the premises are according to trueth and for the certitude of the same wee haue sealed this report with our hands andseales at S. Ihan d' Angely the 6. day of March 1588. Medicis Bontemps Pallet Poget Mesnard Chotard About the same time the King of Nauarre came out of Gascoyne who being aduertized of his death commaunded that such as were suspected of that villanous fact should be pursued Whereupon a page suspected saued himselfe by flight many more were apprehended The processe was made vnto many with all the solemnities requisite thereunto whereof within a while after the condemnation of one Brillaut ensued the page also was condemned vpon centumacie executed in Picture Brillaut was drawne vpon a hurdle through all the streates of S. Jhan and in the chiefest place of the sayd towne was torne in peeces with foure horses Now we see how the Leaguers when they haue not been able to destroy the Princes by valour haue vsed treacherous procéedings For first hauing treacherously shortned the life of the Duke of Alençon by poyson as it is saide in the first booke and seduced the Cardinall of Bourbon making him dreame of a kingdome in his old doting age and to oppose himselfe to two Kings to wit the King and the King of Nauarre and to all the house of Bourbons out of which God had made him that honour as to haue issued one of the chiefest as is sayd in the second booke They also haue condemned the King of Nauarre to dye by their Italian figges and there uppon proclaymed his death which they had promised to themselues both in Lorreyne and in the Court and in Townes and Cities of their fauourers but God hath disappoynted them of their murtherous purpose At length by the long suffering of God to plague France they haue preuayled agaynst that good godly vertuous famous Prince of Conde and that vpon such a day as hath béen fatall to the house of Guize to work mischief murther and rebellion The death of this noble Prince amazed all men in Xainctonge knowing that God had some heauie iudgements to execute vppon France and that GOD had taken that noble Prince least he should see euill dayes as the Prophet Esay saith It is sayd before how the Lord Lauerdine who was master of the Campe saued himselfe by flight out of the slaughter of Coutras betooke himselfe to the towne of Niort to the Lord Malicorne his vncle where hée soiourned as his Lieutenant Here Christian Reader wee haue to obserue that although the King and the Leaguers hated in wardly one another and in outward appearance did deepely dissemble their affections yet wee doo see that as Herode and Pilate did excercise priuie hatred betweene them and at length in persecuting Christ did well agree as friends so in men of like degrées and in like actions the like affections are boyling in their hearts For the rumour of the death of the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde which the Leaguers hauing set some secret price vppon their heads had promised vnto themselues did cause the King and the Leaguers in outward apparance to be great friends and to promise vnto themselues an vtter rooting out of them of the religion and a sure subduing of all things beyond the riuer of Loyre With speede therefore they sent eight or nine regiments conducted by the Lord Courbe to the Lord Lauerdine Lieutenant of his vncle the Lord Malicorne at Niort in Poytow who with al the forces which he could gather both in the lowe and high Poytow the 16. day of March about two a clocke after midnight descended into Marans by boates through the marishes of Beauregard and with fiue hundred footmen seazed vppon the house and farme of the sayd Beauregard hauing found no resistance but onely of two of the inhabitants of Marans with a little boate who were gone to discouer the Iland Cicoigne these two discharging their peeces vpon the enemies retyred to the trenches of Beauregard there they found but fiue or sixe Souldiers as well of the inhabitants as others who also discharged certaine shot vpon the enemie who notwithstanding aduanced and came to land The cause why the Lord Lauerdine subdued these Ilands so easily was first the certayne newes of the death of the Prince of Conde and the rumours bruted abroade touching the supposed death of the King of Nauarre which thing caused great amaze and discouraging among all men Secondly the ill order and prouidence of the gouernour for if he his troups and inhabitants had done their duetie Lauerdine had not entered that Iland at that price or els had been chased out to his dishonour and losse The Lord Iarry had béen aduertized three dayes before of the enterprize of Lauerdine and might haue put into the Ilands forces sufficient to resist the enemie for the companies of the Lord Trimouille conducted by the Lord Boysduly returning from Cotaudiere were very nigh him to wit at S. Radagond Champaigne and Puyreneau who desired nothing more then to enter into Marans But the gouernour and the inhabitants fearing the preace of Souldiers which was excessiue indeede would not admit them but sent to Rochel the Captaine Plaute Lieutenant of the Gouernour to request them of Rochel to send them about fiftie Souldiers whom they would entertayne vntill they might see what the enemie would doo which thing they of Rochel could not doo for that time Notwithstanding this refuse and that the gouernour was well aduertized that he had not sufficient forces to let y e enemie to take land yet the companies of the Lord Boysduly passing through the Brault were sent further as farre as Esuand through foule wayes ouerthwart the Marshes whereas they should haue been stayed to be vsed as the necessitie had required They sent notwithstanding the same day at euening to the said Boysduly but arriuing not before ten or eleuen a clock in the night was the cause that succour could not come in time although that the diligence of the sayd Boysduly and his companies was wonderfull for without any leasure to lodge and without any respect of the indignitie proffered him and his troupes the day before they departed presently and repayred to the fort Brune one houre and a halâ—e before the enemie tooke lande at Beauregard But whilest the gouernour and the inhabitants made some difficultie to let in all his troupes being not willing to receaue aboue 50. or 60. the enemie on the other side entred at Beauregard as is sayd so that the entrie into Brune was not opened to the sayd Boysduly nor his troups afore that the enemy had already gotten the farme house of Beauregarde There had beene meanes to driue back the enemie if speedely the troups who were entred at Brune about three a clock after midnight had gone to meete the enemie as some did giue their aduise to doe For the L. Lauerdine was not yet well accompanyed and it had beene an easie thing to cut the way to the
moneth Possonnes the Duke de Mayne his gouernour there considering the state of the Duke of Sauoy his affayres seeing the Canon planted and the Lord Diguieres fortified with newe supplies all the commonaltie bent against him and being without any hope of ayde or reliefe the 30. of September yeelded the Towne of Essiles by composition that his Souldiers should freely depart with bagge and baggage So by these meanes the passages into Piemont doo remayne in the Kings power and the countrey of Daulphine is limitted with his olde limits long before fortified by the French Kings during the warres of Italy Sonnes generall of the Duke of Sauoy had prouoked the Lord Morges his nephewe to fight fiftie agaynst fiftie on horsebacke and appoynted the place which thing the Lord Diguieres vnderstanding conducted the sayd Morges vnto the place where the sayd Morges remayned with his forces readie to accept the offer from nine a clocke in the morning vntill three a clocke in the euening and at length came a Trompetter with a letter from the sayd Sonnes carying an excuse The Lord Diguieres in attending the comming of y e enemie had espied a passage néere Iallon where the enemie had entrenched himselfe and there lodged eight companies vnder the conduct of Captaine Venust and perceauing that there was no more hope of Sonnes comming to the combat appoynted he determined to spend the rest of that day in doing some exployt and to assault the sayd companyes who did lye vpon the hanging of the mountayne betweene Suze and Noualize and hauing found meanes to place one hundred Musketters who battered the enemie vpon the side of their fort the trenches of the enemie were forced and fourescore of them slayne among whom were Captaynes Venust Gassard and Charband Captayne Vilars with some other was taken prisoners and foure companies of Senton master of the Campe were so scattered that they came neuer together agayne This exployt was done the first of October This being done the Lord Diguieres returned again to Essiles and sent backe the foure Canons to Ambrun and caused two great peeces to bee drawne from Gap to Barcelona a place situated in the County of Nice and pertayning to the Duke of Sauoy hee sent his forces before to besiege the sayd Barcelona and when hee came himselfe about the eleauenth day of October and had made a breach the same day the enemie did parley and yéelded themselues with safetie of their liues leauing behind them their armour colours horses and baggage the Captaines were permitted to depart with their swords vpon an hackney The inhabitants had graunted them to enioy their goods abiding vnder the Kings obedience as the rest of his subiects vpon condition to pay sixe thousand Crownes for the army and the fraight of the Artillerie The 13. day the gouernour called Coreloere departed with three souldiers with him and as many of citizens and countrey men who repayred to their houses vnder the Kings safegard The 14. day the Lord Diguieres layd batterie before the Castle of Metans which he slenderly battered the 15. day only to view the enemies countenance But they being greatly afrayed the next night did steale away and so saued themselues except thirtie of them who were intercepted by the watch In this way of Piemont the Lord Diguieres had neuer aboue three hundred horses and twelue hundred shot and found no greater enemie then the inaccessible height of the mountaynes where ouer he was forced to passe the Canon but chiefly in his iourney to Barcelona The Citie of Grenoble in the land of Daulphine notwithstanding the truces and good entertaynment from time to time receaued of the Lord Diguieres had been seduced after the King last deceased and did hold still after for the League though not with such desperat madnes and insolencie as many others had done Now the L. Diguieres hauing well repressed the madnes chastized the rashnes and folly of the D. of Sauoy and hauing in a manner subdued and pacified that countrey forsooke the Duke of Sauoy and determined to scoure as much as he could all the remnant and ragges of rebellion out of that prouince which thing to bring to passe he thought good to begin at the head to wit the Citie of Grenoble and as by the euent which followed it seemed that he did besiege distresse that Citie which thing caused the inhabitants to consider that the Lord Diguieres had in a manner all the land of Daulphine at commaundement His power was increased and returned out of Piemont with few victories of many they weighed also how they were out of hope of any succour as well from the Duke de Mayne as from the Duke of Sauoy who being taught by the schoolemaster of fooles which is experience would not haue hereafter great lust to returne in haste into Daulphine These circumstances caused them well to consider the danger wherein they stoode which thing moued them to make a motion of peace by the which they were reduced to the dutifull obedience of their lawfull Soueraigne This peace was concluded in the suburbs of Saint Laurence by Grenoble the two and twentith of December betweene the Lord des Diguieres one of the kings priuie counsell and of estate captayne of a hundred men at armes of his Ordinances and generall of the armie leuied for the kings seruice in the land of Daulphine on the one part and the court of Parliament the commonalties of the countie and the Consuls of the same First that the exercize of the Romish Religion shall remaine frée both within the towne and suburbs thereof as hitherto it hath béen and that the Cleargie in all the prouince shall enioy the full possession of their goods in any place in the prouince vnder the kings protection Secondly that the frée exercize of the reformed Religion may be publikely celebrated within Trescloistre suburbs of the sayd citie without any let trouble or molestation Thirdly that all dwellers in the same towne that will continue therein shall personally protest and acknowledge Henrie the fourth king of France and Nauarre for their Soueraigne and shall yéeld to him the oth of fidelitie in like cases requisite in the hands of the Lord Saint Andrew president of the court of Parliament and Chastelard counsellor in the same court in the presence of the Lordes of Blemew and Calignon and vpon the same oath taken the sayd inhabitants shall bée maintayned and restored in the full and peaceable enioying of their goods offices priuiledges and franchizes Fourthly if any man of whatsoeuer calling or condition soeuer it bée shall be vnwilling to take the sayde oath and shall be desirous thereupon to departe else where hee shall be safely conducted to any place that they will go and may enioy their goods offices and dignities either by sale or by receauing their annuall fruits or stipend thereof at their choyce prouided alwayes that they enterprize nothing against the Kings seruice Fiftly that the custodie and
