an enterprise vpon Douay which hauing not taken effect he tooke Lens a small Towne in Artois which he pilled whereby the Gates of warre were fully opened Picardie and Champagne exposed to continuall courses and the frontier places on both sides fortified The Queene of England sent a Herault of Armes into France to defie the King and to proclaime warre against him and about the middle of the month of Iulie the prince of Piedemōt accōpanied with the duke d'Arscot the Earles of Mansfeld d'Aiguemāt Meigue Barlaimōt begā to erect a puissant armie at Guiets staying for further ayde of Rutters and Bourguignons The Duke de Neuers prouided for Rocroy Mesieres and Mariembourg which he doubted would be assayled from whence the Prince retired perceiuing it to bee too dangerous an enterprise for him marching towards the Towne of Guise with 40000. foote and 15000. horse not accounting 10000. Englishmen which he daylie expected the French armie beeing 18000. foote and 6000. horse The Admirall with the Sieurs de Villebon de Senarpont and others were of aduise that the townes of Picardie should be fortified specially such as lay in greatest danger but they were not beleeued in such manner that the Prince of Piedemont hauing stayed a time before Guise presently sent his horsemen to inclose S. Quintins and marched thither with all his armie so that vpon the suddaine the Towne was besieged on all sides Monsieur de Teligny being within it S. Quintins besieged with a broken companie of launciers and one Bruiel a Gentleman of Breton was Gouernour of the Towne with very fewe footemen and the Inhabitants themselues wholly ignorant in Marshall affaires made great difficultie to receiue a greater Garrison being mooued thereunto The Admirall determined to enter therein and to the same end vppon the 2. of August he departed from Pierrepont with foure companies of launciers and three of light-horses and being at Han hee was constrained by reason of the danger of the voyage to take no more but 2. companies of foote wherof onely the third part entered with him into S. Quintins The Admirall entereth into Saint Quintins the rest stayed behinde and were constrained to retire because the towne was almost besieged round about touching the order therin taken by the Admiral concerning the fortifications other things it is most certaine that nothing was by him forgotten The towne being wel ayded by those fewe men that entered with him there was found disorder touching their victuals their powder beeing burnt and blowne vp by the Cittizens default that knew not how to behaue themselues in Marshall affaires which much troubled the Souldiers Aduise being giuen vnto the Constable Generall of the French armie what state S. Quintins was in he sent the Prince of Conde Generall of the light-horse the Marshall Saint Andre with foure hundreth launciers and Monsieur d'Andelot with tenne Ensignes of footemen from la Fere to enter into Han as well to bridle the campe as to seeke by all meanes to refresh and strengthen those of Saint Quintins d'Andelot offered to enter therein with two thousand men while the armie on all sides should giue an alarme vnto the enemie who by means of certaine prisoners hauing discouered the enterprise tooke such order therein that their pretence tooke not effect The Constable bringeth his armie vnto S. Quintins to cause certaine men to enter Meane time the Spanish armie increased by ayde of the Englishmen being to the number of tenne thousand foote and about one thousand fiue hundreth horse The Constable desirous to helpe those of S. Quintins hauing determined vpon all the meanes that might be vsed to helpe the Towne and being fully bent to execute the same the 9. of August he caused the French and Almaine footmē to passe ouer the bridge that lieth aboue la Fere with certain Peeces of artillerie and the tenth of August being S. Lawrence day the horsemen ioyned with the foote and so marched towards S. Quintins where about nine of the clocke in the morning they arriued and there rancked themselues in order of battell right before the subburbes of Isle as then taken by the Spaniards that were driuen out againe euen to the Chaussee meane time the artillerie played vpon the Prince of Piedemonts campe wherein it mooued great disorder and while that was done the Constable caused as many troupes to enter into the Towne as possible hee might which done the King of Spaines armie resolued with themselues by a prompt and generall resolution to set vppon the Constables forces and so constraine him to fight to the which end the Prince of Piedemont and the Counte d'Aiguemont ioyned togither at such time as the Duke de Neuers was gone to relieue Monsieur d'Eschenets that held play with the enemie while the rest that went to ayde the Towne should enter the Constable being vpon retrait not minding to giue battell the Duke ioyned with the Prince of Conde so made assault near vnto a wind-mill withall his light-horse and they two togither without any losse ioyned themselues with the maine battell but their enemies followed them and approaching with 8. great Squadrons of horsemen the Counte d'Aiguemont was the first that with two thousand horse charged the Frenchmen on the one side the Dukes Ernest Henry de Brunswic seconded by the Counte de Horme with two thousand Rutters and ten thousand lanciers fell on the other side the Counte de Mansfeld and other leaders entred vpon the middle part with three thousand horse with so great force that the Frenchmen were ouertrowne The Duke of Neuers being one of the first notwithstanding after many daungers hee got out of the preace and although the parties were vnequall yet the Frenchmen failed not to fight where the Constable was both hurt taken with him the Dukes of Montpensier de Longueuille the Prince of Mantoue the Marshal S. Andre and many others as wel knights of the Order as Lords and Gentlemen the chiefe of name that were slaine were Iohn de Burbon Duke de Anguien the Viscount of Turaine others most part of the Captains of the footemen who perceiuing the horsemē cōming placed themselues in a square battell but they were presently broken and part slaine the rest taken prisoners This bloodie fight indured for the space of 4. or 5. houres the Spaniards pursued the Frenchmen within a myle of the towne of la Fere. And surely al mē were much abashed how so many escaped considering the great fear disorder they thē were in The Prince of Conde the Duke de Neuers the Counte de Sancerre Messieurs de Bourdillon Grammont Cruecueur Piennes Descars and others escaped Montmorency the Constables eldest sonne tooke another way This ouerthrow caused great feare in Parris for in it the Frenchmen lost great numbers of men wherin the Histories seeme not to agree some say 5000. others 8000. slaine in the field The King came presently from Compiegne to Parris to
and it fell out so that Acier Mouuans and others not neglecting this commaundement made so great a troupe of men Forces out of Dauphin Prouence and Languedoc for the Prince as it seemed that they had wholly vnpeopled those three Prouinces hauing at the least sixteene or seuenteene thousand Harquebusiers marching along Gourdes Gouernour of Dauphine vsed all the meanes hee could to impeach their passage ouer the riuer of Rhosne but they hauing seized vppon diuers places that might bee commodious for them and with ease crossing that great riuer went to Allais and so marched towards Millaud to enter into Perigueux Now as on the one side this troupe of footemen was the strength of the Princes armie so was it the cause of the losse of diuers places which the Catholicques seized vppon after the departure of Acier and other commanders whereof diuers repented themselues to haue leuyed so many men whereof the halfe would haue sufficed marching close and in good order but the iealousie among the principall leaders the staying of some and the aduauncing of others was the meanes that they could not ioyne with the Prince before they had receiued a hard checke two of their regiments beeing defeated by the Duke de Montpensieur because that Mouuans and Pierre Gourdes Collonels perceiuing themselues hindered by lodging so close as they had done till they were not farre from Perigort sought to separate themselues and lie in a village called Mensignac beeing of opinion that with two thousany Harquebusiers they might withstand a whole armie Mouuans had both valour and pollicie as much as any Captain of footmen euer had in his time But his courage caused him at that time to take vpon him too great a charge for beeing set vpon on all sides The ouerthrowe of Mouans Gourde and by sixe times as many men yet he refused not to fight valiantly but in fine both hee and his companions were slaine in the field with the number of a thousand of their men and to impeach Acier lodging about two small leagues from thence with sixe thousand foote from comming to ayde them at the same time that Mouuans was charged by the Dukes footemen they sent eight or nine launciers and diuers Harquebusiers on horsebacke towards Acier that cried battell and made a great noyse with trumpets A stratagem to hinder aide Whereat Acier was so much busied to looke vnto himselfe that in the mean time Mouuans and his troupes sustained the force of their enemies selling their liues as well as they might in such sort that the Catholicques lost aboue a hundreth men and were so moyled with the fight and the trauell their horse had made at that same day that they could not pursue nor charge Aciers troupes abashed at the report of those that had escaped that made the Duke of Montpensiers forces to bee farre greater then they were What the two armies did lying so neare togither After this ouerthrow of Mouuans the Duke of Montpensieurs armie returned to Chastelleraut as fearing least the Prince beeing growne so strong by the arriuall of the Dauphinois of their companions should haue set vpon him in some place of disaduantage There he found the Duke of Anion accompanied with very resolutetroupes and a great number of Noble men and Captaines greatly affectionate to this poore Prince There had not been many daies seene two such armies of French men The Prince of Conde his places furnished had eighteene thousand Harquebusiers and three thousand good horse In the Dukes armie they had no lesse then tenne thousand footmen besides the Switzers and foure thousand lances so that on both sides there were fiue and thirtie thousand Frenchmen all trained men and peraduenture as good souldiers as any in Europe They of the religion considering their strength endeuored to haue come to handie blowes and came within two leagues of Chastelleraud but the Prince beeing giuen to vnderstand that the other campe was lodged in a very conuenient place and almost inuironed with a small marish holpen with some sleight intrenchment in diuers places would not make any rash attempt but soght all other meanes to drawe his enemie to the field The Prince seeketh battell and way Heerevnto was he especially inuited in regard as well of his number as their forwardnesse withall fearing that such armies wanting scope sufficient could not continue or hold any long time besides that the winter which this yeare was most extreame would soone duminish the same The Romish Catholiques were not altogither so outragious but expected a supply withall thinking themselues able in time to wearie their enemie and by litle and little to breake them The two leaders were very desirous to ioyne namely the Duke of Aniou who fretted mightily to see so many men at the Princes commaund besides that he heard that the Germaines were bustling and preparing in the spring to come into France for him Moreouer they both had one intent namely each to liue vppon the enemies countrie and so to spare their owne from the extreame waste committed by the man of warre But the prouidence of the almightie The purposes of both the leaders would not permit the French to put in execution the mallice of their harts for had they then buckeled the sinues of the kingdome had been cut in peeces and by all likelyhood it had been past recouery and beene made a pray to any mightie forraine enemie that lists suddainly to haue seized thervpon Now let vs beholde how his wise prouidence ordered all matters at that time Both the armies breaking vp drewe towards Lusignan neare wherevnto there lyeth a smal quarter most fruitfull where each pretended to lodge The Admirall and his brother in danger of an ouerthrow and albeit they were so neare togither yet did not the one know of the other whereby it fell out that the generall Rendez-vous of both armies was appoynted in a great Burrow called Pampron some fiue leagues from Poictiers a town plentifully prouided of victuals where the Marshals of both the campes met in maner at one instant with their troupes so that twise or thrise they driue and were driuē each side coueting that lodging which at length was abandoned But knowing that they should be relieued neither side would flie but took their stands some quarter of a league off where they put themselues in array for the support of the one side came the Admiral and his brother with fiue cornets of horse and for the Duke of Anious part some seuen or eight hundreth launces Now are wee not said the Admirall to stand vppon lodgings but to fight and so suddainly aduised the Prince heereof who was a long league behinde willing him to come forward whilest hee kept the enemie playe Then did he set his men in order vppon a little rising the rather to take from the Romish Catholicques the sight of a small valley whereby they might haue had a perfect view of him as also
to make them thinke that the said valley had been full both of horsemen and footmen Standing thus within cannon shot each of other the Admirall commanded a Captaine of Argoletiers to march some fiue hundreth paces and there to stay near vnto a hedge but as such men are not alwaies of like wisedome courage and readinesse the one halfe immediately made to the skirmish whom their Cornet followed to relieue them The Duke of Martigues leader of the other side weening that they would haue fought stood close and sent forth three or foure squadrons of lanciers The Admirall and his brother greeuing that they had not foreseene the folly of this Captaine of the Argoletiers wist not wherevpon to resolue because they saw the enemie much stronger then themselues but comming to giue their opinions they both concluded contrary to their custome and nature Andelot a knight without feare and one that neuer found any thing too hotte A notable example of the infirmitie of mans iudgement in matters of importance though it best to retire a soft pace and so giue a foyle to the enemie that was much stronger then they which was to bee preserred before the danger which being once auoyded besides the profit they shuld also reape honour The Admirall thought it better to staye and with a good face to hide their weaknesse and thervpon immediately called back his skirmishers wherevpon the enemies lanciers made at This counsell had best successe notwithstanding the other seemed the better and of more safetie For Martiques afterward gaue out that had hee knowne the Admirall and his bretheren to haue been so weake it should haue cost him the liues of all his lanciers but he wold haue had those two Lords either quicke or dead that he tooke their fiue cornets to haue been the troupes of the Marshals of the field whom they had charged and so doubted they had been supported by some store of Harquebusiers which he seemed to discerne in a village behinde them who indeed were no other but their varlets besides that for want of footemen whom he expected hee had lost the opportunitie of a field The Prince looseth opportunitie to defeate the D. of Anious anuantgard Thus do the hazards of warre depend vpon very suddaine moments Within one houre after this aduenture they all looked for a field for on all sides ye might discerne the footemens Ensignes and troupes of horsemen come marching on but it was late before they were all come togither so as they had onely a hotte skirmish which the night brake off There was no more but the D. of Anious auantgard whose leaders perceiuing the Princes campe to be too strong deuised a pollicie to make them thinke it to be their whole armie for they caused part of the French drummes to strike vppe the Switzers march forbidding their souldiers not to disband but only to defend themselues least by the taking of any prisoner the enemies should haue knowne the truth for had the Prince knowne of it this auantgard had been ouerthrown and defeated Besides they doubled their guards made great fires and caused their souldiers to hang burning matches vpon the bushes and so hauing taken their repast they departed with small noyse and drewe some to Iasenueil where the D. of Aniou lodged with his battell and some to the borought of Sanssay which is within one league of it The Prince at three of the clocke after midnight had notice of their going and at fiue followed with his whole armie as doubting that theirs came not then Thus in one day we may see two notable opportunities lost the first by the Duke the second by the prince yet may we not greatly blame either the one or the other for such occasions are hardly found at the first and in two or three houres they are passed Then it is that some small aduertisement might plainly haue reuealed them but that is a benefit of felicitie which dependeth not vppon the Captains sufficiencie All that we haue spoken of the former daies work is nothing in regard of that which happened the next day at Iasenueil where it seemeth that God verified the saying of his Prophet that he would subuert the counsels of men also that al the waies of the mightie are in his hands as well as of the meaner For many things fell out rather by hazard at all aduenture then by any counsell or aduise The Princes determination was to follow his enemies campe that as then dislodged The battelt of Iasenueil and wheresoeuer hee found it to fight with them wherevpon the Admirall and the Prince pursued after them Now comming to two waies the one leading to the village called Sanssay the other to Iasenueil the Prince left the first and tooke the last which hee did because of a mist that rose before the breake of day The forefront which the Admirall had set before him and was very strong about eight of the clocke in the morning entered into Sanssay wherein fiue or six hundreth horses were lodged that were presently constrained in haste to dislodge hauing lost all their carriage and were pursued very farre Mean time the Prince keeping on the way which he had chosen hauing marched aboue two leagues found himselfe in the face of the armie of the Duke of Anion not knowing what was become of his vantgard He perceiuing himselfe to bee so neare determined not to retire and because the countrie was strong he caused his Harquebusiers to bee placed in the head beeing aboue 12000 beginning to skirmish sending to the Admirall whom he knew not where to finde to certifie him that he was constrained to make shew to fight finding himselfe so neare to the D. of Anious campe and that he should make all the haste hee could to come vnto him Before the messenger was halfe way the Admiral aduertised by the cānon shot doubted the woorst in all haste made towards the noyse with those troupes he could assemble But at his arriual the sun began to go down which kept them from determining viewing or enterprising vpon the great armies Al doing nothing but skirmished in such sort as of long time the like had not been seene and which put the D. armie in some feare as being in a place of great disaduantage althogh it made a good shew not one seeing the other beeing hidden within the hedges valleis none but the Harquebusiers being scattered could bee perceiued The Princes side was very couragious A pleasant conceit but their cōduction not answerable shooting as in a shew of pleasure very close a whole Regiment discharging togither To the contrary the Dukes were separated shooting at leisure in small troupes in such sort that 200. Harq stayed a whole regiment of the Princes The losse fel on both sides many hurt as it happeneth in such conflicts At the same time there chanced a merrie conceit that put many in great feare while they made alte al the
if his armie came thither while the Dukes Councell were consulting of the means to imploy his forces in other places those of the religion had time and leisure to ioyne themselues togither The Admirall brought the Princes of Nauarre and Conde from Saint Iohn to Tone Charante where hee met the Queene of Nauarre to incourage such as were in doubt and to take Councell what was to bee done Their horsemen were mustered whereof the Prince of Nauarre was appoynted Generall to whom all of them being the number of foure thousand Gentlemen made oathes of fidelitie The young Prince of Conde was ioyned with him d'Andelot went to the Garrisons to take a view of the footemen which done hee made a voyage into Poitou to assemble the dispearsed troupes to prouide for mony and to bridle the courses of the enemies but comming from thence The death of Monsieur d'Andelot beeing taken with a burning feuer hee went to Sainctes where hee died vppon the seuenteenth of May to the great greefe and sorrow of all his friends and seruants His bodie beeing opened was found to bee poysoned which not long after was practised against diuers Lords Gentlemen of the religion by the aduise of Rene de Birague an Italian as then Keeper of the seales and after Chancellor of France who vsed openly to say that it was not necessary to make warre with so much labour and charges but to imploy the Cookes meaning prisoners The estate of Colonell of the French Infanterie was giuen to Acier and his company to Beauuais la Nocle his Lieftenant but the charge of all the armie and the care of the principall affaires fell vppon the Admirall much respected by the Queene of Nauarre Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines and to bee short of both great and small that as then made profession of the religion The siege of Mucidan where Pompadon the Countie Brissac are slaine As concerning the Dukes army it ouerranne Xaintoigne Angoulesme and Limosin taking in some places namely Aubeterre The Countie de Brissac Colonel of the French footemen in that armie and Captaine of a Regiment of fortie Ensignes with the most part of their forces tooke vpon him the siege of Mucidan They that were within after they had a while defended the Towne set it on fire and retired into the Castle which they held valiantly and abide some assaults slew the notable men of the regements of Brissac Monluc and Cars among the rest the Vicount of Pompadou lastly Brissac himselfe who comming neare to view the breach and defences had no sooner put foorth his nose but a Harquebuse pearced his head and layde him starke dead vpon the Counterstarp hee was betweene fiue and six and twentie yeares of age and was much bewayled of many that hoped to haue seene him in time one of the greatest leaders of our daies A while after the besieged yeelding vpon composition to haue both liues and goods saued were scarce out of sight of the walles but that contrarie to faith and promise the most part were cut in peeces by the besiegers vpon a desperate reuenge of the death of their two Coronels and their best souldiers that they had there lost The taking of the I le of Medoc On the other side Captaine Piles tooke the Isle of Medoc lying betweene Rochel and Bourdeaux where all the souldiers inriched themselues And the Duke abandoned Guyen and tooke his way towards Berry there to ioyne with the forces of the D. d'Aumale that togither they might stop the Dutch armie brought in by the Duke of Deaxponts from ioyning with the Princes The Lords of Nouy Ienly Moruilliers Fequieres Esternay and others soone after the beginning of this third ciuill warre A small French army commeth in fit time to the Rutters throgh Frāce maugre all the enemies armies had gathered togither some fifteene or six hundreth horse and two thousand Harquebusiers whom when in regard of the difficultie of the passages they could not bring into Guyen they led into Brabant to the prince of Orenge and Countie Lodowick his brother who after they had a while with variable successe continued warre against the Spaniards passed ouer the riuer of Meuse maugre the duke of Alue to whom they offered battell which the Spaniard refused as hoping to waste them with want of victuals which grew so short that they were driuen to passe into France where comming to Vitry they consulted vpon their affaires whether it were best to passe further into the Realm alreadie daunted with so many armies and to returne toward Germanie and so to ioyne with the armie that VVolfgang Counte Palatine of Rhyne D. of Deux Ponts leuyed for the Princes but the second aduise tooke place Now more narrowly to consider what a long walke this Dutch armie made from the Rhine euen vnto Limosin togither with their great and continuall impeachment it cannot but breed much maruell that a forraine armie watched so narrowly and hauing so many backe-friends could thus compasse their drifts True it is that ciuill warres haue at al times made a plaine path to forraine nations who otherwise durst scarce looke towards the Gates without the support of the one partie But where the fauour is but small on the one side and the resistance great on the other we are the more to admire the exployts of those that do so aduenture themselues It was a great comfort to the Germaine Duke to haue the assistance of the Prince of Orenge the Countie Lodowick and the Countie VVolrad of Mansfield The description of the Dutch army with the French afore mentioned His troupes contained fiue thousand Lansquenets and sixe thousand Rutters With this small armie hee marched publishing by writing the causes of his iourney to the Princes The kings Councell finding themselues to seeke did speedily conclude of a small armie vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumale to stop this succour yet doubting of the weakenesse of such a Leader vnskilfull and vnfortunate in matter of warre leuied yet an other vnder the conduct of the Duke of Nemours a man in manner like vnto the other These two bodies assembled in footemen farre surmounted the Dutch Dukes but in horsemen hee was the stronger They were resoluted not to linger vntill hee entered France and so make hauocke but marched euen to the borders of Germanie and neare to Saumur where they defeated the regiment of Captain la Coche of Dauphine composed of sundrie parcels patched togither which purposed to haue ioyned with the Lansquenets Notwithstanding this defeate the Germaine Duke proceeded into France through Bourgongne where the enemie coasted him vntill hee had gotten to the riuer of Lotre hauing marched full fourescore leagues they neuer left him but were still in his flancke or vppon the taile yea many times the armies were each in sight of other and had many great skirmishes The Prince of Orenge hath since sundrie times reported that he maruelled that in so long and
difficult a passage the Romish Catholiques could neuer finde fit opportunitie considering that many occasions befell them and the rather by reason of the impeachments of their maine carriages For besides these great forces of the Dukes of Aumale and Nemours the townes countrie and riuers were at their commaund they also knewe the purposes of their aduerse armie which consisted in making haste and either by force or surprise winning passage ouer Loyre whither it came maugre all their pollicies and deuises It was said that through some contention between them they lost sundrie good exployts which they ought haue performed had they beene at vnion besides they doubted the vigilancie of Moruilliers the industrie of Feuguieres and the readinesse and valiancie of Nouy Esternay and other Captaines who held them in continuall alarme and had not the news of the battell at Bassac comforted them Aumale and Nemours had been either defeated or forced to licence their troupes and so to retire into the townes If fell out well for the Germaines that they made such haste for this great blocke this riuer of Loire would haue been a second and most greeuous difficultie to stay these riuers as well for that it was not so shallow as to yeeld any foord as also for that all the townes standing therevppon were enemies yet was the passage so necessary that it made thē to vse great speed courage and inuention for contrary to all expectation of their enemies on each side the riuer they assaulted a towne called la Charitee where they had a good bridge Among al the ouersights of the Rom. Catholicques who were reenforced with a supply of Italians from the Pope of twelue hundreth horse and four thousand foote this was not the least that they left la Charitee destitute of men wherevppon the Protestants lay so hard to that place and terrified it with so many mines and threats that before it could haue any reliefe they had wonne it to their incredible ioy which neuerthelesse was abated by the decease of Feuquieres and other Captaines poysoned by the way according vnto Biragues precepts Had it not been for this prize the Germaine armie had bin hard bestead and their leaders forced to haue returned backe to the head of Loire which was sixtie leagues off yea which was woorse taking that course they should haue intangled themselues in a hilly wood countrie where their horse would haue been but a hinderance The Admirall accounted this passage impossible and still harkened after their ouerthrow The Admirals opinion touching the passage of the Rutters many times telling his familiars that he could not helpe this succor in regard that the Duke of Auious armie still lay before him and the Rutters and French had two armies more watching vpon them besides a most difficult passage ouer the riuer withall that albeit they had passed ouer yet their enemies ioyning their forces must needs defeate them before they could come neare them by twentie leagues to helpe them But hearing of the successe of the siege of la Charitee he grew againe into some hope saying This is a good prognostication let vs perfect it with diligence and resolution The Princes with their troupes marched immediately towards Limosin that so they might come nearer to the Duke of Anious power to keepe it in awe albeit in continuall feare still looking to heare that al the enemies armies beeing so strong should haue swallowed vp their Rutters which fell out contrary for they tooke so good opportunitie and vsed such speed that they out went them vnder the cōduct of the French troupes where among the rest Nouy bare himselfe more valiantly in sundrie roades of the enemies whom diuers times he sent backe gathered to the place where the Admirall had appoynted to meet them with one thousand shot and two thousand and fiue hundreth horse Thus towards the end of Iune the two armies ioyned in great ioy albeit somewhat abated by the death of the Duke of Deuxponts who died of a feuer a little before into whose place the Countie Mansfield succeeded This iourney and fauourable passage may put all Captaines in minde that notwithstanding whatsoeuer great difficulties they may bee inuironed yet are they not to distinct for they shall not need past one sole fauourable accident to free them and such do commonly fauor those that shunning sloth doo take a good heart Discourse of the encounter at the Rochebelle where Strossy was ouerthrown with two regimēss of foote The two armies as then very strong that of the Duke of Aniou beeing aboue thirtie thousand men and that of the Princes fiue and twentie thousand were constrained to depart one from the other to finde commoditie of victuals because the countrie of Limosin is vnfertile but they reapproched towards S. Yrier la Perche The Admirall perceiuing that the sterilitie of the countrie made his troupes to lye scattered and because of the hilles and woods the places of battel were oftē with disaduantage determined rather to preuent then bee preuented Not long before the Princes had sent an humble request vnto the king to haue peace but the Duke d'Anion would neuer graunt Passeport to their Deputies whereof the Admirall made great complaints to the Marshall de Montmorencie And perceiuing that his enemies sought nothing but warre hee counselled the Princes to surprise the Dukes armie not far from thence in a place named Rochebelle To the which end they departed before the breake of day resolute to giue battell and arriued in so good time that they were within a quarter of a league from the head of their enemies before they gaue the alarme The strong lodging serued those that were there in guard and stood them in great stead and Colonel Strossy at the noyse hasted in with 500. harquebusiers for the strengthening of 300. of his mē that kept the principall passage where hee found the skirmish begun His valor serued wel for his partakers for that for the space of one houre he held 4000. of the Princes shot good play whereby the D. armie had opportunitie to assemble and set themselues in array The Admiral wondring that they could not force that passage sent Brucil a wise and skilful Captaine who immediately espied the fault Herevpon hauing ordered certaine troups and disbanded 4. cornets of horse to scar them he began a sharp onset wherin vpon the breaking of certain Pallissades that couered Strossy his regiment his men were so disordered that the suruiuers fled leauing dead behind them 22. of their leaders and fiue or 600. foot besides their Colonel prisoner without whose resistance the Princes auantgard had gotten to the D. ordinance with all impeachment But withall it beganne to ioyne and so continued that the victors were forced to retire The next day they were imployed vpon alarmes and skirmishes in one of the which 200. Italians with some sallies of the company of the D. of Nemours being somewhat too far aduanced were charged by the Lord
May. Second parley of peace I said before that the first aunswere made by the king to Messieur de Teligny de Beauuais and la Nocle Deputies for the Princes to parley of a peace at Anger 's was such that after it the warre was rather increased then diminished For those of the religion perceiuing that they sought onely to ouerthrow and destroy them determined to proceed and to make of necessitie a vertue And as time breedeth changes those that happened were to their aduantages in such sort that their courages were increased and their hopes fortified The king the Queen and their Councell perceiuing that since the losse receiued before Saint Iohn d'Angely they found themselues new to beginne determined to beginne a parley of peace wherein for their part Biron was imployed with charge as like wise Teligny Deputie for the Princes to say vnto the Admirall that the king and the Queen his mother desired more then euer they did to receiue him into their fauours with many such like words whereof the effects may well bee seen in the discourse of the yeare 1572. The king was greeued that the continuance of warre bereaued him of his pleasures ouerthrew the loue and obedience due vnto him fouraged his countrie diminished his treasures and consumed his forces His wicked Councellours ceased not to kindle in his heart the fier of rancor and desire of reuenge against the Admirall his associates and all those of the religion because of the iourney of Meaux in the beginning of the second troubles and of so many resistances as they had made The Queen his mother was much offended because that from the beginning of the first troubles it was discouered that her intents were to rule and to cause the one part to spoyle the other Her chiefe obiect beeing wholly against those of the religion specially against the Admirall and other commaunders There was too much paine and daunger to bring them to her bow by dint of sword murtherers and impoysoners durst hardly approach the Princes applyed themselues to the time and from their youths beganne to know the friends and enemies of rest and quietnesse of France On the other side the Queen of Nauarre and the Admirall as also diuers great Lords of their part affected to the good of the Common-wealth and foreseeing that the ingrafted enemies thereof desired nothing but the weakning of the same by the meanes of ciuill warres there to erect their practises and to open the way to their ambitious deuises desired by an assured peace to see some end of the miseries of France hoping that mens mindes being somewhat cooled good counsell would bee taken for the benefit of the Common-wealth to the vtter confusion of the secret and open enemies thereof the diuine prouidence of the almightie God and ruler of the world directeth our affaires partly according to our desires but for the most part it guideth all things in such manner that calling to mind that which past after vntill the death of the Duke of Aniou which was Henry the third wee cannot marke nor say otherwise but that the iudgements of God are vnsearchable and that his waies are impossible to bee found out To returne vnto the Princes they were constrained after the battell of Of the great voyage made by the Princes after thâ—ir tourney of Moncontour vntill the peace Moncontour to keepe themselues farre from the Dukes armie to assure their troupes to stay their enemies about townes and so to consume them while they strengthened themselues and became busier then before thereby to constraine those that tooke so much pleasure in war to seeke for peace This counsel was good because of the improuidence of the Romish Catholicks who without resistance suffering this smal snowball to retire in time it became as great as a house for that the authoritie of the Princes drew and moued many people The Admiral by his prouidence surmounted the occurrent difficulties and the Rutters to the number of three thousand horse for the field gaue reputation to the armie They indured much vntill they entered into Gascon where they strengthened themselues with Harquebusiers beeing most necessarie for them specially to defend the horsemen nightly surprises much vsed in that countrie because of the nearenesse of Townes and Castles They were mingled among the Cornets of Rutters and other French troupes in such sort that both plaine countries and couert they were alwaies ready to defend theÌ„ Staying of the Princes Armie The longest way that this demy armie made was towards Agenois and Quercy where it stayed almost all the winter and by the good entertainment it receiued there both great and little spedde wel In this voyage the Princes abandoned the enemies countrie for a pray vnto their souldiers and whosoeuer would hazard wanted no meanes those Prouinces were so abundant Monluc went about to hinder their passage ouer Garonne but the diligence of la Loue that ledde the Princes light-horse hauing taken those places that serued for resistance forced him in all haste to retire to Agen so that in the moneth of December 1599. all the armie passed ouer Garonne at Saint Maries port without impeachmeÌ„t at the second time for at the first Monluc had broken their bridge The twentieth of the same moneth Captaine Piles ioyned with the Princes armie and hauing obtained three Cornets made them flye that followed him so neare La Loue and his Argolitiers made diuers courses and picorees into Agenois and the countries thereabout The first forces that ioyned with the Princes were those of the Countie Montgommery comming from Bearn and it is not to bee doubted if he were welcommed at his returne The two and twentieth of December Bole a strong Towne was taken that done Exployts of this armie in their voyage that armie went to lye at the Bastille Saint Surin two leagues from Thoulouse The next day and others ensuing beganne a manner of war most violent by reason of the burnings that were permitted to be made about that great Towne onely vpon the houses of Presidents and Councellours of the parliament it beeing alleaged that they had been most earnest and as it were inraged to burne and massacre those of the religion beheaded Captaine Rapin that brought them the Edict of peace from the king and committed diuers insolencies oppressions for the which as then it was requisite to punish them for that omitting that occasion it would possible not be found againe The Marshall d'Anuille Gouernour of Languedoc la Valette and diuers others of account were within Thoulouse accompanied with fiue hundreth Gentlemen and 9000. harquebusiers as well straungers as of the countrie wherewith they made many sallies with diuers effects yet neuer went farre from their walles for fear of some surprise after Thoulouse had receiued those small checkes the armie went towards Carmaine Thoulouse checked a small towne which was forced and such as resisted put to the sword The like was done to those
mother and his bretheren But the freedome of the Ministers being impatient to staye the resolution of a Councell made them to preach openly whereby they so much tempted and altered mens consciences that suddainly the ceremonies traditions of the Church were abated and the temples seased vpon destroyed And the Constable beeing descended of the first Barron and first Christian in France opposed himselfe against this diuersitie of religion in one realm The Edict of Iuly made at S. Germains in Laye 1561. The assembly at Poissy The murther of Vassy the 1. of Mars 1562. The battaile of Dreux the 19. of Decēber 1561. The Constable was first taken then the Prince of Conde The king of Nauarre was slaine at the siege of Rouē 1562. The Duke of Guise slaine before Orleans the 24. of Febru 1563. 1. Edict of peace Anno. 1563. Reconciliatiō betweene the D. of Guise and the Admirall 1566. Counsell of the Duke of Alue The enterprise at Meaux at the feast of S. Michael 1567. The battaile of S. Denis on S. Martins euen 1567. VVhere the Constable was slaine The second Edict of peace at Lōiumeau which from the time of king Clouis had bin holden maintained in paritie and integritie vnder the ancient faith of their forefathers The Cardinal of Lorraine on the other side tooke the matter in hand and counselled the king to make an Edict against those of the religion the presumption of certain men was such that they cōsented to the disputation at Poissy wher in place of remedie we found but an increasing of our miseries After that the Edict of Ianuarie so much renoumed in all the troubles and solemnized by the Huguenots folowed the breach whereof by the means of Vassy caused both parts to fall to armes vpon the plaines of Dreux which gaue the name to that me morable battell not onely for the number of men there assembled being 1900. foot 2000. horse for the kings part 4000. horse called White-coates 6000. foot of the contrarie as for diuers other accidents that therin were marked besides the taking of two of their chiefe leaders For the Prince of Conde that imputed the first motions of his imprisonmēt of his separatiō frō the fauor and presence of K. Francis the 2. to the practises of the Duke de Guise that euening of the battell was his prisoner accepted the halfe of his auncient enemies bed that was offered vnto him a right discription of this variable world wher you see one triumphing the other captiue Among so many prosperities that inuironed the Duke of Guise by the death of the king of N. Generall of the kings armie followed by all the Catholicque Nobilitie Tutor cōductor of the king Queen-mothers whole affaires death being iealous that the Capitall citie of the realme at his arriuall had cried Viue Guise Viue Guise with as great ioy gladnes as euer they cried Viue le Roy dispatched him out of the way by Poltrots means that slew him at Orleans therby finished the first ciuill war at which time the Prince of Conde was deliuered out of prison the Constable brought the first Edict of peace By this peace France had means to breath and her subiects to liue in some assurance but the corrupted humours that caused the disease of the estate were not so wel disiested but that ther rested some remnants whereby it might be feared it would fall into a much more dangerous sicknesse which happened 3. years after whē the most troublesome alterers of estate renued the fire which although it were not vtterly quenched yet it was half cōsumed The Queen hauing performed that generall visitation of all the kings Prouinces at Moulins taken vp the quarrel between the houses of Guise Chastillon and made thē friends caused 6000. Switzers to be sent for vndera fained sear of the D. of Albes passage throgh France with whom she had conferred at Bayonne wher they concluded that to liue in peace it was best for her to fish after great Samons to leaue the frogs The Admiral perceiuing it determined rather to saue himselfe by his armes then with his legs and went so near vnto the king that he had almost taken him at Meaux and so caused him to retire to Parris being conducted by Pfiffers regiment And the Prince of Conde tooke the town of S. Dennis assieged Parris burned the milles And in fine the two armies met fought before S. Dennis wher the Protestants retired the K. had the victorie but it cost him the life of the Constable beeing one of the valiantest Captains in al Europe who hauing commanded in 7. battels died in the sight of the citie of Parris and of his king at the head of an armie victorious by his cōduction hauing cut his enemies in the cheeks that had wounded him in the face he was by a Scot shot into the raines with a Pistolle so died of the seuenth wound he had receiued in that seuenth battel being of the age of 60. and 7. yeares This death procured an other little peace cōmonly called the lined peace which continued but 6. months and made a war that The Prince of Conde slaine at Bassac the 21 of March 1569. The battaile of Montcontour the 3. of October 1569. The 3. Edict of peace An. 1570. indured for the space of 2. whole years wherein the Prince of Conde died and where the Princes of Nauarre and Conde the Dukes de Guise and Maine were Captains the one of the protestants armie vnder the conduct of the Admiral the other for the defence of Poictiers vnder Monsieur the kings brother General of his Maiesties armie whereby the battell of Moncontour happened where all the protestants footemen were slaine and the Rutters spurs were not sharp ynough to make their horses flie but Monsieur not pursuing his victorie suffered his enemies to range meet togither again who in short time were foūd strong ynough to constrain him to the wars or else to make another Edict of peace with more aduantage then the two first This peace being sworned by al those that had any publike authorite therin caused the Frenchmen to feele the sweetnesse of tranquillitie to be much different from the sharpnesse and bitternesse of ciuill diuisions Therein the king the Queen-mother his bretheren and the Princes did nothing but breath and aspire vnto contentment nothing was spoken of in France but only assurance and of remoouing their wars vnto the frontiers or within the bowelles of forrain countries and euery place was filled with marriages bankets c. But this goodly shew was put only a presaging of the torment that ensued and Saylers iudged that those great calmes would in the end cause some great tempest For presently after ensued the great and terrible day so full of blood teares and sorrow where without respect The massacre vppon Bartholomewe day Ann. 1573. so many
that which went for Poitou where hee assieged Bar Taking of la Charite and Issoire Anno. 1577. and tooke diuers Townes His Maiesties armie incamped at Brouage and costrained it to yeelde And Lansac Gouernour thereof would haue gone into the Isle of Re but hee could not And to conclude the warres were so long and tedious that the Generalles wel perceiued themselues to bee too olde to liue to see the end thereof And the king that neuer had tasted the sweetenesse of peace beganne to dsire it hauing first prooued so many troubles and vexations of warre therevppon hee determined to establish a good and holy peace Reason to induce peace and against warre in An. 1577. Great numbers are not the cause of victories God is the God of battelles A discourse polliticke and military The chance of warre vncertaine which should bee well obserued to the which end hee heard debated examined and considered diuers and all the reasons that could bee alleadged both for the establishing and dissoluing thereof Those that desired no peace deuised many arguments which they framed for the purpose as first they sayde That the king ought not to make peace hauing meanes to make warre with more men and aduantage then his enemies But they were aunswered that the multitude of men is not the cause of victorie and that a smal handful of desperate souldiers had ouerthrowne a great armie The kings cause is more iust The Princes shrowd themselues vnder a iust enterprise when God is offended and that the war is not made for the defence of his quarrell but for particular reuenge The Huguenots haue neither mony nor credite for the souldier himselfe among them is constrained to contribute mony to pay forraine ayde instead of receiuing his own wages With a little they do much necessitie is their vertue and the ground of their cause is so deare vnto them that they will rather fight without mony or meat then liue without their libertie or preaching of the Gospell There needs but one battell to ouerthrow and destroye them Victorie resteth in the hands of God it is a both doubtfull and vncertaine battels in these daies are prolonged and neuer giuen without aduantage of the one side or the other And again it is impossible with an armie of 10000. men to roote out a 100000. Huguenots The K. wil neuer hazard battel but he is assured to haue the victorie to triumph ouer his enemies This is as much to say as he reckoneth without his Host for it coÌ„sisteth in God there needeth but a small matter to put all your forces in disorder and make them a praye to their enemies For if in times past 500. Actolians Iustin lib. 24. Xâ—nop hist. lib. 7. Bap. Egnat The battell of Poictiers Lois the last Earle of Flaunders Froisart li. 2. cap. 95.96.97.98 better shepheards then souldiers put 900. Lacedemonians to flight If Epaminondas with 4000. men ouerthrew the Spartans armie beeing sixe times as many If among the Christians Baudonin brother to Godfrey of Bullon with 300. horse and 900. foot all Frenchmen caused the Caliphe to yeeld and leaue the field being inuironed with 9000. horse and 20000. foot If a litle troupe of English souldiers halfe in dispaire before Poictiers triumphed ouer a great armie of the most puissant warlike Nation in the world Is it not a most foolish temerite to put confidence in the doubtfull chance of a battell It is neuer good to assayle those that hope for nothing but dispaire The last Earle of Flaunders hauing brought the Towne of Gaunt to an extremitie of victuals would haue them to present themselues before him bare-headed footed with halters about their necks and so to aske pardon for their liues without any assurance thereof But 5000. of those miserable people that had nothing left but their armes and in dispaire He was constrained to hide himselfe in the strawe of a poore womans bedde where he saued himselfe and the next day went out disguised The peace of the low countries issued out vpon him like hungrie wolues fought so desperately that in fine they ouerthrew his whole armie coÌ„posed of more then fortie thousand men There is no peace to be granted to heretickes It is done continually for it is not yet a yeare since the king of Spaine granted peace to the Islands of Holand Zeland not only giuing them the libertie of their religion but withdrawing the exercise of his owne Peace giueth that to the Huguenots which warre taketh from them And what the libertie of conscience Many polliticke and wise men haue acknowledged and confessed that force constraineth not mens consciences that sword and fire haue not power to extirpe the opinions of religion that are once entered into the mindes of men that such victorie ouer mens consciences belongeth onely to God the father of light and trueth and that force may well make Hippocrites and Atheists but not religious or christian people If the king suffreth this libertie of conscience 1576. Libertie of conscience Catholicque religion will bee cleane consumed vnder these nouelties and all his Realme wil be poysoned with sects Schismes errors The free exercise of this new religion will be lesse aduantage to the perticipants thereof then it would be if it were but secretly vsed Religion increaseth more being persecuted and forbidden then wheÌ„ it is permitted Read a booke touching this point imprinted at Antwarpe An. 1579. Dialogus do Pace For the people are light impatient with long rest and quietnesse and to the contrary things least permitted and vneasie are most pleasant and agreeable And therefore desire nothing but change and dislike nouelties with more disdaine then euer they had affectioÌ„ or vehmeÌ„t desire to see theÌ„ aduaÌ„ced They alwaies fal headlong into that which is forbidden theÌ„ The more they presented tormeÌ„ted troubled the hereticques at Prague and in Ausbourg and the more they were forbidden to assemble and meet togither so much the more they in creased and had assemblles and with fiers whippings hanging and prisons became innumerable And when they haue the free libertie of that they desire when rigor is layde aside the thing becommeth so common and discouered that many refuse it entering againe into the great and broad way which they had left And therfore diuers men haue thought that there is no better means to shake Apollitike maxime Vnitie of the sectaries in matters of pollicie and in the end to ouerthrow a new religion then to permit the free exercise thereof For as a man of great iudgement in our time saith As much as man loueth his libertie and yet abuseth it so much the more hee hateth seruitude and constraint wherin notwithstanding he behaueth himselfe better then in the enioying of his freedome There ought to be but one religion in one Realme It is well said but when a king findeth more it is very hard for him to roote them out Would you
Sieurs de Laual Boulaye and others who presently after hauing receiued intelligence that Tiercelin was come from Oleron to go to Marennes and so to returne to Sainctes he went to watch him on the way very neare to the plain where certaine horsemen would haue issued out of Sainctes but they were set vppon and dispearsed by Cargrois that ledde the Argolitiers of Monsieur de Laual After this skirmish the Prince returned to Taillebourg As for Tiercelin although he knew that his enemies watched his returne hee made no account thereof trusting in the strength of his Regiment and so resolued to fight with them wheresoeuer they should assayle him and vppon the seuenteenth of Aprill he marched towards Sainctes in very good order Which the Prince vnderstanding mounted on horse bocke with his brother in lawe the Sieur de Trimouille la Boulaye Auantigny and others to the number of thirtie persons with as many Harquebusiers so made towards Tiercelin whom he found about a thousand paces from the subburbs of Sainctes where hee set vppon his reareward and slewe about thirtie or fortie of them the rest of the Regiment ranged themselues in order of battel vnder the hedges and in the high-way In that first charge the Sieur de Trimouille had his horse flain betweene his legges and without speedie succour had been in great daunger La Batarderaye Ensigne-bearer to Boulaye was there slaine Chanterelles and Captiane Nauarre wounded to death Auantigny hurt both in the hand the knee and notwithstanding the Prince perceiuing the Sieur de Lanal to bee gone to fetch his company not farre from thence and that in great haste came golloping with about fiue and thirtie horse commaunded him to set vpon the enemie where that yong Lord readier to execute the charge then the Prince to commaund leaping ouer hedges and ditches made right vppon the Colnelles Ensigne being as then guarded with a battell of pikes which he braste fighting with him that bare the Ensigne and put him with all the pikes to flight whereof there were flaine to the number of sixtie men and tooke the Ensigne with him Tiercelin beeing hurt in the arme saued himselfe with a great number of hurt men There the Sieur de Laual lost Sailli called Tanlay because the other died not long before at Saint Iohns and Rieux his two bretheren greeuously wounded one in the head the other in his groyne whereof they dyed within two daies after Cargrois was shot into the knee and the Prince himself gaue two braue charges to the horsemen of Sainctes that thought to ayde Tiercelin and put them twise in disorder bearing with him their armes and other furnitures togither with the Collonels Ensigne but it greeued him much for the mortall wounds of those two young Lords that were followed by the Sieur de Lanal their brother that died within eight daies after The armie of the Duke de Maine in Poitou The Duke de Maine minding to make his profit at other mens costes and thought by the ouerthrow of the Prince of Condes armie to spoyle the rest of the forces that were in Guyen departed from Poictiers with a faire and goodly company of men This Prince valiant and wise that hath alwaies holden his reputation by keeping promises both with his enemies and friends neuer knewe what is ment by ioyning a peece of a Fox skinne to the skinne of a Lyon not being large ynough But as there are many who not withstanding they haue contrary windes yet doo arriue in safetie at their desired port so diuers men receiue so many crosses in their enterprises that fortune neuer fauoureth neither their valour nor their vertues In times past hee had done many valiant acts in Dauphine and now hee imployed time mony and great labour to do no great matter in Guyen His armie was of fiue hundreth French horsemen eight hundreth Rutters foure hundreth Lanciers Albanois and about fiue thousand foote with diuers peeces of artillery Hee made his account to force Townes not so much by fight as by famine wherevnto the season of it selfe was sufficiently disposed which should sooner bee ouerthrowne then fought withall and sooner fought withall then assayled At his arriuall Xaintonge and Poitou trembled being as then afflicted with three poynts of Gods horrible punishments plague famine war where the souldiers found no other booties but famished rattes Hee imployed them first in the taking of Montignac Beaulieu and Gaignac small Towns and thē to the impeaching of the passage of the riuer of Garonne wher he thought to surprise the king of Nauarre and alreadie had written vnto him that hee could not shunne his nettes Saint Bazeille lying vppon the same ruier was taken by force and spoyled and Mont-segur taken by composition The Duke de Maines ficknesse at that time bredde great disorder in his campe and want of mony weakened the courages of the resolute neuerthelesse hee tooke Chastillon a place fortified by the valour of the Barron de Sauignac Gouernour thereof and after that Normand in Perigueux But their want was so great in the armie and the extremitie so much that it fluttered but with one whing And the chiefe Generall that looked for nothing but a reuolt and perceiuing that where he thought to winne in Guyen hee had lost Aussonne in Bourgongne gaue the king to vnderstand that it was more then a yeare since his souldiers were forced to march on foote alwaies fighting in the enemies countrie with men and with the ayre the difficultie of the passages the ouerflowings of riuers the coldnesse of the weather and the long raines without being once succoured neither with new forces mony nor amunition for the warres and sayde that of seuenteene hundreth and three score thousand crownes wherevnto the wages of the armie amounted vnto Read the declaration of the Duke de Maine touching his exployts in Guyenne hee had receiued but three hundreth and foure thousand Crownes From that voyage hee brought with him the daughter of Madame de Chaumont beeing of the age of twelue yeares to marry her to one of his children Behold the triumphs of the league in Guyenne in an other place I haue said something touching the king of N. voyage out of Gascongne into Poitou which requireth a larger discourse which is that in the moneth of Febr. 1000. fiue hundreth eightie sixe the Marshall de Matignon hauing besieged Chastelles the king of Mauarre accompanied with two or three hundreth Gentlemen about eighteene hundreth Harquebusiers raised the siege What the K. of Nauarre did to impeach 4. armies of the league and determined to diue within the Castle Then he made a voyage into Bearn there to take order for his affaires which done he returned towards Nerac and passing at Lanse a Towne belonging to himselfe hee had intelligence that the Duke de Maine marched forward to impeach his passage ouer Garonne Notwithstanding hee went to Nerac to fortifie the place and issuing out he marched
