the Constable that the estate of the towne and disposition of the time was such as they were not to tarrie for ought but if they could reape any thing of the Countries about they would most willingly parte with it The which the Senate had ordained to the ende no wrong might be offred to the people of their Villages nor their goods so whatsoeuer could be found in any the Towns or Villages was carried to the Campe but it was no great matter Now all Lorraine being surprised together with the Towne of Metz they of Strasbourg soddainely leauied fiue thousand men for the defence of their towne afterwards they pulled downe many buildings as well publick as particular they spoiled the gardens and rooted vp the trees and generally all that which might either hinder the view or serue the enemies vse and of that part which they esteemed most necessary they fortefied the Towne the best that they were able that without all doubt annoyed some of the French in such sorte as the Constable could not holde his peace the last time that he spake to the Deputies and the Germanes perswaded themselues that as vnder a colour of some amitie they had entred into Metz so they would attempt the like at Strasbourg but knowing the town to be maruelous strong and seeing all thinges so diligentlye prepared for the defence thereof they changed their mindes as they say and the better to passe by the remouing of their Campe they tooke the way of Haguenau and Wisbourg thither the deputies of the Prince Palatine of the Archbishops of Maience and Treuues of the Dukes of Cleues and Witemberg who had beene assembled at Wormes for the good of the common wealth came vnto the King whose request was that hee would not waste the plaine Countrie and would take pittie of the poore comminaltie and since that hee protested that he had made this warre for the libertie of Germany that he would stay his armie for that if hee passed further it would be to the great damage of the Empire they besought him then that hee would encline his hart to the making of a peace of which as they had alreadye spoken to the Emperour so would they againe deale with him hauing a good hope thereof As touching his demaund of making an allyance betweene them they besought him to haue regarde to their honour and good renowne for that they could not by any meanes perfourme by reason of their faith by which they were bound to the Empire notwithstanding they would employ all their endeuours to the establishing of a publicke peace Moreouer they most affectionately besought him not to endemnifie the territorie of Strasbourge which is a free Cittie of the Empire and that at his request Albert Duke of Brandebourg would more curteously entreate the B. of Wicibourg At the very same time to wit the eleuenth of May Maurice sent letters to the King wherein was contained all that had bene done at Lincy where the confederate Princes of Germany had entreated of certaine articles of peace with Ferdinand who negociated the same for the Emperour of whose parte he had promised a good and prompt resolution for the benefite and quiet of all Germany In like sorte he required of the King whom he would should be comprehended in the same treatie of peace that hee would set downe vnder what conditions he would compound with the Emperour These letters being receiued contrary to his expectation and knowing well that the Queene of Hungary with troupes of men of warre had taken Satenay and burned whatsoeuer she met without defence iudging besides of Maurices purposes as he thought good he determined of his returne so as hauing deuided his army into three partes the better to conduct it with fewer discōmodities and to make it march by diuers waies and yet arriue altogither at one place he left Germany but before his departure hee answered to the Princes Deputies that he had obtained that for which hee was come into Germany with all his army for the Captiue Princes should be deliuered which was the occasion of the warre hee had then attained glory enough if euer it should happen that Germany should stand in neede of him he would neither spare trauaile nor expence nor would faile to put himselfe againe into all dangers for to succour them at this present he would retire into his owne Realme with his armye for hee vnderstoode that the enemy did ouerrunne his Countrie As touching the complaintes of the poore people he receaued great displeasure thereat but discipline can neuer be so good in a Campe but that militarie licence will breede some damage for his owne parte he gaue the best order that he was able that no man should be interessed if not yet the least that might be and that the offendors should be rigorouslye punished As touching that which they wrote of the Emperour and of a peace he referred himselfe to them through his trauaile diligence and prowesse Germany stode now freed from those miseries in which she stoode enwrapped henceforward it was for them to looke to it that they did not villanously loose that liberty which he so honourably had rendred vnto them he could not deny their demaund on the behalfe of those of Strasbourge albeit that at such time as hee was with his armye vpon their marches many behaued themselues insolently and immodestly towards his people notwithstanding to entertain his confederates and to haue a man alwaies in Germany which might assure him of the true estate of the affaires as they passed betweene the Imperialles and the confederates and the better to be aduertised of the Emperors intents he lefte Du Fresne B. of Bayonne his Embassadour about Maurice who did there as you shall vnderstand after hauing represented vnto you the estate in which in the meane time stoode the armies of the Emperour and of Maurice ioyned with his allies together with the conduct and last end of their enterprises in which it shalbe an easie matter for you to iudge what fauours and disaduantages the K. of Fraunce his armye brought to the one side and to the other We haue before tolde you how Maurice was departed from Lincy where they had articulated certaine conditions of peace Ferdinand suddainly after the assembly took his iourney to Enipont towards the Emperour to make him vnderstand the whole In the meane time Maurice being come backe to the Campe drew towards the Alpes with his companions where being egged forward by the Embassadour of Fraunce he determined to set vppon those troupes which the Emperour had caused to be leuyed in that countrie so as the 17. day of May approching neere vnto Fiesse a Towne scituate at the entrie of the Alpes vpon the riuer Lech and hauing vnderderstoode by his spies sent to descry the countenance of the enemyes how they had seased on all the straites and had so ensconced themselues as it was vnpossible to doe them harme he
Emperour who yet had not his campe well entrenched nor the succour of ten thousand Fantassins and foure thousand Horse which the Counte de Bure brought vnto him they also lost the time at Nerlinge so as the Emperour being seased of the places bordring of Danube and hauing it so at his deuotion as he could cause all sorte of victuall to be brought pursued them then with great aduantage for they ill husbanding the opportunities which presented themselues and adding thereunto that they were two heads equall and banded in their opinions Schertelin first afterwards other retyred themselues from them Maurice in the meane time had praied his Cosin the D. of Saxe by his Father in lawe the Landgraue to take in good parte that he seased of his liuing but perceiuing himselfe refused ioyned with Ferdinande who to enforce the Bohemians to ouerrunne Saxe vtterly refusing it considering the alliance which they had made with that house and for that they verilye thought hee had wrong doone him caused his cauallerie of Hussaries of Hungaries to come downe and some Silesians with whome he put all Saxe to fire and sworde Maurice euer saying that hee had rather sease thereof himselfe then a straunger should considering that the mynes of siluer were common to him with his cousin and that his landes were shutte in within the others which hee made sure by this meanes besides that hee did nothing but by the aduise of the estates who had written to that end to his Cosin and further that the Emperour had sworne vnto him that hee ment no harme but to the Rebels and not to Religion wherefore in all cases the faith excepted one ought to obeye that Magistrate which suffered in his Countrie the exercise of religion and so determined to pursue his owne right and the differentes which so long time he had had with the Elector fearing least his landes should fall into the handes of Strangers offering when hee should be reconciled to the Emperour and Ferdinand that he would restore vp al vnto him whereof he certified his Cosin and his Sonne so as the Hungarians following of him he tooke all the places except Gothe-aenac and Witemberge binding all the subiects to sweate vnto him For which he was misliked by euery man rendring so poore a recompence vnto him whom he ought to haue held for a father author of all his good He was sonne to Henrie whose brother George Duke of Saxe had ordained by his testament that the Emperour should enioye his prouince vntill that his brother had renounced the Protestant Religion But the Elector and Landgraue hindered it making his testament to be broken tooke Henrie and his children into their league Moreouer whreas George had giuen vnto him a pension in mony that they feared for spight of Religion he would refuse to pay it the Protestants promised him in case it should so fall out to furnish the somme vnto him themselues so the Saxon being called on that side and seeing the Landgraue hauing left vnto him his people retyre himselfe and that the Allies furnished no more supplies hee went aganst Maurice out of whose hands in the end he got againe all the places and tooke a number of his people and whatsoeuer Ferdinand had taken from him shutting both them into Bohemia he subiected to himselfe also the Bishoppricke of Magdeburg and Halbestat hauing conuented with Iohn Albert the Bishop The Emperour in the meane time triumphed thoroughout Germanie ordayning and imposing great ransomes to al the Princes and Protestant Cities euen to the Elector Palatine who before as a Neutre was readye to haue reformed his Churches by Paul Faggius had not this accident fallen out and was faine to haue pardon of the Emperour for the 400. horse which hee had sent to the Protestants albeit hee protested that it was not ment against him but by right of Obligation carried by a particular contract with the Duke of Witemberg Whome likewise and his sonne Christopher hee pardoned but woulde not his brother George all renouncing the Leage and not speaking of Religion Afterwards the Emperour pursuing of the Saxon the 22. of Aprill 1547. ariued at Misnes which Frederic had quit and burning the woodden bridge encamped himselfe at Mulburge neare the riuer of Albye the Emperour still hastening for feare he should enclose himselfe within Witemberg So as with a thousand Spanish Harquebusiers which waded into the water to passe forward he assailed the garde on the other shoare notwithstanding the Cannon shot which showred downe on euerie side Afterwards with the small Boates which Frederic had abandoned hee made a bridge ouer which the Hungarians of Ferdinand and the light horse passed first followed with the rest hastning to follow Frederic who was reencountred 3. leagues from Albye neare the forrest Lochane where hee charged him so hard that after a long combat he was defeated hurt taken and brought by the Duke of Alua vnto him to whome hauing said I render my selfe thy prisonner most mercifull Emperour and pray thee to giue me entertainment worthy of a Prince he answered Now then thou doest acknowledge me an Emperour but I wil handle thee according to thy desert Shortly after being condemned to death the Elector of Brandebourge so much appeased the Emperour that he had his life not refusing any conditions offred vnto him sauing to obey the Emperours ordinances or the Councell chusing rather to die It was then ordained that the Emperour should confiscate all his goods which he gaue to Ferdinand and Maurice vpon condition that Maurice should yeerely pay vnto the Saxon and his children fiftie thousand crownes If it so seemed good to the Emperour and Maurice he should enioy Gote so as he raysed the Castle and fortefied not the Towne And for that hee was much in debt Maurice should giue vnto his children one hundred thousand crownes to be employed to the payment of his debtes growne before the league of Smalcade and that Maurice should discharge all such debts as his lands which had beene confiscat and giuen vnto him by the Emperour were lyable vnto And so all suites to be had at an ende and his children to haue the vsufruite of the goods mentioned if they approued these conditions and the people likewise And in respect his life was saued he should for euer after remaine prisoner to the Emperour and to his sonne the Prince of Spaine Hee surrendred likewise his right and dignitie of Elector into the handes of the Emperour who put Maurice as well in possession of the dignitie as lands of Frederic And by his decree it was ordayned that if the other should chaunce to dye without heires masles Augustus his brother and his children should be in remainder thereunto which was doone the 24. of Februarie 1548. at Witemberge Frederic regarding the ceremonies of his house all the Electors present the Landgraue vnder suertie of Brandebourge Maurice and Volfange his sonnes in law rendred himselfe
offred And lesse will we endure who carry the title of most Christian that any damage shalbe done to the goods and persons of you most reuerende Prelates Abbots and other of the Clergy as it hath bene wrongfullye giuen out by our aduersaries rather we determine to receaue you into our protection and safegarde prouided that you declare your selues for vs and our allies and giue vs sufficient assurance of your intents hoping for the reunion of the Church which we attende by the recouering of the publique libertie to which we will imploy God willing all our power the which we were willing to let you to vnderstand most reuerend Prelates and most excellent Princes and other the estates of the holy Empire to the end you should not be ignorant of the true occasion of this warre by which we pretend to pursue the Emperour with fire and sword and albeit very loath to cut him of as a rotten member from the body of the common wealth or at the least to enforce him to cease offring you any more iniurie As touching ought which more particularly may touch vs or the affaires of the holy Empire you shall know it by our beloued and feal councellor and Embassadour Iohn du Fresne B. of Bayonne whome to this end we haue dispatched praying you to giue credence vnto him in whatsoeuer he shall deliuer on our parte and that by him you will aduertise vs of your intention Yeouen at Fountaine-bleau the 3. of February 1552. and in the 5. yeare of our raigne By this so autenticall a promise solemne league the K. made him selfe defendor of the Germanes and was called Father of the countrye and protector of the Germane nation holy Empire and was so proclaimed throghout al the imperiall cities with inscription triumphant arcks shewes recōmending this his curtesie that of gallantnes of minde he would at so great charge oppose himself to so happy puissant a Monarch On the top of this writing printed in the vulgare tongue there was a hat betweene two daggers and written about liberty vnderneath was the K. represented who called himselfe Protector of Germany and of the Princes in Captiuitie Wheras he said that the Emperor had ordained a price to such as could kil certain of his Colonels it was thus Charles 5. reuiuing his Edicts had againe banished out of th'empire the Colonels Ringraue Recrod Ritteberg and Schertelin all in the Kings wages so far as to promise 4000. crownes to whomsoeuer would bring any of them vnto him aliue or dead for they pushed hard at the wheele and after the league was concluded whereof we haue spoken carried souldiars into Fraunce In the meane season Maurice hauing lefte his Brother Augustus behinde him as his Liuetenant in his Countrie marched into the fielde and with the Landgraues sonne who tooke with him Du Fresne the K. Embassadour ioyned together the forces of th' associates at Tonouert Afterwards Albert of Brandebourg came vnto them with a great number of foot horse at Koburg they brought all as they passed alongst vnder their subiection and infringing whatsoeuer had bene ordained by th'emperour they established there new officers and a new kinde of gouernement constraining al to furnish them with mony albeit the Emperor and especially his brother Ferdinand besought thē of peace for which they promised their best endeuor notwithstanding that the emperor caused the drum to be stroke vp at the foot of the moūtains for the assembling of his army an occasion that Maurice wēt to Lincy in Austria to know of Ferdinand the conditions of peace for he was willing to pacifie matters at the wil of th'emperor who on the other side had exhorted by his letters the principall Princes of Germany that they would bestow some paines in quenching this vprore aduise of some means of peace to which his best endeuor shuld not be wanting and wheras some demanded succor of him not seeing thēselues strong enough against so great a force he assured them of a good hope answering that now they were in tearmes of making peace which as he hoped shuld take good effect if otherwise he would succour thē with his means the whole cōmon wealth of Germany Vlme was besieged 6. daies the 19. of April the Princes went to Stoach a town of Hegouia where in the name of the K. of France 3. months pay was giuen thē according to the accord and there was giuen for hostage on the French part Iames of the house of Marche for the other to wit the Earle of Nantueil died on the way The hostages which the Princes gaue vnto the King were Christophle Duke of Megelbourg and Philip sonne to the Landgraue The last of April the Princes returned to the Danube some leagues belowe Vlme In the meane space Albert of Brandebourg set fire on all the Townes and villages of Vlme and got as much monie as hee was able afterwardes hee tooke the forte of Helfesten scituated vpon an high mountaine and there put garrison that done he rated the towne of Gisling which is three leagues from Vlme with certain other villages about at 18. thousand crownes In the meane while Maurice arriued at Lincy proposed certaine articles touching the deliuery of his father in law for the appeasing of the difference in religion and doctrine of well and dulye establishing the common wealth of making peace with the K. of Fraunce their companion and alye of receiuing into grace the banished men as the Ringraue the other abouenamed among which was likewise Hedec who some yeares before had placed himselfe in the seruice of Maurice but the Emperour had not set downe any certaine price to him that could take him were it for feare of offending Maurice or any other occasion Vppon that Ferdinande who had with him his sonne Maximilian his sonne in law Albert of Bauieres and the Emperours Embassadors made answere to his demaundes that the Emperour made no refusal to deliuer the Landgraue prouided that they laid aside their armes for regarde of religion and the common wealth it pleased him well that they should aduise therof in the first assembly but it was a matter too noisome to the Emperor to comprehend therin the K. of Fraunce and yet that Maurice might do wel to know of the K. vnder what cōditions he would appoint it as for the banished persons they night reenter into grace so as they obserued such conditions as the Emperour would set downe Further Ferdinande demaunded of Maurice aide against the Turke in Hungarie after that the peace should be concluded and that he would not suffer any souldiers to retire towards the K. of Fraunce To which Maurice answered that it was not lawfull for him to conclude of anything without the consent of his companions so as they departed vpon condition that the 26. of May they shuld meet againe at Passau which is betweene Ratisbone and Lincy at the reencounter of Danube and Eno
