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spirit_n	age_n	year_n	youth_n	286	3	8.0905	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37246	The history of the civil wars of France written in Italian, by H.C. Davila ; translated out of the original.; Historia delle guerre civili di Francia. English	Davila, Arrigo Caterino, 1576-1631.; Aylesbury, William, 1615-1656.; Cotterell, Charles, Sir, d. 1701.; L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704.	1678 (1678)	Wing D414; ESTC R1652	1,343,394	762

his possessions in those p●rts for other Cities and Lordships in the Kingdom of France dismembred his Government of Guienne which he enjoyed as first Prince of the Blood and separated from it all Lang●●ed●● a large and populous Province together with the City of Tholouse and assigned the Government of them to the Constable he notwithstanding dissembling so great an affront without any shew of being at all ill satisfied constantly persevered in his design But Lewis of Conde his brother full of high thoughts and of an unquiet spirit not awed by such pretences finding the narrowness of his fortune could not maintain the greatness of his birth spitefully vexed at his present condition could not conceal the malice and envy he bare to the House of Guise which in a manner devoured all the chief employments of the Kingdom Besides his own interest the disgraces laid upon the Constable made not a little impression in him for having married his Neece Elianor de Roye and made a firm League of friendship with him and his son Momorancy he esteemed the suppression of that Family an increase and accomplishment of his own misfortunes These unquiet thoughts were still nourished in him by the Admiral of Chastillon and his brother Mounsieur d' Andelot The first of an ambitious nature but withal cautious and subtil let pass no opportunity by stirring up troubles to raise himself to an eminent degree of power The other of a fiery disposition rash by nature and perpetually involved in factions endeavoured by his example and perswasions more to exasperate the Princes fury which already had kindled such a fire in his brest that burning with hate and made as it were desperate his mind was wholly set upon innovation Such was the state of things such the emulations and enmities amongst the great ones disposed upon every little occasion to break out into open dissention when upon a sudden supervened the death of Henry the Second in the month of Iuly 1559. This Prince had in the War proved the variousness of fortune and desiring at the last to ease his Kingdom of those great expences and troubles he was perswaded joining with the Neighbour Princes to establish a general Peace to confirm which with the most lasting bonds that might be at the same time he married his eldest daughter Elizabeth to Philip the Second King of Spain and Margaret his only sister to Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy But whilst these Marriages were celebrating with all Royal magnificence and an universal joy in the City of Paris Behold the last day of Iune in a publick solemn Tournament running with headed Launces against Gabriel Count of Montgomery Captain of his Guard by accident the Vizor of his Helmet flew open and the staff of his adversaries Launce hitting him in the right eye he was presently carried away to the Hostel des Tournelles where his wound being mortal the tenth of Iuly he passed out of this life much lamented of all men Henry the Second being deceased there succeeded to the Crown Francis Dolphin of France his eldest Son being about sixteen years of age a Youth of a languishing spirit unhealthful and of a tender constitution under whose Government all things ran on in such a precipitate way to the foreseen end that hidden discords brake out into open enmities and soon after came to the resolution of Arms. The Kings youth or rather his natural incapacity required though not a direct Regent for the Kings of France are at fourteen years of age out of minority yet a prudent assiduous Governour till his natural weakness were overcome by maturity of years The ancient Customs of the Kingdom call'd to that charge the Princes of the Blood amongst which for nearness and reputation it belonged to the Prince of Conde and the King of Navarre On the other side the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorain nearly allied to the King in relation of the Queen his Wife pretended to have this Dignity conferred upon them as due to their merits and great services done to the Crown and which most imported because they in effect enjoyed it during the life-time of the deceased King Amongst these Katherine of Medicis the Kings Mother for nearness of Blood and according to many examples in former times pleaded the right to be in her and her hopes were so increased through the dissention among the Princes that she doubted not easily to compass what she desired The fear that one faction had of another facilitated her design insomuch that the Guises knowing they had not the Qualification of Blood that was required to obtain the Government of the State and foreseeing how much the authority of a Mother was like to prevail with the unexperienced youth of a Son resolved to join and unite themselves with her dividing into two parts that power which they doubted they could not wholly obtain for themselves And in like manner the Queen a woman of a manlike spirit and subtil wit knowing the Princes of the Blood are ever naturally against the Government and greatness of the Queens foreseeing also that as an Italian and a stranger she should need the support of some potent Faction to establish her self willingly condescended to make a League with the Guises who she saw would content themselves with a share only of the