bring it to a conclusion for the Lady Marguerite partly by her Mothers perswasions partly by her Brothers threatnings partly not to bring her honour in question which already was something doubtfully spoken of though she gave no absolute consent yet denied no more so openly to marry the Prince of Navarre But all these practices being ripe in the beginning of Iune the Queen of Navarre comes to Paris received with so much joy of the whole Court that France had not seen a day of greater rejoycing in many years Two days after arrived the Prince of Navarre and the Prince of Conde accompanied with Count Lodowick the Count de la Roch-fou-cault and all the Trains of the Princes being the chief Commanders Cavaliers and Gentlemen that had held the Hugonot party among which Piles Briquemaut and Pluvialt Colonels who in the course of that War had by their Valour acquired so much glory and renown the Sieur de Guerchy he that defended Sanserre the Marquess de Renel the Sieurs de Noue de Colombiere and Lavardin famous Commanders of Horse and a great many other men of quality and reputation The League Offensive and Defensive was already concluded with the Queen of England Prince Casimir and William his Brother both Sons of the Elector Palatine of the Rhine were already perswaded to receive pensions from the King when the Admiral forgetting all his former jealousies full of incredible pride and intolerable pretensions returned to Court with a great train of his adherents and to put the King upon a necessity of making War with the Spaniard even against his will he so ordered the matter that Count Lodowick and the Sieurs de Genlis and de la Noue who were gotten to the confines of Picardy where a great many Hugonot Gentlemen and Souldiers were privately drawn together suddenly surprized the City of Mons in the County of Heinault a principal place and of very great importance to the Provinces of Flanders which rashness though it inwardly much troubled the Kings mind yet with admirable patience seeming very well pleased with he thereby took occasion presently to dispatch Philippo Strozzi with a great many old Companies into places near about Rochel under pretence of imbarking them in Ships that were made ready in that Port to pass them over to those coasts of the Low-Countries which were held by the Confederates of Flanders but indeed they were to be ready upon all occasions to surprize and possess themselves of that City as soon as the present designs were brought to maturity Thus with cunning policies they went deluding the subtilties of the Admiral who held in the highest esteem as Arbitrator of the Court and Government seemed alone to rule the Genius and direct the will of the King of France And because to begin a War of so great moment it appeared necessary to take away the obstacle of civil discords the King earnestly intreated the Admiral that the enmities between him and the House of Lorain might by some means or other be accommodated which was propounded for no other end but because the help of the Duke of Guise and the Duke of Aumale and the forces of the Catholick party were necessary for the execution of the designs that were in agitation they sought that colour to bring them to the Court without suspicion of the Hugonots Under this pretence the Lords of the House of Lorain being come to Paris with all the train of their Faction they promised as also did the Admiral in the presence of the King that they would no more offend one another referring all their differences either to his Majesties arbitrement or to the opportunity of other times when the King and his Council should think fit by which ambiguous promises the inveterate hatred and enmity which had so many years continued between them and which was the original cause of all the present miseries and troubles seemed rather smothered for a time than utterly extinguished But now matters were not only brought to the point intended but the execution of them could no longer be deferred for on the one side the Ambassador of the Catholick King after the taking of Mons had not only left the Court but was also gone out of the Kingdom and on the other side the Hugonots without expecting further order or Commission tumultuously ran to the aid of their adherents with too great boldness and too dangerous commotions whereby contrary to the Kings intentions the War with the Spaniards was kindled in the Confine of his Kingdom The first thunderbolt of so great a tempest fell upon the Queen of Navarre who being a Woman and a Queen they thought fittest to take her away by poison administred as was reported in the perfume or trimming of a pair of Gloves but in such secret manner and in such just proportion that having worn them a while a violent Feaver seised upon her which ended her life within four days She was a Lady of a most high spirit and invincible courage much above the condition of the female sex by which vertues she not only bore up the degree and estimation of a Queen though she had no Kingdom but assaulted by the persecutions of so many and so powerful Enemies she sustained the War most undauntedly and finally in the greatest dangers and most adverse fortune of her party she built up that greatness of her Son from whence as from the first root in after years sprung forth the exaltation of his State and the renowned glory and immortality of his Name qualities besides her chastity and magnificence worthy eternal praise if thinking it lawful for her without the help of learning to search into and expound the deepest mysteries in Divinity she had not obstinately persisted in the opinions of Calvinism Queen Iane being dead because the Hugonots began to suspect something by that so unexpected accident the King knowing that the poyson had only wrought upon her brain caused the body to be cut up in open view the parts whereof being all very sound the head under colour of respect was left untouched and the testimony of skilful Physicians divulged that through the malignity of her Feaver she died of a Natural Death After her Funeral her Son assumed the Arms and Title of King of Navarre but his Marriage with the Kings Sister was deferred for a few days not to mingle joy unseasonably with that grief for which the King himself and the whole Court had put on mourning about which time the Citizens of Rochel constant in not trusting any body not willing to return unto the Kings obedience but fortifying continually and even in the midst of Peace providing all things necessary for War perswaded the Prince and the Admiral to retire from the Court which exhortations as well of the Rochellers as those of Geneva and others of that party were more earnestly reiterated after the Queen of Navarre's death every one thinking that so sudden an
Office and was of great authority among the people they fell a killing the Hugonots throughout all the lodgings and houses where they were dispersed and made an infinite slaughter of them without any distinction of age sex or condition All the people were up in arms under the Masters of the Parishes and candles were lighted in every window so that without confusion they might go from house to house executing the directions they had received but though those that commanded were very diligent about it yet could they not take so good order but that many of the Catholicks either through publick hatred or private spleen were slain amongst the rest as Denis Lambin and Peter Ramus men very famous for learning and divers others The Louvre was kept shut all the day following and in the mean time the King and Queen comforted the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde alledging that they were constrained to do that which the Admiral had so often endeavoured and had still a purpose to do to them but they whose errours were excused by their youth and pardoned for their nearness of alliance were reserved alive and should for the future be loved and cherished so they would but profess the Catholick Religion acknowledging and yielding obedience to the King to which words the King of Navarre serving the time and dissembling that which could not be helped being resolved to preserve himself for a better fortune answered with very great complyance That he was ready to obey the Kings will and commandment wherewith Charles being very well pleased to gratifie him saved the lives of the Count de Granmont and Monsieur Duras who as they promised served him faithfully ever after But the Prince of Conde either through the inconsiderateness of his age or a natural fierceness derived from his Ancestors in his answer made shew of opposing the Kings commands saying He desired only that no violence might be used against his Conscience whereat the King exceedingly displeased reproved him bitterly often calling him insolent mad stubborn Traitor Rebel and Son of a Rebel and threatned to take away his life if he did not within three days turn Catholick and give evident signs of his repentance so guards were placed both upon him and the King of Navarre all their chief Servants being taken from them and presently cut in pieces in whose places new ones were provided by the King according to his own mind Those Hugonots that were lodged in the Fauxburg St. Germain beyond the Seine among which were the Count de Montgomery and the Visdame of Chartres who presaging some mischief would not remove to the Admirals quarter when they heard the noise the Parisians not making haste enough to hinder their passage instantly fled but were followed by the Duke of Guise who at break of day passed the water with a great many Horse and Foot and being overtaken some without shooes some without arms some without saddles some without bridles but all equally unable to make resistance were scattered and cut off except the Count of Montgomery and the Visdame of Chartres who with about ten in company saved themselves and after many difficulties getting unknown unto the Sea side escaped over into England There were killed in the City that day and the next above 10000 whereof above 500 were Barons Knights and Gentlemen who had held the chiefest imployments in the War and were now purposely met together from all parts to honour the King of Navarve's Marriage Monsieur de Briquemaut and Arnauld Cavagnes were taken prisoners and by sentence of the Parliament were afterwards quartered as Rebels The Admirals body was pulled out of the stable and cruelly abused by the fury of the common people who detesting his very name tore his head from his shoulders cut off his hands and dragging him thorow the streets to Montfaucon the place of execution left him hanging by one of his feet upon the Gallows and a few days after all the people rejoycing at it they set fire on the same Gallows half burning it their barbarous cruelty finding no end till two Servants of the Mareshal de Momorancy stole away the relicks of his miserable carcase and buried them secretly at Chantilly Thus died Gasper de Coligny the Admiral whose name for the space of twelve years had with no less fame than terrour filled the Kingdom of France an evident example to the whole world how ruinous and sudden the end useth to be of those who not considering any thing but their own interests think by subtile cunning practices to establish a lasting greatness upon the sole foundation of humane wisdom for it is not to be doubted but that he bred up from his youth in the chief Commands of War and brought by his valour and conduct to the highest pitch of honour would have equalled if not exceeded all other Souldiers of his time and have attained to the degree of Constable and all the greatest Offices in that Kingdom if against the authority of his Prince he had not chosen to exalt himself by factions and civil dissentions since that the clear lights of his industry valour constancy and above all a marvellous ability in managing the greatest designs shined forth even in the deepest obscurity of discords and insurrections The day after the Admirals death the Duke of Anjou going from the Louvre accompanied by the Regiment of the guards went thorow all the City and Suburbs causing those houses to be broken open that made any resistance but all the Hugonots were either already dead or else being terrified had put white crosses in their hats which was the general mark of the Catholicks endeavouring by that means and by hiding themselves to save their lives but being pointed at in the streets by any one or discovered any other way they were without mercy torn in pieces by the people and cast into the River The day before this terrible execution the King dispatched posts into divers parts of the Kingdom commanding the Governours of Cities and Provinces to do the like but this Commission was performed with more or less severity according to their several inclinations for the same night at Meaux and the days ensuing at Orleans Rouen Bourges Angiers Tholouze and many other places but above all at Lyons there was a most bloody slaughter of the Hugonots without any respect of age sex or quality of persons on the other side in those places where the Governours were either dependents on the Princes or followers of the Family of Momorancy the order was but slowly and remisly executed and in Provence the Count of Tende refused openly to obey it for which cause being within a while after at the City of Avignon he was secretly made away and as it was believed by the Kings Commission Most sad and lamentable stories might be here related for this cruelty was prosecuted in so many several places with such variety of accidents against people of all
