depart froÌ„ their caÌ„p with the discourse of their viage 170 Martigues death 211 N the siege raised from Nauerreis 127 Earles of Naslau â–ª Lodouic and Henry brethren 87 the Nobilitie of Daulphinois 7. excuse them selues of taking othe 7 Noutron a toune taken 85 the Lord de la Noue 60 Noyers in Burgondy 9. the same taken 185 Nyort besieged 94. giueÌ„ ouer Nimes the toune and castle taken 201 O Oisans a borough 16 Ordering of the princes army 32 Ordering of the armye at La Roche 90 OrleaÌ„s asseÌ„bly of catholiks 28 Ouerthrow of the Lorde of Mouuaus 29 Othe to the king 6 Oth of the prince of Nauar. 68 P Peace made 1 Peace more hurtful thaÌ„ war. 8 PaÌ„prow a vilage in Poitou 34 the Lord of Pardillan 59 Pope sendeth succour 88 Parley of Angoulesme 70 Pasquier a captaine 14 Paslage ouer Lot. 18 the Lorde of Pierre Gourd 15. his discomfiture 29 Peter Viret prisoner 97 Perrol a captaine slainae 93 the Lord of Pilles taketh the ile of Medoc 76 the Lord of Pluueau 59 Pluueas regimeÌ„t of fotemeÌ„ 62 the earl of Pampadon slain 73 Pons in Santonge besieged 3â— taken 34 Poitiers besieged 120. all the discourse til the raising of the siege 142 Prince of CoÌ„de disarmeth him self 1. watched by spies 8. departeth from Noyers 9. with draweth himselfe to Rochell 10. answereth a messenger seÌ„t vnto him for peace 41. hys death before Iarnac 62. his horslemen flee 63. a notable deuâ—â—e in his ensigne 65 Prince of Nauar sweareth 68 Princes depart from Nyort 55 Princes constrayned to take armes 82 Princes marche to ioyne with the Almans 84 Princes army described 88 Partenay in Poitou lost 166 Q the Queene mother at Limoges 88. encourageth the soldiors 89 the Queene of Nauarre and hir childreÌ„ arriue at the caÌ„p 20 hir coÌ„ming to Thony Charante 65 hir departure from thence 66 R RAncon an Italian Marquis taken Rapin hewn in peeces 6 Regiments of Dolphine wyth the names of their chefe captaines 13 Rutters come to ayd the kings brother 54 Remedy to conserue the kingdome 103 Reynold Cracco 87 Renell a Marquis 88 Request of those of the religion to the king 101 Roannois a Duke taken 13. after set at libertie 71 la Roche fâ—ucaut 9 â—a Roche a village in Limosin 90 Rochelle 1 the Lord of Rouray 77 Ruffeâ— a castle taken 57 Request made to the Princes by those of Daulphine and their answer 170 S SAinctes in Saintonge 37 Saint Genais a toun in Poitou taken 97 Saint Titier la Perche a toune in Limosin 99 Sanserre a toune 1 Sauigny a castle taken 44 Saulmur a toune 11 Sanzay entreth into Poitiers with bands of men 145 Succour from the duke of Aumale to late 84 the Lord of Sessac taken 52 Siege of Angouleâ—me 20. of Ponts 30. of Mirebeau 45. of Sanzarre 53 of Mucidan 72 of Bourge in Bourdelâ—â—s 76. of la Charite 83. of Nyort 94. of la Charite by Sansac 99. of Lusignan 99 of Poitiers 120. of Nauerreâ—â— 227. of Chastelleraut 140 Siege raised froÌ„ Poitiers 142. from Chastelleraut 140 the Lord of Soubize 59 the Lord Strossy taken 92 the lord steward Sâ—â—â— slain 62 Skirmishes at Iazenail 25. at Beaudo 〈…〉 on Marca 56. at Bassac 60. at Coignac 64. at Aesle in Lymosia 89. at Port de Pille 143. at Mont-gontour 154 S. Iohn d'Angely somoned to yelde with all the discourse of the siege 176 the Lord of S. Heran hurt 193 T TAllard in Daulphine takeÌ„ vnwares 11 the Parle of Tandes 53 Tanlay in Burgonie 9 the Lord of Tarrides 127. hys ouerthrow 128 the Lord of Tauanies 154 the Lorde of Teligny sent to Nyort 65. leadeth men to succour Chastellerault 142 the Temporall goodes of the church men sold 51 the Territories of the Quene mother exempt from preaching and the territories of the kings brother 5 at Tours the kings brothers assembly 28 the Third ciuill warres 2 Towns takeÌ„ by the prince 10 V VAcherie a captaine slaine 122 the Lord of Vallauoire 14 Valfreniere a captain slain 76 Villages burnt in Perigueux 32 the Lord of Villiers 98 Vill et lord of s Mary slain 71 Viret a minister enprisond 97 the Vicountes 85 Visere a riuer 28 La Viue a riuer of Montgontour 156 Wolfgange duke of Swebrug 78. the duke of Aumal writeth to him 9 Wolrard of Mansfield 87 the third ciuill Warre 2 Warle in Bearne 127 Y The Lord of Iuoye 49 ⧠FINIS ¶ A shorte Discourse of the Ciuill warres and last troubles in Fraunce vnder Charles the ninth The fyrste Booke IMmediatly vppon the peace in Marche 1568. and the same published in the Princes armie afore Chartres the sayd Prince the better to aduouch his ready obedience to the Kyng did not only disarme himself and people with present dismisse of suche strangers as were come to his succours but also disgarrysoned with a ready and dutyfull spéede euery towne and village which he eyther held or gouerned wherin he was reuerently obeyed vpon the very fyrst motion onely the towne of Rochell was exempted as in respecte of their auncient priuiledge pretendyng frée dispence that waye The townes also of Montauban Sanserre delayed their consentes as séeing matters not so surely quieted as the case required This peace gaue great hope of perpetuall benefit to suche as seeke and embrace the quiet of Fraunce albeeit it broughte foorthe a contrarie issue for as it was in some singular parte a confirmation of a former peace in the yeare 1562. So is it also the begynning and originall cause of a third ciuill warre incensed in this realme whereof we meane to giue present report Immediatly that the said towns were surrendred the Prince absolutely disarmed the gouerners of the prouinces which be all of the Romish religion seased vpon all the towns ports passages for tresses in FraÌ„ce bestowing therin huge mighty garrisons at their plesure and such as resembled themselues in condition touching the general cause quarel by which mean many of the reformed religioÌ„ abiding stil within those townes hapned into sundry heauy disquiets troubles bothe in theyr goods and prouisions for reléef descending to their enimies as praie spoiles also in their persons violentely enduring the inciuil disposition of murdrous souldiors enclined altogither to bloud wherin notwithstanding his maiestie dispatched ordinarie coÌ„mandements by letters patents and other expeditions to the gouerners people directers of his iustice aswel to suffer them of the Religion to remayn within the townes of their naturall dwelling as also to communicate in a generall vse and exercise of their religion goods honors charges and estates according to the edict of peace yet there was either nothing don at all or else to small purpose of redresse for if they suffred any to reenter the sayde townes they were such as they esteemed of least affection to the sayde religion and they bothe constrayned in the very entrie into the townes to yelde vp
and infinite murders and abused so long the milde pacience of the protestantes as thinking vppon no bridle to gouerne his furie he woulde not stick to lay haÌ„ds of the princes of the blood whereof she commended a present and lamentable experience in his conspiracie agaynst the Prince her brother whom his crueltie hath enforced to séeke succours amongst his parentes and allies so that for her part she and her son resembling the Prince so neere and dearely in proximitie of bloud coulde do no lesse than offer him that which the direct law of frendship and coÌ„sanguinitie did demaund and therefore as shee didde assuredly stay and repose hir selfe vpon the goodnesse natural affectioÌ„ of his maiestie enclined rather to norish preserue than teare rent them vp by the rootes so she besought him with al humilitie to tolerate in the best part their depar ture from their houses of entent to serue God the kyng their adherents in bloud and to impugne to the vttermost of theyr lyues and power the violente malice of such as publikely haue entred into conspiracie agaynst them and lastely to beléeue that for these thrée causes onely they had put their weapons betwéene their hands least they shoulde bée vtterly extermined from the view and face of the earth according to their sinister resolutioÌ„s like as also y sayd Cardinall deuysed to rauysh her son from betwéen her armes peruerting the power authoritie of his maiestie into vnnatural violeÌ„ce as though the simple commandement of his maiestie could not sufficiently gouerne her her son his maiesties most humble obedient seruants so finally if his maiestie wold waigh in indiffereÌ„t balance y faith of them and infidelitie of the sayd Cardinal measuring y one other by a direct straight lyne his maiestie shold fynde more truthe in their effects than in the wordes of the other In her letters to the Quéene she stoode vppon thrée poyntes that moued her to leaue her houses and offer her lyfe goodes and all her possible meanes to aduaunce the cause of Religion The fyrst was in respecte of the seruice of GOD seeing the Cardinall and his confederates studied to roote vp from the earth suche as made profession of the true Religion secondly to doo seruice to the souerayntie of the King and with mayne lyfe and goodes to helpe that the Edicte of pacification may be obserued and that Fraunce the mother couÌ„trey and nursse of so many sorts of people become not barreyn and so suffer her children to die Thirdly that bloud and coÌ„sanguinitie did call her to offer succoure and ayde to her brother harryed and pursued ageynst the Kyngs will by the malice of suche as possesse aboute his person such place as no waye is due to them neyther can shée better paynte out the Cardinall than by hys owne colours that is to say as well by a number of tragicall and lameÌ„table murders whose complaint doo sorowfully sounde in euery religious eare as also to see so many desolate soules hoping by the edict of pacification to enioy a plausible quiet and rest in their houses miserably dispersed to their aduenture and cruelly excluded from their soyle of naturall and auncient aboade The same Cardinall also and his wicked adherentes puffed vp with a generall pacience that euery one hath vsed to their barbarous tirannie attempted ageinst the Princes of the bloude with intent in common likelihod to roote vp the mayne grafte stock after they had wickedly defaced and spoyled y tender braunches And bycause the zeale of their Religion did in no sorte induce them as they haue affirmed she solicited the Queene to a remeÌ„braunce of the conspiracie done the laste tyme shee was sicke from the whiche the Cardinall of Bourbon her brother was not exempted albeit he was a Catholike So that it is only the bloude of Fraunce whiche gripes them so at hart wherof what better experience and example can be aduouched thaÌ„ their vngodly pursuite against the Prince of Conde and his little children to whose succours according to the dutifull office of bloude and kynred she would neuer fayle desiring notwithstanding aboue all things a good peace and so well assured as the Cardinall of Lorayne nor his adherents could eyther dissolue or corrupte it She declared in her letters to the kings brother how iustly she was enticed to her iourney to Bergerac with hope to pursue the ful voyage for the seruice of their Maiesties with requeste that it would please him in good earnest to put his hand to the worke and helpe to defend the poore countrey of FrauÌ„ce against the pollicies of such as séeke to aspire to confounde it with a thirste and desire as it semes to buylde their greatnesse and authoritie vppon the decayed and ruinouse stones of such as like firme pillers do and haue susteyned it By her letters to y Cardinal of Bourbon her brother that it was nowe more than tyme if there were any at all to gather stomacke to hym and laye afore their Maiesties the lamentable state and desolation of Fraunce whereunto he was bound aboue the reste in respect of the honour he bare to bee a Prince of the bloud Shée sommoned him also to remember the shame and outrage thundred vppon the persone of his proper Brother Systers and Nephews and all by a Cardinall of Lorraine who also abused him as one of his suffragans If all these could not moue him topitifull consideration of their case at least let him remember Vespra Siciliana pretended by hys coadherentes the laste tyme the Queene was sicke And lastly notwithstanding the separation of Religion shee coniured him by the proper office of friendship and dutie of nature and bloud concurring togyther to consider their present pursute against the Prince his brother All these letters were written and dated at Bergerac the xvâ— of September 1568. After the siege of Angoulesme the sayd Quéene with the yong Ladye her daughter retired to Rochel leauing the Prince her sonne in the Campe whiche afterwardes was called The Campe of the Princes bycause the sayd Princes of Nauarre and Conde commaunded togither in the Armie Whyles these things were thus ordered the Duke of Aniou brother to the King and Chief ouer the Catholykes forbare neyther diligence nor meanes to aduaunce his force and erect his Camp at O 〈…〉 and other places there about wherewith he diffended towardes Poytiâ—â— where vnderstanding of the comming of the Lord 〈…〉 er â—aâ—ching with the succoures he brought determined to fight with â—â—â— and â—o â—â—â—der him to ioyne with the Prince of Conde and for that purpose departed from Poytiers with .iiij. thousand horsemen .iiij. enseignes of footmen and entred with great iourneys the towne of Perigueux in like sort the Lord d'Acier marched euery day passing the ryuers of Leyllâ— and Vâ—serâ— in the sayd countrey and so the xxv of October being neer the town of Perigueux and lodged in a village called S. Chastie
of Pons hauing taken the Castel by composition and sent the Lord and Ladye of the place prisonners to Rochel marched with his Artillerie to ioyne with the Princes campe which the kings brother thought to intercept and for that cause passed Vienne by a Bridge of boates which he caused to be made at Chastellerant drawing directly to Pamprou néere vnto which his vauntgarde gouerned by the Lorde Montpensier came the .xvij. of Nouembre The Princes campe likewise marched to ioyne with the Lord de Boccard arriuing the same day somewhat late at Pamprou néere the Lord de Montpensier the same euening there were offred and receiued certaine shorte skirmishes by reason the night gaue let to their longer fight the army of the Princes camped nere the very houses of Pamprou halfe a league from the lord Mountpensier who caused to kindle great fires as though he would encampe there stealing away albeit about midnight and went to Jazenail to ioyne with the kinges brother that was there with the battell The morrow after being the xviij of the same month the Princes army was ready ringed in battel at the first appearing of the day who hoping to finde eftsones the lord Mountpensier where they left him the day before determined to bidde him battell but séeing he was so gone as neither forme nor figure remained of his being there the Prince spedde him so swiftly in the pursuite that he ariued at Jazenail almost as soone as he there began a warme skirmishe from noone till night the Admirall was not there at the beginning as following the chase of certaine troupes drawing towardes Menigours where he toke about lx chariotes charged with baggage of the kings brothers campe and amongest others the baggage of the duke of Guyse and the Countie Bryssack with the most parte of their siluer vessell all being a pray to the souldioures In the euening the Admirall arriued with the troupes which he led Immediatly after whose comming the skirmishe qualified the Princes army retiring into a wood nere to that place towarde Menigours This was the first proofe and experience of the Dauphynoys which were in the Princes campe who not withstanding did so wel as they deserued and had high commendacion they driue the Catholikes from thrée or foure of their trenches and enforced them to leaue the next towne to their campe albeit they had sundry aduauntages of the Princes footemen aswell by the multitude and numbers of shotte which thundred violently to defeÌ„d their trenches as also that their horsemen were alwayes a redy and singuler succour to their footemeÌ„ which the princes horsemen could not do by reason of hedges and maine ditches besides the naturall and troublesome situation of the place In this skirmish were brought to the earth on both sides about thrée hundreth bodies and almost all footemen the number notwythstanding of the dead being farre greater of the Papists than Protestants whose armie being now in great néede to be refreshed as hauing had neyther rest nor releese for two dayes for horsse nor man caused their footemen to marche the morning after to Menigours to recreate themselues and ioyne with the Lord de Boccard and all the horsemen after they had presented themselues in order of battell at the place where they were the day before retired also thither without any thing doing The Kings brother after thys skirmishe tooke his way to Poytiers and the Princes drewe towardes Mirebeau a Towne in Poictou foure leagues from Poytiers which was rendred