and townes confederated with them against him perswading the Pope who sent him ayde in these warrs that his quarel was Religion but to the princes Protestāts of Germanie many of the which were in his Camp ayded him he pretended that he made warr vppon them for their rebellion although in truth neither of both these were the cause motife of this warre but his owne ambition for his purpose was by vsing the Germanies help against the Germaines so to weaken both parts and in the meane time so to plant garrisons of Spaniards in the strong places of the countrey that in the ende he mought make the easier conquest of the whole And such successe he had at the beginning of these warrs that he toke the Duke of Saxonie prisoner made the Lantzgraue come yeld him selfe to his mercie but with this condition that he should not be detained in prison which article the Emperour so gloased with a Spanish exposition that that notwithstanding he emprisoned him alleadging that the article mentioned onely perpetual emprisonment The Palfzgraue also and the Duke of Wirtemberg and diuers other Princes and free Townes submitted them selues to him and with their money bought their peace You haue heard before how Henry the eight king of England dyed a little before king Francis and left behinde him Prince Edward his sonne a childe about tenne yeares of age the sayed King Henry before his death had practised a marriage in Scotland betwene the sayd prince his sonne afterward called Edward the vj and the heyre of Scotland being about foure yeares of age and so farre this matter was proceded in that the greatest part of the states of Scotland had giuen their consent thereunto but after king Henrys death by the perswasion of the Queene mother being of the house of Guyse and by the practise of the French faction who could not endure this vniting of these two Realmes by the sayd mariage the treatie made with king Henry was disauowed and a practise set on foote to bestow this yong Princes vpon the Daulphin of Fraunce for the which cause the English men entered into Scotland with a mightie armie spoiled all the countrie whom the Scotts encountering with all their forces at a place called Muscleborow were ouerthrowen and a great number of them slayne in September this yeare 1547. after the which victorie the English men tooke manie Castles and strong places and entered as farre as Edemborough the chiefe Citie of the Countrey and fortified Hedington a strong Towne where what happened what issue these warres had hereafter you shall heare The Emperour hauing ended his warres aboue mentioned in Germanie and established the 1548. Interim which was a forme of Religion to bee obserued till the assemblie of a generall counsell came downe into the low countries leading the Duke of Saxonie and the Lantzgraue with him as it were in triumph to the no small griefe of diuers Princes of the Empire especially of Duke MAVRICH sonne in law to the sayde Lantzgraue as the sequell shall well declare About this tyme also the Prince of Spaine the Emperours sonne came out of Spaine into Italie and from thence to Bruxelles to his father beeing honorably receaued in all places through which he passed But the Realme of Fraunce beeing deliuered from forrayne warres beeganne to bee vexed with domesticall seditions for a great rebellion was raysed at BOVRDEAVX and through all GVIENNE and XAINTOIGNE for a newe imposition increased vppon Sault for the appeasing whereof the Constable and Monsieur d'Aumalle were sent into those partes who punished very sharply them of BOVRDEAVX because they had slaine the kings officers and commited many disorders and tooke from them all their priuiledges and condemned both them and other townes that had offended in great summes of money and so appeased the tumult Cap. 2. The King aydeth the Scots against the English hee inuadeth the Countrey of Boulonoys The Queene of Scots is caried into Fraunce Paule the third dyeth Iulius the third succedeth peace betwene England and Fraunce YOu haue heard how the last yeare the English men were entered into Scotland as farre as Edingbourg and had ouerthrowen the Scots at Muscleborow for the which cause the Scots sent into Fraunce for ayde and the King knowing how preiudiciall it should bee for him and his Realme to suffer the English men to nestle in Scotland sent thether an armie of 6000. men vnder the leading of Monsieur d'Esse Strozzi the Rhingraue and others who made head against the English men and much endamaged them wanne Hedington which they had fortefied from them while in the meane time their nauie conueighed the young Queene into Fraunce notwithstanding the English nauie that lay vpon the Sea to stoppe their passage purposly to haue surprised the sayde young Queene and to haue brought hir into England but the French nauie escaped them and ariued safly in Fraunce After the conueighing away of the young Queene the king reuoqued d'Esse and sent de Thermes a valiant souldier and a wise man to take the charge of his armie in Scotland willing him to busie the English men on that side while the French forces entered into the Countrey of Boulonoys for notwithstanding that peace had beene concluded as before you haue heard betwene king Francis and king Henry before their death and afterward confirmed also betwene the two Realmes yet that notwithstanding the French perceauing the Realme of England to be vexed with seditions because of the alteration of Religion vsed that opportunitie and besieged Bouloyne but could not take it notwithstanding diuers other small peces held by the English in the countrey of Boulonoys namely Boulonberg Hambletow and Montlambert and diuers other they toke This yeare also the tenth of Nouember died Pope Paule the third to whom after three moneths dissencion in the Consistorie succeded Iulius the third and this yeare also in December died Margaret Queene of Nauarra sister to king Francis a Lady of an excelent spirit But after these wars aboue mentioned had thus passed as you haue hard since the beginning of this kings 1550. reigne betwene the French English nations as well in Scotland as in Boulonoys both parts disposed thēselues to peace England was afflicted not onely with sorraine warrs but also with domesticall seditions of the commons and dissentions among the nobles the French king was entered into practise against the Emperour both in Italie with Octauio Prince of Parma and in Germanie with duke Maurice and diuers other Princes who hated the Emperour deadly for his extreame tiranie vsed against the liberties of their country Wherefore the King meaning to attempt somewhat against the Emperour was the more inclined to make peace with England thereby to haue all cleere on that side of Fraunce Both the Realmes therfore being thus disposed to concord their commissioners met concluded peace with these cōditions Boloyne was restored to the French for the which they payed
leading of Trimouille went and beesieged Nouara but this their good successe in the beginning was ouerthrowen in the twinkeling of an eye for you shall vnderstand that the Swyssers who had bound themselues to the defence of the sayde Duchie of Milan as before you haue heard came to leauie the siege of Nouara had the french in so great contempt that they assaulted them vpon a sodaine and defeated them in their owne camp which was one of the noblest victories that euer any nation obtayned This battaile is called the battayle of Nouara After this victorie all the Duchie of Milan reuolted in a moment chaced away the French and returned to the obedience of Maximilian Sforce and the king by this ouerthrow lost his honor his treasure and all that he held in Italie as well Genoua as the whole Duchie of Milan yea and the Castels of Milan Cremona which in all these troubles had still continued French seing themselues now in vtter despaire of succors and beeing in extreame distresse of victualls were yeelded into the Duke of Milans hands and the Kings armie in great feare and distresse returned into Piemont The Venetian forces vnder the leading of Aluiana were comming to ioyne with the French but hearing of the ouerthrow they retired to Padoua whether the Viceroy of NAPLES and PROSPERO COVLONNE beeing in pay with the Pope and the duke of Milan went to besiege them but not beeing able to take the towne they leuyed theyr siege and then ALVIANA issewing out of the towne pursewed them and charged them which charge they valyauntly receaued through the vertue of the Spanish