their houses y e goods of the vilages where y e army was lodged and that was true indeede and therefore required that there might be no more geuen to any man or else that they might be taxed to pay money for the army They requested also that they would take order for the paimeÌ„t of the Rutters for a moneth which was promised them and for lacke of the sayd pay they would goe no further adding many difficulties concerning the passage of Loyre beside that the winter did draw neere and that there was but two moneths to keepe the field They were requested patiently to stay a while vntill they might aduertize the king of Nauarre to know his pleasure That in the meane tyme they would goe to soiorne in Beausse where was great quantity of corne and of fodder for the horâ—es so that the armies might there easily berefreshed As for the pay it was impossible to the French men at that present tyme to furnish so much money and that drawing into Beausse and Vandomoys there some money might be had The Germans were contented with that so that speedily they would send to the K. of Nauarre with promise to stay vntil they might heare from him They quartered themselues the next day and all the army was lodged vpon the lands of the Lord Chastilion who offered it willingly to shew example to others to preferre the publike commodities before the particular The Lord Boillon lodged at Chastilion with other noble men to aduise vpon the affaires of that armie Some dayes before Tilman colonell of the regiment of Bearne departed through sicknes Bouschet his Lieutenant wrote a letter to the Lord Cleruaut in the name of all the Swissers that they had determined to let the king vnderstand the causes wherfore they were come into France and to that effect would send Ambassadours to the king That resolution séemed to many very dangerous they sent to him neuerthelesse The towne of Bleneau vpon Loyne aboue the towne of Chastilion had resisted the Baron Oneau for which cause they forced them and vpon that occasion the army soiorned 2. dayes about Chastilion In the meane time newes came that the Duke of Guyze did approach with his forces and was to lodge about Chasteau-renard distant from Chastilion three small leagues The Lord Chastilion then opened them the meanes which he had therein to enclose the sayd Duke of Guyze but many difficultyes were aleaged which did hinder his enterprise Notwithstanding the sayd Lord Chastilion went on horsebacke with twenty horsemen in company euen to the gates of Chasteau-renard and there hauing taken some of that place learned that Guyze was gone thence about one houre before for to ioyne with his brother the Duke de Mayne and that he had lodged in the towne with three hundred horses onely and before his going away had put garrisons in the Castell The said Lord Chastilion brought with him about 25. Harquebusters on horsebacke whom he sent to the Lord Boillon by them he learned as is aforesaid that the Duke of Guyze was gone to ioyne with his brother that all their Bands were so scattered here and there in the Vilages about Some gaue counsell to turne the faces of the army agaynst the Duke of Guyze and his brother that it was an easy thing to force him to battayle afore that hee should approach neerer to the Kinges army or to Montargis to fauour one an other notwithstanding some were of a contrary opinion and that it could not be done but the Lord of Guyze would haue knowledge thereof and then would hee retyre into some sure and safe places which thing being done their returning backe would bring great discommodities to the army which by these meanes would be combered betwéen the riuers Yonne on the East Loyne on the West and Seyne on the North ouer whom they could not find passages when néede should require it and that if they should do no exployt they should repasse that way which they came where they should finde all thinges eaten vp which thing would encrease the discomodities and the complaintes of the strangers this opinion preuayled and therefore nothing was enterprized They went to lodge about Montargis leauing the riuer of Loyne at their right hand for to get the way to Beausse They lodged at Landon and Vimory and other Townes there abouts This way is moorish broken foule and full of quakmiers where the wagons of the Germans and Frenchmen did so sinke that the Rutters were fayne there to lodge The 27. of October the Lords of Guyze Mayne Elleufe Aumall Barre the young Ianuile and the brother of the Lord Mercure with other heads of the League and their forces which were about fifteene hundred horses and fiue thousand Harquebusiers went to lodge at Montargis and thereabouts on the East side of the riuer Loyne which running betweene both let the Germans to goe to them of the League but on the contrary gaue this aduantage to the Leaguers to passe to y t armies side when they would because they had the foordes and bridges at theyr deuotion This aduantage with the fauour of the Towne of Montargis and of the Countrie gaue them occasion to enterprise to set vpon Vimory where the Baron Oneau was lodged with seuen Cornets of Rutters that place being not distant from Montargis aboue a League and a halfe The Enemies arriued at Vimory in the end of Supper about seuen a clocke at night The Rutters the alarum being giuen do repaire to their Cornets with great speede and whilest the enemyes were busie in the streetes to robbe the Baron Oneau did oftentimes charge as well their horsemen as their footmen the first onset was vpon the Duke de Mayne who with a good companie of horsemen made head to the Rutters At this onset the Rutters did so play the men that many notable gentlemen were left dead vpon the place as well of the companies of the Guyze as of his brother de Mayne The Cornet of the Duke de Mayne with the gentleman that carryed it Rowray of Burgondy was taken There were two other Cornets taken whereof one was of the Lord Bordesiere The Duke de Mayne receaued two shot of Pistoll within his armor whereof hee was so amazed that hee came not to himselfe vntil the morrow after about eight a clocke There is no doubt but the League would haue had much adoe if it had not been for a great rayne darkenes and thunder which on a sudden came and parted the fight The League lost there aboue fortye gentlemen notable among them among whom was the Marques d'Arques eldest son to the Lord Listenay and the Lord Cigoigne sonne to the Duches de Mayne and others were sore wounded The Rutters lost aboue fifty men about one hundred seruing men three hundred wagon horses they lost three Cornets of their seruantes wherein were painted the Starre the Horse-comb and the Sponge The Baron Oneau receaued a blow with a sword
was made in the Citie in Ianuary last they had appoynted a Captain for euery warde of the Citie which be eightéen which by turnes should haue out of his warde twelue hundred men to march to the Boys of Vicennes nigh Paris to keepe that Castle from surprizing by the Kings friends Captaine Aubret his regiment was appointed that day to that charge to wit to conduct the Ordinance to whome was added the companie of Captaine Compan they leauing for that day the kéeping of the Castle Vicennes their baggage apparell and prouision of victuall which was gone before through the gate S. Anthony went through S. Martins gate where the Ordinance was gone before vnder the charge of one Brigard Procurator of the Towne-house They arâ—iued with these three pâ—eces at Seulis the sixt day of May in the euening At their arriuing they saluted the Towne with a peale of that Ordinance At the noyse therof they of the Towne on a sudden came to the Towne walles and offered to make as great a breach in the wall as they would demaund and so to ease them from taking so much paynes as to vse the Canon shot The Duke d'Aumale presently sent to summon them to yeeld vnto composition they within promised to make an answere the morrowe following Vpon this answere a Post of the Towne went to Paris to bring them good newes which encreased greatly by the way as the manner is there the report went that Seulis had proffered thréescore thousand Crownes some multiplied that to one hundered thousand for their rauâ—some The 7. day they of the Towne gaue their answere both by portraiture and by mouth for they all night had portrayed on a cloath the Dukes de Mayn Aumale hanged on gibbets the Dutchesse Montpensier kneeling at the feete of them with her head all vncouered weeping and wailing and tearing her haire which they caused to be set on the morrow being the 7. of May to bee spread vpon the walles the people crying with vile and reproachful speaches that the same was the portraiture of the composition that they demaunded Vpon the sight of this picture and words spoken out of the wall they sent agayne to Paris for more Ordinance to beat the Towne to dust for they had sworne so to doo The Parisiens made excuse that they lacked Bullets and such Pieces as they demaunded The cause of this excuse was not lacke of will to do so much mischiefe as the other intended to haue done but for feare of the ielousies betweene the Duke de Mayne and Aumale for the Duke Aumale had béen greatly and oftentimes desired after his departure from thence to returne to Paris which he denyed to doo The Parisiens therefore fearing that Aumale hauing such forces as hee had at Seulis and expected dayly from the Lord Balagny and hauing store of Ordinance and munition either might turne all these forces agaynst them or keepe them short from hauing any victuals out of Picardie or to make a third faction and to striue with the Duke de Mayne about the state and so weaken their party to expose them to be a pray for the King The Duke d' Aumale seeing that there was little succour to bee expected from Paris sent to Peronne where he had sixe pieces of Ordinance and out of Anjous one which were conducted to Seulis by y e Lord Balagny gouernour of Cambray About the 13. day of May they of Seulis made a sally out of the Towne with a hundered horsemen whereat they that besieged the towne were so amased that they thought best to flee so the Parisiens casting away their armor fled and hid themselues in bushes on euery side Of these hundered horsemen fiftie returned into the towne and the other fifty kept the field for to ayde any that might come to succour them About the 15. of May the Lord Balagny with his companies of Wallons Cambresines and Picardines came and ioyned to the D. Aumale with sixe pieces of Ordinance which hee had taken at Peronne and Anjous as is aforesayd The 12. day of May they began to batter Seulis with ten pieces of battery and within a while hauing made a great breach the enemy confusedly gaue the assault who was repulsed with some losse The same day about noone word came to the enemy that the Duke of Longueuille accompanied with the Lordes of Humieres Bonniuet la Nowe Giury Mesuiller and Tour and other nobles of Picardy were at hand to the number of a thousand horsemen and three thousand footmen to rescue the towne of Seulis Whereupon the Lord Balagny pitched in campe the best power of his men and beeing then accompanied with the Lords of Mainuile of Saisseual Mezieres and Congy with others approched somewhat neere to the Duke of Longueuille in good hope to discomfit him The horsemen of Cambray and the Wallons also first charged the footmen of the Duke of Longueuille The said footmen departed themselues in the middle gaue roome for the ordinance to shoot which at the first volye made a great flaughter of the Cambresines and Wallons who lyking not that play recyred backe with greater hast then they went to it but afterward they came all to a set battaile fought stoutly on both sydes and with great courage but the Ordinance of the Duke of Longueuille made still so great spoite of the enemy that conceauing a great dread they began to wauer neither could the Duke d' Aumale nor the Lord Balagny by any perswasions encourage them nor bring them to good order agayne so the confusion and terror encreasing the whole army which besieged the towne fled away presently The Duke of Longueuille his power with the power which was in the Towne issuing forth did so follow the chase that with handy blowes they killed as many as they could ouertake There remayned slayne of the rebels vpon the place betweene fifteene hundred and two thousand as many were slaine in the chase besides them who were slayne in the Villages by the countrey people All the Ordinance and munition of warre bagge baggage was left behind The Duke d' Aumale had a blow which did him no good the Lord Balagny had an other which did him no great hurt hoth of them fled to Paris in lesser company then when they went to Seulis The Duke d' Aumale the 19. of May went out of Paris fearing there to be welome and mistrusting the snares of de Mayne mutiny and factions of the Parisiens he retyred to Saint Denis Balagny remayned in Paris faining there that hee would take order for the gathering of the Souldiers breathing out cruell threatning what hee would doo and promising to the Parisiens that a new supply of Wallons would come out of the low Countrey he cheareth the people of Paris who were smitten with the dread of Iericho The selfe same day the rebels of Rion in Auuergne had an ouerthrow no lesse then this but the particularityes are not knowen vnto me for lacke
King I say aduertised of these things sent from Deepe to the Quéene of England for some succour who as her Maiesty neuer fayleth to helpe them who are vniustly distressed sent him forces according to his request All the Kings forces at Deepe were not about nine thousand men before the Englishmen arriued to him The Duke d'Mayne hauing a mighty army of fiue and twenty thousand men set foorth out of Paris about the beginning of September giuing foorth that he went to a certaine victory and vaunting that he would briâ—g to Paris the King dead or a liue or else he would driue him into the Sea approached toward Deepe But the God of battels turned as easily with few as with multitude all these bragges to vanitie and shame For the King hearing that the enemy approached very fast encamped himselfe at Arques about two myles from the towne of Deepe by the prudent counsell of the Marshall of Byron The King viewing the place iudged by and by what the enemy was able to doo against him whereupon hée caused trenches to bée made on the top of the hill in most substanciall manner as farre from Arques as a Canon can shoote so that all the army for a néede might bée couered therewith out of all danger Vpon the same trenches hée caused foure pieces of ordinance to bée placed right against a great plaine where hée supposed the enemy would come to fight whether also he might come without any danger the kings companies were quartered in the Villagâ—s round about Whilest these things are a dooing at Arques the enemy approached more and more very fast and on the 15. of September lodged his vauntgarde within three miles of Deepe The King that morning perceaued that they intended to spoyle the subburb Paulet before he enterprised vpon any thing at Arques Therefore with spéed he fortified the said Suburb but specially the milles which steed most open to the enemy This thing being done the King determined as nere as could bee and with small company to view how the enemy was lodged and perceauing by occasion of some that they were too forward commaunded fiue or sixe of his company to giue them the charge in the which seauen of the enemy remained vpon the place which thing being done the king returned to lodge at Arques The 16. before day many issued out of Deepe who made hot skirmishes vpon the enemy where the Lord Chastilion commaunding ouer the footemen shewed himselfe a most skilfull warriour The King had placed certaine horsemen betweene his footemen and the enemy to represse the Leaguers of the Souldiours least rashly they might haue bred some confusion The skirmish was such that the Harquebusiers did neuer discharge a bullet that day in vaine That day the King permitted certayne English gentlemen to skirmish with the enemie who imployed themselues so valiantly and with such a noble courage that in lesse then the turning of one hand they ouerthrew slew or tooke prisoners all that encountred them The same day about 25. of the enemies had passed the brooke which did runne betweene the Kings armie and the enemie and were already in the medow to haue assaulted a Village named Boteille where the Kings Cornet was lodged great troups of horsemen came downe the hill to passe in like maner the brooke to haue assisted them but there came out of the Village sixe gentlemen well armed to meete the enemy among whom were the Lords Saint Marke and Slurbe with two Harquebuziers on foot charged the enemy so hard that they were faine to retire with swift flight feare and sorrowfull countenance All this day there continued hot skirmishes at the milles which are at the end of the Suburbe named Paulet and whereas the King aduaunced still to view the enemies doings an Harquebuze shot strooke his horse in the thigh The same day the King sent the company of the Prince County conducted by the Lorde Armilie his Lieftenant to the Marshall Biron who was at Arques which immediatly commaunded them to goe and spie the lodgings of the enemy who did lye in a Village called Martinglize where were the Dukes Aumale Nemours and the Lord Sagonne this company of light horses comming to the place and forgetting to bring word to the sayd Lord Biron of that which they had seene ran so fiercely vppon the enemy that they killed aboue an hundred and fifty and among them the Marques of Meneiay they tooke many Captains and other prisoners and ouerthrew their rampiers and Barricadoes being still on horsebacke The rest being foure regiments of footmen fled with great terrour Aumale Nemours and Sagonne shewing to these companies the way to flee and striuing among themselues who should flee y e swiftest The Lord Armilie was dangerously wounded through the body with a sword The King from Diepe vnderstanding the skirmish made hast thither with three hundered horses but the enemy was already chased before he came The 17. of September the King caused a Canon to bee discharged against the enemie on the side of Arques whilest the Lord Chastilion did valiantly skirmish with the enemie at the ende of the Suburbe Paulet where he slewe many of the enemies and tooke many prisoners without the losse of any one man saue onely fewe of his were wounded Another company of the Kings Campe at the same time went to view another Village on another side where they surprised the enemies slewe thirtie of them and put the rest to flight During these skirmishes a great number of Gentlemen and Souldiers came to the King and of their owne voluntary motion and goodwill yéelded themselues and their seruice They were part of the troupes of the Lord Rabempré who a little before was taken by the enemie at Gournay a Towne situated in Beauuoysin betwéene the Cities of Beauuoys Roen who had followed the enemies for their safegard The enemie trusting in his great multitude determined to passe ouer the little riuer which ran betwéene them and the King and hauing made certaine bridges of wood to bee cast ouer the 19. day of September about fiue of the clock in the morning the enemie marched from Martinglize in battell aray well ordered strong and thicke Their footmen well placed at their wings their faces set toward Arques the quarter of the Swissers The Lord Billing with two thousand shot was appoynted to giue the onset The Duke de Mayne stood behind with great strength in battell aray readie to giue succour where néede should be The King had watched all night before on horsebacke to giue order in euery place which hee did so diligently and circumspectly that the enemie could doo him no hurt without great disaduantage and losse to themselues But in the morning hauing seene the order of their battell aray incontinently he sent foorth his light horsemen and the company of the Prince County lead by the Lord Montater he sent also his Cornet wherein were the Lords graund Prior the great Squier the Countie
Rochefocault and the Countie of Rossie his brother with the Countie of Rochefort with diuers Gentlemen who were néerest to his person all them he set about his footmen deuiding the Swissers into two parts The enemies were 25. thousand and he had not aboue nine thousand and that to the vttermost With this small number the King knowing that God would consider iustice of the cause and was able to vanquish as well with fewe as with a great number hauing earnestly desired Gods ayde in his priuate prayers commaunded publike prayers which being ended marched against his enemies with such resolued and princelike courage that at the first encounter as it were with one blowe the enemie left vpon the place fiue hundred men beside a number of prisoners and wounded souldiers but the rest fled with great feare and disorder In the same méeting the enemie lost as is aboue sayd at the first encounter fiue hundred men among whom were the chiefest Sague Colonell of the light horsemen the Lord S. Vidal chiefe Marshall of the Ordinance the Lord S. Andrew brother to the Countie of Saulx the Lord Vienuille eldest sonne to the Marshall Vienel who were caried to Roen and there buried with many more of great account The Countie Billing Marshall of the Camp Temblecourt the Countie of Lorreyne who had the first regiment and the Lord Sauelak with diuers other Captaines were taken prisoners Of the Kings side dyed but 26. among whom were the Countie Rossie brother to the Lord Rochefocault and also the Lord Bakqueuile whose vertues were commendable among all men for whom the King was greatly grieued There was among the enemies one Lorde Sagonne a proud man greatly boasting of his valiantnes who with feeling escaped from the slaughter at Seulis the Lord Graund Prior prouoked him to fight who ioyning together the saide Lorde Graund Prior gaue him such a blowe that in retyring and lighting downe of his horse hee fell downe and brake his neck Thus the enemy hauing retyred with shame and losse the King commaunded all his forces to refresh themselues which thing being done fifteene hundred Launce-knights presented themselues to a little trench which was kept by some of the Kings Launce-knights and lifting vp their hands protested and desired to yéeld vnto the King so that the Kings seruants as well as they would put vp their weapons This caused great ioy in the army and euery man putting vp their weapons the Kings men scattered themselues among them without any suspition of treason shaking hands like good fellowes two of the Captaines went to meete the King and being examined suddainely faultring in their speach as knowing not what they said as men troubled in minde named themselues seruants to the Duke d' Mayne in the meane while they fed the Kings Souldiours with fayre words to delay the time till their troupes of horsemen shoulde drawe neere to assist them desiring very much to see the King The King hauing no liking of them commaunded his forces to march downe the medowes from them and whilest these villanous dissembling traitors passed toward the Suissers as though in deed they would yeelde themselues to the King seeing no more the kings horsemen before them and their horsemen approaching still then they seazed vpon the Countie Rochefort and began to set vpon the Kings troupes with all their might whilest fiftéene hundered horsemen came marching a long the medowes to assist them The enemies by these meanes being three thousand and the Kinges forces there beeing not aboue three hundered Horsemen put this small companie in great feare and began to retyre toward the Swissers The Swissers neuer shronk for all that multitude but stoode still firmely shewing such a manly countenance that the enemy suspected the retyre of the Kings horsemen to haue been a policy to draw them into the danger of the Swissers At the same instant that the treason was discouered the Lord Chastilion brought out of Deepe fiue hundred Caliuers Thus all these troupes were deuided into two parts the Harquebusiers of the Kings side were so fitly placed that the enemy durst not venture to set vppon them The Canons in the meane time played vppon them and killed manie The King in this extremity and suddaine discouering of this vnlooked treason hauing ordered all things set vpon the enemies and shewed himselfe both King Captaine and Souldier and by his princely courage did encourage all men to play their partes valiantly The King receaued a shot in his boete and his horse being hurt accompanied with the Marshall Byron fought on foote vntill hée was reuenged of his enemies The enemie retired with shame and losse leauing their dead on the place and hid himselfe at Martinglize The King remayned on the field and commaunded certaine pieces of Ordinance to bée discharged against Martinglize which thing being done he gaue thanks to God with earnest praiers for his gracious goodnes succour and presence in defending them and his iust cause This being done hée greatly commended the good and faithfull seruice of the Swissers in presence of their Captaines and dronke to them for their valiant exploytes done that day The 23. of September the Lord Staphord Ambassadour for the most Noble Quéene of England arriued at Diepe bringing both money and munition but hée sawe not the King vntill the next day following About midnight following the same day the King perceaued that the enemy had changed his opinion and that hée would rayse vp his armie The 24. of September very early in the morning the enemy raised vp his Camp without any sound of Drumme or Trompet in the sight of the King and of his army This their remoouing was done with such great feare and so cowardly that they left their wounded in the Villages behind them and without giuing warning to their Sentinels to retire and saue themselues they left their victuall and munition of warre in the way as they went They tooke their iourney as though they went to the towne of Hewe and at length they turned to Saint Vax Quinqueuile and Bures and camped themselues on the other side of Diepe entrenching themselues in the néerest Villages Ianuile Boutiles and Apeuile The King who was on the other side of the hill in battel aray séeing their departing to be like a fearefull flight while hee receaued the Lord Ambassador of England sent certaine companies to puriue them who also tooke many prisoners ofthem These Prisoners beeing demaunded the cause of the sudden retire answered diuersly for some said it was by reason of the comming of the English ships which lately arriued wherein they doubted great aid to bee sent to the King But some gaue another answere to wit that vpon the death of those Noble men who had béen slaine great strife had growen among them for placing other in their roome some allowing one some choosing another so that it seemeth that these two causes troubled the enemy The King seeing the enemy encamped in another side caused
