A Recitall of that which hath happened in the Kings Armie

A
Recitall of that

which hath happened in the
Kings Armie, ſince the taking of
the Suburbes of Paris, vntill
the taking of the Towne of
Humſlet.

Imprinted at London for
Tobie Cooke.
1590.

A Recitall of
that which happened in the Kings
Armie, ſince the taking of the Sub-
urbes of Paris, vntill the ta-

king of the Towne of
Phaleſey.

lthough that common examples doo ſufficiently ſhewe vs, that patient forbearing ſufficeth to giue legitimate Princes the infallible victorie of Rebellions, without the hazarding of battailes; yet not withſtanding, the loue of his Maieſtie hath been ſo great towards his ſubiects, that for to redeeme them from the oppreſsions which they ſuffer, and are yet to ſuffer through the continuance of a long warre, hee hath deſired nothing more for the ſpeedie ending thereof, (ſince the taking of armes in hand) than to aduenture the iuſtice of his cauſe, vpon the ſucceſſe of a battaile, hauing ſought to draw all his enemies thereunto by al meanes poſsible. Firſt of all, when they ſought him in Normandie, they reported, that they went not to giue battaile, but to a victorie alreadie gotten. At which time, (in their ſight) he went to beſiege and take the towne and caſtle of Gamaſhe, and two dayes after to recouer the towne of Ewe; all their Armie beeing but 3. leagues off. Since that, in his returne, hee made fiue or ſixe dayes iourney on their ſide of the Some: bot paſsing the Riuer at Pone del arche, as hee might haue done, but deferred to paſſe at Muellan, for to receaue them if they would haue giuen him battaile. And ſince likewiſe, after the taking of the Suburbs of Paris, the day of his departure thence, his Maieſtie kept his Armie ranged in battaile foure howres, to ſee if there wold be anie effect of that furie, in which it was reported they were arriued at Paris: as it hath been more amplie declared in the former diſcourſe. And his Maieſtie declared in the former diſcourſe. And his Maieſtie being at the village of Linars vnder Mountlhery, remained there a whole daye, thinking that his enemies, hauing been reſted and refreſhed three dayes in the towne of Paris, would haue gathered ſtomacke to haue come out, and haue giuen him battaile there; which if they had put in practiſe, the King would haue met them halfe way. But being aduertiſed, that in ſtead of troubling of themſelues with this buſines, they thought it leſſe dangerous to ſhew their choler, in ſaccaging the particular inhabitants of the ſaid citie; executing thoſe themſelues, whō al men thought they ſhould haue defended from beeing executed by others: imputing to the richeſt ſort, and ſuch as were eaſieſt to be trodden vnder foote, that they were the Kings friends (to colour thereby their maſſacre and pillaging from puniſhment) regarding neither qualitie nor age, killing and drowning manie, both men and women; making the world beleeue, that that which was executed through the valor of the Kings Armie, was enterpriſed by practiſes and intelligences, to excuſe the ſlender care, and ſmall courage of thoſe, which were within the Citie: where they liuing at their pleaſure, being ſo neſted that there was no meanes to drawe them out, his Maieſtie determined to take the towne and caſtle of Eſtampes, beeing mooued thereunto by the aduertiſement hee had, that the Lord Cluremont of Lodeſue with fiftie or three ſcore Gentlemen had thruſt themſelues into it, thorough the aſſurance the Duke de Maine had giuen them, (and confirmed by manie of his letters which were intercepted) that he wold come to reliue them with all his Armie. His Maieſtie knowing that the Duke de Maine had bound himſelfe by his faith and honour to relieue Eſtampes, thought to giue him occaſion to ſeeke the battaile, through the beſiegeing of it: and in hope thereof departed from the village of Linars vpon Sunday the firſt day of Nouember, and arriued at Eſtampes with all his Armie; which he had inuironed the ſame day in the morning: & although he could not come thether before day light was ſhut in, yet at his firſt comming he wonne the ſuburbes, which the enemies made ſhowe they would defend. The very ſame night the town likewiſe was wonne, and the men of warre did retire themſelues into the caſtle; which was immediately inuironed, & approches made, and two Culuerins were placed in batterie, the Tueſday folowing by faire day light. Which they within ſeeing, and that the Armie which ſhould haue relieued them, did not appeare, nor that there was any newes