them away parting themselues in sundrye companies within the Vallyes within S. Michel there were already the Ensignes of Captain La Prade and of La Mothe Gondrin on hundred lighthorse of captaine Pelous and one hundred Harquebusiers of Captain Lauenture and Bourdillon with his company who a little before was returned from that place whether the D. Aumalle had written vnto him As soone as the D. of Neuers was arriued at S. Michel there was a road made by his companie with certaine light horse and Harquebusiers on horseback vnder the charge of Mouy guidon of his company a valiant and resolute gentleman as farre as Malatour a little towne strong inough neere vnto Gorges and in other great villages which couered a valley strong inough full of hollowe woodes and daungerous places which they of the Countrie called La Veur into which certaine souldiers were retyred as well Spanish as Germanes of the imperiall auantgard Some were slaine and the rest carried awaie prisoners This misfortune fel vpon those as returned from the castle of Aspremont thinking to haue taken the Earle there in his bed to whom it happened so well as at that instant he was at Saint Michael neere vnto the Duke of Neuers For in stead of thinking to take they were taken carried awaie with some bootie Such roads there and abouts were continued by the Duke of Neuers for the space of three weekes himselfe beeing there sometimes in person which so sore annoied and troubled his enimies as they were inforced to forget the waie of that quarter Yea by reason of these continuall alarums the imperiall armie was oftentimes constrayned to remaine halfe a daie in battell with great trauell coldes and other necessities But if they endured much the French men were not cleane exempted because that oftenest times they were faine to mount on horsebacke at midnight induring so sharpe frosts and colde as some of them haue euer since had diuerse of theyr members benummed and other dead lost by the paine and insupportable torments which they indured hauing continually the snowe vp to their horse bellies in such equipage passed they the daie and night without food after in the daie time when they thought to repose themselues and take a litle breath in theyr lodging they were faine to keepe the watch for feare of surprisall so as as well to keepe themselues as to annoie and plague the imperials they endured theyr parte of the discommoditie of the time but much lesse as they wel witnessed which had abandoned thē the Italians aboue all who dayly went threedmeale from the Emperours campe to beseech the Duke of Neuers to receiue them into the Kings seruice who moued with pittie seeing some dead and halfe passing other hunger starued without monie vsed all liberalitie possible towardes them and caused monie to bee giuen them out of his owne coffers attending the kings paie Afterwardes he sent them to Captaine Andre de May More a man of approued hardinesse to dresse of them companies as well of foote as light cauallerie By them other spials the French were aduertised of the most great diligence and wonderful preparatiues which the Duke of Alua had made to addresse his batterie the great plaines the trenches so ample large and deepe as hath bin seene of long time the great number of artillerie and munitions the almost innumerable quantitie of baskets which hee caused continually without anie rest to bee made and filled making no account of the life of those miserable vascadors no more than of bruite beasts exposed to the mercie of the artillerie and counterbatterie of the towne They reported lykewise the great harmes and annoiances that they within did incessantly vnto them theyr resolute sallies so furious in such sort as some thought them rather ghosts and deuillish spirites than mortall creatures And others reporting how the conduct of the most part of theyr sallies was happily executed attributed all to a rashnesse and bolde hardinesse more than to wisedome or anie discreete foresight of the inconueniences lyke to happen in such sorte as one Sergeant of a band accompanyed with fiue or sixe souldiers onely with his halbard chased awaie and constrained to abandon the trenches more than three hundred men Some other in like sort durst goe and naile theyr artillerie and kill their canoniers vpon theyr peeces The which the enemies notwithstanding woulde not repute as a fact worthie either of them nor of a valyant and magnanimious heart Besides that twice or thrice a daie the cauallerie issued forth putting the imperials often inough in such disorder as some of the most hardiest Gentlemen which woulde doo anie act worthie of memorie or for the remembrance or loue of their mistresses would goe breake theyr lances and strike with theyr swoords euen within the enemies tents so farre as to cut their ropes asunder executing strange things and not heard of in our memorie Now if the French by such feates were desirous to shew themselues loyall subiectes to their king and curious of honour the Duke of Alua reposed not lesse of his part who shewed himselfe so desirous and inflamed to render into the obedience of his maister the Emperour that puisant Citie to reioyce him with the taking of so many princes great Lordes and valyant men as were there within that not sparing anie labor nor the liues of his he planted his batterie readie the twentith of Nouember beginning to shoote at the defences to wit at that of the portall of the port Champenois and of a bulwarke which is within a great tower the which is towardes the riuer called La Tour D'Enfen and surnamed La Tour de Lanques at a little Church being within the town where there was a platform in summe they razed and ruined as much as they could whatsoeuer might serue as they iudged to the defence of the towne The six twentith he began to cannon it with such an impetuositie as in the memory of anie liuing man was neuer heard the like hauing in front fortie great peeces which carrying bullets of an extraordinarie waight shot daie and night without anie intermission other than to refresh themselues In the mean time the besieged slept not but with the princes and great Lordes and generally euen to the verie least they carryed earth panniers to rampire in such diligence and carefulnesse as at any place where they imagined the breach should be made in lesse than twice foure and twentie houres they made vp the rampire the height of a perapect leauing betweene the old wall and the rampire conuenient flankers a trench farced with diuerse drogs to feast the most hotly disposed if they meant to goe to the assalt Attending which I will looke back againe into the exploits of the French armie As soone as de Reux with the Flanders armie which as yet remained about Hedin perceiued the French to approach without anie countenaunce at all made to be willing
matter vntill about the 13. of that moneth when hauing had aduertisements how the Constable had caused 4. ensignes of the French fanterie and 2. companies of light horse to passe ouer the riuer of Some they determined with 4. regiments of their caualery to surprise and defeate them so readilye that as they would haue executed the enterprise before that those which were about Amiens should be aduertised thereof it fortuned that the Constable had addressed the same day another party to go visit them as farre as their owne Campe Paul Baptista hauing commission to passe the riuer with 50. horse to attacke the skirmish and draw thē to fight the D. of Neuers remaining in ambuscade with 3. companies of light horse in a wood vpon the banke of the riuer of Authia who finding himselfe at any time to be ouermatched had Sansac to rescue him who was behinde half a league of with 5. other light cōpanies the Prince of Conde was a quarter of a league on the right hand of him with 3. light cōpanies likewise the Marshall of S. Andre with 500. men at armes a mile farther behinde towards the campe the constable being halfe way between al his companies and the riuer accompanied with 4000. horse as wel of companies as Rirebands and 20. ensignes of Fanterie half French and halfe Lansknets and 4. feelde peeces but easing the French of the paines to goe seeke them out they approched neere the Marshall S. Andre hauing lefte all their light Caualerie behinde them so as three hundred horsecouriers rushed euen vpon the Constable without discouering any of the ambuscades Hereupon Sansac his light Cauallerie began the skirmish neerest to the Marshals ambuscade where the French were borne downe and rudelye put backe euen to the hindermost man so as they tooke two prisoners who tolde them that the Constable was not aboue a quarter of a league of with all his forces the which caused them to hasten to giue the charge vpon the companies of the D. of Vendosme and of Sansac who at the same instant was couered and charged by an other thousand horse and vpon this medley the Marshall began to march with a great trot right towardes them which quicklye stayed them and by and by they discouered the Prince of Conde in set battaile galloping to ioyne vpon them whom as soone as they saw they put themselues in such disarray as being recharged onely with fiftie helmets they were put to flight for the Prince of Conde so roughly set vpon them as he and his company pursued them a long League where were slaine of theirs betweene 7. and 8. hundred men among whome there was found of renowne the Earle D'espinoy and other great Lordes of the low Countries seauen as well Ensignes as Guidons gained neere 500. prisonners in number among whom the D. of Ascot was found On the French part for men of reputation the sonne of Canaples and of La Roche Guion and the Guidon of Sansac remained there prisonners with some other souldiers especially of the light cauallery not any great number either taken or slaine This reencounter so happily executed greatly quailed the courage of the imperials who since did no matter of importance for incontinentlye after they departed from Beauquesne where they were encamped so as hauing razed the towre and the forte they came by great iournyes as farre as Ancre Miraumont within 4. leagues of Peronne French lands where hauing put to the fire and lodged ten Ensignes of their brauest men within Bapaulme thinking that according to the common brute the first fury of the French would be there discharged without making any longer stay the body of their army retyred towards Arras which was not as then very great or puissant for many of them especially of the borderers of Artois and Henaulte retired to their owne houses to gather together the best of their goods and enclose it within strong townes or hide it in sure and secret places knowing that the Kings armie was all compleate and was to put into the fielde within a fewe dayes the which in the end of August was assembled to gether neere to Corbie and the first of September the Ensignes of Fraunce were displaied about the little towne with a mighty great number of men the which the K. would needs see vpon a little mount especially the Zuizers now they set their battailes in such ordinance as they caried the prise ouer many nations a thing which maruelously was agreeable pleasing vnto him The Constable being generall of the army and the first cheefe in the auantgarde was accompanied with the Princes Dukes of Vendosme Neuers Anguien Montpēsier and the Admirall each one of these Princes hauing a regiment of men at armes which is of 200. men at arms and ouer which they cōmanded 49. ensignes of French sundry making vp the number between 15. 16000. men of whom Chastillon Admirall of France was generall the Earle Reingraue colonell of the Lanseknets with Reisberg had 4. regiments which are 20. ensignes making the nūber between 10. 12000. men foure Ensignes of Scottes and two of English amounting betweene twelue and fifteene hundred men Sansac was the principall chiefe of the light Cauallerie neere to two thousand horse comprehending therein three or foure hundred English men braue men and well skilled in this occupation The nobles and rierbandes were compleat verie neere three thousand horse whereof La Iaille was generall there were few of the particular companies of harguebuziers on horsebacke for that the King had a little before made an ordinance therupon to euery Captaine of one hundred men at armes to leauie fiftie harquebuziers on horsebacke armed with corslets murrions vanbraces or sleeues of maile with an handgunne or harquebuze or a firelocke or cocke within a case of well tanned leather mounted vppon good curtailes and vnto euerie one of fiftie fiue and twentie in like equipage conducted by a man at arms of the greatest experience especially to that end to be chosen out of their own companie all which made wel vp the number of twelue or fifteen hundred A thing well inuented and by good counsell to assist a man at armes in anie narrow or vneaeasie place and which gaue great countenance and grace to the armie in beeing the first before the companyes together with the diuersitie of theyr apparell In this battell was king Henrie neere vnto him the Prince of Ferrara the Duke of Guise the prince of La Roche-Suryon and the marshall Saint Andre euerie one of these princes hauing a regiment of men at armes as the rest The great Escuyer de Boisi and Canaples wyth theyr bandes of the royall house and the guardes as well French and Scots as Suizers and a number of great Lordes and Gentlemen following the King as well in respect of their fidelitie as to make knowen vnto him theyr vertue and good will Of all sortes of artillerie there was about one hundred great and
to compell the siege to be raysed a Counsell was helde and resolued to abandon Cony to martch right towardes the Marquesse But as soone as hee perceyued the Mareschall to approache he retired into Fossan to the which the Frenche still approached By meanes whereof the Marquesse fearing to bee enclosed there consequently himselfe to reduce this place to extreame necessitie he wrought so well as with the whole Infanterie he gayned Cony But from thence not knowing howe to returne he was constrayned to leade his men a trauerse the mountaines to gayne the Sea shoare and saue his people as well as hee mought The difficultie of the wayes notwithstanding was founde such as he lost many of his people and they which saued themselues so wearie and defeated as it was not possible to bee more As for his men at armes and his Cauallerie they remayned still within Fossan Therefore it was agreed that waste shoulde bee made there round about And further that Forces should be layed all a longest the passages and wayes that none of the Cauallerie mought escape During the time that it was thus enclosed many fayre feates and notable skirmishes were vndertaken and diuersly executed Namely by the Vidasme of Chartres Colonell of the Fanterie of Piemont D'Anuille de Terrides and others with so good watche kept all alongest the passages as many Troupes of this Cauallerie which was no lesse then betweene one thousande and twelue hundred horse were entrapped and defeated The Frenche in the meane space entertayned the siege before Cony and many Gentlemen and Captaynes trauayled who shoulde be marked to worke most to the damage of the besieged Among the rest woorde was sente vnto the King of the feates done by the Vidasme since the raysing of the siege Especially in the breaking vp of milles which had bene repayred by them of the Towne blocked with a nomber of Fortes which marueilously annoyed him And likewise the happie enterprises atchieued about Fossan by De Termes Gonor D'Anuille and other who gaue so small reste to their Troupes of Cauallerie especially their light horse whose coursings out were more ordinarie remarkeable as all thought they had yeilded occasions enough vnto his Maiestie to be well and sufficiently requited for so well perfourming of their duetie You shall see howe and wherefore the meanes wanted vnto their Prince rather then the will through the accidents which lesse fortunate in other places of Fraunce then in Piemont happened at the same time to counterpease the Mareschals good fortune by the disgrace of his Conestable as I will make you to perceyue if you well and dilligently marke all the notable particularities which I will deduce vpon such and so important an occurrence For it is lesse then nothing to knowe the inconuenience of the iourney of Saint Quentins That is knowne as well to fooles as wise men younge and olde men and women homebirdes and straungers friendes enemies But to applie it to ones profite to the suretie and aduauncement of the State one must vnderstande the beginning and true motiue dilligently and with affection marke the meanes as well forced as voluntarie by which this disfauour happened then note the effectes of them and in the ende consider the good and the badde which hath ensewed vnto Fraunce and the Countreyes aboute vnder the obedience of these two Princes This is called to reason of and to reade Histories as it appertayneth The which I will doe hauing represented vnto you the deportement of the Duke of Guise and his Armie in Italie From Plaisantin the Duke of Guise went to Regge a Towne which appertained to the D. of Ferrara his father in law who mette him at Pont de Leuz all in company with the Cardinall Caraffe sente thither by the Pope entered within Regge where they consulted of the dissein meanes conduct of this warre Some would haue gone into Lombardie to attempt the getting of Cremone and Pauia whilest that Brissac dyd his dutie vpon that side of Nouarre and Valence Other who considered that in so dooing they should giue leasure to the Duke of Alua to fortifie himselfe and to make a leauie of men as well within the kingdome of Naples as Tuscane without forcing for all that any one of those Townes furnished with all thinges necessarie were of opinion that they should rush vpon Tuscane to deliuer Siene out of the Florentines and Spaniardes handes The Cardinall Caraffe founde it most aduantagious to assayle the kingdome of Naples by the March of Ancone the territorie of the ancient Picentines saying that on that side of Terre de Labour hee might conquere as much of the Countrie as seemed good vnto him But the Duke of Ferrara maintained that the Duke of Guise being come for the cause of his holynesse he ought likewise to go straight on to Rome and imploy himselfe to the defence of the Pope And that afterwardes the rest should bee thought of That in the meane time hee would keepe himselfe with his forces in his owne Countries forasmuch as he trusted not the Duke of Parma his neighbour hauing entered into league with king Phillip and that he feared besides least the Florentine would make roades into his lands if hee esloigned himselfe So as according to this aduise the Duke of Guise marched with Caraffe towardes Bologne and the Duke of Ferrara leauing the Prince Alphonce his sonne for his lieutenant went to Venise to aunswere the Embassadour of Spaine who made there grieuous complaintes against him blaming the Pope and King Henrye to make warre vniustly against his Maister and to breake the truce so necessarie to Christendome beseeching the Seigneurie to make warre against the Ferrarois and to enter into league with the Catholique King Now as the Duke of Ferrara soiorned at Venise the Marquesse of Pescare seased vppon the Towne of Corregge whence sprange the first beginning of the war in the Countrie of Ferrara An occasion that the Duke leauing Venise returned into his owne lands to fortifie Modene Carpi and other places of his Seigneuries whilest that the Duke of Guise at Bologne complayned to the Popes ministers howe he sawe no such preparation of warre as had bene promised vnto the King But they contented him when they tolde him that there were tenne thousand men in the March d'Ancone And hauing passed by Imole Rauenne Faenze Cesene he came to Rimini where he viewed and mustered his Troupes which he found to amount vnto fiue thousande Swizers ouer which the Marquesse d'Albauf his brother commaunded foure thousand Grisons seauen thousand French and Gascoignes some Italians fiue hundred and fiftie men at armes and fifteene hundred light horse Ouer the Fanterie commaunded the Duke of Neuers Cipierre was Maister of the Campe. Tauannes and La Motte Gondrin were Mareschalles of the Campe. On the other side the Mareschall Brissac comming out with his Forces into the fielde caused Valle-Feniere to bee besieged a strong place scituate betweene
