confederate himself with the King of England who was fallen off from his obedience to the holy Chair out of despite which two Princes as it was said had divided the Kingdom for so both the Marquis de Guast told Monsieur de Termes and I have since heard the same from an English Gentleman at Boulogne but however it was but disputing the bears skin France well united within it self can never be conquer'd till after the loss of a dozen Battels considering the brave Gentry whereof it is fruitful and the strong places wherewith it abounds And I conceive they are deceiv'd who say that Paris being taken France is lost It is indeed the Treasury of the Kingdom and an unexhausted Magazine where all the richest of the whole Nation unlade their Treasure and I do believe in the whole world there is not such a City for 't is an old saying that there is not a Crown in Paris but yields ten Sols revenue once a year but there are so many other Cities and strong places in the Kingdom as are sufficient to destroy thirty Armies So that it would be easie to rally together and to recover that from them again before they could conquer the rest unless the Conqueror would depopulate his own Kingdom to repeople his new Conquest I say this because the design of the King of England was to run directly up to Paris whilst the Emperor should enter into Champagne The Forces of these two Princes being join'd together consisted of fourscore thousand Foot and twenty thousand Horse with a prodigious train of Artillery by which any man may judge whether our King had not enough to do and whether it was not high time to look about him Without all doubt these poor Princes have greater care and trouble upon them than the inferior forts of men and I am of opinion the King did very well to call back his Forces out of Piedmont though some are pleased to say that the State of Millan might otherwise have been won and that the Emperor would have been necessitated to have called back his Forces out of France to defend that Dutey but all this depended upon event So it was that God would not suffer these Princes to agree betwixt themselves each of them being bent upon his own particular advantage and I have often heard and sometimes seen that when two Princes jointly undertake the Conquest of a Kingdom they never agree for each of them is always 〈◊〉 of being over reach'd by his companion and evermore jealous of one another I have not I confess much conversed with Books but I have heard say that after this manner we first lost the Kingdom of Naples and were cheated by the King of Spain This suspition and jealousie at this time preserved us as it has at other times â—one seâ—â—ral others as the Hâ—storians report For my part I should more apprehend one great single Enemy than two who would divide the Cake between them there will always be some exceptions taken and two Nations do not easily agree as you see here The English King came and sat down before Boulogne which was basely surrendred to him by the Siâ—ur de Vervin who lost his life for his labour an example that ought to be set before all such as undertake the defence of strong holds This by no means pleased the Spaniard who reap'd no advantage by it saw very well that his confederate would only intend his own business Our Colonâ—l Monsiâ—ur de Tais brought three and twenty Ensigns to the King being all the same which had been at the Battel saving one nâ—w Company but I fell sick at Troyes and came not up to the Army till they were advanc'd near to Boulogne where the said Sieur de Tais delivered me the Patent his Majesty had sent me for the Office of Camp-Master but there was nothing done worthy remembrance till the Camisado of Boulogne As we arrived near to la Marquise the Dauphin who commanded the Army had intelligence that it was three or four days since the Town had been taken though he knew it before and that the Kâ—ng of England was embarked and gone for England It is to be presumed that this Prince had made such hast away only to avoid fighting forasmuch as he had left all things in so great disorder for in the first place we found all his Artillery before the Town in a Meadow that lies upon the descent towards the Tower of Ordre secondly there was found above thirty Casks full of Corslers which he had caused to be brought out of Germany therewith to arm his Soldiers which he had left for the defence of the Town thirdly he had left all the ammunition of victual as Corn Wine and other things to eat in the lower Town insomuch that if Monsieur de Teligni be yet living as I am told he is the Father of this who is a Huguenot and who treated the peace during these troubles and was taken upon the Camisado in the lower Town where not one man but himself escap'd alive he will bear witness that there was not in the higher Town provision to serve four days for himself told it me The occasion of the Camisado was this A Son in law of the Mareschal de Bies not this fine Monsieur de Vervin but another whose name I have forgot came to Monsieur de Tais and told him that a Spy of his who came from Boulogne had assured him that as yet nothing had been remov'd to the higher Town but that all still remained below and that if they would speedily attempt to take the lower Town which might easily be done they would in eight days time have the upper come out to them with ropes about their necks and that if Monsieur de Tais so pleased he would in the morning lead him where he might himself discover all the Spy morcover affirming that as yet not one breach in the wall was repaired but that all lay open as if it were a village Upon this information Monsieur de Tais was impatient to go to take a view of all and took me along with him together with this Son in law of the Mareschal We might be about a hundred Horse drawn out of the several Troops and just at the break of day we arrived before the Town leaving the Tower of Ordre some two or three hundred paces on the right hand and saw five or six Pavillions upon the descent in the great high way leading to the Gate of the City We were no more than five or six Horse only Monsieur de Tais having left the rest behind a little Hill This Son in law of the Mareschal and I therefore went down to the first Pavillion and passed close by it into the Camp on the left hand till we came to the second from whence we discovered all their Artillery at no further distance than fourfcore paces only neiâ—her did
Sir the Spanish Ensigns having discovered our Cavalry and the Grisons are facing about now charge them home for now it is time which being said Signiour Marioul alighted and clapt a Target to his arm having his sword in his hand I then said to Captain Charry that he was now to shew what he had ever been and must let these strangers see what a Gascon could do bidding him be sure to charge in before them all Monsieur de Fourcavaux had brought four hundred Italian Harquebuzeers from Parma very brave men who were drawn up close by the Oratory for my part I will not make my self more valiant than I am for I alighted not I already began to play the King's Lieutenant and we divided the men to the right and left all along a great High-way and there we made our charge which was a brave one if ever any was and such that we drave them as far as a descent on the left hand of St. Bonde where the Marquis stood with the remainder of his Spaniards and Germans and being the Spaniards stood just upon the edge of the ascent those who were put to flight rusht quite through them and both one and the other ran full drive upon the Germans The Marquis who saw the torrent of this disorder coming upon him began as well as he could to retire by a Valley without sound of Trumpet or beat of Drum Those who were come out of St. Marks retreated also in very great haste carrying off with them the four little pieces with which they had batter'd St. Bonde into their Fort. The Marquis told me after when I came out of Sienna as he accompanied me two miles from the Town that had we follow'd the pursuit we had put all his Army to flight and given him a total defeat but we were not aware of his disorder we thought our selves very happy that we had come off so good cheap and our Enemies thought themselves happier than we Monsieur de Strozzy who was in a Valley on the other side the Port St. Mark as he was consulting with Messieurs de Lansac and de Fourcavaux about the situation of the Camp heard very well that there was a very great skirmish but he knew that all the Captains were there and that I was also gone thither neither did they ever imagine it had been half so sharp as it was but in the end hearing it grow so loud they left all and came gallopping to us yet could they not come time enough to the charge which the said Monsieur de Strozzy was very much troubled at and something discontented that no notice had been given him of the fight and Monsieur de Fourcavaux was the same forasmuch as the Grisons of which he was the chief Officer were come up just to fight and that his Harquebuzeers had fought But I excus'd it to them both telling them that I had never a horse-man with me but Signior Marioul and that he was too brave a Gentleman to leave the skirmish having besides three or four Ensigns under his command wherefore it had not been possible for me to send them word Now Monsieur de Strozzy at his rising from dinner had sent away Signior Roberto his Brother in all haste to cause the Franch and Germans to advance which he did and found the Germans beginning to drink and consequently could not suddainly get them from the Tables for the said Signior de Strozzy had caused meat to be set ready for them upon the great High-way which had he not done they had held on their march and just in the nick had come into the heat of the fight and so the Battail had been won but we must say with the Italian Fa me indevino io ti daro denari This was that which was done the first day that I arriv'd at Sienna where I so signaliz'd my self to the Siennois and all the Italian Captains that knew me not before as purchased me a very great esteem both with the Inhabitants of the City and the whole Army for by running up and down amongst the foot now here now there ordering these on the one side and those on the other I gave them to understand that this was not the fist skirmish by a hundred wherein I had been engag'd The Mareschal then lodg'd his Camp betwixt Porto Novo and Porto Tuffo in the beautiful Suburbs that are there and not only there for I dare boldly say that if the Suburbs of Sienna had stood altogether they would have been bigger than the City for in the Suburbs were more goodly Palaces and finer Churches and Monasteries than there were in the body of the Town The next morning Monsieur de Strozzy carried us up to that part of the wall looking towards the Enemies Camp where we fell into consultation whether or no it were good to hazard a Battail and there the opinions were various some thinking it the best and others conceiving it not convenient so to do Those who were of opinion that we ought not to fight objected that we could not go to the Palace of Diau without passing close by a little Fort the Marquis had made betwixt the little observance and the aforesaid Palace where there was three or four pieces of great Artillery as it was true and that leaving that behind we should also leave our own Fort of Camolia naked of defence I then propounded that for any harm the Artillery of the little Fort could do us we could pass by a little before day and might leave an Ensign or two to bridle the little Fort from daring to sally out and as for the Fort of Camolia we could leave three or four Companies of the City to keep them likewise in aw and that I on my part with the rest of the Forces of the City would go out by Porto Fontebrando and should by break of day to got to the top of a little Mountain ready to present my self in the Plain at so opportune a time that just as our Camp should appear near to theirs I should at the same instant be got so near them that they must of necessity enter into some apprehension to see us come the one on the one side and the other on the other The Siennois made account that they could draw four thousand good men out of the Town There were some who approv'd of my proposal and of the Siennois also which was to fight and others were of a contrary opinion The Game could not be plaid without being lustily disputed for the Marquis had three Tertia's of Spaniards namely that the Sicily that of Naples and that of Corsica which we call Regiments the two first composed of old Soldiers and that of Corsica of new-raised men wherein nevertheless there were very good Soldiers together with two Regiments of Germans each of them containing twelve Ensigns and four or five thousand Italians As to the Cavalry I think ours
occasion you in order thereunto will suddainly think of making provision of all things necessary to the conservation of your City for the Battail I already give you for lost not that it will nevertheless proceed from any default in Monsieur de Strozzy but from the losses we have sustein'd in the several skirmishes that have been fought before Mauchaut it being impossible by reason thereof but that our people must be mightily Crest-fallen and dejected and those of the Enemy in greater heart and courage 'T is an effect of victory to be exalted and fear is the issue of misfortune and disgrace neither do the little losses in skirmishes which are the usual forerunners of a Battail ever portend any thing but disaster and ruine On the other side also those who retire must of necessity shew their backs to the Enemy where although they often face about yet must they still make forwards where it will be impossible but they must meet with some hedge or ditch over which they must of necessity pass in disorder for upon a Retreat every one will strive to be foremost because fear and terror are the ordinary concomitants of those who would retire and for never so little disorderly haste they shall make all will be lost if the Enemy have but half the courage that men should have Remember Gentlemen the Battail that Hannibal gain'd of the Romains at Cannee near to Rome The Romans who were at home in the City never suspected it possible that their people should be beaten and therefore made no kind of provision nor took any order in their affairs so that when news came of the defeat they were strook into so great a terror that the Gates of Rome remain'd for three dayes and three nights wide open not a man so much as daring to go shut them so that had Hannibal pursued his victory he might without any opposition have entred the City as Titus Livie reports in his History Therefore Gentlemen give present order for the securing of your Gates and appoint men to guard them which you must also choose out of those of best repute for the bravest and most faithful amongst you In the next place cause proclamation to be made throughout the Ciâ—y that all those who have Corn or Meal at the Mills shall make haste to get their Corn ground and bring it all into the City Cause also all those who have grain or any other sorts of ptovision in the Villages immediately to fetch it into the Town upon penalty of having it burnt or put to sack if by to morrow night it be not all brought within the walls and all this to the end that we may have wherewith to support our selves and maintain the Siege till the succours the King will send us shall arrive for he is not so inconsiderable a Prince but that as he has had the power to send you these aids that are already come he is yet able to send you more and moreover command your three Standard-bearers to have all their Companies in a readiness at the beat of Drum My Fever pressing upon me I am constrain'd to retire to my lodging in expectation of such news as God shall please to send us and you I hope in the mean time will take present order about such things as I have put you in mind of in which assurance for the service of the King my Master and particularly your own I make you a tender not only of the little experience God has given me but moreover of my life for the defence of your City and the antient priviledges thereof Thus then I departed from them who immediately resolv'd to have patience in what fortune soever God should be pleased to send them and to eat to their very children before they would for any misfortune that should befall them depart from the Amity and Protection of the King of France I perceived both by their countenance and their speeches that they were a people very well resolv'd to defend their liberty and to preserve inviolate the friendship they had promised and sworn to me A resolution at which indeed I was mightily well pleased They immediately then caused proclamation to be made upon which every one ran to the field to fetch in what they had and about five a clock in the Evening arrived Captain Cambas Camp-Master to the French Infantry who came to bring me news that the Battail was lost and Monsieur de Strozzy wounded to death whom they had laid upon Poles to carry him to Montalsin and that that very night all those of the Army who had escap't the Battail would be at the Gates of Sienna I leave any one to judge what a condition I was in being sick of a Fever and a Dissentery seeing our General dead or what was as bad it being not above fourteen or fifteen dayes since I arrived in this Republick not having any acquaintance with any one person in the City and consequently not knowing who were good Frenchmen and who were not Time is requir'd to the knowledge of men Monsieur de Strozzy had left me but five Italian Companies of which I did not know so much as one Captain and those he had left in the Citadel and the Fort of Camolia which were the Keys of the City I then sent Captain Cambas to carry the news to the Senate who were nothing dismai'd at it but told him that three or four dayes before I had remonstrated to them that this retreat would be dangerous and that although by what I had said to them they had giveâ— the Battail for lost they would nevertheless nothing after the good inclination they had for the King nor despair of being reliev'd by him Do not think it strange fellow Captains if foreseeing the loss of a Battail I also foretold it to the Siennois which I did not to dishearten but to assure them to the end that the sudden news thereof might not strike a general astonishment throughout the whole City 't was this mad them resolve this made them take counsel to prepare themselves and in my opinion men do better in expecting the worst than in being over confident of their Fortune Upon what I had said to them every one put on a resolution to die in the defence of their walls and every thing was presently brought into the City At break of day in the morning the Infantry arriv'd for Cavalry were gone away with Monsieur de Strozzy neither had there indeed at Sienna been any thing for the horses to eat Colonel Rheincroc and Signior Cornelio Bentivoglio came to my lodgings where amongst us it was determin'd that the Rheincroc should out of ten Ensigns that he had make six Signior Cornelio six of Italians and Captain Cambas six of French and that all the rest should be sent away to Montalsin The Foot were never permitted to enter the Town till first the Election was made and with the remainder
dispose of me when seeing me from day to day recover strength and grow into a better posture of health he resolv'd the thirteenth day in the beginning of the night to depart without acquainting any one with his intention but my self only A little before he took horse he and the Bishop came to take their leaves of me knowing very well that his being there would cause the Marquis to proceed with greater vigour against the Town and also that being abroad he might find some way or other to relieve me where at parting I promised and assured him to hold out to the last gasp The Mareschal had set Guards upon all the Roads to catch him but he chose to retire by a way by which of all other the Mareschal never suspected he would attempt to pass for he went out at the Port Camoglia from whence he descended on the right hand down into the Valley leaving the Fort of Camoglia above and going all along by the River towards the Palace of Dian. During his stay in Sienna he perfectly recover'd of his wounds so that he arm'd and mounted himself upon a good horse He met by the way fourty or fifty of the Enemies foot which gave him some alarm but he still held on his way without losing any but some few servants only belonging to some Gentlemen who went out of the City to attend him It was not however without peril In a few dayes he escap't three great dangers A little after his departure I recover'd my health and caused my self to be carried in a Chair about the Town The Marquis losing no time shut us up on every side and every day we had very handsome skirmishes but I knew very well that the Marquis would have me for want of bread which was the reason that I made this Harangue to the Captains whom I had assembled together to that effect Gentlemen I believe there is none of us who does not desire to come off from this Siege with honor and repute the thirst of honor has brought us hither You see we are here shut up for a long time for we are not to imagine that the Enemy will ever rise from before us till he have us by one way or another seeing upon the reducing of this place depends his victory You see also that the King is at a great distance from us and that therefore of a long time it will not be possible for him to relieve us forasmuch as he must of necessity draw our succours from Germany and out of his own Kingdom of France the Italians themselves without the help of others not being sufficient to raise the Enemies Siege who have not only the Forces of Italy but moreover of almost all other Nations Now in expectation of this relief we are to have a long patience in husbanding as much as is possible our provisions in order whereunto I am to tell you that I have deliberated to lessen the Size of bread from four and twenty to twenty oâ—nces I know very well the Soldiers would murmur at this if you did not remonstrate to them how far we are distant from the King that his Majesty cannot suddenly-relieve us and that you will rather die of famine than that it shall be laid in your dish that had you had the patience to lessen your diet the Town had not been lost It would be an infamous reproach to have it said that you fill'd your bellies to starve your honor you have not shut your selves up within these walls to occasion the loss and ruine of the City but to defend and to save it Represent to them that they are here amongst strange Nations where they may set a mark of honor upon their own What glory do men acquire when they not only obtain honor and esteem for their own particular persons but moreover for the Nation from whence they come 'T is what a generous heart should principally propose to himself for the reward of his doing and suffering You Germans shall return home proud of the hardships you have sustein'd and the dangers you have undergone and we Frenchmen also and as for you who are Italians you shall acquire this renown with invincible courages to have â—ought for the liberty of your Country a reputation we can none of us obtein but by a long patience in giving the King my Master time to relieve us and believe I beseech you that his most Christian Majesty will in nothing fail of the friendship he has promised and sworn to you If you remonstrate all this to your Soldiers and that they see and know that you your selves are thus resolv'd I am assur'd they will follow the same wayes you take Therefore Gentlmen never think to excuse your selves upon them I have never known a mutiny happen and yet I have seen many thorough Soldiers alone if they were not by their Officers set on and encourag'd to it If you lead them the way there is nothing they will not do no incommodity they will not suffer Do it then I beseech you or resolve betimes to discover the bottom of your hearts and plainly tell us you have no mind to undergo the length and inconveniencies of a Siege that such as had rather dishonourably spend their time in eating and drinking than stake their persons upon an account of honor may depart and not divert others from nobler resolutions Now because the Germans did not understand my Gibberish I bad the Rheincroc's Interpreter tell his Master what I said which he did and the Rheincroc made answer that both he and his Soldiers would put on the same patience that we our selves did and that although it was said of the Germans that they could not endure without eating and drinking their fill both he and his upon this occasion would manifest the contrary I was in plain truth the most afraid of these people because they love to make good chear more than we As for the Italian he is more enur'd to hardship and suffering than we are Thus then every one retir'd to his own Quarters to call their Companies together to whom they accordingly remonstrated the same things that I had represented to them before Which having heard the Soldiers all held up their hands and swore they would suffer to the last gasp of their lives before they would yield or do any thing unbecoming men of honor I then sent to the Senate entreating them the next morning to assemble all the chief men of the City to the Palace to hear a remonstrance I had to make to them that concern'd them and their affairs which they did and there in Italian I made them this following Oration Gentlemen had Almighty God been pleased sooner to restore to me my health and memory I had sooner thought of what we are to do for the conservation of your liberty and the defence of this City You have all seen how I have by sickness been reduc't to
that Quarter where their houses stood and to assist the Captains of the said Pioneers Now I had ever determin'd that if ever the Enemy should come to assault us with Artillery to entrench my self at a good distance from the Wall where theâ— Battery should be made to let them enter at pleasure and made account to shut up the two ends of the Trench and at either end to plant four or five pieces of great Canon loaden with great chains nails and pieces of iron Behâ—nd the Retirade I intended to place the Muskets together with the Harquâ—buzeers and so soon as they should be entred in to cause the Artillery and small shot to fire all at once and we at the two ends then to run in upon them with Pikes and Halâ—erts two banded Swords short Swords and Targets This I resolved upon as seeing it altogetâ—er impossible for the King to send us relief by reason that he was engaged in so many places that it would not be possible for him to set on foot Forces sufficient to raise the Siege neither by sea nor by land and Monsieur de Strozzy had no means to relieve us wherefore I would permit them to enter and make little defence at the Breach to the end that I might give them battail in the Town after they had past the fury of our Canon and smaller shot For to have defended the Breach had in my opinion been a very easie matter but then we could not have done the Enemy so much mischief as by letting them enter the breach which we would have pretended to have quit onely to draw them on to the â—ight For five or six dayes before the Artillery came I every night sent out two Peasants and a Captain or a Serjeant as Centinels perdues which is a very good thing and of great safety but take heed whom you send for he may do you a very ill turn So soon as the night came the Captain set a Peasant Centinel at some fifty or sixty paces distant from the Wall and either in a ditch or behind a hedge with instructions that so soon as he should hear any thing he should come back to the Captain at the foot of the Wall which Captain had in charge from me that immediately upon the Peasant's speaking to him they should clap down upon all four and so creep the one after the other to the place where the Peasant had heard the noise or rather fall down upon their bellies close to the earth to discover if there were not three or four who came to view that place and to observe if they did not lay their heads together to confer for this is a certain sign that they came to view that place in order to the bringing up of Artillery To do which as it ought to be done they ought to be no other than the Master of the Ordnance the Colonel or the Camp-Master of the Infantry or the Engineer the Master Carter and a Captain of Pioneers to the end that according to what shall be resolved upon by the Master of the Ordnance the Colonel and Canoncer the Master Carter may also take notice which way he may bring up Artillery to the place and the Canoneer ought to shew the Captain of the Pioneers what is to be done for the Esplanade or plaining of the way according to the determination of the rest And this is the discovery that is to be made by night after you have discover'd a little at distance by day for if those within be an Enemy of any spirit they ought either by skirmiâ—hes or by their Canon to keep you from coming to discover at hand The Captain had order to come give me a present account of what he and the Peasants had heard or seen and to leave the Peasants still upon their perdue and a Soldier in his own place till his return Three times the Enemy was discover'd after this manner and immediately upon the notice having also the List of the Eight Quarters and of the Eight of War who commanded those Quarters I suddenly acquainted Signior Cornelio who could presently tell me both the Quarter against which it was and the Gentleman of the Eight of War that commanded it I had never discover'd my intention to any one but to Signior Cornelio onely who was a man of great wisdom and valour and in whom I reposed a very great confidence who so soon as he knew that I meant to give them Battail in the City we did nothing of one whole day but walk the round both within and without taking very good observation of all the places where the Enemy could make a Battery and consequently by that knew where to make our Retirade And so soon as ever notice was given me by the Captain who stood Centinel without the City I presently advertized the Commander of that Quarter and he his Deputy and his Deputy the Captain of the Pioneers so that in an hours time you might have seen at least a thousand or twelve hundred persons beginning the Retirade Now I had order'd the City to make great provision of Torches so that those who had discover'd were hardly return'd to the Marquis but that they saw all that part within the Town cover'd with torches and people insomuch that by break of day we had very much advanc't our Trench and in the morning sent back those to rest calling in another Quarter to the work till noon and another from noon till night and consequenty others till midnight and so till break of day by which means in a little time we performed so great a work that we could by no means be surpriz'd After this manner I still turn'd the defences of the Town towards the Marquis his attempts who lodg'd at the house of Guillet the Dreamer and Signior Fernando de Sylva brother to Signior Rigomez who commanded on that side towards the little Observance with whom I had some discourse upon the publick faiâ—h the Friday before we departed out of the City betwixt their Quarters and the Fort Camoglia told me that the Marquis had some jealousie that some one of their Council betray'd to me all their deliberations seeing he had no sooner design'd to batter any part but that we alwayes fortified against that place for by night the least noise is easily heard and so great a bustle cannot be concealed and because he told me that he had compiled a Book of the particularities of the Siege of Sienna he entreated me to tell him by what means I so continually discover'd their intentions whereupon I told him the truth But to return to our subject the Marquis in the end came and planted his Artillery upon a little Hill betwixt Port Oville and the great Observance The choice of this place put me who thought my self so cunning almost to a nonplus forasmuch as at Port Oville there is a very spatious Antiport where the houses of the City do almost
as much afraid as another seeing my self so desperately engag'd and no news of any relief neither of victuals nor men but ask any one who is yet living whether they ever saw me any more dejected than the first day I came into the City And at the last of all when we were reduc'â— to the extremest necessity of all things I was more resolute to fight than before which I believe conduced much to the obtaining of so good conditions both for the Siennois and for us as we could have had had we capitulated the first day the Enemy sat down before us Late at night came the Capitulation and upon Tuesday morning four of the Senate brought it to me wherein I found an Article that every one of what mean condition soever should go out with Bag and Baggage their Wives and Children who had a mind to depart the City except the Exiles and Rebels to the State of the Emperor the King of England which was King Phiâ—ip and the Duke of Florence I then very well understood that this Article would fall heavy upon the poor Florentines who were with us in the City and who had been banisht upon Monsieur de Strozzy's account There were also Neapolitans and Millanois so that I there clearly saw above a hundred men thrown away and their heads surrendred to the Scaffold which made me desire the Senators to return and that in an hour I would come to them to the Palace and shew them the deâ—â—it that was couched in their Capitulation entreating them in the mean time speedily there to assemble all the principal members of the City which they did and I took along with me Signior Cornelio and Bartolomeo Cavalcano who was ready to die for fear when he understood my proposition for he was a Florentine where being come I made to them this Remonstrance Gentlemen I have seen your Capitulation which tends rather to the cutting off of your heads than to any indemnity for your Lives and Estates You have there one Article that every one generally shall enjoy the benefit of the Capitulation their Lives and Estates saved excepting such as are Rebels to the Emperor the King of England and the Duke of Florence Now you know very well that the Emperor has caused you all to be declared Rebels in his Imperial Chamber as Subjects of the Empire for having rebelled against him By which you see you are declared Subjects and you say you are not Subjects but only stand in recommendation to the Empire The dispute is not yet determined whether you are Subjects or recommended and when the Enemy shall once be got within your walls and that you are in their power what Judges will you have to determine of the Question except the Hangman and with your heads for it will certainly be by that way that they will go about to assert their title Behold then you will all be put to death your Estates confiscate and your Wives and Children a prey to the Conqueror As for me and the Soldiers they will permit us safely to depart for Soldiers pass in all places and ever better cheap than other sorts of men They know we have nothing to lose but our Arms and that we are bound to obey our Prince should they offer any outrage to us we shall have our revenge in turn at one time or another for men do sooner meet than mountains But all the mischief will fall upon you considering the hatred the Emperor and the Duke have conceiv'd against you A Prince rarely pardons Subjects who have once rebelled against him but if ever he can pick a hole in their coats he will be sure to take hold of the occasion Since then we have so long liv'd together without ever having so much as one unkind word pass betwixt us and that I have receiv'd so many honors at your hands if you will take my advice we will make the Marquis think of something he never thought of yet that is we will sally out with our weapons in our hands to the fight and give him battail and we ought to believe that God will be on our side and assist us considering the cruelty they would exercise upon you For my own part I freely offer you my life and those of all my Captains and Soldiers to die with you that as we have liv'd so we may die together rather than to see you so basely betray'd and sold to slaughter Credete à me à me dico â—he son vechio à câ—i sono passate molte cose inanti li occhi Now I knew very well that this exception did not point at the Siennois but only at those I nam'd before so that this was only a device of mine to make the Siennois engage with us in the fight for I had rather have put all to the hazard of the sword than that any one of those who were within with us and who upon my account had been obstinate in the defence of the City should be lost They took it however for current pay and after I was departed from them all of them resolv'd to fight it out to the last man I then presently sent them word what they were to do which was that the Standard-bearer should command all their Powder to be refined their Swords Halberts and Pike-heads to be scowr'd and ground that upon pain of Death every one who was able to bear arms should be ready in two days and that the Priests and Religicux who had taken arms for the defence of the Town at the Battery should now take them again under the same Captains they did before insomuch that I do believe that for two or three days so great a bustle in the City had never been seen The two Deputies hereupon of the Duke of Florence and the Marquis who had safe conduct into the City return'd about three of the clock in the afternoon back to the Marquis where they shew'd him this Article which had put not only the whole City but also the Soldiers into despair of fair Quarter telling him how we were all resolv'd and by what means they came to understand the hubub and preparation that was making in the City to give him Battel which was the reason that he sent all night to the Duke of Florence and Don Iuan Manricou whom I since saw with the Queen of Spain at Bayonne giving them an account how all things stood and entreating them withal that since he was now upon the point to have the Town surrendred to him they would not for this one Article put him in danger of losing all but consider that he had to do with a great Captain and an old Souldier commending me more than I deserv'd that as themselves very well knew he had lost near upon the one half of his Army and had a great many sick of those he had left and that he had not twenty Horse there being nothing upon the place to support
my house at Sampoy en Gaure to which place I had assign'd him to come where we concluded to reconcile all the Catholick Gentlemen that we might be united together and being the Seigneurs de Fermarcâ—n and de Terride though both of one Family had an aversion for one another we agreed to make them friends to which end we assig'nd them to come to Faudouâ—s where there was a great company of Gentlemen and where at last we made them perfect good friends Captain Charry departed in all haste to go put himself into Pâ—ymirol because I had intelligence that the Enemy had quiâ—â—ed it and taken away the Artillery that was there to carry co Agen. The said Captain Charry went to pass the River at la Magistere and by break of day was in the City for the good people immediately open'd him the Gates and there was but ten Souldiers in the Castle who presently yielded and every one of the other Captains went forthwith about their business to raise their Companies when so soon as we had din'd there arriv'd a Horseman who was come post from Cahors having rid all night and hir'd a fresh horse at la Magistre where he was told that I was at Faudouas bringing me a Letter from Monsieur de la Rocque des Ars near unto Cahâ—rs a Kinsman of mine which Letter is to be found enroll'd in the Register of the Parliament of Tholouze and whereof these are the Contents SIR TO day about noon at this place and by great journeys is arriv'd a Gentleman from Court who having enquir'd at the Inn if there was any one that knew you the Host told him that I was in the Town and was related to you whereupon he sent the said Host immediately for me and so soon as I came to the house he bad the Host go in I then offer'd to embrace him but he made me a sign not to touch him when he and I being left alone he told me that he was of the County of Foix and belonging to the King of Navarre and that at Oâ—leans a Physician had dyed iâ— bed by him of the Plague with which he was yet infected biding me immediately go fetch pen ink and paper which I having accordingly done he made me in the street to write this enclosed Letter entreating me to send it post away to you The said enclosed Letter was thus SIR REturning from Court I past by Orleans where I left the Prince of Conde who is gathering great Forces together and has already rais'd a great number of men There is a Capitoul of Tholouze who is coming by long journeys after me and I think this night will pass by this place who has engag'd to the said Prince by the eighteenth of this month which was May to put the City of Tholouze into his hands The said Capitoul discover'd himself to me of which I thought fit to give you speedy notice that if possible you may prevent his design For the Reasons that Monsieur de la Rocque will write you word of I would not subscribe this Letter but have caus'd it to be sign'd by him These were the contents of the two Letters which having read I took aside the forementioned Gentleman to whom having communicated the said Letters I immediately sent them by an express Messenger post to the first President Mansencal and writ upon the instant three dispatches to the three Captains Bazordan the Baron de Clermont and Arne wherein I sent them word to labour day and night to get the foot Companies I had given them Commissions for to gather and approach as near as they could to Tholouze Monsieur de Terride return'd in all diligence to make ready his Gens d'armes and the Sieurs de Gondrin and de Fimarcon return'd in all haste to gather together the Gentlemen of the Country Now the Messenger could not get to Tholouze till it was three hours within night so that the President was gone to bed by which means he could not deliver his Letters till the next morning which was the twelfth of May. And there the President committed an Error forasmuch as in the morning he assembled all the Chambers and there in the presence of them all caus'd the Letters to be publickly read and I committed another having been so wise as not to give him caution to communicate them but to few which was the cause that those of their Society who were of the new Religion and also of the plot at their return from the Palace gave notice to all the rest of the Conspirators that they must make haste to seize the Town house and the Artillery and not to deferre it till the eighteenth day of the said Month For I had also writ in my Letter that I was sending away in all diligence to Captain Bazordan and the Baron de Clermont that in raising their Companies they should approach continually nearer and nearer towards the said City of Tholouze which eight days before was enter'd into great suspicion those of the Town seeing every day strangers that no body knew enter into the City and the said Letters unluckily came just in the nick of this jealousie I had not as yet knowing any thing of all this sent away my own Company to Montjoye near unto la Plume and the very next day which was the eighteenth being return'd to Sampoy I receiv'd two Leâ—â—â—rs together one from Monsieur de Terride with two others of Advertisements enclos'd in one of which was Sir Four Ensigns of foot are arriv'd at Montauban who come fromwards the Sevennes and entred about break of day having march'd all night and in the other was That a black Ensign had past over the Bridge de Buzaâ— on the other side of Tholouze wearing a white Scarf and held the way towards Montauban Monsieur de Terride sending me word that I might take both these Advertisements for certain At the same instant I received another Letter from the Vicar of Auch and the Consuls of the said City wherein they entreated me to come in all diligence to Auch or that otherwise they would cut one another to pieces I writ in the open street for haste four lines to Monsieur de Terride entreating him to make his Company ready and to get together the most men he possibly could which having done I mounted to horse having Monsieur de Fontenilles with me and went in all haste directly to Auch though I was neither the Kings Lieutenant nor had any power to command but all I did was out of the particular affection and good will I bore to his Majesties service being assur'd that doing well all would be well interpreted by those of the Kings party and as for the rest I did not much care having evermore rather have them for enemies than friends Coming to Sezan a league from Sampoy there came a man to me from Tholouze sent by Monsieur le President Mansencal to tell me that he
