in the taile with a troupe of horsemen but beeing ouerthrowne from his horse was presently slaine with a Pike which was thrust into his side and so died most vnfortunately when hee had gotten a most glorious and honourable victorie The Lord Lautrech his cousin Germaine being hurt with aboue twentie wounds lay besydes him almost dead but beeing succoured in time was afterwards recouered The number that was slaine on both sides were well neare tenne thousand persons the thirde part of which were French men whose losse was farre the greater by reason of the death of Foix with whom the courage strength life and fiercenesse of that army was in a maner vtterly extinguished howbeit they entered Rauenna which they sacked and spoyled Rauenna sacked and spoyled and tooke sundrie other Cities raunging vp and downe at theyr owne pleasure But presently they began to be afflicted with newe crosses for the Switzers passing the Alpes and ioyning with the Venetians The Switzers expell the French out of Millan tooke Cremona and Bergamo and approching Millan Triultio being without hope to defende the Citie secretly stole away into Piemont and vpon the newes of his departure Parma Placentia Bologna and almost all Romagna returned to the Pope and Geane likewise reuolted from the French choosing Fregosa who had beene generall of the Venecian armie for their Duke Thus the French Kings affaires began to be quailed in Italy and by reason the king of England was nowe readie to enter France he was compelled to looke to the defence of his owne countrey The death of Lewis the twelfth king of France and to suffer the Switzers to take their pleasure in Millan But the French King reconciling himselfe with England married the Kings sister with whom he liued not three moneths but died at Paris 1514. after he had raigned seauenteene yeeres and was buried at Saint Denis CHAP. IIII. Francis the first King of France winneth Millan from the Emperor His great vertues he besiegeth Pauia and is taken prisoner He is sent into Spaine A league made against the Emperour The French King is deliuered and falleth out with the Emperour He dyeth at Rambouillet LEwis the twelfth was no sooner deceased Francis the first King of France but Francis Duke of Angolesme succeeded in the Kingdome who continuing the former quarrell for the Dukedome of Millan and kingdome of Naples left no stone vnroled to bring his desires to passe but forthwith there approched many impediments and sundrie blocks were cast in his way which maruailously altered his course extreamely crossed al his designements for the Emperour Maximilian growing aged and beeing wearie with the burthen of the Empire sent Embassadors to the Electors and to the Pope to desire them to choose Charles of Austriche and king of Spaine for their Emperour but the French king thinking him to be mightie inough already labored by all possible meanes to hinder that election Before that any thing could be accomplished Maximilian died The King of France laboreth to bee Emperour whereupon the French and Spanish kings became earnest competitors and each endeuored to win the Goale from other The French King was put in some hope by the faire promises of the marquesse of Brandenburge one of the electors howbeit in the ende Charles of Austriche was chosen which spited Francis to the heart Charles K. of Spaine chosen Emrour And now hee daily picked quarrels at the Emperour and at last fel flat out with him for being a Prince of great courage wise industrious rich and ambitious hee in a sort disdained that the yong king of Spaine should be preferred before him and therefore he presently hired Switzers who for money became his mercenaries and sent Monsieur de Lantrech to besiege Millan which was valiantly kept by Prospero Colonno The rumour whereof being spread beyond the Alps The great commendation of Francis the first caused Antonio de Leua to fortifie Pauia so that now all Italy began to bee in an vprore and the French kings comming was greatly feared for that hee was a Prince vniuersally furnished with all royall vertues and fit to enterprise great matters And vnderstanding that the Emperiall power had not onely expelled the French men out of the Duchie of Millan The great commendation of Francis the first but were entred France and by besieging of Marseiles in Prouence seemed to dare him within his owne dominions hee gathered a strong power and marched towardes his enemies with all speede who hearing of his comming brake vp their siege and hasted to Italy whom the king pursued so fast The King of France taketh Millan that the emperials were no sooner entred into Millan but that hee was hard at the gates where hee stayed not long but that the Cittie was yeelded vnto him the emperiall forces forsaking it and flying to Lody after a very tumultuous and disordered sort The King vsed the Citizens verie graciously and hauing somewhat reposed himselfe and refreshed his wearie troupes marched discreetely