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
great hope and expectation ouer whome you haue euer beene a carefull Cornelia as well to succeede their renowmed Father in his vertues which neuer shal perish as other his humaine dignities possessions wherof if you shall not in this Historie haue the like profered to your view for no age hath left any such recorde yet cōtemne not the reading of my Author by whome you shall receiue the true first motiue of all the Ciuil and foraine warres of Fraunce in our age and her neighbour Countries with such memorable accidents and occurents as continually were ministred Not like to that impudent though excellent writer Paulus Iouius no lesse worthy to be a Bishoppe then a Historiographer who plainly auerred nay was not ashamed himselfe in his Bookes to vaunt how he made no accounte in writing a lie were it in matter of consequence or to please the appetite of great ones which shoulde set him a worke for that wher ther was one in his time which knew the fault from the truth all posterity hereafter would notwithstanding belieue and giue credite to what he should set down my Author contrariwise hath beene so little tickled with the couet of rewarde or ambition capitall enemies to the truth as that he refuseth to set his owne name to his so painefull labours mildely and with such great temperance ouerrunning the proceedings of all enemies as hee cannot iustly be suspected of any partiall leaning to the one side more then the other wishing for my own part that some one ther were according to my tast giuen who in this scribling age whereof translating humours and quoters are plentie would finish out the rest many fragments and sundrie Bookes yet lying by me as I once intended but since through an accident that happened in a pelt flong away my pen confining what I had done as I then thought to vtter darkenesse weary of giuing Liueries to other mens retayners like a conceyted builder rather delighted with an inferiour model of his owne framing then to rough-cast or adorne a more goodly and sumptuous pallace left vnto his hands reseruing my selfe to somwhat though simplier of my owne hammering and digesting which the proiect already being fausied time may finish and peraduenture bring to light if feare of receiuing foyle by that illustrious Camden doe not otherwise withdrawe my humorfoyle yet honour enough to be an imitator and carrier of thy Bookes Precious curious Camden thy owne Country prints not sufficient to extend thy name worthy to finde Kinges thy nurcing fathers and Queenes thy nurses rare Iewell of Britaine land enemie to inglorious obliuion tresurer of memorie trumpet of Albyons fame register of Antiquitie and poursiuant of eternitie It now resteth glorious and beautifull Ladies adorned with your stately ranke and place humbly to intercesse pardon for my presumption in seeking so boldely to shrowde the infirmities of my pen vnder the shadowe of your winges And that it will please you to grace with your generall safe conduct this my newe English Denizen to passe from place to place free from any Menippean search vntill he may make his rende-uous in some contemplatiue or retired hands who though he now seeme Clownish Rogish like yet notwithstāding in his own Country guise is well esteemed of very commendable In which albeit many of you bee singularly well able to iudge of him yet if it please any of the rest to vouchsafe to entertayne his broken English I dare assure that for his discourse you shall finde him very delightfull for his newes not ordinarie and for his truth can bring good securitie when soeuer he may be permitted to attend vpon your leasure not importioning his accesse vntill weried with your more weightie and serious seruices a desire may possesse you insteede of recreation to spend with him some fewe howers of the day A matter heretofore accustomed in my knowledge by manie high and loftie Ladies who often times to be meete with wearisomnes exercised themselues in studie reading of worthie writers as Marguerite Countesse of Lennox Anne Countesse of Oxford Francis Countesse of Sussex Elizabeth Countesse of Lincolne the Ladie Marie Sydney liuing my thrice honoured mistresse truely liberall and bountifull rare Mother of so heroicall an ofspring by her noble minde and cariage easily discouering greatnes of birth and Princely parentage and that wise good and godly Ladie aduancer of so many excellent personages both in Arte and Armes employing her credite with her Soueraigne then whome none had greater in doing good offices for all sortes in generall but especially preferring those in whome she might perceiue any signification of vertue to appeare That graue Matron harmelesse Courtier and faithfull seruant Francis Barones of Cobham late wife to the noble L. and trustie Councellor yet liuing to whome I was so much bound in many duties being likewise to the whole house as that both in her health and languishing Maladie she sundrie times admitted me to conferre or reade with her finding in the Ecclesiasticall Historie her most delight But no waies may I heere without extreame note of grosse