anie wayes diminished or his former authoritie impayred that for the maintenaunce thereof hee vexed himselfe in most straunge and pittifull sort Hee woulde not at anie time come abroade nor bee seene but of some fewe in whome hee reposed a speciall confidence His Court Gates were continuallie guarded yea his verie Chamber Doore so surelye watched The miserie of Lewis the 11. as that it was impossible to keepe a prisoner in more strayte manner then hee kept his owne selfe And beeing a king that in former tymes had taken his delight in so manie rich beautifull and flourishing Cittyes and solaced himselfe in so manie stately Pallaces and pleasaunt Gardeyns was nowe to his vnspeakeable torment confined in a narrowe rowme sequestring himselfe from all companie and euerye other thing which might breede his delight or encrease his comfort and so continued in this miserable estate alwaies languishing in feare The death of Lewis the eleuenth King of France vntill his death which was in the yeere 1483. and hauing raigned two and twentie yeeres left behinde him a sonne who succeeded in the kingdome in whose dayes fell out many strange and admirable occurrences as shall appeare in the Chapter following CHAP. II. Charles the eight inuadeth Italy and conquereth Naples Alphonsus and Ferdinando flie into Cicilia the Venetians and other Princes leuying a great power driue the French out of Italy The battell of Tarro The French king dieth sodainely ALbeit that Lewis the eleuenth not long before his death Charles the eight succeeded his father Lewis in the kingdome of France had oftentimes and that very seriously aduised his sonne Charles who was to succeed him in the kingdome to maintain peace and amitie with all his neighbours rounde about and by no meanes to enter into warres with any forraigne Princes before hee were growne to ripe yeeres and that the Realme which had endured so many calamities and miseries wherewith it was greatly impouerished should be growne rich againe and better prouided to resist any violence that should be offered yet could not the graue and strong perswasions of so wise and well experienced a Prince take such deepe rooting in the heart of this yong King but that thorow his owne ambitious desire to make himselfe great and the manifolde reasons alleaged by sundrie of his aduisants partly to flatter him in his owne honour but more especially to serue theyr owne turne they were quickly plucked vppe againe and hee fully resolued to enter into a warre which of all other was thought most daungerous and which wrought as straunge effectes as much varietie and as singular alterations and chaunges as any other whatsoeuer All which to the ende they may bee the better vnderstood it shall bee verie conuenient to rippe vp the matter from the beginning and in as fewe words as may bee to shewe the originall of so great trouble as afterwardes ensued Charles the eight King of Fraunce pretending a title to the Kingdome of Naples as heire to Reynard Duke of Aniow Lewis Sfortia D. of Millan perswadeth Charles the eight to conquere Naples was no sooner settled in his kingdome but he was forthwith enduced by the colourable perswasions of Lewis Sfortia who had not long before vsurped the Dukedome of Millan to put in his claime and with might and mayne to assay to gette so noble so rich and renowmed a Diademe Notwithstanding for that it was a matter of no small importaunce it was thought good to haue it thorowly debated in Councell and to heare the opinions of the wisest and the best experienced in the lande who when they had with great maturitie of iudgement pondered euerie circumstance as the danger the king was likely to thrust himselfe into the infinite treasure that must bee expended as also what a multitude of valiant mens liues that would cost before so glorious a victorie could be atchiued and the difficultie that would be in keeping that beeing once gotten The Kings Councel disswadeth the King from the conquest of Naples they wholly resolued that it was an enterprise in no wise to be attempted Notwithstanding the king who was yong desirous to eternise his name by some memorable attempt could in no wise be diuerted being moued as it were by some diuine instinct and incouraged by sundrie remonstrances of two of his principall fauorites called Vere and Brissonet both which were but meane politicks and of all other most ignorant in militarie affaires These two were daily solliciters of the king Vere and Brissonet encite the king to enter Italy who otherwise was but too willing of himselfe to prouide all necessaries for his intended voyage and to set forwarde with as much celeritie as possibly might be The yonger sort of the French Nobilitie and such as had least experience were likewise exceeding desirous to enter Italy by force of Armes and to shew their valour and noble courage to forraigne Nations Al things seemed to concurre for the furtherance of this happy attempt saue that which was most necessarie and that was wise and wel experienced Captaines and store of siluer and gold which are accounted as the veines and sinewes of the warres There were men enough but such as were most fitte were most vnwilling the Kings Coffers were emptie and nothing could bee borrowed but vpon great interest and good assurance Thus the lets were many and the meanes to effect any thing with honour very small and in the end if the successe were such as was desired yet should there be nothing gotten as Lewis the eleuenth was wont to say but infinite trouble and imminent perill and that with the effusion of much French bloud The King resolueth to go to Naples contrarie to the opinion of his councell The King resoluing to passe into Italy notwithstanding whatsoeuer could be alleaged to the contrarie made a league with Ferdinando King of Spaine with Maximilian king of the Romanes and with Phillip Archduke of Austria and Duke of Flanders as also with the King of England least being occupied in his warres abroade he might happen to be molested at home by some forraigne enemie and deferring his iourney vntill the spring following which should be in the yeere 1493. in the meane while commanded that all things should be in a readinesse which were requisite for the maintenance of his Armie All men of vnderstanding wondered at this strange resolution of the King and the best affected towardes the Crowne of Fraunce did maruailously feare the sequel of so dangerous a iourney The more to encourage the King and to stirre him vp to prosecute his intended voyage The D. of Millan commeth to Ast to the French King Lewis Sfortia who vsurped the Dukedome of Millan as is alreadie sayde and had beene the first motioner of this warre did not onely promise vnto the King all the ayde and furtherance that might be by his embassadours but also came himselfe with the Duchesse his wife very nobly accompanied vnto
still fauour the French kings proceeding and crossed the Emperor almost in all his enterprises After this victorie the Emperour would no more be drawen to fight but kept himselfe with all his forces emparked within his strength which the French king perceiuing hee determined to retire towards Monterell to refresh his wearie armie leauing Reuty as a thing that would not bee gotten in haste where he staied not long but remooued towards Champeigne The king and the Emperor dissolue their armies and hauing fortified Bouloin and sundrie other frontier Townes brake vp his Armie and licensed euerie man to depart but this was no sooner knowne to the Emperour but hee taking the oportunitie sent his forces to spoyle the frontiers of France where there was made a pittious spoyle in a short time At length the Emperour likewise dissolued his troups and stuffing his Townes with strong garrisons thought it best to expect some better oportunitie to accomplish his desires Winter was no sooner past but that the French king who was somewhat puffed vp with his former victories and finding himselfe greeued with newe iniuries made great preparation for newe broyles and for more bloudy wars then before The Emperour and the French K. would not be reconciled and vnderstanding that the confines of France were sore anoyed with the Emperiall garrisons sent Mareschall Saint Andrew and Bourdillon with a conuenient number to stop the course of the insolent enemie and to enterprise further as occasion should bee offered And albeit there was great meanes made to reconcile these two mightie potentates yet nothing could bee effected for the french King required Naples Millan Burgundy Piemont Nauarre and many other places and the Emperour would part with nothing so that the treatie being broken off warre presently ensued for the Emperour hauing a power in a readinesse vnder the leading of Martin Ronsare the bastard of Cleue inuaded the territories belonging to the Flower de Lis burning spoyling and wasting in most outragious manner but this stormie tempest continued not long for the emperials began to fal sick of many diseases and to want victuals so that they were forced to retire hauing lost their generall and many others of especiall account Thus did the Emperour stande still in fortunes disgrace and nothing seemed to prosper that he tooke in hand vntill mid August following that shee began to returne her fauour towardes him by giuing him as it were some good words after so many sharpe and bitter checks At which time Hansimont gouernour of Baupalme Hansimont ouerthroweth the French and taketh their generall prisoner vnderstanding that a great power of the French were entred into his maisters territorie vnder the leading of La Faille setting vppon them on the sodaine slewe many of them and tooke La Faille prisoner with sundrie other of good account in somuch as the emperials bosted that they hadde taken the French Nobilitie in grosse and not by retaile and that they neuer wayed them but tooke them vpon their words While the emperor and the king were thus busied in the frontiers of Picardy their armies vnder the leading of the mareschall Brissack and the Duke of Alua sought to anoy each other in Piemont Casal surprised by Captayne Saluoyson Captaine Saluoyson surprised Casal in the dead of the night being one of the strongest and best fortified places in all those quarters wherein were taken Figuerot gouernor of the Towne and the Count Ladron general of the Almaines and maruailous store of all necessarie prouision for the warres Monsieur de Termes preuailed mightily in Italy and ouerthrew the emperials at Senes with great slaughter and mortalitie but he being called home Strozzi was appoynted Leiutenant in his place Strozzi ouerthrowne by the Emperials who fighting with the emperialles was wholy defeated and Clermont Moulbazon Blaise with the Collonels of the Switzers were slain with sundry others to the number of three hundred and fiue hundred were taken prisoners Thus fortune seemed to play with these two mightie Princes and to sport her selfe in the interchangeable fauour which shee bestowed vppon their armies vntill winter approching they were forced to forsake the field and draw their souldiers into garrisons expecting the spring of the yeere to make an end of their bitter contentions But the emperor now growing sickly and weake and waxing wearie with tossing and tumbling in these worldly affaires considering the variable change and mutabilitie to which they were subiect yeelded vp his kingdome of Spaine Charles the fift yeeldeth ouer his empire and betaketh himselfe to a monastery and all other his dominions and that absolutely vnto his sonne Phillip and spent the rest of his daies in a monastery which he had builded for that purpose Phillip King of Spaine being somewhat terrified with the rumor of the comming of the Turke and partly solicited by his wife who was loath to haue him encombered with the warres was contented to hearken to a peace which the French king refused not whereupon after long debating on either side a league was concluded for fiue yeeres but it could not bee kept halfe the time for the Pope and his Cardinals falling at discention and the Spanish king taking part with the one and the French king with the other the warres beganne againe afresh in Itâ—ly betweene these two late reconciled enemies The Pope besieged by the Spanish forces The Duke of Alua was sent against the triple Crowne of Rome who with the ayde of the Duke of Florence tooke many Castles and holds belonging to the Pope whom they besieged within Saint Angelo The Duke of Guâ—se though contrarie to the Counsel of Ann de Memorancy and his Cousins Olet and Iaspar Coligny called Chastillon was sent to raise the siege who accompanied with the Dukes of Aumaille and D' Elbenfe his brothers The Duke of Guyse sent to raise the siege the Duke of Nemours the count D' Eu the Vidame of Chartres and sundrie other great Captains marched forwarde with all possible speede purposing to releeue the distressed Pope who was well neere famished in Rome While the Duke was hasting on his way mareschall Strozzi tooke Ostia with a Castle neere adioyning belonging to the Spaniardes and likewise Vico Valerio which was sacked and the spoyle giuen to the Souldiers As soone as the Duke of Alua and the marquesse of Pescara the two cheefe commaunders of the Spanish forces The siege is raised and the Pope set at liberty vnderstood of the approch of the French they forthwith left Rome and retired the one towards Naples and the other towards Millan so that nowe the Pope was almost set at libertie againe sauing that the Duke of Florence did somewhat restrayne him but hee fearing least hee should draw all the warre vppon himselfe was willing to compounde with the French who were now growne strong in Italy prospered maruailously but many thought it would not be long for that the Spanish king
Religion would accept of any conditions But they beeing too often before beguyled with fayre wordes woulde not hearken thereto least the world should thinke that they were no longer able to maintaine their cause a speciall plotte sayd they to discountenaunce the rest of theyr proceedings The Protestants refuse a peace VVhereupon both the Catholiques and Protestants still continued to vexe each other in all hostill manner The Count de Lude and Puygalliard recouered Marans Browages and many other Islandes from the Confederates which were againe regayned by La Noue and stronglie fortifyed for the further aduauncement of the affayres of the Protestants Who preuayled also verie mightily by Sea taking manie great pryses which were no meanes to further theyr designements Whilest things fell out in this maner about Rochell the Princes the Admirall and the rest of the chiefest of the confederates had greatly encreased their forces and hasted to ioyne their troupes with Montgommerie Moubrune and other Chieftaines who had gathered a great number of harquebuziers to supply those bandes which had beene broken at the battell of Mountcounter And hauing thus reenforced their army they marched towards Lorrain there to attend the comming of theyr Almaynes And as they passed through Languedocke and came neare vnto Mountpellier La Loue one of the Mareschals of the campe was slaine as he was fast asleepe in the dead of the night through the great neglâ—gence of the Sentinels La Loue slain through the negligenâ—e of the Sentinels who beeing suddenly surprised by the garrison within the Towne were the cause of the death of this braue Chieftaine who for his valour courage and noble conduct was highly commended of all the Protestants Many townes were gayned by the Princes in these quarters as Lunell Nismes Margarite Saint Ambrose Saint Iean Saint Priuâ—te Bezouze Castillon Alâ—ts with sundâ—y other of good importance by which happy exploits the confederates did begin afresh to countenance themselues and to recouer much of their former honour and renowme When as the K. was aduertised of all their designes and how that they dayly encreased their forces surprised many castels strong holds and were now almost ioyned with their Reisters with whose ayd they resolued to returne againe into the heart of France and peraduenture once more to besiege the capitoll of all the Kingdome he dispatched forthwith the Mareschall Cossy with an armie wherein were 4000. Switzers 6000. French harquebuziers some 3. or 4000. horse and twelue great peeces of Ordinance with which forces he marched towards the princes Mareschal Cossy sent against the Princes who were incamped at a place called Saint Iean in Burgundy with some 2500. harquebuziers 2000. horse and eighteene cornets of Reisters These two armies came no sooner in view each of other but that their Enfans perdus began the game so that there was a hot skirmish on both sides The Prince of Berne and Conde were there in person each of them in the front of their Regiment and resolutely bent to go to the charge and there to make the first triall of their fortune The fight continued long and many were slaine but the Catholikes hauing the worse after they had lost Monsieur de Bellegard Monsieur de Bellegard slaine one of the Knights of the order besides diuerse others of good accouÌ„t were forced to suffer the Protestants to passe who hasting on their way after great trouble and a long and painefull iourney hauing in a maner rounded all Fraunce at the last they drewe neare to La Charitie Sancerre Antrin Vezelay and other Townes of the Religion where they defended themselues to theyr maruaylous comfort and contentation Nowe was the treatie of peace before mentioned reiterated and earnestly pursued by diuerse who perswaded the King The King perswaded to a peace that these intestine warres consumed none but his Subiectes that the murthers robberies burnings and such like miseryes woulde bee the confusion of the whole state and that who so euer gayned yet hee lost to the great impouerishing of the Crowne of Fraunce and the vtter destruction of that noble kingdome which had beene the paragon of all Europe These and the like reasons induced the King at length to condiscend to a peace which was accepted by the confederates and published in the yere 1570. to the great comfort of all the French and exceeding quiet of the whole lande where we may see the strange and wonderful mutabilitie of mens minds which as they are not long contented with one the self same estate so do they seldom or neuer like the better before they haue beene well scourged with the rod of their owne folly and taught by wofull experience howe to discerne betweene good and bad CHAP. XIIII Peace proclaimed in France The mariages of the King the Duke of Montpensier the Duke of Guise and the Admirall The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court The Admirall goeth to the Court The death of the Queene of Nauarre Peace proclaimed THe kings Edict for the establishing of a peace was no sooner published but that the forces on both sides were forthwith licenced to depart euery man to his owne house which hee had not seene for a long time before to the vnspeakable ioy of the protestaÌ„ts no small comfort to the better and honester sort of the Papists who as mariners that haue escaped some dangerous troublesom tempests and are arriued safely in their wished port held vp their haÌ„ds to heauen with giuing thanks for so vnspeakeable a blessing and earnestly entreated the almightie that they might spend the rest of their dayes in peace and quietnes The Princes with the Queene of Nauarre and sundry of the chiefe of the Protestants as the Admirall the Count Lodowick of Nassau Teligny La Noue and diuerse other withdrew themselues to Rochell for their greater securitie vntil they might see how the kings Edict would be executed Now began there a great alteration in the minds of the French all mens actions were suddenly changed as a man would haue thought after a strange wonderfull maner For where as not long before there was no talke but of hatred wrath murther bloodie broyles and most cruel and vnnaturall warres now was there nothing so much spoken of as loue amitie friendship and making of mariages The King was espoused to Isabel the second daughter to Maximilian the emperor The King marrieth whose nuptials were solemnised with great pompe and magnificence Lois of Burbon and Duke of Montpensier maried with the Duke of Guises sister Duke Montpensier marrieth and the Duke of Guise matched with the widowe of the late Prince Portion D. of Guise marieth one of the principall of the Confederates The Mareschall Cossy and Prontiere one of the Secretaryes of estate were sent vnto Rochell to treate with the Queene of Nauarre as touching a marriage betweene the Prince of Barne her sonne and the Ladie Margaret the Kinges sister a
