themselues sooner beaten then assailed by those whose very first March they alwaies before despised Then after manye and light brunts with the common faith receiued in Fraunce since the sure and publicke establishmentes of Christian Religion by Berenger of Tours Abeyllard Breton Amaury of Chartres Arnold of Bresse and other followed by a great number of Sectaries as well in this Realme as else where it neuer was so earnestly assaulted as by the Vaudoios and their successors in Guienne and Countries about which they named Albigeois of the towne of Alby chiefe of Albigeois scituate betweene Languedos and Quercy Who in spight of all the Potentates of Christendome sowed about the yeare 1100. and euen since their doctrine smally differing from the Protestants at this day Not onely through Fraunce but almost all the Countries of Europe For the French Spanish English Scots Italians Germaines Bohemians Saxons Polonians Lithuaniens and other people haue mightily defended it vntill this present After that this doctrine had a while crept thorough Fraunce in the end as the heate of burning coles doth exhalate and pearce thorough by little and little the thicknesse of the Sinders not able to quench it it grew more commonly knowne by Prayers publike exhortations administrations of Sacraments and other vses the course whereof the Clergie not being able to hinder sought vnder the authoritie of the Pope aide and force at the hands of Christian Princes whome they speedely armed against the Albigeois Whom after a number of assaults battels reencounters losses ruines victories and reciprocal aduantages from the yeare 1200. For 50. yeares after euer maintaining by armes and force the outward shew of their liues their doctrine and their Countrie together vntil that the chiefe of them were defeated and empouerished other gained by faire protestations promises of better hap and all in generall together wearie with the continuance of so long Ciuil warres The Christian Princes and Prelats of the Church left as in contempt a wandering people of all parts terrified with so cruell a warre insisting in their first opinion which rather the ease of the rest they after felt caused them to chaunge then any rigour of their enemies So as all the French anon after returned to the same doctrine from which their fathers had so much swarued except such as retired themselues into the mountaines chiefely the Prouencaux Sauoyarts Dauphinois and Piemontois of whome there were many sent into Lombardie Calabria Pouille Sicille Germaine and other places to the end they might plant the fruite of that doctrine which they stoode assured was the most true auncient of Christendome Now the English was Lord of Guienne in the time of these Albigeois wars by reason that Henrie of Aniou after the death of Stephen became king of England Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou Tourraine and Maine And afterwards grew to be Earle of Poictou and Duke of Aquitaine called Guienne by vertue of Eleonor his wife daughter to Guillame last Earle of Poictou whom king Louys le Ieune had diuourced So as sundry English men which ordinarily came into those countries either by reasons of trafique and marchandise or warre against the French had speedely enough being imbrued with the same opinions spread them abroad in their owne Countrie Which hauing beene conceiued and explaned by manie in the end fell from hand to hand into the heade of Wicklife about 50. yeares after a greatly renowned Diuine in the Vniuersitie of Oxford and Curate of Luteruorth in the Diocesse of Lincolne Who in the end being a Doctor in Diuinitie thorough his eloquence and rare Doctrine gained so farre the harts and vnderstandings of the English and chiefely of the greatest sorte as the Duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard Henrie of Persye Lewes Clifford the Chaunlor Kegli the Earle of Sarisburie others as a long time after he preached wrought and dispersed with all libertie what best seemed good vnto him Most chiefely vnder King Edward True it is that Pope Alexander thorough the sollicitings of the chiefe of the Clergie animated Richard his successor much against him in the yere 1382 Who preuailed so farre that after sundrie disputations of the Articles of his faith hee was banished afterwards called home and dyed 1387. But 40. yeares after his decease his body was puld out of the grounde by the Popes commandement and his bones burned at Oxford 1410. before the Abbot of Shrewsberie then Chancelor And albeit that 13. yeares after his death 1401. his doctrine was vtterly condemned in open Parliament with an Iniunction to all men to seeke out those Lollards so called they such as professed that order of doctrine according vnto those of Pologne and borderers vnto it yet for all that could it not hinder the multiplying thereof as well in that Countrie as else where Chiefely in Germanie by reason of the great learning which was taught by the famous Fathers of the Vniuersitie of Oxford Wher among other a Scholer of Bohemia being much delighted in a booke of Wicklifes called The Vniuersales caried a Coppie thereof with him into his Countrie where the Vniuersitie of Prague was of great commendations In which Iohn Hus more renowned then the rest for his quicknes of spirite made himselfe for all that much better knowne after the reading of those bookes which he explaned and so much thereby encreased the doctrine which long since was spread abroad in those quarters that many of the people Scholers and of the very Nobles and Clergie themselues followed the same as a matter worthy to bee receiued among men Now among the rest of the people which for their conscience were persecuted the Bohemians had beene long before Iohn Hus by Venceslaus King of Bohemia who made great search after them roundly punished them And by the Pope who long before that had sent thither an inquisitor of the ill affected of the faith who Iohn Hus liuing was named Bishop of Nazaret Be it then that the persecutions either coolled this kinde of people thorough out Christendome or that the Princes and Cleargie made no accounte of those who standing fauoured by no great personages became all simple people and inhabitants of the Montaignes as those of Piemont Sauoye Calabria and other the Bohemians stoode at that instant most renowned and worst ment to Especially after that Hus had reformed his preaching leassons and writings by the tradition of Wicklife So as in the yeare 1414. the Counsell being summoned at Constance for the controuersie of the Popes and reformation of the Cleargie Iohn Hus a Batchelor in Diuinitie to the end to purge himselfe of the heresie which was laide to his charge was cited thither by the Pope and after hauing refused to come accounting it no safe or sure place hee was perswaded by Sigismond the Emperour that they might safely goe thether and returne againe at the request of his brother Venceslaus King of the Countrie and besides that
seuenth Emperour of that name hee had a Sonne named Iohn who by manage was King of Bohemia and gaue succours to Philip de Valois against Edward the third King of England being present himselfe in person at the day of battaile but there remained hee for that the Englishmen had the better Among other he left Charles his eldest Sonne who afterwardes was the fourth Emperour of that name Father vnto Wenceslaus and Sigismond who both came after to be Emperours and the latter was likewise King of Hungarie and Bohemia and solicited the councell of Constance Albert of Austria of whom he spake was Emperour sonne to Raoul the Emperour who alwaies entertained good amitie with Philip le Bel King of Fraunce albeit that Boniface the eight enflamed him as much as possibly he could to make war But it is now time to look back to the French I haue tolde you how the King of Fraunce being come as farre as Strasbourge with an armye of thirtie thousand men for the succour of the Protestant Princes against the Emperour afterwards resolued of his returne vnderstanding of the Peace concluded betweene the Germanes had deuided the body of his forces into three partes to make them to march sundry waies the easier and with lesse discommoditie of victuals and especially to encounter the sooner the Q. of Hungaries army which she had to the borders of Chāpagne This Princesse knowing how the affaires of the Emperor her brother went but euen hardly by reason of those occasiōs which I haue made you to vnderstand and aboue al that this French armye would proue a crosse girde to his intents determined to retarde the same by such troupes as she could leuy throughout the lowe countries which would bee in such sorte able to preiudice the realme as the K. should be enforced to returne for succour of the same and so hauing solicited Martin Vanrosse the bastard and Marshall of Cleues she caused him to come downe into the duchie of Luxembourg with 3000. souldiers of Cleues Valois and Geldres assisted with 600. horse all which being ioyned with Count Mansfielde the gouernour of the Duchie the Bailife of Auanes the Gouernors of Cimetz other chieftanes made vp the number of 12000. Fantassins 3000. horse with which they determined to enter into Fraunce and there to doe the worst they shuld be able they tooke Satenay vpon the Meuse by a Lorraine Captaines voluntarye deliuerye therof which the Dowager of Lorraine had left there without other Garrison where suddenly they employed themselues to repaire the breaches and to restore it into his former estate building of a bulwark behinde on the side of Dun le chasteau and a platforme towards La iustice Now vpon the bruite that they ment to assaile Villefranche Bourdillon went in with seauenteene horse and the same night made his company of men at armes to enter in with as many men and prouisions as hee was able but being aduertised how they changing of their opinion were determined to returne to Mouson he lefte Chastellus his Lieutenant at Villefranche issued from one of the antient houses of Burgundie with such full authoritye as the Queene and the Admirall D'Anebaut had giuen vnto him to commaund there and with the rest of his company entred at breake of day into Mouson where Roche de Maine was with his company of men at armes and the three hundred Fantassins of the Barons of Cerny but if the