of Bourbon our mercifull and gracious King long may he liue the noble King of France with great reuerence and submission crauing pardon and shewing themselues sorrowfull for their rebellion and offences committed agaynst his maiestie The King considering their repentance and submission pardoned them with louing gracious and comfortable words whereupon were the keyes of their citie deliuered him who receaued them with amiable countenance These things being done the Citizens marching before the Magistrates after and the Cleargie following them conducted the King and his Princes in most triumphant sort to his lodging the people saluting him all the way with this acclamation Long liue Henry of Bourbon King of France and Nauarre It is sayd before how the Lord Diguieres had pacified Daulphine hath assaulted the Duke of Sauoy abroad and at home The Duke of Sauoy séeing himselfe hardly matched aduised how to molest the sayd Lord Diguieres sent to his good master the King of Spayne to bee reuenged therefore they tooke this aduise to send foure hundred light horses of Naples with some of the best of the olde garrisons there into Piemont which by reason of the swiftnes of their horses should molest the land of Daulphine with daily courses roades and inuasions These foure hundred Neapolitanes hauing taken counsell how to enter the land of Daulphine with a swift pace had not determined with what pace they should get out They therefore ranne as swift as their horses could goe as farre as the fort Bowe where the Lord Diguieres méeting stayed them so that they are not like to goe euer to Naples agayne to tell newes vnto their Curtizans of their light horses being there all slayne only a fewe excepted There it appeared to them that the best warre is not in Italy nor the best souldiour of Naples and that there is a great difference betweene the souldier trayned vp in Militarie Discipline and daily employed to great and waightie affayres and him who vnder the name of souldier is moulten in filthie pleasures in the Stewes of Curtizans as these were There appeared also how the horse is but a vayne thing to saue a man in an vniust cause and that they were but robbers who came to spoyle and molest them that had neuer proffered them wrong This exployt was done about the beginning of March as I can coniecture The Lord Digueres hauing cut short those insolent Italians determined to pursue some forces which were retiring out of Daulphine into Sauoy againe whome hee followed so short that hee entred the citie of Chamberie Metropolitan of Sauoy This is a great Citie famous for the straunge Idolatrie vsed in the same There is an olde filthy ragge some gowtie clowt of some gowtie Frier they haue made the world beléeue such is the spirit of Idolatrie in them that know not God and such is the spirit of Auarice in them that applie religions to gaine that it was the shrowd wherein Christ was buried therefore certaine times of the yeare there was a resort of infâ—nite mâ—ltitudes of people of diuers countreys and nations which came to worship that holy ragge and pray holy 〈◊〉 ora pro nobis The Lord Diguieres hauing taken the same sacked and spoyled it but hauing not forces sufficient to munit and keepe it left it and returned home with a fat spoyle without any losse Whilest the Lord Diguieres was in Sauoy the Duke of Nemours gouernour of Lyons descended from Lyons with his forces into Daulphine desirous to haue surprized some townes in that Prouince in the absence of the Lord Diguieres But the said Diguieres in returning home from Sauoy met him and so charged him that after he had slaine most of his horsmen put him to flight and followed him so hard that the inhabitants of the Citie cleane burned the suburb called Guiltiere being very fayre great and rich fearing least the sayd Lord Diguieres would haue entrenched himselfe in the sayd Suburb Whilest these things did so passe in Daulphine there happened in Prouance that certaine great practizes were discouered to the losse of the autor as the old saying is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord Dampuis Lieftenant to the Duke of Sauoy in Prouance being resident at Aix the Metropolitan Citie there had wrought a treason to surprize the Citie of Tarascon situated vpon the â—iuer Rosne by the meanes of certaine Dominican Friers and thirtie or fortie of the inhabitants of the towne to whome hee had made many fayre and large promises The bargaine being made the meanes and time must be sought out which were in this wise about midnight the black diuels Friers should rise to sing their holy mattens and black santus and should giue the watch word with three strokes of the bell whereupon the trayterous Citizens should seaze vpon one of the gates the L. Dampuis should haue come to the gate with fiue hundred Cuirasses 5. hundred Harquebusieres who should haue entred by the meanes of the traytors who were within This counsell could not be kept so close but it came to the eares of the Ladie of Oruano and one captaine Corses by whose diligence and good order vsed the treazon was disappointed in the manner as followeth The gouernour hauing intelligences of their intent and whole platforme caused the Friers and their complices â—he night before to be taken and layd in sundry prisons the night appoynted to worke the feate being come an ambush of certaine souldiers of his companies was set out of the town in a conuenient place the said gouernour also had appointed a companie as well of his souldiers as of the faithfull citizens to stand in silence within the gate of the Citie vntill the watch word agreed betweene the Friers and the enemies should be giuen with thrée strokes of the bell All things beeing in a readines and the time come to worke the Lord Dampuis came vnto the gate with his companies according to promise harkening to heare the watch word and to bee admitted into the Citie by the complices Well the three strokes of the bell were heard the ambush began immediatly behinde and the towns men opening the gate before to assault them so furiously not with the sounding of the bell but with sound of the Harquebuze shot that the enemies beeing compassed about within halfe an hower were slayne in a manner all and the Lord Dampuis taken prisoner and so wounded that two dayes after hee died of the woundes so the Towne was preserued from sacking and the people from murther and bondage and both the towne and People reserued to their kinges seruice this was done about the end of March. About the selfe same time the Countie of Carces had wrought another such practise also against the Towne of Tolon by the treason of the chiefest Consull and other Townes men which was in like maner discouered and the conspiratours apprehended and chastised We haue said before how the Senat of Aix in Prouance were rebels who not onely had
them of the religion assoone as the Lord Tageus could returne from this exployte whome he would leaue there for the preseruation of the Citie Behold Christian Reader this noble man indued with good gifts raised vp to high degree sent out of the danger of his enemies to keepe the kings subiects in peace and iustice vnthankfull of Gods good graces doe meditate how to turne that power wisdome and graces receiued of God to persecute his Church and whilest hee is laying downe his plott God sendeth him a warning to wit murtherers to execute the rage of Gods enemies vpon him For as they concluded vpon the resolution of this warre which he purposed against the Children of God the Abbot of Elbeu sitting next vnto the doore of the closet heard the sound of a pistol shot within the wardrobe and some crying kil kill At this alarum the said Abbot ranne first to the doore nigh the closet where he found the Aulmoner of y e said Duke who had rushed in had shut vp the doore and thought it had neither lock nor boult but held the said doore with his back very pale and frighted The Abbot enquiring what it was speake softly sayd the Aulmoner there be armed men which seeke to kill my Lord. At the same instant the said Lord Espernon the Lord Mariuault and the Abbot heard two other pistolls shot in the same wardrobe with manie voyces crying kill kill comming to the said doore cryed yeeld my Lord for you are but a dead man The Abbot and Mariuault then counsailed the sayd Espernon to keep within the closet where was a second doore very narrow hard to get in At the same time the Toxin began to ring in all Churches of the Citie and they of the faction ran into the streates crying that the Hugonets had surprised the Castell and willing all men to run to succour it according to the instructions giuen by the Maior These tokens being giuen the people ran on euery side to their weapons and went toward the Castel they lodge themselues in the house next to the Castell The Maior that morning intending to bring to an end their conspiracie had perswaded them of his faction but especially 40. or 50. of the vilest and most desperat persons of all the Citie that his brother in law Southct came from the Court and had brought with him an expresse commaundement from the King both by letters and word of mouth to seaze vpon the person of the said Lord Espernon dead or aliue and to assure the citie some of them he had appoynted to run through the citie and to giue the alarum as is afore said some should seaze vpon the gates of the Castell when hee should haue entred the saide Castell and some should goe with him to execute this murther This vile traitor then head of the conspiracy entred first armed into the Castell through the great gate hauing two men booted with him which as he saide were Purseuants whom he brought to speake with the Duke and followed with ten men going vp into the hall and passing through it saluted the Lord Couplieres who sat vpon a table and thence passing through the Lord Espernon his chamber went as farre as the wardroabe supposing there to finde him and there to execute his damnable conspiracie there he met with on Raphael Gyrolamy a Gentleman Florentine Rouillard and Segnencio Secretaries and one Sorline the Kings Chirurgion The Lord Aubine one of the Kings Magistrates in the Court of Engolesme who was expressely come to aduertise the Lorde Espernon that there was some practise against him in the towne and there he stayed for his comming foorth to doo his message The Maior therefore entred as is said first of all armed with a Corselet into the wardrobe with a Pistoll in his hand ready charged and the cock downe came to Sorline first who set his hand to his sword and did hurt the Maior a little on the head Another man great and strong with a Pistoll set vpon Raphael who immediatly taking him by the coller cast him downe vppon the ground and with his sword wounded him as he did three more as they haue confessed after and beate them out of the chamber crying still my Lord is not here but being wounded with a Pistol he fell downe and then they made an end of him with their swords The others who were in the wardrobe saued themselues as they could Sorline running into the kitchen gaue the alarum to the cookes who ran with their broaches but the conspirators being in the hall and hearing the noyse in the kitchen stopped the way out of y t kitchē into the hall In the meane time while these things were dooing within the wardrobe by the Maior his partakers went about as they had receaued instructions aforehand of the Maior to seaze vpon the great gate of the Castell for to bring in the people who were already in armour but they were let by some Gentlemen who were in the Court of the Castell staying there for the Lorde Espernon his comming forth The first were the Lordes Ambleuille Beaurepayre Sobelle and others in defending of the said gate the Lord Beaurepayre was slaine with the stroake of a Halbeard the Prouost Baretes likewise and one of the gardes the Lord Clauery was hurt certaine Gentlemen entred into the said gate afore it was shut vp as Captaine Baron Artiges the Countie Brune brother in lawe to the Duke Espernon the Lords Goas Mirane Coste Emars and others They beleeued then that the Lord Espernon was dead so that being astonied and looked one vpon another they knewe not what to doo nor in whome to trust vntill that the Lords Ambleuille Myran Sobelle and Emars acknowledging one another and giuing hands with promise to dye together gathered as well Gentlemen as Souldiours of the garde close together and ran to the Chamber doore of the Lord Espernon through the which the conspiratours would haue gone forth to seaze vpon the tower of the Castell but they were let by the Gentlemen and gardes who wounded the Maior through the doore where of he fell downe they shot also against the residue of the conspiratours with these threatnings you shall dye traitors Seguencio the Secretarie whome they detayned prisoner reported that at that threatning they began to be amazed and to say among themselues we are vndone if we doo not saue our selues some where and thereupon carrying away the Maior went out through a little doore of that chamber which issued to a little paire of staires that did lead vp to a chamber nigh the tower but they were followed by the said Gentlemen and at the same time the Lord Espernon the Abbot Elbeu and the Lord Marinault who vnderstanding the voyce of Sobelle went forth of the closet with Pistolls and swordes in hand The conspirators were enforced to saue themselues in that Chamber nigh the great tower to y e which no man could go but by a
King I say aduertised of these things sent from Deepe to the Quéene of England for some succour who as her Maiesty neuer fayleth to helpe them who are vniustly distressed sent him forces according to his request All the Kings forces at Deepe were not about nine thousand men before the Englishmen arriued to him The Duke d'Mayne hauing a mighty army of fiue and twenty thousand men set foorth out of Paris about the beginning of September giuing foorth that he went to a certaine victory and vaunting that he would briâ—g to Paris the King dead or a liue or else he would driue him into the Sea approached toward Deepe But the God of battels turned as easily with few as with multitude all these bragges to vanitie and shame For the King hearing that the enemy approached very fast encamped himselfe at Arques about two myles from the towne of Deepe by the prudent counsell of the Marshall of Byron The King viewing the place iudged by and by what the enemy was able to doo against him whereupon hée caused trenches to bée made on the top of the hill in most substanciall manner as farre from Arques as a Canon can shoote so that all the army for a néede might bée couered therewith out of all danger Vpon the same trenches hée caused foure pieces of ordinance to bée placed right against a great plaine where hée supposed the enemy would come to fight whether also he might come without any danger the kings companies were quartered in the Villagâ—s round about Whilest these things are a dooing at Arques the enemy approached more and more very fast and on the 15. of September lodged his vauntgarde within three miles of Deepe The King that morning perceaued that they intended to spoyle the subburb Paulet before he enterprised vpon any thing at Arques Therefore with spéed he fortified the said Suburb but specially the milles which steed most open to the enemy This thing being done the King determined as nere as could bee and with small company to view how the enemy was lodged and perceauing by occasion of some that they were too forward commaunded fiue or sixe of his company to giue them the charge in the which seauen of the enemy remained vpon the place which thing being done the king returned to lodge at Arques The 16. before day many issued out of Deepe who made hot skirmishes vpon the enemy where the Lord Chastilion commaunding ouer the footemen shewed himselfe a most skilfull warriour The King had placed certaine horsemen betweene his footemen and the enemy to represse the Leaguers of the Souldiours least rashly they might haue bred some confusion The skirmish was such that the Harquebusiers did neuer discharge a bullet that day in vaine That day the King permitted certayne English gentlemen to skirmish with the enemie who imployed themselues so valiantly and with such a noble courage that in lesse then the turning of one hand they ouerthrew slew or tooke prisoners all that encountred them The same day about 25. of the enemies had passed the brooke which did runne betweene the Kings armie and the enemie and were already in the medow to haue assaulted a Village named Boteille where the Kings Cornet was lodged great troups of horsemen came downe the hill to passe in like maner the brooke to haue assisted them but there came out of the Village sixe gentlemen well armed to meete the enemy among whom were the Lords Saint Marke and Slurbe with two Harquebuziers on foot charged the enemy so hard that they were faine to retire with swift flight feare and sorrowfull countenance All this day there continued hot skirmishes at the milles which are at the end of the Suburbe named Paulet and whereas the King aduaunced still to view the enemies doings an Harquebuze shot strooke his horse in the thigh The same day the King sent the company of the Prince County conducted by the Lorde Armilie his Lieftenant to the Marshall Biron who was at Arques which immediatly commaunded them to goe and spie the lodgings of the enemy who did lye in a Village called Martinglize where were the Dukes Aumale Nemours and the Lord Sagonne this company of light horses comming to the place and forgetting to bring word to the sayd Lord Biron of that which they had seene ran so fiercely vppon the enemy that they killed aboue an hundred and fifty and among them the Marques of Meneiay they tooke many Captains and other prisoners and ouerthrew their rampiers and Barricadoes being still on horsebacke The rest being foure regiments of footmen fled with great terrour Aumale Nemours and Sagonne shewing to these companies the way to flee and striuing among themselues who should flee y e swiftest The Lord Armilie was dangerously wounded through the body with a sword The King from Diepe vnderstanding the skirmish made hast thither with three hundered horses but the enemy was already chased before he came The 17. of September the King caused a Canon to bee discharged against the enemie on the side of Arques whilest the Lord Chastilion did valiantly skirmish with the enemie at the ende of the Suburbe Paulet where he slewe many of the enemies and tooke many prisoners without the losse of any one man saue onely fewe of his were wounded Another company of the Kings Campe at the same time went to view another Village on another side where they surprised the enemies slewe thirtie of them and put the rest to flight During these skirmishes a great number of Gentlemen and Souldiers came to the King and of their owne voluntary motion and goodwill yéelded themselues and their seruice They were part of the troupes of the Lord Rabempré who a little before was taken by the enemie at Gournay a Towne situated in Beauuoysin betwéene the Cities of Beauuoys Roen who had followed the enemies for their safegard The enemie trusting in his great multitude determined to passe ouer the little riuer which ran betwéene them and the King and hauing made certaine bridges of wood to bee cast ouer the 19. day of September about fiue of the clock in the morning the enemie marched from Martinglize in battell aray well ordered strong and thicke Their footmen well placed at their wings their faces set toward Arques the quarter of the Swissers The Lord Billing with two thousand shot was appoynted to giue the onset The Duke de Mayne stood behind with great strength in battell aray readie to giue succour where néede should be The King had watched all night before on horsebacke to giue order in euery place which hee did so diligently and circumspectly that the enemie could doo him no hurt without great disaduantage and losse to themselues But in the morning hauing seene the order of their battell aray incontinently he sent foorth his light horsemen and the company of the Prince County lead by the Lord Montater he sent also his Cornet wherein were the Lords graund Prior the great Squier the Countie
