in the taile with a troupe of horsemen but beeing ouerthrowne from his horse was presently slaine with a Pike which was thrust into his side and so died most vnfortunately when hee had gotten a most glorious and honourable victorie The Lord Lautrech his cousin Germaine being hurt with aboue twentie wounds lay besydes him almost dead but beeing succoured in time was afterwards recouered The number that was slaine on both sides were well neare tenne thousand persons the thirde part of which were French men whose losse was farre the greater by reason of the death of Foix with whom the courage strength life and fiercenesse of that army was in a maner vtterly extinguished howbeit they entered Rauenna which they sacked and spoyled Rauenna sacked and spoyled and tooke sundrie other Cities raunging vp and downe at theyr owne pleasure But presently they began to be afflicted with newe crosses for the Switzers passing the Alpes and ioyning with the Venetians The Switzers expell the French out of Millan tooke Cremona and Bergamo and approching Millan Triultio being without hope to defende the Citie secretly stole away into Piemont and vpon the newes of his departure Parma Placentia Bologna and almost all Romagna returned to the Pope and Geane likewise reuolted from the French choosing Fregosa who had beene generall of the Venecian armie for their Duke Thus the French Kings affaires began to be quailed in Italy and by reason the king of England was nowe readie to enter France he was compelled to looke to the defence of his owne countrey The death of Lewis the twelfth king of France and to suffer the Switzers to take their pleasure in Millan But the French King reconciling himselfe with England married the Kings sister with whom he liued not three moneths but died at Paris 1514. after he had raigned seauenteene yeeres and was buried at Saint Denis CHAP. IIII. Francis the first King of France winneth Millan from the Emperor His great vertues he besiegeth Pauia and is taken prisoner He is sent into Spaine A league made against the Emperour The French King is deliuered and falleth out with the Emperour He dyeth at Rambouillet LEwis the twelfth was no sooner deceased Francis the first King of France but Francis Duke of Angolesme succeeded in the Kingdome who continuing the former quarrell for the Dukedome of Millan and kingdome of Naples left no stone vnroled to bring his desires to passe but forthwith there approched many impediments and sundrie blocks were cast in his way which maruailously altered his course extreamely crossed al his designements for the Emperour Maximilian growing aged and beeing wearie with the burthen of the Empire sent Embassadors to the Electors and to the Pope to desire them to choose Charles of Austriche and king of Spaine for their Emperour but the French king thinking him to be mightie inough already labored by all possible meanes to hinder that election Before that any thing could be accomplished Maximilian died The King of France laboreth to bee Emperour whereupon the French and Spanish kings became earnest competitors and each endeuored to win the Goale from other The French King was put in some hope by the faire promises of the marquesse of Brandenburge one of the electors howbeit in the ende Charles of Austriche was chosen which spited Francis to the heart Charles K. of Spaine chosen Emrour And now hee daily picked quarrels at the Emperour and at last fel flat out with him for being a Prince of great courage wise industrious rich and ambitious hee in a sort disdained that the yong king of Spaine should be preferred before him and therefore he presently hired Switzers who for money became his mercenaries and sent Monsieur de Lantrech to besiege Millan which was valiantly kept by Prospero Colonno The rumour whereof being spread beyond the Alps The great commendation of Francis the first caused Antonio de Leua to fortifie Pauia so that now all Italy began to bee in an vprore and the French kings comming was greatly feared for that hee was a Prince vniuersally furnished with all royall vertues and fit to enterprise great matters And vnderstanding that the Emperiall power had not onely expelled the French men out of the Duchie of Millan The great commendation of Francis the first but were entred France and by besieging of Marseiles in Prouence seemed to dare him within his owne dominions hee gathered a strong power and marched towardes his enemies with all speede who hearing of his comming brake vp their siege and hasted to Italy whom the king pursued so fast The King of France taketh Millan that the emperials were no sooner entred into Millan but that hee was hard at the gates where hee stayed not long but that the Cittie was yeelded vnto him the emperiall forces forsaking it and flying to Lody after a very tumultuous and disordered sort The King vsed the Citizens verie graciously and hauing somewhat reposed himselfe and refreshed his wearie troupes marched discreetely towardes Pauia The K. besiegeth Pauia wherein was Antonio de Leua with fiue thousand Lansquenets fiue hundred Spanish footmen with two cornets of horsemen The king encamped before the towne and besieged it very straightly the emperials beeing aduertised heereof gathered all theyr forces together and hauing an army wherein were seauen hundreth men of armes and as many horsemen a thousande Italian horsemen and aboue sixteene thousand footemen Spaniardes and Almans they sette forwarde from Lody with a full resolution to remooue the siege or to fight with the French and hazard all vpon a battaile The King was no sooner certified hereof but that sending for all his Captaines and men of war he fully determined to continue his siege and to expect the comming of his enemie whatsoeuer coulde bee alleaged to the contrarie often affirming that hee hadde rather dye then to stirre one foote before he had taken the Citie The emperiall Captaines beeing driuen into great necessitie for want of money and other necessaries and hauing much adoo to pacifie theyr souldiours The Emperials enuade the french Kings camp thought it best to vse expedition considering that it was impossible for them to continue long their men growing mutinous for want of pay and thereuppon as those that stoode in very desperate estate hasted to inuade the French who prepared with great courage to meete them they were exceedingly encouraged by the presence of theyr King who should bee an eye witnesse of theyr valour and prowesse The marquesse of Pescara with three thousande Spanish footemen assayled the French trenches where hee slew fiue hundreth men and poysoned three peeces of great ordinance This vnexpected accident dismaied many of the French souldiers and the rather for that the Admirall who carryed the cheefe sway in the Army next vnto the king was hurt in the thigh with a shotte and was carried to Placentia to bee cured of his wounds Sixe hundred Grisons were called