carcases the thresholds gates and posts of the kings pallace were painted with the bloud of the slaine yea the chanels ouerflowed therwith and the water in the Riuer was turned into a red colour such and so horrible was the slaughter and butcherie which was made vpon the poore Hugonots The king the Queene mother the kings brethren with many Lords and Ladies of the Court went out in the euening to view the dead bodies and among others the Queene mother would needes see the nakednesse of Soubize The shamelesse fact of the Queene mother for that shee had beene enformed that hee was notable to get any children The king not satisfied with the slaughter of so many braue men within Paris sent letters to the Gouernours of all his principall Cities as Orleance Tours Meaux Angiers Bourges Tholoux Lyons and diuers others that they should likewise kill all the Protestants within their iurisdiction which commandement was forthwith put in execution and a most horrible slaughter followed in all places The number of protestants slaine in other places which bereaued aboue a hundred thousand of their liues within the territories of France in so much as that it was verily thought that all that were of the Religion were eyther slaine or else fled into forraine Countreyes CHAP. XVI Rochel holdeth out against the King The beginning of the fourth Ciuil warres The siege of Rochel The siege of Sancerre The Embassadors of Polonia come to the campe before Rochel Monsieur raiseth his siege WHo would not haue thought but that now the Gospel had bin vtterly extinguished in France that the Catholikes by this execrable deuise should haue attained to the full period of their desires no man of name remayning to make head against them or to crosse their fortune which nowe seemed so mightily to fauour their designes and indeede the king was verily perswaded that at this present he might haue accomplished whatsoeuer hee would and that not any durst haue shewed themselues to fauour the refourmed Religion The K. deceiued in his expectation Wherupon he wrote letters to sundry Protestant townes commanding them to receiue popish Garrisons and to liue after the Catholike manner but they vtterly refused to satisfie the king heerein and would not bee induced to condiscend vnto any such thing by all the perswasions that could bee vsed but fortified themselues as strongly as they could purposing to die rather then to yeeld and abiure their Religion The King partly by threatening and menacing the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde and partly by faire promises but especially by the wicked ministery of Rosier Rosier being a minister and of great credit with the Prince of Conde had recanted his Religion and by his perswasions causâ—d the Prince likewise to denie his who of late was become an apostate had caused them to abiure their Religion and to conforme themselues to the rites of the Romain church and thinking them to be fit instruments to gaine sundrie strong Townes who otherwise would not open their gates but by force of Cannon caused them to write their letters to such as hee thought meete and to vse all the seasons that might bee to draw them to his obedience by which deuise some relented and were content to follow the example of those great Princes seeing they had no hope to maintaine their cause hauing lost all their cheefetaines and principall commanders But Rochel Sancerre Montauban Nismes and some other held out standing vpon their guards and prouiding to fortifie themselues in all defensible manner that might be Many perswasions were vsed to gaine Rochel Rochel and sundrie other townes hold out against the King which of al other was the place of greatest importance and that which the king most desired as beeing the principall retreat of the Protestants Diuers messengers were sent thither who promised golden mountaines and Mareschall Biron indeuoured by all meanes to put himselfe within the Towne but they vtterly refused to accept of any other Gouernor then theyr Maior purposing to maintaine their Religion customes and liberties and that with the losse of their liues When the king was aduertised heereof and that he euidently perceiued that faire meanes would not preuaile hee resolued to besiege the Towne and by force of Armes to bring them vnder his obedience Whereuppon hee commanded Biron to gather a great armie to inuest the Rochelers with al speed who did not onely by themselues crosse the designements of the Catholikes but were the occasion that many other townes in Gascogne Languedock Quercy Poictou Auergne and Dauphony beganne to plucke vp their spirits and to oppose themselues against the kings proceedings The beginning of the fourth ciuill warres Besides the forces that the Mareschall brought by land there was a great nauie of shippes appoynted to keepe the seas and to stop vp the hauen that no victuall or other necessaries should be conueyed in by water nor any be suffered to go foorth to giue any aduertisements to their confederates All things being thus appointed in a readinesse both by sea and land Rochel besieged the Duke of Antou the Kings brother and his Lieutenant generall throughout all his dominions departed from Paris the tenth of Ianuary 1573. accompanied with the Duke of Alenson his brother the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Duâ—e of Montpensier the Prince Dauphin his sonne the Duke of Longauille of Bouillon of Guyse of Aumaile and of Neuers the marquesse of Maine the mareschals of Cossy Retts and Biron the Count Rochfaucont Chauigny Mouluc La Valetta Mauleurier Pauâ—y Puygalliard Clermont Du Gas Cosseines with many other Lords knights and Gentlemen who no sooner arriued at the Campe but they were saluted with a thundring peale of great Ordenance and all the battailons of footmen stood readie arranged who likewise welcomed him with their whole vollyes of small shot to the high contentment of his excellencie Monsieur vnderstanding that there were a great number of very valiant and resolute men within the Towne who were all commanded by the noble and pollitike chiefetaine Monsieur de la Noue La Noue of whose wisedome courage and valour hee had often times before made good experiment thought it best to assay if with smooth words faire promises mingled with some threats he could induce the Rochelors The Rochelors would not trust the faire promises of Monsieur to submit themselues wholly vnder the Kings obedience assuring them if they would so do the king would deale most graciously with them and requite their loyalty with such fauor as they should haue good cause to hold themselues well contented but if on the contrarie they stubburnely refused to condiscend hereunto and like a rebellious rable wilfully reiect and vndutifully contemne so great grace offered by their soueraigne then they should looke for no fauour hereafter but for all the extremitie that might bee and that hee would not desist from persecuting them both with
the rest of their proceedings And hauing gotten sundry strong townes forts and castels into their handes they flatly refused those conditions of peace which the Rochellers had accepted fortifying themselues with a newe association and league began to annoy the Catholiks with open warre The mareschals of Memorancie and Cossy committed to prison The King being about this time incensed against the Mareschals of Memorancie and Cossy committed them to prison and suspecting the Mareschall Danuill to be of their confederacie depriued him of his Lieutenantship in Languedo ke and gaue it vnto the Prince Dauphin son to the Duke Montpencier Which when the Mareschall vnderstoode hee aranged himselfe with those of the Religion seizing vppon sundry strong townes as Montpellier Beucary Lunell and others Mareschal Danu â—l â—oyneth with the Protestants fortifying them with sufficient garrisons and all other necessaries There were also great numbers of the Catholikes who receyuing small fauour at the Kings hands neither were so rewarded for their seruices as they expected grew maleconts and seeing Monsieur the Kings brother was departed into Polonia they thought it now fit time to take their aduauntage and by leaguing themselues with the Protestants to reforme the policy of the land and to reclaim the king who said they was wholy misled by the wicked couÌ„sels of such as were strangers and enemies tothe Crowne of France They had also practised with the Duke of Alenson the Kings yongest brother to take part with them and found him not vnwilling to becom their leader and generall in this so hautie an enterprise And where as the Rochellers would not for a long time be drawne to ioyne with the rest of the Protestants Rochell ioyneth with the rest of the Protestants malecontents at last through the dexteritie and politike inducements of La Noue a man of great credit among them they were contented to bee embarked into that action and to prouide all necessaries for the maintenance of the future wars The Confederates hauing all things thus in a readinesse attended the departure of the Duke of Alenson The Duke of Alenson disswaded from going in the Protestants the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde from the Court and for their better safetie had sent some two hundred horse to Saint Germain in Lay but the King being made priuie hereof and his excellencie diuerted by La Moly the proceedings of the Protestants were mightily crossed for the time howbeit like men of courage and resolution they went forwards and openly inuaded the Catholiques both by sea and land Montgommerie who for a long while had beene in the I le of Gersey landed on the sudden in Normandie Montgommery landeth in Normandy ioyning with the Columbiers and incorporating himselfe with the Norman troupes made sharpe warre vpon the Papists getting many townes and fortresses which were very aduantagious for the Protestants Great preparation was made by the King to withstand these proceedings and proclamation was sent out into all parts to assemble the Bannes and Arierbannes and such was the diligence vsed herein that there was quickely gathered together a sufficient number to make two armyes which the King presently diuided sending the one into Poictou vnder the conduct of Montpencier against La Noue and the other vnder the leading of Mategnon into Bas Normandie agaynst the Count Mongommerie who preuayled mightily against the Catholiques seising vpon sundry their best townes and strongest holds and raunging euery where at his pleasure But at last the Count comming to Donfron was suddenly besieged by his enemies where he was taken prisoner being shamefully forsaken by his souldiers and so was led away to Paris and there had his head stroken off Montgommery taken beheaded the 26. of Iune to the great reioycing of the Parisians and the exceeding greefe of the Confederates CHAP. XVIII The King waxeth sicke Maketh a peace with his subiects Ordaineth the Queene mother Regent of France in the absence of the King of Polonia His death The end of the fourth ciuill warres The King waxeth sickly WHilest the Duke Montpencier besieged Fontenay the King who had now for a good while beene sickely and diseased began to waxe worse and worse insomuch as the Queene mother fearing that if he should die vpon the sudden there woulde be maruellous hurly burlies at court thought it best to sende for the Duke Duke Montpensier returneth to the Court. whom she comanded to repaire vnto the kings presence withall speed who thereupon brake vp his siege licensing his army to depart and he himself hasted to the Court. There he found a strange Metamorphosis for the king was now verie desirous to end the wars and to make a peace with the Protestants and would haue them fauoured and protected as well as his other subiects The king desirous to make peace with his subiects desiring and that verie instantly all sorts to put to their helping hands and to shew themselues furtherers of so laudable a worke Commaunding likewise his Lieutenants and gouernors in all his Dominions to cause his former Edicts to be diligently obserued to punish with all rigour and seueritie who soeuer refused to obey this his commaundement The Queene mother did likewise labour verie earnestly herein The end of the fourth ciuill warre and seemed desirous of nothing so much as to establish a peace and quietnesse throughout all Fraunce The King did still decay and death hasted his pace to ouertake him so that notwithstanding all the meanes that could bee imagined to escape so hote pursute yet there was no remedie but needes he must be arested and called to account for his former actions Which when with great perplexitie of minde and sorrow of heart he perceiued hauing ordained the Queene mother for Regent during the absence of the King of Polonia The Q. mother made Regent of Fraunce to whom the crowne of Fraunce as next heire did appertaine he yeelded vp his life the 30. of May at Bois de Vincens 1574. in the 13. yeare of his reigne and in the 24 of his age hauing bin the most bloodie and cruell Prince that euer did weare the French Diadem And as hee continually thirsted after the blood of the poore Protestants so did hee neuer cease vomiting and belching out of blood all the time of his sicknesse with most horrible swearing and blaspheming vntill his last gaspe after a most strange and fearful maner And this was the end of Charles of Valois and King of France The death of Charles the ninth King of France who beeing by nature wicked by education irreligious and by vngodly and wicked counsel easily drawne into all kinde of impious and barbarous actions began with iniustice continued with crueltie and ended in misery leauing that noble kingdome so torne and dismembred the Nobilitie so diuided and discontented and the communaltie so oppressed and impouerished that the whole state hauing lost the ancient splendor
the inhabitants The Towers and the Bulwarks were ouerthrowne and the walles dismanteled and so in a short time one of the most beautifull and strongest holdes in Europe was vtterly rased and remained as a perpetuall monument of the Princes heauie indignation and displeasure The king of Polonia being aduertised of his brothers death by letters from the Queene mother and that he was now become heire to the Crowne of France albeit he was quietly established and a king ouer a mightie kingdome which was euerie way both very profitable and honourable vnto him yet as the nature of all men is to loue their owne naturall countrey more then another hee presently resolued to returne home againe and as shortly as might be to beholde the goodly and pleasant fieldes of the Flower de Lis but the great loue and reuerence which the Polonians bare vnto him who hauing vnderstood that the disease wherewith his brother Charles was afflicted was incurable and that peraduenture the Crowne of France would quickly intyce him out of Polonia made them watch ouer him with so vigilant an eye and to obserue him so narrowly that it caused him to doubt what course he should take to escape their hands and beeing indeede induced by sundrie strong presumptions to think that they would in no wise condiscend to his departure that it were but lost labor yea peraduenture much harme to acquaint them with his intended voyage determined to accomplish his purpose as closely and as secretly as he might and to leaue them his reasons in writing of so sodaine and hasty departure Wherefore hauing disposed of all things which were requisite for the furtherance of this proiect he first publikely dismissed Bellieure the French Embassador sending him home as one who seeing his maister was dead was nowe to be discharged of his office and with him hee sent the choysest Gentlemen about him and the cheefest and principall Iewels that hee had This being done hee made an exceeding sumptuous banket to all the great Polonian Lords and the Gentlemen in the Court which beeing finished and euerie man departed to his rest the king himselfe went likewise to bed as though he had purposed to haue slept vntill the next morrow but he had not rested long The king of Polonia stealeth away into France but rising againe putting on disguised apparrel he passed through the watch with Halde one of the Gentlemen of his chamber and mounted vpon his horse which was readie for that purpose and posted away from Gracouia with all speede and shortly arriued in Austria without any let notwithstanding all the extreme pursuite made by the Count Christophe the Count Tancy and many other Polonian Lords and comming to Vienna was royally receiued of the Emperour by whom hee was conducted to the territories of the Venetians who likewise entertained him in most honourable and magnificent manner and so passing by Padoua Ferrara and Cremona entred into Piemont and so into France where hee was no sooner come but he found all the countrey full of troubles tumults and dissentions and almost no corner free from cruell and bloudie warres The beginning of the fitf ciuill warres The Mareschall Danuill and his designes The Mareschall Danuill beganne to stirre coales in Languedocke and daily to enterprise vpon the Catholikes and to aduance the affaires of the Prince of Conde and his associats all that euer hee might The king finding such troubles in euery corner of the Land seemed to bee very sorrie and sought by all meanes to establish a peace and to that ende wrote to the Prince of Conde and the Mareschall Danuill who were the principall men among the Confederates that they shoulde signifie vnto him the causes of their discontentment and then he would as their king and soueraigne see them satisfied so farre foorth as might stand with equitie and iustice whereuppon both the Prince and the Mareschall sent their deputies vnto the king and Queene mother by whome their maiesties were certified of all their greefes and doleances The Prince of Conde and the mareschal Danuil send their deputies to the king and the reasons that moued them to take Armes which was saide they to defende their religion their liues and liberties and to maintaine themselues both against their owne enemies and the sworne aduersaries to the Crowne of France who beeing but strangers ruled all at their pleasure offering the greatest wrong and indignitie that might bee and that vnto the Princes of the bloud and cloking their actions with a colourable shewe of Religion set the whole Lande in a combustion intending indeede the vtter desolation thereof vnlesse they were speedily preuented and some good course taken to stop theyr turbulent proceedings The King incensed to wars by the perswasions of his councell The king seemed to giue them a fauourable hearing as one willing to make a pacification among his subiects whom hee would haue to liue in loue and amitie one with another vnder his obedience but by reason there were certaine articles propounded by the confederates which could not on the sodaine be agreed vpon the peace was deferred and the warres continued wherupon there were newe associations and leagues and both parties stood resolutely bent to annoy one another as much as might bee Those of the Religion were animated by the comfortable letters of the Prince of Conde who promised thē speedie aide and assistance hauing recouered Saint Iean D'Angely with sundrie other places of very good importance they gathered some fiue hundred pistoliers and a thousand two hundred harquebuziers led by the valiant La Noue wherewith they stopped the roades of their enemies who hadde a long while harryed and wasted tne Countrey without pittie or mercy The king as it seemed was of himselfe very inclinable to peace and in a sort contented that the protestants should freely enioy their consciences and haue publike places allowed them for their preachings but hee had no sooner entertained the councellers of the late king Charles but that hee was foorthwith cast in a newe mould for albeit hee were very earnestly sollicited by the Embassadours of the Queene of England the Duke of Sauoy and the Switzers to yeeld to some good agreement with his subiects yet would he not be drawen thither with all the perswasions that could be vsed but still maintained the warres and in all hostill manner inuaded those of the reformed Religion persecuting them with fire and sword with a full purpose to bring them to vtter ruine and desolation and being aduertised of the great leauy of Reisters which the Prince of Conde made in Germany which amounted to the number of seauen thousand and fiue hundred horse and three thousand footmen vnder the leading of the Duke Iohn Cassimer Duke Cassimer commeth to ayde the Protestants sonne to the Elector Palatine hee sent Mareschall Biron into Lorraine towardes the frontiers to stoppe theyr passage and to attend the comming of the Duke of
runne to the Catholikes supposing that it was impossible for the Confederates to holde out for anie long time For besides that they were ouermatched by lande they were likewise hardly handled at sea and had much adoo to keepe the Isle of Re and Chese de Bay from Lansac who was Admirall ouer the nauie Catholique Lansac beaten at sea by the Protestants But at last they rigging foorth certaine shippes commaunded by Cleremont of Ambâ—is so scoured the coast that no enemie for the time durst appeare in sight of theyr warrelike Fleete wherewith they were maruellously well recomforted But their ioy lasted not long for the Duke de Maine approaching Broâ—age so furiously assayled it that Manducag who was gouernour of the Towne was forced to yeelde vpon composition being destitute of all necessaries requisite to withstand so great a puyssaunce By this time also Lansac hauing repayred his beaten Fleete The Protestantâ— beaten at sea by Lansac put foorth to sea afresh and meeting with the Confederates valiantly set vpon them and putting them to the woorse burnt their Admirall called the Prince and tooke an other vessell called the Floressante to the exceeding greefe of the Protestants who had reposed no small confidence in their sea forces Besides all these infortunate chaunces there fell out an other crosse which did verie much grieue and disquiet the Rochellors and that was the death of their Maior Bobinean The death of Bobinean who for that he was accounted a wise valiant and politique man one who of all others did wonderfully affect the good of his countrey and tendered the welfare of all in general was maruellously lamented of all sortes and especially of the Rochellors The great d stresse of the Rochellors who in a sort were amazed with his death and as men astonished with so manie crosses had fainted vnder their burthen had they not beene recomforted with a sudden report of a newe pacification which was earnestly sollicited by the Duke Montpencier Wherto the king was the more inclinable both for that there was a mightie power of Germaines readie to enter Fraunce and also for that he wanted money to maintaine so great charges Whereupon the Queene mother was employed to make the composition with the king of Nauarre the rest of the Protestants The ende of the sixt ciuill warre which after much running vp and downe was agreed vpon by both parties and proclaimed with great ioy and triumph both at Rochell and other places in token of the earnest desire they had to liue at ease and to spend the remnant of their dayes in rest and quietnesse CHAP. XXI The death of Monsieur The seditious and treacherous practises of the Guisards The beginning of the seuenth ciuill warre called the leaguers warre The Prince of Conde goeth toward Angiers His great distresse and admirable deliuerie THe Guises and the rest of the confederates perceiuing howe the King with great numbers of his nobles and coÌ„mon subiects began to take some delight in peace and that there was an intention to reforme many abuses which were crept into the state in the time of the ciuill warres to restore the nobilitie to their auncient dignitie and to vnburthen the people of sundry charges wherwith for a long while they had bin grieuously oppressed were inwardly vexed at the hart to consider that their former councels tooke no better effect and therfore they fel in hand with new practises and those more pernitious pestilent and more dangerous then any others that euer they attempted before For they considering that the coÌ„demnation execution of Monsieur the kings brother could not so easily be brought to passe as they desired and that the king of Nauarre and prince of Conde did so prudently prouide for their own security that it was a very hard thing to entrap theÌ„ bring their persons within danger thought it best to go secretly to work and by some priuy means to work their ruine ouerthrow against whom they could not preuail by open force and violence They therfore hired Salcedo a Spaniard to kil Monsieur Salcedo a Spaniard hired to kill Monsieur and promised him 6000. crowns for his labor but he failing of his purpose they procured a certain Gentlewoman with whom his excellencie was but too familiarly acquainted to giue him such a receipt as neuer left working till it had wrought the life out of his body so that he died the 10. Monsieur thought to be poysoned His death of Iuly 1582 to the great reioising of the Guises who now began to triumph to see so fortunat successe and happy aduancement of their affaires And considering that by the death of this great prince whoÌ„ they feared more then the King their side was maruellously strengthened they began to stir coles afresh and sought by all meanes to fill the land full of new broiles and hurli-burlies And the time fast approching which was appointed for the bringing forth of that monster wherewith they had trauailed for a long time they had many secret conferences with the duke of Parma The conspiracie of the Guise and the rest of the leaders Bernardine Mendoza the Spanish ambassador and Giouan Bardach no the King of Spaine his Corriero There was the bargain made to sell Marseiles Burdeaux and the Dukedome of Britaine to the King of Spaine their maister an appointted time made that the Duke of Sauoy should inuade the Marquisate of Saluces thereby to occupie the King and to disperse his forces into diuerse and sundrie places And beeing strongly supported by the fauors of many of the Nobilitie and sundry of the chiefe Cities they first required that the Edict of pacification should be reuoked that the K of Nauarre prince of Conde with all those who made profession of the gospel shuld be exiled the realm or else forced to abiure their religion that continual war should be denouÌ„ced against the protestants The King was aduertised of all these treacherous practises as well from sundrie the Princes of Germany as also from the King of Nauarre but hee would not beleeue any thing but tooke them to be but slanderous reports raised vp by the Hugonots and therefore lightly regarded them but still countenanced the Guyses and their adherents The seditious practises of the Guyses who hauing gotten the King to ioyne with them to yeeld to their requests they hired the Monks and Friers to stir vp the people to their seditious ceremonies shriuings and priuate conferences to bande with them and the rest of the Leagues and to persecute those of the Religion with fire and sword and to roote them and theirs out of the territories of France They caused sundrie infamous Libels to be spread abroad and gaue out that the king of Nauarre and the Protestant Princes had sworne to roote out the Catholike faith and to depriue them of the Romish Church of all honour dignitie and authoritie that the murther at Paris