cheefest sorte did not agree much more were the inhabitants perplexed through the feeblenes of the place commanded by a high mountaine neere vnto it notwithstanding any rampire which they were able to make to couer it besides that the principall of the towne had already trust vp their baggage Bourdillon notwithstanding hauing assured them of the Kings comming at hand and hauing caused his cobbarde and other more precious moueables to be brought in and swearing not to abandon them they a little assured themselues The Imperials for all that being saluted with the Cannon shotte of Villefranche and councelled not to remain there crept along the riuer as farre as the village of Brioles where they burned the Church and the forte then to Mont-faucon which they burned and so descended into the plaine to put men into the Castle of Boulandre which they took by stealth getting of victuals and prouisions which they carried to Satenay from thence all along the riuer they sacked sundry villages as farre as Grampre a little Towne vpon Aire neere Chalons and Atigni where they rested and vnderstanding how the Admirall hauing put the Legionaires of Champagne in armes and vnited the Zuizers with the French men of warre approched neere they set fire on Grampre Boulandre and other places to retire themselues to Satenay where they had intelligence that the light horse of the Kings army who aduaunced forward were already at Luxembourg an occasion that to retire themselues they all abandoned it leauing the most parte of those of Cleues and Geldres for the assurance of Yuoy if any should goe about to force it King Henry in the meane time who heard the complaintes of these miserable Subiectes the sooner to hasten the reuenge put out of his armye almost all the sicke persons and lefte the baggage vnder the conduct of the Earle of Arraine and Visdome of Chartres with their companies and some light horse and Harquebusers mounted for the conueying therof into Metz or any other place which they should think more assured afterwardes the discamping of the imperials being known the immoderate diligence vsed at the retiring of his troups the conquest of the duchy of Luxembourg was deliberated of and resolued to annex it vnto the crown as a proper succession fallē to the house of Vendosme by the death of the Constable S. Paul true Lord peaceable possessor thereof in carrying the name and armes as the authors of that councel maintained albeit that since that time Charles Duke of Burgondie had euer vsurped the same the rather for that many neighbours therabouts said that it was the very true refuge of theeues and outlawes therefore did the armye drawe right to the Castle of Roc de Mars all alongst the Mozelle betweene Treues and Theonuille seated on the steepe of a hyll strong enough for scituation and fortification with a little Towne beneath it vnder the tytle of Viscount The Castle summoned made refusall for a number of Gentlemen Ladyes and other neighbours of reputation were retired thither imagining that the King would first employe his forces against Theonuille and that at all assaies they might euer be receiued at an honourable composition after the first brunte But the King contrariwise was councelled to attempte that in respect of the victuals and prouisions which the armye so much wearyed should there finde that the sacking thereof might rather bee giuen to the Souldiers how Theonuille was too strong and well prouided to bee gotten in so shorte time which
all the charges of the Empire beseeching him to reconcile the Princes one to another in which the staye and encrease of the Empire wholly consisted the true and nearest cause of the ruyne thereof proceeding from diuision Then that hee woulde yeelde all ayde to his Sonne Philip as a neyghbour to such an enemye as the King of Fraunce was In the ende beeyng determyned to departe hee was stayed thourough the vyolence of his diseases contratyeties of windes long staye in the preparation of his Shippes and thourough a difference fallen out in some of the townes which would by no meanes receyue his sonne the father liuing and other which woulde haue his nephewe Ferdinande seconde sonne to the King of Romanes for their gouernour Ioint the male contentment of a number of Lordes and other who hauing employed all their meanes and often times their life in his seruice vnder a hope of great recompence sawe themselues by this his dimission and departure into Spaine frustrated of all their hope which they coulde not hope for at his sonnes handes who as ordinarily newe Kinges affecte newe seruauntes woulde employe his meanes but to the aduauncement of his fauourites or in recompencing their paines and seruice towardes him of whome himselfe had beene an eye witnesse About the ende of Nouember Ferdinande King of Romanes hauing assembled together the greatest parte of his men of warre wente downe the Danube as farre as Vienne to make head against the Turke who made great preparation for his descente into Hungarie to besiege agayne Vienne in Austria as I will shewe you To open vnto you the affayres and chaunges of the Realme of Englande in fewe woordes Henry the eyghte discontented in that he had no other heyre but Mary borne of Katherine aunte vnto the Emperour whome his brother Arthur had marryed at the age of foureteene yeeres and lefte her a Virgine by the aduice of the Cardinall of Yorke and many dyuines as well Frenche as Almaines and English diuorced her and hauing in full assemblie declared his daughter Marye illegitimate marryed Anne Bullen one of his wifes maydes the which Pope Clemente the seuenth so hardly coulde digest as that he condemned this diuorce as vniust and of euill example especially for that Anne was a Lutherane and he feared least the King and all his Realme woulde confourme them selues to the like religion Whereat Henrye tooke such disdayne as hee declared himselfe head of the Church thorough out all Englande with forbidding any to aduowe the Pope for head or to transporte any money to Rome or paye Peterpence a reuennewe which euerye house yearely payde according to the ordynaunce of Inas in the yeere seuen hundred and fourtie Whereupon there ensued a great alteration of Religion thorough out the whole Realme so confirmed by Edwarde his sonne as that the catholique was cleane banished out of Englande at the least in publique which caused many Englishe men to flye the Realme to seeke in some other Countrey a place of more free conscience Seeyng that the Dukes of Sommerset and Northumberlande gouerned the roaste in the yeere 1553. Notwithstanding as after the death of the Duke of Sommerset the Duke of Northumberlande seeyng howe the King was fallen sicke of a Fluxe which fell into his stomache from the moneth of Februarie had marryed his sonne Guilforde to â—anâ— daughter to the Duke of Suffolke and cousin vnto the sicke King hee wrought so much as that the young King reiecting his sisters Marye and Elizabeth declared for his heyre and Inherittice vnto the Crowne of Englande this Iane of Suffolke to the ende that by this meanes hee mought traunsferre the Royalle into his owne House and disinherite the true Heyres of their righte and legitimate Succession This Marriage and Testamentarie declaration beeyng done in the moneth of May gaue occasion to a number to thinke that this young King whome they helde for the piller of men of knowledge and gaue great hope of future vertue was poysoned and that beeing assured of the time of his death they had caused him to doe whatsoeuer they woulde haue him well were it of poyson or of a Caterre so it is that Edwarde the sixte of that name and the one and fourtie K. of England dyed the sixt day of Iuly the seuenth yeere of his Raigne and the sixteenth of his age solemly entered at Westminster not without the teares of his subiects who saide that his death was presaged by a Comet which appeared a little before his departure and by the great stormes windes tempests and thunders which had that yeere tormented London the chiefe Cittie of the Realme as the witnesses of such troubles as shortly after ensued in England for the people hating in secrete this Duke of Northumberland held for suspected the testament of King Edward as a thing made too much to the aduantage of the Duke and many Lords of the Countrie terming him too ambitious wrote vnto Mary the eldest daughter of K. Henrie the eight encouraging her to declare her selfe Queene and offring vnto her all dutie and seruice Marye who had no great meanes durst not so soone come to London to the ende that according to the custome she might remaine ten daies in the Tower before her Coronation but went into the Countrie and Dukedome of Norfolke bordering on the Sea coast from whence shee wrote to sundrie Princes and Lords of the Countrie complayning how that Iane of Suffolk had enterprised against her and that Edward was not able to dispose of the Crowne which appertained vnto her being the next daughter vnto the late Kinge Henrie she laide before them the wrong which had beene done vnto Katherine her mother and next vnto her selfe and that none of King Henrie his children were to succeede before her protesting that shee would pursue her right by the sworde and not suffer the Duke of Northumberland to vaunt how he would dispose at his pleasure of the Realme of England These letters being brought to London at the selfe same time as Iane of Suffolke against her will was proclaimed Queene within the Tower of London caused a great chaunge of dispositions among the Lordes there present and a strange alienating of their mindes touching the case of Iane whome sundrie from thence foorth left to take Maries parte The which caused the Duke of Northumberland to send certaine troupes of men at armes into the Countrie of Norfolke thinking thereby to hinder her desseins But in the meane time shee was proclaimed Queene in Suffolke by the principall personages of the land So as hauing recouered some succours from the Emperour on the coast of Flaunders albeit that the Duke had strongly armed vppon the Seas to hinder their comming shee practised with a number of the cheefe of the Duke his armie which in the ende incorporated themselues to hers In the meane time Northumberland to playe on the surer side woulde needes haue the Duke of Suffolke Father to Iane to goe as her Lieutennant
