God playing with cornets and trumpets ioyning therto the noyse of Gunnes In the nyght they burnt vp the greatest parte of the drawe bridge The next day Monsieur Oars brought the kings answere from the Duke of Anjou to the Rochellians concerning theyr demaunds In the nighte followyng the townsmen brake out of their countermine into the Catholikes myne and dryuing from thence the Catholiques and placyng watche and warde there they ouerthrew the same The two nexte dayes were spente with two fortunate eruptions with taking consultation concerning the kings answere Euery townesman without exception had leaue to come to this consultation and the daye and place of meeting was appoynted The fourth day of this moneth the Nauie spoken of before was more playnely to be seene at the syght whereof the Catholiques withoute delaye armed themselues For it was Countie Mongomerie with fiftie sayle greate and small And thus it fared with Mongomerie Mongomerie comming into Englande laboured by all meanes to obtayne ayde at the handes of Elizabeth the Queenes maiestie of England The whiche hir Maiestie denyed bycause of the league whiche she had made with the king Therfore Mongomerie tooke an other way getting into his handes partly by loane and partly by gift of English Frenchemen and the lowe countreymen of Flaunders fortie thousande frankes and got leaue of the Queenes maiestie to furnishe a nauie so well as he coulde Thus after long trauayle he furnished fiftie shippes But occasion fell out whiche delayed for a tyme that expedition and preparation The Earle of Worcester a noble man of Englande went into Fraunce in the Queenes name to baptize the newe borne daughter of the French king and to be one of the sureties or witnesses for the sayd child in hir highnes name In this passage certayn Frenchmen and Flemings set vppon him taking from him one of his shippes and killing certaine of his men Hir highnesse taking displeasure hereat commanded the matter to be enquired after for the which inquisition she sent the Lorde Admirall who setting vpon all the shippes of the Frenchmen and Flemings toke caried away whatsoeuer came to his hāds So that twentie of Mongomeries ships were loste So he came to the coast of Rochell with twentie ships of his nauie diminished When he sawe the kings nauie prepared and newe ships also to be furnished with other soldiours he durst not procede in this enterprise wherfore without assayling his enimies he directed his course an other way and vnloked for at Bell'Isle and there landed and took both the Isle and the castel The Rochellians perceiuing that Mongomerie was departed and therfore being without hope of ayde fortifyed the hauen all that they coulde wyth newe garrisons Notwithstāding before Mongomeries departure they sēt out one vnto him in a skyffe wylling him not to put himselfe in peryll for theyr sakes for they trusted yet in the goodnesse of GOD and were of that mynd that they would rather suffer any maner of extremitie than to yelde themselues into the handes of suche men as were full of all treason falshood and periurie After the which message Mongomerie sent a ship vnto the Citie with goonpouder and victuall which came safely into Rochell notwithstanding the kings force And after this as we sayd Mongomerie tooke a new viage After he had taried in the foresayde Ilande certayne dayes and knew not wel which way to take his souldiers also being obstinate and disobedient returned into England hauyng lost his trauayle with a fewe shippes the rest beyng left vppon the sea to robbe and spoyle one of the whiche whereof Monsieur Hippinnill was captayne went to the enimie To fortifie the siege of Rochel there came into the kyngs campe the fifth day of May foure thousand Switzers Therfore certaine dayes following were spent in skyrmishes losse of men beyng sustayned on both partes And amongst the chieftaines that were slaine Monsieur Cossine captaine of the kings garde beyng one of those whiche slew the Admiral was one CERTAINE Catholiques got vp vnlooked for vpon the bulwarke l'Euangile and tooke the watch of the same the warders being a sleepe some of the which they slew Whervpon if the townsmen had not succored them in time and resisted the other or if a greater number of the Catholiques had bene present the citie had bene in great daunger The next daye the townsmen gaue a woorthy charge vpon the Catholiques of whom they slew many There brake out of the citie fiue hundred at Cogne gate and charged the enemie being intrenched and suspecting no such thing by reason wherof they slewe many of them and put the rest to flight choked three of their great gunnes by driuyng into them crosse barres of iron As they were thus occupied there came succours from the kings campe and then began a sore skirmish Notwithstanding the townsmen brought with them into the citie eight of the catholikes Ensignes great plēty of armour apparel There were slayne in this skyrmish two hūdred catholikes or thereabouts twentie only of the townsmen were wāting The townsmen with great triūphe set vp on their walles those Ensignes which they had taken from their enemies The sixe and twentie day of this moneth the Catholiques began a newe batterie after the whiche they giue a freshe assaulte to the towne beyng the most notable of all the reste that happened in this siege The commyng of the Switzers was the cause of this assaulte who craued leaue of the Duke of Anjou that they might gyue an assaulte to the citie thereby to declare theyr loue towarde the king Therfore al theyr bandes set themselues in battaile aray betwene the well le Rouze about seuē of the clocke The which they of Cogne perceyuing discharged fiue great peeces the shot wherof fel among the thickest of them to theyr great damage Therefore they shyfted their standyng Also other bandes of the Catholiques were set in battayle aray in diuers places euē as if they would giue an assault In the meane tyme the great gunnes went off lustely on eyther part But the greatest hope of the Catholiques rested in their mines which were made in three seueral places The first myne hauing fire giuen vnto it did small hurte makyng a breach no bigger than for twoo men to enter at whiche breache the townsmen stopte with greate diligence Straite after the second was blowen vp with great force and the thyrde made a greate noyse ouerthrowyng a great parte of the wall notwithstanding so that the rubbell matter of the wall fell into the towne by the conuenient falling wherof the passage into the Citie was stopte agaynst the Catholiques The Duke of Anjou was present himself that by his presence he might encourage the souldiers And the firste onset was giuē by Mons d'Gaste but the townsmē so receyued him that he was constrayned to retire with great losse of hys men After him followed Mons d'Goaz who with his bande entring the breach with