the Realme of France THE FIRST BOOKE CLaude of Vaudemont otherwise of Lorrayne came into France in the time of Lewis the xii in a manner with a wallet and a staffe that is to say a beggerly gentleman in comparison of the great reuenewes which hée and his haue had afterward in France For all his reuenewes when he came into France was not aboue xv M. Franks He began to growe vnder King Francis the first by crouching and capping and double diligence vnder whom after that all offices had béen bestowed hée obtained to bée the Kings Faulkner at the suite of other Noble men That was an office giuen before that time to Gentlemen of small accompt Notwithstanding y e basenes of his degree in Court he was beholden with a suspicious eye by King Francis carying in his mind a certaine presage of that which hath happened afterward For when he had marked with a wise prudencie the sawcines of him and his children hee vttered his iudgement concerning them in these words That they will turne his children into their doublets and his subiects into their shirts The yeare 1515. in the absence of the Duke of Guelders he had the charge of the Swizzers which King Francis had hyred for his iourney to Millaine The yeare 1523. the Lord Trimouille left him the gouernment of Burgondie The yeare 1527. at the suite and intercession of Noble men the King erected his Village of Guize situated vppon the riuer Oyse in the confines of Vermandoyse into a Duchie His Children were the Dukes of Guize Aumale the Marquise D'albeuf the two Massing Priests of Lorraine and Guize These Faulkners did so apply their busines partly with flattering partly with the aliance of lagrand Seneschal which was the Paramour of King Henry the second and the Duke D' Aumale maried her daughter as good as the mother but especially by the facilitie or rather fondnesse of the saide Henry the second that within fewe yeares they obtayned in land and pensions one milion of Frankes beside their Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall offices dignities liuings which did amount to so much But specially they aduaunced themselues greatly in the time of King Francis the second by reason of their aliance with him who had married their Néece the Quéene of Scots In his time they disposed of all things after their owne willes For the King sawe nothing but by their eyes heard nothing but by their mouthes did nothing but by their hands so that there remained nothing but onely the wearing of the Crowne vpon their owne heads and the name of King In this great prosperitie they lacked nothing neither will nor meanes to attaine to their intent but that the Nobilitie of France was a perilous blocke in their way which they could not lep ouer for to ascende to so great and high seate of Maiestie and in stead of a veluet cap to weare a Crowne of pure gold In this prosperous successe it hath happened to them as the Prouerbe is Set a begger on horsebacke and he will ride vntill he breake his necke which the tragicall end of them hath verified But they fearing no such bloodie euents and intending to turne their master out of the house and to seaze on the possession and to lodge themselues therein they vsed cunning and policie The first steppe to reach to that which they intended to get was a dreame in this Iulling of Fortune vnaccustomed to them or theirs For they in their dreame dreamed and sawe in a vision that they were descended from Charles the great and consequently that they had right to the Crowne and that Capet who had dispossessed their auncestors as they say and his posteritie which now enioy it are but vsurpers But considering that to enter into any action of law about such a matter would be a dangerous course and that a peaceable state would rather helpe them backward than forward and that such a fish would bee caught rather in a troublesome than in a cleare water the streame must needes be stirred The occasion of the time fell out fitly to further their intent and to trouble the state They therefore tooke the dissension of Religion to colour the same than the which they thought no better could be deuised for the people was alreadie in ielousie one against another through the diuersitie of religion Unto this opportunitie came many helping causes as the minoritie of the house of Valoys the ambition and atheisme of the Q. Mother the great credite and power which the parties themselues had gotten alreadie afore hand in the Realme the facilitie or rather inconstancie of Anthonie of Burbon King of Nauarre and last of all the headie frowardnes of the Constable and Annas of Monmorency which things conspiring together fitly to further their desires they thought it was time in stead of Atheisme to put on Popish superstition and their ambition should runne for burning zeale of Poperie This part they tooke not for any religion which they cared for but being the stronger and more fauourable side by the which they might get both credite and strength By these meanes the ciuil warres being easily stirred vp they thought all by one meane both to weaken the Nobilitie and to oppresse the house of Burbon which being made away they supposed either that they could easily subuert the house of Valoys being all children or els to suruiue them and as then to make an open claime to the Crowne The ciuill warres being by them and their meanes begun they haue entertained them from time to time And when through wearines or weakenes of their part they haue come to peace they haue through treacherie so manured it that peace hath been more domageable to the professors of the Gospell than open warre as it may appeare by the murthers which they procured and performed at Paris and in other Cities in France the yeare 1572. After the which murther they also procured King Charles the ix to imprison the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and afterward Monsieur the Kings yongest brother The King of Nauarre hauing béen kept prisoner with a garde the space of thrée yeares and more at length in the yeare 1576. went foorth out of Paris to hunting in the Forrest of S. Germayne en faye accompanied with a great number of Catholike Gentlemen among whom was also the Duke Espernon When he came to the Forrest hee opened his minde vnto them that hee was not determined to returne to the Court The Gentlemen considering his hard intertainement and the greatnes of his person were so farr from compelling him to returne from whence he came that they profered to conduct him wheresoeuer he would and so they brought him to the Towne of Alenson 45. leagues from Paris where was a great number of them of the reformed Religion whether also he had requested the Gentlemen to accompanie him Shortly after his arriuing there when the reformed Church had assembled together the said King in the face of
intent to charge that remnant of the armie which was with him how all the commons had the watch word and looked to haue some warning to begin There was no hope to escape being few and they wearie and weatherbeaten without any hope of succour The Lord Boysduly met nigh Talsy two Gentlemen papists of his acquaintance who shewed him the selfesame daungers abouesayd and yet more that neither hee neither they who were with him were farre from spoyle The Lord Boysduly perceiuing that a Gentleman called la Mot in whom he had much confidence knew very well the amaze of that companie after assurance of amitie for himselfe and the Lord S. Gelays hée certified them that they were in a worser case than they knew and that the Prince perceiuing that hee had so great forces agaynst him had dissolued his armie and that his person was alreadie in place of safetie and almost all his armie and that there remayned no more but that which hee sawe with the Lord Saint Gelays who at all aduenture had vndertaken to saue the rest La Mot then offered him friendship his houses for to retire with such of his friends as hee would but his house was distant from thence eight leagues which his courtesie the Lord Boysduly accepted In these terrors all the troupe being on horsebacke marched at large in a plaine field not farre from the Castle Orges of one side and neere the Forrest of Marchenoire on the other side no man knewe which way to turne himselfe too nor what to followe for a present daunger was on euery side The Lord S. Gelays and other Captaynes with him were long before they could conclude of their way The enemies did approach and held that small companie in sight of which being aduertized they marched within the Forrest of Marchenoire and being somewhat entered within the sayd Forrest in the high way to Chasteaudune the Lord S. Gelays shewed them the ineuitable danger whereunto they were fallen he shewed them that the enemie was to be beguiled and for that intent it was expedient and necessarie to deuide themselues into small companyes and to followe diuers waies and that the Lord would conduct the parts aswell as the whole wheresoeuer it should please him The Lord Aubigny vndertooke to conduct one troupe one way Captaine Ryeux went another way some tooke the way to Orleans others drawed towards Paris A Genâ—leman Papist which was with the Lord la Mot tooke with him the Lord Tifardiere and the other Gentlemen of Poytow to whom he shewed great courtesies The Lords S. Gelays Boysduly Campoys Chesmi and others to the number of ten or twelue went vnder the assurance of the Lord Mot the way to Chasteaudune in Beausse As it was a straunge thing to see the dissipation of that armie without blowes bloudshed or losse of any man by the fight of the enemie so it was a pitifull sight to see the separation of the Souldiers from their Captaines of the seruants from their masters the seruants did cast away the things which they had gréedily gathered to saue themselues vppon their horses The waies were full of good stuffe armes baskets males apparell and other things of value euery one did cast away the things which they had taken from others more willingly than when they tooke it God did then require an accompt of many disordered persons in whose hands Manna did rot which they had greedily gathered And it is to be confessed that God testified from heauen that he will haue his worke aduanced by other meanes than by such armes for a great companie of this armie were not accompanied with pietie and Christian modestie On the other side God tooke away all matter of boasting and glorying from the enemies for it was a straunge thing that considering the small distance of places where these companies of the enemie were the great multitude of lustie fresh and well furnished companies which they had the Countreys and Townes thrée or foure score leagues round about all fauourable to them hauing compassed the others round about yet not one after this separation appeared to fight nor to assault these vanquished few men as he which durst not come nigh the skinne of a dead Lyon The Lord Saint Gelays with them of his companie had scarse gone a League in Beause when he discouered three cornets of Launcers of Italians and Albanoyces who were from Chasteaudune marched in good order and came trotting forward at the end of the Forrest where the separation was made The Lord Mot who lead the Lord Saint Gelais and his companie did feare and felt himselfe in great daunger as he saide with such companie of Hugonets after him and faining to discouer he forsooke his guests and got to a village farre before them The Lord S. Gelays and his companie beléeued certainly that those troupes came vpon them and thought themselues as good as dead But behold the eyes of these armed men were so blinded by the power of him which blinded Bilham the sonne of Beor and Elimas the Sorcerer that without perceiuing him or any of his companie they passed by within the distance of fiftie paces from them there was onely a barne of a Farme betwixt them and the Lord S. Gelays stood still in the high way before the barne It was a wonder that this companie was so carried away inuisible out of sight of that multitude as if it were in a clowde and that none of the enemies went through the high way whereby they might haue béen discouered These companies of Italians and Albaneses went into a village not farre of where they perceiued some horses and Harquebusiers they set vpon the house where the Lord Aubigny was with others who neuerthelesse tooke their horses saued themselues without any domage These horsemen found much spoile by the way without any man to claime it The Lord S. Gelays riding along in the champiane countrie of Beausse toward Chartres with the Lord Mot without kéeping any high way the night being rainie and darke began to enter in suspition of the sayd Mot being a Papist So the Lord Mot returned backe with this opinion that the Lord S. Gelays with his companie would goe to Cheuroles toward Orleans but he tooke his iourney to Ianuile lying betwéene Chartres and Orleans and there crossing the high way from Paris to Orleans passed through many companies of armed men who were lodged in Beausse and so recouered vpon him the Forrest of Orleans The returning backe of the Lord Mot as is aboue sayd was to play a popish tricke with the Lord Saint Gelays for perceiuing that he was not strong enough he went in the night to gather companie to haue set vppon them at Cheuroles and so to haue taken them prisoners to his aduantage as he did not dissemble afterward to speake openly So that his professing of amitie was an allurement to drawe them into his snare for afterward he followed them as farre as Ianuile with
great valour went forth out of Saint Foy to attempt vpon that armie and in the conflict the said Beutune and the Lord Maligny a valiant young Gentleman Sonne to the Lorde Beauuoyr with two Souldiours more were slaine and the Lord Piles hurt On the side of the Leaguers were slaine three men of armes Charles of Birague and Grimaldie were taken prisoners Monardy was wounded During this long siege the plague waxed so hot within the towne that of nine hundred there remained but two hundred a liue whereof many were infected other were wounded their Chirurgions were dead medicines to heale with powder and shot fayled them there was left but two old women which serued them in steade of Chirurgions and cookes So that God disposed of those inuincible hearts that were almost destitute of force meanes of defence after the discharging of sixe thousand shot of ordinance seauen weekes of siege at length hauing lost but sixe skore persons onely by the lot of warre and among them but sixe Gentlemen onely Chastilion was surrendered by composition In the surrendring they that were whole did escape away they that were sick were sent forth The Duke to please his wiues minde would neuer consent that the inhabitantes should bee comprehended in the capitulation because they were his tenants yet at the instant request of the Vicount of Aubeterre they were promised to receaue no hurt but notwithstanding contrarie to promise most of them who were found in the towne were executed the spoyle of the towne was giuen to the Souldiours but there they found nothing but few raggs infected with pestilence The Lorde Salignak Captaine Alen and Coronnean with thirteene Gentlemen more were taken prisoners and sent to the Castells of Bourdeaux and Blaye to be safelie kept whence not long after they were deliuered by exchange for Popish Gentlemen who were prisoners at Bergerark Saint Foy and Rochel The follie câ—wardlines leaud and voluptuous life of this conquerour his traiterous intent which was that vnder colour of conducting the Kings armie sought nothing but to make himself strong against the King by seducing his people vnder colour of the Catholick religion being spied of the most part of the captains but especially by the Swissers and Colonell of the French footemen also the small gaine which they haue had for the space of a whole yeare and the little seruice which they had done to their Kings intollerable charges and the small reputation which they had gotten by seruing vnder such a Captaine caused many to disband themselues some for lack of paie refused to be any longer imployed In Aprill last while the Duke was wallowing in filth in the citie of Bourdeaux the Duke of Guize vpon aduertisement of his brother who greatly feared the Vicount Turenne which watcht for him vnder euerie hedge came to Paris to shew the King that if his brother the Duke de Mayne were not assisted it were impossible for him to withstand the forces of the hereticks in Guienne which did ioyne to the Vicount Turenne out of euerie prouince of the realme to oppresse his brother he prayed therfore his Maiestie to prouide some speedie remedie which might not be done otherwise than by diuerting their forces he shewed also how that might be done by sending diuers armies into diuers countries and so set vpon them on euerie side This policie being approued now they began to please themselues in their owne conceites whereupon the Marshall Byron was appoynted to leade an armie into Xainctonge the Marshall Ioyeuse was appointed for Languedock the Lord Ioyeuse his sonne for Auuergne the Duke of Espernon for Prouance The Lord Chastre should haue a nauy in a readines on the coast of Britayne so that at the Leagues commaundement like mad men they ran to it by land and by water The brute of these new armies being noysed abroad made the Captaynes of the Duke de Mayne his army to be lesse willing to remayne in his seruice and more willing to serue others vnder whose conduct they hoped to speed better and do seruice with more credit These new armies a preparing were as the rockes vppon the which this Sardanapalus army was cast and broken to pieces The souldiers therefore first and then the Captaynes began to slyde away after they had the spoyle of Chastilion which was iust nothing but the plague and such as continued with him were imployed yet once more as you shall heare There is a litle towne in the way to Chastilion to the City Perigueux named Puynormand in the which there is an old Castell belonging to the king of Nauarre wherein the sayd King had put a Captayne of the Catholike religion named Captayne Roux not to make warre but to kéepe the Castell as his house The inhabitantes except a few were all of the popish religion The person himselfe did neuer depart from thence knowing well that for the number of them of the Religion hee needed not to feare The inhabitantes brought dayly victuals and the artificers of the sayd towne necessary wares to the Dukes armie at the sieg of Chastilion Into the sayd Castell the Countrey had sent their goods to bee safely kept The sayd Captayne Roux had in the Castell a prisoner named Cussel who had confessed that the Lord Lansake had hyred him to kill the Marshall Matignon which Cussel during the abode of the Duke de Mayne in Bourdeaux the sayd Lord Matygnon had determined to put to death for some offences but at the request of the Duke de Mayne his life was spared and he set at liberty such a one by the meanes of the Lord Lansake the Duke had procured to murther the Marshall Matignon that he being made out of the way his faction in the city of Bourdeaux might haue surprized the same with the castels The Duke de Mayne to be reuenged of Captaine Roux for giuing notice to the sayd Matygnon of the enterprise confessed by Cussell layd the siege before the said town and castell which within few daies was rendered with these conditions that the Souldiers should goe forth safe with their liues goods that the goods of the inhabitaÌ„ts should be preserued There went foorth sixteene Souldiers and foure countrey men for the most part all catholikes the castell contrary to promise beyng ransacked was set on fire and burned The Duke de Mayne being at the siege of Puynormand sent Saisseual to the king to aduertise him of his great conquest of Chastilion but specially to haue money and within few dayes after he followed his messenger to do his message him selfe From Puynormand the rest of that armye fel to pieces and within a while became inuisible That army I say that had boasted within sixe moneths to roote out of Guyenne Oastroyn all them of the reformed religion or else to force them to a perpetuall exile without hauing any more liberty not so much as to turne their forces toward their countrey This valiant warryer had bestowed a
put there in garrison That castle by situation is very strong the garrison did great iniuries to them of the religion about Rochel Saint Jhan Marans other places and high wayes by their ordinarie courses The Lord Ranques knowing the nature of the place searched out the meanes to obtayne it he accompanied him with nine or ten gentlemen and certaine resolute Souldiers to the number of two and twentie he carried through the marish a little boate on a cart wherewith he went through a channell which watereth the garden of the Castle To this garden doth answer a gate of the sayd Castle through the which he thought to surprise the sayd Castle Notwithstanding the day before the taking of the same the garrison hauing intelligences of the purpose of the sayd Lord Ranques by one of the reformed religion who entertayned himselfe with them of the garrison they stopped that gate with brick dung and other things which were at hand and doubled their gards and so thought to haue well prouided the surprizing of the sayd place Notwithstanding their thoughts beguiled them for the sayd Lord Ranques following his enterprize applied a petaird against that gate which issued out into the garden the sayd péece opened the gate and brake their rampier and gaue the alarum to the garison whereof part ranne to the great gate other were surprised within the Castell and slayne other leapt ouer the walles They who had retyred to the great gate yeelded themselues with promise of their liues which thing was also performed The place was by the sayd Lord Ranques put in the keeping of Captayne Faueran and Vaunean who within a while after being sommoned by Captayne Merceur to render the same and for not so doing being threatned of the Canon put the sayd place in the hand of Malicorne gouernor of Niort About the beginning of Aprill the Lord Saynt Luke enterprised vpon the I le of Oleron where were certayne companies of the religion commaunded by the Lord Aubigny and Captayne Luuaille his Lieutenant For to bring to passe his enterprise bearing impaciently that neighbourhood conuayed certayne companies into that Iland among these was the regiment of Tierceline consisting of foure hundred harquebuziers fifty Muskets and two hundred pikes resolute Souldiers The Prince aduertyzed how this regiment of Tiercelyne had passed into that Iland the Fryday before Easter being the first of Aprill he tooke his way to Marennes nigh Browage where he thought that the sayd Tierceline was returned and went all night to surprise him more easily but finding them not hee returned to Taillebourge with the Lords Laual and Boulay and other Lords and Captaines who had accompanyed him The 3. of Aprill being Easter day the said Prince had aduertisement that the saide Treceline with his regiment had repassed from Oleron to Marennes for to returne to Xainctes vpon these intelligences the saide Prince departed intending to stop their passage in a place not farre from Xainctes At his ariuing there issued out of the towne about 16. or 20. men of armes with a certaine number of Harquebusiers who were charged by the Lord Chargroys which conducted the forrunners of the Lorde Laual he passed them so hardly that they could not retire within the reach of their Harquebusiers afore one of the enemies remayned on the place and many were hurt After this skirmish the Prince seeing that Treceline remoued not that day for that it was Easter day or otherwise retyred for the second time to Taillebourg without dooing any thing else Treceline was aduertised that his returne was spied but hee made no account of it trusting in the force of his regiment and resolued as hee saide to fight against whome soeuer would let his way as well in the field as in a strong place So the fourth day of April being Easter monday departing out of Marennes he tooke his iourney toward Xainctes marching in good order with countenance of men resolute to fight whereof the Prince being admonished about two a clock in the after noone speedilie tooke his horse accompanied with the Lorde Trimouille his brother in law the Lords Bowlay and Auantigny to the number of 30. horses so many Harquebusiers of his garde and some other who could bee found at hand with that small number he went the ready way to Xainctes where he found the enemie in the selfe same place where he had stayed for him the day before which was not much more than one thousand paces from the suburbe he found them too farre passed toward the towne and were couered with hedges and ditches yet he set vpon the rereware of them whereat the first he laied on the ground about 30. or 40. of the enemies the rest put themselues in battell aray being fauored with the hedges and high way In the first onset the horse of the Lord Trimouille who did lead the aduenturers was beaten downe with the shot of a musket and he also vnder who was in no lesse danger then the Lord Batardiere which being strooke with an Harquebush shot in the shoulder was slaine in that place the Lord Chanterelles also was wounded and dyed shortly after with Captaine Trauarre who being wounded on the head died also shortly after the Lord Auantigny was hurt in the hand and in the knee The Lord Laual who with great speede was gone to fetch his companie which was at Port d' Anneaulx and scatteringly lodged approaching to the lane of this skirmish yet timely enough galloping with 35. horses of his by the commaundement of the Prince set vpon them on the side of the hedges ayming stil to the Colonells Ensigne for there was no more which was compassed and couered with a squadron of Pikes whom he discomfited after he had spent all their shot he fought hand to hand with him who carried the Ensigne which at length hee gaue ouer to him thinking to saue himselfe with slight The Ensigne taken the Souldiours were quicklie put in disorder and discomfited although that they had been often supported vpholden by them of the citie There remained vpon the place about three skore many were wounded Captaine Peschays was taken Tiercelin himselfe was hurt in the arme The Lord Laual had three bretheren whereof the Lord Taulay a little before died of sicknes at Saint Ihan the Lord Sailly his third brother in that skirmish was hurt in the head whereof he died the morrow after the Lord Rieulx his other brother also was wounded in the belly with a pike whereof hee dyed the sixte day of the same moneth The Lord Chargroys Lieutenant of the Lord Laual was hurt with shot in the knee the Lord Monsche likewise in the Legge fewe Souldiours of the Princes garde were hurt and few slaine During this skirmish the Prince hauing gathered his companie together set on a fresh vpon such of the enemies as flocked together againe but especiallie vpon the horsemen of the enemie who made shew to aduance themselues The night interrupted the fight and