footmen and cowardise of the Italian footemen the Venetian armie was ouerthrowen and lost all their artilery cariagde and ALVIANA retired to Treuisa This battayle was fought nere to Vincense and the Venetians lost in it 400. men of armes and 4000. sootemen Cap. 9. The king of England ouuerthroweth the french winneth Therouenne and Tournay The Swyssers inuade Burgundy Queene Anne dyeth The Pope maketh peace beetweene all these Princes The king marieth the King of Englands sister and dyeth THE same yeare also Henry King of Englād with a mightie armie which the Italians report to haue been to the number of 80000 men inuaded the Realm of Fraunce ouerthrew the French in a battaile called la iournee des esperons wherin the Duke of Longueuille with diuers noble men of Fraunce were taken prisoners the Emperour Maximilian being at that time in person in the king of Englands camp being alowed dayly by the sayd king 100 crownes for his diet The English men after this battaile toke Therouanne the two and twentith of August and from thence by the Emperour Maximilians persuasion went before Tournay which was yelded to them the nine and twentith of September and hauing defcated in an other battaile in England the Scots the ninth of September slaine their King in the feeld who by the persuasion of the French had inuaded the Realme of England during the Kings absence in Fraunce the sayd king of England triumphantly returned home Farther the Swyssers being secretly hiered with the Popes monie who loued not the French for the reasons aboue reherced inuaded Fraunce also on the other side and besieged Dijon in Burgundy into the which Monsieur de la Trimouille had put him selfe who doubting the vtter ruine of the Realme of Fraunce so many enemies inuading it on all sides without any commission from the king made a composition with the sayd Swyssers more necessarie than honorable for the Realme which was this that the King should renounce all his right to the Duchie of Milan and paye them at a day agreed vpon six hundreth thousand Crownes for the which also he deliuered them Hostages and they bound them selues onelie to retourne home into their Countrie for that tyme. The Pope was not a litle offended with this theyr returne but they excused the matter because they receaued not out of England the monie that was promised them but in truth their greedinesse of the six hundreth thousand Crownes aboue mentioned was the principall cause of their returne whereof notwithstanding their hope was frustrate for the King would not ratifie this disshonorable treatie made by Trimouille notwithstanding that it were the saftie of his Realme but sought to content those Swyssers with other conditions which they would not accept but threatned if the treatie were not accomplished by a certaine day to strike of the hostages heads About the beginning of the yeare 1514. dyed 1514. Queene Anne of France Farther you shall vnderstand that the Pope being by nature an enimie to the warres and wholie giuen to delights and pleasures namely to Musick to hearing of Playes and to beeholding of Maskes bouffons and ieasters yea somewhat more then was semely for his estate Laboured earnestly to reconcile these Princes and to ende the warres But the Swyssers would in no wise bee reconciled to the king Notwithstanding the truce betwene him the King of Spaine was continewed in the which also the Emperour Maximilian contrarie to his promise to the king of England was included and ratefied the sayde truce which vnprincely dealing of the sayde Maximilian caused also the king of England to encline to peace which soone after namely the seauenth of August by meanes of the Duke of Longueuille being prisoner in England was concluded betweene king Lewis and him and afterward in October folowing more strongly confirmed by the mariage of the Lady Marie the King of Englands sister with the sayd King Thus the king hauing made peace with all his neighbours and being assured of quietnesse on this side the mountaines turned his thoughts to the recouerie of that which hee had lost in Italie namely the Dutchie of Milan and the estate of Genoua But being in the midst of his preparation and incited therevnto by the Pope though not sincerly as some thought sodaine death which cutteth of all worldly cogitations seazed vpon him for while hee tooke to extreame pleasure in the excelent beutie of his young wife without regard either of his age or the weaknesse of his complexion hee was assaulted by a feuer wherevnto a fluxe being ioyned hee departed almost sodainely out of this present life the first day of Ianuarie in the yeere 1515. after the Ducche and Italian computation who begin the yeare at newyerstide but 1514. according to the French who begin it not till Easter This king liued 55. yeeres and raigned 17. Cha. 10. A discourse of certaine vertues and vices of King Lewis the twelfth BEtweene this King Lewis and Pope Iulius the 2. aboue mentioned was deadly hatred as by the Historie aboue written easely you may perceiue so farre foorth that they pursewed one an other not onely with armes but also with gybes scoffes The Pope accused the king of sacriledge wherevnto the king answered that it was most absurde for him to accuse an other of sacrilige that miantained his estate
onely by sale of holy things for the Pope made money of al ecclesiasticall liuings dignities againe when the king heard that the Pope had extremely cursed him hee aunswered that this was a Pope made to curse but not to pray sarther the Pope called the french Micturi vinos that is to say wine pissers noting thereby their immoderate drincking of wyne which as he said issued as it entered but this gibe euell besemed the Pope being himselfe more giuen to drinke then any man in his time But the French partly to requite this scoffe partly to content the king made these verses of the Pope Patria cui Genua est genitricem Graecia partum Pontus vnda dedit qui bonus esse potest sunt vani Ligures mendax est Graecia ponto nulla fides malus est haec tria quis quis hahet Which you may thus English Whose countrie is liguria whose damme of Greekish bloud whose cradle is the sourging seas can ought in him be good Ligurians are counted vaine Greekes lyers so I finde the sea inconstant all these three hath Iulius by kinde But these verses are answered thus on the Popes beehalfe Est venus orta mari Graium sapientia solers ingenium est ligurum qui malus esse potest cui genus vt veneri a Graijs sapientia solers ingenium a Genua est Mome proterâ—e tace Which you may thus English Out of the sea dame Venus sprang with learning grece is clad Ligurians are full of wit how can hee then bee bad whose birth is like a Godesses whose learning is of Grece whose wit is of Liguria iack gyber hold thy peace But to returne to king Lewis he was a prince subiect to great varietie of Fortune through the whole course of his life both before he was King after but especially towards his later end she most frouned vpon him as in this briefe discourse of his actioÌ„s is plainely to bee seene his vices were in his youth loue of women and in his age couetousnesse which caused him to loose many opportunities besides that hee was a prince wholy gouerned by others but his good fortune was to fall into the hands of honorable personages and such as gouerned his Realme well Farther he was also charged with ingratitude both towards his wife who had saued his life and also towards some with whom hee had liued familiarlie beefore his comming to the crowne namely the Marshall Gyé whom also hee banished the court notwithstanding the great seruice that hee had done the Realme But herein he is partly to be excused for the said Marshalls banishment proceeded principally from the Queene who hated him extreamlie because the sayde marshall had oncc stayed hir cariage vpon the Riuer of Loyre wherein she had packed vp all the kings principall Iuells Plate and other things of great price and the which shee was conueighing downe the sayde Riuer to Nantes the King being at that time very sick and in great daunger of death This king was also giuen to suspicions but that is a fault all princes are subject to especially all those that be wise on the other side this king was beautified with many goodly vertues first hee was so louing and carefull of his people that in all his forraine warres hee could neuer be induced to increase his impositions vpon his subiects true it is that when he was inuaded in his owne Realme he was forced to leauie