beliefe Fiftly they shall beleeue that in the transubsâ—antiation the bread and Wine are chaunged into the bodie bloud soule and deitie of Christ Sir William Ruze either is an asse who knoweth not what he saith or else a false Prophet which leadeth men to a strange God for such a paradoxe Note was yet neuer heard in Christs Church that the Bread and Wine was changed into Christs deitie Sixtly he saith that wee must beleeue the Masse to be a sacrifice propiciatorie for the sinnes of the quick and the dead What proofes hath Sir William Ruze to shew out of Gods word that the Masse is a propiciatorie sacrifice for sinne more then the sacrifices of Note the heathens Last of all the fire of purgatorie the hauing and worshipping of their Images the adoring of Reliques and praying vnto them and also that the counsell of Trent is to be receaued as good Catholick and an article of the faith of the Church of Rome All these things are articles of faith which they that will goe to the diuell must needes beleeue but cleane contrarie vnto the faith of the true Note Catholick and Apostolick Church The persecutions imprisonments seazing of goods and abiurations had begun and went forward in diuers places but especiallie in such as were addicted to the League long before and had receaued the last edict set forth by the King And among other places there is a towne in Poytow called Niort great and rich where the faires and martes of the countrey beyond Loyre are kept This towne had béen seduced of long time and of all townes in France most earnestly adicted to the League there of all places and in the townes there abouts they began most cruelly to persecute the Church which was assembled at Saint Gelays in the which persecution many bowed downe the knee to Baall Therefore about the 20. of December Lewis Blachiere Pastor of that Church hauing retired to Rochel and vnderstanding the fall of many in that heate of persecution writeth a letter to raise them that are fallen and to binde that which was broken In the which first hee sheweth the vse of persecution that is to discerne the true Disciples of Christ from false bretheren and hypocrits who yeeld and turne after euery winde of doctrine Secondly hee dooth terrifie them that are fallen by the threatnings of Christ against them that shall denie him before men Thirdly he detecteth the subtiltie of the enemie in the forme of his abiuration in that he hath made a doore of golde to enter into a priuy or dongeon full of filth stinking and poysoned ayre placing in the beginning the Nicen simbole afterward patcheth to it all the filthie abominations of Antichrist Fourthly hee sheweth to them that are fallen the gate of mercie to remaine alwaies open to them which seeke the right meanes to enter in and that repentance is neuer too late Last of all them who doo stand he doth encourage to preferre the confession of the son of God wherein doth consist eternall life before this present life or the commodities and pleasures thereof Thus wee will make an end of this second Booke of this Tragicall Historie raised vp in the Kingdome of France by the Leaguers The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE IT is shewed in the former Booke how the Leaguers after hauing long vnder hand practised the supplanting of the house of Valoys at length did burst out into a manifest rebellion I haue shewed what pretence coulour and buckler they tooke to wit religion iustice the Cardinall of Bourbon Thou hast seene gentle reader how the King tooke them for enemies rebels and traitors and some of their partakers were condemned and executed for such Also by what meanes practises and wicked counsell the King was drawne to ioyne friendship and armour and to deuide his kingdome with them whome hee a little before had declared rebels and traitors What edicts declarations iniunctions the King afterward set out in fauour of them against the reformed religion The atemptes of Merceur in the Lowe Poytow the exploytes done by the Prince of Conde in Xainctonge Poytow and his voyage beyond Loyre to Anger 's and the successe of that voyage the exployces done by the Vicount Turenne the comming of the Duke De Mayne with his armie and all his conquest in Perigord and Limosin Now will we begin the third Booke with the beginning of Ianuarie The first day of Ianuarie the King of Nauarre being at Montoban a citie in Quercie wrote letters vnto all the states of France and first of all vnto the sacrificing Priests commonlie called the Cleargie in the which he protesteth first of his moderatenes which he hath vsed toward all men euen in the middle of warre and that hee hath often times remitted sundrie and great iniuries done to him in respect of the publick peace Secondly he complaineth of them that they doo assist with their power and meanes them who making their ambition a zeale to holy Church and the reuenging of their priuat discontentments with a publick warre haue set the whole realme in a miserable cumbustion Thirdly hee letteth them vnderstand that he feareth neither their money their names nor the armes of his enemies but pittyeth the state of the poore people who doth suffer all the oppressions and miseries which will ensue these enterprizes of his enemies Fourthly he threatneth them that they who should be the vpholders of peace and the support of the poore people shall answere before God for all the bloodshed confusions vices and miseryes which the warre caryeth with it for entertayning with their meanes and norishing with their goods this vniust and damnable warre with the disorders which insue thereof Fiftly hee protesteth that hee hath proffered himselfe to be tryed by a conference and distentation in a free counsel but they haue preferred war fire and sword before these good lawdable and ordinary meanes of conference which is most worthy of man Last of all he sheweth them that this warre is most vnworthy of Christians but specially of such as do pretend to bee teachers and Doctors of the Gospell and committing his innocency and iust cause to God warneth them that the dangers of warre are common as well to them as to him and his so maketh an end with them Vnto the Nobility hee rehearseth the summe of all thinges passed euer since the raising vp of the League First how that in the middest of peace these sturres are bred and borne Secondly he reciteth with what patience he hath borne all the iniuries proffered vnto him by the Leaguers who haue made him the subiect and scope of their warre Thirdly he putteth them in remembrance of all the Kings actions before the edict of vnion how the King declared them rebels and perswaded them as such in all his courtes of Parliament And how they to wit the Nobility haue béen armed agaynst the Leaguers and that all these actions of the king did proceed
bee the King and the Princes of the bloud but among them chiefely the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde Therefore they must bee made away by one meanes or another and whereas warre and violence were neither the safest nor the surest way they concluded that poyson must bee tried But to bring this to an happie end they must haue the helpe of the Q. Mother she must be one instrument to commit parricides for it is to be thought that if she would not spare her owne Sonne Charles the 9. she would not spare them whome she neuer loued for she neuer cared what shee did so that shee might not doo good she is therefore easily won to doo that which she greatly desired Poysoners are hired they haue their drougges and instructions with them some are sent to minister their Phisick to the King of Nauarre if by any meanes they could But howsoeuer it be either that they which were hired to poyson the King of Nauarre did altar their mindes or had not the meanes to execute so vilanous an act so it is that his death was bruted in Lorreyne and at the Court about the same time that the Prince of Conde dyed But it hath pleased the Lord to haue deliuered him from their snares to punish them in time according to the measure of the treacheries and innumerable enormities by them committed As touching the Prince of Conde they had their mindes vpon him for at length the diuel furthering their treacheries procured some of his owne houshold seruants to bee wonne to take the matter in hand and among others one Brillant and a Page vpon whome he had bestowed great benefits to giue him poyson the third day of March at supper he fell sick of a great paine of the stomack about an howre an a halfe after supper that paine was followed incontinentlie with great vomiting comming at sundrie times with continuation of the said paine and with a great thirst hee was assisted by Nicolas Poget his master Chirurgion At the same houre was called Master Bonauenture de Medicis Doctor of Phisick which considering the accidents did helpe the vomitings following therein the motions of nature The sicknes notwithstanding continued all the night hauing inuaded the inferiour bellie with swelling and hardnes of the same with such difficultie to take breath that he could not lie in his bed but was faine to sit still in a chayre The morrow after were called to counsell Lewis Bontempts and Ihan Pallet Doctors of Phisick who altogether did indeuour to helpe his Excellencie with all diligence and fidelitie by all the meanes which they iudged fit according to the accurrant accidents The fift day of March and second of his disease about three a clock in the after noone all things went from worse to worse so that there came a suffocation of all the famolties of nature in the which he rendered his soule to God halfe an houre after In the death of this Prince God did shoote an arrow of his wrath against the vngratefulnes peruersitie of this world but speciallie against France in plucking this Noble Prince out of so many labours into the societie of the inheritance of his Saints in light Henry Bourbon Prince of Conde Sonne vnto Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Conde whose famous name shall bee in the euerlasting remembrance of the righteous was borne and brought vp in the Church of