a straight commaundement to all his ordinance and men of armes to assemble themselues at Pierreport in as warlike maner as might be there to attend his further pleasure and to be in a readinesse to be employed as occasion should be offered King Philip of Spaine had likewise gathered a very strong power and al things were prouided by these two mightie Monarkes as though they ment to determine all their controuersies by some one cruel bloody battell But God who ruleth the hearts of princes disposed of their intentions far otherwise then their blind affections led them For vpoÌ„ the sudden their hard harts began to be mollified and each party inclined to peace so that the place being appointed and the deputies on both sides agreed vpon they met about the midst of October following at Cercam betweene Artoys and Pycardy There were many complaints on both sides and a commemoration of sundry indignities offered on either part Each defended others doings neither was there any likelihood of better agreement so that after many contentious words their assembly brake vp without any coÌ„clusion for peace and yet for that winter approched the soldiers were not able to keep the field Peace concluded between France and Spaine both princes dissolued their armies and licenced their men of warre to repose themselues vntill the next yere But before that time by reason of newe occurrences there was a generall peace proclaimed betweene these two nations each linked with other with very strait alliances For King Philip whose wife Mary Queene of England was lately deceassed was contented to take in marriage Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Henry the French King and Pilebert Emmanuel duke of Sauoy was affianced vnto madame Margaret his sister so that by reason of these new coÌ„iunctions there insued much quietnes to all Christendome but especially to these two kingdoms who now had made an end of all their quarels contentions and seemed to study of nothing but how they might honor and solemnise in most royall maner these new marriages There was exceeding sumptuous preparation against the appointed time all the Nobilitie of France were assembled at Paris to attend the king to honor these espousals The lady Elizabeth was coÌ„ducted by the king her father to our Lady Church at the day prefixed in most pompous and stately maner and there married by the Cardinall of Burbon to the Duke of Alua was who constituted Procurator of the king of Spaine his maister The Duke of Alua marrieth the French kings daughter for his maister the king of Spaine There were all the princes of the bloud attending in their order and many cheefe Prelates and all the officers of the crowne The Duke of Alua was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Count Egmond and sundrie other very honourable personages The marriage being finished there was exceeding feasting banquetting and cheering with dauncing masking and all other pastimes that could be imagined both to delight the eye and please the eare The king reioyced to see his daughter so honourably aduanced the Nobilitie and commonaltie were maruailously glad to remember what ease peace and tranquilitie they should enioy by this newe affinitie and all sorts seemed to triumph hoping there would be a perpetuall league and corespondency betweene these two Nations but now behold a woful mishap and lamentable mischance wherewith all this mirth and iollity was turned into weeping wailing and great sorrow so enterchangeably doo these two accompany each other so certainely do they follow one another The French king who had bin the principall challenger at tilt assisted by the Duke of Guyse Alphonse the Prince of Ferrara and the Duke of Nemours hauing borne himselfe very nobly that day and broken many staues to his great honor and high commendation would needes in the end run a course with count De Mont-gommery a valiant gentleman of France who at the first refusing The French King slaine with running a course at â—â—lt yet commanded by the king accepted the condition and offered so freely that theyr staues flying in peeces some of the shiuers getting in at the sight of the beuer pearced into the kings head greeuously wounded him that he died within eleuen daies after to the immesurable greefe of his subiects after hee hadde raigned twelue yeeres three moneths and tenne dayes CHAP. VI. Francis the second the French King The Guises authors of all the confusion in France The Guises ioyne with the Queene mother against the King of Nauarre The King of Nauarre yeeldeth to the Queene mother The Duke of Guise made Lieutenant for the King and Henrie Cardinall of Lorraine made L. Treasurer of France They incense the King agaynst the princes of the blood The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudie The hatred of the Guises towards the three Chastillons The Prince of Conde beeing discontented goeth from the Court The order of the States of France The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the Hugonots to the king The Prince of Conde committed to prison and is condemned to die The death of the King THe Kingdome of France had for manie yeares togither beene verie well acquainted with the variable and changeable estate of vnconstaunt fortune and vnder Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Francis the first and Henrie the seconde had by wofull experience found how subiect the most flourishing estates kingdoms coÌ„monwealths are to a continuall change and alteration and therfore hauing by long obseruatioÌ„ perfitly learned that the best means to maintain her selfe in her wonted grandeur and glory was to be leagued with her neighbour Countries and to be at peace and vnitie at home beganne to haue a flexible heart and to encline to quietnesse as much as might bee so that hauing ended all quarrels and buried all wronges and indignities in the pit of obliuion and by a neare coniunction with the Spanyard her ancient and mightie enemy in the opinion of most men procured her selfe a perpetuall peace began as it were to clap her handes for ioy and seriously to tryumph in so incomparable a benefite But the fatall and ineuitable mishap of this most noble kingdome which had florished for so many hundred yeares and had been the paragon of her neighbor nations could not as it seemeth be auoyded but that it must needes take place and wanting forraigne enemies to worke her ouerthrow must needes hatch a viperous brood which by gnawing out the belly of their owne mother haue most vnnaturally sought the destruction of her who haue most tenderly fostered and brought them vp The house of Guyse the principall cause of all the sturres in France The principall cause to produce so lamentable an effect and the only means in a maner to hatch so horrible a mischiefe was the immesurable ambition of that haughtie and aspiring house of Guyse who albeit they were straungers and no natural French men yet fortune so fauoured their attempts and made some of them
a time and the yong Prince continued in verie good grace vntill at length by reason of newe occasions of suspition hee was forced to auoyde the Realme so exceedingly was the King his father incensed agaynst him and going to Philip Duke of Burgundie who at that present was a verie great and mightie potentate was most honorably intertained furnished with all things necessarie for himselfe and his retinue where hee remained for a long time notwithstanding the duke was very often earnestly solicited to the coÌ„trarie by the king his father At the last all the stormie tempests being blowne ouer and he vpon the decease of his father being called home to receiue the Diademe and crowne of France Lewis the 11. K. of France he departed from the Court of Burgundie where he had liued a stranger and vnder the coÌ„trolment of others towards his new kingdome and naturall Countrie which he found very peaceable and flourishing in all wealth and prosperitie where hee was no sooner quietly established but that remembring some olde iniuries Lewis the 11. reiecâ—eâ—h his faâ—hers old counsellors and disliking manie of his fathers most faithfull and trustie counsellers hee remoued sundry out of their rowmes and offices and imprisoned others electing new into their places to the great griefe of diuerse of his best affected subiects the exceeding discontentment of most of his chiefest Nobilitie wherupon ensued maruellous trouble to the common wealth and vnspeakeable care and vexation of mind to himselfe The Duke of Britaine and sundrie other of the nobility rise against the King For the Duke of Brytaine the Duke of Berry the Duke of Nemours the earle of Saint Paule the earle of Arminake Beauleu Albret and manie other great Lords and states being highlie displeased with the King and with his gouernement banded togither against him and calling to theyr ayde Count Charolois sonne and heyre to Philip Duke of Burgundie raysed a mightie and puyssaunt armie wherewith they approched Paris and held besieged the chiefest Cittie of the land The King vnderstanding the daunger wherein the towne stoode The K. marcheth toward Paris and the resolution of his enemies hasted by all possible meanes to put himselfe within Paris the safekeeping whereof woulde be most auayleable for the aduancement of his other affayres Wherefore hauing gathered a strong power marched forwardes on his intended voyage not purposing to hazarde his fortune vppon anie aduauntage that shoulde be offered but onelie to defende himselfe and to amuse his enemies vntill the tyme might minister some better meanes to accomplish his desyres notwithstanding The k forced to forsake the field through the rash headinesse of the Lieutenant of Normandie called Le Bressy who had the leading of the auauntgarde the King was constrained to fight and to aduenture to open his passage by force of armes But being valiantly resisted by his enemies after a terrible and bloodie fight hee was forced to forsake the field and to retyre towards Corbeile leauing the entyre glorie of that victorie to Count Charolois and his associates As this good fortune puffed vp the haughtie minde of the Conquerour making him proude disdainfull and highly conceyted of his owne valour which in the ende bred his owne confusion and ouerthrowe The King reconcileth his subiects and maketh peace with Count Charolois so did it teach the conquered to pull downe his spirits and with all circumspect diligence and care to prouide for his future safetie in the most politike manner that hee might and hauing though with much adoo made peace with Count Charolois an enemie that hee greatly feared and reconciled his discontented Nobles who were a long time as prickes in his eyes and thornes in his sydes and withall concluded a league with Edwarde the fourth King of Englande at Pikquennie to his great aduauntage there remayned nothing that might any way endaunger his estate but onelie the greatnesse of Charles Duke of Burgundie who though he were at amitie with the King yet for that hee had a most turbulent spirite and of all other could least abide to continue for anie long time together in peace the King thought hee had iust occasion to suspect him Charles