of it, demanded a Parle, and yeelded themſelues the ſame day: with condition that eight of them ſhould remaine priſoners, vntill ſuch time as they ſhould cauſe ſeuen or eight others to be deliuered, who were named vnto them. His Maieſtie after the ſaid agreement, did ſhew that fauour to the Lord Cleremont of Lodeſue, to two maſters of the Camp, & vnto fiue others that ſhuld haue remained priſoners, to ſend them away vppon their oathes: ſo that there departed out of the ſaid Caſtle, about 40. Gentleme, and aboue 200. ſouldiers, who were ſafely confucted halfe way vnto Paris. His Maieſtie conſidering that the poore towne of Estampes in foure moneths had been three times taken, and that although it had been neceſſaries for him to haue kept a good garriſon in it, yet notwithſtanding (of his own nature being as eaſie to be ouercome with pitie and clemencie, as hee is inuincible to his enemies) was content to take no other aſſurance of the towne, than the oathes of the inhabitants, wherein hee repoſed his truſt. And further, to put them out of doubt, that the caſtle ſhuld be noe meane of their rigorous vſage hereafter, he determined to raſe the ſaid caſtle, & to commit the keeping of the town to the townſmen only, perſwading himſelf that they cōparing the vſage which they had had at his hands and his enemies together, it was the ſureſt Garriſon, to keepe them in obedience. His ſaid Maieſtie remained ther vntil the ſaturday folowing, during which time there arriued a Gentleman ſent from the Queene Dowager, bringing a requeſt, which ſhe preſented vnto his Maieſtie for to beſeech him, to ſhew her iuſtice for the cruell ſlaughter committed vpon the perſon of the late king her husband. His Maieſtie deferred the aunſwere of this requeſt, vntill ſuch time as he ſate in counſell; where beeing the daye following, the Gentlemen was called for; who after hee had deliuered his meſſage, the requeſt was read alowd in the preſence of al the Princes Mareſhalls of France, and principall Lords and Gentlemen, of which there was then a great number about King. By which requeſt, beſides the deſiring of his Maieſtie, ſhe did adiure not onely the Princes & Nobilitie of France, but alſo all the Princes of Chriſtendome, to be aſsiſters in this iuſt cauſe. His Maieſtie making aunſwere himſelfe, declared that he highlie commended her vehemencie in following this ſute, and ſent his ſaid requeſt vnto his Court of Parliament tranſported to Towers, that his Atturney general, with the Atturney of the ſaid Ladie, might make the information againſt the offenders, to the intent the matter might bee determined afterward in his preſence, in manner and forme conuenient. And for his owne part, althought the ſaid ſute were commendable in the ſaid Ladie, yet he would not ceaſe to proſecute the matter, but vowed in the preſence of the cōpanie, that he would imploy his trauaile and armes, vntill ſuch time as he had done the iuſtice, that God had appointed him to doo. So that as the pitifull termes of the Requeſt of the ſaid Ladie, had filled the eyes of all the hearers with teares; the Princelie anſwere of his Maieſtie had quickly dried them with a deſire of reuenge. At which time was renued by thē all with a lowd voyce, the oath of not laying downe Armes, vntill ſuch time as they had reuenged the hateful death of the late King their maſter: & to haue ſeene their countenances, it had not been for the profite of the League, that this requeſt had been preſented at the day of a Battaile. But the King ſeeing, that neither ſhame nor loſſe could make his enimies come out of Paris, and that there was no hope of bringing them to battaile, but by extreame neceſsitie, hee ſent backe againe the Duke de Longueuile with the forces that he had brought with him out of Picardie, to refreſh themſelues in the ſaid Prouince, Monſieur La Nowe returning with him. Hee did the like alſo by the Lord de Giury, which came and met him a verie good troupe at his departure from the Suburbs of Paris, ſending him toward the Countrey of Brie: and with the reſt which he had, hee was determined to make a little voyage to the Riuer of Loir, beeing called thether by manie occaſions: and this hee did, ſtaying vntill his ſtrange forces that aroſe firſt were further on their way, than they were then. So he departed from Estampes, on Saturday the x. of Nouember: and taking his waye through the Countrey of Beauſſe, beeing aduertiſed that the towne of Ianuille, which is in the middeſt of the ſame, ſtopt all the paſſages, deſired to winne