euen in the presence of him whom the Duke Mompaunser had sent thither to make peace And yit for all this it is said that diuers of your clergimē are striken with so great feare of this my comming into the citie that they cōsult how to forsake it yit notwithstanding there is no place in al Fraunce no towne so strōg no hold no village where Preests dwell more safe and sure or where they exercyze their ceremonies and massings more freely then in mine owne manour of Shatilion Uppō the making of this oratiō the company was dismissed The next day came abowt a thirtie of the cheefe merchantmē of Paris to Memorancy and after them the Bishop of Paris with the Chauncelour of the vniuersity and a great rable of Clergimen to whom the Admiral speaking very courteously bad them be all of good cheere Also within a feawe dayes after being brought into the Parlamenthowse he confirmed with many words that he wished nothing more then the concord and quietnes of the Citizens nor vndertooke that iourney vppon any other purpose then that requyring them likewize that the Citie might be ordered peaceably and quietly When things were thus set at a stay the Admirall at his returne home was certified by his friends that one May a man of bace calling which had a ferme not farer frō the castle of Shatilion played the theefe vnder pretence of Inkeping was hyred by the Duke of Awmall the Duke of Gvvyse brother to lay wayt for him if he happened to go abrode any whither a hunting that he had paied him a hundred crownes aforehand in that respect also giuē him a very goodly great horse To the furtherāce herof came this also that the Admiral being often told of his theeuery had threatened him to cōmit him vppon felonie if he herd of those things any more hauing gotten sufficient witnesses had lately before indited him of diuers robberies in the parlamēt of Paris When Mayes trecherie was knowen bewrayed to the Admiral there was a bayt laid for him and being apprehended within feawe daies after brought forth to his arreignement at Paris he began to appeache the Admiral diuers others as though they had delt with him to haue killed the Queene mother and had promised him a great reward for so dooing Notwithstāding the Senators of the parlament of Paris finding out the slaunder and cawsing the indytement of felonie too bee followed ageinst him condemned him too death according to which sentence he was executed vppon the wheele in the cheef streete of all Paris Ere long after the Prince of Condey had a sonne borne to whom the King intended to be Godfather to giue him his name after the accustomed maner But forasmuchas he could not wel do it bycause of his religion it pleazed him to giue the honour therof to the Admiral willing him to cawse the infant to be baptized christened in his name which thing was doone with exceeding great pomp royall preparation as is wont to be in Princes Courts For at the feast a table was laid for the Admirall as if it had bin for the King himself wherat he sat alone as the King is wont to do was serued as a King which dealing all men constrewed to be a sure token of the Kings singular good will towards him Anon after tidings was brought that Ferdinando Duke of Alua was cōming with an hoste into nether Dutchland by the Spanish Kings commission cōmaundement to suppresse the vprores that were raised ther for religiōs sake Now forasmuchas he was to conuey his army by the borders of Fraunce the Admiral sitting with the Kings coūsel desired that regard might be had of Burgundy and that a garrison might be sent thither for defence of the countrie rather of Svvissers than of Frenchmē lest perhaps sum broyle might be made for religions sake And it was comōly thought at that time that the said army of Svvissers which consisted of six thowsand men were for none other purpoze than to withstand the Duke of Aluaze force if he should attempt any thing in the marches of Burgundie But anon after the Prince of Rochsurion a Prince of the Kings blud wrate to the Admirall desirīg hī to send hī priuily sum freend of his whō he might best trust and he would bewray such things vnto him as did very greatly concerne his welfare were not to be vttered to all mennes hearing And so within a feawe daies after the Prince of Rochsurion being freend to the Prince of Condey by reason of his alyance too the Kings howse bewrayed vntoo him secretly how consultatiō was had at Baion to extingwish the religion comonly called the reformed religiō to oppresse such as were the professers therof and that the hyring of the Svvissers vnder colour of fortifying the fruntiers of Fraunce ageinst the Duke of Aluaze power was for the same purpoze The same tyme the Admiral was aduertized both by letters and by woord of mowth at many mennes hands that the armie of the Svvissers was conueyed into the borders of Fraunce and into the innermore part of Burgundie Uppon knowledge wherof first the Prince of Condey afterward the Admiral himselfe went to the Court and told the King the Queene mother and the Counsell that they sawe no sufficient cause to brīg these armies of Svvissers into the Realm except it were perchaunce to oppresse them a nomber of other honorable howses which professed the religion neuerthelesse that the number of such as had professed themselues to be of the religion was greater than it was comonly taken too be whereof they had tryal in the last warres therfore that if they perceyued their enemies to attempt any innouation of things they would be euen with them and not suffer themselues to be murthered at those cutthrots hāds wherfore they prayed and besowght the Kings maiestie to be moued with compassion eyther towards so many howses of honour and worship or at leastwise towards his afflicted countrie and the forlorne people of Fraunce Being shaken of in the Court vnhonorably delt with and moreouer vnderstanding themselues to be in great daunger of their liues they tooke counsell not to faile themselues so many christiā churches specially at the request of the most part of the nobilitie gentlemen and at the earnest intreatance of an innumerable sort of their good countrymen which cōplained that they were no lōger able to abide the wrongs wherwith they were continually vexed at the Magistrats hands When they had determined vppon that poynt forasmuchas they perceyued tkat the Kings name would beare a singular sway among the cities and that therfore the Duke of Gvvyse had in the former warres indeuered to haue the King in his owne tuicion they communicated their intent to very few and tooke their iourney priuily to the court to see if they could by any meanes conuey the King away from the custodie of the Queene moother
sowldiers a feawe dayes respit to refresh themselues he led them to the Citie of Tholowse and tooke manie of the small townes abowt it whereof somme yeelded themselues to his tuicion and freendship and somme were woone by force and yit had he but twoo battering peeces in his hoste which he had browgt with him from Mountalbane When he had set those townes at somme stay he determined to take his iourney to Viuaret and to the riuers side of Rhone And bycawse many had put on armour in Delphinoys that fauored his side and hild certein townes there he sent part of his armie ouer thither to attemp the wynning of mo Cities if he could The performance of which charge was committed to Levvis of Nassawe of whom I haue made mention before who passing ouer on a bridge of boats did strike such a feare into the rest of the people of Delphinoys that they fled all of them intoo the townes Howbeeit forasmuchas he had no battering peeces he thought it was not for him to tarrye there any longer but that he had done ynowgh for the commendacion of his owne valeantnes and therfore when he had wasted their feelds he browght backe his armie agein safe to the Admirall within feawe dayes after which exployt of his purchaced him greate prayse as well among the Frenchmen as among the Almanes