D. of Burgundy slaine at Nancy and therefore howsoeuer in outwarde shewe he made much of him yet in heart hee wished for nothing more then his confusion and ouerthrowe which appeared most apparantly by his secrete practises agaynst the Duke and then coulde no longer be hidde when as hee heard of his discomfiture at the battaile of Nancy where the sayde Duke was slaine his armie put to flight and the glorie of that noble house of Burgundie which had flourished for the space of an hundred and twentie yeares in all pompe and magnificence was vtterly defaced and obscured For presently vppon the newes the King was so exceeding ioyfull that hee did not in a maner regarde how richly and bountifully he rewarded the Messengers of so glad and ioyfull tydings Nowe beganne hee to studie for nothing so much as howe to dismember this poore afflicted Dukedome and by all meanes possible to teare and rent it in peeces K. Lewis of France getteth a great part of Burgundie He first gayned by liberall rewardes and fayre promises the chiefest of the Burgonian Nobilitie and likewise the Captaines of sundrie strong Townes by which meanes hee gate Abbeuille Peronne Arras Hesdin Bollogne Dyion and manie other principall places so that it seemed that the better part of the Dukedome of Burgundie was nowe brought vnder the kings obedience and annexed to the rest of the Dominions of the Flower de Lis By which meanes the reuenewes of the Crowne were greatly augmented the lande exceedingly strengthened the same and honour of the king wonderfully encreased all thinges falling out in a manner as well as might be wished or desired But hee had no sooner attayned to so high a degree of happinesse but hee was presently crossed with newe miseryes and afflictions which in small continuance of tyme did wholie bereaue him of his former ioyes For beeing at dinner at a Village neare vnto Chynon hee was suddainlie stroken with so vehement a payne The King stroken with a sudden disease that hee lost his speach and sences for the space of two dayes togither not remembring nor knowing any that were nearest about him And albeit by reason of those great meanes which were vsed his bodie was somewhat recouered and his mynde much bettered so that he seemed to come to some reasonable vnderstanding and knowledge yet was hee so weakened and euerie parte of him so mightilie decayed that it was not possible to free him of his maladie so long as hee lyued Besides hee grewe so suspitious of all sortes and so iealous of his owne sonne and sonne in Lawe that hee was neuer at quyet but lyued in such continuall feare least that honour and reuerence which had beene for so long a tyme giuen vnto him shoulde now be
turned to the great good of the French who otherwise had beene in maruaylous danger to haue beene ouerthrowne at that encounter The Marques fought valiauntly and pearcing through the middest of the horsemen hard to the Ordinance ouerthrew a great bande of Gascons which were appointed to guard them The French being encouraged with the presence of their king laide about them like men and the Switzers beeing promised double pay like Tygres tare and rent in peeces as manie as fell into theyr handes And had not the earle of Petilia at that present escaped from the French and by comming to the flying Italians with all the forceable reasons hee coulde perswaded them to renew the fight the whole power of the Venetians had beene vtterly ouerthrowne Both armyes being well wearied with a long and bloody fight The French K. looseth all his baggage they sounded the retreate The French had lost all their baggage and the riches of Naples which was going into Fraunce was taken by the Italian souldiours a great number of their brauest men were slaine and amongst others the bastarde of Burbon a man of surpassing great valour The King himselfe hauing likewise lost all his plate and houshold stuffe was in extreme peril and had vndoubtedly bin taken had it not beene for the excellencie of his horse which was a cole black with one eye And although he gate the victorie and remained maister of the field yet were his losses verie great and farre surmounted the gaine he had gotten in that long and wearie voyage He was constrained to lie the night following in a simple cottage The distresse of the French King and all his great Lords were lodged round about him in the open fields who had nothing to eate nor any chaunge of apparell to put on So that they resolued to dislodge in the dead of the night and with al speed to recouer Ast. The French run out of Italie The Armie was sore afrighted and euery man coueted to bee in the Vauntgard supposing thereby to be furthest from daunger and nearest vnto places of safest retreate And thus marching forward in tumultuous maner with much ado got to Ast where they staied not long but went to Thurin and so to Lions The king was no sooner in France but all things went backewarde in Italie The great alteration in Italie all places reuolted and well was he that could first teare in peeces the Flower de Lis. Whosoeuer had beene friends before now became enemies and nothing was so hastily gayned but it was as speedily lost And the French Nation who not long before had beene the terror of the Turke the Pope the Emperor the Venetians and in a maner of al Europe were now in nothing more famous then in their dishonourable flight out of Italie leauing vnto posteritie a notable example of the chaunge and mutabilitie of these worldly affayres And as it vsually falleth out if fortune begin once to chaunge it neuer ceaseth vntill it haue throwne a man groueling to the ground so it fared with this king who began to decline a pace and to be crossed euerie day more then other His yong sonne the Duke of Orleance began to be desperately sicke and so continued languishing vntill at last he died wherewith his father was immesurably greeued The death of the yong D. of Orleanes and from that time forwards nothing thriued that he tooke in hand his friends forsooke him and his enemies dayly encreased and almost all matters stoode in verie bad tearmes Euill newes was brought from euery corner and the worst of all other was this death suddenly sendeth forth a messenger to summon him to appeare before him and to giue an account of his stewardship For as he was in a Gallerie at Ambois looking vpon such as played at tennis The sudden death of Charles the 8. King of France hee was suddenly stroken with an Apoplexie and liued not past some fiue or sixe houres after but yeelded vp the ghost 1497. hauing reigned fourteene yeares And albeit he were a very mightie Prince and had exceeding many goodly Castels beautifull houses and statly Pallaces and had conquered so many earledomes Marquesats Dukedoms and Kingdomes had made all Italie to stoope and bend at his becke had triumphed at Naples and atchieued so glorious a conquest and that so easily yea almost without drawing of his sword so that hee was now become one of the most redoubted worthies of the world yet did hee ende his dayes on the sudden and died in a verie miserable and beggerly place which sheweth the lamentable estate of all sorts and that the most mightie Potentates are subiect to a maruellous chaunge and alteration CHAP. III. Lewis the 12. King of France entreth Italy conquereth Millan taketh the Duke thereof prisoner He ioyneth with the Spanish King to conquer Naples who expelleth him and keepeth the kingdome for himselfe The battaile of Rauenna The Switzers driue the French out of Millan The death of King Lewis AFter the decease of Charles Lewis Duke of Orleance Lewis D. of Orleance K. of France and next heire to the Crowne succeeded in the kingdome who entituled himselfe king of Ierusalem Naples and Cicil and Duke of Millan intending to conquer the Dukedome and for that purpose prouided all things necessarie with all the speed that might be But by reason of the former kings expenses he foūd small store of treasure so that for to furnish himselfe he set to sale all the offices of France except such as were iudiciall a daungerous practice and none of the least occasion of that great confusion which afterwardes ensued Lewis D. of Millan forsaketh the French king Lewis Duke of Millan feared the Venetians more then the French and therfore ioyned with the Florentines to recouer Pisa But hee erred exceedingly herein for Lewis of Fraunce hauing made peace with other Princes bent all his forces agaynst Millan with whom also the Venetians ioyned in the ende Whereat the Duke was maruellously astonished and began to fortifie his owne territories so strongly as hee might But hee putting those in trust who were in most fauour and not such as had the greatest vertue and fidelitie too common a fault among great estates lost one thing after another and in a short space all things going backewarde Millan yeeldeth to the French hee was forced to forsake Millan and flie to the castell by reason the Citie was yeelded to the French Which ioyfull newes beeing brought vnto the King who was then at Lions hee determined forthwith to passe in person ouer the Alps The French K. goeth to Millan and being in Italy compounded with all the chiefe estates there and did in a maner whatsoeuer he listed The King hauing remained a while in the Duchie of Millan and taken such order for his affayres there as he liked best returned home leauing the Cardinall of Ambois for his Lieutenant in those quarters But he was no sooner
reigned 17. moneths to the exceeding grief of the Catholiks the great terror of the D. of Guise The horror of the Guises and the Cardinall his brother who had caried themselues so proudly and arrogantly during all the time of his reigne that they were extreemly hated of all that were of any vertuous and humble disposition and therefore were now maruellously afraid least they should endure some scourge for their former outragious doings and that horrible confusion which they had brought into the Common-wealth CHAP. VII Charles the ninth the French King the Prince of Conde set at libertie The discontentment of the Princes of the blood The King of Nauarre made the Kings Lieutenant The Conestable bandeth with the Guises The King of Nauarre forsaketh the Protestants The Triumuirat The murther at Vassie The beginning of the first ciuill warres The death of the King of Nauarre Dandelot bringeth forces out of Germanie for the succour of the Protestants The battell of Dreux Poltrot killeth the Duke of Guise Peace proclaimed FRancis the second was no sooner deceased and that Charles the ninth was come to the Crowne but all seemed to bee cast in a new mould especially the state of the Prince of Conde was incontinenly altered for whereas before hee was accused and condemned of high treason and should haue beene executed had not the malicious purposes of his enemies beene crossed by the sudden death of the King now he was cleared of all the former accusations and declared innocent of those pretended crimes and restored to his dignitie and place The Prince of Conde set at libertie The Guises his mortall enemies beganne in all submisse maner to seeke his fauour and neuer left the Queene mother vntill shee had accomplished theyr desyres which