent me answer back that the greatest part of the Army was already settled in their Quarters vvhereupon I vvent my self in all haste vvhere at my coming I found that he had already taken up his lodging in a Grange belonging to Monsieur de Thoneins but vvith the help of Messieurs de Malicorne d' Argence and other Captains of Gens d'arms I prevailed so far upon him that vve perswaded him to march I never as I have already said vvhat reports soever vvere made of him suspected him in the least but ever attributed his â—low and wary proceeding only to his fear of misadventure being unwilling to hazard any thing as knowing very well that should he lose a Battail the Country would be totally lost and on the other side hâ— saw also that the Enâ—my was going into France but I alwaies said it would be a good service to the King to defeat them before they should joyn with their Confederates there and that a hundred Rebels and Traitors would never dare to stand ten honest men He wâ—uld often complain of me to Monsiâ—ur de Courré his Nephew saying that one time or another I would make him to lose all and consequently the Province of Guiâ—nne would be lâ—st to the King so that as to my own particular I durst answer for him that it was this apprehension only that restrain'd him for he was neither corrupted nor dâ—sloyal to his Master and neither wanted courage nor conduct but he would hazard nothing which was a great fault in him Twice that night we sent out Parties to discover the Enemy at Caussade which was no more than half a league distant from us and the second time it was by Monsieur de Verdusaâ— my Ensign who fell upon one of their Courts of Guard Now I would fain have bâ—at up their Quarters in the night for all their Army lay without the Town and far enâ—ugh from â—ne another but it was impossible ever to perswade Monsieur de Burie to it The next morning I went with the King of Navarrs Company that of Monsieur de Termes and my own to discover taking Monsieur de Malicorne along with me and fâ—und that there was some Harquebuzeers in the Town vvho shot at us Now Monsieur de Duras and Captain Bordet vvere gone to Montauban it being but two Leagâ—es thither and had left there all the good Horse that Captain Bordet had brought behind them Monsiâ—ur de Duras and he having taken only ten or twelve along vvith them and had lain all night at Montauban by reason of whose absence they never offer'd to appear and were in very great fear lest all our Army should come down it being from Mirabel to Realville no more than a quarter of a league We dallied there above two hours before the Town not knowing that these people were within it 't is true the Country people told us that Monsiâ—ur de Duras was gone the day before to Montauban but they did not know vvhether or no he might not be return'd At night we return'd to Monsieur de Burie and entred into Councel to which vvere called all the Captains of Gens d'arms and Don Lewis de Carbajac also vvhere vve fell to debate vvhether the Walls being of no strength vve should not go vvith the two great Culverins and assault them in Caussade To which proposition some said I and others no but in the end the Negative voices carried it which so soon as I perceiv'd I made a motion that after dinner vve should descend into the Plain and there draw up in Battalia by which I said we should produce two effects the first that we should by that means discover the strength of the Enemy and discern by their countenance whether they were in fear or no and secondly we should order our men as if they were to fight and separate our Harquebuzeers from the Gens d'arms so that every one might know his own place when we came to fight which we could not do where we were quartered by reason that there was no even ground This in the end was concluded of and agreed that so soon as we had eaten a little we should mount to horse All the Gentry which was a sprightly and brave Troop retir'd with me and we soon dispatcht our dinner after which I sent away a Gentleman to Monsieur de Burie to give him notice that I began to march to take my place in the field when presently there came Monsieur de Malicorne who had been present at the first deliberation to tell me that Monsieur de Burie was resolved not to come down into the Plain nor to suffer the Army to do it and told me moreover that those whom I thought to have been the most forward to have stood to the former resolution were the first who retreated and were now of a quite contrary opinion which is an abominable thing that men should out of respect to authority go contrary to their own sense I entreated him that he would go back again and remonstrate to Monsieur de Burie the great error he committed in not ordering our men as they ought to fight and that I would engage my honor to him we vvould not fight but only observe the countenance of the Enemy and play upon him vvith our Artiâ—lerie in case they should present themselves on the other side of the River but I had something else in my thoughts and had I seen a fit opportunity vvould have come so near that it should not have been possible to have retir'd vvithout fighting Hovvever the said Sieur de Malicorne absolutely refused to go saying that he had already said all he could to perswade him and vvould meddle nor make no more in the business and I perceiv'd vvas very angry though he forbore to say all that he thought I therefore sent Monsieur de
