Duke of Alba which loused from Antwerpe to carrie victuall to Middelburge part whereof they chased away and the rest came to Middelburge Furthermore the Prince of Orange tooke the towne of Mounts in Brabant The twentith of September the Orangians fought wyth happy successe vpon the coast of Amsterdam in the whiche fyght the Duke of Alba had a great ouerthrow with losse of a great number of his Shippes and also of his men The eleuenth day of October the Orangians after a long battayle fought vpon the sea got the victorie of the King of Spaynes nauie of whome they slue a great number and tooke the County Bossu Lord Admirall of the whole nauie In the beginning of December the Duke of Alba forsaking his authoritie of gouernment in the low countrey being Brussels by the authoritie and cōmission of the kings letters put ouer his said office to Lewis de Requizence great Commaunder of Castile and then prepared for his returne into Spayne THE new King of Polonia notwithstanding that the Ambassadors of Polonia made great hast found dayly new delayes to deferre his iourney whether it wer for the pleasure and delight which he had in his owne countrey or for greefe to leaue a more noble kingdome the assured possession whereof his mother had promised vnto him The king him selfe vrged his departure in somuch that it is reported he sayde in anger That eyther he or himselfe must needes goe into Polonia For the secret grudges of emulation which was in eyther of them could not be so couertly restrayned but that often times they brast foorthe The Queene loued the Duke of Aniou more than the king whose great towardnesse she greatly feared It is certainly reported that the Queene sayde to Henry beeing very carefull cōcerning his departure Be of good cheere only goe thou shalt not remayne long in Polonia By the rumor heereof many thought that the Queene meant little good vnto the King and that hereof that euill which happened within a while after vnto him proceeded the whiche verily I would not set downe if so be the same had not bin obiected vnto the Queene hir selfe by letters written by certayne Courtiers whiche knew well ynough the affayres of the court Yea it is most certayne that the Quene was so addicted vnto hir sonne Henry that she hated hir other two sonnes HENRY hauing couenaunted and agreed with hys brother concerning those thinges whiche appertayned to their affayres departed at the length from Paris the eyght and twenty of September The king sayd that he would bring him on his way to the boundes and limits of hys kingdome The which he could not performe for that he fel sicke of a soare feuer at Vitri a towne in Champaigne most menne thinking that he was poysoned Therefore the king tooke his leaue of his brother and went no further who wente through Germany as his iourney lay and was curteously entertayned of the Princes of the same notwithstanding he hearde them in euery place greeuously detest the murders of Fraunce the principall cause whereof was layd to his charge in obeying the wicked counsayles of hys mother About the same tyme Frauncis Hotomanus a famous Lawyer a man endued with godlinesse and singular learning published a booke which he intituled Francogallia and dedicated the same to Frederic Countie Palatine In the same booke the sayde Hotomanus declareth with exquisite reason what was the state of the kingdome of France in olde time bringing the same to memorie againe out of the ancient antiquities of the historie of France And he declareth that although the Frenche Gaules tooke in olde time theyr kings from the Nobilitie and therefore chose them suche kings as were come of kingly race had bin royally trayned and brought vp whether the same were of the number of their childrē or of their neere kinsmen yet neuerthelesse the kingdome of France of olde time was wont to be gyuen not by right of inheritance as a priuate patrimonie but by the iudgemēt free electiōs of the people For proofe wherof he bringeth many things out of the expresse words of the Testamēt of Charles the great out of the elections of Pharamund of the sonnes of Pipin of Charles and of Charlemain of Chilperic of Clothar of Ottho and of other kings of whome he hath made a lōg catalogue alleaging the very wordes of the histories notwithstāding so that the kingdome shuld be deuided by the decree consent of the states one while to one sometime to moe of the sonnes of the kings And that as the authority to choose kings so also the power to displace and depose them from their rule was in old time in the handes of the states of the people in the publique assembly of the Realm Therefore that kings wer created in France by fyrme lawes not tyrāts ordeyned with free authoritie power to do what soeuer them listeth For the which matter he bringeth many examples namely of the two Childerickes which kings were deposed frō the kingdome by the decree of the states of Theoderic which was displaced with Ebroin his Lord great master of Chilperic of Charles the grosse also of Ottho which was chosen king in stede of Charles the sonne of Lewis the stutter and he taketh the credite of their iudgements and most vrgent causes out of the very midst of the historie He sheweth also what things were specially handled in the solemne assembly of the states and also what was the authoritie of the same And first of al concerning the creating or displacing of a king secondly concerning peace warre and common lawes thirdly concerning greate honors high offices and gouernments of the common welth Fourthly concerning the assigning of the patrimonie in part to the children of the king being deceased and concerning the appointing of dowry to daughters finally concerning al those things which appertayne to the weale publique The power of the sayd assembly of States was such saieth he that without the authoritie or sentence of the same the king coulde determine nothing but must folowe the authoritie and will of the States which said authoritie and will were called The decrees of the states And now when as this kingdom of France hath cōtinued almost a thousand two hūdred yeeres ther are said to be in al this time only three houses of kings that is to say of the Merouins who taking their originall of Meroue continued that stock two hūdred fourscore three yeres of Charlouins who springing frō Charles the great grew in that stocke three hūdred thirty seuē yeres of Capenites who beginning at Hugh Capet haue now held the kingdome fiue hundred fourescore yeres The which Hugh Capet got the royal dignitie that Charlouins being deposed namely Lewis the fifth the .xxxj. king of France the .xij. king of the stocke of the Charlouins his children being dead in warde And then hee proueth by many examples that the royal dignitie stood
Consulls for so the Magistrates of the towne are called least any treason shoulde be wrought by those which were enclined to the king he gaue the souldiers their watchword appoynted to euery man hys charge place viewed the walles rounde about and was very diligente and necessary about all things apperteyning to a Captayne THE people assembled together in the Guild haule by the warning of the Consulls oftentimes And then the most wise men and of greatest experience consulted what was best to be done they looked one vppon another doubted what to determine and deuising many wayes coulde lyke of none to take The greatest part of those whiche were counted wysest disliked the purpose to defende the citie againste the force of the Kings army as proceeding from bolde and madde rashnesse most perillous thinking that better meanes might be deuised by which the Citie might be yelded vp and so a general safety prouided for wishing that this way should be taken with al speed Notwithstāding the authors themselues of this counsaile while these things wer in consultatiō went about to prouide priuately for their families and caried them out of the citie and they them selues went out also by heapes In this diuersitie of contrary Iudgementes and affections of all sortes and estates of men the dissentions diuersly rising betweene the people and the gouernours seemed out of all doubt to make a way and entrance for the kings power and amiddest these controuersies to gyue occasion to the enimie sodenly to ouercome them to their great calamitie destruction NOTVVITHSTANDING thys purpose preuayled namely that there shoulde be no hast made in this matter that consultation should be had about the same hereafter that God most assuredly woulde ayde hys seruaunts in hys owne cause but if so be they must susteyne the force of their enimies and suffer death that nothing coulde happen more better vnto them and that the same should be farre more tollerable than to put them selues into the handes of murderers of whome they mighte looke for the same pardon whiche they had giuen to others of the Religion in Paris in Lions in Tholouz and in dyuers places els Therefore that it shoulde be a more honest and easie deathe whiche they shoulde suffer in defending them selues againste the violence of theyr vniust enimie than to be slayne and executed by the hangmen That the same defence was iust both by the law of God and man that they vsed not violence in setting vpon the enimie but withstood iust violence with iust defence That theeues and murderers were armed in the Kings name and by the kings authoritie and that therfore they withstoode not the king That if they dyed in this defence their death should be pretious before God and haue the honour of martyrdome And that there is no doubt but that God at the length will haue compassion vpon them and wyll help them by one way or other vnlooked for that patience and prayer was needefull that in delay there was lesse perill but in haste there was moste presente destruction seeyng by delay those occasions myghte growe whych myght gyue them abilitie to bryng notable thyngs to passe Monsieur Clauson declaring these thinges at large it was agreed by the consente of the greater number not to receyue at all the kyngs garison but to tarry for a more conuenient time and yet notwithstanding to occupy the mynde of monsieur Ioyeuse with conuenient answeres THEN they certified the indwellers of Seuenatz and Viuaretz their neyghbours which wholy depended vpon them of their purpose and exhorted them to constancie of mynd and to a better hope For they were assaulted in like sorte by the kings instruments Monsieur Leuger a noble man and knight of the order was sent into Viuaretz to take and hold the same IN these first beginnings they of the religion helde these townes Aubenac Priuac Pusi Villeneufe Notwithstanding it was not long ere the Catholiques had taken Pusi the cōuenient situation wherof much annoyed thē And monsieur Leuger practised this way to take Villeneufe Villeneufe is but a small towne yet notwithstanding it is situate very conueniently for that part being appoynted for a lower court from whence the appeale is to Nismes and it belongeth to the kyngs Excheaker The Religious of Villeneufe agreed with the Catholiques of the towne to ioyne together and to defende one another with mutuall heartes and handes saying that they were brethren and felowe citizens and that those barbarous and outragious murthers were to be resisted with all their power And taking an othe one to the other they indent that two captaynes should be chosen by generall consent and that the same should watch and warde day and night by turne and so that the Catholiques shoulde haue for their captayne one of them of the Relygion and the religious a Catholique to the ende all suspition might be taken away They of the relygion named for their captayne monsieur Baron and the Catholiques named for thē monsieur Mirambel both good and expert Captaynes This good and laudable purpose had yll successe by which it appeareth how yll two Religions agree together and abyde in one seate The townesmen thinking that they had heereby prouided very well for theyr safetie and they of the Relygion being persuaded of the fayth of the Catholiques are thereby neglecting theyr businesse beholde the cytie was taken by monsieur Leuger thus Captayne Mirambel tolde monsieur Leuger that there was an easie way made for hym to take the citie in so much that he should onely neede to approche somewhat nearer the citie with some ambushmēts of souldiers so cōmyng to the gates of the citie he should be let in by hym promysing so to order the matter and to appoynt such warders about the gates that he should easily haue his purpose Monsieur Leuger preparing his souldiers out of hand drew neare to the citye and came with a troupe of horsmen vnto the gates gaue monsieur Mirambel to vnderstande that he was come thyther with the kings power commaunding him vpon his allegeance to set open the gates vnto him There at that time monsieur Biron walked before the gates vnarmed with certayne of the chiefe townesmen him all amazed monsieur Leuger saluted at hys so sudden cōming vpon them Monsieur Mirebel commaunded the gates of the citie to be set open and mons Leuger entred the citie then the armed troupes of the Catholiques came flockyng rounde about hym he fortifyeth the gates and by and by the troupes of horsemen and of foote men whyche stayed at a vyllage harde by ranne vnto hym Amydst these salutations the Catholiques and they of the Relygion fleeyng together vnto him monsieur Biron stale away priuyly and came to the next towne by called Mirebel which was by the Kings Edict an appoynted place to receiue the holy assemblyes of the professours of the Religion of Villeneufe and tolde to mons Pradel a noble man whose lande lyeth in and
The fourth parte of Cōmentaries of the Ciuill warres in Fraunce and of the lovve countrie of Flaunders Translated out of Latine into English by Thomas Tymme Minister Seene and allowed ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Binneman for Humfrey Toy Anno. 1576. HONI · SOIT · QVI MAL · · Y · PENSE · OMNIA TEMPVS HABENT ¶ To the right honorable Lorde Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke Baron of Lisle of the most honorable order of the Garter Knight Generall of the Queenes Maiesties Ordinance within hir highnesse realmes and dominions IT is cōmonly seen right honorable that all men occupy them selues most in the reading of those matters wherein they haue delight eyther for that they are naturally disposed therevnto or else well experienced in the same The which consideration being ioyned with the Argument of this my booke I coulde not deuise with my selfe a more fitte patron to whome I might dedicate the same than to your honour For such noble courage hath nature wrought in you found out by effecte in martiall affaires as I persuade my selfe you will delight and recreate your selfe muche with the reading of the valiant acts done by diuers courageous persons in these last ciuill warres of Fraunce Accept therefore ryght honourable my choyce and pardon my boldnesse which good will hath caused me to shewe presuming vpon your honourable curtesie by whiche I am drawne as by the loadstone to offer this simple present to your honours handes I wishe the same might in any part be answerable to your worthynesse VVherefore not to staye your honour with longer speach I take my leaue recōmending my poore paines to your honours protection Your honours most humble Thomas Tymme ¶ The Translatour to the Reader THe increasing of newe troubles and warres in Fraunce hath also increased the matter and giuen larger occasion of the publishing of this fourth part of Commentaries the whiche contayneth as the other three partes do three bookes the first of the three in the Latin Coppy reckoned the tenth But bycause we haue to our third part already a tenth Booke annexed contayning the summe of those things whiche are written in the first Booke of this fourth volume I haue thought good not to translate the same in order as it lieth but only to gleane out those principall matters which are different from the other for that it is superfluous in one work to print one and the selfe same thing twice This fourth parte comprehendeth the actes and gestes of the ciuill warres from the time of the last peace concluded in Anno 1571. vnto the death of King Charles the ninth who dyed in Anno. 1574. In the whiche there is set before thee righte Christian Reader a large discourse not only of the affayres of Fraunce but also of the lowe countrey of Flaunders as tyme and occasion offereth the same Accept my good will bestowed in translating thys parte to benefyte the English reader THE TABLE ADmiral misliketh the wickednesse of his soldiers Pa. 5. Affaires of the Prince of Orange in the low countrey Pa. 38. Articles of composition Pa. 116. Assalt diuers times giuen Pa. 50. 51. Assalt made by thē of Rochel Pa. 44. Answer of the Gentlemē of Rochell to the king Pa. 9. Answer of them of Nismes Pa. 24. B. Backsliders frō the kīgs power Pa. 44 C. Cities held by them of the Religion Pa. 3. Cities in Languedoc taken by pollicie Pa. 58. Commaundemente to beseege Rochell Pa. 42. Constancie in the Religious to defende themselues Pa. 4. Crueltie somewhat mitigated Pa. 3. Crueltie shewed at Harlem Pa. 59. D. Daulphine possessed by the kings garrison Pa. 27. Deanuil commeth into Languedoc with an armie Pa. 34. Deanuil trauelleth in vayne in Languedoc Pa. 35. Deanuil abstayneth from war. Pa. 58 Description of Rochell Pa. 43. 45. Discipation of them of the Religion Pa. ◠Diuers cities in Languedoc taken by policie Pa. 58. Duke of Anjou subtilly perswadeth to peace Pa. 44. Duke of Anjou receiued wyth triūph to the seege of Rochel Pa. 47 Duke of Anjou chosen King of Polonia Pa. 86. Duke of Anjou in perill of hys life Pa. 87. Duke de Aumal slayne Pa. 52. E. Earthquake Pa. 72 Edict proclaymed to call home again all fugitiues Pa. 28. Edict of peace published Pa. 89. Extremities in the kings camp Pa. 74. F. Falsehoode in the Catholiques Pa. 23. Famine in Harlem Pa. 68. Famine in Sanserre Pa. 100. Fast solemnly proclaymed in Rochell Pa. 8. Feare vppon all countries after the murder Pa. 1. Fish by Gods prouidence neuer seene before came into Rochel in the seege Pa. 85. G. Gadagne parleyeth with them of Rochell Pa. 48. H. Harlem defieth the D. of Alba. Pa. 40. Harlem beseeged Pa. 40. Harlem vitailed by the Prince of Orange Pa. 67. Harlem yeelded to the Duke of Alba. Pa. 69. Harlem put to the sworde Pa. 69. I. Irruptiōs made by them of Rochell Pa. 2. K. King persecuted thē of the Religion in Switzerlande Pa. 29. L. Letters sent to thē of Rochel Pa. 15. Letters hortatorie from the Duke of Anjou to peace Pa. 45. Letters concerning peace Pa. 48. Letters of Mongomerie to them of Rochell Pa. 85. Liefetenantships appointed in Languedoc Pa. 119. M. Messēgers of Sāser reuolted Pa. 36. Meelnine yelded to the Duke of Alba. Pa. 39. Milles ouerthrowen by the Catholiques Pa. 34. Mombrune a valiant manne of Daulphine Pa. 27. Mombrune armeth him selfe in Daulphine Pa. 60. Mongomeries Nauie within the sight of Rochel Pa. 78. 80. Mōgomerie lādeth at Belile Pa. 81 Mons Cosine slayne Pa. 82. Mons Sanroman general of the Religious Pa. 59. Mons Candale slayne Pa. 53. 54. Mons La Noe hardly escapeth death Pa. 49. 50. Mons Grandrise shirmisheth with the Kings campe Pa. 48. Mons La Noe general of Rochell Pa. 43. Mons La Noe commeth to Rochell Pa. 31. Mons Biron put into the bloudy booke Pa. 13. Monsterous calfe Pa. 42. Mountauban defieth the king Pa. 18. Mountes receyueth succours Pa. 38 Murder at Burdeaux Pa. 17. N. Narden in Calamitie Pa. 40. Negligence in thē of Sanser Pa. 62. Nismes refuseth to receyue the kings garrison Pa. 19. Noble men within Rochell are assayed to be brought to defection Pa. 33. O. Occasiō of peace with Rochel Pa. 86 Open warre proclaymed against Rochell Pa. 86. P. Peace cōcluded between the king and them of Rochell Pa. 88. Pibrach inuayeth against those of the Religion Pa. 4. Preparation of warre againste Languedoc Pa. 25. Prouision of warre Pa. 2. Pollicie practised to take Rochell Pa. 7. Q. Queene of England Godmother to the French kings daughter Pa. 30 R. Rochel assalted by policie Pa. 7. Rochel refuseth to receyue mons Biron Pa. 14. Rochel prepareth for defence Pa. 17 Rochell put to proscription by the king Pa. 30. Rochell beseeged Pa. 32. Rochel battered assalted Pa. 70. 71. S. Sanserre refuseth to receiue the kings garrison Pa. 26. Sanserre beseeged Pa. 63. Sanserre valiantly defendeth it selfe Pa. 63. Sāser oppressed with famin Pa.