may raigne at their discretion and no longer then it shall please them The second article is that the King shall cause the counsell of Trent to be published authorised and receaued in his dominions onely the execution to be stayed for a time concerning the reuoking of certaine exemptions and priuiledges of some Chapters Abbeys and other Churches from their Bishops This article they doo set foorth to bee the seede of immortall warres knowing well that it cannot be published without the sound of the trumpet Note and double Canon The third article is that the King shall establish the holy inquisition of Spayne at the least in good townes which is the onely way to roote out hereticks and suspected so that the officers of the said Inquisition be strangers or at the least be not borne in the places where they may haue neither kindred friends nor alyaunce This is the meanes to execute the decrees of the counsell which in the former article they haue giuen to the kingdome of France for a law that by Note that law all the inhabitants of the realme who shall be to the Inquisitors either hereticks or suspected for who will not be suspected if it pleaseth master Frier the Inquisitour Secondly the inquisitors must needes be either Lorreines or Spaniards two nations delighting in the blood of Frenchmen as the Wolfe in the blood of Lambs or else they may not haue any kindred say they that is that neither blood duetie of nature nor friendship may let theÌ„ from euill doing and from subuerting the french nation The summe of this article is that the french nation may bee destroyed without mercy or compassion The fourth article is that the King shal grant licence vnto the churchmen to redeeme at any time the Church goods and landes which they haue sould of whatsoeuer quality the said goods and lands be or they that haue bought them And that the King shall compell the beneficed men to make such a redemption within a certaine time that shall be prefixed to them according to the abilitie that they shall be found to bee of by them that shall be appoynted to see the state of their reuenewes and lands The Leaguers haue made the churchmen to blowe the Trompet of Note ciuill warres vpon that condition that they should not fight themselues but pay money to them that would fight for them and so haue made them sell their church landes Now they will enforce the poore Priests to buy againe their church lands that they may sell them againe when the Leaguers haue neede of them The fift article is that the King shall put into the handes of some of them certaine places of importance which shall bee named to him In the which it shall be lawfull for them to build Fortresses and put in men of warre as they shall think good and all at the charges of the townes cities and countreys the like also they shall doe in the places which they hold at the time of the making of these articles The leaguers doo thinke that the King had too great a portion in the Note last deuision of his kingdome which they made with him in Iuly 1585. and that the King was too strong for them yet Therefore by this article they doo call him to a new deuision wherein they goe about to doo three things First they would haue more strong places and such as they themselues shall appoynt It is to be thought that they will not make choyse of the worst For if the King should put them to their choyse I dare affirme that they would choose Paris Calis Anious Reymes Bologne Newhauen Caen Roan Orleans Tours Naunts Poytiers Bourdeaulx Limoges Perigeulx Tholouse Bayone Narboune Marseilles Lyons Dijous Auxone Langaes Seus Mets and other such which they doe meane by places of importance Secondly they would haue the King this to doe for them as to suffer them quietly to build citadels and therein to put garrisons which they gently call fortes and men of warre to keepe out the King if at any time he should change his mind and call for his owne The third is that the king and his poore subiectes shall beare the charges of fortifiyng and keeping these places from his obedience that thence they may easily oppresse him when they shall spie time and tyramze his subiects The sixt article is that the King shall giue pay to men ofwarre to be maintained in Lorreyn vpon the borders of Germany to let the entrie of the Note strangers their Neighbours and for that ende shall cause out of hand the goods of herelikes and others which be associat with them to be sould The cause of this article was feare of the vengeance which their conscience represented continually before their eies for the great enormityes iniuries execrable abominations by them committed in the County of Noubeliard for they perceauing their weaknes in strength and wealth against that hot vindicatiue and mighty nation of Germany would haue the King to defend them and so doing iustify their vilanous actions and thereby to begger himselfe and procure the hatred of that Nation which had beene alwayes at amity with the Crowne of France Secondly whereas they require the goods of heretikes and their associats by the which they do vnderstaÌ„d the Princes of the bloud the Duke Mommorency Noble men and other qualities of men which shall please them to be sold I maruell when they will go into Guienne and other Prouinces to pluck sheaue with them it will be hard for them to get y â— sheaue out of their hand yet the king must do all this to iustify the murthers whoredomes Sodomiâ—ryes and other abominations committed agaynst the frendes and alied of the Realme of France The seuenth article is that al they who haue beene heretikes or holden for hereâ—ikes euer since the yeare 1560. of what degree soeuer may bee taxed to the third or fourth part of their goods A research must be made of the space of 28. years past and all liberty geuen Note so oft by the Kings proclaymed by their edicts must néeds be made coÌ„yne Euen they who were reunited by the last ediâ—t of July 1585. made at their owne discretion must be called to account and this is to make the warre immortall vntill they attaine to the marke they shoot at if they do not catch a fall by the way The eight article is that the Catholikes shall pay the tenth part of their reuenues euery yeare And that commissioners be appointed to make the sallies and taxes as well of ecclesiasticall as lay persons others notwithstanding then officers of the Soueraygne courts that all things may be executed more speedily and with lesse charges In this article first the Leaguers spare neither friendes nor foes but Note that they are somewhat more fauourable to the Catholikes then to the heretiks For whereas they were promised at the first rysing of the league to be eased of
forces there nigh at hand and ready to succour him although that so oftentimes hee had been deaffe at his most reasonable counsells The king being at Tours the first thing which hee did was in the beginning of Aprill there he depriued the Duke Mercure of his gouernment of lands dignities offices and prerogatiues to him granted by him for his treasons committed against his Maiestie in his gouernment In the beginning of Aprill the king being at Tours and perceiuing the great dangers which compassed him about on euery side hauing many Leaguers of his counsell and about his person the Citie for the most part leagued bent against him by the meanes of some of his saythfull counsellers as of the Marshals Biron and Hautmont and others and considering more deepely the reasonable and modest protestation of the K. of Nauarre who in his great prosperitie yet of late craueth for peace desireth to be taught proffereth his seruice to the king willeth them to deuise some good wayes to remedie the horrible confusions which doe ouerflow France began to hearken to some good and moderate counsell as to take some truces with the said king of Nauarre to vse his counsell and forces for his iust and lawfull defence In the moneth of March following after the taking of the Citadel of Orleans by the rebels and the ennouatious which they had made in Paris in the changing of the State and treading downe vnder foote the kings royall authoritie The Dukes of Mayne and Aumale began to shew such ielousies and suspitions which ambition did worke in their hearts as it did before in the two brethren to wit the Dukes of Guize and Maine For the Duke de Mayne was caryed to the vsurpation of the Monarchy after his brothers death as if it were vpon the shoulders o. rebells and would haue had been sory if his cousin the Duke de Aumale should haue had either the whole or else any part thereof in superioritie but rather desirous that he should depend of his commaundements and therefore did holde him short with secret practizes and factions The Duke d' Aumale would haue beene glad to haue had all to himselfe rather than his cosin and if not all yet he thought to get as good part in the cake as he might but the factious were not so fauourable vnto him as to the other Fearing therefore some Guizien trick such as hee was well acquainted with to be played against him by the helpe of the mutinous Parisiens he putteth on a good countenance and after infinite sackings riflings and manifolde robberyes committed vpon the rich Marchaunts and others in Paris for in those dayes all rich men were either royalls or hereticks he departed out of the Citie into Picardy where he thought his parte might bee stronger and hee mought bee in greater safetie Mercure on the other side for his part was content if he might make sure vnto himselfe the Dutchie of Britaine supposing that the throte of his ambition was not so wide as that he might swallow down the whole kingdom Crown of France yet betweene them 3. the glorious name of the League and holy vnion holy Church and holy Catholick Religion did rowle among them and were patched by the Fryers and Iesuites for an olde gaberdine to hide vnder all their treacheries against the king and robberies against his subiects All these things did flie abroad vnder the authoritie of the newe great generall Protector of the Crowne of France to wit the Duke de Mayne to whome that title was giuen by conspirators assembled at Paris vnder the name of States as it is afore sayde All these three did well agree together in resisting the kings authority and oppressing the kings subiects euery where euery man reseruing to himselfe his owne thoughts yet would they not be kept so secret but that their enuies ielousies and enimities sometime would flame out so that they could be euidently spied by other men The Duke d'Aumale absented himselfe from Paris and in the I le of France Picardie Brie Tartenoys and Vermandoys went about to doo his busines as well as he could his part as strong as strong might be made with those great summes of money which for his share he had made of the spoyle of the rich men of Paris The Citie of Paris is one of the greatest Cities in the world but doubtles the greatest in Europe It is deuided into three parts The one and the greatest part lyeth in Belgik on the banck of the riuer Seyne in a low fayre and plaine situation That part is called the towne Among other edifices on the lower end by the riuer nigh Newgate is the kings house called the Loure and right ouer against it on the other side of the streete is the auncient house called L'hostel de Bourbon about a mile and a halfe vpon the same side of the riuer is the town house called by a temple nigh to it Saint Iahn en Greue There is a long street from the pont anchange directly to Saint Denis warde called Saint Martins streat which deuideth that parte of the Citie well nigh through the middest The other part lying in the celtick on the south side of the riuer is the Vniuersitie lesser than the former part it is full of Monkeries Friâ—ries and Nunneryes of all feathers and colours vnder the heauens So that a man comming out of a strange countrey and seeing so great diuersitie of fantasies would think himselfe to wander into a countrey of monsters or a Citie of mad men but if he consider well he shall finde himselfe in the middest of Sodome so cleane is their conuersation Beside these infernall Locusts there is a great number of colledges and houses of learning for the which cause it is called the Vniuersitie wherein are chiefly two colldges to wit Sorboune and Nauarre Sorboune is a colledge where Diuines and students of Diuinity cheefly haue allowance and beside it is an association of Diuines whersoeuer they haue taken degrees it is more famous than Nauarre by reason of their ignorance but Nauarre is greater in liuing and multitude of students This Vniuersitie was founded or rather reformed I feare me from better to worse by Charles the great by the helpe of his schoolemaster one Alboinus an Englishman sometime scholler of the learned Beda who as it seemeth changed the former order of studie and fashioned them to the forme of doctrine laide downe by the learned S. Augustine This forme there continued vntill y t time that a visioÌ„ was seen in the ayre to wit a man naked hairy and deformed carying a wallet ful of stones gnawing on a stone which he had in his hand Immediately after that forme of studie was changed and diuinitie reduced to vaine speculations carnall Philosophy and fâ—iuolous questions without edifiyng or breeding any knowledge or wisedoms in the students Then began Aristotle to beare sway in the Diuinity schooles and to fitt in the chayre of Moses The
the Realme of France THE FIRST BOOKE CLaude of Vaudemont otherwise of Lorrayne came into France in the time of Lewis the xii in a manner with a wallet and a staffe that is to say a beggerly gentleman in comparison of the great reuenewes which hée and his haue had afterward in France For all his reuenewes when he came into France was not aboue xv M. Franks He began to growe vnder King Francis the first by crouching and capping and double diligence vnder whom after that all offices had béen bestowed hée obtained to bée the Kings Faulkner at the suite of other Noble men That was an office giuen before that time to Gentlemen of small accompt Notwithstanding y e basenes of his degree in Court he was beholden with a suspicious eye by King Francis carying in his mind a certaine presage of that which hath happened afterward For when he had marked with a wise prudencie the sawcines of him and his children hee vttered his iudgement concerning them in these words That they will turne his children into their doublets and his subiects into their shirts The yeare 1515. in the absence of the Duke of Guelders he had the charge of the Swizzers which King Francis had hyred for his iourney to Millaine The yeare 1523. the Lord Trimouille left him the gouernment of Burgondie The yeare 1527. at the suite and intercession of Noble men the King erected his Village of Guize situated vppon the riuer Oyse in the confines of Vermandoyse into a Duchie His Children were the Dukes of Guize Aumale the Marquise D'albeuf the two Massing Priests of Lorraine and Guize These Faulkners did so apply their busines partly with flattering partly with the aliance of lagrand Seneschal which was the Paramour of King Henry the second and the Duke D' Aumale maried her daughter as good as the mother but especially by the facilitie or rather fondnesse of the saide Henry the second that within fewe yeares they obtayned in land and pensions one milion of Frankes beside their Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall offices dignities liuings which did amount to so much But specially they aduaunced themselues greatly in the time of King Francis the second by reason of their aliance with him who had married their Néece the Quéene of Scots In his time they disposed of all things after their owne willes For the King sawe nothing but by their eyes heard nothing but by their mouthes did nothing but by their hands so that there remained nothing but onely the wearing of the Crowne vpon their owne heads and the name of King In this great prosperitie they lacked nothing neither will nor meanes to attaine to their intent but that the Nobilitie of France was a perilous blocke in their way which they could not lep ouer for to ascende to so great and high seate of Maiestie and in stead of a veluet cap to weare a Crowne of pure gold In this prosperous successe it hath happened to them as the Prouerbe is Set a begger on horsebacke and he will ride vntill he breake his necke which the tragicall end of them hath verified But they fearing no such bloodie euents and intending to turne their master out of the house and to seaze on the possession and to lodge themselues therein they vsed cunning and policie The first steppe to reach to that which they intended to get was a dreame in this Iulling of Fortune vnaccustomed to them or theirs For they in their dreame dreamed and sawe in a vision that they were descended from Charles the great and consequently that they had right to the Crowne and that Capet who had dispossessed their auncestors as they say and his posteritie which now enioy it are but vsurpers But considering that to enter into any action of law about such a matter would be a dangerous course and that a peaceable state would rather helpe them backward than forward and that such a fish would bee caught rather in a troublesome than in a cleare water the streame must needes be stirred The occasion of the time fell out fitly to further their intent and to trouble the state They therefore tooke the dissension of Religion to colour the same than the which they thought no better could be deuised for the people was alreadie in ielousie one against another through the diuersitie of religion Unto this opportunitie came many helping causes as the minoritie of the house of Valoys the ambition and atheisme of the Q. Mother the great credite and power which the parties themselues had gotten alreadie afore hand in the Realme the facilitie or rather inconstancie of Anthonie of Burbon King of Nauarre and last of all the headie frowardnes of the Constable and Annas of Monmorency which things conspiring together fitly to further their desires they thought it was time in stead of Atheisme to put on Popish superstition and their ambition should runne for burning zeale of Poperie This part they tooke not for any religion which they cared for but being the stronger and more fauourable side by the which they might get both credite and strength By these meanes the ciuil warres being easily stirred vp they thought all by one meane both to weaken the Nobilitie and to oppresse the house of Burbon which being made away they supposed either that they could easily subuert the house of Valoys being all children or els to suruiue them and as then to make an open claime to the Crowne The ciuill warres being by them and their meanes begun they haue entertained them from time to time And when through wearines or weakenes of their part they haue come to peace they haue through treacherie so manured it that peace hath been more domageable to the professors of the Gospell than open warre as it may appeare by the murthers which they procured and performed at Paris and in other Cities in France the yeare 1572. After the which murther they also procured King Charles the ix to imprison the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and afterward Monsieur the Kings yongest brother The King of Nauarre hauing béen kept prisoner with a garde the space of thrée yeares and more at length in the yeare 1576. went foorth out of Paris to hunting in the Forrest of S. Germayne en faye accompanied with a great number of Catholike Gentlemen among whom was also the Duke Espernon When he came to the Forrest hee opened his minde vnto them that hee was not determined to returne to the Court The Gentlemen considering his hard intertainement and the greatnes of his person were so farr from compelling him to returne from whence he came that they profered to conduct him wheresoeuer he would and so they brought him to the Towne of Alenson 45. leagues from Paris where was a great number of them of the reformed Religion whether also he had requested the Gentlemen to accompanie him Shortly after his arriuing there when the reformed Church had assembled together the said King in the face of