of them somewhat more then ordinarie for the which his milde gouernment he was called Pater patriae so iusta Prince he was where the necessitie of his affaires enforced him not to the contrarie that the Archduc Philip committed to him at his death the gouernment of his sonne Charles omitting both his owne father and his father in law being both Graundfathers to the said Childe which charge king Lewis most princely performed as well in the education of the sayde Charles afterwards Emperour as also in the preseruation of all his estate Farther he was a prince voide of all pride affable and curteous to all men and liuing in great quietnesse mildenesse with those that were familiar with him and the soonest forgetting all iniuries past so that I caÌ„not better coÌ„pare him to any prince then to the Emperour ADRIAN whose pleasant answeres and Apophthegmes being voide of all scurrilitie hee was also much addicted vnto some of the which because they bee worthie of memorie I will be bould to rehearse Hee had in king Charles his time beene euell vsed by diuers of whom hee was aduised to take reuenge at his comming to the crowne wherevnto hee aunswered that it became not a king of Fraunce to reuenge the iniuries done to a Duke of Orleans Likewise looking vppon the roule of King Charles his seruaunts he found two that had been his deadly enimies in King Charles his time vpon each of whose names he made a crosse wherewith they being in a wonderfull perplexitie supposed the galowes to be prepared for them which their feare being discouered to the king he sent them word to bee of good cheare for hee had crossed all their euell deedes out of his remembraunce hee vsed to say that the condition of horsses was much worse then Asses for Horsses were killed vp in running post to Rome to fetch liuing for Asses meaning vnlearned prelats when the Queene his wife by importunitie thought to bring to passe a mariage betwene hir daughter Claude Archduc Charles afterwards Emperour the king told hir that shee sought to make a mariage betwene Cats and Mice Againe when a certaine courtier complained grieuously of his wiues vnchastnesse the king hearing thereof bad him bee of good cheare for hee that respected his wyues incontinencie or the Popes curse should neuer sleepe quiet night Diuers other such like sayings of his I could rehearce which for breuitie I ouerpasse FRANCIS THE FIRST OF that name King of Fraunce Cap. 1. King Francis commeth to the crowne surpriseth Prospero Colonna vanquisheth the Swyssers recouereth Milan The Pope and hee meete at Bolonia TO Lewis the twelfth succeded King Francis the first beeing both his sonne 1515. in law and the next of his bloud a Prince of yong yeares but of goodly personage great magnanimitie who finding a mighty armie in a redines that his predecessor had leuied to inuade the Duchie of Milan burning with no lesse desier to recouer the said duchie theÌ„ his predecessor had done determined to lose no time but hauing renewed the league made by the late king with Henry king of England and with the selfe same coÌ„ditions likewise with the Venetians and receaued homage at Paris by the Earle of Nassau of the Archduc Charles afterwards Eemperor for Flaunders and hauing also made peace with him with promes of mariage beetwene the said Charles and the Lady Renee daughter to king Lewis sister to the Queene and withall Genoua beeing reduced to his obedience by the meanes of Octauian Fregose
Duke therof who stood in continuall feare of the Duke of Milan and the Swyssers hee presently marched with his armie towards the mountaines Maximilian duke of Milan seing the tempest that hunge ouer his head sent to the Swyssers and to Pope Leo for aide The Pope sent to his ayde Prospero Coulonna with 1500. horse whom the french vpon a sodaine as they passed the Alpes by a secret way neuer passed before by horsemen surprised toke prisoner at villa francha and defeated al his troupes Frō thence the king marched beesieged Nouara which yeelded vnto him as did also Alexandria Tortona Pauia with diuers other townes Farther to make his conquest the easier he practised to pacifie with monie the Swiffers who were bound to the defence of the duchie of Milan as before you haue heard to cause thē to returne home wherevnto they agreed and rceaued some small part of the kings money in such sort that the king accompted his conquest to bee at an ende But the Cardinall of Syon so preached vnto them their league made with the Duke of Milan that they altered their mindes And when the king thought they had beene telling their money they came in a great furie and inuaded his armie which valiantly receaued their charge And what with force of canon shot and valour of the Gendarmerie of France who made a 1515. mends this day for their cowardise at the battell of Nouara but especially through the great magnanimitie of the king himselfe they were repulsed and so hewed in pieces two dayes together for so long the battayle endured that in the ende they were put to flight slaine at the least 16000. of them their courages so daunted that after this they reigned not ouer princes as before times they had done This battaile is called the battaile of Marignian which was fought the thirteenth of September in the yeare 1515. and was so bloudie on both sides that Master Iames of Treuoul who had beene in nineteene battayles reported this to haue beene a battayle of Gyaunts and all the other eighteene that hee had been in in comparison of this to haue beene but battailes of boyes These Swyssers purpose was if they had ouerthrowne the king to haue disposed at theyr pleasure of the Duchie of Milan which wholy depended vpon them But their hope was frustrate and being thus vanquished they returned home whervpon Maximilian Sforce Duke of Milan and the whole Countrey yeelded to the king The sayde Maximilian was sent into Fraunce where hee was so honorably entertained of the King that notwithstanding that he mought afterwards haue returned home yet would he neuer so do alledgeing that hee was deliuered from the seruitude of the Swyssers the euell vsage of the Emperour and the trecherie of the Spaniards wherfore hee chose rather to remaine in France wher he cōtinued till his death which happened in the yeare 1530. After this victorie the Pope and all the Princes of Italie sought the kings amitie so far forth that the Pope met with him at Bolonia yeelded vnto him Parma and Placencia as members of the Duchie of Milan which Iulius his predecessor had taken before as the possessions of the Church About the ende of this yeare dyed the valyaunt Captaine Aluiane hauing done great seruice at the battayle of Marignian aboue mentioned and was very honorably buried at Venis in the Church of Saint Stephan Cha. 2. The King returneth into Fraunce recouereth the Swissers to his seruice Ferdinande King of Spaine dyeth Maximilian the Emperour inuadeth the Duchie of Milan The Venetians recouer Bressa Verona a treatie betwene the king and Charles king of Castile at Noyon The wars of Vrbine Luther preacheth against the Pope THE King at his retourne into Fraunce lest the 1516. Duke of Burbon gouernour of Milan and so soone as hee was come into his Realme practised to recouer the Swyssers to his seruice and to make a new league with them which also was brought to passe and they promised from time to time to ayde him in his warrs against all men the Pope and the Empire onelie excepted But fiue of theyr Cantons would not agree to this accord at this time Notwithstanding about the ende of this yeare these fiue also were contented to enter into league with him but not so far foorth as the other eight for they entered into a league offensiue with the King but these fiue onely for the defence of his owne estates In this yeare dyed Ferdinande king of Aragon and Consalue otherwise surnamed the great Captaine about a moneth before him The Duke of Borbon gouernour of Milan for the King according to the kings league with the Venetians sent vnto them vnder the leading of Monsieur de Lautrech 3000. footemen and 1000. horse to recouer Bressa Verona But because the Emperour Maximilian enuying the kings great successe as did also the king of England leauied men of the fiue Swysser Cantons that were as yet not in league with the king and hauing receaued 50000. angels of the king of England and being confederated with Francis Sforce brother to Maximilian aboue mentioned inuaded the Duchie of Milan with a mightie armie of Swyssers Lanceknights and