would but releeue them with his succor To which the K. of Fraunce being councelled to listen yeeld all fauour for naturall and ancient desire to abate the greatnes of such an enemye before that hee would put his forces into the fielde to which hee gaue the Rende-uous at Vitry in Partois hauing already sent the Gouernours into their Prouinces to leuye the best trained and most voluntary Souldiers that they coulde hee caused to be published throughout his owne Realme Italye high and lowe Germanye and other quarters the declaration of his will and true purpose touching those succours which hee was minded to yeelde vnto them The letter which he caused to be made to this effect at Fontaine-bleau the 3. of February 1552. which Du Fresne broght with him into Germany for the same end were of this tenor That the greatnes of an estate Royall fetching his encrease from the enterprises which redounded to the profit of many and aboue all to the freendes of a Crowne he in like sorte was euer studied from his infancy in this holy exercise and in a desire to shew himselfe gratious and succourable to the whole worlde and that therefore comming to be King he had likewise vndertaken the protection of the Queene and Realme of Scotland renued the ancient alliance with the Suizers and in the end concluded peace with his Brother the King of England that the Emperour had lesie no craft or wilines whereby he might breake this peace to the end that Fraunce might be enwrapped with warre and discordes albeit that hitherto himselfe was neuer willing to haue begun the broile or to arme against him standing onely to his own defence But hauing heard the particular complaintes and greefes of sundry Princes Lords and States of Germanye as touching the tirannie and violence which the Emperour vsed ouer them vnder colour of reuniting those whome the diuersitie of religion had separated and disioyned of reforming of abuses and ouerrunning the Turke a common enemye to Christendome And seeing that herein he went about nothing else thē to encroche vpon the Monarchie and make it successiue to the house of Austria for these considerations the K. remembring that he was descended from the bloud of the ancient Franks or Francons issued out of Germany and the perpetuall alliance and amitie which in all time had bene betweene the Gallique nation and the Germane the which the Emperour and his Grandfather euer went about to breake he could doe no lesse then haue regarde thereunto and prouide for such mischiefes as are offred themselues on that part as the Emperor shuld execute his plats and enterprises His most christian Maiestie fearing leash the alteration of the Germane libertie might proue the ruine of that Nation and by consequence a great shaking to the glorye and power of the Gaules which haue Germany for their rampire hath considered it to be a matter almost necessarie for all Christendomes preseruation that they should ioyne their forces together to came whatsoeuer he were any one that should presume to encroche ought vpon their liberties it imported further that his Maiestie had seene so great disorder among the Princes and States of th' empire that hee was not able to iudge whether all or parte of them had praied him to shewe himselfe a protectour and defendor of this Germane liberty almost shaken in peeces that at this time many Princes as well Electors as other had besought him to assist them and be their helpe in this so vrgent a necessitie And in case that he would not doe it he protested before God and men the mischiefe that was likely to befall them and of which his Maiestie onely should be the cause greatly iniurying his own reputation and doing wrong to that which he oweth to the ancient league betweene Gaule and Germany Besides that he shewed to those Princes Electors and others and to the free Citties that since that Charles and his brother had taken vpon them to commaund the Empire euery thing fell into confusion and disorder And that that was true a man might see with his eye how he had fleeced the Empire the Citties comminalties and other places as Gueldres Vtrech Cambray and Constance which he had made become proper to the House of Austria and that by a thousand deuices he went about to encroche vpon the Archbishop of Treues and the Dukes of Cleues and Witemberg and cleane to ruine the principalitie of Hess The King further complained how that Charles and Ferdinand had cleane excluded the Embassadours of Fraunce from the Dietts and generall assemblies of Germany where in times past they had their place and that contrary to the liberties of Germany he would bridle the liberty of the Souldiers and keep them from seruing any in the warres but himselfe and that it was not lawfull for them to come vnder his pay without incurring of condemnation as breakers of his Edicts and attainted of treason he blamed the Emperour of Fellonye and crueltye in causing many braue warriers to be cruelly put to death because they had receiued pay of the K. of Fraunce he made instance of the Colonell Vgesberg whome the Emperour caused to be beheadded in his own presence of the banishmentes and confiscations decreede against Captaine Recrod the Ryngraue Riffiberg and Schertelin against whom he shewed himselfe so obstinately and cruelly carried that hee caused to be proclaymed by sound of Trumpet 4000. Crownes to whosoeuer could bring aliue or dead any of these Lords to make a good pastime with the effusion of Germane bloud for the Spanish bandes This discourse and other matters finished he concluded that he had made an alliance with sundrye of the Princes of Germanye and that togither with them hee was resolued to imploye both his forces and his person for defence of the libertye of whole Germanye without expecting any other recompence then the honour in hauing doone his dutye and tyed vnto him so puissant a nation as the Germane of which this his desire and pretence hee gaue assurance vppon his oath taking God to witnesse and swearing that in the woorde of a King and faith of a Prince and that in generall hauing no other intention then to deliuer all the estates of Germanye from the oppression of the Emperour and of his in particular hee pretended to doe it in fauour of his most deare and most beloued Cosins Iohn Duke of Saxe and Philip Landgraue of Hess detained in miserable seruitude by Charles whatsoeuer hee had promised or sworne to the contrarye thereby to get immortal praise as somtimes did Flaminius for hauing affranchised Greece And towards the latter end of the letter were these wordes We promise you in liksorte by the almightie God before all the Kings Princes and Potentates of Christendome that we will not in any sorte suffer that either to you in generall or to any one in particular of what estate or condition souer he be to our knowledge any wrong or iniurie shalbe
de Foix her Cosin brother in lawe to Charles the first K. of Nauarre and left her there fearing least the Earle of Armignac who had taken from her the Earledome of Comminges should take her to wife to the end he might make himselfe a peaceable Lord and went her selfe to abide with her Vnckle the Earle of Durgel in Arragon but her daughter was married vnto Iohn Duke of Berrie widower of Ioane of Armignac dying notwithstanding without issue succeeded vnto her in the Counties of Bologne Anuergne Mary of Bologne her Cosin germane who was married to the Lord de la Tour and of Montgascon father to Bertrant de la Tour and Gabrielle wife of Lewis de Bourbon first Earle of Montpensier great Grandfather to the Duke liuing Afterwards came Magdalaine wife to Laurence of Medices ancestors to Catherine of Medices Q. Mother to the K. liuing at this present day About this time the Landgraue being come into Fraunce 1533. got of the K. a masse of mony to cōtinue the amitie which he carried vnto the Princes of Germany vpon the morgage of the Countye of Montbelliard in the name of Vlrich D. of Witemberge his Cosin by the league of Suaube expelled his Duchie giuen by the same League to the Emperour who since gaue it to Ferdinand in partage vpon condition that if he were not repaied within three yeares the County should remain vnto him he had besides other monie of his liberalitie and with that hee leuied men and recouered the Countrie and placed against his Cosin in May 1534. Afterwards paide the first monye back gratified with an ouerplus vpon this Clement 7. who at the marriage of his Niece to pleasure the K. had made Cardinals Odet de Chastillon Philip de Bologne Claude de Guiry and Iohn le Venier B. of Liseux hauing runne sundry fortunes died in the end of September 1534. Paul Ferneze succeeding him who presently made Cardinalles Alexander sonne to Pierre Louis his base sonne and Ascanio sonne of Catherine his base daughter As the doctrin of Luther profited in Germany Flanders England Italy cuntries adioyning Fraunce felt it no lesse rather it seemed to increase by the greatnes of persecutions which might be seene by the hotte persecutions in the yeare 1534. for searches and informations were no sooner made of the prisonners but they were as speedily burned quicke tyed to a stake after swinged into the ayre were let fall into the fire and so by a pullise pulled vp and downe vntill a man might see them all roasted and scorched by a small fire without complayning not able to speak by reason that they had taken out their tongue and gagged Afterwards the K. to the ende that might not be a meanes of diminishing of the Princes of the Empire their amitye towards him and to turne away the wrath of God which hee feared would fall vpon his Realme for the opinion of these people made a solemne and generall procession to be made at Paris where the relique of Saint Geneuiefe patrones of the Parisians descended which happeneth but rarely In the meane time hee excused himselfe towards the Protestant Princes by his Embassadour assuring them that he made them to be punished for their sedition not for their faith to conferre whereof hee prayed them to send some of their diuines to meete with his for as hee saide Pope Leo had himselfe heretofore tolde him that he must needes acknowledge many light ceremonies and humane traditions which were fit to be changed in time afterwards Guillaume du Bellay called de Langeay his Embassadour about them being assembled 1535. at Smalcade seeing that he could not conclude a generall alliance with them for they euer excepted the Empire and the Emperour returned without doing ought after hauing exhorted them in the Kings name not to receiue Mantoue for the place of Councell which the Pope promised nor any other place without aduise of the K. of Fraunce and England who would doe nothing the one without the other Louis 12. K. of Fraunce said he by his Embassador in time past maintained that it did not appertain to Pope Iuly to publish a councell without consent of the Emperor and christian Princes and because the K. of Nauarre was of the same opinion Iuly excommunicated him and vnder this title Ferdinande K. of Spaine seased of the Kingdome of Nauarre the K. of Fraunce is at this present of the same opinion that he can alow of no councell but in a sure place not suspitious where it may be lawfull for euery man to deliuer his minde Edward Foxe B. of Hereford Embassador for the K. of England spake much more affectionately and shewed that his maister greatly affected the same doctrine which he had already in a great part established within his Realme for which the protestant Princes humbly thanked thē praying that they would no more suffer such as were of like faith as they to be persecuted After the 12. of December 1535. by a decree made at Smalcade on Christmas euen they renewed for ten yeares their alliance which expired at the end of that yeare and deliberating among the rest of prouision and munitions it was there concluded that they would all receiue the confession of Ausbourgh and be content to runne the same race among other there were the Princes of Pomerany Vlrich of Witemberg Robert of Bauiere he of Deuxponts the Citties of Ausbourg Franckeforde Campodum Hambourg and Hanobry with many more who ioyned themselues at Franckford in April 1536. and after Guillaume de Nassaw and albeit that the Landgraue did not accord with them there in respect of their claim which was made to the signory of Hesse yet he promised that if there should be any outrage for the profession of the Gospel he would not abandon them whatsoeuer ensued theron In the end of March 1538. Christian K. of Denmarck and Iohn Marquesse of Brandebourg brother to the Elector were both receued therin Now for so much as Helde who had bene sent from the Emperour to the Germane Princes to bring them to agree to such a Councell as the Pope had assigned and therein to resolue vpon all their differentes in religion c. could gaine nothing charging them euery way if they refused so reasonable conditions of Peace hee framed a League of which he saide the Emperor King Ferdinande were the authors the associates to be the Archbishops of Mayence and of Salisbourg Guillaume Louis of Bauiere George of Saxe Eric Henry of Brunswich that it was cōcluded vpon at Noremberg vpon cōdition that if any were troubled for the ancient religion succour should be ready at hand and to endure for 12 years vnder the name of the holy League as made for the glory of God and defence of the Church Afterwards 1539. the 19. of Aprill at Francforte the peace of Germany was accorded vpon such conditions the Emperour graunteth to the confederates of the confession of