vppon to search their wittes and haue an eye to the prouision victualling of their armie which consisted of twentie thousand men vnpayed and vnprouided of any succour or retrait into Townes meanly furnished and marching through the middest of an infinite number of irreconciliable enemies They tooke order therefore to lodge their horsemen scattering in the good villages also to cause the commissaries for victualles besides their carriages to keep in euery cornet one Baker and two horses of burthen who presently vpon their comming to their quarter should fal to baking and send their bread to the body of footemen These pettie commodities proceeding from fortie Cornets being laide togither was no small reliefe besides that they sent both flesh and Wine yea the Gentlemen were so willing that from their lodgings they would send them priuate carriages to helpe to bring in the ammunition As for the hamlets that were taken they were reserued for the munitioners and the rest that had no Garrisons were threatned to bee burned one league round about vnlesse they sent in some amunition Thus the footemen who lodged close were vsually prouided for besides the booties and other commodities that the most aduenterous could catch frō the Romish Catholicques that incroached too neare vpon them Their forme of lodging Vpon two principall reasons was the Prince forced to scatter his armie in diuers places First for the benefite of victualling next to lodge them vnder couert from the raine snow and other discommodities Their form of lodging wherewith they had beene spoyled if they had lodged in the field The footemen were lodged in two bodies namely a battell and an Auantgard and the horsemen in the nearest villages vppon any alarme the horsemen drew to the Prince and Admirall so that if any stragling lodging chanced to bee assaulted it had present succour among the cornets they had some store of Harquebusiers on horse and presently after the troupes were come into their quarters the waies were sufficiently fortified and many times they vsed both Churches and Castles whereby to be able to hold out some two houres that their succour might come in The Lord de la Noue who in this discourse of the discipline of the Princes armie we do follow saith that sometimes he saw the Prince or the Admiral march with fiue or six thousand mē to the rescue of a lodging assaulted by a contrary partie but in such roads stil there fel out some losse on either side Besides for the preuenting of any notable surprise the Prince had framed the head of his troupes towards the enemie of fiue or six hundreth good horse and as many Harquebusiers on horsebacke with small store of baggage except some horses of burthen to the end stil to hold the enemie occupied to hinder his enterprise and to finde opportunitie still to giue warning to the whole campe which bare it self vnder the discreet conduct of their leaders While the Princes armie in Beausse ioyned with the Rutters making head against the puissant armie of the Duke d'Aniou Troupes gathered in diuers places for the prince who for his part had almost all the aduantages onely not resolued to fight Messieurs de Acier Sipierre and other Gentlemen of Languedoc Prouence and Dauphine gathered forces in diuers places seizing vpon Nismes and Montpeslier the Gascons rose vp in armes vnder the conduct of their Vicountes and forced certaine places vpon the Romish Catholicques and ioyning themselues with Monsieur d'Acier for the religion for whom likewise Poncenat and Verbelay assembled certain troupes in Bourbonnois Auuergne which were broken by the troupes of Guyenne marching to the Duke d'Aniou The Duke de Neuers likewise brought out of Italie foure companies of lanciers 2. companies of light horse 6. companies of fantasins being arriued at Lyons and strēgthened with new cōpanies with 6000. Switzers new raised he made an armie of 14000. men with the which he besieged took Mascon The Duke of Nemours for the Duke Aniou and certaine weeks after being desirous to go see the Duches his wife he was set vpō by 80. horse certain foot that issued out of Autrā cōducted by Beaunais Burgony Between thē ther was som losse on both sides the D. himself was hurt with a Harquebus-shot in the knee that while he liued he went lame In Guy Messs de Monluc with diuers others followed with 4000. foot 700. horse enterprised vpō the Iles of Sain surprised killed between 3. or 400. mē which don they determined to besiege Rochel but their intēt being deferred took no effect Mean time the troupes of Dauphine others that held with the Prince aduanced thēselues being vnder the cōduct of the Vicounte Mouans others at Ganap in Auergne ouerthrew al the horsmen of the countrie assembled by S. Heram Gouernor accompanied with S. Chaumont Gordes others wherof the boldest were slain the rest sauing thēselues with their heels but in their retrait they found thēselues in a new mischief for the hauing giuen charge expresse notice to al strong towns other places therabouts not to receiue any that fled whatsoeuer liuerie he bare vppon the vaine hope they had to haue the victorie The Pesants made hauocke of thē in such sort that the troupes led by the Viscountes others ariued at Orleans cōstrained Martinenghe Richelieu the Monke other leaders participants with the duke of Aniou who before that vsed to runne euen to the gates of the Towne to seeke some lodging further off and to keepe themselues in couert and not contenting themselues to haue driuen them away followed them which done they marched towards Blois where Richelieu with eight hundreth men hath made his retrait Blois taken who at the first made some resistance but perceiuing a breach to be made they bled at the nose and yeelded by composition liues armes and goods saued neuerthelesse the Gascons not contenting themselues to vse blowes made such meanes that Richelieus souldiers were for the most part spoyled of all they had what meanes soeuer the horsemen made to impeach them The Prince vnderstanding the arriuall of those troupes from Gascon and Dauphine sent them word to bee in a readinesse and to those of Orleans that they should prouide powder bullets and three or foure battering peeces The siege of Chartres After that he sent three thousand horse aboue 20. leagues from thence to besiege Chartres a towne of great importance and one of the barnes of the prouision of corne to serue Parris which being taken serued the Prince in some sort to preserue the places that laye behinde him Monsieur de Lignieres commaunded therein with 22. companies that were strengthened by a regiment of foot that lay about 4. myles frō thence that got into it before the Prince had executed his pretence The manner of this siege was diuers because the Prince had but 5. peeces of batterie 4. small coluerins which did
Princes cariage stayed along by the wood not far froÌ„ the reaward of the horsemeÌ„ wher the Pages other Ieruants placed themselues thinking they shuld haue camped in that place making at the least aboue 4000. fiers perceiued not the armie to retire because it was night in such maner that diuers of their maisters supped but sleÌ„derly that euening Some of the D. armie that held the watch perceiuing so many fiers great noyse they thought verily it had bin the Princes armie wherby they looked for battel the next day in the morning which made them vse more diligence to fortifie their passages Cap. Garies offered to view theÌ„ but they wold not hazard theÌ„selues against those braue warriors the sat prating by their fiers About midnight the Prince was certified that al his carriages were entangled and made account they were lost neuerthelesse he deferred not to send four or fiue cornets of horse to fetch them commaunding that an houre after a thousand horse and two thousand Harquebusiers should march thither to ayde them if the enemie should follow The first that arriued among them found them in goodly ordinance warming themselues singing and making good cheare and being farre from them you would verily haue thought they had beene aboue ten thousand men they thinking no more vppon the matter then if they had beene within a walled towne They began to laugh at the behauiour of those braue fellowes who ordinarily are as fearefull as hares although they are in safetie and there beeing readie to be slaine they did nothing but hoope and hollow because they supped well with their Maisters victuals The first of the Princes horsemen being come to the head of this goodly campe were not ouer courteously receiued for that the most assured among them had placed their guards and Sentinels and as farre as they could discerne a man althogh they cried at the least a hundreth times friends yet they aunswered not but with caliuer shot withall crying out like mad men but in the end they knew each other and perceiuing where they were their resistance turned into feare and dislodged themselues without any trumpet These two armies hauing somewhat breathed themselues for the space of a the Prince marched towards Mirebeau which he tooke and the duke retired to Poictiers The enterprise of the Admirall against Countie Brissacks Regiment each of them lodging somewhat more at large to rest their wearied troupes Withing 8. or 10. daies the Admirall deuised an enterprise wherby to cut off Countie Brissacks Regiment which was wel lodged and blocked vp at Ances a village within one league of Poictiers Now hee imagined that all the Dukes auantgard had stil lodged in that subburb of the towne that led to the said village but indeed more then the one halfe was passed ouer the water the day before onely the Switzers and some few horse stayed behind and therefore he brought with him 6000. Harquebusiers and 1500. horse that by break of day came to the village and after some smal resistance forced it The Regiment with the losse of fiftie or sixtie men saued it selfe by the fauour of a small valley in the campe where they found but small support how be it they set so good a face of the matter vpon a banke with their varlets that the Admirall who could not take any certaine view of them and was loath to hazard any thing left them and carried away the most part of their carriages The two armies after so me small rest fell to their former resolution of fighting The Duke taking the field recouered Mircâ—eau where couenants were but slenderly kept for after the yeelding of it many of the souldiers coÌ„trary to promise were slaine whervpon Andelot soone after taking the Abbey of S. Florent neare Saumur put the whole Garrison to the sword The Duke meaning to come nearer to the Prince tooke vp his lodgings about Monstrueil-Bellay and Thouers for the better commoditie of victuals Here he was aduised that it was not amisse to seize vpon the towne of Loudun which lay in his way was kept by one of the Princes regimeÌ„ts to the end there to lodge his armie theÌ„ to bear himself according as things might fall out for by keeping of that he should cut off his enemies from a plentifull countrie able to feed his armie for one month The Prince confidering this deuise rather then to take such a scorne as to see one of his regiments cut off before his face and so by loosing a Towne able to hold out to prooue himself either faint-harted or too feeble resolued to march night and day towards Lodun and so at his comming quartered all his footemen in the subburbes fiue or sixe hundreth horse in the towne and the rest in the next villages The Dukes armie the night before had incamped within a small French league of the place in part weening that the Prince would not obstinately aduenture his forces for the obseruation of so meane a place but the next day the D. vnderstood that the Princes armie fell into battell array along the subburbes wherevpon he caused his men to do the like and the artillerie on both sides began to play euen into the squadrons and sometimes not in vaine There might a man haue seene aboue 4000. men almost all French in battell array not far asunder as fierce in courage as gallant in countenance who for the most part did all expect onely the watch word to fight There was between both the armies onely a plaine field without any aduantage which might cause meÌ„ to maruel that for foure daies space both the armies lying in sight and within cannon shot each of other they neuer came to handy blowes neither to any skirmish of importance and that but seldome in respect of other times But theÌ„ we are to remember that ther was not so sharpe a winter in 20. yeares before The colde kept the Frenchmen from killing one another because that as it was a most hard frost so the sleete that fell continually made it so slipperie hat the footemen were not able to stand on their legs yet much more dangerous was it for the horses neither could a horse get ouer a bancke three foote high so slippery was the grownd Many such bancks there were between the two armies which had bin cast as partitions of mens lands which were euen so many trenches wherby he that would haue giuen the first onset must needs haue been disordered and that was the cause that each stood fast looking vppon other to see which side would so vnaduisedly aduenture the hazerd Thus they stood straining of courtesie and this first day there fell out onely some small skirmishes whervpon all the troupes an houre before night retired into their quarters The next day the armies set themselues again in battell and saluted each other with cannon shot some there were that as the day before went out to skirmish but they either
the breaches and in the retrait many of his men Then finding bis bullets and powder in manner quite spent and his cannons broken and spoyled raised his siege and went to setch a new supply and so with all diligence returned with twelue peeces more the rather for that hee was by some traitors of the Towne of whom two were found out and executed giuen to vnderstand of the departure of the most part of the Gentlemen that were at the first siege who now had taken the field At his first comming hee beganne a long and furious battell wherein hee inlarged the first breaches beate down the defences and made the rampiers plaine then gaue he a general assault wherin his men at length had the repulse with the losse of his brauest souldiers slaine vpon the breaches and in the ditch Here vpon considering that three thousand cannon shotte the death of fifteen hundreth souldiers and among others of Foyssy the Colonell of his foot men could no whit abate the courage of the besieged heretired and thought it ynough to shut them vp towards the ende of the yeare but Briquemaut and Guerchy found meanes to relieue Vezelay and to send Sansac to seek his fortune elsewhere A notable defence of a woman besieged in her owne house As small honor did Montare the Gouernour of Bourbonnois Moncequie and other Captaines obtaine who with three thousand men some foote some horse and certaine Cannons besieged and for fifteene daies space did beate the Castle of Bonegon holden and couragiously defended by Mary of Brabancou widdow to the Lord of Neaui with some fiftie souldiers for the guard of that her house The besiegers lay before it neare two moneths so that in the end this vertuous Ladie hauing lost the most part of her souldiers who were slaine in the assaults and ordinarie skirmishes was forced to yeeld to the enemie who sent her prisoner to Moullins from whence shee was afterward deliuered at the entreatie of such as respected her godlinesse and vertue Her Castle they sacked and threw downe for spite that they had lost so many souldiers and reaped as great dishonour as might bee This siege began about the beginning of Nouember The siege of Poictiers had been the beginning of misfortune of the Princes The siege of S. d'Angely ruine of the D. of Anious forces but in exchange the siege of Saint Iohn d'Angely was the stay or period of the Duke of Anious victories For if he and his troupes had not flayed there but rather pursued the Princes and the Admirall the war had soone ended as all men were of opinion considering the feare which those of the religion at that time had togither with the difficulties which as then presented themselues The Duke proude of the taking of Partenay Nyort S. Maixant Fontenay Chastelleraud Lufignan sent according to their determination to summō the town of S. Iohn d'Angely to yeeld vnto him Piles that cōmanded therin assisted by la Motte Puiols la Ramiere Paluel called Serido les Essars la Garde and Montant to whom Monsieur de la Personne was sent with certaine horse made answere that hee kept the place for the Prince of Nauarre Gouernour of Guyenne The Towne was presently besieged beginning vpon the sixteenth of October where those within made many sallies and skirmishes to impeach the enemie from approaching fiue daies after the besieged with fortie horse charged the enemie where they slew diuers of their souldies who being surprised were taught to runne faster But the losse they had the next day after was greater for then the besieged slew a great number of their mē bare away two Ensignes and a halfe and a good quantitie of armes Captain Parisol slaine and his brother taken prisoner without losse of one man of those in the Towne Fiue daies after the Queene brought the king her sonne as then of the age of nineteene yeares with a great traine vnto the siege to the ende that he might likewise haue part of the honor of so many conquests in his realm and against his owne subiects But not long after hee could well complaine that his mother had brought him thither to drinke of the shame and to fauour the Duke of Aniou her other sonne whom she sought to aduance It was thought as then the besieged would haue yeelded themselues within two daies after but those two daies continued aboue sixe weekes Captaine la Ramiere was so sore hurt at the beginning of the batterie that hee died not long after much lamented by those of the towne for his valour and resolution At the first assault giuen about the beginning of Nouember the kings armie loft diuers of their Captaines and best souldiers Montesquiou that slew the Prince was there cruelly wounded whereof he languished certaine weekes and then died Biron Generall of the artillerie perceiuing that this resolution of the besieged would spoile the assailants began to mollifie them by Artificiall practises and to vse a treatie of peace Personne hauing Pasport graunted him to go vnto the Princes Wherevpon a truce was graunted for certaine daies which beeing expired although Personne was not returned Piles was often summoned by Biron to yeeld vp the Towne because he had conditioned to capitulate if within the time of the truce he had no ayde not answere frō the Princes In the end it was agreed that if the next day by ten of the clocke in the morning beeing the tenth of Nouember the besieged were not relieued they should yeeld vp the place as all the Towne was in a maze and many weeping for greese about the breake of day they beganne to crie out saying that the aide which a Gentleman named Fombedoucre had gone to fetch with the great daunger of his life and continued after that with great fortune to hazard himselfe for the good of the towne by dooing such speciall seruices and in the end was taken by his enemie was at the gate of Mattas whither Piles presently went to receiue them It beeing Captaine Saint Seurin who with fortie horse was come from Angoulesme to S. Iohn passing by the enemies campe that lay about the towne hauing vnder the name and pretence of a friend finely circumuented the watch at the time appoynted Biron appeared that receiued an other answere then hee expected The hostages deliuered on both sides the Romish Catholicke cannons beganne to play daily continuing wherevnto the besieged opposed great diligence by making rampiers of earth There Schastian de Luxemberg Duke of Martigues Gouernour of Brittaine was slaine with a harquebu shot a great enemie to those of the religion and much lamented by the contrary part Not long before as in an interview hee stood talking with la Motte Puiols perswading him to yeeld he said trust not you vnto the Princes nor the Admirall but remember the battell wherein your strong God forsooke you and that at this time you haue occasion to sing Helpe vs now O Lord for it is time La Motte
answered that for the losse of such a battell their hope in the strong God of whose aide they were assured was not diminished And the next day after this parley was made the sallie aforesaid wherein Partso◠was slaine and at their returne into the towne they sung the 50. Psalme beginning The mightie God c. And not long after Martigues felt that the strong God is liuing to ayde the weake and to abate those that thinke themselues to be stronger then he During this batterie la Motte Puiols and S. Seurin with eightie horse and two hundreth foot made a braue sallie vpon the besiegers court of guard which consisted of foure Ensignes slew fiftie or sixtie of the principall wounded a great number cloyed sixe coluerins and burned fifteen barrels of powder belonging to the munition also la Motte charged the Switzers that kept the store house wherein were some hundreth barrels and more slew part of the Switzers and scarred the rest so that had they not made speede to the rescue all the powder of the armie had vanished in smoke The besieged retired with two Ensignes many drūmes weapons great bootie without losse of any one man Afterward the furie of the cannon was redoubled and the besiegers resolued to abide but not to fight but with cannon shot Finally the siege hauing continued for the space of two monethes there was a capitulation signed with the kings owne hand importing that the besieged should issue out with their goods armes and horses their Ensignes wound vp and that for the space of foure monethes after they should not beare armes for the generall cause of the religion that as well straungers as others might retire whither they would with all securitie and that they should be conducted by Biron Cosseins Now it remained that they should prouide to depart the next day being the third of Decemb. which they did euery man as well as hee might In the meane time the sicke and wounded the aged impotent and women tooke on mightily neither was there anything heard but weeping and lamentation especially at the departure which was about noone The Duke of Aumale was at the gate of Mattas where the footemen were the first that came forth The vn worthee dealing with those that came foorth of Saint Iohn d'Angelie vpon compesition vnder the leading of Captaine Serido and other Captaines to whom Marshal Vieillenille said Follow me and let your men come after you Beeing come to the midst of the subburbs the Romish Catholicquesouldiers began to discharge vppon therest and with force draue them into their lodgings where they stripped them of their armes apparrel and mony the marshal being hereof aduertised commanded his mēto follow him with their weapons readie but as he ran one way there was much iniurie offered an other Whervpon Serido went twise to complain to the D. d'Aumale and to summon him to see the kings promise performed but Aumale in liew of going himselfe commanded certaine Captaines to take order for it About 50. paces without the subburbs stood the D. of Aniou whose countenance did somwhat represse the insolencie of the Rutters but so soone as they were passed him his foot mē spoiled their cariages seized vpō their spare horses set the horsemē besides their saddles robbed them Neither did they the escaped this first spoyle go scot free for passing by S. Iulians which was halfe a league of they incurred greater iniuries then before The regiment of Sarrieu that stood there at guard suffered not any to escape but tooke from them all that they could finde euen to their hose and shooes yea sometimes to the very shirt Many were beaten murthered and slaine and some cast into the riuer Thus were the footemen intreated that vppon the kings faith royall came foorth of S. Iohn d'Angely The horsemen at their departure did Biron and Cosseyns bring foorth which notwithstanding they were stripped by their carriages armour and horses and being passed Saint Iulians three cornets appoynted for their conduct began to strip and iniurie any that scattered neuer so little yea euen at Siech whither they were that day to march diuers were robbed stripped and slaine And the next day vppon the way to Saint Cibardean this disorder continued to the contempt and infamie of the authoritie royall notwithstanding the kings safe conduct his Herault and Trumpet whom Biron had commanded to bring them to Angoulesme where both foote and horse thus hardly intreated arriued vppon Sunday the fourth of December about tenne of the clocke in the morning where they were honeftly receiued by the Lord of Mesines the Gonernour and diuers other Lords and Gentlemen that wondred at the former treacherie and aduised to complaine to the king and other principall men and to craue amends Aumale and the rest made much ado but in wordes onely so that thus the solemne promise was broken and the dignitie royall exposed to infamie neither could the Captains notwithstanding their complaints procure any satisfaction Indeede some fewe of the veriest rascals and treachers were bannished the campe and recompence promised for the loft baggage besides that the king seemed to be mightily discontent that his name shuld be so villainously prophaned but this second promise was as well obserued as the first Piles and some others accounting themselues in regard of this treacherie freed from their promise contained in one of the articles of the capitulation departed from Angoulesme and went to the Princes notwithstanding the disturbance by Vauguyon and eight Cornets of horse offered at the passage ouer Dordogne In this siege the assaylants loft aboue 10000. men of war and discharged 35000. cannon shot 25. or 30. commissaries of the artillerie were slaine by the besieged who for want of munition let 12. or 15. peeces mounted vpon wheeles stand vnoccupied many left the campe which found it selfe diminished of 18. or 20000. men yet litle esteemed in respect of the D. de Martigues and other cōmanders Whilest the Romish Catholicques armie lay spending thēselues before S. Iohn d'Angely la Chastre and others warred vpon the religious in Berry the borders with variable successe on both sides The protestants in two or three places trusting to their enemies promises were hardly intreated but they had their reuenge by weapons and valiant resistance in sundrie places where they bare out sundrie assaults forced their enemies to retire The kings armie by want of victuals and other discommodities presently after went from Saint Iohn de Angely leauing the Princes and the Admirall to thinke vpon their voyage And the king about the end of the yeare went to Anger 's assigning the Princes Deputies to bee there in the beginning of Ianuary to intreat of peace The King 1570. the Queene the Duke of Aniou and their Councell thinking that the Princes had lost courage and after the battell of Montcontour Why a parley of peace was made about the beginning of the yeare to be wholly destitute
businesse The kings excuses to his friends The king sent his excuses to the Pope and to the Duke of Alue touching the rumor of warres in the low countries he called the Spanish Ambassadour and shewed him that all the former counsels tended onely to the rooting out of the Huguenots and that hee ment to continue in peace and good correspondence with the king of Spaine to whom he sent a Gentleman purposely with letters of his owne hand to assure him of his intent On the other side vpon the foureteenth of Septemb. there was a precept sent to the Gouernours of the Prouinces to inquire of al such protestants as during the troubles had borne any office in the armies or townes of warre In Prouence Precepts against the Protestants through the discretion of the Countie of Tende there was no murther committed neither in Bourgondy through the subtiltie of the Guisians who purposed to lay all the hatred vpon the king notwithstanding themselues were the executioners in Parris and that their seruants Troyes in Champagne had shed the blood of sundrie innocents as also in sundrie other Townes Some murthers but indeed but few were committed in Auuergne and Dauphine Picardie and Brittaine were reasonably quiet The two and twentieth day of September there was a new precept sent to the Gouernors and Lieftenants of Prouinces for the disgrading of all protestants from their estates and publike offices which they exercised notwithstanding they were content to renounce their religion except such as had inferiour offices whom the king permitted to enioy them in case they would abiure according to a forme deuised by the facultie of Sorbon and adioyned to the same precept .. Excusers of the massacre Besides all this they hired certaine writers to excuse the massacre and thereof to publish their bookes both in Latine and French Some Lawyers were dealers that way but they met with those that so tooke them vp that afterwards a hundreth times and a hundreth they condemned such purposes The Rochelers spent the whole moneth of September in consultations vppon new letters from the king the Quesne-mother the king of Nauarre the Duke of Aniou and Biron also vpon sundrie negotiations for the receiuing of the said Biron for their Gouernour who to that end was come within halfe a daies iourney of their Towne Their finall resolution was this not to accept of Biron before the whole armie at hand were cassuered and quite scattered retaining the free exercise of religion and that Biron should not bring them any other troupes In the beginning of October those of Sancerre were inuested by certaine Garrisons that beganne to molest them but they made so braue a sallie that hauing forced the barricadoes of their enemies slaine 45. of them in the streets and houses scattered the rest and taken some prisoners What entertainment the King of Na. the Prince of Conde had after the massacre they were released of thē for a fewe daies The Rochelers at the same time were sūmoned either to accept of Biron who wold haue entered with certain troups without causing the armie to retire or else to accept the war while they consulted therevpon Let vs see what entertainment the king of N. and the Prince of Conde had within Parris their enemies not cōtent to haue led thē to the Masse after abiuration of the religion made thē be assistant at the ceremonies of S. Michael published in their presence so many precepts and libels made and deuised against the innocencie of the massacred constrained them to heare the means deuised for the extirping of therest Besides their said enemies ayded themselues by the Cardinall of Bourbon vncle to those two Princes to induce them to acknowledge and do homage to the Pope in such sort that messages dated the third of October were sent in their names whereby they desired to bee receiued into the bosome of the Romish Church The Pope sent them his pardons vpon the first of Nouember To returne to the Rochelers that persisted in their determination About the beginning of October the enemie beganne by sundrie means to cut off their victualles and prouision vnder pretence of relieuing the Nauy that might depart farre ynough from them but they soone blew vp that myne Then was there an other aduise which was this Diuers Gentlemen and good souldiers were withdrawne thither for succour who purposed to set a large price vpon their skinnes to any that should assayle them and many others likewise were departed the Realme Heervppon the king by his letters pattents of the eight of October saith that as a good housholder he pittieth his subiects that liue in penurie out of their own houses and so emoyneth his Gouernors of Prouinces throughout their iurisdictions by publike proclamation to call home such as were absent whose goods hee decreeth to be confiscate in case they returne not within a certaine time limitted them The same day the Barron de la Garde intruding himself by letters to threaten the Rochelers had his aunswere That they were the kings faithful seruants though hee were none who wrongfully molested them with his Gallies and would not retire That they prayed God to mollifie the Barrons heart that hee might not trouble them but set them at libertie That they were resolued to maintaine themselues in their priuiledges to keep their towne safe from like murther as were committed in other Towns which they accounted innocent from the crime of rebellion wherewith the Barron charged them That so long as they heard and beheld such and so horrible nouelties and were by the Barron so boldly intreated as they had beene they might and would iustly poure foorth their complaints to God and the King Whilest Biron and others did thus but in vaine solicit the Rochelers there was at Parris contriued an Edict of the tenth of October in the name of the king of Nauarre wherein he prohibited all publike exercise of any but the Romish religion throughout his countries But his subiects of Bearne euen at the first discouering manifest falshoods in that writing withall knowing that their soueraigne was in his enemies hands neither had about him any seruants but such as were foisted in by the Queene-mother or the house of Guise made no account of that paper but vsing all lawfull meanes to auoyde surprises did with many difficulties beare themselues in that estate wherein the Queene had left them hoping if their king might once escape prison he would tell them another tale The one and twentieth day of October Troubles befallen the Rochelers and how they remedied the same Biron writ by du Vigean to the Rochelers who would not graunt this Deputie entrie albeit hee came vppon safe conduct to Tadon a village neare vnto the towne when he had his answere in like terme as the former He going the next day to lye at Sigongnes which was three leagues thence certaine souldiers of the companie of Saint Stephen forced his lodging slewe
priuiledges disanulling all Edicts made against them approouing their defensiue war and consenting that the keeping of their towns towres and fortresses should remaine vnto themselues according to their auncient priuiledges receiuing such gouernours as were not by them to bee suspected And by vertue of this Edict vpon the tenth of Iuly about tenne of the clocke in the morning Monsieur de Biron entered into the Towne at Coigne gate with a Herauld at armes and four of the kings trumpets at which time hee caused the peace to bee published in the principall places accompanied by the Lieftenant of the Towne and of Monsieur de Villiers and then dined at the Maiors house which done presently after hee returned conducted out of the Towne End of the siege of Rochell The same day diuers barkes and other vessels laden with bisquet corne meale fish and other ammunitions entered into the Towne as they did before the siege which we haue briefly discribed in the principal circumstāces thereof The enemie had both by sea and land between fortie and fiftie thousand men whereof more then the halfe of them died before Rochel as well in skirmishes encounters surprises and assaults as of wounds miseries and diseases sixtie peeces of artillerie great middle and small shot into the Towne and against the defences rampiers and wals thereof at the least two and thirtie thousand times The bulwarke of the Gospel because of the surname was least spared The enemie lost therewith the Duke d'Aumale Cosseins Maister of the field that entered by force into the Admirals lodging in Parris and began the massacre Ligardes his brother Goas and Poilac Maisters of the campe diuers great Lords and Gentlemen aboue 60. Captaines and cōmanders as many Lieftenāts Ensigne-bearers most part of the massacres of Parris other places being come thither to receiue their reward either present death or woūds which speedily cut off their daies The cōming of the Polish Ambassadors was the means the defended Rochel which began to want both victuals ammunitiō of war that had lost many hundreths of soldiers in the skirmishes breaches Another means serued which was the diuision in the Duke of Anious campe the friends which the Rochelers found therin from whom they receiued many good aduertisements which greatly relieued them during the siege the end wherof made the king to call to minde many great faults by him committed which hee had beene aduised and counselled vnto and to inuent the meanes to preuent them but too late for beeing imbarked and in the middle of the sea then when he discouered a desire to see the port of his arriuall not long after hee found himselfe to bee fallen into the deepe gulfes of death with most great grief vnto his heart was constrained to behold the fire in his Realme which some perswaded him to be quenched and to haue recouered an euerlasting peace vppon Saint Bartholomewes day But in his mischiefe hee sound this comfort that many others that thoght themselues very nimble in their turnes found themselues no lesse deceiued then they wickedly abused the youth boyling passions of this poore Prince I must not forget to set downe the prouision of victuals that God sent vnto the besieged in Rochel which was an infinite number of small fishes neuer before that time seene within that Hauen and that euerie day came in and as it were yeelding themselues to the mercie of the poore people of the Towne And presently after the publishing of the Edict and libertie graunted to Rochel at the comming of the Polonians retired againe Now let vs see how sundrie others of the religion in other parts of the Realme The estate of the churches in Quercy Langucdoc and other places bare themselues this yeare 1573. The Barron of Serignac with other Lords and Gentlemen both of Quercy Foix and other Prouinces adioyning beeing aduertised of the intent of the Romish Catholickes repaired to Montauban where they held a common Councell and after sundrie conferences resolued as well the Inhabitants as strangers refugied to take armes which they did in warre like manner and thereof aduertised those towns where the religious were any thing strong The Inhabitāts of Chastres in Albigeois slacking and refusing the succours of Vicountie Paulin and the Barron of Panas were surprised and some slaine and the Towne brought into the subiection of the Romish Catholicques They of Montauban sent foorth their troupes into the field vnder the leading of the Lord of Serignac a man zealous in religion discreet and vertuous and a wel-willer to millitarie discipline They placed a Garrison in Terride whereof Serignac chalenged the Barronage and by escalade tooke Buzet vpon Tar within three leagues of Toulouse They also strengthened Villemur surprised diuers other places fortified such as they held in the former troubles placed garrisons at the passages and appoynted a day of meeting at Realmont in Albigeois to consider of their common affaires There made they a diuision of their gouernmēts Vicountie Gourdon had one part of Quercy toward Cadenac Terride or Serignac had the other part towards Montauban and Gascon To Vicountie Paulin fell Lauragais and in Rouergue they established the Vicountie of Panas with his brother the Barron The Counte of Foix with the hilly countrie was alotted to the Vicountie of Canmont There they decreed that if one stood in necessitie the other Generalles should repaire to him with all their forces and be vnder his obedience so to auoyde all iealouzie that might otherwise take hold of such as were of like authoritie Sundry warlike exploits euery man returned into his gouernment Serignac by compositon tooke Villedieu Chasteau Vasin and the Towre of Orgueil places neare to Montauban encamped with two thousand small shot and some horse before Mōricou maketh a breach giueth the assaults one escalade but taketh the repulse as also from before Real-ville and Vioule at which places many of his men were hurt and slaine In his return from an other assembly holden at Realmont for aduise vpon the Rochelers affaires who craued succour but could haue none in regard of such difficulties as befell them Serignac passing by Puylaurence vnderstood that Captaine Angely with eightie souldiers was besieged in a village three leagues of and therefore with all speed marched thither with one hundreth and sixtie men and thus hee on the one side and the besieged on the other so charged the enemie that they slew two hundreth of their men and scattered the rest About this time the Inhabitants of Bearne sent to Nismes and Montauban a coppie of the letters sent to them from the Court in the name of their Prince to recall them to the Romish Church togither with their excuses and aunsweres to the same protesting to perseuere and abide in the religion In Aprill the Countie of Villards newly made Admirall of France Admirall Villards warreth vpon the Protestants with small success◠and Generall of an armie against
field who hauing heard the Bishops Oration tending to a generall peace or perticular to Parris if the Duke de Maine would not seeke for a general made this answere after he had shewen how their Councel had infolded them in contraduction asking peace for him which would not acknowledge him saue onely for King of Nauarre that it was his will and desire to haue peace for the comfort of his people but not according to that which the Deputies held for expedient declaring that he loued the Cittie of Paris as his eldest daughter and that hee would doo more good for her then shee required at his hands prouided that she would seeke his fauor and not the Duke de Maines or the King of Spaines That the Deputies proceeded very ill and contrarie to the dutie of their Ecclesiasticall charges in suffering the Parisians to die so miserably while they sought vnto the Duke de Maine for a generall peace sith vppon that voyage though perhaps it would not bee long it might the while cost the liues of twentie thousand persons dying with meere hunger Then did hee dechipher with a maruellous good grace the ambitious practises of the king of Spaine and his people The most wicked and horrible disloyaltie of the chiefe of the league discouering the vanitities of their badde purpose hee drew his discourse into diuers articles to the Bishoppe of Parris the Archbishop of Lyons who in their excuses accused themselues more and more before a most noble companie of Princes Lords and Gentlemen of France who were attending round about the King Moreouer hee shewed that the report of the Spanish succoors for Parris made him nothing dismaid and caused them clearely to see wherevnto the Spanish forces tended and that it was not for nothing that the Prince of Parma tooke his way into France staying but till hee might bring his purposes about Parris and the kingdome beeing morsels too big for king Philips mouth the which hee told vnto them in a short and pithie speech discouering in diuers sorts the blindnesse of the Spaniards in their attempt for France He allowed them eight daies to thinke vppon the yeelding vp of Paris and the articles of peace for the whole kingdome adding that his dutie constrained him in the end to do iustice vppon those that were chiefe of the mutinies exhorting the Deputies to make a faithfull report of that which hee had aunswered The Bishop of Parris had before alleaged in his Oration the constancie of the people of Sancerre dispraising therein the victorie gotten by those of Gaunt to extoll the Parisians But the king auswered that such allegations were impertinent for those of Sancerre were resolued to indure the extremities of their siege because their enemies would haue depriued them without mercie both of their goods liberties religion and their liues But contrariwise said hee I will surrender to the Parisians the life which Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador doth at this present take from them by their sore famine As for the religion all these Princes and Catholicque Lords shall witnesse vnto you how I vse it nor wil I constraine them against their conscience were it neuer so litle either in the exercise of religion or otherwise Concerning goods and liberties I giue them to my subiects So that the comparison with those of Gaunt is not good The Parisians haue well shewen what hearts they haue hauing suffered me to possesse their subburbs I haue fiue thousand Gentlemen that neuer feared those of Gaunt The duke de Maines wicked proceedings beside I haue God for mee and the iustice of my cause After certaine other discourses witnessing the kings good conscience and the litle feare he had of the leaguers forces the Deputies tooke their way toward the Duke de Maine who sent them backe againe to his Maiestie with declaration that he desired nothing more then peace At the same time hee sent letters to those of Parris by one of his owne Secretaries euen at the said Deputies heeles aduertising his partakers not to bee discouraged for all the answere which he sent to the king and that hee would sooner die then make peace with him These letters beeing intercepted they were a great reproach to the Duke by reason of his vnconstancie but he made no other excuse but onely that they were surprised As for the king hee indured both before and after that which the Parisians vttered out of their rebellious mouthes that they had brought victuals for the Duke of Nemours and others which made them render him euill for good nor made hee any strong warre against his chiefe Cittie hauing an intent to preserue it if he could But hauing vnderstood that the Duke de Maine at his returne from Bruxelles accompanied with Balagni and Sainpol drewe toward Parris with certaine troupes The king departed from his armie with a small troupe of horsemen without any carriages seuenteene leagues outright to incounter with his foes and came but one houre too late to haue met with them The king goeth to meete his enemies who hearing of his comming were speedily constrained to cast themselues into the towne of Laon. Then the D. with his troupes made such haste that at last they came as farre as Meaux where hee reported that hee would fight with the king which occasioned him to repaire to his armie with a small troupe of horsemen onely whom hee pursued as farre as Meaux But hee found the Duke inclosed betwixt two riuers where hee stayed for the Prince of Parma at whose arriuall the battell was the second time published aduancing themselues to the Towne of Claye and the Castle of Fresnes about sixe leagues from Parris where they lodged about the ende of the moneth of August The king supposing hee should then haue battell with them after hee had recommended himselfe vnto God according to his custome in such affaires departed from Parris on the VVednesday the nine and twentieth of that moneth assigning the Rende-vous to all his armie for the next morrow in the plaine of Bondi which is at the end of the forrest of Liuâ—i the right way toward his enemies On the Friday following hee chased their forriers from the Towne of Chelles who beganne to marke out their lodgings and gaue a charge to a certaine troupe of eight hundreth horsemen whom he constrained to retire euen till they came within their armie On the morrowe beeing Saturday by eleuen of the clocke the first of September the Kings armie were all in battell array The Duke of Parma got vp vppon an hill to behold them and after he had throughly noted them hee said to the Duke de Maine that this was not the armie of tenne thousand which he tolde him might bee ouerthrown so easilie for hee sawe by estimation more then fiue and twentie thousand in the best manner prouided that euer hee beheld And indeed they consisted of eighteene thousand men on foote as well Frenchmen as straungers and of fiue or six
thousand horse among the which he had foure thousand Gentlemen of the chiefe houses in the Realme Hee had also sixe Princes two Marshals of France and many gallant Captaines The leaguers being not disposed to fight intrench thēselues in a strong place The Duke of Parma tooke then a resolution the which saued himselfe and all his armie which was not to fight at al. And following this opinions his people changed their swords and launces into pickaxes doing no other thing all the euening long and that Saturday night but to intrench and fortifie themselues within a great Marsh into the which they were all withdrawne The daies following they had diuers skirmiges made vppon them but they kept still within their trenches And soone after they besieged and battered with nine peeces the Towne of Lagne vppon Marne which was a little weake towne and kept with two or three hundreth men which for a space valiantly defended themselues but in the end they were ouerthrown by great multitude of the besiegers This place was not passing halfe a little myle from the Marsh and hard at the back of the Spanish armie by meanes whereof the chiefe of the leaguers caused a bridge of boats speedily to be made wherewith they did as it were ioyne the place And the eight of the same moneth by breake of day the most of their footemen passed away by the same causing nine peeces of Ordenance to bee shot off the riuer beeing betweene them the breach was made before the king could haue knowledge thereof by reason that the winde was turned contrarie and the blustering so great that the sound of the cannons could not bee heard in the royall armie After the taking of this the Dukes of Parma and of Maine seeing the weaknesse of the place did dismantle it And although the king to draw them vnto fight fained as though hee would assaile Parris and published a purpose to scale it beeing departed from them in the euening the tenth of this moneth with a good troupe notwithstanding they would not stirre out of the Marsh VVherfore the king by aduise of his Councell dismissed his armie and fortified the Townes which hee held about Paris chiefly those on the riuer of Seine sending a part of his troups into Touraine Normandie Champagne and Bourgongne and kept notwithstanding a sufficient armie to amaze his enemies Some haue boldly written that the king was then very ill counselled and in fauour of the Prince of Parma who in fewe daies had beene inforest to fight or to haue fled that it was not possible for so great an armie as hee had to continue long in a Marsh where they should indure much harme That Parris and the league were now in safetie That the fault came through part of the Nobilitie induced therevnto by certaine enemies to the religion and the kings prosperities who was forsaken at his need Other some also being accustomed to fish in troubled waters would not it should bee yet cleared and others pretended to serue the king as it seemed best vnto them alwaies to see one confusion rise of another The Duke of Parma commeth to Paris and taketh Corbeil By meanes of which proceedings the Dukes were incouraged to go out of the Marshes to enter triumphantly into Paris whereof the Duke of Parma named himselfe the deliuerer And to make his valour appeare the greater hee departed incontinent to besiege Corbeil about halfe a daies iourney from thence vpon the riuer of Seine Captain Rigaud commaunding ouer certaine companies of footemen behaued himselfe so valiantly that he slew a great number of the leaguers As for the Duke of Parma after the heating of his troupes of whom many were slaine he lost much of his reputation For it was there wher his armie was so weakned and during the time hee rested in that place the king got togither his troupes addressing them to new purposes which brought the league into greater incumbrances then before The king of Spaines Agents thought to fill his good Cittie of Paris so the Spaniard called it in his letters with Spanish companies and VVallons But on the one side they had nothing to eate and on the other so soone as those of Guise and other Captaines of the league moreouer the sixteen and the fortie of Paris sawe themselues somewhat at large they began to giue the Duke of Parma thankes for his good will and intreated him to go with his people to Bruxelles againe This request or secret commaundement fell out verie well for the Duke for on the one part his armie in all mens sight was seene daily to waste and himselfe did plainely behold that hee stood in the midst of an vnconstant multitude and that it was not good for him to put confidence in faithlesse peple The leauing of his forces there to glut Paris euen as Antwerp had bin was to turne all vpside downe and build a new and perilous matter for the Spaniards that the king watcht to giue them a shameful ouerthrow if they should separate themselues neuer so little Therefore hee determined to get him gone with all speed possible hauing consumed a world of money leauing the Leaguers Captaines more altered with the gold of Peru then euer they were before The Duke of Parma returned to Bruxels hauing done nothing but growne unto shame and euill report with the Leaguers Of all his forces hee had great neede for the king ceased not to runne vpon him pursuing him to the verie frontiers of Arroys and diminishing his armie euery day more and more to signifie vnto the Spaniards that France could not bee ruinated or taken but through their owne follie Now assoone as they were thus departed Corbeil and other small townes which they had taken were againe recouered by the kings troupes the which brought the Parisians into new confusions The D. of Parmas comming serued to no other end but to fil their purses and to intangle and bring all their affaires to a remedilesse end In diuers parts of the kingdome as in Brittaine Prouence and Languedoc the League stirred and did many outragious and wicked acts working desolation to the great preiudice of the kings subiects but it little aduantaged the Leaguers whose armies consisted of such people that sought no other thing but disorders Also they could neither grow nor continue but by the confusion of others which they raised by their forces bad purposes for whereas they fained that they wold haue the Spaniard to ioyne with them it was for no other thing but to draw into their hands his double Pistollets in lieu whereof they would present him a new nothing betwixt two dishes And if hee shewed himselfe discontent they would helpe to throwe him out of those places which hee had vsurped as it came to passe soone after In the beginning of this year the king continued his inclosing of the Parisians which were fallen into their wonted distresses as before The Queen of England with
the particular profit and commoditie of some speciall men not that thereby hee pretended to leaue or forsake papisticall religion but protesting onely to doo it that hee might not bee surprised by such as vnder pretence of religion and reformation of abuses sought to imbase his kingly estate and dignitie which hee hoped to impeach by all iust and reasonable meanes that possible he might An edict against small dates and other abuses in the Court of Rome After this protestation hee published an edict made the yeare before touching the obtaining of Benefices against the deceites of pettie dates and other abuses vsed the Court of Rome and also touching the auncient arrests and edicts made against Annates and abuses of reseruations and exactions inuented by the Popes forbidding his subiects not to go to Rome for Annates nor any other occasions touching or concerning Benefices appoynting them to bee disposed and ordered by the ordinaries certifying into all places what wrong Pope Iulius did both to him and to Octauian Fernese Duke of Parma whom hee depriued of the place wherein hee had beene solemnly inuested The Cardinals and others of the Popes creatures in France fearing least this edict whervpon Charles de Moulin a Councel of great vnderstanding wrote a most learned Cōmentary in the which he discouered many terrible practises in Rome wold giue a hard push vnto the Papasie with earnest sute procured the King to publish and ordaine farre straighter and seuerer edicts then euer he did against the religion to the end that Iules the Cardinals on the other side of the mountaines might assure themselues of him to bee their friend as long as they seemed to agree with him Those ordinances were followed by diuers cruell and terrible executions in many places of the Realme against great numbers of the religion that were burned for most boldly confessing the truth of the Gospell reiecting mans traditions induced and brought into the Church and seruice of God Those that were assembled at Trent wrote vnto the king to induce him to accept and allow the decrees of their councell and to send the Bishops of his Realme vnto them as also to intreate him to be a meanes vnto the Switzers to send thither likewise but warre beeing open in all places and the Emperour hauing sent for the Spaniards that were in Almaine to make warre in Italie against Parma the pursuit of the Councell of Trent hung still vpon the field Preparation for warre in Lorraine Warres in this sort beeing kindled the King determined to assure himselfe of Lorraine beeing in some suspition of the Dutches that as then was Dowagar and hauing sent certaine companies into the frontiers the Emperour also strengthened all his fortes and places the one beholding the other with seuerall intents whereof in time the effects appeared The Princes of Almaine take counsel to deliuer themselues from seruitude Because the Emperor proceeced with the Almaine Prince in such sort as seemed inconuenient they not being acquainted with any such kinde of seruitude much lesse to bee in subiection of the Spaniards perceiuing that the King made preparation to set vpon the Emperour esteemed it a most fit good occasion for them to serue their turnes which King Henry of France thereby to abash the Emperour Charles and so to procure the meanes of better and more friendly vsage towardes them on his behalfe or else wholly to leaue them And therevppon entred into secret conference with the King to beseech him that it would please his Maiestie to imploy his meanes to procure the auncient libertie of the Germaines He thinking to haue found an entrie and means to attaine vnto most high and hautie enterprises thereby to abase the greatnesse and pride of his most glorious enemie and by that meanes to erect the honour of France willingly gaue eare vnto the Almaines and to the same end about the beginning of the yeare he sent the Bishop of Bayonne Tho Kings letters to the Protestant Prince vnto the Princes Electors with letters importing many protestations and offers of amitie as also shewing and declaring the many and great wrongs by the Emperour done vnto the Princes and towne of Almaine protesting that hee was fully resolued for their cause to imploy both his forces and his person to defend their rights and priuiledges not exspecting any recompence but onely honour to haue thereby deserued the good will and liking of so puissant a countrie as that of Germaine And therewith assuring them by the faith of a Prince that his only intent and meaning was to deliuer all the estates of Germaine from the oppressions of the Emperour and his Spaniards which hee likewise meant to do particularly in the behalf of his louing Cousin Iohn Duke of Saxon Philip Lant-graue of Hessen as then detained kept in miserable seruitude by the Emperor contrary to his oath promise And in the end of the letter he added these words We wil promise you likewise by the liuing God and before all the Kings Princes and Potentates of Christendome that our intent is not in any sort whatsoeuer to permit that either you in generall or any of you in particular of what estate or condition soeuer he bee shall suffer or endure any wrong or iniurie and much lesse will wee that beare the name of most Christian king permit that any damage or hurt shall be offered or committed either to the persons or goods of your most reuerend Prelates Abbots and other Ecclesiasticall persons as our aduersries haue most wrongfully giuen foorth but rather meane to take and receiue you into our protection and sauegarde so you will acknowledge it both vnto vs and to our allies and therein certifie vs of your whole and full intents hoping for the good and revnion of the Churche whiche is to bee expected by the recouerie of publique and auncient libertie wherein GOD willing wee will imploye all our force and meanes whatsoeuer Which most reuerend Prelates most noble Princes and other estates of the holie Empire we thought good to certifie vnto you to the ende you should not be ignoraunt of the cause of this our warres whereby we meane to pursue the Emperor both with fire and sword and although to our great disliking to cut him off as a putrified member from the bodie of the Common-wealth or at the least constraine him from henceforth from further molesting or troubling of your estate Effects contrary to words While the king in this sort termed himselfe the Protector of Almaine and defendor of the Countrey and nation of the holy Empire giuing a great hope of the revnion of the Church his Officers in many places of the realme burnt such as they called Lutherians and that agreed and consented to the doctrine holden and beleeued by most of the Princes Townes of Almaine open enemies to the traditions and ceremonies of the Pope On the other side he made great preparations for a voyage