meanes as is aboue sayd in the Prouinces for the making of a strong league with as many as they were able they procured the towne of Montmarsan in Gascoyne to rebell against the King of Nauarre which he shortly after surprized in one night and brought the inhabitants to their duetie without any bloud shedding By their meanes also the Towne of Rause in the Countie of Armignake belonging to the King of Nauarre as the sayd King had entered into the Towne without any mistrust with eightéene Gentlemen the partakers of Guize there let the Percullis fall at his heeles and setting vppon him one offered the Caliuer at his breast But the sayd King neuerthelesse seazed vppon a Tower with his companie and made way to the rest of his traine to enter into the sayd Towne not suffering any of the inhabitants to be put to death buâ— onely him which had leuelled the Caliuer at his breast and that at the earnest sute of the Magistrates of the Towne accusing him with diuers other crimes In Ianuary the King sendeth an Ambassador to the Prince Casimier Palatine of Rhine named Vilaquier to excuse his doings with lyes surmizâ—s and slaunders as that they of the reformed religion had seazed vppon diuers and had committed murthers and cruelties vpon the Catholikes and that they required not the exercize of the religion for any conscience but for fashion sake only and that his States will not suffer him to execute the Edict of peace Vnto this message the Prince Casimier answered as shewing how the King was abused by the States which were none other but such as were enemies of his estate and perturbers of the peace vnder the name of the States and lastly willeth him not to cast his Realme into a miserable flame of ciuill warres for other mens pleasure The Prince Casimier also sendeth Butrich his Ambassador to the King to perswade him if possible were to entertaine the pâ—ace which was made so solemnely which he also willed to be called his peace The sayd Ambassador had audience at Bloys the 23. of February The 7. of March ensuing the sayd Butrich Ambassador surrendred in his Masters name the lands Lordships pensions and offices which the King had giuen him at the concluding of the peace For as much as the Guizes had spread abroad both through France Germany and other countries that the said Prince in consideration and respect of his particular profite was preiudiciall to the publike commoditie of his Souldiers The parish Priests about this time tooke the names of able men Souldiers were euery where secretly mustered according to Sir Hugh his counsell as is aforesaid The Iesuits also began to take the matter in hande to further conspiracies by rayling Sermons who by these meaues crept so deepely into the Kings fauour that he preferred the sawciest of them and them who could thunder most furiously against the reformed religion to Bishoprickes Abbeyes Prebends and other fat Benefices nourishing in his bosome from time to time the firebrands to set him and his Realme in combustion at the first opportunitie The Guizes seeing they could not win them of the religion to fauour their doings but rather that their agents were taken forbeu cozba considering also that they were not able to haue their desire vpon them fearing greatly the King of Nauarre whose wisedome vertue and valour they knewe well goe about to make him to some hatefull and to others contemptible Therefore the Admirall Villars father in lawe to the Duke de Mayne raised vp vpon him the old lye and flander reported of the Christians of the Primitiue Church vp the Pagans to the end that Sathan might bee like to himselfe to wit that the sayd King being at Agen in the night the candles should be put out That false report was spread abroad throughout France afore that any man had heard of it in the Citie of Agen. It was also reprooued for a most false lye by many Noblemen and Ladies of both religions which were then present Now the conclusion or rather collusion of the States was that they required the Edict of peace to bee reuoked the exercize of the reformed religion inhibited and Poperie to be set vp euery where The King was as desirous to graunt them as they to require the breach of the peace wherevpon fearefull persecutions were raised vp euery where great cruelties effected in diuers places vpon them of the religion and open warre denounced And for as much as the condemnation and execution of Monsieur could not be brought to passe as yet for many coÌ„siderations it was kept close and deferred to a fitter time But specially for that he might be a good instrument to be occupied against the King of Nauarre and them of the reformed religion Therefore they thought good to make him and the Duke of Guize Generall ouer the Kings forces Him I say to giue the more authoritie to the actions and enterprizes with greater terror The other was ioyned in Commission to preuent what might happen that Monsieur should not in any wise fauour the King of Nauarre nor his partakers any whit at all The King of Nauarre hauing such power as he could make in Guyen prepared himselfe vppon the defensiue and hauing a mightie power of Germaines readie to enter into France his enemies hearts were somewhat cooled and began to faint On the other side the King wanting money nothing was done By this expedition a great terror of the Germaines hauing seazed France the King now sheweth himselfe as desirous of peace as he was not long before of warre and sendeth his Mother to the King of Nauarre to treat for peace Now old Catie must shewe some Italian iuggling or els farewell Poperie After much chopping and chaunging of words the bargaine was made The King of Nauarre being at Nerack in Gascoyne receiued the peace with some restructions of the former Edict abhorring the slaughters of the Nobilitie and oppressions of the people This peace being concluded at Nerack the Guizes tooke it very grieuously as vnprofitable for the aduancing of that mysterie which did lye hidden in their braine and also for that the King went about to reforme many abuses brought in by warre and to restore the Nobilitie to ease the people of diuers charges For the Guizes would haue all these abuses to continue that in time it might serue for an olde cloake to couer withall their treacherous drifts as they did afterward at the rising of them in armes 1585. Diffidence and iealousies therefore did growe daylie betweene the King and the Guizes But the King to obtaine his intended purpose thought good to pacifie them calleth them to the Court dooth assigue them great pensions bestoweth great gifts and honors vppon them Yet they hauing alwaies a hartburning tickled with their accustomed ambition watching for the death of Monsieur determined to hasten them forasmuch as they feared him more than the King In the yeare 1579. the Guizes sent Frier Claude Mathew
way nigh the place of execution saue them which were assaulting y t Suburbs on horsebacke their helmets on they consulted whether they should set on the Trenches yea or us Some perswaded to giue the attempt saying that it would be a shame to haue come so farre and so nigh execution without blowes giuing and that they could doo no lesse then to see the enemie in the face and seeing that they woulde not come foorth they should goe to finde them out they said further that they of the Castell could not see their succour if they presented not themselues at the Trenches Others reasoned to the contrarie and among others the Lord Rohan withstoode strongly that aduise aleaging many euident reasons And first that it was too plaine that they of the Castel had yeelded to the enemie hauing not giuen one token to th◠contrarie that it was no reason to say that they had no knowledge of their comming considering so many signes giuen them for the space well neere of two daies Secondly that it were a rashenes to hazard so great and braue forces and such a notable companie of Nobilitie to so imminent danger vpon vncertainties and that they were to be reserued to a better opportunitie For the enemie was as strong within as they were without and that it was as easie to take the citie as the Trenches so well fortified and that there was no hope of any to shew them any fauour much lesse out of the castel which was already surrendered or else dissembled with them to intrap them and to cast them away headlong Thirdly they ought to consider that they were in a strange land in the enemies countrey inclosed betweene two daungerous riuers which they must repasse in a countrey couered with woods enemie to the horsemen whereof consisted all their forces Finally that there was no doubt but that the King on the one side and the League on the other were not idle but did their endeuour to gather their forces on euery side to seaze vpon the passages and fortifie the banck of Loyre to stop their repassing That the forces of Anger 's were on their backes which were equall in strength to them and all the countrey was fauourable to the enemie Therefore they concluded to retyre and that delay might bring them great hurt and that the Lord Laual who was at Beaufort to make the rereward should goe backe to repasse the Loyre The greatest part followed this aduise It gréeued greatly the Prince to retyre and as hee sayd to the Lord Clermont to vnbit But ouercome with reason he concluded that the Lord Trimouille Auantigny and Boulay should retyre the Harquebusiers from the suburbs so that about two of the clocke in the afternoone they marched toward Beaufort In retyring they first met with y e Lord Laual with two hundred gentlemen galloping toward Anger 's who being aduertized of the retyre went neuerthelesse forward to the Prince In the retyring there was confusion at Beaufort for it was two houres within night afore they arriued there many had but a short supper The same day the companie of Captayne Fresche whom we haue sayd to haue béen killed at the assault giuen in the suburbe of Pressigny the day before guided by his Lieftenant was sent to get boates for the repassing of Lotion The 22. day the Prince with all the troupes soiourned at Beaufort to take aduise how to repasse Loyre There the Lord Plessis gete was appoynted to search out boates and men to conduct them to auoyde the disorder which they had the first passing and to that intent money was deliuered him The same day the Lord Campoyse was sent with his company of light horsemen to seaze vpon certayne houses vpon the banck of Loyre right agaynst the Abbey of S. Maure The same day whilest the Prince with the Nobles soiourned at Beaufort came to the Lord Clermont the foure men which he had sent to Rochemort who were entered into the Castle of Anger 's and there remayned vntill the day of the rendring thereof conducted by the Lord Suze There they shewed to the armie what was passed in the Castle of Anger 's one of them shewed a Crosse which he had for his part made of pure gold hauing two and thirtie great Diamonds and a great Saphir which made the head of the Crucifixe the ladder and all other things accustomed to be paynted in the passion as they call it was all of Diamonds no lesse artificially than costly wrought he was proffered for the same fifteene hundred Crownes The 24. of October whilest the Prince with many Noble men soiourned at Beaufort to pacifie a quarrell risen among certayne Gentlemen the Lord Laual in the afternoone passed ouer Loyre his mē of armes and light horses to defend S. Maure and to fauour the passage of the rest This day soiourning at Beaufort was the cause of the disorder which followed after and many marueiling at so long abode there foresaw what would ensue knowing that Ioyeuse had set certayne boates in a readines with small peeces at Saumur to let them downe the riuer to stop the passage If they had passed that day and night all things had gone well and safe but God had otherwise determined The same day the Lords Ioyeuse and Chastre went vp the riuer Loyre on the South side of the sayd riuer from Anger 's to Saumur with 150. horses The Lord Laual being passed ouer and vnderstanding that the sayd Lords had passed on that coast toward Saumur early in the morning made a roade toward Saumur and tooke the Mules and rich carriage of Ioyeuse The Lords Trimouille and Boyseuly passed the Lotion encamped themselues in a Common vpon the bancke of Loyre whilest the Prince and the rest passed Lotion There was at that passage of Lotion aboue fiue hundred horses and two boates onely for that cause the confusion was so great that one being ouerladen sunke though without any losse of men because it was nigh the bancke The same day about nine of the clocke in the morning was heard on a sudden a peale of Ordinance with some small shot which put the Armie in great rumour Some sayd that it was at Anger 's in token of ioye for the rendring of the Castle But within a while after were seene two great boates furnished with Ordinance and men of warre who cast anker a little beneath the Abbey of S. Maure in the place where the passage ouer was appoynted to be and immediatly began to shoote on both sides of the riuer both agaynst them who had passed and agaynst them that were about to passe The newes of the sayd boates were brought to the Prince incontinently with amplification of the impossibilitie to repasse and it was indeede so for lacke of two field péeces to haue shot from the banke agaynst the boates which by these meanes could haue béen easily sunke but they had carried none although they had once determined so to doo
