be thought verie small neither doe I thinke they will be grieued with maintaining it foure yeeres sith so they may reape this benefit to inioy fortie in peace and safetie Charles the fift onely of his owne and part of the Empire brought before Metz 80000. men and the armie that Maximilian lastly raised against the Turks in the yere 1556. amounted vnto 60000. so as we shall performe no newe thing but onely in the continuance thereof Concerning Captaines ouer the Hungarians the Emperour himselfe might command who cannot imploie his hignesse in anie act more worthie his greatnesse and he to be accompanied with his vnkles and brethren The Dukes of Saxonie Casimire and other Germaine Princes Earles and Colonels among whom he should finde both prowesse and good conduct As for the French and what should thereto be adioyned we may easily finde Princes enowe to command but I will name but two whome I take to bee most meete namely the king of Nauarre who in desire of wel doing and courage giueth place to none and the Duke of Lorraine whose auncestours hauing bene scourges to the Turkish nation it is to be presumed that their auncient good hap may accompanie his valor So as it should rest in the King to appoint which of them shoulde haue charge or if he should commit it to them both alternatiuely I am sure neither of them should want a goodly traine as wel of the one as of the other religion The nauie likewise woulde haue some mightie Captaine And in as much as many doe certainly beleeue that the Duke of Sauoy a Prince of great expectation an imitatour of his Fathers magnanimitie will enter alliance in Spaine it may be the Catholike king may honour him with that office for that authoritie is requisite to rule so much nobilitie and Gentrie as should there be found of both nations who are not easie to be gouerned Howbeit considering what experience ought to be in such a head I knowe none more capable than the Prince of Parma who iustly deserueth to be commended for the best Captain in Christendome But I feare that euerie mans desire to be employed in this expedition would moderate the iealousies of the first and seconde places also that such debates would easily be decided When I consider what Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines and notable Souldiours shall be in these expeditions I knowe not how such power can possiblie be beaten For if in al Christendome there were anie vertue discretion magnanimitie arte or industrie the most exquisite thereof would vndoubtedly be brought thether by those who enflamed with a desire of well doing would liberallie in so noble an assemblie shew forth whatsoeuer the fairest of their perfections one would seke by couÌ„sel another by boldnes another by diligence each to outgoe his companion The like shall wee see among our nobilitie not coutentious enuies but honest emulations who might be most notable in well obeying and better commaunding When ye haue in an armie a number of such people as can leade the waie to others and take sure holde without letting goe they make all the rest to fight well Neither can I thinke that there be many such among the Turks who being for the most part slaues doe fight for feare of punishment rather than for loue of true glorie These armies should be readie as well by land as by sea to march wheresoeuer they shall be appointed at the beginning of May. But al the difficultie resteth in knowing how to inuade for we may proceede therein after sundrie manees I would thinke that the Christians should wholy purpose at the beginning of their war to grow to battayle with these barbarous people for sith their Empire consisteth onely vpon the good will of nations we shall see wonderfull alterations if at the first ariual they may inâ—urâ—e anie notable ouerthrow But it is a question whether they maye bee easily drawen thereto for commonly we see that if the enimie perceiue his aduersaries deuises he will still seeke to leade him to contrarie purposes This doe I confesse to be often put in practise but we are to hope with so mightie and proude enimies as the Turkes that it wil fall out as with a greate Boare whome the dogges haue het for what soeuer he first seeth man or dogge by and by he maketh towarde it with wonderfull furie We neuer found in writing that they haue bene slowe to battayle for that they still seeke to vphold the reputation of their name and armies When they heare of the Christians preparation to wars they proceede in lyke sort and before we can come within 50. leagues of their frontiers they are so diligent that they haue sacked halte ours Whereby we know that they would soone couer the visard as we saie and hauing throughly considered heereof I finde that it would be a great aduantage vnto vs for the heare and furie of Northerne nations is at the first verie forcible but by delayes quaileth Now let vs see wherein the land armie should consist namelie in 18000. Reistres 10000. speares armed after the French Italian manner 2000. harquebuzes on horseback and 10000. Hungarian and Polonian speares to serue for light horsemen For the power must be receiued each after the manner of his owne nation The footmen to be composed of 20000. harquebuziers and 30000 speares in all amounting to 40000. horse and 50000. footmen all fighting men Likewise for artillerie for the fielde twentie Canons and twentie greate Culuerines accompanied with the pioners aforesayd and virtuall sufficient for such an armie The thinking of all this maketh vs to reioyce but when we dreame vpon the expenses it danteth vs for it will require monthly 800000. Crownes which riseth to a great deale in a whole yeere Furthermore least such an armie if it should go farre from the great riuers or enter into the land should be much hindred for want of victuals and forage it shall be forced to keep along the riuer of Danow and there to begin their first purposes so might they abound in all necessarie prouision which should be brought by the same It is also meete to haue a bridge of boates accompanied with armed gallies to follow it so to keepe both shores of the said riuer as well for forages as for the siege of such places as stand thervpon I thinke that Strigonia is one of the first places that the Turks holde but neither it nor anie other that they possesse are as I vnderstand of any strength for when they doubt that any shall be assalted they put in 8. or 10000. souldiours and looke for no other fortification and it is harde with ordinarie meanes onelie to wreast from them anie that is in theyr handes Wherefore whether they should fortune to bee the first or the last in the fielde I am of opinion to the ende to binde them to fight it were good to make shew and that in earnest to set vppon some places
side they shoulde bring one hundred Gentlemen with armour and speare That no troops shuld come within two leagues of the place appointed That thirtie light horse on each part should sixe houres before their meeting discouer the fielde which was as playne as the sea That at the appointed houre the Queene and King of Nauarre should bee on horse backe in the place appointed where the Prince and Admirall lykewise on horsebacke shoulde meeâ—e them to intreate together of the publyke affayres In the meane time the two troopes consisting of choice men and for the most parte Lordes to houer eight hundred pates asunder the Marshall de Anuil commaunding ouer the one and the Earle of Rochefoucault ouer the other Hauing thus beheld eyther other for the space of halfe an houre each coueting to see one his brother another his vnkle cousen friende or olde companion they â—raued leaue of theyr superiours which was hardlie graunted in respect that at the first they were forbidden to meete for feare of iniuryes and affrayes But so farre were they from quarelling that contrariwise there was nothing but salutations and embracings of such as could not forbeare y e demonstration of amitie vnto those whome parentage or honestie had vnited vnto them notwithstanding the contrarie tokens that they bare For the King of Nauarres troope was clothed in cassockes of crimson veluet and redde scarfes and the Prince of Condes in white The Catholikes imagining the Protestants to bee lost exhorted them to see to themselues not to enter obstinatlie into this miserable warre wherein neere kinsmen must murther one another heereto they aunswered that they detested it howbeit if they had not recourse to theyr defence they were assured of lyke intreatie as many other Protestants had receiued who were cruellie slaine in sundrie parts of France To be briefe each prouoked other to peace and to persuade their superiours to hearken thereto Some who a parte did more deeplie consider of these things bewayled publike discord as the spring of future mischiefes Then waighing with themselues that all these greetings would bee conuerted into bloudie murthers vppon the least token of battayle that the superiours shoulde giue that the â—iseardes being shut and readie furie hauing â—ayled their sight one brother woulde scarce pardon another the water euen stoode in their eyes My selfe was then among the Protestants and I may truelie saie that on the other side there were a douzen of my friendes whome I accounted as deere as my owne brethren who also bare mee the lyke affection In the meane time as well conscience as honour bounde each one not to fayle in the one or the other Priuate amitie did as theÌ„ liue but since these great calamities had course and conuersation discontinued it is euen dead in many The Queene and Prince of Conde hauing conferred two long houres together when they coulde growe to no agreement departed each verie sorie that they had no better succesie Of the Prince of Condies promise somewhat rashlie made to the Queene mother that hee would depart the Realme of France and why it was not performed AFter the ariuall of a great number of the ordinarie bandes and parte of the olde infanterie at Paris the King of Nauarre the Constable and the Duke of Guize who contemned the Protestants as rebelles thought themselues strong inough to make them afrayde and in battayle araie marched towarde Chasteaudun The Prince vnderstanding heereof craued the aduice of such Captaines as accompanied him what were to bee done who all with one consent declared that sith they had hetherto as well in deedes as wordes set so good a face on the matter if nowe they shoulde at the beginning of the warre suffer themselues to bee shutte vp and besieged in a Towne it would bee some testimonie of cowardlynesse and greatly disgrace the Protestants affayres as well with foraine nations as with such of the Frenchmen as tooke heir partes withall considering that their power alreadie grew well toward sixe thousand footmen and two thousand horse also that by the report of the spies the enimies were not yet aboue foure thousand footmen and three thousand speares to whom notwithstanding they were not so well armed they were no whit inferiour in courage that nothing ought therefore to let them from taking the field with all speed and fighting with the enimie if occasion might so serue for they could neuer haue them at a better aduantage considering how theyr power would from time to time increase Upon this resolution ehey encamped a league and a halfe from Orleance whether the Queene sent new Embassadours to enter parley for both sides did greatly feare the vniuersall desolations ensuing of warre if once it were begun At the two first meetings they argued sufficiently though to small resolution onely it was agreed that the Catholike and leagued Lordes and Princes should depart each to his owne home and then would the Prince of Condie obey whatsoeuer the king should command for the wealth of the Realme Soone after they marched to Chasteaudun and no farther which the Protestants presumed to bee but a dissimulation Some will saie that in the sayd parlies the Prince of Conde hazarded himselfe into ouer great peril but he was still stronger than the enimie and his men too warie to be deceiued albeit in one point they ouershoot theÌ„selues vpon simplicitie which was in deliuering to y e king of Nauarre when he came to y e parley the towne of Boisgencie which was nothing worth for his fafety but was neuer restored them again this did greatly chafe them as perceiuing that thence forth they must talke with the bridle in hand Now as daily there came some from the Queene to the Prince of Conde to perswade him to peace which hee seemed greatly to desire among the rest was imploied the Bishop of Valence a man in learning and eloquence most excellent when he lyst to shew forth eyther the one or the other Hee with his fayre speech so qualyfied the Prince that he increased his desire of a good accord and finally told him that in as much as many reproched him to be the author of the war it were his part to make euident his iustificatioÌ„ by al good offers braue effects also y t if at the next enteruiew he wold tel y e Queene y t rather than to sée y e real me hazarded to fire sword he wold be coÌ„tent with his friends to depart the same shee could haue nothing to answere much lesse his enimies who had promised to returne to their habitations likewise that of this motion might ensue some good resolution that should stay all wepons which being laid downe all things might after ward be easily reestablished This sayd he departed leauing in the Prince who was loth to be constrained to fight agaynst his owne nation certaine impression to followe this counsayle which he imparted to some that were desirous of peace therefore gainsayd it not
