the kings griefe for she was a most wise and vertuous Ladie The Imperials hauing chaced the French armie cleane out of the Duchie of Milan as before you haue heard but knowing the kings magnanimitie to bee such that hee would not faile to attempt the recouery therof determined to inuade him first in his owne Countrey thereby to cause him to attend to the defence of his owne Realme to stay him from trobling the Emperour on the other side of the mountains Wherefore the Duke of Bourbon with a mightie armie entered into Prouince promising the Emperour to worke wonders there for his seruice and besieged Marseilles But the king in person with a great armie came to succour the towne wherevpon Bourbon for all his great bragges and the Imperials were forced to leuic their siege and in great hast retired to Milan whether the king with his whole armie folowed them soone recouered Milan and in a manner the whole countrie except Pauia before the which he went and layde his siege Wherevpon the Pope entered into league with him and the Swyssers who the last yeare had traiterously refused to ioyne with the Admirall Boniuets armie and had abandoned the French as before you haue heard returned to the kings seruice againe But while the king lay beefore the siege of Pauia and had brought it to extreame necessitie Bourbon went into Germanie and brought with him 6000. footemen and 2000. horse Farther 6000. Rhetians being corrupted by the Imperials abandoned the kings campe and returned home leading also certaine bands of Swyssers away with them The king also by the Popes perswasion had sent the Duke of Albanie from the siege of Pauia vvith 10000. footemen and 600. horse to inuade the Realme of Naples supposing to drawe the Imperialls thither for the defence of that Realme vvhich notwithstanding wisely they forbare to do knowing the Realme of Naples to be in sufficient saftie if they ouerthrew the king Thus the kings camp being by the departure of those aboue mentioned greatly weakened and the forces that remayned with him through the corruption of his officers not being the one halfe of the number that he payed which was a wonderfull thing that such an abuse should be offered to a Prince beeing with his armie in person himselfe the Imperialls being ignorant of none of these disorders determined to inuade him in his owne Campe where through the defect of courage in the Swyssers hee was taken prisoner him selfe fighting more valiauntly then any man in his armie many of the nobilitie were slayne and many taken and the Swyssers were in manner all cut in pieces by the Landsknights in reuenge of the auncient hatred betwene the sayde Swyssers and them This battaile is called the battaile of Pauia and was fought vpon Saint Mathias day being the day of the Emperours Natiuitie in the yeare 1525. according to the Italians but 1524. according to the French which variance ariseth as before I haue mentioned because the one beginne the yeare vpon the first of Januarie and the other not before Easter The Duke of Albanie after the kings captiuitie by the Popes meanes passed by sea with his armie safly into Fraunce Thus was this noble King through the disorders principally proceding from his owne officers and Captaines taken prisoner as you haue heard who not being dismayed with this sodaine blow of fortune behaued himself with such princely magnanimitie that he was honored had in admiratiō euen of his enemies in such sort that his captiuitie blemished not but rather caused his noble vertues the more to shine as by this one example which I will rehearse shall well appeare So soone as hee was brought to his lodging hee sent for the leaders of the Imperiall armie and tould them that hee had a sute vnto them which he trusted they would not denie him Wherevnto when they semed doubtfull what answere to make supposing it to bee some great matter of difficultie that they mought not aduenture to graunt without the Emperours priuitie he perceauing their immagination tould them it was no such important suit that required any such doubt onely his desire was that the young French boyes taken in the battel mought not remaine with the Italians but in exchaunge of other prisoners bee deliuered to the Spaniards which was presently graunted and executed accordingly though not without great admiration of the Imperialls who wondered that the king forgetting his owne misfortune being of a Prince made a prisoner in one day could remember to bee so carefull of the chastitie of these young boyes Cha. 8. The King of England confederateth himselfe with the estate of Fraunce and the Princes and states of Italie themselues against the Emperour The Imperialls seaze vpon the Duchie of Milan The King sayleth into Spaine The treatie of Madrid The king is deliuered The Children of Fraunce goe in hostage into Spaine T The Emperour hauing receaued the 1525. newes of the kings captiuitie semed to take it very modestly forbidding all signes of ioy to be vsed alledging that we ought to reioyce at the ouerthrow of Turkes and infidels but not of any Christian Prince which his modest behauiour put the world in great hope that hee would deliuer the king with such honorable conditions as mought establish a quiet peace in Christendome perpetual amitie betweene them twayne But his rigor to the king afterwards declared his spirit to be farre from any such moderation as his externall beehauiour made shew of Farther you shall vnderstand that the king of England vpon the receipt of these newes leuied amighty armie purposing in person to inuade Fraunce but hee continued not long in that minde vppon these occasions folowing First certaine difficulties arose betwene the Emperour and him the king demaunding bearing but equall charges with the Emperour an vnequall part of the conquest of Fraunce and the Emperour hoping to obtaine better conditions of the King of Fraunce by making peace then he should doe if he ioyned with the king of England by making warre Secondarely the Cardinall of YORKE being altogether French and enemie to the Emperour diswaded the king of England from farther ioyning with the Emperour who was alredie so mightie that his greatnesse was become terrible to all his neighbours round about him Thirdly after the battaile of Pauia the Emperour semed not to make so great accompt of the king of England as before he had done for first he refused to marie the Lady Mary the king of Englands daughter being very young and maried the sister of Ihon king of Portugale as hereafter you shall heare with whom he receiued a great masse of money whereof he stood in great neede Farther whereas beefore the battaile of Pauia he neuer wroat letter to the king of England but with his owne hand and with this subscrption Your sonne and Cosin Charles after the battaile he neuer wroat letter with his owne hand nor with other subscription then his simple name Charles all