was the more readilie brought to passe for that they had caused the late King a day or two before to speake louingly vnto the King of Nauarre and to affirme that the Guises neuer attempted any thing eyther agaynst him or his brother the Prince of Conde but that whatsoeuer was done was at his commaundement and that contrarie to theyr counsaile and aduice hee had caused the saide Prince to bee imprisoned and therefore hee desired them for the loue they bare vnto him that they woulde not conceyue hardly agaynst them or anie of theirs Albeit Nauarre did not beleeue this yet as one loath to raise new stirs he was content to temporise dissemble the matter supposing in deed that now their pride was abated and that they would no more carrie themselues so hautily as they had done in times past But they no more able to change their natures then then the Leopard her spots still aspired to haue the gouernment in their hands and it seemed the Queene mother was well content to giue them some countenaunce fearing thaâ— if they should bee altogither kept vnder by the Princes of the blood her authoritie would likewise in short time be limited which was a thing that shee could not endure by any meanes Which being noted by the King of Nauarre hee complained to the Queene mother The King of Nauarre complaineth to the Queen mother of the Guise that those of Guise were againe too much fauored and that they had too great countenance being preferred before him who was the chiefest Prince of the blood and who by the ancient lawes ought to haue the gouernment of the Realme during the nonage of the King and that he could not endure to see them aduanced who had alwayes beene his mortall enemies And although he were contented to beare much in regard of the loue and dutie he bare vnto her The Princes of the blood depart from the Court greatly discontented yet there was no reason why his kindnesse should be so hardly requited And if it were he woulde not endure it and further if the duke of Guise were so neare about the King he must and would be further of The Queene mother sought to content Nauarre with faire wordes but yet she did not satisfie him as he desired and therefore the next day hee with most of the Princes of the blood the Conestable his sonnes and Nephewes of Chastillon departed from the Court towards Paris highly discontented with the Queenes answere The Queene mother who extreemely greeued to see this accident sent for the Conestable to come and speake with her to whom she caused the King to say and that in the presence of two Secretaries of estate The Conestable commanded by the King not to depart from Court who were readie to recorde what was spoken that seeing hee was the chiefe Officer of the Crowne and one of whose presence hee stoode in neede of at that instant he commanded him not to forsake him as he would answer it at his perill Which word tooke such place and made such an impression in the Conestables minde that albeit hee were often summoned by the King of Nauarre to stand to his promise yet he could not be drawne from the Court but kept him stil with the King wherupon it was presently voiced that the Queene mother maintained the Guises against the King of Nauarre and the rest of the Princes of the blood But least Nauarre and his associates should bee too much discontented with this crosse dealing it was thought good to practise some newe attonement betweene them and the Guises and to declare Nauarre the kings lieutenant generall throughout all his dominions The King of Nauarre made lieutenant generall for the king which was accomplished by the meanes of the Conestable so that now Nauarre was highly honoured and the Guises made Court vnto him This gaue some comfort vnto the persecuted Hugonots and caused all men to hope for some better gouernement then had beene of late time and the rather for that Nauarre tolde the Ambassadour of Denmark that within one yere he would cause the Gospel to be preached throughout all France It was a wonder to heare what ioy there was generally throughout the whole land and how exceedingly the number of the Protestants were encreased in a short tyme by this little countenaunce which was giuen them In somuch as they coulde hardly finde conuenient places to receiue the multitudes which flocked to the Sermons Now as there were many who vsed this benefit wisely and with great reuerence so there were others who indiscreetly abused it exceeding a meane and hastily running from one extremitie to another supposing they stoode vpon a better foundation then indeed they did began to vse too much libertie to eate flesh and that vpon such dayes as were forbidden to condemne festiuall dayes and many ceremoniall vsages to pul downe images and deface altars contrarie to that which had not long before beene expressely commaunded which was that the ordering of these things should bee referred either to a generall or nationall councell The Constable alienated from the Admirall by the practise of the Guise This boldnesse and rash dealing of many
the troupes which came out of Guyen and Poictou to the succors of the Prince they thought it not conuenient to let slip so fit oportunity and therefore hauing all their forces in a readinesse the Constable issued forth of Paris the tenth of Nouember 1567. The conestable issueth foorth of Paris with three thousand horse and about seauenteene or eighteene thousand footmen all very well armed and appoynted for the Combate and were aranged in this manner CHAP. IX The battaile of Saint Dennis The death of the Constable of France The Army of the conestable HIs whole army was stretched out in length more resembling a hedge then any thing else on the left side whereof were placed the battalion of Switzers flanked with a good number of harquebuziers all which stood to assure fourteene peâ—ces of great ordinance which were planted in the mouth of Auberuilliers towardes which hee caused his whole army to turne head on the left side of the Switzers hee appointed a regiment of Horse and before them another very strong troupe likewise of horsemen whereof was Captaine the mareschall Memorancy his eldest son There were also on the same side the regiments of the Dukes of Nemours Longeuille the Count Retts Chauigny Thore Lansac and many others close to these stood a good troupe of harquebuziers on foote behind all these stood the battaile of the Parisians brauely shining with armor pikes halbards hiding almost the side of the army Catholike wherin was the Constable with his Switzers on the right side were the regiments of the Count Brissac and Strozzi and somewhat higher those of the mareschal Cossy Biron Auely Riuiere with some others behind whom stood the Duke of Aumaile mareschal Danuill strongly guarded with two troupes of horsemen for the better assurance of the Switzers and French footmen The Army of the Prince The Prince beeing aduertised heereof by his espyals and knowing that that day would not passe without a fight marshalled his battalions as followeth The Admirall assisted with Cleermont and his two sonnes Reâ—ty sixe cornets of horse and foure hundred harquebuziers on foote lead by Vallefeniere stood right in the face of those that guarded the side of the Constable Genlis accompanied with Lauardin Vardes Bressant Besancourt with fiue or sixe cornets fronted the mareschall Cossy Biron and the rest before mentioned The Prince of Conde the Cardinall Chastillon Sechalles the vidames of Chartres and of Amiens the Counts of Saux La Suze Esternay Conchauanes and Stuard who commaunded ouer certaine Scots with foure hundred harquebuziers stood lower in the forme of a battaile couering Saint Dennis faced the Conestable and them who were before him so that their forme of battaile resembled a Croysant or new Moone These generalles had no sooner disposed of their battailons in this warlike manner but their great ordinance beganne to thunder and theyr Enfans Perdus to attach the skirmish Genlis seeing the Catholikes approch towardes his quarters ranged his men close together and hauing desired them to go resolutely to the charge and to enter succor one another aduanced to receiue them who changing their pace into a trot reencountred them with such furie that it hasted the death of aboue fiftie persons at that instant The Admirall who was an olde Fox and beaten to the warres could quickly espie his aduantage seeing the state of the battaile caused his harquebuziers to amende theyr march and to putte themselues further forwardes and beeing seconded by the Prince and by the rest of the Armie who were readie to receiue their part of the blowes as well as others gaue in so lustily and so couragiously charged the red crosses that hee ouerthrew them making them runne headlong vpon the Parisian bands The red crosses bâ—gan to runne whom they exceedingly disordered and affrighted The Mareschall Cossy seeing many of the Catholikes disbanding themselues and the Confederates wholy pursuing them crying Victorie Victory sent worde to the Mareschall Danuill and the Duke of Aumaile to accompanie him to the charge Now was the Prince hastening to encounter the Constable vppon whome hee ranne amaine and with such fiercenesse assayled them whom hee met that hee quite defaced them who were much dismayed before with the fearefull flight of their companions whom the Admirall had chased alreadie and made such a breach in their great battailon that the Conestable being abandoned by aboue a thousand runnawaies finding himselfe hurt in the face The Constable wounded to death and pressed to yeeld by Stuard a Scot could not for choller answere otherwise then with blowes of his sword with the pummell whereof hee gaue Stuard such a blow on the Iawe bone that hee smote out two or three of his teeth and loosed many of the rest which when another Scotte espied he shotte him into the reines of the backe with his pistoll for that hee wore but a very thin and light harnesse beeing a man aboue foure score yeeres of age Now were the Switzers maruailously astonished and readie to take their heeles as well as others had they not beene reassured by the Duke of Aumaile and the Mareschall Danuille who promised to liue and die with them and likewise by the hardy onsette of the Mareschall Memorancy who by ouerthrowing certaine of the Princes troupes of Horse made most of his footmen to flye and hadde not the night so fast approched hee had vtterly discomfited all the rest but the darkenesse which presently ensued caused each to return to draw towards those quarters where they heard the cries of their Generalles the Protestants to the Prince of Conde who playned of his horse which was sore hurt and wounded insomuch as hee began to faile him and hee was no sooner alighted but hee fell downe starke dead besides him The Catholikes went towardes the Constable who was wounded to death and seeing all things standing in so badde tearmes neuer pursued the Protestants contenting themselues with the honour of the fielde and the libertie to burie theyr dead The number of the slaine The Prince retyred backe againe to Saint Dennis hauing lost the vidame of Amiens Piquigni Saux La Suse Saint Andrew Garennes with three hundred horsemen and aboue fiftie Gentlemen of Marke The Catholikes with their generall left behinde them dead in the field the Count De Chamne Hierom of Turin and aboue fortie chieftaines and commanders beside three hundred common souldiers and a great multitude of maimed and wounded men CHAP. X. The Prince of Conde leaueth Paris Rochel yeeldeth to the Protestants The Duke of Aniou made the Kings Lieutenant Cassimer bringeth ayde to the Protestants The siege of Chartres Peace proclaimed in France The Prince raiseth his siege before Paris THe next day after the comming of Dandelot who was exceeding sorie that hee came not time inough to haue beene at the battaile the Prince presented himselfe againe with all his whole power before Paris but his enimies kept close within the walles wherefore
