for the traffick which he promised vndertooke the siege of Corbaile which after 3. assaults wherin he lost a great nuÌ„ber of his best most approued souldiers he tooke by force shewed all crueltie vpon the inhabitants He made the Parisians beleeue that he would go from thence to take Poysy Meulan Maule Vernon Pont del Arch but indeed he was not so good as his word for he did nothing of al this but trifled out the time The Duke of Parma fli th out of France fed the citizens with faire words vntil the latter end of October and then marched homeward through Bric being followed hard at the heeles by the king and those smal forces which he could raise vpon the sodain as far as L' Arbre de Guyze where he entred into the low countreyes with not past some 8000. of all that companie wherewith hee had entred into France After that the Duke of Parma was gotten into the low Countreyes the king hauing gathered al his forces together marched toward Chartres which he besieged Chartres taken by the the king and after many sharpe assaults tooke it and brought it vnder his obedience hee tooke also Aulnean Macheuille Dourdan Bonsery Clay Tremblay Manican Ginlis and so scoured al the part of Picardy that no enemie durst once shew his face and from thence passed into Britaine where hee defeated the Lorde Saint Lawrence Mareschall of the Armie of the rebels vnder Duke Mercury and surprised Louuiers where hee found great store of Corne Wine and all other necessarie prouision besides foure thousand fat Oxen wherewith hee plentifully victualled his army for many dayes Cinqcens tâ—oken About the same time the Lord Chartres gouernour for the King in Deepe and Sir Roger VVilliams a very couragious and well experienced English knight with their English French forces amounting to some seauen hundred men defeated two regiments of the Leaguers at a place called Cinqcens and put them in a maner all to the sword The Prince Conty tooke Mount Morillon Chaurguy S. Sauin Blank en Bury Bourge Archambault Playsance Bellarbre Availes Betoune Bisse and many other forts and Castles in Limosin and Toureyne The Prince D' Ombs accompanied with the valiant fortunate and noble Gentleman Sir Iohn Norris general of such forces as were sent out of England for the ayde of the K. into Britaine tooke Guingcampe Cuingcampe taken where there were a great number of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the Countrey who with the Towne payed fiftie thousande Crownes for their Ransome and tooke the oath of Obedience to the king and passing from thence to Quelnec encountred with the Duke Mercury a principall Leaguer who at the first shewed a countenance as though he would haue tryed the quarrell by an entire fight but after the losse of some two or three hundred Spanish and French Leaguers with Don Roderigo cheefe Mareschall of the Spaniards and the Lord Guebrian Collonel of all the footmen he retired further off to places of greater securitie The king was now at the siege of Noyon Noyon takeÌ„ which in the ende yeelded vppon composition and the Lord Vile submitted himselfe to the king and had leaue to depart whither hee would the Leaguers seeing the kings fortunate successe fearing that all in the ende would yeeld vnto him procured a newe excommunication from Rome against him and all his faithfull subiects The Pope excommunicateth the King and caused it to be published at Pont del Arch in Normandy by Marcellus Landrianus a saucie and malepert Iesuite but the king beeing aduertised hereof commanded his Court of Parleament holden at Cane to proceede against Pope Gregory the fourteenth who sent it and his Nuntio that brought it as against tyrannes conspirators with rebels perturbers of the State sowers of sedition aâ—â— the common and notorious enemies of GOD and all goodnesse and taking the Popes Bull The Popes Bull hanged vpon the gallowes and burned at Tours caused it to bee fastned to a gibbet at Tours by the common hangman of the towne and to bee consumed to ashes to the great reioycing of all the beholders The King vnderstanding that the right honourable Lord the Earle of Essex was nowe arriued in France with a bande of very braue men and was marching towardes him went to meete the saide Earle at a place called Gysors where hee remained not long but returned towards Champaigne for that hee vnderstood that his Germaines were nowe in a readinesse to march on forwards on their waie towardes France In the meane while the English forces tooke the towne of Gourny and ioyning with the Mareschal Biron Goâ—rney ta-tâ—ken by thâ— earle of Eâ—â—â—x distressed the Leaguers in those quarters Much about this time the Prince Ienuille sonne to Francis late Duke of Guyse escaped out of prison at Tours where hee had beene kept for the space of three yeeres and more The yong D. of Guise escapeth out of prison and hauing the waies layde with fresh horse by the counsell of the Lord De la Chastre his kinsman got safely to Selles and from thence to Verdun where hee was most ioyfully receiued of all the Leaguers who had attended his comming with great deuotion and were exceeding glad that they had recouered him by whose means they imagined the better to countenance their actions and to effect their entended purpose Howbeit this their ioy was foorthwith crossed by the comming of the Germaines who were already entred into France and hasted to the succors of the king This great and mightie Armie wherein were some two or three and twenty thousand footmen and horsemen The armie of the Germain was diuided into sundry battailons and led by theyr seuerall chiefetaines and commaunders The Vicont of Turennes conducted the Vauntgard wherein were some 1600 horse next whom followed the Earle of Anhoult cheefe commaunder in the Armie with two thousand and two hundred horse The third place was alotted to Barbisderse with a squadron of some 1000. horse Iselstenius the Lieutenant of the Lorde Robours led 8. or 900. footmen Creighnicht Bernhard Dessaw and Bonnaw had their seuerall regiments each coÌ„sisted of a 1000. horse The Lord Laudins and the Earle of VVide had vnder their leading 6400. footmen equally diuided into two great squadrons which were flanked as it were with another strong battailon wherein were about 4300. footmen and 200. horse led by Templuys and the Earle of VVeda Christopher de Fesler with 300. footmen serued as a wing on the left hand betweene whom and the Earle of VVide was the yong Earle of VVestenberg with 3400. footmen there was also maruailous store of all warlike munition as great Artillerie pouder shotte bridges boats spades shouelles pickaxes and all other necessaries for the warres and nothing wanting which was requisite for the aduauncement of their affaires The Duke of Lorraine made al the preparation that might be to stop the passage of these Germaines and to
THE Mutable and wauering estate of France from the yeare of our Lord 1460 vntill the yeare 1595. The great Battailes of the French Nation as well abroad with their forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres With an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers Collected out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Historiographers LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597. To the right worshipfull Maister Iulius Caesar Esquire Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe maister of the Requests and of Saint Katherins and chiefe Iudge of her highnesse Court of the Admiraltie c. a namelesse well-willer wisheth all courses of happinesse that can bee named SIr this Collected Historie of the inconstant and mutable estate of Fraunce from the yeare 1460. vntill the yeare 1595. describing the great battails of the French Nation as well abroade with forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres also an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers during their bloodie mutinies and attempts from time to time with whatsoeuer else so serious a discourse can or may affoord I offer to your worshipfull and most kinde patronizing Your euer knowne affable inclination to studie and works of woorth makes me no way mistrustfull of gentle acceptance wherfore in one ballance poysing the Booke and in the other whatsoeuer remaynes in mee alwayes most readie at your worships seruice I cease from further troubling you with lines vrging no delight desiring that as your vertues are numberlesse so your ioyes both in this worlde and that to come may likewise be endlesse Though namelesse yet alwayes by your worship to be commaunded To the Reader AS in a briefe Chronicle or short compiled Historie gentle Reader euen so in this worke shalt thou behold the slipperie and vncertaine estate of a mightie Kingdome of France our neare neighbour whose warres strifes and most troublesome contentions as well at home in her owne bosome â—s abroad with forraigne and hostile enemies during the space of these many yeares from 1460 vntill 1595. the accidents of all which tâ—mâ— this present volume doâ—th truly acquaint thee withall for out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Histâ—riographers hath 〈◊〉 beene carefully collected and being for thy sake attired now in an English habit familiarly tels thee that Monarchies miseries which when thou hast aduisedly considered on and therwith compared thy owne Countries continuall blessednesse I doubt not but as in sorrowing for the one so thou wilt hartily pray for the other that the afflictions of France may be Englands looking Glasse and their neglect of peace our continuall labour and studie how to preserue it Fare ye well THE MVTABILITIE of France CHAP. I. Lewis sonne to Charles the seuenth King of France is driuen out of his fathers Kingdome He flieth to Philip Duke of Burgundie Returneth After his fathers decease is made King He falleth out with Charles Duke of Burgundie Is suddenly stroken with a sore disease and dieth miserably AS the wauering and interchaungeable course whereto euery thing whatsoeuer is continually subiect hath beene alwayes heretofore dayly obserued in the most auncient and renowmed Monarchies that euer were So hath it appeared in these latter dayes Kingdomes and states ful of change and mutabilitie in this age and that in a more liuely maner in the strange and wonderfull alterations of our neighbor countryes whose peace and prosperous estate as it was the common obiect of euerie mans eye so are their vnfortunate warres and wofull miseries the vsuall subiect of all mens speach and nothing is more lystened after then to what ende matters of so great waight and importance are likeliest to tend The most noble and renowmed kingdome of France which for so many yeares flowed with milke and honie and for the temperatenesse of the aire the fertilitie of the soile the ciuilitie of the Commons the loyaltie of the Nobilitie the dignitie and magnificence of the Prince was accounted the paragon of all Nations hath especially tasted of this vicissitude and change which so long as it was at peace with it selfe and not afflicted with any ciuill discention the subiect honouring the King with all dutifull obedience and the King tendering the welfare of the subiect with a hearty and louing affection and both concurring in one for the aduauncement of the Common-wealth flourished in most beautifull maner and appeared verie pleasing to the eye of all Nations round about but after that it once began to nourish turbulent spirits and to harbour strange and vnnaturall humours the Prince following the daungerous proiects of yong and corrupt councellors who rather sought their owne priuate gaine then the publike profite and vtilitie of the state and the people beeing easily drawne by the perswasions of their Gouernours to embrace in a maner any noueltie that was propounded then began the common-wealth to bee intangled in manie daungerous mischiefes and to bee encombred with sundrie cares wherewith for this long time it hath beene exceedingly vexed and tormented And albeit there hath often bin some mitigation of paine for a while and that by the great wisedome and skill of such as sate at the stearne and had the managing of the publike affayres the ship which was well neare ouerwhelmed with boisterous waues was safely preserued from the wracke yet as though there were a fatall destinie which could not be auoided it presently againe fell vpon the shelues and plunged it selfe a fresh into a vast Ocean of vnspeakeable miseries wherein it hath continued floting vp and downe for these many yeares and at this day is come to that desperate passe that although it be neither split vpon the sandes nor swallowed vp of the fearefull billowes yet doth it serue as a perfect glasse to viewe the vnstable estate of these earthly things and for an assured proofe of the variable change and continuall vicissitude in the most flowring kingdoms and common-wealthes Which albeit it doth euidently appeare vnto the eye of euery beholder yet will it be farre better discerned if wee consider the reignes of sundry French Kings in whose times there hath fallen out most strange and admirable accidents themselues being especiall occasions to prooue a mutuall and an alternatiue course in al things whatsoeuer Lewis the 11. K. of France rebelled in his youth against his father Lewis the eleuenth of that name King of Fraunce and sonne vnto Charles the seuenth was in his youth as Philip de Comins reporteth allured by the craftie perswasions of sundrie seditious heades to become chiefe of a rebellious faction and to beare Armes agaynst his father to his vnspeakeable griefe and the imminent perill of the whole lande but that vnnaturall warre not continuing long and the sonne being drawne to his obedience by the louing and wise perswasions of the King his father all things grewe verie peaceable for
the King being at Ast where after some debating of the matter and cleering of sundrie doubts the king resolued to passe forward and so came to Pauia without any let or interruption from thence he went towards Sarzana being a very strong Castle and belonging to the Florentines which in the ende was taken and kept by the French The French Kings prosperous successe in Italy The Citizens of Florence being not a little amazed at the Kings prosperous successe thought it best to offer him all the fauour and kindnesse that might be humbly desiring him to come and repose himselfe in their Citie and to refresh his Armie in the rest of their territories as Pisa Lygournia Petrasancta and Librafacta Thus had the French gotten the whole state of the Florentines into their possession this bred a maruailous change in Italy and sundrie Citties being wearie of their gouernours rebelled and chose them new Lords The Florentines râ—bell against Peter de Medices their D. who in great misery fled to Venice The Florentines themselues considering that the French were growen strong became their vassailes and conspiring against their Duke called Peter de Medices droue him out of the City tooke whatsoeuer he had and reserued it for their owne vses The poore distressed Duke fled to Venice in very miserable estate where he had much adoo before he could be receiued Thus was the house of the Medices ouerthrown which had flourished in great wealth power and authoritie for the space of 60. yeares the King departing from Florence came to Sennes and so to Viterbium and from thence to the Castle of Brachana Although that Alphonsus King of Naples Alphonsus King of Naples prouideth to withstand the French was at the first but little moued with the comming of the French yet to preuent the worst hee had prouided two great and puissant armies that by sea was lead by his brother Frederik and the other by land by his sonne Ferdinando with whom were these famous and renowned Captaines Virgilius Vrsinus Petilian and the Lord of Treuoule Ferdidinando was gotten into Rome and hoped to keepe the Citie against the French King but the Pope being willing to follow the good fortune of the Conquerour suffered him to enter The Pope yeeldeth to to the French whereupon Ferdinando was forced to flie away in the night and with al possible speede to retire towards Naples His father Alphonsus beeing wonderfully terrified with this heauie newes and remembring the manifold iniuries offered to the Neapolitans both by his father and himselfe though hee had beene a very valiant couragious Alphonso yeeldeth his Kingdome to his son and flyeth into Cicilia and hardy Prince yet hee thought it best to yeeld to the time and giuing ouer the kingdome into his sonnes hand with a heauie heart and mournful cheere sayled into Cicilia with the Queene his mother in law who was daughter to Ferdinando king of Castile Before his departure he was continually tormented with sundrie imaginations often crying out that the King of Fraunce was comming and that the very houses trees and stones in the streets were all become French The great feare of Alphonsus and so with a passionate minde forsooke Naples where by the way wee may obserue one thing which Phillip de Comins noteth as a strange accident and that is that in lesse then two yeeres space there were fiue kings of Naples which were Ferdinando the father of Alphonsus Alphonsus Ferdinando his sonne Fiue Kings of Naples in lesse than two yeeres Charles the eight king of Fraunce and Frederik the brother of the saide Alphonsus The yong King Ferdinando made great preparation to withstand the French and hauing gathered a strong power encamped at Saint Germin in the frontiers of his territories resoluing to stop the passage of the enemie at that place Notwithstanding the French king marched on with great courage taking Castles and townes without any resistance all things seemed to yeeld voluntarily vnto him and to bende at his becke yea Ferdinando himselfe durst not abide him though he were strongly fortified and encamped in a place of great aduantage For assoone as he vnderstood by his espyals that the French were within two leagues Ferdinando K. of Naples flieth from the French he fled in very disordered manner towards Capua suffering the French King to enter at his pleasure and from thence hasted to Naples fearing a reuolt among the Citizens which indeede immediatly ensued vppon the approch of the French who comming to Capua entred presently vppon composition and before they came at Naples by three leagues the Citizens sent Embassadors to treat with them Naples yeeldeth to the French king being willing to receiue theÌ„ vpon condition that they should maintaine their ancient priuiledges which so terrified Ferdinando that he presently tooke sea and fled to his father in Cicilia Then was there a generall reuolt and euerie one made court to the French king who was receiued with great acclamation and applause of the people yea those who were in particular most bounden vnto the house of Arragon and such as had beene their especiall fauourites were now in an instant wholly turned French All Calabria Powilla Laurentia Turpia Encrenes Tarentum Monopolis set vp the Flower delis Thus did this yong King runne as it were through Italy without any stop or hinderance The speedy conquest of the French King neuer staying about the winning of any one towne the space of one day insomuch as from his departure from Ast vntill his entrie into Naples there were but foure moneths and ninteene dayes so that hee might say in regarde of his speedy conquest as Caesar sometime saide Veni Vidi Vici The French King beeing entred into Naples disposed of all things at his pleasure and seemed nowe to haue attained to his wished ende there was nothing to crosse him Charles of France crowned king of Naples or to stand in his way but like a conquerour hee commanded and it was obeyed wherupon he would needs be crowned King Which being perfourmed and the French not standing any longer in feare of any enemie they beganne to bee idle and carelesse and gaue themselues wholly to riot and excesse The pride of the French They seemed to contemne all others and scorned the Italians as men of no reckoning supposing that now they were able to passe through the whole world and that no man durst abide them So proude arrogant and disdainefull were they become by reason of this so prosperous and happie successe When as the King of France was growen to this greatnesse that hee had in a manner all the estate of Italy at his commaund that hee had gotten the Kingdome of Naples and was quietly possessed thereof and thereby was climed to the top of fortunes wheele so that it seemed that nothing was wanting to the full accomplishment of all his desired happinesse when as indeed he was most secure and carelesse