both for the noblenesse of his corage and for his skill in behauing him self Anon after the Admirall being appalled with ouergreate labour care and watching fell sicke wherwith although he were sore cumbered yit notwithstanding forasmuchas he thought it best to come to the riuer of Loyre with as much speede as might bee he determyned to tarry long in no place but cawsed himself too bee conueyed with his armye in a horslitter For a two thowsand men were assembled abowt Sharitie and Sanxerre whom he thowght greatly for his aduantage too bee ioyned with him and that so much the rather bycawse Mounsyre Cossey the Marshall of Fraunce whom the King had set in the roome of the Duke of Aniow after the victorie at Santone was reported too bee comming towards him with all the Kings power To whom the Admirall sent woord by a Herault of his that was come intoo his Camp for the raunsoming of prisoners that Mounsyre Cossey should not neede too take so much peynes too come vntoo him for he would visit him with as much speede as he could and ease him of the trauell of that iourney When the armye was come too the Forest behold there came Commissioners ageine from the King too treate of composition and peace For when the Courtyers heard that the Admirall who a litle afore seemed too bee forlorne and past hope of recouerie had gathered so greate a power ageine and renewed his armye they were striken in great feare least the Admirall ioyning with the power of Sharitie shoulde come ryghtfoorth too Paris and set fyre vppon the goodly howses and pleasant manours of the Burgesses of Paris and of the Courtyers neere abowt the Citie after which maner they had heard that he had plaged the Burgesses of Tholowse When the Admirall had gone part of his iourney by horslitter as I sayd before his diseaze began to growe sorer vppon him and the phisicions letted not to say that he could not long indure the force of it specially being ouerloden with so manie cares And therfore the talke of the Commissioners was broken of the treatie of peace was let alone for a time which intermission when certein noblemen of great authority among the protestants tooke in displeazure bicause of the prolonging of the warres made complaint to the Commissioners that it was not meete that the cōmunication of peace should be broken of for the sicknes of the Admirall being but one man for though he happened to die he should leaue a great sort alyue behynd him with whom they might treat of composition the Commissioners made them answere that they woondered very much to see that they perceyued not of what estimation the authoritie of their Admirall was for if he should dye to day quoth they tomorrowe wee would not offer you a cuppe of water as who should say yee knewe not that the only name of the Admiral is more worth among you than such another armie as greate as this Within feawe dayes after when the Admirall was sommewhat cheered and strengthened they fell to consulting agein of peace and certein were chozen too go with the Kings Commissioners and to carye these Instructions with them That nothing was more wished of the protestants than peace nor nothing greeued them worse than warre but yit ther was not any of them which minded not to aduenture much greeuowser peynes yea and death it self rather than to forsake Gods Religion which they had professed Wherfore if the king woold graunt them libertie too vse the pure religion as he had doone in former yeeres and priuiledge certeine townes for the same there was none of them all but he woold most willingly and gladly lay away weapō for euer The Admirall hauing giuen theis instructions too the Commissioners dislodged his Campe and ere long after tooke the Towne of Reneleduc in his way whither certein of the foreryders of Mounsyre Cosseyes hoste were come And from thenceforth there scaped not almost any day without somme skirmish and one day the hartes of all the sowldyers were so inflamed too battell that a little more woold haue made the matter too haue coome too a pitched feeld bycawse that wheras there was but a Brooke betweene bothe the hostes Mountgomrey breaking the aray of the aduersaries Uaward wherof one Mounsyre Valet a Gascon a man of greate estimation in his Countrie had the leading did put them too flyght Within feawe dayes after the king sent Commissioners agein too the Camp too ask trewce but so long till the things concerning the composition myght bee dispatched For the Burgesses of Paris who were of verie great estimation with the king were sore afraid of the wastings and burnings that were threatened them nother is there any kynd of people in all Fraunce that is more feerce in prouoking warre when it is farre of from their doores nor more cowardly in accepting any conditions of peace whan warre commes home to them When the Cōmissioners had gone too and fro on both sides a good sort of tymes at length an Edict was browght from the King wherby he gaue men leaue to exercyze and maynteine the Religion in certeine places and for the assuring therof gaue thē fower cities in pledge namely Rochell Mountalbane Conyak and Sharitie When this peace which is reckened as the third was made and the Kings Edict proclaymed ouer all Fraunce the Admirall hauing first conueyed home the Almane horsmen to the borders of Germanie browght backe the twoo yong Princes of Nauarre and Condey too Roehell too the Queene of Nauarre determyning too abyde there vntill he might perceiue that the peace was throwghly setled
about the walles wherin too comme couertly and priuily to the ditches When the Admiral saw that the most part of the wal was cast downe with the continuall batterie and a greate breache open into the towne and the enemies readye to giue the assault he incouraged his souldiers to abide that one brunt saying that if they foyled their enemies at that time they would not be ouer hastie to aduenture againe and therupon he him selfe stoode to defence where he sawe the breache wydest assigninge the other parts of the towne to his brother and to the rest of his friends to defend The enemies beholding so strong a coūterforce on that side assaulted the towne on two other sides Whereof when tydinges was brought to the Admiral he left such as he trusted best at his standinge and hyed him to the nexte where he found his men driuen away and the place gotten by his enemies and a part of the Citie pestered with armed men There was with him a noble yong gentleman called Auentignie whome he had brought vp in his house of a child and a page and a child of a noble howse that bare his iauelin which were suddeinly assayled and inclozed about by certaine Spaniards who hauing knowledge of the Admirall tooke him prizoner and after the winning of the towne conueied him to Antvverp where being attached with sore sickenesse and vexed fortie dayes with an agewe at suche tymes as his fitts lefte him he commaunded a Byble to be brought vnto him to ease the griefe and sorrowe of his minde with reading of it And he studied so much vpon it that he began from thensforthe to haue a taste of that pure religion trew godlinesse to lerne the right maner of calling vppon God. When he had payed fiftie thousand pound for his raunsome and was come home agein frome captiuitie hauing gotten some leyzure and being weery of the broyles of the Court he set his mynd earnestly thensforth vppon Religion by the Kings permission gaue ouer his Colonelship of the footemen to his brother Mounsyre d' Andelot his Lieuetennantship of the I le of Fraunce too his Neuew the Marshal Memorancie his sisters sonne by the Cunstable And it was not long after ere he sent a familiar freēd of his too the King certifying him in moste humble wise that he was mynded too giue vp his charge in Picardie beseeching him too looke wel about him too whome he committed it The King answered that he thought this sewt of his very straunge and that he delt not wizely in dispossessing of him self of so many roomes