and infinite murders and abused so long the milde pacience of the protestantes as thinking vppon no bridle to gouerne his furie he woulde not stick to lay haÌ„ds of the princes of the blood whereof she commended a present and lamentable experience in his conspiracie agaynst the Prince her brother whom his crueltie hath enforced to séeke succours amongst his parentes and allies so that for her part she and her son resembling the Prince so neere and dearely in proximitie of bloud coulde do no lesse than offer him that which the direct law of frendship and coÌ„sanguinitie did demaund and therefore as shee didde assuredly stay and repose hir selfe vpon the goodnesse natural affectioÌ„ of his maiestie enclined rather to norish preserue than teare rent them vp by the rootes so she besought him with al humilitie to tolerate in the best part their depar ture from their houses of entent to serue God the kyng their adherents in bloud and to impugne to the vttermost of theyr lyues and power the violente malice of such as publikely haue entred into conspiracie agaynst them and lastely to beléeue that for these thrée causes onely they had put their weapons betwéene their hands least they shoulde bée vtterly extermined from the view and face of the earth according to their sinister resolutioÌ„s like as also y sayd Cardinall deuysed to rauysh her son from betwéen her armes peruerting the power authoritie of his maiestie into vnnatural violeÌ„ce as though the simple commandement of his maiestie could not sufficiently gouerne her her son his maiesties most humble obedient seruants so finally if his maiestie wold waigh in indiffereÌ„t balance y faith of them and infidelitie of the sayd Cardinal measuring y one other by a direct straight lyne his maiestie shold fynde more truthe in their effects than in the wordes of the other In her letters to the Quéene she stoode vppon thrée poyntes that moued her to leaue her houses and offer her lyfe goodes and all her possible meanes to aduaunce the cause of Religion The fyrst was in respecte of the seruice of GOD seeing the Cardinall and his confederates studied to roote vp from the earth suche as made profession of the true Religion secondly to doo seruice to the souerayntie of the King and with mayne lyfe and goodes to helpe that the Edicte of pacification may be obserued and that Fraunce the mother couÌ„trey and nursse of so many sorts of people become not barreyn and so suffer her children to die Thirdly that bloud and coÌ„sanguinitie did call her to offer succoure and ayde to her brother harryed and pursued ageynst the Kyngs will by the malice of suche as possesse aboute his person such place as no waye is due to them neyther can shée better paynte out the Cardinall than by hys owne colours that is to say as well by a number of tragicall and lameÌ„table murders whose complaint doo sorowfully sounde in euery religious eare as also to see so many desolate soules hoping by the edict of pacification to enioy a plausible quiet and rest in their houses miserably dispersed to their aduenture and cruelly excluded from their soyle of naturall and auncient aboade The same Cardinall also and his wicked adherentes puffed vp with a generall pacience that euery one hath vsed to their barbarous tirannie attempted ageinst the Princes of the bloude with intent in common likelihod to roote vp the mayne grafte stock after they had wickedly defaced and spoyled y tender braunches And bycause the zeale of their Religion did in no sorte induce them as they haue affirmed she solicited the Queene to a remeÌ„braunce of the conspiracie done the laste tyme shee was sicke from the whiche the Cardinall of Bourbon her brother was not exempted albeit he was a Catholike So that it is only the bloude of Fraunce whiche gripes them so at hart wherof what better experience and example can be aduouched thaÌ„ their vngodly pursuite against the Prince of Conde and his little children to whose succours according to the dutifull office of bloude and kynred she would neuer fayle desiring notwithstanding aboue all things a good peace and so well assured as the Cardinall of Lorayne nor his adherents could eyther dissolue or corrupte it She declared in her letters to the kings brother how iustly she was enticed to her iourney to Bergerac with hope to pursue the ful voyage for the seruice of their Maiesties with requeste that it would please him in good earnest to put his hand to the worke and helpe to defend the poore countrey of FrauÌ„ce against the pollicies of such as séeke to aspire to confounde it with a thirste and desire as it semes to buylde their greatnesse and authoritie vppon the decayed and ruinouse stones of such as like firme pillers do and haue susteyned it By her letters to y Cardinal of Bourbon her brother that it was nowe more than tyme if there were any at all to gather stomacke to hym and laye afore their Maiesties the lamentable state and desolation of Fraunce whereunto he was bound aboue the reste in respect of the honour he bare to bee a Prince of the bloud Shée sommoned him also to remember the shame and outrage thundred vppon the persone of his proper Brother Systers and Nephews and all by a Cardinall of Lorraine who also abused him as one of his suffragans If all these could not moue him topitifull consideration of their case at least let him remember Vespra Siciliana pretended by hys coadherentes the laste tyme the Queene was sicke And lastly notwithstanding the separation of Religion shee coniured him by the proper office of friendship and dutie of nature and bloud concurring togyther to consider their present pursute against the Prince his brother All these letters were written and dated at Bergerac the xvâ— of September 1568. After the siege of Angoulesme the sayd Quéene with the yong Ladye her daughter retired to Rochel leauing the Prince her sonne in the Campe whiche afterwardes was called The Campe of the Princes bycause the sayd Princes of Nauarre and Conde commaunded togither in the Armie Whyles these things were thus ordered the Duke of Aniou brother to the King and Chief ouer the Catholykes forbare neyther diligence nor meanes to aduaunce his force and erect his Camp at O 〈…〉 and other places there about wherewith he diffended towardes Poytiâ—â— where vnderstanding of the comming of the Lord 〈…〉 er â—aâ—ching with the succoures he brought determined to fight with â—â—â— and â—o â—â—â—der him to ioyne with the Prince of Conde and for that purpose departed from Poytiers with .iiij. thousand horsemen .iiij. enseignes of footmen and entred with great iourneys the towne of Perigueux in like sort the Lord d'Acier marched euery day passing the ryuers of Leyllâ— and Vâ—serâ— in the sayd countrey and so the xxv of October being neer the town of Perigueux and lodged in a village called S. Chastie
no certaintie whether the Prince of Conde were neare enough to succoure him or not the sayde Prince was withdrawne the same euening with the horsemen and shotte of the battell on that side of the three sâ—â—ples thinking there to finde certayne other trowpes where of he had had aduertisement notwithstanding finding the place abandoned he bended towardes Auzance met in the way the vauntgarde returnyng which he did also As the Prince was in a castell of the Bishops of Poictiers skarce a league from Mirebeau there came to him a Currier or Messenger from the Quéene mother with charge chieflye to induce him to demaunde peace as a matter wherein it belonged to him of duetie to preuent his maiestie to whom he aunswered that he was forced to enter into armes as his surest warraunte agaynst the oppression of his enemies and not to attempte any matter preiudiciall to the Maiestie royall or his soueraigne estate whome he reuerently helde for his king ordayned of God besides the attempt of hym and his intended no further than to entertaine a charitable quiete in their conscience a safe exercise of their religion and lastly a tollerable defence of their liues honours and possessions against the tiranny of an vngodly Cardinall of Lorayne and other the enemies and commoÌ„ troublers of the publike state of this Realme and precisely of the poore professours of the Gospell contrary to the will and meanyng of his Maiestie auouched by so many general edictes and other particular expedicions discending from himselfe for which causes they rested vpon resolucion to maintaine perticularly ageinst the said Cardinal his adherents as the spring roote original of the ruine and thretning subuersion of the croune and them to pursue as periured infringers of the coÌ„mon faith coÌ„iured enemies to this estate vnitie of the realme lastly touching himself he hath giueÌ„ sufficieÌ„t proofe and experience to the whole world of his humble desire and inclination to peace wherin his facilitie and ready coÌ„sent to y last peace do both best approue him and also argue to the worlde the straunge perils offring to whelme him and the faction of his religion And therfore bicause his maiesty is presently enuironned with his enemies whose principall condition is to close his eares against the lamentable complaintes of his oppressed people he determined to be the reporter of their doinges in hys owne person This was the aunswer which the Prince gaue the messenger in the Hall of the castell and that in the presence of a great number of Lordes knights gentlemen and captaines of his army it was supposed in the campe that he came to other ende as to espy the force of the Princes In the beginning of December the Princes departed from Myrebeau and drew to wardes Champigni a Castell belonging to the Lorde de Mountpensier garded with vij or viij skore souldiours they battred the castell on that side towardes the church making a breache in the wall before the Hale of the said place they that were within rendred by composition and in their place entered the Captaine Spondillan with certain numbers of shotte who immediatly for sooke it by commaundement of the Princes and left it at libertie The morrowe after the artillerie marched before the castle of the Lord de Sauigny which without great resistaunce sauing certain volies or shot of the canon was takeÌ„ they within put to the edge of the sword and the castell burned During the siege of these two castels the regiments of footmen of the Lordes of Mountbrun and Myrebean were at Lyllebouchard vpoÌ„ Vien striuing to winne the passage wherin as they profited little so they spedely retired The kings brother being gone from Poictiers and hauing the succoures brought him by the counte de Loyeuse gouernour of the country of Languidock in the absence of the lord d'Anuille marshall of France which were hesides the Regimen of the Lord of Serlebourg certain companies as well on foote as horsbacke besieged the towne of Mirebeau not long since rendred to the Princes This towne was defended by thrée companies of footemen wherof two were gouerned by the captaine la Borde and the other by the Captaine of the castell At the beginning they battered the towne which was abandoned for want of sufficient supplies to furnish the walles all retiring within the sayd castell The towne being taken about the xij of December the kings brother left the Counte du Lude gouernour of Poyctou to continue the stege of the castel with two canons two culuerines and one regiment of footemen he taking his way to Lodun a towne in Poyctou the which not many dayes afore was rendred to the obedience of the Princes sommoned it forthwith by a truÌ„pet to whom the lord d'Acyer gouernour there answered that as he was set in charge of y town by the Prince of Nauarre lieutenant general for y king in Guyen so he would not only kepeit to his vse without further reÌ„der or restitucioÌ„ but also to his best repulse what violeÌ„ce or force so euer were offred This answer reported to the kings deputie he made his army marche neere the sayde towne to a place called the Roches The siege continuing still afore the castell of Mirebeau by the sayd Counte of Lude in the ende procuring a parley hée entred subtillie about the xvj of December 1568. The Capitaine la Borde with certain souldiours were there killed the rest were saued As soone as the kings Lieuetenant had giuen sommons to render Lodun the lord d'Acyer aduertised the Princes of his state who departed forthwith from Towars with the battel and the Lord Admirall from Monstrueil-belay with the vantgarde to geue succours to the sayd Lord d'Acyer The xvj of December they presented their whole caÌ„pe in battell before Lodun about halfe a quarter of a league from y kings camp who likewise was in battel in the sayd place of Roches where wer great numbers of artillery discharged aswel of the one as other side neither was there any other thing all the day except some litle light skirmish which deuoured no man in the euening euery one retired into his quarter vntill the morrowe that the two campes did eftesoones discouer in order of battaile at the same place fulfilling also the like the .iij. day without other thing doing than certeyn vnhurtfull skirmishes The .xix. of December the Kings brother discaÌ„ped who albeit drue towards Chynon yet such was the slownesse of his marche that daye as the nexte morning the two armies were all day in battaill order on that syde towarde Chynon sending only certeyne shot of artillerie one against an other without hurt of eyther syde the same as it may be presumed mouing by a vehement and slipperie colde that the horsemen could not aduaunce it was a wonder to sée two armies in camp in such a hard and diuerse season the winter being so extréeme as hath not bin séene in many yeares afore whick kindled sundrie
