at Giuets were certain English Scottish companies pertaining to the French they suddenly went to surprise theÌ„ and constrained them to retire into a house tenable enough but brought away fowerscore and sixe of their horses The Emperor who as theÌ„ lay at Bruxelles neer enough being aduertised of al this and how the coÌ„mon bruit of the camp went that at their departure froÌ„ Disnan they meÌ„t to besiege Namur caused as many souldiers to be lodged ther as he estemed necessary knowing it otherwise but meanely fortefied for any artificial fortification and that as a great number of men were needful for the assailing of so great townes so as great careful diligence for their defence to be requisite Seing in like sort all the coÌ„mons of the plaine countrie so moued out of hart as all was abandoned he sent his nephew the D. of Sauoy for his Leiutenant general with as many souldiers as he was recouer readily to emparke himselfe in the towne side in a place called Giuelou betweene the two riuers of Meuse Sambre wher he got together and assembled his army with extreme diligence hauing sent for succours out of al places As sone as the Prince was fortefied in this place he scattered his Cauallerie vpon the way where he thought the victuals would passe for the French as wel to weaken theÌ„ and giue them occasioÌ„ to retire as to learne know their determination causing a bruit to be sowne reported by spies and prisonners that if they aduentured to march further or to passe the riuer of Sambre to enter into Henault he would present himselfe a hed to giue theÌ„ battel But the K. as not being so far entred into his enemies countrie to returne without passing further hauing likewise left the way of Namur staied to passe ouer the riuer of Sambre to burne the countrie of Henault whereby he might make proofe of the imperiall forces froÌ„ whence such being returned as went to view the places way which the army must passe thorough hauing sent backe Bourdillon with his companie to Mesieres to cause certain Bourgingnons to retire which burned certaine villages about the K. raised his army from this place the 16. of Iuly to continue his determination knowing notwithstanding the difficulty to recouer victuals how the enemie had gotten al within their strong townes broken down al mils he thought good to aduertise the whole companies to make prouision of as much victuals as was possible euen so farre as to lade their horses with prouision the D. of Neuers remaining vpon the Meuse side as wel to make the surplus of prouisions to be distributed as to tarrie the raysure of the Castle of Disnan and of all the rest of the small fortes about whence he departed the 18. day of that month and went to finde the King at Storne a small village where the Lord of the place as he was ready to goe to dinner was surprised by the light horse The next morning at their dislodging that was set on fire and all the villages round about Now as the armie lying betweene these two riuers there was no meanes honorably to retire but by the issue of an happie combat so already and resolute for the show marched in battell straight to this riuer Their couriers notwithstanding hauing giuen as farre as the brinkes of La Sambre founde not so much as one sole man to make them resistance and passed forwards freely so as the whole cauallerie followed after then the â—â—nterie and men at armes without the losse of any one vallet were it not by some other accident Likewise the imperials not finding themselues strong enough as then contained themselues close within their fort and insteede of going out to seeke them they were shut in and fortefied with good trenches the best that was possible Notwithstanding that night there were certaine troupes of their cauallerie discouered which presently drew backe into the woodes hauing perceiued a number of French companies which were ready to accost them So the poore popular people abused with the hope which they imagined of the imperiall armie were surprised within their houses with a mightie number of cattell other moueables not without great pittie all the plaine countrie being set on fire and extreamely ruined especially one little Towne called Forces within the countie of Assebais This night they encamped on this side the riuer in a Copice where the whole armie kept close and well vnited perceiuing the imperials to be but one league and a halfe of The twentie day of the moneth the French armie beganne to make her entrie so furiously within the countries of Hanault that there was nothing but fire cries flightes and all thinges pittifull to heare but much more to see without so much as one burrow daring to make resistance All the people flying away from the reencounter of this horrible furie which continued vntill euentide that they encamped in the village of Iumets very famous for the two new forts which were there froÌ„ one of which a number of imperials hauing bene aduanced thither to cut off the victuals from the army had already giueÌ„ the slip at the bruit of the vauntcouriers These Castles were in the strongest places ruined raised In this place the K. did an act worthie of a most Christian Prince for hauing beene told him by a guidon of the D. of Neuers company how a poore woman his hostesse was deliuered of a faire sonne himselfe would needs be godfather carried it vnto the Font their caused the Cardinall of Lorraine to Baptise it by the name of Henrie bestowing certaine presents of him besides that he made it be writteÌ„ ouer the house dore to the end it might not be destroied nor ruined with the rest Thus is the house where the K. Christned the child This night the comte Roquendolphe with his pistoliers his regiment of Almanes the D. of Bouillons companie two small field peeces vndertooke to goe surprise the little Towne of Niuelle the first town of Brabant notwithstanding finding it better furnished with men of war then he supposed he returned without doing ought else then burning the suburbs and villages abouts froÌ„ whence he broght away great booties At their dislodging thence the army drew straight to Bains one of the principal townes of Hennault leauing for all the waies behinde it nothing but flames of fire smoke and all kind of calamitie whome the D. of Sauoy still followed with the imperiall army from lodging to lodging giuen at their tayle as many alarums as he was able to annoy and weaken theÌ„ being of himself grieued enough to heare and see the plaints of the miserable common people so destroyed ruined to whom he could giue no other comfort but say that they still fled before him he followed stil after to be reuenged of theÌ„ An occasioÌ„ that the same day they encamped about Bains wher they lightned far greater fires then
hee was not ignorant of permitted not that one should disfurnish a place of guarde chiefely of such importance of Metz of victuals and prouisions whereof it should be furnished to distribute them to a Campe which might be master of the field and follow any other way or Country as towards Sallines a most fertile Countrie wherin he should not onely finde all commodities but in eating and consuming thereof he should the more disaduantage the enemye in not being able to recouer the like there At which seeming to content himselfe he demanded some guide which knew the Country and might conduct him and lead him thither whereto was ordained by the Duke of Guise and expressely sent from Metz one Gaspard de Hus a natiue Gentleman of Metz notwithstanding in very short space he changed his minde for insteed of taking the waye towardes Sallines hee came the more neerer within one legue to Metz and encamped in a place called Aey where he made some stay vsing all the scales which he could imagine for vnder colour to gaine the good grace of the Emperour by some remarqueable seruice entising the Duke of Guise to giue him some trauerses or to trouble him by some disorder had not the Prudence of that Prince bene so great as to foresee and remedy the same Then hauing by diuers remoues trauersed all that Countrie and being turned towards Treues to fetche there a number of Souldiers which he had left there he came downe to Pont Camouson neuer hauing for al that resolued any thing with the B. of Bayonne either of his own appointment or pay of his people albeit that the King had againe sent back Lonsac vnto him for the very same cause notwithstanding he could conclude vpon nothing with him training alwaies the effect in diuersitie of demaundes coloured with faire wordes whereon it was a very vneasie matter to laye any foundation and therefore they entred into the greater suspition of him so as the first mistrust began to encrease more then before wherefore with as much speed as might be the King who hauing knowne the Emperours intents and preparatiues had alreadye caused all his Garrisons bandes and arriere bandes and other new companies to repaire vnto Champagne made his Campe to assemble at S. Michel a little towne of Lorraine vpon the riuer of Meuse sixe leagues on the side of Pont Camouson as farre from Verdun and ten long ones from Metz whether likewise repaired the Constable the D. of Neuers the Earle of Anguien the Prince of Conde the Earle of Aumale the Vice-count of Rohan the Marshall S. Andre Chastillon generall of the French Fanterie the Earle of Villars Bourdillon then ordained Marshall of the Campe the Earle Reingraue and Reiroc with their Regimentes of Lansquenets and sundrye other great Lords and Captains As touching the Imperiall armie it was altogether readie and grew great by view of the eye hauing so farre already marched as being arriued at Deuxponts it extended it selfe throughout all the Countrie of Vaulges in sorte that it was very requisite to lodge and cause to enter into Metz all such succours as well of men of artillerie and other munition as had beene determined to be sent thether and therefore the most commodiously that hee was able the Constable sent from Saint Michael the companies of horse and foote which were ordained to this purpose vnder the charge and conduct of Horace Farneze Duke of Castres carrying with him a number of pioners and store of pouder for the better strengthning of the towne though not in so great quantitie for all that as the Constable could haue wished and as hee had done without the feare he had of the Marquesse who was alwayes at Pont Camouson his men being ouer the plaine Country round about giuen to all insolencies of warre pilling leauing not ought but what they made no account of or could not carrie or beare away The which was found very strange and greatly augmented the distrust which might be had of him Notwithstanding to bring him to some reason they sent vnto him the Duke of Aumalle de Chastillon and the Earle of Reingraue to praye him to cause his people to leaue of their wasting and spoiling of the Countrie and finally to resolue with him the last accord of his appointment and paye of men Then they soone inough discouered what had bin before conceiued of him but as it were in a cloud rendering so ambiguous haughtie an answere with a spitefull and malecontent iesture that he demanded almost the moitie of a kings ransome for appointment And as touching the order of his mens liuing hee shewed that he had alreadie setled his affaires answering in the end with an assured resolution that he was a friend to the king and an allie to the house of Lorrain but hee meant that his souldiers should haue wherewithall to liue and take it where they could find it in case of refusall he was resolued what he had to do and whether to retire himselfe yea so far as refusing to receiue such monie as the Constable had sent vnto him Whereby they well perceiued how he was reconciled to the Emperor by the practise of some Who perceiuing that he was out of his reach for doing him any harme and that he had himselfe great need of people pardoned him all his faults and forbad that any should make his processe in respect of the war passed ratified the contracts made with the B. of Bamberg and Wicibourg released him of going to the war in Hungary yea so farre as to agree with him the more he pardoned the Earles of Itigen both father and son Albert de Mansfeld and his children Now the Emperor lying sicke of his gouts and as well for this cause as for the importunitie of the time his armie soiourning in the countye of Vaulges with as great dilligence as was possible they placed againe the French army at S. Michel strengthned it as well with the French Fanterie Germans Zuizers to the number neere hand of 30000. footmen and betweene seuen and eight thousand horse wherefore the French began to hope better than euer so as the aduise of some was to charge vpon the Marques whilest that the greater armie of the enemie was so far of the meanes were the gallantnes of the French armie the discontentment of the Marquesses people not able besides to make anie retrait into anie place wherein they should not be pursued as enemies for their insolencies passed present to come Other preuailed in councell which perswaded that it would be better to goe more couertly to worke and vnderhand to withdraw the better part of his captains souldiers by meanes of such Germanes as were alreadie come to the kings seruice with assurance of redie paie good intertainment to come Which was so wel handled that with a great mutiny hapned between themselues the colonell Reif-berg with his regiment accepted from thence forward
small peeces ouer which Estre was great master and chiefe gouernour a Gentleman verie watchfull and of great spirite for the first daie of this voyage the armie made no great treate incamping that night a league of Corbie in two little villages vpon a current and small riuer beeing verie commodious for the same The next morrow it followed almost the tracke and waie of the imperiall armie to lodge at Miraumont it happened that in the waie the Duke of Neuers slipped out of the armie with his regiment taking the left hand towards the woods and forrests ouer agaynst Arras where some scoutes were discouered who saued themselues by theyr swiftnesse within the thick of those forrests which beeing well looked about there was not one enimie found that made head onely a fort within a lyttle village which a lyttle after was forced by the harguebuziers and found worse prouided than they imagined The which caused him to turne to Miraumont to take his quarter The second of September the D. of Guise with two regiments of men at armes between a thousand and twelue hundred horse as well of the light cauallerie as of the nobles and ten Ensignes of French fanterie departed from the place drawing thorough the rout of those woods towards Arras to discouer and cleere the most dangerous places subdue the forces of any which should be retired thither but he found not ought which was hard vnto him hauing discouered as far as the suburbs of Arras So returning for a testimonie of this voyage fire was set on al the villages round about with a desolation and most lementable pitie Now from Miraumont there were but two good leagues to Bapaulme a strong place barren more thorough the scituation of nature than anie workemanship but much more odious and hurtful to the French bordering vpon it than euer Terroane was to the Bourgonians so as secretly the better to know the place and tempt the resolution of those that held it the thirde of September the Constable with the most parte of the Princes accompanied with fiue thousand horse as many of the French fanterie went to view this place as neere as he was able whereof Huntsimond a knight was Gouernour much esteemed of among the Bourgonians furnished with ten or twelue Ensignes of Fantassins and three or foure hundred horse who at the first fight did not any waies shew himselfe sparing of powder and bullets besides they within shewed themselues very slacke and loath to come out to the skirmishe but as farre as the Bullets of their artillerie might play they kept a loofe of and perfourmed their dutie brauely enough almost foure houres while the skirmish lasted In these light reencounters there were hurt the Captaine Breul with a Harquebuze shotte in the thigh and yong Molimont Sonne to Molimont the Gouernor of Saint Dizier and of Nogent who afterwards dyed at Peronne during the skirmish the Admiral with a smal company went round about the place and found it pregnable the rampier being of bad stuffe and the fastening wherewith it was made but a thinne crumpled sand which is no good earth But the greatest difficultie of all was the remediles necessitie of water albeit that the Constable had caused a great number of Pyoners to seeke out Conduit heads and springs but no vaines of any lasting could be found out so the determination of the siege was broke of and put ouer vntill another time during this lingering there arriued at the Court the Cardinall of Saint George being a Legate from the Pope to treate of a peace or truce betweene these two Princes At their departure hence all the Villages Abbaies and mansion places appertaining to the enemy not so much as sparing the windmilles neere to the gates of Bapaulme being partely consumed and the rest as yet of a flame and smoking the ground and waies grew so durtie and slipperie by reason of a whole day and nights raine that the Souldiers and footmen could hardly get to their other lodging named Morlincourt within two small leagues of Peronne and the waggons and baggage sustained no lesse whereof as well the garrison of Bapaulme as the rest of the Pesantes about got good booties spoyling the most scattered and worst conuoyed sorte of them the imperiall armie in the meane time coasted them within fiue or sixe leagues hauing the riuer as a barre and separation betweene them albeit it was farre lesse then the French for first euen at the nose of the imperiall Campe the French went and burned and set fire on the Villages next vnto them in respect of the fewe alarmes which they gaue vnto the French except it were sometimes vpon their vallets and fouragers the which they rather supposed grew by the spoyled and desperate Pesants then by the men of warre and lesse hurt was done to the victualers prouisions brought into their Campe all victuals being at a competent rate in the middest of an enemies Countrie where they found nought but Granges voide of Corne and fourage all sorte of victuals being already transported and withdrawne into the strong holdes The which being come vnto the Kings knowledge and sufficiently foreseeing that his enemy hoped and attended nought els then to make him temporise about some towne or other enterprise of small consequence to drawe him on vntill the season of raynes which beginneth soone enough in the colde and occidentall Countryes to the end to ruine and weaken him as well in cutting of all his victuals as by diseases and coldes afterwards to giue him battaile vpon his aduantages concluded with his Councell to giue remedy thereto The resolution then was to reduce his enemy into two extremeties the one of which he perswaded himselfe was vnpossible for him to shunne and perhaps yeeld to them both either to hold his forces close together for the meeting of a battaile or to seperate them for the defence of so many of his places vncertaine which of them all should be first attempted by the King considering the secret of his dessein and the variable turning of his army without any apparant resolution of the place whether it would turne head vpon which perswading himselfe of the aduantage of the first and that the Emperour durst not hazard a generall combate considering he had not so many men as himselfe and that they were more then halfe tired with the long time that they had remained in the fielde hee thoroughly resolued to get by force sleight or any other meane the first place hee should attempt and to sacke it and ruine the whole countrie about in the eye of the Maister and so to returne in triumph as hauing braued and caused him to refuse the day in his owne Countrie and whereof he had vaunted himselfe to be the first challenger Charles on the other side measuring his aduantage rather by the valour then number of his people supplying otherwise the long wearisomnes of these trauailes of warre by discretion
grew darke either to surprise or put them out of order aduised the light Cauallerye to ioyne together to seeke out the height of the Imperiall Cauallerie The which was readilye executed but with such a cheerefulnesse and dexteritye that they beate them backe and liuelye droue them in lesse then nothing euen to the very boorde of their Trenches causing them almost all to fall huddle vpon one anothers tayle into them where of the French side of reputation was slaine Ienlis a gentleman of the Duchie of Bourgondie hauing beene brought vp of a Page in the Kings house it was then that their artillerie as well that of the flankers as that which was vpon the mountes of earth began to play their prise the which killed some and hurte more of the French then were found to haue beene hurte by any handstrokes Among the rest there was slaine the Captaine Steph an Italian Gentleman Lieutenant of the companyes of light horse to the Captaine Senetaire and De Ferriere Lieutenant of the companies of light horse to Giury of the house of Estanges This bickering endured for all that more then a long houre where on the French parte there was slayne of horse and foote about one hundred men so as when the retraite was sounded the Sunne was alreadye set and the night closed in Now had the Councell long debated whether they should assayle them euen within their owne forte or no considering the good happe of their firste charge But the better parte were of opinion that they were rather to content themselues in that they had already done them so great shame in their own Countrye as not onely to haue executed a parte of their Princes will but to haue presented vnto them the battaile which they still threatned to doe from the beginning and now coldely enough and with a slender excuse had refused Their reasons not to attempt any further were first that the French Souldiers were growne wearye and faynte as well with marching as with the weight of their armour contrariwise the enemies were fresh and reposed not hauing for certayne dayes together runne the fielde That the Countrie was theirs and their proper enheritance which would encourage them to fight the more couragiously Ioynt that considering the scituation of the place they could not be assailed but to their great aduātage as the battaile of Poitiers and La Bicoique might well serue for example Likewise that the French were not onely to fight at the first forte from which though it were lost the Imperials might easily retire into the towne ready to begin a fresh especially when they should be able to doe both the one and the other the French should be sure to be the first which should take all the paine and hazard of the enterprise a good parte of them lefte behinde in gage if not all as well for that it is not the propertie or nature of a Zuizer or Lansknet to assaile a towne or fortresse as in that they are not otherwise so affectionate or enclined as subiects are to their Prince whereby if it should so happen that the K. should be in an enemies Countrye vnfurnished of the better parte of his forces it were to be feared that many mischeefes would ensue according to the vncertain occurrence of feates of armes And therefore it was concluded that it was far better to retire with honor thē to hazard ought vnder the hope of an vncertain aduenterous good luck so they placed againe the battailons of fantery in single ordinance afterwards they returned to the place where their baggage was lost the Constable with all the Demilances and Cauallerie of the vantgarde was the last which departed to see if they would play the wagges in the end and set vpon them behinde which they neuer once offred so as by the light of the fires which burned the Farmes and villages for three leagues round about the French in the end found their first lodging where at night it was proposed in councell by some Lords that there was very great meanes and occasion offred to returne againe to seek out the enemye to fight with them and enforce them within their owne forte for that by the reporte of some prisonners which were newlye come thither it was not of so great defence as it was adiudged assuring that on the South side in the bottome by the riuer it was very weake and that there their trench was not perfited nor fiue foot high that there would be meanes enough to pitch and order the battailes and to make it be assailed by the lost children whilste that the artillerye planted vpon the hillockes of the flancker should shoote leuell in The which would either make thē to come out in disorder and so quit the place or suffer themselues to become a deadly marke to so many Cannon shot as would shoure downe vpon them But albeit that this aduice was at the first allowed for sound yet after that the olde and experienced Captaines had deliuered their minde and spoke as they thought good they found that the latter opinion was the more sure following which after one dayes abode to refresh themselues the army retired towards the castle of Cambresy where likewise the French remained another daye without setting fire either on that fayre house or the towne onely all the victuals within were taken out for that the enemies should not be releeued therewith Afterwardes they retired as farre as Fonsomme two small leagues from S. Quentin and there was the army dissolued about the 20. of September for the Zuizers well paid and contented had leaue to retire into their owne Countrie and parte of the Garrisons was put all along the frontiers and the rest sent home to the gouernement of their Captaines as much was done with all the Nobles and rirebands The other parte of the Demilances and light Cauallerie with the olde Ensignes and the Almanes were retyred and assembled at Auchy to Chasteau below Hedin led very shortly after by the Marshal S. Andre towards the Countye of S. Pol to destroy it vtterly and to waste and ruine for euer as well the Baylifwicke of Hedin as the Countye of Ponthieu and all the rest of the countrye of Arthois which was put in execution by him in the very viewe of his enemies without any resistance remaining stil superiour with such fury and desolation that there was not so much as the poor shepheards cottages or houels spared but the whol country set on fire ashes round about Aire S. Omer Lislars Perne the castle wherof was by force taken about 50. spanish souldiers slain hewen in peces Thus was the voyage of the French armye more remarquable for fires ruynes sackings and all other sorte of desolations by th'example and in reuenge of the Hannuyers and Bourgonians ouer France then for any tricke of notable vertue sauing a braue skirmish which the Vidasme of Chartres made before Lissars with
which notwithstanding came not to passe and so certaine dayes passed ouer that the King seeing all his forces readye albeit that his enemye made semblaunce of nought els then busied in the consummation of his sonnes marriage determined to aduaunce forward and by the same place that he was threatned to be assayled to assaye him and enter within his Countryes To this end he assembled his forces and deuided them into three to wit in Pickardy about Saint Quintin vnder the Prince of La Roche Sur-yon in the Valley of Laon towards Crecy vnder the Constable and at Mesieres vnder the Duke of Niuernois Vnder the Prince of La Roche Sur-yon might be nine or ten thousand footmen the most parte Picardes and the rest of the olde Ensignes with three hundred men at armes and fiue or sixe hundred horse and Harquebuziers on horseback Vnder the Constable were fiue and twentye Ensignes of French fanterie new and olde two Regiments of Germanes of the Count Reingraue and Reifberg and fiue and twenty Ensignes of Zuizers with foure hundred men at armes and neere eighteene hundred or two thousand as wel light horse as Harquebuziers on horseback whereof the Duke D' Aumale was Generall a little before come out of prison and almost as many nobles in the Rireband vnder La Iaille their General there were also some companies of English and Scottish Cauallerye The D. of Niuernois had twentye olde Ensignes of French Fanterie drawne from the garrisons of Metz Verdun Thoul d'Anuille Yuoy and Montmedy comprehending therein foure English and Scottish Ensignes in place of which other new were put in two Regiments of the Count Rokendolphe and of the Baron of Frontenay three hundred men at armes neere eight hundred light horse and Harquebuziers on horseback whereof the Prince of Conde was generall and two hundred pistoliers Germanes The army then being thus deuided in three diuers places to the end to holde the enemy in doubt of what they had deliberated to execute and on which side they wold surprise him the French entred by three seueral places into his Country The Prince of La Roche Sur-yon hauing passed the riuer of Somme gaue within Artois with a most cruel and furious a beginning burning and ruining all the Countrye alongst as hee passed The Constable hauing taken his waye towardes Mauber Fontaine the 23. of Iune fained as though hee would addresse himselfe towards Auanes the common brute being that hee went to besiege it but as soone as the Ensignes of France were discouered by those of the plaine Countrie they abandoned Villages boroughs Castles and other places constrained for their surety to retire within the Ardennes with the better parte of their moueables and Cattell esteeming themselues considering the places vnaccessible thorough the difficultie of being able to bring artillerye exempt and out of all perilles amidst the thickest of those woods by reason whereof they were able the more easilye to ruyne the Village and Castle of Cimetz the Castles of Trelon Glaion Commins and other little fortes neere hand Besides their retreate serued them to very small purpose for the Duke of Neuers being determined to tame and bring vnder his obedience this nation smallye frequented through the difficulty of the Ardennes dislodging from Mesieres encamped his armye at the entrance of the Ardennes in a Valley rough and vnpleasant enough at the end of which there is a little Village called Vieil-meseuil a name very aptlye giuen for that it was rather composed of olde ruynes of manors then of houses of habitation And that night hee dispatched De Marets a Gentleman of Niuernois one of the most ancient and experienced men at armes of his company together with his Trumpetter to summon the Castle of Orcimond distant sixe great leagues thence to whom the gouernour called Colas Lois Lieutenant to Bayson a Gentleman of Liege who a little before nothing mistrusting their comming was departed thence answered that hee would neuer yeelde except he saw the Cannon not for that hee esteemed the Castle tenable but by reason of the height of the Rocke vpon which it was scituate which was almost vnaccessible on two sides notwithstanding they planted the artillery in a little plaine towards the wood for the batterie the place appertained to Barlemont Generall of the Emperours finances This answere being heard the Prince determined to goe somewhat neerer to viewe them and to lodge his armye one league from the Castle if the difficultie of the places had not stayed him halfe way in some places so hard and stonye that it was impossible for either men or horse to stand sure and besides so straite that they were enforced to march single by one and one and in some so steepe and painefull that their breath failed them in climing and else where the descents were so steepe that they were faine to creepe downe pace by pace and to graspe and holde fast except their head should firste tumble downe to their assured death so as the horses serued to very small vse for drawing of the artillerie the force of mens armes being there much more needefull for the better and more sure managing and conducting thereof true it is that throughout there was so good order kept as the enemies could hardly giue any impediment therevnto for that all the waies were furnished with Harquebuziers euery ten pace for the suretye of the whole trayne this night being the 29. of Iune the Prince encamped in another Valley called the Valley of Suranda neere vnto a rocke where was wont to be the forte of Linchant at this day for the most parte ruined vnder which and all alongst this valley runneth a riuer or rather a swifte streame called Semois which runneth towards Bouillon and falleth into La Meuse vnderneath Chasteau Regnaut from this place hee sent Iamets with a Regiment of French Fanterie and artillerye to batter the Castle of Orcimont which as soone as it was saluted with two Cannon shot they within being altogither dismaied without concluding in any other sorte of yeelding neuer set themselues to any defence but the Cheefe secretly shut vp all the keyes and by a secret posterne which opened into this valley between the rocks saued himselfe with 12. of his most fauoured Souldiers leauing the rest well astonished and doubtfull of the euent who notwithstanding shortlye after yeelded themselues to the mercy of the Prince whose prisonners they were when the Captains of the rest of the fortes all along these wayes had receiued aduertisement that for certaine the Prince had trained his artillerye which before they would neuer haue beleeued without further endeuouring how to annoy his passage or to stoppe and hinder his wayes with great Logges and trees felde downe as they are wont cleane abandoning their fortes munitions and all places whether they were wonte to retyre themselues they fledde of all handes so as being arryued at Louettela grande after their departure from the Valley
