mounted on a horse of the same proportion rushes through them diuids them that held him Then happilie arriues the bastard of Bourgongue and the Earles garde by means whereof the French retire themselues to their ditch Charles of Bouâ—ggongâ—e taken and rescued where they had beene in the morning During the which a false brute of the Kings death had almost ouerthrowne all for euery one began to faint The Earle of Maine the Admirall of Montauban and the Lord of Barde imbracing this common beleefe flie with al the rereward Lewis aduertised of this amazement takes off his helmet shewes him selfe to his soldiars and so assures them that he is aliue On the other side the Bourguignon rallies his men dispersed and wearied readâ—e to flie if they had bin charged At the same instant the Count Saint Paul goes to the field and gathers together vnder his enseâ—gne about eight hundred men at armes and but fewe foote Behold the two armies ranked one against an other noâ— like vnto tired men but hauing vewed one another and mutuallie discharged their Canon The night approched A famous battaile for running away which ended the battaile an in counter where the nâ—table flying on either side did wonderfully moderate the furie of the fight The which beâ—ng thus ended the King was conducted by the Scottes to the Castell of Montlehery hauing neither eaten noâ— dronke all that day and then he retyres to Corbâ—il The Earle keeps the field â—poiles the dead and therfore holds himselfe a Conqueror· Amongest the Kings men were knowne Iefferie of Saint Bâ—lain Charleâ— Earle of 〈◊〉 mastâ—r of the plâ—â—e of Battaile the great Steward of Normandy Captaine Flâ—â— uel Baylife of Eureux with many gentlemen to the number of foure hundred horse and but fewe of foote men Our Burguignons the Lords of Lalain Hames Oâ—gnie Varenne and almost all the Earles Archers Haplainonurt Aimeries Inchy and many others were taken flying and brought prisoners to Paris of footemeÌ„ there were more slaine then of the Kings part A'l which were estemed by some at two thousand of both sides The number the dead others heâ—d theÌ„ three thousand six hundred but al affirme constantly that there were more Bouâ—guignons theÌ„ French although Lewis lost more horsemen In trâ—th the firme resolution the constant labour the dangerous hazards manfully passed by the King were sufficient motiues to incourage his men to honor and if he had beene well and couragiously followed notwithstanding his small number and want of artillery the Earle of Charoloâ—s soldiars had digged their graues at Montlehery Three daies after the battaile the Earle of Châ—rolois being aduertised that his confederates approched Succors come to the Earle of Charolois went to receiue them at Esâ—ampes The Dukes of Berry Brittaine the Earle of Dunois and Dammartin the Lords of Lohâ—ae Marshall of France of Buâ—â—l Chaumont and Charles of Amboise his sonne all disgraced by Lewis and put from their offices although they had well serued the King his father They brought with them saith the historie eight hundred good men at armes most Brittains who had newly lest the companies euery one pretending some discontent Of Archers and other men of war resolute wel appointed six thousand on horsebacke all of the Brittons charge who assured by some meÌ„ at armes that fled vpoÌ„ the Kings death promiseth to himselfe much good in conceit in case the Duke of Beâ—ry come to the Crowne And if at that instant they would haue giuen him credit they should haue suppressed the Bourguignons or at the least dismissed them verifiyng That there is small loyaltie and lesse pitty in men of warre On the other side the Duke of Berry began to loath these broyles for in open Councel hauing vewed seuen or eight hundred hurte men wandering vp and downe the Towneâ— he said how much more glad would I haue beene if this warre had neuer begon 〈◊〉 Duke Beâ—â—y lotheâ— the esâ—uâ—iâ—n of bloud then to purchase my selfe riches and honor which the price of so much bloud A speech worthy of a milde Prince and not bloudie but ill digested by the Bourguignon supposing that Charles would easely make his peace vpon the least motion made by Lewis And to assure him selfe as wel without as within the realme he sends William of Cluni afterwards Bishop of Poitiers to Edward King of England although he had alwayes supported the house of Lancaster from whence he was issued by his mother against that of Yorke Hauing refreshed their troups they all dislodge from Estampes and take the way to Saint Mathurin of Laroham and Moret in Gastinois and hauing an intents to passe the riuer of Sâ—ine the Earle imployes many coopers to make pipes hauing brought great store of stuffe for that purpose whereon a bridge was made for want of conuenient boats through the fauour of the Canon which the Earle had planted in an Isâ—â—nd in the midest of the riuer There ioynes with them Iohn Duke of Calabria the onelie sonne of René King of Sicile the Prince of Orange Thibauld of Neuf-chastel Marshall of Bourgongne Other succors come to the confederate Princes and Montagu his brother the Marquis of Rotelin the Lords of Argueil and Thoulongeon with many others leading nine hundred men at armes of the Duchie and Countie of Bourgongne six score men at armes barded Italians commanded by Galeot and Campo-bâ—sso foure hundred Germain crosse-bowes sent by the Cont Palatin and fiue hundred Suisses the which were the first that came to our warres A fatall and lamentable alliance for the Bourguignon as we shall see in his place of other footeman very fewe All this great torrent of a hundred thousand men inuiron Paris Paris beleagard they seize vpon S. Maur on the ditches Pont Charenton Consâ—ans S. Deâ—is and other Places there abouts they tyre the inhabytants with contynuall skirmishes euen at their gates and shakes theyr affections by practises and deuises The Duke of Berry writes to the Clergie to the Court of Parlement to the vâ—iuersitie which then was in great credit in Paris and to the Bourgesses to euery one a part shewing them that all these forces tend not but to the peoples ease and profit and requires them to depute men of iudgement and learning to vnderstand more at large the causes of this their great assemblie Ten Deputies heare their complaints being led by William Chartier Bishop of Paris they report it to the Counsell of the Cittie who answeres That the Cittie shal be free for the Princes to enter into at their pleasure they and theirs abstaining from violence and paying their expences Surely this would haue beene a Conquest of the cittye of Paris But the great Maister of Nantouillet the Marshal Ioachim and other Captaines take a vew of their forces and by this meanes retayne the Parisiens who changing their minds are fully confirmed by the arriuall of Iohn of Rohan Lord of Montauban Admirall of France with
Duke of Bourbon and to fauour his rebellion against the King the letters of congratulation he had written for his taking at Paâ—â—a his pursute to withdraw the Suisses from the alliance of France the purchase of the Countie of Ast his refusall to lend Nice for the enterview of Pope Clement and his Maiestie and to giue him passage against Sforce the detention of his Mothers inheritance which the King could not by any amiable meanes drawe his Vncle to restore This must be tryed by the sword The King therefore sent Francis of Bourbon Earle of Saint Paul who before the Duke could oppose his forces conquered all Sauoy Conquest of Sauoy except Montmelian where Francis of Charamont a Neapolitane commanded who wanting victuals and without â—ope of succours in the end yeelded vp the place to depart with baggage and aftâ—râ—ards contemned by the Duke he followed the victors fortune in the end did good seruice to the Crowne Then the Emperor granted by the Lord of Cannes and Granuelle the Duchie of Milan to the Duke of Orleans But when it came to demand the securitie and conditions of his instalment they made ansâ—er to the Ambassador de Velly That it was sufficient for that time to haue granted the principall the rest should be treated of with Philip Chabot Earle of Busançois Admirall of France who should presently arriue they supposed he should first make a voyage without any forces and that they must keepe this conclusion secret from the knowledge of his Holynesse All this discouered plainely that it was a tricke of their ordinary craft and dissembling to lull the King asleepe in the beginning of his course At the same instant the King hath newes The Emperours practisâ—â— vnder hand sufficient to giue hâ—m a certaine impression of the Emperours desseins That the Pope had beene duely aduertised by the Emperours ministers of all these practises which hee would haue secretly managed That the Venetians at the vrgent request of the Emperour were entred into a defensiue League for the Duchie of Milan in fauour of any one hee should inuest That he offered great matters to the King of England to drawe him to his dâ—uâ—tâ—on That Du Prat passing by Milan had deliuered speeches quite contrarie to the hopes and promises which the Emperour had giuen and that in 〈◊〉 he had made great preparation for warre That the Emperour tooke vpon him 〈◊〉 protection of the Duke of Sauoy And for the sixt point the preparations made 〈◊〉 Andrew Dorie It was therefore resolued to proceed in Sauoye and farther without breaking off on his part this negotiation with the Emperour To this end the King sent for his Lieutenant generall the Earle of Busaâ—sâ—â—s Admirall of France with eight hundred Launces whereof the seuerall Captaâ—â—â—s weâ—e Iames Galeat The Kings armie maister of the horse and maister of the Ordinance of Fraâ—ce Robert Steward Maâ—shall of France René of Montiean Francis Marquisse of Salussâ—s Claude of Annebault Anthonie Lord of Montpesat Iohn d'Estouteuille Lord of Villebon Prouost of Paris Gabriel d' Alegre Charles Tierâ—â—lin Lord of Roche du Maine and Iohn â—aul dâ— Cere A thousand light horse vnder the command of the Lords oâ— Esse Terme Aussun Verets of Sauoy Twelue thousand of his Legionarie men that is tâ—o thousand Picards commanded by Michel of Brabançon Lord of Cany and Anthonie of Mailly Lord of Auchy Two thousand Normans vnder their Captaines La Sale and Saint Aubin the Hermit Two thousand Champanois lead by Iohn d' Arâ—lure Lord of Iour and by the Lord of Quinsy A thousand of Languedoâ—s vnder the Knight d' Ambres Foure thousand out of Daulphiné vnder the Lord of Bresâ—â—â—x and others And a thousand vnder the Lord of Forges the Kings ordinarie Câ—pbearer of all which bands René of Montiean was Colonell sixe thousand Lâ—â—â—quenets lead by William Earle of â—ursâ—emberg Two thousand French not Legionaries lead by their Captaines Lartigue-Dieu Blanche Anguar and Warâ—â—s a Nauarrois Two thousaâ—d Italians vnder the command of Marc Anthonie of Cusan a Gentleman Milâ—nois and a thousand vnder Captaine Christopher Gâ—â—â—o eight hundred Pioners sixe hundred and foure score horse for Artillerie and the charge thereof appointed to be â—â—der the gâ—uernment of Claude of Couâ—is Lorde of Burie Count Philip Torniel and Iohn Iaques of Medicis Marquis of Marignan marched before to stoppe the passage of Suze but Annebâ—ult aduancing with the troupes of Daulphiné Beginning of the warres in Piedmont pâ—euented them with speed chased them before him from lodging to lodging and at the first summons putâ— into the Kings handes the tâ—wnes of Turin and Chiuas Don Laurence Emanuel Iohn Iaques de Medicis and Iohn Baptista Caslaldo camped vpon the riâ—er of Doaire The French and Lansquenets impatient to attend the making of a bridâ—e wade thrâ—â—gh the water euen vnto the brestâ— repulse the Imperialls and make them retâ—re towards Verceil A gallant Legionarie to whom the Historie ought his name â—wimming through the riuer brought away a Boate in despight of the enemies shotte for the building of a Bridge The Admirall to incourage the rest according to the Kings command caused a gold â—iâ—g to be giuen him in view of the whole armie The Emperour was vpon termes of his departure from Naples to make his entrie into Rome when as these happy beginnings made him to renue the treaties of an accord but with such slow proceeding as a man might easily iudge that his onely intent was to staye the King in his course labouring to entertaine him with doubts hopes and delayes In the meane time hee sollicites the Pope to declare himselâ—e on his partie hee assured the Duke of Sauoye to cause all hee had lost to bee soone restored to him againe hee hastened the leuie of his Lansquenets causeth his horsemen to aduance drawes Artillerie and Munition out of Imperiall Townes makes them to march towards Italy protests againe to the Pope that he would neuer yeeld Milan to the King nor suffer him to possesse one foote of land in Italy hee sollicited the Court of Rome the Senate of Venice and all other Potentates of Italy to oppose against the inuesting of any stranger in the Duchie of Milan These were vehement presumptions to shewe that the Emperour meant not to treate but armed which caused the King to command his Admiral to proceed in his first course he had temporised by his Maiesties commaundement attending the issue of this new parle and to march against Verceâ—lâ— and if hee encountred his enemies with equalâ—tie to â—ight with them There were three thousand men to defend Verceil and foure miles 〈◊〉 Anthonie de Leue camped with about six hundred horse and twelue thousand 〈◊〉 not as Lieutenant to the Emperour but as Captaine generall for the League of Italâ—e cutting off the passage to Caguin and Hanniball Goâ—sâ—gue Guy Earle of â—â—â—gan anâ— some other pensioners to the King who had brought for his seruice fiue hundred
summe Annebault sent certaine Captaines who surprised the Towne from foure hundred soldiars which kept it in the Emperours name Montcallier sent presently to offer obedience and the Castell of Carignan yeelding did furnish Turin with about three thousand sackes of meale packt vp readie to send to the Campe. Salusses Quieras and many other places of the Marquisate and of Piedmont did homage vnto the victors The King sent to refresh Annebault and his troupes both with horse and foote hee drewe them out of Turin sending two thousand French â—oote vnder the Command of Captaine René and la Godiniere and two thousand others vnder the Cheualier Birague and for gouernour he sent Burie to whome he gaue the company of men at armes which Francis of Salusse being reuolted did command But behold an act as remarkable as it is rare proceeding from a singular affection and what will not a braue Knight do for his mistres Vnexpected succorâ— froâ— Scotland Vpon the first newes of the Emperours descent into Prouence the King of Scotland did arme sixteene thousand men to come and succour the King without his request or priuitie saies the Originall and nothing stayed him from comming in time vpon the generall hope of a battaile but a contrary winde which had put him backe twise The King had assured him selfe of his newe conquests and hauing giuen order to the frontiers of his realme returned into France The King of Scotland came to meete him at la Chapelle betwixt Tarare and Saint Saphorin in Lionois and theâ—e he demanded one of his daughters in marriage The ancient alliance of the realme of France and Scotland was considerable The Father of this King had beene slaine in battaile against the English for the partie of King Lewis the twelfth and should his kind affection bee denied So the marriage betwixt him and Magdaleine of France was concluded in Blois and sollemnized the first day of the yeare following Great prosperities are oftentimes accompanied with some crosses else the vanity of our senses would easily transport vs and we would attribute that to our owne valour which belongs to the great Iudge and moderator of battells behold 〈…〉 fruits in the gouernement of the Lord of Bury at Turin Oftentimes hee is taken that thinkes to take The Emperour had adiudged Monferrat to the Marquis of 〈◊〉 against the Duke of Sauoy and Francis of Salusses who pretended it and those 〈…〉 would not accept of him Bury during these garboiles practiseth Damian 〈◊〉 Captaine in the garrison at Casal for the Emperour Damian promiseth to deliuer him a gate Bury leads thither Christopher Gouast with twelue hundred Italians wherof he was Collonel and some number of horse vnder the Lord of Tais and at the first becomes maister of the towne But the mattocks shouels and other instruments for Pyoners which VVilliam Earle of Biendras should haue prouided with the money hee had receiued to that ende to make a trench sodainly betwixt the Towne and the Castle whilest that Cont Guy should come to succour them with the artillery to batter the Castle were yet to buy Whilest they seeke for others to make trenches the Marquis of Guast had leysure to assemble his forces within Ast and to enter into the Castle by the field-gate and so into the towne Twelue hundred men were not able to withstand the furie of this vnexpected storme Bury taken prisoner He mainteins the shock and enters fight but in the end beeing forced by the enemy he is taken prisoner Tais Guast and all the rest were slaine or taken Biendras Damian and other marchants saue themselues We finde the fault when it is done It is good to obserue it to make vs wise He should haue imparted this enterprise to Cont Guy who should haue drawne his armie neere vnto Ast. The Maâ—quâ—s fearing to loose the one and not to saue the other had conteyned himselfe within his walls Guy Guiffroy Lord of Boutieres was appointed gouernor by the King in Buâ—â—es place The snow yce and slipperines of the winter stayed the courses of the garrisons in Picardy And whilest the season kept them from doing any memorable exploits the King laying open in his Court of Parliament at Paris in the presence of the Peeres of France Pursute against the Emperour in iustice and Princes of the bloud forty 〈…〉 Bishops many officers of the Crowne and other great presonagâ—s of all Estates the lawfull armes of a Lord against his vassall that hath committed a trespasâ— he sent to suÌ„mon the Emperour vpon the fronters by a Herald to come and plead what he should thinke good against the demands of his maiesties Aduocate and Proctor generall concluding that in regard of the rebellions treacheries of the said Emperour against the King his naturall Prince and Souereigne Lord by reason of the Earledomes of Flanders Arthois Charolois and other places holding of the crowne of France they should be adiudged confiscate and vnited to the Crowne And no man appearing for the Emperour the demaund of the Kings Councel was registred according to the forme tenure vsual in those cases For the execution of this sentence the Lords of Annebault Tais Termes Aussun Frenchmen More of Nouate Francis Bernardin of Vimercat Italians George Capâ—ssement and Theode Manes Albanois eyther of them commanding two hundred light horse de Bies Seneshall and Gouernour of Boullen and De Crequi Gouernor of Monstrueil Captaines of fifty men at armes hauing victualed Therouenne in viewe of the Earle of Reux who issued forth of S. Omer with six hundred horse to preuent this Stratagem the King parting from Amiens whereas Charles Duke of Vendosme then died much lamented of the King and Realme a braue Prince and well deseruing of this Crowne for his many notable seruices the king in the end of March sends VVilliam Earle of Furstemberg to field with eight thousand Lansquenets the Lords of Seâ—eâ— and Auchi who were slaine at the first approches at Hedin Heilly S. Seual Picards Bacqueuille la Salle S. Albin Normands Quincy a Champanois Haraâ—court a Lorraine either of them leading a thousand men and many other bandes of Germains and French amounting all to fiue and twenty thousand men wherof Montmorency Lord Steward was Lieutenant generall for his maiesty Hedin of consequence to the King 1537 for the preseruation of his other places in Picardie and being in his power did wonderfully annoy the enemy Heâ—in taken The towne abandoned by the garrâ—son they retyre into the Castell the which was taken without resiâ—tance but the Earle of Reuâ—â— had well furnishâ—d the Castell for the deâ—ence of a place of importance Captaine Samson an old Knight of Namurs a great soldiar commanded there with fifteene hundred men vnder the enseignes of Bouâ—eâ—s and Vaudeuille They make their approches many Captaines perswaded that the thicknes of the wall mayntained wich a great rampâ—r would neuer aâ—mâ—t any breach tâ—ey come to vndermine The
Prince of Milphe the Lâ—â—ds of Barbesâ—â—â—â— Burie Viâ—lâ—ers Corneilles vndertake the worke and cast downe â—alfe a Tower pâ—ssiâ—g from the Towne to the Castell but that 〈◊〉 whicâ— ioyned to the Castell stâ—â—ding firme the place was not much weakened Tâ—e King then 〈◊〉 to attempt it by batterie and hee himselfe shewes the place where to plant the Cannon At the approches Lâ—sarches and Pont-briant 〈◊〉 experienced Commissaries of the artillery with many Caâ—â—oniers and others loose their liues The Cannon planted vpon the brinke of the â—â—ench plaies two daies togither and the third they make a breach of thirtie fadomes The Kings presence being the rewarder of vertue setts many yong gentlemen on fire being desirous of reputation and before that order be giuen â—or the assault carries them to the toppe of the breach But they find the like valout in 〈◊〉 them some are slaine vpon the place others returne â—ore wounded Charles of 〈◊〉 among others Earle of Sincerre a yong Noble man who followed the â—â—â—ppes of his 〈◊〉 vertue Aubigny Lieutenant to Sercu and Damiâ—te enseigne beâ—â—er of the sayd Company testified by their deathes the hope of their youth if the chance of armes 〈◊〉 â—ent them a longer life Haraucourt a Lorraine and his â—rother his Lieutenant sons to the Lord of Paâ—oy Lieutenant to the Duke of Guise in the gouernment of Champagne and of his companie of man at armes Fâ—leâ—eres soâ—nâ— to Mardicoque and many others returned backe lame Yet this attempt amazed thâ— beseeged and helpt the generall For when as they see the order the King had giuen to assaile them in the morning a great number of men at armes on foote with fiue or six hundred light horsemen all the rest on horse-backe the whole army readie to be put in battaile if the enemy approched some appoynted to march first others to second them and some to releeue them that went to the assault the resolution and courage of the night past made them enter into composition whereby they departed with theiâ— baggage leauing the artilleâ—ie munition victualls The King committed it to the gard of Sercu The Castell of 〈◊〉 â—â—ken giuing him a company of fifty men at armes and a thousand foote Saint Paul neere vnto Hedin might much annoy him and reduced to the Kings obedience crosse the garrisons of Betune Arras Liliers and other places there abouts Annebault did this exploit and Anthonie of Castell an Italiâ—n Ingenâ—ur vndertooke the fortification of the Towne and Castell Saint Paul and Lilâ—iers taken Lilliers abandoned by Lieuin Captaine of the Towne was by the Lord Steward and Duke of Guise visiting the Country added to the former Conquests and left vnder the commande of Martin du Bellay Captaine of two hundred light horse ioyning vnto him la Lande with a thousand foote to keepe them of Saint Venant and Maruille from annoying the forragers victuallers of the French Army The Bourguignons had fortified an Iland at Saint Venant vpon the riuer of Lis. The Lord Steward vndertakes to force it and takes with him the Earle of Fursâ—emberg with eight thousand French and Germains At the first the beseeged repulse the Lansqueâ—ets kill some and wound many And now the day began to faile when as Charles Martâ—l Lord of Bacqueuille la Lande discouering one part of the trench worse manned then the rest they crosse it with their Normands and Picards and come to handâ—e bâ—â—wes they loose some men and kill many of the enemies force the trench the â—ampar and the bastion they compell them to abandon and leaue their defeâ—ceâ— and make way for the rest of their companies and troupes to enter who châ—â—ing the enemies make a great slaughter of men to reuenge the death of their companions They presently set vpon the second fort the bridge whereof was crâ—st with great long peeces of wood ioyned one to another and betwixt manned with good shott defended with a mill of stone well perced and furnished with harguebuses of Crocke and other shot But nothing is difficult to a resolute mind and the fâ—â—st flying to the second fort strooke terrour into them they force them and put them all to the sword The number of the dead was estemed twelue or fifteene hundred on both sides the place spoyled the bootie carried away and the houses burnt There passed no day without an enterprise of one side or other courses and recourses prises and reprises of men victuals and places ill garded or not gardable The King seeing the Emperour had no armie readie able to crosse his new conquest content for that yeare to haue taken Hedin and fortified Saint Paul he caused Liliers to bee burnt reseruing the Abby of Nunns and the Churches and the walls to bee beate downe that the enemie lodging there should not annoy Therouenne and Saint Paul he gaue the gouernment of S. Paul to Iohn d'Estouteuille Lord of Villebon Prouost of Paris with his coÌ„pany of men at armes that of Moyencourt named de Hangest to Martin du Bellay with his two hundred light horse and two thousand foot coÌ„manded by the Captaines la Lale and Saint Aubin Normans Blerencourt and Yuille Picards euery one fiue hundred and in the Castle a thousand men vnder the charge of René of Palletiere He left the Earle of Furstemberg in garrison at Dourlans with his Lansquenets and a hundred men at armes vnder the guidons of the Lords of Estree and la Roche du Nâ—â—ne But these bands were so ill compleet as they made not halfe their numbers then hauing in like sort prouided for other places hee brake vp his campe and dismissed his troupes to giue order for the affaires of Piedmont where the enemie grew strong The King thus disarming the Earle of Bures armes fower and twentie thousand Lansquenets six thousand Walons and eight thousand horse and resolues to charge the Lansquenets lodged neere to Dourlans to make the seege of Saint Paul more easie which he ment to attempt By the surprise of some letters he learned that the fortificatioÌ„s of the place required yet 2 c. dayes time to make it able to repulse the enemie He changeth his opinion and truning head to Saint Paul makes his approches the tenth of Iune notwithstanding the many sallies and skirmishes of the beseeged hee recouers by meanes of a great hollow way which the sodaine arriuall of the Imperials would not suffer them to make euen the point of a great Bulwarke vpon the way to Mouchy they vndermine day night shoot sixteene or eighteene hundred canon shot make a breach of three or foure paces Saint Paul beseeged by the Imperials and by the furie of seuen or eight peeces of artillerie force Martin de Bellay Blerencourt and Yuille to abandon the breach which lookes towards Dourlans their cheefe and almost only defence hee giues an assault with fiue or sixe hundred men onely to vew the breach and by the thunder of their Canons which battered all along the
and victualls the Daulphin hauing brought but for two dayes the enemies which assembled at Monts and at Quesnoy le Comte the daunger the King did foresee in keeping his troupes diuided the feare that going in person to ioyne with his sonne with whom were his chiefe â—orces he should be constrayned to leaue the fortifications of Landrecy imperfect his Maiesty drawes the Daulphin vnto him he causeth him to beate downe the defences of Maubeuge in his passage and for that the Emperour was wont to assemble his forces there that came out off Germany and the Low Countries to fire the Towne Trelon and Glayon places betwixt Auennes and Simay did greatly annoy the frontiers of Tierasse and Champagne Bonneuall and Stenay Lieutenant to the Duke of Anguien who was in Prouence as we shall shortly see had commission to preuent it Beeing come to Trelon with two thousand French and foure thousand Lansquenets those within at the fiâ—st sight of the Cannon yeelded to haue their liues saued Glayâ—n afterwards submitted with the like facility Both being burnt but their fortifications not ruined shall serue againe to lodge the Imperialls Emery remained still whole but it might not be made fit to endure the attempts of a mighty army in twelue dayes Moreouer it must bee furnished with victualls Two â—iuers noâ— to be waded through betwixt Landrecy and Emery made the victualing difficult Auennes did cut it off and the Commissaries of the victualls reported that to put victualls into Emery were in time to famish the armie to take away the meanes to victuall Landrecy for the want of carriage which was greatly hindred by a continuall raine three weekes together And that which did most import newes comes to that the Emperour armes and approched neere the countries of the Duke of Cleues whom he might not abandon to the pawes of a roaring Lion who had long time vowed his ruine So the Towers of the Dungeon of Emery and the portall of the walls flying into the ayre by myne and other meanes serued to fill vp the trenches Hitherto we haue made warre with small resistance· hereafter wee shall haue a stronger party and by consequence more glory to crosse the Emperours attempts whilest that the famine and the winter driues him from before Landrecy In the end of Iuly Landrecy was in such estate as without any support of an army the fortifycations might well be continued leauing some troupes at Guise and the Duke of Cleues against whom the Empeâ—our banded all his power appealed to the King for succours The King therefore to diuert the Emperours forces to draw him to battell and to trye if he were accompanied with the like happinesse leading his forces in person as hee had beene by his officers or at the least by the taking of Luxembourg to make the way easie to succour his ally he sent the Duke of Vendosme to encounter the enemies attempts vpon the frontiers of base Picardy and to fauour the necessary victualing of Landrecy and for the execution of his enterprise he appointed the Duke of Orleans vnder the conduct of the Admirall of Annebault The Prince of Melphes whome the King had left in Guise with three hundred men at armes and Brissac Collonell of fifteene hundred light horse assembled to go and ioyne with him about Rheims And the Earles of Reux and Roquendolfe with the forces of the Lowe Country came from a skirmish at Landrecy which they did hope to surprise being vnfurnished of victualls As they trouped together with a desseine to attempt the Castle of Bohain newes comes that La Hunaudaye and Theaude Bedaigne an Albanois either of them beeing Captaine of two hundred horse were lodged neere vnto the Castle of Bouhourie making account to dislodge so earely as they might come in time to part with the Generall To surprise them the Lord of Liques Lieutenant to the Duke of Ascots companie drawes eight hundred choise Bourguignon horses out of the Imperiall troupes two hundred Englishmen the King of England being then fauoured by the Emperour The Imperialls charge the French in their lodging are repulst pretended to inuade vs as we shall see hereafter and foure enseignes of footemen But least he should come too late he leaues them behind him and marcheth before with his horsemen At the first they charge Bedaignes lodging who whilest the enemy was breaking open the gate had leysure to put on his Cuirasse he goes to horsebacke with his launce in his hand forceth furiously through them ouerthrowes them he meetes and ioynes his troupe with La Hunaudaye who was likewise on horseback Aché and Bertrand of Foissy Lord of Crené Captaines of two hundred harguebuziers on horsebacke being lodged at the same Abby post to their succours they force the bridge which the Imperialls kept ioyntly with the light horsemen repulse the enemy The alarum is giuen at Guise Theaude Manes arriues with his two hundred light horse to second his companions and Brissac borrowing about threescore horse of the Prince of Melphe his troupes had already taken the way to Marle goes to their aide he is aduertised by Bedaigne that the enemy fearing to haue the whole armie vpon them began to wauer all the troupes ioyne and charge them sodainly they ouerthrowe their horsemen vpon their foote which aduanced put them to rout they pursue them speedily leaue three hundred dead vpon the place carry away six hundred prisoneâ—s and winne foure Enseignes on foote and two Cornets on horse The rest of the Imperiall armie going to assaile Bohain hearing of this defeat and doubting they should be forced to fight with the whole army grew amazed retyred to Quesnoy le Comte The Duke of Orleans hauing already by the taking of S. Mary for Montmedy Yuoy were vnder the Kings obedience since the first conquest made by the said Duke Danuilliers Vireton Arlâ—n and other places made his approches to Luxembourg hee â—â—st it with two batteries at a corner of the high towne towards France the one crossing the other the one was coÌ„mitted to the Duke of Aumale the other to Peter Strossy a Florentine kinseman to Pope Clement deceased who being lately come out off Italy had brought three hundred Tuscane souldiers all men of note and commandement two parts armed with Pikes the third with Harguebuziers all with gilt coâ—selets The Towne was defended by foure hundred horse well appointed three thousand fiue hundred foote well armed vnder the commaund of Giles of Leuant a man well esteemed by the Imperialls and Iohn de Heu one of the Lords of Metz. Yet at the fift or six volle of the Canon hauing demanded coÌ„position they departed with their baggage Longuâ—uil entred as gouernor with his company of men at armes Anglure with a thousand of the Legion of Champagne Haraucourt a Lorraine and the Vicomte of Riuiere commaunding eyther of them fiue hundred men and Ierom Marin a Boulenois sixe score Italians The King hauing passed the feast of
