de Foix her Cosin brother in lawe to Charles the first K. of Nauarre and left her there fearing least the Earle of Armignac who had taken from her the Earledome of Comminges should take her to wife to the end he might make himselfe a peaceable Lord and went her selfe to abide with her Vnckle the Earle of Durgel in Arragon but her daughter was married vnto Iohn Duke of Berrie widower of Ioane of Armignac dying notwithstanding without issue succeeded vnto her in the Counties of Bologne Anuergne Mary of Bologne her Cosin germane who was married to the Lord de la Tour and of Montgascon father to Bertrant de la Tour and Gabrielle wife of Lewis de Bourbon first Earle of Montpensier great Grandfather to the Duke liuing Afterwards came Magdalaine wife to Laurence of Medices ancestors to Catherine of Medices Q. Mother to the K. liuing at this present day About this time the Landgraue being come into Fraunce 1533. got of the K. a masse of mony to cōtinue the amitie which he carried vnto the Princes of Germany vpon the morgage of the Countye of Montbelliard in the name of Vlrich D. of Witemberge his Cosin by the league of Suaube expelled his Duchie giuen by the same League to the Emperour who since gaue it to Ferdinand in partage vpon condition that if he were not repaied within three yeares the County should remain vnto him he had besides other monie of his liberalitie and with that hee leuied men and recouered the Countrie and placed against his Cosin in May 1534. Afterwards paide the first monye back gratified with an ouerplus vpon this Clement 7. who at the marriage of his Niece to pleasure the K. had made Cardinals Odet de Chastillon Philip de Bologne Claude de Guiry and Iohn le Venier B. of Liseux hauing runne sundry fortunes died in the end of September 1534. Paul Ferneze succeeding him who presently made Cardinalles Alexander sonne to Pierre Louis his base sonne and Ascanio sonne of Catherine his base daughter As the doctrin of Luther profited in Germany Flanders England Italy cuntries adioyning Fraunce felt it no lesse rather it seemed to increase by the greatnes of persecutions which might be seene by the hotte persecutions in the yeare 1534. for searches and informations were no sooner made of the prisonners but they were as speedily burned quicke tyed to a stake after swinged into the ayre were let fall into the fire and so by a pullise pulled vp and downe vntill a man might see them all roasted and scorched by a small fire without complayning not able to speak by reason that they had taken out their tongue and gagged Afterwards the K. to the ende that might not be a meanes of diminishing of the Princes of the Empire their amitye towards him and to turne away the wrath of God which hee feared would fall vpon his Realme for the opinion of these people made a solemne and generall procession to be made at Paris where the relique of Saint Geneuiefe patrones of the Parisians descended which happeneth but rarely In the meane time hee excused himselfe towards the Protestant Princes by his Embassadour assuring them that he made them to be punished for their sedition not for their faith to conferre whereof hee prayed them to send some of their diuines to meete with his for as hee saide Pope Leo had himselfe heretofore tolde him that he must needes acknowledge many light ceremonies and humane traditions which were fit to be changed in time afterwards Guillaume du Bellay called de Langeay his Embassadour about them being assembled 1535. at Smalcade seeing that he could not conclude a generall alliance with them for they euer excepted the Empire and the Emperour returned without doing ought after hauing exhorted them in the Kings name not to receiue Mantoue for the place of Councell which the Pope promised nor any other place without aduise of the K. of Fraunce and England who would doe nothing the one without the other Louis 12. K. of Fraunce said he by his Embassador in time past maintained that it did not appertain to Pope Iuly to publish a councell without consent of the Emperor and christian Princes and because the K. of Nauarre was of the same opinion Iuly excommunicated him and vnder this title Ferdinande K. of Spaine seased of the Kingdome of Nauarre the K. of Fraunce is at this present of the same opinion that he can alow of no councell but in a sure place not suspitious where it may be lawfull for euery man to deliuer his minde Edward Foxe B. of Hereford Embassador for the K. of England spake much more affectionately and shewed that his maister greatly affected the same doctrine which he had already in a great part established within his Realme for which the protestant Princes humbly thanked thē praying that they would no more suffer such as were of like faith as they to be persecuted After the 12. of December 1535. by a decree made at Smalcade on Christmas euen they renewed for ten yeares their alliance which expired at the end of that yeare and deliberating among the rest of prouision and munitions it was there concluded that they would all receiue the confession of Ausbourgh and be content to runne the same race among other there were the Princes of Pomerany Vlrich of Witemberg Robert of Bauiere he of Deuxponts the Citties of Ausbourg Franckeforde Campodum Hambourg and Hanobry with many more who ioyned themselues at Franckford in April 1536. and after Guillaume de Nassaw and albeit that the Landgraue did not accord with them there in respect of their claim which was made to the signory of Hesse yet he promised that if there should be any outrage for the profession of the Gospel he would not abandon them whatsoeuer ensued theron In the end of March 1538. Christian K. of Denmarck and Iohn Marquesse of Brandebourg brother to the Elector were both receued therin Now for so much as Helde who had bene sent from the Emperour to the Germane Princes to bring them to agree to such a Councell as the Pope had assigned and therein to resolue vpon all their differentes in religion c. could gaine nothing charging them euery way if they refused so reasonable conditions of Peace hee framed a League of which he saide the Emperor King Ferdinande were the authors the associates to be the Archbishops of Mayence and of Salisbourg Guillaume Louis of Bauiere George of Saxe Eric Henry of Brunswich that it was cōcluded vpon at Noremberg vpon cōdition that if any were troubled for the ancient religion succour should be ready at hand and to endure for 12 years vnder the name of the holy League as made for the glory of God and defence of the Church Afterwards 1539. the 19. of Aprill at Francforte the peace of Germany was accorded vpon such conditions the Emperour graunteth to the confederates of the confession of
this time forwards the persecutions cōtinued in the church almost throughout all Christendome at the pursute of the Inquisitors who were annimated enough against the ill affected in the faith but more againe some perticular and simple people then persons of marke vntill the comming of Luther which then they the more augmented as they saw mens faith beleefe and charitie to diminish towards men of the Church so as the Christian faith being receiued and oppugned almoste in euerlye countrie though in some one lesse sharpely then other where great ones countenanced them out by credit force of arms and other means you may not finde it strange if the religion lesse common and more secret seeking in all times and places but occasion and meanes fit to lifte vp and spread it selfe abroade knew well how to take her time in the end 1518. to make her selfe knowne by the negligence of the Germaine Prelates and the diligence and hardines of Luther who reuiuing of these olde opinions and adding thereunto what before but by the ignorance of the simple people he thought omitted afterwards explaining the same by a well ordered deliuery and expressing it in his Sermons and wrightings through his eloquence and doctrine discouered vnto vs such a kinde of reformation as hath engendered more strange effectes then euer any man could see read or vnderstand to haue bene practised in any other place Now for that the particulars are very memorable and worthy to be left to the posteritie I am contented to fetch the narration therof from the first originall to the ende I would not leaue any thing vnto you which might staye you from the entire knowledge of so notable accidents as vpon this occasion made all christendome both admire and stand wonderfully astonied The pardons which Pope Leo published throughout the world 1517. to get mony and prouide for a warre pretended against the Turke were an occasion together with the abuses his Treasorers offred in the leuying thereof as the most learned and notable writers as well of Germany as Italy hath left that Luther first declared himselfe an enemy to the ouercharging of consciences then a Censor of Popes and ecclesiasticall abuses to reforme in the ende the more receaued doctrine in the Christian Church for first he found himselfe agreeued at the pardons next banded himselfe against the insolencies of Receiuers and hauing put in question the autoritye of the Pope which defended them he came by little and little cleane to contemne the doctrine of the Church of Rome next to reforme it and in the end vtterly to reiecte it Now as Leo say they vsed too licentiously the authoritie of the Romish Sea chiefly in such graces as the Court gaue of spirituall and beneficiall matters by the councell of Laurens Puccy Cardinall of the title of 4. Sains so hee scattered throughout without distinction of time or place his generall pardons of pleanary remission aswell for the quicke as the dead and deliuered soules out of the paines of Purgatory And because such fauours were deliuered so there were mony and that the Treasurers bought their offices at the Popes handes and that little which did come vnto his hands was spent badly enough in other affaires that hee sawe many of his Ministers sell for small price yea play away at Tauernes power to deliuer soules out of Purgatorye and that the Pope who by the meekenes of his owne nature exercised in many things his pontificall office with little enough Maiestie had at one blowe giuen vnto his sister Magdelaine the profit of such Indulgences as might be reaped in sundry Countries of Germany who deputed for her the Bishop Arebaut that executed his charge but with too much couetousnes and extortion and that Leo had permitted the King of Fraunce to vse the last payments of his own Realme as should please him vntill the warre against the Turke all sauing 50. thousand crowns which he gaue to Laurence de Medicis his Nephew Luther a Regent Doctor in diuinitie thought thē he had read seene and heard enough to despise such Indulgences and to be able to taxe therein the authoritie of the Pope but afterwards a great number of Auditors running thither to the end they might heare some noueltye to delight them the popular winde no lesse then the fauour of the Duke of Saxe one of the electors of the Empire and the greatest landed of all Germany so egged