above three or four dayes for neither my age nor my indisposition would permit me to stay long in a place where news was brought me that the City of Agen was entred into a sudden fear and that every one began to truss up their Baggage to be gâ—ne so that the Town was in danger to be wholly abandoned This news was brought me overnight which I communicated to all the Gentlemen in the Town telling them that I would go in the morning which they were all contented I should provided I would return back to the said Lectoure for to engage my self in Agen would they said be the greatest folly that was ever committed by man it being plainly to be discern'd by every one that the two Armies of the Enemy would infallibly attaque that place I then assur'd them that I would not engage my self there whereupon they asked me if I thought it convenient that they should write a Letter to the Mareschal in the behalf of all the Gentry of Armagnac to entreat him to come with his whole Army to fight Montgommery at Condom before the Armies should joyn assuring him that the said Montgommery would never engage himself in the Town which was not tenable and to be entred in several places at pleasure and to make him an offer every man to die with him for his Majesties service and the resettlement of every one in his own house To which I return'd them answer that I did highly approve of it and that they could do no less than to send a Gentleman to him to implore his assistance who therefore made choice of Monsieur de la Mothe Gondrin for their Envoy I would bait in the morning before I went because it was five long leagues from thence to Agen and the worst way in Winter in the world Being we were at this time in fear I had writ to Monsieur de Montferran of Agen who liv'd out of Town that he must needs make all the means he possibly could to bring us four or five hundred Harquebuzeers to which he return'd me answer that in eight dayes he would bring a thousand before Agen which made me though I knew very well that the Mareschal took no delight in my Letters however to write to him for a man must wave a particular in a great concern sending Monsieur de Montferran's Letter enclosed within mine and assuring him upon my honor to bring another thousand to brush Montgommery for I had a very good mind to be at him During these postings to and fro the Princes sojourn'd at Montauban and the adjoyning Country as they had good need to do for they had not a horse that was able to set one foot before another as several who were with them have confessed to me since having been constrain'd to leave above four hundred by the wayes as they came by reason they had no means to get them shod And just as I had din'd there came another Messenger to me from Agen who had set out from thence at midnight to give me notice that the Merchants began to talk of getting their wares out of Town but that the Sieur de Lande and the Consuls would keep them from doing it till such time as they should receive an answer to the Letter they had sent me and as I was taking horse some body I cannot tell who came and read me the Letter the Gentlemen had writ to the Mareschal which I did not much mind my thoughts being wholly taken up with the concern of Agen but I told them That I thought it was well but that nevertheless they should shew it to Monsieur de Valence to see if there was nothing in it that might give the Mareschal offence and so got on horseback making all the haste I could to Agen. Being come thither I found every one in the greatest fear imaginable the Church men the Counsellors all the Presidial Court and the Merchanâ—s busie packing up to be gone I was no sooner alighted but that immediately the Sieurs de la Lande de Nort their Sons and several others came and told me that all the whole City were at their wits end I thereupon bad them forthwith to repair to the Town Hall and to call thither all the Chief men of the City the Clergy and Magistracy and to give me notice so soon as ever they were met together for I would go speak with them They accordingly did so neither did they need to use many entreaties for rich and poor every one ran to see me and to hear what I would advise them to do When so soon as I came into the Hall which was so full that five or six Gentlemen I had brought along with me had much ado to crowd in I plac'd my self in the middest of them to the end that every one might hear me and spake to them to this effect Gentlemen YOu have twice in one day advertiz'd me that the greatest part of the Inhabitants of this City are upon the point to forsake it and to retire themselves to Bordeaux Tholouze and other places of safety and in short that your whole City was in fear I see very well that this apprehension has seiz'd you upon a conceit you have taken that I would abandon you in such a necessity and that I had retir'd my self to Lectoure because it is a good place which I have reason to take very unkindly at your hands forasmuch as you have never heard that either in Italy or in any other place I have ever done act which ought to render me suspected that fear ever made me betake my self to strong places but on the contrary have ever engag'd my person in the weakest and least tenable to make head against the Enemy My renown is not so little in the World nor confin'd to Guienne alone I am reputed for such throughout all Italy and through all France And now that I am going down into the Grave can you imagine my good friends that I would at one clap lose what I have with so much sweat and blood been one and fifty years that I have born armâ— in gaining You must re-resolve upon three things First to throw away all apprehension that may have surpriz'd you and tread it under foot that it may never rise again Secondly to agree amongst your selves to be all of one mind and will and not to spare your Estates in what I shall direct you speedily and diligently to provide all that shall be necessary for the defence of your City and thirdly to pay an absolute obedience to six or eight of your Corporation whom I shall choose for you or that you shall make choice of your selves to take care as well for the fortifying as furnishing provisions and all things necessary for your defence Which three things if you shall think fit to grant me I do swear to you by Almighty God holding up my hand That I will live and die with you
the Bastard of Auzan a Gentleman who has nothing blemish'd the legitimate Sons of his race though all of them men of singular bravery and remarkeable valour Now you must know that â— the Company I commanded was no other than Cross-bows for at this time the use of the Harquâ—buze had not as yet been introducâ—d amongst us only three or four days before six Gascon Harquebusiers came over to us from the Enemy which I had received into my Company having by good â—ortune been that day upon the Guard at the great Gate of the City and of those six one was a native of the Territory of Monâ—luc Would to heaven that this accursed engine had never been invented I had not then receiv'd those wounds which I now languish under neither had so many valiant men been slain for the most part by the most pitiful fellows and the greatest Cowards Poltrons that had not dar'd to look those men in the face at hand which at distance they laid dead with their confounded bullets but it was the Devil's invention to make us murther one another Being thus past the River I order'd the Bastard d' Auzâ—n not to suffer his men to shoot but only to present as if they intended to do it to the end that he might favour mine and give them time to discharge and retire again into their order Now when I was under the foot of the Hill I could not possibly see what our men did but being advanc'd a little further into the plain I saw all the Enemies three Squadrons drawn up into one body and the great party on the left hand marching upon a good round trot directly towards ours who were rallyed and stood firm without being able either to advance forwards or to retire back by reason of some great stones that lay scatter'd in their Rear Here it was that Captain Carbon who had no Arms on having before been wounded in his left arm by an Arquebuze shot seeing me so nâ—aâ— him came up to me and said Oh Montluc my dear friend charge up boldly I will never forsake thee Captain said I take you only care to save your self and your Gens-d ' Armes at the same instant crying out shoot Comrades at the head of these Horse I was not above a dozen paces distant from the Enemy when I gave them this Volley by which as it appear'd by the testimony of the Prisoners who were taken a few days after above fifty Horses were kill'd and wounded and two Troopers slain an execution that a little cool'd their courage and caus'd their Troops to make a halt In the mean time Captain Carbon had leisure with his party to retire full gallop towards the brook I had pass'd over to relieve him where such as had their horses lost taking hold of the others horse tayls sav'd themselves also and all together pass'd over the River Which hast they were necâ—ssitated to make or otherwise the great party of horse on the left hand had charg'd them in the Flank had they drawn more leisurely off In the mean time under favour of the twenty Cross-bows of d' Auzan who sustain'd us we rallied again and gave another volley So soon as Captain Carbon had passed the River with his Horse remounted Monsieur de Gramont on another horse and mounted the rest â—n Crouppe he commanded the said Siâ—ur de Gramont to ride to the top of the hill and in all hast to draw off the Ensigns both of horse and foot at a round trot directly to the other River where the bridg was that leads towards Bayonne Which order being given he suddenly turned back again towards me having in his company an Italian call'd Signior Diomedâ— and the Siâ—ur de Mainaâ—aâ—t where he found me retreating towards a ditch upon the edg of a Marish and of which I might be within some twelve or fourteen paces which not only hindred him from getting up to me but moreover gave him enough to do to save himself I notwithstanding in spite of the Enemy recovered the ditch of the Marish being still sheltred by d' Auzâ—n whom I commanded to climb over in great diligence and there to make head which he accordingly performed The Spaniards in the mean time made a shew as if they meant to charge but they durst not attempt to break into me neither were my six Harquebusiâ—rs idle all this while but did wonders with their shot when having at last retreated my men within five or six paâ—â—s of the ditch I caused them all in an instant to throw themselves into it and under favour of d' Auzan almost as suddainly to mount the ditch bank on the other side over which we all got safe and sound saving three Soldiers who were slain with Harquebuze shot for not having been so nimble as the rest and here it was that as in a little sort I made head against the Enemy Now you must know that that party of the Enemy which came up on the left hand made a halt at the bank of the River when they saw our Horse were already got half way up the hill and those who had fought and to whom I had given a stop at the ditch bank were now upon their retreat home when seeing three Squadrons of Harquebusiers coming along the plain and making towards them with all the speed they could it reviv'd their spirits and inspir'd them with new courage to face about again I in the mean time having also discover'd these fresh succours began to shift along by the ditch till being by the return of a corner of it slipt out of their sight I drew my men into a very narrow meadow from whence at full speed I gain'd the â—oot of the hill I had descended before and having repass'd the River soon recovered the top of the mountain The danger wherein I saw my self to be as well of the Horse I had pressing upon my Rear as of the Battaillon of Inâ—antry which I saw fast advancing towards me did not however make me loose my Judgment in a time of so great need nor hinder me from discerning and taking this opportunity for my retreat during which I made the little handful of men I had march very close together and by turnes encouraging and speaking to them made them often face about and salute the Cavalry who pursued me both with Cross-bow and Harquebuze shot when having gain'd the top of the hill I drew into an Orchard making fast the Gate on the inside that the Horse might not so suddainly enter and by the favour of that and several others planted with Apples still made on towards the Bridge till I came to a little Church call'd Hâ—itée from whence I perceived the great road to be all covered over with the Enemies Horse there being nevertheless a great ditch betwixt them and me from whence I bestow'd upon them some Arquebuze and Cross-bow shot which also very seldom fail'd of their effect and compell'd them seeing
people under the conduct of his Nephew and his Camp-Master and would accept of no one of any other Nation than his own at which time you saw how soon and how easily they were beaten back even into the ditch of the Ravelin of Porto Novo so that if by good fortune I had not been there and had not made the Italian Guard sally out to their rescue not a man of them had come off alive I will not disparage them but they are much more proper for a Battel than a Siege Why then Signiors should you be concern'd at their departure I will say one thing more to you that although I had also sent away the tâ—elve Companies that remain with me in this Town I would yet undertake to defend your City provided the Captains stay'd behind to relieve me You must make your Ensigns Captains of the Watch by turns who shall have two nights of intermission and ours shall have but one and we must begin to contract our allowance of bread to fourteen ounces and you of the City to ten You must also put the useless mouths out of Town and appoint six persons to take a lift of their names to morrow without further delay and that without regard of persons and speedily thrust them out of your City by which expedient we shall make our bread last three months longer which will be a sufficient time for the King wherein to relieve us especially now that the Spring is drawing on Cease therefore your apprehensions and on the contrary approve what I have done in order to your service If I have done it without pre-acquainting the Senate with my design it was not out of any dis-respect to them but to keep this departure secret which was of very great consequence as you your selves may have observ'd I having been constrain'd to put Monsieur de Strozzy upon the business to deliver my self from a people so entirely devoted to their bellies The Senate having heard my Remonstrance desir'd me to go to my repose and that they would consider of what I had said rendring me very many thanks for the comfort and good counsel I had given them In the morning my whole Speech was divulg'd all over the City and there was no more thought of fear amongst them But they could not well agree amongst themselves about the unprofitable moâ—ths forasmuch as every one was willing to favour his own relations and friends wherefore by Ballotte they created me their Dictator General for the space of a month during which time neither the Captain of the people nor the Magâ—stracy had any command at all but I had the absolute authority and dignity anciently belonging to the old Dictators of Rome I thereupon created six Commissaries to take a list of all the useless people and afterwards deliver'd the roll to a Knight of Malta accompanied with five and twenty or thirty Souldiers to put them out of the Town which in three days after I had deliver'd in the List was performed A thing that had I not very good witness of both of the Siennoiâ— the King's Officers and the Captains who were then present in Sienna I should not however have mention'd in this place lest the world should take me for a lyar but it is most perfectly true The List of these useless mouths I do assure you amounted to Four thousand and four hundred people or more which of all the miseries and desolations that I have ever seen was the greatest my eyes ever yet beheld or that I believe I shall ever see again for the Master was hereby necessitated to part with his servant who had serv'd him long the Mistress with her maid besides an infinite number of poor people who only liv'd by the sweat of their brows which weeping and desolation continued for three days together and these poor wretches were to go thorow the Enemy who still beat them back again towards the City the whole Camp continuing night and day in Arms to that only end so that they drove them up to the very foot of the walls that they might the sooner consume the little bread we had left and to see if the City out of compassion to those miserable Creatures would revolt but that prevail'd nothing though they lay eight days in this condition where they had nothing to eat but herbs and grass and above the one half of them perish'd for the Enemy kill'd them and very few escap'd away There were a great many Maids and handsome women indeed who found means to escape the Spaniards by night stealing them into their quarters for their own provision but it was unknown to the Marquis for it had otherwise been death and some strong and vigorous men also forc'd their way and escap'd by night But all those did not amount to the fourth part and all the rest miserably perish'd These are the effects of War We must of necessity sometimes be cruel to frustrate the designs of an Enemy God had need to be merciful to men of our Trade who commit so many sins and are the causers of many miseries and mischiefs You Captains and Governors of places if you be not perfect already learn these Arts and Stratagems It is not all to be valiant and wise you must also be circumspect and cunning Had I entreated the Rhinecroc to depart the City he would have been displeas'd and have reproach'd me that I sent him to the slaughter but I proceeded more discreetly serving my self with the authority of Monsiâ—ur de Strozzy wherein I had no other end but to gain time to tire out my Enemy and to give the King leisure to relieve us But as I have said before he emplo'd his Forces there where he had the most concern Nearer is the skin than the skirt Never fâ—ar to discharge your selves of useless mouths and bar your cars from all crys of the afflicted Had I obey'd my own disposition I had done it three months sooner which if I had I might peradventure have sav'd the Town or at least I had longer held my Enemy in play and I have a hundred times since repented me that I did not The Marquis seeing that I had put the Germans out of the Town who were the greatest part of them dâ—feated by the way and thorough their own great fault which I shall not however give any further account of for they were not defeated about Sienna but elswhere upon their march where their own fear surpriz'd them without any great reason and seeing also that I had driven out the useless people both which would help to prolong the Siege with the contracting our allowance of bread which he had also learn'd from those that went out these things made him to think of some other way to bring us to his bow fearing lâ—st some â—now should fall in the Spring as it often falls out in those parts at that time of the year which should it so happen
he should then be constraind to raise the Siege and repaâ—â— to the Cities to eat for he was almost in as great necessity ' as we and the Soldiers of his Camp were fain to â—at Mallows and other herbs as well as ours by reason that oftentimes their provisions could not be brought in due time for it all came from abâ—ut Florence which was thirty miles ofâ— and upon little Asses excepting 100 Mules and those were to bring sufficient to serve whâ—lst they could go and come which was five or six days and every return some of their beasts of burthen dyed For about the Camp there was no more so much as one herb neither hay straw nor grain to be found and much less any one Inhabitant within ten miles of the Road. And all his Cavalry lay â—et ten miles beyond Florence excepting the Company of Signior Câ—bri the Marquis his Nâ—phew which consisted of no more than fifty Horse and was also every fifteen days to be reliev'd by fifty others that were quarter'd at Banconvent So that had God been pleas'd to send us a little snow though but for eight days only his Camp would have been necessitated to rise and to shift for themselves in the most commodious quarters abroad in the Country All these things together put the Marquis upon an attempt to shorten the War wherein his design was one way or anotherto sow division amongst the quarters of the City seeing us weak and knowing very well that although we had yet twelve Companies there was nevertheless not eighteen hundred men To which effect by those of the Siennois who were banish'd the City and were with the Marquis an invention was found out to gain a Citizen of the Town called Messer Pedro a man with one eye and of the order of the people which was that wherein we most confided together with the order of the Reformators and that by the means of certain little boys who went with little sacks to gather herbs in the Meadows upon the River Tresse By whom the Marquis so order'd the business that he corrupted this man and made him a Traytor to his People and Countrey and the form of this practice was that Messer Pedro should receive several blancks sign'd by the Siennois who were in the Marquis his Camp which he himself should write over at his own discretion The plot of this design was thus that Messer Pedro should in his Letters write these words that they wonder'd they should thus suffer themselves to be so manifestly abus'd by the Seigneur de Montluc and that a child might discern all the assurances he gave them of relief from the King of France to be no other than gulleries and deceits That although they had unworthily been thrust out of the City yet did they nevertheless with tears in their eyes infinitely lament to see them so miserably loose themselves and that if they would send out a man to go so far as Rome to enquire if the King was raising an Army for their succour they would then infallibly discover the Cheat That they begg'd of them not to suffer themselves to be reduc'd to the last morsel which if they should do they would not then come off cheaper than at the price of their heads the ruine of their estates their wivâ—s and children That they had yet means to make their peace with the Emperor by the Mediation of the Marquis if they would let him into the Town which was a thing â—asie enough to do if they would consult and joyn with some of the City who had already engag'd themselves to them and that they might know who were of the intelligence they were to go into such a street and where they should see a little whiâ—e Cross under the door the Master of thâ—t house was one This one ey'd Dog perform'd his oâ—â—ce exactly well and directed his Letters to one of those in whom we repos'd an absolute trust being very certain that he would forthwith carry it to the Magistrate and that the Magistrate would also in the morning send into the street mention'd in the Letter and would seize upon the Gentleman of the house at whose door the Cross should be found However he resolv'd ever to make his Cross at some house of the orders of the Novl and the Gentlemen forasmuch as the other two Orders had them in suspicion and the Marquis thought knowing the humor of the Siennois and the hatred they bore to one another that immediately so soon as that person should be taken they would hurry him without any other form of Jâ—stice to the Scaffold by which means those two Orders of the Novi and of the Genâ—lâ—men would enter into so great an animosity and despair that to save their lives they wou'd be constrain'd to betake themselves to arms to possess themselves of a Canton of the City near unto the walls to favour the Enemy and to help them into the City This cursed Rogue then began to forge his first Letter and by night went and thrust it under the door of the house of one of the Gentlemen who was unsuspected and made his little Cross in another street at the house of one of the richest Gentlemen of the Order of the Novi so that in the morning the Gentleman to whom the Letter was directed found it in the Entry of his house presently read it and careird it to the Magistrates who so soon as they had look'd upon it immediately sent it to me by Misser Hieronimo Hispano sending me word withal that they had determin'd to go apprehend the said Gentleman and forthwith to carry him directly to the Scaffold Whereupon I sent the Signiors Cornelio and Bartolomeo Cavalcano back to them to entreat them not so precipitously to proceed to blood for that it might be an invention of the Marquis to set division amongst us but that they might do well to commit him to prison which they accordingly did Two days after there was another Letter found in the same manner in the house of a Gentleman of the Order of the Novi a man no more suspected than the other and the little Cross under the door of one of the Order of the Gentlemen At which the Senate was so incens'd that I was fain my self to go to the Pallace where I had much ado to obtain the favour that they would defer execution for five days only to see if in that time God would please to give us further light into this Fact All the whole City was enrag'd and talk'd of nothing but cutting off heads As God help me it could never sink into my head that it was any other than a device of the Marquis for I knew very well with whom I had to do I then entreated Messer Bartolomâ—o Cavalcano that he would never cease day nor night to go visit the said Gentlemen and the Citizens of the Orders of the Gentlemen and the Novi whom the misfortune
whole Company that I would moreover borrow of Signior Aurelio â—regosa his Lieutenant and his Corneâ— with five and thirty Launces only of the best and the best mounted he had That I would leave Captain Ambrosio with the five and thirty Launces about a Harquebuz shâ—t from Monsieur de la Molle on that side towards Marino and with those of Signior Aurelio would go place my self in Ambush under the Vines a little on the left hand the great high-way near unto Marino which having done I I would then send six Launces to give the Alarm a little before day to the City upon which I made account that Signior Marc Antonio being young and full of mettle would not fail to sally out but would precisely sally by break of day when my six Launcâ—ers would draw him into our Ambuscado with whom we would also run away in his sight would make him pursue me a main seeing a Colours which he would be eager to take for the greater honor of his victory Having thus contriv'd the bâ—sinâ—ss with my self I accounted him as sure my prisoner as if I had already had him in my hands and thereupon returning into the City spoke to Signior Aurelio who lent me his Lieutenant and his Cornet with the five and thirty Launces I spoke to Monsieur de la Molle and to Captain Ambrosio and the Lieutenant of Signior Aurelio was called Captain Alexis We appointed to meet in the beginning of the night at the Gate of the City but I would discover nothing of my design either to the Mareschal or to any of those I took along with me till first we were got into the fields and then I took aside Monsieur de la Molle and the Captains Ambrosio and Alexis and acquainted them with the Enterprize which they all three approved of wherein we were one as wise as another So that we thought the time long till we was there they making the business wonderful easie all of them affirming that they knew him and were confident he would not fail to sally Thus then we set forwards each Company apart and mâ—ne alwaies the foremost till we came to the Tower where I left Monsieur de la Molle and further behind a little Chappel Captain Ambrosio Now so soon as Captain Alexis and I were come to the edge of the Vines near Marino he would needs have his Ensigne to be one of the six that were to give the Alarm and delivered the Colours to another For which use I lent him a Gentleman of mine and we clapt our selves down in a Marish where in Winter there was alwaies water but in Summer none at all there being no other place where we could conceal our selves and sâ— the six marched up directly to the Gate of the City Presently the day began to appear when hearing nothing of Alaâ—m I began to think that either Signior Marc Antonio would not be tempted out of his Quarters or else that he was gone back Now on the right hand of us there was a great valley and I was got up to a little eminence where was the ruines of some house or Chappel and began to discern on the hill on the further side of the valley three or four horsemen who one while mov'd and another while stood still I shew'd them to Captain Alexis who was lower then I and who thereupon sent out two Launces all along by the Vines upon the edge of the descent of the valley I had not as yet cast my eye into the valley forasmuch as the day but just began to break but look'd always towards the mountain where these three or four horse appear'd about fifty paces distant from us but when I turn'd my eye that way I there saw three great parties of horse in the first whereof there might be a hundred or more in the second two or three hundred and in the third seven or eight hundred horse Now you are to understand upon what account these came to be here which was thus As the Baron de la Garde landed our people at Neptuno those of the Town dispatched away two Horsemen post to the Duke of Alva at Tivoly who thereupon immediately sent away Signior de la Corne with twelve hundred Horse and twelve Ensigns of Foot who marched all night and an hour before day arrived at this Valley where they had made a halt till Signior Antonio could make himself ready to whom he had sent five and twenty Launces to make him mount to horse who coming to the Gate of the City they there met with our six Soldieâ—s the day then but just beginning to break where demanding of one another who they were for they charged ours in such manner that they were constrained to return back towards us and to fly towards the road that leads from Balistra to Rome where the Enemy pursued them over the Roman Plain even to Rome it self and there gave the Alarm to the Mareschal and the whole City who thereupon concluded that it was not possible but that I must be taken and all those lost who were with me Now so soon as Captain Alexis had called in his two Horsemen we began our treat by the same way we came when behold the hundred horse in our Rear the party of two or three hundâ—ed after those and the seven â—r eight hundred in the rear of them who followed us at a good round trot the Ensigns of Foot making all the haste after they could in which order they pursued us seven miles till we came to Captain Ambrosio with their Launces conâ—inually couch'd upon our horse cruppers I was upon the Grey Turk the Duke of Paliâ—no had given me one of the fleâ—test horses I ever came on the back of and the best leaper of a ditch so that sometimes I leapt out of the way into the fields on the right hand and sometimes on the left and when we fled along the road Captain Alexis and I were evemore in the Rear and he â—hat carried the Cornet in the Van I still all the way encouraging the Soldiers and bidding them to fear nothing now on the one hand and then on the other when the furthest that ever we were before the Enemy was not above three or four Launces length Now so soon as we drew near to Captain Ambrosio he came out from behind the Chappel seeing which I cried out to our people volse volte who thereupon immediately fac'd about and I gave them a sudden charge beating them back to the other Body who having seen our Ambuscado had halted to discover what it might be the two Bodies closing together and making a shew as if they meant to charge us I then saw that I had played the fool egregiously in having given this charge when as God would have it Monsieur de la Molle presented himself upon the road with his Harquebuzeers which made the Enemy to step short and forbear to
hundred pound of powder From Montepescayo to Chuzy it is six miles Their Artillery was not yet arriv'd but it came the same morning that I came away and about noon I departed from Montepescayo and went to encamp my self just over against the Enemies Camp at the distance of a quarter of a mile and about as far from the Town for they were already encamped before it and never so much as once sent to discover me The place was worth nothing for we had not had time to fortifie it and in the beginning of the night I took the Lieutenant of Captain Avanson call'd St. Genies with thirty Pikes and thirty Harquebuzeers which I meant to venture to try if there might be any means to preserve it and being that there was a little Rivolet not above three paces broad betwixt them and me I sent the said St. Genies and Captain Charry with a hundred Harquebuzeers to accompany him whilst I with the Horse and a hundred Harquebuzeers went to give them an Alarm in their Camp St. Genies got in with the powder and all the Soldiers four or five Pikes excepted and all night long I kept them in Alarm to make them think that I would repose my self in the morning when having discover'd me they would come to fight me considering I had no more Forces but five foot Ensigns only wherein I deceiv'd them for without taking any rest at all and without sound of Trumpet or beat of Drum I began to retreat through the Woods and to take my way directly for Montalsin marchingtwelve miles without stop or stay and then upon the banks of a small River I made a halt where all both horse and foot baited upon some provision I had caused to be brought upon Asses where neverthless I did not stay above an hour and a half but went on straight to Montalsin Now the same day that I departed from Chuzy about noon they had planted their Artillery without being able nevertheless to make a breach till the next morning The same day that I departed from Chuzy I arriv'd in the Evening at Montalsin which was thirty miles and after I came home made them to work all night to make ready a Canon and a great Culverin we had with which about nine of the clock the next morning I went to batter Altesse a strong Castle betwixt Bonconvent and Montalsin I baâ—teâ—'d it by the Gate where it had been the least fortified and in the Evening they surrender upon Quarter only there being threescore men in it The next morning I went to take three or four Castles thereabouts which were not strong but only supported themselves under favour of the Forâ—â—ess of Altesse Of all this day the Artillery never stirr'd from Altesse but however I took the Castles After this I was advised to go and batter Bâ—nconvent whereupon I went to view it and caused Gabions speedily to be made before it making shew as if I intended a Siege though it was only to divert Don Arbro from making any further attempts fearing lest after he had taken Chuzy which I made no question but he would do he might go and sit down before Montepescaillo where Captain Moretto was and two or three other places which only subsisted under the protection of Montepescaillo and the same day that I made a shew of besieging Bonconvent I sent Signior Marioul de Santa Fiere Captain Serres my Lieutenant and the Baron de Cleremont my Ensign to scour the field as far as the walls of Sienna where they had the fortune to meet with a foot Company that was going from Sienna to put themselves into two Castles hard by those I had taken which they cut all in pieces excepting the Captain the Lieutenant and the Ensign who being all mounted got away All this was perform'd in three dayes reckoning from the day that I departed from before Chuzy The Alarm of this defeat was so great at Sienna that Cardinal Burgos sent in all haste to Don Arbro to leave all and return to Sienna for that he greatly feared the Siennois would revolt and receive me into Sienna considering the violent affection they had for me in the City So that hâ—d those of Chuzy been able to hold out a day longer he had given them over but the second day having made a very great Breach for the wall was a very weak one and there being but few men within it they were forc'd to surrender The Lieutenant of Captain Moretto Calabres was in it with part of the Company of the said Moretto and about five and fifty that entred with St. Genies only so that there was not above a hundred men in all The next day after Signior Marioul had defeated this foot Company all the Captains who were with me were of opinion that I should go and batter Bonconvent but I said to them these words You know Gentlmen that since yesterday two of clock in the afternoon we have not heard the Artillery play at Chuzy which we heard plainly from Altesse by which you may conclude either that they are surrendred or taken by force If they be surrendred Don Arbro will not stay an hour there to try if he can snap us in the field for there is no qustion to be made but that he has receiv'd the Alarm of the foot Company you defeated yesterday by Sienna and that thereupon Cardinal Burgos has sent to him to come back to save the rest of the Castles which are nearest to Sienna for as I took the other Castles I immediately dismantled and pulled them down as I also did by Altesse Let us therefore consider things a little if our people be surrendred the Camp will not tarry above two hours before Chuzy if they be taken by assault the Town is so poor that the Soldiers would need but this last night only to sack it and will be this morning two hours before day upon their march which though it be thirty miles off yet will the Artillery be here before noon for Don Arbro knows very well that I have not a hundred horse in all I can make nor above six hundred men in these five Ensigns wherefore the reason of War requires you should do as I say Let me intreat you therefore that we presently fall to drawing off our Canon and our foot and if things do not fall out as I have said let me bear the blame Captain Moretto's Lieutenant and St. Genies had what conditions they desir'd for the haste Don Arbro was in to return for they march'd out with Bag and Baggage and Ensign they had none I then set fire to the remainder of Altesse that could not so suddenly be pulled down and left Captain Serres with twenty horse upon a little eminence by Altesse from whence they might discover as far as a Wood which was Don Arbro's way to return and when I was got within a mile of Montalsin Captain Serres sent two Troopers full speed
above a year was so embezzel'd that there was not above a hundred Sacks in all to be found There was a Commissary whose name was Louberiac who laid the blame of this business upon Monsieur de la Molle whereupon I sent post after Monsieur de la Molle to acquaint him with what this fellow had deposed against him and Monsieur de la Molle on the contrary charg'd the fault upon the said Louberiac I lay that night in a pair of damp sheets and it was in Winter not having at that time brought my field-bed along with me because I would let my Mules rest in order to my Jurney into France by which means I got a continued fever that in ten dayes depriv'd me of all knowledge even of my own servants Without which sickness I had taken an order with Louberiac for ever robbing the Kings Ammunitions again as I did another at Sienna who had done the same So soon as I began a little to recover my senses and to know people my dismission came his Majesty writing to me withal that I should go to Ferrara there to remain some time with the Duke to advise him in his affairs he being at that time engag'd in a War The great joy of this dismission put me into so much heart that four dayes after I departed causing my self to be carried in a Chair by six men to Montizel where Captain Bartolomeo de Pezero was and where I stayd three dayes in expectation of a Litter which Signior Marioul de Santa Fiore was to send me In which I departed thence not being able for all that to travel above five or six miles a day and came to Pezero where I found the Duke of Vrbin who sent out five or six Gentlmen to meet me to conduct me to lodge in his Castle to which returning my very humble thanks I sent the Duke an excuse that I begg'd his pardon for I was of necessity to alight at Captain Bartolomeo de Pezero's house who had writ to his Mother to receive me and where I was consequently expected I then went thither where I found his Mother to be an extraordinary civil person and as well esteem'd in the City as any Gentlewoman whatever So soon as ever I alighted they immediately put me to bed for I was so worn that I was nothing but skin and bone and continually dying for cold what Furrs soever they could put upon me The Duke did me the honor presently to come see me and seeing me so ill compell'd me to stay four dayes there not suffering me to spend a penny but caused me every day to be serv'd with two dishes from his own Table after which I fancied my self so much better that I sent back the Litter The Duke at parting would needs make me accepâ— a horse out of his Race one of the most beautiful Coursers that I almost ever saw and the strongest for his height and would have a little Friezland horse of mine strong for his stature and very handsome and so they set me upon a little pad Nagg that Monsieur de Giury gave me at my departure from Montalsin where he commanded till the arrival of Don Francisco d' Est whom the King made his Lieutenant General as I had been and after that manner I crawl'd on to Ferrara where I was as welcome and as well receiv'd both by the Duke Dutchess and the Cardinals as I had been their own Brother the Duke lodging me in his own Palace and causing me to be serv'd from his own Kitchin equal to his own person Four or five dayes after my arrival I had a great desire to go see the Cardinal de Tournon and Monsieur de Dax at Venice which Sieur de Dax was Embassador there and there I stayed four days with them very much troubled that I had not health to see all the City of Venice for I was yet so ill that I had much ado to go to the Arcenal after which I return'd back to Ferrara Now that all the parties are dead I shall do no harm to any one in discovering that the Cardinal of Mantâ—a manifested himself to be a great friend to the Duke of Ferrara for he gave him notice that his Brother Don Ferrand had a design to besiege Versel that he caused six pieces of Ordnance to be taken out of Alexandria with which he was march'd directly to Cremona with great store of Powder and Buller assuring him that this preparation was for Versel which intelligence he dispatch'd away to him by two several Messengers one upon the heels of another I was also advertiz'd from Cremona that Don Ferrand was there making ready more Canon and had prâ—st fourscore great Merchants Boats that trafficked upon the Pan upon which Versel is situate as also Cremony that part of the Spanish Companies which were toward Piedmont began to march directly to Cremona and that he was raising new Italian Companies about Millan The Duke of Ferrara having receiv'd all these advertisements was very much troubled the place being as yet in no very good posture of defence for there was not so much as any one Bulwark cover'd and the Courtines very low as also the Spurrs being but half terrassed nor yet half fill'd and all the Flancks open The Duke sent the Prince his Son who lay with his Army at Reges word of all this bidding him withall forâ—hwith to send Signior Cornelin Bentivoglio to put himself into it whereupon the Prince sent him word back that if Signior Cornâ—lio was taken away from him he should not know what to do with the Army the said Signior alwayes commanding in his absence and he having no ease but by him and therefore humbly entreated he would please to make choice of some other The Duke then immediately sent away to Monsieur de la Molle who was with the Prince in his Camp entreating that he would go to defend the place but Monsieur de la Molle return'd answer back that the King had given him no order to shut himself up in any place but only to perform his office in the field and therefore desir'd to be excus'd The Duke was exceedingly troubled as also was the Cardinal his Brother that now is that they had not a man in so great an exigency whom they could entrust with the defence of this place I now began to gather a little strength and these dispatches to and again were carried so privately that I knew nothing of all this till in the end a Gentleman of the Dukes whom he had commanded to be continually about me to see that I wanâ—ed nothing discover'd it all to me one night very late and told me moreover that the Duke had almost given over the place for lost forasmuch as he who was Governor in it was no Soldier nor had ever born arms in any action of consequence but that he was nevertheless a very honest man so that the
had received my Letters entreating me to come and succour the said City for the Hugonots had possest themselves of the Magazine and the Artilleriâ— that was in it I alighted at the Towns end under an Elm and there writ back to the President that he should with all speed give notice to the forementioâ—ed Captains that they might put themsâ—lves into Tholouze and that I would go send away the Mareschal de Termes his Company which was at Passam near unto Auch that they might be at Tholouze by break of day in the morning bidding them take courage for I would soon be with them and deliver'd at the same time four or five Blancks to my Secâ—etaâ—y sign'd with my own hand to send letters to Monsieur de Gondrin and others to bid them march away immediately to Tholouze which being done and having sent to my own Company to return in all diligence to la Sauvetat I gallopt away full speed to Auch where being arriv'd fasting at one of the clock in the afternoon I dispatcht two Letters as I sat at dinner one to Monsieur de Bellegarde it being no more than two leagues from thence to his house and the other to Captain Masses who was within half a league sending to Monsieur de Bellegarde immediately to take post and go put himself into Tholouze to command the Soldiery there causing his great horses and arms day and night to follow after Monsieur de Masses so soon as he had spoke with me immediately departed and never stopt nor staid till he was in Tholouze the next morning by break of day and Monsieur de Bellegarde got thither two hours after midnight The Baron de Clermont entred the same morning and at the same instant that the Soldiers entred they â—ell to fighting which was from the place St. George even to the two Gates of the City that lookt towards Montauban which two Gates were possest by the Enemy Captain Arne entred about two of the clock in the afternoon as also did Captain Bazordan at the same time and so soon as I had pacified them at Auch I unbethought my self of the Letters Monsieur de Terride had sent me and concluded that those Ensigns which were come to Montauban were come thither for no other end but only to to relieve their people who were engaged at Tholouze Whereupon I immediately dispatch't away a Soldier upon a good Horse commanding him to ride directly to Laudecoste and that he should pass the River at la Peyres by whom I writ a Letter to Captain Charry that immediately upon the receipt thereof he should march day and night directly to Tholouze and should make a halt at Fronton In like manner I dispatcht away another to Monsieur de Terride to pass over his Company at Borret sending him word also to halt at Fronton and keep continually on horseback day and night and whilst he waited for Captain Charry to take care that such as should come from Montauban might not recover Tholouze An hour after I had made these two dispatches it came into my head that in case the Soldier could not pass the River at la Peyre or that he should chance to be taken Captain Charry could not be advertiz'd what to do and the City by that means might be in danger to be lost which made me immediately dispatch away another whom I order'd to go by the way of la Mâ—gistere and it was the next day at noon before he could get to him for the first had been pursu'd for â—bove three leagues together Captain Charry upon the Messengers arrival immediately marcht away causing bread and wine to be carried along with him as I had writ to him to do and as he had learnt under me that the Soldiers might not enter into any house by the way He understood as well as any man in France how such diligences were to be perform'd and two hours after midnight with two or three hundred men arriv'd at Fronton where he met with Monsieur de Terrides Company and so that before they knew one another they were like to have gone together by the â—ars Now as Captain Charry was got within a league of Fronton two or three Hugonot horse belonging to the Vicount de Bourniquel fell accidentally and undiscover'd amongst them in the night when understanding them to be our people they took their way straight to Montauban and met the five Ensigns already advanc't the midway betwixt Montauban and Fronton and not being able to number our men by reason of the obscurity of the night told them that ours were three times as many as they were and that it was Captain Charry who commanded them which was the reason that they return'd back again to Montauban and I marcht away with my Company Monsiâ—er de Gondrin came to me to Faudouas and the next morning we advanc'd within two leagues of Tholouze to a village called Daux where we stayd for the Gentlemen who were coming post after us and where the Sieur de Terride came not up to us till night by reason he could no sooner get to us with his Company I sent word to the first President and Monsieur de Bellegarde of our arrival and that in the morning by Sun-rise we would be with them but that in the mean time they should be sure to keep the Gate St. Subran free and let them take care for nothing else but only that I might get in The haste wherein I was made me forget to write them word that I had sent to Fronton upon the road from Montauban to â—ight any relief that might come from that side and they having heard as well as we of the arrival of the five Ensigns that were at Montauban fearing they would that night enter by the two Gates the Enemy were possessed of were once in mind to enter into composition and were advanced so far towards it that in order thereunto Rapin was deputed for the Enemy and Monsieur de Masses for the City during the Treaty the skirmishes ceased for three or four hours and in the interim of these transactions came the Letters that I had sent to the President and Monsieur de Bellegarde from Auch But by fortune the President sent his Letter to Monsieur du Masses to the end that he might shew it them to encline them the more to an accommodation so that unknown to Monsieur de Bellegarde the said Sieur de Masses who was already parted from Rapin having seen my letter turn'd back to him to shew him what I had writ who upon the reading of it grew sodainly very melancholy saying to Captain Masses that they gave themselves for lost seeing I was so near for they had heard that their succours were return'd back to Montaâ—â—an though our people knew nothing of it In the end they concluded to talk further of it the next morning but he never intended it for at the same instant he went to
