great hope and expectation ouer whome you haue euer beene a carefull Cornelia as well to succeede their renowmed Father in his vertues which neuer shal perish as other his humaine dignities possessions wherof if you shall not in this Historie haue the like profered to your view for no age hath left any such recorde yet cōtemne not the reading of my Author by whome you shall receiue the true first motiue of all the Ciuil and foraine warres of Fraunce in our age and her neighbour Countries with such memorable accidents and occurents as continually were ministred Not like to that impudent though excellent writer Paulus Iouius no lesse worthy to be a Bishoppe then a Historiographer who plainly auerred nay was not ashamed himselfe in his Bookes to vaunt how he made no accounte in writing a lie were it in matter of consequence or to please the appetite of great ones which shoulde set him a worke for that wher ther was one in his time which knew the fault from the truth all posterity hereafter would notwithstanding belieue and giue credite to what he should set down my Author contrariwise hath beene so little tickled with the couet of rewarde or ambition capitall enemies to the truth as that he refuseth to set his owne name to his so painefull labours mildely and with such great temperance ouerrunning the proceedings of all enemies as hee cannot iustly be suspected of any partiall leaning to the one side more then the other wishing for my own part that some one ther were according to my tast giuen who in this scribling age whereof translating humours and quoters are plentie would finish out the rest many fragments and sundrie Bookes yet lying by me as I once intended but since through an accident that happened in a pelt flong away my pen confining what I had done as I then thought to vtter darkenesse weary of giuing Liueries to other mens retayners like a conceyted builder rather delighted with an inferiour model of his owne framing then to rough-cast or adorne a more goodly and sumptuous pallace left vnto his hands reseruing my selfe to somwhat though simplier of my owne hammering and digesting which the proiect already being fausied time may finish and peraduenture bring to light if feare of receiuing foyle by that illustrious Camden doe not otherwise withdrawe my humorfoyle yet honour enough to be an imitator and carrier of thy Bookes Precious curious Camden thy owne Country prints not sufficient to extend thy name worthy to finde Kinges thy nurcing fathers and Queenes thy nurses rare Iewell of Britaine land enemie to inglorious obliuion tresurer of memorie trumpet of Albyons fame register of Antiquitie and poursiuant of eternitie It now resteth glorious and beautifull Ladies adorned with your stately ranke and place humbly to intercesse pardon for my presumption in seeking so boldely to shrowde the infirmities of my pen vnder the shadowe of your winges And that it will please you to grace with your generall safe conduct this my newe English Denizen to passe from place to place free from any Menippean search vntill he may make his rende-uous in some contemplatiue or retired hands who though he now seeme Clownish Rogish like yet notwithstāding in his own Country guise is well esteemed of very commendable In which albeit many of you bee singularly well able to iudge of him yet if it please any of the rest to vouchsafe to entertayne his broken English I dare assure that for his discourse you shall finde him very delightfull for his newes not ordinarie and for his truth can bring good securitie when soeuer he may be permitted to attend vpon your leasure not importioning his accesse vntill weried with your more weightie and serious seruices a desire may possesse you insteede of recreation to spend with him some fewe howers of the day A matter heretofore accustomed in my knowledge by manie high and loftie Ladies who often times to be meete with wearisomnes exercised themselues in studie reading of worthie writers as Marguerite Countesse of Lennox Anne Countesse of Oxford Francis Countesse of Sussex Elizabeth Countesse of Lincolne the Ladie Marie Sydney liuing my thrice honoured mistresse truely liberall and bountifull rare Mother of so heroicall an ofspring by her noble minde and cariage easily discouering greatnes of birth and Princely parentage and that wise good and godly Ladie aduancer of so many excellent personages both in Arte and Armes employing her credite with her Soueraigne then whome none had greater in doing good offices for all sortes in generall but especially preferring those in whome she might perceiue any signification of vertue to appeare That graue Matron harmelesse Courtier and faithfull seruant Francis Barones of Cobham late wife to the noble L. and trustie Councellor yet liuing to whome I was so much bound in many duties being likewise to the whole house as that both in her health and languishing Maladie she sundrie times admitted me to conferre or reade with her finding in the Ecclesiasticall Historie her most delight But no waies may I heere without extreame note of grosse ouersight pretermit in this lift that famous Religious and learned Ladie flower of her familie prouident mother blessed in her posteritie Mildred Barones of Burghlie besides her knowledge in the Latine letters wherein of a subiect she excelled such were her studies exercises and continuall Meditation in the Greeke Doctors of the Church especially Basil Ciril Chrisostome and Nazianzene as a chiefe reader in that tonge Laurence by name hath ere now confessed vnto me that in his iudgemēt she Egalled if not ouermatched any in whose profession as expected so most was to be required Neither were these excellent parts of hers onely Theoricall but still put in practise like an other Dorcas full of piety and good works as without any ostentation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides her readines in solliciting for poore and distressed sutors vnto her deare Lo. the auncients Councellor