but that he perswaded himselfe that seeing his brother was dead The duke de Maine rebelleth aga nst the King he might now peraduenture obtaine the Crowne for himselfe if hee would lay in for it for hee had a great power in a readinesse and no doubt but the most of the Leaguers woulde followe him for feare least if they shoulde fall into the Kinges handes hee woulde punish them according to theyr deserts With this resolution hee left Dauphiny and hasted into Burgundie and Champaigne taking with him such strength and power as hee could get and making sure as manie places as hee coulde come by prepared to make warre agaynst the king Paris which was the capitoll Citie of the whole kingdome and had more fauoured the Guise then anie other was mooued to great indignation Paris and the rest of the principal Cities rebell against the King and shewed it selfe highly offended And being further incensed with the piteous outcryes and lamentable complaints of the Duchesses of Guise and Nemours and with the inuectiue Sermons of the Iesuites and Friers grewe into a desperate madnesse shaking off the yoake of obedience and rebelled openlye agaynst theyr naturall Prince and liege Lorde Most of the greatest rychest and strongest Cityes as Orleance Roan Amiens Aniou Lyons Abeuille Remes Tholous and manie others followed the example of the Parisians and conspiring with the rest of the Leaguers imprisoned the Kings friendes seyzed vpon his strong holdes robbed him of his treasure and vsed him in all outragious and rebellious maner The King vnderstanding of all these seditious sturres sought by faire meanes and in gentle maner to reduce them to their obedience sending out his proclaimations to pardon whatsoeuer was past and to burie it in the graue of obliuion so that they woulde lay downe their Armes and liue peaceablie vnder his authoritie The seditious diuinitie of the Sorbonists as in dutie they were bound but they made no reckoning of the Kinges clemencie but tearmed it cowardlinesse as though hee were afrayed of their forces beeing animated by the Sorbonists and their Doctours in Theologie who had resolued that they were set free from theyr oath of obedience and former allegiaunce made vnto Henrie the thirde And that it was lawfull for them and for all the residue of the people of Fraunce to take Armes agaynst the sayde King Henrie and to persecute him and all his adherents with fire and sworde as enemyes to God to their Countrey and to holy Church When they had once gotten this aduauntage that they were able to colour their proceedings as it were with an oracle from heauen they made no more conscience at the matter The duke de Maine made general of the Leaguers but presently determined to choose them a Generall for the leading of their forces and to establish a new Councell by whose direction they might manage the rest of their affayres They refused all the Princes of the blood and chose the Duke de Maine who was a man much fauoured of the leaguers The leaguers appoint a councell of state and one that was well acquainted with all their practises The Dukes of Aumaile and Nemours with the Cheualier of Aumaile were made gouernours of Paris There were also 47. of the most seditious turbulent factious and bitterest enemies to the King appoynted to order the state as the kings priuie councell had done in former times These had no sooner gotten this authoritie into their handes but they committed most horrible outrages against all such as they suspected to be the kings friends imprisoning murthering robbing sacâ—ing and spoyling them in such sort as was neuer heard of within any mans remembrance and going to the royall pallace called the Louure they seyzed vpon all the kings goods The leaguers notorious disobedience they violated the great Seale of France brake it in peeces and trode it vnder their feete They rent and tore the Armes of Valois and Burbon and trayled them in most despitefull manner in the mire and dyrt through the Streetes and assembling as manie of the principall Leaguers both of the Nobilitie Cleargie and Communaltie as they coulde wrote to other Cities theyr Confederates to follow their example and to ioyne with them and also to procure as manie partakers as they might the better to countenance their proceedings The king had often and very seriously disswaded them from this seditious course and with all lenitie sought to reduce them to their former obedience but considering that he preuailed nothing by gentlenesse and clemency but rather that the people waxed worse worse he therfore now determined to take a sharper course and by force to bring them vnder his obedience but fearing his owne weaknesse and want of sufficient power to bring his purposes to passe for that he was as it were coÌ„passed about with his enemies not knowing what to doo or whome to trust The king maketh peace with the 〈◊〉 of Nauarre perceyuing that the most of those who were about him were fauorers of the rebels hee was content to follow the aduice of his most trustie councellors and to make peace with the King of Nauarre and to vse his counsal and forces for his iust and lawfull defence and the rather for that the Duke de Maine approched verie neare vnto him with a great and puissant armie Thus was the king for the safetie of his person forced to cast himselfe into the armes of him whom for manie yeares hee had reputed for his mortall enemie and glad to seeke to be preserued by such an one whose destruction he had sought with all extremitie The King of Nauarre being aduertised of the Kings intent and solicited by sundry messengers to come to his ayde with all expedition called his Nobles and Captaines and gathered all his forces together and passing ouer the Loyre at Samnur went towards the King who was greatly distressed at Toures and in imminent perill to bee oppressed by the Leaguers The meeting of the King of France the King of Nauarre The King vnderstanding of his approach the thirtie of Aprill sent the Mareschall Haultmont accompanied with a great number of the Nobilitie to desire him to come to Plesis de Tours where hee with all his Court staid for him The King of Nauarre readily obeyed passing ouer the bridge of Saint Saphorin where hee left all his forces in battaile array and went towardes the King whom hee sound staying for him in the Parke of Plessis There was such a concourse of people and so great a throng that the two Kings were forced to stay aboue halfe a quarter of an houre stretching and holding out their hands before they could embrace one another so great was the prease and such a multitude were slocked togither to beholde this ioyfull and blessed meeting The kind embracings and louing salutations betweene these two Potentates did euidently declare their inward ioy contentation The reioysing of all sorts was incredible
that ende stuffed all his frontier townes with strong garrisons but they opening their way by force passed forwards and by easie iourneyes came to the king who beeing strenhthened with these new forces resolued to besiege Boar. The Leaguers being now not able to encounter with the king in the field fortified the Citie as strong as they could and attended the comming of the Duke of Parma whose ayde they had instantly desired the better to maintaine head against the king The Duke vnderstanding in what tearmes the Leaguers stood knowing that the losse of Roan being a principall Citie in France 1592 The duke of Parma goeth the second time into France and the cheefest in Normandy would be very preiudicial vnto that mistery which lay secretly enclosed in his brest and a great meanes to crosse the proceedings of the Spanish king hispaniolized French gathered a great power and leauing the gouernement of the Low countreyes to the Count Mansford marched towards France which he entred about the midst of Ianuary with some 8. or 9000. Spaniards Italians Duch Wallons ioyning with the Leaguers so encreased his armie that he grew to be some 17. or 18000 strong with which power he determined to raise the Kings siege to deliuer theÌ„ who had with so great earnestnesse sought his helpe and with this resolution he marched towardes Roan which assoone as those who kept the town vnderstood they began to plucke vp their hearts and made many sallyes forth vppon the kings forces but being valiantly withstood shrewdly beaten were glad to returne with the losse often times of their valiantest leaders and most forward souldiers Nowe as the Leaguers within the town begaÌ„ to be punished with many miseries the famin daily encreased to the destruction of many so penury and want of necessaries began to creepe in among the kings souldiers and by reason it was in the extreme of the Winter many perished with cold and great numbers fel into very sore greeuous diseases notwithstanding the siege was still continued and all the politike deuises that might be put in practise to gaine the citie The Duke being about Rue and there thorowly enformed as wel of the state of Roan as of the courage resolution of the kings forces would not attempt any thing rast ly but sending for greater forces out of Flanders vnder the conduct of the Earles of Aremberg and Barlemont kept himself close for a while purposing as it seemed to protract the time to cause the K. who as is already said began to fal into manifold waÌ„ts to raise his siege from before the city but the Duke perceiuing that this depose took not so speedie effect as he desired pondering with himself how hard dangerous a matter it was to releeue the citie by force The pollitike dâ—uise of the Duke sought by a cunning pollitike deuise to bring his businesse about and therefore on the sodaine dislodged retired his whole power ouer the Riuer of Some as though he had purposed to returne home again without any more ado Which when the king perceiued and now verily thinking that hee had bin quite gone he licensed the greatest part of his Nobilitie and Gentlemen to departe home to their houses there to refresh themselues after so long tedious trauaile reseruing a sufficient number to maintaine the siege the K. departed to Deepe there to repose himselfe and to take counsell for the ordering of the rest of his affaires The Duke was quickly enformed by his espialles of whatsoeuer the king had done The Duke returâ—eth towards Roan and â—nowing now that all his aduantage consisted in celeritie caused his troupes on the sodaine to turne head and to march backe againe towards Roan and vsing great expedition so fast approched that the kings armie beeing not readye to encounter him and no assured course taken to crosse his designements he besieged Candebeck a town standing vpon the riuer betweene New-hauen Roan Roan releeâ—â—d by the 〈◊〉 of Parma By this meanes was the riuer cleered liberty obtained to passe and repasse without peril then were there forthwith a great number of ships prouided being thorowly furnished with victuals and all other necessaries were sent to Roan to releeue the Leaguers who were nowe extremely distressed and almost famished The King sought all the opportunitie that might be to fight with the Duke and offered many skirmishes to drawe him thereto but hee knowing fortune to bee very inconstant and in the warres especially to bee most wauering and vncertayne vtterly refused to hazard all vppon a Battaile and vnderstanding that there was some scarcitie in the kings campe and that it was impossible that so great a multitude shoulde bee long kept togither in a Countrey so exceedingly wasted where there were no meanes to relieue their wants kept himselfe close and sought to wearie his enemies by his long delaies The K. daily braued the Spaniards in the face dared them by many indignities to come to handy strokes which made the Duke resolue to do somwhat albeit he were sickly and most vnwilling to fight The Duke would not bee drawne to an entire fight supposing that if hee shoulde not stirre vpon so many prouocations his enemies would waxe more couragious and himselfe with all his Spaniards should lose much of their wonted honor reputation Whereupon he determined to encounter with the kings forces and to make some triall of the courage and resolution of his enemies yet so warily that he would be sure not to bring himselfe and his souldiers to a set battell but by some light conflict to maintain his honor and by a Spanish brauado to make the world beleeue that hee did but little esteeme of the king and all his forces Whereupon euery thing being in a readinesse and hauing encouraged his troupes with sundry perswasions the signall was no sooner giuen but there began a sharpe and cruel fight which hastened the death of many braue and valiant souldiers But the Duke espying the Kings side to be too strong and that his men were put to the worse withdrewe his troupes within their intrenchments hauing lost the yong Lord of Chastres and many other of great reckoning and account The dukes horse was shot through with a bullet The Count Horratio Scipio and Hanniball Bentiuolio with many others were sore wounded and in daunger of their liues The Duke not liking to trie the quarell any more by force fell to his old politike practises The duke de Maine entreth Roan and laboured by all possible meanes to get away away from the king without any further fighting Wherfore leauing a garrison of some 500 Spaniards French and Wallons in Caudebecke and sending the Duke de Maine with 3000. Leaguers into Roan hee reposing himselfe for a while within the Citie at length marched away as strongly and as closely as he could towarde Paris The D. of Parma marcheth
toward Paris there to refresh them after so long and tedious trauailes as also to make tryall what store of Crownes might be gotten to satisfie his greedie Souldiers The King pursued him and following him in the taile watched to skirmish with him vpon euerie aduauntage But seeing hee coulde not effect that which hee so earnestly affected which was to drawe him to an entyre fight hee caused all his troupes to turne heade and ledde them before Caudebecke which he foorthwith recouered from the Leaguers and leauing a strong garrison to defende the Riuer he retyred to Deepe The King goeth to Deepe giuing leaue to the greatest part of his army to go refresh themselues in more fertile and commodious Countreys Thus was Roan deliuered out of the hands of the King by the comming of the duke to the great encouragement of the Leaguers who seeing the Kinges fortune to frowne began to triumph and to reioyce exceedingly for this their vnexpected reliefe and the rather for that this their good hap was seconded by diuerse other fortunate exploits in other places for the Duke Ioyense ouerthrew certaine of the Kinges troupes before Lautrech as they went to surprise the saâ—d towne being betrayd by some of those who had promised them to bee a meanes to let them enter without anie empeachment But they vsing this as a stratagem to entrap the Kings souldiours The leaguers ouerthrow sundry of the Kings forces enformed the Duke of all theyr proceedings who as soone as hee had intelligence thereof gathered a strong power and lying in ambush by the way as they sâ—ould passe suddenly set vpon them and slue three or foure hundred and tooke 200. prisoners among whom were Monsieur de Violet de Godius sundry others of very good account Three hundred fled to a castell not farre off called la Trappe which was forthwith besieged by the said Duke and the leaguers they who were within the castell valiantly defended the place for a while induring some thirtie or fortie Canon shot at length considering their want of necessaries how they were not able to maintaine themselues as they desired they yeelded hauing lost Colaun bieres Tanieuse L'estolies Raueleus Bertrand Deluan Biense de Lucques La Brosse Lespinac and many other chieftains and commanders La Barry Portaleâ—se Pibrac besides sundry gentlemen were taken prisoners and well neare two hundred common souldiers About the same time Duke Mercury likewise ouerthrew the power of the prince of Conty the prince D' Ombes in Britany and hauing taken ten field peeces froÌ„ them slue many of their brauest and valiantest men as Membraise Rochpot Picheres with some others preuailing mightily in those quarters and reducing sundry townes vnder the obedience of the seditious league Thus did the Kings affaires begin to go backward and many townes who were wauering before did nowe wholy abandon the King and ioyne with the rebels Sundry of the nobilitie who were popishly affected and therefore glad of the Kings bad successe reuolted and secretly conueyed themselues away either to the enemy or into their owne countries and by their bad example drew on infinite numbers to take the same course forsaking their lawfull prince when hee stood in greatest need of their seruice exposing that noble kingdome to the barbarous villanie of that viperous broode who neuer cease gnawing out of the bowels of her that should be their dearest and best beloued mother The King wanting sufficient power to stop these wicked proceedings was forced to suffer the rebels to range at large and to get many of his townes both in Normandy Britany Prouince and Dauphiny They took likewise Espernon wherin they found great store of wine corne other necessaries for the wars These fortunate exploits so encouraged that rebellious route and so puffed them vp with the pride of their owne forces that they vtterly refused to bow their necks vnder the yoake of obedience or to admit of any other gouernment then such as pleased theÌ„selues The king was loath to loose Espernon being a towne of verie good importance and therfore drew all his forces to the siege therof where the Mareschall Biron was slaine Mareschall Biron slaine with a shot from the wall while hee was verie busie in viewing the army in giuing order for the planting of the siege Yea and the king himself was in great perill The daunger of the King hauing his horse killed vnder him with the same bullet wherewith the Mareschall was slaine before Duke Mercurie in the meane time tooke Manus in Britain and the duke de Maine recouered Caudebecke and cleared all the riuer froÌ„ New-hauen vp to Roan The D. of Nemours gouernor of Lions took Vienna and Valence and by that means coÌ„manded the riuer of Rhodanus Now were the Germains who came into France in 91. desirous to returne home so that taking their leaue of the French K. they marched toward Germany as fast as they could but by reason they were not so many nor so strong as when they came first into France they were desirous to passe rather by leaue then by force and therefore they thought it conuenient to send to the Duke of Parma for to obtaine License of him that they might quietly passe through the Dukedom of Luxemburge who readily condisceÌ„ded therto vpon condition that they should not rifle the Countrey as they went but should trauaile in peaceable manner and pay for whatsoeuer they tooke Thus this great and mightie Army which had in conceite deuoured halfe France The Germaines returne home and at theyr comming had opened their way by fine force returned home without dooing of anie great matter and were driuen to aske leaue and to sue to their enimies for their pasport such and so strange an alteration ensued in a short space The Leaguers beeing drunken with this prosperous successe began to consult about the election of a new King and to that ende the Duke of Ferta and the Cardinall of Sens The Leaguers consult about a new King the Popes Nuntio were sent to Paris to bee present as assistants in this waightie businesse as well to aide with their aduise and counsell as to perswade with sundrie great states who as yet were not fully resolued in this poynt neyther whether they shoulde assent to so wicked and desperate proceedings Now albeit that the rebellious multitude had prospered for a long time and were growen in a maner to the ful period of their desires hauing effected many things greatly tending to the countenancing of their affaires in so much as that they had gayned the strongest richest cities with infinit numbers of turbulent and seditious heades to ioyne hand in hand with them and to take parte in these their wicked and desperate attempts yet as it alwaies falleth out among such a confused and brainesicke rable each mistrusted other and being often admonished by the secret warnings of their owne consciences how damnable a course they had runne as