all the charges of the Empire beseeching him to reconcile the Princes one to another in which the staye and encrease of the Empire wholly consisted the true and nearest cause of the ruyne thereof proceeding from diuision Then that hee woulde yeelde all ayde to his Sonne Philip as a neyghbour to such an enemye as the King of Fraunce was In the ende beeyng determyned to departe hee was stayed thourough the vyolence of his diseases contratyeties of windes long staye in the preparation of his Shippes and thourough a difference fallen out in some of the townes which would by no meanes receyue his sonne the father liuing and other which woulde haue his nephewe Ferdinande seconde sonne to the King of Romanes for their gouernour Ioint the male contentment of a number of Lordes and other who hauing employed all their meanes and often times their life in his seruice vnder a hope of great recompence sawe themselues by this his dimission and departure into Spaine frustrated of all their hope which they coulde not hope for at his sonnes handes who as ordinarily newe Kinges affecte newe seruauntes woulde employe his meanes but to the aduauncement of his fauourites or in recompencing their paines and seruice towardes him of whome himselfe had beene an eye witnesse About the ende of Nouember Ferdinande King of Romanes hauing assembled together the greatest parte of his men of warre wente downe the Danube as farre as Vienne to make head against the Turke who made great preparation for his descente into Hungarie to besiege agayne Vienne in Austria as I will shewe you To open vnto you the affayres and chaunges of the Realme of Englande in fewe woordes Henry the eyghte discontented in that he had no other heyre but Mary borne of Katherine aunte vnto the Emperour whome his brother Arthur had marryed at the age of foureteene yeeres and lefte her a Virgine by the aduice of the Cardinall of Yorke and many dyuines as well Frenche as Almaines and English diuorced her and hauing in full assemblie declared his daughter Marye illegitimate marryed Anne Bullen one of his wifes maydes the which Pope Clemente the seuenth so hardly coulde digest as that he condemned this diuorce as vniust and of euill example especially for that Anne was a Lutherane and he feared least the King and all his Realme woulde confourme them selues to the like religion Whereat Henrye tooke such disdayne as hee declared himselfe head of the Church thorough out all Englande with forbidding any to aduowe the Pope for head or to transporte any money to Rome or paye Peterpence a reuennewe which euerye house yearely payde according to the ordynaunce of Inas in the yeere seuen hundred and fourtie Whereupon there ensued a great alteration of Religion thorough out the whole Realme so confirmed by Edwarde his sonne as that the catholique was cleane banished out of Englande at the least in publique which caused many Englishe men to flye the Realme to seeke in some other Countrey a place of more free conscience Seeyng that the Dukes of Sommerset and Northumberlande gouerned the roaste in the yeere 1553. Notwithstanding as after the death of the Duke of Sommerset the Duke of Northumberlande seeyng howe the King was fallen sicke of a Fluxe which fell into his stomache from the moneth of Februarie had marryed his sonne Guilforde to â—anâ— daughter to the Duke of Suffolke and cousin vnto the sicke King hee wrought so much as that the young King reiecting his sisters Marye and Elizabeth declared for his heyre and Inherittice vnto the Crowne of Englande this Iane of Suffolke to the ende that by this meanes hee mought traunsferre the Royalle into his owne House and disinherite the true Heyres of their righte and legitimate Succession This Marriage and Testamentarie declaration beeyng done in the moneth of May gaue occasion to a number to thinke that this young King whome they helde for the piller of men of knowledge and gaue great hope of future vertue was poysoned and that beeing assured of the time of his death they had caused him to doe whatsoeuer they woulde haue him well were it of poyson or of a Caterre so it is that Edwarde the sixte of that name and the one and fourtie K. of England dyed the sixt day of Iuly the seuenth yeere of his Raigne and the sixteenth of his age solemly entered at Westminster not without the teares of his subiects who saide that his death was presaged by a Comet which appeared a little before his departure and by the great stormes windes tempests and thunders which had that yeere tormented London the chiefe Cittie of the Realme as the witnesses of such troubles as shortly after ensued in England for the people hating in secrete this Duke of Northumberland held for suspected the testament of King Edward as a thing made too much to the aduantage of the Duke and many Lords of the Countrie terming him too ambitious wrote vnto Mary the eldest daughter of K. Henrie the eight encouraging her to declare her selfe Queene and offring vnto her all dutie and seruice Marye who had no great meanes durst not so soone come to London to the ende that according to the custome she might remaine ten daies in the Tower before her Coronation but went into the Countrie and Dukedome of Norfolke bordering on the Sea coast from whence shee wrote to sundrie Princes and Lords of the Countrie complayning how that Iane of Suffolk had enterprised against her and that Edward was not able to dispose of the Crowne which appertained vnto her being the next daughter vnto the late Kinge Henrie she laide before them the wrong which had beene done vnto Katherine her mother and next vnto her selfe and that none of King Henrie his children were to succeede before her protesting that shee would pursue her right by the sworde and not suffer the Duke of Northumberland to vaunt how he would dispose at his pleasure of the Realme of England These letters being brought to London at the selfe same time as Iane of Suffolke against her will was proclaimed Queene within the Tower of London caused a great chaunge of dispositions among the Lordes there present and a strange alienating of their mindes touching the case of Iane whome sundrie from thence foorth left to take Maries parte The which caused the Duke of Northumberland to send certaine troupes of men at armes into the Countrie of Norfolke thinking thereby to hinder her desseins But in the meane time shee was proclaimed Queene in Suffolke by the principall personages of the land So as hauing recouered some succours from the Emperour on the coast of Flaunders albeit that the Duke had strongly armed vppon the Seas to hinder their comming shee practised with a number of the cheefe of the Duke his armie which in the ende incorporated themselues to hers In the meane time Northumberland to playe on the surer side woulde needes haue the Duke of Suffolke Father to Iane to goe as her Lieutennant
generall against Marye for hee durst not leaue London fearing least the Londiners woulde reuoulte But the Duke of Suffolke refusing to take this charge vpon him he was constrained to goe him selfe the other remayning to serue to giue counsell to his daughter within the Tower of London The mishappe notwithstanding of this poore Lord was such as of a great number of men which hee had in his trayne hee saw himselfe as it were euen in a moment left cleane destitute of them all And as one mishappe neuer commeth alone hauing for want of men sent to London for souldiours from thence to come to his succours and for some Lordes which might serue for hostages and warrant of his lyfe they were no sooner without the Cittie but they declared themselues for Marye Whereof it ensued that the Duke who hoped to see his Sonne Kinge of England sawe himselfe left of euery manne and deliuered into the handes of Marye his enemye afterwardes conueyed to London where his tryall beeing made hee then was condemned to loose his head the iudgement being executed in the moneth of September and Marie being proclaimed Queene at London by the Lords and coūcellors of the whole Realme of England as the lawfull heire apparant therevnto and in the end the miserable princesse Iane of Suffolke with her husband sonne vnto the D. of Northumberland had their heads stroken off at London for that shee would not release as some said the right which shee pretended to the Crowne Thus ceased the trouble on that side within the Realme of England Marie being thus receiued for Queene in England they propounded vnto her certaine points to effectuate as to reestablish the auncient Chatholique Religion the goods of the Church into their former estate then that it would please her to marie with some Prince worthie of her and her Realme thereby to draw a succour vnto the Crowne Whereupon to the end that better and more ready order might bee giuen vnto the first shee was counceled to send for her coussen Raynolde Pole then a Fugitiue at Rome for Religion who comming as Legate and with full power from the Pope might better aduance such a matter then any other within the Realme Pole being sent for and forward on his way with such authoritie as was required was entreated by the Emperour Charles the fift to visit him as he passed by at Bruxelles wher he so cunningly handled any Englishman as he promised him that he would further the marriage betweene his Cossin the Queene of England and his sonne Philippe Prince of Spaine which tooke such effect as you haue seene touching the seconde point which could not be so soone brought to passe The Legate being receiued with great deuotion and magnificence into his Country was in full assembly of the three estates of the Realme begon the 12. of Nouember 1554. restored vnto all his dignities goods and honours whereof he had beene depriued by K. Henrie the eight Afterwards vpon Wensday the twentie eight of that moneth the Parliament of England being assembled and in the presence of the King and Queene hee exposed his Legation and exhorted them to returne to the holy Sea of the Pope deliuering vnto them how greatly bound they were vnto almightie God who now had enlarged towards them his diuine grace hauing bestowed vppon them two such Princes as they had further he shewed vnto them how the holy Father ment to vse his benignitie and accustomed clemencye by him his Legate greatly thanking them for that they had receiued him into his Countrie and restored him in bloud where in hee had beene so long attaint and how in respect thereof hee helde himselfe the more bound to procure that they might be restored into the heauenly Court as his principall desire was That done he retyred to giue the better cōmoditie vnto the Lordes of the Parliament to resolue themselues And straight waies the Chancellour repeating the words of the Cardinall shewed vnto them how much they were to thanke God who had raysed vp such a Prophet of their owne seede to procure their saluation In such wise as al with a common accorde concluded to consent to the vnion and obedience of the Church of Rome So as on the next morrow it was ordayned that the Cardinals motion shoulde be accorded and to present with a common consent a petition to beseech their Maiesties as the head of the realme to entreate the Legate to procure an absolute remission of all their errors passed Promising to repeale all the lawes which had beene in former times established against the authoritie of the Sea of Rome The King sent the petition to the Legate and the daye after the Parliament reassembled in the place where the Kinge and Queene with the Cardinall were set There the Chauncellour rose vpp and with such greate reuerence deliuered alowde the resolution which had beene made by the Lordes of the Parliament beseeching in the name of them all that their petition might bee accepted which was written in Latine formed and sealed by the Chancelour The petition being opened by the Legate was deliuered vnto the Chancelour to publish who read it with a lowde voice and that done put it to the question which they all passed and vpon that the King and Queene arose and presented the petition vnto the Legate who read the same Afterwards hee gaue vnto them the Buls of his Legation to reade where by might appeare the authoritie which hee had from the holy Father to be able to absolue them that done he made vnto the man Oration in English shewing how much repentance was agreeable vnto God and how the Angels in Paradise make more ioye of a sinner which returneth to repentance then of nintie and nine iust And thereupon applied certaine examples out of the word to his purpose Then hauing ended his speech he arose vp and the King and Queene kneeled downe on both knees before him inuoking God and the Saints that it would please him to pardon the penitent people in the authoritie of him whose person he there represented all the faults which they had committed in times passed that done the Legate pronounced a generall absolution Afterwardes they all followed the King Queene and Legate to the Chappell where was song Te Deum And after that the Cardinall had made his triumphant entries he restored on the first Sunday in Aduent to the Bishoppes and other Ecclesiasticall persons all the power authoritie and prerogatiue which had beene taken from them On which day the Bishoppe of Winchester hauing beene before times of the Protestant Religion made a Sermon after a solemne Masse taking for his theame Nunc tempus est de somno surgere that is to say it is now time to awake out of sleepe as if he woulde saie that vnder the Raigne of Edward King of England he had alwaies beene asleepe The Queene had in the beginning sent Embassadours to Rome with commission to kisse the feete of his