honours and friendship more then wealth or other recompences which such as carrie not a gentle hart prefer before all gentilitie so farre as he was made gouernour of Verrue where he wrought and addressed an enterprise which I will declare vnto you for an instruction to such as will giue them to follow the like traine of armes Hauing got good intelligence of the towne of the people and munition which was there by meanes of one Fantarolle a Marchant of Pont de sture who did ordinarily trafique thither and hauing made ready all his preparatiues to scale it by night whilst a mariage of one of the most notable inhabitants was solemnised where Figuerol gouernour of the place which the chiefest of the garrison and countrie was assembled the Phisitians which hee sent to fetch from Casal vnder the colour of a counterfaite sickenes to take away all suspition which might arise being no sooner come but he with Birague Vimerocat and a number of souldiers which found the guards sentinels and other the inhabitants almost all a sleepe made himself master of the towne after a little sheding of their blood which offred to resist him seasing on the market place gates carfoxes and other places of importance thorough the helpe of a number of souldiers which he before had caused to come in clad in countrie folkes apparell as if they had ment to sell their fruites to the inhabitants The compt of Ladron notwithstanding cheefe of the Almanes which hee quickly got together kept the place a long time against Saluoison and the Marshall himselfe whose forces supprest him soone enough whilst that Figuerol and a number of Spanniards amased at the crie of France got haue clad into the Citadel which the Marshall of Brissac ready with the Cannon battered and carried away in fower and twentie howers with condition of life saued to those that held it who went away without carrying any of the munition whether it best liked them Thus the tenth day of March one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and fiue the store of prouisions which was prepared for the recouerie of Piemont was taken and Saluoison established gouernour of the place whence the assurance of the greter part of the Marquisat of Montferrat depended which was already in the K. hands as being the Key of all that prouince and gappe of al Lombardie afterwards with the same foote he seased of all the forts about and pushing forward towards Alexandria battered tooke and ruined Poman Saint Saluadour and other little places not able to hold out and vnpossible to be fortefied so soone as he desired the better to open to himselfe the way to Milan Ioynt that he found it more expedient to remit his forces increase his army which he purposed to put into the field then to deuide theÌ„ into Bicoques in danger to loose them all vpon the comming of so great an armie as the D. of Alua prepared against him In Aprill 1555. there grew a notable change in Italy about the free estate of Syene touching the principalitie thereof To the which Cosme of Medices newly created Archduke of Tuscane had aspired of a long time as well for that this common wealth being of so great force and scope was enclosed within his lands of Tuscane as to render the effects of his power conformable to the title which had beene giuen vnto him In respect that the accidents therein grew verie diuers and were strangely handled me thinketh it very reasonable that the cours therof be researched euen from the first originall The Emperour being seased of Siene in Tuscane had placed there for gouernour Don Diego de Mondoze with a Spannish garrison against whome hauing begun a Citadell vnder colour of doing it for the townes defence but carrying himselfe to seuere towards the inhabitants they al conspired to set them selues at libertie foreseeing that the Emperour would bring in the forces of the Florentine their enemie against them and that the Citadell was builded on the way to Florence Mendoze in the meane time vnder colour of defending the people against the insolencies of the Nobles caused them to lay a side their armies but exercising his rigor afterwardes on both parties who being accorded and forgetting their olde quarels let the French to vnderstand how rudely they were handled aduertising them of the strange desseins of the Spanniards throughout all Italy Against whome they besought succour beseeching to be receiued vnder their protection especially considering that this Principalitie would bee a verie fit thing for the K. the better to bridle the Imperials in Italy Concluding that Kings being established to succour the afflicted and that Siene hauing beene at al times affectionate vnto the French deserued not to be refused in so iust a request which brought vnto him nothing but honour and profit with a maruelous comfort to all Italy In the ende the succours which they demaunded were promised And albeit that Cosme had aduertised Mendoze of all the proceeding hereof yet he nothing fearing the Sienois being bridled in and vnarmed set verie light by the aduertisment So as the conspirators and other fugitiues thoroughout all Italy leuied in the K. name sixe thousand men vnder the conduct of Nicolas Earle of Petiglian of Hieronime Pisan and Marie de Saint Flour with a number of Cauallerie Now as it fell out that in this time Dragut Rais a famous Corsaire and cheefe of the Turkes armie by sea scowred all along the coast of Italy the K. enemies tooke occasion thereby to make the bruite to runne how that he was come thither to put certaine ports of Tuscane into the French mens haâ—des which came by sea in Gallies from Marseiles to the succours of the Sienois So as the Spanniards began to arme themselues fortefie places and to demaund succour of the Duke who sent eight hundred soldiers of proofe to Mendoze seasing themselues of the places and passage of Siene whereat the inhabitants were so stirred vp as within a few daies after they caused the Earle of Petiglian secretly to enter in with fortie thousand men who droue the Spanniards out of Siene with a great slaughter notwithstanding both of the one part the other The rest of the Spanniards got them into the Citadell and into the coÌ„uent of preaching Friers which they had fortefied But afterwards with the eight peeces of artillerie which was taken from them they droue them out of the fortes the Earle of Saint Flour ariuing there with two thousand souldiers which rested of the leauie In such sort as they tooke the conuent and afterwards the Citadell the most part of the chefetaines with the Florentine Capitanes retyring themselues and so all together by an accord made with the Cittizens they departed out of Siene and seased of Orbitelle a place seated in a Marsh but euery way fit to annoy the Sienois Hereupon the Emperour beeing constrained to quitte Metz and retired into Germanie where he vnderstoode of the successe of his affaires
which he had begunne in the Isle bordering on the porte of Ostia whither the Cardinall Caraffe wente vnto him of whome he procured the prolonging of the Truce free and marchandable for fourtie dayes with a hope of a generall peace But Caraffe tended to no other thing then to solace his owne vntill the ariuall of the Frenche of whome hee helde himselfe alreadie all assured And in the meane time hee assayed to drawe the Venetians to the partie who in the ende refused to declare thēselues against the K. of Spayne But the D. of Ferrara followed the Popes partie as well for that he was a vassall and feodarie as in fauour of the K. of Fraunce following the association alreadie concluded and agreed betweene them So had he alreadie assurance as I sayde before of the title of Defendour of the Church which the Kings of England were wont to carrie The League betweene the Pope the K. the D. of Ferrara carried That the Pope should to the nomber of twentie thousand footmen one thousand horse furnish the whole charges of the armie The K. should put the like nomber of fanterie into the fielde and 2000. horse the Ferrarois 6000. souldiars 200. men at armes and 400. light horse with 20. peeces of battery Thus the D. of Guise being entred into Italie with an assured hope to ioyne such succours to the forces which I haue shewed you and a great nomber of the nobilitie which followed him for their owne pleasure such as he mought well vaūt that he had neere hand the two tierce of the flower of the nobility of Fraunce could not imprint into the heads of the Italians but a feare of great mischiefe to ensue vnto all Italie which he put into armes in diuers hopes and dangerous partialities through a suddaine entrie of so many people Moreouer euerie man doubting with himselfe and fearing least vnder the colour of the Popes succours the D. of Guise would giue elsewhere was an occasion that first they fortified Milan with all her dependances Then they prouided suddenly strong Garrisons for Cremone Pauia Lode Ast Valence and other places of importance And in the meane space the Duke of Florence armed himselfe and put Garrison vpon the Frontiers of Ferrara He furnished with souldiars Florence Pisa and other Townes vnder his obedience in Tuscane and aboue all those which neighboured vpon Bologne Vpon this the Duke of Alua who was no whitte ignoraunte of the Spanishe forces comming against him was once vpon the poynte to retyre to Naples as well for the doubte which he had that he shoulde not be able to sustayne the furious assaulte of so freshe Troupes as to drawe them and hemme them in within the enemies Countries thereby by little and little to consume them with Famine and other diseases and had done so but for the Counsell of Ferdinande Gonzague He resolued then for the more expediente to reste there and to sende Garzie de Toledo the Compte de S. Flour Vespasian Gonzague and other of the Realme of Naples to furnishe the Townes of Capue Arian Saint Agathe Venose Nolle Ciuitelle Aterne and the rest which are vpon the Calabrian Sea Iointe that the bruite ranne howe the Turkishe armie was to lande there in fauour of the French as it had before done in Corse The Duke of Guise in the meane time hauing ioyned his forces in Piemont with the Mareschal de Brissaes was at Valence which had for Garrison two thousande souldiars parte Italians parte Spaniardes and Grizons vnder Spoluerin Nowe as the Duke of Guise had caused the bruite to be giuen out that they had taken Pauia and that the Duke of Guise had caused Valence to be summoned to yeelde or that if hee tooke it by force he would vse all the cruelties which coulde be looked for in a mortall warre Spoluerin fearing the losse of his great wealth did so much after some skirmishes and nomber of Cannon shotte as the souldiars condescended to the yeelding of the place prouided that they mought be suffered to depart liues goods saued the which was graunted vnto thē about the 8. day of Ianuarie 1557. But this Captaine Spoluerin and many other of the Garrison being retyred to Pauia were beheadded for yeelding so cowardly hauing victuall and munition at commaundement within a verie strong place and without seeing ought which mought mooue them to yeelde it so soone It was then as the Cardinal of Trent sent to summon the D. of Guise to render Valence vp into his hands the which he had takē against the articles of Truce but it was answered him how the D. of Alua hauing first brokē he ought not to maruel if he followed his example therefore that he looke for no other effect at the handes of the French then warre vntill that reason were yeelded to those which were most interessed further that hee had iustly handled them of Valence for that his forces marching to the succour of the Pope had bene braued by that Garrison the which had saluted thē with Cannon shotte As the Duke of Guise marched towardes Rome Strozzy Monluc and the Duke of Palliane perceyuing the Duke of Alua to be retired from before Rome beset Ostia with fiue hundred souldiers as well Italians as Gascoignes and sixe hundred horse which carryed it away without any great paynes Afterwardes they besieged the Forte the which was yeelded vnto them in the ende by composition and the Spaniards departed liues goods and weapons saued with some pieces of artillerie At the verie same time the Popes people tooke from the Spaniardes the townes of Bellitre Tuscule Marin which was in olde time called Villa Marij and Grotta Ferrata some holde it was Cicero his place and Seigneuriae which he called Tusculanum and diuers other within the territorie of Rome They tooke besides Palesan and S. Ange a forte scituate vpon a mountaine S. Paul being likewise besieged by the enemie The Duke of Palliane succoured by the Mareschal Strozzy was there and receyued the place agayne being abandoned by the Spaniardes Then he was to besiege Vico-Valerio which he tooke by assaulte and put to fire and sworde all those which they mette in armes giuing the pillage to the souldiers All this passed ouer vnder the onely fright of the name of Guise and of the armie which he ledde who hauing helde a Councell at Valence vpon the conduct of his dessein intelligence still being of what passed at Rome and hauing heard the aduice of the Mareschal Brissac Louys de Birague Vimercat and other of his armie it was concluded that the Mareschal and other Captaynes ordayned in Piemont shoulde returne to Turin and make as many roades as was possible vpon the enemies countrie In the meane time the Duke of Guise shoulde goe towardes Ferrara passing thorough the Countrie of Plaisance the which was accordingly done But not without the Marques of Pescaire his continuall
discommodities the opportunitie was escaped him far attempting any matter of great importaunce Especially for that he was repulsed from the Frontier of Champaigne whither they sayde his principall entente was And albeit that other were of a contrarie opinion assuring howe there was a certaine complotte an assured Rende-vous and a full foresight determined whither he meant to turne his Forces as vnto a matter which he helde alreadie halfe conquered beeing well aduertised of such wante as there mought be so farre as the Admirall did assure by intelligence receyued the Conestable his Vnckle how that the Prince meant to haue a blow at Picardie as a place very euill prouided Ioint that the Spanishe bandes which were within newe Hedin the best Troupes which they had were not as yet dislodged the Frenche as mens senses being dispersed doe lesse apprehende one of those things which they doe beholde then if they were all fixed vpon that alone being curious to furnishe the whole prouided not sufficiently either for the armie or any other of those places whereby they mought stay the enemie who still entertayned them with his long delayes and irresolutions thorough the vncertainetie of his dissein vntill that the Prince hauing made a showe as though he woulde first encampe before Guise then at Mariembourg had enclosed rounde S. Quentins with his light Cauallerie And at the same instant causing his whole armie to martche with extreame dilligence hee founde himselfe encamped rounde about it before that euer he coulde be thought to haue bene halfe way The suddainesse whereof made the whole Campe to doubte least the place woulde be taken by surprise as well for wante of men as other prouisions and fortifications within the Towne which had but the Captaine Brueil for gouernour and Telligny Lieutenaunt to the Daulphin of a Companie of one hundred men at armes the better parte of whome were therein Garrison at which the Inhabitauntes grewe so greatly discontented considering as they alleadged that their priuiledges did exempte thē from them as whatsoeuer ensued thereupon was rather attributed to their owne faulte then to any others The Admirall being commaunded by the Conestable to get into the Towne with as many men as hee shoulde be able vnder a hope of being succoured by him albeit that Iarnac and Lusarche offered themselues to goe thither and keepe him from aduenturing so great a danger perswading him to employ himselfe somewhere else where he shoulde be able to doe the King more signall seruice then to cast away himselfe there within did so much notwithstanding as with foure hundred fiftie men as well horse as foote he entred in Afterwardes hauing made the Rounde about the walles encouraged the Inhabitauntes whome he assembled together in the common Hall visited the whole Towne thorough ouerlooked the prouisions and munitions of warre and giuen the quarters vnto Companies he prouided for all the rest the best which he was able Now for that Iulian Romero and Carondelet spanish Captaines had alreadie gayned the bulwarke of Fauxbourg d'Isle where they had settled their Enseignes notwithstanding any resistaunce which could be made Iointe that it was without parapette and the earth without as high as within the Admirall yssued out to regayne it and to burne the houses about But the besieged were so euill receyued and hottely pursued as many returned hurte counselling the Admirall to abandon that Fauxbourg considering the small number of men which he had and the two passages to the Flankers thereof by which the enemie mought cutte betweene the Fauxbourg and the Towne and so hinder the retreat of such as shoulde defende it But he would needes still holde it vntill a greater occasion were offred to set a good countenance vpon it Hereupon beeing willing to viewe the encamping of his enemies he commanded Teligny to cause 50. horse of his Cōpanie to fallie out vnder the conducte of some assured man at armes onely to viewe enioyning them by no meanes to sight and especially that he shoulde not goe himselfe But seeing the Couriers engaged and in disorder he was no sooner aduanced without armour and vpon a bad court all to cause them to retire but he was wrapped in throwne downe to the grounde wounded to death stripte naked and afterwarde carryed away by a souldier who hazzarded his life for the rewarde which the Admirall had promised vnto him This done perceyuing the preparratiues of the enemie to batter the Fauxbourg d'Isle hauing carryed away whatsoeuer was portable and prouided for the burning of the houses vpon the watch worde giuen hee quitted it and caused the whole to be burned Nowe as the Inhabitantes had hidde their prouisions notwithstanding any commaundement or dilligence vsed to forbid them among whome the Maior aloane and the Sire de Gibercourte were noted to doe their duetie so their faulte in concealing the powder which had lyen a long time hidde in the Towres of the gate of the Fauxbourg d'Isle was a cause of great inconuenience For to the ende they mought carrie it away as soone as it was discouered the cakes being all rotten and mouldering into pieces they were fayne to put it into blankettes where the fire tooke so at vnawares with such violence of this diuelishe mixtion as it made a breache of more then fiue and thirtie paces besides the losse of sixe and thirtie seruiceable men which wente all into smoake Whereupon the enemie had a fayre occasion presented to vndertake some thing to his aduantage if the fire of the houses of the Fauxbourg which burned had not taken away the sight of this breache from the Spanyardes who mought easily haue entered in at the beginning for that euery man was retired to feede and other necessaries And albeit that the Conestable greatly payned himselfe to get succour into the Towne according to the aduise which he had receyued from the Admirall who to this ende had sente foorth Vaupergue and from the toppe of a steeple had shewed him by what wayes they were to take their course yet Dandelot his brother was not able to bring any in for that certayne Englishemen prisoners among the Spanyardes had aduertised them of this enterprise An occasion that hauing entrenched and furnished the high way to Han by which they were to passe with harquebusiers for so much as that quarter being allotted to such Englishmen as were ioyned vnto King Philips Armie was lesse peopled with men of warre the thirde parte was there slayne and the rest enforced to saue themselues albeit they had a nomber of men at armes and light horse to assiste them with hotte alarmes whilest that they shoulde enter in In the meane space to viewe the Countrie and to hinder the enemie from enlarging himselfe attempting vpon him as occasions were proffered But Vaupergue had not sufficiently marked the places which were shewed vnto him for his entraunce in but gaue straight vpon a Corps de guarde of Fantassins in steade of passing betweene
generall musters shoulde be made of the Inhabitantes of Paris ouer whome there commaunded Charles de Bourbon Prince De la Roche-Suryon in Poitou This done the King being shortly after ariued from Compienne generall processions were made whither likewise Paul de Termes was sente for for the reputation of his vertue especially in feates of Armes Who being come caused to be broken off that vnprofitable deuice of the long trenches which they had begunne at Paris on the side of Mont-martre the better to assure that passage In the ende proclamation was made in the Kinges name thorough out all the Countreyes that all souldiers Gentlemen or other which eyther had followed or were able to carrie armes shoulde retyre to Laon towards the D. of Neuers his Lieutenaunt generall to the ende they mought be there employed for his seruice and safetie of the Countrie And that all such as woulde followe the warres for their owne pleasure shoulde retire themselues aboute his person vnder payne of being declared Rebelles punished corporally as villaines and disgraded of all Nobilitie Such an accident was soone enough able to chaunge the affayres of the Courte Yea to establishe an other kinde of fourme altogether in the managing of the Estate of Fraunce ouer which the Conestable seemed to holde the aduantage But his taking caused it to fall into the handes of the Cardinall of Lorraine and Dutchesse of Valentinois who kept it for the Duke of Guise as soone as hee shoulde bee come to the Courte During the attendance of whose Forces the Duke of Neuers assembling together such as were escaped from the battaile and as many more as hee was able gaue foorth a nomber of Commissions to Leuie in the Kinges name newe Companies and sente De iours to fetche the Leagion of Champagne whereof hee had beene chiefe Captayne and drewe fiue Enseignes out of the Garrison of Metz and other olde bandes of the Garrisons neare hande in whose steade hee sent newe not ceasing to sende forth men of all handes to viewe learne newes and vpon any good intelligence to charge at their aduantage In the meane space the Prince of Conde suffered no more the enemie to repose himselfe then the light horse as also did the Earles of Sancerre and Bordillon of their parte And albeit that the Captayne Graye his Englishe light horse hauing quitted him and carryed away his armour and horse gaue occasion to the enemie to sende two thousande horse as farre as Oyse to passe ouer there and stoppe these Couriers yet durste they not for all that venter any further but returned to the Campe hauing founde the Frenche watchfull at all handes as disgrace awakeneth and keepeth all kinde of persons within their duetie more then prosperitie or any other accident To returne to the Mareschall Brissac his actions in Piemont whilest that hee employed his armie in attending the effect of the long promises which had bene made him of his paye to waste the Countrie rounde about Fossan blocke in Cony and hindering them both from hauing any succoures especially of victualles or other necessaries De Lambres an ordinarie groome of the Kinges Chamber was dispatched vnto him on the 15. of August to aduertise him of the defeat and taking of the Conestable vnder Saint Quentins and of the continuance of the Siege thereof And further carryed a commaundement vnto him to sende away thither out of hande De Termes and D'Anuille with their Companies the Regiment of Swizers which were in Piemont the better to further the affayres of the Realme Whereupon a Counsell was helde at Lagasque and therein it was resolued that they shoulde departe with their Companies And how that in regarde of the Swizers and other affayres which as then fell out the Secretarie Bounin shoulde bee dispatched with charge to condole with his Maiestie for so great a losse and disastre on the behalfe of all his seruantes in Piemont And further most humblie to deliuer vnto him what their opinion and aduise was for the preuenting of such inconueniences as mought growe by such an accident The substance whereof was howe his Maiestie should himselfe embrace the conducte of his affayres and commaunde a Leuie forthwith to be made of twentie thousande Almaines and thirtie thousande Frenche with correspondent Forces of Cauallerie And that this armie mought bee on foote before such time as the enemie shoulde haue taken Saint Quentins or at the least assayled taken and fortified any other place That to be able to restore all thinges into good tearmes and for a long time to entertaine the saide Armie it were necessarie to make a good prouision of money taking vp to that ende an whole yeeres reuennewe of the Bishoprickes Abbayes and other benefices without excepting anye sauing such as still trauayled and spente their owne about his Maiestie Who mought if it pleased him beginne with the Bishoppe of Constance Cousin to the sayde Mareschall Who likewise was of aduise that the Estates shoulde be assembled and that his Maiestie in person shoulde deliuer the necessitie of his affayres and demaunde succour therein And that all that which mought be so drawne out was not able to supplie the wante That he should in the like sorte helpe himselfe by the Nobilitie beginning with him taking all his reuennewes sauing two thousande livers which mought be left to his wife to nourishe her selfe and her children withall That the Swizers shoulde make themselues readye to martch albeit that they were so tyred and neare driuen of all handes by being euill payde as that they woulde hardly be able to bee ariued within Fraunce before that the occasion for which his M. sought them were passed ouer And that by this meanes Piemont without cause woulde remayne vnarmed and in great daunger besides the losse of time and expence which had bene employed and bestowed vpon the bringing of the sayde Fossan and Cony into that extreame necessities in which they then stoode But at the seconde summons of his Maiestie the Swizers must of necessitie be sent away who as it was foretolde grewe altogether vnprofitable thorough the long aboade which they made at Lions being very sicke weake and euill payde Nowe the Mareschall hauing vnderstood that vpon this defeate his Maiestie had caused newe Companies of men at armes to be addressed hee greatly besought for La Mothe Gondrin Francisque Bernardrin de Pauan and Vicompt Gourdon but they mought not be gratified He offered for all that to come in person himselfe vnto his Maiestie in this his great necessitie to doe him seruice but it woulde not bee accepted Certayne dayes after his Maiestie perceyuing howe few Forces were remayning in Piemont the Swizers being departed thence and foreseeing the daunger of some inconuenience like to ensue sente worde vnto the Mareschall that in steade of those Swizers he shoulde with all speede leuie newe Companies of foote and that hee shoulde wante no money to that ende Notwithstanding there was onely sente to paye
which the Lorde Admirall caused to be made were onely but to take breathe and to be aduertised of what his enemies meant to vndertake for so much as hee doubted least they woulde worke some newe Mynes whereof hee coulde not haue any knoweledge at all That daye as soone as euer it beganne to breake they saluted the Towne with a full Batterie For all the shotte that had beene before came from the platfourme of the Fauxbourg D'Isle whence they sawe them worke and countermine continuing the playe of the Cannon all the whole day long and not at one onely place not much of the night passing ouer but that they still remooued their Pieces from one place to another to make a newe batterie For from the seconde day they beganne to digge and carrie forth the earth of the Ditche on their side and shortly after they propped vp coueringes with great Timber vnder which they mought trauerse to and fro and enter within the Ditches without any man beeing able to doe them harme Because there were not any Flanckers at all to commaunde the Ditch where they mought eyther viewe or laye batterie vnto them And all the stones which they were able to fling at them coulde not endammage them by reason of the coueringes vnder which they creapte They began their Batterie at the Windemyll which was neare vnto Saint Iohns gate and afterwardes scowred this place as farre as the Tower on the water with such a furie that there was not lefte one sole Tower which was not rent and razed with the better parte of the Courtayne laying the Batterie in diuerse places with fiue and fourtie Peeces All those which were within were greatly cousined and deceyued in one thing that they thought the Masons worke and Cyment of the towres and courtines much more stronger and better then it was the steares and thicknesse of the walles being very large But the stuffe was so naught that as soone as the toppe was but a little shaken and loosed all the rest fell downe of it selfe in great lumpes whereby many were slayne and hurte with the crestes and battlementes of the Parapettes On the 4 day of their Batterie they carried twelue peces alongest the side of Bourg D'Isle and mounted them within the Abbey from whence they battered the gate where the fire was put into powder vntill they had made themselues Maisters of the Ditches S. Remy still well hoped to haue perfourmed some matter of worthe but when he sawe them once lodged within he tolde the Admirall that he was not able to doe them any more harme for that they had gotten the vpper grounde of him Reiterating many times that he neuer set his foote in so badde a place and that long before that hee had aduertised the late King thereof Not for that he was the more dismayed thereat or spoke of any pusillanimitie but angrie for that hee founde no remedie at all nor such meanes as he coulde haue wished being for the rest a man very resolute and wise From the very first day of the Batterie vntill the ende thereof the Admirall D' Andelot and S. Remy went euery night to viewe the damages and onvertures which the Artillerie had made and on the day resolued with those Captaynes of the Quarters whome it concerned of that which they had to execute After that the Batterie had continued foure dayes there was a great feare engendred among those of the Towne yea and the men of Warre themselues which the Admirall getting knowledge of walking by night to remedie the same hee helde one language common and generall to them all in a place where almost all the Captaines and many souldiers were assembled together which was that hee had firmely agreed and resolued in his minde to keepe that place with those men which he had and if any man did at any time see him varie or offer any speache of composition hee gaue him leaue to throwe him downe as a cowarde into the Ditches and in like case if he founde any of them to parley to the contrary he woulde doe no lesse by them And by this occasion there neuer passed ouer daye but two or three times hee woulde walke himselfe about the quarters and in passing by would demaunde the Captaines opinions conferring and communicating with them what was done in the rest of the places according vnto that which hee had prayed them the first day that he entred within the Towne that euery man woulde aduertise him of that which he esteemed best for the conseruation of the place The batterie continued vntill the sixte daye about two of the clocke in the afternoone that they likewise presented themselues in sundry places within the ditches as farre as the Parapettes at a pikes leangth At this presente the Sentinell from the steeple of the great Churche aduertised the Admirall howe that of all handes the Armie raunged themselues into battaile and that many footemen martched towards the Trenches The which he caused to be made knowne in all places and quarters of the Towne to the ende that euery man might stande vpon his guarde imagining that they meant that day to giue the assaulte and he himselfe wente to three of the nexte breaches vnto him to see what order was there kept Where hee founde euerie man in all apparaunce willing to perfourme his duetie the like whereof he also vnderstoode from all the rest of the places whither he had sente Gentlemen to viewe Which was the cause that himselfe returned backe agayne verie well content to the Breache Which he kept being that which he supposed the enemies meante to turne their principallest strength against for that they euer most sought to batter this place to leaue nothing which might serue for Flanckes especially for that it laye iust ouer against the entrie which they had made into the Ditche As they were all thus attending the assaulte the enemies put fire to three mines all which were right vnder the Rampire the principallest were in the quarter of D' Auphin But the dammage was nothing so great as they looked for being the cause that they gaue no assaulte that day So afterwardes they did not ouermuch heate them selues but were contented to goe and viewe the breaches on the Admirals side and descende into the Ditche which D' Andelot kept After that the Spanyardes were retyred the Admirall wente to viewe what hurte those Mines had made and founde that by that onuerture they were not very like to receyue or incurre any great danger but that for all that it was fitte to worke vpon it which hee deferred vntill night for that they durste not touche there or shewe themselues by day by reason of the full viewe which their enemies Artillerie had of them Nowe were there eleauen breaches many mines the ditche gayned and the Souldiers therein well couered the Armie great to gayne the breaches against eight hundred souldiers and men at armes of all sorts distributed as the Admirall