it in paſsing. And being arriued vppon the Sundaie, the Captaine that was in it, made a ſhewe of defence, but ſeeing the Canon approach, yeelded it; and departing with 200 harquebuziers, his Maieſtie entred the ſame day, and lodged there the morow after: thoſe of the towne receiuing no diſpleaſure nor diſcommoditie, no more than if they neuer had reiected the obedience of his Maieſtie. The King leauing good garriſon in the Caſtle, which is a reaſonable good place, departed thence, going through the Land of Beauſſe, to the towne of Chaſteaudun. Where as ſoone as hee was arriued, he ſent to ſummon the towne of Vandoſme, which is his auncient patrimonie, and the auncient title of his predeceſſors; and although that thereby they were double his ſubiects, and therefore the more culpable in taking his enemies part: yet notwithſtanding he hauing a more care to keepe them from further offending, than to puniſh them for their firſt fault, did lodge three daies at the ſaid Chasteaudun, for go giue them reſpite to aduiſe themſelues. But God who reſerued them for an example of his iuſtice, would not ſuffer them to accept the offers which his Maieſtie offered them to receiue them to his good fauour: but on the contrarie becomming more inſolent and ſtifnecked, conſtrained him to aſſaile them. Whileſt the King lodged at Chasteaudun, the Captaine of the Swiſſes arriued, which were ſent by and by after the death of the late King deceaſed by the Colonells of the foure Regiments, which are in ſeruice of his Maieſtie, for to knowe the pleaſure of their ſuperiours, whether they ſhuld continue in the ſeruice, or aske their leaue to returne? Who reported vnto his Maieſtie, beſides the anſwere which they gaue vnto their ſaid Colonels from their ſuperiours, that they had expreſſe charge from them to giue his Maieſtie to vnderſtand, that they did not onely command the Colonels and Captaines of the ſaid Regiments to continue in dooing him good and faithfull ſeruice, but alſo that they did offer him all ſuch other ſuccour as he ſhuld need; holding from that hower the ſame alliance and good friendſhip confirmed with his Maieſtie, which they haue had with the Kings his predeceſſors; which is a thing quite contrarie to that which his enemies boaſted of, that the ſaid Regiments ſhould bee called home, and ſhould doo his Maieſtie no ſeruice. Hee departed from the ſaid Chasteadun the fourteenth of Nouember, and the ſame daye his Armie inuironed the towne of Vandoſme. The King arriuing at the towne of Mellay the ſixteenth day, before he lighted, he went and viewed the towne and caſtle, which are both of reaſonable ſtrength, the ſaid towne beeing incloſed with a good ditch well watred, and with a good wall well flanked, and in manie places rampered within. The Caſtle was much ſtronger, beeing ſcituated vpon an hill, inuironed with a good ditch towards the field, and a great height ouer the towne, the wall good and defended with manie towers. The gouernor of the place was the Lord de male-benehard, who perceiuing that it ſhould be beſieged, hee called vnto him certaine Gentlemen his friends, and kept in it an ordinarie garriſon of foure Companies of footemen, which were foure hundred men ſtrong, beſides thoſe of the towne, who were ſeuen or eight hundred men bearing armes. The day of his arriual he cauſed the ſuburbes of the towne to be wonne, & parted my Lordes the Marſhalls de Biron and d’Aumount, the one on the one ſide of the riuer, and the other on the other ſide, with the troupes of the ſaide Armie. And hauing well conſidered of the forme of the ſiege, he determined firſt to deale with the caſtle, which was of moſt ſtrength, to make an end at once: for that the Caſtle being wonne the towne could not eſcape, which would not ſo haue happened, if he had begun with the towne. He paſſed Fridaie and Saturdaie to view where he ſhould place the batterie, and to put things in a readines: where in the preſence of his Maieſtie, was woorth the labour of fiftie others; for he ſtird not from the worke all the daye long, and part of the night. In the meane time, the ſaid Male-benehard who had before (whileſt the King was at Chaſteadun) deſired to parley with the Lord of Richelieu great Prouoſt of France, with whom he was familiarlie acquainted: afterward, when as the ſaide Prouoſt did goe to him into the towne, he knew not almoſt what hee required, but that hee deſired, that without yeelding the place, the Armie might retyre. Feeling himſelfe afterward pricked in conſcience, & in danger of the