wythout resistance to the Princes who with theyr armie soiourned there aboute eyghte dayes The Quéene of Nauarre being now at Rochel wrote to the Quéenes Maiestie of England the reasons of her departure from her owne and soueraign countreis in the first she preferred the cause of Religion so oppressed with the inueterate and barbarous tyrannie of the Cardinall of Loraine assisted by people of his owne humor that shée accompted in shame to bée numbred amongst the faithfull if she did not oppugne that horrible error with all such helpes as God would sturre vp confederating her selfe and sonne with so holy and honorable societies of Princes resolued vnder the fauoure of the great God of Armes to spare neyther bloud lyfe nor goodes to effect so blessed a purpose Her second reason resemblyng also the first was in respect of her Seruice to the king making the ruine of the church the confusion of him and his kingdome with whome because she and hir sonne hadde the nearest affinitie they thoughte it also theyr firste and propre office of duetie to intercept suche as vsurping vppon the naturall goodnesse and enclynation of theyr King woulde make hymselfe the Author of his owne destruction with suborned imposition albeit he is one of the most true princes of the world to be a falser of his promise and that by inuentions of their owne contriuing to infringe the edict of pacification which so long as it was preserued enterteined a ioyfull peace betwene the king and his faithful subiects and now being broken doth conuert the said fidelitie of his people to a lamentable warre and so inforced as there is not any one of them which hath not bene drawne into armes by violence The third cause peculiar to her selfe sonne was in that she sawe the auncient enemies of God her house with a shamelesse and perillous malice bent vtterly to exterminate their race Besides as she behelde on the one side with pitifull eyes the Prince her brother who to escâ—ue the mortal peril pretended against him was constrained afore hée entred into armes with his biggebellied wife and little children to searche places of securitie and that in such desolation as the very remembraunce is able to kindle remorse in any christian harte so on the other side being credibly informed of diuers expeditions and traines to rauish from betwene her handes her dere and onely sonne she could do no lesse thaÌ„ to imparte her selfe and sonne with the said consociacioÌ„ and to share with them in their generall fortunes according to the due office and bonde of blood and yet not to vndertake armes to contende against heauen as the good catholikes do suggest and much lesse to warre vpon the soueraigne maiestie of the king but rather to confront those who with their auncient spite to the generall cause do conioyne that wherof they haue geuen so many particular and publike effectes About the ende of Nouember the Admirall departed from Mirebeau in the night with all the horsemen and shot of the vauntgarde drawing towarde Pontd'Auzance as hauing aduertisemeÌ„t that there wer at that place certain troupes of the soueraigne lieuetenaunts campe And being there he founde in deede the Regiment of footemen of the Counte Brissack whom he charged and put them in part to flight killing two or thre hundred of them he was in minde to charge their horsemen which were also there sauing for the vehement rayne which enforced them to retire to Mirebeau besides he had
King keepes an ordinarie dead pay of certeyn numbres of souldiers A capteyn called Colombyn borne in Grenoble vnderstaÌ„ding by certein of the borough of Oysans that most part of the sayd dead pay men were issued oute of their charge toke the sayd Castel and finding no resistance other than the very capteyne of the place who yelded beyng hurt with a shot he made him selfe lorde of it where neglecting one first and most necessarie pollicie in a victor hee rather laboured to deface the images than to furnishe the place with coÌ„uenient prouision which being not vnmarked of certein euil neigh bors purlewing vpoÌ„ the castle they forthw t enuironed him with a siege so cut off his vittell wherof they knew the castel had but slender store Their siege continuyng about xv days enforced him at last to render the place vpon composition and onely reseruation of lyfe whiche notwithstanding was not kept for that all his souldiors were cut in peeces and he only led on lyue to Grenoble After the generall view and muster of the princes footemen the Lorde de Pilles returned now from Gâ—scoygâ—e was sent to sease vpon the yle of Medoc a rich yle lying betwéene Rochell and Bordeaux conteyning in length aboute .xvj. or .xvij. leagues and .iiij. or .v. leagues in breadth he prouided necessary boates to passe the ryuer of Gironde and embarkyng him selfe with .ij. thousand footemen discended into the sayd ylâ— and tooke hauen without any let he made himselfe maister of the yle vpon the sodayne and vnlooked for fynding great foyson of riches where with he his souldiours loaded themselues plentifully By meane of this I le he besieged Bourg a town in Bordelois but being speedily called back by the Princes he raised his siege and came agayne to the Campe At this siege died of a shot in his shoulder the Lord Valpheuiere lieutenant to the late Lorde d'Andelot of his Regiment of footemen whose regimen was traÌ„slated to the Lord of Rouray gentleman of Fraunce This was vpon the ende of May. The kings brother being now returned into the contrey of Angoulmois and after he had somwhat releued his armie on that syde to Villebois sent to sommon the town of Angoulesme by a trompet wherin hae was refused so tooke way towards Berry to ioyne his force with the Duke d'Aumall beeing in the sayd contrey the Conte Mont-gomerey charged vpon the tayle of his campe and discomfited certen of them The Lady Marquise of Rottelyn vnderstaÌ„ding of the death of the prince of Conde her sonne in law put her vpon the way to come to Rochell wher was the widowprincesse her daughter she passed to Sainct Iean d'Angely and so to Thony vpon Boutonne wher the said Princesse met her and so returned into FraÌ„ce without her daughter whome she purposed to haue with her But the Princesse excused her vppon hir children which were then at Rochell whether she also returned it was thought the Lady Marquise came to entreate a peace whiche was not so bycause hir occasion was only as is asoresayd this was in the ende of May. 1569. In the first kindlyng of these warres the Princes hauing true intelligence of diuers numbres of straungers entred the Realme for the strengthe of the Catholikes determined also to fortifie their armie by the like meane And therfore knowing that the Prince Wolfgange Duke de deux Pons had erected great numbres of men of armes as well on foote as on horseback the better to defende his owne countreys sente to hym with requeste to yelde them succoures in their so vrgent and extreme necessitie bothe with his armie presently in point and also such other powers as hee might possibly leute whervnto the said duke condescended with promyse to releeue them with all his forces which albeit at that tyme were not fully assembled yet he forgat not within short tyme after to put an armie in redinesse to come into France wherof the duke d'Aumale lying in Lorayne béeing enformed by special Intelligicers dispatched forthwith a Gentleman of his by whome hée aduertised the Duke of the common brute that passed of the diligence he vsed in the leuyes of men of warre in Almayne and al to assist the conspiracies of such as arme themselues ageynst the crowne of France with displayed warre ageynst the King which for his parte as he neyther had nor woulde beleue so lookyng neerer into his magnificence and partes of a Prince hée iudged hym of no inclination to fauoure rebelles ageynst theyr soueraigne maiestie consideryng withall the ancient respect of amitte so long continued betwéene the house of the electors of the countie Palatines of Rhine the scepter of France Albeit his maiestie desiring to vnderstand an absolute truth gaue him special charge to dispatche this speciall Messanger hee also hauyng authoritie of his Maiestie to withstande the entrie of any stranger â—o releue the enterprise of the sayd rebellâ—s which hée hoped to accomplishe or else to leaue his lyfe in the charge The Duke forbare to answer spéedily vntyll his armye were fully in poynte albeeit after that hée hadde receyued hys Reistres he beganne to marche towardes the Conte of Burgogne and as he lay vppon the frontiers of Fraunce tarying for his Launceknyghtes hée aunswered the d'Aumales letter which he sent forthwith to the Kyng In the beginning hee layde afore hym how in the yeeres afore many Reistermaisters passyng thorowe his Duchy without leaue gréeued so his countrey that the continuall complaints of his people forced hym to drawe into companyes of armed men as well on horsbacke as on foote to withstande further offence to his people And that nowe in respecte his cousyns and dearely beloued Princes of Nauarre and Conde haue lamentably imparsed with hym the vniuste quarell vrged vppon them as well to enforce their lyues and goods as to depriue the exercise of their Religion contrary to the kings faith and playne protestation of his Edicts and that not onely they but all the Nobilitie and others professing the same Religion haue and doo endure myserable oppressions as estraunged from theyr owne houses thruste oute of their charges and offices theyr possessions and welthes consisked into the Kings handes lastly that there be raised huge companies of men of warre aided with sundry sortes of straungers to cut them in pieces as in other times of open hostilitie in these respectes together with their earnest motion and request for succours and lastly vpon an vpright view and consideration of their present calamitie he coulde nor ought do no lesse than ayde them And for their partes the better to auouche their integrities in refusing all attempts aspiring preiudicially to the crown of France as the d'Aumalles letters did sinisterly suggest the sayd Princes haue protested by letters which he kepeth sealed wyth their owne handes that if at his being in Fraunce he see or know any inclination in them to conspire in any sorte against the crowne that he would not only draw
away his succours but conuert thē to the enemy and cōtrary side the rather to reuenge their disloyaltie which makes him iudge of the Princes side beleue y they are not only far frō the slaundrous impositions of their enemies but also of vnfained desire rather to rest quietly in their houses than follow so harde and doubtful a warre wherunto they haue ben drawen of force as to defend the violēt oppression of their malicious enemies he alledged besides that when his Cosine the duke Casmir erected his army in Almaign in the like cause he was also vntruly informed as of purpose to draw him from succouring the Prince of Conde that it was against the maiestie royall that the said Prince did conspire which notwithstanding was founde otherwayes as appeareth by his maiesties edictes of peace both first and last approuing always the actions of the sayd Prince as done for the seruice of his maiestie And to take away all suspiciō he declared that besides that his meanyng was to succour the sayde Princes of Nauarre and Conde his enterprise in comming into Fraunce stretched also to relieue the little ones of the Religion dispersed into their seuerall miseries to whome of very duety being a Christian Prince he coulde do no lesse than offer and lende his hande to leade them to Jesus Christ And to the ende his maiestie may vnfainedly resolue in the integritie of his purpose and that he vndertakes not this iourney to spoile his subiectes or make pray of their welthes or for any other perticular profit he protested that if his maiestie would graunt them a safe vse of their religion with a frée exercise of the same without limitation and distinction of persones and places together with assuraunce of their goodes honours charges and estates hée would not onely returne and dismisse his army but also defray the whole charges of the same and the sayde Reistremaisters in their passage amountyng in all to aboue a hundred thousande crownes protesting for ende that if in refusing hys iuste and reasonable offers the Quarell doo aggrauate by his comming into Fraunce to wype hys handes in innocencie of all imputations hereafter and the fault to be layd vpon the authors and chiefe Councellers of the warre beyng about his maiestie The Duke hauing now receiued his Launceknightes entered into Fraunce and passyng by Bourgonguē came to Charyte béeyng coasted sundrye tymes both behinde and before by the armies of of the dukes d'Aumall and Nemors without attempting any thing vpon hym he arriued without let before Charyte the xvj of May which he battred so vehemētly that he enforced forthwith a breach in the meane while the lord of Mouy passing ouer Loere a little aboue the sayd towne with thrée hundred harquebusiers won the suburbes towardes the bridge the same so occupying and amazing thé that were besieged that the Duke entred the breache and put the whole garrison to the sword this towne was taken in good tyme because that if it had lingred neuer so little the Duke d'Aumalle being very nere with succours had endaungered the enterprise The towne was no sooner taken than he was discouered not farre of with xviij hundred horsemen who comming to short to withstand the dukes entrie returned in hope to hinder hym to ioyne with the princes army by meanes that hee mette and assembled wyth the kyngs brothers power who knitte together for this purpose in the countrey of Berry In the ende of May the Princes informed of the approche of the Duke de deux Pons and the taking of Charyte began to marche to ioyne with his army and leauing the Lord de la Noue to gouerne in the countreys of Poyctou and Sainctonge toke their way by Angoulmois directly to Perigueux and as they passed thorow that countrey the Lord of Chaumontes lyght horsemen with certaine companies of footemen tooke the towne of Noutron belonging to the Quéene of Nauarre wherin were killed aboute foure skore men that defended it this was the seuenth of June 1569. The morrow after the sayd Princes dispatched the Counte Montgomery into Gasoyne to commaunde ouer the army of the Uicounts who otherwayes would not agree as not acknowledging one aboue an other he tooke his way by Solliac where hee passed the riuer of Dordone and so beneath Cadenat he passed also ouer Lot and came to Montauban without any let They of the town of Perigueux fearing the comming of the princes army desired the lord Montluc to send them succours to whome he dispatched immediatly the Knight Montluc his sonne with xij ensignes of footemen with the which he entred the towne the iiij of June In this meane while the Princes army kepte the way drawing to Lymosyn the duke de deux Pons hasted by great iorneys to ioyne with them passyng the riuer of Viene two leagues aboue Lymoges The Catholikes had sent thither two C. shot to defend y passage who were all cut in pieces by the lord de Mouy the ix of this moneth on which day the princes army arriued at Chalus a town in Lymosyn departing the next day to ioyne with the army of the Duke de deux Pons in a village within two leagues of Chalus belonging to the Lord d'Escars gouernor of the said countrey The lord Admirall accompanied with two hundred horsemen went where the duke was to salute him the duke enduring certaine fittes of an ague not many days afore and not cured as yet died the xj of this month 1569. in a village thre leagues from Lymoges afore his death he called before him the chief and principals of his army with whome he communicated in many pointes but chiefly in persuasion and request to pursue the purpose of their comming into France leauing for their generall leader in his place the Counte Wolrard de Mansfeld afore his lieuetenāt generall his body was caried to the town of Angoulesme to be there buried In the army of the said late duke were xxviij cornets of horsemen conteining viij thousand and fiue hundreth Reistres whereof were Colonels Hans Boucq Reignold Grac Henry d'Estam and Hans de There 's sixe thousand Launceknights wel armed on foote and for the most part Pikemen deuided into xxvij ensignes wherof were Colonels the Lord de Grauillar and the Lord Guieryn Gansgorff baron of Grelezee besides ij M. horsmen and ten ensignes of footemen of Frenchmen wherof was Colonell touching the footemen one of the sonnes of the Lord de Bricquemau There were also in y sayd army diuers personages of high estate as the prince of Orange his sonne the Counties Lodouike Hēry de Nassau his brethern the Lord de Moruilliers the Marques of of Renel the Lordes of Mouy and Esters ney besides many others there were also xix pieces of artillerie and they either maine péeces or field pieces with others somewhat lesse wherofhe left two of the greatest at Charyte There were in the Princes army about thirtene thousand harquebusiers besydes Pikes wherof