The fourth parte of Cōmentaries of the Ciuill warres in Fraunce and of the lovve countrie of Flaunders Translated out of Latine into English by Thomas Tymme Minister Seene and allowed ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Binneman for Humfrey Toy Anno. 1576. HONI · SOIT · QVI MAL · · Y · PENSE · OMNIA TEMPVS HABENT ¶ To the right honorable Lorde Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Baron of Lisle of the most honorable order of the Garter Knight Generall of the Queenes Maiesties Ordinance within hir highnesse realmes and dominions IT is cōmonly seen right honorable that all men occupy them selues most in the reading of those matters wherein they haue delight eyther for that they are naturally disposed therevnto or else well experienced in the same The which consideration being ioyned with the Argument of this my booke I coulde not deuise with my selfe a more fitte patron to whome I might dedicate the same than to your honour For such noble courage hath nature wrought in you found out by effecte in martiall affaires as I persuade my selfe you will delight and recreate your selfe muche with the reading of the valiant acts done by diuers courageous persons in these last ciuill warres of Fraunce Accept therefore ryght honourable my choyce and pardon my boldnesse which good will hath caused me to shewe presuming vpon your honourable curtesie by whiche I am drawne as by the loadstone to offer this simple present to your honours handes I wishe the same might in any part be answerable to your worthynesse VVherefore not to staye your honour with longer speach I take my leaue recōmending my poore paines to your honours protection Your honours most humble Thomas Tymme ¶ The Translatour to the Reader THe increasing of newe troubles and warres in Fraunce hath also increased the matter and giuen larger occasion of the publishing of this fourth part of Commentaries the whiche contayneth as the other three partes do three bookes the first of the three in the Latin Coppy reckoned the tenth But bycause we haue to our third part already a tenth Booke annexed contayning the summe of those things whiche are written in the first Booke of this fourth volume I haue thought good not to translate the same in order as it lieth but only to gleane out those principall matters which are different from the other for that it is superfluous in one work to print one and the selfe same thing twice This fourth parte comprehendeth the actes and gestes of the ciuill warres from the time of the last peace concluded in Anno 1571. vnto the death of King Charles the ninth who dyed in Anno. 1574. In the whiche there is set before thee righte Christian Reader a large discourse not only of the affayres of Fraunce but also of the lowe countrey of Flaunders as tyme and occasion offereth the same Accept my good will bestowed in translating thys parte to benefyte the English reader THE TABLE ADmiral misliketh the wickednesse of his soldiers Pa. 5. Affaires of the Prince of Orange in the low countrey Pa. 38. Articles of composition Pa. 116. Assalt diuers times giuen Pa. 50. 51. Assalt made by thē of Rochel Pa. 44. Answer of the Gentlemē of Rochell to the king Pa. 9. Answer of them of Nismes Pa. 24. B. Backsliders frō the kīgs power Pa. 44 C. Cities held by them of the Religion Pa. 3. Cities in Languedoc taken by pollicie Pa. 58. Commaundemente to beseege Rochell Pa. 42. Constancie in the Religious to defende themselues Pa. 4. Crueltie somewhat mitigated Pa. 3. Crueltie shewed at Harlem Pa. 59. D. Daulphine possessed by the kings garrison Pa. 27. Deanuil commeth into Languedoc with an armie Pa. 34. Deanuil trauelleth in vayne in Languedoc Pa. 35. Deanuil abstayneth from war. Pa. 58 Description of Rochell Pa. 43. 45. Discipation of them of the Religion Pa. ◠Diuers cities in Languedoc taken by policie Pa. 58. Duke of Anjou subtilly perswadeth to peace Pa. 44. Duke of Anjou receiued wyth triūph to the seege of Rochel Pa. 47 Duke of Anjou chosen King of Polonia Pa. 86. Duke of Anjou in perill of hys life Pa. 87. Duke de Aumal slayne Pa. 52. E. Earthquake Pa. 72 Edict proclaymed to call home again all fugitiues Pa. 28. Edict of peace published Pa. 89. Extremities in the kings camp Pa. 74. F. Falsehoode in the Catholiques Pa. 23. Famine in Harlem Pa. 68. Famine in Sanserre Pa. 100. Fast solemnly proclaymed in Rochell Pa. 8. Feare vppon all countries after the murder Pa. 1. Fish by Gods prouidence neuer seene before came into Rochel in the seege Pa. 85. G. Gadagne parleyeth with them of Rochell Pa. 48. H. Harlem defieth the D. of Alba. Pa. 40. Harlem beseeged Pa. 40. Harlem vitailed by the Prince of Orange Pa. 67. Harlem yeelded to the Duke of Alba. Pa. 69. Harlem put to the sworde Pa. 69. I. Irruptiōs made by them of Rochell Pa. 2. K. King persecuted thē of the Religion in Switzerlande Pa. 29. L. Letters sent to thē of Rochel Pa. 15. Letters hortatorie from the Duke of Anjou to peace Pa. 45. Letters concerning peace Pa. 48. Letters of Mongomerie to them of Rochell Pa. 85. Liefetenantships appointed in Languedoc Pa. 119. M. Messēgers of Sāser reuolted Pa. 36. Meelnine yelded to the Duke of Alba. Pa. 39. Milles ouerthrowen by the Catholiques Pa. 34. Mombrune a valiant manne of Daulphine Pa. 27. Mombrune armeth him selfe in Daulphine Pa. 60. Mongomeries Nauie within the sight of Rochel Pa. 78. 