and offices at once From thensforth manie began to suspect the Admirall that he had chaunged his religion and in deede he shewed a mynd vtterly voyd of all ambition and desyre of authoritie Within a while after King Henry dyed and his sonne Frauncis succeeded This Frauncis had taken too his wife Mary Queene of Scotts the dawghter of the Duke of Gvvysis sister by reason wherof the howse of Gvvyse grew in greate fauour and authoritie with the King and oftentymes bragged to him of the kingdome of Ingland which they affirmed to belong too their sayd kinswoman so that in the Court they were comonly called the Kings Uncles The Admiral knowing their cruel barbarous and feerce nature and perceiuing that they woulde neuer desist from troubblesum deuyses and specially that they would most eagrely persecute religion stacke to his accustomed purpoze and determined to giue vp his lieftēnantship Heruppō he brake his mind to Levvis of Burbon a Prince of the blud royal cōonly called the Prince of Codey who had maryed his sisters dawghter counselling him to sew to the King for that charge So the Admiral being discharged of diuers cares and set free from a nomber of affayres which withdrew his godly mynd from the study of religion kept himself at home in his castle of Shatilion and that so much the willinglier bycause his wife Sharlot de Lauall a woman of a noble auncient stocke was wonderfully giuen to the following of godlinesse which he tooke too be a singular benefite of God insomuch that she euen incoraged hir husband too forsake supersticion and the worshipping of Idolls and to imbrace the christian religion with his whole hart When the Admirall perceyued that she delt often and very earnestly with him in the matter he himself also determined to deale earnestly with her at once And therfore he told hir in many words that in all his life he neuer sawe or hearde of any man eyther in Germanie or in Fraunce but he was in daunger too be ouerwhelmed with great miseries and calamities if he imbraced the religion any thing earnestly and that the Lawes of King Frauncis the first of King Henrie the second being looked to most streightly in all Courts of Iustice commaunded that all such as were condemned of that Religion should be burned quicke in publike places and all their goods be forfeyted to the King and yet neuerthelesse he trusted that his heart was so settled as he should not refuze the comon cace of all the protestants nor fayle of his dewtie Shee answered that the cace of the protestants of that time was none other then the cace of the true Christians of all ages had bin nether dowted she but it should be the same still to the worlds end When they had plyghted their faithes on both sides ech to other the Admirall began by litle and litle to frame his household familiar freends to the knowledge of God by godly speeches and to deliuer them not only the holy bible but also other books written of religion in french to reade forbidding them all swearing blasphemous banning comonly vsed in the Realme of Fraunce but specially among the Courtiers Moreouer he set godly gouerners and teachers ouer his children so that within a few monethes the howse of Shatilion was of a new hewe and his other two brothers Odet whome I haue shewed afore to haue bin made a Cardinall and Mounsyre d'Andelot were greatly inflamed to religion by that example For the Admirall had alwaies euen from his yong yeares bin trayned vp in the pleazures and corrupt manners of the Kings Court and he was not thought to haue bin cleere of that infection Notwithstanding when he once began to haue a taste of the trew religion there appeered sodeinly so greate an alteration in his life and conuersation as a man might easily perceaue the force of Gods spirit in that so sodein chaūge find this saying of Christs too bee most trew that they which are indewed with Gods spirit are after a sort borne ageine and made new men And this seemeth worthy of memorie that befell him before he durst prepare too the Christian feaste and Sacrament of the Lordes supper He had oftentimes talked with al the best learned Ministers of the Frenche Churches not only of transsubstantiation as the Sorbonists terme it but also of consubstantiation
neede should requyre in respect wherof it was good ryght that seing God had cōmitted them too his charge and trust he should defend them from the ouermyghtinesse crueltie of their aduersaries And their humble petition was that thensforth they myght with his good fauour openly woorship God in publicke places be instructed in the knowledge of trew godlinesse by their preachers and inioy the Sacraments that God hath ordeyned leaste for wāt of being knowen their religion myght any lōger lye opē too the malicious speeches of their aduersaries bycawse of their secret meetings Uppon the reading of theis bookes euerye man vttered his opinion howbeeit their talk was not so much of Religion as of the greate dette wherwith they complained that the king was in maner oppressed and ouerwhelmed But the Admirall spake manie things verye boldly specially concerning the men of warre which the howse of Gvvyse had gathered toogither in the hart of the realme vnder colour of garding the kings persone as thowgh the King were in a straunge countrie and not in his owne dominion and therfore needed so great a garde for the safety of his persone Saying that the name of king was of so great preeminence in Fraunce that any herault comming with commission in the kings name was able too appeaze anie vprore without further trubble It is certeine that this speeche of the Admirals sank verie deepe intoo the stomacks of the Gvvisians that it kindled their hatred ageinst him the more vehemently Dyuers other were of opinion that it were moste conuenient too summon a generall assembly of the whole Realme which they comonly terme the assembly of the States and it was shewed specially by Marilliak archbishop of Vien by Michaell de l'Hospitall Lord Chauncelour of Fraunce whose authoritie bare greatest sway at that tyme that the same had bin the most auncient and cōtinewall custome of the Frenchmen and yitnotwithstāding had bin omitted by the space of .87 yeeres through the slaunders of certein flatterers About the same tyme dyed king Frauncis the second and his yoonger brother Charles the nyneth being abowt ten yeeres old succeeded him byandby the old petition of Summoning a generall Councel was renewed Untoo that tyme Katherine Medicee the kings moother a Florentine borne had liued in such state as Queenes are woont to doo in their widowhoods that is too wit as a commaūder of hir owne women a keeper of the persone of hir sonne but in no wyze admitted too haue too doo with matters of the state and at that poynt was shee hild most streytly by the Gwisians as long as they bare cheefe sway Now forasmuch as at this tyme it seemed that the nobilitie of Fraunce woold not any longer indure the burnings tormentings and other punishments that were woont too bee executed vppon the protestants and therfore it was too bee dowted least some new commotions woold ryze therof bycause the Queene moother pretēded a mynd not ildispozed towards religiō The Admirall labored by all meanes possible at lēgth brought it to passe that she was matched as a companion partaker of that great charge of gouernment with Antonie King of Nauarre too whom the Protectorship of the Realme was committed Which deuyce of his there were many men that loued well their countrie which mislyked shewing by the hystories of all ages that the gouernment of the Realme was neuer yit committed to Queene Mothers specially if they were straungers borne but it was too the vndooing and destruction of the commonweale of Fraunce and a cause of ciuill discord When the day of the Generall Counsell came he that spake in the name of the Nobilitie did in the end of his Oration offer vp a booke of supplication too the Kings maiestie requesting that the pure religion which