for it hee had caused Tremouille whome hee had appointed Gouernour of Milan to come vnto him leauing Theodore Triuulce with Chandion within Milan Iohn of Medicis with three hundred light horse and three thousand foote was newly come into the Kings pay and had wone him many Italian Captaines amongst others Guy and Francis Earles of Rangon and Iohn Lewis Paluoisin brother to him whom Lautrec had beheaded at Milan Tremouille the Marshals of Foix and Chabannes with other Captaines of experience aduised the King to retyre his armie from beâ—ore Pauia and to incampe in some strong place whereof there are many in that Countrie by reason of the Channels which ouer flowe the Medowes They gaue him to vnderstand that the enemies armie being vnfurnished of money they should bee forced within fewe dayes to breake off their companies and to put them into Townes That the Strangers for want of payment of their money would make some dangerous mutinie That the enemies did not mainteine themselues together but with hope to giue battaile and if they did see the warre prolonged they would bee ingaged in many difficulties and confusions To conclude it was say they exceeding dangerous to thrust himselfe betwixt a Towne defended by fiue thousand men and an armie that came to succour it being mighty in numbers of men in valour and experience But all this was to cast Oyle into a fire which already flamed The King will not leaue the siege yet will he keepe the enemy from entring into Pauia He referred saith the Originall the gouernment of the armie to the Admirall he beleeued his counsell only gaue eare to Anne of Montmorencie and Philip Chabot Lord of Brion men pleasing vnto him but not yet of any great experience in matters of warre Moreouer he had not that number of men in his armie as they gaue him to vnderstand The Duke of Albania had led away part of his horse some remained for the gard of Milan many were dispersed into Townes and Villages about There were but eight hundred Launces in the Campe and the negligence of his officers with the deceit of his Captaines especially the Italians abused him not furnishing the number of footmen for the which they receiued pay But howsoeuer he must needes fight Behold pittifull first fruites â—orerunners of a generall ouerthrow Two thousand Valaisans lodged at Saint Sauueur betwixt S. Lancfranc and Pauia They within charge them sodenly Sad forerunnings of an ouerthrow and disperse them Pirrhus brother to Frederick of Bossole held the Castell of Saint Ange with two hundred horse and eight hundred foote This place lying betwixt Laude and Pauia stopt the victuals which might be brought from Laude Ferdinand of Aualâ— approcheth with his Spaniards takes away the defences and forceth the garrison to yeeld that Pirrhus Aemilius Cauriane and three sonnes of Phoebus Gonzague remaining prisoners all the rest should depart without armes or horses and for a moneth should beare no armes against the Emperour Belioyeuse and then all the other places which lay behind them except Saint Colombain which they had so besieged as no man could issue forth came into the power of the Imp erials Moreouer the King caused two thousand Italians to come of those which had mainteined the siege of Marseilles Passing the confines of Alexandria neere to the riuer of Vrbé wearied and toyled with the tediousnesse of the way Gaspar Maine Captaine of Alexandria chargeth them sodenly breakes them and chaseth them into Casâ—ellat and there forceth them to yeeld with seuenteene Ensignes The like successe had Iohn Lewis Paluâ—isin The King had sent him to surprise Cremona which was garded onely by fiue or six hundred foote Sforce aduertised that he lodged at Cassall the great with foure hundred horse and two thousand foote sent Alexander Benâ—â—uole with some number of horse and two thousand foote sodenly leuied to Cremona Too great confidence doth no lesse preiudice men then feare Paluoisin holding himselfe strong enough without attending of Francis of Rangon who came to ioyne with him with three or foure thousand men abandons his Fort to fight with them marcheth directly to the enemie and at the first puts Sforces horsemen to flight but Benâ—iuole comming with his footemen Iohn Lewis was ouerthrowne in the midest of the combate taken prisoner and all his men put to route which was a great preiudice to the Kings affaires Behold an other disgrace of no lesse importance Iohn Iames of Medicis a Milanois Captaine of the Castell of Mus had intelligence that the Captaine of Chiauenne a Castle vpon the Lake of Como belonging to the Grisons hauing no enemie neere to annoy him went dayly to walke without his Forte the takiâ—g of this place was a fit meanes to diuert six thousand Grisons newly come vnto the Kings Campe Iohn Iames lying one night in ambush close to the Castle failed not of his prey but holding this insufficient Captaine he brought him before the gate with a Dagger at his throate ready to stabbe him if his wife had not let downe the bridge The gate being open three hundred men issue forth off another ambush seize vpon the Castle and so on the Towne The Grisons supposing that Medicis had other enterprises vpon their places call home their men who notwithstanding the shame they should purchase in forsaking vpon the point of a battaile a Prince whose pay they had receiued and to whom they had giuen an othe â—eturned fiue daies before the fight All these difficulties chancing one vpon another were infallible fore-runners of great misfortune which when he sees come he ought carefully to prouide for the preseruation of his estate or with a firme and constant resolution to trie the hazard of a battaile A commander may lawfully trie this last remedie but a King must vse the other The two armies approched within halfe a mile the foreward lead by the Marshall of Chabannes lodged with the Suisses at Ronces in the suburbes neere to Saint Iustins gate the King at the monasteries of Saint Paul and Saint Iames places of aduantage neere vnto Pauia the Duke of Alanson at Mirabel with the rereward so as holding Pauie girt in of all sides the Imperialls could not enter vnlesse they did passe the riuer of Tesiâ— or the Parke of Pauia The Imperialls lodged at Prati towaâ—ds Saint Iustins gate and extended vnto Trâ—leuere and la Motte and in a wood by Saint Lazare so nere as they did greatly indomage one an other with their Cannon being deuided only by a little brooke which they call Vernicule The lodging of both armies had infront on their wings and on the left flanke great rampars enuironed with treâ—eliâ—s and fortified with bastions But the Imperialls had this aduantage beeing approched so nere vnto Pauia as in a day of battaile they might be assisted by them within the Towne In the meane time Anthonie de Leue did greatly anoy our men by continuall sallies and in many skirmishes had most
retreate Philips impatience resolues to be reuenged of Edward to follow him and to drawe him to battaile His councell aduised him rather to rest his troopes some time to take breath that they might recouer their spirits and in the meane time to let Edward alone and to obserue his countenance but hardly had he the patience to stay one day at Abbeuille to repaire the bridge ouer which his armie was to passe but his drummes sound a marche going to seeke Edward like a Stagge that flies and to giue him 〈◊〉 at what price so euer puft vp with a certaine hope of an infallible and triumphant victorie But he had not made his accompt with God who is not callâ—d the God of armies in vaine who rules combats and disposeth of the victories of great Monarkes notwithstanding all their councels desseignes courage and endeauours The armies were in view one of an other Edward had lodged his armie and stood vpon his guard with a wonderfull care being in the Countie of Ponthieu a countrie belonging vnto himselfe by the right of his mother in camped in a village named Crecy the which he intrenched and fortified carefully both with trees cut out of the neighbour forrest and trenches wherewith he had strengthened his campe His armie was about thirty thousand men but their order industrie and resolution made them double He gaue the foreward to Prince Edward his sonne The English 〈◊〉 being yet very young and for a guide that Geoffrey of Harcourt who as we haue said was retired vnto him to whom he had giuen the office of Constable of England The battaile he giues to the Duke of Suffolke and reserued the rereward to himselfe hauing placed his croâ—bowemen in front and next ranked his horse putting in the formost rankes his battell axes and maces and behinde his Lances so as euerie parte of the armie should fight when as they came to ioyne to their best aduantage So much may order and foresight doe vnder that great God of battailes without whome it is in vaine to order armies Philips armie was farre greater of a goodlier shewe and more aduantage The Frencâ— armie consisting of aboue threescore thousand fighting men well armed with an infinit nomber of noble men as Charles Earle of Alaâ—son brother to the King Lewis King of Bohemia and duke of Luxembourg Charles Earle of Blois Nephewe to the King Raoul Duke of Lorraine the Earles of Flanders Neuers and Sancerre the Daulphin of Viennois and may Barons and gentlemen in number aboue three thousand who were come at the call of this newe King to the first fruites of his newe possession against him who contended for the Crowne His aduantage was far greater then that of Edwards who fought in another mans countrie But in truth the commodities and titles hee had in France did balance this aduantage but with a different consideration Vppon the Eue of this battaile Ame Eaâ—le of Sauoie arriues with a thousand men at armes as if all things had conspired to make Philip a conquerour Philip full of hope of an assured victorie desires to fight placing his armie in this order He giues the foreward to his brother Charles Earle of Alanson the rereward to the Earle of Sauoâ—e and hee himselfe commands the battaile But his desire to fight was so great as he held euerie little stay for a great delay They gaue it out in the army that the English fledde so as they now vaunted of a victorie euery one disposing of the English according to his humour but in searching out the reason of this brute Philip thinks it good to discouer his enemies countenance Behold sodenly he receiues a contrary aduise His scouts report that Edward had already taken the field ordred his armie attending the battaile Then there was no hold Philip wilâ— needes fight hardly can they hold a councell standing about him The two armies redy to ioyne to aduise what they had to doe in so notable an occurrent and euen hast the stepdame of better affaires would not suffer them to resolue For at the same instant as the King had aduerâ—isement of Edwards readinesse to fight Philip without any breathing would haue led forth his army to battaile The King of Bohemia aduised him to refresh his men before the fight and that his foote consisting of crossebowes and a good part of them Geneuois Description of the battails of Crecy which were held to be resolute men should make the front and the horse should followe according to the appointed order At the last they obtained so much respitte of the King as to feede their men speedely This done they al prepare to another feast The foreward made the first head where Charles Earle of Alanson the Kings brother commaunded But behold presently an vnfortunate occasion of a ruinous disorder The Earle of Alanson against the order decreed in Councell misliked that the Geneuois footemen were in the first ranks and makes them to change their places with some disgrace saying that it belonged not vnto them Remarkable circumstances in this greate battaile and yet on this push depended all on their side The Geneuois discontented with his repulse not onely fainted in courage but also fell into a rage so as changing their places they cried out for anger as giuing a signe to the enemie of their bitter discontent This was seconded with an other accident as if Heauen had fauored the English Sodenly there fell a great shower of raine and then the burning Sunne appeared out of a cloud with a rainbowe In this forced and despightfull changing of places the Geneuois couered not their bowes so as the strings being presently wett they yeelded and to increase the mischiefe this alteration made them to change the order of their battaile so as the Sunne lay in the Frenchmens faces and on the Inglishmens backs and to make their misfortune absolute euerie one was more incensed against his commander then against the enemie as a signe of some check at hand Dangerous imaginations they being ready to fight Philip was sufficiently aduertised of the armies disdaine against his brother yet must hee needes fight he held himselfe lost if all were not lost Edward who stood vpon a high eminent place as it were in sentinell to discouer with iudgement the countenance of the enemie sees this change heares the shout and markes the place resoluing to charge it at the weakest part The euent fauours his desseigne he embraceth this occasion not suffering them to take breath or to repayre this error he sends forth a troupe of crossebow men chosen out of the foremost ranckes they sodenly discharge a showre of arrowes so thick and violent as at this first charge the Geneuois who were transported with choler and surprised with this sodaine storme brake theâ—â— ranckes and gaue way to the enemy their wet strings beeing vnfit to serue and their mindes not yet pacified could not resist so great a force The
fiue and which was worse the gates were shut vpon them The Senators seeing these rascalls thus handled put their heads out at the windows they see this tumult and heare Iames Pacis and others crying Liberta Liberta and Popolo popolo words to moue the people and to make them follow their faction but they moued not so as Pacis and his companions fled from the place and those that were entred were presently hanged at the barres of the Pallace windowes Francis Saluiat Archbibishop of Pisa The mutinie appeared and the murtherers hanged hauing said masse with a cuirasse on his backe was taken and hanged in the same habit The Gouernours seeing the whole Towne to stand firme for them and the Medicis they send presently to all the passages to apprehend all such as should be found flying Iames and Francis Pacis were presently taken with an other Captaine of the Popes troupes vnder the Earle Ieronimo and hanged instantly with other great personages to the number of fourteene some groomes and other base people were knockt downe in the streets Nicholas Cardinall of S. George nephew to the Earle was a long time prisoner The King aduertised of this hurliburly sends the Lord of Argenton both to take in his Maiesties name the homage which Bonne Duchesse of Milan ought for the duchie of Genes in the behalfe of the yong Duke Iohn Galeas her sonne and to receiue the men at armes which they had granted in fauour of the Medicis The Pope aduertised of the execution done at Florence doth excommunicate the cittizens and with the same breath commands his armie to march to ioyne with that of Naples being great and faire It was commanded for the Pope by the Duke Vrban Robert d' Arimini The Pope and the king of Naples send their forces against Florence Constantin of Pesaro and many others and for Ferdinandâ— by his two sonnes the one Duke of Calabria the other Don Frederike They take many places about Florence and almost ruine the whole state There were few Commanders of smal experience and weake forces The Kings assistance did somewhat comfort them beeing after much war absolued and reconciled to the church as also to terrifie the Pope Lewis had called a councell of the French Church at Orleans for the restoring of the pragmatick Sanction in France and to abolish the custome to carry money to Rome for the obtayning of Bulls yet the assembly brake off without any conclusion was referred to Lions the next yeare but without effect Thus passe the affaires of this world but many doe oppresse at the length Our Lewis hath in a manner out-liued al his greatest enemies Lewis begins to decline and now he begins to decline Troubles care waywardnesse call him mildly to his graue the vigor of his spirits faile him hereafter wee shall see a strange alteration in his humors The truce ended and seeing we must returne to warâ—e let vs begin it by some notable stratageme The Archduke Maximilian hath nowe the Flemings hearts at his deuotion To imploy theÌ„ he camps before Therouenne with aboue twenty thousand Flemings some Germaine troupes and three hundred English ledde by Thomas Abergeiny an English Captaine The Lord of Cordes Lieutenant generall for tâ—e King in Picardy assembles what troupes he can out of the neighbour garrisons eight thousand franke archers eleuen hundred men at armes and makes haste to relieue it Maximilian vnderstanding of their approch raiseth the siege marcheth towards theÌ„ affronts them at Guynegaste The battell of Guinegaste Des Cordes was the stronger in horse but the weaker in foote The forwards ioyne without any stay the Archdukes being ledde by Rauestein doth not mainteine the fight but is soone broken and chased euen vnto Aire by Cordes Torci The foote stand firme supported by the Archduke himselfe the Lord of Rhomâ—nt the Earle of Nassau two hundred Gentlemen all on foote the franke Archers of the French supposing that these footemen would flie with the foreward and fall vppon the baggage The Duke doth charge them forcing them to leaue their booty and fall to armes The slaughter was great but most of the enemies 1479. Eleuen thousand Bourguignons were slaine sayeth the History and nine hundred prisoners Many slaine on both sides but the French left the field amongest the which was a Germaine Earle and the King of Polands sonne of the French there died fiue thousand and the small number of the Kings army made the enemie continue master of the field who gathering togither the remainders of his troupes tooke the Castell of Malaunoy by assault where Captaine Remonet notwithstanding the faith which was giuen him when he yeelded was hanged For satisfaction hereof fiftie of the aboue named prisoners Cruelties against the lawe of armes were hanged by ten in a place ten whereas Remonet was executed ten before Douay ten before Saint Omer ten before Arras and ten before Lisle Des Cordes did runne rashly to this battaile and without the Kings commandement who was somewhat amazed with the first newes thinking they had concealed the truth that it was quite lost for him If it be so saith he farewell all my latter conquests he was not accustomed to loose but alwayes verie happie being loath to hazard much in fight Lewis much perplexed But if any Captaine had meanes to sell him a good place he was a liberall purchaser at what price soeuer but the seller must afterwards take heede to his gossip Tristam the Hermit This blast made Lewis resolue to treat a peace with Maximilian so as it might bee profitable vnto him and that he might thereby curbe the Arche-duke and by the helpe of his owne subiects so as afterwards he should haue no meanes to annoy him For this effect the King seekes to the Gantois that by their mediation a marriage might be made betwixt Charles the Daulphin and the Daughter of the sayd Arche-duke Lewis seekes for a peace of Maximilian vpon condition to leaue him the Counties of Bourgongne Auxerre Mascon and Charolois and to quit him Arthois reseruing Arras in the estate hee had setled it the Citty commanding the Towne the which hereafter should be held of the crowne by the Bishop As for the Duchie of Bourgongne the Earldome of Boulongne the Townes lying vpon Somme and other places in Picardie there was no mention The Gantois and by their soliciting those of Bruges with some other chiefe Townes of Flanders and Brabant who desired rather to suppresse then to fortifie their newe Lord gaue eare to this transaction ill intreating Maximilian and his wife all they could The Gantois and those of Flanders and Brabant hate their newe Lord. being loath to submit themselues to his commande first for that he was a stranger secondly for that they knew more iudicious Princes but not any more couetous then his father whose son was seasoned with the same base couetousnesse which carries