with many hard and angrye speaches against his Maister had resolued to passe an armie into Fraunce to be reuenged of the wrong which he faide he had sustained And because it was doubted that hee would enter by Champagne where Bourdillon was with certaine Troupes the Duke of Neuers was sent thither with 10. companies of men at armes which hee distributed for the better strengthening of the weaker Garrisons prouiding as well as he could for the fortifications and munitions of those places where he bestowed the eight olde bandes which the King had sent vnto him while it was thus in working they put out into the fielde to be the better able to put in execution some soddaine surprisales according to their olde intelligences whereof very few tooke good effect Then eche partie tarrying for the maine of his armye made many little skirmishes now with good and now with bad fortune as well on the one side as the other In the meane time happened the defeat of a number of Bourgonians which the company of Gasper de Coligny called Chastillon defeated neere vnto Montcornet in Ardennes leauing fiue hundred dead on the place for recompence whereof other making a shew but of a small company of Harquebusiers presenting themselues neere vnto Mauber-Fontaine charged and killed in an ambuscade the Captaine Gourdes accompanied with fiue and twentye olde souldiers too ventrous and ill aduised in not tarrying for Bourdillon and his people who being arriued after their death followed the Bourgonians already retyred safe by the benefite of the wood into which for want of Harquebusiers they could not hinder more then two partes of them that had the victorie to retreat in surety as Mazaeres stoode in great want of prouisions ioyne thereto that a Souldier loueth best to get from the enemy and keep his own for his necessitie Captaine Villefranche hauing in the night planted a number of matches fiered vpon the toppe of the Castle Ditches at Lumes while that the Imperials discharged at them both Harquebusies Culuerins and other shotte tooke all the cattell and other prouisions which the inhabitants kept by fauour of the Portes out of which some of the most couragious hauing sallyed by little saw thēselues so bepelted with Harquebusies that they were constrained to let their prouisions be carried to Maizieres But the Burgonians hauing surprised the Castle of Aspremont which the yong Earle yeelded vp to the Duke of Neuers and in a course killed Captaine Ligneres and defeated the greatest part of his company betweene Hedin and Monstreuilse greatly bragged that they had beene so well reuenged At the same time the Garrisons of Pickardie vnder the Duke of Vendosme and his brothers the Duke of Anguien and Prince of Conde were no lesse often and painefully awakened then those of Champaigne all the long winter in which their masters notwithstanding were busied about more high enterprises thē those before mentioned as I will make you well to perceiue Beholde these Princes hard at it and the originall and preparation of their quarrels whereupon I think good before that I passe any further to fetch the affaires of the Christians from more high to the end I may not giue any occasion that should turne you from the knowledge of that which I will entreate of for as I speak of war of Religion pollicie and other humane actions when you shall see the Counsell of Trent mentioned and not know to what end when nor by whome it was helde the Lutheranes obstinate pursued with fire and bloud of the time wherof you should be ignorant and of the places where they came into the worlde by whome and in what doctrine they stood instructed if I speake of the Protestantes banded against so great Potentates and you not know whence they descended nor why their Father was so named nor the variable successe of their enterprises nor how nor why they were succoured by the Kings of Fraunce England and other Princes with a number of things which would remaine vnknowne vnto you for that you could not vnderstand their beginning and progresse you would take very small delight therein at the least you will take double contentment if all the whole be made manifest and plaine as you would your selfe desire since then that the knowledge of naturall things content not the spirite if the cause and reason thereof rest vnknowne amidst many accidents a somewhat lesse agreeable discourse by reason of the ignorance of their originall shall satisfie the more curious sorte if in representing therein vnto you their very spring and true motife I shall not fetch it from ouer farre As the iudgements of men are diuers and oftentimes contrary so is there not any thing so common or generall whatsoeuer that receiueth not alteration in some perticular which may easily be seene in all vocations especially in the doctrine which all embrace to the conduct of their saluation For to holde my peace of the diuersitie which is amōg the Christians half Christians Mahometists Iewes Paganes and other yea of the multitude of different and contrarie opinions which is in euery one of them it hath bene euer seene that Christendome how generall soeuer it hath at any time beene was alwaies set at controuersie by some perticular iudgement now in matter of substance now in discipline now in ceremonies and outward apparances be it that it proceede of ignorance or of a good zeale of malice or some indiscretion of persons which aduaunce themselues to speake And if wee shal seeke further examples then the memory of our fathers it is most certaine that religion planted in Fraunce in the time of the Pagans growne vnder the lyne of Clouis was no sooner established vnder Pepin and his successors but the authoritie and consequently abuse of certaine of the Cleargie encreasing with the abundance of wealth the zeale and curiositie of such as would reforme the discipline and life of the officers encouraged men by little and little to attempt to the substance and some to band themselues secretly and by writings others with open mouth against the Articles of doctrine which they little iudged of lesse vnderstoode or worse practised As notwithstanding the Pastors confirming their generall receiued doctrine by a better life then ours authorised both by one and the other thorough a seuere punishment of iustice to the example of euery one so the reformation being hindered to grow by the diligence and studie of the Bishops and iusticers it could not spread so farre but that at this day when all estates are onely curious of their pleasure and particuler profit they haue themselues giuen entrie to what they most complained off least doubted So many held their peace and the hardest could not gaine so much as to make any other opinion runne among the people then the common vntil that the officers of the Church and iustice surprised in their dutie by such as spied but an occasion fit to giue entrie vnto their opinions saw
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
authoritie of the Churchmen was an occasion that many soueraign and other Magistrates diligently hindred and with great seueritie the publication therof in their countries Besides that the multitude and contrariety of most absurde heresies which crept in at that very time did maruelously retarde the beginning yea and bring a maruellous abatement to the doctrine it selfe but the liberty which the people in the end resumed in their manner of life I will holde my peace as concerning the merite of the doctrine and the couetous obstinacy of great ones who could neuer be broght to leaue any more their ancient manners then the goods which they vsurped of the Church did adde vnto him so strong winges that many presaged his more high and loftye flight then hath as yet beene seene howsoeuer in a worde to teach perticularlye the beginning of his reformation Martin Luther borne the 10. of Nouember 1483. at Islebe in the Countye of Mansfelde sent to Magdeburg and Iscena to plye his studye and then being giuen altogither to Logique and Philosophie at Erforde shortlye after rendred himselfe Munke in the Conuent of Augustines against the will of his parentes and friendes giuing himselfe to the studie of Diuinitie in liew of the Ciuill and Cannon law to the expectation whereof as well his first bringing vp as the desire of his parents would haue destined him So as Stupice Vicar of the order of the Augustines who had the charge of the Vniuersitie lately erected at Witemburge in Saxe vpon the Riuer of Albye made Luther goe thither to reade Diuinitie Lecture since being returned from Rome whether in the yeare 1510. his brethren had sent him to sollicite and followe a sute which they had there hee passed himselfe Doctor at the expences of Duke Frederic of Saxe elector of th'empire vnder whome as he seldome employed himselfe but in his studie and that more then 2. thirds of Christians with one consent approued the faith and catholique Romane religion the suddaine and vnlooked for accident of generall pardons occasioned him though vnskilfully to debate in the beginning by way of Colledge disputations some pointes different in Religion Afterwards the fire of an ambitious anger inflamed by the vndiscreet couetousnes of certaine Questors encreased by the iniurious gain-sayinges of such and other his aduersaries ioyned thereto the zeale which he had to guide the more simple sort in a way which seemed better vnto him encouraged him to reforme and in the ende to reiect almost all the doctrine which had beene generally receiued of our fathers as soone as he saw himselfe excommunicated by the Pope and banished by the Emperour Charles the fifth 1519. See heere the beginning of pardons and true motife of the Croizade the fruites whereof at firste being ordained for the defence of the Christian faith and nation were imployed notwithstanding as you shall perceiue Selim King of Turkes a naturall and ancient enemie to the Christians had made himselfe in that time so much more dreadfull to them all as besides the consideration of his new conquests whereby he had increased the Ottoman empire he dreamed of nothing more puffed vp by reading of the happy carriages of Alexander the great then to make the conquest of the worlde more easie to himselfe then the other for hauing caused Baiazet his Father who had thought to haue made Acomat his eldest brother King with Acomat Corcu his brethren and all their race to be murthered was halfe perswaded to haue done as much to his owne onely sonne Solyman he tamed the Aduliens defeated the Zophy in battaile took Tauris chiefe Cittie of Persia and parte of the Realme which being forced to leaue for want of victuall and turning toward Syria ouerthrew two Souldanes of Egipt and after hauing made a cleane end of Mamelus race principall of the Souldanes he inuested himselfe in their kingdomes for gouernement whereof hauing left a Lord in Caire chiefe Cittie of the Countrie almost doubled his reuennues and entertaining armes both by Sea and land for th'execution of higher intents made himselfe so horriblye feared of his neighbours as the lesse assured tooke all paines to animate the rest of the Potentates to oppose themselues against his enterprises who fearing least the good hap of his so great victories atchieued would make his hart swell to the aspiring of their ruine chiefely considering that he so prosperously accompanied his power valour with a burning desire of making himselfe a Monarque and by his famous enterprises his name appeered most glorious to posteritie determined at the earnest solliciting of the Emperour Maximilian and Pope Leo to make the greatest masse of men armour and monie that they were able to the end they might at least exclude his entrie into Christendome if they found not themselues able to perfourm any way his ruyne imagining that he would attempt Rhodes or Hungarie if hee ment not to discende into Italye by the example of Mahomet his Grandfather who surprized Otrante with a very smal power which hee sent thither The Pope then the whole Court of Rome after certain solemne Processions in which they went bare-footed sent briefes to all Princes to giue them warning of the imminent danger and to pray them that all their quarrels set aside they would readily aduise for the defence of Religion and common health growing so vncertaine if by a generall force and agreement they would not make warre in Turkie to assaile the enemy in his owne home whereupon hauing well considered of the estate between the Turks and Christians it was resolued that the Emperour accompanied with Hungarians Polonians and Germanes shuld set forward through Danube in Bossine anciently Misia to the end to passe into Thracia and so approch Cōstantinople the cheefe seate of Ottomans that the King of Fraunce with the Italians and Zuissers should passe from the Port of Brundiese into Albanie a very easie and shorte passage to conquere Greece which being peopled with Christans in generall too rigorously handled by the Turkes was in a māner readie to reuolte that the King of Spaines Portugal Englands forces ioyned by Sea at Carthage and hauens thereabouts should prepare for the straight of Gallipoly to assault Constantinople after hauing taken the Dardanes otherwise the Castles seated at the mouth of the straight that the Pope should followe from Ancone with one hundred Gallies and that for the maintenance therof should be made the greatest prouision of monye that was possible by a voluntary contribution among the Princes and a forme of Impost free in generall to be gathered thoroughout Christendome This act proclaimed vniuersall Truce for fiue yeares thoroughout Christendome vnder paines of great censures to the breakers thereof and to the end that all particulars of greater importance which sprung from so high an affaire might be the better resolued of the one side and the other by the aduise of the Princes Embassadors which were resident about his