to Monsieur de Burie to come and that at noon we were to fight They promised me they would mount to horse but that withal they must of necessity send away a Messenger post to Monsieur de Burie to acquaint him with it I then spoke to the Baron de Clermont immediately to make his Soldiers eat something and Monsieur de Durfort to do the same by the Spaniards and presently to come away after me to the Ferry of Vezere when as I was talking wiâ—h them came Seignan for he had gone away at midnight to go speak to Monsieur de Burie who brought me word that he had left Monsieur d'Arne and Captain Masses ready to set out and that Captain Charry was already passing the River I then went before Now from Fages to the Ferry at Vezere it is no more than a good league so that I was presently there where I met with several Country people coming back from them who told me that the Enemy were dislodging from two or three Villages where they had lain that night and that we were not above a league from thence I passed the River and at night sent out Monsieur de Fontenilles with two or three horse to scout Messieurs d'Argence and de Courre had also sent out the Quartermaster of Monsieur de Randan so that Monsieur de Fontenilles and he hapned to meet where the Quartermaster assur'd him that he had seen the Camp dislodg and upon their march and as God when it pleases him will sometimes assist some and punish others it was from the Quarters they rose from but two little leagues only to Ver and from Ver but two little leagues more to the passage of the River de l'Isle where they had made account to pass over that day But being they saw Monsieur de Monpensier was at Bergerac with very small Forces and Monsieur de Burie at the Mirandeâ— they would make no great haste forasmuch as they had two good Quarters between Ver for the Foot and the Artillery and St. Andras and two or three other little Villages for the Horse for they knew nothing of me but it had been better for them to have consulted their ease less and their safety more Monsieur de Burie came having only two or three horse with him and found me talking with the Quartermaster who was telling me that the Enemy was going to pass the River de l' Islâ— as he had been told by a prisoner he had taken and some Peasants that came from their Camp and that from thence they were going into France to joyn with the Prince of Condé I then told Monsieur de Burie that it was necessary he should make haste and fight them that day to which he made answer that Monsieur de Montpensier would take it ill if we did not stay for him but I replied again that he was so far off it would hardly be possible for us to joyn that day and that therefore we were not to forbear to sight out of that consideration for should we suffer them to pass the River and joyn with Monsieur de la Rochefaucaut who waited with his Forces in expectation of them about St. Iean d'Angely the King and Queen would never more look upon us as men of honor I warrant you said I they are our own my good genius tells me so As we were in this dispute came Captain Charry and I began to discover his men coming down a little Hâ—ll that shoots down on the other side towards la Vizere I also saw the Cornets of the King of Navarre and Monsieur de Termes and at the same time the three Cornets of the King of Navarre and Monsieur de Termes and at the same time the three Cornets of Monsieur de Burie de Randâ—n and de la Vauguyon at which I very much rejoyced telling Monsieur de Burie that we must instantly march and fall into their Rear and that at the passage of the River â—e would sight them To which he made answer that it should not stick at him but that if Monsieur de Montpensier should be displeased or that matters did not succeed well he would lay the blame upon me To which I replied in the presence of a great many Sir Sir let every one charge the fault upon me and spare not I will bear the blame of all my shoulders are broad enough but I do assure you I will be loaden with honor and not with shame or be left with my belly toasting against the Sun Whereupon Monsieur de Burie making a sign with his hand said let us go then in the name of God In the mean time the Baron de Clermont and the Spaniards were passing the Vezere where the water was deep to the middle of the thigh only and Captain Charry return'd to pass over his when still as the Foot got over they drew up in Battailia in a Plain there was in that place The Captains Arne and Masses then came to me full gallop to embrace me and all the Gens d' aâ—ms after them Mâ—ssieurs d' Argence and du Courre and de Carlus did the same having already understood by the Quartermaster that the Enemy was not far from us and we all hoped that within three or four hours we should fight I have been in seven or eight Battails besides this but never saw the Captains and Soldiers both Horse and Foot so chearful as at this time which I lookt upon as a very good Omen Now that I might stay to give all the Army time to pass over and be drawn up in order to fight I drew all my Horse along by the side of a Hedge sending to a Farm hard by for a little hay wherewith to bait them for every one had brought a few Oats along with him and to say the truth I never in my life saw Monsieur de Burie so pleasant as that day which gave me sufficiently to understand that all his delays had proceeded more from his apprehension of losing the Province than from any defect in himself and I dare answer for him that neither treachery nor cowardize ever entred into his heart for he was an old and a valiant Cavalier and one that had ever given very brave testimonies of his worth and valour but he was afraid of failing I sent Monsieur de Fontenilles and the foremention'd Quartermaster with thirty Horse to follow in the Rear of the Enemy and my self who might have some fifteen Curasseers of my own Company and about thirty Gentlemen betwixt forty and fifty Horse in all marcht in the Rear of them intreating Monsieur de Burie to follow after and so we set forwards Monsieur de Fontenilles had not gone above half a league before in some certain Farms upon the way he met with some straglers of the Enemies Camp whom he cut to pieces They had three Corners of Horse in the Rear of their Army who some of them sometimes
