for a long time he helde the King in hope to follow the warres for him and all that time his troupes ouerranne the plaine country and there forraged themselues after most strange maner but in the ende he found the meanes to withdraw himselfe from the Kings armie and hauing impeached those of Metz from victualls he departed with all his troupes Difficultie of the siege of Mets. Winter approaching many were of opinion that the Emperour would not hazard so puissant an armie as he then had vnprofitably to fight and striue against the colde and the Ice and by that meanes constraine it of it selfe to be dispearsed and miserably ouerthrowne But the hope he had to recouer the Towne of Metz wherein were many Princes Lords and Gentlemen caused him to reiect all other apprehensions whatsoeuer in such sort that his Forces began to marche and set forward towards the countrey of Lorraine meane time the Duke de Neuers fortified Stenay and constrained the Burgonian Garrison of Vireton to yeeld themselues to him A company of the old bandes being in Roc de Mars were drawne from thence Those that commaunded in Verdun Iuoy Danuille and Monmedy strengthened themselues and made prouision for their owne defence not long after the Emperour came to Sarbruch The Emperors approach a Towne lying within seuen myles of the Citie of Metz from whence hee sent the Duke of Alue his Lieftenant General and the Marquesse of Marignan with 4000. foote 4000. horse and sixe field peeces vnto the Towne to view it and to chuse the most commodious places wherein to lodge his men about it The Duke of Guise being Lieftenant Generall for the King within the Towne caused certaine troupes to issue forth that skirmished with the Emperours Forces A skirmish wherein the Duke of Alue lost aboue 150. men on the French part there was fiue souldiers slaine and one Gentleman of Picardie named Marigni and two Captaines hurt that died not long after The King being at Rheims was aduertised by the Duke d'Aumalle touching The Marquesse of Brandebourg ouerthroweth the Duke d'Aumalle and taketh him prisoner the practises of the Marques of Brandebourg with the Emperour required to send some forces of 200. men of armes with whose helpe and the rest of his troupes he said he doubted not but easilie to ouerthrow the Marques to the which end Monsisur de Bourdillon was sent thither but the Duke for that time sent him backe again esteeming that the Marques as then hauing past the Meuse ment to ioyne with the Emperours armie but about the end of October the Duke beeing aduertised that the Marques beganne to dislodge placed himselfe in order of battell with al his horsemen vpon a plaine called la Croix du Monstier to see what way the Marques held who hauing intelligence that the countrie people and certaine Frenchmen skirmished and spoyled some of his footemen would himselfe in person go to see what they were and went so neare that his Interpreter was slaine with a caliuer standing close by him who therewith reâ—urning in great chollor appoynted his horsemeÌ„ to aduance themselues to set vpon the enemie and so in great furie charged the Dukes companies who as then thought to retire At the first onset the Marques set vpon a great troup of Pages and others that were placed there to make a shewe who were presently dispearsed The second charge was made vpon a squadron of Light-horse and Argolets who in a manner made no resistance and so all the strength fell vppon the Lanciers who presently by the Rutters Pistols were forced to retire beeing ill prouided of Lances to make resistance The Duke perceiuing his horsemen to bee disranked and flying to saue themselues and the Marques at hand-blowes with diuers of his Leaders rancked himselfe in order againe with some fewe of his men and entered into the skirmish where his principall Gentlemen hauing beene slaine before his eyes the rest hurt beaten downe and taken prisoners and all his men put to flight and chased himselfe beeing hurt in two places and his horse slaine vnder him in the end was taken prisoner and all his company in a maner ouerthrowne The Vicount of Rohan slaine by them that tooke him and many Cornets Captaines and Gentlemen to the number of two hundreth and more slaine in the field the number of the prisoners beeing many more this Josse of so many Gentlemen was a mends for the happie successe which the king had about a month after against the Emperour The Marques beeing victorious sent the Duke d'Aumalle his prisoner into Almaine for whom afterward hee got 50000. Crownes for a ransome which the king payed at the instant request of the Duches de Valentinois mother in lawe vnto the prisoner which done he went vnto the Emperour as then beeing before Metz with all his campe at the same time The Counte de Reux Lieftenant generall for the Emperour in the lowe Countries entred into Picardie with a great armie Taking of the towne Castle of Hesdin from the King and the spoyling of Picardie by the Emperours armie where hee burnt Noyon Nesse Chauni Roye and the pleasant Castle of Foulenbray with more then 800. Villages which done he besieged Hesdin the Towne beeing taken they inclosed the Castle hauing beaten downe a great Tower that stood on the Parke side and caused a great peece of a wall to bee vndermined filling the ditches with the rubbish therof which serued the assaulters for a bridge to passe ouer to make the assault wherewith the defendants were striken in such feare that without further resistance they yeelded the Castle vpon condition to depart their liues goods saued A gentleman named Monsieur de Rasse who as then commanded in the Castle in fauour of the Constable made that composition but if his maister had not intreated for him it had cost him his life because hee neuer defended himselfe and not long before had sent word vnto the King that hee doubted not the Castle But for the same cause hee was sent home vnto his owne house and neuer after imployed in the warres Resolution of the assieged within the Towne of Metz. The king hauing receiued that second losse wrote vnto the Duke de Guise to knowe in what disposition he found himselfe to bee within the Towne of Metz. The Duke sent him aunswere whereof the effects prooued correspondent with his words and with all certified him of the order holden by the Emperour in his campe When the king perceiued himselfe to bee secured on that side hee left the Duke de Neuers for Generall of his armie in Lorraine made Monsieur de Chastillon Admirall of France and his Lieftenant in Picardie in place of Monsieur d'Annebaut not long before dead within la Fere. The Admiral de Chastillon presently went to Hesdin the companies of the Duke de Neuers beganne to trouble the Emperors armie by surprising their victuals great pittie it was
an enterprise vpon Douay which hauing not taken effect he tooke Lens a small Towne in Artois which he pilled whereby the Gates of warre were fully opened Picardie and Champagne exposed to continuall courses and the frontier places on both sides fortified The Queene of England sent a Herault of Armes into France to defie the King and to proclaime warre against him and about the middle of the month of Iulie the prince of Piedemōt accōpanied with the duke d'Arscot the Earles of Mansfeld d'Aiguemāt Meigue Barlaimōt begā to erect a puissant armie at Guiets staying for further ayde of Rutters and Bourguignons The Duke de Neuers prouided for Rocroy Mesieres and Mariembourg which he doubted would be assayled from whence the Prince retired perceiuing it to bee too dangerous an enterprise for him marching towards the Towne of Guise with 40000. foote and 15000. horse not accounting 10000. Englishmen which he daylie expected the French armie beeing 18000. foote and 6000. horse The Admirall with the Sieurs de Villebon de Senarpont and others were of aduise that the townes of Picardie should be fortified specially such as lay in greatest danger but they were not beleeued in such manner that the Prince of Piedemont hauing stayed a time before Guise presently sent his horsemen to inclose S. Quintins and marched thither with all his armie so that vpon the suddaine the Towne was besieged on all sides Monsieur de Teligny being within it S. Quintins besieged with a broken companie of launciers and one Bruiel a Gentleman of Breton was Gouernour of the Towne with very fewe footemen and the Inhabitants themselues wholly ignorant in Marshall affaires made great difficultie to receiue a greater Garrison being mooued thereunto The Admirall determined to enter therein and to the same end vppon the 2. of August he departed from Pierrepont with foure companies of launciers and three of light-horses and being at Han hee was constrained by reason of the danger of the voyage to take no more but 2. companies of foote wherof onely the third part entered with him into S. Quintins The Admirall entereth into Saint Quintins the rest stayed behinde and were constrained to retire because the towne was almost besieged round about touching the order therin taken by the Admiral concerning the fortifications other things it is most certaine that nothing was by him forgotten The towne being wel ayded by those fewe men that entered with him there was found disorder touching their victuals their powder beeing burnt and blowne vp by the Cittizens default that knew not how to behaue themselues in Marshall affaires which much troubled the Souldiers Aduise being giuen vnto the Constable Generall of the French armie what state S. Quintins was in he sent the Prince of Conde Generall of the light-horse the Marshall Saint Andre with foure hundreth launciers and Monsieur d'Andelot with tenne Ensignes of footemen from la Fere to enter into Han as well to bridle the campe as to seeke by all meanes to refresh and strengthen those of Saint Quintins d'Andelot offered to enter therein with two thousand men while the armie on all sides should giue an alarme vnto the enemie who by means of certaine prisoners hauing discouered the enterprise tooke such order therein that their pretence tooke not effect The Constable bringeth his armie vnto S. Quintins to cause certaine men to enter Meane time the Spanish armie increased by ayde of the Englishmen being to the number of tenne thousand foote and about one thousand fiue hundreth horse The Constable desirous to helpe those of S. Quintins hauing determined vpon all the meanes that might be vsed to helpe the Towne and being fully bent to execute the same the 9. of August he caused the French and Almaine footmē to passe ouer the bridge that lieth aboue la Fere with certain Peeces of artillerie and the tenth of August being S. Lawrence day the horsemen ioyned with the foote and so marched towards S. Quintins where about nine of the clocke in the morning they arriued and there rancked themselues in order of battell right before the subburbes of Isle as then taken by the Spaniards that were driuen out againe euen to the Chaussee meane time the artillerie played vpon the Prince of Piedemonts campe wherein it mooued great disorder and while that was done the Constable caused as many troupes to enter into the Towne as possible hee might which done the King of Spaines armie resolued with themselues by a prompt and generall resolution to set vppon the Constables forces and so constraine him to fight to the which end the Prince of Piedemont and the Counte d'Aiguemont ioyned togither at such time as the Duke de Neuers was gone to relieue Monsieur d'Eschenets that held play with the enemie while the rest that went to ayde the Towne should enter the Constable being vpon retrait not minding to giue battell the Duke ioyned with the Prince of Conde so made assault near vnto a wind-mill withall his light-horse and they two togither without any losse ioyned themselues with the maine battell but their enemies followed them and approaching with 8. great Squadrons of horsemen the Counte d'Aiguemont was the first that with two thousand horse charged the Frenchmen on the one side the Dukes Ernest Henry de Brunswic seconded by the Counte de Horme with two thousand Rutters and ten thousand lanciers fell on the other side the Counte de Mansfeld and other leaders entred vpon the middle part with three thousand horse with so great force that the Frenchmen were ouertrowne The Duke of Neuers being one of the first notwithstanding after many daungers hee got out of the preace and although the parties were vnequall yet the Frenchmen failed not to fight where the Constable was both hurt taken with him the Dukes of Montpensier de Longueuille the Prince of Mantoue the Marshal S. Andre and many others as wel knights of the Order as Lords and Gentlemen the chiefe of name that were slaine were Iohn de Burbon Duke de Anguien the Viscount of Turaine others most part of the Captains of the footemen who perceiuing the horsemē cōming placed themselues in a square battell but they were presently broken and part slaine the rest taken prisoners This bloodie fight indured for the space of 4. or 5. houres the Spaniards pursued the Frenchmen within a myle of the towne of la Fere. And surely al mē were much abashed how so many escaped considering the great fear disorder they thē were in The Prince of Conde the Duke de Neuers the Counte de Sancerre Messieurs de Bourdillon Grammont Cruecueur Piennes Descars and others escaped Montmorency the Constables eldest sonne tooke another way This ouerthrow caused great feare in Parris for in it the Frenchmen lost great numbers of men wherin the Histories seeme not to agree some say 5000. others 8000. slaine in the field The King came presently from Compiegne to Parris to