a peace with the Spaniarde Who in the meane time determined to plant agayne the siege before Rome not that hee was in anie hope to take it but onely to inforce the Pope to a peace which hee knew was greatly desired by the Catholike king But the Duke of Guise vnderstanding this desseine and the effects thereof fayled not to approach vnto Tiuoli a place scituated vppon the Teueron to front the enemie and to inforce him to leauie his siege The which was the cause that by all the meanes they possiblie coulde they hastned the treatie of the peace sought by the Venetians and the Duke of Florence The Pope sending on the eight of September in his name the Cardinalles Carlo Caraffe Saint Fior and Vitolloce with some Romane Lordes towardes the Duke of Alua who as then laie at Canie a place scituate in the Romane Countrie neere to Pilastrine to conferre of the whole Betweene whome it was concluded and agreed that the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe woulde resolue thereof together at Benessan which is not farre from them hauing each of them ample power and commission from theyr master to determine and conclude of all thinges according as the Popes Letters carryed for the Cardinall Caraffe dated the eighth daie of September 1557. at Rome and king Phillips for Don Ferdinande Aluarez de Toledo Duke of Alua dated the fiue and twenteeth of Iuly In summe the peace was concluded betweene the Pope and the Spaniard and such were the Articles That the Duke of Alua dooing all kinde of obeysances due and submissions in the name of the king of Spaine his master should beseech pardon of the Popes holynesse That hee shoulde receiue him as his good and obedient sonne participating vnto him such graces as were common to other That king Phillip shoulde doo the lyke by an Embassadour expresly sent from him to Rome That the Pope as a mercifull and debonarie Father shoulde receiue the Catholique king as his sonne and giue vnto him all such graces as hee was wont to doo and accorde to other Christian kings That his holynesse shoulde renounce the league with the French king and declare himselfe a father to the one and the other of both the kinges wythout anie one more than the other That the Catholique King shoulde render vp all the townes places castles and fortresses beeing of the domaine of the Church which had bene taken since the ouerture of this warre Hee shoulde make bee builded agayne and repayred all such as had beene ruined and dismembred by the Spaniardes That all the artillerie taken on the one side or the other in what sorte so euer shoulde bee restored againe into the handes of his auncient possessour That they shoulde forget all such executions as had ben done by iustice during this warre were it by death or bannishment and all confiscations of what persons whatsoeuer wythout anie mannes researching after into them As also all such as thorough this dissention were driuen out of theyr landes goods and dignities shoulde bee restored into theyr good renowme goods honours states and dignities right actions and Seignouries Prouided that they had lost these thinges by meanes of this warre to the ende this peace might not bee auaileable to Marke Anthonie Colone nor to Ascaigne de la Corne but that they shoulde remayne outlawed at the will and discretion of the holy Father That the Dutchie of Palliane should bee put in such estate as it was then by the consent and good liking of both partyes into the hands of Iean Barnardin Carbon which was the sequestrer who should sweare to the Pope and the Catholique King to keepe faith to both parties and obserue the articles and agreements made and accorded betweene the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe Which Carbon was to haue the keeping of the Towne of Palliane hauing vnder him eight hundred souldyers payed by the Pope and the Catholique king These Articles were sworne to in the name of the sayde Princes the Pope and king Phillip by the Cardinall Caraffe and the Duke of Alua according to the Commission and faculties giuen vnto them swearing by the soules of theyr Princes to obserue all the whole without fraude cauelling or anie exception whatsoeuer adding a truce for a certayne time contayning pasport and safeconduct to the Duke of Guise and to all the Captaines and souldyers of the king of France to departe out of Italie and the Countries appertayning vnto king Phillip as well by sea as by land Afterwardes they signed and sealed the whole in the presence of the Cardinals of S. Flour and Vitelle who lykewise signed the present Treatise And forsomuch as it was not set downe therein to whome Palian shoulde appertaine since that the sequestrer kept it in the name of both the princes contracting there were secrete articles agreed vpon between the Cardinal Caraffe and the Duke of Alua. In which it was contained how that it should remaine at the will and discretion of the catholike king either to ruine or leaue that place in her entire without being lawful for him to repair or fortifie it vntill the sayd Lord King had giuen some place of like value and reuenew to the Popes sonne for recompence And anie difference falling out vppon that exchange the Senate of Venice shoulde giue iudgement thereof wythout either the one or the other parties refusing to obey what shuld be ordayned by that Seignorie And the recompence beeing once made by king Phillip hee might then bestowe the place of Palian vppon whom it liked him best sauing anie such as were an enemie to the Church of Rome And that he which should haue Palian in sequestration should bee bound to depart so soone as the place were dismembred Such was the issue of the affayres of Italie and of the armie which the King sent for the Popes succour the which was followed with a strange ouerflowing inundation of Tiber as I will cause you to see elsewhere Now that each partie had of a long time turned his desseignes to the warre couered notwithstanding by the conclusion of this truce yet had the Spanish Councell much better and from longer hande prouided for the preparatiues and inconueniences thereof For Phillip put as soone an armie agaynst that of Italie by which he drew out of the realme the flower of the nobilitie and the most renowmed Captaines and souldiers which were there the most accomplished and best furnished with all necessaries of anie that had beene seene of long time To the end hee would not faile to set forward his first fortune which he meant to proue in the view of all the potentates of Europe especially of the French in whome hee meant to ingraue by the beginning of his enterprises such a dread of his forces means as that for euer after they should bee more stayed and lesse stirring against him than they had beene against anie of his ancestors Henrie on the contrarie as the
with many hard and angrye speaches against his Maister had resolued to passe an armie into Fraunce to be reuenged of the wrong which he faide he had sustained And because it was doubted that hee would enter by Champagne where Bourdillon was with certaine Troupes the Duke of Neuers was sent thither with 10. companies of men at armes which hee distributed for the better strengthening of the weaker Garrisons prouiding as well as he could for the fortifications and munitions of those places where he bestowed the eight olde bandes which the King had sent vnto him while it was thus in working they put out into the fielde to be the better able to put in execution some soddaine surprisales according to their olde intelligences whereof very few tooke good effect Then eche partie tarrying for the maine of his armye made many little skirmishes now with good and now with bad fortune as well on the one side as the other In the meane time happened the defeat of a number of Bourgonians which the company of Gasper de Coligny called Chastillon defeated neere vnto Montcornet in Ardennes leauing fiue hundred dead on the place for recompence whereof other making a shew but of a small company of Harquebusiers presenting themselues neere vnto Mauber-Fontaine charged and killed in an ambuscade the Captaine Gourdes accompanied with fiue and twentye olde souldiers too ventrous and ill aduised in not tarrying for Bourdillon and his people who being arriued after their death followed the Bourgonians already retyred safe by the benefite of the wood into which for want of Harquebusiers they could not hinder more then two partes of them that had the victorie to retreat in surety as Mazaeres stoode in great want of prouisions ioyne thereto that a Souldier loueth best to get from the enemy and keep his own for his necessitie Captaine Villefranche hauing in the night planted a number of matches fiered vpon the toppe of the Castle Ditches at Lumes while that the Imperials discharged at them both Harquebusies Culuerins and other shotte tooke all the cattell and other prouisions which the inhabitants kept by fauour of the Portes out of which some of the most couragious hauing sallyed by little saw thēselues so bepelted with Harquebusies that they were constrained to let their prouisions be carried to Maizieres But the Burgonians hauing surprised the Castle of Aspremont which the yong Earle yeelded vp to the Duke of Neuers and in a course killed Captaine Ligneres and defeated the greatest part of his company betweene Hedin and Monstreuilse greatly bragged that they had beene so well reuenged At the same time the Garrisons of Pickardie vnder the Duke of Vendosme and his brothers the Duke of Anguien and Prince of Conde were no lesse often and painefully awakened then those of Champaigne all the long winter in which their masters notwithstanding were busied about more high enterprises thē those before mentioned as I will make you well to perceiue Beholde these Princes hard at it and the originall and preparation of their quarrels whereupon I think good before that I passe any further to fetch the affaires of the Christians from more high to the end I may not giue any occasion that should turne you from the knowledge of that which I will entreate of for as I speak of war of Religion pollicie and other humane actions when you shall see the Counsell of Trent mentioned and not know to what end when nor by whome it was helde the Lutheranes obstinate pursued with fire and bloud of the time wherof you should be ignorant and of the places where they came into the worlde by whome and in what doctrine they stood instructed if I speake of the Protestantes banded against so great Potentates and you not know whence they descended nor why their Father was so named nor the variable successe of their enterprises nor how nor why they were succoured by the Kings of Fraunce England and other Princes with a number of things which would remaine vnknowne vnto you for that you could not vnderstand their beginning and progresse you would take very small delight therein at the least you will take double contentment if all the whole be made manifest and plaine as you would your selfe desire since then that the knowledge of naturall things content not the spirite if the cause and reason thereof rest vnknowne amidst many accidents a somewhat lesse agreeable discourse by reason of the ignorance of their originall shall satisfie the more curious sorte if in representing therein vnto you their very spring and true motife I shall not fetch it from ouer farre As the iudgements of men are diuers and oftentimes contrary so is there not any thing so common or generall whatsoeuer that receiueth not alteration in some perticular which may easily be seene in all vocations especially in the doctrine which all embrace to the conduct of their saluation For to holde my peace of the diuersitie which is amōg the Christians half Christians Mahometists Iewes Paganes and other yea of the multitude of different and contrarie opinions which is in euery one of them it hath bene euer seene that Christendome how generall soeuer it hath at any time beene was alwaies set at controuersie by some perticular iudgement now in matter of substance now in discipline now in ceremonies and outward apparances be it that it proceede of ignorance or of a good zeale of malice or some indiscretion of persons which aduaunce themselues to speake And if wee shal seeke further examples then the memory of our fathers it is most certaine that religion planted in Fraunce in the time of the Pagans growne vnder the lyne of Clouis was no sooner established vnder Pepin and his successors but the authoritie and consequently abuse of certaine of the Cleargie encreasing with the abundance of wealth the zeale and curiositie of such as would reforme the discipline and life of the officers encouraged men by little and little to attempt to the substance and some to band themselues secretly and by writings others with open mouth against the Articles of doctrine which they little iudged of lesse vnderstoode or worse practised As notwithstanding the Pastors confirming their generall receiued doctrine by a better life then ours authorised both by one and the other thorough a seuere punishment of iustice to the example of euery one so the reformation being hindered to grow by the diligence and studie of the Bishops and iusticers it could not spread so farre but that at this day when all estates are onely curious of their pleasure and particuler profit they haue themselues giuen entrie to what they most complained off least doubted So many held their peace and the hardest could not gaine so much as to make any other opinion runne among the people then the common vntil that the officers of the Church and iustice surprised in their dutie by such as spied but an occasion fit to giue entrie vnto their opinions saw
this time forwards the persecutions cōtinued in the church almost throughout all Christendome at the pursute of the Inquisitors who were annimated enough against the ill affected in the faith but more againe some perticular and simple people then persons of marke vntill the comming of Luther which then they the more augmented as they saw mens faith beleefe and charitie to diminish towards men of the Church so as the Christian faith being receiued and oppugned almoste in euerlye countrie though in some one lesse sharpely then other where great ones countenanced them out by credit force of arms and other means you may not finde it strange if the religion lesse common and more secret seeking in all times and places but occasion and meanes fit to lifte vp and spread it selfe abroade knew well how to take her time in the end 1518. to make her selfe knowne by the negligence of the Germaine Prelates and the diligence and hardines of Luther who reuiuing of these olde opinions and adding thereunto what before but by the ignorance of the simple people he thought omitted afterwards explaining the same by a well ordered deliuery and expressing it in his Sermons and wrightings through his eloquence and doctrine discouered vnto vs such a kinde of reformation as hath engendered more strange effectes then euer any man could see read or vnderstand to haue bene practised in any other place Now for that the particulars are very memorable and worthy to be left to the posteritie I am contented to fetch the narration therof from the first originall to the ende I would not leaue any thing vnto you which might staye you from the entire knowledge of so notable accidents as vpon this occasion made all christendome both admire and stand wonderfully astonied The pardons which Pope Leo published throughout the world 1517. to get mony and prouide for a warre pretended against the Turke were an occasion together with the abuses his Treasorers offred in the leuying thereof as the most learned and notable writers as well of Germany as Italy hath left that Luther first declared himselfe an enemy to the ouercharging of consciences then a Censor of Popes and ecclesiasticall abuses to reforme in the ende the more receaued doctrine in the Christian Church for first he found himselfe agreeued at the pardons next banded himselfe against the insolencies of Receiuers and hauing put in question the autoritye of the Pope which defended them he came by little and little cleane to contemne the doctrine of the Church of Rome next to reforme it and in the end vtterly to reiecte it Now as Leo say they vsed too licentiously the authoritie of the Romish Sea chiefly in such graces as the Court gaue of spirituall and beneficiall matters by the councell of Laurens Puccy Cardinall of the title of 4. Sains so hee scattered throughout without distinction of time or place his generall pardons of pleanary remission aswell for the quicke as the dead and deliuered soules out of the paines of Purgatory And because such fauours were deliuered so there were mony and that the Treasurers bought their offices at the Popes handes and that little which did come vnto his hands was spent badly enough in other affaires that hee sawe many of his Ministers sell for small price yea play away at Tauernes power to deliuer soules out of Purgatorye and that the Pope who by the meekenes of his owne nature exercised in many things his pontificall office with little enough Maiestie had at one blowe giuen vnto his sister Magdelaine the profit of such Indulgences as might be reaped in sundry Countries of Germany who deputed for her the Bishop Arebaut that executed his charge but with too much couetousnes and extortion and that Leo had permitted the King of Fraunce to vse the last payments of his own Realme as should please him vntill the warre against the Turke all sauing 50. thousand crowns which he gaue to Laurence de Medicis his Nephew Luther a Regent Doctor in diuinitie thought thē he had read seene and heard enough to despise such Indulgences and to be able to taxe therein the authoritie of the Pope but afterwards a great number of Auditors running thither to the end they might heare some noueltye to delight them the popular winde no lesse then the fauour of the Duke of Saxe one of the electors of the Empire and the greatest landed of all Germany so egged him forward that hee did not only band himself against the power of the Popes and authoritie of the Church of Rome but yeelding himselfe to the anger conceiued for the iniuries and sharpe pursuites of the Receiuers and such as spurned against him hee grew in the ende to make open warre against the doctrine of the Church The Pope as they say bestirred himselfe well in the beginning for to quench this fire but not vsing the proper remedies medicines he did but impaire so great a maladie for he cited Luther to Rome he forbad him to preach and after seeing of his disobedience he gaue him ouer to the censure of the Church neuer himselfe in all this time abstaining from many things of euill example which hauing bene with reason blamed by Luther were by his Sermons lessons and writings rendred a great deale more odious to euery man so as proceeding against him with Ecclesiasticall weapons without amending matters of euil example in his own Court at Rome and which since they were made and constrained to reforme so much the more grew the reputation of Luther among the people as they sawe him more persecuted for the innocencie of his life and pure doctrine which he preached then any thing else And albeit that many were of opinion both at Rome and elsewhere that it were lesse inconuenience to dissemble the fire of such follie which peraduenture would growe of it selfe into smoake then in kindling and blowing it through the sharpenes of such pursuites to make it encrease and growe in greater blaze then before and chiefely for that a little wealth and honor had in the beginning made him to eate his worde namely at such time as hee was banished by the Emperour at the Diet of Wormes assuring themselues to haue seene him in such a fright as if the iniurious and threatning wordes of the Cardinall S. Xixte Legat had not led him to a last dispaire hee would gladly enough haue beene reconciled to the Church and beene made to leaue his opinions So it came to passe as men are rather enclined to remedie inconueniences by vehemency and rigour then fair means and curtesie that not onely the persecutions which augmented daylye against him and his Lutheranes but also a terrible excommunication being resolued against the Duke of Saxe rendred this Prince more feruent thē euer to the defence of the cause True it is that the opinion which was helde among many Princes that the followers of this doctrine were no lesse enemies to the temporall Lordes then to the