fac'd about upon Monsieur de Fontenilles and now and then the whole Body made a halt I still follow'd after him sending Monsieur de Burie continual notice of all that past and solliciting him withal to march as fast as he could for that I was within sight of their Army and so I marcht continually in the Enemies Rear till about two of the clock in the afternoon about which time there came to me Monsieur de St. Genies the Father of Monsieur d' Audax whom Monsieur de Burie had sent to me to enquire of my news and to bring me an account of him by which I found that he was still in the Plain of Vezere where I had left the Army in Battalia and he told mâ— so many stories that my joy was soon turn'd into vexation I entreated the said Sieur de St. Genies that he would return back to him and entreat him to come away which he refused to do being resolved noâ— to leave me seeing which I took him aside where we concluded together to speak to the Captains of Horse and tell them plainly what we thought which perhaps might encline them to come away and then he return'd and found them yet in the same place but after he had spoken to the Captains and as a secret told Monsieur de Burie what had been concluded betwixt him and me he was then resolv'd to set forwards And I must needs give Monsieur de St. Genies this due commendation that he was the cause the Battel was fought Thus then Monsieur de Burie marcht after me with an intention to quarter all his Army at St. Alvare About half a quarter of a league above the said St. Alvare there were ten or twelve Houses that kept entertainment for passengers and chiefly for the trading Merchants it being a great Road from Perigueux to Bergerac So soon as I came to these houses I joyn'd my self with Monsieur de Fontenilles who shewed me that the Enemies Camp was taking up their Quarters on the further side of a little River in certain little Villages that lay before us wherefore we were of opinion to bait our horses for we found there Hay and Oats but no people saving some fevv poor vvomen the Peasants being all fled avvay upon the report of the Enemies approach and so soon as our horses had baited vvhich they did vvith every man his bridle on his arm there came a servant of Monsieur â— ' Alvare vvho had been to vvait upon tvvo Nephevvs of the said Sieur and the younger Bordet to their Camp and told us that the Artillery and the Foot vvere quarter'd at Ver vvhich is a great Bourg and Monsieur de Duras vvith the Cavalry at St. Andras vvithin half a league of the place vve vvere shevving us the Villages We savv that there vvere three Cornets of Horse of them and he told us that on this side close by the River vvere quarter'd the Captains Salignaâ— Moncaut and another vvhose name I have forgot vvho might have with them twenty or five and twenty horse only but that the Village where the three Cornets lay was within less than two Harquebuz shot of the said house and that he had left the said Salignâ—c preparing a Supper for young Monferran since called Langoirau Lepuch de Pardâ—illan and five or six others whom he had left hawking in a field hard by having brought their Hawks along with them You may judge whether this was a time to hawk in or no and whether this was to march like Soldiers when they had an Enemy so near I then askt the fellow if he would guide me thither to which having made answer that he would we immediately mounted to horse I gave half the Troop to Monsieur de Moâ—tâ—erran to fall upon the House and with the rest went to put my self betwixt the House and the Village where the three Cornets lay but I would not give Monsieur de Fontenilles who was quarter'd at an odd House at the end of the Village notice of my design because I intended that the Company should remain all night on horseback and so we went and came up to the House so little expected that they never dreamt of an Enemy within two leagues of them Monsieur de Montferran flew suddenly into the Court of the House and at his first coming took Salignac and Moncaut and forcing a lower room into which some of them had retir'd themselves kill'd all they found within it Monsieur de Canâ—on was with me and Monsieur de St. Alvare's Servant advised me to retire telling me that the three Cornets in the Village were the best horse in the whole Army it being Monsieur de Tors his Troop who was come with Captain Bordet I took his advice and we retreated to the place from whence we came where at my coming I found that Monsieur de Burie was passed by and was gone to quarter at St. Alvare the Army going after in file I staid the five Ensigns that had been with me at Lectoure and the mutinous Spaniards whom I quarter'd promiscuously among our