hee hauing committed so many hainous acts against the Crowne and his soueraigne Lord that hee was vnwoorthie too bee esteemed the kings subiect but to receiue punishment according to his deserts blaming the kings too much gentlenesse therein to whom might bee applyed that which was of olde time spoken of by Charillans who being greatly praised for his courtesie equally shewed to all was thus answered by Archidamidas the Spartane that such a Prince deserued small praise that shewed himselfe fauourable to wicked persons But such matters pertaines to other discourses and not to bee intreated of in so briefe a collection as this is Vpon this receiued grace the Duke de Maine wrought the yeelding vp of Soisson Pierfont and other places to the King Now among all the chiefe leaguers there onely remained the Duke of Aumale who had not time ynough to make his peace with the King The Duke of Aumale executed in his picture Things fell out so contrarie on his side that lawe was prosecuted against him in the Parliament of Parris which found him guiltie of treason in the highest degree so that his image or likenesse being made it was drawne in peeces with foure horses and his goods and lands confiscate to the King It hath been said that his faire house at Annet was iudged to be raced to the ground and the woods all about the same cut downe in detestation of the said Dukes treasons But this article was not executed This Duke of Aumale went since that toward Albert. Cardinall of Austridge came into the low Countries to succeed in his brothers charge who was Arch-duke of Ernest of whō he was honourably receiued and royall entertained so that he might say with the renowmed Greeke I was lost if I had not been lost and since he hath made sore warres against the Frenchmen Certaine members of the league as some of the sixteene of Parris diuers principall Councellours and Agents of that side togither with some Preachers and seditious writers durst not shewe themselues knowing lawe to bee proceeded against them Th. Towne of Fere besieged While the Cardinal of Austrige made his voyage from Spaine into Italie to become Gouernour to the low Countries taking with him Philip of Nassau Prince of Orange who had a long time beene kept prisoner among the Spaniards the King besieged Fere the onely place possessed by his enemies in Picardie before the taking of Capelle Chastelot Cambray and Dourlans hee set there all the succours that could enter in where a great number of Spaniardes were slaine then gaue he leaue to the most part of his horsemen to refresh themselues because the Earle of Fuentes hauing set garrisons in the Towns for a new conquest was retired into Hainaut The king being willing more and more to plant quietnesse in his realme made an edict the same time whereby all persons that were fled might returne againe to their lands and houses where their passed faults should neuer bee sought after but wholly forgiuen those onely excepted that were confederates in the murther of the deceased king In middest of these matters Ossat and Perron the Kings Agents towards the Pope demanded and obtained a bull of absolution hauing aforehand made all the submissions obeysances and accustomed reuerences promising that the King had performed the penance and accomplished the conditions to him prescribed This bull was committed to Alexander d'Elbene to bee carried into France to bring thereby in the kings behalfe confirmation and approbation of all that which had been done by his Agents one of the which namely Ossat for recompence of his seruices wonne a Cardinals Hat Perron being but a Ministers sonne in the Lord of Bearns land became by his worthy seruices Bishoppe of Eureux a Courtly Poet and a new Diuine was sent with good hope to see that hee should continue as hee had begunne that is to say to oppose himselfe against those of the religion and to drawe by his example all other that hee might by their praaching and writing to maintaine the vocation and doctrine of their Ministers and the publicke articles of the inreprehencible perfection of the Romaine Church Hee was carefull to keepe promise vnderstanding that the Pope had an eye ouer him The estates of Picardie In the moneth of Nouember the King assembled within Amiens all the estates of Picardie of Boulongne Vermandois and Thierafche to take counsell for the affaires of Prouence Certaine Captaines were there beheaded hauing been by their couetousnesse cause of all the losses afore mentioned The siege of Fere continued those within it being more restrained yet neuerthelesse resolued to hold the same to the vttermost poynts of extremitie The garrisons of Peronne Amiens and other places that held for the King beganne againe in Ianuarie their former courses against the enemies countrie still killing and sleying certaine Spaniards and Wallons The king was at this time in great care touching the countrie of Prouence by reason that a man of great authoritie named Casaux commanded within Marseille who made means to the Spanish king that this goodly Towne might bee solde vnto him Charles Dore of Geneua was now approaching with certaine gallies for the Spaniardes The Duke of Guise drew also neare with certaine troupes but knowing well Casaux euill will toward him retired to the port of Thoulon where a farre off he thought on such affaires whereof proceeded the death of the said Casaux who was suddainly stabbed as he was going forth of his owne lodging to runne toward one of the gates which they were readie to open to the Frenchmen the sixteenth of Februarie The Duke of Guise his troupes beeing mingled among the rest in the Cittie was cause that all the Spaniardes with their adherents ranne their waies Marseille brought to the kings subiection Thus was Marseille deliuered out of their hands and brought to the kings subiection togither with all other villages thereabout that might any way annoy them The arriuall of the Cardinal of Austriche in Flanders caused the King to summon the Nobilitie of Picardie and Normandie to be present in the Towne of Guise there to be readie according as need required There he forbad by an expresse proclamation the transporting of gold or siluer coyned or otherwise out of his realme In the beginning of March the Cardinall gaue such order that the besieged within the Towne of Fere were succored with some munition And for his first exployt against The Cardinall of Austriche releeueth Fere winneth Carl◠and Ardres with maine force France in the beginning of Aprill did so dispose of his armie at that time most mightie so dexteriously secretly that in few daies he besieged assailed and with plain force won the town and Castle of Calais in spight of al the kings forces and the resistance of the besieged there died in the taking thereof a great number of the Nobilitie of France especially in the Castle whereinto they had sent a good supply
ouerrunne the plaine countrie of Sienois which he did with 12000. foote and one thousand fiue hundreth horse on the other side the king sent Monsieur de Termes that set good and strong Garrisons within all the places of the Segnerie of Siene hauing as then vnder the kings pay aboue twelue thousand foote not accounting the naturall countrimen sworne enemies vnto the Spaniards but very fewe horsemen And because the Emperours campe conducted by the Viceroy and Ascagne de la Corne seemed to threaten Siene they fortified the Towne with al diligence The Viceroy assailed Monselice Montelle Montalein where Monsieur de Termes tooke order and maintained himselfe in good sort vntill the king sent Pierre Strossi with a great companie of men and made him his Lieftenant Generall in Toscane Strossi came to Siene raised more Souldiers in Italie whereof Duke Cosme beeing aduertised solicited Pope Iulius and the Emperour in such sort that they ioyned with him to driue out the Frenchmen To this end Iaques de Medicis surnamed le Mediquin Marquis de Marignan hauing charge of the consederates armie about the beginning of the yeare 1554. besieged Siene and approaching it by night had almost surprised it by reason that as then the fortifications were not all finished but the Sienois withstood him and repulsed the Marques who at that time lost many of his men notwithstanding hee left not off to incampe himselfe before the towne and forraging the plaine countrie directed a furious batterie whereby in the end hee reduced the Inhabitants to great extremitie without the comming of Strossi who entering therein presently tooke order for the rampars and the reparation of the breaches not hauing forgotten to furnish all the places about Siene and because Rodolphus Baillon Generall of the Emperours horses and Ascagne de la Corne had made an enterprise vppon Chiusi Strossi by night went to meete them with sixe hundreth men and hauing taken them at an aduantage put their troupes in disorder slewe Baillon and sent la Corne prisoner into France The king with all speede sent new forces into Toscane and the I le of Corse wherein Monsieur de Termes had taken the Townes of S. Florent and S. Boniface a Port of the sea leauing good Garrison therin vnder the charge of Iourdan Vrsin with certaine Captaines Frenchmen and Gascous for the defence of the Yland part whereof as yet obeyed the Geneuois vppon whom being participants with the Emperour Monsieur de Termes had taken those Townes But to returne to Siene the last secorers that the king sent thither beeing of fiue thousand Switzers Gascons with some light-horse Strossi suddainly made a sallie with sixe thousand chosen footemen and fiue hundreth good horse and therewith tooke Montcatin and Montcarlo from the Duke of Florence which hee fortified The Marques of Marignan constrained to leaue the siege of Siene to ayde the Duke was in danger to bee wholly ouerthrowne if Storssi had taken occasion when it was offered But the Marques fortified with new ayde Strosci was constrained to bring his wearied forces to breath themselues within Siene meane time Leon Prior of Capoue and brother to Strossi hauing not the meanes to staye for the French Nauie ceased vpon certaine Geneuois shippes laden with corne and hauing filled them with Souldiers warred vppon the coast of Toscane and to spoyle the Ports of the sea belonging to the Duke of Florence After that hee went to lye before Scarlin where approaching to viewe the place he was stricken with a Harquebus-shot whereof hee died Strossi much greeued thereat went to continue the siege staying for the French ayde which not long after being arriued conducted by Monsieur de Monluc Strossi made his armie wherein he had sixe thousand Italians two thousand Gascons as many Switzers two thousand fiue hundreth Lansquenets and about a thousand horse wherewith he determined to set vppon his enemies if they would come foorth and perceiuing that they withdrewe themselues from Siene he committed the custodie thereof vnto Monsieur de Monluc and went to batter Ciuitelle lying in the territories of Florence to the ayde whereof the Marques of Marignan made so great hast that he had almost surprised the assaylants where there was much blood spilt on both sides Stressi constrained to discampe besieged Foyan a strong and very rich place which the first day of his arriuall was taken by force and Charlot Vrsin with all the souldiers that kept it put to the sword and the Towne spoyled and burnt The Marques hauing recouered certaine cannons approached the armie of Strossi that marched towards Montpulcian where the Italians began to forsake him and by that means his forces were lesse then those of the Marques which constrained him to retire The battell and ouerthrow of Strossi and the French armie in Toscan but in stead of dooing it couertly and by night for the safetie of his troupes he determined to march openly in the day time and to saue his Artillerie he sent it before him Whereof the Marques being aduertised