80. Mōgomerie lādeth at Belile Pa. 81 Mons Cosine slayne Pa. 82. Mons Sanroman general of the Religious Pa. 59. Mons Candale slayne Pa. 53. 54. Mons La Noe hardly escapeth death Pa. 49. 50. Mons Grandrise shirmisheth with the Kings campe Pa. 48. Mons La Noe general of Rochell Pa. 43. Mons La Noe commeth to Rochell Pa. 31. Mons Biron put into the bloudy booke Pa. 13. Monsterous calfe Pa. 42. Mountauban defieth the king Pa. 18. Mountes receyueth succours Pa. 38 Murder at Burdeaux Pa. 17. N. Narden in Calamitie Pa. 40. Negligence in thē of Sanser Pa. 62. Nismes refuseth to receyue the kings garrison Pa. 19. Noble men within Rochell are assayed to be brought to defection Pa. 33. O. Occasiō of peace with Rochel Pa. 86 Open warre proclaymed against Rochell Pa. 86. P. Peace cōcluded between the king and them of Rochell Pa. 88. Pibrach inuayeth against those of the Religion Pa. 4. Preparation of warre againste Languedoc Pa. 25. Prouision of warre Pa. 2. Pollicie practised to take Rochell Pa. 7. Q. Queene of England Godmother to the French kings daughter Pa. 30 R. Rochel assalted by policie Pa. 7. Rochel refuseth to receyue mons Biron Pa. 14. Rochel prepareth for defence Pa. 17 Rochell put to proscription by the king Pa. 30. Rochell beseeged Pa. 32. Rochel battered assalted Pa. 70. 71. S. Sanserre refuseth to receiue the kings garrison Pa. 26. Sanserre beseeged Pa. 63. Sanserre valiantly defendeth it selfe Pa. 63. Sāser oppressed with famin Pa.
vewed and put in inuentorie the whiche is alwayes the beginning of Confiscation so that the goodes of the Religious beyng absent were almost put in an Inuentorie but yet were not confiscate the cause whereof was the contrary successe whyche the Kyng looked not for If the Kyng had had such successe in his warre at Rochel as hee desyred it seemed that confiscations shoulde haue flowed wyth murders beyonde all measure thoroughout the whole Realme vppon them of the Religion to theyr vtter destruction Vnder the collour and pretēce of that Edict the king sought to bryng to passe by hys Legate mons Belleure with the Switzers which professed the Religion that those Frenchmen of the Religion whych were fled into theyr countrey myght be constrayned to forsake the same for many were fled especially to Bern and to Basile Notwithstandyng the Ambassadour lost hys labour for they extended still that same humanitie that they dyd before towards those fugitiues Almost about thys tyme a daughter was borne to the king Wherevpon he intreated Elizabeth the Queene of Englande that she would promise for his yong daughter in the holy Sacrament of Baptisme whiche we call the office of a Godmother To this request the Queenes Maiestie graūted and sent the Earle of Worceter into France to the king to be hir deputie for the same There was no man but he saw well ynough that the kyng at that doubtful time wēt about to coorry fauour with the Queene of Englande least she shoulde help the poore Inhabitants of Rochel and to this end the league was made We said before that they of Rochel answeared mons Biron that they woulde not receyue him into the Citie before suche time as the kyng hadde prouided for theyr securitie by assured pledges not minding to come to composition with bare words But the Kyng purposed to make those at his commaundemēt by dint of sworde and open force whome he could not wynne with wordes and deceyt Therefore hee deliuereth letters to mons Biron by whych hee banisheth them from his protection and fauour except they obey this his last commaundement as Rebelles traytors and the troublers of the common peace protesting that he woulde persecute them with mortall warre accordingly he commaundeth all hys gouernours and officers to persecute them with warre and by al other meanes euē as if they were giltie of high treason and pronoūceth that whatsoeuer they do herein against them shal be allowed and maynteyned At the same time mons Noe a noble man and in the former warres one amongst the rest most valiant came out of the lowe Countrey of Flaunders called Belgic and was reconciled to the Kyng and in token of his recouered fauour the king gaue vnto him the goodes of Teligni whose Sister mons Noe had maried whyche otherwise had bin confiscate as the goodes of others that were slayne were in the slaughter of Paris The king gaue hym in charge to perswade with them of Rochel that hee mighte bring them if it were possible to take those conditions of peace which he offered vnto them They of Rochel wondering at his comming after thys sorte sente vnto hym their letters of safeconduct that he might come to the village called Tadon the fyfth day of Nouember and to do vnto them that message which he had brought vnto thē from the king Thither came mons l' Noe and the Burgeses of Rochell Lāguilleir Rechenart Villers and Merelle Mons l' Noe declared vnto them that he had receyued commaundemente from the King Queene to tel thē that it appertayned greatly to their profite to yeeld vp the Citie into the kings hand and power that they mighte thereby deliuer themselues from that destruction presently like to ensue by the siege at hand and might also obtayne great peace for other Churches that he propounded thys condition in the kings name whome if they woulde admit to be their Gouernour according to the kings appoyntment they had free libertie to vse and enioy the Religion Notwithstanding mons l' Noe hauing declared hys good wyll and loue whiche he bare to Religion priuately perswaded them of Rochel to admit none in the kings name into the Citie before such time as they were sufficiently assured of their securitie and safetie The Burgeses of Rochel had onely authoritie and leaue to heare but no licence at all to