Horse Flesh Wine and Chesnuts we found store and I got some great loaves of course brown bread they make in that Country which I gave to the Spaniards which being done without alighting I went to wait upon Monsieur de Burie taking Monsieur de Monferran only in my Company who also carried Captain Salignac his Prisoner along with him I found him lodg'd in Monsieur d' Alvare's Castle where at my coming into the room I said to him Look you Sir I have taken one who was once in times past a great favourite of yours Captain Salignac He then demanded of we where I had taken him I made answer in the Enemies Camp He thought their Camp had been three leagues off towards the passage of the River de l' Isle and askt me where their Camp was whereupon I told him it was close by and that we were quarter'd promiscuously amongst one another At which news he seem'd to be something amaz'd when I took occasion to say these words to him Sir you must now justifie the old Proverb to be true That a good horse will never tire In like manner you must resolve to fight to morrow morning and send order to all the Gens-d'armes who are not yet alighted that they must bait their horses with their bridles in their hands and not a man of them to unarm for we are come so near that it is not possible to avoid fighting In saying of which I was aware of Monsieur de St. Alvare whom I saluted desiring him to call in his Servant whom he had sent along with his Nephews to conduct them to the Enemies Camp who stood without which he did and being come in I entreated him to tell Monsieur de Burie where the Enemies Camp lay which he accordingly did place by place and so exactly that their own Quartermasters could not have given a
night following I brought the Artillery into the Town and began to batter some Lodgings on the left hand at the end of which was a Turret that cover'd the Draw-bridg and the Gate of the Castle and by Evening the said Buildings were opened and the Turret beaten down to the Ground In the morning by break of day we began to batter the great Tower where the Clock was which whilst we were doing our Soldiers gain'd the Gate of the Town which was within ten paces or less of that of the Castle and that lookt a little into their false-Brayes but there was a great Terrass a Pike height and as much in thickness made of Bavins after the manner of a Rampire that cover'd their Draw-bridg so that our people could not do them so mucâ— harm as they did us to remedy which inconvenience we made a Blind of some barrels and planks in that place which something secur'd our men that lay before the said Portal All day long our Artillery batter'd the face of the Tower and in the end the said Tower was opened after which I made them shoot from the other Battery which play'd into the Castle till the next day which was the third at noon but could see no issue of the business At this time Monsieur de Fontenilles and Captain Moret came with the piece of Canon and the great Culverine from Tholouze but they did us no service at all for the Culverine burst in an hundred pieces and the Canon was crackt I then caused two pieces of Canon to be remov'd to the left hand close by the Wall of the Town that pointed upon the other Face of the Castle upon the left wherein my intention was if I could to make the Tower fall on our side which if I could effect it would choak up the Ditch that was full of water and fill the false-Brayes on that side by which means we might go on to the Assault over the ruine which I made account would infallâ—bly fill the Graffe for the Tower was very high All the fourth day I batter'd the face of this Tower with these two pieces of Canon and in the end beat it down so that nothing remain'd standing but the right side and the corners I then caused them to shoot at the first Corner which lookt towards the Artillery I had first planted on the left hand and with two pieces that I was all night removing at the other Corner that look't towards the Town In ten or twelve shots the Coins was broken and the Tower fall'n on our side exactâ—y in the place where I would have it but how high or how thick soever the Tower was it did not so wholly â—ill the Graffe but that we were to descend a great way into it It is true that the ruines had drunk up the water and fill'd a good part of the Ditch but not so that we were not yet to go very low The fifth day at night the Sieur de Basillac and the Baron de St. Lary brought me fifty or threescore Pioneers for all mine were stoln away and fled and they had raised these amongst their own Tenants upon their own Estates which lay hard by I gave these fellows to Monsieur de Leberon and Captain Montaut his Brother-in-law with thirty or fourty Soldiers that the Captains l' Artigue and Solles made to take upon them the office of Pioneers their Captains themselves assisting them at the work The service they were employ'd about was to take away the Terrass that the Artillery might look into the Draw-bridg and batter the side of it and that the Ball might pass all along by the Flank and into the Courtine along the Breach within The Enemy had also made a Barricado in the Chambers above so that a man could not pâ—ssibly see any thing on one of the two sides I gave the charge of removing the two pieces of Canon to the place where Monsieur de Leberon drew away the Terrass to the Vicount d'llza and my self went to take a little repose for this was the fifth night that I had not had a whole hour