hys promise This enterprise hadde bin of long practised and for the executioÌ„ of it the parties to the practise imparted it with the Lorde de Bricquemau de Guercy Liuetenant to the Lorde Admirall ouer hys men of Armes and Gouernour at the present of Charyte for the King vnder the Princes to the Lorde de Borry Baron of Reury des Essartz with others Lords and Captaynes in those quarters Who vnderstanding the enterprise at large with the meanes to execuâ—e it iudged with it as a thing verie conuenient to be pursued This Vrsyn Pallus in the meane while reuealed it to the Lord de la Charstre gonernour of the towne of Bourges and countrey of Berry and also to Capteine Martyn keeper of the greate towre of Burges who aduysed him to enterteine the enterprise and assure to them of Charite day place and meane to effect it who lykewyse applyed him selfe to their instructions In the meane while the sayde Gouernour of Charstres omitting no preparatiue fitte to welcome them deuysed gynnes of fyer and traynes of powder within the ditches of the place asseigned He bestowed also two grates the one at the entry of the little Forte and the other at the dore or false porte by whiche they enter into the greate towre bringyng lastly into the towne diuerse horsemen and footmen Italians for their better suretie and defence The daye and howre speciall for this purpose was asseigned by the sayd Pallus on S. Thomas night the one and twenteth of December at two of the clocke at after midnight whiche they of Charite fayled not to obserue in poynt And bycause they were dispersed in diuerse places the place of generall méeting was at Baugy a Castell taken before by the barron of Reury about six leagues from Bourges There met about a M. or twelue C. harquebusheares on foote of the troupes of the Lorde Borry and Loruaye with thrée cornets of horsemen guided by the Lorde Bricquemau all which in very good poynt obserued both the houre and place asseigned called la Grange Francois halfe a leage from Bourges where lykewyse mette them the sayde Vrsin Pallus assuring them still of the facilytie of the enterprise and that he bring them to the great tower without daunger whereunto to couer all cause of doute hée offered to bée their first leader They of the religion vnder the fayth of his worde made march first and formost with him the Lorde de Lespau accompanied with twelue aswell Captaines as souldiers and entred by a wicket towarde the fort of the false port where they pitched ladders to enter within the false port which was fyue foote aboue ground After him entred the baron Reury with fiue and twenty men and then the Lord de Sarts with fifty souldiers to sustaine the first but as his troupe entred the cordes of the grate were cut when they also within applyed their seuerall engynes to vse and put fyre to the traines and at the instant the artillery bestowed in flanks thundred vppon them that were to enter as also Captaine Martyn with his number of armed men charged such as were vnhappely entred who seing them selues and enterpryse betrayed deuised and labored for their safety aswell as they could some lept from the wall downe some gat out of the grate the same being somewhat hyer because Buysiere stewarde to the late Lord d'Autricour was inclosed vnder it being notwithstanding taken froÌ„ thence by his company who not able otherwyse to effect their enterpryse were constrayned to retyre They killed of theÌ„ of the Religion twelue or fourtene aswel captaines as souldiers and almost as many kept prisoners within the towne besydes such as were hurt the Lord de Lespau the baron of Reurye de Lessarts des Milles with certain other were taken within the grosse towre After this they of Bourges fearing y courses y they of the religion made euen to their gates aduertised the king of their necessity who succored them spedely with sixe cornets of horsmen which had bene before at the siege of S. Iean d'Angely they arryued at Bourges vppon the ende of December The Princes being come to Montauban as is sayd executed the cause of their comming adioyning to their army the forces of the two Vicounts and Montgomerye In this time the king sent back to Poyctyers the Duke d'Aumall with three cannons and one culuerine guyded by the Lord de Gouas and his regiment of footemen And so bestowing his campin garrisons to wynter lycensing afore the ItaliaÌ„s to go home his Maiestie came to the Towne of Angiers wherein hath bin since as is sayd certain conference for peace ⸫ The prince of Conde disarmeth him selfe The third cyuill warre Garisons put in the towns surrendred Those of the religion shut out of towns Meanes to disarme theÌ„ of the religion Letters of the king coÌ„trary to the Edicte of peace Counsell of the duke of Alba. Amanzay Hercules houshold seruant to the prince Request to offer an oth to the King. Generall musters The Prince and the Admiral watched Noyers Tanley Countie Rochefoucaut Rochell â—ssemblie â—f the Caâ—â—olikes â—ssemblie â—â— the â—rince Tallard taken 〈…〉 uke of 〈…〉 njou bro 〈…〉 er to the 〈…〉 ing Duke de Roauuoâ—â— prisoner The Lord d'Acier â—he Lord â—e Mouâ—ans â—euies of â—en in LaÌ„â—uedoc â—euiâ—e of â—e â—d'A 〈…〉 r in his Corner Kyngs edict Another edict of the King. Marz taken and the towre Sainct Christophle Number of of the L. Daeiers armie Angoulesme besieged Angoulesme taken The Quene of Nauarre his sonne Regiment of â—aâ—â—â—yn Letters of the Q of Nauarre The Princes Camp. Baudine hurt Ouerthrew of the L. of Mouuans P. Gourde Pons besieged The castle of Pons taken 〈…〉 ebeau 〈…〉 endred The castell of Mirebeau taken The meeting of the two armies Abbay S. florent taken The Abbay recouered A sale of the principall goods of the Churche The Queene of Nauarre returnes to Rochel The othe of the Prince of Nauarre l'Endureau reuoltes Brissac slaine Conte Pompadon slain The Lorde Boccard dead Charyte besieged and taken The Duke de deux Poâ—s dead Description of the dukes camp Description of the princes army Succours from the Pope The Quene mother encourageth the souldiours The Lord Strossi taken Strosies men slaine The death of the Lord â—f Moruil The siege of Nyort The Lord pluucau succours it 〈…〉 aâ—â—le 〈…〉 ig The Protestants requ to the king for peace whome troubles â—t to be â—uted Office of true subiects Luzig rendred Lords and Captaynes â—ithin Poyâ—yers Poict besieged Battery against Poye Battery against Poye Three assaultes gyueÌ„ to the subburbes of Roâ—l Assault of Italians The Lord de Mouy hurt S. Iean de Angeli besieged Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman dwelling in Knight Ryder streat at the signe of the Mâ—rmayde For Lucas Harrison and George Byshop
no certaintie whether the Prince of Conde were neare enough to succoure him or not the sayde Prince was withdrawne the same euening with the horsemen and shotte of the battell on that side of the three sâ—â—ples thinking there to finde certayne other trowpes where of he had had aduertisement notwithstanding finding the place abandoned he bended towardes Auzance met in the way the vauntgarde returnyng which he did also As the Prince was in a castell of the Bishops of Poictiers skarce a league from Mirebeau there came to him a Currier or Messenger from the Quéene mother with charge chieflye to induce him to demaunde peace as a matter wherein it belonged to him of duetie to preuent his maiestie to whom he aunswered that he was forced to enter into armes as his surest warraunte agaynst the oppression of his enemies and not to attempte any matter preiudiciall to the Maiestie royall or his soueraigne estate whome he reuerently helde for his king ordayned of God besides the attempt of hym and his intended no further than to entertaine a charitable quiete in their conscience a safe exercise of their religion and lastly a tollerable defence of their liues honours and possessions against the tiranny of an vngodly Cardinall of Lorayne and other the enemies and commoÌ„ troublers of the publike state of this Realme and precisely of the poore professours of the Gospell contrary to the will and meanyng of his Maiestie auouched by so many general edictes and other particular expedicions discending from himselfe for which causes they rested vpon resolucion to maintaine perticularly ageinst the said Cardinal his adherents as the spring roote original of the ruine and thretning subuersion of the croune and them to pursue as periured infringers of the coÌ„mon faith coÌ„iured enemies to this estate vnitie of the realme lastly touching himself he hath giueÌ„ sufficieÌ„t proofe and experience to the whole world of his humble desire and inclination to peace wherin his facilitie and ready coÌ„sent to y last peace do both best approue him and also argue to the worlde the straunge perils offring to whelme him and the faction of his religion And therfore bicause his maiesty is presently enuironned with his enemies whose principall condition is to close his eares against the lamentable complaintes of his oppressed people he determined to be the reporter of their doinges in hys owne person This was the aunswer which the Prince gaue the messenger in the Hall of the castell and that in the presence of a great number of Lordes knights gentlemen and captaines of his army it was supposed in the campe that he came to other ende as to espy the force of the Princes In the beginning of December the Princes departed from Myrebeau and drew to wardes Champigni a Castell belonging to the Lorde de Mountpensier garded with vij or viij skore souldiours they battred the castell on that side towardes the church making a breache in the wall before the Hale of the said place they that were within rendred by composition and in their place entered the Captaine Spondillan with certain numbers of shotte who immediatly for sooke it by commaundement of the Princes and left it at libertie The morrowe after the artillerie marched before the castle of the Lord de Sauigny which without great resistaunce sauing certain volies or shot of the canon was takeÌ„ they within put to the edge of the sword and the castell burned During the siege of these two castels the regiments of footmen of the Lordes of Mountbrun and Myrebean were at Lyllebouchard vpoÌ„ Vien striuing to winne the passage wherin as they profited little so they spedely retired The kings brother being gone from Poictiers and hauing the succoures brought him by the counte de Loyeuse gouernour of the country of Languidock in the absence of the lord d'Anuille marshall of France which were hesides the Regimen of the Lord of Serlebourg certain companies as well on foote as horsbacke besieged the towne of Mirebeau not long since rendred to the Princes This towne was defended by thrée companies of footemen wherof two were gouerned by the captaine la Borde and the other by the Captaine of the castell At the beginning they battered the towne which was abandoned for want of sufficient supplies to furnish the walles all retiring within the sayd castell The towne being taken about the xij of December the kings brother left the Counte du Lude gouernour of Poyctou to continue the stege of the castel with two canons two culuerines and one regiment of footemen he taking his way to Lodun a towne in Poyctou the which not many dayes afore was rendred to the obedience of the Princes sommoned it forthwith by a truÌ„pet to whom the lord d'Acyer gouernour there answered that as he was set in charge of y town by the Prince of Nauarre lieutenant general for y king in Guyen so he would not only kepeit to his vse without further reÌ„der or restitucioÌ„ but also to his best repulse what violeÌ„ce or force so euer were offred This answer reported to the kings deputie he made his army marche neere the sayde towne to a place called the Roches The siege continuing still afore the castell of Mirebeau by the sayd Counte of Lude in the ende procuring a parley hée entred subtillie about the xvj of December 1568. The Capitaine la Borde with certain souldiours were there killed the rest were saued As soone as the kings Lieuetenant had giuen sommons to render Lodun the lord d'Acyer aduertised the Princes of his state who departed forthwith from Towars with the battel and the Lord Admirall from Monstrueil-belay with the vantgarde to geue succours to the sayd Lord d'Acyer The xvj of December they presented their whole caÌ„pe in battell before Lodun about halfe a quarter of a league from y kings camp who likewise was in battel in the sayd place of Roches where wer great numbers of artillery discharged aswel of the one as other side neither was there any other thing all the day except some litle light skirmish which deuoured no man in the euening euery one retired into his quarter vntill the morrowe that the two campes did eftesoones discouer in order of battaile at the same place fulfilling also the like the .iij. day without other thing doing than certeyn vnhurtfull skirmishes The .xix. of December the Kings brother discaÌ„ped who albeit drue towards Chynon yet such was the slownesse of his marche that daye as the nexte morning the two armies were all day in battaill order on that syde towarde Chynon sending only certeyne shot of artillerie one against an other without hurt of eyther syde the same as it may be presumed mouing by a vehement and slipperie colde that the horsemen could not aduaunce it was a wonder to sée two armies in camp in such a hard and diuerse season the winter being so extréeme as hath not bin séene in many yeares afore whick kindled sundrie
knew the Prince of Condé and also the L. d'Argence both which promised him to saue his lyfe or to leaue theirs in the aduenture whervpon as an Archer being descended on foote to helpe to shifte the Prince from vnder his horsse and had set him vppon his feete one named Montesquion thought to be the Capteyne of the garde to the Kings brother knowing the Prince shot him thorough the head with a Pistolet the blow entring behynd and came foorth vnder his eye The Lord Steward a Scot and Chastelier Poitant after they were taken were also stabbed with daggers and murdered the sayde Chastellier by one named Cosseâ—us besydes whom were slayne in this encounter about .ij. hundreth men xi prisoners amongst others the bastard of Nauarre the Lorde de la Noue whose horse was killed at the firste charge the L. of Teligni de la Balbe de Soubize de la Loue. On y catholikes syde were slayne the Counte de la Mirande the L. de Monsalletz the Barons of Ingrande and Prunay with many other After this charge one part of the horsmen drew to S. IeaÌ„ d'Angely togither with the Admiral d'Andelot the CouÌ„te de la Rochefoucaut and d Acier with great numbers of horsmeÌ„ the rest tooke the way to Coygnac In this encouÌ„ter the Prince had no other footmeÌ„ than the L. Pluueaux regimeÌ„t heretofore mentioned all the reste of his footmen was retired by his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t to Iarnac as being not of mynd to fight y daye there was made at Iarnac a Bridge of boates to passe the Riuer Charente in tymes of need ouer which the footmen séeing the ouerthrow passed to the other syde the riuer and then brake it in pieces for feare of pursutes so retired to Coygnac where were the Princes of Nauarre and Anguyen The Artillerie led from Coygnac was brought thither again hauing made no great way The sayd Princes of Nauarre and Anguyen now Prince of Conde departed from Cognac the next morning with such horsemen as were retired to them they arriued the same day at Sainctes in Sainctonge leauing their footmen at Cognac to maynteyne head against the Catholikes who the morrowe after being the .xv. of Marche presented themselues in battaill before Cognac with horssemen and footemen making countenaunce to besiege it There was a great skirmishe on the syde of the parke by meane of a sallie made vpon them by the L. de Baudine in whiche encounter were lefte deade in the place about two hundreth bodyes and great numbers hurte whiche made the Catholykes retire the same daye returning to Jarnac In the meane whyle the Admirall vnderstanding the Princes were retired to Sainctes went thyther to them and with the horsemen of their traine he brought them to S. Iean d'Angely and from thence to Thome-Charante whether the Quéene of Nauarre came to communicate with them of their generall affaires And now albeit the vnwoorthynesâ—e of the Princes death dyd so amaze the Gentlemen and Souldiours of the armie as they séemed to wauer in varietie of doubtes yet the Admirall no lesse wyse than wel aduised knit them againe with newe persuasions of courage by all his possible meanes And sure thys death was sufficient inough to coole and qualifie such as had no other regard than to the losse of such a Gouernour of warre but considering more neare the actions of this Prince and of how long tyme he hadde bin giuen to the sincere seruice