they terme comonly the reformed Re ligion myght lawfully bee haunted and exercyzed openly in publicke places Her against stoode vp an aduersarie called Quintin a Doctor of the Canon law and a professor of it in Paris who not making but rehercing in wryting a verie long oration in the name of the Clergie not without prōpting of somme preests that stoode redie at his elbowe too whisper him in the eare when he was at anie stoppe was so bold as too say that all such as demaunded publicke places too exercyze religion in were woorthie too bee punished as traytors and fauorers of newfownd religion Wherof when the Admirall had complayned too the kings Counsell Quintin being afrayd confessed that he had not spoken any thing of his owne head at that tyme but only reherced the booke as it was deliuered him in wryting by the Clergimen offering himself redie too protest and avow in the same open assembly before the Kings Maiestie that he ment not any thing at all of the Admirall which thing was doone within a feawe dayes after and so the Admiralles demaund was satisfyed At the last all Magistrates of Fraunce and all that had commission too execute Iustice were commaunded by the kings authoritie that they should out of hand dismisse all such as were held in ward or prizon for religions sake and they were streytly forbidden too molest any man herafter for religion As towching the publicke places where it should bee lawfull for them too haue Sermons the determination therof was put ouer too another Generall Counsell which was appoynted too bee at Ponthoyse a towne of Picardie but not performed The moneth of Ianuarie next insewing a meeting of all the Princes and noble men of Fraunce was summoned too bee at S. Germans and there by the aduyce of certeine counsellers of euery Parlament an Edict was made by the kings authoritie proclaymed throwghowt all Fraunce that it should bee lawfull too exercyze the religion in the Suburbes of all Townes When this Edict was published and the realme seemed too bee setled in quietnesse and the comon weale too haue taken somme breth ageine so as Sermons began too bee preached peaceably and quietly in the suburbes almoste of all great townes yea and euen of Paris it self newes was browght that the Duke of Gvvyse who had at that tyme withdrawen himself intoo Shampayne had made a slawghter about .200 men at Vassey as they were at a Sermon vpon trust of the authoritie of the kings Edict and were singing of Hymnes after the end of comon prayer in a certein berne The Duke of Gvvyse is reported too haue executed this butcherly crueltie vppon presumption of the new frendship of the king of Nauarre whose weake mynd he had drawen vntoo him by warranting him the kingdome of Sardinia and bownd him vntoo him by manie other promises Therfore presuming vppon that trust within feawe dayes after he came too the Court accompanied with his brothers and with a greate trayne of armed men and there tooke the yoong king and his moother who seemed too shunne that violence with greate lamentation and weeping whom he conueyed first too Melune and anon after too Paris
brought to the Admiral that certein battering peeces of ordinance and a great quantity of gunpowlder were going towards the Duke of Gvvyse lying then at the seege of Burgis too assault the Citie withall and that the Mayster of that ordinance was one Thonne a Lorreiner a man not ignorant of warlike affayres who for the better safecondit of them had six troopes of horsmen and certeine antsignes of footemen assigned vnto him Uppon the intelligence herof the Admiral hauing gotten occasion of a noble exployt hied him thitherward apace accompanyed with a feawe horsmen His enemies did scarsly abyde the first brunt insomuch that the most part of them began to throw away their weapons and too take them to their legges The footemen vnharnished their horses out of the carts and leauing the Gunnes and the waggons loden with Gunpowlder followed after their fellowes that were fled afore them Thonne was takē prisoner fighting The Admiral hauing gottē so great a pray called his witts about hī how he might cary it away being vtterly destitute of drawghthorses Therfore he did as necessitie counselled him he ouercharged the peeces with powlder and put fire too them to breake them which when it tooke not place he pyled vp the barrels of powlder toogether with the Gunnes and all the carts and wagons into one place and putting fire too the powlder made a terrible thundercracke in the ayre and marred what he could with burning Assoone as Mounsyre d'Andelot was returned out of Germanie and had brought that sayd three thowsand horsmen and six thousand footemen with him the Prince of Condey hauing gathered a meetly strong armie of Frenchmen Germanes marched towards Paris The Gvvysians likewise brought foorth their power among whom were the Svvissers in whom was their chief trust met with our men at an old towne which is certeinly knowen too haue bin the dwelling place of the Druyds there ioyned battell the successe wherof was indifferent on both sids For on the Duke of Gvvyse side the Cūstable was taken prizoner and on the other side the Prince of Condey who was the chef ringleader as is shewed afore Uppon the receyuing of this losse whēas our battell began too go by the woors and many of the footemen hauing cast away their weapons partly laye slayne vppon the ground and partly yeelded themselues to their enemies the Admirall gathering his horsmen togither into the next woode and incoraging them that they should not regard their liues more then their religion their countrie and their honour renewed the battel wherin one of the marshalls of Fraunce called the marshall of S. Andrevves a man of greate authoritie in the Court and Mounsyre Brosse the Duke of Gvvyse Lieuetennant and a nomber of other Gētlemen were forthwith slayne The Cunstable who was Generall of the feeld and of very greate authoritie being taken prisoner by a valiant gentleman called VVilliam Steward of Vesine being sought for by many souldyers that would haue slayne him was notwithstanding saued by him for that he was of kin to the Admirall and for that the Prince of Cōdey was in perill and so he was conueyed safe to Orleance When things were thus grawen to a mischeef all hope of peace was past the Duke of Gvvyse incamped himself neere to Orleance and assayled it very sore on the one side during which time the Admirall leauing his brother the Andelot behynd him to defend the Citie tooke his iourney into Normandie and beseeged the Castle of Caen wherinto the Marquis of Elbevvf one of the Duke of Guysis brother had in those feawe dayes retyred him selfe who after the taking of the Citie began too treate for cōposition and deliuered vp the Castle with all the armure and furniture thereof into the Admiralls hand There was at that tyme in the Duke of Gvvysis Campe a yong man called Iohn Poltro of the howse of Merey a man of good worship who hauing imbraced the religion bin familiar many monethes with the Prince of Condeyes side did suddenly take a toy in his head at Lyons to kill the Duke of Gvvyse whome as the butcherly slaughterman of his countrey and as the author of so greate mizeries he was woont oftentymes too pray ageinst moste bitterly in all his familiar talke Therefore hauing alwayes this saying in his mowth what skills it whither a man vse manlinesse or wylinesse ageinst his enemie he determined too go intoo his Camp as a reuolter and too hunt for opportunitie too accomplish his deuyce by hooke or by crooke For were I bownd too him quoth he eyther by way of seruis or by any kind of benefyte or by any othe nothing in the world should make mee too hazard my good name But seing that no bond tyeth me too him why should I not imitate the prowesse of Sceuola in his enterpryze of killing King Porsenna When Poltro had continued a good whyle in this mynd in the Dukes Campe at length vppon occasion offred he shot him throwgh the