of sleep By break of day I heard the two Canons play but could not believe it possible that in that one night all the Terrass could be remov'd at least all that was in our way Our Artillery began to play its feats all along this Flank and it cost us a great many shot to break this Barricado which did us infinite mischief for they shot desperately into our Canon I then made the Vicount d'Vza Monsieur de Leberon and Captain Montaut to go to rest and left Monsieur de Basillac to assist the Artillery After this we caused a hole to be made in the Wall of the Town close by our Artillery that we might come to it in security from without for from within it was impossible without being kill'd or wounded The fourth day of our Siege I had given to Captain Bahus the charge of causing Gabions to be made who had accordingly taken great pains and been very diligent in the execution of his Command but he had caused them to be made so little that the wind of the Canon had presently shaked them all to pieces an error that a man must take care to avoid Our Cavalry all this while was quarter'd in Villages a league and a half from the Leaguer where there was accommodation of Hay and Oats for the Horses with instruction and command to be every night all night long in the field to prevent any relief from getting in for the very day that we came to Rabasteins we had taken a great Packet of Letters sent by Monsieur de Montamat to the Vicount de Caumont Monsieur d' Audax and several other Gentlemen to the number of thirty or fourty Letters wherein he sollicited them if ever they desir'd to do an opportune and signal service for the Queen of Navarre and the Prince to come succour the Country of Bearn for that they were not strong enough to defend the Country if they did not come in to their relief that he had already writ to them twice or thrice but had received no answer that therefore he should send him word when they should be ready and he would in one night make so long a march as to come and joyn with them immediately to march altogether into Bearn or that otherwise he must be constrain'd to abandon the open Country waâ—ting Forces to make head against us and that he saw he had not now to do with Monsieur de Terride The reading of which Letters made us to pitch upon the following resolution First To send to the Baron de Larbous that he should bring Monsieur de Gramont's Company of Gens-d'arms from the higher Comenge to come and joyn with us that in so doing he should make a halt thereabouts where the relief was of necessity to pass and that night and day he should keep his Horse upon the
Avenues to give us continual advertisement of the Enemies motion and that he should not offâ—r to hinder their passage but let them pass by and only put himself in their Rear I then dispatcht away Captain Maussan a Gentleman of my own Company to go to the Valleys by which the Enemy was to pass giving him order with the Baâ—â—sain to raise all the people of the Valleys and Villages and joyn himself to the Baron de Larbous to fall into their Rear Thus much for the Recruits we expected to come in to us now on our side our Cavalry was every night on horseback and we had Scouts out continually as far as Nay for Monsieur de Montamat was of necessity to pass over the Bridg of the said Nay to go meet his relief and in case we had not taken the Castle before the said Montamat and his Succours should unite Monsieur de Gondrin with twenty Light-horse and four Ensigns of Foot was to stay with the Artillery and I with the rest of the Camp when the news of their approach was brought to us was to march day and night to go and fight them This was the Order we had concluded on had any Forces come to relieve them making account that in case we defeated their Succours the whole Country of Bearn was our own Which I have here set down and enform'd my reader withal that others may take exemple by it when they shall be engaged upon the like occasion the young Captains I mean for the old Soldiers know well enough they are to proceed after this manner My deliberation moreover was the Castle being taken to dispatch away a Gentleman who should post it day and night to the King to carry his Majesty news of the success to the end that he might send some Gentleman to the Mareschal d' Anville who was about Montpelier following the trace of the Enemy where I have not heard of any great harm he did to bid him write to those of Tholouze to send me eight pieces of Canon of twelve of Narbonne that were yet at the said Tholouze and order him to direct his Letters to the Parliament and the Capitouls to move them forthwith to defray the charge of conveying the said pieces of Canon to me Which whilst it was in doing we would go attaque another Castle within two little Leagues of Rabasteins which vvas not very strong and from thence would go to pass the Gave at a Foard above Nay very well known to the Bearnois Gentlemen in our Camp and take Nay there to establish our Magazine of victual and to receive Messieurs de Luxe and de Damazan the Vicount de Chaux and d' Almabarix with the Basques they were to bring in to us and so to march before Pau where the Vicount d'Orthe was to come with the two pieces of Canon and the Culverine had been left in his hands at Dacqs being confident that all the Country some for good will and the rest for fear of their lives and estates would immediately surrender to us That having taken Pau and the eight piecâ—s of Canon being