assembling his army neere vnto Amiens and Piquenny vnder the leading of the Constable hee waited his oportunitie to be reuenged of his enemies who after the taking of Heyden spoyled the frontiers of Fraunce without pitie or mercie The French espying theyr aduauntage The French killeth seuen or eight hundred Emperials set vpon them on the suddaine and slue seuen or eight hundred and tooke the duke of Askot prisoner and almost fiue hundred others This losse somewhat abated the pride of the emperiall souldiours and encouraged the French to attempt greater matters for they presently marched towards Baupalme which was very well manned sufficiently appointed of all necessaries encamping before the town straitly enuironed it on al sides There were with the Constable the duks of Neuers of Vendosme Anguien Montpensier and the admiral Chastillon with their regiments amouÌ„ting to the nuÌ„ber of 8. or 9. thousand men the Rhingraue was collonel of the Lancequenets with whom was Reisberg This whâ—le â—â—my â—o sâ—â—d â—f 275â—◠〈◊〉 men and fiuâ— thousand hâ—rsmeâ— both which had also 4. regiments diuided into twenty ensignes being in the whole sum 12000. besides foure companies of Scots and two of English in all not past 1500. men The Nobilitie and Gentlemen made wel neare three thousand horse vnder the conduct of La Fayle Sansac was captaine of the light horse being in all two thousand reckoning the foure hundred English who were very valiant souldiers and of great courage Monsieur d' Esire was master of the Ordinance whereof there were in all about a hundred peeces This mighty army besieged Baupalme which place was as odious to the FreÌ„ch as Teroanne was to the Burgonians The Conestable vieweth Baupâ—lme but seeing the resolution of the defendaÌ„ts marcheth toward Câ—mbray The Constable taking with him 4000. horsmen and as many footmen first viewed the town aswell to see the countenance of those within as to make choise of a conuenient place to encampe in Hausimont was gouernor for the emperor a man of very great account hauing with him some twelue ensignes of footmen and foure hundred horse who vpon the approch of the French thundred from the towne with their great Ordinance and fallying forth at their gates skirmished very valiantly The French seeing the resolution of the defendants finding an exceeding want of water which could not by any meanes be supplied were enforced to depart to defer their siege vntil some other time hauing first spoiled and wasted all the country rouÌ„d about and so marched towards Cambray where hauing summoned the towne and seeing he could not be suffred to enter he fired the suburbs vsing all kind of hostilitie towards them tooke certaine litle castles and holds neer adioyning And albeit the emperor being certified of all this had commaunded the Prince of Piemont to aide those of Cambray and to relieue them by all possible meanes yet the French did in a maner what they listed and being maisters of the field helde the emperials verie short who for that they were not able to encounter them kept themselues within their strengths and would not bee drawne to aduenture their fortune vpon any occasion which was offered The king considering that the emperor did procrastinate seeking by delaies to spend the time vntil either the extremity of winter should approch or his soldiers be wearied with continual toile trauaile hauing wonderfully indomaged his enemies by sacking burning spoiling all the country ouer The K. breaketh vp his campe and braued the emperor at home at his own doores thinking he had sufficiently reuenged the former wrongs performed al things with great honor renowme resolued to break vp his army and to licence his nobles to depart and to recreat theÌ„selues after so long tedious trauail placing strong garrisons in sundry froÌ„tier towns the better to bridle the enemy if he should attempt any thing in his absence The emperor was not a little vexed with these French brauados and enuying the glory of the King sought for nothing so much as for reuenge wherfore casting about how he might best effect his desire he first compassed a mariage betweene Marie Queene of England and his sonne Philip King of Spaine The French King gathereth three new armies thereby to strengthen and fortifie himselfe the better agaynst Fraunce VVhich when King Henrie vnderstood he againe gathered his forces with all conuenient speede purposing indede to preuent the Emperour or at least to meete with him as soone as anie oportunitie serued His whole forces were diuided into three Armies the first which consisted of nine thousande footemen three hundred men of armes and six hundred light horse with as many harquebuziers on horseback was sent into Picardie vnder the leading of the prince de la Roch sur Yon. In the second were fiue and twentie ensignes of French footmen two regiments of Almaines with their Coronels the Rhingraue and Reisberg and fiue and twentie ensignes of Switzers foure hundred men of Armes and two thousand light horse ouer whom the Conestable was appointed generall The third army was led by the Duke of Neuers wherein were twentie ensignes of French footmen drawn out of the garrisons of Metz Verdune Thoule d' Anuille Yuoy and Momedie two regiments of the Count Rakendolph and of the Baron of Frontenay three hundred men of armes eight hundred light horse two hundred Pistoliers vnder the leading of the Prince of Conde The fortunate successe of the Kings armies These three armies entred the emperours dominions at three sundry places burning spoyling and making hauocke after a strange and cruell maner The Duke of Neuers tooke Ardennes Lincbante Villarcy besides many other strong Castels and well fortified places The Conestable marched towardes Auannes and caused it to be bruted that he would besiege it but vnderstanding that there was but a slender garrison in Mariambourg he secretly dispatched the Mareschall of Saint Andrew with the Switzers and certaine companies of the French footmen who approching on the suddaine enuironed the towne and kept those within from receyuing of anie newe supplie Wherewith they being greatlie terrifyed yeelded vnto the Conestable vpon the first summaunce From thence they passed foorth towarde Dinon where the Duke incorporating himselfe with an other strong power brought by the King layde siege to the Castle which for that it was verie strong would not condiscende to anie composition whereupon the batterie was planted and the walles were continually beate with thirtie Canons wherewith the French ouerthrowing the Towers Bulwarkes and whatsoeuer might serue for anie defence made a sufficient breach Certain Captains cassierd for their cowardlinesse and gaue a verie hote assaulte but they were repulsed by reason of the cowardlynesse of some leaders who therefore were presentlie cassierd and discharged of theyr places and pronounced villains to their perpetuall infamie and disgrace Yet those within being not able to holde out yelded at last to the kings mercy and
suffred the French to enter peaceably As these two armies conquered wheresoeuer they became and grew verie famous for their noble exploits so did the Prince de la Roch sur Yon with his forces prosper exceedingly and was verie terrible to the emperials by winning of townes castels and strong holds and by burning and defacing all things without pitie or mercie The Emperor rayseth a great power The emperour being at Brussels and hearing of the proceeding of the French raised a great power ouer which hee made Generall his Nephew the Duke of Sauoy who suspecting that the French King would besiege Namure put himselfe in the way betweene the towne and the King in a very strong and wel fortified place purposing to diuert the enemy if possibly he might which indeede was the cause that the King turned towards Henault The crueltie of the French in Henault where the French entred with such fury that they put all to fire and sword sparing neither man woman nor childe to the vnspeakeable horror of the inhabitants who fled on all sides from this violent and outragious tempest The duke of Sauoy followed them at the heeles and endamaged them so much as might be but could not effect any great matter for the French king still marched forwarde into the Countrey and tooke the most delectable and pleasant Castle called Marymont Marymont taken and spoyled by the french which was a house of pleasure and belonged to the Emperours Sister Mary Queene of Hungary The King commanded it should be rased and vtterly defaced in a reuenge of the displeasure she had done him in