which were between the Counts for their liuings and inheritance in forme of an amiable compounder and Arbitrator And albeit they desired they might bury him in their Countrye yet the Elector of Saxe would needs haue him brought to Witemberg He left of a Nunne which he married 1505. Iohn Martin and Paul his children which haue not followed any course either for the diminishing or encrease of his reputation Hereupon to confirme the suspitions which many had of a warre at hand for Religion in Germany were seene the first effects in the holy League of the Imperialles and that of the Protestants made and renewed at Smalcade as I haue declared vnto you Moreouer the Emperour being from day to day egged forward by the Pope and Catholick Princes now discouering himself writeth to the cities of Strasbourg Noremberg Ausbourg and Vlme to aduertise them of his entent and drawe succour from them at the least not to fauour the enemies of the common Countrie and of Christian Religion giuing them to vnderstand after he had made them see what his dutie and affection was to the good of the common wealth of Germany how this warre was not prepared against the Citties but against certaine rebels which had committed treason who had confronted the authoritie of the Emperour pilled the goods of Princes and of the Church and would in the end the townes too if they were not bemet withall that they should then aduise themselues well of their dutie both towards him and the common countrie who and especially Strasbourge besought him to leaue off this preparation of warre and if the Princes had done him wronge rather to order them by iustice then by armes to ruine all Germany considering that all differents betweene an Emperour and the Princes ought to be adiudged by the Empire Now as the Landgraue being called for by him had in familiar speeche at Ratisbone where the continuance of the Colloquie was assigned tolde him that his companions had beene aduertised from all partes how he meant cleane to runne ouer those of the confession of Ausbourg how he attended succours from the K. of Fraunce how he had made truce for one yeare with the turk by means of the French and that this councell had beene begun by the Pope to the end the decrees made against them might be put in execution notwithstanding that they had yeelded him succour against the Turk and King of Fraunce and that as wel at Spire as at Ratisbone he had assured thē of a firme peace albeit they could not accord of religion he answered that he neuer thought it praying them not to beleeue such reportes that he had made peace with the French it was all and truce with the Turke to make poore Germany take so much more breath to the end that during this truce they might make ready to ouerrunne the Turke when it should be extermined considering cheefely that they aboue all had so oftentimes lamented the misery of Germanie but that the councell helde to determine the matter of Religion as they had so often required And after that the Landgraue had replied that there could bee no good concluded for them considering the Pope their mortall enemy commaunded there and that euen the Monkes called againe there in doubt the articles accorded that they were promised a free and sure on in Germany together with the reformation of the Imperiall chamber so bitter against them and that hardlye they could send their Doctors much lesse come themselues to Ratisbone as the Emperour desired for the reasons which he alleadged he retyred himselfe into his Countrie and anon after their Deputies at Wormes hauing intelligence of this communication slunk away the 23. of Aprill the 8. whereof the fathers cōcluded vpon certain points but of the generall sorte and least controversied in the Church In summe the holye league was set downe in writing and after the 26. of Iune 1546. proclaimed by which the Pope consigned one hundred and 50000. Crowns at Venice ouer aboue one hundred thousand already giuen and furnished twelue thousand Italian Fantassins and 500. Horse paide for sixe monthes permitting vnto the Emperour to take for that yeare the moitie of the reuenew of the churchmen in Spaine and to sel as much of the yearelye rents of the Monasteries of Spaine as amounted vnto fiue hundred thousand Crownes so as he employed them onely in this war vpon condition that hee should morgage as much of his own demaine for which he should make assurance to the Popes good liking Vpon this Vlrich of Witemberg and the Citties of high Germanie were first in armes against the Emperour after the Princes ioyned themselues the Elector Palatine standing neutrall praied them to submit themselues and demaund pardon of the Emperour They the Emperour and Pope entreated the Zuizers to stand Neutrall The Protestants sought succours of the K. of Fraunce and England Now the Emperour sought to hide his game vntill his forces might be in readines namely the Italians which were to passe the Alpes where the passages are easie to be kept for there are but two to goe into Germany from Trent to Enipont To goe from thence into Bauiere where the Emperour was stoode at the parting of the Mountaines Ereberge a forte almost impregnable Shartelin a Protestant Captaine seased thereof and had done as much as Enipont had not the subiects of K. Ferdinand risen So the Italians came vnder Octauian Farneze Cardinall with many renowmed Captaines Cosme of Medices ioyned therto 200. Horse of ordinance Hercules Duke of Ferarra 100. vnder Alphonso his base brother the 20. of Iuly the Emperour bannished the Saxon and Landgraue by his letters Pattents in which hee declared the reason at large as periured persons rebels seditious guiltie of treason and disturbers of the publique tranquilitie whome he determined to chastice according to their deserte withall those that should take their parte And the 12. of August the Protestants sent him letters of defiance naming him but Charles pretending himselfe Emperour Vpon this the Emperour sent the first of August the copie of their banishment to Maurice who hauing talked very familiarly with the Emperour went home and thence to Prague towards Ferdinande Now for that he was neer kinseman to the bannished in sorte that he might pretend some right to their goods he commaunded him and his brother Augustus to sease thereon otherwse it should be to the first occupier in sorte that the right of consanguinitie and contracts should nothing at al serue his turne ioyned withall that hee should be comprehended vnder the same paine as hauing bene disobedient vnto him and commaunded the Nobilitie and people to fulfill his commandement The two armies being incamped before Ingolstat vpon the Danube the Protestantes were the stronger in number of horse and artillerie but the Emperour had more Fantassins Lords and Captaines of Marke In summe the Protestants lost there a faire occasion to haue broken the
Germanie Then the Embassadors of these two Princes being come in the beginning of December after hauing most humblye saluted the Emperour in the name of their masters spoake in this sorte You know most mercifull Emperour in what paine remaine at this day the most excellent Princes Electors Maurice and Brandebourge for the detaining in hold of the Landgraue a matter happening vnto them beyond all expectation such time as thorough a singular affection which they carried vnto you by reason whereof they were desirous to prepare vnto you the way to an easie and notable victorie they sought nought else then to ease you of a great charge by a long warre and restore the Countrie to peace and tranquillitie For which respect they haue so often bene suters vnto you as wel in their proper person as by their Embassadors that it might please you to regard them and release the prisoner your answere to their last Embassador was that you could not doe it vntill you saw the issue of the day prefixed to bee held besides that you made no other promise but that he should not alwaies remaine captiue if heâ—… cpt the accord But for so much as they being busied about other affaires haue not beene able at the same day to bee in person themselues they againe sollicited you at Ausbourge by their Councellors and reiterated letters In answere whereof you wrote backe vnto them the reasons of your conceiued displeasure against him pronouncing the Princes absolued of their obligation towards the children of the Captiue Wherefore they determyned to importune you in the like againe And had come themselues in person had it not beene for what you know they were both of them employed in the warre of Magdebourge besides that Brandebourg himselfe was sicke which was the cause that they haue giuen vs in charge to declare vnto you for the first point That when you did ordaine that the Landgraue should yeeld himselfe vnto you vpon condition they vnderstoode your intention by the B. of Arras which was that he should receiue and keepe such conditions as you had proposed and imparted vnto them If it stoode a matter needfull to perswade him to yeelde himselfe in such sort it was as needfull to declare vnto him that he should not bee kept as a Captiue nor worse dealt with then the treatie of peace contained The Princes then were his pledges which your Councellers also well enough vnderstoode And where as the Landgraue still insisted that they should declare vnto him some Articles of th'accord and required that for the dispatch thereof he might not be stayed aboue sixe daies it was graunted vnto him after that the matter had beene proposed to the B. of Arras As touching the rest of the points the Princes obtained therein more then they demaunded And admit that in this proceeding matters should not be a like vnderstoode of the one side and the other that the Landgraue being come was imprisoned against the faith promised yeat had the Princes neuer accused you for the same had they not the same time hauing bene graciously promised by your selfe gon themselues in person to Halle set him thence at such time as the Landgraue approaching sent vnto them to come vnto him to Numbourg For at that time they spoake with you signifiyng vnto you that they had perswaded him to stand to the conditions proposed and that he was not far off yea that if it pleased you they would goe and meete him In the meane time praying you that since hee yeelded himselfe vpon their faith and assurance he might be charged no farther to which you condiscended Now in the last dispatch there was no mention at all made either of prison or detention as your owne people the Bishoppe of Arras and of Selde can verie well witnesse For the first had all the charge in this matter and sometimes called the other to assist him for after that the conditions were accepted of and pardon demaunded the Princes stood fully assured that he shuld be incontinently released which they had reason to imagine for sundry causes First for that the Councellors neuer made once mention of retaining him which was a principall point in the treatie which the Landgraue perceiued and considered of aboue all Moreouer sundry thinges are contained therein which is not possible for any Prince captiue to accomplishe but for him onelye which is at libertie After that he had besought you pardon you remitted his fault and were contented to reuoke his banishment and giue him letters of reconciliation besides that you receaued pledge and assurance wherein it was set downe that if he did not perfourme the accord the people should deliuer him vp vnto you and the pledges should by force of armes constraine him to do his dutie All these things certes had serued to nothing and had beene meere superfluous if they had thought he should haue endured corporall punishment but they imagining nothing lesse considering especially that the Councellors neuer made menâ—ion thereof brought him vpon this assurance promising to deliuer him backe againe before his children and to endure like punishment that he should doe if any outrage were offred him Such was their intention which was since more confirmed when after great request the Duke of Alua inuited them to Supper at his house with the Landgraue It was not possible for them to conster in so ill a sence this summons and hospitalitye considering the custome and fashion of the Princes of Germany that he should goe into the D. of Alua his house as into a prison and that they should goe with him side by side and beare him company thither which had they neuer so little made doubt of who can imagine what they would haue done for considering how they are Princes of Germany and also Electors issued from right honourable familyes neuer would they haue bene a meanes that a Prince of an excellent house both their allie and freend should haue bene brought to such a banquet to fall into so great troubles and that they should leade him as captiue and they were no whit at all made priuie to the fact vntill after supper when the D. of Alua tolde him that hee must remaine in the Castle as in prison howsoeuer the matter was they went to worke with a good meaning as we sayde in the beginning and for so much as they haue plighted their faith you may well perceiue how hard and greeuous a matter it will be both to them and their children if after hauing bene often put in minde of their promises and after caution giuen the Landgraue he detayned prisoner you perceiue likewise most puissant Emperour you who deriue your race from the Germaines considering that the Children of the Captiue Prince pursue their right presse theÌ„ to redeliuer him vnto them according to the condition of the bond what becommeth them to doe according to the ancient custome of the Nobilitie of Germany for to preserue their
honour and good reputation and how they should be inexcusable towards all the rest of the Princes when the power of citing should be taken from them or the instrument of the bond in such forme as remaineth in their handes that if perchaunce the Landgraue who neither is prisoner by faith giuen nor by composition but by occasion before specified through the griefe and impatience of his so long restrainte haue sought some meanes to escape and that his men haue attempted ought against the Guardes the Princes beseech that it may turne no waies to their damage but for that by reson of the obligation they are in so extreme distres out of which you alone after the immortall God are able to deliuer them and that you are most certaine how they stand enwrapped in these inconueniences besides that you stand fully assured of their good affection loyalty and seruice for that in your aduersities they neither haue spared their goods nor bloud for your profit according to the example of their ancestors they beseech you as much as is possible that you will succour them in deliuering of the prisoner and that therein you weigh not so much the fact of the Landgraue as their persons who holde you in singular reuerence considering cheefelye that many of their families haue neither spared goods or liues for your ancestors and for the house of Austria and of Burgundie and if perchaunce you feare that when he shall be at libertie he will breake the accorde you doe very well when the matter shall proceede so farre but the Nobilitye and people of Hesse shall promise the contrary vnto you by oath and as the Princes haue made themselues pledges so if you desire any further assurance they haue often offred it and do at this present hauing giuen power vnto vs to doe as much with you as touching such conditions as they haue bene able to accomplish they doe not thinke that ought is lefte remaining and when you shall know the cause for which their fortes haue not beene so soone raised they make no doubt but that you will easily excuse and purge the children of the captiue if there rest any other thing they will in euery respect employ themselues to content you Therefore if they their Fathers or Grandfathers haue euer done seruice to your selfe to the Emperour Maximilian or any your ancestors or if you think that in time to come they may pleasure you in any occasion they beseech you affectionately that you suffer them to taste some fruite thereof and that you will cause them to see some effect of the hope and promise which you gaue them first at Halle secondly at Numbourg and thirdly at Ausbourg to the end in time to come they may haue the greater courage to honour you being able to glory in that the fidelity and seruice which they haue done vnto you hath bene by you acknowledged according to their deserte if they be refused you may well thinke excellent Emperour what inconueniences will ensue when they shall be enforced to appeare and approue their innocencye but they hope well that you will regarde their praiers which they will receiue for a singular benefite and as well they as the Landgraue with his children and alliance shall for euer endure all paine to acknowledge it And forsomuch as this matter toucheth so neerely their honour they haue solicited the rest of the Princes to entreate with them whose Embassadours you see heere present to the end that what themselues haue not bene able to obtaine at your hands vntill this present either by praiers messages or letters these here may obtaine by their credit and fauour beseeching you to take it in this parte After that they had thus spoken they presented vnto him the letters of Ferdinand K. of Romanes of Albert D. of Bauieres of the Bretheren of Lunebourg written in the behalfe of the Landgraue those Princes which made request by their Embassadours were the Elector Frederic Palatine Wolfang de deux pontz Iohn Marquesse of Brandebourg Henry and Iohn Albert D. of Megelbourg Ernest Marquesse of Bade and Christophre D. of Witemberg whose Deputies after hauing shewed their commission spake in this manner The Electors Maurice and Brandebourg finding themselues greatly troubled for the imprisonment of the Landgraue and being minded to make request vnto you for him most mercifull Emperour haue required our Princes to ioyne with them in this their request to the end it might be of greater weight and efficacie on their behalfe which they could not deny vnto them in regarde of that dutie of alliance freendship and coniunction which is betweene them Considering then that the matter standeth on such tearmes as the Embassadours haue at length fully declared and that if the captiue be restrained any long time it may turne to the damage and blame of those which haue pauned their faith the Princes which haue sent vs hither doe beseech you and carefully warne you to weigh all these things for they holde themselues greatlye interessed if the honour dignitie and renowne of them be not countergarded a matter likelye to ensue if the Landgraue be not released They require then most humblye that these their requests may somewhat preuaile with you especially considering that hee hath already acknowledged his fault and besought pardon on both his knees that it is now a long time he hath lien by it and aboue all in regarde that the extreame necessitie of the two Electors demaundeth it who are fallen into this inconuenience for their proceeding herein in good faith and their willingnes to doe you seruice that if peraduenture there may haue bene some fault committed or that some matters haue not bene so well vnderstoode yet it is a matter honest and proper to your mercy to prefer equitie before the rigour of law and not so much to regarde him which is captiue as the ineuitable necessitie of the Electors and to deale gently and liberally with them according to the example of your ancestors who haue alwaies bene carefull to preserue the honour of the Princes of the Empire that will turne to your great honour towards all men and them especially And it will breed courage in them to remaine vnto you singularly faithfull frends and affectionate seruants and to employ themselues in all thinges for the loue of you The King of Denmarke in like sorte had sent his owne Embassadour who made the like request The Emperour made answere certaine daies after that the matter was of importance and required ripe deliberation and for so much as he was aduertised that Maurice purposed to make his repaire very shortlye vnto him for other matters of consequence in sorte as hauing written vnto him he attended him dayly hee would defer it vntill his comming hoping that the matter might then be entreated of most commodiously in his presence for their partes they might returne again to their Princes and tell them as from him that he would well carry
to be the freest of all other was gouerned by strangers how the authoritye of the Princes Electors was from day to daye diminished how many thinges were done without euer once demaunding their aduice how sundrye appertinances were dismembred and cleane aliened from the Empire and the meanes sought how their right might be vtterly taken away from the chusing of the Emperour how in the imperiall daies for the most part they left behinde the opinions of the Electors how the particular assemblies of the Electors remained there I know not with what feare how their iurisdiction diminished for so much as contrarye to the ancient custome the Chamber receiued the griefes and complaints of those which were the appellants of that which they had ordained the differents of the estates of the Empire were therby increased and could not be pacified vntil both partes were greatly interessed how it grew to too great an expence and trouble but to haue audience in the Emperours Court for that causes could not ordinarily be throughlye vnderstoode for want of well vnderstanding the language how not onely great charge grewe thereof but much time there spent without any profit how at the imperiall dayes there was small amitye for if any one proposed ought for the benefite of the cōmon wealth it was strait construed in the worst part how Germany drew it selfe clean dry through these so often and long assemblies and in the meane time many things went to racke at home and yet for all that the publicke estate waxed not better but worse and stil enwrapped in more miseries how it was forbidden by a rigorous Edict that none shuld be entertained in wages by strangers how such as are reconciled are bound not to carrie armes against any of the Emperours prouinces and by that means are seperate from the Empire how those which in the warre of Smalcade serued but their owne Lords were condemned in great fines and how they leuied monie in like sorte of those which during the saide warre continually remained in the amitye of the Emperour yea vpon paine of seeing their goods solde before their eyes except they made a quick dispatch and because their Deputies accorded together incontinently proclamation was made that they should departe from the Court vpon paine of death how often they had brought strangers men at armes into Germany and after the last watre dispersed them throughout the prouinces where they committed a thousand villanies and disorders and bragging how they had tamed Germany and boasted that she should be annexed to the Emperours patrimony and how in the cheefe and principall Citties should be erected fortes and bulwarkes to bridle them in how as it were in mockery they carried out of Germany to strange nations great quantity of peeces of artillerie and furniture of warre how some for extreme couetousnes of vaine glorye haue engraued in such peeces as they caused to bee newe cast the armes of the Princes of Germanye as who would say that they had wonne them from them how they had imprinted little bookes yea with priuiledge of the Emperour to the great dishonour of Germany as if she had bene vtterly tamed and brought into bondage how at publique assemblies some were receaued to the number of the Princes and estates vnder the name of the Emperours prouinces which was craftily done to the end that the number being encreased they might gain their wils by multitude of voyces how foure yeares passed they had erected a Parlament of the Chamber and how lawes were priuatelye made by some and since published