King keepes an ordinarie dead pay of certeyn numbres of souldiers A capteyn called Colombyn borne in Grenoble vnderstaÌ„ding by certein of the borough of Oysans that most part of the sayd dead pay men were issued oute of their charge toke the sayd Castel and finding no resistance other than the very capteyne of the place who yelded beyng hurt with a shot he made him selfe lorde of it where neglecting one first and most necessarie pollicie in a victor hee rather laboured to deface the images than to furnishe the place with coÌ„uenient prouision which being not vnmarked of certein euil neigh bors purlewing vpoÌ„ the castle they forthw t enuironed him with a siege so cut off his vittell wherof they knew the castel had but slender store Their siege continuyng about xv days enforced him at last to render the place vpon composition and onely reseruation of lyfe whiche notwithstanding was not kept for that all his souldiors were cut in peeces and he only led on lyue to Grenoble After the generall view and muster of the princes footemen the Lorde de Pilles returned now from Gâ—scoygâ—e was sent to sease vpon the yle of Medoc a rich yle lying betwéene Rochell and Bordeaux conteyning in length aboute .xvj. or .xvij. leagues and .iiij. or .v. leagues in breadth he prouided necessary boates to passe the ryuer of Gironde and embarkyng him selfe with .ij. thousand footemen discended into the sayd ylâ— and tooke hauen without any let he made himselfe maister of the yle vpon the sodayne and vnlooked for fynding great foyson of riches where with he his souldiours loaded themselues plentifully By meane of this I le he besieged Bourg a town in Bordelois but being speedily called back by the Princes he raised his siege and came agayne to the Campe At this siege died of a shot in his shoulder the Lord Valpheuiere lieutenant to the late Lorde d'Andelot of his Regiment of footemen whose regimen was traÌ„slated to the Lord of Rouray gentleman of Fraunce This was vpon the ende of May. The kings brother being now returned into the contrey of Angoulmois and after he had somwhat releued his armie on that syde to Villebois sent to sommon the town of Angoulesme by a trompet wherin hae was refused so tooke way towards Berry to ioyne his force with the Duke d'Aumall beeing in the sayd contrey the Conte Mont-gomerey charged vpon the tayle of his campe and discomfited certen of them The Lady Marquise of Rottelyn vnderstaÌ„ding of the death of the prince of Conde her sonne in law put her vpon the way to come to Rochell wher was the widowprincesse her daughter she passed to Sainct Iean d'Angely and so to Thony vpon Boutonne wher the said Princesse met her and so returned into FraÌ„ce without her daughter whome she purposed to haue with her But the Princesse excused her vppon hir children which were then at Rochell whether she also returned it was thought the Lady Marquise came to entreate a peace whiche was not so bycause hir occasion was only as is asoresayd this was in the ende of May. 1569. In the first kindlyng of these warres the Princes hauing true intelligence of diuers numbres of straungers entred the Realme for the strengthe of the Catholikes determined also to fortifie their armie by the like meane And therfore knowing that the Prince Wolfgange Duke de deux Pons had erected great numbres of men of armes as well on foote as on horseback the better to defende his owne countreys sente to hym with requeste to yelde them succoures in their so vrgent and extreme necessitie bothe with his armie presently in point and also such other powers as hee might possibly leute whervnto the said duke condescended with promyse to releeue them with all his forces which albeit at that tyme were not fully assembled yet he forgat not within short tyme after to put an armie in redinesse to come into France wherof the duke d'Aumale lying in Lorayne béeing enformed by special Intelligicers dispatched forthwith a Gentleman of his by whome hée aduertised the Duke of the common brute that passed of the diligence he vsed in the leuyes of men of warre in Almayne and al to assist the conspiracies of such as arme themselues ageynst the crowne of France with displayed warre ageynst the King which for his parte as he neyther had nor woulde beleue so lookyng neerer into his magnificence and partes of a Prince hée iudged hym of no inclination to fauoure rebelles ageynst theyr soueraigne maiestie consideryng withall the ancient respect of amitte so long continued betwéene the house of the electors of the countie Palatines of Rhine the scepter of France Albeit his maiestie desiring to vnderstand an absolute truth gaue him special charge to dispatche this speciall Messanger hee also hauyng authoritie of his Maiestie to withstande the entrie of any stranger â—o releue the enterprise of the sayd rebellâ—s which hée hoped to accomplishe or else to leaue his lyfe in the charge The Duke forbare to answer spéedily vntyll his armye were fully in poynte albeeit after that hée hadde receyued hys Reistres he beganne to marche towardes the Conte of Burgogne and as he lay vppon the frontiers of Fraunce tarying for his Launceknyghtes hée aunswered the d'Aumales letter which he sent forthwith to the Kyng In the beginning hee layde afore hym how in the yeeres afore many Reistermaisters passyng thorowe his Duchy without leaue gréeued so his countrey that the continuall complaints of his people forced hym to drawe into companyes of armed men as well on horsbacke as on foote to withstande further offence to his people And that nowe in respecte his cousyns and dearely beloued Princes of Nauarre and Conde haue lamentably imparsed with hym the vniuste quarell vrged vppon them as well to enforce their lyues and goods as to depriue the exercise of their Religion contrary to the kings faith and playne protestation of his Edicts and that not onely they but all the Nobilitie and others professing the same Religion haue and doo endure myserable oppressions as estraunged from theyr owne houses thruste oute of their charges and offices theyr possessions and welthes consisked into the Kings handes lastly that there be raised huge companies of men of warre aided with sundry sortes of straungers to cut them in pieces as in other times of open hostilitie in these respectes together with their earnest motion and request for succours and lastly vpon an vpright view and consideration of their present calamitie he coulde nor ought do no lesse than ayde them And for their partes the better to auouche their integrities in refusing all attempts aspiring preiudicially to the crown of France as the d'Aumalles letters did sinisterly suggest the sayd Princes haue protested by letters which he kepeth sealed wyth their owne handes that if at his being in Fraunce he see or know any inclination in them to conspire in any sorte against the crowne that he would not only draw
hys promise This enterprise hadde bin of long practised and for the executioÌ„ of it the parties to the practise imparted it with the Lorde de Bricquemau de Guercy Liuetenant to the Lorde Admirall ouer hys men of Armes and Gouernour at the present of Charyte for the King vnder the Princes to the Lorde de Borry Baron of Reury des Essartz with others Lords and Captaynes in those quarters Who vnderstanding the enterprise at large with the meanes to execuâ—e it iudged with it as a thing verie conuenient to be pursued This Vrsyn Pallus in the meane while reuealed it to the Lord de la Charstre gonernour of the towne of Bourges and countrey of Berry and also to Capteine Martyn keeper of the greate towre of Burges who aduysed him to enterteine the enterprise and assure to them of Charite day place and meane to effect it who lykewyse applyed him selfe to their instructions In the meane while the sayde Gouernour of Charstres omitting no preparatiue fitte to welcome them deuysed gynnes of fyer and traynes of powder within the ditches of the place asseigned He bestowed also two grates the one at the entry of the little Forte and the other at the dore or false porte by whiche they enter into the greate towre bringyng lastly into the towne diuerse horsemen and footmen Italians for their better suretie and defence The daye and howre speciall for this purpose was asseigned by the sayd Pallus on S. Thomas night the one and twenteth of December at two of the clocke at after midnight whiche they of Charite fayled not to obserue in poynt And bycause they were dispersed in diuerse places the place of generall méeting was at Baugy a Castell taken before by the barron of Reury about six leagues from Bourges There met about a M. or twelue C. harquebusheares on foote of the troupes of the Lorde Borry and Loruaye with thrée cornets of horsemen guided by the Lorde Bricquemau all which in very good poynt obserued both the houre and place asseigned called la Grange Francois halfe a leage from Bourges where lykewyse mette them the sayde Vrsin Pallus assuring them still of the facilytie of the enterprise and that he bring them to the great tower without daunger whereunto to couer all cause of doute hée offered to bée their first leader They of the religion vnder the fayth of his worde made march first and formost with him the Lorde de Lespau accompanied with twelue aswell Captaines as souldiers and entred by a wicket towarde the fort of the false port where they pitched ladders to enter within the false port which was fyue foote aboue ground After him entred the baron Reury with fiue and twenty men and then the Lord de Sarts with fifty souldiers to sustaine the first but as his troupe entred the cordes of the grate were cut when they also within applyed their seuerall engynes to vse and put fyre to the traines and at the instant the artillery bestowed in flanks thundred vppon them that were to enter as also Captaine Martyn with his number of armed men charged such as were vnhappely entred who seing them selues and enterpryse betrayed deuised and labored for their safety aswell as they could some lept from the wall downe some gat out of the grate the same being somewhat hyer because Buysiere stewarde to the late Lord d'Autricour was inclosed vnder it being notwithstanding