aliue the first of Iuly 1523. Hereupon Adrian died the 13. of September 1523. to whome Clement of Medices 7. succeeded vnder whome the doctrine of Luther began to creepe in amidst the French among whom albeit couertly and secretly the Lutheranes were soone enough suspected and known afterwards examined of their faith were very often pursued by the Clergie so as the French army being broken vp and the King taken before Pauie by Fernand Daual Marquisse of Pescaire Charles of Bourbon and Charles De Launoy Viceroy of Naples 14. of Februarie 1525. who caried him prisoner into Spaine his mother Loyse regent in his absence desiring in this so great an affliction to entertaine the good fauour of Christian Princes especially of the Pope besides the good affection and singular reuerence which by her letters shee protested to carrie towards the Church of Rome demaunded at their hands succour against such an accident and Councell how shee might staie the course of heresies which were already hatched thorough out the whole Realme Then Clement the seuenth besides his priuate letters full of hope and comfort signified from Rome the 20. of March 1525. to the Parliament of Paris that he had vnderstoode by letters from the regent how those wicked heresies began to slide thorough the whole Realme and whom by great prudence and good aduise they had deputed certaine to whom they gaue charge to see the punishment of such as stroue to abolish the faith and auncient Religion whom so deputed he confirmed by his owne authoritie It is necessarie saith he that against this great and maruailous disorder sprong from the malice of Satan and the rage and impietie of his supporters the whole world should bend their forces to preserue the common health considering that this forcenerie woulde not onely confound and broyle Religion but also all principalitie Nobility lawes orders and degrees For his owne parte he would neither spare any diligence or labor to remedie such an inconuenience that they in like sorte whose prudence and vertue hath euery where beene highly renowned ought to employ themselues to the preseruing of the true and right faith And moreouer that to the end the weale of their Realme and dignitie of their estate should be exempt from the perill and domesticall misteries which this pernitious and pestilent heresie sowed round about they needed not to bee pricked forwards considering how great testimonie of their prudence they had already yeelded yet to make his dutie appeare and shew the good will which he bore vnto them he would doe no lesse then adde this For that which they hetherto had done was most agreeable vnto him and was the cause why he exhorted them from thence forth to keep good watch against so mischieuous a plague of heretiques for the honour of God and safetie of the Realme In some hee assured them that this their diligence should bee greatly acceptable to God and worthy of much praise before men that he in like sorte would set to his helping hand and giue vnto them aide and all possible fauour Vpon this then the Diuines of Paris during the imprisonment of King Francis the first tormented greatly among other Iacques Le Feure of Estaples who hath left behinde him many bookes in Philosophie and Diuinitie In sort that hee was enforced to retire out of Fraunce The King aduertised hereof especially by the recommendation of his sister Marguerite who greatly fauoured Le Feure for his vertue sent letters to the Parliament of Paris in which he signified how hee had beene giuen to vnderstand that they had indited Iacques De Feure and sundry other of excellent knowledge before them at the pursute of the Diuines who deepely hated Le Feure for euen before his departure out of France some of that facultie had highly accused him before himselfe but wrongfully and without cause That if it had beene so saith he he gaue charge to the greatest personages and most notable in all erudition to canuisse out his bookes and writings wherewith he was charged which they diligently executing euery thing thoroughly examined a most ample and honorable testimonie was deliuered vnto him touching the said Feure considering then that the truth is such as hee did afterwards vnderstand that he was highly esteemed among the Italians and Spaniards for his doctrine and vertue he would stand maruailously discontented if they should offer any iniurie or put in any danger so innocent a person And for that at that instant he ment to haue iustice more rightly rigorously administred thoroughout his Realme then before as also for that he resolued to shew all fauour and amitie towards learned men to that end hee commaunded that if they had put any men of knowledge in question since his departure that it should be suspended by his mother the regent to the end he might be aduertised by her and that they should therein attend his intention and good pleasure In the meane time not to proceede any further but surcease vntill his returne which he hoped would be shortly by the grace of God or vntill that he or his mother should bee otherwise aduised These letters were dispatched to goe from Madrila Cittie in Spaine the 12. of Nouember and presented vnto the Parliament of Paris the 28. of the same month Loyse shortly after seeing that she was not able to winde the Emperour to such an accord as shee desired for the deliuerie of her sonne made alliance with Henrie the 8. King of England about the end of August 1525. The first Article purported that they should imploy them selues to the repelling of the Turkes strength and courses together with the pestiferous sect of Luther no lesse dangerous then the Turkes Now as the Emperour perceiuing the King to grow verie sicke in respect the pretended accord could take no good effect feared least by the encreasing of his sicknesse he might loose thorough a suddain death so certaine aduantages as presented themselues he went to see him at Madril comforted him and put him in better hope then euer In the end the 14. of Ianuarie 1526. the treatie was concluded Among the Articles whereof it was specially set down that the Emperours and Kings principall end was to haue the enemies of the faith and heresies of the Lutherans cleane rooted out And that a peace being concluded between them they should settle the common wealth and vndertake a warre against the Turkes and heretiques excommunicate and cut off from the communion of the Church A matter aboue al most necessarie and to which the Pope had often dealt and sollicited them to become watchfull To satisfie then his good pleasure they resolued to beseech him to commaunde Embassadours from all Kinges and Princes to meete at a day in some certaine place with generall charge and commission to aduise how they might well make a war against the Turke and defeate the heretiques enemies of the Church that the Pope would permit euerie Prince according
whereof and to giue some reioycing to the long trauell of the besieged they caused the Captain Grille to enter in with one hundred harguebuziers on horsebacke The which hee brauely enterprised and executed and with such conduct as hauing forced the watch with small losse of anie of his soldiers he entered in in the sight of them all which greatly increased their courage The same daie they made a sallie in like sorte out vpon them luckily inough made their retreate like men of warre without receiuing the worse But that nation shewed it selfe so greate an enemie to this poore miserable towne that shee forgot nothing whereby shee might make her extreame desire appeare of seeing the totall destruction therof and how much by day night they ceased not to torment it by all means which they could possiblie imagine by so much more increased the courage of the French to repulse them backe for in lesse than one houre they had made vp the rampire without the ladder where they perceiued the artillery to begin to shake the wal and made stronger in an instant what in one daie had beene throwen downe then it was before Notwithstanding the lightning of their artillerie was so terrible and violent thundering without intermission as there was neither rampire banke nor defence which it turned not ouer without remedie the which continued so furiouslie for the space of neere hand ten dayes together Within which time the enemies supposing that they had made a breach reasonable and great inough as in deed it was of threescore paces long the wall rampire all the defences as well of the castle as the great tower being broken downe and battered no more remaining but a litle mount which they within had caused to bee made and the parapect and toppe of the ditch which was yet strong and hard for them to mount vp vnto notwithstanding that as well with the quarters and ruines of the wall as with faggots and hurdles they dyd what they could to fill vp the ditch to make the scale more easie That beeing knowen to those within they resolued to abide them and you may easily beleeue that they lefte nothing in theyr lodgings that was not brought out After many vollies of artillerie as well from the mountaine which gaue right on the backe of the besieged willing to defend the breach as from that which shot in face of them on the riuer side with a great noise of Fifes Drums Trumpets and diuerse cries after theyr manner they went furiously to the assault of all partes carrying ladders and all kinde of engins to scale and force the towne and there was that daie a most maruellous combat seen For if the enemies were wilfull to enter in much more had the French a better wil to defend themselues and repulse them There could one haue seene nothing but wild fire and vnquenchable crackling of armour and al kinde of weapons pittious cries of those which were burned maimed turned ouer and drawing towardes death generally all sortes of most terrible and furious executions for the space of more than ten long houres the enemies refreshing themselues three times In the end the resolute constancie of the besieged preuayled and vanquished the obstinacy of the imperials repulsing them with a great butcherie of theyr most braue men not without greate losse of them that kept it among whom the valiant Knight De Hesse lost his life whose prowesse was alreadie renowmed beyonde the frontiers of Fraunce in many