and comes to incampe at Mollettes halfe a league from Montmelian the riuer of Isere beeing betwixt them The Duke passeth the riuer vpon a bridge of boates made nere vnto that of Montmelian and lodgeth at the Castell of Saint Helâ—ne right against Molette places some-what high and within Cannon shot one of an other separated by a great medow and a fenne at the first they salute one an other by skirmishes and if the Sauoisiens had done what they might they had greatly annoyed our men who were not lodged nor scarse arriued The night approching ended the combat with the losse of a hundred good men and gaue meanes to the Kings troupes to take breath and prepare to be reuenged with vsurie The next day the Duke shewes fifteene thousand foot and fifteene hundred horse in battaile in this great medow but with such aduantage as no man might charge them Les Diguieres intrencheth himselfe at the foote of the medow euery master of the campe euery Captaine takes his quarter and by the care of the Lord of Crequi commaunding the foote the Kings campe was in short time out of present danger which seemed to threaten their ruine In the meane time they faile not on either side to trie their swords and pistolls two to two three to three troupe to troupe and nothing buâ— a simple ditch yet deepe and full of water keepes the two armies from a bloodie fight Thus for some dayes these warriours inflamed their resolutions when as the Duke of Sauoie propounded to his Councell a great desseine for the execution whereoâ— the foureteenth of August by eight of the clocke in the morning he secretly drawes three thousand men into a great wood neere to the trenches of the Kings armie lodgeth his Suisses with a battaillon of foot on an other side sets his horse in a vallie and encouraging them by his presence causeth about two of the clocke a Canon to be discharged for a signe of a cruell and blodie battaile but fuller of passion then of iudgement The losse fell vpon himselfe the Kings troupes both horse and foot were wâ—th a firme resolution prepared to withstand their force They come to skirmish the noyse of the Cannon drownes all other sounds the fire of the shott inflames the ayre and seemed for fiue houres togither to dazell the light of the Sunne The medow is couered with dead carcases the enemies bloud dies the brooks and inflames our men to fight The Seigneur of Crequi receiues a musket shot in the right arme but the Lion is chafed and stormes at the sight of his owne bloud So retyring himselfe apart vnder a tree to be drest hee returnes speedily to his companions and burning with a generous heat of reuenge shewes that he is a right heire both in bloud and vertue to that braue Lord of Pontdormy who hath so often heretofore died his sword and arme in the bloud of the stranger being enemie to this Crowne Aboue twelue hundred men slaine or hurt made the day famous The Duke of Sauoie defeated at S Helene Molettâ—s and made the Sauoisien loose all desire to trie any more the firme resolution of our men grounded vpon the right of a most iust offensiue warre If all this great armie neither by the thunder of their Cannons nor the furie of their shot neither by the force of their men at armes could any thing shake the constancie of our men doth Colonnel Ambrose thinke to preuaile more with fiue hundred natural Spaniards assailing a Corps de gard placed on the side of a fenne but he doth increase their shame in stead of reuenging their publike losse The Seigneur of Baume and Poet receiue him with such resolution as they kill a hundred and fiftie vpon the place and take many prisoners the rest they force to cast away their armes to bee the more light to flie The Duke spent the night to burie his men and to carrie away the wounded then he dislodged the sixteenth and went to lodge at a village called Barraux beyond Isere at the entry of the valley of Grisiuaudan towards Grenoble and there begins a fort busying himselfe in the building thereof vnto the end of Nouember This change of lodging inuited our men to do the like Les Diguieres comes to lodge at Castel Bayard and his armie at Pont-Charra halfe a League from the enemie At PonÌ„t Chaâ—ra the riuer being betwixt them hee keepes his men in continuall skirmishe to the enemies losse and by this placing of his campe makes the enemie doubt that hee would attempt the passage of Eschilles To crosse him the Duke sends many troupes to enter by the valley of Pragelas into the Countrie of Brianson and to shut vp the passage in case he were beseeged The check he receiued counteruailed the first The water the 〈◊〉 and the steepe mountaines deuoured a great number of his men then the skirâ—ishes of S. Helene and Molettes Beâ—old a third which shewes that God doth fauour the iust cause of armes and makes their effects happie against the iniustice of vsurpers The eight of September the Lord Les Diguieres who lets not slipp any occasion is aduertised that Sanches Earle of Salines to draw him to succour his owne Prouince and to leaue Sauoâ—e goes to spoyle about Grenoble with fiue hundred maisters diuided into two 〈…〉 horse To adde this victory to the former hee sends two houres before day the â—eâ—gneurs of Baume Authun and Saint Ieure with two hundred horse and a hundred Câ—â—bins to lie in ambush in an Island in the midest of the riuer of Isere At the breake of â—ay the Earle passeth in sight of them they suffer him to aduance about halfe a Leâ—gue then they issue forth of their ambush and wade through the other part of the 〈◊〉 to their sadle skirts At Lâ— Frette they ouertake the Earle at La Frette charge him furiously kâ—â—l Dom Iâ—hn de Sequano first Captaine of the horse Dom Roario Dom Probio with maâ—â— other Commaunders and men at armes to the number of two hundred and by the taking of Dom Euangeliste who led the second troupe of the Earle of Gatinari of Dom Iohn Toc brother in law to the Earle and threescore others they end the combat and returne with honour At Chaparâ—â—â—llâ—n hauing lost but sixe men in this bold incounter Some dâ—yâ— after the Lord Les Diguieres passeth the riuer with most part of his horse at Chaparouillon and there charging a troupe of the enemies which made a good shew by the fauour of some trenches gaue the Seigneurs of Crequi and Buisse the second honor of this victorie The last of October the Kings armie ill lodged at Pontcharra retyred about Grenoble from thence Les Diguieres sent foure regiments towards Barselonne and surmounting the toyle of the way being of most hard accesse for the Cannon tooke Allosi then in the end of Nouember Saint Genis to disapoint the intelligences which the Duke
the Empire and namely the Prince Elector of Collen with whome they desired nothing more then to entertaine al good Alliance Amitie CorrespoÌ„dencie and good Neighbourhood maintayning themselues in that sort without diminution of their Estate vntil they might once see an end whereunto they did alwaies tend and aspire euen vnto this houre The which they haue made sufficiently knowne by their resolution to restore Rhinberg vnto the sayd Prince Elector of Collen The Towne of Rhinâ—eâ—g to hold it vnder the rights of neutralitie if it had not bin preuented by the seege which the Enemy layd before it whereby hee would haue giuen some colour to his attempts with such as thâ—ough ignorance or impatiencie haue not sounded the ground of the matter The which attempts are manifest by the surprises of Townes and places and change of Religion and Gouernment whereby he did not onely aduertiâ—e Princes and Lords but plainly teach them how he meanes to intreat them and their Subiects at his first oportunity to settle the Spanish Monarchie They had seene by experience how willingly and freely sayd the States they had the last yeere at the request of the sayd Princes and States of the Empire deliuered vp diuers places which they had wrested out of the enemies hands lying within the lymits of the Empire vppon hope that the enemies would also yeeld what they held depending of the Empire as they had promised to the sayd Princes and States which deliuerie vp by them and refusall of the enemie hath beene so preiudiciall vnto them as in the end they haue beene constrayned to beseege and force the Townes of Alpen Moeurs and Berck according to the good successe which they haue had It is also manifest how they restored the Townes of Alpen and Moeurs without restitution of one penie for the charges of the Conquest and how they had offered to do as much for the Towne of Berck with a declaration of the true meanes to entertaine the lymits of the Empire in Peace if the Enemie who sought the contrary had not hindred it Which their good and sincere intention hath beene so much the more manifested for that according to the order set downe by Prince Maurice their Captaine to expell the enemies garrisons out of the Towne of Emericke they did it restored the sayd Towne vnto the right Prince wherby your Excellencies and other Princes may see the sincerity of our actions without any farther doubt or distrust But rather that you would seeke the meanes whereby the Spaniards and their adherents may be chased out of Germanie and their pretended Monarchie preuented to the end that the members and Subiects of the Empire may be freed from so great dangers troubles for the effecting wherof said the States we haue these many years done our bâ—st indeuours mind so to continue trusting that God will moue the harts of Kings Princes Potentates Commonweals States to effect imbrace their coÌ„mon defeÌ„ce ruÌ„ning al iointly to quench this fire So beseeching their ExcelleÌ„cies to take c. These IustificatioÌ„s being conferred by the Deputies with them of the Admiral they acquainted Charles Nutzel Commissioner for the Emperour therewith who gaue them to vnderstand Propositions of the Dâ—puties of VVestphalia c. That it would please the Princes Electors to consider with what care and dilligence the Emperour had sent his commaundement and letters as well to Albert the Archduke as to Andrew the Cardinall who were not yet well aduertised how things had past That to leuie an armie onely vpon the teritories of the Empire they must take good aduice and that by a Diet or Generall Assembly of all the Estates of the Empire That the Spaniards and States had mightie armies and their souldiars had beene hardened and practised in armes for these thirtie yeares That both the King of Spaine and the said States hauing had warre with other Kings and Princes and their armies defeated they haue presently renued the warres and with greater forces That for many reasons he would not aduise them to take armes presently but to stay a time and in the meane while they should require both the one and the other againe to repaire the hurt done by them in the Emperours Countrie by some friendly composition and that in the meanetime the Emperour should call an Imperiall Diet where if it should be resolued to leuie an armie to chase as well the Spaniards as the States out off the territories of the Empire that the Emperour as the soueraigne head should consent thereunto and do any thing that was befitting his charge Contrariwise the Deputies of Westphalia of base Saxony and of the vpper part of the Rhine did shew that they could not attend to any othertime to resist the Spaniards and the Admirall who contrary to the promises made by them to restore the places taken did still rauage more and more ouer the Countries of Westphalia Cleâ—es Mark and Bergh That Albert the Archduke and Andrew the Cardinall had beene aduertised of the violence of their armies and that they must resolue to repell force by force Wherupon it was decreed by the consent of the greatest part in forme of an Imperiall Edict A decree made at the Assembly of Coâ—â—lâ—nâ— That they should giue necessarie succors to the Circle of Westphalia and to the other Estates of the Empire that were beseâ—ged According vnto this Decre Henry Iules Duke of Brunswike and of Lunebourg Postulus of Halberstat and Prince Maurice Landgraue of Hesse leuied good troupes of mâ—n with that which the States of the aboue named Circles did ad vnto them all which togither made a good bodie of an armie of Germains of ten thousand foote and three thousand horse Count of â—ippe Generall of Germaine armie whereof Simon de Lippe was Captaine Generall the Earle of Hohenloo commaunded the Duke of Brunswiks troupes and Count George Euâ—rard of Solms those of the Landgraue of Hesse And for Generall of the Artillerie they had Oliuer de Timpel Lord of Cruybeke This armie being on foote the Spaniards left their lodging about the end of Aprill in the quarters of Westphalia and Munster the which they had made very desolate and came and planted themselues along the Rhine about the Townes of Emeric and Rees And afterwards as the sayd armie approched hauing stayed to beseege the fort of Walsom right against the Towne of of Rhinberk vppon the riuers side which the Germaines did take in the end they continued almost two moneths vnprofitably in that quarter and neuer aduanced to the great discontentment of the said Princes of Brunswike and Hesse and of their Lieutenants In the end the Count of Lippe marching downe the Rhine on the same side the Admirall of Arragon retyred his Spaniards out off Emeric the 7. of May remouing his bridge which he had vpon the Rhine and placing it lower before the Towne of Rees After he had wel manned the said Towne with a
young Germaine Prince of a good house but not of abilitie to support Ioane so as she held him not as a husband but vsed him as a Stallion Amidest these alterations of Naples the sea of Rome was not quiet for after the death of Pope Gregorie XI who retired from Auignon to Rome the Colledge of Cardinalls fell to a horrible contention for the Popes election the Romains being resolute to haue one of their owne nation and the French one of theirs from whence sprong that strange Sichsme whereof we shall speake Vrbain the 6. was chosen at Rome after the decease of Gregorie the XI and the French Cardinalles yeelded to this election but for that they sayed they had beene forced by the Romains who had them in their power and threatned to kill them vnder colour to change the aier hauing obteined leaue to goe to Anagnia they retier to Fundi a Cittie of the realme of Naples fauored by Queene Ioane French by stock and humour A Schisme in the Church and there they choose Clement the 7. for Pope to oppose him against Vrbain Clement retyred to Auignon and Vrbain keepes at Rome Two Popes two Seas two Factions which trouble all Christendome with horrible confusions Clement seekes to fortifie himselfe and as France held for him so did he labour to haue Naples wholie at his deuotion by reason of the neerenesse much importing for the Cittie of Rome where the chiefe quarrell was debated Contrariwise Vrbain the 6. to be reuenged of Ioane a partisan to Clement the 7. his enemie hath recourse to Lewis King of Hongarie the first interessed beeing brother to him whome this strumpet had slaine that he might oppose the same scourge which had alreadie corrected her But Lewis excusing himselfe by his age and the infirmity of his body sent him Charles issued from that Lewis Prince of Durazzo who we sayed was sonne to Charles of Aniou seeking euen in the race it selfe a man to punish this wicked woman giuing him a goodly armie to that ende Ioane seeing this great storme readie to fall on her flies to Pope Clement the 7. and by his aduice adopts our Lewis Duke of Aniou of whome we nowe treat Lewis hauing prepared his army and beeing crowned King of Naples and Sicile by Pope Clement the 7. in Auignon hee lands at Naples to take possession of the realme Estate of Naples wherevnto the lawefull heire and the Popes authoritie did call him But he came too late for Charles of Durazzo being parted from Hongarie with his army and happylie landed entred the Country ouercame Otho the pretended husband of Ioane and holding him prisoner he forced this miserable woman to yeeld vnto his mercy the which was too great for that he only caused her to be smothered betwixt two pillowes Queene Ioane taken and smothered deseruing as cruell a death as her life had bin execrable Notwithstanding all these difficulties Lewis of Aniou thrust forward by his owne ambition proceeded hauing giuen such order to his affaiers after the adoption made by Ioane in his fauour and the Popes coronation as he procured all the Captaines of places to hold for him hauing ingaged them by money and golden promises so as many places held good for him and the people desyred him being glad to be freed from Ioane and to haue so mightie a Lord to maintaine them in peace Lewis enters the realme of Naples at the first hee winnes Tarentum and Beri Lewis Duke of Aniou and King of Naples by Adoption dies but whilest he determines to proceede in his desseines death surpriseth him making an ende of his infinit ambition and of all his toyles but not of his childrens Lewis and Charles nor of their posterities Thus Charles Pince of Durazzo of the race of Aniou called the Hongarien for that he had beene borne and bred in Hongarie and brought vp by King Lewis remayned peaceable King of Naples 1384. leauing two Children Ladislaus and Ioane who shall prepare a newe stage whereon our Princes shall soone playe their parts as you shall vnderstand Let vs nowe returne to France The Duke of Anious departure put all authoritie into the hands of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne The Duke of Berry and Bourgongne in credit who began to manage the affaiers of State at their pleasures There was no great loue betwixt them although they were bretheren but onely to maintaine themselues against such as might hinder their ambitious plotts And for that they had knowen the Chanceller Dormans to be wholy affected to the Regent they perswaded the young King to dismisse him for some reasons the which are not specified in the Historie The Chancellor Dormains disgraced But Princes want no colours when they will disgrace their seruants Peter Orgemont was appointed in his place after the seale had remayned some time in the hands of Robert of Corby first President of the Court of Parliament of Paris and of Philip Moulins a Chanoine of the sayed Cittie But Flanders which alwayes bred some monster in that age stirred vp by the English and pufte vp by the ridiculous conclusion of this great and vaine preparation began new troubles and had practises with them of Paris to drawe the rest of the Citties of the realme into some popular league New troubles in Flanders These newes put the King into great perplexitie the rather for that he had surprised certaine letters from the Maillotins of Paris to the white capps of Gand to make a correspondencie betwixt them the accustomed Leuaine of rebellion with ill aduised people As these things amaze both the King and his Vncles behold Richard lands at Calais with an army vnder the command of the Duke of Lancaster who at first spoiles Picardie and then plants himselfe before Ypre The English enter Picardie and beseegeth it The Gantois had made a good shewe both to the King and Duke of Bourgongne vntill that time seeming resolute to obserue their former accord but the English armie being entred into Flanders they go to field and ioyne with them before Ypre The Kings Vncles muster men in all places with great dilligence and intreat their neerest friends to come speedily to their succour The Duks of Lorraine and of Bar make hast the Duke of Brittain comes with a goodly troupe They haue sodenly assembled twentie thousand Frenchmen at armes besides the succors of Lorraine and Brittain the number of foote is not specified Charles thus accompained comes to Saint Denis in France and hauing taken leaue of the Martyrs according to the ancient custome of Kings and giuen the foreward of his army to the leading of the Constable Clisson and the Duke of Brittain the Constable marching before the Duke A great quarrell growes for Precedence by reason of his place the ground of a dislike fell out betwixt them which beeing nourished by diuers occasions shal be the subiect of a great desaster both for the King and
the English Bowe-men All fâ—â—e some here some there without order without command and without courage and few fight Such as made head were slaine The rest saue themselues within Orleans There were fiue or sixe hundred of our men slaine vpon the place The English lost but one man called Brisanteau The chiefe of our side were the Lord of Oruall of the Noble house of Albret Iohn Stuard Chasteaubrun Montpipel Verduisant Larigot La Greue Diuray Puilly with better then a hundred Gentlemen This ouerthrow was called the battaile of Herings for that they carried them to the besiegers The amazement was greater then the losse for that the Earle of Clermont a Prince of the bloud who should haue beene a ring-leader of resolution and magnanimitie in these extreame accidents was so amazed with this losse as he retired with his men leauing the Cittie to the bastard of Orleans who resolues to attend the end of this siege at what price soeuer In this gallant resolution he was vertuouslie seconded by the Lords of Guitry Gaucourt Grauille Villars La Hire and Xaintrailles lights of great hope in this cruell storme and worthy of eternall memorie in that they dispaired not of this monarchie in so apparent dispaire And that which is chiefely to be obserued herein The King in dispaire of his aâ—â—aires the King vnderstanding this retreate of the Earle of Clermont said that he did see no meanes to saue the rest from shipwrack To increase this feare the Duke of Bourgongne comes to Paris at the same instant with a troupe of six hundred men at armes richly appointed Our Commanders being full of resolution were not onely to incounter with the English but with the confusion of times the Kings mâ—sfortune and which was worst of all the amazement of the men of warre who discouered plainly the disorder of the State They were loth to cast the helme after the hatchet but sought the most assured meanes to saue the Cittie in this storme Orleans stands vpon termes to yeeld to the Duke of Bourgongne They aduertise the King hereof who was so irreâ—olute as he referres all to their discretions They resolue to deliuer the Towne into the Duke of Bourgognes hands to keepe it for the Duke of Orleance or the Duke of Angoulesme his brother being then prisoners in England with the Kings good liking Pothon Xaintrailles and Peter of Orson wiâ—e and valiant men go to Paris to the Duke of Bedford vpon his assurance The Duke of Bedford refuseth the Deputies and discontents the Bourguignon He heares them and returnes them presently both for that he distrusted the Duke of Bourgongne and held the conquest assured The Burguignon was greatly discontented with the Duke of Bedford for his refusall whom after that time he neuer loued The English triumphed thus as a victor so as our Ambassadors could hardly saue themselues with their pasport Then the English saith the originall being in great prosperitie had no consideration that the wheele of fortune hath power to turne dayly But the holy veritie of the church which drawes vs to the wise prouidence of God cries I haue said to the fooles play not the fooles and to the wicked Lift not vp your hornes speake not with so great pride for greatnesse comes not from the East noâ— West neither from the Northâ—â— is God that raiseth vp and casteth downe He holds a cup of Wine in his hand he imparts it tâ— euery one as he pleaseth Truely the pride of the English who possessed of this Monarchy being drunke with his good fortune was nowe come to his height there remained nothing but the hand of the soueraigne Iudge to suppresse him but he shall not long hold it O my country forget not the time of thy visitation reade in this true discourse the estate of thy predecessors Remember their afflictions behold their feare see the image of that time wherein thou hast borne a part and iudge if now onely thou beginnest to be afflicted In this extremity as the French were exceedingly distressed so the English were transported with ioy for their late victory The estate of the French desperate and reioycing with a new hope as if all were wonne they cry to the besieged Will you buy my faire herings At the same instant the townsmen issue forth vpon the shoare The Earle of Salisbury stoode at a window in the tower vppon the bridge beholding the skirmish when as one of his Captaines named Glacidas said vnto him My Lord behold here your citty here may you view it plainely But behold a Cannon charged with stones was shot from the Towne The Earle of Salisbury slain before Oâ—leans which aymed at the Earles head strooke him and left him dead in the place This vnexpected blow comming as it were from heauen changed this exceeding ioy of the English into mourning being a man of great valour who by his carriage had wonne great credit among them beloued honoured of all for the mildenesse of his manners So this losse troubled both the wits and affaires of the English armie The Lord Talbot commandâ— in his place the which had greatly disbanded if the Earle of Suffolke Talbot Iohn Fastoll and Scales famous Captaines had not happily beene there to reuiue their spirits and forces attending the Duke of Bedfords pleasure who gaue the charge to Talbot beeing the choise of their best men with new foâ—ces So as the siege is continued with more vehemencie then before with great presumptions that all would go worse with the besieged In this occurrent Charles knewe not what to doe to whom should he flie his Princes forsake him Orleans beeing taken whether should he retire Bourges was ready to yeeld and withall the Country adioyning King Charles his miserablâ— estate He had no whole Prouinces vnder his obedience but Languedoc and Daulphiné And at the same instant the Bourguignon and Sauoyard prouide worke for him in those countries The taking then of Orleans which in reason seemed vnavoydable was the ouerthrowe of Charles and his estâ—te There was no winking at that which was too apparent That considering the estate of his affaires in generall and of his house in particular If Orleans should be lost all the citties vpon the riuer of Loire and in like fort the rest already varring would abandon him Amidest these fearefull considerations what could the braue and Noble Commanders within Orleans doe but plant their hopes in God and in themselues A soueraigne remedâ—e in extreame daungers So to purchase an honourable and profitable composition they set a good face on it giuing the English to vnderstand that if they desired their liues they should buye them deerely France reduced to so great an extreamity and truely such as men could doe no more behold God raiseth vp an extraordinary meanes the which meanes reason could not foresee and much lesse prouide A meanes which reuiued the daunted spirits God raiseth vp a newe meanes
â—illobie two renowmed Captaines which besiege S. Celerin Charles succours it by the Lord of Bueil who hauing lodged some troupes at Viuain a village of small accompt made it famous by a notable peece of seruice Scales aduertised of these troupes lodged in this hamlet hastes thither surpriseth them and cuts them in peeces but the Lord of Bueil had his reuenge for falling vpon the Conquerours who returned in disorder he puts them in route Chartier notes it for a notable seruice that fortie lances ouerthrew a thousand fiue hundred men The English defeated at Viuain which were all slaine or taken prisoners of such force is disorder and amazement in warre The siege of Saint Celerin being thus raised to the great disgrace of the English Bedford much greeued for this affront sends the Earle of Arondell thether with new forces It was at the same time when as Charles went into Daulphiné the fame of this notable victorie holding mens minds in suspence A notable ouersight so as Arondell takes S. Celerin by force and from thence he marcheth to Silley le Guil-laume The Gouernour fearing to want succours treats with Arundell That if by a prefixed day the French were not the stronger at a certaine Elme neere vnto the place hee would then yeeld vp the Towne 1433. and for assurance thereof giues him hostages The Court was troubled at this sumons all post thether fearing to continue their shame with losse Princes and officers of the Crowne the Dukes of Aleâ—çon and Aniou the Constable of Richmont the Marshalls of Boussac Rieux Retz the Lords of Lâ—heac Grauille and Beuil with his good fortune Being all come to the â—â—me at the day appointed they summon the Earle of Arondell to deliuer vp his hostages and to fight with them but he yeelds vp his hostages and leaues the seege The hast of the omitted voiage makes our men to post presently to Court Arondell returnes to the seege of Silley King Charles makes a progresse into Daulphiné and Languedoc and not able to take it hee surpriseth Beaumont le Viconte but pressed with sickenesse hee retyres to Mans a Towne then vnder their obedience The voiage of Daulphiné was performed Charles comes to Vienne passing through Auuergne The reason of this progresse was to settle matters in Daulphiné Lionois and Languedoc which Countries had serued him faithfully and profitablie in his greatest afflictions All the cheefe of those Countries attend him and hold their Estats by his commaundement The ioy both of Charles and his subiects was exceeding great after so long and dangerous a storme Charles did gladly imbrace his ancient seruants the Earle of Foix Gaucourt and Groslee with the Nobility of Viuarez and Daulphiné who had giuen him so great testimonies of their faith and valour All men were confirmed in their gouernments no man was denyed of what hee demanded which giues them courage to do their best endeauours in his seruice The States graunt the King a notable summe of money for the maintenaunce of his warres We haue obserued the humour of Amedee Duke of Sauoie who during the doubtfullnesse of the French affaires had carried a watchfull eye to make his profit by their confusion Beeing well informed that Charles loued him not he fortifies himselfe by alliances Hee had giuen his eldest daughter to Lewis of Aniou King of Sicile The Alliancâ—â— of Sauoie and nowe he marries his Sonne Lewis Earle of Geneue with Anne the daughter of Iohn of Lusâ—gnan King of Cipres froÌ„ whence the title of the realme of Cipres comes to the house of Sauoie This marriage was honored with the presence of the Duke of Bourgongne the Earle of Neuers and the Prince of Orange These were good cautions for Amedeâ— against Charles but wee shall soone see that hee will finde an other expedient against all euents As a tree in the sappe sheweth that the spring is neere so diuers popular accidents chancing this yeare foretold what should happen The French takes armes against the English There were 60000. men in armes against the English in Vexin-Norman and in Caux .20000 Charles doth carefully imbrace those occasions and incouraging them both by letters and messages he sends them notable Commanders the Duke of Alanâ—on with the Lords of Lore and Bueil braue and Valiant Captaines But as a tree that sprouts forth through the fauour of a warme season is stayed by a sharpe winde so all these popular braueries were soone daunted and this streame was soone turned The Townes that were mutyned yeeld to the English force but they keepe their hearts for their King vntill they may shake off the English yoake But the wise prouidence of God who gouerns the worke for the restoring of this estate raised vp means which all the humaine policie of Charles or of his Councell could not foresee who had labored by all meanes to winne the Bourguignons loue He harboâ—ed in his heart a resolute discontent against the English to whome hee imputed the cause of all his crosses and disgraces The Liegeois crosse him many waies in the possession of Namur newely fallen vnto him Antwerp and Arras are discontented and readie to rise against him The English in his opinion is the author and fauorer of these discontents and it may be did all he could to molest him what shewe soeuer he made But howsoeuer it were the Bourguignon meaning to make an open breach with him compounds al quarrels with this discontented people intending to make a firme peace with Charles So the yeare of 34. passeth without any great alteration This yeare of 35. shalbâ— more happie for the French then the former Exploits of warre Charles beseegeth Gerberâ—y by Pothon and la Hire 1435. The English come to succor it led by the Earle of Arondell being a thousand against lesse then fiue hundred Our men therefore resolue to retyre to Beauuais but they must accompt with the stronger There is but one meanes of safetie to hope for no helpe So these braue warriors resolue to fight and are victorsâ— for the English troupes are defeated seauen or eight hundred slaine vpon the place and all the rest prisoners The English defeated and the Earle of Arondell slaine The Earle of Arondell beeing greeuously wounded dies at Beauuais a braue and resolute Captaine dying in the bed of honour This was the beginning of the yeare the winter was verie sharpe but it daunted not the courage of our warriors The Earle of Dunois a bastard of Orleans was the ring-leader in many exploits he causeth Saint Denis to be surprised by Captaine Deyenuille and hee followes well accompanied to keepe it In going along he takes Houdan and then hee fortifies Saint Denis with men and vittells and leaues the Marshall of Rieux to gouerne it And for that hee would loose no time hee imploies his troupes to take some places there abouts as Pont Saint Maxence Oruille and Meulan The English had fortified Saint Ouyn to keepe
the Countrie in great disorder The best soldiars were guilty of these insolencies for want of pay Rodrigo de Villandrade an Arragonois who had faithfully serued the King was in disgrace and banished with his troupe but being ioyned with Pothon in Gasconie and hauing taken some places from the English he made his peace with Charles This confusion was not alone in one Countrie but generally diâ—persed throughout the Realme A troupe of 2000. horse led by Anthonie of Chabannes Blanchfort Gualter of Bron â—loquet and other renowned Captaines The robberies oâ— soldiars parting from Normandie passe through the Countries of Vimeu and Ponthieu by Dorlens Oruille Braâ— Cappy Liâ—ons in Sauters and enter into Cambresy from thence they lodge at Solames towards Hainault with infinit spoile eating and ransoming all after a hostile manner Iohn of Croy the Bayliffe of Hainault sent troupes against them but they were deâ—feated They were called the shauers or fleaers In the ende through Charles his many commands they come into Champagne where hauing remained sometime they were imployed to take Chasteau-Landon Charny and Nemours and from thence they were led to Monstereau-faut yonne where there was a meruailous seege being well assayled and well defended but in the ende the Towne was taken by force and the Castell by composition Charles was at Bray and the Daulphin commanded at this seege He made faire warâ—es with the English The Daulpâ—in intreats the English courteously who thanking him before the King his father yeelded him these first fruits of his authoritie in the viewe of the whole army who honored him afterwards as the Sun rising whence greâ—e the iealousies we shall hereafter speake of Tâ—e Mignons of Court which were then in quarter gaue a great occasioÌ„ Christopher of Harcourt Lord of Chaumont and Martin Gouge Bishop of Clermont Factions in Fâ—anders The Duke of Bourgongâ—e in danger of his life at Bruges men that had no good in them but to do ill The Duke of Bourgongne had much trouble this yeare the English had sowed great diuisions in his chiefest Citties Bruges stirred vp strange mutynies against him whereas he was in danger of his life Lisle Adam chiefe Captaine of his gard is slaine A popular man whom wee haue seene to coÌ„mand the Parisiens twise once against the King and an other time for the King he presumed in like sort to gouerne them of Bruges but they teare him in peeces as the Gantois had in former times massacred Arteuille their Tribune A multitude is a dangerous thorne which cannot be handled without pricking Gant followed the example of Bruges but in the end all was pacified with the losse of the most seditious to the content of the same people who deuowre him they did adore After these seditions Philip returnes to waâ—re he beseegeth Crotoy a place very important for the free trafficke of his Countries but after great paines and charge it proued all vaine He is vnfortunate in war A man vnfortunate in war but in Councell he commanded mens minds with an Imperious grauity But a midest the generall shall I omit this particular obseruation profitable for the example That great Captaine la Hire passing neere vnto Clermont a Towne then subiect to the English was there honorably receiued by the Lord of Anfemont gouernor of the Towne 1437. Two strange surprizes and for that he trusted la Hire much he suffred him to enter with his men into the rauelin to eate a banket la Hire imbracing this occasion makes him his prisoner and takes the place Anfemont had his reuenge in time by meanes of the Lord of Mouy he enters Beauuais where la Hire was gouernor goes vnto him to the Tenise Court takes him and leads him away prisoner in vewe of all the Inhabitants and makes him to yeeld both his ransome and Clermont againe notwithstanding Charles his letters to the Bourguignon but in the ende they are good friends Thus discurtesie is alwaies requited with the like leauing a long repentance for him that is the author of the iniurie how braue and cunning soeuer he bee God punishing iniquitie in due season when as men thinke least of it and by meanes least apparent The warres had wonderfully vnpeopled France Famine and pestilence followe war but this scourge was not sufficient The whole Countrie lying wast not able to be tilled by reason of the daylie incursions and ordinarie spoiles of both parties there fell a great famine That which was vsually worth but fiue pence was sold for fiue shillings and six pence or more The people being famished sought bred where they might finde it being forced from their houses by raging hungar they disperse themselues in the fields and Townes in the one to finde some fruite among the trees and in the bushes ro some herbes or rootes in the other to get some morcell of bread or some garbage to fill the panch with any thing they could meete withall So their bodies filled with bad meates were likewise filled with bad humors falling into diuers languishing diseases In the ende all turned to a plague so horrible as al these poore creatures famished weakned with diseases were like vnto drie wood in a great flame Thus one plague bred an other and that miserable plant of warre brought forth two branches of miserie to our wretched Countrie famine and pestilence A lamentable spectacle in Paris These afflictions dispersed throughout the Realme raigned chiefely at Paris the sollemne Rendezâ—ous of this languishing people There was nothing to bee seene but lamentable troupes of people pale and leane of all sexes and ages eyther running in the fields or vp and downe the streets or layed vpon dunghills or dead in the market places a most horrible spectacle to behold There died threescore thousand persons in Paris All the principall men abandoned the Cittie except Adam of Cambray the first President Ambrose of Lore the Prouost of Paris and the President of the Accounts whome God preserued in this contagion to eternize their commendable memories for euer hauing succored the publicke in necessity without whose couragious resolution the Cittie had easily fallen into the hands of the English who watched for all occasions and made daylie incursions from Mante euen vnto the gates The Champian Countrie being abandoned wolues left the forests without feare and hauing made their pray vpon the remainder of this miserable people they came to the gates of Townes euen into the streets This horrible spectacle hath beene seene at Paris in the Theater of the world in the most populous Cittie of all others So one miserie drewe on an other and these afflictions continued two whole yeares vnto the yeare 1439. whilest the contention of Antipopes increased the fire of Schismes in Christendome as we shall shewe in due place Amedee or Amé Duke of Sauoie carried himselfe as we haue sayed during the calalamities of France The Duke of Sauoie becomes a monke in the ende of