of his God King and CouÌ„trey they assured them selues more than afore They are persuaded that there nothing happened to him whiche he did not eyther foresee or foretell according to the poesie written in the enseigne of the companie of his meÌ„ of armes in these words PRO CHRISTO ET PATRIA DVLCE PERICVLVM And besides the said Prince was wont afore his death to say in his familiar talk y he attended his sepulchre in the fields in a day of battaill The end of the first Booke The second Booke of the last troubles and ciuill warres of Fraunce THE Prince of Condé thus taken away his death no small losse to them of the Religion the Kings Brother knowing the Princes of Nauarre and d'Anguyen were passed the riuer of Botoune determined to followe them and in that purpose departed from Janac came to Dampierre where he passed the Riuer he lodged his armie within half a leage of S. Iean d'Angeli of purpose to execute a certeyn enterprise within the sayd towne by meane of the Capteyn of the Castell In the meane while the Princes armie passed Charante as well at Thonye Charante as at Tallibourgh kéeping the boates alwayes on their syde The Quéene of Nauarre hauing imparted certeyn special admonitions aswel to the Prince hir sonne as other great lords personages of estate returned to Rochel The Kings brother vnderstanding the sayd armie was passed ouer Charante and also that his enterprise vpon the towne of S. Iean d'Angeli was so discouered as hée could not coÌ„mit it to safe execution returned from whence he came that is to larnac Chasteau-neuf and places about Angoulesme attending his opportunitie to effect an attempt which he had conspired vpon that towne and that by meane of the Capteyne of the Parke which was also discouered as hereafter shal follow The Princes being now on the other syde the riuer Charente began to surueye their forces viewing first their horsmen and then their footmen in order as hereafter shal be shewed All the horsemen were sent for in one day into two places The Prince of Nauarre and the L. Admirall mustred the battaile and the d Andelot with the Counte Rochefoucaut the vantgarde There were viewed and enhabled about .iiij. thousand horsmen wel mouÌ„ted and armed with valiant dispositioÌ„ to follow the cause to a good end It was openly red there to al y horsmeÌ„ y the prince of Nauar declared himselfe chief of the armie with promise not to leaue the Campe till a good and happie peace and muche lesse to spare his lyfe and goods in that behalfe This being published the horsemen likewise protested by othe not to departe the armie without his leaue nor forbeare life or liuing in the assistance of the quarell PEndureau Capteyn of a hundred light horsemen after the last conflict reuolted and tooke part with the Counte du Lude Gouernour of Poytou Hee was gréeuous after his reuolte to the protestantes in a number of heauie euils as in pilling and robbing them without respecte and also vnder shadowe of hys white Cassakyns wherwith he yet disguised his people He tooke the Castell of Mont-agu in base Poytou yéelding to the garrison no other mercie than by the edge of the sworde He made many incursions into Poytou anoyed theÌ„ with such generall perill that the Princes to ouercome him his troupes dispatched thither the Lorde de la Rocheenard with xii Cornettes of horsemen the regiments of footmen of the L. la Mousson Saint Magrin Montamma
A discourse of the Ciuile warres late troubles in Fraunce drawn into Englishe by Geffray Fenton and deuided into three bookes Wherof The first beginneth from the breach of peace in March. 1568. coÌ„tinueth till the death of the Prince of Conde The second from his death till the battell at Mongontour which was the first of October 1569. The third conteineth varietie of matters chauncing in sundry places since that tyme. Seene and allowed MON HEVR VIENDRA Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman for Lucas Harrison and George Bishop To the right honourable my singuler good Lord Sir Henry Sidney knight of the order the Q. Maiesties deputy gouernour in her realme of Ireland Lord PresideÌ„t of her highnesse CouÌ„trey and Marches of Wales in Englande NOtwithstaÌ„dyng right honorable my present insufficiencie to write things woorthy any generall view and much lesse to stand afore your peculiar graue iudgement yet in respect of your naturall affabilitie inclinable to honest indeuours I am bolde vnder this argument to exhibite a simple effect of my seruiceable mynde so long tyme vowed to you yours as partly encouraged by the honourable regard of your vertuous Lady and wyfe to my first dedication and partly induced by your name of singuler merite to all sortes but most of all by an auncient setled desire leading me as it were in an aspiring imaginacion to bring forth somewhat worthy your honorable view protectioÌ„ wherin hauing as yet nothing of mine own to present your honor withal it may like you in the meane while to receiue this short report of the third and late French troubles the same as they were lately writteÌ„ by a diligent eye witnes assisting all their actuall procedings vntill Ianuary last so not vnmeetâ— to be reuealed to our countrey no lesse for the qualitie or freshenesse of the matter which is very graue in it selfe than for the truth and indifferencie of the author who certeinly in either part procedes with great modesty obseruing with al such singuler integritie as both the good sorte may settle and confirme the rest suffice satisfie without cause of offence vnlesse temperance and truth be offences to such whose tastes can abide no better dispositions thaÌ„ their own And this as it is a most commendable order in writing so hath it no smal grace in an history and as carefully to be imitated of all sortes as the contrary is contemnable in any besides if there be any dignitie next after the sacred word of God to wise writings on earth a true history may iustly chalenge a first place being in dede no small parcel of the same sacred word it selfe If we also discend into Philosophy History is her chiefest part in what degree so euer wise men wil place her which Plato forgets not to affirme in reckening such cities and people very happy whose princes and soueraigne gouernours be Philosophers as though no parte of Philosophy did more liuely and generally instruct a vertuous lyfe thaÌ„ histories who as with a certaine harmonie swetenesse to draw men to good by aliâ—â—ing examples of good meÌ„ so of the contrary expressing terrible successes of the wycked with their tragicall endes do euen hale vs from the cuill to the better the same happening most wheÌ„ writers be vpright speakers of the truth sincere hable iudges of the same likewise moderate praisers but free reprehenders without affectation accordyng to the indifferent desertes of the parties which so much the more becomes the histories of our tyme to be thus seasoned when we our selues be professours of that heauenly and deuine Philosophye which in teaching vs the chiefe and hygh truthe willes vs also to bee lesse negligent of our own estimation than in swaruing from that which is honest and true eyther to bleamish the one or slaunder the other in our christian pietie and that with such a notable blot for euer as liuing men obiecting our faultes as witnesses eyther of malice or falshode may also coÌ„mende them to a perpetuall posteritie Such therefore is the excellent Maiestie of a true historie as nothing in humayne things is to bee preferred before it and such the necessitie of it both in priuate and publicke as well in all states and pollicies as also conducible to Religion directing withall euerie degree in his duetie and true vse of the same And lastly it is the liuely Image of time and seasons whiche vnder God most absolutely doth gouerne and esolue oure transitorie endeuours and actions A most true looking glasse for the soueraigne to beholde continually and a sound studie for the subiect to bee had still in vse Wherein right honorable if I haue indutifully abused your wisdom and graue experieÌ„ce and by to much speach and circuÌ„stance slipt into Phormyos faulte when he red to Hannibal de re militari It may like you to measure with my vehemencie to the cause my respectiue desire to your honour who albeit is not I know without your deepe sight and excellent iudgement in the tunges yet it may please you to suffer this small treatise by your mediation to becommunicated to others to a publik benefit of many and speciall deface of slaunderers who in this coÌ„spiring tyme do labour to confound both deuine and humayne things leauing nothing vnstayned which they may bring within the compasse of their carping natures And lykewyse for my parte albeit I am bolde to vse this breefe discourse to sollicite rather in my vnfayned faith and disposition to your honour than in any worthynesse in the trauayle yet if youre honoure vouchsafe too receyue me and my meaning vvith that vertue vvhiche surely is peculiar in you I shall not onely bee encouraged too greater things hereafter but also others of woorthie skill in dede wil labour to honour you for this example wherin I most humbly and faithfully commend vnto you my hart deuotion as also if I had any other thyng more deare or precious I present it with an vnfained will to be commaunded as it best pleaseth your honour whom God long preserue to your prince country and frendes At London the xxiiij of May. 1570. Your honors humbly to commaund Geffray Fenton THE TABLE A AEsse vpon Vienne fol. 89 The Lord of Acier fo 13 deuideth his horsmeÌ„ fo 14 the numbre of his armye fo 19 the order of the same fol. 19 his sicknes fol. 137 The Duke of Alba a Spanyard Fol. 5 Ales at Seuennes fol. 15 The Lord Admirall sicke fol. 137. he sendeth Monsieur de la Noue Monsieur de la Loue to Montgontour fol. 153 Monsieur de Amazey slain hewen in peeces fol. 6 The Lord de Andelot fol. 11. his death fol. 74 Angoulesme beseeged fol. 20 and taken fol. 20. and sommoned fol. 77 The Duke of Angiou the kings brother fol. 12. seeke the rest in the name of Monsieur The Armye of the Duke of Sweburg or Deux Ponts fol. 87 Argence fo 62 The Assembly of Catholikes
fo 10 The Assembly of the Prince of Condey fol. 10 Aubeterre a towne fo 30 Aubeterre a castle takeÌ„ fo â—1 The Duke of Aumal wryteth to the duke of Swebrug â—8 The duke of Aumal is in â—â—raâ—e fol. 33 The Prince of Autaigne and his sonne fo 87 â–ª the departure of the said Prince from Fay la Vineuse fol 145 Auuergne and â—oâ—thonnois exempt from preaching 5 B BAis vpon Pais fol. 15 Baron of Adrets fo 53 the furniture for his retourne fol 101 Bassac a village fol 58 Battaile of Mongontour 154 The lord of Baudine hurt 28 Beauuoir vpon Matta 56 Bearne a countrey of the Q. of Nauarre taken 127. won againe 127 Bertis a village in Perigueux 31 Bergerac a toune â—1 taken 50 la 〈…〉 a câ—ptaine 45. killed at â—â—rebâ—au 46 the arâ—e of Brissac slaine 73 the Lord of Boâ—â—uel takeÌ„ 227 the Lord of Bouccard 31. his death 75 la Boutonne a riuer in Santonge 66 Bourbonnois and Auuergne without preaching 5 Boursaut discomfited 51 Branthomme a toun taken 96 Bricquemau the voâ—ger cheefe captaine of the fotemen 87 Bâ—ilâ—aâ— a Gaâ—con captaine 92 a Bridge built againe by the kings brother ouer Char 58 a Bâ—udge of boates on Char 63 Bâ—â—des of Frenche men of the Princes depart froÌ„ Poitou Touâ—am and withdrue theÌ„ selues to la Charite 26 C CAluerat a captaine slayne 125 Cariage of Guise and Brissac taken 36 the Campe of those of the religion called the campe of the Princes 27 Captaines beeing within Poytiers 117 many Captaines slaine wythin Poitiers 134 Cardinall of Lorraine and his a herents 105 Catholikes licenced to weare armor 4 ChaÌ„pigny besiegd taken 43 Chabanay a castle taken 96 Chasteleâ—ault a toune 32 Chastelerault taken 98. after besieged 140 Chastelier Portaâ—t slaine 62 Castles taken nigh to Poit 118 la Charite besieged takeÌ„ 84 la Charite besieged by the lord of Sansac 99 Chauuigny vppon Vienne 33. the taking thereof 34 Chasteau Leuesque in Perigueux 96 La Chapelle a castle taken 96 the noÌ„bring of Catholikes 7 Charge or onset on the Earl of Brissacs footemen 40 onset of the Admiral at larnac 62 of the Prince of Condey 62. on the captain Chaumont other 70. on the lord of Mowy nigh to Mongont 154 Chasteau-neuf on Charante taken 57 the Lord Changy slaine 134 Saint Chastie in Perigueux 28 Challus a toun of Limosin 86 Chinon a toun in Tourain 47 S. Christopher a steple takeÌ„ 19 Capieres hewne in pecces 5 La Coche a captaine 16. is discoÌ„fited 33. hewn in peces 49 Coignae in Santonge 57 Colombine a captaine 75 Councel of the duke de Alba 5 Courses vnto the gates of Poitiers 119 the third Ciuill warre 2 D the Dauphinois are valiaunt men 36 Daunoux came to rescue Poitiers 122 the Lord Desternay 88 the Deuise of the cornet of the Lord of Acier 14 Dominico Dalbe his iudgement 145. put to death 152 Dordonne a riuer 19 Duke of Swebrug or Deux ponts 78 assembleth warriors 79. writeth to the king 79 maketh his protestatioÌ„s and offers 83. entreth into France and taketh la Charite 84. Passeth the Riuer of Vienne 86. dieth 86. the description of his armie 7 E EDicte of the king 17. touching offices 18 Eisâ—elles a castle taken 75 Enterprise on the castle of Lusignan 53. on S. Iohns d'Angely 67. on Angoulesm 69 Entrichâ—t a captain killed 155 Espondillan captaine 14 Encontre before Lodun 4â— at â—arnac 61 an Enterprise on Bourges in Berry F FAy la Vineuse a toun â–ª 144 the earle of S. Fiour 88 S. Flowrant an Abbey 50 Fort of Mouuans 15 S. Poy taken 46 G GarnisoÌ„ in the towns yelded 2 Gascour a captaine slaine 136 Gran Villars cheefe captaine of the footemen 87 Guerin Gansgorffe chiefe captaine of the footemen 87 the Duke of Guise arriueth at Port. 117. theÌ„ departeth 103 the Lord of Guron 100 H HAns of There 's 87 Hans Boucke 87 Henry de Estaine 87 Hercules the Princes seruaunt hewne in peeces 6 Hewing to peces of the Lord of Cipieres and his train 5 of the Lord of Amanzey 6 of the Lord of Rapin and others 6 I IAnlis death 49 Iarnac besieged 56. takeÌ„ 56 at Iazenaâ—l an encounter 35. the numbre of the dead 36 the Earle of Ioyeuse 44 Iudgements executed against those of the religion 210 K The King commeth to Amboise 125 gathereth force 126 The King Queene mother and Cardinal come to Nyort 168 The Kings comming to Angiers 188 L LAnceknights discomfited at Montgontour 160 Lendurean a captaine reuolteth 68 Letters of the king repugnat to the Edict of peace 4 Letters of the Marshall of Mommorency 116 Letters of the Queene of Nauarre to the king 20 to the Queene mother 24. to my Lord the kings brother 26. to the cardinal of Bourbon 26 to the Queene of England 38 Letters of the Admirall 116 Leylle a ryuer 28 Lille Bouchard vpon Vienne 44 Lodowicke and Henry earles of Nassaw brethren 87 Lodune a toune 45. somned to yelde 45. an encounter before the same 46. la Loue marshall of the campe 89 The Earl of Lude besieged in the castle of Mirebeau 45. then taketh it 46. besieged at Nyort 46 Lusignan 53. taken 99. yelded vp againe 168 M Mansfield earl an Alman 87 Marshall of Montmorencye writeth to the admirall 116 Marquis of Mezieres 20 The Lady Marquesse of Rottelin 77 a Messenger sent to the prince of Condey for peace 41 the Lord of Martigues 12 Mazillac a toune taken 18 Medoc an Isle taken 76 Melle a toune in Poitou taken 57 Mellusigne 100 Menigours a village 35 la Merie a captaine slaine 93 Mestrall a captain 101 Millan in Roargues 16 Mirebeau in Poictiers yelded 37. then besieged and taken 45 Mongontoue in Poitou 153. a battaile before the toune 157 Monsieur the Kings brother chefe of the Catholikes 27 gathereth power at Orleans and Toures 28. departeth from Poitiers 28 commeth to Chastelleraut 32. draweth towardes Chynon 47. receyueth Rutters for hys aid 54. presenteth himselfe in battaile before Coignae 58. passeth ouer the Riuer Charante 59. dischargeth part of his armie 98. besiegeth Chasteleraut 140. thaÌ„ raiseth his siege 142. gathereth new power at Chynon 152. theÌ„ departeth 152 determineth to giue assault to Montgontour 157. he encourageth his men 158 general Muster of the Catholikes 8 Monluc a knight entreth into Perigueux 86. will succour Poitiers 125 Montauban 2 Montesquieu a Gascon 62 Montgomery an Earle 12. set vppon atla Motte 52. sent into Angoulesme 69. setteth the sayd towne in order 70. is sent into Gascony 85 gathereth togither the forces of the Vicounts 127. discor fiteth the lord of Tarides 128 The Lorde of Moruilliers death 94 La Motte captaine a Gascon The lord of Mouuans 14. his fort 15. he passeth the Rhos ne 16 his discomfiture 29 the lord of Mouy 88. hurte at the comming forthe of Nyort 167 his death 167 Mucidan taken 72 Mustring of the Princes horsmen 67. of the fotemen 74 Montbrun and Mirabel lords