God whose preseruation was as deare vnto him as his owne life God had endued him with noble vertues he was faithfull vnto God duetifull in the true worship of God true vnto his King louer of his Countrey and of the libertie and honour of this realme enemie vnto the perturbers of the peace of the same and of them all whome he knew to be coniurators against the King and state His generositie und valour with the greatnes of courage had been shewed in many noble exploytes done by him but speciallie in ouercomming many assaults labors perils and miseries during these miserable ciuill warres to be short God hath plucked him in all the course of his life out of many daungers His death was the more to be lamented because it was vyolent and in the flower of his age which happened the fift day of March 1588. at S. Jhan d' Angely in Xainctonge to the great griefe of all men among whome from age to age the remembrance of him shall be honorable For the death of this Prince was hurtfull to all France but gainfull onely to him who chaunged a vaine and paynfull life into one onely true and stedfast life immortall quiet and euerlastingly blessed in the assurance of the which hée died in our Lord Iesus Christ This sudden and vnlooked for accident gaue occasion to the sayd Doctors Phisitions and Chirurgions to thinke that this sicknesse came thorowe some extraordinary and vyolent cause For the sayd Phisitions gaue out vnder their hand and seale as followeth After his departing about two houres there began to issue out of his mouth and nostrels a froth thicke and white which gathered by little and little to the bignesse of ones fist and out of the same place a little after did issue yealowish water in great aboundance On the Lords day being the sixt of March by the commandement of his Counsell we Phisitions and Chirurgions haue beside called Peter Mesnard Focault Chotard both Masters Chirurgions of S. Ihan d' Angely to make the anatomie of his bodie and to search altogether the causes of a death so sudden And first wee haue found all the body blewish and leadie the bellie in a strange manner swolne stretched and hard In the opening of the body we found in the lower bellie all the parts thereof with the inwards blewish and blacke and the hollownesse of his bodie full of yealowish waters After searching diligently the stomack we haue also found it blewish and in the right and vpward part of the same an inch or thereabout vnder the Orifice of the sayd stomacke we haue found a round hole eaten through and through that hole had fallen the waters and liquours which we found within the capacitie of the inferiour bellie Then hauing diligently taken vp viewed cut and emptied the sayd stomack we haue seene euidently the whole bodie of the sayd stomacke as well without as within specially on the right side blacke burned vlcered and gangrened in diuers places but notably about the hole aboue sayd So that wee cannot iudge that it could bee done otherwise then by a notable quantitie of burning vlcering and caustick poyson which had left euident markes of his passing in the Oesophage The liuer also in the place ioyning to the sayd hole was found altered and burned the rest of the substance of the sayd liuer blewish as also the lights There was no part of y e bodie of his Excellencie which was not of a very good constitution and very healthfull if the vyolent poyson had not corrupted y e parts aboue sayd All
Lords Clermont Antragues one of the Captaynes of the Kings gards who deceased nigh the Kings person The Lord Tischombert who had borne great charges in warre and now would needes serue as a souldier in the Kings Cornet The Lord of Longauluay in Normandy of fourescore yeares of age the Lord of Creuay Cornet bearer to the Prince Montpencier the Lord Vienne Lieftenant to the Lord Benuron the Lords of Manuille Fequers Valoys and twentie Gentlemen more at the most There were hurt the Marquesse of Neste the Earle of Choysy the Lord d'O the Earle Lude the Lords Montluet Lauergne and Rosny and about twentie Gentlemen more without any danger of death The King going to chase the enemie and hauing deuided his companies as is aforesayd left the Marshall Byron with the rest of his forces to conduct them and followe after him Here good Christian Reader thou hast to note certaine fatall periods of things to wit the circumstances of the persons time and place in the execution of Gods iustice vpon his enemies The 23. day of December 1559. Claude Duke of Guize and Charles Cardinall of Lorreyne his brother in the raigne of Francis the second procured Annas du Borg one of the chiefest Senators of the Court of Parliament of Paris to be burned for the Gospell at Saint Ihan in Greues in Paris The 23. of December as their Calender is now which was the day of the natiuitie of Henry of Bourbon which now raigneth in the yeare 1588. the last Duke and Cardinall of Guize were slayne at Bloys when they had concluded to murther the King the next morning following that day The fourth day of March 1561. Claude of Guize father to this last tooke armes agaynst the edict of Ianuary and committed the cruell murther of Vassie by the which breach of the peace were ciuill warres raised vp in France and euer since haue béen entertayned and nourished by his posteritie which warre was his vndoing The same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1585. the last Duke of Guize sonne to the sayd Claude tooke armes against the King which was the beginning of these last ciuill warres of the League by the which they haue procured their owne vndoing and of many others The same day of the moneth the Duke de Mayne brother to the sayd last Duke of Guize and heire of the Captainship of the rebellion made a shipwracke of all his forces at Saynt Andrewes plaine without hope euer to recouer the like forces Claude Duke of Guyze in December in the year 1561. fought the first battell that was giuen in all these ciuill Warres with Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condie Prince of famous and blessed memory in the plaine of Dreux with an vncertaiue issue but in equall losses so that to this day it is vniudged who had y e victory but well knowen that the Duke of Guyze had the greatest losse The Duke de Maine fought agaynst Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name now King of France and Nauarre at the plaine of Saint Andrew next adioyning to the other and the places not distant passing a mile a sunder with a reparable losse The Lord Rendan a rebellious Leaguer in Auuergne with such power as he could make in the sayd countrey but specially in the Townes of Rions and Brion rebelled and holden in the same rebellion by the Iesuits besieged Isoire a great and populous towne in the said Auuergne because it continued in the Kings obedience The Lords Chasseran and Rochemayne willing to do some honorable seruice to the King and good to their countrey gathered such power as they could of the Kings subiectes to rescue the sayd towne of Isoire from falling into the handes of the rebels and with a meane power trusting in GOD the defender of his Ordinance and wayghing the right of the cause marched towards Isoire The sayd Lord Rendan vnderstanding of their approach raysed vp the siege and went intending to meete the sayd Lordes Chasseran and Rochemayne and at the same day and time of the battell at Saint Andrewes playne meeting in a playne field not farre from Jsoire tried the quarell by the sword There the sayd Rendan was ouerthrowen and aboue fourescore Gentlemen of his were slayne on the place all his footmen cut to pieces the artillery bagge and bagage with many prisoners taken so the Towne of Isoyre was deliuered from the danger of the enemie retayned and confirmed in the Kings dutifull obedience It is said how after the victory the King deuided his army into foure parts three of them were appointed their quarters to follow the chase and the Marshall Biron to follow after the King with the residue of the army The King hauing taken this order followed after the Duke de Mayne but finding the bridg broaken was faine to go thrée miles about to passe the riuer afoord and in that way he found many straglers whom he tooke prisoners which was a good turne for them or else they had béen slaine by others he came so fast after the Duke d' Mayne that hee did misse him but a little but vnderstanding how he was receaued in Mant the king lodged that night at Rosni as is said very simple The fift day the Duke d'Mayne very early fearing to be besieged there retyred from Mante to Pontoyse where he soiourned few dayes to take some sure order for the safety of the Towne and after went to Saint Denis The same day the King sent to sommon the Towne of Mante which deliuered the keyes of their towne to his Maiesty receaued and acknowledged him their king and prince and continued there vntill the twentie day of March to refresh his army wearied with so many labours and hardnes of winter to take counsel of the course which he was to take hereafter and to expect certaine munition of warre which was comming to him from Diepe The Citie of Paris first author of this warre had conceaued an assured confidence of all prosperous successe by the vaine bragges which the Duke d'Mayne did cast foorth afore hee went out with the army The Friers Iesuites increased this vain confidence in their pulpets by assuring them either of a certaine victory or else of recoyling of the King as farre as beyond Loyre so that euery day they looked for the King dead or aliue and all his spoyles to be brought for a spectacle and to bee solde and bought among them or else to heare of his flight as farre as the riuer of Loyre This great confidence made them to liue very secure and carelesse in prouiding for the Citie besides that they rested much vpon the great multitude which is within the sayd Citie there beeing great bablers and boasters for the Parisien is as Epimenides speaketh of the Cretayns a lyer euill beast and slothfull belly The towns also which then did hold round about their Citie as Pontoyse beneath vpon the same riuer Charonton Meaux Laguye Corbeil Melun Montereau aboue vpon the riuer