you haue yet done So the accord was made without comprehending of these three The Dukes of Bourbon and Alenson sweare to serue the King and yeeld vp Loches Corbeil Bois de Vincennes Sancerre Sancouins Erie Conterobert and other places which they held The Daulphin remaynes with his father who changeth all his trayne except his confessor and Cooke But all this is but counterfeit you shal soone see other broyles This phrensie of state bred in the Kings house against the King himselfe was by our Ancestors called the Pragâ—â—â—y Nine monthes of this yeare being spent in these garboiles Charles returnes to Tours to prouide for the raysing of the seege at Harfleu where the Earle of Somerset had lien long but it was in vaine for the Towne was taken in the end after a long and painfull constancie of the Inhabitants who could not be releeued in time by reason of these home-bred troubles and yet there was a second mischiefe The Lord of Gaucourt gouernor of Daulphiné a most profitable seruant of the King returning from the seege and causing some of his baggage which was scattered from the troupe to retire he was surprised by a companie of English and led prisoner to Rouen to the great griefe of Charles who loued him hauing giuen good testymones of his loyaltie in his greatest extremities But in exchange Charles takes Conches and Loâ—â—iers Townes of importance in Normandie from thence he came into Champaigne to subdue a part of these aduenturing theeues who had surprized some places in this Prouince Musse l'Euesque Montagu and others The Kings army led by the Constable takes them and razed them by the Kings commande pardoning most of these theeuish Captaines the bastard of Vergy and the Lord of Commercy A memorable execution but he caused Alexander bastard of Iohn Duke of Orleans to be drowned a notable theefe who hauing followed the discontented Princes had spoken vnworthilie of his maister This execution of Iustice is memorable vpon one of so high a birth being followed the same yeare with the exemplarie death of Gylâ—s de Raiz Marshall of France issued from a great and famous house The Marshall de Raiz burnt for sorcerie who beeing found guilty of Negromancie and Sorcerie was condemned by the Court of Parliament of Brittaine and burnt at Nantes with some of his seruants culpable of the same crymes He was honored for his valour but neither his armes nor his bloud could stay the hand of diuine Iustice meritoriously exâ—cuted by this iust decree of the magistrate Priuate actions worthie to be registred in the historie to shew that the greatest cannot flie the hand of God after they haue long abused his patience But the treaty of peace betwixt France and England being discontinued aboue a yeare was againe reuiued by the industrie of the Duchesse of Bourgongne a Portugall but much affected to the quiet of the Realme and a very sufficient woman who had great credit with her husband She followes it so wisely as in the ende two Kings sends their Ambassadors to Calais On Charles his behalfe were the Archbishops of Rheims Narbon A treatâ—e betwixt the two Kings for a peace but 〈◊〉 and the Earle of Dunois bastard of Orleans For Henry King of England the Cardinall of Yorke and the Duke of Exeter who brought with them Charles Duke of Orleans so being longe kept prisoner in England This poore Prince after the languishing of so long a prison was exceeding glad to see some meanes to returne to his house hauing felt the aire on this side the Sea and imbraced the Earle of Dunois one of the branches of his house hee who â—ad so faithfully serued him in his afflictions but hee greeued to see himselfe presently carried backe into England for that they could not agree vpon the foundamenttall points the English being resolute not to leaue one foote of that which they held in France And although the King were content they should freely inioy what they possessed so as they held it as they had done in times past of the Crowne of France by homage yet would they not yeeld in any sort being loath to relinquish their pretended souerainty But he refuseth which afterwards doth sue At this time they were inforced to retire with this resolution That without infringing any thing of the treaty begun euerie one should go home and consider of his affaires to assemble againe when neede should require The Duke of Orleans deliuered the which eyther part desired And this is al could be done for the general They proceeded farther for the duke of Orleans but as in these trafficks such as hold the possession do coÌ„monly vse policy the stronger giuing lawe to the weaker so in so precious matter as life the English must bee sued vnto making no hast to deliuer him for that they drewe great profit yearely for the pension of this great Prince Moreouer Charles had no great care of his deliuerie for that some malicious spirits had seasoned him with some bad impression against this poore Prince perswading him that his long imprisonment was not without some mistery and that it hatched some mischiefe against the King and his estate The which being miserable in so great a person gaue all men a iust cause of compassion But notwithstanding all these difficulties yet must this Prince one of the goodliest plants of this Crowne be now deliuered to leaue a successor for the realme of France The diuers aâ—flictions of the Duke of Orleans and God who would honor his race with the Crowne had prepared an admirable meanes for his deliuery by his helpe from whom in reason he might least hope euen when his owne friends had abandoned him A notable example for all men in many respects a prison of fiue and twentie years was a great affliction to a Prince borne to commande and yet captiue to an other The losse of all his goods gaue him a sufficient occasion to resolue to perpetual miserie and to leaue it for an inheritance to his posterity In the ende sclander a most cruell sting to a generous minde which hath honour for his assured Treasor had beene able to suppresse him But God who goâ—erns the rodde wisely giues him libertie goods and honour in due season in despight of this deuilish enuy which seeking to afflict the afflicted and controuling aduersitie as well as prosperity is then corrected when it seekes to correct an other but God doth neuer send helpes too late The Duke of Bourgongne vndertaks for the Duke of Orleans ransome Philip hauing resolued to do this good turne for the Duke of Orleans and to withdraw him out of prison compouÌ„ds for his ransome with the King of England for three hundred thousand Crownes He giues his word for it and payes it and so Charles Duke of Orleans being honorably conducted comes first to Calais where the mony beeing payed hee comes free to Grauelin to the Duke of Bourgongne his deliuerer
despight of the French and to this ende he caused many small boats of Leather wood cords to be brought with other stuffe fit to make bridges The bridge of Beaumont was garded by the French but the English passe at an Abbie beneath the bridge and with such danger in their arteficiall boats as ten resolute men might haue stayed a great army but the silence of the night so fauoured their passage as a great part of the English army was past before our Sentinells had discouered them Then was there no remedy but to aduertise the Kinge of the enemies passage The Duke of Yorke hauing thus happely passed the riuer and rested his soldiars that night marcheth in goodly order towards Charles meaning to charge him Charles takes Councell of his feare couered with this resolution not to hazard a generall battaile but hee was likely to haue fallen into an other inconuenience for without attending of the enemy â—e puts all the waightiest of his carriages into the fort of Saint Martin Charles retiers from Pontoise vnder the gard of Charles of Aniou and the Admirall of Coitiuy with two thousand men with them la Hire Rouhault Estouteuille with other resolute Captaines and so leauing his lodging of Maubuisson he retyers to Poissy The Duke of Yorke takes vp his lodging at Maubuisson being abandoned and makes a shewe to attempt the forte of Saint Martin but hauing tried it in vaine he takes his way to Poissy and lodgeth before the Towne in viewe of the King and his army There were some skirmâ—shes without any great successe Charles continuing his resolution to hazard nothing and Yorke his proiect to vittaile and saue Pontoise So the English retyers to Mante to send refreshingâ— from thence to the beseeged but this great brauado came to nothing The beginning was dishonorable for the King but the end was both happie and honorable Being retyred to Saint Denis and hauing sent the Constable vnto Paris he resolues to send to Pontoise and to wine it or to die The reason was that this his retrait or rather flight was so infamously spoken of by the greatest in Court and so odious to the Paâ—isiens who had defrayed a great part of the charge at this seege as it was to be feared they would make some mutiny against him if the successe were not good His spies did likewise assure him that the Princes of his bloud especially since the returne of the Duke of Orleans were resolued to make some extraordinary assemblie and to admonish him touching the gouernment It chanced then that the Earles of Saint Pol and Vaudâ—mont notable partisans of the Duke of Bourgongne left the King when he had most neede of succours and they of Tournay were of the same party He had the Daulphin with him whom he caused to watch diligently both day and night But howe could he doubt that these tricks came not out of the Bourguignons budget Choller banished feare so as being resolued to repayre this error and to preuent his enemies practises he runnes to Pontoise for he was but ten dayes away and giuing the Duke of Yorke no leasure to releeue the beseeged he resolues to take it by force This indignation succeeded happily He caused three assaults to bee giuen on three parts and at the first he woone our Ladies Church which is without the Towne whereby he might greatly annoye the beseeged He tooke this quarter for him selfe accompanied with the Earles of Marche Albret and Tancaruille The Daulphin was at the Port Friche ioyning to the riuer of Oize with the Earle of Maine the Admirall and the great maister of the Crosbowes On the other side of the batterie was the Constabâ—e the Marshall of Loheac the Lords of Moâ—y Touars Suze Serran Sanzay and the vidame of Chartres The Canon beeing planted of all sids and a reasonable breach made the French enter furiously and the King with the first of such force is resolution in a great Prince to animate a whole army as the head doth the whole bodie Pontoisâ— â—aken by assault The English were consumed like to strawe in the fire fiue hundred were slaine at this entrie and fowre hundred taken prisoners The Inhabitants were spared by the carefull command of Charles who acknowledging the happinesse of this victorie to come from God goes to giue him thanks offring him the first fruits of this victorie for without doubt if he had failed his enemies were readie to conspire against him He calles togither all the Princes Noblemen and Captaines of the armie hee thankes them for the good and faithfull seruice they had done him in this notable occasion He makes the Lord of Ialonges Marshall of France and many Knights He called for him that first entred the breach commends his valour and rewards him with an honorable pension But why hath the Historie concealed this honest mans name Happy exploits for Charles his reward had beene immortal Such was the issue of the seege of Pontoise remarkable for many circumstances but then very considerable for the Kings affaires who had an honorable reuenge of the English brauadoe But as one good happe followes an other when it pleaseth God so Charles receiued many good aduertisements at the same instant The English drewe togither many garrisons in the Country of Maine from Mans Fresnoy and Mahinne la Iuhez and had sackt Saint Denis in Aniou The French which were in Sablâ— Laual and Saint Susanne led by the Lord of Bueil meete them laden with spoile and very ioyfull they charge them defeat and kill them leauing fower hundred vpon the place Peter of Breze issues out of Conches and surpriseth the English at Beaumont le Roger sleeping without feare hee awaks them with the sword kills them and takes the Towne Iohn Flocquet doth likewise about the same time take Eureeux a Towne of verie great importance in Normandie The meanes is memorable a fisherman makes a hoale in the wall wherby he enters in the night and becomes maister of the Towne But in exchange they receiue a check The Captaines and soldiars which had taken many prisoners at Pontoise had compounded with an English Captaine for their ransome who had taken the debt vpon him The prisoners were kept at Cornilâ—e a Castell neere vnto Chartres While they expected money this mediator hauing free liberty to go and come obserues all the passages so well as he soone finds meanes to pay al these ransomes for one morning he surpriseth the place frees the prisoners and takes all them that had them in gard The Parisâ—ens honor Charles at his returne whome they were readie to deuoure if the successe of Pontoise had not beene good The Duke of Bourgongne sends his wife vnto him for many respects who returned with no great satisfaction and Charles Duke of Orleans who had not yet seene him since his returne from prison comes vnto him with a goodly trayne the King receiues him verie gratiously and allowed well the
march vnder their ensignes one bataillon goes towards the riuer the other takes the high way from Neuf-uille to Nancy The Duke of Bourgongne attends them firmely in a place of strength and aduantage hauing before him a litle riuer betwixt two strong hedgrowes nere vnto the hospital of Magonne and at the entry of this gâ—eat hieway where one of the bataillons marched Charles had planted the greatest part of his artillery which thunders vpon the Suisses at their first approch but with smal hurt being far off This battailloÌ„ leaues the hie way mounts vp towards the wood coasting along the dukes army The Duke makes his archers to turne head appointing two wings of men at armes the one led by Iames Galiot a Neapolitaiue an honest man a valiant Captaine The other by the Lord of Lalain lieutenant of Flanders This batailon hauing gotten the aduaÌ„tage on the higher ground stands firme then like vnto a violent streame it fals vpon the Bourguignons armie and with a thundring volle of shot defeates the foote At the same instant the other batailloÌ„ chargeth Galiots squadron who behaued himselfe like a wise and valiant Captaine but the horse seeing the footemen amazed leaue all and flie after The other wing coÌ„manded by Lalain mainteines the fight Charles ouercome and slaine but vnable to withstand the violent shock of the Suisses in the end thy giue way turne towards the bridge of Bridores where was the greatest shew of their men that fled This bridge is halfe a league froÌ„ Nancy towardes Thionuâ—lle Luxembourg Campabasso had stopt the passage so as all such as tookâ— that course were either slaine drowned or taken if any recouered the woods the peasants beate them downe with leuers A chase which continued from noone vntill two houres within night Charles thinking to saue himselfe was ouerthrowne by a troupe of men that followed him discouered by them which the traytor Campobasso had left to obserue him The next day he was found among the dead lying frozen in a ditch well knowne by many of his houshold seruants He had three woundes one with a halbard aboue the eare which cut him to the teeth the second with a pike through both the thighes the third by the fondement René caused him to bee honorably buried in S. Georges Church at Nancy In this battaile there died three thousand Bourguignons and there were taken the Earle of Nassau the Marquis of Rothelin an English Earle Anthonie and Baldouin brethren bastards to the Duke whose ransomes the King did pay and many gentlemen The bootie was small but the victory of Gransson was yet fresh and as they then did sing he lost his goods at Gransson his men at Morat and his life at Nancie Behold this great Nembroth who made himselfe equall with Emperors and yeelded not to the greatest Kings before time the terror of Christendome â—eared by his subiects sought to by his neighbours who had purchased to himselfe the surname of terrible warriour dronke with ambition transported with the desire of an others estate now confounded with his owne greatnesse who with his fall ruines his house Doubtlesse the dayes of mortall man are like to grasse he fades like the flower of the field for the wind passing ouer it it is no more seene nor the place thereof knowne Shame and destruction follow pride at the heeles And who doth not iudge by the effects The causâ—s 〈◊〉 his ruâ—ne that the chieâ—e causes of his ruine were couetousnesse pride and crueltie couetousnesse in that contrary to his honour and faith hee had deliuered the Constable for the gredie desire he had to enioy Saint Quintin Han and Bohain and some mouables Pride in that God hauing raised him to greater dignitie then any of his pâ—edecessors accompanied with many goodly and singular graces yet hee thought that the habitable earth could not prescribe limits to his conquests attributing all to his owne force and not to the power of the Eternall the happie successe of his affaires to his owne iudgement Crueltie for that in the warre of Leege he had bathed himselfe in the bloud of his poore subiects glutting his wrath with that sexe age whom the rigour of warre doth vsually pardon And what shall we say of the right hands hee caused to be cut off of those poore soldiars at Nesle Of the fires wherewith he hath wasted so much couÌ„try Of the Suisseâ— haÌ„ged at Gransson after they had yelded vpon his faith giuen to the contrarie of late had hanged a gentlemaÌ„ being taken in the war He had good parts valiant painful vigâ—lant The disposition of Chaâ—les of Bourgogâ—e desirous to entertaine men of merit liberall but with discretion to the end that many might taste of his bountie He gaue aduice priuatly honoured strangers and receiued Ambassadors with state But since the battaille of Montleâ—erie presuming by his onely valour to haue forced a mightie King to leaue him the field hee conceiued so ouerweening a presumption of himselfe as neuer after would he beleeue any other Counsell but his owne attributing the issue of his enterprises to his owne iudgement industrie with so obstâ—nate a constancie in his vnmeasured desseines as in the end it was his confusion So The voice of the Eternall breaks downe the Cedars yea the Eternal bâ—ates down the Cedars of Libanus God punisheth sinne with the like sinne Galeas Duke of Milan murthered But let vs note the iudgemeÌ„t of God That before Nancy he deliuered the CoÌ„stable before Nancy he was betraied by CaÌ„pobasso And let vs obserue the like in our dayes as we shall see hereafter Eleuen dayes before this battaile Galeas Duke of Milan was murthered in a Church by Andrew of Lampogagno a Milanois who leauing a son very yong left withall many discordes for the gouerment of the Duchie amongst many Noble men one among them called Robert of S. Seuerin neere kinsman to the Duke banished from his house by the stronger factioÌ„ retired himselfe into France hoping to perswade the King to atteÌ„pt something against the state of Milan Lewis taught by former experieÌ„ce that the French haue alwaies lost easily with shame that they had gotten with much paine sweate in Italie would not harken vnto it no nor suffer any succors passe for the reliefe of the FloreÌ„tines being ancient friends allies to the French against whom Pope Sixtus Ferdinand King of Naples made warre 1477. But for that he would not seeme vtterly to abandon them he sent the Lord of Argenton vnto them with some troupes leuied in the State of Mâ—â—an as wee shall shortly see But what doth Francis Duke of Brittaine hauing lost one of the chiefe supporters of his building He sees that of three of the strongest heads of the coÌ„mon weale The practiseâ— of the Duke of Bâ—iâ—taâ—â— two are cut off Charles Duke of Guienne Charles Duke of Bourgongne he knowes ful well that the
keepe those two Prouinces in subiection Oliuer was there some dayes without suspect during the which hee corrupted thirtie or fortie men and fraught with their promises hee sent secretly to the Lord of Mouy that at the breake of a certaine day appointed hee with his company and some other troupes would be in the suburbes Hee comes at the appointed time and maister Oliuer with his men giues him entrance to the content of the people but not of the gouernours of the which hee sent seuen or eight to Paris who departed not whilest that Lewis liued To speake truly Oliuer shewed both witt and valor in this stratageme and for the action of Gand he is not so much to be blamed as he that imployed him Conde a smal Towne betwixt Tournai and Valenciennes cutt of all vittels from the french and hindred the victualling of Tournay It was taken and burnt for that it did but imploy men which might serue elswhere and Tournay was sufficient to keepe the Countâ—ie in obedience It seemed that the prosperitie of the kings affaires and his great desseings began to trouble his spirits for proofe whereof a gentleman of Hainault the originall doth not name him associated with many others offers to deliuer vp the principall Townes and places of the said Countie Hee talkes with the King who likes not of him nor of the rest he named The reason is they would sell a good piece of seruice very deere Yet he referred them to the Lord of Lude bred vp from his youth with him But Lude seasoned with the same humour transported with his priuate profiâ— demands at the first what the townes would giue him to manage their affaires So as the Hannuyer who would haue no competitor in his gaine departed without effecting of any thing and the enterprise proued vaine Without doubt God would not glutt vs with felicitie and it is needfull to haue some crosses to make vs to know our selues Moreouer it was not reasonable to vsurpe any thing vpon this Countie of Hainault for that it holds of the Empire and in regard of the ancient alliances betwixt the Emperours and our Kings whereby they ought not one to take from another And for proofe Cambray Quesnoy le Conte and some other places of Hainault had willingly put themselues vnder the protection of Lewis the which hee deliuered as freely with the 40. thousand Crownes that they of Cambraie had lent him for the charges of the war Ambassage from Mary of Bourgongne Whilest the King was resident at Peronne an Ambassage comes to him from the Infant of Bourgongne consisting of the principall men about her as namely Chancellor Hugonnet a very wise man and honorable Himbercourt a gentleman experienced in matters of waight Vere a great Nobleman of Zeland Cripture otherwise called Grutuse or Gruture with other Ecclesiastical and secular men They intreat the King to retire his armie Their propositions to the King that al controuersies might be quietly ended according vnto right reason They shew that by the customes of France the ordinances of his Predecessors Kings the women did succeed in the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other prouinces there abouts That remaining but one only daughter of the deceased Duke of Bourgongne yong an orphelin he should rather protect theÌ„ oppresse her That the mariage of the Daulphin with her should be more proportionable then with the daughter of England And for the more credit they brought a letter writteÌ„ part of it by Mary the Infanta of Bourgongne and some part by the Douager her Mother in lawe Sister to Edward King of England and some part by Rauastein brother to the Duke of Cleues and neere kinsman to the yong Ladie yet none of any credit but that of the Infanta This letter gaue authority to Hugonnet and Himbercout and sayed moreouer That Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne was resolued to gouerne her affaires by the aduice of foure persons The Douager Rauastein Hugonnet and Himbercourt Mary beseeched the King that whatsoeuer it should please him to negotiat with her should passe by their hands and that hee should not impart it to any other The King foreseeing that by the confusion of this people hee should settle his affaires will cunningly make his profit of this letter but not thinking it should cost two so vertuous heads in sowing diuision betwixt the Dâ—chesse her subiects Yet before he giues audience to these Ambassadors he treats priuately with eyther of them Diâ—isiâ—n betwixt Mary and the Gaâ—toâ—â— Huâ—gonnet and Himbercourt whereof the first had all his liuing in Picardy and the other in Bourgongne they desirous to be continued in their ancient authorities giue eare to the Kings offers they promised to serue him so as the foresayd marriage might take effect The rest whose Estates were not vnder the Kings command would not tie them selues by promise but with the alliance of the houses of France and Bourgongne This was most expedient for the King but the violent conditions they propounded withdrewe his loue much both from her them in particular supposing he should soone haue all without accepting of a part by an accord Lewis esttranged from Mary by the violent conditions that were propounded Moreouer he was possessed with a wonderfull desire to conquer Arras The Lord of Cordes might do much Hee was Lieutenant in Picardie vnder the deceased Duke Seneshal of Ponthiâ—u Captaine of Courtray Boulongne and Hedin Gouernor of Peronne Montdidier and Roye he was younger Brother to the Lord of Creuecoeur and alreadie did shewe himselfe to bee french his estate lying within the territory of Beauuais The Townes vpon the riuer of Somme by the death of Charles the last issue male of the house of Bourgongne returned to the King so des Cordes became the Kings liege man His duty then bound him to yeeld vnto the King such other places as he coÌ„manded but he was bound by oath to his mistresse seruice A dispensation will salue it There is no â—oâ—le but Lewis finds a pinne for it Vpon his motion to the Ambassadors that the deliuery of Arras would make the way plaine for a good peace and request that they would be a meanes to Cordes to open the Citty of Arras vnto him for in those dayes there were both walles and ditches betwixt the Cittie and the Towne Hugonnet and Himbercourt dispense des Cordes of his oath and consent to the deliuery of the sayd Cittie Arras yeelded to Lewis by des Cordes Hee doth it willingly and sweares fealtie to the King who presently stoppes vp all approches to the Towne then he goes to incampe before Hedin leades acs Cordes with him whose men made a shewe to defend the place as ingaged by oath to their Ladie for their credits sake they endured the battery some dayes then seeing their defences taken away and their loope-hoales battered Ralfe of Launoi Hedin followes giues eare to his Captaine and
fiue and which was worse the gates were shut vpon them The Senators seeing these rascalls thus handled put their heads out at the windows they see this tumult and heare Iames Pacis and others crying Liberta Liberta and Popolo popolo words to moue the people and to make them follow their faction but they moued not so as Pacis and his companions fled from the place and those that were entred were presently hanged at the barres of the Pallace windowes Francis Saluiat Archbibishop of Pisa The mutinie appeared and the murtherers hanged hauing said masse with a cuirasse on his backe was taken and hanged in the same habit The Gouernours seeing the whole Towne to stand firme for them and the Medicis they send presently to all the passages to apprehend all such as should be found flying Iames and Francis Pacis were presently taken with an other Captaine of the Popes troupes vnder the Earle Ieronimo and hanged instantly with other great personages to the number of fourteene some groomes and other base people were knockt downe in the streets Nicholas Cardinall of S. George nephew to the Earle was a long time prisoner The King aduertised of this hurliburly sends the Lord of Argenton both to take in his Maiesties name the homage which Bonne Duchesse of Milan ought for the duchie of Genes in the behalfe of the yong Duke Iohn Galeas her sonne and to receiue the men at armes which they had granted in fauour of the Medicis The Pope aduertised of the execution done at Florence doth excommunicate the cittizens and with the same breath commands his armie to march to ioyne with that of Naples being great and faire It was commanded for the Pope by the Duke Vrban Robert d' Arimini The Pope and the king of Naples send their forces against Florence Constantin of Pesaro and many others and for Ferdinandâ— by his two sonnes the one Duke of Calabria the other Don Frederike They take many places about Florence and almost ruine the whole state There were few Commanders of smal experience and weake forces The Kings assistance did somewhat comfort them beeing after much war absolued and reconciled to the church as also to terrifie the Pope Lewis had called a councell of the French Church at Orleans for the restoring of the pragmatick Sanction in France and to abolish the custome to carry money to Rome for the obtayning of Bulls yet the assembly brake off without any conclusion was referred to Lions the next yeare but without effect Thus passe the affaires of this world but many doe oppresse at the length Our Lewis hath in a manner out-liued al his greatest enemies Lewis begins to decline and now he begins to decline Troubles care waywardnesse call him mildly to his graue the vigor of his spirits faile him hereafter wee shall see a strange alteration in his humors The truce ended and seeing we must returne to warâ—e let vs begin it by some notable stratageme The Archduke Maximilian hath nowe the Flemings hearts at his deuotion To imploy theÌ„ he camps before Therouenne with aboue twenty thousand Flemings some Germaine troupes and three hundred English ledde by Thomas Abergeiny an English Captaine The Lord of Cordes Lieutenant generall for tâ—e King in Picardy assembles what troupes he can out of the neighbour garrisons eight thousand franke archers eleuen hundred men at armes and makes haste to relieue it Maximilian vnderstanding of their approch raiseth the siege marcheth towards theÌ„ affronts them at Guynegaste The battell of Guinegaste Des Cordes was the stronger in horse but the weaker in foote The forwards ioyne without any stay the Archdukes being ledde by Rauestein doth not mainteine the fight but is soone broken and chased euen vnto Aire by Cordes Torci The foote stand firme supported by the Archduke himselfe the Lord of Rhomâ—nt the Earle of Nassau two hundred Gentlemen all on foote the franke Archers of the French supposing that these footemen would flie with the foreward and fall vppon the baggage The Duke doth charge them forcing them to leaue their booty and fall to armes The slaughter was great but most of the enemies 1479. Eleuen thousand Bourguignons were slaine sayeth the History and nine hundred prisoners Many slaine on both sides but the French left the field amongest the which was a Germaine Earle and the King of Polands sonne of the French there died fiue thousand and the small number of the Kings army made the enemie continue master of the field who gathering togither the remainders of his troupes tooke the Castell of Malaunoy by assault where Captaine Remonet notwithstanding the faith which was giuen him when he yeelded was hanged For satisfaction hereof fiftie of the aboue named prisoners Cruelties against the lawe of armes were hanged by ten in a place ten whereas Remonet was executed ten before Douay ten before Saint Omer ten before Arras and ten before Lisle Des Cordes did runne rashly to this battaile and without the Kings commandement who was somewhat amazed with the first newes thinking they had concealed the truth that it was quite lost for him If it be so saith he farewell all my latter conquests he was not accustomed to loose but alwayes verie happie being loath to hazard much in fight Lewis much perplexed But if any Captaine had meanes to sell him a good place he was a liberall purchaser at what price soeuer but the seller must afterwards take heede to his gossip Tristam the Hermit This blast made Lewis resolue to treat a peace with Maximilian so as it might bee profitable vnto him and that he might thereby curbe the Arche-duke and by the helpe of his owne subiects so as afterwards he should haue no meanes to annoy him For this effect the King seekes to the Gantois that by their mediation a marriage might be made betwixt Charles the Daulphin and the Daughter of the sayd Arche-duke Lewis seekes for a peace of Maximilian vpon condition to leaue him the Counties of Bourgongne Auxerre Mascon and Charolois and to quit him Arthois reseruing Arras in the estate hee had setled it the Citty commanding the Towne the which hereafter should be held of the crowne by the Bishop As for the Duchie of Bourgongne the Earldome of Boulongne the Townes lying vpon Somme and other places in Picardie there was no mention The Gantois and by their soliciting those of Bruges with some other chiefe Townes of Flanders and Brabant who desired rather to suppresse then to fortifie their newe Lord gaue eare to this transaction ill intreating Maximilian and his wife all they could The Gantois and those of Flanders and Brabant hate their newe Lord. being loath to submit themselues to his commande first for that he was a stranger secondly for that they knew more iudicious Princes but not any more couetous then his father whose son was seasoned with the same base couetousnesse which carries
with good store of Artillerie for this great rable armed and tumultuously assembled by the Earle of Dunois had bin a maâ—ner all sent back as an vnprofitable burthen vpon the earth But the matter is of importance the French are not so easily forced to rise and if an occasion of battaile be offred shall they accept it The Marshall of Rieux best experienced in matters of warre with some others are not of that opinion for to what end say they should we hazard the estate and country vpon an euent which may bee auoided If we loose the day by what meanes shall we releeue our selues The Souldiers that shall remaine after the ouerthrow wil want courage and change their minds the people would be amazed the Townes stand in suspence the conquerour would become maister of the Country and take all Townes hee should attempt without resistance It were best to temporise to incampe at Rennes being well furnished with victuals and things necessary and in the meane time to keepe the enemy occupyed forcing him to lie in field tiring him with their horsemen cutting off his forrage or else to lodge the army in the fronter townes to shut vp the victuals attend the winter which being come the enemy shall haue no meanes to lodge abroad but must of force dislodge in the meane time we shall see what profit will grow by the leagues of the Kings of England Castile of the Archduke the Duke of Lorraine all which giue the Duke great hope to countermine the Kings practises in Brittanie The rest rashly thrust on partly by a yong and boiling humor partly with desire to make triall of their forces make answer That the souldiers are wearied with this long beating of armes without effect that hauing now an oportunity to do well they obserue a great ioy in their resolutions the which it was more fit to nourish then to quench that their forces were altogether and asked nothing but imploiment that delay would make them leaue their Ensignes by little little In the meane time Fougeres was at the last gaspe a towne of importance and one of the keyes of the countrie that to leaue it in this extremity were to shew a manifest proofe of cowardise to all the rest To conclude they say in a maner that to temporise were to play the cowards The first opinion was most probable but the vehemencie of the Earle of Dunois and the heaâ— of yonger heads carried it Diuision in the British armie All march but see the pittifull first fruits of their first lodging at Andouille a village vpon the way to Rennes from S. Albin a contention fals betâ—ixt the Duke of Orleans the Lord of Albert a man of great reuenues father to Iohn the last of that name K. of Nauarre but his mistresse did not affect him a good scholler in dissembling to vse the power of Albert for the benefit of the Duke her father The Dâ—ke of Orleans did flie a higher pitch and by the mediation of the Earle of Dunois was very farre in fauour with Anne of Brittaine Alain discouers some good shewes of Anne to the Duke of Orleans wherevpon they grow to bitter words as the next day they are ready to fight But the enemy being at hand was it now time to contend to the preiudice of a whole armie But now the foresight of the Marshall of Brittanie doth pacifie all vpon this diuision they receiue two seuerall aduertisments S. Aulbin of Cormier was battered by the French with 3. batteries and yeelded by composition with their liues goods saued a small towne but furnished with a very good Castle but at that time vnfurnished of men victuals munition Fougeres yeelded vpon the like accord S. Aulbin was commanded by William of Rosneuinen an ancient Captaine who had had a command of men at armes vnder Charles the 7. and Lewis the XI but in the warres betwixt Charles the 8. and the Duke of Brittanie he returned to serue his naturall Pâ—ince The Brittons armie marcheth to recouer this place the French to preserue their conquests when as behold there riseth a mutiny among the Brittaines It is secretly murmured that the French Commanders their associats had intelligence with the heads of the French armie the which suggestion did euen then hazard all and if the Brittons had beene farther off without feare of charge they had easily disbanded The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Orange aduertised of this conceit had great paine to worke any other impression What do they to giue an assurance of the contrarie they leaue their horses and sweare all to fight on â—oote with the Brittons and Germains A more bold then wise resolution but necessitie did serue them to appease this mutinie which tended to sedition They order their troupes to fight The Auant-gard to the Marshall of Rieux The order of the Brittons armie the Battaile to the Lord of Albret with some horse to couer his flanks The reereward to Chasteaubriant and on either side their carriages of artillerie and baggage to couer some of their foote being fauoured on their flanke with a small groue betwixt Saint Albin and the village of Oranges And to make the small numbers of strangers seeme great they attire twelue hundred some say seuenteene hundred Brittons with casâ—â—â—ks bearing a red crosse the English liuerie Lewis of Tremouille in the absence of Lewis of Bourbon his brother in law commaunded the Kings armie The oâ—der oâ— the French Hee giues the foreward to Adrian del Hospital an old French Captaine and famous in this warre he takes the battaile to himselfe and giues the reereward to the Marshall of Baudricourt pressed by a more sodaine charge then he expected Gabriel of Montfauçois with tenne or twelue horsemen sent out to obserue the Brittons countenance makes report of their good order The two armies approach the artillerie thunders and kils many men of either side a skirmishe continues about two howres The battaile of S. Albâ—â— which giues the French leysure to order their battaile The two forewards ioyne the Brittons endure the shocke so couragiously as the French yeeld to the resolute valour of the Marshall of Rieux who goes to charge the battaile at the first they kill Claude of Montfort a braue Captaine sent by the King of England succour the Duke and the Lord Scales a valliant Knight with some others of the formost ranke Blaire a Germaine Captaine to couer himselfe from the French artillerie changeth his quarter marching bâ—aâ—e-wise with his battailon like vnto a Croisant but he is sodenly charged in flanke by fower hundred French horse broken and many of them slaine At the same instant two hundred horse charge those which had the baggage in charge and force them to retire The Brittons horse that flâ—â—ked the armie growes amazed and leaues the foote naked They charge them and force them all giue way and all flie some here