aliue the first of Iuly 1523. Hereupon Adrian died the 13. of September 1523. to whome Clement of Medices 7. succeeded vnder whome the doctrine of Luther began to creepe in amidst the French among whom albeit couertly and secretly the Lutheranes were soone enough suspected and known afterwards examined of their faith were very often pursued by the Clergie so as the French army being broken vp and the King taken before Pauie by Fernand Daual Marquisse of Pescaire Charles of Bourbon and Charles De Launoy Viceroy of Naples 14. of Februarie 1525. who caried him prisoner into Spaine his mother Loyse regent in his absence desiring in this so great an affliction to entertaine the good fauour of Christian Princes especially of the Pope besides the good affection and singular reuerence which by her letters shee protested to carrie towards the Church of Rome demaunded at their hands succour against such an accident and Councell how shee might staie the course of heresies which were already hatched thorough out the whole Realme Then Clement the seuenth besides his priuate letters full of hope and comfort signified from Rome the 20. of March 1525. to the Parliament of Paris that he had vnderstoode by letters from the regent how those wicked heresies began to slide thorough the whole Realme and whom by great prudence and good aduise they had deputed certaine to whom they gaue charge to see the punishment of such as stroue to abolish the faith and auncient Religion whom so deputed he confirmed by his owne authoritie It is necessarie saith he that against this great and maruailous disorder sprong from the malice of Satan and the rage and impietie of his supporters the whole world should bend their forces to preserue the common health considering that this forcenerie woulde not onely confound and broyle Religion but also all principalitie Nobility lawes orders and degrees For his owne parte he would neither spare any diligence or labor to remedie such an inconuenience that they in like sorte whose prudence and vertue hath euery where beene highly renowned ought to employ themselues to the preseruing of the true and right faith And moreouer that to the end the weale of their Realme and dignitie of their estate should be exempt from the perill and domesticall misteries which this pernitious and pestilent heresie sowed round about they needed not to bee pricked forwards considering how great testimonie of their prudence they had already yeelded yet to make his dutie appeare and shew the good will which he bore vnto them he would doe no lesse then adde this For that which they hetherto had done was most agreeable vnto him and was the cause why he exhorted them from thence forth to keep good watch against so mischieuous a plague of heretiques for the honour of God and safetie of the Realme In some hee assured them that this their diligence should bee greatly acceptable to God and worthy of much praise before men that he in like sorte would set to his helping hand and giue vnto them aide and all possible fauour Vpon this then the Diuines of Paris during the imprisonment of King Francis the first tormented greatly among other Iacques Le Feure of Estaples who hath left behinde him many bookes in Philosophie and Diuinitie In sort that hee was enforced to retire out of Fraunce The King aduertised hereof especially by the recommendation of his sister Marguerite who greatly fauoured Le Feure for his vertue sent letters to the Parliament of Paris in which he signified how hee had beene giuen to vnderstand that they had indited Iacques De Feure and sundry other of excellent knowledge before them at the pursute of the Diuines who deepely hated Le Feure for euen before his departure out of France some of that facultie had highly accused him before himselfe but wrongfully and without cause That if it had beene so saith he he gaue charge to the greatest personages and most notable in all erudition to canuisse out his bookes and writings wherewith he was charged which they diligently executing euery thing thoroughly examined a most ample and honorable testimonie was deliuered vnto him touching the said Feure considering then that the truth is such as hee did afterwards vnderstand that he was highly esteemed among the Italians and Spaniards for his doctrine and vertue he would stand maruailously discontented if they should offer any iniurie or put in any danger so innocent a person And for that at that instant he ment to haue iustice more rightly rigorously administred thoroughout his Realme then before as also for that he resolued to shew all fauour and amitie towards learned men to that end hee commaunded that if they had put any men of knowledge in question since his departure that it should be suspended by his mother the regent to the end he might be aduertised by her and that they should therein attend his intention and good pleasure In the meane time not to proceede any further but surcease vntill his returne which he hoped would be shortly by the grace of God or vntill that he or his mother should bee otherwise aduised These letters were dispatched to goe from Madrila Cittie in Spaine the 12. of Nouember and presented vnto the Parliament of Paris the 28. of the same month Loyse shortly after seeing that she was not able to winde the Emperour to such an accord as shee desired for the deliuerie of her sonne made alliance with Henrie the 8. King of England about the end of August 1525. The first Article purported that they should imploy them selues to the repelling of the Turkes strength and courses together with the pestiferous sect of Luther no lesse dangerous then the Turkes Now as the Emperour perceiuing the King to grow verie sicke in respect the pretended accord could take no good effect feared least by the encreasing of his sicknesse he might loose thorough a suddain death so certaine aduantages as presented themselues he went to see him at Madril comforted him and put him in better hope then euer In the end the 14. of Ianuarie 1526. the treatie was concluded Among the Articles whereof it was specially set down that the Emperours and Kings principall end was to haue the enemies of the faith and heresies of the Lutherans cleane rooted out And that a peace being concluded between them they should settle the common wealth and vndertake a warre against the Turkes and heretiques excommunicate and cut off from the communion of the Church A matter aboue al most necessarie and to which the Pope had often dealt and sollicited them to become watchfull To satisfie then his good pleasure they resolued to beseech him to commaunde Embassadours from all Kinges and Princes to meete at a day in some certaine place with generall charge and commission to aduise how they might well make a war against the Turke and defeate the heretiques enemies of the Church that the Pope would permit euerie Prince according
ought to haue done cōsidering how much the Turk at this day wasted Hungary albeit that they furnished all against the Infidels yet except there were a mutuall consent by a peace and brotherly beneuolence among the estates no thing could be brought about aduantagious against so puissant an enemye the Deputies notwithstanding gaue vp their appeale in writing and in the end had leaue to departe so as all being deliuered in councell the 14. of October 1529. the Princes and others assembled towardes the end of Nouember at Smalcade where the difference of Religion hindering as yet any resolution they departed vnder condition that whosoeuer would in each point consent to this doctrine and receiue it should meet at Noremberg the sixt of Ianuary 1530. there to deliberate of what were to be done Now they concluded nothing but to tarry vntill the day which the Emperour should publish in the Spring which was at Ausbourg the 8. of April 1530. Charles the fift elected Emperour in Iune 1519. at Francforde vpon the Rhyne notwithstanding the contrarye pursuites of the French for their Prince after the death of Maximilian the 12. of Ianuary and sacred at Aix in the end of October was crowned at Bologne le Grasse the 24. of February by Clement And whereas vpon the 20. of Iune when the day assigned by him at Ausbourg where he made his entry began he commaunded the Duke of Saxe to carry the Sword before him going to the Masse according to the office of Marshall to the Empire Hereditarie to the house of Saxe the Elector would first take the aduise of his Doctors who perswaded him that it was lawfull considering that he went thither to execute his office and not to heare the Masse he was there then onely accompanied by George of Brandebourgh After many affaires proposed and debated in the end he caused to be published this decree for religion that hauing reiected the confession of the Protestants faith hee ordained in summe that nothing should be changed in matters concerning faith and diuine seruice that whosoeuer should doe the contrary should be punishable both in body goods that reparation should be made of all the iniuries which had beene done to the Churchmen and to the end this decree should remaine inuiolable for religion he assured that he would imploye all the meanes which God had giuen him thereto euen to the spending of his bloud and life yea it was forbidden that any should be able to pleade in the imperyall chamber which astonished a great many for the Emperour took good assurance of all the rest for the execution thereof whereupon the Protestants being assembled the 22. of December 1530. at Smalcade concluded a forme of alyance to succour one another to the which the Princes at that instant bound themselues and with them many other Lords and free Citties thinking good to trye therein the King of Denmarke and Princes of Pomerania and Magdeburg with all to write to the Kings of Fraunce and England to disswade them from such false reportes as their enemies might make runne of them and their religion which they accordingly did the 16. of February 1531. The Landgraue allied himselfe with them of Zurich Basle and Strasbourg in Nouember vpon condition to succour one another for their religion but after the breaches betweene the fiue little Cantons and the rest which passed in certaine reencounters where the reformed had the worst and the accord made betweene them since that in October 1531. was put this clause that they of Zurich Berne and Basle should quit the allyance of the Landgraue and Strasbourgh with the fiue Cantons of K. Ferdinandes Afterwards the 29. of March 1531. they met againe at Smalcade where they receiued but slender answers from Denmark and Pomeranye they consulted of meanes how to haue succours ready at need of men monye and munition and for that they had had the opinion of learned men before they confederated together and that Luther had before taught and published in writing that it was not lawfull to resist the Magistrate hee now changed his minde for when as their Lawyers did declare in this meeting that such a case might bee offred as the Lawes permitted a man to resist as they did in this he said he was cleane ignorant of that point for that the Gospell did not impugne the lawes pollitick but often times confirme them and because they sayd that such an accident might arise in which necessitie and duetie of conscience did put the sworde into their hands he made a book by which he admonished all men in generall not to obey the Magistrate if he sought to imploy them in such a warre for they stoode well assured how that the Emperour sollicited by the Pope and other went about some mischeefe for them vnder colour of hauing a care for the common wealth of Germany King Frauncis the first wrote curteously back vnto them the 21. of April 1531. with offer of his helpe so did the K. of England the 3. of May. Now after the decree of Ausbourg the Emperour being sollicited by the Pope and other of the Cleargye seemed that he would make the Protestants range themselues to the common doctrine but for that certain Princes more peaceably addicted among the Catholicks saw that that could not be brought to passe but with great inconueniences to all Germanye considering that the Protestant Princes and confederate Citties had already prepared themselues they councelled the Emperour to assigne some daies to examine therein their doctrine and to seeke meanes of peace and accord in religion which often had bene assaied and euer in vaine by reason of the great difference thereof and that the Princes as Luther at other times had done by Pope Leo his Bull had appealed from the Decree of Ausbourgh to a future councell to whom properly appertained the debating of Religion In the end notwithstanding about the beginning of October the Princes wrote againe to the deputies Embassadors for peace that if any did thinke or could proue that their doctrine proposed at Ausbourg were erronious in any point or in default of so doing would submit himselfe to the testimony of the holy Scripture they held it most agreeable that if the Emperour would assigne a day at Spire and giue safe conduct and ostages to themselues their associates and Luther which they ment to bring thether besides if he would permit their free and publique preachinges together with the vse of the Supper according to Christs institution and not constraine them to make difference of meates they or their Deputies would be present with ful power and if their doctrin were not confuted they trusted the Emperour would no more hinder them in their Religion In the mean time since that they had formed an appeale to a lawfull Councell they besought the Emperour that he would not in the meane season innouate ought against them Now besides the point of religion the election of Ferdinande to
