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
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
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
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
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
holinesse and to present vnto him the dutie of a Chatholike Queene and an obedient daughter of the holy and Apostolique Church of Rome which shee acknowledged for the head Matrice and Soueraigne of all the Churches of Christendome and mother of all the Princes making profession of the Gospell Which was so agreeable vnto the Pope and the whole Courte and people of Rome that for a publike testimonie thereof they made Bonfiers and solemne processions praising God for this conuersion Afterwards and in the yeare 1555. an other Parliament was summoned in England in which among other thinges Queene Marie wrought by all the meanes shee was able that the Abbie lands might bee restored for so much as the Pope did vrge it very hard But by reason that the Nobilitie and Gentlemen stoode seased thereof and that manie had guifts thereof from the King nothing coulde bee brought to passe as shee desired Notwithstanding the Queene preuailed so much as the tenthes were graunted to the Clergie during this assemblie they scattered and sowed about London little pamphlets very biting among which some were sufficiently enough able to moue the people to sedition against the Spanniardes with whome the Englishmen playde a thousand shrewd turnes and to turne the Queene from the loue of Phillip Great search was made but it neuer could be possibly known whence they proceeded Before this assembly was dissolued and matters dispatched the B. of Winchester being Chancelour dyed of a Dropsie Thomas Heath Archbishoppe of Yorke who before that had beene in Germanie with him of Caunterburie and professed the Protestant Religion succeeded in his place After the victualing of Mariembourg and the attempts of Deux Ginets the King being informed of the auncient clames of the houses of Blois and Mont-forte to the Dutchie of Bretaigne to appease with the selfe same hand the quarrels which were redoubled by the Lady Anne Queene of Fraunce and Dutches of Bretaigne issued out of the bloud of Mon-fort in whose right the King himselfe claimed to accorde this olde difference with Messire Iean de Brosse Duke of estampes and Earle of Ponticue heire of the house of Blois rightes hee accorded in such sorte as this Duke released vnto him for himselfe and his successors Kinges of Fraunce all rightes titles reasons and actions which hee pretended to the Dutchie of Bretaigne in right of his mother the Ladie Marle of Bretaigne issued out of the house of Blois and the King cleane acquited and transferred vnto him the Countie of Pontieure sauing certaine Ports betweene Couegnon and Hauegnon and the Seicheries of Cornoaille Whereof autenticall letters passed betweene them The Historie of Fraunce THE FOVRTH BOOKE THe narration of matters passed hath made you able to know no lesse the desire thē the necessitie which the French had of a generall peace vnder the benefite whereof they hoped to forget all at the least part of so many losses passed and of the present miseries which caused them to feare much more mischeefe to ensue you haue seene how stoute these Princes shewed themselues vpon their treaties by the aduantagious conditions which their Embassadours had charge from them to repose In the ende notwithstanding yeelding vnto the aduise of their Councell they thought good to renew againe the negotiation Iointe the feare which the Imperials had of the comming of the Turks and the desire of Marie Queene of England to haue her husband still about her hoping there by to get an inheritor vnto her Crowne to restore the Catholike Church into her Countrie not to enter league with any one to warre against another to ease her Realme of so great charges not to breede any occasions of new riots and mutinies amongst her people Of all which points shee cleane lost the hope if her husband should bee absent employing in the managing and conduct of warre Besides the peaceable nature of this Prince which made great accounte of the good Councell which his Father gaue him to procure a reconciliation with all Princes rounde about him were sufficient occasions to mooue him instantly to request the Cardinall Pole to renew againe the tearmes of peace or at the least to conclude a good truce for a release to so great mischiefes Whereupon seeing the difficultie of articulating the conditions with such aduantages as each one desired the truce was concluded for fiue yeares the fift day of Februarie 1556. ceasing al quarrels and beginning againe to enter traficque and Marchandise one with an other as well by Sea as land euery man retaining what they had gotten and taken by right of warre without being able to agree vpon their prisonners among whome the D. of Ascot a Flemming and Francis de Montmorency