this enterprise They began the siege the first day of Ianuarie and tooke the towne the morrow after twelfth day and soone after also Hams and Guysnes and all that the English helde on that side the sea In Aprill following Frauncis the Daulphin maryed Marie daughter and heire of Iames the fift King of Scotland in Iune following the French besiged Theonuille held for an impregnable towne in the Dutchie of Luxembourg Yet notwithstanding they tooke it but in that siege was Peter Strozzi slaine to the Kings great griefe for he had beene a most valiant and expert Captaine Cap. II. The French inuade Flaunders and sacke Dunkerke they are ouerthrowen in their retrait to Calais The English Nauy taketh Conquet Peace betweene the Kings of Spaine and Fraunce and Elizabeth Queene of England Bourg and other Councellours of the law are sent to the Bastile The Kings daughter is maried to the King of Spaine The King is slaine at the iusts BVt the King supposing this reuenge of his losses not to be sufficiēt as yet determined to attempt farther Wherfore in the beginning of Iulie he sent Monsieur de Termes to inuade Flaunders who tooke Dunkerke and burned it But the Earle of Egmont leuying an army of 12000. foote and 3000 horse met with the French as they retired towards Calais vpon the sandes betweene Dunkerke and Grauelin where he charged them and by the helpe of the English Nauy which by chaunce sailed at that time close by the shoare and discharged their great shot into the middest of the French troups they were deseated and Termes himselfe taken prisoner to the great astonishment of all Fraunce which in sower yeares space had receaued three great ouerthrowes the first in Italie the second at Saint Quentin and the third this heere mentioned And thus the King not beeing contented with a reasonable reuenge but seeking to recouer all his honour lost euen that which hee had in part recouered before and put both himselfe and his Realme into greater daungers than euer heeretofore they had beene in Termes had left behinde him three enseignes of footemen to spoile and fier Dunkerke who being in the middest of their blouddie execution were all surprized by the Burgundians and cut in peeces The Duke of Guise hearing of this ouerthrow retired into Picardie and held himselfe in places of safetie After this victorie the English Nauy consisting of 100. saile of ships and 10000. men and 20. great hulks ioyned with them inuaded Bretaine and toke Conquet but partlie by the force of the countrey that came downe vpon them partlie by tempest they were forced to returne home with speed King Phillip being encouraged by this his good successe and many victories leuied a mightie army and encamped neere to Dourlans in Picardie beeing a French towne his whole force was 30000. foote 15000. horse all his souldiours being well paied The king on the other side neere to Amiens leuyed a great armie but seemed not willing to hazerd an other battayle considering the losses hee had alreadie receaued Notwithstanding in the ende both the Princes to auoyde the effusion of Christian blood enclined their mindes to peace The two and twentith of Ianuarie Charles Duke of LORRAINE maryed the Ladie Claude the kings younger Daughter and the Februarie after peace was treated of at Cambresis beetweene the two Kings and ELIZABETH Queene of England latelie succeded to the Crowne of that Realme by the death of hir Sister MARIE who dyed the seauententh of Nouember 1558. The Commissioners agreede reasonably well about euerie thing saue CALAIS which King Philip would haue in any case restored to the English againe and the French would by noe meanes part with which matter was so whotlie debated betweene them that all the treatie had assuredlie broaken of if newes had not beene brought from the Queene of England that shee was contented to accept of the peace with these conditions that at eyght yeares ende Calais should bee restored to hir agayne or fiue hunfiftie thousand crownes in lieu thereof for assuraunce whereof shee should haue delyuered vnto hir foure hostages of the nobilytie of Fraune such as shee would demaund This article beeing agreed vpon peace was concluded beetweene these Princes the third of Aprill and solemply proclaimed with great ioye 1559. And King Philip maryed ELIZABETH the Kings eldest Daughter promised beefore to CHARLES Prince of Spayne King Philips sonne and the Duke of SAVOY Philibert maryed MARGARET the Kings sister Thus the king hauing concluded peace to his great comfort with all his enemies and beetrauthed his Daughter to the king of Spayne by meanes of the which allyaunce hee assured him selfe of an euerlasting amitie with that Prince beganne to embrew his handes in the bloud of the LVTHERANS and committed BOVRG and foure other Iudges of the Law to MONTGOMERIE Captaine of his Guarde who sent them prisoners to the Bastile where they were layde in yrons The only cause of their emprisonment was for that they had delyuered out of prison certayne Lutherans and had forborne to publish the kings bloudy edicts till a generall or a nationall councell should take order in so wayghtie a cause This beeing done the king in great triumph departed to his Daughters mariage who was maryed to king Philip by his Deputie the Duke of Alua who represented the king his Masters person in this case which beeing accomplished the king gaue himselfe to sports and pastimes and the eight and twenteth of Iune entered into the Lists to iust and continewed so long therein and ranne so many courses three dayes together that with excessiue trauayle his whole body was become stiffe wherevppon diuers of the nobilitie and especially the Queene his wyfe besought him to runne no more the rather because that night the Queene had dreamed that shee saw him wounded to death diuers other prognosticatiōs of his death are also written which I ouerpasse But he refusing all perswasions despising his wiues dreame all the other prognostications entered againe into the listes ranne diuers courses excellently well for he was a perfect man at armes At the last he called foorth Montgomerie the selfe same that had caryed BOVRG and the other foure Councellours to prison as before you haue heard Montgomerie had runne diuers courses the day before had sayled in them all for the which cause hee was loath to come forth But being constrained by the king in the ende foorth he came being reserued by God to giue one sound blow at the last to counteruaile all his faylings before For as the king and hee met together with great violence a splenter of Montgomeries staffe which brake all to sheuers strake the kings head-peece full vpon the visard which being vnbuckled either through negligence or because the king would haue it so meaning to make this his last course flew vp in such sort that one of the splēters strake the king full in the right eye and entered into