ouersight pretermit in this lift that famous Religious and learned Ladie flower of her familie prouident mother blessed in her posteritie Mildred Barones of Burghlie besides her knowledge in the Latine letters wherein of a subiect she excelled such were her studies exercises and continuall Meditation in the Greeke Doctors of the Church especially Basil Ciril Chrisostome and Nazianzene as a chiefe reader in that tonge Laurence by name hath ere now confessed vnto me that in his iudgemēt she Egalled if not ouermatched any in whose profession as expected so most was to be required Neither were these excellent parts of hers onely Theoricall but still put in practise like an other Dorcas full of piety and good works as without any ostentation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides her readines in solliciting for poore and distressed sutors vnto her deare Lo. the auncients Councellor of Europe Pater Patriae piller of the state thorough whose prudent pollicie and carefull watchings iustly may be applied Neque periculum in R. P. fuit grauius unquam noc maius otium in her life time setting on her owne charge so many poore aworke her exhitition to Schollers liberallitie to Vniuersities bountie to exiled strangers and her most abounding charitie euerie quarter to all the prisons about London hath manifestly declared I hope that in so long insisting vpon the vertues of this Lady and others I shall not be misliked for insinuation lesse feare to be suspected namelesse like my Author and yet if knowne most will confirme that Non mihi promptum in adulationes ingenium But I haue the rather presumed of your patience in delighting of these honourable personages to the end to incite you to treade in their steps and imitate their examples Such as you are were they and such as they now are shall euerie one of you be who though they seeme faded and as it were
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
the Constable that the estate of the towne and disposition of the time was such as they were not to tarrie for ought but if they could reape any thing of the Countries about they would most willingly parte with it The which the Senate had ordained to the ende no wrong might be offred to the people of their Villages nor their goods so whatsoeuer could be found in any the Towns or Villages was carried to the Campe but it was no great matter Now all Lorraine being surprised together with the Towne of Metz they of Strasbourg soddainely leauied fiue thousand men for the defence of their towne afterwards they pulled downe many buildings as well publick as particular they spoiled the gardens and rooted vp the trees and generally all that which might either hinder the view or serue the enemies vse and of that part which they esteemed most necessary they fortefied the Towne the best that they were able that without all doubt annoyed some of the French in such sorte as the Constable could not holde his peace the last time that he spake to the Deputies and the Germanes perswaded themselues that as vnder a colour of some amitie they had entred into Metz so they would attempt the like at Strasbourg but knowing the town to be maruelous strong and seeing all thinges so diligentlye prepared for the defence thereof they changed their mindes as they say and the better to passe by the remouing of their Campe they tooke the way of Haguenau and Wisbourg thither the deputies of the Prince Palatine of the Archbishops of Maience and Treuues of the Dukes of Cleues and Witemberg who had beene assembled at Wormes for the good of the common wealth came vnto the King whose request was that hee would not waste the plaine Countrie and would take pittie of the poore comminaltie and since that hee protested that he had made this warre for the libertie of Germany that he would stay his armie for that if hee passed further it would be to the great damage of the Empire they besought him then that hee would encline his hart to the making of a peace of which as they had alreadye spoken to the Emperour so would they againe deale with him hauing a good hope thereof As touching his demaund of making an allyance betweene them they besought him to haue regarde to their honour and good renowne for that they could not by any meanes perfourme by reason of their faith by which they were bound to the Empire notwithstanding they would employ all their endeuours to the establishing of a publicke peace Moreouer they most affectionately besought him not to endemnifie the territorie of Strasbourge which is a free Cittie of the Empire and that at his request Albert Duke of Brandebourg would more curteously entreate the B. of Wicibourg At the very same time to wit the eleuenth of May Maurice sent letters to the King wherein was contained all that had bene done at Lincy where the confederate Princes of Germany had entreated of certaine articles of peace with Ferdinand who negociated the same for the Emperour of whose parte he had promised a good and prompt resolution for the benefite and quiet of all Germany In like sorte he required of the King whom he would should be comprehended in the same treatie of