King no distinction of persons no gratuity but by chance mens courages that were estranged from the house of Arragon were not confirmed no restâ—tution of gâ—ods and offices to the Angeuins and other Barons which had beene banished by old Ferdinand preâ—erments were giuen to such as purchased them with money and other extraordinary meanes to many they were giuen without reason and taken from others without any cause the Townes which were not wont to obey any immediatly bâ—t the King were giuen for the most part to Frenchmen Things most insu p portable to subiects who had beene accustomed to the wise and well ordred goueâ—nmeâ—t of Kings of the house of Arragon and had hoped for better in the change of this 〈◊〉 These things did wonderfully blemish the reputation of the French On the 〈◊〉 there was no care to keepe the faith ingaged for the restitution of the Townes and fortresses to the Florentines and the Church A pretext which serued a principall ground for the following League In the meane time Alphonso and Ferdinand lately Kings of Naples lay before the Venetians the dangers they incuâ—red by this newe purchase to the Crowne of France The King of Castile is in doubt of his Ilands of Sicile and Sardinia The Emperour 〈…〉 and they giue him falsely to vnderstand that the King desired his Imperiall Câ—oâ—ne The Dâ—ke of Milan could neuer beleeue the King should fiâ—de so great facility in this expedition or proceed so farre with his forces He was vnable to defend 〈◊〉 estate newly vsurped But an other feare possesseth him the seruitude that hangs oueâ— his head and all Italy The Pope opposeth the Turke at the Popes instance threatâ—nâ— the Venetians if they declare not theÌ„â—elues against the King The Venetians hauing seene the violent course of this happy successe that the King like lightening had runne through all Italy that he had seized vpon Pisa other forts of the Florentines that he had left a garrison in Sienna and done the like in the territories of the Church They imagined that his conceits had a further reach then the realme of Naples and hold an others dang er to be their owne To preuent it they conclude a League for thrâ—â— intents sayd they to the Lord of Argenton the Kings Ambassador at Venice To defend Christendome against the Turke A League concluded against the French For the common defence of Italie And for the preseruation of euery ones priuate estate They conclude by secret articles to aid Ferdinand of Arragon for the recouerie of the realme of Naples who with great hope of the peoples loue was ready to enter Calabria That at the same instaÌ„t the Venetians should attempt some sea Townes of the said realme The Duke of Milan to cut off all succors that might come from France should seeke to surprise Ast where the Duke of Orleans remained with small forces And the confederates should giue the Emperour the King of Spaine a certaine summe of money to inuade France with a mightie armie The Florentines had iust cause to forsake the King He had not setled them in the possession of their places He preferred the Counsell of such as supported the Pisans before the Florentines or his faith perswading him that if these were restored they would vnite themselues to the other Potentates Yet would they not enter into this League desiring rather to recouer their places from his hand that did inioy them The Duke of Ferrara dissembling would not signe it yet was he content that his sonne should accept the pay of an hundred and fiftie men at armes and the title of Lieutenant generall for the Duke of Milan This League concluded made the courtiers desirous to returne into France thrust forward rather by an inconstant lightnes then any wise consideration or loue to the Kings honour and good Leauing many important affaires vndecided and the realme not wholy conquered some chiefe forts eyther not taken or not furnished gaue an entrie to the Arragonois We doe oftentimes contemne an enemie ouer whom we haue an aduantage So the Castles of Caiete Rhegium Brundusium Gallipoli Mantia Turpia Otrante and other Townes neglected made the way to a generall reuolt Now the confederates march to field to ioyne their forces meaning either to beseege Charles within Naples or to fight with him in his returne They must therefore resolue either to defend the realme or to leaue a good gard and so depart before this great storme fell vpon them The Spanish fleeâ—e landing at Regium had furnished it and assured it for the Arragonois Mantia Turpia and Otrante seeing the League and that they had not regarded them plant the Arragon ensignes and receiue the garrisons which Don Frederike had sent them The Venetian fleet coÌ„manded by Anthony Grimaldi appeared vpon the coast of Apulia In the end all the realme begins to make open demostration of a new will But see he that was eâ—en now the peoples terror the Iudge of an others life and estate the hope of the East sâ—ands in feare to be controlled A scourge to abate the presumption which his victorie had bred The King leaues Gilbert of Bourbon Earle of Montpensier for his Viceroy The order the King left in Naples a hardie and valiant Prince but saith the Historie Not wisâ— hee did not rise before â—oone And for the defence of the Realme two thousand fiue hundred Suisses a part of his French footemen eight hundred French Lances fiue hundred men at armes Italians in his pay some commanded by the gouernour of Rome some by Prosper and Fabricio Colonnois and by Anthony Sauelli Captaines well prefered in the distribution of places and offices within the Realme especially the Colonnes Prosper had in the Duchie of Tracette the Cittie of Fundi Montfortin and aboue thirtie other places Fabricio had the countries of Albi and Taillecousse which Virgile Vrsâ—â— did formerly enioy The Lord of Aubigni a braue and wise Knight was made Gouernour of Calabria had the Earledome of Acri the Marquisate of Squillazzâ— giuen him The Prince of Salerne was restored to the office of Admiral he of Bisignan well aduanced Steuen de â—ers sometimes groome of the Kings Chamber after Seneshal of Beaucaire obtained the Duchie of Nole the Captainship of Caiete other commands with the office of great Chamberlaine Controuller of the treasor within the realme wel affected to the gard thereof but too weake of iudgement to beare the burthen and care of so great affaires Don Iulian of Lorraine greatly commended for his gouernment was made Duke of S. Angelo Gratian des Guerres a valiant Captaine of reputation had the gouâ—rnment of Abruzzo Gabriel of Montfaucon of whome the King made great accompt had Manfredonia but hauing receyued it well furnished with victualls and in a Country abounding with corne he so deâ—owred his prouision that after foure daies seege he was forced to yeeld vp the place for want of victualls The
not these great numbers dismissed friendly without force ' Some few sought contention they had the Kings eares open and their words were Oracles as Brissonnet Cardinall of S. Malo and the Archbishop of Rouan yet would they not leaue their roabes to put on armes but keepe themselues safe from blowes The King say they must not begin let his enemie speake first he is here in person The Pope the Emperour the King of Spaine the Venetians and the Duke of Milan are by their Deputies But whilest they stand vpon this point of honor their teeth grow and their stomacks shrinke at Nouarre And thus the matter was handled reseruing the honour of both parties About that time the Marquisse of Montferrat dyed daughter to the King of Seruia in Grece leauing two sonnes whereof the eldest was but 9. yeares old The Marquis of Saluce Constantin Vncle to the said Marquis one of the ancient Noblemen of Macedonie the which Mahumet Ottoman had many yeares before inuaded contended for the gouernment of the two pupils To accord this controuersie for the safety of the children and the content of the Countrie the King had sent the Lord of Argenton to Casal Ceruas and the Marquis of Mantoua a Steward of his to condole this death These two fall into discourse to pacifie both armies without blowes so as by the Stewards perswasion Argenton writes to the Venetian commissaries vnder colour to continue the parle they had vpoÌ„ Taro. Giuing eare therevnto they impart it to the Duke of Milans Captaines In the end by common consent they meet betwixt Bolgare and Camarian There were for the King the Cardinall of S. Malo the Prince of Orange the Marshall of Gié and the Lords of Piennes and Argenton For the confederates the Marquis of Mantoua Bernard Contarin the Comissarie of the Venetians Stradiots and Francisque Bernardin Visconte Their chiefe controuersie was vpon the deliuery of Nouarre Milan holds in fee of thâ— Empire therfore the King did vrge that Nouarre as a member of the said Duchie should be deliuered to Maximilian by the hands of the Germaine Captaines that were in the Italians Campe and the confederats would haue him leaue it absolutely In the meane time the famine growes so great as it kils aboue 2000. of the Duke of Orleans men and their great necessity required nothing but expedition But more difficulties growing then could sodenly be decided they conclude a â—â—uce for eight dayes with permission for the Duke of Orleans to come forth with a small traine For the suretie wherof the Marquis of Mantoua did willingly offer himselfe as an hostage to the Earle of Foix after an oth taken that they should proceed sincerely in the treaty of peace that it was not onely to free the Duke of Orleans The Duke being come to the King to Verceil for the prolongation of the truce vntil a conclusion of peace all the men of war came forth and were conducted into a place of safety by the Marquis of Mantoua and Galeas of S. Seuerin So the Towne remained in the Inhabitants keeping with anoth not to deliuer it to any but with the consent of both parties And thirtie men were left in the Castle vnder the Duke of Orleans authoritie to whom they should dayly send victuals out of the Italians Campe for their money Within few daies after arriued the Bayliffe of Dijon with his Suisses who vnder colour of ten thousand which he thought to bring the number was doubled running at the name of the Kings pursse So great a number of men of one nation Twenty thousand Suisses at Verceil for thâ— King was suspitious The one moitie ioyned with the Kings armie neere to Verceil the other camped apart fiue leagues off This new supply reuiued the courage of the Duke of Orleans and of those whose fingars itched But to what end were a Battaile seeing that Nouarre had not moued the King but onely to free the Duke and his seruants that were now deliuered from captiuitie And what meanes were there to fight with two thousand eight hundred men at armes barded fiue thousand light horse eleuen thousand Germains and an infinit number of other foote in a Campe intrenched with palissadoes and deepe ditches full of water a counsell fit for scarlet roabes thrust on rather by their owne couetousnesse then with any respect of the Kings honour or the Dukes This Cardinall of S. Malo did more affect his Maiesties seruice or the priuate aduancement of his house seeing that his vnmeasurable greedinesse extorted this confession from his owne mouth That the Duke of Orleans had promised him ten thousand Ducats of rent for his sonne if he had this Duchie of Milan Doubtlesse great Princes vse good and bad instruments to satisfie their desires but in the end they abhorre the vnlawfull practices of their workemen On the other side this great number of men newly arriued who desired nothing but imployment made the Italians mindes more inclinable to peace So the Marshall of Gié the President of Gannai the Vidame of Chartres Argenton Piennes and Moruilliers hauing conferred againe with the confederates where the Duke of Milan did assist in person they concluded an accord more through the necessitie of the season and want of money desirous to returne home with the shew of an honourable peace then with any confidence it would continue It was agreed The treatie of Verceil That the King should be serued by the Duke of Milan for Genes as of his vassal against all the world and in so dooing the Duke should furnish at his owne charge two Ships to succour the Castle of Naples the which held yet and the yeare following should serue the King with three and go with him in person to the enterprise of Naples if by chance he returned and should suffer the Kings men to passe If the Venetians did not accept of the peace within two moneths but would maintaine the house of Arragon hee should ayde the King against them and the King should giue him all that should be taken from them That of sixe score and foure thousand Ducats lent to the King in that voyage hee should forgiue fourescore thousand And fâ—r the expenses made at Nouarre he should pay the Duke of Orleans fiftie thousand Ducats by the moneth of March following That for the suretie of Genes the Duke should giue two hostages and deliuer the Chastelet into the Duke of Ferrares keeping as a Neuter for two whole yeares the gard thereof to bee paide at their common charge and in case the Duâ—e of Milan should forfait Genes to the King the Duke of Ferrare should then deliuer the Chastelet to the King and the Duke of Milan should giue two other hostages of Milan That the Duke should not empeach the Florentins to recouer what belonged vnto them That Triuulce should be restored to his lands and goods And that the prisoners the confederates had taken should be deliuered This peace was sworne
warre against Gonsalue if he speedily depart not out of the Capitanat And seeing the King of Spaine resolued not to leaue the possession hee enters Tripalde by force the 19. of Iune and consequently the other Townes which Gonsalue held in that Country They are now imbarked in warre and the King is at Lions to prouide necessary things more commodiously to crosse the vniust practises of his aduersary Vpon this desseing he sends 2000. Suisses by sea to supply his men and entertaynes the Princes of Salerne and Bisignan with an intent to passe into Italy if neede required The newe tumults which Vitelloze impatient of the death of his brother Paul Vitelli beheaded at Florence as we haue sayd did raise in Tuscane drewe him thither They begun by the reuolt of Aretzo against the Florentins at the perswasion of the sayd Vitelloze New broiles in Italy of the Vrsins Iohn Paul Baillon Pandolfe Petrucci and others which desired the returne of Peter of Medicis into the state of Florence The Florentins protecting themsâ—lues with their new leâ—gue with the King flie to him accuse the Pope and the Duke of Valentinois to be the Authors of these stirres sound forth the iminent danger of the Duchie of Milan Lewis succors the Florenâ—ins if the aboue named vnited and conâ—ured to ruine their estate reduce it into their power The King had beene long tyred with the insolency and ambition of the Pope and his sonne He did foresee that the treaties of accord being broken with Maximilian the Venetians would soone crosse him· and that hauing open warre with the Spaniard the inuading of Tuscane doone by the secret practices of others would proue very preiudiciall vnto him And therefore he sent foure hundred Lances to succor the Florentins with commandement to Vitellozze and his adherents Not to molest those any more whome he had receyued into his protection the which he declared to all those that should feare to incurre his indignation In the meane time the Duke of Valentinois vpon the confusions of Aretze went out off Rome with his army and vnder a false pretext to take Camerin hauing before to weaken Guidobalde Duke of Vrbin drawne men and artillery from him leapes into that Duchie and takes all his estate without any let except the Rocke of S. Leon Maiuolâ— to the great discontent amazemeÌ„t oâ— Vittellozze the Vrsins Petruccio who by an others ruine began plainely to discouer their owne This coÌ„quest had made the Valentinois to assaile the Florentins if the commaÌ„dement made him froÌ„ the King or rather the coÌ„ming of his maiesty had not diuerted him The Duke of Valentinâ—â—s his cruelty Camerin was the obiect of his armes He tooke it with a barbarous inhumanity caused Iules of Varane Lord of the sayd place to be strangled with his two sonnes The King arriues at Ast and Lewis of Tremouille comes into Tuscane with two hundred Lances three thousand Suisses and great store of artillery for the recouery of Aretze in fauour of the Florentins The Pope with his Borgia foreseeing that the King being incensed against them as the chiefe motiues of this warre would spoile Borgia of Romagnia and other places which he possessed and that they were too weake to withstand this storme they returne to their accustomed practices imputing the bellion of Aretze to Vitellozze and his Associats whome they could not say they neyther by prayers nor authority diuert from this enterprise And to pacifie the King the Valentinois sent word to Vitellozze that if hee did not giue vp Aretze and other places belonging to the Florentins he would cast him out by force Vittellozze was ready to beare the whole burthen but by what meanes considering the weakeness of his forces and that the strongest were ready to reconcile themselues and to leaue him in the mier therefore makes no delay but consignes Aretzâ— and the other Florentin Townes which the violence of his forces had put into his power Moâ—t Saint Souin Chastillon d' Aratze Cortone and the rest of Valdichiane al which were presently by the Kings command restored to the Florentins An other allâ—ance bâ—twixt the King and Pope The affaires of this world require euery man to shroude himselfe vnder the strongest The King hath no sooner set footing into Italy but all the Princes and common-weales according to their accustomed manner flie vnto him some to get pardon some to maintaine their estates and all in generall to draw his Maiesties forces against the Pope and his sonne But doth it not commonly fall out that what many desire succeds but seldome Their priuate intrest and respects are most commonly contrary to their outward and shewes and desires So the King not so much mooued by the Popes exact diligence who by all meanes and messages sought to pacifie him and to returne againe into fauour as by the Cardinall of Amboises perswasion who to entertaine the Pope in vnion with the King presumed to frame himselfe a ladder to mouÌ„t vnto the Popedome to aduance some one of his house to be Cardinall he happely followed of two wayes the worst fauouring the Pope and his followers The wise reader may iudge thereof by the euent of the historie True it is the Emperour was a chieâ—e motiue to draw our Lewis to this accord His fiâ—gars itched he could not be quiet and vnder colour of his passage which he did so much affect to receiue his Imperiall Crowne of the Pope he might happely trouble the state of Italie to the Kings great preiudice and indeed he had alreadie sent many horse and foote to Trente making great offers to the Pope in fauour of this passage Moreouer the King was not ignorant Made vpon sundry considerations how vnwillingly the Venetians did see the state of Milan the realme of Naples in his hands Adding thereunto the imperious threats which foure Cantons of the Suisses made That if the King did not yeeld them the rights he had to Belinzone and giue them Volteline Schafouze The Suisses braue the king with other outragious demaunds they would compound with Maximilian But to adde more crosses he must dispute the conquest of Naples by the sword All these considerations made our Lewis desirous to entertaine the Popes friendship whereby Maximilians desseins were sodainly disappointed So the King hauing more libertie to prouide for the estate of Naples sent a fresh supply by sea of two thousand Suisses and tenne thousand French the which ioyned to the Viceroy who had alreadie taken all the Capitanate except Manfredonia and S. Angelo They camped before Canose the which Peter of Nouarre yeelded by composition to depart with bag and baggage The taking of this place did shut Gonsalue into Barlette without money with little vittels and lesse munitâ—on And the French Captaines alledging The exploits of the Fâ—ench in the Kingdome of Naples against the aduice of the Lord of Aubigni that the armie could not all campe
of his person would force him vnto he parted out of Siene The King discontented with the Pope and his sonne leauing the same gard the authority with his friends so as his departure bred no alteration in the gouernment Tâ—is enterprise displeased the King for although he were not sorry to see Vitellozze his adherents punished yet desired he not their totall ruine the which with the conquest of so great estates made the Pope and his Borgia too mighty He desisted therefore froÌ„ this attempt not so much to obey the King as finding the taking of Sienne difcult being a great Towne strong conuerting all his forces to the totall destruction of the house of Vrsins Iohn Iulio Francis Fabian and Organtin who hauing ioyned with the Sauelli were in Ceruetre had takeÌ„ the bridge of Lamentane scoured al the country When he had restrayned their courses he inuaded the possessions of Iohn Iordan who was then in the Kings protection and pay bearing armes for his seruice at Naples The King was greatly mooued here with and to controule the presumption insolencie of the Vâ—lentinois he coÌ„mands him to forbeare to molest the estate of Iordan to restrain his excessiue couetousnes he procures an vnion betwixt the Florentins Sienois Bolognois for their coÌ„mon defence to take from the Pope his son all means to extend theÌ„selues any farther into Tuscane The Spaniard fortifies himselfe in the meane time in the realme of Naples and our affaires decline The Earle of Meleâ—e the Princes of Salerne Bâ—â—ignan were incamped at Villeneufue Don Hugues of Cardone passing from Messina into Calabria with 16. hundred foote Spaniards Calabriens and Siciliens and a hundred men at armes marched to succour it going through a narrow plaine betwixt a mountaine and a litle â—iâ—er ioyning to the way with a causey desiring rather to enter into Villenefue then to fight The Earle incounters them beneath the riueâ— not able to draw them into the plaine he passeth the water to cut of their way to Villenefue to charge them But very indiscreetly for being troubled with the causey they were easily defeated and the Towne releâ—ued And behold Manuel of Benauide The French defeated hauing Anthony de Leue with him who of a simple soldiar became a braue Captaine and shall win many victories leading two hundred men at armes two hundred Genetaires and two thousand foote takes Losarne at the second assault where the Lord of Ambricourt was lately entred with thirty Lances and the Earle of Melete with a thousand foote Ambricourt was taken but the Lord of Aubigni approching with three huÌ„dred Lances fiue thousand foote â—orced the victors to retire to Villeneufue and gaue the Earle means to saue himselfe to keepe the Castel Aubigni following them in the tayle to the foote of a high mountaine cut off threescore men at armes some thousand foote with 13 hundred prisoneâ—s taking 15. enseignes But this was with the death of Grigni abraue captaine wholed the company of the Earle of Caiazzo being dead of sickenes a little after the taking oâ— Capoua At the same time Porta Carrera brought two hundred men at armes The Spaniaâ—ds defeâ—ted two hundred light horse two thousand foote who dying at Rhegium left the command of his troupes to Fernand Andrade his Lieutenant Fewe daies after Gonsalue departing from Barlette set vpon the Lord of Palisse who lodged in Rubos with a hundred Lances three hundred foote as securely as in an assured peace hauing surprised him sodenly battred it furiously and made a breach he forced him to yeeld the place and to remaine prisoner with his troupe and then he retired safely to Barlette notwithstanding the Duke of Nemours companies lodged for their ease in diuers places about Barlette whilest Gonsalue endured with an admiâ—able patience both hungar pestilence within the same Citty Moreouer fifty French Lâ—nces sent to surprise some money which was brought from Trani to Barlette were defeated by such as Gonsalue had sent for the conduct thereof All these petty losses were without doubt foretellings of a change of our good fortune But what neede was there in the beginning of this so visible a Catastrophe to hazard a fruitlesse coÌ„bate for falling to our disaduantage it must needs greatly diminish our reputation make the whole nation to be scorned although the honor valour of a whole country consists not in the combate of a fewe priuate persons A Trumpeâ— returning from Barlette where he had treated of the ransome of some prisoners reports some speeches which he had heard to the preiudice of the French who displeased therewith they defie the Spaniards and Italians Thirteene French make offer to fight with thirteene of theirs The field was chosen betwixt Barlette Andrie and Quadrate It chanced that hauing broken their lances The French defeated in combaâ—e with no aduantage to either party falling to their other armes a Frenchman ouerthrew an Italian and aduancing to kill him he himselfe was slaine by an other Italian that came to rescue his companion In the end after a rough and bloudy fight of some houres the Italians hauing slaine many of the Frenchmens horses remained maisters of the field and bodies leading their enimies prisoners to Barlette While a State stands firme euery one feares to attempt against it but vpon the first disfauour euery one seekes to pull a plume Some Cantons of the Suisses seeke to fish in a troubled water Troubles by the Suisses and to obtaine by force what they could not get by fauour which was the case of Bellinzone the which they had surprised in Lombardy To this end they come before Locarne camping towards the wall vpon that great Lake which stops the descent from the mountains into the plaine and the other Cantons seeing the enterprise succeed well in fauour of the first assailants run to ayde their companions to the number of fifteene thousand These were too many mouthes in a straight barren country whose fury must soone faint for want of artillery victualls money and horse The Lord of Chaumont did wisely fore-see al this who furnishing his castles vpon the mountains keeping his troups in the plaine kept this great swarme from comming into open places whilst that he assembled al the forces of Lombardie and the allies of Bologne Ferrare and Mantoue The Venetians being required to send the succours which they were bound vnto for the defence of the State of Milan sent some companies but so late as they were vnprofitable Thus the Suisses wanting victualls the French hauing sonke many barkes which brought them prouision vpon the Lake and the Suisses themselues beginning to be diuided for that the whole gaine of of their armes redounded to them alone that possessed Bellinzone they retyred in the ende vpon condition to deliuer what they had taken of the Kings except Musocque as not belonging to the Duchy of Milan and
with a strong armie the Towne prouided of all things necessarie for defence hopes to obtaine that now which he could not get when the port was disarmed hee perswades the Venetians to a second triall They come to Genes with fifteene light gallies three great one galleasse and three Bisâ—aine ships The French fleete going out off the hauen with two and twentie light gallies after they had giuen order that the contrarie faction should not rise met with them at Porto Venere where by the thunder of their Cannons and by the Tower of Codifa The Venetians make attempt against Genes they forced them to retire to Ciâ—itaueâ—â—hia whence the Venetian fleete parting to recouer the gulfe a tempest cast fiue gallies vpon the coast of Messine the others beaten and brused were driuen vppon the coast of Barbarie and in the end recouered the port of Venice halfe lost The armie which came by land led by the Arch-Bishop of Salerne brother to Octauian Fregose by Iohn of Sasatelle and Renier of Sasate the Popes Captaines seeing the fruitlesse attempts of the fleet at sea in stead of Genes went to take Fanane in the mountaine of Modene A small recompence for so many presumptiue stirres This disgrace did rather increase the Popes obstinacie then make him faint Hee â—ight easily obtaine a peace of the King and with such conditions as might well â—â—â—tent a Conquerour The King was content to referre the Duke of Ferrares cause 〈◊〉 iustice and gaue power to the Pope to name such Iudges as he pleased But Iulius â—â—â—lowing the holy Oracle Loued cursing and cursing followed him and for that he tooke no pleasure in blessing it forsooke him seeing the King yeeld to so reasonable conditions he impudently demands that Genes be set at libertie and with such bitternes as the Duke of Sauoies Ambassador offering his Princes intercession for their place he puts him in prison and tortured him as a spie Hee conuerts all his thoughts against Ferrare The Venetians thrust him forward fearing least in the end loosing the hope of his desseins hee should bee reconciled to the King And the King sufficiently informed of the Popes bad affection resolues to defend the Ferarrois and both by spirituall and temporall armes to crosse the Popes insolencies In the end of September the Pope comes to Bologâ—e with an intent to assaile Ferrare both by water and land the Venetians on the one side and he on an other perâ—â—ading himselfe that at the fame of his forces the people would rebell against Alphonso But the Venetians companies hauing brought many barks by the riuer of Po into the territorie of Mantoua to make a bridge the Duke of Ferrare with the French forces set vpon them vnawares tooke them and many vessels in certaine chanels of Polesine with the Venetian Comissarie Then was there discouered a practise which the Venetians had in â—râ—sse The Pope reuiues the waâ— against the Ferâ—arois for the which the Earle Iohn Maria of Martinengue was beheaded there This stay of the fleete did nothing discourage the Pope but perswading himselfe that his own forces were sufficient to conquer Ferrare he assembled them 〈◊〉 at Mâ—dene vnder the Duke of Vrbin being Generall the Cardinall of Pauie Iohn Paul Baillon Marc Anthonie Colonne and Iohn Vitelle Captaines of authoritie whilest that Chaumont incamped right against them at Rubiere and Marsaille tyring them with daily skirmishes he gaue the Ferrarois meanes with the Lord of Chastillon to recouer Polesine Final and Cente Hauing sackt and burnt it to ashes hee went to ioyne with Chaumont euen as three hundred men at armes many light horse and foure thousand Venetian foote to winne the passage of Po and to ioyne with the Popes forces hauing already taken Fiâ—queroles Sâ—ellate on the other side forced Alphonso to go to the succour of his countrie Thus the two Venetian fleetes hauing free passage vpon Po did greatly annoy the Ferrarois terrâ—torie by daily inroades and spoiles when as the Duke â—sâ—uing out of â—errare put to â—oute that fleete which was entred the riuer of Po by Primare and came vnto Adria the other which consisted of foists and small vessels being entred by Fornaces and come to Pul selle seeking to passe into the riuer of Adicâ— by a riuer adioyning they found the water so low as they could not enter but were to battered with the Ferrarois artillerie as they abandoned their ships seeking to saue themselues and their Canons The Pope seeing he could preuaile nothing by his temporall forces he flies to the spirituall excommunicating Alphonso of Este and all those that were or should come to his succour namely Charles of Amboise with all the chiefe of the French armie This furious course made the King to assemble all the Prelats of his realme at Yours wâ—th the most famous Doctors of all his Vniuersities as well in diuinâ—tie as in the câ—uill and canon lawes 8. Conclusions made by the French Chuâ—ch against the Pope who resolue vpon eight notable conclusions against the Pope That it was not lawfull for the Pope to assaile any temporall Princes by force in their territoriâ—s not belonging to the Church That it was lawfull for any such Prince for the defence of his subiects and coâ—â—trie â—oâ— onely to repell this iniurie by force but also to inuade the territories of the â—huâ—ch possâ—ssed by â—ny such â—ope not with an intent to hold them but to the end the Pope bâ—â—ng disposâ—ed thereof sâ—ould haue no more meanes to molest his estate seeing the Pope had 〈◊〉 the aide of â—â—e said Prince recouâ—red the same lands vsurped before by certaine tyrants That for so manifeâ—â—â— a wroâ—g and vniust attempt any such Prince might with draw 〈…〉 from the Popes obedience for the defence of his temporall estate seeing he had 〈…〉 many other Princes and common-weales to inuade the dominions of the said Prince who 〈◊〉 reward and loue of the Apostolick sea That this substraction being made they 〈…〉 France the common and ancient lawe and the Fragmatique sanction 〈…〉 the Councâ—ll of Basil. That any such Prinçe might by â—orce defend another Prince his coâ—â—â—derate and of whom he had lawfully taken the protection for these Seigneuries which he 〈◊〉 enioyed and with a iust title seeing this confâ—deracie had beene made with the consent of the saiâ— Pope who as the chiâ—fe was comprehended therein and that this Prince allâ—â—d according to the forme of the league had giuen aide for the recouery of the patrimonie of Saint Peter That the Pope pretending any thing due for any rights belonging to the Church of Rome and the Prince on the other side challenged to holde of the Empire and should referre this controuersie to the censâ—re of indifferent Iudges as equitie required that in â—his case it was not lawfull for the Pope without further knowledge of the cause to make warre against any such Prince the which if he did the said Prince might oppose his forces