100 Signe in the ayre Pa. 76. Securitie in de Gordes Pa. 61. Solēn fast proclaymed in Ro. Pa. 8. Sommiron beseeged Pa. 35. 53. Sommiron yeelded vp Pa. 54. Scaling ladders ouerthrowē Pa. 76 Smoke made in Rochell Pa. 76. Star neuer seene before Pa. 42. Succours sente by the Prince of Orange intercepted by the Duke of Alba. Pa. 42. Zwitzerland disqueted with the troubles of Fraunce Pa. 1. T. Treason practised againste Rochell Pa. 43. Truce taken for a parley Pa. 52. Truce broken Pa. 87. V. Villeneuf taken by treason Pa. 21. Villeneuf taken by them of the Religion Pa. 55. Victory gotten by women Pa. 77. VV. Warre prouided for Pa. 2. Warre most miraculous Pa. 6. War openly proclaymed against Rochell Pa. 17. War prepared against Langu Pa. 25 Fault escaped in Printing Page 3. line last saue three Reade the deepe iudgement of god And in the same line for begin reade began ¶ Additions to the tenth Booke of Commentaries necessary to be considered in the reading of the Tragicall murder committed at Paris and in other places of Fraunce THE Kings Edict beeing proclaymed as we haue sayde in the ninth Booke of Commētaries the forreine souldiers were dismist specially they of Germany Thē euery one with speede went home to their houses whiche they had not seene before by the space of three yeeres and as after a greate tempest all men desired a quiet and peaceable time as well the Catholiques as they of the Religion who also them selues felte the sore harmes of warres They of the Religion yeelded vp all their cities almost except those whych the King had graunted vnto them by his Edict as Rochell La Charite and Sanserre The garrisons whiche came in the Kings name were receyued into the surrendred cities who then more quietly behaued them selues than they were wont afore time vppon the conclusion of peace when warre was ended Thus by little and little mens mindes were glad to be at rest beyng weeryed with the bloudy and lothsome experience of long and tedious warres wishing peace in somuch that they of the Religion had forgotten the former iniuries the whiche was the harder to do bycause of the falsehoode and treason shewed against them yea the Catholiques seemed to loue peace and friendly to imbrace them of the Religion For it was reported that the kings will and mind was to haue the peace firmely established Therefore all men deemed that all thyngs tended to peace by this happy beginning THE Queene of Nauar came to Rochell with the Prince hir sonne and with the rest of hir family the Prince of Conde also and the Admirall and the rest of the peeres whiche professed the Religion came thither that they mighte there the more safely attend the proceedings of the late concluded peace But within fewe monethes euery one priuily got him home to his owne house being weery of so long delay THE King tooke the daughter of the Emperour Maximilian to wife the whiche all men sayd was a great occasion to further the peace The marriage was celebrated with great royaltie and the newe Queene was receyued of the men on both partes with great ioy as the happie beginning of fyrme and constant peace and fame opposed hir gentle nature and disposition against the troublesome and churlish inclination of the Queene mother men were in great doubt it would come to passe that the king for the fauour and liking that hee had of his newe wife whome he was sayde to loue entierly would growe in dislike of the Queene mother whose nature he could not brooke long before saying that he neyther woulde nor could beare any longer hir imperious ambition The common custome of humane affayres brought a speciall credit to this reporte that the newe Mistresse and Lady should put the olde dame quite out of fauour Herevnto were added the forces of domesticall reasons The King had two brethren the Duke of Anjou of whome we haue spoken often times before the Duke of Engolesme The Duke of Anjou was more in fauour with his mother and had gotten to hym selfe a name and singular credit among the nobles both by his seruice in the warres and also by his happy successe in the same besyde also the honor whyche the Catholiques gaue vnto him who had him in more estimation almost than the King him selfe in somuch that hee receyued a yeerely reuenue of two hundred thousande Frankes of the Cleargie vppon condition to bee the patrone and defender of the Churche The Duke of Anjou beeing thus plentifully mayntayned the King his brother as it is credibly reported had hym in suspition and that it appeared manifestly by euident speeches and deedes that the King bare priuie grudge againste hys brother Also that the King sayd that hee would not be weeried with newe troubles of warres and that of late they of the Religion had bin falsely accused vnto him On the contrary part the Duke of Anjou shewed hym selfe an enemie to those of the Religion boasted of hys victories ouer them dyd hurt them by all meanes that he could fauoured those whom the Kyng hated and hated those whome the Kyng loued Thus it euidently appeared that there was enmitie betweene those two brethren in somuch that it seemed necessary for the King to defende hym selfe agaynst hys brothers power least bee should begin any new trouble and to diminishe the authoritie of hys mother whiche had continued ouer long thereby to winne to hym selfe the hartes of those of the Religion for that it was more for his safetie to trust vnto the ayd and strength of them of the Religion than to the Catholiques These kindes of reasons stooke in the mindes of wise men mouing them to thinke that the King woulde encline to peace and also seeke to winne vnto him those of the Religion But the quite contrary was prouided for by so great subtility and craft of the Queene mother who beeing the chiefe workmistresse of these deceyts made the King the chiefe minister and instrument of them The King trauayled to bring this one thing especially to passe that he might throughly perswade and certifie the Queene of Nauar the Admirall by whose counsayles al the affayres of those of the Religiō were ordered of his assured good will both to obserue keepe the peace and also to defend them that so they might trust vnto him The subtill means practises whiche he vsed to bring this thing to passe we haue shewed in the .x. boke Only we are here to note the deepe iudgemēt which now begin to prouide great sharp punishmēts It is wonderful that after so many experiments of treson that the Admiral being of a pregnāt wit hauing experience of great maters could not beware of the subtil deceits of a and a yong man when as he him selfe often times sayde that he suspected the craftie wit of the Queene About this time letters came from the Princes of Germany as we haue
kings good wil expressed at large both towards the Queene of Nauar and also toward the Admiral him self is sayd to cōtend in word greatly against the same Notwithstanding letters being often sent concerning the dayly speach of the king the Admirals mynd began by little and little to be persuaded and to iudge very well of the king in all things thinking that a yong man which was of a milde nature and a louer of peace coulde not dissemble and although he feared the subtile and craftie wit of the Queene mother neuerthelesse the matter was come to that poynt that the king woulde not hearken to hir counselles in dispyght of his brother the Duke of Anjou whose power he had greatly in suspition It is sayd also that mons Momorencie who was cousin germane to the Admirall preuayled much in persuading the Admiral And the king to serue his turne made great account of Momorecie cōmitted vnto him the charge of waightie affaires dayly talked with him about secret matters of priuie coūsel For there is an olde and continuall hatred as we haue oftentimes sayd betweene the houses of Momorencie of Guise in somuch that Momorencie thought that not onely the Admirals death but his also was sought and that for thys cause he was alwayes suspected and out of fauour with the Queene THE Guises therefore seemed dayly more and more to be out of fauour with the King contrariwise he seemed to vse the King familiarly and protested his singular good will towards the Admiral also he cōferred with him about waightie affaires for the exployting whereof he sayd he had neede of the help and ayde of the Admirall The Queene also according to hir manner protested that she desired nothing more than that all former matters beyng forgotten an assured peace might be established And the summe of all their communications and speaches was this that the Queene of Nauar the Princes and the Admirall should come vnto the King and be throughly perswaded of his singular good will towardes them By whyche meanes it might come to passe that a firme friendship mighte be made their minds being reconciled by familiar speache These things being dayly brought both by letters of Momorencie and also by speaches of messengers the Queene of Nauar was not onely throughly perswaded heereof but also the mind of the Admirall fully vanquished and ouercome IN this yeere there befell suche a sharpe colde winter that the Riuer of Rosne was frosen quite ouer all along the chanell and whiche was neuer hard of before Countie Volt a noble man went ouer the riuer on foote with his whole family and others commaunding his Mules to goe before him laden with cariage out of the countrie of Viuaretz into Daulphine IN Languedoc and in Prouance most temperate Regions the Oliue trees fygge trees Orenge trees and Pomegranat trees were almost dead with colde Vines also starued in many places to the great spoyle of most fertile coūtries Whereuppon ensued a great dearth which the godly interpreted as a forewarning of Gods great iudgements IN the moneth of March of this present yeere there was holden a generall Synode of the reformed Churches at Rochell vppon graunt from the Kings maiestie by his letters There came to this Synode godly and learned men from all partes of the Realme as Antoni Chande a man of noble parentage Nicolaus Gelazius and many others Thither came also Theodore Beza vppon request of the Princes letters to the Senate of Geneua and was made chiefe in that Synode being chosen according to manner custome by voyces It pleased also the Queene of Nauar the Princes peeres nobles of the Religion to be present in this assembly In this Synode were specially handeled the manner of reforming the Churches the principall poynte of doctrine Ecclesiasticall discipline a new manner wherof Iohannes Morelius went about to bring in a little before diuers other things also were hādled cōcerning certaine other newe formes in the Lordes supper ABOVT the same tyme the messengers of the Princes returned from the King hauing large giftes giuen them and bringyng with them ioyfull tydings concerning the Kyngs assured good will towardes the Queene of Nauar toward the Princes the Admirall and the other noble men concernyng publique peace and the expected matrimony and concernyng preparation to bee sent at the Kyngs cōmaundement into the low coūtrey which the messēgers sayd they thēselues shuld vnderstād by the kings own mouth willing thē to go with all speed vnto the king which was the principal point of their ambassage Hereuppon the Queene of Nauar thought that shee could not but go vnto the King fearing least if she should deny the same or should defer the tyme the King would be displeased seeing also M. Biron was come vnto hir strayte after the returne of the messengers with the same message from the king to the ende she might make the more speede Notwithstanding the wiser sort suspected hir going to whō the mariage in persons of contrary religion seemed daungerous and contrary to the expresse word of god Neuerthelesse worldly reasons preuayled that the lamētable tragedy might go forward that is to say that the iust prouidence of god might fynde a way to bring great matters about and to punishe both their sins he vsed both their sins after a certaine wonderful māner Therefore the Queene of Nauar came to the Courte with a great traine which at that time was at Blay For whose honorable entertainment it can scarce be tolde what great preparation was made by the King the Queenes the kings brethren his sister and by the whole Courte insomuch that euery courtier went forth to meete hir as to receyue that which aboue all other things had a long tyme bene desired The King for his parte shewed all duties of humanitie in welcomming the Queene of Nauar that by any manner of meanes he might THE chiefe and greatest busines was about the mariage the contracte whereof could not be made without the presence of the Queene of Nauar. The King Queene by all meanes vttered their good willes The mynde of the Queene of Nauar was throughly perswaded of the same they disagreed not aboute the dowry For a large dowry meete for suche a State was offered and the Queene mother was very careful for the bestowing of hir only daughter shee making a shewe as though she would spare nothing to further the same Many things were handled concernyng the contracte of matrimony concerning the auncient societie and frendship betwene the house of Valoys of Borbon and of Aubeter and very notable things were at large spoken on both partes concerning the restoring of the kingdome into his former state by the meane of a fyrme peace There remained two doubts which seemed to trouble both partes namely the respecte of contrary religion and the place where the mariage should be celebrated For the Queene of Nauar would not haue the same at Paris which citie she
Notwithstāding he sayd he would forgiue matters past and done for their ages and consanguinities sake deeming that they were not so much to be blamed as the Admirall and other moste mischeuous persons theyr counsaylers who eyther already had bin punished for their desertes or else were now vnder the same These thyngs therefore he sayd he would pardon vpon condition that they wold euer after amend their former faultes with more faythfull obedience and woulde returne to the Religion of the Catholique fayth that hauing renounced the doctrine of prophane superstition whiche had already caused so great troubles and warres they woulde wholly imbrace the auncient Religion and returne to the lap of the Church of Rome That he would euer after haue but one onely Religion imbraced in hys Realme and the same which he had receyued from hys auncetors Therefore he willed them to consider whether they would obay in these things or else suffer such punishmente as theyr fellowes had done The King of Nauar being abashed with these sharpe speeches aunsweared humbly vnto the king that hee remembred his fayth and the consanguinitie lately entred with hys maiestie and that he would do those things whiche might please and content his minde most hartily beseeching him to consider how great a thing a mans conscience is and how hardly he could renounce that Religion whiche he had learned and in the which he had bin trayned vp from a childe Notwithstanding he spake these things with great submission feare The Prince of Conde perceyuing the present perill answered the King but not without feare of mind that his maiestie had so solemnly giuen his faith to him and to the rest of the Religion that he could not perswade him selfe that he would breake so faithfull an oath nor harken to the counsailes of his aduersaries And as touching that obedience which his maiestie required of him and which he had euer hitherto faythfully shewed to the same he minded neuer to forsake it during life But as touching the Religion he had free leaue of the king to exercise the same and from God the true knowledge therof to whom he knew he shuld giue an account for the same Adding that him selfe and all that he had was in the kings power And he willed him to do what soeuer pleased him both with his life and also with his goodes yet neuerthelesse he was fully determined neuer to depart from that Religiō which he knew for certain to be true though it were to the present perill of his life The King was sore offended with this aunsweare of the Prince of Conde and calling him obstinate seditious and the sonne of a seditious person telleth him that if he do not repent him within three dayes he should suffer death for his peruerse obstinacie There were spared also certayne of the houshold seruantes of the king of Nauar which were gentlemē mons Grammōts Durase and certayne others which promised that they woulde do whatsoeuer the king commaunded them These being neuer earnest louers of the Religion were pardoned that they might be instruments afterward to withstand the same This garboyle and bloudy sturre being thus made in the Citie and in the Castell there were left as yet those whyche dwelt and aboade in the suburbes and some of the nobilitie as M. Chartres Mongomeri Briquemauld Bellouez Fontene and diuers other noble men Commaundement was giuen by the king to the Prouost of the marchāts to haue a thousand armed men in a redinesse to intercept those of the religion whiche were in the suburbes of Sangerman And hee had giuen the whole charge of this matter vnto M. Marcell one of the chiefe Magistrates of the citie Notwithstanding the prepared souldiours came not at the hour apointed through the negligēce of the said magistrate The king had appointed M. Mongeron chiefe ouerseer of the execution of his purpose He looking for his souldiors and seeking for the Duke of Guise to complayne to him of this matter certaine houres were spente In the meane tyme one of the Religion seing the citie all