in Italy commanded the viceroy of Naples Dom Garzie de Toledo that assembling together all the forces which he possibly could he should blocke in the Sienois as much as in him lay Which he accordingly did in Ianuary 1548. with twelue thousand footmen and fifteene hundred horse as well Almanes as Neapolitanes In the meane time the K. had sent the Cardinall of Ferrare to Siene and De Termes with two thousand pioners assisted with the D. of Some Earle of Saint Flour and other of the Vrsins fortefying the places as they should see neede Corneille Bentinuogle entred into Rosie with fifteene hundred souldiers Iohn de Thurin with three hundred men had the charge of Mont-alcin Malian was giuen to Chiarmont and La Turrite was gouernour thorough Galeas de Saint Seuerin with three hundred men Ciusi to Paul and Iordan Vrsins with two thousand men vnder Asinolonga At Monticelle were Cipierre Guy de Bentiuogle and the Earle of Petiglian with fiue hundred light horse at Port Telamon was the Earle of Mirendolle and a Satean Ioachin a Gascoine Captaine accompanied with two hundred men So as all de Termes his forces deuided thoroughout all the garrisons amounted to twelue thousand footemen besides the Cittizens in great number all enemies to the Spanniards and Florentines But there was not aboue fiue hundred horse euerie man trauailing to fortefie and prouide for their places De Termes and other euen to the verie women tooke maruelous paines to assure La Capitalle whilst that the viceroye ouerranne the countrie and attempted the townes which hee thought to carrie by open force surprise or intelligence Conducting the armie with Ascanio de La Corne hee tooke some and was forced to discampe before other as at Moultacin which was succoured with the men which Bellegard nephew to De Termes caused to enter in The intelligence which he had in Siene was discouered and albeit the Cardinall cōmitted him vnto prison which carried the newes yet he set him againe at libertie wherupon this Prelate was euer since suspected of treason In this time did Charles D. of Sauoye driuen out of his countrie by the Kinge of France leauing for heire of all his rights his onely Sonne Philibert Emmanuel to whome for recompence of many seruices the Emperour gaue the Earledome of Ast to enioy it vntill he should be able to recouer his owne inheritance Charles was buried at Verceil almost in magnificence Royall In the meane space the Marshall Brissac Leiutennant generall for the K. in Piemont hauing taken Yuree and Verceill without the Castle and pilled the treasures of the Sauoyon within the Church of Saint Eustace astonied many men in Lombardie But approching neere Milan Fernand Gonzaque came verie fitly with forces for the Emperour An occasion that Brissac retired backe to Yuree and quitted Verceil which he was not able to keepe without the Citadell The Imperials then not able to master Siene retired by little and little so as De Termes had leasure enough to passe into Corse and there to take the Towne of Saint Florent and Boniface a porte of the Sea in times past the porte of Siracuse from the Genowaies which gouerned there in parte From whence retiring into France being called backe by his Prince he left behinde him a good Garrison and Iordan Vrsin his Maiesties Lieutenant to commaund there with a number of French Captaines The King in the meane time to be reuenged of the Duke of Florence who held the Emperours cause against him and the Sienois De Termes being called home sent Pierre Strossy for his Lieutenant General into Tuscane with a number of men at armes charged to draw vnto him his Brother the Prior of Capoue who was retired from the seruice of the French the which he did and went with him to La Mirandelle to raise there an army Being arriued at Siene and communicating his charge with the Cardinall of Ferrara he thought it not best that he should declare himselfe so soone for many reasons especially for that he had no iust occasion to warre against the Florentine except it were founded vpon the ancient and immortal hatred betweene the Strozzis and Medices Strozzy notwithstanding leuied at Rome Vrbin and other places where men make market of their life as many men as hee was able whereof the Florentine aduertised Pope Iuly exhorting him to driue the French out of Tuscane and suppresse the glory of the Sienois promising him that that done he would giue his daughter in mariage to the nephew of his holynes and giue her a better portion then all the rest of his children sauing the Prince setting downe in like hand vnto the Emperour the danger of his estates in Italy if the King should make himselfe more great in Tuscane and the meanes which might growe vnto him both in Lombardy and the kingdome of Naples in such sort as the Pope and the Emperor ioyning themselues with him gaue charge to Iacques Le Medecin Marquesse of Marignan a valiant and wise Cheefe to leauie an army to this effect who gathering together all his forces and assuring himselfe in his espials and diligences more then any other meanes did so much as the Sienois fearing nothing and forgetting the charge which their Gouernour had giuen vnto them to finishe the fortifications of theyr Towne Rodolphe Baglion Perusin generall of the light cauallerie comming about the beginning of Ianuary 1554. by night to Siene with such diligence and so secret was without the care of Laurens de Chastillon who made the round vpon the walles the Towne had become imperiall yea the Florentines themselues confessed