THE Mutable and wauering estate of France from the yeare of our Lord 1460 vntill the yeare 1595. The great Battailes of the French Nation as well abroad with their forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres With an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers Collected out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Historiographers LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597. To the right worshipfull Maister Iulius Caesar Esquire Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe maister of the Requests and of Saint Katherins and chiefe Iudge of her highnesse Court of the Admiraltie c. a namelesse well-willer wisheth all courses of happinesse that can bee named SIr this Collected Historie of the inconstant and mutable estate of Fraunce from the yeare 1460. vntill the yeare 1595. describing the great battails of the French Nation as well abroade with forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres also an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers during their bloodie mutinies and attempts from time to time with whatsoeuer else so serious a discourse can or may affoord I offer to your worshipfull and most kinde patronizing Your euer knowne affable inclination to studie and works of woorth makes me no way mistrustfull of gentle acceptance wherfore in one ballance poysing the Booke and in the other whatsoeuer remaynes in mee alwayes most readie at your worships seruice I cease from further troubling you with lines vrging no delight desiring that as your vertues are numberlesse so your ioyes both in this worlde and that to come may likewise be endlesse Though namelesse yet alwayes by your worship to be commaunded To the Reader AS in a briefe Chronicle or short compiled Historie gentle Reader euen so in this worke shalt thou behold the slipperie and vncertaine estate of a mightie Kingdome of France our neare neighbour whose warres strifes and most troublesome contentions as well at home in her owne bosome â—s abroad with forraigne and hostile enemies during the space of these many yeares from 1460 vntill 1595. the accidents of all which tâ—mâ— this present volume doâ—th truly acquaint thee withall for out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Histâ—riographers hath 〈◊〉 beene carefully collected and being for thy sake attired now in an English habit familiarly tels thee that Monarchies miseries which when thou hast aduisedly considered on and therwith compared thy owne Countries continuall blessednesse I doubt not but as in sorrowing for the one so thou wilt hartily pray for the other that the afflictions of France may be Englands looking Glasse and their neglect of peace our continuall labour and studie how to preserue it Fare ye well THE MVTABILITIE of France CHAP. I. Lewis sonne to Charles the seuenth King of France is driuen out of his fathers Kingdome He flieth to Philip Duke of Burgundie Returneth After his fathers decease is made King He falleth out with Charles Duke of Burgundie Is suddenly stroken with a sore disease and dieth miserably AS the wauering and interchaungeable course whereto euery thing whatsoeuer is continually subiect hath beene alwayes heretofore dayly obserued in the most auncient and renowmed Monarchies that euer were So hath it appeared in these latter dayes Kingdomes and states ful of change and mutabilitie in this age and that in a more liuely maner in the strange and wonderfull alterations of our neighbor countryes whose peace and prosperous estate as it was the common obiect of euerie mans eye so are their vnfortunate warres and wofull miseries the vsuall subiect of all mens speach and nothing is more lystened after then to what ende matters of so great waight and importance are likeliest to tend The most noble and renowmed kingdome of France which for so many yeares flowed with milke and honie and for the temperatenesse of the aire the fertilitie of the soile the ciuilitie of the Commons the loyaltie of the Nobilitie the dignitie and magnificence of the Prince was accounted the paragon of all Nations hath especially tasted of this vicissitude and change which so long as it was at peace with it selfe and not afflicted with any ciuill discention the subiect honouring the King with all dutifull obedience and the King tendering the welfare of the subiect with a hearty and louing affection and both concurring in one for the aduauncement of the Common-wealth flourished in most beautifull maner and appeared verie pleasing to the eye of all Nations round about but after that it once began to nourish turbulent spirits and to harbour strange and vnnaturall humours the Prince following the daungerous proiects of yong and corrupt councellors who rather sought their owne priuate gaine then the publike profite and vtilitie of the state and the people beeing easily drawne by the perswasions of their Gouernours to embrace in a maner any noueltie that was propounded then began the common-wealth to bee intangled in manie daungerous mischiefes and to bee encombred with sundrie cares wherewith for this long time it hath beene exceedingly vexed and tormented And albeit there hath often bin some mitigation of paine for a while and that by the great wisedome and skill of such as sate at the stearne and had the managing of the publike affayres the ship which was well neare ouerwhelmed with boisterous waues was safely preserued from the wracke yet as though there were a fatall destinie which could not be auoided it presently againe fell vpon the shelues and plunged it selfe a fresh into a vast Ocean of vnspeakeable miseries wherein it hath continued floting vp and downe for these many yeares and at this day is come to that desperate passe that although it be neither split vpon the sandes nor swallowed vp of the fearefull billowes yet doth it serue as a perfect glasse to viewe the vnstable estate of these earthly things and for an assured proofe of the variable change and continuall vicissitude in the most flowring kingdoms and common-wealthes Which albeit it doth euidently appeare vnto the eye of euery beholder yet will it be farre better discerned if wee consider the reignes of sundry French Kings in whose times there hath fallen out most strange and admirable accidents themselues being especiall occasions to prooue a mutuall and an alternatiue course in al things whatsoeuer Lewis the 11. K. of France rebelled in his youth against his father Lewis the eleuenth of that name King of Fraunce and sonne vnto Charles the seuenth was in his youth as Philip de Comins reporteth allured by the craftie perswasions of sundrie seditious heades to become chiefe of a rebellious faction and to beare Armes agaynst his father to his vnspeakeable griefe and the imminent perill of the whole lande but that vnnaturall warre not continuing long and the sonne being drawne to his obedience by the louing and wise perswasions of the King his father all things grewe verie peaceable for
and supposed that hee stood without the reach of any misfortune Sundry great princes conspire against the French presently the wheele began to turne about and sundry secret practises were set abroch to cut short the French proceedings in the end a league was concluded which darkened the faire shining of the Flower delis to proue the variable and vncertaine estate of all things whatsoeuer Although Alphonsus were driuen out of Italy yet did hee continually fight against the French by procuring as many enemies against him as possibly hee might hee daily layde before the eyes of other Princes howe perilous a matter it would bee for them to suffer the King of France to grow so great and sought especially to stirre the Venetians against him The Turke on the other side threatened them at the request of the Pope if they would not declare themselues open enemies vnto him The King of Spaine began to feare the losse of Sardinia and Cicilia and the Emperor grew iealous of his Empyre All these Princes sent their Ambassadors to Venice and in the end banded with one consent agaynst the French who being aduertised hereof began to bethinke them The King o◠France hasteth to get out of Italie how they might returne into France And resoluing presently to retyre from Naples set all things in as good order as might bee and so dislodged purposing to returne by the same way that they came Sundrie Cities and good Townes vnderstanding of the league began to reuolt forthwith and to pull downe the Armes of Fraunce which not long before they had so hastily set vp Sundry cities rebel against the French and to place those of Aragon in their stead Thus begin fortune to frowne and to looke an other way and to abandon the French on all sides The King being as desirous now to get to Paris as hee was before to conquer Naples marched toward Rome with some nine hundred men at armes and eight or nine thousand footmen Switzers Almaines and French The Pope flieth from Rome But the Pope hearing of his comming fled to Padoua so that he entred without any resistance but he staid not long there for intending to make al the hast that might be he remoued to Sennei and from thence to Pisa still passing forward though verie slowly by reason of the euil waies By this time had the Venetians gathered a strong power wherwith they ment to stop his passage And hauing appointed Francis Gonzaga Marques of Mantoua for their generall The Marques of Mantoua generall of the Venetian forces with whom they ioyned two Venetian Lieutenants or Prouiditori Melchior Creuisano and Luke Pisano commaunded them to put themselues betweene home and the French and if it were possible to stay the King and force him to pay the Almendate for the harme he had done to the Italian Nation Gonzaga being a lusty yong Gentleman desirous to win renowme by some memorable act hauing intelligence by his espials that the French marched toward Foro Nouo sent his light horsemen before vnder the conduct of Nicholas Annonio a Sclauonian to stay the enemie with light skirmishes vntill he might ouertake them with the strength of his armie who readily accomplishing the commandement of the generall hasted forward with great speed taking the French auantgard at aduantage slue many of them and forced the rest to retire to their strength The king ouertaking his vantgard encamped at Foro Nouo hard by the riuer of Terro The marques was encamped on the other side right in the way that the French men should passe so that the King seeing there was no remedie but that he must needes fight The battell of Terro and open the way by the dint of the sword disposed of his army in as warlike maner as he could and resolued as that day to try the vttermost of his fortune And being mounted vpon a braue and lusty courser enuironed with 7. yong gētlemen of approued fidelity prowes armed in all points like vnto himself rode about his ranks to encourage his soldiers who with their cheerful countenances seemed to assure him of the victorie and with the hazard of their owne liues to defend him from the violence of his enemies The Bastard of Burbon in whom he reposed a speciall trust The order of the French armie with Robinet Framesell the valiaunt conductour of the Duke of Orleance his men at Armes enuironed him with their companyes of horsemen on both sydes The Rerewarde was ledde by Foix a Noble man of Guien and Segnieur de Trimouille and with them was there a great troupe of men at Armes the Switzers and Almaines in whom consisted the strength of the battaile garded the Ordinance which being drawne with equall pace close to the battaillon of the footmen was placed right in the front of the enemie The Mareschall Guy and Tribulzi a man of great fame and experience in the warres marched before with certaine light horsemen to lead the way to them which followed The Marques seeing the French come downe from Foro Nouo in aray of battaile The order of the Venetian armie quickly arraunged his men and diuiding them into nine battaillons as well for the mutuall succour each of other as thereby to assaile the French on all sides and intended to abide the comming of his enemies In the first battaile was Petro Dodo a Venetian with sixe hundred Greeke horsemen and almost as many Archers on horsebacke who were appointed to compasse the hils and to assaile the enemie on the backe The second battaile was led by the earle Giazza consisting of sixe hundred men of Armes and three thousand Almaine and Italian footemen The Generall himselfe with his Vncle Radulph and Ranucio Farnesi with fiue hundred men of Armes and as many Archers with foure thousand footemen tooke vpon him to encounter with the middle battaile wherein was the Kings owne person The fourth battaile was assigned to Fortebraccio de Montoni who was commaunded to charge the Rerewarde Three other battailes were appoynted to Anthonie de Feltri Annibal Bentiuoli and Galeazzo Palauicini which should serue to ayde and succour where there was most need The eight and ninth battaile were likewise prouided against all vncertaine chances which might ensue Each armie being thus readie raunged awayted the signall of the battaile which was no sooner giuen The hardie encounter of both armies but they ranne togither with great furie the trumpets sounded the drummes stroke vp the great Ordinance thundered from either side and all sorts fought verie couragiously But the Estradiots who had beene repelled by the French men of armes espying the Kings baggage which by counsaile of Triuoltio had beene obiected to the enemie to the ende that hee beeing busie about the spoyle a more readie and easie passage might bee opened for the King flung out of their rankes and fell to ryfling in most greedie manner Which thing in the opinion of all men
departed but the Cittie began to reuolt and tooke part with their olde Duke Howbeit the Switzers in whom he reposed especiall confidence and by whose valour The D. of Millan taken prisoner hee verily perswaded himselfe hee shoulde bee able to maintaine his quarrell agaynst his enemyes betrayed him to the French who sent him prisoner to the King at Lions Then there was a maruellous concourse of people assembled to beholde this captiue Duke who not long before in fame dignitie and renowme had beene equall to anie Prince in Italie The King woulde not vouchsafe to see him but sent him to prison vnto the Castell of Locces The miserable end of the D. of Millan where hee continued for the space of tenne yeares and there in verie miserable manner ended his life And thus was this Noble Duke an other argument of the mutabilitie and chaunge of frowarde fortune Now was the French King wholy set vpon the conquest of Naples and least hee might any wayes bee hindered he thought it conuenient to procure Ferdinando King of Spaine to ioyne with him The French and Spanish Kings ioyne for the conquest of Naples who was easily drawne thereto and the better to countenaunce the matter pretended a title whereby hee would proue himselfe rightfull heire to the Neapolitan Crowne Ferdinando King of Naples beeing wonderfully dismayed heerewith yeelded vppon composition to the King of Fraunce and so his Kingdome was diuided betweene the French and Spanish Kings which two Princes could not long agree but falling at dissension betweene themselues there were manie sharpe bickerings the French still going by the woorst Monsieur de La Palissa and diuerse others were taken prisoners and Monsieur de Nemours was slaine by the Spaniardes vnder the leading of the great Consaluo who albeit there were a treatie of peace and an abstinence of warre concluded yet woulde hee take no knowledge thereof but proceeded still in the warres The Spaniniards driue the French out of Naples and so brought the whole Kingdome of Naples vnder the Spanish yoake Lewis of Fraunce hearing of all this was not a little greeued in his minde but there was no remedie but patience nor any wayes to doo any good but by force Wherevpon he sent newe armies into Italie with a purpose to repayre his former losses but a composition was made and all the warre beganne to bee diuerted towarde the Venetians who were brought to marueylous great extremities But by reason the Pope beganne to growe iealous of his owne hee forsooke the French and ioyned with the Venetians taking them into his protection The Pope taketh the Venetians into his protection Whereupon the French king thought it best to desist from any further proceedings and so entring league with the Pope returned hom Notwithstanding hee quickely smelling out the fetches of his late reconciled enemie ioyned againe with the Emperour and sendeth Monsieur de Chaumont into Italie with a strong power who with the Prince of Heâ—ault ouerthrew the Venetians and tooke Legnague Mountsilice and manie other places Not long after by reason of the death of Monsieur de Chaumont Gaston de Foix a valiaunt young Gentleman was sent into Italie to bee Generall ouer the French forces who hauing intelligence that the power of the Spaniardes was comming downe to succour Marke Anthonie de Colonna whom hee besieged in Rauenna fearing the irruption of those within the Towne brake vp his siege and withdrewe his forces three miles of towards the armie of his enemies with whom for that hee intended to fight he marshalled the troupes as followeth The vauntgard wherein was seuen hundred men of armes The battel of Rauenna besides the Almaines footmen was led by the Duke of Ferrara and the Seneschal of Normandy Neere vnto them were arraunged the footmen of the middle battaile which amounted to the number of eight thousande French vnder the conduct of Monsieur de Allegres The Rereward was composed of fiue hundred Italians ouer whom commaunded Frederick de Bosuolo This battailon was flanked both by the archers on horsebacke and by the light horsmen being in all three thousand Behind al these esquadrons which were so placed as they rather resembled a croysant or new Moone then any thing else were six hundred men of armes led by Seigneur de la Palaice and Cardinall Sanauerino Monsieur de Foix had made choyce of no peculiar charge for himselfe but taking out some durtie of the valiantest Gentlemen purposed to haue an eye to euerie place and to be ready to helpe where most neede was In this warlike maner he marched towardes his enemies whom he found strongly encamped by a Riuers side who being certified of the approach of the French had thus raunged their battailes In the vauntgarde were eight hundred men of Armes and sixe thousand footmen vnder the leading of Fabricio de Colonno high Constable of Naples In the middle battaile were sixe hundred men of Armes flanked with foure thousand footemen whose principall leader was the Viceroy himselfe and with him were the Marques of Palude and the Popes Legate called Iohn de Meâ—â—â— The Rerewarde was conducted by Caruaiall a Spaniard In which battaile were foure hundred men of Armes and foure thousand footemen The light horsemen commanded by Daualos the Marques of Pescara a very yong man but of passing great hope who guarded the right side of the footmen Peter de Nauarro the General of the Spanish footmen would not tie himselfe to any certaine place but determined to helpe where most neede required And in this order they expected the comming of their enemyes who by this time were aduaunced verie neare and the skirmish began to grow hote on both sides The fight continued long and manie were slaine but the Spanish troupes beeing maruaylously torne The Spaniards ouerthrowne at Rauenna by the French and scattered with the French Ordinaunce could not endure before the men of Armes of Fraunce For Fabritio de Colonna beeing taken by the Souldiours of the Duke of Ferrara the Viceroy and Caruaiall neuer staied any further tryall of theyr fortune but fled amaine leauing the Marques of Pescara and the Marques of Palude at the mercie of their enemies Although the horsemen were ouerthrowne yet the Spanish footemen fought valiauntly and with incredible fiercenesse maintained the battaile for a long time but being wearied in the ende and not able any longer to endure they began to giue ground Nauarro taken prisoner yet so as they rather seemed to retyre then to bee driuen out of the field which Nauarro beholding rather desyred to die then liue and therefore not departing out of the battaile hee suffered himselfe to be taken prisoner Gaston de Foix general of the French army slaine after he had gotten the victorie But when as Monsieur de Foix could not abide to see Spanish footemen to go away in such souldier-like maner with their rankes vnbroken hee in a great furie charged them
home to defende their owne territories Much confusion beganne nowe to growe among the Kings Souldiers and many of his mercenaries or hyred souldiers departed before the battaile beeing called home for the defence of theyr owne Countrey and the number which was least was farre lesse then indeed it was reported vnto the King so that the Emperialles spying theyr aduantage sette forwarde and with surpassing courage inuaded the Kings Campe in the dead of the night hauing couered their armour with whole shirts the better to discerne one another Their army was diuided into foure Battailons the first consisting of sixe thousand Almains Spaniards and Italians was led by the marquesse of Guasto a valiant yong Gentleman and of great towardnesse in the warres The second consisting wholy of Spaniards was conducted by the Marquesse of Pescara who commanded as principall in the army in the third and fourth battailes were the Dukes of Burbon and Lanoy who went as resolutely to the charge as any others The King being certified of their approch and hauing ordered his troups in as warlike manner as might bee deuised couragiously prepared himselfe for the encounter both armies were no sooner met The great valor of the King but the fight grew very terrible on both sides each partie doing his best for the glorie of their nation and for the obtaining of an entire victorie The King like a valiant captaine and noble souldier fought couragiously and forced the marquesse of Pescara to giue ground whereas hee being endangered to loose all sent to the Vizroy who had the leading of the formost battaile to come to his succors who vnderstanding in what danger the marquesse was furiously set on the Switzers who that day answered not the kings expectation breaking their array wholy defeated them in a moment Then appeared the misery of the French and the king himselfe was forthwith in imminent perill albeit he fought manfully and was seconded with a valiant troupe of French Nobilitie who did their vttermost for their owne securitie and honor of their country yet hauing the marquesse in his front and Antonio de Leua The King of France taken prisoner who was nowe issued out of Paua with al his forces on his backe after he had beene sore wearied and greeuously wounded both in the face and hand and had his horse killed vnder him hee was forced to yeelde to fiue common Souldiers which knew him not but shortly after the Viceroy passing by the king called vnto him and making himself knowne was with great reuerence receiued as Caesars prisoner Thus was the French king who not long before had beene in so flourishing estate commanding not onely ouer al France but also a great part of Italy being so mightie rich and puissant that hee was dreaded of all his neighbor princes subiected to a maruailous change and alteration The King of France sent prisoner into Spaine being made first a prisoner to common souldiers and conuaied from one place to another vntill at length he came into Spaine hauing left all his army to the mercie of their enemies who slew of them well neere to the number of 10000. and among them there perished twentie of the greatest of the French Nobilitie as Boniuet Chauany Monsieur de la palissa Tremoile Obigny and sundry others of especiall account The great slaughter of the french Nobilitie as Henry the king of Nauarre Renee the bastard of Sauoy Duke Memorancy Francis of Burbon Earle of Saint Paul Biron Imbercourt Floranges Colonell of the Switzers with a great number of especiall account were taken prisoners The Duke of Alanson escaped this bloudy conflict and recouered France with a mighty troupe of men of armes who serued for messengers of this wofull newes The emperials lost not past some 700. men and among them no man of any especiall account but onely Ferdinando Castriota the marquesse of Saint Angelo The Spaniards were maruailously enriched with this victorie for neuer had so few souldiers so great a bootie The gold siluer and precious moueables of the French Nobilitie were that day diuided among their enemies and euerie Spanish bisoneos seemed to walke in a world of wealth brauing it out in most superbious manner with the spoyles of the Flower de lis All Europe was mightily dismaied with the newes of this victorie and all estates beganne to grow iealous of the Emperials greatnesse The Venetians of all others thought themselues most neerely touched therewith The Pope the Venetians and other potentates make a league against the Emperour and therefore they offered to ioyne with the Pope and to hire a ten thousand Switzers to defende Italy against the Emperials hoping that the Lady Regent of France the Duke of Ferrara and many other Princes would ioyne with them against their common enimie In the meane time the King of France was as is alreadie declared transported into Spaine and sent vp into the Castle of Madrill This was no doubt a bitter receipt and a sharpe corrosiue to this magnanimous prince who had not been vsed to be confined in so narrow a roume but patience with hope was his best comfort for the Emperour would not see him much lesse minister any matter of consolation in that his wofull distresse neither yet did he seeme to shewe any externall signes of ioy for so glorious a victorie The moderation of Charles the fift he prohibited bonefires ringing of belles and such like accustomed solemnities saying that it might bee seemely to vse outwarde reioycings for victories against the Turks Sarrazins and other infidels but not against christian Princes The Emperours Councell were long before they could well tell what to do with this prisoner they beeing distracted into diuers opinions but in the ende it was fully concluded to make as great a gaine of him as might bee and therefore they earnestly pressed him to yeeld ouer all his claime and title to Burgondy Millan and Naples besides hee was bound to pay a huge summe of money for his ransome The agreemēt betweene the Emperor and the french King and to condiscend to sundrie other things and those so great that no man of iudgement thought hee would bee so good as his word Yet for assurance the King was contented to marry the Lady Elynor the Emperors sister and to grant that his two sons the Dolphin and the Duke of Orleance shuld be left in hostage for the better performance of the conditions Now was France brought to a lowe ebbe and the auncient splendor and glorie thereof mightily obscured yea that renowmed Kingdome which had beene alwaies accounted the parragon of all Europe and hadde beene a terror vnto the Romane monarchy sate as a desolate widow that had lost her husband in weeping wailing and great lamentation But shortly after this afflicted countrey began to bee recomforted and as it were reuiued after it had felt the pangs of death for the king being once set at libertie and gotten into France