Montlimart went foorth with a good parte of the forces there to fauour his passage The sayde Lord Chastilion and Diguieres passed ouer the Rosne the first day of August and soiourning long there they gaue leasure to the Lord Valete to seaze vpon the banck of the riuer Lizere and so letting their passage had opportunitie to doe what hee did Whilest the L. Chastilion soiourned in Daulphine the said L. Valete practized a secret execution vpon the towne of Montlimart so began to drawe his forces thither ward but the inhabitants mistrusting his approches prepared themselues which caused him to retyre back againe yet he set such an order that the Lord Balathye surprized the towne but the Castel remayned still in the hands of them of the reformed Religion The L. Valete did greatly feare that the sayd towne would be surprized again by the Castell and would haue prouided a greater power to put in for the keeping of the same But the said Lord Balathye answered that he was strong enough to defend the same towne This was done the sixteenth of August The seuenteenth day at 9 a clock in the morning the Lord Chastilion and Diguieres vnderstoode of this exployt done though they were more then twenty leagues off The said Lord Diguieres dispatched speedely the Lords Poet Blacons Sales and Sousbrochet with their companies they tooke also the Lord Vacheres with some other companies In the mean while the gentlemeÌ„ of Viuarâ—ts which doe lie right against it on the other side of the Rosne vndeâ—standing of this surprize did send forces into the Castell by two Noblemen of the countrey to wit the Lords Mirebel and Allard When the enemie had possessed the said towne of Montlimart three dayes the Lord Poet with his companyes being about three hundred men and fiftie horses entred at night into the Castell and proposing what was to be done determined to set speedily on the towne and the 19. day about 7. a clock in the morning he assembled all his forces which were about two hundred pikes and one thousand Harquebusiers issued out of the Castell into the towne with such fiercenes that they forced their trenches and Barricadoes and cut in pieces aboue two thousand men and among others the countie of Suze the Lords Ancone and Logieres Teil the sonne and Dupuy Saint Martin with many others Noblemen Gentlemen Captaynes and men of fame remayned dead vpon the place There were a great number wounded among whom were Ancone and Saint Fereol Many were taken prisoners among them men of name which were these the eldest sonne of the Countie Suze the Baron Garde Chemlak gouernour of Viuarets Straung Teil the Father Pracontat the young Cossans the young Vauterel Balathye the Captaine of the enterprize vpon Montlimart all Noble men The Lord Ramfort had ariued in the towne but foure houres before not willing to flie away shamefully found the meanes to get into a tower of the towne where hee defended himselfe three dayes but at length seeing the peeces yeelded himselfe to them of the reformed Religion there died not many more than twenty among whome was the Lord Tissieres there was about sixe and twenty hurte This blow did greatly weaken the Papists in that Countrey so that afterward they were more flexible vnto a reasonable peace than they had beene before This was the worke of God which vsed the valour diligence good gouernement of these Noble men but specially of the Lord Poet chiefest gouernour of the said place There excelled also the valiaâ—tnes of the Lord Blacons Vacheres Mirebel and Allart Gentlemen of Viuarets the which being in so small number to wit about twelue hundred men forced more than three thousand men of warre furnished lodged aduantagiously within their Barricadoes flanked and defended in front with three Cannons to reuenge the cruelties which they had vsed and to beat downe their pride The Lord Chastilion had procured certaine regiments of Suissers to come out of the Lordships of Berne to descend along the lake of Losanne and to repaire into Daulphine there to assist them of the Religion against the Lord Valete and to bring that countrey and the next prouinces about out of the bondage of the Leaguers and Catholikes The Lorde Chastilion came as is saide before into Daulphine the first day of August and went accompanyed with the Lordes Diguieres and Poet to receiue them at the riuer Lizere But the Lord Valete hauing left Balathye in Montlimart for the safe keeping thereof went with speed ouer Lizere to let the L. Chastilion with his coÌ„pany to passe ouer that riuer to ioyne with the Swissers The Swissers being two thousand Pikes fiue hundred Corstets three hundred Harquebusiers two hundred Musketâ—ers and foure hundred Frenchmen gathered on the frontiers of Suisserland being all in number three thousand and foure hundred men drew neare to the riuer Lizere to haue ioyned with the said Chastilion But the Lord Valete accompanied with Alphonse Corse hauing intelligences of their comming with fiue hundred Harquebusieres and foure companies of horsemen set vpon them defeated them and tooke eleuen Ensignes which hee sent to the King and one Coronet of horsemen This ouerthrowe was giuen the same day of the recouering of Montlimart and in the sight of the Lords Chastilion and Diguieres who were on the other side of the riuer and by no meanes could passe ouer to rescue them There were slayne about one thousand men twelue hundred taken prisoners and were sent to Valence to worke to the fortifications there a greatnumber saued them selues in Daulphine God maketh the number and armes preuaile as pleaseth him They which were prisoners were redeemed by exchaunge of them that were taken at Montlimart Thus thinges passed on both sides the Lord Chastilion at length hauing intelligences of the Germans comming with his companies tooke his iourney to meet them whom he met in Basignye nigh ChaumoÌ„t the 22. of September next following as shall be noted hereafter The 31. of August the eldest sonne of the County of Grignan at the solicitation of the Lord Diguieres tooke part with the king of Nauarre agaynst the League and seazed vppon the towne of Clausures and Monsegur townes well situated in the County of Grignan wherein the Lord Valete had put garrisons few dayes before About the same tyme the Lord Blacons tooke the town of Suze which after it was ransacked was geuen ouer because the castell could not bee taken The first day of September the Lord Diguieres accompanied with the Lordes Gouernet Brikmaut and the yong Morges besieged Guylhestre and battered it with foure meane peeces and two litle field péeces so that after hauing sustayned two hundred shot and the breach being reasonable the enemy forsooke the towne and retyred into the castell the which also after certayne volyes of canon shot rendered themselues the 5. of September by composition by the which it was agreed that the Gascoynes should depart and be sent away with a
did not hold because the sayd Lord Oneau had not taken hostages for the performance of the sayd conditions contenting himselfe with the faith of the Captaine which was within but as the armie marched forward he kept not promise The armie departing from Chasteauuilaine made foure dayes iourney to the riuer Seyne where they arriued about the 2. of October and passed ouer the sayd riuer aboue Chastilion vpon Seyne without enterprizing vppon the towne because the Lord of Guize had put into it the Lord Chastre with a certaine number of horsemen and footmen which made a sallie The Lord Chastilion was commaunded to make the rereward with three companies of light horsemen and seauen Cornets of Rutters and three hundred Harquebusiers The Colonel Berbistroph was a little more toward the riuer to fauour the Lord Chastilion which thing the Lord Chastre seeing he made hast with his horsemen being fauoured with certaine harquebusiers which hee had set in a coppes to charge Berpistroph who incontinently aduertized the Lord Chastilion to the end he might cut off the returne of those horsemen of the Lord Chastre which thing he did The seauen Cornets which were with the Lord Chastilion followed him with a shewe of good will to fight but cōming not in time the Lord Chastilion with the Frenchmen began to charge the harquebusiers of the garde of the Lord Chastre who were all cut to péeces and the horsemen followed vnto the gates of the towne One of the Rutters on a sudden forsaking his band killed a French Launce with the shot of a pistoll From thence they went to lodge at Leyne where they soiourned two dayes The Germans complayned much of their lodgings The Marshalls could not denie but that they had oftentimes ill lodgings but the fault was in the deare yeare as they among the principall Rutters could testifie who in the yeares before in their former voyages had béen well lodged in the selfe same lodgings where they were now In the same place dyed of sicknesse the Countie de la Mark yonger brother to the Duke of Boillon who had hetherto alwayes conducted the auauntgard about the third of October From Leyne they remooued to Ansi le frank to Taulay where newes came that the Duke de Mayne was in a Castle not farre off The Baron of Oneau who was lodged nigh the said Castle wrote about it to the said Lord Chastilion with a declaration of the good will which the Rutters had to assault him if they would send them some number of footmen And if the Duke of Guize would haue approached to the right hand of the said Lord Chastilion they would come to his succour assoone as néede were There was then a fayre occasion as it seemed to enforce the Duke of Guize to battell notwithstanding there was found some difficulties For some of the countrey sayd that the Castle was strong others that it was a wood land fit for the harquebusiers of the Duke of Guize and disaduantagious for the horsemen of the armie and that it would bee hard in camping there to get victuals and therefore they stayed not there From Ansi the armie tooke course to the riuer of Yonne and came to it the second day after About the fift of October the sayd armie passed the riuer at Mally la vile where also arriued the Lord Longa from the King of Nauarre and willed them in the name of the sayd King to direct the armie toward the head of the riuer Loyre where he determined to receiue it Many notwithstanding thought that the Germans would hardly take that way supposing that if they should take y t course many of the Swissers would disband themselues drawing so nigh their countrey considering also that with much adoo the artillerie would passe through the Niuernoys partly by reason of the foule wayes and partly for the great scarcitie of victuals which would be found in Niuernoys and Moruant Vpon this incertitude the armie marched forward the resolution of that matter being referred to the incident occasions This thing mooued the Germans to complaine and to require another gouernment to be vsed in marching The forme of marching which they desired was in forme of a triangle so that the Rutters should make one wing the other wing toward the side of the enemie should be of the Frenchmen and the middle should be the gard of the artillerie and the Swissers which notwithstanding was not so resolued then also began the discommodities to encrease in the armie Thus the matters passing in that armie doubtfully and without any resolution vppon any expedient counsell at length they determined to trye the passage at Charite and for this purpose were chosen both horsemen and footmen but the enterprise being delayed off one day for want of some commoditie the King had leisure to send thether men of armes who arriued there at the same instant when the armie did approach which gaue occasion to retyre without doing any thing The Lord Chastilion with the Marshall of the Campe of Rutters and the Colonell Boke with two thousand horses drewe néere to Cosnes partly to fauour them who were gone to seeke passage at Charite if neede were partly to seeke occasion to see the enemie There they missed the Duke Espernon but a little who had passed the riuer at Neufuy The same night the sayd Lord Espernon set vpon the Campe of the footmen but did very little preuaile and after that returned to Cosnes carrying away with him the Captayne Bonourier sore wounded In the meane while the King with his armie was on the other side of the riuer to oppose himselfe to the passage so that the day being come the two armies could see one another At euening al the army arriued at the riuer side that night the K. made great trenches at the foord of Neufuy fortifyed the same with a garrison of Harquebuziers and Musketters and for to fauour them caused 3. great boats well furnished with ordinance to bee brought The riuer of Loyre was to be passed at foordin many places vntil that time and there was yet in some places foordes yet had they no meanes to passe because the kings armie kept the bancke of the riuer euery where If that army had marched somewhat speedily it might haue passed well ynough in preuenting the kinges armie which came out of Paris somewhat late for the king reposed himselfe vppon the assurance of the Duke of Guyze who assured the said king to stop the passage of that army which thing he could not performe and had not béen done if the king had not opposed himselfe to them at the banke of the riuer The morrow after the Lord Boyllon came to sit in counsell at Neufuy There the Lords Oneau and Huguerie made many complayntes in the name of the Germans by reasons of the safetyes and exemptions which were giuen as wel to y e popish gentlemen as to them of the religion in fauour therof they receaued into
their houses y e goods of the vilages where y e army was lodged and that was true indeede and therefore required that there might be no more geuen to any man or else that they might be taxed to pay money for the army They requested also that they would take order for the paimeÌ„t of the Rutters for a moneth which was promised them and for lacke of the sayd pay they would goe no further adding many difficulties concerning the passage of Loyre beside that the winter did draw neere and that there was but two moneths to keepe the field They were requested patiently to stay a while vntill they might aduertize the king of Nauarre to know his pleasure That in the meane tyme they would goe to soiorne in Beausse where was great quantity of corne and of fodder for the horâ—es so that the armies might there easily berefreshed As for the pay it was impossible to the French men at that present tyme to furnish so much money and that drawing into Beausse and Vandomoys there some money might be had The Germans were contented with that so that speedily they would send to the K. of Nauarre with promise to stay vntil they might heare from him They quartered themselues the next day and all the army was lodged vpon the lands of the Lord Chastilion who offered it willingly to shew example to others to preferre the publike commodities before the particular The Lord Boillon lodged at Chastilion with other noble men to aduise vpon the affaires of that armie Some dayes before Tilman colonell of the regiment of Bearne departed through sicknes Bouschet his Lieutenant wrote a letter to the Lord Cleruaut in the name of all the Swissers that they had determined to let the king vnderstand the causes wherfore they were come into France and to that effect would send Ambassadours to the king That resolution séemed to many very dangerous they sent to him neuerthelesse The towne of Bleneau vpon Loyne aboue the towne of Chastilion had resisted the Baron Oneau for which cause they forced them and vpon that occasion the army soiorned 2. dayes about Chastilion In the meane time newes came that the Duke of Guyze did approach with his forces and was to lodge about Chasteau-renard distant from Chastilion three small leagues The Lord Chastilion then opened them the meanes which he had therein to enclose the sayd Duke of Guyze but many difficultyes were aleaged which did hinder his enterprise Notwithstanding the sayd Lord Chastilion went on horsebacke with twenty horsemen in company euen to the gates of Chasteau-renard and there hauing taken some of that place learned that Guyze was gone thence about one houre before for to ioyne with his brother the Duke de Mayne and that he had lodged in the towne with three hundred horses onely and before his going away had put garrisons in the Castell The said Lord Chastilion brought with him about 25. Harquebusters on horsebacke whom he sent to the Lord Boillon by them he learned as is aforesaid that the Duke of Guyze was gone to ioyne with his brother that all their Bands were so scattered here and there in the Vilages about Some gaue counsell to turne the faces of the army agaynst the Duke of Guyze and his brother that it was an easy thing to force him to battayle afore that hee should approach neerer to the Kinges army or to Montargis to fauour one an other notwithstanding some were of a contrary opinion and that it could not be done but the Lord of Guyze would haue knowledge thereof and then would hee retyre into some sure and safe places which thing being done their returning backe would bring great discommodities to the army which by these meanes would be combered betwéen the riuers Yonne on the East Loyne on the West and Seyne on the North ouer whom they could not find passages when néede should require it and that if they should do no exployt they should repasse that way which they came where they should finde all thinges eaten vp which thing would encrease the discomodities and the complaintes of the strangers this opinion preuayled and therefore nothing was enterprized They went to lodge about Montargis leauing the riuer of Loyne at their right hand for to get the way to Beausse They lodged at Landon and Vimory and other Townes there abouts This way is moorish broken foule and full of quakmiers where the wagons of the Germans and Frenchmen did so sinke that the Rutters were fayne there to lodge The 27. of October the Lords of Guyze Mayne Elleufe Aumall Barre the young Ianuile and the brother of the Lord Mercure with other heads of the League and their forces which were about fifteene hundred horses and fiue thousand Harquebusiers went to lodge at Montargis and thereabouts on the East side of the riuer Loyne which running betweene both let the Germans to goe to them of the League but on the contrary gaue this aduantage to the Leaguers to passe to y t armies side when they would because they had the foordes and bridges at theyr deuotion This aduantage with the fauour of the Towne of Montargis and of the Countrie gaue them occasion to enterprise to set vpon Vimory where the Baron Oneau was lodged with seuen Cornets of Rutters that place being not distant from Montargis aboue a League and a halfe The Enemies arriued at Vimory in the end of Supper about seuen a clocke at night The Rutters the alarum being giuen do repaire to their Cornets with great speede and whilest the enemyes were busie in the streetes to robbe the Baron Oneau did oftentimes charge as well their horsemen as their footmen the first onset was vpon the Duke de Mayne who with a good companie of horsemen made head to the Rutters At this onset the Rutters did so play the men that many notable gentlemen were left dead vpon the place as well of the companies of the Guyze as of his brother de Mayne The Cornet of the Duke de Mayne with the gentleman that carryed it Rowray of Burgondy was taken There were two other Cornets taken whereof one was of the Lord Bordesiere The Duke de Mayne receaued two shot of Pistoll within his armor whereof hee was so amazed that hee came not to himselfe vntil the morrow after about eight a clocke There is no doubt but the League would haue had much adoe if it had not been for a great rayne darkenes and thunder which on a sudden came and parted the fight The League lost there aboue fortye gentlemen notable among them among whom was the Marques d'Arques eldest son to the Lord Listenay and the Lord Cigoigne sonne to the Duches de Mayne and others were sore wounded The Rutters lost aboue fifty men about one hundred seruing men three hundred wagon horses they lost three Cornets of their seruantes wherein were painted the Starre the Horse-comb and the Sponge The Baron Oneau receaued a blow with a sword