to beholde what miserie the souldiers at that time endured by reason of the winter The Italians left the Emperours campe constrained to do it by force of colde and famine and went vnto the Duke to bee imployed vnder the king The state of the Emperours armie before Metz. and while the Duke d'Alue vsed all the meanes hee could to place his batterie those within Metz made many assaults sometime on horse-backe sometimes on foote to the great discommoditie and losse of the Emperours campe much abashed at the boldnesse and valour of the Frenchmen who at that time did many straunge and vnaccustomed actions as entering so farre into the campe that they set vpon the Artillerie ranne into the enemies Tents and in small troupes neuer ceased to giue alarmes vnto the Emperours campe About the 20. of Nouember Valour of the assieged Batterie the batterie beganne to playe vpon the Towne in three seueral places and the 26. of the same moneth the walles of the Towne were battered with 40. great Peeces that shot both night and day without ceasing but onely to refresh them beeing one of the most furious batteries that euer was seene at any time The assieged not only Princes and Lords but euery man whatsoeuer carried earth to make rampiers by which their diligence they no lesse abashed the Emperours campe then by their valour Hesdin takē by the Frenchmen from the Emperour The French armie conducted by the Admirall de Chastillon entering into Picardie where the Duke de Vandosme commanded as Lieftenant for the king caused the Emperours armie conducted by the Counte de Reux to withdrawe themselues from thence who left his sonne with a strong Garrison within the Castle of Hesdin which beeing assieged vpon the 17. of December and furiously battered with 4066. cannon shots without any reasonable breach feare so much ceased vpon the assieged that the next day after they yeelded themselues with liues and goods saued On the other side the Duke de Neuers continued his course molesting the Emperours armie and by the conduct of Monsieur de Mouy cut off a great Conuoy of victuals and munitions from them without the losse of any man wherein Mouy obtained great honour by hauing aduanced himselfe so farre and brauely returned from among a great company of the enemies without leauing one man behinde him and yet bereauing them of a great reliefe The Emperour retrait and raysing of his campe from Metz to the great honour of the assieged Touching the Emperour his batteries beeing spent in vaine and his Mines countermyned by the diligence and industrie of the assieged that neuer ceased by sallies and continuall charge to molest and dispearse his armie wholly afflicted with cold and necessitie about the 18. of December hee caused the greatest cannons of his batterie to bee dismounted with resolution to retire with honour and commoditie wherevnto the Counte d'Aigremont was imployed to discouer and to assure his passage The Duke de Neuers prouided with great diligence for Thoul thereby to shunne a surprise and by diuers courties made the Emperour to make haste away who being aduertised of the condition of Hesdin perceiuing the dispotition of his armie and his forces vsed against Metz to take no effect hauing lost a great number of men and much treasure and part of the reputation which before hee had obteyned Vpon the fift of Ianuarie he beganne to retire leauing all the charge vnto the Duke d'Alue to seperate and retire his armie Great pittie it was to see and beholde the number of poore Souldiours that as then were discharged and sent away without any meanes to helpe themselues The Duke d'Alue and the Counte de Brabancon The dislodging of the campe with the most part of the armie dislodged in great disorder departing by night onely with two fiers for their guide making no noyse without sounding of trumpet drum or fife leauing their Tents standing with some quantities of armour barrells full of pouder and great store of necessarie prouisions part of the artillerie vnder ground many poore sicke men whom the Duke of Guise and others caused to bee friendly vsed and comforted Vidasme de Chartres set vpon the rereward of the Duke of d'Alues campe where he ouerthrew a company of light horse burnt great quantitie of pouder and brought more persons then he desired without any losse of his owne men The rereward was left vnto the Marques of Brandebourge The retrait of Albert Marques of Brandebourge vppon whose campe many issues were made but hee kept himselfe so close and wrought in such manner that he escaped safely away with all his troupes Solemne prayers and thanksgiuings were yeelded vnto God through all the Realme of France for the happie successe of that great siege specially the Duke of Guise caused a general procession to bee made within the Towne of Metz where hee was accompanied by all the Princes and Lords that had assisted at that siege Deliuerie of Metz. as the Princes of Anguien the Counte Montpensier and the Counte de la Rochesuryon the Duke de Neuers Horace Fernese who not long after espoused Diane Bastard-daughter to the king Pierre Strossie le Vidame de Chartres Monsieurs de Montmorency d'Anuille de Gonnor la Brosse Lieftenant of the companie of the Duke of Lorraine la Rochefoucant the Vicomtes de Turaine and de Martigues Delangues Entragues de Biron S. Remi and others in great number which done hee went vnto the Court leauing the gouernment of the Towne vnto la Gonnor that commaunded in it before the siege Siege batteries assault taking and vtter destruction of the towne of Terouenne About the end of the spring the Emperour sent Monsieur de Binecourt with a puissant armie to besiege the Towne of Terouenne a very strong place wherunto in great diligence was sent Monsieur d'Esse and with him Francis de Montmorency eldest sonne vnto the Constable with their companies followed by diuers Lords Gentlemen and Souldiers The Towne was most furiously battered and the assieged sustained three assaults such as neuer had been seene the like where on both sides many men were slaine On the French part were slaine Messieurs de Esse de Vienne de Beaudisne de la Roche Pose de Blandi and captaine Ferrteres with many Gentlemen and souldiers after that the Assaylants vsed great meanes to mine the walles so that in the ende by a mine very properly and promptly made they filled the diche which Monsieur de Montmorency perceiuing by aduise of all the Captaines demanded a composition but while they were in parley the Almaines and Burgonians entred in diuers places and began to kill all that they met the Spaniards couetous of money warranted many Gentlemen and French souldiers Monsieur de Ouerti to saue the life of Monsieur de Montmorency his Generall was sore wounded whereof not long after he died which newes much pleased the Emperour who therevppon caused the
ouerrunne the plaine countrie of Sienois which he did with 12000. foote and one thousand fiue hundreth horse on the other side the king sent Monsieur de Termes that set good and strong Garrisons within all the places of the Segnerie of Siene hauing as then vnder the kings pay aboue twelue thousand foote not accounting the naturall countrimen sworne enemies vnto the Spaniards but very fewe horsemen And because the Emperours campe conducted by the Viceroy and Ascagne de la Corne seemed to threaten Siene they fortified the Towne with al diligence The Viceroy assailed Monselice Montelle Montalein where Monsieur de Termes tooke order and maintained himselfe in good sort vntill the king sent Pierre Strossi with a great companie of men and made him his Lieftenant Generall in Toscane Strossi came to Siene raised more Souldiers in Italie whereof Duke Cosme beeing aduertised solicited Pope Iulius and the Emperour in such sort that they ioyned with him to driue out the Frenchmen To this end Iaques de Medicis surnamed le Mediquin Marquis de Marignan hauing charge of the consederates armie about the beginning of the yeare 1554. besieged Siene and approaching it by night had almost surprised it by reason that as then the fortifications were not all finished but the Sienois withstood him and repulsed the Marques who at that time lost many of his men notwithstanding hee left not off to incampe himselfe before the towne and forraging the plaine countrie directed a furious batterie whereby in the end hee reduced the Inhabitants to great extremitie without the comming of Strossi who entering therein presently tooke order for the rampars and the reparation of the breaches not hauing forgotten to furnish all the places about Siene and because Rodolphus Baillon Generall of the Emperours horses and Ascagne de la Corne had made an enterprise vppon Chiusi Strossi by night went to meete them with sixe hundreth men and hauing taken them at an aduantage put their troupes in disorder slewe Baillon and sent la Corne prisoner into France The king with all speede sent new forces into Toscane and the I le of Corse wherein Monsieur de Termes had taken the Townes of S. Florent and S. Boniface a Port of the sea leauing good Garrison therin vnder the charge of Iourdan Vrsin with certaine Captaines Frenchmen and Gascous for the defence of the Yland part whereof as yet obeyed the Geneuois vppon whom being participants with the Emperour Monsieur de Termes had taken those Townes But to returne to Siene the last secorers that the king sent thither beeing of fiue thousand Switzers Gascons with some light-horse Strossi suddainly made a sallie with sixe thousand chosen footemen and fiue hundreth good horse and therewith tooke Montcatin and Montcarlo from the Duke of Florence which hee fortified The Marques of Marignan constrained to leaue the siege of Siene to ayde the Duke was in danger to bee wholly ouerthrowne if Storssi had taken occasion when it was offered But the Marques fortified with new ayde Strosci was constrained to bring his wearied forces to breath themselues within Siene meane time Leon Prior of Capoue and brother to Strossi hauing not the meanes to staye for the French Nauie ceased vpon certaine Geneuois shippes laden with corne and hauing filled them with Souldiers warred vppon the coast of Toscane and to spoyle the Ports of the sea belonging to the Duke of Florence After that hee went to lye before Scarlin where approaching to viewe the place he was stricken with a Harquebus-shot whereof hee died Strossi much greeued thereat went to continue the siege staying for the French ayde which not long after being arriued conducted by Monsieur de Monluc Strossi made his armie wherein he had sixe thousand Italians two thousand Gascons as many Switzers two thousand fiue hundreth Lansquenets and about a thousand horse wherewith he determined to set vppon his enemies if they would come foorth and perceiuing that they withdrewe themselues from Siene he committed the custodie thereof vnto Monsieur de Monluc and went to batter Ciuitelle lying in the territories of Florence to the ayde whereof the Marques of Marignan made so great hast that he had almost surprised the assaylants where there was much blood spilt on both sides Stressi constrained to discampe besieged Foyan a strong and very rich place which the first day of his arriuall was taken by force and Charlot Vrsin with all the souldiers that kept it put to the sword and the Towne spoyled and burnt The Marques hauing recouered certaine cannons approached the armie of Strossi that marched towards Montpulcian where the Italians began to forsake him and by that means his forces were lesse then those of the Marques which constrained him to retire The battell and ouerthrow of Strossi and the French armie in Toscan but in stead of dooing it couertly and by night for the safetie of his troupes he determined to march openly in the day time and to saue his Artillerie he sent it before him Whereof the Marques being aduertised with all speed pursued after him and hauing ouertaken him in the field betweene Martian Lucignan and Foyan gaue him battell where the fight was dangerous and bloodie but Strossi hauing the lesse and weaker companie the Frenchmen fled after Bighet an Italian Ensigne Coronel of the armie that first saued himself after that the horsemē were dispersed The Gascons Switzers that fought valiantly were ouerthrowne by aduancing thēselues too farre among their enemies and almost all their Leaders slaine in the field the number of the slaine is diuersly reported some said two thousand fiue hundreth others foure thousand besides many hurt that liued not long after and fiue or sixe hundreth prisoners The Marques wrote vnto the Emperour that all Strossies footemen were slaine at that bartaile but as then he forgot to pursue his victorie which if hee had done Strossi and all the Kings armie at that time had beene wholly ouerthrowne Strossi that had shewed maruellous prooses of his valour and noblenesse saued himselfe in Montalcin leauing Foyan that was presently taken by the Marques as also Martian Lucignan and other places wherewith the Sienois meruellously abashed were in mind to haue yeelded had it not been for Monluc that assured them and after did great seruice vnto the king as also to the Towne Bighet partly cause of the ouerthrowe of the armie and the Counte d'Alte that had cowardly yeelded vp Lucignan a most impregnable place were beheaded Presently after the Duke solicited those of Siene to yeeld vnto the Emperour and they about the end of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1554. answered him most brauely but yet to vse so great loftie words they had need of better means of resistance while these things were effected Monsieur de Lanssac beeing gone on ambassage to Rome diuers articles were there drawne and set down to end the troubles of Siene The Pope gaue charge to his Legats that laye residents by the
Emperour and the king to bring them to an agreement but nothing tooke effect each of thē seeming to haue right on his side meane time the differences touching religion began to increase such as would not receiue and acknowledge the traditions of the Pope were cruelly burnt They suffered the Turke to win diuers places in Europe and his Gallies as then came before Corse to ayde the Frenchmen were at the siege of Calui and Boniface among the Christians and holpe to conquer the Island and then returning homeward spoyled the coast of Toscane besieged Plombin and the I le of Elbe belonging to the Duke of Florence passing further executed an infinit of mischieses vpon the realmes of Naples Sicile and Calabre and so laden with great spoyles and numbers of Christians their prisoners they arriued in Constantinople other places without any impeachment so much so great was the hatred between the Emperour and the King that they had rather see the Turke inriched with Christians teasure then once to consent agree in one to inuade so common an enemie But returning to Siene Siene besicged and taken the Marques of Marignan came to besiege it with all his forces onely vpon the hope he had that Strossi beeing wounded and Monluc lying at the poynt of death being dead for it was thought they could not liue long Lanssac and Fourqueuau taken the Sienois being wholly destitute of counsell and French secorers would yeeld vnto him Strossi beeing somewhat recouered and hauing been certified of the death of Monluc hazarded himselfe with sixe companies of foote and two of launciers to come to Siene Where by the prudence and resolution of Serillac Nephew to Monluc he entered who by a stratageme of trompets caused an alarme in the Marquesse campe that thought verily some new armie had been come to set vppon them but hauing found Monluc liuing and in some better estate then he had been he returned againe yet not without great daunger Monluc hauing made many skirmishes vppon the enemie perceiued that in fine they would take the Towne whervpon hauing shewed the Souldiers and the Townes-men what he thought the Marques would do hee gaue order that euery man should be stinted in his victuals and that they should liue by prescript rules of war The Sienois very willing to followe his counsell and aduise did as he commanded The Marques hauing assayed by scaling the walles in the night-time to enter into the Citadell and the Fort of Camollia was valiantly repulsed with the losse of sixe hundreth of his men and by many skirmishes batteries intelligences and combats seeking to become maister of the towne being not able to effect his will determined to proceed with the first and surest resolution which was to constraine them by famin by which meanes his campe indured much miserie and euery moneth diminished more and more neuerthelesse in fine his perseuerance ouercame them so that vpon the 20. day of Aprill 1555. an honourable composition hauing been made and agreed vpon with Monsieur de Monluc his troupes and those of Siene the towne was yeelded vnto the Marques and after into the hands of the Duke of Florence Touching that which after happened to the territories of Siene I meane not at this present to intreate further thereof leauing that to the description of the warres of Italie from whence I must returne vnto Picardie Warres in Picardie Mariembourg being revictualled the Leaders that cōmanded in those quarters for the Emperour hauing erected an armie of twentie thousand foote fiue or sixe thousand Rutters and some Enfignes of olde bands of Spaniards caused a place called Giuets to bee fortified from whence they forraged the Country lying nearest vnto it and famished Mariembourg The king assembled his forces at Maubert Fontaine whereof Francis de Cleues Duke de Veuers was Lieftenant Generall hauing eight hundreth launciers as many light-horse about eight thousand footemen who once againe revictualled Mariembourg The 26. of Iulie the Rutters and the French light-horsemen met togither but the Rutters were presently constrained to reenter into their fort and the Count de Barlaimont General of the Emperors Armie refusing battaile the French men retired presently after the prince of Orange entred in to the kings country and spoiled the Castle of Faignolles After that in winter time Messieurs de Sanssac and Bourdillon the third time reuictualled Mariembourg The raigne and troublesome season togither with the want of victualls on both sides impeached the armies from meeting togither During this last voiage the king hauing gotten the writings and euidences whereby Iohn de Brosse Duke d'Estampes claymed a right and title vnto the Duchie of Bretaigne into his hands gaue the Count of Ponthieure in exchange thereof vnto the said Duke The Emperor resigneth all his estates vnto his son and his brother At the same time the Emperor a prince of great valour and courage as all Histories do witnesse hauing so long time borne a world of affaires troubles within his braines determined to discharge himselfe thereof and hauing sent for the Prince Don Philip his sonne vnto Brissels then king of England resigned vnto him his kingdomes of Spaine Naples Cicile and others whereof hee gaue him letters pattents commanding all his subiects to obey him Those letters being deliuered vpon the 25. of october 1555. were read in open counsel by the Chancelor And among many notable instructions aduises by the father giuen vnto the Prince his son he exhorted him to make peace with the King of France and to haue pittie vpon Christendome miserably tormented by so long and cruell warres He likewise left off the Empire and by letters vnto the Electors desired them to giue that dignitie vnto Ferdinand his brother to whom by right it ought to appertaine hauing by them bin chosen and elected for king of the Romanes Wars in the Isle of Corse About the same time the Geneuois assaied to win the Isle of Corse not long before taken from them by Monsieur de Termes and sent thither the Prince d'Aurie that assailed the port of S. Florent which yeelded by composition the souldiers issuing armed and their goods saued returning to Boniface to Iourdā Vrsin d'Aurie following after them thinking to win it but he was soone repulsed to his great losse About the moneth of the same yeare died the Marquesse of Marignā The death of the Marques of Marignā being out of fauor with the Emperor For hauing too long prolōged the taking of Siene consuming a whole armie about it he was solemnly buried at Millan the Duke d'Alue being assistant at his funerall King Philip following his fathers counsaile and solicited therunto by Mary Queene of England his wife inclined to peace which to effect after many meetings and conferences a truce for 5. yeares was agreed vpon between thē The Count de Lalain Truce for 5. yeares between the 2. Kings came to Blois to sweare the truce vnto
fatned by the confiscations of the goods of those of the religion and by borrowings neuer to be repayed hauing made offer of all that hee had to the house of Guise was receiued into their band The Constable sent home The Constable perceiuing that the king in open Parliament had declared that his meaning was that from thence foorth al men should haue recourse touching matters of estate the crowne and of his house vnto his two Vncles the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine and that by consequent his mortall enemie entered into his place and doing that which wholly apperteined to his offices of Constable and Great-Maister of France yea and in the presence of the Spaniards and other straungers who before had made so much account of him about eight daies after the kings death went to present himselfe vnto the king deliuering vppe the seales to him committed by King Henry and hauing been certified from the king that the charge of the treasures and other affaires concerning the estate were as then committed to the Cardinall and to the Duke of Guise the commandement of all things that belonged vnto the warres and that for his part the king permitted him leaue to depart and go vnto his house saying hee still retained him of his Councell and that whensoeuer hee would come vnto the Court hee should bee welcome he thāked the king for suffring him so to retire beseeching him that as touching his comming vnto the Councell his Maiestie would excuse him for two causes the one because hee could not serue vnder such men ouer whom he had alwaies commaunded the other for that beeing holden and accounted for an olde and simple man his counsell would not bee necessarie otherwise he offered both life and goods to serue the King Which done he went to see the Queene mother that handled him very rudely reproching him that he in presence of the king with smiling countenance should say that he had neuer a childe that in any thing resembled him but onely his bastard-daughter that married with the Marshall de Montmorency Yet for the loue of her deceased king and husband she said she was content to remit her owne particular quarrell for which if it pleased her she could haue caused him to loose his head yet she exhorted him not altogither to leaue the Court but to come thither sometimes He denied the accusation which she alledged touching her children affirming it to be false desiring her to haue in remembrance the many seruices by him done to her and to the Realme and not to regard the euill report of such as were his enemies that shuld not do him all the mischief which they pretended And so hauing taken his leaue and brought his maister vnto his Tombe he withdrew himselfe vnto his house The Princes of the blood scattered Touching the Princes of the blood the Prince of Conde was sent into Flanders there to confirme the peace to whom was deliuered a thousand Crownes to beare his charges The Prince of la Roche Suryon was sent thither likewise to beare the order of France vnto the king of Spaine and at his returne appointed with the Cardinal of Burbon to cōduct the Princesse Elizabeth into Spain The Parlimēts were appointed at the good pleasure of those of Guise The Cardinal de Turnō an old enimy to the Cōstable to al those of the religiō was repealed from Rome reestablished of the priuy councel The Kings Officers of his house chaunged part of the old officers of the kings house were discharged part sent home vnto their houses with half their pensions to giue place to others And to cōclude there staied not one in the Court that fauoured the Constable The Prouinces of the Realme and the frontier Townes were filled with Guisians and all Gouernours and men of warre commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the king himselfe All the Parliaments were aduertised Those of Guise haue charge of all that the Cardinall had the whole ordering and disposing of the treasures and of the estate The Queene Mother aduanced aboue all obtained the monies proceeding of the confirmation of Offices and the priuiledges of Townes and corporations whereof shee gaue a part to whome it pleased her although such summes ought not of right to be exacted vnlesse the Crowne fall into an other braunch First Edicts The first Edicts were made against such as bare Armes namely Pistols and Bastinadoes then against long Cloakes and great Hose It was a common saying in euery mans mouth that the Cardinall was a fearefull man if there were euer any in all the world hauing vnderstood by a certaine Magician in Rome that by enuie and then when he should be most in credit his enemies would cause him to be slaine with a Bastianado for that cause hee had procured that Edict being alwaies in great distrust euen at the time when all men were in most subiection to him Among so many affaires the 14. of Iuly Letters Pattents from the king confirmed the Commission vnto the Iudges appointed to proceed in iudgement against Anne du Bourg Proces against Anne de Bourg and other prisoners and foure other Councellours that were committed to prison Du Bourg stedfast in religion was hotly pursued Bertrand Cardinall and Archbishop of Siens beeing one of the principall wheeles of this criminall Chariot and the Cardinall of Lorraine the leader therof Those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be at the point of a more violent persecution by expresse Letters vnto the Queene besought her by her authoritie to commaund the leauing off to persecute them in such great rigor Shee promised the Prince of Conde Madame de Roy his mother in lawe and to the Admirall to cause the persecutions for to cease so they would leaue their assembling togither The Queen-mother promiseth to doo for those of the religion and that euery man wold liue according to his own conscience secretly and not to the hurt of others Shee had been most earnestly mooued by the letters of one named Villemadon that knew great part of his secrets putting her in minde of her great affection vnto pittie at such time as shee was barren exhorting her not to withdrawe the Princes of the blood from the mannaging of the affaires of the estate thereby to aduance and make Kings the house of Guise Those letters were written the 26. day of August and wrought with so great effect that from thenceforward for a certaine time the Queene seemed to hearken vnto the comfort and ease of those of the religion meane time those of Guise to make their gouernment seeme agreeable to al the people and to leese nothing in the kings name published letters of the reuocation of all alienations made Alienations made by king Henry reuoked as well for life as yeares beeing for recompences of any seruices past except those sales whereof the monies had beene imployed for the kings great vrgent
of the administration of the affaires of the land Wherevppon Lois de Bourbon Prince of Conde was most instantly desired to hearken therevnto and by that meanes to hinder and impeach the to tall ruine both of the king and Queene The Prince of Conde much affected to the good of the king and of his Realme And as some haue lightly thought and written that all this whole proceeding after named the tumult of Amboise had been an enterprise of men wholly rash seditious enemies to God and the Estate prouoked by dispaire and induced by fury so is it found esteemed by others euil affected vnto the house memorie of this Prince that durst presume to charge him to haue bin mooued and pushed forward with some particular affection that entered into his minde and that it was but a meere quarrell against the house of Guise which by that meanes hee sought to end and after that to mooued some greater change but not to turne this smal Cronicle into a large Apologie it shall suffice simply to rehearse those things which for the most part are fresh and in the memorie of many a Frenchman as then liuing and such as were borne since and hauing beene faithfully informed thereof for as for men that are partiall who to gratifie such as held the sword ouer their heades while they caused the bookes wherein most impertinently they handle this matter to bee imprinted without saying woorse by them both the world present and to come will wholly reiect their witnesse as full of euident and meere passion and cleane repugnant to the truth and will auouch that the Prince therein shewed himselfe to be a true Frenchman and most affectionate friend vnto the good and seruice both of the king and Realme The Prince then with his most secret Councell hauing long and deliberately thought and consulted vppon this poynt wherein hee was desired to be assistant as in truth the sequell therof required first gaue expresse charge and commission to certaine wise expert and well approoued friends secretly carefully and exactly to inquire what were the principall thinges that might bee imposed against those of Guise which beeing knowne with a good and safe conscience hee might looke into that which should redownd vnto the good both of the king and of his Realme The informations made it was found and well known by men both of person and quallitie and such as were indifferent that they might well and lawfully bee charged with diuers poynts of treason as also with an infinit number of pillings and interceptions as well of the treasures of the Common-wealth as of particular persons And among other notable crimes he was assured and offered to haue it iustified by such as in a maner had beene their houshold seruants that they ment to cease vppon the Realme Abreefe collection of the informations made against those of Guise and put all the Princes of the blood to death assoone as they once had fully exterped those of the religion determining in short space to rid themselues of all their enemies hauing alreadie vnderstood by the Phisitians that the king could not liue long neither yet haue issue which in mans iudgement might easilie be effected considering that those of Guise had both iustice mony strong Townes men of warre and the people at their commandement Monsieur Renaudie vndertaketh the charge to cease vpon the bodies of the Guisians The question was these informations beeing made how the persons of those parties so charged might bee taken and ceased vpon This was the difficultie which Godfrey de la Remaudie surnamed la Forest Barron de Perigot and a Gentleman of an ancient house vndertooke to resolue accepting the mannaging thereof vnder the authoritie of the Prince who in person promised to bee at the day and in in the place where and when those of Guise should so bee taken vppon condition that nothing should bee sayd enterprised nor done in any sort whatsoeuer eyther against God the king his bretheren the Princes nor the Estate that in doing otherwise hee would himselfe bee he that first should seeke for to oppose against al those that vndertooke the contrary which conclusion was made about the end of the yeare 1559. 1560. The Lady Elizabeth of France married vnto the King of Spaine departed from the Court of Blois about the beginning of December beeing conducted by the king her brother and the Queene her mother as farre as Chastellerault and Poictiers and keeping on her way with the Cardinall of Bourbon the Prince de la Roche Suryon and other great Lords into Gascon at Bourdeax the King of Nauarre met her and so ledde her with great honour through his countries keeping her companie vntill hee entered vppon the borders of Spaine The Ladie Elizabeth leâ—de into Spaine where she was receiued by the Noblemen and Lords appointed by king Philip who with great pompe and magnificence they led vnto their Maister about the beginning of this yeare An order for prouision of Offices The first of Ianuarie a Proclamation was made in the kings name for the prouision of Iudiciall offices the nomination of the offices beeing committed vnto the Iudges and the Kings officers who nominating three persons for each office they should giue their names vnto the king that out of them hee might chuse him whom hee iudged to bee fit and capable for the place But this was but an ordinance in paper and wholly without effect as many others had been the same moneth and the next the proces against the Councellors Coucellors holden prisoners released la Porte de Foix du Faut and Fumee that had beene comitted prisoners with Anna du Bourg were ended and all they for a small fine were set at libertie They vsed all the meanes they could to condemne the Councellour Fumee but hee behaued himselfe so well and wifely against all the Iudges and other his aduersaries that in the end hee wound himselfe out of their hands Assembly at Nautes But to returne to that which is more important The first of February la Renaudie with a great number of the Nobilitie and others of all the Prouinces of the Realme met at Nautes where vnder colour of soliciting certaine proces in the Parliament of Britaigne which as then was holden therein they assembled where after certaine inuocations vpon the name of God al before recited was there by Renaudie exposed and declared And after diuers of theÌ„ had giuen their iudgements and esteemed the enterprise to be both iust necessary one among therest required that before they gaue their promise each of them should sweare and solemnely vowe to God not to enterprise or do any thing against the authoritie of the king or the Estate of France protesting for his part that if he might perceiue it that euen when the execution should bee brought to effect hee would aduertise the king and sooner suffer himselfe to bee slaine before his face then to
Garde venturing against the faith and promise made to set vppon Paulon beeing within a straight thing Periury of Captaine Paulon to put both him and his troupes vnto the sword not beeing aboue 50. Souldiers was himselfe inclosed by Paulon that offered him battell but the Barron forgetting his fence although he had tenne times more men then his enemie and a good intent do do great seruice to those of Guise that had dispoyled him of estate of Generall of the Galleyes to giue it vnto the great Prior of France their brother bledde at the nose and by means of a new Capitulation renounced the Councell of Constance and retired with great shame after that for a long time holding himselfe secretly his name seruing for a mockery and ieast to all the world Mouuans flattered by his enemies to be intrapped answereth them in plain French Paulon perceiuing himselfe to bee but hardly bestead in his owne countrie because of the successe of the enterprise of Amboise and of the particular threatnings against him made by the Duke of Guise because of the troubles he had raised in Prouence for a time withdrewee himselfe vnto Geneua whither the Duke sent men expressely to practise with him by infinit promises both by word of mouth and writing in commendations of his vertues and admiring of his valour aboue al the Captains in Prouence to mooue him to return into his countrie But Paulons aunswere to the Duke of Guise was that as long as hee knewe him to bee an enemie both to the religion and the State and that he vsurped the places of the Princes of the blood hee might well assure himselfe to haue Mouuans his mortall enemie and although a poore Gentleman yet one that hath so good credit with the true seruants subiects to the king that they at least fistie thousand where of hee was the least would imploye both liues and goods to cause him to make amends for al the wrongs by him committed against the good subiects and seruants to the king and that hee might be fully assured that as long as one of them both liued hee should neuer bee quiet nor liue in any assurance of his life nor any of his race seeing hee had so much incensed and prouoked the Nobilitie and people of France Not long before his departure out of France hee said Mouuans receiued letters from the king himselfe and from the Queene-mother wherein they gratified him very much as one of the most faithfull and affectioned seruants to his Maiestie promising him great fauour and withall ratifying the accord made by the Counte Gouernour of Prouence But at the same instant Mouuans was aduertised that the Queene-mother had expressely sent vnto the Parliament in Aix that they should finde the means to cause him to cause Mouuans Chasteauneuf and other Captaines that were of the enterprise of Amboise to bee slaine Aduancement of the religion in diuers Prouinces At the same time those of the religion multiplyed in Normandie and Preaching was publikely vsed in diuers places Those of Rouan were troubled by an Anabaptist that was taken and burnt The Church of Tours was much troubled by the seditious dealings of the runnagate Monke named Richelieu Captaine of the Kings new guard but by silence and patience is kept togither the Towne hauing failed twise or thrise to be lacked and spoyled in all the other Prouinces of the Realme those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be wholly destitute of humain ayde tooke a notable resolution not to addresse themselues any more to seeke the helpe of man but what daunger so euer might happen determined to assemble to pray to God to heare his word and to continue in true obedience thereof liuing in great loue and concord one with the other and with much edification to the Catholicques who in great troupes lest the Masse to make profession both of contrary life and doctrine The Queene-mother perceiuing that those of the religion addressed themselues no more to her willed one of her Maisters of Requests called Chastelleus to vse the meane that la Roche one of the Ministers of Parris should come vnto her or some other in his place to conferre with him about somes meanes whereby to procure the quietnesse of those the religion La Roche not being found and they of Tours beeing desired in his place to send Duplessi their Minister they excused themselues beseeching the Queen to content her selfe with letters that should bee written vnto her which shee seemed not to dislike Wherevppon a large discourse was written vnder a deuised name of Theophile for those of the religion wherein after certaine protestations of their sinceritie the depths and grounds of their great griefes against the house of Guise was fully showne then diuers remedies wisely propounded whereby to preuent a ciuell warre which were that prouision should bee made for the good gouernment of the Realme and a Councel to be giuen vnto the king according to the auncient customes of the Realme that to staye and remedie the differences of religion a holy and free councel should be holden and that in the meane time those of the religion should be permitted to liue in peace of conscience and according to the profession of their faith Declarationâ— of the religion against the house of Guise This declaration beeing by Camus deliuered to the Queen-mother fell into the hands of those of Guise which construed it in many sorts to know who that Theophilâ— might bee The messenger was oftentimes in danger of his life and in the end he beeing troubled and tormented in diuers kindes and knowing that such as had giuen it vnto him would not bee knowne but kept themselues secret hee shewed their names in presence of the Queene-mother and those of the house of Guise who likewise charged him to bee of the conspiracie of Ambotse but in stead of beeing secret he tolde them much more truth then they desired to heare and yet hee got out of their hands by vertue of the generall abolution made in the beginning of the raigne of Charles the ninth The Guises proceedings too The Guises perceiuing themselues to bee so much noted and daylie hated in euery place of the Realme specially by those of the religion determined wholly to roote them out and to the same end wrote vnto the King of Spaine and other Catholicque Princes laying the fault vppon those of the religion touching all the troubles that happened in France as also the conspiracie of Amboise To the Princes protestants they wrote that the many and great executions made in France was onely vppon certaine Sacrementaries open enemies vnto the confession of Ausbourg Besides that their intent was to establish the Inquisition in France wherein they thought the Chancellor de l'Hospitall would bee assistant which he did not but like a wise Polititian as he was hee withstood their blowes in such manner that when in the moneth of May the edict of Spaine should haue
been published hee knowing that the priuie Councell and the Parliament haue giuen consent hee moderated it by another edict wherin he exposed his reasons with such vehemencie great eloquence that those of Guise themselues that onely were the purchasers thereof The Duke of Romorantin breaketh the pretence of establishing the Inquisition of Spaine agreed to his aduise and certified it vnto King Philip that liked well thereof although his whole desire was to see the Realme of France disguised in a Spanish sute Wherevpon the edict of Romorantin was published and set foorth whereby the King committed the knowledge and inquirie of Heresies vnto the Prelates of his Reaime forbad all publike assemblies vnlawfull forces declared all the Ministers of the religion makers composers and printers of infamous libelles tending vnto the moouing and stirring vppe of the people guiltie of high treason this edict appeased not the murmurations and troubles but to the contrary rather doubled and increased them on all sides A Combat of Princes Against all the bookes published and set foorth against the vnlawful gouernment of those of Guise Iohn du Tillet Clarke to the Court of Parliament in Parris composed a booke intituled The Kings Maiorit wherein hee defended that in France the Kings beeing of the age of fifteene yeares might then command after that hee inueyed against those of the religion saying that with a false wrong title they termed their new opinions to be the Gospel of Christ naming their Ministers seditious mutinous and concluded that God would fauor and prosper the armes that should bee taken in hand and vsed against them Many strong and earnest aunsweres were made vnto it wherevnto neither he nor yet his brother the Bishoppe of S. Brieu durst once reply although by the Cardinall they were most instantly required therevnto for whose contentment at the request and solitation of a certaine Councellour named du Lyon a Printer of Parris named Martin l'Hommet was hanged for printing a booke The Tyger put two men to death intituled The Tiger made against those of Guise the like intertainment was made vnto a rich Marchant of Roane who beeing present at the execution and perceiuing the people most strangely mooued against l'Hommet desired some of them to vse themselues with greater modestie His proces was made without any further delay onely to please the Cardinall as du Lyon not long after in a great audiance openly confessed The Queen-mothers dealing and resolution of those of Guise in those difficulties The Queen-mother much troubled among so many waues hearing a speech of calling a Parliament and of establishing the Princes and the Constable whom shee deadly hated vnto their places and authorities which if it happened she should no longer haue the mannaging of the affaires resolued to hold and maintaine all things in the same estate wherein as then they were and vnder her authoritie to couer the imperfections of those of Guise who still continued in their grosse and high speeches protesting that they wold imploy the meanes both of themselues and of their friends that possible they could make to beate downe and represse the insolencie of those that sought to purchase the alteration of religion which from that time forward was their pretence thereby to abolish the other quarrell that onely concerned the State which was affirmed to haue beene wholly vsurped and now to bee most lawfully ruled and gouerned by them They thought likewise that hauing exterped those of the religion as their meaning was to beginne with it it would be a meanes to cut the sinewes of the Princes of the blood of whom thereby they should easilie bring to reason as also the Constable Counsell of some of the Nobilitie Touching those of the religion the first and principall in the rolle were certaine Gentlemen that made free and open profession thereof and although they had not in any sort beene priuie or once consenting vnto the enterprise of Amboise yet were they accused and summoned to come and iustifie themselues before the king But they perceiuing that nothing but their destruction was pretended concluded some to go vnto the Prince of Conde to incourage him the rest vnto all the Churches of the religion to giue them notice and intelligence of their destructions then readie to fall vppon them if each of them sought not to desend themselues The Prince of Conde escaped while his enemies consulted his death The proposition mooued in the priuie Councell touching the ceasing vppon the person of the Prince of Conde and to make his proces to the end that hauing begunne with him they might proceed against the rest made them to looke vnto themselues It chanced that vppon this proposition touching the taking of the Prince the Cardinall was resolutely of that aduise but the contrary the Duke of Guise had made a long discourse to shewe that they should not proceed therein and that it should bee wholly against his consent and desire Some at the first were much abashed that those two heads in one hood were of so different mindes but when they well perceiued that nothing was by them neglected where to find the meanes to laye holde vppon the Prince euery man then did knowe that this contrarietie was onely done of purpose thereby to drawe the Councell to giue their whole consents to the end that by those meanes they might fortifie and couer themselues against all chaunces whatsoeuer In the meane time the Prince looking on his owne securitie with good aduise deliuered himselfe out of their snares and got vnto Bearn where as then the king of Nauarre his brother was Resident they as the common saying is vsed to make bread of stones and to turne all things for their aduantage beganne to assure the king and his mother that without all doubt the Prince was culpable and that his flying made him to appeare as guiltie wherevpon commissions were presently made and sent for to leuie men to warre against Gascon whither the Mashall de S. Andre vnder pretence of going to see his bretheren was sent to discouer which serued to no other end but onely to cause the two Princes to stand more warity vppon their guard La Planche discouereth those of Guise There rested yet another threed to vntwine which was to know if that the Constable were not of the Princes Councell whom as they thoght they held alreadie within their fingers to this end they appoynted the Queene-mother to worke the matter who secretly sent for Lois Regnier Sieur de la Planche one of the Councell ours of the Marshal de Montmorency who beeing entered into her chamber the Cardinall standing behinde the tapistrie and desired very earnestly to say his minde touching causes and remedies of those troubles made a large and ample discourse the effect whereof was that those of Guise beeing straungers ought not to haue the gouernment of the Estate vnlesse some naturall Frenchmen were ioyned in commission
and to shew a good countenance vnto the Constable and his Nephewes The Admirall presented a petition to the King in the behalfe of the religion The 21. of August they were assembled wherein there was not one of the Princes of the blood and before they began to debate of any matter the Admirall presented a request vnto the King for those of the religion in France whose desire was that it would please his Maiestie to graunt them libertie of Churches and free exercises of their religion in all places The King hauing hanked the Admirall for his vigilancie fidelitie and sincere affection caused the petition to be openly read and then hauing declared from poynt to poynt the cause of that assembly desired the assistance euery man in particular freely and without feare or passion to giue him counsell as occasion and necessitie therein should require that done the Queen-mother and the Chauncellour spake and the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall offered but in generall to render vp an account of their administration which finished that daies meeting the assembly beeing remitted vntill the 23. of August wherevnto Monluc Moruilliers du Mortier and d'Auanson al foure of the priuie Councel opposed themselues But hee that spake most to effect and that deserued most praise to bee a faithfull Councellour was Charles de Marillac Archbishop of Vienne Oration and aduise of Marillac who by notable reasons liuely desciphered shewed that it was requisite to assemble a nactionall Councell thereby to remedie the differences in religion and the third Estate to direct the gouernment of the Realme But hee liued not long after this Oration made and many spake diuersly of his death The Admirals Oration censured by those of Guise The next day beeing the 23. of the moneth of August the Admiralles turne fell out to speake whose Oration tended to the ordering of religion and the Estate before mentioned by Marillac but with farre more eloquent phraise wherevnto hee added a most graue and wise censure against those that by inuironing the king with double guardes learned him to feare his subiects and his subiects to hate their Prince desiring the king most certainly to be perswaded that all his subiects reuerenced him and bare most earnest and hartie affection vnto him The Duke of Guise much greeued and offended at that which the Admirall had spoken specially touching the new guards made a large discourse vnto the contrary in such sort that he shewed himselfe in great perplexitie with all the wit hee had to defend his broken cause His brother the Cardinal walked with some more deliberation vppon those pricking thornes assaying to refute the humble protestations contained in the request presented by the Admirall in the name of all those of the religion who from that time foorth was most extreamly hated by those of Cuise who neuerthelesse at that time made shewe not to dislike in any sort that a generall assembly of the Estates should bee assigned and that as touching religion they propounded an other aduise which likewise was allowed as in the articles following you may reade A Parlia-assigned the 10. of December And according to the resolution vpon the last of August letters were dispatched vnto all Bailiffes and Stewards signifying vnto them that the Estates generall were assigned to meete vppon the tenth of December next ensuing within the Towne of Meaux to the end they should take order to cause Deputies to bee chosen against that time But in this Commission there ranne a clause which was that during such elections the Gouernours and Lieftenants of Prouinces should seuerally visit the Townes to inquire and vnderstand the peoples griefes and to bring them vnto the King that prouision and good order might bee taken for the good of euery Prouince A Sinode of the Clargie the 20. of Ianuary By the same letters he assigned the Bishops Prelates and other Ecclesiasticall persons to bee at Parris vppon the 20. of Ianuary next after ensuing to aduise and take counsell what shall be fit and conuenient to be shewed vnto the generall Councell exhorting them in the meane time to reforme that which belongeth to bee reformed and amended by the Church further commaunding them to be watchfull ouer their aduersaries termed wicked spirits composed of the remnants of the rebellion and tumult of Amboise Gathering of troupes of Souldiers Those of Guise hauing by this means assured themselues against the Princes the next day sent letters in the kings name vnto all Bailiffes and Stewards for the assembly of men at armes or lanciers to be readie by the 20. day of the month of September the distribution whereof was done in such manner that the companies were all mingled the suspected inuironed with others that might set vpon them both before behinde the commanders hauing charge to take put to the sword al such as they once esteemed or suspected to march to ayde the Princes On the other side because the declaration which those of the religion had directed vnto the Princes in many points concerned those or Guise At the deniall of Iohn du Tillet a certain yong Councellour named Des Autels of Charrolois presented himselfe that vnder the title of an Oration vnto the people of France made an answere vnto it and with priuiledge from the King caused it to be imprinted But this Orarout was so well schooled by a replye made therevnto that neuer after hee durst hold vppe his nose and was disauouched by the Cardinall that onely had set him on worke saying that both time and his actions would soone procure him reason at the hands of his enemies And those of Guise hauing ioyned the forces Letters from the king to the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde with their answeres returned out of Scotland with the olde troupes of Piedemont Metz and Picardie they caused them to approach near vnto them with 1200. launciers reserued besides the deuisions made within the Prouinces sent a message in the Kings name vnto the King of Nauarre whereby the Prince of Conde was charged to haue enterprised against the Estate of France and to haue sought to cease vpon the least Townes to haue them in his possession for which cause hee desired the King of Nauarre to send his brother vnto him vnder strong and safe conduction which if hee refused hee said hee should in person be constrained to go thither with such a traine that it would not be for his commoditie The King of Nauarre and his brother made a graue and bolde answere which was that if their accusers would make themselues knowne and seeme to defend the accusation against them and beeing bereaued of that authoritie which they vsurped they with a small company would present themselues before the King where in his presence they would euidently shew him that such accusers were the parties guiltie to whose most false reports they besought his Maiestie in any sort not to giue