Government which the Princes of Bourbon pretended to belong wholly to them A great obstacle to this Union was the mutual interest of the Guises and the Dutchess Diana whom the deceased King loved extreamly even to his last but the business requiring it delays not being to be used in such great designs The Queen on the one side who in her Husbands life-time had with most commendable patience indured a Rival was inclined with the same moderation to forget all injuries past And the Guises on the other part wholly fixing their thoughts upon the present occasion easily consented she should be abased and removed from the Court provided she were not absolutely deprived of her estate which after her was come to their third Brother the Duke of A●male Wherefore their common interest accommodating their present Union and all matters concerning Diana setled to the Queens liking they began unanimously to lay the basis of their intended greatness The King of Navarre was absent little satisfied with the King and the Court because in the Capitulation with Spain no regard was had of his interest for the recovery of his Kingdom The Constable was employed in the Obsequies of the King which were on purpose committed to his care for that solemnity continuing with the same pomp three and thirty days together it is not lawful for him that hath the charge of it to depart from the place where the dead body lies and the Ceremonies are kept which was in the Hostel des Tournelles very far distant from the Louvre whither as the manner is the new King was brought to reside So that all those obstacles

that many accustomed to the liberality candour and integrity of the Prince of Conde abhorred and feared the disposition and carriage of the Admiral who was thought a man exceeding covetous of deep thoughts of a treacherous subtil nature and in all things inclined wholly to attend and procure by any means his own ends And it happened at the same time that Andelot and Iaques Bouchard the one Brother and the other streightly united by interests with the Admiral either spent with labour or overcome with grief and trouble of mind fell both into a grievous sickness of which they died not many months after whereby that party which desired the greatness and advancement of the Admiral not knowing how to manage their business remained extreamly weakned But he with his subtilty overcoming all these impediments resolved by despising ambition and speciousness of titles still to retain in himself the chief Power and Authority for transferring the name of Heads of the Faction and the titles of Generals of the Army to Henry Prince of Navarre and Henry Son to the deceased Prince of Conde he saw the common cause would not only keep the same authority and the same reputation of being upheld by the Blood Royal but they being both in a manner children the sole administration of the whole business should still remain in him so to quiet the ambitions and pretences of the great ones so to satisfie the expectation of the people and by this means to renew again that league amongst the Faction which through diversity of opinions seemed now in a manner broken With this resolution not attempting that which could not be obtained he presently sent to Queen Iane to come to the Army shewing her the time was now come to advance her Son to that greatness which properly belonged to him and to which she had so long aspired Queen Iane wanted neither willingness nor courage being before fully resolved despising all danger to make her Son Head of that Faction wherefore with a readiness and quickness answerable to the occasion she went instantly with both the Princes to the Camp which was then at Cognac full of discords within it self and in a condition rather to dissolve than to keep together to remedy the disorders and losses already hapned There the Queen of Navarre after she had approved the Admirals counsels the Army being drawn together with wonderful courage and manly speeches exhorting the Souldiers to remain united and constant in the defence of their Liberties and Religion proposed to them the two young Princes whose presence and aspect moved the affections of them all to be their Generals encouraging them under the auspicious conduct of those two branches of the Royal Blood to hope for a most happy success to their just pretentions and the common cause at which words the Army which through the past adversities and present discords was in a manner astonished and confounded taking new vigour the Admiral and the Count de la Roch-fou-cault first submitted and swore fidelity to the Princes of Bourbon by whose example the Gentlemen and Commanders doing the same the common Souldiers likewise with loud applause approved the Election of the Princes for Protectors and Heads of the Reformed Religion Henry of Bourbon Prince of Navarre was then fifteen years of age of a lively spirit and generous courage altogether addicted and intent to the profession of Arms wherefore through the inclination of his Fate or the perswasions of his Mother readily without any demur attempting the invitation of the Army in a short Souldier-like speech he promised them To protect the true Religion and to persevere constantly in the defence of the common Cause till either death or victory brought that liberty they all desired and aimed at The Prince of Conde rather by his actions than words consented to what was done for he was so young that he could not express himself otherwise so that in all other things likewise yielding to the maturer age and pre-eminence of the first Prince of the Blood the chief Authority of the Faction was established in the Prince of Navarre wherefore Queen Iane in remembrance of this Act caused afterwards certain pieces of Gold to be coyned which on the one side