little ioyfull to heare these newes wherefore longing to see that which he had so often wished and desired he posted presently to visit his new conquered towne whither he was no sooner come but that he gaue order for the repairing and fortifying thereof and leauing Monsieur de Thermes gouernor withdrew himselfe againe towards Paris commanding the Guise to besiege Herbemont a place of some importance which was yeelded at the first summance Thus did fortune begin to turne her countenance towards the French and as it were alternatiuely and by course fauour the Kings desigments The French K intending to prosecute his wars against the Spaniards thought it good policie to strengthen himselfe with some forrein alliance and therefore contriued a marriage betweene Mary the yong Queene of Scots and Francis the Dolphin of France Francis the Dolphin of France marryeth Marie Queene of Scots Which mariage was solemnized at Paris in most royall and magnificent maner the 14. of Aprill 1558. About which time there began some motion to be made as touching a peace betweene Spaine France The principal procurer whereof was the Lady Dutchesse and dowager of Loraine and cosin to King Philip. But by reason of sundry impeachments there was nothing effected so that the French king hauing all things in a readinesse sent the Duke of Guise accompanied with the Dukes of Neuers Nemours the Mareschal Strozzi and Bourdillon with a great power to besiege Theonuille Who making their approches raised their mounts planting their Ordinance and beate the towne with 35. peeces of artillary Which when Count Horne vnderstood he marched thither in the dead of the night with certain old bands of Spaniards purposing to force the Corps de gard of the enemies But the Count being not able to effect that which he desired by reason he found the French very strongly encamped was forced to retire with losse of many of his men The Duke still plied his batterie The 〈…〉 Guyse â—â—â—geth Theouille and for that he could not well discerne whether the breach were reasonable or not what flankers remained to endamage the assailants as also to see the countenances and resolution of the besieged sent about midnight fiue hundred of his most hardy and best experienced souldiers vnder the conduct of Cipierre S. Estef Mellas Sarlabos and Iaques to giue a false assault with expresse commaundement not to aduance further then onely to discouer the breach vnlesse they should be drawne therto by some apparant aduantage who approching the walles and crying scale scale as though they would haue giuen a generall assault so terrified those who garded the breach that part of them shrinking away for feare and the rest not able to resist gaue leaue to the French to ascende to the toppe of the Rampart and had the souldiours followed theyr leaders with equall courage the towne had beene gayned at that instant But the alarum being giuen the French were soone repulsed with the losse of many of their principall and most forward men the besieged were much dismaid with this vnlooked for accident and the remembrance of their manifold wants made them to doubt of the sequell of the siege wherevpon Caderobbe who was gouernour of the towne knowing he was not able to holde out for any long time sent a trumpet to demaund a parle offering to yeeld vpon reasonable conditions which when the Duke had assented vnto and the articles were fully agreed vpon the place was giuen vp the 22. of Iune 1558. vnto the French who entered with great triumphs and repairing the battered walles made them as defensible as they could This and the like prosperous successe somewhat cheered the French nation and made their name seeme terrible to the Spaniards who had for a time beene exceedingly crossed in most of their affayres But nowe the worlde beganne to change fortune which is euer instable frowned vpon the French First of Nouember by crossing the designes of Monsieur de Termes the captaine of Calice Who desirous to doo some especiall seruice for his late preferment inuaded the confines of Flanders with an army of 9000. footmen 1500. horse and by an assault tooke Dunkirk Monsieur de Termes inuadeth the low countries leauing Graueling on his backe with a purpose to enterprise against that also if oportunitie serued and so passed forth hard vnto Newport cruelly wasting with fire and sword whatsoeuer was in his way For the repressing of whose furious and barbarous rage Count Egmond assembled a power of 12000. on foote and 3000. horsmen of whose approch when Termes was ascertained by his espials he began to retire with al speed being indeed not able to encounter with so strong and resolute an enemy wherfore vsing the benefit of a low water he marched away in the dead of the night along by the sea hoping to deceiue the count and to free himselfe from the danger of the Dutch But the count Egmond vnderstanding of the retreat of the French suspecting that they hasted to get out of his hands crossed the country by a nearer way and put himselfe between them and home meeting them in the front not farre from Graueling He was no sooner in view of the enemy but he caused the signall to be giuen Count Egmont ouerthroweth de Termes and taketh him prisoner like a general of surpassing courage went resolutely to the charge The French who stood in a desperate state receiued the shotte with equall valour and at the first seemed to haue the better committing maruellous slaughter with their great Ordinance vpon the formost ranckes of the Burgonians whom when the French saw so broken and dismembred supposing the day had bin theirs they cried out victorie victorie But this acclamation lasted not long for the Count Egmond arriuing with a great Hot of Reisters and Flemings so furiously charged the French launces that they were wholy defeated and ouerthrowne Amids these bloody broils hapned a strange chance A strange chance for at the same time certaine English ships passing by and descrying this encounter made towards the shore and with their shot beat the flanks of the French army which on this side lay open to a ful batterie wherewith they being sore dismaid and not able to indure the fight any longer turned their backs and fled amain There were some 1500. slaine in that place And the greatest number of such as escaped were killed by the boores and women of the country who made hauocke of as many as fel into their hands Monsieur de Termes D'annebault Senarpont Meruilliers sundry others of the principall captains remained prisoners Moreouer they lost all their Ordinance ensignes munition bag and baggage and all their rich booties which they had gotten in Flanders This sinister chance did not a little vexe the French King who fearing a further mischiefe if it were not timely preuented sent forth presently for his Bannes Arierbannes The French K. mustreth new forces with
so to Baugencie both which places were quickelye gayned from the Catholikes with the strong Towne of Estamps where was founde great store of prouision as Corne Wine Powder shot and all necessaries for the warres The Prince after some smal stay to repose his wearied troups marched on towards Paris The Prince of Conde marcheth towards Paris which he no sooner approched that the bands vnder the leading of the P. Portian and Mouy had giuen in so farre as the suburbs of S. Victor but that all the Citie was in an vprore and euery man at their wittes ende so wonderfully were they daunted with the sight of the Princes armie albeit they were not past eight thousande footemen and some fiue or sixe thousande horse Whereas there were within the Citie at the least a hundred thousand able to beare armes hauing the Constable the Duke of Guise the Duke of Neuers the Mareschals and in a manner all the braue leaders of Fraunce for their chieftaines and commaunders But such was their timorousnesse that they kept themselues close albeit the battell was presented vnto them twise at the least and onelie amused the Prince with certaine conditions of peace about the which there were manie meetings In the end all being found to be but meere delayes and onelie to gaine time vntill the comming of the Spaniardes the Prince resolued to assaile the enemie in his Trenches but the same night which was appoynted for this exployte and immediately before it shoulde haue beene put in execution Genlis a principall man among the Protestants secretely fledde to the Catholikes which vnexpected accident quite altered the councell of the Confederates supposing that now there was some aduertisement giuen of their intended enterprise Genlis flieth to the Catholikes and therefore they deferred the execution of that proiect vntill some other tyme. But by reason of the wants that were in the Armie as the penurie of victuals and other necessaries as also a secrete discontentment among the straungers for that they lacked theyr pay it was agreed to stay no longer before Paris which was not so easie to bee gotten nor in so short a tyme as was requisite to supplie theyr present necessitie but to dislodge and to retire towards New-hauen The prince leaueth Paris and marcheth to-towards New hauen there to attende such succours as were expected out of England By the way the Prince tooke Galardon a towne of good importance where he stayed to giue some breath to his wearyed troups and to accommodate his armie of such things as were most necessarie The Catholikes coasted him all the way watching to catch him at some aduantage howbeit nothing was attempted vntill both the camps were come vnto Dreux where they approched so neare and either partie had so farre engaged themselues that there was no remedie but they must needes fight so that now each Generall began to bethinke of all good meanes for the strengthening of himselfe and the weakening of his enemyes The Catholikes had made choyse of a verie strong place to encampe in beeing neare vnto Dreux The battel of Dreux wherein there was a garrison of their associates and likewise adioyning vnto a wood which was a verie fit and conuenient place to effect diuers stratagems There was a large and spacious plaine through which there ran a little valley seruing as it were for the bounds and limits of both armies The Constable hauing gotten this aduauntage presented himselfe in battell aray at the head of the village vppon the toppe of a little hill hauing placed two strong battaylons of footemen in the towne which should gard fourteene Cannons so planted that they were ready to play vpon the army of the confederates as soone as the signall should be giuen Each battaillon was flanked with certaine troupes of horse as it were for a mutuall succour one for another with their Enfans perdus in their fronts and those of the choysest of all their regiments They had the Riuer Eureux at their backes and espying that they were likely to come to a triall of their fortune they forthwith emparked themselues betweene two villages in a place of more aduantage then before The Mareschall S. Andrew led the auauntgard The Catholike armie which was composed of nine companies of French launces thirteene ensignes of Spaniards with as manie French and eleuen of Almaines with foure field peeces all which were aranged on the left side of the Conestable who led the maine battaile further aduaunced then eyther the Mareschall or the Duke of Guise wherein were seuenteene Cornets of men of Armes and three of light horsmen with two and twentie ensignes of Zwitzers seuenteene of French and Britons and eyght peeces of great Ordinance The Duke of Guise led the rerewarde which seemed to flanke the battaile of the Conestable on the right side with a strong troupe of horsemen and two esquadrons of Spanish footemen with sundrie others his followers men of especiall account and much renowmed for their valyantnesse The prince had so araunged his battailes that the horsemen wherein they ouermatched his enemies were in the formost rankes The Protestants armie and taking vnto himselfe Rochfaucont with certaine light horsemen of Guries companie with some other Cornets led by Mouy and Auarell besides a troupe of Reisters all which serued as flankers for his battailon of footmen resolued to encounter the Conestable who seemed to be readie to giue the charge Each generall hauing disposed of all things in this warlike sort the great artillarie began to vomit out their deuilrie and the Conestable prepared to assaile the battaile of the Prince which hasted in like maner to the encounter and that with so stately and superbious a dismarch that it gaue euident testimonie that it was led by a generall of noble courage and great experience The Prince charged the Zwitzers who valiantly endured the first shotte and stoode to it verie manfully The Prince of Conde charge the Switzers ouerthroweth them But at length by reason of the smal shot which hailed vpon them without ceasing and somwhat cleared their ranks they began to giue ground which the valiant and couragious Mouy espying incorporating his troups with Monsieur de Daneret set on them with such furie that he made them flie amaine And being seconded by the Prince wholy defeated them as renowmed Pykemen as they were The Reisters who followed the Princes good fortune gaue in with great courage committing a maruellous carnage and mortalitie vpon their enemies At the same instant the Admirall charged the Conestable and that so lustily that his men began to shrinke and he himselfe being wounded in the face with a Curtelas and sore bruised with small pistoll shot was forced to yeeld to Vezines But the Reisters passing by at that instant tooke him away by force and carryed him to the Prince as a prisoner of their owne The Conestable taken prisoner The rest of the Conestables battaile was quickely
come but that Feuquieres whome hee had serued in former tymes in the warres in Pycardie knowing him to bee a man of seruice commended him to the Admirall saying that he was a fit man to bee employed to discouer somewhat of the enemyes proceedings about Orleanâ—e for that he shoulde bee taken for a Spaniard and so a fauourer of theyr designes Wherupon the Admirall gaue him twentie Crownes and sent him to Orleance where hee continued not long but hauing got as good intelligence as he coulde returned backe to do his message The Admyrall lyking the man well for his diligence and secrecie in matters of such importaunce gaue him an hundred Crownes and bidde him buy him a good Horse that hee might with more celeritie dispatch his businesse With this money Poltrot bought him a verie excellent Spanish Genet and leauing the Admirall went backe to the Guises Campe where he awayted some oportunitie to put in execution his intended purpose Which shortly after fell out for hee espying the Duke somewhat late in the euening ryding towardes his Tent vppon a little Nagge onely attended on by a Gentleman Vsher which went before him and an other which talked with him hee approched as neare as hee could and discharged his pistoll vpon the Duke hitting him in the shoulder wounded him verie sore and so turning his horse fled as fast as he could And hauing ridden all that night by by-wayes for feare of those who pursued him he not knowing which way he went wandred vp and downe in the end came againe almost to the place where hee committed the fact Which when he perceiued he rode all the day folowing with as much speed as possibly might be to get out of the danger of his pursuing enemies But hauing with continuall trauell wearied both himselfe and his horse he rested at a farm house where he was taken vpon suspition and committed to safe keeping for his further triall Being examined and found culpable he was adiudged to be drawn in peeces with foure horses Poltrot drawne in peeces with horses to haue his head cut off and his torne bodie to be burnt to ashes This sudden blow did maruellously dismay the Catholikes and the rather for that it appeared to be deadly and not possible to be healed For he waxed worse euerie day then other and died very shortly after The Duke of Guise died within seuen or eight daies after his hurt to their vnspeakable greefe who had reposed their whole confidence in him and to the great reioycing of the confederates whose deadly sworne enemies he was alwayes accounted And this was the end of that turbulent spirit ambitious Guise who as he had massacred many so he in the end was murthered by others and that euen then when he thought least of any danger nay rather fully perswaded himselfe well neare to haue attained to the full period of his wished desires So vncertaine is the state and condition of the greatest and most mightie personages in this variable and changeable world The Guise was no sooner dead but there ensued a present alteration and those conditions which had beene before propounded were forthwith fully agreed vpon so was there a peace proclaimed the 19. of March folowing at S. Memen in the campe before Orleance Peace proclamed in the Campe before Orleance wherewith all sorts in generall seemed to bee maruellously well contented hoping to be freed froÌ„ those horrible miseries wherwith they had bin afflicted for so many yeres And indeed albeit this pacification held but for a while yet did the whole land reape great fruite thereby and acknowledged the gracious goodnesse of the Almightie in that it had pleased him to giue them some respite and to make an end of their Ciuill warres But this blessed peace could not continue long by reason there fell out many occasions of discontentment to either faction by meanes wherof they were soone entangled afresh in their former sorrowes and vexations CHAP. VIII The seditious humour of the Cardinall of Lorraine The Admirall accused for the death of the Duke of Guyse The complaints of the Protestants The League made at Bayon The King refuseth to heare the Protestants The second ciuill warre Paris besieged by the Protestants THe Cardinall of Lorraine The Cardinall of Lorraine seeketh new occasions of strife and brother to the deceased Duke of Guyse the especiall instrument of all these calamities which hadde continued for so long time in that noble kingdome of France inwardly vexed to see such a peaceable estate knowing full well that it did not stande with his commoditie and profit to see the Princes of the bloud to bee fauoured at the Court neither yet the Nobilitie and Gentlemen to liue in peace and amitie one with another and all sorts as brethren to liue euenly together deuised a way to set all men again together by the eares and to embarke themselues into newe troubles Hee therefore with the assent of his associats spread abroade diuers calumniations and slanderous rumours of those of the reformed Religion being a gratious man with the Queen mother for that their humors were but too agreeable and consonant each to other he perswaded with her that if shee should countenance the cheefe Princes and Lords of the Religion and suffer them to be neere the Court and beare a sway in matters of State they would draw on many followers after them and peraduenture gaine the yong King and the Princes his brethren to be their friends and then Conde being a man of courage and of that proximitie in bloud would looke to haue his place which if hee might peaceably enioy her authoritie would be quickly in the dust and the Burbons Memorancies and Chastillons would rule all and as it was most likely shee should bee called to an account for her former gouernement during the Kings nonage and by drawing on the hatred of the Catholikes of the Pope and of the King of Spaine loose al her credit and reputation The Queene mother being iealous inough of her estate before and nowe encouraged by the Cardinall to role euerie stone rather then to loose one iot of her authoritie discountenanced all that shee might those of the Religion and to be ridde of the Admirall whome for his wisedome integritie valour and vprightnesse of all his actions shee could not abide it was deuised that hee should be charged to haue hired Poltrot to kill the late Duke of Guyse and to colour the matter withalâ— there was a counterfeit deposition of Poltrot exhibited and the yong Duke of Guyse was animated to demand iustice of the K. for the death of his father The yong Duke of of Guyse set on to accuse the Admiral of the murther of his father But when this deuise came to the prince of Condes eare Lord howe exceedingly was hee offended protesting and that openly at the Councell Table that hee would spend all that euer hee had yea and his owne