on a roare running vnto the riuer got in conuenient time a boate and so cut ouer the riuer and certified Mongomerie of the trouble in the citie This was about fiue of the clocke Mongomerie gaue M. Chartres to vnderstād hereof and so by opening the matter from one to an other it was generally knowne by and by to all that were in the village or suburbes Notwithstanding it seemed almost incredible The greatest part beleued that the king was not priuie to so great wickednesse so farre they were from thinking that it should be don by his commaundement othersome beyng as yet persuaded of the kings good will thought that the kings owne person was assaulted by the Guyses for the hatred that they bare to the Religion whiche he seemed to fauour Therfore amidst this varietie of opinions they knew not themselues what waye they were best to take Some thought it beste to goe oute of hande to the kyng to the Castell of Lowre least they myght be deceyued of the kynges will other some sayde that it was needfull and necessarie for them to goe and ayde the kyng The thyrde and wyser sorte nothing doubting but that this was doone by the kings commaundement betooke them to flight But while they made delay they might easily haue bin taken had not an other impediment happened The Duke of Guise seeing that he coulde not haue a band of souldiours of the Parisians they following the praye and spoyle deuised a newe way whiche was that he woulde goe himselfe with certaine souldiours to the suburbes of Sangerman whyle the shot and spearemen of the kings garde gaue an assault from the riuer vpon the whiche stoode the suburbes ouer against the castell of Lowre But his purpose and deuise tooke not effecte For when the Guise woulde haue gone foorth with his souldiours he was constrayned to staye the porter of the gates hauing deliuered the wrong keys the other not to be founde Before therefore the keyes coulde be brought suche delay was made that M. Chartres Mongomerie and others escaped away and yet not without further perill For they sawe on the other syde of the shoare bandes of souldiours approching to shippe and hearde cryes made from the Castell that they fledde and sawe also greate stoare of shotte discharged at them bothe from the Castell and also from the shippes Also it is sayde that the kyng hym selfe stoode vpon the top of his tower crying and swearyng and dischargyng shotte Then they whiche were in the suburbes leauyng all theyr goodes roade away without bootes and spurres wyth as muche speede as possible they coulde They were scarse out of sighte when the souldiours were landed on the other syde who brake into the houses and tooke their pray Neuerthelesse they whiche fled were pursued by the Guyse by Duke d'Aumale by the Earle of Engolesme and others to Monfort which is distant from Paris the space of
vtter destructiō Wherevpon the Kings officers were not so forwarde in theyr affayres as else they would haue bin thinking that they did but lose their labour in a matter most easie to be finished Notwithstanding an armie was prepared and the King by his letters instantly required Monsieur Beleur whiche was hys Lidgar in Switzerlande for the same purpose to sende with all speede a band of Switzers FOR there remayned as yet certayne cities whiche were held and garded by those that were left of the Religion as Rochel Sanxer and in Languedoc Montauban Castres Nismes Milliaud Aubenac Priuac Mirebel Ganges Anduz and certaine other townes of no fame in the territorie of Viuaueretz and Seuenats Notwithstanding it seemed to many yea and to the most part of such as professed the Religion greate folly ioyned with madnes after so great a slaughter almost of all that professed the Religion the kings power being nothing deminished hauing the whole kingdom redy at his cōmandemēt for thē to enterprise presume to defend them selues against the armie of so mighty a king after so great cōsternatiō feare whē as not only none of the Princes but also not one noble mā almost was lefte in Frāce which durst so much as professe the loue he bare to the Religion There were also and that not a few whiche sayd that it was great wickednesse vnlawful for subiects hauing no authoritie from princes or chiefe magistrates to beare armour agaynste their king though he were wicked that by the effect and successe it selfe it had appeared that the forceable resistance of them of the Religion hitherto was vngodly though it were collected by the authoritie of the princes and by lawfull titles both for that the king was in his minoritie and also bycause the breaking of the kings Edicts might be lawfully punished for that the kings wil was in expresse words declared That in this enterprise all things faile and that the king is a man that there wante Princes to whome the aucthoritie of gouerning the kingdome shuld belong and that the king doth playnely professe that he wil not hurt them of the Religion but that he commaunded that murder to be committed with purpose to destroy the Admiral and other the chiefe aucthors and instrumentes of the warre that the kingdome afterwarde might remaine in peace And that although in this matter he exceeded the rule of reason yet it was not lawful for the subiect to rebell against him or for the subiect to punishe his lorde and king for his offence There were also some which vtterly condemned the gouernment of the prince of Conde and of the Admirall in their actes and exployts of the yeeres past and through the enuie of the lamentable successe haue brought the whole cause in hatred And those false accusations of Carpenter and Pibrach in their Epistle to that famous man Stanislaw Heluidius were oftentimes obiected by exulcerated and gaulled mindes to make the remembrance of the former warres detestable So that a man woulde haue thought that the Religion had bin extinguished for euer in Fraunce and concerning this matter many of them disputed with odious wordes whiche in time of the former warres had highly commended the causes to take the same in hand And thus calamitie was counted for great reproch and shame such is the greate rashnesse of men in iudging of matters ALSO in those Cities whiche as yet had not receyued the Kings Garrisons these dissentions were very ryfe and the Citizens being distract and vncertayne what to do seemed not so much to delay and deferre the Kings Garrison as to spend the tyme to the ende that euery one myght get for him selfe the more conuenient oportunitie and occasion to flee and escape away or els to get fauour agayne thys was the common will and purpose of the Townesmen Notwithstanding God vsed the diligence of a fewe to bring the rest to a constant purpose and the feare of the cruell murders committed perswaded the people to defende them selues that for somuch as they were in vndoubted perill of death they myght if it so pleased the Lorde choose the more honest kinde of death by the lawfull right of necessary defence the Magistrate him selfe vrging them therevnto THEREFORE amidst so many and so great difficulties and extremities it seemed impossible that Religiō should stand by any manner of meanes and so euerlasting destruction seemed to be broughte vppon the Churches of Fraunce In these straits of great calamitie the prouidence of God of such beginnings as were so weake and so farre from the iudgemente of humane reason made a way for so much more glory as the disorder and confusion of all thinges was past hope of recouerie The chiefe Captaynes were gone the ayde and help of forreine Princes wanted yet notwithstanding the present helpe and helping fauour of God in due tyme fayled not Yet for all that there remayne suche greate things of so weake and feeble a beginning euen vntill this day that this same seemeth to be especially the counsaile and finger of God that the force and strēgth of noblemen beyng cut off he alone mighte be counted the author of his worke and mighte make manifest his manyfolde wisdome in this worke I may not dissemble and in making this a preface for the narration to come I swarue not from my purpose both those noble men and ringleaders which tooke vppon them the ordering and defence of this cause and also in part they of the Religion themselues in the former yeeres past offended many wayes Much disorder verily and many faults came by the ciuill warres in somuch that among those of the Religion the puritie of Religion beeing contaminated and defyled with true occasions of true accusations was euill spoken of For it is well knowen that the Admirall him selfe in those former warres protested not once but often That he had rather dye any kinde of death than he would be counted any longer a Gouernour and Captayne of such a leawde and wicked route of common souldiers most vnworthy of the bare name of Religion for such he knew many of his band to be God therefore iustly punished those mē which abused his Religion neuerthelesse hee dyd not neyther wyll hee leaue vnfinished the worke which he hath begonne But is there any man so blynde which seeth not what great punishments remayne for those which for the mortall hatred they beare to the poore Religion haue set to theyr helping hand to commit a most detestable fact seeing that to fyll vp the measure of extreme wickednesse all shewe of right and equitie is set asyde in so much that there remayneth no excuse for the same But to returne to our purpose agayne THEREFORE this fourth warre is more wonderfull than the three first bycause of most weake and feeble beginnings it had greater and more notable successe in so much that when the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other noble
men wyth helpe and ayde from forreyne Princes tooke part no suche worthy effectes ensued the reason and grounde of the cause neuer more euidently shyned from out of the deepe pit of extreme calamitie without any ayde of strangers and wythout the meanes of greater helpes than it shall appeare by the cōmemoration of this historie This then was the Kyngs state and this was the cace of them of the Religion after that butcherly murther committed on Saint Bartholmewes day being the foure and twentie of August For as we haue sayde that small remnant of them of the religion were brought to this exigent that seeing them selues far vnequall to matche with the Kings power they were ready of their owne accorde to yeelde them selues into his hande Notwithstanding when they sawe that murthers were committed vpon them of the Religion with no lesse crueltie than before in dyuers cities all they which were in the Kyngs power and in the danger of the Catholiques beganne to loke about them and at the length to deuise some honest way whereby they myght defende them selues So that in the deepe desperation of all thyngs seruing for necessary defence desperation founde out a way and a sure and certayne persuasion to bring the same to effecte supplyed most effectuall reasons of defence in this confusion and nakednesse The happy defence of Rochell dyd not a lyttle incourage the myndes of other men to fyrme and valyant constancie Fyrst of all therefore we wyll begynne with Rochell and then we wyll speake seuerally of the rest in order MONSIEVR Strossi and the Lorde de Guarde receyued charge to take Rochell and we haue oftentimes sayde that a nauy of shippes was prouided there already to the same end They then goe about to get in their souldiers into Rochell sometyme vnder the coloure to buy marchandise and sometime vnder the colour of visiting theyr frindes Notwithstandyng they of Rochell were alway vigilant and warie and hearyng of the cruell murther committed at Paris caused more dilygent watche and warde to be kept In the meane tyme monsieur Strossi ▪ and de Guarde vrged them of Rochell with the authoritie of the Kyngs letters both to receyue into the towne the Kyngs garrison and also to gyue vnto them great plentie of victuals to furnysh their shippes This they of Rochell denyed and withstoode that the nauy myght departe from thence affyrming that they dyd nothing agaynst their dutie and auncient pryuiledges by whiche they were exempted from al garrisons sauyng from that which they should leuie within their owne citie and wherby they had leaue to defende them selues by force of Armes and that they coulde not spare any of their prouision of victuals Then they which were for the Kyng founde fault with the townesmen of Rochel bycause many came vnto them from diuers partes of the realme and were receyued into the citie without any let To this they of the towne answered that they admitted no strangers but onely the inhabitantes of the realme whiche came about their affayres and marchandise the whiche was nothyng contrarie eyther to their office or custome whenas the Kyngs souldiers had leaue to come into the citie They were also required by the Liefetenant of Guian mounsieur Monpaz which was their neighbour not to shew thēselues obstinat wilful in refusing to receiue the kings garison shewing them that the king was carefull for their safetie and that therefore he dyd so prouide for them and that it was not lykely that he woulde bryng any detryment or dammage to hys Cyties also that hee had iustly punyshed the wyckednesse of Rebelles by the slaughter at Paris not minding continually to be seuere against his subiects Therefore he affyrmed that it was more for their safetie to deserue the Kings fauour by obedience There came certayne noble men of the Religion to Rochell from those places whiche were nearest adioyning therevnto as from the territories of Santonge Onic Poictou and Lymosin which sought the safetie of their life there came also about these fyrst beginnings about fiue and fiftie Pastors or Ministers of Churches and of the common sort of people about a thousande and fyue hundred souldiers out of dyuers parts of the Realme and many which were escaped from the slaughter of Paris The nynth and eleuenth daye of September there was appoynted at Rochel a common and solemne fast to be helde the whiche rite the Church obserued in olde time in time of trouble to a laudable and fruitefull ende They of Rochel hauing obtayned at the hands of Monsieur Strossi and Baron de Guardes safe conduct sent messengers vnto the King beseeching him that the nauie mighte bee remoued from that parte by his commaundemente for that the countrey thereabout had receyued great dammage thereby THE King had gyuen commandement to Monsieur Biron a noble man to gouerne Rochel who as we haue sayd before had taken great paynes in the former warres about the intreatie of peace This noble man deliuered to them of Rochel very friendly and louing letters by which he exhorteth them to obey the king and to commit them selues quietly to his trust bycause he had receyued authoritie from the king to gouerne them in so doing they shoulde see by proofe that he esteemed nothing more than of their safetie Strait after this came Monsieur Audenarz a noble mā also in the Kings name with very large letters of the Kings in the which the king exhorted them to shewe theyr obedience giuing them to vnderstande that hee determined in his minde nothyng more than to keepe and defende them in their houses in peace and safetie vnder the gard warrant of his Edictes requiring them herevpon to acknowledge him to be a true and faythfull interpreter of his owne minde Monsieur Audenarz being admitted into the Senat of Rochel perswaded very much to this ende and purpose certifying them of the singular good will of the king towardes them He promiseth that the king wil graunt them the libertie of Religion vpon cōdition that they would receyue Monsieur Biron and woulde graunt free recourse and trafique to all straungers whatsoeuer inhabiting the realme To this they of Rochel answered the king by their letters the true copie whereof is as followeth The answere of the Gentlemen Captaynes Burgeses and other beeing in the towne of Rochel to the commaundements that haue bene giuen them in the name of the king to receyue garrisons WE the Gentlemen Captaynes Burgeses and others now being in the towne of Rochel doe giue answere to such commaundements as are giuen to vs in the name of hys Maiestie that we cannot acknowledge that the same which is signified vnto vs and the publishing of the proclamation requyred at our handes doe proceede from his Maiestie And thereof we call to witnesse his Maiestie himselfe his letters of the .xxij. and .xxiiij. of August his owne signet and the publishing of the same letters by which his sayde Maiestie layeth all the fault of all the