prepare his party without giving any notice to those of the Town in all haste to be gone so that in the close of the Evening they began to quit the Barricadoes they had made at the corners of the streets and to steal away which our Captains perceiving began to charge them from street to street but they were hindred by the night from seeing their issue out of the Gates so that in rout and confusion they recover'd the Vines and got away but lost five of their Ensigus Now we had concluded to fight after this manner to wit that Messieurs de Terride and de Gondrin should march on without staying in the Town taking my Company and the Gentlemen Volunteers along with them and plant themselves before the Gates the Enemy were possessed of without the City and that I should alight and with Monsieur de Terâ—es his Company whom I would also cause to alight our own foot and those of the Town â—o fight on foot resolving to enter and fight by day In the morning as we began to march an hour before day there came to us a Capitoul of Tholouse called Maistre Dourdes who brought me a letter from the President and Monsieur de Bellegarde wherein they sent me word of the departure and slight of the Enemy for which I was very sorry for had they staid my coming not a Rascal of them all should have escapt and God knows whâ—ther I had not a mind to have made clean work and if I would have spared ever a mothers son Those who were come from Foix return'd towards their said Country of Foix in route and disorder for the very Peasants kill'd a great many of them and the rest â—led every one to the place from whence they came Thus was the City reliev'd where the fight â—ountiâ—ued for three days and three nights together during which above fifty houses were burnt one after another and many people on both sides slain and amongst others two Brothers of Monsieur de Saüignac de Comenge At our â—rrival we went and alighted before the Palace all arm'd as we were my Ensign and Guidon displayd and indeed for a hundred and fifty or two hundred Gentlemen there might be of us together with my Company it was a handsome appearance and a very fine sight We found all the Court assembled and any one may judge whether or no we were welcome I there in a short speech told them That although I was not the Kings Lieutenant nevertheless the service I had of old devoted to their City and particularly to that honourable Assembly was the cause that after the advertisements I had received of the danger they were in I had gathered together all the friends I could for the conservation of their City the second of France and had my self immediately come away in pâ—rson â—o their rescue but Gentlemen said I in the long time that I have born arms I have learnt that in affaiâ—s of this nature 't is better to keep without and send in continual succours knowing that such a rabble were not likely so soon to force your City who had they staid my coming should have been as well handled as ever rascals were It now remains that since God has been pleased to deliver you you do your parts and make your Cantons stink with the Carcasses of these accursed Traytors to God their King and their Counâ—â—y So soon as I had done speaking the President Mansencal made me a very honorable Remonstrance concluding with great thanks both to me and to all the Gentlemen The Capitouls thâ—n accâ—mmodated us with very handsome Lodgings and at the very same instant began to fall in hand with those of the Mutineers who remain'd in the Town and who had been taken at their going ouâ— and the next day proceeded to execution where I saw more heads â—ly than ever in one day before I in the mean time was elsewhere sufficiently employd for it fail'd but liâ—tle that the City was not sackt by our own people so asmuch as so soon as ever the neighbouring Inhabitants heard that the City was reliev'd they all came running both Peasants and others to the spoil neither would they be satisfied with plundering the houses of the Hugonots only but began to fall on upon those of the Catholicks also insomuch that the very house of President Paulo himself had like to have been sackt through a rumour that within it there was a Student a Kinsman of his who was a Hugonot though nevertheless there was no such person found so that I was forc't to run thither and to remedy the disorder to cause Monsieur de Termes his Company and my own to mount to horse the half of which continually from six hours to six hours marcht arm'd and mounted by six and six together up and down the streets of the City The third day I had word brought me that Monsieur de St. Paul of the County of Foix was upon arrival being come from the said Foix with three or four thousand men and Monsieur de Lamezan of Comenge with seven or eight hundred more who had they entred it had been impossible both for me and all the rest of us who were within to have saved the City from being sackt to prevent which I sent in all haste to the Capitoâ—ls to shut their Gates and all night long we kept continually on horse-back in the streets and had the foot Companies upon Guard at the Gates together with the whole City in arms after the same manner as before when they had been in continual fight All this while Captain Charry and Monsieur de Terrides Company never stirred from the two Villages betwixt Fronton and Tholouze Monsieur de St. Paul quarter'd himself and his people in the Suburbs and Monsieur de Lamezan also very much displeased that they might not be permitted to enter the City threatning that another time they would not come to relieve them though their relief now did more harm then good considering that they came not when they ought to have come The next day I sent out Monsieur de Bellegarde to tell them that they did but lose time in staying there for they should not enter whereupon Monsieur de St. Paul return'd with his people and Monsieur de Lamezan sent away his entring himself and his servants only After this the Capitouls and I concluded together to drive out all those who were come in from the neighbouring places and accordingly with the Trumpets of the City and our Drums Proclamation was made for all strangers to depart so that in the end we were absolute Masters of the City Nevertheless it was not possible so to govern our own people but that there was still some disorder which made me send all the horse and foot out of the City surrendring the whole power into the hands of the Magistrates I gave a Company to Captain Masses the younger to remain in the
as I was come before Montaubâ—n I found that there was in the Town two and twenty hundred Souldiers strangers and a thâ—usand or twelve hundred Townsmen all very well arm'd I might have about eight or nine hundred in all the most of which had never been in arms before for all the good old Souldiers were gone over to the Hugonots after the unfortunate peace and that upon meer necessity for they had no Trades the Wars having continued long and they having been all that while employ'd in Italy and other of the Kings conquests The godly Ministers promis'd them not only riches but as I have been told even Paradice it self as if they had kept the Keys and another inconvenience this peace brought after it was that we had lain long idle without having any employment wherein to make good Souldiers So that when I came before Montauban I was constrain'd to quarter all my Foot together in the Bourg de l' Evesche for to have separated them had been madness the Enemy making so great sallies upon me that they continually beat up my Foot to my body of Gens d' armes without which they had been stronger than I and would have cut me to pieces for for one that I had they came out ten so that the second day I was constrained to leave the Evesche to go relieve Monsieur de Terride whom I had left in the Suburbs on that side the Town towards Moissac to whom I had given Monsieur de Bazordans Company where I found that the Enemy had beaten him out of the Bourg to a Brick-kill hard by which made me speak to the Souldiers to run full drive to recover the Bourg and to charge them bravely so that being come running in so grat haste and going on immediately to the charge I had no body with me but Captain Cabarret who is yet living Mâ—nsieur de Clermont who is of the House of Faâ—douas Monsieur de Beaucaire who is since dead and three or four of Monsieur de Tâ—rrides men only with which we gave them so brisk a charge that we beat them back laying on in their rear to the very wicket of the Gate of the City most of them not being able to get in but were forc'd to take on the left hand directly to the Bridge and the others on the right so that had the great Gate been open we might have 〈◊〉 the Town for Monsieur de Beaucaire's 〈…〉 kill'd before the Gate hard by the wicket and mine was shot close by him and so we retir'd for all the wall was set thick with Harquebuzeers and two horses were shot in our coming off of those of Monsieur de Terride's Company who had follow'd after us The third day I took a resolution to retire for the Gens'd arms were no longer able to guard the Foot and on the other side though I had made a Battery I had not daâ—'d to give the assault to so many as they were within with so few as I had without Wherefore I sent back the Artillery to Tholouze and the Captains to the places to which they desir'd to go to make an end of filling up their Companies compleat Monsieur de Terride went to Beaumont de Lomaigne and the places adjacent to his house for the Enemy had quitted Beaumont so soon as they perceiv'd us to approach I repast the River at Moissac with the Mareschal de Termes his Company my own and that of Monsieur de Sainctorens of Harquebuzeers both on horseback and on Foot which I always kept about me for my Guard I sent Captain Charry to Puymirol to compleat his two Companies and to make War upon those who kept Agen and so soon as I had past the River on the side of Gascony I sent back the Mareschal de Termes his Company towards Auch to keep that Quarter in aw and Monsieur de Gondrin into Armagnac with the Gentry he had brought along with him to see that nothing revolted there Now I had left Captain Arne at Condom to hold that Countrey in subjection who might have about fourscore Launces in his Company and I had intelligence that Messieurs de Duras and de Caumont held a consultation at Agen and that Monsieur de Caumont would come at night to lie at la Passage Which having heard I sent a man to Captain Arne that he should not fail two hours after midnight to be at Astfort and that he should not enter the Town but stay for me in Battalia till I came which he accordingly did And as I was going away in the evening Monsieur de S. Paul to whose house I was retir'd near unto Donac asking me whether I was going I told him in his ear that I was going to carry a clean shirt to Monsieur de Caumont at la Passage whereupon he told and assur'd me that he was gone the day before after they had concluded of their affairs and given Commissions to Captains to raise more men which was the reason that I staid to give our horses and Monsieur de Sainctorens his Company a little repose But as this enterprize fail'd another presented it self for the same morning that I would have given a Camisado to Monsieur de Caumont Six hundred men were come out of Nerac to go give another Camisado to Captain Molia who had put himself into Franciscas with threescore or fourscore men and the people of the Town and those of Nerac had taken four hundred Corslets out of the King of Navarres Magazine and at break of day gave three assaulâ—s one immediately after another but were always repulst By misfortune I staid there till night for had I gone away in the evening as I had done but for what Monsieur de S. Paul told me concerning Monsieur de Caumont I had come time enough to have fought the six hundred men of Nerac And there my diligence once fail'd me By break of day Captain Arne and I met and march'd together streight to Moyracs because he told me he had intelligence that this very morning those of Nerac would come out and had taken all the arms in the Castle but he knew not whither they were to go so that yet we had met them had it not been that Monsieur de Sainctorens would needs stay to skirmish those of Layrac who were come out a great way towards the Vines so that it cost me an hours time before I could get him away because he had a mind to have charg'd them up to the very gates of the City could he have tempted them out of the Vines and when we came to Moiracs we heard that the enemy was before Franciscas which made us put on to a good round trot to hasten thither sending six light horse before to discover where they were who sent me word that above an hour before they were retreated to Nerac by reason they had had notice of Captain Arnes departure by night from Condom for they had heard
those of the Town possest themselves of the Gates for part of the City sided with Monsieur de Novailles I had much ado to prevail with these Gentlemen to let me go thither till I was fain to promise them upon my honor within fifteen dayes to return to Tholouze desiring them in the mean time to hastâ—n their Levies and Preparations that I might find all things ready at my return and so I put my self upon my way for I was never a man of delays and being I had a great number of Gentlemen with me I could not go by water but was constrain'd to make my journey by land by reason of the armes and great Horses we had so that we were three dayes in going to Agen. I had dispatcht away Pontac and Monsieur de Novailles his Gentleman to assure those of Bourdeaux of my coming but Monsieur de Het would not go away till he first saw me on horseback and afterwards rid so hard that he fell sick and had like to have died Their arrival held every one in suspence both on the one side and the other We staid but one night at Agen and went forwards and in three dayes more I came to Bourdeaux where I found a Patent the King had sent me by which he made me his Lieutenant in the one half of the Government of Guienne in the absence of the King of Navarre and the other half to remain to Monsieur de Burie without making nevertheless any distinction as then which part should belong to Monsieur de Burie and which to me They believ'd that at my coming I would presently have had recourse to arms and have kill'd all those of the Presidents Party and out of that beliefe many were fled away but I knew very well that that had been to ruine the City and that the King would be a great loser by it for had I gone that way to work the Earth could not have saved the City from being sacked I went by Cadiâ—â—ac where Monsieur de Candalle did me the honor to bear me company and we shipt our selves in his Galion and other Vessels for there was a great number of Gentlemen and by the way met news that Monsieur de Novailles died that night having lain only two dayes sick which gave occasion to some afterwards to say that he died of poison how true it was I know not but it was great pity for he was a prudent honest Gentleman and a good Subject The next morning after my arrival I went to the Palace and there propounded to the Court what I had retein'd from the Siege of Sienna and after what manner we ought to proceed in a great City either in Warre or in Sedition telling them that should we put our hands to blood the City would be totally destroyed wherein both parties would suffer alike laying before them the example of Tholouze where had I permitted those who came from the Mountains and Comenge to enter the City it had not been in the power of man to have preserv'd it from being sackt which would also befall them if we once proceeded to blood and gave reins to the peoples fury especially those from without bidding them remember what hapned when Monsieur de Monens was slain that the people took the Authority upon them That they were therefore to begin with a good reconciliation and union without engaging in any disorders or trouble after which they might proceed to punish the Delinquents by the way of justice All the Assembly approv'd of my advice and return'd me infinite thanks At my departure from thence so soon as I had din'd I went to the Town Hall where I had appointed the Jurats and all the Council to meet me and made them the same remonstrance where though there were some who had a mind to blow the coals nevertheless I laid so many exemples and good reasons before them that they all alâ—ered their resolution and about four of the clock I went to the Arch Bishoprick where I had assign'd all the Clergy to expect me and there made them also a Remonstrance touching the Estate of the Church as I had done to the other two concerning theirs so that that very day I appeas'd the City and the next day we fell to consult of the order was to be observ'd that the pacâ—fication might endure wherein I so bestirr'd my self that in three dayes all tumults were converted into peace and perfect union I will be bold to say and call all the City of Rourdeaux to witness it that had I proceeded otherwise the City had been destroyed neither ought we to have recourse to violence where there is any other way left open especially considering that it was a division amongst the Catholicks or at least those who professed themselves to be such for I am not God Almighty to dive into mens hearts Oh that the King ought well to consider to whom he entrusts the Government of a Province and above all things to make choice of such as have formerly been Governors of places for if by a long experience he be not intelligent in such employments the Country or City where such Tumults shall arise run a manifest danger I had been Governor of Montâ—allier and Alba and the Kings Lieutenant first at Sienna and afterwards at Montalsin Where the various accidents I had had experience of had taught me to know and to foresee the ruine or preservation of a place without which experience I do believe I had taken the way of execution I being in my own nature rather enclin'd to scuffle than to pacifiâ— affairs and more to fighting and cutting of throats than to making of speeches but my discretion govern'd me upon this occasion neither ought a man to suffer himself to be hurried away by his own inclination or transported by his passion forasmuch as his Masters affairs will suffer by it There were enow in the City that would have been glad to have cut out work enough in hatred to the chief President who was never much belov'd amongst them but whether he were hated with reason or otherwise I referre to others to determine Monsieur de Bourdeaux who is yet living knows very well what intelligence a certain person brought me as I was walking with him in his Garden I was then solicited by all the Court of Parliament all the Gentry and the whole City to accept the Charge the King had conferr'd upon me which nevertheless I would by no means be perswaded to do and had sent away a dispatch to the King and Queen to return their Majesties my most humble thanks and to excuse my self from that employment for I still fancied to my self that that would happen which has since befaln me and that this Government would bring upon me the envy and hatred which peradventure I might otherwise avoid neither did I ever prophesie any thing of my self that has not come to pass Let any one ask
and moreover do engage such is the hope and confidence I have in his Divine aid that I will secure your Town from the Two Armies of the Enemy for in my life thorough Gods assistance I have done greater miracles than this As therefore you see my Countenance full of resolution to defend you I desire also to see the same in yours that I may know you will accomplish these three things I request at you hands I know there will be some who will grumble at the charge and expence they must necessarily be at but let such consider what will become of them if the Enemy make themselves masters of the Town as doubâ—less they will if you put-not-to you utmost force and endeavour to prevent them What will then becâ—me of your Goods your Estates your Houses and your Wives and Children if they fâ—ll once into their hands who ruine all that they subdue All things will be turn'd topsiâ—-â—urvy 't is for this you fight and also and principally for the honour of Gâ—d and the conservation of your Churches which in the fiâ—st Tâ—ouâ—les were sâ—ratcht only by these people your Enemies but if they enter now will be raz'd and levell'd with the foundations as you see they have done at Condom Since I am with you believe me Gentlemen they will think on'â— thrice before they will come to attaque us and if they come though this City be none of the strongest I will make them know that I know both how to assault and to defend Grant me then this that I request of you which is in your power to do and believe that I will lay down my life for your preservation If you are not resolv'd to employ the wet and the dry that is to say to do what good Citizens ought to do never engage your selves and me too but rather let such as aâ—e afraid retire in good time and let me deal it with the rest who 〈◊〉 ready and willing to die for their Country The Sieuâ—s de Blazimond then and de la Lande speaking for all the Clergy told me in few words That all the Clergy will lay down their lives and fortunes in the common defence would sâ—â—ve me in what ever I would demand of them and every one take arms and be as ready 〈…〉 as the Soldiers themselves The Lawyers promis'd the same after whom the good old man de Nort spake in the behalf of the whole City that they would do the same that the Clergy and those of the Long Robe had engag'd to do nay more for it was not fit for them to be at continual labour but that all those of the City both Rich and Poor Women and Children without exempting any one should put their hands to the work Now before I would suffer Messieurs de Blazimond and de la Lande to speak I entreated them that all those who should answer would speak so loud that every one might hear them which they also did and when all the three Orders had made an end of speaking I strain'd my voice and said Have you all heard what these Gentlemen have propos'd who have spoken in the behalf of the whole City to which they cried out that they had whereupon as I had held up my hand I made them hold up theirs and take the same Oath I had taken which being done I desir'd them every one to withdraw to provide all sorts of Instruments and that I would retire to my Lodging with the principal men of the City to make election of the eight who were to govern over them but being it was already almost night they entreated me that seeing they were all together I would give them leave to make election of the eight that I would please in the mean time to retire to warm my self and to get my Boots off and that the next morning they would bring me a List of their Burgers names of them to make election which eight I should think fit And so I withdrew to my Lodging where after supper there came to me Mâ—ssieurs de Blazimond and de la Lande the good man de Nort and his Sons with so great joy as more could not be exprest telling me that the Merchants who had pack'd up their Merchandize and a good many of them already loaded them in Waggons had unloaded all and that they thought never City was overjoy'd as theirs was and that so much as to the very Women and Children there was no other talk but of fighting knowing the resolution that I had taken to tarry amongst them Companions you who shall take the pains to read my life you may take fair exemples by me This people who were all their wits end and ready to over-run the City immediately at my word only reassum'd such courage that I will be bold to say with truth no man ever after discover'd the least apprehension in them though to say the truth they had no great reason to be so secure the Town being of two great a circuit well to be defended commanded moreover by a Mountain and too Armies ready to fall upon us at once Believe me Companions when I tell you that upon your resolution depends that of all the people who take courage as they see you do And how great a good shall you do besides the honour you acquire to your selves to save a poor City from the Sack so many Families stand eternally oblig'd to you and not only the City it self but the whole Country also for the taking of the Capital City of a Province ordinarily draws after it the loss of a whole Seneschalsie I but you will say a man must then shut himself up in a place where he can acquire honour and where will you have that to be in a Castle of Millan it cannot be there for there it is the strength of the walls that defends you but it must be in a place that you see to be of publick concern let it be never so weak A good heart is a good Fortress I could have stayd at Lectoure and have hearkned how the squares went I had nothing to lose at Agen and could justly have laid all the blame upon the Mareschal who had shoulders broad enough to bear it but this good City being taken I saw all the Country was lost In a time of need and danger therefore shew that you have a heart to drive fear out of others and in so doing you will alwayes appear to be what you are and assure your selves that the Enemy seeing such a man engag'd in a place will think on 't thrice before he will once come to attaque you I have as you may have observ'd before ever had that good fortune the Spaniards Italians Germans and French Hugonots have been afraid either to abide or to attaque me Get then this priviledge over you Enemy as you will do in doing well and giving testimony of a good heart and an undaunted courage Three or four dayes
another agree â—eâ—y well for their Master's service talk and confer together like Brothers and after some handsome service or good success open their hearts to one another and become good friends I have since been told by some who had the good fortune to be there that most of the Chiefs who were at the great Battel that was obtain'd over the Turk were mortal enemies but that they agreed out of respect to the common interest and after the Battel became perfect friends Would to God the Mareschal would have left the animosity he had against me at Tholouze to have come and claw'd away Mâ—ntgommery he had acquir'd honour and the Country a singular advantage by it whereas his peevishness ruin'd all I thought I had been the most cholerick fellow in the world but he has made it appear that he is more passionate than I. Nevertheless had he been pleased to come I would have serv'd him as freely as the meanest Gentleman in the Army Having understood his resolution I sent twice to Monsieur de Fontenilles to bring his Câ—mpany and come put himself into the Town with me but he could very hardly obtein leave to come though he came at last I had the four Companies my Nephew de Leberon had brought me from Libourn three at Port St. Marie and another at Aguillon which immediately upon the departure of Monsieur de Montferran by my order came in thither and before Monsieur de Fontenilles arriv'd at Agen a Gentleman called Monsieur de Montazet came to entreat me to call away the Company that was at Aguillon and that he would undertake to defend the Town with the Inhabitants only A promise that although I knew he was not able to make good and that he only did it to spare the provisions of the Town I nevertheless granted his request fearing he would write to Monâ—ieur le Marquis de Villars that I had made him to consume the fruits of his Estate and sent the Company to Ville-neufue Wherein I committed a very great error for this place had kept the Rivers of Lot and Garonne but these bawling fellows who will spare their Masters Houses and Estates to appear good Stewards oftentimes lose very considerable places Therefore you who have the honour to command stop your ears against all complaints in such cases and so pressing necessities I had done a great deal better if upon this occasion I had practis'd the Lesson that I now teach you Now you must know I drave on an Enterprize with Monsieur de Leberon to go give a Scalado to the Captains Manciet and Chaâ—â—audy two errant Rogues who lay at Monheurt The said Sieur de Leberon was with eight or ten Harquebuzeers only at Aguillon that he might the better conceal his design Viard Muster-Master to the Mareschals Camp came at this time to Agen who was going to Court from the Mareschal and though I knew very well that the said Mareschal was very much out with me yet did I not forbear to favour and pay all respect to all that came from him being it was for his Majesties service I therefore writ to Monsieur de Leberon that he should send a Convoy with him till he was past Toneins whom he found at Aguillon in order to the Enterprize they were the next day at night to put into execution for I was sending him five or six Boats full of Soldiers from Agen and the three Companies that were at the Port were also to joyn in the business But as the fortune of war is sometimes very odd and extravagant she well appear'd to be so the day that the Muster-Master Viard passed that way for the said Sieur de Leberon giving him a certain number of Harquebuzeers for his Convoy and making account that in three hours time they would be back again whilst he waited in expectation of their return there arrived Messieurs de la Caze de la Loüe de Guytinieres de Moneins and other Captains with 7 or 8 Cornets of Horse who were come from Lauserthe which is nine long leagues and had not baited above an hour at Haute-faye to be short they had made a Cavaleade with the diligence of old Soldiers and environ'd Aguillon Monsieur de Leberon seeing himself thus trapt alone with but very few Soldiers and the Inhabitants of the Town was in a little perplexity what to do in his defence when Monsieur de Montazet presently came and told him that he was not able to defend the Town and that he would not put it to the hazard of being ruin'd and sackt and accordingly without any more ado made some conditions which was well for the said Leâ—eron for he fell into the hands of these four who were all of them my very good friends by reason that in former times I had done something for them I was the first Captain that ever shewed Captain Moneins any service and made him a Soldier and the rest were every one willing to acknowledge the several obligations they had to me and so let him go These are Civilities amongst Soldiers but my said Nephew play'd there the part of a Novice not to reserve to himself men enow for a time of need he thought the Enemy was too far off to trouble him Captains my Companions this was a ridiculous security of his he ought to have consider'd the importance of the place situated upon two Rivers and that the Enemy could not but covet so sweet a morsâ—l the vicinity of Cleirac and Toneins consider'd But I play'd the fool as well as he in drawing out the Garrison for fear of offending the Marquis So soon as ever I heard of his being taken I drew my three Companies that were at the Port into Agen. Two dayes after the Princes Army came and encampt themselves their quarters extending from Aguillon as far as within half a league of Ville-neufue and up to the great Road which leads to the said Ville-neufue all along the valleys which are in that place where there are very good Villages Now as I have already said I had divided the City into eight parts and over every division had set two good Chiefs of the Town It was a delightful thing to see the men and women all work who came to it constantly by break of day and never gave over till the night took them off they were never longer than an hour at dinner and all the head Burgers of the City were eternally solliciting them to ply their labour from which no one was exempt not even the Religious women One night a man came to tell me that a Troop of Reiters were come up within a quarter of a League of us to a Village close by Moubran which is a Castle belonging to the Bishop of Agen. In the morning therefore I mounted to horse with my Company and went close up to the Village where because two Country fellows told me that three other Cornets of Reiters were quarter'd very near
harvest in the Quarters where their Camp then lay and would cause great Artillery to be brought from Navarreins wherewith to take all the Towns upon the River Gâ—ronne to the very Gates of Bordeaux that they would attaque Agen but that they would leave that work for the last because they would fâ—â—st take Castle-geloux Bazas and all the other places on this side the Garonne as far as Bordeaux by which means and by the communication of this Bridg both the one Country and the other which are of the richest of France would be wholly at their convenience and command And all this they made account to have taken in less than fifteen dayes as they would really have done for they were absolute Masters of the field They intended also to attaque Libourne assuring themselves that in all the Cities they should find great store of provisions by which means nothing could be convey'd into Bourdeaux neither by the Garonne nor much less from the Landes making account that so the City of Bordeaux would in three moneths be reduc't to the last extremes And for my part I do not think it would have held out so long for already Corn was there at ten Livers the Sack and by sea nothing could get in by reason of Blaye The City is good and rich and a strong Town of War but situate in a barren Country so that whoever should deprive it of the Garonne and the Dordogne it would presently be reduced to famine the Inhabitants conâ—inually living from hand to mouth They had moreover determin'd to bring their Ships up the River to Blaye which they had in their hands to keep the Gallies either from coming out or going in The Vicomtes also had promised the Admiral to cause threescore thousand Sacks of Corn to be brought him upon the River Garonne which they meant to take out of Comenge and Loumaigne the most fertile Countries of all Guienne and where the greatest store of grain is there being no less than five hundred Merchants and as many Gentlemen who keep three or four years store alwayes by them in expectation of a dear year when their Corn may go off at greater rates so that they might with great ease have kept their word with the Admiral and by that means were certain to bring the King to their own bow and to make such conditions as themselves should think fit and had they once got Bourdeaux into their clutches I know not but that they might have kept it as well as Rochelle at least having Rochelle and Bordeaux both in their possession they might have boasted that they had the best and strongest Angle of the Kingdom both by Land and Sea commanding five navigable Rivers comprizing the Charante And they had once settled betwixt thâ— Rivers of I le Dordogne Lot and Garonne the King must have had four Armies at least to have compell'd them to fight and I will be bold to say they had the best Country and two of the best and most capacious Havens of the Kingdom which are those of Broüage and Bordeaux I wonder any one should be so indiscreet as to advise the King that it would be his best way to coop up the Hugonots in Guienne 'T is a dangerous piece to be depriv'd of and should the King once lose it it would be a great while in recovering But these good Counsellors do it for their own ends and to remove the War far enough from their own doors and yet we shall sell it them very dear before they have it In truth the King ought to make more reckoning of this Province to hinder the Enemy from getting footing there and not so to abandon the Country suffering others to make merry at our miserie to that degree as to ask if we yet have beds to lie in I cannot believe this word could come out of the Queens mouth for she has ever had and yet has a great many very good Servants there and those Messieurs of France that jeer at our misfortunes may have their share in time The evil is not alwayes at one door Now this was the result of the Enemies Council and it was very well design'd My Brother Monsieur de Valence will bear witness that a 〈◊〉 person who was assisting at their Councils when he thought fit gave us an account of the aforesaid deliberation which was great and I believe that had they taken a resolution to drive out all the Catholicks and to have call'd in all the Hugonots out of France into this Province which was so much despis'd when they had once made it their own they would have had possessions enow to have enricht them all and moreover all the Gentry of those parts would have been constrain'd to turn Hugonots and to take up arms for them by which means the King would afterwards have had much ado to reduce and more to reclaim them for to have made them turn again to our Religion would have â—een no easie task forasmuch as after a man is once accustomed to a thing be it good or bad he is very unwilling to leave it but God would not suffer so great a mischief both for the King and us who are his Catholick Subjects This was the advantage that accru'd by the breaking of the Bridg in the judgment of all both Friends and Enemies and I will be bold to say that of all the services I ever did for Guienne this was the most remarkable exploit which proceeded from no other thing but my resolution to go put my self into Agen for otherwise the Town had been quitted and the Admiral had come directly thither and not to Port St. Marie nor to Aguillon as he was constrain'd to do For a consultation being held at Lauserte it was there concluded that at their departure from thence they should go to quarter at Castel-Sagrat Montjoy St. Maurin and Ferussac and the next day at Agen making full account they should meet with no resistance Which had it so fall'n out the Admiral would have had elbow-room enough and betwixt two great Rivers not only have refresht his Army at great ease and in great security but moreover have made the whole Country sure to him I know very well that it was told the Admiral by two or three persons in his Army that in case it was true that I was in Agen they could never get me out but by bits and that in my life I had committed greater follies than that And there were who said that they had seen me engage my self in three or four places the strongest of which was not half so tenable as Agen and had still come off with honour These who said this might well affirm it with truth as having been with me in those places But the Admiral still maintain'd that he was confident I had not put my self into Agen with any intention to stay there but that my determination was so soon as I
Mother of what you afterwards saw come to pass and though by your command I had twice or thrice letters sent me that I was very ill enform'd I did not for all that slack my vigilancie nor neglect to stand upon my Guard that I might not be surpriz'd but the same day that the Insurrection hapned at Paris without other intelligence than my own and upon Michaelmas Eve I put my self into Lectoure the most important City of all Gascony in so opportune a season that I frustrated the design of six hundred men which were to have been let in at the Postern and after having preserv'd the Town in your Majesties obedience knowing you stood in need of relief as your Majesty afterwards sent me word I made so good haste in raising of men that in 29 dayes after the said Michaelmas day I sent your Majesty twelve hundred Horse and thirty Ensigns of Foot which were conducted by me as far as Limoges and from thence by the Sieurs de Terride de Gondrin and de Monsales when though it seem'd to many that Guienne would be left a prey to the Vicompts who had very great Forces nevertheless at my return I found them so much work to do that they gain'd nothing either upon me or upon the Province and with the few Forces I was able to gather together I went afterwards into Xaintonge where at my arrival those who had taken arms at Marennes were defeated by Madaillan and the Seneschal of Bazadois who after meeting with Monsieur de Pons took Marennes with the Isles of Oleron and Alvert With the like diligence was the Isle of Rhé recover'd by my Nephew de Leberon whom I sent thither and had your Majesty been pleased to have furnisht me with what you promised of money Artillery and other Ammunitions of War I had put fair to have reduced Rochelle it self to your Majesties obedience before the Peace that was at that time concluded As to what concerns the last Troubles it is true that they broke out at a time when I was sick and scarce recovering from the danger of death yet I did not nevertheless forbear to put my self into the field and to get together all the Horse and Foot I possibly could and hearing that the Forces of Languedoc Provence and Dauphenâ—é were coming to fall into our Country I went out accompanied with Monsieur de la Valette and d' Escarts and some other Officers to meet and fight them and in so doing approacht them so near that had not their Camp-master Captain Moreau been fortunately taken by us we had all been cut off 〈◊〉 defeaâ—ed for besides that the Encounter had been in a place where the Horse could not possibly have come to â—ight they had moreover fought us at the advantage of six to one we being no more than five and twenty hundred and they above twenty thousand men all which will be made good by the testimony of the said Sieurs de la Valette d' Esâ—artâ— and other Captains who were all of opinion that the best we could do was to retire and when we were all resolv'd to coast the Enemy to keep them a little in and to try to geâ— some advantage over them the younger Monsales brought letters from your Majestie to all the Captains to march towards Monsieur de Montpensier and to me that I must return which I accordingly did both out of regard to my own sickness and also to preserve the Country as I have done so long as the Forces were in my hands Being afterwards at Cahors to which place I went with an intent to fight the Vicounts I was advertiz'd that Pilles was about Agenois with a great number of Horse whom thinking to surprize I marched day and night to â—ight him which had also so faln out had it not been that Monsieur de Fontenilles and Captain Montluc with some Light-horse met with five or six Cornets of the said Pilles his Cavalry whom they charg'd with so great fâ—ry that they put them to rout which made the said Pilles the same night pass the River Dordogne and retreat towards the Body of their Army As to the coming of the Count de Montgommery ' â—is very well known that at my departure from Mont de Marsan which in two hours time I had besieg'd assaulted and taken Monsieur d' Anville carried away all the Forces in order to some designs he had in Languedoc leaving me no more but my own Company with those of Messieurs de Fontenilles and de Gondrin and five Ensigns of Foot with which I was fain to make shift for the defence of Lectoure Florence Ville-neufue and Agen and although the said Mareschal afterwards call'd from me the forenam'd two Companies and that I was left alone with my own yet did I not for all that forbear to put my self into Agen when the Army of the Princes drew near without being reliev'd by any but the Sieur de Fontenilles onely who indeed came and brought his Company to my assistance From which Town of Agen the Princes Army were very much incommodated and whereas they had thrown a Bridg of Boats over the Garonne with a design to pass into the Country and of Condommois and Agenois to make as it were a City I broke their Bridg and so shatter'd it to pieces that they could never recover any more than two of the Boats with which they repassed the River but so leisurely withal that had your Majesty been pleased to have sent me never so few Forces I could have kept them well enough from ever uniting again And whereas during the time of the said Princes being in these parts they had possessed themselves of certain Castles in the Country of Agenois I retook them and reduced them all to your Majesties obedience You Majestie has since commanded me to go make War in the Country of Bearn wherein I so promptly obeyed your Command that though it was very hard to raise men by reason that every one took the Peace for concluded notwithstanding in less then fifteen dayes I set on foot five and fourty Ensigns of Infantry and six hundred Light-horse with which I resolv'd to invade the Country either to force Montamat to a Battel or to suffer his Towns and Castles to be taken one after another before his face as any one may judg it must of necessity have fall'n out For having begun with Rabasteins as it was necessary I should for the reasons I have before laid down though it was one of the strongest places of all Guienne I carried it in eight dayes time playing at once in my own person the parts of Pioneer Canoneer Soldier and Captain Where in making my approaches I was like to have lost my youngest Son who was shot close by my side as also was Captain Paullac and when it came to an Assault seeing the two first Companies did not go on as I desir'd they should have done I went my self