great hope and expectation ouer whome you haue euer beene a carefull Cornelia as well to succeede their renowmed Father in his vertues which neuer shal perish as other his humaine dignities possessions wherof if you shall not in this Historie haue the like profered to your view for no age hath left any such recorde yet cōtemne not the reading of my Author by whome you shall receiue the true first motiue of all the Ciuil and foraine warres of Fraunce in our age and her neighbour Countries with such memorable accidents and occurents as continually were ministred Not like to that impudent though excellent writer Paulus Iouius no lesse worthy to be a Bishoppe then a Historiographer who plainly auerred nay was not ashamed himselfe in his Bookes to vaunt how he made no accounte in writing a lie were it in matter of consequence or to please the appetite of great ones which shoulde set him a worke for that wher ther was one in his time which knew the fault from the truth all posterity hereafter would notwithstanding belieue and giue credite to what he should set down my Author contrariwise hath beene so little tickled with the couet of rewarde or ambition capitall enemies to the truth as that he refuseth to set his owne name to his so painefull labours mildely and with such great temperance ouerrunning the proceedings of all enemies as hee cannot iustly be suspected of any partiall leaning to the one side more then the other wishing for my own part that some one ther were according to my tast giuen who in this scribling age whereof translating humours and quoters are plentie would finish out the rest many fragments and sundrie Bookes yet lying by me as I once intended but since through an accident that happened in a pelt flong away my pen confining what I had done as I then thought to vtter darkenesse weary of giuing Liueries to other mens retayners like a conceyted builder rather delighted with an inferiour model of his owne framing then to rough-cast or adorne a more goodly and sumptuous pallace left vnto his hands reseruing my selfe to somwhat though simplier of my owne hammering and digesting which the proiect already being fausied time may finish and peraduenture bring to light if feare of receiuing foyle by that illustrious Camden doe not otherwise withdrawe my humorfoyle yet honour enough to be an imitator and carrier of thy Bookes Precious curious Camden thy owne Country prints not sufficient to extend thy name worthy to finde Kinges thy nurcing fathers and Queenes thy nurses rare Iewell of Britaine land enemie to inglorious obliuion tresurer of memorie trumpet of Albyons fame register of Antiquitie and poursiuant of eternitie It now resteth glorious and beautifull Ladies adorned with your stately ranke and place humbly to intercesse pardon for my presumption in seeking so boldely to shrowde the infirmities of my pen vnder the shadowe of your winges And that it will please you to grace with your generall safe conduct this my newe English Denizen to passe from place to place free from any Menippean search vntill he may make his rende-uous in some contemplatiue or retired hands who though he now seeme Clownish Rogish like yet notwithstāding in his own Country guise is well esteemed of very commendable In which albeit many of you bee singularly well able to iudge of him yet if it please any of the rest to vouchsafe to entertayne his broken English I dare assure that for his discourse you shall finde him very delightfull for his newes not ordinarie and for his truth can bring good securitie when soeuer he may be permitted to attend vpon your leasure not importioning his accesse vntill weried with your more weightie and serious seruices a desire may possesse you insteede of recreation to spend with him some fewe howers of the day A matter heretofore accustomed in my knowledge by manie high and loftie Ladies who often times to be meete with wearisomnes exercised themselues in studie reading of worthie writers as Marguerite Countesse of Lennox Anne Countesse of Oxford Francis Countesse of Sussex Elizabeth Countesse of Lincolne the Ladie Marie Sydney liuing my thrice honoured mistresse truely liberall and bountifull rare Mother of so heroicall an ofspring by her noble minde and cariage easily discouering greatnes of birth and Princely parentage and that wise good and godly Ladie aduancer of so many excellent personages both in Arte and Armes employing her credite with her Soueraigne then whome none had greater in doing good offices for all sortes in generall but especially preferring those in whome she might perceiue any signification of vertue to appeare That graue Matron harmelesse Courtier and faithfull seruant Francis Barones of Cobham late wife to the noble L. and trustie Councellor yet liuing to whome I was so much bound in many duties being likewise to the whole house as that both in her health and languishing Maladie she sundrie times admitted me to conferre or reade with her finding in the Ecclesiasticall Historie her most delight But no waies may I heere without extreame note of grosse ouersight pretermit in this lift that famous Religious and learned Ladie flower of her familie prouident mother blessed in her posteritie Mildred Barones of Burghlie besides her knowledge in the Latine letters wherein of a subiect she excelled such were her studies exercises and continuall Meditation in the Greeke Doctors of the Church especially Basil Ciril Chrisostome and Nazianzene as a chiefe reader in that tonge Laurence by name hath ere now confessed vnto me that in his iudgemēt she Egalled if not ouermatched any in whose profession as expected so most was to be required Neither were these excellent parts of hers onely Theoricall but still put in practise like an other Dorcas full of piety and good works as without any ostentation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides her readines in solliciting for poore and distressed sutors vnto her deare Lo. the auncients Councellor of Europe Pater Patriae piller of the state thorough whose prudent pollicie and carefull watchings iustly may be applied Neque periculum in R. P. fuit grauius unquam noc maius otium in her life time setting on her owne charge so many poore aworke her exhitition to Schollers liberallitie to Vniuersities bountie to exiled strangers and her most abounding charitie euerie quarter to all the prisons about London hath manifestly declared I hope that in so long insisting vpon the vertues of this Lady and others I shall not be misliked for insinuation lesse feare to be suspected namelesse like my Author and yet if knowne most will confirme that Non mihi promptum in adulationes ingenium But I haue the rather presumed of your patience in delighting of these honourable personages to the end to incite you to treade in their steps and imitate their examples Such as you are were they and such as they now are shall euerie one of you be who though they seeme faded and as it were
themselues sooner beaten then assailed by those whose very first March they alwaies before despised Then after manye and light brunts with the common faith receiued in Fraunce since the sure and publicke establishmentes of Christian Religion by Berenger of Tours Abeyllard Breton Amaury of Chartres Arnold of Bresse and other followed by a great number of Sectaries as well in this Realme as else where it neuer was so earnestly assaulted as by the Vaudoios and their successors in Guienne and Countries about which they named Albigeois of the towne of Alby chiefe of Albigeois scituate betweene Languedos and Quercy Who in spight of all the Potentates of Christendome sowed about the yeare 1100. and euen since their doctrine smally differing from the Protestants at this day Not onely through Fraunce but almost all the Countries of Europe For the French Spanish English Scots Italians Germaines Bohemians Saxons Polonians Lithuaniens and other people haue mightily defended it vntill this present After that this doctrine had a while crept thorough Fraunce in the end as the heate of burning coles doth exhalate and pearce thorough by little and little the thicknesse of the Sinders not able to quench it it grew more commonly knowne by Prayers publike exhortations administrations of Sacraments and other vses the course whereof the Clergie not being able to hinder sought vnder the authoritie of the Pope aide and force at the hands of Christian Princes whome they speedely armed against the Albigeois Whom after a number of assaults battels reencounters losses ruines victories and reciprocal aduantages from the yeare 1200. For 50. yeares after euer maintaining by armes and force the outward shew of their liues their doctrine and their Countrie together vntil that the chiefe of them were defeated and empouerished other gained by faire protestations promises of better hap and all in generall together wearie with the continuance of so long Ciuil warres The Christian Princes and Prelats of the Church left as in contempt a wandering people of all parts terrified with so cruell a warre insisting in their first opinion which rather the ease of the rest they after felt caused them to chaunge then any rigour of their enemies So as all the French anon after returned to the same doctrine from which their fathers had so much swarued except such as retired themselues into the mountaines chiefely the Prouencaux Sauoyarts Dauphinois and Piemontois of whome there were many sent into Lombardie Calabria Pouille Sicille Germaine and other places to the end they might plant the fruite of that doctrine which they stoode assured was the most true auncient of Christendome Now the English was Lord of Guienne in the time of these Albigeois wars by reason that Henrie of Aniou after the death of Stephen became king of England Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou Tourraine and Maine And afterwards grew to be Earle of Poictou and Duke of Aquitaine called Guienne by vertue of Eleonor his wife daughter to Guillame last Earle of Poictou whom king Louys le Ieune had diuourced So as sundry English men which ordinarily came into those countries either by reasons of trafique and marchandise or warre against the French had speedely enough being imbrued with the same opinions spread them abroad in their owne Countrie Which hauing beene conceiued and explaned by manie in the end fell from hand to hand into the heade of Wicklife about 50. yeares after a greatly renowned Diuine in the Vniuersitie of Oxford and Curate of Luteruorth in the Diocesse of Lincolne Who in the end being a Doctor in Diuinitie thorough his eloquence and rare Doctrine gained so farre the harts and vnderstandings of the English and chiefely of the greatest sorte as the Duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard Henrie of Persye Lewes Clifford the Chaunlor Kegli the Earle of Sarisburie others as a long time after he preached wrought and dispersed with all libertie what best seemed good vnto him Most chiefely vnder King Edward True it is that Pope Alexander thorough the sollicitings of the chiefe of the Clergie animated Richard his successor much against him in the yere 1382 Who preuailed so farre that after sundrie disputations of the Articles of his faith hee was banished afterwards called home and dyed 1387. But 40. yeares after his decease his body was puld out of the grounde by the Popes commandement and his bones burned at Oxford 1410. before the Abbot of Shrewsberie then Chancelor And albeit that 13. yeares after his death 1401. his doctrine was vtterly condemned in open Parliament with an Iniunction to all men to seeke out those Lollards so called they such as professed that order of doctrine according vnto those of Pologne and borderers vnto it yet for all that could it not hinder the multiplying thereof as well in that Countrie as else where Chiefely in Germanie by reason of the great learning which was taught by the famous Fathers of the Vniuersitie of Oxford Wher among other a Scholer of Bohemia being much delighted in a booke of Wicklifes called The Vniuersales caried a Coppie thereof with him into his Countrie where the Vniuersitie of Prague was of great commendations In which Iohn Hus more renowned then the rest for his quicknes of spirite made himselfe for all that much better knowne after the reading of those bookes which he explaned and so much thereby encreased the doctrine which long since was spread abroad in those quarters that many of the people Scholers and of the very Nobles and Clergie themselues followed the same as a matter worthy to bee receiued among men Now among the rest of the people which for their conscience were persecuted the Bohemians had beene long before Iohn Hus by Venceslaus King of Bohemia who made great search after them roundly punished them And by the Pope who long before that had sent thither an inquisitor of the ill affected of the faith who Iohn Hus liuing was named Bishop of Nazaret Be it then that the persecutions either coolled this kinde of people thorough out Christendome or that the Princes and Cleargie made no accounte of those who standing fauoured by no great personages became all simple people and inhabitants of the Montaignes as those of Piemont Sauoye Calabria and other the Bohemians stoode at that instant most renowned and worst ment to Especially after that Hus had reformed his preaching leassons and writings by the tradition of Wicklife So as in the yeare 1414. the Counsell being summoned at Constance for the controuersie of the Popes and reformation of the Cleargie Iohn Hus a Batchelor in Diuinitie to the end to purge himselfe of the heresie which was laide to his charge was cited thither by the Pope and after hauing refused to come accounting it no safe or sure place hee was perswaded by Sigismond the Emperour that they might safely goe thether and returne againe at the request of his brother Venceslaus King of the Countrie and besides that
the Constable that the estate of the towne and disposition of the time was such as they were not to tarrie for ought but if they could reape any thing of the Countries about they would most willingly parte with it The which the Senate had ordained to the ende no wrong might be offred to the people of their Villages nor their goods so whatsoeuer could be found in any the Towns or Villages was carried to the Campe but it was no great matter Now all Lorraine being surprised together with the Towne of Metz they of Strasbourg soddainely leauied fiue thousand men for the defence of their towne afterwards they pulled downe many buildings as well publick as particular they spoiled the gardens and rooted vp the trees and generally all that which might either hinder the view or serue the enemies vse and of that part which they esteemed most necessary they fortefied the Towne the best that they were able that without all doubt annoyed some of the French in such sorte as the Constable could not holde his peace the last time that he spake to the Deputies and the Germanes perswaded themselues that as vnder a colour of some amitie they had entred into Metz so they would attempt the like at Strasbourg but knowing the town to be maruelous strong and seeing all thinges so diligentlye prepared for the defence thereof they changed their mindes as they say and the better to passe by the remouing of their Campe they tooke the way of Haguenau and Wisbourg thither the deputies of the Prince Palatine of the Archbishops of Maience and Treuues of the Dukes of Cleues and Witemberg who had beene assembled at Wormes for the good of the common wealth came vnto the King whose request was that hee would not waste the plaine Countrie and would take pittie of the poore comminaltie and since that hee protested that he had made this warre for the libertie of Germany that he would stay his armie for that if hee passed further it would be to the great damage of the Empire they besought him then that hee would encline his hart to the making of a peace of which as they had alreadye spoken to the Emperour so would they againe deale with him hauing a good hope thereof As touching his demaund of making an allyance betweene them they besought him to haue regarde to their honour and good renowne for that they could not by any meanes perfourme by reason of their faith by which they were bound to the Empire notwithstanding they would employ all their endeuours to the establishing of a publicke peace Moreouer they most affectionately besought him not to endemnifie the territorie of Strasbourge which is a free Cittie of the Empire and that at his request Albert Duke of Brandebourg would more curteously entreate the B. of Wicibourg At the very same time to wit the eleuenth of May Maurice sent letters to the King wherein was contained all that had bene done at Lincy where the confederate Princes of Germany had entreated of certaine articles of peace with Ferdinand who negociated the same for the Emperour of whose parte he had promised a good and prompt resolution for the benefite and quiet of all Germany In like sorte he required of the King whom he would should be comprehended in the same treatie of peace that hee would set downe vnder what conditions he would compound with the Emperour These letters being receiued contrary to his expectation and knowing well that the Queene of Hungary with troupes of men of warre had taken Satenay and burned whatsoeuer she met without defence iudging besides of Maurices purposes as he thought good he determined of his returne so as hauing deuided his army into three partes the better to conduct it with fewer discōmodities and to make it march by diuers waies and yet arriue altogither at one place he left Germany but before his departure hee answered to the Princes Deputies that he had obtained that for which hee was come into Germany with all his army for the Captiue Princes should be deliuered which was the occasion of the warre hee had then attained glory enough if euer it should happen that Germany should stand in neede of him he would neither spare trauaile nor expence nor would faile to put himselfe againe into all dangers for to succour them at this present he would retire into his owne Realme with his armye for hee vnderstoode that the enemy did ouerrunne his Countrie As touching the complaintes of the poore people he receaued great displeasure thereat but discipline can neuer be so good in a Campe but that militarie licence will breede some damage for his owne parte he gaue the best order that he was able that no man should be interessed if not yet the least that might be and that the offendors should be rigorouslye punished As touching that which they wrote of the Emperour and of a peace he referred himselfe to them through his trauaile diligence and prowesse Germany stode now freed from those miseries in which she stoode enwrapped henceforward it was for them to looke to it that they did not villanously loose that liberty which he so honourably had rendred vnto them he could not deny their demaund on the behalfe of those of Strasbourge albeit that at such time as hee was with his armye vpon their marches many behaued themselues insolently and immodestly towards his people notwithstanding to entertain his confederates and to haue a man alwaies in Germany which might assure him of the true estate of the affaires as they passed betweene the Imperialles and the confederates and the better to be aduertised of the Emperors intents he lefte Du Fresne B. of Bayonne his Embassadour about Maurice who did there as you shall vnderstand after hauing represented vnto you the estate in which in the meane time stoode the armies of the Emperour and of Maurice ioyned with his allies together with the conduct and last end of their enterprises in which it shalbe an easie matter for you to iudge what fauours and disaduantages the K. of Fraunce his armye brought to the one side and to the other We haue before tolde you how Maurice was departed from Lincy where they had articulated certaine conditions of peace Ferdinand suddainly after the assembly took his iourney to Enipont towards the Emperour to make him vnderstand the whole In the meane time Maurice being come backe to the Campe drew towards the Alpes with his companions where being egged forward by the Embassadour of Fraunce he determined to set vppon those troupes which the Emperour had caused to be leuyed in that countrie so as the 17. day of May approching neere vnto Fiesse a Towne scituate at the entrie of the Alpes vpon the riuer Lech and hauing vnderderstoode by his spies sent to descry the countenance of the enemyes how they had seased on all the straites and had so ensconced themselues as it was vnpossible to doe them harme he
as well of life as goods which would ensue so cowardlye a resolution would make no other answere but that if the French did assaile him before they would dispatch him behinde In summe seeing them the farre stronger and notable but to curse his life and detest his ill happe hee set a French Gentleman at libertie to be a witnesse of his dutie Afterwardes being retyred with salte teares into his Chamber Strinchant made a Trumpeter goe vpon the side of the trenches to demaund a parle of the Constable which being graunted Strinchant went out hoping of some aduantagious capitulation which could be no other then that of D'anuille so the Earle hauing learnedly and eloquently as hee was very well studied in learning with the knowledge whereof hee honoured the profession of armes bewailed his miserie vnto the Constable was with the rest of the cheefe caried to Paris A notable example said some of the French for all such as reposing themselues in any prosperitie passed or in the merite of their owne valour consider not that the dutie of a Captaine is so inseparably ioyned to theirs which obey him that hee ought to stand no lesse assured and before the blowe come prouide for the same as well as his owne except hee would fall into the like inconuenience that this Earle did All the goods of Yuoy which were very great were giuen vnto the Constable who distributed the greatest parte vnto his owne companye and his sonnes Montmorency at which the olde bands openlye mutined and after that began to breake themselues and to quit their Ensignes So the Towne being rendred vp the three and twentith day of Iune receaued Blaineau afterwards Haucourt for Gouernour Mommedy which rendred it selfe life and Iewels saued had the Captain Baron a Parisian a yong Souldier but olde enough in warlike experience with a hundred horse and three Ensignes D'anuille Yuoy Mommedy Luxembourg and the most parte of the Duchie had beene before taken by Charles D. of Orleans third sonne to Frauncis the first and after rendred againe by an agreement betweene the King and the Emperour but they were not then in so good state D'anuille was as then but a little borough Towne and since all burned and after reedified according to the fortifications at this day with Bulwarkes Bastions and platformes of defence the rampires large and high and of good holde the whole newe repayred with walles of good stuffe Yuoy was strong and not taken by assaulte neither was there any reasonable breache made to enforce it but the Captaine Guelphe hauing inuented and himselfe made a great quantity of Mortier peeces which shot exceeding great bullets from the hyll downe so greatly astonished them that Gilles de Leuant cheefe for the Emperour yeelded himselfe life and iewels saued with some artillerie During the siege of Yuoy the Marshall of Sedan heire to the house of La March besought the King that hee would helpe him to recouer his Duchie of Bouillon which hee saide the Emperour vniustly detained from him at the perswasion of the B. of Liedge who gaue vnto him 4000. men and fiue peeces of artillerie wherewith he battered the castle of Bouillon which was seated vpon a high and steepe rocke going out of a mountaine from which it was seperate by a brode ditch and deepe of an hundred and fiftie pace in diameter made by chisell hammer with long trauell in the plaine and circumference whereof the better parte of the Castle is hewen out within the maine Rocke with like workemanship almost in forme of Ouall hauing on the dich side a platforme so high as it almost ouertoppeth one of the Mountains at the foote whereof is a forme of Casemate well perced to keepe it from any aproches on the other end is the Portall which goeth out of euerye side fifteene foote with lightes to keepe the flankers and which serue for the platforme within it is a core of antient building in forme of a square Pauillion couered with slate which vnderneath hath his sellers vauted within the very rock with an excellent good Well of fourescore fadomme the Castle is perced to so good purpose that a Chicken cannot peepe vp in any place but it will be discouered furnished with artillerie and all other prouisions for a long season receiuing but one way vnto it and that very narrow and painefull the borough is vnderneath in time past a faire towne but so torne asunder by the warres that it remaineth almost vnhabited Semoy which commeth towards Mommedy runneth there with a mighty fall of streame especially when it swelleth by reason of the Winter raines and snowes on the one side it is shadowed with another Mountaine full of woods and craggie rockes so sharpe that it is almost vnpossible to dwell there not to hurte the Castle on that side not able to bring any Cannon the rest of the places are very lowe vallies and dangerous The Marshall notwithstanding to make his troupes appeare greater then indeede they were made his companies to passe and repasse many times in one selfe same place to make it be thought that the whole French armye was there assembled afterwardes hee planted his peeces vpon the Mountaine but so vneasily as they were faine to binde them hard with great and huge Cables for feare of tumbling downe from whence there was not aboue six volleis shotte hauing onely a little scratte the toppe of the wall with small apparance of any breache when as the Captaine Bastard of the house of Haurion very ancient in that Countrie besought a Parley and obtained pardon so as if hee had no succour within three dayes hee should yeelde vp the place life and goods saued the artillerie and other munitions there reserued and his sonne in hostage The three dayes being expired he departed with his Liegers the Marshal confessing that he had vndertaken this conquest at an aduenture Likewise the Captaine had his hed afterwardes strooke of for his so good seruice Bouillon was yeelded vp the very last day of thirtie yeares that the Duchie had beene out of the handes of the right heires and afterwardes the Marshall easilye recouered all the appendances and hauing lefte there Des Auelles with a good Garrison hee returned to thank the King for this so great a benefite vpon this the army drawing towardes Cinets and de Lumes being dead the Castle of Lumes was deliuered vp to Vielle-uille Lieutenant to the Marshall S. Andre by Merembarque who kept the same for the imperials the fortes whereof were vndermined and throwne downe no more remaining but the dungeon which the King gaue with parte of the confiscation of this rebellious vassale to the D. of Neuers and Earle of Retel and the rest to De Conflant a French gentleman who had married the Neece true heire of the Lord the Castle is at the foote of a Mountaine where the riuer of Meuse runneth by it and on the other side a faire Medowe
obtaine and get againe at the kings hands whatsoeuer he had taken from him perswading himselfe that he would help himself with the French mens owne roddes and preparatiues to constraine them therto and that being come once to the top and hauing subdued this first and principall fortres wherein was the verie flower of the French souldiers hee easily promised to himselfe the compassing of his lesser enterprises So as in the end the Emperour marched with his armie towardes the riuer of Moielle neuer following for all that the right waie as if hee had meant to descend towards Theonuille and the Dutchie of Luxembourg Whereof the Duke of Guise beeing aduertised not willing to loose or leaue in praye one of the olde Ensignes of Captaine La Prade which was within Roc de Mars tooke so good order as in the sight of his enemies the rather by the meanes of a skirmish which the Duke of Nemours and the Earle of La Roche-foucaut made before Theonuille the Ensigne hauing set all the Castle on fire was retyred and saued together wyth the better part of the Artillerie which was therein The Constable in the meane time who still remained at S. Michel to see and know what course the Emperour ment to take hauing intelligence how the imperiall armye marched holding on that way doubting the euent of sundrye thinges among other least leauing of Metz it might addresse it selfe to Verdun which was not strong enough nor almost of any reasonable defence or to some feeble towne or vnprouided caused the French armie in like sorte to march and approched nere vnto Verdun in which as then the Marshall S. Andre remained Lieutenant for the King with his company of one hundred men at armes and Tauannes which was gouernor with his company of fiftie men at armes and eight Ensignes of French Fanterie of the legion of Champagne two companies of light horse and as many Harquebusiers on horseback who without ceasing either day or night caused them to trauaile about the fortification replenishing otherwise this great Towne with corne wines and all other sortes of victuals which they could finde round about As much did Rabaudanges Gouernour of D'Anuille and De Blaneau then Gouernour of Yuoy and the Captain Baron Gouernour of Mommedy striuing as it were with a kinde of enuye and forcing themselues who should best better his place for albeit that they were already strong and well appointed yet did they continually watch to aduaunce thereto whatsoeuer they might presume to be wanting therin Now there rested no more but the towne of Satenay by corrupt speech called Astenay which the Imperials being already in the field men doubted might be first assaulted and taken on the suddain vnprouided of euery thing as indeed it was albeit that before time the late King Francis had caused it to be repaired and fortified to serue him for some shadow or colour against thē of the duchie of Luxembourg since notwithstanding the euill scituation thereof hauing bene declared vnto him and how much more hurtefull it would grow vnto him if after hauing fortified it it should happen to fall into the enemies hand he caused the fortes and bulwarkes in many places to be cast down and raced and the flankers and defences to be ruined putting it againe in this sorte to the domanie of the Duke of Lorraine sometime after notwithstanding the King hauing again recouered it and thrust out the Bourgonians which had seased therof and began to repaire it as you haue seene to aide themselues against him euer since helde it in his owne handes without adding for all that any new fortification but onelye to hinder that it should not be hurtfull vnto himselfe Heereupon afterwardes hauing bene shewed vnto him by the D. of Neuers how it might be made strong defensable and that himselfe without any danger would vndertake to keep it he commanded that all means and deuises should be sought out to fortifie it with al diligence to which this Prince voluntarily rendred himselfe so subiect that any great labour seemed to him but a pleasure for the perfecting of his work which he had in so great recōmendation that much and the principal part therof was found wel forward before euer it was imagined that the foūdations were as yet laid not only that but hauing intelligence how in a little town named Vireton within 5. leagues of Satenay there were a number of theeues bannished persons assembled liuing vpon nothing but theft spoiles which they made about the country forseeing further that if the siege shuld fortune to come before Satenay that this receptackle of brigands would serue very fitly to his enemies to retire thither their victual munitions other necessaries hee surprised them so fortunately as in a morning before that euer they could haue thought him awake hauing no means to saue thēselues or to haue reskew from their partners they sawe themselues enclosed and enwrapped by this Prince accompanyed with ten Ensignes of French Fanterie to wit two of Verdun two of D'anuille 2. of Yuoy two of Mommedy and two of Satenay of Caualerie of the companies of the Duke of Bouillon of Iametz and of La Roche du Maine of light horse and Harquebusiers on horseback of Captaine Sapoigne and sundrye Gentlemen of his owne house so as being arriued before this towne in this sorte to the end readilye to execute his determination he caused it to be battered as soddenly as might be without giuing any leasure at all to make any trench or dresse any baskets of earth but the artillery being onely couered with Cartes Tables dores Waggons and such geare as at that instant they were able to finde to put before it he so planted it and cunningly trauersed it to the marke that the wall was greatlye shaken and a very reasonable breach made the which they within endured without any semblance at all of feare or willingnes to yeelde themselues The French Souldiers seeing the gappe had so burning a desire to goe to the assault as being impatient of temporising and without tarrying for the Generals commaundement La Chesne Ensigne to Captaine La Land followed with some number of Souldiers ranne hastelye into the ditche with his head forwards to thrust right into the breach who notwithstanding was valiantlye put back by the Bourgonions and sore hurt whereof afterwardes hee died Arbelay likewise the Ensigne of Captain Baron was there slaine and many valiant Souldiers In the end they within besieged seeing the rest of the preparations and not finding themselues prouided nor strong enough to sustaine a generall assaulte made a signe of being desirous to parley requiring that some respit might be giuen vnto thē within who if they had not readily succours promised to yeelde themselues their liues and goods saued The Duke of Neuers would by no meanes accord vnto them one onely howre of delay but answered that if they did not yeelde themselues at the instant vnto his