come to us from Tholouze we would then march before Navarrâ—ins and whoever would have put me to my Oath whether I should have taken it or no I should rather have sworn I should than I should not for we had with us Gentlemen of Bearn and Bigorre and principally Monsieur de Basillac who had commanded at the Siege of Navarreins for Monsieur de Terride who both then said and have since affirm'd that had we assaulted Navarreins as briskly as we did Rabasteins we should have carried that with less difficulty than the other every one that knew them both concluding that Rabasteins was by much the stronger place But as men design and God disposeth as seemeth best to him the Events of things he was pleased to order it very much contrary to what we proposed to our selves for the fifth day of the Siege the 23 of Iuly in the year 1562. upon a Sunday about two of the clock in the afternoon I resolved to give an assault the Order whereof was after the manner following That Monsieur de Sanctorens Mareschal de Camp should lead the Companies one after the other up to the Breach which that he might the better do without confusion I order'd all the Companies to be drawn by four and four together out of the Town which upon pain of death were not to stir from their places till Monsieur de Sainctorens should come to fetch them who was to stay three quarters of an hour betwixt every leading up and in that manner to conduct all the Companies one after another and it was also order'd that the two Captains who were upon the Guard by the Breach which were l' Artigues and Salles of Bearn should go on first to the Assault As I was setting down this Order one came in haste to tell me that the two Canons that batter'd the Flanck and that had been remov'd in the night were forsaken and not a man durst shew himself upon the Battery by reason the Artillery it self had ruin'd all the Gabions I therefore left it to Messieurs de Gondrin and de Sainctorens to conclude the Order of the Fight that is to say that the Companies should go on successively one after another which was to be set down in writing and my self ran on the outside to the whole of the wall where I found only ten or twelve Pioneers squat with their bellies close to the ground for Tibauville the Commissary of the Artillery who had the charge of those two pieces of Canon had been constrain'd to quit them and even Monsieur de Basillac himself Seeing then this disorder I unbethought my self of a great number of Bavins I had the day before caused to be brought into the Town and said to the Gentlemen who were with me these words I have heard and alwayes observ'd that there is no labour nor danger that Gentlemen will ever refuse follow me therefore I beseech you and do as you shall see me do They did not stay to be entreated and so we went in great haste directly to the Bavinâ— that were within the Town and lay in the middle of a Street there where not a man durst abide and there I took a Bavin and laid it upon my shoulder as also every Gentleman took one and there were a great many who carried two a-piece after which manner we return'd out of the Town by the same way we entred in and thus I marcht before them till we came to the hole By the way as we were going I had given order that they should bring me four or five Halbardeers which at my return I found already arriv'd at the hole and made them enter into it We threw them the Bavins into the hole which they took with the points of their Halberts and ran to throw them upon the Gabions
the small experience of this young Governor and perhaps shall be constrain'd to go in haste in your own person or at least to send one of my Lords your Brothers where either the Town must be lost or you must hazard a Battel where your self or one of your Brothers who shall command your Armie may be slain together with several Princes of you blood and a great number of your best Captains Consider then I beseech you Sir the mighty loss and misadventure that depends upon your easie conferring such a Command upon a man without first knowing what he is able to do For if he is a man of experience and that he has manifested himself in all places where he has been under good Leaders to be a man of courage and understanding so soon as he shall enter into the place he will presently fall to considering of the strength and weakness of it recollecting what he has seen done elsewhere where he has been engag'd under another and what he has seen such and such a Captain do upon the like occasion and thereupon will suddenly take order for the defects of the place and begin to fortifie He will also demand of you an Engineer will enform you of the Ammunition both of Victual Arms and Artillerie that he has found there and will never cease solliciting till you have supplied him with all things necessarie knowing very well what an inconvenience the loss of the place would bring upon you When so soon as your Majestie shall have furnisht him with all he desires and that by his foresight he shall have provided against all the defects of the place he may then know what he has to trust to and shall have leisure to consider what he has to do without precipitation which I have ever observ'd to be very dangerous in war unless it be in an affair that requires extreme hast and diligence And herein two things present themselves to your Majesties consideration the first that when your Enemy shall have heard of the valour of your Governor and his great experience