bore her own Effigies and on the other her Sons with this word PAX CERTA VICTORIA INTEGRA MORS HONESTA The Princes then being chosen Heads of the Faction they presently called a Council of the chief Commanders to deliberate in the presence of Queen Iane how to manage their business what remedies were expedient to repair their past losses and how to divert the extream danger that threatned them There before any thing else it was determined That the Admiral by reason of the minority and little experience of the Princes should govern the Army and all things else belonging to the War but Monsieur de Aciere should be General of the Foot which charge first by the infirmity and afterwards by the death of Andelot was vacant and Monsieur de Genlis General of the Artillery which was formerly supplied by Bouchard After which Elections discoursing how to proceed with the War many not yet assuted from their fears would that the Army should be drawn into the Cities and strong holds about Rochel shewing it would be impossible for the Duke of Anjou to make any attempt upon those places which were so invironed with waters and marsh grounds whilst there was any reasonable strength to defend them but this appeared to the Admiral the other Commanders of best esteem being of the same opinion a too cowardly resolution and therefore it was determined That all the Army should be divided into the several Towns upon the Rivers to keep them and to hinder the progress of the Conqueror till they had certain news of the forces the Duke of Deux-ponts was bringing to their aid out of Germany who when he came near the Army should draw together again to meet him wheresoever he was and use their utmost endeavours to join with him for by obtaining that end they should remain at least equal if not superiour in strength to the Kings Army and if they could not effect it they should be separated and carry the War into divers places and the King likewise being constrained to divide his Forces they might make War upon even terms which things being resolved on Queen Iane went to Rochel to sollicite for new aids and provisions the Admiral with the Princes retired to S. Iean d' Aug●li Monsieur de Piles took upon him the Defence of Xaintes Montgomery and P●viaut turned about to Angolesme Monsieur d' Aciere with the greatest part of the Foot remained at Cognac and Genlis with a strong Garison shut himself up in Loudun all places either for strength of their situation by help of art or in regard of the Rivers which in that Country are many and very deep likely to hold out a long time In the mean while the Duke

full and prosperous issue because these secret practices were not managed by any but such as were deeply engaged and the King himself also lent a hand to the work who being now come to the age of two and twenty of a resolute nature a spirit full of resentment and above all an absolute dissembler did of himself though by the advice of his Mother manage the business of the Government whereby matters proceeded not only with more efficacy and security but also with more wary and powerful counsels The principal difficulty was to beget a confidence in the Hugonot Lords and from those jealousies which possest them to bring them to such an assurance as might make them venture to come unarmed to the Court for which cause it being necessary to begin at the end the King and Queen-Mother imparting their private thoughts only to the Duke of Anjou the Cardinal of Lorain the Duke of Guise and Alberto Gondi Count of Retz who because greatly favoured and from a small fortune exalted to a considerable estate was very much trusted and very faithful to them they dispatched strict Commissions to all Magistrates and Governours of Provinces for the executing and observing the Articles of Peace in favour of the Hugonots to whom they sent as far as Rochelle the Mareshal de Cosse who was now discovered to incline to their party giving him not only authority to interpret and to make the Edict to be fulfilled in those places where it was doubtful and obscure but also most ample command to assure the Princes and the Admiral of the Kings favour and sincere intentions to observe his promises totally and inviolably Nor were his actions different from his words for the King being minded to grant the Hugonots all possible satisfaction with severe Orders punished the Insurrections of the Catholicks which in Provence Daulphine and Normandy were many against the Hugonot Ministers and in things doubtful inclined always to interpret the Edict graciously to their advantage on the other side shewing himself toward the Catholick party either too sharply severe or of a disposition very little favourable By which demonstrations he not only setled the minds of the common people but even the Admiral himself who was most obstinate in not believing and firmly resolved not to trust them began to conceive some hope that the King weary of the distractions and dangers of a Civil War beginning now to govern of himself and not by the counsels of his Mother might at last desire sincerely to preserve and establish the Accommodation But to make the greater proof and penetrate more deeply into the Kings intentions the Princes and the Admiral having conferred of many things with the Mareshal de Cosse dispatched to Court Teligny Briquemaut and Arnauld Cavagnes a Senator of the Parliament of Tholouse and a principal Counsellor of the Admirals to represent their many grievances to the King and chiefly to insist That the Cardinal of Lorain and the Guises might be put from the management of affairs of State shewing that while matters of the Government were swayed and administred by them they could not believe the agreement of peace would long continue nor did right require that coming to the Court