him some of the ensignes who caused them to be set vp in Saint Peters Church from whence he went in procession with all his Cardinals to the temple of the holy Ghost to giue thanks for so ioyfull successe and so did likewise the Venetians and duke of Alua thinking that all the Protestants in France had beene wasted and consumed But the Admirall with the principall of the confederates gaue them quickly to vnderstand that the matter was likely to be farre otherwise then they imagined For they gathering togither their dispersed forces fortifyed Cognac Angolesme Pos Saint Gean d'Angely and other places wherein they planted strong garrisons to amuse the armie of the Catholiques vntill the comming of the Duke of Deux Ponts who was alreadie marching with a great power to the reliefe of the confederates And hauing chosen the young Prince of Nauarre for their Generall who promised to spende his life in defence of theyr cause The prince of Nauarre chosen generall of the protâ—stants after the death of Conde and neuer to abandon them vntill an assured peace were established reuiewing their troupes which amounted well neare to fortie thousand horse besids their footmen prouided all necessaries to begin the wars afresh and if it might bee to repaire their former losses Dandelot was sent into Poictou to view the strength of their forces in those quarters and to gather as much money as possibly hee could for the payment of the Souldiers where after he had very wisely and pollitikely aduanced his busines and gotten good store of gold and siluer for the maintenance of the warres in his returne fell into a burning feauer Dandelot dâ—eth of a burning feuer whereof hee died shortly after at Xaincts to the vnspeakeable greefe of the Admirall and all those of the reformed Churches Hee was very valiant pollitike and passing skilfull in all warlike affaires prouident to foresee all dangers couragious and hardy in all his enterprises liberall The praise â—f Daâ—delot courteous and affable and therfore wonderfully well beloued of his souldiers who thought themselues able to encounter with any whatsoeuer so long as they had him for cheefetaine and commander and therfore they bewailed the losse of him as of their father The Duke of Deux Ponts who was hasting to the aide of the Protestants The Duke of Deux Ponts commeth to ayde the protestants with a great power had in his armie seauen thousand and fiue hundred Reisters and sixe thousande Lansquenetes with whom were ioyned the Prince of Orenge the two Counts Ludouicus and Henry his brethren with a small band of their followers besides Moruilliers the marquesse of Reuel Fequieres Cleruant Mouy and Esternay with certaine culuerings sixe field peeces and a good number of Musqueters with those companies he got forward as fast as hee might still gayning ground and approching the territories of France notwithstanding al the hindrances and lets which were giuen by the Duke of Aumaile who with a great power was appointed to stoppe the passages and to barre this Almain Duke out of the fertile countrey of the Flower de Lis but that could not be for still hee passed foorth and at last rested himselfe before La Charite a towne of great importance La Charity besieged and taken by a composition and scituated as it were in the heart and bowels of France The Towne was verie straightly besieged and planting his battery he beate the wals in such furious maner that those within beeing not able to holde out and dispairing of any succours in time yeelded vpon composition to haue their liues saued and so was it sacked and spoyled by the Lansquenetes La Charity sacked The taking of the towne was no small aduantage to the confederates as also the losse thereof did much hinder the fortunate course of the victorious Catholikes who now began to consult how to impeach the two armies that they should not meete and vnite themselues together but doo what they could the Duke still aduanced forwardes passed through Lymosin so farre as Cars where falling sicke hee dyed of a quartaine Feuer tothe exceeding greefe of all his friendes and followers The Princes beeing aduertised of the comming of the Duke and the taking of La Charity hasted to meete them leauing La Noue Captaine in cheefe ouer Poictou Rochell and other places vnder their obedience and ioyning with the Germaines at length neere vnto Cars were not a little gladde in their hearts albeit they were mightily crossed by the death of theyr principall and cheefest leader The death of the Duke of Deux ponts * The Protestants had in their army som tenne or twelue thousand horse and twenty thousand foot men When all the confederates were ioyned together they first sent a supplicatication to the King desiring a peace but when they could not bee heard nor those miserable warres which had so long tormented poore France could haue any ende by faire meanes they proceeded on and purposed to assay if by fine force they could compell their enemies to any honest and reasonable conditions the better to effect this they determined to get as many strong townes as they could into their handes as well in the Countrey of Lymosyn as other where But the Army of his excellencie was nowe so strongly reenforced with the troupes of the Duke of Aumaile as also with one thousand and two hundred horse and foure hundred footmen all Italians and vnder the conduct of Saint Fior nephew to the Pope called Pius Quintus that they did continually coast them maintained sundrie braue skirmishes with the confederates barring them from executing many of their enterprises and at length each Army meeting together neere vnto Rockabeuille had almost tryed their quarrell by an entire battaile for Monsieur hauing encamped vppon a goodly plaine and entrenched his armie round about in most defencible maner sauing at one corner placed there a strong Corps du gard composed of the two Regiments sometimes commaunded by the valiant Counte Brissac and nowe ledde by the two Captains La Barthe and Goas who still lamented the death of their generous collonell to defende that quarter from all sodaine inuasions of the Protestants This Gard was quickly espied and the Admirall aduertised thereof who was very desirous to remooue them further off but for that hee did not well know their strength he thought it good to deale warily and to go with al his whole forces to this exploit beeing a matter of so great importance purposing to enterprise further if occasion serued Whereupon all the troupes were forthwith arranged and put in battaile array the Admirall assisted by Beaunois La Nocle Briquemant Soubize La Noue Teligny and others led the vantgard followed by their seueral Cornets and a great Hot of Reisters conducted by Count Ludouic brother to the Prince of Orenge who were flanked with the Regiments of Beaudisne and Piles and on the left hand with Rouuray Pouille a strong battailon
Reisters disgaged him he had vndoubtedly fallen into their hands who loued him but a little While these bloudy broyles were continued betweene the aduantgards his exellency caused his maine battaile to dismarch the right wing whereof in which was the Duke of Aumaile and the marquesse of Baden with all his Reisters gaue in so farre afore the rest that the marquesse was there slaine The marquesse of Baden slaine and many others for companions of that mortall charge and Monsieur himselfe albeit hee marched full vppon the discouerie of the great Artillery made such haste that he left the Switzers vnder Collonell Phiffer and their generall Memie with the other battailon very farre behind which when the Protestants troupes discouered they casting themselues desperately into his esquadron breaking in euen hard to their Cornet made them that followed his excellencie to abandon the place notwithstanding al the deuoier of the Duke De Longauille Touannes Carnauallet Villars and others who indeuoured with all their might to repell the insisting confederates in a word this charge was so terrible that the most assured Ensignes beganne to turne head and had not the mareschall Cosse with his Switzers hasted apace the battaile had quickly beene at an ende Count Lodowicke seeing the Mareschall aduaunce thrust in verie lustily with his troupes of Almaines and French who sought it out most couragiously By this time had the Mareschall Biron rallyed diuerse dispersed troupes and with his owne which as yet remayned vnbroken and the Switzers went directly towardes the Lancequenets A great carnage among the Lancequenets but they beeing abandoned by their horsemen and shrewdly galled with the harquebuziers were exposed in a manner to the crueltie of the Switzers their ancient enemies who entring in as it were at the breach committed a wonderfull carnage and mortalitie among them Of foure thousand there escaped not past some two hundred or there aboutes And the same misfortune had fallen vpon three thousand Frenchmen which were arraunged with them had not Monsieur of a generous and noble nature contenting himselfe with the honour of so glorious a victorie commaunded to saue their liues And this was the end of this great battell where both the French men Almaines Italians Burgonians Switzars Flemings and Lancequenets had leysure to trie their valours at the full The Protestants lost at this encounter three thousand Lancequenets and a thousand fiue hundred Frenchmen The number that was slain on both sides There perished also of men of name Tauigny Pugreffier Dantricourt Biron brother to the Catholike and Saint Benet the ensigne of the Admirals companie La Noue and Acier were taken prisoners and their Reisters lost all their Wagons Of the Catholiques there perished some fiue or sixe hundred horsemen and twise so manie were grieuously hurt whereof the most part liued not long after The Count Reingraue the elder the Marques of Baden and Cleremont of Dauphinie were slaine The yong Reingraue the Earles of Issi and Santelle Italians with the Duke of Guise Scomberg Bassompcer and de Maille were sore wounded but afterwards recouered CHAP. XIII Saint Iean d'Angely besieged and taken by the Catholiks The king offreth a peace which is refused by the Protestants Monsieur de Bellegard is slaine THe losse of this battayle gaue a maruellous checke to the affayres of the Protestants A great alteration in the Protestants affayres who now were dryuen to forsake the Champaigne whereof they were maisters