in the taile with a troupe of horsemen but beeing ouerthrowne from his horse was presently slaine with a Pike which was thrust into his side and so died most vnfortunately when hee had gotten a most glorious and honourable victorie The Lord Lautrech his cousin Germaine being hurt with aboue twentie wounds lay besydes him almost dead but beeing succoured in time was afterwards recouered The number that was slaine on both sides were well neare tenne thousand persons the thirde part of which were French men whose losse was farre the greater by reason of the death of Foix with whom the courage strength life and fiercenesse of that army was in a maner vtterly extinguished howbeit they entered Rauenna which they sacked and spoyled Rauenna sacked and spoyled and tooke sundrie other Cities raunging vp and downe at theyr owne pleasure But presently they began to be afflicted with newe crosses for the Switzers passing the Alpes and ioyning with the Venetians The Switzers expell the French out of Millan tooke Cremona and Bergamo and approching Millan Triultio being without hope to defende the Citie secretly stole away into Piemont and vpon the newes of his departure Parma Placentia Bologna and almost all Romagna returned to the Pope and Geane likewise reuolted from the French choosing Fregosa who had beene generall of the Venecian armie for their Duke Thus the French Kings affaires began to be quailed in Italy and by reason the king of England was nowe readie to enter France he was compelled to looke to the defence of his owne countrey The death of Lewis the twelfth king of France and to suffer the Switzers to take their pleasure in Millan But the French King reconciling himselfe with England married the Kings sister with whom he liued not three moneths but died at Paris 1514. after he had raigned seauenteene yeeres and was buried at Saint Denis CHAP. IIII. Francis the first King of France winneth Millan from the Emperor His great vertues he besiegeth Pauia and is taken prisoner He is sent into Spaine A league made against the Emperour The French King is deliuered and falleth out with the Emperour He dyeth at Rambouillet LEwis the twelfth was no sooner deceased Francis the first King of France but Francis Duke of Angolesme succeeded in the Kingdome who continuing the former quarrell for the Dukedome of Millan and kingdome of Naples left no stone vnroled to bring his desires to passe but forthwith there approched many impediments and sundrie blocks were cast in his way which maruailously altered his course extreamely crossed al his designements for the Emperour Maximilian growing aged and beeing wearie with the burthen of the Empire sent Embassadors to the Electors and to the Pope to desire them to choose Charles of Austriche and king of Spaine for their Emperour but the French king thinking him to be mightie inough already labored by all possible meanes to hinder that election Before that any thing could be accomplished Maximilian died The King of France laboreth to bee Emperour whereupon the French and Spanish kings became earnest competitors and each endeuored to win the Goale from other The French King was put in some hope by the faire promises of the marquesse of Brandenburge one of the electors howbeit in the ende Charles of Austriche was chosen which spited Francis to the heart Charles K. of Spaine chosen Emrour And now hee daily picked quarrels at the Emperour and at last fel flat out with him for being a Prince of great courage wise industrious rich and ambitious hee in a sort disdained that the yong king of Spaine should be preferred before him and therefore he presently hired Switzers who for money became his mercenaries and sent Monsieur de Lantrech to besiege Millan which was valiantly kept by Prospero Colonno The rumour whereof being spread beyond the Alps The great commendation of Francis the first caused Antonio de Leua to fortifie Pauia so that now all Italy began to bee in an vprore and the French kings comming was greatly feared for that hee was a Prince vniuersally furnished with all royall vertues and fit to enterprise great matters And vnderstanding that the Emperiall power had not onely expelled the French men out of the Duchie of Millan The great commendation of Francis the first but were entred France and by besieging of Marseiles in Prouence seemed to dare him within his owne dominions hee gathered a strong power and marched towardes his enemies with all speede who hearing of his comming brake vp their siege and hasted to Italy whom the king pursued so fast The King of France taketh Millan that the emperials were no sooner entred into Millan but that hee was hard at the gates where hee stayed not long but that the Cittie was yeelded vnto him the emperiall forces forsaking it and flying to Lody after a very tumultuous and disordered sort The King vsed the Citizens verie graciously and hauing somewhat reposed himselfe and refreshed his wearie troupes marched discreetely towardes Pauia The K. besiegeth Pauia wherein was Antonio de Leua with fiue thousand Lansquenets fiue hundred Spanish footmen with two cornets of horsemen The king encamped before the towne and besieged it very straightly the emperials beeing aduertised heereof gathered all theyr forces together and hauing an army wherein were seauen hundreth men of armes and as many horsemen a thousande Italian horsemen and aboue sixteene thousand footemen Spaniardes and Almans they sette forwarde from Lody with a full resolution to remooue the siege or to fight with the French and hazard all vpon a battaile The King was no sooner certified hereof but that sending for all his Captaines and men of war he fully determined to continue his siege and to expect the comming of his enemie whatsoeuer coulde bee alleaged to the contrarie often affirming that hee hadde rather dye then to stirre one foote before he had taken the Citie The emperiall Captaines beeing driuen into great necessitie for want of money and other necessaries and hauing much adoo to pacifie theyr souldiours The Emperials enuade the french Kings camp thought it best to vse expedition considering that it was impossible for them to continue long their men growing mutinous for want of pay and thereuppon as those that stoode in very desperate estate hasted to inuade the French who prepared with great courage to meete them they were exceedingly encouraged by the presence of theyr King who should bee an eye witnesse of theyr valour and prowesse The marquesse of Pescara with three thousande Spanish footemen assayled the French trenches where hee slew fiue hundreth men and poysoned three peeces of great ordinance This vnexpected accident dismaied many of the French souldiers and the rather for that the Admirall who carryed the cheefe sway in the Army next vnto the king was hurt in the thigh with a shotte and was carried to Placentia to bee cured of his wounds Sixe hundred Grisons were called
so gracious with their soueraignes that they did not only contend for the superioritie with the greatest Princes of the blood but at length as ambition hath neuer any end striued with their liege Lords and through their rebellious counsels and most trayterous plottes assisted by a multitude of Guysards and Hispaniolized French draue their soueraigne Lord out of his chiefe Citie and not contented to offer so great indignitie to so mightie a potentate neuer left practising vntill they had most wickedly murthered him whose life in all dutie should haue beene vnto them more precious then their owne and with their diuellish sorceries haue so bewitched and sotted sundry of the French nation that at this day to their perpetuall shame and ignominy they will not be reduced vnto any dutifull obedience vnder their most lawfull and liege Lord. Francis Duke of Guyse and Charles Cardinal of Lorrain the two fire-brands of France One of the most notorious plotters of so many mischiefes was Francis Duke of Guyse who with his brother Charles Cardinall of Lorrain as proud subtil and as ambitious a prelate as euer was grew to that height through the benefit of their good fortune that they commanded all France and brought the greatest Princes of that natiō to be their vnderlings and by reason of a mariage between Francis the second with Mary the yoong Queene of Scottes their neece they bare themselues so loftely and so egerly stroue to aduance their house that they turned all France topsy turuy so chaunging the gouernment and altering the state that it seemed in a short time to be a meere Chaos and confusion For after the death of Henry the secōd and that Francis his sonne was crowned King these two so craftily handled the matter that ioyning with Katherin de Medices the Queen mother of France who contrary to the auncient lawes and ordinances of that Realme which permit not women to rule sought to haue the gouernment of the yoong King and to exclude Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and chiefe Prince of the blood after infinite troubles to themselues and vnspeakeable misery to their owne Country they gat the gouernment into their hands and swayed euery thing after their owne likings And albeit the state of that kingdome had begun long before to be much afflicted and through the horrible persecutions of those whom they termed Hugonots maruellously decayed and weakned by reason of a secret diuision bred in the hearts of infinit multitudes who once dissenting in Religion could neuer after well agree in matters of state yet was the land at peace within it selfe and euery one seemed to be enclinable to their princes pleasure choosing rather to endure any affliction then by seeking to defend their liues and liberties by force of armes to bring in any intestine warres the most deuouring plague and sharpest punishment of all other but after that the house of Guyse began to rule and that their factious deuises cloaked with a zeale of mainteining the Catholicke cause had once stirred the coales the flame presently brake foorth and finding conuenient matter to nourish it withall spread it selfe in a short time ouer the face of the whole kingdome of France to the consuming of infinite multitudes of all sorts and the extreame impouerishing of the whole land There were sundry and diuers meanes to hasten this so wonderfull and lamentable alteration in France but the principall of all other was the vnexpected death of t e late King The Queene mother the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Guyse contend for the gouernment during the noneage of the King who albeit hee verie seuerely punished all such as were accounted Protestants and that principally at the instigation of the house of Guyse yet did he so politikely carry himselfe that during his raigne he kept that ambitious monster in some reasonable good order and the whole lande from tumult and rebellion but he was no sooner dead but that all things beganne to hasten to a confusion and the whole common wealth to bee daungerously infected with sundry fearefull diseases the originall whereof arose in this maner In the beginning of the reigne of Francis the second being but sixteene yeares olde there grewe a controuersie betweene Katherin de Medices the Kings mother Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and Francis of Lorraigne Duke of Guyse touching the gouernment of the young King during his nonage The Queene-mother alleaged many reasons to strengthen her claime as the lawes of Nature which would that the mother should haue the bringing vp of her children as one hauing a most tender care ouer them and most willing of all others to doo them good the customes and vsages of sundry nations and the auncient order of the lande which made the mother Gardien of her childe and so by consequent gaue her the Regency of the kingdome The king of Nauarre on the contrary affirmed that he ought in right to be gouernour of the young king for that he was the next Prince of the blood and nearest of kinne vnto him besides that there were fundamentall lawes of that nation which did not only shut out all straungers by whom he vnderstood the house of Lorraine and of Guyse but also disabled the Queene mother by reason of her sexe which the Salique lawe did expresly exclude from all regency and succession to the Crowne The Duke of Guyse had also diuers reasons for the aduauncing of his owne title as that hee was the kinges vncle that by his seruice the whole state had bene in a maner mainteined and the land from sundry imminent perilles deliuered Besides he excepted in a sort against the king of Nauarre for that hee and his brother the Prince of Condy gaue euident tokens of their liking of the Gospel and their hatred of the Romish Religion so that if Nauarre shoulde haue the gouernement of the King it was to bee feared saide hee that the whole lande would fall into heresie Thus did these three contende with might and maine for the superiorite each of them deuising al the reasons they could imagine for the furtherance of their cause But in the ende the Queene Mother and the Duke of Guise doubting that they shoulde not bee able nor sufficient to preuaile and also fearing least that the King of Nauarre by reason of the great preheminence and authoritie that the princes of the blood shoulde by right haue besides his iust tytle shoulde in the ende preuayle and get the better agaynst them both thought it best to ioyne togither agaynst the King of Nauarre The Queene mother and D. of Guise ioine togither against Nauarre and eyther by force or by policie and fayre meanes to winne him vnto their willes and by some deuise or other to make him surcease from his iust claime and interest The better to effect this the Duke of Guise seysed vppon the king whome hee conducted and brought to the Louure in Paris with the yong Princes his
Brethren and with the two Queenes leauing the Princes of the blood the Conestable the Mareschall the Admirall and sundrie other noble and great personages attending vpon the dead Corps of the late king Henrie When they hadde preuailed in their purpose thus farre then was there such watch and warde kept about the King that no man might speake vnto him but in the presence of some of the Guyses and the matter was so well handled in the ende that the Cardinall and the Duke of Guyse ruled and gouourned all things and hadde the king in a manner at their will and commandement Then beganne they to bring into the kings Councell men of their owne faction and to procure the kinges displeasure vnto such as they disliked The rulers and gouernours of the Citties Townes and Prouinces were at their appointment the Princes of the bloud were imployed in busines far from the Court. The Prince of Conde was sent into Flanders to treate of the league made betweene Fraunce and Spaine the king of Nauarre the Cardinall of Burbon and the Prince De la Roch sur Yon were sent to conduct the kings Sister into Spaine There were many deuises and fetches to mooue the king of Nauarre to giue ouer his claime and title which hee made to the Regencie of the young King and many faire promises were procured out of Spaine conditionally that he would so doo The proude letters of the K. of Spaine And among others there were letters sent to that purpose wherein the Spanish king promised that if he would be ruled herein he would restore him the kingdome of Nauarre of which he held nothing but the title auerring further that very imperiously with threatening words that if he did otherwise he would take vpon him the protection of his brother in law himself and spend all that euer he had yea his owne life and the liues of fortie thousand others whom he had in a readinesse in maintaining the quarrell Thus partly with faire promises and partly with threats the King of Nauarre began to be cold and in a manner quiet and cleane to giue ouer the matter The king of Nauarre giueth ouer his claime When the Guyse perceiued this then did he proceede further hauing the countenance of the yong King and being backed so strongly with the Spanish king so that nowe hee put out and in whome hee listed The pride of Guyse and incroched vppon the offices of other men hee would not sticke to meddle with the Conestableship and great maister of France arrogating that vnto himselfe which of right belonged vnto others The high courts of Parliament were full of his followers and whom soeuer he suspected not to fauour his designes these were by some one sinister information or other presently disgraced insomuch as those fewe good men that were in place considering the rough handling and seuere vsage of sundry well affected persons and the small good that ensued by complaining vnto the King were content to be silent and not to meddle in such dangerous times The Cardinall of Guyse was appoynted ouer the Kings finances the Duke of Guyse hiâ— brother was made Lieutenant generall The Cardâ—nall of Guyse made Lorde treasurer and the duke his brother Lieutenant generall for the King and had the direction of all matters appertaining vnto the warres and all Captaines gouernors of townes and other officers were commanded to obey him as the King himselfe Thus hadde these two gotten the sole authoritie into their hands and although the Queene mother was at the first the meanes to procure them so great place and to make them so neere about the king yet not long after shee repented her thereof and sought many waies to curb them and to keepe them as short as shee might yet shee beeing a most vncertaine and inconstant woman and euer inclining to the worst still rather held with them then with the princes of the bloud who beganne to waxe wearie of the intollerable pride of the Guyse and the burning murthering and iniurious dealing of that bloudy house The Guyse no sooner suspected that their hearts were alienated but that hee studied day and night howe to ouerthrow them and to cause the King to embrew his handes in the bloud of his owne kinred While these mischiefes were thus in platting and many outragious parts plaied tending to the strengthening of this factious house and the vtter ouerthrow of the ancient Nobilitie of France infinite multitudes grewe maruailous discontented and both by word and writing shewed theyr mislike of the present gouernement exclaiming against the sore persecutions of those of the reformed Religion and the intollerable wronges and iniuries offered vnto sundrie of the Kings best affected subiects There were many supplications presented vnto the Queene mother to the King of Nauarre and others of greatest place authoritie The Guyse setteth the King against the princes of the bloud tending to the reformation of these miseries but they were little or nothing regarded for the Queene mother fauoured not the Protestants in her heart though often in the beginning made some shewe thereof and gaue some helpe to the persecuted Hugonots The King of Nauarre was timorous and would not prosecute the cause with such a courage as hee ought to haue done besides hee was besotted with the perswasions of regaining the kingdome of Nauarre if hee would still remaine a Catholike which conceiued hope so stacke in his mind and made so deepe an impression in the bottome of his heart that of a zealous and earnest professour hee became key cold and in the ende proued a bitter enemie to the cause so that the Guyses did still what they listed and no redresse was to bee expected for new Edicts proclamations were made those more seuere then before such as were knowne or suspected to be Protestants were apprehended either forced to recant or else were burned This barbarous vsage of so many natural Frenchmen outragious crueltie towardes all sorts bred by little little a commiseration in the hearts of sundry in whom there remained some sparks of humanitie so that banding together opposing themselues against the proceedings of that time they endeuored by al possible meanes to reforme the common wealth reduce the decaied estate to some better order and albeit that sundrie personages had shewed their liking of a reformation as the K. of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the conestable the Admirall Dandelot many others yet no man attempted but strained courtesie as it were who should begin which procrastinating sundry of good place not beeing able to endure any longer combined themselues together hauing for the principall and ringleader of their actions one called Godfray de Berry Lord of Renaudy The Lord of Renaudy with sundry others atteÌ„pt against the Guyse a wise valiant wel experienced Gentleman who notwithstanding wi hout the aduise of six counsellers and 20. captaines might not attempt any