more question to be made of his Faith and then in such a process of time the Country into which he shall come at first a stranger or fâ—gitive and an Exile will be grown natural and familiar to him and he will have received benefits and acquir'd such interests and possessions as may fix him there and yet â—vâ—n then let it be at a sufficient distance from such as he may have had any private correspondencies or secret practices withal For by what I have heard from several of the Emperour's Captains had Charles of Bourbon taken Mâ—rselles and Provence the Emperor would never have committed so great an error as to have entrusted them in his hands though he had faithfully promis'd so to do But let us proceed All these Foot Companies being disbanded excepting those which were left in Garrison I who had no mind to be immur'd within the walls of a City again put my self into the Company of Monsieur Le Marâ—schal de Foix wherein I continued till such time as King Francis went his expedition against Monsieur de Bouâ—bon who together with the Marquess of Pâ—scara laid Siege to Marselles which Sieur de Bourbon for an affront that had been offer'd to him was revolted to the Emperor there is nothing a great heart will not do in order to revenge where seeing the King would permit the Mareschal de Foix to carry no more than twenty men at arms of his own Company along with him and finding my self at my arrival to be excluded that election and none of the number I took such snuff at it that I went with five or six Gentlemen who did me the honor to bear me company to be present at the Battel with a resolution to fight volunteer amongst the Foot But Monsiâ—ur de Bourbon after having lain six weeks only before the City rais'd the Siege The Signior Raâ—co de Cera a Gentleman of Rome a brave and experienc'd Captain together with the Sieur de Brion were within with a sufficient Garrison his Majesty had thither sent for the defence of the Town So that Monsieur de Bourbon found himself to be deceivâ—d in his intelligence and that he had reckon'd without his Host. The French did not as yet know what it was to rebell against their Prince for so soon as he had notice of the Kings approach he retir'd himself over the Mountains and descended into Piedmont by the Marquisate of Saluzzo and Pigâ—erol and not without very great loss fled away to Milan which also both he and the Vicâ—roy of Naples were constrain'd to abandon and to fly out at one gate whilst we entred in at another Signior Don Antonio de Leva who was one of the greatest Captains the Emperor had and who I do believe had he not been hindred by the Gout with which he was infinitely tormented would have surpass'd all others of his time was chosen in this posture of affairs to be put into Paviâ— with a strong Garrison of German Soldiers supposing that the King would infallibly fall upon that place as in effect he did The Siege continued for the space of eight months in which time Monsieur de Bourbon went into Germany where he so bestirr'd himself with the money he had borrowed from the Duke of Savoy that he thence brought along with him ten thousand German foot together with four or five hundred men at armes from the Kingdom of Naples with which Forces encamping himself at Lode he came to offer the King Battail upon a St. Matthias day our army being very much weakened as well by the length of the Siege as by Sickness with which it had been miserably infected To which disadvantages the King had moreover unluckily disbanded three thousand Grisons commanded by a Collonel of their own called le grand Diart I suppose to contract the charges of the War Oh that these little pieces of good Husbandry do very often occasion notable losses Also a few days before Monsieur d' Albaine was by the King's command departed with great Forces towards Rome from thence to fall into the Kingdom of Naples but in the end all vanish'd away in smoke for to our great misfortune we lost the Battail and all these enterprizes came to nothing The Description of this Battail is already publish'd in so many places that it would be labour lost therein to wast my paper I shall therefore only say that the business was not well carried in several places on our side which occasioned their ruine who behav'd themselves best upon that occasion The King was taken prisoner Monsieur the Mareschal de Foix both taken and wounded with an Arquâ—buze shot in his thigh which moreover enter'd into his belly Monsieur de St. Pol taken and wounded with thirteen wounds with which he had been left for dead upon the place and was stript to his shirt but a Spaniard coming to cut off his Finger for a Ring he could not otherwise pull off he cried out and being known was carried with the said Mareschal into Pavie to the lodging of the Marquess de Scadalfol several other great Lords lost their Lives as the Brother to the Duke of Lorrain the Admiral de Chabanâ—s and many others taken amongst whom were the King of Navarre Mâ—ssieurs de Nevers de Montmorency de Brion and others but I shall not taxe the memory of any one for the loss of this Battel nor set a mark upon those who behaved themselves ill enough even in the presence of their King During all the time of my abode in the Army I was continually with a Captain call'd Castille de Navarre without any pay which Captain having the fortune to command the forlorn hope in the day of Battel intreated me to bear him Company which accordingly I did as also the five Gentlemen who came in company with me I was taken prisoner by two Gentlemen of the Company of Don Antoniâ— de Leva who upon the Saturday morning let me go together with two of my Camrades for they saw they were likely to get no great treasure of me the other three were killed in the Battel Being now at liberty I retir'd my self into the house of the Marquess where Monsiâ—ur le Mareschal lay wounded I found him with Monsieur de St. Pol both together in one bed and Monsieur de Montejan lodg'd in the same Chamber who was also wounded in his leg There I heard the discourse and dispute betwixt Siâ—ur Frederick de Bege who was prisoner and Captain Sucra who belong'd to the Emperor upon the loss of this Battel who accusâ—d our French of many great oversights particularly nominating several persons whose names I am willing to forbear but I judg'd their opinions to be very good being both of them very great Soldiers and what I then heard has since been serviceable to me upon several occasions an use that every one ought to make of such controversies who intends to arrive at any degree of perfection in the
have suspected myself to have been the occasion of his death and had he lived without an arm I should never have looked upon him but with exceeding great trouble to see him in such a condition let God therefore work his will Immediately after the two forenamed Chirurgions came to examine mine whether or no he was sufficient to undertake the cure for otherwise it was order'd that one of them should remain with me but they found him capable enough to which they also added some instructions what was to be done upon such accidents as might happen The next day which was the fourth after my hurt Monsieur de Lâ—urtreâ— caused me to be carried after him to Termes de Bresse where he left me in his own quarters to the care of the man of the house who was a Gentleman and for the further assurance of my person carryed Hostages with him two of the most considerable men of the Town whereof one was brother to the Gentleman of the house assuring them that if any the least foul play was offer'd to me those two men should infallibly be hang'd In this place I remainâ— d two months and a half lying continually upon my reins insomuch that my very back bone pierced thorough my skin which is doubtless the greatest torment that any one in the world can possibly endure and although I have written in this narrative of my life that I have been one of the most fortunate men that have born arms these many years in that I have ever been victorious wherever I commanded yet have I not been exempt from great wounds and dangerous sicknesses of which I have had as many and as great as any man ever had who outliv'd them God being still pleased to curb my pride that I might know my self and acknowledg all good and evil to depend upon his pleasure but all this notwithstanding a scurvy four morose and cholerick nature of my own which favours a little and too much of my native Soil has evermore made me play one trick or another of a Gascon which also I have no great reason to repent So soon as my arm was come to a perfect suppuration they began to raise me out of Bed having a little cushion under my arm and both that and my arm swath'd up close to my body In this posture I continued a few days longer until mounting a little Mâ—le that I had I caused my self to be carried before Naples where our Camp was already sate down having first sent away a Gentleman of mine on foot to our Lady of Lorettâ— to accomplish my vow I my self being in no condition to perform it The pain I had suffer'd was neither so insupportable nor so great as the affliction I had not to have been present at the taking of Malphe and other places nor at the defeating of the Prince of Orange who after the death of Monsiâ—ur de Bourbon slain at the Sack of Rome commanded the Imperial Army Had not this valiant Prince of deplorable memory for the foulness of his revolt from his Lord and Master dyed in the very height of his Victories I do believe he had sent us back the Popes into Avignon once again At my arrival at the Camp Monsieur de Lautrec and all the other great persons of the Army received me with great demonstrations of kindness and esteem and particularly Count Pedro de Navarre who caused a confiscation to be settled upon me of the value of twelve hundred Duckets yearly revenue call'd la Tour de la Nunciâ—de one of the fairest Castles in all the Tertitory of Labour and the first Barony of Naples belonging to a rich Spaniard callâ— d Don Ferdino I then thought my self the greatest Lord in all the Army but I found my self the poorest Rouge in the end as you shall see by the continuation of this discourse I could here dilate at full how the Kingdom of Naples was lost after it was almost wholly conquer'd a story that has been writ by many but it is great pity they would not or durst not relate the truth being that Kings and Princes might have been taught to be so wary by this Exemple as not to suffer themselves to be imposed upon and abused as they very often are but no body would have the great ones learn to be too wise for then they could not play their own Games with them so well as they commonly do I shall therefore let it alone both for that I do not pretend to record the faults of other men as also because I had no hand in these transactions and shall only write my own Fortunes to serve for instruction to such as shall follow after that the little Montlucs my sons have left me may look with some kind of Glory into the life of their Grandfather and aim at honorable things by his Exemple There were no great matters peâ—form'd after my coming to the Camp neither did they busie themselves about any thing but the City of Napleâ— which also they intended to overcome by Famine and it must suddainly have fallen into our hands had it not been for the revolt of Andrea d' Auria who sent to Count Philippin his Nephew to bring back his Gallies to Genoa with which he kept the City of Naples so close block'd up by Sea that a Cat could not have got in which he immediately did and thereupon an infinite of provision was put into the Town by Sea whilst our Galliâ—s delay'd to come God forgive him who was the cause thereof without which accident the Town had been our own and consequently the whole Kingdom This Philippin Lieutenant or Vice-Admiral to Andrea d' Auria near unto Capo-dorso obtained a famous Naval Victory over Hugo de Moncada and the Marquess de Guâ—st who came to the relief of Naples but from this Victory proceeded our ruine for Philippin having sent his prisoners to his Uncle to Genoa and the King being importunate to have them deliver'd over to him Andrea d' Auria would by no means part with them complaining that he had already delivered up the Prince of Orange to the King without any recompence upon which occasion the Marquess de Guast a man of as great dexterity and cunning as any of his time and a great Warriour knew so well how to manage Andrea d' Auria's discontent that in the end he turn'd his coat and with twelve Galliâ—s went over to the Emperor's side The King our Master was well enough informed of all his practices and might easily enough have prevented the mischief but his heart was so great and he was so higly offended with Auria that he would never seek to him whereof he repented at leisure for he has since been the cause of many losses that have befall'n the King and particularly of the Kingdom of Naples Genoa and other misfortunes It seem'd as if the Sea stood in aw of this man wherefore without a very great and more than ordinary
moreover that was not a place considerable enough for a man of his worth and condition to dye in but that he was to reserve himself for a noble breach and not to loose his life in a paltry Mill. Whilst these things were in doing Monsieur de Castelpers arriv'd and leaving his party behind the Church came up to us on foot and upon this the day began to appear wherefore I entreated Monsieur de Tavannes and de Castelpers to retire behind the Church for the shot flew very thick in the street where they could see any one pass telling them that I would go draw off Belsoleil whereupon they both accordingly retir'd and as I was drawing off our men one after another running down on both sides the street Monsieur de Castelpers presented himself with his twenty Horse at the end of the street by the Church wherein he did us very great service for the Enemy might otherwise have â—allyed out upon us I had only seven or eight men hurt who nevertheless were all able to march one Gentleman only excepted called Vigaux whom we set upon an Ass of those we had found in the Mill and presently began to retire towards the top of a mountain which was almost the same way by which Monsieur de Castelpers had come when the Enemy discovering us to be so few they all fallyed out in our Rear but we had already gain'd the top of the Hill when they arriv'd but at the foot of it and before they recovered the heighth we were got into the valley on the other side ready to climb another there being many little hills in that place and yet we never marched â—aster than a foot pace and so went straight on to Aubaigne I had given order to the Soldiers that went along with us that every one should take with him a loaf of Bread which they eat by the way and I also had caus'd some few to be brought which I divided amongst the Gens-d ' Armes of Monsieur de Tavannes and we our selves eat as we went which I here set down to the end that when any Captain shall go upon an Enterprize where he is to have a long march he may take exemple to cause something to be brought along to eat wherewith to refresh the Soldiers that they may be the better able to hold out for men are not made of Iron So soon as we were come to Aubaigne two leagues from Marselles where we had thought to have halted and to have taken some refreshment we heard the Artillery of the Gallies and of the Town which at that distance seem'd to be volleys of Harquebuze shot an Alarm that constrainâ—d us without further delay or taking any other refreshment than what we had brought along with us to march forwards and to enter into consultation amongst our selves what course we were best to take we already took it for granted that the Emperor was arriv'd before the Town and that he would certainly sit down before it and thence concluded it impossible for us to get in again which made us often repent and curse the enterprize that had shut us out the misfortune whereof was wholly laid to my charge as the Author of all â—n this uncertainty what course to steer Monsieur de Castelpers was once resolved to go charge desperately thorough the Enemyâ—s Camp to get into the City but when he came to acquaint us with his determination we remonstrated to him that that would be to throw himself away out of an humor and that since we had together performed so brave a service and with which the King would be so highly pleased we ought likewise together either to perish or to save our selves Captain Trebous Guidon to the Company of Monsieur de Montpezat told him the same so that we concluded in the end to leave the great high way and crossing the Mountains on the left hand to fall down behind Nostre Dame de la Garde making account that in case we could not enter into the City the Captain of the said Cittadel would receive us in there So we turn'd out of the way and it was well for us that we did so for Vignaux and les Bleres keeping on the great Road straight to Marselles had not gone on â—ive hundred paces but they met with four or five hundred Horse which the Emperor having had intelligence from those of Auriolle of what had been done had sent out to meet and fight us upon the way and had not the Emperor parted from Aix by night to go before Marselles so that the Messengers of a long time could meet with no body to whom to deliver their errand I do believe we had certainly been defeated but the Emperor knew nothing of it till break of day whereupon he presently sent out those four or five hundred Horse upon the Road to Aubaigne who did no other harm to Vignaux and those who were with him but only took away their Arms. In this manner we travail'd all day from mountain to mountain in the excessive heat without finding one drop of water insfomuch that we were all ready to dye for thirst always within sight of the Emperorâ—s Camp and ever within hearing of the Skirmishes that were made before the Town Monsieur de Castelpers and his Gens-d ' Armes marching all the way on foot as we did and leading their horses in their hands till coming near to Nostre Dame de la Garde the Captain of the Castle taking us for the Enemy let fly three or four pieces of Canon at us which forc'd us to shift behind the Rocks From thence we made signs with our hats but for all that he ceas'd not to shoot till in the end having sent out a Soldier to make a sign so soon as he understood who we were he gave over shooting and as we came before Nostre Dame de la Garde we saw the Emperor who was retiring by the way he came and Christophle Goast who had all day maintain'd the Skirmish beginning also to retreat towards the City We then began to descend the Mountain when so soon as Monsieur de Barbezieux and Monsieur de Montpezat who with some other Captains were standing without the Gates of the City had discover'd us they would have gone in again taking us for the Enemy but some body saying that then those of the Castle would have shot at us the said Sieur Montpezat presently knew Monsieur de Castelpers and we thereupon arriv'd at the Gate of the City where we were mightily caressed especially when they heard of the good success of our enterprize and they talk'd with the Captain of the Mill who was wounded in the arm and in the head and after every one retir'd to his own Quarters I made no manner of question but that Monsieur de Barbezieux so soon as the king should come to Marselles would have presented me to His Majesty and have told him that I
of the world is great Monsieur de Lieux my Brother had sent to my Lieutenant to desire him that he would loyter a while in expectation of him up and down the Country thereabouts forasmuch as he was raising a Foot Company which he intended speedily to march away under the shadow of my Commission to which my Liâ—utenant very indiscreetly consented notwithstanding the promise he had made me to march five leagues a day But as my Lieutenant had quitted the great Road and turn'd aside towards Albigeois to spin out the time he came at last to a Town call'd l'Isle where the Inhabitants shut their Gates against him which forc'd him to give an assault as he did and carried the place with so suddain an execution that although my said Brother was then within a days march of him with his Company yet would he not come up till the business was done where his Soldiers having sack'd the Town and being by that means loaden with booty they were afterwards in so great fear to march that they all disbanded and every one run home with his spoil to his own house By which you may understand that an officer ought very seldom to leave his command if not upon extraordinary occasion for the great desire I had to be one of the first made me to abandon mine which was the cause of this disorder I was therefore constrain'd to raise two other Companies in Provence wherein the Count â—avour'd me very much so that I had soon dispatch'd muster'd at Villeueufve d' Avignon and made so great hast that notwithstanding this accident I yet arriv'd at the Valleys two days sooner than Ambres and Dampons and took the Castle and the Town of Mieulan where I made a halt in expectation of Monsieur de Chavigni and the Companies of the said Ambres and Dampons who disputed the passage of Lauzet which they could never have obtained for all the people of the Country were there gather'd together to defend it but that the Spaniards who were at Barselonette and those who were gone to defend the passage hearing that I had taken Mieulan retir'd by the Mountains for I was possessed of the great Road towards Barselonette and the common people seeing the said Spaniards to retire quitted the passe by night by means whereof they entred into it We then went to besiege Barselonette before which place we lay three weeks where I receiv'd a Harquebuze shot through my left arm but it never touch'd the bone so that I was presently cured after which the King having relieved Turin His Majesty return'd and we for not having been present at the service were all three commanded back upon which order Monsieur d' Ambres went away Post to his said Majesty with whom he prevailed so far that he was pleased to leave him one of his Companies which when I understood with what difficulty he had obtain'd I carried mine back into Provence where having dismissed them I retir'd my self to my own house At which time there was also a cessation seeing no peace was to be made concluded for ten years I thought fit to commit this to writing though there be no great matter in it to let the world see that I never rested long in a place but was always ready at the first beat of Drum for the days of Peace were whole years to me so impatient I was of lying idle At the end of this War the King was pleased to honor Monsieur le Grand Maistre with the Office of Connestable of France an employment that has ever been vacant as it is at this day after the death of Monsieur de Montmorency A thing that I conceive our Kings have purposely so ordered as well to take away all occasion of Jealousie amongst the Princes as also for the danger of entrusting so great a power in one mans hands Witness St. Pol and Bourbon the last of which indeed was very faithful and dyed in his Majesties service ever approving himself a great and prudent Captain which testimony I am constrain'd by truth to give of him and by no other obligation that I have for neither he nor any of his were ever any friends of mine During the time of this Truce I tryed forsooth to be a Courtier but in vain for I was never cut out for that employment I have ever been too free and too open hearted to live at Court and I succeeded there accordingly Now after the soul and detested assassinate committed upon the persons of the Seigmeurs Fregouze and Rincon Embassadours for the King our Master his Majesty incens'd at such an outrage and for which he could obtain no manner of satisfaction he resolv'd to break the Truce and to that end set two Armies on foot one of which he gave to Monsieur le Due d' Orleans which was design'd for Luxemburg and the other to Monsieur le Dauphin who came into the County of Roussillon to reduce it to his Fathers obedience having Monsieur d' Annebaut who since was Admiral in company with him I therefore hearing that the said Mareschal was to take with him the Companies of Piedmont which were commanded by Monsieur de Brissac and also an Engineer called Hieronimo Marini reputed the greatest man of Italy for the besieging of places I had a great desire to go to the Camp to learn something of this famous Engineer Where being accordingly come I put my self under Monsieur d Assier who commanded the Artillery in the absence of his Father and who never stirr'd from the said Hieronimo Marini by which means I happened to be at the approaches that were made before the City of Perpignan to which we had laid siege but in two nights I perceiv'd that all he did signified nothing for he begun the Trenches so far off that in eight days the Canon could not be mounted as he himself declared to which I made answer that in that time the Enemy would have fortified their City four times as strong as it was on that side The King had for this Enterprize rais'd the bravest Army that ever my eyes beheld it consisted of forty thousand Foot two thousand men at Armes and two thousand Light horse with all necessary equipage for so considerabe a Body Monsieur Montpezat had been the Author of the design though not so secretly but that Spain was before hand wholly possessed with the expectation of it which notwithstanding and that the Town was excellently well fortified yet I dare boldly aâ—firm that if the Mareschal d' Annebaut would have given credit to my words he had infallibly done his business I had taken a private view of it for some years before this Monsieur le Connestable being gone to Leucate to treat a Peace with the Emperor's Deputy Granvelle had sent me with General Bayard and President Poyet who was since Chancellor to whom the Emperor's Deputy at the instance of Monsieur de Veli Embassador for the King
paâ—h and past on the other side into the Bastion where all they found within it they put to the sword Monsieur de Tais who went on to his encounter seeing us scrambling up the Courtine threw hâ—mself into the Ditches of the other Fort when the English seeing their people put to flight and we entring into it quitted the Fort and ran away as fast as they could towards Calice The Mareschal this while seeing us run on so bravely upon the Enemy cried out as I was told after Oh heavens they are already got in whereupon the Seigneurs de Brissac and de Bourdillon came full speed upon the spur and the said Seigneur de Brissac General of the Horse put his horse into the little path where one man could not very easily pass stretching out his legs at full length upon the horse neck at whose mercy he past over Monsieur de Bordillon after him and after them follow'd some fourty or fifty horse all leading their horses in their hands Monsieur de Brissac then presently came up to me whom he found drawing up all the men into Battalion believing that we should be fought with and that those of Calice would certainly issue out to relieve their men I had got an Ensign we had won upon my shoulder which in his presence I restor'd to the Sergeant who had taken it bidding him go and carry it to Monsieur de Tais which he did and the said Sieur de Tais so soon as he had receiv'd it sent it by the same Sergeant to the Mareschal who was very busie with his Pioneers breaking down the Courtine which was only of earth to make way for the Gens-d' Armes to pass over and now we were all within Artillery and all where so soon as we were all arriv'd Messieurs de Brissac and de Bordillon with the forty or fifty horse that had entred with them took the right hand toward the Sluces which separate the Counâ—y of Artois from the County of Oye where they met with forty or fifty of the English bearing Launces who presently began to retire full gallop towards Calice Monsieur de Brissac was jealous that these had only run away to draw him into some Ambuscado and therefore made a halt sending out Castegeac to discover a little valley that was on his left hand which said Castegeac presently brought him word that he had seen above 400 horse but it was no such thing those he saw being no other than Country-men and women of the neighbouring Villages who were flying towards Calice which was a great misfortune for otherwise Monsieur de Brissac had pursued them and they were all the Cavalry that the Enemy had in Calice which had been no inconsiderable defeart A General of all things ought always to send out an old Soldier or some one whose intelligence he may absolutely rely upon to discover for men of little experience soon take the alarm and fancy Bushes to be Battaillons I will not say that Castegeac was no Soldier but upon my word he here committed a very great error Our Cavalry being got over the Breach the Mareschal had caused to be made Monsieur de Tais would himself lead the Harquebuzeers ordering me to remain with the Battail of Pikes There were ten or twelve Ensigns which retir'd towards Calice and had been coming to have disputed our entry which could they have come up in time had found us enough to do with our Artillery and all as the Mareschal had told me when I went to call Monsieur de Tais to go on to the Assault and although I know very well at whom it stuck that we did not fight them ten or twelve Ensigns I will however forbear committing it to writing forasmuch as in delivering the truth I should be oblig'd to speak ill of some particular persons and those none of the least which I will by no means do But if Monsieur de St. Cire who was Lieutenant to fifty men at arms belonging to Monsieur Boissy who died Grand Escuyer were alive he could tell where the fault lay for he was there grievously wounded had his horse kill'd under him and above forty horses more of the same Troop kill'd and wounded There follow'd a great quarrel upon it which proceeded so far as almost to bring two men to fight in Lists It was indeed a most infamous cowardise and of great prejudice to his Majesties service for had those been defeated there had no body been left in Calice but old men and women and I have since heard the Mareschal de Biez say that had those Ensigns been cut off with his Artillery he had taken the Town in two days But seeing those people to be retreated safe into the City they concluded to retire which two days after we did as also the season of the year began to settle into very great rain Let me tell you Captains you ought not disdain to learn something of me who am the oldest Captain in France and who have been in as many Battails or more as any Captain of Europe as you will judge at the end of my Book Know therefore that the reasons which induc't me to attempt this affault were these First because I had felt the pulse of the English at my first arrival and found them a very easie Enemy Secondly because they had abandon'd their Fortifications which we gain'd having the Bastion that serv'd them for a Flanker Thirdly because from the little eminence where I had made a halt before I went down into the Meadow I had seen coming along the Plain on the inside toward Calice a great number of people coming from thence and observ'd all the Courtine to be full of men by which I saw it was high time to fall on and for a fourth reason because that in the Ditch next to the Courtine there was very little water and from the said Ditch to the said Courtine it was but two good steps where the Soldiers might stand well enough and with a little help of their Pikes or Halberts and the assistance of one another the Courtine being no more than two fadoms high we should carry the place When Captains therefore your eye shall have discharg'd its office in discovering the number of your Enemy and the strength of the place where he is and that you have tasted and found him apt to fly charge him whilst he is in the fear you have possest him withal for if you give him time to recover his senses and to forget his fright you will be more often in danger of being beaten than likely to beat Wherefore you ought evermore to pursue him in his fear without giving him leisure to re-assume his courage and carry always about you the Motto of Alexander the Great which is Deferr not that till to morrow thou canst do to day for many things fall out betwixt the lip and the cup especially in war and then it will be
the corn and that the Gates of the Town should in the mean time be kept shut to the end that no body might go out to carry intelligence to the Enemy for Monsieur de Trinitat had several friends in the City that the Count himself had in some suspition I then dispatcht away two of the Inhabitants with a letter to Captain Hieronimo the Son of Colonel Giâ—vanni of Turin who lay at a little Town the name of which I have forgot but it was about a mile distant from the place where the Enemy had cut and diverted the current of the River entreating him that this night he would by one way or another attempt to repair what the Enemy had broken down and do all that in him lay if possible to send the water to us again which that very night â—e accordingly executed though he was but a very young Gentleman for I believe he was not then above twenty years old We then went home expecting the night when being return'd back to the Castle I told the Count that it would be convenient we should go alone upon the walls to look out a field of corn that should be neerest to the City which we were to cut all that night whilst I sent out Captain Theodore with 200 Soldiers to give a strong and furious alarm to the Court of Guard who were set to â—inder those of the Town from cutting any Corn. So soon then as we had made choice of one we return'd back to supper and after we had supp'd carried out Captain Theodore and two others Commanders of Companies that were there present upon the Wall of the Town to shew them on which side they were to give the alarm and the others to fight the Court of Guard After which we appointed ten of the Townsmen on horse-back to overlook the people that cut the corn to hasten them in their work At one of the clock at night all these people went out the Soldiers to fight and the people to cut so that nothing was to be heard all night long but alarms as well in the Camp as at the Court of Guard and as the people cut and bound up the corn they still ran back to the Gate of the City and there threw down their burthens and immediately went again for more for some were appointed to reap and the rest to bind and carry In the mean time the day appear'd vvhen we caused those to vvhom the field belonged to convey away the corn from off the place so there was not one sack of corn loft of all night The Enemy vvho saw this field all cut and carried away placâ—â— thereupon stronger Guards and neerer than before but the people vvho began to taste the sweetness of their gain resolv'd to hazard themselves to get their corn off the ground rather than the Enemy should have it insomuch that at the beginning of the night there sallyed out above two hundred of the Inhabitants of the Town of vvhich some ventur'd further and others did their business neerer at hand Now Benne you must know is almost totally surrounded vvith velleys vvhich are pretty vve covered vvith Copse and vvatered with several Rivulets so that vvhen they heard any body coming they hid themselves vvith their corn and in the morning at the opening of the Gates return'd back to the City The next morning after my arrival the vvater by the diligence of Captain Hieronimo began to come down to the Mills and for two days and two nights continued its course vvhereupon ensued a great confusion at the Mills but vve made an order that no one should grind any more than to make ten or a dozen loaves only by vvhich means every body got some to serve them a little vvhile and two dayes and two nights after Captain Salines a Spaniard came to vievv the vvater vvhich the same night vvas again taken from us I then gave Captain Hieronimo notice of the place vvhere they had again return'd to cut it off from us vvho never ceased till he had made up the Bank again but he could not do it so as to send the vvater to us for above a day for from hour to hour the Enemy still came to visit the vvork but by this time to Counâ—ess had made an end of her vvork so that vve no more car'd for the vvater Now by means of frequent skirmishes which were here as many and as handsome as in any place where I ever had the fortune to be and by the diligence was used in cutting by night we had at last as much corn as the Enemy When Don Ferrand seeing himself frustrated of the assurance had been given him by Monsieur de la Trinitat began to be highly discontented with him Captain Theodore the night after we had made the first cutting in which he also was engag'd return'd back to Savill and in going a way had three or four horses and men of his Troop wounded who therefore staid be hind at Benne but he fail'd not to send away an account to the Mareschal of what I had done upon my arrival of which the Mareschal was exceeding glad as also all those who were with him and thenceforward began to entertain some hope of the conservation of the place though I am of opinion that had Don Ferrand better'd the Town with his Artillery they must infallibly have been conforc'â— to a surrender but he was still buz'd in the â—ars with this water and the want of provisions in the Town which rendred him very much dissatisfied with those who had advised him to this course and made him entertain some kind of jealousie of Monsieur de la Trinitat himself wherefore he raised his Camp the three and twentieth day after my arrival having been â—et down â—ight dayes before I came The Count is yet living as I am told and President Birague I know to be still in being with several others who can bear witness if I have inserted any thing but the truth but whether Monsieur de Coffâ— was yet return'd back to the Maâ—eschal I am not able to say for he was a little before gone into France Thus then the Town was sav'd and a few dayes after the Baron de Chipy who was gone to Courâ—â— to give his Majesty thanks for the donation he had made him of the aforesaid office return'd and having taken upon him his command of Camp-master I went to Alba to take possession of my new Government Oh Captains the great things that a man may do how little soever his judgment or experience may be if he will intend nothing but that wherein he is immediately engag'd thence to come off to his own honor and the advantage of his Master and on the other side nothing but misfortune can attend him who minds nothing of business and only spends his time in pleasure play and feasting for it is impossible but that the one must make you forget
the other we cannot serve so many Masters whenever then you shall be engag'd upon such an account as this strip your selves of all your vices and burn them all to the end that you may remain in the white Robe of loyalty and affection that we all owe to our common Master for God will never prosper the vitious and voluptuous man but on the contrary will ever assist him who is clad in the white Robe of loyalty I give you the same advice that I ever gave my self and it was therefore that God has ever assisted and been so favourable to me that I have never been defeated and have never been in any engagement if I commanded that I was not alwayes victorious Neither could I fail for God evermore inspir'd me and prompted my memory with what I had to do and that is the reason that I have ever been blest with so good fortune And he will also assist yâ—u as he hath done me if you study nor busie your selves about nothing but how to serve your Master with the loyalty and fidelity we all owe him Afterwards when we have nothing else to do we may freely enjoy our pleasures and delights for then it will be no prejudice to the King nor to him we serve under him Then you shall enjoy a sweet and pleasing repose when you shall return home laden with honor and shall present your selves before your Prince to whom it shall be told what you have done for his service All the treasure in the world is not comparable to that Take then Camrades exemple by me who have never had other thought nor design that how to acquâ—â— my self worthily of my charge and doing so it will be impossible but you must acquire great honor and reputation In the mean time you that are put in trust to attaque or block up places whenever you have a design to reduce a Town by famine if you find you cannot totally hinder the besieged from fetching in corn from the fields adjoyning set them on fire for taking this commodity from them they will be sufficiently distressed but to say you preserv'd it for your self it must be concluded that you were very improvident to offer to attaque a place without having means and power to carry away all near unto and in the very face of the Town you would attaque in such cases you must have no pity for this affair requires sâ—urvy remedies Some time after the Mareschal undertook to go take Courteville which is a Castle and a little City in the Langues the Castle is strong and the River runs through the midst of the Town over which there is a fair Bridge of Brick and a Bourg adjoyning to it The said Mareschal then came to Alba and took me in his way along with him with the one half of my Company which he entertain'd for the Guard of his won person leaving the other half in Alba and being come to the said Courteville lodg'd in the Bourg on the further side of the River on this side of which and near unto the Castle was a Monastery wherein he lodg'd three Ensigâ—s which notwithstanding those of the Castle commanded us more than we commanded them Monsieur de Salcede had kept this place all the time when he was with the Spaniard The Mareschal planted on this side the Bridge eight or ten pieces of Canon wherewith to batter the Curtain that was opposite to the Monastery in which during the Battery Monsieur de Bonnivet lodged himself where although I was no longer Camp-master I nevertheless never left him whilst the Battery continued day nor night In two or three days time then we spent 1200 Canon shot against this Curtain and in the end were never the nearer forasmuch as they had raised a great and thick rampier behind the wall within so that when that was beaten down the place remained stronger than before by reason of the said Rampier The Mareschal thereupon remained three days in suspence what he were best to do whether he should send for more ammunition or return without making any further attempt upon the place Captain Richelieu had in the mean time gain'd the Town and was with his own and two other Companies lodg'd within it but so soon as I saw the Mareschal in this perplexity I past the River on that side by the Monastery for although I follow'd Monsieur de Bonnivet I nevertheless now retir'd at night to the Mareschal There was a Gate of this Monastery that went out into a great high way upon which one might maâ—ch undiscover'd and secure without being seen by those of the Castle but betwixt the Gate and the high-way there were some fifteen or sixteen paces which were to be nimbly dispatchâ— for the whole Curtain playd upon this Gate Afterwards it was necessary to go stooping up to the Bridge at the entry into the Town and then to run full speed till you was within it So soon as I had past this danger and was got into the high way I began to look about me if it was possible to carry Canon into the Town which I perceived it a matter of great difficulty to do and that was the reason that I went into the Town to take Captain Richelieu along with me with whom I went to discover the backside of the Castle which lookt into a great space uninhabited betwixt the Castle and the Wall of the Town There was there a little house close by the wall of the City into which we put our selves to observe at our ease whether or no the Castle were much fortified on that part and there I observ'd some cracks and chinks in the wall through which one might plainly see the light on the other side and shew'd Captain Richelieu that if by any invention we could bring three pieces of Canon to this place we should certainly take the Castle forasmuch as it had not been fortified on that side by reason of the impossibility of bringing up Artillery to force it That which appears impossible to one is feasible enough to another and many places are so taken I then return'd by the way near to the Abby and Captain Richelieu with me where we fell to discourse about the business and began to consider if there was any way to be found to get Canon to the backside of the Castle whereupon it suddainly came into my head to cause the River to be sounded to see if the bottom was firm ground to which purpose I caused a Soldier of the Abby to be call'd to whom so soon as he came to me I made an offer of ten Crowns if he would venture to â—ound the River telling him withall that he must creep on his hands and knees till he came into the water and that then he should chop up to the neck I then call'd another Soldier by whom I sent vvord to the Captains in the Abby that they should send out fifteen or twenty
was there I gave him three or four bottles of it the rest I drank as they do Hippocras in the Mornings All these civilities I had receiv'd from the Marquis before which made me nothing wonder at the Present he sent me now Part of which I sent to the Seigneury part to the Rheincroc and the rest I reserv'd for Signior Cornelio the Count de Gayas and my self because we commonly are together Such little civilities as these are very gentile and commendable even betwixt the greatest Enemies if there be no thing particular betwixt them as there was not betwixt us two He serv'd his Master and I serv'd mine He arâ—aqu't me for his honor and I defended my self for mine He had a mind to acquire reputation and so had I. 'T is for Turks and Sarazens to deny an indifferent courteâ—ie even to an Enemy but then it must not be such a one or of such importance as to break or endammage your design But whilest the Marquis caress'd me with his Presents which I only payd back in thanks he was preparing for me another kind of feast for the same night about an hour after midnight he with all his Army gave a Scalado to the Cittadel and to the Fort Camâ—glia 'T is a strange thing that above a month before my mind gave me and seem'd to presage that the Marquis would give me a Scalado and the Captain St. Auban would be cause of the loss of the Fort. This was evermore running in my head and that the Germans also would occasion the loss of the Cittadel into which an Ensign of that Nation every night entred to keep Guard there and that was the reason why I plac't an Ensign of Siennois in Guard overagainst the Gate of the Cittadel Signior Cornelio prevail'd so far with the Rheincroc that he promised him that in case of an Alarm and that the Enemy should offer an assault to the Cittadel the German Captain that he plac't there every night upon the Guard should from him have command to let in the Siennois to help to defend it though I think he that night forgot so to do Every night I went to see a Company of French Foot mount the Guard in the Fort Camoglia and another of Siennois betwixt the Fort and the Gate of the City under a great Market-house which on the two sides was enclosed with a little Trench but in the front of it which went directly to the Fort it was all plain with the pavement and it might be from this Court of Guard to the Fort threescore or fourscore paces and as much to the Gate of the City I plac't this Guard there for two reasons whereof one was to relieve the Fort if occasion should be as the other Company of Siennois was to do the Cittadel and the other to watch that the Enemy did not storm the Wall of the City forasmuch as on the left hand at the going out of the Town the wall was very low and moreover a part thereof fallen down I had several times before said to Signior Cornelio and to the Count de Gayas seeing Captain St. Auban's Company enter into the Fort these words Would you believe that it eternally runs in my mind that we shall lose this Fort thorough the default of Captain St. Auban and his Company I never saw him enter into it that it did not put me into a â—it of an Ague out of the ill conceit I had of him I could never fancy him in my heart because he never had twenty men of appearance in his Company for he valued a Teston more than the bravest man under the Sun and as to himself he would never stir from his lodging for any thing either I or any of his companions could say to him I could have wisht him far enough off I had so strange an aversion to him And these were the reasons why I ever fancied that this man would bring upon me some mischief or other Our Fort of Camoglia was environ'd with a ditch of a Pikes length in wideness and as much in depth and not much more on three sides and in the front of it which butted directly upon the Siennois Court of Guard nothing but a little Rampire of six or seven foot high and no more and about the middle of the Rampire there was a little lenâ—h or half pace where the Soldiers had so much room only as to sustein themselves upon their knees The Enemy had another Fort three times as big as ours and just opposite to it within an hundred and fifty paces the one of the other So that neither they nor we durst pop up a head without being hurt from that Quarter and in ours there was a little Tower exactly overagainst theirs where for greater security we had evermore threâ— or four Soldiers which serv'd us for Centinels and who got up into it by a little hand ladder as they do into a Pidgeon-house The said Tower had been broke through on that side towards the Enemies Fort and we had there plac't barrels fill'd with earth for the hole had been made by the Artillery from their Fort. Which Fort of theirs Monsieur de Termes had caused to be made but when he went away it was not wholly finish't nevertheless when the Duke of Florence broke with the King the Marquis in one night made a very long march carrying a great number of Pioneers along with him and possesâ—ing himself of it for there was no Guard kept there immediately put it into defence Now as I have said before at one of the clock in the night the Marquis at once gave me a Scalado both to the Cittadel and the Fort Camoglia where by ill luck the Company of St. Auban was this night upon duty The Marquis with the Spanish and German Foot assaulted the Cittadel where by good fortune they had but three Ladders long enough and at the very first so overcharg'd those three with men that one of them broke Our Gâ—rmans defended and the Siennoâ—s presented themselves at the Gate as they were appointed to do But the Captain of the Germans who had the command of the Gate would by no means let them in This dispute lasted for above half an hour during which five or six of the Enemy entred and forc't the Germans who began to turn their backs and fly They then open'd the Gate to the Siennois who ran to the head of the Cittadel where the Enemy began to enter and met these five or six who were already entred whom they cut in pieces two of them being the Marquis his Kinsmen one whereof did not immediately die and this cool'd the courage of the rest who were upon the point to enter At the same time they gave a Scalado to the Fort Camoglia St. Auban was in the City in bed at his â—ase and his Lieutenant call'd Comborcy was at the Fort a young man of no experience but that I think had