The inuention by the subtilty of the said ladie was that shee fayned to driue out of the Castell certayne pages of the Prince which the Lord Fredericke his chamberlayne had there with him They gaue aduertifement to the lord Lauall what had passed at Tilleburge also of the meanes how to enter into the Castell The 20. day at night captaine Pickard came out of Xainctes with 120. with him into the towne for succour The 21. the Lord Laual with the Lords Saint Mesmes gouernour of Saint Jhan and Bonlay and others determined to rescue the said Lady and taking about one hundred armed men and foure hundred Harquebusiers after dinner tooke their iourney toward Tailebourg and about twenty men of armes did alight downe on the side of the waren and entred into the ditch which is betweene the towne and the Castell folowed with a certaine number of shot and furiously charged the enemie in diuers places In the beginning the enemies defended themselues stoutely as well out of the houses as out of the Trenches which they had planted at the gate of the Castell They of the Castell perceauing that succour was come to them leaueled their artilerie partlie against the Trenches partly against the houses among whom the house of one Bordet was cleane beatē down The diuers charges began to amaze the enemies which without long resistance began to looke how to saue themselues and their liues by flight or otherwise There were found dead ofy e enemies side about 4. score men of our side onely sixe many were taken the other were put to flight wherof the night couered the shame y e marshes the riuer saued many the woūded and prisoners were courteously intreated many were sent away without ransome and especially the Captaine Beau Mont and Roke and others which were of commaundement during the skirmish within the towne the Lord Laual remained without the towne in battaile aray vpon the high way to Xainctes and from thence discouered some of the enemies who were issued out of the gates of Tailebourg with their colours and sought to saue themselues The said Lord commaunded his brother the Lorde Ryeulx to charge them who with twelue horses set on them whereof many were killed some wounded and some taken with foure ensignes The enemies being thus beaten the Lady Trimouil gratified the said Lord Laual with the other Noble men who had accompanied him for the assistance giuen her in such a conuenient time And although that before she would not suffer any further forces then she had to enter into the castell yet she admitted them in now and so they aduised before their departure of the meanes how to preuent like inconueniences and that it was better that this place should be kept by them of the reformed religion to the which the said Lady had no great fantasie Notwithstanding Captaiee Bousier Leutenant of the Princes gardes with certaine Harquebusiers was apoynted to keepe the said Castell and afterward there was ioyned to him the Lord Boulay It is saide before how the King vnderstanding of the Princes going to Anger 's with much adoo sent the Duke De Mayne out of Paris for Guyenne with a mightie armie that all with one voyage hee migh◠helpe to inclose vp the Prince and also in his absence to inuade Poytow and Xainctonge prouinces of Guienne for which he was apoynted Who taking his iourney from Bloys after the Princes armie was dessolued at Salonne to Poitiers vnder the colour of the lying in of his Wife soiorned there three weekes to seduce that great and populous Citie to his faction and at length when he could not obtaine his purpose by diuers expresse commaundements from the King hee departed about the fifteenth of Nouember And boasting that within three moneths hee would roote all the Hugonets out of Guyenne and Gascoyne hauing that mightie armie as we haue saide before in his way he tooke by surrender Lusignen and Mele and passing by Saint Ihan hee sent a few horsemen beyond the bridge Saint Iulion in the sight of the towne intending by that small number to draw the Lord Laual to fight who he thought would haue issued out and pursued those forerunners he thought also that the said Lord Laual would haue passed the bridge Saint Iulion and to haue taken him in ambushes with the whole companie of his horsemen who did lie in a wood and a dingle on the other side of the bridge which the said Lorde Laual could not haue repassed without hazard there to haue been discomfited The Lord Laual discouering the light horses issued out of the towne but not after the minde of the Duke For hauing put a good garde vpon the bridge he sent a few light horses onely to view the enemie and ordered the rest of his men of armes and Harquebusiers in battell aray vpon the banke of the riuer in the view of the enemie which seeing that he ventured not rashlie retyred without attempting any thing About the 28. the Duke De Mayne with his armie lodged about the towne of Saint Ihan The Lord Chassegay ensigne bearer of the Lord Laual accompanied with the Lord Orges and fiue and twenty horses more with him issued out to skirmish with the armie of the Duke They met nigh Varezes a little towne not farre distant twentie Launciers of the enemie folowed at hand by two hundered men of warre French and Jtalians The saide Chassegay was charged with these troupes and pursued to the bridge where hee stayed in the face of the enemie to fauour the retraite of his men but there he was beaten downe and taken prisoner with some others they which saued themselues gaue the alarum in the towne the forces whereof issued out but the enemie had retired About the latter end of December the Duke méeting with the Marshal Matignon about Coignake at length parted a sunder and the sayd Matignon went to Bourdeaux but the Duke being rid of the companie of Matignon who would bée but a let vnto him to bring to passe his intents tooke his iourney to sport himselfe through Perigord Limosin Quercy and Agennoys at the charges of the Priests and expences of the holy Rood hauing a great deale of money euen so much as the Sacraficers could spare to recreate himselfe when hée should finde himselfe wearie of winning of Cities and strong Holds in those countreys It is sayd before how that after the publication of the Edict in Iuly the Vicount Turenne had assembled some forces partly out of his owne land in Limosin and Perigord and partly many Noble men and Captaines of the countreys about had repayred vnto him For the persecutions had inforced many as well Gentlemen as others to forsake their houses to take armes and to repayre to such Prouinces as were of sure accesse vnto them This was the cause that Noble men and Gentlemen from about Paris Gastinoys Niuernoys countries betwéene the riuers of Loyre and Seyne which purposed to repayre to the King of
into Rochel the last day of May being the Lords day with a marueilous reioy sing of al men which receaued much comfort of his presence there for the sayd King had alwayes no lesse vertuously than happely opposed himselfe to all the attempts and endeuours of all the armies of the enemies which had béen sent against them The same day the sayd King of Nauarre embarked himselfe to goe to visit the Nauie which was before Browage where he soiorned some dayes In the meane while there had arriued certayne shippes to the Lord S. Luke gouernour of Browage who with them went about to let that enterprize but all was in vayne so that without any great losse all the ships appoynted for that exployt were brought in and suâ—ke in the mouth of the Hauen according to the deliberation taken So the chanell by these means was barred in such a sort as the Hauen hath béen in a manner rendered vnprofitable Notwithstanding that the Lord S. Luke hath bestowed much labour to open it and at the charges of the inhabitants of the Ilands he hath drawne out foure or fiue vessels Yet is that Hauen alwayes suspected vnto ships and they néede to set markes to the ships that will enter in least they take hurt This being done the Nauie returned to Rochel without any losse except of one Captayne named Mercur and fewe Souldiers which were taken in the skirmishes that were made at the Fort aboue mentioned About the fourth of Iune the King being returned to Rochel with this Nauie and vnderstanding that the Marshall Byron with this armie approached and that Lusignen Mele and Chizay Townes not defensible had yéelded themselues tooke his iourney to Marans to consider the places whether théy were able to make head against that armie The armie lead by the Marshall Byron did consist of twelue hundred horsemen and foure thousand footemen with a conuenient furniture This armie was very small the cause was that the King at the commaundement of the Leaguers had deuided his forces into sundrie armies for sundrie Prouinces to diuert the forces of them of the religion from the Duke de Mayne as is afore said The King of Nauarre hauing well viewed the Forts of the Iles of Maran concluded to defend the places agaynst that armie The 7. day of Iune came two sorts of deputies appoynted to require of the King of Nauarre two contrary things namely the â—â—putie of Rochel required his Maiestie that hee would cause the Castle of Maran to bée rased for the reasons which they then alleaged On the other side the Gentlemen of Annix required him not to doo so for as much as the Papists would take occasion to doo the like to their houses The King of Nauarre answered to them both that thereupon he would take aduise Whilest these things were a dooing the King of Nauarre had aduertisement that the Duke de Mayne distressed Chastilion whereupon he assembled as great a companie of horsemen as he could and with the Prince determined to rescue that place which he could not bring to passe by reason of the aduancing of Byron and his armie For the armie of Byron was alreadie aduanced to Niort and hauing no néerer place than Maran to assault made his reckoning not to besiege it but onely to fright the inhabitants and about fiftie souldiers which he knewe to be lodged in the forts and in the greater of the sayd forts there was not aboue nine or ten Souldiers the sayd forts being very ill furnished which made him beléeue that such a small companie would not withstand him but surrender the sayd forts The feare indéede was great among many whereof some of them had alreadie retyred to Rochel But the Lord Iarry gouernour of the place and his Souldiers with some of the inhabitants tooke courage many did despayre of the succour of the King of Nauarre whom they thought to haue passed into Gascoyne They resolued notwithstanding to hold against that armie And on the monday the 7. of Iune at night they sent messengers to Rochel to demaund succour both of men and munition of warre and of certaine péeces They of Rochel answered that they could not conueniently spare men as for munition and peeces they would willingly let them haue so that they might haue securitie to be payed the price that it cost them This refusall of men did so feare the inhabitants that euen that night many did retyre and carried away the rest of their goods But on the Wednesday morning about foure of the clocke arriued from the King of Nauarre two Gentlemen to wit the Lord Fouqueroles and Valiere whom he had sent in great diligence they calling the gouernour the Minister of the place and some of the inhabitants assured them that the King of Nauarre was comming in great diligence for to succour them and that he would arriue euen the same day and after they had rested a while the sayd Lords went to view the Holds and entrings into the Ilands and so likewise the day following The 12. day of Iune the King of Nauarre came with fewe in companie but his troupes followed him apace The 13. 14. and 15. dayes of that moneth there entered braue companies of Souldiers as they of the Lords Puelles Granuile Drakuille and S. Foy Normands There entered also Barache the regiment of Sorlus the Lord of Neufuy vnder fiue Ensignes for the most part Perigordins and Limosins yet very well trained in Military Discipline All these companies were placed in the forts by the King of Nauarre namely the Lord Puelles was in the Bastile Drakuille in Beauregard Barache at Barnay Granuile with Saint Foy were put in the Brune and Repentne on the way to Rochel Captaine Plaune with his companie of Poytiuines was placed at Poyneuf Captaine Saint Ihan at Clousie Captaine Treille in Brault there was a company of Rochellers few in number but men resolute vnder Captaine Mot they were put to keepe the entrey of the mill in the Marsh The Lord Iarrie gouernour of Mans vndertooke to keepe the Forts Paulee Allowete and Botsblauk with his companie and some of the inhabitants The King of Nauarre commaunded all to obey the Lord Fonquereles who shewed a marueilous care and diligence in the same siege The 10. day of Iulie the Marshall Byron with a companie of horses came himselfe to view the Bastile but approaching a little too nigh he was saluted out of some small forts which the Lorde Puelles had placed vpon the high way hee had his thumb and some other fingers taken off with a shot the same shot did greatly as it was reported hurt a Gentleman who was by him All that weeke the enemie did none other thing but aduaunced himselfe toward the Bastile set his gabions nigh the farme of Angle there to place three pieces to batter the fort of Bastile In the mean time the King of Nauarre did shew a wonderful diligence as wel in fortifying the Iland as in bringing companies
did not hold because the sayd Lord Oneau had not taken hostages for the performance of the sayd conditions contenting himselfe with the faith of the Captaine which was within but as the armie marched forward he kept not promise The armie departing from Chasteauuilaine made foure dayes iourney to the riuer Seyne where they arriued about the 2. of October and passed ouer the sayd riuer aboue Chastilion vpon Seyne without enterprizing vppon the towne because the Lord of Guize had put into it the Lord Chastre with a certaine number of horsemen and footmen which made a sallie The Lord Chastilion was commaunded to make the rereward with three companies of light horsemen and seauen Cornets of Rutters and three hundred Harquebusiers The Colonel Berbistroph was a little more toward the riuer to fauour the Lord Chastilion which thing the Lord Chastre seeing he made hast with his horsemen being fauoured with certaine harquebusiers which hee had set in a coppes to charge Berpistroph who incontinently aduertized the Lord Chastilion to the end he might cut off the returne of those horsemen of the Lord Chastre which thing he did The seauen Cornets which were with the Lord Chastilion followed him with a shewe of good will to fight but cōming not in time the Lord Chastilion with the Frenchmen began to charge the harquebusiers of the garde of the Lord Chastre who were all cut to péeces and the horsemen followed vnto the gates of the towne One of the Rutters on a sudden forsaking his band killed a French Launce with the shot of a pistoll From thence they went to lodge at Leyne where they soiourned two dayes The Germans complayned much of their lodgings The Marshalls could not denie but that they had oftentimes ill lodgings but the fault was in the deare yeare as they among the principall Rutters could testifie who in the yeares before in their former voyages had béen well lodged in the selfe same lodgings where they were now In the same place dyed of sicknesse the Countie de la Mark yonger brother to the Duke of Boillon who had hetherto alwayes conducted the auauntgard about the third of October From Leyne they remooued to Ansi le frank to Taulay where newes came that the Duke de Mayne was in a Castle not farre off The Baron of Oneau who was lodged nigh the said Castle wrote about it to the said Lord Chastilion with a declaration of the good will which the Rutters had to assault him if they would send them some number of footmen And if the Duke of Guize would haue approached to the right hand of the said Lord Chastilion they would come to his succour assoone as néede were There was then a fayre occasion as it seemed to enforce the Duke of Guize to battell notwithstanding there was found some difficulties For some of the countrey sayd that the Castle was strong others that it was a wood land fit for the harquebusiers of the Duke of Guize and disaduantagious for the horsemen of the armie and that it would bee hard in camping there to get victuals and therefore they stayed not there From Ansi the armie tooke course to the riuer of Yonne and came to it the second day after About the fift of October the sayd armie passed the riuer at Mally la vile where also arriued the Lord Longa from the King of Nauarre and willed them in the name of the sayd King to direct the armie toward the head of the riuer Loyre where he determined to receiue it Many