his battaile to bee pitched in the plaine of Arques and afterward in the euening brought his army into Diepe and the Suburbs of the same and all night caused great and large Trenches to bee made in a place called the hill of Cats and by the Morning the Trenches beeing strong he placed part of his footmen vnder the gouernment of the Lord Chastilion with thirtéene Ensignes of Swissers vppon the Fort of the side of Januile hee pitched two double Canons which did greatly endomage the enemy because they were all on an heape and their horsemen could not retire into their quarter without the danger of the Canon so that it neuer shot in vaine The King sent the Regiment of the Lord Garde into the Castle of Arques The first day of October the enemy planted sixe pieces of Ordinance vpon the top of the hill by Ianuile and shot fiue or sixe voleies of shot into the Towne wherewith was slaine one of the Kings Cookes a Woman a Maiden and a Boy and great hurt done to two Shippes which lay at Anker in the Hauen The Lord Staphord Ambassador of England had presented a Canonier to the King who beeing very skilfull with a shot killed the master Gunner and dismounted two pieces of the enemies Ordinance which caused them to remooue their Canon during this time the Kings troups dayly did set vppon them and drew them from their Trenches with blowes and deadly woundes who beeing weary of that continuall play the fourth day of October they brake their Rampiers and Gabions vpon intelligences of the comming of the Prince of Soisson the Duke of Longueuile Marshall Aumont retyred with shame and losse of men and in the Kings sight raised their camp and dislodged on a sudden taking their iourney toward Picardie and in the way shewed all crueltyes that could bee The King seeing the sudden and vnexpected departure of the Enemy supposed that he went to fight against the power which was broughtto him by the said Prince of Soissons Duke of Longueuile and Marshall Aumont afore they should ioyne with him which thing he mistrusted the more because the enemies shifted into three seuerall places and neuer frarre from him But the King knowing that these helpes were come within seuen or eight leagues tooke betweene three or foure hundred horsemen to goe to meet with them about the sixt day of October leauing the Marshall Biron in Diepe with all the rest of the armie The same day he tooke the towne and Castle Samache in the sight of the enemy The 8. day hée tooke the towne of Hew giuing great occasions to the Duke d'Mayne to fight Whilest these things were passing at Diepe and sometime before there was a méeting of the deputies of the Dukes d'Mayne and Parma in the town of Aras where the Duke d'Mayne bound himselfe to the Spanyards to deliuer all the townes of Picardie into their hanâ—s so that they would come to ayde him but the Spanyards would not styrre out of their places before hée had performed what hée was bound to doo The Duke d'Mayne therefore to colour his cowardlines shamefull flight and disgrace receaued at Diepe and for that hée durst neuer hazard the battell he bruted abroad that he went into Picardie to take possession of the townes of that Prouince to pledge them to the Spanyards and so hauing passed the riuer of Some he tooke away with him all hope from the King to come to any battaile The King knowing well the nature of the French men who though sometyme in their heat and naturall hastines they doo fall to sedition yet are vnpacient of a strange gouernment assured himselfe that they would neuer admit the gouernment of that nation whom they of all most hated neither would they yeeld vnto the Flemmings whom they hated also for the naturall iniuries which they do proffer one to another in time of warre as it falleth out commonly among Borderers Therefore he stayed yet a while in Diepe as well for the affaires of Normandie where hee left the Prince Montpencier for Gouernour as for to receaue foure thousand Englishmen sent vnto him by the renowmed Queene of England And the 21. of October hee departed from Deepe and with small iourneyes coasted the enemie betwéene the two Riuers of Seyne and Some vntill hee came to Meulan a Towne situated a little aboue Pontoys distant from Paris ten leagues and there vpon that bridge passing on the South side of Seyne with all speede went to Paris for two causes First for to drawe him to fight for although hee would not venture a battell for the winning of Deepe notwithstanding he had so promised to his partakers yet the King was in good hope that he would fight for Paris The other cause was to withdrawe him from Picardy where he had taken the towne of Fere and some other small Townes the most part of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the countrey being with the King About the 28. of October the King lodged his armie a mile from Paris in the villages about The morrowe after the king in his owne person went all about to view the Trenches along the Suburbes The last day of October the king hauing prepared all things by the aduise of the Princes Marshals and expert Captaines determined to assault the sayd Suburbs the next morning by breake of the day in three sundrie places and to that purpose deuided his forces into three seuerall companies In the one were the foure thousand Englishmen vnder the gouernement of the Lord Willoughby their Generall with two regiments of Frenchmen and one regiment of Swissers with the Marshall Byron and the Baron Byron his sonne the Lord Guittry diuers other Noblemen who had commandement to assault the Suburbs S. Victor S. Marcel The second troupe was of foure Regiments of Frenchmen two Regiments of Swissers and four companies of aduenturers with the Marshall of Aumont accompanied with the Lord great Esquire and the Lord Rieulx Marshall of the field with a great number of Nobles and Gentlemen who had charge to assault the Suburbs of Saint Iames and Saint Michael The third companie with ten Regiments of French men and one Regiment of Launceknights conducted by the Lordes de la Nouë and Chastilion should assault the Subutbs Saint German Bucy and Nille Euery troupe had a good number of Gentlemen well armed to assist the footmen if any great resistance should be made The King also commaunded two Canons and two Culuerins to be planted in the rereward of euery troupe He seperated also all his horsemen in three companies he himselfe commaunded ouer the first the Prince of Soissons ouer the second the Duke of Longueuile ouer the third each of them appointed to strengtheÌ„ the companies which were set to assault the Suburbs thus deuided as is aforesaid The first day of Nouember by breake of the day beeing a very thicke myst in this order the Suburbs were assaulted and so shaken by
thanksgiuing to God for his safe returne â—aluted him with this acclamation God saue the King Two thousand horsemen in all of Princes noble men and gentlemen did defeat al this huge army of fiue thousand horsemen and eight thousand footmen the rest of the Kings forces neuer sâ—irring from their places Thus the Horsemen béeing scattered there remained yet Swissers Lanceknights and French footmen The Launceknights and French footmen were charged and about two thousand and foure hundred remained on the place as it were in a moment The rest were taken prisoners and some of them fled into the woods whereof a great number wandering abroad were slaine by the Pesants The Swissers notwithstanding they had lost their Horsemen which were at their wings part beeing slaine and part fled set a good countenance on the matter The King once was minded to set the French companies on them to disaray them and had sent the Baron Biron to that effect but calling to mind the ancient aliance betweene that nation and the crowne of France called him back againe with his companies and offered them grace and mercy so much he did to those companies of Frenchmen who were with them who refused not his gracious fauour but comming and passing by him rendered vnto his Maiesty their Colonels Captains Souldiers and Ensignes The King staying to pardon the Swissers gaue the enemy leasure to auoid by flight And whilest he stayed to do this Princelike act iudging that he was not called to that high degree of Maiesty ad interitum but ad beneficentiam generis humani The Marshall Aumont with a great company which he had assembled from the pursute in like manner the grand Prior and the Marshall Biron who by reason of his great experience for that hee had béen at so many stormes of battails and skirmishes with his horsemen and companies of French footmen was reserued to the last onâ—et if need had béen relyed themselues to the King The companies also of the Lord Humiers Mony and other gentlemen of Picardy came in the middle of the battell and after the victory came to the King The Duke de Maine seeing that the mishap which he wished to others fel vpon him tooke his way with great terrour toward Iury leauing behind his ordinance bagge and baggage and as many beside as could not runne away so swiftly as he did the great kill Deuils Don Pedro Moreo and Don Iuan de Cordoua two Spanish Moores with such as could follow them ran after him Great companies of the enemie had gotten before some followed after and as feare made them hast to presse ouer the bridge of Iury to runne a second course toward Mante it is reported that he killed some with his owne hand to make him a way ouer least he should be the hindermost and when he had passed ouer he caused the bridge to be broken leauing his friendes to shift for themselues and by that occasion many through feare beeing out of their wits cast themselues into the riuer where were drowned aboue fifteene hundred persons Others fearing to be taken by them who followed in the chase killed their Horses to stop the wayes and many supposing to haue saued themselues in the woods fell into the hands of the Pesants and countrey people which vsed them more cruelly then the Souldiers would haue done The Duke de Mayne hauing passed Iurye broken the bridge tooke his way to Mante there to passe ouer the bridge and to retire to Pontoise The inhabitants once had determined not to let him in whereupon some do report that beeing before Mante he swore with great othes that hee had discomfited the Kings forces and had killed the King with his owne hand but when they would not be mooued therewith knowing the contrary hee began to intreat them shewing them the danger wherein hee was they mooued with his prayers to compassion of his estate let him in with condition that his retinue should passe by ten and ten that night ouer the Bridge The Duke of Nemours Bassampierre the Vicount Tauaine Rosne and many others fled to Dreux and the day after to Chartres many who could not follow them went astray and knowing not whither they went were taken prisoners The King hauing played the great Captaine and lusty Souldier in getting the victory now sheweth himselfe a right Generall of an army in pursuing the sayd victory for which well to doe he deuideth his forces as followeth The grand Prior with a great company hee sent to chase the enemy on the left hand toward Eureux The Baron of Biron and with him the residue of horsemen who were gathered together and the companies which were arriued out of Picardie at the instant of the battel he sent at the right hand toward Dreux The King himselfe accompanied with the Princes Countie and Montpensier the Marshals of Aumont and Trimouille with a great company of other Lords and Captayns of the same army followed on the victory and continued the chase fiue howers The King vnderstanding how the Duke de Mayne had entred into Mante tooke vp his lodging at Rosnye two miles from Mante where he was as meanly lodged as the enemy Many were slaine in the pursute many were taken prisoners The King with two thousand horses killed aboue two thousand horsemen and many of them Commanders fiftéene hundred and aboue were drowned at the riuer Iury in the flight The most part of the footemen were cut off in peeces fewe ranne away who were either slayne in the chase or by the people of the country aboue 4. hundred of the enemies were takeÌ„ prisoners The Swissers and the Frenchmen ioyned with them yeelded themselues to the Kings clemencie So that of three and twentie thousand of y e enemie there returned neuer home aboue eight thousand Their bagge baggage artillerie and munition was stayed in the Kings hand There were aboue twentie Cornets of horsemen taken and among them the white Cornet and the bearer thereof to wit the Lord Boysdaul phine taken prisoner by the King The great Ensigne of the Generall of the Spanyards and Flemmings the Colonell Cornets of the Rutters were taken aboue threescore Ensignes of footmen as Flemmings French men and Launce-knights and foure and twentie of the Swiffers that yeelded themselues all these â—ame into the Kings hands Among them that were slayne were chiefest of all the Countie Egmond the Duke Brunswicke Captaine Colin a Spanyard the Lord Chastaigueray and many others Of prisoners taken were the Earle Austfrist who was with the Rutters many Lords Spanyards Italians Frenchmen and Flemmings Of Frenchmen the Lord Boysdaulphine Cigoigne who bare the white Cornet of the Duke de Mayne This is the third time that this Rebell had fallen into the Kings hands within foure moneths and had alwayes found fauour at his hands There were also prisoners Mesdauid Fouteyne Martil Lechant Lodon Huguesan Falandre Tenisay Chasteliere Descuueaux with many others Of the Kings side were slayne the
which is in the middle of the Towne where was great confusion in going ouer The Lord Chastilion was commaunded to goe to trye the passage at Gien but many inconueniences let that enterprise although he had gone part of the way In the meane time the enemie aduaunced in such sorte that the forerunners did charge the Launce-knights and vnarmed about one thousand or twelue hundred did hurt a great many tooke the artilterie and munition About 25. horsemen did all that The Launce-knights did retyre in good order toward Buissiere as also the wagon men with their horses and other such stuffe as they could saue The Lord Chastilion went also to the sayd Buissiere who did incontinently sende to the horsemen on euery side for to take aduise what was to bee done for they were like to haue the enemie very shortly on their backes but the companies went to the rendes vous which was appoynted at Bouuy The Lord Chastilion hauing stood in battell aray at Buissiere to receiue the Launce-knights who did passe in order made the retraite hauing not with him aboue three score armed men and sixe score harquebusiers on horsebacke at the most The same long soiorning which the Lord Chastilion made at Buissiere gaue time to the enemie to followe him so that in marching the high way to Bouuy the enemy appeared marching along the parke at whose discouering hee put his companie in battell aray foure and foure by reason of the narrownes of the place The Lords Morinault and S. Albine did leade the forerunners who discouering that the enemie was of more then two hundred horses sent word to the Lord Chastilion who strengthened them of ten men of armes which were with the Lord Byramont and willed them to march a small pace after the companies But a little after they were so pressed that they turned their faces against the enemie with sword in hand who then staied and after in that manner followed the Lord Chastilion more than three leagues The said Lord Chastilion geuing to vnderstand to the Prince County that the enemy was at hand the Duke Boyllon went backe to the said Lord Chastilion with 2. hundred horses and going backe to a litle brooke which they had left behind thought good to stay there for the enemie but the Lord Monluet who alwaies had remained behind gaue to vnderstand to the Lord Chastilion that he doubted somewhat and for to know better what it might be they went toward the enemies and at the discouering of them began to speake either to stay them or else to make them come nearer but at length the enemy began to retire vpon which occasion the Lord Monluet and Chastilion pressed them so farre that they pursued beating them beyond the Brooke where they left dead of the enemie seuen or eight vpon the place The Lord Chastilion pursuing the disorder of the enemie was aduertized by the Lord Boillon that the Rutters were more then fiue leagues before with the rest of the Frenchmen that the companies which he pursued was the whole power of the enemie where were the Lords Espernon Nemours and Mercure that necessity required to march forward without any further delay which thing staied the Lord Chastilion who in returning passed by a little wood where he spied about foure score Harquebuziers of the enemie who hid themselues in the said Wood whom the said Lord Chastilion made countenance to charge that in the meane time hee hee might retire his forerunners whom the said Harquebuziers made their rekoning to surprize in theyr returne but they came againe without any damage The truth is that there was in all those troupes but onely the Dukes Espernon Nemours and Mercure who were greatly amazed when their forerunners so fearefully did cast themselues in their armes That same day they went to lodge fiue leagues from thence and the next day they began to enter into Moruaut which is a wood land and so thicke that with much adoo they could not goe aboue two and two They appointed the rendes vous for the chiefe of the army to heare what commission the Lord Cormon had brought which was that the King would geue such surety vnto the Germans as they would to retire into Germany and to the French men Papists who would liue Popishlie in their houses safetie with their goods Others of the religion which would retire out of France might enioy their goods so that they would beare no armes against him requiring furthermore in token of their obedience and good intentes by the which they had declared to haue borne armes onely for his seruice that all the French men should surrender him their Cornets and Colours All these thinges being debated on both sides it was aduised not to dispise these offers but for the sureties and ensignes to take further aduise The reasons which induced them were the great amazednes wherein the whole armie was and to that feare there was such negligence ioyned that there was no more meanes to keepe any order neither among the Germans nor Frenchmen Many French gentlemen had and did dayly resort home there was no assurance that any great number would stay any longer There was no resolution to fight against the enemy the wayes were full of stuffe and armes as well of Germans as Frenchmen the Horses were weary they had to make long iourneys to goe farre from the enemy when they came they found no guide to lead them the way to the Vilages so that they trauelled some time one or two leagues after they were arriued at the rendes vous for to take their lodginges The most part of them remayned either in the woods or else in the first houses which they met men without bread horses without fodder many horses were tyred for lacke of shooing There was foure daies iourney to goe through woods The Harquebuziers and footmen did diminish on both sides all the regimeÌ„t of the Lord Villeneufue had disâ—anded themselues not passing thrée daies before because the master of theyr campe was prisoner there was almost no men left in the regiment of the Lord Mouy They whom the Lord Chastilion had brought out of Languedock for lacke of horses could not follow or else for to follow in so long iourneyes were inforced to cast away their armors most of them had no powder nor meanes to recouer any Their Peeces were either broken or vnprofitable for lacke of workemen to mend them There remayned not aboue two hundred Harquebuziers They which rested of Launce-knights being about two thousand were vnarmed all these reasons made them conclude that it was better to saue the men to do seruice another time then to loose them and geue the praise to the enemy to haue wholly destroyed that army Vpon these deliberations they dispatched to the king the L. Cormon In the meane while the army went forward followed still by the Lord Espernon accompanied with seuen or eight hundred horsemen and with as many Harquebusiers as he could put
rest of his troupes which came in small boates But because the Souldiers were marueilously wearie they tooke incontinently their lodgings the Captaines also did not think good to assault the enemie by night before they had discouered him By this delay the Lord Lauerdine receiued his footmen with leasure to the number of fiue hundred without any horsemen whome hee set in battell array in Beauregard and placed about foure score of them in the Farme house of Lommeau The day being come to wit the 16. of March the Lords Boysduly and Iarry and others Captaines to number of three hundred footemen and about three score hrsemen went to seeke out the enemie who put his men in battell array in fauour of the Farme house of Beauregard and durst not aduance vpon our men fearing our horsemen although they were twise stronger in footmen Our men on the other side durst not charge them hauing such aduantage as they had but for that time were content to chase them who were put in the Farme house of Lommeau who retyred to their fellowes in good order as men resolute Our men on the other side retyred to the towne where euery one refreshed himselfe intending to charge the enemie in the euening but there was noted in our men much confusion but small resolution The same day about three a clock in the after noone arriued from Rochel the Lord Noyse with twentie braue souldiers vnder the conduct of Captaine Ozanneau it is certaine that it these souldiers had arriued the day before and had been placed at Beauregard with some more forces which might haue been geuen them part of the inhabitants part of the souldiers of the gouernour the L. Lauerdine had not put foot on land so easily as he did For although the Lord Lauerdine had gotten much as is said yet he had beene enforced to retire if it had not beene for the treathery committed in the forte of Bastile which commanded the captayne Ensigne of the gouernour and some others who were so frighted by a countrie man sent vnto them by the way of aduertizement from Perrerio with threatnings that if they did suffer themseues to be besieged they would be hanged as others were at Cotaudiere that there upon they stated not for the enemie but abandoned their fort their armour and munition and saued themselues in the Marshes The Lord Lauerdine hauing intelligence of this fact immediatly sent for his horsemen who were three long leagues off they arriued about 5. a clock in the morning he put all his men in battell array and marched toward the towne of Marans The Lords Boysduly and the gouernour with other gentlemen and souldiers prepared themselues to goe to seeke the enemie whome about six a clock they discouered with his horsemen which made them conclude that without doubt the Bastile was in their power for it was vnpossible that their horsemen had entred any other way Notwithstanding they which were in the towne went foorth to receiue the enemie to the farthest houses of the high towne where they fought a skirmish in the which the Lord Boysduly Noyse and some others who followed them with some of Rochell did what they could but at length being charged with horsemen of the enemie were forced to giue place and to retyre into the Castell speedily so that the enemie seazed vpon the high towne and thereupon afterward became master of all the rest All the Gentlemen with their horses and Souldiers and some of the inhabitants retyred into the Castell to the number of three or foure hundred Within that place there was no prouision of victualls saue some small store of meale which the Souldiers in retyring therein could carry away with them There was neither shouels mattocks picaxes nor any other tooles to remoue the earth if neede should be there was small prouision for horses and no good store of powder Notwithstanding the Lord Boysduly with the gouernour and other Gentlemen determined to hold out for certaine dayes hoping to haue some succour either by the comming of the king of Nauarre who was not yet returned out of Gascoyne or else by them of Rochell or if the worst should fal out yet they would make some honourable composition With this resolution they prepared to keepe the court of the Castel which was in a manner trenched and the dungeon hauing one piece which was little or nothing worth to them There they were incontinently besieged by the enemie who seazed vpon all the conuenient places round about the Castell and did commaund the court of the sayd Castell they trenched themselues where it was conuenient for them They who were besieged in the Castell did likewise their endeuor so that without any losse of men they killed many of the enemies The Lord Iarry Gouernour was hurt in the foot which made his person afterward vnprofitable But the enemy pressed them within so narrowly that there could no meanes be deuysed to vnderstand any thing during the siege The 18. of March the King of Nauarre hasting before his company which followed him contrary to the opinion of many came to Rochel with the Prince of Soyssons and some other noble men in good deliberation to succour Marans Afore his arryuing to Rochel the inhabitantes thereof had sent a good number of Harquebuziers vnder the conduct of Captaine Gargoleau and others for to enter into Marans but they vnderstoode by the way that the enemy possessed the Iland with the chiefest fortes and had besieged the Castell for which cause they returned to Rochel The Citizens of Rochel also had sent two shippes with the barke of Captayne Courtault and certayne Culuerings vnder the conduct of Captayne Boysseau and other Souldiours and Captaynes They entered into the riuer boldly seazed vppon the forts of Brault and Clousie in the sight of the enemy whom they preuented The King of Nauarre informed of all thinges passed at Marans the 19. day very early tooke his iourney to Charon and from thence to the said fortes where he put men and munition a◠occasion serued He caused also the shippes whereon the Culuerings were to approach the town of Marans the Culuerings did beat the houses of the Towne called the boats houses The enemy hauing seazed vppon the whole towne and trenched himselfe in the market house seeing the preparing of the Shippes presented himself to withstand the landing of them that came from Rochel and with two field Péeces compelled the ships to descend lower there were flayne some Souldiers of Rochel The King of Nauarre gaue all the signes that could be possible as by the sounding of Trompets spyals or other meanes to let them who were besieged vnderstand of his comming One of his spyals was hanged but they within could not perceaue any thing saue onely of the comming of the Ships whom they supposed to haue béene the Rochellers only but he could not conceaue any hope to be able to succour them The enemie in the meane while increased his