him forward that hee did not only band himself against the power of the Popes and authoritie of the Church of Rome but yeelding himselfe to the anger conceiued for the iniuries and sharpe pursuites of the Receiuers and such as spurned against him hee grew in the ende to make open warre against the doctrine of the Church The Pope as they say bestirred himselfe well in the beginning for to quench this fire but not vsing the proper remedies medicines he did but impaire so great a maladie for he cited Luther to Rome he forbad him to preach and after seeing of his disobedience he gaue him ouer to the censure of the Church neuer himselfe in all this time abstaining from many things of euill example which hauing bene with reason blamed by Luther were by his Sermons lessons and writings rendred a great deale more odious to euery man so as proceeding against him with Ecclesiasticall weapons without amending matters of euil example in his own Court at Rome and which since they were made and constrained to reforme so much the more grew the reputation of Luther among the people as they sawe him more persecuted for the innocencie of his life and pure doctrine which he preached then any thing else And albeit that many were of opinion both at Rome and elsewhere that it were lesse inconuenience to dissemble the fire of such follie which peraduenture would growe of it selfe into smoake then in kindling and blowing it through the sharpenes of such pursuites to make it encrease and growe in greater blaze then before and chiefely for that a little wealth and honor had in the beginning made him to eate his worde namely at such time as hee was banished by the Emperour at the Diet of Wormes assuring themselues to haue seene him in such a fright as if the iniurious and threatning wordes of the Cardinall S. Xixte Legat had not led him to a last dispaire hee would gladly enough haue beene reconciled to the Church and beene made to leaue his opinions So it came to passe as men are rather enclined to remedie inconueniences by vehemency and rigour then fair means and curtesie that not onely the persecutions which augmented daylye against him and his Lutheranes but also a terrible excommunication being resolued against the Duke of Saxe rendred this Prince more feruent thē euer to the defence of the cause True it is that the opinion which was helde among many Princes that the followers of this doctrine were no lesse enemies to the temporall Lordes then to the
the faith with weapons or other thinges forbidden Massacrers possessors by violence other which they are accustomed to condemn curse the Maundy Thursday before Easter in the Bull which they call In caena Domini Afterwards banished by the Emperour in a generall assemblie of the Princes of th'empire you may not doubt if he were then put into a heate to skirmish more eagerly then euer he did so as that being published throughout and otherwise pricked forward by the threates and outragious speeches of Cardinall S. Kiste and other his aduersaries and besides seeing himselfe supported as wel by Frederic Duke of Saxe his Mecenas as many other Lords gentlemen and great personages attempted a matter which neuer before he durst so much as haue dreamed of cleane to abolish the Masse by his writings which he published to that end at Witemberg First with Frederic whom by little little he gained as well by his own arguments as by the authoritie of Philip de Melancthon a professor at Witemberge Iustus Ionas and other to whom this Prince had giuen in charge to examine the consequēce of so notable a change afterwards in many places of Germany so as leauing that feare which had as it were before bound him fast with the chaines of modesty he durst then make open warre against the Pope and all other that would maintaine his doctrine by the same weapons thēselues vsed beginning to effectuate the Prophecie which he turned to himselfe of Iohn Hus Hierosme of Prague The Bohemians to witnes the great displeasure which they conceaued at those mens deaths at Constance caused peeces of mony to be coyned which they called Hussites about which were engrauen those words which he vttered at his departure After one hundred yeares ye shal answere God and me As if knowing they shuld liue no longer he would haue said that the Iudges shuld thē come before the throne of God to render an accompt of their act But Luther interpreting it to himself in his commentaries vpon Daniel taketh it for a certain prophecie that Iohn Hus should be the fore-runner of his reformation bringing in Iohn Hus as if he should say they shall roast the Goose for Hus is as much to say as a Goose in the Bohemian tongue but they shall not roast the Swan which will come after me Indeede hee was burned 1414. and the differēce moued by Luther vpon the pardons began 1517. Among the cheefest of his aduersaries which openly declared themselues Henry 8. K. of England presented himselfe who aboue all the rest disalowed his iudgement vpon the Indulgences defending the opinion and power of the Pope thence he proceeded vtterly to condemne by a book dedicated to that end all the disputation of the Sacraments of the church taking his argument to write vpon the Captiuity of Babilon caused by Luther who thereunto answered very bitterlye not sticking to declare vnto him that hee made no account of the dignitie or magnificent apparance of any person Pope Lea receaued hereat so great contentment that he gaue vnto him the title of Defendor of the faith and afterwards 1524. Clement 7. of Medices sent vnto him a Rose of golde which he had consecrated three moneths before Easter Hereupon the Emperour being embarqued to passe out of Germany into Spaine where certain seditions were stirred vp in his way visited the K. of England to whom the better to assure himselfe of him against the K. of Fraunce he promised the 13. of Iune 1522. at Windsor vpon the Thames beyond London to pay annually one hundred thirtie and three thousand crownes which the french yearlye did owe vnto the English And for a greater alliance it was agreed that in time and place the Emperour should take in marriage Mary daughter to K. Henry then of the age of seauen yeares and that if this accord helde not he should pay foure hundred thousand Crownes Luthers doctrine in the meane season dispersed throughout Germany profited in many places so farre as his Disciples in their abundance not content to goe any more to the Masse egged the people to the plucking downe of Images and cheefely Andre Carolastade for which act being misliked by the Vniuersitie of Witemberg they cōdemned this attempt shewing that it was not the way wherin they ought to proceed but before all to pull out the Images of the spirite and to teach the people that onely through faith we please God and that Images serued to no end which being beaten downe in the spirite and men well taught the corporall Images would soone fall downe of themselues not for any mislike they had to haue them cleane taken away but that it ought to be done by the hand of the Magistrate for it was not permitted to euery man to do according vnto his fancy Shortly after 1523. 1524. Zuinglius did as much at Zurich in Suizerland and many other Cantons in like time followed after In summe that a man cannot tell how lightly how secretly and in what a short space this doctrine crept into the harts and braines of many thousands of Christians especially then when euery one saw that Leo had not imployed any parte of the great masse of monie come of his pardons against the Turke who in the meane time had ruyned Hungarie attempted vpon Bohemia taken Rhodes and done a thousand mischiefes against the Christians albeit that the Pope the Emperour the Ecclesiasticall Princes and others had flung all the stones they could to the contrarye euen causing the Edict and decree of Wormes to be obserued against Luther and his doctrine the which was notwithstanding hindred as well by the reformed Princes and their partakers as by the writings and ancient arguments of Luther and his companions so as there is no maruell if the people and aboue all the comminalty of townes not finding their passions staied by any lawes or pollitique ordinances licenced themselues to growe more wilfull in their impressions then euer Leo being departed whose Father was Laurence and Cosme his Grandfather who had enobled and exalted the familie of Medices Adrian the 6. of Vtrech in Holland succeeded him 1521. as well in the dignitie as hate and bitter pursuite against Luther and the Churchmen seeing the protection which many Princes gained by little and little thorough his doctrine gaue to Luther least any should attempt against his person turning the effect of their hatred vpon his disciplines gaue a beginning to most cruell and continuall persecutions of the euill affected towards the faith Now as the seede of this reformation was taken out of the conuent of Augustines so did they make seene the first treates of their bitter punishments vpon Iohn and Henry Augustine Friers of Brusselles who after many disputations with Iaques Hocstrat the Inquisitor a Iacobin hauing bene deposed of the priestly order disgraded of the lesser orders clad with laye and prophane habites after deliuered vp to the secular Iustice were burned
them away parting themselues in sundrye companies within the Vallyes within S. Michel there were already the Ensignes of Captain La Prade and of La Mothe Gondrin on hundred lighthorse of captaine Pelous and one hundred Harquebusiers of Captain Lauenture and Bourdillon with his company who a little before was returned from that place whether the D. Aumalle had written vnto him As soone as the D. of Neuers was arriued at S. Michel there was a road made by his companie with certaine light horse and Harquebusiers on horseback vnder the charge of Mouy guidon of his company a valiant and resolute gentleman as farre as Malatour a little towne strong inough neere vnto Gorges and in other great villages which couered a valley strong inough full of hollowe woodes and daungerous places which they of the Countrie called La Veur into which certaine souldiers were retyred as well Spanish as Germanes of the imperiall auantgard Some were slaine and the rest carried awaie prisoners This misfortune fel vpon those as returned from the castle of Aspremont thinking to haue taken the Earle there in his bed to whom it happened so well as at that instant he was at Saint Michael neere vnto the Duke of Neuers For in stead of thinking to take they were taken carried awaie with some bootie Such roads there and abouts were continued by the Duke of Neuers for the space of three weekes himselfe beeing there sometimes in person which so sore annoied and troubled his enimies as they were inforced to forget the waie of that quarter Yea by reason of these continuall alarums the imperiall armie was oftentimes constrayned to remaine halfe a daie in battell with great trauell coldes and other necessities But if they endured much the French men were not cleane exempted because that oftenest