Pisa vnlesse they were backt with forrein forces the Florentins vnwilling to admit any remeÌ„bring the Pisans rebellion vnder Charles the 8. they decreed to haue the Councel transporâ—ed to Milan They found the like difficulties at Milan The Councel transported to Milan The Clergie abstaine from saying seruice as before accursed persons the commons curse them and laughe at them in open streete namely at the Cardinall of Saint Croix chosen President of the Councell whom euery one noted to be the Author of this assemblie hoping by fauour therof to make himselfe a foot-stoâ—le to climbe to the Popedome This disgrace of the Milanois made them againe to transport the Councell to Lions When Iulius being suâ—â—ended froÌ„ his Popedome prohibitions made throughout al France not to send any mâ—ney to Rome nor to bring any Bulles from thence hee did not onely excomunicate all â—â—e French but also graunted Bulles of pardon and remission to any one that should 〈…〉 Frenchman giuing the realme of France that of Nauarre in hatred of Iohn of Albret allied to the King and at the perswasion of Ferdinand King of Arragon who had long gaped after some occasion to lay hold of it in prey to the first coÌ„querour So this Câ—uÌ„cel did nothing but increase their spleenes and kindle new troubles But as the King had an intent to assaile Romagnia or to maintaine the war in anothers Country attending his owne comming in person the next spring with al the forces of his realme behold sixteene thousaÌ„d Suisses with seauen field peeces new raised by the cardinal of SioÌ„ A descent of Suisses vnder the authority of Iulio come a laÌ„d at Varese Galere froÌ„ thence they send a trumpet to defie Gaston of Foix Duke of Nemours who with the CouÌ„cel of Triuulce coÌ„manded the French armies as Lieutenant general to the king his Vncle Gaston hauing speedily assembled seauen hundred horse and such foote as the vrgent necessity would suffer him the companies being diuided into sundry garrisons presents himselfe before Galere with much artillery The Suisses go forth in battaile yet vnwilling to fight in so open a place they retire to Busti In the meane time the companies of men at armes and foote come from all parts to Milan Captaine Molare with his Gascons came from Verona and the Lansquenets froÌ„ Carpi who cheered the mindes of the Milanois being some what dauÌ„ted by sodaine an assault And the more for that certaine letters were surprised which the Suisses had written to their Lords that they had no newes neither of the Pope nor of the Venetian army So as hauing found some difficultie to passe the riuer of Adie they tooke as in their iourney the way of Come and so euery one to his home Shewing Their retreaâ— that for want of conduct assistance and paiement they do commonly terrefie more then hurt Warre in Romagnia After the Suisses retreat behold all the Townes the Ferrarois held in Romagnia were exposed in prey to the Spaniards being ioyned to the forces of the Church who asâ—embling at Imola a thousand men at armes eight hundred Genetaires and eight thousand Spanish foote with many Barons of the Realme of Naples vnder the coÌ„mand of Fabricio Colonne their generall and for the Pope eight hundred men at armes eight hundred light horse and eight thousand Italians vnder Marc Anthonie Colonne Iohn Vitelli Malateste sonne to Iohn Paul Baillon Raphael of Passy and others all subiect to the command of the Cardinall of Medicis Legat in the army resoluing to beseege Bologone The Duke of Nemours had put into it besides the inhabitants and some horse and foote entertayned by the Bentiuoles two thousand Lansquenets and two hundred Lances vnder Odet sonne to Peter of Foix Viconte of Lautrec Yues of Alegre Anthony of Fayete Peter Terrail surnamed Captaine Bayard and in the meane time assembled all the forces of Italie togither at Final to preserue Bologne from the enemy Alâ—eadâ—e a hundred fadome of the wall neere to Saint Stephens gate were layed euen with the gâ—ound the Tower at the gate was already abandoned and the Spaniards had already planted an enseigne vpon the wall Bologne beseeged by the Spaniards when as the beseeged placing their Cannon in counterbattery and hauing slaine some of them that were mounted they forced them to retire in disorder These first attempts had troubled the people if Gaston had not sodenly reenforced the Towne with a thousand foote and a hundred and fourescore Lances The beseeged thus fortified a strange successe doubles their courage Peter of Nauarre hauing set fire to a mine which he had made at the port of Chastillion where there was a chapell both the wall and the Chapell leaped so into the aire as the army without descouered the Towne plainely A miraculous â—hance and the soldiars prepared to defend the assault but both the wall and Chapell falling downe settled in the same place from whence the violence of the fire had forced them Doubtlesse the Bolonois had reason to make a miracle of this aduenture and to beleeue that this fal vpon the same foundation was a manifest testimonie of Gods assistance This hapy successe brought Gaston to Bresse 1512. whether the Venetian armie marched to effect some intelligences but peâ—â—waded by the Captaines of Bologne that his absence would double the enemies courage he parts from Final and marching all night notwithstanding the snow and violent windes 〈◊〉 the Cittie in the morning with thirteene hundred launces six thousand Lansquenets and eight thousand French and Italians before enemie had any notice thereof who being assured of the truth retired their artillerie secretly and tooke the way to Imola In the meane time Andrew Gritti Bresse 〈◊〉 by the Venetians generall of the Venetians perswaded by Count Lewis Aâ—ogare and the most part of the Countrie men had taken the Towne of Bresse by asâ—ault where Iames of Aillon Lord of Lude kept the Castell still People newly conquered â—o commonly the like in all occasions Beâ—game the two Castels excepted Orciueche Orcinoâ—e Pontuiâ—ue many places there abouts obey the victors The Duke of Nemours leauing three hundred Launces and foure thousand foote in Bologne posted with all speed to Bresse and hauing intelligence that Iohn Paul Baillon lodged in the I le of Escâ—le with three hundred men at armes foure hundred light horse and twelue hundred foot he goes to charge them with three hundred Lances seuen hundred Archers hauing ouertaken them as they were ready to passe the riuer of Adice at the tower of Magnanine he chargeth them deâ—eats them and kils almost a hundâ—ed horse takes many pâ—â—soners amongst others Gui of Rangon Balihazar Signorel of Percuse dispeâ—sâ—d all his foote whereof the most part were drowned in pâ—ssing and takes two Fauconeuâ— which he had The next day in an encounter he oueâ—came Meleagre of Furli Captaine of the Venetian light horse the commander remaining prisoner so
thousand Ducats to enter Bourgongne at the same instant with three thousand horse and eight thousand and foote Germaines and Suissâ—s promising the Suisses a certaine summe of money to ioyne their forces with Maximilian being content they should reteâ—ne a part of Bourgongne vntill they were fully satisfied According to this agreement the English enters the marches of Picardie camps before Therouenne with fiue thousand horse of combate and aboue fortie thousand foote But the English forces did not molest France at land only the Admirall of England ran along the coasts of Normandie and Brittanie And the King to resist their incursions caused foure Gallies to passe the straight of Gibralâ—ar vnder the charge of Captaine Pregent At the first incounter the Admirall chased Pregent into Brest Here Pregent turnes his force fights with the Admirall and hurts him whereof he died within few daies after After that foure score English ships and twenty Normands and Brittons ships fought with equall forces ours hauing the winde But in the end Primauguet a Britton Captaine of the Nunne which Queene Anne had caused to be built beset by ten or twelue English ships and resolute to sell his death dearly grapled with the Regent the chiefe ship of the enemies fleete and fiering it burnt both the one and the other with all that was in them Therouenne was defâ—nded by two hundred and fiftie Lances and two thousand foot whilest the King prepared two thousand fiue hundred Launces ten thousand Lansquenets led by the Duke of Gueldres sixe thousand others Thâ—rouâ—â—â—e beâ—eeged which the Duke of Norfolke brought being fled long before out of England and tenne thousand French to succour the beseeged who in the meane time molested the enemie day and night with their artillerie with the which the great Chamberlaine of England was slaine and Talbot Captaine of Calis lost a legge The troupes assembled the King sent them to Aire vnder the comand of Lewis of Longueuille Marquis of Rotelin Captaine of the hundred gentlemen of his houshold Victuals grew scant in Therouenne when as the Lord of Pieâ—es gouernour of Picardie and the French Captaines chose out the most resolute of all their troupes and gaue them charge to carrie victuals to the Towne And for that their enterprise had happily succeeded retyring too confidently and reproching the enemie of couardise hauing no intelligence of their intent the English hauing sent their horse and fifteâ—ne thousand foote to cut off our mens passage who did ride on their nagges disarmed they charge them vnawares being readie to wade through a riuer that passeth at Huchin they kill about three hundred and take many prisoners amongst others the Marquis of Rotelin Bayard la Payete Clermont of Aniou and Bussy of Amboise all the rest casting away their Launces and trusting to their heeles and horses saued themselues by flight And therfore they call it the battaile of spurres which caused the yeelding of Therouenne the which was dismantled The incounâ—â— of 〈◊〉 to take away all cause of discord betwixt the Archduke Charles who by ancient right pretended it and the English who challenged it as conquered from the enemie by the sword From Therouenne Henry went to campe before Tournay following in this resolution not so much the actions of a good Commander in the warre seeing the taking of this place lying within the low Countries brought him small profit as the perswasions of Maximilian hoping that this Towne pulled from the French might in time returne to the obedience of his grandchild Charles to whome they pretended it appertained Tournay taken Tournay vnfurnished of men of warre and dispayring of succours for that the King not being maister of the field nor of sufficient force to incounter the English could not succour it saued her selfe from spoyle paying a hundred thousand Crownes To crosse the English at home The Scots defeated the King had stirred vp Iames King of Scotland an ancient allie to this Crowne but the chaunce of armes was nothing fortunate for him neither at land nor at sea for ioyning with the English armie where Queene Catherine was present he was vanquished vpon Til and slaine with aboue twelue thousand Scots After these victories the end of October approching Henry left a great garrison in Tournai The English retire dismissed his strangers and toke his way towards England carrying no other recompence for so great and sumptuous a preparation for warre but the Cittie of Tournay But some desseins vpon Scotland fallen into a pupils hands hastned him home An other storme threatned France The Suisses armed according to the former conuentions the King sends Tremouille vnto them to disperse them vnder whome many of the Colonels had receiued the Kings pay But neither by presents not promises preuailed he any thing onely he had a secret intelligence giuen him from some Captains to prouide for the defence of his gouernment of Bourgongne whether the Pope the Emperour Sforee did thrust them And behold foureteene or fifteene thousand Suisses with the troupes of the French Countie a thousand horse The 〈◊〉 enter into Boâ—â—goâ—ne and the artillerie which the Emperour gaue them vnder the conduct of Vlric Duke of Wirtemberg camped before Dijon Tremouille was returned with a thousand Launces and six thousand foot who by his practises had greatly altered the Colonels when as the multitude doubting the faith of their Captaines takes the artillerie and batters the wall Tremouille not able to resist the force of this nation which increased daily flies to the last remedy and without expecting any authoritie from his Maiestie agrees with them That the King should renounce the rights he had to the Duchy of Milan should pay them 400000 crownes within a time prefixt which they preteÌ„ded was due for their seruices in the former wars and for assurance therof he gaue for hostages his nephew of Mezieres Bailife of Dijon and foure bourgesses of the said towne who sauing themselues awhile after in Germanie escaped the threats of this people to cut off their heads if the King did not ratifie it Doubtlesse these were wise men to saue their heads from the Suisses choler A very preiudiciall accord for the King if he had beene constrayned to ratifie it But was it not better to lull the Suisses asleepe then to loose Dijon Our Lewis is now freed off two incombrances the English and the Suisses But the exemption of present dangers freed him not from a relaps for the English departing threatned to returne in the spring and prepared alreadie being loth to stay any more so long at the warre The Emperour had the like intent to annoy him The Catholike King deuised as was discouered by a letter written to his Ambassadour resident with Maximilian the meanes to draw this Duchie of Milan to Ferdinand their comon granchild yonger brother to Charles the Archduke shewing that by that meanes all the other estates of Italie should bee forced to take their law
of Hierges in Ardennes yet through the fauour and credit which Aimeries had with Charles of Austria and the greatest in his Court hee was releeued although hee had not appealed from the said sentence in time grounding the causes of his reliefe vpon the lets and hinderances hee had had during the former warres at the which hee had alwayes assisâ—ed in person So as a Commission being granted before the great Chancellor of Brabant and a day assigned to the heires of Symay 1521. to come to heare the reasons of Aâ—mâ—ries releefe and if neede were to see the former sentence giuen to their behoofeâ— reuoked They found this commission so vniust and vnreasonable seeing that both their father and they had beene in long and quiet possession of the said Towne and that this decree was not subiect to appeale as they repaired to Robert de la Marke Duke of Bouillon as to their Lord and Protector that with their right hee might defend the liberties and priuileges of his Duchie Robert discontented that his companie of men at armes had bin cassierd for the extorsions and robberies they had committed in Italie and else where had left the King and was retired to the Emperour But seeing that iustice was denied him as well for the priuate interest of puâ—â—ls whose vnkle and Tutor hee was hauing married their Aunt sister to the Prince of Symay hee made his peace with the King by the mediation of his wife and his sonne Fleuranges being daughter to the Earle of Brenne with the Kings mother A bold and insolent â—act Robert hauing assured his affaires with the King sent to defie the Emperour at Wormes where he had called a Diet of the Princes and free Townes of Germanie against the new-bred troubles by reason of Luther A bold attempt of a pettie Prince against an Emperour mightie in meanes men and courage A great riuer runs quietly betwixt the bankes that bound it but at the first breach it ouerflowes the whole Countrie so there is nothing more easie then to incense Princes but being once moued they are hardly appeased This defie giuen Fleuranges the eldest son of Robert notwithstanding the Kings expressed prohibition made leuie as well in France as in other places of three thousand foot and foure or fiue hundred horse with the which hee beseeged Vireton a small Towne in Luxembourg belonging to the Emperour But soone after he retired his armie by the Kings commaundement and dismissed it But their spleens were wonderfully incensed vpon new occasions The King for that the Emperour fayled in the payment of the pension for the Realme of Naples and in the restitution of Nauarre and withall his preferment to the Empire had greatly discontented him The Emperour was greeued for the enterprise of Nauarre and the attempt of the Duke of Bouillon being also well informed Lâ—os ordinary dissembling that the King sought the meanes to recouer the Realme of Naples Francis had sent a gentleman to the Pope to know when it should please him to performe his part for the execution of that which they had concluded togither the which his Maiestie knewe according to the disposition of Leo to bee more counterfeit then currant And Leo giuing to the gentleman a note of the horse foot and artillerie that was necessarie for this enterprise assigned the King two and twentie dayes to arme whilest the Venetians might enter into this League The Pope had no meaning that Naples should bee subâ—ect to the French If the King had not in the meane time neglected his affaires Leo had beene forced to runne another course And the Pope glad to haue some colourable shew of disdaine accuseth the King either to be carelesse or ill affected hauing not drawen the Venetians into the sayd League for the defence of Italie He complaines that his maiestie had not payed but the first moneth for the leuie of Suisses which they had beene forced to make against the Spaniard who a little before had inuaded the territories of the Church whereof the King should pay a moitie and makes a shew as if the King had treated some thing with the Emperour without his priuitie and to his preâ—â—dice Thus Leo seeming iustly dspleased receiued into Regium contrary to his agreement with the King all the banished men of Milan hee inuested Charles of Austria The Pope capitulates with the Emperour in the Realme of Naples made a defensiue League with him including the house of Medicis and the Florentines and deuising how to conquer Milan they agreed That Parma and Plaisance should remaine to the Church to hold them with the same rights it did before That Francis Sforce brother to Maximilian should bee put in possession of the Duchie of Milan as hauing right from his father and his brothers renunciatâ—on and that the Emperour should ayd the Pope against his subiects and feudataries namely to conquer Ferrara This mutuall resolution of allyance was a meanes by Gods prouidence to shew his wonderfull iudgements and a scourge to punish both French Italians and Spaniards for many yeares whereby followed so many euersions of Townes oppressions of people desolations of Prouinces and the death of so many men of valour La Marks estate ruined The Emperour in the meane time leuies a great armie of horse and foote vnder the command of Henry Earle of Nassau who tooke Longnes from Robert de la Mark rased the Towne and hanged the Captaine with twelue of the chiefe of his troupe The Captaine of Musancourt deliuered by some of his souldiers with the place to the said Earle escaped the gallowes at the intreatie of the chiefe of his armie but twentie of his Souldiers were hanged and the place likewise razed and spoiled to the ground About this time there was much controuersie touching the Duchie of Milan the Emperour pretending it to belong absolutely to him not onely by conquest but much rather by inheritance concerning which the most learned in the lawes of the Empire produced many and very probable reasons and arguments These two prises caused Fleuranges and Sansey his brother the sonnes of Robert to put themselues into Iametz with a resolution to die or to keepe it The Earle after foure dayes siege hauing seene the garrisons firme resolution raised his campe to take the way to Fleuranges The Germaines which kept it yeelded vp both the Towne and their Captaine the Lord of Iametz the sonne of Robert into the Earles hands who hauing ruined it did the like vnto Sansy Bouillon was afterwards yeelded vnto him by intelligence After this Robert obtained a truce of the Emperour for six weekes But the Emperour Charles dreamed of a more important warre If his spleene had beene onely against the house of La Marck why should he grant them a truce being almost ruined The Kings armie against the Emperour and being a conquerour and strong enough to subdue the said Robert why did he still increase his armie The King hauing
intelligence that warre was proclaimed against him prepared his forces to withstand the Emperour and to this end he gaue a commission to Francis of Bourbon Earle of Saint Paul to leuie six thousand foote to the Constable of Bourbon eight hundred horse and sixe thousand foote and to the Duke of Vendosmâ— the like charge And to reuenge the disgrace receiued by Esparre he sent six thousand Lansequenets of whom Claude of Lorraine Earle of Guise was generall vnder William of Gouffiers Lord of Bonniuet Admirall of France to whom he gaue fiue companies of horse and commission to leuie what number of Gascons and Basques he should thinke necessarie The Lord of Lescut was in like sort â—eleeued with French and Suisses Open warre for the warre of Italy The armies on eyther side were in field there remaines nothing but for the one to make a breach the imperialls begin There had beene a long and a great quarrell betwixt Lewis Cardinall of Bourbon and the Lord of Liques a Gentleman of Hainault for the Abbie of Saint Amand which the Cardinall enioyed Liques takes this occasion to assault the Abbie which being of no strength was deliuered vnto him by Champeroux Lieutenant for the King in Tournaisis in the which de Loges Gouernour of Tournay was surprised We might pretend that these were but priuate quarrels but Liques aduanced with his forâ—es to Mortaigne a place subiect to the King the which he said he had some times enioyed In the end Pranzy Captaine of the sayd place hauing no hope of succours yeelded it Seege of Tournay not to Liques but to the Lord of Portien vpon condition to depart with their liues and baggage But contrary to the lawe of armes and honestie they were pursued stript and hardly escaped with their liues On the other side Fiennes of the house of Luxembourg Gouernour of Flanders besieged Tournay with a thousand horse eight thousand foote and six Canons continuing there fiâ—e moneths whilest that the Bourguignons did take spoyle and raze Ardres the Lord of Teligni in exchange did charge defeat and cut in peeces six hundred Bourguignons that were entred the realme to spoile it In the beginning of these garboyles Henry King of England did offer himselfe an Arbitrator betwixt these two Princes Charles and Frances and Calis was named for the treatie of a good peace But what meanes was there to yeeld to the Emperours vnreasonable demaunds to restore him to the Duchie of Bourgongne with an abolition of the homage which hee ought vnto this Crowne for the low Countries beeing vnreasonable as he pretended that an Emperour should doe homage to a King of France as if wee did not commonly see Princes hold their lands by homage of simple gentlemen So this parle tooke no effect Hitherto the Imperials dealt vnder had protesting not to make warre against the King· but now they discouer themâ—elues and come with enseignes displayed to beseege Mouzon they batter it in two places the one by the medow towards the Port of Rheims the other from the mountaine going to Iuoy The footmen newly leuied and not yet trayned grew amazed and force Montmort the Captaine of that place to demaund a composition for the obteyning whereof hee went with Lassigny his companion to the Earle and obteined That euery man at armes should depart Mouson takeâ— with a â—urtall vnarmed and the foote men and archers without armes and a white wands in their handes what policie was this to see two Lieutenants to a King go forth off a place to capitulate with the enemie without doubt they diserued the shame which many haue suffered â—or the like rashnesse to be detained prisoners put to ransome and forced to yeeld the Towne at discretion The taking of all these Townes without opposition drew the Earle to Meâ—â—eres commaunded by the Cheualier Bâ—yard Seege of Mezieres but hee found a more valerous resolution then at Mouzon The experience and valour of the Captaines and the desire which Anne Lord of Montmorency had to doe the King some notable seruice in his youth had drawne him into the Towne with many well minded gentlemen of the Court amongst the rest the Lords of Lorges d'Annebault Lucè Villeclair Iohn de la Tour Lord of Bremont Iohn Dureil Lord of Berbee Nicholas of Thouâ—rs Lord of Suilly Mathurin and Charles des Cleres whose valours and fidelitie deserue a place in our Historie Anthony Duke of Lorraine whose Lieutenant Bayard was and the Lord of Orual gouernour of Champangne commaunded either of them a hundred men at armes Boucart and the Baron of Montmoreaâ— had either of them a thousand foote This might seeme too much for a small place but it was strong and of importance The Canon did no sooner begin to batter but most of the foote grew amazed and in despight of their Captaines â—â—ed some by the gate others ouer the wals Bayard by the basenesse of them that fled tooke occasion to assure the resolutions of such as remained For said hee preseruing the Towne with the helpe of few men wee shall haue the more merit and reputation our troupes are of the more force being discharged of this vnprofitable burthen The Earle comming neere to Mezieres sent to summon the Commaunders to yeeld the Towne vnto the Emperour The Valianâ— resolution of Bayard He reports to the Earle of Nassau sayd Bayard to the Trâ—mpeâ— That before hee shall heare mee speake of yeelding vp the Towne which the Kâ—ng hath giuen mee in charge I hope to make a bridge of my enemies carkases ouer the which I may march Henry makes two batteries and shakes the wals for the space of a moneth But fiâ—ding by sundrie sallies in the which the beseeged did most commonly carrie the honour and profiâ—e the resolution of the Commaunders men at armes and souldiers hauing also intelligence of the defeat of a hundred choise horse of the Eâ—perours Campe and two hundred foote led by Earle Reinfourket to spoile Attigni vppon Aisne all which Francis of Silli Baylife of Caen Lieutenant to the Duke of Alenson had put to the sword except fiue or six which were carried prisoners to the said Earle to Rheims the Towne hauing beene also releeued the first of October with a thousand foote led by Lorges foure hundred horse by â—â—â—gni and some munition hee abated the first furie of his aâ—tâ—llerie and despayring to 〈◊〉 the Towne by force or famine he raised his Campe and made his retreat by Mont-Coâ—â—et in Ardennes Maubert fontaine and Aubenton to Verâ—in and Guise spoyling burning and killing The Earle of Nâ—ssau leâ—ues Meâ—â—ers men women and children without distinction a mournefull beginning of the cruelties which haue beene committed in the succeeding warres Bâ—yarâ— for a worthie reward of his vertue was honored by the King with a companie of a â—undred men at armes and the order of Saint Michell In the meane time the King assembles his forces at Fernacques to cut off the enemies way about
Frederike of Bâ—ssole to receiue him into the estate of Milan with foure hundred Launces and seuen thousand Suisses and Italians Noâ—are taken being ioyned togither they went to Nouare and through the fauour of the Castle tooke it at the third assault with the slaughter of most that defended it A small gaine which shall cause a great losse For Lautrec wanting a great part of his forces hee gaue Sforce meanes to enter into Milan Pauia beseâ—ged in vainâ— with his Lansquenets and three hundred horse with an incredible ioy to the Milanois The comming of a new Prince is very pleasing to an estate whereby the people hope for ease Lautrec seâ—ing Sforce dislodged from Pauia and receiued into Milan resolues to beseege Pauia where the Marquis of Mantona commaunded wiâ—h two thousand â—oot and thre hundred horse Lautrec batteâ—s the Towne and makes a breach of thirtie fadâ—me hee giues two assauâ—ts and is repulsed There was a posterne in the Towne ioyn ng to the riuer of Tâ—sâ—n where they watred their horses which by reason of the riuer was ill garded whilest they did busie the Imperialls at the breach Saint Colombe had charge to passe the riueâ— at a foard with two thousand foot and Riberac and Rocheposay with foure hundred horse of the companies of Lautrec and the bastard of Sauoie who marched along the wall where there was no flankers should by the swiftnesse of their horses seize vpon the Posterne and â—old it vntiâ—l theiâ— foote came Riberac and Rocheposay execute their dessein they â—â—ter the Towne plant a Guidon vppon the posterne but Saint Colombe was content to bring his â—en to to the riuers side without wetting of his foote So that the Cittizeâ—s had leisure to come to succour it and to repulse our men who if they had beene followed had taken the Towne Riberac was slaine fighting and Rocheposay had a leg broken with a musket shot This attempt did wonderfully amaze the Inhabitants considering their want of men and munition and the Marquis made it knowne that without succors he should in the end bee forced to yeeld the Towne Prospâ—r knowing the danger sent twelue hundred Corses and Spaniards who marching by night speaking Gascon were taken for Gascons by the Venetians and passed theiâ— fiâ—st gards and meeting with some French scouts speaking Italian were taken for Italians So as deceiuing the companies by this Stratageme they passed without discouerie but very late by the horsemen who charging them behind slew some smal number The death of Riberac kinsman to Lautrec made him to double the furie of the Canon and all prepared for an assault when as Colonne fortified with Sforces troupes goes to field and comes to campe at Chartrousse three miles from the French What meanes then was there to giue an assault hauing a mightie armie behinde them and all things else succeeding crossely The money which Lescut had brought was spent and that which came from France was stayed in Arone by the Vicount Anchise who was sent to that end from Milan to Buste The continuall raine had ouer-flowed the riuer of Tesin and small brookes grew to be great riuers so as the victuals which came from Omeline to the campe could no more passe whereby they were forced to raise the siege and drawe towards Monce to enioy the commodities of Laudesan and Cremonois The enemie seeing the French armie take the way to Monce fearing they would recouer Milan went to lodge at Bicocque a Gentlemans house but of so great a circuit as twentie thousand men might easily be put in battaile vpon the way from Laude to Milan Without doubt the valour and wisedome of Prosper gaue the fiâ—st wound to the French affaires but the impatience of the Suisses did vtterly ruine them Their Colonnels gaue Lautrec to vnderstand that their companions were wearie of camping so long without any profit thâ—t they demand of three things the one eyther money leaue to depart or a battaile Our Commanders hoped by famine to driue Colonne out of his borrow And what reason was there to assaile a mightie enemie in a Forte intrenched with Trenches flanked with great platformes well furnished with artillerie But neither perswasions prayers promises nor authoritie could diuert them from their first resolution Seing then there was no other meanes to reteine them Lautrec forced to fight by the Suisses Lautrec resolued rather to hazard his armie by a battaile then to giue any occasion to be suspected of cowardise An vnfortunate condition of a commander who sees himselfe a slaue to those whom he should command and what a greefe is it to be forced to doe that which must needs bring shame and confusion but where force raigneth right hath no place The day of Quasimodo the armie marcheth towards Bicocque The marshall of Foix led the foreward Lautrec the Marshall of Chabannes the bastard of Sauoy and Galeas of Saint Seuerin the battaile Francis Maria Duke of Vrbin with the Venetian armie the reerward Count Peter of Nauarre marched before to make the way The Lord of Montmorency should assaile them on the one side with eight thousand Suisses Lescut with three hundred Launces and a squadron of French and Italian foote should charge at the Bridge entring into the enemies lodging and Pontdormy should marche before the Marshall of Foix with a troupe of horse to watch least the Imperials should come behinde and disorder the armie and likewise to succour where neede should require Besides force Lautrec vsed this pollicie to raise the men at armes to set red crosses vpon their Cassocks the marke of the imperiall armie in steed of a white the liuerie of France But the prouidence of Colonne made this deuise fruitlesse as we shall see On the other side Colonne had sent for Sforce who hauing sodenly assembled foure hundred horse and six thousand of the commons was set to garde the bridge and all the troupes were put in battaile vpon the Trench Montmorency accompanied with a gâ—eat number of the Nobilitie was come close to the enemies rampar intreating the Suisses to attend the Artillerie The battaile of Bicocquâ— and that the Marshall of â—oix should be ready to assaile them on the other side that Colonne being charged on all sides might be constrained to diuide his forces But a rash furie transporting the Suisses to their owne ruine all runne furiously to the enemies Fort. The Canon entertaines them before they approach and kills aboue a thousand of them A vollee of small shotte kills most of theiâ— Captaines and chiefe Souldiers and the Rampar being aboue a Pike in height stayes them sodenly The Earle of Montfort eldest sonne to the Earle of Laual Miolans of Sauoye Grauille brother to the Vidame of Chartres Roquelaure la Guiche the Lords of Tournon and Longa Launay a Gentleman of the Kings Chamber and many others dyed there Colonell Albert Peter who aboue all others thrust them into this furie suffred the paynes of his rashenesse
Montmorency was ouerthrowne but sodenly releeued by the gentlemen that were about him In the meane time the Marshall of Foix forced the gards vpon the bridge and charging the enemie within his fort gaue hope of victory But this violent heat of the Suisses was soone quenched All retire yet keeping a kinde of order The Imperials freed from the Suisses turne all their forces vpon the Marshall and Vandenesse who had not aboue foure hundred horse and force them to repasse the bridge with the losâ—e of some men On the other side the Spaniards issuing forth charge the Suisses in the rereward and had put them to route if Pontdormy had not by a furious charge kept them within their fort The Venetians kept themselues safe from danger but if they had charged with the Suisses and men at armes and the Marshall of Foix had beene well followed the French in shew had wonne the victory But when things are done there neuer wants an if The Suisses lost about three thousand men and two and twentie Captaines The enemy lost fewe no men of quality but Iohn of Cordone Earle of Culisane So Lautrec returned with the rest of his army the Suisses and the artillery to Monce from whence the Tewsday after the Suisses returned to their houses and the Bastard of Sauoie the Marshall of Chabannes and Galeas of Saint Seuerin retired with them Nowe shall we see this nation so daunted as of many yeares they shall not shew their accustomed vigour The remainder of the French hopes was chiefely grounded vpon the Towne of Laude for the passage of the riuer of Adde and preseruation of the Country of Cremona Lautrec sent Iohn de Medicis and Frederic of Bossole thether with their troupes which were about foure hundred men at armes three thousand foote comprehending those which Bonneual Laude happily taken from the French Captaine of the place had These companies tired with their march in the night arriued in the morning and leauing the gard of the Towne to Bonneual they tooke their lodgings to refresh themselues and their horse The Marquis of Pescara had followed them and his foreward marching neere vnto the Towne gaue occasion to the garrison to come forth to skirmish in the which 〈◊〉 men were so roughly repulsed as the enemie entred with them pel mel into Laude and surprised most of the soldiars in their bedds at noone day Thus foure hundred men at armes and three thousand â—oote were shamefully taken in a Towne without batterie without breach and without ladder Iohn de Medicis and Bâ—sâ—le saued themselues in Cremona The losse of Laude for the French was the cause the enemy recouered Pisqueton one of the strongest places vpon Adde Herevpon Pontdormy offers to put himselfe into Cremona with such as would followe him and being strong or weaâ—e fight with all that should come desyring rather to die by the enemies sworde then to fall into the mercie of villaines or returne into France without armes and without honour Lautrec yeelds and hee gathers togither a troupe out of many companies The Marshall of Foix would haue his part of this glorie fiue or sixe dayes after the Imperialls campe before it At their arriuall Iohn Medicis mutines he demands pay for fifteene or sixteene hundred men which hee had gathered togither presently after his retreat he seizeth vpon one of the gates towards the enemies campe and threatens to deliuer it for want of payement They search their purses and pay him the summe demanded But hee was corrupted and our men seeing his treacherous intent hauing no hope of succors did capitulate That if within three monethâ—s the King did not send a strong army able to passe the riuer they should depart with their baggage armes and all their artillery marked with the armes of France and should bee conducted in safety vnto Suze Cremona yeelded and the sad Marshall should deliuer into Prospers hands all whatsoeuer was held in the Kings name in the estate of Milan eâ—â—ept the Castells of Milan Cremona and Nouare This capitulation was found of hard digestion for Montmorency was in possibilitie to renewe the League with the Venetians but aduertised of this composition they changed both affections and partie The reason which made Prosper yeeld to so honorable a composition The Venetians forsake the King was the desire he had to restore the Adornes into Genes before the leuie of foure hundred Launces and foureteene thousand Gascons should be readie to enter into Italie Prosper Colonne plants himselfe before Genes which was then gouerned by Octauian Fregose a man of excellent vertue who for his Iustice and other commendable parts was as much beloued as any Prince might bee in a Cittie diuided into factions hauing not yet lost the remembrance of the ancient libertie Fregose seing Ierome and Anthonie Adorne to take armes in fauour of the Imperials and the people inclyned to sedition treated of an accord when as Peter of Nauarre enters into the port with two gallies and some two hundred to assure the Towne attending the succours of France But a Towre which the Marquis of Pescara had battered neere vnto the gate made them returne vnto their parle Being readie to conclude the Spaniards discouering the small gard they made within vnder colour of this hope seised on the Tower Genes taken and spoyled entring the Towne thereby and by the wall which was ruined killing all they mett and geting a great spoyle Fregose being sicke yeelded to the Marquis of Pescara and within few dayes after died Peter of Nauarre was taken fighting in the market place The Archbishop of Salerne brother to Octauian and many Captaines saued themselues by sea Anthonie Adorne was chosen Duke of Genes and within few dayes receiued the Citadell the Chastelâ—t and the Church of Saint Francis by composition Sixe thousand men newly sent by the King vnder the commaund of the Lord of Lorges for the succour of Genes and the armie of Claude of Orleans Duke of Longueuille to repaire the affaires of Lombardie returned without any effect being alreadie entred into the territorie of Ast and Lescut prest by the terme limitted by the composition deliuered Cremone to Colonne leauing Bunou Captaine of the Castle Thus the French were againe expelled out of Italie Lautrec seeing the enterprise of Laude made fruitlesse his armie ruined and the Suisses and Venetians retyred The French expelled out of Italie hee retâ—â—nes into France bringing to the King rather iustifications of his actions then any signes of his victories imputing the cause of these disorders to want of money without the which hee could no longer keepe the men at armes togither who had serued eighteene moneths without any pay the Kings mother hauing stayed foure hundred thousand Crownes appointed for the payment of the armie which summe she sayd she had spared out of her reuenues and had long before put it into Semblâ—sais hands being ouerseer of the Treasor of France Hereupon theKing