Biron Wherevpon they of Rochel sent two messengers to Mons Biron to salute him for they stoode doubtfull what to doe whether they should receiue Monsieur Biron yea or no for it was reported that they of Rochel would incline vnto him the which to do was not without great perill Monsieur Biron talking with the messengers of Rochel in a secrete place bewayled and lamented wyth many teares the outrage of the murders committed shewed how greatly he was grieued for the fame and gaue thankes vnto God that his name could not be regestred and expressed in so infamouse an hystorie desired the messengers to certifie Rochel from him that he wished them to consider in what peryll they were and that they should wisely vse take those meanes for their safetie which God offered vnto them least they repented them to late with great dammage that they alone were not able to stande agaynst the Kings power the whiche beyng complete was ready to vanquish and ouerthrow the remaynder of them of the Religion shewyng also that this was the only remedie for them to submit themselues to hys authoritie or at least to admit and suffer hym with one or twoo more of his trayne to come into the towne that he might thereby certifie the kyng of theyr obedience the whiche beyng done he would bryng to passe that they shoulde sustayne no hurte by the kyngs Armie but would out of hande dispatch away the Nauie which was prepared to assayle them by force There were also certayne of the chiefe Citizens whiche fauored Mons Biron and his iudgement was well lyked of the two messengers who returnyng shewed bothe the imminent mischiefe of the great perill and also that the onely remedy to withstand the same rested in the counsayle of M. Biron whom report blased not only to be distayned and defiled with horrible furies of murders but also that he himselfe was brought into great peryll Notwithstanding in this matter he did only make a counterfeyte lamentation to pleasure the kyng euen as aforetyme he had employed his mortall labour in perswadyng the Admiral Neuerthelesse it is certayne that the name of Monsieur Biron was wrytten in the bloudy booke that he might haue his parte with others in the butcherly murder of Paris Therfore to get vnto hymself the kyngs fauour by some notable seruice he went about to yeelde vp thē of Rochel vnto the kyng The which if it had come to passe it had bene a hundred to one that the extreme slaughter should haue made a lamentable ende of that rēnant of the Religious so that not one shuld haue bene left aliue But Rochel was a great let to hinder those mischieuous coūsayles practises occasions to preuayle notablely were offered to them of the Religion both by these delaies also by the happy successe of the affayres of Rochel The messengers as wee sayde beyng come into the towne tolde the matter vnto the Senate and as they were in consultation deuising what way they were best to take woorde was brought to the Maior of the Citie which is the chiefe gouernour that shippes were to be seene at the promontorie or poynt cōmonly called Chef d'Bais the which beyng entered the hauen by the cōmandement of M. d'Guard letters were brought also by which he giueth them of Rochel to vnderstand that he was certified by the kyngs letters that Mons Biron would be at Rochel the same day with power admonisheth them to take diligent heede that they gaue him honorable entertaymēt as it was agreeable to his person and withall to remember that they had to do with a great and moste mightie kyng of whose goodnesse it should be better for them to taste than of his seueritie for that he intēded to punish them accordyng to theyr deserts which would impugne and resist hys cōmandements At this very instant while they hong doubtfull and knewe not which way to take in these extremities the open threatnyngs of Monsieur d'Guard hauyng confirmed the increased opinion concernyng the kings will in this poynt they agreed and concluded with one consent not to receyue Mons Biron that vpon this occasion At the very same tyme there came a messenger frō Montauban with letters by which they certified them of Rochel that Castre a citie in Languedoc the which was held by them of the Religion after many fayre promyses of the kyng concerning theyr safetie beyng yelded into the hande of Monsieur Creuset a noble man dwellyng vnto them was sacked and the Religious in the same most cruelly murdered Amidst so great distresse they of Montauban were sore afeard and very careful concernyng theyr owne priuate peril they admonished them of Rochel what they were best to do in so great extremitie namely to take wyse deliberation The present peryll of the inhabitants of Castre troubled and disquieted them of Rochel wherevppon they determined not to receyue Monsieur Biron vntil such tyme as they had prouyded for theyr owne safetie and securitie of which theyr determination they gaue Mons Biron to vnderstand out of hande MONSIEVR Biron aunswereth them agayne that he was very sory that they were bent to that which would bryng theyr owne destruction yet notwithstādyng he sayd he would hyde the matter from the kyng by speciall excuses vntill suche tyme as they had aduised themselues better willyng them not to hurte themselues by this daungerous determination and to beware least theyr rashe wilfulnesse turned them to displeasure Finally he promysed that he would endeuour hymselfe all that he coulde to perswade the kyng that the Nauie might be dismist and sent some otherway LOVING letters were sent vnto them againe from the kyng the Queene mother and from the Duke of Anjou by seueral messengers though the letters tended to one effect The kyng sought to perswade them of hys singular good will towardes them and promised vnto them al fayth humanitie in preseruyng them They of Rochel answere by letters agayne They giue thankes vnto the kyng and beseeche him that he would commaund the nauie to auoyd that coste for they were in such great feare at that present that they knew not what to do The which if it would please the kyng to cōmaunde they myght certaynly assure themselues of the kyngs good will towardes them and should also the more duetifully obey him By reason of these delayes of the kyng occasion was giuen to them of Rochel to cast away feare and to take vnto them better courage whereas if the kyng had set vpon them with all his force at the first brunte of the murder theyr ouerthrow had bene the more lykely Therefore beyng admonished by common counsayle beyng taught both by the general euill also by the present exāple of the men of Castre they of Rochel prepare themselues to theyr defence They make accordyng to the māner new Magistrates they create Captaynes for the warre they muster men both of the towne and also forreyners which
came thyther for refuge they appoynt that certaine ministers and also strangers shoulde be of the counsayle concerning matters for the towne Monsieur Sanstephen a noble man was made general of the horsemen The Captaynes were of more fame as Mons Essarz mons Riuier Mons Lyzi Mons Norman Mons Virolet Mons Nouel and diuerse others whose names we expresse bycause of the siege folowyng Agayne Mons Biron sent letters to them of Rochel from Broage a famous hauen where the Nauie roade Mons Strossi and Mons d'Guarde sente letters to them also but the letters of mons Biron were more friendly than the other in the whiche he affyrmed that he woulde procure the kyngs commaundement for the dismissyng of the Nauie so that they of Rochel would promise to the kyng to obey suche gouernours as he woulde appoynt ouer them Monsieur d'Guarde wrote more sharpely vnto them willyng them to receyue one condition or other eyther of peace or of warre affirmyng that the kyng should haue his authoritie by eyther They of Rochel answered that many things were promysed them but little or nothing performed that it was euident to all men what great cause they had to imbrace loue peace and what dammage and hurte they had receyued by warres and therfore how greatly they ought to deteste the same That they had hearde oftentimes that the kyng was very carefull for theyr safetie yet notwithstandyng the kyngs officers dyd annoy and endammage them very muche and that they in the meane tyme behaued themselues modestly and obediently towardes the kyng as all men might see Mons Biron and d' Guard practised after the same manner by letters and caused Mons Ouarz a noble man of that part and named to be of the religion to wryte to them of Rochel after the same effect and to shewe in howe greate peryll and danger they were in and to admonishe them to beware least by their obstinacie they cast them selues into presente destruction The Kyng also commaunded monsieur Durans whyche was a Solicitour in the affayres of Rochel being at the same tyme at Paris to goe vnto Rochel to perswade the Townesmen to receyue monsieur Biron and with him he sent to them of Rochel louing letters of bountifull good will. Monsieur Thecan the chiefe gouernour in the Senate of Paris wrote vnto certayne of his friendes of the chiefe Citizens that they would take diligent paynes in this matter would bring to passe that they of Rochel myghte receyue the conditions offered by the king They of Rochel write vnto monsieur de Guard complayning both of the sundry dammages done vnto them in time of the intreatie of peace also which wer yet done vnto thē dayly AMIDEST this intercourse and passage of letters too and fro there was a cruell slaughter made vpon those of the Religion at Burdeaux vppon whiche occasion they of Rochel demaunded whether they coulde looke for peace seeyng violente and outragious murders were still committed and seeing assaults of greater and more vehemēt slaughter were made vpō them For the Shippes of the Marchants of Rochel which had made their voiage and were returned from forrayne countries wer diuersly spoyled and their marchandise taken from them Now the kings power with open warre assayled them of Rochel in somuche that marchantes were restrayned of theyr passage and entercourse and the Kings nauie abode vpon the coast of Rochel robbing and spoyling all partes thereaboutes whyle the Armie whych shoulde come by lande was a preparing IN the meane time they of Rochel diligently applied theyr grape gathering for the wine presse and brought into the Citie fyue and twentie thousande tunnes of wine whyche did them great pleasure at what time they were besieged And all men both townesmen and also strangers laboured paynefully in in fortifying the towne with rampiers and bulwarks AND thus the state of Rochel beeyng knowen before wee come to the noble besieging of the same the order of the story requireth that wee shewe the state of other Townes also in the whyche the remnauntes of the godly religious were preserued They of Montaubane had the kings letters sent vnto them notwithstanding they continued in their former purpose by whiche during all the former ciuill warres they were very circumspect in not admitting any one that came from the kyng into the Citie but amidst the greate treasons and lyings in wayte of their neighbours of Tholouze preserued them selues vntill these hard and extreame beginnings NISMES the Townesmē not knowing what way they were best to take was almost ready to bee yeelded vp to the king Many of the principalles of the Religion stale out of the Citie carying their families to another place and got thēselues into such places as were neere vnto the same Also some of them hauing forsaken the Religion got them speedily to the Cities of the Catholiques hoping thereby the more conueniently to obtayne pardon of the King and many of them to shew that they were seriously returned to the Catholiques detested the Religion all that they could with odious words MONSIEVR Ioyeuse Lefetenant of Languedoc writ oftentimes to the inhabitants of Nismes to receyue the Kyngs Garrison Who at the first answered by delayes that they woulde obey the king yet notwithstāding bicause of the late murdering of their brethrē felow partakers with thē of the Religiō they had great cause to be careful for their safetie Notwithstāding Monsieur Ioyeuse perswaded them of the singular good wyll of the king by his letters often times affyrming that they should liue quietly in safetie by the benefite of the kings Edict of peace There is in Nismes the Kings court kept nowithstandyng it is lawfull for a man to appeale from the same to the Senate of Tholouze in the whyche Citie there was more plenty of Lawyers and more store of rich Citizens Many of them were almost at the same poynte to yeelde them selues in tyme to the Kyng and with speedy obedience to win the kings fauour Notwithstāding the greatest part of the commō sort of people certayne also of the chiefe men amōg whom was Mons Clauson a Counsailer of the court who as he was wise godly so also he was of great authoritie withstoode this purpose not minding to put thē selues into present perill of death And lest those of the kings side shuld take the Citie and let into the same the souldiers which wer vnder the cōduct of Mons Ioyeuse which lay in waite about the citie night and day sought diligently al occasiōs to take the same the said mons Clauson himself very carefully held watch warde with the townsmen of the gates of the citie least any mā shuld come in or out without their knowlege Mons Clauson being the author of this manly wise purpose notwithstanding that he was a learned graue man yet he endeuoured him selfe to play the souldier hauing alwayes a diligent eye in gouerning the
about that place what had happened in the citie and so they agreeing together tooke them to the Castell of Mirebel which afterward did them great pleasure Mons Leuger at the first intreated the chiefe of the Religion very gentlely seeking to persuade them that his purpose was to gouerne them wyth peace and equitie vnder the protection of the Kyngs Edicts and to trouble no mans conscience In the tyme of this truce many that professed the Relygion stale awaye to Mirebel and fortyfyed the same out of hande By the meanes heereof Villeneufe being afterwarde recouered as we wyll declare heereafter dyd greatly further the affayres of the Relygious in Languedoc Of the whiche I speake particularly that men may vnderstande and see of howe weake and small begynnings the affayres of the Religion grewe and tooke so good successe The inhabitantes of Aubenac and Priuac followed the counsell of the cytizens of Nismes concernyng the wayes of defence Notwithstandyng that monsieur Leuger in the meane tyme vrged them to receyue the garrizon They neyther made playne denyall nor yet admitted the Kyngs garrizon but they so handeled monsieur Leuger that for theyr money they should buy and delay the tyme of receyuing the Kyngs garrizon For this cause the Consulles of Aubenac hauing obtayned truce at his handes wente to Villeneufe and payed the money required Notwythstanding one of them beyng a verie honest and ryche Citizen named Valeton and of the Religion also was helde captyue by monsieur Leuger against the lawe of Armes for that he came vnder truste and was put also to his raunsome euen as if hee had beene taken in battell the whiche beyng payed hee was helde captyue neuerthelesse vntyll suche time as Villeneufe whiche they of the Relygion had taken was delyuered vp to him as wee will declare heereafter These experimentes of Catholique falsehoode confyrmed the Relygious as it were in obstinate constancie in so muche that they chose rather to suffer any thing than to come into the handes of theyr false forsworne enimies This was the state of many places in Languedoc AND bycause they of Nismes were vrged oftentimes by the letters of mons Ioyeuse to abstayne from holy Sermons according to the forme of the kings Edict left by that occasion they might be founde giltie before the king after deliberation had of the matter they determined for the present necessitie not to haue Sermons in the day time but in the night It can not be expressed howe muche weeping and lamentation the people made at that last Sermon Yet neuerthelesse men came to the preaching of the worde more plentifully and earnestly than they dyd before for the more that afflictions doe increase the more precious is the word of God vnto the godly The inhabitantes of Viuaretz and Seuenatz folowed the example of the citizens of Nismes in those cities whiche they helde they had theyr Sermons in the night the whiche notwithstanding continued but for a fewe dayes NEVERTHELES monsieur Ioyeuse was not contēted wyth this argument of obedience oftentimes hee vrged them of Nismes to receyue the kings garizon the whiche if they would doe he promised them that within fewe dayes they should be both free from the same and also shoulde haue libertie and peace both of body and conscience The citizens of Nismes answered very copiously in wryting that they coulde not receyue that garrizon shewing the reasons wherefore not that they refused to obey the king but that they myght prouide for the safetie of their life and for the libertie of theyr conscience Bycause such occasions had already falne out as seriously required them to seeke the same at this time Therfore they beseech monsieur Ioyeuse not to interprete the same otherwyse than they purposed and meant That they desired nothing but peace and tranquillitie and to shewe their obedience to the king That if so be lawfull remedies might be prouided to take away theyr iust feare they were ready to yeelde them selues into the handes of the kyng theyr Lorde and Prince But if so be old treasons and snares were practised and if so be they could obtayne no more than they had obtayned in tyme past they were ready to suffer all manner of extremitie rather than that they would willingly cast them selues vpon the cruell and bloudy swordes of spoyling murtherers for that it was great madnesse for any man willyngly to cast him selfe into peryll Then hauing amplifyed the iniquitie of those murthers committed and also hauing declared the dishonestie of the foreshewed falsehoode they shew that it is lawfull for Christians both by al law of God and man to defende them selues againste force and iniurie and that they doe not beare armoure agaynst the kyng but against theeues and murtherers furiously abusing the authoritie of the Kings name without punishment That they dyd plainly perceyue what they them selues were and also what and howe great the force of their enimies was That present death was before their eyes but yet that they did not doubt but that God which is most righteous and iust would helpe them miserable wretches in due time that eyther they might defend their lyfe against the violence of murtherers or else by martyrdome myght dye an honest death the which should testify to al posterities for euer both howe great the iniquitie of their enimies was also howe great their constancie and vertue in standing strongly valiantly in a good godly cause That they cōmitted the successe of the whole matter vnto God and that this was their only ioy in so great perplexitie namely that they were vniustly afflicted also that they were encouraged by the testimonie of a good conscience the happy successe whereof they looked for both in lyfe and also in death ARMIES were prepared in the Kings name in dyuers places in Languedoc in Guian in Dolpheny in Prouance coūtreys bording vpō Languedoc for the war of Languedoc Notwithstanding they of Nismes were firste assaulted the whiche being destroyed the Catholiques thought that the rest would more easily giue place Also d' Anuil was looked for to come with a power for that he hath chief gouernmēt of Lāguedoc They of Nismes prepare for their defence al that they can they fortify the city ouerthrow the suburbes as hurtful to the same carry in victuals and do diligently set al things in order euē as if they should be besieged by the diligence and prudence of mons Clauson Notwithstanding Nismes was not besieged by the kings power the occasion wherof we wil shew in order NOwe we are in this place to note the state of Sanserre which we sayd the relygious held also at the first beginning of the cruell slaughter whose constancie in wonderfull extremities is worthy to be remembred for euer The history of these our times is ful of many and of such rare examples on both partes the whiche we will briefly note accordyng to our purpose obseruyng so much as we may the order of