some disaduantagious streight For without that heauie trou â—â—they might more easily get the height of the riuer Loyre which was the onely sure way which the army could take The other on the contrary shewed that such separation could not be done with out great alteration in the rest of the armie and that if it were not let it would bee the beginning of a dissipation which was like to haue an euill end and that the Germans would do the like at the least occasion and that with the Swissers they were able to beat the kings power which thing they could not do without their aide The K. of Nauarre had shewed what should be done in such extremity to wit to turne their faces toward the Duke of Guyze to enforce him to fight or else to enclose him in what soeuer place he were which thing did not seeme very hard considering that he had no good towne to make his retrait vnto That the Swissers would not refuse to fight against the League and vnto all these thinges aboue said would helpe much the prosperous victory which God had giuen to the king of Nauarre but the Swissers could not be kept hauing so far dealt with the king They vpon the resolution to depart required their Rowles to be sealed to that end that the bodies being asunder the affections might remaine ioyned together and that in so doing they would be sworne to promise to bring to the king of Nauarre two or three regiments of Swissers at the time and tearme prefixed The counsell stood vpon a letter which the Baron of Oneau had written by the which he warned them that if they gaue assurance of pay to the Swissers who contrary to their duty did forsake the seruice of their master they should put no difference betweene the good seruitors and the bad The day for the army to depart which was appointed the 24. being come the Duke of Guyze either of his owne motion or else by intelligences marched all Night and put certaine Harquebuziers into a Castell which was at Aulneau where certayne countreymen had repaired and had agreed with the Rutters to furnish them with all that they needed The gardes of the Baron Oneau who was lodged at Aulneau a little towne enclosed did not perceaue the said Harquebusiers The Duke of Guize with the rest of his troups stayed till the day breaking when the wagons of the Rutters began to goe forth and the gardes were taken vp for to depart that hower seemed vnto him most fit to surprize the sayd Rutters whom otherwise he durst not assault Hauing geuen the watchword they entered into the gates which they found open and without any resistance because that euery one was in his lodging ready to take horse The Harquebuziers of the enemies going along the stréets set on the first lodgings The Rutters vppon the alarum tooke horse and found the gate seazed vpon and the streetes hampered with their wagons so that they could neuer ioyne together to take the field The Baron Oneau with sixe or seauen being the first at the gate pearced through them which came in The gate was quickly shut They of the Rutters which had got on horsebacke ran about the walles to finde a way to get out and when they found none standing on the horse saddle leaped vp the wall and so threwe themselues into the ditch where some saued the Colonels Cornet and fiue others but all the Gentlemen of all these Cornets were for the most part taken or slaine The Baron Oneau with the rest of the Rutters stayed within halfe a league of the Towne The Swissers repayred thether in battell aray where also came the Lord Chastilion There it was propounded to send for the rest of the armie and ordinance and presently to compasse y e towne where they might finde some yet busie about the ransacking but there was no order to hearken vnto that so the Duke Boillon all the Counsell concluded vpon their departing The Lords Cleruant and Chastilion were sent to the Rutters to comfort them about their losse and to cause them to followe the way But the morrowe after the Colonels were mooued to mutinie saying that they would goe to the Swissers and so with them into Germanie and cause their wagons to turne that way These newes were brought to the Prince Countie and the Duke Boillon Notwithstanding an houre after the Baron Oneau sent for the Lords Cleruant and Chastilion to returne to them and that he had so wrought with them that they would come to the rendes vous There it was shewed them that it would not bee honourable to them to retyre so vpon a sudden losse and that there was no safetie for them if they would followe their determination but that it was farre better to remaine with the Frenchmen with whom they were able to fight against whomsoeuer and that the way which they would followe was the néerest for them to returne into Germany Vpon these perswasions they agreed to followe the next day to the rendes vout where they sayd they would see the Frenchmen and that there they would entreate of all things A certaine man a friend of the Lord Chastilion had sent word vnto him from the Kings armie that he had waightie things to tell him The sayd Lord Chastilion had shewed the letter to the Lord Boillon and the rest of the Counsell which willed him to send thether some faithfull friend which thing he did The messenger who was sent returned with the Lord Cormon whom wee haue sayd before to haue been taken prisoner by the enemie bringing offers from the King that he would giue safe returne to the Frenchmen to repayre into Germany or els to their houses with many reasons which were alleaged which could not bee presently answered because the armie marched on There was some aparance of danger least the armie should be pursued by the King and the Leaguers ioyned together which was the cause that it was propounded to the Rutters to burne their wagons and to set as many as they could on horsebacke promising that the Frenchmen should doo the like At the rendes vous it was shewed to the Rutters that within twentie daies they should be brought into the presence of the King of Nauarre or els they should be set in place of safetie That the Prince County the Lords Boillon or Chastilion or other such as they would choose should answer them for the summe which was due to them And in case the King of Nauarre would not content them all assoone as they should come vnto the sayd Lord King of Nauarre they would yéeld themselues their prisoners this was an agreement by words which should haue béen put down in writing and afterward sealed on both parts with assurance and promise giuen by them that they would repayre to the King of Nauarre The rendes vous on the next day was at Landon foure leagues from Montargis an vnfit place by reason of a bridge
which is in the middle of the Towne where was great confusion in going ouer The Lord Chastilion was commaunded to goe to trye the passage at Gien but many inconueniences let that enterprise although he had gone part of the way In the meane time the enemie aduaunced in such sorte that the forerunners did charge the Launce-knights and vnarmed about one thousand or twelue hundred did hurt a great many tooke the artilterie and munition About 25. horsemen did all that The Launce-knights did retyre in good order toward Buissiere as also the wagon men with their horses and other such stuffe as they could saue The Lord Chastilion went also to the sayd Buissiere who did incontinently sende to the horsemen on euery side for to take aduise what was to bee done for they were like to haue the enemie very shortly on their backes but the companies went to the rendes vous which was appoynted at Bouuy The Lord Chastilion hauing stood in battell aray at Buissiere to receiue the Launce-knights who did passe in order made the retraite hauing not with him aboue three score armed men and sixe score harquebusiers on horsebacke at the most The same long soiorning which the Lord Chastilion made at Buissiere gaue time to the enemie to followe him so that in marching the high way to Bouuy the enemy appeared marching along the parke at whose discouering hee put his companie in battell aray foure and foure by reason of the narrownes of the place The Lords Morinault and S. Albine did leade the forerunners who discouering that the enemie was of more then two hundred horses sent word to the Lord Chastilion who strengthened them of ten men of armes which were with the Lord Byramont and willed them to march a small pace after the companies But a little after they were so pressed that they turned their faces against the enemie with sword in hand who then staied and after in that manner followed the Lord Chastilion more than three leagues The said Lord Chastilion geuing to vnderstand to the Prince County that the enemy was at hand the Duke Boyllon went backe to the said Lord Chastilion with 2. hundred horses and going backe to a litle brooke which they had left behind thought good to stay there for the enemie but the Lord Monluet who alwaies had remained behind gaue to vnderstand to the Lord Chastilion that he doubted somewhat and for to know better what it might be they went toward the enemies and at the discouering of them began to speake either to stay them or else to make them come nearer but at length the enemy began to retire vpon which occasion the Lord Monluet and Chastilion pressed them so farre that they pursued beating them beyond the Brooke where they left dead of the enemie seuen or eight vpon the place The Lord Chastilion pursuing the disorder of the enemie was aduertized by the Lord Boillon that the Rutters were more then fiue leagues before with the rest of the Frenchmen that the companies which he pursued was the whole power of the enemie where were the Lords Espernon Nemours and Mercure that necessity required to march forward without any further delay which thing staied the Lord Chastilion who in returning passed by a little wood where he spied about foure score Harquebuziers of the enemie who hid themselues in the said Wood whom the said Lord Chastilion made countenance to charge that in the meane time hee hee might retire his forerunners whom the said Harquebuziers made their rekoning to surprize in theyr returne but they came againe without any damage The truth is that there was in all those troupes but onely the Dukes Espernon Nemours and Mercure who were greatly amazed when their forerunners so fearefully did cast themselues in their armes That same day they went to lodge fiue leagues from thence and the next day they began to enter into Moruaut which is a wood land and so thicke that with much adoo they could not goe aboue two and two They appointed the rendes vous for the chiefe of the army to heare what commission the Lord Cormon had brought which was that the King would geue such surety vnto the Germans as they would to retire into Germany and to the French men Papists who would liue Popishlie in their houses safetie with their goods Others of the religion which would retire out of France might enioy their goods so that they would beare no armes against him requiring furthermore in token of their obedience and good intentes by the which they had declared to haue borne armes onely for his seruice that all the French men should surrender him their Cornets and Colours All these thinges being debated on both sides it was aduised not to dispise these offers but for the sureties and ensignes to take further aduise The reasons which induced them were the great amazednes wherein the whole armie was and to that feare there was such negligence ioyned that there was no more meanes to keepe any order neither among the Germans nor Frenchmen Many French gentlemen had and did dayly resort home there was no assurance that any great number would stay any longer There was no resolution to fight against the enemy the wayes were full of stuffe and armes as well of Germans as Frenchmen the Horses were weary they had to make long iourneys to goe farre from the enemy when they came they found no guide to lead them the way to the Vilages so that they trauelled some time one or two leagues after they were arriued at the rendes vous for to take their lodginges The most part of them remayned either in the woods or else in the first houses which they met men without bread horses without fodder many horses were tyred for lacke of shooing There was foure daies iourney to goe through woods The Harquebuziers and footmen did diminish on both sides all the regimeÌ„t of the Lord Villeneufue had disâ—anded themselues not passing thrée daies before because the master of theyr campe was prisoner there was almost no men left in the regiment of the Lord Mouy They whom the Lord Chastilion had brought out of Languedock for lacke of horses could not follow or else for to follow in so long iourneyes were inforced to cast away their armors most of them had no powder nor meanes to recouer any Their Peeces were either broken or vnprofitable for lacke of workemen to mend them There remayned not aboue two hundred Harquebuziers They which rested of Launce-knights being about two thousand were vnarmed all these reasons made them conclude that it was better to saue the men to do seruice another time then to loose them and geue the praise to the enemy to haue wholly destroyed that army Vpon these deliberations they dispatched to the king the L. Cormon In the meane while the army went forward followed still by the Lord Espernon accompanied with seuen or eight hundred horsemen and with as many Harquebusiers as he could put
to make much for the safetie of Mets. She sent also to her vncle the Prince Monpensier who promised her all assistance to his power The Dukes of Sweibrook sent her word that they would doo what lay in them to diuert those forces from her The King not greatly regarding the suit and protection of the sayd Ladie for hatred of the reformed religion sent backe againe the Lord Reaulx to the Duke of Lorreyne where he taried so long that all things were burned and spoyled before he returned to Sedan And at his returne he deliuered a commission from the King to be receaued as Lieutenant generall for the King and protector of the Princesse and that after being receaued when they had giuen their oth then he would declare what order should be taken They made answere that it was a newe thing and that the soueraigne Lords of Sedan had neuer receaued such charges and therefore they could not accept them considering that they had giuen their oth vnto the Prince Monpensier her vncle and Warden to doo her lawfull and faithful seruice and to keepe the places against all men vnder the protection of his Maiestie who would as he hoped bée contented with the assurance which the Prince Monpensier would giue him About the same time the Lord Nueuile gouernour of Mezieres came to Ioram nigh Sedan seeking by fayre promises of friendship to haue that Lieutenantship and propounding certaine captious articles was so answered that if he had come into Sedan there was not of his kinne enough for halfe the women of Sedan for euen they who mooued the matter first stood in some danger The Prince Monpensier sent diuers times to visite and assist her and went to the Court to obtayne the continuance of her protection But nothing was obtayned for the King sought nothing els but to put in such as he thought would fulfill his desire to oppresse and scatter the Church and to haue in his possession that Princesse to nousse her vp in Poperie that there might not be any hope left hereafter to restore the Church Whilest the Duke of Lorreyne besieged Iamets the Duke of Guize sent to Sedan to proffer them great friendship and to preserue them in all libertie of conscience and religion if so that there might a mariage be made betwéene the Princesse and his sonne The Duke of Lorreyne vsing all manner of hostilitie and villanies that could be possible made suite to haue the sayd Princesse in marriage for his sonne the Lord Vaudimount both with flattering words also by thundring of the double Canon The weaknes of this Princesse caused the enemy to be very secure and carelesse which encouraged them which were besieged at Iamets dayly to make sturdy and stout sallies vppon the enemies geuing them no aduantage not so much as to approach to place their peeces and compelled them to trench themselues in the Vilages where they were charged by them within the towne dayly and this continued vntill the beginning of Aprill next following During these two Moneths of February and March and the continuance of the siege of Iamets the Lord Resne with certayne troupes of Italians Germans Wallons Legeoys and Lorreins to the number of 7. or 8. hundred horses with certayne regiments of footmen did scowre the countrey about Sedan where they fired all thinges so that in all the principality of Boillon there remained in a maner but ashes and calamity besides Sedan and Iamets Their outrages and cruelties were such that the like were neuer heard of For all maner of whoredome rauishments violences and woorse were committed by those infernall helhowndes villaines and sauage robbers besides they put all women maidens and children to raunsome as many as they could take such violences they continued vntill the latter end of March thereby to terrify this yong and desolat Princesse Whilest the Leaguers as fire brands blowne out of hell subiect vnto no law gouernment nor power do proffer iniuries vnto all maner of persons without any respect about the beginning of February while they tryed by al means possible both by faire words open violeÌ„ce to seaze both vpon the person and state of the Princesse of Boillon the chiefest of them assembled at Nancy in Lorreine where they continued in counsell vntil the middest of Februarie in the which assembly they concluded many articles against the Kings person and state also they tooke order to continue the eiuill warres which they had kindled and that still vnder the â—olour of popish religion they might win by little and little and so make themselues way to the state by the vndooing of whome soeuer And for as much as they were out of hope to preuaile against them of the reformed religion in Guyenne or other where they aduised themselues by policie to giue the King no rest by hampring him into new troubles in proposing to him vnreasonable requests and still vnder colour of Catholickisme For there they framed articles which haue three principal finall causes to destroy the King the nobilitie and to saue themselues The first is either to shorten the Kings life by some lot of warre or else at the least to weaken him and make him odious to the Church-men The second is to kindle and entertaine the warre immortall that the nobilitie may be destroyed by mutuall blowes and woundes Thirdly to saue themselues from blowes and charges and to keepe themselues in authoritie vntill the opportunitie which they watched for should proffer it self these things are euidently seen in y e articles following But here first before wee come to these articles marke well Christian Reader the turkish hearts who contemning all that is named God and Iustice they haue extinguished in themselues all humanitie and reuerence of superioritie For contrarie vnto all humanitie they went about to rauâ—sh away that noble Princesse issued of noble race left desolate fatherlesse brotherlesse and friendlesse and also to lay hand vpon her state Now haue they despised the superioritie ordayned of God when they desperatly and imperiously dare giue lawe to their Soueraigne euen such law as is altogether vnreasonable contrarie to the duetie of subiects But now let vs come to the articles First they say the King shall be requested to ioyne himselfe more openly to the League and shall put away from him and out of his strong holdes and out of all states and offices of any waight such as shall bee named vnto him Here first they will haue the King to take vpon him all the shame dishonour and hatred of their detestable actions and iniuries which they doo intend Note to proffer to all manner of men vnder the name of the League which they will the King to take vpon him in these words that they wil haue him to ioyne with the League Secondly whereas they seeke to displace from about him such as they would their intent is to depriue him of his authoritie forces and faithfull friends to put him vnderward that he
had beene still in the Loure and knowing that there rested nothing more to doo but to haue his person for a gage of the Crowne determined to besiege the Loure and to bring out of hand the Artilery before the gate But vnderstanding that he was issued out and gone already a great way of hee remayned Master of Paris séeing that the Master and the seruants had yeelded him the lodging Hetherto wee haue conducted the King to Trappes and his forces are sent packing and the Duke maketh merrie in Paris in hope likewise to be Master of all the rest The Duke and his partakers perceauing how the King had giuen the slip and auoyded their bloudie hands doo scratch their heads and see their error for although the ouerthrow was great yet the victorie was not full the enterprise not well executed and the King being not taken the issue thereof was doubtfull and full of perplexitie For their consciences doo represent before their eyes the perfidious rebellion which they had committed as to haue not onely dispossessed him of his house of whome they holde all that euer they had but also to haue sought to murther him whom God had consecrated to represent before their eyes the image of his Soueraigne iustice to destroy their Prince who had loued them so tenderlie their benefactor who had cherished them as a Father his owne naturall Children They accurse their negligent folly in that they had not beene more watchfull to attend vpon his person feare seazed their hearts when considering the greatnes of their offence doo also knowe that yet hee will haue meanes inough to bring their dooings to iudgement and to take reuengement of them according to the haynousnes of their offence To be short they are very sory not for that which they had done but for that they haue not done worse But the Duke of Guize considering well that the stincking fame of his villanous fact would flee abroade vnto the eares of forraine Princes who will thinke themselues interesâ—ed in this iniurie and that they will not forsake such a mightie Prince in his distresse hee thought good that the execution done this day might be reported vnto Princes neighbours and friends of the Crowne in such a manner that whatsoeuer was therein most odious and damnable might bee either concealed or else coloured Therefore among others he forgot no courtesie and honest offers to the Lord Ambassodor of England to whome he sent the Lord Brissak accompanied with some others to offer him a protection and to pray him not to bee dismayed and not to remoue thence with assurance of safetie The Ambassador answered that if he had been as a priuat men in Paris hee would haue gone to prostrate himselfe at the feete of the Duke of Guize for to giue him most heartie thankes for his courtesies and honest proffers but being there nigh the King for the Queene of England his Mistresse who had aliâ—unce and couenant of amitie with him he could not nor would not take any protection but of the King onely The Lord Brissak shewed him that the Lord of Guize was not come to Paris to enterprize any thing against the King or his seruice but that hee hath resolued himselfe vpon the defensiue and that there was a great conspiracie against him and the Citie of Paris and how the towne house and other places were ful of gibets whereon the King had determined to hang a great number of the Citie and others The Lord of Guyze prayed him to aduertize his Mistresse of all these things to the end the worlde might be informed of the trueth The Ambassador answered that he could easilie beleeue that he saide as he thought but that hauty and hard enterprises oftentimes doo remayne incommunicable and closely shut vp in the hearts of them who doo enterprise them which also when they thinke good doo produce them forth with such colour as they iudge most fit for their aduantage And that he would say freely that whatsoeuer had passed in Paris would bee iudged very strange and wicked by all the Princes of Christendome who were interessed in it and that no colours were they neuer so fayre could make it to seeme good being the simple duety of a subiect to remaine in the iust obedience of his Soueraigne And that if there were so many gibets prepared it would bee beleeued more easily when the Lorde of Guyze shoulde bring them in sight And graunt that so it were yet is it a hatefull thing and intollerable that a subiect would let by force the iustice which his Soueraigne will execute with strong hand He promised him that willingly he would aduertise the Queene his Mistresse of all that which he tould him but to serue him as an interpreter of all the conceites of the Duke of Guyze and of them of his part it was no matter belonging to his charge The Queene his Mistresse being wiser then hee to beleeue and iudge what would please her Maiestie vpon that which he would write vnto her The Lord Brissake seeing that neither by fayre offers words nor prayers the Lord Ambassadour could be mooued to allowe their actions ended his speaches with threatnings saying that the people of Paris had a quarrell to him by reason of the crueltie which the Quéene of England had shewed to the Quéene of Scots To this word of crueltie the Ambassadour answered I arest you vpon this word of crueltie my Lord no man euer named a iustice well qualified crueltie Moreouer I beléeue not that the people of Paris haue any quarrell to mée as you say for vpon what occasion seeing that I am here a publike person who neuer molested any bedie Haue you any armour sayd the Lord Brissake If you did aske it me sayd the Lord Ambassadour as as of him who hath béen sometime friend and familiar of the Lord Cosse your vncle it may be I would tell you but being that which I am I will not tell you You shal be searched here sayd Brissake ere it belong for it is thought here is armour and it is to be feared you will be forced I haue two gates in this house sayd the Ambassadour I will shut and defend them as long as I may that it may appeare to the world that vniuftly in my person they haue violated the right of Nations To that Brissak replied but tell me in good friendship I pray you haue you any armour The Ambassadour answered seeing you aske me as a friend I will tell you as a friend If I were â—ere as a priuate man I would haue armour but being here as Ambassadour I haue none other armour then the right and faith publike I pray you sayd Brissak keepe your doores shut vp I ought not to doo it sayd the Lord Ambassour for the house of an Ambassadour ought to be open to all goers and commers considering that I am not in France to dwell in Paris onely but to bee nigh the King wheresoeuer he be