determine any thing Wherefore they returning certifyed the Senate of the condition offered by mons l' Noe and mons l' Noe being come into the Citie receyued this answer That Rochel would not admit mons Biron beseeching the king that hee woulde poynt some other whiche loued the refourmed Religion to be their ouerseer or els to suffer them to lyue peaceably vnder the obedience of hys lawes In the meane time mons l' Noe being solicited both by the Senate it selfe of Rochel and also required by certayne other Ministers of the Church to imbrace the Religion sayeth that he was no lesse feruent towards the Religion than he had bin afore time and that he determined in him selfe to returne vnto them so soone as he hadde done his ambassage vnto the king The whiche hee perfourmed within few dayes after and was louingly enterteyned of them of Rochel After this they of Rochel cōsulted how they might get the Isle of Rhe the whyche was both neere and also commodious for them The charge to atchieue thys enterprise was cōmitted to mons Essarz He beeyng furnished wyth certayne Shyppes loosed from Rochel hauen about the dead tyme of the nyghte that he myghte deceyue the enimie ryding at anker not farre from hym Nowe there were come nere to the Citie two Shyppes of the Kyngs nauy vnder a colour to bryng letters to them of Rochel in the name of mons d' Guarde but in very deede they were sounding or plumming for the depth of the water for the whych cause they had one wyth them very expert in the same Whyles they were thus occupyed they were boorded by the Shyppes of Rochel the whych hauing slayne one of theyr chiefe Cpptaynes tooke one of the Shyppes and sente all theyr tackeling and cariage into the Citie the other Shyp being afeard escaped away Then they of Rochel returned into the Citie agayne Thys was a foretoken that they shuld haue good successe in the warre whiche was prepared against them THE fourth day of December mons Biron came to the citie wyth seuen cornets of horsemen and eyghteene ensignes of footemen hauyng also wyth hym two great brasse peeces to begin the seege In the meane tyme dyuers came dyuersly to this warre frō al parts of the Realme of those also not a fewe which aforetime had serued the Prince of Conde in the war and had nowe forsaken the Religion shewyng them selues to be more mortall enimies to the same than the Catholiques them selues They of Rochel held those villages that bordered vpō theyr Citie as Maraim Mose Nouaille whych were vnder the charge
feared both for that the same was addicted to the Romish Religion and also an enimie to the house of Nauar. The King said that he would not haue the manner of royall mariages altered which were wont to be celebrated there and the rather bicause the same did greatly make for the assured signe of peace when the same should be seene to be openly celebrated in the Metropolitane citie of the realme as it were in the face of the whole worlde And now although both partes were perswaded that this maryage might bee made very profitably yet notwithstandyng there was great doubt concernyng the manner of celebratyng the mariage The Queene of Nauar beyng zelously addicted to the reformed religion would in no wyse consent that the maryage should bee celebrated after the Romish fashion neyther the Queene mother would condiscend that they should bee maryed after the order of the reformed Religion Thus there was greate dissention betweene the two women whereas they were agreed of the principall matter The King at the fyrst intreated the Queene of Nauar to graunt vnto him and to his sister this libertie for that it appertayned to his dignitie that the forme of the auncient Religion which he had receyued from his auncetors might bee vsed in the mariage of his sister When the Queene of Nauar had constantly excused hir selfe and that the King perceiued he preuayled nothing at all it is reported that vsing his accustomed othes he sayd that he would set his sister at libertie from the lawes of Rome and also from the rytes of the Religion and that hee him selfe would celebrate the mariage than the which there could not be a more pompous celebration The which rumor was spred abroad among the Courtiers and this new imagination pleased many very well for whatsoeuer the King saith or doth that doth the Frenchman lyke insomuche that they frame both their speach and their apparell according to the Kings guise To remooue this doubte respite was taken on eyther parte The Kyng sente letters vnto Pope Pius the fyfth to obtayne lycence for hys Syster to marry with Henry Borbon hys Coosyne leaste the respecte eyther of consanguinitie or of Religion might hinder the mariage for that it was for the wealth of the Realme Furthermore that it would please his holines to giue them leaue to vse such rytes in celebrating matrimonie as might best serue theyr turne The Pope altogether misliketh of the Kings request the which he often tymes denyed to graunt affyrming the same to be most vnlawfull On the other parte also the Queene of Nauar consulted with the ministers of the reformed Religion what might be done in this matter Of the which diuers verdictes and iudgementes were giuen Some vrging the simplicitie of the word of god thought it wicked by any manner of meanes to contracte such matrimonie the which was therefore muche more daungerous in noble personages bicause the affayres in hand did not belong to one house alone but also almost to the whole Realme The which speaches notwithstanding were not gracious and acceptable to the Queene of Nauar and to the rest of the nobles perswading themselues that they should all generally receyue great profite by that maryage Therefore the matter was committed to a fewe by whose determination the same was to be ended and they concluded nothing but that which they knew would please the Queene of Nauar the nobles Then the matter being approued vppon their sentence determination began to grow in greater likeing to please more of