not long before and sundrie of their followers beganne to shrinke thinking that all had beene lost and manie good Townes which before fauoured their proceedings fell quite from them in deuotion and followed the good fortune of the victorious Catholiques So mutable and chaungeable are these earthly matters and are set in so fickle an estate and condition that one woulde thinke that euen God himselfe who guideth and gouerneth all with the eye of his prouidence were delighted with an alternatiue course and continuall chaunge in all things Albeit the affayres of the Protestants stoode but in a desperate estate yet lyke men of great courage wisedome and policie they woulde not shrinke from the cause but sought as it were to begin the game afresh and by all meanes to maintaine their honor and credits with al their associates And if it might be to repaire their losses or at the least to keepe that which remained in their possessions Wherupon they fortified sundry townes as Niort Angolesme Saint Iean d'Angely Rochell and others with assurance that the worst of these were sufficient to stay the Catholikes if they should happen to attempt them vntill they had gathered some new forces They also wrote letters into all quarters to assemble new troupes and left nothing vnattempted which might any way tend to the aduauncement of their affayres His excellencie following his good fortune tooke forthwith sundry good townes as Parthenay Niort Lusignen Fontenay and some others all places yeelding vnto him of theyr owne accorde so that hee neuer stayed his course vntill hee came before Saint Iean d'Angely S. Iean d'Angely besieged by the Catholiques whereof the Lorde Pilles was Gouernour And hauing summoned the Towne and they within returning an aunswere that lyked him not hee foorthwith planted his siege and placed his Cannon and with maruaylous furie plyed the batterie And for the greater terrour of the besieged the King the Queene mother the Cardinall of Lorraine The K. and Q. mother comme to the campe accompanied with a great troupe of Nobles and Gentlemen their attendants came to the Campe who were saluted with a thundering peale of Ordinaunce intermingled with sundrie vollies of small shotte besides many fireworkes and warrelike deuises as well to welcome their Maiesties as to daunt and dismay the besieged Protestants But they as men resolute to maintaine theyr lyues and libertyes encouraged each other valyauntlie to abyde the furie of the Catholiques and laboured day and night to repayre the breaches Yea they resolutely stoode to theyr tackeling and so Souldiourlyke bare themselues that after manie hote skirmishes and desperate assaultes beeing men of noble valour and commaunded by a generous and couragious Chieftaine S. Iean d'Angely yeelded vpon cōdition the King was content to take the towne vpon composition and to offer them honourable conditions promising them leaue to depart with bagge and baggage with their ensignes displayed and to bee safelie conducted whither soeuer they woulde But before the King coulde bring them to this passe 1570 hee had spent a long time lost the valiaunt Martigues Def fans one of the maisters of the Campe with manie other most singular and braue leaders and well neare tenne thousand common souldiours So that this siege gaue the Catholiques as shrewde a checke as that of Poictiers did the Protestants The King inclines to a peace The King beeing greatlie wearyed with these broyles beganne of his owne accorde to incline to a peace supposing in deede that those of the
Religion would accept of any conditions But they beeing too often before beguyled with fayre wordes woulde not hearken thereto least the world should thinke that they were no longer able to maintaine their cause a speciall plotte sayd they to discountenaunce the rest of theyr proceedings The Protestants refuse a peace VVhereupon both the Catholiques and Protestants still continued to vexe each other in all hostill manner The Count de Lude and Puygalliard recouered Marans Browages and many other Islandes from the Confederates which were againe regayned by La Noue and stronglie fortifyed for the further aduauncement of the affayres of the Protestants Who preuayled also verie mightily by Sea taking manie great pryses which were no meanes to further theyr designements Whilest things fell out in this maner about Rochell the Princes the Admirall and the rest of the chiefest of the confederates had greatly encreased their forces and hasted to ioyne their troupes with Montgommerie Moubrune and other Chieftaines who had gathered a great number of harquebuziers to supply those bandes which had beene broken at the battell of Mountcounter And hauing thus reenforced their army they marched towards Lorrain there to attend the comming of theyr Almaynes And as they passed through Languedocke and came neare vnto Mountpellier La Loue one of the Mareschals of the campe was slaine as he was fast asleepe in the dead of the night through the great neglâ—gence of the Sentinels La Loue slain through the negligenâ—e of the Sentinels who beeing suddenly surprised by the garrison within the Towne were the cause of the death of this braue Chieftaine who for his valour courage and noble conduct was highly commended of all the Protestants Many townes were gayned by the Princes in these quarters as Lunell Nismes Margarite Saint Ambrose Saint Iean Saint Priuâ—te Bezouze Castillon Alâ—ts with sundâ—y other of good importance by which happy exploits the confederates did begin afresh to countenance themselues and to recouer much of their former honour and renowme When as the K. was aduertised of all their designes and how that they dayly encreased their forces surprised many castels strong holds and were now almost ioyned with their Reisters with whose ayd they resolued to returne againe into the heart of France and peraduenture once more to besiege the capitoll of all the Kingdome he dispatched forthwith the Mareschall Cossy with an armie wherein were 4000. Switzers 6000. French harquebuziers some 3. or 4000. horse and twelue great peeces of Ordinance with which forces he marched towards the princes Mareschal Cossy sent against the Princes who were incamped at a place called Saint Iean in Burgundy with some 2500. harquebuziers 2000. horse and eighteene cornets of Reisters These two armies came no sooner in view each of other but that their Enfans perdus began the game so that there was a hot skirmish on both sides The Prince of Berne and Conde were there in person each of them in the front of their Regiment and resolutely bent to go to the charge and there to make the first triall of their fortune The fight continued long and many were slaine but the Catholikes hauing the worse after they had lost Monsieur de Bellegard Monsieur de Bellegard slaine one of the Knights of the order besides diuerse others of good accouÌ„t were forced to suffer the Protestants to passe who hasting on their way after great trouble and a long and painefull iourney hauing in a maner rounded all Fraunce at the last they drewe neare to La Charitie Sancerre Antrin Vezelay and other Townes of the Religion where they defended themselues to theyr maruaylous comfort and contentation Nowe was the treatie of peace before mentioned reiterated and earnestly pursued by diuerse who perswaded the King The King perswaded to a peace that these intestine warres consumed none but his Subiectes that the murthers robberies burnings and such like miseryes woulde bee the confusion of the whole state and that who so euer gayned yet hee lost to the great impouerishing of the Crowne of Fraunce and the vtter destruction of that noble kingdome which had beene the paragon of all Europe These and the like reasons induced the King at length to condiscend to a peace which was accepted by the confederates and published in the yere 1570. to the great comfort of all the French and exceeding quiet of the whole lande where we may see the strange and wonderful mutabilitie of mens minds which as they are not long contented with one the self same estate so do they seldom or neuer like the better before they haue beene well scourged with the rod of their owne folly and taught by wofull experience howe to discerne betweene good and bad CHAP. XIIII Peace proclaimed in France The mariages of the King the Duke of Montpensier the Duke of Guise and the Admirall The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court The Admirall goeth to the Court The death of the Queene of Nauarre Peace proclaimed THe kings Edict for the establishing of a peace was no sooner published but that the forces on both sides were forthwith licenced to depart euery man to his owne house which hee had not seene for a long time before to the vnspeakable ioy of the protestaÌ„ts no small comfort to the better and honester sort of the Papists who as mariners that haue escaped some dangerous troublesom tempests and are arriued safely in their wished port held vp their haÌ„ds to heauen with giuing thanks for so vnspeakeable a blessing and earnestly entreated the almightie that they might spend the rest of their dayes in peace and quietnes The Princes with the Queene of Nauarre and sundry of the chiefe of the Protestants as the Admirall the Count Lodowick of Nassau Teligny La Noue and diuerse other withdrew themselues to Rochell for their greater securitie vntil they might see how the kings Edict would be executed Now began there a great alteration in the minds of the French all mens actions were suddenly changed as a man would haue thought after a strange wonderfull maner For where as not long before there was no talke but of hatred wrath murther bloodie broyles and most cruel and vnnaturall warres now was there nothing so much spoken of as loue amitie friendship and making of mariages The King was espoused to Isabel the second daughter to Maximilian the emperor The King marrieth whose nuptials were solemnised with great pompe and magnificence Lois of Burbon and Duke of Montpensier maried with the Duke of Guises sister Duke Montpensier marrieth and the Duke of Guise matched with the widowe of the late Prince Portion D. of Guise marieth one of the principall of the Confederates The Mareschall Cossy and Prontiere one of the Secretaryes of estate were sent vnto Rochell to treate with the Queene of Nauarre as touching a marriage betweene the Prince of Barne her sonne and the Ladie Margaret the Kinges sister a