occupie the whole gouernement of Aunis and to plague the inhabitants of Rochel Therefore he lodged there his regiment which consisted of ten Ensignes whom he deuided in the Forts of the Iland and to make warre out right he ordained the Lord Tremblay to bee in garrison there with a companie of fourtie light horses He caused great store of white Corslets and newe Pikes to be brought thether out of Paris to arme his garrisons there He sendeth Commissioners to the Parishes round about euen to them which lye next to Rochel to haue a number of Pyoners to gather Subsidies and Tallages and to bring them to Marans He prepared a number of Barkes and boates for to hold the Sea and to seaze vppon the I le of Rhe by the intelligences which he had with the Lord S. Luke of Browage He caused the Corne and Wine to be taken vp through the Farmes of the gouernment of Rochel and tooke many prisoners To be short speaking very bigge he omitted no poynt of hostilitie hoping to make there a second Browage and a Blockhouse to famish Rochel The King of Nauarre did beare with him and hauing spied his counsell during the space of two moneths and a halfe the sayd King hauing on a sudden assembled certaine companies of footmen and horsemen made all things readie the 24. of Iune entered the Iland at Charron nigh to Marans ouer the bridges which he had caused to bee made in diuers places In this Iland were holden by the enemie the Forts of Charron and Brault wherein were foure score Souldiers harquebusiers commaunded by Captaine Chautery hee besieged the Fort of Brault as the néerest of greater importance and more defendable by the enemie whose losse drew after it the losse of Charron He drewe by the channell of Seure two shippes set in readines to batter it but at night it was surrendered their liues safe notwithstanding of courtesie he granted both to the Captaine and Souldiers their swords immediatly they of Charron surrendered themselues likewise being in number twentie of the best Souldiers of the Regiment The 25. day he caused a bridge to be made vpon the channell of Brune approaching still to the I le of Marans and went himselfe to view the fort Clouzie and a certaine house fortified by the enemie called the house of Clouzie nigh the méetings of two channels which doo wash the sayd house on both sides These two Forts doo lye vpon a deepe channell which they must needes passe ouer to enter into Marans distant one from the other about sixe score paces and beyond the sayd channell betweene the two forts a newe fort was builded for to let the casting of the bridge if any should be made This newe fort was in the sight of the two forts to wit the fort of Clouzie and the house of Clouzie whereof is spoken of before All things well viewed the sayd King concluded to attempt vpon these fortes the rest of the day passed away in shooting certaine volleys of Ordinance vppon those fortes out of the shippes and in certaine light skirmishes In the euening the sayd King caused the shippes to goe downe the water to the Iland Charron to take from the enemy the suspicion of the thing which hee determined to do the day following The 26. day being the Lords day about three a clock hee came with few of his men before Clouzie made his bridges sure aduauncing forward his Gabions prepared the bridge to bee cast betweene the two forts searched the places where they might enter into Marans causeth his shippes to approach into that place where they were the day before putting his regimentes in battaile aray placing them in the same order that they should march and also his footmen to sustayne the enemy at the entring of the Iland and to serue for such occasions as might ryse he being himselfe in person the formost to see with the eie what should be needeful to be done The morning passed away in such exercises and in the meane while the enemy did what he could to keepe him off At 11. a clock prayers and singing of Psalmes vnto God being ended throughout all his regimentes and troupes of horsemen after hee had appoynted euery man what they should doo hee began to force the passage kept by a companie of the regiment of the Lord Cluseaulx and with the company of light horses of the Lord Tremblay flanked on y e one side with the fort Clouzie and on the other side by the house Clousie which was as is aforesayd fortified and in front defended by the third fort and a trench in the middle Vpon the right hand of the house of Clousy marched the master of the Campe Preaulx who had slyded with his troupes into the reedes to passe ouer the channell in a place knowen and yet not without danger and the Captayne Ferrand with him hee tooke also with him the Captaines Lomeau and Nede into the same reedes A little behind was the Baron Salignak with his regiment to geue the scalado to the sayd house Right against the house of Clouzie foure captaines with their Souldiers thosen out of the regiment of the Lord Granuile did aduaunce the Gabions vppon the banke of the channell and behind their Gabions were in battell aray the companyes of Rochel at the right hand of the sayd Gabions right agaynst the meeting of the two channels the saide Lord Granuile with thirty armed men did push forward the said bridge they were couered from the gunshot of the fort Clousy by the Captaine Valley of Rochel with a great number of targets of proofe and behinde them who did push the bridge marched the rest of the regiment with the troupes of Rhe conducted by captayne Planch At the lift hand going toward Clousy to occupy the enemy all along the channell marched the new and old gardes of the King of Nauarre conducted by the Captaynes Porte and Vignoles and the Harquebuziers on horseback of the Lord Peujas who were al lighted of their horse with Captaine Limalle The horsemen were behind the footmen the troupe of the Lord Peujas behind the regiment of the Lord Granuile and the companies of Rhe which followed the bridge The mayne forces of the King of Nauarre commaunded by the Prince of Soissons were a hundred paces and more behind but a litle more aduaunced vppon the lift hand The enemyes seeing the Kinges forces in that aray and that they had bowed theyr knees on the ground to make their prayers to God afore they went to the battell and calling to remembrance the prayers which were made at Coutras did fall into such a feare as they began to crye they pray they will beat vs as they did at Coutras and beginning to wauer on a sudden fled away in great disorder Here is to be noted that had it not béen for the fault committed through hastines in casting the bridge in a place where the chanell was forked whereas it should haue
to consider the Lordes prouidence in releeuing of the afflicted States and tottering kingdomes that he whom they had sworne should not raigne ouer them him I say the Lord hath set vp and annoyuted him with the oyle of grace and wisedome and said that he shall raigne ouer them that it may appeare that his Scepter is of God And wheras likewise they haue sworn the rooting out of Gods truth the Lord wil make it florish vnder their noses vnder the authoritie of him whome they haue reiected Here also is another thing worthy to be noted that the Lorde in all ages for to restore peace iudgement iustice and religion in any decayed state hath raysed vp Princes endued with heroycall giftes and graces called by the ancients Nemesis by the Prophet Psal 51. the principall spirit of force constancie iustice wisedome counsell and godlines by the which crooked things are made straight and all things reduced to their order For as fortitude in an hot and vnwise nature is transformed into a barbarous cruelty rage so the same being in a wise nature gouerneth the victory with mercy and mildâ—nes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad benficentiam The experience teacheth vs that if God had not giuen his principall spirit to this King now there raigning to direct the valiantnes of his courage and the prosperous successe of his victories with clemencie and mildenes one fourth part of France by this day had beene reduced into a miserable wildernes But thou O great King issued out of Noble race gird thy loynes with force and might goe on still and follow the Lord who goeth before thee and leadeth thee by the hand to restore the decayed ruins brought into that kingdome by the obstinate and vnwise counsels of the Valoys and the accursed snares of Sycophants whom they haue fostered and nourished in their bosoms by the bloud of theyr subiects and the fatnes of their people It is said before how immediatly after the making of y e edict of reunion the Duke Mercure out of Britayne with certayne companies inuaded the low Poytow intending to lay the siege before Montagne and how hee was defeated and ouerthrowen by the King of Nauarre after which ouerthrow the said K. being strengthened with new forces of the Lords Trimouille and Boulay intended to haue rescued the Lord Espernon who stood in great daunger in Engolesme by a conspiracy of the Leaguers but vnderstanding that the tumult there was pacifyed went to Rochel where he appointed an assembly of the reformed Churches of France there to take aduice by a generall meeting what they had to do agaynst the cruell and neuer heard of conspiracie of the King and the Leaguers who had sworne the vtter subuertion and vndooing of the King of Nauarre and reformed churches hee sendeth therefore in the moneth of September his messengers into all Prouinces of France willing them to send theyr commissioners and deputies to Rochel in Nouember next The King of Nauarre hauing done all necessary dispatches for that thing in y e latter end of September departed from Rochel intending to lay the siege before the castle of Beauuoyre lying vpon the Sea in the low Poytow and passing not farre from Niort some of his company aduaunced very nigh vpon them that issued out of the town not much further then their Suburbs The Lord Valette great prouost of France who alwaies had followed the King of Nauarre and a gentleman named Peray set vpon them and gaue them a hot skirmish wherein the said Lord and gentleman were slaine fighting most valiantly The Lieutenant of the towne beeing a most seditions Leaguer with other of his fellows shewed themselues no lesse then insoleÌ„t in committing great indignities vpon their dead bodies whom they caused to bee drawen through the streetes of Niort by the common people From thence hee tooke his iourney toward the sayd Beauuoyre as is sayd a Towne and Castell vppon the Sea a place of great importance as well for the situation as for the commodities thereof because it holdeth the Iles about in subiection out of the which great reuenues are receaued by reason of the salt and other commodities The King lodged his footmen in the Suburbs of Clisson There he receaued newes that certayne regiments of footmen of the enemies had passed Loyre at Saumure which thing caused him to dislodge in great hast to goe to charge them but the enemy being aduertised therof repassâ—d the Loyre before that he could come to them Therefore he tooke his way toward Nantes and in the low Goleyn with all his army There the Lorde Trimouille presented him the Captaine Bonneueau whom he had discomfited and taken at Doway a walled town The sayd King went to lodge at Vretow a little league from Pilmil suburbe of Nantes and there passed his army vpon the caulsies ouer the riuer Seure the other part of his army passed the sayd riuer by a Foord at Mounieres and came to lodge at Tousche Liuosiniere The morow after the fourth of October he passed before the Castell of Maschecow which he viewed the Marquis Belisle beeing within did let flye a shot of Culuerine Passing further with his companies of men of arms his light horsmen and Harquebuziers compassed the castell of Beauuoyre wherin was in garison a company of footmen who at the arriuing of the King forsooke the Towne and retyred into the Castell The Towne beeing deliuered to him he left within the towne his Harquebusiers and he with his troupes went to lodge at Saint Geruays within halfe a league of Beauuoyre There arriued vnto him the Lords Montluet and Plessis from Rochâ—l with a faire company of nobility After they had embarked in the hauen of Rochel two canons two culuerings gabions and other munition of warre which they had conducted to Saynt Gyles hauen distant from Beauuoyre about seuen leagues But this furniture could not arriue at Beauuoyre in fifteene dayes after the siege was begun by reason of contrary windes and continuall rayne with the discommodity of the waies the countrey beeing very moorish The souldiers were in the water to the mid legge with other great discommities notwithstanding they ceased not to make trenches vnto the very ditch out of the which he drewe great store of water so that the platformes being made the Ordinance brought with much ado being placed and leuelled he began the 21. of October to batter and after 30. Canon shot they who were within seeing the forces prepared against them did choose rather to prooue the clemencie of the said King in yéelding then to stay a greater batterie and the extremitie of an assault which infallibly would be giuen them therefore they would parley and yeeld The capitulation was such that they should render their Colours should goe foorth with armour and baggage but their match out They went foorth about 53. persons and were safely conducted to the Iland Bouing whether they sayd they would retyre The King of Nauarre lost at that
fort which dooth couer the gate of the towne towards Maschecow without the which the enemy euen the first night of the siege might haue lodged hard to the wall that place being not flanked with any thing The worke began to goe forward after the succour ariued by the sea with the munitions of warre of whome a part was sent to Beauuoyre by the commaundement of the King of Nauarre to wit they which were of the regiment of Valirant who had embarked themselues with them who were sent to Ganache The Baron Vignoles a Gentleman of Gascoyne entred into Ganache as also the Lord Saint George by the King of Nauarre his commaundement with his companie of 50. Harquebusiers on horseback There was then none of all the forts of sufficient defence vpon which occasion they deuided y e quarters as wel for the defence as for to labour about the fortifications euery one in his quarter with such diligence as necessity required The Baron Vignoles with his captaines Piue and Solas tooke on him the keeping of the fort of the causy right against a broaken chappel of Saint Thomas suburbs This fort was commaunded by a little hill couered with fruitefull trees and also by the suburb for which cause they couered themselues with barricadoes and Gabions The two companies of the Kings gardes which were commaunded by the Lordes Aubiguy and Robiniere vndertooke the keeping of the fort of the tower which we haue saide to haue the forme of a horseshooe The Lord Ruffigny with his companie vndertooke to keepe the fort of the suburb Saint Leonard which was the best hauing the ditches full of water of the height of 9. foote Captaine Beauregard who commanded ouer the company of the Harquebusiers on horseback of the ordinarie garison vndertooke to make a fort at one of the corners of the towne but it was a worke of long time and serued but a little and cost much to keepe and was not begon but in hope that Montagne which was already besieged would debate longer then it did notwithstanding they laboured about it continually and whereas the Captaine Beauregard had not aboue 18. Harquebusiers of his owne halfe of the companie of the Lord Saint George was giuen him The two captaines of the two companies of footemen ordained for the ordinary gar ion did drawe the lots to whome should remaine the fort which was begun at the gate so it fell to the lot of Captaine Ferriere who laboured so hard that euen in ten dayes during the siege it was made defensible and serued to good effect The other companie of the garison vnder the commaundement of the Lord Forestiere a noble man of Britaine was appoynted for the garde of the Castle and the Doue house which was in the garden The charges so deuided euery man doth labour some doo pull downe the Suburbs others goe about the Countrey to get men to labour for there was none of the inhabitants left in the Towne not so much as an artificer but only a butcher The Lord Plessis aduertised of the surrendring of Montagne sent foorth his forerunners to scoure the countrey they reported the 14. day of December that part of the armie was alreadie lodged at Lege The morrowe was discouered a great troupe of horsemen who appeared aboue the mils of Porrieres to view the Towne The Lord Perrine Lieutenant of the companie of the light horses of the Gouernour who had retyred before to his own house supposing there to passe part of the winter returned into the Towne about three daies before the siege and went out with foure or fiue light horses to view them The 16. day of December againe very early he went out on horseback but he had not passed aboue halfe a mile when he found the forerunners of the enemie whereof he aduertised the Gouernour About 11. of the clocke there marched a great number of horsemen conducted by y e Lord Sagonne followed of many regiments of Chastiagueray Brigueulx Leslele and ohers who in hast aduanced to get the Suburbe of S. Leonard These troupes discouered by the L. Perrine hee turned face to them to hold them play to giue time to them of the Town to prepare to receaue them which thing could not be done so timely but that when the bel began to ring for the alarum the enemie was at the entring of the Suburbe The L. Ruffigny went to meete them with sword in hand resolutely followed by the Lord Vignoles and Maretes sons to the Lord Sabboniere and some other Souldiers of their companies with them approached nigh them But the L. Ruffigny for not hauing had leisure totake his Corslet entring into a house where he sawe the enemies lodge receiued a pellet in his stomacke whereof being carried thence two houres after he dyed This his death was occasion that the Suburbs were lost vnto the Chapell sooner then otherwise it had béen Captaine Iahn and fifteene Souldiers besides them who were wounded of the enemies side were slaine aswell within the sayd house as in the Suburbes as afterward some of the enemies reported For to rescue them who did fight came the Baron Vignoles with Captaine Forestiere and 40. Souldiers harquebusiers who defended all the day that which rested of the Suburbe betweene the Chapell and y e towne There was wounded Captaine Mote Standard bearer of the Lord Vignoles with a pellet in the highest part of the thigh whereof he dyed fewe dayes after There was before the towne gate beyond an olde hollow way certaine houses somewhat ruinous The Lord S. George the alarum being giuen went to lodge within the same ruinous houses assisted aswell of his owne as of some armed men of the companie of the Gouernour to helpe the harquebusiers if they should be forced There also the enemie presented all his forces and sent to begin the skirmish which was sustayned and continued vntill night so that the enemie was not able to lodge within the sayd ruinous houses without great losse and seeing the obstinacie of them within lodged in a village vpon the way to Maschecow They of the towne lost a souldier and the Lord Coulee was there wounded The night following the regiment of Brigneulx and Chastiagueray who had gotten the Suburbe of S. Leonard lodged in the houses nigh to the Chappell which were pulled downe Notwithstanding they could not set vp any Barricadoes by reason of the continuall shot which did raine out of the Forts and Curtine so that they could not get out of y e houses All the dayes following to wit from the 16. vnto the 29. of December passed away in continuall skirmishes as the enemie made his approaches for to lodge but specially at the comming of the regiments of the Countie of Beaupre who went about to lodge at the Planches for there commonly began the skirmishes which neuer ended but commonly by the death of some of commandement of the side of the enemie Like skirmishes were daily fought on the side of the