the Venetians of two and twentie thousand ducats which they should contribute euery moneth did owe threescore thousand and that little which Lautrec did gather of the custome of the Cattell of Apulia was imployed for the defraying of his ordinarie expences The number of the defendants â—â—s great their experience in deeds of armes well tryed beeing nine or ten thousand old soldiars It was therefore better to beseege then to assaile Naples A braâ—e â—tratagem of Philippin Dorie and to prouide that they might not bee releeued with victualles neyther by land nor sea Philippin Dorie kept the gulphe of Salerne and the Imperialls relying vpon the valour and strength of their men conceiue a hope to ouercome him This resolution was necessary for the Spaniards they make choise of a thousand Spanish shot and diuide them into six Galleys foure Foists and two Brigantines Don Hugues the â—iceroy Gobbe an olde sea Captaine and almost all men oâ— command will be partakers and to amaze Dorie a farre off by a shew of a greater number of shippes they make a long traine of Fisher-boates and send two galleys before giuing them charge to retire at the enemies approach that they might draw them into the open sea Dorie aduertiâ—ed of the Imperials councell by faithfull spies makes three of his galleys to disperse themselues as if they fled to the end that turning they might through fauour of the winde charge them in flanke and in poupe and followed with fiue galleys he marcheth towards the enemie The greatest stratagems consist in expedition the first blow 〈◊〉 worth two The Spaniards presumed that compassing in Dorie with the smoake of their Canon to take from him his sight and marke Dorie preuents them and for the first check he carries away with one Canon shotte fortie men out of the Admiraâ—l amongst the which was the Captaine and many officers the other peeces fitly discharged do likewise disorder them On the other side the galley of Don Hugues discharging her Canon kils the Captaine of Dories galley and hurts the maister with some others The approches are made and a furious charge is giuen with their shoâ—te and other armes These two fight with great courage three other Imperials presse two Genâ—uoises and seemed to haue the better after the death of many men of either side when as the other three which made shew to flie hauing gotten into the â—pen Sea they turne the prâ—we against the enemie beate in peeces the Admiralâ— aâ—d an other called Gobbe take their foists sinke some burne others kill their men breake their armes and fighting hand to hand and foote to foote in the end they get both the aduantage of the combate and the honour of the victorie Don Hugues de Moncade Viceroy of Naples Fieramosque with many other Gentlemen and Captaines A victorâ—e at â—ea gotten by Philippin Dorie and aboue a thousand men wee slaine and remained a prey for the Fish Two Spanish foists sore battered recouered Naples with great difficultie the Prince of Orange caused the maister of one of them to be hanged the other went and yeelded to Philippin Dorie The Marquis of Guast Ascanius and Camille Colonnes the Prince of Salerne Saint Croix le Kiz Gobbe Serenon with a great number of chiefe men The successe thereof were taken prisoners These are goodly beginnings in so famous a siege which fill the French with great hopes of a happy successe and the Imperialls with a strange amazament They see the flower of their men buried in the waues they haue lost the command of the Sea and are blockt vp so neere at land as they haue no meanes to be releeued with victuals they haue no meale but by their hand mills no money for their souldiars the plague did dayly diminish their numbers Stabie Saint Germaine Fondy and all the countrie about yeelds to the conquerour the Prince of Melfe ioynes to that partie the people of Calabria seeme very willing to come vnder their command Distresses in the French armie But the point of a totall victorie consisted either in the conquest or the defence of Naples Our men were much annoyed for fresh water diseases encreased the which did greatly waste the armie the enemy being stronger in light horse did cut off their prouisions by their dayly sallies Lautrec without doubt a great Captaine but absolute in his opinions left most of his horsemen dispersed at Capoua Auerse and Nola so as the black bands hauing no horse to second them came often with disaduantage from their skirmishes The report was that they prepared an armie at sea at Marseilles but it was onely in imagination The Venetians more carefull of their priuate interest then of the generall good fitted themselues of those places which should be their portion of the conquest The Pope had no other desseine but to recouer the authoritie which his house was wont to enioy at Florence Thus there appeared many difficulties on either side yet such as there was an expectation of victorie for the French for in the end there arriues two and twenty Venetian galleys in the gulphe of Naples the tenth of Iune which depriued the besieged of all commodities at sea and threatned them with a generall famine But see what caused the totall ruine of our French The Emperour in the middest of a notable losse makes a great gaine We do commonly sinke vnder our owne burthens and are the cause motiues of our owne miseries The infidelitie of the Genouois is herein detestable but we may obserue a goodly lesson for Princes To endure much of a rude seruant when he is profitable vnto them and that they must neuer hope to recouer him when he is chased away or lost Lautrec aduertised of the foresaid victorie commanded they should send the prisoners into France Phillippin puts them into two gallies with that intent But the bootie was too good and might easily draw a Genouois soule to dispence with his faith As they passed by Genes Andrew Dorie stayed them couering his secret desseins with this pretext That the King had not satisfied him for the ransome of the Prince of Orange and other prisoners which hee had taken at Porte-sin during the seege of Pauie the which had beene set at libertie a peace being concluded at Madril with the Emperour neither yet for the entertainment of his galleys without the which he could no longer maintaine them That if it pleased his Maiestie to do him right yeeld vnto the Genouois their accustomed commands ouer Sauone the King thinking to keepe Genes in awe had transported the traffike of marchandise and the custome of salt to Sauonne with their ancient liberties and priuileges he would deale with the people that for assurance of his faith hee should furnish the King with twelue gallies entertayned in the which he might place such Captaines and souldiars as hee should thinke good reseruing onely two gallies for the gard of the port A strange and insolent
and victualls the Daulphin hauing brought but for two dayes the enemies which assembled at Monts and at Quesnoy le Comte the daunger the King did foresee in keeping his troupes diuided the feare that going in person to ioyne with his sonne with whom were his chiefe â—orces he should be constrayned to leaue the fortifications of Landrecy imperfect his Maiesty drawes the Daulphin vnto him he causeth him to beate downe the defences of Maubeuge in his passage and for that the Emperour was wont to assemble his forces there that came out off Germany and the Low Countries to fire the Towne Trelon and Glayon places betwixt Auennes and Simay did greatly annoy the frontiers of Tierasse and Champagne Bonneuall and Stenay Lieutenant to the Duke of Anguien who was in Prouence as we shall shortly see had commission to preuent it Beeing come to Trelon with two thousand French and foure thousand Lansquenets those within at the fiâ—st sight of the Cannon yeelded to haue their liues saued Glayâ—n afterwards submitted with the like facility Both being burnt but their fortifications not ruined shall serue againe to lodge the Imperialls Emery remained still whole but it might not be made fit to endure the attempts of a mighty army in twelue dayes Moreouer it must bee furnished with victualls Two â—iuers noâ— to be waded through betwixt Landrecy and Emery made the victualing difficult Auennes did cut it off and the Commissaries of the victualls reported that to put victualls into Emery were in time to famish the armie to take away the meanes to victuall Landrecy for the want of carriage which was greatly hindred by a continuall raine three weekes together And that which did most import newes comes to that the Emperour armes and approched neere the countries of the Duke of Cleues whom he might not abandon to the pawes of a roaring Lion who had long time vowed his ruine So the Towers of the Dungeon of Emery and the portall of the walls flying into the ayre by myne and other meanes serued to fill vp the trenches Hitherto we haue made warre with small resistance· hereafter wee shall haue a stronger party and by consequence more glory to crosse the Emperours attempts whilest that the famine and the winter driues him from before Landrecy In the end of Iuly Landrecy was in such estate as without any support of an army the fortifycations might well be continued leauing some troupes at Guise and the Duke of Cleues against whom the Empeâ—our banded all his power appealed to the King for succours The King therefore to diuert the Emperours forces to draw him to battell and to trye if he were accompanied with the like happinesse leading his forces in person as hee had beene by his officers or at the least by the taking of Luxembourg to make the way easie to succour his ally he sent the Duke of Vendosme to encounter the enemies attempts vpon the frontiers of base Picardy and to fauour the necessary victualing of Landrecy and for the execution of his enterprise he appointed the Duke of Orleans vnder the conduct of the Admirall of Annebault The Prince of Melphes whome the King had left in Guise with three hundred men at armes and Brissac Collonell of fifteene hundred light horse assembled to go and ioyne with him about Rheims And the Earles of Reux and Roquendolfe with the forces of the Lowe Country came from a skirmish at Landrecy which they did hope to surprise being vnfurnished of victualls As they trouped together with a desseine to attempt the Castle of Bohain newes comes that La Hunaudaye and Theaude Bedaigne an Albanois either of them beeing Captaine of two hundred horse were lodged neere vnto the Castle of Bouhourie making account to dislodge so earely as they might come in time to part with the Generall To surprise them the Lord of Liques Lieutenant to the Duke of Ascots companie drawes eight hundred choise Bourguignon horses out of the Imperiall troupes two hundred Englishmen the King of England being then fauoured by the Emperour The Imperialls charge the French in their lodging are repulst pretended to inuade vs as we shall see hereafter and foure enseignes of footemen But least he should come too late he leaues them behind him and marcheth before with his horsemen At the first they charge Bedaignes lodging who whilest the enemy was breaking open the gate had leysure to put on his Cuirasse he goes to horsebacke with his launce in his hand forceth furiously through them ouerthrowes them he meetes and ioynes his troupe with La Hunaudaye who was likewise on horseback Aché and Bertrand of Foissy Lord of Crené Captaines of two hundred harguebuziers on horsebacke being lodged at the same Abby post to their succours they force the bridge which the Imperialls kept ioyntly with the light horsemen repulse the enemy The alarum is giuen at Guise Theaude Manes arriues with his two hundred light horse to second his companions and Brissac borrowing about threescore horse of the Prince of Melphe his troupes had already taken the way to Marle goes to their aide he is aduertised by Bedaigne that the enemy fearing to haue the whole armie vpon them began to wauer all the troupes ioyne and charge them sodainly they ouerthrowe their horsemen vpon their foote which aduanced put them to rout they pursue them speedily leaue three hundred dead vpon the place carry away six hundred prisoneâ—s and winne foure Enseignes on foote and two Cornets on horse The rest of the Imperiall armie going to assaile Bohain hearing of this defeat and doubting they should be forced to fight with the whole army grew amazed retyred to Quesnoy le Comte The Duke of Orleans hauing already by the taking of S. Mary for Montmedy Yuoy were vnder the Kings obedience since the first conquest made by the said Duke Danuilliers Vireton Arlâ—n and other places made his approches to Luxembourg hee â—â—st it with two batteries at a corner of the high towne towards France the one crossing the other the one was coÌ„mitted to the Duke of Aumale the other to Peter Strossy a Florentine kinseman to Pope Clement deceased who being lately come out off Italy had brought three hundred Tuscane souldiers all men of note and commandement two parts armed with Pikes the third with Harguebuziers all with gilt coâ—selets The Towne was defended by foure hundred horse well appointed three thousand fiue hundred foote well armed vnder the commaund of Giles of Leuant a man well esteemed by the Imperialls and Iohn de Heu one of the Lords of Metz. Yet at the fift or six volle of the Canon hauing demanded coÌ„position they departed with their baggage Longuâ—uil entred as gouernor with his company of men at armes Anglure with a thousand of the Legion of Champagne Haraucourt a Lorraine and the Vicomte of Riuiere commaunding eyther of them fiue hundred men and Ierom Marin a Boulenois sixe score Italians The King hauing passed the feast of
as the armies should ioyne Termes with his light horsemen being loath to attend this hazard chargeth them furiously breakes and ouerthrowes them vpon the Prince of Salerne and thinking to be well followed chargeth into the midest of the Princes battallion but his horse was slaine and himselfe taken A happie charge for without it it was likely the Prince of Salerne had marched vpon the flanks of the French battalion and whilest that hee was couered with the Ferrarois that were driuen vpon him the French and Suisses had leysure to deale with their Lansquenets Who falling vpon the Suisses and French fought long with like armes and a doubtfull euent till that by the aide of the Frenchmen at armes led by Boutieres all the Imperiall Germaines were broken The Marquis seeing his Germaines in route vpon whome hee had ankored his chiefe hope retires a part without stâ—iking stroake and by this means makes the victorie easie for Dampierre vpon the enemies horsemen who supported the Spaniards But this olde battallion of Spaniards and Germaines incounter our Italians and Gruyens with great aduantage at the first charge they are suprised with feare and all but the Captaines which fought in the formostrankes flie Without doubt it was wisely aduised of the Duke to leaue the Suisses whome he promised to assist to second these poore amazed soules for without him not one had escaped He soddenly chargeth these olde soldiars and taking one comer of their battaillon forceth through them and leaues not any enseigne of the whole battaillon standing Yet not without great slaughter of his men The Lord of Assier the Baron of Oyn Lieutenant to the Earle of Montrauel Montsaillais enseigne to the Baron of Cursoll de Glaiue gouernour of Cahors Couruille and the Dukes two Squiers ended their dayes there Saint Amand otherwise called Rochechouâ—rt and Fernaques were found among the dead carcases languishing of their wounds yet they were afterwards cured many others were slaine or hurt whereof foureteene or fifteene were Captaines or men of account but hee that feares the leafes must not go into the wood But this is not all for the front of the Spaniards who by the voluntarie route of our men that ranne away had no footemen to incounter them come furiously and charge the Duke who hauing no footemen to second him looseth more at this second charge then at the first and to increase the danger which had beene sufficient to daunt a minde inclyning to feare hee had no newes of his Frenchmen not Suisses a little hill kept them from the knowledge one of an other But hee had rather die then retire Hee chargeth and rechargeth and still a number of the enemies shot pel â—el with him The Duke of Anguien in great danger and a battaillon of their pikes followe him without breaking their rankes and his troupe beeing greatly wasted was not nowe aboue a hundred none an vnequal force to fight with foure thousand men We may truely say he is well kept whome God keepes The Duke was readie to be swallowed vp when as retiring on the right hand to free himselfe from the Imperialls shot which compassed him in on all sides the Spaniards had newes of the defeat of the rest of their men They see at the same instant some troupes rallie them selues vnder the Cornet of their enemies generall So their first heat grewe resonable colde and they begin their retreat but they had no time to finish it The Duke appoints Aussun with about fiftie horse to charge them vpon the flank and him selfe with those that came vnto him followed