the ministers whose iudgemēts were afterward required in publique assēblies of the churches of Frāce Thus the woorser counsaile tooke place and not only the Queene of Nauar but also the greatest part of them of the religiō earnestly wished that mariage All the cōtrouersie stood on this poynte by what way most conueniently and with lest offence of eyther parte the mariage might be solemnized THE Admirals wyfe being dead hee maryed another of the noble house of Royen being daughter to the Countie of Entremont and heyre to greate possessions This stocke belongeth to the Countie of Sauoy and thys riche noble woman was desired in maryage of many noble men and peeres also of Sauoy Notwithstanding the Admirall preuayled both by the meanes of the Kings letters to Philibert Duke of Sauoy whose authoritie was greate in makyng that noble maryage and also by his owne fame and name of Religion which was most acceptable to that heroicall Lady and so tooke hir to his wife which many gathered to bee an argument of most fyrme peace THE Admirall thought it necessarie for the expedition of the affayres in the lowe countrey to enter into league with Elizabeth the Queenes maiestie of Englande And good occasion as he thought was offered for that hir maiestie is single and the Duke of Anjou the Kings brother wanted a wyfe The Duke of Anjou thought him selfe woorthy so great a maryage both for that hee was the Kyngs brother and also bicause he had wonne to him selfe great renowne and prayse by his valiant actes in martiall affayres The charge to bring this matter to passe was committed to M. Momorencie a wise man and one of the chiefe nobles and gouernours of France The ende declared the causes of this league both that by this practise the myndes of the Admirall and of all the rest which ought necessarily to be blynded for the better finishing of the wicked facte might be deceyued all the whole matter being cloked with prouident care for the dispatche into the lowe countrey and also that Momorencie a man of sharpe wit myght not through hys familiaritie and conference with the Kyng smell out the counsailes of the tragedy which was in hande and finally that England being bounde by the name of this league might not stirre as offended at the wickednes of the facte the which also came to passe These were the reasons why the league was made with the Queenes maiestie of Englande as hath since appeared by the successe it selfe AVTVMNE of this present yeere was very vnseasonable flowing with continuall vehement showers of rayne A great parte of the houses and buildings of Feraria fell downe to the present ruine of the whole Citie Nere vnto Geneua at the straytes of Ecluse a great parte of a hyll was broken down with the freat and violence of the waters and fel down into the Riuer of Rosne with the which the water was so stopte that it dyd ouerflowe and the sayd Ryuer was so checkte with the floude that the streame hauyng hys contrary course backewarde caused the wheeles of those milles that stoode vppon the same to runne amisse and to turne the Milstones the wrong waye to the woonder of suche as sawe the same the lyke whereof was neuer seene before There was also so greate an Earthquake in a certayne village neere vnto Geneua that all the houses in the same were ouerthrowne and a certayne peece of
spente that time in deuising murders against the noble men of his Realme and at the last determined to kill Iulian whome in the sight of men he loued and reuerenced as a father Antonius Caracalla an enimie of Alexandria bycause certayne verses were soong agaynste him commaunded all the yong men of the citie to be gathered togither vnder the colour of a muster and to be slayne and that euery souldier shuld kill his host where he lay Thus the Citie beyng replenished with murders he had no other excuse to cloake the same but to write vnto the Senate that they had euery one deserued death and that this answer ought to suffice them Lysander the chiefe Captayne of the Lacedemonians calling fourescore of the men of Miletus togither vnder the colour of societie and friendship cōmaunded them to be slaine Seruius Galba shewed the like crueltie vppon sixe thousande Spanyardes Antonius Spinola calling vnto him colourably the chiefe men of the Isle of Corsica to make them a banquet commaunded their heads to be chopt off Charles the seuenth King of Fraunce after he had reconciled him selfe with the Duke of Burgundy and confirmed the same with a matrimoniall league had also solemnely sworne to forgiue all things past sent for him to the towne of Monterell vnder the colour of friendship and there slue him There are many other examples from among the whiche I haue taken these fewe to the ende thou mayest knowe that the King beeing a yong man hath diligently learned that doctrine whiche is contayned in the .18 chapter of that Booke which concerneth the doctrine of a Prince set foorth by Machiauell Euen as it cannot be vnknowen vnto thee that the kyng the very same day that the Queene of Nauar came to the Court of Blaij Iestingly demaunded of the Queene mother adding thervnto ▪ acording to his maner a blasphemous othe if he had not behaued himselfe exceeding wel To the which the Queene answeared agayne that he had begon very well but it woulde profit little except he went forward But I will sayth he addyng hys accustomed oathes bryng them euery one into thy nette These are the Kings wordes Heereby it may bee gathered what the ende of these familiarities and friendshippes will bee shewed towardes thee and to other noble menne of the Religion Looke diligently to thy selfe and bee assured that there is no other remedy for thee to escape theyr snares than to get thee away betimes from thys Court whyche is a most fylthy and vncleane Sodome THIS Booke beyng red the Admirall aunswered with angry moode the man in whose name the same was offered That these things serued not the time that they mighte haue bin spoken conueniently in time