the Duke d' Mayne his battaile was much like to the kings the Duke d' Mayne with his Cornet which might bee of two hundred and fiftie horses was in the middest of two Squadrons of Launces of them that were come out of Flanders which might be of twelue or thirteene hundred horse The Duke of Nemours with his Squadron of two hundred and fiftie horse for his safety set himselfe in the middle of these Squadrons of launces The Knight d'Aumale likewise thrust himselfe into that companie thinking himselfe there to be safe so that there was in that huge company about eighteene hundred horsemen marching in a front On the sides â—t this great huge companie were two regiments of Swissers lined with French foote men There were two other Squadrons of Launces the one of light horsemen French Italians and Albaneses on the right hand the other on the left side of Wallons and Spanyards in the middle betweene both were French-footemen and Lance-knights The two wings were two great companies of Rutters which might bee on the right wing seauen hundred horse and on the left side fiue hundred they had on their left wing two Culuerins and two bastard Culuerins The king perceauing that the enemy would not come forward went toward them and hauing marched about a hundred and fiftie paces got the aduantage of the sunne and winde and perceaued that his enemies were in number more then they thought for the king perceaued that they were fiue thousand horsemen and eightéene thousand footemen The rebels were glistering with gold which they had gotten out of the coffers of the Citizens of Paris Rhemes and other townes by violence and robery and out of the king of Spayne his coffers and also out of Saint Peters treasure The kings army was glistering with yron and stéele there were in the kings army to bée séene a terrible sight of two thousand Gentlemen in complet armour from top to toe burning in affection to doo their king and Countrey good seruice for the conseruation of their wiues children houses and goods The King was in the front of his Squadron with a great bunch of white feathers on his Helmet and another bunch on his horses forehead The Princes Earles and knights of the holy Ghost and other principall Lords and Gentlemen of the chiefest houses in France were in the fore ranke The king exhorted all his company with great modesty with their humble prayers to commit themselues vnto God and to shew example to others began to conceaue a feruent praier which done the king walked vp and downe willing them to doo the like and encouraging them like valiant men to stand to the defence of a iust cause As soone as hée was come to his place the Lord Mariuault brought him newes that certaine companies of Picardie vnder the conduct of the Lords Humiers and Mouoy with other Lords and Gentlemen to the number of two hundred horse were within two miles of him But the king fully resolued to giue battaile with that power which he had would not delay any longer but sent commaundement to the Lord Guiche to cause him to shoote with the Ordinance which thing hée did straight waies whereby the enemies receaued great hurt for the king had discharged nine Canon shot with great effect before the enemy could begin After thrée or foure voleyes of shot had passed on both sides the 1. Onset Squadron of their old light horsemen compounded of French men Italians Albaneses consisting of fiue or sixe hundred horses came to giue the charge to the Marshall Aumont carrying with them the Lanceknights who were on their side But the Marshall Aumont willing to begin set vppon the enemy so hardly that he enforced them to scatter and to flée with great confusion and feare whome he chased to a little wood on the back side where the said Lord Marshall stayed attending the Kings comming as hee had in charge During this chase the company of Rutters on the right hand of the 2. Onset battaile of the enemies marched to haue seazed vppon the artillerie but they were met with light horsemen who made them quicklie retyre Then the Squadron of Launces Wallons and Flemmings marched 3. Onset on to haue charged with a fresh charge the saide light horsemen fighting with the Rutters but the Baron Byron shewed himselfe in the field and gaue the onset on the reregard because he could not set on the forefront there in the conflict he was hurt in the arme and in the face but at length the enemy was deâ—eted and scattered The Lord Montpencier séeing a great army of seauen hundred Spanish Launciers and thrée hundred Harquebusiers on horseback with corselets and murrions with thrée great standards that were vnder the gouernement of the County Egmond aduaunced toward them and gaue them such a charge as that albeit he was vnhorsed yet quickly getting vp againe brake their aray put them to flight and aboade there Master of the field There was a frantick Franciscan Frier of Biscay called Frier Mathew de Aguirre who runne vp and downe with his GOD whome they call Crucifix in his hand all his wit was in his Crucifixes head and incouraging the rebells and running against the Hugonets as though he would haue frighted them and wrought some myracle with his Idoll or played the bulbegger in a cloyster but a shot of Ordinance did beate him downe and his God so that there he ended his frantick fit At the selfe same time the great Squadron of the Duke d'Mayne came marching to the battailion hauing on the left wing foure hundred 4. Onset Harquebusiers on horseback who gaue a volley of shot within fiue and twentie paces of the Kings Squadron the same volley being ended the head of the enemies Squadron set on the Kings Squadron The King receaued the enemy with such a constancy and courage that after a quarter of an hower of hard fighâ—ing hauing before played the part of a king and great Captaine in commaunding and ordering of things now hee playeth the part of a lusty and braue Souldiour So that in such a great and furious assault he behaued himself so valiantly that he brake and put in disaray that terrible Forrest of Launces and at length after he had put them to flâ—ght with great confusion and terror he followed the victory and being lost in the chase caused a great heauines in his army vntil that within a while they spyed him comming all berayed with the bloud of his enemies without any hurt receaued And as the king was returning from the chase to his company with fifteene or sixtéene horses he was set on by two battailions of Swissers enemies and three companies of Wallons and certaine other who did weare redd crosses The king did set vpon them with his small number tooke away their Cornets and killed those that carryed and guarded them When the King had come to his place againe the whole armie in token of
not to come within the reach of the King of Nauarre for feare of the Bastonado or Strapado or some such like thing being in good hope in the meane time that in walking and taking his pleasures in Guyenne at the Priestes costs he might make his part strong with seducing the forenamed Cities and other from the Kings obedience to his deuotion but he was as far deceaued in that as in escaping the Bastonado But now to returne to our purpose the Duke Ioyeuse was at the back of the Prince of Conde the Duke De Mayne passing through Orleans ouer the riuer of Loyre was at his right hand and as farre as Bloyse stopped all the passages least the saide Prince might passe ouer The King had sent Biron with forces into Beause which marched right against his face least hee should escape that way on the left hand the way to the sea through Britaine and Normandie was long difficulte and dangerous by reason of many townes and Garisons therein placed The Prince being thus compassed about with al these forces of enemies was in lesse daunger because that they knew not what and how things passed in his armie and supposing the same to be farre closer and stronger then it was in deede did greatlie feare to aboard it whereby he and all his Captaines had opportunitie to beguile them and to steale away from them Now to knowe well the rest of this voyage vntill the dissolution of the armie it is necessarie to know the situation of the country There is on the north side of Lorion a riuer called Loire washing the townes of Chasteau dune Vendosme Chasteaudeloy Lude Flesche and Luche which méeting with the riuer Sartre at Anger 's falleth into Loyre beneath Pont de sel The Prince at his departing from Beaufort folowed this riuer almost as far as Chasteau dune The 26. of October the Princes armie dislodged from Beaufort intending to lodge at the towne of Luche in Anjou belonging to the Lord Clermong there purposing to passe ouer y e sayd Loyre vpon the bridge into the countrey which lyeth betweene the sayd riuer Loyre and Sartre called Vaudeloyre but the riuer was so ouerflowen as though the foure Elements had set themselues agaynst that army that it did couer halfe of the sayd bridge and the Lord Clermont which is Lord of the place sounding the foord himselfe thought it were not passable whereupon they determined that day to goe to Lude There happened vnto them other things which increased greatly the amaze For newes came that the Duke Ioyeuse with greater forces than theirs pursued with great hast after