French men esteemed themselues most happie to fall prisoners into the handes of more gracious Lordes from whose furie hardly could Frances de Montmorencie saue himselfe who onely remained there within lieutenant for the king whom in seeking to couer and defend D'ouartie was sore set vppon and hurt in his presence yet afterwardes hee was knowen and carried prisoner to Binecourt the Emperours Lieutenant The other more apparant prisoners as the Vicount de Martiques Dampierre de Losses Baudiment Bailet de S. Romain the Captaines Grille le Breul and Saint Romane yeelded themselues to diuerse masters as the hazard gaue them leaue and forasmuch as the simple souldiers were the first which entered in and not the captaines or Lordes of authoritie such prisoners as could readily make anye money went out good cheape as the Vicount De Martiques Dampierre de Saint Romane and the Captaine Breul But such as tarryed tardie were knowen and in great daunger there to abide by it long The surplus of the souldiers found at the Spaniards hands to whose mercie the most parte were fallen an honest entertainment taking of such as had meanes reasonable ransome and the poore hauing stript them of their weapons and best stuffe they sent backe safely and oftentimes themselues conducted them Within this little towne was found a great deale of good and grosse artillerie chiefly two verie faire and long Culuerines In this time the great Turke Sultan Soliman carryed himselfe too rigorously towardes the person of Sultan Mustapha his eldest sonne which he had of a slaue Who hauing beene sent with his mother from his first youth into the prouince of Amafia which was giuen vnto him was so well and carefully brought vp as hee there atchieued great honour and amitie not onely of all in that Countrie but thoroughout all the gouernments of his Father This mother beeing absent Soliman tooke another slaue vnto him named Roza of whome hee had foure other sonnes Mahomet Baiazet Selim Giangir the crooke backe and one daughter which was marryed to Bassa Rostan Roza being indued with admirable beautie accompanyed with all the flattering delights and allurements which possibly one could imagine knewe so well howe to plaie her part towardes Soliman who was as it were a man rauished that by the helpe of Muchthy as much to saie as the soueraigne Priest of the lawe of Mahomet and vnder colour of religion shee was not onely made free of condition but lawfull wife spouse of Soliman to which neuer anie before her attayned Raised now vnto such honour and seeing her selfe entirelie beloued she had no greater care than how to establish the Empire vnto one of her children after the death of the father But foreseeing that the singular vertues of Mustapha would bee so farre contrarie thereunto that whilest hee liued shee should neuer haue rest because that he had gotten the loue of the men of warre and how the eyes of all men were vppon him for the great hope of his magnanimious courage and singular dexteritie she studyed as much as she could to make him become odious to Soliman to which her sonne in law greatly aided her for that hee as then gouerned all the affayres Her reasons were how that Mustapha building vppon the loue and fauour which hee had gotten of all men thorough his great liberalitie courage dexteritie of spirit burned with such a longing to raigne as euerie man feared least in affecting the Empire hee would shorten the dayes of Soliman as alreadie Selim had done to his father Therefore shee vrged Soliman and besought him with many and great teares that hee would take order therein thereby to prouide for his owne safetie Now albeit in the beginning shee smally preuailed and that Mustapha had well discouered the crossebarres which shee ordinarilye prepared for him yet shee neuer ceased to continue by the helpe of a Iew a most renowmed inchantresse who hauing giuen vnto her certaine drugs shee caused the amitie of Soliman to bee redoubled towards Roza so well as she assured her selfe of a good euent at the last to her enterprises albeit a delaie might bee for a time Finally after many practises shee found meanes to suborne the gouernour of Mustapha and caused him to write though falsely vnto Soliman howe his sonne meant to take in marriage the daughter of the Kinge of Persia This olde man moued by the continuall plaintes of Roza and Rostan easily gaue credite to these newes and false aduertisements so as in the yeere 1552. hauing caused a bruite to runne of the Persians comming downe into Syria hee sent Rostan thether with a puisant armie for vnder colour of going to meete with his enimies to ceaze vpon Mustapha and bring him prisoner to Constantinople with expresse commaundement to kill him if otherwise hee coulde not take him But Mustapha aduertised of the whole matter and howe that the Persians were not at all in the field came towardes him with seuen thousand men of the best experienced in the warres which caused Rostan to make a quicke returne without dooing ought Whereat Soliman beeing the more prouoked the next yeere caused the same bruite agayne to runne and how hauing leauied a great armie he meant to go himself in person agaynst the Persians Beeing arriued in Syria hee commanded his sonne to come vnto him to his campe Mustapha knowing how it was him alone which they shot at albeit hee was prayed and greatly solicited to auoide the furie of his Father and retire himself into some other part trusting in his owne innocencie and thinking it a matter more commendable and worthie of his greatnesse to die in obeying of his Father than liuing to incurre a note of infamie and treason yea though thereby hee might gaine the Empire of the whole world thinking in like sorte that for that he neuer made anie refusal by his owne presence hee might appease the furie of his father went on his waie thether but being entered within Solimans tent hee was sodainly taken and strangled in his owne presence after at the same instant the Bassa his head of the Prouince of Amasia was stroke off This crueltie beeing come to the knowledge of Giangir the crooke backe one of the rest of the foure brothers hee manfully reiected the gifte and spoile which his father had presented vnto him so that lamenting the death of his brother he could not command himselfe nor refrain from vttering these speeches Ha cruell Traitor I cannot say Father take now to thy selfe the treasures the Horses the Tapistrie and the Prouince of Mustapha and gouerne it at thyne owne pleasure could it fall into thy thought O infamous man and without humanitye to cause to dye against all lawe so valiant a personage as neuer was nor neuer will be the like in all the house of Ottomans Ha ha it shall not bee true and I will take order that thou shalt neuer bee able impudentlye to vaunte that euer thou didst the like
to me poore Crookebacke and at the instant drawing out his dagger hee stabbed himselfe so farre into the bodye as hee fell downe starke dead which being knowne to his Father hee maruelouslye mourned and notwithstanding he spared not to sease of all his goods which caused a great tumulte in Mustapha his Campe but it was nothing in respect of that they did after they vnderstoode of his death In such sorte as Solyman with great daunger of his life was constrained to banishe Rostan and depriue him of all honors and dignities This death fell out very fortunatelye for the Christians to whome Mustapha was a sore enemye and tooke singular pleasure in shedding of their blood it was likewise taken so greeuouslye of the Turkes that from thence forth this prouerbe is growne among them Gietti Sultan Mustapha all is ended since that hee is dead all is done whatsoeuer we thought of for they imagined in their own fancie that it was he which should enlarge the bounds of their Empire in another manner of sorte then euer did his Ancestors which they could not expect at the handes of any other Let vs handle againe the siege of Teroene The Emperour lying at Bruxelles and being promptlye aduertised of the taking of Teroene conceaued a verye great pleasure thereat sweetening by the happe of this good fortune the bitternesse of his former disgraces so as throughout all the Countryes of Flaunders Arthois and Henaute were seene great bonfyers Afterwards he commanded that it should be razed and throwne down to the very foundations to the end nought might rest but the place where it might be sayd Teroene had beene Afterwardes hee sent the Prince of Piemont his Nephewe Lieutenant generall in his armye to quenche a sedition and a certaine enuye which the Princes and great Lordes bare to Binecourt a worthy Cheefe of these troupes But such is the malice among men that it was neuer nor euer shall bee but that enuye will bee among equalles albeit that often tymes it maye lye dissembled The King vnderstoode of these sorrowfull newes as soone as the Emperour which at the instant seemed as strange vnto him as any thing which they could haue made reporte of considering how hee had before receiued an entire contentment of that furious assaulte which the French had so resolutely sustained but being certified by diuers reportes how all the matter was handled hee was greatlye greeued at the taking thereof and much more bewayled his men which he thought to be in a farre greater number dead then afterwardes it was found to be Now albeit that among the French the plainte was great and the losse very preiudiciall yet necessitye the inuentresse and mistresse of all Artes sharpning the wits of men to assay strange things stirred vp the Kings spirit in a sorte ioynte with the sorrowe and greefe of the losse so that being aduertised how his enemies shortlye after this ruyne took their way and prepared themselues to come and do as much at Hedin he made ready all preparatiues to fortifie the same with men and all thinges fitting to staye them shorte or at the least vntill such a time as hee imagined his armye coulde be in a readines to the end to raise the siege and driue them into their owne Countrie Now the D. of Bouillon Marshall of France desirous more and more to perseuer in the K. seruice had long time before vndertaken the defence of this Castle to which would needes accompany him Horace Farneze D. of Chastres and the Earle of Villars with a great number of other Lords Gentlemen and good Souldiers who to make proofe of their courage of their own accord presented themselues to this seruice albeit that the K. stoode in some doubt of the force and validitie of that place and had no affection at all to expose thither such personages of such authoritie they notwithstanding preferring an immortall renowne before their goods or liues went to enclose themselues within this forte to this verye ende were dispatched couriers and commandements to the Captaines of the men of warre to haue in readines all their companies and as soone as it were possible to cause them to march and to render themselues neere Amyens where the Constable was hoping to assemble together there the Kings army commissions were distributed to the Captaines of the Fanterie to make their leuies as soone as they were able and to those of the olde Ensignes and entertained companies to furnish them compleate and wel armed to conduct them surely and without plaints vnto the Rendeuous there was also proclaimed throughout all the Realme that the Rirebands according to their dutie and the Kings ordinance should forthwith march and furnish themselues to the same place afterwards they aduertised and besought the Zuizer cantons of the French league to send to their succour a certaine number of footemen of their nation the best armed and compleate that they could according to the agreement between the Kings of Fraunce and them The King in summe caused great diligence to be made and commaunded that all thinges should be prouided for the putting of his power into the fielde where his enemies being aduertised and well assured that if they did not imploy that small time which they could get within which the Kinges army might be made readye so to purpose as they might enforce Hedin hardly they should attaine to the cheefe of their enterprise or retire without a battaile or other peiudiciall accident they aduaunced with such diligence their affaires that the Towne being voide of inhabitants who were fled and retired into France with whatsoeuer they could carry away of their goods was in very short time taken by them in respect it was not much defended by Souldiers who shutte vp themselues within the Castle esteeming it impregnable There they planted on the one side one of their batteries and the other towards the parke and the greatest of all by the Towre Robin where the French had already made theirs but notwithstanding any resistance which they within besieged were able to make they were not able to diuerte them This Castle being little which in al could contain but 2000. men and that hardly hauing in times past beene builded by the Dukes of Burgondie onely for the pleasure of hunting not to fortifie it in any sort so not loosing one sole hower by day or night to batter it so furiouslye as was possible they trauailed not onelye to throwe it downe by their artillerie but vndermined it so diuerslye and in so many places that it was impossible that a Cony berry could haue more holes and hollowes vnder the ground then were vnder the foundations of this castle all the countermines secrets within being known practised by many of the enemies the place besides being very subiect to this imperfection Now the enemies had already battered and digged downe the greatest parte of the parapette and rampire of the great breach
of well choosing his aduantage rather then to accept of battaile no lesse assured himselfe to make vaine the attempts of the French in any place which they should goe about to besiege alwaies prouided that his would haue the patience to suffer the first heate of the French a little to euaporate as into smoake knowing that Henry notwithstanding the better to preuaile therein made account to sound Cambray as well for that the taking thereof would be an example to sundrye other of renowne as thinking to prouoke the imperials rather to battaile then that they would lose such a place in which especially he knew his owne credite not to be so deepely rooted but that for a small matter the inhabitants would shake of the yoke which not long before he had imposed of them ioyne that the towne hauing beene alwaies Neuters such occurrents might so happen as he might make it partaker with him or at the least fauourable if they would assist to the recouering of their auncient liberty considering that in terming it selfe Neuter it was not lawfull for him to haue any greater authoritie ouer it then the King and the rather for that the magistrates and popular sorte began to feele themselues outraged by the vsurpation which he had made ouer them hauing proceeded so farre to his own aduantage as to build a citadell to keep them in subiection he feared least they would euen make plaine onuerture to the King being as then the stronger In summe if the Imperialles shewed themselues of good courage the French caused no other brute to runne but of the desire they had to battaile and how the King sought no other occasion then such as the place and time yeelded vnto him to wit being there at hand in so large and spatious a plaine to present battaile or to summon the Towne according to the accord of neutralitie to make him onuerture and giue him victuall or proclaime it as his enemy and so not farre from that place neere to Peronne the French were encamped a two little leagues from Cambray And the next morrow by break of day the King caused his army to be set in order of battaile ready to fight sending a herald of armes to summon the towne of her duety signifying vnto them that he was not come thither to oppresse them but rather to restore and settle them in their auntient libertye which he well knew had beene already corrupted by the Emperour of which if they would be reuenged and leaue that bondage they could not haue better meanes then by his comming that if the Emperour would quarrell for other aduantages hee was there in person both to declare and fight with all his forces to the contrary if they did otherwise they would be an occasion of much mischeefe to themselues first in losing the title and priuiledge of being called Neuters which is not affectionate to either the one or the others quarrels by which meanes they had onely obtained the liberty to be able to traffique in both their Countries Moreouer they should thereby exempt their Countrie round about from the miseries of the warre otherwise they should remaine for euer subiect to imposts loanes subsidies and all other manner of exactions and be besides that in danger to be partaker of the sundrye trauayles whereto a particular Country is abandoned and accustomed to suffer for his Prince In summe they demaunded twise foure and twenty houres of the King to be aduised thereof and to yeelde their answere so the King caused his Campe to retyre a great league further backe being lodged at Creuaecaeur of the appertenances of the Queene and it was proclaimed thoroughout the whole armye that vpon a great paine of corporall punishment no man should dare take ought within the territorye of Cambray without paying for the same During this delay the Emperours partye within Cambray certified him of this summons as then lying at Breuxelles who to comforte and releeue them with hope and courage set downe many thinges vnto them among the rest that they helde of the Chamber of the Empire and that hee was the Emperour to defend and protect them not a King of Fraunce who sought nothing but their ruine so as hauing set before their eyes the example of Metz hee promised the deputies that in case they should be besieged hee would succour them by all meanes whatsoeuer And from thence gaue order to the Prince of Piemont who was gotten with his army towards Valenciennes that hee should yeelde vnto them as much succour as they would demaund or well needfull for them ordaining thereto for cheefe and principall Gouernours the Earls of Bossu and Brabanson The time of delay being expired albeit the King knew well all these newes yet hee sent againe to summon them to knowe their resolution but they sent worde that if it might so please his Maiestie they were all content to remaine his humble neighbors and freends no waies refusing to giue him victuals but that as yet they were not masters ouer their owne goods for that the Emperor spight of their teeth had put men and great garrisons into their towne wherefore it was cleane out of their libertye and power to be able to dispose of any more Vpon this answere and mylde excuse the towne was adiudged for enemy and the same day being the eight of September the Constable with two regiments of men at armes and 3. or 400. light horse and Rirebands followed by the Admirall with ten Ensigns of French fantery went to prie and view round about but in steede of hearing the crowing of Poultrie before now nothing was heard but Cannons harquebuze shot and noyse of all partes especially from the cytadell which made the earth to tremble with the artillerie shot wherewith they played vpon the French souldiers entring therewith as thicke out of the Towne as waspes vse out of the hole of a tree after him that stirreth them but so maintained and the skirmishes so gallantly handled that they continued sixe whole dayes togither in one of which there was killed De Brese captain of one of the French guardes and before the Cytadell Coruet was slaine Captaine of one of the companies of the French footmen Of the Bourgonians there was of reputation taken and brought prisonners the Earle of Pondeuaux of the French Countie De Trelon of the Duchie of Luxembourg and other In the meanetime Bourdillon sent vnto the King by Neuuy Ensigne of his companie two Cornets of Bourgonians broken and defeated at La Haiette neere to Maubert Fontaine the Gouernour of Cimetz one of their cheefe remaining there prisonner the Bastard of Auanes another of their cheefe leaders by his good speede and well flying sauing himselfe Now to returne before Cambray it was perfectly viewed and by the aduise of such as had marked round about from the one end to the other ioyne the reporte of the spyes and such as likewise had viewed it within found to be as
much subiect to the Cannon mine as any place might be it is a great towne scituate halfe in a bottome and halfe hanging where there is not any shew of Bulwarkes Rampiers or fortifications according to the new fashion On the side of Fraunce and the East it is in a champion and arable Countrie discouered well eight hundreth or a thousand paces in breadth not so plaine notwithstanding but there is a little descent still vnto the Towne hauing certaine small bottomes and barricades betweene both but I call it plaine for that it is not ouershadowed with trees nor thornes nor other places hindring the prospect on the west side where it is most lowe and the suburbs lye there are gardens and groues of willowes with some medowe and marshe Southwards there is a little hanging plaine towards the Towne and a little further there are little hilles and vallyes on the North side is a little Mountaine which taketh parte of the coigns of the citadell mounted ouer the highest parte of the whole towne where there was wont to be an Abbey or Cathedral Church almost square notwithstanding one of the coigns stretcheth more towardes that little mountaine then any part of the rest resembling a coyne in forme of a spurre seruing for a defence to the flankers with a platforme As touching the scituation and foundation of the Citadell one would iudge it at the first apparance white earth as marse if it were stone within I would thinke it tender and easie to be hewen as you see ascler whereof some houses are builded but it is rather a white chalke then a hard stone so as some holde that it was rather builded to holde the newter towne in subiection then to make an impregnable fortresse for being ioyned to the Towne as it is it were needfull to fortefie it the one to succour the other by reason that the towne being taken would endemnifie the Citadell which also being forced would be the cause of the losse of the Towne but the Emperour partely in consideration that this great towne would hardly be fortified or at the least not of a great and long time and partely for that he would not oppresse the inhabitants with suddaine surcharges first builded this little citadell to set one foot within and to be meet with the mutynies rebellions of the citizens to the end that by little and little he might make himselfe maister of the whole Therefore they helde out thorough the hope of a great number of men sent vnto them furnished with victuals munitions and all other necessaries besides the Imperiall armye which fortified it selfe neer vnto them to cut of victuals and annoy as much as might be the French and lastly the raines which euer begin at that season in those low Countries so great presumptions had they to recouer the siege for besides the diuers alarms which they gaue vnto them with continuall and hot skirmishes they sent out of the campe part of the field peeces and caused it to be giuen out that there were farre greater comming from Amiens Corbie S. Quentin and Castelet a great number of Gabions being already prepared and sleddes made ready to draw them to those places where the approches should be made so farre as the Marshals of the Campe went to marke and viewe the scituation the better to order their quarters notwithstanding the councell had no such intention but to the end that still holding them in this iolitye and opinion they might breake and consume the Imperials by little and little who for that cause had more enlarged and seperated themselues wherefore without any longer delay all the fortes round about being throwne downe and ruined euen to the very Churches the Towers and Steeples being vndermined and battered and fire put to all the Villages Granges and cotages euen to the very suburbes and gates of the towne the French dislodged marching straight to the castle of Cambresy In the waye there were two fortes taken and ruined obstinate vpon very small reason whereby they well felte the effect of the conquerers choler The first endured sixe and thirtie Cannon shot and a great and wide breach before it would yeelde where the Captaine Pierre-longue was slaine and twelue French Souldiers slaine and hurt notwithstanding there was not one liuing soule found within hauing cōueyed thēselues vnder ground and hidden in some caues and mines therefore they stopped close all the ventes which they were able to finde The other was not so strong as the first for that it was but a skuruie poulier of earth hanging houelwise to the halfe of a great towre with drye ditches where they within standing very obstinately to their defence notwithstanding any summons made aboade two shot of the lesser sorte after which hauing answered that they would not yeelde without sight of the Canon they made a signe to yeelde but it was too late for the Souldiers not as yet colde of their first furie neuer stayed so long as the once discharging of a Canon but rushed in as madde men to beate downe the gates where afterwardes it was great pittie to beholde the slaughter which was there made for there was not so much as one man taken to mercye the battaile lay encamped round about the Castle of Cambresy without suffering any bodye to goe in sauing one Ensigne the which was lodged there to repell other if they should goe about to make any stirre for the inhabitants were in great doubt what should befall them His Maiestie and the most parte of the Princes and great Lordes was lodged in a sumptuous house of pleasure neere hand which appertained to the Bishop of Cambray where in stead of being reuenged of the burning of his Castle of Foulembray which was done by Du Reux a kinseman of the B. he not onely straitely forbad they should not set it on fire but that nothing should be carried thence or spoyled A little aboue the riuer the Constable remained with the Vantgarde Now all these boutes and deuises were but to marke the enemies countenance for the French being aduertised that they stirred in no sorte of the worlde to followe them without any alarme or semblance to come vpon them hauing soiourned a whole day in that place descended downe to Quesnoy approching within two leagues of Valenciennes where the imperial army was imparqued within a forte which they had there addressed The next morning the 17. of September the baggage remaining in that place and one hundreth men at armes with about 2000. foote for their garde the rest of the army aduanced forwarde to seeke out the imperials and to present them battaile Their forte was about a Culuerin shotte distant from Valenciennes vpon the same Riuer of Lescau which passeth along by Cambray compassed in forme of a square enuironed with trenches and diches of a Pikes length and betweene 10. or 12. foote hollow seated halfe on the hanging of the hill towards Valenciennes and halfe
Naples Sicilie and Ierusalem the Dutchies of Milan Burgondie Brabant the Earledomes of Aspur Flanders and Tiroll Henrie in this meane while cōtinuing stil ready vpon his guard caused in the great plain betwene Craeuecaeur and Cambray a generall muster to be made of al his men at armes and French Cauellerie about the month of Iuly whilst that his footmen cariadges had gained the aduantage and passed the Riuer for some companies of light horse being sent forth for watch and scoutes returned word back how that they had discouered neere hand to a foure or fiue hundred horse and a great number of foote making shew as though the Emperours Campe marched keeping their way as though they went directlye to Cambray whereof they were no sooner aduertised then likewise ready with resolution rather to fight it out in the fielde then to permit or giue them leaue to fortifie so neere vnto them especially with the helpe and succour of so great a Towne whereby as much mischeefe might happen vnto them as did vnto the Protestants of Germanie before Ingolstat whereupon the D. D' Aumale remounted suddenly on horseback with the light Cauallerie the better to be assured of the truth and found how the imperial army was indeed remoued with full determination to come and encampe neer Cambray but that the Emperor knowing how they were not departed thence fearing to be enforced to fight to his great disaduantage lodged in another place neere vnto the first called Neuuille which hee caused soddenly to be renforced with trenches on that side which was not flancked to the riuer This night at sundry times were fent out some companies of French Cauallerye and of the Admirals men at armes to keepe them in continuall alarmes within their forte vntill the break of day next morning that the Constable with the most parte of the men at armes of his vantguarde and two Regimentes of French Fanterie went neere to view and see if there were any meanes to force them within their forte or to entice and giue them occasion to come forth But he found that very hard for that this place was two waies enclosed with the riuer and on the other sides wel fortified and trenched in assuring himselfe by the discourse of naturall reason and examples past that for the smalnes of resolution which would be had therin he could not carry away more honor and profite then hee had done at other times and in his yong yeeres at La Bicoque a simple Country house of lesse strength then the place where the Marquesse of Gnast defeated all the fury of the French Zuizers and other partakers of the Flower de luce True it is that in his returne hee espyed some olde Towers where sundrye of the enemyes were lodged on this side their Campe as well to keepe scoute as to endamage the fouragers whereupon it was concluded that the Cannon should be brought thither the same day to the battrie by this meanes the rather to prouoke the Emperour to come forth to guarde and defende them But the imperialls cleane acquited them retiring within their fort Notwithstanding to giue all occasions which might bee as also doubting the descent of the English into the countrie of Boulonnois the marriage hauing beene alreadie solemnized betweene the K. of Spaine and their Queene Henry determined to make his armie vnto those partes where accordyng as the commoditie presented it selfe he might besiege on of his enemies holdes to the end that if hee would put himselfe into the fielde and striue to rescue it the Emperour might bee thereby constrained to fight Hauing then soiourned certaine daies at Creueceur neare to Cambray the second of August hee departed and the same day went to encampe at Ondrecourt nere the Castelet whereof the Emperour being aduertised raised his armie from Neuuille and taking his way towards Arras pitched at Marteau The day after the French were at Mornencourt two leagues from Peronne and the next morrow passed before Bapalme saluted with infinite shot of Cannon Notwithstanding the armie made no long aboade there through the discommodity which they founde in not being able to recouer water but onlie the light horse skirmished somtime before that place whilest that the whole army descended to encampe that night all along the little Riuer vnderneath Mirammont whence they departed the next daye keeping theyr way all along the borders of the Countie of Artois where they sawe a wonderfull waste which the Prince of Roche Sur-yon his army had made sundrye faire Castles and Villages as yet smoaking the Corne and fruites of the earth clean destroyed and abandoned which are the miseries and calamities that the warres and dissentions betweene Princes bring to poore people That night being the 5. of August they encamped Paz in Artois where some cauallerie of the Garrison of Arras keeping alongst the woods and couered cuntry vndertook to free about vpon the hinder part but being encountered with their English and Scottish Cauallery were defeated and the most parte of their Souldiers dismounted and other brought away prisonners whereby the losse of Giuettes was now recompenced There they made great waste and continued it as farre as the abbey of Cercamp where the County of S. Poul beginneth there they soiourned two dayes for many reasons especiallye for that they had resolued to besiege the Castle of Renty The D. of Vendosme departed thence with a good number of Cauallerie and foote training some artillerie to goe before to summon it also to knowe whether any bodye were lefte within Fauguemberg which he purposed to raze with all other small fortes adioyning to the end likewise that he might be able to bring greater store of artillerie that which he had there being partly homecomed partly cracked and dismounted much powder and munition hauing beene spent before the Townes and Castles which they had taken the eight of August they trauersed all the Countye of S. Poul leauing Dorlan and Hedin on the left hand and Terroanne on the right to encampe the night following at Fruges whence that night the Castle of Renty was againe summoned and answere made by the Captaine that he would neuer yeelde it vp assuring himself of the succours which the Emperour would bring vnto him who being informed of the K. comming thither as well in respect that forte was very preiudiciall to the County of Boulonnois as to assay if they would hazard to fight with him and driue him out of the Countrie was departed from Arras where hee had mustered all his forces with which he approched as neere vnto the King as Terroanne on the Friday at night But the French knowing his intent to be to keepe on the other side of the Riuerh a place strong by reason of the length bredth of the wods which stretched very far into the country wherby succors might come vnto him as well of victuals as Souldiers and all other sorts of munitions and being there fortified his presence