Poole against another regiment which was lodged at Guinefole where certaine Gascoynes of the garison came to hand blowes with the enemie All these skirmishes were so fauourable to them of the Towne that beside the first day they lost not one man onely some were hurt so that the enemie could not during all these skirmishes get any aduauntage vppon them not so much as the hedges within foure hundred paces of the Curtine and Forts Euen ten dayes after they were besieged they issued foorth and pulled downe certaine houses in the sight of the enemie and burned others and among them a house called Escraziere from whence the enemie who had lodged therein was driuen out with losse of certaine men The horsemen also did issue foorth and tooke so great number of prisoners that they were enforced to send back a great many of them that were most vnprofitable they kept a great number to worke at the fortifications others of greater calling were put to their raunsome The Lord Chastre accompanied with ten or twelue hundred horses passed at the Planches to the place where the Lord of Neuers was and séeing certaine horsemen who were issued out of the Towne when he would haue gone to view and aduaunced somewhat for that purpose his horse fell in a ditch and had not béen the diligence of them of his companie in succouring of him and that he was couered with a great number of harquebusiers which followed those horsemen hee had béen taken by them of the Towne As thinges did so passe there the Lord Plessis sent diuers times to the King for to aduertise him of the state of the affayres and by the same messengers had answere againe Whilest these skirmishes and blowes were geuen at Ganache the artillery was brought from Montagne and tooke the way of Maschecow for to auoyd the foulnes of the other way they were whole fifteene dayes before they could conuay the said ordinance although they of the Countrey did shew themselues so desyrous and ready to conduct the sayd ordinance that they omitted nothing of all their meanes industrie and labour but specially the Lord Belisle for the desire which hee had to possesse that place There was of that artillery twelue peeces of Ordinance vz. sixe canons of battery foure great Culuerins and two of a meaner sort This Ordinance being arriued the 21. of December about noone the Duke of Neuers set his army in battell array and saluted the towne with a voley of all these peeces from the top of a little hill nigh the place of execution about fiue hundered paces from the towne That being done he sent an Herault of armes to sommon the Lord Plessis to surrender him the towne as vnto the Kings lieutenant The Lord Plessis by the aduise of al the captaines answered that he and all his fellowes were most humble and faithfull seruantes and subiectes to his maiesty but that hee did not acknowledge in all Guienne any other lieutenant generall for the King but onely the King of Nauarre to whom to none other if it were not by his expresse commaundement hee would surrender that place The Herauld was yet sent twise from the Baron Paluan and the Lord Villeneufue of Anjou for to find the means to speake to the Lord Plessis who knowing the importance of such parley flatly refused it At the selfe same time that the army did so muster in battell aray in the sight of all men a souldier Wallon of the companies of Picardie with his sword in hand drawen began to runne ouerthwart a great medow right to the Fort of Captaine Beauregard crying viue Nauarre the Duke of Guyze is dead and Niort is taken that voice was so high that it was heard of both sides they let flie at him diuers shot but not one did hit him but only in his hat They of the towne were fully aduertised by him of the state of the armie and of the strange euents which had happened at Bloys They vnderstood also of the exploit which the King of Nauarre had donein igh Poytow since the siege All these newes brought not only great ioy to them of the towne but also encreased their courage The Duke of Neuers hauing receaued answere of the besieged caused his Ordinance to bee planted in certaine ruinous houses on the one side of Maschecow defended with certaine Gabions which caused them besieged to thinke that they should bee battered of that side where they also began to crench themselues with great labour and dilligence But now wee will leaue the siege of Ganache whilest the Duke of Neuers doth prepare his battery to make a breach and maketh himselfe ready to giue the assault and also the besieged do prepare themselues to defend the place and receaue the enemie and wee will goe to see what exploits the King of Nauarre hath performed in high Poytow It is sayd before how the King of Nauarre after the taking of Beauuoyre set garrisons in the townes of Poytow to keepe the countrey about and to make head against that army which was comming with great preparations might fury and threatnings which thing beeing done heretired to Rochel to gather all his power and to prouide all necessary things either to crosse or to geue battell to that army if occasion might serue And whilest these blowes and skirmishes aboue sayd did so passe at the siege of Ganache and such strange and so vnlooked for euents did fall out at Bloys the Lord Saint Gelays had long before hand curiously sought out the meanes to enterprise vpon the towne of Niort as well to do seruice to them whose part he followed the inhabitants hauing béen alwayes of the chiefest of the League and great enemies to them of the reformed religion as also for the iniuries which they of the sayd Towne proffered vnto him and to his houses thereabouts doing vnto him all the wrongs that euer they could deuise The King of Nauarre arriued from Rochel into Poytow vnderstood as well by the sayd Lord Saint Gelays and by others of the enterprise vpon the said towne of Niort but the execution thereof was oftentimes delayd at length the sayd King hauing with a type iudgement wayed all the circumstances and seene the facility of the means to compasse that enterprise at length ended his counsell with resolution to try speedily the execution thereof and for that purpose departed from Rochel to Saint Ihan d'Angely vnder other colours about the 21. of December The 24. of December the Lord Saint Gelays departed from Rachel accompanied with the Lord Ranques with ten horsmen of his traine only and arryued at Saynt Iahn about nine a clocke in the night The 26. of December arriued at S. Iahn early at the first opening of the gates a Post from Bloys riding with two Horses who sayd that voluntarily he had departed from Bloys to bring newes to the King of Nauarre touching the death of the Duke of Guyze These newes did not stay the execution of
the Duke d' Mayne his battaile was much like to the kings the Duke d' Mayne with his Cornet which might bee of two hundred and fiftie horses was in the middest of two Squadrons of Launces of them that were come out of Flanders which might be of twelue or thirteene hundred horse The Duke of Nemours with his Squadron of two hundred and fiftie horse for his safety set himselfe in the middle of these Squadrons of launces The Knight d'Aumale likewise thrust himselfe into that companie thinking himselfe there to be safe so that there was in that huge company about eighteene hundred horsemen marching in a front On the sides â—t this great huge companie were two regiments of Swissers lined with French foote men There were two other Squadrons of Launces the one of light horsemen French Italians and Albaneses on the right hand the other on the left side of Wallons and Spanyards in the middle betweene both were French-footemen and Lance-knights The two wings were two great companies of Rutters which might bee on the right wing seauen hundred horse and on the left side fiue hundred they had on their left wing two Culuerins and two bastard Culuerins The king perceauing that the enemy would not come forward went toward them and hauing marched about a hundred and fiftie paces got the aduantage of the sunne and winde and perceaued that his enemies were in number more then they thought for the king perceaued that they were fiue thousand horsemen and eightéene thousand footemen The rebels were glistering with gold which they had gotten out of the coffers of the Citizens of Paris Rhemes and other townes by violence and robery and out of the king of Spayne his coffers and also out of Saint Peters treasure The kings army was glistering with yron and stéele there were in the kings army to bée séene a terrible sight of two thousand Gentlemen in complet armour from top to toe burning in affection to doo their king and Countrey good seruice for the conseruation of their wiues children houses and goods The King was in the front of his Squadron with a great bunch of white feathers on his Helmet and another bunch on his horses forehead The Princes Earles and knights of the holy Ghost and other principall Lords and Gentlemen of the chiefest houses in France were in the fore ranke The king exhorted all his company with great modesty with their humble prayers to commit themselues vnto God and to shew example to others began to conceaue a feruent praier which done the king walked vp and downe willing them to doo the like and encouraging them like valiant men to stand to the defence of a iust cause As soone as hée was come to his place the Lord Mariuault brought him newes that certaine companies of Picardie vnder the conduct of the Lords Humiers and Mouoy with other Lords and Gentlemen to the number of two hundred horse were within two miles of him But the king fully resolued to giue battaile with that power which he had would not delay any longer but sent commaundement to the Lord Guiche to cause him to shoote with the Ordinance which thing hée did straight waies whereby the enemies receaued great hurt for the king had discharged nine Canon shot with great effect before the enemy could begin After thrée or foure voleyes of shot had passed on both sides the 1. Onset Squadron of their old light horsemen compounded of French men Italians Albaneses consisting of fiue or sixe hundred horses came to giue the charge to the Marshall Aumont carrying with them the Lanceknights who were on their side But the Marshall Aumont willing to begin set vppon the enemy so hardly that he enforced them to scatter and to flée with great confusion and feare whome he chased to a little wood on the back side where the said Lord Marshall stayed attending the Kings comming as hee had in charge During this chase the company of Rutters on the right hand of the 2. Onset battaile of the enemies marched to haue seazed vppon the artillerie but they were met with light horsemen who made them quicklie retyre Then the Squadron of Launces Wallons and Flemmings marched 3. Onset on to haue charged with a fresh charge the saide light horsemen fighting with the Rutters but the Baron Byron shewed himselfe in the field and gaue the onset on the reregard because he could not set on the forefront there in the conflict he was hurt in the arme and in the face but at length the enemy was deâ—eted and scattered The Lord Montpencier séeing a great army of seauen hundred Spanish Launciers and thrée hundred Harquebusiers on horseback with corselets and murrions with thrée great standards that were vnder the gouernement of the County Egmond aduaunced toward them and gaue them such a charge as that albeit he was vnhorsed yet quickly getting vp againe brake their aray put them to flight and aboade there Master of the field There was a frantick Franciscan Frier of Biscay called Frier Mathew de Aguirre who runne vp and downe with his GOD whome they call Crucifix in his hand all his wit was in his Crucifixes head and incouraging the rebells and running against the Hugonets as though he would haue frighted them and wrought some myracle with his Idoll or played the bulbegger in a cloyster but a shot of Ordinance did beate him downe and his God so that there he ended his frantick fit At the selfe same time the great Squadron of the Duke d'Mayne came marching to the battailion hauing on the left wing foure hundred 4. Onset Harquebusiers on horseback who gaue a volley of shot within fiue and twentie paces of the Kings Squadron the same volley being ended the head of the enemies Squadron set on the Kings Squadron The King receaued the enemy with such a constancy and courage that after a quarter of an hower of hard fighâ—ing hauing before played the part of a king and great Captaine in commaunding and ordering of things now hee playeth the part of a lusty and braue Souldiour So that in such a great and furious assault he behaued himself so valiantly that he brake and put in disaray that terrible Forrest of Launces and at length after he had put them to flâ—ght with great confusion and terror he followed the victory and being lost in the chase caused a great heauines in his army vntil that within a while they spyed him comming all berayed with the bloud of his enemies without any hurt receaued And as the king was returning from the chase to his company with fifteene or sixtéene horses he was set on by two battailions of Swissers enemies and three companies of Wallons and certaine other who did weare redd crosses The king did set vpon them with his small number tooke away their Cornets and killed those that carryed and guarded them When the King had come to his place againe the whole armie in token of
sufficiently prouided to force the place was contented for that time to take the oaths onely of the commonaltie who shewed them selues greatly affectionated vnto the kings seruice These affayrs beeing done in Daulphine hee tooke his way into Prouance and lodged nigh Barcelona Barcelona is a towne in Piemont in the countie of Nice Salines an old Spanish Captayne beeing chiefe Colonell of the light horsemen of Piemont was gouernour thereof vnder the D. of Sauoy the said Salines immediatly after the comming of Diguieres went foorth out of Barcelona and assaulted the quarter where the companie of footmen of Boyset and twelue launces of the Lord Brickmault were lodged These companies of Boyset and Brickmault did receaue him so valiantly that by the helpe of other companies which vppon the noise they heard came running thether that the sayd Salines left behinde sixe score dead layd vpon the ground and thirtie Spaniards taken prisoners and he saued himselfe with sixe men onely into the towne from whence he came the fifteenth of August In that skirmish was hurt and taken Voluant who two yeares before had sold the strong Towne and Castell of Carmaniole vnto the deceased D. of Sauoy after the death of the Marshall Bellegard The sixteenth day the said Lord Diguieres tooke by composition the Castell of Rosoles in Piemont which partained vnto the Duke There was two companies of footmen in garrison who were permitted to depart with armor leauing their Colours behind After this exploit the said Diguieres continuing his way about the 22. of August came into Prouance hee was not so soone entred the countrey that Martinengo who besieged Saint Maximine hearing of it remooued the siege which thing the Lord Diguieres hearing brought three Canons before the Castell of Barles the 23. of August and the 31. of the same Moneth tooke it at his discretion Some time before the Lord Diguieres had fortifyed a Church called Saint Paul with flankes and ditches about distant foure or fiue leagues from Ambrun during the time that the Lord Diguieres soiorned at the siege which he had laied before Barlâ—s the Duke of Sauoy accompanied with thrée thousand footmen and foure hundred light horsemen came to besiege and batter with three Canon the said Church Saint Paule which the 31. of August he tooke by composition the same day that Barles was taken the garriâ—on thereof going away with their armor colours and drum in battell array The same day the Lord Diguieres aduertized of the siege of Saint Paul marched in all hast to succour it with intent also to offer a battell to the D. and vsing a maruellous celerity he lodged in Varret the third of September The Duke vnderstanding of this so sudden and vnlooked for arriuall of the Lord Diguieres fell into such a dismay and feare that he retired that night from the mountaine Larche and marched all that night with links beeing followed the next day with his forces The fourth day the Lord Diguieres commaunded some of his companies to follow after the enemy who did slay many of the rereward of the Duke and tooke one Don Pedro Vegieres a Spaniard of the gard of the Duke hee himselfe with the rest marched toward S. Paul resolutely determined to assault Saint Paul with handie blowes for lacke of Canon hauing blowen vp one of the gates and a breach made tooke it by assault which continued three houres and caused two hundred Souldiers that were within it to be put to the sword taking none prisoner but Captaine Strata gouernor of the place and his Ensigne named Hercules Couero of Milan of the Kings side was killed only Captaine Bouloneuue and few Souldiers hurt he caused the place to be rased hard to the ground The sayd fort remained not foure whole dayes in the Duke of Sauoy his power At the same time that the Duke did batter Saint Paul which was in the end of August he sent his forces of Sauoy and Piemont beeing foure thousand footmen and three hundred horsemen into the valey of Essiles to spoyle the Countrey of Brianconoys to batter Guylestre and ouer runne Ambrunoys The Lord Diguieres vnderstanding of this hauing rased Saint Paul presently the fifth of September tooke his iourney toward Briancon and beeing informed that the enemy was lodged in Chaumont made preparation to force the passage Selt kept and fortifyed by the inhabitants of the valeies sent thither the Lord Morges his Nephew with his company of fiftie horsemen and two ensignes of footmen who arriuing at Selt the 19. day of September at the same instant that they were in skirmish he lighted with his men and setting them in battell array did so both encourage his men and charge the enemie assaulting the fort and bulworks in sundry places with fifteene hundred footmen and one hundred and fourescore men of armes that the said enemy was not onely repulsed but also beaten with the losse of sixe score men lying vpon the ground The thirteenth day of September the Lord Diguieres after he had rased Saint Paul marching toward Essiles ouer the difficult Mountaines arriued at Douley three leagues from Essiles where newes was brought him that the Duke hauing sent part of his forces to the Lord Sonnes was gone to Nice These newes made the sayd Lord Diguieres iudge that the said Sonnes beeing now strengthened with a new supply of men would aduenture to hazard the battell And the more to prouoke him to it determined to batter Essiles and with foure Canons which hee brought from Ambrun ouer the high as it séemeth inaccessible Mountains began the battery and withal shewed himselfe euery day before Chamoys where the said Sonnes was But displeased with y e importunacy of the said Diguieres left Chamoys and retyred to Suze accompanied with fifteene hundred Harquebuziers and fiue Cornets of Horsemen The 26. day of September the Lord Diguieres followed the enemie and found them at Ialasse halfe a league from Zuze whom in the entring of the playne hauing but eight score horsemen hée assaulted so furiously that beside some footmen he laied dead downe to the ground foure hundred Launciers on the place among whom were Clapot the elder the Lords Montaignes and Valuernes 17. Captaines or chiefe officers slayne or taken Among the prisoners was Clapot the yonger wounded and died two dayes after There were also taken prisoners Labras Lieutenant of the Marquesse Taforts the Gouernour of Bresâ—he Captayne Trisolts de la Riuiere and S. Lorens Sonnes also was thought to be either slayne or taken but about midnight he came alone before the gates of Zuze The 27. of September the Lord Diguieres receaued supplie of forces as well of the inhabitants of the Townes of Briancon and Pons as of the gouernours there and two or three hundred shot of the companies of S. Sauiour which caused him to alter his purpose concerning Essiles which began alreadie to parley and caused him to continue the siege of the sayd Essiles vnto the end of the same
cause and wisedome and mistrusting the quarel of his side conceaued a great terrour and perceaued to haue cast himselfe so deeply into the Mire that if pollicy doth not plucke him out hee is like there to sticke fast a good while Therefore considering the small company which was about the King determined to assault him with many and for to bring to passe this his intent supposing the better to depart froÌ„ Monconter in time then to enioy it a while to his great domage he departed from Monconter about 11. a clocke in the euening with two hundred and fifty horsemen and sixe hundred Harquebuziers and trauelling all night came to Londiak by sixe a clocke in the morning beeing the twelft day of May. The King being at Londiak vnderstanding of the enemies coÌ„ming delayed no time but went immediatly to the field to receaue the said enemie The enemie perceauing the K. to haue determined to bid him battel to be already in the field left part of his footmen to force the trenches barricadoes of Londiak and this being done the enemie brought his horsemen and part of his footmen into the field to encounter the King there he deuided his companies into two troups in the one there was fiftie horsemen and in the other two hundred The King had but six score horsemen whome he deuided likewise into two troupes in the one thirty and in the other â—ourescore ten horsmen The King hauing set few footmen in battaile array called with a feruent prayer vpon the name of the GOD of armies and cheered vp his souldiers encouraging them to shew themselues men in defending such a iust cause as they had in hand which being done both armies ioyned and the enemie hauing made a verie small resistance was strooken with a sodaine terrour as if it were with a thunder-clap from heauen so that they began to wauer The Kings Souldiers perceauing this sodaine dread vpon the enemie gaue such a fresh and hot charge that they turned their backs and fled The King pursued them two miles from Londiak to a towne holden by their fauourers where these horsemen saued themselues There were fiftie horsemen slayne as many more taken prisoners many footmen slaine on the place and many both horsemen and footmen wounded The rest of the footemen saued themselues by flight into the woods which were neere at hand and there hid themselues Lo how there is neither strength nor counsell against the Lorde Lo howe the wicked is snared in his owne counsell The news of this foyle being blazed abroad throughout the enemies troups came also to Monconter by meanes whereof there rose such a sudaine feare among them that immediatly they retyred from the saide Monconter with al possible speed leauing the town frée from any strength of the enemie The Lord Tremblay being in the Castell and molesting the enemies daylie by sallies and slaughters of them as is sayd seing how wonderfully God had terrified that rebellious route went foorth of the Castell with his forces followed them and immediatly charged them so roughly that they were all slayne and taken prisoners by meanes whereof hee got both bagge and baggage from the enemie So was that accursed company enemies of mankind vtterly rooted out It is said before how the Lord D'ombes had gone from Renes into hase Britaine to a Towne called Quinpercorenten and in departing out of the sayd Towne to returne to Renes the garrisons of the enemies in townes about holden by them charged vpon the sayd Prince but were so receaued by him that there was slaine of the enemies side three Captayns of name and of great estimation among the Rebels seauen gentlemen of great account were taken prisoners all the rest in the pursuite were put to the sword Here thou mayst see Christian Reader that all these blowes slaughters and ouerthrowes euery where receaued cannot make these damned rebels consider the wrongfulnes of the cause which so obstinatly agaynst all lawes of nations agaynst nature and agaynst God they do defend As the rebels haue been beaten euen with a rod of yron by the Lords hand in his wrath both in Picardie and Britayn so now haue wee to consider an other example of Gods iustice executed vppon rebels in the Countrey of Caux in Normandie In this Moneth of May victuals beeing deare wares in the Citie of Roan one regiment appertayning to the Duke of Lorreine and the other to the Lord de la Lownde departed out of Roan planted themselues in a village called Cinqcens determining there to abide and to surprise such victuals for their maintenance as they could come by vntill the next haruest should prouide more plenteously there they fortifyed themselues with Trenches and Barricadoes this place is distant 9 Leagues from Diepe They fearing to be molested from Diepe had placed a troupe of horsemen in a wood distant two leagues from the place which they had fortifyed being fully in the high way from Diepe supposing if any forces should come from Diepe vpon them they might retire backe to geue intelligence vnto the sayd Regiments or else by making resistance should geue leasure to prepare themselues and to procure a fresh supply from Roan to back them if occasion should serue The Lord Chartres commaunder of Malta gouernour for the King in Diepe and Sir Roger Williams an English gentleman of great valoure and experience in militarie affayres who lately came thether hauing receaued intelligence of that fortification of Cinqcens and intent of the enemy resolued speedily to depart from Diepe in the euening the 19. day of May and trauailing all night came to the wood early in the next morning hauing with them four hundred French men and three hundred Englishmen There they found a troup of horsemen to stop their passage vpon whom they made a very fierce assault But they that came from Diepe gaue such a hot charge vpon them that all those horsemen were so slaine that none of them escaped any way Thus they leauing the dead bodies of the horsemen in the wood and taking some of their horses the Gouernor and Sir Roger Williams passed a long to Cinqcens and beeing come thether before noone they discryed the enemy with their Ensignes displayed within the Fort. The Gouernour of Deepe perceauing their fortification so strong alleaged that it was vnpossible to enter it therefore went about to perswade Sir Roger to goe backe agayne considering that the enemie was two to their one Sir Roger answered that it were a great dishonour for him so to doo and determined to set vpon them with his own thrée hundred men though it should cost both him and them their liues and with this resolution aduanced his Colours marching toward the enemie intended by the assistance of God to enter vpon them or els to lose his life in that place The Lord Chartres seeing that most honourable resolution of Sir Roger was wonderfully encouraged to the enterprise and thereupon protested to take