Spaniards the sayd Lautrech was constrained to returne againe with his forces to Milan The sayd Maximilian came before Milan with this mightie armie but being by nature verie inconstant and hauing receaued out of England a new supply of monie he sodainly gaue forth that he was aduertised of the king of Hungaries death which occasiō reuoked him of necessitie into Allemayne wherevppon presently he dismissed his armie without doing any matter of moment and departed home hauing filled his baggs with the king of Englands angells After his departure Lautrech returned againe to ayd the Venetians who recouered Bressa and Verona Farther Charles Duke of Austrich by his grandfathers death king of Castile seeing the kings great successe doubting that he would inuade the realme of Naples which easely at that time he mought haue done and was also purposed to haue done if the Emperour Maximilians descent into Italie had not staied him cōcluded peace with the king at Noyon wher were great demonstrations of amitie betwene these two princes promise of mariage betwene the said king of Castile Louyse the kings daughter diuers other articles agreed vpon which neuer wer performed for the said king of Castile ment onely by this dissimulation to preserue his realme of Naples which if the king would haue inuaded he was not at that time in case to defend by reason he was not as yet setled in his kingdome of Spaine the people wherof seemed better affected to Ferdinand his brother because he had been bred vp among thē then to him You haue heard beefore how the King and the Pope met at Bolonia after the battaile of Marignian 1517. where also the Pope restored to the king Parma and Placentia but with this
the kings griefe for she was a most wise and vertuous Ladie The Imperials hauing chaced the French armie cleane out of the Duchie of Milan as before you haue heard but knowing the kings magnanimitie to bee such that hee would not faile to attempt the recouery therof determined to inuade him first in his owne Countrey thereby to cause him to attend to the defence of his owne Realme to stay him from trobling the Emperour on the other side of the mountains Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon with a mightie armie entered into Prouince promising the Emperour to worke wonders there for his seruice and besieged Marseilles But the king in person with a great armie came to succour the towne wherevpon Bourbon for all his great bragges and the Imperials were forced to leuic their siege and in great hast retired to Milan whether the king with his whole armie folowed them soone recouered Milan and in a manner the whole countrie except Pauia before the which he went and layde his siege Wherevpon the Pope entered into league with him and the Swyssers who the last yeare had traiterously refused to ioyne with the Admirall Boniuets armie and had abandoned the French as before you haue heard returned to the kings seruice againe But while the king lay beefore the siege of Pauia and had brought it to extreame necessitie Bourbon went into Germanie and brought with him 6000. footemen and 2000. horse Farther 6000. Rhetians being corrupted by the Imperials abandoned the kings campe and returned home leading also certaine bands of Swyssers away with them The king also by the Popes perswasion had sent the Duke of Albanie from the siege of Pauia vvith 10000. footemen and 600. horse to inuade the Realme of Naples supposing to drawe the Imperialls thither for the defence of that Realme vvhich notwithstanding wisely they forbare to do knowing the Realme of Naples to be in sufficient saftie if they ouerthrew the king Thus the kings camp being by the departure of those aboue mentioned greatly weakened and the forces that remayned with him through the corruption of his officers not being the one halfe of the number that he payed which was a wonderfull thing that such an abuse should be offered to a Prince beeing with his armie in person himselfe the Imperialls being ignorant of none of these disorders determined to inuade him in his owne Campe where through the defect of courage in the Swyssers hee was taken prisoner him selfe fighting more valiauntly then any man in his armie many of the nobilitie were slayne and many taken and the Swyssers were in manner all cut in pieces by the Landsknights in reuenge of the auncient hatred betwene the sayde Swyssers and them This battaile is called the battaile of Pauia and was fought vpon Saint Mathias day being the day of the Emperours Natiuitie in the yeare 1525. according to the Italians but 1524. according to the French which variance ariseth as before I haue mentioned because the one beginne the yeare vpon the first of Januarie and the other not before Easter The Duke of Albanie after the kings captiuitie by the Popes meanes passed by sea with his armie safly into Fraunce Thus was this noble King through the disorders principally proceding from his owne officers and Captaines taken prisoner as you haue heard who not being dismayed with this sodaine blow of fortune behaued himself with such princely magnanimitie that he was honored had in admiratiō euen of his enemies in such sort that his captiuitie blemished not but rather caused his noble vertues the more to shine as by this one example which I will rehearse shall well appeare So soone as hee was brought to his lodging hee sent for the leaders of the Imperiall armie and tould them that hee had a sute vnto them which he trusted they would not denie him Wherevnto when they semed doubtfull what answere to make supposing it to bee some great matter of difficultie that they mought not aduenture to graunt without the Emperours priuitie he perceauing their immagination tould them it was no such important suit that required any such doubt onely his desire was that the young French boyes taken in the battel mought not remaine with the Italians but in exchaunge of other prisoners bee deliuered to the Spaniards which was presently graunted and executed accordingly though not without great admiration of the Imperialls who wondered that the king forgetting his owne misfortune being of a Prince made a prisoner in one day could remember to bee so carefull of the chastitie of these young boyes Cha. 8. The King of England confederateth himselfe with the estate of Fraunce and the Princes and states of Italie themselues against the Emperour The Imperialls seaze vpon the Duchie of Milan The King sayleth into Spaine The treatie of Madrid The king is deliuered The Children of Fraunce goe in hostage into Spaine T The Emperour hauing receaued the 1525. newes of the kings captiuitie semed to take it very modestly forbidding all signes of ioy to be vsed alledging that we ought to reioyce at the ouerthrow of Turkes and infidels but not of any Christian Prince which his modest behauiour put the world in great hope that hee would deliuer the king with such honorable conditions as mought establish a quiet peace in Christendome perpetual amitie betweene them twayne But his rigor to the king afterwards declared his spirit to be farre from any such moderation as his externall beehauiour made shew of Farther you shall vnderstand that the king of England vpon the receipt of these newes leuied amighty armie purposing in person to inuade Fraunce but hee continued not long in that minde vppon these occasions folowing First certaine difficulties arose betwene the Emperour and him the king demaunding bearing but equall charges with the Emperour an vnequall part of the conquest of Fraunce and the Emperour hoping to obtaine better conditions of the King of Fraunce by making peace then he should doe if he ioyned with the king of England by making warre Secondarely the Cardinall of YORKE being altogether French and enemie to the Emperour diswaded the king of England from farther ioyning with the Emperour who was alredie so mightie that his greatnesse was become terrible to all his neighbours round about him Thirdly after the battaile of Pauia the Emperour semed not to make so great accompt of the king of England as before he had done for first he refused to marie the Lady Mary the king of Englands daughter being very young and maried the sister of Ihon king of Portugale as hereafter you shall heare with whom he receiued a great masse of money whereof he stood in great neede Farther whereas beefore the battaile of Pauia he neuer wroat letter to the king of England but with his owne hand and with this subscrption Your sonne and Cosin Charles after the battaile he neuer wroat letter with his owne hand nor with other subscription then his simple name Charles all