him for his sonne and true heire of the Crowne in France in case he doth decease without issue But to come to the matter now here is a blessed daies worke for the Guyzes and holy Church Vp master Frier and get you to Rome the holy Citie once againe to Sir Hugh to shew him what good lucke wée haue and that all thinges do happen as wée would haue them but that we haue néede of his ghostly counsaile Whilest Frier Mathew carier of the Guyzes goeth to do his message as well as he could they of the Guyze with their partakers do dispearse themselues into all partes of the Realme to allure Townes and Cities but especially them that were Malecontentes to their deuotion after the which progresse of theirs with importunacy they do procure the King to call the assembly of the states of the realme at Bloys to the which they had altogether laboured their fauorers and such as did desire nothing more then the decay of the King and increasing of the Guyzes In the same assembly that the King might haue the blame himselfe of the breaking of the peace it was requested First that the edict of pacification should be reuoked and the exercise of the reformed religion forbidden Secondly that the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and all the nobilitie professing the same religion should be exiled out of the realme all others of the same profession should be enforced either to abiure or els to depart forthwith out of the Realme Thirdly that the 8. townes which were giuen them for 6. yeares should be put into the kinges handes alleaging that the time was expired The king being desirous to entertaine his subiectes in peace knowing well the frutes of ciuil warre dissolued the states promising shortly to assemble the best wisest and most experienced of his realme to haue their aduise for the reformation of all thinges About the same time of the states beeing at Bloys the king of Nauarre sendeth new aduertisementes to the king about the intent and open practises of the league willing him to haue some care of himselfe and sheweth him the present danger that he stood in After the returne of Frier Mathew from Rome the Bariesuits in the latter end of September held a certaine Synode or Clandestine conuenticle in Paris in the which the said Frier Mathew as president did rule the rost hauing receaued direction of Sir Hugh vicar of Rome where according to the said directions they lay downe the methode to stirre vp the coles to raise vp seditions and rebellious in all partes but especially to increase the hatred of all men against them of the religion but namely against the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde and for that end they forged an infamous libell as more amply shal be shewed The king according to his promise made to the States at Bloys in the latter end of the yeare 1584. called at Saint Germayn in Faye his chéefest and best learned Senators of all his Parliamentes there to shew him the best and readiest meanes to ease the people and to restore the realme to some good state On the other side the king of Nauarre considering that the time appointed to surrender the 8. townes committed to his custody was expired and that the rage of his enemies was rather increased then diminished and that their meanes their factions and their furie was now greater then euer it had béene and that imminent daungers were at hand assembled a méeting of the Nobilitie which professed the reformed religion at Montaulban a strong City in Quercye where Monsieur Belieure one of the kinges counsaile was present to prouide for their common affaires And whereas the king of Nauarre his enemies had spread abroad both by false rumors and libels that immediatly after the death of Monsieur he was returned to the Catholike religion and was gone to Masse the said king of Nauarre therefore to satisfy all men against that false rumor and slaunder protested openly that he knew the truth to be on his side and that by Gods assistance he would stand to the profession and defence of the reformed religion vnto the end and that hée would acknowledge none other fortune but onely that There by the common aduise of all that assembly it was thought good that considering the great daungers which seeme to threaten them of the reformed Religion and generally all France a supplication should bee presented to the king that of his méere fauour clemencie be would continue the kéeping of the said Townes to the king of Nauarre for certaine yeares more Vpon this conclusion the Lord Laual with other deputies were sent to the King at the assembly which was at Saint Germain and shewing the cause of their comming to the king and complaining of diuers iuiuries daily done to them of the reformed religion by the leaguers the 11. of December 〈◊〉 the king granted them the keping of the said townes for 2. yeares longer charging them that for iniuries done to them they should not séeke to reuenge their owne cause for breaking of the peace But that they would shew their gréefes to the King of Nauarre who thereupon should make meanes to him for amendes Whilest all these thinges were working on euery side the king of Nauarre séeing that neither so many aduertisementes from euery part of France geuen to the king neither that which hée himselfe saw namely the partialities societies fraternities leagues confederacies and preparations of the house of Guyze did any whit moue or warne the king to looke to himselfe and to his affaires which thing he might easily haue done in time The said king of Nauarre had sent the Lord de Segur Pardillan superintendent of his house to the Quéene of England the king of Dēmarke the Princes electors the Lands-graue of Hessen and to other States of Germany for thrée causes first to compound the controuersies about certaine articles of religion not as yet agréed vpon in the reformed Churches y t the enemies of the commō cause might not distoine them by that occasiō Secondly to renue the ancient friendship and aliaunce in that sort as it had véene of old Thirdly to dispose a summe of money in Germany in such order that therby he might there prouide succour if he were assaulted by his enemies The said Lord Perdillane returned home to the king of Nauarre in December 1584. when the king did hold his counsaile at Saint Germayn The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE NOw when the Guyzes do draw néere their time to bring forth that monster of treason which they had conceaued they haue many secret conferences with y t Duke of Parma pety sonne to Peter Aloyse Pharnese the Popes bastard hanged at his windowes by his owne subiectes for his execrable life Also with Bernardine Mendoze Giouan Bardachino the king of Spaine his Coriero the Bishop of Cominges bastard sonne to the Lord Lansake playing Dromo betweene them
doo leauing of all suspitions and despising the counsell of many who would haue him to differ that interuiewe vntill another time considering also that there was no apparance of danger he passed ouer the riuer at the bridge of Saint Saphorine went to méete the King accompanied with the Marshall Hautmont and many of his nobilitie and his gardes leauing the rest of his forces to stay for him at the passage He found the King staying for him in the alley of the Parke of Plessis there was so great throng as well of Courtiers as of the inhabitants of the Citie who ran thether from euery where that the two Kings stayed the space of halfe a quarter of an houre stretching their armes one toward another before they could touch one another so great was the preace for the place though very spacious would not receaue the multitude so that the trées were loaded with men to beholde that blessed méeting The embrasings the salutations were reiterated diuers times of both Kings with a shew of mutuall ioy and contentation The reioysing of all the Court and of the people was incredible for all men did crie by the space of halfe an houre God saue the King a voyce that had not been hard either at Tours or in any place else where the King had béen in more then foure moneths before Another acclamation followed the first God saue the Kings God saue the King and the King of Nauarre all men praised God and blessed that happie and long desired reconsiliation The two Kings parting thenâ—e entred into counsell where they were the space of two houres and after the counsell they tooke their horses and roade together accompanied with the Court vnto Saint Anne which is halfe the way to the Suburb called Roches the streates were so full of people that it was hard for them to passe all the way sounded with acclamatioâ—s and voyce of ioye for the hope which euery one had conceaued that these two Kings being so vnited would ouercome their enemies and restablish the state of the kingdome and would end the miseries which had vexed France so long The said King of Nauarre departed from the King at Saint Anne repassed Loyre where his troupes stayed for him lodged at the Suburbs of Saint Saphorin nigh the bridges end The morrow after being the first day of May about sixe a clock in the morning the King of Nauarre entred into the towne to goe to salute the King All that morning was employed in counsell vntill ten a clock that the King would goe to Masse where hée was accompanied by the said King of Nauarre vnto the Church doore from thence hée went to salute the Princesse of Condy and County staying for the Kings returne from Masse Afterward the said King of Nauarre as long as hée made his aboade there oftentimes visited the King and tooke counsell together for the common benefit of the realme The same day the said King of Nauarre obtained of the King for them of Sedan ten thousand Crownes for to helpe them in their affaires with letters written vnto the Duke of Lorreyne commaunding him to make warre no longer vppon Sedan declaring that they were vnder his protection Whilest these things were a dooing at Tours the Duke d' Mayne did batter Chasteaurenault but vnderstanding of the interuiew of the two Kings at the selfe same houre of the interuiew hée brake the