taken froÌ„ thence by his company who not able otherwyse to effect their enterpryse were constrayned to retyre They killed of theÌ„ of the Religion twelue or fourtene aswel captaines as souldiers and almost as many kept prisoners within the towne besydes such as were hurt the Lord de Lespau the baron of Reurye de Lessarts des Milles with certain other were taken within the grosse towre After this they of Bourges fearing y courses y they of the religion made euen to their gates aduertised the king of their necessity who succored them spedely with sixe cornets of horsmen which had bene before at the siege of S. Iean d'Angely they arryued at Bourges vppon the ende of December The Princes being come to Montauban as is sayd executed the cause of their comming adioyning to their army the forces of the two Vicounts and Montgomerye In this time the king sent back to Poyctyers the Duke d'Aumall with three cannons and one culuerine guyded by the Lord de Gouas and his regiment of footemen And so bestowing his campin garrisons to wynter lycensing afore the ItaliaÌ„s to go home his Maiestie came to the Towne of Angiers wherein hath bin since as is sayd certain conference for peace ⸫ The prince of Conde disarmeth him selfe The third cyuill warre Garisons put in the towns surrendred Those of the religion shut out of towns Meanes to disarme theÌ„ of the religion Letters of the king coÌ„trary to the Edicte of peace Counsell of the duke of Alba. Amanzay Hercules houshold seruant to the prince Request to offer an oth to the King. Generall musters The Prince and the Admiral watched Noyers Tanley Countie Rochefoucaut Rochell â—ssemblie â—f the Caâ—â—olikes â—ssemblie â—â— the â—rince Tallard taken 〈…〉 uke of 〈…〉 njou bro 〈…〉 er to the 〈…〉 ing Duke de Roauuoâ—â— prisoner The Lord d'Acier â—he Lord â—e Mouâ—ans â—euies of â—en in LaÌ„â—uedoc â—euiâ—e of â—e â—d'A 〈…〉 r in his Corner Kyngs edict Another edict of the King. Marz taken and the towre Sainct Christophle Number of of the L. Daeiers armie Angoulesme besieged Angoulesme taken The Quene of Nauarre his sonne Regiment of â—aâ—â—â—yn Letters of the Q of Nauarre The Princes Camp. Baudine hurt Ouerthrew of the L. of Mouuans P. Gourde Pons besieged The castle of Pons taken 〈…〉 ebeau 〈…〉 endred The castell of Mirebeau taken The meeting of the two armies Abbay S. florent taken The Abbay recouered A sale of the principall goods of the Churche The Queene of Nauarre returnes to Rochel The othe of the Prince of Nauarre l'Endureau reuoltes Brissac slaine Conte Pompadon slain The Lorde Boccard dead Charyte besieged and taken The Duke de deux Poâ—s dead Description of the dukes camp Description of the princes army Succours from the Pope The Quene mother encourageth the souldiours The Lord Strossi taken Strosies men slaine The death of the Lord â—f Moruil The siege of Nyort The Lord pluucau succours it 〈…〉 aâ—â—le 〈…〉 ig The Protestants requ to the king for peace whome troubles â—t to be â—uted Office of true subiects Luzig rendred Lords and Captaynes â—ithin Poyâ—yers Poict besieged Battery against Poye Battery against Poye Three assaultes gyueÌ„ to the subburbes of Roâ—l Assault of Italians The Lord de Mouy hurt S. Iean de Angeli besieged Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman dwelling in Knight Ryder streat at the signe of the Mâ—rmayde For Lucas Harrison and George Byshop
depart froÌ„ their caÌ„p with the discourse of their viage 170 Martigues death 211 N the siege raised from Nauerreis 127 Earles of Naslau â–ª Lodouic and Henry brethren 87 the Nobilitie of Daulphinois 7. excuse them selues of taking othe 7 Noutron a toune taken 85 the Lord de la Noue 60 Noyers in Burgondy 9. the same taken 185 Nyort besieged 94. giueÌ„ ouer Nimes the toune and castle taken 201 O Oisans a borough 16 Ordering of the princes army 32 Ordering of the armye at La Roche 90 OrleaÌ„s asseÌ„bly of catholiks 28 Ouerthrow of the Lorde of Mouuaus 29 Othe to the king 6 Oth of the prince of Nauar. 68 P Peace made 1 Peace more hurtful thaÌ„ war. 8 PaÌ„prow a vilage in Poitou 34 the Lord of Pardillan 59 Pope sendeth succour 88 Parley of Angoulesme 70 Pasquier a captaine 14 Paslage ouer Lot. 18 the Lorde of Pierre Gourd 15. his discomfiture 29 Peter Viret prisoner 97 Perrol a captaine slainae 93 the Lord of Pilles taketh the ile of Medoc 76 the Lord of Pluueau 59 Pluueas regimeÌ„t of fotemeÌ„ 62 the earl of Pampadon slain 73 Pons in Santonge besieged 3â— taken 34 Poitiers besieged 120. all the discourse til the raising of the siege 142 Prince of CoÌ„de disarmeth him self 1. watched by spies 8. departeth from Noyers 9. with draweth himselfe to Rochell 10. answereth a messenger seÌ„t vnto him for peace 41. hys death before Iarnac 62. his horslemen flee 63. a notable deuâ—â—e in his ensigne 65 Prince of Nauar sweareth 68 Princes depart from Nyort 55 Princes constrayned to take armes 82 Princes marche to ioyne with the Almans 84 Princes army described 88 Partenay in Poitou lost 166 Q the Queene mother at Limoges 88. encourageth the soldiors 89 the Queene of Nauarre and hir childreÌ„ arriue at the caÌ„p 20 hir coÌ„ming to Thony Charante 65 hir departure from thence 66 R RAncon an Italian Marquis taken Rapin hewn in peeces 6 Regiments of Dolphine wyth the names of their chefe captaines 13 Rutters come to ayd the kings brother 54 Remedy to conserue the kingdome 103 Reynold Cracco 87 Renell a Marquis 88 Request of those of the religion to the king 101 Roannois a Duke taken 13. after set at libertie 71 la Roche fâ—ucaut 9 â—a Roche a village in Limosin 90 Rochelle 1 the Lord of Rouray 77 Ruffeâ— a castle taken 57 Request made to the Princes by those of Daulphine and their answer 170 S SAinctes in Saintonge 37 Saint Genais a toun in Poitou taken 97 Saint Titier la Perche a toune in Limosin 99 Sanserre a toune 1 Sauigny a castle taken 44 Saulmur a toune 11 Sanzay entreth into Poitiers with bands of men 145 Succour from the duke of Aumale to late 84 the Lord of Sessac taken 52 Siege of Angouleâ—me 20. of Ponts 30. of Mirebeau 45. of Sanzarre 53 of Mucidan 72 of Bourge in Bourdelâ—â—s 76. of la Charite 83. of Nyort 94. of la Charite by Sansac 99. of Lusignan 99 of Poitiers 120. of Nauerreâ—â— 227. of Chastelleraut 140 Siege raised froÌ„ Poitiers 142. from Chastelleraut 140 the Lord of Soubize 59 the Lord Strossy taken 92 the lord steward Sâ—â—â— slain 62 Skirmishes at Iazenail 25. at Beaudo 〈…〉 on Marca 56. at Bassac 60. at Coignac 64. at Aesle in Lymosia 89. at Port de Pille 143. at Mont-gontour 154 S. Iohn d'Angely somoned to yelde with all the discourse of the siege 176 the Lord of S. Heran hurt 193 T TAllard in Daulphine takeÌ„ vnwares 11 the Parle of Tandes 53 Tanlay in Burgonie 9 the Lord of Tarrides 127. hys ouerthrow 128 the Lord of Tauanies 154 the Lorde of Teligny sent to Nyort 65. leadeth men to succour Chastellerault 142 the Temporall goodes of the church men sold 51 the Territories of the Quene mother exempt from preaching and the territories of the kings brother 5 at Tours the kings brothers assembly 28 the Third ciuill warres 2 Towns takeÌ„ by the prince 10 V VAcherie a captaine slaine 122 the Lord of Vallauoire 14 Valfreniere a captain slain 76 Villages burnt in Perigueux 32 the Lord of Villiers 98 Vill et lord of s Mary slain 71 Viret a minister enprisond 97 the Vicountes 85 Visere a riuer 28 La Viue a riuer of Montgontour 156 Wolfgange duke of Swebrug 78. the duke of Aumal writeth to him 9 Wolrard of Mansfield 87 the third ciuill Warre 2 Warle in Bearne 127 Y The Lord of Iuoye 49 ⧠FINIS ¶ A shorte Discourse of the Ciuill warres and last troubles in Fraunce vnder Charles the ninth The fyrste Booke IMmediatly vppon the peace in Marche 1568. and the same published in the Princes armie afore Chartres the sayd Prince the better to aduouch his ready obedience to the Kyng did not only disarme himself and people with present dismisse of suche strangers as were come to his succours but also disgarrysoned with a ready and dutyfull spéede euery towne and village which he eyther held or gouerned wherin he was reuerently obeyed vpon the very fyrst motion onely the towne of Rochell was exempted as in respecte of their auncient priuiledge pretendyng frée dispence that waye The townes also of Montauban Sanserre delayed their consentes as séeing matters not so surely quieted as the case required This peace gaue great hope of perpetuall benefit to suche as seeke and embrace the quiet of Fraunce albeeit it broughte foorthe a contrarie issue for as it was in some singular parte a confirmation of a former peace in the yeare 1562. So is it also the begynning and originall cause of a third ciuill warre incensed in this realme whereof we meane to giue present report Immediatly that the said towns were surrendred the Prince absolutely disarmed the gouerners of the prouinces which be all of the Romish religion seased vpon all the towns ports passages for tresses in FraÌ„ce bestowing therin huge mighty garrisons at their plesure and such as resembled themselues in condition touching the general cause quarel by which mean many of the reformed religioÌ„ abiding stil within those townes hapned into sundry heauy disquiets troubles bothe in theyr goods and prouisions for reléef descending to their enimies as praie spoiles also in their persons violentely enduring the inciuil disposition of murdrous souldiors enclined altogither to bloud wherin notwithstanding his maiestie dispatched ordinarie coÌ„mandements by letters patents and other expeditions to the gouerners people directers of his iustice aswel to suffer them of the Religion to remayn within the townes of their naturall dwelling as also to communicate in a generall vse and exercise of their religion goods honors charges and estates according to the edict of peace yet there was either nothing don at all or else to small purpose of redresse for if they suffred any to reenter the sayde townes they were such as they esteemed of least affection to the sayde religion and they bothe constrayned in the very entrie into the townes to yelde vp
suche armes and weapons as they then had also such as neyther had nor neuer proued the vse of any were enforced to bye and delyuer them to the officers otherwyse they shold not haue ben receiued the same being an expresse manifest way to disarme them being once naked the easier to run vpon and deuoure them as it was truly supposed themselues in this mean while their faction bare weapons and raysed greater garde than in the tyme of warre This syngular licence or libertie to beare armes amongst themselues without that the Protestantes durste eyther wear any or argue with them did so whet theyr sharpe and eyger dispositions that they attempted vppon the naked Protestantes many actual and violent wrongs the same thundering indifferently as wel vpon the troupes retyred within the townes as suche as were denyed to enter whose state was so muche the more miserable as eyther they wandred in present perill or were incerteyne of any assured place or safe staye of aboade The matter thus diuoluing from euyll to worsse the enimies of the religion séeing themselues come almost to the last and extreme limit and end of their entent began to raise and doo many disorders altogyther contrary to the Edict of peace yea and albeit the king did expresly auouche his vnfained wil and pleasure to the execution of the sayd Edict simply and purely without any modification or restraynte yet his maiestie afterward gaue out a contrary declaration enclosed in certeyn letters sent to the lords of Montare and Sainct Heram to whom he signified y it was neuer his meaning that the Edict shold take place or tolerate prechings in the countreys of Auuergne and Bourhonois nor in any lands belonging to the Quéene his mother the lords of Aniou and Allenâ—on his brothers the L. Cardinal of Bourbon and Duke of Montpensier the same impugning manyfestly the sayde Edict which did