eldest sonne vnto the Constable were the principall with many other conditions which were proclaimed at Paris the sixteene day of Februarie And afterwards the Comte de Lallain was at Blois in April to confirme the same with the King as also the Admirall De Chastillon was at Bruxelles with the Emperor and King Philip to receiue there the oath of their part wherein it was not forgotten to motion a marriage betweene Don Carlo eldest sonne vnto Philip and Prince of Spaine with the Ladie Isabel eldest daughter vnto the King But if Fraunce and the prouinces which cōfined on the Septentrional side hoped for repose during the continuance of this truce new occasions of more fresh mischiefes presented thēselues on the other side especially towards Italy You haue seene the election of the Cardinall Theatin to the Papacie and for that the house of Caraffe out of which hee was descended and of Melphe being of the most speciall marke within the Realme of Naples haue alwaies remained deuoted vnto the Crowne of France which euer honourably entertained them the Colonois Vrsins and other families of Rome partakers of the Emperour fearing to bee made stoope and least the Pope would too much exalt the friends of the French whome he might cal into Italy for that the Church of Rome pretendeth the Realme of Naples to be of her proper Domanie and least together with the graunts made vnto the Kings of France confirmed by the Popes predecessors and other matters which the King there demaunded he should make a new ratification with intent to bee able to preuaile helde themselues in the beginning vpon their gards then as the fearefull man interpreteth all newter things simple and doubtfull to his disaduantage they suspected in such wise the actions of the Pope and his confederates as they well furnished with men armour and other munition such lodgings as they had within the Towne Whereof the Pope being aduertised as soone animated against them he leauied men and by a generall muster tooke away armes from those whome hee thought had too much he munitioned the places within Rome and well furnished the Castle of Saint Angelo with all necessaries Afterwards as a man licenseth himselfe accordingly as leasure and libertie is giuen vnto
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
how the most notable broyle which euer was seene in Christendome had his beginning from the diuersities of opinions in the explanation of the religion of our Fathers To the maintenance of which the persecutions which were ordained and pursued against the more stedfast in their faith haue brought forth lesse troubles in all sortes of vertues but much greater be it in quantitye or qualitie of vices yea surpassing all misfortune number and varietie of notable accidents all the warres which euer our ancestours had against their neighbours as the narration of the pittifull effectes both of the one and th'other worldly passion shall make apparant vnto you if you will patiently abide the reading thereof vntill the end The peace which was concluded between Charles 5. Emperour and Frauncis the first togither with that which ensued at Ardres betweene Henry 8. K. of England and the K. of Fraunce maintained as well the estates and subiects of these Princes as of sundry other Christians which by alliance neighbourhood or other dutie of frendship communicated with their passions in such rest and aduantage as all esteemed themselues happie of their present ease considering their toyles passed euery one reioysing so much more as hauing suffered a world of miseries vnder the continuance of so long and cruell warres they had euen fully perswaded themselues that the immortall hatreds of their Soueraignes would vtterly enuy the comming of so greatly a desired peace ledde hereunto for that finding their harte burnes grounded vpon a slight enough despite yea more ambitious then reasonable they often enough sawe them counselled by those who hauing nought else thē their Maisters pleasure their owne particular before their eyes represented vnto them but an apparance of good the pursuite whereof being alwaies vnfortunate to subiects brought only honor and profit to such as full cunningly knew how to make their owne markets But such was the eternall prouidence or to speake naturally the vndiscreet lightnes of the French ioyned with a too vaine ambition of their neighbours drawing from so euill guided a passion a lamentable spring of all our miseries to come that so yong a peace could not be suffered to wax old among the Christians who too ticklish in their ease as it were leaping with a desire of new chāges seemed to seek nothing else thē an occasion how to free thēselues from this rest which alredy seemed too noisome vnto thē Now as according to the infinite reencounter of humaine accidents they could not long want matter to entertaine the fire of their ancient enmities the occurrence of the protection of Parma presented it selfe but too