Gentry and Cavalry coming up straglingly every minute who having heard the danger he was in advanced with all possible speed to assist him Sansoni was killed with five wounds and his horse being routed and dispersed were driven back even to the last Squadron of the enemy Nor could the Sieur de Villers prosecute the victory on his side for having received a shot in his arm he was likewise constrained to retire For all thâ—s the King's danger lessened not for the Baron de Tianges and the Sieur de Tenissay advanced with fresh and numerous Squadrons to charge and the same did the Marquiss Varambone and Roderico Bellino in that place where the Mareschal de Biron fought so that being very much inferiour in number their men wearied and their horses haggled out and tired they were almost in a certain danger of being overcome yet the King with his voice even hoarse and with the example of his own valour encouraging every one and the Mareschal de Biron all bloody and covered with sweat and dust charging desperately among the first they prevailed so far that each fighting beyond his own power and above his own strength they gave time to the rest who were upon the way to come up amongst which the first were the Count of Auvergne Monsieur de Vitry and after them the Count de Chiverny the Chevalier d'Oyse and the Monsieur d' Inteville At the arrival of these after whom the whole Army was believed to follow the Duke of Mayenne caused the Troops to withdraw from the fight and the King seeing it was no time to think of any other safety than what courage afforded followed them with a gallant skirmish to the Plain and Wood of S. Seine where they met the Spanish and German Infantry which advancing valiantly in two divisions came to give their charge when they appeared the King drew back his bridle and the D of Mayenne having rallied all his Horse into one great body made shew as if he would charge him but the King's Troops were already arrived whereupon the number of the Cavalry was not much different and the Constable of Castile riding up to the head of the Army commanded his men to make an halt being resolved not to hazard all his Forces and all the Franche Compte to the danger of a Battel wherefore it being already late the King began to retire with a gentle pace toward Fontaine-Francoise and the Enemy though at first to conserve their reputation they made shew that they would follow him retired also without doing any thing else The Spaniards lay that night at S. Seine the King's Forces at Fountaine-Francoise and his own person at Lux having that day run one of the greatest dangers that befell him in all the revolutions of the past Wars in which he ought to acknowledge his safety no less to his own valour than the courage of those were with him among which after Biron the principal praises were given to Marquiss de Mirabeau the Count de Grammont and the Sieur de la Curee In this encounter which fame published to be much greater than the truth there were kill'd about forty on the Spaniards side and of the King 's above sixty the wounded were many more nor fewer were the number of those that were taken prisoners on both sides each party laboured to draw the fame of the victory and the honor of that day unto it self the â—panish Commanders because the number of the slain and prisoners were greater on the Kings side the French because they remained Masters of the field and likewise of the dead bodies and because they made the enemies retire to their very quarters But that which confirmed the victory on their side was the determination of the Constable who having heard from the Prisoners that the King himself was there and had been in the fight resolved though the Duke of Mayenne laboured much to the contrary not to pass any further and the next morning having caused his Army to repass the River went to lye in a place of advantage having Gray behind his Camp and the obstacle of the River before it The King advanced the next morning with all his Cavalry to see which way the Enemies would move and being come to the hill from whence he discovered the Plain and the Village of St. Seine he stood there a long time in Battalia not seeing the retreat of the Spaniards in respect of the Wood and of the opposite hill not would the King being without his Foot in a various Country full of advantageous places and not well known unto his men put himself into the danger of falling into some great Ambuscado but it being already past noon the Sieur de Tremblecourt and d' Ossonville with a few horse went up to the very entry of S. Seine where certain Peasants that were working in the Fields told them of the retreat of the Army whereof having speedily informed the King he advanced at a round trot to fall upon the Enemies Rere but he found that already they were all safely past the River and the boats taken away upon which they had made two Bridges wherefore having scowred and beaten the wayes along the banks of the River he returned that night to his quarters at Lux and the next morning went to Dijon to hasten the Siege of the two Castles The Duke of Mayenne on the other side not having been able to perswade the Constable to stay beyond the River began to intreat him to let him have some number of men wherewith he might go and defend his own in Bourgongne but neither was it possible for him to obtain that for the Constable who was come onely to defend the Franche Comte thought he had done enough in recovering Vezu and all the other Towns the French had gotten possession of and would no more put himself to the arbitrement of fortune so much the rather because his want of experience in Military matters made him very much to fear every small encounter and though he had a great Army about him he thought not himself secure from the celerity and courage of the King of France besides the continual Treaty the Duke of Mayenne held of making his peace with the King rendred him suspected to the Constable and to all the Spanish Ministers nor would they trust any thing of moment to his fidelity wherefore seeing himself destitute of all succor and that the Constable being grounded upon good reasons was not like to change his resolution he determined at last to close up the treaty of agreement and so much the rather because he was advertised by his Agents at Rome that the Pope manifestly inclined to the Kings absolution and therefore having sent the Sieur de Liguerac to Dijon he concluded upon these terms That he leaving the Spanish Camp should retire to Chalons upon the River Saone in the same Province of Bourgongne where without using Arms he should
General to Prince Casimire leads the Army 313. His excuse to the Emperor commanding him to disband ib. his Acts 324. disbands his Army 328 Battel between the Armies 37. at Brisac 140. at St. Denis 117 Bellegarde usurps the Marquisate of Saluzza 238 Birth of Henry IV. in the Territory of Pau 10. in the Viscounty of Bearn a free State Decemb. 13. 1554. ib. Bishop of Monsâ— sent on purpose by the King to demand absolution for the Cardinal of Guise's death 385 Bishop of Paris gives way that the Church-Plate should be turned into money for relief of the Poor 460 Bishops to judge â—f Heresie 50 Blois taken and pillaged by the Kings Army 70 Jean Bodin contradicts the Prelates in the General Assembly 229 Body of Henry III. laid in the great Church of Campeign 416 Francis de Bonne made Head of the Hugonots and after Constable of the Kingdom 212 Bourges rendred upâ—â— Condition 71 Brigues in French signifies Factions 64 C. CAhors taken and sacked by the Hugonots 241 Calais recovered from the English and besieged by the Spanish Army 702. A description of its situation 703. agrees to surrender if not relieved within six days but de Martelet getting in with 300 Foot they refuse the Castle stormed Governor killed and all put to the Sword 705 John Calvin a Picard preacheth and publisheth in Print 128 Principles differing from the Roman-Catholick Religion which had their foundaetion in Geneva at first hearkned to out of curiosity but at last produce great mischief 19. Henry II. severe against the Calvinists of whose death they boast much 20 Cambray its Siege 685 c. yields to the Spaniard 690 Cardinal Alessandrino Legat from Pope Pius Quintus refuses a rich Iewel presented to him by the Kings own hand 177 Cardinal Alessandro de Medici who was after Pope Leo XI appointed Legat into France 675. received with great demonstrations of Honour by Monsieur des Digâ—ieres a Hugonot His solemn entry into Paris 710. setling Religion he begins to promote a Treaty between France and Spain 711 Cardinal of Bourbon Vncle to the King of Navarre desired for the Head of the Catholicks 252. His pretensions to the succession of the Crown 253. put into the Castle of Amboise 374 declared King of France by the League and called Charles X. 417 Cardinal of Chastillon changing his Religion calls himself Count of Beauvais 64. the Lye passes between the Constable and him 115. flies disguised like a Mariner into England and remains with the Queen as Agent for the Hugonots Page 130 Cardinal of Guise made Prisoner 370. is slain and his body and the Duke of Guise's two Brothers burn'd in Quick-lime and their bones buried in an unknown place 373 Cardinal Gondi and the Legat meet the Marquis of Pisani upon a Treaty but nothing concluded 465. he and the Archbishop of Lyons chose by the Council of Paris to treat with the King 466. he and the Marquis of Pisani chosen to go to Rome by Henry IV. 557. sends his Secretary to excuse himself to the Pope 561. notice that he should not enter into the Ecclesiastical State by the Pope 163. is permitted by the Pope to come to Rome but not to speak a word of the affairs of France 644. return'd to Paris commands they should use the Prayers were wont to be made for the King and to acknowledge Henry IV. lawful King 653 Cardinal Henrico Gaetano a man partial to Spain declared Legat to the League in France 431. the Popes Commissions to him 432. his request to Colonel Alphonso Corso and his answer 433. overcoming many difficulties arrives at Paris 434. Grants the Duke of Mayenne 300000 Crowns brought for enlargement of the Cardinal of Bourbon 439 meets with the Mareshal de Byron they treat of divers things without any conclusion 453 Cardinal of Sancti Quattro succeeds Gregory XIV by name of Innocent IX 530 Cardinal Hippoliâ—o d'Esâ—é Legat in France 51 Cardinal Hippolito Aldebrandino aged 56 succeeds Pope Innocent IX by the name of Clement VIII 555 Cardinal of Lenon-Court gives the King notice of the Cardinal of Vendosme's designs 499 Cardinal Sega Legat in France hath prudent instructions from the Pope by Monseignor Agucchi touching the affairs thereof 564. executes not his Orders ib. his Declaration and Exhortation 577. his Proposition 584. opposes an offer of the Catholick Lords but to no purpose 500 persuaded by the Archbishop of Lyons he secretly consents to it 597. sets forth a Writing to keep the League on 〈◊〉 630 Goes out of the Kingdom 637 Cardinal of Tournon called a second time to Court 13 Cardinal of Vendosme raises a third party of Catâ—olicks to make himself Head and so come to the Crown 498. sâ—ndâ— Scipio Balbani to treat with the Pope and communicate his design 499. Cardinal Lenon-Court gives the King notice of his designs ib Catharine de Medicis Wife to Henry II. dyed in the 70th year of her age thirty whereof she spent in the regency and management of greatest affairs and troubles of France 374 Catholicks besiege la Charité which being stoutly defended they give it over 156 raise the Siege before Chastel-rault 157. take all the Hugonots Baggage and Cannon and 200 Colours 163. King of Navarre proceeds against them 217. desire the Cardinal of Bourbon for their Head 259 War again between them and the Hugonots 288. recover the Castle of Angâ—ers taken suddenly by the Hugonots 290 besiege Maran 295. Lâ—se a Battel are all killed and taken Prisoners except a very few that save themselves by flight 322. assemble themselves to consult about a future King 408. resolve to declare the King of Navarre King of France upon assurance of changing his Religion 409. swear Fidelity to the King by a Writing sign'd and establish'd 410. complain of Henry IV. continuing in Calvinism 405. they of Henry IV. party displeased that the Peace should be treated by du Plessis a Hugonot renew a third party 555 Causes that moved the Guises to frame the League 224. vid. 325 Cause of distaste between Duke d'Espernon and Secretary Villeroy 348. of Hatred between the Prince and King of Navarre 407 that moved the Duke of Mayenne to hope to be chosen King 565 Ceremonies used at the Conversion of Henry IV. 613 Chancellor Birago made Cardinal and Philip Huralt chose in his place 235 Chancellor Chiverney put out of his place 357 recall'd to his Office by Henry IV. 466. his opinion 467 Chancellor Olivier call'd a second time to Court 13. dyes Chancellor de l'Hospital succeeds him 29. put out of his Office upon the Kings jealousie 130. and conferred upon Monsieur de Morvilliers ib. Charles IX marries Izabella Daughter of Maximilian the Emperor 171 Charlotte de la Marc Heir to the Dutchy of Bouillon married to Henry de la Tour Viscount de Turenne 511 Chartres voluntarily sets open its Gates 402. its Description and Siege 494 496 Chastel-rault besieged 156. Siege raised 157 Jaques Clement his birth age and