only reserue and exempt the Prouostie and Vicontie of Parys There rested nowe no more to the enimies of the Religion but procéede to the execution of their enterprise in deuouring the coÌ„trary part albeit folowing the counsel of the duke of Alba sent to the King to sease first on the chiefe and principall professers of the Religion to the ende to subdue with more ease the meaner sort vsing this phrase that the head of one Salmon was of greater value than fiue hundreth Creuises they resolued to entrap in euery Prouince the hyghest proppes and pillers of the sayd Religion executing their fyrst effect on the Lorde de Cipieres sonne to the Counte of Tande in Prouence who returning from Piedmount where he had visited with reuerence the Duke of Sauoy and lodging in Ferieux a towne in Prouence was there murdred with .xxx. geÌ„tlemen of his traine The Lord d' Amanzey lieutenant to the lord d'Andelot of his coÌ„panyes of â—â—eÌ„ at arms standing at the gate of his house with one of his litle childreÌ„ in his hande was also murdred many other murders and bloudy slaughters were horribly thundred vpon the syde of the religion during this time as the bouchery done at Blandy vpon Hercules houshold seruant to the prince of Conde and the Lorde de Rapyn who being dispatched into Langue dock for the seruice and vnder safe conduct of the king by the court of of parlyament of â—houlousâ— was sent headlesse out of this world the murders also doone at Roan Amyens â—ssoudun Bourges w infinite other places wherin diuers sorts numbers of the sayde religion haue bin vnnaturally cut in pieces and yet neither iustice done nor remedie applyed how soeuer they haue bin solicited by vehement sute In this meane whyle in the moneth of July the gouerners of the prouinces wer earnest suters to the Nobilitie professours of the religion to offer an othe of fidelitie according to a forme sent by them which they sayde his maiestie had already receyued whereof the sayde states of Nobilitie and specially they of Dauphyne excused theÌ„ selues bicause sayd they if wee only shold doo it and not they of the Romishe opinion they might charge vs secretly with the crime of Infidelitie as hauyng assisted the parte of the Prince of Conde and that for that cause suche othe should be required of them and not of others the contrary wherof was fully verified by the Edict of peace the king declaring that whatsoeuer was don in the sayd warre by the prince was done for his seruice By this mean cause they excused to tender any such othe offering notwithstaÌ„ding to doo it if they of the Romish side wold toyne with them so to be suters to his maiestie that it might bée so Now notwithstaÌ„ding the edict in place to enterteine obserue the purpose meaning of it the gouerners of the prouinces sent coÌ„mandement to all that were castle kepers within their charge to suruey make nuÌ„bers of all such of the Romish religioÌ„ only as were apt able to beare armes wherin they were redily obeyed with this further expresse charge that suche as had no armoure should forthwith prouide them remayning all in a perfect readinesse vppon their first sommons or warning In the next August after this view grew generall musters withoute enhabling or allowing any of the reformed Religion which made theÌ„ suspect the sequele with feare that all was raised for their ruyne and to restore and incense an other Ciuill warre séeing withal that they were handled worse and worse as charged with such intollerable exactions that in common likelihode and truthe suche time of peace was more perillous heauy hurtfull to them than the furie of an open warre whose violence they myght by meanes eyther auoyde or qualefie The Prince him selfe being thus disarmed was not without his high perill for that neyther hée nor the Lord Admiral could haue suche suretie in any of their owne houses as eyther their doings or lyues were without daunger so that being watched and warded in about their Castels and capitall places were dryuen to go from house to house with their wyues and children in their armes and finally the sayd Prince was constrayned to retire to Noyers in Burgongne and the Lorde Admirall to Tanley a house of the Lorde d'Andelot his brother There were sent also sundrie espialles to measure and iudge the heighte of the walles of Noyers â–ª and conspire meanes to take the Prince wherin least they should fayle in the effect of their enterprise there marched thither also diuers troupes of meÌ„ of warre The same albeit not so couertlie done but came to the knowledge of the Prince who after he had giuen the King knowledge of it departed from Noyers the .xxiij. daye of Auguste with the Princesse his wyfe great with childe the yong Princes his children the Lord Admirall Madame d'Andelot with their seuerall traines taking their waye into Angoulmois towardes the house of the Lorde De la Rochefoucaut And albeit all
the d Andelot with the horsmenne and shotte of the sayde vauntgard drawing with them two Coluerines and two fielde péeces to besiege the Towne of Iarnacke The Captayne la Riuiere the same daye was on horssebacke wyth his troupe of horssemen to beate and skowre the strayte that laye towardes Coygnacâ— albéeit discoueryng a farre off the Lorde Admirall hée returned in greate dyligence and without staying in the towne of larnack hée enclosed hym selfe spéedyly within the Castell whyche foorthwyth was enuyronned and besieged on all sydes by the Admyrall who as soone as his artillerye was planted began to batter towardes the gate of the Castell the same continuing all the day and at night the Captayne demaunded parley which the next mornyng was graunted togither with a composition by the Lorde de Bricquemau lefte there to direct the siege by the Lorde Admirall the Castell thus taken the Vicont Montamma entred with his Regiment to defende the sayde passage The .vj. of this moneth the Prince of Conde with the Admirall and d'Andelot and the horsmen as wel of the vauntgard as mayne battayle excepte the Lorde of Bricquemaus regimen which was at Iarnack went to Beauuoir vpon Matta wher was the Kings brother with his armye Ther the Prince of Conde ringed in battel his horsmen leauing in couert behynd a hyll certein druÌ„mes sounding as though his footemen had bin there notwithstanding there was nothing done that daye other than certeyne skirmishes against the d'Andelot The Reistres of the catholikes were not as yet ioyned to the Catholikes Campe albeit they arriued very shortely after The Kings brother being defeated of his purpose and meane to passe the Riuer of Charente at Iarnac marched vp higher and a little beneath Angoulesme he passed the Riuer In his way he tooke the castell of Ruffel wherein were foure score Souldioures whom he put to the sworde He tooke also the Towne garrison of Melle in the countrey of Poytou who also tasted lamentably of the lyke compassion And being thus ouer Charente he came to Chasteau-neuf standing vpon the shoare of the Riuer wherein was a garrison of fiftie Souldiours who without resistance rendred the Castell The Princes vnderstanding that the Catholikes had woÌ„ne the passage departed from Sainctes and came to lodge at Coygnac and the Admirall with the vauÌ„tgarde at Iarnac and thereabout The Friday the .xj. of this moneth the Kings brother with all his horsemen and certeyne nuÌ„bers of shot presented himself in order of battail before Coygnac causing in the meane while to be built vp ageine the woodden bridge of Chasteau-neuf battered and beaten down by the sayd garrison The Princes wer then within Coygnac accompanied only with their traynes and certeyne Gentlemen of their retinue their men of armes being lodged in the Villages thereabout and therefore sent immediatly to the Admirall for certeyne companies to march towardes them the d'Andelot going thyther heard newes in the way that the kings brother had drawn his men of armes afore Coignac The d'Andelot after he had talked with y Princes returned to Iarnac The morrow the .xii. of March y Princes armie marched towards Chasteauneuf the Prince of CoÌ„dé with y maine battaill lodging at Iarnac the Admiral with the vauntgard went before Chasteau-neuf to hinder the building of the bridge and withstand the passage ouer the riuer albeit as he was come neare the place he vnderstoode that the Catholykes had set vp the bridge and passed ouer with parte of their armie entrenching them selues on the other syde the Bridge to resiste all impedimentes to their full passage where vppon the Admirall returned to lodge at Bassac leauing to Gouerne the retraite of his companies the light horssemen of Soubise and Pluueau who remayned behinde ringed in battaile in a playne neere the sayde Chasteau-neuf vntill night The armie of the Princes was greatly dispersed in diuerse Townes and Villages beyng farre distaunt one from an other In the meane while the catholikes camp passed ouer Charente all the night with as great speede as might bee And bycause the prince of Condé had no intent to fight the nexte morning as not hauing his forces nere him he dispatched the lord Perdillan to the Admirall to aduaunce the companies of the vauntgarde in such diligence as to bee â—ith hym at Iarnac vppon the dauning of the day which y Admiral performed according to the speede necessitie of the message albeit not all in such exacte redinesse as the case required as lacking the Lord Pluueaus horsemen and his regimen of footemen left as you haue heard to gouerne and garde the retraite of the vauntgarde The morrowe after being the .xiij. of Marche the Prince with his horssemen that were already arriued presented himself in the morning in order of battail before the enimie aboue the village of Bassac When all was arriued the sayde Prince returned with the battaile and drue to Matta neare S. Iean d'Angeli whiche the Admirall did also leauing behind to direct the retraicte the Lorde de la Noue who retiring a reasonable passe and not yet farre off was charged with a great oste of horsiemen which forced him to take the charge and chased him to Bassac where the Admirall was ready to resiste and repulsed the Catholykes vntill the other syde of the village In the meane whyle certeyne troupes of shot of the Catholikes entred the sayde village and buckled to skirmishe with the Admirall who likewise droue them out of the village notwithstanding they were reléeued by the rest of the Campe that followed at hande and returned to the Uillage The Lorde Admirall séeing the Catholykes armie so neare dispatched a Genttleman of spéede to the Prince to aduertise him that the whole Campe of the contrary syde was there and almost vpon his backe so that séeing no meane to retire without fighting desired him to aduaunce such powers as he had of the battaill Immediatly the Prince reculed till he was very neare the Admirall rynging hymselfe in battaill at the foote of a hill on the left hand The Admirall was in order of battaill on the right hand along a little Coppies looking towardes Bassac He had about him the Lorde Pluueaus regimen of fyue enseignes of footemen who made a long skirmishe and seeing in the meane while that the Catholikes were ready to charge him comming betwéene the Prince and him turned his face right vpon them and with certeyne Cornettes whiche were with him pressed vppon them so hoatly that he brought to the ground a great nuÌ„ber and so passed further At the same instant the Prince after he had preferred his prayers to God went to the charge with great courage entred the battaille vpon whoÌ„ rushed a great squadron of Reistres set vpoÌ„ him on the flanck or syde at which charge his horse was killed and fel vppon him and his horsemen put to the chase whom the catholiks pursued albeit as they passed further a french â—entlemaÌ„ named the L. of S. Iean