places namely in the Ilandes of England and Scotland as also dyd De Viennes De Beaudisne De la Rocheposay De Blandie and the Captaine Ferriers all men of marke and of laudable conduct with other valiant Gentlemen and souldiers The King beeing aduertised how couragiously his men behaued themselues perswaded himselfe that to so victorious a beginning there coulde not insue but a most happie end without ordaining anie further succours for this litle towne almost torne in peeces of all partes sauing onely that hee caused De Hedin the Captaine Breuil and S. Romain with about three hundred footmen to assaie if they could enter in Which they most fortunatly performed not without great daunger and hazard of their persons the enemies hauing with theyr trenches and mounts compassed and inuironed the towne round about euen so far as to place their Corps de gnets within the ditches who being neuer a whit the more cooled nor discouraged for that fought daylye hand to hand with the French which kept the breach and grewe much more earnest in returning vnto it assaying by all force possible to carrie it awaie and did not onelie giue fire to diuerse hollow mines in sundrie places the most part whereof they found false and vented but they beside practised a slight neuer before vsed which was to dig vnder the parapect and backe of the ditch beeing verie hard and vneasie to mount vp to the breach all the flankers and defenses as I haue tolde you being raised and broken downe with the artillerie hauing made certaine Taudis which they call Mancelets in fashion of blinders onely to couer them from hand strokes and stones whilest that they did approach to the foot of the breach vnder which they hollowed trained their mine as themselues could desire Whereat the French maruelling inough perswaded themselues that the enemies were not able to hollowe and dig so farre as vnder their feet which were aboue them vpon the breach but rather that they wold drawe out the earth from vnder the castle or the great tower Du Chapitre but contrariwise they still digged vnder the parapect the length of the verie breach holding vp the burthen with shores and piles fylling the ditch full of the earth which they drew out The worke being finished and fire put thereto it happened that one parte of this parapect was blowen vp and fel within the ditch and the rest sunke in a heap swallowing vp many French souldyers the which made the mouth of the breach far greater and so easie as a man at armes might mount vp on horseback armed at all peeces Whereupon Frances of Montmorencie according to the counsell of all the Captaines which were within with him considering how there was no more meanes to defend the town or make anie resistance aduised at the least how to saue the persons and demanded composition which was graunted vnto him But whilest that they parlyed the Germanes and Burgonians entered in at diuerse places and thereuppon the olde Spanish Ensignes ranne vp the great breach crying Faire warres faire wars Whereupon some French men drew to them with theyr pikes and stretched out theyr handes vnto them to keepe them from beeing murthered by the Germanes Nothing beeing able to bee otherwise concluded by this composition by reason of such a surprisall where you might haue seene most strange cruelties which the Germanes and Burgonians committed speaking of nothing but cutting of throats so as the miserable
fifteene Ensignes of French Fanterie and almost two thousand horse against nineteene Ensignes of the Spanish Fanterie which lay encamped about the little towne for that the inhabitants had shutte the gates vpon them fearing to be sacked by them as their neighbours had beene The skirmish lasted almost a whole day eche partye being obstinate to the gaining of the victory which after a long hazard vncertaine combate remained to the French very few of them being either dead or hurte but many more of the Spaniards whereof in like sort diuers were brought away prisonners After all this coyle the French returned to Anchy and about Hedin where the Almanes were put in garrison the bayliwick whereof was giuen by the King to the Count Reingraue In summe towards the end of the moneth of October some companies as well of the French Fanterie as light cauallerie being cast the rest were deuided and put into garrisons to passe ouer the winter which drew on In the meane time the Emperour proceeded on to pursue a marriage betweene his son the K. of Spaine and the infant Mary new Q. of England with such earnestnes as he forgot nothing which might serue to the consummation thereof seing him selfe almost out of all hope to haue succour elsewhere or recouering of any monie at neerer hand which many of that Realme sought to hinder foreseeing an immortal warre with the French which was prepared for them by this meanes remembring well the losses and damage which they had alreadye sustained in hauing vpholden the warre against this nation from whence the Countrie of England reaped great commodities Notwithstanding so much auayled the perswasions of the Emperor with the instigation of the two Queenes Mary and Elenor and aboue all the inductions of Cardinall Pole cosin to the Q. that she being cleane rauished with this new loue and with the ambition to see her selfe wife to the Sonne of an Emperour the better to assure her estate against the reformed and other malcontents in spite of the aduise and liking of the greatest of her Realme keeping her sister Elizabeth likewise a prisonner consented to this marriage Afterwards with as much speede as was possible she affianced by Proctor which was the Earle of Aiguemont Philip K. of Spaine hoping shortlye after to perfit and consumate the ouerplus The K. knowing that all these things tended to no other end but cheefely to endamage and annoy him made a great masse of monie calling such to his aide and succour as he knew were most obedient and faithfull vnto him and as hee thought best able to aide and do him seruice Pope Iuly to the end to pacifie these great troubles of Christendome had sent the Cardinall of England to mediate a peace betweene the King and the Emperour for you must vnderstand that vpon the pursute of the warres of these two Princes Pope Iuly seeing all Europe as it were much moued with the feare of mischeefes which was likely to ensue to euery Countrye by reason of the particular quarrels of these two Monarcks with a secret remorse and gnawing of conscience for himselfe had beene the Author had sent the Cardinall of England his Legate to the King and the Emperour to aduise and by all meanes to vnite and cause them to condescend to a good peace in which he imployed himselfe so vertuously that laying aside all ambition or feare of hatred or other cōsiderations he neuer ceased to lay before them the infinite miseries wherewith the poore Christian people were afflicted togither with the vncertaintye and miserable estate whereunto the Catholicke Church by their dissentions was reduced And albeit that many accounted him to fauour the Emperour more then the King yet hee seemed to haue so well managed their hartes that the hope of a peace was alreadye common thorough out Fraunce and quarters neighbouring about yea so great that the poore borderers of the one and other Lord perswading themselues thereof so assured themselues by little and little that they reedified and began to reinhabite their cottages and small tenementes as yet besmoaked with the fire wherewith they had beene burned to ashes so farre as euery man promised vnto himselfe a happy repose if it would please God to mollifie the harts of these two great Princes But euen as all the tokens of Moses and Aaron hardened the more the obstinate courage of Pharaoh to the end afterwards to make the great wonders of the Lord to appeare so this great God not yet satisfyed and content with so small a punishment for our enormous sinnes would not permit vnto them the vnderstanding to receaue a good and assured peace for the ease and repose of all Christendome wherfore the Legate after many trottings to and fro of each side returned very sorrowfull vnto the Pope leauing in the harts of these two Princes this so inueterate an enmitie whereof the clamors could not so soone mortifie the effects The Queene was deliuered at Fontaine-bleau about nine of the clocke and three quarters past in the morning the eighteenth of March 1554. of a sonne named Hercules by Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Anne de Montmorency Constable and the Duchesse of Guyse daughter to the D. of Ferrara afterwards leauing that name he was called Francis D. of Alencon and of Aniou In the meane space and about the first of the spring there arose a certaine brute of a warre at hand betweene these Princes and much furniture and weapons were dispersed whereby they might bee polished and made readye to the seruice afterwardes to be mustered as soone as the fame was spread throughout France how the Emperour had prepared a great leauye of men of warre and all other sortes of prouisions towardes the Countries of Liege and Ardennes with intent to besiege the Towne of Mesieres hauing established Mariembourg and Auanes as store places and markets to his armye so as Bourdillon who then was at the Courte was presently sent back to fortifie strengthen this little Towne with whatsoeuer should be necessary to attend their comming On the other side the K. foreseeing the Empeperours determination and intent made all meanes to assemble his forces to the end to meet him and preuent him of this small enterprise hauing sent sufficient enough of succour into Piemont and Italye thereby to pursue and continue such good beginning as fortune in that parte had presented vnto him Besides hee dispatched Captaines and commissioners to bring him men of warre as well out of Germany as from those Cantons of Zuizers as were his confederates This was about the ende and issue of the Spring when as the Sunne raysing him selfe high to send among vs his great heates burned and consumed the fruites of the earth with so strange a drouthe that togither with the long trauayle of the warre the poore people expected nought els to the aggrauating of their miseryes then a great and mortall famine for the heape of all theyr pouertyes