would easily succour and reskew the Castle with whatsoeuer should be needfull yea of all sides readye to cutte of and annoye the besiegers aduised for the more sure that the Constable with the Vantgarde should passe into that part and fortefie himselfe with trenches to bemeete with and preuent all occasions of surprise and to cut of the way to any succours which might be sent vnto the Castle bridges and boates were made vpon the little Riuer whereby the two Campes might the more easily succour one another Afterwards all the light cauallerie being encamped at Fauquemberge this castle remained so penned in as there was not one man able to enter in without being discouered notwithstanding the better to ascertaine the Emperour of this siege they caused to be planted on the toppe of a mountain on Montereul side foure Culuerins to begin to batter these defences whilest they aduanced forward such great peeces as were taken and brought from the Townes aboue the Riuer of Somme which came thither somewhat late and only the Satterday at night but to make amends to this sloath they made the approches with such speede as all was seene in batterie by the next morrowe notwithstanding any shower of Harquebuze shotte which they were able to send out of the Castle whence there was hurte the Captaine Vauquedemars one of the most ancientest and experimented Captaines of the olde Ensignes the which redoubled vnto the Emperour his doubt and feare of the place seeing himselfe without all meanes or hope to be able so much as to cause one man to enter in but in the end the greefe and shame which hee conceaued to suffer his Country so to be destroyed and before his eyes and that this place should be taken and enforced so mingled themselues together that making himselfe an enemy to his feare he resolued to trye fortune and to doe his best whatsoeuer should ensue thereon to succour it Thereupon the same day he came to encampe hard by the French but for all that the artillery neuer ceased most furiouslye to batter the Castle and that in two places to wit on the Constables side and on the Kinges the artillerie being aduanced and planted on the very brinke of the ditch which battered a bulwarke on the left hand and a round tower within the dungeon on the right they shot likewise from the mountaine a little below the Zuizers Campe with foure culuerins to break the defences and you may not doubt but in short time this castle was as violently battered and cannoned as any other place so as the Emperour determined as the best way to raise them as yet to approche neerer and so lodged on the top on the plaine of a mountaine betweene a little Village called Marque and Fauquemberg where there was but one little Valley of an hundred and fiftye pace large and at the least as steepe which deuided the two armies and the valley on the other side wher the riuer runneth which maketh a marish and ouerfloweth al round about the Castle on the right hand Besides a wood on the left betweene the Spaniard and the French aboue Fauquemberg called the wood William which the Emperor thought good to sease vpon to hinder their giuing of the assaulte and to compell them by shot of Cannon into their campe to dislodge and quit the place Now had the D. of Guise which commaunded in the battaile watched all that night as also the Prince of Ferrara the D. of Neuers the Admirall the Marshall de S. Andre and other assuring themselues that the enemye would not faile to spye out the wood to lodge in and therefore was there set about 300. Harquebusiers in ambush within certaine little caues and some corselets which stoode plaine to be discouered to the end the enemies first addressing themselues to fight with them might be enclosed in the easier to be defeated by the Harquebuziers and so a little after at the point of day the scouts reported how they had heard a great noise and descried certain matches of Harquebuziers the which himselfe afterwardes perceiuing forbad them to discouer themselues but to tarrie vntill they might be sure and vpon that went back into the corps de gnet which was retyred in the plaine towardes the Campe. The Imperials still marched forward within the wood according to the reporte of some couriers which they still sent before and perceiuing nothing went so far in that they found themselues enclosed within this ambush not as yet discouered wherefore the French suddenly all at one instant discharged so hottely on them that they remained in the end so astonied and beaten as in seeing a number hurt they began to flye and turne their backes glad that the day was no further forwardes and that the weather was mistye Now from the beginning of the daye the batterye was continued more furious then before so as in a shorte space the breaches in euery place grewe reasonable ready to giue the assaulte whereof the Emperour being aduertised hee was so angry as the very same day being the 13. of August about noone he made a volley of artillerie to be discharged to giue them warning within that they should be of courage and that their succours were at hand Afterwardes hauing concluded to giue battaile against the aduice of the principall of his councell he caused all his campe to be set in order but he resolued first to gaine the wood knowing the importance thereof and at all hazards to chafe away the French Therefore hauing chosen out of all his companies of foote about three or foure thousand Harquebuziers of the best experienced some corselettes and Pikemen to supporte them and about foure thousand horse with foure fielde peeces carried vpon foure wheeles ready to turne them vpon any hand whereby they were afterward called the Emperours Pistols he caused them all to march right into the wood the light Cauallerie vnder the conduct of the Duke of Sauoy and the Harquebuziers vnder Dom-Ferrant de Gonzague All along the Glade of the wood in descending towardes Fauquemberg marched a battaile of Almanes ledde by the Count Iohn of Naissau and the Marshal of Cleues on whose flancke marched a troupe of Reistres of about eighteene hundred or two thousand horse vnder the conduct of the Count Vulfenfort who promised the Emperour to march that day vpon the bellye of all the Kinges men at armes followed not farre of with a number of light cauallerie of about one thousand or twelue hundred horse with foure fielde peeces more The Harquebuziers then being entred into the wood encountred with the three hundred French as fresh and with as good a will to recharge them as they had done at the first And therevpon grew faire and hot skirmishes Now albeit that the Imperials arriued there in farre greater number yet they behaued themselues so valiantly that they kept them a long time back so as many remained on eche side as well dead as hurt
and taken prisonners among other of the French the Captaine Fort and his Lieutenant Courcelles Hereupon the Duke of Guise who from the beginning had vndertaken the defence of this wood and by his presence animated and seemed to grace these martiall actions hauing carefully considered of the whole dessein of the Imperialles aduised the King that by their countenance and fury wherewith they went to the combate hee verily thought that that day should not passe without a battaile The King then which was in the plaine on this side the wood about 5000. pace in length and 2000. in breadth caused his battailes of foote to be put in order to scituate them in a place commoudious and easie to combate with the men at armes because that place was vnproper for them both together as by the aduice of the Constable and sundry other Princes and Captaynes he had the day before perceaued Notwithstāding for the better countenance and to make head to the enemy there was lodged both the one and the other as commodiouslye as could be the first battell of foote were French the second Almanes the third Zuizers which followed one another with Regiments of men at armes ordained for their flancke on their right hand And for as much as on the lefte there was a little Valley which as well from the quarter of the Zuizers towards Fauquemberg as towards the wood widening made a glade easie and commodious enough as wel to lodge foote as horse in the opening of that plaine they set the most parte of the rest of the Regimentes of men at armes for the other flancke And right before towards Fauquemberg was the D. D'aumale with all the light Cauallerie and certaine Harquebuziers on foote to fight without keeping any order to the end they might giue notice if the enemy should come that way And in the mean space the Duke of Guise not being able readily to haue the K. answere vpon such occurrents being likewise no lesse curious to draw the enemie into the place most aduantagious for himselfe then fearefull of the losse of the three hundred Harquebuziers in the wood in the end resolued to make them retire from place to place through the trauerses of the wood euer refreshing them with some companies of Cauallery which notwithstanding so encreased the imperials courage as assuring themselues of victorye they caused their battailes of Alamanes to march with al diligence which alwaies flankred them on the rightside as they sawe their harquebusiers haue aduauntage ouer the French And euen then Dom-Ferrant sent word vnto the Emperour that he should hasten the rest of his army for the Vantgarde of the French said he was already sore shakened ready to set themselues in disorder the which the Emperour did and his army passed all along the Valley aboue and at one of the corners of the wood himselfe tarried to be partaker of the pleasure or annoy of the good or bad which should fall out it was then as the K. answere came to the D. of Guise that if occasion offred it selfe to receaue battaile he should not refuse it that he would come himselfe thither in person with as good a will to fight as the most valiant of his whole army Then the Duke of Guise went back to his Regiment in the sight and face of all vppon the plaine towards Fauquēberg where of a famous warrier gratious notwithstanding and with a smiling countenance hee vsed some words as well to aduertise the Gentlemen of the faire occasion which that day was offred to attaine honour as to encourage those which might haue any neede and shewed them all in generall how the day was come wherein God presented vnto them in doing seruice to their Princes and encreasing their honor and particular reputation the matter and true subiect to make themselues for euer to be redoubted and feared of all the nations of the worlde whereof the K. assured himselfe so farre as he would honour this glorious victory with his owne presence which indeed encouraged them in such sorte as hauing called vpon the name of God and recōmended their soules into his hands euery man prepared himselfe well and faithfully to perfourme his dutie In the mean time the Constable passed ouer the riuer towards the Duke with a Regiment of the Captaine Glamay his footmen who caused the first order a little to be altered and retired the battaile of Zuizers towards Renty who according to their ancient custome sent vnto the King to demaund some men at armes to supporte them but the K. answered them how himselfe would liue and dye with them and that he so farre assured himselfe of their promise and good will that he determined no whit to abandon them resolute to shew vnto them how as well in life as point of death if it were offred he would honour them as his colleagues and faithfull freends both to himselfe and his kingdome whereat they were so stirred vp as there was no other intention among them but to fight valiantlye for his seruice Likewise as a testimonye of the pleasure which the King receiued therein he did that which I will shew you in another place As all this was thus a handling the Imperials were in such sort already advanced vpon the French as they had recoyled them and driuen thē out of the wood so farre as their harquebuziers began to come forth and shew themselues in front of the first battail of the French ready to ioyne with them pelting at them with a continuall and maruellous noyse of Harquebuze shot all along the glade The Imperial battaile supported with Pistoliers and cauallerie was aproched with one hundred pace of the French and there remained nothing but to charge at such time as the D. of Guise gaue a signe to the D. of Nemours to charge with his regiment of light Cauallerie vpon one of the corners of the Pistoliers and vpon the other hee set the Guidon of his owne company and Tauannes to scoure on their slancke whereupon there began a most sore and furious combat but the French were in the end valiantly put backe and there was slaine the yong Baron of Curton Randan sore hurte and his Lieutenant D'Amanzay dead the Cornet of Auannes sore hurt and his horse slaine vnder him Forges Guidon of the company of Tauannes slaine the Vicecount D'Auchy Guidon of the Duke of Guises sore hurt and sundry valiant men out of all the companies as the Sonne of Pied-pape yong Iouy Bourdilly yong Branches and many others whose death hurtes and retreates gaue such hart to the Imperialles so well to hope as they already encouraged one another as hauing gained an entire victory whereupon the Duke of Guise and Tauannes hauing assembled their troupes together againe the which the D. D' Aumalle with all the light Cauallerie went to ioyne began with one fronte so furiously to charge vpon the Imperials as they opened and threw downe the Pistoliers of
retire looking back sometimes to see if they were followed And so late enough arriued at Montcaure a league from Montereul where they soiourned 5. daies together stil to learn out vnderstand the enterprises of th'emperor the which as long as the French forces were still assembled the King might more easilye preuent and meete with them if they should put into the fielde But hauing certaine intelligence how the armie was not as yet departed from their first lodging in the plaines of Marque and that the Emperour expressely tarried to see the reparations and amendements of Rente the K. purposed in like sort to giue some rest and refreshing to his owne Notwithstanding that before the fiue dayes were out want of fourage and euill ayre of the marshes caused them to dislodge and come neerer to Montereul where they soiourned fiue other dayes entire the K. being lodged in the Charter house and the Campe pitched all along the little riuer of Cauche where the English and Scottish companies receiued an euill bobbe in being scattered and lodged two leagues farther thē the Vantgarde in a village called Marenlo where the imperials hauing receaued aduertisement thereof and being guided by one of the same village were to surprise them at midnight so as their lodgings being set on fire some of the masters seruants and horses tyed were burned some slaine and some caried away prisonners wherupon the Emperour being retired to S. Omer without hauing any meanes to be able to vndertake any matter of great importance or dammage to the French as also that the Winter and euill weather threatned him the K. departed thence with the D. of Guise and certaine gentlemen of his house to goe to Compeugne after he had well munitioned and fortefied the garisons of the townes of Ardres and Bolongne to make head keep strong against his enemy if he would besiege him the Constable remaining cheefe of the ouerplus of the army as well to keepe it vnited as the better and more readily to be able to prouide for whatsoeuer the Emperour could vndertake whose guiles the French haue alwaies feared especially vpon the end of a warre wherupon they took occasion to charge now then vpon his campe as well thereby to know and learne some thing as to keep scoute for the fouragers who were faine to goe very far to recouer victuals and fourage for their horses who hauing no more left to nourish them withall they were enforced againe to dislodge and passe ouer the riuer on the other side where the army was pitched encamped in the villages of Brameu Espimeu Beaurin al alongst the riuer shoare They taried there certain daies fearing least the Emperour should besiege Montreul Ardres or Dourlan notwithstanding being aduertised how his Souldiers for want of pay victuals and other commodities dissolued themselues the constable not to consume the rest of the victuals of the frontire which were alreadye greatly diminished and growne deare sent home the rirebands to their houses and dismissed the Zuizers well contented satisfied as wel with their pay as with the order of knighthood bestowed by the K. vpon Mandosse their Generall and vpon the Captains Theodore Inderhalden Colonel of the Cantons and Petroman Clery Colonel of the townes and Aonis who was afterwardes the K. Embassadour to the Grizons a few daies after being accompanied with the Marshal S. Andre he came vnto the K. who gaue the cōduct of the rest of the army to the D. of Vendosme wherupon the emperor who had alwaies delaied and dissembled his determination seeing his forces diminished suddenly called backe certaine companies which before hee had caused to departe the campe to drawe towards Hedin The which the D. of Vendosme foreseeing that he meant to be reuenged in burning the flat country as the French had done his caused his camp to dislodge stil to accost him and hold him in such awe as he shuld not scatter his army so as hauing passed the riuer of Authie hee encamped that night at Dampierre vntill the next morrow about noone when as hee was aduertised how the most part of the Imperial army and cauallery was come down to Auchy a Castle appertaining to the Count of Aiguemont and had fired the same broken defeated certaine companies of light cauallery which the Duke doubting of their cōming to hinder the passage of the riuer had sent thither The which caused him sodenlye to raise his Campe from Dampierre and imagining by the course which his enemye tooke that he meant to besiege Abbeuille or Dorlan hee approched neerer to these two places the which he furnished and fortefied with what euer was necessarye Afterwards on the morrow being the first of September he passed the riuer of Somme and pitched his Campe at Pondormy a place very commodious both to keepe the Country and passage of the riuer the same day the Imperials began to make waste and to burne the flat Country which the French had abandoned for two or three leagues compasse encamping at Saint Requier two leagues from the French whom they thought should not dislodge thence without battaile offred or some charges or other braueries perfourmed an occasion that the next morning early the D. of Vendosme sent his light cauallerie with three hundred men at armes to supporte them vnder the conduct of the Prince of Anguian who approched as neere their Campe as he was able and kept them so as they should not scatter to burne and destroye the villages holding them in such awe and subiection that they alwaies marched in troupes close together at night the French ouerthrew at their taile certain waggons laden with victualles which were nothing but apples bonillons and very naughtye bread the which caused them to think that in so great want and necessitie of victuals they would not long keepe themselues encamped notwithstanding they marched afterwards all along the riuer of Authie and set fire on the Castles and Villages alongst as they passed As at Dampierre Daurye Marchy Marchye Mainthenay and diuers other places an occasion that the Duke of Vendosme sent sixe score men at armes as well of his company as of the Marshall S. Andres with 9. Ensignes of foote to lodge in the Towne of Montereul which the Imperialles made countenance as though they meant to besiege whereof being aduertised and changing their purpose they returned back to passe the Riuer of Authye and descended into the Marshes belowe Hedin betweene the riuer and an other which commeth out of the County of S. Poul in a place called Mesnil fit to be fortefied for the keeping and assurance of the baliadge of Hedin and county of S. Pol. Then on the twelfth of September they began to reare and build vp a forte hauing for the more speedy dispatch of the defence leauied a great number of Pionners and labourers out of the Countryes about which they did without any let for besides that they were within their landes the French army was
maruelously diminished and lessened euery day both by reason of sicknesse among the Souldiers as of the companies which were sent vnto the townes which were threatned with a siege at hand This done the D. of Vendosme knowing his Souldiers to be very wearye with the long trauaile of this voyage to refresh and solace them brake vp his Campe and sent certaine companies of men at armes of the most tired to winter in their ancient Garrisons and his light cauallerie in places neerest to the enemy and to helpe and succour the poore people to husband and sowe their fieldes The foote companies of French English and Scottish were lodged in the Townes and Borroghes all alongst the the banke of the Riuer of Some The Almanes of the County of Reingraue and Baron of Frontenay at S. Esprit de Reux which they caused to be fortefied for a counterforte to Mesmil and those of the Count Rocdolphe and Reifberge tooke their way towardes Piemont and Italy The Historie of Fraunce THE THIRD BOOKE YOu haue already seene how the French and the Imperialles sought out one another with as great stomacke as euer eche of them the more forward thorough the presence of their Princes which as then conducted the armies when as Henry with great fury battered the castle of Renty and had carried it had not the Emperour broght thither all his forces the better to encourage them which were besieged and allaye the fury of the French by the skirmishes and hotte sallies which he caused to be vndertaken by the cheefest of his army so as the Erench albeit they carried away the honour of the memorable reencounter which I haue mencioned in which the Spanish Fanterie put to rout the Almane Pistoliers of Count Vul-uensort since called Reisters were broken and put to flight by the French Cauallerie were yet in the end constrained to quit the place retyring themselues in march as if they should haue presented battaile to the Imperials from which the Emperour kept them thorough the fauour of his trenches Afterwards the two Princes hauing for the reasons which I alleadged elsewhere broken dissolued their armies wherof they placed a good part in the garrisons of their frontiers the better to be able continually to vndertake an enterprise more secretly as opportunity serued helde themselues a long time vpon their garde without much discouering themselues through the discommodities of the Autumne and violence of the blustring Winter employing themselues onely in some surprises and secret intelligences whereof verye fewe succeded so well as the vndertakers desired These two Princes in the meane space pricked forward no lesse with enuye then a reciprocall ambition boyling with a worldlye desire of reuenge by the remembrance of so great losses old new offences made ready al kinde of preparatiues for a war at hād and much more bloudye then the former so as the brute being spread throughout France of the rodes which the Imperial garrisons stil made the French therby soone tooke occasion to march vnder the Marshall of S. Andre for to surprise scale at breake of daye and cutte into peeces whomsoeuer they should finde in armes in the Castle of Cambresy At what time the Spaniards had notwithstanding the fauour of a faire warre to retire themselues whether it liked them best About the beginning of the same spring Bouillon as the K. lieutenant in the absence of the D. of Neuers Gouernour of Champaigne was sent thither to rescue those of Mariembourg afterwards to enterprise vpon the enemy as occasion should be offred for the Imperialles meant no lesse to the place then to the Garrison because that this Towne hauing before beene a Village and pleasant seate of Mary widdowe to Lewis King of Hungarie which she had caused to be most curiously builded and fortefied whilest that she was gouernesse of the Countrye for the Emperour her Brother was builded and raised vp much stronger and farre better prouided then before yea the K. would needs bestowe his owne name thereof as this Princesse before had done hers which notwithstanding more happye in that could not out of the memorye of the people bordering round about The three and twentith of March Pope Iulye the third of that name deceased after hauing taken great paines in the latter end of his yeares to reconcyle these two great Lordes whome himselfe before had set to debate an occasion that the ninth day of Aprill the Cardinall Marcel Ceruin of Montpulcien in Tuscane was chosen and proclaimed Pope who by no meanes would change his name as the rest were wonte to doe He was Bishop of Nicastre and Cardinal of the tittle of Holye crosse in Hierusalem who died poysoned for all that as some affirme the two and twentith day of his election for that he was of too good a life But in very truth as hee was before giuen to be sicke of the yellowe Iaunders the disease grewe so sore vpon him in his olde yeares as hee dyed the three and twentith day of his Papacye True it is that a fewe dayes before his death he made himselfe be crowned with very small expences and very modestly Now as he was very wise so men had a great hope that he would correct many thinges in the Romish Church and especially that he would chase away all the dissolution and superfluitie thereof from whence the brute of his poysoning did growe for indeede hee abolished the superfluities of gardes and other honours which the first Bishops of Rome knew not once what they meant Afterwards the three and twentith of May the Cardinals those in their conclaue the Cardinall Iohn Pierre Caraffa Deane of the Colledge called Theatin Neapolitain named Paul the fourth esteemed to be a man very eloquent and learned The first author being a Monke at Venise of Iesuistes of whome I will speake else where For at diuers times and throughout all the Prouinces of Christendome yea as farre as the East and West Indies they haue engrauen and thundred out the name of their profession thorough the merite of their paines incredible hazardes and cruelties which they haue suffered among the Barbarians for the name of Christ In this time Philip of Austria by Mary King of England as well to appease the mutinyes which were growne betweene the English malcontentes thorough the alliance with a Stranger and other greeued with the change of the Protestant Religion for the Romane as the better to entertaine traffique and other commodityes with the French one parte of the great riches of that insularie kingdome curious on the other side of the generall good and repose of Christendome refused not with Charles the Emperour his Father and Henry the second to hearken to a vniuersall peace especially at the perswasions of the English Cardinall Poole who hauing passed betweene the Emperous and the King of France did maruelouslye sollicite them to a good accorde whereunto the rather to induce them he insisted both by
woordes and wrighting Among other meanes and perswasions wherewith hee serued himselfe to bring them to this poynt he vsed these Whilest that you make ciuill warre one vpon another the Turke stretcheth out at large his dominion and hath already taken two fortes by land and Sea to wit Belgrade and Rhodes by meanes whereof hee hath made his way as farre as Bude and is growne maister of the Danube that if God had not raised him vp the K. of Persia for an enemie it is very likely that long since he had put all Christendome vnder his obedience By this occasion many false Christians are so multiplyed in diuers places with such corruption of all kinde of discipline as well ecclesiasticall as ciuill as your power is not great enough to punish and correct them which the mutinies growne in so many places well declare the offices of religion left the schismes and heresies which in the meane time engender and grow throughout all Countries you ought to consider your own dutie and aboue all that you be Princes of christian religion And albeit that God hath permitted Satan the author of all mischeefe who goeth about to sifte the Church like Corne to moue warre among you who are the two most principall and noblest members of the Church yet hath hee not permitted his malice to exceede prophane and ciuill actions for hee hath counter garded you entirely in one religion in one same faith and opinion assembled and vnited in one selfe same body of the Church otherwise it were not possible to finde meanes to set you at accorde And albeit that many other Princes are reuolted from the Church and that the enemye of mankinde hath spread his malice throughout God notwithstanding hath looked vpon you in pittie and brought to nought the attemptes of the Deuill In which as for a certain signe of his bounty and clemency towards you he sheweth that finally he wil be serued by you and vnite you with one fraternall bond together with his Vicar on earth to take away these so perillous discordes and restore againe peace as well in the ciuill as ecclesiasticall estate Pole alleadged many other thinges to this purpose greatly threatning them with the wrath and vengeance of God if they did not leaue of these their passions and take compassion of the poore people so greatly afflicted And albeit that he preuailed nothing yet for so much as the affaires of England came to his wish hee insisted in such sorte as hee caused the Emperour and the King of France to come to this poynte to sende Embassadours on the one parte and the other The Queene of England who carried her selfe neuter in this cause caused a place to bee chosen neate and proper in the fielde betweene Cales Ardes and Graueline Townes vnder the subiection of England France and Burgondie scituate as in a tryangle then hauing made cast a trenche round she caused foure lodginges to be reared vp for the time onely but commodious enough where the three and twentith daye of May the Embassadours assembled On the Emperours parte the Bishop of Arras among other for the French King were the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Constable for England to mediate the Peace was Pole the Earle of Arundel and Paget The brute hereof being spread abroade gaue men occasion to think and hope for much especiallye those who vnderstoode not the deapth of the differences for there was question made of the Duchies of Milan Bourgondie Sauoye Piemont Corse Nauarre Lorraine Luxēbourg of the Townes of Thou Verdun and Metz matters hauing beene long and stiffelye debated as among other difficulties the English mediators were of opinion that the knowledge of certaine of the differents were fitte to be reserued to the deciding of a Councell they all departed thence without doing ought The tenth of Iune Ferdinande and the estates of the Empire besought the Emperour by their letters that in treating of peace he would haue especiall regarde to what the K. of France had taken away from the Empire Now nothing being accorded betweene the Embassadours the Emperour wrote backe fifteene dayes after to the estates in like substance The Emperours letters to the states I Greatly reioyced to see that you tooke pittie of those whom the enemie to my selfe and the Empire hath sacked I alwaies had especial care that they shold be restored into their former estate and before I receiued your letters I gaue expresse charge to my Embassadours and principall Councellors deputed for a peace that they should in any wise presse this without yeelding one inche And albeit that in all the treaties of peace which I haue made I thought in respect of the publike tranquilitie they would not bee to obstinate yet they are departed away without doing ought and notwithstanding I doe not refuse a peace for the good of Christendome so as they make me any reasonable offers and as opportunitie shall be offred I will straine myselfe to get such goods as haue beene pluckt from the Empire restored into their former estate See how God which hath the harts of Kings in his hands making each partie to iudge the others demaunds to vnreasonable would not permit Christendome so soone to enioy a benefit so much desired In sort that each one keeping himselfe vpon feare of a surprisal easily made his neighbor thinke how the cariadges of the Garrisons round about tended to more high enterprises So as these two Princes tickled with the like feare and quickly taking one anothers actions for a sufficient defiance of warre as Henrie deuided his men where he saw it most needfull the Emperour first put his armie into the field of twentie thousand fighting men vnder Martin Roussan bastard of Cleues who after many roades burnings and vncredible wasts all along the Meuse encamped at Deux Giuets minding to build a fort vpon that mountaine at the foot whereof this riuer runneth there by to bridle all the quarters round about make a sure retreate there for al such as were able to endomage the French The D. of Neuers in the meane space hauing taken good order for Maizieres and other places of importance resolued by the K. commaundement to victuall well Mariemburg And to that end hauing speedily and secretly made ready all preparations as well of men as victuals munitions and companies vnder the Comte of Retheloix he sent three hundred harquebusiers as well French as English and Scots mounted to discouer and bring backe word to the cheefe of the eight hundred light horse which followed them what they should discry who with the leader of the vantgard of two hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins which marched after and a number of harquebusiers close to the winges of the wagons prouided therto whatsoeuer was needfull according to the generals commaundment who led the battell of three hundred men at armes and eight ensignes of fantassins hauing on his backe the arrieregard of two hundred men at armes