of Europe Pater Patriae piller of the state thorough whose prudent pollicie and carefull watchings iustly may be applied Neque periculum in R. P. fuit grauius unquam noc maius otium in her life time setting on her owne charge so many poore aworke her exhitition to Schollers liberallitie to Vniuersities bountie to exiled strangers and her most abounding charitie euerie quarter to all the prisons about London hath manifestly declared I hope that in so long insisting vpon the vertues of this Lady and others I shall not be misliked for insinuation lesse feare to be suspected namelesse like my Author and yet if knowne most will confirme that Non mihi promptum in adulationes ingenium But I haue the rather presumed of your patience in delighting of these honourable personages to the end to incite you to treade in their steps and imitate their examples Such as you are were they and such as they now are shall euerie one of you be who though they seeme faded and as it were
vanished from among vs yet doth their goodnesse and memorie stil remaine fresh and fixed in the minds and harts of manie But how can it otherwise fare Illustrious Ladies but that you must needes succeede or rather abounde in all or greater worthinesse hauing the honour and blisse to bee trayned vpp in the same Schoole from the which they and all other borrow their light as the Moone doth frō the Sun at the mouth of that diuine Oracle Ex cuius ore melle dulcior fluit oratio that sacred Queene vnmachable and victorious Virgine Supereminens omnes Mans mirror Ioues darling worlds wonder and natures perfection whose Angelicall face so often as I doe beholde as behold to often I can not me thinketh J still with daseled eyes see as it were in full aspect Solarem Maiestatem cum Saturnina grauitate That the powerful and essentiall thing of things may number the peaceable yeeres of her Raigne like the sands of the Sea that the shadow gonne downe in the Dyall of Ahaz may be ten and ten degrees brought backward that the Sunne abide and the Moone stand still vntill she may be auenged of her enemies Let all her Subiects pray our age rest thankefull posteritie admire and the heauens eternise her name for euer The Historie of Fraunce THE FIRST BOOKE NOw that those our Actions are most worthy of praise which can both please profit together wherein a History ought to haue the aduantage to excell all other I do not wel know though I did hardly could I tell whether in representing vnto you the estate of Fraunce and nations neighbours vnto it since fortye yeeres past I might doe a generall pleasure considering the mallice enuye and diuersitie of iudgements of euery man True it is that if I be not deceiued through the selfe liking of my owne labour the truth herein so clearely represented the free desire of euery ones profit in sundry sortes the varietie and notable euente of so many accidents doe sufficiently promise vnto mee a gratious acceptance euen at the handes of the more gentle and better vnderstanding sort of strangers who being farre from my knowledge and thereby lesse tickled with enuie an ordinary compagnion of the liuing shall be more rightly able to iudge of my labours I doe lesse doubt how small or much pleasing soeuer the first Treatises of this Historie shal be but that all wil euen hasten to see the progresse and issue therof some allured thereunto through the pleasure which the diuersitie of so strange and memorable an Argument offereth vnto them and other of a curiositye praise worthie to be willing to know the meruailes of Gods iudgments the great hatreds and small charitie So many peaces broken so many warres renewed so strange cruelties so small fauours in summe al the Potentates of christendom at banding for and against the French who most miserably haue made themselues the foole in the play and the vnhappy end variable reencounter of more rare miseries then euer worldlings did practise I cleane contrarye knowing the verye causes and meanes through which wee haue beene cunningly ledde to such pouertye endeuour as much as possibly I may to estrange from my selfe the consideration of so miserable effects and fetch my history from more high reaching somewhat beyond the beginning of our ciuill warres where wandring in a true discourse of forraine affaires and such as are common vnto vs with our neighbours I seeke the recompence of my paines In this chiefely that as maister of my selfe I cōmand my owne affections for a while to forget our calamities passed from which I may boldely borrow so much leasure as I shall esteeme necessarie to turne awaye for a season so sorrowfull and pitious a remembrance as thereby I am howrely put in minde of and albeit the memory of such greefes ought not any wayes to cause a vertuous disposition to swarue from the truth no more then the frendship of some hatred of other or respect of great personages should doe and though hee is verye rarelye to be found which is not spyed in the ende if not throughlye gained yet at the least tempted by some one of these passions especially in so confuse graue and deepe a matter I will notwithstanding be found so little partiall as all men shall haue more cause in other matters to disgrace me then in the truth of such accidents as are heere set foorth which if they shal bring a form of a more agreeable setting forth either by the number of strange occurrents or exceeding by a more excellency of deliuery the rudenes of my naturall language howsoeuer it be so farre am I from enuying so great a benefite to those of my age that I shall holde my selfe for well satisfied when I shall not gather any other profite of my long watchings then to see my selfe at the end of so great trauailes to haue vndertaken more for the pleasure of others then my owne particular And now that among Historiographers my name resteth as obscured their high valour number which are able to shadow the light wil bring me some comfort ioyned therewithall is that my qualitie holding more