credit The kings word giuen to the princes to intrap them This aunswere made those of Guise to seeke another course and therevppon dispatched an other message whereby the King sent word vnto the Princes that they might without all feare come vnto him and returne again when they thought good assuring them by the word of a King that nothing should be done or attempted against their persons in any sort whatsoeuer that he would peaceably heare both their causes and instifications without committing them to prison or once making proces against them that his desire was onely to haue an answereby word of mouth touching the poynts wherewith the Prince was charged which the King could not in any sort beleeue and to conclude that they should bee receiued and vsed according to their estates and dignities yea and that they should haue their places restored that of order and custome belonged vnto them touching the mannaging of the affaires of the land to the end to haue their counselles and aduise thereby to reduce all thinges into a good and polliticke order They were betraied by Amaury Bouchart Chancellor of Nauarre without any troubling or molesting the Prince concerning the religion which hee professed The like letters were written vnto them by the Queene-mother At the first the King of Nauarre had a good courage but hauing heard that the affaires in Lyonnois Dauphin had succeeded otherwise then he esteemed begunne to drawe backe although the Deputies of the Prouinces offered to assemble their troupes for his securitie before the French launciers had stopped the passages or if he found that not to be expedient they promised to assemble themselues in all places to strengthen him when hee should go vnto the Parliament He had a Chancellour named Amaury Bouchart Maister of Requests vnto the king who from the beginning had beene very earnest to mooue him to hearken vnto the declarations and requests daylie made vnto him from all the parts of the Realme but this Bouchart hauing heard that the enterprise made against Lyons by Maligny had taken an other effect then he expected wrote secretly vnto the king desiring him to separate the Prince of Conde from the king of Nauarre his brother because that without ceasing hee neuer left off to solicite him to doo diuers things against his Maiesties officers as also to trouble the Realme at the onely instance of certaine Lutherians and Preachers that came from Geneua wherevnto hee said his maister would by no meanes hearken but that it was to bee feared that in the end by long and importunate sute he would diuert him whereof hee said hee could not chuse but aduertise his Maiestie whose most humble natural and faithful subiect hee was and alwaies would bee as also one of the Ministers of his iustice Hee wrote other letters of the same effect vnto the Cardinall promising him by word of mouth to certifie him of certaine things of great importance which as then hee durst not write and to conclude hee promised him the meanes to giue him intelligence how and in what sort hee should deuise and frame proces against the greatest Lords of the Realme Speaking of Geneua hee ment Theodore de Beza whom the King had expressely sent for by the counsell of the said Bouchart himselfe to meete with diuers other notable personages from all the parts of France whose aduise specially of Beza was in any sort to procure that the conclusion of Fontainbleau touching the assembly of the Estates should bee obserued and fully executed But that aduise was not followed and that touching Beza hee returned with great daunger of his person hauing begun to preach publikely in Nerac where the king of Nauarre in person was assistant Some were of opinion that Iarnac who had wholly withdrawn himselfe from the Princes with S. Foy his brother before that Lieftenant of the company of launciers belonging to the Prince of Conde had practised with Bouchart to write those letters They determine to go to the king The Princes giuing credite vnto the kings word and vpon the protestations and promises made vnto them by his Agents and among others the Cardinal of Bourbon his brother sent expressely vnto them accepted the Kings offer and hauing writtē vnto the king that they would ride to Orleans with a small traine before the assembly of the Estates should bee prepared And beeing at Limoges they were presently visited by diuers Lords and Gentlemen to the number of seuen or eight hundreth well mounted and armed at all poyntes they made them offer of sixe thousand footemen out of Gascon Poicton mustered and reaeie to march 4000. both on horse and foote out of Languedoc and as many or more out of Normandie with ful assurance of the good willes of most part of the men at armes or launciers and presents of mony so it would please the king of Nauarre to declare himselfe Protector of the King and of the Realme against the house of Guise But the euill seruants which as then attended on him as Descars and his companions for Bouchart had withdrawn himselfe gaue him so many alarmes deuised such inconueniences vnder pretence that they did not deliuer vnto thē a summe of mony of three or foure hundreth thousand crownes to looke better into those affaires that beeing at Vertueil where another good Agent being the Cardinall of Armaignac came vnto him hee dismissed all his company and countermanded those that were comming with many thankes and promises most earnestly to imploy himselfe in the Parliament for the good and benefit of all the Estates of France They hauing shewed him many reasons for the same and desired that at the least the Prince of Conde might stay behinde thereby to hold their enemies insuspence he answered that their innocencie should suffice that it was no easie matter to put the Princes of the blood to death that if their liues were taken away they would receiue their deaths with patience that God had meanes sufficient to deliuer the Realme of France which that they should bee the cause of the losse and ruine of so many honest men that desired to ioyne with them The Princesse of Conde a Lady for her time as wise vertuous as any could be found vsed all the meanes shee could to diswade her husband from that voyage but all in vaine the Lords and Gentlemen that had accompanied the Princes being vppon the poynt of their retract after many humble congratulations protested that by those meanes being so vnfortunately destituted of their heads yet they doubted not but that God would raise them others thereby to saue and deliuer them from the oppression of Lyrants Those words vsed in the presence of their secret seruants being rehearsed to those of Guise were causes to hang newe belles at their eares and in the meane time vnderstanding that the Princes were alreadie entered into their iourney they caused Monsieur de Mompesat one of their confederates in the kings name
expressely to forbid the Princes comming vnto the court vppon paine of death not to enter into any of the kings walled Townes as then they were alreadie inclosed among the forces of their enemies vnder the conduct of Marshall de Termes The Cardinall d'Armaignac Descars and others vntrustie seruants made the king of Nauarre beleeue that this verball commaundement of Montpesat was onely but a meere brauado of those of Guise which both the king and his mother would disauouch The Princes refusing all aduertisements went vnto Orleans The Princes hauing past Chastelleraut were more certainly aduertised of their michiefe to come and counselled to keepe the high waies because of diuers Ambassadours that were appoynted and set to kill them if they once went out of the way vnder pretence that they sought to saue themselues and at the same time means was offered vnto them to bring them vnto Anger 's and so into Normandie where they shuld want nothing but they continued in their first resolution trauelling by easie iourneyes and it seemed that one of the bretheren was as a Prouost Marshall that ledde the other to prison Therevpon those of Guise led the king to Orleans thither calling al the Nobilitie men of armes which made both young and olde to thinke that some pretence was ment against the Sates but by a rumour spred abroad it was said that all those forces beeing assembled and brought togither was to assiege and chastice Orleans whereof the principal Citizens were registred in the Criminal bookes to passe the daunger and by their confiscations to grease the hands of diuers hungrie Courtiers vnder pretence that they had beene of the enterprise of Amboise Rigorous dealing towards those of Orleans For this cause Mansieur de Sipierre a slaue to those of Guise appoynted for Lieftenant to the Prince de la Roche Suryon Gouernour of Orleans being arriued in the Towne about the beginning of October disarmed the Inhabitants filled such houses as were suspected with Souldiers and committed the custodie of the Gates vnto the Sheriffes The Prince their Gouernour beeing entered therein about the twelfth of the same month and receiued with honour by the principall Cittizens aduertised them that the king would make his entrie therein vppon the seuenteenth day ensuing which terme beeing prolonged for the space of one day vppon the eighteenth hee made his enterie The troupes of the Towne being in number about foure thousand men to whom they had restored their armes onely their Bastianadoes the principall Cittizens following in good order and all the streets hanged with Tapistrie and other hangings The king beheld all those troupes passing along through the Subburbes which beeing reentered into the Towne hee mounted on horsebacke riding vnder a Canapie of cloth of Gold and so went straight vnto the Church and being on the way his horse stumbled in such maner that he had surely fallen if he had not presently bin relieued After dinner al the troupes went to meet the Queene who likewise made an honourable and braue entrie but those of Guise were at neither of both fearing as some say to meete with some desperate fellow that might hurt them because a Magician in Rome had shewed the Cardinall that both hee and his brother should die a violent death The arriuall of the Princes in Orleans and bow they were receiued The Euen before all Saints day beeing the last of October the Princes trusting to their innocencies and reposing themselues vpon the grace of God to whom they recommended themselues as also caused al those of the religion by praiers to doo the like arriued at Orleans and past from the beginning of the gate vntil they came to the kings lodging in the Estappe through diuers souldiers all footemen ranged along in rankes so close togither all armed that all that long way not any man could passe betweene them Not one Courtier nor Townes-man stepped foorth to meete them onely the Cardinall de Bourbon and the Prince de la Roche Suryon who by expresse licence had obtained that fauour receiued them The king of Nauarre according to the custome desiring to enter on horsebacke within the Court Gate was put backe with a rude aunswere that the great Gates might not bee opened they being then constrained to light went into the king that stayed for them in the great Hall accompanied with his vncles of Guise and other Courtiers whereof not one of them once stepped forward to meete them Their entertainment was but meane and after due and solemne reuerence night grewe on which caused the king to go into his mothers Chamber followed onely by the Princes those of Guise not once seeking to enter The Queen mother hauing receiued them with the water standing in her eyes the king speaking vnto the Prince of Conde said hee had beene aduertised from diuers places The Kings speech to the Prince of Conde The Princes answere that hee sought to make diuers enterprises against him and the State of his Realme for the which cause he had sent for him to heare what hee could say by word of mouth The Prince that neither wanted courage nor audacitie aunswered boldly in his owne defence and in such sort discouered those of Guise his enemies His imprisonment that the king could not otherwise iudge but that great wrong and iniurie was offered vnto his blood neuerthelesse according to the conclusion made before his arriuall the king commaunded Chauigny Captaine of the guard expressely sent thither by those of Guise to take the Prince which hee did and ledde him prisoner vnto a house not farre from thence before the which there was erected a Fort of Bricke fluncard and filled with field-peeces and diuers cannoniers to keepe them which peeces beate along three streetes whereby it was able to defend all men from comming neare vnto the prison The windowes of his chamber were closed vppe and he was kept so straightly that no man spake vnto him but onely his Chamberlaine The king of Nauarre desired that his brother might bee committed vnto his charge The entertainment of the King of Nauarre and others and hee would gage his life for his foorth comming but it was refused him and touching himselfe his guard was taken from him and still hauing watch about him both by night and day At the same time certaine were sent to cease vpon Madame du Roye mother in lawe to the Prince being in her house of Anicy in Picardie from whence with great rigor she was brought vnto Saint Germains by Monsieur de Renouart and de Caronges executers of that commission They likewise sorgot not the Councellour la Haye at Parris as one that dealt for the Prince such as were his faithfull friends within Orleans withdrew themselues out of the daunger Bonchart Chauncellour to the king of Nauarre at the same time was taken in his owne house by Iarnac who in shewe made great apparance of disliking Bouchart threatning him in presence
of those that tooke him to cause him as a Traitor to loose his head but all this was but words and nothing else The papers were not forgotten Bouchart taken and ledde to prisoâ— Imprisonment of the Bailiffe of Orleans and Bouchart was ledde to Orleans and then to Melun with other prisoners that came from Lyons by that meanes to make readie the proofes against the Prince whose proces was followed with all diligence Hierome Groslot Bailiffe of Orleans a man both learned vertuous and full of pietie a louer of the good and quietnesse of the Common-wealth and an enemie to all Tyrants and factious persons abhorring auarice ambition within two daies after the Princes arriuall was likewise committed prisoner hauing three daungerous witnesses against him which were his office a goodly house within the the Cittie and another in the countrie The cause pretended was that his father had beene Chancellour to the deceased king of Nauarre and he in Orleans the Protectour of those of the religion and an affected friend vnto the Princes Further when time came that hee should make an Oration vnto the king at his entrie into the Towne the Bailiffe mooued at some wrong offered vnto him as it appeared as he went towards the king togither with the kings countenance that looked frowningly vppon him hee could not vtter his minde as hee had first determined and therevpon those of Guise tooke some occasion to accuse him vnto the King saying that hee felt his owne conscience to be guiltie of his treason Being in prison false witnesses whereof the Curate of Saint Paterne and the Vicar of Saint Catherine were the principall with Iaques Aleaume Iaques L'huillier le Borgne le Alemant and Iaques Masnet accused him to haue determined to deliuer Orleans vnto the King of Nauarre to be of the intelligence of Amboise and to haue beene in a certaine assembly holden by night within the great Church-yard as also to haue manifestly supported those of the religion Dauanson maker of the proces The maker of the proces was Dananson a slaue to those of Guise that sent such witnesses as hee perceiued not to bee sufficiently instructed vnto the Curate of Saint Paterne that by him they might vnderstand their lesson Marshall de Brissac had alreadie laid hold vppon the house in the countrie named l'Isle and in fantasie made diuision of the goods in Sipierre and Boyuin his Secretarie was so bold to say vnto the wife of Groslot that if she would speake boldly shewing her that shee must come off with mony vnto his Maister the Bailiffes affaires might speede the better The Guises practises open the mouthes of the estates of the Prouinces Out of the Kealme those of Guise had made the Pope the king of Spaine and others to thinke that at that time they would roote out all those that bare the name of Lutherians within France whom they held bound both hand and foote hoping that winter to cleare them all out of the countrie in the spring-time to send them into Almaine and Switzerland to visit their friends but their deuises could not impeach diuers and seuerall assemblies in many Prouinces to determine and deuise what were best for them to present at the Parliament to giue them some new worke whereof the Orations made at Blois Anger 's Parris Bazin Plessis Grimaudet Capel and others are proofes sufficient as also in most part of the other Prouinces when the oppressours were discouered and the people disposed to prouide by lawfull meanes against so many disorders introduced and maintained by straungers many of them hauing openly said that they would not indure that those of Guise should so oppresse the Princes of the blood whereof most part that vsed that speech Conspiracie to extirpe those of the religion were men of the religion and those of Guise beeing aduertised could well shewe and propound this article of religion vnto the Duke de Montpensier and other great Lords in diuers places of the Realme to make them the readier and more prompt to leane vnto them The hope of confiscations being mixed therewith which made many rauening fellowes to looke about them there was nothing offered but Estates Offices Benefices Mountaines of Gold to such as would ayde and assist the King to extirpe and roote out the enemies of the Church of Rome Passages kept that no aide should come Besides that the kings forces were diuided by those of Guise into the Townes next about Orleans as farre as Bourges Moulins Blois Tours Saumur Anger 's Chinon Loudun and Poicton and in all the passages from whence they esteemed that any ayde might bee procured to helpe the Princes that were prisoners Those of the religion were narrowly looked vnto in diuers Townes specially in Parris meane time they proceeded vnto the framing of the proces against the Prince But because of the obseruation of the formes of iustice The maner of proceeding against the Prince neither the informations made at Lyons against the Marshall of Saint Andre nor the prisoners of Melun were sufficient they produced the Princes words vsed at Amboise lamenting the death of so many Gentlemen that were executed with that which hee had vttered riding to Bearn vnto Monsieur de Genlis that had renounced the Cerimonies of the Romish Church to the end that not being able to accuse him of high treason they would condemne him of Heresie To strengthen this second proofe those of Guise sent a Priest vnto him apparelled after the Romish manner which certified him that he had expresse commaundement from the King to sing Masse before him in his chamber But the Priest with a rude aunswere was sent backe againe by the Prince with commission to shewe the King from him that hee was not come thither in any sort to bee perticipant or communicate with the impieties and pollutions of the Romaine Antichrist His magnanimitie in Religion wherevnto long before hee had renounced but onely to yeelde him an aunswere vnto the false and forged accusations imposed against him Which answer was not forgotten but thereof a large article was framed both by the deposition of the Priest and of the guarde As also his accusations against those of Guise This magnanimitie much mooued those of Guise but much more in that the Prince spake openly against them to their discredits oftentimes shewing a bag which hee helde in his hand affirming it to be the processe of those Brigands and Guisian theeues by the which many points of high treaon whereof they were culpable were well prooued and verified which hee kept and reserued to present vnto the estates thereby to giue them knowledge of their subtill and vnlawfull gouernments that imputed their owne treasons vnto the Princes of the bloud that sought to oppose themselues against theyr tyrannies and that if euer any man euer sought or ment to enterprise any thing against the King and his Realme it would bee those Harpiers and vpsprung house of
of the Crowne hee departed with his bloodie troupes and laden with spoyles tooke the way that led to Reims where the Cardinall of Lorraine stayed for him but not content to haue delt so cruelly with those of Vassy he becaused certaine informations to bee made against them wherein the principall murtherers were witnesses And eight daies after the Duches Dowager of Guise sent Monsieur de Thou thither that made search for their weapons and would constraine them all to go to Masse which notwithstanding those of the religion tooke courage comforting themselues and assembling euery Sunday and Festiuall day to praise the Lord vntill such time as ciuill warres dispearsed and separated them The prince of Conde beeing at Parris and receiuing newes of that massacre hauing consulted with diuers Lords and Gentlemen that kept him company with all speed certified the Queene and others in the Court Iustice demaunded but in vaine for the massacre of Vassy all was past ouer in words or notable preductions of troubles what had happened and fallen out who thereby tooke it for an alarme and counselled him to seeke the meanes of preseruation for the Realme and those of the religion whom he presently aduertised looked vnto themselues The greatest part as Frenchmen are alway full of hopes imagined nothing but quietnesse and troubled themselues to build Churches not much thinking vppon warlike prouision therwith to defend themselues But by the Princes aduise they were indifferently awaked Much more the Lords and Gentlemen of the religion dispearced throughout the Prouinces which beganne to make prouision of armes and horses staying for news both from the Court and Parris from whence in the name of the Nobilitie Churches of France Monsieur de Francourt and Theodore de Beza beeing sent to Monceaux to aske iustice of the king against the Duke of Guise because of the massacre at Vassy The Queene made gentle aunswere but to the contrary the King of Nauarre beganne to be offended saying that whosoeuer presumed to touch but the fingers end of his brother the Duke of Guise should haue to doo with all his bodie Theodore de Beza thervpon hauing most humbly shewed him that the Iustice which kings ought to shewe vnto their subiects is the worke and rule of God and that to demaund iustice was no hurt or iniurie vnto any man Hee replyed that they had throwne stones at the Duke of Guise and that hee could not staye the furie of his troupe and that Princes are not to indure the dishonour to be cast at with stones Wherevppon Beza very grauely and with all due reuerence aunswered that if it were so the Duke of Cuise might haue had iustice against all those that in such vile maner had despised his estate and dignitie and therewith speaking vnto the King of Nauarre hee said My Lord it is most true that it belongeth to the Church of God in whose name I speake rather to take then giue blowes but may it please your Grace to remember that it is an anuile which hath indured many and seuerall hammers The Triumuirat coaseth vpon the King and Parris From that time the estate of France might well bee resembled vnto a Sea that beginneth to rise and rage in euery place for that in euery Prouince great and wonderfull troubles beganne to rise whereof in the end of the Historie of the first troubles wee meane to speake for now wee must returne vnto the principall instruments of the most bloodiest Tragedie that euer was seene in France Presently after the returne of Francourt and Beza those of Guise the Constable the Marshall de Saint Andre and after the King of Nauarre openly holding with them arriued in Parris from whence they constrained the Prince of Conde beeing very weake with a Towne beeing his enemie and such as in short space might swallow vppe both him and his The Prince went to Meaux thē to Orleans if they had beene tenne times as many more to withdrawe himselfe vnto the Towne of Meaux with a good troupe of Gentlemen It was straunge that as then his enemies fell not vppon him but the haste they had to assure themselues of Parris and the king and the feare that at that entrance she should bee constrained to fight and to hazard them ouermuch caused them to worke by great The Prince beeing at Meaux wrote vnto the Admirall and other Lords sending them word that want of courage had not constrained him to leaue Parris but rather want of ayde and that with all speed they should meete him which they did all armed which those of the contrary part had alreadie opēly discouered and beeing in minde to withdrawe themselues and to retire men came vnto them from all places and the Prince determining to ride vnto the Court to the end that beeing strong about the king who as then laye at Fontainbleau hee might constraine his enemies to seeke to agree hee vnderstood that they had gotten both the king and the Court into their power in such sort that the Prince rode towards Orleans whereon hee ceased and there beganne to take order in his affaires while those of Guise ledde the King and Queene to the Castle of Melun and that in the most part of the Prouinces of the Realme they vsed those of the religion withall the insolencies and cruelties that possibly may bee deuised From Melun the King and Queene were brought to Parris where the Constable had ouerthrowne and defaced ihe places Beginning of the first and horrible troubles in France where those of the religion vsed to assemble The people beginning to mutin to assemble in great troupes in such manner that both there and in other places where those of the Romish Church were strongest those of the religion receiued such entertainment as the most cruell Barbarians would haue beene ashamed to vse it which likewise in some places mooued those of the religion whereby the Churches Images some Priests and others bare away the blowes But this was little or nothing in respect of all the mischiefe that those of the Romish Churches indured throughout France in those first troubles in comparison of the miseries which those of the religion indured in one of the seuenteene Prouinces as the Histories published by Iohn le Frere de Laual Belleforest Monluc and others of the Guises part do witnesse and thereat reioyce and make great triumph If the massacre of Vassy had not chanced the Prince and the Admirall had bin constrained eyther to loose all or to haue forsaken the Realme because that before that time they neuer thought vppon defence The euill committed at Vassy cause of some good nor of any thing that after happened and fell out much lesse to bee offensiue The edict of Ianuary and the Queenes promises staying their hands but when the Lords and great Gentlemen of the religion dispearsed throughout the Realme had once heard of that bloodie exploit committed by the Duke of Guise by little
and little they assembled themselues about the Prince who beeing at Orleans first beganne to write into all places which caused diuers Townes to bee ceased vppon for those of the religion the onely cause to breake diuers intents of their most cruell aduersaries Likewise on both sides they beganne to rayse Souldiers out of the Realme meane time Declarations and protestations of the Prince meane time the Prince published diuers declarations and protestations for the iustification of his defensiue armes referring his enemies from that time named the Triumuirat to the edict of Ianuary and to leaue off armes thereby to set the King at libertie and his Realme in peace The Triumuirat that is The Triumuirats answere the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshal de S. Andre made diuers answeres onely tending vnto the suppression of that edict The Emperour and the protestant Princes were by the Prince fully certified of the whole Estate of France who in an open assembly of the Estates shewed the letters of the Queene Regent expresly written vnto him after the ceasing vppon the King and Parris recommending vnto him the mother and her children besides that hee made an agreement at Orleans with the Lords and Gentlemen there assembled to vse their forces and meanes for the deliuery of the king and Queene and for the maintenance of the edicts and state of the Realme this agreement sent vnto the Court the same day beeing the ninth of Aprill A greement made at Orleans a letter was published and registred in the Parliament whereby they certified the King his bretheren and the Queene that as then they were at libertie also by an other the King declared his intent to bee that the edict of Ianuary should bee executed in all places but onely in Parris The Prince for his part solicited those of the religion to send him men and mony The 25. of Aprill the Counte de Rochefoucaut with great troupes went out of Poicton and Xaintonge and arriued in Orleans The next day the Prince receiued a large aunswere Many proceedings on both partes before they proceed to armes vnto a certaine declaration by him made and sent thither but hauing vnderstood that the day before in all the places of the Cittie of Parris both hee and his partakers had publikely beene declared and termed seditious and euill Christians hee made a second declaration wherein hee openly declared and described the horrible cruelties alreadie committed against those of the religion imploring the edicts yeeldeth a reason of his actions and by letters written the 27. to the Parliament of Parris desired that his enemies hauing first raysed armes should laye them downe and that for his part he would do the like thereby to cease the calamities of the Realme And to the end to shewe all forraine Princes his intent two Gentlemen were by him deputed to stay in Almaine to the end that if the Triumuirat should there enterprise to leuie men they should procure that the Prince might there bee ayded and not others which done order was taken for the securitie of Orleans and there they coyned mony in the kings name The Queene therevppon beganne to solicite a peace writing letters vnto the Prince who vppon the first of May made her aunswere withall sending her a memoriall signed with his hand Meanes vsed by the Queene containing the meanes of pacification as hee had declared vnto the Parliament The fourth day after the Triumuirat made a declaration to the contrary requiring the abolution of the edict of Ianuary and of all exercise of religion onely that of Rome and that such as bare armes without the expresse commission and commaundement of the King of Nauarre the kings Lieftenant generall should leaue them off vppon paine to bee declared rebelles and enemies to the king and his Realme desiring likewise the Queene-mother to obtaine that all the forces on both partes might bee vnited and ioyned togither vnder the commaundement of the king of Nauarre and that so doing they were readie to retire vnto their houses The declaration of the Triumuirat but the king made a new declaration wherein the edict of Ianuary was still continued After many speeches in the end they grewe to blowes whereof I will speake as time serueth and first beginne with the Prince and his troupes Iu the beginning of the warre the Queene seeketh to accord and thē with a summary deductiō of that which happened in the Prouinces The companies of Lanciers beeing for the most part arriued at Parris with some of the olde companies of foote the king of Nauarre and the Triumuirat marched towards Chasteau Dun. The Prince at that time beeing as strong as they determined to enter into the field which mooued the Queene to seeke the procuration of a peace while the Triumuirat might haue meanes to gather a greater force One of the principall dealers therein was the Bishoppe of Valence The practises of the Bishop of Valence and what followed who in some sort perswaded the Prince extreamely greeued to see himselfe constrained to enter into a ciuill warre to offer the Queene to goe out of the Realme with all his friends to procure a peace Within two daies after he went to speake with the Queene and shewed her his minde which hee had no sooner vttered but hee was presently taken at his word the Queene making him great promises saying that the next day shee would send vnto him to knowe the conditions by him to bee propounded Wherevpon at his returne the Prince hauing communicated his intent vnto his companie not only the ordinary Councell but all the Coronelles and Captaines were summoned to giue their aduise which was wholly and directly against that declaration and the opinion of Monluc and the Queene-mother Among the rest Missieurs d'Andeloc and Boucard maruellously incouraged all the companie by their bolde and braue resolutions and if they had beleeued Monsieur d'Andelit presently they had set vppon the Triumuirats troupes After the Truce an enterprise of no small importance was begunne but your guides hauing not well conducted the Princes troupes and withall much raigne falling a great aduantage was lost Good discipline for a time in the Princes Armie At that time military discipline among the Princes souldiers was much to bee commended for the Gentlemen neuer molested their Hostes and such as had meanes payd honestly for that they tooke The Pesantes stirred not out of their houses such as offended were punished One named the Barron de Dampmartin that had violated a maide by great fauour escaped death but after continuing his follies hee had his head striken off within Parris this exemption in the beginning of the warres was taken for an euill signe No blasphemie was heard in al the Princes campe Among thē you sawe neither cards nor Dice for women they were from thē no man strayed out of his troup to forrage much lesse to boote-halling morning and euening at rising and
sitting of the watches they had publike prayers and the ayre sounded with their voyces singing Psalmes Diners Ministers were distributed among the troupes that had charge to continue and procure that good order and at one time were better heard then at an other This Discipline was continued almost two moneths at the end whereof Baugency being taken by assault caused a beginning of disorder from whence proceeded la Picoree or boot-halling which since that time became so common that at this day it seemeth to bee chiefe Prince The Admirall a great enemie to boot-hallers with stood it and punished some of them with great rigor but in sine a great number got the vpper hand The armie of the Triumuirat committed most terrible outrages without any reproofe and all vnder pretence to extirpe the Huguenots How the Prince hindred the dispearsing of his armie After the taking of Baugency the occasion of fighting beeing let slippe the heate of those of the religion beganne to quench the meanes to maintaine Souldiers lessened and some of the Nobilitie beganne to doubt of their iust quarrell wherefore to preuent a total dissipation the Prince tooke counsell to imploye part of the Nobilitie that were with him in the Prouinces where the affaires hung as it were in a ballance so that the Counte de la Rochefoucaut with ceraine troupes marched towards Poicton Xantonge and Angoulmois Monsieur de Soubize was sent to Lyons Iuoy with his Regiment to Bourges d'Andelot for the sucours out of Almaine and Briquemaut into England On the other side the king of Nauarre the Triumuirat led the king with them in their armie being assembled at Chartoes determined to besiege Bourges holdē by those of the religion before it should be fortified and by so great a Towne not aboue two daies iournie from Orleans in their iudgement was a great helpe and furtherance to the Princes affaires they marched towards it and hauing besieged it Bourges yeelded to the Triumuirat it made no such resistance as they expected but was yeelded vnto them by composition for the which cause Iuoy Gouernour therein was neuer after esteemed or once accounted of by reason of an euill opinion conceiued against him They beeing puffed vppe with this suddaine and vnexpected victorie which as they said was as it were an arme cut off from those of the religion they with their armie of twelue thousand foote and three thousand horse were readie to march to besiege Orleans wherein the Prince the Admirall continued but the daunger thereby feared to receiue more great losse besides the shame put them in the heads to besiege Roaue gouerned by Monsieur the Counte de Montgommery Roane taken by the Guise with seuen or eight hundreth olde Souldiers and two companies of Englishmen vnder the conduct of Monsieur Kilgre And vpon that resolution about the end of September they besieged Roane where after diuers assaults they tooke it by force The Towne beeing sacked for the space of three daies there they executed many of the best of the Cittizens And on the other side Death of the King of Nauarre the King of Nauarre was wounded at the siege and died vpon the seuenteenth day of Nouember the towne hauing been taken 3. weeks before The hard vsage of the prisoners of Roane was the cause that in Orleans they proceeded in iustice with Baptiste Sapin Councellour of Parris and the Abbot de Bastines taken going into Spaine that were hanged in Orleans about the beginning of Nouember The ouerthrow of the Armie of Duras Not long after the Prince had news of the ouerthrow of the troupes of Gascon led by Mousieur de Duras so that in mans iudgement there rested no more hope vnto the Prince but onely the Almaine forces of Rutters conducted by Monsieur d'Andelot so that he tooke counsell with the Admirall that if they were intercepted hee would himselfe in person trauell into Almaine with all speede to obtaine new ayde while the Admirall should keepe Orleans But about foure daies after they had newes that their Rutters were within foure daies iournie of Orleans where the Counte de Rochefoucaut arriued with three hundreth Gentlemen The Prince marcheth towards Parris and some of the rest of the troupes of Duras The Prince hauing his forraine ayde was counselled with all speed to march to Parris for to impeach them and thereby to force them to seeke for peace and to send into Normandie for 150000. crownes to giue the Rutters wherevpon he set forward with 8. Peeces both great and small wherwith he met the Rutters hard by Pluuiers which was taken by force from thence he went to Estampes some being of aduise that he should march to Parris with all speed while the alarme was in the Towne But they determined to besiege Corbeil which was so well defended by Causseins Maister of the campe and certaine forces put into it by the Marshall de S. Andre that the Prince left to go towards Parris and at his arriuall there hee had a hotte skirmish giuen him whereof the end was A furious sirmish that the forces that had issued out of the trenches of Parris after some fight were constrained in all haste to saue themselues in their said trenches with some losse to the great astonishing of the Parrisians For the space of seuen or eight daies that the Prince remained incamped at Gentilly Arcueil and Montronge Villages not farre from Parris What was done about Parris many conferences or rather delayes were holden and vsed and the Prince perceiuing that his enemies still increased thought to giue them a canuisado which tooke not effect hauing beene discouered by one of the principall of his armie that left him to go to the Duke de Guise whereof within three daies after hee repented being his brother that had yeeled Bourges the Prince saued himself by a most straunge meanes for that fearing that hee would make them acquainted with the defaults of his armie the next day he dislodged The falt of Monsieur de Genlis The Duke de Guise beeing strengthened by certaine companies out of Gascon and some Spaniards had determined vppon the next day in the morning to giue him battell before hee had leisure to assemble his dispearsed companies So the Prince departed vpon the tenth of December and the thirteenth beeing in the way to Chartres after diuers opinions of his Councell hee resolued to march straight towards Normandie to recouer mony and to meete his forces comming out of England there to diuert the siege of Orleans The sixteenth Galardon a small Towne was forcibly taken by the Prince and the next day he marched towards Dreux and as hee passed ouer a small riuer hard by the Castle of Maintenon an olde woman stepping a good way into the water tooke him by the boote staying him and looking vppon him said Go Prince thou must suffer What happened to the Prince not long before the battell
returning from Orleans were drowned with three Marchants of Dauphine Besides that diuers were put to death the hangmaÌ„ or executioner by Montare called Gossop seruing the peoples humour and executing either without lawe or processe such as they deliuered vnto him to be put to death The leuen and twentieth of May 1562. the Counte de Montgommery accompanied with fixe score horses entered into Bourges wherein many secret conspiracies were vsed and executed against those of the religion and kept it for the Prince bringing from thence great summes of mony for the payment of the Souldiers vnder the Princes conduct taking the great Tower likewise into his custodie In the month of Iune after Monsieur de Iuoy was sent thither by the Prince with two thousand foote to prouide for all things necessarie against the Towne shuld be besieged as the enemie determined to do it Three Corners of Argolitiers came thither likewise who beeing arriued therein they vsed to make certaine sallies by which meanes the Towne of Meun sur Loire was taken to the great periudice of the Priestes the Monkes and Images As likewise they forced the Castles of Saint Florent and Coudrai the Gentleman of the place dying with feare Iuoy hauing made an enterprise vpoÌ„ Issoudun preuailed not wherevppon his troupes beganne to mutin against him which being appeased the fifteenth of August the armie of Triumuirat approaching to Bourges Iuoy and the Sheriffes were summoned to yeeld the Towne vnto the King The Sheriffes referring the matter vnto Iuoy hee made refusall wherevppon ensued diuers issues and skirmishes coÌ„monly to the great disaduantage of the enemies and there was an open combatte fought betweene Captaine S. Martin the Huguenot and the Monke Lichelieu Maister of the Triumuirats campe Bourges in Berry the Monke was thrust into the bodie with a sword and lost his coate armour which Saint Martin bare away The twentieth day of the Month a strong batterie was made and in one day they shot at the least a thousand cannon shot but because it preuailed not much the Duke de Nemours was imployed to perswade the besieged and beeing at the wall to speake with them making many goodly promises which hee assured vppon his faith one of the Souldiers within the Towne said openly vnto him that the faith hee then offered was the same which he had holden to the Barron of Chastelnau had it not been for certaine Gentlemen he had as then been slaine That which constrained the Triumuirat to parley with the Towne was because the Admirall issuing out of Orleans about Chasteaudun had surprised burnt the powder munition that was sent theÌ„ from Parris and for that cause vsed such means with Iuoy by the Counte Rhingraue and the Queen-mother that vpon the last of August and the next day he graunted to their request and yeelded vp the Towne to the great disliking of his souldiers whereof part with the Captaines la Porte S. Martin that hurt Richelieu S. Remi and Brion Maister of the campe went to the Duke of Guise and from thence to the siege of Roane where they were slaine the rest had part of the bootie The rest of the Souldiers and Captaines got to Orleans with many difficulties and losse of 30. or 40. men Iuoy had great displeasure at the Princes bands both for his faintnesse and the loosing of the place beeing of so great importance Wherevppon hee withdrewe himselfe vnto his house much greeued for his misfortune specially because hee had left great store of Houshold-stuffe and other necessaries within Bourges and among the rest a Chalice set with diuers rich and precious stones which hee was constrained to giue vnto the Queene-mother who with great deuotion receiued it of him and kept it as a most rich Iewell as likewise many other precious lewelles of the holy Chappel which were kept from the hands of little theeues to bee the better and safelier kept by her Monterud Lieftenant to the Prince de la Rochesuryon in Berry hauing armed himselfe with letters from the Triumuirat contrary to the capitulation made with Iuoy draue those of the religion out of the Towne their houses beeing ransacked and at their issuing some of them were robbed some beaten and some slaine within the Gates An edict beeing made that forbidding those of the religion that stayed in the Towne not to speake or assemble togither aboue two in a company and so Bourges remained in that sort vntill the edict of pacification The third of Aprill 5562. those of the religion in Mans ceased peaceably vppon the Towne Le Mans. Charles d'Agennes Bishoppe of the place retiring vnto a Castle where hauing fortified himselfe he coÌ„mitted many murthers spoyles vppon the people Their affaires within the Towne holding in a meane vntill the moneth of May that for want of a man of authoritie and well affected to the religion and to the estate of the common and particular commoditie of the people the souldiers beganne to fall to extremities and in fleed of assayling their enemies in the field they busied themselues in the Towne to breake downe Images and Priests Altars to the great disliking of the Ministers and other peaceable persons shewing them that it was against the edict of Ianuary the treatie of association holden in Orleans the declaration which those of Mans not long before had made sent vnto the king by Monsieur de Mortier From the â—hurches in the Towne they ranne vnto the Villages bordering about it and adding euill to euill committed certaine spoyles which caused the Pesants to fall vppon them and to slaye some of them as they retired laden with their praye Those that remained within the Towne were diuided some commaunding in the Castle others within the Towne Those of the religion beeing abashed at the insolences of the Captaines and souldiers newes was brought that the Triumuirats armie was as then at Blois and that the Duke de Montpensieur made preparation to assayle them They likewise had intelligence that of three Captaines that commanded within the Cittie two of them had secret conference with the enemie which considered as also that the Towne was weake and slenderly furnished of men the twelfe of Iuly it was confusedly and in great haste forsaken about eight of the clocke at night at which their issuing were found to the number of eight hundreth men all armed that by Captaine la Mothe Tibergeau with great difficulties were conducted vnto Alancon The other two Captains presently yeelded vnto the enemie those that saued themselues at Alancon tooke diuers parties some not accustomed to beare armes stayed there others went to finde the Counte de Montgommery or the Duke de Bouillon For the Ladies and Gentlewomen some withdrew themselues to Deep or to New-hauen or else into England The next day after the Towne so forsaken such of the Romish religion as had absented themselues from thence entered againe and then beganne a terrible trouble verie fewe of the
Villebon Bailiffe of Roan ceased vpon Pont de l'Arche the Baron de Clere took Caudebec the one aboue the other belowe the riuer of Siene Whereby it prooued great discommoditie for the Towne of Roan that by those meanes could get no victualls by water besides the ceasing of the Courts of iustice the staye of trade of merchandise and all sorts of handy workes these discommodities made the Citizens to looke vnto themselues In the beginning of Iune Villebon came with great troupes to besiege Saint Catherins fort where in a fierce skirmish he lost his cornet and fourteene men and they of the fort 8. mē Presētly after him came the Duke de Aumale Saint Catherins Fort besieged gaue an alarme vnto the Towne where presently he lost 25. of his horsemen But for renenge he assayd all means he could to impeach the Towne of Roan from necessary prouisions But not long after it was relieued by Monsieur de Moruilliers sent thither by the Prince from Orleans assisted by Monsieur de Languetot a gentleman of great wisdome The Duke d'Aumale dispersed the Churches of those of the religiō in Hafleur Montuilier and l'Islebonne where he hanged three auncients and three Gentlemen of the Religion And not long after besieged Saint Catherins fort with thirteene Cannons and two coluerins where Monsieur de Languetot had his legge shotte off with a great peece whereof hee died Many skirmishes beeing daylie performed between them till in the end the Duke left the Fort and fledde from thence and within fiue daies after beeing before Ponteau de Mer faining to parley with them within the Towne he surprised them vppon a suddaine and so entered by force where hee vsed all kind of hostilitie specially vppon the Minister named Brionne and the third day after hee besieged and tooke Honfleur The sixe and twentieth of August the Parliament of Roane being at Louniers made a declaration whereby those of the religion in Normandie were declared Traitors permitting all men Declaration of the Parliament of Roane against those of the religion that eyther would or had the meanes to spoyle and ouerrunne them wholly disallowing the edict of Ianuary established the Inquisition of Spaine and appoynted the Duke d'Aumale Lieftenant for the King And by that declaration and sentence this Court of Parliament executed many of the religion commanding all such as would not make profession of the Romish religion to depart out of the Towne of Louuiers within foure and twentie houres after vpon paine of confiscation both of body and goods On the other side they draue all the Friers out of Roane and hauing discouered treason pretended by some of their companions they tooke order therein from thence forward The siege of Roane giuing good eye to those of the Romish religion whereof they thrust out great numbers In August Monsieur de Moruilliers withdrew himselfe from Roane and kept himselfe peaceably within his house and so continued during the warres neuer forsaking the open profession of the religion In the meane time Monsieur de Montgommery was by those of Roane desired to assist them which hee presently did and arriued at Roane vppon the 18. of September within rennedaies after the Towne was summoned to yeelde it selfe vnto the armie of the Triumuirat whose campe wherein were the king the Queen and the king of Nauarre being composed of sixteen thousand foot and two thousand horse besides Rutters and Lansquenets came before the Towne where at their arriuall they had a hotte and fierce skirmish which continued all that day and three daies after successiuely The fixt of October the king armie hauing intelligence from Captaine Louis out of Saint Catherins Saint Catherins fort taken for they surprised it by force wherein they slewe al they found And Louis himselfe ayding the enemie to mount vp was slaine by one of his Souldiers another fort called Montgommery was taken by the like means where the Queene-mother ledde the king beeing but twelue yeares of age to see the dead bodies of the women and made him behold them bathing in their blood The thirteenth of October an assault was giuen vnto the Towne but they within repulsed the enemie where some couragious women bringing meate vnto the souldiers were slaine The next day they gaue another assault at the Rampart of Saint Hilary but were repulsed and for the space of 6. houres that the skirmish indured they lost to the number of eight hundreth of their best souldiers and they within foure or fiue hundreth accounting women and children that were slaine with the Artillerie The same day the king of Nauarre beeing visited by a certaine Lord told him Hurt and death of the King of Nauarre that if hee escaped safely from that siege hee would neuer beare armes againe for that quarrell but the next day he would go see the trenches where by fortune as hee made water he was striken with a Harquebushotte into the shoulder which done hee was borne by certaine Gentlemen to his lodging at Dartenal where the Surgians vsed all the meanes they could to get out the bullet but hauing deferred it ouerlong they could not one of the Phisitians named Vincentius a voluptious man entertained him with sports and companies of Gentlewomē among therest a Gentlewoman named Rouet came to see him which was some meanes to inflame his wound and hauing intelligence that Roane was taken he was borne thither where gouerning not himselfe as his wound and time required it began to growe to further paine and in the end a feuer tooke him wherwith he began to be faint and thē perceiued they had deceiued him Notwithstanding his seruāts had so great credit with him that they caused him to be cōfessed to receiue the Sacrament after the Romish maner The other of his Phisitians called Raphuel being of the religiō vttered many reasons vnto him so farre that he seemed to charge him with sin against the holy Ghost wherevnto hee answered nothing but lay still Not long after the Queen aduertised by his Phisitians that he could not liue being come to see him willed some of his men to read vnto him Shee being departed hee commaunded Raphael to take the Bible and to read the Historie of Iob which beeing done adding therevnto certaine wordes of the iustice and mercie of God the king beeing mooued in spirit lifting vp his hands vnto heauen and with teares in his eyes hee asked mercie of God making a large and ample declaration of his faith protesting that if it pleased God to graunt him life hee would cause the Gospell to bee preached throughout the Realme of France His disease waxing more vehement and Raphael continually attending vppon him hauing made his will hee caused himselfe to bee borne into a boate to go to Saint Maur des Fosses hard by Parris But not long after his entrie into the boate a great cold ceased vppon him and therevppon insued a sweate wherewith hee beganne to talke idly
Nouember those of Beziers sent two companies to ayde Montpeslier and at the end of ten daies those of Beziers ouerthrew Captaine Lauragues with his companie neare to Cessenon Not long after there happened a thing worthie memorie thereby to note the couetous desire of some men and by the iudgement of God to shewe the mischiefe of ciuill warres Anthony Sauin seruant to a Cittizen of Beziers beeing taken in a skirmish the enemie offered to exchange him for a horse that one of their Captaines had lost in the same skirmish But they had rather suffer Sauin to bee hanged then part from the horse yet not long after at another sallie this horse being strong in the mouth running with great force bare a Gentleman to whom it had been giuen into the middle of his enemies who presently killed the man and got the horse againe The same month those of Beziers beeing much troubled for mony to pay their souldiers digging a ditch in the place where the Chapitre of Saint Nazaire vsed to melt their belles they found a great table of siluer which was presently broken and coyned into mony at Montpeslier wherewith they payed their souldiers that done they heard newes of the battell of Dreux so that as then it was necessarie for them to looke better to the safetie of the place so that hauing brought victualles out of all places into their Towne they tooke Seruian by assault forced the Garrison of Casouls by meanes of Monsieur Crussol they tooke order within it to end certaine controuersies that rose betweene those of the Towne and certaine strangers wherevppon it happened that one within the Towne moued that they had driuen his companions out of the place meeting Anthony Duchemin a Doctor of Phisicke a man of great learning and iudgement vppon the Rampiers threwe him ouer the wall whereof hee died to the great griefe of all the Towne the murtherer sauing himself in the enemies campe These things happened in the monthes of Ianuary and February and in the beginning of March vpon the seuenteenth day of the same month Captaine la Coste commaunding within Beziers tooke Villeneufue les Beziers by assault Presently after peace being made the Garrisons that laye about Beziers retired and the Powne remained in quiet inioying the exercise of the religion which not long after Marshall de Danuille tooke from them Those of the religion in Montpeslier vnderstanding what had past in Thoulouse and else where made themselues the strongest to them came Baudine Montpeslier Grille Bouillargues Thouras and Montuaillant that enterprised to besiege Frontignan but there hee found a hard partie Ioyeuse going thither to ayde them was repulsed by Bouillargues and Grille but in the meane time two fregates of Prouinciers entered into the towne which constrained Baudine to return vnto Montpeslier where hee found warre causing the Subburbes to bee raised that in a manner were as great as the Towne by which meanes there were 30. Churches throwne downe This beating downe of the Subburbes was a great discommoditie to the enemie that were constrained to incampe a French league from the Towne where they assayled an olde Tower without flancards and constrained certaine Harquebusiers that were within it to saue thēselues with promise of their liues but at their comming foorth they slewe them all They did as much to the Captaine and twentie souldiers that solde them the Castle of Maguelonne for as they issued they were all put to the sword At the same time the Barron des Adrets vpon the thirteenth of September arriued in Baudines campe the same day at night assayled the enemies campe with so great courage that if they had pursued their enterprise vntill morning they had ouerthrowne the whole armie but about midnight they sounded a retrait and three daies after both he and his went backe againe with as much haste as they made thither yet he left three companies of Argolitiers hard by Montpeslier that made sharp warre vpon the Bandoliers The enemies hauing taken and presently hanged two Ministers some of their prisoners within Montpeslier were serued in the like sort The memorable tourney of S. Gilles Baudine vnderstanding that Messieurs de Suze and Sommeriue principalles of the Army Triumuirat in a part of Languedoc had passed the riuer of Rhosne with about three thousand foote and foure hundreth horse two Canons and a Culuerin brought his Campe into Montpeslier and sent Grille to put certaine shot within S. Gilles a little Towne lying vpon the Rhosne hee hauing the conduct of three companies of prouinciall Argolitiers with six hundreth foote vnder the charge of Captaine Rapin. Bouillargues and Albenas with their horse went to Nismes All these troupes ioyned togither minded to ayde S. Gilles and made in all six hundreth horse and eight hundreth foote departing from Nismes vpon the 27. of September about halfe a mile from S. Gilles they surprised three horsemen of Prouence whereof they slew two and sauing the third by him they vnderstood the disorder of the enemies Camp by which meanes they set forward and beeing discouered the army of Suze and Sommeriue both Captaines and soldiers began to flie with the greatest feare that euer was heard Bouuillargues in stead of going straight to S. Gilles began to set vpon those that fled where hee founde no resistance but had worke inough to kill them at his pseasure not one of them once turning his face Grille on the other side charged them likewise in such sort that there were slain and drowned to the number of two thousand men The boates being stayed by some of the horsemen the rest flying as fast as they coulde towards Fourques an Aiguesmortes where they could not safely arriue but some of them were met withall all the carriage and prouision of the Camp was taken and in Suze and Sommeriues chests were foūd diuers strange commissions The bootie was great because they were furnished in all sorts as if they had gone to a wedding and among others of theyr Armours they found great numbers of violes and bookes of loue that were all broken and cut in peeces The two cannons were taken with twentie two ensignes and the guydon of the Coronel and laid vp in Nismes The Culuerin being sunke in the riuer of Rhosne where it could not bee halled vp againe Not one man of the religion dyed at that time by the hands of the enemie that vsed nothing but their feete as their best instruments for that time Onely two of their men slaine by their own companie hauing forgotten the watch-word which at that time was Salomon and to the contrary certaine Spaniards and Italians remembring it entred among them but their tōgues bewraying them they sped as wel as the rest An Ambuscado of importance Not long before those of the religion had receiued great greefe by the death of one of the Gremians braue Captaines and of young Maillane hauing beene surprised and ouerthrowne in an ambuscado by them