with all speed pursued after him and hauing ouertaken him in the field betweene Martian Lucignan and Foyan gaue him battell where the fight was dangerous and bloodie but Strossi hauing the lesse and weaker companie the Frenchmen fled after Bighet an Italian Ensigne Coronel of the armie that first saued himself after that the horsemē were dispersed The Gascons Switzers that fought valiantly were ouerthrowne by aduancing thēselues too farre among their enemies and almost all their Leaders slaine in the field the number of the slaine is diuersly reported some said two thousand fiue hundreth others foure thousand besides many hurt that liued not long after and fiue or sixe hundreth prisoners The Marques wrote vnto the Emperour that all Strossies footemen were slaine at that bartaile but as then he forgot to pursue his victorie which if hee had done Strossi and all the Kings armie at that time had beene wholly ouerthrowne Strossi that had shewed maruellous prooses of his valour and noblenesse saued himselfe in Montalcin leauing Foyan that was presently taken by the Marques as also Martian Lucignan and other places wherewith the Sienois meruellously abashed were in mind to haue yeelded had it not been for Monluc that assured them and after did great seruice vnto the king as also to the Towne Bighet partly cause of the ouerthrowe of the armie and the Counte d'Alte that had cowardly yeelded vp Lucignan a most impregnable place were beheaded Presently after the Duke solicited those of Siene to yeeld vnto the Emperour and they about the end of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1554. answered him most brauely but yet to vse so great loftie words they had need of better means of resistance while these things were effected Monsieur de Lanssac beeing gone on ambassage to Rome diuers articles were there drawne and set down to end the troubles of Siene The Pope gaue charge to his Legats that laye residents by the
vppon to search their wittes and haue an eye to the prouision victualling of their armie which consisted of twentie thousand men vnpayed and vnprouided of any succour or retrait into Townes meanly furnished and marching through the middest of an infinite number of irreconciliable enemies They tooke order therefore to lodge their horsemen scattering in the good villages also to cause the commissaries for victualles besides their carriages to keep in euery cornet one Baker and two horses of burthen who presently vpon their comming to their quarter should fal to baking and send their bread to the body of footemen These pettie commodities proceeding from fortie Cornets being laide togither was no small reliefe besides that they sent both flesh and Wine yea the Gentlemen were so willing that from their lodgings they would send them priuate carriages to helpe to bring in the ammunition As for the hamlets that were taken they were reserued for the munitioners and the rest that had no Garrisons were threatned to bee burned one league round about vnlesse they sent in some amunition Thus the footemen who lodged close were vsually prouided for besides the booties and other commodities that the most aduenterous could catch frō the Romish Catholicques that incroached too neare vpon them Their forme of lodging Vpon two principall reasons was the Prince forced to scatter his armie in diuers places First for the benefite of victualling next to lodge them vnder couert from the raine snow and other discommodities Their form of lodging wherewith they had beene spoyled if they had lodged in the field The footemen were lodged in two bodies namely a battell and an Auantgard and the horsemen in the nearest villages vppon any alarme the horsemen drew to the Prince and Admirall so that if any stragling lodging chanced to bee assaulted it had present succour among the cornets they had some store of Harquebusiers on horse and presently after the troupes were come into their quarters the waies were sufficiently fortified and many times they vsed both Churches and Castles whereby to be able to hold out some two houres that their succour might come in The Lord de la Noue who in this discourse of the discipline of the Princes armie we do follow saith that sometimes he saw the Prince or the Admiral march with fiue or six thousand mē to the rescue of a lodging assaulted by a contrary partie but in such roads stil there fel out some losse on either side Besides for the preuenting of any notable surprise the Prince had framed the head of his troupes towards the enemie of fiue or six hundreth good horse and as many Harquebusiers on horsebacke with small store of baggage except some horses of burthen to the end stil to hold the enemie occupied to hinder his enterprise and to finde opportunitie still to giue warning to the whole campe which bare it self vnder the discreet conduct of their leaders While the Princes armie in Beausse ioyned with the Rutters making head against the puissant armie of the Duke d'Aniou Troupes gathered in diuers places for the prince who for his part had almost all the aduantages onely not resolued to fight Messieurs de Acier Sipierre and other Gentlemen of Languedoc Prouence and Dauphine gathered forces in diuers places seizing vpon Nismes and Montpeslier the Gascons rose vp in armes vnder the conduct of their Vicountes and forced certaine places vpon the Romish Catholicques and ioyning themselues with Monsieur d'Acier for the religion for whom likewise Poncenat and Verbelay assembled certain troupes in Bourbonnois Auuergne which were broken by the troupes of Guyenne marching to the Duke d'Aniou The Duke de Neuers likewise brought out of Italie foure companies of lanciers 2. companies of light horse 6. companies of fantasins being arriued at Lyons and strēgthened with new cōpanies with 6000. Switzers new raised he made an armie of 14000. men with the which he besieged took Mascon The Duke of Nemours for the Duke Aniou and certaine weeks after being desirous to go see the Duches his wife he was set vpō by 80. horse certain foot that issued out of Autrā cōducted by Beaunais Burgony Between thē ther was som losse on both sides the D. himself was hurt with a Harquebus-shot in the knee that while he liued he went lame In Guy Messs de Monluc with diuers others followed with 4000. foot 700. horse enterprised vpō the Iles of Sain surprised killed between 3. or 400. mē which don they determined to besiege Rochel but their intēt being deferred took no effect Mean time the troupes of Dauphine others that held with the Prince aduanced thēselues being vnder the cōduct of the Vicounte Mouans others at Ganap in Auergne ouerthrew al the horsmen of the countrie assembled by S. Heram Gouernor accompanied with S. Chaumont Gordes others wherof the boldest were slain the rest sauing thēselues with their heels but in their retrait they found thēselues in a new mischief for the hauing giuen charge expresse notice to al strong towns other places therabouts not to receiue any that fled whatsoeuer liuerie he bare vppon the vaine hope they had to haue the victorie The Pesants made hauocke of thē in such sort that the troupes led by the Viscountes others ariued at Orleans cōstrained Martinenghe Richelieu the Monke other leaders participants with the duke of Aniou who before that vsed to runne euen to the gates of the Towne to seeke some lodging further off and to keepe themselues in couert and not contenting themselues to haue driuen them away followed them which done they marched towards Blois where Richelieu with eight hundreth men hath made his retrait Blois taken who at the first made some resistance but perceiuing a breach to be made they bled at the nose and yeelded by composition liues armes and goods saued neuerthelesse the Gascons not contenting themselues to vse blowes made such meanes that Richelieus souldiers were for the most part spoyled of all they had what meanes soeuer the horsemen made to impeach them The Prince vnderstanding the arriuall of those troupes from Gascon and Dauphine sent them word to bee in a readinesse and to those of Orleans that they should prouide powder bullets and three or foure battering peeces The siege of Chartres After that he sent three thousand horse aboue 20. leagues from thence to besiege Chartres a towne of great importance and one of the barnes of the prouision of corne to serue Parris which being taken serued the Prince in some sort to preserue the places that laye behinde him Monsieur de Lignieres commaunded therein with 22. companies that were strengthened by a regiment of foot that lay about 4. myles frō thence that got into it before the Prince had executed his pretence The manner of this siege was diuers because the Prince had but 5. peeces of batterie 4. small coluerins which did
no great matter specially against so many soldiers as were in it Also in two daies two nights they made such trauerses and trenches that no man durst force them but it was concluded that a batterie should be made against a place that seemed very weake The Duke of Anious armie lay on the other side of the riuer of Seine but would not hazard it selfe nor once approch the Princes campe assaying neuerthelesse to aide the besieged who in fine would haue been taken Therfore to refresh them he sent M. de la Valette a valiant Captaine with 8. cornets of horse with charge to surprise some of the enemies lodgings to indomage their forrages to cut their victuals froÌ„ them to molest wearie the Princes forces by continual alarms He to execute his commission The Duke of Anious Cornets ouerthrowne approached within 4. leagues of the campe lodging very close from whence he began to make his courses The Admirall being aduertised therof tooke vpon him to preuent it and as he alwaies vsed to march with a good companie fearing as he said to loose the praye he chose 3500. horse departed in so good time that at sun rising he found himselfe in the middle of the quarters of those 16. cornets of horse that were charged with such force by M. de Nouy that marched before the Admirals troupes that diuers of them being laid vpon the ground 4. cornets taken the rest were put to flight La Valette lodged in the town of Houdan reassembled 4. or 500. horse made a reasonable good retrait but after that neither he nor any of the rest of his troupes would once approach so neare fearing a new charge A new motion of peace The Q. foreseeing of what importance the taking of the town of Chartres would be begaÌ„ to parley of a peace saying that in time of neede she would do more with three sheets of paper then all her souldiers could do with their armes The Prince sent the Cardinall de Chastillon with certain Gentlemen to meet with the Q. Deputies at Loniumeau hard by Parris where in few daies a second edict of peace was framed whereof the first article imported that those of the religion shuld enioy the first edict purely simply and that it should bee executed in euery poynt and article according to the forme and tenor taking away and abolishing all restrictions modifications declarations and interpretations made since the day and daie therof vntill the publication of this second edict made the three and twentieth of March 1568. there were diuers other articles in this edict full of many faire words and promises As a good peace was much desired beeing most necessary so in the meane time few men considered well what this might bee Discourse vppon this matter but as if the name had been like to the effect most part of those of the religion stayed vppon it saying that it would be necessary to accept it not considering the euill will hatched in the king against them the subtilties of the reuenging spirit of the Queen-mother the hopes and triumphs proposed to the Duke of Aniou capital enemie to the Prince the intents and deuises of the house of Guise against that of Chastillon the furies of the Cleargie and the Frenchmen against those of the religion who without waying these things with an infinite number of others thought their sworne enemies would leaue armes assoone as themselues â—his inclination euil desiested constrained the Prince and the Admirall to consent to the receiuing of paper perceiuing so great a disposition specially in the Nobilitie to accept it which was as a tempest that bare them away not beeing able to resist it It is true that the Prince being a friend to peace had likewise some inclination thervnto but the Admirall perceiued the infruction thereof and that this edict was but a snare to intrap both great and small For that as then certaine babling Romish Catholicques could not refrain to say that the day of their reuenge approached A Gentleman that accompanied the Cardinall of Chastillon sent word that hee had oftentimes heard such speeches perceiued a great