where those Lords remained with so great authority they should put their safety into the hands of their bitter enemies With these they joined many other demands That the High Chancellor de l' Hospital should be recalled to the execution of his place That the Marquess de Villars whose election to be Admiral was void by vertue of the Agreement might not be Lieutenant to the Prince of Navarre in the Government of Guienne but that the Prince might have leave to chuse such a one as he liked Villars being no way acceptable to him and most to be suspected by the Admiral of Chastillon That the Prince of Conde might have the Castle of Vallery restored to him then in possession of the Lords of Achon who pretended a right unto it That the Bastard of Navarre might have the Bishoprick of Cominges already destined to one of the sons of Monsieur de Lansac That the Queen of Navarre might have free dominion in her Country of Armagnac where she might exercise her Jurisdiction without controul Which things especially the abasement of the House of Lorain were propounded not so much for any hope they had to obtain them being neither included nor named in the Accommodation as out of a desire by the effects thereof to find out more clearly the intentions of the King and the designs of the Queen-Mother These Lords arrived in a time when the Court was wholly taken up with the Celebration of the Kings Nuptials who desirous of issue had taken to Wife the Lady Isabella second daughter of the Emperour Maximilian of Austria and amongst those Feasts and Triumphs these complaints rather than pretensions of the Hugonot Lords were treated of which were favoured with much efficacy by the Ambassadors of the German Princes who being come to congratulate the Kings Marriage exhorted him earnestly to observe and maintain peace which their Princes had learned by experience could not be kept but by full Liberty of Conscience and by a sincere and confident Union between the Prince and all his Subjects The King and Queen-Mother knew very well that these complaints and Propositions had no other ground nor end than to discover their intentions and to search into the bottom of their designs and therefore purposing to amuse the Hugonots by the same arts wherewith they themselves were sounded after some weak denial not to give them greater suspicion by a too easie willingness they consented to many of the demands and artificially gave probable hopes of yielding to the rest To the Queen of Navarre they granted liberty of disposing all things in the County of Armagnac by Laws and Ordinances after her own mind They for a while suspended the Commission and delayed the sending of the Marquess de Villars into Guienna reserving themselves to treat thereof more particularly with the Prince of Navarre They granted many profits and Ecclesiastical revenues unto the Bastard promised the restitution of Vallery to the Prince of Conde but excused themselves by the age of the Chancellour de l' Hospital not thinking his many years and weak constitution able to undergo such a weight and multiplicity of business and as concerning the Lords of the House of Lorain which was the highest and most difficult proposition they shewed a seeming desire of consenting to the Hugonots but with the opportunity of occasions which time should offer it not being just or reasonable nor peradventure safe to deprive them all at once without any cause of those Honours and Offices which they so long had possessed and executed Notwithstanding the King with effectual discourses alledged to the Commissioners that the Government now consisted chiefly in himself and though the Lords of the House of Lorain enjoyed some Offices in the Court yet he would

most diligently endeavoured by the Cardinal of Bourbon Uncle to both the Princes a man of great integrity and extraordinary vertue omitting no means which he thought might help to bring their tender minds to the Catholick Religion and every day with Father Maldonat a Jesuite and other ●octors spending many hours to instruct them It happened very opportunely that Monsieur des Rosiers who had been a Hugonot Minister and about that time was converted either because he clearly saw his former errours or to avoid the imminent danger and to get the favour of those in power disputed with great eloquence and learning against the Doctrine and opinions of Calvin which gave the Princes a reasonable colour and specious pretence of coming fairly into the bosom of the Church following the Conversion of him that had been a principal Teacher and Maintainer of their former Faith The King of Navarre was the first who yielding to the time and having resolved to conform himself to his present condition with less difficulty and greater expressions of approbation reconciled himself to the Church the greatest part of his Servants that were left alive following his example But the Prince of Conde who though of a younger age perhaps for want of experience was of a more wilful obstinate spirit notwithstanding he was assaulted by continual threats and perswasions refused still to turn Catholick till the King exasperated by his stubbornness causing him to be brought unto him for his last trial with an angry voice and terrible aspect spake only these three words unto him MASSE DEATH or BASTILE not suffering him to reply one word to the contrary which terrour joined to so many other motives that were made use of to overcome him bent his mind at last to follow the example of all the rest and being instructed by the Cardinal his Uncle he came publickly to Masse together with the Princess his Wife Sister to the Dutchess of Nevers and Guise and the same did Lowis Prince of Conty and Charles Count of Soissons his younger Brothers who persevered afterwards sincerely in