not without the great damage of a number and especially of those of the religion of Ausbourg for they gaue vnto them no place at all in this assemblye it is then most necessary said he that the lawes should be examined at the very first assembly Maurice proposed these things and sundry other more requiring to haue them amended considering how they touched the Empire and that the Empire might be restored to her antient brightnes and that it might not be lawfull for other to scoffe them or despise them the Commissioners after hauing consulted together iudged that these demaunds contained nothing in them but great equitie and yet to the ende the Emperours honour might be preserued and that himselfe might the rather be perswaded thereunto they were of opinion that many matters which concerned the reformation of the publique estate might very well be reserued to an imperiall day There was also Du Fresne the French Embassadour who made his oration in full audience of all the Princes the 13. of Iune saying That in olde time and long before euer the name of French was heard of among men there had bene so great a conformitie of life betweene the Gaulois and the Almans that at other times they were called by the Latins Germanes as brethren to the Gaulois but after that the French had seated themselues in Gaul the two nations were so vnited together that it was one selfe same Empire vnder the same Prince and the same lawes Afterwards as in change of time the empire was transferred to Germany so did the Saxons and other Emperours alwaies entertaine amitie with the French for because they were descended from the Kings of Fraunce in such sorte as Philip Augustus caused to be engraued in letters of golde that ancient alliance which was as it were cleane abolished thorough antiquitie and to be set vp in the most holye place and not without cause for whilest that this coniunction endured the common welth of both the people flourished and the force of Germany was so great as it gaue lawes not onely to the Hungarians Bohemians Pollakes Danes but also to the very Italians and the Kings of Fraunce in like sorte curious to amplifie Religion did often beare armes against Sarazins Turkes and other enemies of Christendome through Asia Affrica and Europe in atchiuing of most glorious victories Since that we are come in a more vnhappie age when as some Emperours as it were engraffed in and not of the naturall stocke of Germanes and vnworthye of their estate haue cleane abandoned this amitie of the Kings of Fraunce whereupon there ensued great misfortunes in the Common wealth But this soare was healed by the grace of God by meanes of the noble families of the Princes of Luxembourg out of which some Emperours descended men of high renowne and great freendes to the Kings of Fraunce for the Father of Charles the fourth died in fighting for the King of Fraunce The Princes of Austria haue bene in like sorte affected among whome Albert the first could not possibly be induced by any of the Popes promises or threats to make warre against Fraunce which hee recited to the end it might be vnderstoode how ill some of the familiars and and seruants to the most puissant emperour Charles the fifth order the common wealth not only seeking by all their trauell to disioyne these two most excellent Nations the one from the other
hee was not ignorant of permitted not that one should disfurnish a place of guarde chiefely of such importance of Metz of victuals and prouisions whereof it should be furnished to distribute them to a Campe which might be master of the field and follow any other way or Country as towards Sallines a most fertile Countrie wherin he should not onely finde all commodities but in eating and consuming thereof he should the more disaduantage the enemye in not being able to recouer the like there At which seeming to content himselfe he demanded some guide which knew the Country and might conduct him and lead him thither whereto was ordained by the Duke of Guise and expressely sent from Metz one Gaspard de Hus a natiue Gentleman of Metz notwithstanding in very short space he changed his minde for insteed of taking the waye towardes Sallines hee came the more neerer within one legue to Metz and encamped in a place called Aey where he made some stay vsing all the scales which he could imagine for vnder colour to gaine the good grace of the Emperour by some remarqueable seruice entising the Duke of Guise to giue him some trauerses or to trouble him by some disorder had not the Prudence of that Prince bene so great as to foresee and remedy the same Then hauing by diuers remoues trauersed all that Countrie and being turned towards Treues to fetche there a number of Souldiers which he had left there he came downe to Pont Camouson neuer hauing for al that resolued any thing with the B. of Bayonne either of his own appointment or pay of his people albeit that the King had againe sent back Lonsac vnto him for the very same cause notwithstanding he could conclude vpon nothing with him training alwaies the effect in diuersitie of demaundes coloured with faire wordes whereon it was a very vneasie matter to laye any foundation and therefore they entred into the greater suspition of him so as the first mistrust began to encrease more then before wherefore with as much speed as might be the King who hauing knowne the Emperours intents and preparatiues had alreadye caused all his Garrisons bandes and arriere bandes and other new companies to repaire vnto Champagne made his Campe to assemble at S. Michel a little towne of Lorraine vpon the riuer of Meuse sixe leagues on the side of Pont Camouson as farre from Verdun and ten long ones from Metz whether likewise repaired the Constable the D. of Neuers the Earle of Anguien the Prince of Conde the Earle of Aumale the Vice-count of Rohan the Marshall S. Andre Chastillon generall of the French Fanterie the Earle of Villars Bourdillon then ordained Marshall of the Campe the Earle Reingraue and Reiroc with their Regimentes of Lansquenets and sundrye other great Lords and Captains As touching the Imperiall armie it was altogether readie and grew great by view of the eye hauing so farre already marched as being arriued at Deuxponts it extended it selfe throughout all the Countrie of Vaulges in sorte that it was very requisite to lodge and cause to enter into Metz all such succours as well of men of artillerie and other munition as had beene determined to be sent thether and therefore the most commodiously that hee was able the Constable sent from Saint Michael the companies of horse and foote which were ordained to this purpose vnder the charge and conduct of Horace Farneze Duke of Castres carrying with him a number of pioners and store of pouder for the better strengthning of the towne though not in so great quantitie for all that as the Constable could haue wished and as hee had done without the feare he had of the Marquesse who was alwayes at Pont Camouson his men being ouer the plaine Country round about giuen to all insolencies of warre pilling leauing not ought but what they made no account of or could not carrie or beare away The which was found very strange and greatly augmented the distrust which might be had of him Notwithstanding to bring him to some reason they sent vnto him the Duke of Aumalle de Chastillon and the Earle of Reingraue to praye him to cause his people to leaue of their wasting and spoiling of the Countrie and finally to resolue with him the last accord of his appointment and paye of men Then they soone inough discouered what had bin before conceiued of him but as it were in a cloud rendering so ambiguous haughtie an answere with a spitefull and malecontent iesture that he demanded almost the moitie of a kings ransome for appointment And as touching the order of his mens liuing hee shewed that he had alreadie setled his affaires answering in the end with an assured resolution that he was a friend to the king and an allie to the house of Lorrain but hee meant that his souldiers should haue wherewithall to liue and take it where they could find it in case of refusall he was resolued what he had to do and whether to retire himselfe yea so far as refusing to receiue such monie as the Constable had sent vnto him Whereby they well perceiued how he was reconciled to the Emperor by the practise of some Who perceiuing that he was out of his reach for doing him any harme and that he had himselfe great need of people pardoned him all his faults and forbad that any should make his processe in respect of the war passed ratified the contracts made with the B. of Bamberg and Wicibourg released him of going to the war in Hungary yea so farre as to agree with him the more he pardoned the Earles of Itigen both father and son Albert de Mansfeld and his children Now the Emperor lying sicke of his gouts and as well for this cause as for the importunitie of the time his armie soiourning in the countye of Vaulges with as great dilligence as was possible they placed againe the French army at S. Michel strengthned it as well with the French Fanterie Germans Zuizers to the number neere hand of 30000. footmen and betweene seuen and eight thousand horse wherefore the French began to hope better than euer so as the aduise of some was to charge vpon the Marques whilest that the greater armie of the enemie was so far of the meanes were the gallantnes of the French armie the discontentment of the Marquesses people not able besides to make anie retrait into anie place wherein they should not be pursued as enemies for their insolencies passed present to come Other preuailed in councell which perswaded that it would be better to goe more couertly to worke and vnderhand to withdraw the better part of his captains souldiers by meanes of such Germanes as were alreadie come to the kings seruice with assurance of redie paie good intertainment to come Which was so wel handled that with a great mutiny hapned between themselues the colonell Reif-berg with his regiment accepted from thence forward
you to thinke what good husbandrie there was made The Comissarie was founde there hidde in the bedstrawe and wyth these marchants was carryed prisoner to Thoul the victuals and prouisions dispearsed and spoyled as much as they coulde They did as much at Espinau a castle scituate vpon Mozelle and Rimiremont where great violence was offered to the Abbesse and Ladies especially by the Italians which were newly come from the Emperous campe to the Kings seruice The Duke of Neuers had sent Chastellus Lieutenant of Bordillons companie towardes Metz with like number of Cauallerie to learne out and make a certaine report of the truth of this retrait Who passing by the Pont Camouson founde that the Count of Aiguemont with his regiment of Cauallerie was departed thence where was onely remayning a great number of miserable sicke creatures From whence he passed as farre as Metz where hee found that the Dukes of Alua and Brabanson with the greatest part of the imperiall armie were dislodged in straunge disorder departing in the night with two fires onely for signall the most secretly that they could without anie noise trumpets fifes and drums sleeping the tents lefte behind and great quantitie of all sorts of harnesse and weapons pipes full of cannon pouder with an infinite deale of moueables and stuffe and vnder the ground a great part of theyr artillerie remaining for hostages an incredible multitude of sicke persons towards whom the Duke of Guise and the rest of the chiefe euen to the simplest French souldiers vsed most great charitie furnishing them with all necessaries and such releefe as poore sick strangers had need of Vpon the tayle charged the Vidasme of Charstres so as hauing defeated a companie of light horse and caused a great deale of theyr pouder which hee had taken awaie in theyr sight to be burned hee returned wyth more prisoners than he was willing wythout the losse of anie one of his owne The Marques Albert remayned the last to serue for helpe and arreregard not without great paine and hazard thorough the continuall alarums which daie and night hee receyued Besides that he prayed the Duke of Neuers to hasten him to go so as the third of Ianuarie he departed from Thoul with his men at armes and cauallerie and three Ensignes of fanterie accompanied with Bordillon and sundrie other Gentlemen and Captaines After he went to dine at Pont Camouson where the rest of that daie he tarryed to heare newes of the Marshall of Saint Andre who was gone the lower waie hauing in lyke sort sent Mouie to the Duke of Guise praying him to aduertise him of the resolution of that affayre whose aunswere hee attended But Chastellus being returned and by him assured of the whole especially how the Marques sought all meanes to saue himselfe and retire hee went forwards towardes Metz with two hundred horse The rest of that daie the Princes tooke great pleasure to see the braue sallies and skirmishes of theyr souldiers Vpon the Marques his Germanes whom they went to seeke out in their owne forte and giue them thrusts of pikes and harquebuze shot euen within theyr tents to prouoke them to come out into the plaine to fight which they woulde not doo but by constraint keeping still close together and vnited wythout breaking or seuering themselues In this estate and paine were they constrained to tarrie from morning vntill night not once daring to inlarge themselues so much as to seeke out victuals For as soone as they were found in anie small number by and by by the Marangetz and Fouillardz villaines of the Countrie they had theyr throates cut and were defeated Wherewith being the more annoyed they ought rather to come out as the French desired considering that they coulde not inforce them but with greate losse Therefore to the end they might the more vexe them the Duke caused foure meane Culuerines to bee placed in a lyttle Ilande aboue Pont au Mores which shot euen within them In summe they dyd so sore annoye them as two dayes after the Marques hauing lost the better parte of his men departed thence in a farre lesse number than hee came with taking his waie towards Treuues Hee was a little followed after and they made a good market wyth his people being combatted inough wyth colde famine and other miseries But the French moued with pittie made no account thereof but in stead of tormenting them they opened vnto them the passage and suffered the members to go scotfree wishing onely that they might haue gotten the head to haue paid for all The Duke of Guise aduertised the King by Randan of all the successe of his siege who after hauing yeelded thankes vnto God for so good an issue commaunded that they should make publyke and general processions throughout his Realme to praise and thanke God of so great and especiall a grace for all France The Duke of Guise dyd the lyke at Metz wyth a generall procession where he himselfe was present with all humilitie and deuotion as also dyd the rest of the Princes and Lordes which accompanyed him to wit the Princes of D'anguien de Conde Montpensier la Roche Suryon de Nemours Horace Farneze Pierre Strossie le Vidasme de Chartres Montmorencie D'anuille de Gonor gouernour of Metz De la Brosse Lieutenant of the Duke of Lorraines companie and De la Rochefoucaut the Vizecount of Turaine and De Martiques D'elangues Entragues De Biron and Saint Remy and generally all the Captaines Gentlemen and souldyers which remayned after the siege Afterwardes hauing ordered the garrison which should remaine there within and disposed of all the rest of the affaires the musters being taken as wel of the men at armes as the fanterie he gaue leaue to all to go repose and refresh themselues in their owne houses and he himselfe went to the Court leauing De Gonnor to command in his place During the time that the Emperour patiently carryed the misfortune happened vnto him vnder a hope of a more fauourable to come and as hee retired to the Low Countries hee excused himselfe towardes the Princes and Cities of the Empire of so pittifull successe laying it vpon the slacknes of theyr forces and meanes For which cause sayde hee hee was inforced to set vpon that place in the dead of winter The King of France triumphed ouer his miseries and increasing them by his Letters and Embassages to all Christian Princes the more to diminish the authoritie and credite of his enemie whose power hee sayde was altogether broken by the issue of so miserable a siege passed the most parte of the times for reuenge of so great raines and sicknes as had beene indured by the continuance of the warres passed in ease and reioycings which hee tooke in feastings tiltings turney and other royall pleasures among which the marriage made at Paris wyth rare magnificence betweene Horace Farneze Duke of Castres and the Ladie Diana his natural daughter was most famous But
which notwithstanding came not to passe and so certaine dayes passed ouer that the King seeing all his forces readye albeit that his enemye made semblaunce of nought els then busied in the consummation of his sonnes marriage determined to aduaunce forward and by the same place that he was threatned to be assayled to assaye him and enter within his Countryes To this end he assembled his forces and deuided them into three to wit in Pickardy about Saint Quintin vnder the Prince of La Roche Sur-yon in the Valley of Laon towards Crecy vnder the Constable and at Mesieres vnder the Duke of Niuernois Vnder the Prince of La Roche Sur-yon might be nine or ten thousand footmen the most parte Picardes and the rest of the olde Ensignes with three hundred men at armes and fiue or sixe hundred horse and Harquebuziers on horseback Vnder the Constable were fiue and twentye Ensignes of French fanterie new and olde two Regiments of Germanes of the Count Reingraue and Reifberg and fiue and twenty Ensignes of Zuizers with foure hundred men at armes and neere eighteene hundred or two thousand as wel light horse as Harquebuziers on horseback whereof the Duke D' Aumale was Generall a little before come out of prison and almost as many nobles in the Rireband vnder La Iaille their General there were also some companies of English and Scottish Cauallerye The D. of Niuernois had twentye olde Ensignes of French Fanterie drawne from the garrisons of Metz Verdun Thoul d'Anuille Yuoy and Montmedy comprehending therein foure English and Scottish Ensignes in place of which other new were put in two Regiments of the Count Rokendolphe and of the Baron of Frontenay three hundred men at armes neere eight hundred light horse and Harquebuziers on horseback whereof the Prince of Conde was generall and two hundred pistoliers Germanes The army then being thus deuided in three diuers places to the end to holde the enemy in doubt of what they had deliberated to execute and on which side they wold surprise him the French entred by three seueral places into his Country The Prince of La Roche Sur-yon hauing passed the riuer of Somme gaue within Artois with a most cruel and furious a beginning burning and ruining all the Countrye alongst as hee passed The Constable hauing taken his waye towardes Mauber Fontaine the 23. of Iune fained as though hee would addresse himselfe towards Auanes the common brute being that hee went to besiege it but as soone as the Ensignes of France were discouered by those of the plaine Countrie they abandoned Villages boroughs Castles and other places constrained for their surety to retire within the Ardennes with the better parte of their moueables and Cattell esteeming themselues considering the places vnaccessible thorough the difficultie of being able to bring artillerye exempt and out of all perilles amidst the thickest of those woods by reason whereof they were able the more easilye to ruyne the Village and Castle of Cimetz the Castles of Trelon Glaion Commins and other little fortes neere hand Besides their retreate serued them to very small purpose for the Duke of Neuers being determined to tame and bring vnder his obedience this nation smallye frequented through the difficulty of the Ardennes dislodging from Mesieres encamped his armye at the entrance of the Ardennes in a Valley rough and vnpleasant enough at the end of which there is a little Village called Vieil-meseuil a name very aptlye giuen for that it was rather composed of olde ruynes of manors then of houses of habitation And that night hee dispatched De Marets a Gentleman of Niuernois one of the most ancient and experienced men at armes of his company together with his Trumpetter to summon the Castle of Orcimond distant sixe great leagues thence to whom the gouernour called Colas Lois Lieutenant to Bayson a Gentleman of Liege who a little before nothing mistrusting their comming was departed thence answered that hee would neuer yeelde except he saw the Cannon not for that hee esteemed the Castle tenable but by reason of the height of the Rocke vpon which it was scituate which was almost vnaccessible on two sides notwithstanding they planted the artillery in a little plaine towards the wood for the batterie the place appertained to Barlemont Generall of the Emperours finances This answere being heard the Prince determined to goe somewhat neerer to viewe them and to lodge his armye one league from the Castle if the difficultie of the places had not stayed him halfe way in some places so hard and stonye that it was impossible for either men or horse to stand sure and besides so straite that they were enforced to march single by one and one and in some so steepe and painefull that their breath failed them in climing and else where the descents were so steepe that they were faine to creepe downe pace by pace and to graspe and holde fast except their head should firste tumble downe to their assured death so as the horses serued to very small vse for drawing of the artillerie the force of mens armes being there much more needefull for the better and more sure managing and conducting thereof true it is that throughout there was so good order kept as the enemies could hardly giue any impediment therevnto for that all the waies were furnished with Harquebuziers euery ten pace for the suretye of the whole trayne this night being the 29. of Iune the Prince encamped in another Valley called the Valley of Suranda neere vnto a rocke where was wont to be the forte of Linchant at this day for the most parte ruined vnder which and all alongst this valley runneth a riuer or rather a swifte streame called Semois which runneth towards Bouillon and falleth into La Meuse vnderneath Chasteau Regnaut from this place hee sent Iamets with a Regiment of French Fanterie and artillerye to batter the Castle of Orcimont which as soone as it was saluted with two Cannon shot they within being altogither dismaied without concluding in any other sorte of yeelding neuer set themselues to any defence but the Cheefe secretly shut vp all the keyes and by a secret posterne which opened into this valley between the rocks saued himselfe with 12. of his most fauoured Souldiers leauing the rest well astonished and doubtfull of the euent who notwithstanding shortlye after yeelded themselues to the mercy of the Prince whose prisonners they were when the Captains of the rest of the fortes all along these wayes had receiued aduertisement that for certaine the Prince had trained his artillerye which before they would neuer haue beleeued without further endeuouring how to annoy his passage or to stoppe and hinder his wayes with great Logges and trees felde downe as they are wont cleane abandoning their fortes munitions and all places whether they were wonte to retyre themselues they fledde of all handes so as being arryued at Louettela grande after their departure from the Valley