them in the tayle All giue way all flie He wins the battaile euery man seekes to saue himselfe some in the wood some in cottages they beate downe and kill all are taken or slaine fewe escape The French pursuyng the victory a mile and especially the Suisses incensed with the foâ—le warre the Imperialls had made at Montdeuis and crying in reuenge of that day Montdeuis Montdeuis put all they incountred to the sword without mercie In the meane time the Prince of Salerne seeing the whole defeat of the Germains and of their horsemen made his retreat without any great losse And the Marquis of Guast posted away to Ast but at his departure hee had sayd vnto the Cittizens That if hee returned not a Conquerour they should shut their gates against him They take him nowe at his worde Without the cowardise of the Gruyens the battayllon of Spaniards had in shewe beene defeated at the first charge the Duke of Anguien had not receiued so fatall a checke in his troupe Number of the dead and prisoners the retreat of the Prince of Salerne had not beene so easie and pursuing the Marquis they might haue ouertaken him before hee had recouered Milan or any place of safetie But the necessitie this braue Duke had to bee succored at neede made this happie victorie vnperfet in that respect There were slaine of the enemies about fifteene thousand of all nations in lesse then a quarter of an houre Of Germaine prysoners there were two thousand fiue hundred and twenty Alâ—sprand of Madruce their Colonnell was found among the dead bodies maymed in many parts of his bodie Spaniards sixe hundred and thirtie amongest them Don Raymond of Cardone and Mendosa with seauen or eight other Spanish Captaines Don Charles of Gonsague and many other Italians The spoile was great and rich a hundred thousand Crownes in money and plate fifteene peeces of artillerie all the bridges they had brought to passe the Po much munition meale and other victualles wherewith they presumed to releeue Carignan about eight thousand corselets of Milan and mouables of diuers sorts of great Value Of the French two hundred slaine and of men of name besides the aboue mentioned the enseigne bearer to Aussun and his Nephewe Charles of Dros gouernour of Montdeuis Desâ—ro of the Countie of Nice Colonnel of sixe enseignes of Italians the Colonnel of the Gruyens a Daulphinois in the absence of their Earle la Molle a Prouensal Captains Paussin a Daulphinois Barberan and Montault Gascons and fewe others of the Suisses the Baron of Saxe was hurt in the throat with a pike and none else of accoumpt If the Duke of Anguines arriuall had beene pleasing to the army far greater had bin the reputation hee had gotten by this famous victorie with all the nations of Europe and the credit hee purchased with men of warre commending his wisedome in so youngyeares admiring his valour and louing his courtesie and bountie vertues worthie of a great Prince and generall of an armie This bloudie victory had terrified the whole Country and amazed Milan The Marquis of Guast strooke vp the drumme and twentie dayes were spent before that any man came to his colours Moreouer the King had made a newe leuie of sixe thousand Grisons the Duke of Somme the Earles of Petillane Mirandola Martinengue Peter Strossy Valerâ— Vrsin Robert Malateste and many others leuied
the vnited Prouinces for the Warre They say there is no Spanish Souldiar but cosâ—es him a hundred Crownes before he arriues in Flanders And that those Countries which are of the Ancient Patrimony of the house of Bourgondie haue consumed aboue a hundred Millions of Gold It is almost forty yeares that it hath continued Those mountaynes of Gold and Siluer of the Indies haue beene made plaine and almost drawne drie with this Warre Hee hath beene often constrayned to flie to the Genoats purse His great reuenues haue beene consumed with the incredible charge The Mines of Siluer of Potozzi discouered with in threescore yeares which brought vnto the King euery day for his fifte part sixe thousand Pezos euery Peze beeing valued at thirteene Rialls one forth part haue not beene sufficient to feede the flames of this Mount Etna The Marquis of Rhosny going to take possession of his gouernement of Poitou was at Rochelle where hee was receiued with all sorts of Honours causing his Maiesties intentions to bee entertayned with so great affection as it did amaze them that knewe that since King Francis the first this Towne had not beene so obedient as the rest There are secret murmuringes discontents and distrustes but they are Cloudes without Water These are vlcers which drawe vnto them badde humours but the disposition of the Bodie is no whit altered and changed In shewe all goes well and wee haue nothing else to care for for men are commonly satisfied with that which seemes as well as with that which is It sufficeth that a Prince bee well obeyed bee it either for feare or for Loue. France beeing neuer so miserable as when shee had Kings that cared not to bee well obeyed and I oued And what wants a Prince that is at Peace with in his Realme The Marquis of Rhoâ—â—y goes into Poitâ—u admired of Strangers and redoubted of his enemies who hath so great desseignes in hand for the increase and beautefying of this Estate as his Predecessors durst neuer thinke of them One Arcenall alone can furnish him a hundred Cannons with powlder and munition for a hundred thousand shot Armes for ten thousand Horse-men and fifty thousand foote and Treasor ready to pay a greater number This Prince who knewe what it was to make Warre without money will neuer vndertake it without a iust cause not beeing in want Warre which is a attempted without cause is seldome happy and successfull and although they bee iustifiable yet is there alwaies some scruple The Dâ—â—â—â—phins 〈◊〉 voâ—â—ge to Foâ—ntainbleâ— Hee spent the best part of the yeare at Fontainbleau and found his aboade there so pleasing and the season so faire as hee sent for the Daulphin It was the first voiage to the place of his birth and the second by Paris Hee made shewe that hee did participate of the Fathers good disposition for hee neither feared not felt Son nor Serein although it be much felt in that place Thus the yeare past when as France could not furnish where-withall to make a perfect Narration Wee may nowe say as it was heeretofore sayd of the Gaules that they were more giuen to Tillage and to the Gouernment of their families then vnto Warre and Armes Then most factious thinke of nothing nowe but of planting of their Orchards The Crisons doe still pursue the demolition of the fort They talke of a truce in Hungarie and of a Treaty of Peace in the Lowe Countries This wil bee matter to write on the next yeare following Entervewe of the Dukes of Sauâ—â— and Mantoua But wee may not forget the entervewe of the Duke of Sauoye with the Duke of Mantoua It ministred matter of discourse and made the Princes of Italie somewhat Iealous to see two Princes send Ambassadors which had continued so long in badde termes and two Princes that were Neighbours which had this aduantage to haue made Warre in person was not without scruple And although in shewe they talked onely of Peace yet are they not the first that haue had Peace in their mouthes and Warre in their hearts Machiauel sayth that a Prince of his time neuer talked but of a Peace and Faith and if hee had kept either of them hee had lost his Estate and his Reputation These two Princes haue Lands lying of either side of the Riuer of â—o The Duke of Sauoy was discontented that the Duke of Mantouas people had vsurped somthing vpon his subiects This was a great dispute of their confines the which notwithstanding was soone reconciled the Accord is neuer difficult betwixt persons neere allied The Duke of Mantoua came to Montferrat which gaue the occasion of this entervewe whereof the cause is vnknowne if it bee not for the marriage of his Sonne to the Dukes second Daughter They met in the open field on Sonday the 12. of December The Duke of Sauoy was in Carosse and the Duke of Mantoua and his Sonne on Horse-backe They lighted to entertaine and salute on an other The Noblemen and Gentlemen which followed them made a great â—ing in the which these two Princes did walke and talked togither two or three houres The Duke of Sauoy feasted him at dinner the Twes-day following in a little house vpon the fronter of the Marquisate of Salusses They continued togither vntill night when parting the Duke of Sauoye gaue vnto the Duke of Mantoua foure goodly Horses with very riche furniture To conclude this yeares worke there was newe matter presently but it is alwaies bad when as the Princes Clemeny is forced to yeeld vnto his Iustice when as France doth bring sorth Spirits so easie to corrupt as intelligences with the Enemies of this Crowne are not held for crimes and their Honour as vaine smoake the which notwithstanding should bee so carefully preserued that rather then to see it blemished or charged with any reproch they should desire and offer themselues to death The King offended with the practises of the Count of Auvergne commanded him to come vnto him and to trust vnto his Clemency the which was not vnknowne vnto him The King sends for the Count of Auvergne Descures made some iorneys vnto him from whome hee brought nothing but delaies and excuses The Kings Iustice was once contented to make him change the ayre for a time It was the best Councell his friends could giue him it was the surest resolution hee could take for it was better to bee absent with the Kings good liking then to bee retired and in disgrace The King was wonderfully greeued at this relapse and did impute it to an error which great courrages detest more and pardon lesse then all other faults for compare Vice with Vice and Euill with Euill Ingratitude is the most odious and the worst This Prince notwithstanding who cannot leaue pardonning sent Descures backe vnto him to cause him to come Hee promised to goe if they would bring him a pardon formally made The King disliked of this kinde of Capitulation whereas his
from whom they could draw no other answer but that he had passed no word to his Brother and that they were his prisoners by a iust warre Philip without any further delay passeth into Flanders with a goodly troope to take possession of the Earledome as Proprietarie and chiefe Lord and to vnite it to the Crowne by vertue of a sentence whereby the person of Count Guy was found giltie of high Treason Flanders vnited to the Crowne and his Lands were confiscate to the King as to his Soueraigne Lord. Hee comes to Gant where hee is receiued with pompe as Prince and Lord hee receiued their homage and makes many goodly lawes for the gouernment of the Countrie appointing Iames of Chastillon Lord of Leuse and Condé for Gouernour and Lieutenant Generall and so returnes to Paris Then were garrisons presently placed and Cittadels made in all the Townes as conquered by the Sword they are charged with contributions taxes and impositions one vpon another to finish the buildings and to nourish the Souldiars with such other things as depended thereon Such was the libertie and confusion of militarie discipline On the other side there were complaints and popular mutinies for the exactions made by the Kings command These popular discontents did sodenly cause a new confusion A people ought to be intreated with much mildnesse The people of Flanders being oppressed râ—uolt against Philip. be they either newly conquered or reduced to their old obedience This ill vsage gaue all the better Townes occasion to reuolt Bruges began and is followed presently by the rest but they must seeke meanes for their preseruation to maintaine themselues against the forces of Philip which vndoubtedly would fall vpon them They assemble at Bruges The first difficultie is to prouide a CoÌ„mander Iohn and Guy of Namur bretheren sonnes to Guy Earle of Flanders were ioyntly chosen by a generall consent and come to Bruges There all the Citties Gant excepted make an offensiue and defensiue league against the King of France for their Earles deliuerie The Dice are cast all breakes out into a furious seditioÌ„ At Bruges the French are slaine by their hosts Count S. Paul who went thether to pacifie these troubles escaped hardly And kill the French furie had found them out Commanders fitte for their humors A wretched Weauer suborned and counterfeit mutinous and full of words named Peter is one of their chiefe Colonels accompanied with like Ruffians the other Commander a Butcher of like qualities to this Tribune But as the baser sort begin these rebellions so great men end them Philip of Flanders sonne to Guy being a prisoner The Nobility ioyne with the pâ—ople flies from Apauille where he was well appointed to succour his Father and Countrie being ready to suffer shipwrack The Nobilitie of the Countrie who feared the furie of this mad inraged multitude ioyne easily with him The popular state seeing how needfull the armes and direction of Gentlemen was for them seeke all meanes to haue their fauour The cause is plausible the deliuery of their good Earle the liberty of their Country Flanders being thus on fire Philip was in no lesse perplexitie resoluing to imploy all his forces to suppresse this mutinous nation In few daies he leuâ—es an armie of 40000. men with exceeding diligence and he himselfe is in field as Generall And yet all this dies like a fire of Ioae breeds euents not foreseene by him who in shew was the stronger but in the end he proues the weaker and beares the blowes for he was scarce entred into Flanders as farre as Boisâ—due but he talkes of his returne pretending the vnseasonablenesse of the time yet the cause was apparantly knowne to be otherwise and some thought that he feared a reuolt at home So this great shew preuailed little in Flanders and bred an infinite charge to France This was the successe of Philips second voyage into Flanders with much bruite no fruite This his sodaine retreat incensed this mutinous people more and gaue courage to their Commanders to be the more resolute against Philip by the renuing of a mutuall alliance and made Philip seeke to repaire the error which he had in his owne conceit committed in not imploying so goodly an armie against the Flemings He raiseth another armie of forty thousand men of the companies already leuied 1302. vnder the command of Robert Earle of Arthois his Cousin accompanied with Arnoul of Neele Constable of France and many great personages The diuers humors of both parties Philip sends an other army which is defeated by the Flemings were a foretelling of the issue of these Armies for the Earle of Artois marched against the Flemings as against abase people easie to be vanquished and this humor of the Generall crept into the Souldiars mindes as going to an vndoubted victory and not to a doubtfull combate Contrariwise the Flemings marched carefully to defend themselues against great warriors for the defence of their liberty against them that were greatly incensed and vnder a Wise and Graue Commander They choose for their Leader Iohn of Namour with his brethren Guy and Philip sonnes to the Earle Guy prisoner accompanied with many Noblemen that were good souldiers and sworne enemies to the French leading a people very resolute for theyr owne preseruations The armies meet nere vnto the Towne of Courtray in a place called Groeminge The Earle of Artois would by al meanes drawe the Flemings to fight who sought onely to defend themselues and therefore had chosen a place for to campe in which was strong both by nature and arte lying close with their battallions This their countenance not to fight made Robert of Artois the more resolute to force them contrary to the Constables aduice The great numbers of the French did at the first terrifie the Flemings but their mindes seasoned with the former considerations they were incouraged by their Leader Iohn of Namour Battel of Courtray famous for thâ— great defeat of the French Robert therefore hauing commanded his Horse to charge their Squadrons furiously the Flemings withstood them as corragiously and hauing disordered them they forced them to retyre vppon their owne foote who were placed with so great a contempt of the enemy as if they were not to fight but to gather the spoyles of vanquished men The Horse-men thus disordered passe through their bands of foote the which thus diuided abandon their rankes and then their Armes Some fight heere others flie there but the horse and foote being in route they could not ioyne againe The disorder was generall some defend themselues couragiously but there remaine no squadrons to fight in grosse Their multitude is a hindrance vnto them the Flemings incourraged with this successe are the more eager in killing for that this defeat of our men was vnexpected and this multitude being victorious is fleshed vpon the French as vppon dead carcases without any mercy glutting themselues vpon theÌ„ whom before