obligations and the saide Iuell to king Francis willing him on his part to signifie vnto the king first for the 400000. crownes of debt dew vnto the sayde king of England by the Emperour the king his master would giue the King libertie to paye them in fiue yeares The 500000. crownes forfayted to him by the Emperour for not marrying the Lady Mary the sayde king of Englands Daughter hee would frankely giue him and the flower de luce hee woulde lykewyse giue to his Godsonne Henry Duke of ORLEANS the kings second sonne and thus was the sayde flower de luce and all the Emperours oblygations by the king of Englands commandement delyuered contrarie to the Emperours expectation into the kings hands and the sayd Emperour satisfied in all his demaunds therevpon the kings children set at libertie the article for the restitution of Burgundie released and the amitie betwene the two kings continewed And the next yeare 1530. the king maried Elenor 1530. the Emperours sister and the sayde Emperour receaued the crowne Imperiall of the Pope at Bolonia vpon Saint Mathias day being his birth day where the peace betwene the king him was sworne anew All the states of Italie were reconciled to the Emperour Francis Sforce was restored to his duchie of Milan and the Emperour was inuested by the Pope of the Realme of Naples who also at the Popes request sent an armie to besiege Florence beecause the Florentines during the time of the Popes emprisonment in the hands of the Imperials had chaced all the house of Medices out of Florence and spoyled all their goods In this siege the Prince of Orenge generall of the Emperours armie was slaine But the sayd Citie was so distressed that in the end it yelded was deliuered into the Popes hands who punished them with great seueritie suppressed their liberties and cleane altered their state This yeare also Ferdinand the Emperours brother was chosen King of Romaines and the Realme of Fraunce for certaine yeares remayned in peace Cap. II. The Practises of the kings of Fraunce and England against the Emperour The Turke inuadeth Hungarie The Pope and the Emperour meete at Bolonia and the Pope and the king at Marseilles Henry the kings sonne marrieth the Popes niece The King of England falleth from the Pope Pope Clement dyeth Paulus the third succedeth The Duke of VVirtemberg recouereth his Duchie NOtwithstanding both the KINGS 1531. minde likewise the king of Englands were exulcerated against the Emperour the one beecause he saw himselfe dispossed of the Duchie of Milan the conquest whereof had beene so chargeable both to his predecessor and to him the other because the Emperour defended against him the cause of his Aunt wife to the said king of England disswaded the Pope from graunting any Bull of deuorce betweene him and the sayde Lady whom the king was desirous to put away because she had beene first his brothers wyfe and by the lawes of God could not bee lawfull wyfe to him But the king of Fraunce was so impourished and wearied with long warres that he thought it not time to attempt aught against the Emperour as yet Notwithstanding he laboured to draw the Pope to his partie by offering a mariage beetweene the second sonne of Fraunce Catherin niece to the sayd Pope which afterward also tooke effect And not content therewith hee sought also to stirre vp the Turke against the Emperour and farther both he and the king of England practised a consederacie with such of the Princes of Germanie as they knew to be euell affected to him In this yeare also the kings mother dyed and the duchie of Britaine was incorporated to the crowne of Fraunce In the yeare 1532. the Turke by the kings perswasion as the Emperour sayde inuaded Hungarie hauing 1532. spoyled and robbed all the Countrey retourned sodainely to Constantinople contrarie to the expectation of the king of England and Fraunce both the which hating the Emperour most deadly met together about this time at Bouloyne and after went both together to Calais where they were agreed to haue proclaymed warr against the Emperour during the Turkes inuasion of Hungarie But the Turkes sodaine departure out of the sayde Realme and his retourne to Constantinople caused them to alter their mindes and to deferre the warre till a more conuenient time Notwithstanding wisely they gaue foorth that their meeting was to conferre together how to make resistance against the Turck the better to colour their pretence they sent Ambassadours to diuers Princes of Germanie other potentates of christendome to perswade thē to enter into league with them against the sayd Turck But the Emperor 1533. on the otherside not being ignorant of these their practises came into Italie and the Pope and he met together at Bolonia wher in outward demonstrations were great signes of loue and amitie But it well appeared that their harts were farre asunder for the Emperour obtained no thing of that he desired For first he perswaded the Pope to bestow his niece Catherine of Medices vppon Francis Sforce Duke of Milan and secondarelie that he would assemble a generall councell both the which were denied him onely the Pope at the Emperours earnest sollicitation and because he would not altogether discontent him agreed to enter into league with the Emperour with the king of Romains his brother and the other potentates of Italie all saue the Venetians who refused to be comprehended in the sayd league for the defence of their estates in Italie and each man was rated what charges he should beare in those warrs But with what minde this league was made soone after well appeared for the Emperour was no soner departed into Spaine but the Pope the king met at Marseilles wher the mariage betwen the second sonne of Fraunce and the Popes niece was accomplished farther the king moued the Pope for the Bull of deuorce betwene the king of Engand and his wife the Emperours Aunt which had before bene graunted in the yeare 1529. and sent into England to Cardinall Campegius in whose hands it remained till the Pope for feare of the Emperour commaunded it to be burned and at this time also notwithstanding the kings solicitation for the same reason it could not be obtained Wherefore the king of England withdrew him selfe and 1534. his Realme from the Popes obedience and proclaimed him selfe supreme head of the Church within his owne dominions Soone after this meeting the Pope dyed and Alexander Farnese succeded him by the name of Paule the third Farther the Duke of Wirtemberg ioyning vnto him the Lantzgraue of Hesse by the kings solicitation with his monie inuaded the Duchie of Wirtemberg wherof the sayd Duke had before bene dispossessed by the king of Romaines and recouered it little to the sayd king of Romaines contentment who notwithstanding fearing farther troubles in the absence of his brother the Emperour in Spaine was forced to wink
to doubt that he ment to doe as the Emperours letters reported namely to enter into league with him and to forsake all his other friends and thus vnderhand the Emperour made the king himselfe the instrument to cut his owne throat and to seuer from him all his friends Whervnto I also adde that to draw the king of England to his partie to ioyne armes with him he offered him of the conquest of Fraunce what portion he would desire himselfe and by these meanes was the King of England wonne from the Kings friendship and sent a Herrault to defie the King and presently passed ouer his forces to ioyne with the Emperour before Landercy as alreadie you haue heard But to returne to the matter Cap. 15. The Turke ioyned with the kings forces take Nice in Prouince the Emperour entereth into Cambray Furstembergs successe in the duchie of Luxembourg The English spoyle the Countrey of Bouloynoys The warres in Piemont and the battayle of Serizoles The Emperour recouereth Luxembourg hee and the King of England inuade Fraunce The King of England winneth Boloyn peace betwene all these Princes The death of the Kings of England and Fraunce THe King seeing him selfe thus inuaded by the Emperour and the King of England was forced to pray in ayde of the Turke who sent his nauie to ioyne with the Kings in the siege of Nice in Prouince and the towne they tooke therein executed great crueltie but the Castle they could not take wherefore they retired themselues The Emperour on the other side by cunning entered into the towne of Cambray and in apparance