THE POLITICKE AND MILITARIE DISCOVRSES OF THE LORD DE LA NOVVE VVhereunto are adioyned certaine obseruations of the same Author of things happened during the three late ciuill warres of France With a true declaration of manie particulars touching the same All faithfully translated out of the French by E. A. AT LONDON Printed for T. C. and E. A. by Thomas Orwin 1587. TO THE RIGHT HONOrable his verie good Lorde George Earle of Cumberland Baron Clifford Lord Bromflet Aton and Vescie c. E. A. wisheth all increase of honour and true felicitie ANTIGONVS being asked whom he thought to bee the worthiest Captaine in his time answered Pirrhus if he were of more yeres not daring to pronounce him absolutelie the worthiest vntill he had experience to match with his valour euen so if it were demaunded at this daie who iustlie deserued the name of a politike expert Capptaine I think without preiudice to anie other that the Lord de la Noüe the author of this present treatise whose wise gouernment in time of peace being no lesse commendable than his long seruice in time of warres to the Church of God hath bene profitable is not in silence to be ouer-passed Howbeit least I should right Honorable and my verie good Lord seeme rather to blemish than amplifie the vertues of so worthie a man through the basenesse of my stile and vnpolished phrase I leaue the same to bee notefied by those whose great knowledge and ripe iudgement I doe iustlie preferre many degrees before mine owne being the rather thereto induced by the like example of Menedemus the Lacedemonian who was wont to saie that the qualitie and condition of the praiser ought to be as well regarded as that of the praised Insinuating thereby that it was vnfit verie for anie man to commend the thing wherein his iudgement might fayl or his education be therto not answerable In as much therefore as his owne works may in some measure make manifest what is to bee thought of his person I doe present them to your Honors view and patronage in this our vulgar tongue faithfullie and trulie translated out of the French desiring though not deseruing like fauourable acceptation as I had good meaning to offer the same For therein I am fullie perswaded the indifferent and not curious reader shall finde matter sufficient for the reestablishing of a ruinous common weale if it be put in practise wise counsaile for maintenance thereof and lastly approued documents requisite whether in ciuill or forraine warres which albeit they were written perticulerlie to releeue and restore the declining estate of the realm of France are also in my opinioÌ„ not vnnecessary for ours or any other that may fal into the like if God who is the protector and guider of all Realmes shoulde not continue among vs vnity and godly peace A work no doubt worthy the writer and yet at the first published without his priuitie or allowance being collected and disgested into one volume out of a heape of papers cast aside by the industrie paines of the L. of Fresnes whom as himself reporteth the miserie of the time and troubles of his owne natiue Countrie enforced as a banished man to keepe companie with the said Lord de la Noüe during his captiuitie in a forraine land dedicated to that excellent Prince patterne of pietie Henrie of Burbon King of Nauarre throrough whose roiall patrimonie together with the iust desert of the author himselfe it hath receiued friendly entertainment among the better sorte of the French Nation as I doubt not but it shall finde the like heere among vs English men being shrouded vnder the couert of your L. honorable protectioÌ„ to the which I commit the same thus crauing pardon for my boldnesse most humblie I take my leaue of your Lordship to whom I wish long life with all encrease of honour Your Honors most humble and heartie well willer E. A. To the King of Nauarre SIR it doth many times so fall out that those things which we imagine to be most hurtfull vnto vs do redound to our greatest benefit This when Chion a man in his daies of good estimation among the Greekes had tried in himselfe hee did by a Letter of his yet extant giue thankes to the contrarie winds which maugre his head had detained him at Constanâ—inople from whence hee ment to haue sailed to Athens because the sayde sâ—aie procured him the benefite of entering a league of friendship with Xenophon who during his aboade ariued there with his troopes after his returne out of Persia confessing that he had more profited in the companie of that gallant Captaine then hee shoulde haue done in the schooles of the most famous Philosophers of all Grecce After the example therefore of that so notable a personage my selfe will giue thankes to the miseries of this time because that forcing me to become a Philosopher in a strange land they haue wrought me this good to haue passed away eight or nine moneths in the companie of the Lord De la None For besides that hee is endued with all those good partes which Chion noteth in Xenophon as well in respect of his learning as also for his knowledge and experience in armes the examples of his vertues and sweetnesse of his conuersation did so helpe me to disgest both the publike calamities and mine owne perticular discommodities that during life I cannot but yeeld praise to God for so great a benefite Howbeit the thing that made me most desirous of his friendshippe was a consideration that the farther he was through his afflictions driuen out of France and from your Maiestie the more did his affection to your seruice the welfare of the whole Realme seeme to increase for whether he walkt or slept all his imaginations tended nolie to the finding out of such meanes as might best redresse the calamities that oppressed our miserable Countrie and his ordinarie deuises to the seeking out of anie thing that might aduance the reestablishing of the state in her former dignitie A matter at this day so lamentable as it seemeth rather to bee wished than hoped for Injoying therefore that sweete familiaritie wherewith it pleased him to honour mee and being on a time in his closet I chaunced to laie my hand vpon a heape of papers throwen aside in a corner as things not regarded and finding that they deserued to bee more diligently gathered together I began very gladly to reade them ouer but he would not suffer me saying they were but scriblings whereon he had employed the most tedious houres of his leasure during his long and straight imprisoment likewise that among them there was nothing worth the sight because his continuall exercise in warrefare wherein he had employed himselfe had denied him all opportunitie to endite well as also that in these discourses especiallie as neuer meaning other than to passe awaie the time he had taken no paines with the polishing or filing of them that
maner of aranging the horse in hay or file is now to small vse also that it were necessarie they should take the vse of Squadrons pag. 184 16 Of the vse of Camarades which among the Spanish footmen are of great accompt pag. 190 17 Of the rewards ordinarily bestowed vpon the Spanish souldiers when they haue done any notable peece of seruice which they tearme their Aduantages pag. 194 Foure militarie Paradoxes 1 That a squadron of Reistres should beate a squadron of Speares pag. 198 2 That 2500. Corcelets and 1500 Harquebuziers may more easely retire three French leagues in a plaine field then 2000. Speares pag. 203 3 That it is expedient for a Captaine to haue susteyned an ouerthrow pag. 210 4 That daily experience haue taught such meanes to fortifie Houlds as are most profitable in respect of the small charge thereof and no lesse defensible then such stately ones as the Ingeniors haue aforetime inuented pag. 215 19 That the continuation of the wicked proceedings of the warres of these daies doe make a iust cause to seeme vniust pag. 220 20 That a King of France is of himselfe mightie enough though he neither couet nor seeke other greatnesse then his owne realme doth afford him pag. 226 21 That alliances of Christian Princes with Mahumetistes the capitall enemies of the name of Christ haue euermore bene vnfortunate also that we ought not to enter any firme confederacie with them pag. 234 22 That the Christian Princes well vnited are able in foure yeeres to expulse the Turkes out of Europe pag. 245 23 Of the Philosophers stone pag. 291 24 Against those that thinke that godlinesse depriueth man of all pleasures pag. 312 25 That euery man according to his capacitie and vocation may vse contemplation pag. 334. Obseruations of diuers things happened in the three first troubles of France together with the true reporte of the most parte of the same The first Troubles That the Protestants but for the late accident at Vassie had bene preuented in the beginning of the first ciuill warre pag. 346 Whether the Lord Prince of Conde in the first troubles committed so great an ouersight as many haue giuen out in that he seased not vpon the Court or Paris pag. 350 Of three things which I noted that happened afore the armies tooke the field The one pleasant the other artificiall and the third lamentable pag. 352 Of the Prince of Condees promise somwhat rashly made to the Queene Mother that hee would depart the Realme of France and why it was not performed pag. 357 By what occasion the warre did first breake foorth betweene the two armies pag. 362 Of the good discipline which for the space of two moneths only was obserued among the Prince of Condees troopes both of hotsemen and footmen Also of the originall of Picoree or Prowlinge pag. 361 Of the reasons that moued the Prince of Condees armie to breake vp after the taking of Boisgency also how hee conuerted that necessitie into profite and of the purposes of the King of Nauarre pag. 366. That but for the forraine ayde that the Lord of Andelot brought in the Protestants affayres had bene but in bad case and many mens mindes shrewdly daunted as well through the taking of Bourges and Roan as for the ouerthrow of the Lord of Duras pag. 372 Of the Prince of Condees purposes when he sawe his forraine succour approach and how he came before Paris from whence after he had there soiorned eleuen daies and done nothing he departed toward Normandie pag. 375 Of sixe notable occurrences in the battaile of Dreux pag. 379 Of the siege by the Lord of Guize layd to Orleance also of the Lord Admirals iourney into Normandie pag. 384 The second Troubles Of the causes of the taking of armes in the second troubles also how the purposes wherevpon the Protestants had built themselues proued vayne pag. 388 That the P. of Condees attempt of three things set a proud face vpon the beginning of his enterprise wherat the Catholiks were at the first astonied pa 394 Of the most notable occurrēces happened at the departure frō S. Denis p. 396 Of the voyages of both the armies toward Lorrain but to seueral intēts p. 400 Of the returne of the two armies toward Orleance Paris also of the course that the Prince of Conde tooke in victualling marching and lodging of his men pag. 403 Of the new forces out of sundrie Prouinces that met at Orleance which inuited the Prince of Conde to vndertake the voyage to Chartres pag. 406 The second peace concluded at Lon-iumeau pag. 409 The third Troubles Of the Protestants diligent retreat in the last troubles also of the Lord of Martigues braue resolution when he came to Saumure pag. 411 That the respite which his Maiestie gaue to the Prince of Conde without sending any armie against him was a meanes for him to preuaile of a great Prouince without the support wherof he could not haue cōtinued the warre p. 415 Of the first progresse of both the armies when being in their prime they sought with like desire to fight pag 418 That both the armies endeuouring to ouercome each other could not so much as come to battaile also that the sharpnesse of the wether parted them almost destroying as well the one as the other in fiue daies pag. 425 Of the death of the Prince of Conde at Bassac pag. 430 Of the notable passage of the D. of Bipont from the borders of Rhine euen into Aquitaine pag. 434. The siege of Poicters pag. 438 Of the battaile of Montcontour pag. 442 That the siege of S. Iohn d'Angely was the springing againe of the Protestants pag. 446 That the towne of Rochel stood the Protestants in this warre in no lesse stead then Orleance had done in the former pag. 447 That in 9. moneths the Princes armie marched almost 300. leagues compassing in maner the whole realme of France also what successe they had in this voyadge pag. 449. The causes of the third peace The comparison therof with the former also whether the same were necessary pag. 454. FINIS THE POLITICK AND MILITARIE DISCOVRSES of the Lord De la Nouë The first Discourse That the realme of France doth by little and little runne into decay and is neere to a great ouerthrow vnlesse God of his goodnesse vphold it Also that as yet there be some remedies to raise it vp againe in case they may bee with speede accepted THE mindes of euery man ought to be firmely and stedfastly resolued that God is the author of all politick gouernements which he hath established to the ende that through good order all humaine societie may bee preserued and mainteyned in pietie and iustice also that it is he that vpholdeth them in their beautie force and dignitie vntill that vpon mans contempt of his lawes and corruption of their maners he powre foorth his wrath vpon them whereof doe ensue the subuertions and alterations of Monarchies and Commonwelths Those men