siege and in haste retired to Vendosme The King as is before said stoode in great danger to be either murdered or else deliuered to the enemy by the intelligence which the Duke d' Mayne had with some traitours which were of his counsell in the Court and in the Citie Now by this blessed reconsiliation here is a great change to bée séene on a suddaine for by this the King is put out of feare liueth out of danger of the rebels is fortified by ariuall of this mighty Prince and army vnlooked for the hearts of all good subiects are herewith encouraged and the conspiratours are terrified for the Duke of Mayne being at Vendosme and in the territory there abouts with a mighty army of traitors had committed such insolencies vppon the people of their owne League and vnion that the countrey was replenished with outcries curses and imprecations Feare therfore of the King of Nauarre and of some insurrection of the people of the countrey constrained him first to place part of his army in garisons in the townes of Beausse Anjou Mayne and Perche to make hauock of all that he left behind and afterward to returne to Paris The Duke d' Mayne hauing so deuided his army with one part of the same giueth to himselfe many alarum in that retire to Paris It is said before how about the beginning of Aprill the King considering the reasonable proffers of the King of Nauarre who in his great prosperity and when he might haue enlarged his authority farre and wide throughout al France proffered peace and ayd vnto the King to his great disaduantage at length necessitie inforced the saide King to conclude a truce with the King of Nauarre for a whole year beginning at the 3. day of Aprill 1589. and ending the same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1590. inclusiuely The conditions of the said truce were agreâ—d vppon and promised to be obserued by the two Kings the 26. of Aprill First in publication of the same truce the King with a long discourse doth protest of his consiancy in the Catholick religion and opposeth the proofes which he hath shewed from his youth vp as well in his priuat profession and exercises as in pursuing the contrary religion by all meanes and restablishing the said romish religion in places where it had béene abolished against the calumnies false reports and slaunders of the Leaguers On the contrarie sheweth how his enemies haue taken the pretence of religion and discharging the people of sundry exactions to make associations to strengthen themselues to replenish the realme with tumults and confusions whereby they haue giuen opportunity to the heretickes to abolish the Catholik religion and to enlarge theirs and they themselues haue by sundry cruelties and extortions oppressed his subiects of the Catholick religion he complaineth that the Leaguers hauing attempted against his person and proclaymed an open war against him and his authority who through their iniuries haue enforced him to call the King of Nauarre to his naturall and lawfull defence against their rebellions and treasons Secondly he declareth how the King of Nauarre acknowledging his duty toward his Maiesty and pittying the miserable state of the realme subuerted brought to a lamentable confusion by the Leaguers hath instantly required peace of him Whereupon by the aduise of the Princes of the bloud officers of the Crowne and Lords of his Counsell he hath concluded a truce and ceasing from all hostility throughout the whole tralme therein comprehending the County of Venisse and state of Auignon belonging to the
now his age doth great iniurie to his memorie O man too much pride hath put thee out of thy wittes or els hath blowne thy wisedome into thy cap. When hee entred into France hee began to enquire how many dayes marching there was to Rochâ—l for he would take it by the way Man looke well to the would of thy cap. He imagined that the king at the first hearing of his comming would haue runne away and he would haue pursued him as far as the playns of Bourdeaux where he would haue fought with him sent his head in a charger to his master as Herode did of Iohn Baptist The Friers and Iesuits lacked no monkish Rhetorick to encrease nor winde to blowe vp these bladders Wheresoeuer he passed there he left tokens of his progenie to wit tokens of the most vilanous â—â—lthines and most barbarous crueltie that euer was vsed by any wilde people except it were by the Popes adulterous broode But whilest these things were a dooing there fel out such a chance as almost marred all Frier Sixtus a little before he went to render a count of the treasons murthers which he had caused to his power to be committed fearing by the threatning of the Lord Luxembourg who was sent to Rome by the Catholick nobility to doo a message in their name least the King would séeke for reuengement of the presumptuous iniuries receaued at his hands sent a flattering mandamus by the which hée dischargeth the King from excommunication and willed all his subiects nobles and others to obey him and pray for him whose subuersion hee himselfe desired Here ChristiaÌ„ reader thou maist sée what piety iustice or godlines is in this sinke of lewd Friers for aduantage this Frier Sixtus was the chiefest instrument countenance of the Leaguers to raise vp that most cruel warre and confused rebellion that euer was heard of â—n any realme by his excommunication by his aduise practises counsell and money Now when he seeth the whip in the Kings hands fearing to be handled as his countrey men did handle their flaues or as one of the Kings predecessors handled Boniface the eight whom he hanged at his owne window in the Citie Perugia now he sent his Curriero with his mandamus with his praiers he commeth as the Demoniâ—cles came vnto Christ Let therefore Christian Princes take héede not to trust these false dissembling Friers who do carry two faces vnder a hoode for there is nothing so wicked but for aduantage they dare doo there is nothing so vile but for aduantage they will debase themselues thereto But Frier Sixtus his mandamus his Curriero his commaundement was as much regarded of the Catholicks and Leaguers as of them of the reformed religion for the Leaguers will follow their deuotions that is their rebellion though all the Popes that haue béen euer since the diuel layed downe the foundation of that seate should say nay and therefore they tooke that mandamus abusiue for assentamur The Catholick Nobles who were with the King tooke that for a thing which is neither here nor there which could neither hinder nor further the cause wishing that Frier Sixtus would sit at home and make some new almanack or some new calender because yet we lack one or two to furnish the table and that by his Apostolicall authority hée would commaund the Sunne not to goe any more out of the way but to kéepe â—is course as some of his predecessors was so bold as to commaund the Angels They of the reformed religion laughed at the impudency and variablenes of the Friers wit who had breath both to warme his fingers and to coole his potage The K. did make account of all this Frierlike flattering rather to redound to his hindrance and dishonor then to any futtherance of his cause for he knoweth well that the praiets of Iâ—olaters would not be accepted of God and that all the godly minded would without the Popes bidding make their humble praiers and supplications to God for him not onely in France but in all Christendome Neither will he accept that obedience which is done by the Popes câ—â—maundement rather then in consideration of Gods ordinance And to receaue any goodnes of him or depend of him the King dooth knowe well that euery good gift commeth from aboue euen from the father of lighâ—s and that hee is his aboundant reward But the Pope is equus Seianus vnto as many as do meddle with him Whilest the Duke of Parma marched toward France the Duke de Mayne returned home to gather forces as is said before some were cut off by the waies as Aumale and the Vidasme of Amiens but certaine forces he receaned of Balagny gouernour of Cambray and the Lord Saint Paul with whom he made toward Paris The King vnderstanding of this went from his armie with a troupe of horsemen without any baggage and marched 17. Leagues without bayte to meete with the said Duke de Mayne to bid him welcome out of Brabant but the K. came too short by an hower For the Duke de Maine vsed with long experience to flee away from the Kings presence had saued himselfe in the towne of Laon in Champaygne but the King seeing that he had escaped out of the net he returned to his army Shortly after the D. de Mayne hauing gathered all his forces came to Meaux in Brie to ease his stomack geuing out that he came to giue battell to the King whereupon the King departing againe went almost to Meaux but seeing that the Duke had enclosed himselfe betweene the riuers of Marne and that which commeth from Crecy the King returned to his army once more In the latter end of August the Duke of Parma that great Soltan Solymon Mussulman Siech with his dronken Belerbeyes Bassas and Ianissaries entred into France The Duke de Mayne to requite his curtesy shewed him at Bruxels sent the Lord Saint Paul who the other day was a lackay and afterward houshold seruant to the Lord Beauuayes Nangy then he rose a step higher to wit hee was made one of the bawdes of the Duke de Mayne and now one of the chiefest of the League When the Duke of Parma came to Meaux vpon Marne about the 27. of August he thought himselfe to shew yet once an Italian proud tricke to the D. de Mayne for his so basely receauing of him in the land then he began to looke with a sower Italian brow and as the saying is Fronte caperata neither would he goe further except hee had an absolute power to commaund ouer all the forces as well French as Suanish which thing when he had obtayned he began to esteeme lesse the Duke de Mayne and his Captaines then the Duke de Mayne had esteemed him in sending a lackay in a Noble mans apparell to receaue him Now the Duke of Parma beeing on Cockhorse beginneth to triumph and disdayne all he altered the Duke de Mayne his resolution and the course of this voiage