the which reasons caused the king of England by little and little to straunge himselfe from the Emperours friendship But the thing that most wrought the alteration of his minde was that the Lady Regent of Fraunce the kings mother sent vnto him a gentleman with letters very humbly wrtiten wherein she signified vnto him that it was not honorable for so noble a Prince as he was to inuade a king beeing Captiue a Christian Realme afflicted with the captiuitie of their Prince which submission pearced so depely into the breast of this couragious king that presently he not onely dismissed his armie which he had leuyed to his charge not demaunding one penie in regarde thereof but also from that day forward became the greatest friend that the Realme of Fraunce had and entered into league with the Regent for the deliuerie of the king hir sonne for the accomplishment also whereof the sayd king of England so earenestly trauayled with all the states of Christendome that in the ende he effected it in such sort that so soone as king Francis had set foote in Fraunce the first thing he dyd was that presently hee wroat a letter of thanckes to king Henry aduertising him of his libertie for the which hee acknowledged himselfe more beehoulding to him then to all the Princes of Christendome besides Such true nobilitie reigned in Princes being in hostilitie at those dayes wheras now this age is so farr degenerated frō the magnanimitie of their fathers that one Prince seeketh to take away an others lyfe by treason murther poyson and such like vilanous attempts which the heathen themselues detested and abhorred But to returne to our Historie The kings captiuitie astonished not onely Fraunce but also all Italie beecause all the Princes and states thereof semed now wholy to depend vpon the Emperours clemencie none of thē being able to stand vpon his owne strength The Pope especially was not a litle grieued with this accident who notwithstanding that for his present saftie hee made an accord with the Imperials as did also the Venetians yet their hart was farr from it as the sequell wel declared for secretly vnder hand they practised to make a league betweene the state of Fraunce the Pope the Venetians and the duke of Milan against the Emperour which confederacie the Imperialls hauing discouered presently seazed all the Duchie of Milan to the Emperours vse saue the Castell of Milan into the which the Duke put himselfe and endured the siege and the Castell of Cremona both the which notwithstanding the Imperialls enuyroned with trenches on all sides But this seazing of the sayde Duchie caused the league to discouer it selfe sooner then otherwise it would The king to the ende he mought the sooner recouer his libertie went into Spaine hoping by present conference with the Emperour the sooner to compound all their controuersies But the Emperours rigor was such in rude handeling him neuer once vouchsafing to come to see him and propounding such vnreasonable conditions as the king without the ruine of his Realme could not accept that the King fell into a most daungerous and almost desperate disease for verie griefe of minde Wherefore the Emperour doubting to lose the fruits of his victorie by the kings death came visited him so in the end peace was cōcluded betwene thē at Madrid the 14 of Februarie 1525. after the French but after the Italians 1526. being iust a yeare lacking but 10. daies since the kings captiutie But you shall vnderstand that the conditions of this treatie were so vnreasonable that as it is reported the King protested hee would not obserue them when he should be returned into his Realme especially the articles for the restitution of Burgundy to the Emperour and the releasing of his soueraintie ouer Flaunders Notwithstanding for the performance of this treatie Francis and Henry the kings Children were deliuered in hostage to the Emperour and for farther continuance of amitie beetweene these two Princes it was agreed that the king should marie Elenor the Emperours sister promised as before you haue heard to the Duke of Bourbon but neuer with any meaning to performe it And thus was the King deliuered with promise that if he would not performe the treatie he should returne prisoner into Spaine Cap. 9. The Emperour marieth Fraunce refuseth the treatie of Madrid The kings confederates in Italie beesiege Milan twice but in vayne The Pope is twice taken prisoner by the Imperialls Rome is sacked Bourbon is slayne at the asault The King of England and Fraunce defie the Emperour The Pope is restored to libertie Genoua returneth to the Kings obedience The King inuadeth Milan and the Realme of Naples but by reason of the reuoult of Andre D'oria to the Emperour and the plague that entered into the French camp his enterprise was ouerthrowne ABout the beginning of this yeare 1526. the Emperour hauing refused 1526. the king of Englands daughter as beefore you haue heard maried Isabella Daughter of Emanuel and sister to Ihon King of Portugale The king being returned into his Realme complayned greatly of the Emperours great inhumanitie towards him and his vnprincely vsage of him being farre different from the entertainment that Edward the third king of England gaue to king Ihon of Fraunce taken prisoner by the Prince of Wales at the battaile of Poicters Farther hee assembled the estates of his Realme who according to the Kings minde vtterly condempned the treatie of Madrid as forced vppon a prisoner by violence and not being in the kings powre to performe and thus was the treatie broken and the Emperour deluded and so his owne councell tould him he should be before the Kings deliuerie vnlesse he altered some points of the treatie Notwithstanding the King offered him two millions of crownes for the deliuerie of his children and diuers other honorable conditions in consideration of the articles for the restitution of Burgundie and the release of the Soueraintie of Flaunders which the Emperour vtterly reiected charging the king with periurie because not performing the treatie he returned not prisoner againe according to his promise But the Pope voluntarely without intreatie had assoyled him of that oath The king perceuing the Emperours obstinacie renewed his league with the king of England and farther cōfederated himselfe in Italie with the Pope the Venetians the Duke of Milan and diuers other states against the Emperour who all ioyntly sent vnto him for the deliuerie of the kings children offering him verie honorable conditions in consideration thereof if he would accept of them but finding him to stande stifly vppon the treatie of Madrid and that hee would admit no other conditions they iointly began war vpon him inuaded his dominiōs in Italic came with their armie before Milan hoping to take it to deliuer the duke of Milan who held the Castle as yet but they failed of their purpose were constrained with dishonor to leuie their siege notwithstanding that their armie came