that after the assault well defended if the Sienois had but salied out vpon them tyred with so long trauaile and sleepe they had bene all defeated But the Cardinall fearing least they might haue some intelligence within the towne contented himselfe with those which were slaine on the diches and rampire the Maquesse notwithstanding encamping before the Towne wasted the whole Country afterwards he battered the towne so furiously as he had put them in great necessity had not Strozzy who already had well furnished the strong places of the Country by his entry into the Town encouraged the harts of the besieged and diminished as much the hope of the enemies Of whome hauing vnderstoode how Baglion and Ascane de la Corne had enterprised vpon Chiusi one of the twelue ancient Citties of Hetruria he went to charge them with sixe hundred Souldiers so hottely as Baglion remaining there dead and de La Corne prisonner afterwardes sent captiue into Fraunce the affaires of the Emperour beganne to growe in euill case Ioynte that the Kinge to make himselfe the stronger in Italy sent ouer and aboue the supplye of fiue thousand souldiers Zuizers and Gascons with some light Cauallerie promising besides to send vnto him succours by Sea which entred into Siene without the enemies being witting thereof at all The which emboldned Strossi to come foorth with sixe
the olde bandes which were in extreame necessitie many monethes hauing bene due vnto them Yea and in steade of remedying the necessities of Piemont his Maiesties pleasure was to accept the offer which vnwitting to the Mareschall was made vnto him by the Vidasme of Chartres Colonell of the Infanterie for carrying into Fraunce from thence two thousand Frenche harquebusiers and as many Italians Which being accordingly put in execution it was altogether apparaunt that thereby his Maiesties affayres were put into extreame perill and ruyne the enemies being strong and the Frenche feeble ill payde and comming so lately from receyuing the desastre of the defeate of the Armie and losse of Saint Quentins As the time thus passed away with verie small aduauntage to the Kings affayres the President Baillif made offer vnto the King of himselfe and vnwitting to the Mareschall that hee mought leuie in Piemont two or three hundred thousande crownes leuying three crownes vpon euery housholder which offer was not onely accepted without any aduise at all demaunded of the Mareschall but there was likewise preste money deliuered vnto him vpon the assignations of Piemont And whilest that his Maiestie made difficultie to heare such reasons as mought bee alleadged touching the impossibilitie of such a leuie there was no prouision made for succour of men nor money in so much as many losses and inconueniences were readye to ensue Especially for that the Vidasme still pursued the execution of his Leuie of two thousande harquebusiers For if any man woulde haue constrayned the bandes of Piemont to muster without paye it was to be feared that it would haue happened worse then it did at Cony The more likely considering in what vnfauourable tearmes his Maiesties affayres as then stoode Who mought very well haue called to minde howe diuers and sundrye times woorde was sente vnto him that the prolonging of the Musters was onely wrought and occasioned by the delaye of the money the wante whereof rendred the souldiers poore and made them disobedient and an euidente losse to the finances of his Maiestie which notwithstanding they colde by no meanes remedie without hauing meanes to make a rigorous muster All thinges being thus conducted in this sort and the death of Salueson happening gouernour of Casal his Maiestie as he was accustomed to doe in like vacances neuer tarying for the aduice nomination of the Marshall placed Francisque Bernardin therein fayning as though he had vnderstoode that hee and not La motte Gondrin had beene put into Casal after the death of Salueson And albeit that his Maiestie did afterwardes reuoke this nomination yet matters were in such sorte handeled as Francisque Bernardin stil stomached the Marshal the rather for that at his return from the Court into Piemont he was not gratefied nor honoured in such sorte as hee expected hee recommended likewise Mont basin to haue the place of gentleman of the chamber which Salueson before had But he was not able to obtaine it so as he many other of the Kings seruantes seeing how little credite was giuen to the Marshals recommendations albeit they were for men of merite began to diminish their affection and some of them to aske leaue to depart homewardes to follow their aduauncement alleadging that none but such as went to the court were aduaunced and recompensed Thus vpon these occasions began many complaintes disobediences and quarrels to arise which notwithstandinge receiued an other kinde of construction then this so as being inforced thereunto the twenty and eyght of September hee let the King to vnderstand how many Captaines gentlemen and other officers daylie departed away without leaue as wel for want of pay as that they perceiued right wel how they should neuer receiue any preferment through his recommendation among whome Pauan had for this occasion quitted and giuen ouer his Lieuetenancie and the Baron of Ardrets the Captaine Bouuall Sergent Maior of Casal and sundry other personages who had long and faithfully serued But notwithstanding he made light account thereof so as euerie man began to seeke an other supporte then his and to perke vp