béene cast below the méeting of two channels they had béen followed with such violence that they had béen cut to peeces afore they could haue come to Marans It is not to bee forgotten that the King of Nauarre at the same houre caused the regiments of his gardes of Charbonieres and Soubran conducted by the Lord Mignonuile Marshall of the campe to take paines for to wade ouerthwart the Marishes in the water to the knee more then a League and defeated a part of the enemie whome they met in their retyring The Fort of Clousy seeing the disaray of their fellowes rendered immediatly at discretion therein were fourescore men commaunded by Captaine Serre who were all saued the enemies partly made their retire in great haste to Marans and partly fled another way In the towne where it was thought that some resistance would haue been made was such a maze that there was found no body Many of the forces of the King of Nauarre not staying for the setting on of the bridge both a foote and horseback cast themselues in the water The Lord Cluseaulx who did dine at Marans whilest the King of Nauarre did force the passage hearing of the flight of his men as well with them which had remained within the towne as with them who had retired from the garde of the passage with the Lord Tremblay few of the company fled into the Castell because there was no other way nor place to flee to The first which entred into Marans were the gardes of the King of Nauarre followed at hand with the rest of the armie as fast as they could passe ouer at Clousy At the same instant the enemies were besieged in the Castell the quarters parted to euerie regiment and at euening euerie one was lodged vpon the Castell ditch The King of Nauarre followed them at hand with his maine forces and lodged that same night at Marans The same day were summoned all these forts following fortified with Garisons of the enemie The Fort Boysneuf where commaunded the Lieutenant of Captaine Serre with thirtie men with him who yeelded Also the Fort Brune wherein were threescore men commaunded by Captaine Camart who yeelded also The Fort Allowette holden with twentie men commaunded by the Lieutenant of Captaine Roque all yeelded with their liues safe There rested in all the Iland that day being the sixe and twentie of Iune to recouer from the hand of the enemie but the Castell the Forts Bastile and Paulee situated vpon the other entries into the Iland The prudence of the K. of Nauarre is not to be forgotten that before he assaulted the Iland hee placed the Lord Trimouille with all his light horsemen and the companies of the Lord Orges Plassak and Arambure within the town of Saint Ihan of Liuersay in the high way from Niort to Marans that the enemie might not receaue succour through the Bastile The Lord Trimouille had made a Fort in two dayes betweene Saint Ihan of Liuersay and Bastile to cut from them which were therein all meanes to escape away and hope of succour The monday on the seauen and twentie of Iune the Captaine and Souldiours of the said Bastile séeing that all the meanes to auoyde were cut off from them did yéeld and went foorth with like conditions as their fellowes had done the day before being in number fourescore and ten commaunded by Captaine Chapel The eight and twenty the King of Nauarre with two canons and two Culuerines began to approach and in the middest of the day put them in place of batterie The Lorde Clermont there did commaund that night there were certaine motions of Parley The nine and twentie about three a clock in the morning when the besieged saw that the King of Nauarre went to worke in good earnest they demaunded to Parley and in the name of all the rest came forth Captaine Riuiere to require conditions of the King of Nauarre At length the composition was concluded that the Captaines and Gentlemen should goe forth with their horses and corselets the souldiours with their swords that the rest of their armour should remaine within the Castell The master of the campe the Lord Tremblay the Captaines Maron and Toure should remaine in the hands of the King of Nauarre to deliuer him the colours to wit eyght Ensignes for two companies had none and the Cornet The agréement was carefully kept the King himselfe conducted them part of the way they were not iniuried so much as one word although the Lord Cluseaulx had great enemies The same day Captaine Roque rendered the Fort Paulee with the same conditions that the Castell was yeelded vp the Lord Lauerdine sending word that he could not rescue them for because the Lord Boulay was lodged on that side The King of Nauarre kept Cluseaulx prisoner who was brought with great solemnitie into Rochel where he was kept prisoner a long time hauing lisence notwithstanding to goe where he would vnder custodie of certaine Souldiours he was better vsed then many did expect at length he was deliuered and among other vpon this condition neuer more to ioyne himselfe to the League The King of Nauarre also sendeth all the armour which there was taken in great stoare with the colours to Rochel there were taken also many faire horses So in the space of foure dayes he recouered all the Iles and Forts of Maran did rid all that quarter of the filthie sinke of the Leaguers where he did shew no lesse courtesie to his enemies then valour and diligence in the repressing of them It is said before how that after the accursed and execrable rebellion and insolencie of the Leaguers in Paris they perceauing the foule and dangerous errour which they had committed in missing of the Kings person and that hee was now safe enough from falling into their hands againe which might redound to their vtter vndooing they sent three manner of spyalls to him to view his countenance to sound the thoughts of his heart by the way of sorrowing and excusing the desperat fact attempted against his sacred person in Paris It is saide also how they sent a supplication vnto him therein faining a submission full of snares and vnreasonable demaundes It is sayd also how vppon the rumor spread abroad throughout all the realme his faithfull seruantes of all callinges and degrees moued with anger and compassion repayred vnto him most humbly prayed him not to put vp such publike iniury proffered him their seruice goods and liues for the reuengement of such an outragious offence Now agayne many of the Kinges subiects of all qualityes and degrées do repaire a fresh vnto the King most instantly to require him not to suffer such a damnable treason of the Guyzes and their confederats let go vnpunished but that punishment be executed vpon such offenders in such sort as is fit for the greeuousnes of the offence they do promise him againe all aide and succour if hee will resolue himselfe to seeke the
saide nor done any thing began in that kinde of rhetorick which hee was wont to vse among the seditious of Paris when he sharpened them against the King at the last rebellion in May of the same yeare onely altering the name of King into the name of hereticks So that as there was that day many good words cast away without dooing any good so there was many cruell bitter and seditious words vttered in the Kings presence to prouoke him to crueltie and slaughter by it to lull him asleepe to cast him into securitie to take away from him all mistrust the more easily and at some conuenient to oppresse him The 18. of October the King came into the hall with the body of the States for the second session where he began to say as followeth Sirs I haue testified vnto you on Sonday last the desire which I haue alwaies to see during my raigne all my faithfull subiects reunited in the true Catholick Romish religion vnder that authority which it hath pleased God to giue me ouer you and hauing to the same effect made my edict of Iuly last past that it might be holden for a fundamental law of this realme to binde both you and your posteritie to the intent that now the same may be confirmed before me as made by the common consent of you al and that no man may pretend ignorance of the nature and ofspring of it and that it may haue the marke of a fundamentall law of the realme for euer I will that this edict bee now read with a loude voyce and bee knowne of all and after that sworne vnto by all the States to the which thing I will sweare first of all that my holy intent may be knowne both of God and men The King hauing ended his speach commaunded Ruze one of his Secretaries of estate to reade with a loud voyce the declaration which he had made the same day vpon his edict of reunion Wherein he first sheweth his great and feruent desire which hee hath had from his youth and the noble acts which he hath done for the rooting out of heresie also how he hath vsed all gentle waies to call the hereticks to the holy Church againe But considering that all this would not serue but onely to make them more obstinate he dooth declare himselfe to haue made the edict of reunion for an irreuocable lawe of the realme condemning already by this his declaration all such as will not sweare nor obey the same as guiltie of high treason This declaration being read then followed the edict of reunion by the same Secretary which being done the Arshbishop of Bourges made a long exhortation to the States vpon the solemne oath to be taken by the King and required also to be taken by his subiects for the obseruing of the saide edict This faire and learned sermon about a naughtie matter and to couer their dissembling heart First did speak of the truth and of lying then shewed the vse of an oath the necessitie the forme and qualities thereof Secondly he speaketh of the Church which he saith in some respect to be visible and in some respects inuisible and that it is gathered of diuers nations and degrees of men without acceptation and distinction of persons He saith that it is called the Church of Rome in none other sence then that it imbraceth the word of God and true doctrine which S. Peter there taught to the which all other Churches haue vnited themselues by a generall and vniuersall consent hee saith that the triumphant and militant Church is but one in effect And that this Church is grounded onely vpon the stone which is Christ the true foundation and head corner stone thereof and that it hath sustained many assaultes which haue not preuailed He saith also that out of that Church there is nothing but death and that hee who will not holde the same for his mother cannot haue God for his Father Out vpon the heretick â—â—e vpon fowle hereticks so many words concerning Note the Church so many heresies or else they make great iniurie to the Hugonets whose death they doo conspire here in this assembly for holding so much in a manner as this saucie Bishop dâ—re speake here before one of the greatest Potentates of the world I lictor colliga manus caput obnubiâ—o quadrupedem constringito c. Loe the omnipotent power that shauelings haue they can make heresie good doctrine and true doctrine heresie when they list These things being spoken by an Archbishop are no heresie being spoken by another man as Theodorus Beza or some other which they doo not fancie there will bee picked out nineteene heresies a quarter and a halfe Thirdly he sheweth what a great matter vnion is but specially in the Church therefore hee exhorteth them being of one faith lawe and beliefe vnder one Sauiour in one and the same Church of one nation and tongue to vnite themselues for the defence of the same holy Church Fourthly he preuenteth by an obiection that whereof they may be charged saying we meaning the Priestes doo not proclayme waâ—re no no saith he the Church dooth not thirst after bloud but we doo desire them who are out of the way to returne into the right way and if they bee obstinate wee doo desire that they may be cut off as gangrâ—ned and putrified members See here godly Christian reader what hipocrisie goeth about to doo this Bishop would faine see the Kings horses to swim in the bloud of them Note of the reformed religion and bloweth the trompet giueth the watch word to the onset vnder the colour of reuniting the Catholicks yet hee would not for all the goods in the world that men should thinke that it were done by his approbation consent and counsell and therefore he saith that the holy Church seeketh not to spill bloud but that they that are in error may be coÌ„uerted into the right way Now my Lord shall I bee so bould to speake one word to your Lordship what way will you follow to conuert them from their errour as you say they are in my Lorde Bishop will answer that hee will first shewe them their errour and then teach them the certitude of his doctrine Then my good Lord I pray you be not angry why haue you denied this way to the King of Nauarre to the reformed Churches of France which onely thing they haue desired When once you haue followed that way and haue conuerted them of errour and taught them a better way if they shew themselues obstâ—â—at cut them off as rotten and gangrened members in deed But belike this is the methode which you will follow against them you will drawe a forme of aâ—iuration in the first part you will make them to abiure and renounce that forme of doctrine which they say is grounded vpon Gods worde the infallable rule of veritie then you will lay downe your fantasies traditions flowing out of the darke
illumination of your owne brayne and that you will make them beléeue for an vndoubted truth vpon your single asseueration and all the reasons which you bring for the confirmation of these your fantasies you lay downe sic volo sic iubeo I pray you my good Lord tell me whose voyces be these But what if they will not take your sic volo sic iubeo for reasons which may induce them to subscribe to your abiuration and will not suffer themselues to bee cut off neither being not conuincted of error but stand to defend themselues against an vniuersall contumelie iniurie and violence What will you doo My Lord Bishop hearing this newes what will they neither beléeue vs neither suffer themselues to be burned for our pleasures Now all my Lords religion is turned into madnesse his zeale to rage his authoritie to tyrannie and his mildnes that holy Church doth not couet after blood is turned to murther Then my Lord in his furie and in the trance of his hart he crieth Open the Kings Arseuall bring foorth his Ordinance gather together his men of armes and footmen and if néede bee the whole Realme set vpon them kill them slash them cut them spoyle them murther them and worse if you can This is not to warre quoth my Lord no no holy Church thirsteth not after bloud But here is good play which I doo offer you seeing that you must néedes to warre there is in France many legions of diuells of your haire put on your carnall armour for the spirituall armour you haue lost long agoe let your Myter serue you for an Helmet your Rochets for Corslets your Surplesses for shirts of male your Crosses for pikes your Crosier staues for Launces your red roundaches which the Cardinalls doo weare vpon their heads for Targets your Holy water tassels for Clubbes put on your Spectacles too that you may the better aime at your enemie call vppon all the he Saints and she Saints which the Popes haue deified with thousands of Ora pro nobis set you all in battell aray be fiue against one méete the heretikes if you dare in y ◠plaine open field I aduise you though you be desperate enough not to come within their reach least that with bastinadoes the pockes and the gowtes be wrong out of your rotten boanes against your wills But to returne to the purpose he exhorteth the States to vnite themselues and to sweare the foresayd edict which speaches being ended the King tooke the word thus Sir you haue heard the contents of mine edict and vnderstand the qualitie of the same the greatnes and worthines of the oth which you be about now to sweare And seeing that I perceiue your iust desires to agree with mine I will sweare and doo sweare before God in a good conscience the obseruing of this mine edict as long as God shall continue my life here and will do ordaine that it may be kept for euer as a fundamentall law of this realme and in witnesse of the correspondence and vniuersal consent of all the States of my Realme you shall now sweare the obseruation of mine edict of vnion all with one voyce you Churchmen laying your hand vpon your breast and the rest lifting vp their hands to heauen which thing was done with great reioysing and acclamation of all men crying God saue the King Now by this hee in his owne person and his subiects haue sworne an immortall warre in his Realme of which thing he commaundeth an act to bee made in writing to serue for a perpetuall remembrance of the fact The act is such as followeth This day the 18. of October 1588. the King sitting at Bloys in the assemblie of his generall states of his Realme hath sworne in his faith and word of a King to obserue this present lawe in all that shall concerne his Maiestie Also the Lords Cardinalls of Bourbon Vendosme Princes of Soyssons and Monpensier Cardinalls of Guize Leuoncourt and Gundy Dukes of Guize Nemours Neuers and Retes the Lord Kéeper and many other Lords aswell of his Counsell as Commissioners of the three estates of his Realme haue sworne to kéepe and entertaine inuiolable the sayd lawe as well in their proper names as in the names of the Prouinces which haue sent them to the said assemblie of the States This thing being done the King testified the great desire which he had to make an end of this assemblie and to prouide for all his subiects vppon their iust complaints and grieues and for that end promised not to depart out of Bloys vntill the finall end of the said estates commanding likewise them of that assemblie not to depart by any meanes whereof they gaue him most humble thankes The assemblie dismissed the King the Quéenes Princes and Princesses Cardinalls Prelates and other Lords with all the deputies of the States went to the Church S. Sauiour there to sing te Deum where they were alwayes accompanied with a generall voyce of the people crying God saue the King shewing an extreame ioy and gladnesse for their owne calamities and miseries which they had sworne Now good Christian Reader consider well three things in this history to see Gods wrath iustice and mercy the thing which they haue done the miseries which haue followed and the gracious godnes of God in vpholding the ruines and miserable fall of that kingdome For first in this session Gods wrath drawing them to work to sweare and to reioyce in their owne dreadfull destruction they haue degraded and disherited the Princes of the most noble and ancientest family of the world from that inheritance and preheminence which God Nature and Law had appoynted vnto them whose auncestors haue gouerned that kingdome with iustice and equitie aboue thirteene hundred yeares And now without cause contrary to Gods ordinance Lawe and Nature to plant another family vnknowen in France within these threescore and ten yeares the performance of this most vniust exheredation and degradation they haue sworne to execute an oath more damnable than witchcraft ioyning to that iniurie the persecution of the true church of God But O thou most highest rayse vp thy selfe bruse them like a Potters vessell What hath followed that execrable oath First the most wretched and infamous death of the chiefest authors of this coniuring and witchcraft Secondly an vniuersall rebellion against him who sware first and ministred the oath to others I am not a Prophet nor the sonne of a Prophet yet thus much I dare affirme grounded vpon the nature of Gods iustice who sayth that who shall do those abominations shall die the death That peace shall neuer be restored to France as long as there is one left aliue of that damnable and accursed company who with that abomination haue poluted the land either in their mind haue giuen approbation vnto that accursed execration and vntill the Lord hath washed away the polution of their execrable deede with their owne blood Last of all here we haue
fort which dooth couer the gate of the towne towards Maschecow without the which the enemy euen the first night of the siege might haue lodged hard to the wall that place being not flanked with any thing The worke began to goe forward after the succour ariued by the sea with the munitions of warre of whome a part was sent to Beauuoyre by the commaundement of the King of Nauarre to wit they which were of the regiment of Valirant who had embarked themselues with them who were sent to Ganache The Baron Vignoles a Gentleman of Gascoyne entred into Ganache as also the Lord Saint George by the King of Nauarre his commaundement with his companie of 50. Harquebusiers on horseback There was then none of all the forts of sufficient defence vpon which occasion they deuided y e quarters as wel for the defence as for to labour about the fortifications euery one in his quarter with such diligence as necessity required The Baron Vignoles with his captaines Piue and Solas tooke on him the keeping of the fort of the causy right against a broaken chappel of Saint Thomas suburbs This fort was commaunded by a little hill couered with fruitefull trees and also by the suburb for which cause they couered themselues with barricadoes and Gabions The two companies of the Kings gardes which were commaunded by the Lordes Aubiguy and Robiniere vndertooke the keeping of the fort of the tower which we haue saide to haue the forme of a horseshooe The Lord Ruffigny with his companie vndertooke to keepe the fort of the suburb Saint Leonard which was the best hauing the ditches full of water of the height of 9. foote Captaine Beauregard who commanded ouer the company of the Harquebusiers on horseback of the ordinarie garison vndertooke to make a fort at one of the corners of the towne but it was a worke of long time and serued but a little and cost much to keepe and was not begon but in hope that Montagne which was already besieged would debate longer then it did notwithstanding they laboured about it continually and whereas the Captaine Beauregard had not aboue 18. Harquebusiers of his owne halfe of the companie of the Lord Saint George was giuen him The two captaines of the two companies of footemen ordained for the ordinary gar ion did drawe the lots to whome should remaine the fort which was begun at the gate so it fell to the lot of Captaine Ferriere who laboured so hard that euen in ten dayes during the siege it was made defensible and serued to good effect The other companie of the garison vnder the commaundement of the Lord Forestiere a noble man of Britaine was appoynted for the garde of the Castle and the Doue house which was in the garden The charges so deuided euery man doth labour some doo pull downe the Suburbs others goe about the Countrey to get men to labour for there was none of the inhabitants left in the Towne not so much as an artificer but only a butcher The Lord Plessis aduertised of the surrendring of Montagne sent foorth his forerunners to scoure the countrey they reported the 14. day of December that part of the armie was alreadie lodged at Lege The morrowe was discouered a great troupe of horsemen who appeared aboue the mils of Porrieres to view the Towne The Lord Perrine Lieutenant of the companie of the light horses of the Gouernour who had retyred before to his own house supposing there to passe part of the winter returned into the Towne about three daies before the siege and went out with foure or fiue light horses to view them The 16. day of December againe very early he went out on horseback but he had not passed aboue halfe a mile when he found the forerunners of the enemie whereof he aduertised the Gouernour About 11. of the clocke there marched a great number of horsemen conducted by y e Lord Sagonne followed of many regiments of Chastiagueray Brigueulx Leslele and ohers who in hast aduanced to get the Suburbe of S. Leonard These troupes discouered by the L. Perrine hee turned face to them to hold them play to giue time to them of the Town to prepare to receaue them which thing could not be done so timely but that when the bel began to ring for the alarum the enemie was at the entring of the Suburbe The L. Ruffigny went to meete them with sword in hand resolutely followed by the Lord Vignoles and Maretes sons to the Lord Sabboniere and some other Souldiers of their companies with them approached nigh them But the L. Ruffigny for not hauing had leisure totake his Corslet entring into a house where he sawe the enemies lodge receiued a pellet in his stomacke whereof being carried thence two houres after he dyed This his death was occasion that the Suburbs were lost vnto the Chapell sooner then otherwise it had béen Captaine Iahn and fifteene Souldiers besides them who were wounded of the enemies side were slaine aswell within the sayd house as in the Suburbes as afterward some of the enemies reported For to rescue them who did fight came the Baron Vignoles with Captaine Forestiere and 40. Souldiers harquebusiers who defended all the day that which rested of the Suburbe betweene the Chapell and y e towne There was wounded Captaine Mote Standard bearer of the Lord Vignoles with a pellet in the highest part of the thigh whereof he dyed fewe dayes after There was before the towne gate beyond an olde hollow way certaine houses somewhat ruinous The Lord S. George the alarum being giuen went to lodge within the same ruinous houses assisted aswell of his owne as of some armed men of the companie of the Gouernour to helpe the harquebusiers if they should be forced There also the enemie presented all his forces and sent to begin the skirmish which was sustayned and continued vntill night so that the enemie was not able to lodge within the sayd ruinous houses without great losse and seeing the obstinacie of them within lodged in a village vpon the way to Maschecow They of the towne lost a souldier and the Lord Coulee was there wounded The night following the regiment of Brigneulx and Chastiagueray who had gotten the Suburbe of S. Leonard lodged in the houses nigh to the Chappell which were pulled downe Notwithstanding they could not set vp any Barricadoes by reason of the continuall shot which did raine out of the Forts and Curtine so that they could not get out of y e houses All the dayes following to wit from the 16. vnto the 29. of December passed away in continuall skirmishes as the enemie made his approaches for to lodge but specially at the comming of the regiments of the Countie of Beaupre who went about to lodge at the Planches for there commonly began the skirmishes which neuer ended but commonly by the death of some of commandement of the side of the enemie Like skirmishes were daily fought on the side of the