of action then of contemplation doth dispence with me to make any profession of writing but in matter of consequence wherein I am most delighted which being the cause that I best iudge of my insufficiency for being able to conduct and profit so laboursome a trauaile I will call vpon his grace which is able to blesse the beginning pursuite and last end of such a labour Being then resolued to lay before your eyes the estate of Fraunce and her neighbours since fortye peares passed and considering how the causes of humaine accidents are maintained by an eternall bonde and knowne of fewe people I thought I should make my worke a great deale more commendable if I did fetch the matter from more high thogh not from the first spring yet at the least from the more apparāt occasions which haue brought forth so strange occurrents For when I should entreat but of the wars between Charles the Emperour and Philip his sonne against the Kings of Fraunce or of the change of Religion throughout Christendome or of the Seditions that ensued thereon I should worke you very small pleasure and lesse profit in laying downe these matters so rawly vnto you leauing in the meane time vndiscouered the roote and cause of these great ones enmities the beginning and progresse of the reformation the paines and pursuites against such as were wilfull in the faith when whence and how the Lutherans were dispersed throughout the whole world by what meanes and successe they haue beene maintained against the Catholiques in euery Countrie together with the motife and conduite which both the one and the other pretended to bring to the defence of the true and auncient religion And hereby in shewing you the beginnings and preparatiues of the stomacking warres among the Christians I shall make you to iudge
be K. of Romans was proposed by the Emperour and couragiously refused by the Duke of Saxe who died about the 13. of August 1532. and other Protestantes in fauour of whom the King of Fraunce had already consigned one hundred thousand crownes But in the end of Iune 1534. by accord made betweene Ferdinand and the sonne of Frederic late departed it was said among other things that he should acknowledge him for K. of Romanes without preiudice to come to the Electors and that within two moneths the Emperour should ratifie the succession of Frederic as well to the goods of his Father as his Grandfather and should confirme the mariage passed with the Duke of Cleues In summe the endeuourers of peace the Bishop of Maience and elector Palatin preuailed so farre and the Turkes comming into Austria more that the Emperour to haue succour of all handes in the beginning of Iune 1532. at a day helde at Noremberg confirmed a generall peace throughout all Germany with forbidding any should be troubled for Religion vntill a Councell or if that helde not vntill the Estates had found meanes to appease that difference vpon greeuous paines to the breakers thereof and promised himselfe would be a meanes to the Pope that a Councell should be published within sixe moneths to begin one yeare after or if the Councell should not holde aduice should be taken in the imperiall daies to resolue the whole to which the protestants promised to doe all dutie against the Turke Concluded the 23. of Ianuarie and ratified the second of August by the Emperour and afterwards published the Emperour holding a day at Ratisbone Since the Emperour being returned from Vienne in Austria went into Italye where he assured himselfe of Clement the 7. from thence passed into Spaine Afterward Clement at the request of King Frauncis came from Genes to Marseilles in the Automne 1533. Where to confirme a reciprocall and euerlasting amitie hee gaue Katherine his Neece to Henry Duke of Orleans being 15. yeares of age a mariage no lesse coueted of the one side then the other True it is that Clement would neuer assure himselfe throughly thereof vntill he saw them in bed togither The K. in like sorte notwithstanding any offers and assurances which the Emperor other Princes offered vnto the Pope so as he would not perseuere therein tooke no rest vntill it was accomplished as well for the dignitie and singular recommendation of that race and the hope which his affaires might breede in Italye as contrariwse that the Emperour might soone enough thereby be impayred Now to the ende that such as willinglye suffer themselues to bee commaunded by their passions or in like sorte iudge euery thing according to the reporte and opinion of others may haue the truth deliuered of what they ought to beleeue of the house of Medices The race hath appeared very great highlye renowned and most honourable as well among the Christians as many of contrary faith be it that you looke into the Fathers stocke an Italian or the Mothers a French for the first being endewed with the vertues of charitie and discreete liberalitie either publique or priuate for the foundation of her greatnes a man would iudge the pollitique gouernement of the Medices in Florence much more worthy of praise then the raigne of a number of other christian Princes their power credit increased by Iohn de Medices named of Bicci contrary to the Nobles who sought cleane to ruine the whole estate of the towne so as hauing beene preferred to all their dignities and estates without euer suing for any one peaceable and succourable to all hee dyed most rich and wealthye freended of euery man leauing as well for heire of his vertues as his fortune Cosme surnamed the great in respect he was the most famous personage not bearing arms which euer was seene or read of in any discourse remarqued aboue all his vertues for his magnificent liberalitie from whence all men reaped profit and aduancement in their affaires euen so farre as he made search to helpe any of the Nobles or other which he knew stoode in any wante to releeue their disseanes so as when hee was dead the names of al his fellow Citizens were found in an inuertour which Pierre his sonne tooke