at Sun-set again it is plain the Author meant 2 hours within night which according to the time of Sun-set there in that season of the year must needs be before Nine a Clock for after 2 they could not have had time enough before day-light to march so far and to make a several attempts to scale the City The King marches towards St. Denis but in the midst of the night gives a scalado to the walls of Paris yet the vigilancy of the Duke of Nemours makes it ineffectual The Kings soldiers return at break of day to scale the walls again â— ladders are set up but being discovered they are repulsed with the death of the first that went up Errors imputed to the King and his Army Excuses in favour of the King The King being come to St. Denis without money or victorâ— separates his Army which was oppressed with many diseases The King assaults and batters 〈◊〉 so violently that upon the third day he takes and sacks it Câ—aude Prince of Iainville defends Troyes and beats back Monsieur de Tinteville who had like to have surprised it by intelligence with some of the Citizens The Duke of Parma against his own will lays siege to Corbeil The French of the League begin to hate the Duke of Parma's Souldiers The Duke of Parma takes Corbeil Rigaut the Governour is slain with most of the defendents and the place sacâ—ed The death of Siâ—tus Quintus The Duke of Parma though earnestly intreated to stay in France prepares nevertheless for his departure Vrban the VII created Pope after Sixtus V. he lives but twelve days and is succeeded by Gregory XIV a Milanese The ordering of the Spanish Army in their return into Flanders The Baron de Guiry recovers Corbâ—il and Lagny which had been taken by the Duke of Parma The Spanish Army marching towards Flanders and the Kings Army following they skirmish many dayes but upon the 25 of November the King making shew that he would fight the Baron de Biron engageth himself so far that being relieved by his Friends he had much ado to escape with help of night The King assaults the Spanish Army again and his Horse having encompassed the enemies Rereguard would have cut it in pieces if Georgio Basti a famous Captain of those times had not disengaged them with his Lanciers The Duke of Parma takes leave of the Duke of Mayenne leaving him a Tertia of Italians and another of Spaniards and 500 Horse The Duke of Mencoeurs pretensions to the Dutchy of Bretagne The Prince of Dombes Governor for the King in Bretagne opposes the Duke of Morcoeurs designs and causes Fort Dombes to be built which is demolished bâ— the Spaniards The Sieur de Vins and the Countess de Seâ—â—x conclude to give the superâ—â—â—ity of Provence to the Duke of Savoy he goes to Aiâ— and is by the Parliament declared Head of the Politick and Military Government The Duke of Mayenne writes resentingly to the Parliament of Aix and to the Sieur de Vins who repenting himself begins to dis-favour the Duke of Savoys designs Grenoble in Dauphine after a long siege returns to the Kings obedience 1591. The King assaults Corby and takes it 1591. The Catholicks make great complaints for the Kings persevering in Calvinism Remedies used by the King to conserve the affections of those of his party and keep them in obedience The King recalls the Duke of Espernon to the Army and other Catholick Lords to reconcile them unto him * The Visâ—ount The Viscount of Turenne obtains asâ—istance from Queen Elizabeth the Hollanders and the Protestant Princes of Germany The party of the League take a disgust against the D. of Mayenne which is fomented by the Spaniards The Lords oâ— the House of Lorain begin to be displeased and to grow jealous of one another The Duke of Nemours for some discontents received from his brother the Duke of Mayenne refuses the Government of the City of Paris which the Duke of Mayenne confers upon his eldest Son the Duke of Esguillon appointing the Marquiss of Belin his Lieutenant The Complaiâ—ts of the Widow Dutchess of Guise 1590. The Duke of Mayenne is troubled at the attempts of those of his Family at the designs of the Duke of Savoy and at the delays of the Spaniards The Duke of Mayenne is not satiâ—fied with the new Pope Gregory the 14. doubting his too great dependency upon Spain and the unactiveness of his nature The Duke of Mayenne dispatches President Ieannin to the King of Spain and the Sieur des Portes to the Pope to sollicite aid 1591. The Chevalier d' Aumale goes to surprise St. Denis and without resistance enters with all his men but the Governor with only thirty Horse charges and routs the enemy the Chevalier d' Aumale being run thorow the throat and left dead It was observed that the Chevalier d' Aumale fell dead before an Inn whose sign was a Sword embroidered with Golden Flower-de-luces and that his body being set in the Church was gnawn by Moles The French says Rats President Brisson one of the principal adherents to the League having changed his mind plots insurrections in favor of the King Eighty Captains and other Reformadoes disguised with as many horseâ— load of Corn and Meal receive order to go up to the Port St Honore about midnight and to attempt to surprise Paris The Marquis de Belin Lieutenant Governour of Paris advertised of the Kings design and of some tokens of President Brissons practices makes a severe Proclamation and orders and disposes the Militia and the Citizens for the defence of the the City * Or Wards The order observed by the Kings Souldiers for the surprising of Paris The fourscore disguised Reformadoes are discovered by the Sieur de Tâ—emblecourt The Parisians that they might not be lest unprovided receive a Teâ—â—ia of Spaniards and another of Neopolitans into the City The Duke of Mayenne jealous of the Spanish designs procures a Treaty so far that for many days the Peace was certainly thought to be concluded Pope Gregory the XIV resolves to send meâ— and money to assist the League Marsilio Landriano a Milanese is chosen Legat to the Kingdom of France by Gregory the XIV Gregory the 14. assigns 15000 Crowns by the month for the service of the League The description of the siâ—uation of Chartres before which the Mareschal de Byron lays siege The Sieur de Chastillon's stratagem to cast up his Trench by night without errour For want of Ammunition the Battery goes on so slowly at Chartres that the King thinks to raise the siege The Defendents of Chartres not being relieved surrender the Town The Duke of Mayenne besieges Chasteau-Thierry a place more pleasant than strong the Governor whereof was the Secretary Pinart Secretary Pinart having brought all his goods into the Castle for fear of losing them treats a Composition with the Sieur de Villeroy The Duke of Mayenne receiveth the place and Castle with the
that the rest would follow the example which that should give he endeavoured very sollicitously as was agreeable to the natural inclination of the inhabitants to hinder there the preachings and assemblies of the Hugonots and in all his other actions of the Government having still a regard to that end he hoped with the benefit of time by degrees to take away their credit and force and lastly their liberty of Religion which maintained in being and gave increase to that party The Prince of Conde was likewise in Paris who on the contrary encouraging the Preachers and enlarging as much as he could their license and liberty under colour of making the Edict of Ianuary to be observed arrogated to himself more by force than reason a great authority in all the affairs of State It appeared necessary to the King of Navarre by some means or other to make the Prince of Conde leave Paris For already either the desire of peace or the envy that he bore him had rendred him exceeding violent against him and Reason perswaded to preserve that City from tumults and seditions upon which the Catholick party chiefly relied but knowing his own forces were not sufficient or willing to communicate this resolution with the other Confederates before any thing were put in execution he sent for the Duke of Guise and the Constable that they might unite all their forces in the same place The Duke of Guise after he retired from Court dwelt at Iainville a place of his own upon the confines of Champagne and Picardy and having received advice from the King of Navarre being accompanied with the Cardinal his Brother with a train of many Gentlemen his dependants and two Squadrons of Lances for Guard was upon the way to be at Paris at the time appointed But the first day of March in the morning passing thorow a little Village in the same confines called Vassy his people heard an unusual noise of Bells and having asked what was the reason of it answer was made That it was the hour wherein the Hugonots used to assemble at their Sermons The Pages and Lacqueys of the Duke that went before the rest of the company moved with the novelty of the thing and a curiosity to see for then those Congregations began first to be kept in publick with jesting speeches and a tumult proper to such kind of people went towards the place where the Hugonots were assembled at their devotion who understanding that the Duke of Guise was there one of their chief persecutors and seeing a great troop come directly towards them fearing some affront or else indeed incensed with the words of derision and contempt which the rudeness of those people used against them without any further consideration presently fell to gather up stones and began to drive back those that advanced first towards the place of their assembly By which injury the Catholick party being incensed who came thither without intent of doing them harm with no less inconsideration betaking themselves to their Arms there began a dangerous scuffle amongst them The Duke perceiving the uproar and desiring to remedy it setting spurs to his horse without any regard put himself into the midst of them where whilst he reprehended his own people and exhorted the Hugonots to retire he was hit with a blow of a stone upon the left cheek by which though lightly hurt yet by reason he bled much being forced to withdraw himself out of the hurly-burly his followers impatient of such an indignity done to their Lord presently betook themselves to their Fire-arms and violently assaulting the house where the Hugonots retired to secure themselves killed above sixty of them and grievously wounded the Minister who climbing over the tyles saved himself in some of the adjoining houses The tumult ended the Duke of Guise called for the Officer of the place and began sharply to reprehend him for suffering such a pernicious license to the prejudice of passengers and he excusing himself that he could not hinder it by reason of the Edict of Ianuary which tolerated the publick Assemblies of the Hugonots The Duke no less offended at his answer than at the thing it self laying his hand upon his Sword replyed in choler This shall soon cut the bond of that Edict though never so binding From which words spoken in the heat of anger and not forgotten by those that were present many