soone to heate the well neere tempered affections of these Princes of their people and allies by a new motion which so greatly changed their counsailors harts not yet ful cooled of their burning enmities that there needed no long time to perswade them to make warne and fall together by the eares with greater stomack then euer Beholde the very cheefe occasions The ancient hatreds between the Spaniards and French grounded vpon the pretence of Naples Milan Flaunders Burgundie and sundry other rights for the maintenance wherof so much Christian bloud hath bene shed reuiued between Frauncis the first Charles of Austria continued for light enough occasions were no lesse entertained through the enuy of the glory which the French atchieued at the memorable defeat of at their times the inuincible Swissers at Marignan the conquest of Milan and sundry other great aduantages happened to the Flowredeluce then the ielousie of the honor and and aduancement which Charles got at such time as the seauen Electors of Germany bestowed vpon him to be meete with the French the title and soueraigne power of Emperour ouer the Christians and since being tooth and nayle pursued by the ambitious and sturdie nature of these two though yong yet the greatest Princes of Christendome there euer fell out such store of matter to nourish this fire of enmitie that one could not but iudge it eternall if Charles had not first shewed both to the Princes of his owne time and to come as well by his succession to the goods and rights of his ancestors as by his voluntary resignation of his estates and free retreate into a solitary life voide of the pranckes of this worlde how one ought to take and leaue hatreds rather with discretion then blinde passion or aduise of euil councellors into which almost all Lords by indiscretion faintnes of hart or other insufficiencie suffer themselues to be but too much ledde Charles notwithstanding was cunning a dissembler a great husband as well in the expence of his time as treasure patient staide and well setled couragious in aduersitie discreat in his wordes and actions of a good and strong stature scorning the outward gloryes and shewes of the worlde hauing for counterpease of his good partes the indisposition of his person selfe will in his own opinion and the wealth of his estate for the end of his actions more then reason honor or iustice what euer could be alleadged vnto him to the contrary Frauncis on the other side was open too bountifull sumptuous in diet apparell buildings and other outward things royall in perfourmance of his worde valiant couragious a great freend to learning and other rare matters but blemishing his praise-worthy partes with too suddaine a change of opinion and and too free credite giuing to such as he had lightly enough chosen for his cheefe fauourites no lesse then by worldlye pleasure which carrying him to the fruition of things corporall and fleshly shortned the course of his life which otherwise could not chuse but haue beene very long considering the estate of his person and a reasonable good forme of dyet which hee helde by the aduise of his Phisitions Both of them freends to the people whom they would not ouercharge but in great necessitie couragious ambitious yea to haue imagined eche one in their owne conceite to haue had the Empire of the worlde alike frended of Fortune if you compare the losses which Charles sustained at Metz in Fraunce in Affricque and els-where with the imprisonment of Erauncis they both left their children heires to some of their vertues as well as of their wealth and passions but much surpassing them in yeelding credit to their counsellors to whome they meerelye referred the resolution of good or bad which sometimes they too much put in practise for their owne particular as well as for the good of the estate Of which leauing vnto the historie to discouer the ouer-plus vnto you I will but deliuer the matter of Parma which reuiuing their halfe dead contrariety of affections seemed vnto them a sufficient occasion and fit meanes to be throughly reuenged of whatsoeuer had bene before passed Pope Paul 3. had exchanged certain of the church lands by the consent and ratification of the Colledge of Cardinals with Parma and Plaisance in which he inuested his