vewed and put in inuentorie the whiche is alwayes the beginning of Confiscation so that the goodes of the Religious beyng absent were almost put in an Inuentorie but yet were not confiscate the cause whereof was the contrary successe whyche the Kyng looked not for If the Kyng had had such successe in his warre at Rochel as hee desyred it seemed that confiscations shoulde haue flowed wyth murders beyonde all measure thoroughout the whole Realme vppon them of the Religion to theyr vtter destruction Vnder the collour and pretēce of that Edict the king sought to bryng to passe by hys Legate mons Belleure with the Switzers which professed the Religion that those Frenchmen of the Religion whych were fled into theyr countrey myght be constrayned to forsake the same for many were fled especially to Bern and to Basile Notwithstandyng the Ambassadour lost hys labour for they extended still that same humanitie that they dyd before towards those fugitiues Almost about thys tyme a daughter was borne to the king Wherevpon he intreated Elizabeth the Queene of Englande that she would promise for his yong daughter in the holy Sacrament of Baptisme whiche we call the office of a Godmother To this request the Queenes Maiestie graūted and sent the Earle of Worceter into France to the king to be hir deputie for the same There was no man but he saw well ynough that the kyng at that doubtful time wēt about to coorry fauour with the Queene of Englande least she shoulde help the poore Inhabitants of Rochel and to this end the league was made We said before that they of Rochel answeared mons Biron that they woulde not receyue him into the Citie before suche time as the kyng hadde prouided for theyr securitie by assured pledges not minding to come to composition with bare words But the Kyng purposed to make those at his commaundemēt by dint of sworde and open force whome he could not wynne with wordes and deceyt Therefore hee deliuereth letters to mons Biron by whych hee banisheth them from his protection and fauour except they obey this his last commaundement as Rebelles traytors and the troublers of the common peace protesting that he woulde persecute them with mortall warre accordingly he commaundeth all hys gouernours and officers to persecute them with warre and by al other meanes euē as if they were giltie of high treason and pronoūceth that whatsoeuer they do herein against them shal be allowed and maynteyned At the same time mons Noe a noble man and in the former warres one amongst the rest most valiant came out of the lowe Countrey of Flaunders called Belgic and was reconciled to the Kyng and in token of his recouered fauour the king gaue vnto him the goodes of Teligni whose Sister mons Noe had maried whyche otherwise had bin confiscate as the goodes of others that were slayne were in the slaughter of Paris The king gaue hym in charge to perswade with them of Rochel that hee mighte bring them if it were possible to take those conditions of peace which he offered vnto them They of Rochel wondering at his comming after thys sorte sente vnto hym their letters of safeconduct that he might come to the village called Tadon the fyfth day of Nouember and to do vnto them that message which he had brought vnto thē from the king Thither came mons l' Noe and the Burgeses of Rochell Lāguilleir Rechenart Villers and Merelle Mons l' Noe declared vnto them that he had receyued commaundemente from the King Queene to tel thē that it appertayned greatly to their profite to yeeld vp the Citie into the kings hand and power that they mighte thereby deliuer themselues from that destruction presently like to ensue by the siege at hand and might also obtayne great peace for other Churches that he propounded thys condition in the kings name whome if they woulde admit to be their Gouernour according to the kings appoyntment they had free libertie to vse and enioy the Religion Notwithstanding mons l' Noe hauing declared hys good wyll and loue whiche he bare to Religion priuately perswaded them of Rochel to admit none in the kings name into the Citie before such time as they were sufficiently assured of their securitie and safetie The Burgeses of Rochel had onely authoritie and leaue to heare but no licence at all to determine any thing Wherefore they returning certifyed the Senate of the condition offered by mons l' Noe and mons l' Noe being come into the Citie receyued this answer That Rochel would not admit mons Biron beseeching the king that hee woulde poynt some other whiche loued the refourmed Religion to be their ouerseer or els to suffer them to lyue peaceably vnder the obedience of hys lawes In the meane time mons l' Noe being solicited both by the Senate it selfe of Rochel and also required by certayne other Ministers of the Church to imbrace the Religion sayeth that he was no lesse feruent towards the Religion than he had bin afore time and that he determined in him selfe to returne vnto them so soone as he hadde done his ambassage vnto the king The whiche hee perfourmed within few dayes after and was louingly enterteyned of them of Rochel After this they of Rochel cōsulted how they might get the Isle of Rhe the whyche was both neere and also commodious for them The charge to atchieue thys enterprise was cōmitted to mons Essarz He beeyng furnished wyth certayne Shyppes loosed from Rochel hauen about the dead tyme of the nyghte that he myghte deceyue the enimie ryding at anker not farre from hym Nowe there were come nere to the Citie two Shyppes of the Kyngs nauy vnder a colour to bryng letters to them of Rochel in the name of mons d' Guarde but in very deede they were sounding or plumming for the depth of the water for the whych cause they had one wyth them very expert in the same Whyles they were thus occupyed they were boorded by the Shyppes of Rochel the whych hauing slayne one of theyr chiefe Cpptaynes tooke one of the Shyppes and sente all theyr tackeling and cariage into the Citie the other Shyp being afeard escaped away Then they of Rochel returned into the Citie agayne Thys was a foretoken that they shuld haue good successe in the warre whiche was prepared against them THE fourth day of December mons Biron came to the citie wyth seuen cornets of horsemen and eyghteene ensignes of footemen hauyng also wyth hym two great brasse peeces to begin the seege In the meane tyme dyuers came dyuersly to this warre frō al parts of the Realme of those also not a fewe which aforetime had serued the Prince of Conde in the war and had nowe forsaken the Religion shewyng them selues to be more mortall enimies to the same than the Catholiques them selues They of Rochel held those villages that bordered vpō theyr Citie as Maraim Mose Nouaille whych were vnder the charge
they might shew all the arguments that might be to the king of theyr obediēce Therfore the men of Sanserre assembled togither with monsieur Candaillet and testifie that they will yeelde vnto the king all obedience requiring one thing onely at his handes whiche was that they myght haue lybertie of lyfe and conscience according to the fourme of the Edict for the faythfull perfourmance whereof they sayde that they woulde yeelde vnto hym an hundred of theyr chiefe Citizens for pledges Thys was the begynning of greate dissention among the Citizens whiche almost oppressed the Citie in thys first beginning Monsieur Candaillet returned to the Court being accompanied with fiue of the chiefe Citizens of Sanserre of which two were Catholikes and three were Religious These had commission subscribed with the handes of the chiefe Citizens that they woulde allow and confirme whatsoeuer they did according to the fourme of the same The Messengers of Sanserre so soone as they were come into the Court had spoken to the King and Queene whether it were by threatnings or vpon hope of certaine rewards craued pardō of the king in the name of al the citizens of Sanserre whose persons they represented as though they had grieuously offended agaynst him beseeched the king that he would send M. Fontene to Sanserre with a power promising to vndertake that he should be welcom to the Inhabitants therabouts Therfore mon. Candaillet goeth before to tel them of Sanserre of the comming of mon. Fontene The which when they heard wondring at the matter being greatly offended therwith they assemble thēselues togither to consult of the same and at the last accord That forsomuch as the Messengers had don that thing by the kings perswasion against the forme of their cōmission they might lawfully refuse and reiect their act and agreemēt They send out to meet with mon. Fontene and to tel him that they are sory for the rashnesse of their deputies in that they had caused him to come vnto Sanserre certifying him withal that they knewe hys great good will for the which they gaue hym thankes promysing that they woulde yeelde vnto him great honour and woulde moste friendly entertayne him so that he would come to theyr citie in tyme of peace But forsomuch as it was a troublesome tyme they beseeched him to take it in good part that they could not suffer him to come into the citie Notwithstandyng Mons Fontene came to Cosne a towne two leagues from Sanserre that from thence he myght the more conueniently prosecute hys businesse The Deputies also of Sanserre were returned from the Courte Then contentions began to growe among the Citizens about the receyuyng of Monsieur Fontene For the Deputies perswaded with certaine of the chief citizens to receyue Mons Fontene into the citie shewyng the daunger which otherwise might come vnto the towne On the contrary parte others but specially forreners thought it not meete to receyue him Monsieur Fontene vnderstandyng that he was most of all resisted by forreners to enter into the citie wrote vnto them affirmyng that there was no cause why he should betray theyr safetie but rather that he had a care for the same Notwithstandyng that it was not meete that through theyr counsayle the miserable townsmen should runne into peril and that they ought not to be the procurers of them to resist the kyng seyng if they would they could not Therefore if they would determine to go to any other place he woulde bryng to passe that they should be safecōducted whether soeuer they would for the faythful performāce wherof he sayd they should haue pledges The forreners sent two Deputies to M. Fontene by which they desire that they may haue the libertie of cōscience and the peace and tranquillitie giuen vnto them by the king according to the prescripte of the pacificatorie Edicte affirmyng that they had done iniurie to no man but came vnto Sanserre vpon purpose to shunne those murders which were committed in other places and were receyued into the citie with the good leaue of the townsmen Therfore that there was no cause why theyr abode shoulde be greeuous or offensiue to any man so much that they shoulde departe to any other place To this monsieur Fontene more angerly answered that he would satisfie the kings commaundement in doyng that which shoulde be for the purpose and also for the kings dignitie Therfore that which could not be brought to passe by pollicie was assayed by force Therefore those townesmen whiche thought good to admit monsieur Fontene into the towne in the kings name by subtill deceite tooke the castell and tooke with them into the same monsieur Racam the brother of monsieur Fontene But when monsieur Fontene was come with his armie more neare to the citie to put a more strong garrison into the Castell behold the townsmen which were of the Religion gaue a violent assaulte vpon the castel by whiche they put the warders to flight and tooke the same euen the same day At that time they of Sanserre coulde not with courage inough bende thēselues to warre notwithstanding being admonished by present peril they began to arme themselues with courage and to make preparation for theyr owne defence THe affayres also of the lowe countrey accordyng to the order of the storie begon are not to be omitted but briefly touched The Prince of Orange hauyng an armie well appoynted prospered well in his affayres in the low countrey of Flaunders hauing gotten into his handes the most noble cities about that time that the murders were committed at Paris Therfore when he had taken Mechgeline Audenard and constrained Louen to pay vnto him a great summe of money he came to Mountes with all his power both to helpe his brother the Graue Lodouic and also to deliuer the towne compassed with a strayte siege by the Duke of Alba. The Prince of Orange arriued with greate speede to the Duke of Alba his campe whose cōmyng by apparance should haue brought great detriment to the Duke of Alba being hemd in on euery side by his enimies notwithstanding the Prince of Orange beyng slowe in biddyng battayle by reason of the importunate calling of the souldiers for wages departed without any attēpt giuen And retyring the Duke of Alba deuised to worke him some secrete mischiefe For the whiche purpose he sente after him fiue hundred well appoynted souldiers with calliuer shot and a troupe of horsemen to follow the pursuite who settyng vppon the Princes campe in the night and killyng the watche made greate slaughter with a Canbusadow vpon hys armie killyng many and wounding not a fewe When horrible newes of the Frēch slaughters came to the eares of the Graue Lodouic by whiche he and his fellowes were not a little troubled and beyng out of hope to haue succours from his brother the Prince of Orange the Duke of Alba also dayly more vehemently assaulting him the enimie beyng repulsed the Graue Lodouic began to intreate