seuenth Emperour of that name hee had a Sonne named Iohn who by manage was King of Bohemia and gaue succours to Philip de Valois against Edward the third King of England being present himselfe in person at the day of battaile but there remained hee for that the Englishmen had the better Among other he left Charles his eldest Sonne who afterwardes was the fourth Emperour of that name Father vnto Wenceslaus and Sigismond who both came after to be Emperours and the latter was likewise King of Hungarie and Bohemia and solicited the councell of Constance Albert of Austria of whom he spake was Emperour sonne to Raoul the Emperour who alwaies entertained good amitie with Philip le Bel King of Fraunce albeit that Boniface the eight enflamed him as much as possibly he could to make war But it is now time to look back to the French I haue tolde you how the King of Fraunce being come as farre as Strasbourge with an armye of thirtie thousand men for the succour of the Protestant Princes against the Emperour afterwards resolued of his returne vnderstanding of the Peace concluded betweene the Germanes had deuided the body of his forces into three partes to make them to march sundry waies the easier and with lesse discommoditie of victuals and especially to encounter the sooner the Q. of Hungaries army which she had to the borders of Chāpagne This Princesse knowing how the affaires of the Emperor her brother went but euen hardly by reason of those occasiōs which I haue made you to vnderstand and aboue al that this French armye would proue a crosse girde to his intents determined to retarde the same by such troupes as she could leuy throughout the lowe countries which would bee in such sorte able to preiudice the realme as the K. should be enforced to returne for succour of the same and so hauing solicited Martin Vanrosse the bastard and Marshall of Cleues she caused him to come downe into the duchie of Luxembourg with 3000. souldiers of Cleues Valois and Geldres assisted with 600. horse all which being ioyned with Count Mansfielde the gouernour of the Duchie the Bailife of Auanes the Gouernors of Cimetz other chieftanes made vp the number of 12000. Fantassins 3000. horse with which they determined to enter into Fraunce and there to doe the worst they shuld be able they tooke Satenay vpon the Meuse by a Lorraine Captaines voluntarye deliuerye therof which the Dowager of Lorraine had left there without other Garrison where suddenly they employed themselues to repaire the breaches and to restore it into his former estate building of a bulwark behinde on the side of Dun le chasteau and a platforme towards La iustice Now vpon the bruite that they ment to assaile Villefranche Bourdillon went in with seauenteene horse and the same night made his company of men at armes to enter in with as many men and prouisions as hee was able but being aduertised how they changing of their opinion were determined to returne to Mouson he lefte Chastellus his Lieutenant at Villefranche issued from one of the antient houses of Burgundie with such full authoritye as the Queene and the Admirall D'Anebaut had giuen vnto him to commaund there and with the rest of his company entred at breake of day into Mouson where Roche de Maine was with his company of men at armes and the three hundred Fantassins of the Barons of Cerny but if the cheefest sorte did not agree much more were the inhabitants perplexed through the feeblenes of the place commanded by a high mountaine neere vnto it notwithstanding any rampire which they were able to make to couer it besides that the principall of the towne had already trust vp their baggage Bourdillon notwithstanding hauing assured them of the Kings comming at hand and hauing caused his cobbarde and other more precious moueables to be brought in and swearing not to abandon them they a little assured themselues The Imperials for all that being saluted with the Cannon shotte of Villefranche and councelled not to remain there crept along the riuer as farre as the village of Brioles where they burned the Church and the forte then to Mont-faucon which they burned and so descended into the plaine to put men into the Castle of Boulandre which they took by stealth getting of victuals and prouisions which they carried to Satenay from thence all along the riuer they sacked sundry villages as farre as Grampre a little Towne vpon Aire neere Chalons and Atigni where they rested and vnderstanding how the Admirall hauing put the Legionaires of Champagne in armes and vnited the Zuizers with the French men of warre approched neere they set fire on Grampre Boulandre and other places to retire themselues to Satenay where they had intelligence that the light horse of the Kings army who aduaunced forward were already at Luxembourg an occasion that to retire themselues they all abandoned it leauing the most parte of those of Cleues and Geldres for the assurance of Yuoy if any should goe about to force it King Henry in the meane time who heard the complaintes of these miserable Subiectes the sooner to hasten the reuenge put out of his armye almost all the sicke persons and lefte the baggage vnder the conduct of the Earle of Arraine and Visdome of Chartres with their companies and some light horse and Harquebusers mounted for the conueying therof into Metz or any other place which they should think more assured afterwardes the discamping of the imperials being known the immoderate diligence vsed at the retiring of his troups the conquest of the duchy of Luxembourg was deliberated of and resolued to annex it vnto the crown as a proper succession fallē to the house of Vendosme by the death of the Constable S. Paul true Lord peaceable possessor thereof in carrying the name and armes as the authors of that councel maintained albeit that since that time Charles Duke of Burgondie had euer vsurped the same the rather for that many neighbours therabouts said that it was the very true refuge of theeues and outlawes therefore did the armye drawe right to the Castle of Roc de Mars all alongst the Mozelle betweene Treues and Theonuille seated on the steepe of a hyll strong enough for scituation and fortification with a little Towne beneath it vnder the tytle of Viscount The Castle summoned made refusall for a number of Gentlemen Ladyes and other neighbours of reputation were retired thither imagining that the King would first employe his forces against Theonuille and that at all assaies they might euer be receiued at an honourable composition after the first brunte But the King contrariwise was councelled to attempte that in respect of the victuals and prouisions which the armye so much wearyed should there finde that the sacking thereof might rather bee giuen to the Souldiers how Theonuille was too strong and well prouided to bee gotten in so shorte time which
fifteene Ensignes of French Fanterie and almost two thousand horse against nineteene Ensignes of the Spanish Fanterie which lay encamped about the little towne for that the inhabitants had shutte the gates vpon them fearing to be sacked by them as their neighbours had beene The skirmish lasted almost a whole day eche partye being obstinate to the gaining of the victory which after a long hazard vncertaine combate remained to the French very few of them being either dead or hurte but many more of the Spaniards whereof in like sort diuers were brought away prisonners After all this coyle the French returned to Anchy and about Hedin where the Almanes were put in garrison the bayliwick whereof was giuen by the King to the Count Reingraue In summe towards the end of the moneth of October some companies as well of the French Fanterie as light cauallerie being cast the rest were deuided and put into garrisons to passe ouer the winter which drew on In the meane time the Emperour proceeded on to pursue a marriage betweene his son the K. of Spaine and the infant Mary new Q. of England with such earnestnes as he forgot nothing which might serue to the consummation thereof seing him selfe almost out of all hope to haue succour elsewhere or recouering of any monie at neerer hand which many of that Realme sought to hinder foreseeing an immortal warre with the French which was prepared for them by this meanes remembring well the losses and damage which they had alreadye sustained in hauing vpholden the warre against this nation from whence the Countrie of England reaped great commodities Notwithstanding so much auayled the perswasions of the Emperor with the instigation of the two Queenes Mary and Elenor and aboue all the inductions of Cardinall Pole cosin to the Q. that she being cleane rauished with this new loue and with the ambition to see her selfe wife to the Sonne of an Emperour the better to assure her estate against the reformed and other malcontents in spite of the aduise and liking of the greatest of her Realme keeping her sister Elizabeth likewise a prisonner consented to this marriage Afterwards with as much speede as was possible she affianced by Proctor which was the Earle of Aiguemont Philip K. of Spaine hoping shortlye after to perfit and consumate the ouerplus The K. knowing that all these things tended to no other end but cheefely to endamage and annoy him made a great masse of monie calling such to his aide and succour as he knew were most obedient and faithfull vnto him and as hee thought best able to aide and do him seruice Pope Iuly to the end to pacifie these great troubles of Christendome had sent the Cardinall of England to mediate a peace betweene the King and the Emperour for you must vnderstand that vpon the pursute of the warres of these two Princes Pope Iuly seeing all Europe as it were much moued with the feare of mischeefes which was likely to ensue to euery Countrye by reason of the particular quarrels of these two Monarcks with a secret remorse and gnawing of conscience for himselfe had beene the Author had sent the Cardinall of England his Legate to the King and the Emperour to aduise and by all meanes to vnite and cause them to condescend to a good peace in which he imployed himselfe so vertuously that laying aside all ambition or feare of hatred or other cōsiderations he neuer ceased to lay before them the infinite miseries wherewith the poore Christian people were afflicted togither with the vncertaintye and miserable estate whereunto the Catholicke Church by their dissentions was reduced And albeit that many accounted him to fauour the Emperour more then the King yet hee seemed to haue so well managed their hartes that the hope of a peace was alreadye common thorough out Fraunce and quarters neighbouring about yea so great that the poore borderers of the one and other Lord perswading themselues thereof so assured themselues by little and little that they reedified and began to reinhabite their cottages and small tenementes as yet besmoaked with the fire wherewith they had beene burned to ashes so farre as euery man promised vnto himselfe a happy repose if it would please God to mollifie the harts of these two great Princes But euen as all the tokens of Moses and Aaron hardened the more the obstinate courage of Pharaoh to the end afterwards to make the great wonders of the Lord to appeare so this great God not yet satisfyed and content with so small a punishment for our enormous sinnes would not permit vnto them the vnderstanding to receaue a good and assured peace for the ease and repose of all Christendome wherfore the Legate after many trottings to and fro of each side returned very sorrowfull vnto the Pope leauing in the harts of these two Princes this so inueterate an enmitie whereof the clamors could not so soone mortifie the effects The Queene was deliuered at Fontaine-bleau about nine of the clocke and three quarters past in the morning the eighteenth of March 1554. of a sonne named Hercules by Charles Cardinall of Lorraine Anne de Montmorency Constable and the Duchesse of Guyse daughter to the D. of Ferrara afterwards leauing that name he was called Francis D. of Alencon and of Aniou In the meane space and about the first of the spring there arose a certaine brute of a warre at hand betweene these Princes and much furniture and weapons were dispersed whereby they might bee polished and made readye to the seruice afterwardes to be mustered as soone as the fame was spread throughout France how the Emperour had prepared a great leauye of men of warre and all other sortes of prouisions towardes the Countries of Liege and Ardennes with intent to besiege the Towne of Mesieres hauing established Mariembourg and Auanes as store places and markets to his armye so as Bourdillon who then was at the Courte was presently sent back to fortifie strengthen this little Towne with whatsoeuer should be necessary to attend their comming On the other side the K. foreseeing the Empeperours determination and intent made all meanes to assemble his forces to the end to meet him and preuent him of this small enterprise hauing sent sufficient enough of succour into Piemont and Italye thereby to pursue and continue such good beginning as fortune in that parte had presented vnto him Besides hee dispatched Captaines and commissioners to bring him men of warre as well out of Germany as from those Cantons of Zuizers as were his confederates This was about the ende and issue of the Spring when as the Sunne raysing him selfe high to send among vs his great heates burned and consumed the fruites of the earth with so strange a drouthe that togither with the long trauayle of the warre the poore people expected nought els to the aggrauating of their miseryes then a great and mortall famine for the heape of all theyr pouertyes
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