woordes and wrighting Among other meanes and perswasions wherewith hee serued himselfe to bring them to this poynt he vsed these Whilest that you make ciuill warre one vpon another the Turke stretcheth out at large his dominion and hath already taken two fortes by land and Sea to wit Belgrade and Rhodes by meanes whereof hee hath made his way as farre as Bude and is growne maister of the Danube that if God had not raised him vp the K. of Persia for an enemie it is very likely that long since he had put all Christendome vnder his obedience By this occasion many false Christians are so multiplyed in diuers places with such corruption of all kinde of discipline as well ecclesiasticall as ciuill as your power is not great enough to punish and correct them which the mutinies growne in so many places well declare the offices of religion left the schismes and heresies which in the meane time engender and grow throughout all Countries you ought to consider your own dutie and aboue all that you be Princes of christian religion And albeit that God hath permitted Satan the author of all mischeefe who goeth about to sifte the Church like Corne to moue warre among you who are the two most principall and noblest members of the Church yet hath hee not permitted his malice to exceede prophane and ciuill actions for hee hath counter garded you entirely in one religion in one same faith and opinion assembled and vnited in one selfe same body of the Church otherwise it were not possible to finde meanes to set you at accorde And albeit that many other Princes are reuolted from the Church and that the enemye of mankinde hath spread his malice throughout God notwithstanding hath looked vpon you in pittie and brought to nought the attemptes of the Deuill In which as for a certain signe of his bounty and clemency towards you he sheweth that finally he wil be serued by you and vnite you with one fraternall bond together with his Vicar on earth to take away these so perillous discordes and restore againe peace as well in the ciuill as ecclesiasticall estate Pole alleadged many other thinges to this purpose greatly threatning them with the wrath and vengeance of God if they did not leaue of these their passions and take compassion of the poore people so greatly afflicted And albeit that he preuailed nothing yet for so much as the affaires of England came to his wish hee insisted in such sorte as hee caused the Emperour and the King of France to come to this poynte to sende Embassadours on the one parte and the other The Queene of England who carried her selfe neuter in this cause caused a place to bee chosen neate and proper in the fielde betweene Cales Ardes and Graueline Townes vnder the subiection of England France and Burgondie scituate as in a tryangle then hauing made cast a trenche round she caused foure lodginges to be reared vp for the time onely but commodious enough where the three and twentith daye of May the Embassadours assembled On the Emperours parte the Bishop of Arras among other for the French King were the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Constable for England to mediate the Peace was Pole the Earle of Arundel and Paget The brute hereof being spread abroade gaue men occasion to think and hope for much especiallye those who vnderstoode not the deapth of the differences for there was question made of the Duchies of Milan Bourgondie Sauoye Piemont Corse Nauarre Lorraine Luxēbourg of the Townes of Thou Verdun and Metz matters hauing beene long and stiffelye debated as among other difficulties the English mediators were of opinion that the knowledge of certaine of the differents were fitte to be reserued to the deciding of a Councell they all departed thence without doing ought The tenth of Iune Ferdinande and the estates of the Empire besought the Emperour by their letters that in treating of peace he would haue especiall regarde to what the K. of France had taken away from the Empire Now nothing being accorded betweene the Embassadours the Emperour wrote backe fifteene dayes after to the estates in like substance The Emperours letters to the states I Greatly reioyced to see that you tooke pittie of those whom the enemie to my selfe and the Empire hath sacked I alwaies had especial care that they shold be restored into their former estate and before I receiued your letters I gaue expresse charge to my Embassadours and principall Councellors deputed for a peace that they should in any wise presse this without yeelding one inche And albeit that in all the treaties of peace which I haue made I thought in respect of the publike tranquilitie they would not bee to obstinate yet they are departed away without doing ought and notwithstanding I doe not refuse a peace for the good of Christendome so as they make me any reasonable offers and as opportunitie shall be offred I will straine myselfe to get such goods as haue beene pluckt from the Empire restored into their former estate See how God which hath the harts of Kings in his hands making each partie to iudge the others demaunds to vnreasonable would not permit Christendome so soone to enioy a benefit so much desired In sort that each one keeping himselfe vpon feare of a surprisal easily made his neighbor thinke how the cariadges of the Garrisons round about tended to more high enterprises So as these two Princes tickled with the like feare and quickly taking one anothers actions for a sufficient defiance of warre as Henrie deuided his men where he saw it most needfull the Emperour first put his armie into the field of twentie thousand fighting men vnder Martin Roussan bastard of Cleues who after many roades burnings and vncredible wasts all along the Meuse encamped at Deux Giuets minding to build a fort vpon that mountaine at the foot whereof this riuer runneth there by to bridle all the quarters round about make a sure retreate there for al such as were able to endomage the French The D. of Neuers in the meane space hauing taken good order for Maizieres and other places of importance resolued by the K. commaundement to victuall well Mariemburg And to that end hauing speedily and secretly made ready all preparations as well of men as victuals munitions and companies vnder the Comte of Retheloix he sent three hundred harquebusiers as well French as English and Scots mounted to discouer and bring backe word to the cheefe of the eight hundred light horse which followed them what they should discry who with the leader of the vantgard of two hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins which marched after and a number of harquebusiers close to the winges of the wagons prouided therto whatsoeuer was needfull according to the generals commaundment who led the battell of three hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins hauing on his backe the arrieregard of two hundred men at armes
generall against Marye for hee durst not leaue London fearing least the Londiners woulde reuoulte But the Duke of Suffolke refusing to take this charge vpon him he was constrained to goe him selfe the other remayning to serue to giue counsell to his daughter within the Tower of London The mishappe notwithstanding of this poore Lord was such as of a great number of men which hee had in his trayne hee saw himselfe as it were euen in a moment left cleane destitute of them all And as one mishappe neuer commeth alone hauing for want of men sent to London for souldiours from thence to come to his succours and for some Lordes which might serue for hostages and warrant of his lyfe they were no sooner without the Cittie but they declared themselues for Marye Whereof it ensued that the Duke who hoped to see his Sonne Kinge of England sawe himselfe left of euery manne and deliuered into the handes of Marye his enemye afterwardes conueyed to London where his tryall beeing made hee then was condemned to loose his head the iudgement being executed in the moneth of September and Marie being proclaimed Queene at London by the Lords and coūcellors of the whole Realme of England as the lawfull heire apparant therevnto and in the end the miserable princesse Iane of Suffolke with her husband sonne vnto the D. of Northumberland had their heads stroken off at London for that shee would not release as some said the right which shee pretended to the Crowne Thus ceased the trouble on that side within the Realme of England Marie being thus receiued for Queene in England they propounded vnto her certaine points to effectuate as to reestablish the auncient Chatholique Religion the goods of the Church into their former estate then that it would please her to marie with some Prince worthie of her and her Realme thereby to draw a succour vnto the Crowne Whereupon to the end that better and more ready order might bee giuen vnto the first shee was counceled to send for her coussen Raynolde Pole then a Fugitiue at Rome for Religion who comming as Legate and with full power from the Pope might better aduance such a matter then any other within the Realme Pole being sent for and forward on his way with such authoritie as was required was entreated by the Emperour Charles the fift to visit him as he passed by at Bruxelles wher he so cunningly handled any Englishman as he promised him that he would further the marriage betweene his Cossin the Queene of England and his sonne Philippe Prince of Spaine which tooke such effect as you haue seene touching the seconde point which could not be so soone brought to passe The Legate being receiued with great deuotion and magnificence into his Country was in full assembly of the three estates of the Realme begon the 12. of Nouember 1554. restored vnto all his dignities goods and honours whereof he had beene depriued by K. Henrie the eight Afterwards vpon Wensday the twentie eight of that moneth the Parliament of England being assembled and in the presence of the King and Queene hee exposed his Legation and exhorted them to returne to the holy Sea of the Pope deliuering vnto them how greatly bound they were vnto almightie God who now had enlarged towards them his diuine grace hauing bestowed vppon them two such Princes as they had further he shewed vnto them how the holy Father ment to vse his benignitie and accustomed clemencye by him his Legate greatly thanking them for that they had receiued him into his Countrie and restored