them and that not long after the departing of the Prince he had seazed vpon Beaufort On the other side the countrey which before trembled for feare of them began to rise vpon them for they of the Flesche the selfesame day issued out and intercepted some souldiers and carriage That day according to the determination they lodged at Lude The 27. of October they would haue passed ouer Loyre vpon the bridge of Lude but it was so highly ouerflowen that although it was easie to passe the bridge yet at the further side of the said bridge there was another great riuer which they must néedes passe ouer by a foord for there was but a little boate which would scarse carrie three men without daunger The horsemen passed and set themselues in battell aray vntill all had passed there a great many gaue ouer their carriage they which had friends in the countrey gaue them their stuffe That day from Lude they sent the Lords Boysduly and Aubiguy towards Boysgency Mere and S. Die to finde some passage and that the morrowe after they should all méete at Orges or the Chappell S. Martine Whilest they stayed in that playne in battell aray for the safe passage of all the companies there happened a thing which would haue wrapped a superstitious soule into sundrie and fearefull thoughts for not farre thence beyond them was a Hare started by the enemies betwéene the Loyre and Lotion with a great crye after which gaue them the alarum and all prepared themselues to receaue the enemie couragiously but at length the Hare was seene with more than two hundred horses with fewe dogges That poore Hare passed and repassed among the horses feete with many stripes and yet was not taken but saued her self though she was pursued more than halfe a mile Some tooke this for an euill and some a good presage saying that if God had care to preserue that poore feeble and fearefull beast much more would hee haue care of that little flocke amazed which howsoeuer it was hollowed and pursued by all the forces of France notwithstanding would escape safe and sound in receiuing but feare without great hurt which thing also happened From Lude they at length arriued at Prillay two houres in the night this is a great towne belonging to the Prince County the Prince of Conde his yonger brother At their comming thither there was such a confusion and presse in the streates that they could neither goe forward nor backward for the space of an houre not the Prince himself vntil that the doores of some houses broaken gaue some roome The 29. day they marched through Vandeloyre and at night came to S. Arnol and the villages about not farre from Lauerdine but the sayd S. Arnol was a poore little village where was small store of lodgings so that the further they went the néerer they approached to their miseries There also newes came that the enemies followed after them as couragiously and with such hast as they went about to goe from them with great iourneys The Lords Espernon and Byron and most of the Nobilitie of the Court were at Bonaual in Beause to méete with this terrified armie The Duke de Mayn on the other side with a great armie was on the other side of the riuer of Loyre neere Bloys to cut them off by the way if by chaunce they should repasse The Townes betwéene Bloys and Orleans were all be set with strong garrisons The Lord Chastre had sent into Soloigne to kéepe the riuer of Loyre and to retire the boates and milles into the townes The Commons were set to watch readie to rise vpon them at the first sound of the Toxine The companies of the Prince were as wearie as their enemies were lustie and as men may bee wearie with courses and watches so horses much more with galloping night and day without resting The meanes to passe betweene Bloys and Amboyse fayled them all these things being knowne of all made them to haue little hope of their affayres Yet there is no doubt that if the enemie had appeared the necessitie had much increased their courage But it seemed that by a singular prouidence of God the enemies stood in such feare of these companies that he would haue them defeated through wearines that it might appeare to be Gods owne hand and his proper work to scatter them
occupie the whole gouernement of Aunis and to plague the inhabitants of Rochel Therefore he lodged there his regiment which consisted of ten Ensignes whom he deuided in the Forts of the Iland and to make warre out right he ordained the Lord Tremblay to bee in garrison there with a companie of fourtie light horses He caused great store of white Corslets and newe Pikes to be brought thether out of Paris to arme his garrisons there He sendeth Commissioners to the Parishes round about euen to them which lye next to Rochel to haue a number of Pyoners to gather Subsidies and Tallages and to bring them to Marans He prepared a number of Barkes and boates for to hold the Sea and to seaze vppon the I le of Rhe by the intelligences which he had with the Lord S. Luke of Browage He caused the Corne and Wine to be taken vp through the Farmes of the gouernment of Rochel and tooke many prisoners To be short speaking very bigge he omitted no poynt of hostilitie hoping to make there a second Browage and a Blockhouse to famish Rochel The King of Nauarre did beare with him and hauing spied his counsell during the space of two moneths and a halfe the sayd King hauing on a sudden assembled certaine companies of footmen and horsemen made all things readie the 24. of Iune entered the Iland at Charron nigh to Marans ouer the bridges which he had caused to bee made in diuers places In this Iland were holden by the enemie the Forts of Charron and Brault wherein were foure score Souldiers harquebusiers commaunded by Captaine Chautery hee besieged the Fort of Brault as the néerest of greater importance and more defendable by the enemie whose losse drew after it the losse of Charron He drewe by the channell of Seure two shippes set in readines to batter it but at night it was surrendered their liues safe notwithstanding of courtesie he granted both to the Captaine and Souldiers their swords immediatly they of Charron surrendered themselues likewise being in number twentie of the best Souldiers of the Regiment The 25. day he caused a bridge to be made vpon the channell of Brune approaching still to the I le of Marans and went himselfe to view the fort Clouzie and a certaine house fortified by the enemie called the house of Clouzie nigh the méetings of two channels which doo wash the sayd house on both sides These two Forts doo lye vpon a deepe channell which they must needes passe ouer to enter into Marans distant one from the other about sixe score paces and beyond the sayd channell betweene the two forts a newe fort was builded for to let the casting of the bridge if any should be made This newe fort was in the sight of the two forts to wit the fort of Clouzie and the house of Clouzie whereof is spoken of before All things well viewed the sayd King concluded to attempt vpon these fortes the rest of the day passed away in shooting certaine volleys of Ordinance vppon those fortes out of the shippes and in certaine light skirmishes In the euening the sayd King caused the shippes to goe downe the water to the Iland Charron to take from the enemy the suspicion of the thing which hee determined to do the day following The 26. day being the Lords day about three a clock hee came with few of his men before Clouzie made his bridges sure aduauncing forward his Gabions prepared the bridge to bee cast betweene the two forts searched the places where they might enter into Marans causeth his shippes to approach into that place where they were the day before putting his regimentes in battaile aray placing them in the same order that they should march and also his footmen to sustayne the enemy at the entring of the Iland and to serue for such occasions as might ryse he being himselfe in person the formost to see with the eie what should be needeful to be done The morning passed away in such exercises and in the meane while the enemy did what he could to keepe him off At 11. a clock prayers and singing of Psalmes vnto God being ended throughout all his regimentes and troupes of horsemen after hee had appoynted euery man what they should doo hee began to force the passage kept by a companie of the regiment of the Lord Cluseaulx and with the company of light horses of the Lord Tremblay flanked on y e one side with the fort Clouzie and on the other side by the house Clousie which was as is aforesayd fortified and in front defended by the third fort and a trench in the middle Vpon the right hand of the house of Clousy marched the master of the Campe Preaulx who had slyded with his troupes into the reedes to passe ouer the channell in a place knowen and yet not without danger and the Captayne Ferrand with him hee tooke also with him the Captaines Lomeau and Nede into the same reedes A little behind was the Baron Salignak with his regiment to geue the scalado to the sayd house Right against the house of Clouzie foure captaines with their Souldiers thosen out of the regiment of the Lord Granuile did aduaunce the Gabions vppon the banke of the channell and behind their Gabions were in battell aray the companyes of