left them in their auncient libertie but indeede so brideled them by a citadelle which he caused the Citizens thē selues at their owne charge to build and into the which he put a garison of his owne souldiours that he brought them to plaine slauerie and bondage Farther the sayd Emperour sent also Williā Eatle of Furstemberg with an army to recouer Luxembourg who recouered diuers places in the countrey went and layed his siege before Luxembourg it selfe but hearing of the prince of Melphes cōming to succour the towne he leuyed his siege retired into Allemayne the Frēch recouered all the places that before they had lost But the English on the other side spoiled and forraged all the countrey of Boulonoys The king hauing succoured Luxembourg sent an army into Pie mont vnder the leading of the Earle of Anghien a most valiant yong prince who wan diuers townes there in the Marquisat of Salusses from the Marques of Guast generall of the Emperours forces went and besieged Carignan whether the said Marques 1544. with the army Imperiall came to leuie the siege but the French at a place called Serizoles gaue him battaile and ouerthrew him slew 7000. of his armie and tooke 2000 prisoners After the which battaile the said Monsieur d'Anghien toke Carignan and diuers other townes in Piemont in the Marquisat of Montferrat But on the other side the Emperour with a huge armie inuaded the Duchie of Luxembourg and recouered Luxembourg the chiefe Citie thereof and diuers other townes and namely S. Disier which last was takē with great difficultie long defēded it selfe against the Imperial armie This yeare also the Emperour the king of Englād being cōfederated together inuaded France with so great forces that it is reported aboue 80000. mē to haue ben in both their armies Their purpose was to haue sacked Paris as vndoubtedly they had done if the king of England had marched forward according to his promis to the Emperour had not stayed at the siege of Bouloyne by meanes whereof the Emperour seeing his armie to be in distresse of victualls that the English armie marched not forward to his succour according to their agrement concluded peace with the king and retired his forces out of Fraunce In the meane time the king of England wan Boloyne which was yelded to him by Monsieur de Veruins the fourth of September which being done the king of England returned home and landed at Douer the first of October Notwithstanding the next yeare after many skirmishes and feates of armes done betwen the french 1545. and English as well by sea as land peace was treated off betwene these two Kings and in the ende after many difficulties concluded but not proclaymed before Whitsonday being the thirtenth of Iune 1546. thus God miraculously preserued the Realme of Fraunce which vndoubtedly had stood in great daunger if God had not put into the king of Englands head to stay at the siege of Boulonie and not to march forward to ioyne with the Emperour as hee ought to haue done which his error in all apparance was the preseruation of the Realme of Fraunce The Emperour hauing made peace with the king entered into warre against the Protestants of 1546. Germanie and both he they sent to king Frances for ayde but he refused to giue ayde to eyther of them promising to be an indifferent friend to both The eight and twenteth of Ianuarie folowing died Henry king of England which newes the king tooke grieuously when he heard it as well because of the great good will that had been betwene thē as also because the king was in hope to haue made a firme league with him lastly because they two hauing beene almost of one yeares and of one cōplexion he foresaw his owne ende to draw neere Notwithstanding after the sayd king of Englands death he renewed the league lately made betwene them twaine with king Edward king Henryes son and not long after dyed also himselfe at Rambollet the last day of March in the yeare 1546. after the French accompt who begin not the yeare till Easter hauing liued 53. yeares reigned two and thirtie and three moneths and sixe dayes This was a Prince endued with many excellent parts especially magnanimitie curtesie and liberalitie and farther so great a patron louer and aduauncer of learning that he may iustly be called the father sounder of good letters What his fortune was in this world may easely be gathered out of his Historie wherin it doth appeare that she was more froward then fauourable vnto him but one great grace of God he had that no aduersitie was able to diminish the magnanimitie of his minde besides that he was of an excellent memorie and exceding eloquent in his owne tongue HENRY THE SEcond of that name King of Fraunce Cap. 1. King Henry commeth to the Crowne The Emperours warres in Germanie The English inuade Scotland The rebellion of Guyenne TO King Francis the first succeded his onely sonne Henry the second being eight twentie yeares of age in the very beginning of whose reigne the Emperour as before you haue heard in the ende of king Francis his reigne was entered into a warre in Germanie against the Protestants 1547. namely the Duke of Saxonie and the Lantzgraue of Hessen and diuers other Princes
Fight beetweene the French and Flemish Nauies before Douer The Emperour resigneth the Empire and all his other estates THe ouerthrow the French receaued in Italie happened thus You haue heard before how while the Emperour lay at the siege of Metz the towne of Sienne in Italie reuolted from him razed the Citadelle built by him chased the Spaniards out of the towne and put themselues into the protection of France Wherewith he being not a little offended after the said siege was ended commaunded the Viceroy of Naples to spoile all the country of Sienne which he did accordinglie purposing also to besige the towne which Mouluc Termes diuers others sent therher by the king for defence thereof fortified against the Imperialls The Viceroy because of the reuoult that happened also at this very instaunt in the realme of Naples by meanes of the Prince of Salerna whereof wee haue spoken a word or two also in the said siege of Metz was forced to returne into the said realme of Naples leauing the charge of the Imperiall forces in the country of Siena to the Marques of Marignan who being ayded by Cosmus Duke of Florence and the Pope wenr and besieged Siena But vnderstanding that Strozzi with great forces was sent by the king into Italie and that hee had alreadie inuaded the Duke of Florence his dominions taken diuers places from him and was gone to batter Ciuitelle the sayd Marques raised his siege from before Syena and went with his whole power to succour the Duke of Florence wherevpon Strozzi leuied his siege held before Ciuitelle and marched to encounter the Marques and giue him battaile in the which the sayde Strozzi was ouerthrowen and put to flight and all his forces dispersed The Marques after this victorie returned to the siege of Siena neuer departed thence till he had reduced it to the Emperours obedience by whose commaundement it was deliuered to the duke of Florence The sayde siege endured till the twentieth of Aprill in the yeare 1555. But in December in the sayde yeare 1554. Brissac to repaire this misfortune of Strozzi entered into Piemont and toke diuers townes of great importaunce and fortefied them against the Imperialls This yeare also 1554. the 23. of March after the French accompt who begin not the yeare till Easter dyed Pope Iulius tertius to whom succeded Marcellus who liued but a few dayes and to him succeded Cardinall Caraffa being foure score yeares of age by the name of Paule the fourth The French armie aboue mentioned vnder the 1555. leading of Brissac toke Cassal diuers other townes in the Marquisat of Montferrat and went to besiege Vulpian in Piemont which the Duke of Alua with a mightie army came to relieue as also hee did And hauing put victuals and munition sufficient into the towne he departed and besieged Saint Iac. But the towne was so notablie defended by the French for the king had sent thether great forces to succour the place that the Duke of Alua was forced to abandon the siege retire himselfe presentlie whervpon the French with their whole forces returned to the siege of Vulpian and toke it and razed both towne and castle because it maintained none but souldiours that robbed and spoiled all the country About this time also the French and Flemish Nauy met vpon the Sea neere to Douer a hauen towne in England where was a most bloddie fight betweene them in the