be giuen of such as shall be appelants that therin they take some of your Ecclesiasticall Councellors such as shall be chosen or for default of them some other notable and sufficient personages In regard of the inquisition that it be obserued to haue the Popes inquisitor deputed vnder him thoroughout all prouinces to be men of good renowne and of entire life And that the Bishop be at the charge and not the accused vpon condition notwithstanding that the processe being ended the charges be recouered of those to whom it appertaineth These things are proper to bound in and enclose such processe within certaine limits Moreouer for that it appeareth that by the punishments of Heretiques how necessarie soeuer they be they haue not amended them vntill this present but onely it hath beene shewed thereby how detestable the thing is and further for that it is farre better to preuent a sickenesse then to giue it leasure to grow and afterwardes apply a remedie you must herein most gracious Prince follow the customes and pathes of the primitiue and auncient Church for shee was not established either by sword or fire but the diligence of Bishoppes hath alwaies resisted against Heretiques because that they alwaies insisted to preach the word of God shew good example in their life Considering then how the Church was by this meanes confirmed there is no doubt but shee would still be able to maintaine and countergarde her selfe if you woulde therein vse your power causing Bishops and Pastors in their owne persons to gouerne their Churches and likewise all inferiour ministers That they liue holily and teach the word of God or cause it to be taught by persons sit And that hereafter the charge of Churches be not giuen but to men able of themselues to teach without substituting Vicars in their roomes This is the roote whereunto the hand must be put this is the foundation vpon which the building must be framed for by this meanes there is hope that heresies will by little and little vanish away But if no account be made of following this course there is danger that heresies will encrease more and more what Edict soeuer can be made or remedies vsed to the contrarie In summe few of the Lordes of the priuie Councell remaining there which would any waies contrarie the same the Edict which I will speake of else where was engrossed in the end coÌ„cluded and after published thoroughout the whole Realm to the contentment of some and displeasure of many other In this same time Charles of Austria Emperour of the Romanes tyred with the enterprise of humane actions no lesse then pressed with his particular inconueniences resolued to put end thereunto So that as well to appease the violence of his Goutes feeblenes of stomacke megromes headach and an infinite of other diseases which day by day diminished his naturall strength as to see the inconstancie of mundane accidents and small assurance in the fairest desseins of man good fortune the compagnion of manie his actions hauing bene often times enterlaced by the encounter of some Signal desastre Iointe the presages of Vesalins his Phisition and other vpon the breuitie of his daies he determined to exchange a publique life vntill then reasonable well gouerned with a particular and solitarie which rather carryed a Religious deuotion then any mundane managing Therefore hauing from the moneth of September caused his sonne Phillip King of England to come vnto him to whome for sixe weakes together he communicated his most important affaires and the meanes which he ought to holde in the gouerment of his estates hee caused the generall estates of all his low Countries to bee assembled at Bruxelles where hee declared the indisposition of his person the good they had receiued from himselfe and the fauour which they might receiue from his sonne whome as then rising out of his chayre and kneeling barehead before and ouer against the Emperour putting his hand vpon his head he inuested in all his patrimoniall goodes hauing recommended vnto him Religion Iustice he gaue him his blessing Then the Prince rysen vp and due reuerence made vnto his Father and Queene Mary his Aunt in the ende turning vnto the people thanked God for his present aduantages besought him to assist him in all his actions to come rendred thanks vnto the Emperour for the care he had of his person from his first age vntill that day vnto the people for the acceptaunce they had made of him assuring them of so good a gouernement as they should not haue cause to repent themselues of this happe and consent Afterwardes Queene Marye dowager of Hungarie Gouernesse of the Lowe countries seeing the teares trickle downe the graye bearde of the Emperour his pale and earthly face rose vp to declare vnto the people that for thirteene yeeres together while her charge endured which shee had receyued from the Ceasareal and she had employed all the meanes which God had lente vnto her to acquitte her selfe of her duetie that if any faulte happened it was vnwitting and not of any her malice for which shee besought all them to pardon her assuring her selfe that her brother the Emperour rested contente This done the Emperour publiquely acquited all his Subiectes of their oathes made vnto him and rising out of his Throane caused his Sonne to sitte therein who presently receyued the homages and oathes of all his Vassalles Afterwardes all the first Seales of Charles were broken in pieces and in their place King Philips were brought wherewith there were presentlye sealed certayne pardons and other dispatches Thus did hee disseaze himselfe of all his goodes and estates to leade a peaceable life in a house of pleasure which hee had builded in Castilia called Iust reseruing onely to himselfe the vsufruite of Castilia and the superintendaunce of all the commaundaries Afterwardes by his gratious Letters to the Electours and Princes of Germanie he besought them to reconcile themselues together vnfoulding vnto them the small occasion which they had to quarrell one with another aduertising them of his purpose to passe into Spayne and howe he had resigned the Empire into their handes counselling and beseeching them to chuse his brother the King of the Romanes whome they knewe to bee of desarte and age Fearing least if some younge Emperour shoulde bee chosen hee woulde encrease the warres among the Christians a fitte onuerture to the Turkes to empayre Christendome especially vpon his nearest neyghbours In the ende hee recommended vnto them his Sonne beseeching them that if euer hee had done any matter of woorth for them and their Countrey they woulde acknowledge it in the behalfe of his Sonne who beeyng charged with great affayres had neede of his friendes assistaunce At the least that they woulde not bee contrary vnto him though some particularities might turne them from ayding of him Hee sent likewise Sâ—uler a doctour to his brother Ferdinando to yeelde ouer vnto him on his parte
holinesse and to present vnto him the dutie of a Chatholike Queene and an obedient daughter of the holy and Apostolique Church of Rome which shee acknowledged for the head Matrice and Soueraigne of all the Churches of Christendome and mother of all the Princes making profession of the Gospell Which was so agreeable vnto the Pope and the whole Courte and people of Rome that for a publike testimonie thereof they made Bonfiers and solemne processions praising God for this conuersion Afterwards and in the yeare 1555. an other Parliament was summoned in England in which among other thinges Queene Marie wrought by all the meanes shee was able that the Abbie lands might bee restored for so much as the Pope did vrge it very hard But by reason that the Nobilitie and Gentlemen stoode seased thereof and that manie had guifts thereof from the King nothing coulde bee brought to passe as shee desired Notwithstanding the Queene preuailed so much as the tenthes were graunted to the Clergie during this assemblie they scattered and sowed about London little pamphlets very biting among which some were sufficiently enough able to moue the people to sedition against the Spanniardes with whome the Englishmen playde a thousand shrewd turnes and to turne the Queene from the loue of Phillip Great search was made but it neuer could be possibly known whence they proceeded Before this assembly was dissolued and matters dispatched the B. of Winchester being Chancelour dyed of a Dropsie Thomas Heath Archbishoppe of Yorke who before that had beene in Germanie with him of Caunterburie and professed the Protestant Religion succeeded in his place After the victualing of Mariembourg and the attempts of Deux Ginets the King being informed of the auncient clames of the houses of Blois and Mont-forte to the Dutchie of Bretaigne to appease with the selfe same hand the quarrels which were redoubled by the Lady Anne Queene of Fraunce and Dutches of Bretaigne issued out of the bloud of Mon-fort in whose right the King himselfe claimed to accorde this olde difference with Messire Iean de Brosse Duke of estampes and Earle of Ponticue heire of the house of Blois rightes hee accorded in such sorte as this Duke released vnto him for himselfe and his successors Kinges of Fraunce all rightes titles reasons and actions which hee pretended to the Dutchie of Bretaigne in right of his mother the Ladie Marle of Bretaigne issued out of the house of Blois and the King cleane acquited and transferred vnto him the Countie of Pontieure sauing certaine Ports betweene Couegnon and Hauegnon and the Seicheries of Cornoaille Whereof autenticall letters passed betweene them The Historie of Fraunce THE FOVRTH BOOKE THe narration of matters passed hath made you able to know no lesse the desire thē the necessitie which the French had of a generall peace vnder the benefite whereof they hoped to forget all at the least part of so many losses passed and of the present miseries which caused them to feare much more mischeefe to ensue you haue seene how stoute these Princes shewed themselues vpon their treaties by the aduantagious conditions which their Embassadours had charge from them to repose In the ende notwithstanding yeelding vnto the aduise of their Councell they thought good to renew againe the negotiation Iointe the feare which the Imperials had of the comming of the Turks and the desire of Marie Queene of England to haue her husband still about her hoping there by to get an inheritor vnto her Crowne to restore the Catholike Church into her Countrie not to enter league with any one to warre against another to ease her Realme of so great charges not to breede any occasions of new riots and mutinies amongst her people Of all which points shee cleane lost the hope if her husband should bee absent employing in the managing and conduct of warre Besides the peaceable nature of this Prince which made great accounte of the good Councell which his Father gaue him to procure a reconciliation with all Princes rounde about him were sufficient occasions to mooue him instantly to request the Cardinall Pole to renew againe the tearmes of peace or at the least to conclude a good truce for a release to so great mischiefes Whereupon seeing the difficultie of articulating the conditions with such aduantages as each one desired the truce was concluded for fiue yeares the fift day of Februarie 1556. ceasing al quarrels and beginning againe to enter traficque and Marchandise one with an other as well by Sea as land euery man retaining what they had gotten and taken by right of warre without being able to agree vpon their prisonners among whome the D. of Ascot a Flemming and Francis de Montmorency eldest sonne vnto the Constable were the principall with many other conditions which were proclaimed at Paris the sixteene day of Februarie And afterwards the Comte de Lallain was at Blois in April to confirme the same with the King as also the Admirall De Chastillon was at Bruxelles with the Emperor and King Philip to receiue there the oath of their part wherein it was not forgotten to motion a marriage betweene Don Carlo eldest sonne vnto Philip and Prince of Spaine with the Ladie Isabel eldest daughter vnto the King But if Fraunce and the prouinces which cōfined on the Septentrional side hoped for repose during the continuance of this truce new occasions of more fresh mischiefes presented thēselues on the other side especially towards Italy You haue seene the election of the Cardinall Theatin to the Papacie and for that the house of Caraffe out of which hee was descended and of Melphe being of the most speciall marke within the Realme of Naples haue alwaies remained deuoted vnto the Crowne of France which euer honourably entertained them the Colonois Vrsins and other families of Rome partakers of the Emperour fearing to bee made stoope and least the Pope would too much exalt the friends of the French whome he might cal into Italy for that the Church of Rome pretendeth the Realme of Naples to be of her proper Domanie and least together with the graunts made vnto the Kings of France confirmed by the Popes predecessors and other matters which the King there demaunded he should make a new ratification with intent to bee able to preuaile helde themselues in the beginning vpon their gards then as the fearefull man interpreteth all newter things simple and doubtfull to his disaduantage they suspected in such wise the actions of the Pope and his confederates as they well furnished with men armour and other munition such lodgings as they had within the Towne Whereof the Pope being aduertised as soone animated against them he leauied men and by a generall muster tooke away armes from those whome hee thought had too much he munitioned the places within Rome and well furnished the Castle of Saint Angelo with all necessaries Afterwards as a man licenseth himselfe accordingly as leasure and libertie is giuen vnto
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
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