times they were faine to mount on horsebacke at midnight induring so sharpe frosts and colde as some of them haue euer since had diuerse of theyr members benummed and other dead lost by the paine and insupportable torments which they indured hauing continually the snowe vp to their horse bellies in such equipage passed they the daie and night without food after in the daie time when they thought to repose themselues and take a litle breath in theyr lodging they were faine to keepe the watch for feare of surprisall so as as well to keepe themselues as to annoie and plague the imperials they endured theyr parte of the discommoditie of the time but much lesse as they wel witnessed which had abandoned thē the Italians aboue all who dayly went threedmeale from the Emperours campe to beseech the Duke of Neuers to receiue them into the Kings seruice who moued with pittie seeing some dead and halfe passing other hunger starued without monie vsed all liberalitie possible towardes them and caused monie to bee giuen them out of his owne coffers attending the kings paie Afterwardes he sent them to Captaine Andre de May More a man of approued hardinesse to dresse of them companies as well of foote as light cauallerie By them other spials the French were aduertised of the most great diligence and wonderful preparatiues which the Duke of Alua had made to addresse his batterie the great plaines the trenches so ample large and deepe as hath bin seene of long time the great number of artillerie and munitions the almost innumerable quantitie of baskets which hee caused continually without anie rest to bee made and filled making no account of the life of those miserable vascadors no more than of bruite beasts exposed to the mercie of the artillerie and counterbatterie of the towne They reported lykewise the great harmes and annoiances that they within did incessantly vnto them theyr resolute sallies so furious in such sort as some thought them rather ghosts and deuillish spirites than mortall creatures And others reporting how the conduct of the most part of theyr sallies was happily executed attributed all to a rashnesse and bolde hardinesse more than to wisedome or anie discreete foresight of the inconueniences lyke to happen in such sorte as one Sergeant of a band accompanyed with fiue or sixe souldiers onely with his halbard chased awaie and constrained to abandon the trenches more than three hundred men Some other in like sort durst goe and naile theyr artillerie and kill their canoniers vpon theyr peeces The which the enemies notwithstanding woulde not repute as a fact worthie either of them nor of a valyant and magnanimious heart Besides that twice or thrice a daie the cauallerie issued forth putting the imperials often inough in such disorder as some of the most hardiest Gentlemen which woulde doo anie act worthie of memorie or for the remembrance or loue of their mistresses would goe breake theyr lances and strike with theyr swoords euen within the enemies tents so farre as to cut their ropes asunder executing strange things and not heard of in our memorie Now if the French by such feates were desirous to shew themselues loyall subiectes to their king and curious of honour the Duke of Alua reposed not lesse of his part who shewed himselfe so desirous and inflamed to render into the obedience of his maister the Emperour that puisant Citie to reioyce him with the taking of so many princes great Lordes and valyant men as were there within that not sparing anie labor nor the liues of his he planted his batterie readie the twentith of Nouember beginning to shoote at the defences to wit at that of the portall of the port Champenois and of a bulwarke which is within a great tower the which is towardes the riuer called La Tour D'Enfen and surnamed La Tour de Lanques at a little Church being within the town where there was a platform in summe they razed and ruined as much as they could whatsoeuer might serue as they iudged to the defence of the towne The six twentith he began to cannon it with such an impetuositie as in the memory of anie liuing man was neuer heard the like hauing in front fortie great peeces which carrying bullets of an extraordinarie waight shot daie and night without anie intermission other than to refresh themselues In the mean time the besieged slept not but with the princes and great Lordes and generally euen to the verie least they carryed earth panniers to rampire in such diligence and carefulnesse as at any place where they imagined the breach should be made in lesse than twice foure and twentie houres they made vp the rampire the height of a perapect leauing betweene the old wall and the rampire conuenient flankers a trench farced with diuerse drogs to feast the most hotly disposed if they meant to goe to the assalt Attending which I will looke back againe into the exploits of the French armie As soone as de Reux with the Flanders armie which as yet remained about Hedin perceiued the French to approach without anie countenaunce at all made to be willing
you to thinke what good husbandrie there was made The Comissarie was founde there hidde in the bedstrawe and wyth these marchants was carryed prisoner to Thoul the victuals and prouisions dispearsed and spoyled as much as they coulde They did as much at Espinau a castle scituate vpon Mozelle and Rimiremont where great violence was offered to the Abbesse and Ladies especially by the Italians which were newly come from the Emperous campe to the Kings seruice The Duke of Neuers had sent Chastellus Lieutenant of Bordillons companie towardes Metz with like number of Cauallerie to learne out and make a certaine report of the truth of this retrait Who passing by the Pont Camouson founde that the Count of Aiguemont with his regiment of Cauallerie was departed thence where was onely remayning a great number of miserable sicke creatures From whence he passed as farre as Metz where hee found that the Dukes of Alua and Brabanson with the greatest part of the imperiall armie were dislodged in straunge disorder departing in the night with two fires onely for signall the most secretly that they could without anie noise trumpets fifes and drums sleeping the tents lefte behind and great quantitie of all sorts of harnesse and weapons pipes full of cannon pouder with an infinite deale of moueables and stuffe and vnder the ground a great part of theyr artillerie remaining for hostages an incredible multitude of sicke persons towards whom the Duke of Guise and the rest of the chiefe euen to the simplest French souldiers vsed most great charitie furnishing them with all necessaries and such releefe as poore sick strangers had need of Vpon the tayle charged the Vidasme of Charstres so as hauing defeated a companie of light horse and caused a great deale of theyr pouder which hee had taken awaie in theyr sight to be burned hee returned wyth more prisoners than he was willing wythout the losse of anie one of his owne The Marques Albert remayned the last to serue for helpe and arreregard not without great paine and hazard thorough the continuall alarums which daie and night hee receyued Besides that he prayed the Duke of Neuers to hasten him to go so as the third of Ianuarie he departed from Thoul with his men at armes and cauallerie and three Ensignes of fanterie accompanied with Bordillon and sundrie other Gentlemen and Captaines After he went to dine at Pont Camouson where the rest of that daie he tarryed to heare newes of the Marshall of Saint Andre who was gone the lower waie hauing in lyke sort sent Mouie to the Duke of Guise praying him to aduertise him of the resolution of that affayre whose aunswere hee attended But Chastellus being returned and by him assured of the whole especially how the Marques sought all meanes to saue himselfe and retire hee went forwards towardes Metz with two hundred horse The rest of that daie the Princes tooke great pleasure to see the braue sallies and skirmishes of theyr souldiers Vpon the Marques his Germanes whom they went to seeke out in their owne forte and giue them thrusts of pikes and harquebuze shot euen within theyr tents to prouoke them to come out into the plaine to fight which they woulde not doo but by constraint keeping still close together and vnited wythout breaking or seuering themselues In this estate and paine were they constrained to tarrie from morning vntill night not once daring to inlarge themselues so much as to seeke out victuals For as soone as they were found in anie small number by and by by the Marangetz and Fouillardz villaines of the Countrie they had theyr throates cut and were defeated Wherewith being the more annoyed they ought rather to come out as the French desired considering that they coulde not inforce them but with greate losse Therefore to the end they might the more vexe them the Duke caused foure meane Culuerines to bee placed in a lyttle Ilande aboue Pont au Mores which shot euen within them In summe they dyd so sore annoye them as two dayes after the Marques hauing lost the better parte of his men departed thence in a farre lesse number than hee came with taking his waie towards Treuues Hee was a little followed after and they made a good market wyth his people being combatted inough wyth colde famine and other miseries But the French moued with pittie made no account thereof but in stead of tormenting them they opened vnto them the passage and suffered the members to go scotfree wishing onely that they might haue gotten the head to haue paid for all The Duke of Guise aduertised the King by Randan of all the successe of his siege who after hauing yeelded thankes vnto God for so good an issue commaunded that they should make publyke and general processions throughout his Realme to praise and thanke God of so great and especiall a grace for all France The Duke of Guise dyd the lyke at Metz wyth a generall procession where he himselfe was present with all humilitie and deuotion as also dyd the rest of the Princes and Lordes which accompanyed him to wit the Princes of D'anguien de Conde Montpensier la Roche Suryon de Nemours Horace Farneze Pierre Strossie le Vidasme de Chartres Montmorencie D'anuille de Gonor gouernour of Metz De la Brosse Lieutenant of the Duke of Lorraines companie and De la Rochefoucaut the Vizecount of Turaine and De Martiques D'elangues Entragues De Biron and Saint Remy and generally all the Captaines Gentlemen and souldyers which remayned after the siege Afterwardes hauing ordered the garrison which should remaine there within and disposed of all the rest of the affaires the musters being taken as wel of the men at armes as the fanterie he gaue leaue to all to go repose and refresh themselues in their owne houses and he himselfe went to the Court leauing De Gonnor to command in his place During the time that the Emperour patiently carryed the misfortune happened vnto him vnder a hope of a more fauourable to come and as hee retired to the Low Countries hee excused himselfe towardes the Princes and Cities of the Empire of so pittifull successe laying it vpon the slacknes of theyr forces and meanes For which cause sayde hee hee was inforced to set vpon that place in the dead of winter The King of France triumphed ouer his miseries and increasing them by his Letters and Embassages to all Christian Princes the more to diminish the authoritie and credite of his enemie whose power hee sayde was altogether broken by the issue of so miserable a siege passed the most parte of the times for reuenge of so great raines and sicknes as had beene indured by the continuance of the warres passed in ease and reioycings which hee tooke in feastings tiltings turney and other royall pleasures among which the marriage made at Paris wyth rare magnificence betweene Horace Farneze Duke of Castres and the Ladie Diana his natural daughter was most famous But