Rochel at the right hand of the sayd Gabions right agaynst the meeting of the two channels the saide Lord Granuile with thirty armed men did push forward the said bridge they were couered from the gunshot of the fort Clousy by the Captaine Valley of Rochel with a great number of targets of proofe and behinde them who did push the bridge marched the rest of the regiment with the troupes of Rhe conducted by captayne Planch At the lift hand going toward Clousy to occupy the enemy all along the channell marched the new and old gardes of the King of Nauarre conducted by the Captaynes Porte and Vignoles and the Harquebuziers on horseback of the Lord Peujas who were al lighted of their horse with Captaine Limalle The horsemen were behind the footmen the troupe of the Lord Peujas behind the regiment of the Lord Granuile and the companies of Rhe which followed the bridge The mayne forces of the King of Nauarre commaunded by the Prince of Soissons were a hundred paces and more behind but a litle more aduaunced vppon the lift hand The enemyes seeing the Kinges forces in that aray and that they had bowed theyr knees on the ground to make their prayers to God afore they went to the battell and calling to remembrance the prayers which were made at Coutras did fall into such a feare as they began to crye they pray they will beat vs as they did at Coutras and beginning to wauer on a sudden fled away in great disorder Here is to be noted that had it not béen for the fault committed through hastines in casting the bridge in a place where the chanell was forked whereas it should haue
left side was that of the Marshall Aumont consisting of three hundred good horsemen hauing on his two sides 12. regiments of French footmen The second was the squadron of the Prince Montpensier consisting of three hundred Horses and on his left hand foure or fiue hundred Lanceknights and on the right hand a regiment of Swissers euery company of the strangers forces being lyned with footmen The third Squadron was of light horsemen deuided into two companies the one whereof the great Prior Colonell was the Leader and the other company of the light horsemen was conducted by the Lord Gyurye Marshall of the field of the said light horses hee was able to make foure hundred horses These two companies of light horses were placed a little before the foresaid squadrons and at the left hand of them was the artillerie to wit foure cannons and two culuerins The fourth squadron was that of the Baron of Biron which might bee of two hundred and fifty horses and in the same ranke and order at the left hand towards the Prince Montpensier was a company of light Horsemen The fifth squadron was the Kings which made fiue rankes and in euery ranke sixe score horses he had on the left side two regiments of Swissers of the Canton of Glaris and of the Grisons and on his right hand a great Battailon of two other regiments of Swissers the one of the Cantons of Solethurne and the other of the Colonel Balthazare which amount in the whole eighteene ensignes The Battailon on the right hand had the regiment of Brigueulx and on the left wing the regiments of Vignoles and S. Iohn The sixt Squadron was of the Marshall Byron who had two hundred and fiftie good horses with two regiments of French footmen The seauenth Squadron was of the Rutters who had ioyned with them French footmen like as other companies had Things were so ordered by the King and Lord Marshalls and Baron of Byron plied the matter so that in lesse then an houre all was so fitly disposed that it could not be deuised better And while the King did thus set in order his battell the night before and that morning there arriued vnto him sixe hundred horses vnlooked for to wit the companyes of the Prince Countie both horsemen and footmen there came also the Lord Guiche great master of the Ordinance and the Lord Plessis Morney with their companies to whom vpon deliberation was graunted place in the Kings Squadron The same day also while the King stayed in battell array came companies from the garrisons of Deepe and Arques and other companies and Lords out of Normandie to the number of two hundred horse and more who were placed some vnder the gouernment of the Prince Montpencier some with the King and some with the Baron Byron In the meane time the King sent light horsemen for Spyes on the left side of the battell supposing that the enemie did lye at Iury which is a great towne hauing a bridge ouer the riuer Eure thinking there to set vppon the enemie But when they had scarse passed halfe a mile they vnderstood that the enemie was aware of the matter more then they thought and that the enemie had passed the riuer Eure and that they began to shew themselues in battell array The enemie had passed that riuer not thinking to haue the Kings army so nigh But the king hearing of their going to Verneuille thought to méet them there and arriuing thether found that the enemie had sent his Harbingers for to take vp lodgings euen néere the place where the kings army lay When these newes came to the Campe there was an excéeding ioy among all men of all degrees Betweene the two armies there was a Village in the playne which was holden by the enemie which the King made straight way yeeld to him but for al this occasion giuen the enemie did not stirre But the King seeing that it was nigh Sunne setting and hauing not yet descryed the manner of the lodging of their Campe and considering they might bee at some aduantage was aduised not to march for that time any further whereupon there he stayed his armie for that night All that day the two armies were in sight one of the other There were onely some odd skirmishes betweene them in the which prisoners were taken who reported that the number of the enemie was greater then they were aware off and that they were giuen to vnderstand that the Kings companyes were come thether rather for a fashion then minding to bid battaile The night drewe on which caused the army to encampe there where they were set in battell array It is reported that the night following the third day two armies were seene in the Skye and the lesser number put the greater to flight The King would not departe from the army before hee had knowledge of the enemies lodging and had set all his watches in order The Noble men lodged in the villages about the playne which the enemies thought to haue surprized that day the king was the last at fielde and two howers in the night lodged at Foucraynuille which is a Village at the left hand of the same plaine and there hauing a little refreshed himselfe sent word to his men euery one to be in a readines against the morning and after he had rested himselfe about two howres on a pallet obseruing the auncient precept by Homer giuen to the Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very early he sent to enquire for newes of the enemies newes came that the enemie séemed to haue repassed the riuer Eure hee sent the second time then word came that vndoubtedly they had not repassed Eure but that they lay in the Villages about Eure some what further then they were supposed to be These newes cheered the king who desired greatly to come to hand with the enemy Day light being come the Princes and Lords Marshalls came to the king and set their men in battaile aray The king bâ—gan in the presence of his houshold seruants and other present to make a most feruent and deuout prayer to God committing his life and the liues of his faithfull subiects and seruants and the defence of his cause vnto him who is the mightie God of battailes The Princes and Lords Catholicks went to heare Masse and their deuotions done went to refresh themselues The King sent to them of the reformed Religion in like manner to commit themselues to Gods most mercifull protection by prayers went in like manner to refresh themselues The king liueth so in the presence of God that hee is a spectacle of royall godlinesse and vertue to men and to the blessâ—d Angels of God All the kings companies hearing that they should ioyne in battaile that day with the enemies did exceedingly reioyce and by nine a clock the king came into the field and vppon warning giuen by two Canon shot by ten a clock all the companies were in order in their places The placing of