in all politike affaires was not inferiour to any of that age was sent into Normandy The Admirall sent into Normandy to pacifie the Countrey where there was thought to bee the greatest number of discontented persons with a straight commaundement to consider of all good meanes for the quiet of the land and freely to signifie vnto the court the occasions of their dislike and the best way how to reforme those things which were amisse The cause of the discontentment in France which he from time to time very faithfully performed aduertising the Queene mother that the cruell handling of those of the reformed Religion and the iniurious dealing with all such as seemed to fauour them or any waies to countenance them and that vnder an vnlawfull authoritie vsurped by strangers without the approbation of the Princes of the bloud and the cheefe officers of the land and that while the King was in his minoritie to the great prejudice of the Realme and dishonour to the Crowne of France was the cause of so many mischiefes and was like still to draw on more dangerous consequents if there were not some speedie course taken to preuent them Many such aduertisements were sent from all quarters and sundrie euident signes appeared of ciuill warres Whereupon it was thought good to assemble all the Princes of the bloud the Nobilitie the officers of the Crowne and all men of place and authoritie to deuise of the meanes how to pacifie these troubles which were likely to ensue which when the Guyses vnderstood albeit they liked not to heare of the assemblie of the States The assembly of the States and therefore inwardly hated this motion of the Admirall and the Chancellor from whom it especially proceeded yet were they outwardly contented therewith hoping by this meanes to draw the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the conestable and others to the Court who otherwise could not so easily bee come by and then to rule them well inough assuring themselues that the greatest multitude of the Knights of the order and others of the Nobilitie which should bee there assembled were at their deuotion and therefore that nothing could passe in preiudice of them but rather that all should tende to theyr further profit and aduancement This resolution beeing taken sommonances were sent into all quarters and particular letters written to the king of Nauarre to request him to come to the Parliament which was assigned at Fountainbleau to bring his brother the Prince of Conde with him The trecherous couâ—seâ—â— of Descari Bouchart But when the Guises had with more maturitie of iudgement considered of this weightie subiect fearing that if Nauarre Conde and the Constable with all their adherents should meete togither they should bee ouermatched and not be able to make their partie good they practised with Descars the Lord Chamberlain Bouchart the Chancelor two of Nauarres principal seruants and those indeed vpon whose counsels he principally relied corrupting them with great summes and promising them mountaines if they would vse the means to disswade the K. their master from that assembly Which two put so many suspitious matters into Nauarres head and vsed such forceable reasons to diuert him from his intended voiage that notwithstanding the earnest intreaty of the Constable hee would not bee induced to be at the Parliament at the time appointed The King of Nauarre would not bee at the councel of estate which treacherous counsell of theirs gaue such a blow vnto the whole realm of France that it feeleth the smart therof vntil this day For Nauarre being withholden by this their wicked aduise the whole gouernement still remained in the hands of the Guises who fortified themselues more and more to their owne aduauncement and the extreame perill of the whole state The day prefixed being come there presented themselues most the greatest personages which had bin summoned so that the 21. of August 1559. this honorable coÌ„panie were assembled in the chamber of the Queene mother and euery one placed according to their degrees First the K. vnder his cloth of estate then the Queene mother the kings wife the kings brethren Next to these were the Cardinals of Burben of Lorraine of Guise of Chastillon The Dukes of Guise and Aumaile duke Memorancie Constable of France Monsieur d'Hospital the Chancellor the two Mareschals S. Andrew Bressac Chastillon the Admiral of France The order of the estates of France as they sit in their Parliament Marillac the Archbishop of Vienna Morbillier Bishop of Orleance Mouluc bishop of Valence Mortier and Auancon all of the Kings priuie Councell The Knights of rhe orders the masters of the requests the secretaries and the rest of the kings officers had likewise their places assigned them The order of the estates of France as they sit in their Parliament All things being disposed after this maner before any were commaunded to speake the Admirall rose vp and with a Supplication in his hand went to the king The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the protestants to the King to whom after due obeisance done hee declared that according to his Maiesties commandement at his going into Normandie hauing as diligently as hee could looked into the causes of these troubles which sprung vp dayly in the land hee in his opinion coniectured that such as found themselues most greeued intended no harme against his royall person or the state but that their greatest discontentment arose of the extreame persecutions of such as were termed Hugonots without any iudicial maner of proceeding especially seeing they offered to haue their doctrine tried by the scriptures and were willing to conforme themselues to the order of the primatiue church therfore he thought it a thing very agreeable to his maiesties liking to take their humble petition and present it vnto his highnesse to the end that he vnderstanding their grief might deuise with his councel in so honorable a presence somespeedy means to relieue his distressed subiects to set his kingdom in some better quietnes assuring him that in his opinioÌ„ there were infinit multituds in France that sighed after a reformatioÌ„ seeing ther were as he was told fiftie thousand in Normandie who would willingly haue subscribed vnto that supplication And so beseeching the King to haue some regarde hereof and fauourably to enterpret that which he had done with humble reuerence he returned to his place When as this supplication was read the contents vnderstoode whereof some were that there might bee publike places appointed for the Protestants to meet in and that their preachers might be permitted to teach the people without perill many wondred at this bold part of the Admiral considering the manifest daunger hee had cast himselfe into by taking the cause of such odious persons into his hande and present it vnto the K. who was so exasperated agaynst them The King seemed to take this action of the Admirals in verie good part
open on all sides and the Reformed persecuted in most cruell maner in euery place especially at Paris where nothing was more common then murthering spoiling and pilling the poore Hugonots yea such was the rage of the barbarous Catholikes that the Princesse of Cōde passing through a village called Vaudray was set vpon beeing in her Coach and great with childe and by hurling and throwing of stones by sundrie of the townesmen The Princesse of Conde assailed in hir Coach by the Papists at the instigation of a popish priest put in hazard of her life wherewith shee was so terrified that shee was deliuered before her time of two twins shortly after and at length with much adoo arriued at Orleance with her eldest sonne the marquesse of Conty where shee found the Prince of Conde the Admirall Dandelot and many other principall persons of the Religion who were busied in gathering forces and prouiding al necessarie meanes to withstande their enemies There were letters written to the Emperour Ferdinando and the Princes of the Empire enforming them of the occasion of their bearing of armes and of the vsurped authoritie of the Guyses and their adherents earnestly beseeching them to haue some commiseration of the King who being a Child was held in captiuitie by their tyranny and al things likely to be brought to a woful desolation throughout the realme of France The Prince had no sooner gathered a great power about him was growne strong by reason of a supply brought vnto him out of Poictou Conde taketh certaine townes vpon the Loyre and Xantoigne of three or foure hundred horse by the count Rochfaucont but that it was thought best to be doing and to employ some of his forces in getting of certaine strong townes and other well fortified places neere adioyning and thereupon certain troups were sent downe along by the Riuer of Loyre who tooke Mun Baugency and others wherein they placed certaine garrisons to keepe them from beeing regained by the enemie who now sought continually to anoy the Prince and to take the aduantage that was offered Sundrie Cities in France as Angiers Tholous Lymoux with many others wherin there were thousands of the reformed Religion seeing that the Prince was growne strong and very able to confront his enemies began to shewe themselues openly and to stande with the rest of their confederates whereuppon foorthwith there ensued a mortall hatred betweene them and the Catholikes each seeking the ouerthrow of others by all possible meanes Then immediatly followed robbing spoyling rauishing murthering massacring in most outragious maner The misery of the ciuill warres with a maruailous confusion in euery corner of the Land No man could well tell whom to trust or where to dwell in safetie The cheefe Cities were fraught with garrisons the small villages were sacked and burned by such as cared neither for God nor the deuill but onely howe to enrich themselues Infinite were the miseries in all quarters and nothing almost heard of but weeping wailing and lamentation and no hope of any redresse of so incomprehensible mischiefes The Prince of Conde and his associats pondering in their minds the wofull desolation that was like to ensue if there were not some present remedy for these diabolicall proceedings wrote diuers letters to the King the Queene mother and the King of Nauarre beseeching them to take some commiseration vppon the poore and desolate people and that by suffering the subiect to vse his conscience so long as he liued in obedience and according to the kings Edict France might enioy her former peace and not be brought to that horrible desolation which doth inseparably accompanie ciuill and intestine warres but the Guyse who in deede with the Cardinall his brother ruled the rost could not endure to heare of any peace but daily and hourely cryed out The Duke of Guyse crieth out for war to muster men to gather souldiers to send for the kings bannes and arierbannes and with fire and sword to persecute the poore protestants And hauing by their damnable practises gotten an armie marched towards Orleance with great furie The confederates beeing daily aduertised by their espials of the approch of the Catholikes thought it best to meete them by the way and if oportunitie serued to giue them battaile being especially mooued thereunto by the continuall perswasions of the Admirall and the couragious resolution of all in generall Wherupon the prince tooke the field the nineteenth of Iune 1562. with three Regiments of footmen amounting to the number of 33. Ensignes The Prince of Conde taketh the field whose Collonels were Gnamont Fontenay the yongest sonne of the vicont of Roham and Iuoy brother to Genlis with two thousand horse encamped at Vausoudun neere vnto Orleance and directly in the way towardes Baugency The Catholikes hauing not as yet al their forces in a readinesse thought it best to amuse the Prince with a parle of peace in which action the Queene mother was thought the meetest to be employed who so handled the matter that the Protestants who longed after nothing so much as quietnesse were readily drawne to hearken thereto onely they required that before any thing was talked of the Conestable the Duke of Guyse and the marquesse Saint Andrew should withdraw themselues to their houses and then the Prince of Conde should come to the King to treate of that which especially tended to the peaceable state of the common wealth and the welfare of euery particular man This was no sooner mooued by the Protestants but it was accepted by the Queene mother so that immediatly those three principall Catholikes departed from the Court and went as farre as Chasteaudan where they stayed to expect the sequell of their secret councels The Prince vnderstanding of theyr departure went presently vnto the K. putting himself into the hands of the Queene mother and other his enemies Conde putteth himselfe into the hands of his enemies but he was no sooner come to the Court but he forthwith repented of his haste and beeing aduertised by sundry of his imminent perill and danger pollitikely obtained of the Queen mother that the principall men of his Armie might likewise come to knowe her further pleasure which beeing granted hee wrote a secret letter vnto them of his estate A polliticke deuise of the Prince desiring them to hasten and to come strongly accompanied The next day early in the morning there came the Admirall Dandelot Rochfaucont the Prince Portian Rohan Genlis Gramont Soubize Piennes and many other lords Captains with a far greater retinew then the Queen expected so that nowe she thought it best to make fayre weather and to sooth them vp considering in deed that shee was not able to detayne the Prince any longer then hee himselfe listed and therefore in very gracious maner shee bad them al welcome and openly in the presence of all the Nobilitie shee gaue them great thanks for their true and faithfull seruice towardes the king assuring
Reisters disgaged him he had vndoubtedly fallen into their hands who loued him but a little While these bloudy broyles were continued betweene the aduantgards his exellency caused his maine battaile to dismarch the right wing whereof in which was the Duke of Aumaile and the marquesse of Baden with all his Reisters gaue in so farre afore the rest that the marquesse was there slaine The marquesse of Baden slaine and many others for companions of that mortall charge and Monsieur himselfe albeit hee marched full vppon the discouerie of the great Artillery made such haste that he left the Switzers vnder Collonell Phiffer and their generall Memie with the other battailon very farre behind which when the Protestants troupes discouered they casting themselues desperately into his esquadron breaking in euen hard to their Cornet made them that followed his excellencie to abandon the place notwithstanding al the deuoier of the Duke De Longauille Touannes Carnauallet Villars and others who indeuoured with all their might to repell the insisting confederates in a word this charge was so terrible that the most assured Ensignes beganne to turne head and had not the mareschall Cosse with his Switzers hasted apace the battaile had quickly beene at an ende Count Lodowicke seeing the Mareschall aduaunce thrust in verie lustily with his troupes of Almaines and French who sought it out most couragiously By this time had the Mareschall Biron rallyed diuerse dispersed troupes and with his owne which as yet remayned vnbroken and the Switzers went directly towardes the Lancequenets A great carnage among the Lancequenets but they beeing abandoned by their horsemen and shrewdly galled with the harquebuziers were exposed in a manner to the crueltie of the Switzers their ancient enemies who entring in as it were at the breach committed a wonderfull carnage and mortalitie among them Of foure thousand there escaped not past some two hundred or there aboutes And the same misfortune had fallen vpon three thousand Frenchmen which were arraunged with them had not Monsieur of a generous and noble nature contenting himselfe with the honour of so glorious a victorie commaunded to saue their liues And this was the end of this great battell where both the French men Almaines Italians Burgonians Switzars Flemings and Lancequenets had leysure to trie their valours at the full The Protestants lost at this encounter three thousand Lancequenets and a thousand fiue hundred Frenchmen The number that was slain on both sides There perished also of men of name Tauigny Pugreffier Dantricourt Biron brother to the Catholike and Saint Benet the ensigne of the Admirals companie La Noue and Acier were taken prisoners and their Reisters lost all their Wagons Of the Catholiques there perished some fiue or sixe hundred horsemen and twise so manie were grieuously hurt whereof the most part liued not long after The Count Reingraue the elder the Marques of Baden and Cleremont of Dauphinie were slaine The yong Reingraue the Earles of Issi and Santelle Italians with the Duke of Guise Scomberg Bassompcer and de Maille were sore wounded but afterwards recouered CHAP. XIII Saint Iean d'Angely besieged and taken by the Catholiks The king offreth a peace which is refused by the Protestants Monsieur de Bellegard is slaine THe losse of this battayle gaue a maruellous checke to the affayres of the Protestants A great alteration in the Protestants affayres who now were dryuen to forsake the Champaigne whereof they were maisters not long before and sundrie of their followers beganne to shrinke thinking that all had beene lost and manie good Townes which before fauoured their proceedings fell quite from them in deuotion and followed the good fortune of the victorious Catholiques So mutable and chaungeable are these earthly matters and are set in so fickle an estate and condition that one woulde thinke that euen God himselfe who guideth and gouerneth all with the eye of his prouidence were delighted with an alternatiue course and continuall chaunge in all things Albeit the affayres of the Protestants stoode but in a desperate estate yet lyke men of great courage wisedome and policie they woulde not shrinke from the cause but sought as it were to begin the game afresh and by all meanes to maintaine their honor and credits with al their associates And if it might be to repaire their losses or at the least to keepe that which remained in their possessions Wherupon they fortified sundry townes as Niort Angolesme Saint Iean d'Angely Rochell and others with assurance that the worst of these were sufficient to stay the Catholikes if they should happen to attempt them vntill they had gathered some new forces They also wrote letters into all quarters to assemble new troupes and left nothing vnattempted which might any way tend to the aduauncement of their affayres His excellencie following his good fortune tooke forthwith sundry good townes as Parthenay Niort Lusignen Fontenay and some others all places yeelding vnto him of theyr owne accorde so that hee neuer stayed his course vntill hee came before Saint Iean d'Angely S. Iean d'Angely besieged by the Catholiques whereof the Lorde Pilles was Gouernour And hauing summoned the Towne and they within returning an aunswere that lyked him not hee foorthwith planted his siege and placed his Cannon and with maruaylous furie plyed the batterie And for the greater terrour of the besieged the King the Queene mother the Cardinall of Lorraine The K. and Q. mother comme to the campe accompanied with a great troupe of Nobles and Gentlemen their attendants came to the Campe who were saluted with a thundering peale of Ordinaunce intermingled with sundrie vollies of small shotte besides many fireworkes and warrelike deuises as well to welcome their Maiesties as to daunt and dismay the besieged Protestants But they as men resolute to maintaine theyr lyues and libertyes encouraged each other valyauntlie to abyde the furie of the Catholiques and laboured day and night to repayre the breaches Yea they resolutely stoode to theyr tackeling and so Souldiourlyke bare themselues that after manie hote skirmishes and desperate assaultes beeing men of noble valour and commaunded by a generous and couragious Chieftaine S. Iean d'Angely yeelded vpon cōdition the King was content to take the towne vpon composition and to offer them honourable conditions promising them leaue to depart with bagge and baggage with their ensignes displayed and to bee safelie conducted whither soeuer they woulde But before the King coulde bring them to this passe 1570 hee had spent a long time lost the valiaunt Martigues Def fans one of the maisters of the Campe with manie other most singular and braue leaders and well neare tenne thousand common souldiours So that this siege gaue the Catholiques as shrewde a checke as that of Poictiers did the Protestants The King inclines to a peace The King beeing greatlie wearyed with these broyles beganne of his owne accorde to incline to a peace supposing in deede that those of the