twice to the reliefe of the said castle of Milan which the duke considering despairing of succours being almost starued in the castle for victuals he made a compositiō with the duke of Bourbon gouernour of Milan for the Emperour whereby he yelded the castle into his hands and it was agreed that Coma being held by the Imperials should be deliuered to the duke of Milan that there he should reside till the Emperour had heard his iustification The Emperour sent against the confederats a mightie armie vnder the leading of the said duke of Bourbon and sought also to stir vp a rebellion against the Pope in Rome itselfe by meanes of the Coulonnois who by cunning toke him prisoner in the vatican made him yelde to such conditions of peace as pleased them and constrayned him to abandon his league with the confederats and to enter into league with the Imperials with these conditions he was deliuered by thē But that notwithstanding the duke 1527. of Bourbon whose armie wanting pay desired no thing more then to be inriched with the spoile of Rome marched directly against the citie toke it sacked it though with the losse of his owne life The Pope with many of his Cardinals was emprisoned in the castle of Saint Angelo put to their raunsome constrained to yeld to such cōditions of peace as it pleased the Imperials to propound vnto thē The Emperour hearing these newes semed in outward shew to sorrow greatly for the Popes emprisonment the sacking of Rome but the truth is he was glad of it at his very hart which also well appeared because that notwithstanding he ceased not the pastimes triumphs that he had appointed for the birth of his sonne But the king of Fraunce and England sent their Ambassadors to the Emperour demanding the Popes deliuerie And being entered into a straight league together by means of the Cardinall of Yorke who came this yeare with wōderful pomp to Amiens to the king they both sent their Heraults to defie the Emperour farther the king gaue the Emperour the lie sent vnto him a cartell of defiance wherein he chalenged the combat of him But the Emperour seeing so many Princes and states against him restored the Pope to his libertie and about this time Genoua by meanes of Andre D'oria beeing then in seruice with the King retourned to the Kings obedience Wherevppon foorth with 1528. the king leuying a mightie armie sent it vnder the leading of Monsieur de Lautrech into Italie which recouered diuers townes in the Duchie of Milan and besieged tooke Pauia sacked it in reuenge of the kings captiuitie had so good successe there that it is thought the French mought haue recouered not onely Milan but also the whole countrey But the Pope being set at libertie eyther to be reuenged of the Emperour or in hope to haue the Realme of Naples for himselfe according to the agrement in his confederacie with the King perswaded the king to withdraw his armie out of the Duchie of Milan where his affaires prospered well and to send Lautrech to inuade the sayde Realme of Naples which the king to gratefie the Pope was contented to doe Lautrech recouered all the sayde Realme saue Naples it selfe which he also besieged But during that siege Anáre D'oria who with the French nauie held the towne enclosed by sea sodainely left the king and went to the Emperours seruice by meanes whereof the Imperialls were masters of the Sea which beefore the French commaunded Farther the sayd D'oria reuolted Genoua also from the king dyd much mischiefe to the French by sea But their greatest misfortune and the very ruine of this enterprise was the plague which entered into the French camp whereof Lautrech himselfe dyed and whereby his armie was so extenuated that the siege was abandoned and the French forced to retourne home hauing lost all that they had before taken as well in the sayde Realme as in the Duchie of Milan Cap. 10. Peace is concluded at Cambray The Children of Fraunce are deliuered the King marieth the Emperours sister The Emperour is crowned Florence is be sieged and yelded to the Pope Ferdinand is chosen king of Romaines BVT in the end peace was cōcluded 1529. betwene these princes at Cambray for all parts were wearie of the warrs and the kings children were restored vnto him for the summe of two millions of crownes which were presently to be payd in this sort First the king was presently to paye to the king of England for the Emperour 400000. crownes of debt which the Emperour heretofore had borowed of the sayd King Farther he was likewise to pay to the sayd king of England for the Emperour 500000. crownes forfaited by the Emperour to the sayd king for refusing to marie the La die Marie the king of Englands daughter and marying the princesse of Portugale vppon payment of the which summes the king was to redeme all the Emperours obligations out of the king of Englands hands and to deliuer them to the Emperour Thirdly he was to redeme out of the sayd king of Englands hands a Iewell engaged to the sayd kings father by the Archduc Philip father to the Emperour for 50000 crownes being a flower deluce set with stones which beecause it had beene a Iuell of Philip surnamed Le bon duke of Burgundie the Emperour made no small accompt of the rest of the two millions was presentlie to be payed to the Emperour himselfe these conditions being performed the Children of Fraunce to bee deliuered otherwise not T The Emperours purpose in turning the king of Englands debt vpon the king was this First hee hoped that the king his Realme being empouerished and consumed with the long warrs that it had endured should not bee able to make present payment of so huge a masse of money as was to bee payed first to the Emperour himselfe and secondarely to the king of England for the redeeming of the Emperours bonds and iuells out of his hands without present payment whereof he assured himselfe that the king of England would not delyuer the foresayde bondes and iuells and by that meanes the children of Fraunce should remayne his prisoners still Neyther was hee out of hope that happilie some variance would arise beetweene these two kings about payment of the money and so their friendship be dissolued which was the principall marke he shot at and as also partly it fell out in the ende as heereafter you shall heare But the king of England perceauing the Emperours cunning and not beeing ignorant of the poore estate the Realme of Fraunce was fallen into hauing sustained such a continuall tempest of warres against so many mightie enemies euer since the beeginning of the reigne of king LEVVIS the twelfth till this very time as by the course of this Historie aboue written you may easely perceaue of a noble and heroicall mynde sent Sir Francis Brian with all the Emperours