not take arms both young and old nor a man that discovered the least affection to the Emperor which gave me a great assurance of two things one of their Loyalty and the other of their Courage Three dayes after the Marquis sent me a Trumpet the same who had brought me the Present before to see if any one of those was living who had entred the Cittadel and that he would not deny to me but that there were two of his Kinsmen Signior Cornelio then carried him to look upon that who was yet alive and he prov'd to be one whereupon the Trumpet immediately returned to the Marquis to acquaint him with it who at the same instant sent him back again entreating me to restore him back to him and that he would be responsible to me for his ransome which I did in a Litter he had sent to that purpose but he died three dayes after he came into their Camp Methinks you Governors of places ought here to take a fair exemle to present your selves to the fight For there are some who say that a Governor or a Lieutenant of a Province never ought to hazard his own person arguing that if he chance to miscarry all is lost I grant them that he ought not to expose himself at all times and upon every light occasion like an ordinary Captain but when all lies at stake what is it that you are made Governors and Lieutenants for what question will be made of your courage and how will your honor and reputation be brought into dispute Will it think you acquit you to say I would not hazard my self in the fight left losing my self I should lose all especially in the night to relieve a Fort or a Citadel considering I was however able to defend the Town This excuse will not serve your turn and believe me the loss of a Fort is of so great importance that your Enemy has by that means one foot upon your throat already you are therefore to die or to recover what you lost as I did having at my going out caused the Wicket to be shuâ— to take from us all hopes of retreat being resolv'd to die or to expel the Enemy and also letting them alone with their Conquest I had been infallibly lost And you Captains my Camrades take notice and exemple by St. Auban that you may value valiant men above money for the love of money will lead you to the loss of your lives and reputations and valiant men about you will defend both one and the other and preserve you from danger and dishonor Admire and follow as near as you you can the great heart of Charry who although half dead would yet come to the fight and presented himself to enter the first and pass by a Ladder through a hole than which a more dangerous passage could not possibly be for in such a place an Enemy has a mighty advantage No danger nevertheless could deterre this brave Soldier from running the hazard To conclude I shall tell you Governors of places that whenever you entertain an ill opinion of an Officer you provide against his remisness cowardise or inâ—idelity as I did by placing the Companies near to the Forts But I had done better St. Auban being suspected to me since I could not totally rid my hands of him to have employ'd him in some other place It has since taught me to be wiser and I have found advantages by it having never since that time entrusted any man of whom I had a mislike There are wayes enow to shake them off without either offending any other or disincouraging the party himself A little after as we understood there came a Gentleman of the Emperor's Bed-Chamber who brought letters to the Duke of Florence and to the said Marquis wherein he writ them word that he thought it very strange this War should continue so long and that he very well knew Sienna was not a place to resist Canon but that it was the Marquis his custom evermore to spin out a War in length In answer whereunto the Marquis remonstrated that he had done all that in him possibly lay and knew very well that Artillery would not take the Town for I had valiant men within and the whole City were resolute to stand to me to the last speaking more honourably of me than I deserv'd commending my vigilancy and the provision I had made for my defence so that he very well knew by the good order I had taken in the City he should but lose so much time by attempting to batter Notwithstanding the Gentleman being come from the Emperor to this effect and having already spoke with the Duke of Florence they together order'd it so that they made the Marquis at last resolve upon a Battery He had before omitted nothing that a good Soldier ought to do having coop't us close in without any hopes of relief and yet he was accused of a design to protract the War But it is the ordinary reward of a man's endeavour when things do not succeed according to the appetite of such as talk of things at their cafe The desires of those we serve and fight for run a great deal faster than we are able to follow About the twentith of January we had notice that the Artillery set out of Florence to the number of six or eight and twenty Canon or double Culverine to come to the Camp The Siennois hearing this news were so curious as to send out a spy that they might be certain of the truth of this report who at his return bringing them word back that the Artillery was already come as far as Lusignano it put the whole City into some apprehension and made them resolve the next day to assemble all the Gentry and the chief of the City to the Palace there to determine amongst themselves whether they should abide the assault or surrender upon composition Now I was not to huffe and vapour with these people for they were stronger than I I was therefore necessitated to win them by gentle remonstrances and civil perswasions without the least heat or shew of anger and you may believe it was not without great violence to my own nature that I proceeded after this manner contrary to my disposition and the image the Constable had represented of me to the King as he had seen me in my younger and more precipitous age A prudent and staid Governor when he is amongst strange Nations must try as much as in him lies to conform himself to the humour of the people with whom he has to do With the Germans and Swiss you must be cholerick and rough with the Spaniards you must observe their starcht face and formality and pretend to be a little more religious and devout than you perhaps really are with the Italians you must be discreet and circumspect neither to offend them in themselves nor to court their wives as for the French man he is for
ability and poorly experimented to know how to order what should be done for the defence of your City What do you believe the King has so little kindness for you as to send me hither had he not had a great confidence in my capacity and before hand made sufficient tryal elsewhere both what I am and what I can do I shall tell you nothing of my self it would not become me to be my own Trumpet something you have seen your selves and the rest you may have heard from others You may then well judge that the King has not singled out me amongst so many Gentlemen of his Kingdom and has not sent me to you without having well weigh'd what I am able to do by the long experience he has had not only of my Politicks in point of Gorvernment of which you may hitherto have taken some notice But moreover of my conduct in matter of Arms when an Enemy would carry a place by fine force Do you fear Gentlemen my courage will fail me in time of need what then do all those testimones I have given you since my coming hither being sick avail You have seen me sally out from the time I have been able to mount to horse to go to see the skirmishes so near that my self commanded them And have you altogether forgot the day that I entred into this City and the great skirmish I then made Your people saw it and had a share in the sight and upon Christmas Eve yet a greater where the sight lasted for fix long hours together Did I not then â—ight in my own person Did you not then see that I neither wanted judgement to command nor valour to fight I am asham'd to say so much of my self but seeing you all know it to be true I need not blush to speak it I will tell you nothing but what your selves have seen I am no bragging Spamard I am a Frenchman and moreover a Gascon the most frank and plain dealing of all that Nation Now methinks Gentlemen you have so much experience of your selves as will render you worthy of a perpetual reproach should you go less in your resolution besides the ruine it would infalliby bring upon you Methinks you ought to know me sufficiently having been so long amongst you and that I have omitted nothing of what the King propos'd to himself I should perform for his service and yours in the greatest necessity and danger All this that I have remonstrated to you as well for what concerns your own particular as what relates to my self ought to make you lay aside all apprehension and to assume the courage and magnanimity that your Predecessors and selves who are now living have ever had Wherefore I beseech you that you will unanimously take up such a resolution as valiant men such as you are ought to take that is to dye with your weapons in your hands rather than to loose your Sovereignty and the liberty you have so long exercis'd and enjoy'd And for what concerns me and these Coloness and Captains whom you see present here we swear in the presence of God that we will dye with you as at this instant we will give you assurance It is not for our benefit nor to acquire Riches neither is it for our â—afe for you see we suffer both thirst and hunger it is only in pursuance of our duty and to acquit our selves of our Oath to the end that it may one day be said and by you that it was we who defended the liberty of this City and that we may be called Conservators of the Liberty of Sienna I then rose up bidding the German Interpreter to remember well all I had said to repeat it to Rhinecroc and his Captains and then directed my speech to the Colonels and said to them Signori mi frâ—â—talli juriamo tutti promettiamo inanzi Iddio che noi moriremo tutti l'arme in mano conessi loro per adjutar lia deffendere lor sicuressa liberta ogni uno di noi â— obligi per le soi Soldati alsate tutti le vostre mani Which being said every one held up his hand and the Interpreter told it to the Rhinecroc who also held up his hand and all the Captains crying Io io buerlie and the other Oâ—y oâ—y we promise to do it every one in his own Language Whereupon the Captain of the people arose and all the Council returning me Infinite thanks and then turn'd towards the Captains whom he also very much thank'd and with great chearfulness They then entreated me that I would retire to my Lodgings till such time as they had spoken with all the Council who were in the great Hall without and given them an account of what I had remonstrated to them which I accordingly did and at my going out of the little room I there met with Missâ—r Bartolomeo Cavalcano who knew nothing of the Proposition I had made for he entred not into the Council Chamber who told me in my ear that he thought they had all taken a resolution not to endure a Battery I then carried him back with me to my Lodgings and three hours after came four of the Magistracy of which Misser Hieronimo Espano was one having in charge from all the Signeury in general to return me infinite thanks and he told me that Misser Ambrosiâ— Mitti had made a speech in the accustomed chair which is in the middle of the great Hall against the wall giving them to understand what a Remonstrance I had made to them wherein he forgot nothing for he was a man of great Eloquence and wisdom and the Oath that all the Colonels and Captains had taken finally exhorting them to resolve all to fight I do not remember whether they put it to the Balotte or if they held up their hands as we had done But they all four assur'd us that they had never seen a greater joy then what generally appear'd amongst them after the Proposition of the said Ambrosia Mitti Telling me moreover that after I had been in the said Hall and made an end of the forementioned Harangue the two Gentlemen who had deliver'd their opinions before that they ought to capiculate and come to a composition with the Enemy had requested the Senate to do them that favour as to conceal what they had said and take no notice of it but give them leave to vote anew which being accordingly done they again deliver'd their opinions that they ought to â—ight and enter into no kind of composition but rather dye with their Arms in their hands I then told Misser Hieronimo Espano that I would retire my self for all that day and for all that night to write down the order of the fight which having done I would immediately send it to the Germans in their Language and to the French in theirs Governors and Captains you ought to take some example here forasmuch as there are some who
that we could see all along the breach About noon they gave over their Battery below and began to batter the middle of the wall when so soon as I saw them begin to let in light I left Signior Cornelio who continually went up and down from place to place and took Monsieur de Bassompâ—erre with whom I went to the Fort Camoglia from whence we could plainly see into the recoyle of their Canon but I shall leave this disconrse to finish the Order I left a French Company at the Fort Camoglia another at the Citadel there being already two Companies of Siennois at each more than two Companies of Germans at the place each a part by themselves one of Italians at the Port St. Mark and all along the wall towards Fonde-brando Siennois and towards Porto Novo the same having given the word to the two French Companies that in case I should stand in need I would send for them leaving the Siennois still in the Citadel and in the Fort. The same Instructions I left with the Germans and had taken order that from six hours to six hours we would change the word as well by day as by night to the end that whilst every one lay close at his post if there should be any Traytor amongst us he might go to no place where he might have any Intelligence with the Enemy to draw men from that part to weaken that Post to carry them to another but that no one should be believ'd if he did not bring the word in changing of which it should be carried to the Siennois by two of the Council of Eight by the one to the one half and by the other to the other so that unless those themselves brought the word they were not to stir from their Post. I was ever afraid that the Marquis had some intelligence in the City which made me take this course to prevent him The Germans who were at the great place had the same command and moreover that an Officer or a Serjeant of the others should come to fetch them to which end there were six Serjeants chosen out of our Italian and French Companies who had in charge that during the time of the Battery or of an Assault they should continually be moving along the Curtain of the Wall to the Quarters I had appointed and never to abandon their Quarter It was also ordain'd that no one upon pain of death of what Nation soever not so much as the Siennois themselves should dare to abandon the Retirade being of the number of those who were there appointed for the fight and the same was carried quite round the walls of the City It was also order'd that oâ— eight of the Council of War four were continually to remain with me and Signior Cornelio to the end that the two who remain'd with him might go continually on horseback with the word to fetch such succours as Signior Cornelio should send for to relieve him if occasion should be and my two the like that is to say of the Captains of the City and the other four should go to the places where the six Serjeants were appointed to be to the end that they might joyntly encourage the Soldiers to fight if necessity should require And there where there was no business to be done and that any came to them with the word for succours they should deliver him the one half and keep the rest to defend that Post. That the Officers of the King as Controulers Commissaries of victual Treasurers or their Deputies should ordinarily be part by day and part by night still on horseback riding up and down the streets of the City and that from hour to hour one of them should bring me news how all things stood in the body of the City and about the Walls bringing us still some token or another that they had spoke with the four of the Council and the Serjeants who were deputed with them This was the order I gave at least as much as I remember never failing my self every day to visit the Companies and to encourage the Inhabitants to do well I now return to what we did at the Fort Camoglia Monsieur de Bassompierre ran to fetch a Canon we had in the Ciâ—adel but as he went out to remove it the Carriage broke so that instead of it he brought a Demy-Canon which a Siennois the said Bassompierre had entertein'd in the quality of a Canoneer evermore shot in and so well that he could hit with it as small a mark as if it had been a Harquebuz He was assisted by some Italian and French Soldiers of the Citadel to bring it whilst I was making ready a Platform with the Soldiers of the Fort till my Company of Pioneers came which I had sent for in all haste and in less than an hour and a half we dispatcht it where I mounted my Demy-Canon I gave ten Crowns to our Siennois that he might make some good shots with that Piece here as he had done several at the Citadel before The Enemy had plac't Gabions on the Flanck of their Battery towards us Bassompierre and I went a little on the right hand and observ'd the Bullet in the air like a hat on fire flying very wide on the right hand and the second as much on the left which made me ready to eat my own flesh for rage Monsieur de Bassompierre always assur'd me that he would presently take his level right and still went and came to and fro betwixt him and me The third shot light upon the bottom of the Gabions and the fourth playd directly into their Artillery and there kill'd a great many of their men whereupon all those that assisted fled behind a little house which was in the rear of their Canon At which I ran and took him in my arms and seeing him with his Linstock ready to fire again said to him Fradel â—io da li da seno per dio facio ti presente daâ—teri dieci scoâ—di d'une biechier de vino Graeco I then left him the French Captain who had the Guard of the Fort to furnish him continually with such things as he stood in need of and Monsieur Bassompierre and I return'd to our Post. There then advanc't a German Ensign to the Enemies battery who came along by the other Gabionade with his colours flying and this might be about four of the clock in the afternoon we could see him march from behind the Observance and was no sooner come to the Artillery but our Piece fir'd and kill'd the Ensign upon which the Germans immediately fled away retiring to the place from whence they came And this Sienuois made so many brave shots that he dismounted them six pieces of Canon and their Artillery remain'd totally abandon'd till the beginning of the night without playing any more than two pieces of Canon that were covered with Gabions and â—lanckt towards the Fort Camoglia which our Artillery could not
touch because they shot over by reason of the height of the Gabions and in the twilight they made seven or eight shots at the Obsâ—rvance where we were and the houses adjoyning and of all night after shot no more We work't exceeding hard all night to finish our Retirade and the Count de Bisque was no less diligent at the Antiport so that two hours before day all was perfected and every one settled in his Post where he was to fight That which made us make so much haste was that we heard a great noise at their Artillery and thought they were bringing up the rest which made me put out a man to discover their Battery who brought us word that they had cut above fourscore paces of the wall within a span or two of the bottom and that he believ'd in a few hours they would have beaten it totally down which we did not much care for though they did for we hop'd to sell them their Entry very dear and about an hour before day they ceased their noise which made us think that they only expected the break of day to give fire I then mounted upon the wall having Captain Charry always with me who by main force would needs have me down when the day began to break and soon after I perceiv'd that at the Windows of the Gabions there was no Artillery and that instead of planting more they had drawn off those there were I then called out to Signior Cornelio that we were out of danger of an Assault and that the Enemy had drawn off their Canon at which news every one began to come upon the wall where the Siennois sufficiently rated the Enemy in their language saying Coioni marrani venete qua vi metteremo per terra vinti brassi di muri They were constrain'd to stay three days at the foot of the mountain to repair their Carriages which the Demy-Canon we had brought to Fort Camâ—glia had broken and spoild them Now as I have already said the Gentleman of the Emperors Bedchamber had all the while kept a great deal of clutter what Canon would do to the winning of the Town but after he had been an eye witness of all that has been related and that the Marquis had remonstrated to him that the Retirade and those other Fortifications I made within was to let him enter and to give him Battail in the City for if I knew what he did he was no less enform'd of my proceeding there being evermore one Traytor or another amongst all people he then was of the same opinion with the Marquis and the other Captains that the Town was never to be taken by force but that it was to be reduc't to famine and therefore thought it convenient that the Artillery should be sent back to Florence He then return'd back to his Master to give him an account of what he had seen and that the Marquis could do no more than what he had already done I do not know whether or no he acquainted the Emperor with the fright he had been in which the Marquis himself gave me a relation of at my going out of Sienna as he went along with me above two miles of my way where he told me that at the time when their Artillery was forsaken by reason of the Havock our Demy-Canon made amongst them he was close by the side of the little house in his Litter being then very lame of the Gout where his Litter being set down upon the ground this Gentleman of the Emperor 's was talking to him having his hands upon the Cover of the Litter and his head within it whispering with the said Marquis when our Governor seeing the Artillery abandoned and every one retyr'd under the shelter of the little house made a shot at it with which a part of the wall which was of brick fell upon the Litter so that the said Gentleman was by it beaten down upon the Marquis's Legs sc astonish't as nothing more and the Marquis swore to me that in his life he was himself nevâ—r in so much fâ—ar of being kill'd as at that time that they drew the Gentleman out from off his legs and himself after with much ado all the Litter being full of the ruine and covering of the said house And the said Marquis moreover told me that at the great fright he was in his Gout left him for the whole ruine fell at once upon him and upon the Gentleman who verify thought himself to be kill'd I have often heard that the apprehension of death has cur'd many diseases I know not if the Marquis his Gout be returned since but he assur'd me he had never had it after from that fright till the time I saw him If it be return'd or no I leave others to enquire This might be about the middle of Ianuary and not above eight dayes after we began to perceive that the Germans grew very impatient at the little bread they had having no wine which was the most insupportable of all The Rhinecroc himself who was sickly could no longer endure there being nothing to be had unless it were a little horse-â—lesh or a piece of an Ass. Signior Cornelio and I then began to contrive which way we might get these Germans out of the City and conceited that if they were gone we could yet keep the Town above two moneths longer whereas if they staid we should be necessicated to surrender we therefore concluded to send a man privately to Monsieur de Strâ—zzy to remonstrate all this to him and to entreat him to send for them after the most plausible manner he could which I also directed him how to do and sent to him Captain Cosseil who is now my Ensign very well instructed It was with exceeding great difficulty that he was to pass which that he might do we were to fight two Courts of Guard by reason that the Marquis had already cast up a great number of Trenches which came up close to the walls of the City on every side Of these Captain Charry fought the one and the Count de Gayas with a Company of Italians the other so that whilst they were fighting he got over the Trench and recovered the rear of the Camp with his Guides and two dayes after return'd in Company with an Italian Gentleman call'd Captain Flaminio who brought Letters to the Rhinecroc and to me also wherein Monsieur de Strozzy writ to me to send the Rhinecroc with his Companies out to him for that he intended to set on foot a flying Army having with him great store of Italian horse and foot and that without some of those Tramontane sinews he should never be able to relieve me and that he would protest against me if the City was lost To the Rhinâ—croc likewise he sent very obliging letters having before-hand made Captain Flaminio very perfect in his Lesson The Rhinecroc upon the receiving these orders broke out into very
concern'd to entreat them not to despair and to tell them that I would take order no blood should be shed and that I gave no credit to those Letters and Crosses Signior Cornelio also assisted me very much in this affair who had a very great interest in the City by reason of the Cardinal of Ferrara with whom he had always liv'd during his abode in this City Now three or four days after this thinking the fury to be over behold another Letter and another Cross found in the same manner as before At which every boody lost all patience and would immediately drag all three to execution I then ran to the pallace taking Signior Cornelio and Signior Bartolomeo along with me As I was going it came into my head that I had no way to divert this blow but by a colour of devotion and so soon as I came there I found the great Hall already almost full of men of the Reformators and of the Order of the people when so soon as I enter'd into the Hall of the Magistracy they all began to cry out that it was now no longer time to forbear but that they were to proceed to a speedy execution of Iustice whereupon having taken my place I spoke to them in Italian as at other times after this manner Gentlemen since the time that I have had the honor to Command in your City by the appointment of the King my Master you have never undertaken any thing whether as to matters of War or as to the Government of your Corporation without first communicating to me your intention and asking my opinion and advice Wherein by God's good pleasure I have been so happy that I have hitherto never advis'd you to any thing which has not succeeded to your advantage and honor neither would I do it for the world my own life and safety not being dearer to me than your preservation Seeing then Gentlemen I have been so fortunate as ever to have given you sound and useful counsels let me beseech you to retain the same opinion of me now and to give credit to me in an affair of so great importance as this that presents it self before you with which your judgements seem to be very much perplex'd I beg of you with joyn'd hands and in the name of God that of all things you take heed of embruing your hands in the blood of your Citizens till the truth shall be fully known neither can it possibly be long conceal'd 't is to much purpose to cover the fire the smoak will however issue out in like manner they may endeavour to mask and disguise this practice but the truth will infallibly appear All the world and I beseech you be of my opinion cannot make me believe that this is any other than an Artifice and a trick of the Marquis who having found that the Lyon's skin will do him no good has therefore put on that of the Fox the better to bring about his design Which to do he had no better nor more subtile way than by sowing division in the heart of your City And which way could he better do it than by making you believe there are Traytors among you and within your own walls Knowing very well that that would make you not only to imprison such suspected persons but also to put them to death and by that execution to set discord in your City for true blood cannot lye The Parents and friends of the sufferers will bear the death of their kindred though it should be just with great sorrow and discontent and will eadeavour to revenge them by which means behold you have created so many domestick enemies much more dangerous than those without and you will be perplexed about the death of your own people at the time when you meditate that of your open and declared foes See then Gentlemen what joy what satisfaction and delight you will administer to your enemies when they shall know that you busie your selves about cutting off the heads of your own Citizens and of those who I dare say and swear are innocent However it may prove to be the expectation of the truth can no ways be prejudicial to you for you have them in sure hold you are secure of your prisoners you have them under safe custody I will also be vigilant on my part why then should you make such haste to put them to death For the honor of God believe me you will not repent your patience I have no interest but yours let us have recourse to God in so great a necessity Command that all your Clergy to morrow ordein a general Procession throughout the whole City and let every one be enjoyn'd to be assisting at it and let them joyn in prayer that it may please God to do us that grace as to discover to us the truth of this affair the treason if treason there be and the innocency of the Prisoners if there be none I assure my self that God will hear us and you will soon be satisfied of the truth after which you may proceed to justice against the guilty if cause require but to do it before and in heat to embrew your hands in the blood of your Citizens without having mâ—turely weighed every circumstance you would in my opinion do very ill and bring a great mischief upon your City Gentlemen the sole affection I have to your service your safety and conservation has made me speak thus freely to you without any other consideration and I once more most earnestly beseech you to grant me this favour as for a few dayes to supersede your sentence which in the mean time we will employ in prayers and supplications that God will please by manifesting to us the truth to direct our justice I had no sooner ended my Speech but that a confused murmur arose throughout the whole Hall some saying I and others no for there will be evermore some opposers but in the end my advice was followed and presently intimation given to the Churches and to all the people to prepare themselves against the next day for a general Procession to pray unto Almighty God for as for fasting we had enough of that already I was my self assisting at the Procession and all the Captains together with all the Gentlemen and Ladies of the City the Kindred of the Prisoners followed weeping and to be short all the whole body of the City this day and the day following were in humiliation and prayer every one beseeching of God that he would please to afford us that grace as to discover the truth of this treason In the mean time I slept not for all the night Signior Cornelio and I were in consultation which way this practice of the Marquis could be set on foot I consider'd with my self that the business being gone thus far he who carried on the designe would not rest there and that the Council of the City would not be kept so secret that
request to the Senate to give me his life and to banish him for ever that all things might be husht up and that the Marquis might not say that any of his policies had succeeded any more than his attempts by arms And thus were all things discovered and hudled up for the Senate granted my request I have often since wondred how I came to be so discreeâ— and so moderate in an affair of this importance considering how reasonable it was that an exemple should be made but it would peradventure have done more hurt than good We must not alwayes be so severe and the seeing others so hot upon blood I do believe made me a little more temperate And you Gentlemen who have the charge of places do not suffer your selves to be transported at the first appearance of things nor upon too light information consider and weigh the circumstances and hinder the violence of the people over whom you command by one pretence or another as I did amusing them with Processions nor that that was not nevertheless well done but I would see if time would make any discovery and had I suffered these men to have been put to death their kindâ—ed might perhaps have been prompted with some spirit of revenge Above all things endeavour to preserve unâ—on amongst those over whom you shall happen to command as I did in this City where all was accommodated and appeased Consider also with what enemy you have to do for you may well imagine that he will leave no stone unremov'd nor no artifice untri'd to set division in your City as I have formerly read in Livie the great Captain Hanâ—ibal did to sow dissension amongst the Romans Your wisdom and prudence Governors of places must discern if there be appearance in the thing whether or no the party accused be a man capable of practice or have any means whereby to bring his purpose about and whether or no he have done any thing any wayes tending to such a design If in apprehending him you discover any confusion in his countenance or variation in his answers You ought in this to be very circumspect and discreet and to consider that there is nothing more easie than to calumniate a man God be praised all here passed with moderation and the Prisoners with their friends came to give me thanks Now after the Marquis saw himself disappointed of his expectation and that all his plots and stratagems came to nothing he suffer'd us to rest in peace not expecting to have us till we should be reduced to the last morsel of bread and we began to enter into the month of March when we were in the greatest necessity of all things for of wine there had not been one drop in the whole City from the middle of February We had â—aten all the Horses Asses Mules Cats and Rats that were in the Town Cats sold for three and four Crowns a piece and a Rat for a Crown And in all the whole City there was onely remaining four old Mares so lean as nothing more which turned the Mills two that I had the Controller la Moliere his the Treasurer P Espine another Signior Cornelio a little Bay pad-Nag that was blind with age and Misser Hieronimo Hispano a Turk of above twenty years old These were all the Horses and Mares that were left in the City in this extremity which was greater than I can represent it and I do believe there is not in nature so dreadful a thing as Famine We had from Rome some hopes sent us of succours and that the King was sending away the Mareschal de Brissâ—c to relieve us which was the reason that we again lessened our bread to twelve ounces and the Soldiers and Citizens of the Town to nine whilst in the mean time by little and little we lost several Inhabitants and Soldiers who fell down dead as they walked the streets so that they died without sickness At last the Physicians found it out that it was the Mallows they fed upon that being an herb that does relax the stomack and obstructs digestion Now we had no other herbs all along the walls of the City they having been all eaten before neither could we come by these without sallying out to skirmish and then all the women and children of the Town went out to gather them But I saw I lost so many men in these skirmishes that I would no more permit any one to saâ—ly out Now to hear any more news of the Mareschal de Brissac was henceforward impossible for the Trenches were brought up to the very Gates of the City which Trenches the Marquis had also redoubled for fear we should sally out upon him in despair and give him Battail as the Siennois in their antient wars had formerly done as themselves report In this condition we languished on till the 8th of April that we had lost all manner of hopes of relief and then it was that the Seigneury intreated me not to take it ill if they began to think of their presâ—rvation When seeing there was no other remedy unless to eat one another I could not deny them cursing to the pit of hell all those who engage men of honor in places and then leave them in the lurch Yet did I not herein intend to speak of the King my good Master he lov'd me too well for that but those who gave him ill counsels to the prejudice of his affairs and I have ever observ'd more evil than good Counsellors about Princes They then sent out one of their people to the Marquis to entreat of him a safe conduct for two of their Senate whom they would send to him which he granted and they began to capitulate The Marquis himself did very much facilitate the Treaty and they began to enter into great confidence of him for he very well saw that to cause the City to be sack'd and ruin'd would be no profit neither to the Emperor nor the Duke of Florence and would only benefit the Soldier and on the other side he fear'd left if the Siennois could obtain no good conditions we should sally out upon him a la desesperade having already lost above the third part of his men who were either dead through the length of the Siege or run away so that he had almost no Italians who were quarter'd at the Fort St. Mark and the Marquis had remain'd for above a moneth with no more than six Ensigns for the Guard of his own person all the rest being in the Trenches neither could he ever relieve them with more than ten Ensigns and those had only one night of intermission and some such Guards there were that were not reliev'd in six days To this condition was he reduc'd without as well as we within neither could he make any use of his horse no more than Monsieur de Strozzy could of the Cavalry he had by reason that there was no manner of thing upon the
Signior Chiapino was gone from us the Marquis embracing me in his arms said these words in as good French as I could have spoke my self Adieu Monsieur de Montluc I pray present my most humble service to the King and assure him that I am his most humble and affectionate servant as much my honour safe as any Gentleman in Italy I then return'd him thanks for the good inclination he had towards the King and the courtesies I had receiv'd at his hands which I would proclaim in all places wherever I should come and when it should ever lie in my power to do him service would requitâ— He offer'd me the same and so we fell to embrace again He had then no more than four or five horse with him they being all behind in the same order he had left them and so he return'd back towards the City and soon after Signior Chiapino Vitelli return'd where we also embrac'd and parted We then went to Arbierroute a little Village upon the Tresse or else the River it self is call'd Arbie and there we found eighteen Asses loaden with bread which the Marquis had sent thither to distribute amongst us upon the way of which one part I gave to the Siennois another to the Italians and the third to the French To do which as I pass'd through the Spaniards I saw that the Soldiers had also purposely brought bread along with them to give to our people I dare boldly say and that by the testimony of those who were then with me that this bread sav'd the lives of two hundred persons and there are many who will affirm that it sav'd the lives of four hundred and yet could it not go so far that there was not above fifty who dy'd that very day for we had been from Wednesday till Sunday without eating any more than six ounces of Biscuit a day a man and upon the Thursday of two horses I had I kill'd one that would now be worth 900 Crowns he was then indeed very lean which I divided amongst the Italian and French Companies causing all the oyl to be taken out of the Lamps in the Churches which I likewise divided amongst the Souldiers who with Mallows and Nettles boil'd this flesh and oyl and so sustein'd themselves till Sunday morning when not a man amongst us at our going out had eaten one bit of any thing in the world The Marquis also caus'd four Borachio's of wine to be brought for me together with five or six loaves of white bread and so soon as we came to Arbierroute we halted and under some Sallows that were by the River side eat our bread I gave two of my Bottles of Wine to the Siennois the other two we drank our selves each one a little and afterwards went on our way directly towards Montalsin when so soon as we came to Boncovent Signior Cabry made the foot Convoy to return but till he saw Monsieur de Strozzy who came out with a party of horse to meet us would himself never leave us and then he bade me farwel taking me in his arms as he did Signior Cornelio the Count de Gayas and all our Captains for he was a very worthy Gentleman and a brave Soldier as any they had in their Camp So soon as we came up to Monsieur de Strozzy we embrac'd without being able either of us to utter one word neither am I able to say which of us had his heart the most full of the remembrance of our fortunes In this manner then nothing but skin and bone and more like Ghosts than men we arriv'd at Montalsin which was upon Sunday and all Monday and Tuesday we were shut up with the Treasurers and Comptrollers to examine and state our accompts and to see what I had borrow'd to lend the Souldiers where we found that the King was four months to us in arrear and Monsiâ—ur de Strozzy gave me 500 Crowns of his own money to carry me into France I dare swarâ— he had not half so much more left for Signior Cornelio and I had been constrain'd to borrow 400 Crowns to disengage his great Order which he had pawn'd to a Jew at the beginning when he came to Sienna I would afterwards have restor'd it to him and namely at Thionville though he would never receive it but laugh'd at me and this was the end of the Siege O Camrades you who shall do me the honor to read my Book will you not grant me what I have said before that God did ever as much go along with my fortune as with that of any other Captain of my time You have observ'd the great adversities I sustein'd in this Siege and the little helps I had nothing being to be expected from without his Majesty having his hands so full on eveâ—â— side You have heard that no art nor force was spar'd to reduce me you have also seen the great famine I endur'd the traverses the Marquis perplext me withal and the extremities to which I was at last reduc'd which if you please maturely to consider you will find that I have been as much assisted by Almighty God as any man that has born Arms these hundred years I cannot lye in my Book if I would there are too many witnesses alive for that Do you not then see that I spoke the truth when I said before that we are to employ all that God has given to men before we give our selves for overcome Pray consider whether or no any thing was here to be omitted or whether I ever omitted or forgot any thing in what condition soever I was but put this poor City and moreover the Kings honour and reputation in dispute throughout the whole world I never call it to mind but it makes me sad to think what a folly I committed in exposing this City together with his Majestities reputation and all the rest of us to the Enemies discretion at the last morsel of bread For the King would by no means have had me reduc'd to that and let any one ask Monsiâ—ur la Chappelle whom his Majesty exprefly dispatch'd away to me to give me advice that I should not suffer my self to be reduc'd to that extremity as to come off to his dishonor Princes are proud and fight more for glory than for purchase and I must needs say that it was not the work of man but of God that we came off so good cheap as we did Two days before we came out of Sienna the Senate gave me my discharge in Patent signed with their broad Seal acknowledging therein that I would neither Capitulate for the City nor for our selves but that considering the extremity to which they were reduc'd I would not hinder them from doing it calling me to witness of the loyalty and fidelity they had manifested to his Majesties service wherein they had in nothing fail'd of the Oath they had made to him and that I went out upon their