great troupes of men O light and inconstant people how easâ—y is it to moue thy affections and to make thee in an instant to applaud that partie which euen now thou diddest abhorre But let vs leaue them in this good humour and see what remedy the King had for these garboyles attending the succors the Duke of Milan sent him Lewis being after the battayle retyred from Corbeil to Paris flatters the peoples humours treates popularly with them erects a priuie Counsell of six Counsellors of the Court sixe Doctors of the Vniuersitie and sixe Burgesses to gouerne his affaires according to their aduice and direction he leaues sixe hundred Lances in Paris vnder the command of the bastard of Armaignac Earle of Cominge of Maister Gilles of Saint Simon Bayliffe of Senlis la Barde Craon Charles of Mares and Charles of Melun his LieutenaÌ„t in the said towne Then he goes into Normandy to assemble al the Nobility and men of warre he could from whence he sent the Earle of Eu to haue the commande of the war and of the Cittie followed with two hundred archers well in order The Earle being arriued he sends the Lord of Rambure to the Leagâ—rs offring to bee a mediator for their discontents vnto his maiestie but it was without effect The King hauing intelligence of the confederats trafficke with the Parisiens knowing that this people doth easily change their affections with the successe and foreseeing that this baâ—te of the commonweale would soone bewitch them displeased also that the Bishop had without his knowledge treated of an accord he hastens his returne accompained with the Earles of Maine and Ponthieure and the forces of Normandie And for the first fruits of loue to his subiects hee confirmed all the priuileges they inioyed in his fathers life he abolished all new impositions and retayned none but the ancient and ordinary farmes of marchandise that is sold by great Meanes to pacifie a people that wauer then did hee punish eyther with banishment or death such as had yeelded to the reception of the heads of the League into the Cittie He doth sharpely blame the Bishop and at the Instigation of the Cardinall of Albi to haue beene a dealer in his absence for his enemies with an inconstant and il-aduised people and hauing prouided for the surety of the Cittie hee prepares to offend and defend The Bourguignoâ— likewise vseth all force great and daylie skirmishes with the Parisiens Lewis his proding at Paris Newe succors to both parties sometimes chasing and sometimes chased And therevpon comes newe supplies to the Leaguers the Dukes of Bourbon and Nemours the Earle of Armaignaâ— and the Lord of Albret notwithstanding the former treaty with about six thousand men On the other side the King receiued from Francis Sforze Duke of Milan fiue hundred men at armes and three thousand foote commanded by Galeas his eldest son with this Counsell of State A Politâ—ck aduice That to diuide this company hee should yeeld to all conditions and onely preserue his men An aduice which Lewis shall cuningly put in practise speedily Thesâ— Milanois were imployed in Bourbonois vntill newes of the peace shall come The Earle thus fortified offers battaile but the King would not hazard any thing desiring to disperse this mistie cloud without effusioÌ„ of bloud And to annoye them of Conâ—â—â—ns Charenton he sends foure thousand frank-archers about foure hundred pioners supported by the Nobility of Normandie and some at armes who plant themselues vpon riuers side right against Conflans at the English port where they make a large and a long trench vnto the Cittie with a bulwark of wood and earth whereon they plant many peeces of artillery the which at the first driues the Duke of Calâ—brâ—a out of Charenton with great losse of his men and an extreame terror to the Earle of Charolois who lodged at Conflans in a house belonging to his Father Two Cannon shot passed through his Camber being at dinner and slewe his trompetor carrying a dish to his table This amazement makes him go downe with speed he fortifies his lodging pierceth the walles and plants a Cannon for a counterbatterie But they must dislodge these frank-archers preuent the losse they receyued from the other side of the water A bridge of boats at Charenson For the effecting of this he obtaines a truce for two dayes in which time he made a bridge of boats The bridge almost finished the franke-archers leaue their trenches carrie away their artillerie and retire to the suburbes into the Carthusians cloister A part of the Bourguignons army passeth the water they enter the suburbes of Saint Marceau and skirmish but with little losse on eyther side Herevpon our Captaines resolue to assaile the enemy in diuers parts A page sent by night giues them intelligence At the breake of day some horsemen charge home to the artillery and kil a Canoniere This was in shewe the effect of the pages aduertissement All arme they make barricadoes and stand firme The artillery thunders the Kings answers them They send forth two hundred horse to discouer who see a troupe issuing forth the Cittie to learne the cause of this tumult and moreouer a great number of Lâ—nces in conceit and so they report that all are come forth in battaile but the daye breaking they proue but thistells So this alarme turnes to laughter In the meane time they treate of peace but the demands of the Confederats were excessiue The Duke of Berry demands Normandie for his portion The Earle of Charolois the Townes of Somme lately redeemed For the better effectâ—ng hereof the two commanders conclude of an enteâ—uiew An enterview of the two heads The King mounts vp the water right against the Bourguignoâ—s armie accompanied with the Lords of Montauban Admirall Nantouillet Du Lau and few others The Earles of Charolois and S. Paul come to receiue him He then offers to giue his Brother the Prouinces of â—rie and Champaigne excepting Meaux Melun and Montereâ—u the which he would not accept He graunts the Charolois his desire disauowes Moruilliers in certaine speeches wherein he saith he had exceeded his charge and for the Earles sake he promiseth to giue the office of Constable to the Earle of S. Paul These entercourses of either side proue lamentable for the King Fatall for the King for besides that the Princes doe daily suborne more of his men then he can draw from them behold Pontoise is deliuered to the Britton by Sorbier commanding there vnder the Marshall Ioâ—câ—â—m and to finish so notable a treacherie he marcheth towards Meulan to the same intent but the inhabitants being aduertised he returnes without effect There growes an other vpâ—ore in Paris the Souldiers vaunt insolently The 〈◊〉 ready to mutine that the Cittizens goods are at their free disposition that they will take the Keyes of their houses from them and for a need will pull the cheines out of their streetes Herevpon the
with good store of Artillerie for this great rable armed and tumultuously assembled by the Earle of Dunois had bin a maâ—ner all sent back as an vnprofitable burthen vpon the earth But the matter is of importance the French are not so easily forced to rise and if an occasion of battaile be offred shall they accept it The Marshall of Rieux best experienced in matters of warre with some others are not of that opinion for to what end say they should we hazard the estate and country vpon an euent which may bee auoided If we loose the day by what meanes shall we releeue our selues The Souldiers that shall remaine after the ouerthrow wil want courage and change their minds the people would be amazed the Townes stand in suspence the conquerour would become maister of the Country and take all Townes hee should attempt without resistance It were best to temporise to incampe at Rennes being well furnished with victuals and things necessary and in the meane time to keepe the enemy occupyed forcing him to lie in field tiring him with their horsemen cutting off his forrage or else to lodge the army in the fronter townes to shut vp the victuals attend the winter which being come the enemy shall haue no meanes to lodge abroad but must of force dislodge in the meane time we shall see what profit will grow by the leagues of the Kings of England Castile of the Archduke the Duke of Lorraine all which giue the Duke great hope to countermine the Kings practises in Brittanie The rest rashly thrust on partly by a yong and boiling humor partly with desire to make triall of their forces make answer That the souldiers are wearied with this long beating of armes without effect that hauing now an oportunity to do well they obserue a great ioy in their resolutions the which it was more fit to nourish then to quench that their forces were altogether and asked nothing but imploiment that delay would make them leaue their Ensignes by little little In the meane time Fougeres was at the last gaspe a towne of importance and one of the keyes of the countrie that to leaue it in this extremity were to shew a manifest proofe of cowardise to all the rest To conclude they say in a maner that to temporise were to play the cowards The first opinion was most probable but the vehemencie of the Earle of Dunois and the heaâ— of yonger heads carried it Diuision in the British armie All march but see the pittifull first fruits of their first lodging at Andouille a village vpon the way to Rennes from S. Albin a contention fals betâ—ixt the Duke of Orleans the Lord of Albert a man of great reuenues father to Iohn the last of that name K. of Nauarre but his mistresse did not affect him a good scholler in dissembling to vse the power of Albert for the benefit of the Duke her father The Dâ—ke of Orleans did flie a higher pitch and by the mediation of the Earle of Dunois was very farre in fauour with Anne of Brittaine Alain discouers some good shewes of Anne to the Duke of Orleans wherevpon they grow to bitter words as the next day they are ready to fight But the enemy being at hand was it now time to contend to the preiudice of a whole armie But now the foresight of the Marshall of Brittanie doth pacifie all vpon this diuision they receiue two seuerall aduertisments S. Aulbin of Cormier was battered by the French with 3. batteries and yeelded by composition with their liues goods saued a small towne but furnished with a very good Castle but at that time vnfurnished of men victuals munition Fougeres yeelded vpon the like accord S. Aulbin was commanded by William of Rosneuinen an ancient Captaine who had had a command of men at armes vnder Charles the 7. and Lewis the XI but in the warres betwixt Charles the 8. and the Duke of Brittanie he returned to serue his naturall Pâ—ince The Brittons armie marcheth to recouer this place the French to preserue their conquests when as behold there riseth a mutiny among the Brittaines It is secretly murmured that the French Commanders their associats had intelligence with the heads of the French armie the which suggestion did euen then hazard all and if the Brittons had beene farther off without feare of charge they had easily disbanded The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Orange aduertised of this conceit had great paine to worke any other impression What do they to giue an assurance of the contrarie they leaue their horses and sweare all to fight on â—oote with the Brittons and Germains A more bold then wise resolution but necessitie did serue them to appease this mutinie which tended to sedition They order their troupes to fight The Auant-gard to the Marshall of Rieux The order of the Brittons armie the Battaile to the Lord of Albret with some horse to couer his flanks The reereward to Chasteaubriant and on either side their carriages of artillerie and baggage to couer some of their foote being fauoured on their flanke with a small groue betwixt Saint Albin and the village of Oranges And to make the small numbers of strangers seeme great they attire twelue hundred some say seuenteene hundred Brittons with casâ—â—â—ks bearing a red crosse the English liuerie Lewis of Tremouille in the absence of Lewis of Bourbon his brother in law commaunded the Kings armie The oâ—der oâ— the French Hee giues the foreward to Adrian del Hospital an old French Captaine and famous in this warre he takes the battaile to himselfe and giues the reereward to the Marshall of Baudricourt pressed by a more sodaine charge then he expected Gabriel of Montfauçois with tenne or twelue horsemen sent out to obserue the Brittons countenance makes report of their good order The two armies approach the artillerie thunders and kils many men of either side a skirmishe continues about two howres The battaile of S. Albâ—â— which giues the French leysure to order their battaile The two forewards ioyne the Brittons endure the shocke so couragiously as the French yeeld to the resolute valour of the Marshall of Rieux who goes to charge the battaile at the first they kill Claude of Montfort a braue Captaine sent by the King of England succour the Duke and the Lord Scales a valliant Knight with some others of the formost ranke Blaire a Germaine Captaine to couer himselfe from the French artillerie changeth his quarter marching bâ—aâ—e-wise with his battailon like vnto a Croisant but he is sodenly charged in flanke by fower hundred French horse broken and many of them slaine At the same instant two hundred horse charge those which had the baggage in charge and force them to retire The Brittons horse that flâ—â—ked the armie growes amazed and leaues the foote naked They charge them and force them all giue way and all flie some here
the yeare 1496. And the Spaniards after some roades and spoilings on this side the mountaines content to haue repelled the enemy concluded a truce for fiue moneths A truce betwixt Spaine and France by the meanes of Frederick whom Ferdinand King of Arragon and of Castile held in hope to restore him to his throne and Queene Anne moued our Lewis therevnto onely for the regarde of that which concerned the affaires of France By this truce the thoughts and forces of these two Kings are conuerted to the warres of Naples Thâ—â—arres of Naples reuiued The French armie hauing passed the lands of Valmontone and of the Colonnois marched through the territories of the Church with an intent to take in the Castle of Seeque Here our men receiued their first affront Secque well assailed was well defended causing our men to retire who dispairing to winne S. Germaine take their way by the Sea coast But the question was how to passe Garillan which was not to be waded through at that season Gonsalue was incamped on the other side our French by reason of their Canon winne the passage of the riuer make a bridge thereon and aduenture to passe The Spaniards repulse them euen to the middest of the bridge and by the furie of their shotte force them to go to land Infortunate at the first hauing lost fiue hundred men French and Suisses and some hundred drowned the enemy two hundred and Fabius the sonne of Paul Vrsin a young man and of great hope It is a matter of dangerous consequence to attempt to passe a riuer in the face of a mightie armie and commanded by a discreet Captaine if they be not well fortified with trenches This second disgrace incouraged the Spaniard terrified our French and made them loose all future hope Doubtlesse the most important part of an armie is a good commander and commonly few doe willingly vndergo the command of a stranger if he be not especially fauoured by the heauens hath won great credit and giuen great testimonies of his valour Herein the Spaniards did exceed them and this defect in the French armie had bred great contempt of their generall and more confusion then concord among the Captaines The Marquis of Mantoâ—a generall of the French giue ouer the charge of the armie So as the Marquis of Montaua Lieutenant for the King eyther thinking himselfe vnfit to gouerne so great an armie or as Sandrâ—court charged him carrying away with him the Italian forces that the French might be so much the weaker or for that hauing receiued this double repulse he would no farther ingage his honour parted from the armie laying all the fault vpon the contumacie of the French All difficulties conspired their ruine the hard season of the winter the situation of the mooâ—ish countrie the continuall raine and snow want of pay the impatiencie of the toyles of warre and moreouer the great suffrance of the enemy who fortified with a deepe ditch and two bastions in the front of the enemies armie continually garded the passage whilest that our men wasted themselues with fruitlesse attempts and by their vnseasonable stay the which quailed as much the heat of their courage as the couetousnesse of the victualers the ordinary theft of the Treasurers the dissention of Captaines and the disobedience of souldiers vsuall in troupes wanting a vigilant commander and of authoritie and the increase of ordinary diseases did hurt them Being inuironed with these difficulties the enemie hath a new supply by Bartlemew of Aluiano with the rest of the Vrsins And Gonsalue finding himselfe now to haue 900. men at armes a thousand light horse and nine thousand Spanish foote aduertised moreouer of the disorders and continuall decay of our armie the which being stronger in caualerie then in footmen those being cut in peeces which they had lately lest at Castle Gâ—illaume were so dispersed as their lodging conteined ten miles in circuit a grosse erâ—or of the Marquis of Saluce hauing an enemie in front who could well imbrace all aduantages he secretly casts a bridge ouer the Garillon foure miles aboue that which our men had made at the passage of Suie where the French kept no gard he passeth the 27. of December in the night and possesseth Suie The Marquis vnderstanding that the Spaniard did passe riseth sodenly breakes his bridge and causeth the armie to march towards Caiete Gonsalue hinders his passage by Prosper Colonne and the light horse men that being molested by them they should be inforced to march the more slowly he ouertakes them right against Scandi and stayes them with continuall skirmishes vntill that Gonsalue eomes vpon the reereward of them An armie that retires with feare receâ—ued the first stroake of death when they are skirmished with Our French were driuen to the passage of the bridge which is before Mole of Caiete and whilest the Viceroy staied there to giue the Canon time to passe the battaile and rereward of the Spaniards arriue Bernardin Adorne the Lords of Cramont and S. Colombe with some Cornets of French Italians make it good a long time and fauour the retreat of the foot vntill that by the death of Adorne and many others with the wounding of S. Colombe the rest of these horsemen seeing the troupes to haue gotten some ground doe likewise take their way to Caiete alwaies beaten behinde euen vnto the head of two wayes whereof the one leads to Itri and the other to Caiete The French defeated 〈◊〉 Here all disband those which are best mounted saue themselues the slowest the wounded the sicke the Canon and the munition remaine at the victors deuotion 1504. At the same time Fabricio Colonne hauing passed the riuer with fiue hundred horse and a thousand foote spoiled the companies of Lodowike of Mirandole Alexander of Triuulee Peter of Medicis who followed the French armie retiring by sea to Caiete with many Gentlemen and foure peeces of artillerie their barke ouertaken with a storme in the mouth of the riuer was swallowed vp in the waues and all in it drowned Gonsalue knew well that so great a multitude of men being retired into Caiete would breed a sodaine famine and soone yeeld him the Towne He besiegeth it and our men not able to dispose themselues to endure the tediousnesse of a doubtfull expectation of succours The realme of Naples wholy lost by the French made the first day of the yeare 1504. famous by this accord with him To depart with liues and goods out of the realme of Naples eyther by land or by sea and that the Lord of Aubigni and all other prisoners should bee deliuered on eyther side So our French are againe dispossessed of the estate of Naples and exposed to cold hungar and to a long and painfull retreate that although of so great an armie few were slaine by the enemies sword yet the most part of them which departed after this capitulation found their graues in hospitalls market places