the Portes Bridges and Townes vppon â—oere were eyther absolutely seased or so directed as they became impedimentes to their passage yet such was their necessitie and perill as they aduentured to passe the sayd Riuer by vnknowne foordes comming at last not without extréeme hazarde to the place of Rochefoucaut from whence in respecte of the doubtfull securitie of that place they retired to Rochel Immediatly vpon the brute of their retire to Rochel was generall amasse and leuies of men of warre on al sydes reasseÌ„bling also the camp not altogither dismissed albeit dispersed since the former warre the same threatning no lesse malice and peril to the Prince than precise warning to enter into garde to resiste their imminent violeÌ„ce whereuppon he caused to come to him the Lord d'Andelot which was then in Brytâ—aynâ— with such force as he could any way leuie dispatching the like sommons to all the Lordes Knightes Gentlemen and Captaynes of the reformed Religion The Nobilitie of the countreys of Poitou Sa 〈…〉 ge Perigueuâ— Angoulmois with other their froÌ„tier neighbors were forthwith with the said Prince with certeyn coÌ„panies of footmeÌ„ of the said couÌ„treis with whom he put himself to the fielde tooke the townes of Saintes Coignaâ— S. Iean d'Angely in Sainctonge Niort Partenay FoÌ„tenay le Conte Saint-mesent Montagu and Melle in Poytou â–ª by meane of certeyn intelligence seased vpon Blaye and therein was planted in garrison the regiment of footemen of the Lord de Pluueau It happened not many dayes afore that those of y religioÌ„ were not only chased out of the town of Tâ—llard in Dauphine but also oppressed with many priuat wrongs by the coÌ„trary syde who made stronger watch warde within the town thaÌ„ during y war the same kindling such indifferent feare stomack in the oppressed protestaÌ„ts as they drew into assemblie with certeyne of Prouence and retired to Gapensoys as hauing no aboade of furetie in their own Countrey with whoÌ„ vpon the end of this August they presented theÌ„selues in battaill afore Tallard in the very dauning of the day entring forthwith the town by force mean of the Captayne of the Castell they killed about .lx. men which they found in armes In this meane whyle the Lorde d'Andelot marching towards the Prince directed his waye to Saulmur as of purpose to passe there the Riuer of â—â—ere enforcing as it were so harde a passage the rather to ioyne with the Prince There were with him at that tyme the Counte Mongomery with many other great Lordes with diuerse numbers of horsemen and certeyne enseignes of footmen The Duke of Anjou brother to the King being vnfainedly informed of the place where the Dandelot ment to passe dispatched the Lord Martignes to preuent him who putting himself within Saulmur thought so to withstand his passage ouer the Riuer Afore d'Andelot was within iij. leages of Saulmur at his bayt the said Martignes departed froÌ„ Angâ—ers with .ij. huÌ„dreth horsemen .iiij. hundred harquebusears on foote whom he made to marche along the caussey in this order two hundreth shot before and the rest behind And albeit the d'Andelot had warning of his coÌ„ming yet he forced his own passage as it were in despite of his suffraunce so with the discomfite of certeyne footemen he entred Saulmur wherin there was no garrison afore By this meanes the d'Andelot was defeated in purpose his passage also so intercepted as he was driueÌ„ to wade the riuer with great perill aduenter his people thorow the fourdes thrée leagues beneath Saulmur a thing which earst was neuer sought nor atteÌ„pted of any He directed theÌ„ his way by Poytou in passing by Loudun he tooke prisoner the Duke of Roauuoys great Esquter of Fraunce being in his house at Oyron whom he sent after to Rochel and so ioyned his force with the Princes armie in the countrey of Poytou about the beginning of October 1568. The Lord d'Acyer by warrant from the Prince raised in Dauphyne vij regimeÌ„ts of footmen and al of the protestants of tho sayd Countrey diuiding them into these many numbers gouernours The Lord de Montbrun had ten enseignes and one Cornette of horssemen The charge of the Lord d'Aucoune was eight enseignes one Cornet of Horssemen The Lorde de Sainct Romain being ioyned with the L. of Virieu his vncle had .xvij. enseignes one Cornet of horsemen The coÌ„panie of the Lord of Blacous was only xiiij enseignes of footemen the Lorde de Mirabell ten enseignes the L. du Chelard xij enseignes and the L. d'Orose only iiij enseignes Besides the said L. d'Acyer made leuie in Prouence of one regimen of footmen conteyning x. enseignes vnder charge of y L. Paule de Mouâ—ans togither with â–ª ij coÌ„panies of horsemen the one led by the L. Vallauoire Captayne of a hundred light horsemen and the other harquebusiers on horsebacke vnder Capteyne Pasquier He raysed also in the couÌ„trey of â—aguedoc iiij regiments of footmeÌ„ coÌ„teyning .xxxv. enseignes bequeathed theÌ„ to the coÌ„duct of the Lords de Baudine his brother the Knight d'Ambres la Mousson Bouillargues togither with .ij. coÌ„panies of light horsmen the one of the L. d'Acier himselfe the other of the L. d'Espondillan There were also in the coÌ„panie of the L. d'Acier about ij hundreth Gentlemen well appoynted his Cornet was greene drawne in forme of a Hidra with many heads of Cardinals and diuerse sortes of Monkes bearing the figure of a Hercules fighting with theÌ„ with this inscription aboue Qui casso crudeles conteyning the number and selfe letters of hys name intricately reuersed laques du Crussol In the countryes of Viuarez Roargues the sayd L. d â–ª Acier dressed also .ij. regimeÌ„ts of footemen the one of the Lorde Pierregourde conteyning .xiij. enseignes the other of the vicont de Pannat bearing .v. enseignes besydes the companie of the L. de Thoras Capteyn of C. light horsemen the general assemblie and meeting of the armie was at Allés a town in anguedoc It was harde to them of Dauphiné to passe the Rosne and so ioyne with the rest of the armie bycause their enimies had seased al the bridges vpon the sayd riuer albeit the L. de Mouuans who was formost in these companies came to the shoare of Rosne on the syde of Bais-sur-Bais there with a wonderful diligeÌ„ce speede within lesse than .xxiiij. houres he raysed a defensible fort the better to repulse the enimie the else would trouble his passage by the ayde of this fort his coÌ„panie gained the other side of the riuer so coÌ„sequently all the reste one after an other excepte the Lorde de Saint Romain who passed ouer at Pâ—irauâ— This passage was made about the .x. and xj of September 1568. and the sayde Fort called Le fort de Mouuans The L. de la Coche a geÌ„tlemaÌ„ of Dauphiné had like charge to erect a
regimeÌ„ of footemen albeit béeing discouered by the garrison of Grenoble by whom he endured certeyn waspish skirmishes and after enforced to retire aboue an ordinarie speede to the territories of the duke of Sauoy leauing his lieutenant De sainct Marie in the borow D'oysons the same being wonne by hym not many dayes afore and nowe enforced to leaue it and accompany the sayd Lord de la Cloche into Sauoye And seeyng besides the difficultie to ioyne with the L. D'acyer he wandred with his coÌ„panies diuiding them into .viij. enseignes of footmen certein horsmen marched towards Almayney the same Regiment being for the most part al of Lyonnoys and Dauphynoys and thether retired to eschue the persecutions of their owne countries The RegimeÌ„ts of Dauphyne being passed the riuer of Rosne as is sayd the Lord D'acyer began then to marche with suche spéede and happy trauell that about the xxiij of September the armie arriued at the said All'es and from thence drew a direct way to Myllan in Roargnes deuiding notwithstanding his companies into seueralties in respect of the sterilitie of the countrey of victuals and other necessities for warre and so came to the said Myllaw the last of the sayd September The â–ª xxviij of the same moneth was published at Paris an edict wherin the king drawes out at length al chaunces hapned and passed within his realme for the matter of Religion preferring amongest the rest that the Edict of Januarie gyuing the firste sufferaunce or leaue to the Protestants to vse an exercise of their religion was but prouisionall vntill his full age and that his maiestie had no meanyng to force obseruation of any Edicte made touching the sayd Religion and therefore being nowe at the age of maioritie he pronounced general defence ageynst all vse exercise of the same religion thorough all his realm and contreys of his obedience charging by an arest irreuocable and that vpon peyne of confiscation of body gods not to haue any other practise of Religion within any of his sayd countreys and landes than according to the catholike church of Rome which bothe he and his predâ— essours haue so long tyme helde and maynteined enioyning precisely vpon like pâ—in al ministers of the sayd reformed re ligion to auoyde his sayd realme within .xv. days with this prouision at last that they of the sayd religon should not be in any sort cyfted or searched in their consciences albeit both after and notwithstanding the sayde Edict they haue ben oppressed more than afore and that with such violeÌ„ce as diuers haue reuolted The same day also was published another edict in the sayde parlyament at Parys wherein the king gaue absolute order that not only from thensforth he wold not be serued with any officers professing that religion but also they shoulde be immediately suspended of their estates and charges with coÌ„maundement to resigne them into his handes within .xv. dayes otherways he wold prouide supplies of the Romish sort it is long since these edicts were vppon the presse albeit they were not proclaymed afore now Now the Lorde d'Acyer parting from Myllaw the v. of October tooke his way too Cadenat as of purpose to passe there the riuer of Lot and in his waye caused to sommon the towne of Marzillac the whiche without great denyall and vnder certeine conditions set open her gates and the morow after he tooke the tower called Sainct Christophle with a pretie garison of priests in it And so marching further he ariued at the said Cadenat the .x. of October with entent to passe the ryuer of Dordone at Solliac where in respect the Lord de Mont-luâ— coasted him to withstaÌ„d his passage he assembled all his armie in a place called â—erac in Quercy finding vpoÌ„ that view â–ª xvij thousand harquebusiers and vij thousand Pykes and nyne hundred horsmen in good poynt and well disposed to fight In the same place he deuided his armie into two parts the auantgard battaileâ— in the vantgarde he set .vj. regimens of the Dauphynoys with the horsmen of the same countrey and in the mayne battayle hée bestowed the regimens of Languedoc Prouence Viuâ—rez and Roargues with the regimen of the Lord d'Orose Dauphynois al which coÌ„panies passed by force ouer the said riuer of Dordone on the side of Solliac froÌ„ whence the sayde Lord of Mont-luc was departed the day before as hauing sounded the sayd ryuer and founde it passable almost in euery place and he not strong ynough to hinder the passage of suche an armie his was the xiiij day of the sayde October in the yeare abouesayd Now that the Prince of Conde had receyued the force and troupes whiche the Lorde Dandelot brought to hym he came to besiege the towne of Angoulesme causing to be drawne thither from Rochel iiij canons and. iâ— Culuerins with the which he made a breache on that syde towarde Perigueux the same albeit not sufficient and therfore remoued his batterie on that syde which they cal the Park and bicause they that wer within vsed great diligence to fill vp the breache he made to be mounted vpoÌ„ the vault of the temple of S. Claire two culuerins to beat within the breach the same distressing so straytly them within that in the end hauing mainteyned the siege aboute viiâ— dayes the Marquise of Mâ—zieres their gouerner yeldes the town by composition to the Prince Duryng this siege arriued the Quéene and yong prince of Nauarre her son with madame Catherine her daughter accompanied with .iij. regiments of Gascoyn footmen the one vnder charge of the Lord De Pilles conteyning â–ª xxiij enseigns an other gouerned by the Vicount de Montamma of .x. enseignes and the third of .ix. enseignes led by the Vicount de Sainct Magrin with viiâ— cornets of light horsmen of the the same countrey The sayd Queene being at Bergerac vpon her waye dispatched to the Maiesties of the king and Queene the kings brother and Cardinall of Burbon seuerall letters vpoÌ„ the occasions y moued hir to come to the Camp with her son and daughter and ioyne them selues to the generall cause with the Prince of Conde her brother the expedition was by the Lord De la Motte who afore was sente to her by their Maiesties In her Letters to the Kyng shée complayned chiefly of the rage and passion of the enemie stretched already so far that in effect it had confounded the hope of quiet promised in the edict of pacification not only euill obserued but altogither reuersed contrary to the royall promyses of his maiestie to all his poore subiects of the reformed syde the same mouyng by the synister inuentioÌ„s of the Cardinal of Lorain as hauing by general letters to the parlyaments and others writen in particular wherof her self was witnesse in Guyenne brought the effects of the sayd edicts bothe vain and without execution besides whilest he kept matters in suspence he had procured suche horrible
with the regiments of â—anguedock as he departed in the morning the Lordes of Montpensier Guyse Briâ—sac set vpon him both behinde and before albeit they were repulsed and so retired the Lorde of Baudine being hurte in that skirmishe with a harquebushot in the arme Being thus repulsed they went to the village not farre froÌ„ Chastie where were lodged the Lordes of Mouuens Pierregourde with their companies from wheÌ„ce thei were also repulsed bicause they were somewhat entrenched and so retired attending their foolemen whiche were not yet come The L. d Acier dispatched present word to y Lorde of Mouuans Pierregourde by the Lords d Orose to fortifie theÌ„selues within the village promising them succours all the day of his strength All the Captaynes were of opinion to entrenche themselues within the village sauing the Lord of Mouuans who spred him selfe forth with vppon the fields and then made marche foorth his cariage and immediatly after the .ij. regimentes albeit not farre from the village he found those that had affailed him in the morning attending his coÌ„ming ready ringed and set in battaâ—le The sayd Lorde of Mouuans saing these troupes gathering by their view and set order their resolute mynds choosed fyue hundreth harquebushers as forlorne hope whom he tooke vppon him to leade against the Catholykes leauing the Lord Pierregourd with their battail These after certeyne great and sharpe volues of shotte were broken in a â—aye and put to flighte by the horssemen of the enimie Immediatly vppon the disaray of these forlorne hopes the battaill began both to feare and doute and being hoatly charged with the horsmen and Launces pearcing amongst the enseignes al was disordered and put to flight leauing the sayd Lordes of Mouuans and Gourde with .v. or vj. huÌ„dred souldiours dead on the place on the Kings syde dyed certeyne but none of mark nor in great number the peasants did both foyle and kill more protestantes than the souldiours The Regimentes of Longuedoâ— pursued still their way to ioyn with the vantgarde and so to returne togither to the succours of the Lord of Mouuans and Pierregourde whoÌ„ they thought to be entrenched within the sayd Village albeit encountring contrary newes of the ouerthrow they tooke waye to Aubeterre where they arriued the morrow after togither with those that remayned of the sayd conflict After the taking of Angoulesme the sayde Princes drue toward Saintonge to besiege the Towne and Castell of Pons within whiche the Lorde of the place had garrisons of footemen whiche greatly oppressed those of the Religion They began foorth with to batter the Towne and so by a breache the Towne was taken without much resistaunce albeit those of the Castel maynteined the matter whervppon the Protestantes were enforced to a new batterie Nowe the Prince hearing of the Lorde d Aciers comming to Aubeterre and of his ouerthrowe left all their footemen with certeyne Cornettes of horsmen to coÌ„tinue the siege vnder the charge of the Lord de Boccard great maister of their artillerie and with the rest of their horssemen they came to Aubeterre The first of Nouember the L. Admiral with the horsemeÌ„ of the vauntgard went from Aubeterre to go to Berry whether the Kings brother was come and to this end all the harquebushears brought by the Lorde d Acier were commaunded to attende the enterprise of the Admirall who hearing news of the departure of the enimie from that place retired himself to Aubeterre to deliberate with the princes euery of his companie into his quarters without any thing doing Their generall and resolute aduise was to pursue the Kings brother wheresoeuer he went and that as neare as might bee the