poynted to the house from whence the peece was shotte and willed some of his Gentlemen to go search who was within sending Captaine Pilles and Captaine Monius to aduertise the King of his hurt Whilest he was led home by the lord Guerchy another gentleman the doore of the house beeing broken open the harquebuz was found but the harquebuzier was fled out at a backe gate and finding a spanish Gennet which was there prouided in a readinesse galloped away with all speede crying as hee went that now there was no Admirall in France Captaine Pilles finding the King at â—ennis with the Duke of Guyse The notable dissimulation of the King related vnto him the Admirals hurt which hee no sooner vnderstood but he leauing his play threw down his racket looking very pensiuely went to his Chamber the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Count Rochfaucont and many other Lords knights and Gentlemen of the Religion beeing enformed of this mishap went presently to visit the Admirall The King taking with him the Queene mother The king goeth to visit the Admiral his two brethren and most of the principall Catholikes went likewise to comfort him shewing many signes of great sorrow for his harme complaining that indeede the Admirall felt the harme but the dishonour was done to the King vpon whose faithfull promise hee was come to the Court and therefore both hee that had committed the fact and all that consented thereto should bee most seuerely punished to the example of all other villanous and notorious malefactors whereto the Admirall answered that hee would leaue the reuenge to God and the execution of Iustice to the King but as for the authour hee was knowne well inough and because hee could not tell how long hee had to liue hee besought the king that hee might talke with him in secret touching things of very great importance and such as were most necessarie for the state of the Kingdome The King seemed to bee willing herewith but the Queen mother by a deuise brake off their talke for that time so that there was no further conference and because the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and diuers others moued the king that they might haue leaue to carrie the Admiral to his house at Chastillon which was some two daies iourney from Paris as to a place of greater quiet and securitie the king not willing to condiscend thereunto answered that so long a iourney would very much endanger his health and therefore he thought it better to haue him lodged in the Louure neere vnto his owne person where he should be safe from all perill furthermore he willed all the cheefe of the Protestant Nobilitie to place themselues as neere him as they could in case that if there were any need they might be readie to succour one another and appointed the Mareschall Cossy with a band of harquebuziers to guard his lodging The wolfe appointed to keepe the Lambe Vpon the Satterday which was the twenty three of August the councell sat about the examination of certaine witnesses touching the fact and sundrie other suspected persons taking great paines as it seemed to boult out the truth as though they meant to punish the offender with all rigour and seueritie With these and the like apparances the protestants helde themselues well satisfied neuer suspecting that all was but dissimulation and that so great mischiefe did hang ouer their heads The same day there was a sodaine rumour ouer al the Citie that the king had sent for the Mareschall Memorancy commanding him to come to him with al the forces hee could make and therefore the Parisians were best to stande vppon their guard but all was founde in the end to be vtterly false Teligny beeing giuen to vnderstand by the Admirals trumpetters that there were sixe cart loades of Armour brought into the Louure answered that hee did not like that men should bee so suspitious without cause for his part hee was well assured of the Kings good fauour and wished other men were so likewise seeing it was not possible that there should be any harme intended towardes them whome the king had honoured so many waies and had oftentimes so solemnely sworne to remaine theyr gracious and louing soueraigne But the king with all those of his secret counsell seeing that they had nowe brought all things about euen as they had desired and that the Admirall was taken in a trap and all his principall associats so snarled in their nets that it was impossible for them to get out thought it high time to putte in execution that which they had purposed so long before and at that instant to finish the dayes of all the Protestants Whereuppon a signall was giuen in the dead of the night by the touling of a Bell in the Louure which was no sooner heard by Cossy who as is alreadie sayde with a bande of harquebuziers guarded the Admiralles lodging but that hee commaunded his men to breake open the doores and to kill as many as they sounde in their wayes The Admirall hearing the noyse and fearing some seditious enterprise willed one of his Gentlemen to call to the guard which was appointed him by the King little imagining that it was they that came to offer him such violence and arising out of his bedde putte on his night gowne and kneeled downe to pray By this time were sundrie of the murtherers gotten in had slaine such as they found in the house The first that entred into the Admirals chamber was one Besme an Almaine a desperate ruffian one of the Duke of Guyses houshold seruants who with his drawne sword in his hand sayde Art thou the Admiral who answered with great constancie So I am called Which hee had no sooner vttered but that Besme runne him through with a sword and another called Atinius The Admirall murthered shot him into the brest with a Pistoll and the rest as Causius and Sarlaboix stabbed him with their daggers and threw him out at the window to the Duke of Guyse and Aumaile and the Cheualier of Angolesme who was King Henry his bastard all which stood crying out to make a quicke dispatch and would not departe thence vntil they were assured of his death and for that hee was so bloudied about the face by reason of his woundes vpon his head that it was hard to know him the Guyse kneeled down and wiped away the bloud with his handkercheffe and seeing it was hee whom they looked for cryed out that they hadde made a happie beginning willing them to proceede for it was the Kings pleasure and that the K. commanded them to spare none of the Hugonots and this hee vttered very often and with a loude voyce A certaine Italian cutte off the Admirals head and hauing embaulmed it sent it to Rome as a present to the Pope The Admirals head sent to Rome Some cutte off his handes and others his secret partes and hauing trayled his
carcases the thresholds gates and posts of the kings pallace were painted with the bloud of the slaine yea the chanels ouerflowed therwith and the water in the Riuer was turned into a red colour such and so horrible was the slaughter and butcherie which was made vpon the poore Hugonots The king the Queene mother the kings brethren with many Lords and Ladies of the Court went out in the euening to view the dead bodies and among others the Queene mother would needes see the nakednesse of Soubize The shamelesse fact of the Queene mother for that shee had beene enformed that hee was notable to get any children The king not satisfied with the slaughter of so many braue men within Paris sent letters to the Gouernours of all his principall Cities as Orleance Tours Meaux Angiers Bourges Tholoux Lyons and diuers others that they should likewise kill all the Protestants within their iurisdiction which commandement was forthwith put in execution and a most horrible slaughter followed in all places The number of protestants slaine in other places which bereaued aboue a hundred thousand of their liues within the territories of France in so much as that it was verily thought that all that were of the Religion were eyther slaine or else fled into forraine Countreyes CHAP. XVI Rochel holdeth out against the King The beginning of the fourth Ciuil warres The siege of Rochel The siege of Sancerre The Embassadors of Polonia come to the campe before Rochel Monsieur raiseth his siege WHo would not haue thought but that now the Gospel had bin vtterly extinguished in France that the Catholikes by this execrable deuise should haue attained to the full period of their desires no man of name remayning to make head against them or to crosse their fortune which nowe seemed so mightily to fauour their designes and indeede the king was verily perswaded that at this present he might haue accomplished whatsoeuer hee would and that not any durst haue shewed themselues to fauour the refourmed Religion The K. deceiued in his expectation Wherupon he wrote letters to sundry Protestant townes commanding them to receiue popish Garrisons and to liue after the Catholike manner but they vtterly refused to satisfie the king heerein and would not bee induced to condiscend vnto any such thing by all the perswasions that could bee vsed but fortified themselues as strongly as they could purposing to die rather then to yeeld and abiure their Religion The King partly by threatening and menacing the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde and partly by faire promises but especially by the wicked ministery of Rosier Rosier being a minister and of great credit with the Prince of Conde had recanted his Religion and by his perswasions causâ—d the Prince likewise to denie his who of late was become an apostate had caused them to abiure their Religion and to conforme themselues to the rites of the Romain church and thinking them to be fit instruments to gaine sundrie strong Townes who otherwise would not open their gates but by force of Cannon caused them to write their letters to such as hee thought meete and to vse all the seasons that might bee to draw them to his obedience by which deuise some relented and were content to follow the example of those great Princes seeing they had no hope to maintaine their cause hauing lost all their cheefetaines and principall commanders But Rochel Sancerre Montauban Nismes and some other held out standing vpon their guards and prouiding to fortifie themselues in all defensible manner that might be Many perswasions were vsed to gaine Rochel Rochel and sundrie other townes hold out against the King which of al other was the place of greatest importance and that which the king most desired as beeing the principall retreat of the Protestants Diuers messengers were sent thither who promised golden mountaines and Mareschall Biron indeuoured by all meanes to put himselfe within the Towne but they vtterly refused to accept of any other Gouernor then theyr Maior purposing to maintaine their Religion customes and liberties and that with the losse of their liues When the king was aduertised heereof and that he euidently perceiued that faire meanes would not preuaile hee resolued to besiege the Towne and by force of Armes to bring them vnder his obedience Whereuppon hee commanded Biron to gather a great armie to inuest the Rochelers with al speed who did not onely by themselues crosse the designements of the Catholikes but were the occasion that many other townes in Gascogne Languedock Quercy Poictou Auergne and Dauphony beganne to plucke vp their spirits and to oppose themselues against the kings proceedings The beginning of the fourth ciuill warres Besides the forces that the Mareschall brought by land there was a great nauie of shippes appoynted to keepe the seas and to stop vp the hauen that no victuall or other necessaries should be conueyed in by water nor any be suffered to go foorth to giue any aduertisements to their confederates All things being thus appointed in a readinesse both by sea and land Rochel besieged the Duke of Antou the Kings brother and his Lieutenant generall throughout all his dominions departed from Paris the tenth of Ianuary 1573. accompanied with the Duke of Alenson his brother the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Duâ—e of Montpensier the Prince Dauphin his sonne the Duke of Longauille of Bouillon of Guyse of Aumaile and of Neuers the marquesse of Maine the mareschals of Cossy Retts and Biron the Count Rochfaucont Chauigny Mouluc La Valetta Mauleurier Pauâ—y Puygalliard Clermont Du Gas Cosseines with many other Lords knights and Gentlemen who no sooner arriued at the Campe but they were saluted with a thundring peale of great Ordenance and all the battailons of footmen stood readie arranged who likewise welcomed him with their whole vollyes of small shot to the high contentment of his excellencie Monsieur vnderstanding that there were a great number of very valiant and resolute men within the Towne who were all commanded by the noble and pollitike chiefetaine Monsieur de la Noue La Noue of whose wisedome courage and valour hee had often times before made good experiment thought it best to assay if with smooth words faire promises mingled with some threats he could induce the Rochelors The Rochelors would not trust the faire promises of Monsieur to submit themselues wholly vnder the Kings obedience assuring them if they would so do the king would deale most graciously with them and requite their loyalty with such fauor as they should haue good cause to hold themselues well contented but if on the contrarie they stubburnely refused to condiscend hereunto and like a rebellious rable wilfully reiect and vndutifully contemne so great grace offered by their soueraigne then they should looke for no fauour hereafter but for all the extremitie that might bee and that hee would not desist from persecuting them both with
the permission of the sea Apostolike shall put them into some monasterie as Pepin dealt with Childeric And by this meanes the Crowne shall bee set vpon his head and so returne to the blessed stock of Charlemaine and he and his successors from thenceforth shall haue their kingdome of the Bishop of Rome and shall abolish the prerogatiues of the French Church Whilest these things were a working at Rome the Guises with their adherents fought by all possible meanes to breake the peace in France and by grieuous oppressions and wrongs to force those of the reformed religion to put themselues in arms to withstaÌ„d so iniurious proceedings Monsieur forsaketh the Protestants and goeth to the Court. And albeit they were but too forward to blow the bellowes of sedition before yet now vpon the returne of Dauid from Rome they went eagrely forward and with great earnestnesse endeuored to put those rules in practise which came from their holy father There wer leagues and associations made and those as strong as could be deuised The states were summoned and by the collusion of the King none admitted to be at that assembly but such as were vtter enemies to the Gospel Monsieur by the earnest intreatie of the Queene mother was brought to the Court and hauing made his benefite of the fauor of the Protestants left them when they had most need of him and associated himselfe with their sworne enemies The King likewise beganne to interpret his Edict after a straunge maner The complaints of the Catholikes and farre otherwise then was expected by the confederates Some articles were strained and racked out to the vttermost and other some snipped and curtailed that they seemed metamorphosed and changed into a new nature as farre differing from their former as might be imagined Many infamous libels were printed contayning most villainous matter agaynst the Protestants and a rumour was spread abroade that they had surprised sundrie Townes and fortes in Poictou Languedocke Guyen Xantoigne and Dauphine and therefore that it was impossible to holde in the Catholiques anie longer who with so manifold iniuries saide they were mightily incensed agaynst those of the reformed Churches Those of the Religion were exceedingly troubled with this strange kind of dealing and knowing that it proceeded of a mortall hatred and that it did euidently argue that there was a secrete purpose to catch them at aduauntage and then to make hauocke of them and to roote them and their Religion out of Fraunce they beganne to looke about them and to prouide for their owne securitie especiallie considering howe the Catholiques were leagued togither and were readie as it were at an instaunt to inuade them on all sides VVhereupon seeing that Monsieur after hee had gotten the Dukedome of Berrie Touraine and Aniou as is alreadie sayd had forsaken them and left them at sixe and seuen the King of Nauarre was chosen chiefe of the Confederates and the Prince of Conde seysed vpon Bowrage Marennes The beginning of the sixt ciuill warre and other Islandes beeing places of great importaunce and verie auaileable for the aduauncement of the Protestant affayres Thus the peace hauing endured but a small time the sixt ciuill war ensued immediately vpon the report that it was concluded by King in the assembly of the states that there should be no other but the Romane Catholike religion tollerated within all his territories and dominions for then began the warres to be open on all sides The Catholikes seysed vpon Du Pont S Espirit Merpin Tallemond Burdeaux and as manie other townes as they could get The Protestants surprised Pons Royan Reole and Cinray and making a counterleague among themselues couragiously withstood the attempts of their enemies and foreseeing the stormie tempest which threatned the ship of their safetie likewise Pilots and skilfull Mariners they stoutly stoode to their tacklings endeuouring by all possible meanes to saue their beaten barke from drowning and to bring it to some safe port and quiet harborrow Each side alledged sundrie reasons for the iustification of their actions the Catholikes layd all the blame vpon the Protestants saying that they were men that would not be satisfied with any indifferent fauor but espying their aduantage had forced the King to yeeld to vnreasonable conditions Besides that the Edict was but prouisionall and might be disanulled at the Kings pleasure and that it was now determined by the Estates generall that no other then the Roman religion should be tollerated within all the French Dominions The Protestants alledged that they were murthered and killed in euerie corner and no punishment inflicted vpon the malefactors The complaints of the Protestants That the Catholikes did dayly breake the Kings Edict which had beene made by the consent of all the noble personages of the land who had solemnely sworne the obseruation thereof and that if such Edicts were accounted prouisionall who would repose any trust hereafter in the Kings worde and promise seeing he helde it lawfull to breake his oath when hee lysted And as concerning the estates generall they sayd they were not lawfully assembled and therefore they protested of the nullitie of them and of whatsoeuer thing they concluded These and manie such reasons were obiected on both sides and they had not long contended in wordes but they fell to blowes and each endomaged other all that euer they might The King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde withdrew themselues to Rochell and hauing gotten some 3000. footmen and 400. horse they dayly enterprised vpon their enemies The D. de Maine The duke de Maine generall of the Catholikes accompanied with Puygallâ—ard Ruffec Roches Baritand and many others to the number of seuen hundred horse besides a strong power of footemen did continuallie vexe and molest the Protestants by spoyling their fieldes and burning theyr houses and beeing maisters of the Champaigne couped in the Confederates verie narrowly and hauing all things in a readinesse planted their siege before La Charitie which in the ende they gayned Yea Rochell it selfe began in a maner to bee besieged enduring maruaylous losses by the continuall roades of the Catholikes who wasted all without pittie or mercie La Charite The Protestants being so hardly vsed offered the like measure where they preuayled dealing verie rigourously with such as fell into their handes The Duke de Maine following his good fortune The prosperous course of the Duke de Maine tooke Tonnay Charentie and Rochford which yeelded vnto him vpon the first summance and so farre hee preuayled that he made himselfe Lorde of all the Riuer of Charente in lesse then fiue dayes and vsing great expedition got Marans from the Rochellors who were sore grieued with the losse of a place of so great importance Now as the nature of most men is to bande with the stronger and euermore to iudge of the end according to the beginning so many at this time began to slippe their neckes out of the Coller and to