the nose against him Now as his Maiesty stoode aduertised how that the enemies had leuied great companies of resolute men in readines after the comming of the D. of Alua whome they attended within fewe dayes at Gennes with the forces of the kingdome of Naples to assaile eyther Piemonte or the D. of Ferrara who for that cause had made great instance that his Maiesties forces might approch to the D. of Milan the Marshall besought him to prouide thereto aswell with force as money to the end he might preuent in time and place such inconueniences which a man mought perceiue prepared as well on the one side as the other And for so much as his maiestie had made semblance to mislike the difficultie which the Marshal made vpon the leuy of two thousande Harquebusiers whō the Vidasme offred to bring into Fraunce dispatching the eighteene the Secretarie Bounin for instance of supplie and prouision of money he gaue him in charge to declare vnto his saide Maiestie that whatsoeuer he had done was not with any intention to contrary his will but for so much as his Maiestie had not as then countermand as he had done since the thirteenth the Ensignes of the Zuizers who not returning backe and the saide two thousande Harquebusiers going away there was smal likelihood But Piemont would remaine altogether at the enemies discreation And whē as this consideration could not preuaile Yet he saide that he had otherwise occasion enough to remaine euill satisfied seeing that such an offer had beene made without euer communicating the same vnto him and afterwards accepted without euer demaunding his aduise as it seemed reasonable since that he gouerned Piemont the principall charge whereof it pleased his Maiestie to bestowe vpon him Notwithstanding he ceased not all thinges layde by rather to fauour then hinder the Vidasme And as it was giuen him in charge at the same time to leuie according to the proposition made by the Presidente Bailly three crownes of taxe vpon euery housholder whereof his Maiestie made full accounte without demaunding his aduise at all therein yet resting onely vpon the seruice of his Maiestie hee did so much as that he leuyed vpon the Countrey sixe score thousande liuers wherewith he relieued himselfe attending better prouision Vpon which leuie what fayre wordes soeuer or amiablenesse he could vse many inconueniences were readie to ensewe Shortly after the King in like sorte commaunded him that hee shoulde sende vnto him by Lodun the Commissions for the Captaynes which ought to be prouided of vacant Companies which hee must needes doe albeit he had neuer meddled with those Companies since the comming of the Vidasme notwithstanding that all his predecessours had bene accustomed to nominate the same companies as had bene practised as well by himselfe in his owne right being Colonell of
the footemen as by them which had bene before him This disgrace was likewise offered vnto him that notwithstanding any request which had bene made by him in the fauour of Ossun and Frauncisque Bernardin to be a meanes they mought receyue the order hee coulde neuer yeilde them any assurance thereof but it was D'Anuille which carried it away so as euer after they depended on the Conestable In summe the Mareschall still continuing to make instaunce of supplie wherewith he mought be able to oppose himselfe against his enemies forces who might vndertake eyther the forcing of some holde or fortifiyng themselues in some new and by that meanes mought abate their nomber it was aunswered him that they were matters easier talked of then done and that he must needes confesse that winter was alwayes winter during which season men were accustomed to surcease armes An aunswere in deede coyned by his enemies who woulde not so much as call to minde the taking of Lans Valence Iuree and sundry other places in the monethes of December and Ianuarie in the very hearte of Winter Thus did the complayntes of the Mareschall moue the Kinges Counsell bente to turne their eyes an other waye no more then the newes of their enemies comming into Piemont no not so much as the descente of the Duke of Alua at Gennes with 7000. men and that attending their ariuall in Piemont the enemies had put themselues within Galliany which the Mareschall willing to haue fortified onely for a time to haue founde the enemie occupyed was constrayned for want of money to leaue and rayse it which they beganne to fortifie And lesse the going away of many Captaines and souldiers day by day especially the Captaine Benes who demaunded leaue to departe home to his owne house and replie being made vnto him that hee did but come thence hee persisted to say that hee woulde goe come what woulde and whereas he was aduised to take time to consider thereof and afterwardes deliuer his minde vnto the Mareschall he refused it and the nexte morning wente home without once bidding farewell For this cause he besought his Maiestie that such disobedience mought not goe vnpunished and that his Companie mought be bestowed on the Captaine Lisle which the King liked well of and yet was it afterwardes rendred agayne vnto him Of which the Mareschall afterwardes complayning and standing vpon it had bene deliuered and bestowed on the Captaine Lisle Serieant of the Battayle who had long and faithfully serued they woulde yeelde no credite at all vnto him but the companie was bestowed vpon La Roche a gentleman of D'Anuilles who had beene nothing so long a Seruitour True it is that complainte beeing made of the wrong which