towardes Pauia The K. besiegeth Pauia wherein was Antonio de Leua with fiue thousand Lansquenets fiue hundred Spanish footmen with two cornets of horsemen The king encamped before the towne and besieged it very straightly the emperials beeing aduertised heereof gathered all theyr forces together and hauing an army wherein were seauen hundreth men of armes and as many horsemen a thousande Italian horsemen and aboue sixteene thousand footemen Spaniardes and Almans they sette forwarde from Lody with a full resolution to remooue the siege or to fight with the French and hazard all vpon a battaile The King was no sooner certified hereof but that sending for all his Captaines and men of war he fully determined to continue his siege and to expect the comming of his enemie whatsoeuer coulde bee alleaged to the contrarie often affirming that hee hadde rather dye then to stirre one foote before he had taken the Citie The emperiall Captaines beeing driuen into great necessitie for want of money and other necessaries and hauing much adoo to pacifie theyr souldiours The Emperials enuade the french Kings camp thought it best to vse expedition considering that it was impossible for them to continue long their men growing mutinous for want of pay and thereuppon as those that stoode in very desperate estate hasted to inuade the French who prepared with great courage to meete them they were exceedingly encouraged by the presence of theyr King who should bee an eye witnesse of theyr valour and prowesse The marquesse of Pescara with three thousande Spanish footemen assayled the French trenches where hee slew fiue hundreth men and poysoned three peeces of great ordinance This vnexpected accident dismaied many of the French souldiers and the rather for that the Admirall who carryed the cheefe sway in the Army next vnto the king was hurt in the thigh with a shotte and was carried to Placentia to bee cured of his wounds Sixe hundred Grisons were called
a straight commaundement to all his ordinance and men of armes to assemble themselues at Pierreport in as warlike maner as might be there to attend his further pleasure and to be in a readinesse to be employed as occasion should be offered King Philip of Spaine had likewise gathered a very strong power and al things were prouided by these two mightie Monarkes as though they ment to determine all their controuersies by some one cruel bloody battell But God who ruleth the hearts of princes disposed of their intentions far otherwise then their blind affections led them For vpoÌ„ the sudden their hard harts began to be mollified and each party inclined to peace so that the place being appointed and the deputies on both sides agreed vpon they met about the midst of October following at Cercam betweene Artoys and Pycardy There were many complaints on both sides and a commemoration of sundry indignities offered on either part Each defended others doings neither was there any likelihood of better agreement so that after many contentious words their assembly brake vp without any coÌ„clusion for peace and yet for that winter approched the soldiers were not able to keep the field Peace concluded between France and Spaine both princes dissolued their armies and licenced their men of warre to repose themselues vntill the next yere But before that time by reason of newe occurrences there was a generall peace proclaimed betweene these two nations each linked with other with very strait alliances For King Philip whose wife Mary Queene of England was lately deceassed was contented to take in marriage Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Henry the French King and Pilebert Emmanuel duke of Sauoy was affianced vnto madame Margaret his sister so that by reason of these new coÌ„iunctions there insued much quietnes to all Christendome but especially to these two kingdoms who now had made an end of all their quarels contentions and seemed to study of nothing but how they might honor and solemnise in most royall maner these new marriages There was exceeding sumptuous preparation against the appointed time all the Nobilitie of France were assembled at Paris to attend the king to honor these espousals The lady Elizabeth was coÌ„ducted by the king her father to our Lady Church at the day prefixed in most pompous and stately maner and there married by the Cardinall of Burbon to the Duke of Alua was who constituted Procurator of the king of Spaine his maister The Duke of Alua marrieth the French kings daughter for his maister the king of Spaine There were all the princes of the bloud attending in their order and many cheefe Prelates and all the officers of the crowne The Duke of Alua was accompanied with the Prince of Orenge Count Egmond and sundrie other very honourable personages The marriage being finished there was exceeding feasting banquetting and cheering with dauncing masking and all other pastimes that could be imagined both to delight the eye and please