right shoulder with a pellet of leade of which wound he dyed within feawe dayes after and when he was once deade peace did forthwith growe too effect without any stoppe so as the Edict was renewed and libertie of following the religion was permitted vppon certeine conditions throwghout all Fraunce Wheruppon all men for the moste part began too reason that as Helene was to the Troianes so the Duke of Gvvyse was too the Frenchmen the cawse of all the greate miseries that befell them forasmuch as the warres were so suddeinly whist and extingwished by his death Howbeeit within a feawe monethes after when the Admirall came too the Court by the Kings sending for him there was a newe incounter stirred vp ageinst him by a woman For the Duches of Gvvyse falling downe humbly at the Kings feete sewed with manie teares for the reuendgement of hir husbands murther whereof shee auowed the Admirall too haue bin the author and practizer The Admirall perceyuing that and smelling that that pageant was played by the motion of a higher force too the end that he which could not bee ouercomme by battell might bee intrapped by sum slightie conueyance first shewed too the King and his moother and too all the whole counsell that Poltro the author of that murther being alredy apprehended had bin arreigned and executed for it whither rightly or vnrightly it was no tyme as then to debate but howsoeuer the cace stoode as greate a cryme as it was it had bin sufficiently and more than sufficiently reuēged by the extreme punishment of the same Poltro who was rent asunder alyue wyth charyots at Paris Moreouer that they had such a condemned persone of him as not only acknowledged the deede but also glorifyed and vaunted of it assuring him selfe that that mynd was put intoo him by God so as he dowted not but that he had doone acceptable obedience to God and a singular and beneficiall good turne to his countrie in ridding such a
this was the Quene of Inglands Ambassadours answer Who when the Queene moother told him that the Admiral had coūseled the king too bee alwayes gelows of the power of Ingland answered surely that mind of his was euill towardes Inglande but singularly good towardes Fraunce When tidings of the slaughter at Paris was caried into Ingland Scotland and Germanie too such as hild the same Religion of the Gospell which the Admirall had doone it is incredible too tell how greate hatred it procured too the king and the Queene moteer specially forasmuch as in those feawe dayes almost ten thowsand Protestāts being striken in feare and amazed with that storme fled intoo those countries who making report that the Admirall was a noble gentleman a great and wise capteine and the glorie of their countrie blazed the authors of that wickednesse for ranke murtherers Too the increace wherof made also the speeches and complaintes of diuers yoong Gentlemen of Germanie who being sent into Fraunce too studie there and being striken in feare with the sayd storme returned home for the moste part spoyled and stripped owt of all that euer they had and therfore cursed not only the owtrageous heinousnesse of the fact but also the whole realme of Fraunce among their parentes and kinsfolke Othersomme which had serued the Admiral in the former warres commended his vertue euerywhere among the princes of Germanie For which is thowght too bee the hardest thing in Martiall affayres he excelled not only in counsell but also in prowesse wheras comonly wisdome breedeth fearfulnesse and corage breedeth rashnesse Furthermore not a fewe which were familiarly acquainted wyth the Admirals life and cōuersation at home in hys owne house going abrode among princes commended him with singular praises for his innocēcie stayednesse mildnesse and woonderfull zelowsenesse in following the religion which thing might bee cheefly perceiued by the inward conuersation of his life at home wherof I wil adde sumwhat heere which I know for certeintie partly by the record of other men and partly by mine owne sight and beholding At his first rizing in the mornings which was meetly early adayes he woold cast his nightgowne abowt him and kneeling downe vppon his knees take vppon him too be as the mouth of his whole companie in praying and calling vppon god And so the residew kneeled all downe after his example and Prayer was made in the same maner that is vsed comonly in the Frenche Churches After the end of prayer looke what time was betweene that and the Sermon time he bestowed it euerywhit either in hearing of the delegates of the Churches that were sent vntoo him or in the dispatching of other publik affaires For afterward eche other day there was a sermon at warning giuē and some certeine Psalme of Dauid was sung Whē the Sermon was done he returned too his businesse vntill dinner time Which being redie all his household sauing a feawe that were occupied abowt dressing of the meate came togither into the hall where the table was couered and there if there had bin no sermon a Psalme of Dauids was sung in his presence standing at the table with his wife standing by his side and the Table was blissed with ordinarie grace Which kind of order he was woont too keepe euery day without faile not only at home in time of peace but also euen in the Camp. Wherof not only innumerable Frenchmen but also a greate nomber of Almaine Knightes Capteines and officers which were oftentimes bidden too his table can bee witnesses As sone as the table was taken away byandby the Admiral rose vp and standing on his feete with his wife likewise by him and the rest of the cōpanie that sate with him at his table did either himself pronounce the praier of thanksgiuing vnto God or cawse it too bee doone by the preacher And at Supper times not only the same thing was doone bothe in prayer in singing of the Psalmes but also forasmuch as he sawe it woold be harder for him too get all his folk togither too nightprayer at bedtime bicause that that time was vncerteine by reason of sundrie businesses which they had too doo he commaunded them too be all with him immediatly after supper and caused the nightprayers to bee sayd as soone as the Psalme was ended Through the which example it cannot bee sayde howe manie of the French Nobilitie tooke vp the same order in theyr howses the rather for that the Admirall warned them that if the maister of a howse intended to mainteine godlinesse aright it was not ynowgh for him too frequent sermons and too leade a godly and holie life to himself vnlesse he did also bring his household and acquaintance too the same trade of life by his example Certein it is that his godly and holye conuersation was had in so greate admiration euen among them that were of the Catholik side that if it had not bin for feare of the horrible persecution butcherie that followed afterward the greatest part of Fraunce had turned too the same religion and reformation of manners When the time of the Lords supper was at hand he vsed too call his houshold seruauntes and reteiners abowt him and too tell them that he was too yeeld account vntoo God not only of his owne life but also of their ordinarie dealings If any iarre were falne among them he appeazed it by setting them at one If any man seemed not altoogether so foreward in vnderstanding and reuerencing that greate misterie as he owght too bee him did he cause to be instructed more diligently in religion If any seemed ouer stubborne he wold tell them openly that he had leuer to dwel at home alone than to kepe a rowt of leud lozels Agein he thought the institution of schooles and the well training vp of yong children to be the singular benefite of god This he termed the seedleape of the Churche and the Nurcerie of godlinesse Affirming that the want of learning had cast a mist not only vppon the Common weale but also vppon Religion and that the tyranny of the bishop of Rome had bin bred and borne in that dungeon who had reigned ouer the blind and ignorant wretches as father Dis