that towne and followed after the King who was before to take his lodging about Pontarsy situated vpon the riuer Esne beneath Pontauers and the enemy presently entred the said Towne of Longauall Part of the Enemies followed after the King and seeing a Wood betweene the sayd Longaual and Pontarsie stayed there mistrusting some ambushes but at length passing through they met with the Baron of Byron who charged them so roughly with a small company of horsemen that he layed downe vpon the ground thirtie of them The King commanded Captayne Langemis to light and set a fresh on them who killed a great number of them and then retyred into the towne of Pontarsie The enemy went not to Pontauers that night but encamped in the plaine field with great feare of an alarum vnderstanding that the Duke of Neuers with fiue hundred horses out of Champaigne and the Lords Gyury out of Corbeil and Parabelle out of Melun with good and Iustie companies of horses were expected that day to come to the King euery man accompted him happie that might returne into Brabant in a whole skinne there to prooue whether they had forgotten the art of Carrowsing the chiefest trade of that countrey The 28. day in the morning thirtie harquebusiers of the enemies hauing lost their way went into the Towne of Longaual enquiring for the Duke of Parmas quarter whom the inhabitants disarmed and throwing them vnder the bridge drowned them The same day came to the King the sayd Duke of Neuers and Lords Gyury and Parabelle with eight hundred horses all well appoynted The 29. day the King went out of Pontarsie with one thousand horses intending to giue his enemies a fresh charge and to carrie away the Rereward but their Ordinance being stucke fast in the myre the whole armie remayned all that day in battell array in that place where their Ordinance was and there also encamped themselues all the night following so that nothing could be enterprised vpon them The 30. day of Nouember the King determined to did the enemie fare well with a fight of horsemen the Duke of Parma with a good will would haue spared that curtesie and bee glad to get out of the Realme without so much adoo In the morning very early the sayd Duke marched toward Marle a towne nigh the head spring of the riuer Oyse from thence to get Larbre de Guize and so to leaue the realme of France The King commanded all his horsemen to be in a readines and directly to march toward Cressie with all furniture yet without baggage or carriage And being first of all arriued at the rendes vous vnwilling to ouerslip any opportunitie to see his enemie that day which hee thought should bee the day of their separation sent the Lord Baron of Byron to march before and hee himselfe to followe him within the distance of a hundred paces onely with fourtie gentlemen The Lord Longaual followed the King with fiftie horses and the rest of the Cornet As they had marched a good space there appeared at the side of a Wood about sixe score horses vnder the leading of Colonell Baste who came in hast to charge the Baron of Byron the sayd Baron gaue so resolute a charge that he made them to retyre to theyr maine battaile and when the enemie had ioyned with their fellowes they came agayne to giue a fresh charge in the which the sayd Baron of Byron his horse was killed and he in great daunger to bee slaine but the King did gather them quickly that were scattered and with them caused the rest of his troupes to come forward which being in battaile aray and ioyned with them that had bin gathered out of the skirmish gaue such a fearefull charge that all the rereward of the enemie thought vpon nothing but vpon the meanes how to saue themselues leauing their dead armed vpon the place If all the Kings companies had come in time enough there had not returned so many home to play at carrowse as there did The first day of December the D. of Parma entred the dominions of the low countrey He had neuer so much neede of his Nurce about him with clowts as he had during the space of these last fiue dayes of Nouember most of his companies accompanied him home as well as they could part of them remained with the Duke de Mayne vntill that tempest was ouer past The first day of December the Lords of Neuers Giury and Parabel who were come fresh and strong to the King departed from the Castell of Nisy and pursued the enemie marching toward the Larbre de Guize but what exployts were done that day we haue nothing to speake off for lack of instructions During this retraite the Duke of Parma was so distressed that he was very greatly disappoynted of his lodgings As he tooke no compassion at Corbeil of them which suppliant fell before his knees so pitied he no more his owne Souldiers who could not make so good speede in running away as he could doo but left them to y e mercie of the Peasants of the countrey with whom they found no more fauour then with their master Of foureteene or fifteene thousand men which he brought into France there returned not home aboue eight thousand and they were in a manner in as great miserie as their fellowes who returned into Spayne from the conquest of England in the yeare 1588. The first day of December the King went to Saint Quintins situated vpon the riuer of Oyse where he was royally receaued with great reioysing and comfort of all men And when the King had stayed there a few daies he heard that the Lord Humiers with other noble men of Picardie had taken the towne of Corbey situated vppon the riuer Some and in the middle way betweene Amiens Peronne and Dourlan three great townes in Picardie which haue continued in their rebellion During the time that the King soiouâ—ned in Picardie and pursued the Duke of Parma the Marshall Byron tooke fiue strong Townes and aboue twentie Castles in Normandie and Beauuoyâ—in wherein the Rebells had layed strong garrisons By these narrations Christian reader thou mayest see what the rebels enemies both of God and man hauing drawne vpon theyr owne heads a stormie winde of tempest least they should not haue calamities enough according to the measure of their offence they sent for the Duke of Parma to deliuer them who comming into the land gaue them an egge and deuoured the Hen and where they were beaten by themselues with scourges now this deliuerer did bruse them with barres of yron It pleased God in whose hands the harts of Kings and Princes are to turne the Kings will from hindering the sayd Duke of Parma from dooing all that he durst or could doo that God might giue the King to vnderstand what therehence hee had hereafter to feare as long as he playeth the parts of a right King and that hee is his aboundant reward Secondly that it might euidently
moneth Possonnes the Duke de Mayne his gouernour there considering the state of the Duke of Sauoy his affayres seeing the Canon planted and the Lord Diguieres fortified with newe supplies all the commonaltie bent against him and being without any hope of ayde or reliefe the 30. of September yeelded the Towne of Essiles by composition that his Souldiers should freely depart with bagge and baggage So by these meanes the passages into Piemont doo remayne in the Kings power and the countrey of Daulphine is limitted with his olde limits long before fortified by the French Kings during the warres of Italy Sonnes generall of the Duke of Sauoy had prouoked the Lord Morges his nephewe to fight fiftie agaynst fiftie on horsebacke and appoynted the place which thing the Lord Diguieres vnderstanding conducted the sayd Morges vnto the place where the sayd Morges remayned with his forces readie to accept the offer from nine a clocke in the morning vntill three a clocke in the euening and at length came a Trompetter with a letter from the sayd Sonnes carying an excuse The Lord Diguieres in attending the comming of y e enemie had espied a passage néere Iallon where the enemie had entrenched himselfe and there lodged eight companies vnder the conduct of Captaine Venust and perceauing that there was no more hope of Sonnes comming to the combat appoynted he determined to spend the rest of that day in doing some exployt and to assault the sayd companyes who did lye vpon the hanging of the mountayne betweene Suze and Noualize and hauing found meanes to place one hundred Musketters who battered the enemie vpon the side of their fort the trenches of the enemie were forced and fourescore of them slayne among whom were Captaynes Venust Gassard and Charband Captayne Vilars with some other was taken prisoners and foure companies of Senton master of the Campe were so scattered that they came neuer together agayne This exployt was done the first of October This being done the Lord Diguieres returned again to Essiles and sent backe the foure Canons to Ambrun and caused two great peeces to bee drawne from Gap to Barcelona a place situated in the County of Nice and pertayning to the Duke of Sauoy hee sent his forces before to besiege the sayd Barcelona and when hee came himselfe about the eleauenth day of October and had made a breach the same day the enemie did parley and yéelded themselues with safetie of their liues leauing behind them their armour colours horses and baggage the Captaines were permitted to depart with their swords vpon an hackney The inhabitants had graunted them to enioy their goods abiding vnder the Kings obedience as the rest of his subiects vpon condition to pay sixe thousand Crownes for the army and the fraight of the Artillerie The 13. day the gouernour called Coreloere departed with three souldiers with him and as many of citizens and countrey men who repayred to their houses vnder the Kings safegard The 14. day the Lord Diguieres layd batterie before the Castle of Metans which he slenderly battered the 15. day only to view the enemies countenance But they being greatly afrayed the next night did steale away and so saued themselues except thirtie of them who were intercepted by the watch In this way of Piemont the Lord Diguieres had neuer aboue three hundred horses and twelue hundred shot and found no greater enemie then the inaccessible height of the