all the charges of the Empire beseeching him to reconcile the Princes one to another in which the staye and encrease of the Empire wholly consisted the true and nearest cause of the ruyne thereof proceeding from diuision Then that hee woulde yeelde all ayde to his Sonne Philip as a neyghbour to such an enemye as the King of Fraunce was In the ende beeyng determyned to departe hee was stayed thourough the vyolence of his diseases contratyeties of windes long staye in the preparation of his Shippes and thourough a difference fallen out in some of the townes which would by no meanes receyue his sonne the father liuing and other which woulde haue his nephewe Ferdinande seconde sonne to the King of Romanes for their gouernour Ioint the male contentment of a number of Lordes and other who hauing employed all their meanes and often times their life in his seruice vnder a hope of great recompence sawe themselues by this his dimission and departure into Spaine frustrated of all their hope which they coulde not hope for at his sonnes handes who as ordinarily newe Kinges affecte newe seruauntes woulde employe his meanes but to the aduauncement of his fauourites or in recompencing their paines and seruice towardes him of whome himselfe had beene an eye witnesse About the ende of Nouember Ferdinande King of Romanes hauing assembled together the greatest parte of his men of warre wente downe the Danube as farre as Vienne to make head against the Turke who made great preparation for his descente into Hungarie to besiege agayne Vienne in Austria as I will shewe you To open vnto you the affayres and chaunges of the Realme of Englande in fewe woordes Henry the eyghte discontented in that he had no other heyre but Mary borne of Katherine aunte vnto the Emperour whome his brother Arthur had marryed at the age of foureteene yeeres and lefte her a Virgine by the aduice of the Cardinall of Yorke and many dyuines as well Frenche as Almaines and English diuorced her and hauing in full assemblie declared his daughter Marye illegitimate marryed Anne Bullen one of his wifes maydes the which Pope Clemente the seuenth so hardly coulde digest as that he condemned this diuorce as vniust and of euill example especially for that Anne was a Lutherane and he feared least the King and all his Realme woulde confourme them selues to the like religion Whereat Henrye tooke such disdayne as hee declared himselfe head of the Church thorough out all Englande with forbidding any to aduowe the Pope for head or to transporte any money to Rome or paye Peterpence a reuennewe which euerye house yearely payde according to the ordynaunce of Inas in the yeere seuen hundred and fourtie Whereupon there ensued a great alteration of Religion thorough out the whole Realme so confirmed by Edwarde his sonne as that the catholique was cleane banished out of Englande at the least in publique which caused many Englishe men to flye the Realme to seeke in some other Countrey a place of more free conscience Seeyng that the Dukes of Sommerset and Northumberlande gouerned the roaste in the yeere 1553. Notwithstanding as after the death of the Duke of Sommerset the Duke of Northumberlande seeyng howe the King was fallen sicke of a Fluxe which fell into his stomache from the moneth of Februarie had marryed his sonne Guilforde to â—anâ— daughter to the Duke of Suffolke and cousin vnto the sicke King hee wrought so much as that the young King reiecting his sisters Marye and Elizabeth declared for his heyre and Inherittice vnto the Crowne of Englande this Iane of Suffolke to the ende that by this meanes hee mought traunsferre the Royalle into his owne House and disinherite the true Heyres of their righte and legitimate Succession This Marriage and Testamentarie declaration beeyng done in the moneth of May gaue occasion to a number to thinke that this young King whome they helde for the piller of men of knowledge and gaue great hope of future vertue was poysoned and that beeing assured of the time of his death they had caused him to doe whatsoeuer they woulde haue him well were it of poyson or of a Caterre so it is that Edwarde the sixte of that name and the one and fourtie K. of England dyed the sixt day of Iuly the seuenth yeere of his Raigne and the sixteenth of his age solemly entered at Westminster not without the teares of his subiects who saide that his death was presaged by a Comet which appeared a little before his departure and by the great stormes windes tempests and thunders which had that yeere tormented London the chiefe Cittie of the Realme as the witnesses of such troubles as shortly after ensued in England for the people hating in secrete this Duke of Northumberland held for suspected the testament of King Edward as a thing made too much to the aduantage of the Duke and many Lords of the Countrie terming him too ambitious wrote vnto Mary the eldest daughter of K. Henrie the eight encouraging her to declare her selfe Queene and offring vnto her all dutie and seruice Marye who had no great meanes durst not so soone come to London to the ende that according to the custome she might remaine ten daies in the Tower before her Coronation but went into the Countrie and Dukedome of Norfolke bordering on the Sea coast from whence shee wrote to sundrie Princes and Lords of the Countrie complayning how that Iane of Suffolk had enterprised against her and that Edward was not able to dispose of the Crowne which appertained vnto her being the next daughter vnto the late Kinge Henrie she laide before them the wrong which had beene done vnto Katherine her mother and next vnto her selfe and that none of King Henrie his children were to succeede before her protesting that shee would pursue her right by the sworde and not suffer the Duke of Northumberland to vaunt how he would dispose at his pleasure of the Realme of England These letters being brought to London at the selfe same time as Iane of Suffolke against her will was proclaimed Queene within the Tower of London caused a great chaunge of dispositions among the Lordes there present and a strange alienating of their mindes touching the case of Iane whome sundrie from thence foorth left to take Maries parte The which caused the Duke of Northumberland to send certaine troupes of men at armes into the Countrie of Norfolke thinking thereby to hinder her desseins But in the meane time shee was proclaimed Queene in Suffolke by the principall personages of the land So as hauing recouered some succours from the Emperour on the coast of Flaunders albeit that the Duke had strongly armed vppon the Seas to hinder their comming shee practised with a number of the cheefe of the Duke his armie which in the ende incorporated themselues to hers In the meane time Northumberland to playe on the surer side woulde needes haue the Duke of Suffolke Father to Iane to goe as her Lieutennant
generall against Marye for hee durst not leaue London fearing least the Londiners woulde reuoulte But the Duke of Suffolke refusing to take this charge vpon him he was constrained to goe him selfe the other remayning to serue to giue counsell to his daughter within the Tower of London The mishappe notwithstanding of this poore Lord was such as of a great number of men which hee had in his trayne hee saw himselfe as it were euen in a moment left cleane destitute of them all And as one mishappe neuer commeth alone hauing for want of men sent to London for souldiours from thence to come to his succours and for some Lordes which might serue for hostages and warrant of his lyfe they were no sooner without the Cittie but they declared themselues for Marye Whereof it ensued that the Duke who hoped to see his Sonne Kinge of England sawe himselfe left of euery manne and deliuered into the handes of Marye his enemye afterwardes conueyed to London where his tryall beeing made hee then was condemned to loose his head the iudgement being executed in the moneth of September and Marie being proclaimed Queene at London by the Lords and coūcellors of the whole Realme of England as the lawfull heire apparant therevnto and in the end the miserable princesse Iane of Suffolke with her husband sonne vnto the D. of Northumberland had their heads stroken off at London for that shee would not release as some said the right which shee pretended to the Crowne Thus ceased the trouble on that side within the Realme of England Marie being thus receiued for Queene in England they propounded vnto her certaine points to effectuate as to reestablish the auncient Chatholique Religion the goods of the Church into their former estate then that it would please her to marie with some Prince worthie of her and her Realme thereby to draw a succour vnto the Crowne Whereupon to the end that better and more ready order might bee giuen vnto the first shee was counceled to send for her coussen Raynolde Pole then a Fugitiue at Rome for Religion who comming as Legate and with full power from the Pope might better aduance such a matter then any other within the Realme Pole being sent for and forward on his way with such authoritie as was required was entreated by the Emperour Charles the fift to visit him as he passed by at Bruxelles wher he so cunningly handled any Englishman as he promised him that he would further the marriage betweene his Cossin the Queene of England and his sonne Philippe Prince of Spaine which tooke such effect as you haue seene touching the seconde point which could not be so soone brought to passe The Legate being receiued with great deuotion and magnificence into his Country was in full assembly of the three estates of the Realme begon the 12. of Nouember 1554. restored vnto all his dignities goods and honours whereof he had beene depriued by K. Henrie the eight Afterwards vpon Wensday the twentie eight of that moneth the Parliament of England being assembled and in the presence of the King and Queene hee exposed his Legation and exhorted them to returne to the holy Sea of the Pope deliuering vnto them how greatly bound they were vnto almightie God who now had enlarged towards them his diuine grace hauing bestowed vppon them two such Princes as they had further he shewed vnto them how the holy Father ment to vse his benignitie and