afterwards concluded that he was the author and contriver of the ensuing War But the Hugonots exceedingly incensed by this chance and being no longer able to keep themselves within the limits of patience not contented with what they had done formerly both in Paris where killing divers men they fired the Church of S. Medard and in other Cities all over the Kingdom now full of malice and rage stirred up such horrible tumults and bloody seditions that besides the slaughter of men in many places the Monasteries were spoiled Images thrown down the Altars broken and the Churches brutishly polluted By which actions every body being much incensed and the people in all places running headlong to take Arms the Heads of the Factions upon the same occasion went about gathering forces and preparing themselves for a manifest War But the Lords of both parties saw plainly that in the state things were then in they could not take Arms without running into an open Rebellion there being no pretext or apparent colour that covered with the shew of Justice the raising of Arms for the Catholick party could not oppose the Edict of Ianuary without apparently contradicting an Act of Council and trespassing against the Royal Power by which the Edict was authorized and on the other side the Hugonots having the Liberty of Conscience given them which was appointed by the Edict of Ianuary had no just cause to stir Wherefore each Faction desired to draw the King to their party and seizing upon his person by abolishing the Edict or interpreting it under his Name according to their own sense to make a shew of having the right on their sides and the contrary party by opposing the Kings will and resisting him in person to run into an actual Rebellion The Queen-Mother very well knowing these designs and desiring as much as was possible to preserve her own liberty and her Sons continued her wonted artifices so to balance the power of the great ones that by their tyranny they might not prejudice the security of the State and having left Paris that she might not be constrained by either Faction she went to Fountain-bleau a house of pleasure belonging to the Kings of France which being a free open place she conceived she could not be forced to declare her self and hoped by doubtful speeches and ambiguous promises to maintain her credit with both parties Where she gave assurances to the Prince of Conde and the Lords of Chastillon who being inferiour in strength to the Catholicks were gone out of Paris to arm themselves that she would join
expecting the issue of the Battel Both the Brothers then being come to Neufville they endeavoured to get together those relicks of the Army that had escaped the Enemy which following the example of the Commanders came scattering in So the night coming on through the darkness whereof they could not be pursued the Prince of Porcien the Count de la Roch-fou-cault and the Germans who led the Constable Prisoner all met in the same place where with a great applause of every one the Admiral was declared General of the Hugonots Army Who not to expose himself to the inconveniences of the night stayed there till next morning break of day when having put those few men that were left in order he marched with great diligence towards Orleans seeing the passage to Havre de Grace was already possessed and cut off by the Enemy who lodged just in the middle of the great Road. The Duke of Guise remaining Master of the Field together with all the Enemies Artillery and Carriages and having received the French Infantry to mercy which after a little resistance yielded themselves at discretion being overtaken by the night lodged very inconveniently upon the place at Blainville whither the Prince of Conde being brought to him it is very remarkable that those two Princes formerly and in the present Battel such mortal enemies reconciled by the variety of fortune supped together at the same table and for want of carriages and through streightness of lodging lay together all night in the same bed For the Duke of Guise using his Victory modestly receiving the Prince with all demonstrations of honour offered him part of his In which the patience of the Conquered in the desparate estate of his present defeat was no less considerable than the modesty of the Conquerour iâ— the prosperity of his Victory The first news that came to Paris was of the defeat and imprisonment of the Constable brought by those that ran away at the beginning of the Battel which filled the Court with great sadness and infinite fear but a few hours after arrived there Monsieur de Losse Captain of the Kings Guard dispatched by the Duke of Guise who bringing such a contrary relation with the assurance of a Victory dissipated their grief for particular losses in which the greatest part of the Kingdom had a share for besides many Lords and Cavaliers of great esteem and reputation there were slain on both sides 8000 persons Various were the opinions and discourses of men concerning this Battel for many accused the negligence of the Prince of Conde when having the Enemy so near he believed he was still far off which necessitated him to fight against his will Many blamed the haste they saw in the Admiral to retire believing that if he had vigorously charged them when the Mareshal de S. Andre was killed he would have routed and defeated that part of the Catholick Horse and put his party in a condition to recover again their loss And on the other side there wanted not those who making a sinister interpretation of the Duke of Guises proceedings were of opinion that he might at the beginning coming behind the Enemy have rendered the Victory more easie and more secure without expecting first the disaster of the Constable and the slaughter of the Horse and Foot but that being desirous of the Constables ruine and to remain sole Arbitrator of the Catholick Faction he had craftily suffered the Enemy to rout the right Wing on purpose to assume all the glory and command to himself To which notwithstanding he and his partisans made answer That he moved not at the beginning first to let the Enemies pass and then to avoid the blind fury of them that ran away by which he might have been disordered as were the Duke of Aumale and the Constables Son himself but that he had patiently expected an opportunity to accomplish the Victory with security which by an inconsiderate haste would have proved uncertain and dangerous Howsoever it were it is certain that as the Duke of Guise gained all the glory of the day so the reputation of the Hugonots rather by accident than any real loss was in great part diminished The Duke remained in the same place three days after as well to put in order and refresh the Army as to provide for the wounded men and the burial of his dead and being by the King and Queen declared General of all the Forces of which charge he took possession with the Victory not to give the Enemy time to recover himself directed his course towards Orleans In the mean while the Admiral with a great part of his Forces and particularly the German Horse which received but little hurt in the Battel was returned into Beausse where granting a Warlike liberty to gain and assure the affections of the Souldiers he at last brought them to Beaugency to take such resolution as was most expedient for the present necessity There a Council being called of all the French Lords and German Commanders it was disputed with great variety of opinions what in that change of fortune was fittest to be done It was not to be doubted but the Duke of Guise pursuing his Victory would come directly to besiege Orleans which in the bowels of France was the chief seat and foundation of the War Wherefore it was expedient to think how to defend that City and also to provide for it in time a fitting supply which being very hard to be done by reason many already wavered in their affections and the fortune and reputation of the Hugonots declined in all parts of the Kingdom the two Brothers of Coligny boldly took upon them the charge of taking care for both For Andelot profferred himself with the German Foot and part of the French Horse to defend Orleans and the Admiral laying before the Reiters so they call the German Horse the booty and riches of Normandy with the near succours of England perswaded them to follow him into that Province where whilst the Duke of Guise was in person imployed in such a difficult siege they might have opportunity to join with the English receive the moneys sent by Queen Elizabeth and bring all their succours together with which forming a great body of an Army they should be able afterwards time enough to succour and relieve the besieged With these counsels the heads of the Hugonots directed their Actions But the Duke of Guise not to lose by delays the fruits of his Victory at the beginning of the year put all things in readiness to besiege Orleans having sent for the great Cannon from Paris with all other provisions necessary for so great a work at which siege as well to hasten the issue thereof as not to trust wholly to any one person the Queen resolved to be present and having past over with exceeding patience the sharpest and most incommodious season of the year came with the King to Chartres and staying there
several places at a distance diligently observing every thing that might be plotted against them which difficulties having held the Council long in suspence and in the mean while complaints coming from all parts of new insurrections and tumults which were raised either through the impatience of the Catholicks or the too obstinate wilfulness of the Hugonots but ever with blood uproars and danger at last they concluded that to take away the roots of these continual perverse tumults it was necessary to proceed with more resolution and less circumspection Wherefore taking occasion upon the money disbursed to Casimir and that Sum the Hugonot Lords were obliged to pay within a certain time which was then expired the King signified to the Prince of Conde that he should provide to make payment thereof advertising him withal he understood not the money should be raised by way of contribution upon the Commonalty of the Hugonots for he would not that any body should have the power or liberty to lay Taxes upon his people but that he meant the Heads of them who had been Authors of the late War and Commotion should as they had promised out of their own Estates satisfie this debt which they had contracted without the advice or approbation of particulars when for their own interest they called Casimir with the German Army into the Kingdom This signification touched the Prince to the quick for the debt amounting to the Sum of 300000 Crowns he saw the King was resolved by this means to ruine him and the Admiral with all the principal persons of the Factions for not any of them being able to furnish so much ready money as might discharge them of their promise their goods and estates would be seised upon at a low value which being resolved not to endure having sent for the Admiral to come to him after a long consultation of the business he answered the King resolutely That this not being his own private or particular debt but contracted for the service of those who to preserve their lives and Religion had put themselves under his protection and the Articles of Peace containing that he and all the rest of his party should be engaged for the satisfaction of it it was not reasonable that now to ruine him the payment should be required of him alone and some few other Lords who were already too much undone by resisting the persecutions of their enemies and that if his Majesty were positively resolved to be presently paid which might well be deferred to a more seasonable quiet time it was necessary to permit them to raise the money upon the Reformed Churches who he assured would willingly submit to the burthen but if he would not permit it his Majesty might well foresee that many through despair would be constrained to think of new violent courses against his will and intentions That he well knew this proceeded from the malice of his enemies who not desiring the peace and quiet of the Kingdom infused such precipitate counsels to renew the War That this was not their first attempt for already in many places cruelly murthering those who with his Majesties permission assembled at their devotions they had put Arms into the hands of the most seditious people in France That he desired his Majesty to inform himself of that which happened at Rouen Amiens Bourges Orleans Troys Clairmont in Auvergue Angiers Lagni and in many other places to do justice to the oppressed and cause his