should be reuenged and that three of the principall Burgesses of euerie Citie and towne should be put to death in reuenge of the saide murther These with many other notorious vntruths were openly declared in their pulpets wherewith the common sort were mightily enraged against the Protestants and desired nothing more then their vtter subuersion and ouerthrow The Guyses hauing likewise obtained good store of Spanish pistolets corrupted diuers great personages The beginning of the seauenth ciuill warres called the warres of the Leaguers and had hired sundrie Captaines to take their parts Hauing laide this foundation and prouided all necessaries that could be deuised for the rest of their building about the fourth of March 1585. they brake foorth and shewed themselues openly seising vpon sundrie the kings Townes Cities and fortresses supposing indeede that the rest would ioyne with them and take their parts but things falling out contrarie to their expectation they were forced to plucke in their heads for a while and to attend some better oportunitie and that so much the rather for that the K. the better sort of the Nobilitie and the courts of Parliament opposed themselues against their proceedings declaring them Rebelles and willing all the gouernours of Townes and prouinces to apprehende them and to see them punished as seditious persons and perturbers of the State This audacious action seemed very odious in the eyes of many which the Guyses perceiuing they drew in the Cardinall of Burbon by sundrie fine deuises to ioyn with them whose credit and countenance serued their turnes in many great attempts And because sundrie of the Kings Councellers were either the Guyses creatures or by some one way or other deuoted vnto them The king betrayed by his Councell the king was neuer duly enformed of the danger of the League for they told him that it was nothing but an inconsiderate zeale of some few who fearing the innouation of Religion were growne somewhat passionate and sought for nothing indeed but to maintain the people in their obedience to the holy church who if hee should but once frowne vppon them they would all come and fal downe at his maiesties feete and vowe their goods their liues and whatsoeuer meanes they had to doo his maiestie seruice and therefore hee neede not feare them who were so good and deuout Catholikes but rather had cause to animate them in their Religious proceedings considering that they opposed themselues against none but such as were tearmed Hugonots the kings sworne enemies and such as had beene the occasion of all those miseries which had continued in France for so many yeeres The King was brought into such a securitie of his estate by this wicked Councell that he did not onely reiect such aduertisements as were sent to him from time to time both from the King of Nauarre Duke Cassimer and other Princes touching the monstrous conspiration of the Leaguers but also as one that knew not what hee did hee made great preparation against them of the reformed Religion and suffered the Leaguers in the meane time to grow and fortifie themselues at their owne pleasures vntill they were become so mighty that they thought themselues able inough if neede were to go through with theyr intended course whosoeuer shoulde say nay Which was no sooner effected but that they sette the Kings Councellers on the sodaine to enfourme the king of the great power and puissance of the Leaguers howe that quite besides their expectations there was an vniuersall consent of all his good subiects to restore the Catholike Religion that great numbers of his Nobilitie and cheefest Citties highly commended the zeale of the Leaguers and were resolued in theyr defence and therfore that it were good for the king considering the time not to make any resemblance to call any of them to account for any of theyr actions least he should giue some suspicion that hee was a fauorer of the heretikes which might breed a grudging in the hearts of his people wherby some commotions might rise to the imminent perill of his royall person and the extreme danger of the whole state The King maketh peace with the Leaguers The king beeing maruailously amazed with these and such like remonstrations thought it best to make peace with them and to countenance them as his best subiects They were glad that they had brought him to that passe and now seeing they had found him so submisse they meant to make further tryall of his courtesie and therevppon they required that all their former actions might be ratified by the kings authoritie as good and lawful and done for his seruice and that whatsoeuer had passed in preiudice of the Leaguers should be reuoked as wrongfull and vniust and for that they sawe the king was willing to gratifie their smal requests they were bold to proceed further to intreat him that the Duke of Guyse the Duke de Maine the Duke of Aumaile the Cardinall of Guyse the Lord Brissac the Lord Antragnes the Lord Chastre and the rest of the principall Leaguers might haue the gouernement of sundrie the strongest places of the land The Leaguers require to be made gouernours of the principall holds in France as of the Cittadell of Metz the Castle of Diâ—â—n Rhemes the strongest holds of Picardy Orleans Caen Aniou Bourges Lyons and many others of like importance They further perswaded with him to proclaime open warres against the Protestants to declare the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and all others who had beene infected with heresie as they tearmed it to be for euer vncapable of any office in France and that they should packe out of the Countrey with all speede and for the better countenancing of all theyr proceedings against these great States they procured Pope Sixtus to excommunicate them thereby to make them more odious with the people As soone as they had gotten in a manner whatsoeuer they desired and had made themselues as good maisters as the King they with sundrie and most cunning deuises gayned great multitudes to ioyne with them and euerie man eyther for feare or for loue was foorthwith at their will and commande They mustered great forces and gathered mightie armies to inuade the king of Nauarre and the rest of the Protestants who seeing themselues abandoned of their king and exposed to the furie of their mercilesse enemies stood vpon the defensiue and resisted the rage of the League as well as they could The Prince of Conde growing strong determined to besiege Brouage The Prince of Conde besiegeth Brouage which was kept by the Lord Saint Luc for the Leaguers where after hee had spent some time in gayning many of the principall forts he departed towards Angiers leauing al his footmen to continue the siege and albeit the Prince vsed great expedition labouring with all speede to releeue those who had taken the Castle of Angiers The Prince goeth towards Angiers yet could hee not come time inough
for by reason that Captaine Rochmort who had surprised the saide Castle was slaine with a shot out of the Towne as hee was leaning in his chamber window the Castle was rendered again vpon composition made sure for the League as it was afore time The Prince beeing ignorant hereof passed the Loyre with all his troups which were some eight hundred horse and almost a thousand and two hundred harquebuziers on horsebacke conducted by the Lord of Nemours Lauall Trimouille Boâ—lay Saint Gelais Aubigny Ouches Rohan Touche Flesche and sundrie others The Lord Clermont had likewise gathered a great companie of horse and encamped himselfe with the Prince neere vnto Angiers These companies approching the Towne expected some signall from the Castle whereby they might vnderstand that it still held for the king of Nauarre but they were certified that the saide Castle was yeelded the day before into the handes of their enemies and therefore that it was lost labour to stay there any longer Which newes greeued the Prince exceedingly made him with the rest of his councell to fall to consultation how they might safely get backe ouer the Loyre and free themselues out of that danger which then appeared before their eies and for that they knewe well inough that both the kings forces and the Leaguers were vp in all quarters and hasted by all possible meanes to encounter them they retyred towards the Loyre with a purpose to returne the same way they came The Lord Lauell beeing the formost got ouer without any danger but before the comming of the Prince all the passages were seised by the enemie and the prince was aduertised by many messengers that either hee must resolue to open his way by the sword or else to hazard himselfe at al aduenture through the Countrey of Beause The Prince approching the danger The great distresse of the Prince and the rest of the Protestants that were with him and thinking that in either of these there was but hard choyse called a Councell but by reason of the diuersitie of opinions it was long before any thing could be concluded at length it was agreed to passe through Beause Then euery man prepared himselfe towardes that desperate iourney and marching toward Luche in Aniou purposed there to passe ouer the Loyre vpon the Bridge but the Riuer was so risen that there was no passage without imminent perill From thence therefore they went to Lude and so to Prillay Vandeloyre S. Arnol where they heard newes that the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschall Biron were at Boneuall in Beausse with great forces readie to fight with the dismayed multitude that the Duke De Mayne as on the other side of the Loyre neere vnto Bloy readie to cut off such as should fortune to passe that way and that all the Countrey was full of strong garrisons attending with great deuotion to make a pray of the Prince and that handfull of men which did accompanie him so that it seemed the further they went the neerer they approched their destruction and hauing with their long and laborious marches wearied themselues and tired their horses they did vtterly dispaire of any good successe In this great agony they iourneyed on and euerie day receiued more vncomfortable newes then other wherewith many supposing that all was lost secretly disbanded from the grosse of the Armie and repaired to such friendes as they had in the Countrey The Prince and the rest of the Nobilitie were wonderfully perplexed and knew not what course to take at length they resolued to diuide themselues into seuerall companies some going one way and some another the Lord Rohan with many Gentlemen in his retinew went towards Britaine Saint Gelais went towards Vandosme the Prince the Lords of Trimouille and Auantigny with some of their principall seruants betooke them to their fortune as well as the rest and hasted to get into some place of greater securitie The laborious and tedious trauaile of this noble Prince his wearisome courses his long Caualcados his great and perilous dangers hee escaped before he gat to that Iland of Gernsy would require a long discourse were sufficient for a whole volume As soone as the cheefetaines were thus dispersed the common souldiers were quickly scattered some tooke their way towards Orleance some towards Nomandy and some towards Mayne and to bee short euerie man went which way hee liked best trauailing in exceeding great feare hauing as they imagined neither meanes to escape nor force to resist but were readie euerie minute to fall into the hands of those who did wholly pursue them The Prince of Conde with the cheefest of hiâ— troupes arriued at Rochell much about one time and thirsted for nothing more then for their bloud but when all hope failed God did miarculously deliuer them and so deliâ—ered them in theyr iourneyes that hauing auoyded a million of more then apparent perils they all arriued at length at Rochell and that much about one time to the exceeding comfort of themselues and the wonder of all France CHAP. XXII The cruell Edicts of the King against the Protestants The number of the Popish Armies which were ouerthrowne in one yeere The villanous dealâ—ng of the Guyse The battaile of Coutras WHilst the Prince of Conde and the rest of his distressed Armie made this hard shift for themselues the Duke de Maine The Duke de Maine made captaine generall ouer the forâ—es of the Popish Clergy whome the League had procured to be appointed generall by the Kings authoritie ouer a mightie power maintained at the cost and charges of the Clergie of France bestirreth himselfe and seeketh to annoy the protestants as much as might bee but by reason the Vicount of Turin opposed himselfe against his proceedings with an army of sixe thousand men hee did no other harme but gat some fewe Townes which were of no great importance The League not prospering so fast as they desired by force of Armes caused the king who was nowe solde ouer to worke his owne confusion and the vtter ruine of his Realme and States The cruell Edicts of the king to make many cruell Edicts against those of the Religion notwithstanding all the pacifications and graunts of former times and they were commanded to auoyde the Realme within fifteene dayes otherwise there was libertie giuen to persecute them to death to seise vpon their goods lands and linings and to employ them to the kings vse The king of Nauarre knowing that all this was doone by the procurement of the League and the Popish Clergie seised likewise vppon all the Landes and goods of such as were either Leaguers or fauourers of that factious and rebellious multitude The seuere proclamations made by the king against those of the Reformed Churches wrought many lamentable effects in the Land Some who made profession of the Gospel recanted and turned to Poperie and because they would not bee suspected on any dissimulation they became earnest persecutors of
their poore brethren Others hid themselues in secret corners and liued most miserably and in great wants Infinite numbers fled away some into England some into Germanie others to Sedan The miserablee state of the pâ—rsecuted Protestants Geneua and such places as were free from persecution It was a most pittifull sight to beholde the dissipation of so many families who were nowe turned foorth of the doores naked and comfortlesse and forced to shift for themselues in strange Countreyes The Duke de Maine did all this while what hee could to any the Protestants and to gayne as many Citties and townes through very secrecie as hee could to ioyne with the League and to make that faction strong against the King by seducing his subiects vnder the colour of maintaining the Catholike Religion Which beeing suspected by sundrie his followers they disbanded themselues and some for want of pay refused to serue any longer The Duke de Maine by reason of these vnexpected crosses was not able to make head any longer and therefore wrote to the Guyse his brother in what bad tearmes things stood who fearing that if there were not new prouision that his brother the Duke de Maine would come shortly to ruyne and bee vtterly ouerthrowne aduised the king to make foure seuerall Armies Foure newe armies appointed to inuade the Protestants and to inuade the protestants in diuerse places at once which sayde hee was the onely way to weaken them considering that their forces should bee seuered and disioyned This pollicie was no sooner allowed as the best but the Mareschall Biron was appointed to go into Xainctoigne the Duke Ioyeuse into Languedocke the Lord Foynse his sonne into Auergne and the Duke of Espernon into Prouence La Chastre should bee readie with a fleete vppon the coast of Britaine to enterprise as time and opportunitie serued The king of Nauarre was foorthwith certified of this preparation which made him fortifie such places as were of importance as strongly as hee could and vnderstanding that the Mareschall Biron intended to besiege Browage with a power of one thousand two hundred horse foure thousand footmen he did so carefully prouide for the defence therof that after that Biron had bin long before the towne and had done little or nothing sauing that he was content to make a composition with the Protestants hee brake vp his campe and sent his companies some into Poictou and some into Aniou to refresh themselues and thus was this Army dispersed without dooing of any thing Duke Ioyeuse passed into Languedocke where hee tooke Lodere Saint Poure Montesquion and Marueiâ—lx and hauing committed infinite sorts of most horrible villanies and strange cruelties The armies of the Popish Leagueri ouerthrowne in lesse then one yeere after he had lost aboue thirtie of his best Captaines and fiue hundred others at the least before a palterie towne called Saint Puels brake vp his army and returned home in farre worse case then hee went footh The sauage rudenes of this rable made many of the Nobilitie who before fauored the League to forsake such an association wherein there was nothing but robbing spoyling whooring swearing and blaspheming and that after a most beastly and brutish manner the yong Ioyeuse following rather his pleasures then the wars made his progresse throughout Auuergna where hee did no other harme but spende and waste the Kings treasure and when that was doone retired to the Court to see if he could be trusted with any more And thus were all these armies brought to confusion vanishing away as a little smoke notwithstanding all their great brags The Leaguers considering that all these fiue Armies had spent great store of treasor and all other warlike preparation and yet had rather hindred then furthered their secret purposes for by reason they sped no better they were forsaken of many The Queen mother offereth a parly of peace growen into contempt with others deuised with the Queene mother whom they knew to fauour their designements that shee shoulde offer a parley of peace which shee did and sent to vnderstand of the king of Nauarre if hee would hearken thereto who tendering the good of his countrey refused not the motion wherupon there was an interuiew betweene the Queene mother and the saide King at Saint Brice the thirteenth of December where there was much adoo and many words spent to small purpose for the Queene would not condiscend to the excuse of the Religion and the king of Nauarre would make no peace seeing that was the principall cause of bearing armes howbeit in the end the Queene vnderstanding of the great leauie of Reisters that were comming to the ayde of the Protestants and growing in suspition that the Dukes of Guyse and de Maine and the rest of the Leaguers would enterprise somewhat against the King shee concluded a peace for three moneths and so returned to the Court. 1587 The Guyses trecherous dealing to discredit the King The Duke of Guyse intending to discredit the king with his subiects euerie day more then other sent abroade sundrie his supposts and caused them to spread a rumor how that the euill successe of all those armies which had beene employed against the Hugonots was for that the king beeing led by wicked councell would not permit that they should be sufficiently prouided for with money munition and other necessaries that hee had intelligence with the heretikes that hee had warre indeed in his mouth but in his heart he meant nothing lesse and that by such fraudulent dealing the good Catholikes were betrayed and the Heretikes encouraged and that therefore there was no good to be doone so long as there was such packing and false play The Domesticall enemie was first to bee ouerthrowne before the forraine enemie could be vanquished These and such like sinister informations were giuen out among the multitude by Friers Priests and Iesuites in their Sermons and manie busie headed fellowes were set a woorke to spreade these and such like defamatorie speaches with much vehemencie and earnestnesse in Alehouses Tauerns Markets and all other places of greatest assembly By reason of which sâ—aunderous and bad reports there grew much murmuring amongst the people with no small dislike of the present gouernment The King notwithstanding as a man bewitched with the deceitfull dealing of his mother and the treacherous practises of such counsellers as he most fauoured eyther vnderstoode nothing of all this or else was forced to winke at it as wanting leysure or meanes to sift the matter more narrowly For the rumour of the comming of the Germaines the fortunate successe of the Lord Digueres in Dauphinie and Languedocke the counter-league of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and a great number of verie Noble and honourable personages of the lande with a full resolution to maintaine the reformed Religion did so occupie his minde that hee coulde not haue leysure to looke into the rebellious driftes of the Leaguers