mountaynes where ouer he was forced to passe the Canon but chiefly in his iourney to Barcelona The Citie of Grenoble in the land of Daulphine notwithstanding the truces and good entertaynment from time to time receaued of the Lord Diguieres had been seduced after the King last deceased and did hold still after for the League though not with such desperat madnes and insolencie as many others had done Now the L. Diguieres hauing well repressed the madnes chastized the rashnes and folly of the D. of Sauoy and hauing in a manner subdued and pacified that countrey forsooke the Duke of Sauoy and determined to scoure as much as he could all the remnant and ragges of rebellion out of that prouince which thing to bring to passe he thought good to begin at the head to wit the Citie of Grenoble and as by the euent which followed it seemed that he did besiege distresse that Citie which thing caused the inhabitants to consider that the Lord Diguieres had in a manner all the land of Daulphine at commaundement His power was increased and returned out of Piemont with few victories of many they weighed also how they were out of hope of any succour as well from the Duke de Mayne as from the Duke of Sauoy who being taught by the schoolemaster of fooles which is experience would not haue hereafter great lust to returne in haste into Daulphine These circumstances caused them well to consider the danger wherein they stoode which thing moued them to make a motion of peace by the which they were reduced to the dutifull obedience of their lawfull Soueraigne This peace was concluded in the suburbs of Saint Laurence by Grenoble the two and twentith of December betweene the Lord des Diguieres one of the kings priuie counsell and of estate captayne of a hundred men at armes of his Ordinances and generall of the armie leuied for the kings seruice in the land of Daulphine on the one part and the court of Parliament the commonalties of the countie and the Consuls of the same First that the exercize of the Romish Religion shall remaine frée both within the towne and suburbs thereof as hitherto it hath béen and that the Cleargie in all the prouince shall enioy the full possession of their goods in any place in the prouince vnder the kings protection Secondly that the frée exercize of the reformed Religion may be publikely celebrated within Trescloistre suburbs of the sayd citie without any let trouble or molestation Thirdly that all dwellers in the same towne that will continue therein shall personally protest and acknowledge Henrie the fourth king of France and Nauarre for their Soueraigne and shall yéeld to him the oth of fidelitie in like cases requisite in the hands of the Lord Saint Andrew president of the court of Parliament and Chastelard counsellor in the same court in the presence of the Lordes of Blemew and Calignon and vpon the same oath taken the sayd inhabitants shall bée maintayned and restored in the full and peaceable enioying of their goods offices priuiledges and franchizes Fourthly if any man of whatsoeuer calling or condition soeuer it bée shall be vnwilling to take the sayde oath and shall be desirous thereupon to departe else where hee shall be safely conducted to any place that they will go and may enioy their goods offices and dignities either by sale or by receauing their annuall fruits or stipend thereof at their choyce prouided alwayes that they enterprize nothing against the Kings seruice Fiftly that the custodie and
Lord Saint Luke and others going out of Niort through the countrey of Aunix and the towne Sorgeres went to batter Tonnay Charante which he tooke by composition and there vnderstanding that the companie of the Lorde Puelles was at Croixchapeau halfe the way betweene Tonney Charante and Rochel he went with the choyse of his armie to set vpon them at the breaking of the day This companie commaunded by some officer for the Lord Puelles was then at Rochel did most couragiously defend themselues but the place was such as the enemie had meanes to enclose them on euery side and to get to the top of the houses through the back side and to driue them out by setting the houses on fire great part of them was slaine in the fight other yelded themselues vpon promise of the safetie of their liues other hid themselues in the caues They were almost all killed against the faith giuen to them with like sauagenes and barbarous crueltie as the Souldiours of Debory and Charboniere were at the Mote Saint Eloy This done the Lord Ioyeuse returned to Tonney Charante vnderstanding that the King of Nauarre was gone out of Rochel to set vpon him and thence to Niort At the same time they which were at Marans did looke to be set on but he vnderstanding that some companies of the Prince had taken Tonney Charante vpon the Garison which hee had left there in hast returned thether with his Ordinance tooke it againe being kept only by a sergiant of a band who with 15. Souldiours onely had obstinatly vndertaken the defence thereof In the selfe same place he was aduertised of the euill watch and of the small company which was at the Abbey of Maillezay a very strong place thether he went with speede and the Lorde Malicorne gouernour of Poytow with him he compassed it so that it was not possible to put in new forces so that the fourth day after it was surrendered by composition After the taking of Maillezay it was thought that the Duke Ioyeuse would set on Marans but hee durst not fearing the King of Nauarre and the Prince who were in the field seeking occasion Some dayes after Ioyesue made a shew to set vpon Talmound but the Lord Saint Stephen hauing seazed vpon it first caused him to haue no great affection thereto So as his armie decayed dayly being infected with the Pestilence the King of Nauarres on the other side waxed strong The Lord Ioyeuse hauing stayed in Poytow somewhat lesser then three moneths about the 15. day of August he rode in poste to Paris to the Duke of Guize as well to informe him of his noble actes and what Kingdomes hee had conquered in winning few villages in Poytow as to minister texts vnto the Fryers and Iesuits to preach vpon vnto the sottish people of Paris to wit the notable slaughters which hee had committed vpon the hereticks in Poytow he was receaued with exceeding ioye of the Parisions he left his companies with the Lorde Lauerdine who conducted them after him all by ease But the King of Nauarre who slept not went forth out of Rochel vpon the newes of the retiring of the saide Ioyeuse with a marueilous celeritie and passing through Marans with some horsemen pursued the remnant of that armie so liuely and that with few men that he discomfited three companies of men of warre conducted by the Marquis Renel tooke their Ensignes and many of them with a great number of Gentlemen This being done he pursued after Lauerdine which conducted the footmen with two culuerines but with the fauour of passages ouer the riuers saued himself in the Haye in Tourenne where the king of Nauarre besieged him but hauing neither Ordinance nor footemen forsooke him and went to Monsoreau vpon the riuer of Loyre in Tourenne where he made a Fort vpon the riuer and there he staied 15. daies to expect the companies which were brought to him out of France by the County Soissons Whilest these thinges were passing thus in Poytow the king about the 23. of Iune vnderstood that the army of Germans both great and strong was in readines to take their iourney into France whereupon the King determined to prepare not onely to defend himselfe but also to inuade the enemie Therefore he sendeth his commissioners into all Prouinces to assemble all his Nobilitie with all their forces and them to deuide into three seuerall armies wherof the rendes vous of the one vnder the conduct of the Duke of Guyze comprehending the Nobilitie and others who were knowen notorious leaguers was giuen the 20. of Iuly in the towne of Chaumont in Bassignye The second armie vnder the conduct of the K. himselfe was of the Nobilitie in the which hee had most trust out of Picardy France Normandie Britayne and other Prouinces betweene Seyne and Loyre The rendes vous was appoynted at Saint Florentine in Bourgony between the cities of Troyes and Auxer the first day of August The third vnder the conduct of the L. Ioyeuse was of the Nobilitie of y e coūtries beyond Loyre and the rendes vous was assigned at Gien The Duke of Guize with his armie of conspirators and Leaguers should stop the passage to the Germanes vpon the borders of Lorreyne specially should hinder them frō taking their way through Champaigne on the north side of the riuer of Seyne The King of Nauarre about the beginning of Iune vnderstanding that his armie of Germanes was in readines to departe out of Germanie to come to his succour sent Ambassadonrs to the King humbly to intreate him to take some pitie of his kingdome and poore subiects both to shew him some wayes of peace and also because that heretofore the saide King had acknowledged the heads of the League to be his enemies and to haue raysed all these vprores not so much against the house of Bourbon as against his owne person he requested the King to vse his and the Germane forces against the common enemie of the Realme But the King hauing many disloyall seruants both about his person and in his counsell who were greatly addicted to the league they disloyally betrayed him making him beleeue that if he should accept the King of Nauarre his offers and so change his mind it were the nearest way to rayse an vniuersal rebelliou of all his subiects against him and that this Ambassage of the King of Nauarre did proceed not from loue and duetie but frō feare and dread who saw his manifest ouerthrowe at hand by these three great and mightie armies which he was setting in a readines The Duke of Guyze with his conspirators aduertized by his special friends which hee had alwayes about the Kings person who were priuie to al his secrets of this Ambassage and proffers made by the King of Nauarre was not a little amazed fearing that the King now was better aduised hauing a fit opportunity to reuenge himselfe vpon the pride arrogancie iniuries proffred him by them considering that