a noble mā caried him into the citie After certayne dayes some soldiers being priuily come from the Shippes at the firste watch when the gates were shut and beyng passed ouer the ditch were assayled by the warders of the Kings campe In this tumult the Citie was raysed and the townesmen brake foorth by whyche occasion there was so sore a fyght and skirmish that a fewe only of the townesmen beyng slayne and wounded there was of the kings part a hūdred and fyue and fyftie slayne and many sore hurt Then the Catholiques began to practise by subtil meanes to intercept them of Rochel Mons Triabalde a noble man entred into the Citie vnder a coloured pretence of fleing to them of the Citie assayeth to bring the noble men which were there but especially mons Languillier who had the chiefe authoritie ouer Rochel to defection But seeing that he could not preuaile searing least they of the town would punish him for his falsehood returned to the kings Camp at the next eruption out of the citie About this time there were new platformes made for them of Rochel but those souldiers whiche were apoynted to gyue the enterprise were for the most parte slayne in the furie of the common people the rest after examination had by the Magistrate were brought foorth of prison and hanged The Citizens of Rochel made mons l' Noe their generall notwithstanding so that the chiefe authoritie and power of other matters shoulde rest in the hands of the Magistrate And certaine other speciall thyngs befell among them the which to thys day are knowen to fewe and to me also vncertayne that I dare not commit them to writing The Citizens came alwayes thyther where they thoughte they myght fynde the enimie Therefore there was a sore battayle fought at Tadon and at Netrè two villages neare to Rochel in whych the kyngs part was put to the worst And thus they neuer suffered the enimie to be at rest The twentie day of Ianuarie mons de Guarde brought the kings nauie to the promontorie called Chef de Bois and seeking to stop thē of Rochel of their passage sunke a huge emptie Shippe commōly called the Caraque in the sea and with great waytes and towes made the same immouable and ankerfast Vpō this he reared a fort called le Eguille from whēce he thundred discharged great shot against that part of the towne which was opposite to the same Ouer against one end of the Caraque ther was another fort called Corceille oueragainst the other ende of the same a thyrde fort called the fort of the newe hauen And thus the hauē was defended on both sydes the Caraque beyng in the middest There appeared in the ocean sea a little beyonde the hauen within the vewe of the towne two Shippes whiche seemed to beare sayle as though they would ariue at the Citie Therfore the townesmen went out of the Citie euen vpon a heape to the number of fourescore hauing certayne soldiers froonting them with targets and shields intending with matter that they caried with them to fyre the Caraque The which notwithstāding they attempted in vayne beeing terrifyed with the thundring shot which flew from the Eguille for t and also with the hardnesse of the enterprise and so returned into the citie The Duke of Anoiu sente letters from the towne called Samnessan to mons le Noe and commaundeth him to signify vnto the men of Rochel in his name that the king would forgyue them both their lyues and goodes so that they woulde yeeld them selues into his hands the which if they did refuse he would by force enter the Citie execute suche punishment vpon them as they should therby be made an example for al others There fled to Rochel from the Kings armie diuers whyche aforetime had followed the Religion and were constrained by the extremitie of the tymes to fyght vnder the Kings banner By these the kings counsayle was bewrayed to thē of Rochel The syxt day of February they of the towne made another eruptiō or violet assault vnder the conduct of mons l' Noe in the which they fought so valiantly that of the Legiō of Sammartine one whole band was almost slain many also were takē prisoners whiche notwythstanding were dismist withoute paying any raunsome Notwithstanding they which were knowen to be instruments of the murder found no such fauour The eight day also the besieged townesmē gaue another assault in the which they lost only fiue but the kings part many soldiers Mons l' Noe chose vnto himselfe a wel apppoynted strong band of noble and olde experienced soldiers choise men which offered willingly their seruice THE Duke of Anjou beyng come neare vnto the city sent againe two letters to the citizens of Rochell the first concerned the noble men the second appertayned to the townesmen and forreners which were fled thyther In the which letters he declareth that the king was not so vneasie to be reconciled and vnwilling to shewe grace but that if they would repent them and craue pardon at his handes he would receyue them to his fauour againe but if they did obstinately refuse hys grace they myght assure them selues to feele the power and seueritie of their most renowmed Lord could not impute the cause of that their destruction to any other than to thē selues They of Rochell answered the Duke of Anjou wyth thankes giuing beseeching him to labour with the King that the matter myght be brought to assured peace and tranquilitie that especially they myght haue the libertie of their conscience THE fiftenth day of this month the Duke of Anjou came with great authoritie and countenance into the kyngs campe being accompanyed with his brother the Duke of Alanson the king of Nauar the Prince of Conde the Dauphin whiche were of the kings bloud the Guise Duke D'Aumal Marques d'Meyne Duke d'Bouillon Monluce Count Rochfoucalt the Lord Acier who after the death of his brother succeeded hym in the inheritance and was called Duke D'Vzes who hauing forsaken the religion tooke parte with the catholikes There were many other noble men also there was so great a multitude of noble men that to besiege and assault one citie men came from al parts of the realme with al forces that might be possible But before we come to speake of the noble siege it seemeth necessarie that we make breef descriptiō of the situation of Rochel of the most famous places therein made notable by valiant exploytes Rochel by situation extendeth it selfe so farre into the Ocean sea that it is almost compassed about therewith and it is closed almost rounde about with salte maryshes very conuenient for the making of salte but that part whiche tendeth towarde the countrey of Poictou is fyrme and fast grounde On that part standeth the temple called L'temple d' Cogne the which was fortified with a countermure and now beareth
also to the rest of the reformed Churches they also earnestly requyred this thyng that consideration of them might be had in like manner Forsomuch as they could do nothing of thēselues without theyr cōsent And thus they parted The day followyng Mons l'Noe beyng beset with sixtene horsemen hauyng encountered and charged a greater troupe and was pursuyng the chase was so neare hys death that if a Captayne had not put hymselfe betweene the enemie and l'Noe he had bene slayne But the Captayne thereby purchased hys deaths wounde The deputies of Rochel beyng returned into the citie tolde the whole matter vnto the Senate The Senate called before them the Pastors of the Church to haue theyr iudgement concernyng these matters The Pastors answeared That for so much as they were demaunded of those thyngs whiche specially belonged to conscience and to Gods prerogatiue it was a matter of great wayghte and therefore that they ought not to make answere to the same before they had craued wisdome of god Affirmyng that peace was to be wished but not such a peace as should be more perillous and mortall than warre as might playnly inough appeare by those former and late examples That it was not likely that the kyng commyng vpon them with his whole power proclaiming open warre would make conuenient and profitable conditions of peace notwithstandyng that they ought to endeuour themselues to forslow nothyng that might be for the peace of the Churches seing they sought not warre but their needefull and necessarie defence Notwithstāding that those conferences parleys did not seeme to be safe and without peril wherfore they thought it better to deale by wryting whereby they might also haue a more conuenient meane to deliberate Furthermore that they ought to haue a consideration of the common vtilitie of all Churches and that therfore they ought to do nothyng for their owne priuate cause except the vse of the same peace shoulde be extended to other Churches The next day the people were called togither that a finall determination might be made concernyng this matter And the people lyked of that iudgement of the Pastors wherof we haue spoken euen now This assembly was scarse dismiste when as the kyngs Armie was approched the gate of the citie whiche ran forceably togither on a heape to breake open the same Wherevpon they of the towne brake foorth and repulsed the kyngs power by little and little and ayde commyng still on bothe partes there was a sore skyrmishe at that place bothe sides valiantly quittyng themselues This skyrmishe continued verye whot the space of sire houres Monsieur l'Noe was in great perill of his lyfe his brest plate beyng broken with diuers violent strokes and his horse slayne vnder him The speedy commyng of the night ended this battayle Of the townesmen twelue were wantyng and seuen and twentie were wounded But of the kyngs parte there are sayde to be a hundred and fiftie slayne Wonderfull was the boldenesse and courage of the women in the middest of the fight comming almost into the daunger of the conflict bringyng to suche as were wounded wine and other comfortable things The nexte day whiche was the last of Februarie the thundryng Cannon shot beganne to batter the walles and gate of Cogne Wherby the cōsultations of the disagreyng townsmen were disturbed and constrayned they were by necessitie to defende themselues The same day the townsmen gaue an assault hauing mons l'Noe and Norman theyr Captaynes at the whiche assaulte many on bothe partes were slayne Mons l'Noe contrary to the agreed and concluded determination brought to passe that the sayd determination being reuoked in the publique assembly of the Senate and people it was agreed that the kings Deputies should be heard againe that the matter might be rather ended by peace than by warre Wherevpon Monsieur Strozzi and Mandreuille were sent into Rochel for hostages And Monsieur l'Noe and Iames Henrie Mayre came vnto the Duke of Anjou as it was agreed by the senate and people Neuerthelesse the batterie proceeded agaynst Cogne forte whose fortification within fewe dayes were beaten downe When the Duke of Anjou had hearde the Deputies of Rochel answered in the Kings name that the kyng woulde adde nothyng vnto those former conditions rehearsed vnto them already by Gadagne That if they were wise they woulde imbrace them betymes whyle the kyngs grace and goodnesse was offered vnto them and not to presume vppon vayne confidence to haue helpe and ayde out of Englande With this answeare they of Rochel returned to make reporte and then came agayne to the Kyngs campe requyryng that bothe the Citie and also the territorie of Rochel mighte haue one and the selfe same vse of the Religion and also that the same benefite mighte belong to the reste of the Churches dispersed throughout the Realme To the which Countie de Adretz made answer that the kings pleasure was to haue the Citie onely partaker of that benefite as for the other Churches that he woulde prouide for them at his owne pleasure and accordyng to hys wysedome willyng thē of Rochel to receyue the benefite offered the which the kyng would afterward graunt vnto theyr fellowes This answere was not liked The which being brought to the Citizens they al agreed that al wayes of defence lawful were to be sought that rather than they should runne into present peril they ought rather to prefer iust warre than to imbrace reprochful and suspected peace for God would defende theyr cause Whyle these things were in communication the greate gunnes shooke and battered the walles of the towne The townsmen also hauyng theyr peeces and shot well defenced with bulwarkes and rampyers discharged lustyly from the Citie in somuch that many on the kyngs parte were at diuers tymes hurt and slayne Among the reste from that forte which we sayde is called l'Euangele there was discharged a Canon shot whiche runnyng through hardell trenche not sufficiently fortified with earth slewe Duke d'Aumall as he stoode priuily behynde the same beyng vncle by the fathers side to the Duke of Guise And so the funerall exequies of thys noble peere was ioyned with the dayly slaughters of noble men and common souldiers Alwayes the thunderyng shot went off agaynst the townsmen laboryng to repayre the breaches of theyr walles notwithstandyng to the smal hurte of the townsmen busily occupied there aboutes Neuerthelesse a truce was taken for one day for a parley duryng whiche tyme the dischargyng of shot was forbidden on eyther parte Monsieur l'Noe and Meniuuille went foorth to the parley in the name of the townesmen The day followyng the thundryng shot wente off afreshe and the townsmen makyng an assault to Tadon made a light skirmishe in the whiche they had good successe and in the dead tyme of the night the townsmen clothyng themselues with whyte shyrtes wente foorth and had taken the trenche of defence when they were repulsed by the kyngs souldiers and many beyng slayne and
the ditche placed horsemen and footemen in conueniente order and commaunded a most strayt kynde of watche and ward in suche wise that it was not possible by any meanes that any man should goe out or come into the Citie When the townesmen sawe them selues to be thus inclosed they sente to diuers places for succours but specially into Germanie and into Languedoc But what came thereof we will shewe in order hereafter VVE sayde before that Harlem a towne in Hollande was beseeged by the Duke of Alba in winning whereof the Spanyards and contrariwyse in defending of the same the Prince of Orange hys souldiers tooke great paynes The wall being battered downe with shot was so fortifyed agayne by the garrison in the towne that trenches beeyng conueniently made by woonder labor round about within the Citie the inner partes of the Citie were deemed more fyrme and strong than the very walles were before Whilest this Citie was beseeged and valiant actes shewed on both parts many things in the meane time diuersly fel out The seauen and twentie day of Ianuary the Spanish nauie was taken by the Flisshiners notwithstanding it escaped away agayne with great slaughter IN THE meane tyme the Prince of Orange laboured by all meanes possible to vittayle them of Harlem beyng oppressed with famine and by due and conuenient arriuall from the bordering Cities ther aboutes as frō Leyden and Delfe and by the benefyte of the hard colde winter the way beeing frosen hard with Ise he brought to passe that victuals were conueyed to the townesmen In the beginning of March a new supply of Spanyardes to the number of fyue ensignes came into the Camp. The Flisshiners encountered happily at Ternese with the nauie of the Duke of Alba. THE Prince of Orange according to the variable chance of warre or rather by the manifolde prouidence of the Lord of hostes going about to succour them of Harlem with shippes Countie Bossu the Kings Liefetenant of Hollande encountering with him and being of more force tooke certayne shippes wherevpon ensued a new slaughter vpon the Prince of Oranges part by the meanes of them of Amsterdam ABOVT this time also the Reisters whiche were vnder the paye of the Duke of Alba taking with them the footebande with shot made an inroade in the territorie of Leyden robbing and spoyling the same and carying away a greate bootie VVITHIN fewe dayes after they of Harlem brake foorth vpon the kings armie as they were triumphing vpon the successe of their victories and were celebrating the feast of Easter and slewe a greate many and wounded many and for the good successe heereof they brake foorth agayne the daye following vppon the Duke of Alba hys campe and hauyng slayne certayne and disturbed the campe they returned into the Citie agayne But when they brake foorthe in the euenyng of the same daye and came in the dead time of the nighte vpon the Reisters Campe the Reisters were wyth feare so astonyed hauyng not yet breathed synce theyr late Conflictes that leauyng theyr Tentes they betooke them vnto theyr heeles most cowardlye they of Harlem following the chase and making a great slaughter of their enimies Notwithstandyng the townsmen hauing this successe not mynding to assaile the rest of the army for that they sawe them selues vnable to make their partie good retyred into the Citie agayne THE Kinges power wherof the Countie Bossu was generall and the power of the Prince of Orange striued who should be Lords of the Sea wherevpon diuers conflictes were had betweene them bycause the preheminence of the water might eyther helpe or hinder the towne of Harlem Therefore the Orengians wente about to winne the rampier thereby to stoppe the entercourse and passage of Amsterdam by whyche vittayles were carried into the Duke of Alba his campe But the men of Amsterdam came foorth and skirmished wyth the Orengians and beholde as they were buckeling togeather a greate number of Rusticall laborers were discouered The Orengians suspecting that the Spanyards were come were discomfyted and so for feare leauing eyght of theyr Shyppes in the power of the enimies were slayne by heapes by them of Amsterdam the reste cowardlye ranne away Thus the other practise to ayde the beseeged in Harlem was made frustrate the County Bossu defending that sea coast with the Spanish nauie But when the Duke of Alba had supplyed fresh soldiers in the roome of such as were slayne picking them out both from among the Reisters and Burgundians and also out of the old seruitours of the garrisons of the lowe countrey and thē procuring a more strayt seege notwithstandyng the constante seeking of the Prince of Orange to succour there came in the meane tyme a sore famine vpon them of Harlem for it is a Citie both copious of it selfe and was also replenished with a garrison of soldiers The Prince of Orange being only busily occupied in delyuering of Harlem leuied so greate an armie as hee coulde out of Hollande and Zelande minding to breake into the Citie to helpe the besieged The generall of this armie vnder the Prince of Orange was VVilliam Bronchorste Lorde of Battēburge He came at the last with his power to the duke of Alba his camp hauing slayne at the first onset the rereward of the Reisters encoūtred couragiously with the rest of the armie But the duke of Alba his part taking vnto thē courage so defended them selues that they did not only repulse the Orengians but also destroyed them with a great slaughter For it is sayde that there were a thousande and fiue hundred slayne the enimie hauing taken in the spoyle fourtene ensignes tenne fielde peeces and thirtie waggons Also the Lorde of Battemburge him selfe was slayne THVS the Duke of Alba hauing a great victorie folowed more vehemently the siege of Harlem Then they of Harlem being brought to great distresse by the siege whiche dured eyght monethes and by the sore famyne yeelded vp the towne vpon euyll conditions as that they shoulde submit them selues to the will and pleasure of the conquerer And to the ende the souldiers shoulde not haue the spoyle and bootie of the citie he commaunded two hundred and fortie thousande crownes to be gyuen vnto them Then the Spaniardes shewing all crueltie vpon the townesmen tormenting them by all manner of meanes The Duke of Alba commaunded sixe hundred of the souldiers to be hanged three hundred were brought out of the citie halfe naked and cast into the water a sight most pitifull and an acte with barbarous crueltie moste detestable seeing that the greatest parte of victorie consisteth in lenitie and mercie This happened the eleuenth day of Iuly NOw to returne to Rochell The Rochellians perseuered in their defence notwithstanding that they were nowe by no small occasion weakned And as the matter then seemed to require they committed the whole ordering charge of the war to certayne approued mē namely to mons Normā Riuier Charle Essarz Garguole reseruing