who continuallie incensed the King agaynst the Hugonots and after the confusion and ruine of all his former Armyes perswaded him to assayle those of the Religion in Guyen with newe forces vnder the conducting and leading of Duke Ioyense for that it was thought that the Mareschall Biron was of too milde a nature and had dealt somewhat too fauourably in his late voyage Thus Duke Ioyense being armed with the Kings authoritie The Duke Ioyense sent against the Protestants and ayded with a mightie power inuaded Guyen where he tooke sundry townes as Mote Saint Cloy Saint Mexent Tonnay Charauty Maylezay and some others but the plague encreasing among his souldiers he was forced to breake vp his campe and to disperse his forces and hee himselfe posted to Paris to the rest of the principall Leaguers The King of Nauarre vnderstanding of his retreate set vpon his stragling troupes killed many tooke sundrie prisoners and in a short space recouered all that had beene lost Thus the Leaguers had caused the King to spend much money about nought intending thereby to weaken him and strengthen themselues for by this meanes they were still in authoritie and did in a maner what soeuer they lifted empouerishing their enemyes and inriching theyr friends as the readyest way to effect that which they had long before determined to accomplish About this time were the Germains readie to march towards France The great preparation of the King to withstande the Germans whereof the King being aduertised he prepared three seuerall Armies with the which he ment both to defend himselfe and to offend his enemies The duâ—e of Guise was made generall ouer the first wherin were 23000. French men besides 400 Launces 2000. Italians and sixe hundred light horse sent to him out of the low Countryes by the Duke of Parma All which were appointed to barre the Germaines out of Lorraine if it were possible or else to hinder them that they should not passe through Champaigne The King led the second army into Berry wherein was 88. companies of men of Armes ten thousand French footemen 12000. Switzers 4000. Rutters 12. double CanoÌ„s 2000. pioners with which power the King determined to keepe the Loyre The duke Ioyense conducted the third army against the King of Nauarre to keepe him occupied and to withhold him from ioyning with the Germaines The battell of Contras The King of Nauarre gathered as great forces as he could and being accompanied with the prince of Conde Count Soyssons the Lord Trimouille the vicount of Turen and many other honorable estates hasted to incorporate himselfe with his strangers vsing great speed gat ouer the riuer of Droune where the duke Ioyense had intended to stop his passage and so marched forwarde purposing to lodge at Contras The duke supposing that the aduauntage was his for that the king of Nauarre was weake in power inclosed between two riuers so that he could not escape without fighting as one desirous to do some notable exploit resolued to trie his fortune by some generall fight Whereupon hee tooke his place for the battell neare vnto Contras The King of Nauarre was glad of the Dukes resolution and hauing disposed all his troupes in very warlike manner wayted his best oportunitie to begin the battell About eight of the clock in the morning the Artillarie on both sides began to play And for that the king of Nauarres Ordinance was commodiously placed it did maruellously endomage the Dukes men of armes which stood at his right hand as also the regiments wherwith they were flanked for their better assurance wherewith when many were rent and torne in peeces the rest resolued rather to charge then to die so miserably without any further fight The harquebuziers came no sooner in reach each of other but they powred out their shot as thicke as haile each partie endeuoring to do well and to annoy one another to their vttermost The king of Nauarre had diuided his horsemen into foure squadrons the first was led by himselfe the second by the Prince of Conde the third by the Count Soysons who stood on the left hand of the king and the fourth by the vicount of Turenne who was at his right hand equally aduaunced with the formost These standing still beheld the skirmish of their footmen vntil the duke hasted to the generall onset then these three Princes of the blood euerie one in the front of their regiment began to change their pace into a trot and so into a gallop giuing such a furious charge vpon their enemies that they wholy defeated them and hauing killed a great number the rest betooke them to flight The footmen seeing their horsemen ouerthrowne lost courage and ranne away for company then was the mortalitie great for the Protestants pursuing them committed a maruailous carnage among them that fled There was slaine the Duke of Ioyense D. Ioyense slâ—ine and his army ouerthrowne generall of the armie and Saint Suuer his brother Bressay Rousay count Suxe Count Ganeto Count Aubiyon Fumel Rochford Neufny Gurats Saint Fort Tercelin maister of the campe Chesner and Vallade besides many other Lordes and Gentlemen of marke Bellegard Saint Luc the Marques of Prennes Count MoÌ„soreau Sansac Cipierre Santray Montigny Villecomblim Chasteaurenauld Parriere Chasteauueulx Chasteloux and Auuerdiere all captaines and commaunders were taken prisoners Diuerse Castels and strong holdes were presently yeelded vnto the king of Nauarre and a verie great feare possessed the hearts of the rest of his enemies CHAP. XXIII The great armâ—e of the Germaines ouerthrowne The death of the Duke of Bonillon The Guises slander the King The Leaguers besiege the Duchesse of Bonillon Their ouerthrow The Prince of Conde poisoned The Parisians rebel against the King The King flieth to Charteres The Guisards vow to kill the King THe French King 1588 The army of the Germains commaunded by the Duke of Bonillon and Duke of Guise were all this while verie busie in prouiding of all necessarie meanes to withstande the Germaines who still came on forwardes Their armie consisted of fiue thousand Ruttars fiue thousand Lancequenets sixteene thousand Switzers with whom were ioyned foure thousand French harquebuziers and three hundred French horse The Lord Mouy brought also two thousand French harquebuziers on horsebacke the Lord Villeneufe one thousand and the Lorde Louers one thousand The Lord Chastillon likewise ioined with them with one thousand fiue hundred harquebuziers and two hundred horses The whole number came to some thirtie fiue thousand besides the companies brought by the Prince of Contie They had sixteene peeces of great Ordinance with store of all warlike munition The general of all these was the Duke of Bonillon who commaunded as Lieutenant for the King of Nauarre This mightie and puyssant armie was the terrour of the League and the hope of the Protestants but the expectation of both was disappoynted for after that the Germaines had marched through Lorraine and were gotten into Fraunce as
farre as Lancy in Masconois where by reason that manie principall Captaines were corrupted with money and fayre promises and the rest suffered great wants they concluded to returne backe so that hauing made their capitulation and gotten theyr Passeportes Sundry of the Germaine Captains corrupâ—ed by mony caused the whole armie to retire The death of the duke of Bonillon euerie man made all the speede home that might bee loden with miserie shame and dishonour with the losse of many Ensignes and Cornets besides their chiefest leaders and commaunders The Duke of Bonillon generall of that armie with the Lord Clerebant and Van being not able to draw them forwards by any perswasion returned to Geneua where they died shortly after The Count de La Marke brother to the duke of Bonillon was deceased long before at a place called Loyne Great numbers of this dispersed armie were inuaded by their enemies and slaine in their passage homewards contrarie to the promise which had beene made vnto them by the Catholiques The Colonels and Captaines of the Switzers the chiefe authours of the dissolution of that Armie were seuerely punished by their Segneuries so that this whole armie was maruellously afflicted and euerie one was scourged after one sort or other and hauing spent and spoyled infinitely did nothing but worke their owne calamitie and ouerthrow The King vndoubtedly had taken maruellous care to sâ—uer this mightie puyssaunce and by cunning handling of the matter The Guises slaunder the King had brought them to this extreame passe that vnder the colour of a Passeport hee exposed them to the butcherie and rage of their enemies And although that by reason of this politique dealing he deserued high commendation yet the Guise so handled the matter that all redownded to his further discredite and caused his subiects to speake worse of him then at anie time before For the Guise had caused it to bee bruited abroad that not onely the King had willingly suffered the Germaines to escape contrarie to the counsaile and aduice of the Duke of Guise but also had giuen them the meanes to retyre in safetie some into Germanie and others into Languedocke there to ioyne with the King of Nauarre and so to continue further troubles in the lande to the great and intollerable harme of the good Catholiques and the encouraging of Heretikes and such as were enemies to holy Chuch When the Friers and Iesuits in Paris and other principall cities were possessed with these newes they brake forth into very seditious speeches openly exclayming against the King and extolling the wisdome prowesse noble acts of the duke of Guise whereby they procured him much fauor among the multitude that knew nothing but what they heard by the Leaguers and their fauorites which made them think that the King had killed his thousand but the Guise his ten thousand All which treacherous dealings tended to no other end but this either to make the French beleeue that the K. was not indowed with such noble and heroycall vertues as were requisite for him that should gouerne so mightie and puissant a nation or else that he was a notorious dissembler a maintainer of Heretikes a secret enemy to the Catholikes And then what should they doo with such a King let theÌ„ make choise of another more valiant more wise more prouident more religious a more stout defender of holy Church and who should that be but the Guise who for the zeale courage valour and singuler dexteritie in the mannaging of matters of estate was not onely superior to the King The leaguers attempt against the yong duches of Bonillon but the paragon of all Europe The leaguers being assured of the death of the duke of Bonillon and that hee had left his sister Madame Charlate de la Marke a yong and tender Ladie heyre to all his soueraigne segneurie and principalitie of Bonillon thought it their best to let the king of Nauarre alone for a time at whose handes there was little to bee gotten vnlesse they payed deare for it and to enterprise somewhat aagaynst this desolate Ladie and either by hooke or by crooke as wee vse to say to get the Dukedome into their possession VVhereupon the Duke of Guise vsed all the cunning hee coulde to match his sonne the Prince Ienuill with her and the Duke of Lorraine was as earnest a suter for his sonne called Marthuis de Pont and Lorde Vaudemont But neither of them being able by all their deuises to winne that Ladies fauour they thought it best to ioyne together and to compell her to match according to their lykings With this resolution they entered the Dukedome of Bonillon with a great power burning wasting killing murthering rauishing and committing all other horrible and detestable villanies that coulde bee imagined The crueltie of the leaguers against the dukedom of Bonillon and besieged the sayde Ladie and her two principall Townes Sedan and Iamets where they continued a long tyme spent much Treasure and lost most of theyr men and in the ende with shame and dishonour beeing well beaten at a womans hand by the valiant conduct of the Lord Necuile were glad to giue ouer and returne home Whilest the dukedom of Bonillon was vexed and tormented with these troublesome sutors the principal leagers assembled at Nancie in Lorrain where there was a great consultation helde how they might aduance themselues and ouerthow the King against whose person and state they had for a long time bout all their endeuors There they agreed to present certain articles to the king which they would haue him agree vnto and those were such as tended to the vtter destruction of the King and the auncient Nobilitie of Fraunce and the safetie of themselues First they requested the King to ioyne more openly with the League and to put all such as they dislyked out of their offices The petitions of the leâ—gue to the king To cause the Councell of Trent to bee proclaymed throughout all his Dominions To establish the Spanish inquisition To put such Castels and strong Townes into their handes as they should name vnto him That hee shoulde sende an armie into Lorraine vpon the borders of G rmanie to let the entrie of strangers into the land and for the maintenance thereof should cause all the goods of those whome they tearmed Heretikes or fauourers of Heretikes to bee solde and the money to bee deliuered into theyr handes That the Catholiques shoulde pay the tenth of their reuenewes for the same purpose and that the surplussage shoulde bee to pay the most needfull debts of the principall Leaguers and that the life of no Heretike prisoner shoulde be spared vnlesse hee would abiure and put in good securitie to liue Catholiquely hereafter and to giue all his goods or the iust valew of them which hee hath then in his possession to the supporting of the League and to binde himselfe to serue three yeares wheresoeuer he should be commaunded The
King did allowe of such of these Articles as did any way concerne the suppression of the reformed Religion The king refuseth to grant all the petitions of the league but considering that the rest did wonderfull derogate from his Crowne and dignitie and that they tended directlie to the weakening of himselfe and the strengthening of the league of which for a long tyme hee had verie hardly conceyued hee would not bee enduced to condiscend vnto them by anie manner of meanes or entreatie whatsoeuer Now as the Leaguers laboured openly by these and such like deuises to weaken the King so they practised secretly to destroy the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde knowing that if they were once ridde of them it woulde bee an easie matter to accomplish the rest Heerevpon they set on worke certaine wicked and diuellish persons to bring these two great Princes to their deaths And assuring themselues that this detestable deuise woulde take effect they caused it on a suddaine to bee bruited all ouer the Realme of Fraunce that Nauarre and Conde were both dead But by Gods good prouidence Nauarre escaped that daunger and tooke no harme The Prince of Conde by the treacherous and villaynous dealing of some of his housholde seruaunts and amongest others of one Brillant and a page The prince of Conde poysoned two such as he had greatly fauoured and bestowed many benefites vpon was poisoned the third day of March in the yere of our Lord The great commendatiō of the prince of Conde one thousand fiue hūdred eightie and eight and died within two dayes after at Saint Iean d' Angely Whose death was greatly lamented of all good men for that hee was wise valiant zealous in religion true harted to his Prince a louer of his country and an irreconciliable enemie to the perturbers of the state and to all such as hee knewe to be aduersaries to God to the King and to the Crowne of France The Guises and the rest of the leaguers reioysed not a little at this newes for nowe they thought they were gotten one steppe higher and had greater hope to oppresse the Protestants then before who they knewe were mightily weakened with this losse And for that they supposed that in this conseruation of mens mindes they had oportunitie to attempt something which might still aduaunce their affaires they thought good that the Lorde Lauerdin who had scaped a scowring at the battaile of Coutras should assaile Marans a place of very great importaunce and if it were possible to make it sure for the league The Lord Lauerdin applied his businesse so diligently that he gayned the sayd Island of Marans in a short time Marans gained by the Lord Lauerdin by reason that the Protestants being amased as it were with the vnexpected death of the Prince did not prouide timelie enough for the fortifying thereof with such store of men and munition as was necessarie Albeit that the King was glad that the Lord Lauerdin had gotten Marans yet he liked not that it should be kept by the Lord Cluseaux whom he knewe to bee a fauourer of the League but there was no remedie he must beare with the time being indeede not able to doe as hee would for the most part of his Councell and those of the chiefest were leagers and the Duke of Guise the head of those monsters had caused such infamous rumours to be raysed of the Kings actions and by secret practises had so disgraced him among his subiects that he was almost growne into contempt among the communaltie and was imputed no bodie in comparison of the Guise This opinion the King would gladly haue rooted out and was verie desirous to gaine their good willes and affections if possibly he might The better to effect this he thought best to proclaime wars afresh against the Protestants The King prepareth to go into Poictou against the Protestants and to rayse a great power and to go in person into Poictou agaynst the King of Nauarre and all his confederates that so by some famous exploits against those of the reformed religion hee might regaine the loue and liking of his lost subiects The Duke of Guise who knew that he had stollen away the peoples hearts from the King thought it now good time to discouer his secrete meaning more openly and presuming of his fauourers at Court and the good wil of the countrey The Guise determineth to seise vpon Paris and to take the King concludeth to get Paris to seise vpon the king either aliue or dead to kill as many princes of the blood and other officers of the crown as he could lay hands vpon and by fine force to set the diadem of France vpon his owne head Now that he might be the more assured to accomplish all this he wrote secret letters to all his chiefe friends and followers to meete him at Paris as spedily as they might And for that the King should not be able to withstand him he had set the duke of Aumaile to warre against sundry townes and cities in Picardy and had giuen order that others should attempt as much in Normandy and other places knowing that the king would send thither his principall forces to keepe those countries in his obedience and then he might with more facilitie execute his intended purpose Vpon these aduertisements of the Guise to his associates there repayred vnto Paris great numbers of the most factious turbulent and malecontent persons of all the Land Many Spanish Captaines and Hispaniolized french were soone assembled in that mightie Cittie and that to the number of fifteene or sixteene thousand besides the Citizen Leaguers who were exceeding many and those as desperate and rash headed as any others whosoeuer the Duke of Guyse being diligently enformed of this and knowing how greatly hee was expected at Paris by his confederates resolued to post thither with all speede and the rather for that the king euen as he wished had now dispersed his forces sending some into Normandy and others into Picardy to maintain◠his authoritie in those prouinces the King had long mistrusted the Guyse for that he was now aduertised that hee was comming to Paris he vehemently suspected that there was some notable practise in hand to be performed against him by the Leaguers he therefore sent word to the sayd Duke whom hee vnderderstood to bee forward on his way by the Lord Belieure that in no wise hee should come to Paris at that time vppon paine of his displeasure and in case that he would notwithstanding continue his iourney that then hee helde him for a traytour and the authour of all those miseries wherewith the Land was so encombred at that instant Belieure did his message The Guyse entreth into Paris contrary to the Kings commandement but the Guyse did little regard it for he followed the said Belieure at the heeles and was at Paris almost assoone as hee accompanied not past with some