in Italy commanded the viceroy of Naples Dom Garzie de Toledo that assembling together all the forces which he possibly could he should blocke in the Sienois as much as in him lay Which he accordingly did in Ianuary 1548. with twelue thousand footmen and fifteene hundred horse as well Almanes as Neapolitanes In the meane time the K. had sent the Cardinall of Ferrare to Siene and De Termes with two thousand pioners assisted with the D. of Some Earle of Saint Flour and other of the Vrsins fortefying the places as they should see neede Corneille Bentinuogle entred into Rosie with fifteene hundred souldiers Iohn de Thurin with three hundred men had the charge of Mont-alcin Malian was giuen to Chiarmont and La Turrite was gouernour thorough Galeas de Saint Seuerin with three hundred men Ciusi to Paul and Iordan Vrsins with two thousand men vnder Asinolonga At Monticelle were Cipierre Guy de Bentiuogle and the Earle of Petiglian with fiue hundred light horse at Port Telamon was the Earle of Mirendolle and a Satean Ioachin a Gascoine Captaine accompanied with two hundred men So as all de Termes his forces deuided thoroughout all the garrisons amounted to twelue thousand footemen besides the Cittizens in great number all enemies to the Spanniards and Florentines But there was not aboue fiue hundred horse euerie man trauailing to fortefie and prouide for their places De Termes and other euen to the verie women tooke maruelous paines to assure La Capitalle whilst that the viceroye ouerranne the countrie and attempted the townes which hee thought to carrie by open force surprise or intelligence Conducting the armie with Ascanio de La Corne hee tooke some and was forced to discampe before other as at Moultacin which was succoured with the men which Bellegard nephew to De Termes caused to enter in The intelligence which he had in Siene was discouered and albeit the Cardinall cōmitted him vnto prison which carried the newes yet he set him againe at libertie wherupon this Prelate was euer since suspected of treason In this time did Charles D. of Sauoye driuen out of his countrie by the Kinge of France leauing for heire of all his rights his onely Sonne Philibert Emmanuel to whome for recompence of many seruices the Emperour gaue the Earledome of Ast to enioy it vntill he should be able to recouer his owne inheritance Charles was buried at Verceil almost in magnificence Royall In the meane space the Marshall Brissac Leiutennant generall for the K. in Piemont hauing taken Yuree and Verceill without the Castle and pilled the treasures of the Sauoyon within the Church of Saint Eustace astonied many men in Lombardie But approching neere Milan Fernand Gonzaque came verie fitly with forces for the Emperour An occasion that Brissac retired backe to Yuree and quitted Verceil which he was not able to keepe without the Citadell The Imperials then not able to master Siene retired by little and little so as De Termes had leasure enough to passe into Corse and there to take the Towne of Saint Florent and Boniface a porte of the Sea in times past the porte of Siracuse from the Genowaies which gouerned there in parte From whence retiring into France being called backe by his Prince he left behinde him a good Garrison and Iordan Vrsin his Maiesties Lieutenant to commaund there with a number of French Captaines The King in the meane time to be reuenged of the Duke of Florence who held the Emperours cause against him and the Sienois De Termes being called home sent Pierre Strossy for his Lieutenant General into Tuscane with a number of men at armes charged to draw vnto him his Brother the Prior of Capoue who was retired from the seruice of the French the which he did and went with him to La Mirandelle to raise there an army Being arriued at Siene and communicating his charge with the Cardinall of Ferrara he thought it not best that he should declare himselfe so soone for many reasons especially for that he had no iust occasion to warre against the Florentine except it were founded vpon the ancient and immortal hatred betweene the Strozzis and Medices Strozzy notwithstanding leuied at Rome Vrbin and other places where men make market of their life as many men as hee was able whereof the Florentine aduertised Pope Iuly exhorting him to driue the French out of Tuscane and suppresse the glory of the Sienois promising him that that done he would giue his daughter in mariage to the nephew of his holynes and giue her a better portion then all the rest of his children sauing the Prince setting downe in like hand vnto the Emperour the danger of his estates in Italy if the King should make himselfe more great in Tuscane and the meanes which might growe vnto him both in Lombardy and the kingdome of Naples in such sort as the Pope and the Emperor ioyning themselues with him gaue charge to Iacques Le Medecin Marquesse of Marignan a valiant and wise Cheefe to leauie an army to this effect who gathering together all his forces and assuring himselfe in his espials and diligences more then any other meanes did so much as the Sienois fearing nothing and forgetting the charge which their Gouernour had giuen vnto them to finishe the fortifications of theyr Towne Rodolphe Baglion Perusin generall of the light cauallerie comming about the beginning of Ianuary 1554. by night to Siene with such diligence and so secret was without the care of Laurens de Chastillon who made the round vpon the walles the Towne had become imperiall yea the Florentines themselues confessed that after the assault well defended if the Sienois had but salied out vpon them tyred with so long trauaile and sleepe they had bene all defeated But the Cardinall fearing least they might haue some intelligence within the towne contented himselfe with those which were slaine on the diches and rampire the Maquesse notwithstanding encamping before the Towne wasted the whole Country afterwards he battered the towne so furiously as he had put them in great necessity had not Strozzy who already had well furnished the strong places of the Country by his entry into the Town encouraged the harts of the besieged and diminished as much the hope of the enemies Of whome hauing vnderstoode how Baglion and Ascane de la Corne had enterprised vpon Chiusi one of the twelue ancient Citties of Hetruria he went to charge them with sixe hundred Souldiers so hottely as Baglion remaining there dead and de La Corne prisonner afterwardes sent captiue into Fraunce the affaires of the Emperour beganne to growe in euill case Ioynte that the Kinge to make himselfe the stronger in Italy sent ouer and aboue the supplye of fiue thousand souldiers Zuizers and Gascons with some light Cauallerie promising besides to send vnto him succours by Sea which entred into Siene without the enemies being witting thereof at all The which emboldned Strossi to come foorth with sixe
faggots to cutte off and couer the saide Towne from the Castle To fauour which enterprise and occasion more businesse vnto the enemies the Mareschal offered to goe besiege some little towne there if he founde any facilitie at all to essay with the Artillerie to carrie it away and that in the meane time Saluoisin Gouernour of Casal shoulde goe at a day agreed vpon betweene the Generals attempte with the souldiers of the Garrison the execution of the enterprise which he had vpon the Towne of Alexandria of the places of most importaunce of the state of Milan Whereof there coulde no other then a good yssue bee expected as well by the intelligence which one gaue from thence vnto the Counsell whom the Captaine Saluoisins Secretarie expresly went to fetch for that purpose as that Saluoisin had him selfe taken a view of the place And to the ende that Saluoisin mought the better keepe it being taken the Mareschall promised to come thither on the morrowe after the execution thereof with his whole armie as well to assist Saluoisin as to prouide for whatsoeuer shoulde be necessarie for the assuraunce and conseruation of the place and that shortelie after he woulde marche to Milan to giue order with the Duke of Guise for the getting of the Castle and for such affayres as concerned the Kinges seruice and so to make the State assured vnto his Maiestie Thorough the consideration whereof it was not to be doubted but the Duke of Alua with the forces which hee had in Romagne woulde leaue the Countrie to come succour the rest of that Estate as a matter of greater importaunce vnto his Maister then the quarrell of the Pope Who notwithstanding shoulde by this meanes haue the succoures which he desired without hazzarding an armie in such daungers as mought fall out in so long voyages and to which all such as haue heretofore passed thorowe Italie in fauour of the Popes haue for the most parte beene subiecte Thus shoulde the will of his Maiestie be perfourmed with the Conquest of an whole Estate for which Warre had beene so long time made in the House of Fraunce Furthermore the hope and apparaunce which was there to gayne the whole or at the least a great parte of the Seigneurie of Genes yea by the inhabitauntes owne good will thorough the necessitie of Victualles into which they were brought Prouided that his Maiestie to whome a dispatche for that ende shoulde be sente woulde commaunde the Galleyes of Marseilles to scowre the Seas and to keepe the Coast of Sicilie in subiection to keepe the Genowaies from beeing that wayes any more succoured with Corne then they shoulde bee out of Piemont And indeede the dearthe was there so great for the small time which they were in the Duchie of Milan and thourough the taking of Valence as that a sacke of Corne was worth tenne Crownes The propositions being at large debated of were in the ende founde so good and accompanyed with so apparaunt reasons as the most parte of them which were of the Counsell seeing the importaunce of such Estates as those of Milan and of Genes which made a way vnto his Maiestie to encrease his power and authoritie in Italie Iointe the vncertaine and so variable occurrents as mought befall an Armie in so long a voyage and by such an enemie so readie and resolute were of opinion that they were to bee hearkened vnto and that his Maiestie shoulde with all dilligence be aduertised thereof But the Duke of Guise hauing an other intent of greater importaunce tolde them that hee had receyued Commaundement from the King to proceede onwardes and not to stay An occasion that many haue since depraued this his aduise especially after the ende of his enterprise But Lautrec in the like accidente conducting the Frenche armie for the taking of Naples after the deliuerie of Frauncis the first allied with the Potentates of Italie 1527. hauing taken the Towne of Bosco Alexandria Vigeneue Pauia and other places as it was deliberated in Counsell whether they shoulde staye vppon the Conquest of Milan to which they which helde the Frenche partie besought him to employe his men considering the resolution of them and the fright of their enemies or passe forwardes aunswered that hee had commaundement to seeke further and that he was principally sent into Italie for the deliuerie of Pope Clement True it is that some thought Lautrec tooke this resolution fearing least if they shoulde conquerre the Dutchie of Milan the Venetians being confederate with the Frenche woulde bee carelesse to succour the King in the Conqueste of Naples And it is possible likewise that the King thought it woulde be better for him that Frauncis Sforze mought not entirely recouer this Estate to the ende that no power remayning vnto him to bee able to vndertake ought hee mought the more easilye obtayne the deliueraunce of his children as yet the Emperours prisoners by waye of accorde which continually was treated of about the Emperour by the Embassadours of Fraunce Englande and Venise Thus then the D. of Guise resolued vpon his first aduise caused a bridge of boates to be made at Basignaue ouer the riuer Tauaro where his armie seconded with the Mareschal Brissacs passed ouer to perfourme the voyage of Italie And to the ende that it mought bee done with more suretie and that hee mought auoyde the meeting of the forces which the Marquesse of Pescarie caused in all dilligence to bee assembled thereby to cutte him off from his passage the Mareschal entered within Laumeline with a countenaunce as though he would marche towardes Milan An occasion that the Marquesse turned bridle suddainely towardes Milan with the fewe forces which hee had suffering the Duke of Guise freely to passe and his armie whither it liked him best Vpon whose Ariuall the Duke of Alua for wante of money and to suffer the first furie of the Frenche to coole leuyed his siege from Rome and retired vpon the borders of the Kingdome of Naples there to defende the Frontiers from the disseins of the Frenche As for the Duke of Florence he to keepe his dependances from waste and spoile of the enemie and likewise to get leysure to goe on with his Fortresses lent his eare to some alliaunce with the King But fortified as he was hee retyred within his Towne In such sorte as Pierre Strossi Mareschal of Fraunce being departed one of the first and enclosed himselfe within Rome with a nomber of French and Italians had alreadie vnder the fauour of the Dukes comming combated and taken certayne Fortes and Blockehouses builded by the Imperialles rounde about the Towne and vpon the Tiber so as the Pope was before the ariuall of the Frenche as it were restored into full libertie and Rome assured of her enemies I will shewe you by and by what the Duke did as soone as he was approched vnto the capitall Citie of Italie against the disseins of his enemies who prepared thēselues to all euentes and in sundrie
a peace with the Spaniarde Who in the meane time determined to plant agayne the siege before Rome not that hee was in anie hope to take it but onely to inforce the Pope to a peace which hee knew was greatly desired by the Catholike king But the Duke of Guise vnderstanding this desseine and the effects thereof fayled not to approach vnto Tiuoli a place scituated vppon the Teueron to front the enemie and to inforce him to leauie his siege The which was the cause that by all the meanes they possiblie coulde they hastned the treatie of the peace sought by the Venetians and the Duke of Florence The Pope sending on the eight of September in his name the Cardinalles Carlo Caraffe Saint Fior and Vitolloce with some Romane Lordes towardes the Duke of Alua who as then laie at Canie a place scituate in the Romane Countrie neere to Pilastrine to conferre of the whole Betweene whome it was concluded and agreed that the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe woulde resolue thereof together at Benessan which is not farre from them hauing each of them ample power and commission from theyr master to determine and conclude of all thinges according as the Popes Letters carryed for the Cardinall Caraffe dated the eighth daie of September 1557. at Rome and king Phillips for Don Ferdinande Aluarez de Toledo Duke of Alua dated the fiue and twenteeth of Iuly In summe the peace was concluded betweene the Pope and the Spaniard and such were the Articles That the Duke of Alua dooing all kinde of obeysances due and submissions in the name of the king of Spaine his master should beseech pardon of the Popes holynesse That hee shoulde receiue him as his good and obedient sonne participating vnto him such graces as were common to other That king Phillip shoulde doo the lyke by an Embassadour expresly sent from him to Rome That the Pope as a mercifull and debonarie Father shoulde receiue the Catholique king as his sonne and giue vnto him all such graces as hee was wont to doo and accorde to other Christian kings That his holynesse shoulde renounce the league with the French king and declare himselfe a father to the one and the other of both the kinges wythout anie one more than the other That the Catholique King shoulde render vp all the townes places castles and fortresses beeing of the domaine of the Church which had bene taken since the ouerture of this warre Hee shoulde make bee builded agayne and repayred all such as had beene ruined and dismembred by the Spaniardes That all the artillerie taken on the one side or the other in what sorte so euer shoulde bee restored againe into the handes of his auncient possessour That they shoulde forget all such executions as had ben done by iustice during this warre were it by death or bannishment and all confiscations of what persons whatsoeuer wythout anie mannes researching after into them As also all such as thorough this dissention were driuen out of theyr landes goods and dignities shoulde bee restored into theyr good renowme goods honours states and dignities right actions and Seignouries Prouided that they had lost these thinges by meanes of this warre to the ende this peace might not bee auaileable to Marke Anthonie Colone nor to Ascaigne de la Corne but that they shoulde remayne outlawed at the will and discretion of the holy Father That the Dutchie of Palliane should bee put in such estate as it was then by the consent and good liking of both partyes into the hands of Iean Barnardin Carbon which was the sequestrer who should sweare to the Pope and the Catholique King to keepe faith to both parties and obserue the articles and agreements made and accorded betweene the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall Caraffe Which Carbon was to haue the keeping of the Towne of Palliane hauing vnder him eight hundred souldyers payed by the Pope and the Catholique king These Articles were sworne to in the name of the sayde Princes the Pope and king Phillip by the Cardinall Caraffe and the Duke of Alua according to the Commission and faculties giuen vnto them swearing by the soules of theyr Princes to obserue all the whole without fraude cauelling or anie exception whatsoeuer adding a truce for a certayne time contayning pasport and safeconduct to the Duke of Guise and to all the Captaines and souldyers of the king of France to departe out of Italie and the Countries appertayning vnto king Phillip as well by sea as by land Afterwardes they signed and sealed the whole in the presence of the Cardinals of S. Flour and Vitelle who lykewise signed the present Treatise And forsomuch as it was not set downe therein to whome Palian shoulde appertaine since that the sequestrer kept it in the name of both the princes contracting there were secrete articles agreed vpon between the Cardinal Caraffe and the Duke of Alua. In which it was contained how that it should remaine at the will and discretion of the catholike king either to ruine or leaue that place in her entire without being lawful for him to repair or fortifie it vntill the sayd Lord King had giuen some place of like value and reuenew to the Popes sonne for recompence And anie difference falling out vppon that exchange the Senate of Venice shoulde giue iudgement thereof wythout either the one or the other parties refusing to obey what shuld be ordayned by that Seignorie And the recompence beeing once made by king Phillip hee might then bestowe the place of Palian vppon whom it liked him best sauing anie such as were an enemie to the Church of Rome And that he which should haue Palian in sequestration should bee bound to depart so soone as the place were dismembred Such was the issue of the affayres of Italie and of the armie which the King sent for the Popes succour the which was followed with a strange ouerflowing inundation of Tiber as I will cause you to see elsewhere Now that each partie had of a long time turned his desseignes to the warre couered notwithstanding by the conclusion of this truce yet had the Spanish Councell much better and from longer hande prouided for the preparatiues and inconueniences thereof For Phillip put as soone an armie agaynst that of Italie by which he drew out of the realme the flower of the nobilitie and the most renowmed Captaines and souldiers which were there the most accomplished and best furnished with all necessaries of anie that had beene seene of long time To the end hee would not faile to set forward his first fortune which he meant to proue in the view of all the potentates of Europe especially of the French in whome hee meant to ingraue by the beginning of his enterprises such a dread of his forces means as that for euer after they should bee more stayed and lesse stirring against him than they had beene against anie of his ancestors Henrie on the contrarie as the
French is neuer aduised but vpon the blow prouiding onelye for his armie which marched to affranchise the Pope from his enemies to whom succours was almost as soone promised as demanded hauing vnderstood but too late through want of intelligence the galliard preparatiues of Phillip found himselfe no lesse astonied to see he was taken at a lifte than perplexed through the difficultie whereof reporte was made vnto him of finding finances to leuie conduct furnish and imploy so grosse an armie withall Which to hinder the enterie and sacke of his realme to so puissant a neighbour and ancient enemie was a matter necessarie for the richest and poorest Prince of Christendome thorough the abundance and yet euill husbanding of his meanes in making readie the preparatiues whereof hee knew a great deale better the difficulties which presented themselues to the executions of his haughtie desseignes by the complaintes which all the estates of his Realme made to bee resounded on all partes as soone as the bruite of another warre refreshed theyr memorie wyth remembrance of so many sorrowes passed Two houses at this time possessed king Henrie more than anie other of his realme that of Guise and Monmorencie both of them recommended for the antiquitie valour and renowme of their races vertuously imployed to the profite and honour of the crowne of France But that being the greater better allied richer and of more renowme throughout all Christendome woulde not acknowledge the Monmorencian equall to itselfe sauing in the fauor of the Prince whose grace towards the Constable mounted so farre as that hee would conceale nothing from him doo all things by his aduise and vouchsafe him sometimes to bee his bedfellow the honour and respect beeing kept still such as hee ought So as beeing set in authoritie thorough the credite and exceeding vertue as well of his foure sonnes as of his three nephewes of Chastillon and other his kinsmen who bare honorable offices all of them within the realme hee seemed to haue no need of desiring the increase of ought but only a continuance of his greatnesse prouided that no disaster did crosse the course of so happie a pursuit Those of Guise no lesse supported by the merite of their owne valour and put in authoritie thorough the ancient renowme of so many princes issued out of the house of Lorraine sought to make themselues greatest in the kings fauour by a farre greater number of signall seruices with Charles and Frances of Guise might doo to the flower de Luce. So as as well to continue their owne dutie as their auncestours and fathers they had vndertaken the voyage of Italie to the end to deliuer Pope Iulie out of the Spaniardes handes and if promise should bee kept with them to imploy them selues to the conquest of the kingdome of Naples hoping by that means much more to extoll the kings power credit among forrain nations Charles and De Guise Cardinals remaining onely behinde in Court to entertaine the king to the conduct of such a dessein Which lykewise was greatly fauoured by Diane de Poitiers sole heire to S. Valier Duke of Valentinois who to imploie thereto that part of hir credit which her beautie comely carriage and quicknesse of spirite graces hatefull inough to the vertuous Katherine de Medices Queene of France had gained vnto her of the king had giuen one of her daughters in marriage to De Guise Earle of Aumaule who accompanyed the Duke his brother into Italie Now as all greatnesse standeth accompanied with the passions of the Court vpon the preparatiues which king Phillip made dayly to be reuenged of the losses abouesayd men began to shew vnto the king the damage and dishonour which thorough the absence of his forces the breach of truce so solemnly sworne would bring vnto him how the Duke of Guise had spent one hundred and three score thousand crownes a moneth without hauing done ought else than seene Ciuitelle a frontire towne of Naples the small or rather no aduantage at all which hee had receiued by the breach thereof How that the king of Spaine beeing well setled in his quarters within Italie had assembled together such forces as it was an easie matter for him to aduance the ruine of France if hee should enter in against so few people as were to present themselues vnto him in the ranke of whome notwithstanding the Constable humblie besought his maiestie to place him that hee might imploie therein together with his owne meanes the lyfe of himselfe his kinsmen friends and such other as would follow him in such an enterprise as much perforced and vncommodious as it was The king greatly bewailed such an accident but as hee was one of the best princes and most easie to bee managed as France euer sawe hee dyd not greatly torment himselfe thorough the hope which the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Dutches of Valentinois had giuen vnto him How the whole matter could not but receue an happie issue and how that the Constable chiefe of armes might assemble men enough to make head to the Spaniard if it would please his maiestie but to sende him towardes the frontires there to make readie the campe The which hee was commanded to doo So as hee departed from Compeigne where the king as then laie gouerned by those of Guise with speed inough to go to Nostre dame de Liesse there to receiue his troupes together which should bee sent vnto him out of all partes In the meane time they studyed vpon all meanes the kings treasure beeing alreadie drawen drie how to procure monie for the entertaining of such an armie in which appeared great difficulties accompanyed with grieuous complaintes in many places In summe besides the great and ordinary impostes which were leuied vpon the people new taxes and particular loanes were put vpon them with surcharges so excessiue as they grew intollerable vpon the third estate which the continuance of the warres had alreadie eaten almost to the bare bones The ministers and beneficed men of the Church albeit they alleadged how that they were exempt priuiledged from such charges were neuer a whit spared but seazed according to their tenths to the vtmost value of the reuenue of theyr Benefices The Nobilitie but euen freshly returned frō the warres passed with a hope of a good repose to helpe vp themselues againe settle order in their houses and establish theyr reuenues to come was agayne called as wel to appeare in the Rirebandes as to inroll themselues in the kinges ordinances who dispatched commissions to leauie new companies and to fyll vp the olde The Ringraue bringing vnto him one thousand Pistolliers and eight hundred Lansknets came to ioyne with his forces In the meane space to preuent the first desseines of his enemie to fauour the aduancement of the fortifications vpon the frontiers and whilest that the armie was making readie at the end of Ianuarie 1557. the rest of the men at armes of France were sent as the most ready
force which the king had to be diuided among the most dangerous frontires especially in Campagne For that the imperials ordinaryly made theyr descent most that waies and to fauor the fortification of Rocroy which serued as a counterfort and support to Mariembourg and Maubert Fontaine Fortifying in lyke sorte and munitioning the rest of the places vppon the frontire they repayred vp agayne the platforme and pan of the wall behinde the castle of Mezieres which was much fallen downe The spring notwithstanding and most part of the Summer passed ouer without anie matter worthie of memorie sauing the attempt of certaine of the garrisons vpon Roc Roy which I wil shew vnto you After hauing represented the place to the naturall It is a barren soile more than two leagues round about it where you can see nothing but high woods standing water and marrishes especially in the wast vnmanured places groweth nothing but briers thorns broome and heath for that the molde thereof is clay the plains bottomes all moorish where the fort standeth The rest of the places are hard and sharpe rocks without anie moisture or bearing of fruit sauing catmint and mosse which maketh it farre vnfit for the incamping of an armie by meanes of the seate and barrennes of the place The fort hath fiue frontes which they tearme in forme of Pantagone couered and defended with four great bulwarkes garnished with their flankers Cazamates platformes then the old fort which serueth for the fift each carrying his particular name so great and spacious that euerie one may lodge two thousand souldiers and a greate deale of artillery A matter verie commodious for the retrenches and rampires against the enemie Moreouer the defences there are so surely couered and without anie daunger of batterie that it is verie vneasie to take them awaie ioynt that the heeles and shoulders thereof are so large and thicke that they couer a great part of the Courtines And for the better enduring of the rampire the turfe and the earth is so claie and slammie as if it soake in neuer so little water it stiffneth and hardneth inough of it selfe Therefore the fourth of Aprill the imperiall garrisons beeing assembled together marched so secretly to breake downe the banke which as yet was reared but two foot high as thinking that the most part of the souldiers would sallie out vpon their curriors with resolution to cut off theyr waie and so hew them in peeces Then together with such as fled to enter pesle mesle within the forte they sawe the souldiers euen and anone sallying out file a file to the skirmish against the first as the indiscreet heat of the French doth alwayes carrie But the whole companie comming vpon them to cut off their retreate the rest which were within the forte in armes to make the view and deale the last issued forth so readily and with such resolute charges as the other were constrained to drawe backe and retyre themselues in the end to defend themselues from the number of Cannon shot which played vpon them with out ceasing Passing ouer thus some time in these light attempts the seuenth of Iune the Queen of England sent an Heralde of armes to proclaime warre vnto the king who the king hauing made it bee declared vnto him by the Constable how graciouslye hee vsed him in respect of the punishment which hee deserued in that he had passed thorough his realme without safe conduct was curteously sent backe with presents and his answere which was how hee accepted of the defiance in hope to make her know that wythout anie occasion at all shee had offered this vnto him considering the good offices which had passed as well from himselfe as his auncestours towardes her and her nation Likewise it was sufficiently inough apparant how that shee had beene as it were importuned heereunto by her husband in respect of the diuisions and partialities of that Realme as well betweene the English and the Spaniardes as among the English themselues The most parte imagining howe that theyr new king diminishing theyr forces and meanes by such warres would seeke the more easily to make himselfe master of theyr fortresses and vsurpe the superintendance which he so much longed after to manage all things at his owne will and pleasure You shall else-where see what insued heereupon In Iuly the Prince of Piemont Almora Earle of Eguemond the Duke of Ascot and others prepared an armie at Giuets curious to performe the matter better than they dyd at the first attempt Which they had assembled together for to haue surprised Rocroy at the verie first push But their vant curriers were so lustily set vpon by those which issued out to the skirmish as the grosse comming to assist and support them after a long meley of hot buckling together and infinite Cannon shot which rained among them was constrayned in the end to leaue a great number of theyr dead behinde in the field whilest they turned vppon the frontire of Picardie as if they had meant to haue attempted vpon Guise before which the whole imperiall armie laie of thirtie fiue thousand men and twelue thousande horse tarrying for eight thousand Englishmen who landing at Calis and in the Countie Doye was to ioyne wyth them at Saint Quentines King Henrie his armie assembled it selfe at the same time at Atygnie But as theyr foresight was not so great as the Spanish no more was theyr number nor theyr meanes found to be alike There might be about eighteene thousand fantassins of Almanes and French fiue or sixe thousand horse of light men at armes as well French as Almaine coasting alwaies notwithstanding the imperials within foure or fiue leagues following the Countrie of Tierasche resolued to close themselues within Pierre Ponte a place very commodious to ouerrun the whol frontire and there to distribute succours among the garrisons with suretie of those troupes which should keepe the field The aduantage which grew vnto the imperials thorough their long foresight hauing brought foorth vnto them so strong an armie and the variable and diligent dismarch of theyr troupes caused that the French beeing insolent and contemning the enemyes forces against whome ordinarily they esteemed it inough to prepare them selues vpon the blow and intelligence which presented it selfe did in no sorte prouide to withstand the enterprise of Phillip and beeing at the verie pinch vncertayne of his intent they were not able to iudge by the deportments of his armie to what place he meant whereby they might furnish it as were necessarie So as first the Kinges councell and afterwardes the Constables beeing diuided into two partes some thought that the Prince of Piemont would vndertake nought else and turned to no other end than to make an honorable retreate For that not hauing bene able to assemble his armie together so soone as he imagined through the distance of so many diuers countries as he was to drawe his men out of and other