for militarie knowledge gaue out that himselfe through the benefite of fortune had bene saued and exalted And yet are there some at this day that will say that the fortune of the auncient heathen which was vayne and the order that God taketh in the conduct of inferiour matters which is assured are but cloakes where-vnder men doe shroude their ignorance also that man himselfe according as he guideth his doings either well or ill breedeth his owne mishap or felicitie albeit sundrie experiences be therto repugnant They ought therfore to purge their mindes of such opinions and to perswade them selues that notwithstanding man imagineth and purposeth yet is it God that giueth accomplishment to his enterprises Whether the Lord Prince of Condé in the first troubles committed so great an ouersight as many haue giuen out in that he seased not vpon the Court or Paris I Wil not denie but many skilful persons were and peraduenture still bee of that opinion as also my selfe was a while But after I had throughly wayed and considered what happened at the beginning of this tragedie as also what fell out afterward I was reclaymed to the knowledge of those truer matters which shall appeare in the progresse of my speech The Lord Prince of Condé seeing how his brother the King of Nauarre was by little and little slipt into a delicious kinde of life and had suffered himselfe so much to be abused by the vayne and ritch promises and apparant honors of those that skorned him that he was growne so farre as to giue ouer his partie whereof ensued a wonderfull quailing to many which both openly and secretly seemed to fauour him and as great an encouragement to the leagued to withstand him did not thinke it good to leane to so rotten a foūdation but rather to lay a better els where In as much also as the Court and Paris are the two great lights of France the one resembling the Sunne the other the Moone yet both subiect to ecclipse he imagined that hauing some light from the one he ought to seeke for the light of the other and therefore endeuoured to plant the preaching of the Gospell in Paris to the ende the same knowledge which before was hidden and lay as it were buryed among the innumerable multitude of people might bring forth aboundance of fruite as soone after did it appeare for sometimes ye might see at the assemblies thirtie thousand persons These goodly beginnings caused those of the Religion to seeke meanes to establish it wherein neuerthelesse they shewed themselues somewhat negligent But when the effects of the League brake forth they euidently perceiued that it was meet to do that which through ouer much forflowing was not now easely to be done whereabout neuerthelesse they somewhat employed themselues albeit with very small hope Hauing more narowlie examined this matter I finde that as the execution of this purpose to anie profite was in the beginning nothing easie so in the end it was most difficult I will first therefore spake of Paris and shewe the lettes therein to be found Euerie man knoweth it to bee the seate of Iustice which is of meruaylous authoritie and as the fauour thereof woulde haue stoode the Protestants in great steade so would the mislyke haue bredde wonderfull damage Nowe all the Senate with their whole trayne except a verie fewe did alwayes shewe themselues their capitall enimies The Cleargie of that Citie beeing most mightie and in greate reuerence were euen madde to see those thinges common which touched them so neere the quicke and vnder hande wrought a thou sand practises there agaynst The bodie of the Townehouse fearing alterations which they imagined to proceede of diuersitie of religion endeauoured to bannish and driue it awaie To the same ende tended the most parte of the Uniuersitie and in manner all the inferiour and common people with the fauourers and seruauntes of the Catholike Lordes and Gentlemen Neyther doe I yet speake of such as might happen to haue recourse to the Citie out of other places but onelie of those that were then present As for the assured strength that the Protestants made account of it consisted of three hundred Gentlemen and as manie trayned souldiours foure hundred schollers and a fewe voluntarie Burgeses of no experience And what else was all this agaynst in manner an infinite number of people but a small flie agaynst an Elephant I thinke that onelie the nouices of the couentes together with the Priestes wenches comming sodainelie vppon them with fagot stickes in theyr handes had beene able to haue withstoode them and yet notwithstanding theyr weaknesse they sette a good face vppon the matter vntill that the open force of the leagued Princes and Lordes did constrayne them to giue euer But had they buckeled in the Towne as considering the secret driftes of theyr enemses they shoulde soone haue beene forced coulde the Protestants haue beene able to fight three dayes as they did at Tholouze Truelie no nor three houres as I thinke neyther had there beene anie waie to maintaine them but the presence of the King to fauour his Edict Some will saie that the Prince of Condie abandoning Paris committed the lyke errour as Pompey But if they marke it well they shall finde that Pompeyes ouersight was without comparison greater than his For hee had all Rome at his becke where the Prince had scarce a handfull at Paris Before wee applie those auncient examples to the deedes of these dayes wee must consider of the lykelyhoode betweene them All the aforesayde difficulties doe perswade mee that the endeauouring to establishe the exercise of religion at Paris was a haughtie and valiant attempt but without the helpe aforesayde to confirme it it was vnpossible as that which hath since fallen out hath well declared Nowe let vs looke into the disposition of the Court It is wel inough knowen that at the conference at Poyssy the doctrine of the Gospell was propounded withall libertie wherevpon many both greate and smal began to haue a tast thereof But as a fire of straw maketh a greate blaze and is by and by out againe for want of substaunce so after that that which they had receiued as a noueltie was a lyttle growen olde in their heartes theyr affections thereto quayled and most of them retourned to the former course of the Court which is more fit to procure mirth and pastime and to breed wealth yea euen some Huguenots turnd theyr coates and followed this path The Court wee are in generall to take for the true image of the Prince for as hee is so is his traine If hee bee wise so will it bee but if hee delyght in follie it will also imitate him And in case a householder through vse shapeth the manners of his children and familie by the patterne of his owne what shall a King doe in whome it lyeth to raise and cast downe Heerevppon the Courtiers seeing the King his Brethren and Mother more inclined to
wise for albeit their meaning may be good yet may a man after some forte stumble because the sodainnesse of the matter may make him neglect diuerse circumstaunces therein to bee considered Yea although one shoulde thinke vpon all that were requisite to bee noted yet may many doe it much beter The worthinesse also of the matter in hande may be such and the number of confederates so great that euen the cheefest must haue respect as well to the one as to the other As likewise they must imagine that they to whome they promise although thinges vnreasonable will neuerthelesse vpon want oâ— performance finde themselues greeued and complaine thereof By what occasion the warre did first breake foorth betweene the two armies DUring the parlies afore mentioned there was as it were a trucâ— betweene both armies which caused that there was nothing enterprized at Paris or Orleance But when the Prince of Conde and his associats did well perâ—eiue that wordes were to weake to remedy the present alterations hee determined to adde effects and so immediately after the resolution vpon the offer made vnto the Queene hee called aside â—eauen or eight of his cheefest captaines and consulted vpon the most conuenient meanes to buckle with the enemy for the trucâ— was ended the daie before who all were of opinion that they must be preuented by diligence considering that they had two aduauntages the one that the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshall of S. Andrewes were then absent and so none but the king of Nauarre with the armie the other that the companies of men of armes were lodged scattering from the maine battaile That if they shoulde march forward by daie theyr light horse or forragers might giue them warning and therefore it were best to vse greate diligence in the night and so come vppon them in the dawning for thus might they vndoubtedlie be surprised likewise that because they had not ordinarily vsed any camizadoes they might nowe the more easilie put this in execution while the enimy least doubled anie such thing As for the waie it was most easie as being al plaine fields between them About one houre after the campe departed and came betimes to Feâ—te where the Generalles opened their intents to the Captaines willing them to cause their souldiours to put on shirtes and resolue them to beare themselues manfully in this so valyaunt an enterprise By eight of clocke at night the troops were in the field who after publike praier as was then vsed among the Protestants began to march with such a courage as I may in truth affirme that in souldiours I neuer see greater Before the departure did a gentleman commit a most villanous act in forcing of a maiden whose calling together with the shortnesse of the time were causes that it could not be punished This did many take to be a bad signe in this enterprise Presuming to finde the enemies in their lodginges the order to fight was this First the Lord Admirall marched formost with eight hundred speares to ouerthrowe whatsoeuer horsemen hee shoulde finde in armes then followed 1200. harquebuts in foure troopes with charge to assayle the watch of the enimies footmen and thence to enter theyr quarters Next marched eight hundred harquebuts supported with two great battayles of pikes to seaze vppon their artillerie after all came the Prince of Condee with one thousand horse in foure squadrons and the rest of the harque buzerie Now are we to vnderstand that considering at what time they set forward they should by all reason haue reached to the enimies lodging by three of the clocke in the morning for the waie lay ouer a playne field neither was there any straight passage but that the footemen might march a whole league in an houre and a halfe but when they had gone two leagues the guides perceiued that they went wrong and thinking to recouer their waie they strayed farther out remayning as men amazed and not knowing where they were to the no small discontent of the Captaines To be briefe hauing thus trauayled vntill one houre after daie they found themselues a long league of from the enimies lodgings whose scoutes descried the head of the Princes armie and so returning with al speed gaue a great alarum Heerevpon tooke they counsayle what was best to bee done but in the meane time they hearde the Canon discharged in the enemies campe for a warning to call in their horsemen which brake theyr deuise for passing any farther as well for that they weâ—e descried as also that they had yet a great waie to goe albeit if they had bene within halfe a league they were resolued to haue gone forward and fought Thus was this enterprise which in ontward appearaunce seemed verie certaine was vtterlie broken of I haue asked the opinion of sundrie good Captaines then present in the aduersaries campe what successe might haue followed if the Protestants had come in time who all affirme that they woulde haue fought albeit they were preuented by their separation from their most affectionate Captaines and the greatest parte of theyr horsemen The Lorde Marshall of Anuille a watchfull and verie skilfull Captaine was with his light horse lodged at the head of the Catholikes armie wo tolde mee that hee waked and was in armes almost all the night neuerthelesse if our whole power had come in time theyr armie had beene in daunger which is not in deede to bée doubted for albeit the hazardes of warre bee vncertaine yet the aduauntage of a surprise doth import apparaunt losse to those that suffer themselues to bee so farre ouertaken All the faulte was layde vppon the guides who to cleere themselues said that the Lord of Andelots putting the footemen in araie at the departure from the lodgings made their march the flower but I thinke this excuse more subtil than true considering there was neither bush nor hedge to stoppe them In deede if the Countrie had beene straighter it might haue had some likelihood Both armies albeit somewhat asunder stoode in araie vntill two of the clocke afternoone Afterwarde the Prince of Condie went to lodge at Lorges a small league of and the King of Nauarre with all speede certefied the Lorde of Guize and the Constable who laie at Chasteaudun of all that happened who immediatlie came to him Then fearing to be assayled by night because the Princes armie was strong in footmen and their owne lodgings verie vnfit for horsemen they made at the head of theyr battayle grounde vppon the comming in fiue or sixe great heapes of fagots with strawe inough vnder them to kindle if they were assaulted to the ende by the light thereof to discharge three or foure vollees of artillerie which woulde haue greatly annoied the assaylauntes There are that disdayne such inuentions albeit they may sometime be to good purpose In the morning they fell agayne into araie but see not one another neyther did anie but the light horsemen skirmishe The Captaines of