past but nowe there was no cause remayning of suspition God had altered the Kings mynde hee woulde neuer beleeue that suche falsehoode could haue place in his Kyngs mynde nay he was perswaded that Fraunce had neuer a better King than Charles the ninth and that although the Duke of Anjou were an enimie to the Religion yet at the last hee woulde forsake that hatred for the reuerence sake of that affinitie whiche hee shoulde haue with the King of Nauar. That a league was made with Englande into the whyche also hee minded to enter with the Princes of Germany whyche professed the Religion to shewe hys affection towarde the Religion myndyng to haue in hys company one of the sonnes of the Countie Palatine and some one of the noble men of Englande whyche was zealous in the Religion That he had gyuen his fayth to the Prince of Orange and to his brother to ayde hym agaynst the Spanyardes in somuch that he was the chiefe and efficient cause of the preparation of warre into the iowe countrey That in stead of the Armie whyche was committed to the conduct of Mons Genlis a newe supply was prepared that the affayres of the lowe countrey were in good cace That the Kyngs Ambassadour dyd dayly aduertise hym of the counsayles of the Duke of Alba. That the same Nauie of which Mons Strozzi and Baron de Guard haue charge is prepared for no other end than to remoue the Spanish nauie and to goe with speede to Vlishing to the Prince of Orange that there may be open warre in the lowe countrey Finally that the Kyng did all things with greate care for the confirmation of peace by the benefyte whereof there was no doubt but that the affayres of the Religion shoulde haue good successe Wherefore hee prayed him and all others of the same opinion that they woulde not trouble his mynde with those suspitions beeyng occupied with better thynges but rather that they woulde pray vnto GOD that he woulde bryng that to good effect whyche was happyly begun to the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme and hys Churche ABOVT the same time almost Mons Momorencie was returned out of Englande hauing entred into league in the Kings name with the Queenes highnesse of Englande concerning that marriage which was intreated in the name of Henry Duke of Anjou it is vnknowen what hindered the same It is said that hir maiestie vtterly refused the matche But howsoeuer the cace stoode I am perswaded that God of his singular goodnesse prouided for hir Maiestie and also for the Realme of Englande from the whiche hee hath turned away great calamitie THE Prince of Orange hauing gotten a great armie in the which were sayd to be twenty thousand footemen eyght thousand horsemen entred the lowe countrey At whose comming the Cities in diuers places were yelded vnto hym in somuch that within a short time he had in his power foure and forty Cities the greatest part of Zeland Holland Among these cities he had Mechline In the mean time the Duke of Alba beseeged Mounts in the which was Lodowic brother to the Prince of Orange with a great number of noble French mē Shortly after thys was the cruel slaughter of the Admiral and other noble men and gentlemen committed at Paris and in other places of the Realme whiche is at large set foorth in the tenth Booke of Commentaries already translated and therefore here omitted AFTER the murder the king commaunded the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde to come before him Who being in his presence he sayeth vnto them That after so long time of warres by which his kingdome hath bin greatly endammaged he hath found out at the length vndoubted remedies to take away cleane all the causes of warre and hathe therefore commaunded the Admirall to be slayne the wicked author of mischeuous troubles and that the same punishment was prouided in the Citie for al lewde and naughtie persons infected with vngodly superstition That he remembred what great harme he had receyued both of the King of Nauar and also of the Prince of Conde who were the Captaynes and ringleaders of desperate persons and seditiously helde warre against him to reuenge so greate iniuries he had nowe cause and occasion offered him
also to the rest of the reformed Churches they also earnestly requyred this thyng that consideration of them might be had in like manner Forsomuch as they could do nothing of thēselues without theyr cōsent And thus they parted The day followyng Mons l'Noe beyng beset with sixtene horsemen hauyng encountered and charged a greater troupe and was pursuyng the chase was so neare hys death that if a Captayne had not put hymselfe betweene the enemie and l'Noe he had bene slayne But the Captayne thereby purchased hys deaths wounde The deputies of Rochel beyng returned into the citie tolde the whole matter vnto the Senate The Senate called before them the Pastors of the Church to haue theyr iudgement concernyng these matters The Pastors answeared That for so much as they were demaunded of those thyngs whiche specially belonged to conscience and to Gods prerogatiue it was a matter of great wayghte and therefore that they ought not to make answere to the same before they had craued wisdome of god Affirmyng that peace was to be wished but not such a peace as should be more perillous and mortall than warre as might playnly inough appeare by those former and late examples That it was not likely that the kyng commyng vpon them with his whole power proclaiming open warre would make conuenient and profitable conditions of peace notwithstandyng that they ought to endeuour themselues to forslow nothyng that might be for the peace of the Churches seing they sought not warre but their needefull and necessarie defence Notwithstāding that those conferences parleys did not seeme to be safe and without peril wherfore they thought it better to deale by wryting whereby they might also haue a more conuenient meane to deliberate Furthermore that they ought to haue a consideration of the common vtilitie of all Churches