speedely put them to flight and followed them to their Barricadoes where master Kemp a Gentleman of that Cornet was slayne Anthony Sherleys horse was shot in the head and Charles Blunt his horse was killed vnder him with the Canon and he himselfe somewhat wounded The thirteenth day the enemie offered some light skirmishes but seeing that he could get nothing by it he refused to bitte The fourteene day the Prince expected the battell as vndertaken by don Iuan de Lagula generall of the Spaniards in the worship of Saynt Iohn whose day it was with them But fearing that bonfires would bee made to their cost and charges they gaue quite ouer the game prepared the same night to dislodge and the next day following repassed the hill for hauing spent al their victuals they must go forth to rob for more The Prince stayed sixe dayes vpon the Heath and in the meane while the enemie durst neuer presume to draw his armie into the Heath The sixteenth day the Lord la Now with the troupe of the Countie Mongomery and the Countie Chombourg came vnto Chasteau Laudran whose arriuall giueth hope of good successe in the Kings affayres They y t haue written the history of wilde beasts which doth recite that there is a wild beast in Asia named Pardalis it yeeldeth such a sauour that the Woolfe hath a great delight to follow a farre off but if it chance that this Pardalis dooth looke back immediatly the Woolfe retyreth and flyeth away So the Noble Princes of Bourbon doo yeeld sweete sauour of pietie vertue and valiantnes Merceur followeth them a farre off but if they turne their face hee runeth away as it hath appeared in the things which heretofore he hath attempted in Poytow There is a towne in Picardy situated vpon the riuer Oyse called Noyon commended if there were none other cause for being the place of the natiuitie vnto that man of God Iohn Caluin of blessed memory whose name is written in the booke of life and shall yeeld a sweete sauour to the true Church of God to the worldes ende whatsoeuer Sathan doth rage against the name of this seruant of God This towne was seduced long before from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers and through rebellion was possessed by the Kings enemies The King therefore after the taking of Louiers thought expedient to remooue his armie from Vernon and to draw Eastward that doing still some profitable exployt he might expect and receaue the forces that came to him out of Germany and considering that the sayd towne of Noyon did lye betweene S. Quintin Compeigne and Corbey which were long before vnder his obedience thought good there to stay for the approaching of the Germanes and during the moneth of Iuly hauing reduced the sayd towne to great distresse made his account shortly to be Lord of it The Vicount Tauanes head of the rebellion in the Citie of Roan and most hatefullest enemie of any that the King had enterprised to relieue the sayd towne of Noyon and for that intent in the beginning of August in the night season departed from Roan accompanied with foure hundred horse and fiue hundred footmen with good hope either to succour the said towne or els by surprise greatly to hinder the King But the King hauing intelligences of his comming met him about two or thrée leagues from Noyon as I haue heard reported where his power was discomfited slayne and taken prisoners and he himselfe after being wounded in the assault was also taken prisoner So the Lord knoweth bow where and when to stay his enemies The newes of this sorrowfull successe of the Leaguers flying abroad caused the Duke Aumale to assemble as great forces as he could make in the towne of Han which is situated vpon the riuer Some betweene Saint Quintin and Peronne vndertaking either to amend the fault committed by Tauanes or els to release the towne of Noyon accompanied with the Lord Largue and Lawney with all their forces ioyned all with the light horsemen the seauenth of August charged vpon the quarter of the Kings light horse where they were stoutly receaued and after more then twelue charges giuen the Kings companies yet very like to haue the victorie of their enemies began to retyre at which retyre that valiant man at armes the Lord Baron of Byron hauing twelue of his owne men did approach and the Kings forces supposing he had brought a supply of fresh Souldiers so soone as they heard him named tooke a wonderfull courage and seeing him in the middest of them gaue a fresh charge vpon the enemie with such force that they did driue the enemie euen into the gates of Han. To whom there was also comming a new succour and fresh supply of men who perceauing the euill successe of the rest retyred in agayne so that some of the Kings forces followed them euen into their Barriars In these so many charges geuen there were a number of armed men slayne on the enemies side and among them diuers of commandement In the number of the dead were found Don Francisco de Gueuara the best Captayne of light Horsemen which the King of Spayne had in the low Countreys also his lieutenant was slayne outright with diuers other of great accompt The Lord Longchamp one of the best Captains of the rebels was taken prisoner with more then foure score men at armes of account and lost aboue fifteene hundred of their best horses The King lost in this skirmish about twelue horse of his light horsemen and among a few which were slayne the Marshall of the light horsemen whose death was greatly bewayled beeing accompted a man of great valour The same day the Duke de Mayne arriued at the said towne of Han with all his troups of horsemen which he could gather which thing made the King thinke that he would goe about either to raise or to interrupt the siege or attempt some thing In the meane time he lost no opportunity about this siege for the same day that this exploit was done to wit the seauenth of August the Canon began to beat a church that standeth in the middest of the Suburbes which together with a great ditch did strongly defend the same The sayd Church beeing battered from the morning to three a clock in the after noone had by that time made a great breach in the same And a fierce assault being geuen there were slayne of the enemies about thirty and about fifty of the Souldiers retired into the vaultes of the said church The sayd Church beeing taken and consequently the Suburb in a maner as strong as the towne gaue occasion both to them that had retired into the vaultes to yeeld to the Kings mercy who sent them away safe with bagge and bagage and also to the Gouernor of the towne to mooue speaches of composition For the Gouernor called the Lord Vile considering how the Towne was slenderly furnished of all thinges but specially of men of armes and that the most
way nigh the place of execution saue them which were assaulting y t Suburbs on horsebacke their helmets on they consulted whether they should set on the Trenches yea or us Some perswaded to giue the attempt saying that it would be a shame to haue come so farre and so nigh execution without blowes giuing and that they could doo no lesse then to see the enemie in the face and seeing that they woulde not come foorth they should goe to finde them out they said further that they of the Castell could not see their succour if they presented not themselues at the Trenches Others reasoned to the contrarie and among others the Lord Rohan withstoode strongly that aduise aleaging many euident reasons And first that it was too plaine that they of the Castel had yeelded to the enemie hauing not giuen one token to th◠contrarie that it was no reason to say that they had no knowledge of their comming considering so many signes giuen them for the space well neere of two daies Secondly that it were a rashenes to hazard so great and braue forces and such a notable companie of Nobilitie to so imminent danger vpon vncertainties and that they were to be reserued to a better opportunitie For the enemie was as strong within as they were without and that it was as easie to take the citie as the Trenches so well fortified and that there was no hope of any to shew them any fauour much lesse out of the castel which was already surrendered or else dissembled with them to intrap them and to cast them away headlong Thirdly they ought to consider that they were in a strange land in the enemies countrey inclosed betweene two daungerous riuers which they must repasse in a countrey couered with woods enemie to the horsemen whereof consisted all their forces Finally that there was no doubt but that the King on the one side and the League on the other were not idle but did their endeuour to gather their forces on euery side to seaze vpon the passages and fortifie the banck of Loyre to stop their repassing That the forces of Anger 's were on their backes which were equall in strength to them and all the countrey was fauourable to the enemie Therefore they concluded to retyre and that delay might bring them great hurt and that the Lord Laual who was at Beaufort to make the rereward should goe backe to repasse the Loyre The greatest part followed this aduise It gréeued greatly the Prince to retyre and as hee sayd to the Lord Clermont to vnbit But ouercome with reason he concluded that the Lord Trimouille Auantigny and Boulay should retyre the Harquebusiers from the suburbs so that about two of the clocke in the afternoone they marched toward Beaufort In retyring they first met with y e Lord Laual with two hundred gentlemen galloping toward Anger 's who being aduertized of the retyre went neuerthelesse forward to the Prince In the retyring there was confusion at Beaufort for it was two houres within night afore they arriued there many had but a short supper The same day the companie of Captayne Fresche whom we haue sayd to haue béen killed at the assault giuen in the suburbe of Pressigny the day before guided by his Lieftenant was sent to get boates for the repassing of Lotion The 22. day the Prince with all the troupes soiourned at Beaufort to take aduise how to repasse Loyre There the Lord Plessis gete was appoynted to search out boates and men to conduct them to auoyde the disorder which they had the first passing and to that intent money was deliuered him The same day the Lord Campoyse was sent with his company of light horsemen to seaze vpon certayne houses vpon the banck of Loyre right agaynst the Abbey of S. Maure The same day whilest the Prince with the Nobles soiourned at Beaufort came to the Lord Clermont the foure men which he had sent to Rochemort who were entered into the Castle of Anger 's and there remayned vntill the day of the rendring thereof conducted by the Lord Suze There they shewed to the armie what was passed in the Castle of Anger 's one of them shewed a Crosse which he had for his part made of pure gold hauing two and thirtie great Diamonds and a great Saphir which made the head of the Crucifixe the ladder and all other things accustomed to be paynted in the passion as they call it was all of Diamonds no lesse artificially than costly wrought he was proffered for the same fifteene hundred Crownes The 24. of October whilest the Prince with many Noble men soiourned at Beaufort to pacifie a quarrell risen among certayne Gentlemen the Lord Laual in the afternoone passed ouer Loyre his mē of armes and light horses to defend S. Maure and to fauour the passage of the rest This day soiourning at Beaufort was the cause of the disorder which followed after and many marueiling at so long abode there foresaw what would ensue knowing that Ioyeuse had set certayne boates in a readines with small peeces at Saumur to let them downe the riuer to stop the passage If they had passed that day and night all things had gone well and safe but God had otherwise determined The same day the Lords Ioyeuse and Chastre went vp the riuer Loyre on the South side of the sayd riuer from Anger 's to Saumur with 150. horses The Lord Laual being passed ouer and vnderstanding that the sayd Lords had passed on that coast toward Saumur early in the morning made a roade toward Saumur and tooke the Mules and rich carriage of Ioyeuse The Lords Trimouille and Boyseuly passed the Lotion encamped themselues in a Common vpon the bancke of Loyre whilest the Prince and the rest passed Lotion There was at that passage of Lotion aboue fiue hundred horses and two boates onely for that cause the confusion was so great that one being ouerladen sunke though without any losse of men because it was nigh the bancke The same day about nine of the clocke in the morning was heard on a sudden a peale of Ordinance with some small shot which put the Armie in great rumour Some sayd that it was at Anger 's in token of ioye for the rendring of the Castle But within a while after were seene two great boates furnished with Ordinance and men of warre who cast anker a little beneath the Abbey of S. Maure in the place where the passage ouer was appoynted to be and immediatly began to shoote on both sides of the riuer both agaynst them who had passed and agaynst them that were about to passe The newes of the sayd boates were brought to the Prince incontinently with amplification of the impossibilitie to repasse and it was indeede so for lacke of two field péeces to haue shot from the banke agaynst the boates which by these meanes could haue béen easily sunke but they had carried none although they had once determined so to doo
of his ill successe and that many Souldiours did dayly depart and other waxed faynte that aduertisementes came of the succor which the gouernours of the abouesayd Townes would geue to Browage and that they intended to enclose him and his companies in the Iles as it had béen an easy thing to do with the aduise of his Captaynes determined to raise the siege Hee sent also to the Lord Ranques who was left to commaund in the I le of Oleron to aduertize him that hee was pressed to retyre willing him to repayre to him that they might retyre in a stronge company to preuent further milfortune So the 2. day of Nouember he rhysed the siege and tooke his iourney towards Charuaut At the passage whereof was great disorder which caused that at a place called Loupin part of the carriage was taken by the enemyes and many Souldiers lead away prisonners the residue retyred some to Rochel some to Saint Ihan D'angelye The Lord Ranques notwithstanding remayned in Oleron with the Nauall army vntill the tenth of Nouember during the which time hee sent to Rochell to haue succour as wel for y t safety of the Nauy as of the Iland But when hee could obtayne nothing the inhabitantes also supposing that all had béen lost for the discomfiture of the Prince was bruted wich great amplifications by the Lord Saint Luke shewed vnto Ranques that theyr custome was to giue place to the stranger which caused the sayd Lord to determine vpon the retyring of his fleete This also made him the more willing because he had discouered one Countie and a Franciscane Fryer who had béen alwaies during the siege hidden in the Iland who were sent to the Lord Saynt Luke to practize with him agaynst the sayd Lord Ranques whom when he would haue punished they of the Iland withstood him so that fearing the worst he retyred to Rochel not without danger of his life We haue shewed how the Dragon had spâ—ed floods of waters to drown that vertuous and godly Prince his Nobles and his litle company and how they fledde into the wildernes where God had prepared vnto them a place of safe refuge and rest for a time and how the army before Browage is brought to Saint Ihan D'Angelye and Rochel Now while these scattered companies are at rest and preparing agayne to meet together wee will see what exployts were done in diuers places of the Realme It is sayd how the Lord Saint Mesmes at the departing of the Prince of Conde had the charge of the siege of Browage Now the Lord Matignon who coÌ„maunded for the King in Guyenne vnderstanding that Saint Luke was hardly pressed and that the Prince taking his iourney to Anger 's had left a small company to continue the siege of Browage determined to oppresse them and about the latter end of October from Bourdeaux tooke eight hundred horsemen foure thousand footmen with foure double Canons and arryued in Xainctonge about the third of Nouember which vnderstanding that they of Hiers had raysed vp the siege and had reretyred to Rochell and S. Ihan D'Angelye soiorned neuertheles in Xainctonge seeking and watching the opportunity to do some peece of seruice making ordinary courses toward S. Ihan A' Angely and Tailkebourg The Lord Laual about the eight of Nouember aduertized that the Lord Matignon was in the field not farre from the town with all his horsemen and some footemen issued out of S. Ihan about two leagues from the towne he encountered the sayd Matignon they saw one another so nigh that the Lord Chargoys who did leade the light horses of the sayd Lord Laual was about to charge the enemy when hee was warned that hee should haue to do with all the forces of the enemy which were sixe tymes as many as all that the Lord Laual had That inequality of forces caused him to draw backe towards Saint Ihan with all his companyes in such an order as the enemy durst neuer set on him though he pursued him within a quarter of a league of the towne It is sayd before how that the Prince in his iourney to Anger 's passing through Taillebourg which is a towne situated vpon the fall of the Riuer Botonne into Charante left there in the Castell much plate and iewels with some peeces of Artillery and much stufâ—e and carriage of the Lordes who accompanied him in his iourney That Castel is strong by situation and on diuers sides inaccessible situated vpon a rocke compassed with the towne otherwise not strong The houses for the most part are builded at the foote of the rocke The said Castell is fortifyed with platformes by nature and do commaund on euery syde as well ouer the Towne as ouer the fieldes Charante of one side doth wash the foot of that rocke There is a fayre and commodious bridge to passe ouer the riuer All these circumstances with the disfauour of the time gaue Matygnon great desire to possesse that place Yet the speciall commaundement which hee had from the King to seaze vpon the Mother and the Daughter vrged him the more to attempt vppon that Castell that so he might stop the mariage begun It happened about the thirtéenth of Nouember that the Lord Matygnon was commaunded to retyre toward Garonne to méete the Counsels of the Vicount Turenne who with six thousand Souldiers was in Limosin and had taken the City of Triles or for some other occasioÌ„ hauing concluded with the Duke de Maine to meete with all their forces in Agenoys to stop the passages of Garonne to the King of Nauarre But afore his departure out of Xainctonge he tooke order for to surprise the sayd Castell for hee placed in the Towne the Captayne Beaumont with foure companyes of souldiers vnder colour of keeping of the bridge he promised to the sayd Ladie Trimouille all fauour and safety but it was without any effect For they that were left there did first worke all subtill meanes which they could deuise to get the possession of the Castell and when trust would not preuaile they turned to force For they planted a Barricado before the gate and there placed a strong Gard blocked the entreyes into the sayd Castell supposing by these meanes to feare the saiâ— Lady and so to enforce her to yeeld her selfe and the place considering that there was but few men within to assist her The enemies not dissembling any longer shot with their Péeces continually agaynst them that were within the Castell and to do it more safely on theyr part lodged themselues in the neerest houses to the Castell which they pearced and made them to serue for trenches They within the Castell resisted this force with shot of ordinance did rowle great heauy stones vpon the howses to beate them downe The skirmishes did dure fiue dayes The lady Trimouille in that necessity found meanes to aduertize of this force done to her the Lord Laual who was at Saynt Ihan and prayed him to send her succour
put there in garrison That castle by situation is very strong the garrison did great iniuries to them of the religion about Rochel Saint Jhan Marans other places and high wayes by their ordinarie courses The Lord Ranques knowing the nature of the place searched out the meanes to obtayne it he accompanied him with nine or ten gentlemen and certaine resolute Souldiers to the number of two and twentie he carried through the marish a little boate on a cart wherewith he went through a channell which watereth the garden of the Castle To this garden doth answer a gate of the sayd Castle through the which he thought to surprise the sayd Castle Notwithstanding the day before the taking of the same the garrison hauing intelligences of the purpose of the sayd Lord Ranques by one of the reformed religion who entertayned himselfe with them of the garrison they stopped that gate with brick dung and other things which were at hand and doubled their gards and so thought to haue well prouided the surprizing of the sayd place Notwithstanding their thoughts beguiled them for the sayd Lord Ranques following his enterprize applied a petaird against that gate which issued out into the garden the sayd péece opened the gate and brake their rampier and gaue the alarum to the garison whereof part ranne to the great gate other were surprised within the Castell and slayne other leapt ouer the walles They who had retyred to the great gate yeelded themselues with promise of their liues which thing was also performed The place was by the sayd Lord Ranques put in the keeping of Captayne Faueran and Vaunean who within a while after being sommoned by Captayne Merceur to render the same and for not so doing being threatned of the Canon put the sayd place in the hand of Malicorne gouernor of Niort About the beginning of Aprill the Lord Saynt Luke enterprised vpon the I le of Oleron where were certayne companies of the religion commaunded by the Lord Aubigny and Captayne Luuaille his Lieutenant For to bring to passe his enterprise bearing impaciently that neighbourhood conuayed certayne companies into that Iland among these was the regiment of Tierceline consisting of foure hundred harquebuziers fifty Muskets and two hundred pikes resolute Souldiers The Prince aduertyzed how this regiment of Tiercelyne had passed into that Iland the Fryday before Easter being the first of Aprill he tooke his way to Marennes nigh Browage where he thought that the sayd Tierceline was returned and went all night to surprise him more easily but finding them not hee returned to Taillebourge with the Lords Laual and Boulay and other Lords and Captaines who had accompanyed him The 3. of Aprill being Easter day the said Prince had aduertisement that the saide Treceline with his regiment had repassed from Oleron to Marennes for to returne to Xainctes vpon these intelligences the saide Prince departed intending to stop their passage in a place not farre from Xainctes At his ariuing there issued out of the towne about 16. or 20. men of armes with a certaine number of Harquebusiers who were charged by the Lord Chargroys which conducted the forrunners of the Lorde Laual he passed them so hardly that they could not retire within the reach of their Harquebusiers afore one of the enemies remayned on the place and many were hurt After this skirmish the Prince seeing that Treceline remoued not that day for that it was Easter day or otherwise retyred for the second time to Taillebourg without dooing any thing else Treceline was aduertised that his returne was spied but hee made no account of it trusting in the force of his regiment and resolued as hee saide to fight against whome soeuer would let his way as well in the field as in a strong place So the fourth day of April being Easter monday departing out of Marennes he tooke his iourney toward Xainctes marching in good order with countenance of men resolute to fight whereof the Prince being admonished about two a clock in the after noone speedilie tooke his horse accompanied with the Lorde Trimouille his brother in law the Lords Bowlay and Auantigny to the number of 30. horses so many Harquebusiers of his garde and some other who could bee found at hand with that small number he went the ready way to Xainctes where he found the enemie in the selfe same place where he had stayed for him the day before which was not much more than one thousand paces from the suburbe he found them too farre passed toward the towne and were couered with hedges and ditches yet he set vpon the rereware of them whereat the first he laied on the ground about 30. or 40. of the enemies the rest put themselues in battell aray being fauored with the hedges and high way In the first onset the horse of the Lord Trimouille who did lead the aduenturers was beaten downe with the shot of a musket and he also vnder who was in no lesse danger then the Lord Batardiere which being strooke with an Harquebush shot in the shoulder was slaine in that place the Lord Chanterelles also was wounded and dyed shortly after with Captaine Trauarre who being wounded on the head died also shortly after the Lord Auantigny was hurt in the hand and in the knee The Lord Laual who with great speede was gone to fetch his companie which was at Port d' Anneaulx and scatteringly lodged approaching to the lane of this skirmish yet timely enough galloping with 35. horses of his by the commaundement of the Prince set vpon them on the side of the hedges ayming stil to the Colonells Ensigne for there was no more which was compassed and couered with a squadron of Pikes whom he discomfited after he had spent all their shot he fought hand to hand with him who carried the Ensigne which at length hee gaue ouer to him thinking to saue himselfe with slight The Ensigne taken the Souldiours were quicklie put in disorder and discomfited although that they had been often supported vpholden by them of the citie There remained vpon the place about three skore many were wounded Captaine Peschays was taken Tiercelin himselfe was hurt in the arme The Lord Laual had three bretheren whereof the Lord Taulay a little before died of sicknes at Saint Ihan the Lord Sailly his third brother in that skirmish was hurt in the head whereof he died the morrow after the Lord Rieulx his other brother also was wounded in the belly with a pike whereof hee dyed the sixte day of the same moneth The Lord Chargroys Lieutenant of the Lord Laual was hurt with shot in the knee the Lord Monsche likewise in the Legge fewe Souldiours of the Princes garde were hurt and few slaine During this skirmish the Prince hauing gathered his companie together set on a fresh vpon such of the enemies as flocked together againe but especiallie vpon the horsemen of the enemie who made shew to aduance themselues The night interrupted the fight and