indignatioÌ„ hidden in the hearts of some of the Deputies for the Queen that they shuld looke vnto it as being a signe and foreshewing of some sinister chance Likewise there were some of the Court as wel men as women who sometimes gathered words cast out vpon the suddain that sent vnto their kinsmen friends in the Princes campe to certifie them that without all doubt they shuld be deceiued if they wrought not wisely which in a maner was to waken those that desired nothing but to sleep vpon the soft pillow of peace But what aduise soeuer was giueÌ„ it was impossible to stay that tempest of minds ensuing in Masse of mischiefes shadowed with the vaile of a royall pacification If any man thinke it straunge how these two commaunders that had so much credit with their participants could not as then perswade theÌ„ for their benefits let them consider what voluntarie souldiers are and the great desire man hath to returne vnto his house and then hee shall well perceiue that it is wholly beyond mans power to staye such as were borne away with so impituous a storme of humane passions Before the siege was raised from Chartres many whole cornets and diuers particular persons The Prince is constrained to accept the peace departed without leaue of their superiors marching towardes Saintonge and Poitou This humour entered among the footemen specially those that dwelt farre off and many of them said seeing the king offered the last edict of pacification they could not refuse it Some of the Nobilitie desired to returne into their Prouince for the presernatioÌ„ of their families sacked by the enemy The footmeÌ„ also coÌ„plained that they were not payd that they wanted victuals so that the commanders of those of the religion could not sticke vnto the aduises giuen vnto them neither yet refuse the peace because their forces beganne to diminish Their reason was that the body of their French forces forsaking them they should bee constrained to put themselues to defensiue warre which they esteemed not to be good for them seeing as then it was in the month of March a time when commonly all armies vse to enter into the field to separate the Rutters and so to distribute them in their townes was as much as to deuoure themselues and to incampe in a strong place would bee a remedie but for a time So that to conclude they resolued that of force they must hazard that posted and most daungerous peace which would constraine those that as then left their campe to acknowledge but too late their fault committed Then they could well haue desired to haue had some townes of the assurance but when they asked other assurances then the Edicts promises and oathes the Queene her sonnes and their Councellors cast fire out of their
put into his discourses who was then as I said with the Admiral say that Brissac might haue atchieued this enterprise but as we are to pray to god to watch ouer such as sleep and the conseruation of their fates so as the Countie was vppon the way about the performance of his purpose a small chance crossed yea vtterly subuerted all his deuises For comming with a dozen of lathers and his men very reolute being within two leagues of the place hee met with 200. of the enemies horse who seeing this small armie at that time of night in the field retired in hast and raised an alarme at Monstrueil and other places thereabout where their horsemen were lodged whervpon the Countie was driuen to retire afterward the Admirall strengthened his night watches better beat the fields more often yet neuer could finde any newes of the enterprise or know how it was vntill the next peace After this the Prince other commaunders withdrew themselues towards Rochel Other exployts to the aduantage of those of the religion determining vpon means to prouide mony for the furnishing of those warres and beganne to sell the goods of the Romish Cleargie finding such as would hazard to buy them who therin vsed the matter to their aduantage the Rochelers lent fourescore thousand frankes The Q. of England sent 50000. pound six cannons certaine thousand waight of powder great store of bullets for the which she was paide in salt woolls and bel mettal All base Poitou being in the hands of those of the religion except the Abbay of S. Michael in Loire where laye a good Garrison of Friers and souldiers which serued for a restraint to many courses into the countrie but some souldiers of Poitou obtained licence of the Prince to besiege the Abbey which sustained two light assaults At the third assault it was battered and taken by force and 4. or 500. men that were in it put to the sword because of their wilfulnesse On the other side Martineugue Entragues and la Chastre Gouernors of Gyon Orleans Bourges accompanied with other leaders and certain troupes of souldiers The siege of Sancerre besieged Sancerre a small towne being the refuge of diuers families of the religion and gaue diuers assaults which the besieged sustained and repulsed wearying the enemie in diuers sorts who hauing lost sixe or seuen hundreth of their best men left that small town in peace but after that the Sancerrois seeking to enterprise to build a sort vpon the riuer of Loire they were surprised and hauing lost fiftie of their men and the fort were content to keepe good watch within their towne In the beginning of the yeare 1569. the warre beganne to renue the Viscounts of Bourniquet Montclar Paulin and Gourdon with seuen thousand Harquebusiers and some horsemen made warre for the Prince against those of Thoulouse and others the towne of Montauban beeing their chiefe retrait And beeing summoned by the Prince to ioyne with him Piles punisheth the pesants in Perigord made aunswere that they had rather keepe that Prouince and defend their owne Countrimen from Monluc and other enemies then leaue them as a pray while they bare armes in an other Prouince Captaine Piles that had charge to conduct them gathered certaine troupes in Quercy Agenois and other places and hauing taken Bergerac and Saint Foy hee made a road into Perigord where hee burnt all the villages and slewe all those that hee suspected to bee at the ouerthrow of Mouuans and Gourde And not long after hee marched with twelue hundreth Harquebusiers and about two hundreth horse to ioyne with the Prince Diuers warlike exployts About the beginning of February fiue hundreth horse comming forth of Saumur surprised defeated the Court of Bressant of Anigeuin neare vnto Thours and within eight daies after Countie Brissac had like to haue defeated the troupes of Montgommery whose brother he tooke prisoner with some others and slew some eighteene or twentie men The seuenteenth of the same moneth the Castle of Lusignon holden in the name of the Duke of Aniou was surprised by intelligence the Garrison thereof beeing for the most part gone into the towne to banquet and make good cheere But for want of speedie ayde the surprisers to the number of nine or ten were slaine there was likewise many other enterprises in diuers places as against New-hauen and Deepe but they tooke no effect The Protestants that bare armes with the Prince tired with the winter toyle and so many skirmishes found some sweetnesse in resting in Poitou whither they were retired But about the end of February the Prince began to gather his armie report beeing giuen out that the Duke was alreadie in field and marched with all his forces to Angoulesme To armies enter the field To whom the Counte of Tende had brought three thousand foote and some horse besides two thousand Rutters vnder the leading of the Rhingraue Bassompierre that were come to supply him Whervpon he purposed to end the war either by forcing the Prince to fight or else constraining him to shut his men within the townes The Prince and Admirall therevpon hauing assembled their forces determined to march along by the Charante a riuer in Poictou to behold the dukes countenance but yet not to hazard himselfe As also to ayde their townes which they strengthened with men making their armie so much the weaker But nothing worth memorie was done vntill the Duke came to Chasteauneuf a town cituate vppon Charante where at his arriuall hee tooke the Castle kept by a Scot and some Harquebusiers that yeelded themselues with their liues saued but with small honour The taking of Chasteauneuf occasion and beginning of the battel of Bassac And because the bridge of Chasteauneuf had been broken in two places the Admirall desirous to know the countenance and passage of the enemie went thither followed by seuen or eight hundreth horse and as many Harquebufiers There hee had a light skirmish with certaine troupes that had passed in certaine barkes or ouer certaine plankes speedily cast ouer The Admirall thinking that the Duke would passe ouer and thinking to haue time to aduertise the Prince to prouide for him minded to stop that passage vntill the next day And appoynted two Regiments of foote to lodge within a quarter of a myle from the bridge and eight hundreth horse somewhat further off wherof the third part should keepe watch hard by it as well to aduertise as to offer fight which done hee withdrew himselfe to Bassac about a league frō the bridge with the rest of the vantgard the Prince came to Iarnac which lyeth a league further but this commandement was not executed For both the horse and foote knowing that in the places appoynted them to staye there was but fewe houses with lesse victuals and fourage hauing wholly forgotten how to incampe themselues to be without commoditie in their lodgings went to finde some other quarter
Whereby the most part of this troupe left that place to lodge themselues with more ease left but a small number of men in place that laye about halfe a league from it This great fault produced another which was that the watch was too weake A notable fault which could not come time ynough to hear nor giue alarme to the enemies troups as they had beene instructed thereby to make them thinke that all the Princes Auantgard lay there The Dukes armie beeing very strong resolued to seize vpon the passage although all the Princes power had opposed themselues against him and by the diligence of Monsieur de Biron not onely repaired the bridge but made a new bridge of barkes which are carried with armies royall and before midnight had finished it which done without great noyse they began to passe ouer both horse and foote The Princes men that stood in gard with fiftie horse about a small quarter of a league from the passage in a manner could scarce perceiue them to passe vntill about the breake of day wherewith they presently aduertised the Admirall who knowing that most part of his men had lodged in other places namely on that side where the enemies came sent them word that they passed and with all speed to march towards him that they might retire altogither that in the meane time hee would stay for them at Bassac At the same time also hee commaunded that all the carriage and footmen should retire which was presently done If then within one houre after all his forces had beene assembled hee had easily retired without much labor Slacking of things daungerous in warre but the time being about three houres that passed in staying for them was the principal cause of their ouerthrow The Admirall would not loose those troupes being nine Cornets of horse and certaine companies of foot wherof the Coronels were the Counte Montgommery Acier and Puuiaut Beeing all come onely Acier that tooke the way towards Angoulesme all the Dukes armie beeing past and hard by the Admirall the skirmish began so hot that each man perceiued that day would bee a battell beeing the thirteenth of March which made the Prince turne backe being half a league from them passing forward for hauing vnderstood that hee should bee constrained to fall to blowes hee hauing a Lyons heart would bee one among the rest WheÌ„ the Admiral for his retrait came to forsake a small chanel which might bee passed ouer but in two or three places the Duke was counselled to aduance the flower of his horsemen composed of seuen or eight hundreth horse which ouerthrew foure cornets that made the retrait where la Noue and la Loue were taken prisoners The Princes magnanimitie ended not but with his life Valiant charges hauing couragiosly sustained the fight as also Coronel Puuiant who not long after reassembled his dispearsed troupe the same horsemen of the Dukes campe not long after charged d'Andelot in a village but he valiantly resisted them and slew Monsalez and diuers others of good account to the number of fifteene or sixteene the Prince and the Admirall ranged in two great squadrons of horse perceiuing that the enemie went about to inclose them betweene all the Dukes forces Charante prepared themselues to giue the charge