of his goods carrying the tytle of Father of the Countrie which the Tuscanes caused to be engrauen vpon his Tombe And albeit the life of Pierre and his vertue was much more short thē was expected he left behinde him notwithstanding Laurence and Iulian of Medices so renowned in their time that hee being traiterously murthered by his enemies leauing a Posthumus named Clement the seauenth the Prince of the Turkes would not fayle but with speede enough send Bernard Baudin the murtherer to Laurence to vse him at his pleasure so much had he their honour in recommendation But so greatly were his graces recommended through Italy that euen as hee liuing they balanced his vertue in counterweight of the vices of the Christian Potentates for maintaining of whole Italye and all the Princes adioyning in peace so hee being departed all the Lordes of Italye before rayned with the brydle of his wise councelles tooke such a libertye to their free passions that Charles the eight drawne in by the Duke of Milan against the King of Aragon for the conquest of Naples and as soone the rest of the Potentates banding against him and since among themselues Italye neuer had from that time other occasion then to mourne the losse of his presence whome they knewe not sufficiently enough to honor considering the greatnes of his deserts hee lefte behinde him Pierre Iulian and Iohn which was Leo the tenth So as Iulian being departed without issue his goods and credite descended to Pierre though chased out of Florence he was after drowned at the mouth of Gariglan leauing for his heire Laurence of Medices whome Pope Leo and Frauncis the first married to Madame Magdalaine of the house of Bologne in Anuergne predecessors to the Q. Mother who in steade of the Countie of Bologne enioyed the County of Lauraguez in Lāguedoc for so much as Lewis 11. would needs haue the County of Bologne in exchange for Lauraguez at the hands of Bertrande Earle of Anuergne great Grandfather to the saide Queen See now the race on the mother side deriued from Robert the last of that name Earle of Bologne and Anuergne whose ancestors helde ranke about the Kings before the Constables Chancelors great Chamberlaynes or other officers of the crowne who left Guillaume and Iohn his heires the firste had onely Iodhe maried to Philip Duke of Burgundie and in her second marriage to Iohn K. of Fraunce to whome by will deceasing without issue she lefte the Duchie of Burgundie And so the Counties of Bologne and Anuergne came to Iohn her Vnckle who had Iohn which married Eleonor of Comminges of whom he had Ioane whom she brought to the Castle of Ortais to Guston
but before this thorough their subtilties and wilines they haue preuailed so farre as the most famous Prince King Frauncis was condemned for an enemy without being heard It is true that that redounded to their particular profite but to the great dammage of the Common-wealth for it may euidently enough be perceiued how hard a matter it is to decay the liberty of Germanye and to build their Realme to make it last so great and so long as the amity betweene these two nations hath endured for because at this present standing in feare of the French armies they proceede therein more slackely and insist not so liuely to impose their Spanish yoke they be they for certaine which haue obtained peace at the Turkes handes by praiers and tributes and who vnder colour of Religion and obedience haue brought a thousand enormities and factions into Germany which haue beaten her with her owne rodde warring against her with her owne power which haue drawne monie from all and rendred the condition of Germany into so pitious an estate as may be wel seene by the Spanish Garrisons disposed on the one side and the other which haue vnfurnished those places of armes where they were kept in store which haue made open the way to the examination of the treasure for it is growne to that passe at this day that the seale of the Empire and the iudgement of the Chamber and the right or priuiledge of imperiall dayes is in the sleeue of the B. of Arras for what meaneth this to execute by way of iustice or to banish in offring great rewardes to the murtherers all those as for their maintenance haue put themselues into the wages of strangers I omit so many murthers so many whordomes pilferies and sackings of Citties and aboue all religion which now was handled of one sorte and now of another accordingly as the time serued Certes whatsoeuer hath beene done since some yeares passed hath tended to no other end then to trouble the lawes of the Empire or constraine or allure King Ferdinand by faire promises as also to terrifie the Princes by feares and dreades to the end the Prince of Spaine might be chosen Emperour were it not rather to be wished by men of valour to dye then to see the light of the Sunne in such miseries and calamities I doe not think that any man can be found so blockish or barbarous that hee doth not feele himselfe galled with these thinges Therefore no man ought to maruell if at the last some Princes haue bene found and among them the Electour Maurice D. of Saxe which stand resolued to hazard their liues for the recouerie of the liberty of their common Countrie and which finding themselues too feeble and not able alone to sustaine the charge haue demaunded succour and alliance of the King of Fraunce who cleane forgetting any mislikes of the time passed hath not onely employed thereto all his wealth and treasure but also hath not spared his owne person in a matter of so great consequence contracting an alliance with them wherein among other thinges there is set downe that they shall not make any accorde with the enemy without the Kings good liking and albeit that Maurice be bound thereunto yet desiring the prosperitie of the Countrie and to accommodate himselfe to Ferdinand which did so earnestly require it he very lately besought the most christian King to signifie vnto him vnder what conditions hee would haue the