me that I must go to his Holiness who had a desire to see me and Monsieur d'Avanson lent me his own Coach I found the Pope newly got up and set in a Chair by his Bed side so ill that he had much ado to speak but nevertheless he entertained me with very great favour I told him that I would not now trouble his Holiness with discourse but that I hoped God would in two or three daies restore him to his health and that then I would come and give him an account how all things had passed at Sienna He then told me that he had already been informed of me but that he should be glad to hear it again from my own mouth adding these words That I might say never any man of what Nation soever had ever had so much interest love and esteem among the Siennois as I. I then took my leave that I might not be a trouble to him and returning back found the Cardinal de Guise still at the Ambassadors to whom I said that they might again go enter the Conclave to choose another Pope for that this by to-morrow night would not be alive and my words prov'd true for the next day about Vespers he died and the day after I took leave of all my friends and went to Civita Vâ—chia which was on Friday and upon Saturday morning by break of day I went aboard The pomps pleasures delights and curiosities of this City could not detein me a day longer conceiving I might elsewhere be serviceable to the King my Master One thing I must needs say though it be in my own commendation that as I passed along the streets and going to the Castle of St. Angelo every one ran to the windows and to their doors to see the man that had so long defended Sienna Which only serv'd to enflame my courage the more to acquire more honor and though I had scarce money to carry me home I fancied my self as rich as the greatest man in France About break of day we set sail with as good a wind as we could desire and in the close of the evening came to Capocorea we there came to an Anchor and two hours before day passed the straight betwixt Sardignia and Corsica and about nine of the clock in the morning came to Bonificaio where was Monsieur de la Molle I had heard at Civita Vechia that Prince Auria was gone towards Piombino with three or four thousand Soldiers which he had embarked in two and fifty Galleys and that he went to fight Monsieur de Termes who was batâ—ring Calvy This intelligence was the reason that I went to Bonificaio to give notice of it to the said Sieur de la Mâ—lle who immediately thereupon sent away to the said Sieur de Termes and so seasonably that he was scarce risen in time to avoid being surpriz'd and was constrain'd as he himself told me since to tumble three pieces of Canon into the Sea which he afterwards went to fish out again I there did him a good turn and a good piece of service for the King my Master You who bear arms and have a desire to serve your Princes well have evermore an eye to every thing that concerns them to give notice of every thing that you conceive conducing to their service I have known some such good friends as have rejoyced at the miscarriage of their Companions thinking to augment their own glory by their disgrace I never did so nor would I do it to the greatest Enemy I had in the world Of this I could produce great and notable exemples but I pass them by to return to my business The Baron de la Garde lay also in a Sea port near unto the place where Monsieur de Termes was and had speedy intelligence that prince Auria's Fleet was out at sea but he knew not where however suspecting the worst he speedâ—'y hoist sail making directly for Marseilles which was the cause of Monsieur de Termâ—s his safety for as Prince Auria thought to have surpriz'd the Baron de la Garde in this Haven where he lay he had intelligence that he was gone away not above five or six hours before which made him to follow after steering the same course which was upon the same Saturday that I had the good gale of wind and pursued him as far as the Isles Dicrcs The Baron without staying held on his course towards Marsâ—illes and it was well he did so for had he â—tayed at the Islands he had been trussed forasmuch as he had no more than fourteen or fifteen Gallies I departed from Monsieur de la Molle upon Sunday about ten of the clock and of all day could make no way the wind being contrary but about two hours before day the same wind we had upon Saturday before return'd and we set forward it being Monday morning About break of day I asked the Knight if they had no bigger sails who told me these were the largest they had enquiring of me why I asked that question and whether I had a mind to make more haste to which I made answer that I had whereupon he presently clapt a sail upon the Missen and about break of day there fell a great mist which continued till the Sun grew pretty high that it began to disperse the Watch then from the Main-top began to cry out a sail a sail and presently after a Galley a Galley at which the Knight told me that they could be no other than either Prince Auria or the Baron de la Garde When the mist suddenly clearing up we saw our selves in the middle of two and fifty Galleys whereof fourteen that were separated from the rest of the Fleet stcered their course toward Sardignia and we were between them Every one in the Galley then began to despair the Pilots would make for the Coasts of Barbary to escape the Master was not of this opinion but rather that we should make forwards by force of Oâ—â—s and Sails St. Auban and the other Captains were in the greatest fright that possibly could be saying that being newly come out of so great an extremity as the Siege of Sienna they were upon the point to be reduc'd to that misfortune as to see themselves chain'd to the Oar which rather than to undergo they had far better die with their swords in their hands What face soever I might set upon the matter I was in no much better heart than they and would have been glad to have been planting Cabages On a sudden four of the fourteen began to turn their prows to fall upon us whilst the others in the mean time stroke sayl to stay for them and as the other had made all the sail they could to come upon us with all their Oars amain the heads of their Galleys were just over against our Cook-room Now the Knight all this while not speaking one word whilst every body in the Galley was crying
Oration in Italian Monsieur de Lansac is yet living who so soon as I had done told me that he could never have believ'd that a Gascon could have made so good an Italian Gentlemen since the time that the Duke of Alva is approached something near unto your City it appears to us French that you have conceiv'd some new apprehension and without any great cause insomuch that upon the least Alarm you enter into an extraordinary fear and astonishment so that should the Enemy approach your walls whilst you are in this confusion they might enter at pleasure without any great opposition forasmuch as when you ought to keep silence in your City especially in the night and that you ought rather to run to your walls than to shuffle your selves into the strange disorder you do you on the contrary run some to S. Peter others to the Churches and others to the Palaces of the Spanish Cardinals with the greatest confusion in the world This must of necessity proceed from one of two causes either from want of courage or from a defect in your conduct in that you do not strictly command such order as your people ought to observe both by day and by night in a time of danger If you do it for want of courage it is then a sign you have not well consider'd what people your enemies are and what can they be other than men as you are do not we bear the same arms they do and are they not as good as theirs are are not they as vulnerable and as subject to die by our blows as we are by theirs Is not the Pope's quarrel holy and just and better than theirs This ought to make us hope that God is on our side And what part or portion has the King of Spain in Rome what right or title to any of the Pope's Territories or to your habitations that God should assist him more than us What is become of the valour of those ancient Romans who have left you the great renown they acquir'd in their dayes What other Nation does now inhabit Rome that may have depriv'd you of the courage left you by those from whom you pretend to be from all antiquity lineally descended Oh Gentlemen how infiâ—itely do you wrong the reputation of your famous Ancestors in discovering your selves to be afraid of people who are no other than men as you are And you do your enemies the greatest kindness imaginable in giving them occasion to boast that they are terrible to those who formerly made all the Nations of the world to tremble at their arms If this fear proceed from the evil order you have hitherto established there is nothing so far amiss that in one day may not easily be remedied for by entring into present consultation from whence this default proceeds the business is done and so you shall manifest to all the world that it is not want of bravery but of good discipline and your people shall recover heart seeing themselves secur'd by the good orders you shall give Do not think it strange if I declare that I am asham'd of what I see in your City when having been formerly in Sienna commanding a People besieged by the Marquis of Marignano with forces double to what the Duke of Alva has I can say to the great honor of the Siennois that in all that time I never observed so much as any one Citizen afraid Happy are those Siennois who have manifested themselves to be extracted from and the true legitimate Sons of your ancient Fathers who founded these walls and theirs also as they have themselves assured me and do also bear the same arms you do And although their City be lost their valour and renown is not for all that buried nor obscur'd but sit to give every one hopes that it may one day be recover'd by their valour and virtue whereas if you behave your selves no better hereafter than hitherto I have seen you do I cannot forbear to tell you that I would sooner undertake to defend Sienna with the women of that City only to fight under my command than to defend Rome with the best Romans you have Pardon me I beseech you if I tell you the truth for I do it not for any advantage I expect should accrue either to the King my Master or to my self but for your own good and to prevent the total ruine of your City which if it shall be assaulted by your enemies will be miserably sack'd and worse handled then it was in the dayes of Monsieur de Bourbon You may be confident Gentlemen that could I take any pleasure in your ruine I should not now make you this remonstrance in the presence of these honorable persons but being sorry as your servant you being good friends and confederates of the King my Master and desiring to die with you for your conservation I am constrain'd to be thus plain and to say this to you I have done these Gentlemen the Kings Ministers having also assur'd me that you would take it better from me than any other for the esteem you have of me since the Siege of Sienna I beseech you therefore take my advice and if in any thing I may be assisting to you upon the least summons I will immediately attend you in your counsel 'T is possible the remembrance of the Sack of your City by the Seigneur de Bourbon may have put you into some apprehension but you are to consider that you were then surpriz'd but you have now your weapons in your hands Doubt nothing fear not your enemies but divide your City and appoint every one his place to repair unto upon occasion to the end that your own confusion do not deprive us of the means to relieve you if the enemy present himself to the assault dispossess your Citizens of their fear if they be afraid that there may be no confusion and for the rest trouble not your selves for knowing the good order you have taken you shall soon see your enemies forc'd to retire They all return'd me very many thanks and so departed assuring us that they were going to give such orders that the accidents which had hapned before should never be again earnestly intreating me to come the next morning to their Councel and that there they would shew me the order they were going to take to receive thereupon my opinion and advice Which was accordingly done and we altogether provided so well for their affairs that there was no more mention of fear nor sign of disorder I went to the heads of the people and shewed them what they were to do whom I found chearful enough in the business yet this great multitude is composed of divers humors but a man may reduce them all to one when they see it is for their own good and safety In short all things were very much better which the Pope also took exceeding well at my hands Now a few dayes after the
Duke of Alva remov'd his Camp and took his way towards Tivoly twelve miles distant from Rome I know not whether because he understood the City stood better upon its Guard than before and that the order of things was changed there or that his intention was not to approach any nearer to the City And being that in Tivoly was Signior Francisco Vrsino with five Italian Ensignes and that the Town was not strong the Mareschal the Cardinal Caraffa and the Duke de Palliano were afraid that the Duke of Alva was gone to take Tivoly and cut all those in pieces within it which was the reason that they entreated me to march all night to go fetch off the said Signior Francisco giving me the two Troops of light horse of the Popes Guards two Troops of horse of the Duke de Paliano commanded by the Captains Bartolomeo and Ambrosio and four hundred Harquebuzeers under the command of my Son Marc Antony and Captain Charry Cardinal Caraffa had assur'd me upon his honor that the Enemy could not pass the Tiber and that I might make my retreat at pleasure having evermore the Tiber betwixt the Enemy and me By Sun-rise I was at Tivoly with the Horse and the Foot arriv'd two hours after where I found that Signior Francisco had heard no manner of news of the enemies and after I had told him I was in no small doubt what would become of us for I very well knew before I set out from Rome that the Duke of Alva had taken the way of Tivoly and now perfectly understood that he came privately to surprize Signior Francisco forasmuch as he had had no intelligence of his motion I therefore eating only a snap or two causing the horses to be baited and the foot to have a little refreshment ordered Signior Francisco to cause the Drums to beat that we might presently dislodge and put our selves into the field entreating him to lend me a Troop or two of his people who were acquainted with the Countrey for that my self would go play the Scout whilst every one was making himself ready to depart and it was well for me I did so for Signior Francisco having sent out two of his men to discover they return'd as we sate at dinner and had brought word that there was no news of any Enemy in all the Countrey but I would not trust to that and therefore went with my two Troopers when so soon as I was out of Tivoly upon a ridge of a hill I plac'd my self under a Tree for it began to be very hot when presently all along a little Copse I perceived a great number of horse maâ—ching straight down to the Tiber and others in a valley who came directly towards me and in the midst of a plain on this side the little Copse I saw something which I could not discern what it should be I then presently sent word to Signior Francisco that I had discover'd the Camp and that he should in all diligence get his men out of the Town and march them away on the other side of the Tiber. The Soldier whom I had sent to carry him this intelligence was scarce got into the City when behold eighteen or twenty Spanish Ensigns who were laid down in the Plain got up and put themselves upon their march I then gallopped away my self where I found that as yet not so much as one man was got out of the City and hasted the Italian Ensigns with all diligence to march away causing the gate of the City to be shut and there I played a very cunning trick for I carried the keys along with me thinking the enemy could not of a long time break down the gaâ—es for the Tiber passed through the middle of the Town where there is a Bridge and very fair and good Mills in the City it self which I had caused to be begun to be broken from my first arrival but that work could not be finisht I left Captain Charry at the Gate and my Son Marc Antony at the Bridge to sustain him and I went and came running to and fro to hasten the Italians to march when so soon as they were all out of the Gate I went to draw off Captain Charry and we began to break the Bridge which was of wood and immediately the Enemy was in the City I placed Haâ—quebuzeers all along in the houses that looked into the street the Soldiers using extraordinary diligence to break the Bridge after which I marched directly to the Gate I had placed the Cavalry before the Italians and we were inevitably to pass through the streight of the Rocks where we could only pass one by one Till we came to the going out of the Gate we had the Enemy continually upon us and it is no more than fifty paces from the Gate to that straight so that seeing they could not themselves get to us but one by one they gave us over and returned to risle the City Their Italian foot came after the Spaniards and thought to have entred the City to have had their share of the spoil but the Spaniards would never let them in but held them in talk at the Gate whilst they were busie at their plunder So soon as we came to the Pein I made my Son and Captain Charry with the four hundred Harquebuzeers turn on the right hand along the ridge of a Hill about a thousand paces distant from us and the two Companies of the Duke de Paliano telling them the mysterie that in case the Enemy should pass the Tiler they should still make forwards along the ridg towards Rome and take no care for me And indeed we had as good have lost all the Ensigns Monsieur de la Mole had as these four hundred Harquebuzeers for they were the very â—lower of all the Companies I was not got half a mile into the Plain when behold all the Cavalry upon the banks of the Tiber and their Germans who began to pass and particularly some horse by the Mill where they could onely pass one by one I then gave all for lost for I was to retire twelve miles before the whole Army and made no question but that the Cavalry would carry over a great many of Foot behind them but if I lost the one I would not lose the other Now Signior Francisco marched still at a good round rate at about a Harquebuz shot distance from the Tiber and the others along the ridg over against us When fifty or threescore of the Enemies Horse came up to us I then took one of the Captains of the Guard with his Cornet whilst the other still march'd on in the rear of the Foot causing them to mend their pace and faced about upon the Enemy who thereon made a halt and so soon as I made a shew as if I would charge them turn'd their backs to retreat though I cannot imagine why and I turn'd about to pursue my way
to tell me that he began to discover their Cavalâ—y coming out of the Wood whereupon I left the foot Captains with ropes and the strength of the Soldiers to help the Oxen away with the Artillery and Signior Marioul and I with the horse return'd back to Captain Serres But so soon as we came to Captain Serres we from another little hill discover'd the Body of their Cavalry already in the Plain which I suppose had halted to stay for another Troop that was coming out of the Wood. I left Signior Marioul there to sustein Captain Serres and sent to Captain Serres by no means to engage himself in a charge nor suffer the Enemy to come near him but begin by little and little to retire and having left the same order with Signior Marioul I gallopped back to the Artillery which I found within a quarter of a mile of the Ascent and hastned it all I could when so soon as I had got it to the foot of the Hill I saw Signior Marioul coming at a good round trot and Captain Serres following the same pace after I made them still lug the Artillery up the hill and could not get it within fifty paces of the Gate of the City but that I was constrain'd to take out the Oxen and hurry them into the Town placing all our Infantry along the Vines and upon the Wall and draw the horse they being of no further use into the Town which I had no sooner done but the Enemy came up to the very foor of the hill Thus I sav'd all and lost nothing by well computing the time they had to come from Chuzy to be upon us and thorough the great dâ—ligence wherewith I made my retreat Take notice then Captains and remember when you shall be in place where you are to reâ—iâ—e before an Enemy stronger than your selves to compute the time wherein he may come to fight you and be diligent in your retreat whether by day or by night by which means you shall very hardly be surpriz'd Take all things at the worst and imagine your Enemy to be as diligent to surprize you as you are to prevent being surpriz'd The reason of war requir'd that I should do as I did and men must evermore be at watch when they are near an Enemy so that if he be three hours march distant from you double your speed and if it be possible do that in two hours which he may do in three by which means having the start without an infamous flight you shall leave him nothing but the empty Nest. I but a man may object and say perhaps he will never come near me at all and in the mean time I retreat without seeing an Enemy but let me tell you if you stay for that you will be defeated and lost especially if you have Canon to draw off with you which you cannot abandon but with dishonor I perform'd another piâ—ce of diligence to relieve Monsieur de la Montjoye a Kinsman of mine whom I had put into Tallamon The King of Spains Galleys were departed from Cajetta to surprize this place and came to an Anchâ—r before Mount Argentan whom so soon as Monsieur de la Montjoye had discover'd by break of day in the morning he dispatch'd a man post away to me to give me notice who made so good haste that he came to Montalsin by four of clock in the afternoon though it be no less than five and thirty miles Without staying an hour therefore after I heard the news I departed with four hundred Harquebuzeers and my own Troop of horse marching all night without stop or stay until I came to a Village within three miles of Grossette which was seven and twenty miles and I came thither by Sun rise where I made the Soldiers eat something and bait their horses whilst I gallopped away to Grossette where I heard that the Enemy were all about Tallamon which made me suddenly to cause three hundred Harquebuzeers of those of the Garrison of Grossette to pass a River half a mile from thence upon Asses and Horses so that by that time my own men whom I had left baiting were come to the River the three hundred men were pass'd over and upon their march I then sent two Troopers to the said Sieur de Montjoye to bid him stand firm for that I was there to relieve him though he could scarce believe the news not thinking it possible I could be there so soon but that some body had sent him such word only to put him in heart The Enemy had landed three or four hundred men and two Gallies came and plyed him with a great number of Canon shot the thunder of which I no sooner heard but that I advanc'd with my Horse and the three hundred Foot that were already got over and lest Captain Charry to pass over those that I had brought from Montalsin when so soon as the Enemy saw so long a Train of men and that I advanc'd with the three hundred Foot and the Horse they all cast themselves into the water so easily were they perswaded out of their fury It was excessively hot and many of them were in the water to the armpits I had made account to have fought them let them be what number they would for I was very sure they had no Horse but I found that part of the Gallies were reimbarking the Soldiers about Tallamon and at the old Port so that before I could get to them they were all aboard and put out to sea toward Mount-Argentan where the rest of the Gallies lay I believe they thought that Monsieur de Montjoye would surrender upon the Canon shot they playd from the Gallies but he was too brave a Gentleman to be so easily frighted as they imagin'd He was since slain in the late troubles at Aubeterre under Monsieur de Causeus who can give testimony of hisvalour Captains my Camrades you ought not to think it strange that I have never been defeated nor surpriz'd where I have commanded in chief as you shall never be if you carry your selves with the same vigilance and diligence that throughout my whole life I have ever done I perhaps have made my Soldiers do that never any one made men do before for I ever had my tongue at command to remonstrate to them when I have been in place where diligence was requir'd their own honor and the service of the King and also that by diligence only we were to save our own lives 'T is that both adds wings to their feet and inspires them with resolution when the one or the other is necessary Which remonstrances of mine never fail'd of their effect and when a long march was to be perform'd I caus'd bread and wine to be carried along wherewith to refresh them for it you will have your Soldiers make a long march and take nothing wherewith to refresh them humane bodies are not made of iron you must
situate upon a Plain and so open that a bird could not stir without being seen and there they plyed us with their Canon till they had not left a house standing in the whole Village insomuch that we were constrain'd to secure our selves in the Cellars under ground I had pitch'd my Pavillions very cunningly betwixt two Walls but they beat down both Walls and Pavillions in my life I never saw a more furious Counter-battery The night following the Mareschal de Strozzy past the River with Monsieur de Guise and we began to cast up our Trenches along this Plain where we lay seven or eight dayes before we could approach within two hundred paces of the City by reason the nights were short and by day they did so thunder the Trenches that there was no working but by night The Mareschal never stirr'd from us unless he went sometimes to his Tents which yet remain'd on the other side of the water to shift his clothes and that not above once in three dayes He gave me leave to make the Trenches according to my own fancy for we had at first begun them a little two narrow through the wisdom of an Engineer At every twenty paces I made a back corner or return winding sometimes to the left hand and sometimes to the right which I made so large that there was room for twelve or fifteen Soldiers with their Harquebuzes and Halberts and this I did to the end that should the Enemy gain the head of the Trench and should leap into it those in the back corner might fight them they being much more Masters of the Trench than they who were in the straight line an invention that both the Mareschal and the Duke did very well approve of Monsieur de Guise then told me that I must send to discover what effect our Artillery had wrought against the Tower and that I must do it by valiant persons In order whereunto I took with me Captain Sarlabous the younger Millac St. Estephe Cipiere and Captain Montluc my Son and went So soon as we came near unto the Tower we were to pass over certain little Bridges the Enemy had made by which to pass over the Marish to the Tower and being come to the Tower we found a Pallisado of posts as thick as a man's thigh that from the Tower went seven or eight paces into the River and we were to go all along by the Pallisado in water to the end of it and afterwards on the other side of the Pallisado to return to the Tower We had made two Soldiers bring two Pikes along with us I for my part did not go into the water but all the rest past the Pallisado after this manner and one after another view'd the breach that had been made in the Tower and they put a Soldier into it by a Pike and found that within the Tower there was water up to the arm-pits and being the River made a great noise at this place by reason of the Pallisado their Centinels never heard us though the Tower was no more than four paces distant from the Wall of the Town This being done we return'd and went to give Monsieur de Guise an account of what we had seen who would not give credit to our discovery but told me he was certain there was no Pallisado and that people who came lately from thence had assur'd him to the contrary and that therefore the night following we must discover it better I was vext to the blood at this answer but said no more to him but only this that I conceiv'd the testimony of those Captains was sufficient but seeing he was not satisfied with it let some body in the name of God discover it better to which he made-answer that he did not mean I should go my self neither said I do I intend it The Mareschal knew very well that I was angry and said to the Sieur Adrian Baillon and to Count Thâ—ophile I know Montluc is angry by his answer to the Duke of Guise and you shall see if he do not go this night to discover after a terrible manner for I know the complexion of the man This night Monsieur de Guise detein'd the Mareschal with him in his Quarters and so soon as it was night I took four hundred Pikes Corslets all and four hundred Harquebuzeers and went to lay the Corslets upon their bellies upon the ground within a hundred paces of the Gate of the City and I with the four hundred Harquebuzeers marched directly to the Pallisadâ— The Captains themselves who had discover'd before vvere as angry at the answer Monsieur de Guise had given them as I and themselves first passed the Pallisado Now I believe the Enemy had in the morning perceiv'd that people had past by the end of the Pallisado for we there found a Court of Guard of twenty or five and twenty men of which the most part were kill'd and the rest escap'd into the Rampire where our people pursued and entred after them but the door of the Ravelin that went into the Town was so narrow that one man only could pass at a time which was the reason that our men stopt short for the Enemy defended the door Nevertheless they made shift to dismount and tumble a Bastard from the Ravelin on our side down to the ground and being that by the Tower our Artillery from the other side of the water had beaten down part of the Wall so that it was pretty low we with some Pikes that came along with us came to dispute it with them where the fight continued for above a long hour Monsieur de Guise who saw all from the other side of the River was stark mad at what he saw but the Marâ—sâ—hal who was with him laught with Sieur Adrian and the Count de Theophile saying did I not tell you he would make one I had made the Soldiers to carry five or six hatchets along with them with which during the time of the fight I caused all the Pallisado to be cut and pulled up so that we needed no more to wade the water at our return Captain St. Estephe was there slain with the Ensign of Cipierre and another Ensign but they had not their Colours with them for I had brought none together with ten or twelve Soldiers kill'd and wounded Captain Sarlabous is yet living and several others who can witness that had we taken with us five or six Ladders seven or eight foot high only we had entred the place for they kept very ill guard on that side and in that place relying upon the Guard they had left without so that it was a long time before they came to the defence of this Post whilst in the mean time five or six of our Soldiers helping one another mounted upon the Wall so that had we had Ladders to reach from the top of the breach in the Wall up to the Terrass I
altogether intollerable but old age being once wholly come Goodnight Godson Within two or three nights after we brought up our Trench to the foot of the great Tower whereupon Monsieur de Guise brought his Miners to try if the Tower was to be min'd and therefore fell to piercing the Wall within two or three foot of the ground when so soon as the Enemy heard what we were about they began to make Casemats within the Tower so that their Casemats answer'd to our Hole We were three nights about piercing the Wall and at the same time that our Miners were picking without the Enemy were picking within at their loop-holes Every night Monsieur de Guise sent us four Gentlemen to help us to watch and I remember that one night Monsieur de Montpezat and Monsieur de Randan came to lie there So soon as the hole was almost thorough Monsieur de Guise caused a Canon to be brought me to help to pierce the Wall for he knew very well that the picking we heard was about Casâ—maâ—s and that so soon as ever the wall should be pierc'd through they would shoot at us from them The day before the Canon was brought the Maâ—eschal de Strozzy was gone to his Tents on the other side the water to refâ—eâ—h himself and to shift both his shirt and his clothes for we were all dirt Monsieur de Guise from the time that the Miners began to work at the Wall caus'd a great many Pioneers to come and to begin a Traverse of Earth and Bavins close adjoyning to the Tower making them to leave a little path at which they wrought so hard that as the hole was pierced the Traveâ—se was also brought to perfection The Enemy had laid a great number of planks upon the Tower in manner of a Trench and the night before we gave the assault going up by the little path of the Traverse and with the help of some Ladder we took away the planks of their Trench from the top of the Tower which did us more harm than good for when the planks were taken away the great Platform â—hich was close by the Tower there being only five or six paces betwixt them so soon as any of us popt up a head discover'd us Now as I have already said the Mareschal was only gone to shift himself but Monsieur de Guise made him stay supper with him and with great importunity kept him all that night to his great misfortune for Monsieur de Guise detain'd him the next mornâ—ng to see wheâ—e they should plant four Culverines on that side where they were to play â—nto the Enemies defences when we should the next day give the assault The Mareschal several times begg'd of him â—o give him leave to return telling him that should any business befal â—e that night he should be extreamly troubled if he should not be there At last the said Mareschal to his great grief was constrained to stay and so much contrary to his mind that so soon as he was retir'd into his Tent he ask'd the Sieur Adrian Bailon and Count Theophile if they had the word to pass thorough the Germans for as for our people he did not care and could pass well enough without They told him they had none whereupon he said to them these words It runs in my head that Monsieur de Montluc will this night have sâ—mething to do and that the Enâ—my will come to attaque him ovâ—r the Counterscâ—rp of the Ditch of the Town which should iâ— so fall out it would trouble me the longest day I have to live that I was not there To which they made answer that he ought not to Fancy any such thing for that I had plac'd a Court of Guard of four hundred men within twenty paces of the Gate of the City which they must of necessity fight withal before they could come to me To which he reply'd I know not what it is but I am strangely possess'd with an opinion that some misfortune will happen this night They endeavouâ—'d all they could to put this conceit out of his head for the Sieur Adrian had no mind to repass the River and go to 〈◊〉 all night at the Tower he having been lately very sick and not yet perfectly recover'd for had they told him as they afterwards told me that he might have past thorough the German Guards well enough without the word being as well known to all the German Officers as to those of our own Nation he would have gone what promise soever he had made to the Duke of Guise to the contrary but when the hour is come I think God will have it so that death shall follow and 't is to no purpose for a man to fly or to hide himself He moreover said to them these words Monsieur de Montluc is not yet well known to the King and Queen although the King loves him vâ—ry well but if I escape from this siege I will mâ—ke both the King and the Queen understand his worth and the next day when he was dead the Sieur Adrian and Count â—heophile told me that I had lost the best Friend I had in the world which I easily believ'd and do still believe it and might well say that having lost the Duke of Ferrara and him I had lost the two best friends I had in Italy and in France He was kill'd the next day as he was looking and consulting with Monsieur de Guise where to place the four Culverines Before dinner he had been looking long but Monsieur de Guise would needs return again in the afternoon to consider of it better having Monsieur de Salcâ—de with them He was slain by a Musquet shot from a little Bulwark that was at a Corner of the Town pointing along by the River towardâ— Metz. Thus when a mans hour is once come he cannot avoid it This poor Lord had past thorough above six thousand Canon and above fifty thousand Harquebuz shot which could not all kill him and yet this accursed Musquet shot could do it at the distance of above five hundred paces Monsieur de Guise being close by him The King there lost a good servant and as valiant a man dyed as any was in France Two hours after Monsieur de Guise came to the Tower but gave express charge that no one should speak a word of his death when seeing the Sieur Adrian and Count Theophile I ask'd them where he was to which they made answer that the last night he had not been very well but that to night he would come to me but perceiving Monsieur de Guise to be sad and all those who were with him very grave my heart misgave me that something was amiss when Monsieur de Guise being return'd and having left Monsieur de Bourdillon with me in the Mareschal's stead I earnestly entreated him to tell me what was become of Mâ—nsiâ—ur de Strozzy who made answer Why I will tell
by reason of my writing my memory may not so soon perish Which is all that men who live in the world bearing arms like men of Honor and without reproach ought to desire for all the rest is nothing I do believe that so long as the world shall endure men will talk of those brave and valiant Captains Messieurs de Lautrec de Bayard de Foâ—x de Brissac de Strozzy de Guise and several others who have flourish'd since King Francis the first came to the Crown amongst whose better names that of Montluc may perhaps have some place And since God has depriv'd me of my Sons who all dyed in the service of the Kings my Masters the young Montluc's who are descended from them shall endeavour to exceed their Grandsire I will therefore write nothing of the Reign of Francis the second nor of the Factions at Court neither were they other than Sedâ—tions and Rebellions of which I know several particuâ—ars as having been very intimate with the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde but as I have already said I leave those affairs to the Historians to finish the rest of my own life wherein I shall proceed to give an account of the fights in which I have been engag'd during these Civil Wars and wherein I have been constrained contrary to my own nature to use not only severity but even sometimes to be cruel The End of the Fourth Book THE COMMENTARIES OF Messire Blaize de Montluc MARESCHAL of FRANCE The Fifth Book KIng Francis being dead at Orleans where I then was I went to wait upon the Queen Mother who although she was very ill nevertheless did me the honor to command that they should permit me to enter into her Chamber I had taken notice of the practices were set on foot which did by no means please me and especially those of the Estates then sitting by which I saw we should not long continue in peace and that was it which made me resolve to retire from Court that I might not be hook'd in either by one Faction or another especially considering that I had been made guilty that way before contrary to all truth as God be my help which was the reason that taking leave of her Majesty and not thinking it fit to trouble her with much discourse in her indisposition I said to her these words Madam I am going into Gascony with a dâ—termination to do you most humble and faithful service all the days of my life which I most humbly beseech your Majesty to believe and if any thing fall out considerable enough to engage you to call your servants about you I promise you and give you my faith I will never take other side than that of your Majesties and my Lords your Children but for that will be on horseback so soon as ever your Majesty shall please to command me The very night of the same day on which King Francis dy'd I had given her the same assurance for which she now did me the honor to return me thanks when Madam de Cursol who stood at her beds head said to her Madam you ought not to let him go your Majesty having no servants more faithful than those of the Family of Montluc To which I made answer Madam you shall never be without Montluc's for you have three yet remaining which are my two Brothers and my Son who with my self will dye at your feet for your Majesties service For which her Majesty return'd me many thanks She who had a greaâ— deal of understanding and who has given very ample testimony of it to the world saw very well that having so many affairs upon her hands during the minority of her children she should have use for all the servants she had and may her self remember what she said to me wherein if I have fail'd to execute her commands it was because I did not understand them And so I took my leave of her Majesty Madam de Cursol follow'd me to the middle of the room where she took her leave of me and Madam de Courton did the same and thus I return'd to my own house Some months after my return home I had news brought me from all sides of the strange language and most audacious speeches the Ministers of the new faith impudently utter'd even against the Royal Authority I was moreover told that they impos'd taxes upon the people made Captains and listed Souldiers keeping their Assemblies in the Houses of several Lords of the Country who were of this new Religion which was the first beginning and cause of all those Mischiefs and Massacres they have since exercâ—s'd upon one another I saw the evil daily to encrease but saw no one who appear'd on the King's behalf to oppose it I heard also that the greatest part of the Officers of the Treasury were of this Religion the nature of man being greedy of Novelty and the worst of all and from whence proceeded all the mischief was that those of the long Robe the men of Justice in the Parliaments and Senechalseys and other Judges abandoned the ancient Religion and that of the King to embrace the new one I met also with strange names of Surveiâ—â—ans Deacons Consistories Sinods and Colloquies having never before breakfasted of such viands I heard that the Surveillans had Bulls pizzlâ—s by them called Iohanots with which they misus'd and very cruelly beat the poor Peasants if they went not to their Conventicles the people being so totally abandoned by â—ustice that if any one went to complain they receiv'd nothing but injury instead of redrâ—ss and not a Serjeant that durst attempt to execute any thing in the behalf of the Catholicks but for the Hugonots only for so they were call'd though I know not why the râ—st 〈◊〉 the Judges and Officers who were Catholicks being so over-aw'd that they durst not have â—â—mmanded so much as an Information to be made for fear of their lives All these things â—â—gether were presages to me of what I have since seen come to pass and returning from another house of mine to that of Stillac I found the Town of La Plume besieg'd by three or four hundred men I had my Son Captain Montluc with me whom I sent with all sorts of fair language for I had no more than ten or twelve horse in my company to try to perswade them to desist Wherein he prevail'd so far that he overcame the Brimonts the principal heads of this Enterprize which was undertaken to rescue two prisoners of their Religion that the Magistrates of La Plume had for some disorders committed My son having promised them that if they would retire I would cause them to be deliver'd they took his word and drew off from before the Town The next day accordingly I went to speak with the Officers of the said City to whom having remonstrated that for these two Prisoners they ought not to suffer a sedition to be set on
as good as my word It was not two hours before Rance the King of Navarres Secretary arriv'd and brought news to Monsieur de Burie that the Prince of Conde was in arms and had seiz'd of Orleans telling wonders of the prodigious Forces the said Prince had with him in comparison of those of the King and that the King of of Navarre the Constable Monsieur de Guise and the Mareschal de S. Andre were together who could not all raise so much as one man with a thousand other flâ—m-flam stories Whereupon the said Sieur de Burie expresly forbad him to speak a word to any one else telling him it would be as much as his life was worth should I come to hear the least whisper of it He sent also privately to the Commissioners to get away before the news should be publish'd for otherwise it would not be in his power to save them from being put to death and he was in the right for I would infallibly have done their business They needed not to be bid twice but immediately sneak'd away in great secrecy so that I know nothing of their departure till the next day and search'd very diligently for Monsieur Rance who had he fallen into my hands I think I should have taught him to carry news Upon this untoward news we were of opinion to go directly to Montauban and put our selves into the Town before it revolted for we understood that the City of Agen was revolted and had seiz'd upon their Catholick Officers Consuls and Canons and accordingly that night went to S. Anthony thinking the next day to enter into Montauban but before we were got half way we heard that the Town was revolted which made us turn directly towards Ville Neufue d' Agenois and found that all was revolted We then came to a Village call'd Gallapian near unto Port S. Marie and found that Port S. Marie was also revolted for those people had laid their design long before hand and had carried their business very close And there we concluded that Monsieur de Burie with the four Companies of Gens d' armes should go put himself into Bourdeaux and that I with that of the King of Navarre which was at Condom that of the Mareschal de Termes and my own should pass over the Garonne towards Gascony and keep my self in the open Champain towards Tholouze and Beaumont de Lomange which being resolv'd upon betwixt us and we just ready to depart there arriv'd Captain St. Geme who brought me Letters from the King the contents wheâ—eof were these Monsieur de Montluc I Entreat you if ever you desire to do me a signal piece of service that immediately and in all diligence you come away to me with the Mareschal de Termes his Company and your own and six Companies of Foot for which I send you Commissions with blanks for the Captains names for you better know who deserve to be preferr'd to these Commonds then I therefore leaving all things I entreat you to come away for we must save the body of the Tree which being preserv'd the branches will every day recover c. These were the contents of my Letter and that of Monsieur de Burie made mention of what his Majesty had written to me telling him withal that he was to take the best order he could in Guienne for his Majesty knew nothing as yet of its revolt Monsieur de Burie then took his way directly to Thoneins where he found Mâ—ssâ—eurs de Caumont and de Duras which said Sieur de Caumont had been importun'd by their Chuâ—ches to be their Head but he would never be perswaded to it no more would Monsieur de Duras though in the end he was constrain'd to take it upon him at the perswasion of a person of greater Quality than himself both which Gentlemen 〈◊〉 themselves with great civility and respect and demanded nothing of him for they still try'd to win him by obligation but he was an honest man He went then straight to Bourdeaux and the mischief on 't was that he sent away all his four Companies towards Xâ—intonge so that he remain'd naked and alone in Bourdeaux saving for five and twenty Harquâ—buzeers of his Guard And the same day that we parted I came to Quarter at the house of Monsieur de Beaumont near unto Agen and in the neighbouring Villages where I dispos'd of the six Commissions the King hâ—d sent me namely to Captain Charry two to Captain Bazordan other two one to my Nephew the Baron of Clermont and the other to Captain Arne The Sieurs de Canâ—on de Montferran and all the Catholick Gentry of Agenois were come in to me and began to murmure amongst one another in the Hall that if I left them they were all lost and their wives children and houses ruin'd and destroy'd For Lectoure another strong place was also revolted by which means the Gentry of Gascony had no place to retire unto for safety but were enforc'd to fly to me so that they concluded among themselves that in case I should resolve to go away to the King as his Majesty had commanded and offer to leave them without a Head that they must be fain to detain me in the nature of a Prisoner and not suffer me to depart In the Evening I assembled all these Gentlemen together where I remonstrated to them that it would be necessary I should send away in all diligence to the King to acquaint his Majesty with the revolt of all Guienne Tholouze and Bourdeaux excepted which also if they were not suddenly reliev'd would be in great danger to be lost as well as the rest Which they all approving I immediately dispatch'd away Captain Cossâ—il to give the King and Queen an account of all that had past which I had no sooner done but that Monsieur du Masles who dyed lately at Limoges and at that time carried the Marescal de Termes his Cornet told me before all the Company that I had done very well to take this resolution for otherwise they had determin'd amongst themselves to detain me by force In the morning we past the River at two or three Ferries with danger enough for Leyrac was revolted as also was the whole Country of Bazadois la Reolle excepted and all as far as the very Gates of Tholouze excepting Avillar and Condom where Captain Arne lay with the King of Navarres Company which also before his coming thither had twice revolted but the Lieutenant General du Franc whom I have spoke of before had taken Arms to defend the Kings Authority and got the upperhand nevereheless in the end he would not have been able to have kept it without the said Company that I sent into it I quarter'd my own Company at la Sauvetat de Gaure and Monsieur de Terride had his round about his house in his own Territories for Beaumont was also revolted Monsieur de Gondrin and I conferr'd together at