of inhabitants and Souldiers Notwithstanding neither the Gouernour the Lord S. Mesmes nor the Ministers would at any time forsake the remainant of that Church which was there All the fields about were full of Tents and Cabbins replenished with men infected of the plague the villages all round about were in the same case The faithfull exiled out of their owne countreys and houses flowing from euery side of France flying from the contagious pestilence of their soules estéemed lesse than nothing the plague and sicknesse of the bodie rather than should cast away their soules in denying the sonne of God was to bée wished for of them But God according to his trueth kept to them both the one and the other for euen then the pestilence vanished away from all those places as if God had commanded the sicknesse to make roome for them who were exiled for his name for after that there was no more sicknesse seene In this auoydance there was a number murthered but specially in those Prouinces where the gouenours were most passionate and addicted to the League by whose permission the common people tooke much libertie to commit cruell murthers vpon them of the religion They who had not the meanes to recouer some place of refuge and continued in the purenes of religion and escaped the slaughter did lye sousing in prisons and dongeons where they sustayned many combats looking euery day when they should be had away to death Many of them who forsooke the confession of the trueth went to Masse and so were sent to their houses agayne but by a certaine iudgement of God they for the most part dyed euery where through sorrowe or by the pestilence Some of them who had charge in the Church died of notable kindnes of death For some going into the Countrey about theyr businesse fell of their horses and brake their neckes and some dyed otherwise verifying the saying of Christ he which will saue his life shall loose it It is sayd how the Duke de Mayne powred his fuâ—y vppon the olde walles of the vilages of Montigne le Conte Beaulrien and how he tooke Trile which no man will keepe In the latter end of Ianuary the sayd Duke drawing into the furthest part of Perigord set vppon Gaignak a poore little vilage belonging to the Vicount Turenne a place voyde of all fortifications saue that at the endes of the streetes there remayned yet few old walles which did shew that there had béen a gate the inhabitants being poore husbandmen first sustayned an assault supposing to haue to doo with companyes of robbers for so they tooke them But at length being not able to withstand such a multitude they fledde another way and saued themselues except onely foure who either for age or woundes could not auoyd them this great Duke caused to be hanged to powre his gall vpon those poore simple countrey men Thus this great Emperour weary to conquer vilages in Perigord and seeing that his practises agaynst the great and populous Cities of Limoges and Perigueux would not frame he turned short Southward towards Quercy and passing ouer the riuer Dordonne at Soilak left at his left hand the townes of the vicount Turenne Saynt Cere and Turenne in Perigord and coasted Figeak Cadenak and Cayak in Quercye whom hee knew to bee well furnished with garrisons Hee coasted also the houses of the Vicount Gourdine and Montfort a strong place vpon Dordonne which hee sent to view This Duke soiorned long in Quercy sent commaundement to the marchantes of Tholouze and Bourdeaux and others which do traâ—fike vppon Garonne that vppon payne of death they should not agree with the townes which did hold for the king of Nauarre and situated vppon that riuer did stoppe the commerce thereof promising that shortly hee would set all that riuer at liberty yea that he would Whilest hee soiorned so long in high Quercye rouing and wasting the countrey the Bishop of Cahors the Lords Saynt Sulpice and Comburat did instantly require him that he would assault those places aboue said which being holdeÌ„ by them of the religion did dayly annoy molest them which thing when the Duke could not be perswaded to do The Bishop blessing him with his Episcopall benediction and the two sayd Lordes with hot tearmes licensed him to depart out of their countrie in the deuils name Besides eating drinking spoyling and whoring he did no good there saue that he licensed some Gentlemen of the countrey for money to haue the exercise of the reformed religion in their houses so that thence they would not make warre and to colour his cowardlines hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Bishop and other Lords aboue saide that hee would goe to open the riuer of Garonne and to put the commerce vpon that riuer at libertie Thus this secoÌ„d Hannibal coasting the riuer of Lot at his left hand and Dordonne at his right hand for he would haue that riuer of Lot as a wall betweene him and mount Auban entring in Agenoys there issued out certain companies out of Montsâ—anquine vpon the taile of his armie which did slay in one conflict two hundred Harquebusiers of his and discomfited the companie of Captaine Guerche At length he came with his Ianissaries to the fall of the riuer of Lot into Garonne where is situated an olde Towne called Tunnings consisting of lowe and high Towne and Castle That place about the insurrection of the League certaine Ruffians of Agen had seazed vppon where they did greatly molest the countrey The King of Nauarre in August after passing by sent Captayne Lestele to take that towne which thing he did at the first approach and did cast downe those â—â—lthie ruffians with their harlots out of the windowe into the ditch and kept the sayd towne vnto the Dukes comming which then was giuen ouer and that small garrison that was there retyred to the other side of Gharonne to Caumont and Clerake to reserue themselues to a better opportunitie The Duke de Mayne tooke valiantly the sayd towne of Tunnings which no man kept agaynst him And hauing done this valiant exploit he doth coast the riuer Garonne descending toward Bourdeaux In that way he sent a Coriero to the king promising him that he will doo him such notable seruice as neuer no man did for in great sadues hee will take the King of Nauarre dead or aliue if he did not resolue himselfe to depart out of the Realme and if hée can take him he will send him his head in a Charger as Herode did S. Iohn Baptist As this great Duke went downe the riuer the forerunners met with thirtie scattered and vnarmed poore lads which belonged to the garrison of Chaumont they were sent to cause the prouision contributed by the countrey to be brought to the sayd towne of Chaumont These poore lads were killed by these stout warriors which notable victorie was afterward published in Paris by the title of the notable ouerthrowe of the garrison of
crueltyes should be knowen further And also that the saincts as it were out of the middest of those prouinces which do embrace the Gospel might see that the Lord is the iust reuenger of such abominations and defender of the iust cause And that they may learne to feare him and in him onely to trust and repose themselues Here therefore Adrastia doth stay them to answere vnto Gods iudgement Now let vs come to the euents The King of Nauarre early in the morning being first aduertyzed of this preparation was not mooued at it no more was hee vpon the second warning But at the third tyme he shewed no lesser desire to fight then the enemy to whom twise before he had proffered the occasions He taketh horse rydeth forth out of Coutras to méet y e enemy commaundeth the Lord Clermont master of his Ordinaunce in all hast to passe ouer the canon for he could not do it the day before he putteth his army in battayle array placeth his artillery in the forefront so commodiously that all peeces did seruice without harming any man of his owne greatly did endomage the enemy At length hauing encouraged his souldiers to the battayle whom he found full of desire and readines caused prayers to be made from company to company About 9. a clocke in the morning the artillery began to play on both sides the ordinance of the king of Nauarre was so commodiously placed that it did wonderfully annoy the men of Armes which the Lord Ioyeuse had at his right hand and the regimentes which did flanke those men of armes Many being beaten downe with it some of the heads tooke resolution rather to goe to the charge then to die so miserably without any fight The Harquebuziers in like maner began to ioyne and there was no man on both sides who shewed not to haue a great desire to do well The Ordinance of Ioyeuse did let flye certayne shot towards the company of the Prince of Conde but without any effect saue a horse whereon a page did ride which was slayne The cause of this small effect was a litle rising of the ground which did let the free aspect and ayming of the Ordinance so that many shot did light vpon the ground About nine a clocke the light horsemen of the Lord Ioyeuse to the number of foure hundred horses conducted by the Lord Lauerdine and captain Mercure set on the horsemen of the king of Nauarre but after some fight began to wauer and to make roome The rest of the horsemen of the king of Nauarre consisted of 4. Squadrons distant the one from the other in this wise The Squadrons of the King of Nauarre and of the Prince of Conde were distant about a hundred and fifty paces The Squadron of the Prince of Soissons at the left hand of the king of Nauarre about three score paces The Squadron of y t Vicount Turenne distant so much from the Prince of Conde at his right hand The Lord Lauerdine charged the Vicount Turenne but without any endomaging of him These three squadrons where stoode the Princes of the blood standing fast did behold all this fight vntill the Lord Ioyeuse followed with his mayne force of horsemen and hauing both on the right hand and the left two great hedges of horsemen aduanced to giue the generall onset Then these three Princes marching euery one at the forefront of his squadron close first went a soft pace then began to gallop last the watch word being giuen with a loosed bridle set on so liuely euery one seuerally by himself according to his course vpon that multitude