life too before the Admirall whom hee knew to be innocent should be so iniuriously handled which speech of the Princes with some other considerations was the cause that this pursute ceased for that time and a reconciliation was made betweene the Admirall and those of the Guyse at Moulins immediatly before the King was about to go in progresse to Bayon Albeit the Admirall was no further troubled at this instant yet it was a meanes to make him hated and detested of all the Catholikes and a principall cause of sundrie quarrelles betweene the Papists and the Protestants which in the ende prooued so great that they drew on a second ciuill warre for there grewe daily complaints each charging other with the breach of the Kings Edict and many accusations were broached on both sides The Catholikes complained that the strong Townes and fortresses were not yeelded to the kings obeysance that there were many preachers which were not allowed of by the Edict and that they preached in sundrie places expressely prohibited The complaints of the Catholikes and Protestants that they were disgraced with many approbrious and scandalous speeches and that there were secret practises for the leuying of Souldiers in Germany and other places which shoulde bee in a readinesse vppon the first sommance The Protestants alleaged that they were rigorously handled and could not haue iustice when they complained that the insolencie of the garrisons which were placed in sundrie protestant Townes was intollerable and could not be indured that there were daily murtherers of the reformed in euery corner of the Lande and nothing so common as robbing spoyling rauishing pilling and poulling the poore Hugonots and no punishment inflicted vppon the Authours and abbettors of such horrible and derestable villanies These and the like complaints beeing often reiterated on both sides and each faction nourishing their suspitions vppon euery small occasion their rancour grew greater greater and those smal sparks which for a while lay couered in ashes brake out at last into a furious and raging fire For the Catholikes had no sooner gotten all things in a readines exacted their cittadels into the protestant Townes placed their garrisons sworne their associations and leagues which were tearmed the confraternities of the holy Ghost and that vnder the colour of viewing the state of the Lande the king was gone to Bayon The league made at Bayon among the Catholikes there to make a confederacy betweene himselfe and the Spanish king and the Duke of Alua to roote out all the Hugonots but that a Million of iniuries and indignities were offered to the poore protestants There was an Edict made at Rousillon The Edict of Rousillon which was tearmed a declaration or an exposition of the edict of the pacification but this was so contrarie to those articles which had beene agreed vppon before that al men might see they had fully resolued to breake their promises with the Protestants Then did there follow immediatly after most barbarous cruelties and tyrannicall oppressions of all sorts which made any profession of the Gospel though it were neuer so little which when the Protestants to their vnspeakeable greefe behelde and that after so many iust complaints there was no redresse to bee hoped for by faire meanes but that their vsage was likely to bee worse and worse for that the sixe thousand Switzers were still retained in a readinesse to bee employed against them vppon the sodaine as they vehemently suspected they thought it high time to looke about them and to studie howe they might best preuent so imminent perils Whereupon they wrote letters The Protestants begin to prouide for themselues and sent their secret messengers into al quarters to aduertise their associats to vse al the speed that could be made to come and attend the Prince of Conde Rochfaucont and the Admirall Dandelot and others who were their principall cheefetaines This could not be so closely kept but the Queene mother hadde intelligence thereof who with the King lay at Meaux a place not farre distant where the saide Prince of Conde with his confederates were assembled and had purposed to hasten to the Court strongly accompanied Conde with his associats go towardes the Court. to see if they could bring their enemies to any better reason or more equall and euen conditions As soone as the Queene mother vnderstood of the dismarch of the Prince and that hee came directly towardes the King shee resolued at midnight to dislodge and to hasten to Paris The King flyeth to Paris leauing the Constable with the battailon of Switzers and some eight or nine hundred French horse to stop the course of the Protestants who seeing themselues ouermatched and that they could neither by faire meanes nor by foule be admitted to the speech of the King who was by this time gotten within Paris they retired towardes Clay expecting the rest of their forces which daily repaired vnto them out of Picardy Champaigne Poictou Guyen and sundrie other places of the Land where they stayed not long but marched towardes Saint Dennis which was a little village some two leagues distant from Paris Nowe beganne there to bee as it were a generall combustion through out France and the warres which had ceased for a time were foorthwith open on all sides The second Ciuil warres there were with the Prince of Conde the Cardinal of Chastillon the Admirall Dandelot Rochfaucont Ienlis Clermont Amboise Saux Bouchart Bouchauanes Piquigni Lysy Mony Saint Phale Esterny Mont-gommery the Vidame of Chartres La Noue Lauardin and all their retinewes These beeing assembled sent their humble letters to the King vnfolding theyr manifolde greefes and dolours beseeching his maiestie that they might bee heard and suffered to enioy their liberties and to haue the free exercise of theyr Religion according to the Edict of Pacification made before Orleance but answere beeing returned that the Edict was but prouisionable and made for the necessitie of the time and that the King to satisfie them would not fall out with all his neighbour Princes by tollerating any other besides the Romish Religion they determined to gather as great forces as they could and to besiege Paris It was not long before they had gotten some 2000. horse 4000. footmen The Prince of Conde besiegeth Paris with which power they first tooke Estamps Dourdan Orleance sundrie other places of good importance so that stopping the auenues and blocking the citie on all sides they determined either to obtaine a peace with better conditions then before or els to famish the Parisians who could not long endure without releefe from other places The Catholikes were not idle but daily enterprised vppon the Protestants fighting and skirmishing with them vppon euery aduantage and vnderstanding that theyr forces were seuered Dandelot and Mount-gommery beeing sent away with fiue hundred horse and eight hundred footmen to surprise Poysy and Ponthoise La Noue to take Orleance Rochfaucont Mouy to conduct
after hee had braued them for a good space and had wasted and spoyled hard to the suburbs seeing that no man durst appeare to impeach his proceedings considering that victuals and other necessaries for his army waxed scant and that the Catholikes hourely reenforced themselues as also vnderstanding that Cassimer was comming with a great army to his ayde he dislodged then from S. Dennis the fifteenth of Nouember and went towards Lorrayne to receiue his Almaines Beeing on his way at Montargis hee receiued letters from Truchares who was a little before elected Maior of Rochell that if hee would sende some especiall man of account to be Lieutenant in his absence they would yeeld the towne to his deuotion The Prince was wonderfull glad to heare this good newes knowing that to bee a place of no small importance and therefore hee foorthwith dispatched Saint Hermin his Cousin with letters to the Mayor and Shriues of the towne giuing them hearty thankes for their great fauour and kindnesse with a request to remaine constant and to receiue his Cousin as his Lieutenant in his absence Rochel yeelded to the Protestants This gentleman was very welcome to the Rochelers where hee arriued the tenth of Februarie 1568. and so Rochell being a maruailous strong place accomodated with a goodly hauen by which meanes it was growne very rich remained euer after at the deuotion of the Confederates The troups of Poictou Xaintoigne c. By this time were there newe troupes leuied in Poictou Guyen Xaintoigne Angolesme and Gascongne vnder the leading of Saint Cyre Soubize Puuiant Pilles and other chiefetains amounting to the number of eighteene Cornets of horse and twenty leauen ensignes of footmen who marching to ioyne with the Prince tooke by the way Dorat Lusignan and Pont Sur Yon where they ioyned with the vauntgard ledde by the Admirall Chastillon from thence passing by Sens they tooke Bray Nogent Montereau and Espernay Thus did the Protestants stil aduance their affaires the Catholikes being not able to impeach or hinder them notwithstanding all their practises and deuises Monsieur Duke of Aniou made the Kings lieutenant generall Now was Monsieur the Duke of Aniou brother to the King by reason of the death of the Constable proclamed Lieutenant generall ouer all his brothers territories and Dominions who beeing assisted by the Prince de Nemours Longauille the Mareschall Cossy Tauannes Martigues Carnaualet Losses and sundrie other great Captaines was commaunded to bridle the Protestants as much as might be The Duke of Aumaile was sent into Lorraine to ioyne with the Marques of Baden who had raysed a power of some three thousand horse for the seruice of the King and the Duke of Alua sent the Count of Aremberg with a thousand and two hundred horse and two thousand footmen Spaniards and Burgonians who shoulde ioyne with Monsieur against the Prince of Conde The marques of Baden and the Duke of Alua send forces to Monsieur and the rest of the Confederates The yong Lonsac was sent to the Count Palatine to hinder the leuie of the Reisters made by his sonne Cassimer and nowe readie to march for the succour of the Protestants Thus was there great preparation made on all sides to continue the warres and to consume Fraunce with the flame of ciuill broyles The Prince being aduertised of all this hasted to meete with his Reisters and with much adoo being followed in the taile by the Catholikes at length arriued at Saint Michaell where hee passed the Riuer of Meaux and so entered into Lorraine still proceeding forwardes vntill hee came as farre as Mousoâ— where hee met with Cassimer and his Almaines The Prince of Conde meeteth with Cassimer his Almains who accompanyed with the two young Countes of Barbie the Count Holo the Mareschall of the Palatinate Scomberg and manie others of great reckoning and account had long expected the comming of the Confederates After some stay made for the refreshing of their wearied troupes they determined to returne towards the pleasant and fertile fieldes of the Flower de Lis there to assay if they could bring their enemies to any honest and reasonable conditions Monsieur had speedie intelligence of the returne of both Armyes wherefore hee sent great numbers both of horsemen and footemen to stoppe all the passages and amongst others commaunded the Duke of Neuers with his Italian bandes to defende the Riuers of Merne Seyne Yon The Duke of Neuers appointed to stop the passage of the Almains into France and sundrie other places And that if hee could not hinder theyr course yet he should annoy them by all possible meanes to the ende that beeng wearied and wasted so much as might bee his excellencie might fight with them afterwards in grosse with more aduauntage The Protestants minding not to forslowe theyr businesse dislodged from Chalons and marched towards the head of the Riuer of Meuse and so leauing Comercyon on their right hande passed ouer at Marne and went towardes Chastillon where they were assayled by certaine troupes of Italians and French who set vpon the taile of the army to cause them to hasten their pace But Scomberge Certain Italian troupes ouerthrowne by Scomberg being sent with part of his owne Regiment assisted by some fewe of the French gaue them such a furious charge that hee wholy defeated them and brought theyr colours to the Prince The armie was forthwith aduaunced and marching through Hurepoise by Bleueau and Montargis arryued at last in Beausse and encamped before Charters which they determined to besiege for that it was verie rich and well able to relieue the armie with manie necessaries The comming of this great power encouraged diuerse who had kept them selues close to put forth theyr heads and to attempt manie things in fauour of the Confederates Those of Languedocke Prouence and Gascoigne were presently vp in armes vnder their leaders Sipteres Montbrun Moâ—â—ans Senas Bâ—urinqâ—et Rapin Montacut and sundrie other Chieftaines and suddenly surprised Nismes Montpellier Saint Marcell Saint Esprit Saint Iean Boue all which they fortified for their greater profite and securitie The Catholikes were not idle but sought to catch whatsoeuer they coulde come by which might any way tend to their aduauntage Montaret gouernour of the Countrey of Burbonois with Terride La Valette and Monsales surprised certaine troupes of the Protestants whom they quickely defeated and put to flight Mascon was taken by the Duke of Neuers Mouluc likewise tooke certaine Isles in Xainctoigne and prepared all necessaries to besiege Rochell one of the principall retreates of the Protestants The Count Martinengo Richleu and sundrie others besieged Orleance Thus were they in euery corner of Fraunce vp in Armes and no man knewe where to bee safest from the violence of the souldiours and men of Armes Now were all things in a readinesse for the siege of Chartres Charters besieged so that hauing raysed theyr mounts and planted theyr artillarie they began to beate
the Citie in verie terrible and furious maner and hauing ouerthrowne their Towers battered their houses and made a sufficient breach they were readie to giue an assault and to assay the getting of the Towne by maine force Ligneres one of the Knights of the order was Captaine of the Towne who endeuoured by all meanes to keepe the same in despite of the Confederates and with great celeritie repayred in the night whatsoeuer had beene broken and throwne downe in the day and so wisely and politiquely preuented all the stratagems of his enemies that it was not possible for the Prince to effect his intended purpose But the King vnderstanding that they could not long holde out and being not able to remooue the siege thought it best to offer the Prince a peace which after manie meetings was at length concluded The principall effect whereof was The King offereth a peace which is accepted by the Prince that euery man should quietly enioy his Religion and from thenceforth neuer bee troubled for their consciences This being agreed vpon though contrarie to the liking of manie of the Princes best friends and principall Captaines who still cryed out that the King would breake his promise as soone as he espied his aduauntage and proclaimed in the Campe before Charters the Armie brake vp and euerie one was licenced to depart home into his owne Countrey CHAP. XI The third ciuill warres The battell of Bassac where the Prince of Conde is slaine The Prince of Nauarre chosen Generall of the Protestants The death of Dandelot The death of the Duke of Deux-ponts A great victorie of the Protestants Monsieur dissolueth his armie The siege of Poictiers NOw was France once againe reduced to a quiet estate and who would not haue thought but that after so many bastonados The third ciuill warres euery one would haue bin glad to haue nourished the same by all possible meanes and to haue learned by their former miseries to beware how they entred into new troubles But such were the wicked counsels of some turbulent spirits that they could not endure any quietnes but gaue daily occasions to fill the whole land full of new broyles and vprores The two late reconciled factions were continually very iealous each of others proceedings one blamed the other for not accomplishing such conditions as were agreed vpon and so solemnly sworne on both sides The Catholiks alledged that the Protestants had not put all their strong townes into the kings hands according to the tenure of the Articles of the peace lately agreed vpon that Rochell did fortifie it selfe and would not receyue the Catholikes into their former offices and dignities The complaints of the Catholiks that they rigged shippes and made themselues strong at sea and that without the kings knowledge that Coqueuille leuied many soldiers for the ayd of the prince of Orenge contrarie to the pacification made before Chartres All which things could not be atteÌ„pted without the knowledge of the confederats that which was most strange of al they practised to leuy soldiers in Germany other places The Protestants complained The complaints of the Protestants that they could not be permitted freely to vse their consciences according as it was conditioned That the Catholikes did still retaine the Switzers and the Italian bands and placed sundry strong garrisons in those townes which were of the Religion and that such which had liued in exile could not returne to their houses without imminent peril of their liues Alledging withall the horrible murthers robberies and other execrable facts committed vpon the persons and goods of those of the reformed Churches These with some others were the reasons which animated both parts to stirre coales and to begin the warres afresh The Catholikes knowing Rochell to be a verie strong place sought by al cunning deuises to make themselues maisters thereof and with fayre promises intermingled with threats laboured to perswade them to receyue a garrison of the Catholikes but they would in no case agree thereto but still droue them of with newe delayes Tauannes was commaunded to surprise the Prince of Conde The prince of Conde in danger to bee taken by Tauannes who was then in Noyars But hee beeing aduertised thereof departed in great haste with the Princesse his wife the Admirall and some hundred horse and passing ouer the Loyer went into Poictou where increasing his forces by the comming of Verac Soubize Anguilier Saint Cyre and Puuiant at last arriued at Rochell in despite of all his enemies whither not long after came the Queene of Nauar Conde commeth to Rochel whether the Queene of Nauarre also repaireth with the yong Prince of Barne her son Where there was forthwith a Councell helde for the managing of their future actions The rest of the Protestant Captaines as Dandelot Mountgommery La Noue and others being aduertised of all these sturres gathered what forces they could and marched towards Rochell with great speede taking by the way Partenay Niort and Maile which proued afterwarde very aduantagious for the Confederates Angolesme Pons S. Iohn d' Angely and Tallebourg were likewise surprised by those of the reformed Religion so that now many good townes were againe at their deuotion and commaundement Monsieur made lieutenant for the King his brother The King being aduertised of all these designements declared Monsieur the Duke of Aniou his brother his Lieutenant generall who dispatched forthwith Letters and Messengers into all parts to assemble Bannes and Arierbannes and to command all gentlemen and others to be in a readinesse at the time appointed at Estamps where he had proclaimed the Rendeuous there to attend the further pleasure of his excellencie The protestants assembled souldiours on all sides especially in Languedoc Prouence and Dauphiuy vnder the conduct of Colonell Acier Montbrun and Saint Romain who had gathered some sixteene or seuenteene thousand footmen and seuen hundred horse and were marching toward the Prince who expected their comming at Chalons This new supply did maruellously strengthen the confederates and encouraged them to proceed on in their enterprise and to seeke their enemies who now were growne to an head and readie to march vnder their leaders and conductors After many attempts on eyther side and that both the Armies had endomaged each other by the taking of sundry townes and afflicting the poore Counâ—ry with a thousand miseries both Generals resolued to trie their fortunes by an entire battaile as soone as occasion was offered With this resolution Henrie Duke of Aniou hauing intelligence that the Lorde Pilles was comming towarde the Prince of Conde with a newe supplie of souldiours led his armie through Poictou Lymosin and the Countrey of Angoumois and discended alongst the Riuer of Charente as though hee woulde take Chasteaunef there to passe ouer the water and to barre Pilles from ioyning with the Prince VVhich when the Confederates vnderstoode they passed Charente at Cognac with purpose to preuent the Armie of the