part of the auncient Nation called Eburones hauing on the East side Lorreyne and Ardenues on the West Henault on the North Liege on the South Baroys and Champaigne it hath two strong places Sedan and Iamets and many other strong holdes and Castels the Countrey is Woody Moorish and strong lying altogether vpon the banck of the riuer Mense This Countrey since it had imbraced the Gospell and become the Garden of Eden hath been the place of refuge for them of the reformed religion of the Nations which doo lie betweene the riuers of Marne Seyne Mosselle and Saosne a place most fit to retire vnto in time of persecution There were two bretheren the Duke of Boillon and the Countie de la Mark two Noble young men of great vertue valour and godlines who had from their cradle as if it were sucked the true religion and vertue with the milke of their vertuous and godly Mother They ventured all that they had liues goods and state for the defence of the Crowne of France and true religion and opposed themselues against the conspiracies of the Leaguers not as Merceuaries but moued with a true zeale and loue toward both These two noble men were called out of this life vnto that which neuer decayeth and to inioy the inheritance of the Saincts in light whose names shall be in the euerlasting remembrance of the righteous The one to wit the Countie de la Mark dyed at Lancye about the beginning of October as is said before but the eldest to wit the Prince BoilloÌ„ at Geneua the first of Ianuarie as is said It is said before how the Duke of Guize set vpon the Rutters at Vimory where many were slaine and taken on both sides and the Duke of Guize tooke also about three hundred wagon horses and in like manner tooke some more in the surprise which he did enterprise vpon them at Aulneau in Beausse This man being possessed with a legion of vncleane spirits named Ambition this vncleane spirit did so torment him that it made him to thinke an houre a day a day a yeare and a yeare an olde mans age so he longed to see the royall familie rooted out and the crowne of France to fall to his lot hee aduised therefore himselfe of this point of policie to make his name ring ouer all France his victories sung out and to store vp the loue and admiration of the people toward him and to procure hatred and enâ—ie to the King He deuyded these horses and armour which hee had taken from the Rutters at Vimory and Aulneau into sundrie companies of horsecorsers and riders transported with affection and factious malcontents and vnquiet to make a progresse through the realme into those Prouinces whereunto they durst venture and into those Townes and Cities specially which were fauorable to him There these horsecorsers carried as if it were in a triumph through the cities the Germaines spoyles horses weapons and all other aray And when the people were flocked together in great troupes to see these new showes there were the Orators ready among them The number of the dead horses and Ensignes taken were increased by the figure of multiplication one killed a hundred and a hundred ten thousand as Pyrgopolinices in Plautus the manner of the fight was made very difficult and dangerous for the conquerours They shewed also how not one of the Guizes Souldiers were found wanting to be short vanitas vanitatis Then they applied their showes how that the Duke of Guize had atchiued himselfe all the difficulties of the warre and either slaine or taken the chosen and valiant Captaines and Soulâ—iers thereof and if hee had been assisted by the King he would haue gotten such a victory as neuer the like had been heard of in France For hee knew the meanes how to haue made such a slaughter of them as not one had been left to tell the newes in Germanie all the realme might haue inioyed the commodities of such a victorie But the King he retyred beyond Loyre as though he had beene vnwilling or afeard of them for he would or durst neuer shew his face or draw his sword against them and for to shew some outward countenance or for shame when the enemie were alreadie vanquished and that the Duke of Guize had left the small remnant who were but pages and scullions so hurt wearie and sick that they could not flie trusting that they would haue been dispatched by the King they were followed so slackly that not onely he gaue them leasure to escape without running but also helped them to ouercome so many distresses wherunto they were driueÌ„ by the said Duke of Guyze also vnder colour of a counterfeit yeelding and submission he granted vnto them their liues horses and furniture and to some of them their goods and by these meanes they came all to their iourneys end and safely arryued to the King of Nauarre Now the conclusion of these infamous reports was left to euery man to inferre that eyther there was not in the King such princelike vertues as should be in him or else that hee was a fauourer of heretikes and a dissembler with the Catholikes Then what should wee doe with such a King Let vs haue another And whome should we haue but him that hath done such exployts and deliuered France from so manie daungers and terrors By these deuises hatred and contempt was no lesse procured against the King as gloria in excelsis prayse loue fauour and authoritie to the Duke of Guyze The Iesuites and Friers on the other side tooke these lyings and slaunderous reportes for a theme to discourse vpon in the pulpits he that was of a timorous minde cryed that the King was a betrayer of the Catholikes he was become either a close and desembling heretike or a fauourer of heretikes and that it was to be feared ere long hee would forsake the catholicisme and ouerthrow the Catholike Religion in France Others which had a more warlike stomack discoursed vpon the other common place that the K. had a timorous mind durst not look few Pages and Scullions halfe vanquished in the face and that was the cause that many attempts vpon the heretikes had come to small effect because the warres were not pursued by men neither of courage nor wisedome But the Duke of Guize that noble branch of Charlemaigne the deliuerer of France the onely protector of the holy Church was the onely man to whome they owe their religion their liues and goods the onely hope of the Realme Thus the frogges that rose vp out of the bottomelesse pit did dayly in their pulpits crie croake croake croake There was great hope that the sundry lamentable euents which did beate the one and the other part in France by the scourge of warre and execution of armours as well in the losse of the battell at Coutras in the death of notable men as in the oppression and hauock which the armies did cary with them would haue
concluded a truce as is aforesaid in Daulphine and set that Prouince in some good stay with his campe marched toward Prouance to ioyne with the Lord Valete to reduce that countrey to the Kings obedience It is said before how the King during the déepe winter did great exploytes with prosperous successe in subduing the Countries of Beausse Anjou Toureyne Mayne Lauall Perche and most part of Normandie in reducing them to their duetie of aleageance restored them peace iustice and iudgement vtterly subuerted and troden vnder foote by the Leaguâ—rs and how hauing continued few dayes at the siege of Falaize tooke it by assault Now we will returne againe to few matters which were done in the end of this yeare It is said how the Duke de Maine after the Kings departure from Paris gaue himselfe to fight with the Coffers and counting houses of the Parisiens But for recreation sake also he put on the armor of Venus to fight with the Curtizans of Paris so that beeing molten in all filthy pleasures the Lady Saint Beufue or some other such Uirgin did so dresse him that his name shortly after was writteÌ„ in the Chirurgians hall among them that had the pockes and lying in Paris about two moneths with his army about the Citty without dooing any thing for the aduancement of the holy Union onely that it might appeare that he was a King of Fryers he was first annointed King of Fryers by the Chirurgians of Paris with that holy Oile and extreame vnction wherewith the Popes Priests Monks Fryers and Iesuits are oftentimes annoynted and after that crowned with such a crowne as the Fryers themselues are crowned with and about the time that he had somewhat recouered his strength and téeth began to be somewhat fast in his head and his drabbling had left him Fryer Sixtus who somewhat afore the Kings death had called home his Legat who was a Uenetian Bishop of Brixia for that he was thought in Rome to fauour very much the kings affaires vnderstanding the kings affaires to haue better successe then hee would wish or had expected sent a new Legat into France to comfort assist and further the affaires of the Rebels he sent I say Fryer Henrique Cardinall Caietan his brother Canuillo Caietan Patriark of Alexandria when he can haue it Frier Philip Siga Byshop of Placentia Frier Francis Pauigarola Bishop of Aste Hieronimo Moceuigo Bishop of Ceueda Laurence Bauchet Iudge de Rota and Secretarie of this Legacy all whelps of one litter and by one ye may know all the rest who were sent in company with their traine to rid Rome of so many Caterpillers These routes of filthy Friers with their Mouchachos arriued in Paris about the middle of December with loads of such blessings and holy reliques of Rome as the Mules of Frier Campegius did ouerthrow and scatter in Cheapside when hee came into England about the diuorsement of King Henry the eight and Queene Catharine of Spaine his first wife This Frier Henrique called the heads of the League to counsell keepeth a stirre with them chid them that they were lurking in taking their pleasures without dooing any thing for holy Church and holy vnion but now they must go about their businesse handsomly wherefore comprehendeth the whole affaires in four principall points whereof three of them he would performe himselfe And first after the maner of Fryers which is alwaies in their Sermons to remember their conuent to begin