peace that hee would set downe vnder what conditions he would compound with the Emperour These letters being receiued contrary to his expectation and knowing well that the Queene of Hungary with troupes of men of warre had taken Satenay and burned whatsoeuer she met without defence iudging besides of Maurices purposes as he thought good he determined of his returne so as hauing deuided his army into three partes the better to conduct it with fewer discōmodities and to make it march by diuers waies and yet arriue altogither at one place he left Germany but before his departure hee answered to the Princes Deputies that he had obtained that for which hee was come into Germany with all his army for the Captiue Princes should be deliuered which was the occasion of the warre hee had then attained glory enough if euer it should happen that Germany should stand in neede of him he would neither spare trauaile nor expence nor would faile to put himselfe againe into all dangers for to succour them at this present he would retire into his owne Realme with his armye for hee vnderstoode that the enemy did ouerrunne his Countrie As touching the complaintes of the poore people he receaued great displeasure thereat but discipline can neuer be so good in a Campe but that militarie licence will breede some damage for his owne parte he gaue the best order that he was able that no man should be interessed if not yet the least that might be and that the offendors should be rigorouslye punished As touching that which they wrote of the Emperour and of a peace he referred himselfe to them through his trauaile diligence and prowesse Germany stode now freed from those miseries in which she stoode enwrapped henceforward it was for them to looke to it that they did not villanously loose that liberty which he so honourably had rendred vnto them he could not deny their demaund on the behalfe of those of Strasbourge albeit that at such time as hee was with his armye vpon their marches many behaued themselues insolently and immodestly towards his people notwithstanding to entertain his confederates and to haue a man alwaies in Germany which might assure him of the true estate of the affaires as they passed betweene the Imperialles and the confederates and the better to be aduertised of the Emperors intents he lefte Du Fresne B. of Bayonne his Embassadour about Maurice who did there as you shall vnderstand after hauing represented vnto you the estate in which in the meane time stoode the armies of the Emperour and of Maurice ioyned with his allies together with the conduct and last end of their enterprises in which it shalbe an easie matter for you to iudge what fauours and disaduantages the K. of Fraunce his armye brought to the one side and to the other We haue before tolde you how Maurice was departed from Lincy where they had articulated certaine conditions of peace Ferdinand suddainly after the assembly took his iourney to Enipont towards the Emperour to make him vnderstand the whole In the meane time Maurice being come backe to the Campe drew towards the Alpes with his companions where being egged forward by the Embassadour of Fraunce he determined to set vppon those troupes which the Emperour had caused to be leuyed in that countrie so as the 17. day of May approching neere vnto Fiesse a Towne scituate at the entrie of the Alpes vpon the riuer Lech and hauing vnderderstoode by his spies sent to descry the countenance of the enemyes how they had seased on all the straites and had so ensconced themselues as it was vnpossible to doe them harme he
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
encamped about Metz. A little aboue the Pont aux Moras within the vynes neere vnto an Abbey dedicated to S. Martin was the quarter where the 13. of Nouember the Marquesse Albert went to entrench himselfe from whence hauing caused the D. of Aumalle to be dressed he sent him prisonner into Germanye to be kept in good suretie The Kings army was arriued at Clermont in Argonne a little village well scituate in the country of Barrois aboue which on the top of a mountaine is a Castle naturally strong in respect of the height vnaccessable in two or 3. places the which being very commodious and conuenient for many necessities Chastillon partelye by craft and partly through feare which the captaine of the place had seeing the French army to arriue surprised and rendred it to the disposition of the Constable his Vncle for the K. afterwards men wrought a long time to fortifie and amend it better and an other little towne named Varenne and in the villages round about all couertly was the K army lodged the Constable the D. of Neuers remaining Lieutenant general in the armie departed thence to goe see the K. at Reims verye sorye and greeued at this euill aduenture As these were eagerly in armes there in Lorraine so the rest would not be at rest in Pickardie for Du Reux the Emperours Lieutenant generall in the low Countryes with a number of Flemings Hannuyers and Wallons amounting to fortie Ensignes of foote and aboue two or three thousand horse hauing entred into the fielde with resolution to