notwithstanding thought that the Germans would hardly take that way supposing that if they should take y t course many of the Swissers would disband themselues drawing so nigh their countrey considering also that with much adoo the artillerie would passe through the Niuernoys partly by reason of the foule wayes and partly for the great scarcitie of victuals which would be found in Niuernoys and Moruant Vpon this incertitude the armie marched forward the resolution of that matter being referred to the incident occasions This thing mooued the Germans to complaine and to require another gouernment to be vsed in marching The forme of marching which they desired was in forme of a triangle so that the Rutters should make one wing the other wing toward the side of the enemie should be of the Frenchmen and the middle should be the gard of the artillerie and the Swissers which notwithstanding was not so resolued then also began the discommodities to encrease in the armie Thus the matters passing in that armie doubtfully and without any resolution vppon any expedient counsell at length they determined to trye the passage at Charite and for this purpose were chosen both horsemen and footmen but the enterprise being delayed off one day for want of some commoditie the King had leisure to send thether men of armes who arriued there at the same instant when the armie did approach which gaue occasion to retyre without doing any thing The Lord Chastilion with the Marshall of the Campe of Rutters and the Colonell Boke with two thousand horses drewe néere to Cosnes partly to fauour them who were gone to seeke passage at Charite if neede were partly to seeke occasion to see the enemie There they missed the Duke Espernon but a little who had passed the riuer at Neufuy The same night the sayd Lord Espernon set vpon the Campe of the footmen but did very little preuaile and after that returned to Cosnes carrying away with him the Captayne Bonourier sore wounded In the meane while the King with his armie was on the other side of the riuer to oppose himselfe to the passage so that the day being come the two armies could see one another At euening al the army arriued at the riuer side that night the K. made great trenches at the foord of Neufuy fortifyed the same with a garrison of Harquebuziers and Musketters and for to fauour them caused 3. great boats well furnished with ordinance to bee brought The riuer of Loyre was to be passed at foordin many places vntil that time and there was yet in some places foordes yet had they no meanes to passe because the kings armie kept the bancke of the riuer euery where If that army had marched somewhat speedily it might haue passed well ynough in preuenting the kinges armie which came out of Paris somewhat late for the king reposed himselfe vppon the assurance of the Duke of Guyze who assured the said king to stop the passage of that army which thing he could not performe and had not béen done if the king had not opposed himselfe to them at the banke of the riuer The morrow after the Lord Boyllon came to sit in counsell at Neufuy There the Lords Oneau and Huguerie made many complayntes in the name of the Germans by reasons of the safetyes and exemptions which were giuen as wel to y e popish gentlemen as to them of the religion in fauour therof they receaued into
which is in the middle of the Towne where was great confusion in going ouer The Lord Chastilion was commaunded to goe to trye the passage at Gien but many inconueniences let that enterprise although he had gone part of the way In the meane time the enemie aduaunced in such sorte that the forerunners did charge the Launce-knights and vnarmed about one thousand or twelue hundred did hurt a great many tooke the artilterie and munition About 25. horsemen did all that The Launce-knights did retyre in good order toward Buissiere as also the wagon men with their horses and other such stuffe as they could saue The Lord Chastilion went also to the sayd Buissiere who did incontinently sende to the horsemen on euery side for to take aduise what was to bee done for they were like to haue the enemie very shortly on their backes but the companies went to the rendes vous which was appoynted at Bouuy The Lord Chastilion hauing stood in battell aray at Buissiere to receiue the Launce-knights who did passe in order made the retraite hauing not with him aboue three score armed men and sixe score harquebusiers on horsebacke at the most The same long soiorning which the Lord Chastilion made at Buissiere gaue time to the enemie to followe him so that in marching the high way to Bouuy the enemy appeared marching along the parke at whose discouering hee put his companie in battell aray foure and foure by reason of the narrownes of the place The Lords Morinault and S. Albine did leade the forerunners who discouering that the enemie was of more then two hundred horses sent word to the Lord Chastilion who strengthened them of ten men of armes which were with the Lord Byramont and willed them to march a small pace after the companies But a little after they were so pressed that they turned their faces against the enemie with sword in hand who then staied and after in that manner followed the Lord Chastilion more than three leagues The said Lord Chastilion geuing to vnderstand to the Prince County that the enemy was at hand the Duke Boyllon went backe to the said Lord Chastilion with 2. hundred horses and going backe to a litle brooke which they had left behind thought good to stay there for the enemie but the Lord Monluet who alwaies had remained behind gaue to vnderstand to the Lord Chastilion that he doubted somewhat and for to know better what it might be they went toward the enemies and at the discouering of them began to speake either to stay them or else to make them come nearer but at length the enemy began to retire vpon which occasion the Lord Monluet and Chastilion pressed them so farre that they pursued beating them beyond the Brooke where they left dead of the enemie seuen or eight vpon the place The Lord Chastilion pursuing the disorder of the enemie was aduertized by the Lord Boillon that the Rutters were more then fiue leagues before with the rest of the Frenchmen that the companies which he pursued was the whole power of the enemie where were the Lords Espernon Nemours and Mercure that necessity required to march forward without any further delay which thing staied the Lord Chastilion who in returning passed by a little wood where he spied about foure score Harquebuziers of the enemie who hid themselues in the said Wood whom the said Lord Chastilion made countenance to charge that in the meane time hee hee might retire his forerunners whom the said Harquebuziers made their rekoning to surprize in theyr returne but they came againe without any damage The truth is that there was in all those troupes but onely the Dukes Espernon Nemours and Mercure who were greatly amazed when their forerunners so fearefully did cast themselues in their armes That same day they went to lodge fiue leagues from thence and the next day they began to enter into Moruaut which is a wood land and so thicke that with much adoo they could not goe aboue two and two They appointed the rendes vous for the chiefe of the army to heare what commission the Lord Cormon had brought which was that the King would geue such surety vnto the Germans as they would to retire into Germany and to the French men Papists who would liue Popishlie in their houses safetie with their goods Others of the religion which would retire out of France might enioy their goods so that they would beare no armes against him requiring furthermore in token of their obedience and good intentes by the which they had declared to haue borne armes onely for his seruice that all the French men should surrender him their Cornets and Colours All these thinges being debated on both sides it was aduised not to dispise these offers but for the sureties and ensignes to take further aduise The reasons which induced them were the great amazednes wherein the whole armie was and to that feare there was such negligence ioyned that there was no more meanes to keepe any order neither among the Germans nor Frenchmen Many French gentlemen had and did dayly resort home there was no assurance that any great number would stay any longer There was no resolution to fight against the enemy the wayes were full of stuffe and armes as well of Germans as Frenchmen the Horses were weary they had to make long iourneys to goe farre from the enemy when they came they found no guide to lead them the way to the Vilages so that they trauelled some time one or two leagues after they were arriued at the rendes vous for to take their lodginges The most part of them remayned either in the woods or else in the first houses which they met men without bread horses without fodder many horses were tyred for lacke of shooing There was foure daies iourney to goe through woods The Harquebuziers and footmen did diminish on both sides all the regimeÌ„t of the Lord Villeneufue had disâ—anded themselues not passing thrée daies before because the master of theyr campe was prisoner there was almost no men left in the regiment of the Lord Mouy They whom the Lord Chastilion had brought out of Languedock for lacke of horses could not follow or else for to follow in so long iourneyes were inforced to cast away their armors most of them had no powder nor meanes to recouer any Their Peeces were either broken or vnprofitable for lacke of workemen to mend them There remayned not aboue two hundred Harquebuziers They which rested of Launce-knights being about two thousand were vnarmed all these reasons made them conclude that it was better to saue the men to do seruice another time then to loose them and geue the praise to the enemy to haue wholly destroyed that army Vpon these deliberations they dispatched to the king the L. Cormon In the meane while the army went forward followed still by the Lord Espernon accompanied with seuen or eight hundred horsemen and with as many Harquebusiers as he could put
on horsebacke and was then with in a league of the army The Armie marched fiue daies iourney vnto the towne of Lancy in Masconoys where the rendes vous was geuen The Rutters and Frenchmen assembled themselues the 6. day of December The Lords Cormon Lisle and Moriuault came from the Lord Espernon there the heads and the troupes being assembled conferred together of the things which were to be entreated The king fearing greatly that the remnant of that army should escape into Viuarets and Languedock so into Gascoyne to the king of Nauarre Therefore they inuented surmises to increase the terror and impossibility to diuert them if it were possible from going that way which they saw was the easyest and safest to escape the danger into the which they did cast themselues and to cause them to accept of disauantagious offers The Lord Lisle Moriuault being sent by the Duke Espernō opened a rowle in the which was read how many companies of armed men and regimentes of footmen were in the forrest countrey to stop the way to the armie if they should take their iourney to Viuarets he reported also how Mandelot was enforced to retire his armie by reason of the great Snowes which were fallen there so that there was no meanes for them to passe this thing discoraged the army greatly Vpon this deliberation appointed to determine what was to bee done the Lord Chastilion shewed that the hardest most dangerous part of the Forrest was past alreadie that within foure daies they could bee in a place of safetye and shewed them to the eye the mountains of Viuarets where within 24. howers they might haue the Lord Chebault with fifteene hundred Harquebusiers that he knew well the meanes of Mandelot how that he could not gather such companies as could be able to stop their way he warned them to take heed of rumors which were spread abroad by the enemie to terrify them offered vpon his life to conduct the companies into Viuarets without danger The meanes which he proposed were to deuide the army into two partes to put one halfe of the Rutters and Frenchmen in the vaungard with as much of the stuffe as was necessary that which they could not spare and to cut off all the rest but specially all the tired horses which serued for nothing but for lets The other halfe of the armie should march after and that they should resolue themselues to fight against whomsoeuer would oppose themselues in their way either afore or behind And that in so doing he trusted by Gods power that they might ouercome all impediments which might be proffered considering that God had plucked the armie as if it were by the hand out of more and farre greater daungers then they which remayned behinde Thereunto he added that the Lord Espernon was left a long dayes iourney behinde the armie Guize thrée dayes iourney the King was beyond the riuer Loyre and that before the armie there was nothing which might doo hurt He shewed furthermore that there was no cause to accept the disaduantagious and vnhonest conditions which were offered vnworthie to bee accepted of them who professed the true Christian reformed religion On the other side he shewed the small assurance which they might haue of the Kings proffers and the impossibilitie to returne home in safetie the way which they determined to take For first the King did offer safetie to retyre wheresoeuer they would with assurance of enioying their goods as well to them who would repayre to their houses and liue according to the Romish religion as to others who would retyre out of France to liue in freedome of conscience without bearing of armes He did offer also safetie to the straungers to repayre to their countrey with their Cornets and Ensignes requiring onely the Colours of the Frenchmen But now he altereth these conditions and will giue no suretie to returne home nor libertie to enioy their goods but onely to them who will liue after the Popish manner or would promise neuer to beare armes except by his expresse commandement and beside asked all the Cornets and Colours indifferently as well of the Germans as Frenchmen This alteration made him thinke that there was some false dealing euen in the armie it selfe which gaue occasion to the King to reuoke his former proffers and to offer harder considering that it was not vnknowne that the Lord Espernon hath not at this present time fiue hundred horses and not so many harquebusiers on horsebacke so that if he would stay for them which be had on foote he would neuer ouertake the armie going forward But if he should come with them which he had he would be still the weaker and himselfe as wearie as the armie in danger still to be well beaten hauing no reason that hee should doo so now seeing that hee durst not doo it when he had greater forces néerer the armie and in a countrie fauourable to him euery way He concluded therefore that there was nothing so sure for the armie as to passe the Loyre He shewed also that it was impossible to returne into Germany safely for to goe thether they ought to passe the riuer Saosne and that still vpon bridges because it cannot bee passed by foor◠any where He shewed that the bridges and boates were in the power of the Duke de Mayne and that if the Saosne might be passed yet must they go through the enemies lands so that they must needes commit themselues into the Leaguers mercie whose crueltie he knewe the King himselfe were not able to stay Many Germans and others shewed that they approoued well this aduise as the surest way But this is to be confessed that God would not vse the means of this armie and that he would wholly scatter it For although they sawe and approoued the most expedient reasons yet they could not follow them Others thought that they who would returne into Languedock would haue others to followe them for to assure their way Others alleaged the impossibilitie by reason of the Snowes others the barrennes of y t countrey where they should finde foode neither for men nor horses The Rutters thought vppon the losse of their horses when they should passe the downefalls of the mountaynes of Viuarets where the countrey men alone were able to resist them so that easily they were withdrawne from that voiage For then the common sort of them without their Colonels flocked together to heare what the Lord Lisle mariualt would say who perswaded to diminish somewhat of the conditions proposed vnto them or els to carrie away their Cornets and sweare neuer to returne into France except it were for the Kings seruice or the Emperour or els to surrender their Cornets and to goe with libertie and to returne when they would Upon this proposition the Lord Chastilion breaking through y e preace shewed that the Lord Lisle mariuault had no authoritie nor writ to treate with them nor that could binde the King to