with the Deuill hee proclaimed a Iubile through all France to prooue yet whether hee might with that old patched net of robbery called indulgences fish any money to helpe his master who had sent him to fish to maintaine in their brauery the holy Mochachos and Curtizans in Rome During the time of this Iubile which began at the feast of the natiuity of Christ Frier Henrique do replenish the minds of the Parisiens with superstitions the streates of Paris with processions the Churches with sottish Idolaters his belly with the best meat he could get and his purse with as much money as he could This Fisher with his ragged net was not so much superstitiously receaued in Paris as he was despised and laught to scorue euen by the Catholiks generally through all France maruelling that this Saint Peter fisher had no better tooles to goe about his busines and so as the Prouerbe is seldome doo speede the fowler neuer the fisher for beside what he did in Paris in any where else he get not a poore peny to blesse himselfe Secondly he goeth about to weaken the King for hee wrote letters to the Cardinals Bishops and Nobility of the Catholick religion wherewith he warned them of the great danger of their soules in following ayding assisting a King heretick shewing them the great harme which this schisme would doo in time to the Catholick Church by which word he meant the Legioss of Locustes of Priestes Monkes Friers and Iesuites He wrote this supposing that his bare letter would haue caused the Catholicks by heapes to forsake the Kings defence and to ioyne with the rebels This letter of Frier Henryque had thrée diuers effects for first some Bishops thought good to repayre to the King to sée whether they could make him a Catholick to whome the King answered as he had once before answered a Cardinall that he was able sooner to make a Cardinall a Hugonet then a Cardinall would make him a Catholick Others as the Cardinals of Vendosme and Leuoncourt with diuers other Byshops were of opinion that it was most expedient to call a nationall counsel according to the which the king had promised to reforme himselfe But vnto this Frier Henrique the Legat would not harken by any meanes fearing both the light and the pinch The nobility answered that they did hold him for the true heire and successor of the Crown whom they would establish in the full possession therof and when the king had pacifyed the Realme they will thinke on that matter The third thing was to encourage the rebels to set vpon the king two manner of waies by counsell and money First he shewed vnto them that it was shame for them that while the king and hereticks had made great conquests they had done nothing but lurke and take their pleasures That Frier Sixtus his Masters pleasure was to set vppon the king with all their forces before hee were strengthened and confirmed in the kingdome the longer they should delay and linger the harder it would be for them to preuaile against him Now they ought to beate the yron while it is hot and followe the matter while the rebellion is vniuersall the number of partakers great the hearts of them animated while there is great store of money gotten out of the coffers of the inhabitants of Paris out of the confiscations and proâ—criptions of the Royalls they had receaued great store of the Catholick K. of Spayne and he had also charge from Fier Sixtus to deliuer to them fiftie
kings death They were hanged without any scraping of the holy greasing which they had of their Bishop These murtherers left a president what trust princes may haue in the rable of Friers Monkes and shaueling Priests About the same time the Lord Rubempre gouernour for the King in Tourreyne gaue an ouerthrow to the Lord Chastre in the Countrey of Berrye About the beginning of Iuly the Lord Viques a most cruell Leaguer had besieged Pontarson a towne in base Britaine holding for the King against the Leaguers and after three assaults in the which he was repulsed he heard that the county of Thorigni was comming with great forces to rayse the siege wherupon he retired to S. Michaels mount wrote letters vnto the Duke Merceur who was then at Nantes for succour fearing least he should bee forced in the sayd mount Saint Michaell Hee that carryed the letters came with the sayd letters to the Earle of Thorigny who hauing perused the letters sent the copie of the same to the Prince Dombes who was betweene Saint Mal◠and Vitre and forthwith sent the Messenger to the Duke Merceur with his letters who after hee had seene them sent by and by an answere to the sayd Lord Viques praying him to be strong and that within three daies he would come to his aide with three thousand men to rescue him from the Earle Thorigny and to oppresse him seeing that the sayd Earle could not haue helpe from the Prince The Messenger came agayne to the sayd Earle and shewed him the answere of Merceur the copie thereof was sent immediatly to the Prince the resolution was so taken betweene them that the Prince caused all the horsemen to march speedily and to get betweene the sayd Merceur and Nantes and the Earle of Thorigny marched towards the sayd Merceur The Duke perceauing that hee was compassed betweene two armies ventured to fight with the Prince Dombes and whilest they were a fighting the Earle came vppon him on the other side hee was so beaten betweene them that he lost seuenteene Ensignes and twelue hundred of his company were slayne on the place he saued himselfe by flight into the Castell Josselin one of the strongest places in all France When the Lord Viques vnderstood of this ouerthrow he yeelded and in the conclusion he gaue his Daughter in marriage to the yonger brother of the Lord Montgomery who was kept prisoner by him He was permitted to keepe Saint Michaell for his safety About the same tyme the strong Towne of Dinan in base Normandie hearing of the sayd ouerthrow of Merceur did beat out of their town their gouernour brother of the Duke Merceur killed many of his Souldiers and among them the chiefest of his Captayns named Iahn and so yeelded vnto the King About this time also the inhabitants of Kilbeuf in Normandie took a galley of the Duke Aumale laden with his goods as it was going vp to Roan In this moneth of Iuly the Franciscan Fryers of Sanlis must needes plaie a Fryerlike part they were greatly desyrous to betray the towne and to deliuer the same into the Leaguers handes which for to bring to passe they caused many Captains of the rebels to come thether apparrelled like Countrey men hauing each of them a basket full of Cheries vppon their shoulders as though they were market-folkes to sell Cheries These Cherie mongers were receaued by the said Friers into their Fryery house where they had gathered together great prouision of armor But this thing beeing suspected by some good Citizens they notifyed it to the King Whereuppon many were taken and of the Fryers Masse-mongers Chery-mongers and treason-mongers of the Towne were hanged to the number of seauen score and so the play was ended Wee haue left the King at Saint Denis whilest wee went to see what was done in other places of the realme now wee will come to the siege of Paris and first speake of the state of the Citie There the famin had so preuailed in the beginning of Iuly that it far passed the famous famin of Saguntum Then began they to denounce war agaynst all the leane horses and skiruy iades agaynst the asses cats and dogges these things were more dayntie vnto them then the daynties of Sibaris little bread and that of Oates with huske and all was very scant it was for Princes and great Ladies and that a small quantity euery day In this extremity Fryer Henrico Caietano had sold and wasted all his money and plate and begging was there little regarded he with the rest of his Masse-mongers did bury in their stomackes their God whom they had made with fiue words in horse dung if they could get it but a strange thing there happened as had béen heard of in any age to wit the Asses of Sorboun were enforced to deuour their owne brothers flesh There were foure sorts of men who went about to remedie this extremity each one following their course Some of the best sort and stoutest stomacke pittying themselues their fellow Citizens whom they saw perish by heaps for the pleasure of few rebels by the aduise of one Renard Atturney in the Court of Parliament tooke counsell how to deliuer the Cittie into the Kings hands of whose clemency and gracious fauour toward the poore distressed people they assured themselues But beeing discouered some fled to the King who were graciously of him receaued some were taken prisoners and the said Renard with some others were executed but the goods of all were forfayted to the heads of the League The second was the Duke de Mayne who fearing greatly the losse of Paris being abroad where he made shift for good cheere though it were at other mens charge as the saying is Qui satur est pleno laudat ieiunia ventre He writeth letters to the inhabitants of Paris commending them for their great constancie promiseth them succour and great prouision of victuals within a certayne time prefixed in the letter willing them to bee patient yet and not to goe about any making of peace with the King The Friers and Iesuites tooke the copies of these letters read them in their pulpets and serued them for text to discourse vpon and to make braue and lustie sermous The third was the blind Captaine Bernardine who taught the delicate Parisiens the dyet of his countrey to wit to take Oates ground meale huske and all and therewith to make a kinde of pap such as the countrey men in Spayne doo vse for their ordinarie dyet and as they doo in France for the fatting of their hogges and here in England the Hunters doo for their houndes and that slubber sauce to bee sould to them that had money by a measure which was followed as long as Oates did last The fourth was the Priests who would also feede their mindes with idolatrous fantasies as their bodies were fed sparingly with spanish slubber wash and first to begin they perswaded them to vow to Nostra donna di Loretta a lampe