the Catholick Religion From the Conversion of all these Princes the King and Queen conceived infinite hope of more peaceable times and for the better confirmation of it the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde sent Ambassadors to render publick obedience to the Pope who rejoycing at their conversion which happened in the beginning of his Papacy answered their Embassie with many demonstrations of affection the whole Court of France being in the mean time very much satisfied that by those designs the Kingdom was brought into a most probable hope of a setled Peace and tranquillity for the perfecting whereof they endeavoured all possible means to reduce the City of Rochel But as bloody violent counsels are seldom seen to produce prosperous effects the wilfulness of men or the providence of God had already disposed otherwise for all those that by divers chances had escaped the slaughter of the Hugonots and did not comply with the Catholick profession according to the several qualities of places took different courses and resolutions Those of Britagne Normandy and Picardy Provinces along the coast of the Ocean Sea just over against England fled in great numbers into that Island not only to live there according to the Doctrine of their Faith but also uniting themselves under the command of the Count de Montgomery by the favour and protection of Queen Elizabeth to repass the Sea and some where or other to disturb the tranquillity of France Those of Daulphine Provence and Lionois retired into Swisserland where writing and enveighing continually against that cruel Massacre of all those of the same Religion they laboured to raise the Protestant Cantons and to make them break that ancient Confederacy whereby they were united to the Crown of France among these as we have said were the Sons of Andelot and the Admiral who by the fame of their Fathers authority and the tenderness of their years and the misery of their present condition stirred up the minds of every one to great pity and compassion Those of Champagne and Burgundy were gotten into the Cities of Germany and there endeavoured to make the actions of the King of France to be suspected and ill-interpreted by the Hans-towns and Protestant Princes But those near the Mediterranean and the inner parts of the Kingdom having no other way to save themselves took refuge into four strong Towns which were held by those of that party and there with all their might prepared for their own defence Those of the Isle of France Beausse and Nivernois had possessed Sanserre the inhabitants of Gascony and Languedoc fortified themselves in Nismes and Montauban and those of Anjou Poictou Xaintonge and part of Guienne were fled to Rochel as into a secure harbour There under the command of Iaques Henry Mayor of the City whose authority is chief in the Civil Government all the inhabitants had armed and divided themselves into four Companies each of two hundred and were daily exercised to learn the use of their arms besides which the Common Council to the number of an hundred and fifty were listed under Colours apart as the Colonels Company and commanded by Arandel the Mayors Lieutenant a man of great valour and experience besides these Trained Bands which served without pay for their own defence one thousand five hundred other Souldiers were gathered together from the neighbouring Provinces who under several Captains were paid by the contributions of the Cities and Towns near adjacent being all men of a resolute courage and who for the most part had been exercised in the late Wars To these were added about sixty Gentlemen fled thither from places thereabout and fifty seven Ministers who amidst the noise of Arms and toils of their Fortifications ceased not to stir up and encourage the people to defend themselves to the last man The preparations of Ammunition Cannon and other Warlike Instruments were not inferiour to the stoutness and readiness of the people for besides the abundance of Powder which they made continually having set up Mills for that purpose there were in the City-Magazine great store of Pikes and Muskets nine very great Culverins eight Cannon twelve Sacres thirty eight Field-pieces and above seventy Faulconets and Harquebuzes a Croc the managing whereof the Citizens daily practised with great diligence No● was their care less in providing victual for neither sparing pains nor cost they had filled their Store-houses with Corn and Wine whereof the Isles near to them bore great abundance as of all other things needful for the sustenance of men in the longest Sieges Against all these preparations for War the King and Queen opposed not the gathering together of Arms but treaties and inducements to Peace for desiring to enjoy the fruits of their designs without new dangers and troubles they sought to reduce the Rochellers if not to a real at least to a seeming obedience and to

was not much more welcome to the Duke of Mayenne who apprehended clearly that since the Spaniards had not made any application to him they were resolved for the future to manage the War of themselves which thing grieving him extreamly because it not only deprived him of the remainder of his hopes but also took away from him both his reputation and force by means whereof he thought to better his condition for the accommodation which he might have occasion to make with the King and judging that all proceeded from the sinister relations of the Duke of Feria and Diego d' Ivarra he resolved at last laying all respects aside to have an enterview with the Archduke and try to set his affairs right again with the Spaniards The Archduke likewise desired this enterview not for the same end the Duke of Mayenne had but to see if he could induce him to put himself under the Catholick