burning of his Castles of Foulembray Tragny Baines Reux and Bauet besides many other places were taken by the French to the vtter vndooing of many thousandes of the poore inhabitants Whilst these broyles continued thus hotly betweene the emperials and the French the marriage betweene Phillip of Spaine and Queene Mary of England The marriage of Phillip king of Spaine with Marie Queene of England was agreed vppon and immediatly after hee arriued in England very nobly accompanied with the Duke of Alua the Counts de Padille Rigomes Egmond the Admirall of Castill the marquesse de Languillare and many other great estates The King of France seeing well inough to what ende all this tended thought it best to stand vpon his guard and to haue all things in a readinesse and therefore hee reuiewed his armies mustered new Souldiers gathered mony and all other necessaries drawing his forces towards those parts that hee most suspected should be inuaded and surprising many Castles and strong holds The battaile of Reuty continued his course without any interruption vntil hee came before Reuty which for that it was a place of very great importance hee determined to winne it and the emperour resolued to keepe it The French hauing planted their siege had so bet the towne that a conuenient breach was made and they readie to giue an assault which when the emperour vnderstood hee made all possible speed to releeue thē purposing rather to hazard his fortune then to suffer the French to haue their willes wherefore hauing chosen out foure thousande of his best shot with a conuenient number of pikes to backe them and about foure thousand horsemen besides foure field peeces hee commanded them to march towards a wood which was neere adioyning which he coueted to take if possibly he might The whole cauallery was ledde by the Duke of Sauoy and the harquebuziers by Don Fernando de Gonzaga There marched also a battailon of Almaines along by the wood side vnder the conduct of Count Iohn of Nassau the mareschall of Cleue which was flanked with a great Hot or squadron of Reisters to the number of two thousand horse vnder the leading of the count Vuluenfort The vaine brag of count Vuluenfort who had promised the emperour to march vppon the bellies of the French Cauallery and to trample them vnder his feete at whose backe were some thousand two hundred light horse with other foure field peeces These harquebuziers were no sooner entred the wood but they encountred foure hundred French shot betweene whom and the emperials there beganne a very hot and furious skirmish The Duke of Guyse who had taken vppon him to keepe that quarter seeing with what courage the emperials maintained the fight supposed they were wel backed whereupon hee presently sent word to the King that he imagined the emperor was comming with all his forces and that there was great likelihood of a battaile as that day vppon which aduertisement the king forthwith arranged his troups in as warlike manner as he might sent word to the Guyse that if oportunitie serued hee should accept of the iourney and hee would be readie to assist him Then began the Duke of Guyse to encourage his souldiers and to animate them with the best words he could deuise and putting himselfe in the front of his Regiment waited his best oportunitie to assaile his enemie In the meane while the Conestable passed ouer a little riuer with certaine companyes on foote and the whole battaile of the Switzers who were wonderfully encouraged with the presence of the King that had promised to liue and die with them By this time the Emperials were so farre aduaunced that they had beaten the foure hundred shot out of the wood The french charge the Emperials and appeared ful in the face of the formost battailon of the French and beeing fauoured by theyr Reisters approched within two hundred paces of the Duke who presently commanded to charge them Whereupon the Duke of Nemours with his Regiment of light horse sette vppon the Reisters in the front and sent Forges the guydon of his companie and Tauannes to assaile them in the Flanke So there ensued a hote and furious combate but in the ende the French were repulsed with the losse of many braue mē With which happy successe the emperials were wonderfully encouraged perswading themselues that they had gotten an entire victory Count Vuluenfort ouerthrowne But the Duke of Guyse and Tauannes calling their troups and ioyning with the Duke D' Aumale and the whole cauallery of light horse charged the Emperials afresh and that with such furie that the Count Vuluenfort was wholy defeated and his Pistoliers quite ouerthrowne who while they hasted to saue themselues ranne vppon the battaile of their Almaines who by that meanes were exceedingly disordered so that the Duke of Neuers who was placed with his Regiment towards Reuty espying a passage laid open entred as it were at the breach vpon the Spanish shot and with such resolution followed his point that he defeated them in a moment driuing them to run towards the wood to saue themselues There were taken seauenteene ensignes fiue Cornets and foure field peeces The French pursued their victorie and slew to the number of some sixe or seauen hundred of these runnawaies chasing them hard to their trenches Thus did fortune
God seeing them wilfully repugne his truth augmented theyr sorrowes more and more for the Prince of Piemont did nowe more narrowly besiege Saint Quintins then before and hauing strongly fortified his Campe and stored himselfe with all conuenient necessaries for to maintaine the siege raised his mounts and planted 45. peeces of great ordenance wherewith hee battered the walles in most furious maner ‡ The Admirall would not hearken to a composition The admiral who was a very valiant pollitike and wise chiefetaine would not hearken to any composition but repayring the breaches resolued to keepe the place in despite of the enemie the Prince on the other side plyed the battery and hauing with much adoo made a sufficient breach disposed his bandes and gaue order for the assault the first place was assigned to Captaine Cazares maister of the Campe and to Lazaro Collonell of fifteene hundred Almaines The second to Captaine Nauarre with certain bands of Spaniards and to count Meigue with his Wallones the third to Iulian Romero with 3. ensignes of Spaniards 2000. English and the fourth to captain Carronnellet with 3. ensignes of of Burgonians all which beeing in a readines valiantly approched the wals Saint Quintins taken by assault The Admirall had likewise determined how to receiue the enemie and putting himselfe into that place where hee supposed most danger with great hardinesse expecting the comming of the Spaniards but there was not the like resolution on all hands for the souldiours beeing discouraged with the late ouerthrow and the inhabitants beeing timorous as men not accustomed to such daungers made small resistance so that the enemie entred at his pleasure which when the admirall to his vnspeakeable griefe beheld hee was enforced to seek to saue himself by yeelding to a common souldier The admiral yeldeâ—h himself to a common sâ—uldior who brought him to captain Cazares by whom he was led prisoner to the prince Dandelot his brother was likewise taken but he found the means to escape by a desperate aduenture to recouer his libertie Irnac S. Remy La Gard Cuzneux Moulins Bruell Bretanie Rambouâ—llet S. Romain S. Andre Linieres Soleil did likewise remaine prisoners Fayet le Iaune Salleuert Oger Vignes la Barre Estang Gourds and many other braue men were slaine The whole towne was sacked and spoiled and a maruellous masse of wealth gotten and caried into the low countries The French king was all this while prouiding his forces and deuising by