that he should not stir vvith his tvvo Companies from Beaumont de Lâ—maigne and the places adjacent to Monsieur de Terride to vvhom I vvrit also to put himself into Grenade vvith his Company and that I had left Captain Bazordan to be near him I sent in like manner to Monsieuâ— de Gondrin that he should gather to him his Relations and Neighbours and some Souldiers to put himself into Euse and that I vvas going to relieve Monsieur de Burie at Bourdeaux I vvas not the Kings Lieutenant and yet every one obey'd me as chearfully as they could have done any man in the vvorld by vvhich you may see vvhat it is for a man to get the love of the Gentry as I did and vvho does not so shall never perform any thing vvorth speaking of for upon them almost all things depend especially considering hovv Gascony and Armaignac abound in Gentry The fift day after Raze's departure there came to me Monsieur de Courre Nephevv to Monsieur de Burie and Lieutenant of his Company vvho came again to solicite my haste by vvhom the said Sieur de Burie sent me vvord that if in six days he vvas not reliev'd the City vvould be lost The Sieur de Courre told me also that although he had only travell'd by night he had nevertheless met vvith the Enemy almost at every step and that all the Country vvas up in arms against us either voluntarily or by force I sent back the said Sieur de Courre by les Landes he having vvith him five and tvventy Launces compleatly arm'd recommending him to houses of Gentlemen of my relations and the next day assembling all my men both Horse and Foot I began to set forvvards directly to Bourdeaux The first days march vvas to Bruch vvhich belongs to Monsieur de Gondrin and another Vâ—llage a quarter of a League from thence call'd Fougarolles appertaining to the Queen of Navarre vvhere I lodg'd the Companies of Monsieur de Termes and that of Monsieur de Saint Salvy Brother to Monsieur de Terride vvhich vvas nevvly rais'd and so soon as ever their Quarters vvere made there came three Ensigns of Nerac led by one Captain Dâ—uâ—zan vvhich might be in all betvvixt five and six hundred men I had not eaten six bits vvhen they came to tell me that at a Castle hard by call'd Castel-Vieille there were some people who defended the place whereupon I presently went thither commanding Captain Bardachin that with a hundred of his Musketeers he should go and set fire to the gates and give an assault which he did and we carried the place when as we were entring there came an Alarm from Fougarolles that the Enemy were fighting with the Companies of Messieurs de Termes and de Saint Salvy whereupon I left the Castle and ran to Fougarolles sending to Captain Charry who was quarter'd with his men close by me I never suffer'd him to be very far off for if it came to striking he would always give the first blow that he should advance with his men to come to the fight I had some Gentlemen with me and but a few forasmuch as they durst not as yet declare seeing the Enemy to have the upper hand and amongst others the Governor de la Mothe-Rouge Captain Poy and fifteen or twenty others I gave Captain Bardachin order to make the Soldiers give over the sack and follow after me as fast as he could but he left the charge thereof to his Lieutenant and went along with me with five or six horse more of his Now from Castel Vieiâ—le to Fougarolles it is no more than a quarter of a League when so soon as I came thither I found Monsieur de Termes his Company in Battalia by the Bourg and that of Monsieur de Saint Salvy also close by one another The Enemy were at the other end of the Bourg who saw us coming and began to face about and retire Whereupon I bid Captain Masses take ten of his Launces and that the rest should quarter themselves with the Company of Monsieur de Saint Salvy for we had made a long march on'â— and would be going an hour before day by reason of the excessive heat Captain Charry also came up to me with five or six horse and the rest were coming after as fast as they could for I put my self in the Rear of the Enemy Close by the Village on that side towards Nerac there is an ascent and when we were at the foot of the Hill they were in the middle and upon the top and there they fac'd about I had no great mind to fight because my design was to relieve Bourdeaux and therefore was unwilling to engage fearing some disaster might happen and that then I could not relieve the City Nevertheless seeing them upon the top of the Hill I followed after and when I came to the top saw them in the great High-way betwixt two Copses marching softly on and in very good order this Captain Douazan with four or five horse and ten or twelve Harquebuzeers bringing up the Rear We might be in all with the ten Launces some five and fifty horse good and bad I made the Harquebuzeers alight and to put themselves in their Rear whereupon I perceiv'd them to make a little more haste than before which made me cry to the Governor la Mothe Rouge Monsieur de Sainctorens Captain Charry and the rest of the Gentlemen follow them close for upon my life these people are afraid I see it by their march they have a long retreat to make and I will second you with Captain Masses Captain Bardachin then sent to his Musqueâ—eers that they should run as fast as ever they could and we had not march'd after this manner above two hundred paces but that I saw our Avantâ—Coureâ—rs were fallen in pell-mell amongst them and our Harquebuzeers began to make a little more haste when seeing their horse pass thorough the files of the foot to recover the Van which was because Douazans horse was shot I rid up to the head of our men and shew'd them that the Enemies horse gain'd the Front of their own people either with intention to make them face about and fight or else they ran away for fear But I rather think said I it is for fear for their foot also begin to mend their pace let us charge them but first let Captain Masses come up to us who might be about some two hundred paces behind to whom I sent that he should gallop away but as soon as ever they saw our people coming upon the gallop they began to ply their march and gave over shooting and then I cried let us fall on let us fall on for they are afraid which we did and without resistance charg'd them through and through over the very bellies of them Their horse fled full speed towards Nerac and the foot like cowardly rascals crept into the Copses and squat in the ditches where our
be wondred at if Monsieur de Terride was not very perfect in â—he bâ—sieging of places for I will maintain that no man understands a Siege but a Mastâ—r of the Ordnance who has also been long in that employment the 〈◊〉 of the Artillery an Engineer the Camp-master and the Colonel if they be old Soldiers who in these commands if they have been long in them must necessarily have seen much of that kind of service All the rest understand nothing of it nor the General himself if he have not learnt by being very much with them but having us'd to go with them when they have gone to discover places learns to know what belongs to a Siege but otherwise not for the Captains of Gensâ— d'armes never go to discover nor to the approaches it being their business to be in a readiness to â—ight and to watch that no kind of relief enter into the place How then should they be expert in Sieges considering that they have never assisted at discoveries nor heard the debates that old Soldiers enter into with one another upon that Subject for there they argue upon what they themselves have discover'd and in sight of the strengths and defects of the place 'T is a thing of all others in War of the greatest difficulty and importance and by which many who are otherwise great Captains are put to a stand and it requires a long practice to understand fortification to observe and know the defects of a Bastion a Spur a Flanker and to guess what may be within it by what you your selves would do if you were in the place Monsieur de Terride was a good Horse Officer and very proper for fighting but not for beleaguering of places no more than several others who have never had other command than those he had been trained up in although in his Quarters every one will be giving his vote and spending his judgment upon a Carpet or over a sheet of Paper It is indeed good to see the Map but that very often deceives I could wish that when any one who has never been employed in any of the forementioned Commands nor ever follow'd the Kings Lieutenant when he went to view a place nor heard the dispute of the above named Officers upon their said discovery will be prating and offering to put in their Verdict the Kings Lieutenant would bid him first go hazard himself through the Enemies shot at the discovery and then deliver his adviâ—e 'T is alwayes the tickliest place forasmuch as if the besieged be men of any metal they will hinder as much as in them lies the assailant from discovering their Fort and as much as they possibly can will dispute all they have without as much as to a hut for if they suffer them to make their approaches at first they either discover themselves to be weak or that they are no Soldiers I left then this hopeful Siege and return'd to Agen having told Monsieur de Terride my opinion that he would have no better success than what I had prophecied to him A few dayes after the Parliament of Bourdeaux and Monsieur de Novailles Governor of the City sent to entreat me that I would come to Bourdeaux to help to pacifie a Tumult was risin in the City which I accordingly did and there staid some dayes after which I returned again to Agâ—n that I might be in the heart of the Country to which all the Gentry ordinarily repair And there it is that the Lieutenant of a Province ought to reside and not at Bourdeaux although that be the Capital City it being too farre off And moreover there is a Court of Parliament that will have a hand in every thing and the Gentry cannot go thither without great expence and besides there is alwayes something or other amiss and some one or another question'd which frights the Gentlemen from going thither Not long after the Cardinal of Armagnac Court of Parliament of Tholouze and the Capitouls of the same sent to entreat me to come thither about some affairs of importance they could not commit to writing which I did they needed not to summon me twice and when I came there they called a Council wherein were assisting Messieurs de Cardinals of Armagnac and de Strozzy Monsieur le primier President d'Assis the Seigneurs de Terride de Negrepelice Fourquevaux du Faut the Kings Advocat General and the Capitouls where they gave me to understand that they intended to set some Forces on foot to go into Languedoc and that they had chosen me for head of the Army but I excus'd my self representing to them that the Constable would not take it well considerâ—ng it was in his Government and that besides he had no great kindness for me Now the Battel of Drux had already been fought where as every one knows his Majesties affairs were very foul shaken but the Victory remain'd to the King thorough the valour and conduct of the Duke of Guise Nevertheless the said Constable was taken prisoner on the one side as the Prince of Conde was on the other and so both the Generals weâ—e taken a thing that was never known before which shews that it was well fought but being that I was not there it nothing concerns me to speak of that business I was so importun'd by these people that in the end I was fain to accept the Commission and we set down in writing all things that were necessary to be provided for the expedition Of which the Cardinal de Strozzy undertook to cause twelve hundred Canon shot and a proportionable quantity of Powder to be brought from Marcelles and Monsieur de Fourquevaux took upon him to send some also from Narbonne and so we began to distribute the foot Commissions concluding within thirty dayes to have all things in a readiness together with the money that was to be levied by the City and the Country of Languedâ—c who were also associated in the Dâ—sign During these transactions in a day and a nights time no less than three Couriers came to me from Bourdeaux of which the eldest Son of the Recorder Pontac was the first the Kings Advocate la Het who since has been Atturney-General the second and a Gentleman belonging to Monsieur de Novailles the Third who all came upon one and the same errand which was to tell me that if I did not suddenly and with the extremest diligence go to relieve the City of Bourdeaux it would infallibly be lost through an unhappy difference was fall'n out there betwixt the fiâ—st President Lagabaston and Monsieur de Novailles the Governor wherefore the Court of Parliament the Jurats and the said Monsieur de Novailles all of them entreated me to make haste or otherwise I would come too late for Monsieur de Novailles had already sent for all the Train'd-Bands to bring them into the City by the Castle of Ha that was in his possession and some of
notice of the three Gentlemen I had sent before and would so secure the Gates that I should not be able to enter and that it was better for us to venture our lives in the Town than to keep out and suffer the Town to be lost We then mounted to horse being no more than six Light-horse and we might be in all the Servants compriz'd thirty horse I commanded fourteen Harquebuzeers to follow after me under the conduct of a Priest called Malaubaere commanding them to follow at a good shog trot and so we marcht with these mighty Forces When we came near unto Terraube a little league from Lectoure there came a man on horseback dispatcht away by the Consul and Captain Mauriez by whom they sent me word that they had possessed themselves of the Gates and that the City was all in arms desiring to know by which Gate I would enter I told him by the Gate of the Castle whereupon he return'd upon the spur as he came By good fortune theâ—e hapned to be in the Town the Sieur de Lussan and the Captain his Brother who came out to meet me knowing nothing of all this business they being come thither by appointment of Process and so we entred into the Town So soon as we were come into Monsieur de Poisegurs house I entreated the Sieur de Lussan to go bid Monsieur de Fonterailles come and speak with me for I had something to say to him that concerned his Majesties service He sent me word back that he would not come and that he was in the Castle in the behalf of the Queen of Navarre Lady and Mistress of the said Castle and Town Whereupon I sent him word again that if he did not come I would assault the said Castle and at the ringing of the Tocquesaint call in all the neighbouring Towns to my assistance which I think staâ—tled him for he came At his coming I told him that I would have the Castle to put people into it who were of the Religion of the King and a Gentleman to command them till I should see to what the beginning of this Commotian tended to which he made answer that he was a faithful Servant of the Kings and that he would rather die than do any thing contrary to his Majesties pleasure To which I replied again that I did believe him to be so but that notwithstanding I would in the mean time sâ—cure the Castle and that I had a greater confidence in my self than in him and after some disputes Monsieur de Sainctorens put in and said something to which the other replied briskly upon him but he did not go without his answer and had he not suddenly resolv'd I was about to have taken him prisoner Monsieur de Lussan then took him aside remonstrating to him that he was highly too blame not to obey and that it was as much as his life was worth for I would die there but I would have it and that he himself knew well enough what a kind a man I was Monsieur de Fonterailles thereupon came to me and told me that he was ready to deliver up the Castle into my hands but that he earnestly beggâ—d of me that I would permit him to reenter into it and sleep there that night that he might pack up all the goods he had there ready to go away in the morning I desir'd him on the contrary that he would not ofâ—er to stir out of the Town and that I would deliver the Guard of the Castle to such Catholick Gentlemen as he should name He therefore nam'd several but I would like of none of them when seeing I would not put in those he desir'd he nam'd Monsieur de Cassaigne a neighbour to the Town who since has been Lieutenant to Monsieur d' Arnes Company with whom I was content and sent presently for him However I plaid the Novice in one thing for I let the said Sieur de Fonterailles go in again upon his word into the Castle which was not discreetly done for a man should alwayes in such cases take all things at the worst In the mean time Monsieur de Verduzan arriv'd with four or five Gentlemen in Company with him and presently after Monsieur de Maignas and every hour some or other came in to us After Supper we went out of the Castle where I fell to view and consider the Postern of the false Bray and began to remonstrate to those friends who were with me that in case the Seneschal should have made an appointment for those of his Party to come that night to the Portal the Guards and Centinels of the Town could not possibly hinder him from letting in whom he pleased wherefore I was resolv'd to lodge Theanville Commissary of the Artillery and the Priest with the fourteen Harquebuzeers in the false Bray betwixt the two Portals and it was well for me I did so for otherwise they had trapp'd us and cut all our throats that night See how a man may fall into danger thorough his own fault for I thought my self wonderful wiâ—e and circumspect and yet notwithstanding I put a place of so great importance together with the whole Country in danger to be lost I was not yet satisfied with this Guard but I moreover order'd all the Gentlemen and their Servants to lie down in their Cloaths and sent a command to all those of the Town to do the same In the morning by Sun-rise the said Seneschal came to me again to entreat me to leave him the Castle and that he would give me security with a great many other fine good morrows but I told him he did but lose time in such proposals for I was resolv'd to put men into it so that seeing no other remedy he receiv'd the Sieur de la Cassaigne with twenty Soldiers into the place and then came to take his leave of me I did what I could to perswade him to stay in the Town but he made answer that he would not trust himself with the Inhabitants beginning to tell me that I put a very great affront upon him in not confiding in his Loyalty that he was a man of a race too remarkable for thâ—ir services and fidelity so the Crown of France to be suspested and that his Ancestors had sav'd the Kingdom To which I made answer that his Grandfather of whom he intended to speak did never save the Kingdom and that in his time reigned Lewis the twelfth in whose Reign the Kingdom had never been in any such danger and that if it was of the time that King Charles retir'd to Bourges that he intended to speak that honor was to be attributed to Potton and la Hire of whose valour all the Chronicles are full For la Hire and Potton two Gascon Gentlemen were indeed cause of the recovery of the Kingdom of France yet would I not deny but that his Grand father was a great and valiant Captain who
where it ought to be charg'd upon the Governors who first of all suffer'd them to assemble in their Governments and afterwards to pass the Rivers without offering to oppose them and truly as to them if any one have a mind to accuse them that they did not do well I think they may do it with colour enough But they must evermore lay the blame â—pon me who would never depend upon the favour of any but the King and Queen alone and because I had no Idol that I ador'd at Court which I never had nor never will have to defend me from the charities of those vertuous Court-worms It has not been my custom to avoid fighting I have been too much bred to that from my childhood neither was I ever in place where we were near the Enemy that I vvas not evermore of opinion vve ought to fight and if I commanded in chief have ever fought though almost alwayes the weaker and had I at this time had my own will I had tried a better or a worse and would have brought away a leg or a wing either from Front or Rear by which means we might have given Monsieur de Montpensier time to have come and have joyn'd with us but these Letters of Monsales his invention must carry it against what we saw with our own eyes was best to be done To hear these men talk who are pleased to accuse me a man would say I ought to kill all before me with my nails and take Rochelle and Montauban with my teeth but I am no such fool as to throw stones against the wind and in a disadvantagious Country with three thousand to fight with twenty thousand men and by my overthrow to draw after me the ruine of the Country But I shall leave this discourse as not willing to enter into excuses for I was not in fault in the least and shall not learn my Trade of those Musk-Cats that prate by the fire-side far enough from blows and the while we are engag'd in action give the King about whose person they have the honor to be unprofitable counsels But it is the business of a Lieutenant of the King to take his own way and do as he himself bâ—st fees cause for it is not alwayes necessary to do as the King commands he is far off and relies upon your conduct it is therefore your part if you have any discretion at all to judg what is best to be done No man living can deny but that had I fought a Battel I had manifestly expos'd the Province of Guienne to ruine for I must have fought against the odds of ten to one and had I done as the King at the importunity of the Sieur de Monsales commanded me I had left all the Country at the Enemies dispose as I refer to any indifferent person to judg I then return'd back to Agen where I recover'd a little health and upon that recovery immediately resolv'd to go seek out Monsieur de Montpensier which determination I signified accordingly to Monsieur de Terride and to Monsieur de Gondrin who was come back from Gourdon by reason of a sickness that had there seiz'd him and we had enough to do to perswade him to return for sick as he was he would have gone along with his Company in case they were to go with me We appointed to meet at Ville-neuf d' Agenois to which place I brought ten Ensigns of Foot conducted by the Knight my Son leaving the other two Tertias of his Regiment to be commanded by the aforenamed Captains when as we were all joyn'd together ready to march I receiv'd a Letter from Monsieur de Montpensier wherein he sent me word that all affairs set apart I should forthwith put my self into Bourdeaux if I was not already there for he had intelligence that the Enemy had a design upon that City and was afraid I could hardly come time enough to save it At the same time also there came to me one of the Ushers of the Court of Parliament of Bourdeaux by whom the Court desir'd me to make haste to their succour and that they gave the City for lost if I did not put my self immediately into it I was strangely astonisht whence these enterprizes should proceed and was constrain'd to send to Messieurs de Terride and de Gondrin to Castillon to gather together the said Companies of Horse and Foot that came along with us and there stay to expect my further order for I hop'd soon to provide against the present danger and taking fifteen or twenty Gentlemen only along with me went away in all diligence causing our great horses and arms to follow after Being come betwixt Marmanda and la Reollâ— I there met with Monsieur de Lignerolles returning from Spain and Monsieur de Lansac the younger who both of them entreated me to make all the haste I could for that they doubted the next day being Wednesday the City would be taken which they had left so strangely divided that they did not confide in one another The said Sieur de Lansac had receiv'd two Letters by which it was evident enough that there was some conspiracy in the City it self I scarce stayd to embrace them but went away to lie all night at Langon and the next day by noon came to Bourdeaux having first sent away the Usher post before to give the Parliament notice of my coming to the end that if there was really a design in hand that might hold them a little in suspence I was there constrain'd to stay five or six dayes The next morning I enter'd into the Court where I made them a speech the best I could to assure them and put them out of all doubt which the Parliament took exceeding kindly from me and return'd me their thanks After dinner I went to the Town-house where I made another to the Jurats in conclusion whereof I gave them order the next day to put all the City into armes which was accordingly done and I found them to amount to two thousand and four or five hundred men well arm'd I found also that the two Companies of Monsieur de Tilladet who as yet was Governor were there and three others The next day I again went to the Court of Parliament where I gave them an account of the Forces I had found in the City remonstrating to them the little occasion they had to apprehend any danger and the good disposition I had observ'd as well in the Citizens as the Soldiers exhorting them to do their endeavour in the defence of their City after which having made them all hold up their hands to live and die together in the defence of their City and that if they should discover any one who should go about to betray it they would all fall upon him they all swore to me so to do which greatly rejoyc'd the whole Assembly to whom I further remonstrated That themselves also ought to take
up arms if occasion should so require and remember that the most valiant Captains the Romans had were men of Letters who had they not been qualified with learning would have been lookt upon as unworthy of great commands and that their knowledge ought by no means to hinder them from the use of arms and from fighting but rather encourage them to do like those antient Romans being men as well as they who had no more than two arms and one heart as they had Gentlemen said I I see by your countenances that you are not men that will suffer your selves to be beaten those who have gray beard and heads shall be for the Councel but a good number that I see here are fit to trail a pike and how much think you will it encourage the people when they shall see those who have power over their lives and estates take arms for their defence Not a man will dare to mutter and your Enemies will tremble when they shall hear that the Parliament it self is taking arms to suppress them by which they will understand you are in earnest and moreover all the young men whom I have seen enter this place and who are more fit for a Corslet than a Gown will then do the same To this end I entreated them to shut up the Palace for eight dayes that in those eight dayes time every one of them might be aquainted with the arms he intended to make use of in time of need and that they might divide themselves into two and two to stand at the Gates with their arms that in so doing the whole City would take exemple and on the other side should there be any Treason in the said City this good order would be a means to put a stop to their proceeding and put them out of hopes of executing their design wherefore seeing so great a good was to be expected from this prudent order in affairs as the preservation of their City their lives and fortunes they ought to spare nothing to that end After which I told them for the conclusion of all Gentlemen consider I beseech you what I have said to you and I make you here a tender of my own life and the lives of these Gentlemen my friends to do you service and to establish you in the peace and security you your selves desire The President Rossignac who at that time had the Chair for Monsieur de Legabaston was retir'd his service not being agreeable to this King made answer in the behalf of the whole Court giving me very many thanks for the Remonstrance I had made to them for which they would for ever be my servants and telling me withall that there was not a man amongst them young or old who would not take arms for his Majesties service in the defence of the City In earnest the King owes a great deal to this Society as also to that of Tholouze for if either the one or the other had fail'd Guienne had had much to suffer forasmuch as the loss of one of these two Cities carries a long train after it to wit the ruine of the whole Province In four dayes time I had clear'd all the jealousie and apprehension that was before in the City You Gentlemen that are Governors it is a fine thing to know the humour and complexion of the Nation over which you command and one thing I will say for this people that if their Governor have once gain'd a reputation among them and can so pertinently deliver himself as to demonstrate to them any kind of probability in the thing he would perswade he shall not only engage the Gentry the Soldiery and the Magistrates themselves but also the Monks Priests Labourers and even the very women to fight For they are a Nation that want no courage but a good Chief that knows how to command and you ought to believe that seeing the Antients made so much use of Orations before all their Battels and found so great a benefit to accrue thereby that we in these times should not lay aside that kind of encouragement They found it of so considerable advantage that they have not thought fit to omit the several Orations in their Histories and Records and we likewise ought to believe that in using the same means and in following their exemple we shall find as great advantage by it as they did and I look upon it as a great and necessary quality in a Captain to speak well I was not brought up to this and yet have ever been so happy as in Soldierlike terms to express what I had to say tollerably well though with a vehemency a little relishing of the Country from whence I came I would therefore advise all persons of condition who have the means to do it and design to advance their Children by Arms the rather to bestow some Learning upon them for if they be call'd to Commands they will often stand in need of it and will find it of infinite use to them and I believe a man who has read much and retein'd what he has read is much more capable of executing great and noble Enterprizes than another Had I made the best out of my little reading it had been much better for me and yet I have naturally enough to perswade the Soldiers to fight The fifth day then I return'd and being that Monsieur de Merville Grand Seneschal of Guienne by reason of a late sickness was not able to go carry his Company to the Army we came together as far as St. Foy where I receiv'd Letters from Monsieur de Montpensier wherein he sent me order that I should lie about the Dordogne and above all things have an eye to Beurdeaux and Libourne for that he was not yet able to guess whether the Enemy would fall back again into Guienne or continue on their march Which was the reason that I stayd about St. Foy and Monsieur de Terride at Castillonnes expecting what the Enemy would do and also further orders from Monsieur de Montpensier being certain that in two or three dayes march we should at any time be able to joyn with him from thence Soon after we heard that he was gone in all haste towards Poictiers to meet the Monsieur Brother to the King and that the Enemy marcht along the River Loire towards la Charité there to meet and joyn with the Duke of Deuxponts so that seeing it impossible to overâ—ake the Army that we might ease the Country along the Banks of the Dordogne I left two Ensigns of Foot only at Castillonnes and three at St. Foy and sent away the Sieur de Sainctorens with his Company of Gens-d'arms into Libourne and the Sieur de Leberon remain'd at St. Foy having three Companies with him with whom I left order that in case the Enemy should approach Guienne he with the said three Foot Companies should go put himself into Libourne The remainder of our Forces the Chevalier
Enterprize of Pâ—rcou and I marcht before la Roche having already notice that the Artillery was already within half a league of us which could not however arrive at la Roche till noon by â—eason of the ill way they had met withall Monsieur de la Vauguyon entred the Town for the Enemy were all retir'd into the Mills upon the Bridg his men forc'd and gain'd the Bridg and so all was wonne and in the night I made my approaches and planted my Canon in Battery At break of day Monsieur de la Roche desir'd to parley with Monsiur de Montferran who being he was his Kinsman and a young Gentleman would not let him go in again but detein'd him and the others when they saw the Artillery ready to play began to cry out that they would surrender who seeing no one give ear to them they cried out again that they would surrender to our discretion The Governor of Fronsac and even the Hugonots themselves who were of Courtras and were come along with us cried out that we should by no means receive them to mercy for that they were Libertines and men of no Religion especially one of them call'd Brusquin who had kill'd above fourscore men with his own hands the most of them Labourers and Country-men It then came to the question of marching out whereupon the said Sieur de la Roche entreated of me a certain Lacquay of his his Valet de Chambre and his Cook which I granted him and we cull'd them out from the rest Monsieur de Montferran put himself into the Castle with ten or twelve men to preserve it from being rifled and the men that came out of it I recommended to the Soldiers dispose who were handled according to the life they had lead for not one of them escap'd excepting those I have mentioned before That very Brusquin the Hugonots so exclaim'd against to have him kill'd caught hold of my leg for I was on horse-back having five or six upon him and held me in such sort that I had enough to do to disingage my self from him and narrowly escap'd being hurt my self They found in his pocket a List of a hundred and seventeen men that he had murthered he having there writ them down such a one Priest such a one Labourer such a one Monk such a one Merchant setting down after that manner of what Trade or calling every one was which was no sooner read but that the Soldiers return'd to him and gave him above two hundred cuts and thrusts although he was already dead Monsieur de la Vaâ—guyon came in just upon the execution where one of them endeavouring to fly away gave him and his horse so rude a shock as almost turn'd him out of the way but he was so close pursued that he went not far I was enform'd that these people were newly return'd from St. Aulaye and that they had spoken with Monsieur de Iarnac who had told them that Monsieur de la Noüe was retiring towards la Roche-Chalais which was the reason that we concluded Monsieur de la Vauguyon should return to the place from whence he came and that Monsieur de Montferran and I would go carry the Artillery directly to Bridoiere but before we parted I told them that although Monsieur de la Roche did properly belong to 〈◊〉 and of right was my particular prisoner I being head of the Enterprize I was nevertheless content that we should all three share in his Ransome which we did so that his Ransome being set at six thousand Crowns the Dividend came to two thousand Crowns a piece Being come to Libourne I sent the Artâ—llery up the River which went day and night for we had a great many men to draw the rope of the Bâ—at which was no sooner come to Castillon belonging to the Marquis de Villars but that there came a Messenger sent from Monsieur de Madaillan to tell me that the Enemy of Bridoire were escap'd away and â—led at which I was as much troubled as at any news almost could have been brought me for my purpose was to have dealt no better with them than I had done with the rest and so we return'd the Artillery down the River directly to Bourdeaux and leaving Captain Mabrun wiâ—h three Companies to guard it Monsieur de Monsferran and I went before to the City The next day after I came thither I went to the Palace to take my leave of the Court of Parliament being resolv'd to return to my old Quarters that I might be nearer to the Monsieur in case he should be pleas'd to send for me There Mâ—nsieur la President Rossignac in a short speech return'd me thanks in the behalf of the whole Assembly for the service I had done forasmuch as by this little war he said we had so secur'd the Rodes towards Xaintonge that every one might now safely come and go betwixt France and Bâ—urdeaâ—x That I had also secuâ—'d them on that side towards the Dordogne having reduc'd the Castle of Bridoire and on that side towards the Garonne by having taken Levignac Taillecabat and Pardaillac by reason that before neither provisions nor men could come by those wayes to Bourdeaux or by any other saving out of Gascony These were the successes of these Enterprizes perform'd in five or six dayes without putting the King to the expence of a Tâ—ston and the Parliament less and had these Messieurs of the City of Bourdeaux kept their words with me I would have laid my head that I had turn'd Blay topsyâ—turvy neither would I have askt any more than eight dayes time to do it in provided I might have had the Baron de la Garde along with me to have attaqu'd them by sea and would have engag'd to have paid them back the thirty thousand Fâ—ancs I demanded of them wherewith to pay the Foot and to defray the charge of the Artillery and Pioneers if I did not carry the place Nay seeing they would not relish that motion I offer'd to lend them twelve thousand Francs for a year without interest and Monsieur de Vaâ—ence my Brother would lend them two thousand more in short the Court of Parliament was very hot upon the Enterprize but when they saw it was requir'd that every one should lay to his helping hand there was no more talk of the business These men of the Long Robe are a dry hide-bound sort of people and still pop us in the mouth with their Priviledges I will maintain and that by the testimony of the best and honestest men of Bourdeaux that they were the cause this Enterprize was not executed for when the Citizens saw they would part with no money they would part with none neither saying that the Court of Parliament had as much or more wealth than half the City besides and twice they made me come to them assuring me that so soon as ever they should see my face all things should
and that he having the charge of Dauphiné Provence Languedoc and Guienne was equally obliged to preserve the one as well as the other that we were all the Kings Subjects and Servants and that the Country was the Kings and that therefore he ought to go there where the Enemy was and to endeavour to repair the great oversight we had committed In answer whereunto Monsieur de Ioyeuse laid before us that the Country of Languedoc would not pay the Mareschal's Army unless they should see that he employ'd their money in recovering the places of their own Province and as I have already said he had reason But in the mean time we who were of Guienne expected no other but the total ruine of it and consequently of all our houses for which considerations we should have been very glad that the Mareschal would have resolv'd upon the defence of Guienne and not to have return'd into Languedoc In conclusion he told us that he must be gone for he was to be that night with the Mareschal at the Isle and that the next morning the said Sieur would cross the Garonne towards Languedoc at which we were very much confounded as knowing very well that Montgommery could not long subsist in Bearn and would therefore fall into the Kings Country whereupon I told Monsieur de Ioyeuse that seeing I had no Forces left for the defence of Guienne I had nothing left to do but to retire to Libourne where the King had commanded me to be and so return'd to find out Monsieur de Bellegarde at Marsiac who was as much confounded as I he being in no less fear of the ruine of his houses than I and the rest of us whose Estates lay in those parts I left the Vicount de Labatut with his two Companies in Marsiac leaving it to his own discretion to do as he saw cause for Forces I had none to relieve him Monsieur de Bellegarde also retir'd a little further towards Comaâ—ge expecting Orders from the Mareschal what he was to do and the Baron de Gondrin went towards Euse there with his Company to do the best service he could We were all like strayed sheep I with my Foot Companies went to pass the River Garonne placing them at Port St. Mary and at Aguillon to see if I could yet raise any more men and issued out three or foar Commissions to that effect There only remain'd with me â—ive and thirty Horse of Monsieur de Fontenilles his Company and fourscore of my own for Monsieur de Madaillan who was gone to bury his Wife had taken one part along with him Of those who were his Neighbours his Brother who carried my Ensign was also gone sick to his own house and had in like manner taken along with him some others that liv'd there abouts and my Guidon was gone to Tholouze to a Tryal he had depending in that Court which was the reason that I was thus left alone It is true that I was assur'd they would be back with me again in eight dayes As for the Gentlemen of Armagnac they wâ—â—â— all retir'd to their own houses to take order about the removing of their Goods into 〈◊〉 thinking no less but that the same scourge of God was amongst us for every one thought of saving his Goods and not of defending himself nor of making head against the Enemy by which you may see the fruits of our evil intelligence amongst our selves I had not been four dayes at Agen before I was advertiz'd that Monsieur de Marchastel â—he same who at this present is the Lord de Peyre was come to Thoneins with three hundred Horse amongst which there might be threescore that were very good the rest were Harquebuzeers on horseback ill mounted with vvhich he vvas going over into Bearn to joyn vvith the Count de Montgommery vvhereupon I departed and vvent to Aguillon Of my five Foot Comapnies I had sent tvvo to quarter at Ville-neufue to ease the Country and in the other three that remain'd and that lay at Port St. Mary and Aguillon if there vvere a hundred men in a Company that vvas all for every one vvas gone to his ovvn house as vvell as the Horse and even the Captains themselves I had given two Commissions to Captain Plex and Captain Pommies two Gentlemen of Condâ—mmâ—iâ— to raise each of them a Foot Company to whom I sent that they should advance towards Buzet for that I would try to pass the River Garonne and in case they should hear that the Enemy offer'd to hinder my passage they should then give them Alaâ—ms bâ—â—ind The sâ—id Siâ—ur de Peyre made no stay at Thonens but crost the River advancing towards Monhurt Montluc and Dâ—masan The same night that I arriv'd at Aguâ—llon I made shew as if I would pass the River whereupon they presented themselves to oppose me but there was nothing done but some few Harquâ—buz shot fir'd aâ—hwart the River The next morning I caus'd two Boats to fall down towards Port St. Mary in the one whereof three horses might pass at once and in the other two and presented my self at the passage of Port de Pascau sending over five and twenty Harquebuzeers in the two Boats and when I expected they should come to defend the Pass they did quite contrary for they quitted Damasâ—n Montluc and Monhurt and retreated towards la Gruere and le Mas-d ' Agenois leaving me the passage free so that I went to quarter at Damasan where I found the Captains du Plex and Pommies newly arriv'd having but fourscore Foot only betwixt them for they had not had time to fill their Companies and about fourscore Harquebuzeers on horseback came with them also Captain Lauba a Kinsman of mine who might have about threescore Harquebuzeers on horseback came thâ—ther likewise about four a clock in the afternoon by which time we were all got over the River At my coming to Damasan there met me two men from Castel-geloux whom the Consuls and Inhabiâ—ants of the Cities had sent to me to demand relief for that Calonges had been before the Town to summon it to whom they had return'd answer that in case they heard no news of me by the next morning they would deliver up the Town It was a strange thing that Cities which were in no manner of danger of being forc'd should so tremble for fear They had condition'd that none but the Captains should enter in consideration of a certain sum of money they were to give them but that was but a juggle for they were resolv'd to make themselves Masters of the Town and to leave a Garrison there the Captains being very well assur'd that being once within they with the Hugonots of the place should be able to master the Catholicks I immediately hereupon order'd Captain Neâ— and Captain Bengue the Lieutenant and Guidon of Monsieur de Fontenilles his Company that they should bait their horses and Captain Plex and Pommies to bait
Gentlewoman of the Town in the first whereof she desir'd me by no means to come for that the Enemy had intelligence of my design and that Captain Favas who is of St. Maurice was come thither with a hundred or sixscore Horse and another Captain with some Foot The second letter met me within half a quarter of a League of the Town wherein she sent me word That the Enemy had made a review and found themselves to be five hundred fighting men compleat the Inhabitants of the Town compriz'd so that if I went I should reap nothing but certain disgrace All which notwithstanding and that the Gentlewoman and her Husband were Catholicks and my very good friends yet being they were not themselves in the City I could not give credit to what they writ but march'd on into the sight of the Town which is seated in a Bottom Being there I caus'd a hundred or sixscore Argoulets to alight to go and gain the houses that were near unto the Gate bidding them withal to run on as fast as they could that they might prevent the Enemy from setting them on fire which otherwise they had done some of them being already sallyed out to that intent and having already apply'd the fire but being by our Argoulets constrain'd to retire into the Town they began to play upon them from the Walls In the mean time whilst we stayed for the coming up of our Foot and the Artillery I went to pass the River with a Troop of Horse below Mont de Marsan on that side towards Dacqs and within Harquebuz shot of the Wall to go discover the other side of the Town and to view the Ditch to see if there were any water in it that I might pass over the Sieur de Savignac's Ensigns and give a Scalado on both sides at once The River was deep almost to the Sadle-skirts and we passed over when being on the further side we perceiv'd four or five Horse who were coming to put themselves into the place but they turn'd short without it being in our power to take them I thereupon drew up all my Horse into Battalia which being done I alighted and causing Captain Fieux who was of Miradeux only to alight with me went directly up to the Ditch of the Town The heat was excessive and my arms were exceeding heavy so that I was constrain'd to put my self into a little Ditch being able to go no further by reason of the weight of my Arms and that I was to climb the Ditch and therefore made Monsieur de Fieux to go on alone who accordingly went all along by the Graffe of the Town and in going found a woman squat down behind a little hedge close by the Graffe whom he made to rise still going on for they shot furiously at him as they did also at me for from the place where I was it was not above ten paces to the Graffe At last Captain Fieux râ—turn'd to me bringing the Woman along with him who told us that there was water in the Graffe a Pike deep as Captain Fieux also assuâ—'d me according to his judgment by what he had been able to discover and the Woman told uâ— moreover that it was very deep of mud I then lost all hope of doing any thing on that side and knew that we were to fall on all at one place and leaving Messieurs de Fontenilles and de Madaillan there return'd with the Gentleman to repass the River which as I was foarding over I thought I saw some Ensigns in the Town and very near the Bridg which on a sudden I lost sight of and thought they were the Enemy I had at my setting out from St. Maurice entreated Monsieur de Tillâ—des that he would go speak to the Mareschal about what Monsieur de Montastruc had told me from him and to assure him that we had good hopes of carrying the Town and withal to try if he could perswade him to consent that we should cross the River and to make him alâ—â—r his resolution of returning The said Sieur de Tilladet accordingly went and immâ—diately return'd to his own misfortune for at his return he found me already gone to pass the River and saw me upon the passage and on the other side saw our Argoulers who were alighted ducking and playing at Bo-peep behind the Houses which made him come down full speed to draw them from behind the Houses which he did bringing them out into open view and making them shoot at the Battlements which as he was doing and gallopping along the side of the Ditch to encourage them to shoot as he was returning back by the same way he had gone by the edge of the Graffe the Enemy pour'd so violent a storm of shot upon him that in the end one of them took him in the belly so that his horse falling at the same time he got away on foot and wounded as he was above a hundred paces out of the reach of the Harquebuz shot He did not at first feel himself wounded but was afterwards carried into a House without the Town where two dayes after he died of his wound I had seen nothing of all this for I was at that time viewing the other side of the Town in the mean time the Captains Arne the Baron d' Arbous l' Estang with the four Companies of Light-horse and Monsieur de la Chappelle Lauzieres were on the right hand up the River within a Harquebuz shot of the Town I must now give an account how the Town was taken Captain Castella with the five Companies who marcht after me so soon as he came within sight of the Town which is within Harquebuz shot seeing that our Argoulets did not behave themselves very well for they were evermore creeping behind the houses he made five or six Ladders which I had caused to be brought in a Cart to be taken off the Carriage and to be carried by the Soldiers when without staying for me Monsieur de Savignac the Artillery or any other Command he ran full drive directly up to the Wall where though the Enemy plyed them very well with shot they notwithstanding never stopt nor stayd till they came up to the very foot of it where being come they immediately clapt to three Ladders which were long enough to reach up to the top of the Wall all the rest being too short upon which the Captains without more ceremony having Targets upon their arms presently began to mount and what rattle of shot soever the Enemy pour'd upon then never desisted mounâ—ing till they were got upon the said Wall and then the Enemy fled Our people pursued them by the same way they endeavoured to retire and ran down after them when as they thought to have recover'd the Gate of the other Town to shut it after them ours were in with them and fell in pel-mel amongst them The Enemy then made directly towards the Bridg all along a