enforce and surprise La fere in Picardie which appertaineth to the D. of Vendosme and after finding that hardly hee could compasse it with his honour the Admirall D'Anebaut being there within well prouided of whatsoeuer was necessary for him after hauing burned the town of Noyon Nelle Chaunis Roye and a magnificent house which the late King Francis caused to be builded for the pleasure of hunting called Foulembray with betweene seuen eight hundred villages whereof the most parte were of the D. of Vendosme his patrimony and to speak truly done infinite mischiefes alwaies by the means of the Queene of Hungary went to besiege Hedin the towne was quickly taken not being strong enough to sustayne the batterie nor the assault shortlye after the Castle was besieged on the Parke side where a great towre which defended the towres on that side being much broken and the defences beaten downe and shattered to peeces they found means to vndermine and digge downe a great peece of the wall and with Cannon shotte to breake downe the squares and spurres as well of that great towre as of the wall wherefore the whole suncke downe and was turned topsie turuie within the ditche which filled it vp and made a bridge very easie to goe to the assault the rampire remaining meerly vncouered and worne they had no baskets nor platformes to couer it and albeit the rampire was as yet seuen or eight foote high they within notwithstanding seeing the wal so suddenly fallen down the ditch filled were so amased astonied as without tarrying any assault they yeelded themselues to composition their liues and goods saued the cōposition was made by de Rasse and Ianlis to which D'ouoye of the house of Querqui would neuer consent At this losse the K. much maruelled considering that a litle before De Rasse had certified him that he had no doubt at all of the holding out of that castle but that which was found most strange and that gaue to the French occasion diuersly to speak was that De Rasse had euer a good reputation of a valiant Knight hereupon the King vnderstanding of the death of the Admirall D' Anebaut deceased at La Fere in Picardie whether hee was retired to defend it from the Imperials departed from Reims to approch as farre as Challons whether the D. of Neuers the Marshall S. Andre de Chastillon and the principall chieftanes of his army came vnto him to the end to aduise and conclude as soone as might be of some way how to recouer Hedin therefore the D. of Guise was sent vnto to know of him how long time he could be able to defend Metz and if he were in any necessitie hee should be the sooner succoured who assuring himselfe of the will of God and of the faith loyaltie of many valiant men which had followed and watched about his person certified the King that there was no doubt at al of his towne nor of those which were within in all whom he knew alike and semblable affection for his seruice chusing rather to leaue their liues then to go out of that place with dishonor Besides that he had want of nothing whatsoeuer whereby hee should not be able to keepe it against all power of man with the aide of him without whom he watcheth in vaine which will vndertake the keeping of any places hee aduertised him in like sorte how that the second day of Nouember the D. of Alua with the greatest parte of the Imperiall armye hauing quitted the lodging at Belle Croix Brabanson being left there with three Regiments of high Germanes two of lowe and three thousand horse and passed the Riuer of Seille was come to encampeneere vnto the Towne distributing his army in the places about as at S. Clement and at S. Arnoul where he was lodged with the spanish companies One parte of the Germanes was lodged at Pont de Magny Dom Louis d'Auilla with the Spanish cauallerie at La Maladiere the Seneshal of La Morauie with the Bohemian horse at Blery the ouerplus at Ollerye S. Priech at the grange aux Dames at the grange aux Mercieres and other places about certifying him further how that they had begun their trenches neere vnto the Porte S. Thibaut as if they purposed there to plante their principall battery In the end he wrote the names and surnames of such as had best perfourmed their dutye in sallies out and skirmishes not forgetting many other affaires as the time serued in his answere The King thus standing assured on that parte ordained the D. of Neuers his Lieutenant generall ouer all his forces which remained in Lorraine and for the good and agreeable seruices which Gasper de Coligny called Chastillon had done him and daily did he honored him with the office of Admirall of France and at the very instant constituted him his Lieutenant to bring back his army into Picardye there to resolue vpon and execute whatsoeuer should be most profitable and necessary for his seruice Afterwardes all the chiefetanes being aduertised and instructed in their charges the armie was leuied by the Admirall to cause it to take the right way towardes Hedin the Marshall S. Andre was retired to Verdun the D. of Neuers with his company and that of La Roche du Maine retired to S. Michel to the end to cut of al victuals fom the enimie and turn