obligations and the saide Iuell to king Francis willing him on his part to signifie vnto the king first for the 400000. crownes of debt dew vnto the sayde king of England by the Emperour the king his master would giue the King libertie to paye them in fiue yeares The 500000. crownes forfayted to him by the Emperour for not marrying the Lady Mary the sayde king of Englands Daughter hee would frankely giue him and the flower de luce hee woulde lykewyse giue to his Godsonne Henry Duke of ORLEANS the kings second sonne and thus was the sayde flower de luce and all the Emperours oblygations by the king of Englands commandement delyuered contrarie to the Emperours expectation into the kings hands and the sayd Emperour satisfied in all his demaunds therevpon the kings children set at libertie the article for the restitution of Burgundie released and the amitie betwene the two kings continewed And the next yeare 1530. the king maried Elenor 1530. the Emperours sister and the sayde Emperour receaued the crowne Imperiall of the Pope at Bolonia vpon Saint Mathias day being his birth day where the peace betwene the king him was sworne anew All the states of Italie were reconciled to the Emperour Francis Sforce was restored to his duchie of Milan and the Emperour was inuested by the Pope of the Realme of Naples who also at the Popes request sent an armie to besiege Florence beecause the Florentines during the time of the Popes emprisonment in the hands of the Imperials had chaced all the house of Medices out of Florence and spoyled all their goods In this siege the Prince of Orenge generall of the Emperours armie was slaine But the sayd Citie was so distressed that in the end it yelded was deliuered into the Popes hands who punished them with great seueritie suppressed their liberties and cleane altered their state This yeare also Ferdinand the Emperours brother was chosen King of Romaines and the Realme of Fraunce for certaine yeares remayned in peace Cap. II. The Practises of the kings of Fraunce and England against the Emperour The Turke inuadeth Hungarie The Pope and the Emperour meete at Bolonia and the Pope and the king at Marseilles Henry the kings sonne marrieth the Popes niece The King of England falleth from the Pope Pope Clement dyeth Paulus the third succedeth The Duke of VVirtemberg recouereth his Duchie NOtwithstanding both the KINGS 1531. minde likewise the king of Englands were exulcerated against the Emperour the one beecause he saw himselfe dispossed of the Duchie of Milan the conquest whereof had beene so chargeable both to his predecessor and to him the other because the Emperour defended against him the cause of his Aunt wife to the said king of England disswaded the Pope from graunting any Bull of deuorce betweene him and the sayde Lady whom the king was desirous to put away because she had beene first his brothers wyfe and by the lawes of God could not bee lawfull wyfe to him But the king of Fraunce was so impourished and wearied with long warres that he thought it not time to attempt aught against the Emperour as yet Notwithstanding he laboured to draw the Pope to his partie by offering a mariage beetweene the second sonne of Fraunce Catherin niece to the sayd Pope which afterward also tooke effect And not content therewith hee sought also to stirre vp the Turke against the Emperour and farther both he and the king of England practised a consederacie with such of the Princes of Germanie as they knew to be euell affected to him In this yeare also the kings mother dyed and the duchie of Britaine was incorporated to the crowne of Fraunce In the yeare 1532. the Turke by the kings perswasion as the Emperour sayde inuaded Hungarie hauing 1532. spoyled and robbed all the Countrey retourned sodainely to Constantinople contrarie to the expectation of the king of England and Fraunce both the which hating the Emperour most deadly met together about this time at Bouloyne and after went both together to Calais where they were agreed to haue proclaymed warr against the Emperour during the Turkes inuasion of Hungarie But the Turkes sodaine departure out of the sayde Realme and his retourne to Constantinople caused them to alter their mindes and to deferre the warre till a more conuenient time Notwithstanding wisely they gaue foorth that their meeting was to conferre together how to make resistance against the Turck the better to colour their pretence they sent Ambassadours to diuers Princes of Germanie other potentates of christendome to perswade thē to enter into league with them against the sayd Turck But the Emperor 1533. on the otherside not being ignorant of these their practises came into Italie and the Pope and he met together at Bolonia wher in outward demonstrations were great signes of loue and amitie But it well appeared that their harts were farre asunder for the Emperour obtained no thing of that he desired For first he perswaded the Pope to bestow his niece Catherine of Medices vppon Francis Sforce Duke of Milan and secondarelie that he would assemble a generall councell both the which were denied him onely the Pope at the Emperours earnest sollicitation and because he would not altogether discontent him agreed to enter into league with the Emperour with the king of Romains his brother and the other potentates of Italie all saue the Venetians who refused to be comprehended in the sayd league for the defence of their estates in Italie and each man was rated what charges he should beare in those warrs But with what minde this league was made soone after well appeared for the Emperour was no soner departed into Spaine but the Pope the king met at Marseilles wher the mariage betwen the second sonne of Fraunce and the Popes niece was accomplished farther the king moued the Pope for the Bull of deuorce betwene the king of Engand and his wife the Emperours Aunt which had before bene graunted in the yeare 1529. and sent into England to Cardinall Campegius in whose hands it remained till the Pope for feare of the Emperour commaunded it to be burned and at this time also notwithstanding the kings solicitation for the same reason it could not be obtained Wherefore the king of England withdrew him selfe and 1534. his Realme from the Popes obedience and proclaimed him selfe supreme head of the Church within his owne dominions Soone after this meeting the Pope dyed and Alexander Farnese succeded him by the name of Paule the third Farther the Duke of Wirtemberg ioyning vnto him the Lantzgraue of Hesse by the kings solicitation with his monie inuaded the Duchie of Wirtemberg wherof the sayd Duke had before bene dispossessed by the king of Romaines and recouered it little to the sayd king of Romaines contentment who notwithstanding fearing farther troubles in the absence of his brother the Emperour in Spaine was forced to wink