peace treated of that to say the truth fell out otherwise then he hoped for considering his benefite towards them to haue beene such and so great that hee thought it fitter to entreate neerer hand and not so farre off of matters which so neerely concerned him neuerthelesse forsomuch as he euer preferred the publick weale before his owne particular hee would deny nothing to a Prince his allie wherefore if the soares of the common wealth might be healed as they ought and that good assurance may be giuen that in time to come they shall not be refreshed if the Captiue Princes may be released vnder the conditions set downe in the treatie further if the ancient alliances betweene Fraunce and the Empire and the last Capitulation with Princes may be so confirmed as that for euer they may remaine in force if these thinges I saye may bee well brought to passe he is so affectionate to the Common wealth that not onely he will willingly accord to a treatie of peace but also yeeld most humble thanks to God that herein he hath aided you with councell and succours As touching priuate matters as the Emperour hath detained from him many things by force and made warre vpon him without any iust occasion the King thinketh it a matter very reasonable that he which hath beene the occasion of the iniury should firste shewe the way of satisfaction The King in truth no whit distrusteth at all of his owne power nor yet of the equitie of his cause and notwithstanding hee will giue them to vnderstand how much hee loueth peace and how much hee desireth to agree with them all and with Maurice The Princes answered hereunto that his discourse fet from antiquitie as concerning the coniunction of Germany and Fraunce was most agreeable vnto them and no lesse that the King preferred the common wealth before his particular profite making no refusall to the confederate Princes accorde with the Emperour for it is not onely the profite of one nation but of all Europe which hauing beene turmoyled with ciuill calamities tended to an euident ruine As for the conditions which the K. demaunded they doubted not but that they might be obtained for the Emperour alwaies bare good will towards the common wealth both heretofore and in these present troubles he neuer vnderstoode that the libertye of Germany was any waies diminished There was likewise great hope that in very short space hee would set at libertie the Captiue Princes As touching the renewing of their ancient alliances the King well vnderstandeth in his owne wisedome that a matter of so great weight could not be brought to passe in this assembly notwithstanding they greatly desired that the amitie which euer had beene betweene the two nations might remaine firme and inuiolable they likewise desire aboue all the rest that the differentes betweene the King and the Emperour might be pacified protesting that therein they would neither spare trauaile not diligence whatsoeuer But forsomuch as the K. said that the Emperour did possesse sundry places which appertained to him and openly made shew of many which he would repeate it seemed vnto them a matter very reasonable that he should declare what they were for they were determined fullye to infourme the Emperour thereof and to be a meanes in the cause Further they besought the King to take the same in good parte That which the Embassadour spake of the familye of Luxembourg grew vpon this Henry Earle of Luxembourg had a sonne named Henry who afterwards was the
you to thinke what good husbandrie there was made The Comissarie was founde there hidde in the bedstrawe and wyth these marchants was carryed prisoner to Thoul the victuals and prouisions dispearsed and spoyled as much as they coulde They did as much at Espinau a castle scituate vpon Mozelle and Rimiremont where great violence was offered to the Abbesse and Ladies especially by the Italians which were newly come from the Emperous campe to the Kings seruice The Duke of Neuers had sent Chastellus Lieutenant of Bordillons companie towardes Metz with like number of Cauallerie to learne out and make a certaine report of the truth of this retrait Who passing by the Pont Camouson founde that the Count of Aiguemont with his regiment of Cauallerie was departed thence where was onely remayning a great number of miserable sicke creatures From whence he passed as farre as Metz where hee found that the Dukes of Alua and Brabanson with the greatest part of the imperiall armie were dislodged in straunge disorder departing in the night with two fires onely for signall the most secretly that they could without anie noise trumpets fifes and drums sleeping the tents lefte behind and great quantitie of all sorts of harnesse and weapons pipes full of cannon pouder with an infinite deale of moueables and stuffe and vnder the ground a great part of theyr artillerie remaining for hostages an incredible multitude of sicke persons towards whom the Duke of Guise and the rest of the chiefe euen to the simplest French souldiers vsed most great charitie furnishing them with all necessaries and such releefe as poore sick strangers had need of Vpon the tayle charged the Vidasme of Charstres so as hauing defeated a companie of light horse and caused a great deale of theyr pouder which hee had taken awaie in theyr sight to be burned hee returned wyth more prisoners than he was willing wythout the losse of anie one of his owne The Marques Albert remayned the last to serue for helpe and arreregard not without great paine and hazard thorough the continuall alarums which daie and night hee receyued Besides that he prayed the Duke of Neuers to hasten him to go so as the third of Ianuarie he departed from Thoul with his men at armes and cauallerie and three Ensignes of fanterie accompanied with Bordillon and sundrie other Gentlemen and Captaines After he went to dine at Pont Camouson where the rest of that daie he tarryed to heare newes of the Marshall of Saint Andre who was gone the lower waie hauing in