is reported among the Poetes too haue reigned ouer night and darknesse And therfore he founded a schoole in a pleasant wholesome place hard by the Shattilion howse and when he had finished the building of it at his great cost he mainteined many children and yoongmen there and manie lerned Hebricians Grecians and Latinistes too reade those languages too them Moreouer of his singular stayednesse this was one proof that wheras he was indowed with greate offices of honour and could haue sowght his owne commoditie and gleaned riches too himself after the example of other Courtyers yit did he not purchace one Acre of grownd nor increace his fathers inheritance wyth one cotage And although he played the good husband in vsing and spending of his owne goodes yit notwithstanding when any Princes noblemen gentlemen or men of any degree came vntoo him as they came vntoo him from all partes of Fraunce abowt the publik affaires of the Realme loke whatsoeuer monny he had gotten before by his sparing he spent it liberally vppon them in hospitalitie By meanes wherof it is certein that he left his heires or successors charged with the dette of not so little as fortie thowsand powndes besides the yeerly loan of six thowsand powndes which he payd too his creditors for interest And I must not heere let passe in silence the incredible vnitie of minde loue and concord that was betwene the three brethren Shattilions which was so greate that there seemed too bee but one mynd made of all the three The Admirall liued three and fiftie yeeres six monethes and eight dayes He was of stature meetly tall of colour ruddie of all his members well proportioned and agreeable of countenance stable and cheerfull of voyce gentle and sweete howbeeit of speeche sommewhat slowe and soft of helth meetly good of gesture and gate comly specially when he was at home in his gowne walking with his wife or his freendes a small drinker of wine euen by nature measurable in meate and sleepe for comonly he rested not aboue seuen howres And since the tyme of the last pacification he suffered no day to passe wherin he entered not intoo his daybooke with his owne hand before he laid him downe too sleepe the things that seemed woorth the noting in the former ciuill warres Which being fownd after his death and browght too the kings coūsell purchaced him great commendacion for his quiet and vncombered mind euen among such as hated him moste Besides this when the warre was once ended and he had withdrawen himself too Rochell as is sayd afore he let no day passe without reading one of Caluins Sermons vppon the storie of Iob bothe morning and euening which storie he termed oftentimes the comfort of his sowle and his necessarie medicine at all assayes in all his aduersities By his first wife he had fiue children of whom he left aliue his eldest daughter Loys maryed as is sayd heertoofore vntoo Mounsyre Telignie who was murthered in the same furiows slawghter the selfsame night that his father in lawe was and also Frauncis Odette and Charles of whom the twoo eldest were conueyed speedily from the butcherly slawghter and the third which was but seuen yeere old and eyght moonethes whom his father loued moste intierly for his pleasant conceytednesse being takē by the aduersaries was tawght too beare Christes crosse euen from the pryme of his chyldhod The Admirall left his later wife with childe of a dawghter wherof shee was deliuered a fower moonethes after and then returning home intoo the borders of Sauoy was committed too warde within feawe moonethes after by the commaundment of Philibert the Prince of that Countrie FINIS Laus Honorsoli Deo filio eius Iesu Christo.
In that tyme the Queene Moother sent messengers oft tymes too the Admirall and also wrate with hir owne hand too the Prince of Condey that he should succour hir and hir yoong children and haue a care of the welfare of the realme The Prince being moued with theis things and moreouer perswaded by the intreatance of moste of the noblemen of Fraunce determined too put on armes and too make warre vppon the howse of Gvvyse too set the King at libertie protesting oftentymes openly that he feared not the slaunderous speeches of some men as thowgh he ment too inlarge the religion by force of armes or too make warre ageinst the king being a chyld For a general assembly of the whole realme had bin hild at Orleance wherin bothe the comons and the nobilitie had requyred the reformation of Religion and afterward an Edict was made in that greate assembly that it should bee lawfull too exercyze the same in suburbes and villages And what ryght in the kingdome of Fraunce had the Duke of Gvvyse being borne in Lorreine Or vppon what grownd should he presume too execute such crueltie vppon the kings subiects Finally there was no good too bee doone ageinst force but by force and therfore he himself did not moue warre but bi warre defend peaceable people ageinst warre made vppon them Saying it was alredy bruted ouer all Fraunce and also reported intoo Germanie that the Duke of Nemovvrs at the prouocation of the Gvvisians had with fayre woordes intyced Henrye the kings brother a little chyld who since that tyme was created king of Poole too haue conueyed him owt of the precint of the Realme which purpoze and drift the chyld bewrayed too his moother and so that discouerie of that matter was at that time in all mennes mouthes that the Gwisians despyzing the authoritie of the generall assembly and of the king executed butcherly crueltie at Vassey with extreme furie and pryde layd violent hāds vppō the king Queene moother caryed them away ageinst their willes to Melune and Paris as seemed moste for the Gwisians commoditie went intoo the borders of Germanie a little before and requested certeine princes of Almanie too bee admitted intoo the nomber of the Protestants Inuited Christopher Duke of Wirttemberg a prince of great corage and wisdome too Sauerne a towne next too Strawsborow where the Cardinall of Loreine made twoo such Sermons openly in the Churche before the sayd Prince and a greate nomber of the professers of the religion bothe Germanes and Frenchmen as he perswaded verye manie that bothe he himself and also his brethren imbraced the Religion and were desyrous too professe their names among the protestant princes When theis things were knowen the prince of Condeyes enterpryze was so well lyked in manie places of Fraunce that within feawe dayes dyuers Cities yeelded themselues too him and ioyned with him in societie of the warre Among those were Orleance Bloys Towres Burgis Roan Lyons Vien Valentia Nemowrs and Mountalbon which were the beginners of the Ciuill warre wherof the butcherly slawghter of Vassey is certeinly knowen too haue bin the cawse Now when as on the part of the protestants the cheef charge of the warres was by comon consent of all men put too the Prince of Condey soodeinly the Prince with lyke consent of all men surrendered the charge of his gouernment too the Admirall and for the singular opinion that was had of his Iustice grauitie and wisdome ordeyned him too bee his leeuetennant and deputie too rule in his sted Whyle these things were a doing the Queene moother began too treate of peace for the dooing wherof she desired the Prince of Condey too come too her tent and to graunte hir the vse of Boigencie for a few dayes which towne hath a bridge ouer the riuer of Loyre and therfore was as shee sayd most fit for cōmunication The Prince vppon single promis made vntoo him without taking of any pledges but onely trusting to the faythfulnesse of his brother the King of Nauarre and too the promises of the Queene mother went to their Cāpe Only he desired the Queene that the Cunstable the Duke of Gvvyse the marshall of S. Andrevves which were comonly called the three rooters vp of the comon weale shoulde depart out of the Campe whyle that communication lasted Which thing being doone the garrison was withdrawen out of Boigencie and the