and townes confederated with them against him perswading the Pope who sent him ayde in these warrs that his quarel was Religion but to the princes Protestāts of Germanie many of the which were in his Camp ayded him he pretended that he made warr vppon them for their rebellion although in truth neither of both these were the cause motife of this warre but his owne ambition for his purpose was by vsing the Germanies help against the Germaines so to weaken both parts and in the meane time so to plant garrisons of Spaniards in the strong places of the countrey that in the ende he mought make the easier conquest of the whole And such successe he had at the beginning of these warrs that he toke the Duke of Saxonie prisoner made the Lantzgraue come yeld him selfe to his mercie but with this condition that he should not be detained in prison which article the Emperour so gloased with a Spanish exposition that that notwithstanding he emprisoned him alleadging that the article mentioned onely perpetual emprisonment The Palfzgraue also and the Duke of Wirtemberg and diuers other Princes and free Townes submitted them selues to him and with their money bought their peace You haue heard before how Henry the eight king of England dyed a little before king Francis and left behinde him Prince Edward his sonne a childe about tenne yeares of age the sayed King Henry before his death had practised a marriage in Scotland betwene the sayd prince his sonne afterward called Edward the vj and the heyre of Scotland being about foure yeares of age and so farre this matter was proceded in that the greatest part of the states of Scotland had giuen their consent thereunto but after king Henrys death by the perswasion of the Queene mother being of the house of Guyse and by the practise of the French faction who could not endure this vniting of these two Realmes by the sayd mariage the treatie made with king Henry was disauowed and a practise set on foote to bestow this yong Princes vpon the Daulphin of Fraunce for the which cause the English men entered into Scotland with a mightie armie spoiled all the countrie whom the Scotts encountering with all their forces at a place called Muscleborow were ouerthrowen and a great number of them slayne in September this yeare 1547. after the which victorie the English men tooke manie Castles and strong places and entered as farre as Edemborough the chiefe Citie of the Countrey and fortified Hedington a strong Towne where what happened what issue these warres had hereafter you shall heare The Emperour hauing ended his warres aboue mentioned in Germanie and established the 1548. Interim which was a forme of Religion to bee obserued till the assemblie of a generall counsell came downe into the low countries leading the Duke of Saxonie and the Lantzgraue with him as it were in triumph to the no small griefe of diuers Princes of the Empire especially of Duke MAVRICH sonne in law to the sayde Lantzgraue as the sequell shall well declare About this tyme also the Prince of Spaine the Emperours sonne came out of Spaine into Italie and from thence to Bruxelles to his father beeing honorably receaued in all places through which he passed But the Realme of Fraunce beeing deliuered from forrayne warres beeganne to bee vexed with domesticall seditions for a great rebellion was raysed at BOVRDEAVX and through all GVIENNE and XAINTOIGNE for a newe imposition increased vppon Sault for the appeasing whereof the Constable and Monsieur d'Aumalle were sent into those partes who punished very sharply them of BOVRDEAVX because they had slaine the kings officers and commited many disorders and tooke from them all their priuiledges and condemned both them and other townes that had offended in great summes of money and so appeased the tumult Cap. 2. The King aydeth the Scots against the English hee inuadeth the Countrey of Boulonoys The Queene of Scots is caried into Fraunce Paule the third dyeth Iulius the third succedeth peace betwene England and Fraunce YOu haue heard how the last yeare the English men were entered into Scotland as farre as Edingbourg and had ouerthrowen the Scots at Muscleborow for the which cause the Scots sent into Fraunce for ayde and the King knowing how preiudiciall it should bee for him and his Realme to suffer the English men to nestle in Scotland sent thether an armie of 6000. men vnder the leading of Monsieur d'Esse Strozzi the Rhingraue and others who made head against the English men and much endamaged them wanne Hedington which they had fortefied from them while in the meane time their nauie conueighed the young Queene into Fraunce notwithstanding the English nauie that lay vpon the Sea to stoppe their passage purposly to haue surprised the sayde young Queene and to haue brought hir into England but the French nauie escaped them and ariued safly in Fraunce After the conueighing away of the young Queene the king reuoqued d'Esse and sent de Thermes a valiant souldier and a wise man to take the charge of his armie in Scotland willing him to busie the English men on that side while the French forces entered into the Countrey of Boulonoys for notwithstanding that peace had beene concluded as before you haue heard betwene king Francis and king Henry before their death and afterward confirmed also betwene the two Realmes yet that notwithstanding the French perceauing the Realme of England to be vexed with seditions because of the alteration of Religion vsed that opportunitie and besieged Bouloyne but could not take it notwithstanding diuers other small peces held by the English in the countrey of Boulonoys namely Boulonberg Hambletow and Montlambert and diuers other they toke This yeare also the tenth of Nouember died Pope Paule the third to whom after three moneths dissencion in the Consistorie succeded Iulius the third and this yeare also in December died Margaret Queene of Nauarra sister to king Francis a Lady of an excelent spirit But after these wars aboue mentioned had thus passed as you haue hard since the beginning of this kings 1550. reigne betwene the French English nations as well in Scotland as in Boulonoys both parts disposed thēselues to peace England was afflicted not onely with sorraine warrs but also with domesticall seditions of the commons and dissentions among the nobles the French king was entered into practise against the Emperour both in Italie with Octauio Prince of Parma and in Germanie with duke Maurice and diuers other Princes who hated the Emperour deadly for his extreame tiranie vsed against the liberties of their country Wherefore the King meaning to attempt somewhat against the Emperour was the more inclined to make peace with England thereby to haue all cleere on that side of Fraunce Both the Realmes therfore being thus disposed to concord their commissioners met concluded peace with these cōditions Boloyne was restored to the French for the which they payed