him in bloud where in hee had beene so long attaint and how in respect thereof hee helde himselfe the more bound to procure that they might be restored into the heauenly Court as his principall desire was That done he retyred to giue the better cōmoditie vnto the Lordes of the Parliament to resolue themselues And straight waies the Chancellour repeating the words of the Cardinall shewed vnto them how much they were to thanke God who had raysed vp such a Prophet of their owne seede to procure their saluation In such wise as al with a common accorde concluded to consent to the vnion and obedience of the Church of Rome So as on the next morrow it was ordayned that the Cardinals motion shoulde be accorded and to present with a common consent a petition to beseech their Maiesties as the head of the realme to entreate the Legate to procure an absolute remission of all their errors passed Promising to repeale all the lawes which had beene in former times established against the authoritie of the Sea of Rome The King sent the petition to the Legate and the daye after the Parliament reassembled in the place where the Kinge and Queene with the Cardinall were set There the Chauncellour rose vpp and with such greate reuerence deliuered alowde the resolution which had beene made by the Lordes of the Parliament beseeching in the name of them all that their petition might bee accepted which was written in Latine formed and sealed by the Chancelour The petition being opened by the Legate was deliuered vnto the Chancelour to publish who read it with a lowde voice and that done put it to the question which they all passed and vpon that the King and Queene arose and presented the petition vnto the Legate who read the same Afterwards hee gaue vnto them the Buls of his Legation to reade where by might appeare the authoritie which hee had from the holy Father to be able to absolue them that done he made vnto the man Oration in English shewing how much repentance was agreeable vnto God and how the Angels in Paradise make more ioye of a sinner which returneth to repentance then of nintie and nine iust And thereupon applied certaine examples out of the word to his purpose Then hauing ended his speech he arose vp and the King and Queene kneeled downe on both knees before him inuoking God and the Saints that it would please him to pardon the penitent people in the authoritie of him whose person he there represented all the faults which they had committed in times passed that done the Legate pronounced a generall absolution Afterwardes they all followed the King Queene and Legate to the Chappell where was song Te Deum And after that the Cardinall had made his triumphant entries he restored on the first Sunday in Aduent to the Bishoppes and other Ecclesiasticall persons all the power authoritie and prerogatiue which had beene taken from them On which day the Bishoppe of Winchester hauing beene before times of the Protestant Religion made a Sermon after a solemne Masse taking for his theame Nunc tempus est de somno surgere that is to say it is now time to awake out of sleepe as if he woulde saie that vnder the Raigne of Edward King of England he had alwaies beene asleepe The Queene had in the beginning sent Embassadours to Rome with commission to kisse the feete of his
force which the king had to be diuided among the most dangerous frontires especially in Campagne For that the imperials ordinaryly made theyr descent most that waies and to fauor the fortification of Rocroy which serued as a counterfort and support to Mariembourg and Maubert Fontaine Fortifying in lyke sorte and munitioning the rest of the places vppon the frontire they repayred vp agayne the platforme and pan of the wall behinde the castle of Mezieres which was much fallen downe The spring notwithstanding and most part of the Summer passed ouer without anie matter worthie of memorie sauing the attempt of certaine of the garrisons vpon Roc Roy which I wil shew vnto you After hauing represented the place to the naturall It is a barren soile more than two leagues round about it where you can see nothing but high woods standing water and marrishes especially in the wast vnmanured places groweth nothing but briers thorns broome and heath for that the molde thereof is clay the plains bottomes all moorish where the fort standeth The rest of the places are hard and sharpe rocks without anie moisture or bearing of fruit sauing catmint and mosse which maketh it farre vnfit for the incamping of an armie by meanes of the seate and barrennes of the place The fort hath fiue frontes which they tearme in forme of Pantagone couered and defended with four great bulwarkes garnished with their flankers Cazamates platformes then the old fort which serueth for the fift each carrying his particular name so great and spacious that euerie one may lodge two thousand souldiers and a greate deale of artillery A matter verie commodious for the retrenches and rampires against the enemie Moreouer the defences there are so surely couered and without anie daunger of batterie that it is verie vneasie to take them awaie ioynt that the heeles and shoulders thereof are so large and thicke that they couer a great part of the Courtines And for the better enduring of the rampire the turfe and the earth is so claie and slammie as if it soake in neuer so little water it stiffneth and hardneth inough of it selfe Therefore the fourth of Aprill the imperiall garrisons beeing assembled together marched so secretly to breake downe the banke which as yet was reared but two foot high as thinking that the most part of the souldiers would sallie out vpon their curriors with resolution to cut off theyr waie and so hew them in peeces Then together with such as fled to enter pesle mesle within the forte they sawe the souldiers euen and anone sallying out file a file to the skirmish against the first as the indiscreet heat of the French doth alwayes carrie But the whole companie comming vpon them to cut off their retreate the rest which were within the forte in armes to make the view and deale the last issued forth so readily and with such resolute charges as the other were constrained to drawe backe and retyre themselues in the end to defend themselues from the number of Cannon shot which played vpon them with out ceasing Passing ouer thus some time in these light attempts the seuenth of Iune the Queen of England sent an Heralde of armes to proclaime warre vnto the king who the king hauing made it bee declared vnto him by the Constable how graciouslye hee vsed him in respect of the punishment which hee deserued in that he had passed thorough his realme without safe conduct was curteously sent backe with presents and his answere which was how hee accepted of the defiance in hope to make her know that wythout anie occasion at all shee had offered this vnto him considering the good offices which had passed as well from himselfe as his auncestours towardes her and her nation Likewise it was sufficiently inough apparant how that shee had beene as it were importuned heereunto by her husband in respect of the diuisions and partialities of that Realme as well betweene the English and the Spaniardes as among the English themselues The most parte imagining howe that theyr new king diminishing theyr forces and meanes by such warres would seeke the more easily to make himselfe master of theyr fortresses and vsurpe the superintendance which he so much longed after to manage all things at his owne will and pleasure You shall else-where see what insued heereupon In Iuly the Prince of Piemont Almora Earle of Eguemond the Duke of Ascot and others prepared an armie at Giuets curious to performe the matter better than they dyd at the first attempt Which they had assembled together for to haue surprised Rocroy at the verie first push But their vant curriers were so lustily set vpon by those which issued out to the skirmish as the grosse comming to assist and support them after a long meley of hot buckling together and infinite Cannon shot which rained among them was constrayned in the end to leaue a great number of theyr dead behinde in the field whilest they turned vppon the frontire of Picardie as if they had meant to haue attempted vpon Guise before which the whole imperiall armie laie of thirtie fiue thousand men and twelue thousande horse tarrying for eight thousand Englishmen who landing at Calis and in the Countie Doye was to ioyne wyth them at Saint Quentines King Henrie his armie assembled it selfe at the same time at Atygnie But as theyr foresight was not so great as the Spanish no more was theyr number nor theyr meanes found to be alike There might be about eighteene thousand fantassins of Almanes and French fiue or sixe thousand horse of light men at armes as well French as Almaine coasting alwaies notwithstanding the imperials within foure or fiue leagues following the Countrie of Tierasche resolued to close themselues within Pierre Ponte a place very commodious to ouerrun the whol frontire and there to distribute succours among the garrisons with suretie of those troupes which should keepe the field The aduantage which grew vnto the imperials thorough their long foresight hauing brought foorth vnto them so strong an armie and the variable and diligent dismarch of theyr troupes caused that the French beeing insolent and contemning the enemyes forces against whome ordinarily they esteemed it inough to prepare them selues vpon the blow and intelligence which presented it selfe did in no sorte prouide to withstand the enterprise of Phillip and beeing at the verie pinch vncertayne of his intent they were not able to iudge by the deportments of his armie to what place he meant whereby they might furnish it as were necessarie So as first the Kinges councell and afterwardes the Constables beeing diuided into two partes some thought that the Prince of Piemont would vndertake nought else and turned to no other end than to make an honorable retreate For that not hauing bene able to assemble his armie together so soone as he imagined through the distance of so many diuers countries as he was to drawe his men out of and other