with this losse Monsieur raiseth his siege and vnderstanding that the Admirall with his whole armie was at hande thought best to remooue his siege and to depart to a place of more securitie and there to stay vntill he had assembled the rest of his troupes The protestants beeing quickly enformed heereof pursued him at the heeles and often skirmished with him by the way vntill they came to a conuenient place and fit for an entire fight where they presented the battaile but his excellency refused reseruing himselfe for a more fortunate time CHAP. XII The Battaile of Montcounter The battaile of Montcounter AFter some small reposing of his wearied and tired bandes and that his Army was reenforced by the comming of fresh Souldiers so that hee thought himselfe able to match the Confederates hee againe returned towards them purposing to trie it out by some bloudy fight as soone as any oportunitie was offreed The yong Princes the Admirall and the rest of the cheefest Protestants were quickly aduertised of his intent who for that the aduancement of their affaires consisted principally in celerity and expedition as also in assailing their enemies whereby they did the better maintaine their honour and reputation and likewise the importunate desires of the Almaines who were continually crying vppon the Admirall that they might fight determined to accept the iourney assoone as it was offered in any fit and conuenient place They had not marched long but they came to the plaines of Saint Clere not farre from Montcounter which his excellencie vnderstanding caused his troups to amende their pace purposing to stop their course and to compell them to a generall combate which was a thing that hee much desired The Admirall who commanded all by reason the Princes were but yong The order of the Protestants battaile finding the plaine afore said to be a conuenient place to darrain the fight arranged his battails in the most conuenient ground hee could choose and there expected the comming of his enemies and hauing sent Mouy and Saint Auban with certaine Cornets to discouer the Catholikes he in the meane time lodged his Ordinance vpon certaine little hilles and made the battaile which was led by Ludouick Count of Nassau to aduance more on the right hande to whome were deliuered three Cannons and one Culuering The aduauntgard was on the left hand led by the Admirall himselfe assisted by Puygreffyer La Noue Teligny and certaine others backed with the Count Mansfeild and a great battailon of Reisters besides the Lansquenets conducted by Cranuilliers All which hauing kissed the ground after their accustomed maner swore to succour each other and to die in the place rather then to giue one iot of ground to their enemies These were likewise flanked on both sides with tne Regiments of the French harquebuziers led By Pilles Rouuray Briquemant the yonger Ambâ—es and Chellar the whole army consisted of 6000. horse 8000. harquebuziers 4000. Lansquenets six Cannons two culuerings and three musquets His excellency with the direction of his best aduisants The order of Monsieurs battaile deuided his whole forces into a vantgard and a battaile the aduantgard was composed of Frenchmen Almaines and Italians ledde by the Prince Dauphin the Duke of Guyse Martigmes Chauigny La Valette the Count VVestemberg the Reingraue Bassompier Saint Fior Paul Sforza Disci Santelle with well neere three thousand horse The grosse battailon of Switzers which consisted of foure thousande was led by Collonell Clere flanked with fiue Regiments of harquebuziers Frenchmen and Italians vnder the conduct of La Barthe Sarlabois Onoux and sundry others ouer all these commanded the Duke of Montpensier The battaile was composed of the Dukes of Aumaile and Longauille the Mareschal Cossy Tauannes the Marquesse of Villiers c. with three thousand horse and another Count Mansfeild cousin to the Protestant and fiue Cornets of a thousand or a thousand and two hundred horse The marquesse of Baden had wel neere a thousand horse vnder his leading these were flanked with the Spaniards Burgonians which the Catholike K. had sent to the aide of his brother All these had theyr Enfans Perdus in their front who carried death engrauem in their foreheads as well for themselues as for whomsoeuer they first attached All this Armie which consisted of aboue nine thousande horse 17. or 18. thousand footmen and 15. peeces of great Ordenance was commaunded by his excellencie Duke Montpensier chargeth the Protestants and beeing ready arranged awaited when the signe shoulde bee giuen but first they fought a farre off with theyr great shotte which for that it was skilfully directed by the Cannoneres made a sore slaughter on both sides This thundering and terrible noyse was no sooner ceased and the Artillery retired but the Trumpets sounded Dedans dedans and the Duke Montpensier went resolutely to the Charge and gaue in so hotly vppon Mouy and his Regiment Mouy with his bands defeated that hee being abandoned by his two Cornets of Reisters who were appointed to second him was forced to get him as fast as he could out of the danger and to saue the greatest part of his troupes among the footmen who being mightily dismaide with so pittious an accident lost their hearts and disbanding themselues ranne all away for the best game Now beganne the Duke of Guyse with his associats to come lustily forwardes and in their appointed quarter to charge their enemies who receiued them with equall courage so that there grew a very warme fight on both sides The harquebuziers whome the Admirall had interlaced among his French Launces played the men and set of the Catholikes at their pleasure knowing they were well assured by their horsemen who serued to guard them at their neede The Admirall who by reason of his great experience in the warres both at home and abroade The princes withdraw themselues from the battaile as secretly as they could and the diligent marking of so diuers euents as had run before his eyes iudging of the sequell by this vnfortunate beginning counselled the yong Princes to retire as couertly with as smal a traine as they could but many whose eyes were prying about and glad to take any occasion to bee gone espying the retreat coueting to enfranchise themselues from so great perill as was present before their faces would needes accompanie them whether they would or not so that they had quickly more attendants then eyther they expected or desired By this time was the rest of the aduauntgard which was led by the Admirall and Acier hotly charged by the Reisters Catholikes who so furiously encountred them that many ended their daies at that instant The Admirall himselfe was in such danger The admiral hurt and in danger to bee taken that hee was hurt in the face through the default of such as should haue couered him and was so farre intermedled among the Catholikes that had not Count Mansfeild with foure or fiue cornets of
thing in shewe highlie tending to the honour of the Prince and the establishing of a perpetuall peace and amitie with the Confederates The Prince of Conde was marryed to Marie de Cleues The prince of Conde marrieth the youngest daughter to the Duke of Neuers the Admirall with the daughter of the Count of Entremont in Sauoy The admiral marieth and the young Teligny with Lois of Colligny the Admirals daughter thus was there nothing but feasting banquetting singing reuelling and making of loue throughout all the partes of Fraunce The king seemed to stande highly contented with this peace and began dayly more and more to countenaunce the Protestants For hauing once perswaded the Queene of Nauarre to come to the court The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court. both he the Queene mother the Dukes of Aniou and Alenson the Kings brethren did intertaine her in most louing and friendly maner making her the best welcome that might be imagined Count Lodowicke brother to the Prince of Orenge who attended her was likewise verie honourably receyued by the King who promised him to ayde the Prince his brother agaynst the Spaniard and for that purpose had commaunded preparation to be made both by sea and land as though he had entended to begin the warres with all speede so that the King desired nothing more then to aduaunce the affayres of the Protestants The marriage of the yong Prince of Barne and the conquest of the lowe Countreys were the things that the King seemed to affect most And because the Admirall was a verie wise man an olde Souldiour the best experienced Captaine of all Fraunce and most skilfull in warlike affayres The King sent the Mareschall Cossy to Rochell to perswade with him to come to the Court and to assist his soueraigne in so honourable an enterprise the Admirall at the first was very vnwilling of himselfe and had dayly aduertisements to disswade him from that voyage The admiral goeth to the Court. But after many perswasions vsed by the Mareschall sundry friendly messages from the King and his fatall mishap as it were leading him thereunto he suffred himself to be gained and to be wooed by those who indeed loued him but a little He was no sooner come to Paris but the people flocked togither to see him His entertainment as to see a wonder The King receyued him with much kindnesse giuing him great honour calling him father at euerie worde And when the Admirall kneeled the King arose and tooke him vp protesting that he was the most welcome man liuing and that neuer any day was more ioiful vnto him then that wherein he did see the end of so many miseries and the beginning of peace and quietnesse for the whole lande And among manie other speaches hee chaunced to vtter these words Nowe we haue once gotten your companie you shal not depart from vs and this hee vttered with great laughter as a token of much ioy and delight The Queene mother his excellencie the Duke of Alenson and all the principall Courtiers welcomed him with farre greater honour then he expected and that which was more all these curtesies were accompanied with the great liberalitie of the Prince who gaue him an hundred thousand pounds in recompence of his losses sustained in the former wars besides the reuenues of the benefices which were belonging to his brother Odet the Cardinal of Chastillon who was lately deceased in England He was also admitted into the Kings priuie Councell His sonne in law Teligny was verie much honoured Cauagnes was made one of the maisters of the requests and to be short all the Admirals friends tasted of the kings liberalitie to the great contentment of the Protestants and the maruellous grudging of the Catholiques This honourable dealing gaue great hope of the continuance of the peace and the encrease of amitie amongest the French Nation in so much as the most rested secure reposing themselues in the faythfull promises of their prince yet manie suspected that all was but holy water of the Court and alluring baytes to catch the poore Protestants and afterwards to dispose of them as should be thought for their most aduauntage following said they herein the olde maxime in pollicie which is that where the skin of the Lion will not serue there it is best to put on the foxes coat The Queene of Nauarre was earnestly disswaded by sundry letters from many other friends from giuing her consent to the mariage The Admirall was likewise aduertised by secret messengers that in no wise he should go to Paris nor come within the reach of his enemies but all would not serue so desirous were they of the yong princes preferment so maruellously blinded at that instant But whilest the Queene of Nauarre was at Paris busied in prouiding for the mariage of her son she suddenly fell sicke and died the 10. of Iune The death of Ioan of Albret Queene of Nauarre 1572. to the great griefe of those of the reformed religion who exceedingly bewayled the death of so vertuous and constant a Lady and one that had beene a most noble maintainer of the truth all her dayes CHAP. XV. The Massacre at Paris THe sudden death of this Queene bred a sore suspition that she was poisoned and withal brought some delay the to mariage but at length all doubts being cleared both parties agreed the time appointed for the solemnising of the nuptials being come the yong King of Nauarre and the Lady Margaret were affianced with great solemnitie in our Lady Church in Paris by the Cardinall of Burbon the 18. of August 1572. in the presence of the King The mariage of the King of Nauarre the Queene mother the Duke of Aniou and Alenson the Prince of Conde with all the principal protestants The mariage ended there was nothing but banketting chearing tilting and all the deuises that might bee to please the eie and delight the eare to set forth all things in most royall and magnificent maner All old rancour and malice seemed to be buried in the pit of obliuion by reason of this new alliance which confirmed the hope of a most blessed peace in the time to come But in the middest of all this ioy and solace there fell out a sudden accident which astonished some and made others to bethinke themselues and to suspect the worst and that was this The admiral shot with an harquebuz Vpon the 22. of August as the Admirall was going from the Court toward his lodging hee was suddainlie shotte with a harquebuz out at a window of the house where Villemus who had beene schoole-maister to the Duke of Guise did vsually lodge and sore wounded with three Bullettes as hee was going a soft pace in the streete and reading a Supplication which had beene deliuered vnto him a little before One of the Bullets stroke off his fore finger and with the other hee was wounded in the left Arme. The Admirall
fire and sword vntil he had taken their towne seene such punishment inflicted vpon them as the nature and qualitie of so traiterous a fact required Those within being taught by other mens harmes to beware hauing learned by wofull experience not to trust any faire promises that came from the Court seeing the king and all his Courtiers hadde so notoriously falsified their words in former times thought it best to stand vpon their guard and not to be beguyled with such alluring baites which when his excellencie perceiued hee commaunded his armie to approach nearer the towne to entrench themselues to raise Mounts to plant their Ordinaunce and to annoy those within as much as might be The Canon was no sooner placed but that it forthwith played vpon the Towne very furiously and to the great terrour of such as had not beene acquainted with the like sport Those of Rochel were not idle but prouided all necessaries to stop such breaches as should be made and answering the Catholikes with such shot as they had often issuing out and skirmishing with their enemies with notable courage and alacritie Yea the women maydes and children would expouse themselues to al hazard The courage of the women and aduenture forth among the souldiers carying them wine comfers and such like maruailously animating such as fought with their cheerfull words hardy examples And one among the rest so farre aduenturing that in the hotest of the skirmish she seeing one of the Catholikes slaine ran vnto him and tooke away his sword and harquebuz which she caried into the towne with great triumph and reioying sayde that she had adorned herselfe with the spoiles of her enemies The third of March those within discharging a Minion from the Tower of S. Iohn Euangelist pierced one of the enemies gabyons and encountring Claud of Lorraine Duke of Aumaile peere of Fraunce and Lieutenant for the King in the Duchie of Burgundie The Duke of Aumaile slaine stroke him starke deade to the great griefe of sundrie of the Catholiques of whom he was verie much beloued for his many excellent and commendable vertues And being incensed agaynst the Rochellors for this fact seeing they could get nothing with open force thought it best to assay what they could do by a more secret meanes whereupon they fell to vndermining spent a long time in digging and deluing vnder the ground endeuoring to blow vp their walles and to ouerthrow their towers bulwarks with gun-powder But they within so nobly valiantly defended themselues and so politikely preueÌ„ted all their stratagems that they could not by any means accomplish their desires Yea they seemed so little to regard all their endeuors that vpon May day in great ioylitie and triumph they decked their walles and towers and with trumpets drums fluâ—ts and other musicall and delightsome instruments seemed to spend the day in myrth and solace as though they little or nothing cared for their enemies Many who secretly fauoured the religion seeing the great courage of the Rochellors and their happy successe in holding out so long a time again such a mighty power began to pluck vp their hearts and openly to shew themselues So that now great numbers were vp in Armes in Poictou Xanctogne Quercie 〈◊〉 Dauphiny and sundrie other parts of the land so that the Catholikes who thought that they had destroyed all the Protestants in their Parisian murthers found themselues maruailously deceiued and many signes appeared of newe ciuill warres and those as troublesome and dangerous as anie others before 〈◊〉 For now the King and all the French Catholikes were growne so odious both at home and among forraigne Nations that all the Worlde spake shame of their barbarous and straunge cruelties and such Protestant Townes as were stronglie fortifyed woulde not yeelde by anie perswasion 〈◊〉 distrusting in the kings worde who had so often and so notoriouslie falsified his 〈◊〉 to the great dishonour and staine of his princelie dignitie and perpetuall staine of the French nation Whilest his excellencie with a mightie power besieged Rochel the Mareschal Danuill lieutenant for the king in Languedocke The mareschal Danuill in Languedocke was sent to reduce all those quarters vnder the Kings obedience but he found it a matter of more difficultie then he at the first imagined for albeit he entred the countrey with a strong power purposing to besiege Nismes a place of the greatest importance of all the rest and by force to constraine it to stand at the deuotion of the Catholikes yet was he in the end after some losse at the least of thousand of his best souldiours before a pettie village called Sancerre compelled to giue ouer his enterprise and to disperse his men into garrisons the better to relieue them and with all diligence to muster new forces to repayre his broken troupes Which when those of Sancerre vnderstoode The siege of Sancerre beeing notably encouraged by the surpassing valour of their Confederates they resolued to endure the vttermost attempts of La Chastre and all the Catholiques and therefore whereas by reason of theyr long siege all vittailes beganne to bee scarce The great famine in Sancerre necessitie the mother of all fine inuentions taught them to make manie hard shifts and to deuise new and straunge meates For after that they had first eaten vp all theyr Horses Asses Dogges Cattes and such like they deuised to make meate of their Skinnes roasting seething and broyling them vpon Girdirons as if they had beene Tripes Mice and Rattes were accounted daintie delicates and well was hee that could get them And being still pressed with hunger they deuised to make meat of old shooes hornes horses and bullockes hooues which had lien hid in the dunghils for many yeares the little children would broyle and rost their girdles to to fill their emptie mawes Rootes hearbs and barkes of trees serued in steade of iunketting dishes whatsoeuer had any moysture taste sauour or smell were it neuer so vnholsome they eate it with greedinesse And albeit they were often shewed of the daunger therof yet would they not take heede for the belly had no eares Yea so intollerable was the famine that they eate the verie dung especially of horses which was accounted indifferent good and therfore raked it togither as a thing of much price The father and mother eat their own child The father and mother eat their own child which was pined to death with huÌ„ger for so horrible a fact were both burned It is incredible what misery was in that towne and yet they would not yeeld nor coÌ„mit themselues to the mercy of their enemies But at length the famin still increasing hauing not past 400. souldiers left and those for the most part sickly weake and wounded and seeing no hope of any succors froÌ„ any their confederates were content to hearken to a parle which was offred vnto them by La Chastre and so by composition to render the
and dignitie was mightily shaken and in a maner brought to a Chaos and confusion and hasted as it were a maine pace to a lamentable change and alteration CHAP. XIX Henry the third King of France and Polonia The Queene mother laboureth for peace which is concluded for three moneths The Prince of Conde goeth into Germany Lusignen dismanteled The King of Polonia stealeth away into France The first Ciu ll warres The Mareschall D'Anuill ioyneth with Protestants Cassimer commeth to the ayde of the Protestants The Duke of Alenson departeth malecontent from Court The ende of the first ciuill warres KIng Charles beeing dead and his brother Henry king of Polonia Henry the the King of France and Polonia declared heire to the Crowne during whose absence the Queene mother as is already sayde was proclaimed Regent the Catholikes beganne to insult more then euer before ouer the Protestants and to vse them in most outragious manner presuming vppon the accustomed good fortune of their new king and the resolute course of the Queene mother to roote out all those of the Religion and to expell them out of the territories of the Flower de Lis. The consideration whereof did maruailously dismay many of the Protestants and caused sundrie who inwardly fauoured their proceedings to plucke in their heades and keep themselues close and to expect what would bee the sequell of these newe occurrences There was great dissention at Rochell about these matters and long it was before they would fully determine what to do howbeit at length through the manifolde remonstrances of La Noue they fully resolued to continue the warres both by sea and land as they had doone in former times The Queene mother knowing that the best way to pacifie these tumults and to restraine the Confederates from any further proceeding in the warres was to vse them gently and by smoth words and faire promises to keepe them in vntill the comming of the new king sent the Abbot of Gadagny to Rochell with letters to La Noue The Queene mother writeth to La Noue in which among other things hee exhorted him to liue peaceably like a good subiect and not to vex the land with newe troubles in the absence of the king who peraduenture would bee reuenged thereof at his comming although shee knew that naturally hee was a very milde and mercifull Prince and one that would maintaine his subiects both of the one and the other Religion in peace and amitie so farre forth as possibly hee might had alreadie signified the same as well to her selfe and the principall officers of the Crowne as to sundry the greatest and cheefest Citties of the land These letters with sundrie perswasions vsed by the Abbot enduced the Rochelers to conclude a truce for three moneths The Rochelors conclude a peace for three monthâ— Mention was made before of the purpose of the Duke of Alenson and the king of Nauarre to depart the Court to ioyne with the Confederates which albeit they attempted not beeing diuerted there from by the councell of some of their friendes yet the late King had them in great ielousie and therefore kept them in a manner as prisoners setting spies to watch them and their actions and for that hee suspected the two Mareschalles of Memorancy and Cossy to bee of their confederacie hee imprisoned them in the Bastile within the Louure and discharged the Mareschall Danuill brother to Memorancy of his Lieutenantship in Languedock giuing it to the Prince Dauphin sonne to the Duke Montpencier and albeit the Prince of Conde Meru Thore the vicount of Turin Montagu and many others were secret fauourers of his excellency in this action yet for that they were not discouered the king suffered them to remaine at their libertie and sent the Prince of Conde into Picardy to looke to the gouernement of that Countrey The Prince of Conde sent into Picardy from whence he secretly conueyed himselfe into Germany who beeing aduertised of that which had passed at Court touching the Duke and the King of Nauarre and that there was a purpose to clap him vppe likewise secretly conuayed himselfe into Germany and forwith made profession of the Religion and so practised with the Princes and the rest of his friendes in that Countrey that hee leauied a great power of Reisters for the ayde of the French Protestants which when the Mareschall Danuill vnderstood hee beganne to drawe neere to those of the refourmed Religion then hee was accustomed to doo and finding many discontented pollitikes readie to ioyne with him resolued from that time forwarde to follow the matter with more earnestnesse and to further their cause all that euer hee might Henry of Burbon Prince of Conde accompanied with many of the Nobilitie of both Regions beeing at Heppenhem in Germanie and seriously busied in gathethering of forces to enter France for the releefe of his associats was enformed of all the Proceedings as well of the Protestants as of the Mareschall Danuill and the rest of the discontented pollitikes and vnderstanding that he was chosen generall ouer both sorts accepted thereof promising to employ all his credit power and authoritie to maintaine them against all their enemies vnder the obedience of Henry the third of that name King of Poland and of France Which when the Queene mother vnderstood shee thought it best to offer a treatie of peace and to holde all sorts in quietnesse vntill the comming of her Sonne out of Polonia whose presence shee supposed would bee a sufficient weapon to fight against all these practises and deuises Hereuppon she wrote letters to the Confederates and especially to the Rochelors to mooue them to embrace this negociation of peace whereby they themselues might liue in greater securitie The Queene mother moueth a peace and the whole Lande bee freed from ciuill and intestine warres They returned a dutifull answere desiring her maiestie to deale with the Prince of Conde who was elected the cheefe of the reformed Churches and to whome vnder the Kings obedience they hadde submitted themselues and in the meane while furnished their Citties with all necessaries for theyr better safetie With which answere the Queene mother beeing nothing well pleased sent the Duke Montpencier into Poictou with very great forces who hauing taken Maraus Noille Noue Charante and diuers other strong places planted his siege before Fontenay a Towne of very great importance which in the ende hee tooke by composition and so gained all base Poictou to the exceeding preiudice of the Confederates Hee likewise besieged Lusignen which beeing valiantly defended by the Lord of Fontenay held out for a long time yet yeelded at the last vppon reasonable conditions after it had beene besieged three moneths and twelue daies hauing lost some three and twentie Gentlemen and two hundred common souldiers Lusignen dismanteled the Catholikes spent seauen or eight thousande cannon shot and left some eight hundred of their men dead before the Towne to make satisfaction to