accustomed clemencye by him his Legate greatly thanking them for that they had receiued him into his Countrie and restored him in bloud where in hee had beene so long attaint and how in respect thereof hee helde himselfe the more bound to procure that they might be restored into the heauenly Court as his principall desire was That done he retyred to giue the better cōmoditie vnto the Lordes of the Parliament to resolue themselues And straight waies the Chancellour repeating the words of the Cardinall shewed vnto them how much they were to thanke God who had raysed vp such a Prophet of their owne seede to procure their saluation In such wise as al with a common accorde concluded to consent to the vnion and obedience of the Church of Rome So as on the next morrow it was ordayned that the Cardinals motion shoulde be accorded and to present with a common consent a petition to beseech their Maiesties as the head of the realme to entreate the Legate to procure an absolute remission of all their errors passed Promising to repeale all the lawes which had beene in former times established against the authoritie of the Sea of Rome The King sent the petition to the Legate and the daye after the Parliament reassembled in the place where the Kinge and Queene with the Cardinall were set There the Chauncellour rose vpp and with such greate reuerence deliuered alowde the resolution which had beene made by the Lordes of the Parliament beseeching in the name of them all that their petition might bee accepted which was written in Latine formed and sealed by the Chancelour The petition being opened by the Legate was deliuered vnto the Chancelour to publish who read it with a lowde voice and that done put it to the question which they all passed and vpon that the King and Queene arose and presented the petition vnto the Legate who read the same Afterwards hee gaue vnto them the Buls of his Legation to reade where by might appeare the authoritie which hee had from the holy Father to be able to absolue them that done he made vnto the man Oration in English shewing how much repentance was agreeable vnto God and how the Angels in Paradise make more ioye of a sinner which returneth to repentance then of nintie and nine iust And thereupon applied certaine examples out of the word to his purpose Then hauing ended his speech he arose vp and the King and Queene kneeled downe on both knees before him inuoking God and the Saints that it would please him to pardon the penitent people in the authoritie of him whose person he there represented all the faults which they had committed in times passed that done the Legate pronounced a generall absolution Afterwardes they all followed the King Queene and Legate to the Chappell where was song Te Deum And after that the Cardinall had made his triumphant entries he restored on the first Sunday in Aduent to the Bishoppes and other Ecclesiasticall persons all the power authoritie and prerogatiue which had beene taken from them On which day the Bishoppe of Winchester hauing beene before times of the Protestant Religion made a Sermon after a solemne Masse taking for his theame Nunc tempus est de somno surgere that is to say it is now time to awake out of sleepe as if he woulde saie that vnder the Raigne of Edward King of England he had alwaies beene asleepe The Queene had in the beginning sent Embassadours to Rome with commission to kisse the feete of his
a peace with the Spaniarde Who in the meane time determined to plant agayne the siege before Rome not that hee was in anie hope to take it but onely to inforce the Pope to a peace which hee knew was greatly desired by the Catholike king But the Duke of Guise vnderstanding this desseine and the effects thereof fayled not to approach vnto Tiuoli a place scituated vppon the Teueron to front the enemie and to inforce him to leauie his siege The which was the cause that by all the meanes they possiblie coulde they hastned the treatie of the peace sought by the Venetians and the Duke of Florence The Pope sending on the eight of September in his name the Cardinalles Carlo Caraffe Saint Fior and Vitolloce with some Romane Lordes towardes the Duke of Alua who as then laie at Canie a place scituate in the Romane Countrie neere to Pilastrine to conferre of the whole Betweene whome it was concluded and agreed that the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe woulde resolue thereof together at Benessan which is not farre from them hauing each of them ample power and commission from theyr master to determine and conclude of all thinges according as the Popes Letters carryed for the Cardinall Caraffe dated the eighth daie of September 1557. at Rome and king Phillips for Don Ferdinande Aluarez de Toledo Duke of Alua dated the fiue and twenteeth of Iuly In summe the peace was concluded betweene the Pope and the Spaniard and such were the Articles That the Duke of Alua dooing all kinde of obeysances due and submissions in the name of the king of Spaine his master should beseech pardon of the Popes holynesse That hee shoulde receiue him as his good and obedient sonne participating vnto him such graces as were common to other That king Phillip shoulde doo the lyke by an Embassadour expresly sent from him to Rome That the Pope as a mercifull and debonarie Father shoulde receiue the Catholique king as his sonne and giue vnto him all such graces as hee was wont to doo and accorde to other Christian kings That his holynesse shoulde renounce the league with the French king and declare himselfe a father to the one and the other of both the kinges wythout anie one more than the other That the Catholique King shoulde render vp all the townes places castles and fortresses beeing of the domaine of the Church which had bene taken since the ouerture of this warre Hee shoulde make bee builded agayne and repayred all such as had beene ruined and dismembred by the Spaniardes That all the artillerie taken on the one side or the other in what sorte so euer shoulde bee restored againe into the handes of his auncient possessour That they shoulde forget all such executions as had ben done by iustice during this warre were it by death or bannishment and all confiscations of what persons whatsoeuer wythout anie mannes researching after into them As also all such as thorough this dissention were driuen out of theyr landes goods and dignities shoulde bee restored into theyr good renowme goods honours states and dignities right actions and Seignouries Prouided that they had lost these thinges by meanes of this warre to the ende this peace might not bee auaileable to Marke Anthonie Colone nor to Ascaigne de la Corne but that they shoulde remayne outlawed at the will and discretion of the holy Father That the Dutchie of Palliane should bee put in such estate as it was then by the consent and good liking of both partyes into the hands of Iean Barnardin Carbon which was the sequestrer who should sweare to the Pope and the Catholique King to keepe faith to both parties and obserue the articles and agreements made and accorded betweene the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe Which Carbon was to haue the keeping of the Towne of Palliane hauing vnder him eight hundred souldyers payed by the Pope and the Catholique king These Articles were sworne to in the name of the sayde Princes the Pope and king Phillip by the Cardinall Caraffe and the Duke of Alua according to the Commission and faculties giuen vnto them swearing by the soules of theyr Princes to obserue all the whole without fraude cauelling or anie exception whatsoeuer adding a truce for a certayne time contayning pasport and safeconduct to the Duke of Guise and to all the Captaines and souldyers of the king of France to departe out of Italie and the Countries appertayning vnto king Phillip as well by sea as by land Afterwardes they signed and sealed the whole in the presence of the Cardinals of S. Flour and Vitelle who lykewise signed the present Treatise And forsomuch as it was not set downe therein to whome Palian shoulde appertaine since that the sequestrer kept it in the name of both the princes contracting there were secrete articles agreed vpon between the Cardinal Caraffe and the Duke of Alua. In which it was contained how that it should remaine at the will and discretion of the catholike king either to ruine or leaue that place in her entire without being lawful for him to repair or fortifie it vntill the sayd Lord King had giuen some place of like value and reuenew to the Popes sonne for recompence And anie difference falling out vppon that exchange the Senate of Venice shoulde giue iudgement thereof wythout either the one or the other parties refusing to obey what shuld be ordayned by that Seignorie And the recompence beeing once made by king Phillip hee might then bestowe the place of Palian vppon whom it liked him best sauing anie such as were an enemie to the Church of Rome And that he which should haue Palian in sequestration should bee bound to depart so soone as the place were dismembred Such was the issue of the affayres of Italie and of the armie which the King sent for the Popes succour the which was followed with a strange ouerflowing inundation of Tiber as I will cause you to see elsewhere Now that each partie had of a long time turned his desseignes to the warre couered notwithstanding by the conclusion of this truce yet had the Spanish Councell much better and from longer hande prouided for the preparatiues and inconueniences thereof For Phillip put as soone an armie agaynst that of Italie by which he drew out of the realme the flower of the nobilitie and the most renowmed Captaines and souldiers which were there the most accomplished and best furnished with all necessaries of anie that had beene seene of long time To the end hee would not faile to set forward his first fortune which he meant to proue in the view of all the potentates of Europe especially of the French in whome hee meant to ingraue by the beginning of his enterprises such a dread of his forces means as that for euer after they should bee more stayed and lesse stirring against him than they had beene against anie of his ancestors Henrie on the contrarie as the