thousand footmen and fiue hundred chosen horse manie Sienois following him whose going foorth was no lesse concealed from the Imperials then their entrance in Afterwardes hauing giuen Moriane a place appertaining to the Luguois for rendeuons vnto his armie which was to come out of Lombardie he ouerranne diuers places of the Flourentines He tooke Montalcin and Montcarles which he fortefied to the great astonishment of the Duke of Flourence who fearing to loose his owne while hee sought for an others caused the Marquesse to retire from the siege to defend the Countrie of Flourence because that Strossi his forces were ioyned vnto him Then the Marquesse finding him selfe not to bee strong enough put himselfe within Pescia there to attende the succours which Camille Colone and Iohn de Lunes were to bring vnto him Strossi was determined to charge him vppon the suddaine but hee retyred to Seraual and Pistoye with such disorder as it gaue occasion to manie to wish that there had beene a better iudgement in Strossi then hee had so faire meanes of hot pursuite beeing offered vnto him whereby hee might cleane haue taken awaie such an enemie out of Tuscane but Strossi saide hee did it to gratifie the souldiers which were wearie and tyred with the long march which they had made In the ende the Imperial armie growing stronger and the succours out of France not being come vnto him hee was faine to quitte the fielde and retyre himselfe into Siene In the meane time Leon the Brother of Pierre Strossi tooke certayne shippes of Genoway laden with Corne into which hauing put a number of souldiers hee ouerranne the coast of Tuscane and scouring the portes alongst the Fourentine Seas after manie harmes which hee had made them to endure he came and Ankered before Scarlin a small Towne and without renowne which while hee was viewing for the skaling of it hee dyed of an Harquebuse shot which perced his heade Whereuppon his Brother beeing greatlie passioned caused the siege to bee continued whether the succours of Fraunce came vnto him beeing conducted by Monluc Then hauing vnited together his forces hee made vp his armye of sixe thousand Italians two thousand Gascons as manye Zuizers two thousand fiue hundred Almanes and one thousande horse as well light as of the Ordinance with which leauing Monluc in Siene hee beesieged and battered Ciuitelle a little Towne of the Flowrentines which the Marquesse went to defende esteeming it a place of consequence in a fertile soyle and seruing as a porte and Bulwarke to the Dukes Countries Hee was there so secretelye and with such speede as hee defeated and astonyed manye of the Kinges parte but Strossi repulsed him in such a sorte as besides a great number of them were taken and the rest of them were slaine the garde pryor of Lomberdie and Marie de Saint Flour and sundry other of the Marquesse side remained there captiues Strossi in the meane time beeing enforced to discampe seeing that there was no possibilitye of carrying awaye the place by reason of the Marquesse his neighbourhoode addressed himselfe to Foyanbelle a strong and rich place which Carlot Vrsin helde who sent the Marquisse worde that hee was able to defend it but three dayes without succours But the assaulte was such vppon the verye first daye as Carlot and all his souldiours were put to the edge of the sworde and the place to fire and bloode Heereupon the Marquisse beeing approched the two armies passed certaine dayes in continualle skirmishes fauourable sometime to the one and sometimes to the other partie And for that the French Artillerie greatlie annoyed the Imperials who daye by day yeelded themselues vnto Strossi the rest were retained by offer of a larger pay especially the King partie if they woulde retire which some did and had beene followed by sundry other had not Strossi playde a Counter knacke in presenting more pay and fauour then the Marquisse But drawing towardes Montpulcian a number of Italians abandoned him which greatly encouraged the Marquisse to charge him in this aduantage which the better to auoide Strossi purposing to retire himselfe by the mountaines sent his Artillerie before for feare of loosing of it thinking thorough the fauour of the mountaines and ryuers bordering about to retarde the pursuite of the Marquisse Who notwithstanding pressed him so neere as hauing stayed him betweene Martian Lusignen and Foyan Royall Citties well beaten with the Artillerie and the Captaine Bighet an Italian carrying Strossi his Colonell being followed by manye others Strossi was in the ende constrained to turne his backe And albeit that the Gascons and Zuizers stoode well vnto it yet their rashnesse in going out of their forte to set vpon the Spanniards and Flourentines was no lesse damageable then the cowardlinesse of those which ranne awaie for the Cauallerie turning head against them they were all cut in peeces The Colonels of the Zuizers and Almanes Clermont Monbazon the Captaines Blaise Iean de Ville François de Record Agapite Tody and other to the number of three thousand and more then fiue hundred prisonners remained there the second daye of August 1554. The reporte whereof was brought vnto the Kinge before Renti to abate the ioye of his so fauourable a reencounter against the Emperour beeing himselfe in person thorough the sorrowfull newes of so pittiefull a defeate Manye which were hurt and sundrye other retyred themselues to Sienne there to attend such euent as the Imperialles shoulde bring thether Strossi and Aurele Fregose abandoning Foyan gayned Montalcin whether Bighet beeing come and the Earle of Elfe who had cowardly yeelded vp Lusignen a strong place and furnished withall necessaries they both had theyr heads stroken off The Marquisse in the meane time hauing taken almost all the little places about Siene encamped beefore the cheefe Cittie resolued as hee assured the Emperour by his letters not to depart thence before it shoulde bee yeelded during which siege the Turkes came into Corse to the succour of the French especiallye at the siege of Caluy and Boniface Afterwardes they returned pilling all the coast of Italie to besiege Piombin and and the Ile of Elbe which appertained to the Duke of Flourence Passing on further they dyd infinite mischeefes in the kingdome of Naples Sicilie and Calabria from whence they returned riche into Constantinople without anye mannes seeking to hinder them so great was the reciprocall hatred beetweene these Christian Princes that they choose rather to ruyne themselues then agreeing them altogether to make warre to the profite and honour of all Christendome Now albeit that the endeuours of the Marquisse and the solicitations of the Flourentine by letters together with scarcitie of victuals were very great occasions to mooue the Towne to yeelde yet Monluc resolued vppon the pointe of honour and the Sienois for the defence of theyr libertie ceased not for all that to make verie faire salies vpon the Imperiall campe An occasion that they battered it the more
written vnto the King woulde be necessarie for him he prepared himselfe to all euents The Duke notwithstanding making shew as though he had ment for Cazal tooke Farcinet du Pau a smal Castle three miles from thence where thinking to bring all vnder his subiection in a few monethes thorough the astonishment of a crueltie neuer before practised among such as vntill then had made faire warre one vppon another he caused the Captaine to be hanged the French to be put into the Galleies and the Italians to be cut in peeces Afterwards the Capitane La Trinite commaunding at Valle Feniere went out by his commaundement with three hundred horse and fower hundred footmen to discouer but being charged by certaine French Cauallerie hee was constrained to leaue behinde him a good part of his companie to the butcherie to retire himselfe into Ast and Alexandria An occasion that the D. hauing attempted all the places where he might make the first proofe of his fresh armie resolued whilst his forces remained yet entire and that he had time and leasure no succours being yet come out of Fraunce to victuall Vulpian with his prouisions already which hee within two daies thrust into the place about the end of Iuly Afterwardes he besieged Saint Iaco whereof hee supposed the fortification to be vnperfect and the rather for that it was new woulde hardly endure the Cannon But finding it in other case then hee thought for vnder Boniuet Colonel of the French fanterie and Ludouic de Birague accompanied with two thousand French and two Ensignes of the regiment of compt Roquendolfe Almene two of Italians and one hundred light horse of Albanoie vnder Theodore Beddaine albeit that by the space of three weekes together hee had beaten to the ground a great parte of their fortifications without any assault he well knew in the ende by the salies and resolute reencounters of the besieged that it was no easie matter to enforce them Iointe the comming of the Dukes D'Aumalle D'Anguyen De Conde De Neuers De Nemours Vidasme de Chartres Gonor and other followed with ten thousand men which the King had sent to reskew the place animate his partakers and coole the enemies of his Maiestie The gnerall whereof abating his courrage in the verye eye of the French who vnited altogether put them selues into the fielde to giue him battell quitted Saint Iaco leauing the great master of the artillerie and well fifteene hundred men dead there at the siege to drawe to Versel taking notwithstanding certaine Castles which hee ruined except Gabiano and Bourg Saint Martine fower miles from Cazal This departure beeing knowne by the Duke D' Aumalle reiecting their aduise which councelled him to follow the enemie fering the inconueniences which had at other times fallen out to such as too violently pursued their fortune ioynte that the whole action was left to his discretion he resolued to besiege Vulpian to deliuer the countrie of the feare of this noysome garrison So vppon the ende of August two and twentie thousand as well French as Almanes Zuizers and Italians eight hundred men at armes and twelue hundred light horse were encamped about it closing it so straightly in as Emmanuel de La Lune sent thither by the Duke of Alua to make fiue hundred harquebusiers on horse backe Spanish and Italians to enter in had no sooner passed the Pau but hee was surprised and defeated by La Roche-Pozay of Poiton who tarried close for him suffering verye fewe of them to enter into the succour of the besieged But the place beeing battered without ceasing very furiously for the space of fower and twentye dayes towardes the Mille with fower greate Cannons vnder the assuraunce of the Suizers and with fiue other betweene the Towne and the Castle by the French campe and then on the side of the great bulwarke towards the Castle with fower other it was in such sorte shaken as the mines trayned vnder the great bulwarke which flanquered the towne and the Castle being ready and opening at the very instant of the assault caused the innermost part of the bulwarke to flie vp where there was so large an ouerture made as the Spanniards and the French hauing long time in throng bickered together shaddowed with such a darksomnes but in the end cleared as perceiuing the besieged to be at the mercie of the assailants they quitted all the bulwarke except such as yeelded themselues But the rest not able to enter into the Castle fearing least to saue some the place and rest of the garrison might be lost were for the most part cut in peeces Among which was a Nephew of the Duke of Aluaes But Sigesmond Gonzague and the Capitane Lazare Lieutenant of the garde to the Duke of Alua and sundrie other remained prisoners The other breach was better defēded for that hauing passed the vp diche in water to the gerdle they were faine to clyme and grapple vp with ladders and armors to heauie to carrie Albeit that the Prince of Anguyen and of Conde were there present for example to the rest of the youth So as many French men remained there dead and the Earle of Creance so sore hurt as hee could not escape But as soone as the generall had caused fower Cannons to bee placed vpon the rest of the bulwarke to batter the hinderpart of the breach and play alongst the streetes of the towne the required parlie was accorded and afterwardes concluded that they should depart in men of warre Ensignes displayed drummes stroken vp goods saued and safely conducted as far as the riuer of Drie neere vnto Train al the munition remaining in the place fower twenty howers after the Capitane of the Castle yeelded vpō the same conditions sauing that it was reserued vnto him for his more honour and iustification to his generall that they shoulde shoote fiftie Cannon shot against the Castle At this accord and yeelding of the place the Marshall was present about the ende of September who for many occasions refused to bee at the beginning of the siege Afterwardes the place being as soone dismembred and vnfurnished of all her fortifications of a faire towne of warre there was made a countrie borrough This done the armie coasting all alongst the strong places which the Imperials held vppon the waie of Pont d'esture which they thought best to take before the duke should haue finished his fortifications being determined therby to make head to those of Cazal and stop the way to the French from Cazal to Turin skirmished with such as sailed forth of Trin and Crescentin Afterwards the encamped at Velleneusne neere Cazal where knowing that the garrison of Pont d'esture was lodged euen to the skirts of it to wearie the French and in the meane time prouide for the rest of the places Automne being already farre entred and the discommoditie of winter they turned to Montcaluo which lying close by Pont d'Esture suspected nought The which being taken
brideled Pont d'Esture and the rest of the places vpon the Pan as farre as the plaine of the Marquissat of Montferrat spreading ouer besides all the bounds of Cazal Therefore the Cauallerie entertaining a hot reprisall of skirmish vpon such as salied out of Pont d'Esture to couer the dismarch of the fanterie and artillerie which they carried for the batterie of Montcaluo as soone surprised as scaled thorough so sodaine arriuall it caused the Imperials to thinke that they had great intelligences therein And immediately the approches beeing made with the furie of the Cannon aboue twentie dayes together vppon the great portall of the Castle which defended one of the flankers to breake the defences and disarme it it was no sooner endammaged the mine hauing opened the bulwarke which made the other flancke but they tooke it to composition goods saued the Ensigne displaied with one peece of artillery three bullets and three shot of powder but all the artillery which was found there dismounted remained The 17. of October the principallest of them being retired to Pont d'esture were hanged for yeelding vp so slightly without any assault the army still remaining about vntill the place was fully repaired Afterwards the winter approching the two armies were dispersed into garrisons who did no great matter worthy to be marked afterwards except it were a running at the tilte with sharp lances between foure French men to wit the D. of Nemours De Classe eldest sonne of Vasse the Captaine Manes Rochepozay his Lieutenant and the Captaine Moucha Ensigne to Pinars against the Marquesse of Pescaire the Marquesse of Malespine Dom Albe a Spanish Captaine and the Earle Charaffe a Neapolitain Nephew to the Pope De Classe and the Captaine Manes were so sore hurt in the necke that they died within fewe daies after the Earle Caraffe was pearced cleane through and died in the place the rest returned without any mischaunce Moreouer as the Marshall Brissac seeing the Winter to come on caused his Souldiers to retyre into the Townes hauing prouided for the victualling and Garrison of Montcaluo vpon the retreate of their companies to their lodginges it happened about the twentith of Nouember that Clermontes company retyring towards Cazal where he was appointed to Garrison was surprised by the Marquesse of Pescaire followed with three hundred Harquebusiers and eight hundred light horse which straight put them to flight all their baggage remaining behinde with fiue and twenty or thirty prisonners the rest saued themselues within Casal In reuenge whereof the eight day of December the Captaine Saluoisin being aduertised how not farre from him there were two companies of Italian light horse departed speedily with a good troupe marching all the night and in the morning entred into the village euen as the Italians were at breakfast whome he discomfited and vtterly defeated by the death of two of their cheefe Lieutenants and well three score other the rest remayning prisonners in the French mens handes who carryed with them more then three score horse and a great quantity of armour Thus they disturbed one anothers rest in Piemont where we will leaue them to handle againe the renewed trauailes of the French and Imperials in Picardie The Imperial army remaining onely but for the fauour and defence of the forces of Giuets and Philippe Ville against those of Mariembourg Rocroy and Mauber fontaine passed away the time of warre without other fruit auauncing the worke notwithstanding the most that the Ligeois and Nauarrois was able better acquainted with the nouriture and tedious aboade of the troupes then all the other the rest of the Imperials remaining to weary the Garrisons and to put the King to charge in entertaining of them and consume the victuall of the Country making account that Winter being come it would be very hard for him to recouer and more hard to put in any more hoping thereby to close them in and famishe them or at the least they promised themselues what aduantage they would desire ouer those that would victuall them anew an occasion that the D. of Neuers resolued while time serued to make a generall victualling especially at Mariembourg but the time being consumed in Sansac his taking of Emery Castle who was gouernour of Metz in the absence of the Marshall Vieilleuille which had beene surprised by the Captaine Beauieu of the Imperiall Garrison at Theonuille Ioynt that the Admiral was not able to bring his men vntill the end of October and likewise the great difficultie to get waggons and cariages which the labourers of Champagne and Retelet wearied with their paines already passed refused whilest that their tillage was to doe was an occasion that they marched not vntill the 30. of October that the Admirall went to lodge at Rocroye with the Vantgarde of fiue hundred men at armes and some companies of French hauing Sansac and Bourdillon for auant couriers with the light cauallerie three hundred Harquebusiers on foote and one Regiment of men at armes to supporte them marching all the night to viewe the woods and giue their aduice notwithstanding the great raines and extreame cold which so benummed the men and especially the draught horses that it was impossible for many waggons turned topsie turuie and broken to reach but from Maubert fontaine to Rocroy things not hauing bin made ready in their time and season Afterwardes there arriued the Duke of Neuers with twenty Ensignes of Almanes conducted by the Reingraue and for that reporte was brought how the Prince of Orange taried them in places very auantagious to stop their passage with his Fantery assisted with his horse men and Reisters they caused not the whole company to aduance forward for feare of being enclosed in albeit that Sansac did since assure how the enemy had no such matter in hand an occasion that there entred but twenty waggons with Wine and Meale So the last day of October the army was deuided into quarters in the sight of the Garrison but so pittifully handled with colde haile and frostes that many of the Sentinels were frozen to death one league and a halfe from the Imperials being encamped on the side of a Mountaine betweene Sautour and Philippeville But the first of Nouember they sent out certaine companies to seaze the passage and streasse the victualers in whose fauour they sent thither a number of companies to reskew them and conduct them to the Campe and there were seene two notable chances the one how a Spanish double reall or twelue pennie peece saued a Souldiers life who had a Harquebuze shot but sixe paces of without any harme being notwithstanding prisonner he was sent back againe with mony in his pursse by the Duke of Neuers to carrye newes to the campe how he alone was escaped of all the company the other a French Souldier seeing his brother to be taken by the Imperials laid about him so lustely against thirtie which helde him that he brought him away sound