the rest of their proceedings And hauing gotten sundry strong townes forts and castels into their handes they flatly refused those conditions of peace which the Rochellers had accepted fortifying themselues with a newe association and league began to annoy the Catholiks with open warre The mareschals of Memorancie and Cossy committed to prison The King being about this time incensed against the Mareschals of Memorancie and Cossy committed them to prison and suspecting the Mareschall Danuill to be of their confederacie depriued him of his Lieutenantship in Languedo ke and gaue it vnto the Prince Dauphin son to the Duke Montpencier Which when the Mareschall vnderstoode hee aranged himselfe with those of the Religion seizing vppon sundry strong townes as Montpellier Beucary Lunell and others Mareschal Danu â—l â—oyneth with the Protestants fortifying them with sufficient garrisons and all other necessaries There were also great numbers of the Catholikes who receyuing small fauour at the Kings hands neither were so rewarded for their seruices as they expected grew maleconts and seeing Monsieur the Kings brother was departed into Polonia they thought it now fit time to take their aduauntage and by leaguing themselues with the Protestants to reforme the policy of the land and to reclaim the king who said they was wholy misled by the wicked couÌ„sels of such as were strangers and enemies tothe Crowne of France They had also practised with the Duke of Alenson the Kings yongest brother to take part with them and found him not vnwilling to becom their leader and generall in this so hautie an enterprise And where as the Rochellers would not for a long time be drawne to ioyne with the rest of the Protestants Rochell ioyneth with the rest of the Protestants malecontents at last through the dexteritie and politike inducements of La Noue a man of great credit among them they were contented to bee embarked into that action and to prouide all necessaries for the maintenance of the future wars The Confederates hauing all things thus in a readinesse attended the departure of the Duke of Alenson The Duke of Alenson disswaded from going in the Protestants the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde from the Court and for their better safetie had sent some two hundred horse to Saint Germain in Lay but the King being made priuie hereof and his excellencie diuerted by La Moly the proceedings of the Protestants were mightily crossed for the time howbeit like men of courage and resolution they went forwards and openly inuaded the Catholiques both by sea and land Montgommerie who for a long while had beene in the I le of Gersey landed on the sudden in Normandie Montgommery landeth in Normandy ioyning with the Columbiers and incorporating himselfe with the Norman troupes made sharpe warre vpon the Papists getting many townes and fortresses which were very aduantagious for the Protestants Great preparation was made by the King to withstand these proceedings and proclamation was sent out into all parts to assemble the Bannes and Arierbannes and such was the diligence vsed herein that there was quickely gathered together a sufficient number to make two armyes which the King presently diuided sending the one into Poictou vnder the conduct of Montpencier against La Noue and the other vnder the leading of Mategnon into Bas Normandie agaynst the Count Mongommerie who preuayled mightily against the Catholiques seising vpon sundry their best townes and strongest holds and raunging euery where at his pleasure But at last the Count comming to Donfron was suddenly besieged by his enemies where he was taken prisoner being shamefully forsaken by his souldiers and so was led away to Paris and there had his head stroken off Montgommery taken beheaded the 26. of Iune to the great reioycing of the Parisians and the exceeding greefe of the Confederates CHAP. XVIII The King waxeth sicke Maketh a peace with his subiects Ordaineth the Queene mother Regent of France in the absence of the King of Polonia His death The end of the fourth ciuill warres The King waxeth sickly WHilest the Duke Montpencier besieged Fontenay the King who had now for a good while beene sickely and diseased began to waxe worse and worse insomuch as the Queene mother fearing that if he should die vpon the sudden there woulde be maruellous hurly burlies at court thought it best to sende for the Duke Duke Montpensier returneth to the Court. whom she comanded to repaire vnto the kings presence withall speed who thereupon brake vp his siege licensing his army to depart and he himself hasted to the Court. There he found a strange Metamorphosis for the king was now verie desirous to end the wars and to make a peace with the Protestants and would haue them fauoured and protected as well as his other subiects The king desirous to make peace with his subiects desiring and that verie instantly all sorts to put to their helping hands and to shew themselues furtherers of so laudable a worke Commaunding likewise his Lieutenants and gouernors in all his Dominions to cause his former Edicts to be diligently obserued to punish with all rigour and seueritie who soeuer refused to obey this his commaundement The Queene mother did likewise labour verie earnestly herein The end of the fourth ciuill warre and seemed desirous of nothing so much as to establish a peace and quietnesse throughout all Fraunce The King did still decay and death hasted his pace to ouertake him so that notwithstanding all the meanes that could bee imagined to escape so hote pursute yet there was no remedie but needes he must be arested and called to account for his former actions Which when with great perplexitie of minde and sorrow of heart he perceiued hauing ordained the Queene mother for Regent during the absence of the King of Polonia The Q. mother made Regent of Fraunce to whom the crowne of Fraunce as next heire did appertaine he yeelded vp his life the 30. of May at Bois de Vincens 1574. in the 13. yeare of his reigne and in the 24 of his age hauing bin the most bloodie and cruell Prince that euer did weare the French Diadem And as hee continually thirsted after the blood of the poore Protestants so did hee neuer cease vomiting and belching out of blood all the time of his sicknesse with most horrible swearing and blaspheming vntill his last gaspe after a most strange and fearful maner And this was the end of Charles of Valois and King of France The death of Charles the ninth King of France who beeing by nature wicked by education irreligious and by vngodly and wicked counsel easily drawne into all kinde of impious and barbarous actions began with iniustice continued with crueltie and ended in misery leauing that noble kingdome so torne and dismembred the Nobilitie so diuided and discontented and the communaltie so oppressed and impouerished that the whole state hauing lost the ancient splendor
their poore brethren Others hid themselues in secret corners and liued most miserably and in great wants Infinite numbers fled away some into England some into Germanie others to Sedan The miserablee state of the pâ—rsecuted Protestants Geneua and such places as were free from persecution It was a most pittifull sight to beholde the dissipation of so many families who were nowe turned foorth of the doores naked and comfortlesse and forced to shift for themselues in strange Countreyes The Duke de Maine did all this while what hee could to any the Protestants and to gayne as many Citties and townes through very secrecie as hee could to ioyne with the League and to make that faction strong against the King by seducing his subiects vnder the colour of maintaining the Catholike Religion Which beeing suspected by sundrie his followers they disbanded themselues and some for want of pay refused to serue any longer The Duke de Maine by reason of these vnexpected crosses was not able to make head any longer and therefore wrote to the Guyse his brother in what bad tearmes things stood who fearing that if there were not new prouision that his brother the Duke de Maine would come shortly to ruyne and bee vtterly ouerthrowne aduised the king to make foure seuerall Armies Foure newe armies appointed to inuade the Protestants and to inuade the protestants in diuerse places at once which sayde hee was the onely way to weaken them considering that their forces should bee seuered and disioyned This pollicie was no sooner allowed as the best but the Mareschall Biron was appointed to go into Xainctoigne the Duke Ioyeuse into Languedocke the Lord Foynse his sonne into Auergne and the Duke of Espernon into Prouence La Chastre should bee readie with a fleete vppon the coast of Britaine to enterprise as time and opportunitie serued The king of Nauarre was foorthwith certified of this preparation which made him fortifie such places as were of importance as strongly as hee could and vnderstanding that the Mareschall Biron intended to besiege Browage with a power of one thousand two hundred horse foure thousand footmen he did so carefully prouide for the defence therof that after that Biron had bin long before the towne and had done little or nothing sauing that he was content to make a composition with the Protestants hee brake vp his campe and sent his companies some into Poictou and some into Aniou to refresh themselues and thus was this Army dispersed without dooing of any thing Duke Ioyeuse passed into Languedocke where hee tooke Lodere Saint Poure Montesquion and Marueiâ—lx and hauing committed infinite sorts of most horrible villanies and strange cruelties The armies of the Popish Leagueri ouerthrowne in lesse then one yeere after he had lost aboue thirtie of his best Captaines and fiue hundred others at the least before a palterie towne called Saint Puels brake vp his army and returned home in farre worse case then hee went footh The sauage rudenes of this rable made many of the Nobilitie who before fauored the League to forsake such an association wherein there was nothing but robbing spoyling whooring swearing and blaspheming and that after a most beastly and brutish manner the yong Ioyeuse following rather his pleasures then the wars made his progresse throughout Auuergna where hee did no other harme but spende and waste the Kings treasure and when that was doone retired to the Court to see if he could be trusted with any more And thus were all these armies brought to confusion vanishing away as a little smoke notwithstanding all their great brags The Leaguers considering that all these fiue Armies had spent great store of treasor and all other warlike preparation and yet had rather hindred then furthered their secret purposes for by reason they sped no better they were forsaken of many The Queen mother offereth a parly of peace growen into contempt with others deuised with the Queene mother whom they knew to fauour their designements that shee shoulde offer a parley of peace which shee did and sent to vnderstand of the king of Nauarre if hee would hearken thereto who tendering the good of his countrey refused not the motion wherupon there was an interuiew betweene the Queene mother and the saide King at Saint Brice the thirteenth of December where there was much adoo and many words spent to small purpose for the Queene would not condiscend to the excuse of the Religion and the king of Nauarre would make no peace seeing that was the principall cause of bearing armes howbeit in the end the Queene vnderstanding of the great leauie of Reisters that were comming to the ayde of the Protestants and growing in suspition that the Dukes of Guyse and de Maine and the rest of the Leaguers would enterprise somewhat against the King shee concluded a peace for three moneths and so returned to the Court. 