and that therfore they ought to do nothyng for their owne priuate cause except the vse of the same peace shoulde be extended to other Churches The next day the people were called togither that a finall determination might be made concernyng this matter And the people lyked of that iudgement of the Pastors wherof we haue spoken euen now This assembly was scarse dismiste when as the kyngs Armie was approched the gate of the citie whiche ran forceably togither on a heape to breake open the same Wherevpon they of the towne brake foorth and repulsed the kyngs power by little and little and ayde commyng still on bothe partes there was a sore skyrmishe at that place bothe sides valiantly quittyng themselues This skyrmishe continued verye whot the space of sire houres Monsieur l'Noe was in great perill of his lyfe his brest plate beyng broken with diuers violent strokes and his horse slayne vnder him The speedy commyng of the night ended this battayle Of the townesmen twelue were wantyng and seuen and twentie were wounded But of the kyngs parte there are sayde to be a hundred and fiftie slayne Wonderfull was the boldenesse and courage of the women in the middest of the fight comming almost into the daunger of the conflict bringyng to suche as were wounded wine and other comfortable things The nexte day whiche was the last of Februarie the thundryng Cannon shot beganne to batter the walles and gate of Cogne Wherby the cōsultations of the disagreyng townsmen were disturbed and constrayned they were by necessitie to defende themselues The same day the townsmen gaue an assault hauing mons l'Noe and Norman theyr Captaynes at the whiche assaulte many on bothe partes were slayne Mons l'Noe contrary to the agreed and concluded determination brought to passe that the sayd determination being reuoked in the publique assembly of the Senate and people it was agreed that the kings Deputies should be heard againe that the matter might be rather ended by peace than by warre Wherevpon Monsieur Strozzi and Mandreuille were sent into Rochel for hostages And Monsieur l'Noe and Iames Henrie Mayre came vnto the Duke of Anjou as it was agreed by the senate and people Neuerthelesse the batterie proceeded agaynst Cogne forte whose fortification within fewe dayes were beaten downe When the Duke of Anjou had hearde the Deputies of Rochel answered in the Kings name that the kyng woulde adde nothyng vnto those former conditions rehearsed vnto them already by Gadagne That if they were wise they woulde imbrace them betymes whyle the kyngs grace and goodnesse was offered vnto them and not to presume vppon vayne confidence to haue helpe and ayde out of Englande With this answeare they of Rochel returned to make reporte and then came agayne to the Kyngs campe requyryng that bothe the Citie and also the territorie of Rochel mighte haue one and the selfe same vse of the Religion and also that the same benefite mighte belong to the reste of the Churches dispersed throughout the Realme To the which Countie de Adretz made answer that the kings pleasure was to haue the Citie onely partaker of that benefite as for the other Churches that he woulde prouide for them at his owne pleasure and accordyng to hys wysedome willyng thē of Rochel to receyue the benefite offered the which the kyng would afterward graunt vnto theyr fellowes This answere was not liked The which being brought to the Citizens they al agreed that al wayes of defence lawful were to be sought that rather than they should runne into present peril they ought rather to prefer iust warre than to imbrace reprochful and suspected peace for God would defende theyr cause Whyle these things were in communication the greate gunnes shooke and battered the walles of the towne The townsmen also hauyng theyr peeces and shot well defenced with bulwarkes and rampyers discharged lustyly from the Citie in somuch that many on the kyngs parte were at diuers tymes hurt and slayne Among the reste from that forte which we sayde is called l'Euangele there was discharged a Canon shot whiche runnyng through hardell trenche not sufficiently fortified with earth slewe Duke d'Aumall as he stoode priuily behynde the same beyng vncle by the fathers side to the Duke of Guise And so the funerall exequies of thys noble peere was ioyned with the dayly slaughters of noble men and common souldiers Alwayes the thunderyng shot went off agaynst the townsmen laboryng to repayre the breaches of theyr walles notwithstandyng to the smal hurte of the townsmen busily occupied there aboutes Neuerthelesse a truce was taken for one day for a parley duryng whiche tyme the dischargyng of shot was forbidden on eyther parte Monsieur l'Noe and Meniuuille went foorth to the parley in the name of the townesmen The day followyng the thundryng shot wente off afreshe and the townsmen makyng an assault to Tadon made a light skirmishe in the whiche they had good successe and in the dead tyme of the night the townsmen clothyng themselues with whyte shyrtes wente foorth and had taken the trenche of defence when they were repulsed by the kyngs souldiers and many beyng slayne and