that incontinently the companies were mingled and came to handiblowes The speares which were in great number in the armie of Ioyeuse did but small seruice for they ioyned néerer It is a wonderfull thing that in a moment such a furious troupe as was that of the Lord Ioyeuse armed furnished to the aduantage flanked both on the right hand and the left with two great battaillions of footmen was ouerthrowne and vanquished by a troupe which had neither in number nor in furniture nor in armes nor in situation of the battell any aduantage at all God who gouerneth all things and holdeth in his hands the balance of victories and ouerthrowes made then courage to preuayle against multitude the iust cause against iniurie and the lawfull defence against bragging and the great preparation of warre And as the men of armes were quickly ouerthrowne trodden vnder foote and put to flight so in as little space were the footmen discomfited being set on by the regiment of the King of Nauarre where commaunded as Masters of the Campe Castelnaw Parabiere Salignake and others And at the left hand of the King of Nauarre Charboniere Preau Orges and others who all euery man right forward following the occasion of the victorie cut in péeces all that made any resistance and put to flight the rest which were on the side of copses at the right hand as on the side of the riuer Droune at the left hand And as a little before nine a clocke these two armies came to hands the quarrell was so soone decided that at ten a clock there was found not one onely man of the enemies which stood to his defence nor that was in sight but such as were laied dead vpon the ground or taken prisoners or in flight The place where the battell was fought remayned so couered with men of armes horses and armours but specially of Launces matted so thicke that they stopt the way There remayned the Lord Ioyeuse and also his brother with a great number and notablest Lords The King of Nauarre the Princes of Conde and Soissons with the rest of the armie pursued the victorie There were taken many notable Gentlemen and among others the Lord Belegarde gouernour of Xainctonge the Lords S. Luke and Montigny of Berry who commaunded ouer a companie of horsemen hee was noted in ioyning of the battell to haue pearced further then any of the companie for hee entered euen to the side of the gardes of the King of Nauarre which were at his right hand and there by them beaten downe was taken by some of the sayd gardes God gaue this notable victorie to the King of Nauarre and in that iorney did shine the valour wherewith hee hath indued him in all the speciall graces which may decke a noble and vertuous Prince and great Captain not onely for the counsell resolution diligence and wise gouernment but also in the execution of armes For doing the office of a Captaine Souldier he pressed so farre as to take the enemie by the coller The Prince of Conde also shewed himselfe valiant for he had his horse slaine vnder him the Prince of Soissons also tooke prisoners with his owne hand The horse of the Vicount Turenne was also slaine God made these Princes strong in this dayes worke according to the order of their preheminence by them to doo the execution
Poole against another regiment which was lodged at Guinefole where certaine Gascoynes of the garison came to hand blowes with the enemie All these skirmishes were so fauourable to them of the Towne that beside the first day they lost not one man onely some were hurt so that the enemie could not during all these skirmishes get any aduauntage vppon them not so much as the hedges within foure hundred paces of the Curtine and Forts Euen ten dayes after they were besieged they issued foorth and pulled downe certaine houses in the sight of the enemie and burned others and among them a house called Escraziere from whence the enemie who had lodged therein was driuen out with losse of certaine men The horsemen also did issue foorth and tooke so great number of prisoners that they were enforced to send back a great many of them that were most vnprofitable they kept a great number to worke at the fortifications others of greater calling were put to their raunsome The Lord Chastre accompanied with ten or twelue hundred horses passed at the Planches to the place where the Lord of Neuers was and séeing certaine horsemen who were issued out of the Towne when he would haue gone to view and aduaunced somewhat for that purpose his horse fell in a ditch and had not béen the diligence of them of his companie in succouring of him and that he was couered with a great number of harquebusiers which followed those horsemen hee had béen taken by them of the Towne As thinges did so passe there the Lord Plessis sent diuers times to the King for to aduertise him of the state of the affayres and by the same messengers had answere againe Whilest these skirmishes and blowes were geuen at Ganache the artillery was brought from Montagne and tooke the way of Maschecow for to auoyd the foulnes of the other way they were whole fifteene dayes before they could conuay the said ordinance although they of the Countrey did shew themselues so desyrous and ready to conduct the sayd ordinance that they omitted nothing of all their meanes industrie and labour but specially the Lord Belisle for the desire which hee had to possesse that place There was of that artillery twelue peeces of Ordinance vz. sixe canons of battery foure great Culuerins and two of a meaner sort This Ordinance being arriued the 21. of December about noone the Duke of Neuers set his army in battell array and saluted the towne with a voley of all these peeces from the top of a little hill nigh the place of execution about fiue hundered paces from the towne That being done he sent an Herault of armes to sommon the Lord Plessis to surrender him the towne as vnto the Kings lieutenant The Lord Plessis by the aduise of al the captaines answered that he and all his fellowes were most humble and faithfull seruantes and subiectes to his maiesty but that hee did not acknowledge in all Guienne any other lieutenant generall for the King but onely the King of Nauarre to whom to none other if it were not by his expresse commaundement hee would surrender that place The Herauld was yet sent twise from the Baron Paluan and the Lord Villeneufue of Anjou for to find the means to speake to the Lord Plessis who knowing the importance of such parley flatly refused it At the selfe same time that the army did so muster in battell aray in the sight of all men a souldier Wallon of the companies of Picardie with his sword in hand drawen began to runne ouerthwart a great medow right to the Fort of Captaine Beauregard crying viue Nauarre the Duke of Guyze is dead and Niort is taken that voice was so high that it was heard of both sides they let flie at him diuers shot but not one did hit him but only in his hat They of the towne were fully aduertised by him of the state of the armie and of the strange euents which had happened at Bloys They vnderstood also of the exploit which the King of Nauarre had donein igh Poytow since the siege All these newes brought not only great ioy to them of the towne but also encreased their courage The Duke of Neuers hauing receaued answere of the besieged caused his Ordinance to bee planted in certaine ruinous houses on the one side of Maschecow defended with certaine Gabions which caused them besieged to thinke that they should bee battered of that side where they also began to crench themselues with great labour and dilligence But now wee will leaue the siege of Ganache whilest the Duke of Neuers doth prepare his battery to make a breach and maketh himselfe ready to giue the assault and also the besieged do prepare themselues to defend the place and receaue the enemie and wee will goe to see what exploits the King of Nauarre hath performed in high Poytow It is sayd before how the King of Nauarre after the taking of Beauuoyre set garrisons in the townes of Poytow to keepe the countrey about and to make head against that army which was comming with great preparations might fury and threatnings which thing beeing done heretired to Rochel to gather all his power and to prouide all necessary things either to crosse or to geue battell to that army if occasion might serue And whilest these blowes and skirmishes aboue sayd did so passe at the siege of Ganache and such strange and so vnlooked for euents did fall out at Bloys the Lord Saint Gelays had long before hand curiously sought out the meanes to enterprise vpon the towne of Niort as well to do seruice to them whose part he followed the inhabitants hauing béen alwayes of the chiefest of the League and great enemies to them of the reformed religion as also for the iniuries which they of the sayd Towne proffered vnto him and to his houses thereabouts doing vnto him all the wrongs that euer they could deuise The King of Nauarre arriued from Rochel into Poytow vnderstood as well by the sayd Lord Saint Gelays and by others of the enterprise vpon the said towne of Niort but the execution thereof was oftentimes delayd at length the sayd King hauing with a type iudgement wayed all the circumstances and seene the facility of the means to compasse that enterprise at length ended his counsell with resolution to try speedily the execution thereof and for that purpose departed from Rochel to Saint Ihan d'Angely vnder other colours about the 21. of December The 24. of December the Lord Saint Gelays departed from Rachel accompanied with the Lord Ranques with ten horsmen of his traine only and arryued at Saynt Iahn about nine a clocke in the night The 26. of December arriued at S. Iahn early at the first opening of the gates a Post from Bloys riding with two Horses who sayd that voluntarily he had departed from Bloys to bring newes to the King of Nauarre touching the death of the Duke of Guyze These newes did not stay the execution of