the eare The king reioyced to see his daughter so honourably aduanced the Nobilitie and commonaltie were maruailously glad to remember what ease peace and tranquilitie they should enioy by this newe affinitie and all sorts seemed to triumph hoping there would be a perpetuall league and corespondency betweene these two Nations but now behold a woful mishap and lamentable mischance wherewith all this mirth and iollity was turned into weeping wailing and great sorrow so enterchangeably doo these two accompany each other so certainely do they follow one another The French king who had bin the principall challenger at tilt assisted by the Duke of Guyse Alphonse the Prince of Ferrara and the Duke of Nemours hauing borne himselfe very nobly that day and broken many staues to his great honor and high commendation would needes in the end run a course with count De Mont-gommery a valiant gentleman of France who at the first refusing The French King slaine with running a course at â—â—lt yet commanded by the king accepted the condition and offered so freely that theyr staues flying in peeces some of the shiuers getting in at the sight of the beuer pearced into the kings head greeuously wounded him that he died within eleuen daies after to the immesurable greefe of his subiects after hee hadde raigned twelue yeeres three moneths and tenne dayes CHAP. VI. Francis the second the French King The Guises authors of all the confusion in France The Guises ioyne with the Queene mother against the King of Nauarre The King of Nauarre yeeldeth to the Queene mother The Duke of Guise made Lieutenant for the King and Henrie Cardinall of Lorraine made L. Treasurer of France They incense the King agaynst the princes of the blood The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudie The hatred of the Guises towards the three Chastillons The Prince of Conde beeing discontented goeth from the Court The order of the States of France The Admirall presenteth the supplication of the Hugonots to the king The Prince of Conde committed to prison and is condemned to die The death of the King THe Kingdome of France had for manie yeares togither beene verie well acquainted with the variable and changeable estate of vnconstaunt fortune and vnder Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Francis the first and Henrie the seconde had by wofull experience found how subiect the most flourishing estates kingdoms coÌ„monwealths are to a continuall change and alteration and therfore hauing by long obseruatioÌ„ perfitly learned that the best means to maintain her selfe in her wonted grandeur and glory was to be leagued with her neighbour Countries and to be at peace and vnitie at home beganne to haue a flexible heart and to encline to quietnesse as much as might bee so that hauing ended all quarrels and buried all wronges and indignities in the pit of obliuion and by a neare coniunction with the Spanyard her ancient and mightie enemy in the opinion of most men procured her selfe a perpetuall peace began as it were to clap her handes for ioy and seriously to tryumph in so incomparable a benefite But the fatall and ineuitable mishap of this most noble kingdome which had florished for so many hundred yeares and had been the paragon of her neighbor nations could not as it seemeth be auoyded but that it must needes take place and wanting forraigne enemies to worke her ouerthrow must needes hatch a viperous brood which by gnawing out the belly of their owne mother haue most vnnaturally sought the destruction of her who haue most tenderly fostered and brought them vp The house of Guyse the principall cause of all the sturres in France The principall cause to produce so lamentable an effect and the only means in a maner to hatch so horrible a mischiefe was the immesurable ambition of that haughtie and aspiring house of Guyse who albeit they were straungers and no natural French men yet fortune so fauoured their attempts and made some of them
THE Mutable and wauering estate of France from the yeare of our Lord 1460 vntill the yeare 1595. The great Battailes of the French Nation as well abroad with their forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres With an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers Collected out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Historiographers LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1597. To the right worshipfull Maister Iulius Caesar Esquire Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe maister of the Requests and of Saint Katherins and chiefe Iudge of her highnesse Court of the Admiraltie c. a namelesse well-willer wisheth all courses of happinesse that can bee named SIr this Collected Historie of the inconstant and mutable estate of Fraunce from the yeare 1460. vntill the yeare 1595. describing the great battails of the French Nation as well abroade with forraigne enemies as at home among themselues in their ciuill and intestine