day of the same August So that the night following the enemy began to draw pieces out of their fort and at the breaking of the day put fire to it which there continued the space of sixe moneths hauing caught vnder the earth to those great pieces of timber wherewith it was made euen from the very foundation The composition was very honorable and to the great aduantage of the king of Nauarre for it was first agreed that the Marshall Biron should lead away his army beyond the riuer without attempting vppon Tonnay Charante a place very weake which hee diâ— hold for the king of Nauarre Secondly that Marans should remayne free for the traffike Thirdly that the king of Nauarre should haue a Gentleman of his in the casteâ—l with certayne number of souldiers to hold the inhabitantes of both religions in the same liberty which they had before the warre This agreement they of Fontenay and Niort would not hold and neuer ceased to make warre vntill that they were well punished for wicked robbers did continually issue out of Fontenay Maillezayes Niort hauing for their Captayne a certayne Masse Priest named Sir Merye parish Priest of Ronde who did dayly robbe Marchants and trauellers of their goods and often times of their liues vntill they were reduced vnder the handes of the king of Nauarre The seuenth of the same moneth the king of Nauarre came from Rochel when it was very late entered the Iles of Maran by the fort Brune and from thence to the Bastile viewed all the fortes and trenches on that side and about ten in the night did suppe at the signe of the Moone The eight day hee deuided his companies sending some into Poytow other into Annis to refresh themselues whilest the L. Byron lead his army into Xainctonge so that armie began to bee broken agaynst Reeds and Rushes of Marans doing afterward nothing but within a while after by litle and litle it was scattered and reduced to nothing The Papistes spake diuersly according to their passion as though this armie had not done what they might haue done But the truth is that the king of Nauarre had prouided such a good order within the Iland and that there was such a number of men of valour that the Lord Biron could not do otherwise then he did except he would haue thrust his meÌ„ to the slaughter without endomaging much his enemy Secondly the marishes which at that tyme were wont to bee drye were yet full of water euen a foot high for the causes aboue recited Thirdly the men of warre haue made fortes at euery entrance into the Iland furnished with good and resolued men for they were about one hundred of braue and 〈…〉 gentlemen making about two hundred good horses aâ—le to oppose themselues agaynst the enemy if he had attempted to enter Also the enemyes had to goe aboue fifteene hundred paces in the Marsh not aboue fiue in a ranke all discouered to our men who were in the forts Fourthly the Marish was full of steppes which the Cattell made in winter so that if the horsemen had waded the one foote had soonke very deepe and the other would haue stayed vppon the firme ground with a great number of Galthrops which were cast in diuers places Such was the state of Maran when the composition was made The king of Nauarre left the Lord Iarry gouernor there as before with charge to warre agaynst no man if they should not warre agaynst him The Lord Nemours whom the King had sent thither to commaund ouer the men of armes stayed not there long for hee was commaunded by the king of Nauarre to retyre in Poytow and after went to Bruant Few dayes after the distributing of the companies out of Marans captayne Lommeau discouered the money of the tributes Impost of Poytow conducted toward Loyre by certayne Albaneses and some gentlemen with Popish souldiers of the countrey whom they set vpon but they saued them selues in a Priory Not farre from thence he compassed them immediatly with certayne companies The king of Nauarre being aduertised thereof at Rochel departed speedily and caused the great Culuerine of Marans to bee brought before the Priory which was strong without canon they within yeelded themselues by composition which was that they should goe away safe leauing behind them six thousand crownes which was the charge of their conuoy As the king of Nauarre vsed a wonderfull diligence in going thether so was his diligence no lesse in retyring thence and commaunded all the companyes to do the like knowing well that y e enemie which was yet at Morye and about Fontenay with his armie would not faile to set on him which thing did happen But the sayd king of Nauarre had already repassed the fort of Brault which thing all his companies did not for many remaining at Lusson to refresh themselues and to fare French-like were charged and put to flight some were slaine some taken prisoners most of them saued them selues leauing behind them their stuffe and baggage and among them captayne Lommeau It is sayd before that by the aduise of the Duke of Guyze diuers armies were appoynted for diuers prouinces and namely the Duke Ioyeuse for Languedock where he entering with a power tooke the Cities of Lodeue and Saint Ponce hée tooke also Montesquion but Marueiolx hee tooke by treason In all these places he committed incredible cruelties and such as it were needfull to find out new wordes to describe them But as God is a iust reuenger of wronges so did he not suffer these crueltyes long vnpunished but shewed tokens that his iustice is neither fayned nor idle nor his hand shortned in punishing such insolent Tyrants For after diuers and manifold excesses and iniuries done in the countrey he besieged the mas Saint Puelles the weakest most miserable and least defensible of all the places of Loragoys there was he so shamefully beaten put back that after they had slaine him thirty Captaines and fiue hundred Harquebusieres they scattered his regiments and so leauing his credit behinde him cracked among men of valour was faine to returne home as well as he could well chastized to tell newes of his good speede to his Master Shortly after the Nobilitie of Languedock aduised better by the proud and insolent outragiousnes of the man and of his companies and taught by the execution of Gods iustice vpon that rabble of sauage robbers assembled the states of that prouince at Castelnawdarry where they concluded neuer to meddle anie more with the leaguers neither to proceede any more by the way of warre and vyolence agaynst them of the Religion It is sayd before how the Duke d'Espernon was appointed for Daulphine and Prouance and the sonne of Ioyeuse for Auuergne The Lord Espernon therefore entring into Daulphine with his power had better successe for first he tooke Valance Tallard and Guileslie from the league and reduced them to the Kings obedience He tooke also many townes from
which pleased him so that euery one in his owne person did some honorable exployt in this victorie This victorie was the more honorable vnto the sayd King of Nauarre that it was not bloudie to him For so great number being slaine on the side of the enemies he lost a very small number of either horsemen or footmen of his own And among that small number there was not found one of marke or commandement On the other side all the chiefest were slaine wounded or taken except Lauerdine who saued himselfe with much a doo Captayne Mercure while they were in battaile ran to Contras to seaze vpon the king of Nauarre his baggage supposing that the Duke Ioyeuse had gotten the victorie But when he heard the crye of victorie for the King of Nauarre he went out in hast and following the bancke of the riuer Droune toward Rochechalays saued himselfe by flight and shame The victorie was pursued three houres and more in the which pursuing were slaine and taken a great number the ordinance was carried away and the baggage lost After the returne from pursuing of the enemie thankes were giuen to GOD vpon the place of the battell the wounded were taken vp the dead buried the campe of the enemie burned vp But that which filled the measure of the King of Nauarre his vertue and honour was that hee shewed himselfe no lesse courteous and gentle toward the prisoners and wounded than hee had shewed himselfe valiant in the fight Let them who haue tried him by experience giue the testimony thereof who also haue acknowledged by effect y e good affection which he beareth to good French men discerning by a wise prudence all good men from the conspiring and traiterous Leaguers enemies of the state He commaunded the wounded to be diligently dressed and attended he sent away almost all the prisoners without any raunsome he gratified many of the chiefest to some he rendered their Ensignes namely vnto the Lord Montigny If he could haue guided the lot of armes in the battell many were left there vpon the place to whom he would haue willingly forgiuen For there was seene in him in this prosperous successe not one token of insolencie or passion which is commonly the mother of crueltie Here foloweth the names of the most notable men who dyed in this battell The Lord Ioyeuse general of the army and Saint Suuer his brother Bressay Roussay County of Suze County Ganelo County Aubjyou Fumel Neufuy in Perigord the elder Rochefort Gurat Saint Fort. Vaulx Lieutenant of Bellegard The Ensigne bearer of the Lorde Montigny Tierceline master of the Campe. Chesner Valade Baculard Champel the younger Pluuiault Brangerie Al these were lords hauing charg in y e army w t many other men of Mark. These folowing were taken prisoners and wounded Bellegard taken wounded and afterward dyed Saint Luke The Marquis of Prennes County Monsoreau Sansak Cipiere Saultray Montigny Villecomblin Chasteaurenauld Maumont Parriere Chasteauuieulx Chastelou Auuerdiere All these were men of commaundement Beside these were a number of Gentlemen Captaines and other men of name part of them slaine part taken The body of Ioyeuse was embaumed and brought to Paris God in that day and place rained from Heauen his fearefull iudgements and made them of France who loue the bloud of ciuill warres to knowe that in the end the losse is common and that such pestilence destroyeth the authors thereof The King being at Gien vpon Loyre aboue Orleans with his armie to withstand the Germans at the passage of Loyre receaued newes that the two armies had met and it was first reported that it was but a little skirmish where the King of Nauarre was put to the worst But the trueth could not be hidden long for at length it was knowne to all men that the King of Nauarre had obtayned the notablest victory which was yet in all the ciuill warres of France for the defence of the religion with an irrecuperable losse of them who would haue it rooted out The Court kept a great mourning thereof which qualified well the great ioy that they had for the ouerthrow of the Germanes which they had promised to theÌ„selues After this victorie the King of Nauarre folowed his purposed iourney into Gascoyne for the causes afore said he brought with him the best part of all the companies hee was accompanied with the Prince of Soissons The Prince of Conde repayred into Xainctonge for to assemble moreouer al that he might and to be at the appoynted rendes vous when they should take their iourney toward the armie of the Germains vpon the riuer of Lisle and afterward willing to goe further for to haste with great diligence his way he left the bodie of his forces with the Vicount Turenne who loosing neither time nor occasion tooke many places vpon the said riuer and in the rountrey round about which hee reduced vnder the power of the King of Nauarre Here foloweth the names of the places taken by force or composition after the battell of Coutras The house and mill of Auber demont nigh Coutras was rendered by composition there were garisons placed The Mill of Penot beaten downe The Mill of Cause taken and the fortifications destroyed The Castell and Mill of Saint Seuerine forsaken by night of them who did holde it Captaine Roux commaunded there for the King of Nauarre The new Mill giuen ouer and burned to the very foundations with all the moueable goods and victuals which were within whereby many men were vndone hauing lost their euidences The Mill of Coâ—y put vnder the protection of the King of Nauarre with the condition to make no warre there The Uicount Miles answered for it The Mill of Meneplet did the like vpon the same condition so did the mill of Vauclere The house of Captaine Fay. The Abbey of Vauclere The Church of Saint Laurens The towne and Abbey of Guistre taken by force and a Garison put there Saint Denis was forsaken and a Garison put therein Lapalays taken by assault after threeskore and fiue shot of Ordinance there were about 31. persons killed and 32. hanged for the great outrages and violences committed therein and many other reasons which were found worthy of Iustice the strong holde the Church and the towne wholy consumed with fire with all the fruites and goods which were within for that it was a very den of theeues and robbers The Castell of Vigneron rendered by composition and a Garison put therein The towne and Church of Puisiguin sustained the siege a day and a halfe was rendered to diseretion there were some executed iudicially for the great iniuries and complaints laide against them The Lord Semens who was wont to be one of the pillers of the League in that countrie brought the rest there abouts to the seruice of the King of Nauarre and did shew himselfe more adicted to the said King of Nauarre then he did euer to the contrarie side The fort and towne of Lussak forsaken
the premises are according to trueth and for the certitude of the same wee haue sealed this report with our hands andseales at S. Ihan d' Angely the 6. day of March 1588. Medicis Bontemps Pallet Poget Mesnard Chotard About the same time the King of Nauarre came out of Gascoyne who being aduertized of his death commaunded that such as were suspected of that villanous fact should be pursued Whereupon a page suspected saued himselfe by flight many more were apprehended The processe was made vnto many with all the solemnities requisite thereunto whereof within a while after the condemnation of one Brillaut ensued the page also was condemned vpon centumacie executed in Picture Brillaut was drawne vpon a hurdle through all the streates of S. Jhan and in the chiefest place of the sayd towne was torne in peeces with foure horses Now we see how the Leaguers when they haue not been able to destroy the Princes by valour haue vsed treacherous procéedings For first hauing treacherously shortned the life of the Duke of Alençon by poyson as it is saide in the first booke and seduced the Cardinall of Bourbon making him dreame of a kingdome in his old doting age and to oppose himselfe to two Kings to wit the King and the King of Nauarre and to all the house of Bourbons out of which God had made him that honour as to haue issued one of the chiefest as is sayd in the second booke They also haue condemned the King of Nauarre to dye by their Italian figges and there uppon proclaymed his death which they had promised to themselues both in Lorreyne and in the Court and in Townes and Cities of their fauourers but God hath disappoynted them of their murtherous purpose At length by the long suffering of God to plague France they haue preuayled agaynst that good godly vertuous famous Prince of Conde and that vpon such a day as hath béen fatall to the house of Guize to work mischief murther and rebellion The death of this noble Prince amazed all men in Xainctonge knowing that God had some heauie iudgements to execute vppon France and that GOD had taken that noble Prince least he should see euill dayes as the Prophet Esay saith It is sayd before how the Lord Lauerdine who was master of the Campe saued himselfe by flight out of the slaughter of Coutras betooke himselfe to the towne of Niort to the Lord Malicorne his vncle where hée soiourned as his Lieutenant Here Christian Reader wee haue to obserue that although the King and the Leaguers hated in wardly one another and in outward appearance did deepely dissemble their affections yet wee doo see that as Herode and Pilate did excercise priuie hatred betweene them and at length in persecuting Christ did well agree as friends so in men of like degrées and in like actions the like affections are boyling in their hearts For the rumour of the death of the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde which the Leaguers hauing set some secret price vppon their heads had promised vnto themselues did cause the King and the Leaguers in outward apparance to be great friends and to promise vnto themselues an vtter rooting out of them of the religion and a sure subduing of all things beyond the riuer of Loyre With speede therefore they sent eight or nine regiments conducted by the Lord Courbe to the Lord Lauerdine Lieutenant of his vncle the Lord Malicorne at Niort in Poytow who with al the forces which he could gather both in the lowe and high Poytow the 16. day of March about two a clocke after midnight descended into Marans by boates through the marishes of Beauregard and with fiue hundred footmen seazed vppon the house and farme of the sayd Beauregard hauing found no resistance but onely of two of the inhabitants of Marans with a little boate who were gone to discouer the Iland Cicoigne these two discharging their peeces vpon the enemies retyred to the trenches of Beauregard there they found but fiue or sixe Souldiers as well of the inhabitants as others who also discharged certaine shot vpon the enemie who notwithstanding aduanced and came to land The cause why the Lord Lauerdine subdued these Ilands so easily was first the certayne newes of the death of the Prince of Conde and the rumours bruted abroade touching the supposed death of the King of Nauarre which thing caused great amaze and discouraging among all men Secondly the ill order and prouidence of the gouernour for if he his troups and inhabitants had done their duetie Lauerdine had not entered that Iland at that price or els had been chased out to his dishonour and losse The Lord Iarry had béen aduertized three dayes before of the enterprize of Lauerdine and might haue put into the Ilands forces sufficient to resist the enemie for the companies of the Lord Trimouille conducted by the Lord Boysduly returning from Cotaudiere were very nigh him to wit at S. Radagond Champaigne and Puyreneau who desired nothing more then to enter into Marans But the gouernour and the inhabitants fearing the preace of Souldiers which was excessiue indeede would not admit them but sent to Rochel the Captaine Plaute Lieutenant of the Gouernour to request them of Rochel to send them about fiftie Souldiers whom they would entertayne vntill they might see what the enemie would doo which thing they of Rochel could not doo for that time Notwithstanding this refuse and that the gouernour was well aduertized that he had not sufficient forces to let y e enemie to take land yet the companies of the Lord Boysduly passing through the Brault were sent further as farre as Esuand through foule wayes ouerthwart the Marshes whereas they should haue been stayed to be vsed as the necessitie had required They sent notwithstanding the same day at euening to the said Boysduly but arriuing not before ten or eleuen a clock in the night was the cause that succour could not come in time although that the diligence of the sayd Boysduly and his companies was wonderfull for without any leasure to lodge and without any respect of the indignitie proffered him and his troupes the day before they departed presently and repayred to the fort Brune one houre and a halâ—e before the enemie tooke lande at Beauregard But whilest the gouernour and the inhabitants made some difficultie to let in all his troupes being not willing to receaue aboue 50. or 60. the enemie on the other side entred at Beauregard as is sayd so that the entrie into Brune was not opened to the sayd Boysduly nor his troups afore that the enemy had already gotten the farme house of Beauregarde There had beene meanes to driue back the enemie if speedely the troups who were entred at Brune about three a clock after midnight had gone to meete the enemie as some did giue their aduise to doe For the L. Lauerdine was not yet well accompanyed and it had beene an easie thing to cut the way to the
couered with zeale of popish religion as with a Maske partly for their treacherous intents which shee knew they had against the Crowne of France Yet these petty Lords of Lorreyn must needs haue her whether she will or not but her they may not haue before they take Sedan the chiefest towne of her principalitie which they had terrified all this moneth of March by the barbarous inuasions of the Lord Rosne It is saide also how the besieged in Iamets haue kept off the enemies and had caused to trench themselues in villages thereabouts where they were dayly assaulted by them of Iamets Now in the latter end of March the armie before Iamets was greatly increased inforces so that all things being readie Iamets is pressed and besieged more narrowly then before and after many skirmishes betweene them the arâ—illerie is placed for the battery There remained to them of Jamets for hope of succour after mans iudgement the towne of Sedan in the which vnder the auâ—hority of the Duchesse commaunded the Lord Nieuile a Gentleman famous in counsell valour and experience he had within Sedan a small number of Gentlemen and good Souldiours The army which was before Iamets desirous to cut off all hope of succour from Sedan sent part of their horsemen Frenchmen Italians and Spaniards with a number of Harquebusiers about Sedan to spoyle and to seaze vpon all places and high waiâ—s by which they of Sedan might come to succour Iamets and among others they tooke Vaudelincourt Balan and other places Their courses were raging and their rage spared nothing the contempt which they had of so weake an enemie made them as the manner is both insolent secure and careles of their safetie which was the cause that diuers times and in diuers places they were charged by them of Sedan who issuing out fiercely made great slaughter of them as the time and small meanes which they had suffered them so that they were shamefully driuen out of their villages of Vaudelincourt and Balan But to preuent such inconueniences the Lorde Rosne and other Captaines who conducted the turkish troupes of the League determined to lodge hereafter more closely then they had done before and for that cause the fourth day of Aprill the greatest part of the horsenien and footemen which were on the east side of Mense went to Bemily situated on the west side of the sayd riuer where the L. Rosne lodged and the rest of his companies lodged at Aucourt Haracourt and Raucourt leauing on the east side of Mense the Baron of Saraxenbourg with foure companies of horsemen to wit his owne and the Lord Anthony Vize a frenchman a great friend of the Duke of Guyze the third was the company of the Lord Tilly a Lorreyne and the fourth was conducted by Captaine Carlo an Italian These companies placed themselues within the towne of Douzie belonging to the principalitie of Sedan That towne they determined to fortifie by reason of the situation which is good being situated vpon the riuer named Chize flowing from Iuoy and within a quarter of a league beneath Douzie falleth in the riuer Mense which caÌ„not be passed by foord in winter the sayd Douzie lyeth directly from Sedan to Iamets so that hauing Douzie they be masters of the way from Sedan to Iamets Nigh vnto the village of Douzie beyond the bridge at the ends of the meades at a place called Marie were two companies of horsemen lodged commanded by Ihan and Thomas Albaneses there they were set to succour Douzie for by the meanes of the bridge lying betweene them and the towne in a moment they could recouer the towne The companies which had passed the riuer Mense vnder the conduct of the Lorde Rosne were gone to besiege Raucourt appertayning to the Soueraignety of Sedan They besieged it when it was altogether vnprouided of all necessary things for which cause the Lord Nieuile determined by the aduise of the cousell to furnish it with all necessary things as well with prouision of victuals as munition of warre and by the way to charge three companies of light horsemen which were lodged in Haracourt and to that ende hee departed out of Sedan about eight a clock in the euening the tenth day of Aprill accompanyed with foure score horses and foure hundred Harquebusiers but there fellout such a terrible tempest and violent rayne that they were enforced to retire saue onely they victualed Raucourt The twelfth das of April the Lord Nieuile aduertized of the diligence which the Baron of Saraxenbourg vsed in fortifiyng Douzie he considered that the longer he should delay to charge him the greater the difficulty would be and that the sooner the better without giuing hun leaue to fortifie himselfe in that place which did so presse Sedan and tooke from him the meanes to succour Iamets he therefore called the counsel and propounded them two enterprizes which bee would willingly attempt the â—â—e was to goe to Haracourt the other to Douzie whither it was concluded that they should martch the same night They departed about ten a clock at night with foure hundered Harquebusiers and fourescore and twelue horses commauuded by the Lorde Arsoune and Falayses It was also ordered that the footemen should goe three diuers waies to wit that the Captaines Dorys and Parramentier with one hundred Hâ—rquebusiers should goe to get the bridge of Douzy vpon the riuer Chize to stop the sally of them who were within the towne and by the same meanes to let the companies of the light horsemen who were at Mary distant onely from Douzie the shot of an Harquebush betweene that place and the towne nothing being but the meades and the riuer least they shoulde goe into the towne to succour their fellowes Captain Cheuerdery Lieutenant to the Lord Caulmont should assault the lodging of the Lord Saraxenbourg with 50. Harquebusiers the Captaines Framond and Massart with their troupâ—â— should charge vpon the trenches through the which the horsemen should issue foorth The rest of the footemen commaunded by Captaine Villepoys Seriant Maior should stay with the horsemen for to helpe where neede should bee and to fauour our horsemen when they should ioyne with the enemie The thirteenth day about three a clock in the morning the troupes of Sedan did charge Douize and they who had the charge to sease the bridge came so fitly without finding any great resistance that quickly they were masters of the bridge But it was not so at the barritados whom the Captaine Framond and Massart did charge for there our men were violently resisted by the Barron of Saraxenbourg himselfe and the Lord Anthony Vize Dom Ihan Romeroa Spanyard who made a salley with fiue and twentie or thirtie horsemen who notwithstanding were receaued so coragiously by our footmen who had charged the Barricado that being beaten back they were faine to retire within their trenches so confusedly that our footemen in beating them before entred with them and seazed vpon the barricado In this