of well choosing his aduantage rather then to accept of battaile no lesse assured himselfe to make vaine the attempts of the French in any place which they should goe about to besiege alwaies prouided that his would haue the patience to suffer the first heate of the French a little to euaporate as into smoake knowing that Henry notwithstanding the better to preuaile therein made account to sound Cambray as well for that the taking thereof would be an example to sundrye other of renowne as thinking to prouoke the imperials rather to battaile then that they would lose such a place in which especially he knew his owne credite not to be so deepely rooted but that for a small matter the inhabitants would shake of the yoke which not long before he had imposed of them ioyne that the towne hauing beene alwaies Neuters such occurrents might so happen as he might make it partaker with him or at the least fauourable if they would assist to the recouering of their auncient liberty considering that in terming it selfe Neuter it was not lawfull for him to haue any greater authoritie ouer it then the King and the rather for that the magistrates and popular sorte began to feele themselues outraged by the vsurpation which he had made ouer them hauing proceeded so farre to his own aduantage as to build a citadell to keep them in subiection he feared least they would euen make plaine onuerture to the King being as then the stronger In summe if the Imperialles shewed themselues of good courage the French caused no other brute to runne but of the desire they had to battaile and how the King sought no other occasion then such as the place and time yeelded vnto him to wit being there at hand in so large and spatious a plaine to present battaile or to summon the Towne according to the accord of neutralitie to make him onuerture and giue him victuall or proclaime it as his enemy and so not farre from that place neere to Peronne the French were encamped a two little leagues from Cambray And the next morrow by break of day the King caused his army to be set in order of battaile ready to fight sending a herald of armes to summon the towne of her duety signifying vnto them that he was not come thither to oppresse them but rather to restore and settle them in their auntient libertye which he well knew had beene already corrupted by the Emperour of which if they would be reuenged and leaue that bondage they could not haue better meanes then by his comming that if the Emperour would quarrell for other aduantages hee was there in person both to declare and fight with all his forces to the contrary if they did otherwise they would be an occasion of much mischeefe to themselues first in losing the title and priuiledge of being called Neuters which is not affectionate to either the one or the others quarrels by which meanes they had onely obtained the liberty to be able to traffique in both their Countries Moreouer they should thereby exempt their Countrie round about from the miseries of the warre otherwise they should remaine for euer subiect to imposts loanes subsidies and all other manner of exactions and be besides that in danger to be partaker of the sundrye trauayles whereto a particular Country is abandoned and accustomed to suffer for his Prince In summe they demaunded twise foure and twenty houres of the King to be aduised thereof and to yeelde their answere so the King caused his Campe to retyre a great league further backe being lodged at Creuaecaeur of the appertenances of the Queene and it was proclaimed thoroughout the whole armye that vpon a great paine of corporall punishment no man should dare take ought within the territorye of Cambray without paying for the same During this delay the Emperours partye within Cambray certified him of this summons as then lying at Breuxelles who to comforte and releeue them with hope and courage set downe many thinges vnto them among the rest that they helde of the Chamber of the Empire and that hee was the Emperour to defend and protect them not a King of Fraunce who sought nothing but their ruine so as hauing set before their eyes the example of Metz hee promised the deputies that in case they should be besieged hee would succour them by all meanes whatsoeuer And from thence gaue order to the Prince of Piemont who was gotten with his army towards Valenciennes that hee should yeelde vnto them as much succour as they would demaund or well needfull for them ordaining thereto for cheefe and principall Gouernours the Earls of Bossu and Brabanson The time of delay being expired albeit the King knew well all these newes yet hee sent againe to summon them to knowe their resolution but they sent worde that if it might so please his Maiestie they were all content to remaine his humble neighbors and freends no waies refusing to giue him victuals but that as yet they were not masters ouer their owne goods for that the Emperor spight of their teeth had put men and great garrisons into their towne wherefore it was cleane out of their libertye and power to be able to dispose of any more Vpon this answere and mylde excuse the towne was