written in great letters to all others of the same trade to beware of the like behauiour Neuer did you see wiser men then the rest were for a moueth after but then they returned to the practise of their good customes which without seueritie will not be forgotten As also in fauour of the Catholickes this I will say that at the beginning they likewise were well ordered did not much anoy the coÌ„mons whose nobilitie did also shine among them Howbeit I cannot well tell how long they so contiuued but I haue heard that they also did by and by spred their sayles and tooke the same course as the other Thus albeit our disorders may somtimes procure sport yet haue we greater cause to weepe when wee see so many of those that deale with armes through their bad behauiours deserue the name of theeues rather then souldiers Of the reasons that mooued the Prince of Condées armie to breake vp after the taking of Boisgencie also how he conuerted that necessitie into profite And of the purposes of the King of Nauarre THE principall Captaines and such as were best practised in worldly affayres did well for esee that their armie would not long continue whole because they did in parte want the necessarie foundations thereof so as they feared this dissipation as men feare least the fall of some great Dake shaken with y e windes should light vpon some wall and cast it downe or vpon a number of small plantes bearing fruite which caused them to giue counsaile while it was in force to hazard thâ— fielde whereof they missed Now after the taking of Boisgencie when they see the contrary power placed at Bloys which standeth vpon the riuer of Loyre and that the warre grewe long their first heate began to coole as also at the same time began their treasure wherewith to wage Souldiers who had alreadie consâ—med all that they had gathered as well aâ— Orleance as els where to faile This necessitie opened the gates to diuers discontentmens whereof the most parte had but simple foundations albeit the principall motion proceeded of the naturall impatiencie of the French nation which if it by and by see not the imagined effects doe grow out of liking and murmureth Neither will I conceale but that some euen of the chiefe of the Nobilitie too much affected to their goods either endued with somwhat an ambitious hope or els ouer delicate and tender endeuouring to hide these defaults did call the equitie of the warre into question This being knowne they were requested to departe least their speeches should alienate the minds of others As for the greater parte of the Nobilitie and Gentrie which could not bee maintained or placed in the neerest Garrisons and might serue els where it was thought good to employe them in their owne countries where debate began to breake foorth betweeene the Protestants and Catholickes especially in Poictou Xaintogne and Angolesme Thether sent they the Earle of Rochfoucault to Lyons the Lord of Soubize and to Bourges the Lord of Iuoy with his regiment Also seeing the Germaines Suiâ—zers and Spanyards did alreadie enter into France in fauour of the Catholickes they sent the Lord of Andelot into Germanie and the Lord of Briquemaud into England to seeke for helpe and succour By this meanes did the towne of Orleance remaine freed and safe from that which would most haue molested it forreine negotiation well established and the preseruation of those Countries from whence they had succour prouided for Thus were the difficulties that happened among the Princes partie determined so as the hope of the successe of this warre was not much deminished whereof I doe not much meruaile For sith in extremities wise and valiant persons can finde remedies why should they dispayre in such as are not so farre growne In the meane time in matter of warre want of money is no small inconuenience neither is it any losse to haue to deale with voluntarie persons which is a burden of it selfe hard to be borne whereby a man is soone oppressed and this doth none so well knowe as he that hath proued it The King of Nauarre and his assotiates considering that it was not good to lose time which ought to be precious to those that haue power at commaunde encreased their campe as well with French men as Straungers and besought the Queene to bring the King into the armie to the ende the Huguenoâ—s who 〈…〉 ned it the King of Nauarres or the Duke of Guizes might be forced to call it the Kings campe as also the more to 〈…〉 horise the warre that was prosecuted in his name which she did And they met at Chartres where they resolued to set vpon Bourges before it were fortified for sayd they so mightie a citie not past twentie leagues distant from Orleance did but too much benefice the Princes affayres Thether they marched and assaulting it found no such resistance as was looked for whereby it fell into their hands Then being with this so sudden victorie which sayd they was the cutting off of one of the Protestants armes puffed vp and very ioyfull they entered deliberation of their affayres Many were very earnest to besiege Orleance whose reasons were these That the two chiefe heades that moeued all this bodie namely the Prince of Condé and the Admirall were there so the same being taken they might easely make the rest of the bodie immoueable That the strangers that looked vp and euen tickled to come into France when they should but heare of the siege thereof would not bee very willing to set forward That they had men enowe to begin the siege for placing and fortifying two thousandmen in the little gate to bridle the towne on that side they should still haue tenne thousand footmen three thousand horse who might suffice vnto the ariuall of other their power that was marching Finally that the towne was but weake as being neither well flancked nor well diched and hauing no counterscarpe Onely there was a rampier wherein thirtie Canons would in sixe daies make a breach of two hundred foote But sayd they if ye giue those Huguenotes any respite to finish their fortifications wherein they labour alreadie wee shall not bee possibly able to winne it That they should remember that that towne was no small thorne in the foote of France but euen a very great darte which pierced the bowelles thereof and kept it from breathing Others of the contrary opinion did thus replie That by their intelligences in Orleance they were assured that the two regiments of Gascogns and Prouincials amounting to aboue 3000. souldiers were in it Also fiue or sixe hundred other souldiers of those that had bene in Bourges and were now retired thether Moreouer foure hundred gentlemen Then the townsmen able to beare armes being no lesse then three thousand persons All together aboue seuen thousand men besides such as hearing of the siege drawing thether would likewise enter thereinto That a towne
fought on euery side Howbeit in as much as the whole army of the Catholicks still came on the Protestants were forced to flee after they had lost in the field about a hundred Gentlemen but especially the Princes owne person who being borne downe coulde haue no succour and hauing yeelded himselfe to the Lorde of Argences there came a Gascoigne Gentleman named Montesquion and discharged a pistoll through his head whereof he died His death bred wonderfull sorrowe among the Protestantes and as great ioy to some of his aduersaries who supposed they shoulde soone ouercome the whole body nowe that they had cut of so good a head howbeit as some did greatly blame him so others there were that commended his valour As also this commendation may iustly be giuen him that in bouldnesse or curtesy no man of his time excelled him Of speech hee was eloquent rather by nature then art he was liberall and affable vnto all men and withall an excellent Captaine although he loued peace Hee bare him selfe better in aduersity then in prosperitie His greatest commendation of all was his stedfastnesse in religion My best is to holde my peace for feare of saying to little albeit I thought good to speake somewhat leaste I shoulde be accounted ingratefull to the memory of so valiant a Prince Many a worthy person both Catholike and Protestant whome our ciuill stormes haue caried away are to be lamented for they honored our Fraunce and might well haue holpen to encrease it had not discord prouoked the valour of the one to the destruction of the valour of the other After this blowe the Protestantes army was wonderfully astonied and it fell out well for them that the country whereinto they were withdrawne was all full of water for thereby were the Catholicks restrained and they had time to recouer themselues Hauing atchieued such a victory the Catholicks imagined that such of our townes as were not very strong woulde bee amazed But the Admirall had placed in them the most part of his footemen thereby breake this first fury so as when they set forward to assalt Coignac they well found that such catts were not caught without mittens for therein were fowre regimentes of footemen but as when they had sent three or fowre hundred shot vnto the parkeside to disceuer that part they that were within sent foorth 10 or 1200 who sent them so quickly away that they came no more as also they had in their army but sowre Canons and as many Culuerines Monsieur contenting him selfe with his victory and perceiuing that hee coulde not performe any greate matter in his tender youth triumphing ouer moste excellent captaines as also hee had good counsaile and assistaunce of other worthy Captaines that accompanied him retired to refresh his men In this action we are to gather that in whatsoeuer waighty and daungerous attempt it must not bee followed to halues for we must either quight leaue it off or else employ whatsoeuer our senses and force Moreouer this is to be noted that when armies are lodged scatteringly they incurre viuerse inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best Captaines is not able withstand Of the notable passage of the Duke of Aipont from the borders of Rhine euen into Aquitaine MAny that shall heere see it set downe as it were for a meruayle that a forraine enimies armie coulde pierce so very far into the realme of France wyll not peraduenture thinke it straunge because that considering other examples namelie that of the Emperour Charles the fifth when hee came to besiege Saint Desier they will not take such expeditions to be so extraordinarie as we wold make them beleeue for Howbeit if they list well to waigh the length of the iourney also the mightie and continuall lets and hinderances that this had I doubt they wil be of another opinion Yet will I confesse that ciuill warres doe greatly fauour the entrie of our neighbours who otherwise without the support of one of the factions neuer durst haue enterprised the same But when on the one side the fauour is small and on the other side the resistance great we are the more to admire the deeds of those that haue so aduentured Touching that which is alleadged of the Emperour Charles I will aunswere in fewe wordes First for his person hee was the mightiest Captaine in Christendome then for his campe it consisted of fiftie thousand men lastlie that at such time as hee came in the King of England had alreadie taken Bollein which caused King Fraunces who woulde not aduenture anie thing rashlie to leaue the passage more free Nowe the Duke of Biponts case is farre otherwise for notwithstandinge he were a valyaunt valyant Prince yet did he not any thing neere approch the militarie sufficiencie of the other and a great helpe and ease it was for him that he was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Countie Lodowicke Countie Wolrad of Mansfield besides other braue French Captaines and two thousand footmen and horsemen of the same nation that ioyned with him His number of Germaines was fiue thousand Lance knights and sixe thousand Reisters With this small armie did he passe forward in purpose to ioyne with the Princes power The King vnderstanding that he prepared for their succour did immediatlie appoint a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to withstand him and doubting of the weaknesse therof he also ioyned thereto another vnder the gouernment of the D. of Nemours These two bodies vnited did in footmen exceede the Duke of Bipont but in horse were inferiour vnto him They determined not to state his comming into the realme to molest them and therefore marched euen into the borders of Germanie and toward Sauerne ouerthrew the regiment of one named Le Coche composed of certaine straies gathered together who meant to haue ioyned with him Neuerthelesse he entered into France on the side of Burgundie whether they came to coast him and vntill he came to the riuer of Loire which was little lesse than foure score leagues they neuer gaue him ouer but still were either on his flankes or tayle yea many times the armies were in sight each of other and had great skirmishes I haue oft heard the Prince of Orenge report that he meruayled in so long and difficult a waie that the Catholikes could neuer finde anie fit occasion to their aduauntage for sometimes they had fayre offers by reason of the pestering with store of carriages Neither can I omit this that besides the braue forces of the Kings armie they had other aduantages which were not smal as the fauour of the townes Countries and riuers yea and one point more was to be noted that is their notise of the enemies purposes which consisted in making of way and winning by power or pollicy some passage ouer Loire For albeit both the Dukes of Nemours and Aumale were braue Captains yet notwithstanding all their pollicies and endeauours this armie gate to the sayd