peeces Hereupon the English arriue at Calais The English land in France and at their first entry they become maisters of the Castle of Comtes betwixt Monstreuil and Hedin To preuent these incursions the Duke sent the foresaid Earles into the trench of Bologne Ardres was then ruined and desert who by the recouery of the said Castle put all to the sword they found within it except the Captaine and afterwards ouerthrew many other troupes that were dispersed in the land of Oye while the two armies English and Bourguignons assembled betwixt Ardres and S. Omer consulting vppon the first obiect of their forces Hedin seemed the easiest to be attempted yet it must needes cost blowes Hedin beseeged by the Imperialls and English The Lord of Biez commanded there with thirty men at armes and thirty Dead-paies Sercu with a thousand foote and La Lande with fiue hundred The battery continued fifteene dayes and a breach was made of forty fadome but no assault giuen the enemy beeing diuerted by continuall alarâ—â—es The Earles of Guise and Pont-dormy vnderstanding one day amongst others that foure hundred English were gone towards Biez and the Commander of Oison they part from Monstrueil with their companies and some of the Duke of Vendosmes they ouertake them charge them and kill or take them all Some fewe dayes after Pont-dormy incountring some other troupes which had burnt Fressin a house of his elder brothers Exploits of war he put them al to the sword Thus kept within their lodgings by continuall enterprises and afflicted with a generall flux which went through their army proceeding in part by the continuall â—aine after six weekes seege they raised their Campe with shame to march towards Dourlans which was not defensible At that time there was no Castle and from the mountaine where it is now built they discouered the towne on all sides The Earle of S. Paul preuented the enemy and least the enemy should make vse thereof hee spoyled the victualls and tooke off the gates then hee retyred to Corby to withstand the attempts of the English Then arriued the Marshall of Montmorency bringing with him the two hundred Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber with authoritye from his Maiestie to rule and commaund at Corby if the enemy did beseege it But there was too great resolution in Corby the wayes were too foule the infirmities were many in the English and Bourguignons armies and winter approching it was about all Saints inuited theÌ„ to set saile Being able to do no worse they burnt Dourlans and the Villages about and retyred into Arthois putting the Bourguignons into Garrison and the English tooke their way for England Let vs conclude this yeare with an ignominious and fatall losse for the Christians The English turne hoâ—e Soliman did not forget to make his profit of these horrible confusions who by the painefull and constant siege for the space of eight moneths brought the Isle of Rhodes vnder his obedience Rhodes taken by the Turke where to the great contempt of our Religion he made his entrie the day of the birth of our Lord and Sauiour 1123. In the beginning of the following yeare The Casteâ—l of Mâ—ielan yâ—eâ—ded the Castell of Milan prest with diseases and want of all things compounded to depart with bag and baggage if they were not releeued by the fourth of Aprill But death preuenting most part of the garrison hindred them from enioying any benefit of the Capitulation At the same time Liuet a soldiar of the garrison of Guise treated with the Duke of Ascot to deliuer him the Towne but not according to the buyers intent by the consent of Nicholas of Bussu Lord of Longueuall Captaine of the Castell The party was well made and the plot cunningly layed to take the marchants when they should come for their possession The Lord of Fleuranges with three hundred men at armes and foure or fiue thousand foote should lie betwixt Auennes and Guise to stoppe the enemies retreat The Duke of Vendosme with fiue hundred men at armes foure thousand Germains and foure thousand French should cut off their way betwixt the Abby of Bonhourie and Guise so as the enemy seeking to retire had the one before him and the other behind The chiefe of all their troupes would be partakers of this enterprise When as newes comes vnto them that the King who would countenance this exploite with his presence was come in post to Genlis neere vnto Chaunis This made them turne head without any effect giuing him the strappadoe that sold it was their guide the which Longueual requited with the like to the hostages which the Duke of Arescot had giuen him for the performance of couenants His maiestie to make vse of these troupes which hee had assembled commanded them to victuall Terouenne the which â—iennes beseeged with fifteene thousand Flemings and sixe hundred English the King had a little before repayred it Bailleul vpon the hill a strong place betwixt Arras and Dourlans and defended by three hundred Spaniards Bailleul beseeged by tâ—e Frâ—ncâ— was a hinderance to this desseine The Duke of Vendosme tooke charge of the armie whereof the Duke of Norfolke led the Germains the Lords of Sercu Bournonuille la Hergerie Fontâ—ins and Heilli commanded the French Brion had foure hundred archers of the Kings gard and la Fayete commanded the artillery he made his approches at noone day without any trenches but with the losse of three gunners that were slaine and the Lord of Piennes shot into the arme hee battred it the same day gaue them their liues that were within it and razed the Castell The enemy lodged in Andincton and Dellente halfe a League from Therouenne and le Lude Marshall of the Campe hauing lodged his army at Fouquemberg to haue victualls more commodiously from Montreuil and to keepe them from the enemy did cut off the way to Saint Omer and the garrison of Terouenne that of Aire â—iennes seeing them approch so neere dislodged in the night and went to campe at Elfaut The Duke of Vendosme followed with an intent to fight whilest that Brion marcking directly to Terouenne releeued it with such victualls as were brought from Montreuil The Earle of Dammartin and the Lord of Esguilly began the skirmish when a soden feare surprising the Flemings puts them in route towards the riuer of Coldes where many were drowned in the passage not able to be stayed although no man followed them for that Brion returning from Terouenne The Flemingâ— put to â—ouâ— brought commandement from the King to the Duke of Vendosme not to hazard a battayle but to keepe his forces whole for the voiage of Italie which his maiesty pretended to make in person But he must likewise prouide for the frontier especially for Terouenne being onely refresht for some dayes The victuall and carriages being ready and the troupes camping before Andincton vpon the riuer of Lis the foreward led by the Marshall of Montmorency was
the King and such as were held by Inheritance appertayned vnto her as the next heire and daughter to a sister of the sayd Peter married with the Duke of Sauoye The sute depended in the Court of Parliament at Paris Charles eyther distrusting the equity of his cause or fearing least the Regents authority should preuaile against his right so by consequence dispossesse him choosing rather to abandon his Country then to liue in want he practiseth with the Emperour by the meanes of Adrian of Croy Earle of Reux and to make the articles of his transaction the more strong hee obtaynes a promise from the Emperour to marry Eleonor his sister widow to Emanuel King of Portugall The King being past the Alpes the Constable should inuade Bourgongne with twelue thousand Germains which should bee secretly leuied by the Emperour and King of England who at the same instant should inuade Picardie whilest the Spaniards recouered Fontarabâ—e as they did Of their Conquests he onely reserued Prouence pretending to call himselfe King of Prouence as belonging vnto him sayd he by the house of Anâ—ou yeelding all the rest to the English A practise sufficient to shake France before the King being absent with his forces should returne in any time to succour it But they reckoned without their host and the gardian of this Crowne did preuent them for Argouges and Marignon gentlemen of Normandie and house-hold seruants to the Duke had aduertised the King of his pretended retreat to the Emperour but they were ignorant of the agreement made betwixt them To diuert him from this resolution the King passing by Molins did visit the Duke in his chamber who made a shewe to be sick and that cunningly I vnderstand sayd the King of some practises which the Emperour makes to withdrawe the loue you vndoubtedly beare vnto the Crowne as issued and neere allyed to the house of France I do not beleeue that you haue giuen eare to any such perswasions mooued with any dislike of mee or of my realme Some feare of distrust to loose your offices hath perchance made a breach in the loue you haue alwayes made shewe of Let not this conceyt trouble you I promise you in case you should loose your sute against my selfe and my mother to restore you to the possession of all your goods Prepare therefore to followe mee after your recouerie in the voiage of Italie The Duke being very wise dissembled his intent cunningly confessing vnto the King that in truth the Earle of Reux had sought him for the Emperour but he would giue no eare vnto him that his intention was to haue aduertised his Maiestie at the first view being loth to commit it to any mans report that the Physitians gaue him hope to be soone able to go in a litter and that he would not faile to come to Lions to receiue his Maiesties commandements But considering that he had to deale with too strong a partie and that hardly he should enioy his goods which were alreadie sequestred by a decree of the Court he retired to Chantelles in the beginning of September a house of his owne where he had the most sumptuous moueables that any Prince could haue From thence he sent the Bishop of Autun of the house of Hurauts to the King with instructions signed with his hand promising To serue his Maiestie well and loyally in all places whensoeuer it should please him during his life and without any breach vpon restitution of the possessions of Peter of Bourbon The King finding this manner of proceeding hard and insolent sent the Bastard of Sauoy Lord Steward of France and the Marshall of Chabannes with foure hundred men at armes the Captaines of his gardes and the Prouost of his house to besiege the Duke in Chantelles And vnderstanding that many Lansequenets did troupe together vpon the frontier of Bourgogne he caused the Bishop of Autun the Chancellor of Bourbonois the Lord of Cars Saint Vallier Bussy brother to Palisse Emard de Prie la Vauguion and many others to be taken prisoners who for the loue of him were content to abandon their country families and goods notwithstanding they found grace with the King But the Duke despairing of his estate resolued to hazard all and to begin a furious Tragedie in the which we shall see our Francis act the part of an vnfortunate prisoner of the warres and Charles reserued for a bloudie and tragicke end The Duke of Bourbon flies disguised He disguiseth himselfe and taking the Lord of Pomperant for his onely companion whose seruant he seemed to be After many turnings being often feared as appeares in the Originals the wayes being layed and the passages stopt or full of troupes marching into Italy he recouers the French Court and so by Ferrete crossing through Germanie he came into Italy and according to the choise which the Emperour gaue him eyther to passe into Spaine or to remaine in Italie with his armie in the end hee continued at Genes to see the end of these two great armies The Marshall and Lord Steward seized vpon Chantelles with the moueables of Carâ—at and generally of all the lands of the house of Bourbon for the King In the meane time the Marshall of Montmorency had made such speed as his twelue thousand Suisses were ioyned with the Admirall attending the Kings comming at Turin But his presence was necessarie in France there were strange practises against him He therefore sends part of his forces to the Admirall and commands him to execute the enterprise of Milan as they two had concluded Hee had eighteene hundred Launces twelue thousand French ten thousand Suisses Six thousand Lansquenets and three thousand Italians a sufficient armie for a great attempt but want of iudgement to imbrace occasions and negligence of his businesse made the Admirall loose the opportunitie to recouer Milan at the first and to bee vnfortunate in this voyage Prosper Colonne considering the Venetians league with the Emperour and the treachâ—â—â—e of the Duke of Bourbon could not beleeue that the King should continue constant in his resolution to inuade the Duchie of Milan that yeare This perswasiâ—n had made him carelesse to make necessarie prouision for this warre But now noâ—â—â—thstanding his infirmitie he imployes all his meanes and forces to keepe the French from passing the riuer of Tesin neglecting to repaire the Bastions and Rampars of the Suburbes of Milan being for the most part ruined and spoiled But the French finding the waters lowe some passed at a Foard others in Boates about sâ—me foure myles from the imperiall Campe making a Bridge for the Artillerye Colonne knowing that an incounter of the French is verye dangerous in their fiâ—st heate retired into Milan and finding the Cittizens and Souldiars wonderfully amazed seeing no meanes to keepe the Cittie in the estate it was he abandons it to prouide for the defense of Laude Without doubt the captious propositions of an enemie must be duly examined and moreouer an
place of his named Baux The King gaue money to repaire the losses Amongst his chiefe champions the Emperour lost Anthonie de Leue Marc Busthein another Captaine of Lansquenets his kinsman the Count Horne Baptista Castalde and many other men of accoumpt Let vs apply here that holy Oracle speaking of Senacherib King of the Assirians Thy bragging hath come vnto mine ears I will put my ring into thy nostrils and my bitt into thy mouth and will make thee returne the way thou camest And Thus sayed the Eternall touching the King of the Assirians he shall not enter into this Cittie neither shall â—e shoot an arrow therein he shal not present himselfe before it with shield nor cast c. Behold the Earle of Prouence in imagination who had lately threatned the Prouinces of this Realme with fire and sword and swallowed vp the Crowne thereof by presumption ashamed and confounded in his retreat hauing lost halfe of his troupes turmoyled by the pesants who vsing the armes of his sicke men and of those that were dead seize vppon the passages and straights beat downe the bridges vpon the riuers which were then very violent charge them in front in flanke and behind and the light horsmen led by the Earle of Tende Bonneual Langey and Iohn Paul de Cere follow them so close as they had no meanes to forrage leauing the waies from Aix to Freius couered with dead carcases and men languishing harnes lances pikes harguebuses and all other armes pel mel on a heape The King resolued to march after them and wheresoeuer he should ouertake them to giue them battale and so passe into Italie where at that instant he had a mightie armie in field But he is diuerted from his desseine by letters from the Marshall of La-Marke Hee had no more meanes to hold Peronne long the walls were beaten downe in many places famine pressed the beseeged they wanted harguebusiers and poâ—der So the King caused some part of his men at armes to march speedily and tenne thousand French foote Of the Earle of Nassau resolute to follow after by great marches to raise the seege or to recouer the Towne before the enemie should fortifie it and furnish it with victuals God would preserue him from this toyle and giue him lâ—isure to take breath The Imperials being alwayes repulsed with losse of many and sundry assaults the myne wherin they had long labored prouing fruitlesse besides the death of Phillip of Boâ—linâ—illiers Earle of Dammartin ouerwhelmed in the ruines thereof in a countermine he made to blow vp the enemies myne whose death was reuenged with the slaughter of three hundred Lansquenets and twentie of their men at armes at the last assault giuen by the Tower that was vndermyned and the Towne being releeued with fiue hundred shot euery one carrying ten pounds of powder entring by meanes of a General alarum giuen by the Duke of Guise with two hundred horse and al the trompets he could recouer they dislodged in the night about the middest of September continuing their burning as they had begun France by the grace of God is now free from enemies But nothing is now perfectly happie There are crosse newes which trouble the Court. The English Ambassadors that were neere the King ill affected to his Maiestie and without doubt no faithfull seruants to their master giue him intelligence That the Emperour seeing that hee could neither by spoyle or any other meanes prouoke the King to battaile made shew of a retreat to draw him to poursue him and so to fight or else retyre to take a geeater leape and to inuade Prouence sodenly when as the French forces should bee farthest off That the Emperour himselfe the better to colour his departure gaue out that famine and mortalitie had diminished his forces of one third part and the rest had runne the like danger if he did not retired yet notwithstanding he had no such want of victuals as was supposed and since his comming out of Italie had not lost aboue two thousand men That since the taking of Montiean and Boisy no man durst giue any alarume to the Emperours Campe nor yet follow it at their dislodging These impostures and false impressions had wrought such effects with the King of England as Pomeray being sent from the King to three ends To satisfie him of the truth touching the enterprise of Prouence To procure his liking of the marriage of Magdaleine a daughter of France with the King of Scots and to learne the King of Englands intention vppon the motion before made touching the marriage of the Duke of Orleans with Marte of England daughter to the said King hee had much a doe to alter him any thing from the opinion hee had conceiued But the marriage of Scotland did so incense the King of England as hauing layed open vnto Pomeray his greefes and the causes of his discontent vpon this article hee sent him backe without any conclusion being loath to haue his neighbour so highly allyed The cause of warre betwixt England and France There comes an other matter of greater importance the Country of Tarenâ—aise in Sauoy had lately shaken off the French yoake To reduce it to his obedience the King sent the the Earle of Saint Paul Duke of Esâ—outeuille by his wife with French troupes of horse and foote and the Earle of â—â—rstemberg with his companie of Lansquenets to whome for the purging of their offence the Country was abandoned to the spoile with the Towne of Conâ—â—ans Beeing thus punished they afterwards performed the dutie of subiects and the Duke returned into France with much honour and glory Let vs now discharge our promise and conclude the yeare with the exploits of the assembly made at Mirandole by the Italian Captaines pensioners to the King Their first desseine was vpon Genes and to this effect they came speedily and closely hoping eyther by surprise or by the partisans of Caesar Fregose to become masters of the Towne but a Luquois of the troupes of Cont Guy stealing away in the night had discouered the enterprise to the Cittizens So the Earle retyring his campe halfe a League from Genes betwixt two mountaynes hee suddenly caused many ladders to bee made which prouing too short made the successe fruitlesse These Captaines had no Cannon to make any batterie moreouer Turin being beseeged required their presence They therefore turne head The Imperialls aduertised of the Earles approch abandon the seege and leaue the field at the deuotion of this newe army The Lord of Annebault seeing the Campe disâ—odged sallies out after them and in passing takes the Tower vpon the bridge of Pau by composition the taking whereof the Emperour had so highly commended and the Lord of Burie tooke Groillan the come and wine that was found there serued to refresh Turin The Towne of Quiers was taxed by the Imperialls at fiue and twentie thousand Crownes but whilest the soldiars were busie to force the Inhabitants to pay this
the rest of his troupes retires to Villedestelon and Quiers It was a goodly thing to pursue them and the Suisses had accepted of this proposition but in steed of passing the Po being mutined by the perswasions of some they turne their Ensignes directly to Pigneroll and Boutieres with them Langey seeing himselfe abandoned diuides his last come Italians into Casellâ—s and Siria betwixt Turin and Vulpian leaues about fiftie Souldiars in the Castle of Carignan and causeth himselfe to bee carryed to Turin The Marquis hearing of this sodaine departure sends to summon the place and threatens the Souldiers with death if they attend the Canon They yeeld at the summon It was likely the Marquis would finish the Forte which Langey had begunne Hee therefore sends his Brother Martin du Bellay Gouernour of Turin thether Du Bellay sends before him Captaine Maruille and the Earle Maxime Anthonie de Sesse his two Lieutenants with about fiftie horse to obserue the enemies countenance The Earle leaues his companion in garde and by a Trumpet demands to speake with the Captaine of Carignan This Captaine goes forth vnder his assurance the Earle knew him well hee had sometimes serued him the Earle tels him they are sent to inuest him attending the troupes and the Artillerie and assures him that if hee makes any delay it will not bee in his power to saue his life So the Captaine terrified by this Stragem deliuers the Castle to the Gouernour of Turin who tooke order the like inconuenience should not happen Then the Marquis after two assaults giuen in vaine to Chinas and repulsed by Ierosme of Birague hee stayed at Cazal and Caesar of Naples to open the way from Vulpian to Turin hoping to recouer againe the Italians late fallen from him came to assaile Cazelles Langey discouering this desseine appointed the Cheualier Villegagnon to command them who sent backe his enemie with the losse of about foure score men leauing his Ladders in the trenches for a pawne of his vaine enterprise Barges stopt the passage from Pignerol to Rauel and did then greatlie annoy the places which obeyed the French being in the middest of them Barges taken The Marquis retired from Cazal could not succour it in many dayes And therefore not to suffer the Suisses to growe dull for want of exercise Boutieres by the commandement of Langey parts from Pignerol with sixe Canons findes a Conuent fortified ioyning to the Castle without the taking whereof the Castle might not be attempted he makes a breach takes it by assault in foure and twenty houres and puts three hundred Spaniards which had the gardâ— thereof to the sword Then hee approcheth the Castle makes a breach and compounds with the besieged That if within six dayes the Marquis or some for him came not strong enough to raise the siege they should depart with their liues The Marquis aduertised of this composition posts to succour them and Boutieres being too weake to attend so great a power retires to Pignerol In recompence whereof Langey takes from him the Castle of Montaulâ— and some other places in Monferrat being hard to be recouered in winter And to pull so troublesome a thorne out of his foote he causeth Vassé gouernour of Pignerol to prâ—ctise Pâ—ul Monnet Captaine of Barges and then with some bands newly come from â—râ—nce hee marcheth with speed to the sayd place plants â—oure Canons in batterie and by meanes of a hole which hee made in the Tower although not reasonable for a breach he receiues both the place and Captaine to the Kings seruice The time â—itted well for the warre and the King being loth to loose the oportunitie and to imploy some part of the forces that were retired from Parpignan sent the Lord of Annebault with the regiment of Reichrâ—c into Piedmont with the old Italian bands and the French all the light hoâ—se and foure hundred men at armes This new armie might in shew whilest the Marquis of Guast was at Carmagnole A new French armie in Piedmont doubtfull where they would make their first attempt haue surprised Caâ—al and other places where Langey had intelligence With this desseigne he secretly kept boates vpon the riuer of Po within foure and twentie houres they might go downe by water and the Marquis could not come to succour them in lesse then foure dayes marche Moreouer a friend whom he entertained neere vnto the Marquis assured him to deliuer ouer vnto the French three thousand Lansquenets and a thousand Spaniards the which he himselfe should lead and cause them to be surprised at a passage neere to Villedesâ—elon where they had no meanes to escape so as passing the Po by night they had sent some foure hundred horse betwixt Carmagnole and Villedestelon and opposed the armie betwixt Villedesâ—elon and Quiers Without doubt Langey being lame of his limmes imployed all his wittes to discouer the Imperialls purposes and still to gette from the enemie But Enuie hath alwayes sworne the ruine of Vertue Some enuious persons breake off these two desseignes and disswaded Annebault from these great enterprises Langey seeing his proiect crost by his enemies he parted from Turin with the Kings good leaue Langey dyes in Piedmont to acquaint him with many things touching his Maiesties seruice which hee could not commit to any mans report but death preuented him at Saint Saphorin vpon the Mountaine of Tarare The Marquis dislodging from Carmagnole had left so few men in Cony as a sodaine assault had carryed it at the first To this ende Aâ—nebault parts with foure Canons and causeth Riuoles to come with the Regiment of Reichroc The bridges of Carignan and Montcallier were broken so as the Lansquenets must passe at Turin Du Bellay Gouernour of the Towne and Lieutenant for the King on this side Po prepares their lodging to imploy them as they passe The Tower of Saint Bony Chastillon Saint Raphael and other small places vpon the Mountaine of Montfâ—rrat did wonderfully annoy Turin They could not go to the places of Montferrat whence the victuals especially Wine came in great aboundance without being discouered He mounts foure Canons departs with some troupes of horse three Ensignes of French men of his garrison and the said Germaines plants his artillery before S. Bâ—â—y makes a hole the Lansquenets giue the assault force it and put all they finde armed to the sword except the Captaine who was hanged by the lawe of armes for that he had endured the Canon in so weake a place Chastillon could not be battered but from an other mountaine opposite and the horses could not draw vp the artillerie The Lansquenets flesht with the prey of Saint Bony force it vp by maine strength and the beseeged being foure hundred good men of warre terrified with the vsage ofSaint Bony yeeld to depart with their baggage Those of Saint Raphael and some other places send to demand a composition retreat Only Chastillon was defensable and commodious for the gard of the passage
treate with him So as hee begins to taste of some proposition of peace moued before Saint Disier by the Lord of Granuelle and his Confessor a Spanish Monke of the order of Saint Dominike and of the house of Gusmans A â—reatie of peace A day is appointed for the meeting of the Deputies at La Chaussee betwixt Challons and Vitry For the King there came the Admirall of Annebault and Chemans Keeper of the Seale of France â—or the Emperour Fernand of Gonzague and to know if the King of England would enter into it they sent the Cardinall of Bellay Raymond chiefe President of Rouan and Aubespine Secretarie of the State and Treasurer As the Emperour camped towards the riuer of Marne a league beneath Chalons and within two leagues of the French armie a riuer being betwixt both William Earle of Fursiemberg parted about midnight with a guide onely to view a â—oard which hee had in former times passed when as he came into France for the Kings seruice Being come to the foard he leaues his guide vpon a banke sounds it findes it easie and passeth the riuer But he discouered not some Gentlemen of the Kings house and part of the Admiralls company who had the gard that night who without giuing any alaâ—â—m put themselues betwixt the riuer him take him without resistance lead him to the Campe know him and send him to the Bastille at Paris from whence he shall not depart vntill he hath payed thirtie thousand Crownes for his ransome In the meane time the Emperour sees his armie ready to breake for hungar they cutt off his victuals behinde and on either side And if that goodly Captaine whom the Daulphin had sent to draw into Espernay the victuals thereabouts to breake the bridge vpon the riuer and to spoile the Corne Wine and other prouisions which could not be saued had carefully executed his commission the Emperour disappointed of the munition and victualls which he found in Espernay and hauing no meanes to passe the riuer had not in the end enioyed those commodities which he found in Chasteau Thiery an other Storehouse of the French campe whereby his troupes languishing for hungar recouered some strength In the end the Daulphin being come to campe at La Ferté vpon Iouarre and hauing sent a good number of men to Meaux to hinder the Emperours passage who deuising to make his retreat by Soissons he takes his way by Villiers-coste-Retz vnder hand reuiues the proposition of peace with the King The King knowing that a battaile could not be giuen in the heart of his realme so neere vnto his capitall Cittie without a verie doubtfull and dangerous consequence and the losse of men and in case he should vanquish the King of England and the Earle of â—ures would encounter him with as mightie an armie as his owne that by the losse of one and perchance two battailes his realme were in danger that winning them hee should get little especially vpon England being an Iland Moreouer the Marshall of Biez was almost forced to yeeld vp Montrueil to the English â—or want of victualls and succours the sufficiencie of the Lord of Verâ—ein gouernour of Boullen as we shall shortly see was not without cause suspected and without a conclusion with the Emperour hardly could these two important Townes be releeued The King therefore sent the Admirall of Annebault againe to the Emperour being in the Abbie of S. Iohn des Vignes in the suburbes of Soissons where in the end was concluded A peace concluded That Charles Duke of Orleans should within two yeares after marry with tâ—e Emperours daughter or his neece daughter to Ferdinand King of Roâ—aines and at the consummation of the said mariage the Emperour should inuest the said Duke of Orleans in the Duchie of Milan or in the Earledome of Flanders and the Low Countries at the choise of the said Emperour And in exchange this done the King promised to renounce all his rights pretended to the said Duchie and the Kingdome of Naples and to restore the Duke of Sauoy to the possession of his Countries when as the Duke his sonne should eniâ—y the said Duchie of Milan or the Earledome of Flanders and all things during the terme of two yeares as well on this as the other side the Alpes should remaine in the same estate as they were at the truâ—e made at Nice So the Emperour deliuered vnto the King on this side the mountaines Saint Desier Ligny Commercy and the King Yuoy Montmedy and Landrecy Steâ—â—â— was deliuered into the Duke of Lorrains hands and the fortifications razed On the other side the Alpes the Emperour had nothing to yeeld but Montdeuis and the King Alba Quieras Antignan Saint Damian Palezol Cresentin Verruë Montcal Barges Pont d' Esture Lans Vigon Saint Saluadour Saint Germaine and many other places which he possessed These treaties thus concluded and pâ—oclaimed beyond the Alpes the Duke of Anguien returned into France with as great glory and honour as a wise and valiant Prince could enioy and the Emperour retired his armie which the Earles of â—eux Bures lead ioyntly with that of England he dismissed his owne and parting from Soissons tooke his way to Bruxelles accompanied beyond the frontiers by the Duke of Orleans the Cardinals of Lorraine and Meudon the Earle of Laual la Hunauday others The Emperour is now out of the realme let vs also seeke to send the King of England beyond the seas Henry the 8. King of England according to the League he had with the Emperour landing at Calais with an armie of thirty thousand men fortified with ten thousand Lansequenets and three thousand Reistres which the Earle of Bures lead and the troupes of the Earle of Reux chiefe of the army of the Low countries for the Emperour he found Picardie very much vnfurnished of men the King had withdrawne his forces towards Champagne to oppose them against the Emperour and the Duke of Vendosme being weake in men had fiue places of importance to furnish Ardre Boullen Therouenne Montrueil Hedin all equally opposed to the inuasion of the English Henry therefore seeing no armie to withstand him making his accoumpt to carrie a legge or an arme of the body of this realme sent the Duke of Norfolke and the Earles of Reux and Buries to besiege Montrueil The King of England besiegeth Boullen Montrueil and himselfe went and camped before Boulen The Marshall of Biez was gouernour But when hee saw the enemy turne the point of his armie towards Montrueil he left the Lord of Veruein his sonne in lawe to command in Boullen from which he was disswaded by some to whom his sufficiencie was well knowne assisted by Philip Corse a Captaine very well experienced in armes the Lords of Lignon and Aix otherwise called Renty young and without experience with their regiments and halfe the company of a hundred men at armes of the sayd Marshall and he put himselfe into