against his sonne in law the Archduc Philip who in the beginning of the yeere 1506 sailed into Spaine 1506. with a purpose to take the gouernment of Castile in to his owne hands But by the entermise of the NObles of the realme an accord was made betweene his father in law him and the king of Aragon departed into his realme of Naples with very honorable conditions But not long after died the Archduc because his wife daughter of the said King Ferdinand was distracted of hir wits both hir selfe being mad in all points but in this likewise hir whole realme of Castile reuoqued king Ferdinand out of Italy reestablished him in the gouernment of Castile till such time as Charles the saide Archducs sonne nephew of the said Ferdinand being very yong should be of age to gouerne the Realme him selfe About this tyme also the Pope by ayde of the French king recouered Bolonia from the Bentiuoli though litle to the kings honor who had receiued the sayd citie of Bolonia the Bentiuoli into his protection in the yeare 1500 yet now betraied theÌ„ to the Pope more regarding the Popes pleasure theÌ„ his owne honour and faith for the which fact the Pope wel requited him as hereafter you shall heare But to returne to the french affaires The Genuoys 1507. seing the Kings greatnes so mightely to decline in Italie by losse of the realme of Naples and being also desirous to recouer their libertie determined to rebell and to withdraw their obedience froÌ„ him which also they did and began first to chace away his officers afterwards to spoile the noble mens houses in the towne But the king being aduertised thereof passed in person with a mightie armie into Italie soone reduced them to their former obedience which being done he presently dismissed his army and returned into France therby deliuering all the states of Italie froÌ„ the ielousie they had conceiued of him that he ment to make some farther attempt Cap. 5. A confederacie is made at Cambray against the venetians the french ouerthrow them at the battell of Guyradadda SOone after this the practise aboue mentioned 1508. against the Venetians which had been long treated off vnder hand had long ere this ben concluded but that so many strings could not so soone be tuned for the Pope the kings of Romains FrauÌ„ce Aragon were concurring in the accion brake openly foorth For you shall vnderstand that Pope Iulius hating the Venetians extremly because they detained from him certain towns in Romania beloÌ„ging to the Church receiued into their protection the church rebells namely the Bentiuoli others laboured to make peace among these Princes and to conuert their armes not against the Infidels but against the said Venetians which also he effected in the end the rather because euery one of these Princes had priuate quarells to them The Popes quarell you haue already heard and the cause of the french kings displeasure towards them I haue in part touched also before said it was for that they refused to ayde him in his wars of Naples according to their league which was the onely losse of the said realme as he said But in very deede his principall hatred against theÌ„ was because they held Cremona the couÌ„trie of Guiradadda members of the Duchie of Milan which notwithstanding that they wer deliuered to theÌ„ by his own agreemeÌ„t at such time as they aided him to chace Lodouic Sforce out of the said duchie yet now considering their ingratitude towards him withall how necessary those countries were for the strength defence of the said Duchie of Milan he determined to recouer theÌ„ againe into his owne hands Maximilian and the Archduc Charles his Nephew had an auncient quarell to theÌ„ first for Verona Padoua vincâ—nse and diuers other townes with helde from the Empire and secondarelie for the countries of Friull and Treuisa which they with hold from the house of Austria Besides that Maximillians quarrell was lately greatlie increased for euen in this very yeere 1508 they had not onely denied him passage through their countries for his souldiers whose passage he pretended to be onely because he ment to goe to take the crowne imperiall at Rome though they knew well the contrarie but had also defeated his companies being entred into their dominions by force And notwithstanding that they had reason so to doe knowing his purpose to be no thing lesse then that which he pretended that he came with a resolution to surprise those places which he claimed to be his yet this defeate of his men exasperated him not a little against them for few Princes can endure the contrarying of their wills be it neuer so iustly done The king of Spaine likewise hated them because they held in the realme of Naples certaine townes engaged to them by Ferdinand King of Naples in the warrs of Charles the eight which by no meanes they would restore Thus all these princes beeing animated against them a generalleague was concluded among them against the said Venetians at Cambray The Pope 1509. began first with spirituall armes and sent forth a terrible bull against them from the which they appealed to the next generall Counsell But of all the other Princes the king of Fraunce was first in a redinesse and with an armie of 24000 men inuaded their dominions And they encountered him with noe lesse forces and vnder the conduct of Aluiane the Earle of Petillian gaue him battaile in the which they were ouerthrowen Petillian sayde through Aluianas temeritie and ouergreat heate and Aluiana sayde through Petillians cowardise or malice who would not ayde him with his troups beecause the battaile was fought against his aduice But howsoeuer it were certaine it is that the Venetians lost in this battayle 10000 men and Aluiana himselfe was taken prisoner therein This battel is called the battell of Guiradadda or de la Vaile After this victorie almost all the townes that the Venetians held in Italie yeelded to the king who restored to the king of Romaines those that he pretended Title to to the Pope those that hee quareled which being done he returned to Milan This yeare dyed Henry king of England the two and twenteth of Aprill to whom succeeded Henry his sonne a young Prince eighteene yeares of age of whom heereafter ample mencion shall bee made and this yeare also the seuenteenth of October dyed Philip de Commines Lord of Argenton a worthie counseler and no lesse worthie writer Cap. 6. The Venetians are reconciled to the Pope and the King of Aragon all they three toyne together against the King The Swyssers also beecome the Kings enemies the quarell beetweene the Pope and the Duke of Ferrare the Pope loseth Bolonia The King withdraweth himselfe from the Popes obedience The Pope excommunicateth the whole Realme of Fraunce The battayle of Rauenna wherein the Pope and his confederats are ouerthrowen THE