lyke sort sent Mouie to the Duke of Guise praying him to aduertise him of the resolution of that affayre whose aunswere hee attended But Chastellus being returned and by him assured of the whole especially how the Marques sought all meanes to saue himselfe and retire hee went forwards towardes Metz with two hundred horse The rest of that daie the Princes tooke great pleasure to see the braue sallies and skirmishes of theyr souldiers Vpon the Marques his Germanes whom they went to seeke out in their owne forte and giue them thrusts of pikes and harquebuze shot euen within theyr tents to prouoke them to come out into the plaine to fight which they woulde not doo but by constraint keeping still close together and vnited wythout breaking or seuering themselues In this estate and paine were they constrained to tarrie from morning vntill night not once daring to inlarge themselues so much as to seeke out victuals For as soone as they were found in anie small number by and by by the Marangetz and Fouillardz villaines of the Countrie they had theyr throates cut and were defeated Wherewith being the more annoyed they ought rather to come out as the French desired considering that they coulde not inforce them but with greate losse Therefore to the end they might the more vexe them the Duke caused foure meane Culuerines to bee placed in a lyttle Ilande aboue Pont au Mores which shot euen within them In summe they dyd so sore annoye them as two dayes after the Marques hauing lost the better parte of his men departed thence in a farre lesse number than hee came with taking his waie towards Treuues Hee was a little followed after and they made a good market wyth his people being combatted inough wyth colde famine and other miseries But the French moued with pittie made no account thereof but in stead of tormenting them they opened vnto them the passage and suffered the members to go scotfree wishing onely that they might haue gotten the head to haue paid for all The Duke of Guise aduertised the King by Randan of all the successe of his siege who after hauing yeelded thankes vnto God for so good an issue commaunded that they should make publyke and general processions throughout his Realme to praise and thanke God of so great and especiall a grace for all France The Duke of Guise dyd the lyke at Metz wyth a generall procession where he himselfe was present with all humilitie and deuotion as also dyd the rest of the Princes and Lordes which accompanyed him to wit the Princes of D'anguien de Conde Montpensier la Roche Suryon de Nemours Horace Farneze Pierre Strossie le Vidasme de Chartres Montmorencie D'anuille de Gonor gouernour of Metz De la Brosse Lieutenant of the Duke of Lorraines companie and De la Rochefoucaut the Vizecount of Turaine and De Martiques D'elangues Entragues De Biron and Saint Remy and generally all the Captaines Gentlemen and souldyers which remayned after the siege Afterwardes hauing ordered the garrison which should remaine there within and disposed of all the rest of the affaires the musters being taken as wel of the men at armes as the fanterie he gaue leaue to all to go repose and refresh themselues in their owne houses and he himselfe went to the Court leauing De Gonnor to command in his place During the time that the Emperour patiently carryed the misfortune happened vnto him vnder a hope of a more fauourable to come and as hee retired to the Low Countries hee excused himselfe towardes the Princes and Cities of the Empire of so pittifull successe laying it vpon the slacknes of theyr forces and meanes For which cause sayde hee hee was inforced to set vpon that place in the dead of winter The King of France triumphed ouer his miseries and increasing them by his Letters and Embassages to all Christian Princes the more to diminish the authoritie and credite of his enemie whose power hee sayde was altogether broken by the issue of so miserable a siege passed the most parte of the times for reuenge of so great raines and sicknes as had beene indured by the continuance of the warres passed in ease and reioycings which hee tooke in feastings tiltings turney and other royall pleasures among which the marriage made at Paris wyth rare magnificence betweene Horace Farneze Duke of Castres and the Ladie Diana his natural daughter was most famous But
Naples Sicilie and Ierusalem the Dutchies of Milan Burgondie Brabant the Earledomes of Aspur Flanders and Tiroll Henrie in this meane while cōtinuing stil ready vpon his guard caused in the great plain betwene Craeuecaeur and Cambray a generall muster to be made of al his men at armes and French Cauellerie about the month of Iuly whilst that his footmen cariadges had gained the aduantage and passed the Riuer for some companies of light horse being sent forth for watch and scoutes returned word back how that they had discouered neere hand to a foure or fiue hundred horse and a great number of foote making shew as though the Emperours Campe marched keeping their way as though they went directlye to Cambray whereof they were no sooner aduertised then likewise ready with resolution rather to fight it out in the fielde then to permit or giue them leaue to fortifie so neere vnto them especially with the helpe and succour of so great a Towne whereby as much mischeefe might happen vnto them as did vnto the Protestants of Germanie before Ingolstat whereupon the D. D' Aumale remounted suddenly on horseback with the light Cauallerie the better to be assured of the truth and found how the imperial army was indeed remoued with full determination to come and encampe neer Cambray but that the Emperor knowing how they were not departed thence fearing to be enforced to fight to his great disaduantage lodged in another place neere vnto the first called Neuuille which hee caused soddenly to be renforced with trenches on that side which was not flancked to the riuer This night at sundry times were fent out some companies of French Cauallerye and of the