what meanes he might best make head against his enemie fearing indeed the Prince would follow his good fortune and proceed further into France by reason that he had sent the Count of Frembarg with 1000. horse and 3. regiments of Lancequenets containing 14. ensignes 20. peeces of batterie to besiege Castellet a place of very great strength yet was it soone taken by the enemie the French not daring to abide the Canon so exceedingly were they afrighted with their former losses In the middest of all these mischiefs there fell out one thing which turned to the great aduantage of the French king A mutiny in the Spanish campe and brought no small hinderance to the Spanish kings proceedings and that was the mutinie among the Almaines and Spaniards who falling at dissention about their booties and spoiles gotten at S. Quintins the ransoms of their prisoners were the occasion of much trouble and tumult in the army Which when the French king vnderstood he practised in such maner with sundry of the Almain captains that their oath being expired with King Philip they were contented to be reclaimed by him and to serue against the enemies of the Flower de Lis. By this time was the Duke of Guise come out of Italie and being made the Kings Lieutenant was sent with a strong power toward Amiens with a secret commandemeÌ„t to enterprise against Calice if occasion serued The duke finding the towne slenderly prouided suddenly planted his siege about it The duke of Guise besiegeth Calice winneth it and that in the midst of winter And first assailed a fort called Nieulay which was easily gayned From thence he sent part of his army along the downes to Risebank which he likewise tooke without any great resistance The duke hauing gotten two principal places that in one day planted his battery against the towne wherin was gouernor the L. Wentworth who seeing the vnexpected successe of the French how fortune fauored the D. in all his dessignes disposed of all things as well as he might and endeuored to remoue the French out of their trenches but that was impossible for the duke was so strongly fortified and had gotten such places of aduaÌ„tage that he could not be forced by any means whatsoeuer The duke hauing planted 15. Canons began his battery against the old castle that with great fury And for that the wals were ruinous easie to be pearced the breach was soone made assault giuen but the French were repulsed at the first with the losse of their forwardst men notwithstanding they being incouraged with their former successe continued their enterprise and at last gayned the Castell which the Duke did forthwith cause to be strongly fortified This was a very great losse to the English for that from thence the French might shoote into the towne at their pleasure Now was Calice narrowly besieged and all passages were stopped in such sort that it was impossible to conuay in any succours or to send forth any to giue aduertisement of the distressed estate of the inhabitants Which when the Lord Wentworth perceiued and how that for want of necessaries he was not able to keepe the towne any longer he was content to parle with the Duke and to yeeld vpon composition Whereto the Duke of Guise willingly assented so that after much debating on either side the towne was yelded vpon condition Calice yeelded to the D. of Guise that the inhabitants might safely depart without impeachment whither they listed and the lord Wentworth with diuerse others to the number of fiftie of the chiefest to remaine prisoners Thus was Calice in lesse then seuen daies recouered by the French which had bin besieged by Edward the third king of England by the space of a whole yere and which had remained in the English mens hands for the space of 210. yeres to the incredible ioy of the French And as it was lost vnder Phâ—lip of Valois the French King so was it regained by the French in the time of Philip king of England The duke folowing his good fortune did forthwith besiege Guines wherin commaunded the valiant lord Gray who albeit he did stoutly hold out for a time abiding the planting of the Canon and a furious assault yet was he forced in the end to yeeld and to resigne his office to another man Which when the garrison of Hams vnderstood they abandoned the fort withdrew themselues to a place of greater securitie The French king was not a
a time and the yong Prince continued in verie good grace vntill at length by reason of newe occasions of suspition hee was forced to auoyde the Realme so exceedingly was the King his father incensed agaynst him and going to Philip Duke of Burgundie who at that present was a verie great and mightie potentate was most honorably intertained furnished with all things necessarie for himselfe and his retinue where hee remained for a long time notwithstanding the duke was very often earnestly solicited to the coÌ„trarie by the king his father At the last all the stormie tempests being blowne ouer and he vpon the decease of his father being called home to receiue the Diademe and crowne of France Lewis the 11. K. of France he departed from the Court of Burgundie where he had liued a stranger and vnder the coÌ„trolment of others towards his new kingdome and naturall Countrie which he found very peaceable and flourishing in all wealth and prosperitie where hee was no sooner quietly established but that remembring some olde iniuries Lewis the 11. reiecâ—eâ—h his faâ—hers old counsellors and disliking manie of his fathers most faithfull and trustie counsellers hee remoued sundry out of their rowmes and offices and imprisoned others electing new into their places to the great griefe of diuerse of his best affected subiects the exceeding discontentment of most of his chiefest Nobilitie wherupon ensued maruellous trouble to the common wealth and vnspeakeable care and vexation of mind to himselfe The Duke of Britaine and sundrie other of the nobility rise against the King For the Duke of Brytaine the Duke of Berry the Duke of Nemours the earle of Saint Paule the earle of Arminake Beauleu Albret and manie other great Lords and states being highlie displeased with the King and with his gouernement banded togither against him and calling to theyr ayde Count Charolois sonne and heyre to Philip Duke of Burgundie raysed a mightie and puyssaunt armie wherewith they approched Paris and held besieged the chiefest Cittie of the land The King vnderstanding the daunger wherein the towne stoode The K. marcheth toward Paris and the resolution of his enemies hasted by all possible meanes to put himselfe within Paris the safekeeping whereof woulde be most auayleable for the aduancement of his other affayres Wherefore hauing gathered a strong power marched forwardes on his intended voyage not purposing to hazarde his fortune vppon anie aduauntage that shoulde be offered but onelie to defende himselfe and to amuse his enemies vntill the tyme might minister some better meanes to accomplish his desyres notwithstanding The k forced to forsake the field through the rash headinesse of the Lieutenant of Normandie called Le Bressy who had the leading of the auauntgarde the King was constrained to fight and to aduenture to open his passage by force of armes But being valiantly resisted by his enemies after a terrible and bloodie fight hee was forced to forsake the field and to retyre towards Corbeile leauing the entyre glorie of that victorie to Count Charolois and his associates As this good fortune puffed vp the haughtie minde of the Conquerour making him proude disdainfull and highly conceyted of his owne valour which in the ende bred his owne confusion and ouerthrowe The King reconcileth his subiects and maketh peace with Count Charolois so did it teach the conquered to pull downe his