the faith with weapons or other thinges forbidden Massacrers possessors by violence other which they are accustomed to condemn curse the Maundy Thursday before Easter in the Bull which they call In caena Domini Afterwards banished by the Emperour in a generall assemblie of the Princes of th'empire you may not doubt if he were then put into a heate to skirmish more eagerly then euer he did so as that being published throughout and otherwise pricked forward by the threates and outragious speeches of Cardinall S. Kiste and other his aduersaries and besides seeing himselfe supported as wel by Frederic Duke of Saxe his Mecenas as many other Lords gentlemen and great personages attempted a matter which neuer before he durst so much as haue dreamed of cleane to abolish the Masse by his writings which he published to that end at Witemberg First with Frederic whom by little little he gained as well by his own arguments as by the authoritie of Philip de Melancthon a professor at Witemberge Iustus Ionas and other to whom this Prince had giuen in charge to examine the consequēce of so notable a change afterwards in many places of Germany so as leauing that feare which had as it were before bound him fast with the chaines of modesty he durst then make open warre against the Pope and all other that would maintaine his doctrine by the same weapons thēselues vsed beginning to effectuate the Prophecie which he turned to himselfe of Iohn Hus Hierosme of Prague The Bohemians to witnes the great displeasure which they conceaued at those mens deaths at Constance caused peeces of mony to be coyned which they called Hussites about which were engrauen those words which he vttered at his departure After one hundred yeares ye shal answere God and me As if knowing they shuld liue no longer he would haue said that the Iudges shuld thē come before the throne of God to render an accompt of their act But Luther interpreting it to himself in his commentaries vpon Daniel taketh it for a certain prophecie that Iohn Hus should be the fore-runner of his reformation bringing in Iohn Hus as if he should say they shall roast the Goose for Hus is as much to say as a Goose in the Bohemian tongue but they shall not roast the Swan which will come after me Indeede hee was burned 1414. and the differēce moued by Luther vpon the pardons began 1517. Among the cheefest of his aduersaries which openly declared themselues Henry 8. K. of England presented himselfe who aboue all the rest disalowed his iudgement vpon the Indulgences defending the opinion and power of the Pope thence he proceeded vtterly to condemne by a book dedicated to that end all the disputation of the Sacraments of the church taking his argument to write vpon the Captiuity of Babilon caused by Luther who thereunto answered very bitterlye not sticking to declare vnto him that hee made no account of the dignitie or magnificent apparance of any person Pope Lea receaued hereat so great contentment that he gaue vnto him the title of Defendor of the faith and afterwards 1524. Clement 7. of Medices sent vnto him a Rose of golde which he had consecrated three moneths before Easter Hereupon the Emperour being embarqued to passe out of Germany into Spaine where certain seditions were stirred vp in his way visited the K. of England to whom the better to assure himselfe of him against the K. of Fraunce he promised the 13. of Iune 1522. at Windsor vpon the Thames beyond London to pay annually one hundred thirtie and three thousand crownes which the french yearlye did owe vnto the English And for a greater alliance it was agreed that in time and place the Emperour should take in marriage Mary daughter to K. Henry then of the age of seauen yeares and that if this accord helde not he should pay foure hundred thousand Crownes Luthers doctrine in the meane season dispersed throughout Germany profited in many places so farre as his Disciples in their abundance not content to goe any more to the Masse egged the people to the plucking downe of Images and cheefely Andre Carolastade for which act being misliked by the Vniuersitie of Witemberg they cōdemned this attempt shewing that it was not the way wherin they ought to proceed but before all to pull out the Images of the spirite and to teach the people that onely through faith we please God and that Images serued to no end which being beaten downe in the spirite and men well taught the corporall Images would soone fall downe of themselues not for any mislike they had to haue them cleane taken away but that it ought to be done by the hand of the Magistrate for it was not permitted to euery man to do according vnto his fancy Shortly after 1523. 1524. Zuinglius did as much at Zurich in Suizerland and many other Cantons in like time followed after In summe that a man cannot tell how lightly how secretly and in what a short space this doctrine crept into the harts and braines of many thousands of Christians especially then when euery one saw that Leo had not imployed any parte of the great masse of monie come of his pardons against the Turke who in the meane time had ruyned Hungarie attempted vpon Bohemia taken Rhodes and done a thousand mischiefes against the Christians albeit that the Pope the Emperour the Ecclesiasticall Princes and others had flung all the stones they could to the contrarye euen causing the Edict and decree of Wormes to be obserued against Luther and his doctrine the which was notwithstanding hindred as well by the reformed Princes and their partakers as by the writings and ancient arguments of Luther and his companions so as there is no maruell if the people and aboue all the