own promises to be observed and at length concluded That his Majesty considering with himself what was possible and just without being obscured or palliated by the perswasions of others would not tie him to do that which he could not by any means perform This Letter absolutely confirmed the King and his Cabinet Council in their resolution to proceed without any regard because it seemed rather a protestation and threatning than an excuse and they knew well whilst the Prince and the Admiral had any power the Peace would neither be secure nor the danger taken away of the Germans coming again into the Kingdom Wherefore all doubts being removed they determined to try whether they could on a sudden surprise the Prince and the Admiral who contrary to their first resolution to keep in several places that they might not be both taken in one trap were now both together at Noyers upon the Confines of Burgundy a Town not very strong nor so well guarded that it could make any long resistance But because it was a business in the managing whereof secresie was more required than strength Iasper Count de Tavanes Lieutenant to the Duke of Aumale in the Government of that Province where he had fourteen Companies of Gens d' Arms and the Count Siarra Martinengo who with the Italians quartered likewise in those parts had order to go so on a sudden upon that place and secure the passages that neither of them might find any way to escape The King thought he might justly do this for besides their past actions and the obstinate perverseness with which they stirred the people to rebellion the Hugonot Lords had not in many things performed the Articles of the Capitulation by which and by nothing else he was obliged to pardon them but he had the more hope easily to effect his purpose because Noyers being besieged he might send such a strength into those parts that it would be necessarily reduced before they could receive any succours and the Prince and the Admiral being once removed out of the way he believed neither Andelot nor any of the rest had authority enough to renew the War But this design was no sooner resolved upon than known to those very persons against whom it was intended wherefore though they saw themselves invironed on all sides by the Kings Forces for Martinengo having put two Companies of Foot into Orleans and advancing still under pretence of changing his Quarters was not far from them the Duke of Montpensier and Monsieur de Martigues kept the passages of the Loire the Duke of Guise with seven Companies of Lances was upon the Confines of Champagne and the Mareshal de Cosse was in Arms in Picardy having to clear the suspicion the King had conceived of his fidelity gotten a Commission to suppress those who were in St. Veleri and the Count de Tavanes lay nearer than all the rest and but a little distant from them so that they were compassed in on every side as with a net Nevertheless being forced by necessity before the Kings Forces which were still advancing drew near to take some speedy resolution and thinking it a desperate course to stay to be besieged in Noyers they determined to save themselves by flight and to retire into some place where they might not only be secure but raise an Army and gather together their partisans and followers According to this resolution which they kept concealed from their own servants the first of September in the night
having from him received a Pistol-shot in the cheek which broke four of his teeth he discharged his own in the very face of the Rhinegrave and laid him dead upon the ground nor ceased after to fight most gallantly though the blood ran so fast from his wound that it filled his Helmet and Gorget of Mail. But though the number boldness and constancy of both parties were almost equal yet their strength and valour were not for the Squadrons of the Kings Swisses famous by many and almost numberless proofs and tried in so many other Battels fighting with Enemies of less experience that were wasted and tired out with their past wants and sufferings did at last break into the Battalion of the Germans whom they charged in the beginning of the day and having routed and disordered their Ranks made so great a slaughter of them that of four thousand not above two hundred escaped alive and the Kings Cavalry entire in strength and full of courage did in the end overthrow and scatter the Cavalry of the Hugonots no less conquered by the weariness and weakness of their Horses harrassed with long toil and duty than by the force and valour of their Enemies The Admiral seeing his Army defeated his voice quite spent his jaw wounded and all imbrued in blood took with him the Princes who had withdrawn themselves with the Sieurs de Muy Teligny and Loue and with three hundred Horse retired to Partenay after whom many other stragglers followed in disorder Count Lodowick of Nassau and Count Volrade rallied about 2000 of their Reiters and though they were pursued by the Duke of Aumale and Monsieur de Byron they made their retreat without any disorder and defending themselves bravely at every Pass of advantage got that night to the same place All the rest that fled from the fury of the Conquerours dispersed several ways as their fortune guided them some got to Angoulesme some to Rochelle and some followed the track of the Commanders The Duke of Anjou after he had routed and put to flight the Enemies Cavalry being come to the place where the Swisses had obtained so bloody a Victory of the Germans commanded quarter to be given to three thousand of the French Infantry who being incompassed on every side had thrown down their Arms and begged their lives of the Conquerors then finding no more resistance any where he took the Colours Baggage and Cannon of the Enemy and drawing his Army together marched victoriously to Saint Genez The number of the slain on the Princes side reckoning also the Boys and Suttlers and such like hangers on who all died fighting were computed by the Catholicks to 17000 but those that more moderately counted only the Souldiers ghessed them to be about 10000 whereof few were persons of quality especially of the French because the chief Heads fled betimes for their own safety the greatest slaughter falling upon the Gascogne Foot and the Germans Yet there were killed Puygreffier Antricourt Tannaquille Byron the Brother of Armand who was in the Catholick Army St. Bonnet and St. Oyre who in the eightieth year of his age fighting valiantly till the very last had given wonderful proofs of his courage in the retreat There was slain also 27 German Captains of Foot of but 28 that were in the whole Army besides two Colonels of the same Nation above 70 French Captains of Foot and two Colonels of Reiters the other two saving themselves with the Count of Nassaâ— in the Body that made the retreat Monsieur de la Noue one of the Heads of the Faction whose ill fortune almost always left him in the Enemies hands was there taken prisoner besides Monsieur d' Acier General of the French Infantry and Monsieur de Blacon Colonel of Fire-locks On the Kings side were killed few above four hundred but among those many principal Officers of the Army especially strangers Philibert Marquess of Baden the Elder Rhinegrave Monsieur de Clairmont one of the chief Gentlemen in Daulphine Count Francisco de Sassatello Scipio Piccolomini Lieutenant to Otti de Montalto and many Foot-Captains The Duke of Guise Peter Ernest of Mansfield the other Rhinegrave and the Lords of Schombergh and Bassompier Germans were wounded but all cured in a short time after They took about nine hundred load of victual all the baggage of the Germans eleven pieces of Cannon and above two hundred Colours whereof twenty six taken by the Italians were sent to Rome by the Count di Sancta Fiore and in manner of a Trophy dedicated to the Church of St. Iohn de Lateran The News of this Victory was carried to the King and Queen-Mother by Alberto Gondi Count of Retz a Florentine much favoured by them whereat there was very great rejoycing and the same thereof spreading into the Neighbour Countries particularly into Italy filled the Duke of Anjou's Name with Glory and Renown to whose Valour and Conduct the chief honour of the day was attributed having over-reached the so cried-up wisdom and so feared policy of the Admiral The greatest part of the Commanders that escaped the defeat got the same night to Partenay whither the Princes and the Admiral were come before who presently began to advise what was best to be done in the difficulty and misfortune of their present affairs The most part of them were quite disheartened by so many unhappy successes and the terrour of this last overthrow seeing their Army cut off themselves shut up in a corner of the Kingdom without money forsaken by their friends with very little hopes and less reputation and among their publick consultations calling to mind their private interests the distance of their own houses the vast expences dangers and disquiets wherein they were perpetually involved many of them seemed to sink under the misery of their present condition and were inclined to yield themselves to the Kings mercy and by the best means they could procure pardon for what was past which by the mild and gentle nature of the Queen and the Duke of Anjou whose advice bore the chief sway in the Government and by the desire of peace they thought might easily be obtained if with humble submission they should cast themselves altogether upon his Royal Clemency But the Admiral not at all losing courage though so wounded in the mouth that he could hardly speak but rather exasperated by the severe sentence pronounced against him in Parliament and hardened by the adversity of his present fortune began to shew that things were not yet brought to so great extremity that they should let fear transport them to so much despair that they had lost other Battels before this and always rose again to be more powerful and more terrible to their Enemies that he had learned by experience that a War is not utterly lost for the miscarriage of a Battel so that the courage fail not in the constancy and vigour whereof consisteth the happy issue of all enterprizes
of great importance as well for that it lies upon the Coast of the Ocean Sea as because it abounds with such store of Salt-pits which yield a great and constant revenue he made the Sieur de Montaut Governour and put into it a strong Garison of his dependents furnishing it with ammunition and fortifying it with exceeding diligence nor content with that but vigorously prosecuting that enterprise by the means of his dependents in a few weeks he reduced into his own power Royan Pons Talemont and Marans with many other considerable places in Xaintonge But the King of Navarre who with more deliberate considerations had raised his thoughts to higher designs making use of the ready boldness of the Prince of Conde in those matters where force and violence were needful with infinite moderation to which as well by choice as nature he was much inclined under title of being Governour of the Province reduced the principal Cities to himself shewing both in words and actions a great deal of gentleness to the Catholicks a great deal of reverence to the Kings person singular desire to help the advancement of every one and very much trouble for the losses and outrages which by occasion of the War he was necessitated to bring upon that Country by which arts having gained all the people of Perigort and the Towns of Loudun Agen Ganache and many lesser places he possessed all that Country except Bourdeaux where the Parliament residing the Citizens had ever refused to admit him yet ceased he not after many repulses sometimes to allure them with kind messages sometimes to assure them with large promises shewing himself to be utterly averse from the animosity of the Factions and the cruelties used by others in Civil Wars since he of his own accord had setled the use of the Catholick Religion again in those places that were of his own Patrimony from whence his Mother had taken it away and with much modesty respect and favourable Declarations treated with the Church-men concerning the interests of Religion which artifice or nature or rather as it often happens artifice derived from nature won the hearts of all the people and took off that hatred which as Enemies to the Commonwealth they were wont to bear to others who had held the chief command of that Faction which he desiring to join and unite into one body as he saw the Heads of the Catholicks endeavoured to do on their side having obtained leave of the Citizens to enter Rochel the command whereof he knew to be