that they hasted forwardes the Swizers and Almaines the Frenche Fanterie and Cauallerie to furnishe out the Rende-vous so as within fiueteene dayes they mought make vp the fourme of an Armie yet euen in the very beginning of September it yeelded vp The which was founde very straunge considering that the place was strong and well prouided of all that was necessarie to a Frontire at the least it was looked for that they shoulde haue tarryed the Assaulte An occasion that the King caused him to be clapped vp Prisoner as soone as hee was come to Paris But hee was set at libertie declaring howe hee had beene disappoynted of such necessarie Succoures as hee required of two thousand men in such sorte as D'Estre the Gouernour in former time had vpon any Siege Besides that the enemies hauing founde the Castle without any ditche on that side where they beganne their principall Batterie and a Bastion fallen downe not yet repayred vp in such sorte behaued themselues as that the ordinarie souldiers of the Guarde of that Bastion were soone constrained to abandon it thorough the great quantitie of Bricke and mould which endamaged them and ordinarily fell vpon them the Batterie beeing so violent and furious as in a small space it made a waye for a horse to be able to get vp vpon the Bastion the waye lying all open to come from thence to the breache which albeit it was not altogether sufficient waxed wyder within two volleyes of the Cannon and enlarged it selfe sixe score pace or more the Wall alreadye bowyng and yeelding of the same length and the earth opening a pace in breadth and in deapth the length of a pike Which the Souldiers once perceyuing who were not in the whole nomber three hundred nor halfe of them in health and strength they were so astonished and despayred that notwithstanding any perswasions which the Captaynes coulde vse many stucke not to saye they woulde not fight at all not knowing howe they were able to doe the King any Seruice therein and therefore they thought it better to reserue themselues for some matter of greater importaunce Howesoeuer it was whether grounded or no vpon the feare which they conceaued the Frenche were in least that the Imperialles woulde pursue further their good fortune and duetie against such an inconuenience King Philip to whome the besiegers of the Castelet came to vnite themselues at Fon-Some attended their aunswere of his aduertisement from the Emperour his Father to congratulate with him his prosperitie beseeching him further to commaunde and ordayne what next hee was to enterprise But as a blade rusteth if it be let lie continually within the sheathe so the souldier which is not employed doeth lightly abuse his rest For the Almaines and Spanyardes quickely mutined among themselues for the bootie of Saint Quentins and raunsome of the prisoners which were taken the day of the Battaile some alleadging among other occasions howe that King Philip and the Duke of Sanoye sought to retyane all the great prisoners which exceeded a certayne summe of purpose to pulle them out of the handes of the Almaine Lordes who without all doubte atchieued the greatest honour of the Battayle so farre forth as they were all readie to departe the rather for that the time of their oath was now expired An occasiō the french did turne the matter to their owne aduantage withdrawing out of that nation as many malcontents as they could finde vpon any occasion whatsoeuer Hereupon the Spaniarde addressed himselfe to Han to erect a stronge place vpon the frontiere which might serue for a succour and support to S. Quentins the which hee determined to make impregnable according vnto such models as the enioyners had prescribed vnto him thereby to establish from his lowe countries easie daies iourneyes of retreat when he would either goe in or come out of Fraunce as it shoulde seeme best vnto him Now as vpon new occurrents alwaies proceed new determinations the D. of Neuers being constrained to chaunge the estate and imagination of his defensiue retired his men of warre from sundry garrisons which he had into such places as were neerest vnto Han to the ende that the imperials shoulde not inlarge themselues into any greater a compasse likewise to the ende they might alwaies wast the country before them and famish them by cutting of their victuailes on all sides the french had deuised to make a remouing Campe which for this effect they might enclose and assure with trenches Palissades and other Romane inuentions but the longe delay of their prouisions and soddanes and their enemies cleane broke of this determination The Cheualier Hely with a number of horse entred within the place to succour it running ouer as many enemies as durst stoppe the passages of Han which hee found open without any thinge to commaande it beinge flankerde on the one side with the Riuer of Some and on the other with a Marish being in diuers places aboue one hundred thousande paces broade hauing very little firme or drie grounde to bee able to set foote vpon There is a village and a Castle the village in the state which it was then in was not able to holde out in any kinde of sorte and albeit that there were certaine foundations and fashions of bulwarkes yet they were so open and euill to bee defended as that there was no account at all to bee made thereof The Castle was of a goodly shewe and represented it selfe furious enough according to the olde fortifications beeing in forme square flankerde with fower rounde bulwarkes with a grosse square towre and massiue of a large thicknes seruing for a platforme to the Courtines which were ioyned vnto it and commaundinge in all and through all the Castle But the whole was of drye stones and Masons worke without any rampiers of earth or other fortifications according to the moderne inuentions to sustaine defend a place long time against the blusterousnes and furie of our Cannons Notwithstanding that the way might not bee altogether open and free to the Spaniarde to enter further in if he found not a stoppe Sepois which was Gouernour had giuen the Kinge aduise to burne the towne in case seege were laide vnto it whereby the enemie might haue no place to lodge in But as for the Castle men might holde and keepe it for a fewe dayes whilest that they shoulde bee the better able to fortefie themselues for it was easie to iudge that hauing taken Han hee woulde neuer ende there but passe on further where he might cast himselfe nowe on the right hande and nowe on the lefte and so daylie addresse himselfe to such places as were weake and likely in a shorte time to be caried to the ende he might not lose and euill employ the season which serued so fitte and proper for him I haue let you to vnderstande how that to bee meete with the inconueniences of the battell of Saynte Quentins among other preparatiues the Kinge had sent vnto
the Duke of Guise that after that hee had to his best aduauntage accorded with the Pope and the Spaniardes hee shoulde bringe awaye the Armye into Fraunce with as much speede as were possible This Prince sodenlie let the Pope to vnderstand thereof and made him priuie of the necessity which called him backe into Fraunce and how his Princes affayres went Beinge the cause which made him to beseech his holines to license him and permit him to retyre after such time notwithstanding as he had compounded to his owne profit the estate of his affaires The Pope then being alredy desirous to ende this warre from which hee knewe that on the other side to bee proceeded as hee sawe it euidently and doubted least it woulde take ende with the ruine of one of these Princes and finally with his owne together with a confusion of the Ecclesiasticall estate and infinitnes of other mischeefes purposed more then before to bee agreed with Kinge Philip which wrought that ende whereof I before made mention So as the peace beinge concluded and published with all magnificence on Sonday being the 19. of that moneth the Duke of Alua entred into Rome about one of the clocke in the after noone with great apparances of ioy aswell by the salutations of the artillarie as an infinite number of squibs and other merimentes which they are accustomed to make especially in those parts at the welcome and amiable entertainement of any great Prince The Monday following they helde Consistorie where there were chosen deputed two Legates to intreate of an vniuersall peace The one which was the Cardinall of Tiuoli towardes the most Christian Kinge of France and the other which was the Cardinall Carlo Caraffe towardes the Catholique King Philip. The Duke of Guise in the meane space departed out of Italie to take his way into Fraunce and to imbarke himselfe at Ostia in the gallies french vessels which attended him with a sorte of Lordes Captaines and two thousande harquebusiers the other parte of the Armye vnder the conducte of the Duke D' Aumalle returned through the Popes lands towardes Bologne and Ferrara and so from thence they passed all for the most parte through the Grisons and Zuizers into Fraunce where the Duke of Guise beinge arriued was sodenly sent for to addresse an armie at Compienne At which place the Kinge being anone after arriued declared all such as were then in Courte beeing present howe that the Duke of Guise was come iumpe for the preseruation of his Realme and it was proposed to treate him Viceroy of Fraunce But this title beinge thought strange it was commaunded that letters shoulde bee dispatched to make him Lieuetenante Generall ouer all the Countries within his obedience The which were dispatched by Du Thier secretarie of the Commaundementes and afterwardes receyued and verified by the Parlamente of Paris and other soueraigne Courtes of the Realme whereof notwithstanding shortely after the Kinge excused himselfe towardes his Goship so he named the Constable sendinge him worde by secreate Letters that hee was constrained to doe as hee did and that hee shoulde not bee greeued for ought in that hee still reserued his place for him for he was so farre off from hauing the frendshippe which hee boare vnto him any wayes cooled through his absence and captiuitie that contrariwise it inflamed him the more so farre as that hee most diligently aduertysed him of all his secretest affayres without communicating ought gently aduertysed him of all his secretest affayres without communicating ought to any other Whereof Kinge Philip being aduertysed knew well enough how to make his profit as you shall see else where In this same tyme there happened in like sorte straunge floudes and inundations of Riuers at Rome and likewise at Florence That at Rome fell out the same day of the peace beeing the fourteenth of September Tiber one of the most renowned Riuers of Europe which some notwithstandinge number amonge the swift snowie streames being greatly swelled as though it woulde threaten Rome with great ruines encreasinge howrely for the night followinge it began to inlarge it selfe ouer all the lowe groundes of the medowes and vineyardes rounde about The next day it being encreased and broken in throughout the towne all the channels and gutters of the streetes and houses standing full the depth thereof was found in some places of the towne of the height of a man and more in the place D'Agone A la Roconde and A la Doanâ— So farre was this meruelous and dreadfull inundation from giuing leasure to the people to reioyce at this peace as that it made them more astonished and desolate then before which caused a number to thinke that it happened as a signe and aduertisement from God eyther for matters present or to come or rather to moue vs to a conuersion and amendement of our sinnes Nowe this furie of the water endured all that day and vntill foure of the clocke at night that it began a little to ebbe and decrease so as by the next morning at breake of day it was ebbed more then a shaftemente and then by