assault although they could not mount but with Ladders the wall remayning yet aboue three yards high Those within mayntaine it valiantly and fighting the space of three houres in the ende they repulse our men with the losse of three hundred foote and some men at armes with a great number of hurt amongest others the Lord of Chastillon the master of the ordinance and Spineuse who being hurt with the artillery from the Towne died within fewe dayes after In the meane time the Cittizens amazed and fearing a more dangerous charge treated of their yeedling without the priuity of Marc Anthonie Colonne when as behold the enemy comes marching to their succour who campes at Meuâ—â—nach three miles from Rauenna fortifying themselues with a trench â—â—ch as the shortnesse of time would permit leauing an entry of about twentie fadome◠〈◊〉 raiseth the seege turnes the mouth of the Cannon towards the enemies and on Easter day the eleuenth of Aprill passeth Ronque leauing his rereward led by Yues d' Alegre vpon the riuers side towards Rauenna to succour the armie at neede to mâ—ke head against those that should issue out off the Towne to keepe the bridge which they had made vpon the riuer of Montone then disposing of his troupes he giues the â—â—ant-gard to the Dâ—ke of Ferrare the battaile to the Lord of Palisse and the Carâ—â—â—all of Saint Seuerin who great both in minde and body couered from the head to the foote with most shyning armes performed the office of a Captaine rather then of 〈◊〉 Gaston reserued to himselfe no priuate charge but would bee free to see and succour in all places the beauty of his armes his cassake his cheerefull countenance his eyes full of vigour and shyning for ioye made him very glorious The enemies seeing ouâ— French passe the riuer were ranged in battaile Fabrice Colonne led the foreward the Cardinall of Medicis Legat of the Councell of Lateran the battaile but a fatall signe in a peacefull habit Caruagial a Spanish Captaine the reereward So the two armies approching one to the other stood immouable aboue two houres the enemies being loath to abandon the compasse of their palissado The Spaniards artillery thunders and at the first volee ouerthrewe many French The battaile oâ— Rauenne wonne by the French The French answers but with a greater losse to their horse Peter of Nauarre hauing caused the foote to couch flat vpon their bellies Fabrice cries presseth and importunes to go to the battaile and not to suffer them to bee consumed by the Cannon The Nauarrâ—is contradicts presuming that the more the danger increased the more famous would the victory be which he expected But the Cannon had so scoured their men at armes and light horse as they could no longer keepe their rankes There might you see men and horse fall dead to the ground heads armes and legges flie into the 〈◊〉 when as Fabricio cries out Shall wee die shamefully heere by the obstinacie and malice of a villaine Shall this army bee consumed without the death of any one enemie must the honour of Spaine and Italie bee lost for the pleasure of a Nauarrois Speaking thus he presseth out of the trench with his companie all the horse-men followe him the foote rise and with fury charge the Lansquenets All the squadrons ioyne danger glory hope and hatred of nation against nation flesh them in the combate Fabricio Coloâ—ne is already taken by the Duke of Ferrares companie Alegri chargeth in flanke with his rereward The Viceroy of Naples and Caruagial are put to flight leading with them almost a whole squadron The light horse are disranked and the Marquis of Pâ—scara their Captaine prisoner being couered with wounds and bloud The Marquis of Padulle is lâ—kewise defeated with his squadron and taken prisoner The Italians foote sâ—râ—nke and began to turne their backes if the Spaniards had not speedâ—ly come to second them against the Lansquenets But all the hoâ—semen fled and the Spanish battallion reâ—â—red in order when as Gaston turning to charge them with a great troupe of horse not holding the victory absolute if those retired whole he went couragiously to assaile them But alas as they charge the hindermost they are enuironed by this battallion cut in peeces for the most part he throwen vnder his horse was slaine being thrust into the sâ—anke with a pike Doubtlesse a happy death for him hauing this content in his sâ—ule to die in so yong an age honored with so much glory Gaston of Foix slaine the which he had purchased in fewe monethes by so many and so notable victories but a fatall victory polluted with the death of so braue a Commander who but euen nowe began to make his naâ—â— and his valour knowen and by his fall carried with him the happinesse of the French and the strength of this army The Viconte of Lautrec his Cousin remayned almost dead by him maymed with twentie wounds but led afterwards to Ferrare and being carefully looked vnto hee escaped to do the King notable seruice Gaston being dead the Spaniards retire without trouble or let the rest of the army is broken and dispersed The baggage taken enseignes and artillery Prisoners of account Prisoners of marke Fabricio Colonne the Marquises of Pescara and Padulle Estelle and Bitonte the Earle of Monteleon Iohn of Cardone Peter of Nauarre manie Barons and Noblemen Spaniards Neapolitans and Italians and the Legat of the Councell of Lateran There were slaine according to the common estimation ten thousand a third of the French amongest which were Alegre and Viuerrois his sonne Raimonet of Saint Maur Molare and some other Gascoine Captaines Iacob Colonell of the Lansquenets a braue man The number of dead and commended to haue assisted much with his troupe for the wynning of this victory Two thirds of the enemies but almost al their chiefe Captaines and the brauest of their army a great number hurt and most of them that fled were stâ—pt and beaten downe by the Countrymen which lay in troupes by the way And for the last act of this Papal tragedie Rauenna is taken by assault and cruelly sackt and spoyled Imola 〈◊〉 taken and sâ—ckt Furli Cesena Rimini and all the forts of Romagnia followed the victoâ—â— fortune and the Legate of the Councel of Pisa receiues them al in the name of the said Councel The body of Gaston was carried to Milan with an honorable conuoy in a litter followed by the aboue named prisoners interred with a wonderfull mournefull pompe namely of the soldiars whose hearts he had so wonne as they protested that nothing was impossible vnto them vnder the leading of such a Commander And the King his Vncle receyuing these heauie tidings I would to God sayd he I were driuen out of Italy so as my Nephew de Foix and the other Noblemen liued I wish such victories to mine enemies If we vanquish once more after this sort wee shall bee vanquished Without doubt
and reiecting the chiefe causer thereof vpon the want of paiement Without doubt it is a great error in a Kings Officers especially in an army to conuert the money appointed for the paiement of an armie to other vses Iâ— was at the passage of the riuer of Adde that the last act of this tragedie must be played for the defence whereof Lautree sent the Lord of Pont-dormy with his Compâ—â—â—e that of Octauian Fregose led by Count Hugues of â—epolâ— a Bolonois a thousand or tâ—elue hundred foote and two faulcons But it pleased God at this time to satisfie the Popes couetousnesse with the spoile of our men that might execute the iust iudgement of his Vengeance soone after vpon his person The enemie beates backe our gardes and puttes them to flight killes some and amongest others Gratian of Lucâ— and Chardon neighbours to the forrest of Orleans who commanded either of them a regâ—ment of fiue hundred men They passe Adde at Vauci and force Lautrec to retire to Cassâ—n and so towards Milan with his whole army The passage of Adde recouered Prosper Colonnes reputation who for the retreat before Parma and his ordinarie tediousnesse was ill reputed of as well at Rome as in his army Contrariwise Lautrec wanting neyther valour nor braue resolution but Vigilance and happinesse purchased contempt of his men and hatred of the Milanois whome he did the more exasperate in causing Christopher Paluoisin to bee publikely beheaded a man of great Nobility great authoritie great age and a long time deteyned a prysoner Colonne aduertised of the retreat of the French to Milan lodged at Marignan and his Suisses in the Abbie of Cleruaut doubtfull whether hee should passe on to Milan being fortyfied with so many men or turne to Pauie beeing destitute of soldiars Being thus irresolute there appeeres vnto the Marquis of Mantoua an aged man Lautrec odious to his army meane in shewe and apparell who being brought before Colonne and the other Captaines assures them that he is sent from the parishioners of Saint Cir of Milan to let them vnderstand that at the first approach of their armie all the people of Milan are resolued to take armes against the French by the sound of the belles of euerie parish wishing them to set forward with speede without giuing the French leysure to bethinke themselues And so he vanished away not knowne to any man The Commanders gaue credit to this intelligence A notable aduenture The 23. of Nouember the Marquis of Pescara with his Spanish bands presents himselfe at the port of Rome at sunne setting and presently chargeth the Venetians appointed to gard the suburbes with a bastion which they had newely begunne hee puts them to flight making no resistance and the Suisses likewise that were lodged by them killes â—ome and hurts others before our men had any knowledge of their arriuall Theodore Triuulce who beeing sicke and disarmed came to this alarum vpon a little moyle was taken The Gibelins seizing on the part brought in the Marquis of Fescara and Mantoua the Cardinall of Medicis Colonne and a part of the army Milan taken and sackt the victors not able to conceiue by what happinesse and meanes they had so easily obteyned so notable a victorie the which was confirmed by the sacke of the Cittie which continued fifteene dayes We cannot but blame our Commanders herein of negligence and too great confidence in not discouering the enemies remooue that day and beleeue that they would not assault the Rampars without their artillerie the which could not 〈◊〉 the wayes being broken with continuall raine Lautrec troubled with the feare and the darknesse of the night not able to discouer in so short a time the estate of the enemy confusedly lodged â—ome in the Cittie others in the Suburbs Abandoned by Lautrec he left Mascaron a Gentleman of Gasconie within the Castell with fiftie men at armes and six hundred French foote and retired his armie to Come wheâ—e leauing Iohn of Chabannes Lord of Vandenesse brother to the Marshall of Chabannes with fiftie men at armes and fiue hundred foote he repassed the riuer of Adde at Lecâ—â—e and tooke the way of Bergamo to put his men at armes into Garrison in the Venetians Countrie and other places which held yet for the French It is an vsuall thing to yeeld vnto the Conqueror Laude Pauia Plaisance Alexandria Cremona hold for the Empire and the Duke of Milan Ianot of Herbouuille Lord of Bunou held yet the Castell of Cremona Lautrec sent his brother Lescut thether who since the retreat of Parma had ioyned with the armie with part of his forces to recouer it Who being repulsed Lautrec brought all his troupes which were but fiâ—e hundred men at armes foure thousand Suisses a few other footemen foure hundred men at armes Venetians and six thousand foote As all things were readie for the assaâ—â—t the enemie being amazed demanded a composition the which they obteined with their liues and baggage Cremona recouered A small comfort for men halfe discouraged Frederic of Bossole came from Parma with his forces by Lautrecs commandement He â—ad no sooner passed the Po but Vittelli seizeth thereon with a most pleasing consent of all the people All these victories were glorious to the enemy but the treacherie of one blemished their former reputation Come spoiled contrary to the capitulation Come besieged battered ten or twelue dayes despairing of succour and defence had yeelded vpon condition that as well the French companies as those of the Towne should haue their liues and goods saued depart with their Launces vpon their thighes and be safely conducted into the Venetians country and yet when the French would depart the Spaniards entred and spoiled both the Souldiars and the Cittizens Vandenesse accusing the Marquis of Pescara to haue broken his faith challenged him to the combate If you will mainteine answered he that this sacke is happened by my commandement or permission I say you haue lyed But before the quarrell could be ended Vandenesse was slaine at Romagnen at the retreate of the Admirall of Bonniuet whom the end of the warres of Nauarre had drawne beyond the Alpes At the same instant those of the League sent the Bishop of Verule to the Suisses to withdraw their affections from this Crowne But displeased that their men had marched against the King and complaining of the Cardinall of Sion the Pope and all his officers who had perswaded them to breake the conditions of their alliance they put this Bishop in hold at Bellinsone and called home the troupes they had in Italy On times the victor is partaker of the discommodities of warre they made preparation to assaile Cremona and Genes But their desseins are broken by the death of pope Leo who hauing newes of the taking of Milan Death of Pope Leo. but especially of Parma and Plaisance for the recouerie whereof to the Church he had chiefly mooued this warre he was so wonderfully
had so few men as hee was forced when the enemie had left the place to retire his men to put them into that whether the enemie seemed to bend had so furnished the Townes with valiant Commaunders and all things necessarie as the Duke and Earle hauing made a shew to beseege Terouenne Hedin Dourlans and Corbie in the end they campe before Bray vpon Somme The wall was weake and three mountaines commanding the Towne were the cause they could not fortifie it yet that braue Pontdormy had thurst himselfe into it with a hundred and fiftie men at armes and some fifteene hundred foote to defend this passage against the enemie Let vs not blame a valiant Captaine if he receiue a disgrace in a weake place Hee made his accompt in case he were forced to retire by the Causie and to breake the bridges after him But he was so prest as he had no meanes to retire but in disorder with the losse of foure score or a hundred men and if he had not maintained the fight with his men at armes whilest his footmen recouered Corbie there had been no hope of safetie for the rest But see how hee reuenged this disgrace The enemie threatned Montdidier and the small forces Tremouille had made all men vnwilling to leade any succours thither Pontdormy was neuer daunted with the difficultie of any enterprise Night being come he goes to field and without any incounter puts into Montdidier Rochebaron an Auuergnac and Fleuras Lieutenant of the Earle of Damartius company The valour of Ponâ—dormy either of them commaunding fiftie men at armes and René of Palletiere with a thousand French And fearing least Tremouille should haue need of hâ—m he had not the patience to attend for night to make his retreat hee doth it at noone day resolute to charge all hee should incountre hauing but his owne companie with that of the Vicont of Lauedan Whith this resolution he meets with fiue hundred horse chargeth them with such furie as hee puts them to rout But two thousand men comming to succour the rest he was forced to leaue the chase to sauour the retreat of his troupe In the which his horse being slaine hee left Barnieulles and Canaples his brother and nephew to beare the shocke with twentie men at armes whâ—â—st that he saued the rest in Amiens the enemie cutting off the way to Corbie Baruieulles and Canaples ouerthrowne from their horses were taken prisoners with seuen men at armes Roy and Moutdâ—â—ier taken of their companie So Roye remayned at the enemies mercie who hauing taken and burnt it marched to Montdidier where a breach being made they within distrusting of their forces departed with their baggage and came to Tremouille The enemie had opened the passage of Oise and approched within eleuen leagues of Paris But their courses are stayed and Paris is assured by the arriuall of the Duke of Vendosme with foure hundred men at armes so as the English and Bourguignons fearing to be compassed in by the Duke and Tremouille and so famished tooke their way to Artois and a little after All Saints day a notable season for the losse of Corne which was frosen generally throughout the Realme they dismissed their armie carrying no other spoyles of their victorie but the taking of the Castle of Bâ—haâ— n which was yeelded vnto them without somons But the enemie was no sooner retyred but Tremouille before the Duke of Vendosmes arriuall made so furious a batterie with sixe Cannons as the garrison seeing their armie broken yeelded by composition Thus Picardie is freed from a mightie armie which at their departure held not one foot of land of their Conquest In like sort the Dâ—ke Bourbons attempt against Bourgongne turned to smoake for wanting money to pay his Lansquenets the King did practise some of their Captains who came to him with their troupes So despayring to get any thing in France he retyred into Milan Augustus the Emperour loued treason but not the Traitor So the Emperour Charles loued his actions but not the Duke of Bourbons person To keepe him from passing into Spaine vnder hope of marrying with Eleoner sister to the Emperour Charles made him his Lieutenant generall in Italie whilst that hee prepared to passe into France in person as we shall see Let vs now returne into Italie where wee shall see a Pope of more turbulent spirit then Adrian Pope Adrian dies who died the foureteenth of September little lamented and of small esteeme Hee was a stranger and little acquainted with the affaires of the Court of Rome hee was learned and not greatly vicious The Colledge of Cardinals repined to see any other sett in Saint Peters chaire but an Italian or at the least one bred vp in Italie Iules Cardinall of Medicis after many and sundry strifes and contentions euery one of the Cardinals seeking the choise and election by the support of such as fauored him in the end he carried it the nineteenth of Nouember through the fauour saith the originall of the great reuenues of his ecclesiasticall liuings Clement the 7. chosen In all his actions wee shall see him discouer a spirit wonderfully ambitious of a great courage actiue desirous of innouations giuen to affaires especially of the world not much subiect to his pleasures and giuing hope of great and extraordinary matters and for that presently after his instalement hee vsed clemencie to the Cardinall of Volterre declared vnsufficient to come into the Conclaue by Adrian for the subiect wee haue formerly noted hee therefore tooke vppon him the name of Clement the 7. In the meane time our Admirall tooke cold before Milan which he thought to famish cutting off conduits that went into the Towne beating down the milles but the great number of hand milles which Colonne had caused to be made preserued the Cittizens from famine And to cut off the victualles that came from Laudesan to the French Campe Colonne had put the Marquis of Mantoua with fiue hundred horse into Pauia The Admiral fearing least he should seize vpoÌ„ thebridge hee had made at Vtgeue by the which victualls came vnto his armie he commanded Bayard and Rence to come and lodge at Vâ—geue but by their dislodging from Monce the passage was open to the enemy and then victualls entred abundantly into Milan which caused the ruine of the French army Nothing succeeds happily with them The enemies victories whome the prouidence of God doth not fauour The hope to famish Milan is frustrate and the intelligence which the Admirall had within the Towne with one Morgand a Corporall of the Squadron of Iohn de Medicis is discouered with the losse of all their liues that had consented hee should haue receiued the French into a bastion when the gard thereof fell vnto him Moreouer the enemy growes proude of small aduantages and light victories who being accustomed to ouercome by degrees resolues to vanquish all at once Iohn de Medicis being to garde the