spirits and with all circumspect diligence and care to prouide for his future safetie in the most politike manner that hee might and hauing though with much adoo made peace with Count Charolois an enemie that hee greatly feared and reconciled his discontented Nobles who were a long time as prickes in his eyes and thornes in his sydes and withall concluded a league with Edwarde the fourth King of Englande at Pikquennie to his great aduauntage there remayned nothing that might any way endaunger his estate but onelie the greatnesse of Charles Duke of Burgundie who though he were at amitie with the King yet for that hee had a most turbulent spirite and of all other could least abide to continue for anie long time together in peace the King thought hee had iust occasion to suspect him Charles D. of Burgundy slaine at Nancy and therefore howsoeuer in outwarde shewe he made much of him yet in heart hee wished for nothing more then his confusion and ouerthrowe which appeared most apparantly by his secrete practises agaynst the Duke and then coulde no longer be hidde when as hee heard of his discomfiture at the battaile of Nancy where the sayde Duke was slaine his armie put to flight and the glorie of that noble house of Burgundie which had flourished for the space of an hundred and twentie yeares in all pompe and magnificence was vtterly defaced and obscured For presently vppon the newes the King was so exceeding ioyfull that hee did not in a maner regarde how richly and bountifully he rewarded the Messengers of so glad and ioyfull tydings Nowe beganne hee to studie for nothing so much as howe to dismember this poore afflicted Dukedome and by all meanes possible to teare and rent it in peeces K. Lewis of France getteth a great part of Burgundie He first gayned by liberall rewardes and fayre promises the chiefest of the Burgonian Nobilitie and likewise the Captaines of sundrie strong Townes by which meanes hee gate Abbeuille Peronne Arras Hesdin Bollogne Dyion and manie other principall places so that it seemed that the better part of the Dukedome of Burgundie was nowe brought vnder the kings obedience and annexed to the rest of the Dominions of the Flower de Lis By which meanes the reuenewes of the Crowne were greatly augmented the lande exceedingly strengthened the same and honour of the king wonderfully encreased all thinges falling out in a manner as well as might be wished or desired But hee had no sooner attayned to so high a degree of happinesse but hee was presently crossed with newe miseryes and afflictions which in small continuance of tyme did wholie bereaue him of his former ioyes For beeing at dinner at a Village neare vnto Chynon hee was suddainlie stroken with so vehement a payne The King stroken with a sudden disease that hee lost his speach and sences for the space of two dayes togither not remembring nor knowing any that were nearest about him And albeit by reason of those great meanes which were vsed his bodie was somewhat recouered and his mynde much bettered so that he seemed to come to some reasonable vnderstanding and knowledge yet was hee so weakened and euerie parte of him so mightilie decayed that it was not possible to free him of his maladie so long as hee lyued Besides hee grewe so suspitious of all sortes and so iealous of his owne sonne and sonne in Lawe that hee was neuer at quyet but lyued in such continuall feare least that honour and reuerence which had beene for so long a tyme giuen vnto him shoulde now be
thing in shewe highlie tending to the honour of the Prince and the establishing of a perpetuall peace and amitie with the Confederates The Prince of Conde was marryed to Marie de Cleues The prince of Conde marrieth the youngest daughter to the Duke of Neuers the Admirall with the daughter of the Count of Entremont in Sauoy The admiral marieth and the young Teligny with Lois of Colligny the Admirals daughter thus was there nothing but feasting banquetting singing reuelling and making of loue throughout all the partes of Fraunce The king seemed to stande highly contented with this peace and began dayly more and more to countenaunce the Protestants For hauing once perswaded the Queene of Nauarre to come to the court The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court. both he the Queene mother the Dukes of Aniou and Alenson the Kings brethren did intertaine her in most louing and friendly maner making her the best welcome that might be imagined Count Lodowicke brother to the Prince of Orenge who attended her was likewise verie honourably receyued by the King who promised him to ayde the Prince his brother agaynst the Spaniard and for that purpose had commaunded preparation to be made both by sea and land as though he had entended to begin the warres with all speede so that the King desired nothing more then to aduaunce the affayres of the Protestants The marriage of the yong Prince of Barne and the conquest of the lowe Countreys were the things that the King seemed to affect most And because the Admirall was a verie wise man an olde Souldiour the best experienced Captaine of all Fraunce and most skilfull in warlike affayres The King sent the Mareschall Cossy to Rochell to perswade with him to come to the Court and to assist his soueraigne in so honourable an enterprise the Admirall at the first was very vnwilling of himselfe and had dayly aduertisements to disswade him from that voyage The admiral goeth to the Court. But after many perswasions vsed by the Mareschall sundry friendly messages from the King and his fatall mishap as it were leading him thereunto he suffred himself to be gained and to be wooed by those who indeed loued him but a little He was no sooner come to Paris but the people flocked togither to see him His entertainment as to see a wonder The King receyued him with much kindnesse giuing him great honour calling him father at euerie worde And when the Admirall kneeled the King arose and tooke him vp protesting that he was the most welcome man liuing and that neuer any day was more ioiful vnto him then that wherein he did see the end of so many miseries and the beginning of peace and quietnesse for the whole lande And among manie other speaches hee chaunced to vtter these words Nowe we haue once gotten your companie you shal not depart from vs and this hee vttered with great laughter as a token of much ioy and delight The Queene mother his excellencie the Duke of Alenson and all the principall Courtiers welcomed him with farre greater honour then he expected and that which was more all these curtesies were accompanied with the great liberalitie of the Prince who gaue him an hundred thousand pounds in recompence of his losses sustained in the former wars besides the reuenues of the benefices which were belonging to his brother Odet the Cardinal of Chastillon who was lately deceased in England He was also admitted into the Kings priuie Councell His sonne in law Teligny was verie much honoured Cauagnes was made one of the maisters of the requests and to be short all the Admirals friends tasted of the kings liberalitie to the great contentment of the Protestants and the maruellous grudging of the Catholiques This honourable dealing gaue great hope of the continuance of the peace and the encrease of amitie amongest the French Nation in so much as the most rested secure reposing themselues in the faythfull promises of their prince yet manie suspected that all was but holy water of the Court and alluring baytes to catch the poore Protestants and afterwards to dispose of them as should be thought for their most aduauntage following said they herein the olde maxime in pollicie which is that where the skin of the Lion will not serue there it is best to put on the foxes coat The Queene