adiudged for enemy and the same day being the eight of September the Constable with two regiments of men at armes and 3. or 400. light horse and Rirebands followed by the Admirall with ten Ensigns of French fantery went to prie and view round about but in steede of hearing the crowing of Poultrie before now nothing was heard but Cannons harquebuze shot and noyse of all partes especially from the cytadell which made the earth to tremble with the artillerie shot wherewith they played vpon the French souldiers entring therewith as thicke out of the Towne as waspes vse out of the hole of a tree after him that stirreth them but so maintained and the skirmishes so gallantly handled that they continued sixe whole dayes togither in one of which there was killed De Brese captain of one of the French guardes and before the Cytadell Coruet was slaine Captaine of one of the companies of the French footmen Of the Bourgonians there was of reputation taken and brought prisonners the Earle of Pondeuaux of the French Countie De Trelon of the Duchie of Luxembourg and other In the meanetime Bourdillon sent vnto the King by Neuuy Ensigne of his companie two Cornets of Bourgonians broken and defeated at La Haiette neere to Maubert Fontaine the Gouernour of Cimetz one of their cheefe remaining there prisonner the Bastard of Auanes another of their cheefe leaders by his good speede and well flying sauing himselfe Now to returne before Cambray it was perfectly viewed and by the aduise of such as had marked round about from the one end to the other ioyne the reporte of the spyes and such as likewise had viewed it within found to be as
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
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
Prince conferred a while with the Chiefe men which accompanyed him leauing the Compte of Saint Cheualsbourg with his Regiment of Reistres to keepe the passage charged thorough a Flancke with two thousande horse at the same time as the Earles Henry and Eruest of Brunswich eache followed with one thousande Reistres backed and encouraged by the Compte of Horne with a thousande men at armes of the ordinances of the Countrie sette all as it were with one trotte vpon the other Flancke at the very same instaunte as the Earles of Maunsfielde Vuilen Dostrat and of Geldres with other three thousande horse threwe vnder foote the middest with such a furie as hauing ouerthrowne the first Ranckes and those which seconded them all the surplus was put to flight Iohn of Burbon Duke of Anguien being beaten downe and afterwardes remounted was slayne at the seconde Charge and in the ende being brought vnto the Prince hee caused him to bee carryed with all honour to bee buried at La Fere. Frauncis de la Tour Vicompte of Turaine S. Gelais and more then sixe hundred Gentlemen dyed there with foure thousand as well French as Almaine Fantassins and well neere 300. men of marke taken prisoners The D. of Neuers was retired to La Fere Espeuilles Enseigne to his men at armes gaue his colours to Chazeilles to saue it And his Guidon S. Simon beeing ouerthrowne had beene taken prisoner if D' Auerly had not slayne him which carryed him The Conestable sore wounded in the haunche was carried away prisoner and so was the Duke of Montpensier As also the Mareschall S. Andre Ludouic Prince of Mantoue the Reingraue Roche-foucat S. Heron Bordillon Mouy Montsales and many other of name As soone as the Fanterie perceiued this disorder it set it selfe in square battailions but being ouerthrown resisted no whit at all So as many lying bleeding and dead vpon the grounde the rest were ledde away prisoners by troupes like muttons Who at the comming of King Philip were presented vnto him with their weapons and coulours in tryumph of so great and signall a Victorie happened betweene Essigny and Rizerolles Being pursued by the space of foure howres vntill euening frō the Blanc-fosse where the slaughter beganne vnto the gallowes distaunt one league from La Fere where two pieces of Artillerie onely were recouered the which Bordillon went afterwardes to fetche to carrie them to La Fere where the Duke of Neuers Chiefe of the rest the Prince of Conde the Compte of Sancerre Bordillon and other saued them selues And shortly after such as were escaped from the Combatte and out of prison retired themselues in farre greater nomber then was hoped for But stripped of all they had This done the Duke of Neuers sente rounde aboute to make it knowne vnto the dispersed sorte howe that the Rende-vous of the Armie was appointed at Laon Where he assured them that they shoulde receyue their paye which they had not seene of many monethes together This done hauing furnished the Frontires with men and munitions the best which he was able he aduertised the King of the estate wherein his affayres stoode and besought the Prince of Piemont to sende vnto him the nomber rolle of such prisoners of marke as were taken Then together with the Prince of Conde he retired within Laon with sixe hundred horse the residue of all the Troupes He lefte Bordillon at La Fere and the Compte of Sancerre at Guise Afterwardes the