The causes of good discipline The notable perticularities of the same The begining of disorders The remedies applied Discontentment in the Princes armie Of the taking of Burges and the counsaile to besiedge Orleance The reasons of those that counsailed the fiedge of Roan rather then of Orleance The taking of Roan Of the ouerthrowe of the Lorde of Duras troupes The execution of the Prince of Condes purposes staied through the succour that the Lorde of Andelot brought in The Princes armie marched toward Paris A Camisado enterprised against the suburbes of Paris also the retreat of the Princes army A notable battayle 1 The countenaunce of both the armies 2 The Generositie of the Suitâ—ers 3 The Lorde of Guizes patience cause of his victorie 4 The long continuance of the battell 5 The taking of the two generalles of the armies 6 The retraite of both the armies How the Lord of Guyze intreated the Lord Prince of Conde The foundation of the Duke of Guizes hope The Lorde Admirals resolution the Siege of Orleance and the notablest perticularities of the same The wouÌ„ding and death of the Duke of Guize whereof ensued the pacification of the first trobles also what the Lord Admirall did in Normandie The causes of the taking of armes in the second troble The resolution to take armes also the difficulties in the beginning Of the successe of the Princes attempts The first A generall taking of armes vpon one selfe day The second Their courage in setting vpon 6000. Suitzers The third The taking of Saint Dennis The Prince of Condies first entent to force his aduersaries to harken to accorde The second and third cotent The Lord Constables purposes The meanes that were practised to ouerthrow the Prince and his armie The behauiors of the Princes armie in Loraine A notable historie A meane to attaine to peace The Lord Admirals care for the entertainement of the armie Of the lodging of the armie The march Into what Difficulties the Protestants were reduced during the ciuill warres The beginning of the siege of Chartres A counter enterprise of the Lord Admirales during the seege Of Chartres The second peace cause of more mischief then the warre it selfe Part of the Protestantes causers of their owne mischiefe The notable reuolution of these warres also of the Princes retrait The Lord of Martigues braue resolution to gette to Saumure What helpe the towne of Rochel was to the Prince and his who therby became maisters of a large country The arriuall of the Queene of Nauarre and her children in the armie also of the troupes of Daulphine The ouerthrow of the Colonels Mouuans and Pierre-gourd Of the power of both the armies which albeit they desired it could neuer haue opportunitie to ioyne The Duke of Aniâ—ous armie lost a braue opportunitie to ouerthrowe the Lord Admirall an d 〈…〉 Andelot Aduice vppon the aforesaid aduenture The Prince lost the occasion to ouerthrow the enemies Auantguard Of the iourney of Iasnueil A pleasant chance which troubled many The extreame could kept the 2. armies from executing their pretenses The Lord Admirals enterprise voide of his pretended effect The retract of both the armies through the extreamitie of the colde The Earle of Brissackes bould enterprise and what came of it What happened before the battaile of Bassac The euell keeping of the passage and their smale diligence to ioyne together cause of the ouerthrow shortly ensuing The battaile of Bassac with the taking and cause of the Prince of Condees death The praise of the Prince of Conde also what happened after his death The lets to keepe the Duke of Biponts army from ioining with the Princes Of the ioining of the Germaines with the Princes The occurrences betweene both the armies at Rochell The purpose of the Princes army before the siege of Poictiers also the taking of Lusignan The cause of the siege of Poictiers The notablesâ— perticularities of the siege of Poicters Vpon what occasions the siege was raised from before Poicters Diuers causes of the ouerthrow of the Princes armie at Montcontour The charge sâ—irmishes about Saint Cler. A notable aduertisement giuen before the battaile but not followed The Counsells and difficulties in the Princes armie whereof ensued the meanes to the aduersaries armie to assaile them The battaile fought and wonne by Monsiers army Ouer sight of MoÌ„sieurs army after their victorie A notable counsaile houlden by the chief Captaines of this armie and so their resolution What helpe Rochel hath ministred to the Princes and their warlick affaires CoÌ„modities of warres by sea also the abuses therein committed By what meanes the Princes armie was restored Of the forces that ioyned with the Princes The voiage of the Princes armie The meeting of both armies at Rhene le Duc. Of the third peace Of the behauiors of the Lord Admiral during the three first ciuil waries Sundry causes of this mention of him this third peace as well on the one side as on the other When they beginne to breake of peace also what is to be noted therein Consideration vpon these th 〈…〉 pacifications of the ciuill warres The diuers affections of those that long after warre and how they haue bene prouided for Against such as like of euerie peace and mislike euery warre
of water will be as long and the inner trench being almost equall with the heigth of the rampier that is beaten downe may be kept as long or longer prouided alwaies that it be made 60. or 80. foote from the Courtine Now I take this at the worst for there bee such weake assailants of Houlds as shall labour two moneths about the winning of a Raueline There are that thinke it an easie matter to keepe them from passing the ditch but for my parte I thinke it harde for they will enter either by night or day Thus when a frontier towne shal haue stopped a mightie armie so long as I haue sayd it shall haue quit it selfe well for there bee fewe townes inpregnable and the Prince that may haue lost it shall haue this comfort That as the fencing of it had cost him little so his enemie shall haue spent much time many men and money enough in the winning of it Some Ingeniour may say that water vndermindeth the foundations of a Rampier and that from tenne yeeres to tenne yeeres they runne out which they do not if they be walled within It is so indeede where the water is a running water but the repairing cost little as also doe the props that beare vp nothing but earth Howbeit I say that a man may fortifie a whole small towne with earth with the charges of one enclosure to a Bastion made of bricke or stone with the countermynes thereof This maner do I here alow for an other respect which is that Potentates Commonwelths are better able to prouide for the inward fortifications which must accompanie the outward do consist in al kinds of necessarie prouision that want in many townes though not in whole yet in parte And as many are lost through this default as for lack of Bastions They may likewise spare great sommes which are spent in these great workes and with the same maintaine a sufficient armie through want whereof the strongest places are taken as hath bene seene in Flanders Many thinges more may bee obiected to beate downe this our Bulwarke which is much more profitable to the weake then beautifull to the mightie Monarkes In the meane time such as shall followe this construction shall not finde themselues the worse thereby as the future experience peraduenture will teach better then the passed The ninetenth Discourse That the continuation of the wicked proceedings of the warres of these daies doe make a iust cause to seeme vniust PHilippe Comines in his remembrances reporteth that the Duke of Guyenne the brother of King Lewes the 11. ioyning with Duke Charles of Burgundy in the warre for the Commonwealth when he considered the number of the wounded and slayne at the battaile of Montleherie with the spoyles that the Souldiers made all ouer the Countrie was merueilously daunted thereat and tolde Duke Charles that it had bene better neuer to haue begunne that warre that bred such mischiefe and ruine who aunswered him that those things were not to bee meruailed at sith such were the naturall fruites thereof But being afterward alone among his familiers he scorned that yong Prince which brought pitie and compassion vnto the Theaters of Mars where rigour and vengeaunce doe holde their soueraigne Empyre In these daies wee heare some make almost the like aunswers to many that curse our ciuill stormes for they tell them It is the warre and so doe weene that that word being heard should make them to shrinke vp the shoulder after the Italian maner and prouide to suffer worse matter But in my opinion such reasons are to bee suspected as procéeding from those that hauing no other delight or sustenance but in other mens spoyles would make men to accompt warre to be a necessary euill to the end they should not be slacke in giuing to them that foode which they do desire Truely these men are not altogether to be beleeued least wee confound crueltie and iniustice with equitie and humanitie and so of an extraordinarie accident make an ordinary custume Neither must we print in our phantasies the imaginations of many others who wish to sée a warre exempt from the things that of long time haue bene proper thereto and are as it were essentials namely rapine disorder and crueltie for in these daies wherein wee liue vertue being tyed vp and vice let loose wee cannot atteyne to this perfection What shall we then say hereof For sooth that to the ende well to measure the matters whereof we now speake wee must take the olde rules not of Iron which cannot bend but of leade which are somewhat plyable and frame them to the crooked and difformed stones whereof our ciuill warres are composed that is to say to our confusions and then finding what is somewhat â—ollerable as also what is to bee reiected to patch vp againe so well as wee may this house of bondage wherein so many persons within these fiue and twentie yeeres haue bene tormented or els quite to rase it to the foundation by an assured peace which were the better way I meane not here curiously to examine or way the right or wrong of those that are in armes because I will not offend any Only I am content generally to say that such on either side as loue godlinesse or vertue doe for the satisfying of themselues either inwardly or outwardly vnderproppe their actions with iustice Neither should any warres bee vndertaken without that good faundation least otherwise wee bee found guiltie before God who will not that men vse such vyolent remedies but vpon great necessitie neither guide them after their owne disordinate affections Now in these controuersies and publique quarelles as well ciuill as others furiously raised through mans mallice it often falleth out that all the right lighteth on one side and all the wrong on the other Sometimes that both parties are led by like mallice and sometime that he which in deede hath the right doth seeme to haue the wrong and so to the contrary As also that sometimes in some one of the poynts thereof a man may be in the right and in all the rest in the wrong of all which differences I meane not here to entreate Only I would aduertise the readers to note them in reading the histories wherein the diuersities of so many martiall purposes are liuely set out But for my self I wil procéed in discoursing vpon my first proposition of the euill behauiours which are to bée seene in our sayd ciuill warres together with their consequences I thinke they cannot bee better compared then to an ouer flowing brooke which with the vyolent force thereof not only destroyeth the whole â—roppe of a plaine but also carieth downe the trees buildings and bridges where it goeth so as neither arte nor diligence are able to preuent it Whosoeuer would walke through France and Flanders might see euen vpon insensible things the footsteps of our daily furies which are not neuerthelesse the greatest domages for those