all impost now three years after they are taxed to pay y e 10. part of all their goods vntil they be discharged of all taxes and impost And if they should complaine of it no doubt they should heare the answere of the Wolfe to the Crane goe thy way thou maist be glad that thou hast not lost all Secondly they will not put in trust about their tirannous deuises none of the kinges faithfull officers and seruants whom they suspect but such Commissioners as be of theyr owne making of their owne qualities and such as will say to all their dooings Amen The ninth article is that the friendes of heretikes which are of their associate shall be enforced by all meanes possible to buy their goods in abating vnto them the fifth part of the value and when they shall be sold to others vpon their refusing they shall not be receaued afterward to haue any action to recouer them Here be two thinges full of wrong and Turkish oppression First that any man should be compelled to buy other mens goods standeth Note vppon no reason Secondly that the ancient law of aguation grounded vpon the ciuill law of the Romanes and vsed in the Realme aboue one thousand yeares by the which the next of kindred might recouer the land of his kinsman alienated in repaying the money within a certayine time should be altered by new men who within a mans age had no more to do in the realme then they haue this day in Turkie that law I say that the Kinges of France neuer sought to alter neither had been able to do it if they would The tenth article is that the first summes of money that shall be made of that sale shall be bestowed to pay the most needfull debts of the heads of the League and the ouerplus shall bee put in the handes of such as shall be named with condition that they shall not be emploied otherwise In this Article wee may obserue two prety shameles tokens for first these beggerly Lords issued out of the cauerns of the beggerly mountains Note of Lorreine do imitate the beggerly Friers in their Sermons who do exhort their good Dames to geue to their couent so these Lordes being 12. in number hauing spent their goods and other mens also partly in practising conspiracies against the state partly in riots whoredoms and excesse now put vs in remembraâ—ce to fell our landes and goods at what price soeuer for to pay their debts for these good lawes which they send vs out of their vilage of Nancy Secondly order is taken that the ouerplus of the sale of our goods and landes be put in store in such hands as they shall appoint for them least they should lacke to finish their course which they haue begun But what shal we do when y e is done for all wil be but a gnat in an Elephants mouth wee must begin to sell againe and for lack of goods and lands to sell wee must sel our own bodies to be slaues in the Galleys least these men should lack money The tenth article is that the life of any prisoner of the enemie meaning the hereticks as they tearme them be not spared except he wil abiure and put in good sureties to liue Catholickly in paying presently the iust value of his goods if they haue not been sold alreadie And in case they haue béen sold he shall renounce all right which he may pretend hereafter and shall binde himselfe to serue three yeares and more in any seruice that he shall be imployed without receauing any wages or paye This is the law wherewith Mahomet the false Prophet did strengthen his tirannie and superstition for thus hee speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Note if any man shall speake against Corran either the sword or bondage The only difference is that Mahomets lawe is somewhat more fauourable in as much as it is but onely against the speakers against his religion but not against them who shall be taken in warre But this dooth violate the lawe of Nations and right of suppleants which alwaies haue been kept inuiolable and the violating thereof had been alwaies accounted among all Nations worthie to be reuenged with fire and sword By this lawe of Nancy they will make this Nation so famous in the praise of humanitie more sauage than the very barbarous Nations Secondly life here is redeemed onely with abiuration and violating of conscience which is more than the Turke or any other Nation on the earth dooth practise At last followeth bondage which must indure as long as it shall please the Lords and Senators of Nancy This is the nature of this monstrous lawe borne at Nancy The effects of this strange new law were to roote out the Frenâ—h Nation For it maketh the Catholicks without any hope of remission to murther the Hugonets contraius gentium supplicum and it inforceth the Hugonets lege talionis to destroy the Catholicks for the violating of the right of Nations and Suppliants And thus we shall be well recompensed for the selling of our goods lands These articles be such as if a Lord should offer them to his slaues it were lawfull for them to vse all meanes possible against him But these new Gods on earth dare present so vniust so vnreasonable so vnreuerent conditions and lawes vnto one of the greatest Monarkies in the World but what is it that these shameles men dare not presume for aduauntage These articles agreed vpon by these wise Senatours and Law-giuers in Nancy the Metropolitan vilage of Lorreyne were brought to the King to be approued by him but there was some delay in the approbation And as for such as made for the suppressing of the reformed religion hee did accord with them but to the rest he could not by any meanes condesend knowing with a good iudgement that they tooke religion for no other pretence but to couer their ambition and by these meanes to weaken his authoritie and to rid him out of the way by whatsoeuer meanes and also all them whom they knew were able and willing to hold plea for the Crowne against them which thing caused that these articles of Nancy but specially such as touched the Kings strong places and holdes to bee deliuered to them could not be approued by the King It is saide in the first booke how the Guyzes making all hast that they might to vsurp the Crowne thought good to rid out of the way Monsieur the Kings only brother and how at Nancy the shop of al the treacheries in these perilous dayes they hired one Salcedo a Spaniard to haue dispatched him one way or another and for to bring that to passe they deliuered him for an earnest at the beginning 6000. Crownes Now in like manner these Senators of Nancy doo propound in their counsell to search out and how to take away the impediments which may let them to come speedilie to their intended purpose it was found speciallie to
rest of his troupes which came in small boates But because the Souldiers were marueilously wearie they tooke incontinently their lodgings the Captaines also did not think good to assault the enemie by night before they had discouered him By this delay the Lord Lauerdine receiued his footmen with leasure to the number of fiue hundred without any horsemen whome hee set in battell array in Beauregard and placed about foure score of them in the Farme house of Lommeau The day being come to wit the 16. of March the Lords Boysduly and Iarry and others Captaines to number of three hundred footemen and about three score hrsemen went to seeke out the enemie who put his men in battell array in fauour of the Farme house of Beauregard and durst not aduance vpon our men fearing our horsemen although they were twise stronger in footmen Our men on the other side durst not charge them hauing such aduantage as they had but for that time were content to chase them who were put in the Farme house of Lommeau who retyred to their fellowes in good order as men resolute Our men on the other side retyred to the towne where euery one refreshed himselfe intending to charge the enemie in the euening but there was noted in our men much confusion but small resolution The same day about three a clock in the after noone arriued from Rochel the Lord Noyse with twentie braue souldiers vnder the conduct of Captaine Ozanneau it is certaine that it these souldiers had arriued the day before and had been placed at Beauregard with some more forces which might haue been geuen them part of the inhabitants part of the souldiers of the gouernour the L. Lauerdine had not put foot on land so easily as he did For although the Lord Lauerdine had gotten much as is said yet he had beene enforced to retire if it had not beene for the treathery committed in the forte of Bastile which commanded the captayne Ensigne of the gouernour and some others who were so frighted by a countrie man sent vnto them by the way of aduertizement from Perrerio with threatnings that if they did suffer themseues to be besieged they would be hanged as others were at Cotaudiere that there upon they stated not for the enemie but abandoned their fort their armour and munition and saued themselues in the Marshes The Lord Lauerdine hauing intelligence of this fact immediatly sent for his horsemen who were three long leagues off they arriued about 5. a clock in the morning he put all his men in battell array and marched toward the towne of Marans The Lords Boysduly and the gouernour with other gentlemen and souldiers prepared themselues to goe to seeke the enemie whome about six a clock they discouered with his horsemen which made them conclude that without doubt the Bastile was in their power for it was vnpossible that their horsemen had entred any other way Notwithstanding they which were in the towne went foorth to receiue the enemie to the farthest houses of the high towne where they fought a skirmish in the which the Lord Boysduly Noyse and some others who followed them with some of Rochell did what they could but at length being charged with horsemen of the enemie were forced to giue place and to retyre into the Castell speedily so that the enemie seazed vpon the high towne and thereupon afterward became master of all the rest All the Gentlemen with their horses and Souldiers and some of the inhabitants retyred into the Castell to the number of three or foure hundred Within that place there was no prouision of victualls saue some small store of meale which the Souldiers in retyring therein could carry away with them There was neither shouels mattocks picaxes nor any other tooles to remoue the earth if neede should be there was small prouision for horses and no good store of powder Notwithstanding the Lord Boysduly with the gouernour and other Gentlemen determined to hold out for certaine dayes hoping to haue some succour either by the comming of the king of Nauarre who was not yet returned out of Gascoyne or else by them of Rochell or if the worst should fal out yet they would make some honourable composition With this resolution they prepared to keepe the court of the Castel which was in a manner trenched and the dungeon hauing one piece which was little or nothing worth to them There they were incontinently besieged by the enemie who seazed vpon all the conuenient places round about the Castell and did commaund the court of the sayd Castell they trenched themselues where it was conuenient for them They who were besieged in the Castell did likewise their endeuor so that without any losse of men they killed many of the enemies The Lord Iarry Gouernour was hurt in the foot which made his person afterward vnprofitable But the enemy pressed them within so narrowly that there could no meanes be deuysed to vnderstand any thing during the siege The 18. of March the King of Nauarre hasting before his company which followed him contrary to the opinion of many came to Rochel with the Prince of Soyssons and some other noble men in good deliberation to succour Marans Afore his arryuing to Rochel the inhabitantes thereof had sent a good number of Harquebuziers vnder the conduct of Captaine Gargoleau and others for to enter into Marans but they vnderstoode by the way that the enemy possessed the Iland with the chiefest fortes and had besieged the Castell for which cause they returned to Rochel The Citizens of Rochel also had sent two shippes with the barke of Captayne Courtault and certayne Culuerings vnder the conduct of Captayne Boysseau and other Souldiours and Captaynes They entered into the riuer boldly seazed vppon the forts of Brault and Clousie in the sight of the enemy whom they preuented The King of Nauarre informed of all thinges passed at Marans the 19. day very early tooke his iourney to Charon and from thence to the said fortes where he put men and munition a◠occasion serued He caused also the shippes whereon the Culuerings were to approach the town of Marans the Culuerings did beat the houses of the Towne called the boats houses The enemy hauing seazed vppon the whole towne and trenched himselfe in the market house seeing the preparing of the Shippes presented himself to withstand the landing of them that came from Rochel and with two field Péeces compelled the ships to descend lower there were flayne some Souldiers of Rochel The King of Nauarre gaue all the signes that could be possible as by the sounding of Trompets spyals or other meanes to let them who were besieged vnderstand of his comming One of his spyals was hanged but they within could not perceaue any thing saue onely of the comming of the Ships whom they supposed to haue béene the Rochellers only but he could not conceaue any hope to be able to succour them The enemie in the meane while increased his