very necessary for him he was so skilful in managing the affections of the people that having tamed and assured the minds of the Citizens which were full of suspitions and unapt to give credit to any body by their counsel and with the consent of all the Cities which followed their party the Deputies whereof he had assembled in that place he in the end made himself be declared Head and Protector of that party and the Prince of Conde his Lieutenant General shewing himself every where so full of sincerity and moderation that he thereby gained not only their inclination and good will but also a very free and absolute authority over them which among so many jealousies and so many pretenders perchance he could not have obtained by other arts for neither the Prince of Conde not the Mareshal d' Anville nor perhaps Monsieur de la Noue nor Monsieur de Rohan would so easily have yielded to him if they had not been forced besides the splendour of his Royal name to give place to his popularity and his arts of Governing Now having obtained the power of that Faction chiefly by the favour of the Rochellers and knowing that Monsieur de Fervaques as a subtil man and not trusty was suspected of all but especially the Citizens of Rochel who desired for their security that Messieurs de Rohan de Mouy de la Noue Langoiran and other old Abettors of that party might have the first place in their Councils and in their Civil and Military Offices or else perswaded by d' Aubigny who affirmed he had discovered that Fervaques at the very last point had revealed his intended departure to the King and that they were not stayed because the King having a wonderful ill opinion of him gave no credit to his words he cunningly gave him occasion to go his way as hath been already related and making up his Council of men that were famous for integrity and honest intentions did not only take away the jealousie of the Rochellers and of all the neighbouring Provinces who feared he would change his Power into a tyrannical Government but won the hearts of many Catholicks who so they might enjoy the liberty of living in the Religion of their forefathers were also disposed to serve and follow him He interposed his authority that the Rochellers might give way to the exercise of the Catholick Religion in their City and before he departed procured leave for Mass to be said in a little Church many being present at it which things accompanied with his modest temperate speeches as they gained him a great deal of affection from those of his own party so did they lessen and extinguish that hatred which the Guises by imputations of revolt and apostacy endeavoured to fasten upon him among all degrees of people in the Kingdom But the King in so great a combustion of all things and in so miserable a condition of his Crown which was openly assailed by the Politicks and Hugonots and secretly conspired against by the Catholicks of the League having conceived great hopes of finding a way to compass his designs by means of the General Assembly of the States was intent upon calling them together in the City of Blois where he with his Mother and the Duke of Alancon his Brother arrived the tenth day of November and having by his Letters given notice to the Deputies of the several Provinces to meet together without delay the business was followed with so much diligence that the sixth day of December gave a solemn beginning to the Assembly The Kings intention was prosecuting his own designs by means of the States to settle a firm general Peace which being established by the common consent of the whole Nation no man should have cause to find fault withal but lasting in a firm continuance might quite abolish the interests of the several parties cause the present animosities to be forgotten and give him time and opportunity to execute his own resolutions of abasing and weakening the strength and credit of both the Factions He hoped that a moderate Agreement would readily be laid hold on by all the three Estates For the Clergy were always fain to contribute very largely as to a War wherein they were more interessed than any others the Nobility wearied with the toils of War and exhausted with the vast expences of it and the Commons who besides the continual and intolerable taxes and
Religion and their own Consciences wherefore it was not fit to reduce the publick Cause to a particular Duel an effect very contrary to the end they had propounded to themselves and with other such like reasons they opposed those alledged by the King of Navarre who being advertised of the conclusion of peace between the King and the Lords of the League writ Letters to the King which were published in print grievously complaining that whilst he to obey his Majesties command laid upon him by Letters under his own hand had forborn to take Arms or to undertake any new enterprise an Agreement was established with his Enemies with condition to break the Edicts of Peace already published and contrary to promise already made again to begin the War against the Reformed Religion That he earnestly exhorted and besought the King to consider that to comply with the passions of those that rebelled against him he took Arms against his good and faithful Subjects and Vassals and that he should foresee how the destruction of his whole Kingdom was contained in that War which was preparing against him but that if he did persist to contrive his ruine he could do no less by the Law of Nature than defend himself and he hoped that God for the justness of his Cause would deliver and preserve him from the persecutions of men and one day make his innocence manifest to the whole World Besides this he writ other Letters to the Nobility others to the People and others to the Parliaments excusing himself blaming the League and labouring to make appear that he having punctually observed the conditions of Peace was now contrary to them unjustly assaulted After which Declarations having called unto him the Prince of Conde and the Mareshal d' Anville whom he knew to be no less persecuted than the Hugonots they established with common consent all that was to be done for their own defence and the maintenance of those places which they held of their party and because they already knew by so many proofs that nothing was more available for their defence than the supplies of men out of Germany which diverted the power and forces of their Enemies into very remote places they presently made a dispatch to the Protestant Princes to treat and conclude a strong Levy and that charge was undertaken by the Duke of Bouillon who as in his own inheritance derived from his Ancestors had setled himself in Sedan an exceeding strong place upon the Confines of Champagne and Lorain and by Monsieur de Chastillon Son to the Admiral de Coligny who was Governour of Mompellier for the Hugonots and was now secretly gone out of Languedoc disguised unto Geneva In the mean time the King in private with his Mother and the Cabinet-Council consulted about the manner of executing the Agreement with the League Secretary Villeroy with whom Bellieure and Ville-quier concurred was of opinion that the King had no better nor surer way to extinguish the combustions of his Kingdom and frustrate the designs of the Guises than sincerely to imbrace the War with the Hugonots to manifest to all the World his zeal toward the Catholick Religion and the ill will he bore to the Calvinists to put Offices into the hands of the most flourishing Nobility of his Kingdom to settle the form of Petitions of granting favours and of the disposal of moneys after the old way observed by his Predecessors and to satisfie their designs in particular who were alienated from him out of discontent because they were not able to do any thing at Court they shewed that this was the way to disfurnish the League of all pretences to draw the applause and love of the people to himself who because they saw him averse from those ends did now adore and follow the Lords of Guise as Defenders of Religion and Restorers of an indifferent equality and of the general quietness that it was necessary at last to take away that worst Schism of discords sowed first and principally by the Hugonots and to re-unite unto himself all his Subjects and Vassals in the same charity in the same Religion for the same unanimous universal end and in conclusion that he could neither more honourably nor more easily ruine the League than by doing well carrying himself sincerely and shewing himself altogether contrary to what the Heads thereof had divulged of him for by that upright manner of proceeding he might cross more designs and take away more followers from the Guises in one day than he could do by cunning dissimulation and politick inventions in the whole course of his life though it should last a hundred years The Queen-Mother inclined though warily to this advice for knowing her self to be already reported a favourer of the Guises and a persecuter of the King of Navarre for her Daughters sake she would not shew her self partial on the Catholick side and being angry though secretly that the King as it were not trusting her absolutely had sent the Duke of Espernon to Nemours for the conclusion of the business negotiated with the League she was very reserved in shewing her opinion perhaps doubting she should lose her authority with her Son or as some said desiring to see him intangled in those troubles that he might once again acknowledge the helpful hand wherewith she assisting in the Government with prudence and moderation had so often withheld the imminent ruine of the Crown But the King was otherwise inclined and utterly averse from the opinion of his Councellors The reasons that perswaded him to the contrary were two one that being to make War in good earnest against the Hugonots it could not chuse but be both long and difficult it was necessary to put Offices into the hands of the Guises which would increase their power and gather them Dependents besides the glory of the Victory would be attributed to them it being evident that they had constrained him by force to consent unto the War the other that the Hugonot party being destroyed which bridled their power and hindred the excessive strength of the Guises he should be left a prey unto their Force which would then have no restraint nor would they ever be without pretences to take up Arms though that of Religion were taken away it not being likely that such ready wits and such daring spirits should want other inventions These were the reasons alledged by the King but to them were secretly joined his most bitter hatred nourished a long time and now much more incensed against the House of Guise his inclination to his Minions whose grace and power his heart would not suffer him to abase his covetous desire of disposing the wealth and revenues of the Kingdom his own way to satisfie the prodigality of his mind and the continuation of his old resolution to destroy both Factions in the end by keeping them up against one another Nor to say the truth was he much to be blamed for having seen the