little and little decreasing euery man in the afternoone might easily goe about this busines The depth of the water as some haue saide in many places exceeded the marke which was left at the other inundation in the yeare 1530. Others were of opinion that it wanted an handbredth Whereupon they alleadged many reasons among other that the Caues which were made and coured within Rome for it is augmented in buildinges a third parte had receiued and swallowed vp a great parte of the water Some iudged that the great number of newe streetes was a cause of the depth and other affirmed howe that the earth which was raysed vp since that time caused it seeme higher then it was But they which iudged it to bee the greatest say that it fell out so for that in the towne of Horta and Narin and all other places where it passed alongest it left behinde it a great abatement and ruine of houses hauing caried away halfe the bridge of Saint Marie together with the excellent chappell which Pope Iulie the thirde caused to bee builded there it vndermined and remoued certaine great peeces of marble great quarters of stone which defended the bridge of Saint Ange. It raysed and renuersed a great parte of the bulwarkes and bastions which they had caused to bee builded a yeare since ioyning to the Castle Besides that it threwe downe halfe the Temple and most parte of the buildinges of Saint Barthlemewes monasterie seated in the Ilande of Tiber. Briefely there was not within all Rome either pallace or building alongest which this furious rage of waters had passed which carried not some marke and testimonye of the wrath and violence of this angrie Element As touching that of Florence by the breaking forth of the Riuer Arno men iudged it farre greater then that at Rome and to haue
againe fiue Souldiers no lesse aduenterous then the first The which gaue verie good hope for the comming to the breach yet not trusting to al these reports for that he would not vpon too light a credite make a suddaine frycassie of so many valiant mens liues as lightly are the foremost in such an exploite he sent againe sixe score French souldiers to gaine and preoccupy with the first the top and highest part of the Parapet which was on the assaylants side that thereby they might couer and helpe vp a certaine number of Pioners which he caused to mount vp with the same tracke for to plane and make the mounting vp to the breach more easie which was as yet verie high and rough commaunding all these aduenterers notwithstanding that they shoulde not vndertake further then they had charge which they obeyed gayning with a great number of blowes and hazard of their life the toppe of the breach In the end standing assured that the way was prepared hee commanded D'Andelot generall of all the French Fanterie to be ready with his souldiers that as soone as the token should be giuen he might readely present himselfe to the assaulte And he for to view with his eye the beginning and such issue as should ensue and if it were possible to discerne within the breach behold the fashion of the men within mounted vp a little Hillocke high enough to discouer that for to sustaine and defend that breach there needed not so many men as the first thought for Wherefore all at the instant hee caused a regiment of chosen Almanes to marche straight to the breach to open the first passage thereof who with great assurance and without any feare of harme were there ouerthrowne By the like meanes he made signe to D'Andelot that he shold follow him with his troupes which he did for altogether made a maruelous stirre to enter the most part of the Souldiers plonging and entring within the water and diches of seuentie foote in depthe with such an heate and desperate hardines that they forgotte all danger albeit that the Duke of Guise had caused bridges to be builded ouerthwarte the diches with pipes and caske linked one to an other vppon which they had cast plankes and iuyce and bound them fast together All this notwithstandinge such a vehemente furye pushed them forwarde as they had no regarde neyther to bridge nor passages through the verie desire which they had to enter And yeat their impetuositie was not so greate furious but that at the first bounde they were repulsed the enemies greately helping themselues through their artificial fires fighting for their life with a strange incredible obstinacie The which the Duke of Guise perceauing came downe the litle hyll and thrusting hymselfe into the middest of them reprehended some sollicited other and preuailed so farre with the rest as he restored in such a sorte their heart into theyr bellye that turning their face and beginning a freshe they redubled with such a corage and fell to it with so greate a force as the beseaged fainted vnder the burthen being no longer able to sustaine this last charge so as being ouerthrowne they abandoned the entrie and lefte the breache to the Frenche and Almanes with the losse of more then three or fowre hundered men amonge whome there were founde neare hand fowre score Spaniardes of the brauest men and of best reputation As the rest turned their backes and were either slaine in the furie or taken prisoners the same daye the Almanes of Colonell Reicord conducted by his neuew did on the other side force two litle bulwarkes which had likewise beene battered where the breach was made so was the base courte of the castle wholie gained vpon the same day The gouernour Grey before this losse foreseeing the danger which was likely to ariue had retyred himself with a sonne of his into the olde Castle their principall forte which they called the Bulwarke or keepe as were in like sorte the principall Captaines and best soldiars And had transported in with themselues all their richest moueables All they hauing a while bethought themselues of their worke and finding themselues vnable to resist against the fury of the French determined to parley And the gouernor Grey sent the same daye two gentlemen to the Duke of Guise to declare vnto him that in defending of that place being of so great marke importance the keeping whereof had bene committed to him he ought not to finde it strange nor in euil part if as an honest man and according to his dutie he had well defended it so far as to haue endured the assault If he should haue don otherwise it had bene against his honor and faith requiring him in the ende to deliuer vnto him an honest composition This Prince hauing vnderstoode his propositions differred answere vntill the next morrowe albeit that some counselled him to take him at his worde considering that he stood as yet vppon his feete and almoste as strong as at the first hauing besides this olde Castle whole and entire of a most strong and auncient matter enuironed with most deepe dyches and full of water where they must needes make a newe batterye and where it was possible to retrenche it the place beyng spacious enoughe Besides that there rested the greate and large Bulwarke of the keepe which cōmaunded al the rest the whole being garnished with artillery mūitions and defended by the best aduised and valiantest men that were Then on the morrowe being the one twenteth of this moneth the Duke of Guise accorded this composition That the Soldiors should departe with their armes but that their enseignes should remaine in the place with all artillerye powder bulletts and all other kinde of munition as well of warre as victuals As for my Lord Grey and all the Captanes of qualitie which he had with him they should remaine prisoners of warre in the power of the King and of the Duke of Guise This capitulation being receiued approued by the besieged the day following there departed thence betweene 900. and 1000. men of warre part Englishmen part Borguignons and a number of Spaniards besides the common sort which tooke euery man such course as himselfe listed franke and free without any harme or displeasure done vnto them three or fower hundred dead and hurt remaining behinde Grey was retayned prisoner so was Mondragon a Spanish Captaine who hauing beene before prisoner in the Bastile of Paris saued himselfe and was againe committed to ward thither That done the Duke of Guise for that this place seemed verie dangerous if it should bee taken againe and greatly noysome to the high waye from Calais into France especially in being so neere vnto Ardres and that it woulde be a double expence to keepe it hauing caused all the Artillerie munition and victuals to be taken out caused it to be ruined and razed in the yeare 1351. The towne and Castle of
an occasion that euery man expected a last iudgement worthy of the matter after such and so long pleadinges but in the end from so high mountaines there can come out but a very little smoke which also very suddenly doth euaporate it selfe into a clowde out of the sight of men the President Minier cheefe in all accusations hauing beene a long time detained prisonner attainted and conuinced of whatsoeuer they would lay to his charge in the end escaped their hands the Aduocate Guerin being hanged at Paris Minier found meanes not only to escape but also to be restored to his former estate after hauing promised and assured that he would clense Prouence of these new Christians yea that all his life long he would be reuenged for that by their occasion he was driuen so neere his neck verse Let vs now look back into the desseines of K. Henry who prepared himself to lead an army for the Protestants succour of Germany against the Emperour K. Henry 2. hauing assigned day and place to such forces as hee would conduct to the succour of the Germanes against the Emperour which amounted nere to 25000. Fantassins of French 7000. Lanseknights 1200. men of armes with their archers two thousand light horse and as many harquebusiers mounted vnder the Duke D'aumalle went to holde his bed of iustice in the Parlament of Paris where hauing admonished euery man of his duty aduertised his subiects of his enterprise made a number of ordinances as well for the reformation of iustice as the discipline of war and ordained the Admirall D'Anebaut Viceroy throughout Fraunce causing the Constable to march before with the auantgarde he passed on his way to Ginuille where the Dowager of Lorraine presented her selfe to yeelde her selfe with her sonne and the whole Duchie into his protection and also to excuse her selfe of some intelligences which it was reported she had with his enemies afterwards she retired herselfe to Blamont from Toulh the Constable auanced the army right to Metz the deputies wherof had vntil that time debated of their ancient priuiledges confirmed by a number of Emperours and Kinges of Fraunce offring notwithstanding victualles to the whole army without that any other sauing the K. with certaine Lordes might enter in but the Constable who as the stronger would not debate such pretences by any other lawes then the right of the Cannon hauing limited vnto them a day for their last answere resolued to enter therein with 2. Ensignes of 600. men which being doubled they were found