our smal wars we stil find want of money it were meet to lay a good foundation for treasure a yere before the enterprisiug of any thing for beeing of sufficient abilitie before they begin they should afterward hardly incurre any want It may bee said that to threaten the enimie so far before hand were as much as to giue him time to prouide but hauing well waied all it were a greater inconuenience according to the prouerbe To take shipping without bisquet Besides it is to be imagined that their pride glory is such they so much contemne the Christians that they will take it to bee rather some brag to terrifie theÌ„ than any preparation to assaile theÌ„ As for power I thinke no man can denie but that Christendome is at this daie verie mightie For all Countries are full of men these domestical warres haue greatly exercised in armes The art of war is also better knowen than it hath bene these 150. yeeres whereto the knowledge of histories both Greeke Latine conioyned with experience haue bene a great helpe We see likewise that their courages are no whiâ— quailed as wee doe but too often proue to our great griefe and losse Of souldiours therefore hauing both â—now good we must looke for Captaines for they bee the men who thorough their wisedome magnanimitie are great helps to the winning of the victories In this point we of force confesse that Christendome hath not now any of so great experience as euen in our daies we haue seene as the Duke of Alua the Duke of Guize the Constable of France the Admirall of Chastillion and for the sea Andrew Dorie Howbeit we cannot likewise saie that it is vtterly vnprouided for although those that remain be but yong yet do they follow the steps of the others neither want they any thing but the subiect of a braue war the more to display their vertue besides that many times good hap accompanieth young heads as appeared in Don Iohn of Austria at Lepanto the Duke of Anguien at Serisolles the Duke of Sanoy at S Quintins the Earle of AigmoÌ„t at Graueling especially the Prince of Parma in FlaÌ„ders We are to thinke that we liue in a time wherin the large schooles are open for Captaines to learne to frame themselues grow good Let vs therefore content our selues with those that yet liue hope well of their conduct I will name none particularly for they be sufficiently knowen who in Spaine France Italy Germany haue purchased fame Now are we to looke to discipline wherof I wil say thus much that without great care that it be diligently obserued kept we are not to look for any good issue of the war We see how y e ciuil wars haue quite corrupted it and the infection is shed ouer all nations though ouer some more than othersome It were meet therefore at the first to establish rules which may be put in practise thereto to ad both a punishment reward for if we carry our accustomed disorders into these wars we shal soone become a praie to the Turkes Titus Liuius discoursing how y e Romaines attained to their great conquests among other things attributeth it to their good obseruation of order discipline Yet do I not herein require as great perfection as in those daies but rather to fit the coat to the bodie the laws to the vertue I doubt not but ther is yet enough spred abroad among our Christian nations Whereof if a great part were gathered into one armie it would suffice to bring forth good fruit These be the principall preparatiues which the Princes should consider of betimes For the rest which neuerthelesse are necessary as wepons vessels artillerie munition they are much easier to bée gotten Philip of Macedon Alexander the greats father prepared for such things as he needed for his wars a yere or two before hand but he died before he could begin his sonne finished them yet it serued his turne wel that he found all things redie but especially he made great account of fiue or six old Captains whom his father left him Another Philip the father of Perseus purposing wars against the Romaines made no lesse preparation though his sonne imploied it but badly And we are as greatly to feare the Turkish nation as they did the others for it holdeth at this day the greatest Empire in y e world Many there are y t being badly informed of their customes do take theÌ„ to be barbarous people giuen to cruelty wanting all other good qualities wherin they are deceiued for among all soldiers in the world they shew themselues most sober obedient of their Captains diligent For a while they had small vse of the harquebuze but now they can help theÌ„selues therew t against vs do begin to arme their horsmen with certain light breastplates morions to couer the foreparts of their bodies heads although they retain the vse of the bow target it is a great meruaile considering how many Christian soldiers do daily go to them denie their faiths y t they haue no sooner taken our fashions which are better thaÌ„ theirs Footmen with the pike corcelet they haue none which in my opinion is our aduantage as being a verie profitable kind of soldiers All this ought to hasten vs to preuent theÌ„ before they conforme theÌ„selues to vs in things wherin we exceed theÌ„ neither is to be doubted but in time they will imitate Pyrrhus Hanibal who brought their souldiers to take vp many of the Romaine fashions both in wepons discipline as hauing by experience in their wars against theÌ„ found the same to be better than their own I leaue it therfore to any good Captains iudgement if they should thus doe considering their great numbers of people whether it were possible to stande before them if they should arme but 50000. horsmen after our maner surely the same would suffice to fight with al the horse in Christendome but they put in their general armies well neere 200000 which is an incredible matter I heard a French Gentleman y t was at Sighet when Sultan Soliman besieged it say y t there he saw 150000. which â—raue him into admiration seeing all the earth couered with horse men as thicke as trees in a large forrest When we in our smal warres see 10. or 12000. horse we thinke them able to fight with the whole worlde what then would we saie if we should see these wonderfull troops They haue euermore vsed to march thus yea the Sarazens whome they succeeded in y e law of Mahumet vsed mightie armies though not so strong in horse I will not stand vppon the description of the large extent of their dominions as being a thing sufficiently knowen onely I will saie that in Europe they holde more land than all France Spaine Italy doe containe from whence they take theyr best men of
of importaunce thereby to make them to approche with theyr armie so as they shoulde hardlie escape battayle when they are come so neere with theyr carriage footemen and artillerie For when they come but with thirtie or fortie thousande horse to succour what so is besieged they cannot by anie meanes be ouercome by reason of the swiftenesse of theyr horse which neuerthelesse dooth greatly molest a campe I woulde also lyke verie well that in tenne or twelue dayes before the armie shoulde marche the Captaines euerie other daie shoulde cast them into seuerall orders of battayle whereby to choose the best to help themselues withall when neede shoulde require For it doe much better conceiue the trueth of thinges by liuely representations than by forecast figured vppon paper And by them is the generall the better resolued in his conception and the inferiour Captaines to bee the better prouided to the practise Heerein doo wee in our pettie warres ordinarilie faile in that wee neuer looke to the ordering of battayles vntill within two dayes before wee must fight and then dooth the Generall sette downe a fayre order in writing howe bee will haue it which hee sendeth vnto the leaders of the regimentes as well of the horsemen as of the footemen For such ordering many times as beeing made ouer rashly and without ripe deliberation proueth verie vnfit It is verie requisite that a Generall bee in minde verie perfecte in the order which hee purposeth to obserue as well in the large fieldes as in the straightes least hee bee amazed or driuen into much consultation when his businesse commeth vppon him For the chiefe groundes beeing well layde if through anie accident the order bee to be altered it is easilie performed There bee some that will saie that in so dooing wee shall warne the enimie of our order whereby hee maye prouide to preuent vs. I graunt if wee still vse but one forme it may be so But when wee practise sundrie wee shall put all men in doubt which we will cleaue vnto sauing the Generall who is to reserue the best in memorie For the well ordering of this armie it were good to haue the aduice of such Captaines as hauing serued in Hungarie doe by experience best knowe the most conuenient formes And sith I am entered so farre into this point I am content for the satisfying of those y t be curious to deliuer my opinion concerning whatsoeuer may serue agaynst these barbarous people In this case we are to cōsider of two kinds of coūtries y e one large y e other straight Concerning y e large or plaine as we terme it which is the most parte of Hungarie the battayle may be so aranged that the enimies innumerable strength of horse which wil amoūt to 200000 at the least shall not without great losse endomage them and verie hardly breake them The order were to dispearse the horsemen among the footmen as vpō the like consideration the late Duke of Guize did at the battel of Dreux I woulde therefore make a strong bodie of my armie consisting of eight battayles of footmen each comprehending 2500 pikes so as the sayd rankes should euerie of them containe ninetie men be 28. men thick besides the Ensignes to the flanks wold I ioyne 1000 harquebuziers They should be all ordered in an equal front with sufficient spaces to set in araie 2000. horse in foure squadrons each of them of fiue hundred men fortie horse in front two somewhat for warder than the other two These seauen spaces might serue them for places of aduantage and assured retraits to fall into order againe for it would be too hot to come vpon them into place where they should be so succoured by the harquebuzerie and pikes yea in my minde it were meere rashnesse Likewise in as much as the flankes of the battayles are not commonly armed but with harquebuziers which is but a weake defence against a great armie of horse I would thinke it were good both the flankes of the two battayles standing vppon the wings of the armie to bee fortefied with some other instrumentes like vnto those which the Duke of Alua inuented and vsed when the Prince of Orenge passed ouer Meuse or better which might be easily brought thether by two hundred pioners and those should suffice for one of each flanks as for the rest they shall neede none as well for that the force of this order shall supplie that want as also because it would be ouercumbersome On the right and lefte point without the battayles should stand at each sixe thousand horse euery squadron of one thousand and in two bodies the one to support the other And if anie man aske wherefore I make them so great I saie it is because the Turkes as I haue heard doe make theirs especiallie in any great combats of fiue or sixe thousand speares which swallowe vp three hundred horse as a lion would doe a mouse And therefore we must sette strength agaynst strength Then woulde I diuide my 5000. harquebuziers into ten troopes placing sixe as it were for the aduenturers at the heads of the battayles toward the wings and the other foure at the taile I would also place two thousand harquebuziers on horseback at y e head of the horsemen vpon the wings to serue in the first skirmishes Thus doe ye see in this great bodie 28000. horse 20000. Corcelets 13000. harquebuzes aranged which as I thinke will not take aboue 4000. cōmon paces in length wherin there is no great disproportion and I haue thus stretched it out to the ende to debarre the enemie from all hope of enclosing it There would be likewise in y e first ranke of this great front almost 1900. men which is sufficient The rest of the men I would thus appoynt I would make two small bodies which should be set in aray 800. paces behinde the two winges of the armie because the first shockes doe begin there In either of them would I place 4500. Corcelets in two battailes and 2500. Harquebuzes then in the spaces and poynts 4000. horse in eight squadrons which for the two bodies would amount vnto 22000. men euery wherof should stirre when they perceiued any of the first troopes to yeeld for vndoubtedly they should so make them to holde fast I would also place betweene these two troopes and 500. paces behinde them 3000. horse in three squadrons whom the Emperour or in his absence his Lieutenant should accompanie when it were requisite to fight And this should be the Holy ancker as we tearme it which should vpon great necessitie moue forward Yet doe there remaine 1000. Corcelets 2000. Harquebuzes and 1000. Reistres or Hungarian horsemen that should be appoynted to the keeping of the Campe which the Pioners should fortifie with small trenches for the safegard of the cariages for if through negligence the enemie who might appoynt twentie or thirtie thousand horse to doe the feate should peraduenture be suffered to