warres also an ample declaration of the seditious and trecherous practises of that viperous brood of Hispaniolized Leaguers during their bloodie mutinies and attempts from time to time with whatsoeuer else so serious a discourse can or may affoord I offer to your worshipfull and most kinde patronizing Your euer knowne affable inclination to studie and works of woorth makes me no way mistrustfull of gentle acceptance wherfore in one ballance poysing the Booke and in the other whatsoeuer remaynes in mee alwayes most readie at your worships seruice I cease from further troubling you with lines vrging no delight desiring that as your vertues are numberlesse so your ioyes both in this worlde and that to come may likewise be endlesse Though namelesse yet alwayes by your worship to be commaunded To the Reader AS in a briefe Chronicle or short compiled Historie gentle Reader euen so in this worke shalt thou behold the slipperie and vncertaine estate of a mightie Kingdome of France our neare neighbour whose warres strifes and most troublesome contentions as well at home in her owne bosome â—s abroad with forraigne and hostile enemies during the space of these many yeares from 1460 vntill 1595. the accidents of all which tâ—mâ— this present volume doâ—th truly acquaint thee withall for out of sundry both Latine Italian and French Histâ—riographers hath 〈◊〉 beene carefully collected and being for thy sake attired now in an English habit familiarly tels thee that Monarchies miseries which when thou hast aduisedly considered on and therwith compared thy owne Countries continuall blessednesse I doubt not but as in sorrowing for the one so thou wilt hartily pray for the other that the afflictions of France may be Englands looking Glasse and their neglect of peace our continuall labour and studie how to preserue it Fare ye well THE MVTABILITIE of France CHAP. I. Lewis sonne to Charles the seuenth King of France is driuen out of his fathers Kingdome He flieth to Philip Duke of Burgundie Returneth After his fathers decease is made King He falleth out with Charles Duke of Burgundie Is suddenly stroken with a sore disease and dieth miserably AS the wauering and interchaungeable course whereto euery thing whatsoeuer is continually subiect hath beene alwayes heretofore dayly obserued in the most auncient and renowmed Monarchies that euer were So hath it appeared in these latter dayes Kingdomes and states ful of change and mutabilitie in this age and that in a more liuely maner in the strange and wonderfull alterations of our neighbor countryes whose peace and prosperous estate as it was the common obiect of euerie mans eye so are their vnfortunate warres and wofull miseries the vsuall subiect of all mens speach and nothing is more lystened after then to what ende matters of so great waight and importance are likeliest to tend The most noble and renowmed kingdome of France which for so many yeares flowed with milke and honie and for the temperatenesse of the aire the fertilitie of the soile the ciuilitie of the Commons the loyaltie of the Nobilitie the dignitie and magnificence of the Prince was accounted the paragon of all Nations hath especially tasted of this vicissitude and change which so long as it was at peace with it selfe and not afflicted with any ciuill discention the subiect honouring the King with all dutifull obedience and the King tendering the welfare of the subiect with a hearty and louing affection and both concurring in one for the aduauncement of the Common-wealth flourished in most beautifull maner and appeared verie pleasing to the eye of all Nations round about but after that it once began to nourish turbulent spirits and to harbour strange and vnnaturall humours the Prince following the daungerous proiects of yong and corrupt councellors who rather sought their owne priuate gaine then the publike profite and vtilitie of the state and the people beeing easily drawne by the perswasions of their Gouernours to embrace in a maner any noueltie that was propounded then began the common-wealth to bee intangled in manie daungerous mischiefes and to bee encombred with sundrie cares wherewith for this long time it hath beene exceedingly vexed and tormented And albeit there hath often bin some mitigation of paine for a while and that by the great wisedome and skill of such as sate at the stearne and had the managing of the publike affayres the ship which was well neare ouerwhelmed with boisterous waues was safely preserued from the wracke yet as though there were a fatall destinie which could not be auoided it presently againe fell vpon the shelues and plunged it selfe a fresh into a vast Ocean of vnspeakeable miseries wherein it hath continued floting vp and downe for these many yeares and at this day is come to that desperate passe that although it be neither split vpon the sandes nor swallowed vp of the fearefull billowes yet doth it serue as a perfect glasse to viewe the vnstable estate