that were to giue the assault that they should enter as many as they could by the scalado and thaâ— the Petars should not play â—vntil an extremitie so that surprize was begun by the scalado The Ladders then lincked one within another for they were made with such an art were applyed to the wall of ten foote in height distant one from the other three or foure paces The Lords Ionquieres and Sousonbre being vpon the wall followed with fiue and twentie or thirtie next vnto the Sentinell cast the sais Sentinell ouer the wall and as the remnant went vp the walls the sayd Ionquieres Sousonbre with the Lords des Listres and Preau and about fiftie with them set vpon the garde where were seauen or eight poore labouring men for the rich men of the towne were asléepe in their beds for as they afterward reported many of them had passed the most part of the night in playing and dansing to whom no harme was done considering the silence which they kept A souldier of them which were entred apprehending the great daunger of such a small number in such a mightie and populous Towne cryed to set fire to the Petars so that which was set at the gate of S. Gelays shot and gaue the alarume to the inhabitants it did open the gate with the shot The other also was fired and brake the drawne bridge and opened the gate The Lord S. Gelays and Parabiere with many other Gentlemen and Souldiers armed entred thereby They who entred by the scalado diâ— slide close although few in number a long streate and went to the market place where some of the inhabitants running out of their houses made shew of some resistance there was hurt the Lord Harambure At the same instant came to theÌ„ the Lord Parabicre with his traine they cryed to the inhabitants to put lights at the windowes and in the streats who hearing Viue Nauarre and supposing that it was a surprize were affrayde and obeyed theÌ„ for they durst â—ot disobey being in a maze The other parte of them which had got vp by the ladders found resistance in a corner of the streate nigh the hospitall For a certaine man of the towne naÌ„med prince receiuer of the tallages rising early to write letters to his children being Schollers at Poyâ—iers at the alarum giuen went out of his house wâ—th a broad Target in his left hand and his sword in his right hand But he forgot to set the scarfe of his Target about his neck which turned to him displeasure For hauing resorted to the Lieftenaunt of the towne who was accompanyed with some of the inhabitanâ—s and souldiers of the gouernours guarde they with all this companie set furiously vpon them who had entred and did aduance into the towne and did driue them back But the sayde Prince weary with the waight of his Target either for that he was hurt or otherwise gaue it ouer So that this being done the rest began to wauer The Liefetenant was hurt and as dispairing of his life put himself into the hands of some gentlemen with promise of great ransonie and therupon he was hidden that it could not be knowen where he was vntil after his death The rest of the people which tooke weapons did assemble together in the streate of the town house they let flee certaine shott but without effect for incontinently they lost courage as it falleth out ordinarily in such sodayne surprizes specially where the warnings are neglected as had beene done by this Liefetenant of Niort disdaynfully few dayes before Some cast themselues ouer the walls whereof some were slayn others were let down with cordes many retyred into the Castell others did hide themselues so that these few companyes of the King of Nauarre in lesse space than three quarters of an houre entred vanquished and remained masters of the place without any losse more than of fiue men There was slaine of the inhabitants of the towne betweene fiue and twenty and thirtie yet the greatest part of them for going indiscreetly to the place of the alarum with lincks and torches which serued for leuell to the Souldiers in the dark to shoote at them When the day began to appeare the souldiers wandred about for the spoyle which was made in the houses but so that it was done without any murther or rauishing of woman or maide And so much as was done happened because it was impossible for the leaders wholy to represse it For it was a town leagued ful of theÌ„ y t had their hands yet defiled with the blood of them of the religion whom they had euery way cruelly handled were rich by the spoile of their goods of such as had deserued the iust indignation of the King of Nauarre against whom they had behaued themselues no lesse rashly than presumptuously To be short it was a towne surprized by them in whose affectioÌ„s they had kindied the firebrand of teuenge if the conqueter would haue vsed it Yet all was doone with as much moderatenes as the circumstance of the action of the place and of the persons with whome they had to doo could permit The richest sorte and of the greatest calling enemies to the resormed Religion were quist in redeeming their liues and goods by a small sum of money small in respect of the whole For such as had tenne or fifteene thousand Francks were quit for two or three hundred crownes The leaders dispatched incontinently a messenger to Saint Iahn to the King of Nauarre to let him vnderstand the newes of that execution About nine a clock in the morning the Lord Malicorne who was in the Castell was sommoned to yeeld himselfe and the place at the discretion of the King of Nauarre There was no meanes for him to yeeld for all the Ordinance was in the towne Hostages were giuen on both sides two Gentlemen to wit Despaue and Rousiere went foorth of the Castell for the Lord Malicorne and the Lord Pont of Corle with two souldiers of the guards of the King of Nauarre entred into the Castell to lette the disorder that might rise there The seauen and twentith day the King of Nauarre arriued there with a certaine number of horsemeÌ„ he receiued at his comming the sayd Lord Malicorne very courteously to whome hee permitted to carry out of the Castell all that was his and graunted to the Lady Malicorne to enioy the Abbey of Saint Ligaire The eight and twentith after y t the Lord Malicorne had departed out of Niort the Liefetenant was found dead in a poore house at the gate of Saint Gelays where he died of the wounds which he had receiued in the conflict his bodie was brought out to be hanged on a Gibbet before the Castell The K. of Nauarre notwithstanding graunted it easily to his friends to be buried although be had deserued some notable marke of dishonour euen after his death for he had liued very seditiously and had sworne to the League one of the first
they became more insolent which they haue shewed in surprising his townes fortresses and in rebelling agaynst him his Officers and Magistrates couering their treasons vnder the name of Catholike religion Therefore he doth declare the sayd Dukes de Mayne and Aumale to haue forfayted all estates and offices honors power gouerments charges dignities and prerogatiues which they haue receaued of his predecessors and himselfe hee doth declare them attaynted of fellony rebellion and high treason commaundeth his Officers to proceed agaynst them by any maner of way and agaynst their posterity as agaynst such as he hath declared them if they do not submit themselues by the first day of March next following This proscription was declared the first day of February The same day also the King pronounced the like proscriptions against the rebellious and trayterous Citties of Paris Orleans Anjous Roen Abeuile and others declaring them conuicted of fellony rebellion and treason in the highest degree willing all his officers to proceede agaynst them and against al them that doo or shall assist them by any meanes and against their posterity as agaynst such as they be declared if they do not returne vnder his obedience by the 14. day of march next following The King intending by these thunderclaps to call them to their dutie purposing yet to haue forgotten all offences for the loue which he had to popish religion common to the rebels with him and for hatred of the reformed religion gaue them as is aforesaid a certayne day prefixed by the which tyme if they did not returne to their duty he determined to chastise them by force and therefore the sixt day of February hee sent forth his commissions to all Nobles Gentlemen and Captaynes to prepare themselues with all furniture necessary to repayre to him the 12. of March following Neither is the sentence of the King an ydle threatning