so long that the first which were entred had meanes enough to repel the inhabitants whilste that the rest entred peecemeale to assure that Towne the tenth day of Aprill to the Flower de lys in the meane time that the King entred in armes within Toulh followed with his whole traine the Heralds of armes clad in their Crimson veluet coates azured thick embrodered with Flowers de lys with their Trumpets Clarions after hauing sworne to maintaine their priuiledges and reformed the gouernement and pollicie at his pleasure he aduanced forwards to Nancy cheefe Cittie of Loraine where came forth to meete him the yong Duke cōducted by the earle of Vaudemont his vnckle sundry others The K. hauing made his entry as at Toulh ordained there Vaudemant Gouernour of the Cuntry to the profite of the Duke and hauing prouided him of his estate he sent him vnder the charge of Bordillon to Reimes where were the Dolphin and his brethren after going further and approching neere Metz he saw his army in this manner There were three square battailes of Fanterie of which the first was of the olde ensignes paied entertained in the time of the late K. for the wars of Piemont Champagne Boulogne with other new companies leuied in the beginning of these warres without cōprehending therin any souldiers of marke or yong gentlemen who were there for their plesure and without paye to the number of betweene 15. and 16000. men whereof betweene nine and ten thousand were armed with Corselets Bourguinots with beuers vambraces gauntelets and tases downe to the knee carrying long staues and the greatest parte a Pistoll at their girdle and betweene a fiue and sixe thousand harquebusers armed with iacks and sleeues of mayle with rich Morions and of goodly workemanship a harquebuse or handgun bright well polished and light their furniture exquisite and braue the rest being armed according to the qualitie of their persons The second battaile was of Gascoines Armignacs Basques Bearnois Languedois Perigourdins Prouenceaux and Auuergnacs making shew betweene ten and twelue thousand men experte and vsed to the warre as well at Sea as land whereof betweene eight and nine thousand carried long staues armed with corselets and almane riuets and two or three thousand harquebusers with mailes and morions The third was of Germanes to the number of 7. or 8. thousand vnder the Count Ringrafe their Colonell men of warre assured as they made good proofe in their order and march of battaile wel enough armed according to their manner as wel Pikes as shot Touching the men of armes and light Caualerie the whole was ordained by ranckes vpon the flancks of these battails in number of 1000 or 1100. men at armes with the company of archers The men at armes were moūted vpon great Roussins or coursers of the realme Turkes and Ginets with bardes of of such colours in silke as the Captains caried from the crown of their head to the sole of their foot with head peeces and pouldrons the lance the sword the dagger the courtlasse or the Mace with reckoning their traine of other horses wheron were their seruants groomes ouer all which right well appeared the cheeftaines and members of these companies and other great Lords very richly armed with gilte cunningly engraued harnesse vppon readiehorses barde and caparisond with bards and of steele light and rich or els of strong mayle and light couered ouer with Veluet cloth of golde and goldsmiths worke and Embroderers with great magnificence The archers lightly armed carrying the halfe lance the pistoll at saddle pommell the sworde or the courtlasse mounted vpon horses sturring and curuetting at pleasure among which according to the power of eche one nothing was forgotten to set forth himselfe who should doe best As touching the light Caualerie there might be neere 2003. light horse which were armed with corselets vambraces and bourguinots the half lance or pistoll the courtlasse if it seemed good or the Geldersword mounted vpon caualins double courtals or horse well shaped and very swift The harquebusiers on horseback were between 12. 1500. armed with iacks sleeues of maile or curats the Bourguinot or the morion the harquebuse of 3. foot long at the saddle pummel mounted vpon good courtals euery man according to his ability vnder the Duke of Aumaile generall of al the light Caualerie There was also 3. or 400. englishmen departed
out of their country to practise the war vnder a certain Lord vpon geldings and little nags swift prompt without being much armed clad in short Ierkins red caps according to their māner and a lance like a halfe pike which they very well know how to handle They are good men desirous to know and exercise the warres as such haue very well proued as haue bene with them But as all men muzed much at the sight of this armie euen such as were appointed to keep the baggage a number of souldiers seruāts pesants come out of Theonuille brake in cheefely on the side of the Lance-knightes from whom they caried the better before people could be appointed to follow thē which occasioned since many yong Frenchmen especially of the light horse to attache the garrison and to try thēselues against those of Theonuille with more pleasure warlike exercise notwithstanding thē harme that happened to the one part or the other The King hauing taken great pleasure at the order equipage behauiour and salutation which all they did vnto him commanded them to march continually in battaile armed at all peaces afterwards he was saluted by his artillerie placed a little aboue the army within the vignes vpon a platforme to wit 16. great Canons 6. long Culuerines 6. lesser 12. bastard culuerins the whole conducted by D'Estre great master and generall of the artillerie of Fraunce the next morrowe the King entred into Metz at the gate Champanoise with great magnificence vnder a Canapie carryed by foure of the best Gentlemen of marke in the Countrie marching after the Officers the Cleargie before followed by Cardinals then the Constable barehead armed at all peaces bearing a naked Sworde before the King who at the gate of the great Temple sware vpon the Euangelists to maintaine them in their rights and ancient priuiledges after hauing giuen order to the gouernement and fortifications aboue all to cut the towne to raise there a rampier vpon the height of a mount which commaunded and hauing lefte Arthus de Cosse called Gonor brother to the Marshall Brissac gouernor with 200. light horse a cōpany of ordinance twelue ensignes for the garde of victuals which from all partes was to come to the army he departed the 20. of Aprill after his Auantgare ledde by the Constable and leauing behinde him in forme of arreregarde foure hundred men at armes with a number of light horse to aduaunce and assure the rearegarde in like sorte the three troupes marched continually in battaile and all their armes on their back how dangerous a time and place soeuer they found An occasion that many who before had liued at great ease and delicacie died and many more for hauing drunke too much of those olde waters fel sick at their returne The armie rested two dayes in the faire and rich plaine of Sauerne about the beginning of May 1552. to refresh the Souldiers after the Caualiere gaue within one league of Strasbourg In the meane season and while the King remained at Sauerne to repose his armie and attende newes from the Germane Princes they of Strasbourg wise by the example of the Messins negociated with the King as well for the commoditie of his armie as suretie of their towne the King had already demaunded them to prouide victuals for the armie and for that cause they deputed Pierre Sturme Gotessem and Sleiden who brought vnto him great quantity of Come and wine but the Constable no whit regarded what they offered by reason of the greatnes of the armie And albeit the Embassadors were departed from him in such sorte that they were to aduertise the Senate and after to yeeld him answere yet the very next morning he sent two gentlemen by whom he pressed thē to answere with a long discourse of the Kings good will towards Germany and for what cause he had entred into armes and bene at so great a charge to wit to recouer their libertie now eslaued by the Imperials his other demaund was that by reason the men at armes stoode in need of sundry things that it might be lawfull for them to buie them within the town and that it might be permitted to the artificers to bring their ware to the Campe and sell it there whereupon the Senate answered that in matters of so great importance they were not accustomed to conclude of ought but by aduise of the generall councell of all their Seignory and that after hauing consulted with them they would send Deputies to declare their minde so leaue being giuen them to departe the next morrowe the same men were sent to the Campe which as yet remayned at Sauernes Their tale being heard ioyned thereto that they brought a little more munition then at first and their reasons set downe why they might not suffer anye men at armes to enter the towne the Constable began to speake in choller and in deliuering how vniustly they iudged of the benefites of the King and of the iniuries of the Emperour he added certaine biting tearmes the end of his tale was that the next morrow the King would speake with them in person and confirme whatsoeuer he had vttered The same daye the Embassadours repaired to the King with whom was the Cardinal of Lorrain the Prince of Vendosme and the Constable where they recited as much as had bene deliuered by them to the Constable at two parlies and presented vnto him as much Oates as they had done before Wheate and a little more Wine beseeching him that for the ancient amitie which the signorie of Strasbourg had with the King of Fraunce and for his owne curtesie hee would take in good parte their offer the rather for that there was a great Garrison within the Towne called thether for feare of surprise and a great number of Paisants were likewise retired thither out of the Countrie which caused the Cittie not to be so well able to spare her prouision The King after hauing conferred with his Councell began himselfe to repeate the cause which made him come into Germany in like sorte as the Constable had the day before deliuered how that victuals was a matter most necessary and not to be denyed to any person in the warde offring to pay for them were he not an enemy otherwise if his stoode in any need he would finde meanes to finde it cost as it could which would turne to a great damage as euery man might perceiue In the meane time he refused nothing which was offred but would needs haue bread the Deputies on the other side besought him that hee would be contented with corne as they could not fall to agreement so away they went without doing ought the Deputies being returned into the Towne the Senate ordained that albeit they were not able to deliuer any of the Corne within the towne yet they should make bread in the Countries neere hand as much as they might be able for they had both tolde the King and