of Nauarre was earnestly disswaded by sundry letters from many other friends from giuing her consent to the mariage The Admirall was likewise aduertised by secret messengers that in no wise he should go to Paris nor come within the reach of his enemies but all would not serue so desirous were they of the yong princes preferment so maruellously blinded at that instant But whilest the Queene of Nauarre was at Paris busied in prouiding for the mariage of her son she suddenly fell sicke and died the 10. of Iune The death of Ioan of Albret Queene of Nauarre 1572. to the great griefe of those of the reformed religion who exceedingly bewayled the death of so vertuous and constant a Lady and one that had beene a most noble maintainer of the truth all her dayes CHAP. XV. The Massacre at Paris THe sudden death of this Queene bred a sore suspition that she was poisoned and withal brought some delay the to mariage but at length all doubts being cleared both parties agreed the time appointed for the solemnising of the nuptials being come the yong King of Nauarre and the Lady Margaret were affianced with great solemnitie in our Lady Church in Paris by the Cardinall of Burbon the 18. of August 1572. in the presence of the King The mariage of the King of Nauarre the Queene mother the Duke of Aniou and Alenson the Prince of Conde with all the principal protestants The mariage ended there was nothing but banketting chearing tilting and all the deuises that might bee to please the eie and delight the eare to set forth all things in most royall and magnificent maner All old rancour and malice seemed to be buried in the pit of obliuion by reason of this new alliance which confirmed the hope of a most blessed peace in the time to come But in the middest of all this ioy and solace there fell out a sudden accident which astonished some and made others to bethinke themselues and to suspect the worst and that was this The admiral shot with an harquebuz Vpon the 22. of August as the Admirall was going from the Court toward his lodging hee was suddainlie shotte with a harquebuz out at a window of the house where Villemus who had beene schoole-maister to the Duke of Guise did vsually lodge and sore wounded with three Bullettes as hee was going a soft pace in the streete and reading a Supplication which had beene deliuered vnto him a little before One of the Bullets stroke off his fore finger and with the other hee was wounded in the left Arme. The Admirall
for the traffick which he promised vndertooke the siege of Corbaile which after 3. assaults wherin he lost a great nuÌ„ber of his best most approued souldiers he tooke by force shewed all crueltie vpon the inhabitants He made the Parisians beleeue that he would go from thence to take Poysy Meulan Maule Vernon Pont del Arch but indeed he was not so good as his word for he did nothing of al this but trifled out the time The Duke of Parma fli th out of France fed the citizens with faire words vntil the latter end of October and then marched homeward through Bric being followed hard at the heeles by the king and those smal forces which he could raise vpon the sodain as far as L' Arbre de Guyze where he entred into the low countreyes with not past some 8000. of all that companie wherewith hee had entred into France After that the Duke of Parma was gotten into the low Countreyes the king hauing gathered al his forces together marched toward Chartres which he besieged Chartres taken by the the king and after many sharpe assaults tooke it and brought it vnder his obedience hee tooke also Aulnean Macheuille Dourdan Bonsery Clay Tremblay Manican Ginlis and so scoured al the part of Picardy that no enemie durst once shew his face and from thence passed into Britaine where hee defeated the Lorde Saint Lawrence Mareschall of the Armie of the rebels vnder Duke Mercury and surprised Louuiers where hee found great store of Corne Wine and all other necessarie prouision besides foure thousand fat Oxen wherewith hee plentifully victualled his army for many dayes Cinqcens tâ—oken About the same time the Lord Chartres gouernour for the King in Deepe and Sir Roger VVilliams a very couragious and well experienced English knight with their English French forces amounting to some seauen hundred men defeated two regiments of the Leaguers at a place called Cinqcens and put them in a maner all to the sword The Prince Conty tooke Mount Morillon Chaurguy S. Sauin Blank en Bury Bourge Archambault Playsance Bellarbre Availes Betoune Bisse and many other forts and Castles in Limosin and Toureyne The Prince D' Ombs accompanied with the valiant fortunate and noble Gentleman Sir Iohn Norris general of such forces as were sent out of England for the ayde of the K. into Britaine tooke Guingcampe Cuingcampe taken where there were a great number of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the Countrey who with the Towne payed fiftie thousande Crownes for their Ransome and tooke the oath of Obedience to the king and passing from thence to Quelnec encountred with the Duke Mercury a principall Leaguer who at the first shewed a countenance as though he would haue tryed the quarrell by an entire fight but after the losse of some two or three hundred Spanish and French Leaguers with Don Roderigo cheefe Mareschall of the Spaniards and the Lord Guebrian Collonel of all the footmen he retired further off to places of greater securitie The king was now at the siege of Noyon Noyon takeÌ„ which in the ende yeelded vppon composition and the Lord Vile submitted himselfe to the king and had leaue to depart whither hee would the Leaguers seeing the kings fortunate successe fearing that all in the ende would yeeld vnto him procured a newe excommunication from Rome against him and all his faithfull subiects The Pope excommunicateth the King and caused it to be published at Pont del Arch in Normandy by Marcellus Landrianus a saucie and malepert Iesuite but the king beeing aduertised hereof commanded his Court of Parleament holden at Cane to proceede against Pope Gregory the fourteenth who sent it and his Nuntio that brought it as against tyrannes conspirators with rebels perturbers of the State sowers of sedition aâ—â— the common and notorious enemies of GOD and all goodnesse and taking the Popes Bull The Popes Bull hanged vpon the gallowes and burned at Tours caused it to bee fastned to a gibbet at Tours by the common hangman of the towne and to bee consumed to ashes to the great reioycing of all the beholders The King vnderstanding that the right honourable Lord the Earle of Essex was nowe arriued in France with a bande of very braue men and was marching towardes him went to meete the saide Earle at a place called Gysors where hee remained not long but returned towards Champaigne for that hee vnderstood that his Germaines were nowe in a readinesse to march on forwards on their waie towardes France In the meane while the English forces tooke the towne of Gourny and ioyning with the Mareschal Biron Goâ—rney ta-tâ—ken by thâ— earle of Eâ—â—â—x distressed the Leaguers in those quarters Much about this time the Prince Ienuille sonne to Francis late Duke of Guyse escaped out of prison at Tours where hee had beene kept for the space of three yeeres and more The yong D. of Guise escapeth out of prison and hauing the waies layde with fresh horse by the counsell of the Lord De la Chastre his kinsman got safely to Selles and from thence to Verdun where hee was most ioyfully receiued of all the Leaguers who had attended his comming with great deuotion and were exceeding glad that they had recouered him by whose means they imagined the better to countenance their actions and to effect their entended purpose Howbeit this their ioy was foorthwith crossed