which the French being put to the worse fired their ships thinking thereby to cause the flemings to vngraple from them but the fire was so vehement that they had no powre to doe it by meanes wherof both the Nauies were fired and many ships on both sides burnt Notwithstanding the French being entered into the flemish ships that remained seeing the small number of Flemings that were in them tooke fiue of their ships and led them away with them This yeare also vpon the fiue and twentith of October the Emperour in great solempnitie in the great hall of Bruxelles yelded vp all his estats and dominions patrimoniall to his sonne king Phillip and the Empire to the king of Romaines his brother Cap. 8. A truce for fiue yeares betweene the King of Fraunce and Spaine The Emperour saileth into Spaine and putteth himselfe into an Abbye where hee dieth AFter the Emperour had resigned all his estats to his sonne King Phillip 1556. the saide King by the perswasion of the Queene of England his wife and as some also writ by the Emperours owne perswasion enclined to make peace with Fraunce by meanes whereof both the Princes sent their commissioners to meete treat therof who not beeing able because of the sundry difficulties to conclude a finall peace made notwithstanding a truce for fiue yeares each part holding that which they had taken in the former warrs And in this yeare the Emperour with his two sisters Elenor Queene of Fraunce Marie Queene of Hungarie sailed into Spaine and put himselfe into an Abby wher he remained till his death which happened the one and twentith of September in the yeare 1558. One notable thing is to bee remembred of this noble Emperour wherby we may perceaue how vaine a thing the glory of this world is While the Emperour stayed at Vlushing for winde to carie him his last iourney into Spaine hee conferred on a time with Seldius his brother Ferdinands Ambassador till the deepe of the night and when Seldius should depart the Emperour calling for some of his seruants and no bodie answering him for those that attended vpon him were some gone to their lodgings and all the rest a sleepe the Emperour tooke vp the candle himselfe and went before Seldius to light him downe the staires and so did notwithstanding all the resistance that Seldius could make And whan he was come to the staires foote hee said thus vnto him Seldius remēber this of Charles the Emperour when he shal be dead and gone that him whom thou hast knowen in thy time enuironed with so many mightie armies and gardes of souldiers thou hast also seene alone abandoned forsaken yea euen of his owne domesticall seruants and that hee whom thou hast serued so manye yeares hath also serued thee and borne the candle downe before thee I acknowledge this chaunge of fortune to proceede from the mightie hand of God which I will by no meanes goe about to withstand Cap. 9. The truce for fiue yeares is broken by the Popes practise The Duke of Alua inuadeth the Church Dominions The Duke of Guyse entereth into Italie and the King inuadeth the King of Spayne in diuers other places The Queene of England proclaymeth warre against the French YOu haue heard how a truce for fiue yeares was concluded betweene the 1557. Kings of Fraunce and Spaine but it was broken before the expiration of one yeare vpon this occasion which you shall now heare The Pope being an enemie to the Spaniard gaue forth whether falsly
or truely it is vncertaine that the Colonnesi who alwayes haue beene and yet are Imperiall made secret assemblies against him in Rome for the which cause some of them hee emprisoned some hee banished and seazed all their lands and goods into his owne hands The Imperials say that this was but a quarell picked to them by the Pope because hee had secret intelligence with the king of Fraunce perswaded him to attempt the recouerie of the Realme of Naples as well therby to abate the Spaniards greatnes in Italie who held Naples Milan Siena disposed of the stats of Genoua Florence as of his owne as also hoping if the French had good successe in Italie that some part of the bootie would fall to his share which hee was the more desirous of because he was a Neapolitaine borne himselfe But howsoeuer it were the Colonnesi being thus iniuried complained to king Philip and desired his succour who sent the Duke Alua to their ayde yet offering the Pope any reasonable conditions of peace which he vtterly refused and sent to the king and the duke of Ferrara being his confederats for succours but before they could arriue the duke of Alua inuaded the Church dominions and toke Ostia Palestrina and much distressed Rome But the King with all speede sent the Duke of Guyse with a mightie armie into Italie who entering into Lombardie tooke Valentia in the duchie of Milan put a garison into it on an other side also the French inuaded Artoys and spoyled all the Countrey they besieged Douay but could not take it Notwithstanding Lens they toke and burned it Farther the kings forces in Piemont tooke Valfiniere and Cairas and thus the fiue yeares truce concluded the yeare before helde not one yeare great coÌ„trouersie is betwene the French and Spanish which of the two Princes first brake the truce The French say the Spaniard first brake it by inuading the Pope whom the king as an obedient sonne to the Church was bound to defend But the answere herevnto is easie for besides that the inuading of the Pope being an indifferent friend to both the Princes could not bee a breach of the truce towards the French king it is also most certaine that the first iniurie proceded froÌ„ the Pope towards the king of Spaines friends and coÌ„federats and therefore the French were not to ayde him in an euell cause But admit the ayding of the Pope were no breach of the truce yet the King ought not to haue proceded farther then to send the Pope ayde but hee inuaded king Philip before he tooke weapon in hand in Milan in Piemont in Artoys and in Flaunders which could not bee other then a flatte breach of the truce But to retourne to the warres of Italie The Duke of Guyse by the Popes perswasion and vppon promise of ayde from him was passing with his armie towards the realme of Naples with purpose to inuade it But seeing the Duke of Alua to make head against him and being also disapoynted of the ayde promised him by the Pope he was forced to retire with his armie being in very pore estate and cursing the Pope and all his trecheries While these matters thus passed in Italie the Queene of England by hir husbands perswasion entered into an vnnecessarie warre with Fraunce for she should haue done much better to haue continued as shee began a mediater for peace thâ—n vpon no occasion to become the French kings enemie but shee sped accordingly Cha. 10. The King of Spaine taketh Saint Quentin The battaile of Saint Laurens in the which the Constable is ouerthrowen and taken prisoner The duke of Guyse is reuoqued out of Italie The Pope maketh peace with the king of Spaine The French take Calais The marriage of the Daulphin The French take Theonuille BVt to proceede the king of Spaine seeing him selfe thus inuaded vpon a sodayne leuyed a mightie armie of Duch Flemish and English and went and besieged Saint Quentin a stronge towne in Vermandoys for the defence whereof the Admirall of Fraunce Gasper Chastillon with diuers bandes of men put himselfe into the towne But his brother d'Andelot issewing out of Perona with 15. enseignes of footmen purposing to doe the like was defeated Notwithstanding the king tendering greatly the saftie of the towne sent the CoÌ„stable to succour it with an armie of 16000. foot and 4000. horse who vpon Saint Laurence day very earely in the morning by certaine boates which he had brought with him vpon cartes put Mon sieur d'Andelot by the riuer with certaine bands of footmen into the towne But King Phillips army as the said Constable retired charged him brake him defeated his forces slew 2500 of his men with the losse onely of 50. on their part and tooke him prisoner with two of his sonnes and likewise the Dukes of Montpensier and Longueuille the Marshall of Saint Andre the Rheingraue and diuers other great personages Wherevpon the King presentlie reuoqued the Duke of Guise with his forces out of Italy commaunded the Duke of Neuers to leauy a new army In the meane time King Phillip tooke Saint Quentin by assault and tooke prisoners therin the Admirall and d'Andelot his brother but d'Andelot soone after escaped away The King of Spaine wan also Catelet and