comminalty of townes not finding their passions staied by any lawes or pollitique ordinances licenced themselues to growe more wilfull in their impressions then euer Leo being departed whose Father was Laurence and Cosme his Grandfather who had enobled and exalted the familie of Medices Adrian the 6. of Vtrech in Holland succeeded him 1521. as well in the dignitie as hate and bitter pursuite against Luther and the Churchmen seeing the protection which many Princes gained by little and little thorough his doctrine gaue to Luther least any should attempt against his person turning the effect of their hatred vpon his disciplines gaue a beginning to most cruell and continuall persecutions of the euill affected towards the faith Now as the seede of this reformation was taken out of the conuent of Augustines so did they make seene the first treates of their bitter punishments vpon Iohn and Henry Augustine Friers of Brusselles who after many disputations with Iaques Hocstrat the Inquisitor a Iacobin hauing bene deposed of the priestly order disgraded of the lesser orders clad with laye and prophane habites after deliuered vp to the secular Iustice were burned
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
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
those as had cōmitted so base and lewd an act to haue thē punished in example so as hauing recouered the trumpetors clothes horse with recōpence for such other things as had beene taken frō him he caused him to be safely cōueied backe by one of his owne Now for that some of the imperials had caused the bruite to run how that the French did flie before thē that if they woulde but stay 24. howers the Prince shold giue thē battel they answered that they saw no cause to be so brag nor so lightly to vsurp such glory occasion of cōbat hauing already beene often enough presented vnto them if they themselues had listed Notwithstanding if the Prince had so great desire thereto as he made shew for he assured them on the K. behalfe that he would stay full 24. howers no more or if he would come find him out neer Cambray he did assure him that would tarry for him 8. daies together wher nothing should be refused him But whilst they sought out the most cōmodious places to lodge their battellons men at armes the imperials in the end retired to their first lodgings neere to Bauets An occasion that at their departure thence the French with one march got as far as Craeuecaeur neere Cambray where the enemies had determined to fortefie and repaire the Castle hauing already begun to make certaine trenches conduits to tast the water purposing there to lay their foundations which the same day being the 26. of Iuly their pioners began to raise where the first wound of the miserable Cambresius was renued who had already set vp builded some little cottages only to keepe thēselues dry imagining that a long time there would not so great misfortune befal them hauing according to their habilitie againe sowed part of their fields to haue wherwith all to nourish and keepe themselues from famine so as the richer sort glad to that they were with their best moueables retired within the strong townes were not exempt out of al these losses aduersities for whē the tennant is poore afflicted the Lord fareth neuer a whit of ought the better Now whilst that in the plain countrie they made wast of Corne alredy ripe ready to be reaped many braue salies and skirmishes dayly fel out between them of Cambray the French the Citadel stil troubling darkning the aire with shot of Cānon which lighted only among the worst sort without slaying of any person of renowne which they did only by al meanes possible seeking to hinder the losse ruine of their fruits being notwithstanding often enough repelled and driuen into their owne gates so as these bickerings continued for the space of 8. daies whilst that the French lay ther encamped The imperiall armie in the meane time was pitched and fortefied in a place called Arçon betweene Cambray Le Quesnoy Valeciennes vpon the little riuer of Montet which commeth towards the Castle of Cambresy a little lower falleth into Leascau still continuing their courses to cut off the waies which the Prince De La Roche Sur-yon well perceiuing came thither incorporating his armie with the K. which hee succoured with great quantitie of victuals whereof they stoode in great want and necessitie In this time was the marriage concluded betweene Philip of Austria and Mary of England though with much more honor to the English then to the Spanniards hauing taken from him by the contract of marriage many commodities which ordinarily are proper and incident vnto a husband yea so farre as to denie vnto him the curtesie of England which carrieth That a Queene enheritrice to England comming to be married to a Prince stranger and afterwards dying the husband shoulde enioy such goods as appertained vnto her during his life though no heires at al were issued by