as well as possible they might by the Sieur de Lavardin Lieutenant-General having spread a long Body of Lances in the Plain on whose Wings were two Battalions of Infantry which flanked it on either side and he himself with the Light-Horse led by the Sieur de Montigny and Mercurio Bua was â—t the Head of the whole Army having placed the Artillery at the point of the left Wing But the Confusion of those untrained Soldiers who were come thither without order and had scatteringly broken their Ranks and disordered their Squadrons and the way also to the place appointed being to say the truth narrow and Woody made them lose so much time in embattelling that the King of Navarre finding that the Enemy moved had conveniency to bring up his Artillery which by reason of their hasty passage was left the night before on the other side the River who otherwise must have been fain to fight â—ithout his Canon which would have been an extreme disadvantage to him Now having received that benefit by the slowness of the Enemy he divided his Army consisting of 2500 Horse and 4000 Foot into seven Squadrons whereof four were Cuiâ—assiers one of Light-horse and two of Foot and caused the Culverins and the small Field-pieces to be planted in the front of the Army upon the bank of the River in a place somewhat higher then the Plain the two middle Squdrons which made the bottom of the half-moon he commanded himself the Prince of Conde and the Count de Soissons on the right hand and on the left the Viscount de Turenne the Light Horse were commanded by the Duke de la Tremouille and the Sieur de Vivans who was Marshal of the Field and the two Bodies of Foot on the right hand were commanded by the Baron de Salignaâ— Chastelnew and Pardbiere who upon their flank had a thick Wood and a ditch of seven foot-broad and by Lorges Preaâ— an Charboniere on the left all old expert Colonels of that party who were defended with the Walls and Buildings of the Park but more especially of the Warren The care of the Artillery was committed to the Sieur de Clairmont Marquess of Gelerande and the Baggage either purposely or by chance was left in the Village of Coutrâ—s without any Guard either of Horse or Foot The Armies were very different for the Duke of Ioyeuse's was cloathed all with rich upper Coats set forth with gallant Liveries Plumes and other wanton ornaments but half in disorder and all wavering a manifest sign of want of experience whereas the King of Navarr's had no other shew then that of Iron nor other ornaments then their Arms rusty with the rain yet united and compacted in a firm perfect array shewed their worth most clearly in Soldier-like actions and behaviour The Canon began to play on all sides the Sun being above two houres high but either with different industry or fortune for the King of Navarr's making a lane thorough the Catholick Lances and passing from thence into the Squadrons of Infantry made a very great slaughter of them and put them all into confusion but the Duke's Canoneers levelled their Pieces so low that all the Bullets struck into the ground and killed no body except one Gentleman of the Prince of Conde's which the Sieur de Lavardin perceiving and knowing that to give the Enemies time to charge again and redouble their great shot would cause the total routing of the Army which was so broken and disorder'd by the Artillery that they hardly kept in Battalia having commanded to sound a charge fell in with his Light-Horse so furiously upon those of the Enemy which stood over against him to the number of some two hundred that the Sieur de Montigny killed the Duke de la Tremouille's horse under him and Captain Mercurio â—ua wounded the Sieur de Vivans Marshal of the Field very dangerously and having scattered the light-Horse came up to the Squadron of Cuirassiers led by the Viscount of Turenne whom they charged not in the Front but rushed fiercely upon their flank and making way quite thorough them whatsoever the occasion was for it was afterward diversly spoken of ran on with full speed to the Village of Coutras where the Enemies Baggage was There the Albanians being out of breath with the length of their career and seeing booty before them fell to pillage and were so long before they rallied again that they resolved to retire into some place of security without doing any further service But the King of Navarre having briefly exhorted his men to fight for their common safety and having put Thirty Gentlemen before him with short Lances ran but ten paces to meet the Catholick Cavalry who having begun their Charge too soon were in such disorder with the length of their career that their Lances wrought not their wonted effect and did no good at all wherefore being thrown away the fight remained equal wherein besides the valour of the Soldiers their Squadrons being much harder to break thorough then the long weak Battalion of the Duke de Ioyeuse the Cavalry of the Catholicks was routed and defeated in less then half an hour the Duke himself among an infinite of Lords and Gentlemen being left dead for being overthrown upon the ground and offering 100000 Crowns in ransome he was with three Pistol shots most violently slain Nor had the Infantry better fortune then the Cavalry for being charged on all sides and fierce cries resounding every where that every one should remember the slaughter of St. Eloy where two Regiments of the King of Navarr's were cut in pieces without mercy the Soldiers were not satisfied till they had put most of them to the Sword the Commanders being not able to restrain their fury nor the King of Navarre to prevent it being busied otherwhere in chasing the Reliques of the Cavalry The slaughter of the Conquered and pursuit of the Conquerors lasted three houres after which they were Masters of the field of the Canon Colours and Baggage wherein to the laughter of Soldiers accustomed to the toils of War they found many of those softer accommodations of ease and tenderness used in the Court There were slain three thousand five hundred of the Catholicks besides the Duke of Ioyeuse the Count de S. Sauveur his brother Brâ—say who carried the General 's Cornet the Counts de Suse d' Aubijoux and Gavelo Colonel Tiercelin and many others but the number of prisoners was much greater for except Lavardin Montigny and Mercurio Bua who saved themselves all the rest remained in the power of the Enemy On the King of Navarr's side there were not full Two hundred killed among which not any many of great note and among those that were wounded onely the Sieur de Vivans Captain Favas and the Viscount de Turenne but slightly In this so great Victory the King of Navarre shewed his clemency no less then he had done his prudence
and Falaise before him would retire and then he might fortifie it better and put in a stronger Garrison But the Gautiers being come within four Leagues of Falaise quartered in a great Bourg which they fortified at the entry of the great high-way towards the enemy with their two Pieces and with a Barricado made with barrels full of earth and soil that theâ— might not be unexpectedly assaulted without defence and the Count de Brissac at a little distance from them but out of the great high-way took up his quarters and sent forth parties of Horse to scour the Country Villiers the King 's Field-Mareschal little valuing the number of those in expert tag-rag fellows having been out himself to discover their quarters perswaded the D. of Montpensier presently to raise the siege and without delay to assault the Enemy and the Duke desirous to try the encounter and being very confident of Villiers his experience quitting the siege the same night and drawing off his Canon from the wall resolved to assault the Gantiers the next morning Villiers ordered the assault on this manner that the Culverin and the Canon should play along the great way upon the enemies Barricado and Field-pieces and that then the Infantry should make the assault severally under their Colonels upon that part that the D. of Montpensier with his own Troop should fall on by a way that led into the field on the right side and the Count de Torigny with the Cavalry of the Vanguard by another on the left hand and that the Sieurs de Sureâ—â— and de Baqueville with two bodies of horse should stand ready to oppose the Count de Brissac if he with his horse should make any attempt to divert the assault The Culverin and Canon hit so luckily that they beat down all the enemies Barricado and took off the head of Captain Vaumartell who was encouraging and ordering his soldiers whereupon the sign was presently given to assault the enemy on all sides The Duke of Montpensier a brave generous Prince trotted on at the head of his Cavalry to attaque the Enemy but whâ—â—soever the occasion was leaving the place appointed him on the right hand he came to â—â—ll on just in the place where the barricado being thrown down the enemies two Pieces were planted which had not yet given fire and he was in great danger to have many of his men slain and that the assault would have a bloody issue The wind was very high by reason whereof together with the noise of the Armies no mans voice could be heard so that the Duke would certainly have been in danger if Villiers setting spurs to his horse running full speed to overtake him and hitting him with his Truncheon upon his Helmet to make him stay had not told him his error and brought him by a plain free way to charge the Enemy in the Flank which the Count de Torigny having done likewise on the other side and the Infantry in the Front where about twenty soldiers were slain by the Faulconets the Enemy was defeated in less then an hour with the loss of about Two thousand men all their Baggage Colours and Cannon The Count de Brissac who during the conflict appeared upon a hill hard by seeing himself without comparison inferiour in force retired streight to Falaise without making any further attempt having though with so great a slaughter of his men made way to relieve that place and the Kings Army victorious quartered that night in the adjacent Villages It was debated in the Council of War whether they should return to the Siege of Falaise or no but the opinion of Villiers prevailed who the Count de Brissac being within it with the rest of his Forces thought it would be a difficult and a tedious business and advised that the Army in the heat of the Victory should prosecute the Gautiers to take their places and pull up the root of that Insurrection for that obstacle being taken away there would be no Forces left in the Province which could hinder them from taking in the Towns With this resolution the Army increased with above Four hundred fresh Horse marched towards the Gautiers who being resolved to make resistance to the last man put themselves in three places Vimotier Bernay and la Chapelle Gautier into which the Commanders shut not up themselves but Longchamp retired to his Government and the rest gave out that they went to the Count de Brissac to prepare assistance Vimotier was first assaulted where with small trouble it being an open place the Bourg was entred above a Thousand of the Gautiers slain and those that fell into the Enemies hands alive having taken an oath not to bear Arms any more but to follow their Tillage were set at liberty so that having found very great gentleness and good order in the Army by the care which the Duke and Villiers used in punishing those who dared to commit any outrage or insolence they were quieted and returned to the managing of their own affairs Greater was the difficulty in assaulting Bernay which was both walled round and had the best men within it but the Cannon having battered from morning till noon the Foot made the assault which having been stoutly received by the defendants they renewed the Battery the next morning and having made a wider breach many Gentlemen alighted from their Horses and put themselves in the head of the Infantry to facilitate the assault Wherefore it being valiantly redoubled in the morning the service lasted hot and bloody for the space of four hours at last young l' Archant and the Sieur de Baqueville entered the Town and after them the whole Army putting the Gautiers to the Sword whereof a very great number was slain and a House being set on fire by a Boy of Colonel St. Denis who for that fault was condemned by Villiers to suffer death the greater part of the Town was burned to the ground There were killed on the King's side the Sieur de la Fountain one of Villiers his Adjuâ—ants 14 Gentlemen and about 100 Soldiers The prisoners upon the same oath and conditions were set at liberty But the remainder of the Gautiers reduced into la Chappelle seeing their companions defeated and that the Commanders appeared not with relief from any place resolved to yield themselves and having sent two Curates of their Parishes they were received to mercy on the same termes whereupon leaving their Arms and Colours they returned to their houses and to their wonted employment of Tilling the Earth This was the first prosperous success of the War and the news thereof was carried with great joy to the King to Tours where he was busie in increasing his Army and giving order about his Interview with the King of Navarre To which purpose the Sieur du Plessis-Mornay was come to the King a great many dayes before and the Abbot del Bene was likewise gone to the King of Navarre nor were