realme others hauing better foresight perceiuing that they could no longer be stopped from ioyning with their Germains thought it best to let them go then to seeke how to keepe them from comming in again But there were some likewise they no small number that laide great fault in diuerse of Monsieurs counsailors for suffring them so to escape with out battaile saying that the Admirall had secret intelligence with them which was a very false imagination wherat himselfe vsed to scorne many times he assured me there was no such matter neuerthelesse he would endeuour still to maintaine thē in y e suspition Now will I rehearse some stirs follies of the Protestants during their small abode in Lorraine as also the voluntarie liberalitie whereof they made demonstration in the middest of all their pouertie that there inuironed them an action which I take in these daies to be vnpractiseable Many were persuaded as also the voice so went that they could not set foot in Lorrain but they should heare the Reisters cockes sing but hauing there soiourned 4. or 5. daies they had no more speech of them than when they were before Paris which bred sundrie mutinies euē among some of the nobilitie who in their ordinarie speeches did somewhat rudclie gird at their Generals so great is the impaciencie of our nation But they vnderstanding hereof endeuoured to remedie it Likewise as men can hardlie abandon their naturall inclinations so the perswasions which their heads vsed were different for the P. of Condie beeing of a pleasant disposition did so conuenientlie gird these chollerike and busie persons that hee made euen those that most exceeded either in the one or the other to laugh On the other side the Admirall with his graue speeches did so shame them that in the end they were forced to appease and quiet themselues At the same time my selfe asked him of his best counsayle in case Monsieur should followe vs We would march sayd he towarde Bacchara where the Reisters should make their assemblie also that it were not for vs to fight without them and that after the enimies first heat was somwhat quailed But what if the Reisters were not there would some man saie what coulde the Protestants then doe I thinke they coulde haue blowen theyr fingers for the weather was verie colde Now was all the Towne soone conuerted into mirth when as they vnderstoode certainelie that Duke Iohn Casimire a Prince endued with all Christian vertues and one to whome the Protestants are highlie bound did march and was at hande Then was there nothing but singing and leaping yea they that had most cried out did leape highest These their behauiours did verie wel verefie the saying of Titus Liuius that y e Gauls are soone angrie and so consequently soone merrie againe which passions if they be not after the imitation of the sages moderated by reason do easilie exceede The Prince of Condie vnderstanding by his agents in Germanie that the Reisters looked vppon theyr ioyning with him to finger at the lest 100000. crowns was in greater care than before he had bene for his mennes mutinies because hee had not 2000. There was it expedient for him to make of necessitie vertue and as well himselfe as the L. Admiral being in great credice with the Protestants employed all their cunning credite and eloquence to perswade euerie man to depart with whatsoeuer his abilitie would beare toward this so necessarie contribution wherevppon depended the contentation of those whome so diligently they had waited for Hereof thēselues gaue the first example in giuing their own siluer vessel The ministers in their Sermons exhorted heereto and the most zealous Captaines prepared their men for in so extraordinarie a matter they had neede to vse all kindes of instruments There did sundrie of the Gentry shewe a greate readinesse to discharge themselues loyallie But the chiefe brunt of this battaile appeared whē they came to vrge the scholers of Lady Picoree whose propertie it was to be readie to take and slacklie to forgoe howbeit partly by loue partly by feare they quit themselues better than men looked for yea this liberalitie was so generall that euen the souldiours lackies and boies gaue euerie one somewhat so as in the end it was accounted a dishonour to haue giuen but little Some such of these there were as made the Gentlie ashamed in parting more voluntarilie with their gold than they had done with their siluer To bee briefe the whole beeing gathered together there was in monie in plate and in chaines of golde aboue foure score thousand Frankes which came in so good season that without it they could hardly haue appeased their Reisters I knowe that many of them were vrged to giue by example shame and persuasions but certainlie a great part did it vpon zeale and affection as appeared in that they offered more than was required of them Was it not a deede worthie wonder to see an armie vnpaide and vnprouided of all meanes who thought it a meruaile to part with their smal commodities for their owne wants now not to spare to furnish others therwith who peraduenture did giue them no thanks Now would it be vnpossible to doe the lyke for that all Gentlemanlike actions are almost out of vse Of the returne of the two armies toward Orleance and Paris also of the course that the P. of Condie tooke in victualling marching and lodgiug of his men AFter the ioyning of the Reisters there needed no long consultation to knowe what were best to be done For the generall voice imported to transport the warre to Paris This did some desire peraduenture the rather to the ende to see their owne houses but the most part knewe it to be the best waie to attaine to peace neither were the Generalles ignorant that to continue the warre their armies could not misse artillerie pouder money and other commodities that are to be wreasted from the marchant and the artificer whereof vnlesse they drewe towarde Orleance which was their nource mother they should be depriued which made them to yéeld to the common desire In this good minde did the Protestants returne beeing of opinion that the enimies armie would coast them as well to debarre them from dismantelling diuerse small and weake Townes as also to spie occasion to intrappe some one of their troopes Then did Fraunce abounde in all sortes of virtualles and yet were they to vse greate arte and diligence to feede an vnpayd armie of aboue twentie thousand men whom the Countrie fauoured not as they did the other beeing but meanely furnished with munition The Lorde Admirall had an especiall care aboue all things to haue expert commissaries and to cause them to haue carriage according to the Protestant want and was wont when so euer there was anie question of forming the bodie of an armie to saie Let vs beginne the shaping of this monster by the bellie Nowe because our horsemen did commonlie
no difficulty for the keeping of their consciences vnspotted to leaue her countrie for a pray A most rare example in this world wherein wealth and honor are in such accompt that vnto many they be euen a domesticall God whom they serue Now likewise a maruellous encrease vnto the Protestants armie were the troopes which the Lord of Acier brought out of Daulphine Prouence and Languedoc The Prince had before written as well to him as to others the most notable in the sayd Prouinces to send him some good power to succour him and to withstand the armie Royall which came vppon him least so many Princes and excellent Captaines should encurre so great disaduantage as to see themselues besieged in the townes Whereof so farre were they from faâ—â—ing that it seemed they had dispeopled the places they came from so many men did they bring for they were not lesse then eighteene thousand bearing armes who vnder the conduct of the Lord of Acier marched But as the same was one way the 〈…〉 ole support of the armie so on the other it was the losse of sundrie places which the Catholikes after their departure seased vpon And many times I haue heard diuers Colonels reporte their departure in such numbers as if they should haue gone to seeke newe habitations for had the halfe onely come yet had they bene too many These could not neuerthelesse ioyne with the Prince of Condé without a great inconuenience that befell them for two of their regiments were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Montpensier the cause arising as I haue vnderstoode of that the Lords of Mouuans and Pierregoord finding some discommoditie in lodging so close as vntill then they had bene forced would needes scatter wéening that hauing two thousand harquebuziers no lesse then an armie could serue to offend them The said Mouuans was as braue a souldier as any in the Realme but his great valour experience brought him to attempt that which turned to his destructioÌ„ which is it also that many times bréedeth the losse of both Captaines and troopes He tought valiantly and both he and his fellow with two thousand of their men dyed in the fielde The Catholikes haue reported vnto me one course that they then tooke which I like well of That was that fearing least the Lord of Acier who lodged but two leagues of should come to the rescue they did at the same time that they charged vpoÌ„ the said Mouuans quarter with their whole footmen sende into the Lord of Aciers quarter eight or nine hundred speares and many harquebuziers on horsebacke with a great sound of Trumpets crying Battaile Battaile which they did to the ende to make him thinke that their drift was against himselfe Thus did they linger him while they performed their enterprise wherefro they caried seuenteene flagges This losse grieued the Price and his partakers howbeit the comming in of so many other regiments did soone blot out his sorow For the man of warre euen during his action against the enemie endeuoureth to abolish the memorie of all sorowfull accidents least the same should deminish this first furie which being in him doth sometimes make him terrible Of the first progresse of both the armies when being in their prime they sought with like desire to fight AFter the ouerthrowe of Mouuans the Catholicke armie retired to Chastellerault fearing least the Protestants being so mightie would come vpon them in some bad ground There was also the Duke of Anieow who brought other power very resolute in that their Captaine to whome they bare great honor and reuerence was such a Prince And in my opinion there had not of long time bene seene so many Frenchmen in both the armies The Prince of Condé his places furnished had in his eighteene thousand Harquebuziers and three thousand good horse and I take that in Monsiers were at the least eighteene thousand Souldiers and foure thousand Speares besides the Suitzers so as on both sides might haue bene found aboue fiue and thirtie thousand Frenchmen all trayned and peraduenture as bould Souldiers as any in Christendome The Protestants finding themselues strong would haue sought to ioyne and came within two leagues of Chastellerault But the Prince hauing aduice that the other campe was planted vppon a strong ground almost enuironed with a small marish whereto was in some places adioyned a slight Trench ment not rashly to attempt any thing but sought meanes to drawe them foorth to battell Hereto was he enuited by the heate that he perceiued in his souldiers likewise by his great number for he doubted that such an armie wanting pay would not long continue great as also that the sharpenesse of winter would soone deminish it It may be that in the Catholike army some of these considerations might likewise take place But there was a good vniformity in this that both the generalls were touched with equall desire to ioyne and like purpose each to goe liue vpon his enemies land so to preserue his owne from the extreeme spoyle which whole armies doe make Thus they both raised their campes and tooke their way to Lusignan neere whereto was a small quarter of land good in all perfection where each entended to lodge and albeit they were both neere together yet could neither heare newes of other which is not very straunge for we see it many times come so to passe Both parties therefore hauing appoynted their generall meeting at a great borowe named Pamprow plentifull in victualles the Marshals of both the campes came thether much about one time with their troopes from whence they beate each other forward and backward twise or thrise so desirous was euery man to catch that bone to knawe vpon which in the ende was giuen ouer Howbeit either of them knowing very well that they should haue support stood stiffe and would not flee but retired a quarter of a league of where they set themselues in battaile aray Afterward came the Lord Admirall and d'Andelot with fiue Cornets of horse onely and on the behalfe of the Catholickes came seauen or eight hundred Speares It is now sayd the Lord Admirall no speaking of lodging but of fighting and with all speede aduertised the Prince who was a long league of to set forwarde in the meane time he would set a good face on the matter He commaunded them to stand in aray vpon a small rising so to take from the enemies the viewe of a valley least they should discouer him and this did he to the ende to make theÌ„ think that we had some great power both of horsemen footmen hidden therein Being thus in aray within a Canon shot each of other he willed a Captaine of harquebuziers on horseback to set forwarde fiue hundred paces and to stay neere to a hedge which he did But as these people albeit they can discharge running are not neuerthelesse skilfull souldiers so had they not stayed there sixe paternosters while but halfe of them moued to