fyrme by the decree of the States in the times of the firste raigne both of the Merouins also of the Charlouins was continued also in the house of the Capenites And first by that notable cōtrouersie celebrated and made famous with the monumēts of the French histories and with the great warres which rose of the same betweene Philip Valoys and Edward borne of Isabel the sister of Charles Who when king Charles the fayre dyed without heires male contended for the kingdome When the matter grew thus to contention it pleased the States to preferre Philip Valoys being of royall line to whom the kingdom was adiudged Another example he broughte from the lamentab e tyme of King Iohn who ioyning battayle with the English men neare vnto Poictiers was taken carried prisoner into England So great calamitie being receyued the hope was left in the authoritie of the states alone Therefore by the decree of the saide States there were approued men of all sortes and conditions chosen to whome the charge and affayres of the Realme were committed howbeit there were three of the Kings sonnes namely Charles Lewis and Iohn of the whiche three the eldest was of lawfull age to gouerne A third example he bringeth from the yeare of our lord M.CCCLXXV at what time Charles the fyfth surnamed wise appoynted by his will and testament Philip Duke of Borbon his wiues brother to bee the tutor and gardian of his sonnes and Lewes Duke of Aniou his brother to be the gouernour of the Realme vntill such time as Charles hys sonne came vnto his full and lawfull age neuerthelesse it was decreed by a counsayle holden at Paris that the will should be frustrate and the gouernmente of the kingdome committed to the sayd Lewis the childes vncle vpon condition that in his gouernment he woulde do nothing without the aduice and consente of other honest and approued persons in the sayde counsayle and also that the wardship and education of the childe shoulde bee committed to the Duke of Borbon A fourth example he bringeth from the yere of our Lorde M.CCCXCII at what time Charles the sixth sonne of the said King sodaynely fell madde it was decreed by the authoritie of the states that the gouernement of the Realme should be committed to the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy Also he fetcheth a fifth example from the yeare M. CCCCXXVI when as Philip Duke of Burgundy and Humfrey Duke of Glocester were at mortall debate to the great detriment of the common wealth and at the length agreed betweene them selues to make an end of all controuersies by combate In this contention the States were vmpiers and decreed that both of them should put off their armour and rather ende their controuersies by lawe than by dinte of sworde Then he alleageth a sixt example from the yeare M. CCCC.Lxxxiiij when as Lewis the .xj. being dead and leauing behinde him his sonne Charles of the age of thirtene yeares it was decreed by an assembly of States at Towers that the education of the childe should bee committed to Anne the kings sister and that the gouernment of the Realme should bee set ouer to certayne choyse and approued persons in the sayd assembly notwithstanding that Lewis Duke of Orleans being the next of kinne required the same He setteth downe also a seuenth Argument taken from that warre which was helde in the tyme of the sayd Lewis the eleuenth which was of all other kings the most craftie and subtill which also greatly diminished the authoritie of the States at what time the kingdom was so gouerned by him that in many things the duetie of a good prince and of one louing his countrey was wanting the authoritie of the States began to be required that by the same the common wealth might be prouided for and so by the ayde of many Princes and noble men warre was holden which was therefore called the warre of the common wealth And verely at that tyme the authoritie of the States began to decay ▪ the which notwithstanding Lewis fayned to haue in great estimation Finally he handeleth that question Whether the gouernmēt of the kingdom of France by the lawe of France ought to come to the Distaffe and by many reasons and examples he sheweth that women ought to bee remoued from the gouernment of the Realme no lesse than from the inheritance of the same And thus disputing he offereth to the secret iudgementes of men by the state of the auncient kingdom an expresse Image of those calamities by which all things at the last in the kingdome of France are come to great disorder and confusion the authoritie of the states of the Realme being ouerthrowen and suppressed and a straunge woman hauing gotten into hir handes the royall gouernment M. Mombrune tooke about this time Monerb a walled town in the County of Venaiz Nium a towne bordering vppon the Countie of Daulphine and new small townes bandes of men specially out of Prouance came dayly vnto him And he inuaded the territorie of Grenoble to the great terror and feare of those that dwelt in the same Hee tooke also the riche Abbay of Viri and slew the Garrisons which kepte the same The Monkes of the great Charterhouse fearing to haue so ill a neighbour fortifyed themselues with Garrisons of Souldiers Thus M. Mombrune was feared in all that countrey rounde about Againe truce was taken for a moneth and a halfe Neuerthelesse the burning desire of warres was great in Languedoc and in Daulphine And vnder the pretence of that truce the King Queene made a great shewe that they desired peace but in deed they practised nothing els but bloudy warre Puygallard of Poictou to get Rochell byred with the kings money and by the kings commaundement certayne Souldiers of Rochell to betray the Citie And the chief of this conspiracie in the towne was mons Grandfiefe a famous man who valiantly behaued himselfe in the tyme of warre for the defence of Rochell Thus it was agreed amongst them that a Bulwarke and one of the Gates should bee taken to the which Puygallard should come incontinent with certayne bandes of Souldiers The conspiracie was discouered They of Rochell tooke many of the townsmen M. Grandfiefe was slayne And when enquirie was made of this conspiracie the conspirators answered that they had done nothing without the kings commaundement mons Puygallard being the author the which also certain letters found about Grandfiefe did plainly testify They of Rochell made complaint hereof to the king The king denied the said enterprise to be taken in hand by his commaundement willing them to punish those that were founde giltie of the conspiracie saying that he gaue them leaue and authoritie so to doe only he willed them to beware that they did nothing contrary to the Edicte Therefore they of Rochell according to their maner of execution put many of the Conspirators to death by the while of the which many were Citizens This was done about the the