knew the Prince of Condé and also the L. d'Argence both which promised him to saue his lyfe or to leaue theirs in the aduenture whervpon as an Archer being descended on foote to helpe to shifte the Prince from vnder his horsse and had set him vppon his feete one named Montesquion thought to be the Capteyne of the garde to the Kings brother knowing the Prince shot him thorough the head with a Pistolet the blow entring behynd and came foorth vnder his eye The Lord Steward a Scot and Chastelier Poitant after they were taken were also stabbed with daggers and murdered the sayde Chastellier by one named Cosseâ—us besydes whom were slayne in this encounter about .ij. hundreth men xi prisoners amongst others the bastard of Nauarre the Lorde de la Noue whose horse was killed at the firste charge the L. of Teligni de la Balbe de Soubize de la Loue. On y catholikes syde were slayne the Counte de la Mirande the L. de Monsalletz the Barons of Ingrande and Prunay with many other After this charge one part of the horsmen drew to S. IeaÌ„ d'Angely togither with the Admiral d'Andelot the CouÌ„te de la Rochefoucaut and d Acier with great numbers of horsmeÌ„ the rest tooke the way to Coygnac In this encouÌ„ter the Prince had no other footmeÌ„ than the L. Pluueaux regimeÌ„t heretofore mentioned all the reste of his footmen was retired by his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t to Iarnac as being not of mynd to fight y daye there was made at Iarnac a Bridge of boates to passe the Riuer Charente in tymes of need ouer which the footmen séeing the ouerthrow passed to the other syde the riuer and then brake it in pieces for feare of pursutes so retired to Coygnac where were the Princes of Nauarre and Anguyen The Artillerie led from Coygnac was brought thither again hauing made no great way The sayd Princes of Nauarre and Anguyen now Prince of Conde departed from Cognac the next morning with such horsemen as were retired to them they arriued the same day at Sainctes in Sainctonge leauing their footmen at Cognac to maynteyne head against the Catholikes who the morrowe after being the .xv. of Marche presented themselues in battaill before Cognac with horssemen and footemen making countenaunce to besiege it There was a great skirmishe on the syde of the parke by meane of a sallie made vpon them by the L. de Baudine in whiche encounter were lefte deade in the place about two hundreth bodyes and great numbers hurte whiche made the Catholykes retire the same daye returning to Jarnac In the meane whyle the Admirall vnderstanding the Princes were retired to Sainctes went thyther to them and with the horsemen of their traine he brought them to S. Iean d'Angely and from thence to Thome-Charante whether the Quéene of Nauarre came to communicate with them of their generall affaires And now albeit the vnwoorthynesâ—e of the Princes death dyd so amaze the Gentlemen and Souldiours of the armie as they séemed to wauer in varietie of doubtes yet the Admirall no lesse wyse than wel aduised knit them againe with newe persuasions of courage by all his possible meanes And sure thys death was sufficient inough to coole and qualifie such as had no other regard than to the losse of such a Gouernour of warre but considering more neare the actions of this Prince and of how long tyme he hadde bin giuen to the sincere seruice of his God King and CouÌ„trey they assured them selues more than afore They are persuaded that there nothing happened to him whiche he did not eyther foresee or foretell according to the poesie written in the enseigne of the companie of his meÌ„ of armes in these words PRO CHRISTO ET PATRIA DVLCE PERICVLVM And besides the said Prince was wont afore his death to say in his familiar talk y he attended his sepulchre in the fields in a day of battaill The end of the first Booke The second Booke of the last troubles and ciuill warres of Fraunce THE Prince of Condé thus taken away his death no small losse to them of the Religion the Kings Brother knowing the Princes of Nauarre and d'Anguyen were passed the riuer of Botoune determined to followe them and in that purpose departed from Janac came to Dampierre where he passed the Riuer he lodged his armie within half a leage of S. Iean d'Angeli of purpose to execute a certeyn enterprise within the sayd towne by meane of the Capteyn of the Castell In the meane while the Princes armie passed Charante as well at Thonye Charante as at Tallibourgh kéeping the boates alwayes on their syde The Quéene of Nauarre hauing imparted certeyn special admonitions aswel to the Prince hir sonne as other great lords personages of estate returned to Rochel The Kings brother vnderstanding the sayd armie was passed ouer Charante and also that his enterprise vpon the towne of S. Iean d'Angeli was so discouered as hée could not coÌ„mit it to safe execution returned from whence he came that is to larnac Chasteau-neuf and places about Angoulesme attending his opportunitie to effect an attempt which he had conspired vpon that towne and that by meane of the Capteyne of the Parke which was also discouered as hereafter shal follow The Princes being now on the other syde the riuer Charente began to surueye their forces viewing first their horsmen and then their footmen in order as hereafter shal be shewed All the horsemen were sent for in one day into two places The Prince of Nauarre and the L. Admirall mustred the battaile and the d Andelot with the Counte Rochefoucaut the vantgarde There were viewed and enhabled about .iiij. thousand horsmen wel mouÌ„ted and armed with valiant dispositioÌ„ to follow the cause to a good end It was openly red there to al y horsmeÌ„ y the prince of Nauar declared himselfe chief of the armie with promise not to leaue the Campe till a good and happie peace and muche lesse to spare his lyfe and goods in that behalfe This being published the horsemen likewise protested by othe not to departe the armie without his leaue nor forbeare life or liuing in the assistance of the quarell PEndureau Capteyn of a hundred light horsemen after the last conflict reuolted and tooke part with the Counte du Lude Gouernour of Poytou Hee was gréeuous after his reuolte to the protestantes in a number of heauie euils as in pilling and robbing them without respecte and also vnder shadowe of hys white Cassakyns wherwith he yet disguised his people He tooke the Castell of Mont-agu in base Poytou yéelding to the garrison no other mercie than by the edge of the sworde He made many incursions into Poytou anoyed theÌ„ with such generall perill that the Princes to ouercome him his troupes dispatched thither the Lorde de la Rocheenard with xii Cornettes of horsemen the regiments of footmen of the L. la Mousson Saint Magrin Montamma
away his succours but conuert thē to the enemy and cōtrary side the rather to reuenge their disloyaltie which makes him iudge of the Princes side beleue y they are not only far frō the slaundrous impositions of their enemies but also of vnfained desire rather to rest quietly in their houses than follow so harde and doubtful a warre wherunto they haue ben drawen of force as to defend the violēt oppression of their malicious enemies he alledged besides that when his Cosine the duke Casmir erected his army in Almaign in the like cause he was also vntruly informed as of purpose to draw him from succouring the Prince of Conde that it was against the maiestie royall that the said Prince did conspire which notwithstanding was founde otherwayes as appeareth by his maiesties edictes of peace both first and last approuing always the actions of the sayd Prince as done for the seruice of his maiestie And to take away all suspiciō he declared that besides that his meanyng was to succour the sayde Princes of Nauarre and Conde his enterprise in comming into Fraunce stretched also to relieue the little ones of the Religion dispersed into their seuerall miseries to whome of very duety being a Christian Prince he coulde do no lesse than offer and lende his hande to leade them to Jesus Christ And to the ende his maiestie may vnfainedly resolue in the integritie of his purpose and that he vndertakes not this iourney to spoile his subiectes or make pray of their welthes or for any other perticular profit he protested that if his maiestie would graunt them a safe vse of their religion with a frée exercise of the same without limitation and distinction of persones and places together with assuraunce of their goodes honours charges and estates hée would not onely returne and dismisse his army but also defray the whole charges of the same and the sayde Reistremaisters in their passage amountyng in all to aboue a hundred thousande crownes protesting for ende that if in refusing hys iuste and reasonable offers the Quarell doo aggrauate by his comming into Fraunce to wype hys handes in innocencie of all imputations hereafter and the fault to be layd vpon the authors and chiefe Councellers of the warre beyng about his maiestie The Duke hauing now receiued his Launceknightes entered into Fraunce and passyng by Bourgonguē came to Charyte béeyng coasted sundrye tymes both behinde and before by the armies of of the dukes d'Aumall and Nemors without attempting any thing vpon hym he arriued without let before Charyte the xvj of May which he battred so vehemētly that he enforced forthwith a breach in the meane while the lord of Mouy passing ouer Loere a little aboue the sayd towne with thrée hundred harquebusiers won the suburbes towardes the bridge the same so occupying and amazing thé that were besieged that the Duke entred the breache and put the whole garrison to the sword this towne was taken in good tyme because that if it had lingred neuer so little the Duke d'Aumalle being very nere with succours had endaungered the enterprise The towne was no sooner taken than he was discouered not farre of with xviij hundred horsemen who comming to short to withstand the dukes entrie returned in hope to hinder hym to ioyne with the princes army by meanes that hee mette and assembled wyth the kyngs brothers power who knitte together for this purpose in the countrey of Berry In the ende of May the Princes informed of the approche of the Duke de deux Pons and the taking of Charyte began to marche to ioyne with his army and leauing the Lord de la Noue to gouerne in the countreys of Poyctou and Sainctonge toke their way by Angoulmois directly to Perigueux and as they passed thorow that countrey the Lord of Chaumontes lyght horsemen with certaine companies of footemen tooke the towne of Noutron belonging to the Quéene of Nauarre wherin were killed aboute foure skore men that defended it this was the seuenth of June 1569. The morrow after the sayd Princes dispatched the Counte Montgomery into Gasoyne to commaunde ouer the army of the Uicounts who otherwayes would not agree as not acknowledging one aboue an other he tooke his way by Solliac where hee passed the riuer of Dordone and so beneath Cadenat he passed also ouer Lot and came to Montauban without any let They of the town of Perigueux fearing the comming of the princes army desired the lord Montluc to send them succours to whome he dispatched immediatly the Knight Montluc his sonne with xij ensignes of footemen with the which he entred the towne the iiij of June In this meane while the Princes army kepte the way drawing to Lymosyn the duke de deux Pons hasted by great iorneys to ioyne with them passyng the riuer of Viene two leagues aboue Lymoges The Catholikes had sent thither two C. shot to defend y passage who were all cut in pieces by the lord de Mouy the ix of this moneth on which day the princes army arriued at Chalus a town in Lymosyn departing the next day to ioyne with the army of the Duke de deux Pons in a village within two leagues of Chalus belonging to the Lord d'Escars gouernor of the said countrey The lord Admirall accompanied with two hundred horsemen went where the duke was to salute him the duke enduring certaine fittes of an ague not many days afore and not cured as yet died the xj of this month 1569. in a village thre leagues from Lymoges afore his death he called before him the chief and principals of his army with whome he communicated in many pointes but chiefly in persuasion and request to pursue the purpose of their comming into France leauing for their generall leader in his place the Counte Wolrard de Mansfeld afore his lieuetenāt generall his body was caried to the town of Angoulesme to be there buried In the army of the said late duke were xxviij cornets of horsemen conteining viij thousand and fiue hundreth Reistres whereof were Colonels Hans Boucq Reignold Grac Henry d'Estam and Hans de There 's sixe thousand Launceknights wel armed on foote and for the most part Pikemen deuided into xxvij ensignes wherof were Colonels the Lord de Grauillar and the Lord Guieryn Gansgorff baron of Grelezee besides ij M. horsmen and ten ensignes of footemen of Frenchmen wherof was Colonell touching the footemen one of the sonnes of the Lord de Bricquemau There were also in y sayd army diuers personages of high estate as the prince of Orange his sonne the Counties Lodouike Hēry de Nassau his brethern the Lord de Moruilliers the Marques of of Renel the Lordes of Mouy and Esters ney besides many others there were also xix pieces of artillerie and they either maine péeces or field pieces with others somewhat lesse wherofhe left two of the greatest at Charyte There were in the Princes army about thirtene thousand harquebusiers besydes Pikes wherof