Prince of Conde being prisoner demaunded nought but libertie and his minde being peaceable and courteous to such as knewe how to vse him would not much stand as the Queene thought vppon certaine articles Wherefore fearing least the Admirall as then busied in Normandie beeing at Orleans should seeke the ratifying of the edict of Ianuary that might breake the accord and renue the warre whereby would ensue her disgrace shee vsed all the meanes she could to preuent him in such sort that vppon the seuenth of March there was a conference holden between the Queene the Prince and the Constable as yet prisoners referring their further deliberation to the next day because the Constable hadde said openly Subtiltie of the Constable that hee could not consent to the re-establishing of the Edict of Ianuary wherein hee vsed a fine shift for that if hee should haue auouched it hee hadde prooued both himselfe and all his partners guiltie of treason in hauing violated and broken the Kings Edict The Prince euill counselled permitted certaine articles to be drawn where in trueth hee should haue holden onely vnto the saide Edict but nothing beeing resolued at that time hee obtained libertie to enter into Orleans there to conferre with his Councell where hee asked the aduise of the Ministers as then assembled therein from diuers places beeing to the number of seuentie twoo persons What was done by the Ministers for preseruation of religion who by their Deputies vsed all the meanes they could to perswade him to stand to the Edict of Ianuary not derogating any thing thereof shewing the daungers that might thereof ensue that done they presented him with certaine articles requiring that hee would demaund the obseruation of the Edict without any restrictions that iustice should bee done for the massacre at Vassy Sens and other places wherein there was not found the least poynt of hostilitie to bee committed by those of the religion as also of diuers others most manifest ruptures of the said Edict besides the exploits of warre The rest of the articles concerned the conseruation of the discipline of the Churches and the reestablishing thereof which notwithstanding the Prince was so much perswaded by the Queenes and others promises after that to make an other and a better agreement shewing him that the restrictions and moderations which as then were set downe were done at that time only to content appease those of the Romish religion by reasonable means to obtain a greater libertie withal that there were many that sought for peace what price soeuer it cost that hee consented vnto the exceptions contained in the new contract causing them to bee redde before the Nobilitie willing no man to giue his aduise therein but onely Gentlemen bearing armes as hee saide it openly before the assembly The improuidence of the Prince that beleeued the promises of his enemies in such manner that the Ministers from that time forward were neuer called to deale therein by which meanes the Edict of pacification was concluded vppon the twelfth of March drawing the exercise of the religion from the subburbes of all the Townes in the Realme and referring it to the houses and Castles of Gentlemen and in some small number of Baliages not comprehending the Townes which as then held for the religion wherein the exercise was left free and all whatsoeuer the Prince and his adherents had done in those warres acknowledged and auouched to bee for the seruice of the King The Admirals wisdom but to no effect Two daies after the Admirall wrote letters from Caen vnto the Queen touching the accusation made against him concerning the death of the duke of Guise committed by Poltrot He besought her to command that the prisoner might bee safely kept that the trueth of the action might bee knowne Meane time hee sent her a breefe aunswere touching the intergatories of Poltrot shewing by many and great reasons that hee was neuer made priuie to the pretence or conceit of Poltrot touching that action whose death notwithstanding hee acknowledged to bee the meanes to reduce France vnto a quiet estate The Queene esteeming it not conuenient for her affaires to suffer the Admirall to liue in peace but by this meanes seeking to entertaine hatred among the Nobilitie to raigne and gouerne in the middle of their deuisions made no account of those letters Those that with her had the processes of Poltrot to examine perceiuing that the dispositions of the prisoner had no apparant ground within three daies after sent to Parris that they should dispatch him out of the way that it would bee daungerous to keepe him and that hee would deny what hee had said Wherevppon his proces was made hee was diuers times examined and according to the torments giuen him they found diuersitie in his speeches And beeing condemned vpon the eighteenth of March to be pinched with hotte tongues hee openly declared that the Admirall knew nothing of his intent to kill the Duke of Guise Neuerthelesse certaine Captaines of Parris deposed that hee had confessed the contrary vnto them after the first drawing of the horses But vpon his variable depositions Proces and execution of Poltrot the quarrell betweene the houses of Guise and Chastillon whereof ensued the infinite mischiefes of the yeares ensuing The Admirall hauing ranged his enemies in Normandie to a good poynt as then had a stronger armie then hee had before The Admirals meanes made frustrate by the substiltie of the Queene wherewith hee constrained the members of the Triumuirat to fall to reason whereof ensued the quietnesse of France but the articles of the peace being almost all agreed vppon on both parts at the Princes request hee issued out of Caen vpon the 14. of March onely with his horsemen the Vantgard whereof being ledde by the Prince of Portien that tooke the way towards Lisieux the rest passing by Falaise and Argentan into Perche In the way such as would resist his army were set vppon and punished And the three and twentieth of the same moneth the Admirall beeing arriued at Orleans with all his forces found that the Edict of pacification had beene agreed vppon signed and sealed in his absence fiue daies before hee arriued The next day hee gaue his aduise in open Councell before the Prince and among other things shewed that they were to remēber that from the beginning of the warres made by the Triumuirat they had alwaies offered the obseruation of the Edict of Ianuary Parris only excepted and that considering the estate of their affaires those of the religion had more means then they had before to defend themselues from the violences of their enemies of three authors of those warres two of them beeing dead the third prisoner and a good pledge for the Princes assurance that the Churches were restrained to one Towne in a Baliage and other such exceptions was as much as if they should striue against God and ouerthrowe more Churches by the dash of a
penne then all the enemies forces could beate downe intenne yeares space That the Gentlemen that would shewe their good wils should soone see and feele by good experience how much more expedient and commodious it will bee vnto them to go to a sermon within a Towne or Village neare vnto them then to receiue a church into their house besides this that such Gentlemen dying would not alwaies leaue heires of their opinions These reasons were so firme that besides the disliking of those that were not called to counsell the most part of those that had agreed vnto it could gladly haue wished it to beginne againe But the Prince to all that opposed the promises made vnto him that in short time hee should enioy the estate of the deceased king of Nauarre his brother and that then those of the religion should obtaine whatsoeuer they could desire Yet although many alleadged to the contrary that all his promises were but words and that when those of the religion should bee disarmed and retired vnto their houses their enemies would still deuise the meanes to vexe and trouble them and that they should bee disgraced and nought esteemed Yet would hee neuer apprehended it and what paines soeuer the Admirall tooke accompanying the Prince in diuers priuate conferences with the Queene the Edict continued in force as it hadde beene decreed and nothing else could bee obtained but onely that certaine Gentlemen procured this poynt that some of the best Townes in certaine Prouinces should bee nominated for the exercise of the religion in the Baliages but this was but an accord in paper that tooke small effect The Queene of England had assisted the Prince of Conde and his adherents with men and mony during those warres who for assurance of her mony disboursed and for the retrait of her men gaue her the possession of the towne of New-hauen wherein there laye an English Garrison The Prince by his Edict hauing not made any conclusion that the Englishmen should bee payde and peaceably sent home againe they stayed in New-hauen to keepe it till they had satisfaction on the other side The Councell of France by letters dated the sixt of Iuly proclaimed warre against the Englishmen and fifteene daies after New-hauen was besieged The Englishmen driuen out of New-hauen the Constable beeing Generall of the armie wherein they drew the Prince with diuers Lords Gentlemen Captaines and Souldiers of the religion some of their aduersaries vaunting after the siege to haue driuen out the Englishmen by those that brought them thither And that the Huguenots might bee well assured not to haue any more ayde out of England the Earle of VVarwicke laye in New-hauen with sixe thousand Englishmen hauing well prouided all things necessarie for the defence of a place of such importance But the fresh water beeing taken from the Englishmen the plague was very rife among them and the batterie most furious vppon the eight and twentieth of Iuly they grew to a parley and the next day yeelded the place wherein aboue three thousande of them were deade of the plague Eight monethes after this reudition a peace was concluded and proclaimed betweene France and England The king of the age of 13 yeares and a month declared of lawfull yeares The Prince of Conde in the conclusion of peace was made beleeue that he should haue the place of Lieftenant generall by the decease of the king of his brother the king of Nauarre but after the deliuery of New-hauen the Queen hauing no more need of him to take all hope from him on that side and to breed new conceits in the heads of those of the religion published a declaration to shew the maioritie of the king as then entered into the 14. yeare of his age And to make shewe the better vnto this declaration whervnto was added a most seuere Edict against bearing of armes his subiects leagues and the pensions of forraine Princes shee caused her sonne in great solemnitie to sit in the Parliament of Roane where to shewe her child to bee sufficient and capable to adminster the affaires of the Realme she caused him to bee taught and learned by hart to vtter a lesson artificially deuised thereby to bridle the Prince assistance thereat which by many was termed his degrading The substance thereof was that his comming into the Parliament was to giue his officers to vnderstand that hauing attained to the yeares of maioritie he would no longer indure that any such disobedience should bee vsed against him as had beene shewed since the beginning of the troubles commaunded that his Edict of pacification should bee obserued threatned the breakers thereof and such as made associations and leagues which was done vppon the sixteenth and seuenteenth of August Within short time after the Parliament of Parris sent a declaration vnto the king touching that Edict of maioritie which confirmed that of pacification But the Queene caused him to speake with authoritie as hee had done before The Queens proceedings against the Court of Parliament in Parris declaring his mother superintendant of his affaires and said vnto the Deputies of the Parliament that his meaning was that they should deale with nothing else but onely to administer good and speedie iustice vnto his subiects giuing them to vnderstand that hee would haue them to knowe that they were not appoynted by him in their offices to bee his tutors nor protectors of his Realme neither yet conseruers of his towne of Parris For you are said he according to his instructions giuen made beleeue that you are such but I mean not to suffer you any more to continue in that error but commaund you that as in the times of the kings my predecessors you neuer vsed to deale with any thing but with iustice that from henceforth you deale with nothing else And when I shall commaund you any thing if you finde any difficultie therein I will bee well content to heare your aduise as you haue vsed to do vnto the kings mine auncestors and not as my Gouernours and hauing giuen your aduises hauing heard my minde to be obedient therevnto without reply In dooing so you shall finde mee as good and milde a King as euer you had but dooing as you haue done since the time you were giuen to vnderstand that you are my tutors I will make you knowe that you are none such but my seruants and subiects willing and charging you to obey my commaundements The Bishop of Valence checqueth the Parliament of Parris Here you may see howe they draue the dogges before the Lyon and the subtill practises of the Queen to establish her Regencie vnder the warrant of her sonne wholely debarring the Prince of Conde from all his hopes and to change the Parliament of Parris somwhat more vnto her will she caused the the Bishop of Valence in a large discourse to confute that which the President de Thou had propounded touching the Kings Court and that his mawrite ought
any water to quench it For if wee should said they as many times heeretofore haue recourse to complaints wee doo plainly finde that so we shall sooner stirre vppe our aduersaries to more rage then procure our selues any remedie Againe if we take armes albeit it bee for our most iust necessary and vrgent defence yet what obloquie slaunder and curses shal we incurre at their hands who althogh wrongfully do impute vnto vs the whole blame of whatsoeuer miseries may ensue and will turne their rage which they cannot inflict vpon vs against our poore families scattered in sundrie places And therefore sith of many ineuitable mischiefes we are alwaies to chuse the least it were better to beare the violence of the enemie then by beginning with them to make our selues guiltie of a publicque and generall commotion Herevpon the la d'Andelot vrging the necessitie of the defensiue amongst tother speeches said If ye linger and driue off vntill ye bee banished into forraine countries cast bound into prisons ouerrunne with multitude of people contemned by the men of warre or condemned by the authoritie of the greatest all which is not now farre from vs what good shall wee reape of our patience and former humilitie what profit shall wee reape by our innocencie to whom shall we complaine nay who will affoord vs the hearing It is now time for vs to bee better aduised and to haue recourse to the defensiue which is no lesse iust theÌ„ necessary neither are we to care thogh we be accounted the Authors of the warre which is leuyed onely by thoâ—e who in so many sorts haue broken all publicque couenants and agreements and brought euen into our bowels six thousand forraine souldiers that haue alreadie in effect proclaimed it against vs. Now let vs likewise giue them so much aduantage as to smite the first blowes and so shall our mischiefes bee past all care And after many meetings and determinations had among them heerevppon they resolued vppon a prompt and readie defensiue resolution wherin there were diuers meanes disputed vpon touching the execution thereof In the end it was concluded to rise in armes and in that beginning of war to obserue foure things the first to hold but fewe townes but such as shuld bee of importance the second to raise a great armie the third to ouerthrow the Switzers by whose meanes the Catholicques would alwaies bee Maisters of the field the fourth to assay if they could driue the Cardinall of Lorraine from the Court because many imagined that hee onely was the man that still solicited the king to destroye all those of the religion But touching the two last poynts many and great difficulties were propounded some alleadging that the Cardinall and the Switzers marched continually with the king and that setting vpon the one and seeking to feare the other it would bee saide that the enterprise had been made against the Maiestie of the king and not against them Yet in fine they were confuted by this reply that the effects would plainly shew what the intent of the Prince and his associates was as the euent manifestly shewed in the actions of Charles the seuenth as then beeing but Dauphine when he raised armes yet neyther against his father nor the Realme Further that it was well knowne that the Frenchmen themselues neuer attempted any thing against their Prince Lastly that if this first successe fell out fauorably that it would be the means to cut off the course of a long and troublesom war because therby they shuld haue means to let the king know the truth of those things which were diguised vnto him wherevpon might ensue the confirmation of the Edicts specially when those that arme themselues to preuent shall finde themselues preuented The successe of the Princes resolution This as saith the Lord de la Noue in his discourses was the resolution of the Lords and Gentlemen that at that time were about the Prince who as hee addeth albeit they were men of great experience skill valor and wisdome yet al that they had so diligently pondered and so well forecast when it came to the effect fell out wonderfull short of their expectation whilest other things whereof they had so farre drempt as thinking them ouer sure or difficult redounded to their good and stood them in stead A while before they resolued vpon this necessitie as the Switzers marched on first the Prince and then the Admirall made a iourney to the Court where they declared each after other to the king to his mother and to the Councell that there was no reason neither any iust occasion to make this leuie of six thousand Switzers to bring them into the Realme vnlesse paradu enture they had some pretence to imploy them vpon the ruine of those of the religion of whom there were yet remaining a greater multitude then they imagined whereof the late warres might beare witnesse withall that if their enemies practised ought but good they would stand vpon their guard and not haue their throates cut by theeues and perturbers of the publike peace and heerevppon also they besought the king to take compassion of so many honest families throughout his Realme but they were denied and hardly intreated yea the Prince at one time was in great hazard of his life against whom the Courtiers had incensed the Duke of Aniou the kings brother who suddainly entered into a sharpe braule against him seeking all occasions to do him a shrewd turne but the Prince both wise and eloquent aunswered him so pertinently to whatsoeuer the questions and violent complaints of him whom hee was to reuerence who also was at that time inuironed with those that would not sticke to strike that the snare was broken whereby hee escaped and from that time came no more to the Court. To returne to the successe of the enterprise of the Prince and his partakers they were forced of necessitie eyther to oppose themselues against the cruell resolution of their enemirs in France The Princes preceedings or else to flie out of the Realme and so to leaue so many thousands of hou sholds families to the mercie of their massacring enemies For touching the first poynt they determined to surprise three townes onely that is Lyons Thoulouse and Troys all very commodious for the warres But the meanes vsed by those that tooke the charge vppon them were not well effected in regard they were ouer many people and of small experience and sucfficiencie in such affaires who held their consultations of that which should bee done while they lay in their beddes or sat in their counting-houses Touching their strength in field those of the religion had more in the beginning then the Catholicques but sixe weekes after the raising of armes about the end of Septemb. they found themselues the strongest whereby they constrained the Prince and the Admirall to seek refuge in Almaine from Duke Casimeire The execution against the Switzers succeeded but crosly because it
was discouered and that the forces that should haue met in time and place sayled The Cardinall of Lorraine saued himselfe in great haste and fledde from the Court and yet he kept his credite in the Court being able to do as much absent as present To the contrary the Prince and his partaker fell into great difficulties by prouoking the hatred and collor of the king against them because through their meanes hee was constrained to go from Meaux to Parris with great feare although hee had sixe thousand Switzers about him besides horsemen the Prince at his approaching hauing betweene foure and fiue hundreth horse at the most neuerthelesse it was put into the kings head that he sought to attempt against his person so that from thenceforward he alwaies had a secret grudge against them This entrie into the warre hauing had but a hard beginning for the Prince other effects recompenced the defaults of his former fortunes but more by the particular motions and dispositions of certaine Gentlemen and Inhabitants of Townes then any Precedent deliberation whereby it fell out that those of the religion seized vpon Orleans Auxerre Soissons and other places The generall leuying of armes in one day by the Prince and his participants did no little abash those of the contrary part as also that with so small a number of horse he durst approach so neare sixe thousand Switzers whom he had charged betweene Meâ—â—x and Parris yea and ouerthrowne them if the Harquebusiers on horsebacke whom hee attended had kept their appoynted time or if he had bin strengthened with 150. horse out of Picardie that came certaine houres too late But the Prince not daring to venture vpon so great a troupe of Switzers The Prince retireth to S. Dennis that seemed a forrest therein perceiuing too much hazard and too small aduantage for him and his troupes went vnto Saint Dennis with his troupes where not long after hee had more company so that in fewe daies hee found himselfe to be 2000. horse and 4000. Harquebusiers strong which not long after were dispearsed Monsieur d'Andelot sent with 500. horse towards Poissy and Pontoise to hinder those of Parris that haue their victuals brought them by water Many companies of foot marched toward Argentueil Pont Charenton and other places bordering on the same The rest of the troupes were sent part to meete the troupes of Guyenne that should enter into Orleans surprised by Monsieur de la Noue and part into other places where need required So that the Prince and the Admiral staying at S. Dennis with certaine Gentlemen could not haue aboue 800. horse and 1200. Harquesiers The Constable had within Parris aboue 3000. horse 12000. foot and the sixe thousand Switzers with artillerie and warlike ammunition as much as he would desire yet stirred not fearing the hard resolution of the Prince his traine who by their troupes dispearsed seized vpon the passages both by water and land wherevppon the Parrisians not vsed to fasting beganne to complaine The Prince hoped to constraine them to fight and that his forces being vnited if hee might bee victor to bring his enemies vnto a more assured peace then that hee made before and if hee were ouerthrowne the places which hee held vppon the riuer of Marne and Seyne would serue him for his retrait staying for the Rutters that beganne to stirre with his forces of Guyenne The Constable to the contrary hauing taken the view of the Princes lodging and forces determined to giue them battell assuring himselfe to ouerthrow theÌ„ without resistance for that besides his number of men being tenne for one he had great store of Ordinance and pikes and a faire fielde well fitting for his troupes and cannons All these disaduantages notwithstanding disswaded not the Prince but that hee the Admirall Ienlis and other leaders of the religion issued to assayle them The battell beeing giuen vppon the tenth of Nouember 1567. The battell of S. Dennis continued almost three quarters of an houre night separating them the issue beeing such that those of the religion that had aduanced themselues aboue a quarter of a League entering with most strauge furie vppon their enemies wearied with striking their horses being breathlesse or hurt namely that of the Prince slaine vnder him and the Admiralles horse hauing borne him twise through the thickest of his enemies forces beeing a very strong horse in the mouth and in the beginning of the fight had broken his curbe and yet neither of those two leaders hurt were constrained to recuile but retiring in good order most of the Constables foote did little seruice but the Princes playde their parts the horsemen on both sides fighting with great courage The Constable himselfe was wounded to death and died within short time after and before hee died Death of the Constable connielled and desired the Queene to pacifie those troubles with all the speed she might but shee followed other counsell whereof shee and her sonnes haue had leisure to repent them and died before shee had reeled vp her spindle The Prince thinking his enemies would haue set vppon him againe to bee reuenged vppon a handfull of men that had held them play vnder their noses speedily sent for Monsieur d'Andelot who about midnight returned to S. Dennis and it was well for those of Parris as their leaders affirmed that hee came no sooner for if hee had it would haue fallen out hardly with them After a little breathing the leaders determined that it would bee necessary for them to abate some of the Romish Catholicques pride and opinion of their aduantage by shewing them that those of the religion had sufficient courage and called them to performe the battell Wherevppon the next day in the morning they entered into the field with their small armie marching towards the subburbes of Parris and there stood certaine owers in order of battell burning a village and some Windmilles in the open face of the Parrisians that neuer once issued foorth being busied to burie their dead to heal their wounded to suruey their corners and companies and to bee short thought it no wisedome to hazard themselues against those whom they perceiued to bee strengthened and so resolute to fight But the Prince perceiuing that the losse of one man would bee more to him then one hundreth to his enemies that daily increased that to stay longer so neare Parris wold be the ouerthrow of his smal campe the next day marched forward towards Montereau where the forces assembling at Orleans and Estampes ioyned with him To the contrary the kings armie Both the armies in the field their exployts till the end of the yeare whereof was Generall Henry Duke of A niou brother to the king a young Prince beeing as then about the age of sixteene yeares assisted with a great number of Lords Gentlemen and Captaines followed after the Prince seeking occasion to giue him battell The Protestants troupes of Guyenne and Poictou composed
of eighteen Cornets of horse and three Regiments of foote vnder seuen and twentie Ensignes as they marched tooke le Dorat in Limosin and Lusignan and then tooke three peeces of artillerie out of Orleans wherewith they battered and forced Pont sur Yon taking it by assault which done they ioyned with the Princes armie while the Duke d'Aumalle went into Lorraine to meet the forces of Iohn VVilliam duke of Saxon the Marquesse of Baden and others that brought an armie of Rutters to ayde the Romish Catholicques and that young Lansac marched into Almaine to diuert the ayde which Duke Iohn Casimeire brought to those of the religion on the other side the Duke of Alue sent twelue hundreth horse and two thousand foote vnder the conduct of the Counte de Aremberg that ioyned with the D. of Aniou notwithstanding the Prince marched towards Lorraine constraining those of Bray and Nogent vpon Seyâ—â— to giue him passage and tooke Espernay lying vpon Marâ— where for a time he stayed to assemble all his forces There young Lansac in his second voyage to Almaine was taken and beeing brought prisoner to the Prince all his businesse turned into smoke In the moneth of December vppon some motions of peace there were two truces agreed vpon each for two or three daies to the end as the voyce went to conferre vpon the poynts propounded The first was neare to Montereau and the other by Chaalons but the last was like to haue bredde much mischiefe for the Prince relying vppon the promises of his sworne enemies rested in a very bad lodging out of the way whiles their armie approached And had it not beene for an enterprise that the young Countie Brissac a young Lord by nature violent and the Duke of Anious especiall fauoritie had vndertaken against certaine companies of Argolets vnder the Captaines Bois Blossel and Clery who were then ouerthrowne the Prince who yet hoping vppon two daies respite stirred not from that lodging had surely beene intrapped and in manifest daunger but Brissacks rashnesse saued him and according to the prouerbe mischiefe was good for somewhat The Prince waying the wrong that his enemies had wrought to their owne reputation in weening to indomage him determined no longer to trust their promises in which conceit notwithstanding hee did not long perseuer vppon his conclusion in three daies space hee made his armie to march aboue twentie long leagues through the raine and such hard passages that it was wonderfull that the artillerie baggage could euer follow and yet lost neyther the one nor the other so good was his order and so great their diligence The Duke of Aniou followed not for some of his Councell making great haste perswaded him that his very name had driuen the Huguenots out of France whereas such as were indeed warriors did contrariwise accuse the cowardlinesse of those that had so suffered the Prince his followers to escape as not daring to fight with them eyther weake or halfe strong The Prince arriuing in Lorraine stayed some fewe daies for his Rutters not without some repugnancie and perplexitie of diuers VVarres reuiued in diuers places This Negotiation which was but a string to stay the Prince that afterward they might with greater aduantage ouerrunne him beeing vanished on the one side they beganne to take armes in Poictou and about Rochel which euer since hath been a refuge to sundrie families of the religion and so hath happily continued as a barre to blocke vppe the purposes of the Romish Catholicques and the instrument that God hath put in vse to confound the infinite conspiracies of the enemies to the Crowne and state of France On the other side the Duke of Aniou but ouerlate sought all opportunitie which before hee had let slippe to fight with the Prince and Admirall before they should ioyne with the Germaines whom they went to meet in Lorraine and of whom they receiued certaine aduertisement near to Pont a Mousson from whence Duke Iohn Casimeire their Generall writ to the king to desire him to thinke The Prince ioyneth with his Germains that hee neuer determined to enter into France for any his owne priuate good or particular interest but onely for the support of such as were afflicted for the same religion which himselfe professed who had intreated him to ayde protesting that if it might please the king to assure to them the libertie of conscience and generall exercise of their religion himselfe and all his troupes would presently retire Then fell there out great adoo about the satisfying of the Rutters who looked to receiue a hundreth thousand Crownes at the least heere were they put to their shifts and forced of necessitie to make a vertue and when the Prince and Admirall had made vse of whatsoeuer their eloquence both to great and small vpon this extremitie they set all men a notable example in that they parted with their owne siluer vessell The Preachers in their sermons perswaded many and the Captaines also prepared the mindes of their men Many Lords and GentlemeÌ„ likewise did most readily put their hands to their purses the rest some for loue and some for feare execeeded all expectation So generall was this liberall contribution that the meanest Page and veriest varlet gaue somewhat yea in the end it was thought a dishonour to haue beene sparing and many offered more then was demaunded In summe the whole beeing gathered togither both quoyne plate and chaines of golde The Rutters in some sort contented it amounted to aboue foure score thousand Frankes wherewith the Rutters were well quietted and so ioyned with the Princes forces Then was there a generall voyce that it was best to drawe towards Parris which was the apparant meanes to obtaine peace as also their Leaders were not ignorant that for their better maintenance it was requisite to prouide artillerie powder mony and other such commodities as are to bee wrested for the Marchant Artificer likewise that vnlesse they drew towards Orleans their true nurse they should want those aduantages Heerevppon they set forward They drewe towardes Beausse and passed ouer Marne neare to the head thereof not farre from Langres and marching through Burgondie at their passage ouer Seyne were set vppon by certaine Italian and French whom Schonberg with a Regiment of Rutters and French of the religion charged defeated leauing the most of the assaylants dead in the place Hence the Prince drewe towards Creuant and Irancie a small village taken by assault and so passed ouer the riuer of Yone Loyne and la Cure and so set himselfe at large maugre the many hinderances of the aduerse armie which laboured as well to restraine him from any purchase out of the villages and small burroughs and to finde opportunitie to cut off part of his armie How they prouided for the victualling of the armie In those daies did France abound in all sorts of victualles which notwithstanding it stood the Prince and Admirall
no great matter specially against so many soldiers as were in it Also in two daies two nights they made such trauerses and trenches that no man durst force them but it was concluded that a batterie should be made against a place that seemed very weake The Duke of Anious armie lay on the other side of the riuer of Seine but would not hazard it selfe nor once approch the Princes campe assaying neuerthelesse to aide the besieged who in fine would haue been taken Therfore to refresh them he sent M. de la Valette a valiant Captaine with 8. cornets of horse with charge to surprise some of the enemies lodgings to indomage their forrages to cut their victuals froÌ„ them to molest wearie the Princes forces by continual alarms He to execute his commission The Duke of Anious Cornets ouerthrowne approached within 4. leagues of the campe lodging very close from whence he began to make his courses The Admirall being aduertised therof tooke vpon him to preuent it and as he alwaies vsed to march with a good companie fearing as he said to loose the praye he chose 3500. horse departed in so good time that at sun rising he found himselfe in the middle of the quarters of those 16. cornets of horse that were charged with such force by M. de Nouy that marched before the Admirals troupes that diuers of them being laid vpon the ground 4. cornets taken the rest were put to flight La Valette lodged in the town of Houdan reassembled 4. or 500. horse made a reasonable good retrait but after that neither he nor any of the rest of his troupes would once approach so neare fearing a new charge A new motion of peace The Q. foreseeing of what importance the taking of the town of Chartres would be begaÌ„ to parley of a peace saying that in time of neede she would do more with three sheets of paper then all her souldiers could do with their armes The Prince sent the Cardinall de Chastillon with certain Gentlemen to meet with the Q. Deputies at Loniumeau hard by Parris where in few daies a second edict of peace was framed whereof the first article imported that those of the religion shuld enioy the first edict purely simply and that it should bee executed in euery poynt and article according to the forme and tenor taking away and abolishing all restrictions modifications declarations and interpretations made since the day and daie therof vntill the publication of this second edict made the three and twentieth of March 1568. there were diuers other articles in this edict full of many faire words and promises As a good peace was much desired beeing most necessary so in the meane time few men considered well what this might bee Discourse vppon this matter but as if the name had been like to the effect most part of those of the religion stayed vppon it saying that it would be necessary to accept it not considering the euill will hatched in the king against them the subtilties of the reuenging spirit of the Queen-mother the hopes and triumphs proposed to the Duke of Aniou capital enemie to the Prince the intents and deuises of the house of Guise against that of Chastillon the furies of the Cleargie and the Frenchmen against those of the religion who without waying these things with an infinite number of others thought their sworne enemies would leaue armes assoone as themselues â—his inclination euil desiested constrained the Prince and the Admirall to consent to the receiuing of paper perceiuing so great a disposition specially in the Nobilitie to accept it which was as a tempest that bare them away not beeing able to resist it It is true that the Prince being a friend to peace had likewise some inclination thervnto but the Admirall perceiued the infruction thereof and that this edict was but a snare to intrap both great and small For that as then certaine babling Romish Catholicques could not refrain to say that the day of their reuenge approached A Gentleman that accompanied the Cardinall of Chastillon sent word that hee had oftentimes heard such speeches perceiued a great indignatioÌ„ hidden in the hearts of some of the Deputies for the Queen that they shuld looke vnto it as being a signe and foreshewing of some sinister chance Likewise there were some of the Court as wel men as women who sometimes gathered words cast out vpon the suddain that sent vnto their kinsmen friends in the Princes campe to certifie them that without all doubt they shuld be deceiued if they wrought not wisely which in a maner was to waken those that desired nothing but to sleep vpon the soft pillow of peace But what aduise soeuer was giueÌ„ it was impossible to stay that tempest of minds ensuing in Masse of mischiefes shadowed with the vaile of a royall pacification If any man thinke it straunge how these two commaunders that had so much credit with their participants could not as then perswade theÌ„ for their benefits let them consider what voluntarie souldiers are and the great desire man hath to returne vnto his house and then hee shall well perceiue that it is wholly beyond mans power to staye such as were borne away with so impituous a storme of humane passions Before the siege was raised from Chartres many whole cornets and diuers particular persons The Prince is constrained to accept the peace departed without leaue of their superiors marching towardes Saintonge and Poitou This humour entered among the footemen specially those that dwelt farre off and many of them said seeing the king offered the last edict of pacification they could not refuse it Some of the Nobilitie desired to returne into their Prouince for the presernatioÌ„ of their families sacked by the enemy The footmeÌ„ also coÌ„plained that they were not payd that they wanted victuals so that the commanders of those of the religion could not sticke vnto the aduises giuen vnto them neither yet refuse the peace because their forces beganne to diminish Their reason was that the body of their French forces forsaking them they should bee constrained to put themselues to defensiue warre which they esteemed not to be good for them seeing as then it was in the month of March a time when commonly all armies vse to enter into the field to separate the Rutters and so to distribute them in their townes was as much as to deuoure themselues and to incampe in a strong place would bee a remedie but for a time So that to conclude they resolued that of force they must hazard that posted and most daungerous peace which would constraine those that as then left their campe to acknowledge but too late their fault committed Then they could well haue desired to haue had some townes of the assurance but when they asked other assurances then the Edicts promises and oathes the Queene her sonnes and their Councellors cast fire out of their
mouthes crying out and saying that those of the religion sought to despise and not account of the kings authoritie To be short and euill shame caused them to receiue a peace in paper couerture of a bloodie war which stayed not long to shew it selfe The peace beeing published in the Princes campe Duke Iohn Casimeir speedily made haste to returne into Almaine with all his forces VVhat ensued of this peace The Prince the Admirall and all the Lords and Gentlemen of their side with their horse and foote in small troupes returned to their houses laying downe their armes leauing the places by them holden for the space of sixe months those of least consideration thinking their enemies wold do the like They coÌ„tented theÌ„selues only to promise it alleading according to the doctrine of their church that they are not to hold faith giueÌ„ to hereticks for so they esteemed those of the religion Presently therfore assoone as they had Orleans and other towns into their possession presently order was taken that those of the religion should not bee able to set soot in them againe their weapons neuer went out of their hands but beganne to keepe the townes to make war place Courts of guard and Sentinels as in time of open war to set Captains souldiers at the entries of bridges passages of riuers not suffering any man either on horse or foot to passe without examining him sacked and murthered in the fields and townes more men in the space of six weekes then they would do during the space of sixe monthes To be short before the end of the month of May Preparation for the third ciuill warre those of the religion for the most part found themselues inclosed within townes or betweene riuers expecting nothing else but when they should be murthered and some of them that had been so instant for the peace were then constrained to acknowledge but somewhat too late that they must of force drinke the cup of their owne follies The Prince had withdrawne himselfe to his Castle of Noyers a small Town weak and vnfurnished of men where from day to day he had intelligence from all places that the passages of all riuers were stopped that almost all the D. of Anious horsemen remained about Parris with fiue or six thousand foote vnder pretence of new guards for the persons of the king his mother his bretheren and their Capitall towne that Monsieur de Tauannes was sent with great forces to take him in Noyers which made him to knowe that his affaires went not well and that there was no remedie but of force to seek to saue himselfe in some place of better assurance The Admirall not daring to remaine in his house of Chastillon sur Loing being but three daies iourney from Parris went to lye at Tanlay a small Castle belonging to Monsieur d'Andelâ—t his brother from whence hee went to lye nearer to the Prince that they might cousult together what was expedient for them to do and as hee went there happened 〈◊〉 straunge and memorable thing vnto him which was that in the way to Auxerre hard by a village called Moulin there is a pond which the â—dmirall approaching a certaine olde man one of his ancient and faithfull seruants called Grippier a man that had made many great and long voyages at sea discouering a darke cloude driuen by the winde and that came towards thaâ— pond perswaded his Maister to make haste Anotable accident and with all speed to get into the next village otherwise he said a storme was comming that would ouerthrow both him and his companie which done and thinking hee would haue beleeued and followed him in great haste hee went on before And being scarse out of sight the Admirall hauing hardly past the end of the Causies that past ouer the pond he was taken with a tempest and force of winde that many horsemen were ouerthrowe and diuers horses stricken to the ground wherewith their fell a hayle so thicke and great that the force thereof hurt many of them The winde blew away the Admirals hat which they could not finde againe but one of his Gentlemen was constrained to send him his hat he himselfe was hurt but very lightly vpon the ancle of his foote with a haile-stone So that both hee and his company confessed that if the tempest had taken them in the middle of the Causie they had surely bin vtterly cast away The tempest past the Admirall incouraged his men giuing hartie thanks to God for his deliuerance adding these words Before long time be past we shall be inuiroued with many dangers but I trust God will defend vs. Being arriued at Noyers although both the Prince and be well perceiued that their continuance in the place was a means to sharpen the euill wils of their enemies What means the Prince vsed to staie the third ciuil warre notwithstanding to omit nothing of their duties they sent diuers messengers to the king wherby they shewed themselues to be assured certified that his M. sought to apprehend them humbly besoght him to haue pittie vpon his countrie of France sacked desolated by the two former ciuill wars without seeking by the ruine ouerthrow of his realme to quench the fire which those of Guise kindled therein as also that it wold please him wisely to preuent the danger then approching The Admiral likewise wrote to the Ladie Margaret of France Duches of Sauoye whom he knew to be beloued of the Queen-mother desiring her most instantly to oppose her selfe against the desolatioÌ„ of the realm of France The answeres from the Court were shadowed with excuses protestations The Admirals Letters to the Duches of Sauoy and promises mean time Tauanes an old seruant to the house of Guise not long after made Marshal of France ariued in his armie therwith at one instant to inclose both the Prince the Admiral within Noyers the Councels resolution being to besiege force them before they could procure ayde froÌ„ any place the passages being shut vp These vnfaithful deuises being discouered vnto the prince the Admiral by diuers of those that were of the same enterprise they determined with all speed to dislodge from that place in great hast to get to Rochel that wold not opeÌ„ their gates vnto the troupes which the Marshal de Vieleuille thoght to put therin the InhabitaÌ„ts being aduertised that they shuld be spoiled because of the religioÌ„ which they defeÌ„ded togither with their ancient rights and priuiledges The Prince and the Admirall readie to be taken saue themselues which wholly exempted them from all Garrisons and other warrelike forces wherewith kings helpe themselues to vse other townes at their pleasures which to doo they were to passe the riuer of Loyre beeing very high and about the beginning of Sommer the Prince was likewise constrained to take the Princesse his wife and sixe small children with him among the which one was of the age of
Whereby the most part of this troupe left that place to lodge themselues with more ease left but a small number of men in place that laye about halfe a league from it This great fault produced another which was that the watch was too weake A notable fault which could not come time ynough to hear nor giue alarme to the enemies troups as they had beene instructed thereby to make them thinke that all the Princes Auantgard lay there The Dukes armie beeing very strong resolued to seize vpon the passage although all the Princes power had opposed themselues against him and by the diligence of Monsieur de Biron not onely repaired the bridge but made a new bridge of barkes which are carried with armies royall and before midnight had finished it which done without great noyse they began to passe ouer both horse and foote The Princes men that stood in gard with fiftie horse about a small quarter of a league from the passage in a manner could scarce perceiue them to passe vntill about the breake of day wherewith they presently aduertised the Admirall who knowing that most part of his men had lodged in other places namely on that side where the enemies came sent them word that they passed and with all speed to march towards him that they might retire altogither that in the meane time hee would stay for them at Bassac At the same time also hee commaunded that all the carriage and footmen should retire which was presently done If then within one houre after all his forces had beene assembled hee had easily retired without much labor Slacking of things daungerous in warre but the time being about three houres that passed in staying for them was the principal cause of their ouerthrow The Admirall would not loose those troupes being nine Cornets of horse and certaine companies of foot wherof the Coronels were the Counte Montgommery Acier and Puuiaut Beeing all come onely Acier that tooke the way towards Angoulesme all the Dukes armie beeing past and hard by the Admirall the skirmish began so hot that each man perceiued that day would bee a battell beeing the thirteenth of March which made the Prince turne backe being half a league from them passing forward for hauing vnderstood that hee should bee constrained to fall to blowes hee hauing a Lyons heart would bee one among the rest WheÌ„ the Admiral for his retrait came to forsake a small chanel which might bee passed ouer but in two or three places the Duke was counselled to aduance the flower of his horsemen composed of seuen or eight hundreth horse which ouerthrew foure cornets that made the retrait where la Noue and la Loue were taken prisoners The Princes magnanimitie ended not but with his life Valiant charges hauing couragiosly sustained the fight as also Coronel Puuiant who not long after reassembled his dispearsed troupe the same horsemen of the Dukes campe not long after charged d'Andelot in a village but he valiantly resisted them and slew Monsalez and diuers others of good account to the number of fifteene or sixteene the Prince and the Admirall ranged in two great squadrons of horse perceiuing that the enemie went about to inclose them betweene all the Dukes forces Charante prepared themselues to giue the charge The Admirall began the Prince seconding which was with greater force then the first and at the beginning made al those that flood against him to turne their backs after that sustaining a new charge where for a time the battell was hot and fierce but in the end he and the Admirall hauing all the enemies armie vpon them the Prince being falleÌ„ vnder his dead horse therby ensued the ouerthrow of the horsemen hauing lost about one hundreth Gentlemen and among the rest the Prince himselfe who lying vnder his horse could not bee relieued by his troupes and yeelding himselfe to Monsieur d'Argences at the report of his taking The death of the Prince of Conde and others a Gentleman of Gascon called Montesqueon Captain of the Dukes guard ran thither and discharging a Pistoll at him shot him in the head wherewith hee presently died His death bredde great sorrow among those of the religion and much ioy to diuers that loued him not namely to the king the Queen the Duke of Aniou and all the house of of Guise specially the Cardinall of Lorraine who the next day after the news was brought vnto the king as then beeing at Metz touching the battell wherin the Catholicques had lost two hundreth Gentlemen among the which were diuers Lords and men of name comming to salute the king after the maner of Courtiers smiling said vnto him your Grace as I suppose is now better disposed then you were the other day beeing eased of much corrupt blood In that manner iested hee who vpon the bodies of the Princes of the blood and the Nobilitie of France placed the foundation of the rule and gouernment which his familie would after haue vsurped as you shall wel perceiue From Metz they sent certaine cornets that had bin taken from the Prince vnto the Pope whereat that good Pastor so much reioyced that he went a foote on procession from his Castle of Saint Ange to the temple of the holy ghost withall the Cardinals to thanke his Imagess with out flatterie this praise may wel be giuen vnto the Prince of whom we will now speake that not any man liuing in his time did euer surpasse him in courage nor courtesie He spake very wisely more by nature then art liberall and readie to all men an execellent leader in warre yet a louer of peace most firme in his religion inuincible in aduersitie but milde in prosperitie a great iester subiect to vanitie louer of women and collor but one that gaue place to reprehensions and aduises of such as hee loued and respected but by this ouerthrow wee may gather that when a matter of importance and hazard is to bee effected it ought not to bee done by halues for that either we must leaue it and not be ashamed to retire or else do it withall our forces If the Admirall and the Prince had had all their forces the Duke would not haue set vpon them also when armies lye scattered they fall into inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best leaders cannot remedie After this battell the Duke sent to besiege Cognac and began to imbrace diuers other enterprises as if nothing had bin impossible vnto him Exployts after the battell of Brâ—ssac for that not long before certaine places in Poictou had been taken from those of the religion but Cognac stayed the course of this victorie in such sort as that after the Duke had lost the boldest of his footemen in that siege hee thought to get as much by intelligence against Saint Iohn d'Angely where dooing nothing hee summoned Angoulesme that made him no other aunswere but with threatnings to send him away with losse and shame
of Mouy who slew some tooke some prisoners and sent away the rest faster then they came as in deede they were mounted to the aduantage vpō Spanish horses fit for such retraits Immediately after this incounter While the Duke tooke his ease the Princes seized vppon sundry places the D. licensed his armie to refresh themselues vntill the beginning of Octob. putting his footemen in Garrison in such places as bordered nearest vpon Guyenne The Princes in the meane time kept the field tooke Tiuiers S. Sulpice Brantonne Chasteau l'Euesque la Chapelle Confolant Chabanez and S. Genais some by force others by composition The Countie du Lude Gouernour in Poictou had promised the Duke to do wonders and while the Princes armie lay in Limosin followed by fiue thousand foot and some cornets of horse he besieged Nyort a town of consequence wherein Puuiaut valiantly entred with certaine horse and foote in despight of the assailants that were repulsed in three assaults and certaine scaladoes and after in the beginning of Iuly constrained to raise their siege hauing lost aboue fiue hundreth men before the towne not accounting foure Cornets of horse belonging to the Countie which la Noue not long before had ouerthrowne at Fontenay halfe a league from Nyort Terigny beeing sent to ayde the besieged was the cause that the Countie hasted his retrait lodging the rest of his armie at Saint Maixant Lusignon and Mirebean meane time the Princes approached Poictou and the 12. of Iuly tooke Chastelleraud by composition and three daies after battered the strong Castle of Lusignon that vpon the 21. of the same moneth was yeelded vnto them by composition establishing the Barron de Mirebeau for Gouernour therin with two Ensignes of footmen great store of cannons and sufficient amunition to resist a puissant armie Two daies after they marched towards Poictiers tooke Couhe where the Garrison of Catholicques chose rather to burne themselues in dispaire with in the Castle then to yeeld thēselues to Verac Lord of the place that held them besiesieged Sanssay Viuonne and other little places neare thereabouts therby to inclose those of Poictiers and to impeach them of victuals Before we depart from the siege of Poictiers Diuers exployts of war let vs adde some notable accidents that happened in diuers places In the month of Iuly Castillon sur Loing Chasteau-Regnard places belōging to the Admirall were surprised and the Admirals mooueables carried to Parris where part were solde in the open outcrie the best stoien and conueyed away by those that finde nothing either too heauie or too hotte Certaine horsemen to the number of fortie departing from the Princes campe after the taking of Strossy lodged themselues within Regeane a Castle belonging to the Bishop of Auxerre but they were presently besieged battered and slain within it onely captain Blosset and some other that escaped Amōg those on whom they exerciled most horrible vengeance was one of Auxerre surnamed Coeur de Roy who beeing taken prisoner was ledde to Auxerre and there presently stripped slaine and hewed in peeces The murtherers pulled the hart out of his bodie and cutting it in peeces was layde on the coales and eaten by certaine of his desperate enemies that during his life had threatned him with that canniball entertainment Horrible crueltie behold how zeale transporteth these Romish Catholicques The Lord of Terride Gouernor of Quercy was sent into Bearne Foix and the lād of Nauarrois there to bring al into the kings obedience in case the Q. of Nauarre and her sonne the Prince The Countie of Montgommeries exployts in Bearne against Terride would not forsake the religious side Terride accompanied with Negropelisse S. Colombe and diuers others had easily seized vpon all and had laid siege to Nauarron in the only place that held for the Q. The Princes hauing notice thereof dispatched away the Countie of Montgommery to withstand him who with 200. horse went and receiued the forces of the vicounties in Gascon so that in the month of Iuly with a smal armie of foure thousand shot and fiue hundreth horse with great diligence and vnwoonted speed which was the safetie of his voyage as deceiuing the Garrisons of the enemie namely the troupes of the Marchal d'Anuil◠Monluc Gohaz and others that with 1000. horse and 4000. shot marched but a daies iourney from the campe he came safe with one daies iourney of Nauarrin forced Terride who had lyen incamped from the beginning of Iune to raise the siege saue himself in Orthez by reason his troupes for their more commodious victualling lay disbanded The Countie followed Terride and to abridge him of all means to reassemble or muster his men besieged assaulted and forced the town with great slaughter then did he as suddainly plant the cannon found in the Towne against the Castle Terrides refuge who terrified with such terrible charges yeelded with the safetie of his life togither with six knights of the Order and many Captaines who all enioyed the benefit of the compositiō except 5 Colombe the Barron of Pordiac Gohas Fauas and some others that were executed because they were found to be the Qu. subiects consequently guiltie of treason for seizing vpon her places causing the most part of her subiects to reuolt seeking to deliuer the land into the dominion of a new Prince This mishap of Ter. being bruted abroad so terrified other the towns strong holds that the vsurpers making their packs in time Na. Foix Bearn were suddainly subdued to their princesse al fauing the town of Peu the principall wherin cōmanded one named Pere who had promised Monluc to defend it had executed some officers slaine the ministers yet vpon the sūmons of a trumpet sent by Montgom he departed with speed leauing the town to the right owner In the mean time Monluc practised some trecherie with Captain Bassillon who had born out the siege of Nauarrin against Terride This practise discouerd Bassillon was slaine Monluc cōming to seize vpō Nauarin was forced to retire whervpon ioyning with la Vallete he forced the town of Mont-Marsan where he discharged his rage vpon the besieged who were in maner all put to the sword Montgommery furnishing the places of his conquest came to Nerac and for a fewe daies warred vppon the next Garrisons and there with all speed returned to the Princes armie with some plentie of quoine gathered in his conquests and fiue hundreth horse that followed him The Duke d'Aniou considering how much the passage imported which the Princes had gotten vpon the riuer of Loire at la Charitee not much fortified since the taking resolued to take that place from them The siege of la Charitee by Lansac and the issue which was well aduised for that winning it hee should bereaue them of all meanes to molest the Prouinces on this side the riuer of Loire and reserue vnto himselfe the sinues of the warres with infinite commodities for the refreshing