1587 The Guyses trecherous dealing to discredit the King The Duke of Guyse intending to discredit the king with his subiects euerie day more then other sent abroade sundrie his supposts and caused them to spread a rumor how that the euill successe of all those armies which had beene employed against the Hugonots was for that the king beeing led by wicked councell would not permit that they should be sufficiently prouided for with money munition and other necessaries that hee had intelligence with the heretikes that hee had warre indeed in his mouth but in his heart he meant nothing lesse and that by such fraudulent dealing the good Catholikes were betrayed and the Heretikes encouraged and that therefore there was no good to be doone so long as there was such packing and false play The Domesticall enemie was first to bee ouerthrowne before the forraine enemie could be vanquished These and such like sinister informations were giuen out among the multitude by Friers Priests and Iesuites in their Sermons and manie busie headed fellowes were set a woorke to spreade these and such like defamatorie speaches with much vehemencie and earnestnesse in Alehouses Tauerns Markets and all other places of greatest assembly By reason of which sâ—aunderous and bad reports there grew much murmuring amongst the people with no small dislike of the present gouernment The King notwithstanding as a man bewitched with the deceitfull dealing of his mother and the treacherous practises of such counsellers as he most fauoured eyther vnderstoode nothing of all this or else was forced to winke at it as wanting leysure or meanes to sift the matter more narrowly For the rumour of the comming of the Germaines the fortunate successe of the Lord Digueres in Dauphinie and Languedocke the counter-league of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and a great number of verie Noble and honourable personages of the lande with a full resolution to maintaine the reformed Religion did so occupie his minde that hee coulde not haue leysure to looke into the rebellious driftes of the Leaguers
his bodie The death of Henry the 3 the French King not withstanding all the remedies that could be deuised or imagined hee yeelded vp his life into the handes of him that gaue it him hauing reigned fourteene yeares and seuen moneths And this was the ende of Henrie the third the French king and king of Polonia and the last of the house of Valois who being bewitched with the sorceries of his mother and inclyning to euill by his owne bad disposition opposed himselfe agaynst Gods true religion and being giuen ouer to worke his owne destruction followed the wicked counsailes of his notorious and sworne enemies who spake him fayre to his face but inwardly hated him and neuer ceased persecuting of their deuelish deuises vntill they had brought his state to confusion and procured his vntimely death and destruction CHAP. XXVI Henrie the fourth the French King ouerthroweth the Leaguers in two seuerall battels Great famine in Paris The Duke of Parma entreth into Fraunce relieueth Paris From whence he flieth againe in great haste into the Lowe Countryes The Pope excommunicateth the King VVho causeth his Bull to be burned at Towers The great Armie of the Germianes The Duke of Parma goeth the sâ—conde time into Fraunce and preuayleth greatly agaynst the King The Leaguers seeke for peace The King encline to Poperie His coronation Paris with most of the great Citties of Fraunce turne to the King IMmediately after the death of Henrie the third Henrie of Burbon King of Nauarre and the true inheritour to the Crowne of Fraunce both by his owne right and by the last will and testament of the late King The princes Nobles and souldiers take their oath of obedience to Henry the fourth was proclaimed King of Fraunce by the name of King Henrie the foorth and so acknowledged by all the Princes Nobles Colonels Captaines and souldiours in the Campe after the ancient maner of choosing the Romane Emperors giuing him their oaths of fidelitie and obedience with protestation to assist him to maintaine his royall and princely authoritie against all traitours rebels and leaguers to the vttermost of their powers The Prince Montpensier being then at Audly a towne vpon the Riuer of Seyne caused likewise all his army to take the like oath exhorting them to defend constantly the late kings wil and valiantly to oppose theÌ„selues against al seditious persons despisers of gods lawfull ordinance traitors to their King sworne enemies to their own couÌ„try This Henry of Burbon King of Nauarre and now the French king and so hereafter he shall be tearmed considering the strength of his open enemies and fearing the treacherie of many in the Campe who were deuoted to the league knowing that they might be a meanes to distresse him beeing so neare vnto a great number of his euill willers who were likely to double their rage by reason of this exploit done vpon the late Kings person The French King retireth toward Norman de thought good to licence so many as he suspected to depart the campe and determined to retire with the rest into Normandie somewhat further from his enemies and to gather as great a power as hee could of his trustiest and most assured friends and in the meane time to view the attempts and preparations of the Leaguers The armie of the D. de Maine The D. de Maine besides all the bands which he had collected of the French rebels receyued certaine Swart Rutters vnder the leading of the Duke of Brimswicke The Duke of Lorraine sent his sonne likewise called the Marques of Pont. with certaine companies of horsemen with this great armie which amounted to the number of 25000. men The Duke de Maine marched towards Deep where the King lay with some nine or ten thousand men who vnderstanding of the approach of the enemie tooke the field with those forces which he had and encamped at Arques about two miles froÌ„ Deepe where he stayed not long but that the enemie appeared in fight at a village not far off called Martinglize The king sent out forthwith his light horsmeÌ„ to discouer between whoÌ„ the foreruÌ„ners of the Leaguers there were many hot skirmishes On the 19. day of September the enemie passed ouer a little riuer which ranne betweene both Armies and put himselfe in battaile array very well ordered strongly appointed and marched directly towards the king The Lord Billing with two thousande shot was appointed to charge first and the Duke de Maine stood behinde him with a strong battaile readie to succour as need required The king had quickly ordered his battailon hauing disposed of all things in as warlike maner as he could deuise sent forth his light horsemen to charge the enemie who were backed with the Prince of Conde led by the Lord Montaret His battailon of footemen was flanked with his owne cornet wherein were the Lord Graund Pryer of France the Count Rochfaucoult the Count Rossy his brother the Count Rochford with diuers other Gentlemen of great reckoning and such as were neerest about his person and hauing called vppon God to ayde him in his iust and righteous quarrell so furiously charged the enemie that hee left fiue hundred dead vpon the place at that instant The rest seeing the slaughter of their fellowes and the furie of the kings souldiers began to shrinke and in a short time to flie away in great feare and disorder The Principall men of the Leaguers which were slain were the Lord Saint Andrew Sagne Collonell of the light horsemen the Lord Saint Vidal Lieutenant of the Ordenance the Lord Vienuille Count Billing Temblecourt Sauelak and diuers others were taken prisoners The king lost the Count Rossy brother to Rochfaucont and the Lord Bake Ville a Gentleman of very worthy and commendable parts and not past some thirtie or fortie others The Duke de Maine seeing his bad lucke retyred his beaten troupes towards Picardy the king being strengthened with the forces of the Prince of Soysons Duke Languauille and Mareschall Haultmont besides foure thousand Englishmen newly sent him out of England The Lord VVillowby vnder the leading of the right noble and valiant Lord VVillowby departed from Deepe coasted the enemie til he came to Menlau and then returned toward Paris supposing that by that meanes hee should draw the Duke to follow him and so bring him to a battaile The king bringeth hiâ— army before Paris The King comming to Paris about the 28. of October determined to assault the suburbs and hauing prepared all things in a readinesse for that purpose assailed them the first of Nouember following where hee founde some resistance but the courage of the Souldiers redoubled with the presence of the Prince was such The suburbs of S. Germaines takeÌ„ that they quickly gayned them and slew aboue a thousand and fiue hundred of their enemies there were also taken fourteene ensignes and thirteene peeces of Ordenance The king seeing the Leaguers attempted nothing but
so to Baugencie both which places were quickelye gayned from the Catholikes with the strong Towne of Estamps where was founde great store of prouision as Corne Wine Powder shot and all necessaries for the warres The Prince after some smal stay to repose his wearied troups marched on towards Paris The Prince of Conde marcheth towards Paris which he no sooner approched that the bands vnder the leading of the P. Portian and Mouy had giuen in so farre as the suburbs of S. Victor but that all the Citie was in an vprore and euery man at their wittes ende so wonderfully were they daunted with the sight of the Princes armie albeit they were not past eight thousande footemen and some fiue or sixe thousande horse Whereas there were within the Citie at the least a hundred thousand able to beare armes hauing the Constable the Duke of Guise the Duke of Neuers the Mareschals and in a manner all the braue leaders of Fraunce for their chieftaines and commaunders But such was their timorousnesse that they kept themselues close albeit the battell was presented vnto them twise at the least and onelie amused the Prince with certaine conditions of peace about the which there were manie meetings In the end all being found to be but meere delayes and onelie to gaine time vntill the comming of the Spaniardes the Prince resolued to assaile the enemie in his Trenches but the same night which was appoynted for this exployte and immediately before it shoulde haue beene put in execution Genlis a principall man among the Protestants secretely fledde to the Catholikes which vnexpected accident quite altered the councell of the Confederates supposing that now there was some aduertisement giuen of their intended enterprise Genlis flieth to the Catholikes and therefore they deferred the execution of that proiect vntill some other tyme. But by reason of the wants that were in the Armie as the penurie of victuals and other necessaries as also a secrete discontentment among the straungers for that they lacked theyr pay it was agreed to stay no longer before Paris which was not so easie to bee gotten nor in so short a tyme as was requisite to supplie theyr present necessitie but to dislodge and to retire towards New-hauen The prince leaueth Paris and marcheth to-towards New hauen there to attende such succours as were expected out of England By the way the Prince tooke Galardon a towne of good importance where he stayed to giue some