béene cast below the méeting of two channels they had béen followed with such violence that they had béen cut to peeces afore they could haue come to Marans It is not to bee forgotten that the King of Nauarre at the same houre caused the regiments of his gardes of Charbonieres and Soubran conducted by the Lord Mignonuile Marshall of the campe to take paines for to wade ouerthwart the Marishes in the water to the knee more then a League and defeated a part of the enemie whome they met in their retyring The Fort of Clousy seeing the disaray of their fellowes rendered immediatly at discretion therein were fourescore men commaunded by Captaine Serre who were all saued the enemies partly made their retire in great haste to Marans and partly fled another way In the towne where it was thought that some resistance would haue been made was such a maze that there was found no body Many of the forces of the King of Nauarre not staying for the setting on of the bridge both a foote and horseback cast themselues in the water The Lord Cluseaulx who did dine at Marans whilest the King of Nauarre did force the passage hearing of the flight of his men as well with them which had remained within the towne as with them who had retired from the garde of the passage with the Lord Tremblay few of the company fled into the Castell because there was no other way nor place to flee to The first which entred into Marans were the gardes of the King of Nauarre followed at hand with the rest of the armie as fast as they could passe ouer at Clousy At the same instant the enemies were besieged in the Castell the quarters parted to euerie regiment and at euening euerie one was lodged vpon the Castell ditch The King of Nauarre followed them at hand with his maine forces and lodged that same night at Marans The same day were summoned all these forts following fortified with Garisons of the enemie The Fort Boysneuf where commaunded the Lieutenant of Captaine Serre with thirtie men with him who yeelded Also the Fort Brune wherein were threescore men commaunded by Captaine Camart who yeelded also The Fort Allowette holden with twentie men commaunded by the Lieutenant of Captaine Roque all yeelded with their liues safe There rested in all the Iland that day being the sixe and twentie of Iune to recouer from the hand of the enemie but the Castell the Forts Bastile and Paulee situated vpon the other entries into the Iland The prudence of the K. of Nauarre is not to be forgotten that before he assaulted the Iland hee placed the Lord Trimouille with all his light horsemen and the companies of the Lord Orges Plassak and Arambure within the town of Saint Ihan of Liuersay in the high way from Niort to Marans that the enemie might not receaue succour through the Bastile The Lord Trimouille had made a Fort in two dayes betweene Saint Ihan of Liuersay and Bastile to cut from them which were therein all meanes to escape away and hope of succour The monday on the seauen and twentie of Iune the Captaine and Souldiours of the said Bastile séeing that all the meanes to auoyde were cut off from them did yéeld and went foorth with like conditions as their fellowes had done the day before being in number fourescore and ten commaunded by Captaine Chapel The eight and twenty the King of Nauarre with two canons and two Culuerines began to approach and in the middest of the day put them in place of batterie The Lorde Clermont there did commaund that night there were certaine motions of Parley The nine and twentie about three a clock in the morning when the besieged saw that the King of Nauarre went to worke in good earnest they demaunded to Parley and in the name of all the rest came forth Captaine Riuiere to require conditions of the King of Nauarre At length the composition was concluded that the Captaines and Gentlemen should goe forth with their horses and corselets the souldiours with their swords that the rest of their armour should remaine within the Castell The master of the campe the Lord Tremblay the Captaines Maron and Toure should remaine in the hands of the King of Nauarre to deliuer him the colours to wit eyght Ensignes for two companies had none and the Cornet The agréement was carefully kept the King himselfe conducted them part of the way they were not iniuried so much as one word although the Lord Cluseaulx had great enemies The same day Captaine Roque rendered the Fort Paulee with the same conditions that the Castell was yeelded vp the Lord Lauerdine sending word that he could not rescue them for because the Lord Boulay was lodged on that side The King of Nauarre kept Cluseaulx prisoner who was brought with great solemnitie into Rochel where he was kept prisoner a long time hauing lisence notwithstanding to goe where he would vnder custodie of certaine Souldiours he was better vsed then many did expect at length he was deliuered and among other vpon this condition neuer more to ioyne himselfe to the League The King of Nauarre also sendeth all the armour which there was taken in great stoare with the colours to Rochel there were taken also many faire horses So in the space of foure dayes he recouered all the Iles and Forts of Maran did rid all that quarter of the filthie sinke of the Leaguers where he did shew no lesse courtesie to his enemies then valour and diligence in the repressing of them It is said before how that after the accursed and execrable rebellion and insolencie of the Leaguers in Paris they perceauing the foule and dangerous errour which they had committed in missing of the Kings person and that hee was now safe enough from falling into their hands againe which might redound to their vtter vndooing they sent three manner of spyalls to him to view his countenance to sound the thoughts of his heart by the way of sorrowing and excusing the desperat fact attempted against his sacred person in Paris It is saide also how they sent a supplication vnto him therein faining a submission full of snares and vnreasonable demaundes It is sayd also how vppon the rumor spread abroad throughout all the realme his faithfull seruantes of all callinges and degrees moued with anger and compassion repayred vnto him most humbly prayed him not to put vp such publike iniury proffered him their seruice goods and liues for the reuengement of such an outragious offence Now agayne many of the Kinges subiects of all qualityes and degrées do repaire a fresh vnto the King most instantly to require him not to suffer such a damnable treason of the Guyzes and their confederats let go vnpunished but that punishment be executed vpon such offenders in such sort as is fit for the greeuousnes of the offence they do promise him againe all aide and succour if hee will resolue himselfe to seeke the
Bishop of Paris called Lombard went about to amend the fault and to haue pulled him downe out of that sacred chayre propounding to the students a book of common places such as it was called commonly Magister sententiarum Then came the begging Fryers with their wallets full of stones and among them Scotus and Thomas Aquinus they layd down a forme of their dreames questions they turne the bread of life into stones wholy There came after them worse then these more ignorant these harpyes defile both the word of God this booke of sentences though not pure before w t vnnecessary questions and vnlearned gloses to be short as many writing Fryers so many Alcorans they conceaue and bring forth they did reuoke the studie of Diuines from Gods word the reading of the learned antiquitie whose monuments they buryed in dust in their libraries to the descanting of Scotus Thomas the book of Sentenices with their corrupted dreames pro contra After that these frogs rising out of the infernall gulfebeing striken with giddines as they of Sodome at the dores of Lot by the angel of the Lord were deuided among themselues and to shew that they were no more of Christs people tooke other names and would be called by the names of their master some Scotists some Thomists some Simmonists but rather they should be called by their qualities Soccist Momists and Foolists This palpable darknes of Aegipt was had in admiration as the onely wisedome of the world fed and entertained by these seducing Friers and Monks vntill the wasting of that noble and in olde time famous Greece by Amorith the prince of the Turkes For then many learned men being the keepers of pure learning flying from that barbarous and cruel tiranny repayred some into Italie some into Germany some into France who were entertained by the liberalitie of Princes and common wealths by whose exile we were deliuered from y e darke bondage of ignorance which the legions of Fryers had brought into the world About the same time the most noble arte of Printing was reuealed of God vnto a noble man of Germany whose name shall be blessâ—d for euer in the generation of the righteous wiâ—h facilitie to performe the worke which hee had determined Francis of Valoys first of that name a prince whose fame no age to come shal blot out of mens remembrance with his princelike liberalitie restored in this Vniuersitie a purer learning and an easier traditine by calling thether famous men of all parts of the world This his liberalitie the Leaguers for the space of this twentie yeares haue vsed to the supplanting of the state of his posteritie The third part of that Citie is an Iland betweene the Towne and the Vniuersitie called commonly the Citie that Iland is of the forme of an Egge It is beautified with three special things first the palace of iudgement which heretofore had béen a Sanctuary of iustice Secondly a most sumptuous and rich Hospitall the like whereof is not in the world Thirdly the Temple of our Lady much like vnto Diana of Ephesus Temple the Bishops seate and a sinke of Idolatry The Suburbes bee of a wonderfull greatnes and may bee compared with a great and sumptuous Citie As this is great and large so is it populous to admiration surpassing the report which may be made thereof The most sort of the inhabitants is a rascall people of all sorts of handicrafts and of seruile nature The people generally is of small stature swartie of complexion of countenance like Spaniards or Italians fewe like one to another as it is commonly seene among them that are a mingled sinke of diuers Nations not like Frenchmen they are craftie and deceitfull great bablers and pratlers suspicious mutinous and factious cruell cowardly and effeminate lewd of life and behauiour desperatly supersticious and idolatrous foolish and sottish so generally that through all France they are prouerbially and reproachfully called badins de Paris that is a malapert sot of Paris of nicenes and purposed folly disguising and corrupting their tongue and going The Duke de Mayne perceiuing the King almost destitute and forsaken of his subiects compassed about with enemies at home with domesticall foes in the Citie with vnfaithfull subiects abroad in the field with sedicious and rebellious robbers thought to haue a fit opportunitie to oppresse the King Therefore in a great heate he doth gather and muster a great and mightie armie of the basest sort of this people but specially of such as were desperate and had nothing to lose and had conceaued good hope to doo well their busines with gayne and aduantage caused the Citie to prouide for them they were lodged in the suburbes and small Townes about Paris The Duke hauing this great armie doth from weeke to weeke from day to day so delay his iourney representing to himselfe continually the valianâ—nes victories faithfulnes and celeritie of the King of Nauarre who was not a dayes iourney from Tours who would not suffer the King to be oppressed nor easily surprised These mutinous and rebellious companies did commit such intolierable insolencies that the people both in Paris and about did cry out and complayne with great discontented mindes both of these oppressions and also of the scarâ—enes of victuals which did growe in the Citie by reason of the long soiourning of that armie about Paris To pacifie therefore the vprore about the middle of Aprill he did venture to goe foorth and taketh the field making great boast that now within fewe dayes he trusted to reduce all France to the obeisance of the League and the least of his promises was that he would bring the King to that passe that the most mutinous fellowes in Paris desired to haue him Taketh order for the safetie of the Citie and whereas in the alteration of the state of Paris done in Ianuary last they had made eighteene Colonels and Captaynes of so many wards as the Citie was deuided into euery Colonell should haue twelue hundred horsemen and footmen to walke about the Citie and to the Boys of Vicennes least that Castle should be surprised by the enemies the Lord of Mayneuille being left gouernour of the Citie with a strong garrison beside to see well that in the absence of the great Protector of the Crowne of France the malcontent people of Paris should not enterprise against him and exclude him from their Citie if at any time for feare of the King of Nauarre he should runne away So the Duke de Mayne bringeth this holy and inuincible armie for so it was commonly called into Beausse where was some good store of victuals which aboue all things his holy armie desired So that as well to ease the countrey about Paris as to hast his wicked intent he bringeth his armie as farre as Vendosme wherein hee entred by the helpe of them who were of his confederacie There hee tooke the Kings great counsell prisoners so that none could escape
to hold for enemies onely them who haue declared themselues enemies of the realm by theyr rebellion and outragious insolencies committed against the soueraigne magistrate and iustice promising notwithstanding to receaue to mercy them which deceaued by the enticements of the rebels or feare rather then by their owne malice haue associat themselues to the said rebels Denounceth therfore to all Prouinces Cities Commonalties Church-men Nobles Magistrates Captaynes Souldiers Borgeses Citizens and all other of any degree whatsoeuer to retire speedily from the society of those traitors and rebels and to returne vnder the obedience of their naturall and lawful Prince and King but specially willeth the Church men whereof some haue rendered themselues instruments of the former treacheries and rebellions to loue peace and to keepe themselues within their bounds returning and abiding vnder the obedience of their King Thirdly he protesteth that this his passing the riuer of Loyre by the commaundement of the King is for their defence and therefore taketh all the Kings faithful subiects vnder his protection but specially the Church men forbidding vpon payne of death all his Captaynes and souldiers not to proffer any iniury vnto any of them their goods or places of exercises willing also all the aforesaid persons to repayre vnto the king or vnto him to haue and receaue pasporte and protections that the faythfull may be discerned from the Rebell Fourthly he turneth his speach to the foresaid persons admonishing them to consider the horrible euils which haue already and shall rise out of that damnable rebellion To the Cleargy hee speaketh to consider how godlines is euery where choked in the middest of those tumults the name of God blasphemed and religion despised The Noble men he prayeth to consider how theyr order must needs fall with the ruine of the King Crowne and Estate The Magistrates hee warneth to represent before their eyes what execrable violating of iustice will follow by the examples of the Parliaments of Paris and Tholouse carried away Prisoners as in a triumph by rascals and vilanous persons The commons hee aduertiseth to thinke how they are eased by these tumultes where their goods are exposed to the pray of the vilest sort their traffike interrupted their husbandrie altogether turned into wast and desolation Last of all he exhorteth all men to endeuour themselues to bring what they can to remedy these euils which y e rebels haue procured to the realme which cannot be done without a good peace neither can that be obtayned but by the returning vnder the Kings obedience restoring his royall authority and reestablishing of iustice hee assureth himselfe that God who geueth saluation vnto Kinges will assist him in this enterprise and iust cause Auuergne is a Prouince in France full of hilles and mountains wherein there be three Cityes situated in forme of a triangle and not distant farre one from another to wit Rion Clermont and Monferrant the Kings long before had established at Rion beside other courts a soueraigne court of his treasurers receauers This Citie had receaued the League and had committed rebellion agaynst him in shaking off the yoke of obedience Therefore the King about the 24. of April seeing their obstinacy in their rebellion do reuoke from the said Towne of Rion all his courts and doth transport the same to the Citie of Clermont commaunding all his officers of al his courts in that citty to repaire to the said Clermont and there to execute their charge About the same time also the King doth adiudge all the goods of the Dukes of Mayne Aumale and of the Cheualier Aumale and of the voluntary inhabitants of the cities of Paris Roen Amiens Abeuile Rhemes Orleans Chartres Mans Lyons Tholouse to bee forfaited to his crowne for their treasons and perseuerance in the same aboue the time prefixed vnto them which was the 15. day of March last past and ordained commissioners to sell the sayd goods and lands to his vse The King of Nauarre in the meane time scoureth the countrey and prepareth himselfe to receaue the Kings commaundement and vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was lodged at Vendosme and Montoyre the 28. of Aprill he determined to surprize some of the enemies and about foure a clock in the morning taking eight hundered horsemen and one thousand shot on horsbacke went to bait at Chaulx in Anjou ten long leagues from Saumour departing thence hauing already gone forward three leagues he receaued newes how the Duke of Mayne had brought his forces to Chasteaurenault and had sent part of them to besiege the County of Brienne who was at Saint Oyne nigh Amboyse The King hearing of the siege of Chasteaurenault and Saynt Oyne by the enemy hauing him so nigh neighbour and fearing that he would come to lodge in the Suburbs of Tours being in danger to be deliuered into the hands of them by the intelligences which they had wiâ—h the leagued of his Court and of the Citie he did dispatch diuers Postes both to Saumour also to other places to the King of Nauarre And about three leagues from Chaulx toward Vendosme hee was aduertyzed by three Postes that the King sent for him whereuppon the sayd King of Nauarre turned bridle and came that night to lodge at Maille vpoÌ„ Loyre within two leagues of Tours after he had beene 24. howers on horsbacke and immediatly sent word of his comming to the King The King vnderstanding of his being so nigh him did greatly reioyce knowing that the enemy neither would nor durst enterprize any thing whilest he was so nigh his person The enemy sent certayne companies in the euening with a great brauade and tooke a Suburbe of Tours where they defloured a Mayd who had fled into the Church before the high alter in the armes of a Priest but hearing that the King of Nauarre was at hand without any leasure to take breath they retyred presently The King of Nauarre rested himselfe and his troupes the next day but the 30. of Aprill beeing the Lords day in the morning the sayd King of Nauarre iudging that it were necessary for them both to see one another thereuppon to take some certayne resolution of their affayres beeing also requested by the King although his counsell had diuers opinions of that interuiew hee sent to the King by the Lord of Mignouuile that he was gone to set all his troupes in battaile array at the Pont la Mot a quarterr of a league from Tours and thatif it should please his Maiesty to come to the Suburbs he would kisse his Maiesties hands and would receaue his commaundemeÌ„ts to execute theâ— according to the necessity of the affayrs After the said King of Nauarre with all his troupes had stayed about two houres the Marshall Hautmont came to him from the King to pray him that he would passe ouer the riuer to come to him to Plessâ—s les Tours where the King with all the court stayed for him That thing he immediatly determined to