by the comming of the Germaines who were already entred into France and hasted to the succors of the king This great and mightie Armie wherein were some two or three and twenty thousand footmen and horsemen The armie of the Germain was diuided into sundry battailons and led by theyr seuerall chiefetaines and commaunders The Vicont of Turennes conducted the Vauntgard wherein were some 1600 horse next whom followed the Earle of Anhoult cheefe commaunder in the Armie with two thousand and two hundred horse The third place was alotted to Barbisderse with a squadron of some 1000. horse Iselstenius the Lieutenant of the Lorde Robours led 8. or 900. footmen Creighnicht Bernhard Dessaw and Bonnaw had their seuerall regiments each coÌ„sisted of a 1000. horse The Lord Laudins and the Earle of VVide had vnder their leading 6400. footmen equally diuided into two great squadrons which were flanked as it were with another strong battailon wherein were about 4300. footmen and 200. horse led by Templuys and the Earle of VVeda Christopher de Fesler with 300. footmen serued as a wing on the left hand betweene whom and the Earle of VVide was the yong Earle of VVestenberg with 3400. footmen there was also maruailous store of all warlike munition as great Artillerie pouder shotte bridges boats spades shouelles pickaxes and all other necessaries for the warres and nothing wanting which was requisite for the aduauncement of their affaires The Duke of Lorraine made al the preparation that might be to stop the passage of these Germaines and to
THE Mutable and wauering estate of France from the yeare of our Lord 1460 vntill the yeare 1595. The great Battailes of the French Nation as well abroad with their forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres With an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers Collected out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Historiographers LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597. To the right worshipfull Maister Iulius Caesar Esquire Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe maister of the Requests and of Saint Katherins and chiefe Iudge of her highnesse Court of the Admiraltie c. a namelesse well-willer wisheth all courses of happinesse that can bee named SIr this Collected Historie of the inconstant and mutable estate of Fraunce from the yeare 1460. vntill the yeare 1595. describing the great battails of the French Nation as well abroade with forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres also an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers during their bloodie mutinies and attempts from time to time with whatsoeuer else so serious a discourse can or may affoord I offer to your worshipfull and most kinde patronizing Your euer knowne affable inclination to studie and works of woorth makes me no way mistrustfull of gentle acceptance wherfore in one ballance poysing the Booke and in the other whatsoeuer remaynes in mee alwayes most readie at your worships seruice I cease from further troubling you with lines vrging no delight desiring that as your vertues are numberlesse so your ioyes both in this worlde and that to come may likewise be endlesse Though namelesse yet alwayes by your worship to be commaunded To the Reader AS in a briefe Chronicle or short compiled Historie gentle Reader euen so in this worke shalt thou behold the slipperie and vncertaine estate of a mightie Kingdome of France our neare neighbour whose warres strifes and most troublesome contentions as well at home in her owne bosome â—s abroad with forraigne and hostile enemies during the space of these many yeares from 1460 vntill 1595. the accidents of all which tâ—mâ— this present volume doâ—th truly acquaint thee withall for out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Histâ—riographers hath 〈◊〉 beene carefully collected and being for thy sake attired now in an English habit familiarly tels thee that Monarchies miseries which when thou hast aduisedly considered on and therwith compared thy owne Countries continuall blessednesse I doubt not but as in sorrowing for the one so thou wilt hartily pray for the other that the afflictions of France may be Englands looking Glasse and their neglect of peace our continuall labour and studie how to preserue it Fare ye well THE MVTABILITIE of France CHAP. I. Lewis sonne to Charles the seuenth King of France is driuen out of his fathers Kingdome He flieth to Philip Duke of Burgundie Returneth After his fathers decease is made King He falleth out with Charles Duke of Burgundie Is suddenly stroken with a sore disease and dieth miserably AS the wauering and interchaungeable course whereto euery thing whatsoeuer is continually subiect hath beene alwayes heretofore dayly obserued in the most auncient and renowmed Monarchies that euer were So hath it appeared in these latter dayes Kingdomes and states ful of change and mutabilitie in this age and that in a more liuely maner in the strange and wonderfull alterations of our neighbor countryes whose peace and prosperous estate as it was the common obiect of euerie mans eye so are their vnfortunate warres and wofull miseries the vsuall subiect of all mens speach and nothing is more lystened after then to what ende matters of so great waight and importance are likeliest to tend The most noble and renowmed kingdome of France which for so many yeares flowed with milke and honie and for the temperatenesse of the aire the fertilitie of the soile the ciuilitie of the Commons the loyaltie of the Nobilitie the dignitie and magnificence of the Prince was accounted the paragon of all Nations hath especially tasted of this vicissitude and change which so long as it was at peace with it selfe and not afflicted with any ciuill discention the subiect honouring the King with all dutifull obedience and the King tendering the welfare of the subiect with a hearty and louing affection and both concurring in one for the aduauncement of the Common-wealth flourished in most beautifull maner and appeared verie pleasing to the eye of all Nations round about but after that it once began to nourish turbulent spirits and to harbour strange and vnnaturall humours the Prince following the daungerous proiects of yong and corrupt councellors who rather sought their owne priuate gaine then the publike profite and vtilitie of the state and the people beeing easily drawne by the perswasions of their Gouernours to embrace in a maner any noueltie that was propounded then began the common-wealth to bee intangled in manie daungerous mischiefes and to bee encombred with sundrie cares wherewith for this long time it hath beene exceedingly vexed and tormented And albeit there hath often bin some mitigation of paine for a while and that by the great wisedome and skill of such as sate at the stearne and had the managing of the publike affayres the ship which was well neare ouerwhelmed with boisterous waues was safely preserued from the wracke yet as though there were a fatall destinie which could not be auoided it presently againe fell vpon the shelues and plunged it selfe a fresh into a vast Ocean of vnspeakeable miseries wherein it hath continued floting vp and downe for these many yeares and at this day is come to that desperate passe that although it be neither split vpon the sandes nor swallowed vp of the fearefull billowes yet doth it serue as a perfect glasse to viewe the vnstable estate of these earthly things and for an assured proofe of the variable change and continuall vicissitude in the most flowring kingdoms and common-wealthes Which albeit it doth euidently appeare vnto the eye of euery beholder yet will it be farre better discerned if wee consider the reignes of sundry French Kings in whose times there hath fallen out most strange and admirable accidents themselues being especiall occasions to prooue a mutuall and an alternatiue course in al things whatsoeuer Lewis the 11. K. of France rebelled in his youth against his father Lewis the eleuenth of that name King of Fraunce and sonne vnto Charles the seuenth was in his youth as Philip de Comins reporteth allured by the craftie perswasions of sundrie seditious heades to become chiefe of a rebellious faction and to beare Armes agaynst his father to his vnspeakeable griefe and the imminent perill of the whole lande but that vnnaturall warre not continuing long and the sonne being drawne to his obedience by the louing and wise perswasions of the King his father all things grewe verie peaceable for