and do Penance for the Cardinals death 402. resolves to send assistance to the League against the King 431. his Commissions to Cardinal Gaetano Legat in France 432. his Breve published at Paris and the Contents thereof 434 grows jealous Gaetano inclines to favour the Spanish designs 453. his death 4â—8 Pope Urban VII lives but Twelve dayes and is succeeded by Gregory XIV a Milanese ib. who resolves to send men and money to assist the League 493. chooses Mastilio Landriano Legat to France assigns Fifteen thousand Crowns per mensem for the League ibid. sends Twelve hundred Horse and Six thousand Foot into France under command of Monte-Martiano 503. dyes 530 Preheminences of the Royal Family are Inheritance and Administration 4 Princes of the Blood ib. Prince of Condé set at liberty 28. practises to possess Lyons but without success 32. committed to Prison excepts against his Tryal and appeals to the King but not accepted 37. Sentence pronounced against him 38. set at liberty and declared void 44. his Manifesto 61. Coins the Plate belonging to the Churches 63. his demands in favour of himself and the Hugonots 65. returns to his Army 67. going to besiege Paris amuses himself before Corbiel whereby he fails of his design 78. taken Prisoner by the Duke of Guise 83. sups and lies in the same Bed with the Duke his bitter Enemy 84. offers the King a great number of Hugonots to make War with Spain 109. incenseth the King with a Letter of Protestation 128. sells the Goods of the Church for the Hugonots 137. is shot in the head at the Battel of Brisac and dyes 140. his Body is carried in Triumph upon a â—ack-horse by the Catholicks and after restored to the Pâ—ince of Navarre his Nephew 141. his Son a Child and the Prince of Nâ—varre made Heads of the Hugonots 142. is kept in the Kings Chamber duâ—â—â—g the Massacre and after kept Prisoner 183. he and his Brother turn Catholicks 186. made Head of the Hugonots 206. brings a great Army out of Germany and declares the Duke of Alanzon Head of the Hugonots 215. offended at his power seek to make Peace with him 219. is declared Lieutenant General of the Hugonots 226. will not acknowledge the Assembly at Blois to be the States General nor treat with their Commissioners 230. excommunicated by Sixtus Quintus and declared incapable of Succession to the Crown 284. poisoned at St. Jehan de Angely by his own Servants 235 Princess of Condé dexterously refer'd by the King to the Parliament of Paris about imputation of her being guilty of her Husbands death and is clear'd by them she promising first to turn Catholick and instruct her Son in the same Religion 672 Prince of Navarre marries the Kings Sister by dispensation from the Pope 177. assumes the Title of King 179 Prince of Orange formerly declared Rebel is restored to his Estate 220 Q. QUeen Blanch Mother to St. Lewis taking upon her the Government in her Sons minority the Barons take Arms to maintain the Right in whom it belong'd 1â— Queen Catherine joins with the Prince of Conâ—â— and the Admiral in opposition to the Triumvirate 53. feigns an inclination to the Hugonot Religion ibid. forced to declare for the Catholicks and at the same time maintains hopes in the Hugonots 60 Queen Elizabeth of England offers Conditions to the Hugonots 6. imprisons Mary Queen of Scots 296. grants assistance to Henry IV. by Viscount de Turenne 487 Queen Margaret Wife to the King of Navarre her licentious Life causes the King and Queen-mother to resolve to break the match and give him Christien Daughter of the Duke of Lorrain to Wife who afterwards married Ferdinand de Medicis Grand Duke of Tuscany 397 Mary Queen of Scots Cousin to the Guises imprisoned by Elizabeth Queen of England 296 Queen-mother and Prince of Condé parley 64. persuades the Duke of Guise Constable and Mareschal de St. André to leave the Court hath it promised under their hands they will whereupon the Catholick Lords leave the Camp 65 66 is threatned in a Letter to be killed 107. with the King she visits the Admiral and under pretence of defending him set strict Guards upon his House 181. sends three Armies into several parts of the Kingdom to suppress Insurrections 198. favours Lugi d'Avila the Authors Brother 274. she is resolved to break the match between the King of Nâ—varre and Queen Margaret by reason of her licentious Life and give him Christien Daughter to the Duke of Lorrain to Wife 397. treats an Accommodation with the Hugonots ibid. an Interview between her and the King of Navarre but nothing concluded 305. A Saying of hers 335. becomes pale and afrighted at the Duke of Guises waiting upon her dissuades the King from his thoughts against him 338. is strongly guarded for fear of him 339. goes to him in her Sâ—dan being denied passage in her Coach confers with him but brings back nothing but complaints and exorbitant demands 344. goes with him to the King at Chartres 354. dyes on Twe fth-Eve in the 50th year of her age 30 whereof she spent in the Regency and management of greatest affairs and troubles of the Kingdom of France Page 374 Queen of Navarre causes Churches to be ruined and expels the Priests 94. goes with all the Hugonots to the Prince of Condé and the Admiral at Rochel 129. her Letters and their Manifesto 130. Coins money with her own Figure on one side and her Sons on the other 143. is poisoned with a pair of Gloves 178 An ancient Question Whether the Assembly of the States or the King be Superior 228 R. REformed Religion began to spread in France in the time of Francis I. 20 Reiters are German Horse 260.327 those of the League fight till they are all destroyed 448 Religion a veil of private Interests 46 Remedies used by Henry IV. to conserve the affections and obedience of his Party 486 Renard Procurer of Chasteler with others put to death for crying Bread or Peace 464 Renaudie a man of a desperate fortune Head of the Hugonot Conspiracy 21 Republick of Venice acknowledges Henry IV. King of France and Mosenigo their Ambassador to Henry III. passes a Compliment with him in publick 427 Rhenus a Vial of Oyl kept there wherewith the first Christian King Louis was Consecrated 47. a meeting there dissolved without any determination 503 River Vare divides Italy from France 565 Rochel revolts to the Hugonots which serves them ever after for a Sanctuary 122. its strong situation 190. yielded to the King 192. they break the Truce 205. permit Catholicks to say Mass at the intercession of the King of Navarre 226 Rouen taken by the Catholicks and sack't 75. disliking their Gâ—vernor de Tavennes they make an Insurrection 504. A Relation of its Siege 523 524 c. Royal Races 5 S. SAla the River where the Salique Law was established 3 Salii Priests ibid. Savii de Terra Firma are Magistrates of Venice so called
composition of Twenty thousand Crowns The King in Council with the most conspicuous men of â—is party declares the necessity of giving some satisfaction to the Hugonots He proposes the confirmation of the Edict of Pacification made last by Henry the Third which grants them Liberty of Conscience with some circumstances and limitations and it is consented to The Cardinal of Vendosme begins to raise a third party of Catholicks to make himself Head of them and thereby to bring himself to the Crown Scipio Balbani is sent to Rome by the Cardinal of Vendâ—smâ— to treat with thâ— Pope and to communicate his design unto him The Cardinal of Lenon-court gives the King notice of the designs of the Cardinal of Vendosme The Sieur des Portes Secretary to the Duke of Mayenne informs him of the practices of the said Cardinal but a Letter being intercepted falls into the Kings hands The High Chancellor being told by the King of the Cardinal of Vendosmes designes perswades him to turn Catholick Monsieur de la Noues Answer to the High-Chancellor The Count dâ— Soissons brother to the Cardinal Veâ—dâ—sme is removed from the Government of Poictou upon suspicion Landriano the Popes Nuncio arrives at Rheims with Monitory Letters to the Prelates and Catholicks of the Kings paâ—ty After long opposition by the French Lords the Monitory is published to the satisfactioâ— of the Spanish and Popish party The Parliaments of Câ—alons and Touâ—s decree That the Pope's Monitory should be publickly burnt The Parliament of Paris makes Decrees contrary to those of the Parliaments of Tours and Chalons The Meeting at Rheims dissolves without any determination The Pope sends 1200 horse and 6000 foot into France under the command of the Duke of Monte-Marciano The people of Rouen disliking the Viscount de Tavannes their Governor make an Insurrection The Marquiss de Menelay is killed by order from the Duke of Mayenne because he would have delivered up la Fere to the King and have gone over to his party The Duke of Mayenne gives a scalado to Mante where the Prelates Lords and Officers of the Kings party were weakly guarded but being discovered is beaten off He goes to assault the Swisses at Hudan and having found them well fortified is fain to return By the Council of Mocenigo the Venetian Ambassador the King removes his Officers and Prelates from Mante to Chartres The situation of Noyon besieged by the King The Viscount de Tavannes going to put relief into Noyon is defeated and taken prisoner The Duke of Aumale going to relieve Noyon after a sharp sight retires The Duke of Mayenne having heard of the siege of Noyon marches with his Army to Han to give courage to the besieged The Duke of Mayennâ— resolves not to hazard a Battel with the King The Sieur de Ville Governor of Noyon seeing the King's Forces ready to give the assault parleys and concludes to surrender the place if it were not relieved within two dayes which is performed The Duke of Savoy obtains that the Popes Forces marching towards France should stay some time in his State to strengthen his designs against the Sieur Les Diguieres The Duke of Savoy besiegeth the Fort of Morestelâ—o The Savoyardâ— are routed and defeated by the French President Ieannin returns from Spain but brings no resolution to the Duke of Mayenne The King of Spains answers to President Iannin Charles Duke of Guise having been long kept prisoner at Tours â—scapes at 〈◊〉 and flees to Bourges The Duke of Mayenne inwardly afflicted for the D. of Guises escape strives to shew signs of joy and treats underhand with the Cardinal of Bouâ—bon and the other Lords that endeavour to set a third party on foot Charlotte de la Mark Heir to the Dutchy of Bouillon is given in Marriage to Henry de la Tour Viscount de Turenne at which the D. of Nevers iâ— disgusted The King being joyned with the German Army takes Attigny whither all the wealth of the neighbouring people had been broughtin and grants the pillage of it to the Germans The King reinforced by the German supplies brought by the Viscount de Turenne offers battel to the Duke of Mayenne in the Plain of Verdun The Dukes of Lorain and Mâ—â—enne agree secretly not to condescend to the election of any to be King of France not only that was a stranger but also that was not of their Family or at least a Prince of the Blood of the Catholick Religion The Duke of Mayenne being at Retel the Duke of Guise comes to him well accompanied and is received with outward shews of love but iâ— their secret conferences their confidence is not correspondent At the news of the death of Pope Gregory the XIV the Duke of Montemâ—rciano interposes delays and declares that he will depend upon the will of the Duke of Parma The Council of Sixteen falls into an emulation with the Parliament of Paâ—is and with the Council of State chosen by the Duke of Mayenne Brigard who had been imprisâ—ned upon suspition of Plots against the League being â—scaped the Judges that made his process are by the people in Armâ— tumultuously put in prison and by the Council of Sixteen are caused to be strangled as accomplices in his flight The Council of Siâ—teâ—n resolves to put it self under the protection of the Catholick King The Contents of certain Articles made by the Council of Sixteen The Duke of Mayenne being come to Paris to appease the Insurrection takes the Bastillâ— kept by the Sieur de Bussy and having set strong guards in the several quarters of the City causes four of the chief of the Council of Sixteen which were most guilty to be strangled * Or Notary The Duke of Parma declares that he had not been privy to the commotion of the Parisians praises the D. of Mayenne for having punished the delinquents and having met with the Duke of Guise at Valenciennes refuses to treat with him without the presence of the D. of Mayenne The Spaniards grant small supplies to divers French Heads of the League to alienate them from the Duke of Mayenne and divide them from the body of the League The Duke of Mercoeur with the Spaniards and the Prince of Dombes with the English face one another in Brâ—tagne The Sieur de la Noue going to view the breach and the works at Lambale is killed with a Musket-shot in the head Count Francesco Martinengo is defeated by Monsieur de la Valette and the siege of Vinon iâ— raised The Sieur de Sancy who was at Basil to raise men in that Canton having heard of One hundred thousand Ducats that were carrying from Milan toward German to levyforces theâ— places himself in ambush in a Wood assaults the Convoy and with much ease takes the Money * The French says Vitry * Quercy The course taken by the Sieur de Villars in ordering disposing and preparing things to receive the siege which was going to be laid to Rouen by the Kings