otherwise could not withstand if they should be pressed All things being well considered they determined to hearken to so aduantagious proffers with hope thereby to make the K. of Nauarre priuie to their affaires and for that intent to send Captayne Robiniere with a passeporte that was concluded and sealed on both sides the sixt day at night The seuenth day the truce was agreed and hostages were giuen on both partes and all acts of hostilitie ceased The same day the Lord Robiniere departed with a trompet of the D. of Neuers to goe to the King of Nauarre The gouernour in the meane while was greatly carefull to take heede that no man should goe foorth to visit or frequent with them of the armie and also that none of the enemies should enter into the towne To preuent all inconueniences hee made a diligent watch both day and night vpon the breaches so that hee himselfe tooke his meales and did lie thereon notwithstanding the hardnes of the winter The eleuenth day of Ianuarie the Lord Robiniere returned from the king of of Nauarre and brought with him the Lord Rinuile to the Lord of Neuers who after he returned to the king of Nauarre obteined leaue to enter into the towne with the Lord Robiniere By them they within the towne were enformed how the king of Nauarre had marched forward very nigh intending to succour them and to venture a battel for that end but that he fel sick with a dangerous disease which had hindred the execution of his enterprize They reported also howe that the said King of Nauarre had sent the Lords Chastilion Rochefocault Trimouille Plassak with the greatest partes of his armie to trie how they might enterprize vpon the enemie but considering that nothing could bee attempted without great disaduantage they were faine to returne backe For the Lorde of Neuers had lodged and trenched himselfe in so aduantagious a place that the towne could not sayle but fall into his hands except it were rescued by the winning of a battell which thing the time prefâ—xed could not permitte being already almost expired Notwithstanding the twelfth day at night the Lords Chastilion Plassak Trimouille went to view the armie so nigh that in the darke night some shot of Ordinance was giuen out for a token of the alarum toward the Porrieres The Duke of Neuers vpon this alarum feared greatly least the Lord Plessis seeing that helpe nigh would haue receiued some succours within the town interpreting the tearmes of the agreement to his aduantage But the saide Lord Plessis would haue done nothing of dangerous consequence much lesse against his promise The 14. of Ianuarie the Lord of Neuers perceaued that they within the town went faithfully to worke for euery man disposed himselfe to depart also he vsed much courtesy toward theÌ„ who were besieged prouiding carts for them whereof they had need to carie as well their bagage as theÌ„ which were wounded caused them to issue foorth out of the sight of y e army least they should bée molested by any man The said Lord of Neuers was in his own at their comming forth with a small companie he commaunded their matches to be kindled saluting very courteously euery man There were some souldiers hurt whome they could not carrie away he commaunded them to stay with assurance to be dressed and otherwise courteously vsed All the companies were safely conducted vnto the Abbey Brilleybant the companies of the King of Nauarre being lodged at Palneau halfe a league thence to whome they ioyned themselues easily the regiment of the Câ—unty of Beaupre was left there in Garison So then the saide Duke of Neuers hauing receaued the towne of Ganache as is aboue said on a sodaine that great and furious army was broaken to pieces as smitten with the finger of God Many there dyed many were hurt they of the League liuing in great mistrust either did dissemble their actions or retired to such places of safetie as they thought most fit the artillery returned into the places from whence it was taken The Lord of Neuers went to Bloys withall the rest of the armie as remained with him whereof a part was sent to the Marshall Haulmont who in the Citadell fought with the inhabitants of Orleans within a few dayes after the Lord of Neuers went from the court to his house of Neuers So all the lowe Poytow which had béene terribly threatned with that tempest was deliuered by this sodaine and vnexpected alteration For the execution which was done at Bloys vpon the person of the Duke of Guize was as an horrible thunderclap not onely vnto the leagued which were in the army of the L. of Neuers of whom the most part did consist and to others who were in multitudes in most partes of the realme but also vnto all others of that confederacie which were out of the realme For the newes fléeing as farre as Lorreyne the forces of the Duke of Lorreyne which had blocked Iamets in y e soueraignty of Boillon euer since the moneth of Aprill before were so amazed by the vnexpected losse and surprise of that support that they taking sodainely bagge and bagage as men frighted out of their wittes brake the siege and retired away so that God there deliuered his Church after a long and daungerous triall which shall induce the posteritie to feare and admire the iust iudgements of God who within a moment and by euents not forséene by mans wisdome dooth turne vpside downe the counsels of the wicked to the ioyfull deliuerance and comfort of his saints Righteous O Lord are thy iudgements all thy waies are righteousnes and trueth The army of the King of Nauarre returned to Niort and Fontenay It is said before how after the surprising of Niort the King of Nauarre repayred to the saide towne the 27. of December and soiourning there a while there he gathered the greatest part of his forces and about the 6. day of Ianuarie in this yeare 1589. the said King departed with such forces as he had from Niort toward the towne of Ganach intending to succour them who were besieged therein or else to fight with the Duke of Neuers if he would haue let him But God who gouerned all things with an vnsearcheable wisdome disappointed that enterprise by that dangerous sicknes which fell vpon him The cold was very extreame and as he is a most laborious Prince after he had béen long on horseback all armed a great cold came vpon him so that he was enforced to light downe of his horse and goe on foote with a swift pace and violent motion to get him some heate and a little after hee had eaten a strange extraordinarie cold tooke him with a great feauer About the 9. day of Ianuary it was incontinently perceiued that it was a pleuresie This happened at a little village called S. Pere there he was enforced to stay without any meanes to transport him to any other place by reason of the
argument to walke in they cryed out that he serued himselfe of the forces of heretickes no maruel if they cry out now when they see a whip prepared for their backes and that now they are further from bringing to passe theyr wicked thoughts thâ—â— euer they were By these execrable outragious and seditious inue ctiues of these damnable Iesuits and Fryers hyred to sound the trompet of rebellion in a maner throughout all France but specially froÌ„ the riuer of Loyre north west and east and among other Prouinces Normandy was so infected with their poysoned and detestable rebellions that there was not so much as a Uillage to bee found where there was not some of all qualities dronken with their cup of abominations It is sayd before how the King had pardoned Brissak Boysdaulphine and Chastre with many others who within a while abusing the Kinges facility and ascribing their impunity to the Kings puâ—â—llanimity fled and reuolted to the League agayne After this reuolt Brissak and Boysdaulphine went to Anger 's as it is sayd and procured that great Citty to rebell but after the reducing of the sayd Cittye to the Kings obedience by the Marshal Haumont the said Brissak and Boysdaulphin fled and in their flight caused by the meanes of their partakers the Citty of Mans which was already wauering to rebel against the King To these 2. manipuli furum resorted the Lords la Mot Serrant Touchet Angeruile and Normandiere who by theyr treacherous solicitaâ—ion procured almost all the townes of Normandy to rebell and to open their gates to them as Roan which was reuolted long before Luseulx Falaize Newhauen Seas Bayeux Argenton and afterward Alcencon all these opened their gates to the rebels who afterward a most in a litle space consumed them There remained Caen Constances few other towns in base Normandie in the kings obedience by the good and prouident counsel of the Lord de la Veaue Beuuron the Presidents Aulbiguy and Lizeres and some other loyall and Noble men We sée how the cities of Normandie for the most part at the solicitatioÌ„ of Brissak Boysdaulphine and others whose names shall be knowne hereafter and by the preaching of the furious and frantick Iesuites and Friers are brought from the Kings obedience to a damnable rebellion The countrey men also and pesants were induced by the selfe same meanes to rebellion vnder colour of the defending the Catholick religion and hope of libertie There is in high Normandie a certaine place called la Chapelle Gantier thereupon the perswasions of the desperat Iesuites and Friers to countrey men were stirred vp to rebellion both against the King and the Nobilitie and began to commit horrible excesse and cruelties by reason of this beginning all the rebels in Normandy were called Gantiers these Peasants ioyned to themselues a number of Priestes but specially the Priestes of Sees and a great number of bedlem Friers furious Iesuites Parsons and among others the Parson of Vimonstier the most pestiferous desperat and seditious firebrand of all Normandy About the 19. the King vnderstanding of this rebellion in Normandy and foreséeing the mischiefe which might ensue if this euill were not in time remedyed thought good with all spéede to send the Prince Montpensier generall Lieutenant for his Maiestie into that Prouince to reduce them into the true way of their duetie and obedience and commaunded the Lord Saint Cire one of his counselers and Master of the requests of his house to accompany and assist him The King to bring this seduced people in the right way of iust obedience gaue charge to the saide Prince to offer pardon and impunity vnto the rebels in case they woulde liue quietly and peaceably vnder his gouernement Secondly hee discharged them of the third part of all taxes due vnto him hoping to haue a better opportunity and more happie season woulde come when he might gratifie them in some greater matter Thirdly hée gaue a forme of an oath to the said Prince to commaund all men to liue peaceably vnder his Gracious gouernement and to forsake all Leaguers and associations whatsoeuer and in case they would refuse either to returne vnder his protection or else to take that oath he gaue him authority to chastise them with strong hand as traitors and rebels About the 30. the saide Prince departed from Tours accompanied with the Lords of Backeuile and Archant and came to Luce where hee vnderstoode that Boysdaulphin and la Mot Serrant and other rebels had surprised the towne of Mans and purposed to méete with him to stop his way The 31. day this noble Prince of the house of Bourbon passed hard by the nose of the enemies and came as farre as Alencon where hée found the inhabitants amazed for the surprising of the towne of Mans by the enemy whome the rebels also had enueigled to enter into their rebellon and confirmed them in their obedience and duetie toward his Maiestie There this noble Prince with great deuotion and solemnitie kept his Easter and hauing taken order for the safetie of the towne appointed the Lorde Reuty gouernour of the said place with two companies of shot on horseback to kéepe the towne and Castell and to make roades in the villages about to repulse the rebells when they should come to forrage and constraine the inhabitants to pay them taxes and other tributes due to the King The 4. day the Prince vnderstanding that the citie of Sees were minded to ioyne to the rebels and had refused to take the oath according to the prescribed forme of the King purposed to passe that way and sent worde before to the Bishop and inhabitants that they shoulde open the gates for him who vpon a short consultation answered that they were ready to receaue him and being met by the citizens a great way out of the towne hée accompanied with the Lordes of Bakqueuile Archand and their troupes passed through without any stay The said Prince shewed vnto the Bishop and the inhabitants that he came from the King to offer pardon vnto the rebels and that the King ment to deale fauorably with his subiects to make account of them according to their duety and obedience towards him to chastise the rebels obstinat The inhabitants protested though with fained lippes of their loyaltie affection and obedience toward his Maiestie The departing from Sees met with the Lordes de Hallot and Creueceur his brother with a good and honorable tronpe of nobilitie to whome they proffered with many protections faithfully to serue the King as long as breath was in their bodies The 5. of Aprill the Prince departed from Escouche had intelligences that the Lords Touschet Angeruile Normandiere Captaines of the rebels with many Laâ—nciers and a good number of footemen haue come forth out of Falaize and marched on to stop the Princes way and went as farre as a village called Perrefit distant two miles from Falaize where they being met by the Lords Bakqueuile Archand Creueceur were
was made in the Citie in Ianuary last they had appoynted a Captain for euery warde of the Citie which be eightéen which by turnes should haue out of his warde twelue hundred men to march to the Boys of Vicennes nigh Paris to keepe that Castle from surprizing by the Kings friends Captaine Aubret his regiment was appointed that day to that charge to wit to conduct the Ordinance to whome was added the companie of Captaine Compan they leauing for that day the kéeping of the Castle Vicennes their baggage apparell and prouision of victuall which was gone before through the gate S. Anthony went through S. Martins gate where the Ordinance was gone before vnder the charge of one Brigard Procurator of the Towne-house They arâ—iued with these three pâ—eces at Seulis the sixt day of May in the euening At their arriuing they saluted the Towne with a peale of that Ordinance At the noyse therof they of the Towne on a sudden came to the Towne walles and offered to make as great a breach in the wall as they would demaund and so to ease them from taking so much paynes as to vse the Canon shot The Duke d'Aumale presently sent to summon them to yeeld vnto composition they within promised to make an answere the morrowe following Vpon this answere a Post of the Towne went to Paris to bring them good newes which encreased greatly by the way as the manner is there the report went that Seulis had proffered thréescore thousand Crownes some multiplied that to one hundered thousand for their rauâ—some The 7. day they of the Towne gaue their answere both by portraiture and by mouth for they all night had portrayed on a cloath the Dukes de Mayn Aumale hanged on gibbets the Dutchesse Montpensier kneeling at the feete of them with her head all vncouered weeping and wailing and tearing her haire which they caused to be set on the morrow being the 7. of May to bee spread vpon the walles the people crying with vile and reproachful speaches that the same was the portraiture of the composition that they demaunded Vpon the sight of this picture and words spoken out of the wall they sent agayne to Paris for more Ordinance to beat the Towne to dust for they had sworne so to doo The Parisiens made excuse that they lacked Bullets and such Pieces as they demaunded The cause of this excuse was not lacke of will to do so much mischiefe as the other intended to haue done but for feare of the ielousies betweene the Duke de Mayne and Aumale for the Duke Aumale had béen greatly and oftentimes desired after his departure from thence to returne to Paris which he denyed to doo The Parisiens therefore fearing that Aumale hauing such forces as hee had at Seulis and expected dayly from the Lord Balagny and hauing store of Ordinance and munition either might turne all these forces agaynst them or keepe them short from hauing any victuals out of Picardie or to make a third faction and to striue with the Duke de Mayne about the state and so weaken their party to expose them to be a pray for the King The Duke d' Aumale seeing that there was little succour to bee expected from Paris sent to Peronne where he had sixe pieces of Ordinance and out of Anjous one which were conducted to Seulis by y e Lord Balagny gouernour of Cambray About the 13. day of May they of Seulis made a sally out of the Towne with a hundered horsemen whereat they that besieged the towne were so amased that they thought best to flee so the Parisiens casting away their armor fled and hid themselues in bushes on euery side Of these hundered horsemen fiftie returned into the towne and the other fifty kept the field for to ayde any that might come to succour them About the 15. of May the Lord Balagny with his companies of Wallons Cambresines and Picardines came and ioyned to the D. Aumale with sixe pieces of Ordinance which hee had taken at Peronne and Anjous as is aforesayd The 12. day of May they began to batter Seulis with ten pieces of battery and within a while hauing made a great breach the enemy confusedly gaue the assault who was repulsed with some losse The same day about noone word came to the enemy that the Duke of Longueuille accompanied with the Lordes of Humieres Bonniuet la Nowe Giury Mesuiller and Tour and other nobles of Picardy were at hand to the number of a thousand horsemen and three thousand footmen to rescue the towne of Seulis Whereupon the Lord Balagny pitched in campe the best power of his men and beeing then accompanied with the Lords of Mainuile of Saisseual Mezieres and Congy with others approched somewhat neere to the Duke of Longueuille in good hope to discomfit him The horsemen of Cambray and the Wallons also first charged the footmen of the Duke of Longueuille The said footmen departed themselues in the middle gaue roome for the ordinance to shoot which at the first volye made a great flaughter of the Cambresines and Wallons who lyking not that play recyred backe with greater hast then they went to it but afterward they came all to a set battaile fought stoutly on both sydes and with great courage but the Ordinance of the Duke of Longueuille made still so great spoite of the enemy that conceauing a great dread they began to wauer neither could the Duke d' Aumale nor the Lord Balagny by any perswasions encourage them nor bring them to good order agayne so the confusion and terror encreasing the whole army which besieged the towne fled away presently The Duke of Longueuille his power with the power which was in the Towne issuing forth did so follow the chase that with handy blowes they killed as many as they could ouertake There remayned slayne of the rebels vpon the place betweene fifteene hundred and two thousand as many were slaine in the chase besides them who were slayne in the Villages by the countrey people All the Ordinance and munition of warre bagge baggage was left behind The Duke d' Aumale had a blow which did him no good the Lord Balagny had an other which did him no great hurt hoth of them fled to Paris in lesser company then when they went to Seulis The Duke d' Aumale the 19. of May went out of Paris fearing there to be welome and mistrusting the snares of de Mayne mutiny and factions of the Parisiens he retyred to Saint Denis Balagny remayned in Paris faining there that hee would take order for the gathering of the Souldiers breathing out cruell threatning what hee would doo and promising to the Parisiens that a new supply of Wallons would come out of the low Countrey he cheareth the people of Paris who were smitten with the dread of Iericho The selfe same day the rebels of Rion in Auuergne had an ouerthrow no lesse then this but the particularityes are not knowen vnto me for lacke