marriage wherein likewise may be very well noted the power of the estates and Parliament of England ouer the disposition whether liuing or testamentarie of their Prince This marriage notwithstanding though very honorable to their nation yet stucke sore in the minds of many Lords and other of the countrie as well for the displeasure which they tooke in that they were to be commaunded by a stranger as for the change of Religion and pollicie already as it were growne olde and setled in the harts of many so as with a full resolution to hinder the same and to set vp Iane of Suffolke as Queene they rose in armes vnder Henrie of Suffolke Thomas Wyat and sundrie other as well in Cornewale as the North countrie Wyat vndertooke to bring his men straight to London chiefe Citie of the Realme hoping to draw the Londoners vnto him vnder a pretext of the countries libertie hinderance of the alliance with a stranger The Q. on the other side hauing leuied a great number of men caused the Duke to flie to Warwicke from whence seeking to escape into Fraunce hee was apprehended and brought to London by the Earle of Huntington who marched against Wyat gathering men out of the Dutchie of Norfolke the Duke whereof being taken prisonner by Wyat in no case would be perswaded to combat with this partie but afterwards being released hee reuealed vnto the Q. all the enterprise of Wyat and his partners with whome stoode likewise suspected and kept as prisonner Elizabeth daughter to Henry and Anne Boulen Wyat notwithstanding being ariued at London was much astonied But the Queene though with small force hauing publikely to all men rendred the cause which moued her to take the Spanniard to her husband and how that the countrie should there by receiue much more good then by her alone or any other English Prince besides how she would loose nothing of her owne nor any waies diminish the libertie of her subiectes encouraged them so farre as Wyat cleane out of hope of entring the Cittie and seeking to retire into Kent being pursued was defeated by the Earle of Penbrooke afterwards brought to London within short space both the D. of Suffolke and himselfe had their heads cut off being not long after followed by Iane of Suffolke and her husband for not hauing refused the vnfortunate Crowne which was offred vnto them Thus began the marriage of Marie with th' effusion of her subiectes bloud as almost all the rest of her Raigne consumed in diuision and full of murther and punishments of the most notable personages of her Realme These troubles being appeased the Prince of Spaine ariued about the end of Iuly in the Ile of Wight from whence being honorably conducted by my L. Paget and other entring afterwards further in to England followed by the D. of Alua Earles of Padille Rigomes Aiguemont the Admiral of Castile and Marquis of Languillare the mariage was solemnised the 23. of Iuly at Winchester wher Masse being finished the Emperors deputies declared how in fauour of that marriage his Maiestie did giue vnto his sonne the realme of
cōquered which as thē was esteemed impregnable before which as the Chronicles of France doo witnesse during the raigne of Phillip the sixt named De Valois and in England of Edward the third the English armie layd siege during the space of one whole yeere In the end they which were besieged with in the towne were driuen to so great a necessitie and famine as they were faine to eate rats and hides of leather Iohn de Vienne commaunding there it was yeelded the third daie of August 1347. wherby the English inioyed it two hundred ten yeres during which space they bragged how they carryed the keyes of France at their girdle beeing able by this meanes to enter and depart the realme at theyr pleasure But as one Phillip king of France lost it so dyd the French againe conquere it from another Phillip king of England It was onely inclosed with stone walls full of round towers ioyning neere one another first builded for speare and shielde arrowes or anie other instruments of warre without fire after the old fashion and without anie rampires or other deuises or subtilties such as are now a dayes inuented agaynst the force of our artillerie At this houre it is iudged to bee one of the fayrest and strongest townes of warre in all Europe For as much as besides the naturall situation therof in a place vnaccessable for that it is inuironed three partes with riuers brookes and marishes and the fourth side defended with the sea with a great and spacious porte not beeing subiect or to bee commanded by anie thing The arte and inuention of man hath giuen vnto it a forme more square than otherwise new clothed without wyth great large massiue rampires hauing at the three corners towards the marish three gret bulwarks in point triangle-wise wel flanked and armed to couer and defend the curtines And on the other square towards the downes standeth the castle by which for that it was not knowen or the imperfection