honour and that of the rest of the sayd Marshals bretherne there should not remaine one Finally the rather to allure him to such an horrible acte they sealed their last offer with a dampnable promise of xxx thousand crownes in recompence and xxx thousand Frankes of perpettritie out of the towne of Paris besides the fauourable good wil all days of his life as wel of the Quéene mother Duke d'Aniow as Cardinal of Loraine and the whole courte Dalbe yelded so farre to their murderous enticements as he gaue his worde and promise to kil the Admirall Wherupon was deliuered him by the sayd la Riuiere certaine white pouder which was known afterwardes to be either Reagar or Arsinicke with a large pasport from the sayd kinges brother wherwith he departed and came to the lord Admirall his maister at the siege of Poictiers his long abode in the Catholikes campe together with other suspicious circumstaunces appearing at hys arriual persuaded a ielous iudgement of his dealing therupon was committed to prison his processe pursued ended sentēce lastly pronoūced in these terms Judgement pronounced the xx of September 1569. in the councell established by the princes of Nauarre and Conde present and assisted with the Prince of Orange the Counte Wolrard de Mansfelde lieuetenaunt generall of the Almaignes vnder the sayd princes the Countes Lodouike and Henry de Nassau bretherne Menard de Chomber Marshall of the Almaignes campe Hans Boucq Renard Gracco Henry Destain Hans de There 's Colonels of the Reistres Guieryn Gangolf Baron of Grelesee Colonell of a regiment of Launceknightes Theodore Wegger professor of the law and Embassadour from the Duke de Deux ponts with many other lordes knightes colonels and Reistremaisters of Almaigne the lord of Corras councellour to the king in the parliament of Tholouse and chaunceller to the Quéene of Nauarre and the army the lord of Francourt Bricquemau de Mouy de la Nouē de Renty de Soubize de Mirambeau de la Caze de Puch-perdillan de Biron de Lestrange with many other lordes gentlemen and captaines of Fraunce Seing the processe made by the cōmissaries deputed by the said princes of Nauarre Conde against Dominique Dalbe groome of the chāber to the L. Gaspard Coūte de Coligny lord of Chastillon Admiral of France the iij. examinations of the sayd Dalbe afore the Prouost generall of the camp two other afore the cōmissioners assigned for the purpose lastly the confessiōs of the said Dalbe reiterated v .iij. seueral times wherin he acknowledgeth to haue bene instantly sollicited vrged pressed by la Riuiere captain of the garde and one Laurence de Ruze secretary to the kings brother to practise procure the death of the sayd L. Admiral either by sword or poison which he promised to the said la Riuiere to effect with poison only receiuing to that end of the said la Riuiere certaine mony poison in forme of white powder which he hath shewed since to the sayd Prouost and commissioners seing also the verification and proofe of the said poyson tried by Phisicions and Apothecaries assembled at la Haye in Touraine the xiij of this moneth together with a very large pasport graunted to the sayd Dalbe the 30. of the last month by the kings brother lying then at Plessis les Tours and now for due punishment and reuenge to such a traiterous and detestable attempt so often acknowledged as wel in his priuate cōfessions as publike assembly the sayde councell hath and doth condempne the sayd Dalbe to be deliuered into the handes of the executioner of high iustice who tieng him vpon a hurdels with a halter about his necke shall drawe him thorow the stréetes and corners accustomed of this town de Fay la Vineuse with this inscription in parchment about his bodye This is Dominike Dalbe traitoure to the cause of God his Countrey and Maister trailing him first to the lodgyng gate of the sayd Lord Admirall and there with no other garmentes than his shirte ▪ the halter remaining stil about his neck holding in his hand a torch of burning wax shal demaund pardon of God the king the law the lord Admiral confessing there the wickedly disloyally traiterously he had professed promised practised to kill by poyson the sayd L. admiral his maister at the same instant in his presence the said poison which he confessed to be geuē vnto him by the said la Riuiere to be cast into the fire and burned All which being done he shall be led keping still the inscription about his body to the place of publike execution and there to be hāged and strangled on a gallowes set vp for that purpose And that also humble sute be made to the king to do iustice vpō the said la Riuiere and Laurence with their complices and with all if his maiestie be of minde to verifie more ample their sayd conspiracie with the sayd Dalbe the same not withstāding resembling a sufficient truth against them by his voluntary confession to proceede against them with punishemente due to so horrible a facte and the same both to terrifie hereafter others of like villanous humor and also to remaine to all nacions as a President of the noble nature and disposition of Fraunce in abhoryng suche trayterous attemptes declaryng the said la Riuiere Lawrence with all other sectes sortes of traytours keping schoole and open shop to poyson persons of name and vertue to bee traytours villaines and men vnworthy of honor either in themselues or their posteritie to the iiij generacion Lastly it is iudged that afore the execution of iudgement the said Dalbe shal be put on the racke to the end to confesse further practises with his said confederates with other things contained in interregatories geuē to the Pronost This sentence thus pronounced the morrowe after being the xxj of September the racke was vsed accordingly where he confirmed his former confessions and so the same day the sentēce was put in execution Whilest the kinges brother kepte at Chynon in the country of Touraine whether he was retired as is said great nūbers of men of war flocked to him from many partes of the realm together with the horsmen to whom he gaue liberty for recreacion and the xx ensignes of footmen Parisiens whereof we spake before these forces assembled hee made marche hys Vauntegarde out of Chynon the sixe and twenty of thys moneth vnder the conducte of the Lorde Mont-pensier hymselfe followyng wyth the battaile lodgyng neare Lodune the Princes campe drue towardes Partney the .xxix. of this moneth whome the Catholikes followed neere to prouoke them to battail as in respect of the aduauntage and fauor of certaine townes which they held thereabout either campe was within the view of other and both of equall desire to gain Mont-gontour vsing like diligence the rather to obtaine it For which cause the admirall made his footemen aduaunce all night his horssmen being in point of battell the
regimeÌ„ of footemen albeit béeing discouered by the garrison of Grenoble by whom he endured certeyn waspish skirmishes and after enforced to retire aboue an ordinarie speede to the territories of the duke of Sauoy leauing his lieutenant De sainct Marie in the borow D'oysons the same being wonne by hym not many dayes afore and nowe enforced to leaue it and accompany the sayd Lord de la Cloche into Sauoye And seeyng besides the difficultie to ioyne with the L. D'acyer he wandred with his coÌ„panies diuiding them into .viij. enseignes of footmen certein horsmen marched towards Almayney the same Regiment being for the most part al of Lyonnoys and Dauphynoys and thether retired to eschue the persecutions of their owne countries The RegimeÌ„ts of Dauphyne being passed the riuer of Rosne as is sayd the Lord D'acyer began then to marche with suche spéede and happy trauell that about the xxiij of September the armie arriued at the said All'es and from thence drew a direct way to Myllan in Roargnes deuiding notwithstanding his companies into seueralties in respect of the sterilitie of the countrey of victuals and other necessities for warre and so came to the said Myllaw the last of the sayd September The â–ª xxviij of the same moneth was published at Paris an edict wherin the king drawes out at length al chaunces hapned and passed within his realme for the matter of Religion preferring amongest the rest that the Edict of Januarie gyuing the firste sufferaunce or leaue to the Protestants to vse an exercise of their religion was but prouisionall vntill his full age and that his maiestie had no meanyng to force obseruation of any Edicte made touching the sayd Religion and therefore being nowe at the age of maioritie he pronounced general defence ageynst all vse exercise of the same religion thorough all his realm and contreys of his obedience charging by an arest irreuocable and that vpon peyne of confiscation of body gods not to haue any other practise of Religion within any of his sayd countreys and landes than according to the catholike church of Rome which bothe he and his predâ— essours haue so long tyme helde and maynteined enioyning precisely vpon like pâ—in al ministers of the sayd reformed re ligion to auoyde his sayd realme within .xv. days with this prouision at last that they of the sayd religon should not be in any sort cyfted or searched in their consciences albeit both after and notwithstanding the sayde Edict they haue ben oppressed more than afore and that with such violeÌ„ce as diuers haue reuolted The same day also was published another edict in the sayde parlyament at Parys wherein the king gaue absolute order that not only from thensforth he wold not be serued with any officers professing that religion but also they shoulde be immediately suspended of their estates and charges with coÌ„maundement to resigne them into his handes within .xv. dayes otherways he wold prouide supplies of the Romish sort it is long since these edicts were vppon the presse albeit they were not proclaymed afore now Now the Lorde d'Acyer parting from Myllaw the v. of October tooke his way too Cadenat as of purpose to passe there the riuer of Lot and in his waye caused to sommon the towne of Marzillac the whiche without great denyall and vnder certeine conditions set open her gates and the morow after he tooke the tower called Sainct Christophle with a pretie garison of priests in it And so marching further he ariued at the said Cadenat the .x. of October with entent to passe the ryuer of Dordone at Solliac where in respect the Lord de Mont-luâ— coasted him to withstaÌ„d his passage he assembled all his armie