King sente De Pot to Han De Lorges to Noyon there to assemble together the Gentlemen of his house and the Archers of his guards and to prouide for those quarters according as neede shoulde require Hereupon the King retired himselfe from Compienne to Paris thereby to assure the Inhabitauntes who alreadie quaked seeking to retyre themselues with the more pretious parte of their goodes and moueables into the furthest parts of the Realme To whome first he sent the Queene who was quickely at the Guilde hall where she demaunded and obtayned a graunt of three hundred thousande livers after an Oration made by the Cardinall Bertrande Archbishoppe of Sens Lorde Keeper Who in summe declared vnto them HOwe that the Lorde God hauing chosen and appointed him for their King by like meanes had created and lefte vnto him a hearte and affection to rule them preserue and defende them euen to the aduenturing of his owne life Therefore that they shoulde assure themselues that hee woulde no more abandon them then that he had this firme beliefe howe the diuine Grace would neuer faile him to which if it hath seemed good to sende vnto him this misfortune it was an admonition to acknowledge the Almightie who distributeth all thinges according to his good pleasure as well to great as small Nowe albeit that he receiued it as a punishement chastisemēt for his offences or it mought be his Peoples yet the danger was not so great ineuitable but that meanes were lefte of remedie considering the succours which they are to seeke of the God of Victories And that of themselues they woulde be an ayde vnto themselues and especially to him in this desperate necessitie Whereupon they had to consider that so long as the rentes of his reuennewe were able to streatche out towardes the maintenance of these warres he had not importuned them by surcharges of demaundes and redoublementes of taskes or other contributions But that hee was alwayes willing rather to sell and morgage his owne Demayne exchaunge and borrowe elsewhere then to fleece or moleste them But since that nowe he was no longer able to satisfie them thorough the affayres which daylye redoubled vpon him as they mought see and perceiue with their owne eyes therefore he besought them that they would succour him onely with money and that for the rest they woulde relye themselues vpon him who of his parte woulde neuer fayle them in will and good affection nor yet in force or power to succour them or in any thing else which mought appertaine to the authoritie or Estate of a King towardes his subiectes Brieflie the Parissians reacknowledging the good zeale of their Prince accorded willingly vnto him three hundred thousande livers as also the rest of the capitall Cities of the Prouinces contributed as their abilitie stretched With the which he sent into Zwizerlande to leuie sixe thousande men vnder the Colonell Luc Reistre of Basle and on the other side eight thousande vnder Claris de Haris Likewise he sente the Colonell Rechrod to make an other leuie of Almaine footemen Albeit that the Countrie was much vnfurnished thorough the leuies of King Phillip and of another which the Baron of Poleuille made there of twentie Ensignes and certaine Reistres Besides this the King sente worde vnto the Duke of Guise by Scipion his escuyer howe he shoulde settle all things in Italie to the most aduantage which he were able and withdrawe his Forces hitherwards In the meane time it was ordred that
but before this thorough their subtilties and wilines they haue preuailed so farre as the most famous Prince King Frauncis was condemned for an enemy without being heard It is true that that redounded to their particular profite but to the great dammage of the Common-wealth for it may euidently enough be perceiued how hard a matter it is to decay the liberty of Germanye and to build their Realme to make it last so great and so long as the amity betweene these two nations hath endured for because at this present standing in feare of the French armies they proceede therein more slackely and insist not so liuely to impose their Spanish yoke they be they for certaine which haue obtained peace at the Turkes handes by praiers and tributes and who vnder colour of Religion and obedience haue brought a thousand enormities and factions into Germany which haue beaten her with her owne rodde warring against her with her owne power which haue drawne monie from all and rendred the condition of Germany into so pitious an estate as may be wel seene by the Spanish Garrisons disposed on the one side and the other which haue vnfurnished those places of armes where they were kept in store which haue made open the way to the examination of the treasure for it is growne to that passe at this day that the seale of the Empire and the iudgement of the Chamber and the right or priuiledge of imperiall dayes is in the sleeue of the B. of Arras for what meaneth this to execute by way of iustice or to banish in offring great rewardes to the murtherers all those as for their maintenance haue put themselues into the wages of strangers I omit so many murthers so many whordomes pilferies and