the victorie Afterwardes hauing alledged a number of diuers perticular examples of marke notwithstanding and of all sortes of estates who they saide dyed of a strange and extraordinary fashion hauing beene sworne enemies to the Lutheranes they added If it please your Maiestie well to aduise thereof you shall finde that you had no sooner concluded to runne them ouer but euen as sodenly newe troubles were stirred vp by your enemies with whome you haue not beene able to fall to any accorde The which God hath not permitted for that the foundation of the peace was vpon the persecution which you determined to make of the seruantes of God As also the Cardinals haue not beene able by their crueltie to hinder the course of the Gospell which hath already taken so deepe a roote within your Realme as if God shoulde slacke you the bridle to roote them out you shoulde bee as it were a Kinge without subiectes Tertullian very well saide that the blood of Martirs was the seede of the Gospell To take away then al these mischeefes proceeding from the riches of the Papistes which causeth so great whoredoms Sodomies incests wallowing nourishing thēselues like swine with idle bellies the best way were to put them again into their former estate as the ancient sacrificers the Leuites were to wit without lands posessions as an expresse commandement therof was giuen to Iosua For as long as the ordinaunce of God tooke place and that they were exempt from ambition the puritie of religion remained in her entier But when as they beganne to aspire to principalities riches and worldly honoures then did those abhominations swell out which Iesus Christ there founde Thus was it in the Primitiue Church for shee flowrished remained in puritie as longe as her ministers were simple and sought not their owne greatnes and particular profit but onely the glory of God For when as the Popes beganne to tende to a Superintendency and vsurped the true Domaine of the Empire vnder a shadow of a false Donation they wrested the scriptures and attributed vnto themselues that seruice which we owe vnto God Therefore your Maiestie may with good right cease vpon all their temporalties in a sound conscience to imploy them to their true proper vse First to the maintainance of the faithfull ministers of Gods word which should be distributed amonge them for their nouriture and entertainement as the case should require Secondly to the maintenance of the officers of your Iustice Thirdely to the nouriture entertainement of Colledges and to bring vp the youth of the poore to what they should bee most apt to be applyed And for the rest which is infinite it should remaine for the maintenaunce of your owne estate conducting of your owne affaires and comfort of your poore people which onely carieth the burthen and possesseth as it were nothing And in doing this an infinite number of men and especially of your nobilitie which now liue of the Crucifix will imploy themselues to your seruice and the Commonwealthes so much the more diligently as they shall see that you will recompence none but such as shall haue deserued it For there is neyther Captayne nor Lorde which will not thinke himselfe better recompensed with a benefite of 500. liuers then to see 1000. to bee giuen vnto his brother to haue them spent in Dogges and whoares And there is an infinite number of men within your Realme which occupie the fayrest estates and offices and neuer deserued ought of the common wealth By this meanes it shold be an easie matter for your Maiestie to be serued onely by your owne french nation in the warres according to the aduise and councell of the Sieur de Langey For you shall finde but too many men in whome there shalbe more fidelitie then in strangers which exercise themselues in warre with your expence and cary the money cleane out of your Realme As also the sommes which yow giue yearely for pensions to forrainers such as go to Rome euery day for Collations of benefices which lend that againe to your enemies to make warre against your selfe And in thus doing all shall remaine still in your owne Realme which thereby will grow rich opulent and inuincible When the Papistes doe see that they haue no reason at all to gainesay then doe they assay to render such as they call Lutheranes odious vnto your Maiesty and tell you if their saying were true that you should bee made a priuate person and that there neuer happened any change of Religion but the like ensued of the Gouernment A matter as false as their accusing of vs to bee Sacramentaries and that wee deny the authoritie of Magistrates vnder colour of of some furious Anabaptistes which Satan hath stirred vp in our time to obscure the light of the Gospell For the histories of the Emperours which first began to receiue the Christian religion that which is happened in our owne time declare the contrary Was there 〈◊〉 Prince more feared and obeyed then Constantine was in receiuing the Christian Religion Did he therefore abandon the Empire Nay he was rather so much the more confirmed therein and those of his posterity which were contented to be guided thereby For touching those which swarued away and followed mens traditions God hated them yea their race is no longer continued vpon the earth in so great horrour doth God hold them which abandon him be it neuer so little And in our time the late Kinges of England Princes of Germany were they at any tyme constrained in purging away of such superstitions as the malice of time had brought in to abandon their kingdomes principalities Euery one may cleerly see the contrary And how great honour obedience and fidelitie doe those people beare vnto their Princes and superiours which haue receiued the reformation of the Gospell in our time Nay I might say how that Princes before knew not what it was to bee obeyed when as the rude and grosse people woulde easily receiue the Popes dispensation to driue out their Princes and naturall Lordes Did you euer perceiue any of those whome they call Lutheranes to tende to any trouble or sedition notwithstandinge the cruell punishmentes which they haue endured I call for this to witnes Monsieur le Mareshall de Brissac if he haue founde within Piemont any people more obedient then those of the valles of Angrongne and the rest and when at any time hee laide any charge vpon them were it neuer so hard if they did not beare it without murmuring Whereas if they had not held for certaine that Kinges Princes and Magistrates are ordained of God they woulde not so willingly haue obeyed but being constrayned by force would more slackely haue behaued themselues The true and onely remedy Syr is that you cause a holy and free councell to be held wherein your selfe shall proceede and not the Pope nor any of his which ought onely to defend their causes by the
cōquered which as thē was esteemed impregnable before which as the Chronicles of France doo witnesse during the raigne of Phillip the sixt named De Valois and in England of Edward the third the English armie layd siege during the space of one whole yeere In the end they which were besieged with in the towne were driuen to so great a necessitie and famine as they were faine to eate rats and hides of leather Iohn de Vienne commaunding there it was yeelded the third daie of August 1347. wherby the English inioyed it two hundred ten yeres during which space they bragged how they carryed the keyes of France at their girdle beeing able by this meanes to enter and depart the realme at theyr pleasure But as one Phillip king of France lost it so dyd the French againe conquere it from another Phillip king of England It was onely inclosed with stone walls full of round towers ioyning neere one another first builded for speare and shielde arrowes or anie other instruments of warre without fire after the old fashion and without anie rampires or other deuises or subtilties such as are now a dayes inuented agaynst the force of our artillerie At this houre it is iudged to bee one of the fayrest and strongest townes of warre in all Europe For as much as besides the naturall situation therof in a place vnaccessable for that it is inuironed three partes with riuers brookes and marishes and the fourth side defended with the sea with a great and spacious porte not beeing subiect or to bee commanded by anie thing The arte and inuention of man hath giuen vnto it a forme more square than otherwise new clothed without wyth great large massiue rampires hauing at the three corners towards the marish three gret bulwarks in point triangle-wise wel flanked and armed to couer and defend the curtines And on the other square towards the downes standeth the castle by which for that it was not knowen or the imperfection not remedied grew this last taking of the towne Besides this towne is wholy inuironed with large ditches and maruellous deepe with springs at the verie bottome alwayes full of water by reason of a little riuer which commeth from Hames which passing thorough the towne watereth them filleth them full as well as all the rest of the little brookes which breake out of the marishes fall downe and few thether for the most part But which is more praise-worthie in a towne of war there is one of the fairest square publike places as is possible to behold in which at the least may bee put in battell betweene foure or fiue thousand men and the reuenue and profite of the port must needes be better for that it is one of the principallest most renowmed townes of the Ocean sea whether there is brought from all partes of the world an infinite and inestimable riches and of all sortes of marchandises and from thence lykewise they are distributed into sundrie other Countries Now whilest that they battred the towne the thunder and bruite of the artillerie being heard within England the Queene to remedy the same caused a number of ships to bee prepared which she furnished with souldiers and all kind of munitions fit for anie succour to bee sent thether But when they approached and alreadie perceiued the colours and white crosses to waue vpon the tower of Ricebanke and wals of the towne without comming anie neerer they returned backe to carrie report thereof home into their countrie The towne of Calais beeing surprised in so short a time there grew afterwardes some disputation to which of the two they should addresse themselues either Graueline or Guines for so much as these two fortresses seemed to bee lyke two shoulders to support the towne and as two strong bulwarkes to close vp the two principall passages thereto to wit Graueline for Flanders and the lowe Countries and Guines for France Notwithstanding these propositions being amplie debated of and discussed the more sound opinion resolued that Guines imported much more for the conseruation of Calais than Graueline although it were far stronger and of more difficile accesse According to which aduice the Generall of Guise without giuing anie great leasure to the enemie to bethinke himselfe of anie remedie pursuing neere his victorie the thirteenth of this moneth besieged Guines where Grey commaunded wyth a good number of men of warre and all other kinds of munitions requisite At theyr arriuall the French finding the towne abandoned lodged there for their better help towards the battering and assault of the fortresse which was ioyning thereunto But the Englishmen surprising them as they were growen into a great disorder about theyr lodging sallyed out at a posterne gate of the castle and thrust them out vpon the first fury setting in spight of them the better part of the houses on fire and afterwards retired but the D. of Guise caused them to begin the breaches albeit the Artillerie gaue impediment enough thereunto So as with an obstinate assurance and without intermission he caused the worke to bee pursued Where hee himselfe to augment theyr courage and to serue for an example to euerie one was ready with the first and had his Mattocke as soone ready in his hand to make way for the Cannon as the meanest Pioner in the troupe And in such sort continued in preparing the ground and dressing vp of Gabionades as within three daies after hee approched and put the mouth of his Artillerie to the number of thirtie fiue peeces of batterie iust vpon the border and counterscarpe of the diches to batter as well pointe blanke as trauersing in three places principally one of the greatest and principallest bulwarks which flancked on the one side the Courtine of the Gate and on the other their great bulwarke which they called the keape vndertaking at the first one of the strongest of the bulwarkes in hope after to obtaine better cheape some of the lesse and smaller sorte Thus verie sudainely began the batterie The which endured without cease two daies a halfe in such a furie as within so short a space there was discharged betweene eight and nine thousand shot of Cannon In such sort as this great bulwarke being opened and disarmed the breach by the 20. of this Moneth appeared reasonable for the assaulte But the D. of Guise for all that knowing by how many waies and deuises a breache might be repared and the meanes and subtilties which the enemie might inuent to entrappe them which should make the assaulte and to fortefie himselfe within before that he would hazard his Souldiers thought it good to make the breach more then once to be veiwed and what kind of accesse was made for to goe vp at And therfore at the first blow he sent fower of his most disposte Souldiers which hee could chuse out followed with twentie other resolute men who were incontinently retired by his owne commandement The next morrowe he sent