meanes of reuenge and let the heretikes alone for a time The King whom Gods iustice did vrge and pursue for the hardnes of his hart in so obstinating himselfe against the Gospell and other offences which do issue out of that spring seemed to be touched with the readines of his good Subiectes but not to any purpose moued to follow their good counsell but thanketh euery one as though hee had no neede at all of their counsell and ayde The Leaguers now vnderstanding by their spials the pusillanimity of the King and his inclination to some composition and peace with them though disaduantagious by his slender and fearfull answere to their vnreasonable demaunds in their supplication do now conceaue a good hope not onely to amend the former fault but also to make themselues a way more plaine and easier then euer they had before to performe shortly their enterprises And as they haue had recourse alwaies to the Q. Mother by whose meanes they haue found a present remedy in all faultes committed and offences geuen to the King but now y t at their request she had besotted him by her sorceries shee must make an end of her good worke begunne This accursed woman hath béen the dishonor of womankinde the subuersion of the whole kingdome the slaughter of the nobility the butcher of the commons and the vndooing of her owne children The Leaguers then hauing such an intercessor who vnder colour of a motherly counsell will bring them neerer to execute their rage vppon the Kinges person and to vsurpe his estate do send this old Medea to make a negotiation for them as much to their aduantage as shee can Therefore that they may strip the King cleane out of authority they do thrust in their demaundes the articles concluded at Nancy spoken of before She must vrge the Kinges consent to these articles following for which intent shee went to Nemours a towne in Gastinois In these demaunds they woulde faine make the Kinge beleeue howe all that they doo is for the preseruation of the popish religion and that they desyre greatly a reunion of the Catholiks whereof he should be the head First they doe demaund that all generally shall promise and sweare to imploy their persons goods and meanes for the conseruation and defence of the king of his estate and authoritie and of the children which it shall please God to send him and that against all manner of men By this demaund they lull the king asleepe They shall sweare also the rooting out of heresie and doe require prouision to be taken that no heretike Prince or suspected of heresie or fauourer of heretikes may enioy the Crowne whatsoeuer right he may pretend thereunto and that this may be confirmed by an oath of all men Also that the king shall sweare to defend the Leaguers who doo call themselues Princes against the heretikes and their fauourers By this artcile they will exclude if they may all the Princes of the house of Bourbon whome they will easily finde either heretikes or fauourers Note of heretikes Secondly they demaund that it may please him to sweare to the obseruation of those demaunds and that hee will permit in their custodie the townes and Cities which are graunted them during six yeares and that in all other townes which shall ioyne themselues to the Leaguers nothing be innouated and that they may not be punished for any offence or rebellion committed Furthermore they doe demaund that if during the six yeares there should happen any vocation of gouernours and Captaines in the saide townes and Cities that then the Leaguers may name such as they think good and that the king shall stablish such at their request This is to dispossesse the king of his holds towns and cities and therin to place such as shall bee at their deuotion whome they may trust Note Thirdly they doe require the publishing of the councell of Trent and the obseruing of the same and that the King shall forsake his aliance which he hath with princes and nations heretickes and that hee shall giue ouer the protection of certaine townes knowen to bee the receptacle of heretikes By these they meane the Germanes the kings of Denmarke and Scotland Note the Queene of England the cantons of Swissers the townes of Geneua Sedan and Iamets that of one side he might be destitute of friends to defend him against his enemies and that the one of these Cities might be the more easily subdued by the Duke of Sauoy and the other two by the Duke of Lorreine Last of al that the goods and lands of the heretikes be solde and to imploy the mony to make warre against the heretikes but specially to maintaine one armie in Poytow vnder the conduct of the Duke of Guyze and the other in Daulphine conducted by his brother the Duke de Maine The king knew very wel except he had been talpacoecior y t these articles were against the dutie of faithfull subiects and that of the princes mentioned in the said articles there was but one to wit the Cardinall of Bourbon that all the others being strangers did handle him cunningly at will vnder faire colours and made him their mouth to speake for them He knew very well that all that which they say in their articles of the preseruation o◠his person crowne and estate were but wordes and a couering of their trayterous drifts he perceiued well that the desire which they pretended to haue of the ease and preseruation of Cities was but a flattering bayte on the one side to alienate them from his obedience and on the other side to make them affected ready to the execution of their enterprizes As for the nomination of gouernours and captains in the sayd townes which they would haue to be reformed to them to place therein such as they would think good he vnderstoode well that in plaine tearmes they meant to abridg y t small store of authoritie which they had left him and to make him their inferiour He saw well enough that the degraduatiō and disheriting of the lawfull Princes from the succession of the crowne vnder the colour of heresie or fauouring of heretikes was but a meane to put the Crowne vpon their owne heads Also that to breake the aliances which he had with the forraine Princes and nations whome they called heretikes was a thing no lesse vniust than pernitious to his estate whome by such means they wrapped into a heape of newe troubles and that such a demaund was arrogantly to command their King and Soueraigne To be short the king knew very well that in all these things they sought but the easier way to their greatnes and the means to debase his authoritie and to hasten the fall of his estate Yet as a man bereft of wit destitute of wisdome and courage and bewitched with the pernitious and poysoned counsells of Circe his execrable and accursed mother without considering any thing the greatnes of the
offence of the leaguers and the innocencie of the party condemned he graunted the Edict of re-union patched by the hammering and tinkering of his mother the Leaguers in the towne of Nemours where they had assembled themselues bearing date the one and twentith of Iuly This Edict was made according to the former demaunds and articles of Nancy spoken of before Here it may bee asked how the King knowing the secret thoughts and drifâ—s of the Guizes and other Leaguers by long experience and obseruation of their behauiours by the admonitions giuen him by men of all degrees both strangers and subiects by their attempts and actions so often times atchieued by their vniust pernicious vnreasonable vnseemely and irreuerent demaunds so oftentimes proposed and his faithfull subiects vrging him with earnest prayers to seeke the remedying and reuenge of these iniuries why did he not hearken vnto them and pursued them with strong hand if they had refused to answer to his iustice which thing to doo at length he was enforced to do There is no doubt but he had a will and purpose to be reuenged of them but being a scholler of the villanous and prophane Atheist the Italian Machiauell whose philosophie he had hardly studied by the counsell of his godles mother and of some villanous scullions Italians which were about her hee supposed that he could be reuenged better by craftinesse and surprising of them then by force He watched for the occasions how to handle them in such wise as he handled them of the reformed religion at S. Bartholomew and so with one banquet to haue rid his hands of his enemies and recouered his authoritie state and quietnes And so refusing the lawfull meanes by the which God giueth saluation vnto Kings his owne counsell turned to his owne shame confusion and dishonour Doo ye therefore that which is righteous ye Kings and Iudges of the earth and kisse the sonne least ye perish out of the way The king therefore hoping to bestowe a S. Bartholmews breakfast vpon them was content to take any thing at their hands This agréement concluded caused an excéeding great ioy to all the conspirators who thought it to bée no small cunning of theirs thus easily to haue auoided the deserued punishment of their mutinie and rebellion for which cause they of their confederacie doo carrie their heads higher then euer they did their courage dooth double and heate kindle against them of the reformed religion without comparison farre more then before Thereupon two mightie Armies are appoynted to be sent the one into Guienne the other into Daulphine compounded of the Kings Leaguers forces dreadfull and terrible not only to the reformed Churches of France but also to the Nations round about The Duke of Sauoy one of the conspiracie of the League mustered a mightie Armie that should inuade the Marquizat of Saluces to enter into Daulphine to ioyne his forces with the League The Townes and Cities great and small according to the edict of reunion doo shewe themselues readie and willing to bestow gold siluer goods fauours armours and liues to further the affaires of the Leaguers All these things were much but they were nothing to the great preparation of warre and the inuincible Armado which was not onely in a readines but also sayling forward to the execution of this conspiracie agaynst the Church of God they goe to worke by land and by water For this nauall Armie builded in Spayne was thought sufficient to conquer many Realmes the shippes were of incomparable bignes in number so many that they couered the seas The most excellent Carpenters cunning men and finest workemen of all Europe had spent their wits and seuen or eight yeares in the building and preparing of the sayd Armie The Artillerie powder pellets munitions tacklings and other necessarie things for so dreadfull an army was a heape of things incredible to beléeue All Italy Venice Sicil Sardinia Malta and other Ilands subiect or confederated to the King of Spayne had brought to it their counsell their money their shippes their Captaines their armour their pylots and all that euer they could deuise so that Xerxes did neuer so much against Grecia as this Armado determined to doo to England and to France in passing by As for France the Spanyard made his account to bee alreadie vanquished and subdued vnder his power hauing already these mightie armies aboue said and the conspiracie of the League on his side As for England they thought they should haue a little to doo in conquering it as they had indéede though they had much a doo on the narrow Seas nigh the coast of England On the other side the Duke of Parma had a mighty army in the Lowe Countrey wherewith at the same time to inuade the Countreys of Holand and Zeland and others where they haue the exercise of the reformed religion so that they had alreadie swallowed in one morsell by imagination all France England Scotland Zeland and Holand and for to make this great morsell goe downe easilie without choaking there was in the middest of France two armies and about France the Duke of Sauoy on the South the Nauall army of Spayne on the West and Parma on the North side The enemies of God made their full account that there was no more hope to outstand or ouerwaigh such heauie forces They therefore breathing fire bloud and murther doo not onely determine to reduce al that remained of the reformed religion to fire and ashes and to make hauock and waste of all things but also doo promise themselues a beginning of an assured rest hereafter and infallible victories and that this exployt being done and this great morsel swallowed Germany Denmark Suisserland and Geneua other places would follow or else for feare of like handling would be reduced to the holy Church After this famous victory of the Leaguers was knowne through the realme how they had conquered the Kings heart and courage the edict of the 21. of Iuly proclaymed and sworne in euery towne and Citie where the crier durst venture Sathan the chiefest master and worker of all this game stirred vp false Prophets in euery place to wit the legions of Iesuites Friers Monks Priests these false Prophets â—an euery where a vision a vision I haue séen a visioÌ„ they bring into their pulpets which haue serued them this long for trumpets and drommes to kindle sedition rebellion and murther they vtter the vision of their owne hearts bring forth diuers Prognostications and Prophesies for to animate these fiery courages of the Leaguers and Catholicks reunited together they doo handle so their visions that they do promise an infallible good and prosperous successe But specially they by their spirits of diuination shew their great learning in vttering loades of wisdome vpon the predictions of the olde Mathematicians concerning the yeare 1588. which they had long before accounted fatall to the world both the Prophets and the people doo easily perswade themselues that the
things will befall which they greatly desired The feare of these thunderclaps was great euery where the forces in number and furniture were inequall therefore in France many not considering that God may defend his people as well with few as with many and that hée hath Legions of Angels to fight at his commaundement for the defence of his Elect yéelded to the time and reuolted made their abiuration and followed the world The Duke of Guize was the Northen Star by the which all this Nauigation was guided so that it was perceaued that neither all this preparation and stoare neither the Prophesies and visions of the rauing Prophets could assure the happy successe except the Duke of Guize might be in court nigh the Kings elbow Therefore the Q. Mother she must be set to worke she with other Leaguers which were about the Kings person tell what a great wise man the Duke of Guize was and that hée could not bée well without such a counseller hauing such great waightie things in hand The King thought it was a dangerous thing to haue such a guest so nigh him yet supposing that it would be the néerest way to surprise him and that at some occasion he might rid his hands of that perilous burthen consented thereto All caueats and prouisions which the prouidence of man could deuise for his safetie being prouided and made sure he purposeth to depart out of Paris to goe to the court He tooke in his companie the Q. Mother and raigning w t a great traine of the inhabitants of Paris the Lords Byron and Neuers who had béen alwaies with the King the one as a faithfull seruant to the King the other as a secret fauourer of the League went to meete the said Duke At his comming to the Kings presence what welcomes what complainings what excuses what praiers what promises what gréetings and what dissimulations there was betweene them to wit the King Guize euery man of iudgement may consider The Duke of Guize caused his table of great master of France to be established and good and assured meanes for the maintenance thereof he obtained also a patent of great Master of men of war in France which is a â—iminiâ—iue title of Constable for an earnest and in hope shortlie to haue all And whereas in the request presented to the King it was demaunded that he should be the Kings Generall of that armie which should bee sent into Guienne Now he dooth recant and vpon the push doth refuse to take that charge but willeth another to be appoynted and that for two causes he would rather venture another mans skin then his owne knowing well that hee could neuer repasse Loyre without a broaken skin which thing he loued not the second cause was that he would not go farre from the King and from Paris there to be at hand vpon all occasions to take opportunitie to execute his enterprise In his roome therefore the Duke of Neuers is appoynted to conduct the armie into Guienne against the King of Nauarre he maketh his excuse fearing the whip as the other did of his indisposition and offereth to mainetaine one hundred Gentlemen so that he might be excused which charge notwithstanding at length he accepted The wisest sort feared in general that this wound could not be closed vp and healed without some fowle scarre remayning or that hee who had once presumed to beat his Prince out of his imperiall citty should not want audacity to attempt further matters All these vprores being now pacifyed and all these great preparations vrged with great courage they of the reformed religion all ready proscript all things threatning death and desolation by land and by water a parliament of the States is appointed by the King to be holden at Bloys the 15. day of August next following there to determine vpon the affaires of the land according to the said edict of reunion and not otherwise and about the reformation of the State but specially for the disheneriting of the Princes of the bloud that they should not succeede to the Crowne In this Parliament the King and the Duke of Guyze had diuers and contrary meanings and neither of them both did intend to do the thinges aboue sayde touching the affaires of the land and reformation of the State But the Kings purpose was that now hauing recouered as he thought part of his authority hee