it and one other of Cauallerie Where he should haue founde nothing but Sentinels and haue bene able to gayne a little hill all alongest the Vines by which the Captaine S. Andre had entered in by fayre day light An occasion that the Admirall had nowe ynough to doe to encourage the besieged assuring them that the Conestable woulde not suffer them to be lost within and that together with himselfe so many Gentlemen would not tarrie there if they supposed they should be but loste It was about this time that nine thousande Englishmen 1500. horse ariued at the campe vnder the charge of the Earle of Penbrooke Clinton and Gray lodged as I before told you In the meane time the Admirall caused 700. idle monthes to be put cut to ease the towne so much in fauour of the voluntary men The Prince euen as soone made his trenches and aproches against the porte of Romicourt vnder the fauour of the hedges and trees which had not beene before cutte vp by the beseeged Whereof the Admirall aduertised the Constable and of the marish by which way onely they were then able to succour them promising to rampire and fill vp certaine little deepe channels which hindered their passage The which he did by the Captaine S. Romain and to crosse the Riuer which runneth through and ouerfloweth this marish they caused fowre boates to be brought vpon which being chained together and reaching from the one shoare to the other they might well haue passed if they had beene able to lande on the banke whilest that a hotte alarum were giuen to the whole campe Vpon which the Constable being resolued hee departed the 8. of August from La Fere with two thousand horse fower thousande Fantassins as well Almaines as French trayning fower field peeces alongest Being ariued ouer against the village called Le grand Essigny he made a stand and taking the D. of Neuers the Prince of Conde and some others he aproched as neere as he was able to S. Quentin as farre as the descent of the marish without discouering any enemy Afterwardes hee sent Du Fumett to viewe neerer and make report of the distance of the enemy from the towne and of the marish from them together with the largenes of the riuer The which he did with two other more who agreed somewhat with his report whereupon on S. Laurence day in the morning the tenth of the moneth there were set in battaile at the place of execution neere La Fere sixteene French ensignes and two and twentie Almaine with fifteene peeces of artillarie whither the whole cauallerie came to ioyne with them Then they aduanced as farre as S. Quentines by nine of the clock right to the fauxbourge de Lisle on the side of fourteene Spanish Ensignes where the whole was set in order of battaile On the side beyond the water and the marish was the Prince of Piemont his army far stretched forth hauing for sentinell within a mile on this side two Spanish Ensignes which were sodenly turned downe and constrained to retire themselues beyonde the causey At the same instant the french artillery thundered so furiously vpon the Campe especially into the Princes Tent as he had no leasure to put on his armour to retyre himselfe into the next quarter of the Count of Aiguemont to whom euery man retired in a strange disorder Now for that they doubted a certaine dangerous passage distant about one league from Fauxbourg d'isle where the french Cauallery lay they sent thither a cornet of the Renigraues pistoliers to the end to haue newes sooner by them then footmen which were rather like to be lost then succoured as also that they were the more easily able to retire And for a greater strength the D. of Neuers went thither with three companies of men at armes Vpon this the Constable vsed all meanes to make his men to enter in but the boates not being able to come to the other shore through the aboundance of the souldiers which entred in by such heapes and disorderlie were so ouerladen as by reason of the durte and ouse in which they stooke it was vnpossible for any great number of men to passe ouer besides at the going out of the boates the presse of the souldiers was such as they were not able to follow the waies and pathes shewed vnto them An occasion that they scattered and fell into the deepe ditches of the marish whence they were not able to get out but remained there all mirie and the most part drowned miserablie The Prince in the meane space hauing taken resolution to charge vpon so few men before the appointed succours were al entred in the artillarie ceasing to annoy them any further caused the Compte of Aiguemont to passe ouer the passage with two thousande horse which the Frenche durste not encounter withall and then two other Companies followed after with Battailions of foote during whose passages some gaue counsell to the Conestable to charge vpon them which were alreadie passed ouer But their aduice preuailed who rather counselled a retreate then to aduaunce further with so fewe men considering the furious dismartche of their enemies Ioynte that hee was not come thither to hazzarde the Forces of Fraunce excepte that hee were greatly constrayned thereunto And further howe hee had succoured and furnished Saint Quintin with all necessaries as hee thought in spight of the enemie Thus the Duke of Neuers retyred to Louys de Bourbon Prince of Conde who had the charge of certayne light Cauallerie which the Conestable had caused to tarrie at a Windemille With whome being ioyned and keeping the lefte winge they came safe and sounde vnto the Conestable who alwayes gayned grounde of the retreate whilest that his enemies encreasing aduaunced forwardes and had alreadie gotten aduauntage of him in eighte great battailions of Cauallerie and Reistres Yea they viewed him so neere as the Conestable imagining that hee had well enough prouided for the place and that by the temporising of his enemies they woulde not dare to come backe vpon him made no other accounte then softely to retyre The which the enemie attributing in the beginning to an assured resolution of Combatte shewed himselfe vncertayne of the charge vntill that perceyuing the Financiers marchauntes and other following the Warres for their pleasure or profite to retyre apace to saue themselues with their money and marchandises from an enemie so neere vnto them and afterwardes the seruauntes whome they caused to bate to retyre all which chaunging their pace to a galloppe astonyed at the retreat of these marchauntes retyred themselues with great cryes witnesses of the feare which had alreadie possessed them it made the Compte of Aiguemont to thinke who suddaynely caused the Prince to be aduertised thereof that the Frenche Armie quaked and that it was nowe time to trye their fortune and to charge vpon such an aduauntage In the ende this Flemmishe Compte hauing after he had receyued commaundement from the
the footemen as by them which had bene before him This disgrace was likewise offered vnto him that notwithstanding any request which had bene made by him in the fauour of Ossun and Frauncisque Bernardin to be a meanes they mought receyue the order hee coulde neuer yeilde them any assurance thereof but it was D'Anuille which carried it away so as euer after they depended on the Conestable In summe the Mareschall still continuing to make instaunce of supplie wherewith he mought be able to oppose himselfe against his enemies forces who might vndertake eyther the forcing of some holde or fortifiyng themselues in some new and by that meanes mought abate their nomber it was aunswered him that they were matters easier talked of then done and that he must needes confesse that winter was alwayes winter during which season men were accustomed to surcease armes An aunswere in deede coyned by his enemies who woulde not so much as call to minde the taking of Lans Valence Iuree and sundry other places in the monethes of December and Ianuarie in the very hearte of Winter Thus did the complayntes of the Mareschall moue the Kinges Counsell bente to turne their eyes an other waye no more then the newes of their enemies comming into Piemont no not so much as the descente of the Duke of Alua at Gennes with 7000. men and that attending their ariuall in Piemont the enemies had put themselues within Galliany which the Mareschall willing to haue fortified onely for a time to haue founde the enemie occupyed was constrayned for want of money to leaue and rayse it which they beganne to fortifie And lesse the going away of many Captaines and souldiers day by day especially the Captaine Benes who demaunded leaue to departe home to his owne house and replie being made vnto him that hee did but come thence hee persisted to say that hee woulde goe come what woulde and whereas he was aduised to take time to consider thereof and afterwardes deliuer his minde vnto the Mareschall he refused it and the nexte morning wente home without once bidding farewell For this cause he besought his Maiestie that such disobedience mought not goe vnpunished and that his Companie mought be bestowed on the Captaine Lisle which the King liked well of and yet was it afterwardes rendred agayne vnto him Of which the Mareschall afterwardes complayning and standing vpon it had bene deliuered and bestowed on the Captaine Lisle Serieant of the Battayle who had long and faithfully serued they woulde yeelde no credite at all vnto him but the companie was bestowed vpon La Roche a gentleman of D'Anuilles who had beene nothing so long a Seruitour True it is that complainte beeing made of the wrong which thereby was done to the Mareschall it was in the ende restored to the Captaine Lisle In fine the Mareschall well weighing howe he was handled how that the instances and importunities which he continued as well by letters as expresse messengers to haue the affaires of Piemont better prouided for brought forth no fruit at all as small credit being yeelded thereunto he besought leaue of his Maiesty that he might come home and kisse his hande especially to declare vnto him the estate of his affaires and to deliuer vp an account of the gouernement which hee had receyued the which his Maiestie graunted for this cause hauing setled all thinges as conuenientlie as he was able hee departed out of Piemont leauing Gonner his brother the Kinges Liuetenant Generall in his absence Being arriued at the Court vnderstanding how some bad impressions had beene put into the Kinges heade as well against him as sundry other Gouernours and Captaines in Piemont he besought his Maiesttie hat he would sende thither to sift out the matters to the ende that hee and they might be punished in case they were founde true and if they were found contrary that the accusers might beare the punishment which the accused should haue deserued to the ende that by this example all false accusers might bee taught Notwithstanding his Maiestie woulde doe nothing saying that hee beleeued no whit at all the accusers that he should speake no more thereof but perseuer wel diligentlie to doe him seruice Let vs leaue the Mareschall at the Courte to looke backe into the olde pursuites which they began to renew against the Lutheranes for expiation of the desastre and misfortune of S. Quentins As the managing of forraine affayres doeth ordinarily breede a carelessenes amonge men at home the great ones bare such an affection to these warres and the Churchmen and iustices turned their eye so far fixed thereon for feare least the euent thereof would giue some shrewde checke to all Fraunce And besides they dispensed by little and little in such sorte with the pursuites of those which had beene accused for the euill opinions which they held of the faith as now a man could not see in all places but an incredible number of Lutheranes to the great disaduantage of the Catholicques notwithstanding any seuere ordinances or rigorous punishment which had beene before made against them There was no speech but of the secrete assemblies which night and day were made in many places and especially in Paris where in the end they discouered one in S. Iacques streete right ouer against the Colledge of Plessis Many saued themselues yet some were slayne in their owne defence and a great number remained there of prisoners of all sexes ages and qualities the women were the vnchoifed beaten and railed at in all sortes Among whom the Ladies Douartie de Rentigny and de Champaigne with mistresse Graueron de Guienne neere S. Foy were prisoners De Grauelles a younge aduocate in Parlement Clinet a schoolemaister renowned for his knowledge and sundry other to the number of sixe score were taken and clapt fast in holde afterwardes these two with Graueron hauing their tongue cut out because they shold not speake were burned together in the place Maubert and a number of other in sundrye other places Certaine daies after Graueron his confiscation was begged and obtayned by the Marquesse of Trans sonne in Lawe to Bertrandie keeper of the great Seale But these Ladies after long detayning were restored to their husbandes cleane contrary to them in religion and the widowe D'ouartie was sent backe to the Queene for this cause sundry Articles were added as then to the former aswell against these assemblies as agaynst bookes brought from Geneua and they began a fresh a newe pursuite agaynst the people giuing out that they assembled by night together and hauing put the candels out each man adressed himselfe to her that liked him best to abuse her at his pleasure Vpon these proceedinges and persecutions about which there grew a great sturre betweene the Liuetenant Ciuile and Criminel of Paris before which of them the cause should bee tryed Musnier being the Ciuill shewed himselfe so sharpe vpon this pursuit as he tooke the matter vpon
that they hasted forwardes the Swizers and Almaines the Frenche Fanterie and Cauallerie to furnishe out the Rende-vous so as within fiueteene dayes they mought make vp the fourme of an Armie yet euen in the very beginning of September it yeelded vp The which was founde very straunge considering that the place was strong and well prouided of all that was necessarie to a Frontire at the least it was looked for that they shoulde haue tarryed the Assaulte An occasion that the King caused him to be clapped vp Prisoner as soone as hee was come to Paris But hee was set at libertie declaring howe hee had beene disappoynted of such necessarie Succoures as hee required of two thousand men in such sorte as D'Estre the Gouernour in former time had vpon any Siege Besides that the enemies hauing founde the Castle without any ditche on that side where they beganne their principall Batterie and a Bastion fallen downe not yet repayred vp in such sorte behaued themselues as that the ordinarie souldiers of the Guarde of that Bastion were soone constrained to abandon it thorough the great quantitie of Bricke and mould which endamaged them and ordinarily fell vpon them the Batterie beeing so violent and furious as in a small space it made a waye for a horse to be able to get vp vpon the Bastion the waye lying all open to come from thence to the breache which albeit it was not altogether sufficient waxed wyder within two volleyes of the Cannon and enlarged it selfe sixe score pace or more the Wall alreadye bowyng and yeelding of the same length and the earth opening a pace in breadth and in deapth the length of a pike Which the Souldiers once perceyuing who were not in the whole nomber three hundred nor halfe of them in health and strength they were so astonished and despayred that notwithstanding any perswasions which the Captaynes coulde vse many stucke not to saye they woulde not fight at all not knowing howe they were able to doe the King any Seruice therein and therefore they thought it better to reserue themselues for some matter of greater importaunce Howesoeuer it was whether grounded or no vpon the feare which they conceaued the Frenche were in least that the Imperialles woulde pursue further their good fortune and duetie against such an inconuenience King Philip to whome the besiegers of the Castelet came to vnite themselues at Fon-Some attended their aunswere of his aduertisement from the Emperour his Father to congratulate with him his prosperitie beseeching him further to commaunde and ordayne what next hee was to enterprise But as a blade rusteth if it be let lie continually within the sheathe so the souldier which is not employed doeth lightly abuse his rest For the Almaines and Spanyardes quickely mutined among themselues for the bootie of Saint Quentins and raunsome of the prisoners which were taken the day of the Battaile some alleadging among other occasions howe that King Philip and the Duke of Sanoye sought to retyane all the great prisoners which exceeded a certayne summe of purpose to pulle them out of the handes of the Almaine Lordes who without all doubte atchieued the greatest honour of the Battayle so farre forth as they were all readie to departe the rather for that the time of their oath was now expired An occasiō the french did turne the matter to their owne aduantage withdrawing out of that nation as many malcontents as they could finde vpon any occasion whatsoeuer Hereupon the Spaniarde addressed himselfe to Han to erect a stronge place vpon the frontiere which might serue for a succour and support to S. Quentins the which hee determined to make impregnable according vnto such models as the enioyners had prescribed vnto him thereby to establish from his lowe countries easie daies iourneyes of retreat when he would either goe in or come out of Fraunce as it shoulde seeme best vnto him Now as vpon new occurrents alwaies proceed new determinations the D. of Neuers being constrained to chaunge the estate and imagination of his defensiue retired his men of warre from sundry garrisons which he had into such places as were neerest vnto Han to the ende that the imperials shoulde not inlarge themselues into any greater a compasse likewise to the ende they might alwaies wast the country before them and famish them by cutting of their victuailes on all sides the french had deuised to make a remouing Campe which for this effect they might enclose and assure with trenches Palissades and other Romane inuentions but the longe delay of their prouisions and soddanes and their enemies cleane broke of this determination The Cheualier Hely with a number of horse entred within the place to succour it running ouer as many enemies as durst stoppe the passages of Han which hee found open without any thinge to commaande it beinge flankerde on the one side with the Riuer of Some and on the other with a Marish being in diuers places aboue one hundred thousande paces broade hauing very little firme or drie grounde to bee able to set foote vpon There is a village and a Castle the village in the state which it was then in was not able to holde out in any kinde of sorte and albeit that there were certaine foundations and fashions of bulwarkes yet they were so open and euill to bee defended as that there was no account at all to bee made thereof The Castle was of a goodly shewe and represented it selfe furious enough according to the olde fortifications beeing in forme square flankerde with fower rounde bulwarkes with a grosse square towre and massiue of a large thicknes seruing for a platforme to the Courtines which were ioyned vnto it and commaundinge in all and through all the Castle But the whole was of drye stones and Masons worke without any rampiers of earth or other fortifications according to the moderne inuentions to sustaine defend a place long time against the blusterousnes and furie of our Cannons Notwithstanding that the way might not bee altogether open and free to the Spaniarde to enter further in if he found not a stoppe Sepois which was Gouernour had giuen the Kinge aduise to burne the towne in case seege were laide vnto it whereby the enemie might haue no place to lodge in But as for the Castle men might holde and keepe it for a fewe dayes whilest that they shoulde bee the better able to fortefie themselues for it was easie to iudge that hauing taken Han hee woulde neuer ende there but passe on further where he might cast himselfe nowe on the right hande and nowe on the lefte and so daylie addresse himselfe to such places as were weake and likely in a shorte time to be caried to the ende he might not lose and euill employ the season which serued so fitte and proper for him I haue let you to vnderstande how that to bee meete with the inconueniences of the battell of Saynte Quentins among other preparatiues the Kinge had sent vnto
euill which was threatned foreseeing the number of Forces which woulde be necessarie for this purpose and howe his Finances beeing drawne drye there woulde rest no meanes of furnishing a paye excepte he were succoured from elsewhere was counselled to renewe the practise of his auncestours to witte to seeke ayde and fauour of his people to whome hee coulde not more commodiously declare his necessitie and perswade them to furnishe out his charge then by calling together the generall Estates of his Realme The which he caused to be done at Paris the sixte of Ianuarie where all the Deputies being assembled in one of the Halles of the Pallace called Saint Lewis hall the Prelates and Ecclesiasticall Ministers arrayed with their rochettes and surplices were placed vpon such seates as on the right and lefte hande were prepared for them and on a stage vpon the right hande high raysed vp were the Baylifes Seneschals and other for the Nobilitie Vpon a benche belowe couered with floure de lices were the Presidents of the Parlamentes At the ende whereof vpon an other lesser forme on the same side sate the Kinges learned Counsell of the Parlament of Paris the two aduocates and proctours of the King In the middle of the rome there stoode a little square table couered with a carpette of cloth of Siluer at which there satte three Secretaries of the commaundementes and two other a little further vpon a lowe forme At the foote of the Kinges chayre of Estate satte the generall Treasourers of the Finances aboue whome and in the fullest place of viewe of the whole Hall were sette two Chayres the higher being couered with purple Veluet pouldred with Flower de Luces Golde being the Kings seate and a pace and a halfe off almost on the same ranke there was another somewhat lower couered with cloth of Golde for Monsieur le D' Auphin his Sonne And on the top hung vp a cloth of estate sutable to the K. Chaire The Prouost of the Marchants of Paris the Sherifes the Deputies of Rouen of Lyons of Tolouse and consequently of the rest of the Townes were ranged on the Bishops side where there was greatest roome Anon after ariued the Knights hauing their great order about their necke To wit the D. of Neuers the Prince de la Roche Surâ—yon the Comte de Sancerre Durf and de Bordillon who mounted vp on the right hand aboue all the Nobilitie hard by the D. of Lorraine and the rest of the young Princes By and by came the K. and Monsieur le D'Auphin his Sonne accompanied with the Cardinals of Lorraine of Bourban of Guise of Castillon and of Sens. The Kinge being set Monsieur le D'Auphin and the rest of the Cardinalles sat downe on the same side Vpon this the King began to deliuer how since his comming to the Crowne he had had continuall war with the Englishmen Bourguignons auncient enemies of Fraunce Into which warre hee was constrained to enter for the recouerie of such Frontire places as his enemies had vsurped as Boulonnois and the rest and howe that to furnish the defraying of the same hee had beene constrayned to sell his owne Domaine and afterwardes impose manie Subsidies vppon his people wherewith to his great greefe they stoode sore oppressed That for the regarde and consideration of them hee had offered to obtaine place albeit it was at verie preiudiciall conditions for himselfe but onely hee was mooued thereunto for the singular desire which hee had to keepe his people in a peaceable estate whome hee had alwaies founde most faithfull and enclineable to his obedience and seruice And for so much as hee stoode aduertised that his said enemies were in a farre greater deliberation then euer to enterprise and assaile the Realme of Fraunce hee reposed all his whole trust after God in the fidelitie and succours of his saide Subiectes and therefore hee purposed to make a strong great and extreame warre thereby to recouer a good peace as of meere necessitie being compelled thereunto But for so much as money is the principall sinew of warre he earnestly besought euerie one of the states that they would now succour him to resist the enemie and that afterwards hee would employ all his endeuour to attaine and preserue his Subiectes in tranquillitie Promising in the fayth of a good Kinge and Prince that hee woulde from thence forwarde so graciously vse them and settle all thinges in such an order as euerie man shoulde haue occasion to contente himselfe and that for pledge of his good will and affection hee choose to make this promise in publicque and in his Sonnes presence to the ende that both of them might thereby bee comprehended and bound to the performance of the same The Kinge hauing finished his speech the Cardinall of Lorraine holding the first place and speaking for the estate of the Church beganne a most learned speeche and Oration and grauelye pronounced which lasted the spade of an hower as well in the prayse of the Kinge as yeelding vnto him thankes for his good will and promise Concluding that they woulde all submit theyr bodies and goodes to his will and good pleasure The Duke of Neuers speaking for the Nobilitie in fewe wordes sayde that they were so affectionated to his seruice and the Realmes defence as that they presented vnto the Kinge not onely theyr bodies and goodes but also their liues Afterwardes Sainte Andre first President of Paris answering vpon his knees in the behalfe of the law and all the presidents of the rest of the Parliaments of Fraunce first thanked the King for the good and honour which it had pleased his Maiestie to do them in erecting a fourth estate of the Lawe and also to manifest vnto his Subiectes his good will and affection with sundrie other speeches and thankes giuings tending to the prayse of his greatnesse and of his promise in that hee woulde so couragiously maintaine warre by repelling of the enemie to attayne a long and perpetuall peace for his Subiectes and afterwardes to redresse all thinges into theyr order to the repose and contentment of euerye one offering on the behalfe of that estate not onelye the goodes but the verie bodyes of the officers of Courtes for the last estate of the commons and Deputies of Townes Du Mortier stepped vpp and hauing made three great reuerences hee most humbly thanked the Kinge for the good will which hee beare vnto his Subiectes in seeking to preserue them in peace after resistaunce of the enemie especiallye hee approoued and greatlie praysed the good desire which hee had to settle Fraunce agayne in good order which had suffered manie disorders thorough the necessitie of warres which notwithstanding albeit that the poore people were alreadye weakened and waxen feeble in theyr power yet woulde it rather let it selfe bloude that after hauing exposed vnto him their bodies and goodes they might likewise sacrifice theyr liues for the defence of the Realme After that all the Deputies had
beginning of the cawsie which leadeth to Pont de Nieullay he caused it to be assaulted by two thousand Harquebusiers chosen men seconded with thirtie horse with so great a furie as hauing put backe an Ensigne of those which kept it comming out to the skirmish by fauour of the Cannon and of the Marish which was couered ouer with a three-score horse hee caused them all in the end to abandon it and retire themselues to the great forte of Nieullay The which at the first bound greatly astonied the English men for they expected nothing lesse then such an encounter and no waies the French forts to bee either so great or so neere at hand And contrariwise this victorie at the first augmented the others courage and put them in a great hope of attaining their principall end when as they perceiued their enemies at the first entrie not to be able to withstand them At the same instant albeit it grew alreadie verie late the generall and de Termes went to view the port of Nieuillay and presently were the approches and trenches begon into which as soone as the Artillerie was brought it was planted with all possible diligence to begin the batterie as soone as day would appeare And for that all the fruite which they hoped of this effect did require a great promptnesse to the ende the besieged might grow astonished without any leasure to looke into themselues and to put them cleane out of hope of looking for any succour at the same time this Prince caused a parte of his armie and Artillerie to march on the left hand all along the Downes to occupie them and gaine an other forte which lyeth at the pointe of the Downes called Ricebanke the which commaunded and helde all the hauen subiecte so as no vessell of the enemie coulde enter in Likewise it was verie necessarie for the obtaining of the Towne of Calais after to sease at one blow vpon the fortes which kept the two passages whereof that Nieullay kept and defended all the causies and passages by land part of them being Mareshie to the end the Flemings might be cut off from succoring them And the other which is called Ricebank being taken woulde keepe anie succours from landing which might be sent out of England this hauen of Calais which Casar called Iccius Portus being distant from the first hauen of England which is called Douer but fiue leagues off the Seas able to bee passed ouer with a leading gale in two howers Therefore the Duke of Guise hauing all the night together with the D. D'aumalle his brother the Marshall Strossy De Termes D'Estre great master of the Artillerie De Sansac De Tauannes De Dandelot and De Senarpont reuisited and well viewed the Downes approched yet neerer to the forte of Ricebanke and all at one instant the Sea being verie low ebbed hee caused the young Alegre and an other Gentleman to bee conducted by Rendan vnto a certaine place of the porte where hee knew there was a passage for to sound it As it was done and speedily dispatched it was resolued among all the Captaines to batter and assaile these two forts together at one time In which Destree trauailed so diligently and caused the Vastadours and Cannoniers to take so extreame paines as on the next morrow being the fourth of the month his Artillerie was readie planted three howers before day against these two places and as soone as day peeped beganne to turne against the Englishmen The which amased in such sorte those which were besieged within the fort of Nieullay as at the second vollie they quitted the place and in all hast retired themselues within the Towne The Duke of Guise hauing in this sorte made the first passage open caused the French incontinentlie to enter and be lodged within where he found a great deale of Artillerie poulder and munition Afterwards to stop all other succour which might by land be brought vnto the towne he caused twentie Ensignes of the French Fanterie the Almanes of the Reingraue with eight hundred Reisters and two hundred men at armes vnder the conduct of the Prince de la Roche-sur-yon to bee lodged betweene the Towne and the Marish behinde the causees Leauing besides De Termes with other companies of Cauallerie Gendarmerie and Zuizers vpon the passage from Guines to the Downes whether this Prince with the rest of the armie went to encampe An hower after the taking of the fort of Nieullay they which were within the forte of Ricebanke yeelded themselues vnto the discretion of the Generall of whome they were verie courteouslie entreated And thus this Prince remained seased and possessed in one day of two principall places which were of so great importance vnto him and most necessarie for to enioy his ful victorie with all Wherfore pursuing at hand the occasion which so fauourably with open armes presented it selfe vnto him the fourth of that moneth he caused six Cannons and three long Culuerines to bee mounted before the water Gate and to breake the flankers and defences he caused the earth to bee remooued and filled vp baskets and Gabiannades therewith as if hee had intended to addresse his principall batterie in that place hauing with sundrie volleyes of the Cannon disarmed that port broken and rent a sunder certaine towers which might hinder him from going to the breach which he determined to goe in hand withall Holding thus them which were besieged in doubt which part they were best to defend to prouide for without doubting any whit at all of the Castle which was steepe drie and without any Rampires where all at a blow he planted fifteene Cannons in batterie charging and discharging all the day long a tempest of Artillerie with so great a furie as towards the night the breach grew verie large and apparant So as at the same instant before it grew night the D. of Guise caused D' Andelot Colonel of the Fanterie to passe with two hundred Harquebusiers and Corcelets followed with a number of Gentlemen and goe ioyne and fortefie himselfe all along the Kaye and breadth of the porte which was betweene the Downes and the Towne whether for to come he must necessarily passe ouer a little water ordaining further that as soone as euer he should become master therof euery man should be made worke to digge vp a trench and trauerse with such instruments as he had caused to be giuen to all the Souldiers the which might trauerse and answere to the Doue wall of the Dich in that place which they ment afterwards to breake vp wherby all the waters of the diches might sue into the porte and they likewise might goe in couert from the port vnto the diches Besides the courage which greatly conducted the worke of the French the commoditie to haue euerie thing readie and at hand helped them verie much for they had so long before artificiously prouided all matters necessarie for this siege as especially to cause the men