it and one other of Cauallerie Where he should haue founde nothing but Sentinels and haue bene able to gayne a little hill all alongest the Vines by which the Captaine S. Andre had entered in by fayre day light An occasion that the Admirall had nowe ynough to doe to encourage the besieged assuring them that the Conestable woulde not suffer them to be lost within and that together with himselfe so many Gentlemen would not tarrie there if they supposed they should be but loste It was about this time that nine thousande Englishmen 1500. horse ariued at the campe vnder the charge of the Earle of Penbrooke Clinton and Gray lodged as I before told you In the meane time the Admirall caused 700. idle monthes to be put cut to ease the towne so much in fauour of the voluntary men The Prince euen as soone made his trenches and aproches against the porte of Romicourt vnder the fauour of the hedges and trees which had not beene before cutte vp by the beseeged Whereof the Admirall aduertised the Constable and of the marish by which way onely they were then able to succour them promising to rampire and fill vp certaine little deepe channels which hindered their passage The which he did by the Captaine S. Romain and to crosse the Riuer which runneth through and ouerfloweth this marish they caused fowre boates to be brought vpon which being chained together and reaching from the one shoare to the other they might well haue passed if they had beene able to lande on the banke whilest that a hotte alarum were giuen to the whole campe Vpon which the Constable being resolued hee departed the 8. of August from La Fere with two thousand horse fower thousande Fantassins as well Almaines as French trayning fower field peeces alongest Being ariued ouer against the village called Le grand Essigny he made a stand and taking the D. of Neuers the Prince of Conde and some others he aproched as neere as he was able to S. Quentin as farre as the descent of the marish without discouering any enemy Afterwardes hee sent Du Fumett to viewe neerer and make report of the distance of the enemy from the towne and of the marish from them together with the largenes of the riuer The which he did with two other more who agreed somewhat with his report whereupon on S. Laurence day in the morning the tenth of the moneth there were set in battaile at the place of execution neere La Fere sixteene French ensignes and two and twentie Almaine with fifteene peeces of artillarie whither the whole cauallerie came to ioyne with them Then they aduanced as farre as S. Quentines by nine of the clock right to the fauxbourge de Lisle on the side of fourteene Spanish Ensignes where the whole was set in order of battaile On the side beyond the water and the marish was the Prince of Piemont his army far stretched forth hauing for sentinell within a mile on this side two Spanish Ensignes which were sodenly turned downe and constrained to retire themselues beyonde the causey At the same instant the french artillery thundered so furiously vpon the Campe especially into the Princes Tent as he had no leasure to put on his armour to retyre himselfe into the next quarter of the Count of Aiguemont to whom euery man retired in a strange disorder Now for that they doubted a certaine dangerous passage distant about one league from Fauxbourg d'isle where the french Cauallery lay they sent thither a cornet of the Renigraues pistoliers to the end to haue newes sooner by them then footmen which were rather like to be lost then succoured as also that they were the more easily able to retire And for a greater strength the D. of Neuers went thither with three companies of men at armes Vpon this the Constable vsed all meanes to make his men to enter in but the boates not being able to come to the other shore through the aboundance of the souldiers which entred in by such heapes and disorderlie were so ouerladen as by reason of the durte and ouse in which they stooke it was vnpossible for any great number of men to passe ouer besides at the going out of the boates the presse of the souldiers was such as they were not able to follow the waies and pathes shewed vnto them An occasion that they scattered and fell into the deepe ditches of the marish whence they were not able to get out but remained there all mirie and the most part drowned miserablie The Prince in the meane space hauing taken resolution to charge vpon so few men before the appointed succours were al entred in the artillarie ceasing to annoy them any further caused the Compte of Aiguemont to passe ouer the passage with two thousande horse which the Frenche durste not encounter withall and then two other Companies followed after with Battailions of foote during whose passages some gaue counsell to the Conestable to charge vpon them which were alreadie passed ouer But their aduice preuailed who rather counselled a retreate then to aduaunce further with so fewe men considering the furious dismartche of their enemies Ioynte that hee was not come thither to hazzarde the Forces of Fraunce excepte that hee were greatly constrayned thereunto And further howe hee had succoured and furnished Saint Quintin with all necessaries as hee thought in spight of the enemie Thus the Duke of Neuers retyred to Louys de Bourbon Prince of Conde who had the charge of certayne light Cauallerie which the Conestable had caused to tarrie at a Windemille With whome being ioyned and keeping the lefte winge they came safe and sounde vnto the Conestable who alwayes gayned grounde of the retreate whilest that his enemies encreasing aduaunced forwardes and had alreadie gotten aduauntage of him in eighte great battailions of Cauallerie and Reistres Yea they viewed him so neere as the Conestable imagining that hee had well enough prouided for the place and that by the temporising of his enemies they woulde not dare to come backe vpon him made no other accounte then softely to retyre The which the enemie attributing in the beginning to an assured resolution of Combatte shewed himselfe vncertayne of the charge vntill that perceyuing the Financiers marchauntes and other following the Warres for their pleasure or profite to retyre apace to saue themselues with their money and marchandises from an enemie so neere vnto them and afterwardes the seruauntes whome they caused to bate to retyre all which chaunging their pace to a galloppe astonyed at the retreat of these marchauntes retyred themselues with great cryes witnesses of the feare which had alreadie possessed them it made the Compte of Aiguemont to thinke who suddaynely caused the Prince to be aduertised thereof that the Frenche Armie quaked and that it was nowe time to trye their fortune and to charge vpon such an aduauntage In the ende this Flemmishe Compte hauing after he had receyued commaundement from the
Prince conferred a while with the Chiefe men which accompanyed him leauing the Compte of Saint Cheualsbourg with his Regiment of Reistres to keepe the passage charged thorough a Flancke with two thousande horse at the same time as the Earles Henry and Eruest of Brunswich eache followed with one thousande Reistres backed and encouraged by the Compte of Horne with a thousande men at armes of the ordinances of the Countrie sette all as it were with one trotte vpon the other Flancke at the very same instaunte as the Earles of Maunsfielde Vuilen Dostrat and of Geldres with other three thousande horse threwe vnder foote the middest with such a furie as hauing ouerthrowne the first Ranckes and those which seconded them all the surplus was put to flight Iohn of Burbon Duke of Anguien being beaten downe and afterwardes remounted was slayne at the seconde Charge and in the ende being brought vnto the Prince hee caused him to bee carryed with all honour to bee buried at La Fere. Frauncis de la Tour Vicompte of Turaine S. Gelais and more then sixe hundred Gentlemen dyed there with foure thousand as well French as Almaine Fantassins and well neere 300. men of marke taken prisoners The D. of Neuers was retired to La Fere Espeuilles Enseigne to his men at armes gaue his colours to Chazeilles to saue it And his Guidon S. Simon beeing ouerthrowne had beene taken prisoner if D' Auerly had not slayne him which carryed him The Conestable sore wounded in the haunche was carried away prisoner and so was the Duke of Montpensier As also the Mareschall S. Andre Ludouic Prince of Mantoue the Reingraue Roche-foucat S. Heron Bordillon Mouy Montsales and many other of name As soone as the Fanterie perceiued this disorder it set it selfe in square battailions but being ouerthrown resisted no whit at all So as many lying bleeding and dead vpon the grounde the rest were ledde away prisoners by troupes like muttons Who at the comming of King Philip were presented vnto him with their weapons and coulours in tryumph of so great and signall a Victorie happened betweene Essigny and Rizerolles Being pursued by the space of foure howres vntill euening frō the Blanc-fosse where the slaughter beganne vnto the gallowes distaunt one league from La Fere where two pieces of Artillerie onely were recouered the which Bordillon went afterwardes to fetche to carrie them to La Fere where the Duke of Neuers Chiefe of the rest the Prince of Conde the Compte of Sancerre Bordillon and other saued them selues And shortly after such as were escaped from the Combatte and out of prison retired themselues in farre greater nomber then was hoped for But stripped of all they had This done the Duke of Neuers sente rounde aboute to make it knowne vnto the dispersed sorte howe that the Rende-vous of the Armie was appointed at Laon Where he assured them that they shoulde receyue their paye which they had not seene of many monethes together This done hauing furnished the Frontires with men and munitions the best which he was able he aduertised the King of the estate wherein his affayres stoode and besought the Prince of Piemont to sende vnto him the nomber rolle of such prisoners of marke as were taken Then together with the Prince of Conde he retired within Laon with sixe hundred horse the residue of all the Troupes He lefte Bordillon at La Fere and the Compte of Sancerre at Guise Afterwardes the King sente De Pot to Han De Lorges to Noyon there to assemble together the Gentlemen of his house and the Archers of his guards and to prouide for those quarters according as neede shoulde require Hereupon the King retired himselfe from Compienne to Paris thereby to assure the Inhabitauntes who alreadie quaked seeking to retyre themselues with the more pretious parte of their goodes and moueables into the furthest parts of the Realme To whome first he sent the Queene who was quickely at the Guilde hall where she demaunded and obtayned a graunt of three hundred thousande livers after an Oration made by the Cardinall Bertrande Archbishoppe of Sens Lorde Keeper Who in summe declared vnto them HOwe that the Lorde God hauing chosen and appointed him for their King by like meanes had created and lefte vnto him a hearte and affection to rule them preserue and defende them euen to the aduenturing of his owne life Therefore that they shoulde assure themselues that hee woulde no more abandon them then that he had this firme beliefe howe the diuine Grace would neuer faile him to which if it hath seemed good to sende vnto him this misfortune it was an admonition to acknowledge the Almightie who distributeth all thinges according to his good pleasure as well to great as small Nowe albeit that he receiued it as a punishement chastisemēt for his offences or it mought be his Peoples yet the danger was not so great ineuitable but that meanes were lefte of remedie considering the succours which they are to seeke of the God of Victories And that of themselues they woulde be an ayde vnto themselues and especially to him in this desperate necessitie Whereupon they had to consider that so long as the rentes of his reuennewe were able to streatche out towardes the maintenance of these warres he had not importuned them by surcharges of demaundes and redoublementes of taskes or other contributions But that hee was alwayes willing rather to sell and morgage his owne Demayne exchaunge and borrowe elsewhere then to fleece or moleste them But since that nowe he was no longer able to satisfie them thorough the affayres which daylye redoubled vpon him as they mought see and perceiue with their owne eyes therefore he besought them that they would succour him onely with money and that for the rest they woulde relye themselues vpon him who of his parte woulde neuer fayle them in will and good affection nor yet in force or power to succour them or in any thing else which mought appertaine to the authoritie or Estate of a King towardes his subiectes Brieflie the Parissians reacknowledging the good zeale of their Prince accorded willingly vnto him three hundred thousande livers as also the rest of the capitall Cities of the Prouinces contributed as their abilitie stretched With the which he sent into Zwizerlande to leuie sixe thousande men vnder the Colonell Luc Reistre of Basle and on the other side eight thousande vnder Claris de Haris Likewise he sente the Colonell Rechrod to make an other leuie of Almaine footemen Albeit that the Countrie was much vnfurnished thorough the leuies of King Phillip and of another which the Baron of Poleuille made there of twentie Ensignes and certaine Reistres Besides this the King sente worde vnto the Duke of Guise by Scipion his escuyer howe he shoulde settle all things in Italie to the most aduantage which he were able and withdrawe his Forces hitherwards In the meane time it was ordred that
the Duke of Guise that after that hee had to his best aduauntage accorded with the Pope and the Spaniardes hee shoulde bringe awaye the Armye into Fraunce with as much speede as were possible This Prince sodenlie let the Pope to vnderstand thereof and made him priuie of the necessity which called him backe into Fraunce and how his Princes affayres went Beinge the cause which made him to beseech his holines to license him and permit him to retyre after such time notwithstanding as he had compounded to his owne profit the estate of his affaires The Pope then being alredy desirous to ende this warre from which hee knewe that on the other side to bee proceeded as hee sawe it euidently and doubted least it woulde take ende with the ruine of one of these Princes and finally with his owne together with a confusion of the Ecclesiasticall estate and infinitnes of other mischeefes purposed more then before to bee agreed with Kinge Philip which wrought that ende whereof I before made mention So as the peace beinge concluded and published with all magnificence on Sonday being the 19. of that moneth the Duke of Alua entred into Rome about one of the clocke in the after noone with great apparances of ioy aswell by the salutations of the artillarie as an infinite number of squibs and other merimentes which they are accustomed to make especially in those parts at the welcome and amiable entertainement of any great Prince The Monday following they helde Consistorie where there were chosen deputed two Legates to intreate of an vniuersall peace The one which was the Cardinall of Tiuoli towardes the most Christian Kinge of France and the other which was the Cardinall Carlo Caraffe towardes the Catholique King Philip. The Duke of Guise in the meane space departed out of Italie to take his way into Fraunce and to imbarke himselfe at Ostia in the gallies french vessels which attended him with a sorte of Lordes Captaines and two thousande harquebusiers the other parte of the Armye vnder the conducte of the Duke D' Aumalle returned through the Popes lands towardes Bologne and Ferrara and so from thence they passed all for the most parte through the Grisons and Zuizers into Fraunce where the Duke of Guise beinge arriued was sodenly sent for to addresse an armie at Compienne At which place the Kinge being anone after arriued declared all such as were then in Courte beeing present howe that the Duke of Guise was come iumpe for the preseruation of his Realme and it was proposed to treate him Viceroy of Fraunce But this title beinge thought strange it was commaunded that letters shoulde bee dispatched to make him Lieuetenante Generall ouer all the Countries within his obedience The which were dispatched by Du Thier secretarie of the Commaundementes and afterwardes receyued and verified by the Parlamente of Paris and other soueraigne Courtes of the Realme whereof notwithstanding shortely after the Kinge excused himselfe towardes his Goship so he named the Constable sendinge him worde by secreate Letters that hee was constrained to doe as hee did and that hee shoulde not bee greeued for ought in that hee still reserued his place for him for he was so farre off from hauing the frendshippe which hee boare vnto him any wayes cooled through his absence and captiuitie that contrariwise it inflamed him the more so farre as that hee most diligently aduertysed him of all his secretest affayres without communicating ought gently aduertysed him of all his secretest affayres without communicating ought to any other Whereof Kinge Philip being aduertysed knew well enough how to make his profit as you shall see else where In this same tyme there happened in like sorte straunge floudes and inundations of Riuers at Rome and likewise at Florence That at Rome fell out the same day of the peace beeing the fourteenth of September Tiber one of the most renowned Riuers of Europe which some notwithstandinge number amonge the swift snowie streames being greatly swelled as though it woulde threaten Rome with great ruines encreasinge howrely for the night followinge it began to inlarge it selfe ouer all the lowe groundes of the medowes and vineyardes rounde about The next day it being encreased and broken in throughout the towne all the channels and gutters of the streetes and houses standing full the depth thereof was found in some places of the towne of the height of a man and more in the place D'Agone A la Roconde and A la Doanâ— So farre was this meruelous and dreadfull inundation from giuing leasure to the people to reioyce at this peace as that it made them more astonished and desolate then before which caused a number to thinke that it happened as a signe and aduertisement from God eyther for matters present or to come or rather to moue vs to a conuersion and amendement of our sinnes Nowe this furie of the water endured all that day and vntill foure of the clocke at night that it began a little to ebbe and decrease so as by the next morning at breake of day it was ebbed more then a shaftemente and then by little and little decreasing euery man in the afternoone might easily goe about this busines The depth of the water as some haue saide in many places exceeded the marke which was left at the other inundation in the yeare 1530. Others were of opinion that it wanted an handbredth Whereupon they alleadged many reasons among other that the Caues which were made and coured within Rome for it is augmented in buildinges a third parte had receiued and swallowed vp a great parte of the water Some iudged that the great number of newe streetes was a cause of the depth and other affirmed howe that the earth which was raysed vp since that time caused it seeme higher then it was But they which iudged it to bee the greatest say that it fell out so for that in the towne of Horta and Narin and all other places where it passed alongest it left behinde it a great abatement and ruine of houses hauing caried away halfe the bridge of Saint Marie together with the excellent chappell which Pope Iulie the thirde caused to bee builded there it vndermined and remoued certaine great peeces of marble great quarters of stone which defended the bridge of Saint Ange. It raysed and renuersed a great parte of the bulwarkes and bastions which they had caused to bee builded a yeare since ioyning to the Castle Besides that it threwe downe halfe the Temple and most parte of the buildinges of Saint Barthlemewes monasterie seated in the Ilande of Tiber. Briefely there was not within all Rome either pallace or building alongest which this furious rage of waters had passed which carried not some marke and testimonye of the wrath and violence of this angrie Element As touching that of Florence by the breaking forth of the Riuer Arno men iudged it farre greater then that at Rome and to haue