The Admirall began the Prince seconding which was with greater force then the first and at the beginning made al those that flood against him to turne their backs after that sustaining a new charge where for a time the battell was hot and fierce but in the end he and the Admirall hauing all the enemies armie vpon them the Prince being falleÌ„ vnder his dead horse therby ensued the ouerthrow of the horsemen hauing lost about one hundreth Gentlemen and among the rest the Prince himselfe who lying vnder his horse could not bee relieued by his troupes and yeelding himselfe to Monsieur d'Argences at the report of his taking The death of the Prince of Conde and others a Gentleman of Gascon called Montesqueon Captain of the Dukes guard ran thither and discharging a Pistoll at him shot him in the head wherewith hee presently died His death bredde great sorrow among those of the religion and much ioy to diuers that loued him not namely to the king the Queen the Duke of Aniou and all the house of of Guise specially the Cardinall of Lorraine who the next day after the news was brought vnto the king as then beeing at Metz touching the battell wherin the Catholicques had lost two hundreth Gentlemen among the which were diuers Lords and men of name comming to salute the king after the maner of Courtiers smiling said vnto him your Grace as I suppose is now better disposed then you were the other day beeing eased of much corrupt blood In that manner iested hee who vpon the bodies of the Princes of the blood and the Nobilitie of France placed the foundation of the rule and gouernment which his familie would after haue vsurped as you shall wel perceiue From Metz they sent certaine cornets that had bin taken from the Prince vnto the Pope whereat that good Pastor so much reioyced that he went a foote on procession from his Castle of Saint Ange to the temple of the holy ghost withall the Cardinals to thanke his Imagess with out flatterie this praise may wel be giuen vnto the Prince of whom we will now speake that not any man liuing in his time did euer surpasse him in courage nor courtesie He spake very wisely more by nature then art liberall and readie to all men an execellent leader in warre yet a louer of peace most firme in his religion inuincible in aduersitie but milde in prosperitie a great iester subiect to vanitie louer of women and collor but one that gaue place to reprehensions and aduises of such as hee loued and respected but by this ouerthrow wee may gather that when a matter of importance and hazard is to bee effected it ought not to bee done by halues for that either we must leaue it and not be ashamed to retire or else do it withall our forces If the Admirall and the Prince had had all their forces the Duke would not haue set vpon them also when armies lye scattered they fall into inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best leaders cannot remedie After this battell the Duke sent to besiege Cognac and began to imbrace diuers other enterprises as if nothing had bin impossible vnto him Exployts after the battell of Brâ—ssac for that not long before certaine places in Poictou had been taken from those of the religion but Cognac stayed the course of this victorie in such sort as that after the Duke had lost the boldest of his footemen in that siege hee thought to get as much by intelligence against Saint Iohn d'Angely where dooing nothing hee summoned Angoulesme that made him no other aunswere but with threatnings to send him away with losse and shame
if his armie came thither while the Dukes Councell were consulting of the means to imploy his forces in other places those of the religion had time and leisure to ioyne themselues togither The Admirall brought the Princes of Nauarre and Conde from Saint Iohn to Tone Charante where hee met the Queene of Nauarre to incourage such as were in doubt and to take Councell what was to bee done Their horsemen were mustered whereof the Prince of Nauarre was appoynted Generall to whom all of them being the number of foure thousand Gentlemen made oathes of fidelitie The young Prince of Conde was ioyned with him d'Andelot went to the Garrisons to take a view of the footemen which done hee made a voyage into Poitou to assemble the dispearsed troupes to prouide for mony and to bridle the courses of the enemies but comming from thence The death of Monsieur d'Andelot beeing taken with a burning feuer hee went to Sainctes where hee died vppon the seuenteenth of May to the great greefe and sorrow of all his friends and seruants His bodie beeing opened was found to bee poysoned which not long after was practised against diuers Lords Gentlemen of the religion by the aduise of Rene de Birague an Italian as then Keeper of the seales and after Chancellor of France who vsed openly to say that it was not necessary to make warre with so much labour and charges but to imploy the Cookes meaning prisoners The estate of Colonell of the French Infanterie was giuen to Acier and his company to Beauuais la Nocle his Lieftenant but the charge of all the armie and the care of the principall affaires fell vppon the Admirall much respected by the Queene of Nauarre Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines and to bee short of both great and small that as then made profession of the religion The siege of Mucidan where Pompadon the Countie Brissac are slaine As concerning the Dukes army it ouerranne Xaintoigne Angoulesme and Limosin taking in some places namely Aubeterre The Countie de Brissac Colonel of the French footemen in that armie and Captaine of a Regiment of fortie Ensignes with the most part of their forces tooke vpon him the siege of Mucidan They that were within after they had a while defended the Towne set it on fire and retired into the Castle which they held valiantly and abide some assaults slew the notable men of the regements of Brissac Monluc and Cars among the rest the Vicount of Pompadou lastly Brissac himselfe who comming neare to view the breach and defences had no sooner put foorth his nose but a Harquebuse pearced his head and layde him starke dead vpon the Counterstarp hee was betweene fiue and six and twentie yeares of age and was much bewayled of many that hoped to haue seene him in time one of the greatest leaders of our daies A while after the besieged yeelding vpon composition to haue both liues and goods saued were scarce out of sight of the walles but that contrarie to faith and promise the most part were cut in peeces by the besiegers vpon a desperate reuenge of the death of their two Coronels and their best souldiers that they had there lost The taking of the I le of Medoc On the other side Captaine Piles tooke the Isle of Medoc lying betweene Rochel and Bourdeaux where all the souldiers inriched themselues And the Duke abandoned Guyen and tooke his way towards Berry there to ioyne with the forces of the D. d'Aumale that togither they might stop the Dutch armie brought in by the Duke of Deaxponts from ioyning with the Princes The Lords of Nouy Ienly Moruilliers Fequieres Esternay and others soone after the beginning of this third ciuill warre A small French army commeth in fit time to the Rutters throgh Frāce maugre all the enemies armies had gathered togither some fifteene or six hundreth horse and two thousand Harquebusiers whom when in regard of the difficultie of the passages they could not bring into Guyen they led into Brabant to the prince of Orenge and Countie Lodowick his brother who after they had a while with variable successe continued warre against the Spaniards passed ouer the riuer of Meuse maugre the duke of Alue to whom they offered battell which the Spaniard refused as hoping to waste them with want of victuals which grew so short that they were driuen to passe into France where comming to Vitry they consulted vpon their affaires whether it were best to passe further into the Realm alreadie daunted with so many armies and to returne toward Germanie and so to ioyne with the armie that VVolfgang Counte Palatine of Rhyne D. of Deux Ponts leuyed for the Princes but the second aduise tooke place Now more narrowly to consider what a long walke this Dutch armie made from the Rhine euen vnto Limosin togither with their great and continuall impeachment it cannot but breed much maruell that a forraine armie watched so narrowly and hauing so many backe-friends could thus compasse their drifts True it is that ciuill warres haue at al times made a plaine path to forraine nations who otherwise durst scarce looke towards the Gates without the support of the one partie But where the fauour is but small on the one side and the resistance great on the other we are the more to admire the exployts of those that do so aduenture themselues It was a great comfort to the Germaine Duke to haue the assistance of the Prince of Orenge the Countie Lodowick and the Countie VVolrad of Mansfield The description of the Dutch army with the French afore mentioned His troupes contained fiue thousand Lansquenets and sixe thousand Rutters With this small armie hee marched publishing by writing the causes of his iourney to the Princes The kings Councell finding themselues to seeke did speedily conclude of a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to stop this succour yet doubting of the weakenesse of such a Leader vnskilfull and vnfortunate in matter of warre leuied yet an other vnder the conduct of the Duke of Nemours a man in manner like vnto the other These two bodies assembled in footemen farre surmounted the Dutch Dukes but in horsemen hee was the stronger They were resoluted not to linger vntill hee entered France and so make hauocke but marched euen to the borders of Germanie and neare to Saumur where they defeated the regiment of Captain la Coche of Dauphine composed of sundrie parcels patched togither which purposed to haue ioyned with the Lansquenets Notwithstanding this defeate the Germaine Duke proceeded into France through Bourgongne where the enemie coasted him vntill hee had gotten to the riuer of Lotre hauing marched full fourescore leagues they neuer left him but were still in his flancke or vppon the taile yea many times the armies were each in sight of other and had many great skirmishes The Prince of Orenge hath since sundrie times reported that he maruelled that in so long and
after Puitaille and Puigaillard charged certaine Argolitiers belonging to la Noue who were so scarred that they so scarred also all the rest of the troupes both horse and foote ledde by Noue Soubize and Puuiaut that without regard of their leaders cōmanders all the companies retired into Rochel without any losse for at that time they shewed their heels to Puigaillard and his company who beeing refreshed with diuers Regiments both of horse and foote seized vpon all the strong holds that they had lost in Poictou since the surprise of Marans Besides the nearer to coope vp the Rochelers they erected a Fort at Lucon vpon the high-way into the fennes where they lodged foure Ensignes of footemen vnder the charge of Captaine Mascaron Then did Puigaillard with draw his forces into high Poicton there did hee spredde a rumour that the Princes had obtained a great victorie also that the king had sent for him to come with his forces in all diligence By this stratageme hee looked to haue brought la Noue Puuiaut and others Puigaillards enterprise to get the vpper hand and others out of Marans and Rochel to besiege the Fort which hee pretended presenly with all diligence to relieue with his whole armie so to ouerthrow them and withall to atchiue a cōquest royal Vpon this practise as it fel out in Roussiere a Gentleman of Poictou did not thinke it much amisse to shewe Puigaillard some sport in a hunting and on the other side Puuiaut hearing of the sport would needes make one without intreatie By the way Mascaron layde an ambush for him but freeing himself therefro he strooke vp to Roussiers lodging whom he found not at home In the returne Roussiere was met withal and carried away prisoner with others by whom Puuiaut learned that the Fort of Lucon was but meanly manned and so might be easily had whereof withall speed he aduertised la Noue who with greater speed marched foorth of Rochel with foure cornets eleuen French Ensignes and the rest of the Lansquenets to the humber of three hundreth The Fort of Lucon befieged The Fort besieged Puigaillard with nine companies of light-horse of the ordenances twentie Ensignes of light-horsemen all olde souldiers and the kings guard leauing the rest of his troupes such was his haste for feare hee should not come time ynough to shut vp la Noue betweene Marans and Lucon hee marched so fast that he made his men march two daies and one night without any repast except that