downe the defences which might any way accommodate the enemy did negligently garde the approches he marcheth thether with speed surpriseth them in disorder and kills some before they could recouer any place of safetie he summons the Castle some preâ—erring life before honour câ—st themselues ouer the walls into the Ditch the rest amazed yeeld the place at the enemies discretion A basenesse vnworthy of Nobilitie so as those whâ—ch were fâ—â—nd to be Gentlemen were degraded and both they and their posteritie declared pesâ—nts and subiect to taxes Guise being sackt and all the Countrie about burnt the Earle carrying awâ—y a bootie of men Cattell and goods marched against S. Quintin But being adueâ—tised of the good order the Duke had set for the good and defence of the Towne hee turned sodeâ—ly and tooke the way of Peronne It is strong by nature and situation but at that time not well fortified nor sufficiently manned to withstand so great a power He therefore passeth the â—iuer of Somme aboue Aplincourt abandoned as not defensible and spoiling burning and making the whole countrie desolate hee campes before Pâ—ronne about the middest of August The Lord of Sercu Captaine generall of the Legion of Picardie puts himselfe into it with a thousand men Peronne beseeged and the Marshall of La Marke with a hundred men at armes Misfortune is good for some thing The darknesse of the smoake which the fire of the Fermes and Villages burnt by the enemie had caused couered the passages of our men euen at the Imperials noses In the meane time the Dukes of Vendosme and Guise leuie new bands in Picardie and Champagne to ioyne with the Lansequenets which Nicholas of Rusticis did bring Lâ—t vs leaue the Count Nassau asâ—ailing and the defendants valiantly encountring his attempts vntill that the Emperour after his first disgrace receiued before Marseilles shall be blemished with a second at Peronne in the persons of the Earles of Nassau and Reux and let vs see what happened in Piedmont after the yeelding of Fossan The troupes which Guy Earle of Rangon Caesar Fregose his brother in lawe Warre in Piedmonâ— Caguin Gonsague and other Italian Captaines pensioners to the King had leuied were broken by reason of the last hope and practise of peace cunningly giuen out by the Emperour Now they renew them by a new Commâ—ssion from the King so to crosse the Imperialls in Italie as hee might thereby diuert the great forces they had in Franeâ— Rangon Lieutenant for the King in this armie leuied two thousand men Caguin as many Caesar Fregose the like number and two hundred light horse the Lords of Paluoisâ—â— a Vicount of Milan Peter Strossi a Florentine Balthazar called the Cheualier d' Azzal a Ferrarois eyther of them a thousand men Beringer of Caldore a Neapolitane Eaâ—le of Monte de Rise and Iohn of Turin a Florentine euery one fiue hundred Auerol of Bressan foure hundred Bandin of Tuscane foure hundred and two hundred light horse and the Lord of Tais a Frenchman borne but sent into Italy to receiue thâ— Earle of Mirandole into his Maiesties seruice two hundred light horse An armie of great hope whose exploites we shall soone see Annebaâ—lt and Burie being straightly besieged in Turin performed the parts of good and vigilant Captaines well practised in matters of warre preuenting both the enemy and the Cittizens newly reduced to the Kings obedience from daâ—ing to attempt any thing against them and by their daily sallies bringing prisoners and store of catteâ—l returned victors within the circuit of their wals Maramao had gathered togither 〈◊〉 in Ciria all the corne victuals he could get thereabouts Annebault aduerâ—ised â—â—erof by his espials sent Essé with seuentie horse and Auchy and Cany leading either of them fiue hundred foote who parting towards the euening came to the walls side before they were discouered A braue and happie exploit they plant their ladders surprise the Towne put all to the sword that made resistance loade their beasts of burthen with victuals and bootie and retire to Turin without any incounter This happie victorie brought vnto the beseeged the conquests of Riuolles Veillane and S. Ambrois The garrison thus reuiued aspires to greater enterprises The Emperour had left in Sauillan sixteene peeces of artillerie with all their prouision of bullets powder and other necessaries and a good prouision of armes The garrison which he had placed there Enterprise vpon Sauillan forraging without feare in the villages about gaue them hope to defeat them and to surprise the Towne Marc Anthonie of Cusan Captaine of two thousand Italians demaunded the execution of this stratageme with his troupes they giue him for Companion Chambray Lieutenant of Annebaults company with threescore choâ—â— horse But they loose an oxe to take an egge vppon the way they are aduertised by their scowts that certaine freebooters of the enemies laden with a great spoyle were presently retyred into a Castle adioyning They turne head and take the Castle by assault and sacke it it may be more gredily then wisely For whilest they are busie at the spoyle the alâ—rum is giuen in the Countrie and some troupes enter speedily into Sauillan draw the bridges ramper vp the gates and man the walls and the defences The Towne being furnished the suburbs remaine in spoile they beaâ—e in peeces two great Canons they carrie away all the armes and make bootie of all they finde good In the meane time Iames of Scalenghe approched with about foure thousand men The Imperials defeated as well of his owne troupes as of the pesants gathered togither Our men making a vertue of necessitie gather togither and go closely to field charge the enemie running hastily to surprise them dispersed in the streets and busie at the spoile they make them turne their backs kill aboue three hundred hurt many mo and of nine enseigns winne seuen the horsmen flying pulled away the other two from them that carried them to saue them In the end Iohn Iaques of Medicis Marquis of Marignan came to succour them with two thousand Lansquenets being called by Sâ—alengh our men hauing their bodies wearied with trauell and their armes tyred with striking resolue to retire and send to Annebault for succours Alegre an aduenturous and wise Captaine brings them two hundred horse who arriuing when as our men were in danger to be defeated entring among the enemies killing and chasing gaue their companies halfe tyred leasure to take breath and through the fauour of twelue hundred foot which followed Alegres troupe do retire with their bootie baggage safelyinto Turin A shot which Cusan receiued in the head caused him to remaine at Pigneâ—ol where soone after hee died leauing a happie memory of his valour and a great griefe to his friends for the losse of his person The Emperour approched now to Aix hauing receiued some losse by the way not so great as troublesome in regard of the qualitie of the persons
Here begins the combat and so violent as the greatest checke falls vpon the Imperials Annebault defeated But in the end all the horsemen arriue Annebault is ouerthrowne taken prisoner and neere vnto him the Earle of Villars the Lords of Piennes d' O and Sansac Captaine George Capussement Francis Bernardiu and almost all but some which had before passed the bridge Those amongst the which was Aussun retyre to Hedin change their horses post to the place of combat find the Imperials in disorder dreaming no more of any enemie The Imperialls charged and beaten they charge them defeat them take a great number and recouer many of their companies that were prisoners and so cut off a great part of the glory which they did challenge for such a victory In the meane time the Daulphin and the Lord Steward had gathered togither about sixteene hundred men at aâ—mes two thousand light horse tenne thousand Germaines and twelue thousand French with the which they pretended to succour the beseeged or to force the Imperials to fight with disaduantage when as the treatie which Mary Queene of Hongarie sister to the Emperour had made by the meanes of the Duke of Ascot for the procuring of a peace A truce for three months or truce caused a suspension of armes for three monethes betwixt the King and the Emperours countries of the Netherlanders vntill that matters being pacified there might be a general peace concluded betwixt these two great Princes and their allies Let this truce now carrie vs beyond the Alpes to see the estate of the forces in Italie The ordinary iealousies diuisions and partialities of Captaines which thinke themselues equall in authoritie Diuision among the 〈◊〉 commaunders and reputation of like vse for seruice is commonly of dangerous consequence The composition which Caguin of Consague made with the Imperialls at Carignan without the priuitie of Guy Earle of Rangon Lieutenant generall for the King on that side the Alps had discontented the Earle and on the other side Caguin complayned that they had cassiered some of his footmen in case Cont Guy should die or leaue the place the King had substituted Cesar Fregose his brother in law without any respect of the ancient seruice of his house and his breeding in the Kings seruice from whom he had not fallen as the Earle had done although he had beene sought vnto with many profitable conditions These quarels did so increase that after many complaints and reproches vpon the point of honour Guy and Cesar banded ioyntly against Caguin framed a challenge vpon some writings published to the disgrace of the said Cesar vnder the name of Aretin whereof they held Caguin to be the chief author William of Bellay Lord of Langey sent by the King to heare the greefs of either partie hauing giuen Cont Guy and Cesar Fregose to vnderstand what preiudice their quarrell with Caguin would be vnto his Maiesties seruice and that by the articles of the Kings order the Knights may not without the leaue of their superiour which is the King send nor accept of any challenge one against an other Caguin offred not to wrong the Kings seruice and to deferre the combat vntill the seruice were ended so as after the answere hee had made vnto the challenge Caesar had not written or sayd any thing that should come vnto his knowledge wherevnto he should be bound in honour to answere and vnder colour to go to the bathe for his health he obtayned a pasport to retire himselfe to his house with promise that if it pleased the King to giue him an honorable charge hee would returne with a troupe fiâ— to do him seruice And that howsoeuer hee would neuer weare a read crosse During these contentions the Imperiall army fortified daylie and the Kings decreased so as the Lord of Humieres sent by the King for the affaires of Piedmont could not be master of the field without a bodie of foure or fiue thousand Lansquenets or Suisses and some supply of men at armes To this end the King causeth his light horsemen to march into Piedmont after the conquests of Hedin and Saint Paul and sent to Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg who brought ten thousand Lansquenets to passe the Alpes and to ioyne with Humieres But vpon the comming of the Imperialls before Saint Paul the King being forced as wee haue seene to countermand his light horse he sent the Baron of Curton la Fayete Brissac and others leading three or foure hundred men at armes and two hundred light horse Lassigny and Allegre either of them commanding a thousand foote The Marquis of Guast had at that time deliuered into the Marquis Francis hands all the Marquisate of Salusses except the Castells of Verculo Carmagnole Two hundred Italians held it for Cont Guy the Marquis of Guast doth summon it vpon their refusall approcheth the artillery Francis Marquis of Salusses knowing the place brings two Cannons on the right hand going from the Towne to the Castell breakes two houses to couer himselfe in steed of gabions himselfe plaies the gunner Francis Marquis of Salusses slaine shoots two volees A soldiar of the Castell discouers him but knowes him not and shoots him through the body starke dead with a musket The Marquis of Guast causeth him to be couered with a cloake and then againe sends to summon the beseeged promising them an honorable composition they depart with bagge and baggage and the Marquis seeing them passe commended their good endeuours But when hee came to demand what he was that had shot so well from one of the windowes ouer the port the soldiar both ignorant of the Marquis intention and of the effect of his shot presents himselfe vnto the Marquis who against the Capitulation caused him to be hanged at the same window The King hauing afterwards reduced the Marquisate to his obedience did inuest Gabriell Bishop of Aire in Gasconie who married the daughter of the Admirall of Annebault and dying without heires left the sayd Marquisate to the Crowne The coming of Humieres and the Lansquenets had shut the Marquis of Guast with his troupes into Ast and Verceil who by his retreat left Pignerol Chiuas Montcallier and other places abandoned to these newe Conquerors But at the first want of the chiefe siâ—ewes of warre makes the Italian bands to mutine whereby our men loose ten or twelue dayes during the which the Marquis had leysure to hasten his Lansquenets leuied by the elder brother of William Duke of Furstemburg Humiâ—res had no soonâ—â— pacified the Italians with a portion of their pay but hee frames an enterprise vpon Ast where the Marquis had left his brother in lawe Don Anthonie of Arragon Lieutenant for the Emperour with two thousand foote and two hundred horse The Lansquenets require the charge to make the approches and take it from Iohn Paul de Cere who had a meaning to discharge it well About midnight Humieres comes speedily to see
come out of Albe and Quieras he forceth the passage of Suze against Cesar of Naples who kept it with ten thousand men chaseth them two miles wins all their baggage makes the Marquis to retyre all his forces to Riuole and Montcallier leauing Pignerol at libertie opens a way by the taking of Villane from two hundred Spaniards which were cut in peeces addes to his conquests Riuola abandoned by the Marquis turnes head to the enemie incamped on this side the riuer of Po right against Montcallier but hauing the bridge to fauour him to retyre when he pleased he begins the skirmish with his light horsemen against theirs kills many takes some and looseth few he chaseth all their troupes beyond the bridge who breaks it after them but with the hazard of their liues that remayned behind Those of Montcallier come with a great shew of affection and repaire it and then receiue into their Towne all the souldiars which the Daulphin had left to guard the riuer whilest the armie passed at Carignan The Marquis dislodging still left in Quiers Don Anthonie of Arragon his brother in law with foure thousand men and himselfe recouered the Countrie of Ast. Thus our men being at libertie on all sides become masters of Poirien Riue de Quiers Villeneufue d' Ast Montafié Antignan and of all other forts vnto the gates of Ast of Quieras Albe and Fossan whether they retyred all the Corne of the Country which did serue for the victualing of the Campe and places of conquest About thirtie thousand sacks of corne which the Marquis had gathered togither but had not leysure to bring from Montcalier and much other munition found in diuers places supplyed Turin for a yeare During these actions the King comes accompanied with the Earle of Saint Paul the Cardinall of Lorraine and many other great personages And as his Maiestie tooke councell at Carignan with the Daulphin and the Lord Steward newes comes vnto him that the garrison of Vulpian kept the valley of Suze The King comes into Piedmont and for that Riuole nor Villare had any horsemen to stay their incursions they did wonderfully annoy those that followed the Campe. Hee presently sent away Martin du Bellay and very happily They had newly seized vppon six moyles laden with money for the payment of the armie driuing the moyles and the treasorers in the midest of them Du Bellay passeth the riuer of Doüaire intercepts their way and ouertakes them three miles from Vulpian he makes them to leaue the moyles and only with the losse of the Treasorers which they carried away brings them safe to Riuole The conclusion of this Councell was to beseege Quiers where the King would imploy the first fruits of his last forces But the great commander of battailes 〈◊〉 him a more fauorable issue Truce betwixt the two Princes The truce of Picardie had giuen libertie to the 〈◊〉 of Hongarie and likewise to the King to send some gentlemen into Spaine to 〈◊〉 a peace or a generall truce and the deputies had so well performed their 〈◊〉 as a suspension of armes was concluded on either side from the eight and 〈…〉 of Nouember vntill the two and twentith of February following whereby euery oâ—e enioying that whereof hee should bee found seized at the time of the pubâ—â—cation the garrisons of Turin Vorlin Sauillan Montdeuis and other frontier places were no t slacke to inlarge their limits as farre as they could nor to put men in the Kings name into all the small places and castles there about Three dayes after the truce was proclaymed the Marquis of Guast came to â—â—sse the Kings hand whome he receiued very gratiously and the king making the Lord of Saint Montiean gouernour of Piedmont he left William of Bellay his