Han and diuers other places The Duke of Alua on the other side in Italie tooke diuers places from the Pope who in the end seeing the Dukes forces so great that he came without resistance euen to Rome gates and that the Duke of Guise in verie poore estate was reuoqued home into Fraunce made peace at Caui with King Philip contraty to his promise made to the French King and obtayned better conditions of him than he deserued and among the rest of the conditions this was one that the Duke of Guise should returne home in safetie and he his armie bee well intreated wheresoeuer they passed through king Philips dominions which was all the recompence the French receaued at the Popes handes for the great losses they had receaued in Italie by his meanes such commonly is the ende of all vnnecessarie warres The King being much grieued with these his manifolde losses and supposing his honour to be stayned if he atchieued not some enterprise that might counteruaile these his misfortunes so soone as the Duke of Guise and Strozzi were returned with his forces out of Italie by sea and Monsieur d'Aumalle by land ioyned to them a great army of Swissers and Almaines who vnder the leading of the said Duke of Guise were sent to besiege Calais in the verie middest of winter Strozzi not long before the comming of the army thether had beene brought in disguised apparaile into the towne by a French man an inhabitant thereof and had veiwed all the fortisications both within the towne and without and the garison within it for the defence thereof which was very weake and to say the truth the said Strozzi was the onely author of
this enterprise They began the siege the first day of Ianuarie and tooke the towne the morrow after twelfth day and soone after also Hams and Guysnes and all that the English helde on that side the sea In Aprill following Frauncis the Daulphin maryed Marie daughter and heire of Iames the fift King of Scotland in Iune following the French besiged Theonuille held for an impregnable towne in the Dutchie of Luxembourg Yet notwithstanding they tooke it but in that siege was Peter Strozzi slaine to the Kings great griefe for he had beene a most valiant and expert Captaine Cap. II. The French inuade Flaunders and sacke Dunkerke they are ouerthrowen in their retrait to Calais The English Nauy taketh Conquet Peace betweene the Kings of Spaine and Fraunce and Elizabeth Queene of England Bourg and other Councellours of the law are sent to the Bastile The Kings daughter is maried to the King of Spaine The King is slaine at the iusts BVt the King supposing this reuenge of his losses not to be sufficiēt as yet determined to attempt farther Wherfore in the beginning of Iulie he sent Monsieur de Termes to inuade Flaunders who tooke Dunkerke and burned it But the Earle of Egmont leuying an army of 12000. foote and 3000 horse met with the French as they retired towards Calais vpon the sandes betweene Dunkerke and Grauelin where he charged them and by the helpe of the English Nauy which by chaunce sailed at that time close by the shoare and discharged their great shot into the middest of the French troups they were deseated and Termes himselfe taken prisoner to the great astonishment of all Fraunce which in sower yeares space had receaued three great ouerthrowes the first in Italie the second at Saint Quentin and the third this heere mentioned And thus the King not beeing contented with a reasonable reuenge but seeking to recouer all his honour lost euen that which hee had in part recouered before and put both himselfe and his Realme into greater daungers than euer heeretofore they had beene in Termes had left behinde him three enseignes of footemen to spoile and fier Dunkerke who being in the middest of their blouddie execution were all surprized by the Burgundians and cut in peeces The Duke of Guise hearing of this ouerthrow retired into Picardie and held himselfe in places of safetie After this victorie the English Nauy consisting of 100. saile of ships and 10000. men and 20. great hulks ioyned with them inuaded Bretaine and toke Conquet but partlie by the force of the countrey that came downe vpon them partlie by tempest they were forced to returne home with speed King Phillip being encouraged by this his good successe and many victories leuied a mightie army and encamped neere to Dourlans in Picardie beeing a French towne his whole force was 30000. foote 15000. horse all his souldiours being well paied The king on the other side neere to Amiens leuyed a great armie but seemed not willing to hazerd an other battayle considering the losses hee had alreadie receaued Notwithstanding in the ende both the Princes to auoyde the effusion of Christian blood enclined their mindes to peace The two and twentith of Ianuarie Charles Duke of LORRAINE maryed the Ladie Claude the kings younger Daughter and the Februarie after peace was treated of at Cambresis beetweene the two Kings and ELIZABETH Queene of England latelie succeded to the Crowne of that Realme by the death of hir Sister MARIE who dyed the seauententh of Nouember 1558. The Commissioners agreede reasonably well about euerie thing saue CALAIS which King Philip would haue in any case restored to the English againe and the French would by noe meanes part with which matter was so whotlie debated betweene them that all the treatie had assuredlie broaken of if newes had not beene brought from the Queene of England that shee was contented to accept of the peace with these conditions that at eyght yeares ende Calais should bee restored to hir agayne or fiue hunfiftie thousand crownes in lieu thereof for assuraunce whereof shee should haue delyuered vnto hir foure hostages of the nobilytie of Fraune such as shee would demaund This article beeing agreed vpon peace was concluded beetweene these Princes the third of Aprill and solemply proclaimed with great ioye 1559. And King Philip maryed ELIZABETH the Kings eldest Daughter promised beefore to CHARLES Prince of Spayne King Philips sonne and the Duke of SAVOY Philibert maryed MARGARET the Kings sister Thus the king hauing concluded peace to his great comfort with all his enemies and beetrauthed his Daughter to the king of Spayne by meanes of the which allyaunce hee assured him selfe of an euerlasting amitie with that Prince beganne to embrew his handes in the bloud of the LVTHERANS and committed BOVRG and foure other Iudges of the Law to MONTGOMERIE Captaine of his Guarde who sent them prisoners to the Bastile where they were layde in yrons The only cause of their emprisonment was for that they had delyuered out of prison certayne Lutherans and had forborne to publish the kings bloudy edicts till a generall or a nationall councell should take order in so wayghtie a cause This beeing done the king in great triumph departed to his Daughters mariage who was maryed to king Philip by his Deputie the Duke of Alua who represented the king his Masters person in this case which beeing accomplished the king gaue himselfe to sports and pastimes and the eight and twenteth of Iune entered into the Lists to iust and continewed so long therein and ranne so many courses three dayes together that with excessiue trauayle his whole body was become stiffe wherevppon diuers of the nobilitie and especially the Queene his wyfe besought him to runne no more the rather because that night the Queene had dreamed that shee saw him wounded to death diuers other prognosticatiōs of his death are also written which I ouerpasse But he refusing all perswasions despising his wiues dreame all the other prognostications entered againe into the listes ranne diuers courses excellently well for he was a perfect man at armes At the last he called foorth Montgomerie the selfe same that had caryed BOVRG and the other foure Councellours to prison as before you haue heard Montgomerie had runne diuers courses the day before had sayled in them all for the which cause hee was loath to come forth But being constrained by the king in the ende foorth he came being reserued by God to giue one sound blow at the last to counteruaile all his faylings before For as the king and hee met together with great violence a splenter of Montgomeries staffe which brake all to sheuers strake the kings head-peece full vpon the visard which being vnbuckled either through negligence or because the king would haue it so meaning to make this his last course flew vp in such sort that one of the splēters strake the king full in the right eye and entered into