towne deliuered to the Queene Byandby shee manned it and pretending a communication to outward showe of peace reconcylement not only reteyned the Prince but also tooke the towne and fortified it with all things needfull for the warre With which trecherie the Admirall being sore moued determined not to fayle in his dewtie towards the Prince but went out of hand with his horsemen to the Campe of his aduersaries and strake such a terrour into them that the Queene cōmaunded the Prince too be deliuered immediatly And within a fewe dayes after the Admirall leading his armie too Boigencie woone the towne by force not without somme losse of his owne people recouered it agein Abowt the same tyme the Admiralls eldest sonne named Iasper being consumed with sicknesse dyed at Orleance scarce nyne yeeres old but of singular towardnesse which cawsed the Admirall too take his death very sore to hart In the meane whyle the Gvvysians seeing them selues forsakē of many Frenchmen whom the cace concerned and perceyuing that the most part fauored the Prince of Condey mynded too seeke help of forren Realmes And therfore sending money into Svvisserland and into Germanie they hyred footmen of the one horsmen of the other which thing the Admirall did oftentimes avow to be a most sure proof of treason and of their enemy like mind to the Crowne of Fraunce For whither the cace quoth he bee to bee decyded by the auncient maner of the Realme there are publike decrees in force made by act of parlament the authoritie wherof is certeinly knowen to haue bin highest euer since the settling of the kingdome of Fraunce or if the matter bee to bee committed to rightful indifferencie of chalenge who seeth not that the greater part of Fraunce is on our side and that to call in forrein forces to oppresse our owne countrymen is not the nature of a frenchman but the token of a barbarous and sauage mind and a proof of an enemylyke hart Notwithstanding lest the Admiral might disappoynt the willingnes of so many of his freends the expectation of so many cities which had ioyned in freendship with him forasmuch as he was aduertized late afore of the singular good wil of certeine Germane Princes towards the churches of Fraunce to the intent to match straungers ageinst straungers he desired his brother the Andelot to go to those Princes and to sew to them for their helpe which thing he did and within three monethes after brought three thowsand horsmen and six thowsand footemen with him into Fraunce While theis thīgs were adoing word was
and of the Gvvyses that they might prouide for the comon peace and concord by remouing vngracious counsell from him But being bewrayed of one of their confederacie they lost the opportunity of bringing that matter to passe by reason wherof they were driuen to trye the matter by open warre When they cāe at Paris they mustred their adherents found that there were on their side sumwhat lesse then a thousand horsmen about a threehundred footmen For the Andelot had caried away the most part of his armie with him too Poysye the day before to cut of vittels from the Parisians by taking the bridg ouer the riuer of Sean There went out of Paris fifteene thowsand footmen and mo then six thowsand horsmen vnder the Cunstable who ioyning battel with them was sore wownded and died within feawe dayes after In that battell a man might haue seene the singular woorking of God in preseruing the Admiral For wheras he rode vppon an ouerfeerce horse that would not in any wise welneere be ruled his muzrol brake asunder his horse caried him twice through the battell of his enemies where they were thickest and yit he was not hurt at all notwithstanding that the pistolets discharged their shot at him on all sides with one of the pellets wherof his horse being hit suffred him to bring him backe agein easly into his owne battell After the receyuing of greate losse on both sids but specially on the prince of Condeis side the Kings armie was discomfited and driuen into the Citie of Paris and it seemed best to the prince and the Admirall to take their way into Lorrein too the horsmen that wer sent thē thither by the appointmēt of certein Princes of Germanie For they saw it was needefull agein to impugne forreiners with forreiners In that iourney being ouertaken by their aduersaries with a great power wherof the Generall was Henry the Kings brother then Duke of Aniow afterward King of Polland now King of Fraunce who preassed continually vppon their reereward they oftentimes receiued many harmes When they came into Lorrein whither Casimire the Palsgraue electors sonne was come before them with a great host of Almaynes there rose a new occasion of trouble and incomberāce For there was owing to those Almaynes a certein tymes wages and there could no meanes be fownd to pay any peece of it were it neuer so litle Out of hand the Admirall found a remedy for that mischeef He required that all men as well the Rascalls Lackeys of the hoste as the horsmen and the comon souldiers should be taxed by the poll so farre foorth as euery mannes abilitie would beare First of all the Admiral himself cawsed fiue hundred french crownes to be told out of his owne cofers The like was doone of all the rest according to euery mans abilitie and Collectors were sent to euery band to gather it vp And moreouer looke whatsoeuer siluer the Prince of Cōdey the Admirall the Counties of Andelot Rochfocawlt had of their owne it was deliuered eueriwhit of it to the Collectors Thus in very small tyme there was gathered with the singular good will of al men the summe of fowerscore thowsand pownds it was iudged that by that coūsell of the Admirals the whole army was saued which not only was persecuted by the aduersaries but also threatened by the Germanes their leagefellowes and succorers Whē the powers of the Germanes Frenchmen were once ioyned togither the Aduersaries returning suddenly backe wēt in great iourneies vnto Paris which thīg Hēry the kīgs brother deemed to redownd to his greate dishonour The Prince of Condeies men being now wel cheered and full of good hope went to beseege Sharters which when they had beaten a good while with greate ordinance cast downe a peece of the wall insomuch that the Andelot was now redye to haue led them to the assault suddenly the Kings Trumpetters came in poste and sending a Herault declared that peace was concluded For commissioners had mette on both sides neere Paris for the same purpoze certeine dayes afore Thus was the seege broken vp the Prince of Condey dismissed his power Whyle the Admirall was kept occupyed at that seege his wife of whome mention is made afore who in the beginning of the warres had gotten hir selfe with hir children to Orleance being consumed with sore sicknesse and vnable to beare out the brunt of it departed out of this life The Admiral being aduertized of that greeuousnesse of hir diseaze had left the Camp and was gonne too hir in poste and taking the best phisicions to him that he could get performed the dewtie of a louing and faithfull husband towards hir But when he sawe that the force of hir diseaze ouercame the cunning of the phisicions he commended hir departing sowle vnto God withdrew himself into a parlour whither a greate sort of his freends acquayntance came to him to comfort him of whom many remembered that he vttered these words with great sobbing teares Wherin haue I sinned my God or wherby haue I deserued that thou shouldest chastize me so sharply and ouerlode me with so many miseries at once Would God I coulde leade a holyer lyfe and giue better example of godlinesse O holy father let thy mercifulnes looke vppon mee and asswage these my sorrowes Afterward being cheered by the godly talk of his freends he commaunded his children too be browght vnto him told them that this so greate losse of their mother owght too bee a lesson too them that there remayned no help for thē vnder the sonne whervntoo they myght trust or leane affirming