they rested a while at Fontenay almost so long as while they might leaue and lay vp their carriage to go the lighter Comming to Saint Gemme within halfe a league of Lucon the foureteenth day heetooke his bedde giuing out that hee was sicke of a burning feuer and vnder pretence of redeeming Roussiere and other prisoners hee sent a trumpet with charge to aduow his sickenesse and withall to take a viewe of the whole manner and estate of the besiegers His troupes were euen tired with the way and many compelled to rest some houres at Fontenay Puuiaut beeing at Saint Gemme suspecting the matter finding that the trumpetter could not wel keep his countenance Puigallards dissimulation discouered layd hold of him and so forced him to confesse the trueth Wherevpon immediately the scourers were sent out to keep the waies who toward night surprised fome of Puigaillards souldiers whom they brought to Puuiaut by whom hee vnderstood of the approach of such a great power la Noue beeing also aduertised heereof euery man prouided for the field by the aduise of their captains namely of Puuiaut who perswaded them that they were to deale with tired people and such as came to offer themselues to the slaughter thus humbly commending themselues vnto God they prepared to the onset Soone after that Puuiaut and all his men were departed out of S. Gemme to ioyne with la Noue Puigaillards footmen approached assaulted the barriers without resistance entered into the borough but finding no bodie some fell to sleeping some to feeding some ran to tell Puigaillard that the enemies fled he thinking neuer to come time ynogh entered Saint Gemme before day crying out in euery corner to call foorth the souldiers and to bring them into array to pursue the runawaies who were said to retire confusedly to Marans Hee sent fiftie Argolets before who tolde him an other tale namely that the enemies were at hand and in battell array The territorie betweene Saint Gemme and Lucon is a vine ground well fenced with hedge and ditch with some fields diuided with a high-way of reasonable bredth The batiell of Lucon where Puigaillard lost his footemen on each side beset with bushes La Noue came first and prouided well for his troupes Puigaillard could not haue any such aduantage especially in regard of his horsemen which by reason of ditches were forced to come on a row this beeing considered by Captaine Stephen a leader of thirtie sallets and some shot backed with twentie horse vnder the conduct of Bruneliere he beganne the charge by la Noues appoyntment and valiantly set vpon the first troupes of Puigaillards horsemen Puuiaut perceiuing them on euery side to stagger who were some hundreth and fiftie Maisters hee brake into them killed some feared the rest who fell vpon their owne footemen and fledde with Puigallard as fast as the horse might driue to Fontenay which was foure leagues of such as were but badly horsed were beaten downe and presently slaine Then were their footemen on euery side beset and beeing in the plaine field drawing toward the bushes they were beaten downe with shot neither would the horsemen let them runne farre but cut them in peeces but of all other the Launsquenets shewed most crueltie obiecting to the Kings guard the battell of Moncontour Had it not beene for la Noue and Soubize all Puigaillards footemen hadde beene quite rooted out so sore were the Launsquenets bent against them They tooke sixteene Ensignes and two Cornets fiue hundreth olde souldiers slaine in the place with many Captaines and Lieftenants of the Regiments and companies and seuen or eight hundreth prisoners sent away with a white staffe in their hands Puigaillard lost but thirtie horse the rest escaped with him This armie thus ouerthrown after thanks giuing to God la Noue Soubize and Puuiaut marched to the Fort which vppon safetie of his life and his troupe Mascaran yeelded vp whose foure Ensignes with the other eighteen were carried to Rochel The Cōquerors following this good beginning besieged beat The Fort of Lucon yeelden to the conquerers who tooke many other places tooke Fontenay le Comte vppon composition that the besieged should saue their liues and goods and so they retired to Nyort but la Noue lost an arme at the siege Puuiaut Soubize and other the protestant Leaders continuing their conquest chased the Romish Catholicques out of Obiron Marens Soubize and Brouage where Riuiere Puitaille one of their chiefe Captaines was so wounded
The same day toward fiue of the clocke at night the Sarreant Maior of the Towne made a sallie and fired part of their wodden bridge and foure and twentie houres after returned to burne the corps degard that was hard by the sald bridge About this time at three seuerall courses certaine of the enemies horsemen sought to keepe the poore people of the towne after the tide from gathering of Muscles Shrimps such like but some of them lost their horses and Petronels and some were taken carried away prisoners as vnable soone ynough to get forth out of the bogges where their horses sunck vpto the shoulders The eight assault The sixteenth of May a little before day the enemie gaue the eight assault to the afore named bulwarke which was very sharpe yet had the repulse on both sides The same day and the two next follwing the Cannon playing vppon the Towne made no spare of powder or bullet The twentieth day came in a small vessell loden with powder and corne sent by the Countie Montgommery vnder the conduct of Captaine Arnaud who passed in spire of the enemies fleet and forces who discharged many a shot at him but hurt him not A notable sallie Three daies after some foure or fiue hundreth men after noone sallied foorth of the towne and surprised and mightily amazed the enemie that lay toward the Cognee gate whom they killed without resistance to the number of two hundreth both Captains soldiers besides a great number of wounded The whole campe taking the alarm many came in so that the Rochelers lost 20. of their men but carried into their towne eight Ensignes with many cuiraces Halbards Targets Harguebuzes guilt swords They did greatly bewaile Maronniere a braue Gentleman who died of his wounds within two daies after as a little before they had done the death of Vergerbeanlieu a Poeteuine Gentleman highly esteemed for his valour whereof be had made proofe especially in the eight assault where hee tooke his deadly wound The fiue and twentieth day of May the batterie beganne very furious and lasted till nine the reason was that fiue mynes which the enemie had digged were shut and readie to play The next morning by breake of day the batterie beganne againe as wel againe the bulwarke as against the defences and so continued vntill night The next morning about seuen of the clocke all the companies of the campe were mustered The Switzers being new come to the number of 16. Ensignes in a great battaillon were by the Rochelers welcommed with cannon short which fell so iust among them that they made a great lane and forced the rest to go further from the Towne About eleuen of the clocke the regiments of the campe beeing readie to the assault discharging their artillerie blew vp their mynes wherein rested their whole hope The ninth assault but all this stood them in no stead for some of their mines did greatly helpe to fortifie the besieged and to flancke the breach from the olde fountaine to the Gospel-bulwarke a fatall and vnhappie name for the enemie who were expected and repulsed by the women maides and seruants who that day did incredible things The assault was fiue times renued and lasted vntill sixe of the clocke at night alwaies more fierce and greater then any of the former And indeed the enemie lost foure hundreth men that stayed in the ditches and carried away sixe hundreth wounded The Rochelers lost thirtie or fortie souldiers and women and three or foure Captaines among the rest one very valiant named Blays who was slaine with a peece of a stone The Countie Montgommery did his endeuour to succour the Rochelers by sea but in vaine in that he was ouerweake both in shipping and men to fight with the fleet royall Murmurings in Rochell which was verie strong Towards the beginning of Iune victualles beganne to grow short with the besieged wherevppon some considering that the enemies cannon plaied continually also that some souldiers fledde the Towne began to doubt and haue some speech of composition so that some of the most apparant were imprisoned for that togither with some three hundreth they had signed a bill that imported the making of peace vpon whatsoeuer conditions for their parts they were weary of the warres and the great want of corne would shortly breede a famine Others had in open street consulted vppon taking of the gates whereby to go foorth at their pleasures Of these murmures ensued new parleyes which the Duke of Aniou solicited that so hee might depart thence for the newes was come that he was chosen king of Poland and that the Ambassadors were comming to him In the meane time vpon Fryday the twelfth of Iune the enemie gaue a suddaine escalado at the little breach neare to the old fountaine some hundreth or sixscore Gentlemen gat vppe and some vnto the Caualier where they stayed long ynough to take a view of the inward trenches and counterscarpe that was fortified within the retrenchment and so beganne to retire neither escaped they al the greeting of the smal shot which diminished their number and slew some fifteene or twentie in the place The next day they returned to their parleyes and because the Rochelers had counsell to send their Deputies to the Duke of Aniou at whose hands as they were told they might obtaine more then they demaunded they stayed for a pasport which they found so badly penned that they might well perceiue that it stood them vppon to beware and therefore they caused their Deputies to retire which so netled the D. that he resolued before the cōming of the Polonian Ambassadors to trie all meanes and to the same end came in person to take a view of the mine by the old fountaine The Duke of Anious aduentures where one of the Towne souldiers discerning him shot off a harguebuze charged with a bullet and some haile shot but his great Esquier named Deuin perceiuing the match stepped before him and was slaine the Duke reserued to an other end was slightly touched with some of the haile shot but not hurt After this notwithstanding their shooting and sallying on both sides yet was it nothing in regard of that which was past But vpon the 17. of Iune the Polish Ambassadors being arriued in France truce was made and lastly the articles of peace agreed vpon and sent vnto the king which hee approoued and framed them in manner of an Edict graunting to those of the religion Rochel Montauban Nismes and other Townes wherein the free exercise of religion was permitted and to others permission to liue without trouble in their houses An Edict of pacification for Rochell and all those of the religion therein to solemnize baptisme and marriage after their manner without greater assembly besides the Parents then the number of tenne except in the Court at Parris and within tenne leagues round about it hee restored those of Rochel to their rights and auncient