but is as if it were a condemnation of Gods law pronounced by the soueraigne Magistrate whose punishments God hath partly executed and partly hath reserued to execute hereafter in the fulnes of time About the middle of February the King vnderstanding what had passed in Paris how the rebels had enforced the Senat to swear an vnion against him his life person and estate did transport the exercise of iustice and of all his courts and chambers of Parliament from Paris and also all other courts of iustice in the aforesaid townes of Orleans Aujous Abeuile Roen and others to his citie of Tours vpon Loyre deprauing the sayd trayterous cities of al offices dignities charges and priuileges commaunding al his Iudges Counsellers officers of al his courts in the said cities to repaire to the citie of Tours vpon Loyre by the fifteenth of Aprill next following there to execute their charges vpon payne of depriuation of their wages offices forbiddeth also that no apparance be giuen by any officer vnto any suter and also no parties to appeare in any other place saue in Tours onely before his Iudges there vpon payne to be declared rebels It is sayd before how wee haue left the King of Nauarre sicke in bed of a dangerous pleuresie whilest the League haue nigh filled the measure of their execrable treasons and rebellion Now the Lord reseruing that noble Prince if not to restablish the flourishing estate of that Realm yet he hath raised him as it were out of his graue to prolong the vtter dissipation of it and in the middest of the horrible confusions thereof to reunite the hearts and mindes of the godly and vertuous to saue some corner of the sayd Realme for a place of refuge for the remnant of the Israel of God Behold therefore O great King the Lord hath restored thée to health strengthened thine armes to warre and thy hands to fight he hath girded thée with force constancie wisedome and iustice the Lord of Armies doth call thee to restore true religion iustice iudgement Discipline and peace vtterly decayed through the malice of thine enemies be strong and faint not for the Lord will put a great worke in thine hand to execute Followe the vocation of God and the Lord will be a shadowe at thy right hand to kéepe thée from euill doo good things with good meanes and thou shall see thine enemies to fall before thy face thou shalt pitie them and do them good Whilest the King doth so thunder the threatnings of Gods lawe and the claps of his iustice agaynst those Rebels forsaken and reiected of God as is afore sayd the King of Nauarre perceiuing the King to be in distresse persecuted and dispossessed out of his Towns and Cities euen out of his owne houses by his enemies abroade and to liue in great mistrust of his domesticall enemies who did daily eate bread at his owne table did greatly lament his case keepeth himselfe quiet beyond Loyre ceaseth from all acts of hostilitie and exployts of warre least he should encrease his affliction and heauines And desirous greatly to make a proofe of his fidelitie towards the King and to crosse the actions of the leagued rebels proffereth peace to the King and watcheth diligently that his enemies might not set foote in any place where hee had meanes to make sure for the kings seruice as for the ease of them of the religion So that after the taking of Niort as is afore sayd in the latter end of Ianuary the inhabitants of S. Meixant and Maillezay two Townes nigh neighbours of Niort yeelded themselues vnto him The Lord Aubiguy was appoynted Gouernour of that Iland About the 14. of February the King of Nauarre hauing recouerd his perfect health and strength with part of his forces tooke the field marching toward the riuer of Loyre The inhabitants of Lodune Lisle Bouchard Mirabean Chastelerault Vinonne and other places and Castles of the countrey of Turenne and Poytow offered to open the gates of their townes vnto him and also proffered vnto him their seruices He receiued them very courteously and without innouation of any thing he suffered them of the Romish religion to liue with all libertie with their ordinarie exercises onely he commanded them of the reformed religion with the exercise of the same there to be established commaunding them of both religions to liue in amitie and peace About the same time many Townes and places in diuers parts of the Realme which before did seeme to bee at the deuotion of the Leaguers were made sure for the Kings seruice as well in Bourgondy as in other Prouinces and among others the Towne and Castle of Sancerre in Berry was seazed for the King That Towne had béen greatly defaced in the former warres for the walles of the Towne had béen rased by the Lord Chastre Gouernour of Berry who did put a Captaine within the Castle for the kéeping of the same and to bridle the inhabitants there who were all of the religion But after the death of the Duke of Guize the Lord of Requien of the house of Montigny Captayne of
thanksgiuing to God for his safe returne â—aluted him with this acclamation God saue the King Two thousand horsemen in all of Princes noble men and gentlemen did defeat al this huge army of fiue thousand horsemen and eight thousand footmen the rest of the Kings forces neuer sâ—irring from their places Thus the Horsemen béeing scattered there remained yet Swissers Lanceknights and French footmen The Launceknights and French footmen were charged and about two thousand and foure hundred remained on the place as it were in a moment The rest were taken prisoners and some of them fled into the woods whereof a great number wandering abroad were slaine by the Pesants The Swissers notwithstanding they had lost their Horsemen which were at their wings part beeing slaine and part fled set a good countenance on the matter The King once was minded to set the French companies on them to disaray them and had sent the Baron Biron to that effect but calling to mind the ancient aliance betweene that nation and the crowne of France called him back againe with his companies and offered them grace and mercy so much he did to those companies of Frenchmen who were with them who refused not his gracious fauour but comming and passing by him rendered vnto his Maiesty their Colonels Captains Souldiers and Ensignes The King staying to pardon the Swissers gaue the enemy leasure to auoid by flight And whilest he stayed to do this Princelike act iudging that he was not called to that high degree of Maiesty ad interitum but ad beneficentiam generis humani The Marshall Aumont with a great company which he had assembled from the pursute in like manner the grand Prior and the Marshall Biron who by reason of his great experience for that hee had béen at so many stormes of battails and skirmishes with his horsemen and companies of French footmen was reserued to the last onâ—et if need had béen relyed themselues to the King The companies also of the Lord Humiers Mony and other gentlemen of Picardy came in the middle of the battell and after the victory came to the King The Duke de Maine seeing that the mishap which he wished to others fel vpon him tooke his way with great terrour toward Iury leauing behind his ordinance bagge and baggage and as many beside as could not runne away so swiftly as he did the great kill Deuils Don Pedro Moreo and Don Iuan de Cordoua two Spanish Moores with such as could follow them ran after him Great companies of the enemie had gotten before some followed after and as feare made them hast to presse ouer the bridge of Iury to runne a second course toward Mante it is reported that he killed some with his owne hand to make him a way ouer least he should be the hindermost and when he had passed ouer he caused the bridge to be broken leauing his friendes to shift for themselues and by that occasion many through feare beeing out of their wits cast themselues into the riuer where were drowned aboue fifteene hundred persons Others fearing to be taken by them who followed in the chase killed their Horses to stop the wayes and many supposing to haue saued themselues in the woods fell into the hands of the Pesants and countrey people which vsed them more cruelly then the Souldiers would haue done The Duke de Mayne hauing passed Iurye broken the bridge tooke his way to Mante there to passe ouer the bridge and to retire to Pontoise The inhabitants once had determined not to let him in whereupon some do report that beeing before Mante he swore with great othes that hee had discomfited the Kings forces and had killed the King with his owne hand but when they would not be mooued therewith knowing the contrary hee began to intreat them shewing them the danger wherein hee was they mooued with his prayers to compassion of his estate let him in with condition that his retinue should passe by ten and ten that night ouer the Bridge The Duke of Nemours Bassampierre the Vicount Tauaine Rosne and many others fled to Dreux and the day after to Chartres many who could not follow them went astray and knowing not whither they went were taken prisoners The King hauing played the great Captaine and lusty Souldier in getting the victory now sheweth himselfe a right Generall of an army in pursuing the sayd victory for which well to doe he deuideth his forces as