rather to entice him to battell vppon which deuise and to which effect the arme set forwarde in orderly marche the next morning the regiments of Languedoc Roargues with them of the Lorde d'Orose and the reste of the prouincials were made the vauntgarde the remeynder of the Dauphinoys in the mayne battell The Kings brother in this meane whyle hasted to Chastelleraut where the reste of his Armie was assembled pursued continually in the tayle by the Princes power till they gotte a Village called Angiers two leagues from Chastelleraut where were lodged parte of their footemen of the vauntgarde The Kings brother finding great companies of footemen and horssemen assembled at Chastelleraut togyther with the Suyzers who brought sixteen Canone and certeyne Coluerines with fielde pieces determined to entrenche himself strongly afore y town as in deed he did tary there the comming of the Princes Whereof the lord Admirall the x. of Nouember euen from the point of the day renged his men of armes in battaile and squadrons hoping to fight wherof he dispatched spedie aduertisement to the other Princes then at Chauuignie vpon Vien who likewise sent towardes him forthwith the harquebusers of the battell and themselues leading the horsemen of the same battell founde when they were neare the place the Admirall retiring could not that day geue battaile whether it were by reason of the trenches wherewith the Catholikes campe was strongly enuironed or by reason of the thicke mistes and cloudes which so darkned the morning that hardly one could discerne an other The Princes being thus come afore Chauuignie they sommoned the garde and garrison of the Castell which were footemeÌ„ to yeld themselues and charge whereunto they condiscended without difficultie vpon composition to departe the castell their liues saued which was truely performed euery one bearyng in his hand a white rodde and in that order went to Poytiers And so assoone as it was purged of the Papists it was burned to the end they should not thether returne and bée impediments to the passage ouer Vienne All this whyle the Duke d'Aumalle was vpon the coast and countrey of Lorraine with certeine force by him assembled of purpose to hinder the entrye of straungers into the realme for the aid of the princes He vnderstode that the Lord de la Cloche was passing by that Countrey to go into Almanie and was already vppon the landes of the Byshop of Strasbourge Whereupon his footemen began to charge him the .xij. of Nouembre in the morning the Lord de la Cloche made valyant resistance and repulsed diuers tymes the sayd charge greeuing great numbers of them Albeit being ouerlayde with freshe supply of companies after he had long endured the encounter was in the end put to chase and taken with diuers of his troupe and so led to Metz in Lorraine this skirmish denoured of his people about a hundred or sixe score not without great losse of bot Souldioures and Captaines of the say d'Aumalle The Princes now not able to haue battel with the kings brother by the reasons aforesaid reuersed their way and went from thence to Vienne of purpose only to prouoke him into the sield and so giue him battaile The Lord of Boccard whom as you hard the Princes left at the siege
sortes of diseases in diuerse souldiours on both sydes and after dyed in lamentable numbers towardes the euening the Kings Lieuetenaunt retired to Chynon albeit certeyne Captaynes of the Princes armie charging vpon their tayle discomfited aboute vij or .viij. score Suyzers and thrée enseignes of footemen sodeynly set vpon as they were refreshing them selues in the village The Princes returned to Touars and the Admirall to Monstrueit-beley to winter there leauyng the Lorde d'Yuoy brother to the Lorde de Ianlis as gouerner within the towne of Loudun and for the garde of the same the regimens of the L. of Mont-brun Mirabel with .ij. cornets of horsemen the Lorde Ianlis not long after dyed of a disease in Almayne The Lord de la Coche who as is sayd was led prisoner to Metz was this .v. of January 1569. murdered by certein garrison soldiours of the towne who taking him out of prison and bynding him with Mychallon his ensigne bearer tolde him they were commaunded from the King to leade them to the Court and so exchange them for other prisoners within the princes Campe albeit they wer no sooner cut of the town than they were stabbed with daggers and so murdered Néere vnto Saulmur is an abbey called Sainct Florent wherin were two hundred footemen as a garrison to the Catholikes who with their abbay were besieged in this moneth of January by the vauntgarde of the Princes and they after they had beateÌ„ a breach entred by force-putting al that were beseeged to the mercy of the sworde immediatly after the garrison of Saulmur recouering the sayde Abbay vsed the like execution of all that they found Whiles the princes soiorned at Towars they dispatched into Gascoyne the Lorde de Pilles aswell to leuie newe force as other matters of speciall charge At his first arriuall he toke Bergerac and Saintfoy and hauing spéedily erected certaine forces of horsmen and footmen he bestowed his footmen and drew towards Perigueux with his horsemen and passing along the place where the Lords of Mouuans and Pierregourde were discomfited hée fyred many villages and killed as many peisauntes as hée mette as a reuenge of the bloud of so manye Souldioures whiche they hadde ouercome and slayne in the same ouerthrow The Kinges armye wintred at Chynon Saulmur Poyctiers and other places thereabout the princes armie in the beginning of February departed from Towars and Monstrueu-beley discending lower intoo the countrey to fynde vittells the vauntgarde drew to Partenay and the battell to Niort harbouring in the places thereabout The thirde day of this moneth the Lord de Boursaut captayne of a hundred lyghts horsmen and his company were sodeinly set vpon within a village néere to Towars by the Counte Brissac accompanyed with vij or .viij. hundred horsmen presently issued out of Saulmur There were many of them taken and many killed and the rest as the Lord de Boursaut and others saued themselues by help of the dark night In the beginning of February y quene of Nauarre came to â—â—orâ— where shee founde the Princes wyth dyuerse other greate Lordes with whome shee entred into Counsell for the affaires and disposition of the warre There was agreed a sale of temporal goods of the Churchmen toward the mayntenaunce of the generall cause for y purpose wer drspatched preseÌ„t letters vnder the names and authoritie of the sayd Quéene Princes of Nauarre and Gonde the Lorde Admirall Dandelot Rochefoucaut with wordes of ample power giuen to their procurors and commissaries to promise and binde them for warrant requisite in suche case These comissions were published in towns holden vnder their obedience with present sale and alyenation made accordingly the same raysing great summes of money Whilest the said Quéene Princes and other stats remained in consultation with in Nyort certeine horsmen of the Lord of Verac captaine of a hundreth light horsemen making often incursion vppon the next enimies toke the Lord of Cassac lieutenant of the men at armes to the Duke of Guyse as he was bayting in an Inne whome they ledde to Niort and so to Rochell The Counte Mountgomerey lodgyng in a village called la Motte was charged vpon the sodeyn by the Counte Brissac and enforced to retyre within the Castel of the same place seruyng somewhat to hys defence so that he receyued no other losse than his yonger brother whiche was led to the Castell of Luzignan this was the xij of February The Princes now determyned to perfourme their enterprise vppon the castell of Luzignan and to take it the same mouyng as it séemed eyther by a practyse of Montgomories brother or else by some secrete intelligence they hadde with the Gouernours Lieutenaunte of the same place where they were in good order and vppon the sodayne the .xx. of February very early in the mornyng dyuers of their Captaynes and souldiours entring within albeit being discouered their further attempt was intercepted and they returned without any thing doing The Counte of Tande gouernour for the King in Prouence in the begynning of Nouember the yeare before put himselfe vppon his waye with thrée thousand footemen and certeine horsemen of that country marching intoo Fraunce as hée was coÌ„maunded and passing by Dauphiné the baron of Adretz who also had leuyed a Regyment of footemen conteyning .xvij. enseignes ioyned with him too passe also in company into Fraunce In theyr waye they came by the siege of Sanserre whiche the Counte Mertiuengo an Italyan and gouernoure of Gyran had long continued where as they spente long tyme wythout aduauncyng the ende and purpose of the siege so procuryng the siege to bée raysed the Counte â—ande drew to Poyctou to the Kyngs Campe where hée arriued aboute the ende of Februarye and the baron of Adretz marched into â—orayn to the Duke d'Aumale sent thither as you haue heard to withstande the entrie of straungers into Fraunce The Kynges brother hauing receyued these newe succours and made shewe to his men of armes of two hundred thousande frankes which the house of Parys had lent the Kyng vpon the temporal goodes of the Church men he gathered ageyn hys Campe and drewe towardes Angoulmoys Immediatly after in the same moneth arryued two thousande and fyue hundred Reistres vnder the conduct of the Counties Reyngraffe and Bassompier who béeing much harried in theyr long and paynful iorney to come into France refreshed themselues certayne tyme aboute Poyctiers afore they ioyned wyth the Kyngs Campe whoe approched still to Angoulesme and taryed them And bycause hée woulde haue the libertie of the Ryuer of Charente to passe and repasse at his pleasure he dispatched the Lorde de la Riuiere a Gentleman of Poyctou for to sease vppon the Towne and also the Castell of larnacke The Princes nowe béeing truely enfourmed what waye the Kynges Campe tooke departed from Nyort and vppon the begynning of March aryued at Sainct lean d'Angely marchyng from thence with theyr battayle to Sainctes The Admirall with the vauntegarde lodged at Coygnac and
were great numbers about iiij thousand horsemen sixe cannons and two meane peeces The kings brother nowe hauyng receiued from the Pope two thousand horsmen and foure thousande footemen Italians vnder the conduit of the Counte de sainct Fiour came to Lymoges with his army fronting alwais as néere as he could the Almaignes but not medling with thē About this tyme the Quéene mother accompanied with the cardinals of Bourbon Loraine came to Lymoges there desirous to sée in battel the army of the duke her sonne she visited the battels squadrons of his horsmen one after an other perswading them to omitte noduetie to continue their seruice to his maiesty so departed the campe and went to Lymoges where she remained certaine dayes and then retired to the Court. The same day the Lord de la Loue marshall of the Princes campe with his regiment of horssemen was sent to Aesse vppon Vienne to garde the passage whereof the kings brother hauing intelligence came the next day being the .xi. of June and encamped wythin a league of the sayd Aesse making out the same day certaine numbers of shot to vndertake the skirmish who being repulsed taryed not long there but returned to the Campe the .xij. day arriued at the sayde Aesse the footemen of the vauntgarde of the Princes and thether came also other supplies of shotte from the Caholikes campe and that in great numbres they at their first comming repulsed certaine shotte which were within the Subburbs on the other side Vyenne albeit they were forthwith reskued and the other driuen to retire the skirmish endured lōg and hot deuouring of the Catholike side about CC. mē and of the Princes part only twentie or thirtie Within two dayes after the Princes army marched toward S. Tirier la Perche in the said coūtrey of Lymosyn of purpose to refresh there y Lanceknights weryed with so lōg trauell the kings brother folowed them albeit so far off as it was the xxij of June afore he came neer the Princes then lodged .iij. leagues frō the sayd S. Tirier wher the said Princes wer who sent for their army as well footemen as horssmen to come and campe there The xxiij of the same month he aduāced more néere them lodging within a league an half of S. Tirier in a vilage called la Roche the same arguing to the Princes that he wold giue them battell the next morow wherfore they attended to sée if he would come any néerer which he did not albeit the Princes sent for their armie to be ready in the first shew of the day who accordingly marched in good order to the sayd place de la Roche where forthwyth they bestowed themselues in squares the forlorne hope were appoynted to marche both on the right left hand they of the right hand wer led by the Lord de Pilles whose Regiment made the first wing the others of the left hand were guided by the Lord de Rouray the Lorde de Mouy with his regiment of horssmen kept the left hand and the Lords de Bricquemau de la Loue with their regimēts of horsmen the righthād making y wing of the vauntgard the Lanceknights wer ringed in two battailes the one a vauntgarde and the other a battell the vauntgard caryed .viij. field péeces which were planted before their battell The skirmish began of y Lord of Pilles side against the Lord de Strossi who with ij M. shot was behinde a close pale sent thether for the defence of the passage he had a great aduantage vpon the Lord de Pilles because his harquebushears shot in couert from behind the sayd close pale the sayde Lord de Pilles was open in a high place Besides the Lord of Strossi had to backe him in time of néede .iiij. cornets of Italians who séeing y the forlorne hope of the Lord de Pilles could not discharge their péeces by reason of the rain charged so hotly vpon him as they forced him to retire a hundreth pase within the woode killing at that charge about ten of his souldiours albeit being reskued by two cornets of light horsmen of the Capteines la Motte and Brilliam Gascones repulsed with equall violence the Italians and put them to flight in which meane while the sayd forlorn hope renued more hotly the skirmishe and yet did neyther hurt nor amaze greatly the sayd Lord Strossi which caused the admiral to draw thither ward who assone as he had surueied the place caused to come to him the shot led by the Lord de Rouray They began to skirmishe on the left hand against the Lord de Strossi beating him on the side with constraint at last to habandon his shade and recule whervppon the Captaines la Mote and Brilliam with many other companies of horsmen gaue vpon his troupes and put thē to the chase wherin the Lord Strossi was taken and led to the Admirall who caused the victorie to be pursued to a litle riuer running fast by and many souldiors folowed the fortune of this chase euen within the tents of the catholikes camp and hard to their enseignes On the left hande the Lord de Mouy offred to charge certaine Cornets of Italian horssmen who refused to abide him and so he returned backe It rained so vehemently that there could be no vse of any harquebushe so that without any other thing done the army retired the Strossi lost and left dead on the place about .v. or .vj. hundred Amongst others of accompt was slaine his lieuetenaunt called the Lord de Sainct Loup with thirtie aswell Captaines in théefe as lieuetenantes and ensigne bearers whose Targets remained also vpō the place Of them of the Religion were slaine and hurte of all sortes only fiftie wherof were two Captains of footemen called Peyrol and la Merie Dauphynois this was the .xxv. of June 1569. The morow after foure hundreth Italian horssemen with certain Pikemen of the mē of armes of the Duke de Nemors came to sée if the Princes armie wer discamped as the kings brother was aduertised as they approched neere the campe they were discouered by the watch and so hotly set vppon as they were enforced to retire out of order some slaine some taken prisoners The .xxvij. of this moneth the sayde Princes armie were driuen to discampe for want of vittailes drawing towarde Perigueux to relaue themselues The Lord de Moruillier comen out of Almayne as you haue heard with the late Duke of Deux Pons was sicke in this time at Angoulesme of a hotte Ague the same pressing him so sore that within few dayes he dyed in the sayd towne The Counte du Lude gouernoure of Poyctou hauing assembled certaine troupes aswell of Touraine and Aniou as of Poyctou departed from the Towne of Poyctiers and the twelfth of this moneth of June planted his séege before Nyort wherein was gouernoure the Lord de la Brosse The first day of the siege the Lorde de