might easily desend it The could not enter but with the tide and wind and the foure first ships repulsed had fallen backe vpon the rest of the fleet and disordred them They must of necessitie fight neere vnto their land 1545. and fauoured by their Fortes and Canon had they not meanes to hinder the approach to the great preiudice of â—uâ— fleete and our ships bording and grapling the force of the current had driuen them on ground one vpon anotheâ— There was as little reason to fight at anchor the Cables might be cutt and this inconuenience auoided the danger was not lesse for the nature of the current is to turne the prowe so as our ships in steed of the prowe or the broad side must haue presented their poupe to the enemie Moreouer their anchors not â—ble to stay the ships sodenly by reason of the violent turning of the streame eyther the Anchor or Cable might breake and by consequence cast the ships on ground They therefore propound two things in counsell either to saile into Picardie to fortifie the Kings armie The French consult to take the Isle of VVight to fortifie it and to cut off all succours from Boullen or to fortifie the Isle of Wight Many reasons perswaded the most part to the last opinion for hauing the Iâ—le at their deuotion they might easily become Lords of Portsmouth one of the goodliest ports of England and forcing the enemy to maintaine a continuall armie both by land and sea to crosse the Conquerours desseins it would consume them in exceeding expences Moreouer they kept the passage of Spaine and Flanders and might in time till the Iland and make it yeeld victuals sufficient to maintaine men for the garde thereof Without doubt this was an oportunitie which hath not since happened to oppose a strong barre betwixt both the realmes But let vs say that he which holds both land and Sea within the palme of his hand would leaue this Iland in the power of her ancient and lawfull Lord. But howsoeuer the Admirall might easily haue left foure thousand men and foure thousand Pioners for the defence of the Iland as he did to â—ortifie the Kings armie before Boullen after the ouerthrow of the Cheualier d' Aux a Prouensall and Captaine of the Galleys of Normandie leauing his Fleet well manned As the Admirall lay at Anchor before Boullen a Westerne winde ariseth and makes him to seeke harbour vpon the coast of England Being at the Perrais and there kept by force of winde and a swolne sea the English fleete thinking to haue the aduantage imbarke speedily being a hundred good ships and come with full sailes against our men hauing the winde in powpe The violence of the windes the greatnesse of the seas which might haue taken from our men the vse and seruice of their galleys gaue them hope of victorie On the other side the Admirall feared that the tempest would driue him to shoare or force him to weigh Anchor in disorder for that the bad wether would not suffer them to keepe together and with great danger to passe the straite at Calais or else to take his course towards Flanders and so they might stop his passage in his returne moreouer foule wether might stay him so long as hee should want victuals and in the meane time the enemie who to attend him at the passage would come to Boullen would disturbe the Kings Fortes that hee pretended to make the which he desired by all meanes to preuent And therefore following the aduice of his Captaines hee attends at Anchor the change of the tide The next day the winde and tide fauours him so as he desires to incounter the enemie The night passeth and at the breake of day the English armie appeares He followes them but was so becalmed as he could not aduance but with the tide Eyther seeke to gette the winde and coasting neere salute one another with the Canon Some ships are sunke and some men perish in the sea In the end the enemie seeing our men to haue gotte the winde set saile and take their course to the Isle of Wight hauing both winde and tide which carried them without disorder to their Port and the night approching ended the combate The enemie hauing recouered a safe Port the Admirall tooke his course towards New-hauen to refresh his Armie and to land many sicke men languishing in the shippes This was about the middest of August In the middest of August the King meant to execute his enterprise vpon Guines whereof we haue spoken His armie was of twelue thousand French twelue thousand Lansquenets sixe thousand Italians and foure thousand Legionaries a thousand or hundred men at armes and seuen or eight hundred light horse But the fort before Boullen was no more defensible then eight dayes after it was begun Fiâ—st not built vpon the point as it was appointed right against the Tower of Ordre but against base Foullen so as it could no way stoppe the entrie of the ships into the hauen The Marshall of Biez excused himselfe that they had giuen him to vnderstand he should find no water there and that thesoldiars could not lodge for the violence of the winds Secondly hee relyed vppon his Ingeneur Anthonie Mellon an Italien Captaine who was held to be a man of experience and a good souldiar who being ignorant of his measures made the worke fruitles for two moneths The Marshal notwithstanding assures the King that within eight dayes the fort would be defensible but it was no more forward then at the first day And to couer this defect he lets the Captaines vnderstand that he is aduertised how the enemie assembled at Calis to come and succour Boullen by land holding it in danger to be farnished he was therefore resolued to passe the riuer and to abandon the fort And without imparting of any thing to the Lord of Estrue Marshall of the Campe who contradicted this desseine hee leaues three or foure thousand men in the fort and goes to lodge at Mont-Lambert within Canon short of the Towne to make head against the enemie and to fight with him if he came to succour the Towne But what lâ—kelyhood was there that the English being weaker in force and numbers would hazard a battaile and by land seeing that one shippe would carrie more victuals then a thousand carts come and victuall a Towne which daily he might refresh by sea without danger in sight of the enemie But in effect it was a great honour for the Marshall of Biez to see so many yong Princes subiect to his commaund and if Boullen had beene recouered he had lost the authoritie to command so goodly and mightie an armie The hope of a battaile made all the youth in Court post to Mont Lambert the Dukes of Anguien Neuers Aumale Thouars Lord of Tremouille the Earle of Laual and others who by continuall skirmishes sometimes with gaine sometimes with losse did trie their valours with the
being apprehended 〈◊〉 vertue of a commission graunted by the Parliament were led to Toulouse and conceâ—â—ned some to the gallies others were fined some banished At Limoux they had aduantage ouer the Catholiks but Pomas being entred with tenne companies and eâ—ght hundred bandoliers Spaniards for the most part and the Marshall of Mirepoix being sent by the Parliament the Towne was subiect to the will of the stronger and suffered the ordinarie insolencies of conquerours robbings murthers and rapes He that sees his neighbours house on fire should looke to his owne So the Protestonts of Besiers aduertised of the murther of Vassy Besiers draw some souldiars vnto them and ruine the images in all the Churches Beaudiné cheefe of the Protestants troupes assisted them and by the taking of Magalas and Espignan strong places which did much annoy Besiers assured the towne to their partie Ioyeuze followed by 5000. men 12. peeces of artillerie crossed their attempts hauing at the second assault forced Lezignan taking Montagnac by composition he tooke the way to Pezenas Beauâ—iné comes against him and might easily haue defeated him but fiue hundred Crownes which the master of his campe had receiued of Ioyeuze with promise of a thousand more made him loose about six score souldiars and by the rout of his companies opened the gates of Pezenas to Ioyeuze Besiers was readie to receiue a law from him but the sacke and murther of their neighbours and the feare of the like vsage made them to shut their gates against him and to go to field to force and burne Lignan with the defeat of two companies that kept it and then to surprise Seruian to force the garrison of Câ—souls scale Villeneufue neere vnto Besiers and so to preserue themselues vntill the publication of the peace Beaucaire Beaucaire feared like vsage to Limoux They therefore obteyne two companies from Nismes S. Veran a Beauuoisin with Seruas and Bouillargues lead them they assure the Towne and Castle ruine images and altars and then retire leauing a companie for the safetie of their companions To incounter them the Catholiks by twylight bring in a great number of souldiars attyred like pesants and in the night open the gates to fifteene or sixteene hundred men who comming from Tarascon separated onely by the Rhone made their coming famous by bloud and sacke The Protestants recouer the Castle and speedily call backe Seruas and Bouillargues who returned to Nismes They turne head Seruas enters into the Castle and so descending into the Towne surpriseth his enemies kils a great number and pardons such as laying downe their armes craue mercy Bouillargues comming from the rescue of the bootie which they carried away and wearie with killing them that fled he likewise enters into the Towne and puts all to the sword that he incounters Thus Beaucaire remayned in the Protestants hands vntill the Edict of peace The like feare troubled them of Montpellier The proceedings at Toulonse and other places amazed them Montpellier they fortifie themselues raze the suburbs in a manner as great as the Towne beate downe thirtie Churches and by these ruines make themselues able to sustaine a seege which threatned them The enemie discharged his choller vppon certaine shot lodging in an old Towne ill flanked a League from the Towne who hauing yeelded to haue their liues saued were notwithstanding slaine as they came forth The like chance fell vppon the Captaine and twentie souldiars that were in Maguelonne and deseruedly according to the diuine iustice hauing treacherously sold the Castle At that time the Lords of Suze and Sommeriue the chiefe of the Catholikes armie in Languedoc had passed the Rosâ—e with about 3000. foote foure hundred Maisters and three Cannons with an intent to besiege S. Giles a small towne vppon the Rosne Bâ—â—uâ—iné vpon this aduice parts from Montpellier Battell of S. Gyles spedily assembles sixe hundred horse and eight hundred foote vnder the command of Bouillargues Albenas and â—râ—lle he is aduertised by some prisoners of a disorder in the enemies campe he marcheth towards them and chargeth presently Suze and Sommeriue turne their backs their Captaines and souldiars are amazed and run away Bouillargues followes them that flye not one makes resistance Grille falls out likewise both ioyntly do kill what by the sword water 2000. men and win all their baggage being richly furnished as to a certaine victory with two canons the culuerin beeing sunke in the riuer of Rhone 22. Enseigns the Colonels guidon This victory makes them proud and Grille coÌ„temning the aduice which was giuen him suffered himselfe within few daies after to be surprised taken at Arenaâ—ses to loose a hundred or six score souldiars his troups to be put to flight towards Lunell Mauguel Sommieres had it not bin for the arriâ—â—ll of Beaudiné who freed him he had remained in trophe for his enemy In the meane time Ioyeuze seing the plague to wast his men dayly retires from the Campe before Montpellier it was rathet to free the Inhabitants from iealousie Hee had practised certâ—inâ— intelligences within the Towne but the iustice of God brought two of the chiefe Marchants to be a spectacle vpon a scaffold for other crimes who hauing confessed the treason euen as the sword hung ouer their heads ended Ioyeuzes pâ—aâ—â—iâ—es with their liues His attempts vpon Adge were as fruitelesse and much more preiudiciall vnto him Agde for being repulsed by Sanglas from a scaladoe and two sundry assaults Bouillargues cut off two hundred and seuenty of his men in his retreat hauing diuided them into three bands He drew three hundred Catholikes lodged within Aramon into an ambuscadoe slue the most part of them and soone after seized on S Laurent in the Comtat he chased fiue and thirty Italian Lanciers threescore Argoletiers and a companie of foote But the course of his prosperity was somewhat stayd by the death of Rays guidon of his company and of Captaine Aisse who kept the Tower of Carbonicre seated in the marishes of Aiguesmortes did wonderfully molest the said towne it being surprised in an ambuscado they slaine the 12. of NoueÌ„ber The death of these men was recompensed with the slaughter of fourscore surprised slaine by theÌ„ of Montpellier within Bourg a small Towne vpon Rhone besides a great number that were drowned seeking to saue them selues by the said riuer This happy successe inuites them to newe attempts A companie of the enemies lodged in Agnane and spoiled the country about Rapin gouernour of Montpellier being followed by fiue hundred snot and Gremians troupe of horse awaked them in the night about Christmas surprised some asleepe others in their shâ—ts slue the greatest number and brought the rest prisoners to Montpellier The yeare ended with the taking of S. Paul Damiatte separated by the riuer of Agout beseeged battered within three dayes taken from the Protestants by Peirot son to Montluc with great
the Duke of Guise and the Admirall This apparent meanes to confirme a publike concord did please the Admirall beleeuing this marriage should be the ground of a most happie peace and the Queene of Nauarre feares least delay should alter the Kings good meaning But the accomplishment of the marriage was hindred by some leâ—â—s The Pope made some dâ—fficulty to dispence therewith as well by-reason of the consanguinity of the parties the one being petie Nephewe the other grand-childe of Francis the 1. King of France as also for the difference of their religions The Qâ—eene of Nauarre likewise made some scruple of this disparity of religion of the ceremonies and of the place of the sollemnitie She would not haue the marriage celebrated after the manner of the Catholike Church and feared the Citty of Paris as most affected to their religion and of long time an enemie to the house of Nauarre Contrariewise the King would haue Paris to be the Theater Pretexts for the lowe Countrie warres where this notable act should be sollemnly celebrated in the vewe of the Capitall Cittie of his Realme without changing any thing in forme of royall mariages In the end the respect of ciuill reason preuayled As â—or the motiues of this warre pretended in the Lowe Country they were goodly in shâ—w for besids this hereditarie hatred of the French against the Spaniard beeing reuiued by the outrages and warres made in France by Charles and Phâ—â—ip his sonne the remembrance whereof was yet fresh they renued the ancient quarrells of many possessions in the Lowe Countries depending of this Crowne Moreouer they pretended newe causes which seemed lawfull to breake the allyance betwixt the two Kings That his Maiestie had most certaine intelligence of poyson giuen by Philip to his wife the Sister of our Charles vpon some discontents and filthie iealousies These reasons had a shewe of truth and the Admirall to the end the French who cannot liue long togither in mutuall concord and that by a long vse of warre breathed nothing but warre should not seeke some newe seeds of ciuill diuision held it good to diuert this vehement heate against some stranger and nation a faâ—â—e off Many necessarie considerations fortified this ciuill Councell The forces of the Prince of Orange and his bretheren who spoiled by the Spaniard of many rich possessions both in the Lowe Countries and in the Countrie of Bourgongne had long time sought to recouer it by armes The credit and fauour of the Lowe Countrie men in Germany by reasoÌ„ of the exceeding crueltie of the Duke of Alba Lodâ—wike of Nassau brother to the sayd Prince a man of great courage and resolution prest it forward and his presence was a spurre to the Admirall Moreouer to the end it should seeme this warre was managed with the Kings consent his Maiestie did suffer the Prince of Auranges fleete to ride about Rochelle annoying the Spaniards and Portugalls which sailed vpon that coast the trafficke of the Lowe Countries and for the Comte Lodowike to sell the bootie hee had taken from the enemie freely and publikely at Rochell So the Admirall a wydower by reason of Charlotte of Laual deceased in the second troubles after he had espoused the Contesse of Antremont in Sauoye at Rochelle The Admiral comes to Court and giuen his daughter Louyse to the Lord of Teligny to wife he comes to Court relying vpon the Kings assurances so often confirmed by messengers and especially by the Marshall of Cossé whome the King had sent to accompanie him presuming the Admirall would giue more credit to the Marshalls words by reason of their familiarity The King receiued him with all demonstrations of loue those of Guise leaue him the place not to yeeld any thing vnto him but to returne soone after with greater authoritie and to take from him all iealousies distrusts which were giuen him froÌ„ al parts the King at the first doth recoÌ„pence the losses which the Admiral had sustained during the former warres by the gift of a hundred thousand frankes and grauâ—ts him for one whole yeare the reuenues which his brother the Cardinall of Chasâ—â—â—ha enioyed being lately deceased in England He giues him a place in the priuy Councel doth ofte times conferre with him touching the warres of Flanders and mâ—kes shâ—we to be gouerned therein by his aduice and Councell he honours him with that plaâ—sible name of father and treats with him so familiarly as the Countries tooke this familiarity for a seale of his Masters affection to the Admirall and the people begâ—n nowe to murmure that Charles not onely fauoâ—ed the Huguenots but would shortly himselfe become a Huguenot A Cunning bayte to free the Admirall from suâ—pition by the aduertisments wich had beene giuen him to the Contrary Hee could nowe tast no admonitions his spirit was so transported with the Kings Countenance and words Doubtlesse the wisdome of man failes euen in the wisest when it pleaseth him that giues it to weaken the strongest spirits and by a iudgement incomprehensible to man to cast a vayle before his eyes and to make him vnable to conceiue the iustice and horror of the iudgement which hee meanes to display For the better aduancing the enterprise of the Lowe Countries the Admirall thought it fit the King should make a peace with Elizabeth Queene of England They might treate it with a very honest colour to the preiudice of the Spaniards Elizabeth was not married and Henry Duke of Aniou had no wife the dignitie of so high an alliance was honorable for the Duke and the qualitie of a Kings Brother was not to bee contemned by the Queene hauing also in his yong age purchased great glorie and reputation Peace â—â—th the English This charge is giuen to the Marshall of Montmorency Bâ—t the issue did shewe that besids this negotiation of peace their meaning was to abuse both the Admirall and all others whome it was expedient to â—buse for the execution of the Councell of Saint Cloud and by the same practise to send the Marshall farâ—e from Court least by his ordinary conueâ—sing with the King hauing a good iudgement and smelling out the complots of this pitifull Tragedie hee should discouer them to the Admirall his Cousin and by meanes of this newe peace the English in the midest oâ— this indignity should bee restrayned from attempting of any thing in fauour of the Protestants as it chanced During this time the Admirall retires to Chastillon and in the meane season they prepare a fleete at Bourdeaux and Brouage vnder the Commande of Strossy Landereau and the Bâ—ron of la Garde The pretext was the warre of Flanders yet had they expresse Commission to attempt vpon Rochell and by open or secret practises to get it in their owne powre The Admirall hauing sounded the fourd vpon his assurance to the Queene of Nâ—uarre of the Kings singular affection to her and to all her house The Queene of Nauarre comâ—s to Court in
apprehended To make the Estates protest to liue and dye in the faith set downe by the Councel of Trent to cause it to be signed in the open Parliament To reuoke and disanull all publike Edicts in fauour of the Protestants and their associates and to pursue them to the death that should hinder the extirpation of heresies To cause the King to reuoke the promises made vnto the Protestants and to prescribe a certaine time vnto their associates in the which they should present themselues before the Ecclesiasticall Iudges to be absolued and then to be sent vnto the King to purchase pardon of the crimes committed against his Maiestie To cause the King to name a Lieutenant generall a Prince capable of experience and fit to encounter the rebellion of Princes that should seeke to hinder the effect of the precedent articles and who neuer had had part societie nor communication with heretikes 1476 to whome both hee and his Ancestors had euer beene professed enemies And to require his Maiestie to honour the Duke of Guise with that charge being indued with all the perfections requisite in a great Captaine and woâ—thie of that Commission To cause Iudges to bee appointed to examine the crime committed by the Duke of Alensoâ— declaring himselfe cheefe of the Heretikes authorising the exercise of herâ—sie and forcing his Lord and brother to augment his portion To cause the sayd Dâ—ke to come to Court with the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condé and by ordinary and extraordinary forces to seize vpon the said Duke King Prince and all other that had accompanied them and followed them in their enterprises To cause such Captaines as the parrishes should giue to the Duke of Guise to put all Protestants their adherents and complices to the sword both in the Countrie and in walled Townes To subdue by force or intelligence the reuolted Prouinces to be masters of the field to blocke vp the Townes that were opposite and to put all to fiâ—e and sword that would make head against them And after this goodly and infallible victorie hauing wonne the loue of the Clergie Nobilitie and people to take exemplary punishment of the Duke of Aniou and his complices then by the Popes consent and permission to put the King and Queene into a monasterie as Pepin his Ancestor did in former time to Childeric and for an acknowledgement and in fauour of the Romaine Sea to abolishe the liberties and priuileges of the French Church These highâ— and great proiects were harkened vnto receiued and fauoured in the Court of Rome from that time those of Guise did not cease to dreame of the meanes to aduance the effects But this was to reckon without their host They haue compassed some of their conclusions but the end proued quite contrary to their meanings wherein wee admire a most singular prouidence of the King of Kings whereby hee hath vnto this day mâ—raculously balanced and in the end by his singular grace setled the estate of this Realme The articles of this association were fiâ—st drawen at Peronne in Picardie but disgâ—ised with goodly shewes The first League at Pâ—â—ronne to blind them that would examine them more exactly which were to maintaine the Law of God â—o restore the holy seruice thereof To preserue the King and his Successors in the Estate dignitie seruice and obedience due vnto him by his subiects To restore vnto the Estates of the Realme their rights preheminences and ancient liberties And for the execution of these articles a certaine forme of oath was propounded inflicting paines of eternall damnation to the associats that for any pretext whatsoeuer should withdrawe themselues from this League and a bond for such as should bee enrolled to imploy their goods persons and liues to punish by all meanes to ruine the enemies and perturbeâ—s thereof and to punish them that should faile or make any delaies by the authoritie of the head as he should thinke good This done there were nothing but posts carrying the first newes of these dessâ—ines They cast many libels throughout the streets in many good Townes they murmure that they arâ— too much supported by the Edict they practise some to serue as firebrands to kindle a new warre and vnder this plausible and commendable title of the name of the Church and diuine seruice the people a fit matter to nourish ciuill diuisions giues eare to such as seeke to thrust them into mutinie The King was daily aduertised of new complots Hee found that this match did kindle a fiâ—e of perpetuall combustions within his Realme On the other side hee hated the Protestâ—nts and would ruine them by degrees but not by such instruments as wrought without his authoritie His mother likewise hated them to the death and greatly deâ—ired the ruine of the heads being well content that these confusions should still diuide the French so as holding the staffe in her hand shee might terrifie her children and maintaine her authoritie make warre and giue peace whensoeuer shee pleased 1576. Thus she causeth the Duke of Alenson to come to the Court and the King to eâ—tertaine his subects of both religions The Duke of Aâ—erâ—â—n reconciled to the King in hope of better concord by meanes of 〈◊〉 reconciliation and to cut off all new factions he deferred the generall assembly of the Estates vnto the fifteenth of December following He presumed likewise that all hâ—s subiects abhorring the ruine of Townes the desolation of Countries and the spoyle of Strangers would gladly prefere the entertaynment of a peace sollemnly sworne before the continuance of warre and by this meanes hee should preuent all tuâ—bulent persons and bridle the Protestants whome he ment to consume otherwise then by open warre whereby neither his predecessor nor he himselfe had gotten any honorable triumphes The day appointed for the Estates comes the King himselfe begins it Hee â—aments the calamities of his realme The beginning of the Parliament whereof the tender age in the â—hich â—is brotheâ— and himselfe were in the beginning of these ciuill warres may well iust fiâ— them that they were not the authors and motiues Hee protests to haue no desseine nor desire but for the safetie and quiet of his people whose miseries hee would redeeme â—ith the price of his life Hee coniures the assembly to assist him in his hoâ—y res lution To deuise some meanes to redeeme the lands of the Crowne engaged for aboue a hundred millions of gold to vnite themselues firmely togither to roote out all â—eeâ—s of partialiâ—ies to reforme abuses establish Iustice and to restore the Realme to the ancient dignitie Birague the Chancellor adds the rest but the two maine poâ—â—ts of 〈◊〉 speech were to â—ustâ—fie the Queene mothers gouernment and to demand moâ—ey â—eter d' Espinac Arch-bishop of Lion and the Baron of Senecey are speakers the 〈…〉 the Clergie the other for the Nobilâ—tie and both conclude a publike exercise of one onely religion in
nationall Counceâ—â—â—f the French Churches The Deputies notwithstanding especially the Clergy will allowe of no reason Tâ—ey are for the most part transported with passion and apprehend nothing but 〈◊〉 maâ— aduance the League Iâ— the King refuseth this article the Duke of Gâ—ise 〈◊〉 dâ—sâ—olue the Estates and laie all the blame vpon his Maiestie He hath so well prouâ—â—â—d for his affaires as he holds himselfe maister of the Castle of Blois and of the Kâ—ngs person There is neither gate hall chamber nor Cabinet but the keyes are at his â—leasure He hath great forces ready He checkes them that speakes not to his liking their voices and consents are forced in the Parlament house he puts in and puts out and doth what he pleaseth Those whom the King and Parlements hold inâ—â—pportable finde accesse and support with him To conclude see the first Prince oâ— tâ—e bloud the first of the most ancient and most famous house that doth at this daâ— weare a Crowne the first of that royall branch of Bourbon which onely remaines aftâ—r so many sisters and cousins of Aniou Alençon Eureux Berry Bourgongne Angâ—ulesme and Orleans and which onely succeeded that of Valois depriued of the right which nature hath giuen him without calling him or hearing his iustifications The Clergy sayes he ought to be no more cited his heresie his incapacity to the Crowne is apparent The Bishop of Chaalons in Champagne deliuers this conclusion to the Nâ—bâ—lity The Bishop of Cominge to the third Estate and the Archbishop of Ambrun to the King to make a law thereof and then followed the last act of the Tâ—agedie of a dispossessed King But oh men the Eternall lookes on you and laughes at your Counsells he nowe 〈◊〉 vpon the stage to act his part and to bring forth effects far from his thoughts The King is aduertised from all paâ—ts of a great conspiracy against his Maiestâ—e The Duke oâ— Espernon assures him by letters The Duke of Mayenne iealous it may be of hiâ— bâ—others greatnes aduertiseth his Maiesty from Lion by a Knight of worship and the Duke of Aumale from Blois it selfe by his owne wife that the Duke of Guise hâ—d very pernicious desseines that the houre of the execution did approch that they 〈◊〉 to seize on him and to lead him to Paris These aduerâ—isements kindle a newe courage in the King hee meanes to preuent â—im and disâ—ouâ—rs his minde to foure whom he knowes as faithfull to his Maiesty as â—nemieâ—â—o the damnable proâ—ects of the League He must suppresse this newe starre 〈◊〉 tâ—e East whom the people worshipped already The present necessity will not suffer 〈◊〉 to bring him forth in viewe the Popes respect retaines him his oath to protect 〈◊〉 Estâ—â—eâ— makes him irresolute the troubles which this execution will cause in 〈◊〉 diâ—â—osed to the League makes him doubtfull yet he must die Hee hath no 〈…〉 France but of a simple subiect and yet without the Kings authority 〈…〉 he hatâ— built a League had intelligence with the stranger leauâ—ed 〈◊〉 waâ—re attempted vpon townes and broken the publike peace He continues 〈…〉 against the oath of the Edict of vnion with the Cardinall Morosine Legate 〈…〉 and Don â—â—igo of Mendosa Ambassador of Spaine He confirmes his 〈…〉 â—ederations with the Gouetnors of reuolted townes Hee published by 〈…〉 that hee hath not taken armes but for Gods and the Kings seruice aâ—d yet by the surprise of so many townes he hath hindered the aduancement of the Kings army in Guienne against the Huguenots The obiect of his aâ—mâ—â— is the safety and religion of the Catholikes and to depriue the King of Nauarre oâ— all hope of succession to the Crowne and in the meane time it appeares that he hath sought the loue of the King of Nauarre he hath promised to giue him his sonne in hostage and to meete him with seuenteene Princes of his house at the riuer of Loâ—re to serue him and make him King of France Many letters intercepted discouer that after his maiesties pardon of many capitall crimes he renues his disseynes against the King and against his estate Obiecâ—ions against the Duke of Guise The surprise of the Marquisate of Salusses is by his intelligence He disgraceth the Kings actions he blames him to haue vnwillingly made warre against the Huguenots to haue sold the said Marquisate that vnder colour of recouering it hee might diuert the warre against the Heretikes In steed of reducing the Townes held by the Huguenots hee keepes his Captaines and men of warre at Blois vpon assurance of a profitable change Hee hath caused bookes to bee Printed in fauour of the lawfull succession of the house of Lorraine to the Crowne At the Barricadoes this voice was heard It is no longer time to dally let vs lead my Lord to Reimes He hath suffered himselfe to be saluted by the people with cries and acclamations which belong onely to the Soueraigne Prince He hath vaunted that he was able to take the King prisoner or to do worse although he entered but with eight horses into Paris being assured of the force and wills of the Citizens He hath â—eized on the places of strength within Paris made Gouernors Magistrates and officers at his pleasure He hath so corrupted the Estates as the Deputies speake not but by his mouth they produce nothing but what hath beene first examined in his Councel Many crie out that he stayes too long beâ—ore he strikes Hee speakes no more but in termes of a Souereigne with pride disdaine and threats He hath refused to subscribe the Edict which the King would publish in cases of treason He doth already seale Letters pattents with his great seale He forbids the Commons to giue victualls or munition to such companies as the King had sent vnto them There remaines no more but to confirme in his person that ancient greatnes sometimes vsurped by the Maâ—ors of the pallace and to deale with the King as Charles Martel had done with Childeric In the ende they represent vnto the King the Processe of Salcedo a party in this conspiracy the counsells of Nancy and of Paris in Lent last whereof the chiefe point was To seize vpon the Kings person the instructions of the Aduocate Dauid the letters of the Qâ—eene Doüager of Denmarke to the Duke of Lorraine her sonne the attempt of the Barricadoes and to heape vp the measure the practises corruptions and violences done by the Duke of Guise to the Estates The like and lesse crimes haue in former ages brought more famous heads then the Duke of Guises to the blocke The Leagues and practises of an Earle of Harcourt of a Constable of Saint Paul of a Duke of Nemours haue brought them to shamefull endes Pope Sixtus now liuing hath of late put to death the Earle of Pâ—poli of the noblest families of Italy only for that he had concealed some banished men in his house The Duke of Guise himselfe did of late pursue with all violence the disobedience