might bridle his domesticall enemy to wit the Duke of Guyze whose practises and attempts had béen so euidently shewed to the eie of all men agaynst his person and estate and there either to haue had him condemned and executed by the full assembly of the states or else by surprising to haue dispatched him out of the way as hee at length performed The Dukes meaning was either to exclude the King from all gouernment or else to haue condemned him by the authority of all the states or if opportunity might serue to do him away by some violence and after to haue tryed how to bring his intent to passe Euery one of them therfore hauing his contrary thoughts in his mind yet they in common do prepare all things for this assembly of the Parliament they make the ouerthrow of the King of Nauarre and the rasing of the Blockhouse of Rochel as they tearme it very easy While they keepe this great adoo and replenish the world with cruell threatnings and are in hand both by land and by water to aduance the treasons of the Leaguers which cannot be done without the rooting out of the true Religion Therefore it is assaulted on the South syde by the Dukes of Sauoy and Mayne with two mighty armies on the West by the omnipotent Armado on the North by all the forces of y e low Countryes in the middle of France by the Duke of Neuers with a mighty army behold God who holdeth the stearne of the whole world doth produce euents all contrary vnto those which men had promised to themselues For in the meane time God doth execute his dreadfull iudgements against the inuincible as they did call them but in deed barbarous and sauage nation of Spaniards partly beating them out of the narrow Seas with a notable slaughter and shame of them by that nation which they had so deadly hated for the Gospell and so arrogantly despised and partly God sent his messengers the wind storme and tempest with the rocks in their waies that by shipwracke thirst famin and pestilence and other calamities of the Sea they might be drowned in an euerlasting obliuion lyke Pharao his horses and horsemen In August the Kings writtes are sent into all prouinces and citties to send speedily their Deputies so that they were catholikes Romans and not otherwise and in the meane time doth fortify himself but not mistrusting the practises of the Leaguers in the Prouinces he gaue them leaue to do all by partialities in the Prouinces in choise of the Deputies For they gaue order that their partakers might come
to hold for enemies onely them who haue declared themselues enemies of the realm by theyr rebellion and outragious insolencies committed against the soueraigne magistrate and iustice promising notwithstanding to receaue to mercy them which deceaued by the enticements of the rebels or feare rather then by their owne malice haue associat themselues to the said rebels Denounceth therfore to all Prouinces Cities Commonalties Church-men Nobles Magistrates Captaynes Souldiers Borgeses Citizens and all other of any degree whatsoeuer to retire speedily from the society of those traitors and rebels and to returne vnder the obedience of their naturall and lawful Prince and King but specially willeth the Church men whereof some haue rendered themselues instruments of the former treacheries and rebellions to loue peace and to keepe themselues within their bounds returning and abiding vnder the obedience of their King Thirdly he protesteth that this his passing the riuer of Loyre by the commaundement of the King is for their defence and therefore taketh all the Kings faithful subiects vnder his protection but specially the Church men forbidding vpon payne of death all his Captaynes and souldiers not to proffer any iniury vnto any of them their goods or places of exercises willing also all the aforesaid persons to repayre vnto the king or vnto him to haue and receaue pasporte and protections that the faythfull may be discerned from the Rebell Fourthly he turneth his speach to the foresaid persons admonishing them to consider the horrible euils which haue already and shall rise out of that damnable rebellion To the Cleargy hee speaketh to consider how godlines is euery where choked in the middest of those tumults the name of God blasphemed and religion despised The Noble men he prayeth to consider how theyr order must needs fall with the ruine of the King Crowne and Estate The Magistrates hee warneth to represent before their eyes what execrable violating of iustice will follow by the examples of the Parliaments of Paris and Tholouse carried away Prisoners as in a triumph by rascals and vilanous persons The commons hee aduertiseth to thinke how they are eased by these tumultes where their goods are exposed to the pray of the vilest sort their traffike interrupted their husbandrie altogether turned into wast and desolation Last of all he exhorteth all men to endeuour themselues to bring what they can to remedy these euils which y e rebels haue procured to the realme which cannot be done without a good peace neither can that be obtayned but by the returning vnder the Kings obedience restoring his royall authority and reestablishing of iustice hee assureth himselfe that God who geueth saluation vnto Kinges will assist him in this enterprise and iust cause Auuergne is a Prouince in France full of hilles and mountains wherein there be three Cityes situated in forme of a triangle and not distant farre one from another to wit Rion Clermont and Monferrant the Kings long before had established at Rion beside other courts a soueraigne court of his treasurers receauers This Citie had receaued the League and had committed rebellion agaynst him in shaking off the yoke of obedience Therefore the King about the 24. of April seeing their obstinacy in their rebellion do reuoke from the said Towne of Rion all his courts and doth transport the same to the Citie of Clermont commaunding all his officers of al his courts in that citty to repaire to the said Clermont and there to execute their charge About the same time also the King doth adiudge all the goods of the Dukes of Mayne Aumale and of the Cheualier Aumale and of the voluntary inhabitants of the cities of Paris Roen Amiens Abeuile Rhemes Orleans Chartres Mans Lyons Tholouse to bee forfaited to his crowne for their treasons and perseuerance in the same aboue the time prefixed vnto them which was the 15. day of March last past and ordained commissioners to sell the sayd goods and lands to his vse The King of Nauarre in the meane time scoureth the countrey and prepareth himselfe to receaue the Kings commaundement and vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was lodged at Vendosme and Montoyre the 28. of Aprill he determined to surprize some of the enemies and about foure a clock in the morning taking eight hundered horsemen and one thousand shot on horsbacke went to bait at Chaulx in Anjou ten long leagues from Saumour departing thence hauing already gone forward three leagues he receaued newes how the Duke of Mayne had brought his forces to Chasteaurenault and had sent part of them to besiege the County of Brienne who was at Saint Oyne nigh Amboyse The King hearing of the siege of Chasteaurenault and Saynt Oyne by the enemy hauing him so nigh neighbour and fearing that he would come to lodge in the Suburbs of Tours being in danger to be deliuered into the hands of them by the intelligences which they had wiâ—h the leagued of his Court and of the Citie he did dispatch diuers Postes both to Saumour also to other places to the King of Nauarre And about three leagues from Chaulx toward Vendosme hee was aduertyzed by three Postes that the King sent for him whereuppon the sayd King of Nauarre turned bridle and came that night to lodge at Maille vpoÌ„ Loyre within two leagues of Tours after he had beene 24. howers on horsbacke and immediatly sent word of his comming to the King The King vnderstanding of his being so nigh him did greatly reioyce knowing that the enemy neither would nor durst enterprize any thing whilest he was so nigh his person The enemy sent certayne companies in the euening with a great brauade and tooke a Suburbe of Tours where they defloured a Mayd who had fled into the Church before the high alter in the armes of a Priest but hearing that the King of Nauarre was at hand without any leasure to take breath they retyred presently The King of Nauarre rested himselfe and his troupes the next day but the 30. of Aprill beeing the Lords day in the morning the sayd King of Nauarre iudging that it were necessary for them both to see one another thereuppon to take some certayne resolution of their affayres beeing also requested by the King although his counsell had diuers opinions of that interuiew hee sent to the King by the Lord of Mignouuile that he was gone to set all his troupes in battaile array at the Pont la Mot a quarterr of a league from Tours and thatif it should please his Maiesty to come to the Suburbs he would kisse his Maiesties hands and would receaue his commaundemeÌ„ts to execute theâ— according to the necessity of the affayrs After the said King of Nauarre with all his troupes had stayed about two houres the Marshall Hautmont came to him from the King to pray him that he would passe ouer the riuer to come to him to Plessâ—s les Tours where the King with all the court stayed for him That thing he immediatly determined to
that towne and followed after the King who was before to take his lodging about Pontarsy situated vpon the riuer Esne beneath Pontauers and the enemy presently entred the said Towne of Longauall Part of the Enemies followed after the King and seeing a Wood betweene the sayd Longaual and Pontarsie stayed there mistrusting some ambushes but at length passing through they met with the Baron of Byron who charged them so roughly with a small company of horsemen that he layed downe vpon the ground thirtie of them The King commanded Captayne Langemis to light and set a fresh on them who killed a great number of them and then retyred into the towne of Pontarsie The enemy went not to Pontauers that night but encamped in the plaine field with great feare of an alarum vnderstanding that the Duke of Neuers with fiue hundred horses out of Champaigne and the Lords Gyury out of Corbeil and Parabelle out of Melun with good and Iustie companies of horses were expected that day to come to the King euery man accompted him happie that might returne into Brabant in a whole skinne there to prooue whether they had forgotten the art of Carrowsing the chiefest trade of that countrey The 28. day in the morning thirtie harquebusiers of the enemies hauing lost their way went into the Towne of Longaual enquiring for the Duke of Parmas quarter whom the inhabitants disarmed and throwing them vnder the bridge drowned them The same day came to the King the sayd Duke of Neuers and Lords Gyury and Parabelle with eight hundred horses all well appoynted The 29. day the King went out of Pontarsie with one thousand horses intending to giue his enemies a fresh charge and to carrie away the Rereward but their Ordinance being stucke fast in the myre the whole armie remayned all that day in battell array in that place where their Ordinance was and there also encamped themselues all the night following so that nothing could be enterprised vpon them The 30. day of Nouember the King determined to did the enemie fare well with a fight of horsemen the Duke of Parma with a good will would haue spared that curtesie and bee glad to get out of the Realme without so much adoo In the morning very early the sayd Duke marched toward Marle a towne nigh the head spring of the riuer Oyse from thence to get Larbre de Guize and so to leaue the realme of France The King commanded all his horsemen to be in a readines and directly to march toward Cressie with all furniture yet without baggage or carriage And being first of all arriued at the rendes vous vnwilling to ouerslip any opportunitie to see his enemie that day which hee thought should bee the day of their separation sent the Lord Baron of Byron to march before and hee himselfe to followe him within the distance of a hundred paces onely with fourtie gentlemen The Lord Longaual followed the King with fiftie horses and the rest of the Cornet As they had marched a good space there appeared at the side of a Wood about sixe score horses vnder the leading of Colonell Baste who came in hast to charge the Baron of Byron the sayd Baron gaue so resolute a charge that he made them to retyre to theyr maine battaile and when the enemie had ioyned with their fellowes they came agayne to giue a fresh charge in the which the sayd Baron of Byron his horse was killed and he in great daunger to bee slaine but the King did gather them quickly that were scattered and with them caused the rest of his troupes to come forward which being in battaile aray and ioyned with them that had bin gathered out of the skirmish gaue such a fearefull charge that all the rereward of the enemie thought vpon nothing but vpon the meanes how to saue themselues leauing their dead armed vpon the place If all the Kings companies had come in time enough there had not returned so many home to play at carrowse as there did The first day of December the D. of Parma entred the dominions of the low countrey He had neuer so much neede of his Nurce about him with clowts as he had during the space of these last fiue dayes of Nouember most of his companies accompanied him home as well as they could part of them remained with the Duke de Mayne vntill that tempest was ouer past The first day of December the Lords of Neuers Giury and Parabel who were come fresh and strong to the King departed from the Castell of Nisy and pursued the enemie marching toward the Larbre de Guize but what exployts were done that day we haue nothing to speake off for lack of instructions During this retraite the Duke of Parma was so distressed that he was very greatly disappoynted of his lodgings As he tooke no compassion at Corbeil of them which suppliant fell before his knees so pitied he no more his owne Souldiers who could not make so good speede in running away as he could doo but left them to y e mercie of the Peasants of the countrey with whom they found no more fauour then with their master Of foureteene or fifteene thousand men which he brought into France there returned not home aboue eight thousand and they were in a manner in as great miserie as their fellowes who returned into Spayne from the conquest of England in the yeare 1588. The first day of December the King went to Saint Quintins situated vpon the riuer of Oyse where he was royally receaued with great reioysing and comfort of all men And when the King had stayed there a few daies he heard that the Lord Humiers with other noble men of Picardie had taken the towne of Corbey situated vppon the riuer Some and in the middle way betweene Amiens Peronne and Dourlan three great townes in Picardie which haue continued in their rebellion During the time that the King soiouâ—ned in Picardie and pursued the Duke of Parma the Marshall Byron tooke fiue strong Townes and aboue twentie Castles in Normandie and Beauuoyâ—in wherein the Rebells had layed strong garrisons By these narrations Christian reader thou mayest see what the rebels enemies both of God and man hauing drawne vpon theyr owne heads a stormie winde of tempest least they should not haue calamities enough according to the measure of their offence they sent for the Duke of Parma to deliuer them who comming into the land gaue them an egge and deuoured the Hen and where they were beaten by themselues with scourges now this deliuerer did bruse them with barres of yron It pleased God in whose hands the harts of Kings and Princes are to turne the Kings will from hindering the sayd Duke of Parma from dooing all that he durst or could doo that God might giue the King to vnderstand what therehence hee had hereafter to feare as long as he playeth the parts of a right King and that hee is his aboundant reward Secondly that it might euidently