Admirals men at armes to keepe them in continuall alarmes within their forte vntill the break of day next morning that the Constable with the most parte of the men at armes of his vantguarde and two Regimentes of French Fanterie went neere to view and see if there were any meanes to force them within their forte or to entice and giue them occasion to come forth But he found that very hard for that this place was two waies enclosed with the riuer and on the other sides wel fortified and trenched in assuring himselfe by the discourse of naturall reason and examples past that for the smalnes of resolution which would be had therin he could not carry away more honor and profite then hee had done at other times and in his yong yeeres at La Bicoque a simple Country house of lesse strength then the place where the Marquesse of Gnast defeated all the fury of the French Zuizers and other partakers of the Flower de luce True it is that in his returne hee espyed some olde Towers where sundrye of the enemyes were lodged on this side their Campe as well to keepe scoute as to endamage the fouragers whereupon it was concluded that the Cannon should be brought thither the same day to the battrie by this meanes the rather to prouoke the Emperour to come forth to guarde and defende them But the imperialls cleane acquited them retiring within their fort Notwithstanding to giue all occasions which might bee as also doubting the descent of the English into the countrie of Boulonnois the marriage hauing beene alreadie solemnized betweene the K. of Spaine and their Queene Henry determined to make his armie vnto those partes where accordyng as the commoditie presented it selfe he might besiege on of his enemies holdes to the end that if hee would put himselfe into the fielde and striue to rescue it the Emperour might bee thereby constrained to fight Hauing then soiourned certaine daies at Creueceur neare to Cambray the second of August hee departed and the same day went to encampe at Ondrecourt nere the Castelet whereof the Emperour being aduertised raised his armie from Neuuille and taking his way towards Arras pitched at Marteau The day after the French were at Mornencourt two leagues from Peronne and the next morrow passed before Bapalme saluted with infinite shot of Cannon Notwithstanding the armie made no long aboade there through the discommodity which they founde in not being able to recouer water but onlie the light horse skirmished somtime before that place whilest that the whole army descended to encampe that night all along the little Riuer vnderneath Mirammont whence they departed the next daye keeping theyr way all along the borders of the Countie of Artois where they sawe a wonderfull waste which the Prince of Roche Sur-yon his army had made sundrye faire Castles and Villages as yet smoaking the Corne and fruites of the earth clean destroyed and abandoned which are the miseries and calamities that the warres and dissentions betweene Princes bring to poore people That night being the 5. of August they encamped Paz in Artois where some cauallerie of the Garrison of Arras keeping alongst the woods and couered cuntry vndertook to free about vpon the hinder part but being encountered with their English and Scottish Cauallery were defeated and the most parte of their Souldiers dismounted and other brought away prisonners whereby the losse of Giuettes was now recompenced There they made great waste and continued it as farre as the abbey of Cercamp where the County of S. Poul beginneth there they soiourned two dayes for many reasons especiallye for that they had resolued to besiege the Castle of Renty The D. of Vendosme departed thence with a good number of Cauallerie and foote training some artillerie to goe before to summon it also to knowe whether any bodye were lefte within Fauguemberg which he purposed to raze with all other small fortes adioyning to the end likewise that he might be able to bring greater store of artillerie that which he had there being partly homecomed partly cracked and dismounted much powder and munition hauing beene spent before the Townes and Castles which they had taken the eight of August they trauersed all the Countye of S. Poul leauing Dorlan and Hedin on the left hand and Terroanne on the right to encampe the night following at Fruges whence that night the Castle of Renty was againe summoned and answere made by the Captaine that he would neuer yeelde it vp assuring himself of the succours which the Emperour would bring vnto him who being informed of the K. comming thither as well in respect that forte was very preiudiciall to the County of Boulonnois as to assay if they would hazard to fight with him and driue him out of the Countrie was departed from Arras where hee had mustered all his forces with which he approched as neere vnto the King as Terroanne on the Friday at night But the French knowing his intent to be to keepe on the other side of the Riuerh a place strong by reason of the length bredth of the wods which stretched very far into the country wherby succors might come vnto him as well of victuals as Souldiers and all other sorts of munitions and being there fortified his presence