combustion and by 〈…〉 they made the Kings name and his actions very hatefull vnto the 〈…〉 〈…〉 the meane time continued the course of his victories in base 〈…〉 hauing taken Honsteur a Port Towne hee came and raised the 〈…〉 where the Duke of Mayenne had lien fifteene daies beeing 〈…〉 aboue thirtie leagues where he offered him battell The 〈…〉 twiâ—e as many in number as the King could not draw him to it the memory of Arques was yet too fresh 1590. and the supply of fifteene hundred Lances and fiue hundred Harguebusiers which the Duke of Parma sent him vnder the command of the Count Egmont made him forbeare Whilest the Duke goes to ioyne with his Strangers the King takes Nonancourt and then besiegeth Dreux Siege of Dreux In the beginning of Marche the Duke turnes head towards Mantes to passe the riuer eight Leagues from Dreux His Maiestie hath intelligence thereof and giues him leaue to approach within two Leagues To giue and winue a battaile is indifferent vnto him Hee causeth his Armie to marche towards Nonancourt to view the foard of the riuer of Eure which runnes there hee himselfe treades out the place of battaile he imparts it to the Duke Montpensier the Marshals of Biron and Aumont to the Baron of Biron Marshall of the field and to the chiefe Captaines of his armie he makes choise of the Lord of Vieq for Sergeant Maior of the field he appointed the Rendezuous for his troupes at the village of Saint Andrew foure Leagues from Nonancourt vpon the way to Yury and the place of battaile in a great plaine neere vnto it All these old Souldiars found the place chosen with so great iudgment and military wisdome as they altered not any thing The King hauing deliuered it vnto the Baron to appoint euery man his place sayd It is no desire of glory nor motion of ambition nor appetite of reuenge that makes mee resolue to this combate but the extreame necessitie of my iust and naturall defence the pitty of my peoples calamitie and the preseruation of my Crowne Let vs all refer the euent of this enterprise to the eternall prouidence Then afterwards lifting vp his eyes to heauen Thou knowest O God sayd he the sinâ—eritie of my thoughts I beseech thee put me not in the number of those Princes whome thou hast forsaken in thy wrath but of those whome thou hast chosen to repaire the ruines of a desolate Estate and to releeue my miserable people oppressed with the violence of warre O Lord I yeeld my selfe to the disposition of thy holye and infallible will and desire not to liue not to raigne but so farre forth as my life may be to the aduancement and glory of thy name and may authoritie the raigne of vertues and the banishment of vices These and such like religious words moued all the Campe to prayers and workes of piety euery one according to his deuotion This done the King disposeth his armie according to the plotte which hee had layd Hee diuides it into seuen esquadrons and in euery one three hundred horse flanked on eyther side with footmen the first hee giues to the Marshall D' Aumont with two regiments of French The second to the Duke Montpensier with fiâ—e hundred Lansquenets and a Regiment of Suisses The third to the Earle of Auuergne and Ciury eyther of them commanding a troupe of light horse and on their left hand foure Canons and two Culuerins The disposition of the Kings armie The fourth to the Baron of Biron In the fift were fiue rankes of horse and sixe score in a fronte Princes Earles Barons Officers of the Crowne Knights of the Order Noblemen and Gentlemen of the chiefe families of France besides those which the Prince of Contie and La Guische great Maister of the Artillerie brought that day His Maiestie was in the head of this troupe shining in his armes like the Sunne amidest the seuen Planets hauing on the side of him two battailes of Suisses with the regiments of his gardes of Brigneux of Vignoles and Saint Iohn The sixt to the Marshall of Biron with two regiments of French The seuenth were about two hundred and fiftie Reistres These squadrons were all in a front but somewhat bending at the ends in forme of a Cressent There was nothing more terrible then to see two thousand French Gentlemen armed from the head to the foote The Duke of Mayenne appeared a farre off and had taken a Village betwixt both armieâ— but his Maiestie forceth them to dislodge and wearies them with skirmishes to drawe them to fight and the approching night leaues our warriours burning with desire to haue the day call them to the field to make proofe of their seruice and dâ—ties to their King and Countrie At the breake of day the men at armes were in their Squadrons the Souldiars in their Battaillons and by nine of the clocke euery man did fight in his gesture in his threats and words At the same instant the enemy shewes a bodie of about foure thousand horse and twelue thousand foote and almost in the same forme but most glistring with more fethers more men and lesse courage almost like a Cressent The Dukes Comet was about two hundred and fiftie horse augmented with the like number by the Duke of Nemours who ioyned with him and was almost in the midest of his esquadrons as that of the Kings but flanked with two Squadrons of Lanciers that came out of the Lowe Countries who were about eighteene hundred horse marching all togither On the side were two regiments of Suisses couered with French foote then two lesse squadrons of Lances seauen hundred on the right hand and fiue hundred on the left two Culuerins and two bastards The sunne and the winde might haue greatly amazed the Kings army To preuent this inconuenience his Maiesty aduanceth aboue a hundred and fifty paces gets both the sunne and the winde and finds the enemies number greater then he esteemed But this multitude serues as a spurre to euery Captaine to incourage both himselfe and his men The King goes to the head of his squadron beginnes his first worke by praier exhorts all the rest to do the like passeth from squadron to squadron animates exhorts and incourages them with a Countenance full of Maiesty ioye and constancie Mariuault arriues and giues him intelligence that the Lords of Humieres and Mouy are within two thousand paces of the field The first charge But the King had well obserued the point of his happinesse and will not giue his enemy that honour to strike the first stroake He that beginnes well hath halfe ended saieth the prouerbe Hee commandeth la Guische to discharge his Cannon It perceth through the thickest squadrons of the enemies and shoots nyne volâ—es before theirs could beginne fiue or sixe hundred light horse French Italians and Wallons aduance with a full carrier to charge the Marshall d' Aumone on the one side on the other side their Reistres
Honories gate whereof hee had the keies and draw in a good number of men of warre to fauour the enterprise and that by Saint Denis gate should enter an other troupe of sufficient armed men as well to seize on the gate as of the rampar on either side to make a barre betiwixt the Spaniards and the Wallons and keepe them from ioyning They keepe two gards nere Saint Denis gate one at Saint Eustace Crosse and the other at the Temple At the same instant the garrisons of Melun and Corbeiâ— should enter by boat at the Bulwarke by the Celestins and should be receiued by Iohn Grossier and by the Seigneur of Cheuallerie the first being Captaine of the sayd Bulwarke and the other Lieutenant Generall of the artillerie remayning in the Arcenall And to auoyd a popular tumult a brute should be spred abroad of a peace betwixâ— the King and the Duke of Mayenne whom vnder colour of the peoples iealousie of the Spaniards which he had caused to approch vnto Beauuois they had found meanes to send him out off Paris with promise to cause them to retire That ouer night they should giue tickets to the cheefe whome they knewe desirous of a peace as for the multitude of factious and the partisans of Spaine they durst not speake openly vnto them to bring in the King some that were desirous of peace could not rest assured of his clemencie and bountie by the which they should bee aduertised of the accord and intreated to arme with their friends for the bringing in of the Deputies of either part which should come in the morning to make the publication and resist the Spaniards that would oppose themselues So it was decreed and so executed This order being resolued on it was imparted to those with whom the enterprise had beene long before concluded by the meanes of the Lord of Vicques then Gouernour of Saint Denis to whome the greatest honour is due both for that all the associats did rely vpon him and daily were aduertised and incouraged by him and also for that hee did carrie himselfe so wisely in Saint Denis as he was more Gouernour of Paris then of S. Denis The nineteenth of March the Secretaries of the Lords of Brissac and S. Luc carrie it to Senlis to the king with a portrait of the Cittie setting downe the places of the Strangers gards of their partisans They are searched going out of the Towne but they remember not to looke into their gloues where their instructions were written by the hand of the sayd Langlois the Sherife The King giues them aduice for the execution the night before the 22. day of the moneth A bold and 〈◊〉 execution about foure of the clocke he finds all things readie and the new gate and S. Denis gate at his deuotion He enters with his troupes led by the Lords of Hâ—mieres â—elin Vicques Fauas at the same gate by the which the deceased king parted mournfully out of Paris At the same instant the Lord of Vitri comes with a troupe of men at armes to Saint Denis gate beats backe the strangers who made resistance vppon the rampar enters the Towne sets gardes at the gate and on the rampâ—rs then passing through Saint Denis street he incounters his Maiestie whose troupes were come to Saint Michels bridge and before the Pallace Thus according to the oth which his Maiestie had taken of the Captaines of euery companie Paris oâ—ey the King Not to do or suffer any insolencie or outrage to any Cittizen but to such as should obstinatly make resistance all his troupes enter without disorder without murther without spoyle and by their perfect obedience testifie how great his authoritie is that commaunds ouer them The King being seized of the Loâ—ure the pallace both Chastellets and other cheefe places of the Cittie and assured of the Duke of Feriâ— and his Strangers hee went armed with his caske on his head with an incredible concourse and ioy of the people to our Ladies Church and there gaue sollemne thankes to the Soueraigne Protector of this monarchie who hauing as it were led him by the hand by such extraordinarie and miraculous meanes into the Capitall Cittie of the realme gaue him hope that he should soone chase the stranger ouâ— off his inheritance and peaceably inioy the throne of his predecessors In the meane time the Earle of Brissac Iohn L'huillier master of the accounts and â—rouost of the Marchants with the Shriefe Langlois accompanied with the Heraults â—ent through the Cittie proclayming the Kings generall pardon causing them to take white scarfes and gaue tickets printed at Saint Denis conteining an abolition of all offences past So as in lesse then two houres all the Cittie was quiet euery man went to his ordinariâ— exercise the shops were oâ—ened as if there had beene no alteration and the Townesmen grewe familiar with the men of warre There was nothing but signes of wonderfull ioy and loue the bitternesse of the proud and insolent commaund of the Spaniard made the Parisiens to tast the sweetnes of the fatherly rule of their Kings and those detest him as an enemie who lately feared and respected him as a master A happie and famous day wherein the people lately so contrary and full of crueltie reduced to that miserie as they durst not sigh in their miserie exceeding glad to see a meanes to inioy their ancient libertie know not with what acclamations to receiue their peacefull and gratious King who by his wonderfull clemencie washing away the blemishes wherewith Paris had beene vnworthily polluted made the Inhabitants of slaues Cittizens restores them their wiues children goods honours Magistrates and liberties and giues peace to them who lately held it a crime to demaund bread onely and capitall to demaund bread and peace togither His Maiestie suffred the Duke of Feria Dom Diego with other Commaunders and men of warre to depart with their baggâ—ge theiâ— matches out and their armes downe The Bastille made some shew of resistanâ—e but as al was prepared to force it that their victuals which were purposely kept backe began to faile them De Bourg hauing the commaund thereof yeelded it three dayes after and his Maiestie to recompence such as had serued him in this enterprise gaue them great gâ—fts with many offices and aduancements Hee confirmed all the companies of the Cittie and disanulled the declarations which had beene published in the moneth of March 1589. he restored the Lord d'O to his gouernment from the which the generall reuolt had expelled him hee appointed him to go to the Towne house to take an oth of the offiâ—ers in the presence of Monsâ—eur Francis Miron one of the Kings priuie Councell master of Requests and President of the great Councell ouerseer of the gouernment of the Kings armies and appointed to assist him And the Earle of Chiuerny Chancellor of France assisted with the Seigneâ—rs of Ris Pontcarre Miron and other Councellors of the priuie Councell
and masters of Reqâ—ests of the Kings house to the number of twelue went to the Pallace and caused the letters of reestablishment of the Court of Parliament to be read and at the instance of Loiâ—el appointed in the absence of the Kings officers they tooke the oth of all the Presidents Counâ—ellors and officers of the said Court before the returne of the Parliament remoued to Tours in the yeare 1589. And so in like sort to other companies the chamber of accounts Court of Aides chamber of the money to whom Councellors were sent to do the like as to the Parliament and to continue their places and dignities with the other officers resident at Tours whome this happie reduction brought within few weekes after to their antient seat of iustiâ—e Paris being freed from the command of strangers A decree against the League and the Duâ—e of Mayenne and reduced vnder the obedience of their natural and lawfull King it was needfull to repaire that which the libertie of warre had changed touching the Lawes and grounds of the Estate and the rights and honours of the Crowne To this end the Court of Parliament lately establishes reuoakes and disanuls by a decree of the 30. of March all other decrees orders or othes giuen or made since he 29. of December 1588. to the preiudice of the Kings authoritie and the lawes of the realme decreeing that as things forced by violence they should remaine suppressed for euer And especially they disanulled all that had beene done against the honour of the deceased King as well during his life as after his decease forbidâ—ing all persons to speake of his memorie but with honour respect commanding to informe oâ— the detestable paricide committed on his person and to proceed extraordinarily against such as should bee found cuâ—pable They reuoked the authoritie giuen to the Duke of Mayenne vnder the title of Lieutenant generall of the Estate and Crowne of France forbidding all men to acknowledge him with that qualitie to yeeld him any obedience fauour comfort ayd vpon paine of high treason They likewise inioyned the Duke of Mayenne vpon the like paines other Princes of the house of Lorraine to acknowledge King Henry the 4. of that name for King of France Nauarre for their king to yeeld him the obedience of faithfull seruants and subiects And to all other Princes Prelates Noblemen gentlemen Townes Commonalties priuate men To 〈◊〉 that pretended faction of the League wherof the Duke of Mayenne had made 〈◊〉 the head and to yeeld vnto the King obedience seruice and fealtie vpon paine to 〈◊〉 said Princes Prelates Noblemen and gentlemen to bee degraded of their 〈◊〉 and gentry and they and their posteritie declared base with confiscation of 〈…〉 goods and the razing of their Townes Castels and places that should infâ—â—â—ge 〈◊〉 Kings ordinances and commaundements They reuoked and dissanulled all tâ—â—t had beene done or decreed by the pretended Deputies of the assemby held at Paris vnder the names of the generall Estates of the Realme as voyd done by priuat perâ—ons chosen and suborned for the most part by the factious of this Realme and partisans to the Spaniard hauing no lawfull power forbidding the said pretended Deputies to take vpon them this qualitie and to assemble any more in the sayd Cittie or else where vpon paine to be punished as troublers of the publike quiet and guiltie of high Treason They inioyned such of the pretended Deputies as were yet resident at Paris to retyre home to their houses to liue there vnder the Kings obedience and to take the oth of fealtie before the Iudges of those places Moreouer they decreed that all processions and sollemnities instituted during the troubles thereof should cease and insteed thereof the two and twentith day of March should bee for euer celebrated and the same day a general procession should be made after the accustomed maner where the said Court should assist in their scarlet roabes as a remembrance to giue God thankes for the happie reduction of this said Cittie to the Kings obedience As the vniuersitie by their treacherous decision had before countenanced and supported the Parisiens insolencies and mutinies The voluntary submission of the vniuersitie so now by their humble and due submission of their owne proper motion they seeke to repaire the crime they had committed Iames of Amboise Doctor in Physicke chief Rector chosen since the reduction of Paris the Deane and the Doctors of Sorbonne the deanes and doctors of other faculties all the members and Officers of the vniuersitie come to the King to yeeld him a testimonie of their loue and finding him in the chapell of Bourbon prostrate before his Maiestie they acknowledge him their true and onely naturall Prince sweare to be obedient and faithfull seruants to him for euer and beseech him as to his other people which submit themselues like good and loyall subiects to extend his fauour vnto them The Kings owne disposition did moue him but the place did inuite him to this pardon He protests before God to be as readie to remit the offences of others as he desired Gods diuine Maiestie to be merciful vnto his So he receiued them and sent them home gratiously Paris gaue example to all the rest of the Realme And the first fruits of this happie reunion began to ripen in the hearts of other Townes and Comonalties So the monethes of Aprill and May were spent to receiâ—e the submâ—ssions of diuers Prouinces and drâ—wing to the Kings obedience many Captaines gentlemen Noblemen and other châ—â—e pillers of the League So as euery birde hauing his fether the Crow in the Fable remayned in the end naked Diuers reductions in Nâ—râ—andie The Lord of Villars submits himselfe to his â—oueraine Lord and yeelding him the townes of Rouan Newhauen Harfleu Montiuillier Ponteau de â—er and Vernueil hee obtaines in exchange the office of Admirall of France In Picardie and hereafter resolues a most obstinat warre against the Spaniard But a sad accident shall â—oone frustrat the desseins he made with his Maiestie Abbeuille hath bin alwaies caâ—led the Cittadell of Picardie lying at the mouth of the sea Maupin the Maior and some inhabitants had resolued to giue a great check vnto the League but the feare of the Duke of Aumales factions restrained them and the seditious impressions of Preachers who throughout the Realme haue beene the greatest motiues of these last mutinies made this their good will fruitles The King being aduertised hereof did hazard Franc one of the Secretaries of his Chamber who was borne at Abbeuille to â—ound and discouer the end of their intentions Hee parts in Aprill and vnder colour to visit his friends he behaues himselfe so discreetly in his negotiation that in lesse then eight dayes they resolued in open assembly to send their deputies to yeeld themselues at his Maiesties feete who in token of so good a seruice ennobled France and his posteritie and augmented
that of other Princes which haue hereditary desâ—eins vpon that estate who would cast lots againe come to a new diuisioÌ„ These had sometimes sought to make ther profit of the diuersity of religion that is among the Cantons 1602. in weakning the bodie by cutting of the members France on the contrary side had alwaies exhorted them to liue in Peace and not to vnder-mine the foundation of their Estate the which consistes in Concord and Vnity So Princes should alwaies desire that their Allies might liue in Vnion and Peace This proposition of renewing the League with the King was very acceptable vnto them all but it troubled the small Catholike Cantons who had made new Leagues with their neighbors and desired that they would propound some meanes vnto them that in contenting the King they might with Honour keepe their latter promises The Ambassadors answered that they must take those resolutions of themselues whereby they might willingly contribute that which depended of them It is no reason sayd the Ambassadors that you should bee directed and set into the right way by vs seeing you left it without vs and against vs. The Cantons sayd that the friendship which they had sworne to France was grounded vpon conditions the which fayling the duty of their allyance must also fayle Friendship grounded vpon profit is neuer durable that of the Suisses cannot bee otherwise vnited they loue the Darigues more then Darius himselfe and Glory to see the greatest Princes of Europe to purchase their friendship Some aduised the King to leaue the petty Cantons and to take them as his enemies seeing they had broken the League But he thought he should wrong the reputation and dignity of his Crowne if hee should loose the friends which his Predecessors had gotten And therefore his Ambassadors although they seemed not to care for it omitted nothing that might serue to reduce them into the right way from the which the opinion of profit more then the force of friendship had drawne them thinking it reasonable to loue friends with their humors A million of gold granted to the Suisses not for the respect of the continuance of friendship nor of their coÌ„stancy but for the Honour of this Crowne They would not binde the Kings word to any other thing then the payment of a million of Gold in discharge of their debt or pension There must be an other day to deliuer that which should be resolued by euerie Canton vpon the Kings offers and propositions The pettie Cantons appointed a Diet at Lucerna to resolue of the difficulties they were in betwixt the alliances with France and Spaine seeing they might not hold the one but they must abandon the other Their resolution was to accept the renewing of the League and to esteeme olde frindes for the best Yet they did not publish it so soone that it might be the better accepted many daies were spent in Generall Assemblies at Baden and Soleurre to reduce it to an immutable pointe Monsieur de Vic went vnto the Grisons and procured an assembly to be called at Coire of the three Cantons and their Commons in their Episcopall Citty Assembly of the â—râ—sons aâ— Coire Their were as many difficulties as the Country is rough the Spanish practises had so much withdrawne their affections from France They could not dissemble the greefe they conceiued for the confirmation of this League The Count of Fuentes would not suffer any prouision to go out of the Dutchy of Milan that the derth and discomodity of victuells might make the Grisons know that the friendship of Spaine was more profitable vnto them then that of France and that they should not so much desire the number as the profit of friends DeVic propounded the Kings intentions to 67. Ambassadors deputed by the three Cantons of the Grisons and to as many other chosen out of the Country They hold a great liberty of opinions in their Assemblies euery man speakes what he thinkes Here they which made least shewe spake loudest in the ende they resolued to accept of the renewing of the League adding thervnto such preiudiciall conditions as two of them were sufficient to make the League fruitlesse for the King DeVic sayd vnto them that they must not thinke that the King would endure any addition or deminution in the ancient Treaty Vnreasonable conditions answering the sayd Articles by writing to the end that the Commons which were to determine thereon might iudge that their reasons were not stronger then those which he had propounded vnto them and their commodities and suerties greater with the Kings allyance then withall others While that DeVic was with the Grisons Sillery labored to dispose the Cantons to the Kings will But there was stil something to resolue vpon The Suisses although they haue not the quicknes of spirit as other nations yet are they not lesse aduised in the conduct of their affayres So as when the Kings Ambassadors thought that in the last Diet held at Soleure there would bee but one sitting for that all difficulties had beene very exactly considered they must yet haue patience for twelue dayes Difficulties in the â—reaty with more Crosses and difficulties then were euer treated of in Suisserland for the like affaâ—res for both the Kings friends and enemies had conspired not to consent to the conclusion of the Treaty without assurance to be payd vnreasonable summes euery yeare besides the million of â—old that was granted The stay of the bâ—inging of the Kings money did also greatly distast them that should haue the best share in the distribution The more certaine the hope is the more troublesome is the stay This fayling was insupportable vnto them and thrust them into bad resolutions against the aduancement of the Kings affaires So as the Ambassadors did think for a time they should get much to breake with some to differ with others rather then to tie the King vnto such forced conditions But after much toyle of body and minde the Treaty was concluded The Duke of Biron 〈◊〉 to the Canâ—oâ—s to conâ—â—â—â—e the Treaty There remayned nothing but to haue the Duke of Biron come to authorise by his presence what had bin concluded by the Kings Ambassadors he came in the end of Iâ—nuary well accompanied and as weâ—â— receiued by the Lords of that common weale and by the Colonells and Captaines to whom it seemed that they were in France seeing him alwayes that had coÌ„manded ouer them in the Kings Army The Duke spake vnto them in the General Assembly at Soleurre in this â—ort Noble Lords The Dukâ—â—peâ—ch to the Suâ—â—ses the King my Maister making the same esteeme which â—is Predecessors haue done of your generossity desiring the continuance of true friendship and faithfull allyance which hath bin of long time betwixt his Crowne and your Cominalties hath coÌ„manded me to come into your Country for the happy ending of the Treaty which the Seigneours of Syllery and deVic
that might be without preiudice to their Alliaâ—ces to assure a good Neighbour-hood with the State of Milan so as the Count oâ— Fuentes would demolish the Fortâ— within sixe months vpon their Frontier The great Cantons of the Suisses were Actors in this busines perswading the Grisons to trust rather to Courage then to the safety of their mountaines Matters continued in great suspence They sent often to Milan and what was concluded there was dissoluâ—d in the Assembly of the People by the friends of this Crowne and by the Wisedome of the Kings Ambassador who said plainely that his Maiesty would leaue their Alliance if they made not a Declaration that might content him Those iudgments that were sound not preiudicate found it reasonable in this reason the honor of their faith the reputatioÌ„ of their estate as coÌ„trariwise they thought it could not be an act of glory to sel their Alliance as it was not coÌ„mendable for the Spaniards to bâ—ye it if they were of the Romans humor who neuer sought that by Gold which they might do by the sword But against these apparant reasons An Allyance puâ—chased dishonorable the Count of Fuentes had so many Trickes and Deuises as the Ambassador of France had much adoe to retayne this people who promised in words not to forsake the allyance of France and Venice doing the contrarye in effect In former times it was incredible that the Suisse so great an enemy to the house of Aâ—stria from whose subiection they had reuolted and the Grison so contrary to the Spanish fâ—shions would incline that way and contradict the very feeling of Reason and Nature The Truth hath freede the doubt and let vs see that it is of this people as of Viniger the which neuer freezeth for that it is extremely cold The Suisses and Grisons for that they are enemies to the Spaniards will not haue the power of Spaine to bee their enemy The bad successe of this businesse did not concerne France and the Venetians alone the best aduised did fore-see that it might drawe a Ciuill Warre into Italy vnder the pretext of Religion Many Commanders and Captaines Grisons not able to endure the Rigour and Threats of the Count Fuentes were sollicited by them of their Beleefe and Religion lurking in Italy to hold good and to attend vntill the Lord came from Edom to disperse their enemies and to beleeue that as there is no Waâ— more glorious then that which is vndertaken to free their Country from seruitude so there is none more iust then that which is made to deliuer Consciences from Tyranny and that both in the one and the other occasion it is a great happynesse to sacrifice their Liues The King sent aduice thereof to Rome for the Consequence and Danger of Religion Hee did also pacifie the diuision of the people of Valais who were in Armes and ready to come to a generall Combate for the same quaâ—rell In the meane time the Grisons remayned betwixt the doubtfullnesse of Warre and the discommodities of Peace and as in the breeding of such diuisions free and curious spirits cannot reteyne their passions they made Pasquins in Italy vpon this subiect and the Spanish braueries were not mute the which the Grisons answered with the like humour If the Venetians who were the cause of all the mischeefe would haue spoke and set their hand to the worke as they ought the Count of Fuentes who did more by example then by any authority would haue intreated the Grisons more mildly But besides that Common-weales are not good for an offensiue Warre these Seigneures who would not hazard anything but preferre present and assured things before that which was past and perilous would haue beene content to haue inioyed that which they desired without any trouble There was a generall assembly held at Illant at one of the Corners of the Grisons where afâ—er great diuersity of opinions it was concluded by the greater part that seeing the Ambassadors had through their Auarice defamed their Legation and suffered the Count of Fuentes to binde the liberty of their aduice with chaines of Gold and had exceeded the instructions that were giuen them the laâ—t Treaty made at Milan should be declared voyde and of none effect if the Alliance of France and that of Venice were not expressely reserued The Dobles of Spaine had wrought wonders giuing motion to the most heauy and speech vnto the Dombe to fauor the Count of Fuentes intentions with a Nation that loues money beyond all measure But in the ende the consideration of their owne health and the ruines of their liberty were of more â—orce making them to choose the hazard of Armes and of all discommodities rather then to suffer the Fort which the Count of Fuentes had caused to be built to stand vnruined And for that incensed with this resolution he had made shew to seyze vppon Valteline they made a leauy of eighteene hundred Men in sixe companies to oppose against him The Kings intention was that the treaty of Milan should not alter the Alliances of the Crowne of France and of Venice But if the Grisons should breake with the French dishonour their reputation with so foule a defection the French had no great reason to regard it seeing it were a losse but of inconstant friends whose faith was ruined by the same meanes it was preserued True it is they should loose a goodly passage into Italy but when they had any desire to goe thether it should not bee by the Grisons The French Armies were neuer led that way to passe the Alpes It is true that when the Kings of France held Milan this passage was necessary for them to draw in Suisses and Germaines for their seruice But inioying this no more they neede not to care much to loose that which cost them so deere to maintaine This was the beginning of the thirteenth yeare of Pope Clement the eights sitting in the Pontificall Chaire In his youth a Mathematician told him that he should be a Cardinall then Pope and should sit in the seat twelue yeares A Friar had told Leo the tenth as much hauing saued himselfe in Mantoua after the battell of Rauenna assuring him that hee should be Pope â—redictions of â—riar Seraphin of Montoua before he came to the age of fortie yeares A Terme which made this prediction seeme ridiculous and impossible and yet it was true for after the death of Iulio the second the yong Cardinalls being banded against the old chooâ—e him Pope The Astrologian hath spoken very truely in the two first adueÌ„tures of this Pope but hee hath misreckned himselfe in the third yet some feare it is but one yeare for this which wee shall shortly beginne is full of badde constellations vpon that Sea as they hold that haue studied the booke of the Abbot Ioachim Curious questions About that time there was a Iesuite that maintained an opinion that was held very bold throughout all the
beseeged And the King relying vpon the assurance he had of the Marshall of Biez aduanced hoping that the Bulwarks and the Courtynes of the fort had beene in such defence as he might haue imployed his armie elsewhere But there are two reasons which diuert him The one priuate which was the death of the Duke of Orleans his yongest sonne who supprised with a Quotidian feuer Death of the Duke of Orleance which they held to be pestilentious died the eight of September in the Abby of Forest-montier betwixt Abbeuille and Montrueil being three and twentie yeares old leauing a second greefe to the father to haue lost two sonnes at such times as they grew capable to ease his decaying age and without doubt the the waywardnes which made this Prince melancholike and difficult will hasten the course of his life to bring him to his graue The other was publike the Prince of Melphe being sent to visit the fort hauing considered the time of the foundation and the terme it required to come to the perfection reported that winter would bee well passed before it should bee made fit for seruice without the assistance of an armie So the King seeing his hopes lost and the season spent for the effecting of his desseins he retyred towards Amiens to the Abby of Saint Fuscien Skirmishes before Boullen In the meane time the neernes of the Kings Campe at Monâ—-Lambert did inuite both nations daily to make great skirmishes One day amonst the rest the Duke of Aumale seing our men withstand a charge of the enemies but faintly and were readie to be ouerthrown making a count hee should bee seconded by his troupe hee fals vppon a company of English which went to charge our French vpon the flanke at the first approch stayes them but being stroken with a launce betwixt the nose and the eye it breaks in peeces and left the tronchion halfe a foot within his head without doubt we may admire the generositie of this yong Nobleman who for so rough a charge lost neither stirops nor vnderstanding to free himselfe from those which had compassed him in and his admirable patience in induring the paine when they came to draw forth the three square head as constantly as if they had pulled but a haire from his head Winter approched and the King considering that his enterprise vpon Guines was â—râ—strate aduertised moreouer that the English made a new leauie in Germanie of ten thousand Lansquenets and foure thousand horse with this supply to come and raise the siege at Boullen he fortified all the approches in the countrie of Tierache and aboâ—t Aubenton Veruein and Guise to stop their passage He sent the Marshall of Biez to inuade ruine and burne the land of Oye for that Calais Guines and Hames which the English held vpon the maine land had no other reliefe but out of that Countie and to dispose of the affaires as occasion should serue he marched towards la Fere vpon Oize The land of Oye containes about foure leagues in length and three in breadth a marish very fertill in pastures Description and â—ark of the land of Oye hauing on the one side the sea and at the one end towards the sea Calais at the other end Grauelin of the land of Flanders towards the land and alongst the bankes of the Marish is the Towne of Guines and the Castle of Hames and at the end towards Arthois stands Ardres For the safetie of this land the English had made great trenches towards the firme land the which were commonly full of water and fortified with Rampars and to flanke them fortes and bastions well manned to defend the entrie into the countrie The affection which euery one bare vnto the Kings seruice made them to passe the channels which flowed into the countrie directly against the fortes They assaile them force them and put all to the sword they finde Two thousand English come to their succours the French men at aâ—â—es charge and defeate them and kill the most part the rest cast themselues into the trenches where the horsemen could not follow foure score or a hundred of our horse with manie men at armes test fâ—ed by their deaths or wounds the furie of this incounter The English were strong both in high and base Boullen and in the Tower of Ordre this Tower was built by Iulius Caesar the second time he passed into England to haue a Lampe vpon the top of it to direct his ships if they should be diuided by any stoâ—me at Sea as in his first voyage and the retiring of our troupes made them to enterprise vpon our â—orte wâ—ich was made on the other side of the water right against base Boullen Seuen or eight thousand choise men come an houre before day and mount sodenly to the top of the rampar where they might easily enter in many places without any ladders Thibault â—ouhault Lord of Riou Lieutenant for the King within the fort finding his succours farâ—e off saies the originall watched in the night and rested the day If the enemy charged furiously he repels him with no lesse assâ—rance kils all them that mounted ouertâ—rowes the rest puts them in route so as by this gallant repulse he was afterwards freed from the attempts of the English We must now plant strong barres against the Lansquenets which come to succour the King of England A leuie of Lansquâ—nets â—or the English mâ—de fruitleâ—â—e They were lodged at Fleurines a great village in the countrâ—e of Liege 〈◊〉 leagues from Mezieres Mezieres was of great importance if the enemy had surprised it And the Emperor fearing that this great swarme of men finding his countries vnfurnished of souldiars would doe some harme had hindred their passage through his teâ—â—itories This refusall might haue made the Germaines to haue sought a passage by force through the realme So the King to crosse them sent Laâ—gey into Mezacres with a thousand foot and the horsmen of Bourgongne and part of Champagne he sent Longueuall his Lieutenant into Champagne to muster the Legion of the country manneâ— the pâ—ssages where he thought the enemie would attempt He sent the Duke of Angâ—ien into Guise with three hundred men at armes and a number of foote In the end the Lansquenets hauing staied 3. weekes at Fleurines doubtfull where they should make their passage the day of their pay being come and the money yet in England they turne their enseignes returne home the same way leading with them the King of Englands Treasurers for assurance of their entertainment Our Francis is now freed of a great care By the death of the Duke of Orleans the chiefe conditions of peace made with the Emperour were voide so to enter into new treaties his Maiestie sent from Folambray neere to Coussy the Admirall Annebault and the Chancellor Oliuier â—he Emperour was at Bruges and determined to send an armie against the Protestants and commonalties of Germanie who yeelded him no