that howses and Castles were they neuer so strong and stately are not giuen vs for dwelling places but lent vs for bayting places nor tyed too vs for euer by purchace and freedeede but graunted too vs for a tyme vppon courtesie and finally that all things in this world are flightfull and transitorie sauing only Gods mercie whervntoo he woold haue them too commit themselues wholly casting away all worldly helpes and then should they not neede too dowt but they should haue moste sure defence in the same The next day he called Grelley his childrens schoolemayster and told him that he must needes returne too the Camp and he could not tel what should becomme of him there Wherfore he warned and desyred him too haue a care of his children and too bring them vp in religion godlinesse and all good artes as he had oftentymes charged him As concerning his Ladie or late wyfe shee had alwayes a singular and earnest zele too religion as is shewed afore and was indewed with singular constancie in bearing owt all calamities as well hir owne as hir husbandes so that it is truly auowched of many men that looke what promis shee made too hir husband for the professing of Religion as I haue shewed afore shee performed the same moste holily too the full There were dyuers vertewes and gifts of nature
wee must humbly craue help at Gods hand too bring vs intoo the surest and safest way and yow must not looke that that way shal bee pleasant and delyghtfull and flowing with all prosperitie Wee must followe Iesus Chryst which is gone afore vs and is our Captein and stāderdbearer Men in deede haue taken from vs what they cowld If God continew alwayes in the same will happie shall wee bee and well shall it bee with vs For their woorking of this displeasure vntoo you is not for anie wrong or harme that you haue done them but only for hatred of me wherof I am sure there is none other cawse but that God voutsafeth to vse my labour and seruis in susteyning his Churche Therefore if we suffer harme and losse in that behalf blessed are we and we shall haue such a reward as no man can haue power ouer it I haue many other things whereof I would write vnto you if I had leyzure At this tyme it shall suffize me to warne you and to beseeche you in Gods name to proceede lustily in the study of vertew and to shewe both in your doings and sayings and in all your whole life how much you abhorre all kind of vices Obey your Schoolemayster and all others that are set ouer you that if I may not inioy your presence sight so often as I would I may at leastwise often vnderstand that you be adorned with good and honest condicions The last shal be this that if God wil haue vs to suffer any inconuenience for his religion eyther in our bodies or in our goods yit we count our selues happie and blessed Uerely I pray and beseeche him to maynteyne you and to further you and to defend your youth Fare ye well From the towne of Santon the xvi of October .1569 Shatilion When the Lords had sit oft tymes in counsel in the same towne of Santon concerning their state at length it seemed good by generall consent to set sum staye among the Townesmen and to leaue certeine antsignes of footemen in garrison for defence of the towne and to go their way with their lighthorsmen into the borders of Tolowse where Mountalbane a towne very strong both by nature by hand of man was in possession of the protestants who had gathered no small somme of money wherwith too pay the Almanes their wages And besids that they hoped that if they were once past the twoo riuers of Gerownd and Lotte they should ioyne with the power wherof the Countie Mountgomrye a man of greate authoritie for his knightly prowesse and skil in martiall affayres was Capteine and by whose seruis he had pacyfied Bierne a territorie of the King of Nauarres In this iourney which was verye peynfull by reason of the vneeuennesse of the wayes althowgh that all the Cities were manned with garrisons and had cut asunder the bridges and drawen the ferryboats all to the other sides yit was there none so bold as too assayle our sowldyers weeryed with the tediowsnesse of the wayes and for the most part vnarmed or too stoppe them as they passed the ryuers and brookes on bridges made of barges and boates Therefore after a long and weerisomme iourney they came at length too Mountalbane owt of the which towne the Admiral sent messengers to the King and the Queene moother with charge to make earnest and humble sute in the behalfe of all them that were in armes with him that they should not suffer so manie valeant men too murther one another as were nowe readye in bothe the hosts too giue battell but of their clemencie make an ende of those so greate myseryes and inconueniences For it was but the counsell of certeine Bysshops and Cardinalls which neuer came intoo the feelde themselues and of a sort of Italians which had no remors of Frenchmennes myseryes Neuerthelesse it was a poynt of starke madnesse for them too thinke that twoo hundred thowsand Protestants specially hauing so greate a number of noblemen and Gentlemen among them could bee intrapped and rid quite and cleane away withowt towche of brest Nay verely besides that there were a greate number euen of the Catholiks themselues which shoulde not scape without tasting of the comon myseryes insomuch that somme should perish by the swoord and othersomme throwgh the ouergreatnesse and weerisomnesse of trauell and peynestaking and the more part be sure to susteyne greate losse and hinderance in their goods and possessions Agein it was not beseeming the Maiestie of a King that as the Courtyers did comonly report of him he shoulde not spare his owne people so he might oppresse his aduersaryes for it is the speeche of a Tyrant and not of a King too say Let freends perish so enemyes maye goo too wrecke with them As for peace the condicion was eazie namely that the authoritie of the publike Counsell which was hild at Orleance and of the Edict made at Paris doo take place so as men might haue libertie to exercyze the purer Religion in somme certeine places Uppon the sending of this message consultation was had there how to passe the riuer of Gerownd which was betweene Mountgomries hoste and ours and seemed verye hard to bee passed by reason of the depth bredth and swiftnesse of the streame Therefore the Admirall gaue counsell to take the towne of Mariane standing vppon the same riuers side Which being done forasmuch as the Countie Mountgomrye possessed the other side the Admirall deuyzed to make a bridge in this wyze First heauing out fowrteene pyles of timber of fower and twentie foote long a peece sharpened at the one end and armed with yron he draue them with rammers into the chanell of the riuer setting fowerteene mo full ageinst them in the vpper part of the streame Then vppon euery cupple that stoode one ageinst another he layed a beame well fastened with mortises and braces and likewize sidebeames from payre to payre which he couered ouer with planks to go vppon On eyther bank was made a litle bridge vppon twoo wheeles to conuey horses the eassier both of on to the great bridge And to strengthen the worke with all he fastened either rowe of the pyles with cables and cheynes tyed to posts driuen into the grownd on eyther side of the riuer When the worke was finished and two dayes spent in passing ouer of the Almane horsmen a shippe of great burthen comming downe the streame in the deade of the night dashed ful ageinst the bridge with such violence that it shooke the whole work made it fall asunder This shippe our men tooke and hild al that side of the riuer howbeeit for want of good looking to bycawse they tyed it not with cables ynow it was caryed away with the violence and swiftnesse of the streame Therfore it seemed best to make passage for Mountgomrye with certein bots and wherryes fastened togither whom the Almane horsmen which clozed vp his rereward followed immediatly When the Admirall had giuen his