mother and his bretheren But the freedome of the Ministers being impatient to staye the resolution of a Councell made them to preach openly whereby they so much tempted and altered mens consciences that suddainly the ceremonies traditions of the Church were abated and the temples seased vpon destroyed And the Constable beeing descended of the first Barron and first Christian in France opposed himselfe against this diuersitie of religion in one realm The Edict of Iuly made at S. Germains in Laye 1561. The assembly at Poissy The murther of Vassy the 1. of Mars 1562. The battaile of Dreux the 19. of Decēber 1561. The Constable was first taken then the Prince of Conde The king of Nauarre was slaine at the siege of Rouē 1562. The Duke of Guise slaine before Orleans the 24. of Febru 1563. 1. Edict of peace Anno. 1563. Reconciliatiō betweene the D. of Guise and the Admirall 1566. Counsell of the Duke of Alue The enterprise at Meaux at the feast of S. Michael 1567. The battaile of S. Denis on S. Martins euen 1567. VVhere the Constable was slaine The second Edict of peace at Lōiumeau which from the time of king Clouis had bin holden maintained in paritie and integritie vnder the ancient faith of their forefathers The Cardinal of Lorraine on the other side tooke the matter in hand and counselled the king to make an Edict against those of the religion the presumption of certain men was such that they cōsented to the disputation at Poissy wher in place of remedie we found but an increasing of our miseries After that the Edict of Ianuarie so much renoumed in all the troubles and solemnized by the Huguenots folowed the breach whereof by the means of Vassy caused both parts to fall to armes vpon the plaines of Dreux which gaue the name to that me morable battell not onely for the number of men there assembled being 1900. foot 2000. horse for the kings part 4000. horse called White-coates 6000. foot of the contrarie as for diuers other accidents that therin were marked besides the taking of two of their chiefe leaders For the Prince of Conde that imputed the first motions of his imprisonmēt of his separatiō frō the fauor and presence of K. Francis the 2. to the practises of the Duke de Guise that euening of the battell was his prisoner accepted the halfe of his auncient enemies bed that was offered vnto him a right discription of this variable world wher you see one triumphing the other captiue Among so many prosperities that inuironed the Duke of Guise by the death of the king of N. Generall of the kings armie followed by all the Catholicque Nobilitie Tutor cōductor of the king Queen-mothers whole affaires death being iealous that the Capitall citie of the realme at his arriuall had cried Viue Guise Viue Guise with as great ioy gladnes as euer they cried Viue le Roy dispatched him out of the way by Poltrots means that slew him at Orleans therby finished the first ciuill war at which time the Prince of Conde was deliuered out of prison the Constable brought the first Edict of peace By this peace France had means to breath and her subiects to liue in some assurance but the corrupted humours that caused the disease of the estate were not so wel disiested but that ther rested some remnants whereby it might be feared it would fall into a much more dangerous sicknesse which happened 3. years after whē the most troublesome alterers of estate renued the fire which although it were not vtterly quenched yet it was half cōsumed The Queen hauing performed that generall visitation of all the kings Prouinces at Moulins taken vp the quarrel between the houses of Guise Chastillon and made thē friends caused 6000. Switzers to be sent for vndera fained sear of the D. of Albes passage throgh France with whom she had conferred at Bayonne wher they concluded that to liue in peace it was best for her to fish after great Samons to leaue the frogs The Admiral perceiuing it determined rather to saue himselfe by his armes then with his legs and went so near vnto the king that he had almost taken him at Meaux and so caused him to retire to Parris being conducted by Pfiffers regiment And the Prince of Conde tooke the town of S. Dennis assieged Parris burned the milles And in fine the two armies met fought before S. Dennis wher the Protestants retired the K. had the victorie but it cost him the life of the Constable beeing one of the valiantest Captains in al Europe who hauing commanded in 7. battels died in the sight of the citie of Parris and of his king at the head of an armie victorious by his cōduction hauing cut his enemies in the cheeks that had wounded him in the face he was by a Scot shot into the raines with a Pistolle so died of the seuenth wound he had receiued in that seuenth battel being of the age of 60. and 7. yeares This death procured an other little peace cōmonly called the lined peace which continued but 6. months and made a war that The Prince of Conde slaine at Bassac the 21 of March 1569. The battaile of Montcontour the 3. of October 1569. The 3. Edict of peace An. 1570. indured for the space of 2. whole years wherein the Prince of Conde died and where the Princes of Nauarre and Conde the Dukes de Guise and Maine were Captains the one of the protestants armie vnder the conduct of the Admiral the other for the defence of Poictiers vnder Monsieur the kings brother General of his Maiesties armie whereby the battell of Moncontour happened where all the protestants footemen were slaine and the Rutters spurs were not sharp ynough to make their horses flie but Monsieur not pursuing his victorie suffered his enemies to range meet togither again who in short time were foūd strong ynough to constrain him to the wars or else to make another Edict of peace with more aduantage then the two first This peace being sworned by al those that had any publike authorite therin caused the Frenchmen to feele the sweetnesse of tranquillitie to be much different from the sharpnesse and bitternesse of ciuill diuisions Therein the king the Queen-mother his bretheren and the Princes did nothing but breath and aspire vnto contentment nothing was spoken of in France but only assurance and of remoouing their wars vnto the frontiers or within the bowelles of forrain countries and euery place was filled with marriages bankets c. But this goodly shew was put only a presaging of the torment that ensued and Saylers iudged that those great calmes would in the end cause some great tempest For presently after ensued the great and terrible day so full of blood teares and sorrow where without respect The massacre vppon Bartholomewe day Ann. 1573. so many
in the right line Charles the fift which makes the second branch from the end of the first line had two sonnes Charles Duke of Orleans and Iohn Earle of Angoulesme Charles the eight dying then without children Charles Duke of Orleans successiuely came into the right line so that Lewis his sonne was found the first heir who also raigned after Charles the eight who was surnamed father of the people Lewis their dying without issue male the right of inheritance came into the branch of Iohn Earle of Angoulesme so that the lawe set the Crowne on the head of Francis the first the Earles onely sonne And from Francis it came to his sonne Henry the second from whom succeeded orderly Francis the second Charles the ninth and Henry the third his childreÌ„ one after the other froÌ„ brother to brother In this right line ended the last King of the race of Valois who died without children The law then tooke hold on the second sonne of Saint Lewis named Robert who was Earle of Clermont and married with Beatrix daughter to d'Archambaut of Bourbon by her hee had one sonne named Lewis from whom the lands were made errigible in Counte the yeare one thousand three hundreth twentie seuen After this Lewis succeeded Peter and Iames his sonnes Peter had one sonne named Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who was slaine at the taking of Rome in the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth twentie seuen And in him dying without issue male ended the line masculine of this branch Iames his vncle the sonne of Lewis had then a sonne named Iohn who espoused Catherine Countesse of Vendosme of Castres and Ladie of Conde This Iohn sonne of Iames had three sonnes Iames Lewis and Iohn The first last to wit Iames and Iohn left no posteritie Lewis sonne of Iohn had two sonnes Francis and Lewis the younger hath issue the Duke de Montpensier who liueth at this present The Prince de la Rochesur-yon the eldest of this branch died without children The eldest named Francis the sonne of Lewis which espoused Marie of Luxembourg had three sonnes Charles Francis and Lewis Charles the eldest had by the Ladie Frances of Alencon fiue sonnes Anthony Francis Charles Lewis and Iohn Anthony of Bourbon eldest sonne of Charles married Iane d'Albert Queene of Nauarre the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth fortie nine The twelfth of December 1553. was borne of this marriage in the ninth degree of the heires male after Saint Lewis Henry of Bourâ—â—n the onely sonne of Anthony Now by the decease of Henry the third the last king of the race of Valois descending by the masculine line from Philip the eldest son of king Lewis the Saint the right of the Crowne came vnto Robert his youngest sonne and from him consequently to Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name king of France and Nauarre who at this day raigneth and of whom we are specially to speake in this Breuiarie That which the king did in his beginning This king hauing accompanied the corps of the deceased king to his tombe and put it in safe keeping to the Maister of Meulan Gisors and Clermont diuided his forces into three armies the first for himselfe with the which he marched vnto Touraine the other twaine hee committed to the Duke de Longueuille and to the Marshall d'Aumont for Picardie and Champagne Before hee had taken the way to Touraine with his troupes which were composed of twelue hundreth horse three thousand footemen and two Regiments of Switzers hee purposed to take his iourney into Normandie where the Pont de l'Arche was yeelded vnto him Then he came to Deepe won Caen vnto his side and constrained Neufchastel to bee rendered vnto his hands hauing disappoynted by his Lieftenants the succours which they had sent vnto them And hauing made a shew to besiege Roane it caused the Duke de Maine beeing called to the succor by Aumalle and Brissac to set himselfe in the field with more then three thousand horse and fiue thousande footemen who promised to the Parisians at that time to make an ende of all warre and to bring the king their enemie vnto them bound both hand and foote The king vnderstaÌ„ding that this mightie armie of his enemies increased euery day more and more by the assistance of the low countries of Picardie and Lorruine asked of the Duke de Longueuille and of the Marshall d'Aumont if they should go and meete them A notable exployt at Arques against the League And then marching toward his enemies they incamped at a certaine Village called Arques about two leagues from the Towne of Deepe And within three daies he made such entrenchments for his troups that the bancke in the lowest place was seuen or eight foote high on the one side aboue the towne where the artillerie were placed vnder the keeping of foure companies of Switzers The approach of the campe was espied by the Castle wherevppon was placed certaine peeces that shot off with great aduantage Meane space the Duke de Maine was greatly busied to thinke how hee might take againe the Townes of Gourney Neufchastel and Euison at what time both hee and his whole armie was perswaded that they might take Arques at the first But the Duke found it at his comming farre more troublesome then he imagined by reason of the newe Trenches which the king hadde made on euery side thereof for his commoditie by the which meanes hee might the better and the more easier ouer-runne his enemies at all times A sore skirmige The two armies continued there from the end of August to the midst of September And vpon the sixteenth of that moneth two fierce and cruell skirmiges was made in the which the Leaguers lost a great number of their approoued souldiers and nine or tenne of their Captaines This did truely presage and shew vnto them what successe they were like to haue in their attempts to come whereof followed nothing else but shame and sorrow to the leaguers VVhose foolish hope was also made frustrate which they hadde to chase the king himselfe into England or to kill him with all his followers or else to bring them in triumph prisoners to the Cittie of Parris The furie of these skirmiges was at last conuerted to the playing of the cannons both on the one side and the other which indured three or foure dayes togither On the Thursday the three and twentieth of September the Leaguers Armie or a part thereof containing a thousand horse and about six or eight thousand foote came to a place named la Maladerie which was strengthened with eight hundred smal shot foure coÌ„panies of Rutters Lanceknights sustained moreouer with three companies of light horsmen three companies of great ordenance and with the forces of the Princes of Conde and Counte Furthermore at the top of the Trench stood the companies belonging to the Lords of Chastillon and Maligni with a good number of the Nobilitie who were vnder