Guines were taken by the Englishmen notwithstanding the truce which then was by the conspiracie treason of one named Gilliaume de Beau Couroy Lieutennant to the Captaine of that place who for this cause was beheaded and afterwards hanged Now there rested no more of the whole countie of Doye but a little Castle called Hames which was not restored into the Kings obedience And for that this Castle albeit that it was little and not rampired nor fortefied by any art was notwithstanding naturally seated in so strong as it were vnaccessible a situation as being enuironed with Fleetes Motes and Maresches hauing but a verie narrow cawsie to passe ouer into it and that in manie places crossed with wooden Bridges broken and taken awaie it was almost impregnable to bee gotten from men well furnished and resolute they were in a great doubt after what manner they might besiege it In the meane time Sipierre to whome the keeping of this cawsie was committed hauing the Duke of Lorranes companie whereof hee was Lieutennant and some other aduertised the D. of Guise that they which were within Hames being frighted and dismaied at the taking of Guines had abandoned it and were fled away by night thorough certaine by-pathes which they onely were acquainted with all in the Maresches And so it fel out verie easie to be seased where they found much Artillerie and prouisions Afterwards the French remained in all and thorough all masters and there was neither forte nor Castle which was not yeelded vnto them or abandoned so that besides the Countrie which the Duke of Guise conquered ouer the Englishmen and the rich booties which were found therin and taken there were gained neere hand three hundred peeces of Brasse artillerie all mounted vpon cariages and as many of yron After this the King hauing kept his bed of iustice with the Dauphin and the rest at the Parliament of Paris and caused a number of Ordonances concerning his owne estate to bee proclaimed visited Calais with the King Dauphin leauing there De Termes as gouernour with charge to perfite the fortifications such as you see them at this daye Afterwardes the rygor of the winter enforced him then to dismisse his armie for to refreshe themselues all sauing such troupes as hee distributed into Garrisons where hee thought most neede resoluing to redresse a newe armie at the spring There was the charge of the light horse bestowed vppon the Duke de Nemours at the instance of the Duke of Guise whome he caused to bee preferred before the Prince of Conde who at the same time and before had demaunded this charge whereupon he grew verie malcontente then the King went to Fontaine Bleau whether Anthonie de Bourbon Duke of Vendomis and as then King of Nauarre thorough the decease of the King his late Father in lawe came vnto him shewing himselfe besides much offended with the D. of Nemours by reason of the Damoiselle de Rohan cousin Germaine to the Q. of Nauarre who maintained that he had promised to marrie her and vppon that sued him in the Arches The D. of Neuers being tickled with the good hap which accompanied the Duke of Guise gaue the Rende-uous at Yuoy to all such troupes as hee was able to assemble together within his gouernment wher hauing let them all to vnderstand how that there was no place more enemie nor of greater importance thē the Castle of Herbemont in being the principal place wher all the enemies bandes assembled together and retired from their enterprises hee resolued to carrie it away Therefore hauing caused it that night to be enclosed round with the light horse the next morning the armie lay encamped ready to batter the place after they had well viewed it thorough hot skirmishes vnder the fauour wherof they had gained as farre as the Courte and quickely after was mounted and planted a part of the artillerie to batter downe with Cannon out of the flankers of the Castle But when they perceiued how little they preuailed thereby by reason of the hard and bad situation thereof they planted the Cannon right in front and at the head to batter a bulwarke which couered and defended the onely passage and entrance vnto it which they shot off so furiously and bestirred themselues so well in so short a space albeit that the breach was not sufficient to giue the assaulte to as the desired parlie vpon some conditions But being deceiued in his demaunds and a short answere being made him by this Prince how that he should speake of no other cōposition then yeeld to his mercy otherwise that if he made not good hast he should instantly bee cut in peeces with all his albeit that hee was nothing so neere daunger as the faintnesse of his heart imagined trusting in the bountie of this Prince he notwithstanding yeeld himselfe vnto his mercy of which at the entreatie of Iametz he found experience the D. of Neuers vsing such sweetnes as to send him away with his wife and family and generally all the rest of the souldiers which were within their liues goods saued without being any waies pilled or ransomed This done the Prince sent a number of light horse and Harquebusiers on horse backe to view the ports of Iamoigne Chigny Rossignol and Villemont part whereof they found already abandoned and the rest yeelded at the first summons They were determined to haue gone yet further forwards and to haue giuen as far as Neufchastel in Ardaines But the raynes snowes and great frostes broke off their desseins Now the only taking of this Castle of Hebermont ought not to be placed among the least for besides that it is naturally strong and easie to bee made inexpugnable as being situate vpon a high and hard rocke on all parts vnaccessible sauing by this passage by which it was battered yet is it most proper conuenient for the assuring of the whole passages of the Ardenes all the Champion ouer and seconding the strong Castle of Bouillon to hold in awe all the fortes of the long forrests of Ardenes it appertaineth to the comte Bilisten and the Rochefort to the keeping whereof was appointed the Captaine de la Croix Lieutenant to Haute-Courte FINIS FOR THOV SHALT LABOR PEAC◠PLENTIE LONDON Printed by Iohn VVindet dwelling at Powles Wharfe at the signe of the Crosse Keyes and are there to be soulde 1595. The state of Fraunce and countries adioyning from the yeere 1544. The beginning of wars and miseries among christians Warres begun between the French and Spanish The nature of Charles 5. The nature of Frauncis 1. Paul 3. dieth Iuly 3. chosen Pope The meanes which Charls the Emperour vsed to get Parma The King of Fraunce taketh Octauian Farneze Parma into his protection Religion well maintained preserueth all estates Pope Paul seeketh to retaine Octauian Farneze Paul de Termes with the Pope in the French Kings behalfe The French king tearmeth the Counsell of Trent but
K. in Piemont The K. Letter in behalfe of the Vaudois Confession of the Vaudois faith The proceedings vsed in the proces of them of Merindol The war lie exploit of Minier vpon the execution of arrest The princes of Germany write to the King of Fraunce in fauour of such of his subiects as were persecuted This touch at the poynt of death leaueth neither King not subiect vnsought without any respect an especiall warning to all princes Guerin hanged at paris The voiage of the army of Henry King of Fraunce for the succour of the protestant princes of Germany against the Emperour Charles the fifth Priuiledges of Metz debated Metz Toulh Verdun Nancy c. taken by the French Priuiledges of the townes maintained The armie of Fraunce represented in the fielde and first the Fanterie The men at armes and light Caualierie Light Caualerie Harquebusiers mounted Englishmen The K. army before Metz. The K. entry into Metz and priueledges graunted to the towne The K. aprocheth to Strasbourg The K demaund to them of Strasbourg Strasbourg leuieth men fortifieth it selfe by the eâ—â—mple of Metz. The Princes deputies sent to the King The Germanes beâ—â—â—â—h the K. not to enter Germany but retire The K. answer to the Deputies The exploits of Maurices army vpon the Emperors troupes The princes gaine the straites of the mountaines The defeating of the Emperors people Sedition in Maurices Campe. The Emperour flyeth The D. of Saxe deliuered out of prison but followeth the Emperour throughout Germany Ministers and Schoolemasters restored by the Protestant princes in Germany Maurice his complaint against the Emperour The French Embassadors oration The confederate Princes answere to the French Embassadour Familie of Luxembourg Albert of Austria The Q. of Hungary causeth the K. army to returne The Imperials army in Luxembourg The K. armie aduanceth forward What place the army was first to attempt Roc de Mars besieged battred taken sacked by the French Deanuille represented besieged battred and rendred to the K. discretion· The K. entry into Verdun The Prince of Salerne quitting the Emperour commeth to the King Yuoy and his representation siege batterie and yeelding vp to the K. The Gouernour of a place his dutie Mommedy yeelded vp The first conquest of Luxembourg De Anâ—ille Yuoy The Marshall of Sedan heire to the house of La March vndertaketh the conquest of the duchie of Bouillon A wile to make ones troupes seeme greater and astonish the enemy Cimetz battered taken sacked and burned by the French The principall demaunds of Maurice The French Embassadours answere to the Commissiones for peace Peace throughout Germany and the occasions thereof The Emperour perswadeth the Protestant princes and other to succour him against the K. of Fraunce for the recouerye of Metz Thoul and Verdun The Emperours army against the K. of France for the recouery of Metz Thoul and Verdun Albert of Brandebourg why not comprehended in the peace and banished the Empire with the exploites of his malcontent armie The answere of Marquesse Albert to the B. of Bayonne and his behauiour against the K. and Emperour and their reciprocallie towards him The behauiour of Marquesse Albert of Brandebourg towards the D. of Guise gouernour of Metz and his towards the Marquesse his armie The French armie assembled with all diligeÌ„ce at S. Michael a little towne of Lorraine The imperiall army at Deuxponts scattered ouer the Country of Vaulges The Marques Alberts armie verie dissolute about Pont Camouson The last answers or resolution of the marques to the French and the behauiour of his armie Colonel Reif-berg with a regiment of the marques Alberts retireth himself to the kings seruicâ— The Marques demandeth pasport to returne The D. of Aumal appointed to accompanie the Marques Aduice counsell among the Emperors Captaines if they ought to besiege Metz at that time of the yere Vireton surprised and besieged through the secret and great diligence of the D. of Neuers Vireton rendred vp to the discretion and mercy of the D. of Neuers The Imperial armie approcheth within 7. or 8 leagues of Metz. The D. of Alua and Marquesse of Marignan came to descry Metz. The D. of Aumales aduertisemeÌ„t to the K. vpon the determination of the Marquesse of Brandebourg The D. de Aumales trumpeter staied by the Marquesse Albert. The couragious perswasions of the Marquesse to make his people to fight The D. de Aumelle and the French charged vpon fiercely The D. companies put to flight by the Marquesse The D. de Aumelle sore hurt taken Prisoner Death of Vicecount Rohan The Castle of Clermont in Argonne surprised by Chastillon Du Reux with the imperiall army would faine surprise La Fere in Picardie Hedin besieged by Du Reux Hedin yeelded to the Emperour by de Rasse Admirall de Anebaut dieth at La Fere. The D. of Grise assured within Metz. The distribution of the Imperiall army about Metz. The D of Ne-Lieutenant generall ouer all the K. forces in Loraine Chastillon being made Admirall of France bringeth all the K. army from out of Picardy toward Hedin The D. of Neuers his companies make roads to cut off victualles from the enemies The Italians of the Emperours campe repaired to the Duke of Neuers to be intertained in the kings seruice The castle of Hedin yelded vp by de Reux his son to the D. of Vendosme for the king The D. of Neuers at Vaucoâ—leuâ—s to stop such victuals as came from the French countie to the Emperors camp his courses to anoy the imperials A guile to passe amidst ones enemies without danger The Emperours battery at Metz. Mines begun to be made by the imperials before Metz to make a breach The Emperour vpon the point to retire from Metz. Retreat of the imperiall armie before Metz. * There were aboue seuen thousand men put into Abbies by the D. of Guise and releeued as ofteÌ„ hath ben reported vnto me the Translator by the most renowmed Lord C. H. L. high Admirall of England who himselfe saw all remained in the towne all the siege and serued the daie that the Duke of Aumall gaue battell to the Marques narowly escaping being of the suit of the Vidasme of Chartres in al those warres Sallies skirmimishes between the soldiers with in Metz. Marques Alberts campe Thankesgiuings to God by the French for the siege raised at Metz. A furious assault to Terroane by the Fleminges Hanuiers helde out by the French A stratageme of the Captaines Breuill Saint Romain Terroane surprised â—ppon the tearmes of composition The crueltie of the Germanes Burgonians at the taking of Terroane The principall prisoners taken within Terroane The humanitie of the Spaniards towardes the French soldiers Soliman the great Turke causeth his sonne to be slaine Religion lightlâ— a colour for anie villanie Teroene razed to the foundation by the Emperours commandement The D. of Bouillon within Hedin Lieutenant for the King Great diligence vsed by the imperials to besiege Hedin Hedin besieged
Seigneurie of Basle vpon the bodie and goods of Dauid George and of the followers of his faith and religion The speech which Charles of Austria vsed to the Embassadors resiante about his person when as he lefte Flaunders to retourne into Spayne there to finish his dayes The meanes which the K. vsed to make the D. of Guises armie to passe into Italy to the succour of the Pope The breach of Truce begun by the assayling of Valence in the Dutchie of Milan The order which the Mareschal Brissac gaue in Piemont Enterprise of Milan What successe the French armies haue had in Italie especially in the conquest of the Realme of Naples Warre begunne in Fraunce against the Truce The Admirall breaketh the Truce in Fraunce D. of Ferrara at Venise and why Corregge taken by the Spaniards vpon the D. of Ferrara The French army in Italie D. of Alua in the Kingdome of Naples Ciuitelle rescued from the French The Pope retaineth the d. of Guise Peace negotiated and by whom Articles of peace between the Pope and the Spaniard The desseines old preparations of king Phillip Dessignes and preparations of king Henrie Roc Roy and his representation K. Phillips armie K. Henries armie The aduauntages which the Spaniards Flemings had ouer the French S. Quentin enuironed rounde before that the Frenche once thought thereof and lesse prouided for it Gaspard Coligny Admirall and Gouernour of Piccardie getteth into S. Quentin Howe a sallie ought to be made vpon the enemie Gunpowder Meanes to sende succours to the besieged and howe to be better assured Englishmen ioyned to K. Philips Armie The Prince of Pimont resalueth to charge to hinder the rest from entring in or to breake the Frenche Armie The occasion of the charge giuing The defeate and route of the Frenche at S. Quentins Frenchmē dead prisoners and escaped from the battayle of S. Quentins The Duke of Neuers Chiefe of such as escaped reassembleth the rest of the battaile and howe he prouided for the whole Paris scareth the comming of K. Philip no lesse then afore time his fathers Charles the Emperour The K. demaundeth succour of the Parissians The meanes which the K. of Fraunce vsed for his better assurance after the battaile of S. Quentin The Englishe which serued K. Henry gained by those of Philips side leaue their Captaine and flye Defeate of S. Quentins De Termes and De Anuille The K. meanes to drawe out of the Cleargies Nobilities reuennewes The Swizers goe out of Piemont The Vidasme of Chartres carieth 2000. Fantassins into Fraunce Death of Salueson Francisque Bernardin Gouernour of Casal Salueson gentleman of the Chamber The credit of a Gouernour is impared among his owne except it appeare somewhat about his soueraigne Pauan Baron of Adrek Bouual de parte The D. of Alua commeth in Piemont with his armie The Mareshal 〈◊〉 content Money leuied vpon Piemont The D. of Alua his armie at Gennes Captaine Lisle The Mareschall Brissac going out of Piemōt leueth Gonner his brother Liuetenant generall Assemblie of Lutherans discouered in S Iacques street in Paris Lutherans punished Ordinances against the Lutheranes Persecution of the Lutheranes K. Philip commeth for his Armie after the battayle The 22. of August the Spanyardes beganne their great Batterie at S. Quentins The great aduantages of the Spaniardes and small means which the Frenche had to endure the siege The Towne of S Quentins very riche and full of great booties Meanes of well employing an Armie Description of the situation of Han. The Duke of Guises departure The Duke of Guise made Liuetenant Generall by the K. ouer all his countries K. H. 2. letters to the Constable being prisoner Signes serue for admonitions from God Ruines caused at Rome by the floode Description of the floude at Florence Flood at Nismes in Languedoc Han battered taken by King Philip. Noyon surprised by disguising of rayments The diligence of the D. of Neuers at Compienne The meanes which the K. vsed to leuie an Armie against the Spanyard The generall Estates of France assembled by the K. to declare vnto them his necessities and seeke succour against Spayne at their handes The K. declaration to the estates of his Realme The port of Nieullay taken from the Englishmen and how The forte of Ricebank rendred vp to the Duke of Guise The port o◠Calais occupied by D' Andelot and his French companies Instruments by art inuented fo◠the siege of Calais Description of the Towne of Calais Guines Gr. line as it were two souldier support Cala◠Guines besieged the 13. of Ianuarie Mondragon a Spanniarde Hamas Castle abandoned The K. in his parliament at Paris The K. armie dismissed Madamoiselle de Rohan D. of Neuers The Castle of Hebermont yeelded
thousand footmen and fiue hundred chosen horse manie Sienois following him whose going foorth was no lesse concealed from the Imperials then their entrance in Afterwardes hauing giuen Moriane a place appertaining to the Luguois for rendeuons vnto his armie which was to come out of Lombardie he ouerranne diuers places of the Flourentines He tooke Montalcin and Montcarles which he fortefied to the great astonishment of the Duke of Flourence who fearing to loose his owne while hee sought for an others caused the Marquesse to retire from the siege to defend the Countrie of Flourence because that Strossi his forces were ioyned vnto him Then the Marquesse finding him selfe not to bee strong enough put himselfe within Pescia there to attende the succours which Camille Colone and Iohn de Lunes were to bring vnto him Strossi was determined to charge him vppon the suddaine but hee retyred to Seraual and Pistoye with such disorder as it gaue occasion to manie to wish that there had beene a better iudgement in Strossi then hee had so faire meanes of hot pursuite beeing offered vnto him whereby hee might cleane haue taken awaie such an enemie out of Tuscane but Strossi saide hee did it to gratifie the souldiers which were wearie and tyred with the long march which they had made In the ende the Imperial armie growing stronger and the succours out of France not being come vnto him hee was faine to quitte the fielde and retyre himselfe into Siene In the meane time Leon the Brother of Pierre Strossi tooke certayne shippes of Genoway laden with Corne into which hauing put a number of souldiers hee ouerranne the coast of Tuscane and scouring the portes alongst the Fourentine Seas after manie harmes which hee had made them to endure he came and Ankered before Scarlin a small Towne and without renowne which while hee was viewing for the skaling of it hee dyed of an Harquebuse shot which perced his heade Whereuppon his Brother beeing greatlie passioned caused the siege to bee continued whether the succours of Fraunce came vnto him beeing conducted by Monluc Then hauing vnited together his forces hee made vp his armye of sixe thousand Italians two thousand Gascons as manye Zuizers two thousand fiue hundred Almanes and one thousande horse as well light as of the Ordinance with which leauing Monluc in Siene hee beesieged and battered Ciuitelle a little Towne of the Flowrentines which the Marquesse went to defende esteeming it a place of consequence in a fertile soyle and seruing as a porte and Bulwarke to the Dukes Countries Hee was there so secretelye and with such speede as hee defeated and astonyed manye of the Kinges parte but Strossi repulsed him in such a sorte as besides a great number of them were taken and the rest of them were slaine the garde pryor of Lomberdie and Marie de Saint Flour and sundry other of the Marquesse side remained there captiues Strossi in the meane time beeing enforced to discampe seeing that there was no possibilitye of carrying awaye the place by reason of the Marquesse his neighbourhoode addressed himselfe to Foyanbelle a strong and rich place which Carlot Vrsin helde who sent the Marquisse worde that hee was able to defend it but three dayes without succours But the assaulte was such vppon the verye first daye as Carlot and all his souldiours were put to the edge of the sworde and the place to fire and bloode Heereupon the Marquisse beeing approched the two armies passed certaine dayes in continualle skirmishes fauourable sometime to the one and sometimes to the other partie And for that the French Artillerie greatlie annoyed the Imperials who daye by day yeelded themselues vnto Strossi the rest were retained by offer of a larger pay especially the King partie if they woulde retire which some did and had beene followed by sundry other had not Strossi playde a Counter knacke in presenting more pay and fauour then the Marquisse But drawing towardes Montpulcian a number of Italians abandoned him which greatly encouraged the Marquisse to charge him in this aduantage which the better to auoide Strossi purposing to retire himselfe by the mountaines sent his Artillerie before for feare of loosing of it thinking thorough the fauour of the mountaines and ryuers bordering about to retarde the pursuite of the Marquisse Who notwithstanding pressed him so neere as hauing stayed him betweene Martian Lusignen and Foyan Royall Citties well beaten with the Artillerie and the Captaine Bighet an Italian carrying Strossi his Colonell being followed by manye others Strossi was in the ende constrained to turne his backe And albeit that the Gascons and Zuizers stoode well vnto it yet their rashnesse in going out of their forte to set vpon the Spanniards and Flourentines was no lesse damageable then the cowardlinesse of those which ranne awaie for the Cauallerie turning head against them they were all cut in peeces The Colonels of the Zuizers and Almanes Clermont Monbazon the Captaines Blaise Iean de Ville François de Record Agapite Tody and other to the number of three thousand and more then fiue hundred prisonners remained there the second daye of August 1554. The reporte whereof was brought vnto the Kinge before Renti to abate the ioye of his so fauourable a reencounter against the Emperour beeing himselfe in person thorough the sorrowfull newes of so pittiefull a defeate Manye which were hurt and sundrye other retyred themselues to Sienne there to attend such euent as the Imperialles shoulde bring thether Strossi and Aurele Fregose abandoning Foyan gayned Montalcin whether Bighet beeing come and the Earle of Elfe who had cowardly yeelded vp Lusignen a strong place and furnished withall necessaries they both had theyr heads stroken off The Marquisse in the meane time hauing taken almost all the little places about Siene encamped beefore the cheefe Cittie resolued as hee assured the Emperour by his letters not to depart thence before it shoulde bee yeelded during which siege the Turkes came into Corse to the succour of the French especiallye at the siege of Caluy and Boniface Afterwardes they returned pilling all the coast of Italie to besiege Piombin and and the Ile of Elbe which appertained to the Duke of Flourence Passing on further they dyd infinite mischeefes in the kingdome of Naples Sicilie and Calabria from whence they returned riche into Constantinople without anye mannes seeking to hinder them so great was the reciprocall hatred beetweene these Christian Princes that they choose rather to ruyne themselues then agreeing them altogether to make warre to the profite and honour of all Christendome Now albeit that the endeuours of the Marquisse and the solicitations of the Flourentine by letters together with scarcitie of victuals were very great occasions to mooue the Towne to yeelde yet Monluc resolued vppon the pointe of honour and the Sienois for the defence of theyr libertie ceased not for all that to make verie faire salies vpon the Imperiall campe An occasion that they battered it the more
places Nowe albeit there was no talke of any warre in Fraunce but onely by murmurs and particular presages more then any publique declarations many presumed that the warre of Italie woulde giue a beginning to that of Fraunce yet the bruite being giuen out howe the Arthois and Henaute Garrisons were reenforced to make a checke vpon some of the Frontiers the Admirall Gouernour of Picardie thinking to playe with the cunningest meant to preuent them and first of all himselfe to breake the Truce in Picardie In such sorte as about the beginning of Ianuarie 1557. hauing ambushte himselfe neare Douay hee had entred in in the night while the most parte of the Garrison was droncke with drinking and crying the king drinkes had not an olde woman by her long and lowde cryinges out of Arme Arme the Frenche giuen in the ende the Alarme thorough out hauing soone ynough discouered some indiscreete persons among the formost of the French But being retourned to Lans in Arthois and entered within he suffered it to be so pilled as the Imperialles for a long time reproached those cruelties to the Frenche besides that they alleadged the taking thereof among the first occasions of the breache of Truce You see then on this and that side the Spanyarde and Frenche disposed to warre seeking all meanes to ruyne them selues more furiously then euer Nowe for that the broyles in Piemont as the first seeme to mee more remarkeable Iointe that certaine monethes passed ouer in Fraunce and the Countries bordering about in the preparations of a future warre without any other more notable effectes then aboue rehearsed I will remember againe the Mareschall Brissac to shewe you howe hauing taken the Imperialles at vnawares he pursued the poynte of his aduauntages After the departure of the Duke of Guise and his armie the Mareschall gaue himselfe to fortifie and munition Valence with all that was necessarie abiding notwithstanding a certaine time in Lomline to holde the Generall of the Imperialles in suspence of his disseins And had vndertaken matters of greater importaunce had money beene in his handes to contente his people and furnishe out such thinges as were needefull for him But for want thereof resolued to retire himselfe and keepe his aduantages hee furnished Casal Montcalue Valence and Santia each of them with ten Enseignes of Fanterie and some Cauallerie against the enterprises of the Marquesse whose Forces grewe greater to the diminution of the French for the occasions abouesayde And albeit that the want of money and the cutting off alreadie made by the King of certaine Companies of Piemont as well in nomber as in paye were sufficient occasions to hinder the Estate of his affayres in that Countrey he sente vnto the Mareschall notwithstanding about the ende of Februarie that in any sorte soeuer hee shoulde not meddle with the dead payes And that euery moneth he shoulde send him an accounte to the ende he mought assigne warrant for money to the Treasourer of the extraordinarie without any whitte regarding howe nothing hauing bene sente for the artillerie carriages Pioners munitions commissaries and matters vnlooked for the Mareschall saide hee was fayne to helpe himselfe with those dead paies So as founding vpon such defaults the smal aduancement which he made in Piemont seeing how he preached to a deafe eare hee besought but in vaine his Maiestie about the moneth of May to sende some Gentleman vnto him to controle his actions to the ende that no euill mought bee presumed of him This notwithstanding albeit that hee durste not muster his armie for feare of mutinies thorough wante of paye and that he was resolued not to remayne ydle hee employed his credite to recouer a summe of money to make a loane vnto the companyes of Fanterie attending the Kinges money And hauing thus made them to goe into the fielde hee ledde them for the execution of the Counsell to batter and take in parley the 22. of Aprill Valeserniere notwithstanding the great and continuall raynes all the while that the siege endured A Towne which wasted all Piemont and scowred the way from Ast to Cony Queras and Emerast and Queras being with the selfe same furie besieged battered and suddainely assayled was taken by force the 29. of Aprill the fourth day of the siege Whereupon to encrease this fire of good will and make the poore souldier to liue more vpon the expence of the enemie then of the allie the siege of Cony was resolued vpon and begonne in the same moneth Whether the K. sent money which very little exceeded the only pay of the Zwizers The Mareschall notwithstanding appointed mustars to be taken of the French and Italian Fanterie But as soone as the souldiers knewe that they woulde giue but a crowne a piece to a man and that by the handes of the Treasourer the souldiers were not slacke to mutinie and goe away in great Troupes considering their long seruices which had neuer beene acknowledged and the newe fashion of paying them by other mens hands then their Captaines who shewing themselues no lesse grieued and resting the beholders of such insolencies without stirring to punish any they made the Mareschal goe himselfe to procure them to returne backe and assure them that the money should be deliuered vnto their Captaines to distribute as they were accustomed And albeit that so little money did not much content them yet the siege was continued In which the Mareschall seeing that the batterie wrought no great effecte and yet they which were besieged shewed a countenaunce as if they woulde yeelde if they were lustily pursued it was agreed that a myne shoulde bee made right against the Batterie Wherein they wrought long with daunger and difficultie notwithstanding But in in the ende being finished well closed and sealed vp the fire put and the assaulte giuen by the ruyne which it had lefte the order established for the assaulte was so euill kepte and besides the Souldiars wente so slackely to worke as the Maister of the Campe being slayne and a nomber of Gentlemen and Souldiers who were the first which aduaunced formost being dead on the earth and the rest beaten backe with the hurte of many gallaunt men the euente shewed howe of an armie euill satisfied full of Captaynes and Souldiers discontented and disobedient no other successe ought to be hoped for then vnfortunate In the meane time the Mareschall sente to declare vnto the King together with the necessities of his armie and the feare least all woulde turne to ruyne for him the instance which the Duke of Ferrara made to cause the French armie to approache to the Dutchie of Milan to the ende to helpe it with his forces and disseins and likewise the impossibilitie of beeing able to satisfie it without paying at least the Fanterie Not long after the Mareschall hauing receyued newes howe the Marquesse of Pescare was ariued at Fossan with some forces in intention to approch neare Cony to fauour them within or assaye