of these earthly things and for an assured proofe of the variable change and continuall vicissitude in the most flowring kingdoms and common-wealthes Which albeit it doth euidently appeare vnto the eye of euery beholder yet will it be farre better discerned if wee consider the reignes of sundry French Kings in whose times there hath fallen out most strange and admirable accidents themselues being especiall occasions to prooue a mutuall and an alternatiue course in al things whatsoeuer Lewis the 11. K. of France rebelled in his youth against his father Lewis the eleuenth of that name King of Fraunce and sonne vnto Charles the seuenth was in his youth as Philip de Comins reporteth allured by the craftie perswasions of sundrie seditious heades to become chiefe of a rebellious faction and to beare Armes agaynst his father to his vnspeakeable griefe and the imminent perill of the whole lande but that vnnaturall warre not continuing long and the sonne being drawne to his obedience by the louing and wise perswasions of the King his father all things grewe verie peaceable for
home to defende their owne territories Much confusion beganne nowe to growe among the Kings Souldiers and many of his mercenaries or hyred souldiers departed before the battaile beeing called home for the defence of theyr owne Countrey and the number which was least was farre lesse then indeed it was reported vnto the King so that the Emperialles spying theyr aduantage sette forwarde and with surpassing courage inuaded the Kings Campe in the dead of the night hauing couered their armour with whole shirts the better to discerne one another Their army was diuided into foure Battailons the first consisting of sixe thousand Almains Spaniards and Italians was led by the marquesse of Guasto a valiant yong Gentleman and of great towardnesse in the warres The second consisting wholy of Spaniards was conducted by the Marquesse of Pescara who commanded as principall in the army in the third and fourth battailes were the Dukes of Burbon and Lanoy who went as resolutely to the charge as any others The King being certified of their approch and hauing ordered his troups in as warlike manner as might bee deuised couragiously prepared himselfe for the encounter both armies were no sooner met The great valor of the King but the fight grew very terrible on both sides each partie doing his best for the glorie of their nation and for the obtaining of an entire victorie The King like a valiant captaine and noble souldier fought couragiously and forced the marquesse of Pescara to giue ground whereas hee being endangered to loose all sent to the Vizroy who had the leading of the formost battaile to come to his succors who vnderstanding in what danger the marquesse was furiously set on the Switzers who that day answered not the kings expectation breaking their array wholy defeated them in a moment Then appeared the misery of the French and the king himselfe was forthwith in imminent perill albeit he fought manfully and was seconded with a valiant troupe of French Nobilitie who did their vttermost for their owne securitie and honor of their country yet hauing the marquesse in his front and Antonio de Leua The King of France taken prisoner who was nowe issued out of Paua with al his forces on his backe after he had beene sore wearied and greeuously wounded both in the face and hand and had his horse killed vnder him hee was forced to yeelde to fiue common Souldiers which knew him not but shortly after the Viceroy passing by the king called vnto him and making himself knowne was with great reuerence receiued as Caesars prisoner Thus was the French king who not long before had beene in so flourishing estate commanding not onely ouer al France but also a great part of Italy being so mightie rich and puissant that hee was dreaded of all his neighbor princes subiected to a maruailous change and alteration The King of France sent prisoner into Spaine being made first a prisoner to common souldiers and conuaied from one place to another vntill at length he came into Spaine hauing left all his army to the mercie of their enemies who slew of them well neere to the number of 10000. and among them there perished twentie of the greatest of the French Nobilitie as Boniuet Chauany Monsieur de la palissa Tremoile Obigny and sundry others of especiall account The great slaughter of the french Nobilitie as Henry the king of Nauarre Renee the bastard of Sauoy Duke Memorancy Francis of Burbon Earle of Saint Paul Biron Imbercourt Floranges Colonell of the Switzers with a great number of especiall account were taken prisoners The Duke of Alanson escaped this bloudy conflict and recouered France with a mighty troupe of men of armes who serued for messengers of this wofull newes The emperials lost not past some 700. men and among them no man of any especiall account but onely Ferdinando Castriota the marquesse of Saint Angelo The Spaniards were maruailously