Lieutenant generall in Turin Francis Earle of Pontreme at Pignerol the Baron of Castell-pâ—â—s 〈◊〉 Sâ—uillan Charles of Dros a Piedmentois at Montdeuis hee had surprised and kept the place from the Imperials when they were the strongest in field Lodowike of â—â—rague at Vorlin and Nicholas of Rusticis at Carmagnole he dismissed his Suisses and taking his way to France he sent the Cardinall of Lorraine from Lions with Montmorency the Lord Steward to Locate where the Emperours deputies should meet concerning a peace betwixt their Maiesties The confusions had bin great their splene not easily to bee pacified which made them to prolong the truce for sixe moneths more After all these toyles and painfull endeuours the loyall seruice of the most worthy deserued reward which make the King being at Molins to aduance Anne of Montmorency to bee Constable of France the place being void by the reuolt of the Duke of Bourbon he gaue his place of Marshall to Montiean and that of the Marshal la Marke deceased to Claude of Annebault It was now time to suppresse these infernall furies An enteruew at Nice which had so long troubled the quiet of Christendome with such fatall combustions and that the Pope doing the office of a common father should therein imploy his authoritie Hee procures an enteruew of these two great Princes at Nice and himselfe assists being about threescore and fifteene yeares of age in the beginning of Iune Their mutuall hatreds had taken too deepe roots in their hearts and that fatall and bloudie checke which his brother Ferdinand King of Hongarie had lately receiued from the Turke had nothing mollified the Emperour Time doth pacifie discontents Ten yeares were sufficient or neuer â—o dispose both the one and the other to a generall peace A truce foâ— ten yeares The Pope therefore seeing that by the full deciding of their quarrels he could not confirme a finall peace he propounded a truce for tenne yeares the which they concluded betwixt their Countries and subiects and then euery one returned home But Charles was borne to bee a perpetuall scourge to this realme and many yeares shall not passe before â—e put vs in alarum with an vnworthy and base motiue of new confusions Let vs now see how he worketh like a foxe to produce effects for his owne benefit The Emperors polâ—icy The Gantois being opprest with many extraordinarie tributs had spoyled the Emperours officers who growing desperate and seeking to fortifie themselues against the reuenging wrath of Charles they secretly offer obedience to the King as to their Soueraine Lord. The King performing the dutie of a good brother and faithfull friend giues the Emperour intelligence thereof The Emperour deuiseth by some notable examples to suppresse the Gantois insolencies But the passages thither were not very certaine By Germanie the protestants might somewhat hinder him By sea a storme might as well cast him vpon the coast of England as vpon Flanders the diuisions he had with the King of England by reason of the diuorce of Queene Katherine his Aunt would not suffer him to take any assurance from him France was very comodious for him to this end he demaunds the Kings word for his
an army to ioyne with the Duke of Anguien There was some likelyhood after so furious a battaile to depriâ—e the Emperourâ— the Estate of Milan But he armed vpon the Rhin his troupes were readie to inuade the frontier The English were at sea and the King had rather neede to drawe forces oâ—t of Italie then to supplie them The Duke therefore to drawe them speedily to the Kings deuotion sends the Lord of Tais with the French bands two hundred men at armes sixe great Cannons with some other peeces to force some places vnder the Emperours obedience Effects following the victory Saint Damian a place of Montferrat had not planted the French nor the Spanish Enseignes notwithstanding beeing without hope of succors they yeelded to the Yoake vpon condition that they should haue none but a French garrison Montcallier followed being a strong place Vigon Pont d' Esture Saint Saluadour Fresenet of Pau to conclude all Montferrat except Casal Trin and Albe yeelded their neckes to the French obedience And the Duke going to campe at Carignan did by many forts so restraine the sallies of the beseeged and the entrie of victualls as extreame necessitie hauing forced them to demand composition they departed with their armes onely without enseignes or drums Carignan yeelded taking an oath not to carrie armes of sixe monethes against the King nor his allies This done the Duke sent vnto the King sixe thousand French soldiars of the olde bands and sixe thousand Italians to oppose against the Emperours inuasions On the other side the Duke of Somme with the other of the French faction hauing leuied ten thousand foote but fewe or no horse came to ioyne with the Duke of Anguien and the Princes of Salerne and Sulmone attended with a number of horse and foote to fight with them at the passage of a riuer They send to the Lord of Tais to demand a Conuoie of horse Hee promiseth but performes nothing And they not able to retire without shame charge the foote which were farre from their horsemen and put them in route But they consider not that leuing a place of strength The Italians of the French partie defeated they giue the enemie the aduantage they had of them The horsemen come and charge them in flanke as they had broken their rankes thinking to haue gotten the victorie and put them to flight they take many prisoners of qualitie kill fewe and no man of marke except Valerius Vrsine the rest saued themselues at Quieras and Carignan Wee commonly say that a small ayde doth a great good The footemen being ouercome a hundred men at armes had made the victorie absolute This checke doth not daunt them The Duke of Somme beeing newely deliuered from prison the Prince of Salerne his Kinseman had freed him fearing least the Emperour should do him some disgrace and Peter Strossy gathering togither sixe thousand men of this shipwracke at Miaandole meaning to ioyne with the Duke of Anguien at what price soeuer hee being vnfurnished of forces for besides the twelue thousand men hee had sent vnto the King all his Suisses except two thousand had beene for want of pay dismissed They giue ouer the playne and passe out of Parmesan with much toyle by the mountaines of Genes The Marquis aduertised of this newe assembly gathers togither what forces he could of horse and foote drawes forth his garrisons and to stoppe to their passage attends them at the fooâ—e of the mountaines They aduertise the Duke Who hauing no men but for the gard of his places resolues notwithstanding to effect two things at once and both to surprise Alba where they had left no men but for the gards of the gates and to succour Strossy and finding meanes to aduertise him that hee should march towards Alba whereof the enemie was left in doubt The Duke comes thether on the one side and Strossy on the other hee makes a hoale in the gate towards the mountaine on the other side of the water about ten foote long prepares to giue an assault and Strossy the scalado which the beseeged seeing Alba taken they growe so amazed as they yeeld the place and depart without carrying away of any thing The Marquis makes hast to succour them but knowing the Towne to be lost frustrate of his hope he retired and the Duke hauing taken many places about returned to Carmagnole Within fewe daies after the Marquis practised a suspension of armes which beeing confirmed by their two maiesties Truce in Piedmont there followed a truce for three monethes Let vs nowe see the enemies attempt inuading the realme The Emperour had no sooner found the King of Englands discontent whereof the marriage of the King of Scotland had beene the chiefe motiue but forgetting or rather dissembling the iniuries he had receiued he winnes him to his deuotion although he had assured the Pope neuer to treat any alliance with him vntill he had repayred the offence done vnto the sea of Rome intitling himselfe supreme head vnder God of the Church of England and punishing them which maintayned the authority of the Pope and the Church of Rome Thus two grey-hounds tearing one an other in peeces lay aside their choller to runne after the wolfe their common enemy And for that during the warre of the Dukes of Wirtemberg by the bond of the Princes of Germanie with the King the Emperours desseins had beene greatly crost nowe perswading them and aboue all the Protestants that he hath done more then his dutie to the King of France for the calling ofa Councell to call backe them that were strayed from the vnion of the Church and to reforme the Pope and his ministers but the King only had hindred this assembly to giue him prouision of men and money and ioyntly to bande with him to the destruction of this realme So hee sends the Earle of Furstemberg with an army before Luxemberg Warre in Picardie which hauing mayntained the seege to the extremity for want of victualls the Viconte of Estauges was forced to capitulate and to depart with baggage Commercy was the second triomphe of his victories Ligny in Barrois the third beeing the way for victualls which came to him from Metz Lorraine The Castell is commanded by two or three mountaines and the beseeged not able to stand to their defences came to parle when as the Imperialls entring behind compassed them in that were come to the breach attending the assault and take them prisoners with small slaughter Without doubt the place was not to withstand the force of an Emperour beeing in person neyther was it so contemptible but it deserued an honest composition But the Earle of Brienne Lord of the place and Roussy his brother Eschenais Gouzolles who commanded about a hundred men at armes and fifteene hundred foote wonne small reputation Doubtlesse the Earle of Sancerre wil winne farre more honor in the defence of Saint Disier a place ill flanked ill rampared and
troupes in Bourbonois and Auuergne whereas the forces of Guyenne which marched towards the Duke of Aniou incounters them breakes them and for that time make their attempts fruitlesse Moreouer the Duke of Neuers with an armie of foureteene thousand French Suisses and Italians besieged Mascon battered it and tooke it by composition but being incountred by foure score horse and some foote issued out of Antrain vnder the commands of Captaines Beauuais and Bourgoin as he aduanced with a hundred horse to go see the Duchesse his wife hee was shotte in the knee with a Harguebuse which made him lame all the remainder of his life Montluc Pons the Bishop of Tulles and many other Catholikes in Guyenne being followed with foure thousand and foote and seuen hundred horse surprise and kill about foure hundred men spoile the Isle of Ré attempt to besiege Rochell but too long delayes makes their desseigne stuitlesse In the meane time the Vicountes Mouuans Rapin and other Protestants aduanced with seuen or eight thousand men of the bands of Gasconie Prouence Daulphiné and Languedoc S. Heran Gouernour of Auuergne S. Chaumont Gordes Vrfé the Bishop of Puy Hautefeuille Bresieâ—x and others assemble a troupe to stop their passage and runne as to a certaine victory for bidding expresly all the neighbour Townes Not to receiue any one that flies what liuâ—rie so euer he beares The which shall cost them fall deare The Viâ—ountes charge these horsemen kill a great number and of the chiefe vpon the place put the rest in route and makes them seeke their safety by flight But the peasaâ—ts armed with the former prohibition know no maÌ„ neither do they spare any man and make of their countrimen as great a slaughter as the victor did and by this indiscreet stâ—atagem open the way for the Vicounts to recouer Orleans Being arriued they stay the inroads which Martinenghe Richelieu and others made euen to the gates of Orleans they take Baugency attempt Blois and take it by composition The Gascons do not easily forget their hands and the souldiars of Richelieu who was retired thether could not free themselues from the sword Herevpon the Princes armie comes into Beausse Chartres besiegâ—d Chartres is one of the chiefe store-houses of corne for Paris and being taken would much auaile the Protestants Liquieres was made gouernour for the King there with two and twenty companies fortified vpon feare of a siege with a regiment of foote The Prince besiegeth and batters it but to small purpose fiue Canons and foure small Culuerins preuailed little against so many men of warre being intrenched with great aduantage They found out a place of small strength where a breach gaue hope of victorie but the Lord of Valete a great Caâ—taine comes to succour the besieged with eighteene Cornets of horse The Admirall is aduertised and not to faile of his prey he made choise of three thousand fiue hundred horse marcheth towards them chargeth Valete ouerthrowes part of his troupes carryes away foure Cornets and puts the rest to flight The Duke of Aniou incamped beyond Seine and loth to hazâ—rd a battaiâ—e left Chartres in apparent danger But Katherine knew how for so she did vsually vante with three sheetes of paper to effect more then her warriours with their armes A good peace was no lesse necessary then desired The Protestants did generally beleeue that the Catholikes would disarme with them and the Nobilitie were particularly moued with a great desire to see their houses it is a desire whereof wee can hardly stay the effects in them that are voâ—â—â—â—aries Many whole Cornets had 〈◊〉 die taken the way of Xaintonge and Pottou they would not loose the â—eason oâ—â—â—eir Vines many other pretend the sacking of their houses where their presence was necessary the footmen of some countries lying farthest off slipt away daily their pâ—â—sâ—s were empty and no man payed It was in Marche when as armies are acâ—â—stâ—med to go to field and their French forces decreasing visibly had drâ—uen them in short time to stand vpon their defence their enemies were whole and strong To diuide their strangers into townes were to dismember themselues These considâ—â—â—tions and others made the heads of the Protestants to accept of a second 〈◊〉 of Pacification concluded in Loniumeau saying That those of the pretended râ—formed religion A second peace should purely and simply enioy the first Edict and that it should bee execuâ—â—â— according to the tenour notwithstanding all restrictions modifications interpretations and declaraâ—ions mâ—de since the day of the date thereof vntill the publication of this second â—ecâ—aration made â—he 23. day of March. Tâ—iâ— counterâ—â—it peace carried Iohn Casimir with all his forces home into Cermanie the Prince and the Admirall with all those of his party retyre euery man to his home But diuers breaches of this Edict did sodenly open the gate to the third ciuiâ—l warres and whilest that euery one imputes the cause of this sodaine â—eprisall of armes to his enemie the effects fall both vpon good and euill The Catâ—olâ—kes grounded their discontents for that in any Townes refused the restraint made by this last Edict Sancerre Mantauban and other Townes of Querâ—y Viâ—arets Daulphine Languedoc Disconâ—enâ—â—â—nts oâ— the Catâ—olikes and eâ—se where would not absolutely submit themselues to hiâ— Maâ—esâ—â—es good pleasure Rochel refused to receiue the garrison sent by Iarnâ—c their ancient gouernour they continued their fortifications before begun neither did they restore the Catholickes to their offices goods nor religion they armed out ships to keepe the sâ—as without the Kings allowance They refused the ayde and subuention wâ—ich his Maiestie required for the affayres of his realme Many Captaines without the Kings Commission lead Souldiars to the Prince of Orange against the Dâ—ke of Alba to draw afterwards sayd they the Protestants of â—landers into France and ioyntly to oppresse the Catholâ—ke religion Tâ—e Protestants on the other side complained That in steed of enioying the 〈◊〉 and libertie of their consciences The complain s of the Proâ—estants they gaue them declarations vnder tâ—e Kiâ—gs aâ—thoritie to hinder the exercise of their â—eligion That hauing dismissed thei◠〈◊〉 bâ—th strangers and French with the least oppression of the people that might be and â—â—liueâ—ed into the Kings hands the Townes and strong places which they held 〈◊〉 they receâ—ued the Suisses they entertayâ—ed many companies of Italians they did distâ—â—bute their horse and â—oote into such Townes as did most import the Protestants Tours Orleans Amiens and others to the end sayd they to take them lâ—ke â—artriges in a Net beiâ—g retyred to their houses â—hat they sued in the Court of Rome 〈◊〉 leaue to sell the temporall lands of the French Clergie to the valew of a hundred and fiftie thousand Frankes a yeare the money to be â—mployed to the rooting out of their party That this counterfet peace ruined more of their men then the riâ—â—urs of warre That they garded townes bridges and passages