to battaile but when they sawe that none would come forth to encounter with them a greater number discouered themselues ouer whom Countie Luden was generall These horsemen being within the leuel of Sannicolas tower were a fayre marke so that their horses and they themselues were ouerthrowne and slaine in great number with the violent shot of the same About the euening the kings side to requite the late susteyned losse slue with theyr great Gunnes certaine Souldiers and Captaynes The next day the kings scoutewatche was hanged by the decree of the Rochellians who was sayde to bewray and disclose the secretes of the townesmen The same day two souldiers fled from the kings campe to Rochel The kings campe in the Euening chaunged theyr accustomed maner of watch and shot off twelue great peeces agaynst the townesmen The day following whiche was the first day of April the townesmen in the deade time of the night shot off a peece of ordinance which in the day time they had leuelled and bent agaynst the tents whiche were pytched beside Palercau by the which many sleeping vpon their couches were slaine Wherevppon the kings campe discharged incontinent at them againe a great peale by whiche two of the Captayne 's belonging to the towne were slaine The same day Captain Dange fled from the kings campe to Rochel IN the kings campe by reason of the great multitude of souldiers in the same and the penurie of the country therabout vittayles were so deare that the souldiers priuily stale away and the horsmen and noble men which vpon their own charge mainteyned warre for that prouender was scarce and harde to be gotten went home to their houses Vpon this contempt and negligence of warlyke order and prouision insued also in the campe great sicknesse insomuch that within few dayes the sicknesse destroyed more than the sworde had done The forragers of corne were constrayned to cary prouision from Paris and from the places theraboutes but notwithstanding that the king gaue strayt commaundement in this behalfe it profited little The king also in this backsliding of the noble men gaue strayte charge to restrayne the same but in vaine Thus whiles delayes of this siege were made the kings campe was brought into great extremitie and all men thought that the Duke of Anjou should haue bene constrayned to raise and dissolue the siege without his purpose Whervpon the king wrote vnto his brother willing him to make speede in assaulting the towne and to winne the same out of hande or else to rayse the siege For by this tyme the Duke of Anjou had spent fiue Monethes Therefore he appoynted the sixth day of Aprill to giue an assault on the which day the whole armie assayled the towne THE seuenth day about fiue of the clocke in the morning the kings campe beganne a freshe to batter with greater violence than they had done before the gate Cogne and the Bulwark l'Euangile Thus after long batterie that part of the wall was beaten downe to the ground and the greatest part of the bulwarke l'Euangile battered downe Therefore the kings armie prepared themselues to enter the breache Who tooke out of euerie bande onely twentie and fyrst of all the forefront tooke two of the Cazemates from the townesmen which notwithstanding they enioyed but few houres For the townsmen lustily discharged theyr greate Gunnes agaynst them whereby they slewe many of the kings souldiers and when they of the towne had made a newe supply of men they constrayned their enimies to forsake their Cazemates an act verily at the first assault verie manly and valiant In the meane time about the same houre the kings armie gaue an assault on the other part at the bulwarke l'Euangile and setting vnto the same a bridge made with proppes and shores they tooke some part of the same then to this part they came running by heapes hauing two hundred Corslettes bearing shields and targets before them At the same moment also the great Gunnes went off as thicke as possible they might agaynst the towne and the townsmen sustayned great losse and dammage For the accounte being made it is sayde that there were heard the same day two thousand fiue hundred blowes of great Gunnes The townesmen valiantly put forth themselues for their defence agaynst theyr assayling enimies The women courageously threw also vpon them fierie hoopes pitch barrels burning and balles of fire and such kinde of fireworke by which they did greatly anoy them Thus the enimies preuayling nothing at all were repulsed Of the townesmen there were threescore slaine and certaine chiefe Captaynes also and many wounded And of the kings side as hath appeared by their own writings and report there were aboue three hūdred slaine and many wounded Among the noble men were wounded the Duke of Niuern the Marques of Neme one of the Duke of Guises brethren M. d'Gast of Daulphine which was in great fauor with the duke of Anjou The day following about eight of the clocke the kings armie gaue another assault to the towne notwithstanding the townesmen repulsed them with like courage as they had done before with the same successe Also they preferring themselues to giue the like assault about fiue of the clocke in the afternoone the townesmen beeing in like maner readie to receyue them left off their enterprise The same night there was manifestly seene in the ayre a great fire whiche had the forme and similitude of a Dragon which fell into the sea in the sight of many The townesmen to the end they might haue libertie to mend and repayre theyr walles made a smoke so thicke and darke that the whole campe was inclosed as it were with a cloude In the meane tyme there were throwne oute of the Citie in plentifull wise suche fire workes as wee named before to the greate horror and feare of the besiegers as they themselues report The next day the kings armie stoode in battaile aray euen as if they would haue giuen an assault notwithstanding the Rochellians beeing readie to receyue them they stayed from theyr purpose In the meane tyme there were discharged from the kings fortifications fourescore shot of great Gunnes In the euening the enimies made a great shoute and crie in the campe of purpose as if they had bene oppressed with some enimie which we call a false Alarme thereby to entice forth the townesmen The tenth day about foure of the clocke in the morning the enimie stoode arayed in diuerse pearcing battayles Which was a signe of an intended assault Whervpon all the townesmen prepared for their defence women also were appoynted to their charge yea children were not ydle Aboute sixe of the clocke the kings power with great violence assayled the bulwarke l'Euangile And on the other part manie of the enimies were discouered to scale the gate Moline At Tadon Countie Luden being with his bande was also come to the tower of Moline notwithstanding he was soone repulsed thence by
restore them to the owners for the price which they payd And as touching the profites of vnmoueable goodes as wel each man shall enter agayne into his house and shall enioy on each part the fruites of the collection of this present yeare notwithstanding all seasures and lettes made to the contrary since the sayd 24. of August as also euery one shall enioy the arrerages of the sayd rents that haue not bin taken vp by vs or by our commaundement or the permission and ordinance of vs or of our Iustice Likewise that all titles writings instructions and euidences which haue bin taken away shall bee rendred and restored on eyther part to those to whome they belong We also ordeyne that those of the sayde Religion shall bee subiect to the politike lawes of our Realme that is to saye the Holydayes shall be kept and they of the sayde Religion shall not worke sell or make any shew on the sayd dayes with open shop and on fasting dayes in which the vse of flesh is forbidden by the Catholike and Romish Churche the Butcheries shall not be open And to preuent all doyngs to the contrary that may happen in many of our townes The Bayliffes Seneshals or theyr Lieutenants shall cause the principall inhabitants of the sayde Townes to sweare to the mayntenaunce and obseruation of this our present Edict and the one syde mutually to gyue assurance to the other and to binde them selues enterchangeably and by publique Act to answeare to such disobediences as shall be committed against the said Edict within the sayd Towns by the inhabitants of the same or at the least to bring foorth and deliuer the offenders into the hands of the Iustice We also charge all our welbeloued and faythfull people holding our Courtes of Parliamente Chambers of our accompts Courtes of Assistance Bayliffes Seneshals Prouostes and other our Iustices and officers to whome it shall appertayne or theyr Lieutenants that they cause this our present Edict and Ordinance to be read published and registred in their Courts Iurisdictions and to keepe maynteyne and inuiolably to obserue the same in all poynts and that all those to whome it shall appertayne maye enioy and fully and peasibly vse the content thereof Ceassing and causing to be ceassed all troubles and empeachments to the contrary for such is our pleasure In witnesse hereof we haue signed these presents with our owne hand and to the ende it may remayne a thyng sure and stable for euer wee haue to the same caused to be set our Seale Giuen at our Castel of Bollogne in the Moneth of Iuly in the yeare of grace 1573. and of our raigne the thirtenth Signed CHARLES And more lower was written By the King beyng in his Counsell Signed DENEVF-VILLE And sealed with a Labell of red and greene silke and with greene waxe with the great Seale Read published registred and the kings Atturney general being therevpon heard at Paris in Parliament the .11 of August 1573. Signed DE HEVEZ. Collation made with the originall Thus signed DE HEVEZ. THIS was the end and successe of the warre of Rochell at what time the kings power being complete and they of the Religion of small force and as it were vtterly vanquished there seemed to be a perfect victorie and conquest offered the which if it had come to passe as by Gods wonderfull prouidence it fell out otherwise according to the kings will there woulde haue bin no lesse outrageous murders committed in all parts of the Realme to destroy those that remayned of the Religion than afore time in somuch that the bloud of the same would haue flowed euen into forreyne nations also But cōtrary to all hope and reason it fell out otherwise the ministers and instruments of the murders them selues comming to thys warre to receyue the iust vengeaunce of God for the innocente bloud which they had shed So that certayne noble men and also of the common sort were slayne in greate number whyche came by heapes to this warre CONCERNING the Sanserreans wee haue spoken before howe that the Lorde Chastre leauing off to assalte the towne any more intrenched the same rounde about and made diuers bulwarkes and rampiers placing in the sayd trenches a very strong garrison to hemme and inclose the townesmen on euery side Also we sayde that by reason of their negligence in prouiding corne vittayle aforehand ther ensued a wonderfull almost incredible famine whiche the translator thoughte good to set down at large as the same is described by mons Lyrre who serued in the towne euen vntill the same was yelded vp as is sayd before Therefore whereas in the moneth of March vittayles began to waxe shorte and skante within Sanserre and specially Beefe and such other fleshe whiche men vse to eate ordinaryly The xix daye of the same moneth a Carthorse of Monsieur le Vailly de Iohanneau gouernour of the said towne being killed with the shot of a Canon at the assault as he was drawing of fagots and Earth to the Rampire was cut in peeces slayne carried away and eaten by the common people and the poore laborers and handicrafts men who made report to euery man that they neuer eat better beefe in their liues which thing made diuers that could not easily come by other fleshe to be desirous of it who the fourth day of April next folowing killed an Asse which was sold presently for .iiij. pound Turnois a quarter foūd to be good meat of al such as did eat of it boiled rosted or baked specally the liuer of it being rosted with Cloues was like the liuer of Veale Truely at the first some feeding more of it thā they were wont to do of other meates were sory that they had eaten of it But within few dayes after and before the .xx. day of the same moneth it was a common food euē among the dayntiest sorte And although there were many Asses and Mulets in Sanserre by reason of the high situation of the place whiche was il for Charets to come vnto yet within one moneth they were all killed dispatched and eaten in sted of Beefe so as ther was not one left By meanes whereof hauing made too greate wast of theyr flesh in hope they should not haue indured so long a seege they were very sory afterward that they husbāded the matter no better In the month of May they began also to kill their horses which thing was the cause that aswell to preuente the stinche and infection that mighte ensue by reason of the panches and dung in seuerall houses where euery man killed them at theyr pleasure as also to take order that the flesh shoulde not bee deuoured so in corners nor sold at excessiue price the councel toke order that the Horses should bee killed and sold in the ordinary shambles appoynting the fleshe of a fat horse to bee solde but at iij. sowses the pound and the leane at two sowses which thing was don by reason
to be made Notwithstanding hee to whom this charge was committed was taken at Lions by the Lifetenant Mandelot and was kept in warde certayne monethes THE Queene was much troubled in mynde and very carefull for the auoyding of diuers dangerous straytes For she did perceiue that they of the religion were not only sproong vp in great number but also that they were more wyse and by the late successe also of matters more constant and couragious and that therefore shee should haue a sore conflict with them To these were added new enemies who hauing no regard to religion but only a care of ciuil affayres would haue the gouernment reformed and in better state And she was not ignorant how that the most famous of the nobles were both authors and also instruments of that counsaile Shee knew that hir sonne the Duke of Alancon was an enemy vnto hir gouernment furthermore that the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were very angry with the perill and dammage which they had receyued in their owne persons therefore the ambicious woman suspected that they also were of this counsaile to remoue hir from the gouernment of the Realme The Kings health bring past all hope of recouerie and the neere approachyng of his death was giuen out by his soothsayers whose helpe and counsaile the Queene greatly vsed which caused hir to feare least according to the custome of the lawes and ordinances of the Realme the gouernement of the same should bee set ouer vnto the Duke of Alancon whereby the counsailes and deuises of hir enemyes had an open way made for them to take effecte To take away these inconueniences the woman by long experience of matters and by gouernement in great affayres being more circumspect and subtil than the wisest purposed to prouide all meanes and wayes She ioyned pollicie and force together that she might not faile to bring hir purpose to passe She pretended the kings name in all causes in euery place whom notwithstanding shee made very seldome priuy to hir counsailes bicause he was sicke as she pretended She very carefully prouided that the kings armies should bee in a readines at hir commaundement vnder the colour of warre against Languedoc the which was certainly sayde to be prepared excepte they of the Religion in Languedoc would receyue these conditions commaunded in the Edicte of Rochell And the Countie D'Retes hauing receiued a great summe of money gathered souldiers together in Germany Also the end of hir policies was that the authors of the new sturres should be destroyed by a new murther Aboue the rest d'Anuil withstood these mischeuous deuises who being far from the Courte seemed plainly to make delay notwithstanding that he was oftentymes commaunded in the kings name to come at what tyme he being in a great and large countrey most fitte conuenient for his purpose by reason of the power of them of the religiō seemed to be in possibilitie to enioy both the kings armie and also the noble cities therin he beheld dayly other enemies whō the queene sawe to be lesse appliant to do iniurie Therfore there came oftentimes letters of the king to d'Anuil