an assembly The French Embassadors oration in the Councell of Trent The choise of Bishops and Cleargie denied to the Pope The enacting of La Pragmatique Sanction 12. Articles in Fraunce The K. letters and complaints against the Pope The K. answere to the Emperours obiection The originall and differēce of Christian religion in Fraunce How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Albigeois was dispersed thorough Europe Opinions soner changed by ease and rest then violence The English Lords of Guienne in france Normandie Poictou Anioy c. The Religion of the Vaudois dispersed thorough England VVicklife his Doctrine Lollards in England Liuonia Sermatia c. How the doctrine of the Vaudois and Wicklife was carried into Polonia Bohemia and other countries of Almaine The Bohemians and Almaines persecuted by the Popes inquisitors before Iohn Hus. Councell of Constance summoned for the refomation of the Church Iohn Hus cōdemned and burnt as an heretique at Constance notwithstanding the Emperours safe conduct Popes deposed Ierome of Prag condemned and burned at Constance as Iohn Hus. The Bohemians angrye growe more resolute by the death of Hus and Hierom. Captain Zischa leuieth men against the Priests Monkes of Bohemia Luther his beginning 1518. Generall pardons published through Christendom 1517. Luther cited to Rome What caused a stay of Luthers reformation Martin Luthers beginning profession and carriadge of life Luther himselfe confesseth it in his answer to the book which H. D. of Brunwick wrote against him 1541. as Sleyden reporteth in the 14. of his history repeating Luthers words who discouered the occasions which moued him to preach and write against pardons My name saith he began to grow famous because no man was found else that durst oppose himselfe This little glory was pleasing as then vnto me c. Selim King of Turkes dreadfull to his enemies Selims crueltie towards his father bretheren and race Pope Leo endeuoureth the Christian Princes to enter league against the Turkes How the Christians armie should be bestowed to annoy the Turke Christian Princes rather respected their perticular then the common cause Selim dieth Soliman succeedeth The palorepiscopal mantle how made and giuen by Popes (4) Made of the wool of two white Mattons set vpon the Aulter in S. Agnes Church while Agnus Dei is sung vpon that holy day and afterwards giuē to the Subdeacons of S. Peters who shere them at shering time and of the yarne which cōmeth from them among other maketh a mantle three fingers broad reaching from the shoulders to the calfe of the leg with little knobs of lead at the skirts from thence laide vpon the corps of S. Peter S Paul with certaine praiers and kept there one night with great ceremony after deliuered to him that must haue it and is only for Archbishops Luther appereth before Caietan the Popes Legat. Luther apealeth from Caietan The foundation of pardons and Indulgences Luther eager against the Court of Rome Erasmus his opinion of Luther Luther condemned by Pope Leo. Luther appealed againe from the Pope Luther publiquely burneth the cannon law and Popes Bull. Luther banished by Charls his letters pattents at Wormes The Masse first abolished in Germany Iohn Hus prophecieth of Luther The Emperour visiteth in person the K. of England Images broken downe in Germanie Luther misliketh the breaking of Images by the people Leo 10. dieth Adrian 6. succeedeth Adrian dieth Clement 7 de Medices succeedeth Letters from the Pope to the Parliament of Paris King Francis writeth in the behalfe of Iacques Faber League betweene the regent and Henrie the 8. King of England Peace concluded between the Emperor Charles and Francis y e first Suissers reformed Geneue a first retreate to French Lutherans The decree of Spire permitted euerie mā to maintaine his Religion without alteration The beginning of the league of Smalcade among the Protestants Whence the name of Protestants first sprong The opinion of the Supper being diuers among the reformed is cause of great inconueniences The King of Fraunce and England succour the Lutheranes The Protetestants demaund of the Emperour Election of the K. of Romanes Frederic of Saxe elector dieth Accord between Fredederic K. of Bohemia and the D. of Saxe Peace thoroughout Germany and Religion free The race and descent of Medices in which the translator doth desire the indifferēt Reader to consider what scandalous libels haue of late yeares by to humorous affections bene cast out in disgrace of the house of Medices onely to a base the royal race of Vallois of this look Guicciardin in his first booke c. The Q. Mother descended out of the house of Bologne by the mother side K. Frauncis aideth the Protestants Pope Clemēt dieth Paul Ferneze succeedeth Persecutions in Fraunce The Pope hath no authoritie to assigne a councell (4) According to the Romaine Emperours who named the informers quadruplatores The Emperours Interim The Protestants oppose themselues to the decree of the Emperour Councell of Trent Decree of the Councell of Trent Martin Luther dieth 1546. The Emperour writeth to the townes for succour The townes send answers Speach betweene the Emperour and Landgraue The holy league betweene Pope Emperour and other Princes The Emperors army against the Lutheranes The Emperor banisheth and condemneth the D. of Saxe Protestants defie the Emperour The Emperors deuice to draw Maurice against his Cosin Elector of Saxe The Protestants fault and error Maurice warreth against his cosin and the Protestants The Elector hurt taken broght to the Emperour Great ransomes which the Emperour had of the Germaines The Emperor would haue the Councell remoued frō Bolonia to Treat Melancthons answere Persecution of Lutherans Diet of Ausbourge The Landgraue discouered minding to haue made an escape Difference about succession in the empire Councell Maurice demaundeth a more safe-conduct The Catholiques helde that faith was not to be holden with heretiques Safe conduct from the coūcell at Basle for the Bohemians Magdebourg deliuered vp Embassage from the king of Fraunce to Maurice Maurice and Brandebourg Embassadors speech The Princes Embassadors Maurices demaunds at the councell Diuersities of opinions in the Councell of Trent The Councell of Trent deferred for 2. yeares Crescence Cardinall Legat and president for the Pope died of an apprehension The birth of H. 3. K. of France and Pologne The Baronnie of Montmotency erected into a Duchie with right of a Petre. The K. letter to the Electors Hostages of Fraunce and Germany The propositions of Maurice The resolution of peace deserred and wherefore The Vaudois of Prouence how when by whom and wherefore persecuted as Heretiques Arrest of the parlament of Aix They were about 24. as well inhabitants of Merin dolas other their neighbours Particular iudgements vpon the merite of the arrest The president La Chassane differreth the execution of the arrest and his reasons Cause of delay of the execution Catalogus gloriae mundi made by Chassane and printed at Lions Guillaume du Bellay L. of Langeay lieuetenant for the
battered vndermined taken and sacked by the Imperials Horace Farneze D. of Castres De Magny the Vicount of Martigues Moninuille Cizieux Dampierre Lusignan and others dead at Hedin The French army assembled neere Amiens and Pequigny The D. of Ascoâ— prisonner The French army in the field A new ordinance of harquebusiers mounted Bapaulme represented The dessein of Charles 5. Emperour against the French Their answere of Cambray to the King Skirmishes before Cambray Description of the towne of cambray This towne of Cambray was euer coueted of the K. of France but neuer able to be reduced to the Flower delice vntil Francis D. of Brabant Aniou and Sonne of France and onely brother to the King had by siege taken the same and so annexed by his prowes at this day to the Crowne of Fraunce The Citadell of Cambray Feeble places ought not so much as to offer to holde out against an army bringing canon Representation of the Imperials forte The order of the French army hoping to gaine the battaile neer Valenciennes An inuention of the French so to order as all their troupes in one day should fight in battaile taken from the ancient Romanes How the artillery was ordered and disposed The K. presence giueth great encouragement to the Souldiers The charge of the French Cauallerie Consultation whether the enemies were to be assailed within their own forte or no. Retraite of the French Retrait departure of the French army The Marshall S. Andre sent with part of the army to recouer the County of S. Poul Count Reingraue A marriage treated between the K. of Spaine and the infant Mary new Q. of England Cardinal Pole sent to treat a peace betweene the K. and the Emperour Birth of Mounsier The K. army assembled in diuers pleces The French entreth in 3. places within the Emperours country The army of the D. of Neuers and his exploites The difficulty of the Ardennes The fort of Linchant ruined Streame of Semois The Castle of Orcimont summoned besieged battered and yeelded vp by the flight of the Defendants Valsimont the 4 lodging of the D. of Neuers armie Streame of Vouye The Castle of Beaurin summoned Beaurin Castle yeelded Cap. Salsede commissioner generall for victuals conquered al the Castles along the riuer Mariembourg taken by the French Rocroy a small village between Maubert-fontaine and Mariembourg fortified for the safetie of the passage Their answere of Disnan to the D. Harroâ—lde and trumpeter The K. armie Bouines furiously battered and taken by assault Forts punished for holding against the K. power A chiefe of an armie ought not to be to ventrous English Scotts takeÌ„ at the ports of Giuets by the Bourguignons The Emperours armie vnder the prince of Piemont An act of a most christian K. The imperial armie followeth the French from place to place Marimont a hous of pleasure to Q. Marâ—e burned The imperials enterprises vpon the French armie Marriage of Philip of Austria Mary Q. of England Courtesie of England Iane of Suffolke and her husband with sundry other beheadded at London The K. army before Rentry and his desseines The Emperour before Renty his disseines The Emperours and K. Henries desseines before Reinty The Imperial army to giue battaile to the French The French army represented before Renty to giue battaile The D. of Guises speech to the gentlemen of his company The K. answere to the Zuizers The second combate in which the imperials were ouerthrowne Number of the dead French and Imperial The K. army dissolued Mariembourg Pope Iuly 3. deceased Pope Marcel poysoned Pope Paul 4. Iesuistes Cardinal Pole his perswasions to a peace The place appointed to treat of the Peace Captaine Saluoson The Turks scoured the coast of Tuscane D. of Sauove Isle of Corse Syene desieged by the Marques of Marignan Ciuitelle besieged by the French A Captaine punished for cowardly yeelding vp a place furnished Turkes come to the aide of the French sacke all the coast of Italy Siene besieged by the Imperials Pope Marcel more deuout then watâ—er Montalcin the retreate of the Sienois Setean taken Port of Hercule a road for the french Gallies surprised by the Marquisse Ferdinand Gonzague disapointed by the Emperour The Duke of Alua Lieutenant generall in Italy for the Emperour The Marquisse of Marignau malcoÌ„tent with the Duk of Alua retyreth to his owne home Affaires of Piemont The first exploits of the D. of Alua rigorous to astonish them of the countrie Vulpian victuaaled by the D. of Alua. Saint Iaco besieged battered lest by the Imperials The D. of Alua retireth vulpian besieged battered and assaulted yeeldeth to composition Montcaluo taken Certain captains hanged for so slightly yeelding Combat at the sharpe betweene 4. French and as many Spaniards and Italians Surprises of certain companies in Piemont Desseins of the Imperial army A notable accident The part of a Brother Appeale of the last refuge of the condemned and safegarde of innocencie Charles 5. Emperour yeeldeth vp all his estates and retireth into Spaine to liue priuately Mary Q of Hungarie Gouernesse of the Lowe Countries Grace sweetenesse the first actions of Princes Letters plaints of Mary aspiring the Crowne of England Libels against the Spanniardes in England An accorde beetweene the King and the Duke of Estampes for his clame to the Dutchie of Bretaigne Occasions which moued K. Philip Marie of England to harken to a peace Charles Cardinall of Lorraine and his vyage in into Italy Perswasions to periurie Marriage of Mareschall Montmorency eldest sonne to the Conestable The Pope the last succour to flie vnto for breach of truce and oathes The King of Spaines answere to such griefes as the K. alleadged on the Popes behalfe Particular causes of the breache of Truce by the Imperialles Iean de Lune a Fugitiue into Fraunce Plaisance rendred to Octauian D. of Parmâ—â— Point of Honour in a Cardinall The Duke of Alua beseaâ—e hâ— Rome with the Pope and cardinals so harde as he thought to famiâ—lâ—e them The meanes which the French and Italians helde to a liâ—e Rome and the Pope against the enemies attempts attending succours out of Fraunce Ostia taken by the D. of Alua. The Venetians succour not the Pope The D. of Guise matcheth to Rome with the French armie The port of Ostia rendred by composition to the Spanyardes Truce betweene the Pope and the D. of Alua. D. of Ferrara named the Defender of the Church League between the Pope the K. of Fraunce and D. of Ferrara Italie in armes upon the comming of the French The D. of Alua his disseins The first attempts of the French armie ioyned with the Mareschal Brissae Valence yeilded vp to the D. of Guise Ostia and 〈◊〉 fort there of taken 〈◊〉 Stroâ—zy Monlâ—c To vnes taken from the Spaniardes The D. of Guise taketh Counâ—â—h of what is best to be done attâ—… taking of Valence Dauid George heretique deâ—… the discourse of his life Informations proceedinges iudgementes of the