enriched with this victorie for neuer had so few souldiers so great a bootie The gold siluer and precious moueables of the French Nobilitie were that day diuided among their enemies and euerie Spanish bisoneos seemed to walke in a world of wealth brauing it out in most superbious manner with the spoyles of the Flower de lis All Europe was mightily dismaied with the newes of this victorie and all estates beganne to grow iealous of the Emperials greatnesse The Venetians of all others thought themselues most neerely touched therewith The Pope the Venetians and other potentates make a league against the Emperour and therefore they offered to ioyne with the Pope and to hire a ten thousand Switzers to defende Italy against the Emperials hoping that the Lady Regent of France the Duke of Ferrara and many other Princes would ioyne with them against their common enimie In the meane time the King of France was as is alreadie declared transported into Spaine and sent vp into the Castle of Madrill This was no doubt a bitter receipt and a sharpe corrosiue to this magnanimous prince who had not been vsed to be confined in so narrow a roume but patience with hope was his best comfort for the Emperour would not see him much lesse minister any matter of consolation in that his wofull distresse neither yet did he seeme to shewe any externall signes of ioy for so glorious a victorie The moderation of Charles the fift he prohibited bonefires ringing of belles and such like accustomed solemnities saying that it might bee seemely to vse outwarde reioycings for victories against the Turks Sarrazins and other infidels but not against christian Princes The Emperours Councell were long before they could well tell what to do with this prisoner they beeing distracted into diuers opinions but in the ende it was fully concluded to make as great a gaine of him as might bee and therefore they earnestly pressed him to yeeld ouer all his claime and title to Burgondy Millan and Naples besides hee was bound to pay a huge summe of money for his ransome The agreemēt betweene the Emperor and the french King and to condiscend to sundrie other things and those so great that no man of iudgement thought hee would bee so good as his word Yet for assurance the King was contented to marry the Lady Elynor the Emperors sister and to grant that his two sons the Dolphin and the Duke of Orleance shuld be left in hostage for the better performance of the conditions Now was France brought to a lowe ebbe and the auncient splendor and glorie thereof mightily obscured yea that renowmed Kingdome which had beene alwaies accounted the parragon of all Europe and hadde beene a terror vnto the Romane monarchy sate as a desolate widow that had lost her husband in weeping wailing and great lamentation But shortly after this afflicted countrey began to bee recomforted and as it were reuiued after it had felt the pangs of death for the king being once set at libertie and gotten into France
sollicited other Princes as the Pope the king of England the Venetians and other states to ioyne with him and made a strong league and fell flat out with the emperour afresh notwithstanding all the promises which had beene made Then presently ensued new warres and all Europe was in a sort infected with this contagious humor Fortune which hadde so extreamely crossed the French designements began to be more fauourable and to beholde the king with a smiling countenance for the Lord Lautrech beeing sent into Italy tooke Bosco Genes Alexandria and Pauia from the emperour maruaylously aduauncing the French affaires The emperour beeing vexed at the heart with these newes complained greeuously of the king offering him the Combate The Emperour offereth the combate to the french King calling him forsworne and periured prince the King gaue him the lie and affirmed that hee would make it good vpon his body when and where he durst Thus did these mightie potentates fight a farre off with their tongues and their armies in Italy and other where sought to ruinate and ouerthrow each other by all possible meanes After many conflicts wherein sometime the emperials and sometime the French as it were alternatiuely had the better there was a peace concluded for tenne yeeres in which time the Emperour in very freendly and louing manner A peace betweene the Emperor and the French King passed through France to represse certaine tumultuous outrages committed in Flanders This peace beeing expired they fell again into new broyles but they were soone ended and nowe began France to bee scourged with the English who hauing gotten Bulloigne wasted their countrey round about The French king beeing very desirous to impale the English forces The death of Francis the first king of France and to keep them from forraging after their woonted manner raysed certaine forts round about in the most conuenient places but whilst hee was earnestly busied herein hee sodainely fell sicke and died 1546. at a