together with the great foresight and diligence wherewith he has been careful to remedie the defects of his place and the good discipline he there maintains is it to be supposed that he will venture to attacque a man qualified with the forenamed virtues I do believe there is no Aâ—â—ailant in the world but would think of it twice before he would once resolve to do it and if he call a Council about it he will find that hardly one old Captain will advise him to go on to his own ruine and if the Chief be a circumspect and experienced man the counsel of the young hot-headed fellows must not be preferr'd to that of the old Soldiers for they better understand the business of the world than the others do and are unwilling to hazard the honor they have got forasmuch as men look only upon the last of our actions without much regarding what they have perform'd before So much concerning the first Now the second thing that presents it self to your Majesties consideration is that your Majestie reflecting upon the valour of the person you have entrusted with defence of your place his diligence and experience will be at quiet within your self knowing very well that such a man will do no unhandsome things but will be tender of his own honor as well as careful of his trust by which means you shall have time to raise your Armie at leisure and shall come to encamp your self in an advantagious place where if your Enemie come to assault you he shall be defeated and on the other side if he offer to assault the Town you lye so close in his Rear that let the Breach be never so wide he dares not go to the assault forasmuch as whether he enter or no he is certain to be defeated for you surprize him in disorder which will make him very warie of attempting any thing where his ruine is so manifest before him and either force him to raise his Siege and betake himself to some other Enterprize or else come to assault you in your Fort which also he will have a care of doing as was the Emperor Charles at the Camp in Provence at the time when your Majesties Grandfather was fortified in the plain field and that the Enemie made a shew of attacquing Marseilles You are evermore to take heed of committing errors in the beginning of a War for if your affairs have once a disrepute upon them in the beginning your Majestie may be assured that your Soldiers will lose courage and every one will seek an opportunity to run away insomuch that you are never to hope your Army shall do any thing to purpose after Of which I shall give your Majestie some Exemples that you may see of how great importance it is to have a good Governor in a Town of War Of these Exemples the first shall be Charles Duke of Burgundy who after having lost two Battels against the Swiss at Morat came with his baâ—led Army to sit down before Nancy which he thought to surprize René King of Sicily and Duke of Lorrain never dreaming that he would come to besiege that place by which means it was totally unprovided both of Victuals Ammunition and Men. King René had with him five or six Gascon Gentlemen for these Princes of Lorrain have ever had a great kindness for our Nation namely Captain Gratian Daguerre a poor Gentleman of this Country call'd Pons another call'd Gaian and another whose name was Roquepines the others were slain during the Siege where these brave Gascons did so valiantly behave themselves that with some of the Country people that put themselves into the Town and some Gentlemen of the said Country they defended the Town and endur'd the last extremity of famine by that means giving King René leisure to go himself into Switzerland to fetch his relief King Lewis the Eleventh of France would not openly assist him by reason of the League he had contracted with the Duke but as you Princes ordinarily do he favour'd him understand and disbanded four hundred men at arms that were advanc'd as far as Pont St. Vincent within two leagues of Nancy so that when the Duke saw the Swiss coming upon him he raised the Siege and there lost both the Battel and his life Had Iohn d' Albert King of Navarre when he saw the Forces of Ferdinand coming to fall upon him put one or two good Captains into Pampelona he had not so poorly lost his Kingdom as he did for there wanted only a good man to have stopt the Career of the Spaniard the place was good enough But he lost the Kingdom both for himself and his Posterity for it is in too good a hand â—ver to 〈◊〉 it These are two Examples of Antiquity that I have receiv'd from the old Captains of that Age and I have heard others related which I could here
Port they could not possibly do This Galley upon the sight presently began to let fly whole broad-sides of Canon at us one whereof kill'd two men of my Company close by me and so near that the brains both of the one and the other flew into my face There was very great danger in that place for all the bullets as well of this Galley as of the others which did the same play'd directly into the place where I was insomuch that seeing them still to continue their shot for those of the Gallies took us for the Enemy I was constrain'd to draw off my men into the ditches to secure them In the mean time they mounted the Prince in all hast on horseback and made him to save himself full speed towards the Camp all his Gentlemen running after on foot They had no great leisure to stay with us for I believe being so lately come they had no mind to dye Their hast was so great that they had no