followeth The grand Prior with a great company hee sent to chase the enemy on the left hand toward Eureux The Baron of Biron and with him the residue of horsemen who were gathered together and the companies which were arriued out of Picardie at the instant of the battel he sent at the right hand toward Dreux The King himselfe accompanied with the Princes Countie and Montpensier the Marshals of Aumont and Trimouille with a great company of other Lords and Captayns of the same army followed on the victory and continued the chase fiue howers The King vnderstanding how the Duke de Mayne had entred into Mante tooke vp his lodging at Rosnye two miles from Mante where he was as meanly lodged as the enemy Many were slaine in the pursute many were taken prisoners The King with two thousand horses killed aboue two thousand horsemen and many of them Commanders fiftéene hundred and aboue were drowned at the riuer Iury in the flight The most part of the footemen were cut off in peeces fewe ranne away who were either slayne in the chase or by the people of the country aboue 4. hundred of the enemies were takeÌ„ prisoners The Swissers and the Frenchmen ioyned with them yeelded themselues to the Kings clemencie So that of three and twentie thousand of y e enemie there returned neuer home aboue eight thousand Their bagge baggage artillerie and munition was stayed in the Kings hand There were aboue twentie Cornets of horsemen taken and among them the white Cornet and the bearer thereof to wit the Lord Boysdaul phine taken prisoner by the King The great Ensigne of the Generall of the Spanyards and Flemmings the Colonell Cornets of the Rutters were taken aboue threescore Ensignes of footmen as Flemmings French men and Launce-knights and foure and twentie of the Swiffers that yeelded themselues all these â—ame into the Kings hands Among them that were slayne were chiefest of all the Countie Egmond the Duke Brunswicke Captaine Colin a Spanyard the Lord Chastaigueray and many others Of prisoners taken were the Earle Austfrist who was with the Rutters many Lords Spanyards Italians Frenchmen and Flemmings Of Frenchmen the Lord Boysdaulphine Cigoigne who bare the white Cornet of the Duke de Mayne This is the third time that this Rebell had fallen into the Kings hands within foure moneths and had alwayes found fauour at his hands There were also prisoners Mesdauid Fouteyne Martil Lechant Lodon Huguesan Falandre Tenisay Chasteliere Descuueaux with many others Of the Kings side were slayne the
Lords Clermont Antragues one of the Captaynes of the Kings gards who deceased nigh the Kings person The Lord Tischombert who had borne great charges in warre and now would needes serue as a souldier in the Kings Cornet The Lord of Longauluay in Normandy of fourescore yeares of age the Lord of Creuay Cornet bearer to the Prince Montpencier the Lord Vienne Lieftenant to the Lord Benuron the Lords of Manuille Fequers Valoys and twentie Gentlemen more at the most There were hurt the Marquesse of Neste the Earle of Choysy the Lord d'O the Earle Lude the Lords Montluet Lauergne and Rosny and about twentie Gentlemen more without any danger of death The King going to chase the enemie and hauing deuided his companies as is aforesayd left the Marshall Byron with the rest of his forces to conduct them and followe after him Here good Christian Reader thou hast to note certaine fatall periods of things to wit the circumstances of the persons time and place in the execution of Gods iustice vpon his enemies The 23. day of December 1559. Claude Duke of Guize and Charles Cardinall of Lorreyne his brother in the raigne of Francis the second procured Annas du Borg one of the chiefest Senators of the Court of Parliament of Paris to be burned for the Gospell at Saint Ihan in Greues in Paris The 23. of December as their Calender is now which was the day of the natiuitie of Henry of Bourbon which now raigneth in the yeare 1588. the last Duke and Cardinall of Guize were slayne at Bloys when they had concluded to murther the King the next morning following that day The fourth day of March 1561. Claude of Guize father to this last tooke armes agaynst the edict of Ianuary and committed the cruell murther of Vassie by the which breach of the peace were ciuill warres raised vp in France and euer since haue béen entertayned and nourished by his posteritie which warre was his vndoing The same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1585. the last Duke of Guize sonne to the sayd Claude tooke armes against the King which was the beginning of these last ciuill warres of the League by the which they haue procured their owne vndoing and of many others The same day of the moneth the Duke de Mayne brother to the sayd last Duke of Guize and heire of the Captainship of the rebellion made a shipwracke of all his forces at Saynt Andrewes plaine without hope euer to recouer the like forces Claude Duke of Guyze in December in the year 1561. fought the first battell that was giuen in all these ciuill Warres with Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condie Prince of famous and blessed memory in the plaine of Dreux with an vncertaiue issue but in equall losses so that to this day it is vniudged who had y e victory but well knowen that the Duke of Guyze had the greatest losse The Duke de Maine fought agaynst Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name now King of France and Nauarre at the plaine of Saint Andrew next adioyning to the other and the places not distant passing a mile a sunder with a reparable losse The Lord Rendan a rebellious Leaguer in Auuergne with such power as he could make in the sayd countrey but specially in the Townes of Rions and Brion rebelled and holden in the same rebellion by the Iesuits besieged Isoire a great and populous towne in the said Auuergne because it continued in the Kings obedience The Lords Chasseran and Rochemayne willing to do some honorable seruice to the King and good to their countrey gathered such power as they could of the Kings subiectes to rescue the sayd towne of Isoire from falling into the handes of the rebels and with a meane power trusting in GOD the defender of his Ordinance and wayghing the right of the cause marched towards Isoire The sayd Lord Rendan vnderstanding of their approach raysed vp the siege and went intending to meete the sayd Lordes Chasseran and Rochemayne and at the same day and time of the battell at Saint Andrewes playne meeting in a playne field not farre from Jsoire tried the quarell by the sword There the sayd Rendan was ouerthrowen and aboue fourescore Gentlemen of his were slayne on the place all his footmen cut to pieces the artillery bagge and bagage with many prisoners taken so the Towne of Isoyre was deliuered from the danger of the enemie retayned and confirmed in the Kings dutifull obedience It is said how after the victory the King deuided his army into foure parts three of them were appointed their quarters to follow the chase and the Marshall Biron to follow after the King with the residue of the army The King hauing taken this order followed after the Duke de Mayne but finding the bridg broaken was faine to go thrée miles about to passe the riuer afoord and in that way he found many straglers whom he tooke prisoners which was a good turne for them or else they had béen slaine by others he came so fast after the Duke d' Mayne that hee did misse him but a little but vnderstanding how he was receaued in Mant the king lodged that night at Rosni as is said very simple The fift day the Duke d'Mayne very early fearing to be besieged there retyred from Mante to Pontoyse where he soiourned few dayes to take some sure order for the safety of the Towne and after went to Saint Denis The same day the King sent to sommon the Towne of Mante which deliuered the keyes of their towne to his Maiesty receaued and acknowledged him their king and prince and continued there vntill the twentie day of March to refresh his army wearied with so many labours and hardnes of winter to take counsel of the course which he was to take hereafter and to expect certaine munition of warre which was comming to him from Diepe The Citie of Paris first author of this warre had conceaued an assured confidence of all prosperous successe by the vaine bragges which the Duke d'Mayne did cast foorth afore hee went out with the army The Friers Iesuites increased this vain confidence in their pulpets by assuring them either of a certaine victory or else of recoyling of the King as farre as beyond Loyre so that euery day they looked for the King dead or aliue and all his spoyles to be brought for a spectacle and to bee solde and bought among them or else to heare of his flight as farre as the riuer of Loyre This great confidence made them to liue very secure and carelesse in prouiding for the Citie besides that they rested much vpon the great multitude which is within the sayd Citie there beeing great bablers and boasters for the Parisien is as Epimenides speaketh of the Cretayns a lyer euill beast and slothfull belly The towns also which then did hold round about their Citie as Pontoyse beneath vpon the same riuer Charonton Meaux Laguye Corbeil Melun Montereau aboue vpon the riuer