accompanied without displaying any banner Against his returne the Lord de Gordes gouernor ther had put in readinesse two Ensignes of footemen to send into Languedock whereof he presented the conduction to the sayd Baron of Adretz who refusing such charge the expedition was vsed by Captaine Mestral who led them thither vppon the beginning of July About this time the Queene of Nauar the Prince hir sonne the Prince of Conde the Lords Knights Gentlemen with others that accompanyed them presented a request to the King entreating an assured peace of the present troubles which for the importance of the matter is héer contained in euery singuler woord and poynt as foloweth ¶ Sir it is a thing no lesse strange than almost incredible that amongst so many people put vnder your obedience by the resolute wil and prouision of God as a blissed pawne and witnesse of his bountifull regard to wards you and the same conteÌ„ding in ordinary vauÌ„t to be so dearly enclined to the â–ª vpright proceeding of your affaires and preseruation of your crown ther is not one no not one amoÌ„gst so many nuÌ„bers that once offreth to put himself in indeuor to quenche or qualifie this vnnatural fire so burning daily with in your reaime as there lackes little of the vtter confusion of the same It is also no lesie true than the other maruelous y of the contrary infinite numbres do trauel infinitely not only to kindle y which is already burst into flame but also by sondry sortes of artificiall sleightes doe studye to entertaine aggrauate and encrease it â— And albeit it ought first rather to moue from suche who of a galantnesse of stomacke and to satisfie some particular respect in them selues haue inceÌ„sed these troubles against the will of your maiestie making bothe peace and warre at their pleasure then from those who besides they are iniustly assailed and pursued in their consciences honors lyues and liuelyhoods haue no other purpose meaning than to defend their liues agaynst such heauy and violent tyraÌ„nies lothing alwayes troubles and emotions louing with a singular zeale bothe peace it self and suche as laboure to entertaine it yet the Quéene of Nauarre the Prynce her sonne the Prince of Conde with the Lordes Knightes and Gentlemen that accompany them moued afore the rest with a naturall bonde and affection to your Maiestie and preseruation of your Crowne and Realme neyther can nor will suspend or deferre any longer to searche and apply for their partes as alwayes they haue done such most propre and conuenient remedies as they thought most apt to warrant and defend this your realme from a lamentable subuersion wherewith it both hath bene and is presently threatned And as in respect to establishe a peace and publike tranquillitie they haue hetherto more forwardly enclined than the rest happening by that meanes into such strange perils and adueÌ„tures as if God had not kept an eye vpon them there had now remayned but a lamentable remembrance of their general confusion so these things well considered with their seueral circumstances they haue small reason of hope and lesse cause of expectation to effect that which so earnestly they desire if God the incliner of al harts change not the mindes of their enimies that gouerne you and giue them a disposition to desire and embrace peace The said Princes Lords Knights with others parties to this humble request persuading rather that in place to allow this their franke and liberall will with their duetiful indeuor to aduaunce a perfect vnitie and peace amongst your subiects they shal be charged with slaunders and sinister interpretation of their godly purpose as héere to fore they haue bene vsed by those who neither hate nor feare any thing more than to sée this reconcilement And as the sayd Princes with the other parties to this motion haue neither had nor holdeÌ„ any thing in more dear regard than the publication to your maiestie froÌ„ time to time of their actioÌ„s procedings the same as impressions and witnesses of their singular desire to liue and die in the naturall obedience and awe of your maiestie and withall to make known afore the whole face of the world both how far their hartes and wils be from the slaundrous impositions of the Cardinal of Loraine and his adherentes pensionarie ministers and naturall enemies to your crown also that by their forces wherunto they haue bene drawne with their great euill will and griefe they intende no other than to maintain their religion liues honours and such portions of goods as God hath appointed to their shares in this world Euen so they persuade that such consideracioÌ„s neither can nor ought to hinder their vttermost endeuor to pursue and purchase the effect of so blessed and necessary a peace to this realme and yelding withall vnfained testimonie of the humble and reuerâ—t respect they owe to your maiestie which they had long ere this put in practise and proofe were not that their enemies would thinke persuade others to beleue that the onely necessitie of their case haue induced them to it séeing first their vntrue persuasion to your maiestie that there were no leuies of men of warre in Almaigne for the succours of the Princes Secondly that if any such were yet the Realme was of sufficient meane and force to withstande their entrie Thirdly if they did enter it was impossible to ioyne with the princes in respect of so many déepe riuers and passages of daunger betwene the one and other campe Fourthly albeit their armies did knitte and ioyne yet the princes pouertie coÌ„sidered the charges could not be long defrayed nor the plentifully long contented seming by these reasons to attend temporise till they had both ioyned payed their sayd forces assembled others which were dispersed and as the world knoweth of such numbers and facultie as besides their habilitie to resist easily their enemies they wanted neither way nor meane to execute any wicked attempte if they had had any will as is suggested and imposed vpoÌ„ them If then in the former troubles the late prince of Conde with the Lordes knightes and gentlemen of his part receiued the condicions of peace concernyng onely the matter of religion and libertie of their consciences and that immediatly after the death of the Duke of Guyse and Marshall Sainct Andre and the late Constable of Fraunce taken prisoner beyng thrée principall leaders of the army if also in the last rising as soone as was offered to the sayd prince and other lordes and gentlemen of his company the restablishmeÌ„t of the exercise of religion notwithstanding their great troupes and strength of straungers ioyned with them and vpon the very point to assaulte the towne of Chartres in the view and face of the enemies campe which was for the most disordred if at the only sound pronouÌ„cing of peace made by a trumpet seÌ„t vnder the name of your maiesty the sayd prince did not only
of vittails The Kings brother hauing assembled as much force as he could came to La Haye to Port de Pille determining to beset Chastelleraut to the end to draw the siege froÌ„ Poytiers and therefore made to march his vauntgarde right to Chastelleraut lodging the monday being the .v. of September a quarter of a league from the town The morrow after his horsemeÌ„ and part of his footemen presented in order of battaill before the Towne to view it al that day being spente in skirmishing on the other syde the riuer of Vienne The Towne was gouerned by the L. de la LoueÌ„ Marshall of the Campe of the vauntgarde to the Princes He had first for the defence of it his owne companie of light horsmen and then the Lords of Valauoire Brossay La-motte and de Roeysses with .vij. Companies of footemen and Capteyne Normantes companie of harquebusears on horseback The suburbes defaced by fire was no place for the Catholykes to lodge in so that they were constrained to encampe further off whiche they beganne to doo the same day they viewed the Towne The Artillerie brought by the Suyzers arriued at midnight and immediatly approches were made and the canons ringed in batterie in two seuerall places beating notwithstanding all one breache It beganne the wednesday the .vij. of the sayde moneth very early neare the gate S. Catherine betwéene a tower of the sayd gate an other tower more neare drawing to the teÌ„ple S. Iean Such was the furie of the batterie as by two of the clock in the afternoone a breach was forced of thrée or foure score foote wyde the chauÌ„ce fel vpon the Italians to giue the assault which thei â—â—d being backed folowed with certeyn French meÌ„ Thei mouÌ„ted vpoÌ„ theÌ„ breach where albeit they presented .xvij. enseignes yet founde they suche sharpe and speedy repulse as they were enforced in a moment to turne their faces receyuing great losse by the â—aulte of the sayd gate wherein were bestowed .vj. score harquebusears well appoynted The Italians lost at this assaulte â— of their enseignes which y Protestants tooke from them by force After this assaulte and the Catholikes retired from the breach Capteyne Bernier d'Aâ—phinoys came to succour the Towne with iiij hundreth harquebusears beyng backt with the horssemen of the Princes vauntgarde led by the L. de la Loue and Telignie The Italians were so crushed at this assault as they had no will to make it good agayne neither was any other thing worthie of memorie done that day The same daye the siege of Poytiers raysed to come to reskue Chastelleraut marching no further that daye than thrée leagues by reason one of the Canons miscaried and was lefte on the place The morrow after the Armie approched within halfe a league of Chastelleraut whiche made the Catholykes rayse their siege retire to Port de Pille hauing loste in this siege fyue hundreth men and almost all Italians whereof the Colonell Fabiano de Rome was one The next morning the Princes vauntgarde pursued the Catholykes cutting off from the tayle of their Campe about two hundreth footemen and killed them all The same day the Lorde de Sanzay entred Poytiers with .x. or .xij. companies of footmen almost all Italians and two hundreth horssemen Immediatly after whose coÌ„ming the Duke of Guyse and the Marquise du Meine his brother accompanied with .xv. hundreth horssemen departed the Towne to relieue themselues with fresh aire The morrowe after beyng the .x. of September began a skirmishe on the hyther syde the sayde Port de Pille against ij thousand harquebusears which the catholikes had left there within the trenches They wer at last enforced to passe spedily ouer â—reâ—se leauing about .iiij. or .v. hundreth of their companie dead on the place The Princes armie drewe to la Haye to passe the sayed ryuer the nexte morning being the .xj. of the sayde moneth There was no woorthy matter performed other than certeyn light skirmishes The monday following the Princes armie readie ringed in battaill very early presented afore the Catholykes to gyue them battaile Albeit bycause there was betwéene the two Armies a little Ryuer with marise shoares whiche neyther the Princes could passe them selues nor yet conueye ouer their Artillerie After the two armies hadde long remayned one within viewe of an other they retired into their seuerall quarters The princes armie for want of vittayles and séeing withall the Catholykes had small disposition to fight passed againe ouer Crâ—use and also Vienne the .xij. of September retyring so to Faye la Vineuse in Poyctou of purpose chiefly to refresh them The catholiks drew to Chynon expecting not only forses to be brought from many places in France but also such companies of men of armes as had leaue til the first of October as hath bin sayd The Prince of Orange departed from Faye to returne into Almaigne with a very smal company he passed by Charyte Vezelay and from thence by many countreyes without any let till he came into Almaigne The brute went that he vndertooke this iourney to hast certain succours of Reistres As the Admirall lay at Fay vineuse there was one Dominike Dalbe a Gascone executed by sentence the xxi of this moÌ„th These were the causes proued against him First y he being of the admirals chaÌ„ber and sent by him to the Duke de deux Pons with letters as well from the sayd Admirall his maister as other Princes was taken at Brissac a countrey in the marches vppon the ende of May last by the lord la Riuiere Captaine of the garde to the Catholikes and being by him earnestly sollicited he reuealed to the quéene mother Duke d'Aniow her sonne and Cardinall of Loraine his iourney with the purpose with further promise that vnder colour to go and deliuer to the sayde Duke his letters of charge to espy his campe and sound his secret determinacions and so being presented from that tyme with an hundred crounes and an estate or office roomth in the chamber of the said duke d'Aniou he put him on the way to effect his promise touching the view and report of the Dukes campe from whom hauing spéedy dispatche he returned to the sayd la Riuiere imparted his full expedition not forgetting to describe at large what he had lerned of the state of the dukes camp Secondly he was instantly persuaded and pursued as wel by one Laurence de Ruze Secretary to the duke d'Aniou as by the sayd la Riuiere to kill by poyson or otherwaies the sayd Lord Admirall which he might be bold to do say they without feare of the Admirals childreÌ„ who also should be rooted vpto the vttermost of their race neither nede he stand vpon any dreadful respect of any his frends or kinsmen seing they assured him y no one of them should euer be well receiued or welcomed to the court as first the Marshal Montmorancy his Cosine should be committed to prison where he should neuer come out with
honour and that of the rest of the sayd Marshals bretherne there should not remaine one Finally the rather to allure him to such an horrible acte they sealed their last offer with a dampnable promise of xxx thousand crownes in recompence and xxx thousand Frankes of perpettritie out of the towne of Paris besides the fauourable good wil all days of his life as wel of the Quéene mother Duke d'Aniow as Cardinal of Loraine and the whole courte Dalbe yelded so farre to their murderous enticements as he gaue his worde and promise to kil the Admirall Wherupon was deliuered him by the sayd la Riuiere certaine white pouder which was known afterwardes to be either Reagar or Arsinicke with a large pasport from the sayd kinges brother wherwith he departed and came to the lord Admirall his maister at the siege of Poictiers his long abode in the Catholikes campe together with other suspicious circumstaunces appearing at hys arriual persuaded a ielous iudgement of his dealing therupon was committed to prison his processe pursued ended sentēce lastly pronoūced in these terms Judgement pronounced the xx of September 1569. in the councell established by the princes of Nauarre and Conde present and assisted with the Prince of Orange the Counte Wolrard de Mansfelde lieuetenaunt generall of the Almaignes vnder the sayd princes the Countes Lodouike and Henry de Nassau bretherne Menard de Chomber Marshall of the Almaignes campe Hans Boucq Renard Gracco Henry Destain Hans de There 's Colonels of the Reistres Guieryn Gangolf Baron of Grelesee Colonell of a regiment of Launceknightes Theodore Wegger professor of the law and Embassadour from the Duke de Deux ponts with many other lordes knightes colonels and Reistremaisters of Almaigne the lord of Corras councellour to the king in the parliament of Tholouse and chaunceller to the Quéene of Nauarre and the army the lord of Francourt Bricquemau de Mouy de la Nouē de Renty de Soubize de Mirambeau de la Caze de Puch-perdillan de Biron de Lestrange with many other lordes gentlemen and captaines of Fraunce Seing the processe made by the cōmissaries deputed by the said princes of Nauarre Conde against Dominique Dalbe groome of the chāber to the L. Gaspard Coūte de Coligny lord of Chastillon Admiral of France the iij. examinations of the sayd Dalbe afore the Prouost generall of the camp two other afore the cōmissioners assigned for the purpose lastly the confessiōs of the said Dalbe reiterated v .iij. seueral times wherin he acknowledgeth to haue bene instantly sollicited vrged pressed by la Riuiere captain of the garde and one Laurence de Ruze secretary to the kings brother to practise procure the death of the sayd L. Admiral either by sword or poison which he promised to the said la Riuiere to effect with poison only receiuing to that end of the said la Riuiere certaine mony poison in forme of white powder which he hath shewed since to the sayd Prouost and commissioners seing also the verification and proofe of the said poyson tried by Phisicions and Apothecaries assembled at la Haye in Touraine the xiij of this moneth together with a very large pasport graunted to the sayd Dalbe the 30. of the last month by the kings brother lying then at Plessis les Tours and now for due punishment and reuenge to such a traiterous and detestable attempt so often acknowledged as wel in his priuate cōfessions as publike assembly the sayde councell hath and doth condempne the sayd Dalbe to be deliuered into the handes of the executioner of high iustice who tieng him vpon a hurdels