an assembly The French Embassadors oration in the Councell of Trent The choise of Bishops and Cleargie denied to the Pope The enacting of La Pragmatique Sanction 12. Articles in Fraunce The K. letters and complaints against the Pope The K. answere to the Emperours obiection The originall and differēce of Christian religion in Fraunce How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Albigeois was dispersed thorough Europe Opinions soner changed by ease and rest then violence The English Lords of Guienne in france Normandie Poictou Anioy c. The Religion of the Vaudois dispersed thorough England VVicklife his Doctrine Lollards in England Liuonia Sermatia c. How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Wicklife was carried into Polonia Bohemia and other countries of Almaine The Bohemians and Almaines persecuted by the Popes inquisitors before Iohn Hus. Councell of Constance summoned for the refomation of the Church Iohn Hus cōdemned and burnt as an heretique at Constance notwithstanding the Emperours safe conduct Popes deposed Ierome of Prag condemned and burned at Constance as Iohn Hus. The Bohemians angrye growe more resolute by the death of Hus and Hierom. Captain Zischa leuieth men against the Priests Monkes of Bohemia Luther his beginning 1518. Generall pardons published through Christendom 1517. Luther cited to Rome What caused a stay of Luthers reformation Martin Luthers beginning profession and carriadge of life Luther himselfe confesseth it in his answer to the book which H. D. of Brunwick wrote against him 1541. as Sleyden reporteth in the 14. of his history repeating Luthers words who discouered the occasions which moued him to preach and write against pardons My name saith he began to grow famous because no man was found else that durst oppose himselfe This little glory was pleasing as then vnto me c. Selim King of Turkes dreadfull to his enemies Selims crueltie towards his father bretheren and race Pope Leo endeuoureth the Christian Princes to enter league against the Turkes How the Christians armie should be bestowed to annoy the Turke Christian Princes rather respected their perticular then the common cause Selim dieth Soliman succeedeth The palorepiscopal mantle how made and giuen by Popes (4) Made of the wool of two white Mattons set vpon the Aulter in S. Agnes Church while Agnus Dei is sung vpon that holy day and afterwards giuē to the Subdeacons of S. Peters who shere them at shering time and of the yarne which cōmeth from them among other maketh a mantle three fingers broad reaching from the shoulders to the calfe of the leg with little knobs of lead at the skirts from thence laide vpon the corps of S. Peter S Paul with certaine praiers and kept there one night with great ceremony after deliuered to him that must haue it and is only for Archbishops Luther appereth before Caietan the Popes Legat. Luther apealeth from Caietan The foundation of pardons and Indulgences Luther eager against the Court of Rome Erasmus his opinion of Luther Luther condemned by Pope Leo. Luther appealed againe from the Pope Luther publiquely burneth the cannon law and Popes Bull. Luther banished by Charls his letters pattents at Wormes The Masse first abolished in Germany Iohn Hus prophecieth of Luther The Emperour visiteth in person the K. of England Images broken downe in Germanie Luther misliketh the breaking of Images by the people Leo 10. dieth Adrian 6. succeedeth Adrian dieth Clement 7 de Medices succeedeth Letters from the Pope to the Parliament of Paris King Francis writeth in the behalfe of Iacques Faber League betweene the regent and Henrie the 8. King of England Peace concluded between the Emperor Charles and Francis y e first Suissers reformed Geneue a first retreate to French Lutherans The decree of Spire permitted euerie mā to maintaine his Religion without alteration The beginning of the league of Smalcade among the Protestants Whence the name of Protestants first sprong The opinion of the Supper being diuers among the reformed is cause of great inconueniences The King of Fraunce and England succour the Lutheranes The Protetestants demaund of the Emperour Election of the K. of Romanes Frederic of Saxe elector dieth Accord between Fredederic K. of Bohemia and the D. of Saxe Peace thoroughout Germany and Religion free The race and descent of Medices in which the translator doth desire the indifferēt Reader to consider what scandalous libels haue of late yeares by to humorous affections bene cast out in disgrace of the house of Medices onely to a base the royal race of Vallois of this look Guicciardin in his first booke c. The Q. Mother descended out of the house of Bologne by the mother side K. Frauncis aideth the Protestants Pope Clemēt dieth Paul Ferneze succeedeth Persecutions in Fraunce The Pope hath no authoritie to assigne a councell (4) According to the Romaine Emperours who named the informers quadruplatores The Emperours Interim The Protestants oppose themselues to the decree of the Emperour Councell of Trent Decree of the Councell of Trent Martin Luther dieth 1546. The Emperour writeth to the townes for succour The townes send answers Speach betweene the Emperour and Landgraue The holy league betweene Pope Emperour and other Princes The Emperors army against the Lutheranes The Emperor banisheth and condemneth the D. of Saxe Protestants defie the Emperour The Emperors deuice to draw Maurice against his Cosin Elector of Saxe The Protestants fault and error Maurice warreth against his cosin and the Protestants The Elector hurt taken broght to the Emperour Great ransomes which the Emperour had of the Germaines The Emperor would haue the Councell remoued frō Bolonia to Treat Melancthons answere Persecution of Lutherans Diet of Ausbourge The Landgraue discouered minding to haue made an escape Difference about succession in the empire Councell Maurice demaundeth a more safe-conduct The Catholiques helde that faith was not to be holden with heretiques Safe conduct from the coūcell at Basle for the Bohemians Magdebourg deliuered vp Embassage from the king of Fraunce to Maurice Maurice and Brandebourg Embassadors speech The Princes Embassadors Maurices demaunds at the councell Diuersities of opinions in the Councell of Trent The Councell of Trent deferred for 2. yeares Crescence Cardinall Legat and president for the Pope died of an apprehension The birth of H. 3. K. of France and Pologne The Baronnie of Montmotency erected into a Duchie with right of a Petre. The K. letter to the Electors Hostages of Fraunce and Germany The propositions of Maurice The resolution of peace deserred and wherefore The Vaudois of Prouence how when by whom and wherefore persecuted as Heretiques Arrest of the parlament of Aix They were about 24. as well inhabitants of Merin dolas other their neighbours Particular iudgements vpon the merite of the arrest The president La Chassane differreth the execution of the arrest and his reasons Cause of delay of the execution Catalogus gloriae mundi made by Chassane and printed at Lions Guillaume du Bellay L. of Langeay lieuetenant for the
battered vndermined taken and sacked by the Imperials Horace Farneze D. of Castres De Magny the Vicount of Martigues Moninuille Cizieux Dampierre Lusignan and others dead at Hedin The French army assembled neere Amiens and Pequigny The D. of Ascoâ— prisonner The French army in the field A new ordinance of harquebusiers mounted Bapaulme represented The dessein of Charles 5. Emperour against the French Their answere of Cambray to the King Skirmishes before Cambray Description of the towne of cambray This towne of Cambray was euer coueted of the K. of France but neuer able to be reduced to the Flower delice vntil Francis D. of Brabant Aniou and Sonne of France and onely brother to the King had by siege taken the same and so annexed by his prowes at this day to the Crowne of Fraunce The Citadell of Cambray Feeble places ought not so much as to offer to holde out against an army bringing canon Representation of the Imperials forte The order of the French army hoping to gaine the battaile neer Valenciennes An inuention of the French so to order as all their troupes in one day should fight in battaile taken from the ancient Romanes How the artillery was ordered and disposed The K. presence giueth great encouragement to the Souldiers The charge of the French Cauallerie Consultation whether the enemies were to be assailed within their own forte or no. Retraite of the French Retrait departure of the French army The Marshall S. Andre sent with part of the army to recouer the County of S. Poul Count Reingraue A marriage treated between the K. of Spaine and the infant Mary new Q. of England Cardinal Pole sent to treat a peace betweene the K. and the Emperour Birth of Mounsier The K. army assembled in diuers pleces The French entreth in 3. places within the Emperours country The army of the D. of Neuers and his exploites The difficulty of the Ardennes The fort of Linchant ruined Streame of Semois The Castle of Orcimont summoned besieged battered and yeelded vp by the flight of the Defendants Valsimont the 4 lodging of the D. of Neuers armie Streame of Vouye The Castle of Beaurin summoned Beaurin Castle yeelded Cap. Salsede commissioner generall for victuals conquered al the Castles along the riuer Mariembourg taken by the French Rocroy a small village between Maubert-fontaine and Mariembourg fortified for the safetie of the passage Their answere of Disnan to the D. Harroâ—lde and trumpeter The K. armie Bouines furiously battered and taken by assault Forts punished for holding against the K. power A chiefe of an armie ought not to be to ventrous English Scotts takeÌ„ at the ports of Giuets by the Bourguignons The Emperours armie vnder the prince of Piemont An act of a most christian K. The imperial armie followeth the French from place to place Marimont a hous of pleasure to Q. Marâ—e burned The imperials enterprises vpon the French armie Marriage of Philip of Austria Mary Q. of England Courtesie of England Iane of Suffolke and her husband with sundry other beheadded at London The K. army before Rentry and his desseines The Emperour before Renty his disseines The Emperours and K. Henries desseines before Reinty The Imperial army to giue battaile to the French The French army represented before Renty to giue battaile The D. of Guises speech to the gentlemen of his company The K. answere to the Zuizers The second combate