to order his battell The battell of Yurie and the kings notable exploicts And after they had cōmended all their successe vnto God he broke his fast and so about nine of the clocke in the foorenoone they were in the field readie to giue battell and the king beeing at the head of his squadron of which the first ranckes were composed of Princes Earles Knights and principall Gentlemen of the noblest families of France beganne to make his prayers vnto God with an exhortation that all the other squadrons should do the like Then passing along from the head of his armie hee encouraged his people to the fight And returning to his place without further delay he caused the great artillerie to bee shot off which gaue nine daungerous vollies to the great hurt of the leaguers Who after three or foure other vollies giuen on both sides aduanced forward fiue or six hundreth light horsemen to giue charge against the Marshal d'Aumont but he without stay ran vpon them and pearced thē in such sort that he might soone see their heeles In the mean space while they were thus busie the squadron of the Rutters which were on their right hand in comming toward the artillerie lighted vpon the Kings light horsmen aduancing thēselues against thē very manfully and being as valiantly receiued at last they were constrained to retire without performing any thing woorthie of memorie The whilest another squadron of launciers of the low Countries would haue giuen a fresh charge to these light horsemen But the Barron of Biron aduancing himselfe forward hauing no meane to meete the Vantgard set presently vpon the reareward and in breaking their array was hurt in two places The Duke de Montpensier ranne before the rest and gaue them a most braue charge in the which hee himselfe was once vnhorst but beeing againe mounted hee behaued himselfe in such valourous sort that he became Maister of the place The selfe-same the Duke de Maines great squadron consisting of eighteene hundreth horse among whom were the Duke of Nemours and the knight of Aumale with others of the Captains of the league aduanced themselues to the battel causing foure hundreth Carbines to march vpon their left wing who made a sallie of small shot some fiue and twentie paces from the kings squadron This sallie beeing ended the great squadron of the leaguers came on the forefront of the kings where they sawe his Highnesse before his company fiue long paces off who furiously rushed among the leaguers which could not by any meanes with all their huge forrest of launciers keepe backe the kings squadron But his Maiestie did in such warre like sorts assayle them that this great squadron was at last scattered hauing beene fighting among the thickest of them a good quarter of an houre In the end this huge heape of enemies who had thus the foundation of their strength abated were at last brought to hand-strokes who beginning to shrinke in the turning of a hand men might see their backes which before shewed such furious faces who tooke their flight by straunge passges This ioyfull victorie was at first intermixt with much sorrow in the royall armie when they saw not the king returne but within a while after they spied him comming all stained with the blood of his enemies not hauing shed one drop of his owne whom they described onely by the great plume of white feathers which hee bore in his creast and that which his Palfraye had on his head There was not so much sorrow among the leaguers for their losse but there was as much ioy recouered on the kings partie hauing been so happily returned from such an intermixture of blood and death But as hee came from the chase of his enemies with twelue or fifteen of his followers hee chancst to meete betwixt two companies of the enemies Switzers three cornets of Wallons accompanied with other that had ioyned with them whom his Maiestie charged with such high courager that hee wonne their colours they which carried them lying dead in the place with many other of their companions The king then beeing arriued at the place from whence he parted all the armie gaue humble thanks to the Lord for his safetie crying with one voyce God saue the king His Maiestie hauing set in order certaine of his troupes and seeing his enemies flying before him hee left the field surcharged with their dead so that there remained none aliue sauing the Switzers who beeing forsaken by their horsemen did notwithstanding stay without mouing and althogh the king might well haue ouerrun them yet hee receiued them to mercie who hauing cast down their weapons were discharged and sent into their own countries The Frenchmen also which were mingled among them had their liues saued This beeing done the king accompanied with his horsemen and the troups of Picardie followed the league which tooke their flight two waies In the one was the Duke of Nemours Bassompierre the Vicount of Tauannes Rosne and others which tooke their way to Chartres In the other the Duke de Maine with his most trustiest Captaines drew toward Yury to passe ouer the riuer The Leaguers artillerie and all their baggage were left in the campe and in the high-waies neare adioyning The time which the king spent in receiuing and sending away of the Switzers gaue leisure vnto them that fledde to put themselues vnder couert in such sort that comming vnto Yuri they perceiued that the Duke de Maine was alreadie entered who neuer thinking on any new charge broke vp the bridge before his owne people were all come which was the cause of the death of a great number of his armie especially of the Rutters of whom a great sort were drowned The others to hinder those that followed them stopt vp the streetes of Yuri with dead and wounded horses which stood in stead of chaines or inclosers whereof followed a new losse for all those that sought to passe the deepe streame perished for the most part The king was counselled to passe the riuer at the sord of Anet and although it were an houre and an halfe losse of his way yet hee ouertooke a great number of those that fledde which for their liues rested at his discretion Those that thought to escape putting themselues into the woods fell into the Pesants hands which handled them in cruell sort This pursuit continued euen to the Towne of Mant where neither the Duke de Maine nor any of his turned once their face to see who pursued them But if the Mantois had continued in their first opinion to keepe the gates shut all those that fled had beene vtterly ouerthrowne But beeing in the end ouercome by the D. de Maines earnest intreaties they gaue them leaue to enter the Towne vpon condition that those of his side should passe by tenne and tenne in the night beyond the bridge which indeed wrought their safetie The king seeing his enemies ouercome both with shame and losse rested himself
field who hauing heard the Bishops Oration tending to a generall peace or perticular to Parris if the Duke de Maine would not seeke for a general made this answere after he had shewen how their Councel had infolded them in contraduction asking peace for him which would not acknowledge him saue onely for King of Nauarre that it was his will and desire to haue peace for the comfort of his people but not according to that which the Deputies held for expedient declaring that he loued the Cittie of Paris as his eldest daughter and that hee would doo more good for her then shee required at his hands prouided that she would seeke his fauor and not the Duke de Maines or the King of Spaines That the Deputies proceeded very ill and contrarie to the dutie of their Ecclesiasticall charges in suffering the Parisians to die so miserably while they sought vnto the Duke de Maine for a generall peace sith vppon that voyage though perhaps it would not bee long it might the while cost the liues of twentie thousand persons dying with meere hunger Then did hee dechipher with a maruellous good grace the ambitious practises of the king of Spaine and his people The most wicked and horrible disloyaltie of the chiefe of the league discouering the vanitities of their badde purpose hee drew his discourse into diuers articles to the Bishoppe of Parris the Archbishop of Lyons who in their excuses accused themselues more and more before a most noble companie of Princes Lords and Gentlemen of France who were attending round about the King Moreouer hee shewed that the report of the Spanish succoors for Parris made him nothing dismaid and caused them clearely to see wherevnto the Spanish forces tended and that it was not for nothing that the Prince of Parma tooke his way into France staying but till hee might bring his purposes about Parris and the kingdome beeing morsels too big for king Philips mouth the which hee told vnto them in a short and pithie speech discouering in diuers sorts the blindnesse of the Spaniards in their attempt for France He allowed them eight daies to thinke vppon the yeelding vp of Paris and the articles of peace for the whole kingdome adding that his dutie constrained him in the end to do iustice vppon those that were chiefe of the mutinies exhorting the Deputies to make a faithfull report of that which hee had aunswered The Bishop of Parris had before alleaged in his Oration the constancie of the people of Sancerre dispraising therein the victorie gotten by those of Gaunt to extoll the Parisians But the king auswered that such allegations were impertinent for those of Sancerre were resolued to indure the extremities of their siege because their enemies would haue depriued them without mercie both of their goods liberties religion and their liues But contrariwise said hee I will surrender to the Parisians the life which Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador doth at this present take from them by their sore famine As for the religion all these Princes and Catholicque Lords shall witnesse vnto you how I vse it nor wil I constraine them against their conscience were it neuer so litle either in the exercise of religion or otherwise Concerning goods and liberties I giue them to my subiects So that the comparison with those of Gaunt is not good The Parisians haue well shewen what hearts they haue hauing suffered me to possesse their subburbs I haue fiue thousand Gentlemen that neuer feared those of Gaunt The duke de Maines wicked proceedings beside I haue God for mee and the iustice of my cause After certaine other discourses witnessing the kings good conscience and the litle feare he had of the leaguers forces the Deputies tooke their way toward the Duke de Maine who sent them backe againe to his Maiestie with declaration that he desired nothing more then peace At the same time hee sent letters to those of Parris by one of his owne Secretaries euen at the said Deputies heeles aduertising his partakers not to bee discouraged for all the answere which he sent to the king and that hee would sooner die then make peace with him These letters beeing intercepted they were a great reproach to the Duke by reason of his vnconstancie but he made no other excuse but onely that they were surprised As for the king hee indured both before and after that which the Parisians vttered out of their rebellious mouthes that they had brought victuals for the Duke of Nemours and others which made them render him euill for good nor made hee any strong warre against his chiefe Cittie hauing an intent to preserue it if he could But hauing vnderstood that the Duke de Maine at his returne from Bruxelles accompanied with Balagni and Sainpol drewe toward Parris with certaine troupes The king departed from his armie with a small troupe of horsemen without any carriages seuenteene leagues outright to incounter with his foes and came but one houre too late to haue met with them The king goeth to meete his enemies who hearing of his comming were speedily constrained to cast themselues into the towne of Laon. Then the D. with his troupes made such haste that at last they came as farre as Meaux where hee reported that hee would fight with the king which occasioned him to repaire to his armie with a small troupe of horsemen onely whom hee pursued as farre as Meaux But hee found the Duke inclosed betwixt two riuers where hee stayed for the Prince of Parma at whose arriuall the battell was the second time published aduancing themselues to the Towne of Claye and the Castle of Fresnes about sixe leagues from Parris where they lodged about the ende of the moneth of August The king supposing hee should then haue battell with them after hee had recommended himselfe vnto God according to his custome in such affaires departed from Parris on the VVednesday the nine and twentieth of that moneth assigning the Rende-vous to all his armie for the next morrow in the plaine of Bondi which is at the end of the forrest of Liuâ—i the right way toward his enemies On the Friday following hee chased their forriers from the Towne of Chelles who beganne to marke out their lodgings and gaue a charge to a certaine troupe of eight hundreth horsemen whom he constrained to retire euen till they came within their armie On the morrowe beeing Saturday by eleuen of the clocke the first of September the Kings armie were all in battell array The Duke of Parma got vp vppon an hill to behold them and after he had throughly noted them hee said to the Duke de Maine that this was not the armie of tenne thousand which he tolde him might bee ouerthrown so easilie for hee sawe by estimation more then fiue and twentie thousand in the best manner prouided that euer hee beheld And indeed they consisted of eighteene thousand men on foote as well Frenchmen as straungers and of fiue or six