King as the Duke of Aumale had done and to deliver up into his hands those Towns and Fortresses which yet depended on him and therefore with courteous friendly Letters and with messages full of trust and confidence invited him to come to Bruxelles which not being longer to be deferred the Duke leaving his second Son the Count de Sommerive at Laon with part of the Forces commanded by Colonel du Bourg he that came out of the Bastile went with the remainder as far as Guise where having left all his Souldiery he passed on with a Train of only threescore Horse to meet the Archduke who having received him with all the most exquisite demonstrations of Honour in other matters shewing himself very averse from the beginning to the demands which he made The Duke thought that the same Spanish Ministers who had crossed him in France did so likewise in his present Treaty and therefore being in private with Iuan Baptista Tassis and President Riccardotto he began at large with the narration of all particulars to shew that the adverseness of businesses had proceeded wholly from the imprudence and perverse managery of those Ministers to whom it not being obscure what was imputed to them by the Duke for they were provoked to clear themselves of many things they went on so far in anger that they began to counsel the Archduke to keep the Duke of Mayenne prisoner and trust the managing of affairs of France unto the Duke of Guise accusing the Duke of Mayenne of perfidiousness and too crafty and dissembling a nature and that only minding the object of his ambition he was much a greater Enemy to the Catholick King than to the King of Navarre But the Archduke not only thought that a counsel too unworthy and such an one as he believed would gain him the general hatred of all men but also judged that in many things the Duke had reason on his side and that those Ministers had indiscreetly abused him beyond measure nor did it seem strange to him since the Spanish Ministers had treated of making any other man King of France without consenting to his person that he on the other side paying them in their own coyn should think of any other resolution rather than to content and satisfie the Spaniards and as he was a Prince of great vertue and a Friend to what was just and fit he counted it too great a fault to deny the principal recompences and honours to so principal a Head and one that had done so much for the common benefit Besides he was of opinion that those Ministers counselled very crosly to take away the management of affairs from a man of so great reputation and such experienced wisdom to put it into the hand of the Duke of Guise a young man and though of a high spirit yet by reason of his youth and want of experience little able to rule so great a weight To all this he added the continual treating of the Dutchess of Guise to make her Sons peace with the King which besides that it was known in the Archdukes Court was likewise dexterously mentioned by the Duke of Mayenne at convenient times for which reasons there having been many meetings between the Princes the business in hand began to change its form the Archduke knowing that the Duke of Mayenne was not in so weak a condition as that he would easily submit himself to the Spanish yoke and on the other side that he abated much of his former pretensions by reason of the urgent necessity which pressed him at that present so that both of them reserving themselves for the opportunity of after-times determined that the Duke of Mayenne should go with his forces to join with Count Mansfelt and that jointly with a common consent they should manage the War to oppose the Kings proceedings deferring till another time both the establishing of conditions and the manner how they should order matters for the future The King to whom the Duke of Nevers lately returned out of Italy and the Duke of Bouillon were joined was already marched from Chauny with twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse with intention to besiege Laon where besides the Duke of Mayenne's young Son there was also the greatest part of his Personal Estate but to come upon it the more unexpectly and catch the Defendents unprovided he marched with the Army before and by the way of St. Quintin and Cressy came near to la Chappelle making show as if he would assault the Spanish Camp but while standing near and facing the Enemy they were skirmishing with one another he gave order that the Reer led by the Mareschal de Byron should march off and go back to besiege Laon whither not many hours after having first sent away the Sieur de St. Luc and then the Baron de Salignac he with the Duke of Nevers departed the next morning and came last of all before the Town In it with Colonel du Bourg and the Count de Sommerive there were many Commanders of note six hundred French Foot two hundred Germans three hundred Neapolitans sixty Cuirassiers and two hundred Light-Horse and besides the Souldiers of the Garison the Towns-men also concurred willingly to defend the place they had great store of Ammunition and Fire-works and the Commanders who had suspected a siege had prepared and fortified all convenient places in such manner that the siege seemed like to be of great difficulty and uncertain event and so much the rather because the Spanish Camp being near it might keep the Kings Army in jealousie many ways nor was it to be doubted but that the Duke of Mayenne would use his utmost Forces to relieve and disingage his Son Wherefore the King intent before all things to shut up the passage against the relief which might come from many places sent Monsieur de la Chastre with the Troops under his command to lie upon the way that leads from Reims and the other places of Champagne doubting that the Duke of Guise with the Forces