assured because of their victorie that they durst not beginne The Duke of Anious retrait from before Chastellerand The Duke not hauing all his armie togither and perceiuing that the siege was raised before Poictiers presently after the assault giuē to Castellerand by the Italians fearing to bee surprised in all hast caused his artillerie to bee drawne away and by mans strength besides horses to passe the riuer thereby to set it in safetie The eight of September toward euening it was resolued that the whole armie should retire into a strong place called la Celle beyond the riuer that passeth by Haye in Touraine six leagues from Chastelleraud At this passage they left two thousand shot and some cornets of horse to stay the Princes forces from assayling the Princes armie at that time too weake to hold out against them The Duke with the rest of his troupes was lodged in a place of great aduantage In this retraict the Maisters of his campe vsed such diligence and good conduct as deserued to bee noted among the most notable feates in all this war and was the principall meanes of the Dukes victorie which soone after hee obtained at Chastellerand where he had at leisure reassembled all his forces before dispearsed and scattered abroad The Princes aduertised of this suddaine retraict of the Duke followed him and marched all the night so that beeing first passed the riuer they drew straight to the port of Pilles there to passe the riuer of Creuse and so to set vpon the maine battell But the guard which the Duke had before placed in the same place forced them to skirmish almost all the day the Admirall perceiuing the place too hot seeking other passages found one somewhat higher vppon the right hand where all the armie did the next day passe ouer the Creuse betweene the port of Pilles and Haye in Touraine in full resolution to force the Duke either to fight or else to retire into the Cittie of Tours where the king then was The Corps de Garde at the port of Pilles fearing to bee inclosed retired in great haste to the Dukes armie where still there arriued men from all places both the armies set thēselues in battell array but betweene them there ranne a brooke inuironed with marishes and bogges very discommodious for any generall fight because no man could passe but by one and one as also the artillerie could not bee brought without daunger of losse The Duke lodging in a village called la Celle wel trenched flangued and fortified hauing on the one side a riuer and on the other a wood feeling himselfe yet too weake would not come downe into the plaine the Princes not able to force him in so strong a hold hauing for the space of two daies with continuall skirmish sought to bring him to the field for want of victualles returend ouer the Creuse and so ouer the other riuer named Vienne the thirteenth day of September and were lodged at Fay la Vineuse and within two daies after the Duke came also within foure leagues of the same place A traitor executed The 21. was Dominique d'Albe the Admirals Groome of his chamber put to execution as beeing conuicted to haue promised la Riuere the Captaine of the Duke of Anious guard for the summe of one hundreth Crownes which hee had receiued in hand with assurance of the place of a Groome of the Dukes chamber and some other large rewards to kil his maister the said Admirall with poyson which the said la Riujere deliuered him The Prince of Orenge departing from this place vppon a necessarie iourney into Germanie passed with a small traine by la Charitee and Vegelay and so following on his way arriued without disturbance at his iourneyes ende leauing his two bretheren Lewis and Henry with the Princes Eight daies before the execution of Dominique the Parliament of Parris had published a decree against the Admirals life accusing him of rebellion and treason with promise of reward of fiftie thousand crownes of the summe to bee leuyed vpon the Towne-house of Parris to any that could bring him in aliue or dead the same they also executed him in picture as they did likewise the Vidame of Chartres and the Countie Montgommery The battell of Moncontour won by the Duke of Aniou The Duke of Aniou hauing gathered all his forces and passed Vienne vpon the six and twentieth of September came to Loudun within three myles of the Princes campe which beeing in a countrie much fouraged and of bad cituation were counselled to go to Moncontour wher they might haue good lodging and great store of victualles The carriage marched on the one side and the Admirall and his armie on the other side not thinking that the Duke would so soone approach but beeing neare a village named Saint Cler the one not knowing of the other the Dukes vantgard conducted by Monsieur Biron met sidewaies vppon the Princes armie Hee perceiuing occasion giuen gaue a charge with a thousand launces vppon Nouy that made the retrait for the Princes with three hundreth horse and two hundreth Harquebusiers this small troupe was presently ouerthrowne and put in disorder with losse of about thirtie or fortie horse and almost all the foote This furious charge being done with great force and vppon the suddaine with the noyse of foure cannon shots bredde such feare in the Princes troupes that euery man beganne to bee abashed and without a certaine passage whereon aboue twentie men at a time could not passe that stayed Birons launciers all the Princes armie had in a manner been wholly ouerthrowne at that first charge The Admirall running to that disorder shewed himselfe vnto his men and reassembled them in such sort that at his comming were giuen two or three great charges and recharges of fifteene hundreth or two thousand horses at once and such as passed were soone driuen backe againe by the others There the Counties Lodowic de Nassau and VVolrad of Mansfield behaued themselues valiantly The two armies placed themselues in battell one heere the other there about a long musket shot distant from each other that of the Princes beeing soone vnder couert to passe that place no man durst be so bold for the danger that might ensue because diuers squadrons would soone haue spoyled such as had ventured But the Dukes artillerie beeing there and the Princes alreadie at Moncontour his cannoniers tooke the aduantage and hurt some squadrons of the enemie which notwithstanding brake not ranke but held firme vntill night by which meanes each man retired The next day in the morning the Duke would visit Moncontour to put the Princes in feare But hee found them in the subburbes well fortified hauing no meanes to come at them but by one way where hee gaue a skirmish both of horse and footemen The Dukes armie was composed of eight or nine thousand horse and seuenteene or eighteen thousand foote comprehending fixe thousand Switzers and fifteene peeces of artillerie
The Princes had sixe thousand horse Frenchmen and Almaines sixe thousand Harquebusiers foure thousand Lansquenets sixe cannons two coluerins and three other peeces hauing left therest at Lusignan Before the battell two Gentlemen bearing armes in the Dukes campe beeing strayed came to some of those of thereligion Notable aduertisement neglected hauing certaine ditches betweene them and hauing protested vnto them that they bare no malice vnto the Princes willed them to aduertise the Admirall to keepe his armie from fighting because the Dukes armie was very strong by reason of new strength but that hee should driue off the time for the space of a moneth because all the Nobilitie had protested not to stay any longer but that if they were imployed within that time they would doo their best to aduance his seruice That it was daungerous to striue against the French furie which in short time would be abated and by that meanes the Duke with his Councell should bee constrained to seeke for peace and to graunt it with aduantage to those of the religion which aduertisment giuen those two Gentlemen retired Those of the religion went presently to the Admirall to certifie him therof which counsell liked him well They shewed it likewise to others of the principall commaunders whereof some reiected it not and desired it might bee followed but the greatest part esteemed it to be but an artificial deuise to put them in feare adding that although this aduise seemed to bee good yet it was not to be accounted of because it proceeded from suspect persons and such as vsually exercise deceits commonly such as are neare to any mischiefe despise the good counsell wherewith men seeke to relieue them The Princes Councell assembling to resolue vpon their proceedings some sayd it was best for them to get to Ernaux and to set the riuer which runneth by it Euill counsell followed between both the armies and to depart about nine of the clocke in the euening and to march all night that they might get thither in safetie because the Duke was at hand Others replyed that those nightly retraits put feare into such as make them imbasing their reputations giuing courage to the enemies and that it were best to depart about the breake of day This second aduise beeing the woorst was followed The Admirall as then was in great distrust fearing that the Rutters would mutin for want of pay and that three or foure of his Regiments of far countries would leaue him because they had alreadie asked him licence to depart He knew likewise that diuers Gentlemen were retired vnto their houses wherefore to hold the armie in vnitie hee besought the Princes that were at Partenay to come thither which they did bringing with them one hundreth and fiftie good horse The next day in the morning the horsemen were readie mounted to ryde to Ernaux all in white cassockes the better to know them if they should bee forced to fight But then the Lansquenets refused to march except they might haue mony And within a quarter of an houre after Blind auarice cause of a great mischiefe fiue cornets of Rutters said as much by which meanes aboue an houre and a hafe past ouer before they could bee appeased whereby the troupes could not haue the meanes to get a place wherein they could hardly haue been fought withall And hauing marched a quarter of a league they discouered the Dukes armie aduancing it selfe in such manner that all the leisure they had was to range themselues in order and to place themselues in a valley in couert from the cannon shot After this ensued an other mischiefe in the Princes armie which was that the Admirall perceiuing the Dukes vantgard to set forward wherein was nineteene cornets of Rutters in two squadrons and to come right vpon him hee sent to the Countie Lodowicke that commaunded the battell that he should send him three cornets of horse which the Countie did but hee himselfe led them and at that instant beganne the battell hee remaining in fight whereby the bodie of the battell remained without a head not knowing how to gouerne it selfe it is thought that if the Countie a wise and valiant Gentleman had beene there the body of the battell had mades good resistance The body of the battell without a head seeing that being so discouered it had almost put the dukes battell to fight The fight hauing continued almost three quarters of an houre the Princes as yet very young beeing not long before retired and with them diuers others vnder colour of safer conduction of their persons the Admirall likewise beeing hurt in the face at the first conflict in the ende the Princes horsemen were constrained to leaue the field part of the foote beeing slaine the rest flying to saue themselues The artillerie and Ensignes of the footemen were taken Countie Lodowicke was pursued a whole league Notable retrait but made a gallant retraict with three thousand horse in one maine The rest of the troupes hauing gotten away before the leaguerors made shew many times to set vpon the Countie but hee alwaies turned so brauely vpon them that they durst not ioyne In this manner hee marched towards Eruaux and from thence to Partenay where they arriued about tenne of the clocke at night fiue houres after the ouerthrow where the rest likewise came The Princes in this battell of Moncontour lost four thousand Launsquenets ' fifteen hundreth French souldiers and great numbers of pages and other boyes of the horsemen about three hundreth and many horses dead or hurt of men of name there were slaine Puigreffier Autricourt Biron brother to him that ledde the Dukes vantgard and Saint Bonet Cornet of the Admirals launciers La Noue and Acier taken prisoners the Rutters carriage was sacked only the horses which the boyes saued but the French carriage being further aduanced towards Partenay and Nyort was saued of the Dukes troupes there was not many footemen slaine but of horse about fiue or sixe hundreth and twise as many more wounded most part of them dying not long after and of men of name the elder Rhingraue the Marquesse of Bade and Cleremont of Dauphine The number of slaine on both parts The Duke caused the dead to bee buried and commanded the villages and townes neare there abouts to burie such as lay nearest vnto them Such was this daies chance whereof diuers discourses haue bin published whose vanities I haue not vndertaken to tet downe contenting my selfe to haue approached nearest vnto the trueth which of it selfe will sufficiently be desended The Marshall de Rez was presently willed by the Duke to ride to Tours to certifie the king and the Queene of his victorie wherewith all Europe was presently filled and as the report is made greater by passing through many mens mouthes nothing was then spoken of in Italie and else where but of the vtter ouerthrow of all the Princes armie Consultation in the Dukes councel what was to
of all means to ayde themselues determined to sound them to see if they would enter into request and acceptation of peace hoping that hauing brought them to the poynt there could bee no condition how hard soeuer it were but they would gladly accept it so they might bee assured of their liues and the possession of their goods in their houses And according to this aduise in the moneth of Nouember 1569. a meeting was practised betweene the Marshall de Cosse and the Deputies of the Queene of Nauarre the Deputies hauing presented their articles although the matter ought rather to bee handled by conference then by writings which haue no replies the meanes therein vsed and the delaies practised for aunswering therevnto made the Princes know and perceiue that their enemiesment to helpe themselues by that deuice to hinder their affaires After the first audience giuen vnto their Deputies they were giuen to vnderstand that the king could not indure the exercise of their religion and that they ought to content theÌ„selues with the libertie of their consciences An other deuice was wrought which was that messengers were sent into England and Almaine to certifie them that the peace was made by that meanes to stay the ayde that they might procure from thence And on the other side Postes went in all haste to procure money and forraine souldiers They discouered diuers practises against them both within without the Realme the effect beeing that first they would disarme them and then vse them and all those of the religion as the iudgement giuen against the Admiral sufficiently shewed Notwithstanding they determined to send Messieurs de Beauuais la Nocle Theligny to Anger 's to enter into conference with the kings commissioners and on the other side to pursue their warlike affaires and so make peace with weapon in hand After the battel of Moncontour we see how the forces of the Protestants were scattered in diuers Prouinces Such as were dispearsed in Berry determined through intelligence with a certaine souldier that betrayed them The Progresse of the warlike exployts in Poictou against the Prostestants to surprize Bourges but missing of their purpose by a counter intelligence lost in that exployt some 30. men besides as many more taken prisoners hauing but homely entertainment with the cannon were forced to retire from the town wherto they had brought 1000. horse 2000. foot The Countie of Lude Puigaillard Sanzay Colonel of the Arrierebands of France after the recouerie of Poictou got possessions of Marans wherby the whole Prouince round about was won for the Princes except Angoulesme and Rochel where the Protestants were shut vp after that Sanzay had gotten the Castle of Beauâ—oir on the sea from yong Rohan Lusignon was lost through the cowardize of the Barron of Mirambean whom the souldiers made their scoffing stock witnesse the scoffe of the L. of Losses who comming to speake with the Queen of Nauarre at Rochel saide openly that Mirambeau came to composition not for want of victual or munition but be cause he could get no more mustard to eate with his poudered beese The Councel weening to terrifie the L. of Pardaillan Gouernour of Blay caused the King to write his letter vnto him importing both threats and promises to cause him to yeelde vp the place which gotten they hoped to haue Rochel cheape ynogh which he held for the Princes into the haÌ„ds of Lansac who in his letters threatened Pardaillon in case he denied to obey But Pardaillan answered the K. discreetly and Lansac as couragiously to whom hee wrote thus You can conceiue no greater greefe in enterprising to force mee in this place then I should by yeelding reape shame losse hinderance and confusion whereto I doubt not to put you or any other that shall put mee to it Neither am I or any vnder my charge so base minded to graunt you any greater aduantage then the like force as you pretend against vs. Lansac finding nothing to bee had there but stripes turned an other way and tried Romegou the Gouernour of Tayllebourg whose aunswere was not vnlike to Pardaillans Then because the Isles of Xaintongne Marennes and Brouage had much molested the armie that besieged Saint Iohn d'Angely by letting their Garrisons rode vp and downe and cut off their victuallers they now sent the Countie of Lude Puigaillard and Riuiere Puitaille with eight cornets of horse and twentie Ensignes of foote who tooke all by force and there slew the remainder of the Lansquenets that escaped at the battell of Moncontour so as there were left aliue not aboue three hundreth fighting men or thereabout Whilest the wars continued in those quarters in a rode they caught a souldier whom Riutere Puitaille sought to practise for the surprising of Rochel Sundrie warlike exployts on either part in Poictou Guyenne but the souldier laboured a double intelligence whereby Riuiere and others in hope to take had almost been taken but hauing warning thereof by the way they returned to their Garrisons On the other side la Noue the Princes Lieftenant in Guyen sought to recouer Brouage a place that greatly annoyed the Rochellers but as hee went about it hee discouered an other enterprise practised by the Barron de la Garde against Thonne Charente so as the purposes of the one countermaunded the other At that time which was the beginning of the yeare Rochel was as it were blocked vp on euery side For towards Poictou the Countie of Lude and Puigaillard had a great armie Riuiere Puitaille the elder held Marans and other places thereabout and the younger commaunded in Brouage Landereau the Viceadmirall a sworne enemie to the religion which before himselfe had professed lay in Olone then the Brittons and Bourdelois by sea did what they could to cut off all victuall from Rochel wherein also the Barron de la Gard then Generall of the galleyes did greatly annoy them running many times euen to their hauen He now to the end on all sides to blocke vp the towne with the helpe of the yonger Puitaille broached a practise against Thonne Charente to the effecting whereof he sent Captaine Beaulieus Lieftenant to make the first descent La Noue vnderstanding his deuice vndertooke to keepe the place and so ordered his Harquebusiers that had they forborne vntill the souldiers of this Galley had landed they had caught either dead or aliue not onely these but also their followers who came onâ— row into Charente and so purposing to land had cast away themselues in Sparte But they forgetting their Captaines direction so soone as Beaulieus Lieftenant was comming on shore receiued him with such a storme of shot that they slew him and l'Argoussin withall they proclaimed libertie to the Galley-slaues who therevppon let go their owers and so la Noue tooke the Galley and all that was in it The prisoners were carried to Rochel and the Galleye to Taillebourg wherewith as also with an other Romegouse did afterward make sundrie
of Oriac la Faye Lesbos Montestruc and other places and no place at that time was besieged in vaine but that of Saint Felix where the Gascons were repulsed from the assault with the losse of fitie men and the Vicount of Montclar wounded who not long after died at Castres The armie soiourning in those quarters of Albigeois was strengthened with fiue or sixe hundreth horses brought from Rochel through many daungers by Beaudine and Renti who by diligence made voyde the intents and enterprises of Vanguiou Descars Pompadon and others who beeing followed by three thousand men ment to surprise and hew them in peeces The Princes commaunded Piles to enter into the Countie de Ronsillon where they sacked the countrie although it belonged to the Spaniards while the Princes were at Monreal three myles from Carcassoue the kings Deputies ariued with Theligny and Beauuais to parley of some pacification The Princes the Admiral Deputies to intreat of peace and the Rutters from that place wrote most large letters vnto the king to testifie their sinceritie in all things that had past All the Nobilitie likewise made aunswere by word of mouth by one of them vnto the kings Deputies most humbly thanking him for his inclination vnto peace The ligny Beauuais and la Chassetiere the foure and twentieth of the same moneth departed with the other Deputies to ride to the king and to make some good resolution Mean time the Princes armie marched along by Languedoc hard by Montpeslier lost la Loue Marshall of the campe a wise and valiant commander but then for want of good aduise was surprised and slaine with two companies almost all spoyled part put to flight and some slaine and hurt the armie approching to Rhosne the Countie Lodowicke with part of the forces passed ouer it and in short time the armie had her reuenge for the losse of her Marshall vppon diuers commaunders and Romish Catholicque souldiers The Princes armie still marching ouerthrowne and slaine diuers places and encounters The principall intent of the Princes was to haue some Infanterie out of Dauphine therewith to strengthen the body of their armie as also they thought to haue done in Gascon Languedoc which there they could not well effect For when the souldiers vnderstood that they should march towards Parris they set before thē the miseries which they and their companions had indured the last winter each man shunning it as a mortall poyson and desired rather to stay and make warre in their owne countrie Yet they assembled aboue three thousand harquebusiers determining to trauell in all places which disposed themselues by Regiments but all on horsebacke Necessitie constrained them therevnto because of the long way and the rigor of winter And although that such manner of riding many times prooued troublesome yet it procured profite herein that occasions happening the footmen found themselues busie and fresh and not many sicke men among them because they were alwaies well lodged and entertained Aduice of the Admirall The Admirall beaten in those affaires seeing well that although a parley of peace was then in hand that it would bee very hard to obtaine a good one if the armie approached not to Parris knowing also that beyond Loire hee should finde more strength made him to hasten the voyage but the difficultie to passe the mountaines Seuenes and du Viuarets made some stay and much more a feuer that seized vpon him at Saint Estienne in Forests that was thoght wold haue killed him his Phisitiās being cōstrained to let him blood three times in one day If then he had died it may be other Councell would haue ensued for that hauing lost the foot which turned the gate of so many affaires they could hardly haue found the like Countie Lodowicke was a braue Commaunder and well accounted of among the Frenchmen but yet hee had not obtained the authoritie of the other nor his experience but in the end hee recouered to the great contentment of all the armie which after that marched with such speed that in short time it entered into Bourgongne and went to Renele Duc Encounter of both armies at Rene le ' Duc. strengthened by new forces that came from la Charitee and the Garrisons thereabout There it was thought a terrible sentence for the peace would haue bin giuen which neuerthelesse serued but for the aduancement thereof Marshall de Cosse that commanded in the Romish Cotholicque armie in the absence of the Duke of Aniou had expresse charge from the king not to suffer the Princes armie to approach neare Parris and to fight with it if hee found conuenient time and place And hauing found it in a place of aduantage hee would haue put them from it with his artillerie whereof the Princes were vnprouided and by certaine Harquebushot make them leaue certaine places which they held one only was left at the beginning there were made great charges and recharges of horsemen each pursued in their towns The Commanders that charged first for the Marshall de Cosse were Valette Strossy and la Chastre that behaued themselues valiantly those that sustained them on the Princes side were Briquemaur Marshall of the campe Montgommery and Genlis in this encounter the Princes although very young by their countenances shewed the desire they had to fight whereby many iudged that in time they would bee two excellent Captaines In the end the Romish Catholicques that lost many men slaine hurt and taken prisoners perceiuing the difficultie to force their enemies sounded the retrait The Princes likewise considering that staying there would be hurtfull vnto thē not hauing any artillerie nor powder for their souldiers marched in hast towards la Charite and other townes that held for them where their armie refreshed themselues and was furnished with necessaire commodittes This was don about the end of Iuly the Princes hauing strengthened their troups with some new companies taken out of la Charite Sancerre Antrain Vezelay and other townes of their partie The Princes armie marcheth to la Charite prepared three long coluerins certain mortiers and passe volants determining to march to Parris but beeing readie to mount on horsebacke the king sent them certaine articles of truce betweene them and Marshall de Cosse which they accepted for tenne daies beginning vpon the fourth of Iuly In the meane time weapons were walking slowly in Dauphine where Gordes indeuoured but in vaine to bereaue the Protestants of a small Towne called Loriol Warlike exployts in Poicton hotly in Guyenne and thereabout The Rochelers had for their enemies their neare neighbours the Barron de la Garde Puigallard la Riuiere Puitaille who had resolued by new indenors to get the vpper hand in all those quarters Wherevpon Puitaille laide siege to the Castle of Rochefort in Xaintongne which stood vppon the high-way to the Isles and to Rochel but la Noue dispatched him quickly away killing a number of his men and putting the rest to flight Shortly
was done onely to preuent the execution of a cursed conspiracie practised by the Admirall and his confederates against him his mother and bretheren and therefore commaunded that his Edict of pacification should bee most firmly obserued But if it should fall out that any Huguenors incensed with the newes of Parris should gather in armes in any place whatsoeuer hee commaunded his said Gouernours to assist the scattering and dispearsing of them Also to the end the studious of nouelties should not commit any sinister practise his meaning was to haue the gates of all his Towns wel diligently kept referring therest of his minde to the credite of the bearers According to the purport heereof at Meaux in Brie Trois in Champagne Orleans Bourges la Charite Lyons Thoulouse and Bourdeaux those of the religion were handled as they were in Parris not speaking of those that were sacked in other Townes and Villages of the Realme as also in the fields when they thought to saue themselues by going out of the Realme so that in fewe weeks aboue thirtie thousand persons were massacred in France because of the religion The king aduoweth the massacre to be done by his commandement but specifieth no cause why the next day writeth contrarie letters Vpon Tuesday the six and twentieth day of August the king accompanied with his bretheren and the chiefest of his Court went to his Court of Parliament where sitting vpon his bed of iustice all the chambers assembled hee declared in expresse termes that whatsoeuer had happened in Parris had been done not onely by his consent but also by his commandement and of his owne motion and therefore that his meaning was that all should bee attributed to himselfe All which his speech was approoued and allowed by Christopher de Thou chiefe President in the name of the whole companie The next day letters were sent to the Sheriffes and other the kings officers in the Townes giuing them to vnderstand that to his great greefe his Cousin the Admirall and others his partakers besides sundrie particular parties in sundrie parts of Parris had beene slaine whereof hee thought good to giue them notice to the end they might represse all commotion and murther which might breed his incredible greefe and sorrow enioyning them in his name to make proclamation commanding euery man to remaine at home not to take armes nor any to offend other vnder paine of death also to take order that his Edict of peace were well and diligently obserued Thursday the twentieth in Parris was celebrated an extraordinary Iubile with generall procession wherein the king was assistant and whereto hee had but in vaine solicited the king of Nauarre with sweet words and flattering speeches and the Prince of Conde with threats The kings new declaration The same day hee made an other declaration importing that by his own expresse commandement the Admirall with his adherents and confederates had beene slaine not vpon any cause of religion or breach of his Edicts of pacification which hee alwaies had and still ment to haue obserued kept and continued but thereby to preuent the execution of a damnable conspiracie contriued by the Admirall the chiefe deuiser thereof and his adherents and confederates against the said king his estate the Queene his mother his bretheren the king of Nauarre and other Lords and Princes his attendants Withall that hee tooke into his protection all other the protestants but forbad them all assemblies or preachings vpon whatsoeuer occasions To this declaration were there soone after added sundrie restrictions qualifications and amplifications Such of the protestants as in sundrie places relyed vpon them had but bad successe The wiser sort ffed out of the realm which notwithstanding their goods were seized their mooueables partly solde to the most giuer and partly stolen and their immooueables put to the crie There was a long Commentarie made and added to the same declaration by one Gui de Fuur Lord of Pibrac as it was auouched before that of religion who durst affirme that witnesses had been examined before the kings Councell Commentaries vpon this matter that affirmed a conspiracie made by the Admirall not naming who neither yet specifying any circumstance of apparance of trueth for the which cause certaine sharpe aunsweres were made therevnto wherein all the cauillations of the said Commentarie were amply and particularly resuted Within Parris it selfe all men that had any wit or vnderstanding in their common and ordinarie talke touching this horrible cruell iniustice said that there was neither shaddowe nor any apparance of trueth in this accusation and to thinke to make men of any iudgement to beleeue that the Admirall had wrought any thing against the king and his adherents being within Parris Defence made in the Admirals behalfe were vaine it beeing a thing which all men knowes that in the Court there is an ordinarie guard of Gascons Switzers and Scots both for day and night besides the other companies specially then when the most part of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of France were there to honour the marriage that in lesse then three houres within Parris they may assemble and gather at the least sixtie thousand men well armed who at the first word had deuoured the Admirall and all his friends and if they had been sixe times as many more that the Lords and Gentlemen that had accompanied the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde bringing thither their wiues seruaunts and kinsmen brought but their swords and thought but to run at the ring and to shew their braue apparrell That the declaration did neither specifie the time place adherents nor meanes of this coniuration Before the Admirall was hurt as he receiued all fauour of the king so he held and accounted him for one of his most faithfull seruants whereof the Admirall made proofes with all sinceritie Being come to Parris vppon the word and iterated commandements of the king where no man liuing euer vnderstood other thing from his mouth what aduise soeuer was giuen him to issue out of Parris because he was hated euill willed and inuironed with enemies but onely that hee trusted in the faith and promise of his Prince that heedemaunded nothing but peace wherevnto he perceiued the king to bee inclined and to lay the war vpon the shoulders of the hereditarie enemie of France which is the Spaniard if this conspiracie had been made after hee was hurt how durst a mā being cruelly wounded with two dangerous wounds about Fryday at tenne of the clocke and flaine vppon Sunday at two of the clocke in the morning of great yeares troubled in both his armes whereof one the Surgeans were in counsell to cut off accompanied with three hundreth Gentlemen vnarmed all naturall Frenchmen most affected seruants to the King hauing neither goods parentage alliance pleasure nor contentment with their families but in France bee so bolde or could set vppon sixtie thousand men prepared to fight Nay were it onely
three of his houshold seruants gaue him fiue woundes with their swoords in his bedde carried away his horses and best stuffe which the next day they sold to the most giuer in a village where Captaine Saint Stephen was lodged This scandall troubled the Rochelers who ended it thus That Stephen and Guymeniere should depart from Rochel Besides the aunswere expresly giuen to Biron the Rochelers by seueral letters did greatly excuse thēselues of this mishap which fell out without their notice and to the great griefe of their Deputie beseeching him as also they did du Vigean not to impute vnto them such an action whereto they had giuen neither counsell nor consent but were wonderfully sorrie that Vigean should bee so wronged at his returne from his Ambassage Many misliked that Vigean a Gentleman of the religion and a man of calling should take vpon him such a commission but his reward caused him to bee afterward better aduised Now the Rochelers beeing diuersly aduertised that shortly they should see an armie before their walles also that their Towne was the marke whereat their enemies aymed gaue a new onset vppon the Countrie of Montgommery the Vidame of Chartres and other Noble men fledde into England to craue some succour at their hands Their Deputies set saile in the euening the fiue and twentieth day of October Thus was it open warre for so many as were known to be Rochelers were euery where taken prisoners and put to their ransome all vessels sayling towards their hauen stayed all marchandize found to belong to any Rocheler seized and confiscate to bee short all actions of hostilitie put in practise against them Neither were the Sancerreans at that time much quieter for Cadaillet one of the Groomes of the chamber and the kings Hunter sometimes seruant to the Earle of Sancerre a man well knowne in the Towne was sent to confer with them Hee played the cunning Courtier setting debate among them that before were good friends wherof ensued a tumult whilest one would grant and an other would denie the comming in of the Lord of Fontaines who was sent to roote out the protestants Hereof grew murther and confusion wherof wee will speake heereafter For the aduancement of the Bishop of Valence Negotiation in Poland where the French name was miserably rent in peeces and to cut off the deuises of the protestants both within and without the Realme Diuers deuises to extirpe those of the religion and to roote out their memorie The king was perswaded that it would bee good to take some of them that were found to haue escaped the massacre and as then kept in prison and to make processe against them in forme of iustice and to put to the torture some of those that had escaped the massacre and beeing fetched out of their corners had beene committed to prison that they might be condemned by sentence of certaine Iudges appoynted for the purpose and so executed in the presence of the people and to the same to adde a sentence against the Admirall of whose bodie taken away as I said before they should make a similitude or image which the executioner should drawe along the streetes and then hang it on the Gibbet Then that there might bee published the kings letters pattents wherein it should bee decreed that the protestants should bee preserued both in body and goods and suffered to liue in all libertie of conscience so to allure them peaceably by this declaration that afterward they might speede as the rest besides to publish many bookes in excuse of all that was past and the same to dispearse in all places especially in Poland and Almaine and withall to charge the Ambassadours in England Suizerland and other forraine countries to iustifie the king and the Romish Catholicques All this was diligently put in execution Notable persons executed vnder colour of iustice Touching the first poynt Briquemant the father a Gentleman of the age of seuentie yeares one that had valiantly imployed himselfe in the seruice of the kings of France hauing beene found in the house of the Ambassadour of England wherein hee had saued himselfe while the greatest furies of the massacre were executed was put in close prison with Cauagnes Maister of the Requests These two bare great affection both vnto the religion and the Admirall and otherwise were of great reputation in France they were threatned to be torne in peeces vppon the racke if they would not write and signe with their hands that they had conspired with the Admirall to kill the king his bretheren the Queene and the king of Nauarre but they hauing constantly refused to auouch so horrible a lye against their innocencies and themselues they were racked and cruelly tormented by sentence of the Court of Parliament in Parris dated the seuen and twentieth of October were declared guiltie of treason and condemned to be hanged vpon a Gibbot which was executed The Queen-mother leading the king her two other sonnes and the king of Nauarre her sonne in lawe to see the execution Her Councellours thinking that at that last exployt it would bee wrought if Briquemaut in presence of all the people would aske pardon of the king sending some vnto him to certifie him that so hee might easily saue his life that the king was mercifull and that hee should haue pardon if hee asked it confessing this fact wherewith hee was charged Briquemaut aunswered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not vnto him but to the king to aske pardon of God for such an offence that he wold neuer aske pardon for a fault wherin hee had not offended but knew himselfe to bee innocent whereof hee called God to witnesse desiring him to pardon the kings so great disloyaltie Cauagnes did the like vntill hee died in such sort that this execution serued to no other ende but more to publish theiniquitie of so many pernicious councels Asnare discouered and anoyded With these two notable persons they hung a man of haye made like the Admirall against whom also was pronounced a smal sentence of death Touching the declarations in fauour of those of the religion the Duke of Guise discouered the snare so that fewe of them were taken For that by letters sent by his mother the same day that Briquemaut was executed shee wrote vnto him that the king had the said day determined with his Councell wholly to roote out those of the religion whom hee termed seditious vermine not sparing the children nor straungers that had giuen them ayde therein discouering enterprises against the Prince of Orenge and others which vanished like smoke Among the Ambassadours that excused the king Monluc was one the easiler to aduance his affaires of Polonia whereof we meane not to recite any particularities as not pertaining properly to our intent The beginning of open war against the Sancerrans Yee heard before how Cadaillet had sowen diuision among the Sancerreans now shall you see the haruest of that graine
fauor his retire from the Court Others bearing him no great affection spred foorth a rumour that they were in armes prepared to kill the king the Queene and his Councell The first aduise tooke place neuerthelesse to make the latter seeme likely yet vntrue euery man except it were the king Praclises of the Court whereinto sundrie not able to penetrate at the first the gentry of Normandy found themselues deceined whereof ensued the destruction of the Countie of Montgommery perswaded to stay with his traine in great haste dislodging from Saint Germains where they stayed till the lodgings of the Castle of Blois Saint Vincennes were prepared and rid to Parris from nine of the clock till midnight with most great noyse and tumult I must tell you that the Duke of Alencon was in minde to haue departed from the Court and to take the king of Nauarre with him and that this troupe composed of the Gentlemen their seruants came to bring them to the places appointed by them but imagining many difficulties in the executiō hee tooke aduise of la Mole a Gentleman of Prouence that gouerned him who gaue him counsell with al speed to aduerise the king his brother and his mother what his meaning was which was the cause that the king remooued not neuerthelèsse the mother that had som greater matter in her head made that voyage by night and went to the house of the Marshall de Retz in the subburbs of S. Honore The Parisians beleeuing whatsoeuer was told them touching those horses in short time made a great and puissant armie as they said The next day the king went vnto his mother and within eight daies after they went to Blois Saint Vincennes hauing holden diuers councels to deuise the means to intrap the Marshal d'Anuille that gaue them worke to do in Languedoc Meane time the Duke of Alencon and the king of Mauarre vppon the foure and twentieth of March published a declaration touching the matter of Saint Germains protesting their good wils towards the king and that they were resolued to oppose themselues with all their meanes against such as would rebell against him which was an occasion to bring the Marshall de Montmorencic vnto the Court who being come was arested as also the Marshall de Cosse and both most shamefully led prisoners to the Bastille On the other side la Mole Coconnas Tourtay seruants to the Duke of Alencon were committed within Parris and not long after executed hauing onely confessed to haue been of their Maisters counsell to depart out of the Court Diuers Lords and Gentlemen intangled in this processe saued themselues as well as they could the Duke of Alencon and the king of Nauarre were kept more straight and twise examined touching that action The estate of Dauphine Languedoc and poictou These troubles in the Court hindered not those of the religion their associates to looke vnto themselues In Dauphine Mombrun tooke Loriol Linron Alet Graue and Roinac and ouerthrew fiue companies of footmen that sought to impeach them Those of Villeneufue in Viuarais not long before had put certaine troupes to the swood that came against those of the religion without losse of one man and tooke Aubenas a Towne of great importance hauing cut the throates of all the Garrison for the most part composed of the massacres of Lyons The gouernment of Languedoc and Dauphine hauing bin committed to the Prince d'Auphine Monsieur d'Acier ioyned with him the Marshall d'Anuille by letters intercepted discouered what was pretended against him by which meanes hee beganne to draw to those of the religion consulting with Saint Romaine Gouernour of Nismes seized vppon Montpeslier Beaucaire Lunel and Pezenas In Poistou the Polititians ioyned with la Noue tooke Saint Maixaut Melle Fontenay Lusignan and other places In Normandie about the beginning of March What happened in Normandie to the Countie de Montgommery taken prisoner and after executed the Countie Montgommery accompanied with Lorges and Galardon his children departed from the Isle of Gerze and arriued at Rades where Colombieres de Fey with fistie Gentlemen came to meete him from whence hee went to Saint Lo and then with in three daies after assieged and took Carentan by compositiō Within a month after a strong armie of the enemie commaunded by Matignon and Feruaques set vppon him and inclosed him with a little weake towne and ill furnished called Danfrone accompanied with sixtie horse and eight harguebuziers conducted by Captaine la Touche the younger resoluing vppon a valiant defence euen in the beginning of the siege sent foorth siue and twentie horse and some small shot who giuing a sharpe onset slew seuen Gentlemen assaylants and nine horse and soretired with the losse of the Lord of Friaize who was slaine and two prisoners that they left behinde This was the eleuenth of May. The next day the besieged cut in peeces one Corps de garde but soone after some either for feare or won with faire woords forsooke the Countie and yeelded to the assaylants who in reward stripped and put them to their ransome The Queen-mother vnderstanding that the Countie whom shee hated to the death was in her nettes sent forces day and night to strengthen Matignon as also the armie that lay before Saint Lo was commanded with all speed to march to Danfrone where they had in the beginning of the siege six thousand small shot and fifteen hundreth horse The king being very sicke vpon the 23. of May the Castle was battered with six peeces of cannon that in fiue houres shot aboue fiue hundreth times and made a breach of fiue and fortie foote broad Then did most of the Counties men forsake him and in liew of entring the Castle with him fled out of the Towne into the campe where they receiued their deserued entailment as their former companions About two of the clock at after noone the assay lants came fiercely to the breach where they found the Countie on the right side with the lords of Brossay Chauuiny Cornieres Tere yong Touche Mahiliere Crosse Oulfe and others to the number of twentie On the left side were the Lords of Sey Hayes Vaudore Sanssaye Villenenfue and others in like number of twentie All togither fell vpon their knees to hear the prayer which one of the three Ministers there present made in the presence of the assay lants who when it was done came to handie blows in the order following Out of tenne companies of men at armes present at that siege Matignon the other Captains chose one hundreth Gentlemen even ten out of euerie companie well armed followed with 600. small shot with murrians 100. pikemen with their corselers These 800. men with some 200. voluntaries mixed among thē were led by the LL. of Fernaques Villermois S. Golombe Raberprey Lauerdin and others The fight lasted siue hours neither did the cannon cease which indomaged the defer dants with stones wherewith also the Countie was
One that published a discourse of his last speechs saith that not long before hee died hee desired his mother to pursue his enemies to the vttermost and that with great vehemencie he reiterated his speeches saying Madame I pray you heartily do it And in those combats of minde hee died at Blois Saint Vincennes vpon the 30. of May 1574. in the presence of his mother set vpon a chest accompanied with the Cardinals of Bourbon Ferrare the Chancellor Birague Lansac other Lords that beheld the end of the tragical life of this Prince that was born the 27. of Iune 1550. began to raigne the 5. of Decemb. 1560 and had a raigne which all posteritie will admire and abhorre So this Prince liued not till hee attained to the full age of foure and twentie yeares of nature beeing very actiue vnconstant in his cogitations rash in his enterprises impatient to attend diligent to looke into other mens natures prompt of conceit of good memorie extreame colloricke secret a great dissembler and one that easily framed his countenance Description of Charles the ninth which his Tutors many times put him in minde of for in the beginning hee was courteous and easie to bee ruled They likewise made him become one of the greatest blasphemers in France wherein he became so expert that that euill quallitie in him conuerted to bee his ordinarie speech Martigues Losses and others taught him that corruption by his mothers consent specially after the first troubles They contented not themselues with those corruptions but inticed him likewise to Courtizans to whom of himself he was not much adicted and to conclude to make him the capitall enemie of the religion both shee and they which ought to haue had more care of conseruing the honour of this Prince left nothing omitted wherby to push him forward to all vice to cause him to wallow in the filthinesse that couered him on all sides hee vttered his words in good termes with a readie and pleasant speech loued Musicke and Poetrie wee haue seene reasonable good verses of his composing But his principall exercise was in hunting the pleasure whereof made him forget all other pleasures and in the end hee gaue himselfe so much vnto it that the blood of wilde beasts which to shed hee tooke a singular pleasure hauing ript vp their bellies pulling out their intrailes with his owne hands made him in a manner to become furious so that many times at his returne from hunting hee entered into such furie that none of his seruants durst once appeare in his sight vnlesse would receiue some blows In his Anagranome which was deuised by certaine persons after the massacre was found out these two words Chasseur Desloyal wherein are as many letters and the same that are in Charles de Valois Hee had composed a booke of all the parts of bunting which till this time neuer was extant hee was sober drinking no wine slept little his visage long pale and swart a long nose sharpe and quicke sight specially after the second troubles of bodie well proportioned but beginning to stoupe Hee tooke pleasure to taunt great men not sparing either mother or bretheren specially the Duke of Aniou whom hee railed at and diuers times vsed him most vnwoorthily but aboue all hee had a great quarrell to the Parliament of Parris to the officers whereof in one of his Orations made touching the complaints of the neglecting of his commaundements hee said I will that from hencefoorth you shall obey my commaundement without any more disputation touching their merites for I know what is to bee done for the honour and profite of my realme better then you do And I will that from hencefoorth you shall not loose any time to write or frame your declaration vnto mee neither yet to moderate correct nor interpret my commaundements For my meaning is that all whatsoeuer I say and do shal presently bee executed Three daies before hee died his mother hauing shewed him of the taking of the Countie de Montgommery hee made her no aunswere and when shee told him that hee ought to reioyce at the taking of him that had killed his father I care neither for that said hee nor for any thing else in this world Hee likewise reioyced that hee left no small children behinde him because said he that leauing them in their minorities they should haue ouer much to suffer adding that France as then had neede of a man Now wee must speake of his successour and see what maner of man hee was Heere endeth the Historie of the last troubles that happened in the raigne of Charles the ninth A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE OF THE GREAT AND WONDERFVL EFFECTS THAT HAVE ENSVED THE KINGS CONVERSION Collected out of a certaine Oration made touching the reduction of the Cittie of Lyons vnder the kings obedience and sent to Monsieur de Reuol Councellour and Secretarie to the King THere was neuer any straunge or new accident how acceptable and pleasing soeuer it might bee that in all places or with all men was esteemed and holden in admiration for that euery man therein will giue censure according to his owne affection I speake this in respect of the mournfull silence which the reduction of the Cittie of Lyons hath inserted into the mindes of many men and the ioye it hath infused into the hearts and very entrailes of others for that therein I neuer spake with any man that would once conceiue the true cause and reason thereof which forceth mee at this present to enter into this discourse wherein so fit occasion beeing offered if it please you to giue me audience and permit me licence to speake I will in briefe most plainly shew that it is onely the miraculous and mightie worke of Gods hand which hath wrought the same although per aduenture this kinde of argument pleaseth not such men as are onely pleased with our displeasures and in a manner faint and are ouercome with the meere ayre and sweete sauour of the flower de luce It is long since agreed and consented vnto that Henry de Bourbon chiefe Prince of the blood royall and principall Peere of France by true discent by order of succession by right of blood and by custome and law of the Realme is called to the Crowne and gouernment of France which first quallitie is in him so true and perfect that none or fewe of his famous predecessors euer had more euident titles therevnto He is a Frenchman from his Grandfathers in both families and not onely a meere Frenchman but on his fathers side of the first branch of the blood royall the like on his mothers side by his father not onely descended from Saint Lewis or Hugh Capet but from Charles and Dagobert of whom the Capets descended contrarie to the wilfull ignorance of such as would prooue his familie to bee meere straungers and by his mother from the Alberts kings of Nauarre who successiuely were of the house of France and
haue one eye thrust out the other the greatest Princes in the world are much troubled thereby and yet constrained to indure it The Princes of Almaine haue this diuersitie in one Towne yea in one Host and in one familie without either trouble or diuision The interim of the Emperour Charles the fist 1530. Confirmed 1555. The Emperour Charles the fift was constrainsd to passe that path and his brother Ferdinand a man most affected to the Catholicque religion consented to the same libertie in his kingdomes of Bohemia Hungaria and Austria Pietie is the foundation of all estates which cannot be in all places where God is diuersly serued It is so and you finde many that complaine thereof but fewe that seeke the remedie we knowe but two that is rigor and peaceablenesse either by a generall Councell or by armes For the first it needeth not because the trueth once knowne and determined ought not to be brought in question or disputed of againe The latter is altogither straunge and it was neuer heard that men were put to death to force them to beleeue To kill burne and massacre are words neuer vsed but in seditious enterprises those of the new opinion that liue among the Catholicques without preaching or open exercises are content to seeke no further freedome then the libertie of their conscience without being troubled A King cannot refuse his subiects the libertie of not speaking for that mens tongues and consciences are not vnder the Soueraigntie of his Scepter Tacere liceat Nulla libertas minor a rege Petitur Senec. O ed. Lictance li. 5. cap. 14. God is the God of mens soules Kings may constraine mens bodies and force them to say that outwardly which inwardly they deny For as he that is called the Cicero of Christians saith Who can constraine me not to beleeue that which I will beleeue or to thinke that credible which seemeth incredible there is nothing so voluntarie as religion but if the minde be separated from it it is no more religion but hypocrisie and dissimulation force will do that Purpure cultores efficies non Dei. which should be done onely by loue for by it men respect more the penalties of the lawe then the lawe it selfe they will reuerence the Iudges scarlet gowne not for the loue of the Iudge but for feare of the executioner that attendeth on him â—ides suadenda non imperanda Bernard and when they are gone their courages are found to be strongerthen their torments their constancie greater then their cruelties peaceablenesse is more conuenient and hath more force Faith commandeth not but is taught the strongest or roughest bits are not fit for good horses Our coÌ„sciences are the like for force breaketh sooner theÌ„ bendeth theÌ„ If the Lute bee not well tuned or if the Meane do not agree with the Base we must not therefore breake it About the end of Iune 1574. the king called him his father but winde it softly vp and you shall make them accord The Emperour Maxemilion that said that no sinne could be greater then to violate mens consciences answered the king of France returning out of Polonia proposing the ruine of the Huguenots the restablishing of the only religioÌ„ of his forefathers in his realm that those wich seek to rule ouer meÌ„s consciences supposing to win heauen do oftentimes loose their possessions on earth To obey God and serue the king Two religions cannot command in one Realme It is true but that is no consequent why there should not be two for the subiect is not bound to follow the religion of his Prince as long as he permitteth him the libertie of his own he must obey and serue hee giueth to God that which is Gods and to Caezar In the time of Clouis a Pagan there was Christians in FraÌ„ce that which is Caezars and confoundeth not the difference between those two seruices and duties He that hath one religion cannot haue two and hateth and detesteth that which is the contrarie Clouis our first christian King being a Pagan tollerated christians in his Realme and so did our King being in Polonia permit Latin and Greeke Churches with the confession of Ausbourg Lutherans and Caluenists to liue togither in Muscouia and other countries belonging vnto the Emperor the prince of Greece a great part of his subiects are different froÌ„ him touching religion And although the Turke receiueth not the Crowne yet he constraineth them not to leaue their christianitie The Frenchmen could not indure Iewes in France They bannished them not because of their religion but for their Barbarous cruelties wherewith they crucified young children in dispight of the sonne of God and for their extreame vsuries wherewith they consumed the common people The king suffering Heretickes doth wrong to the Catholicques The king is Common-father to them as well as to the others Iewes banished out of France and for what cause as there is no reason to prooue the ingratitude of the sonne towards the father so all lawes detest the inhumanitie and impietie of the father against the son Those whom the king so oftentimes proclaimeth rebelles and his enemies are his children his subiects and his seruants God neuer prospereth the enterprises of the subiect against his Prince very sildome haue kings had great triumphs by wars ouer their subiects It belongeth to a Vittellius and not to a king of France to walke along the fieldes his garments all died with the blood of his subiects Vitellius said that the body of the enemie slaine sauoureth well but that of the citizen beeing dead is better Tacit. lib. 17. Suet in the life of Vitellius Cap. 10. The people neuer die The 5. Edict of peace An. 1577. made at Poictiers in the moneth of Septemb. Conference at Nerac the last of Februarie 1579. The 6. Edict of peace in An. 1581. and to delight in the sauour of their dead bodies lying slaine vppon the ground VVhen the Huguenots shall be ouerthrowne and consumed the king shall liue in peace Suppose he putteth them to death and that at one time hee cutteth off a hundreth thousand heads The General seed is immortall by the succession of euery particular familie kindred and seuerall man which still increaseth one after the other although euery particular man of himselfe is mortall the bodie of the people in general neuer dieth The K. may wel destroy al the particulars of this new opinion but they will leaue as many children whose innocencie God and nature will not permit to touch that will succeed not onely in their goods but in the humors quarrels and passions of their fathers In fine those that perswaded peace by their reason alleadged got the vpper hand of those that desired warre and there vpon it was concluded with great concontentment on both both parts that the Prince of Conde the same night he receiued it caused it to be published by torch-light although with lesse aduantage on