in a place called â—erac in Quercy finding vpoÌ„ that view â–ª xvij thousand harquebusiers and vij thousand Pykes and nyne hundred horsmen in good poynt and well disposed to fight In the same place he deuided his armie into two parts the auantgard battaileâ— in the vantgarde he set .vj. regimens of the Dauphynoys with the horsmen of the same countrey and in the mayne battayle hée bestowed the regimens of Languedoc Prouence Viuâ—rez and Roargues with the regimen of the Lord d'Orose Dauphynois al which coÌ„panies passed by force ouer the said riuer of Dordone on the side of Solliac froÌ„ whence the sayde Lord of Mont-luc was departed the day before as hauing sounded the sayd ryuer and founde it passable almost in euery place and he not strong ynough to hinder the passage of suche an armie his was the xiiij day of the sayde October in the yeare abouesayd Now that the Prince of Conde had receyued the force and troupes whiche the Lorde Dandelot brought to hym he came to besiege the towne of Angoulesme causing to be drawne thither from Rochel iiij canons and. iâ— Culuerins with the which he made a breache on that syde towarde Perigueux the same albeit not sufficient and therfore remoued his batterie on that syde which they cal the Park and bicause they that wer within vsed great diligence to fill vp the breache he made to be mounted vpoÌ„ the vault of the temple of S. Claire two culuerins to beat within the breach the same distressing so straytly them within that in the end hauing mainteyned the siege aboute viiâ— dayes the Marquise of Mâ—zieres their gouerner yeldes the town by composition to the Prince Duryng this siege arriued the Quéene and yong prince of Nauarre her son with madame Catherine her daughter accompanied with .iij. regiments of Gascoyn footmen the one vnder charge of the Lord De Pilles conteyning â–ª xxiij enseigns an other gouerned by the Vicount de Montamma of .x. enseignes and the third of .ix. enseignes led by the Vicount de Sainct Magrin with viiâ— cornets of light horsmen of the the same countrey The sayd Queene being at Bergerac vpon her waye dispatched to the Maiesties of the king and Queene the kings brother and Cardinall of Burbon seuerall letters vpoÌ„ the occasions y moued hir to come to the Camp with her son and daughter and ioyne them selues to the generall cause with the Prince of Conde her brother the expedition was by the Lord De la Motte who afore was sente to her by their Maiesties In her Letters to the Kyng shée complayned chiefly of the rage and passion of the enemie stretched already so far that in effect it had confounded the hope of quiet promised in the edict of pacification not only euill obserued but altogither reuersed contrary to the royall promyses of his maiestie to all his poore subiects of the reformed syde the same mouyng by the synister inuentioÌ„s of the Cardinal of Lorain as hauing by general letters to the parlyaments and others writen in particular wherof her self was witnesse in Guyenne brought the effects of the sayd edicts bothe vain and without execution besides whilest he kept matters in suspence he had procured suche horrible
of Pons hauing taken the Castel by composition and sent the Lord and Ladye of the place prisonners to Rochel marched with his Artillerie to ioyne with the Princes campe which the kings brother thought to intercept and for that cause passed Vienne by a Bridge of boates which he caused to be made at Chastellerant drawing directly to Pamprou néere vnto which his vauntgarde gouerned by the Lorde Montpensier came the .xvij. of Nouembre The Princes campe likewise marched to ioyne with the Lord de Boccard arriuing the same day somewhat late at Pamprou néere the Lord de Montpensier the same euening there were offred and receiued certaine shorte skirmishes by reason the night gaue let to their longer fight the army of the Princes camped nere the very houses of Pamprou halfe a league from the lord Mountpensier who caused to kindle great fires as though he would encampe there stealing away albeit about midnight and went to Jazenail to ioyne with the kinges brother that was there with the battell The morrow after being the xviij of the same month the Princes army was ready ringed in battel at the first appearing of the day who hoping to finde eftsones the lord Mountpensier where they left him the day before determined to bidde him battell but séeing he was so gone as neither forme nor figure remained of his being there the Prince spedde him so swiftly in the pursuite that he ariued at Jazenail almost as soone as he there began a warme skirmishe from noone till night the Admirall was not there at the beginning as following the chase of certaine troupes drawing towardes Menigours where he toke about lx chariotes charged with baggage of the kings brothers campe and amongest others the baggage of the duke of Guyse and the Countie Bryssack with the most parte of their siluer vessell all being a pray to the souldioures In the euening the Admirall arriued with the troupes which he led Immediatly after whose comming the skirmishe qualified the Princes army retiring into a wood nere to that place towarde Menigours This was the first proofe and experience of the Dauphynoys which were in the Princes campe who not withstanding did so wel as they deserued and had high commendacion they driue the Catholikes from thrée or foure of their trenches and enforced them to leaue the next towne to their campe albeit they had sundry aduauntages of the Princes footemen aswell by the multitude and numbers of shotte which thundred violently to defeÌ„d their trenches as also that their horsemen were alwayes a redy and singuler succour to their footemeÌ„ which the princes horsemen could not do by reason of hedges and maine ditches besides the naturall and troublesome situation of the place In this skirmish were brought to the earth on both sides about thrée hundreth bodies and almost all footemen the number notwythstanding of the dead being farre greater of the Papists than Protestants whose armie being now in great néede to be refreshed as hauing had neyther rest nor releese for two dayes for horsse nor man caused their footemen to marche the morning after to Menigours to recreate themselues and ioyne with the Lord de Boccard and all the horsemen after they had presented themselues in order of battell at the place where they were the day before retired also thither without any thing doing The Kings brother after thys skirmishe tooke his way to Poytiers and the Princes drewe towardes Mirebeau a Towne in Poictou foure leagues from Poytiers which was rendred wythout resistance to the Princes who with theyr armie soiourned there aboute eyghte dayes The Quéene of Nauarre being now at Rochel wrote to the Quéenes Maiestie of England the reasons of her departure from her owne and soueraign countreis in the first she preferred the cause of Religion so oppressed with the inueterate and barbarous tyrannie of the Cardinall of Loraine assisted by people of his owne humor that shée accompted in shame to bée numbred amongst the faithfull if she did not oppugne that horrible error with all such helpes as God would sturre vp confederating her selfe and sonne with so holy and honorable societies of Princes resolued vnder the fauoure of the great God of Armes to spare neyther bloud lyfe nor goodes to effect so blessed a purpose Her second reason resemblyng also the first was in respect of her Seruice to the king making the ruine of the church the confusion of him and his kingdome with whome because she and hir sonne hadde the nearest affinitie they thoughte it also theyr firste and propre office of duetie to intercept suche as vsurping vppon the naturall goodnesse and enclynation of theyr King woulde make hymselfe the Author of his owne destruction with suborned imposition albeit he is one of the most true princes of the world to be a falser of his promise and that by inuentions of their owne contriuing to infringe the edict of pacification which so long as it was preserued enterteined a ioyfull peace betwene the king and his faithful subiects and now being broken doth conuert the said fidelitie of his people to a lamentable warre and so inforced as there is not any one of them which hath not bene drawne into armes by violence The third cause peculiar to her selfe sonne was in that she sawe the auncient enemies of God her house with a shamelesse and perillous malice bent vtterly to exterminate their race Besides as she behelde on the one side with pitifull eyes the Prince her brother who to escâ—ue the mortal peril pretended against him was constrained afore hée entred into armes with his biggebellied wife and little children to searche places of securitie and that in such desolation as the very remembraunce is able to kindle remorse in any christian harte so on the other side being credibly informed of diuers expeditions and traines to rauish from betwene her handes her dere and onely sonne she could do no lesse thaÌ„ to imparte her selfe and sonne with the said consociacioÌ„ and to share with them in their generall fortunes according to the due office and bonde of blood and yet not to vndertake armes to contende against heauen as the good catholikes do suggest and much lesse to warre vpon the soueraigne maiestie of the king but rather to confront those who with their auncient spite to the generall cause do conioyne that wherof they haue geuen so many particular and publike effectes About the ende of Nouember the Admirall departed from Mirebeau in the night with all the horsemen and shot of the vauntgarde drawing towarde Pontd'Auzance as hauing aduertisemeÌ„t that there wer at that place certain troupes of the soueraigne lieuetenaunts campe And being there he founde in deede the Regiment of footemen of the Counte Brissack whom he charged and put them in part to flight killing two or thre hundred of them he was in minde to charge their horsemen which were also there sauing for the vehement rayne which enforced them to retire to Mirebeau besides he had
sortes of diseases in diuerse souldiours on both sydes and after dyed in lamentable numbers towardes the euening the Kings Lieuetenaunt retired to Chynon albeit certeyne Captaynes of the Princes armie charging vpon their tayle discomfited aboute vij or .viij. score Suyzers and thrée enseignes of footemen sodeynly set vpon as they were refreshing them selues in the village The Princes returned to Touars and the Admirall to Monstrueit-beley to winter there leauyng the Lorde d'Yuoy brother to the Lorde de Ianlis as gouerner within the towne of Loudun and for the garde of the same the regimens of the L. of Mont-brun Mirabel with .ij. cornets of horsemen the Lorde Ianlis not long after dyed of a disease in Almayne The Lord de la Coche who as is sayd was led prisoner to Metz was this .v. of January 1569. murdered by certein garrison soldiours of the towne who taking him out of prison and bynding him with Mychallon his ensigne bearer tolde him they were commaunded from the King to leade them to the Court and so exchange them for other prisoners within the princes Campe albeit they wer no sooner cut of the town than they were stabbed with daggers and so murdered Néere vnto Saulmur is an abbey called Sainct Florent wherin were two hundred footemen as a garrison to the Catholikes who with their abbay were besieged in this moneth of January by the vauntgarde of the Princes and they after they had beateÌ„ a breach entred by force-putting al that were beseeged to the mercy of the sworde immediatly after the garrison of Saulmur recouering the sayde Abbay vsed the like execution of all that they found Whiles the princes soiorned at Towars they dispatched into Gascoyne the Lorde de Pilles aswell to leuie newe force as other matters of speciall charge At his first arriuall he toke Bergerac and Saintfoy and hauing spéedily erected certaine forces of horsmen