breath to his wearyed troups and to accommodate his armie of such things as were most necessarie The Catholikes coasted him all the way watching to catch him at some aduantage howbeit nothing was attempted vntill both the camps were come vnto Dreux where they approched so neare and either partie had so farre engaged themselues that there was no remedie but they must needes fight so that now each Generall began to bethinke of all good meanes for the strengthening of himselfe and the weakening of his enemyes The Catholikes had made choyse of a verie strong place to encampe in beeing neare vnto Dreux The battel of Dreux wherein there was a garrison of their associates and likewise adioyning vnto a wood which was a verie fit and conuenient place to effect diuers stratagems There was a large and spacious plaine through which there ran a little valley seruing as it were for the bounds and limits of both armies The Constable hauing gotten this aduauntage presented himselfe in battell aray at the head of the village vppon the toppe of a little hill hauing placed two strong battaylons of footemen in the towne which should gard fourteene Cannons so planted that they were ready to play vpon the army of the confederates as soone as the signall should be giuen Each battaillon was flanked with certaine troupes of horse as it were for a mutuall succour one for another with their Enfans perdus in their fronts and those of the choysest of all their regiments They had the Riuer Eureux at their backes and espying that they were likely to come to a triall of their fortune they forthwith emparked themselues betweene two villages in a place of more aduantage then before The Mareschall S. Andrew led the auauntgard The Catholike armie which was composed of nine companies of French launces thirteene ensignes of Spaniards with as manie French and eleuen of Almaines with foure field peeces all which were aranged on the left side of the Conestable who led the maine battaile further aduaunced then eyther the Mareschall or the Duke of Guise wherein were seuenteene Cornets of men of Armes and three of light horsmen with two and twentie ensignes of Zwitzers seuenteene of French and Britons and eyght peeces of great Ordinance The Duke of Guise led the rerewarde which seemed to flanke the battaile of the Conestable on the right side with a strong troupe of horsemen and two esquadrons of Spanish footemen with sundrie others his followers men of especiall account and much renowmed for their valyantnesse The prince had so araunged his battailes that the horsemen wherein they ouermatched his enemies were in the formost rankes The Protestants armie and taking vnto himselfe Rochfaucont with certaine light horsemen of Guries companie with some other Cornets led by Mouy and Auarell besides a troupe of Reisters all which serued as flankers for his battailon of footmen resolued to encounter the Conestable who seemed to be readie to giue the charge Each generall hauing disposed of all things in this warlike sort the great artillarie began to vomit out their deuilrie and the Conestable prepared to assaile the battaile of the Prince which hasted in like maner to the encounter and that with so stately and superbious a dismarch that it gaue euident testimonie that it was led by a generall of noble courage and great experience The Prince charged the Zwitzers who valiantly endured the first shotte and stoode to it verie manfully The Prince of Conde charge the Switzers ouerthroweth them But at length by reason of the smal shot which hailed vpon them without ceasing and somwhat cleared their ranks they began to giue ground which the valiant and couragious Mouy espying incorporating his troups with Monsieur de Daneret set on them with such furie that he made them flie amaine And being seconded by the Prince wholy defeated them as renowmed Pykemen as they were The Reisters who followed the Princes good fortune gaue in with great courage committing a maruellous carnage and mortalitie vpon their enemies At the same instant the Admirall charged the Conestable and that so lustily that his men began to shrinke and he himselfe being wounded in the face with a Curtelas and sore bruised with small pistoll shot was forced to yeeld to Vezines But the Reisters passing by at that instant tooke him away by force and carryed him to the Prince as a prisoner of their owne The Conestable taken prisoner The rest of the Conestables battaile was quickely
thing in shewe highlie tending to the honour of the Prince and the establishing of a perpetuall peace and amitie with the Confederates The Prince of Conde was marryed to Marie de Cleues The prince of Conde marrieth the youngest daughter to the Duke of Neuers the Admirall with the daughter of the Count of Entremont in Sauoy The admiral marieth and the young Teligny with Lois of Colligny the Admirals daughter thus was there nothing but feasting banquetting singing reuelling and making of loue throughout all the partes of Fraunce The king seemed to stande highly contented with this peace and began dayly more and more to countenaunce the Protestants For hauing once perswaded the Queene of Nauarre to come to the court The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court. both he the Queene mother the Dukes of Aniou and Alenson the Kings brethren did intertaine her in most louing and friendly maner making her the best welcome that might be imagined Count Lodowicke brother to the Prince of Orenge who attended her was likewise verie honourably receyued by the King who promised him to ayde the Prince his brother agaynst the Spaniard and for that purpose had commaunded preparation to be made both by sea and land as though he had entended to begin the warres with all speede so that the King desired nothing more then to aduaunce the affayres of the Protestants The marriage of the yong Prince of Barne and the conquest of the lowe Countreys were the things that the King seemed to affect most And because the Admirall was a verie wise man an olde Souldiour the best experienced Captaine of all Fraunce and most skilfull in warlike affayres The King sent the Mareschall Cossy to Rochell to perswade with him to come to the Court and to assist his soueraigne in so honourable an enterprise the Admirall at the first was very vnwilling of himselfe and had dayly aduertisements to disswade him from that voyage The admiral goeth to the Court. But after many perswasions vsed by the Mareschall sundry friendly messages from the King and his fatall mishap as it were leading him thereunto he suffred himself to be gained and to be wooed by those who indeed loued him but a little He was no sooner come to Paris but the people flocked togither to see him His entertainment as to see a wonder The King receyued him with much kindnesse giuing him great honour calling him father at euerie worde And when the Admirall kneeled the King arose and tooke him vp protesting that he was the most welcome man liuing and that neuer any day was more ioiful vnto him then that wherein he did see the end of so many miseries and the beginning of peace and quietnesse for the whole lande And among manie other speaches hee chaunced to vtter these words Nowe we haue once gotten your companie you shal not depart from vs and this hee vttered with great laughter as a token of much ioy and delight The Queene mother his excellencie the Duke of Alenson and all the principall Courtiers welcomed him with farre greater honour then he expected and that which was more all these curtesies were accompanied with the great liberalitie of the Prince who gaue him an hundred thousand pounds in recompence of his losses sustained in the former wars besides the reuenues of the benefices which were belonging to his brother Odet the Cardinal of Chastillon who was lately deceased in England He was also admitted into the Kings priuie Councell His sonne in law Teligny was verie much honoured Cauagnes was made one of the maisters of the requests and to be short all the Admirals friends tasted of the kings liberalitie to the great contentment of the Protestants and the maruellous grudging of the Catholiques This honourable dealing gaue great hope of the continuance of the peace and the encrease of amitie amongest the French Nation in so much as the most rested secure reposing themselues in the faythfull promises of their prince yet manie suspected that all was but holy water of the Court and alluring baytes to catch the poore Protestants and afterwards to dispose of them as should be thought for their most aduauntage following said they herein the olde maxime in pollicie which is that where the skin of the Lion will not serue there it is best to put on the foxes coat The Queene of Nauarre was earnestly disswaded by sundry letters from many other friends from giuing her consent to the mariage The Admirall was likewise aduertised by secret messengers that in no wise he should go to Paris nor come within the reach of his enemies but all would not serue so desirous were they of the yong princes preferment so maruellously blinded at that instant But whilest the Queene of Nauarre was at Paris busied in prouiding for the mariage of her son she suddenly fell sicke and died the 10. of Iune The death of Ioan of Albret Queene of Nauarre 1572. to the great griefe of those of the reformed religion who exceedingly bewayled the death of so vertuous and constant a Lady and one that had beene a most noble maintainer of the truth all her dayes CHAP. XV. The Massacre at Paris THe sudden death of this Queene bred a sore suspition that she was poisoned and withal brought some delay the to mariage but at length all doubts being cleared both parties agreed the time appointed for the solemnising of the nuptials being come the yong King of Nauarre and the Lady Margaret were affianced with great solemnitie in our Lady Church in Paris by the Cardinall of Burbon the 18. of August 1572. in the presence of the King The mariage of the King of Nauarre the Queene mother the Duke of Aniou and Alenson the Prince of Conde with all the principal protestants The mariage ended there was nothing but banketting chearing tilting and all the deuises that might bee to please the eie and delight the eare to set forth all things in most royall and magnificent maner All old rancour and malice seemed to be buried in the pit of obliuion by reason of this new alliance which confirmed the hope of a most blessed peace in the time to come But in the middest of all this ioy and solace there fell out a sudden accident which astonished some and made others to bethinke themselues and to suspect the worst and that was this The admiral shot with an harquebuz Vpon the 22. of August as the Admirall was going from the Court toward his lodging hee was suddainlie shotte with a harquebuz out at a window of the house where Villemus who had beene schoole-maister to the Duke of Guise did vsually lodge and sore wounded with three Bullettes as hee was going a soft pace in the streete and reading a Supplication which had beene deliuered vnto him a little before One of the Bullets stroke off his fore finger and with the other hee was wounded in the left Arme. The Admirall