time to land either the Princes Baggage or his Bed and there were some who were wise enough to keep themselves aboard the Gallies But the Seigneur de Candale and Count Hugues were men of another sort of mettle and staid upon the cross high way where their men had been plac'd before and Captain Artiguelaube went to the Battaillon that was drawn up behind the Rampire The Game began with me and I do not know whether it be my good or my evil fortune but so it is that in all places where I have been that I have evermore found my self in the thickest of the blows and there where the business ever first began Now a Band of Harquebusiers came directly towards me running and that because I had placâ—d one part of my Harquebusiers behind a ditch bank that borders all along upon the high way and the rest on the right and left hand in the ditches in file which I did more for fear of the Artillery that plaid from our own Gallies than for any apprehension of the Enemy and came within twenty paces of us where we entertein'd them with a smart volly of all our shot by which five or six of their men fell dead upon the ground and the rest took their heels and fled we following after as far as the Magdaleine There they rallyâ—d and withdrew from the high way on their right hand and on that side where Monsieur de Lavall of Dauphiné stood with his Company of Gens-d ' Armes he was Nephew to Monsieur de Bayard and Father to Madame de Gordes who is at this time living and a very valiant Gentleman Monsieur de Candalle who had seen my Charge and saw that the Enemy now all discover d themselves and that both Horse and Foot drew into a great Meadow where Monsieur de Lavall stood fearing they might charge me again he sent me a supply of fifty Harquebusiers just at the time when a Battaillon of German Foot presented themselves within twenty paces on my right hand The Spanish Harquebusiers in the mean time fir'd with great fury upon our Gens-d ' Armes who began to draw off at a good round trot towards the high way possessed by Monsieur de Candalle where there was a great oversight committed which I will also give an account of that such as shall read it may make use of the exemple when the chance of War as at one time or another it may shall perhaps reduce them to the same condition Count Hugues and Monsieur de Candalle had drawn up their Pikes upon the great Road without leaving room for the Cavalry to retire and there was a necessity that Monsieur de Lavall must in spite of his heart pass that way for betwixt Monsieur de Candalle and me there was a great ditch that Horse could not possibly get over Had they left the Road open and drawn themselves up in Battalia behind the ditch they might have given a stop to the Enemies fury and by that means Monsieur de Lavall might at great ease have got off along by the high way and have made an honorable retreat So soon as the Enemy saw that Monsieur de Lavall was forced to his Trot they presently charg'd him both in flank and rear with both Horse and Foot at once when having thrown himself into the Road to get clear of this storm he encountred these Pikes upon his way where he was constrained against his will to force his way thorough and in so doing bore down and trampled under foot all that stood before him for our Pikes were drawn up so close that they had no room to open This put all into confusion and I was ready to run mad to see so great an absurdity committed yet is not the blame justly to be laid â—pon Monsieur de Candalle he being very young and having never been upon such a service before but Count Hugues is highly to be condâ—mned who was an old Soldier and understood the discipline of War yet I will not say but that he behaved himself with very great bravery in his own person but it is not enough to be bold and hardy a man must also be wise and foresee all that can happen forasmuch as oversights are irreparable in matters of Arms and smal faults are oftentimes the occasion of very great losses as it happened here to him who had not provided against all adventures For he was himself taken prisoner as also Monsieur de Candalle being wounded in his arm with a Harquebuze shot Three days after the Enemy seeing he was not likely to live sent him back to Monsieur de Lautrec who was his Kinsman and the next day he died and was buried at Bresse He was a brave and a worthy young man as ever came out of the house of Foix and would in time doubtless have been a great Soldier had he lived to hold on as he had begun I never knew man so industrious and desirous to learn the practice of arms of the old Captains as this Lord was To which effect he rendred himself as obsequious to the Count Pedro de Navarre as the meanest of his Servants He was inquisitive into the reasons of things and informed himself of all without fooling away his time about trifles that other young men covet and love and was more frequent at the Quarters of the Count Pedro de Navarre than at those of Monsieur de Lautrec insomuch that the Count would always say he was there training up a great Captain And in truth when he was brought back into the Camp the said Count kiss'd him with tears in his eyes It was a very great loss of him All who were at the same post were â—ither kill'd or taken some excepted who saved themsesves by the ditches leaping from ditch to ditch but those were very few for the Enemy pursued their victory on that side very well I on my side began to march along by the side of a hedg