we may with admiration celebrate the prouidence of God that cleane contrary vnto the expectation of all men the Lord hath giuen him to France for her good For first the Leaguers in the beginning of their insurrection made him a party Then they vsed for the space of foure yeares all the power of France to oppresse him when force would not serue they procured poysoners to try what might bee done that way But that taking no place they degraded debarred him from his right of succession by a fundamental law of the realme which they sweared sealed and decréed that it should be vnchangeable and should remayne for euer they made him hatefull and abhorred of the common people throughout all France After they had missed of their purpose intended against the King they so vrged their attempts that the King was enforced to yéeld himselfe into the King of Nauarre his hands for his safety at length they murdered the King Then I will aske them what haue you gotten by it They answered that they haue gotten the Crowne either part or the whole Why Because there is no successor Demaunde What are the Bourbons then Answer They are excluded by a fundamentall lawe of the realme sworne by the vnion at Bloys Dem. What saith God to that Ans Beholde the Lord saith that hee will haue the King of Nauarre head of the house of Bourbon to succeede because it is his right for it is not reason that a confederacie of conspirators should make a law contrarie vnto the fundamentall lawe of the realme confirmed by the consent and custome of so many nations by the space of twelue hundred yeares not contrarie vnto Gods word Dem. But where dooth God speake it Ans By the mouth of a Soueraigne Magistrate ordained by him to bée the interpreter of all iudiciall lawes Therefore beholde the meanes which the rebels haue sought to exclude the King of Nauarre from his right of succession the Lord hath vsed to the stablishing of the said King and hath vnited the Princes Péeres and chiefest Lords Gentlemen Captaines and Souldiours of the realme to assist place and defend him in that roome so the arme of fleshe shall not preuaile against the power of God and the hand of the Lord shall be vpon him The Prince Montpencier gouernour and Generall for the King in Normandie then being at Audely a towne vpon the riuer of Seyne aboue Pont de Carche caused all his army to take that oath exhorting them to defend constantly the Kings will according to their oath About the 26. day of Iuly there was an assembly holden at Caen in Normandie of the court of Parliament whereto the late deceased King had transported the said court from the Cittie of Roen after the rebellion thereof of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the countrey and of the bodie of the towne and Vniuersitie and of the Citizens and inhabitants of the said towne where the Lord Lizores Lord President of the saide court did sit as head of the saide méeting in whose presence the saide President hauing declared the haynous déede committed vpon the person of the King late deceased and shewed the equitie of the Kings testament and last will on his owne behalfe protested perfect loyaltie to the King right and lawfull successor of the Crowne of France after the publication of the Kings and of y e Prince Montpencier his letters all vniformally with one consent did sweare their acknowledgement and fidelitie vnto the lawfull successor of the Crowne of France and to maintaine al things contained in the will of Henry d'Valoys lately deceased The like declarations and promises were made and othes of fidelitie and loyalty taken publikely in many townes and cities in France euen on the North side of Loyre to the same effect The rebels vnderstanding in Paris what the late deceased King had done and how the King of Nauarre was proclaymed King of France contrarie to their expectation that they were worse hampered now then before like to haue him to be their master whome they had refused and disdained thought good to trie what might be done by treachery vpon the person of the King And because that a Friers coate could not beguile this King as it did the other by reason of the little acquaintance and credit which hée giueth them they suborned a murtherer who vnder the colour of a Gentleman should shoote him through with a Piece but the Lord watching for his annointed brought the murtherer to confusion All thinges falling out so confusedly in France by the death of the last King and the newes thereof fleeing abroad into forreine countries replenished mens harts with admiration of Gods secret iudgements with a maze indignation and feare The King taking counsell what was best to be done in these extremities for to saue the remnant of the realme from vtter subuertion did resolue vpon these three pointes which will follow this miserable murther First the King considering how his enemies long time aforehand had rendered him by slaunderous libels and seditious sermons of Iesuits and Friers by these meanes to make him abhorred of the commonaltie and thereby to make them vnwilling to acknowledge him for their King and to render him fidelity loyaltie and obedience which long practised malice of his enemies would procure him much labour and long continuance of warre betweene him and his subiects Secondly he knew that in the Campe vnder the banner of his predecessor and also in his counsell were many deuoted sworne to the League whom he durst not trust and knowing that they would not do him faithful seruice no more then they did to his predecessor hee determined to licence them to depart so many as would and to liue peaceablie in their houses vnder his obedience whereupon many disbanded themselues and retired some home and some to the enemie Last of all the K. foreseeing that the heads of the League vpon this prosperous exploit done vpon the person of the King lately murthered will double their rage and with great forces which they could quickly set vp in such a mighty and populous cittie would set vpon him and with multitude might greatly distresse him determined to send part of his forces into Picardy vnder the conduct of the duke of Longueuile the Lord la Nouë there to minister play to the enemy and with the greatest part of his army to retire into Normandy there to gather greater forces and if need should require to be nigh and ready vpon the coast there to receaue supply of forces from the mightie Princesse the Queene of England which might bee done vpon short warning considering the small distance which is from Coast to Coast As for the Swissers and other Germans who serued the King his predecessor hee sent their Heads and Captaines vnto their Princes and Signories to vnderstand their pleasure whether they would call their men home or giue them leaue to serue him The said Germans Swissers according to
to two thousand men all old Souldiers The Duke being flided away and the King seeing the opportunitie of battaile gone with him determined to do his businesse and to take Dreux garded by Captaine Falande with a strong garrison that if he had it in his obedience he might ouerlooke and bridle the Citie of Chartres vntill that conueniently he might haue opportunitie to enterprise vpon it The King in going to the siege of Dreux tooke Noueyncourt and being at Dreux and the breach being readie to giue the assault the King vnderstoode that the Duke was returning toward Seyne for to passe ouer the bridge at the Towne of Nante which then did hold for the Leaguers full of confidence and trust in that proude and mightie army which consisted of thrée and twentie thousand men of all sorts The King considered wel that the Dukes forces were but borrowed and that now out of hand hee must hazard or els his companies in a small time would disband themselues and retyre home and that with delaying with him he might dissipate his forces He knewe well also that they who doo proffer iniurie are commonly more desperat then they who doo withstand it He weighed well his small number in comparison of the great multitude and that there were forces comming to him out of Champaigne as good as these which his enemie had receaued out of the Low Countrey which he might in protracting the time receaue shortly He sawe well that the countrey was fauourable to the enemie which reasons might haue perswaded a great warriour by policie to haue weakened the enemie as Fabius did Hannibal But the King had more sufficient and substanciall reasons which did bid him to encounter the enemie as the assured confidence whereby he reposed himselfe in Gods goodnesse and protection and casted himselfe in his armes the equitie of his cause his lawful vocation agaynst mutinous traytors and parricides so that each of these reasons was stronger to him then so many hundred thousand men which made him to conclude that considering these causes God could and would dissipate his enemies notwithstanding their great forces as well with fewe as with many Being also confirmed by the experience which he had at Arques and in the Suburbs of Paris In the meane time while the King was at Dreux the Duke de Mayne hauing receaued the forces which came out of the low Countrey thought himselfe sure of a prosperous successe and promising an assured victory to his partakers passed his forces ouer the bridge of Manie and marched toward Dammartin which was but four miles off The King vppon the reasons aforesayd resolute to encounter with few that huge multitude on a sudden from before the breach raysed vp the siege from Dreux and departed the second day of March the besieged with great reioysing beholding and wondering at the cause of such a sudden departing The same day the King went backe the way that he was come and lodged in the Towne of Noueyncourt to cut the passage to the enemy of a little riuer which runneth by Assoone as he came thether hee caused warning to be giuen that on the next morning euery man should bee in a readines The night following that day the King set in order the manner of the battaile which in the morning early the third day of March he shewed to the Prince Montpensier to the Marshals Biron and Aumont to the Baron Biron Marshall of the field and to other Princes and Captains of the army who with one voice hauing considered of it according to the skill of warre they approoued and would change nothing of it That day hee gaue charge to the Baron of Biron to set euery man in his place and order and did choose that morning the Lord Vieques sargeant Maior of the battell who was one of the ancient masters of the footmen in France This thing beeing done the King willing to begin this great worke with prayer with great vehemency and confidence hee made his prayers vnto God in the hearing of all men wherein hee called God to witnes that hee knew the purpose of his hart and well vnderstood whether it were for desire of glory or for ambition or for desire of blood or longing for reuenge which made him resolute to this battaile that hee was his iudge and witnes vnreproueable that nothing mooued him thereto but the tender loue that hee did beare to his poore people whose peaceable and quiet estate hee esteemed more then the safety of his owne life he besought God so to direct his will as hee should best see to be good for the benefite of Christendome And as for himselfe he prayed God to saue and helpe him as he knew to be good and profitable to the weale and quiet of the state and not otherwise This prayer eloquent in words but more passing pure and deuout in sense did so rauish all those that were nigh that euery man after his example did the like And after that all that after noone was seene in Noneyncourt the Churches full of Princes Lords Gentlemen and Souldiers of all Nations hearing Masse communicating and playing the good Catholikes They of the reformed religion made their humble prayers and supplications to God The court of Parliament at Tours being aduertised of the things which were like to passe betweene the King and his enemies commaunded generall processions and prayers to be made the third and fourth of March for the King and for his good and prosperous successe Lyke commaundement was sent vnto the reformed Churches about to do the like in their congregations though not in the like forme so that at Tours the Catholikes did almost nothing else these two daies men women and children but pray after their maner This deuotion beeing done at the Campe the whole army did shew such countenances as though euery man had receaued a seuerall answer◠of God concerning the happie successe which each of them should obtaine The King had caused sommons to bee giuen to the Towne of Saint Andrew beeing from Noueincourt eight miles in the way going to Iury where he supposed the enemy and his army had béen lodged The Kings companies came to a great plaine nigh the towne Saint Andrew About the same plaine there are certaine villages and a litle wood called la haye de Pres that is the medowes border or hedge There the King with the Marshals Biron Aumont and the Baron of Birō marshal of the field began to set the battaile in order following the plot agreed vpon before The King hauing tryed in battels and skirmishes before that it is more aduantage to make horsemen fight in squadrons then in rings specially his that haue no launces deuided all his horsemen in seauen squadrons and all the footmen placed at the flankes of the said squadrons and euery squadron had a company of forlorne footmen The front of the battel was in a right line bending somewhat at the 2. endes The first Squadron on the
left side was that of the Marshall Aumont consisting of three hundred good horsemen hauing on his two sides 12. regiments of French footmen The second was the squadron of the Prince Montpensier consisting of three hundred Horses and on his left hand foure or fiue hundred Lanceknights and on the right hand a regiment of Swissers euery company of the strangers forces being lyned with footmen The third Squadron was of light horsemen deuided into two companies the one whereof the great Prior Colonell was the Leader and the other company of the light horsemen was conducted by the Lord Gyurye Marshall of the field of the said light horses hee was able to make foure hundred horses These two companies of light horses were placed a little before the foresaid squadrons and at the left hand of them was the artillerie to wit foure cannons and two culuerins The fourth squadron was that of the Baron of Biron which might bee of two hundred and fifty horses and in the same ranke and order at the left hand towards the Prince Montpensier was a company of light Horsemen The fifth squadron was the Kings which made fiue rankes and in euery ranke sixe score horses he had on the left side two regiments of Swissers of the Canton of Glaris and of the Grisons and on his right hand a great Battailon of two other regiments of Swissers the one of the Cantons of Solethurne and the other of the Colonel Balthazare which amount in the whole eighteene ensignes The Battailon on the right hand had the regiment of Brigueulx and on the left wing the regiments of Vignoles and S. Iohn The sixt Squadron was of the Marshall Byron who had two hundred and fiftie good horses with two regiments of French footmen The seauenth Squadron was of the Rutters who had ioyned with them French footmen like as other companies had Things were so ordered by the King and Lord Marshalls and Baron of Byron plied the matter so that in lesse then an houre all was so fitly disposed that it could not be deuised better And while the King did thus set in order his battell the night before and that morning there arriued vnto him sixe hundred horses vnlooked for to wit the companyes of the Prince Countie both horsemen and footmen there came also the Lord Guiche great master of the Ordinance and the Lord Plessis Morney with their companies to whom vpon deliberation was graunted place in the Kings Squadron The same day also while the King stayed in battell array came companies from the garrisons of Deepe and Arques and other companies and Lords out of Normandie to the number of two hundred horse and more who were placed some vnder the gouernment of the Prince Montpencier some with the King and some with the Baron Byron In the meane time the King sent light horsemen for Spyes on the left side of the battell supposing that the enemie did lye at Iury which is a great towne hauing a bridge ouer the riuer Eure thinking there to set vppon the enemie But when they had scarse passed halfe a mile they vnderstood that the enemie was aware of the matter more then they thought and that the enemie had passed the riuer Eure and that they began to shew themselues in battell array The enemie had passed that riuer not thinking to haue the Kings army so nigh But the king hearing of their going to Verneuille thought to méet them there and arriuing thether found that the enemie had sent his Harbingers for to take vp lodgings euen néere the place where the kings army lay When these newes came to the Campe there was an excéeding ioy among all men of all degrees Betweene the two armies there was a Village in the playne which was holden by the enemie which the King made straight way yeeld to him but for al this occasion giuen the enemie did not stirre But the King seeing that it was nigh Sunne setting and hauing not yet descryed the manner of the lodging of their Campe and considering they might bee at some aduantage was aduised not to march for that time any further whereupon there he stayed his armie for that night All that day the two armies were in sight one of the other There were onely some odd skirmishes betweene them in the which prisoners were taken who reported that the number of the enemie was greater then they were aware off and that they were giuen to vnderstand that the Kings companyes were come thether rather for a fashion then minding to bid battaile The night drewe on which caused the army to encampe there where they were set in battell array It is reported that the night following the third day two armies were seene in the Skye and the lesser number put the greater to flight The King would not departe from the army before hee had knowledge of the enemies lodging and had set all his watches in order The Noble men lodged in the villages about the playne which the enemies thought to haue surprized that day the king was the last at fielde and two howers in the night lodged at Foucraynuille which is a Village at the left hand of the same plaine and there hauing a little refreshed himselfe sent word to his men euery one to be in a readines against the morning and after he had rested himselfe about two howres on a pallet obseruing the auncient precept by Homer giuen to the Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very early he sent to enquire for newes of the enemies newes came that the enemie séemed to haue repassed the riuer Eure hee sent the second time then word came that vndoubtedly they had not repassed Eure but that they lay in the Villages about Eure some what further then they were supposed to be These newes cheered the king who desired greatly to come to hand with the enemy Day light being come the Princes and Lords Marshalls came to the king and set their men in battaile aray The king bâ—gan in the presence of his houshold seruants and other present to make a most feruent and deuout prayer to God committing his life and the liues of his faithfull subiects and seruants and the defence of his cause vnto him who is the mightie God of battailes The Princes and Lords Catholicks went to heare Masse and their deuotions done went to refresh themselues The King sent to them of the reformed Religion in like manner to commit themselues to Gods most mercifull protection by prayers went in like manner to refresh themselues The king liueth so in the presence of God that hee is a spectacle of royall godlinesse and vertue to men and to the blessâ—d Angels of God All the kings companies hearing that they should ioyne in battaile that day with the enemies did exceedingly reioyce and by nine a clock the king came into the field and vppon warning giuen by two Canon shot by ten a clock all the companies were in order in their places The placing of
tooke another resolution to wit to defend it to hold them play the enemies passing ouer the riuer vppon a bridge made with boates began to batter it with nine pieces of artillery the breach was made before the King had any notice thereof by reason of the great winde which was contrary and a great thick myst yet assoone as the King had any knowledge thereof he sent succour to haue rescued the Towne but the enemy giuing the assault afore the Kings forces could come and being few against many the enemy carried it away which being entred into the Towne omitted no barbarous cruelty and villany which that Sarrasenicall sauage nation could deuise there were betwéene two and thrée hundred Souldiours within the Towne gouerned by the Lord Laphin who defended that weake towne so valiantly that the enemy lost in that assault the most part of them that were at y e siege all the Garison Souldiours with their Captaines were slaine in like sorte as Leonidas with his Lacoues at Thermopylas The King tooke that losse very sorrowfully and supposing that this beginning would haue cheered and fleshed the enemy commaunded the skirmish to be giuen hoâ—ter then euer before But as the Woolâ—e pursued and hunted hauing gotten his den ouer his head will rather dye there then to get him forth and trie the matter with the hunter so these sauage rauening monsters could not be drawne out of their moore The King perceauing that nothing would encourage these fearefull warriours departed out of the campe with a good company of horsemen with ladders and marched toward Paris and caused certaine companies to draw nere the walls betwéene the gates of Saint Iames and Saint Marcel which being detected the alarum was giuen in the City the Kings Souldiours did hide themselues in the darkenes of the night being a great myst withall The Parisiens returned euery one home the Iesuites who are the most desperat and warlike of all the legions of the locustes of the kingdome of Antichrist watched all the night vpon the wal fearing some surprise and about foure a clock in the morning the Kings Souldiours lying in the towne ditch began to scale the wall the Iesuits fearing to be researched first for their horrible treasons doo sound the alarum and doo kéepe of the Kings men from leaping vpon the wall as well as they can whilest company doo run to helpe The inhabitants doo cast fagots kindled into the ditch by which meanes the Kings Souldiours being discouered did sound the retire gaue ouer the enterprise and so the King returned no more to Paris Here Christian reader thou shalt note in this City the notorious sins of the inhabitants the iudgements of God shewed vpon them and what is yet to come This City hath béen first of all the bulwark and strong hold of all Idolatry and heathenish superstitioâ—s which they haue increased of meere malicious wickednes and as it were to spight the Gospell whose voyce had been heard and had knocked at their gâ—tes many yeares They raised the alarum at the sound thereof they haue murthered the Saintes in the streates they haue shed their bloud vpon the earth like water their bodies they haue drawne by heapes and giuen them to bee meate for the beastes of the field and the fowles of the ayre they haue searched them out as it were with a lanterne that they might roote out the knowledge of God from the earth they haue made the gospel of life a hissing a by word a nodding of the head and a song of despight and contempt among them Therefore the Lord hath giuen them to a reprobate minde to commit among themselues all the abominations of the heathens and hath solde them to seducers and rauing false Prophets For beside the infinit heards of Epicures and idle bellies of idolatrous Priests Monkes and Friers about the yeare 1560. when the Gospell did knock at their gates there crept out of Spayne and Italy the vermine of Iesuitâ—s whome Sachan did burst out as vltimum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by whose desperat rage specially these sinfull people haue béen blinded and seduced to the vtâ—ermost They haue kindled and maintained to the vttermost of their power war against them of the reformed religion They were the first in all France to shew the fruite of their hellish Idolatry that haue rebelled against the King who was of their owne religion as great and deuout a Catholick as any was in the world they stirred vp and inuited to their rebâ—llion all other Cities of France by their example letters and Ambassadors and at length they haue shortned his life by an haynous parricide by the which they haue made their walls their houses their temples and themselues guilty of the damnable crime of treason hated both of GOD and man Now let vs sée the fearefull iudgements of God shewed vpon them the Lord hath executed his iustice vppon that defiled City defiled I say with the bloud of the innocents at all times by punishing them with his scourges of pestilence and dearth But after they had defiled their hands with the Kings bloud the anoynted of the Lord who represented before their eyes the image of God the Lord strooke them with the giddines of Sodome and the darkenes of Aegipt and sent euill Angels among them to vexe them with disquietnes with guilty consciences with vprores and seditions And now when the Lord during the siege had sent them mercy and fauour euen to their gates by the band of his messenger and Lieutenant Henry of Bourbon now raigning Prince of great and famous renowne They as men senseles fallen into a letargy and out of their wits would hearken to nothing but to the voyce of sedition of commotion of bloud and murther being deliuered into the bondâ—ge of â—raitors and tyrants And when the Lord had broaken the staffe of bread among them with greater rigour then in any place which euer was heard of they did not turne vnto the Lord who had giuen them bread wine oyle flaxe as Osea speaketh but multiplyed their idols worshipped diuâ—ls as Iames Clement the parricide and others euen with gréedines They did rather choose to eate the flesh of their sonnes and daughters which by the lawes of that realme is a capitall crime and to bee râ—uenged with fire then to accept grace and fauour at the hands of their King whome law nature and God had giuen vnto them Now let vs consider what by al reasons grounded vppon the stedfastnes of Gods threatnings is like to ensue thaâ— God may powre downe the fulnes of his wrath and iust indignation vppon that accursed City he in whose gouernâ—ment are the hearts of Kings and Princes doth alter the minde of the King to giue ouer that City vntill the day of vengeance Not for that he was not able to haue distressed the same longer and haue kept the Duke of Parma from approaching to it but to that end to hamper his enemies yet more in