his side then the first For it restored the exercise of the Catholicque religion in the places where it had been prohibited continuing and commending it to bee vsed in all places it suffered mens consciences to bee free yet without publicke exercise but onely in the Townes and places where as then it was openly preached and to Gentlemen of quallitie degree in their own houses yet there was some difficultie in the execution and obseruation of this peace which the conference at Nerac betweene the Queene-mother and the King of Nauarre soone auoyded but the wound not well healed did still bleed by meanes of the furious disorders of those that were his chiefe doers but in the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth eightie and one it was wholly ioyned and drawne vnto a scarre Peace being made what became of those that desired nothing but warre Monsieurs voyage into Flaunders The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde withdrew themselues And the Queene-mother caused her title which she pretended to the Crowne of Portugall as onely heire of the house of Boulongne to be discided And Monsieur the kings brother after the example of the Arch-duke Matthias went into Flaunders there to make worke for the king of Spaine where he made a goodly entrie but an euill retrait Mean time what did the king he to ouerthrow impietie by godlinesse and heresie by trueth and to shew by all his actions that he desired nothing more then the ending of all diuisions in his Realme and knowing that the Prince is as it were a spring from whence there issueth either vice or vertue that the people follow his steps that they do more by example then by commaundement hee shewed himselfe the mirrour of deuotion and christian reformation Institution of the order of the holy ghost 1579. hee ordained many holy Congregations true Schooles and Gardens of pietie he built Monasteries he frequented religious persons he ware the order and by the example of Lois the eleuenth to vnite great persons in concord and inuiolable amitie both for the benefite of the estate and Countrie he instituted the order of the holy Ghost as an authentike declaration that he neither could loue nor do good to hereticques binding al the knights of the Order by a solemne oath vnto such conditions as only pleased Catholicque mindes hee esteemed that by spirituall remedies hee might heale the disease of the spirit and frenzie of new opinions that force or mans pollicie could not constraine mens consciences that we must not kill to make men beleeue that the conuersion of such as are strayed out of the way is the onely worke of the hand of God and that the wisest Princes had bin constrained to giue ouer violence and terrour of warres and haue recourse to catechisings for the reducing of the consciences of their subiects hee bestowed Bishoppricks and spirituall promotions vpon such as hee knewe to bee no lesse learned then religious hee caused all sorts of bookes of pietie and deuotion to be printed forbidding and defending the impression of heretickes writings And to conclude he liued more like a Capuc in theÌ„ a King he desired no more war his Diana was the singing of the Foueilantins his Campe-royal a Cloyster his armour Maners fashions of Henry the third An Anagramme made of the king Henticus terâ—ius inte vere Christus a Penitentiaries sack he liued continually with a Crucifix in his hand and if he liued it was no more he but Iesus Christ that liued in him Such witnesse of his actions was giuen by the Capucins of Parris such was the commendation he had by Father Bernard Fueillantin and Father Edmund Anger that had well searched tried sounded and tasted the conscience of this Prince both publikely and priuately assured and perswade euery man that France in long time before had not any Prince more religious nor more humble as hauing no other care then onely to keepe and maintaine his subiects first in their obedience to God and next vnto himselfe Neuerthelesse he that in a litle booke intituled Francophile sheweth the greatnes of his spirit as the common Prouerb is maketh the Lyon known by his feet writeth cleane contrarie of the actions of this king while he led that sollitarie life Whose proper words I will rehearse and ioyne them to this treatise either in trueth they are of greater eloquence copiousnes of matter then mine own which areas followeth He was soon wearie of wars as of nature he was sost delicate his spirit weak Francophile imprinted at Chartres Anno. 1591. Fâ—l 31. and 32. lowe impatient to indure trauel or paine all his complexions vnequal differing too base for a souldier he sought a peaceable quiet life And so hee soone turned to delight in weddings dauncings and all ordinary pastimes which procured long peace But the Queene and those of the house of Guise perceiuing him to take that course thoght to vse him as a sipher and while hee busied himselfe with deuising of measures and concordes of dauncings to hold the rule of the Common-wealth and to dispose the gouernment thereof but they found themselues soone frustrate of their intent for as a fore eye desireth shad dowe and cannot indure the light so the spirit of this Prince alreadie molten and in a manner mollified in this profound rest and quietnesse could not indure the presence of great persons whether it were because in his delights hee feared their checkes or that hee more desired the priuitie of meaner men in such maner that finding themselues farre out of their accounts they had recourse to wicked practises and inuentions wherewith in time they filled all the countrie of France Meane time certaine yeares past ouer wherein to furnish the superfluities of the Court the Commons of France were so straungely oppressed that they knewe not what course to holde wherein those of Guise were not ydle And as the hunter watcheth in narrowe places for the Quailes which the rigor of winter season driueth into more temperate and pleasant countries so among so many publike disorders they were alwaies watching in the Court to take vp and entertaine male contents where no houre in the day passed ouer their heads but they cought a new Pigeon And this hunting was not only holden in that place but in all the Townes of France where the people were so hardly pressed and beaten down with the waight of those burthens that all the hopes and comforts of better intertainment by the Guises offered they presently imbrased without iudgement or discretion And among all these discontents of the subiects oppressed with great taxes of the Clargies impatieÌ„ce at the increasing of their enemies and of the Princes of Lorraine The faith obedience of the people began to decline 1582. restrained from the kings fauour it was an easie matter to renue the league of Peronne and to animate their hearts that were disposed to reuolt
religion if there were no other passion that touched his enemies at the heart he added that if the king would not accept his fidelitie hee can do no more but content himselfe with his owne innocencie and affection towards his Maiestie and the State Declaration protestatiō of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde In his declaration hauing disciphered the cause of leaguers taking armes the vanitie of their pretences and the fruites that all the Estates of France may reape by the conclusion of the treatie of Nemours by breaking the peace and beginning warre Hee protesteth and with him the Prince of Conde his Cousin the Duke de Mommorency the Lords Gentlemen Prouinces Townes and common people as well of the one as of the other religion to oppose themselues against the Authors of those troubles in a lawfull and necessary defence therby to conserue the lawes which are the foundations of all families and to maintaine the estate and libertie of the King and of the Queene his mother Sixtus 5. excommunicateth the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde in September 1585. This Prince had need to bee a strong Bulwarke thereby to defend himselfe against so many assaults on all sides made vppon him For hauing both the king and the league as enemies on the one side on the other side commeth the Pope with his thunderboults of excommunication declaring him incapable to the succession of the Crowne of France abandoning his person and his countries for a praye to such as could obtaine it Touching this Bull many whole bookes both with it and against it were written and set foorth to the which I referre the curiositie of such as desire to knowe whether the Pope hath any authoritie ouer the estate of France for which consideration The King of Nauarres letters to the States the Court of Parliament would not allowe it Therevppon the king of Nauarre complained to all the Estates of France in that they had caused the succession of a king beeing yet aliue to bee decided in the Court of Rome made the title of a Prince of the blood to be iudged by the Pope and suffered the Consistorie to giue that which belonged not vnto them And hauing particularly represented vnto them the mischiefes which thereby might arise togither with the shame and perpetuall reproach vnto this Nation in hauing To the Clergie produced monsters into the world and rebelles among a most obedient people hee endeth his letters with reiecting the mischiefes of those miseries vppon those that are the authors In his letter to the Cleargie hee said If war bee so acceptable vnto you if a battell liketh you better then a disputation a bloodie conspiracie more then a Councell I will wash my handes and the blood that thereby shall bee spilt be vppon your owne heades I am assured that the maledictions of such as shall thereby indure great miserie will not fall vppon mee so that my patience my reasons and obedience are sufficiently knowne Meane time I hope God will blesse my iust quarrell to whom I commend you To the Nobilitie To the Nobilitie hee writeth and saith The Princes of France are the keyes of the Nobilitie I loue you all I feele my selfe perished and become weake in your blood The straunger hath no interest in this losse I haue good cause to complaine of some but I rather bewaile them I am readie to imbrace them all That which most displeaseth me is that those which I most esteem of whom I knowe haue been circumuented I cannot distinguish them being in armes but God knoweth my thought their blood be vpon the authors of these miseries to whom we praye c. To the Commons after he had deplored their woundes and scarres and assured them of his readinesse to shed his blood if his enemies would by a combat of two and two end the warre To the Commons which would be the death of so many thousands of men He saith I am a Frenchman borne I will bee partner of your miseries I haue assayed all meanes to exempt you from ciuill discordes and will neuer spare my life that they may be abridged I will not impute the fault vpon you you are Frenchmen but rather esteem of your good willes I demaund nothing else of all you that according to your vocations are most subiect to indure mischiefe then to doo it but onely your vowes prayers and good-wils But because hee feared the sword of Saint Paul more then the keyes of Saint Peter and that the Gold of Spaine is more daungerous then the Lead of Rome he sent his Ambassadors to the protestant Princes of Germanie to craue their aydes Which the king perceiuing sent the Cardinall of Lenoncourt and the President Brulart vnto him to assure him of his Maiesties good-will of the great desire he had to see him vnited to the Catholicke Church not onely for the safetie of his conscience but also for the easier establishing of his succession to the Crown to declare the causes that had moued him to breake the peace and to desire him to yeeld vp the Townes which he held for his securitie The king of N. hauing yeelded most humble thankes vnto them for his Maiesties good will in his behalfe aunswered that without instruction he could not change his religion for the which so much time and blood had been shed And that those of his side were so farre from yeelding vp the Towns giuen to them for their securitie that following the example of the leaguers they had cause rather to aske for more The Ambassadours perceiuing that neither the one nor the other poynt of their Ambassage tooke effect ended their commission by desiring the king of Nauarre to enter into a treatie wherein the Queene-mother would labour to his contentment Conference agreed vpon and trauell as farre as to Champigny if in the meane time it pleased him to staye the forraine armie Hee willingly accepted of the conference but to the other poynt he said that he neither could nor ought in any sort to stay or withdraw the good willes of those who in so much important an occasion yea and in so extreame necessitie had entered into the field that by restoring the authoritie of the king troden vnderfoote by the breach of his edicts they might defend him from the forraine inuation of the league The Electors Palatin the Duke of Saxe the M. of Brandenburg the D. of Brunswick the Lantgraue of Hessen sent Ambassadors to the king in Parris The Kings answere to the Protestant Ambassadors The Princes of Germainie that sought to ayde such as were of their religion perceiuing France to bee a bodie in a manner wounded to death thought good to procure the remedie thereof rather then to helpe to giue the mortall blowe and to prooue if by intreatie and faire meanes they might cease the causes of their diuision and procure the tranquillitie of the common-wealth by the obseruation
times to hold a Parliament to reforme the abuses of his Court which hee caused to bee assembled making shewe to redresse the maladie of his Realme but it was to intrap his Princes and Lords and put them to death which he did apprehending the number of two and twentie whose heads hee caused to bee striken off Hee was degraded and deposed of his royall dignitie and the Lords of his Realm caused him to die by thrusting a redde hotte spit into his fondament The Duke d'Espernon complained of the wretchednesse of that time and of the infamous libertie of Erenchmen in dishonouring their Prince and abhorred that manner of writing wishing a seuere punishment might bee executed both vpon the composers and readers thereof for example to others The League hauing dispatched the kings Councellours from his presence and established their tyranny in his affections desired nothing more but the ouerthrow of the Huguenots for that thorne sticking still in their foote they could not march with good assurance so that they ceased not till they sawe them assayled in two places The Duke de Neuers Generall of the armie at Poiton that is Poitou and Dauphine His Maiestie gaue the conduction of the armie into Poitou to the D. de Neuers a Prince full of zeale in religion and fidelitie to the king and valerous in armes who The Duke de Neuers Generall of the armie at Poiton perceiuing that the warre stayed but onely for want of money lent the king fortie thousand Crowns proceeding frō his part of the partage of the goods of his fathers house The Duke of Guise knowing that the armie would not bee so soone prepared and that while it was prouiding the king of Nauarre might take the field and get the aduantage sent the Regiment of Saint Paul to Monsieur de Mercurie and desired him to begin to prepare the way for the armie of Monsieur de Neuers which marched forward and to giue the enemie as much as hee could thereby not to giue him libertie to march vppon them The comming of the Duke de Mercury in Poitou The Duke de Mercury with his troupes marched along by the riuer of Loire to enter into base Poitou and because the towne of Montagu although not long before spoyled and vnwalled had been repaired and fortified by Monsieur de Colombiers that held it for the king of Nauarre and that the Garrison thereof continually molested and hindered those of Nantes hee determined to besiege it and so take that retrait from the Huguenots and to the same end caused three cannons to bee layde at Pontrousseau to batter it but beeing aduertised that the king of Nauarre had issued out of Rochell vppon the ninth of August minding to ayde Montagu he left it and retired to Nantes leauing the Regiment of Gersey to make his retrait which was surprised and ouerthrowne within two myles of Pillemil beeing the subburbes of Nantes This Prince of so generous nature that he gloried not in vanquishing those he had ouercome perceiuing that Regiment to yeelde vnto his mercie Victorie without bloodshed contented himselfe with eight Ensignes and foure hundreth and fiftie prisoners and giuing thankes to God in open field dined vnder a tree and there forgetting the great way hee had marched the night before not to leese occasion of intrapping that Regiment the same day hee hunted the Partrige and in the euening entered into Montagu to take order for the fortification and Garrison thereof It is said that Caezars tongue did him great seruice in many enterprises his eloquence did in such sort stirre vppe the courages of his souldiers that bending their heads forward they passed on whether fortune and his commandement would push them Promptnesse and celeritie crowned all the enterprises of the king of Nauarre with laurell triumphs esteeming that long discourses are to no effect where it is more necessarie to doo then to speake The action which is not done with speed can neuer take any notable effect Pompey was blasoned and Hanniball likewise as being too slacke in taking occasions offered And most part of our armies are broken ouerthrown more by delaies then speedinesse wee must haue so long preparation for our men before they bee readie while they are preparing the aduantage is lost An army from Spaine while the king prepared and appoynted the two armies for Poitou and Dauphine that the king of Nauarre returned victorious vnto Rochel and that the Duke d'Espernon tolde how he had escaped the furie of the people of Augoulesme The estate of the army and remained eight and twentie houres besieged without meate or drinke newes was spred in all places of France Their Commaunders Captaines of the approaching of the great and horrible Spanish armie that had cast anker before Calais on Dunkerke side staying the ayde of the Prince of Parma that was to ioyn with the Fleet with great forces and numbers of horses to make their discent in England more easie to bee performed The armie was called inuincible and of a most admirable preparation which might bee seene by the description thereof printed at Lisbon and after that translated into French Dutch and Italian It contained one hundreth and thirtie shippes one hundreth nine and twentie men of quallitie that went voluntary at their owne charges and with them foure hundreth fiftie sixe seruants to attend on them The number of the Regiments two hundreth sixe and twentie Lords Gentlemen Captaines Ensign-bearers Lieftenants and other principall officers of companies with one hundreth sixtie and three seruants one hundreth and thirtie regiments hauing one hundreth seuentie two Ensignes and twentie thousand fighting men among the which many were appoynted to be horsemen according to the preparations made in the Prince of Parmaes ships that prepared diuers furnitures for horses which they expected to be readie for them in England Euery Vessel and Regiment had his visitor farrier treasurer Commissarie for prouissions Their Officers Commissaries and his Surgeon The Officers of Iustice were an Auditor generall his Lieftenant an Alquazil for the king and his Lieftenant foure other Alquazils foure Secretaries sixe Vshers and one Geolier The Marshall of the field The great Maister of the Artillerie The Maister of the field Alphonse de Cepede assisted with twentie Gentlemen to prouide both by land and sea for all difficulties that might happen with two Ingenieurs The chiefe Maister of the ordinances and artillery had his Lieftenants beeing fiftie nine Maister Gunners with a Generall of the carriages and cartes prepared for the land and a Generall for al the instruments of Iron that were to bee vsed about them and for the entertaining and conduction thereof a Commissarie of the Mulets and twentie two Groomes to lead them In the Hospitall of the sicke there was a General ouerseer and his Lieftenant fiue Phisitians The Hospitall fiue Surgeons fiue Assistants to them foure binders vp of wounds one
it is a necessary euill warres likewise cannot bee well followed without mony and seeing at this present wee are in a good course to extirpe accursed heresies it is necessary we should prouide great summes of mony to furnish our expenses for want whereof to say the trueth our leuyings of men will bee more to our hinderances then our profits and yet there can be no exployt done without them For my part therefore I promise not to spare any meanes whatsoeuer wherein likewise I craue that zeale of you which you haue alwaies assured mee to beare vnto the seruice of God and the commoditie of this Common-wealth And therefore you must shewing you the full reuenues of my whole estate haue that consideration that the Senate of Rome had of an Emperour who desiring as I doo to suppresse all subsidies shewed him that such leuyings of treasure were the sinues and vaines of the body of the Common-wealth which beeing taken away it would presently desolue and be vnlosed And yet I say that I would to God that the necessitie of my estate constrained mee not to vse them and that at one instant I might gratifie my people with so goodly a present as also that my daies might be abridged not desiring to liue any longer then that my life might be profitable and aduantage to the seruice of God and all your preseruations Touching the order required for the disposing of my treasures so much for the comfort and ease of my people whether it bee concerning the ouer great numbers of officers or other particularities I am perswaded you will take as good order by your wisedomes as shall bee requisite as beeing one of the principall pillers whereby wee and all our estate in generall for the most part are supported It is likewise a matter of conscience that toucheth our soules healths to take order for our debts which I haue not altogither made but beeing debts of our Realme you ought to haue a care thereof wherevnto both publicque faith and wisedome bindeth you all and you shall bee certified what they are The King beeing the patron whereby all his subiects learne to frame their actions it is therefore that of my naturall inclination I will so gouerne mine owne person and my house that from hencefoorth they shall serue for a rule and example to all the rest of my Realme and Kingdome And to the end I may witnesse by effect that which you desire of mee and which is most deepely ingraued within my heart touching this great assembly hauing fully determined vpon your memorialles and billes which I desire you may bee done with all the speede you can and with your good counselles and aduise as I will shew vnto you the next day after in open audience in the Church that it may bee knowne to all my subiects and so holde it for an inuiolable and firme lawe whereby no man may withstand it but with shame and infamie and vppon paine to bee accessary of high treason as an enemie to this countrie I meane by oath vppon the Euangelistes to binde all the Princes Lordes and Gentlemen that are assistant at this Parliament togither with you the Deputies of my estates and therevppon you shall receiue the Sacrament to obserue all the thinges that therein are contained as sacred lawes not reseruing vnto my selfe the libertie of exemption from the same for any cause pretence or occasion whatsoeuer may heereafter happen Which done I will presently cause it to bee sent into all the Courts of Parliament throughout my Realme to sweare all Ecclesiasticall Noble and common persons therevnto with this clause that whosoeuer opposeth himselfe against it shall alwaies bee holden as a notorious traitor And if heerein I seeme to submit my selfe more then becommeth mee vnto the lawes whereof I am the Authour and which of themselues dispence with mee therein and that by this meanes I reduce my rovall estate to more certaine termes and poynts then that of my predecessors It is the principall cause that maketh the generous minde of the Prince best knowne and discerned to addresse and frame his thoughts and actions vnto his good lawes and wholly to oppose himselfe against the corruptions thereof and it will suffice mee to make answere therevnto as that King did to whom it was tolde that hee sought to leaue his royaltie in woorse estate to his successors then hee enioyed it from his predecessors that he would make it much more durable and assured then euer it was But to end my long discourse hauing vsed authoritie and commaundement I will now proceede to exhortations and prayers and first I charge you all by the dutie you owe to God by whom I am appoynted and substituted ouer you to represent his person by the name of true Frenchmen that is of passionate louers of their naturall and lawefull Prince by the ashes of the memories of so many Kings my Predecessours that haue so louingly and happily ruled and gouerned ouer you by the charitie that you beare vnto your Countrie by the boundes and hostages it hath of your fidelities your wiues your children and your domesticall fortunes that with all your hearts you imbrace this occasion that you bee wholly and altogither carefull for the Common-wealth that you vnite and ioyne your selues with mee to striue against the disorders and corruptions of this estate by your sufficiencie by your integritie and by your greate care and diligence abandoning and forsaking all contrary thoughts and following onely my example not hauing any other desire then the onely good of the Common-wealth and as my selfe beeing estraunged from all other ambition then that onely which concerneth and toucheth a subiect as I my selfe beare no other minde then that which belongeth vnto a good faithfull and Christian King If you doo otherwise you shall bee filled with all accursednesse you will imprint a perpetuall spot of infamie in your posteritie and names and also bereaue your posteritie of that successiue name and title of sidelitie towardes your King which by your auncestors hath been so carefully left vnto you And for mine owne parte I will take heauen and earth to witnesse and I will bee iudged both by God and man that it is not my fault nor any want of diligence in mee that the disorders of this Realme haue not beene long since reformed but that you are the onely cause by forsaking your lawefull Prince in so woorthie so holy and so commendable an action Lastly I summon you all to appeare at the latterday before the Iudge of all Iudges where all mens thoughts and secret meanings shall bee opened where the maskes and visards of craftes and dissimulations shall bee pulled off there to receiue reward by you desired for your disobedience towards your King togither with your great negligence and small loyaltie in regard of this estate But God forbidde that I should euer thinke it but rather conceiue that you will rule your selues therein as I perswade my selfe
himselfe and the meanes hee vsed to attaine vnto the same I will put this proposition that this Prince is bound and a neighbour vnto France and in that case neither ought nor may bee an enemie vnto it Hee is the sonne of that great and polliticque Prince Charles Philebert duke of Sauoy who so wisely found the means to recouer that which his father had lost The praise of Charles Philebert Duke of Sauoy The principall glory and truely as I thinke the most necessary for a Prince of his quallitie was that among so many troubles and betweene two great Monarchies striuing togither hee could behaue himselfe so well that neither the one nor the other once touched him maintaining his countrie in peace affectioned to the seruice of our kings as hee that had receiued that honor to marrie the sister of king Henry the second a friend to the King of Spaine in whose Court hee had passed ouer the most part of his greefes for his forepassed losses a good neighbour to the Switzers and other Princes of Italie to liue in peace hee permitted the free accesse of Huguenots into his Townes of Thurin and assured them a retrait into the vallies of Angrongne Lucerne Saint Martin Pragela and la Perouze without constraining them as hee might well haue done to vse the Catholicque religion and looking into the depth of diuers things hee made meanes vnto the king of Nauarre for a match to bee made betweene the Lady Margaret the Kings sister and his sonne and what hee practised for his owne benefite the same he counselled vnto others for when hee perceiued that Henry king of Polonia threatned to renue the warres assoone as hee should set foote within his realme hee disswaded him from that resolution setting before him the incertitude of warres which most commonly are sweete in the beginning but difficult to bee pursued and most bitter and hurtfull in the ende See the order of Montagu Hee desired rather to leaue some parte of his Landes vnto the Switzers then to seeke to winne them by armes Hee behaued himselfe so well in his counselles which our kings reiected and imprinted such an opinion of his wisedome greatnesse and felicitie within his subiects mindes that the Sauoyen not knowing nor beeing able to imagine any greatnesse more eleuated or happyer then that of their Duke that they said that if the king of France could haue guided his affaires in as good sorte hee hadde beene man sufficient and fitte to haue beene Great-Maister of the Duke of Sauoyes house Charles Emanuel Duke of Sanoy Charles Emanuel his sonne perceiuing that the wisedome and pollicie of his father had left his estate in good securitie with a reasonable great quantitie of treasures and yet not so much as would suffice to make any forraine warres determined to imploy that generositie naturally ingraffed in him in some goodly enterprise hee threatned Ceneua and made shewe of doing some great exployt against it but acknowledging the insufficiencie of his forces for his so high an enterprise they determined vppon a marriage and married the King of Spaines youngest daughter and with her the passions of his father in lawe The Duke of Sauoy cannot liue in peace if the king of Frāce be his enemie At the beginning it was thought hee would haue contented himselfe to haue beene friend with France allyed vnto Spaine that vppon the apprehension of the fall of our estate he would neuer pretend any thing against vs that hee would staye himselfe more vppon thinges certaine then vppon vncertaine and variable that knowing that vppon the one side hee hadde the Almaines on the other the Switzers on the third the Venecians and on the fourth the Princes of Italie hee would become friend to the Frenchmen their friends It was thought that if hee had ambition in his minde it would vanish vnder a more iust title that feeling himselfe weake hee would enterprise any thing against a mightie King nor would not breake the bond of amitie for his part due vnto him holding his estates from this Crowne which of late of meere courtesie hadde restored Sauignan and Pigneroles vnto him yet without apparant necessitie and without any reason whatsoeuer hee vndertooke the vsurpation of the territories of France bordering vppon Piedemont And yet it was not done without pretence declaration and excuse for first hee wrote vnto the Pope that the feare hee had least Monsieur de Desdiguieres should cease vppon certaine of his Townes and so in the middle of his countrie make a retraict and refuge for the Huguenots had constrained him to diuert that mischiefe generally from the Church and particularly from his owne estate which hee desired to continue in the puritie of the auncient religion vnder the obedience of the holy sea of Rome The duke of Sauoyes pretence why he inuaded the Marquisat of Saluce Hee excused himselfe vnto the King touching this breach of peace saying that the onely zeale of religion togither with the feare of the contagious neighbourhood of hereticques had constrained him ther vnto sending an Ambassador to giue him notice thereof and so to disguise that iniurie with the fairest and most counterfeit hee could deuise At the first he made shewe as if he would not hold those places but vnder the kings authoritie and by little and little he vsurped all soueragne power degrading the kings officers erected the Sauoyan crosse and threwe downe the flower deluces of France Ann. 1481. His officers couered this vsurpation with an other title and maintained that the Marquisat of Saluces is holden infest of the Duchie of Sauoy and that one of the Marquises thereof beeing a braue and valiant Gentleman disdaining in person to doo homage to Charles the sixt Duke of Sauoy being very young was for his misprision declared a traitor driuen out of his Countries and his Marquisat confiscated The Marquesse of Saluce infested into the countrie of Dauphine But the truth is that this countrie hath alwaies been infest to the principalitie of Dauphine contained in the gift that Prince Humbert made vnto the Crown of France namely that the Marquesse of Saluce had recourse vnto the king of France who receiued homage and fidelitie of him and euer since his successours did continue the dutie of vassalles vnto the Kings Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth and Francis the first From thence it proceedeth that hee which enquired and gathered into a great volume the causes and reasons of the raising of armes in the moneth of Ianuary reporteth this surprising of the Marquisate of Saluces to bee deriued from principalles of the League that dismembreth thier Crowne and Common-wealth perceiuing that neither of them could preserue it whole and intire and these are his words ABout that time the Duke of Sauoy supposing the king by reason of his departure from Parris to bee wholly ouerthrowne sent to speake with Monsieur de Guise minding to enter into League with him vppon
King that it would bee necessary for him to make peace within his Realme and to reuenge that iniurie to driue away the Goate that eateth the colewoorths while the Good-man is fighting with his wife to chase the wolfe that assayleth the sheepfolde while the Sheepheards are quarrelling togither For so the Romanes agreed togither when they perceiued the enemie before their Capitoll so the Spaniards left of their mutenie when they beheld the white crosse before Fontarabie so the Frenchmen appeased their debates to ioyne togither for the driuing of the Englishmen out of Normandie They tolde the King it would bee accounted a poynt of great cowardise in them if they should seeme to bee offended thereat if they should indure the pride and ambition of their so weake an enemie if they should suffer the Crowne of France to bee dismembred specially the places which are particularly allotted vnto the eldest sonne of the King The king is resolued to folow strange wars and to pacifie ciuil broyles To suffer that a meane Prince should in a brauado take away from a King of France that little plot that rested vnto him of the territories of Italie togither with foure hundreth peeces of Cannon-shotte the Frontiertowne of France lying beyond the Mountaines that place that was able to withstand the most proude forces of the Spaniards which onely rested vnto vs as an assured pawne therewith in short space to recouer againe the countries of Naples and Milan The King beeing in flamed with iust greefe was fully mooued at this tyranny and iudged this branch of mischiefe to spring out from the bodie of the coniurations of the League for the which cause he said hee would make peace with the Huguenot to serue himselfe by their means against such as sought to pull off his cloathes before he ment to go to bedde minding to quit himselfe from the rule of such as like maiors of the Pallace sougt nothing but his subiection vnto their passions The Duke of Guise excuseth himselfe The Duke of Guise perceiuing that all the assembly the whole Parliament all the kings seruants iudged this inuation to be done by his means and to bee the onely effect of the League and that it bred hatred and repentance in the hearts of those that esteemed his proceedings to bee most iust he besought the king not to bee mooued thereat assuring him that assoone as his Maiestie should haue quenched the fire which the Huguenots had begun to kindle within his realm he would be one of the first that should passe the Mountaines to make his forraine enemies yeeld their praye desiring his Maiestie to giue him that commission but first he said hee ought to assure his people of that hee had promised them by oath touching the holy vnion and the good resolution of the Parliament The king that could not well disiest this aduise receiuing it as from the heart of him that had giuen the spirit motion to the mischiefe by his continuall practises with straungers perceiuing that neither his Edict of vnion nor yet the obligation of the oath which he had taken concerning religion of all the Princes of the League to make them depart and leaue their secret associations as well within as without the Realme had not wrought that effect which hee expected hee determined from that time forward to bee reuenged of all forepassed offences perswading himselfe not to bee bound to obserue the Edict of vnion seeing the League had first begunne to breake it consenting to the pernicious intents of strangers Reade the wars of Geneua in the booke following not withdrawing themselues from the mutuall intelligences it had with him but in the meane time while hee dissembled his displeasure against the Duke of Cuise hee vsed another meanes against the Duke of Sauoy which I will shewe heereafter That the king of Nauarre was not much greeued at the iniurie which a meane Duke had done vnto a mightie king it is not to bee doubted yet he reioyced thereat being in hope of some good fortune that might thereby ensue and that it would be occasions to end the diuisions partiallities within the Realme of France At such time as this new trouble sprang vp among the assembly at Blois hee was in Rochel where hee called an other assembly of the Churches of his religion seeing the artificiall deuises of the League had shut the gate against him where hee ought to holde the principall place as the first Prince and chiefe Magistrate of France An assembly at Rochel This assembly began the fourteenth day of Nouember in the Town-house of Rochel the King of Nauarre beeing present assisted by Moniseur de Turenne Monsieur de Trimouille and other Gentlemen of his house and Councell as in a manner there is not any Prouince in France wherein this religion hath not purchased some acres of land and by that meanes there were Deputies from all places By whose aduise and resolution sprang the request presented vnto the States at Blois The Protestants demaundeth a Councell vnder the name and title of the Frenchmen exiled for the religion beseeching the king to restore them vnto the libertie of the first Edict which from the name of the moneth wherein it was published was called the edict of Ianuary to ordaine that a national Councell might be assembled where the Doctors on both parts with good securitie in presence of his Maiestie and all the assembly might peaceably debatetheir differences and holily decide and resolue vpon the same to graunt them the free libertie of possessing their goods for supplying their necessities to permit the registring of their supplication together with the consenting therevnto by his Maiesties pleasure to the end that nothing might bee done in that assembly to preiudice them This petition was badly framed at that time as beeing wholly contrary to the principall intent of that assembly which beeing for the most part composed of men chosen and purposely taken out from among the most passionate aduancers of the League desire rather to destroy then instruct such as had strayed aside and sooner to drowne then to wash the infected And therefore not beeing satisfied with the Edict of vnion the right destruction of the Protestants they ceased not vntill both from the king himselfe and all the assembly they had procured a declaratiō of the perpetual disabilitie of the king of Nauarre to the succession of the Crowne Yet their artificiall poysons do not so fully infect all the body of that assembly and their mindes were not in such manner tyed vnto the opinions of the League but that there were some persons both of dignitie reputation that would not permit that the means should bee taken from the king to revnite his subiects in one religion seeing that the intent of the Parliament ought onely to tend vnto a publike peace and therefore they counselled him to procure a lawfull Councell against this schisme of conscience
and vnderstood his reasons The law to heare the accused leauing this infallible doctrine vnto vs that wee must not condemne any man how greeuous an offender soeuer hee bee before wee haue heard him and well examined his cause it was the naturall equitie of this lawe that caused Sicynius to oppose himselfe against the decree of the Tribunes pronounced vppon Cariolanus condemned without beeing heard this reason mooued the Ambassadours of Etrurie to perswade themselues that the Romanes would graunt them the repeating of Tarquinius Superbus because hee hadde beene banished and neuer heard speake in his owne defence and that great author of Romane eloquence complaineth that hee had beene banished without offence without accuser without witnesse and without permitting him that libertie which is neuer refused to enemie nor slaue And hee it was that cried out against Verres saying Crimen sine accusatore sententia siue consiliio damnatio siue defensione that in condemning his hoste Sthemius Termitanus without hearing him hee had forced and violated nature And this misgouernment of condemning men beeing absent was neuer induced but by the outragious enuie of Tyrants against the common tranquilitie of their countries it was neuer practised but by those furious Donatists that deposed Cicilia from his Bishoppricke of Carthage hee beeing absent and the holy fathers of Rome haue alwaies detested this practise Liberius saith plainely and boldly vnto Constant that he would neuer signe to the bannishment of Athanasius as being extreame iniustice to condemne a man that hath neither been summoned nor once heard to speake for himselfe Innocent the first excommunicated Arcadius and Eudoxia his wife because that without inquiring of the matter hee had condemned Chrysostome Pope Clement blasoned and reprooued the Emperour Henry because hee had bereaued Robert of his Kingdome of Sicile and proclaimed him traitor without hearing his excuse The King of Nauarres answer It may bee that if the King of Nauarre might haue beene heard to speake hee would haue giuen them to vnderstand that the Pope had beene deceiued or seemed in declaring him to bee an hereticque obstinate and relapsed into heresie hee would haue said that hee neuer knew nor vnderstood that there should bee any other trueth then that wherein the Queene his mother had brought him vp it is true that after the massacre committed vppon Saint Bartholomews day he was constrained to vse time as occasion then fell out and to submit himselfe vnto their tyrannies The king of Nauarres minde was not free in Anno. 1572. but so much against his minde that assoone as without daunger hee might once make it knowne that his conscience was at libertie he shewed thedesire hee had to bee instructed and to submit himselfe to the free and lawfull iudgement of a nationall Councell within the Realme of France hee wrote to all the degrees of France both Cleargie Nobilitie Parliaments common people that hee had nothing more liuely imprinted within his mind then a desire to see the revnion reduction of the seruice of God vnder one kinde of religion and therefore that hee could not bee called a Relaps for that to bee such a person hee must first haue beene condemned and iudged as an hereticque that hee had publicquely abiured his error and then receiued into the Church and that hee had returned againe vnto his first heresie But now hee is the man that neuer had beene accused of heresie nor neuer abiured the opinion which at this day hee holdeth for that assoone as he found conuenient means to depart out of the Court wherein he had bin stayed by the accusations that his enemies made against him vnto king Charles the ninth he retired into his countrie of Bearne where he made it known that hee had no other beliefe then that which hee had alwaies holden neuerthelesse as often as the king desired to haue him vnited to the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane Church he alwaies desired to be instructed and to the same end that it would please his Maiestie to bee a means to assemble a free and lawfull Councell of the vniuersall Church or else to call a nationall Councell of the Church of France submitting himselfe to all discipline and to the free and lawfull iudgement of that holy assembly which his Maiestie acknowledging to be most requisite The king of Nauarre first king of all Europe next to the king of France granted both to him his partakers by the Edict of pacification made in Anno. 1577. These reasons being neither presented nor cōsidered of by thec largie the most affected to the aduancemēt of the league executed their pleasures vpō one of the greatest Princes in Christendome vpō the first prince of the blood yea the first child of the most ancient famous familie bearing Crown within this world which the heauēs borne and brought foorth capable to command ouer France when God shall see his time and to depriue him of the right that nature had affoorded him without summoning or once hearing what hee could alleage vnto the contrary So that in the end the kings aduise to cause him to bee summoned to sweare vnto the Edict of vnion was found to bee without reason and the Cleargie resolued that hee neyther can nor ought any more to resist This conclusion was borne vnto the Nobilitie by the Bishops of Chaalons and Champaigne and to the third Estates by the Bishop of Comminges the Archbishop of Ambrun companion of the 12. of each order that were appoynted therevnto declared the States mindes vnto the king which was not to vse other means to summon the king of Nauarre and that his heresie and incapacitie to the Crowne were sufficiently knowne But if the king knoweth not three things hee knoweth nothing hee raigneth without raigning hee cannot defend himselfe his familie nor the peace Hee suffereth himselfe to be bereaued of the vnseparable quallities belonging vnto his person that is power and authoritie hee suffereth them to declare those of his familie to bee vnwoorthie of succession hee permitteth them to take away the peace and tranquillitie of his Realme to giue it vnto his enemies so that to this proposition of the League hee answereth that he would satisfie the Deputies reasons and resolue vpon them But while they were busied to band themselues against a Prince capable of the Crowne of France and issued from the royall branch of Bourbon vpon the which familie God hath bestowed more particular blessings then vpon all others of the same tree and linage as Aniou Alencon Eureux Berry Bourgongne Angoulesme Orleans and Valois that are all gone and extinct God suddainly entered vpon the Theater and shewed that his iudgements are wholly contrary vnto the iudgements of men and that his spirit mouing eternally worketh continually to his glory and that hee can change the mindes of men when they thinke least therof cleane contrary to their desires For the king was aduertised by all his seruants
sent his letters pattents sealed with the great seale vnto the Inhabitants of Romorantin forbidding them not to administer victualles nor amunition to the company of Monsieur de Souuray and they had expresse commaundement to send vnto him That in presence of the Queene-mother hee had refused his Maiestie to subscribe to the ordinance which hee ment to publish concerning certaine treasons as then practised and pretended That his only intent was in his person as a supposed branch of the house of Charlemaine to reestablish the greatnesse and vsurped authoritie of the ancient Maiors of the Pallace to the ende the king should onely beare the name and that hee might deale with him as Charles Martel did with Chilperic Some that were present at this Councel the more to stirre vp the kings minde by the auncient perill of an vnrecouerable fall from his authoritie to shewe him that his Maiestie was to remember the dreame he had before the League beganne which was that the Lyons and wilde beasts by him nourished in his Castle of the Louure deuoured him The kings dreame or vision and that beeing mooued with this vision hee had caused them to bee killed and among the rest one Lyon being the most furious beast of them all Lastly they put the King in minde of Salcedoes processe which had discouered all the pretence of the Councell holden at Nancy the first article whereof was to cease vpon the Kings person of the Councell of fiue persons holden at Parris in the time of Lent in An. one thousand fiue hundreth eightie seuē wherin the Duke de Maine couertly inuayed against his Maiestie Of the memorials taken about the Aduocate Dauid of the letters sent by the Queene of Denmarke to her sonne the Duke of Lorraine which were found about the Abbot of Billy comming from Rome and withall the attempt of the Barricadoes was not forgotten therewith to end their Councell Considerations that stayed the kings minde But three things caused the kings minde to wauer and to staye long before hee resolued vpon it one the respect of the Pope the second his oath made touching the protection of the states and the third the troubles that this execution would breed by their meanes that fauoureth the Duke of Guise Touching the first it was shewed him that his holinesse beeing aduertised of the Duke of Guise at the erecting of the Barricadoes had ceased vpon the Bastille and Bois de Vincennes hee said vnto the Bishop of Parris that the enterprise was ouer bolde that it touched the estate and that the offence would prooue vnrecouerable That his holinesse had often written vnto his Maiestie that hee should assure himselfe of the estates what meanes soeuer hee made and that in these so apparant daungers there is no remedie whatsoeuer but it may bee vsed that hee needed not to inquire if it were lawfull to be done and that it was for the same cause that his Maiestie had obtained a Confessor by him to bee resolued of all things touching or concerning the holy Sea of Rome That the heads and authors of factions are so odious vnto Princes iealous of the quietnesse of the estate that therein they pardon not their owne blood as king Philip that pardoned not Charles his owne sonne that sought to surprise the low Countries And the Duke of Guise when speeches were vsed touching the disobediences of the Duke of Aniou deceased had alwaies this example of extreame iustice readie to produce It is knowne why the Cardinall of Caraffe was strangeled Pope Sixtus at this day liuing in the first yeare of his pontificates put to death the Counte de Pepoly one of the most famous families in all Italie because hee kept certaine banished persons his kinsmen secretly in his house In this Realme of France Iohn Earle of Harcourt of the blood royal of Scotland Lewis de Luxembourg Constable of France Iaques Counte de la Marche issued from the house of Castille diuers others of as great quallitie and estate as the Duke of Guise haue indured shamefull ends because they practised and made secret leagues with forraine Princes and kings The Pope thoght that the Duke of Guise had borne armes for the religiō but after the Barricadoes once erected hee beleeued it not and although religion were the cause of the warres yet should it not bee lawfull without the kings authoritie The example is both good and memorable in the Historie of the king of Spaine called Leoncilde both an hereticque and an Arrian This Barbarian pursued the Christians and pardoned not his owneson that had bin instructed and conuerted vnto Christian religion by Leander Bishop of Tolede hee banished him out of kingdome This young Prince being mooued at the miseries and persecutions of the Christians in his countrie Qui contra genitorem quamuis hereticum talia cogitarer didtwise raise armes against his father at the first he was ouerthrowne and sent into exile at the second time he was put to death and slaine vpon Easterday S. Gregory Archbishop of Tours in this example noteth the effects of the iudgements of God condemneth the boldnesse of this Prince that The king is not bound by oath nor obligation vnto his subiects rebelled against his father and his king although both an hereticque an Arrian Touching the oath which is the second consideration that stayed his Maiestie and which is neuer broken nor neglected but repentance followeth it was tolde the King that euen as betweene the bond-man and the Lord there is no obligation to bee made that there can bee no strickt promise betweene the subiect and the Prince that the promises made are not to bee obserued that if faith bee not to bee holden with him that cannot iustly bee called an enemie and that hath no authoritie to make warres who by the lawe is termed a theefe or a rouer the Prince is not bound to keepe his promise with a meane subiect who by his rebellion hath first violated his owne faith vnto his Prince Necessitie hath no lawe wee must vse time as occasion serueth that is when necessitie compelleth and when men break their faith and promise In great assemblies great examples of punishing rebelles are done and executed as at the marriage of the Emperour Zeno with the daughter of Ardaburis where the Bridegome was slaine Balisene and the Emperours father in lawe committed prisoners The kings of England and Polonia haue often summoned Parliaments therein to take and surprise the Lords that had rebelled against them Our kings haue arested them beeing at their bankets These great motions haue alwaies some extraordiry event but necessitie and publike vtilitie doth authorise them A league grounded vpon the good will of the people The third obiectiō of this vnresolued resolutiō was the great credit which the Duke of Guise had gotten among the people wherevpon it was shewed the king that as the said Princes part had no other credit but among the multitude