being at his tayle without any great preiudice notwithstanding by reason of the good order which he gaue in the discamping conduct of his armie the which was furnished with victuals in the Placentine Countrey by the commaundement of Octauian Farneze D. of Parma which the D. of Guise caused to be payd for expresly forbidding any souldiar to doe wrong to the subiectes of this Prince We will leaue then for a while the D. of Guise marching with his forces in Italie to the Popes succour to enterlace you here an accidente as straunge as any which hath happened in the memorie of our forefathers Dauid George who since made himselfe to be called Iean de Bructe borne at Delph in Hollande an authour of a peruerse secte making himselfe to be named by his followers King and Christ immortall dyed the yeere passed 1556. the 24. day of August and his wife a little before retired with a verie great familie of her owne to Basle in the yeere 1544. He sayde he was fled his owne Countrey for the Gospels sake and there bought houses and a Castle neere vnto the towne called Buiuignen with landes of great reuennewe He was verie cunning of great Spirite and had his eyes addressed on all partes to gayne the heartes of many and an exteriour reputation which was mainteined and greatly augmented by his riches his money and most precious moueables which he had brought thither and which men brought vnto him day by day as well out of the high as lowe Countries of Flaunders as it falleth out that almost all men suffer themselues to be cousined with an apparaunce magnificence of worldly things rather thē to be caried away with the vertue truth of euery thing Two things presaged vnto him his death one of his houses which he had at Basle was smotte with lightning and another sumptuously builded within his pastures was likewise burned with parte of his rarest and most exquisite moueables shortly after the floure of the house wherein he lay fell all downe at one blowe and sodainly yet nothing happened more grieuous vnto him before his death then the comming of a man of authoritie out of Base Almania to Basle For from thenceforth as well aduised and forecasting hee knewe that by little and little he shoulde easily be discouered His disciples were marueilously astonished at his death for that he had assured them of his immortalitie yet their hope was somewhat vpheld because he had giuen them to vnderstande certayne dayes before howe he shoulde take life againe by the space of three yeeres and perfect most excellent things Hee kept a porte within his house almost like a King in like sorte was the gouernement of his house and castle very well ruled Euerie man had his estate and office their charges and dueties being so distributed as he shoulde neede to employe no other therein then his owne In gouerning their common wealth they obserued verie straightly 3. things thereby more and more to conceale their pernitious secte First that none of them once published the name of Dauid George Secondly that none reueyled of what condition hee had bene whereupon it grew that many thought hee had beene yssued out of some great noble House other that hee was some great Marchaunt which had his factours abroad both by Sea and by land Thirdly that they shoulde not discouer so much as any one article of their doctrine to any man in Basle not so much as to a Swizer nor shoulde not endeuour to drawe any man vnto their doctrine the summe whereof was The doctrine of Dauid George Heretique THat whatsoeuer had bene heretofore giuen from God by Moses by the Prophetes by Iesus Christ himselfe or by his Apostles was imperfecte and vnprofitable for the obtayning of the true felicitie thereby And was onely giuen for this vse that vntill then it mought represse men as babes and young children and to contayne them within their office But the doctrine of Dauid George was perfecte and had efficacie to make him happie which shoulde receaue it as being the true Christ and Messias the welbeloeud of the Father in whome hee tooke his delight not borne of fleshe but of the holy Ghost and Spirite of Iesus Christ hauing bene kept vntill that present in a place vnkowen to all the Saintes to restore in spirite the house of Israel not by crosses or tribulations or death as the other Christ but by loue grace of the Spirite of Christ In the yeere 1559. the 5. of March his children his sonnes in lawe and all them of his familie with some other adhering to his Secte were adiourned before the Senate of Basle after information made of that pernicious secte which he had alwayes helde in his life time The Atturney declared vnto them howe the Seigneurie stoode duely infourmed that they were retyred to the Castle of Buiuignen not as men persecuted for the Gospell as they had falsly giuen out but for the secte of Dauid wherewith they had bene alreadie infected Eleuen were made prisoners to draw out the trueth of the whole The greater part examined by a more straight inquisition confessed the truth who in the ende obtayned pardon Then the first day of May the Ministers Rectour Professors and Scholemaisters of Basle hauing all with one voyce condemned the pointes of the doctrine the Senate fully informed of the whole proceeded the 13. of May to the conclusion of the proces to wit That all his writinges as full of iniquitie mortall poyson Item his bodie or his bones and whatsoeuer shoulde be founde more within his graue shoulde be burned together with his picture which they founde in his house representing him verie liuely and that generally all the goodes of so wicked a man wheresoeuer they were founde shoulde be confiscate and adiudged to the Seigneurie This sentence was proclaimed according to the Custome of the place and all the fourme of righte and ordinances of the Towne was kepte in the obseruation thereof Before that I handle againe the tearmes of warre betweene the Frenche and Spanyardes I will finishe and in fewe wordes the Empire and managing of the affayres of Charles of Austria the fifte Emperour of the Almanes About the ende of August Charles of Austria resolued to passe into Spayne for the occasions before rehearsed wente from Bruxelles to Gaunt the place of his natiuitie where he assembled the 27. of that moneth all the Embassadours one after an other resiant about his Person within his chamber vsing in generall no other speech vnto them but of the declaration of his old age indisposition praying thē to perfourme all good offices for the repose due vnto Christendome Protesting to the Nuncio that is the Popes Embassadour how all his life long hee had loued and defended the holy apostolike Sea to the Venetian how much hee honored that Seigneurie common wealth whose libertie preseruation he had all his life long desired knowing howe