thereby was done to the Mareschall it was in the ende restored to the Captaine Lisle In fine the Mareschall well weighing howe he was handled how that the instances and importunities which he continued as well by letters as expresse messengers to haue the affaires of Piemont better prouided for brought forth no fruit at all as small credit being yeelded thereunto he besought leaue of his Maiesty that he might come home and kisse his hande especially to declare vnto him the estate of his affaires and to deliuer vp an account of the gouernement which hee had receyued the which his Maiestie graunted for this cause hauing setled all thinges as conuenientlie as he was able hee departed out of Piemont leauing Gonner his brother the Kinges Liuetenant Generall in his absence Being arriued at the Court vnderstanding how some bad impressions had beene put into the Kinges heade as well against him as sundry other Gouernours and Captaines in Piemont he besought his Maiesttie hat he would sende thither to sift out the matters to the ende that hee and they might be punished in case they were founde true and if they were found contrary that the accusers might beare the punishment which the accused should haue deserued to the ende that by this example all false accusers might bee taught Notwithstanding his Maiestie woulde doe nothing saying that hee beleeued no whit at all the accusers that he should speake no more thereof but perseuer wel diligentlie to doe him seruice Let vs leaue the Mareschall at the Courte to looke backe into the olde pursuites which they began to renew against the Lutheranes for expiation of the desastre and misfortune of S. Quentins As the managing of forraine affayres doeth ordinarily breede a carelessenes amonge men at home the great ones bare such an affection to these warres and the Churchmen and iustices turned their eye so far fixed thereon for feare least the euent thereof would giue some shrewde checke to all Fraunce And besides they dispensed by little and little in such sorte with the pursuites of those which had beene accused for the euill opinions which they held of the faith as now a man could not see in all places but an incredible number of Lutheranes to the great disaduantage of the Catholicques notwithstanding any seuere ordinances or rigorous punishment which had beene before made against them There was no speech but of the secrete assemblies which night and day were made in many places and especially in Paris where in the end they discouered one in S. Iacques streete right ouer against the Colledge of Plessis Many saued themselues yet some were slayne in their owne defence and a great number remained there of prisoners of all sexes ages and qualities the women were the vnchoifed beaten and railed at in all sortes Among whom the Ladies Douartie de Rentigny and de Champaigne with mistresse Graueron de Guienne neere S. Foy were prisoners De Grauelles a younge aduocate in Parlement Clinet a schoolemaister renowned for his knowledge and sundry other to the number of sixe score were taken and clapt fast in holde afterwardes these two with Graueron hauing their tongue cut out because they shold not speake were burned together in the place Maubert and a number of other in sundrye other places Certaine daies after Graueron his confiscation was begged and obtayned by the Marquesse of Trans sonne in Lawe to Bertrandie keeper of the great Seale But these Ladies after long detayning were restored to their husbandes cleane contrary to them in religion and the widowe D'ouartie was sent backe to the Queene for this cause sundry Articles were added as then to the former aswell against these assemblies as agaynst bookes brought from Geneua and they began a fresh a newe pursuite agaynst the people giuing out that they assembled by night together and hauing put the candels out each man adressed himselfe to her that liked him best to abuse her at his pleasure Vpon these proceedinges and persecutions about which there grew a great sturre betweene the Liuetenant Ciuile and Criminel of Paris before which of them the cause should bee tryed Musnier being the Ciuill shewed himselfe so sharpe vpon this pursuit as he tooke the matter vpon
the victorie Afterwardes hauing alledged a number of diuers perticular examples of marke notwithstanding and of all sortes of estates who they saide dyed of a strange and extraordinary fashion hauing beene sworne enemies to the Lutheranes they added If it please your Maiestie well to aduise thereof you shall finde that you had no sooner concluded to runne them ouer but euen as sodenly newe troubles were stirred vp by your enemies with whome you haue not beene able to fall to any accorde The which God hath not permitted for that the foundation of the peace was vpon the persecution which you determined to make of the seruantes of God As also the Cardinals haue not beene able by their crueltie to hinder the course of the Gospell which hath already taken so deepe a roote within your Realme as if God shoulde slacke you the bridle to roote them out you shoulde bee as it were a Kinge without subiectes Tertullian very well saide that the blood of Martirs was the seede of the Gospell To take away then al these mischeefes proceeding from the riches of the Papistes which causeth so great whoredoms Sodomies incests wallowing nourishing thēselues like swine with idle bellies the best way were to put them again into their former estate as the ancient sacrificers the Leuites were to wit