Foy to port St. Maries and Aguillon He had before sent me one which I had left at St. Sever before it was lost under Captain Espiemont d' Avila and I had also sent another to Dacqs under Captain Teyssander de Florance and the said Espiemont was constrain'd to retire to Dacqâ— after the fine piece of work the Captain of the Castle had made who would have discharg'd himself upon Captain Montaut and was upheld by some about the Mareschal who were related to him But I referre it to the truth which those of the Town did no wayes conceal and never after receive him The City of Agen and the Clergy there had set a foot a Company of two hundred Strangers at their own charge commanded by one Captain Raphaël an Italian who was married in the Town The said Count de Montgommery remained six or seven weeks at Condom wherein he committed an error for had he followed his blow he had put a great many to their trumps but who is it that is never mistaken The Mareschal's Camp was at Tholouze Granade and thereabouts they had no great fancy to bite one another for they never so much as gave one another an Alarm The Mareschal had put out Monsieur de Fontenilles from the place to which I had sent him and taken from him the Command I had given him in those parts and order'd me to be about Beaumont de Lomagne openly usurping upon my Government according to his Patent He sent likewise to the Barâ—n de Gondrin Signicur de Montespan whose Father lay sick at Lectoure to come to him giving orders every where that none should obey me in the least for that I was no more the Kings Lieutenant but that he was the man He writ twice also to Monsieur de Madaillan that he should not fail to bring his Company to him who both times returned him answer That the Company was mine and none of his and that it was not in his power to bring it to him and all the affronts he could put upon me he did This nothing concern'd me in my own particular for what I did was in order to his Majesties service and for the conservation of the Country Behold how particular animosities occasion a general ruine notwithstanding I did not for all this forbear to act as if I had still been the King's Lieutenant and it was requisite for the poor Country's interest that I should not regard the injuries he put upon me for my despite might have done a great deal of mischief Being the Son of a Constable of France and himself a Mareschal I did by no means disdain to be commanded by him had he been pleased to command me and that he would have done his duty But so it was that he as much as in him lay traverst all my designs for the conservation of Guienne which stood in much greater need than Languedoc In the mean time news was brought us that the Princes and the Admiral were in Perigord and took the way of Quercy to retire to Montauban by which I very well understood that they came to take Montgommery along with them to reinforce themselves with his power without which it would be a matter of very great difficulty for them to march thorough so many leagues of the Country I have since a hundred and a hundred times wondred that so many great and prudent Leaders as were in the Monsieurs Army should pitch upon so ill a resolution as to fall to the besieging of places in stead of pursuing the Princes who were routed and reduc'd to that exâ—remity that they had no possible means to set themselves up again insomuch that had the people had Forces to pursue them they had with great facility been all cut to pieces 'T is said that we our selves who bear arms spin out wars in length and stretch the thong to the utmost as men of the lonâ— Robe do Suits in Law at the Palace Let the Devil take all such I for my part had never any such inâ—ention and can say with truth that never a Kings Lieutenant in France has made more Hugono's pass the Knife and the Halter than I have done which was not the way to prolong the war But to reâ—urn to my subject having heard which way the Princes took without declaring my intention to any one being in Monsieur de Gondrin's Lodging at Lâ—ctoure I sent for Mâ—nsieur de Panjas the Chevalier de Romegas and the Chevalier my Son Monsieur de Gondrin was sick and there told them That I was old and not able to undergo the labour in case we should be besiâ—g'd that therefore to ease my self I would remit the care to govern the Town as to the Civil Râ—giment thereof to Monsieur de Panjas and as to what concâ—rn'd the defence of it and what should be necessary thereunto I would transfer the Charge thereof to the said Chevalier de Romegaâ— and the Chevalier my Son who had both â—een engag'd in the Siâ—ge of Malâ—a the mâ—st furiâ—us Siege that ever was since Artillery was â—iâ—stâ— known in the world by which they must needs better know what belong'd to defence and what was fit to be done than I my self and being Companions and Brothers of the Order of St. Jâ—hn's of Hierusalem would also agree so much the better together That herein the Chevalier my Son should obey that of Romegas both in regard he was the elder and also by reason he had commanded at sea in three or four Naval Engagements where my Son had been with him in truth he was a man of as much câ—urage and bravery as any I ever knew and that in the mean time I would go to Agen to take the best Order I could for the defence of that City They all approv'd of my determination and the two Chevaliers would not make the Quarters but hand in hand together beginning from the very instant to redouble the work of the Fortification and Mâ—nsieur de Panjas as Governor provided them all things they requiâ—'d The next morning I went to Agen Monsieur de Valence my Brother being retir'd into Lâ—ctoure I had a day or two before sent my Wife and my two Daughters to Bordeaux and when I came to Agen Monsieur de Cassaneuil to whom I had committed the Charge of Ville-neufue and the adjacent Country although I had conferr'd the Government of it upon Captain Paulhac the elder yet they agreed very well together sent me word joyntly with Captain Paulhac that the Princes were come to Montauban and were resolv'd immediately to fall upon Ville-neufue Whereupon I immediately sent les Peroux his Company and another to two new Companies they had already within the place with about a hundred Haquebuzeers belonging to the said Captain Paulhac the Governor and some thirty or fourty Gentlemen of those parts who were retir'd with them into the Town I then return'd to Lectoure where I did not stay
unto the first I made the Argoulets that came out with me stay behind assuring my self that the Reiters would relieve their fellows being so near and that consequently we should be put to retreat in haste where I should be in danger of losing the said Argoulets by reason they were not very well mounted and beside there was dirt up to the Horse Cambrils Nevertheles some of the best mounted of them went along with Monsieur de Madaillan whom I commanded to charge desperately quite through the Bourg He did so and some few were kill'd in the Streets as they passed whereupon the Reiters put themselves into two or three houses where their Officers were quarter'd The other three Cornets who were quarter'd close by upon the Alarm were immediately on horse back so that all we could do was to carry away six and thirty of their horses and I believe had I suffer'd all the Argoulets to go they had not left them one but Monsieur de Madaillan seeing the three Cornets coming upon the Gallop to relieve their Companions retreated to me but they did not much pursue him and so we retir'd into the Town Now Viard was soon back from Court for he had both the Kings Pass and the Princes and went to find out the Mareschal The next morning after we had taken the Horses Monsieur de Fontenilles arriv'd by which means I had two Companies of Gens d'armes in the City and three of Foot I had from my first coming placed Monsieur de Laugnac at Peymirol with two Foot Companies which were those of the Garrison of Port. St. Marie and Maâ—ves who made very brave skirmishes and though Monsieur de Laugnac was then sick of the disease that so long has held him he nevertheless kept the Soldiers night and day abroad and was evermore making some attempt upon the Enemy Our Horse went out very often but they still found the Reiters so barricado'd and bolted up in the Villages that nothing was to be got of them but blows and they were alwayes mounted in a trice In truth those people encamp themselves like true men of war it is very hard to surprize them they are more careful than we especially of their horses and arms and are besides more terrible in war for a man can see nothing but fire and steel and not a Gâ—oom in their Troops but accouters and trains himself up to the fight and so in time become good Sâ—ldiers I could not relieve our Cavalry with foot by reason of the intolerable foulness of the wayes and also fearing a mischance having so few men as I had in the City which should any sinister accident have fall'n out might have struck such a terror into the Town as might have drawn after it the loss of the place I was only on the defensive part and â—et I kept them in awe giving them to understand that I did not much fear them The Princes and the Admiral lay five weeks or more where I have said and Monsieur de Montgommery three or above at Condom his quarters extending as far as la Plume des Bruilles We did nothing on either side forasmuch as I had no men to attempt any thing withall and they lay quiet eating and drinking their fill and making good cheer for they had so suffer'd ever since the defeat of Moncontour as nothing could possibly be more so that I think they had more mind to rest than to meddle with me As for my part I night and day intended my Fortification Being upon these terms and in this posture on both sides one night arriv'd Monsieur de la Valette who came from the Monsieurs Camp and by fortune happen'd to be at Ville-neufue at the time when the Princes sent a Trumpet to Monsieur de Cassaneuil to summon the Town The said Sieur de la Valette himself order'd the answer which was That the Town was the King's and none of theirs that therefore if either Trumpet or Drum should again come on such an errand they would kill him and that there were too many men of honour in the Town to deliver it up The said Sieur de la Valette hazarded himself in the night to pass the Enemies Camp in exceeding great danger and came to me about nine of the clock He found me in bed for I was very much reliev'd by Messieurs de Fontenilles de Madaillan de Leberon and the other Captains by which means I slept at my ease all things in the mean time going on in marvailous good order as well by night as by day Old age must be excus'd The said Sieur de la Valette told me that I must presently send away a Chief to command over all those who were in Ville-neufue or that otherwise the Town was about to be lost yet would by no means tell me the reason but only that I must make haste immediately to send away a Chief alwayes telling me that if I was not sudden I should be the first would repent it for that it was a place of importance and a neat Town of War But he said enough to make me get out of bed for I would not slight the advice of so good a head-piece as his and therefore instantly dispatch't away two men to the Chevalier my Son at Lectoure that immediately upon the reading my letter he should mount to horse and come away to me to Agen thence to put himself into Ville-neufue and that by the haste he should make I should know if he were my Son I writ also to the Chevalier de Romegas entreating him to perform alone what they two had joyntly undertaken before It was day before the two Messengers got to Lectoure whereupon the Chevalier my Son immediately took leave of all the Gentlemen that were there and about three in the afternoon come to Agen. Four or five dayes before this Monsieur de Montgommery with all his Camp both Horse and Foot came to give a Camisado to Captain Codreils Lieutenant to my Son Captain Fabian's Troop of Light-horse which I had put into Moyrax with five and twenty Launces and five and twenty Harquebuzeers Now Moyrax is a little Village enclosed with walls the highest part whereof might be mounted with a Ladder of twelve staves and without Flankers where he arriv'd an hour before day Of this design news was brought me to Agen at a time when I had newly taken a Glister which I had yet in my belly whereupon without any more ado I put on my arms mounted to horse and went to pass the River The Gentlemen of my two Companies past after one another as fast as they could Monsieur de Fontenilles came not till the next day and those that came in the night follow'd after such a manner that I found my self with no more but four horse only on the other side of the River towards Gaâ—cony where Moyrax is situated and near unto Estillac which is mine
be so ingrate as not to acknowledg my self highly oblig'd to the Kings my Masters for the benefits and honours they have conferr'd upon me who from the condition of a private Gentleman have rais'd me to the greatest Employments in the Kingdom but I can also say that I purchased those honours at the price of my blood Now you must know that having recover'd a little and finding my self something better of my wound I writ a Letter to the King which I have thought fit to insert in this place of which these were the Contents SIR I Have thus long deâ—eâ—r'd to prefer my Complaints both by reason of the great indisposition upon me and also because my friends were long before they would let me know of your Majesties unkindness in taking from me the Government of Guienne Had your Majesty pleased to have had but two months patience only you would have found that so soon as I had settled the Country in peace I was resolv'd most humbly to beseech your Majesty to provide for the Government by reason of my age and the great wouâ—d I have receiv'd and then without disgracing me your Majesty had had sufficient argument to have deputed another in my place But by the manner of doing it your Majesty has evidently manifested to all the world that you have stript me of it for some forfeiture of mine either as to matter of arms or for some foul play I have practised upon your Majesties Treasure by which means my honour is like to be brought into dispute throughout the whole Kingdom which I cannot think I have deserv'd and therefore am very much at a stand as many others will be to guess from whence the great distaste your Majestie declares to have taken against me should proceed unless out of the little hopes I had to be for the future serviceable to you for having often importun'd your Majestie to make choice of some other in my stead and as to that your Majestie has since commanded me to reassume my former Authority and to continue my administration Neither can it be upon any jealousie your Majestie can have entertein'd that I have embezell'd your Majesties Treasure for you would never have punisht me for a crime whereof you could not as yet be assur'd that I was guilty and I have that confidence in your Majestie 's bounty and wisdom that you would not easily have given credit to reports so remote from all probability for in the time that I have been your Majesties Lieutenant in these parts several Commissiâ—ners in Extraordinary and several of your Receivers General with other Officers of your Majesties Exchequer have made their Accounts and had I been found in any of their Papers I have friends at Court that would not have fail'd to have set a mark upon such places where my name was any way concern'd But hitherto I have not been put to any distress in proving their accounts forasmuch as it cannot be found that I have ever taken upon me to touch one penny of your Majesties money not only in this your own Province but also at Sienna and in Tuscany where I had much greater conveniency of doing it than I could have here And your Majestie may particularly please to remember that having done me the honor for three years last past to order the pension of six thousand Livers a year I pay to the Cardinal of Guise should be discharg'd out of the Exchequer I was so far from meddling with your Majesties money without your leave that I would never make use of that assignment And of all this your Majesty may be fully satisfied at the 〈◊〉 of the Commissioners you have sent into these parts who I am very certain will not bring back my name in any of their accounts or if they should there would yet be nothing prov'd against me and therefore it cannot be imagin'd that your Majestie should be dissatisfied with me upon that account If peradventure your Majesties displeasure should proceed from a belief that I have committed some fault in point of arms this opinion would also be very contrary to that your Majesty had of me at the time when you were pleased three or four times to write me word that I was the Restorer of Guienne and I assure my self your Majesty has not forgot the reasons why you were pleased to grace me with that honorable Title but will I hope please to remember that it was because in the first Commotions at Tholouze the City having been disputed for three dayes together and in that dispute two Thirds of the City wâ—n by the Rebels was at my coming deliver'd the Assailants at the sight of me only put to rout and many of them taken and punisht according to their desert insomuch that to this day the Inhabitants of the said City look upon me as the Conservator of their lives and estates and the honor of their Wives With like diligence and good fortune the City of Bâ—rd aux to which I went in two dayes and two nights from Tholouze and where by the way I fought with and routed the Forces that were gather'd together to hinder my passage was by me immediately reliev'd Having rescued Bordeaux from the same danger that I had before Tholouze without staying longer than two dayes there I crost the River with sixscore Horse believing that Monsieur de Burie would come up to me as indeed he did but it was four hours after the fight where he found that I had defeated six Ensigns of Foot and seven Corneâ—s of Horse commanded by Monsieur de Duras And after this victory the said Sieur de Burie and I went to besiege Mont-segur which was batter'd and taken by assault as was also Penne of Agenois I after this in two daies took Lectâ—ure by reason that the late Captain Montluc had surpriz'd four hundred men of the Garrison of the said City whom he had put all of them to the sword and immediately without resting day or night I pursued Monsieur de Duras so close that I compell'd him to sight before our Foot could come up to us nay I scarcely gave leisure to Monsieur de Burie to come time enough to be present at the Engagement where we succeeded so well that a handful of men defeated three and twenty Ensigns of Foot and thirteen Corners of Horse After which I sent your Majesty ten Companies of Spanish Foot of which we had made very little use but that did good service at the Battel of Dreux as also did â—en Companies of Gascons which I sent your Majesty by Captain Charry and your Province of Guienne remain'd quiet and clear from all troubles not a man daring to lift up his head but for your Majesties service so that with good and just cause your Majestie conferr'd upon me the Title of Conservator of Guienne As to the second Troubles I had long before sufficiently advertiz'd your Majesty and the Queen your Royal
that long services and the glory by those services acquir'd throughout the world will not stand them in so much stead as the evil tongues of their Maligners and such as would put a bar to their preferment may do them harm It remains Sâ—r that for the conclusion of my long and tedious Letter I must humbly beseech your Majesty to excuse me if after such a blow of fortune I have been constrain'd to address my Complaint and to sigh out my grievance to you and you alone and have been oblig'd to do it as well to make my self better known to your Majesty than I have been in times past as also most humbly to beseech you that for the time to come when your Majesty shall be importun'd to use either me or any other of your good and faithful servants so unkindly you will please to reserve evermore one ear for the accused before you resolve upon doing any thing that may wound or dishonor them As for what concerns my self out of the desire I have ever had to see your Majesty prosper I am very glad if in these last troubles you have been so well and so successfully serv'd in all parts of your Kingdom by all those your Majestie has employed as by me who on this side have preserv'd your Cities and the Country committed to my charge have beaten your Enemies as oft as I could get opportunity to fight them and taken Towns by assault with the extreamest peril of my life And though it has been said that I have done nothing considerable yet I beseech your Majestie to believe that no man has surpass'd me in good intention and a hearty desire to serve you After which since such is your royal pleasure I am willing to retire without other mark of all my labours and the services of so many years but the sorrow for the loss of my Children sacrific'd to your Crown and seven Harquebuze shots which will serve continually to put me in mind of the humble and affectionate devotion I have ever had to perform the best and most obedient service to your glorious Predecessors which also I shall ever retein for your Sacred Majestie to whom I pray Almighty God to give all prosperity health and happiness c. This was my Letter which more perplexed the Monsieurs who at that time govern'd the Court to comment upon than it did me to write it And that unknown to me was afterwards printed and publisht for my friends and such as best knew what I had done for the conservation of Guienne were as much or more offended than I. And I would have it known that both then and since had I as disloyal a heart as they have who after the first Commotions represented me to the Queen for a Spaniard I had yet means and interest enough to have done a great deal of mischief But I neither am nor ever will be other than a good Frenchman and a true Servant to the Crown I also know very well that none of these doings proceeded from the King who never withdrew his favour from me But a young Prince involv'd in so many affairs has much ado to please all the world to which may be added that several who could hurt me no way but with their tongues had a very great influence not over his Majestie who never lov'd the Hugonots what ever he might pretend for his own repose but with the Council O that Kings and Princes ought to be very tender of disgracing a man who has ever been loyal and faithful to them and who is a man of spirit for it might light upon such an one as may put their affairs into a very ill posture of which within these fifty years we have seen too many exemples to the great loss and detriment of the King of France as I have said before when speaking of the traverses and ill offices that several great Captains have receiv'd at Court How many are there that had they been used after this manner would not only have quitted all but perhaps have done a great deal worse for a man that does his duty and finds himself ill rewarded it goes to his heart I have heard that either King Francis or Lewis I know not which of them it was one day asking a Gentleman a Gascon as I am What would debauch him from his service Nothing Sir reply'd the other unless it be a despite And it is also an old saying that Out of spite a man would turn Turk Notwithstanding all this unkindness could never make me either Spaniard or Hugonot I have ever lov'd my honor too well for that and will go down to my Grave with that fair white Robe without suffering the least ugly spot upon the name of Montâ—uc and every one that has any regard to his honor ought to do the same If his King and Master will not make use of his service he may sit at home and look on to see how others behave themselves If he be a man of valour fortune that cast him down will raise him up again she is not alwayes angry How many great Lords and valiant Captains have we seen cultivating their Gardens at home in a time of action whom the King has been constrain'd to recall into his service and could have wished he had never remov'd them from him I have seen a great many in my time both on the King's side and also on the Emperor's who have turn'd their Cassocks and some very lightly and upon very slender occasion but they obtein'd no great advancement by it and being amongst us were lookt upon for such as they were I believe our Enemies did the same Every one loves the Treason wâ—ll enough but they hate the Traitor When that brave Prince Charles de Bourbon was constrain'd to side with the Emperor and to give himself to the Devil because God would have nothing to do with him for doubtless he was compell'd and necessitated to it we were told thatâ— even the Spaniardâ— themselves lookt askew upon him and the poor Prince after he had done a great deal of mischief lâ—â—t his life When after he was slain at Rome it was a common dispute whether the Pope the King of France or the Emperor was most glad of his death the first because he held him besieg'd the King in that he was deliver'd from a capital Enemy or the Emperor for being rid of a banisht and necessâ—â—ous Prince that lay upon his hands and was a burthen to him though he had only nourisht him with promises and nothing else These scurvie despites proceed too far am sure mine never did nor ever shall make me do any thing contrary to my duty or to the prâ—judice of my honor If I was young and that the King would not make use of my service the world is wide enough I would seek my fortune elsewhere but never at the expence of my Prince nor at the price of my own honor The King
Town and to Monsieur de Grepiâ—t Son to President Mansencal another who already had it almost full and so I cleans'd the City leaving no body in it but the Inhabitants and two Companies of foot Captains my Companions consider I beseech you how narrowly this great and opulent City the second in France escap'd being ruin'd and destroy'd for ever There lives a Gentleman at the Gates of Montauban called Monsieur de la Serre whose house was burnt by the Hugonots who told me that he had been present at a Synod where it was determin'd that could they bring about their Enterprize upon Tholouze they would totally raze it to the ground and take such of the ruins as were of any use to Montaâ—ban to enlarge their own City greater than it was intending to comprehend their Suburbs within the Walls and to draw a River thorough it that turn'd a Mâ—ll belonging to the said Sieur de la Serre that there might be no more memory of Tholouze for ever Besides the testimony of this Gentleman a hundred others have confirm'd the same which must be the discourse of their little Ministers only for the great ones who had the Government of affairs would have been better â—dvis'd than to have destroyed such a City which would have been to gâ—eat a loss both to the King and the whole Kingdom You may then take notice of the great and extraordinary diligence I used beginning from the advertisement I had of the Capitouls promise to the Prince of Conde to put the City into his hands and next the haste I made the Captains to make in compleating their Companies which were not half full to put themselves into the City then the diligence of Monsieur de Bellâ—garde and Captain Masses with his Company and on the other side the diligence wherewith I caus'd notice to be given to Captain Charry and my foresight in sending another Mâ—ssenger after the former to bid Monsieur de Terrides Company cross the River at Borret besides my diligence wherewith I advertiz'd Monsieur de Gondrin and others all which was done in three dayes and three nights Wherefore if you will take notice of this exâ—mple and retein it it will serve you to so good use that you will never lose an hours time and although I have writ in the beginning of my Book and as some may think with vanity enough that my diligences and ready foresights have procur'd me the reputation God has given me in point of a Soldier as great as other men yet it is evidently true in this as well as upon other occasions for had I fail'd but a minute the City had been absolutely lost You ought not then disdain to learn of me who am at this day the oldest Capâ—ain in France and whom God has blest with as many successes as any man whatever of my time but you ought to avoid learning of those who have been continually beaten and have eternally run away where ever they have been engag'd for if you go to school to such Masters you will hardly ever come to be any great Doctors in Arms. If I had stood long considering and consum'd the time in consultations to be satisfied whether before I intermeddled with these affairs I should not first send to Monsieur de Burie who was the Kings Lieutenant I leave you to judge whether or no the Hugonots had not had sâ—fficient leisure wherein to do their work But whenever they heard of me they presently fancied the Hangman at their Breech as also they ordinarily call'd me the Tyrant When ever you shall be in place to do a notable piece of service never stay for a command if the occasion be pressing for in the mean time you lose your opportunity therefore fall back fall edge try your fortune it will afterwards be well interpreted I know there are some who think it strange that the City of Tholouze had so great a respect and kindness for me but should they have other they would degenerate from all good nature for they will confess that I sav'd the City together with their lives and estates and the honor of their wives which without my resolute and speedy succour had all been lost Upon which account I hope they will never be ungrateful to me for the good office I did them upon this occasion and if any one will say that what I did was all for the service of the King I shall answer to that that at that time I had no Employment from his Majesty excepting the command of my own Company of Gens d'armes for Monsieur de Burie was the Kings Lieutenant in Guienne and the Constable in Languedoc Yet shall I not deny but that I was prompted to it out of an honest desire I have ever had to do my King service and that not only out of respect to the obligation I have to my Countreys preservation but also out of a natural affection I have ever had for his Majesties service and moreover out of the love and friendship I have ever born and do still bear to this famous City For the dispair I was in to see it in danger to be ruin'd made me take the pains I did It is not then to be wondred at if this City have an animosity against those of this new Religion for there is not a City in France who has run so great a hazaâ—d as this City has done nor that has ever manifested it self more affectionate to the King and his service or stood sharper brunts to maintain themselves in his Majesties obedience Rouen suffer'd it self to be taken without striking a blow Lyons Bourges and Poictiâ—rs did the same Paris was never reduc'd to that extremity being also another kind of thing than the rest Bourdeaux made no defence at all that being no other than a surprize they would make upon Chasteau Trompette which they also made themselves sure of forasmuch as Monsieur de Duras was at the same time at the Gates of Bourdeaux We may all therefore confess with truth that no City whatever has fought so well and run so great a hazard as this having bravely repuls'd the Hugonots after they had seiz'd of the Magazine and were possest of the gates by which they might introduce succours from Montauban I was then advis'd to go before Montauban but it was more to draw the Souldiers from about Tholouzâ— and out of the City and to live upon the Enemies Country than out of any hopes I had to take it for I knew very well there were a great many men within it that were there assembled for the enterprize of Tholouze I then march'd thither having no more than six Ensigns of Foot which were those of Monsieur de Sainctorens de Bazordan the Baron of Clermont Arne and Charry to which those of Tholouze gave me two pieces of Canon and one Culverine bestowing moreover a civility upon the Souldiers they gave them one pay So soon
in charge near unto Tholouze call'd l'Epine to burn it To which the forenamed person making answer that it was one of the most beauâ—â—ful piles in all that Country the Captain reply'd That if the Master of that House had no other he would be houseless The said Sieur de Bouzet himself told me all that this person had said to them of which I immediately advertiz'd the premier President for to have acquainted the Mareschal with it had been to no purpose and I was very certain he would have given no credit to any information of mine which made me rather choose to advertise the President sending him word that he ought to call in Monsieur de la Valette who was already return'd towards Tholouze and Messieurs de Negrepelice and de Sarlabous and that they could not have too many good men in the City for the Enemy talkt strange things which nevertheless I would not repeat by reason it was but the discourse of the Râ—bble of their Camp to which no credit was to be given These were the contents of my Letter I am confident the President has not lost it and thus all the Enemies Forces departed from Port St. Marie and passed by in the sight of the Castle of Bajaumont in which was Monsieur de Durfort Brother to the Sieur de Bajaumont that now is I fallied out with my two Companies of Gens-d'armes and saw them all march by within less than a Harquebuze-shot of me I having no more than eight or ten Horse in my Party for I had left the Cavalâ—y a little behind but could not place them so covertly but that the Enemy saw them very plain yet not so much as a man came out to discover what we were but held on their march and went to quarter that night about Pont de Casse and drawing towards St. Maurin quarter'd themselves about the said St. Maurin and the adjacent Villages where they stay'd two or three dayes Now being the said Sieur de Durfort had seen all their Army both Horse and Foot pass by and had had leisure at his ease to number them upon their march I entreated him to take Post and to go acquaint his Majesty with the number of their Camp who amongst other things told me he had discover'd a Troop of five or six hundred Horse who passed by at a little further distance than the rest the most of which had no Boots and could therefore be no other than Grooms and Footmen they had mounted only to make a shew I did nothing that I did not first communicate to the Bishop of Agen in whom I did at that time confide as much or more than in my own Brother esteeming him for one of the best friends and a man of as much integrity and virtue as any Prelate in France He is descended from the House of Fregosa of Genoa I gave instructions to the said Sieur de Durfort and a Letter of Credence which consisted of these heads That I had sent to his Majesty the Sieur de Durfort who had had the conveniency exactly to number the Army of the Princes to deliver a perfect account of all that he had numbred and seen After which I acquainted his Majesty with the course they steer'd and the resolution they went withal to burn all before them of which I had also given notice to the priemier President of Tholouze to acquaint therewith all those who had Houses near unto the City that they might withdraw their goods and that they would do well to call in Monsieur de Negrepelice if he was not already there together with Messieurs de la Vallette and de la Sarlabous In another clause of my Letter to the King I sent word that the person I do not here name of the Religion who had been in the Enemies Camp had brought news to the Sieurs de la Châ—ppelle and de Bouzet that the Captain of Horse with whom he had conferr'd had told him that they had designs upon Montpelier and Pont St. Esprit which were sure to take effect telling his Majesty that I was very well acquainted with the Governor of Montpelier Monsieur de Castetnau for whom I would be responsible with my life but that I knew not him of Pont St. Esprit but that if his Majesty would please to give a caution to the said Governors to have an eye to those places it would be a means to awake their diligence and to make them provide better for their safety and defence I likewise gave his Majesty to understand that the Bishop of Agen who was lately come from an Abbey of his in Languedoc near unto Narbonne had told me that all the lower Languedoc from Montpelier to Avignon were in very great anxiety having no one in those parts to command them and had sent to the Mareschal to entreat him to send them Monsieur de Ioyeuse for provided they had a Chief to head them they should be enow to defend the Country and that therefore if his Majesty thought fit he might do well to send to the Mareschal to let Monsieur de Ioyeuse go into the lower Languedoc he having enow other great Captains about him for as much as the said Sieur de Ioyeuse would be there better accepted than any other as the said Bishop had assur'd me I moreover acquainted his Majesty in my said Letter that if he would please to command the Monsieur to march with the one half of his Army only we should be able to fight with greater Forces than those of the Princes and let his Majesty look upon me as the basest fellow that ever bore arms in case the Monsieur would come but with the one half of his Army provided he brought his Reiters along with him if he did not defeat the Princes and put an end to the War that in case his Majesty should not think fit the Monsieur should come let him then command the Prince Dolphin to march with the Army towards the Country of Rouvergue with whom I would joyn and we would find means that the Mareschal d'Anville should also joyn with us and that then about Tholouze or which way soever they should move we would find an opportunity to fight them at our best advantage These were all the heads of my instructions and to say the truth not a man of them had ever return'd into France unless they had hid their heads in their strong holds and we had preserv'd the Country Had they once been broken or separated they would have had much ado ever to have rally'd and piec'd again This good Bishop of Agen had told me that he gave Narbonne for lost and that Monsieur de Rieux the Governor was a Hugonot that he had driven one of the principal Catholicks to whom all the rest of the Catholicks ever address'd themselves out of the City at which the Inhabitants were almost in despair insomuch that the Catholick Citizens had writ to
the Mareschal to beseech him to write to Monsieur de Rieux to permit him to return into the Town which said Sieur de Rieux had sent back many excuses and that he could not do it whereupon seeing the Mareschal cold in their behalf and that he did not enough interest himself in their concern to cause the Gentleman to be readmitted the Catholicks had apply'd themselves to the Parliament that the Parliament had thereupon remonstrated the Citizens grievance to the Maâ—â—schal who again at their instance had writ to the said Sieur de Rieux but still to no effect which had made the people to give themselves absolutely for lost I told all this to the Sieur de Durfort not that I had included it in my instructions and much less that I gave him in Commission to tell it to the King because perhaps it might not be true but telling him that to be more certain he would do well to ask the Bishop of it and if he would give him leave from him to tell it to the King He therefore accordingly enquir'd of the Bishop touching that affair who thereupon told him the whole story after the very same manner he had related it to me and moreover told him that he would himself write to the King which he accordingly did but the said Sieur de Durfort refus'd to receive the Iâ—etter till first he had seen the Contents which he therefore shew'd him and then the said Sieur took it â—elling me that he had seen what the Bishop had writ to the King which was word for word as he had related it to me before This was all that was compriz'd in my instructions for as to any letter of Credence the said Durfort carry'd no other from me but onely what was contain'd in those instructions he telling me freely and plainly that he would never carry other Letter of Credit but only Instructions sign'd and seal'd And upon this foundation it was that the Mareschal d' Anville writ that defamatory Letter against me and had I not been withheld by the respect to those to whom he appertains and the Rank he held in the Kingdom I should have tried to have taught him how he gave the Lye without being first well enform'd of the truth I might justly have given it him forasmuch as the testimony of the King himself and the Instructions themselves would have manifested the truth but it is sufficient that the King and the Queen knew the contrary to what he had coucht in his Letter and that my conscience is absolutely clear We shall see hereafter whether he or I shall do our Master the best service He is indeed two advantages over me he is a great Lord and young and I am poor and old I am nevertheless a Gentleman and a Cavalier who have never yet suffer'd an injury nor ever will do whilst I wear a sword I am willing to believe that the forenamed Bishop at that time knew nothing of the design complotted against me but his wicked Brother came and stayd with him four or five days and during that time wrought upon him to consent to this virtuous Conspiracy of which I shall say no more for God has begun to shew his miraculous arm in my revenge and I have that consâ—â—lence in him that I hope he will not stay it there Now the Princes went the same way that I had advertiz'd the President they intended to march and executed the resolution of burning all the way they wenâ— I could wish from my heart that my intelligence had not proov'd true for I have been assur'd by several of very good credit of Tholouze that the Army of the Princes endammag'd them above a million of Livers I shall not here undertake to give an account of what they did in Languedoc for I do not pretend to meddle with other mens actions neither how well the Mareschal perform'd his duty but shall return to a Letter sent me by the King that I must go forthwith into Bearn His Majesty sent me a command that I should gather together all the Forces I was able to make and that with all possible expedition which being done that I must take Artillery from Tholouze Bayonne and Bordeaux and elsewhere where it was to be had and go to invade the Country of Bearn He writ also to the Capitouls of Tholouze to furnish me with Artillery and Ammunition but not a syllable of any money either to pay the Soldier or to defray the Equipage of the Canon and God knows whether in such Enterprizes any thing ought to be wanting An Army resembles a Clock if the least wheel or spring be wanting all the rest goes very false or stands still I therefore sent Espalanques a Bearnois to Court with ample instructions of all that was wanâ—ing and that would be necessary for me to have before I could begin to march I was constrain'd to do this by reason that the Letters his Majesty had sent me about this Expedition were so cold that it seem'd he that contriv'd them must either have no great mind to have me go thither or at least if I went should be able to do nothing to purpose or that he was an absolute Ignoramus However I took no notice of any thing at all to his Majesty but onely desir'd him to write an Express and a pressing Letter and Command to the Capitouls to lend me two pieces of Canon and one great Culverine with requisite Ammunition for which I would be responsible to them for the Artillery and Ammunition are properly their own They had already sent me word that they had no Artillery ready and much less Ammunition by reason that Monsieur de Bellegarde had spent most of their stock at Carla and at Puylaurens and that the Mareschal d'Anville had the rest at Mazeres I writ also to his Majesty that he would please to command Monsieur de Valence to cause a little money to be deliver'd to me for one Muster or at least for half a one for the Foot to buy powder for that of two years this War had lasted all the Foot that I had rais'd in those parts had had but two Musters payd them and the most of them but one and also that he would send to Monsieur de Valence to send a Treasurer along with me to defray the Artillery and whilst I waited inâ—expectation of Espalanques return I would take so good and speedy order for the rest that at his coming back he should find me ready to march These were all the demands I made to the King His answer was that he did very much wonder I should so long deferre this Expedition that he had thought I had been already in the Country that if I would proceed no otherwise than hitherto I had done in this affair he would appoint some other to undertake it and that for three years past I had done nothing to purpose These Letters were ready to break my heart and