fifteene or sixteene Gentlemen the better to couer his intended purpose knowing that he should finde a sufficient number of partakers to maintaine himselfe against all men Not long after his arriuall he went very confidently to see the king and with all humble reuerence with his knee to the ground saluted him but the king being highly despleased for that his comming contrary to his commandement gaue him a frowning countenance The Guyse stayed not long at Court but returned to his house in the Citie immediatly after the King being duely enformed of the great number of strangers that were in the same Cittie and that it was verie likely that they remained there for some dangerous exploit caused twelue companies of French men and Switzers to bee distributed into sundrie places to keepe all quiet and in their due obedience The Cittizens at the instigation of the Guyse his companies tooke the Alarum making as though they feared that they should be murthered and haue their houses sacked The Parisians rise a-against the King and kil his guard for diuers were sent about to disperse such reports armed themselues and beeing assisted by Brissac Borsdauphin Chamois and the rest of the Guysards set vpon the Switzers and the rest of the Kings guardes whereof some they killed and others they disarmed and such as remained they kept as prisoners and hoping nowe to attaine to the Period of their desires they made theyr approches and besieged the Louure entending to take the King either aliue or dead The king seeing all that great and populous Cittie in an vprore and that hee had not sufficient forces to oppose against such a rebellious rable determined to leaue the Louure The King lâ—aueth Paris and flieth to Chartres at the perswasions of sundrie his most faithfull councellers who aduised him to giue place to that desperate Rebellion to seeke his safetie some other where whereupon he incontinently departed from Paris and went that night as farre as Trappes and the next day to his Citie of Chartres Many great Lords Gentlemen of good place which were the kings friends went after him as fast as they could some on horsebacke and some on foote making as good shift as they could vpon so short warning wherein wee may note a maruailous strange alteration and vicissitude in the state of this great Prince who hauing beene so mightie a monarke and a king of two such noble and puissant countreyes as were Polonia and France a commander ouer so many great and honourable personages and had ruled such an infinite multitude of all sorts was now driuen out of his owne house and out of his cheefest Citie and forced to flie before him who was his vassaile and subiect to his intollerable greefe and vexation leauing his treasure and whatsoeuer precious things he had to be a pray for his enemies The Guyse vnderstanding that the king was escaped and had auoyded his bloudy fingers was maruailously greeued and cursed his ouersight knowing that hee should neuer haue the like oportunitie againe to effect his purpose and fearing that the King would seeke to be reuenged of so great an indignitie offered to his person thought that hee would prouide the meanes as wel as he could to defende himself and his therfore he seised vpon the Kings arsemall and vpon his treasor The Guyse seiseth vppon the Kings treasor whereof hee brought to his owne house aboue seauen hundred thousand Crownes which hee laide vp as an earnest for the rest Then did he forthwith alter the pollicie of the Citie remoouing Perrense the prouost of the Merchants from his office and the rest of the cheefest officers which he knew to be affectionate to the king and placed such as were the most factious seditious Leaguers in their roumes he wrote also sundry letters to his frieÌ„ds abroad and to the principall Townes such as he knew to bee deuoted to him requiring them to ioyne with him and to be in a readinesse when hee should haue neede and caused it to be bruted that all that which had passed at Paris was not against the king but to defend the Cittie which was in danger to bee spoyled by strangers and that the king by the counsell of the Duke of Espernon who had said he intelligence with the King of Nauarre and the Heretikes had caused sundrie gibbets to be set vp in seueral places of the Citie to hang diuers Cittizens and to spoyle their houses thereby to gather money and to warre against the Leaguers The Guyse seeketh to couer his rebellious action When the Guyse had taken the course to assure himselfe by all the deuises hee could hee wrote letters to the king seeking to disguyse all this action and to perswade him that hee had no euill meaning against his maiestie but had alwaies beene and still remained his most dutifull subiect and had in this tumultuous stirre happened at Paris shewed how hee respected the King and all his seruants in that hee had taken so great prayes euen with the danger of his life to saue sundrie his officers his Captaines and Souldiers and so farre forth as possibly he might to keep the people from murther and bloudsâ—ed which was then so likely to haue fallen out and that to the great and irreperable harme of the Kings best affected subiects After the alleaging of these and many other arguments to proue his fidelitie he besought the king to be his gracious Lord and to account of him as his most faithfull and loyall sâ—biect and for that hee had a guiltie conscience hee was continually in feare least the King would at one time or other bee reuenged howsoeuer peraduenture for the time hee might dissemble the matter and shew him a fayre countenance and therefore hee practised all meanes to make his attonement and to that ende made earnest sute to the Queene mother to stand his gracious Lady Such was his demeanor and so cunningly hee handled the matter that she was woon to be a mediator for him and to assay to bring him againe into the kings fauor The king reposing a maruailous confidence in his mother The Queen mother reconcileth the Guyse to the King who had bewitched him with an opinion of her loue and naturall affection towards him suffered himselfe to be ruled by her aduice notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Catholikes that were about him who exclaimed against the Guyses and their proude and rebellious enterprises and required the king to taâ—e condigne punishment proffering him their seruice their liues theyr goods and whatsoeuer meanes they had for the accomplishment thereof The king thanked them for their good willes but resoluing to make a peace sent them home againe and would not follow their counsels After much going and comming on both sides the reconciliation was made the K. the Leaguers became good friendes and intended to bend all their forces against the Protestants Wherupon two mighty armies were prepared
but that he perswaded himselfe that seeing his brother was dead The duke de Maine rebelleth aga nst the King he might now peraduenture obtaine the Crowne for himselfe if hee would lay in for it for hee had a great power in a readinesse and no doubt but the most of the Leaguers woulde followe him for feare least if they shoulde fall into the Kinges handes hee woulde punish them according to theyr deserts With this resolution hee left Dauphiny and hasted into Burgundie and Champaigne taking with him such strength and power as hee could get and making sure as manie places as hee coulde come by prepared to make warre agaynst the king Paris which was the capitoll Citie of the whole kingdome and had more fauoured the Guise then anie other was mooued to great indignation Paris and the rest of the principal Cities rebell against the King and shewed it selfe highly offended And being further incensed with the piteous outcryes and lamentable complaints of the Duchesses of Guise and Nemours and with the inuectiue Sermons of the Iesuites and Friers grewe into a desperate madnesse shaking off the yoake of obedience and rebelled openlye agaynst theyr naturall Prince and liege Lorde Most of the greatest rychest and strongest Cityes as Orleance Roan Amiens Aniou Lyons Abeuille Remes Tholous and manie others followed the example of the Parisians and conspiring with the rest of the Leaguers imprisoned the Kings friendes seyzed vpon his strong holdes robbed him of his treasure and vsed him in all outragious and rebellious maner The King vnderstanding of all these seditious sturres sought by faire meanes and in gentle maner to reduce them to their obedience sending out his proclaimations to pardon whatsoeuer was past and to burie it in the graue of obliuion so that they woulde lay downe their Armes and liue peaceablie vnder his authoritie The seditious diuinitie of the Sorbonists as in dutie they were bound but they made no reckoning of the Kinges clemencie but tearmed it cowardlinesse as though hee were afrayed of their forces beeing animated by the Sorbonists and their Doctours in Theologie who had resolued that they were set free from theyr oath of obedience and former allegiaunce made vnto Henrie the thirde And that it was lawfull for them and for all the residue of the people of Fraunce to take Armes agaynst the sayde King Henrie and to persecute him and all his adherents with fire and sworde as enemyes to God to their Countrey and to holy Church When they had once gotten this aduauntage that they were able to colour their proceedings as it were with an oracle from heauen they made no more conscience at the matter The duke de Maine made general of the Leaguers but presently determined to choose them a Generall for the leading of their forces and to establish a new Councell by whose direction they might manage the rest of their affayres They refused all the Princes of the blood and chose the Duke de Maine who was a man much fauoured of the leaguers The leaguers appoint a councell of state and one that was well acquainted with all their practises The Dukes of Aumaile and Nemours with the Cheualier of Aumaile were made gouernours of Paris There were also 47. of the most seditious turbulent factious and bitterest enemies to the King appoynted to order the state as the kings priuie councell had done in former times These had no sooner gotten this authoritie into their handes but they committed most horrible outrages against all such as they suspected to be the kings friends imprisoning murthering robbing sacâ—ing and spoyling them in such sort as was neuer heard of within any mans remembrance and going to the royall pallace called the Louure they seyzed vpon all the kings goods The leaguers notorious disobedience they violated the great Seale of France brake it in peeces and trode it vnder their feete They rent and tore the Armes of Valois and Burbon and trayled them in most despitefull manner in the mire and dyrt through the Streetes and assembling as manie of the principall Leaguers both of the Nobilitie Cleargie and Communaltie as they coulde wrote to other Cities theyr Confederates to follow their example and to ioyne with them and also to procure as manie partakers as they might the better to countenance their proceedings The king had often and very seriously disswaded them from this seditious course and with all lenitie sought to reduce them to their former obedience but considering that he preuailed nothing by gentlenesse and clemency but rather that the people waxed worse worse he therfore now determined to take a sharper course and by force to bring them vnder his obedience but fearing his owne weaknesse and want of sufficient power to bring his purposes to passe for that he was as it were coÌ„passed about with his enemies not knowing what to doo or whome to trust The king maketh peace with the 〈◊〉 of Nauarre perceyuing that the most of those who were about him were fauorers of the rebels hee was content to follow the aduice of his most trustie councellors and to make peace with the King of Nauarre and to vse his counsal and forces for his iust and lawfull defence and the rather for that the Duke de Maine approched verie neare vnto him with a great and puissant armie Thus was the king for the safetie of his person forced to cast himselfe into the armes of him whom for manie yeares hee had reputed for his mortall enemie and glad to seeke to be preserued by such an one whose destruction he had sought with all extremitie The King of Nauarre being aduertised of the Kings intent and solicited by sundry messengers to come to his ayde with all expedition called his Nobles and Captaines and gathered all his forces together and passing ouer the Loyre at Samnur went towards the King who was greatly distressed at Toures and in imminent perill to bee oppressed by the Leaguers The meeting of the King of France the King of Nauarre The King vnderstanding of his approach the thirtie of Aprill sent the Mareschall Haultmont accompanied with a great number of the Nobilitie to desire him to come to Plesis de Tours where hee with all his Court staid for him The King of Nauarre readily obeyed passing ouer the bridge of Saint Saphorin where hee left all his forces in battaile array and went towardes the King whom hee sound staying for him in the Parke of Plessis There was such a concourse of people and so great a throng that the two Kings were forced to stay aboue halfe a quarter of an houre stretching and holding out their hands before they could embrace one another so great was the prease and such a multitude were slocked togither to beholde this ioyfull and blessed meeting The kind embracings and louing salutations betweene these two Potentates did euidently declare their inward ioy contentation The reioysing of all sorts was incredible
his bodie The death of Henry the 3 the French King not withstanding all the remedies that could be deuised or imagined hee yeelded vp his life into the handes of him that gaue it him hauing reigned fourteene yeares and seuen moneths And this was the ende of Henrie the third the French king and king of Polonia and the last of the house of Valois who being bewitched with the sorceries of his mother and inclyning to euill by his owne bad disposition opposed himselfe agaynst Gods true religion and being giuen ouer to worke his owne destruction followed the wicked counsailes of his notorious and sworne enemies who spake him fayre to his face but inwardly hated him and neuer ceased persecuting of their deuelish deuises vntill they had brought his state to confusion and procured his vntimely death and destruction CHAP. XXVI Henrie the fourth the French King ouerthroweth the Leaguers in two seuerall battels Great famine in Paris The Duke of Parma entreth into Fraunce relieueth Paris From whence he flieth againe in great haste into the Lowe Countryes The Pope excommunicateth the King VVho causeth his Bull to be burned at Towers The great Armie of the Germianes The Duke of Parma goeth the sâ—conde time into Fraunce and preuayleth greatly agaynst the King The Leaguers seeke for peace The King encline to Poperie His coronation Paris with most of the great Citties of Fraunce turne to the King IMmediately after the death of Henrie the third Henrie of Burbon King of Nauarre and the true inheritour to the Crowne of Fraunce both by his owne right and by the last will and testament of the late King The princes Nobles and souldiers take their oath of obedience to Henry the fourth was proclaimed King of Fraunce by the name of King Henrie the foorth and so acknowledged by all the Princes Nobles Colonels Captaines and souldiours in the Campe after the ancient maner of choosing the Romane Emperors giuing him their oaths of fidelitie and obedience with protestation to assist him to maintaine his royall and princely authoritie against all traitours rebels and leaguers to the vttermost of their powers The Prince Montpensier being then at Audly a towne vpon the Riuer of Seyne caused likewise all his army to take the like oath exhorting them to defend constantly the late kings wil and valiantly to oppose theÌ„selues against al seditious persons despisers of gods lawfull ordinance traitors to their King sworne enemies to their own couÌ„try This Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and now the French king and so hereafter he shall be tearmed considering the strength of his open enemies and fearing the treacherie of many in the Campe who were deuoted to the league knowing that they might be a meanes to distresse him beeing so neare vnto a great number of his euill willers who were likely to double their rage by reason of this exploit done vpon the late Kings person The French King retireth toward Norman de thought good to licence so many as he suspected to depart the campe and determined to retire with the rest into Normandie somewhat further from his enemies and to gather as great a power as hee could of his trustiest and most assured friends and in the meane time to view the attempts and preparations of the Leaguers The armie of the D. de Maine The D. de Maine besides all the bands which he had collected of the French rebels receyued certaine Swart Rutters vnder the leading of the Duke of Brimswicke The Duke of Lorraine sent his sonne likewise called the Marques of Pont. with certaine companies of horsemen with this great armie which amounted to the number of 25000. men The Duke de Maine marched towards Deep where the King lay with some nine or ten thousand men who vnderstanding of the approach of the enemie tooke the field with those forces which he had and encamped at Arques about two miles froÌ„ Deepe where he stayed not long but that the enemie appeared in fight at a village not far off called Martinglize The king sent out forthwith his light horsmeÌ„ to discouer between whoÌ„ the foreruÌ„ners of the Leaguers there were many hot skirmishes On the 19. day of September the enemie passed ouer a little riuer which ranne betweene both Armies and put himselfe in battaile array very well ordered strongly appointed and marched directly towards the king The Lord Billing with two thousande shot was appointed to charge first and the Duke de Maine stood behinde him with a strong battaile readie to succour as need required The king had quickly ordered his battailon hauing disposed of all things in as warlike maner as he could deuise sent forth his light horsemen to charge the enemie who were backed with the Prince of Conde led by the Lord Montaret His battailon of footemen was flanked with his owne cornet wherein were the Lord Graund Pryer of France the Count Rochfaucoult the Count Rossy his brother the Count Rochford with diuers other Gentlemen of great reckoning and such as were neerest about his person and hauing called vppon God to ayde him in his iust and righteous quarrell so furiously charged the enemie that hee left fiue hundred dead vpon the place at that instant The rest seeing the slaughter of their fellowes and the furie of the kings souldiers began to shrinke and in a short time to flie away in great feare and disorder The Principall men of the Leaguers which were slain were the Lord Saint Andrew Sagne Collonell of the light horsemen the Lord Saint Vidal Lieutenant of the Ordenance the Lord Vienuille Count Billing Temblecourt Sauelak and diuers others were taken prisoners The king lost the Count Rossy brother to Rochfaucont and the Lord Bake Ville a Gentleman of very worthy and commendable parts and not past some thirtie or fortie others The Duke de Maine seeing his bad lucke retyred his beaten troupes towards Picardy the king being strengthened with the forces of the Prince of Soysons Duke Languauille and Mareschall Haultmont besides foure thousand Englishmen newly sent him out of England The Lord VVillowby vnder the leading of the right noble and valiant Lord VVillowby departed from Deepe coasted the enemie til he came to Menlau and then returned toward Paris supposing that by that meanes hee should draw the Duke to follow him and so bring him to a battaile The king bringeth hiâ— army before Paris The King comming to Paris about the 28. of October determined to assault the suburbs and hauing prepared all things in a readinesse for that purpose assailed them the first of Nouember following where hee founde some resistance but the courage of the Souldiers redoubled with the presence of the Prince was such The suburbs of S. Germaines takeÌ„ that they quickly gayned them and slew aboue a thousand and fiue hundred of their enemies there were also taken fourteene ensignes and thirteene peeces of Ordenance The king seeing the Leaguers attempted nothing but