Lords Clermont Antragues one of the Captaynes of the Kings gards who deceased nigh the Kings person The Lord Tischombert who had borne great charges in warre and now would needes serue as a souldier in the Kings Cornet The Lord of Longauluay in Normandy of fourescore yeares of age the Lord of Creuay Cornet bearer to the Prince Montpencier the Lord Vienne Lieftenant to the Lord Benuron the Lords of Manuille Fequers Valoys and twentie Gentlemen more at the most There were hurt the Marquesse of Neste the Earle of Choysy the Lord d'O the Earle Lude the Lords Montluet Lauergne and Rosny and about twentie Gentlemen more without any danger of death The King going to chase the enemie and hauing deuided his companies as is aforesayd left the Marshall Byron with the rest of his forces to conduct them and followe after him Here good Christian Reader thou hast to note certaine fatall periods of things to wit the circumstances of the persons time and place in the execution of Gods iustice vpon his enemies The 23. day of December 1559. Claude Duke of Guize and Charles Cardinall of Lorreyne his brother in the raigne of Francis the second procured Annas du Borg one of the chiefest Senators of the Court of Parliament of Paris to be burned for the Gospell at Saint Ihan in Greues in Paris The 23. of December as their Calender is now which was the day of the natiuitie of Henry of Bourbon which now raigneth in the yeare 1588. the last Duke and Cardinall of Guize were slayne at Bloys when they had concluded to murther the King the next morning following that day The fourth day of March 1561. Claude of Guize father to this last tooke armes agaynst the edict of Ianuary and committed the cruell murther of Vassie by the which breach of the peace were ciuill warres raised vp in France and euer since haue béen entertayned and nourished by his posteritie which warre was his vndoing The same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1585. the last Duke of Guize sonne to the sayd Claude tooke armes against the King which was the beginning of these last ciuill warres of the League by the which they haue procured their owne vndoing and of many others The same day of the moneth the Duke de Mayne brother to the sayd last Duke of Guize and heire of the Captainship of the rebellion made a shipwracke of all his forces at Saynt Andrewes plaine without hope euer to recouer the like forces Claude Duke of Guyze in December in the year 1561. fought the first battell that was giuen in all these ciuill Warres with Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condie Prince of famous and blessed memory in the plaine of Dreux with an vncertaiue issue but in equall losses so that to this day it is vniudged who had y e victory but well knowen that the Duke of Guyze had the greatest losse The Duke de Maine fought agaynst Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name now King of France and Nauarre at the plaine of Saint Andrew next adioyning to the other and the places not distant passing a mile a sunder with a reparable losse The Lord Rendan a rebellious Leaguer in Auuergne with such power as he could make in the sayd countrey but specially in the Townes of Rions and Brion rebelled and holden in the same rebellion by the Iesuits besieged Isoire a great and populous towne in the said Auuergne because it continued in the Kings obedience The Lords Chasseran and Rochemayne willing to do some honorable seruice to the King and good to their countrey gathered such power as they could of the Kings subiectes to rescue the sayd towne of Isoire from falling into the handes of the rebels and with a meane power trusting in GOD the defender of his Ordinance and wayghing the right of the cause marched towards Isoire The sayd Lord Rendan vnderstanding of their approach raysed vp the siege and went intending to meete the sayd Lordes Chasseran and Rochemayne and at the same day and time of the battell at Saint Andrewes playne meeting in a playne field not farre from Jsoire tried the quarell by the sword There the sayd Rendan was ouerthrowen and aboue fourescore Gentlemen of his were slayne on the place all his footmen cut to pieces the artillery bagge and bagage with many prisoners taken so the Towne of Isoyre was deliuered from the danger of the enemie retayned and confirmed in the Kings dutifull obedience It is said how after the victory the King deuided his army into foure parts three of them were appointed their quarters to follow the chase and the Marshall Biron to follow after the King with the residue of the army The King hauing taken this order followed after the Duke de Mayne but finding the bridg broaken was faine to go thrée miles about to passe the riuer afoord and in that way he found many straglers whom he tooke prisoners which was a good turne for them or else they had béen slaine by others he came so fast after the Duke d' Mayne that hee did misse him but a little but vnderstanding how he was receaued in Mant the king lodged that night at Rosni as is said very simple The fift day the Duke d'Mayne very early fearing to be besieged there retyred from Mante to Pontoyse where he soiourned few dayes to take some sure order for the safety of the Towne and after went to Saint Denis The same day the King sent to sommon the Towne of Mante which deliuered the keyes of their towne to his Maiesty receaued and acknowledged him their king and prince and continued there vntill the twentie day of March to refresh his army wearied with so many labours and hardnes of winter to take counsel of the course which he was to take hereafter and to expect certaine munition of warre which was comming to him from Diepe The Citie of Paris first author of this warre had conceaued an assured confidence of all prosperous successe by the vaine bragges which the Duke d'Mayne did cast foorth afore hee went out with the army The Friers Iesuites increased this vain confidence in their pulpets by assuring them either of a certaine victory or else of recoyling of the King as farre as beyond Loyre so that euery day they looked for the King dead or aliue and all his spoyles to be brought for a spectacle and to bee solde and bought among them or else to heare of his flight as farre as the riuer of Loyre This great confidence made them to liue very secure and carelesse in prouiding for the Citie besides that they rested much vpon the great multitude which is within the sayd Citie there beeing great bablers and boasters for the Parisien is as Epimenides speaketh of the Cretayns a lyer euill beast and slothfull belly The towns also which then did hold round about their Citie as Pontoyse beneath vpon the same riuer Charonton Meaux Laguye Corbeil Melun Montereau aboue vpon the riuer
done soiourning in Compeigne about fifteene or sixteene dayes The King soiourned in Compeigne for these causes following First to espye what the Duke of Parma would attempt for after the taking of Corbeil hee looked daily that he would haue returned backe to recouer it for which cause the sayd King had sent for his forces to be in a readines at a dayes warning intending vpon such occasion to trye the quarrell with a dayes worke Secondly to expect the Nobilitie of Picardie whom he had inuited to reconduct home the Duke of Parma as is sayd Thirdly that by his neighbourhead he might represse him from attempting vpon any places which were vnder his obedience Fourthly hee stayed in Compeigne without interrupting the soiorning of the Duke of Parma in Brie to geue leasure to the rebellions Prouinces to prooue what difference there is betwixt the milde good iust and fatherlike gouernment of a vertuous and lawful Prince and the cruell bondage of heathenish sauage and barbarous tyrants The sayd King during his abode there among other deliberations concluded to pursue the said Duke of Parma in his retire grounded vppon iustice to wit a wil and desire to punish him who had offended as far as God should geue him power and lawfull means to do it for as much as the D. of Parma beeing not prouoked with iniurie or vniust dealing had not only against the law of nature maintained and assisted the rebels in his realme enemies to all iust and lawful superiority but also had committed horrible murthers and crueltyes contra ius supplicum innumerable whoredoms Sodomitries hereditarie to the papall house of Pharneses all maner of vilanies vpon his faithful Subiects and also the necessary defence of his estate and safety of the places which in that countrey were vnder his obedience Uppon this iust resolution the twentith of Nouember the King with his forces departed from Coeuures in Picardie hauing with him of the Nobility of that countrey about fiue hundred horses beside his own forces and began to march directly against the said Duke of Parma It is said how the Duke of Parma departed from Paris and made their abâ—ad in Brie the causes also of that soiorning there haue béene opened what euents also haue happened during that time Now the sayd Duke perceauing that all his practises in seeking to supplant his friend would not frame vnderstanding of the Kings preparations for to accompany him into his countrey and that the King was all ready at the doore began to feare yet more then euer before séeing the tempest which would follow and wished that the Duke de Mayne had made more speed to send him the succour promised wished also that he might be quit in ceasing the clampering noyse of his Moiles belles and in the meane time about the 23. day of Nouember hee remoued to the towne of Phismes vpon Voisle there within a wall he determined to expect the comming of the Duke de Mayne who was comming with speed The King in this retire of Parma to Phismes arriued and met a certain companie of Spanish footmen whom hee put all to the sword without the losse of any of his men The Duke de Maine with his forces repairing to Parma seeing all this exploit and durst neuer rescue them that exploit done the King went to take his lodging in the Towne Feres in Tartenoys The 25. of Nouember the Duke of Parma accompanied with the Duke de Maine departed from Phismes tooke his way to Pontauers which is a towne situated vppon the riuer Esne where he had determined to lodge the night following The King hauing about eight hundred Launciers and so many Harquebusiers on horseback sent the Baron of Biron with fifteene light horses to view the enemie In the meane time the King tooke 25. horses and kept to the right hand by a wood seeking to iudge by sight the enemies marching But the Baron of Biron brought newes that the enemy was departed from a Village named Bazoges and marched toward Pontauers The King immediatly with all his forces following the enemie entred into the said Village where he found few Farmers and husoandmen armed and ready to fight in his Maiesties behalfe of whom the King learned more particular newes concerning the enemy The Kings Captaines but specially the Baron of Biron still pursued them and meeting with straglers payed them their wages for their comming so farre and gaue many onsets when occasion serued alwaies to the enemies costs The 27 the King sent the Lords Fronterack Chicot and Dauers on the top of Saint Martins hill to view if the enemie had put any ambushes at the hilles foote but they saw them in the open plaine marching apace toward Pontauers the way beeing without ambushes the King sent the Baron of Biron with a troupe of horsemen and he with an other company followed after commaunding the Lord la Now to send him ten out of euery company and to rest the remnant The King made fiue smal squadrons of fiftie horses in euery one of al these companies There was a hot alarum geuen in the enemies camp and gaue a dozen onsets on the enemies But whilest these things were a doing the King spied on an other side behind 300. Harquebuziers on horseback who conducted the carriage of tronkes and baggage and fearing the retyre of the enemy would haue brought him out too farre from his forces retired intending to charge these companies of Harquebuziers One of the Kings Gards beeing fallen into the enemies hands cried for helpe whereuppon the Baron of Biron charged them and slew twelue or thirteene of them but his horse was killed whereby he was put in great danger if he had not béene rescued by the King This fray beeing begun there was a great alarum geuen in the enemies campe which began to march toward the King But he considering that it was better to hazard few common souldiers theÌ„ the Nobilitie caused the companies on horseback of the Captaines Saint Denis and Saint Foelix to light and to charge the enemy there was a hot skirmish begun The K. in the meane time retired with his nobillity to a Village called Longauall thether also the Harquebuziers retired after they had fought a long space and in the retire Captain Saint Foelix was slaine with a shot the Souldiers retyred so leasutely that they did draw the dead corps with them by the legges When the King had passed Longauall toward Pontarsie the Harquebuziers of the enemy came to the wall and in a brauing fury sâ—rooke with their swoords vpon the gates of the towne but being saluted with the Harquebuziers within with shot through loope holes and seeing many of their fellowes fall vpon the place they retired and sound the means by the guiding of a man of that Town to seaze vpon an other gate and entered about sixe of them Captaine Bonmouoyr set vppon them and killed two of them the other retired The Harquebuziers tooke their horses forsooke
that towne and followed after the King who was before to take his lodging about Pontarsy situated vpon the riuer Esne beneath Pontauers and the enemy presently entred the said Towne of Longauall Part of the Enemies followed after the King and seeing a Wood betweene the sayd Longaual and Pontarsie stayed there mistrusting some ambushes but at length passing through they met with the Baron of Byron who charged them so roughly with a small company of horsemen that he layed downe vpon the ground thirtie of them The King commanded Captayne Langemis to light and set a fresh on them who killed a great number of them and then retyred into the towne of Pontarsie The enemy went not to Pontauers that night but encamped in the plaine field with great feare of an alarum vnderstanding that the Duke of Neuers with fiue hundred horses out of Champaigne and the Lords Gyury out of Corbeil and Parabelle out of Melun with good and Iustie companies of horses were expected that day to come to the King euery man accompted him happie that might returne into Brabant in a whole skinne there to prooue whether they had forgotten the art of Carrowsing the chiefest trade of that countrey The 28. day in the morning thirtie harquebusiers of the enemies hauing lost their way went into the Towne of Longaual enquiring for the Duke of Parmas quarter whom the inhabitants disarmed and throwing them vnder the bridge drowned them The same day came to the King the sayd Duke of Neuers and Lords Gyury and Parabelle with eight hundred horses all well appoynted The 29. day the King went out of Pontarsie with one thousand horses intending to giue his enemies a fresh charge and to carrie away the Rereward but their Ordinance being stucke fast in the myre the whole armie remayned all that day in battell array in that place where their Ordinance was and there also encamped themselues all the night following so that nothing could be enterprised vpon them The 30. day of Nouember the King determined to did the enemie fare well with a fight of horsemen the Duke of Parma with a good will would haue spared that curtesie and bee glad to get out of the Realme without so much adoo In the morning very early the sayd Duke marched toward Marle a towne nigh the head spring of the riuer Oyse from thence to get Larbre de Guize and so to leaue the realme of France The King commanded all his horsemen to be in a readines and directly to march toward Cressie with all furniture yet without baggage or carriage And being first of all arriued at the rendes vous vnwilling to ouerslip any opportunitie to see his enemie that day which hee thought should bee the day of their separation sent the Lord Baron of Byron to march before and hee himselfe to followe him within the distance of a hundred paces onely with fourtie gentlemen The Lord Longaual followed the King with fiftie horses and the rest of the Cornet As they had marched a good space there appeared at the side of a Wood about sixe score horses vnder the leading of Colonell Baste who came in hast to charge the Baron of Byron the sayd Baron gaue so resolute a charge that he made them to retyre to theyr maine battaile and when the enemie had ioyned with their fellowes they came agayne to giue a fresh charge in the which the sayd Baron of Byron his horse was killed and he in great daunger to bee slaine but the King did gather them quickly that were scattered and with them caused the rest of his troupes to come forward which being in battaile aray and ioyned with them that had bin gathered out of the skirmish gaue such a fearefull charge that all the rereward of the enemie thought vpon nothing but vpon the meanes how to saue themselues leauing their dead armed vpon the place If all the Kings companies had come in time enough there had not returned so many home to play at carrowse as there did The first day of December the D. of Parma entred the dominions of the low countrey He had neuer so much neede of his Nurce about him with clowts as he had during the space of these last fiue dayes of Nouember most of his companies accompanied him home as well as they could part of them remained with the Duke de Mayne vntill that tempest was ouer past The first day of December the Lords of Neuers Giury and Parabel who were come fresh and strong to the King departed from the Castell of Nisy and pursued the enemie marching toward the Larbre de Guize but what exployts were done that day we haue nothing to speake off for lack of instructions During this retraite the Duke of Parma was so distressed that he was very greatly disappoynted of his lodgings As he tooke no compassion at Corbeil of them which suppliant fell before his knees so pitied he no more his owne Souldiers who could not make so good speede in running away as he could doo but left them to y e mercie of the Peasants of the countrey with whom they found no more fauour then with their master Of foureteene or fifteene thousand men which he brought into France there returned not home aboue eight thousand and they were in a manner in as great miserie as their fellowes who returned into Spayne from the conquest of England in the yeare 1588. The first day of December the King went to Saint Quintins situated vpon the riuer of Oyse where he was royally receaued with great reioysing and comfort of all men And when the King had stayed there a few daies he heard that the Lord Humiers with other noble men of Picardie had taken the towne of Corbey situated vppon the riuer Some and in the middle way betweene Amiens Peronne and Dourlan three great townes in Picardie which haue continued in their rebellion During the time that the King soiouâ—ned in Picardie and pursued the Duke of Parma the Marshall Byron tooke fiue strong Townes and aboue twentie Castles in Normandie and Beauuoyâ—in wherein the Rebells had layed strong garrisons By these narrations Christian reader thou mayest see what the rebels enemies both of God and man hauing drawne vpon theyr owne heads a stormie winde of tempest least they should not haue calamities enough according to the measure of their offence they sent for the Duke of Parma to deliuer them who comming into the land gaue them an egge and deuoured the Hen and where they were beaten by themselues with scourges now this deliuerer did bruse them with barres of yron It pleased God in whose hands the harts of Kings and Princes are to turne the Kings will from hindering the sayd Duke of Parma from dooing all that he durst or could doo that God might giue the King to vnderstand what therehence hee had hereafter to feare as long as he playeth the parts of a right King and that hee is his aboundant reward Secondly that it might euidently
two thousand Harquebusiers French considered howe daungerous a thing it was to engage his armie before a towne vntill he were master of the field the enemie being farre stronger and fauoured of the countrey who on a sodaine might be assisted with a multitude of Pesants long before armed and addicted to him considering all these difficulties the sayd prince made a stay about the towne of Guingcamp as well to repayre the fortifications of the said towne as to attend the bringing of two Canons and two Culuerines drawen from Brest to Lagnon with certaine powder and munitions brought from England to Pinpoll to the ende that these things being in place of safetie the said Prince might sollow the better his other enterprizes The seauenth of Iune the Duke Merceur arriued at Corlay distant three Leagues from Guingcamp There is a Castell belonging to the Lady Guimeney sister to Boysdaulphine Lieftenaunt to the Duke Merceur they fayned as though the sayd Castell did holde for the King intending thereby to haue drawne the Prince to some disaduantage for the eight day the Castell rendred without the sight of the Canon and the gouernour remayned with the enemie From thence the Duke sent a trompeter to the Prince about certaine prisoners taken at Corlay who signified to the sayde Prince that hee had charge from the Duke to entreate him to appoynt some day and place for the battaile The Prince did greatly reioyce to heare these newes and would not returne answere by the mouth of a Trompetter which might be disanowed but by his writing signed with his owne hand in the which the said Prince least the Duke should alleage any matter either to delay or auoid the battell doth referre to him the choise of the place for the encounter so that it might be able to receaue both armies The Duke Merceur remooued from Corlay the eighth of Iune and came to Saint Giles two small leagues from Chasteau Laudran The same day also the Prince departed from Guingcamp about three a clocke in the morning and lodged that night at Chasteau Laudran where the Duke Merceur his Trompetter met him and deliuered an answer to the sayd Prince from Merceur signed with his owne hande wherein this malapert companion hauing altogether troden vnder foote all reuerence of superiority sheweth the cause of his rebellion to bee both to withstand the Prince called with lawfull vocation and an hereticall King for the defence of the holy catholike religion do assigne the thurseday next at ten of the clocke in the morning and the place most fit for that action betweene Corlay and Guingcamp The Prince to prouoke this cowardly Captaine through impaciency or otherwise to battell sheweth the causes of his comming into Britayne to be to punish him and his complices for their traiterous rebellion against the King and for the opprobrious imputations and tearmes which he geueth to the King and to him hee saith that therein he lyeth this was the ninth day Merceur hauing receaued this prouocation fell to sweare fume brag that he within three dayes would geue the Prince battell And on the ninth day of Iune beeing Wednesday dislodged and that day encamped himselfe at a Village called Quelnec a league and a halfe from Chasteau Laudran situated at the foot of a hill which by deepe ditches hedges and inclosures bordereth vppon a little Heath of two miles compasse The Prince hauing discouered the enemy mounted on horsebacke and goeth to make choise of the place for the battell findeth about three quarters of a mile from the saide Quelenec a large playne skirted with copses w t a little hill and the ground raysed with ditches aduantagious to the enemies who by three large passages might enter into the same heath The tenth of Iune the enemie within a quarter of a league of the Heath sheweth his whole army in order of battaile vpon the top of an hill The Prince on the other side put his troups in order within the heath and by the aduise of Sir Ihon Norris disposeth the same in three battails wherof the English footemen made two and the Launceknights the third that day was spent in light skirmishes wherin the Princes men followed the enemie euen into the maine of their armie The eleuenth day the enemie drew his armie to the foote of the hill and placed his artillerie vpon the side of the heath in a place of such aduantage as commaunded the whole heath and bordreth all the hedges with shotte By that time the enemie had done all these things the Princes armie marched into the heath in order of battaile and presently sent two hundred footemen to view the enemies countenaunce whome they charged put them from their hedges and barricadoes and slew diuers of them Vpon the retraite of these two hundred men the Duke put foorth fiue hundred Frenchmen and three hundred Spaniards to repossesse the places whome he followed with the great of his armie The Prince perceiuing this and remayning on the heath with the L. Hunaulday commaunding the auangard hauing his regiment of horse on the right hand and Generall Norris the Lords of Poigny Pruneaux Mommartin and Bastenay gaue order to put foorth three hundred footemen commaunded by Captaines Anthony Wingfield and Murton and the English horsemen lead by Anthony Sherly The Prince also commaunded to be drawen out of the battaillon of the Launce-knights one hundred men shot and pikes and one hundred and fiftie shot lead by the Baron Molak backed with fortie light horse conducted by the Lord Tremblay appoynted to force y e enemie from the place which they had taken All these set valiantly vpon the enemie whom they enforced to flee many were slayn and the rest saued themselues within the defence of their artillerie where the whole strength of the Spaniards with the rest of the armie was placed During this skirmish there was a great number of shot placed vnder the hedges which hauing meanes to doe hurte stoode quiet as though they had fallen asleepe or else had béen placed there onely to keepe the hedges least the Prince should come to cut them downe and cary them away In this skirmish don Roderigo chiefe marshall of the Spaniards and a Spanish captaine two hundred French Souldiers and threescore Spaniards were slaine The Lord Tremblay tooke the Lord Guebrian Colonell of the foote men of the enemie This charge did so amazethe enemie that the Princes men were suffered to disarme the dead and to leade away prisoners within ten paces of their canon and retired at their â—ase without any proffering to follow Long Lieftenaunt to Captaine Dolphin receaued in his body fiue Harquebuses shott the English men behaued themselues valiantly in that charge the residue of that day they spent in light skirmishes The twelfth day the enemie made a great shew to come foorth to battell but at last sent out some number of shot to skirmish agaynst whome Anthony Sherley with fifteene horse and few footemen made head and