riuer Some Catholikes reporte that the discorde that fell betweene them hindred diuerse braue enterprises which they might haue executed if they had still agreed I wot not how it was but if that were true it was no meruaile that they fought noâ— or rather that they were not fought with all but thus 〈◊〉 I haue learned that the enimies had small notice of their braules This great barre the riuer of Loire might also haue bene a second verie great difficultie to staie this Dutch armie in that so lowe it was not wadeable besides that all the townes standing thervpon were enemies but the passage ouer was in necessarie for them that it so doubled the diligence rashnesse and inuentions of the French Protestants that they assayled the towne of Charite which had a goodly bridge and finding it but badly furnished with men they pressed so sore vpon it that what with countenaunce and threates before anie succour came they had carried it awaie which was vnto them a wonderfull ioy For had not that ben they were in a verie bâ—â— case must haue ben forced to haue sought the head of the faiâ—riuer which would haue lengthned their way 60 leagues and which was worse taking that course they should haue pestured themselues in a hilly and wood Countrie where their horsmen could haue stood them but in small stead I haue sometimes heard the Lord Admirall discoursing hereof among his familiars account this passage of the straungers almost impossible For sayd he we cannot helpe them by reason of Monsiers armie which lyeth in our waie and as for them they haue another vpoÌ„ their arm also so difficult a riuer to stop their course that it is to be feared that they shal not wel void this inconuenience without shame or losse Agayn albeit they had passed it yet the 2. armyes ioyned together wil haue ouerthrowen them before we can come neere by 20 leagues to succour them but when we hard of the successe of La Charite also y t they were determined to trie al dangers to ioyn with him he grew into better hope and sayd This is a Princes good prognostication les vs by diligence and resolution perfect it This caused the Lordes Princes of Nauarre Conde the same who had allowed and receiued leaue for generalles of the Protestants to march toward the marches of Limosin so to drawe neere the armie of Monsieur and to keepe it still occupied and to saie the truth wee were dayly as it were in a foure waiting when we should heare that two such mightie armies had oppressed our Reisters but it fel out otherwise for they watched their opportunitie so â—itlie and speedely that beeing guided by their French troopes wherein the Lorde of Auy bare himselfe most valyantlie they out went them and drew to the place where the Lorde Admirall had sent them worde that he woulde meet them with ten thousand harquebuziers and two thousand and fiue hundred horse Thus did these two armies ioyne with greate â—â—aâ—ulation I will not heere â—axe the Generalls and braue Captaines of the Catholikes for suffering them to passe because I 〈◊〉 not what reasons they had to diuert them neither will I extreamely command those that passed but rather must thinke it to haue ben a great good hap for them the lyke whereof doe sometimes appeare in militarie action where in great Captaines in their warre are to learne in their greatest extremities not to abandon all hope for one onely fauourable accident which commonly followeth the diligent and shunneth the slothfull may suffice to free them Both the armies being then verie mightie for there were in the Kings campe aboue thirtie thousand men and in the Princes full 25000. were forced for theyr better commoditie of virtualles to seuer themselues for the countrie of Limosin is but barren but they drew togither ward againe about Yries La Perche The Lord Admirall perceiuing that the barrennesse of the Countrie forced them to lodge scâ—â—teringlie also that beeing craggie and full of wood the places for the armies were oftentimes verie discommodious determined rather to preuent then to bee preuented Wherefore hee counsayled the Princes to goe and surprise the Catholike armie which was not farre of at a place called Roch-labelle They set forward before breake of daie in purpose to giue battayle and came so fitlie that before anie allarum taken they were within a quarter of a league of the enemies front who were lodged strongly and the Lord of Stossy at the noise comming in with fiue hundred harquebuziers to support three hundred of his men who kept watch at the chiefe entrie found the skirmishe verie hot And wee may well saie that hee bare himselfe verie valyantlie for hee helde foure thousande Protestant harquebuziers plaie a long houre which time stood the Catholike armie in good stead to set themselues in order The Lorde Admirall meruailing that they could not force the passage sent thether Captaine Bruel a skilfull man Hee by and by perceiued that our shotte endeauoured to ouercome the others rather by multitude than by arte wherefore to make short worke hee spake to the Captaines and hauing ordered the troopes assayled their flanks and withal setting forwarde foure Cornets to sustayne them he beganne a sharpe onsette wherein our men hauing broken certain casemates that couered the enimies did so disorder theÌ„ that soone after they fled leauing diuerse of their menâ— dead with 22. of their officers also their Colonell prisoner who that daie had done Monsieur good seruice for had it not bene his resistance the Protestants had come without leâ—te to their ordinance But because it rayned all the daie and the Catholike army was placed vpon the aduauntage they could not worke anie great effect and therfore retired hauing shewed themselues too rigorous in their execution for they tooke verie fewe prisoners whereaâ— the Catholikes were â—ore prouoked and reuenged themselues intime and place It is a commendation to fight well but it deserueth no lesse praise to bâ— genele and courteous to those whome the first furâ—e of our weapons haue pardoned and into whose handes our selues may another time fal vnlesse there be great cause to the contrarie And in skirmishes skill and pollicie is in my opinion as necessarie as violence which experience doth 〈◊〉 coufirme For if the lande be somewhat couerd a man may vse sundrie aduantages which the Spaniards and Italians can verie wel practise as being ingenious people but it is alwaies most profitable to order their men in smal troopes to assayle on the flankes ere they bee aware to place the troope that beareth the brunt verie well and finallie to come resosolutely to the sword The siege of Poictiers MAny enterprises doe men attempt in the wars which were neuer premeditated as also they giue ouer others long before thought vppon which proceedeth of the alterations which time bringeth foorth and as it is a signe of valiantâ—e well to execute so is
force them to parley for their returne into Germanie which might easilie be compassed by giuing them two moneths paie We also sayd they knowe the Admirall to be one of the most politike Captaines in the world most skilfull in winding himselfe out of aduersitie if he may haue anie leasure He will repaire his power and thereto adioyne more out of Gascogne Languedock so as in the spring we shall see him appeare with a newe armie wherewith he will harrie our Princes molest vs and burne euen to the gates of Paris Moreouer the Princes of Nauarre and Condie comming among these conquered people will by their presence by little and little cheere them vp againe and waken many other flomackes as yet daunted in diuerse places vnlesse with diligence we take frō them almeanes to preuaile of the time They concluded that Monsieur with the two thirds of his armie should follow them for so he might vndoubtedly in short space force the Captaines for their refuge to enter some weake holde which might finish the warre Others being of another opinion sayd that they now reaped one of the principall fruites of their atchieued victorie in the conquest of these townes wherof they had alreadie wonne sixe in ten daies that now they should set vpon get the rest considering in what feare they now were that the Protestants woulde neuer bee quiet so long as they had any places of retreate which being taken from them they woulde haue no great desire to stirre that there rested no more but a few townes in Xantoigne Angonlucis in that quarter which could not aboue two moneths holde out agaynst the force of their victorious armie and Monsieurs good hap that afterward Rochel seeing it selfe naked of all couerture would quake As for the remainder of the conquered armie wherwith the Princes and Admirall had saued them selues the same did flie would scatter of it selfe howbeit to hasten it thereto they might send after it a thousande horse and two thousande Two leagues within the sea there lie certaine Iles which fauour her the inhabitants giuen as much to warre as traficke the magistrates discreete and all wel affected to the reformed religion as for the fortifications experience hath taught what they are therefore I shall not neede to saie anie more of them Well I will confesse that Orleance to him that is strong in the field is a place more proper to assayle but if it be for defence Rochel is farre more profitable some there are that note the inhabitaunts of rudenesse but how euer it be they be loyall the same may be spoken of the people of Namure who are with their rudenesse loyall And when the imperfections of a man or citie are much lesse than the good qualities they may be borne well enough The succour which the Princes had thence in this third warre doe sufficientlie testifie it to be a good shop and well furnished neither doe I alleadge this to the end great townes should bee puffed vp with pride but rather to prouoke them to praise God for those plentifull commodities that he hath bestowed vpon them For hee that exalteth himselfe shal be brought lowe either earlie or late Among all others that they had thence this is to be noted that she furnished and armed a certaine number of vessels which fetcht them in sundrie rich prizes yeelding great treasure to the generall cause for albeit they then tooke but the tenth for the admiralty yet did the profit thereof amount vnto aboue 500000. frankes Afterward in the next warres which began in the yeere 1574. necessitie constrayned them take the fifth it was thought that this would haue restrayned sea faring men from seeking their aduentures in such hazard howbeit this exercise was so pleasant vnto them that notwithstanding this excessiue tribute they could not desist therefro albeit oftentimes it hapned that in those booties which their talents had griped the nailes of the land Picoree or prouling gaue terrible pinches whereby we may see what wealth the sea warre dooth minister to anie Countrie Now if the land warre be iust so ought this also to be howbeit when we come to examine diuerse the perticular actions thereof we shall therein finde wonderfull abuses at the least among vs for most of these aduenturers doe make small difference betweene friends and foes and many times the poore enemie hath had fauour when the rich friend hath bene robbed and committed to the streames by them that presumed through crueltie to conceale their coueteousnesse But heauen hauing both eies and mouth seeing these secret inhumanities reuealeth them openly and with al more iustlie casteth some of the cōmitters therof headlong into the gulfes wherein they had vniustly buried the innocent marchant But bee this spokē without iniury to those that do behaue themselues lawfullie in their vocation for my speech I direct onelie to such as are disordinatlie affected to robbe the whole world I haue heard of the Spaniards who were at the ouerthrow of the Lord of Strossie that halfe his armie consisted of pirats and rouers who forsooke him at his most neede suffering him euen in their view to perish together with such braue persons as accompanied him to the battaile also that they meruayled that of fortie saile that went with him there fought not aboue sixe or seauen but as they commended the valour of these so did they blame the cowardlinesse of the rest notwithstanding it redounded to their profit This teacheth vs that the affections to spoile and the affections to fight do worke contrarie effects For my part I shall still bewaile this valiant Captaine my verie good friend who both in his life and death was an honour to our Fraunce That in nine moneths the Princes army marched almost three hundred leagues compassing in manner the whole Realme of France also what successe they had in this voiage FOrce it was for the Lords Princes and Admirall after their ouerthrow to goe farre enough from the victorious army as well for their owne safeties as vpon sundrie other respects afore as it were by the way mencioned which counsaile redounded to their profite through the follie of the Catholikes who suffered this small snowball without let to roule so long that in short time it grew as great as a house for the authoritie of the Princes stirred vp gathered many the L. Admiralls foresight and inuention compassed profitable things the bodie of the Reisters which amounted to 3000. gaue credite to the armie they endured much vntill they came into Gascogne where they strengthened themselues with shot wherof they stod in great need especially for the warranting of their horsemen from surprises by night which in those quarters through the neighbourhoode of both townes and castles are verie cōmon They dispearsed them among the cornets of Reisters other French troopes so as as wel in the open as close Countrie they were still readie to defend themselues