Vendosme recouered Hesdin and afterward all the other townes and on the other side the Marshall of Brissac in Piemom wâ—n from the Emperour the towne of Alba. But to returne to the siege of Metz. Notwithstanding that the Emperour vsed all warlike attempts for the taking of the towne and so coÌ„tinually beat it with artilerie that it is reported by some his batterie to haue beene heard as farre as Strausbourg and by othersome aboue 22. Duch miles from the towne yet was the industrie of those within the towne and the miserie of his souldiours without the towne such his camp being most grieuously afflicted with the plague famine bluddie flux and cold the siege continewing in the midst of an extreame winter as before you haue heard that hee was forced to leuie his siege returne into Flaunders the second day of Ianuarie 1553. after the Duch Italian accompt who begin the yeare the first of Ianuarie but 1552. after the French who begin it not till Easter At his departure to the ende hee mought returne with the more speede he cast into the Riuer a great part of his artilerie and munition for the warres farther hee lost in this siege 40000. men the ignominie thereof so much afflicted him that he forbare all communication with men and soone after resigned the Empire to his brother and his orher states to his sonne and put himselfe into an Abbie in Spaine where he ended his dayes Such misfortunes Princes often fall into when they are wedded to their owne wills and reiect all good aduise or rather when GOD is purposed to punish them and to chaunge their good fortune into bad It is reported that the Emperours armie sustayned so extreame miserie in this siege that one day as hee roade thorow his Campe a poore souldier beeing miserably afflicted with the bluddye fluxe cryed out thus to him as he passed by Thou sonne of a mad woman how much miserie doe I and many a thousand more endure heere through thy ambition and wilfull obstinancie If thou wert not tainted with thy mothers humor thou wouldest neuer haue brought vs to this siege at this time of the yeare which words the Emperour hearing gaue no euell answere therevnto but onely sayde good words souldiour this matter shall bee remedied ere long be and with that gaue the poore soule money wherewith to comfort himselfe and soone after raysed his siege leauing a great number behinde him sicke whom the enemies of very pitie succoured and relieued But notwithstanding the Emperours euell fortune here before Metz his armie in Picardie vnder the leading of Monsieur de Reux besieged Therouenne in the which siege the sayd de Reux dyed after whose death Monsieur de Lalain continued the siege with a mine ouerthrew the fortifications wherevpon Montmorency the Constables sonne Gouernour of the towne yeelded the place and withall himselfe and diuers other noble men of Fraunce prisoners Cap. 6. The Imperialls raze Hesdin The Duke of Arscot is taken prisoner The death of Edward the sixt King of England and of Duke Maurice The king inuadeth the Emperour with three armies the battaile of Renty THe Emperour because of the variance that was among his Captaines made the Duke of Sauoye generall of his armie who in Iulie recouered also Hesdin from the French in the which the duke of Bouillon was taken prisoner and razed the Castle as the Imperials before had done the Castell of Therouenne buylt a new Hesdin in a more conuenient place vppon the Riuer of Cauche which they called Hesdinfiert From thence the Duke of Sauoy marched towards Dourlans and Amiens where the Constable with part of the Kings armie met with certaine of his troupes vpon the fifteenth of August and hauing layde diuers ambushes to entrap them charged them and ouerthrew them and toke prisoner the Duke of Arscot who was led to Boys de Vincennes neere to Paris whence hee escaped in the yeare 1556 wherevpon the Emperour ieasted of him saying that he was taken like a begger and scaped away like a theefe Farther the king in person with a mightie armie entered into Artoys and came before Cambray where the Imperiall armie lay in such sort that the battaile was looked for there but it fell otherwise out wherevpon the king returned to Paris leauing the Marshall of Saint Andre to spoyle the Countrey In this yeare the sixth of Iulie dyed Edward king of England a young Prince of rare expectation and to him succeeded Marie his sister Cosin germaine to the Emperour who about Saynt Iames tide the nezt yeare maryed with the Prince of Spaine the Emperours sonne And the ninth of Iulie was a cruell battaile fought in Germanie betwene Duke MAVRICE and Albert Marques of Brandenbourg in the which the sayde Albert was vanquished and Duke MAVRICE lost his lise You haue heard how the king returned to Paris leauing the Marshall of Saint Andre behinde him 1554. to spoyle the Countrey of Artoys But the next sommer the king leuied three armies one vnder the leading of the Prince of Roche sur Yonne was sent into Artoys where it spoyled many townes villages The Constable with an other armie entered into Haynault and the Duke of Neuers with a third into the countrey of Ardennes and Liege where he burned and spoiled all the country before him The Constable likewise in Haynault burnt Cymay a towne appertaining to the Duke of Arsâ—ot Trelon and Glayon and tooke Mariembourg through the cowardise of him that defended it with the fame of the which victorie the king being incited came in person into his army and tooke Bouuines in Brabant and burned it and sacked Dinand But the Emperour leuied a mightie power to encounter him vnder the leading of the Duke of Sauoy Wherevpon the King returned againe into Haynault and destroyed Bins and Mariemount the Queene of Hungaries places of pleasure in reuenge of Folenbray in Picardie which the Imperialls burned in the yeare 1552. as before you haue heard thus hauing burned and spoiled all Haynault the King with his army entered into Artoys and besieged Renty But the Emperour with his whole force came to leauie the siege in such sort that a battaile was there fought betweene the king and him in the which the successe on both sides was so equall that the victorie can iustlie be attributed to neither part some call it but a halfe battaile Notwithstanding this was the battaile in the which it was first found by experience that the rutters with their Pistoles are not able to abide the force of the Launce if they be roughly and resolutely charged The next day as the King was returning to the siege of the towne he reccaued newes that his forces were ouerthrowen in Italie wherevpon he retired and returned to Montrueil and the Emperour likewise to Bruxelles Cap. 7. The warres of Siena Brissacs successe in Piemont Pope Iulius dieth Paule the fourth succedeth The French in Piemont take Vulpian The