that eyther setting all excuse asyde leauing the prouince in peace he would come vnto the king or els veryly that he should be apprehended amidst these communications of peace And for this purpose M. Sansulpis and M. Villeroy were sent to d'Anuil vnder the colour of peace speciall commaundements of the Queene concerning this matter being giuen to M. Suz and Mongeron who in those partes were of great authoritie among the Catholiques On the other parte the Queenes enemyes had their secret counsailes the ende whereof was that an assembly of States might bee had euen by meere commaundement and that the gouernement of the Realme might be restored to a better state concerning the which matter what we know wee wil speake anon Therfore while the Queene sent often messengers into Languedoc concerning peace both d'Anuill was diligent in his affayres and also they of the Religion wished peace Neuerthelesse they of the religion made new delayes dayly by those cōmunicatiōs of peace which they called a collation and messengers were sent to and fro from the Courte into Languedoc These things thus continued from Ianuary vnto the moneth of March. AT THE laste Henry Valoys came into Polonia and was receyued with great pompe of the Polonians And after that the royall Funeralles belongyng vnto kings was celebrated for Sigismond who notwithstanding dyed in Iune in the yeere M.D.Lxxij the newe king was crowned in a great assembly of the nobles and people of Polonia at Cracouia by the Arche bishop of Guesuen the eightenth of February of this present yeere M. Mombrune towarde the ende of the moneth of March came with his armie into that parte of Daulphine which lyeth vppon the coast of the Riuer of Rosune and tooke certayne smal townes as Loriol Liberon Ale◠Gran and Roynac and repayred the decayed walles of Liberon and Loriol After this he made an inroade and inuasion of all that countrey violently assayling the gates of Valence of L'Crest and of Montile And he conspired against the most noble Cities and specially against Montile the which conspiracies the Catholiques turned to the destruction of many Vppon this occasion the noble men of the Religion which lay in corners vntill the tyme seeing the present perill that king ouer their heades came and ioyned themselues with Mombrune VVE SAYD before that Orange was taken by Glandag to giue occasions of warre Whilest he was absent Berchon by the helpe industrie of certayne of the Citizens of Orange tooke the Castell and the Citie notwithstanding parte of the townsmen were sore afearde and they also of the Religion which dwelt there aboutes as if Berchan would haue restored the Romishe Religion and euil entreated them of the religion Neuerthelesse he going about no new thing gaue thē to vnderstande that hee helde the Castell and the Citie in the name of his Prince that all Citizens without difference of Religion might liue peaceably according to the forme of the Edicte And so their neighbours of Auinion which seemed to be in possibilitie to get that Citie to the which they bare alway a priuie grudge were put out of all hope to obtayne the same Berchon was sayd to be very familiar with Cardinall Arminiae the Popes Legate but not without great suspicion of a summe of money receyued ABOVT the same tyme the Catholiques thought that they had occasion offered them to get Nismes by treasō There is a little towne neere vnto Nismes called Margaret of the which M. Santaial a noble man had the gouernement with a strong garrison who by the meanes of certayne of the Catholiques of Nismes delt with a certain captayn of the townsmen named Deron and promised a great summe of money to tell him by what meanes he might get the Citie The captayne by and by bewrayed this matter vnto M. Sanroman
the Liefetenant who commaunded him to offer diligently hys traueile vnto Santaial to couenant with him for his rewarde and to appoint the day and the manner of the enterprise Then Deron without delay vnder colour of a priuy escape spake with Santaial receyued his reward and prescribeth the day the manner how hee might bring his purpose to passe The which being done he enformed Sanroman of the whole matter The manner of this treason should be thus namely that one of the gates of the citie should be lefte open for Santaial to enter Therfore the gate was left open according to couenant on the day appointed the warders vsing greate silence notwithstanding all things were prepared to receyue the enemy But none of the Catholiques appeared hauing intelligence of deceyt notwithstanding that for this purpose bandes of the catholiques were come out of the countrey of Viuaretz Daulphine and from diuers other places About the same time also D'Anuill should haue bene taken by treason which was bewrayed and the traytor hanged These were two practises of great wayght to furder the Queenes purpose if they had successe according to hir mynde ABOVT the same time they of Villeneufe of whom we spake before slue certaine bandes of the Catholiques without losse of any one of their men and tooke a little towne called Aubenac not far from the Riuer of Rosne and slue the Garrison almost which remayned of those that were slayne of Lions CHRISTOPHER sonne of the Counte Palatine ioyned himselfe with Graue Lodowic who vntill that day had borne no Armour accordyng to the forme of the othe whiche hee tooke at Mountes Who brought an armie of two thousand horsemen vnto his brother the Prince of Orange And while he taried at Mastricte the space of two monethes looking for his footeband of Gascoines and practising by counsail in the meane tyme to take the Castel of Andwerp was at the last very sore charged with the kings power in the territorie of Mokens within the dominion of Cleueland two myles from Nijmegen And hauing vntill the euening valiantly withstood their force tooke Sig. Lasso a man of great fame among the Spaniardes The daye following about the breake of the day the kings partes giuing a freshe assaulte at what tyme the Graue Lodowic had sent away parte of his horsemen to prouide forrage and the Launce knightes came on very slowly to the battaile the Spaniardes gotte at the laste the victorie but not without bloudshed the chiefe Captaynes Christopher and Lodowic being loste in that conflicte whose death was doubted a long tyme Notwithstanding this is certayne that they had receyued so many woundes before they were slayne that they being diligently sought for among the deade bodyes of suche as were slayne coulde not bee knowen Thys slaughter happened the seuentene of Aprill of thys present yeere About the beginning of Februarie there brake forth newe bandes of newe men in the countrey of Poictou which called themselues Politikes and Malecontentes of the which some professed that they sought the reformation of the realme other some the reuenge of their parentes and kinsmen which were slayne in the furies on Saint Barthelmewes day These ioyned themselues with those of the Religion who almost about the same tyme had begoon warre a freshe in the conntrey of Poictou hauyng Monsieur L'Noe theyr Captayne ALSO at the same instante almoste Countie Mongomeri comming out of England into Normandy tooke Sanlo and Charent townes neere vnto the Sea coast and in Normandy the lower he tooke the towne called Donfro Therefore these newe commotions of the Politikes and of the Religious caused newe musters of men in those partes and it was sayde that this was the beginning of great matters and that many noble men would come vnto this warre But whereunto this came we will shewe by and by Almost at the same tyme namely the last of February there was great feare in the Courte It was tolde the Queene that there was certayne troupes of horsemen seene ryding to and fro neere vnto Sangerman where the king at that tyme lay This so sodayne feare caused the number to bee thought the greater M. d'Guitri a noble man was Captayn ouer those troupes which cōtayned fiue hundred horsemen The Queene tolde the king hereof being at the poynt of death and caused him to bee remoued out of hande from Sangerman to Paris And shee sent messengers vnto M. d'Guitri to know of hym in the kings name what his entent was Who deliuered vnto the messengers certayne petitions concerning the reformation of the Realme and the restoring of the authoritie of the states and so within fewe dayes after departed not knowing what would ensue thereof In the meane tyme the Queene apprehended many in the Courte and in diuers places of Paris whom shee thought to bee giltie of this conspiracie among which of the nobilitie was M. Coconass and d'Mole of Arles one of the familiar frendes of the Duke of Alanson Also at the same tyme the Marshalles Momorencie and Cosse were in the Courte They within certayne dayes after were at the commaundement of the king and Queene apprehended by the Kings Garde and were openly in the sight of all men caryed into the Castell of Bastill The Queene also caused Rumors to be spred abroad that they were the authors of a bolde conspiracie concernyng the intercepting of the King and the settyng ouer of the kyngdome to the Duke of Alancon to the ende they might rule all things as they themselues lusted Therefore she commaunding the household seruants of the king of Nauar and of hir sonne the Duke of Alanson to be taken away caused them to be kept close prisoners that they might go no whether nor do any thing without keepers She depriued D'Anuil also of the gouernment of Languedoc as accessarie to the sayd conspiracie and she sent the Prince d'Alphine the sonne of Monpenser into Daulphine with great power to bee gouernour of Languedoc and she wrote vnto the Senat of Tholose concerning the same depriuation of d'Anuill Also shee commaunded the Lord d'Acier by hir letters who was an enemy to d'Anuill to ayde d'Alphine in the custody of Languedoc to bring vnto him all the power hee was able to make All these things were done in the kings name Mombrune about the very comming of the Prince D'Aulphine slew fiue Ensignes of footemen at a towne called Pontereaw In the meane tyme D'Anuill lay still doing all things in the kings name neyther did he enterprise any thing any whit the more when he vnderstood of the imprisonment of his brother But the kings letters which Prince d'Aulphine sent vnto the lord d'Acier were intercepted at Pusin and came to his handes and by that hee perceyued the treason wrought against him then began he more openly to deale with them of the religion and to talke also with mons Sanroman to take certayne cities but somewhat to late For he lost the more noble cities by his
of the Prince of Orange in Belgie Mountes receyueth succours Mechgeline yeelded by the Prince of Orange to duke of Alba. The calamitie of them of Narden Harlem persisteth in defiance of the duke of Alba. Succors sent from the Prince of Orange intercepted by the Duke of Alba A monstrous Calfe A new Star. Cassiopeia is a signe in the fyrmamente whych hath twelue stars and is figured like a woman sitting in a chaire Commandements to beseege Rochel Preparation for the seege They of Rochell are assayed by letters An irruption by thē of Rochell Another eruption Treason practised against Rochell Mons le Noe general of Rochell The fort called le Eguille 41. The fort called Corceille 42. The fort of the new hauen 43. The Duke of Aniou vseth subtill perswasions to peace Backslyders frō the kings power A violent assalt by them of Rochell A legion cōmonly conteyneth 6000 footemen and 732. men of Armes A band conteineth sometime more mē and sometime lesse Letters hortatorie frō the Duke of Aniou to peace A topographicall descriptiō of Rochell Salte maryshes 16. Cogne fort 10 The tower Moreille 13. Sannicolas tower 18. Sannicolas forte 19. Sannicolas gate and the bulwarkes 20. Sannicolas tower 21. The tower of the hauen 22 The Lantern tower 23. The Citadel 1 The tower of Gayor 2. The newe gate bulwark platforme 3. The forte of the Castel 4. The place of Cockslem 5. The bulwark le Euangile 6 Cogne bulwarke 9. Mons Grandrise skirmisheth wyth the kings campe Mons l Noe hardly escapeth death Another assaulte The kings souldiers begin the assaulte Duke D'aumall slayne Truce taken for a parley The siege of Sommiron Monsieur Candale slaine Sommiron yeelded vp vpon good conditions Villeneufe in the territorie of Viuaretz is taken by them of the Religion D Anuil abstaineth frō war. Diuers cities in Languedoc takē by policie Pusis taken Mons Sanroman chosen to be generall by them of the religion Monbrune armeth himselfe in Dauphine The securitie of monsieur de Gordes Of the affayres of Sanserre The negligence of them of Sanserre The seege of Sanserre The courage of the Sanserreans in defēding thēselfs An Engine was a foure square thyng made of boordes and quarters for men to goe vnder to defend thē selues from stones shot The Sanserreans send for succors Concerning the affayres of the lowe countrey The Prince of Orange vittayleth Harlem A famine in Harlem Harlem surrendred vp to the Duke of Alba. Crueltie shewed at Harlē MARCHE Palereau An earthquake April The extremitie of the kings campe The Cazemates taken and forsaken againe A signe in the ayre Smoke made in the Citie The scaling ladders are ouerthrowne The victorie gotten by women Mongomeries nauie within sight of Rochel Maye Mons Cossine slayne The forte l'Euangile almost wonne Letters concerning peace Iune Letters of Mongomerie to the Rochellians A new kinde of fishe in the time of the siege came to Rochel Duke of Aniou chosen king of Polonia Occasion of peace The Duke of Aniou is in peril of his lyfe Truce broken Peace concluded betweene the king and thē of Rochel The Edict proclaymed The Edict of peace made the .11 of August An. 1573 Euery souse is .i. peny ob Englishe The pounde Turn ys is about two shillings sixe pence English A Franke or pounde is about two shillings sixe pence English A Liard is the fourth part of a souse A Deniere is the twelfth part of a souse The Sanserreans come to composition Preparation for the viage into Polonia Nantoilet robbed by the new king of Polonia The affayres of the lowe Countrey The Ramekeins Castell taken by the Flissinners Bycause the countrey of France was called in olde time Gallia or Gaule and was afterward by the Francones of Germany cōquered he caleth it here by the name of a compounde word Francogallia and the people Franco Galli that is to say French Gaules The Coronation of the King of Polonia Two noble men beheaded The death of king Charles ¶ TO THE READER FOrsomuch as in this historie we haue in diuers places briefly touched the affayres of the low countrey wee thought it necessary to adde to the ende of this worke this Epistle following which contayneth a summe of the tumults of the low countrey The same being at the first published in the Dutch tong in the yeere of our lord M.D.LXXIII in the moneth of September afterward by a certaine Dutchman turned into Latine and sent vnto vs with this title as followeth ¶ A Supplication to the Kings Maiesty of Spain made by the Prince of Orange the States of Hollande and Zealand with al other his faithful subiects of the lowe Coūtreyes presently suppressed by the tyrannie of the Duke of Alba and Spaniardes By which is declared the original beginning of the commotions and troubles happened in the saide lowe countrey MOst Soueraigne Lord your Maiesties most obedient and lamenting subiectes of the lowe Countreyes as they haue often pondered with them selues the natural affectiō and fatherly good inclination whiche your Maiestie hath since the time that your grace by the power of almightie God receiued the dominion and regiment of the sayde countries alwayes and continually shewed so haue they had a sure hope and vndoubted affiaunce that your Maiestie as well vppon their daily complaintes and lamentations as vpon the pitifull declarations and remonstrances of some christian Princes and Potentates vnto your Maiestie mercifully haue considered of our pitiful and most miserable suppression wherwith wee by reason of the great and vnsupportable force arrogancy and wicked regiment of the Duke of Alba are suppressed and mercifully haue regarded the most miserable ruine and destruction of these your natural lowe countreys who alwayes haue bin most faithfull and obedient both to your Maiestie and also your Graces predecessours Not doubting but that your Maiestie woulde greeuously haue been moued that hee vnder pretence of protecting and defending the Romish religion vnder the colour of your Maiesties name shoulde presume to frustrate and breake all the priuileges customes rightes wherunto your Maiestie and your predecessours haue sworne persecuting your faithfull subiectes in body and goodes and destroying your countries in none other sort but as if he had declared himselfe to bee an open enemy of your Maiestie and the subiectes of the same Therefore haue they alwayes earnestly attended that your Maiestie no longer suffering the sayde force woulde haue prouided some conuenient meanes for the safegarde of your countreys and deliueraunce of your poore and suppressed subiectes and haue a respect to the duetifull office of a king whom the almighty God the king of all kings hath placed and ordeined as a protectour of the righteous and a fatherly pastor of the people vnder your subiectiō to defend and preserue them from all force and violence and likewise to remember the manifolde and faithfull seruices which your saide countries and subiectes haue from tyme to time most faithfully don to your Maiestie and your