in which the imperials were ouerthrowne Number of the dead French and Imperial The K. army dissolued Mariembourg Pope Iuly 3. deceased Pope Marcel poysoned Pope Paul 4. Iesuistes Cardinal Pole his perswasions to a peace The place appointed to treat of the Peace Captaine Saluoson The Turks scoured the coast of Tuscane D. of Sauove Isle of Corse Syene desieged by the Marques of Marignan Ciuitelle besieged by the French A Captaine punished for cowardly yeelding vp a place furnished Turkes come to the aide of the French sacke all the coast of Italy Siene besieged by the Imperials Pope Marcel more deuout then watâ—er Montalcin the retreate of the Sienois Setean taken Port of Hercule a road for the french Gallies surprised by the Marquisse Ferdinand Gonzague disapointed by the Emperour The Duke of Alua Lieutenant generall in Italy for the Emperour The Marquisse of Marignau malcoÌ„tent with the Duk of Alua retyreth to his owne home Affaires of Piemont The first exploits of the D. of Alua rigorous to astonish them of the countrie Vulpian victuaaled by the D. of Alua. Saint Iaco besieged battered lest by the Imperials The D. of Alua retireth vulpian besieged battered and assaulted yeeldeth to composition Montcaluo taken Certain captains hanged for so slightly yeelding Combat at the sharpe betweene 4. French and as many Spaniards and Italians Surprises of certain companies in Piemont Desseins of the Imperial army A notable accident The part of a Brother Appeale of the last refuge of the condemned and safegarde of innocencie Charles 5. Emperour yeeldeth vp all his estates and retireth into Spaine to liue priuately Mary Q of Hungarie Gouernesse of the Lowe Countries Grace sweetenesse the first actions of Princes Letters plaints of Mary aspiring the Crowne of England Libels against the Spanniardes in England An accorde beetweene the King and the Duke of Estampes for his clame to the Dutchie of Bretaigne Occasions which moued K. Philip Marie of England to harken to a peace Charles Cardinall of Lorraine and his vyage in into Italy Perswasions to periurie Marriage of Mareschall Montmorency eldest sonne to the Conestable The Pope the last succour to flie vnto for breach of truce and oathes The King of Spaines answere to such griefes as the K. alleadged on the Popes behalfe Particular causes of the breache of Truce by the Imperialles Iean de Lune a Fugitiue into Fraunce Plaisance rendred to Octauian D. of Parmâ—â— Point of Honour in a Cardinall The Duke of Alua beseaâ—e hâ— Rome with the Pope and cardinals so harde as he thought to famiâ—lâ—e them The meanes which the French and Italians helde to a liâ—e Rome and the Pope against the enemies attempts attending succours out of Fraunce Ostia taken by the D. of Alua. The Venetians succour not the Pope The D. of Guise matcheth to Rome with the French armie The port of Ostia rendred by composition to the Spanyardes Truce betweene the Pope and the D. of Alua. D. of Ferrara named the Defender of the Church League between the Pope the K. of Fraunce and D. of Ferrara Italie in armes upon the comming of the French The D. of Alua his disseins The first attempts of the French armie ioyned with the Mareschal Brissae Valence yeilded vp to the D. of Guise Ostia and 〈◊〉 fort there of taken 〈◊〉 Stroâ—zy Monlâ—c To vnes taken from the Spaniardes The D. of Guise taketh Counâ—â—h of what is best to be done attâ—… taking of Valence Dauid George heretique deâ—… the discourse of his life Informations proceedinges iudgementes of the
but before this thorough their subtilties and wilines they haue preuailed so farre as the most famous Prince King Frauncis was condemned for an enemy without being heard It is true that that redounded to their particular profite but to the great dammage of the Common-wealth for it may euidently enough be perceiued how hard a matter it is to decay the liberty of Germanye and to build their Realme to make it last so great and so long as the amity betweene these two nations hath endured for because at this present standing in feare of the French armies they proceede therein more slackely and insist not so liuely to impose their Spanish yoke they be they for certaine which haue obtained peace at the Turkes handes by praiers and tributes and who vnder colour of Religion and obedience haue brought a thousand enormities and factions into Germany which haue beaten her with her owne rodde warring against her with her owne power which haue drawne monie from all and rendred the condition of Germany into so pitious an estate as may be wel seene by the Spanish Garrisons disposed on the one side and the other which haue vnfurnished those places of armes where they were kept in store which haue made open the way to the examination of the treasure for it is growne to that passe at this day that the seale of the Empire and the iudgement of the Chamber and the right or priuiledge of imperiall dayes is in the sleeue of the B. of Arras for what meaneth this to execute by way of iustice or to banish in offring great rewardes to the murtherers all those as for their maintenance haue put themselues into the wages of strangers I omit so many murthers so many whordomes pilferies and sackings of Citties and aboue all religion which now was handled of one sorte and now of another accordingly as the time serued Certes whatsoeuer hath beene done since some yeares passed hath tended to no other end then to trouble the lawes of the Empire or constraine or allure King Ferdinand by faire promises as also to terrifie the Princes by feares and dreades to the end the Prince of Spaine might be chosen Emperour were it not rather to be wished by men of valour to dye then to see the light of the Sunne in such miseries and calamities I doe not think that any man can be found so blockish or barbarous that hee doth not feele himselfe galled with these thinges Therefore no man ought to maruell if at the last some Princes haue bene found and among them the Electour Maurice D. of Saxe which stand resolued to hazard their liues for the recouerie of the liberty of their common Countrie and which finding themselues too feeble and not able alone to sustaine the charge haue demaunded succour and alliance of the King of Fraunce who cleane forgetting any mislikes of the time passed hath not onely employed thereto all his wealth and treasure but also hath not spared his owne person in a matter of so great consequence contracting an alliance with them wherein among other thinges there is set downe that they shall not make any accorde with the enemy without the Kings good liking and albeit that Maurice be bound thereunto yet desiring the prosperitie of the Countrie and to accommodate himselfe to Ferdinand which did so earnestly require it he very lately besought the most christian King to signifie vnto him vnder what conditions hee would haue the peace treated of that to say the truth fell out otherwise then he hoped for considering his benefite towards them to haue beene such and so great that hee thought it fitter to entreate neerer hand and not so farre off of matters which so neerely concerned him neuerthelesse forsomuch as he euer preferred the publick weale before his owne particular hee would deny nothing to a Prince his allie wherefore if the soares of the common wealth might be healed as they ought and that good assurance may be giuen that in time to come they shall not be refreshed if the Captiue Princes may be released vnder the conditions set downe in the treatie further if the ancient alliances betweene Fraunce and the Empire and the last Capitulation with Princes may be so confirmed as that for euer they may remaine in force if these thinges I saye may bee well brought to passe he is so affectionate to the Common wealth that not onely he will willingly accord to a treatie of peace but also yeeld most humble thanks to God that herein he hath aided you with councell and succours As touching priuate matters as the Emperour hath detained from him many things by force and made warre vpon him without any iust occasion the King thinketh it a matter very reasonable that he which hath beene the occasion of the iniury should firste shewe the way of satisfaction The King in truth no whit distrusteth at all of his owne power nor yet of the equitie of his cause and notwithstanding hee will giue them to vnderstand how much hee loueth peace and how much hee desireth to agree with them all and with Maurice The Princes answered hereunto that his discourse fet from antiquitie as concerning the coniunction of Germany and Fraunce was most agreeable vnto them and no lesse that the King preferred the common wealth before his particular profite making no refusall to the confederate Princes accorde with the Emperour for it is not onely the profite of one nation but of all Europe which hauing beene turmoyled with ciuill calamities tended to an euident ruine As for the conditions which the K. demaunded they doubted not but that they might be obtained for the Emperour alwaies bare good will towards the common wealth both heretofore and in these present troubles he neuer vnderstoode that the libertye of Germany was any waies diminished There was likewise great hope that in very short space hee would set at libertie the Captiue Princes As touching the renewing of their ancient alliances the King well vnderstandeth in his owne wisedome that a matter of so great weight could not be brought to passe in this assembly notwithstanding they greatly desired that the amitie which euer had beene betweene the two nations might remaine firme and inuiolable they likewise desire aboue all the rest that the differentes betweene the King and the Emperour might be pacified protesting that therein they would neither spare trauaile not diligence whatsoeuer But forsomuch as the K. said that the Emperour did possesse sundry places which appertained to him and openly made shew of many which he would repeate it seemed vnto them a matter very reasonable that he should declare what they were for they were determined fullye to infourme the Emperour thereof and to be a meanes in the cause Further they besought the King to take the same in good parte That which the Embassadour spake of the familye of Luxembourg grew vpon this Henry Earle of Luxembourg had a sonne named Henry who afterwards was the