not remedied grew this last taking of the towne Besides this towne is wholy inuironed with large ditches and maruellous deepe with springs at the verie bottome alwayes full of water by reason of a little riuer which commeth from Hames which passing thorough the towne watereth them filleth them full as well as all the rest of the little brookes which breake out of the marishes fall downe and few thether for the most part But which is more praise-worthie in a towne of war there is one of the fairest square publike places as is possible to behold in which at the least may bee put in battell betweene foure or fiue thousand men and the reuenue and profite of the port must needes be better for that it is one of the principallest most renowmed townes of the Ocean sea whether there is brought from all partes of the world an infinite and inestimable riches and of all sortes of marchandises and from thence lykewise they are distributed into sundrie other Countries Now whilest that they battred the towne the thunder and bruite of the artillerie being heard within England the Queene to remedy the same caused a number of ships to bee prepared which she furnished with souldiers and all kind of munitions fit for anie succour to bee sent thether But when they approached and alreadie perceiued the colours and white crosses to waue vpon the tower of Ricebanke and wals of the towne without comming anie neerer they returned backe to carrie report thereof home into their countrie The towne of Calais beeing surprised in so short a time there grew afterwardes some disputation to which of the two they should addresse themselues either Graueline or Guines for so much as these two fortresses seemed to bee lyke two shoulders to support the towne and as two strong bulwarkes to close vp the two principall passages thereto to wit Graueline for Flanders and the lowe Countries and Guines for France Notwithstanding these propositions being amplie debated of and discussed the more sound opinion resolued that Guines imported much more for the conseruation of Calais than Graueline although it were far stronger and of more difficile accesse According to which aduice the Generall of Guise without giuing anie great leasure to the enemie to bethinke himselfe of anie remedie pursuing neere his victorie the thirteenth of this moneth besieged Guines where Grey commaunded wyth a good number of men of warre and all other kinds of munitions requisite At theyr arriuall the French finding the towne abandoned lodged there for their better help towards the battering and assault of the fortresse which was ioyning thereunto But the Englishmen surprising them as they were growen into a great disorder about theyr lodging sallyed out at a posterne gate of the castle and thrust them out vpon the first fury setting in spight of them the better part of the houses on fire and afterwards retired but the D. of Guise caused them to begin the breaches albeit the Artillerie gaue impediment enough thereunto So as with an obstinate assurance and without intermission he caused the worke to bee pursued Where hee himselfe to augment theyr courage and to serue for an example to euerie one was ready with the first and had his Mattocke as soone ready in his hand to make way for the Cannon as the meanest Pioner in the troupe And in such sort continued in preparing the ground and dressing vp of Gabionades as within three daies after hee approched and put the mouth of his Artillerie to the number of thirtie fiue peeces of batterie iust vpon the border and counterscarpe of the diches to batter as well pointe blanke as trauersing in three places principally one of the greatest and principallest bulwarks which flancked on the one side the Courtine of the Gate and on the other their great bulwarke which they called the keape vndertaking at the first one of the strongest of the bulwarkes in hope after to obtaine better cheape some of the lesse and smaller sorte Thus verie sudainely began the batterie The which endured without cease two daies a halfe in such a furie as within so short a space there was discharged betweene eight and nine thousand shot of Cannon In such sort as this great bulwarke being opened and disarmed the breach by the 20. of this Moneth appeared reasonable for the assaulte But the D. of Guise for all that knowing by how many waies and deuises a breache might be repared and the meanes and subtilties which the enemie might inuent to entrappe them which should make the assaulte and to fortefie himselfe within before that he would hazard his Souldiers thought it good to make the breach more then once to be veiwed and what kind of accesse was made for to goe vp at And therfore at the first blow he sent fower of his most disposte Souldiers which hee could chuse out followed with twentie other resolute men who were incontinently retired by his owne commandement The next morrowe he sent
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