and other munitions to passe ouer the Ice and mareshes they caused a great quantitie of Hurdels with Pease strawe to bee brought by Sea to the end that the water might not eate perce nor corrupt thē And the better to couer the Harquebusiers by reason that the sand and grauel was alreadie discouered and in view they had caused a great number of stakes and Pale-bordes of drie woode to be brought of the strongest and lightest they could choose of a mans hight and halfe a foote in thicknes couered all without three or fower fingers in thicknes with writhed paper one ouer an other so as the Harquebuse coulde not easily enter hauing a rest beneath at the foote whereof was an yron Pike of a foote and an halfe long to fasten it into the ground how hard soeuer it were behinde these blinders the Harquebusiers might shoot easily thorough a litle hole which was in the middest therof The D. of Guise seeing how greatly the breach opened and that three volleyes of Cannon might make it reasonable determined as soone as he could to giue the assaulte In the meane time to holde his enemies continually in alarums and to stoppe them from Rampiring any waies he caused Gramont at eight of the clocke at night vpon the ebbe of the Sea to passe with three hundred the best Harquebusiers of his troupes to goe to view the countenance of the besieged and with a peale of Harquebuse shot to dislodge those which should present themselues vnto them And at the same instant the Marshall Strossy with other three hundred Harquebusiers conducted by the Captaine Sarlabos and a hundred Pioners went to gaine the other end of the port to lodge himselfe in the little houses which were there and so fortefiyng himselfe with a good trench to remaine there and commaunde all the porte Notwithstanding the bullets flew so hot about their eares as after fiue or six souldiers and Pioners were slaine they were faine to retire and come backe to the Generall who was not farre off hauing already aduaunced neer vnto the port with D' Aumale and the Marquisse D' Elbuf his brethren De Montmorency and De Bouillon followed with many Gentlemen In the meane time this Prince hauing caused the breach to be thrice viewed as well by Bracasse as by others and being aduertised that it was time and that it was readie for the assaulte without any longer delay gaue the token and caused Gramont to aduance among the first with his Harquebusiers assisted with as many Corcelets conducted by the Marshall Strossy followed besides with two hundred other souldiers and himselfe on the other side hauing waded as deepe as his girdle went foremost before the rest of the troupes as farre as the foote of the breach At which the French gaue an assaulte with such an hardinesse and Impetuositie as after hauing cut a peeces such as they encountred at the first they constrained the ouerplus in a short time to quite the Castle which they cleane abandoned to retire themselues into the Towne Thus being aduantaged of this passage and first entrie within Calais the D. of Guise commaunded them to fortefie themselues and looke that they might not bee thrust out leauing D' Aumale and the Marquisse D' Elbaeuf his brethren their Captaines for the rest of the night and himselfe for that it began to flow passed ouer to the armie on the other side to the end he might send them succours by day breake and to be meete with any disorder which might chaunce to happen When the English men come againe to themselues and had gotten their wits together they greatly repenting the fault which they had cōmitted in hauing so sodenly abandoned the Castle whereby they saw a ful ouerture made for the French into their towne they returned with a farre greater hardinesse than before to recouer the peace againe iudging that those which were within could not long abide it and that they could not be succoured by reason that it was floud and the sea of a great depth Thereupon they came violently vpon the French which attended them with the lyke courage but with more aduantage In summe they found so great a resistance made as they were beaten back with a farre greater losse than before But remaining full of opinion that they might regain theyr castle they brought three peeces of artillerie vpon the other end of the bridge towardes the towne to blowe vp the gate and scoure those which should defend it and from a platforme which was vpon one of the corners of the great place they shot in an infinite number of Cannon shot so as it would haue bene thought that no man in the world durst haue shewed himselfe there and afterwardes they redoubled another assault more furious than the first Now if it were well assaulted it was better defended for hauing liuely put them backe and more than three hundred of their brauest men lying on the ground dead or hurt the French in the end shut the gates and sodainly rampired them behinde vpon which all courage and hope afterwardes fayled those which were besieged So as from thence forwardes they thought it good rather to parlie and treate of some fauourable composition than to make anie longer resistance Wherefore on the morrowe morning Wentworth who was gouernor therof sent two of the principallest men of the towne to the Duke of Guise who demanded verie great conditions for their aduantage In the end they stooped were content with these Articles That they should haue their liues saued without anie force or displeasure offered to man wife maide or child All the inhabitants of the towne should retire themselues whether they woulde either into England or into Flanders with such pasports and safe conducts as should be thought necessarie for their suretie and passage my Lord Wentworth remaining with fiftie such other prisoners of warre as the Duke of Guise woulde choose out And for the rest of the men of warre they should be bound to passe ouer into England They should leaue behinde them the artillerie pouder bullets armour ensigne and generally all kinde of munitions as well of warre as victualles within the towne without breaking burning hiding or endemnifying anie thing at all As for golde siluer monie or not monie goods moueables marchandise and horse all should remaine in the discretion of the Duke of Guise to dispose of as it shoulde seeme best vnto himselfe All which things beeing accorded on the eight of Ianuarie this Prince began to put out a great parte of the people out of the towne and the rest followed according as it was promised without hauing anie wrong or disturbance done them without anie one Englishmans remayning there But well an incredible quantity of pouder artillerie munition wolles and of all sortes of victuals which were staide and the surplussage giuen in praie to the soldiers After this manner and in lesse than seuen daies space was Calais her fortresses
Guines were taken by the Englishmen notwithstanding the truce which then was by the conspiracie treason of one named Gilliaume de Beau Couroy Lieutennant to the Captaine of that place who for this cause was beheaded and afterwards hanged Now there rested no more of the whole countie of Doye but a little Castle called Hames which was not restored into the Kings obedience And for that this Castle albeit that it was little and not rampired nor fortefied by any art was notwithstanding naturally seated in so strong as it were vnaccessible a situation as being enuironed with Fleetes Motes and Maresches hauing but a verie narrow cawsie to passe ouer into it and that in manie places crossed with wooden Bridges broken and taken awaie it was almost impregnable to bee gotten from men well furnished and resolute they were in a great doubt after what manner they might besiege it In the meane time Sipierre to whome the keeping of this cawsie was committed hauing the Duke of Lorranes companie whereof hee was Lieutennant and some other aduertised the D. of Guise that they which were within Hames being frighted and dismaied at the taking of Guines had abandoned it and were fled away by night thorough certaine by-pathes which they onely were acquainted with all in the Maresches And so it fel out verie easie to be seased where they found much Artillerie and prouisions Afterwards the French remained in all and thorough all masters and there was neither forte nor Castle which was not yeelded vnto them or abandoned so that besides the Countrie which the Duke of Guise conquered ouer the Englishmen and the rich booties which were found therin and taken there were gained neere hand three hundred peeces of Brasse artillerie all mounted vpon cariages and as many of yron After this the King hauing kept his bed of iustice with the Dauphin and the rest at the Parliament of Paris and caused a number of Ordonances concerning his owne estate to bee proclaimed visited Calais with the King Dauphin leauing there De Termes as gouernour with charge to perfite the fortifications such as you see them at this daye Afterwardes the rygor of the winter enforced him then to dismisse his armie for to refreshe themselues all sauing such troupes as hee distributed into Garrisons where hee thought most neede resoluing to redresse a newe armie at the spring There was the charge of the light horse bestowed vppon the Duke de Nemours at the instance of the Duke of Guise whome he caused to bee preferred before the Prince of Conde who at the same time and before had demaunded this charge whereupon he grew verie malcontente then the King went to Fontaine Bleau whether Anthonie de Bourbon Duke of Vendomis and as then King of Nauarre thorough the decease of the King his late Father in lawe came vnto him shewing himselfe besides much offended with the D. of Nemours by reason of the Damoiselle de Rohan cousin Germaine to the Q. of Nauarre who maintained that he had promised to marrie her and vppon that sued him in the Arches The D. of Neuers being tickled with the good hap which accompanied the Duke of Guise gaue the Rende-uous at Yuoy to all such troupes as hee was able to assemble together within his gouernment wher hauing let them all to vnderstand how that there was no place more enemie nor of greater importance thē the Castle of Herbemont in being the principal place wher all the enemies bandes assembled together and retired from their enterprises hee resolued to carrie it away Therefore hauing caused it that night to be enclosed round with the light horse the next morning the armie lay encamped ready to batter the place after they had well viewed it thorough hot skirmishes vnder the fauour wherof they had gained as farre as the Courte and quickely after was mounted and planted a part of the artillerie to batter downe with Cannon out of the flankers of the Castle But when they perceiued how little they preuailed thereby by reason of the hard and bad situation thereof they planted the Cannon right in front and at the head to batter a bulwarke which couered and defended the onely passage and entrance vnto it which they shot off so furiously and bestirred themselues so well in so short a space albeit that the breach was not sufficient to giue the assaulte to as the desired parlie vpon some conditions But being deceiued in his demaunds and a short answere being made him by this Prince how that he should speake of no other cōposition then yeeld to his mercy otherwise that if he made not good hast he should instantly bee cut in peeces with all his albeit that hee was nothing so neere daunger as the faintnesse of his heart imagined trusting in the bountie of this Prince he notwithstanding yeeld himselfe vnto his mercy of which at the entreatie of Iametz he found experience the D. of Neuers vsing such sweetnes as to send him away with his wife and family and generally all the rest of the souldiers which were within their liues goods saued without being any waies pilled or ransomed This done the Prince sent a number of light horse and Harquebusiers on horse backe to view the ports of Iamoigne Chigny Rossignol and Villemont part whereof they found already abandoned and the rest yeelded at the first summons They were determined to haue gone yet further forwards and to haue giuen as far as Neufchastel in Ardaines But the raynes snowes and great frostes broke off their desseins Now the only taking of this Castle of Hebermont ought not to be placed among the least for besides that it is naturally strong and easie to bee made inexpugnable as being situate vpon a high and hard rocke on all parts vnaccessible sauing by this passage by which it was battered yet is it most proper conuenient for the assuring of the whole passages of the Ardenes all the Champion ouer and seconding the strong Castle of Bouillon to hold in awe all the fortes of the long forrests of Ardenes it appertaineth to the comte Bilisten and the Rochefort to the keeping whereof was appointed the Captaine de la Croix Lieutenant to Haute-Courte FINIS FOR THOV SHALT LABOR PEAC◠PLENTIE LONDON Printed by Iohn VVindet dwelling at Powles Wharfe at the signe of the Crosse Keyes and are there to be soulde 1595. The state of Fraunce and countries adioyning from the yeere 1544. The beginning of wars and miseries among christians Warres begun between the French and Spanish The nature of Charles 5. The nature of Frauncis 1. Paul 3. dieth Iuly 3. chosen Pope The meanes which Charls the Emperour vsed to get Parma The King of Fraunce taketh Octauian Farneze Parma into his protection Religion well maintained preserueth all estates Pope Paul seeketh to retaine Octauian Farneze Paul de Termes with the Pope in the French Kings behalfe The French king tearmeth the Counsell of Trent but
that they hasted forwardes the Swizers and Almaines the Frenche Fanterie and Cauallerie to furnishe out the Rende-vous so as within fiueteene dayes they mought make vp the fourme of an Armie yet euen in the very beginning of September it yeelded vp The which was founde very straunge considering that the place was strong and well prouided of all that was necessarie to a Frontire at the least it was looked for that they shoulde haue tarryed the Assaulte An occasion that the King caused him to be clapped vp Prisoner as soone as hee was come to Paris But hee was set at libertie declaring howe hee had beene disappoynted of such necessarie Succoures as hee required of two thousand men in such sorte as D'Estre the Gouernour in former time had vpon any Siege Besides that the enemies hauing founde the Castle without any ditche on that side where they beganne their principall Batterie and a Bastion fallen downe not yet repayred vp in such sorte behaued themselues as that the ordinarie souldiers of the Guarde of that Bastion were soone constrained to abandon it thorough the great quantitie of Bricke and mould which endamaged them and ordinarily fell vpon them the Batterie beeing so violent and furious as in a small space it made a waye for a horse to be able to get vp vpon the Bastion the waye lying all open to come from thence to the breache which albeit it was not altogether sufficient waxed wyder within two volleyes of the Cannon and enlarged it selfe sixe score pace or more the Wall alreadye bowyng and yeelding of the same length and the earth opening a pace in breadth and in deapth the length of a pike Which the Souldiers once perceyuing who were not in the whole nomber three hundred nor halfe of them in health and strength they were so astonished and despayred that notwithstanding any perswasions which the Captaynes coulde vse many stucke not to saye they woulde not fight at all not knowing howe they were able to doe the King any Seruice therein and therefore they thought it better to reserue themselues for some matter of greater importaunce Howesoeuer it was whether grounded or no vpon the feare which they conceaued the Frenche were in least that the Imperialles woulde pursue further their good fortune and duetie against such an inconuenience King Philip to whome the besiegers of the Castelet came to vnite themselues at Fon-Some attended their aunswere of his aduertisement from the Emperour his Father to congratulate with him his prosperitie beseeching him further to commaunde and ordayne what next hee was to enterprise But as a blade rusteth if it be let lie continually within the sheathe so the souldier which is not employed doeth lightly abuse his rest For the Almaines and Spanyardes quickely mutined among themselues for the bootie of Saint Quentins and raunsome of the prisoners which were taken the day of the Battaile some alleadging among other occasions howe that King Philip and the Duke of Sanoye sought to retyane all the great prisoners which exceeded a certayne summe of purpose to pulle them out of the handes of the Almaine Lordes who without all doubte atchieued the greatest honour of the Battayle so farre forth as they were all readie to departe the rather for that the time of their oath was now expired An occasiō the french did turne the matter to their owne aduantage withdrawing out of that nation as many malcontents as they could finde vpon any occasion whatsoeuer Hereupon the Spaniarde addressed himselfe to Han to erect a stronge place vpon the frontiere which might serue for a succour and support to S. Quentins the which hee determined to make impregnable according vnto such models as the enioyners had prescribed vnto him thereby to establish from his lowe countries easie daies iourneyes of retreat when he would either goe in or come out of Fraunce as it shoulde seeme best vnto him Now as vpon new occurrents alwaies proceed new determinations the D. of Neuers being constrained to chaunge the estate and imagination of his defensiue retired his men of warre from sundry garrisons which he had into such places as were neerest vnto Han to the ende that the imperials shoulde not inlarge themselues into any greater a compasse likewise to the ende they might alwaies wast the country before them and famish them by cutting of their victuailes on all sides the french had deuised to make a remouing Campe which for this effect they might enclose and assure with trenches Palissades and other Romane inuentions but the longe delay of their prouisions and soddanes and their enemies cleane broke of this determination The Cheualier Hely with a number of horse entred within the place to succour it running ouer as many enemies as durst stoppe the passages of Han which hee found open without any thinge to commaande it beinge flankerde on the one side with the Riuer of Some and on the other with a Marish being in diuers places aboue one hundred thousande paces broade hauing very little firme or drie grounde to bee able to set foote vpon There is a village and a Castle the village in the state which it was then in was not able to holde out in any kinde of sorte and albeit that there were certaine foundations and fashions of bulwarkes yet they were so open and euill to bee defended as that there was no account at all to bee made thereof The Castle was of a goodly shewe and represented it selfe furious enough according to the olde fortifications beeing in forme square flankerde with fower rounde bulwarkes with a grosse square towre and massiue of a large thicknes seruing for a platforme to the Courtines which were ioyned vnto it and commaundinge in all and through all the Castle But the whole was of drye stones and Masons worke without any rampiers of earth or other fortifications according to the moderne inuentions to sustaine defend a place long time against the blusterousnes and furie of our Cannons Notwithstanding that the way might not bee altogether open and free to the Spaniarde to enter further in if he found not a stoppe Sepois which was Gouernour had giuen the Kinge aduise to burne the towne in case seege were laide vnto it whereby the enemie might haue no place to lodge in But as for the Castle men might holde and keepe it for a fewe dayes whilest that they shoulde bee the better able to fortefie themselues for it was easie to iudge that hauing taken Han hee woulde neuer ende there but passe on further where he might cast himselfe nowe on the right hande and nowe on the lefte and so daylie addresse himselfe to such places as were weake and likely in a shorte time to be caried to the ende he might not lose and euill employ the season which serued so fitte and proper for him I haue let you to vnderstande how that to bee meete with the inconueniences of the battell of Saynte Quentins among other preparatiues the Kinge had sent vnto