victorious Duke sends to beseege it but his attempts against Cognac his intelligences within Saint â—an d' Angely and his fruitelesse threats that he vsed against Angoulesme stayed the courâ—e of his victorie In the meane time the Protestants gather togither the peeces of this shipwrake the Admirall led the Princes to Tonay-Charente hee tooke viewe of the horse Henry Prince of Nauarre was declared generall and Henry Prince of Condé an assistant foure thousand masters tooke the oath d'Andelot gathers the footemen togither proâ—ided for money and staied the enemies courses when as a burning feuer tooke him out of this world the seauen and twentith day of May in Xaintes d' Andelot dies leauing for euer a surname purchased by him of a Knight without feare Acier did succeed him in his charge Beâ—uuâ—is la Nocle had his company of men at armes but the Admirall the care and gouernment of the whole army with the managing of the chiefe affaires which concerned the protestants estâ—te The Dukes army did ouerrunne Xaintonge Aâ—goulmois and Limosin vnder the conduct of the Earle Brissac Colonnel of the Inâ—anterie of France Hauing recouered Aubeterre and some other places from the protestants hee attempts Mucidan beeing vigorously battered and valiantly defended In the ende it is burnt to ashes the Castell endures some assaults the most worthy men of the regiments of Brissac Monluc and Escars loose their liues there and finally Brissac himselfe approching to viewe the breach and the defences Cont Brissâ—â— slâ—ine at Mucidan is shot into the head and slaine vpon the counterscarpe leauing a wonderfull griefe to them that knewe him beeing nowe but fiue or sixe and twentie yeares olde and might in time haue proued one of the valiantest and greatest Captaines of his age Yet necessitie forced the beseeged to a composition to depart with bagge and baggage But the impatien◠〈◊〉 haue lost their Colonnels and so many braue soldiars made most of them to be 〈◊〉 issuing out of their walls â—iles recompenced this losse by the taking of 〈…〉 Medoc betwixt Bourdeaux and Rochell the spoile whereof inâ—iched all his troupe 〈◊〉 Vuolfgang Comte Palatin of Rhin and Duke of Deuxponts The Duke of Deuxponts in Fâ—ance bâ—ought vnto the Princeâ— â—bout sixe thousand Reistres and fiue thousand Lansquenets Ciuill warres alâ—ayes make the way open to a neighbour stranger the which he durst not attempt withoâ—â— the support of one partie The difficultie was to ioyne with the Princes being farre ofâ— and without a French conuoie it could hardly be done but see what chanceth vâ—lâ—oked for Mouy â—enlis Moruilliers Fequieres Estrenay and others had in the beginning off this third inciuill warre assembled fiue or sixe hundred horse and two thousand haâ—â—uebusiers whome the difficultie to passe into Guyenne had transported into Brabâ—nt â—o the Prince of Auranges the Comte Lodowike his brother and Comte Volrad of Marsâ—lâ— who hauing for a time entertayned the warre with a vaâ—iable successe against the â—â—â—niard passed the Meuze and offred battaile to the Duke of Alba but he sougâ—t 〈◊〉 to consume them for want of victualls whereof they were so scanted as neceâ—sitie caâ—ting them backe into France they came to Vitry and so stroke vp into Germanie and by their arriuall gaue vuolfgang the helpe he desired We must nowe begin anew The Duke of Aniou leaues Guyenne and takes the way of Berry to keepe the Duke of Deuxponts from ioyning with the Princes but it had beene better to haue preuented his entry into the Realme To thâ—s ende the King commits two armies the one to the Duke of Aumale the other to the Duke of â—emourâ— neyther of them being verie fortunate in warre both strong in footemen but weaker in horse then the Germaine They aduance vnto Sauerne coast the Germaine Duke who crost through Bourgongne presse him on the flankes and behinde with sundrie skirmishes and often times incounter goodly and fauorable occasions wâ—iâ—h they let slippe for want of iudgement and good correspondencie the true bond of the brauest exploites that may be practised in warre But was it not a want of iudgement in these two great Commanders fortified with tâ—elue hundred horse and foure thousand â—oote sent by the Pope to leaue la Charité vnfurnished of men knowing well that the Protestants could not passe the riuer of Loire without getting by force or surprising some of the passages thereoâ— Vuolfgang attempts la Charité La 〈◊〉 takâ—n by the Gâ—â—mainâ— presseth it terrefies it and takes it before that any succours can come and thereby shortens his way aboue three scoore Leagues where hee must haue passed at the head of Loire and frees him selfe from a passage full of wood and mountaines where as the horsemen would haue beene but an incumbrance The Admirall could by no meanes fauour these succours for hee had the Duke of Anious armie in front and holding it as a matter impossible for the Reiâ—â—res to get a passage vpon the riuer of Loire hee attended hourely newes of their â—â—ute But aduertised of the successe Behold saied he a good signe let vs make it absâ—â—ute â—y our diligence and resolution So the Princes aduance towards the marches of Limosin to keepe the Dukes army occupied whilest that their Reistres marching through tâ—e Countâ—y performed the funeralls of the Duke of Deuxponts The Duke of Deuâ—ponâ—s diâ—s who being lately deceased of anague left the command of the army to the Earle of Mansfield and in the ende of Iune both the Protestant armies ioyned the which vnited togither made aboue fiue and twentie thousand fighting men and in the Kings they numbred aboue thirtie thousand The Country of Limosin is vnfrutefull and the sterilitie of the soile forced the troupes to lie dispersed the which might easily cause some surp rise but the Admirall desired rather to preuent then be preuented The Dukes armie camped at Rocheabeille To surprise him they march resolute to giue him battaile and are in vewe of the enemy before he hath taken any alarum of them Tâ—â—ee â—â—ndâ—ed hargâ—â—busiers of Colonell Sâ—rosses kept the principal approch to this 〈…〉 being stâ—ong both by siâ—â—ation and nature and happie were 〈◊〉 to b◠〈…〉 of defeâ—ce At the fiâ—st bâ—unt Sâ—râ—ssy râ—leeues them with â—iâ—e 〈…〉 who the space of an houre held good â—gainst foure thoâ—sand of the Pâ—inces 〈…〉 Dâ—kes armie was put in battaile This passage being vneasie to â—orce 〈…〉 ends forth foure Cornets oâ— horse which renew the charâ—e they 〈◊〉 vp certaâ—ne paâ—â—â—â—does whicâ— couered Strossys reâ—iments kill two aâ—d tweâ—ti◠〈◊〉 and fiue or sixe hundred men vppon the place take their Coloâ—neâ—l wiâ—â—ouâ— whâ—â—e resistâ—nce tâ—e Princes foreward had passed euen vnto the Canon without any let put tâ—e rest â—o flight and nothing but the raine that fell hindred 〈…〉 great â—iâ—torie â—he wâ—ich was continued the next day by a skâ—rmâ—sh aâ—ainst 〈…〉 Iâ—aâ—ians and some horsemen of the Dâ—ke of Nemours whereof 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 others and chased the
tyme in curling of his haire The battaile of Coâ—tras The nine teenth of October accompanied with the Prince of Condé the Conte Soissons his brother the Viconte of Turenne and other good commanders hee takes his lodging at Coutras to passe the riuer of Drougne at a ford The Duke supposing to haue him at his deuotion betwixt two riâ—ers giues the rendezuous to all his forces the next day betwixt Roche-Chalais and Coutras and there made choise of his place of battaile to his best aduantage halfe a League from Coutras The King of Nauarre and his souldiars had swet more in skiâ—mishes then in tenis-Courts and did take more pleasure in the dust of their enemies chase then in feasts The inequalitie of the number doth not amaze them Hee marcheth before resolues his men to fight makes them to fall on their knees and pray to God puts his horsemen into foure squadrons his owne that of the Prince the Earles and the Viconts The souldiars inflame their courages by mutuall skirmishes and reprochfull speeches from words they goe to blowes The King of Nauarres artillerie thunders fiâ—st at eight of the clocke and at the first volle sweepes away seuen Captaines of the regiment of Picardie The Dukes answeares him but without effect The ignorance or malice of the Canâ—oniers hauing planted it so low as it fell vpon a little â—ill betwixt both armies The Dukes horsemen led by Lauerdin and Captaine Mercoeur giue the charge and at the first encounter force through the King of Nauarres squadron and passing on the Vicont stayes him and beates him backe The Duke presuming by this first good happe to obteine a totall victorie ouer thâ—ee cheefe heads of the house of Bourbon aduanceth resolutely flancked with two hedges of armed men to charge with the Lance. The foure commaunders march euery one in the head of his troupe first easily the pace then the trott and after in their full carier They charge and breake them This conflict which consisted for the most part of Leaguers Defeat was almost as soon dissolued as it was resolued on it began at nine of the clocke and at tenne not any of the Dukes men had any offensiue armes some aâ—e ouerthrowne some taken and some seeke their safetie in flight The victors poursue them thâ—ee Leagues and strewe the fields with men horses and armes The Duke is compassed in by a squadron of men at armes A voyce reuiues the memorie of the slaughter made at Saint Eloy and of the Companie of Pueilhes at the brute whereof he is slaine presently Death of the Duke oâ— Ioyeâ—se without any respect of his qualitie His brother Saint Sauueur Bresay who carried the white Cornet Roussay the yonger brother of Pâ—ennes guidon to the Duke the Earles of Suze Ganuelo d' Aubiâ—oux the Lords of Fumel Neufui the elder brother of Perigord yong Rochefefort Croisete Gurat Saint Fort guidon to Saint Luc du Bordet his enseigne de Vaux Lieutenant to Bellegarde gouernour of Xaintonge Montigni enseigne Tiercelin master of the Campe Pluuiault la Brangerie Campelis the yonger la Vallade Bacullard with many other Caâ—taines and a great number of men of account and qualitie with about halfe of the armie made the battaile of Coutras famous by their deaths as the most memorable of all that haue been giuen for religions cause in France Many rich prisoners and a very rich spoyle All his Cornets taken his cannon carried away and his baggage seized on At their returne from the pursute thankes were giuen to God vpon the place of battaile died with bloud and couered with carcases But that which honoured the King most in the midest of this so commendable a moderation of his victory hee shewed himselfe no lesse milde and courteous to the prysoners and the wounded then wise and valiant in heate of the fight He caused the dead to be buried cured the wounded sent home almost all the prisoners without ransome gratified most of the Commanders caused the enseignes to bee deliuered to Montigny aboue the rest commended him to haue behaued himselfe valiantly in the battayle whereby hee began to purchase fauour with the King of Nauarre and afterwardes gotte great reputation with him for his valour and fidelity when as hee vnited both Crownes into one The Prince of Condé at the first charge had a blowe with a Lance on the side and beeing ingaged vnder his horse it did so preiudice his health as the griefe thereof did soone hasten him to his ende This is the greatest losse of the Protestants army in this coâ—bate in the which there was a very small number slaine and not one of account The King of Nauarre is nowe freed from the snares that were layed for him nowe hee aduanceth towards the spring of the riuer of Loire and giues aduice of his desseine to the army of strangers which then was in Hurepois about the Lands of the Lord of Chastillon The King camped vpon Loire betwixt Cosne and Neufui and by aduice of the Duke of Neuers hee cloyes the passages with trees stoanes and other hindâ—ances where the horses should passe The second cause next to God of the ruine of this army to whom they thought the King at his entry would haue presented a blanke to prescribe what they pleased The Duke of Guise followed them at the heeles and the Duke of Mayenne on the one side and yet both of them could not keepe them from surprising of some small Townes to refresh their army But when as they see themselues frustrate of all hope to ioyne with the King of Nauarre or to passe the riuer of Loire that they must eyther retire or march forward to meete with the King of Nauarre or ingage themselues farther within the realme to seeke bread for themselues and forrage for their horses or else march on the left hand and wander into vnknowne Countries they growe amazed they mutine they faint Some Frenchmen attempt la Charité but their enterprise succeeds not The Germaine aâ—my in Beausse In the ende they leade the army into Beausse where they should finde meate both for man and horâ—e The seauen and twentith of October they lodged at Vimorry and places there abouts neere to Montargis To take from them this lodging the Dukes of Guise and Mayenne taking aduantage of the passages of the riuer of Loing come at supper time with fifteene hundred horse and fiue thousand foote and charge the Baron Donneau beeing lodged in Vimorry with seauen or eight Cornets of Reistres Charged at Vimorry but they had almost verified the saying of the King of the Epirots vanquisher of the Romaine army We are vndone if we get such an other victorie for three hundred horses of baggage the Barons two Cammells and the death of fifty souldiars with a hundred seruants was not sufficient to recompence the bloud of fortie braue and gallant Gentlemen and two hundred good souldiars slaine vpon the place by the Reisâ—res who
breach and into the Towne they kill or at the least huâ—t aboue a third part of the defendants those which were set to defend the breach being forced to lie flat vppon their bellies They discouer the breach draw seuen or eight enseigns more into the ditch which diuided the great bastion from the Towne they had had no leysure but to make two Courtins of pipes full of earth to defend the way which went from the bottome of the Trench into the Towne they set fire to the props which supported the point of the BastioÌ„ that was vndermined it sinks downe and presently ouerthrows all them that defended this point into their trenches they giue the assault by that place and are valiantly receiued by la Sale and Saint Aubin But during the assault those which the enemie thrust into the trench winne the curtine made of Pipes force fiue and twentie or thirtie shot that kept it and enter the Towne pel mell with them come behind them who performing as much as valour and nature could doe that defended the bastion and cut in peeces all they incounter Those which defended the breach ignorant what passed on the other side had alreadie endured a furious assault when as behold those which were entred by the port of the great bastion come and charge them behind and the greatest number surmonting the lesse at the first charge they kill Moyencourt and his brother d' Yue they masâ—akeâ— in the furie of the fight seauen score of the company of Du Bellay Saint Paul recouered by assault and the most part of that of Villebon Villebon and Yuille were taken prisoners by Tonnoire a Spanish Captaine Du Bellay and Blerencourt were saued by Bose a Germaine Captaine La Palleâ—iere forced in the Castell by the bulwarke which was not yet in defence remayned prisoner but the contention of some euerie one maintayning that hee had giuen his faith vnto him was the cause of his death Finaly sparing neyther men nor children wiues nor maides religious nor Nunnes about foure thousand fiue hundred persons tryed the pittilesse chance of a horrible and cruell victorie wherevnto they are commonly subiect who against the Lawes of armes vndertake the defence of a place not defensible or that is not readie to withstand the violent attempts of a mightie armie Saint Paul being burnt the Castell and all the defences razed to the ground the Imperialls come before Montrueil Montrueil was ill furnished Canaples gouernouâ— of the Towne entred but three or foure dayes before with a thousand foote and some two hundred horse of the bands of Normandie but the Towne not being retrenched it required at the least sixe thousand foote and three hundred men at armes Sâ— the Earle of Bures placeth a part of his Campe at the port of Hedin one part at the Celestines vpon the way of Therouenne and a part at the gate of the great market towards Abbeuille hee plaints his artillery in three places makes a breach along a great courtin from the gate towards Hedin to the port of the great market and then pâ—epares for the assault The breach was reasonable but the trenches full of water made the accesse difficult On the other side the defendants were troubled with many disaduantages Two batteries of the enemies kept them from comming to the breach and beeing at their defence they lay open vpon both the flankes and had no meanes to couer themselues besides their number was not sufficient to keepe the one halfe of the base Towne so as the enemie comming to the assault had the rest of the Towne at his discretion the which is of a great circuit These considerations made Canaples demand Comâ—â—sition and the Earle intending the conquest of Therouenne to preuent the next victuaâ—ing which he did foresee he graunts the men of war to depart in armes with bagge and baggage and to the Inhabitants to carrie what goods they could about them This done the want of men and powder which he knowes to be in Therouenne inuites him to this enterprise Francis of Montmorency Lord of Rochepot then Lieutenant generall for the King in Picardie knowing the importance of Therouenne and the enemies desseine besides threescore men at armes a hundred foote and some hundred dead paies which kept it hee sent the Lord of Cany Lieutenant to the Companie of the yong Duke of Vendosme whom we shall see King of Nauarre and father to our most Christian King nowe raigning Foudras Lieutenant to Cany the sonne of Dampierre guidon to the Daulphin leading foure score men at armes and Saint Brise foure hundred foote He comes before it Therouenne beseeged makes his approches plants his Cannon in batterie forceth our men to abandon the Castell which had but two towers the English Talbot hauing taken the Towne in the yeare 1513. had razed the Castell and makes a breach in the Towne wall about two hundred paces long but hardly to be forced our Frenchmen retyring had made a trench behinde them and made the rampar in such sort as the enemie winning it should fall into a trench well flanked When as the Imperial army began to march against Saint Paul the King sought to redresse his army hoping according to the promises of the fortificators it would hold out vntill that succors should come Nowe the Daulphin accompanied with Montmorency Lord Steward Commander of the army vnder the Daulphin giues the rendezuous towards Abbeuille to the Earle of Furstemberg and to Nicholas of Rusticis newely arriued with foure thousand lowe Germains warlike men and in good order Whilest the Daulphin attends the rest of his troupes the beseeged giue him notice that they had great neede of shot and powder for the furnishing whereof they choose Annebault generall of the light horse With this desseine Annebault followed with an hundred men at armes and sixteene hundred light horse made choise of 〈◊〉 hundred harguebuziers vnder the charge of Biendras euery one carrying a sacâ—e of lether bound about him full of powder many voluntary gentlemen desirous oâ— honour a braue ambition if we could temper the heat of youth augment this troupe resolute to bee either taken or defeated rather then to faile of their enterprise The Imperials hauing intelligence of this desseine go to horse to preuâ—â—t the execution Therouenne victualed and the French light horsemen prickt forward by these yong Nobâ—emen desirous to trie their valour giue them an alarum Mischance is good for some thing It was night and the darknesse hindring the enemies foreward from â—howing tâ—eiâ— battaile which came from an other side to ioyne with them they charge and kâ—â—l one another whilest that our shot enter into Therouenne without discouerie being entred they make a signe whereby Annebault should make his retreat and might haue done it without danger Notwithstanding aduertised that his light horse were in skirmish he sought to retyre them The enemie preuents him and cuts off his way at the passage of a bridge