that they kept themselues close within the Wals albeit the Duke de Maine was entred within the Citie with all his forces The cruelty of de Maine beeing mooued with sundrie waightie causes resolued to dislodge and to employ his forces in some other places Hee was no sooner departed but that the Duke de Maine picked a quarrell against diuers of the richest Cittizens charging them that they had conspired against the holy League and procured the King to come to Paris which promised to deliuer the Citie into his hands whereupon many were condemned and executed and their goods seised to the vse of the League The King marched with all his power towardes the Loyre and Seyne purposing to redeeme the Townes which lay betweene those two riuers vnder his obedience and in his way tooke Estamps Ianuille Chasteandune Vendosme Lauerdin Chasteande Loyre Monteuert Chere and Montrichard yeelded of their owne accord The strong towne of Mans was taken by composition Sablis Laual Chasteantier with the Castles of Beanmont Touuoy and Alenson with manie other places of importance were likewise yeelded vnto the king so that in a short space hee had gotten very great number of strong â—ownes Castles and Cities yea very large and mightie prouinces out of the hands of the turbulent and seditious Leaguers The Lord Diguceres likewise ioyning with the Lorde Valette brother to the Duke of Espernon preuailed mightily in Prouince Languedock and brought the greatest parte of those Countreyes vnder the kings obedience The Duke de Maine lay all this while in Paris and did nothing vntill the comming of the Popes Legate called Hemico Caietano The Duke de Maine receiueth Money from the Pope and the King of Spaine but then hee beganne to stir beeing animated by this Embassador who brought with him fiftie thousande Duckets from Rome hee also receiued three hundred thousand Crownes from the Spaniard and by an excessiue taxe imposed vpon the Parisians with the spoyle and hauocke which was made vpon the Royals and richest marchants hee got aboue a Million of golde with which and the rest of his exhibition from Rome and Spaine he furnished his Army with all necessaries and leauing Paris went foorth to seeke the king hauing in his armie three thousand horse and thirtie thousand footmen Hee tooke by the way the Castle of Viennes and in the latter ende of Ianuarie got Ponthois from whence he remoued and planted his siege before Meulan The Duke of Parma sendeth forces to ayde Duke de Maine The Duke of Parma sent the Count Egmond and the Lord La Mote gouernor of Graueling with some fiue or sixe thousand chosen Souldiers to the ayde of the Leaguers the Duke de Maine receiued them in Picardy and ioyning them with the rest of his forces marched towards Dammartin drawing neere vnto the king who was then at siege before Dreux The King was no sooner aduertised heereof but that hee raysed his siege and hasted toward Yury where he supposed that the Duke with all his forces had beene lodged 1590. and comming to a place neere vnto the Towne called Saint Andrewes plaine he ordered his battailes The Kings battaile deuiding all his horsemen into seuen esquadrons flanking them very strongly with their seuerall battailons of footmen euerie one with their Enfans Perdus in theyr front readie to attach the skirmish assoone as the enemie should appeare The first Squadron was led by the Mareschall Aulmont wherin in was three hundred horse and twelue Regiments of French footmen The Prince Montpencier led the second which consisted of three hundred horse and foure hundred Lansquenetes and a Regiment of Switzers The third beeing diuided into two companies containing foure hundred light horse were somewhat further aduanced then the former two and were led by the Lord Graund Pryor the lord Guynny The Baron of Biron commanded ouer the fourth wherein were two hundred and fiftie good horses with certaine Cornets of light horsmen In the fift was the king himself with six hundred horse flanked on each side with foure Regiments of Switzers The sixt was led by the Mareschall Biron with two hundred and fiftie horses and two Regiments of French footmen The seauenth squadron was a great Hot of Rutters strengthned with French footmen as was vsed in other battailes The Duke de Maâ—ne resoluing to trie his fortune at that present The Duke de Maines battaile set likewise his forces in battaile array and taking his Cornet consisting of some two hundred and fiftie horses put himselfe in the middest of two squadrons of Launces which came out of the low countreyes wherin were some twelue or thirteene hundred horse The Duke of Nemours with other two hundred and fifty horse the Cheualier D' Aumaile with his band of horse incorporated themselues with this huge companie of Launces containing now in al some thousand eight hundred horsemen marching in front they were flanked also with two Regiments of Switzers lyned with French shot There were two other squadrons of Launces the one compounded of French Italians Albaneses the other of Wallons and Spaniards and betweene them both a strong battilon of French enfantery and Lansquenetes who had on their right wing seauen hundred Rutters and on the left wing fiue hundred with foure Culuerings All things beeing thus ordered and both armies in a readinesse for a generall fight the great Ordenance began to thunder on both sides the fury wherof being once past The Duke de Maine ouerthrowne in the plaine of Saint Andrew the horsemen and footmen charged each other couragiously and maintained a cruell and bloudy fight for a long time but at length the victorie enclined to the King and the whole power of the Duke was ouerthrowne The King himselfe that day fought valiantly and performed both the dutie of a prudent captaine and a couragious and hardy Souldier There were slaine very neere two thousande horsemen of the enemies and many of them commanders Some twelue or thirteene hundred were drowned in the Riuer of Yury the most part of the footmen were cutte in peeces and aboue foure hundred were taken prisoners al the Switzers yeelded to the kings mercy the Duke de Maine ranne away with the formost leauing his friendes to the mercie of their enemies and lost all his Ordenance and munition the Duke of Nemours Bassampierre Tauannes Rosue and many others fled to Dreux the cheefest that was slaine was the Count Egmond knight of the order of the golden Fleece and the general ouer the forces sent from the Duke of Parma out of the low countreyes the yong Count of Brunswick captaine Collin a Spaniard and the Lord of Chastaneray the Principall prisoners were the Lord Austfrist with many other Italian and Spanish Lords the Lord Boysdauphin who bare the white Cornet of the Duke de Maine was likewise taken prisoner and with him Fountaine Martell Lechant and many other Gentlemen of good account On the kings side there were slaine
the Lord Clermont Autragne one of the Captaines of the kings guard the Lord Tishcombert Longanuay Crenay Vienne Muauille Fequiers with some other twenty or thirtie Gentlemen at the most The Marquesse of Neste the Eearle Choysy the Lord de O the Count Lud the Lords Mouleuet Lauergue Rosne and many others were hurt but not in danger of death and this was the ende of this great battaile fought in the plaine of Saint Andrew the fourth of March 1590. The fame of this glorious victorie ouer the Leaguers so terrified sundrie townes that they yeelded forthwith and sent to craue pardon for their former offences Mante Vernon Cressy Lagny Poysy Saint Germaine and Saint Clow were the first that were drawen to their due obedience by whose examples sundrie others were easily reclaimed and yeelded vppon their first sommance the king beeing glad of this fortunate successe resolued to besiege Paris whereof when as the Parisians The Parisians prepare to endure a siege were enformed as also of the ouerthrowe of the Duke de Maine they were maruailously affrighted and tâ—e rather for that they had promised themselues an assured victorie grounding vppon the Dukes proude bragges and the fantasticall prophesies of sundrie seditious Friers and had not the Duke Henrico Caietanc the Popes Nuntio and Barnardin Mendoza scattered good store of Crownes among the Iesuites and such frierlike fellowes who shoulde with theyr seditious Sermons encourage the people to persist in theyr rebellious actions and corrupted the principall inhabitants with money and fayre promises the Parisians hadde in that conseruation of minde come to aske pardon as well as others but they beeing seduced by their chiefetaines and ringleaders beganne to bethinke them howe to fortifie their Cities and to make themselues able to endure a siege The king seeing their obstinacy followed his course and knowing the Citie to bee very populous and nothing well prouided for so many moneths determined to take all the passages and to blocke in the Parisians so sure that they should come by no victuals making choyse to vanquish them rather by famin then by the sword as the safest way to punish his enimies and to saue his friends Hee therefore seised vppon all the stronge Townes about the Citie as Corbeil Melun Montereaufault Yonne and Charenten and stopping the Riuer of Oyse Marne Yonne and Seyne would not suffer any prouision to bee conuayed into the Citie Whereupon there beganne to grow great scarcenesse The Duke de Maine goeth to Bruxelles to the Duke of Parma for ayde and a sore famine threatned that rebellious multitude The Duke de Maine was gone into Peronne in Picardy and from thence to Bruxelles to the Duke of Parma to entreate him to come to the succours of the League and vsed all the other meanes hee could to leuie newe forces and hauing had some promises from Spaine assured himselfe of ayd out of the low Countryes wherwith he should be once againe able to meete the king who all this while lay before Paris and attempted nothing but onely to keepe it from victuals and by that meanes had so famished the towne of S. Dennis S. Dennis yeeldeth to the King that after that they had consumed all their old store and had eaten vp their horses dogs cats rats mice rootes hearbs much bread made of ground straw beaten to powder they were enforced to yeeld to the kings mercy who vsed them very graciously Penury and want likewise so pressed the Citie of Paris Great famin in Paris that by the beginning of Iuly there were no dainties to be found in the Citie but the Parisians were glad to fall to such homely viands as not long before had serued for a dish at S. Dennis Yea so great and so horrible was the famine that there were many children eaten and deuoured by those hungry and staruen rebelles When the Duke da Maine who was still attending vppon the Duke of Parma was aduertised of the great and extreme penury that was among the Parisians as also of the vprores and murtherings of the people hee wrote letters full of rich promises assuring them of the comming of the Duke of Parma and himselfe with a sufficient number to raile the siege The miserable people oppressed with the tyrannie of their rulers hardned with seditious sermons blinded with ignorance seduced with malice and sed with much villanie from Spaine from the Pope and from this Duke and by Gods iust iudgement giuen ouer to a reprobate sense held out obstinately and would by no perswasions be enduced to submit themselues vnto the Kings mercie The hope that the Spaniard had to conquere France and to cloath himselfe with the rich spoyle of the Flower de Lis made the Duke of Parma to giue better eare to the Duke de Maine The Duke of Parma entreth into France and to hearken to the succours of the distressed Leaguers so that hauing gathered a power of some 15000. Spaniards Italians Wallons and Flemmings all of the olde bands of the countrey in the latter ende of August hee entred into France and ioyning with the forces of the Duke de Maine marched towards Paris The King hauing to deale with so great an enemie brake vp his siege and went to meete him as farre as the plaine of Boundy and there ordered his battailes made himself readie to end the quarrell by a generall fight the Kings army consisted of 10000. French footmen 4000. Switzers 4000. horsemen the greatest number wherof were gentlemeÌ„ of the cheerest houses in France and 800. Rutters there were sixe Princes two Mareschalles of France and a great number of noblemen captaines and Gentlemen who were able to leade as great an armie as that was The Duke of Parma hauing discouered all his warlike multitude from the top of a hill returned to his campe and caused his souldiers to entrench themselues as strongly as they could and refused to fight The Duke of Parma refuseth to fight albeit the king staied for him by the space of three daies together but afterward perceiuing that the Duke would not be drawen to a battaile by no meanes hee determined to breake vp his armie and to sende his souldiers into seuerall prouinces to rest and relieue them after so painfull and laborious a iourney and so to make them fresh and lustie against hee should haue better opportunitie to fight against his enemies Assoone as the king was departed wel neere twenty Leagues off and that he had deuided his forces by sending them into seuerall places The Duke of Parma entreth into Paris the Duke gat him out of the treaches hasted to Paris where he was welcomed with great ioy but he had not continued there long but the tyrannie pride and villany of the Spaniard and hispaniolized was such that the Parisians waxed weary of that intollerable burthen would faine haue bin rid of them and they had wist how they therfore entreated the duke to open the riuer
that ende stuffed all his frontier townes with strong garrisons but they opening their way by force passed forwards and by easie iourneyes came to the king who beeing strenhthened with these new forces resolued to besiege Boar. The Leaguers being now not able to encounter with the king in the field fortified the Citie as strong as they could and attended the comming of the Duke of Parma whose ayde they had instantly desired the better to maintaine head against the king The Duke vnderstanding in what tearmes the Leaguers stood knowing that the losse of Roan being a principall Citie in France 1592 The duke of Parma goeth the second time into France and the cheefest in Normandy would be very preiudicial vnto that mistery which lay secretly enclosed in his brest and a great meanes to crosse the proceedings of the Spanish king hispaniolized French gathered a great power and leauing the gouernement of the Low countreyes to the Count Mansford marched towards France which he entred about the midst of Ianuary with some 8. or 9000. Spaniards Italians Duch Wallons ioyning with the Leaguers so encreased his armie that he grew to be some 17. or 18000 strong with which power he determined to raise the Kings siege to deliuer theÌ„ who had with so great earnestnesse sought his helpe and with this resolution he marched towardes Roan which assoone as those who kept the town vnderstood they began to plucke vp their hearts and made many sallyes forth vppon the kings forces but being valiantly withstood shrewdly beaten were glad to returne with the losse often times of their valiantest leaders and most forward souldiers Nowe as the Leaguers within the town begaÌ„ to be punished with many miseries the famin daily encreased to the destruction of many so penury and want of necessaries began to creepe in among the kings souldiers and by reason it was in the extreme of the Winter many perished with cold and great numbers fel into very sore greeuous diseases notwithstanding the siege was still continued and all the politike deuises that might be put in practise to gaine the citie The Duke being about Rue and there thorowly enformed as wel of the state of Roan as of the courage resolution of the kings forces would not attempt any thing rast ly but sending for greater forces out of Flanders vnder the conduct of the Earles of Aremberg and Barlemont kept himself close for a while purposing as it seemed to protract the time to cause the K. who as is already said began to fal into manifold waÌ„ts to raise his siege from before the city but the Duke perceiuing that this depose took not so speedie effect as he desired pondering with himself how hard dangerous a matter it was to releeue the citie by force The pollitike dâ—uise of the Duke sought by a cunning pollitike deuise to bring his businesse about and therefore on the sodaine dislodged retired his whole power ouer the Riuer of Some as though he had purposed to returne home again without any more ado Which when the king perceiued and now verily thinking that hee had bin quite gone he licensed the greatest part of his Nobilitie and Gentlemen to departe home to their houses there to refresh themselues after so long tedious trauaile reseruing a sufficient number to maintaine the siege the K. departed to Deepe there to repose himselfe and to take counsell for the ordering of the rest of his affaires The Duke was quickly enformed by his espialles of whatsoeuer the king had done The Duke returâ—eth towards Roan and â—nowing now that all his aduantage consisted in celeritie caused his troupes on the sodaine to turne head and to march backe againe towards Roan and vsing great expedition so fast approched that the kings armie beeing not readye to encounter him and no assured course taken to crosse his designements he besieged Candebeck a town standing vpon the riuer betweene New-hauen Roan Roan releeâ—â—d by the 〈◊〉 of Parma By this meanes was the riuer cleered liberty obtained to passe and repasse without peril then were there forthwith a great number of ships prouided being thorowly furnished with victuals and all other necessaries were sent to Roan to releeue the Leaguers who were nowe extremely distressed and almost famished The King sought all the opportunitie that might be to fight with the Duke and offered many skirmishes to drawe him thereto but hee knowing fortune to bee very inconstant and in the warres especially to bee most wauering and vncertayne vtterly refused to hazard all vppon a Battaile and vnderstanding that there was some scarcitie in the kings campe and that it was impossible that so great a multitude shoulde bee long kept togither in a Countrey so exceedingly wasted where there were no meanes to relieue their wants kept himselfe close and sought to wearie his enemies by his long delaies The K. daily braued the Spaniards in the face dared them by many indignities to come to handy strokes which made the Duke resolue to do somwhat albeit he were sickly and most vnwilling to fight The Duke would not bee drawne to an entire fight supposing that if hee shoulde not stirre vpon so many prouocations his enemies would waxe more couragious and himselfe with all his Spaniards should lose much of their wonted honor reputation Whereupon he determined to encounter with the kings forces and to make some triall of the courage and resolution of his enemies yet so warily that he would be sure not to bring himselfe and his souldiers to a set battell but by some light conflict to maintain his honor and by a Spanish brauado to make the world beleeue that hee did but little esteeme of the king and all his forces Whereupon euery thing being in a readinesse and hauing encouraged his troupes with sundry perswasions the signall was no sooner giuen but there began a sharpe and cruel fight which hastened the death of many braue and valiant souldiers But the Duke espying the Kings side to be too strong and that his men were put to the worse withdrewe his troupes within their intrenchments hauing lost the yong Lord of Chastres and many other of great reckoning and account The dukes horse was shot through with a bullet The Count Horratio Scipio and Hanniball Bentiuolio with many others were sore wounded and in daunger of their liues The Duke not liking to trie the quarell any more by force fell to his old politike practises The duke de Maine entreth Roan and laboured by all possible meanes to get away away from the king without any further fighting Wherfore leauing a garrison of some 500 Spaniards French and Wallons in Caudebecke and sending the Duke de Maine with 3000. Leaguers into Roan hee reposing himselfe for a while within the Citie at length marched away as strongly and as closely as he could towarde Paris The D. of Parma marcheth