and footmen he bestowed his footmen and drew towards Perigueux with his horsemen and passing along the place where the Lords of Mouuans and Pierregourde were discomfited hée fyred many villages and killed as many peisauntes as hée mette as a reuenge of the bloud of so manye Souldioures whiche they hadde ouercome and slayne in the same ouerthrow The Kinges armye wintred at Chynon Saulmur Poyctiers and other places thereabout the princes armie in the beginning of February departed from Towars and Monstrueu-beley discending lower intoo the countrey to fynde vittells the vauntgarde drew to Partenay and the battell to Niort harbouring in the places thereabout The thirde day of this moneth the Lord de Boursaut captayne of a hundred lyghts horsmen and his company were sodeinly set vpon within a village néere to Towars by the Counte Brissac accompanyed with vij or .viij. hundred horsmen presently issued out of Saulmur There were many of them taken and many killed and the rest as the Lord de Boursaut and others saued themselues by help of the dark night In the beginning of February y quene of Nauarre came to â—â—orâ— where shee founde the Princes wyth dyuerse other greate Lordes with whome shee entred into Counsell for the affaires and disposition of the warre There was agreed a sale of temporal goods of the Churchmen toward the mayntenaunce of the generall cause for y purpose wer drspatched preseÌ„t letters vnder the names and authoritie of the sayd Quéene Princes of Nauarre and Gonde the Lorde Admirall Dandelot Rochefoucaut with wordes of ample power giuen to their procurors and commissaries to promise and binde them for warrant requisite in suche case These comissions were published in towns holden vnder their obedience with present sale and alyenation made accordingly the same raysing great summes of money Whilest the said Quéene Princes and other stats remained in consultation with in Nyort certeine horsmen of the Lord of Verac captaine of a hundreth light horsemen making often incursion vppon the next enimies toke the Lord of Cassac lieutenant of the men at armes to the Duke of Guyse as he was bayting in an Inne whome they ledde to Niort and so to Rochell The Counte Mountgomerey lodgyng in a village called la Motte was charged vpon the sodeyn by the Counte Brissac and enforced to retyre within the Castel of the same place seruyng somewhat to hys defence so that he receyued no other losse than his yonger brother whiche was led to the Castell of Luzignan this was the xij of February The Princes now determyned to perfourme their enterprise vppon the castell of Luzignan and to take it the same mouyng as it séemed eyther by a practyse of Montgomories brother or else by some secrete intelligence they hadde with the Gouernours Lieutenaunte of the same place where they were in good order and vppon the sodayne the .xx. of February very early in the mornyng dyuers of their Captaynes and souldiours entring within albeit being discouered their further attempt was intercepted and they returned without any thing doing The Counte of Tande gouernour for the King in Prouence in the begynning of Nouember the yeare before put himselfe vppon his waye with thrée thousand footemen and certeine horsemen of that country marching intoo Fraunce as hée was coÌ„maunded and passing by Dauphiné the baron of Adretz who also had leuyed a Regyment of footemen conteyning .xvij. enseignes ioyned with him too passe also in company into Fraunce In theyr waye they came by the siege of Sanserre whiche the Counte Mertiuengo an Italyan and gouernoure of Gyran had long continued where as they spente long tyme wythout aduauncyng the ende and purpose of the siege so procuryng the siege to bée raysed the Counte â—ande drew to Poyctou to the Kyngs Campe where hée arriued aboute the ende of Februarye and the baron of Adretz marched into â—orayn to the Duke d'Aumale sent thither as you haue heard to withstande the entrie of straungers into Fraunce The Kynges brother hauing receyued these newe succours and made shewe to his men of armes of two hundred thousande frankes which the house of Parys had lent the Kyng vpon the temporal goodes of the Church men he gathered ageyn hys Campe and drewe towardes Angoulmoys Immediatly after in the same moneth arryued two thousande and fyue hundred Reistres vnder the conduct of the Counties Reyngraffe and Bassompier who béeing much harried in theyr long and paynful iorney to come into France refreshed themselues certayne tyme aboute Poyctiers afore they ioyned wyth the Kyngs Campe whoe approched still to Angoulesme and taryed them And bycause hée woulde haue the libertie of the Ryuer of Charente to passe and repasse at his pleasure he dispatched the Lorde de la Riuiere a Gentleman of Poyctou for to sease vppon the Towne and also the Castell of larnacke The Princes nowe béeing truely enfourmed what waye the Kynges Campe tooke departed from Nyort and vppon the begynning of March aryued at Sainct lean d'Angely marchyng from thence with theyr battayle to Sainctes The Admirall with the vauntegarde lodged at Coygnac and
last of Septēber in the very first discouery of the morning vpon a plaine within a league of Mont-gontour There the Admirall sent the Lord de La-louë and de La-nouē with .vij. cornets of horsmen and Captaine Normant harquebusiers on horssebacke to Mont-gontour to know if the Kings brother were there who finding no body returned with spéedy report to the Admirall accordingly who made marche foorthwith the footemen of the battel then the Artillerie and so the footemen of the vauntgard aswell French as Almains folowing them himselfe with the horssemen of bothe the one and other nation He left in the taile the Lord de Mouy with charge to gouern the retraict with fiue cornets of French horsmen two cornets of Reistres and a company of harquebushears on horssebacke of captaine Montarnaunt a prouinciall The catholikes coasted them very neere exspecting their artillery which was not yet come The admiral passed ouer a litle riuer half a leage from Montgontour very vneasie to marche ouer by reason of a marrish along the brinke of it the same making it impossible on all parts sauing in a little strait or gutter beneath certain houses along the high way There lacked no more but the Lord of Mouy and his troupe whom the Catholikes with .xl. cornets of horsmē charged togither with a voley of Cannons discharged also vpon them It was thought this charge was giuen by ◠lord de Tauannes gouernor for the king in Burgon it was withstanded a litle by the Lord de Mouy who vnable to sustain it thorowly in respect of the multitude retired The Admiral seing his perill gaue backe with the horssemen and retourned with no lesse sury the charge vppon them that had layde it vppon the L. de Mouy who in the meane time retired with the rest of his troupe with the losse of some fewe amongst the which was the Lord de Entrichaut ensigne bearer to the Lord S. Auban Dauphynois the Artillerie was by this at Mont-gontour and the footemen of the battel very néere who séeing that charge turned backe to the fight as also the Lord de la Nouē and la-Louë with their cornets all that day passed in skirmishing without offer of other charge The Catholikes shotte vehemently which albeit annoyed muche the Admiral yet he left not the field till night and then retired with those of the Religion to Mont-gontour and the Catholikes encamped vppon the place The next morow being saterday and first day of the month of October the said armie issued out of Mont-gontour lodged in the Uillages thereabout leauing the Lord de Mouy with his regiment of horssemen and two regiments of footemen within the towne to gard the passage There were certain light skirmishes albeit neither of long fight nor much losse They moued by certaine disordered shot of the Catholikes who thought to winne the Subburbs on their side but being repulsed their purpose was also intercepted and they forced to returne without any other thing doing The kings brother séeing that side closed from him and that he could not easly wade the Riuer of Viue the same being his only impediment to follow the Princes campe determined to passe aboue the head of the riuer in a village beneth Mirebeau In the meane while the Princes hauing bene at Nyort to sée the Quéene of Nauarre returned to the camp the second of October where they drue into counsel with resolution to take the way to Partney and Nyort and giue battell to the Catholikes if they assailed them in the way sommoning for this purpose the whole army to be ready by the dawning of the day and euery Colonel and captaine to labour accordingly in his charge The Catholikes were also of opinion to go to Nyort and beséege it and by that meanes to prouoke the Princes to battell The Princes campe according to the order resolute aforesayd was in a perfect readinesse ringed in battels and squares pitching the next morning the third of October vppon a little hill néere to Mont gontour well disposed as is aforesayd to giue battel if the ennimie aduaunced who also began to appéere and discouer on the left hand vppon an other round hill from the bottom wherof they might easily discern the disposition of the Princes armye which when he had well viewed he retired his marche as though he ment to draw directly to Nyort vsing notwithstanding such order as his rings and companies kept néere togither The Admirall bearing an eye to their doings espied their pollitie and purpose of proceding wherein as he suspected that they shotte at his aduauntage as labouring to win way vpon him made descend forthwith the Prynces armie from the hill where it was setled of purpose to gaine and occupie the plaine afore them wheruppon the Catholikes in place to marche forward commaunded a sodain stay holding their Pikes vpright and ringing them in square and mean battels turned face to their vauntgard winning by that meanes the hil from whence the princes armie were but now discended And being maisters in this sort of the hill aboue the opinion expectation of the Admiral beganne to dispose them selues to the shocke And at the first descending from the hil they ordred and ringed their footemen in the valey or side of the foote of the sayd hil not without great discretion and iudgement keping by that meanes their footmen in couert and defended from the storme of the artillerie which discharged vehemently as well on the one as other side In the meane while the kings brother dressed and disposed two batteries not sparing his body to trauell from one battell and square to an other with persuasion to the soldiors to haue good hart the like also did the Princes visiting in person euery ranke aswell of horssemen as footemen whose pleasant aspect specially in the prince of Nauarre gaue cause of singular corage to the soldiors whose stomackes besides they were firmly setled in the goodnesse of the cause yet they seemed to redouble in desire the rather at the gracious view and persuasion of the yong Prince Immediatly after two of the clock in the after noone the vantgarde of the Catholikes went to the charge with a square and wing of .xviij. cornets of Reisters and great numbres of horssemen as well French as Italyan who charged altogither so violently vpon the Lord of Mouy and la Loue that they were enforced to endure and take the charge retiring thorow the battell of the Lanceknights which gréeued them sore notwithstanding the Admirall supplyed the charge and gaue with such furye vppon the Catholike Reisters that he cutte great numbres of them in péeces and immediatly with the remainder of hys horssemen of the Uauntgarde repulsed with force the Uauntgarde of the ennemy wheruppon was raised a crye on the Admirals side Uictory Uictory the same sounding with suche noyse of comfort in the eares of the mayne battayle that diuers ranne thither to follow the victory When loe the Catholikes maine battell aduaunced bending