with a halter about his necke shall drawe him thorow the stréetes and corners accustomed of this town de Fay la Vineuse with this inscription in parchment about his bodye This is Dominike Dalbe traitoure to the cause of God his Countrey and Maister trailing him first to the lodgyng gate of the sayd Lord Admirall and there with no other garmentes than his shirte ▪ the halter remaining stil about his neck holding in his hand a torch of burning wax shal demaund pardon of God the king the law the lord Admiral confessing there the wickedly disloyally traiterously he had professed promised practised to kill by poyson the sayd L. admiral his maister at the same instant in his presence the said poison which he confessed to be geuē vnto him by the said la Riuiere to be cast into the fire and burned All which being done he shall be led keping still the inscription about his body to the place of publike execution and there to be hāged and strangled on a gallowes set vp for that purpose And that also humble sute be made to the king to do iustice vpō the said la Riuiere and Laurence with their complices and with all if his maiestie be of minde to verifie more ample their sayd conspiracie with the sayd Dalbe the same not withstāding resembling a sufficient truth against them by his voluntary confession to proceede against them with punishemente due to so horrible a facte and the same both to terrifie hereafter others of like villanous humor and also to remaine to all nacions as a President of the noble nature and disposition of Fraunce in abhoryng suche trayterous attemptes declaryng the said la Riuiere Lawrence with all other sectes sortes of traytours keping schoole and open shop to poyson persons of name and vertue to bee traytours villaines and men vnworthy of honor either in themselues or their posteritie to the iiij generacion Lastly it is iudged that afore the execution of iudgement the said Dalbe shal be put on the racke to the end to confesse further practises with his said confederates with other things contained in interregatories geuē to the Pronost This sentence thus pronounced the morrowe after being the xxj of September the racke was vsed accordingly where he confirmed his former confessions and so the same day the sentēce was put in execution Whilest the kinges brother kepte at Chynon in the country of Touraine whether he was retired as is said great nūbers of men of war flocked to him from many partes of the realm together with the horsmen to whom he gaue liberty for recreacion and the xx ensignes of footmen Parisiens whereof we spake before these forces assembled hee made marche hys Vauntegarde out of Chynon the sixe and twenty of thys moneth vnder the conducte of the Lorde Mont-pensier hymselfe followyng wyth the battaile lodgyng neare Lodune the Princes campe drue towardes Partney the .xxix. of this moneth whome the Catholikes followed neere to prouoke them to battail as in respect of the aduauntage and fauor of certaine townes which they held thereabout either campe was within the view of other and both of equall desire to gain Mont-gontour vsing like diligence the rather to obtaine it For which cause the admirall made his footemen aduaunce all night his horssmen being in point of battell the
last of Septēber in the very first discouery of the morning vpon a plaine within a league of Mont-gontour There the Admirall sent the Lord de La-louë and de La-nouē with .vij. cornets of horsmen and Captaine Normant harquebusiers on horssebacke to Mont-gontour to know if the Kings brother were there who finding no body returned with spéedy report to the Admirall accordingly who made marche foorthwith the footemen of the battel then the Artillerie and so the footemen of the vauntgard aswell French as Almains folowing them himselfe with the horssemen of bothe the one and other nation He left in the taile the Lord de Mouy with charge to gouern the retraict with fiue cornets of French horsmen two cornets of Reistres and a company of harquebushears on horssebacke of captaine Montarnaunt a prouinciall The catholikes coasted them very neere exspecting their artillery which was not yet come The admiral passed ouer a litle riuer half a leage from Montgontour very vneasie to marche ouer by reason of a marrish along the brinke of it the same making it impossible on all parts sauing in a little strait or gutter beneath certain houses along the high way There lacked no more but the Lord of Mouy and his troupe whom the Catholikes with .xl. cornets of horsmē charged togither with a voley of Cannons discharged also vpon them It was thought this charge was giuen by ◠lord de Tauannes gouernor for the king in Burgon it was withstanded a litle by the Lord de Mouy who vnable to sustain it thorowly in respect of the multitude retired The Admiral seing his perill gaue backe with the horssemen and retourned with no lesse sury the charge vppon them that had layde it vppon the L. de Mouy who in the meane time retired with the rest of his troupe with the losse of some fewe amongst the which was the Lord de Entrichaut ensigne bearer to the Lord S. Auban Dauphynois the Artillerie was by this at Mont-gontour and the footemen of the battel very néere who séeing that charge turned backe to the fight as also the Lord de la Nouē and la-Louë with their cornets all that day passed in skirmishing without offer of other charge The Catholikes shotte vehemently which albeit annoyed muche the Admiral yet he left not the field till night and then retired with those of the Religion to Mont-gontour and the Catholikes encamped vppon the place The next morow being saterday and first day of the month of October the said armie issued out of Mont-gontour lodged in the Uillages thereabout leauing the Lord de Mouy with his regiment of horssemen and two regiments of footemen within the towne to gard the passage There were certain light skirmishes albeit neither of long fight nor much losse They moued by certaine disordered shot of the Catholikes who thought to winne the Subburbs on their side but being repulsed their purpose was also intercepted and they forced to returne without any other thing doing The kings brother séeing that side closed from him and that he could not easly wade the Riuer of Viue the same being his only impediment to follow the Princes campe determined to passe aboue the head of the riuer in a village beneth Mirebeau In the meane while the Princes hauing bene at Nyort to sée the Quéene of Nauarre returned to the camp the second of October where they drue into counsel with resolution to take the way to Partney and Nyort and giue battell to the Catholikes if they assailed them in the way sommoning for this purpose the whole army to be ready by the dawning of the day and euery Colonel and captaine to labour accordingly in his charge The Catholikes were also of opinion to go to Nyort and beséege it and by that meanes to prouoke the Princes to battell The Princes campe according to the order resolute aforesayd was in a perfect readinesse ringed in battels and squares pitching the next morning the third of October vppon a little hill néere to Mont gontour well disposed as is aforesayd to giue battel if the ennimie aduaunced who also began to appéere and discouer on the left hand vppon an other round hill from the bottom wherof they might easily discern the disposition of the Princes armye which when he had well viewed he retired his marche as though he ment to draw directly to Nyort vsing notwithstanding such order as his rings and companies kept néere togither The Admirall bearing an eye to their doings espied their pollitie and purpose of proceding wherein as he suspected that they shotte at his aduauntage as labouring to win way vpon him made descend forthwith the Prynces armie from the hill where it was setled of purpose to gaine and occupie the plaine afore them wheruppon the Catholikes in place to marche forward commaunded a sodain stay holding their Pikes vpright and ringing them in square and mean battels turned face to their vauntgard winning by that meanes the hil from whence the princes armie were but now discended And being maisters in this sort of the hill aboue the opinion expectation of the Admiral beganne to dispose them selues to the shocke And at the first descending from the hil they ordred and ringed their footemen in the valey or side of the foote of the sayd hil not without great discretion and iudgement keping by that meanes their footmen in couert and defended from the storme of the artillerie which discharged vehemently as well on the one as other side In the meane while the kings brother dressed and disposed two batteries not sparing his body to trauell from one battell and square to an other with persuasion to the soldiors to haue good hart the like also did the Princes visiting in person euery ranke aswell of horssemen as footemen whose pleasant aspect specially in the prince of Nauarre gaue cause of singular corage to the soldiors whose stomackes besides they were firmly setled in the goodnesse of the cause yet they seemed to redouble in desire the rather at the gracious view and persuasion of the yong Prince Immediatly after two of the clock in the after noone the vantgarde of the Catholikes went to the charge with a square and wing of .xviij. cornets of Reisters and great numbres of horssemen as well French as Italyan who charged altogither so violently vpon the Lord of Mouy and la Loue that they were enforced to endure and take the charge retiring thorow the battell of the Lanceknights which gréeued them sore notwithstanding the Admirall supplyed the charge and gaue with such furye vppon the Catholike Reisters that he cutte great numbres of them in péeces and immediatly with the remainder of hys horssemen of the Uauntgarde repulsed with force the Uauntgarde of the ennemy wheruppon was raised a crye on the Admirals side Uictory Uictory the same sounding with suche noyse of comfort in the eares of the mayne battayle that diuers ranne thither to follow the victory When loe the Catholikes maine battell aduaunced bending
directly vppon the Princes battel where they were in person To the Catholikes battell ioyned a wing of horssemen which came from the vauntgarde At the beginning the battel of the Princes sustained the charge albeit finding and féeling their own weaknesse as being not able to fight togither as the Catholikes did were enforced to disorder and fell out of aray the horssemen of the vauntgard dispersed héere there without order and not drawne as yet into any safe pollicie or garde of war folowed also the others whereby bothe the French and Almaine footemen were left naked whereof the Frenchmen were first forced to breake aray and then the Papïstes horssemen on the one side and y Suyzers on the other begā to buckle with the Launceknights who séeing thēselues enuironed on all sides neyther present helpe nor cause of further hope the rather for that the Artillerie was planted euen at their féete let fal their pikes and prosteate themselues vppon their knées amongst whome rushed with no small fury the horsmen and certaine Suyzers vsing butchers mercy and cut them all in pieces The Counte Mansfeld and Lodouike retired alwaies in order of battell a thyng worthy to be noted in so generall disorder hauing aboute them xiij cornets of Reistres whiche had not followed the others with whome they gathered together certayne cornets of Frenchmen and so retired neuer were charged After the ouerthrow and spoyle of the Launceknights the kings brother pursued the victory halfe a league and no further and so encamped in the playne of Cron where the battell was geuen he was farre stronger in horsemen and footmen than the princes who had not aboue vj. thousand horsmen of all sortes as wel straungers as others viij thousand footemen Frenche and most harquebusiers and lastly thrée thousand Lanceknights In this battayle the Princes loste their Launceknightes a thousande or xij hundred French footemen and about an hundred horses vj. Cannons two coluerines and thre little field pieces The lord d'Autricour captaine of a hundred light horsemen a very forward and galland Gentleman was there killed the Lord d'Acyer and la Noue takē prisoners and the Lord Admirall lightly hurt in the cheke In the catholikes army were viij or ix thousand horsmen and xvj or xviij thousand footemen with great store of artillery They lost few footemē because they foughté not so that their greatest losse consisted in horsemen which what with the chaunce of that day and the encounter before touched grew to great numbers with diuers of no small estate as the Counte Mansfelde and the Ringraue the Marques of Baden the yong Counte Cleremont Dauphynois with many other Lordes and knightes of the order the Duke of Guyse and the Ringraues brother hurt The retraite of the Princes and their army was to Partenay about vij leagues from the place of the battell where as they arriued the night following at midnight so the next mornyng the iiij of this moneth they departed from thence with the Admirall Counte Mansfelde the Counte Lodouike and Henry de Nassau brethern with other great numbers of Lordes gentlemen and Capteines comming the same day to Nyort where they found the Q. of Nauarre remaining there euer since they departed in the mean time they layd the wayes quarters by the Marshals of the camp to the ende the dispersed sorte might eftsoones resort to their ensignes which was performed the same day by the most parte of the horsemen ¶ The third Booke of the ciuile warres and last troubles of France vnder Charles the ninth NOt withstanding this last successe losse at Mōtgontour did both greue amaze the Princes yet they wer not vnmindfull to reassemble their forces whereof the most part of the horsmen was forthwith vnder their standerdes which the footmen could notdo with such speed in respect of their lōg retrait therfore the vātgard of the battell were disposed seuerally into sondry quarters and villages néere to Nyort by which meane the French footemen who in respect of their good order were not much distressed in this conflict resorted redily to their ensignes companies In the meane while the Princes deliberated in the sayd towne vpon the sequell of their affaires to whom albeit the losse séemed great yet consideryng that in a generall calamitie euery one hath his fortune they couered their present gréefe and as the necessitie of their state required with ioyful countenance they assured eftsoones the remaynder of their dispersed companies In the euening the Quéene of Nauarre departyng from Nyort wente to Rochereul and the princes the next morning tooke their way to Saintonge leauing within Nyort bothe to make head ageinst the catholiks and let them to passe further the Lord of Mouy with his regimen of horsmen and .ij. regimens of footemē beside the ordinarie gar rison being perhaps .iij. hundred shot Suche was the brute and heuy noyse of this battell that many companies of the Princes armie as well footmen as horsmen bestowed in seueral charges in sundry castles and townes as well in Poyctou as Touraine determined to leaue their garrisons as not able to endure a spéedy siege in respect they were weake within themselues and also hadde small hope to be succoured in sufficient tyme As they which were within Chauigny vppon Vien at Rochposé captain Belon within the Castle d'Angle with Chesnebrusle his ensigne bearer which was at Pruly together with captaine Teil captaine of the castell of Cleruaut with his cornet of shot on horsebacke departed abandoned their seuerall charges taking their way to Charyte Captein Lornay gouernour of Chastelleraut assoone as the siege was raised left the towne the vij of October at xj of the clock before noone with his owne company of footemen and two others whereof one was vnder captaine Morans beyng in all about thre hundred footemen and two hundred horsemen and tooke their way towardes Charyte passyng by leblane in Berry from thence came to Bourgdien a towne belongyng to the Bishop of Bourges and heretofore taken by skaling by the Lorde de Bournay there they ioyned with the rest aforesayd and also the Lorde de Bricquemau the elder who taried there with his companies in respect of his sicknesse In the meane while the kynges brother folowyng his victory came to Partnay which he found desolate directing hys way from thence to Nyort to besiege it certaine forerunners of hys campe were come already to the gates to terrifie those that were within the towne At this alarum the Lorde de Mouy with certaine horsemen issued spedely out of the towne who were no sooner without the gates than the other were retired almost out of sight wherupon he returned and beyng one of the last to gouerne the retraite as he was at pointe to enter the towne one Montreuell yelded to hym not long afore vnder coloure of religion discharged a Pistolet vppon hym and hurt hym sore in the head flying immediatly well mounted vpon the selfe same