sackings of Citties and aboue all religion which now was handled of one sorte and now of another accordingly as the time serued Certes whatsoeuer hath beene done since some yeares passed hath tended to no other end then to trouble the lawes of the Empire or constraine or allure King Ferdinand by faire promises as also to terrifie the Princes by feares and dreades to the end the Prince of Spaine might be chosen Emperour were it not rather to be wished by men of valour to dye then to see the light of the Sunne in such miseries and calamities I doe not think that any man can be found so blockish or barbarous that hee doth not feele himselfe galled with these thinges Therefore no man ought to maruell if at the last some Princes haue bene found and among them the Electour Maurice D. of Saxe which stand resolued to hazard their liues for the recouerie of the liberty of their common Countrie and which finding themselues too feeble and not able alone to sustaine the charge haue demaunded succour and alliance of the King of Fraunce who cleane forgetting any mislikes of the time passed hath not onely employed thereto all his wealth and treasure but also hath not spared his owne person in a matter of so great consequence contracting an alliance with them wherein among other thinges there is set downe that they shall not make any accorde with the enemy without the Kings good liking and albeit that Maurice be bound thereunto yet desiring the prosperitie of the Countrie and to accommodate himselfe to Ferdinand which did so earnestly require it he very lately besought the most christian King to signifie vnto him vnder what conditions hee would haue the peace treated of that to say the truth fell out otherwise then he hoped for considering his benefite towards them to haue beene such and so great that hee thought it fitter to entreate neerer hand and not so farre off of matters which so neerely concerned him neuerthelesse forsomuch as he euer preferred the publick weale before his owne particular hee would deny nothing to a Prince his allie wherefore if the soares of the common wealth might be healed as they ought and that good assurance may be giuen that in time to come they shall not be refreshed if the Captiue Princes may be released vnder the conditions set downe in the treatie further if the ancient alliances betweene Fraunce and the Empire and the last Capitulation with Princes may be so confirmed as that for euer they may remaine in force if these thinges I saye may bee well brought to passe he is so affectionate to the Common wealth that not onely he will willingly accord to a treatie of peace but also yeeld most humble thanks to God that herein he hath aided you with councell and succours As touching priuate matters as the Emperour hath detained from him many things by force and made warre vpon him without any iust occasion the King thinketh it a matter very reasonable that he which hath beene the occasion of the iniury should firste shewe the way of satisfaction The King in truth no whit distrusteth at all of his owne power nor yet of the equitie of his cause and notwithstanding hee will giue them to vnderstand how much hee loueth peace and how much hee desireth to agree with them all and with Maurice The Princes answered hereunto that his discourse fet from antiquitie as concerning the coniunction of Germany and Fraunce was most agreeable vnto them and no lesse that the King preferred the common wealth before his particular profite making no refusall to the confederate Princes accorde with the Emperour for it is not onely the profite of one nation but of all Europe which hauing beene turmoyled with ciuill calamities tended to an euident ruine As for the conditions which the K. demaunded they doubted not but that they might be obtained for the Emperour alwaies bare good will towards the common wealth both heretofore and in these present troubles he neuer vnderstoode that the libertye of Germany was any waies diminished There was likewise great hope that in very short space hee would set at libertie the Captiue Princes As touching the renewing of their ancient alliances the King well vnderstandeth in his owne wisedome that a matter of so great weight could not be brought to passe in this assembly notwithstanding they greatly desired that the amitie which euer had beene betweene the two nations might remaine firme and inuiolable they likewise desire aboue all the rest that the differentes betweene the King and the Emperour might be pacified protesting that therein they would neither spare trauaile not diligence whatsoeuer But forsomuch as the K. said that the Emperour did possesse sundry places which appertained to him and openly made shew of many which he would repeate it seemed vnto them a matter very reasonable that he should declare what they were for they were determined fullye to infourme the Emperour thereof and to be a meanes in the cause Further they besought the King to take the same in good parte That which the Embassadour spake of the familye of Luxembourg grew vpon this Henry Earle of Luxembourg had a sonne named Henry who afterwards was the