a million of iniuries and vilanies against the king but in stead of preaching the Gospell they kindled a reuolt sedition within the hearts of the people that neuer came from hearing them but their heades were set on fire and their handes prepared to seize vppon those poore Pollititians that were set before their eyes All this is drawne out of the discourses that were published at that time in Parris or from the report made of such sermons One reproached the forgetting of the seruices done by Claude Duke of Guise vnto King Francis that was found almost slaine among the dead at the battell of Marignan against the Switzers of Francis de Lorraine to the Kings Henry Francis the second who after so many notable exployts was slaine during the siege of Orleans of Henry de Lorraine to Charles the ninth and Henry the third at Iarnac Sens Poitiers Moncontour Auneau and Vimory and slaine at Blois An other made his Auditorie weepe by shewing the manner of this execution The third blasphemed against heauen speaking against the prouidence of God and the maner he vsed in his iudgements touching the death of those two Princes The fourth said that the Duke of Guise for a terrestriall and mortall had obtained a celestiall and perpetuall Crowne in heauen and by his death had opened the passage vnto his successors by that meanes to possesse the thing which hee with so great reason and iustice had pursued The fift taking the simple people to witnesse for the remembrance of things past cried out in open Pulpit Who knoweth not and that most euidently as it were at his fingers endes that the Prince of France and the brauest knight that euer set foote in stirrope lyeth now vpon the ground Was it not hee that by his onely presence defended Parris the most puissant Cittie in the world from an vniuersall spoyle and destrustion Was it not this Prince that tooke the naked sworde out of the souldiers hands that helde it readie at the breasts of the poore Cittizens of this towne Was it not that valiant Leader and Generall of armies who so many times and so happily beate downe and cut in peeces the enemies of our God who for reward and recompence of all his good and valiant seruices is now stabbed to death They added that France was sicke and that it could not be healed of her sicknesse if it had not a drinke of French blood administred vnto it The sixt the better to kindle and increase the fires of commotions openly cried out to armes and made the word of God a trumpet of sedition saying Bee of good courage my maisters you must slumber no more the God of battels is on your side hee stretceth forth his armes vnto you you know not your owne forces Parris knoweth not what it is woorth it hath sufficient treasure to warre against foure Kings Take courage turne backe the weapon that is readie to strike you a good warre will procure a peace without this warre peace will be your ouerthrow and destruction For what hath Christ to do with Belial this warre will bee your libertie and freedome which if you neglect God that reuengeth the iniurie done vnto his seruaunts will make you pay the interests of your so cowardly slacknesse So that sufficient perswasions were vsed to stirre vppe and mooue the most colde and fearefull minde and to cause the veriest coward to arme himselfe Such was the end of the Duke of Guise a Prince without all doubt of valour and courage the League called him her Caezar and made goodly comparisons betweene them For my part take away the name of Christian and I cannot finde so good a comparison betweene Camille and The mistocles Read a booke imprinted at Zurich vnder this title Carolus Magnus rediuinus Numa Licurgus Scipio and Epaminondas Marcellus and Pelopidas Pompey and Agesilaus Silla and Lysander Charles the great Henry the fourth at this present raigning the wonder of kings and the king of woonders as there is betweene the liues of Iulius Caezar and Henry de Lorraine the one being cause of the ouerthrow and ruine of his Common-wealth the other of all the miseries in France A comparisō between Casar and the duke of Guise Abanco Martio sunt Martii reges quo nomine fuit mater à Venere Iulis cuius gentis familia est nostrae Caezar alleadged himselfe to be issued on his mother side from the Kings of Alba and that his father had his originall from the Gods the race of Iules beeing descended from Venus and therefore hee caused a Temple to bee erected Veneri Genetrici The Duke of Guise and all his familie affirmed themselues to bee issued from the king of Ierusalem and the Dukes of Lorraine by their father and from the king of France by Anne d'Est daughter to Renee of France daughter vnto King Lewis the twelfth Caezar was of a goodly and tall stature well limbed full faced and quicke attractiue eyes The Duke of Guise was one of the fairest Princes of the Court big high of proportion an amiable face so quicke of eye that therby he pearced into all places Plut in the notable saying of auncient Kings Princes and Captains to know and chuse out his seruants farthest distant from him and in the greatest prease Caezar increased in ambition as wel as in yeares in greatnesse of courage as well as in bodie And as willingly a generous nature in good time discouereth it selfe beeing but young fell into the hands of Pyrates that asked him 20. tallents for his ransome but hee smiled at them because they knew not how much their prize was woorth and gaue them fiftie and beeing kept and watched carefully by them he sent commandement vnto them to be quiet and not to make any noyse that he might take his rest The Duke of Guise as young and Eagle as hee was assayed by all means to take his flight farther then any of his time very haughtie dissembling and aduised hee could not submitte himselfe to those from whom hee ought to haue expected his aduācement he differed in nothing from a kings childe of France with whom he had bin nourished brought vp shewing most euidently that his nature was to command not to obey to go before and not to follow after in his first action hee so much disposed the thoughts of the Frenchmen that they beleeued such parts to bee in him as were most fit and proper to cause a great change and alteraion in the Realme where hee should liue His first exployts in Nauarre Caezar began very young to beare armes and yet not so soone as Alexander and reading his actions beganne to weep when he perceiued that at his age Alexander had alreadie conquered Darius that as then he had done nothing The Duke of Guise in the spring time of his yeares was in the wars of Hungary against the Turke defended Sens and Poctiers fought valiantly
at Moncontour and brought honourable markes of his courage from the battel fought against the Rutters Caezar vsed so great diligence in trauelling that hee departed from Rome Hic diligeÌ„ce and within three daies after he arriued at Rhosne The Duke of Guise made such speedie iourneyes that when some thought him to be fiftie leagues off hee was found to bee in a manner at their heeles The promptnesse of his exploits Caezar had no sooner begun an enterprise but he finished it with speede The duke of Guise was so vehement and hastie to execute his enterprises that many esteemed his celeritie to bee a kinde of rashnesse Veni vidi vici His dissimulation Caezar vsed dissimulation wisely and happily to serue him for aduantage The Duke of Guise was so expert therein that hee dealt in his exteriour affaires as hee thought good to hide the secrets of his heart and although hee desired nothing so much as the raising of armes by the league yet hee made his bretheren beleeue when they prouoked him to take occasions offered that it was not his desire wisely dissembling it to the end that if the effect had not fallen out as they desired hee might impute the fault vnto their Councelles or at the least obiect against their pursuites or else he did it to the end hee might holde them stricktly bound and ingaged vnto the enterprises which of themselues they counselled him to take in hand His foresight His cunning and slights Com. de Caezar Lib. 1. of ciuill wars Caezar was maruellous expert in the science of taking occasions when time serued and to vse them to his aduantage whatsoeuer it cost him oftentimes hee made shewe to agree to that which he sought to impeach as the meanes which the Switzers desired of him to passe through France wherein hee made a good shew and countenance vnto their Ambassadors that made suite vnto him for the same vntill hee had meanes and force to withstand them The Duke of Guise was an excellent cunning Prince to vse both time and occasion and his subtilties were notable stratagems against the most violent effects of his enemies The Reisters bare with them into Saxen and Pomerland the effects of his so subtil practises by their incounters at Auueau and Vimory Caezar with a small force and wholly contrary to militarie reason enterprised all things and durst set vppon the forces of Scipio and Iuba beeing ten times greater then his owne His armie were of more courage then number The Duke of Guise saide with Caezar that high enterprises ought speedily to bee done and not long consulted vppon and with a small handfull of men determined to oppose himself against the furious armie of the Almains he discommended and disliked the monstrous multitudes full of disorders and confusions that forme and frame a most daungerous confidence in the hearts of the greatest cowards that trusting to their great numbers despised the power of their enemie he had a small number of souldiers ruled and gouerned within certaine limittes that need no great quantitie of ammunitions nor retrait His courtesie towards his souldiers Dux plerumque in opere in agmine gregatio militi mixtus in corrupto ducis honore Tacitus His credit with his souldiers Caezar flattered and fauoured his souldiers terming them companions and calling them by his owne name The Duke of Guise knowing the humour of his souldiers and that there is nothing which so much inflameth the heart of the souldier to a desire of honour and glory then when he is noted and marked by his Generall hee fauoured his souldiers and honoured his Captaines promising them more then hee could do and neuer denied them any thing that lay in his power Caezar had such credite among his souldiers that they offered him in the beginning of the ciuill warres to follow him at their owne expences and many of his souldiers that were taken prisoners offered rather to die theÌ„ to bee constrained to change parties and sooner to indure most extream famine then to yeeld vppe the Townes they held for him witnesse the honorable siege of Salone wherein beeing vexed with famine and constrained to cut off the haires of their wiues heades thereof to make stringes for their bowes hauing placed their women and childreÌ„ vpoÌ„ the wals to make shew they made so furious an issue that therewith they put their enemies to flight The Duke of Guise ordinarily termed the father of men of war so much respected and beloued of his souldiers that neither for want of pay nor discommodities there was euer any mutinie seene among his troupes and fewe or none were euer found that during his life forsooke him to serue vnder any other Generall And yet the Captaines that were brought vp vnder him are still imployed The execution of his commaunds Facta non dicta mea vos milities sequi voloâ—nee disciplinam modo sed exemplum etiam à me petere Liuius His strange ambition Caezar neuer sent to any place where hee might go himselfe nor commaunded that to bee done by other which by himselfe might bee effected The Duke of Guise alwaies beeing first at any exployt neuer trusting to any thing but his owne watchfulnesse and diligence the enemie found him alwaies before them with a magnanimitie and resolution rather to die then to bee vanquished Caezar suffered himselfe to bee wholly led by the furious passion of ambition to make himselfe great by the ruine of the Common-wealth of Rome The same vice was the cause that the Duke of Guise lost the greatest part of his praise Caezar enterprised to ouerthrow the lawes and orders of the Common-wealth passed the Rubicon entered Italie with armes tooke the treasures of the Common-wealth vsurped the office of perpetuall Dictator wan towns by force The Duke of Guise enterprised to trouble the order of succession caused the drumbe to strike vp in the midle of peace tooke the kings towns placed Garrison therein and fortified himselfe He could not indure acompanion Caezar could not indure a companion in his gouernment The Duke of Guise for the same cause mooued the great trouble of Barricadoes and constrained the king to quit him the place His debts Caezar when hee passed Rubicon hazarded either to winne or loose all The Duke of Guise by a popular fury hazarded both his life his honour and his place Caezar was indebted a million of gold more theÌ„ he was worth The Duke of Guise to accomplish his enterprises died poore and almost as much indebted Caezar vsed the fauour of the people and the tribunes for the whing of his ambition His purposes grounded vpon the common people His popularitie The Duke of Guise found the principall support of the League to consist in the good wil of the people and in the multitude being desirous of nouelties Caezar marched alwaies bare-headed to make himselfe more common gentle and amiable The Duke of Guise to commaund great men
in the right line Charles the fift which makes the second branch from the end of the first line had two sonnes Charles Duke of Orleans and Iohn Earle of Angoulesme Charles the eight dying then without children Charles Duke of Orleans successiuely came into the right line so that Lewis his sonne was found the first heir who also raigned after Charles the eight who was surnamed father of the people Lewis their dying without issue male the right of inheritance came into the branch of Iohn Earle of Angoulesme so that the lawe set the Crowne on the head of Francis the first the Earles onely sonne And from Francis it came to his sonne Henry the second from whom succeeded orderly Francis the second Charles the ninth and Henry the third his childreÌ„ one after the other froÌ„ brother to brother In this right line ended the last King of the race of Valois who died without children The law then tooke hold on the second sonne of Saint Lewis named Robert who was Earle of Clermont and married with Beatrix daughter to d'Archambaut of Bourbon by her hee had one sonne named Lewis from whom the lands were made errigible in Counte the yeare one thousand three hundreth twentie seuen After this Lewis succeeded Peter and Iames his sonnes Peter had one sonne named Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who was slaine at the taking of Rome in the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth twentie seuen And in him dying without issue male ended the line masculine of this branch Iames his vncle the sonne of Lewis had then a sonne named Iohn who espoused Catherine Countesse of Vendosme of Castres and Ladie of Conde This Iohn sonne of Iames had three sonnes Iames Lewis and Iohn The first last to wit Iames and Iohn left no posteritie Lewis sonne of Iohn had two sonnes Francis and Lewis the younger hath issue the Duke de Montpensier who liueth at this present The Prince de la Rochesur-yon the eldest of this branch died without children The eldest named Francis the sonne of Lewis which espoused Marie of Luxembourg had three sonnes Charles Francis and Lewis Charles the eldest had by the Ladie Frances of Alencon fiue sonnes Anthony Francis Charles Lewis and Iohn Anthony of Bourbon eldest sonne of Charles married Iane d'Albert Queene of Nauarre the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth fortie nine The twelfth of December 1553. was borne of this marriage in the ninth degree of the heires male after Saint Lewis Henry of Bourâ—â—n the onely sonne of Anthony Now by the decease of Henry the third the last king of the race of Valois descending by the masculine line from Philip the eldest son of king Lewis the Saint the right of the Crowne came vnto Robert his youngest sonne and from him consequently to Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name king of France and Nauarre who at this day raigneth and of whom we are specially to speake in this Breuiarie That which the king did in his beginning This king hauing accompanied the corps of the deceased king to his tombe and put it in safe keeping to the Maister of Meulan Gisors and Clermont diuided his forces into three armies the first for himselfe with the which he marched vnto Touraine the other twaine hee committed to the Duke de Longueuille and to the Marshall d'Aumont for Picardie and Champagne Before hee had taken the way to Touraine with his troupes which were composed of twelue hundreth horse three thousand footemen and two Regiments of Switzers hee purposed to take his iourney into Normandie where the Pont de l'Arche was yeelded vnto him Then he came to Deepe won Caen vnto his side and constrained Neufchastel to bee rendered vnto his hands hauing disappoynted by his Lieftenants the succours which they had sent vnto them And hauing made a shew to besiege Roane it caused the Duke de Maine beeing called to the succor by Aumalle and Brissac to set himselfe in the field with more then three thousand horse and fiue thousande footemen who promised to the Parisians at that time to make an ende of all warre and to bring the king their enemie vnto them bound both hand and foote The king vnderstaÌ„ding that this mightie armie of his enemies increased euery day more and more by the assistance of the low countries of Picardie and Lorruine asked of the Duke de Longueuille and of the Marshall d'Aumont if they should go and meete them A notable exployt at Arques against the League And then marching toward his enemies they incamped at a certaine Village called Arques about two leagues from the Towne of Deepe And within three daies he made such entrenchments for his troups that the bancke in the lowest place was seuen or eight foote high on the one side aboue the towne where the artillerie were placed vnder the keeping of foure companies of Switzers The approach of the campe was espied by the Castle wherevppon was placed certaine peeces that shot off with great aduantage Meane space the Duke de Maine was greatly busied to thinke how hee might take againe the Townes of Gourney Neufchastel and Euison at what time both hee and his whole armie was perswaded that they might take Arques at the first But the Duke found it at his comming farre more troublesome then he imagined by reason of the newe Trenches which the king hadde made on euery side thereof for his commoditie by the which meanes hee might the better and the more easier ouer-runne his enemies at all times A sore skirmige The two armies continued there from the end of August to the midst of September And vpon the sixteenth of that moneth two fierce and cruell skirmiges was made in the which the Leaguers lost a great number of their approoued souldiers and nine or tenne of their Captaines This did truely presage and shew vnto them what successe they were like to haue in their attempts to come whereof followed nothing else but shame and sorrow to the leaguers VVhose foolish hope was also made frustrate which they hadde to chase the king himselfe into England or to kill him with all his followers or else to bring them in triumph prisoners to the Cittie of Parris The furie of these skirmiges was at last conuerted to the playing of the cannons both on the one side and the other which indured three or foure dayes togither On the Thursday the three and twentieth of September the Leaguers Armie or a part thereof containing a thousand horse and about six or eight thousand foote came to a place named la Maladerie which was strengthened with eight hundred smal shot foure coÌ„panies of Rutters Lanceknights sustained moreouer with three companies of light horsmen three companies of great ordenance and with the forces of the Princes of Conde and Counte Furthermore at the top of the Trench stood the companies belonging to the Lords of Chastillon and Maligni with a good number of the Nobilitie who were vnder
to order his battell The battell of Yurie and the kings notable exploicts And after they had cōmended all their successe vnto God he broke his fast and so about nine of the clocke in the foorenoone they were in the field readie to giue battell and the king beeing at the head of his squadron of which the first ranckes were composed of Princes Earles Knights and principall Gentlemen of the noblest families of France beganne to make his prayers vnto God with an exhortation that all the other squadrons should do the like Then passing along from the head of his armie hee encouraged his people to the fight And returning to his place without further delay he caused the great artillerie to bee shot off which gaue nine daungerous vollies to the great hurt of the leaguers Who after three or foure other vollies giuen on both sides aduanced forward fiue or six hundreth light horsemen to giue charge against the Marshal d'Aumont but he without stay ran vpon them and pearced thē in such sort that he might soone see their heeles In the mean space while they were thus busie the squadron of the Rutters which were on their right hand in comming toward the artillerie lighted vpon the Kings light horsmen aduancing thēselues against thē very manfully and being as valiantly receiued at last they were constrained to retire without performing any thing woorthie of memorie The whilest another squadron of launciers of the low Countries would haue giuen a fresh charge to these light horsemen But the Barron of Biron aduancing himselfe forward hauing no meane to meete the Vantgard set presently vpon the reareward and in breaking their array was hurt in two places The Duke de Montpensier ranne before the rest and gaue them a most braue charge in the which hee himselfe was once vnhorst but beeing againe mounted hee behaued himselfe in such valourous sort that he became Maister of the place The selfe-same the Duke de Maines great squadron consisting of eighteene hundreth horse among whom were the Duke of Nemours and the knight of Aumale with others of the Captains of the league aduanced themselues to the battel causing foure hundreth Carbines to march vpon their left wing who made a sallie of small shot some fiue and twentie paces from the kings squadron This sallie beeing ended the great squadron of the leaguers came on the forefront of the kings where they sawe his Highnesse before his company fiue long paces off who furiously rushed among the leaguers which could not by any meanes with all their huge forrest of launciers keepe backe the kings squadron But his Maiestie did in such warre like sorts assayle them that this great squadron was at last scattered hauing beene fighting among the thickest of them a good quarter of an houre In the end this huge heape of enemies who had thus the foundation of their strength abated were at last brought to hand-strokes who beginning to shrinke in the turning of a hand men might see their backes which before shewed such furious faces who tooke their flight by straunge passges This ioyfull victorie was at first intermixt with much sorrow in the royall armie when they saw not the king returne but within a while after they spied him comming all stained with the blood of his enemies not hauing shed one drop of his owne whom they described onely by the great plume of white feathers which hee bore in his creast and that which his Palfraye had on his head There was not so much sorrow among the leaguers for their losse but there was as much ioy recouered on the kings partie hauing been so happily returned from such an intermixture of blood and death But as hee came from the chase of his enemies with twelue or fifteen of his followers hee chancst to meete betwixt two companies of the enemies Switzers three cornets of Wallons accompanied with other that had ioyned with them whom his Maiestie charged with such high courager that hee wonne their colours they which carried them lying dead in the place with many other of their companions The king then beeing arriued at the place from whence he parted all the armie gaue humble thanks to the Lord for his safetie crying with one voyce God saue the king His Maiestie hauing set in order certaine of his troupes and seeing his enemies flying before him hee left the field surcharged with their dead so that there remained none aliue sauing the Switzers who beeing forsaken by their horsemen did notwithstanding stay without mouing and althogh the king might well haue ouerrun them yet hee receiued them to mercie who hauing cast down their weapons were discharged and sent into their own countries The Frenchmen also which were mingled among them had their liues saued This beeing done the king accompanied with his horsemen and the troups of Picardie followed the league which tooke their flight two waies In the one was the Duke of Nemours Bassompierre the Vicount of Tauannes Rosne and others which tooke their way to Chartres In the other the Duke de Maine with his most trustiest Captaines drew toward Yury to passe ouer the riuer The Leaguers artillerie and all their baggage were left in the campe and in the high-waies neare adioyning The time which the king spent in receiuing and sending away of the Switzers gaue leisure vnto them that fledde to put themselues vnder couert in such sort that comming vnto Yuri they perceiued that the Duke de Maine was alreadie entered who neuer thinking on any new charge broke vp the bridge before his owne people were all come which was the cause of the death of a great number of his armie especially of the Rutters of whom a great sort were drowned The others to hinder those that followed them stopt vp the streetes of Yuri with dead and wounded horses which stood in stead of chaines or inclosers whereof followed a new losse for all those that sought to passe the deepe streame perished for the most part The king was counselled to passe the riuer at the sord of Anet and although it were an houre and an halfe losse of his way yet hee ouertooke a great number of those that fledde which for their liues rested at his discretion Those that thought to escape putting themselues into the woods fell into the Pesants hands which handled them in cruell sort This pursuit continued euen to the Towne of Mant where neither the Duke de Maine nor any of his turned once their face to see who pursued them But if the Mantois had continued in their first opinion to keepe the gates shut all those that fled had beene vtterly ouerthrowne But beeing in the end ouercome by the D. de Maines earnest intreaties they gaue them leaue to enter the Towne vpon condition that those of his side should passe by tenne and tenne in the night beyond the bridge which indeed wrought their safetie The king seeing his enemies ouercome both with shame and losse rested himself
hereby preuented being also depriued of the plain of the Isle of France by the taking in of S. Dennis Now vpon intelligence giuen to the Duke de Maine that the extreame want of victualles would constraine Parris verie shortly to yeelde vnto the king answered that the taking thereof should bee very preiudiciall vnto him who would scatter his armie by that conquest in such sort that soone after the league should make a good match thereof But the kings minde or intent was not to possesse Parris in such sort as his enemies imagined For although the same were in a manner vnpossible by reason of the smal number of his people yet would he not see and behold much lesse procure the ruine of his chiefe and capitall Cittie although that many therein especially the chiefest deserued for their offences most greeuous punishment Hee tooke much pittie on the great number of people misled by euill counsell and hoped that their afflictions would giue them warning that if the Dukes of Maine of Parma comming to their succors would hazard themselues to a battell their discomfiture would constraine the besieged to acknowledge it But the miserie of the Parisians was so great that some of them were inforest to yeelde the other would rather indure an hundreth deathes by famine So that within twelue or fifteene weekes there was an extreame desolation among them They eate vp both their mooueables and their mony The souldiers had license to bee so bold that they broke vp their walles and defiled the chastitie of many families The principal men of the League rose vp and tooke to themselues the relicques of their Churches The anucient Iuels and the Crownes of the kings of France were put in the font Those householders which were rich were subtilly spoyled the subburbes ruined the Cittie become full of sorrow and need the rents of the chamber of the Cittie lay dead the lands all about vntilled and desolate An hundreth thousand persons died with hunger with nakednesse with pouertie in the streetes and in the Hospitals without all mercie or reliefe in the space of three moneths The Vniuersitie was conuerted to a desart place wherevnto all the Pesants resorted for lodging and the Cloisters of the Colledges were conuerted into stables for beasts VVithin the great hall of the Pallace there was none found but Leaguers and forgers of newes In the streetes grasse did growe plenteously and the shoppes for the most part were shut in continually In stead of Chariots and Coches appeared on the one side certaine troupes of men of warre who were more imployed to fight with hunger then with any other enemie on the other side an horrible desolation The besieged could by no meanes come by victuall but through the mercie of the Kings Garrisons which hee had set within Saint Dennis in the Fort of Gourney at Cheureuse and at Corbel The most part of the furie of this famine fell vpon the third estate as for the Cleargie who for the most part were well prouided they preached nothing but patience And the Prelates before mentioned vttered still vilde things against the king and his followers and in all their sermons assured the poore famished people that the Spanish succours would come very speedily On the one side those whom they called the sixteene on the other the fortie with the factious sort that wore long gownes wrought in the wheel The Parliament which continued as it were slaues both to the Spaniard to the Guise published an Edict the fifteenth day of Iune wherin it was prohibited vnto all of what estate quallitie dignitie and condition so euer they were not to speake of any composition with Henry of Bourbon on paine of death but thereby were inioyned to oppose themselues against him by all the meanes they might and not to spare any practise whatsoeuer ye◠though it were to the very spilling of their heart bloods Moreouer this court ordained that all the Inhabitants of the Towne should bee obedient to the Duke of Nemours Gouernour of the I le of France in all things which they should bee commaunded to do on his behalfe and that this Edict should bee read and published throughout all the streets and lanes of Parris to the end that more should pretend cause of ignorance But the people who could not liue by paper nor the windie promises of the Duke de Maine and his Preachers after they had eaten dogges and cats horses asses mules hearbes rootes and all that they could imagine to get in their necessitie came in a shole to the Pallace requiring peace of the councell there assembled where they made among them a certaine tumult but the Captaines who were before aduertised of their comming at last appeased The Parifiās desire peace and cannot obtaine it them the people beeing content by the meanes of certaine small comforts for the space of nine or tenne daies but in the end there assembled to the same place a greater troupe of people then before euery one prouided with weapons boldly demaunding that they might either haue peace or bread Then a certaine Captaine of Parris named le Glois ranne foorth vnto them to send them away with faire words but it is to bee remembred that famished bellies haue no eares VVherevpon they required him in the field with his own Oration where hee was so beaten that within a small time after hee departed the world The Cheualier d'Aumalle beeing followed by his adherents went among the multitude causing all the gates of the Pallace to bee shut and imprisoned a great number of them of whome there were some afterward hanged The chiefe of the leaguers perceiuing that in the end the discontented multitude would worke their confusion if in time they did not preuent them The chiefe of the league seeketh to de ceiue both the king and the people assembled themselues togither with the principall of their Towne and after many writings notwithstanding the diuision of the Sorbonnists and the act made in the Leaguers Parliament were resolued that the Bishoppe of Parris and the Archbishop of Lyon should go to seeke out the king to conferre vpon means of pacification This was done in the beginning of August but before they departed they would haue leaue of the Legate to the end they might not be excommunicated by the Pope Before they had obtained it the Legat made a consultation with Panigarde Bellermin and Terius Rector to the Iesuites comprised in these articles that is to say If the Parisians did runne into excommunication being constrained by famine to yeelde themselues to an hereticall Prince If the Deputies going to such a Prince to seeke his conuersion or to better the condition of the Catholicque Church were comprised in the excommunication of the bull of Pope Sixtus the fift The Doctors answered to these articles no. Deputies of the leaguers sent to the King and his aunswere Then went the Deputies to seeke the king at Saint Anthonies in the
or any of his but to withstand him incontinent vppon paine to bee presently hanged vp Also the same Court ordaineth that absolution shall bee obtained for the said Atturney generall Nemine dempto to informe against all those that shall fauour the said Henry of Bourbon and his adherents That the oath made by the holy Vnion the two and twentieth day of Ianuarie 1589. shall bee renued from mouth to month in the generall assembly which for that purpose shall bee held in the Abbey of Saint Ouen within the same Cittie Further it inioyneth all the Inhabitants to keepe and inuiolably to obserue the said Edict from poynt to poynt according to the tenure and true meaning of the same vpon paine of death without any hope of grace or fauor to be had therein Villars a notable Leaguer Moreuer the same Court doth expresly inioyne all the Inhabitants to bee obedient to the Lord of Villars Lieftenant generall to our soueraigne Lord Henry of Lorraine eldest son to the Duke de Maine in this gouernment in all things which shall bee by him commanded for the conseruation of this Cittie The Bishop d'Euereux hanged A little before the siege of Roane the King hauing in the month of September 1591. taken Louuiers chastised certaine seditious persons and sent the Bishoppe d'Euereux surnamed the holy prisoner vnto Tours who was one of the Arches and Pillers of the league to the end he should there haue the law and after be hanged the which was done without the Cardinal of Bourbons knowledge least hee should repriue him from the Gallowes hee prouided for all things necessarie to the siege causing diuers engines to be made at Caen at Pont de l'Arche at Ponteau de Mer and in other places The D. de Maines sonne hauing encouraged the Cittizens to perseuere in their actions for their reliefe Baquemare at that time their chiefe President procured that all the Inhabitants should sweare before the Maior named Londe that they should reueale all those whom they knewe either in word or deede to fauour the King of Nauarre that they might bee punished for example to others Villars was there entered to strengthen them with sixe hundreth horse and twelue hundreth muskets and gaue such order for his affaires that they yeelded him soone after the Roiteler of Roane without any respect to the Lieftenant generals sonne in so much that when they commaunded him any thing which hee thought not good to bee done his aunswere to the Duke de Maine was that being both of them companions spoylers of the estate hee would not obey him whom hee knewe not for his Lord and Maister And the better to apply himselfe he caused all those to be chased out of Roane that were by him suspected writing letters full of outrage to the King who summoned his subiects to an acknowledgement of their rebellion placing artillerie and vsing all acts of hostillitie against his soueraigne Lord and King Moreouer he caused a new search for victuals hee subborned Friers Priests and Preachers to poyson the multitude by their seditious perswasions broght his troupes into the fielde indomaging the armie as much as possibly hee might the which beside the obstinate dealings of the besieged had a shrewd fight with the extreame rigour of the sharpe winter with sickenesse and the want of food Notwithstanding all which at the last the besieged were constrained to come to composition But vnderstanding that the Dukes de Maine and of Parma were comming with succours and were withall become Maisters of Neufchastel giuen ouer by the Kings garrison they held it till the 20. of March the which armie of the Dukes came to Franqueuille which is about halfe a daies iourney from Roane The Leaguers armie The Duke of Guise la Chastre and Vitri ledde the vantgard the Dukes of Maine of Parma and Sfondrate Nephew to Pope Gregorie the fourteenth deceased cōducted the maine battel the rearward had for their leaders the D of Aumale the Earle of Chaligni Boisdaufin Balagni and Sainpol Bassompierre and Monsieurle Motte were Captains ouer the Switzers and the artillerie The Kings troupes being ouer weake to match with this great armie of leaguers left them to worke their woorst seeking opportunitie to meete with them at aduantage staying for the Kings comming who with all speed iournied toward Deepe on necessarie causes the which broke the great intended purposes of his enemies And the whilest the Marshall of Biron caused seuen peeces of artillerie to be conueyed to Bans which is a towne about one mile from Darnetal where hee set himselfe in battell array planting his cannons in their seuerall places therewith to entertaine the Duke of Parma who came to lie in the valley on the side thereof The King stayed all that night within a Mill hard by Bans who continued in fight well near thirtie houres making continuall skirmiges vppon the forwardest of his enemies The Duke of Parma which made as though he would giue battell after some excuses and delaies drewe this armie on the side of Barnetal But the more to drawe and intangle him straight after his comming the king hadde dismissed his Nobilitie in such sort that they were all neare ynough to bee heard with intent to bring an euill bargaine both vpon the Spaniards and Italians The rest of the moneth of March and the most part of Aprill was spent in continuing small skirmiges In the end on Tuesday the one and twentieth day of Aprill about tenne of the clocke in the morning the Dukes de Maine of Guise and of Parma put themselues into Roane where they stayed but certaine houres Villars would not haue any partners much lesse such Maisters The Leaguers armie had vpon the same day of the Dukes enterance taken Caudebec neare adioyning from whence the garrison dislodged in the night following and left the towne for the Duke of Parma which was yeelded vnto him but he kept it not long The king ouerrunneth his enemies and breakes their Campe chasing the rest out of Normandis For the king seeing his enemies had not victualled Roane passed to Pont de l'Arche le Mercredi on the Wednesday aduanced his armie toward Fontain le Bourg sent to all the neighbour owns as Louiers Mante Mulean Vernon and otherswhere the Garrisons were that they should march toward him the which was speedily performed Then grew his armie to more then three thousand horse of Frenchmen and sixe thousand foote in lesse then sixe daies Then turned he his forces toward the Towne d'Yuetot where the Dukes of Maine and of Guise were then lodged who had no leisure to go to dinner hauing news brought that their vantgard was suddainly set vpon and wholly ouerthrowne This constrained them by flight to saue themselues two myles off in the Duke of Parmas quarter leauing behinde them all their baggage and siluer vessels a good bootie for the Lord de la Guich The first of May they were raised to an other
AN HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF THE MOST MEMORABLE ACCIDENTS and Tragicall Massacres of France vnder the Raignes of HENRY 2. FRANCIS 2. CHARLES 9. HENRY 3. HENRY 4. now liuing Conteining all the troubles therein happened during the said Kings times vntill this present yeare 1598. Wherein we may behold the wonderfull and strange alterations of our age Translated out of French into English Imprinted at London by Thomas Creede 1598. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE GEORGE EARLE OF CVMBERLAND BARON OF CLIFFORD LORD OF VVESTMERland Skipton Vipont Bromflet and Vessy Knight of the most honourable Order of the Garter all health and happinesse AMong many that haue taken in hand Right Honourable and my very good Lord to write the Stories of auncient times the warres and woorthie deedes of famous Princes it was my lot thogh vnwoorthie to be called to the translating of these last troubles of France which by the Author was in the French tongue very learnedly and eloquently set downe And sith the matter therein contained meriteth to bee well regarded and duly considered of all noble and honourable personages and the knowledge thereof profitable to be imparted vnto all Christian kingdomes it was thought verie meete and requisite to haue the same turned into our English tongue for the profit and benefit of all such Englishmen as are not skilfull in the other language what sweetnesse of phrase it hath lost being thus stript out of it owne attire I beseech your good Lordship to pardon considering that the French in phrase carrieth a peculiar grace in it self which cannot alwaies in an other speech be exprest Not what I would but what I could I haue done in the translation wishing in my heart for your Lordships sake that my skil could haue stretcht to my good will Neuerthelesse for the saluing of all imperfections therein and the intier affection which I beare to your honourable vertues In all humilitie I commend my Booke to your Lordships patronage that your worthinesse may supply what is wanting in me and shield my booke from the enuie of Satyricall carpers who beholding your Lordship to be a Protector of my simple labour will rather blush at their owne peeuishnesse then proceed any further in their mallice Thus building on hope of your honourable fauour I humbly rest Your Lordships in all dutie TO THE COVRTEOVS AND FRIENDLY READER SVch is the plentie of fine wittes in this our age right gentle and courteous Reader that nothing can passe currant without controll except it be rare in conceit or excellent for Art for my owne part I cannot boast of either yet haue I beene like blinde Bayard bold to deale in the translating of this booke which I confesse might haue well beseemed a man of greater skill notwithstanding beeing called therevnto I haue done my best to satisfie the world submitting my selfe to the correction of the learned Many faults haue escaped heerein some by my owne ouersight some through the Printers negligence which I would desire the skilfull courteously to correct with their penne or friendly to pardon through their courtesie For such as are vsed to the Presse are priuie to this that few bookes goes cleare without an Erata yet thus much I dare presume that to my knowledge no fault heerein committed hath either spoyled the sence or mangled the Storie Therefore in so great a labour as this is thinke not a small fault a great preiudice So shall you bind mee by your courtesie to bee readie heereafter both to correct this and to procure some other thing that may be more to your content Yours in all courtesie THE CONTENTS OF THE MOST PRINCIPAL POYNTS CONTAINED IN THIS HISTORIE HENRY THE SECOND THe raigne of Henry the second containeth the alteration of the Court by the death of Francis the first Warres in Scotland Practises wrought at Rome against the Emperour Reuolt in Guyenne because of exactions made vpon Salt Persecutions against those of the religion War at Bullen The notable actions of Merindol and Cabrieres The reestablishment of Guyenne Occasions of warres renued between the Frenchmen and the Spaniards The beginning of warres beyond the mountaines Preparation for warres in Picardie The kings proceedings against the Pope the Emperour and the Councell of Trent The Edict against the abuses of the Court of Rome Continuance of persecutions against those of the religion Pretences against Lorraine Councels and agreements between the King and the Protestant Princes to crosse the Emperours proceedings in Almaine and elsewhere The taking of Metz an Imperiall Towne brought vnder the King of France his subiection Warres in Luxemburg The Conquest of the Duchie of Bouillon The Emperour agreeth with the Almaines to besiege Metz and ouerrun Picardie The issue of the siege of Metz. The taking and rasing of Terouenne Hesden sacked The ouerthrow and taking of the Duke of Arscot Three royall armies which reuenge the fires made by the Emperours Armie in Picardie The Towne of Bains among others is burnt The encounter at Renty The ouerthrow of the Armie of Frenchmen in Picardie Wars in Piedmont and Sauoy The French Armie conducted by Strossy ouerthrowne and Siene yeelded Warres in Picardie and the Isle of Corsie The Emperour yeeldeth vp his Empire vnto his brother other dominions vnto his son The two kings make truce for fiue yeares which are presently broken and warres renued about Rome The Duke of Guise marcheth with an armie for the king to ayde the Pope who maketh peace with the Spaniard Meane time the Constable looseth the battell of Saint Lawrence Saint Quintin taken by assault and many other places wonne from the Frenchmen in Picardie The king assayeth to recompence his losses and following his intent long practised he recouered Calais and the Countie of Oye after that Theouuille and others On the other side the Earle of Egmont ouerthrew the Marshall de Termes hard by Grauelines A speech of peace in the meane time Charles the fift his sister Elenor and Mary Queene of England died In the end the two Kings agreed togither and the King of France began to persecute those of the religion more then euer he did but while he plaide his part death seized vpon him and laid him on the ground by a blow with a Launce Whereby ensued a maruellous alteration in France FRANCIS THE SECOND THe Court in a moment is wholly altered and chaunged by the practises of the house of Guise that withstood all men executing Anne de Bourg an excellent person vnder the authoritie of a Prince of the blood Information is made against them and the Barron de la Renaudie in the name of a great part of the Nobilitie and third estate vndertaketh the commission to take the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine prisoners What order was holden therein by Monsieur de Renaudie which in the end was discouered whereof ensued diuers bloodie Tragedies at Amboise The Prince of Conde valiantly maintaineth his innocency and sheweth the cowardly tyrannie of his enemies
where it was openly proclaimed throughout the Prouinces The Guisarts not content with the troubles in France mooue warres in Scotland but to their owne confusion The religion multiplieth in France euen in the middle of their persecutions and next after God submit themselues vnder the protection of the Princes of the blood determining to oppose themselues against the house of Guise who by diuers subtilties receiue and award their blowes discouer the enterprise wrought against them cause the principall Nobilitie of the Realm to be assembled at Fontainbleau where the Admirall galleth them on all sides This assembly produced an aduise and consent of a Parliament to be holden in the end of that yeare The Princes are summoned to come vnto the Court and all subtile practises vsed to get them thither being arriued at Orleans where the Court was holden They were stayed as prisoners specially the Prince of Conde the house of Guise practising the totall ruine of the Princes and all others of the religion leaue no meanes vndeuised which by the sequell is well perceiued While these actions were in hand the king fell sicke in the end the Queen his mother got the Regencie with the ayde of the house of Guise and the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and those of the religion are relieued by the kings death CHARLES THE NINTH I Account the raigne of Charles the ninth to be the time of wonders in France his beginning was the assembly of a Parliament where nothing was done but onely in words Those of the religion openly increasing the house of Guise began to practise against the estate many edicts were made to pacifie the troubles The Queen-mother vseth practises that ouerthrew the lawes of the realme to satisfie those of the religion an assembly was holden at Poissy which ended in words and no resolutions and lastly with mutinies in Parris The Edict of Ianuarie was made whereby the Duke of Guise vndertooke to commit the massacre at Vassy inducing the king of Nauarre to consent with him hee seizeth both of Parris and the king which bred the first ciuill warres which on the one side containe infinit exployts of warres as battels incounters assiegings defenses and taking of places on the other side spoyles and horrible murthers of those of the religion in all the Prouinces of the Realme The troubles being ended by the death of the Duke of Guise slaine at the siege of Orleans the first Edict of pacification abolishing that of Ianuarie was established After the peace the Englishmen were driuen out of New-hauen the king is declared to bee of age to gouerne without a Protector and causeth diuers Edicts to be made He is solicited by the Spaniard to breake his Edict of pacification which is weakned in diuers poynts the beginning of the voyage of Bayonne diuers Citadels builded many Townes vnwalled those of the religion sacked and spoyled in many places leagues made against them Edicts reuoking those that had been granted vnto them The shamefull entrie of the Cardinall of Lorraine in Paris Councels holden at Bayonne the kings progresse throughout France A dissembling reconciliation made between the houses of Guise Chastillon the miserable state of France a notable processe at Paris between the Vniuersitie and the Iesuites Vnder pretence of a passage to bee granted to the Spaniards to passe into the low Countries preparation was made to ouerrun those of the religion which constrained the Prince of Conde and his associates to seeke to defend themselues whereof ensued the second eiuill warres set downe with the most notable accidents therein happened Negotiation of peace which the Prince is constrained to accept This peace presently after conceiued a third ciuill warres The Prince and the Admirall hauing hardly saued themselues in Guyenne followed by diuers others The Princes first exployts edicts against those of the religion many warlike exployts betweene the contrarie armies Warres began to be in greater force in the yeare 1569. then euer they were before The Prince was slaine after the battell of Bassac the Prince of Nauarre declared generall of the armie and the Prince of Conde assistant A puissant armie of Almaines vnder the conduction of the Duke de Deux Ponts commeth to ayde them the incounter of la Roche la Belle the warres of Bearne the siege of Poictiers and Chastelleraud the battell of Moncontour What both the armies did after that The siege of S. Iohn d'Angely ouerthrowne the armie victorious Diuers exployts of wars in Poictou Guyenne Xaintongne and Angoulmois a great voyage through the Prouinces after the battell of Moncontour continuance of warres which is ended by the third edict of pacification and about the end of the yeare the king married the Emperours daughter a voyage made vnto the Queene of Nauarre for the marriage of her son with the king of France his sister Councels among those of the religion the death of the Cardinall of Chastillon The marriage aforesaid agreed vpon warres were pretended against the Spaniard the secret of the Court discouered the Queene of Nauarre went to Parris where she died the Princes and the Admirall came thither Contracts and espousals of the king of Nauarre most horrible bloodie and cruell councels and massacres of the Admirall and thirtie thousand of the religion in Parris and in many other Townes all the circumstances precedent and following set downe at large Many deuises to destroy those that were resting of the religion who in Rochel Sancerre Languedoc and other places resolued to stand in a iust defence of their cause the assieging and yeelding of Sancerre A notable discourse of the siege of Rochel from the beginning vntill the peace granted The state of those of the religion in Quercy Languedoc and other Prouinces where they ouerthrew their enemies and presently after reduced the king to such a stay that he was forced to begin againe who fell sicke as his brother went into Poland A deuise not ouer good for those of the religion The fourth troubles beganne at the massacres and ceased for a time at the peace of Rochel and began the fift by the enterprises against Rochel and Languedoc The wonderfull practises of the Queene-mother to maintaine her actions and to serue her turne by her third son against those of the religion The estate of diuers prouinces specially of Normandie where Monsieur was taken prisoner Warres in Poictou against those of the religion The Prince of Conde goeth into Almaine The sicknesse and death of the king HENRY THE THIRD THe Regents dealings during the warres in Normandie The estate of Languedoc Viuarais and Dauphine Montgommery beheaded in Parris The Prince of Conde chosen generall by those of Languedoc Warre in Poictou The arriuall of the new king escaped out of Poland The beginning of his actions The siege of Lusignen Warres in Dauphine Practises against those of Languedoc The death of Charles Cardinall of Lorraine The memorable siege of Liuron Conquests in Languedoc and elsewhere Negotiation of
the protestants in Quercy and the countries round about gathered his troupes dispearsed in Garrisons besieged tooke Saint Gemmes in high Quercy The Lord of the Towne notwithstanding his composition for life and goods was carried prisoner to Cahors and there executed at the instance of many his enemies whom hee had hardly intreated His men saued themselues in a rocke where they could not possibly bee indammaged and after ioyned with succours that came from Montauban A fewe weekes after the Admirall besieged Brifenel a small Towne in high Rouergue wher Montilliere gallantly withstood him and slew some hundreth of his men but at the last departed with life and goods Albeit in exchange the Adm. in May lost Soreze surprised by escalade Montesquiou within two leagues of Thoulouse Also toward the end of Iuly the BarroÌ„ of Fougeres took Lâ—desue a Bishops sea and a rich Towne scituate in the mountaines of Languedoc at the same time that Captain Graue seized vpon Mas Sainctes Puelles within one league of Castelnau Darry The Duke of Aniou had before solicited those of Montauban to send him their Deputies with articles for peace intreating them in the meane time to desist from all hostilitie This was one meanes to disvnite the Prouinces and so to get them one after an other At the first this seemed to grow to some course but it was easily remedied and the siege of Rochel togither with the election of Poland made voyde many of their deuises Marshall d'Anuille Gouernour of Languedoc tooke armes also against the protestants assembled six Cornets of horse Marshall d'Anuille besiegeth Sommieres wher he looseth his Armie fiue thousand harguebuziers besides the companies of Lyonnois and Volunatries his footemen amounting to ten thousand that led foureteen battering peeces wherewith hee pretended to besiege Nismes But Sommiere a small Towne neare to Bezieres and Montpeslier wonne from the Barron of Ioyeuse by Captaine Gremian brake this purpose and an other enterprise of the Marshals against Vzes so that seeing himselfe frustrate before hee came to Nismes hee besieged Sommieres both the Towne and Castle made a reasonable breach and gaue an assault repulsed by the besieged who slew aboue one hundreth of his men and wounded many more But in his second assault hee had yet woorse successe Herevpon came to him his brother in law the Countie of Candale with his company of one hundreth horse and twelue companies of Gascons who gaue the third assault wherein three hundreth of the hottest left their liues The besieged stood in want of many things but their neighbours sent one hundreth and twentie souldiers who with much ado got in brought all that they could to succour and strengthen them One of the hundreth and twentie beeing lag was taken and brought before the Marshall to informe him of all that he knew Albeit they racked and tormented him that he grew as bigge as a tunne and so died vppon the torture yet could not his tormentors wrest out of this souldiers mouth any word preiudiciall either to the besieged or to the protestants The besieged hauing holden out foure months suffered fiue thousand cannon shot that had beaten downe all their defenses and layde their wals in the dust craued composition but the Marshall would haue them by force and to that end gaue foorth a general assault committing the leading to Candale whom hee exhorted to reuenge the death of his Captaines and souldiers This young Lord who before had seemed desirous that matters should haue been otherwise ordered marched resolutely to the breach where hee performed the dutie both of a valiant Captaine and couragious souldier but after a little fight wherein hee saw a number of his souldiers ouerthrowne himselfe was slaine in the place The besieged hauing performed all that was to be desired in valiant men in Aprill did accept of composition for life and goods and so the Marshall sending hostages to Nismes for their safetie they came foorth with the drum sounding the Ensignes displayed their matches lighted and in the cock hauing seuen daies respite to carrie away their goods and to retire where they list The Marshall vnderstanding that Mismes in great resolution expected his comming and withall considering that hee had lost two thousand fiue hundreth of his best men cashiered the rest of his troupes who scattred euery way The Admirall warring in Gascon had other successe for he took Terride Flaugnac and all that the protestants had gotten in Gascon beyond Garonne Then did hee besiege Caussade a small towne kept with sixe hundreth small shot Caussade subuertech al Admirall Villars purposes vnder the coÌ„duct of Puiols who forced the Admirall after great losses to forsake the place after which repulse he did nothing woorthie memorie The Vicountie Gourdon vnderstanding that part of the Adm. troups after this siege marched towards Rochel watched them at the passage ouer Dordogue cut in peeces one company and made the rest to runne On the other side the Barron of Grandmont whom the king of Nauarre had sent into Bearne to replant the Masse was taken and most of his men defeated by the countrie people The estate of Viuaretz and Dauphine In the meane time the estates of Languedoc met at Anduge where they formed an order and rule for the warre and administration of iustice In May the protestants chusing the Lord of Saint Romain for their Generall surprised Villeneufue in Viuaretz Marshall d'Anuille vnder colour of iustice seizeth and selleth all the protestants goods that he may In Dauphine the protestants took Orpierre Serres and other places in the Bishoppricke of Die also Meuse and other villages in the mountaines vnder the leading of Mombrun who with his courses exploiâ—s driue his enemies to feare him The K. hoping by the peace granted to Rochel Montauban Nismes to take some rest hauing reuoked the edict of 1570. sent his brother into Poland found al new to begin for those of Quercy Lanquedoc their neighbours did immediately protest against this edict Complaints against the pacification granted before Rochel which they termed captious a preamble into new massacres considering that their capitall enemies authors of all disorders remained sole Councellours and Gouernors of the K. and his estate that all the French Churches were debarred the publike exercise of religion to them so solemnely graunted by the Edict of 1570. that al the contents of this pacification of Rochel and whatsoeuer was otherwise promised was but a collection of words without effect that there was no speech of iustice against the massacres but an abolition of all that was past which was the absoluing of the threatned that all Ecclesiastical discipline was taken froÌ„ the protestants whom thereby they ment to plunge in all Atheisme that this treatie was formed with some particulars without their commission whose aduice could not preiudice the generall cause of al the Churches to whom they had promised not to do or graunt any thing without