place called Rambouillet hauing raigned 32. yeeres leauing his sonne to succeede him in all his territories and dominions CHAP. V. Henry the second maketh warre against the Emperour and taketh Metz and many other townes The Queene of Hungary inuadeth France The great army of the Emperour for the recouerie of Metz which was kept by the Duke of Guyse The Emperor raiseth his siege Teroanneis besieged by the Emperials The King raised a great power to withstand the Emperour The cruelty of the French in Henault The battaile of Reuty The King and the Emperour breake vp their armies Charles the fift yeeldeth ouer his empire Rome besieged and taken King Phillip of Spaine besiegeth Saint Quintins which he taketh after hee had ouerthrowne all the power of France The original of the Huguenots in France Callis besieged and takâ—n by the Guyse Count Egmond ouerthroweth Monsieur de Termes the Captaine of Callis Phillip King of Spaine marryeth the French Kings daughter At whose marriage the King of France is slaine by Montgommery HEnry the second of that name King of France Henry the second King of France was not onely heire of his fathers Kingdome but also of all royall vertues and princely qualities In the beginning of his raigne hee maintained the Scots against the English but at length a composition beeing made The king of France bendeth all his forces against the Emperor hee bent all his forces against the Emperour who at that time made warre against the Princes of Germany and hauing gathered a strong power wherein were 2500 french footmen 7000. Lansquenetes 1200. men of armes besides 2000. horsemen as many harquebuziers on horseback vnder the leading of the Duke of Aumaile ordaining the admirall Annebaut his Vizgerent in France Metz taken by the french commanded the Conestable to march before with the vauntgard who aduanced towards Metz. The towne was quickly yeelded vpon such composition as pleased the king and so became annexed to the crowne of France From thence the king went towardes Strasbourg where the French would gladly haue entred but the Citizens would in no wise permit them howbeit they offered what prouision they were able to spare but that would hardly satiâ—fie notwithstanding considering the Cittie was very strong and the people resolutely bent to defende themselues the King turned towardes Hoguenan and VVisbourg where the Embassadors of the emperiall princes met with him and desired him that he would enter no further into Germany with which message although the King was nothing well pleased yet he made a faire shew and seemed to take all things well and returned towards France The Queene of Hungary leuieth an army to inuade France The Queene of Hungary the Emperours sister vnderstanding of the retreat of the French deuised all the meanes that might bee to impeach them and to cut of as many as shee could catch at any aduantage and hauing leauied an army to the number of twelue thousand footmen three thousand horse vnder the leading of the Count Mansfeild and Martyn Vaurosh entered the faire fields of the Flower de Lys which they spoyled verie pittiously The King beeing aduertised heereof marched with all speede to releeue his distressed subiects but the emperials hearing of his resolution retired speedily whereupon the King began to cast about how he might conquere the Duchie of Luxembourg and hauing taken a Castle called Rock hee laide siege vnto Saint Iehan Solieure and Danuill all which were forthwith yeelded vnto the King Yuoy a place of great importance helde out for a time but in the ende it was gladde to hearken to a composition for albeit that the valiant Counte Mansfeild hadde put himselfe within the Towne and had fortified it very strongly with a resolution to defende it against all men yet by reason of the cowardlinesse of his Souldiers he was forced to yeeld to the Conestable and he with sundrie others of especiall account were carried prisoners to Paris Then ensued the taking of Momedy Luzembourg and the Dukedome of Bouillon by the mareschall of Sedan Cimets was likewise taken and the spoyle thereof giuen to the Souldiers Thus the French king prospered gaining many Townes Castles and strong holds from the Empire The French King breaketh vp his army without any resistance but his souldiers beeing wearied and diseased hee was forced to breake vp his campe and lay them in garrisons and to expect what course the Emperour would take to recouer his honour and to regaine his townes who by reason he was occupied in the warres with certaine of the Germaine princes could not hinder the French proceedings But he hauing with much ado compounded with Maurice and the rest of the Protestants employed all his counsels how to recouer that which the French king had taken from him and hauing perswaded with the Germaine potentates to aide and assist him in hs intended enterprise The preparation of the Emperour against the French king caused al his old bands which were in Italy as