appeare that as the sayd Duke of Parma was not able to doo good to his partakers so came he not but to bée a scourge of Gods wrath vnto them For he came to raise the siege from before Paris if that had not béen done by dutifull submission the Citie might haue been relieued iustice iudgement which are more then centâ—plex murus to a Cittie had beene established they might haue had their owne Autonomie to wiâ— their Religion and Franchises in peace security and libertie Their commerce and traffike by which the greatnes of that Citie is entertained and nourished had been opened to bee short it would haue florished more then euer it did but the comming of the Duke of Parma disappointed them of all these benefites The Duke of Parma brought a little store of victuals but hee and his consumed not onely that within a few dayes but also all other prouisions which could be made for the Citie so the inhabitants were hungerbitten still with sorrowfull eies they saw others to intercept that which should haue béen their sustenance So that if it were not for the Kings goodnes which by winking and forbearing some store of victuals to goe to their market they would haue beene enforced in few dayes to open their shambles of horse flesh and dogs flesh Hee came to deliuer them as they thought from cruell handes but what could Busyris haue done to his enemies that this man did not to his friends to their wines and children To be short now he is returneâ— home with shame dishonor hunger nakednes feeblenes and stripes and they remaine in a worse case then euer they were before for before they liued in hope of him now they know that he neither may nor will do them good but hath lingered their miseries and heape of euils that they may perish as with a sharpe and consuming sicknes Last of all that al men may learne by seeing the punishment of rebellion to submit themselues vnto the powers ordayned of God as vnto his ministers for the good of the iust and the punishment of the wicked and vniust and that they may discerne between a sawfull power and 〈◊〉 It is sayd before how after the death of the Duke of Guyze the Lords Diguieres and Valete vppon a good iudgement entred in league of amity for the Kinges seruice and after that separated themselues and within a short space scoured the Leaguers for the most part out of Daulphinee some he enforced to receaue the Kings commandement and the rest enforced to seeke for truces for foure yeares which in March were granted and proclaimed in Grenoble vpon Easter day It is saide how the Lord Valete went into Prouance and gathering the states of the countrey by a common consent they concluded to warre against the Senate of Aix who were the ringleaders of the rebellion and had intelligences with the Duke of Sauoy The Lord Diguieres hauing put the countrey of Daulphine in a good stay went into Prouance to the Lord Valete making warre against the rebellious parliament there and the Duke of Sauoy The rumors went abroad that they had lost a field and were sent into their countrey with store of Bastinadoes but for lack of instructions I affirme nothing The Lord Diguieres being in Prouance with the Lord Valete had diuers letters from the King but specially in the latter end of May commanding him to warre against the Duke of Sauoy But the saide countrey of Prouance being assaulted by the Leaguers of Sauoy Lionnoys and Daulphine he thought good yet to employ the moneths of Iune and Iuly with the Lord Valete for the establishing of the affayres of the sayd Prouance wherein they had so good a successe that the enemie in token of that cowardnesse which their rebellion doth bréede in their hearts abandoned the townes and Castells of Peruis Pumichet Valansele Montignak Soluiers Pignauers and Lorgis some were brought to the kings obedience by force and some by composition In Iuly during the soiourning of the Lorde Diguieres in Prouance there was in Daulphine one captaine Cazete who with intelligences which he had with the Duke of Sauoy would haue sould him the townes of Briancon and Essiles in Piemont yet pertayning to the Dolphinate These two townes were kept by the Neutrals that is to say by them who would admit neither the K. nor the Leaguers The said Cazete had receaued commission from the Duke of Sauoy to leauie souldiers to that intent in expecting the arriuall of foure and twenty companies of Spaniards to bring his enterprize the more easie to passe The inhabitants of the valleies perceauing well that if this trayterous captaine should preuaile great warre and miserable desolations of their countrey would ensue therefore the chiefest of those valleyes making acquainted the Lord Diguieres of their purpose determined to rid the sayd Cazete out of the way and did worke so that the fifteenth day of Iuly his house was blowne vp and he slaine This traytor being made out of the way the inhabitants of the valleis seat word to the Lord Diguieres that they would send their deputies to Ambrun to treate with him Vpon the receipt of this message the Lord Diguieres considering the greatnes of the affayres and that it was very expedient for the king to haue those townes of Briancon and Essiles in possession to haue passe and repasse into Piemont when néede should be departed out of Prouance and in hast marched towards Ambrun where the deputies of the valeys did méete him And among other things shewed the treasons of Cazete by the papers which they had found in his house After that they bound themselues by oath to be faythfull to the King they promised also to doe their indeuour to confirme the people into his Maiesties seruice and obedience this was done about the fourth of August Immediatly after this méeting the Lord Diguieres being aduertized of the wauering which the death of the sayd Cazete and voluntarie yéelding of the valeys did cause in the towne of Briancon which was Neutrall knowing also that those who did fauour the kings side in the towne began to be encouraged caused foure Canons to be drawen and brought to that place and after a breach made the enemie did parley and came to that issue that Clauison appoynted there gouernour by the Duke de Mayne surrendred the towne and Castell the tenth day of August Whilest the Lord Diguieres did these exployts in Daulphine Martinengo one of the Duke of Sauoys great warriors did besiege Saint Maximine in Prouance for which cause the L. Valete did daylie solicit the sayd Diguieres to assist him in the rescuing of the sayd Saint Maximine The Lord Diguieres considering the safetie of Saynt Maximine to make much for the preseruation of Prouance when as hee had gone to Montgeneure to take Essiles vpon intelligences which hee had with the gouernour thereof and séeing that there was neither certaintie in al that neither was he
sufficiently prouided to force the place was contented for that time to take the oaths onely of the commonaltie who shewed them selues greatly affectionated vnto the kings seruice These affayrs beeing done in Daulphine hee tooke his way into Prouance and lodged nigh Barcelona Barcelona is a towne in Piemont in the countie of Nice Salines an old Spanish Captayne beeing chiefe Colonell of the light horsemen of Piemont was gouernour thereof vnder the D. of Sauoy the said Salines immediatly after the comming of Diguieres went foorth out of Barcelona and assaulted the quarter where the companie of footmen of Boyset and twelue launces of the Lord Brickmault were lodged These companies of Boyset and Brickmault did receaue him so valiantly that by the helpe of other companies which vppon the noise they heard came running thether that the sayd Salines left behinde sixe score dead layd vpon the ground and thirtie Spaniards taken prisoners and he saued himselfe with sixe men onely into the towne from whence he came the fifteenth of August In that skirmish was hurt and taken Voluant who two yeares before had sold the strong Towne and Castell of Carmaniole vnto the deceased D. of Sauoy after the death of the Marshall Bellegard The sixteenth day the said Lord Diguieres tooke by composition the Castell of Rosoles in Piemont which partained vnto the Duke There was two companies of footmen in garrison who were permitted to depart with armor leauing their Colours behind After this exploit the said Diguieres continuing his way about the 22. of August came into Prouance hee was not so soone entred the countrey that Martinengo who besieged Saint Maximine hearing of it remooued the siege which thing the Lord Diguieres hearing brought three Canons before the Castell of Barles the 23. of August and the 31. of the same Moneth tooke it at his discretion Some time before the Lord Diguieres had fortifyed a Church called Saint Paul with flankes and ditches about distant foure or fiue leagues from Ambrun during the time that the Lord Diguieres soiorned at the siege which he had laied before Barlâ—s the Duke of Sauoy accompanied with thrée thousand footmen and foure hundred light horsemen came to besiege and batter with three Canon the said Church Saint Paule which the 31. of August he tooke by composition the same day that Barles was taken the garriâ—on thereof going away with their armor colours and drum in battell array The same day the Lord Diguieres aduertized of the siege of Saint Paul marched in all hast to succour it with intent also to offer a battell to the D. and vsing a maruellous celerity he lodged in Varret the third of September The Duke vnderstanding of this so sudden and vnlooked for arriuall of the Lord Diguieres fell into such a dismay and feare that he retired that night from the mountaine Larche and marched all that night with links beeing followed the next day with his forces The fourth day the Lord Diguieres commaunded some of his companies to follow after the enemy who did slay many of the rereward of the Duke and tooke one Don Pedro Vegieres a Spaniard of the gard of the Duke hee himselfe with the rest marched toward S. Paul resolutely determined to assault Saint Paul with handie blowes for lacke of Canon hauing blowen vp one of the gates and a breach made tooke it by assault which continued three houres and caused two hundred Souldiers that were within it to be put to the sword taking none prisoner but Captaine Strata gouernor of the place and his Ensigne named Hercules Couero of Milan of the Kings side was killed only Captaine Bouloneuue and few Souldiers hurt he caused the place to be rased hard to the ground The sayd fort remained not foure whole dayes in the Duke of Sauoy his power At the same time that the Duke did batter Saint Paul which was in the end of August he sent his forces of Sauoy and Piemont beeing foure thousand footmen and three hundred horsemen into the valey of Essiles to spoyle the Countrey of Brianconoys to batter Guylestre and ouer runne Ambrunoys The Lord Diguieres vnderstanding of this hauing rased Saint Paul presently the fifth of September tooke his iourney toward Briancon and beeing informed that the enemy was lodged in Chaumont made preparation to force the passage Selt kept and fortifyed by the inhabitants of the valeies sent thither the Lord Morges his Nephew with his company of fiftie horsemen and two ensignes of footmen who arriuing at Selt the 19. day of September at the same instant that they were in skirmish he lighted with his men and setting them in battell array did so both encourage his men and charge the enemie assaulting the fort and bulworks in sundry places with fifteene hundred footmen and one hundred and fourescore men of armes that the said enemy was not onely repulsed but also beaten with the losse of sixe score men lying vpon the ground The thirteenth day of September the Lord Diguieres after he had rased Saint Paul marching toward Essiles ouer the difficult Mountaines arriued at Douley three leagues from Essiles where newes was brought him that the Duke hauing sent part of his forces to the Lord Sonnes was gone to Nice These newes made the sayd Lord Diguieres iudge that the said Sonnes beeing now strengthened with a new supply of men would aduenture to hazard the battell And the more to prouoke him to it determined to batter Essiles and with foure Canons which hee brought from Ambrun ouer the high as it séemeth inaccessible Mountains began the battery and withal shewed himselfe euery day before Chamoys where the said Sonnes was But displeased with y e importunacy of the said Diguieres left Chamoys and retyred to Suze accompanied with fifteene hundred Harquebuziers and fiue Cornets of Horsemen The 26. day of September the Lord Diguieres followed the enemie and found them at Ialasse halfe a league from Zuze whom in the entring of the playne hauing but eight score horsemen hée assaulted so furiously that beside some footmen he laied dead downe to the ground foure hundred Launciers on the place among whom were Clapot the elder the Lords Montaignes and Valuernes 17. Captaines or chiefe officers slayne or taken Among the prisoners was Clapot the yonger wounded and died two dayes after There were also taken prisoners Labras Lieutenant of the Marquesse Taforts the Gouernour of Bresâ—he Captayne Trisolts de la Riuiere and S. Lorens Sonnes also was thought to be either slayne or taken but about midnight he came alone before the gates of Zuze The 27. of September the Lord Diguieres receaued supplie of forces as well of the inhabitants of the Townes of Briancon and Pons as of the gouernours there and two or three hundred shot of the companies of S. Sauiour which caused him to alter his purpose concerning Essiles which began alreadie to parley and caused him to continue the siege of the sayd Essiles vnto the end of the same
gouernment of the said towne shall be referred to the Kings good pleasure who shall be requested to prouide it of such a gouernour and so sufficient garrison as he shall thinke meete for his seruice and the preseruation of the towne Item that in the meane time as the Lord Arbucy hitherto gouernour of the sayd towne vpon some considerations cannot as yet resolue to take that oath that the sayd place shall remayne in gouernance of the Lord Rochegiron and that the Lord Arbucy shall haue three moneths respit to resolue vpon the same oath which thing if hee doth the King shall bee requested to graunt him againe the gouernment of the same towne Sixtly that generally all the inhabitants of whatsoeuer calling or degrée they bee shall stand discharged and acquited of all leuying of the kings impost or coynes bearing of armes treaties and practizes euen with Forreiners or any other acts of hostilitie and that the Lord Diguieres hath vndertaken within two moneths to deliuer vnto them sufficient prouisoes for the same from the King Seuenthly that the memorie of all the offences past in all these troubles shall be extinct as matter not happened And that the Lord Diguieres with all other gentlemen of his partie doe promise that by themselues and by their meanes such matters shall neuer bee reuiued and that it shall not be lawfull to call such things to remembrance and that it shall be forbidden to argue or quarrell about it that al the kings subiects may liue together in peace like brethren friendes and fellow citizens Eightly that for a more perfect vnion of the hearts of the Kings subiects the Lords of the court of Parliament who by the Kings commandement had retired and are yet resident at Rouan or elsewhere shall returne with conuenient speede to Grenoble there to follow and continue their charges Last of all that within two moneths there shall be summoned a generall assembly of the states after the manner accustomed for the hasting of the meanes to discharge and relieue the people and establish the common bodie of the countrey Now Christian reader I beseech thée to consider both the euident and sencible mercie and iustice of God the difference which is betwéene the vessels of glory of wrath for this honourable L. des Diguieres in all the wars of Daulphine euer since the rising of y e execrable League hath neuer shewed any point of crueltie vpon his enemies in which there might appeare any small token of particular anger or appetite of reuenge but alwaies hath shewed good gracious entertainmeÌ„t euen vnto the very enemies in whom he hath marked some simple dealing had not vsed any â—normities or proud insoleÌ„cies If he hath shewed somtime some extremity yet did he neuer so much as he might haue iustly done hath knowen in such alwaies some notable iniuries which he w t a iust prudent wisdome hath thought to haue deserued some sharpe punishment To be short it may bée sayd of him In consilijs sapiens prouidus in aciâ— fortis in pace foederibus iustus fidus constans Therefore the Lord hath guided his armes hath made him victorious in all conflicts and méetings and hath endued him with such strength of the bodie as beyond all expectation to haue surmounted the inaccessible Alpes and at length hath not onely suppressed and rooted out the naturall rebells of the countrey out of Daulphine and Prouance their confederates of Spayne Italy and Piemont but with an incredible felicitie hath restored the afflicted state of that countrey and established peace iudgement and iustice On the other side whereas it is the dutie of Christian Princes not to rauish other mens kingdomes to enuade their landes and principalities to robbe spoyle and murder their borderers and neighbours but to gouern their Dominions in peace with piety iustice and discipline to liue friendly with their Neighbours but specially to relieue other Estates afflicted to assist Princes neighbours when through disobedience and rebellion of vnnaturall subiects they are disquieted and tormoiled But it fell so otherwise with France for when through the sinnes of the people and euill counsell of Henry the third the Kingdome was so torne with dissentions and rebellions that it seemed as in a shipwrack the pieces did flye abroad exposed to euery man that could catch hold First the King of Spaine who had beene this day a Muscleman and not a Catholike if it had not beene for the kinges of France with his Gold thought to haue all Secondly the Duke of Sauoy who whithout the goodnes of the Valoys had beene a pety and a poore Duke made his reckoning to goe away with the Prouinces of Daulphin and Prouance bordering vpon him for his part Thirdly the Duke de Mayne who without the gratious fauour of the Valoys had layn obscure in the Mountains of Lorrein there a digging for brasse in the cauerns thereof made his accampt of some scambling among the other as to haue carried away all that bordereth to Lorreyn d' Aumale made his reckoning of Picardie and Merccur of Britayn Last of all Fryer Sixtus and after him Fryer Gregorie the fourtéenth thought by these meanes to maintayne their tyrannie in that Realme All these I say were so farre from dooing the duties of Christian Princes and Pastors of the Church in assisting the right owner of the Crowne and in preseruing that Realme as one of the chiefest members and ornament of Europe that euen as the Edomites in the sacking of Ierusalem crieddowne with it downe with it euen to the ground so haue they not in words but in kindling and nourishing the flame of rebellion assaulting by all meanes the said Realme haue encreased the plagues and multiplyed the sorrowes of that aflicted state Therefore behold the Lord hath accursed their armes and as for the Duke of Sauoy his owne hand hath weakened him so that he durst neuer come to see the said Lord Diguieres in the face one way but he is gone out of the field seauen waies He did neuer in all these warres any thing with valour but by treachery and treasons as the taking of Carmagnole and his practises in Prouance doo testify thousands of his most approoued and skilfull Souldiours and Captains haue béen killed by few not only in their inuasions attempted in Daulphine Prouance but also at home where the said Lord Diguieres hath forced their strong holds hath put them to the sword and cast their carcases on their mountains to bee meat for the beasts of the field and fowles of the ayre See therefore how contrarie licours do flow out of contrary vessels and how the Lord protecteth the vertuous and iust according to his promise and clotheth the wicked with calamity shame and dishonor as with a Cloude Here endeth the eight Booke THE NINTH BOOKE I Haue declared in the former booke those euents which happened in the yeare 1590. and how the King conducted very curteously the Duke