a straight commaundement to all his ordinance and men of armes to assemble themselues at Pierreport in as warlike maner as might be there to attend his further pleasure and to be in a readinesse to be employed as occasion should be offered King Philip of Spaine had likewise gathered a very strong power and al things were prouided by these two mightie Monarkes as though they ment to determine all their controuersies by some one cruel bloody battell But God who ruleth the hearts of princes disposed of their intentions far otherwise then their blind affections led them For vpoÌ„ the sudden their hard harts began to be mollified and each party inclined to peace so that the place being appointed and the deputies on both sides agreed vpon they met about the midst of October following at Cercam betweene Artoys and Pycardy There were many complaints on both sides and a commemoration of sundry indignities offered on either part Each defended others doings neither was there any likelihood of better agreement so that after many contentious words their assembly brake vp without any coÌ„clusion for peace and yet for that winter approched the soldiers were not able to keep the field Peace concluded between France and Spaine both princes dissolued their armies and licenced their men of warre to repose themselues vntill the next yere But before that time by reason of newe occurrences there was a generall peace proclaimed betweene these two nations each linked with other with very strait alliances For King Philip whose wife Mary Queene of England was lately deceassed was contented to take in marriage Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Henry the French King and Pilebert Emmanuel duke of Sauoy was affianced vnto madame Margaret his sister so that by reason of these new coÌ„iunctions there insued much quietnes to all Christendome but especially to these two kingdoms who now had made an end of all their quarels contentions and seemed to study of nothing but how they might honor and solemnise in most royall maner these new marriages There was exceeding sumptuous preparation against the appointed time all the Nobilitie of France were assembled at Paris to attend the king to honor these espousals The lady Elizabeth was coÌ„ducted by the king her father to our Lady Church at the day prefixed in most pompous and stately maner and there married by the Cardinall of Burbon to the Duke of Alua was who constituted Procurator of the king of Spaine his maister The Duke of Alua marrieth the French kings daughter for his maister the king of Spaine There were all the princes of the bloud attending in their order and many cheefe Prelates and all the officers of the crowne The Duke of Alua was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Count Egmond and sundrie other very honourable personages The marriage being finished there was exceeding feasting banquetting and cheering with dauncing masking and all other pastimes that could be imagined both to delight the eye and please the eare The king reioyced to see his daughter so honourably aduanced the Nobilitie and commonaltie were maruailously glad to remember what ease peace and tranquilitie they should enioy by this newe affinitie and all sorts seemed to triumph hoping there would be a perpetuall league and corespondency betweene these two Nations but now behold a woful mishap and lamentable mischance wherewith all this mirth and iollity was turned into weeping wailing and great sorrow so enterchangeably doo these two accompany each other so certainely do they follow one another The French king who had bin the principall challenger at tilt assisted by the Duke of Guyse Alphonse the Prince of Ferrara and the Duke of Nemours hauing borne himselfe very nobly that day and broken many staues to his great honor and high commendation would needes in the end run a course with count De Mont-gommery a valiant gentleman of France who at the first refusing The French King slaine with running a course at â—â—lt yet commanded by the king accepted the condition and offered so freely that theyr staues flying in peeces some of the shiuers getting in at the sight of the beuer pearced into the kings head greeuously wounded him that he died within eleuen daies after to the immesurable greefe of his subiects after hee hadde raigned twelue yeeres three moneths and tenne dayes CHAP. VI. Francis the second the French King The Guises authors of all the confusion in France The Guises ioyne with the Queene mother against the King of Nauarre The King of Nauarre yeeldeth to the Queene mother The Duke of Guise made Lieutenant for the King and Henrie Cardinall of Lorraine made L. Treasurer of France They incense the King agaynst the princes of the blood The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudie The hatred of the Guises towards the three Chastillons The Prince of Conde beeing discontented goeth from the Court The order of the States of France The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the Hugonots to the king The Prince of Conde committed to prison and is condemned to die The death of the King THe Kingdome of France had for manie yeares togither beene verie well acquainted with the variable and changeable estate of vnconstaunt fortune and vnder Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Francis the first and Henrie the seconde had by wofull experience found how subiect the most flourishing estates kingdoms coÌ„monwealths are to a continuall change and alteration and therfore hauing by long obseruatioÌ„ perfitly learned that the best means to maintain her selfe in her wonted grandeur and glory was to be leagued with her neighbour Countries and to be at peace and vnitie at home beganne to haue a flexible heart and to encline to quietnesse as much as might bee so that hauing ended all quarrels and buried all wronges and indignities in the pit of obliuion and by a neare coniunction with the Spanyard her ancient and mightie enemy in the opinion of most men procured her selfe a perpetuall peace began as it were to clap her handes for ioy and seriously to tryumph in so incomparable a benefite But the fatall and ineuitable mishap of this most noble kingdome which had florished for so many hundred yeares and had been the paragon of her neighbor nations could not as it seemeth be auoyded but that it must needes take place and wanting forraigne enemies to worke her ouerthrow must needes hatch a viperous brood which by gnawing out the belly of their owne mother haue most vnnaturally sought the destruction of her who haue most tenderly fostered and brought them vp The house of Guyse the principall cause of all the sturres in France The principall cause to produce so lamentable an effect and the only means in a maner to hatch so horrible a mischiefe was the immesurable ambition of that haughtie and aspiring house of Guyse who albeit they were straungers and no natural French men yet fortune so fauoured their attempts and made some of them