the permission of the sea Apostolike shall put them into some monasterie as Pepin dealt with Childeric And by this meanes the Crowne shall bee set vpon his head and so returne to the blessed stock of Charlemaine and he and his successors from thenceforth shall haue their kingdome of the Bishop of Rome and shall abolish the prerogatiues of the French Church Whilest these things were a working at Rome the Guises with their adherents fought by all possible meanes to breake the peace in France and by grieuous oppressions and wrongs to force those of the reformed religion to put themselues in arms to withstaÌ„d so iniurious proceedings Monsieur forsaketh the Protestants and goeth to the Court. And albeit they were but too forward to blow the bellowes of sedition before yet now vpon the returne of Dauid from Rome they went eagrely forward and with great earnestnesse endeuored to put those rules in practise which came from their holy father There wer leagues and associations made and those as strong as could be deuised The states were summoned and by the collusion of the King none admitted to be at that assembly but such as were vtter enemies to the Gospel Monsieur by the earnest intreatie of the Queene mother was brought to the Court and hauing made his benefite of the fauor of the Protestants left them when they had most need of him and associated himselfe with their sworne enemies The King likewise beganne to interpret his Edict after a straunge maner The complaints of the Catholikes and farre otherwise then was expected by the confederates Some articles were strained and racked out to the vttermost and other some snipped and curtailed that they seemed metamorphosed and changed into a new nature as farre differing from their former as might be imagined Many infamous libels were printed contayning most villainous matter agaynst the Protestants and a rumour was spread abroade that they had surprised sundrie Townes and fortes in Poictou Languedocke Guyen Xantoigne and Dauphine and therefore that it was impossible to holde in the Catholiques anie longer who with so manifold iniuries saide they were mightily incensed agaynst those of the reformed Churches Those of the Religion were exceedingly troubled with this strange kind of dealing and knowing that it proceeded of a mortall hatred and that it did euidently argue that there was a secrete purpose to catch them at aduauntage and then to make hauocke of them and to roote them and their Religion out of Fraunce they beganne to looke about them and to prouide for their owne securitie especiallie considering howe the Catholiques were leagued togither and were readie as it were at an instaunt to inuade them on all sides VVhereupon seeing that Monsieur after hee had gotten the Dukedome of Berrie Touraine and Aniou as is alreadie sayd had forsaken them and left them at sixe and seuen the King of Nauarre was chosen chiefe of the Confederates and the Prince of Conde seysed vpon Bowrage Marennes The beginning of the sixt ciuill warre and other Islandes beeing places of great importaunce and verie auaileable for the aduauncement of the Protestant affayres Thus the peace hauing endured but a small time the sixt ciuill war ensued immediately vpon the report that it was concluded by King in the assembly of the states that there should be no other but the Romane Catholike religion tollerated within all his territories and dominions for then began the warres to be open on all sides The Catholikes seysed vpon Du Pont S Espirit Merpin Tallemond Burdeaux and as manie other townes as they could get The Protestants surprised Pons Royan Reole and Cinray and making a counterleague among themselues couragiously withstood the attempts of their enemies and foreseeing the stormie tempest which threatned the ship of their safetie likewise Pilots and skilfull Mariners they stoutly stoode to their tacklings endeuouring by all possible meanes to saue their beaten barke from drowning and to bring it to some safe port and quiet harborrow Each side alledged sundrie reasons for the iustification of their actions the Catholikes layd all the blame vpon the Protestants saying that they were men that would not be satisfied with any indifferent fauor but espying their aduantage had forced the King to yeeld to vnreasonable conditions Besides that the Edict was but prouisionall and might be disanulled at the Kings pleasure and that it was now determined by the Estates generall that no other then the Roman religion should be tollerated within all the French Dominions The Protestants alledged that they were murthered and killed in euerie corner and no punishment inflicted vpon the malefactors The complaints of the Protestants That the Catholikes did dayly breake the Kings Edict which had beene made by the consent of all the noble personages of the land who had solemnely sworne the obseruation thereof and that if such Edicts were accounted prouisionall who would repose any trust hereafter in the Kings worde and promise seeing he helde it lawfull to breake his oath when hee lysted And as concerning the estates generall they sayd they were not lawfully assembled and therefore they protested of the nullitie of them and of whatsoeuer thing they concluded These and manie such reasons were obiected on both sides and they had not long contended in wordes but they fell to blowes and each endomaged other all that euer they might The King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde withdrew themselues to Rochell and hauing gotten some 3000. footmen and 400. horse they dayly enterprised vpon their enemies The D. de Maine The duke de Maine generall of the Catholikes accompanied with Puygallâ—ard Ruffec Roches Baritand and many others to the number of seuen hundred horse besides a strong power of footemen did continuallie vexe and molest the Protestants by spoyling their fieldes and burning theyr houses and beeing maisters of the Champaigne couped in the Confederates verie narrowly and hauing all things in a readinesse planted their siege before La Charitie which in the ende they gayned Yea Rochell it selfe began in a maner to bee besieged enduring maruaylous losses by the continuall roades of the Catholikes who wasted all without pittie or mercie La Charite The Protestants being so hardly vsed offered the like measure where they preuayled dealing verie rigourously with such as fell into their handes The Duke de Maine following his good fortune The prosperous course of the Duke de Maine tooke Tonnay Charentie and Rochford which yeelded vnto him vpon the first summance and so farre hee preuayled that he made himselfe Lorde of all the Riuer of Charente in lesse then fiue dayes and vsing great expedition got Marans from the Rochellors who were sore grieued with the losse of a place of so great importance Now as the nature of most men is to bande with the stronger and euermore to iudge of the end according to the beginning so many at this time began to slippe their neckes out of the Coller and to
should be reuenged and that three of the principall Burgesses of euerie Citie and towne should be put to death in reuenge of the saide murther These with many other notorious vntruths were openly declared in their pulpets wherewith the common sort were mightily enraged against the Protestants and desired nothing more then their vtter subuersion and ouerthrow The Guyses hauing likewise obtained good store of Spanish pistolets corrupted diuers great personages The beginning of the seauenth ciuill warres called the warres of the Leaguers and had hired sundrie Captaines to take their parts Hauing laide this foundation and prouided all necessaries that could be deuised for the rest of their building about the fourth of March 1585. they brake foorth and shewed themselues openly seising vpon sundrie the kings Townes Cities and fortresses supposing indeede that the rest would ioyne with them and take their parts but things falling out contrarie to their expectation they were forced to plucke in their heads for a while and to attend some better oportunitie and that so much the rather for that the K. the better sort of the Nobilitie and the courts of Parliament opposed themselues against their proceedings declaring them Rebelles and willing all the gouernours of Townes and prouinces to apprehende them and to see them punished as seditious persons and perturbers of the State This audacious action seemed very odious in the eyes of many which the Guyses perceiuing they drew in the Cardinall of Burbon by sundrie fine deuises to ioyn with them whose credit and countenance serued their turnes in many great attempts And because sundrie of the Kings Councellers were either the Guyses creatures or by some one way or other deuoted vnto them The king betrayed by his Councell the king was neuer duly enformed of the danger of the League for they told him that it was nothing but an inconsiderate zeale of some few who fearing the innouation of Religion were growne somewhat passionate and sought for nothing indeed but to maintain the people in their obedience to the holy church who if hee should but once frowne vppon them they would all come and fal downe at his maiesties feete and vowe their goods their liues and whatsoeuer meanes they had to doo his maiestie seruice and therefore hee neede not feare them who were so good and deuout Catholikes but rather had cause to animate them in their Religious proceedings considering that they opposed themselues against none but such as were tearmed Hugonots the kings sworne enemies and such as had beene the occasion of all those miseries which had continued in France for so many yeeres The King was brought into such a securitie of his estate by this wicked Councell that he did not onely reiect such aduertisements as were sent to him from time to time both from the King of Nauarre Duke Cassimer and other Princes touching the monstrous conspiration of the Leaguers but also as one that knew not what hee did hee made great preparation against them of the reformed Religion and suffered the Leaguers in the meane time to grow and fortifie themselues at their owne pleasures vntill they were become so mighty that they thought themselues able inough if neede were to go through with theyr intended course whosoeuer shoulde say nay Which was no sooner effected but that they sette the Kings Councellers on the sodaine to enfourme the king of the great power and puissance of the Leaguers howe that quite besides their expectations there was an vniuersall consent of all his good subiects to restore the Catholike Religion that great numbers of his Nobilitie and cheefest Citties highly commended the zeale of the Leaguers and were resolued in theyr defence and therfore that it were good for the king considering the time not to make any resemblance to call any of them to account for any of theyr actions least he should giue some suspicion that hee was a fauorer of the heretikes which might breed a grudging in the hearts of his people wherby some commotions might rise to the imminent perill of his royall person and the extreme danger of the whole state The King maketh peace with the Leaguers The king beeing maruailously amazed with these and such like remonstrations thought it best to make peace with them and to countenance them as his best subiects They were glad that they had brought him to that passe and now seeing they had found him so submisse they meant to make further tryall of his courtesie and therevppon they required that all their former actions might be ratified by the kings authoritie as good and lawful and done for his seruice and that whatsoeuer had passed in preiudice of the Leaguers should be reuoked as wrongfull and vniust and for that they sawe the king was willing to gratifie their smal requests they were bold to proceed further to intreat him that the Duke of Guyse the Duke de Maine the Duke of Aumaile the Cardinall of Guyse the Lord Brissac the Lord Antragnes the Lord Chastre and the rest of the principall Leaguers might haue the gouernement of sundrie the strongest places of the land The Leaguers require to be made gouernours of the principall holds in France as of the Cittadell of Metz the Castle of Diâ—â—n Rhemes the strongest holds of Picardy Orleans Caen Aniou Bourges Lyons and many others of like importance They further perswaded with him to proclaime open warres against the Protestants to declare the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and all others who had beene infected with heresie as they tearmed it to be for euer vncapable of any office in France and that they should packe out of the Countrey with all speede and for the better countenancing of all theyr proceedings against these great States they procured Pope Sixtus to excommunicate them thereby to make them more odious with the people As soone as they had gotten in a manner whatsoeuer they desired and had made themselues as good maisters as the King they with sundrie and most cunning deuises gayned great multitudes to ioyne with them and euerie man eyther for feare or for loue was foorthwith at their will and commande They mustered great forces and gathered mightie armies to inuade the king of Nauarre and the rest of the Protestants who seeing themselues abandoned of their king and exposed to the furie of their mercilesse enemies stood vpon the defensiue and resisted the rage of the League as well as they could The Prince of Conde growing strong determined to besiege Brouage The Prince of Conde besiegeth Brouage which was kept by the Lord Saint Luc for the Leaguers where after hee had spent some time in gayning many of the principall forts he departed towards Angiers leauing al his footmen to continue the siege and albeit the Prince vsed great expedition labouring with all speede to releeue those who had taken the Castle of Angiers The Prince goeth towards Angiers yet could hee not come time inough
for the traffick which he promised vndertooke the siege of Corbaile which after 3. assaults wherin he lost a great nuÌ„ber of his best most approued souldiers he tooke by force shewed all crueltie vpon the inhabitants He made the Parisians beleeue that he would go from thence to take Poysy Meulan Maule Vernon Pont del Arch but indeed he was not so good as his word for he did nothing of al this but trifled out the time The Duke of Parma fli th out of France fed the citizens with faire words vntil the latter end of October and then marched homeward through Bric being followed hard at the heeles by the king and those smal forces which he could raise vpon the sodain as far as L' Arbre de Guyze where he entred into the low countreyes with not past some 8000. of all that companie wherewith hee had entred into France After that the Duke of Parma was gotten into the low Countreyes the king hauing gathered al his forces together marched toward Chartres which he besieged Chartres taken by the the king and after many sharpe assaults tooke it and brought it vnder his obedience hee tooke also Aulnean Macheuille Dourdan Bonsery Clay Tremblay Manican Ginlis and so scoured al the part of Picardy that no enemie durst once shew his face and from thence passed into Britaine where hee defeated the Lorde Saint Lawrence Mareschall of the Armie of the rebels vnder Duke Mercury and surprised Louuiers where hee found great store of Corne Wine and all other necessarie prouision besides foure thousand fat Oxen wherewith hee plentifully victualled his army for many dayes Cinqcens tâ—oken About the same time the Lord Chartres gouernour for the King in Deepe and Sir Roger VVilliams a very couragious and well experienced English knight with their English French forces amounting to some seauen hundred men defeated two regiments of the Leaguers at a place called Cinqcens and put them in a maner all to the sword The Prince Conty tooke Mount Morillon Chaurguy S. Sauin Blank en Bury Bourge Archambault Playsance Bellarbre Availes Betoune Bisse and many other forts and Castles in Limosin and Toureyne The Prince D' Ombs accompanied with the valiant fortunate and noble Gentleman Sir Iohn Norris general of such forces as were sent out of England for the ayde of the K. into Britaine tooke Guingcampe Cuingcampe taken where there were a great number of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the Countrey who with the Towne payed fiftie thousande Crownes for their Ransome and tooke the oath of Obedience to the king and passing from thence to Quelnec encountred with the Duke Mercury a principall Leaguer who at the first shewed a countenance as though he would haue tryed the quarrell by an entire fight but after the losse of some two or three hundred Spanish and French Leaguers with Don Roderigo cheefe Mareschall of the Spaniards and the Lord Guebrian Collonel of all the footmen he retired further off to places of greater securitie The king was now at the siege of Noyon Noyon takeÌ„ which in the ende yeelded vppon composition and the Lord Vile submitted himselfe to the king and had leaue to depart whither hee would the Leaguers seeing the kings fortunate successe fearing that all in the ende would yeeld vnto him procured a newe excommunication from Rome against him and all his faithfull subiects The Pope excommunicateth the King and caused it to be published at Pont del Arch in Normandy by Marcellus Landrianus a saucie and malepert Iesuite but the king beeing aduertised hereof commanded his Court of Parleament holden at Cane to proceede against Pope Gregory the fourteenth who sent it and his Nuntio that brought it as against tyrannes conspirators with rebels perturbers of the State sowers of sedition aâ—â— the common and notorious enemies of GOD and all goodnesse and taking the Popes Bull The Popes Bull hanged vpon the gallowes and burned at Tours caused it to bee fastned to a gibbet at Tours by the common hangman of the towne and to bee consumed to ashes to the great reioycing of all the beholders The King vnderstanding that the right honourable Lord the Earle of Essex was nowe arriued in France with a bande of very braue men and was marching towardes him went to meete the saide Earle at a place called Gysors where hee remained not long but returned towards Champaigne for that hee vnderstood that his Germaines were nowe in a readinesse to march on forwards on their waie towardes France In the meane while the English forces tooke the towne of Gourny and ioyning with the Mareschal Biron Goâ—rney ta-tâ—ken by thâ— earle of Eâ—â—â—x distressed the Leaguers in those quarters Much about this time the Prince Ienuille sonne to Francis late Duke of Guyse escaped out of prison at Tours where hee had beene kept for the space of three yeeres and more The yong D. of Guise escapeth out of prison and hauing the waies layde with fresh horse by the counsell of the Lord De la Chastre his kinsman got safely to Selles and from thence to Verdun where hee was most ioyfully receiued of all the Leaguers who had attended his comming with great deuotion and were exceeding glad that they had recouered him by whose means they imagined the better to countenance their actions and to effect their entended purpose Howbeit this their ioy was foorthwith crossed by the comming of the Germaines who were already entred into France and hasted to the succors of the king This great and mightie Armie wherein were some two or three and twenty thousand footmen and horsemen The armie of the Germain was diuided into sundry battailons and led by theyr seuerall chiefetaines and commaunders The Vicont of Turennes conducted the Vauntgard wherein were some 1600 horse next whom followed the Earle of Anhoult cheefe commaunder in the Armie with two thousand and two hundred horse The third place was alotted to Barbisderse with a squadron of some 1000. horse Iselstenius the Lieutenant of the Lorde Robours led 8. or 900. footmen Creighnicht Bernhard Dessaw and Bonnaw had their seuerall regiments each coÌ„sisted of a 1000. horse The Lord Laudins and the Earle of VVide had vnder their leading 6400. footmen equally diuided into two great squadrons which were flanked as it were with another strong battailon wherein were about 4300. footmen and 200. horse led by Templuys and the Earle of VVeda Christopher de Fesler with 300. footmen serued as a wing on the left hand betweene whom and the Earle of VVide was the yong Earle of VVestenberg with 3400. footmen there was also maruailous store of all warlike munition as great Artillerie pouder shotte bridges boats spades shouelles pickaxes and all other necessaries for the warres and nothing wanting which was requisite for the aduauncement of their affaires The Duke of Lorraine made al the preparation that might be to stop the passage of these Germaines and to