without lands posessions as an expresse commandement therof was giuen to Iosua For as long as the ordinaunce of God tooke place and that they were exempt from ambition the puritie of religion remained in her entier But when as they beganne to aspire to principalities riches and worldly honoures then did those abhominations swell out which Iesus Christ there founde Thus was it in the Primitiue Church for shee flowrished remained in puritie as longe as her ministers were simple and sought not their owne greatnes and particular profit but onely the glory of God For when as the Popes beganne to tende to a Superintendency and vsurped the true Domaine of the Empire vnder a shadow of a false Donation they wrested the scriptures and attributed vnto themselues that seruice which we owe vnto God Therefore your Maiestie may with good right cease vpon all their temporalties in a sound conscience to imploy them to their true proper vse First to the maintainance of the faithfull ministers of Gods word which should be distributed amonge them for their nouriture and entertainement as the case should require Secondly to the maintenance of the officers of your Iustice Thirdely to the nouriture entertainement of Colledges and to bring vp the youth of the poore to what they should bee most apt to be applyed And for the rest which is infinite it should remaine for the maintenaunce of your owne estate conducting of your owne affaires and comfort of your poore people which onely carieth the burthen and possesseth as it were nothing And in doing this an infinite number of men and especially of your nobilitie which now liue of the Crucifix will imploy themselues to your seruice and the Commonwealthes so much the more diligently as they shall see that you will recompence none but such as shall haue deserued it For there is neyther Captayne nor Lorde which will not thinke himselfe better recompensed with a benefite of 500. liuers then to see 1000. to bee giuen vnto his brother to haue them spent in Dogges and whoares And there is an infinite number of men within your Realme which occupie the fayrest estates and offices and neuer deserued ought of the common wealth By this meanes it shold be an easie matter for your Maiestie to be serued onely by your owne french nation in the warres according to the aduise and councell of the Sieur de Langey For you shall finde but too many men in whome there shalbe more fidelitie then in strangers which exercise themselues in warre with your expence and cary the money cleane out of your Realme As also the sommes which yow giue yearely for pensions to forrainers such as go to Rome euery day for Collations of benefices which lend that againe to your enemies to make warre against your selfe And in thus doing all shall remaine still in your owne Realme which thereby will grow rich opulent and inuincible When the Papistes doe see that they haue no reason at all to gainesay then doe they assay to render such as they call Lutheranes odious vnto your Maiesty and tell you if their saying were true that you should bee made a priuate person and that there neuer happened any change of Religion but the like ensued of the Gouernment A matter as false as their accusing of vs to bee Sacramentaries and that wee deny the authoritie of Magistrates vnder colour of of some furious Anabaptistes which Satan hath stirred vp in our time to obscure the light of the Gospell For the histories of the Emperours which first began to receiue the Christian religion that which is happened in our owne time declare the contrary Was there 〈◊〉 Prince more feared and obeyed then Constantine was in receiuing the Christian Religion Did he therefore abandon the Empire Nay he was rather so much the more confirmed therein and those of his posterity which were contented to be guided thereby For touching those which swarued away and followed mens traditions God hated them yea their race is no longer continued vpon the earth in so great horrour doth God hold them which abandon him be it neuer so little And in our time the late Kinges of England Princes of Germany were they at any tyme constrained in purging away of such superstitions as the malice of time had brought in to abandon their kingdomes principalities Euery one may cleerly see the contrary And how great honour obedience and fidelitie doe those people beare vnto their Princes and superiours which haue receiued the reformation of the Gospell in our time Nay I might say how that Princes before knew not what it was to bee obeyed when as the rude and grosse people woulde easily receiue the Popes dispensation to driue out their Princes and naturall Lordes Did you euer perceiue any of those whome they call Lutheranes to tende to any trouble or sedition notwithstandinge the cruell punishmentes which they haue endured I call for this to witnes Monsieur le Mareshall de Brissac if he haue founde within Piemont any people more obedient then those of the valles of Angrongne and the rest and when at any time hee laide any charge vpon them were it neuer so hard if they did not beare it without murmuring Whereas if they had not held for certaine that Kinges Princes and Magistrates are ordained of God they woulde not so willingly haue obeyed but being constrayned by force would more slackely haue behaued themselues The true and onely remedy Syr is that you cause a holy and free councell to be held wherein your selfe shall proceede and not the Pope nor any of his which ought onely to defend their causes by the