ſiege, he required againe to ſpeake with the ſaid Lord of Richelieu, who retourning the ſecond time, came backe againe as vncertaine and ill ſatiſfied as at the firſt. Wherin it well appeared, that God would make him throughlie feele the recompence of his deſerts, hauing giuen him reſpite inough long time before the iudgement happened, for to ſeeke remedie, and not permitted him to helpe himſelfe with reſolution, as it came to paſſe. For his Maieſtie hauing paſſed all the night in conducting and placing the Artillerie in battaile, began at the dawning of the daye to beate two towers of the Caſtle, to take away the defences of the breach, which hee purpoſed to make: but after the beſtowing of an hundred or an hundred and twentie Cannon ſhot, and hauing made a hole in one of the ſaide Towers, where onely two men could paſſe in front, the Souldiers deſirous of the aſſault, certaine of them beeing onely commanded to ſee it they could lodge in the ſaid Tower, they got vp, and with a furie entered the retrenchment: and being followed with the reſt, ſome conducted by the Baron of Byron, and others by the Lord of Chaſtillion, they made thoſe within ſo diſmaied, (although they were a great number) that after they preſented the combate, they fled; and abandoning the caſtle ranne into the towne: where they were followed ſo neerelie, that the ſaid Lordes with part of the ſaid Souldiers, entred pell mell with them, and made themſelues within leſſe than halfe an howre maſters both of the caſtle & towne. Here the Engliſhmē would haue aſſaulted, and were impeached by Monſieur Chattilion, and expreſly forbidden. The ſaid Male-beneherd and al his Souldiers, being retired into an houſe, did yeeld themſelues incontinent vnto the aforeſaid Baron of Byron, not otherwiſe, but at the Kings mercie: ſo that there was neeur towne ſeene battered & taken by aſſault (as it was) with leſſe murther; for there was not one man loſt of the Armie, & few of his enemies, his ſaid Maieſtie hauing pardoned all men, except the ſaid Beneherd, and a ſeditious grey Frier, (whom all the inhabitants themſelues accuſed to be the author of their miſchiefe) were executed. There was no meane to keep the towne from pillaging but the Churches his Maieſtie cauſed carefully to be preſerued, that there entred not one man into them. The morrowe after, hee cauſed his men of warre to depart the Towne, and ſuffered the Inhabitants to returne to their houſes, not permitting them anie longer to be pillaged and ranſomed. Hee reſtored all the Eccleſiaſticall perſons vnto their ſeuerall charges, much more peaceablie than they were, when the Towne was in occupation of the League. The example of this iuſtice ſaued more than a thouſand mens liues: for foure or fiue little townes thereabouts, who profeſſed to hold againſt the King, taking example by Vandoſme, yeelded themſelues in leſſe than foure or fiue dayes. The Caſtle and twone of Lauerden began firſt, and were followed by the Townes of Mount-ouert, Mount-richard, and Chateau-du-loyre, who did all great hurt, eſpecially to Towers, keeping the paſſages vnto it. The Towne of Vandoſme beeing taken, finding himſelfe ſo neare Towers, his Maieſtie minded to make a ſmall iourney thether, to ſee the Lordes of his Councell, and to determine with them certaine principles of his buſineſſe: leauing in the meane while the Armie to bee conducted by the Marſhall Byron; by whoſe preſence hee reduced all the aforeſayde Townes, except Mount richard, which was reduced by the voyage which his Maieſtie made vnto Towers.

Hee departed from Meſlay by Vandoſme vppon Tueſday beeing the one and twentieth of Nouember, and arriued the ſame day at Towers, two towers within night: where hee was attended with ſo great ioye and gladneſſe of all the people of Towers, and ſuch ſtoare of lights there was in the ſtreates at his arriuall, as if it had been at noone daye.

The ſame daye at night, my Lorde the Cardinall of Vandoſme, came to doo reuerence vnto the King, and receiued intertainment and countenaunce agreeable to his neereneſſe in bloud vnto the Kings Maieſtie.

The morrow after, thoſe of the Parliament, came perſonally to ſalute and acknowledge the King; the firſt Preſident making the Relation: which charge he executed in ſubſtance and eloquence moſt happelie, and to the great contentment of his Maieſtie. All the other bodies of the Chamber of accompts, Court of aides, of the Finances, of the Iuſtices of the law, and the Maior and Iurats of the Towne did the like. And likewiſe the Eccleſiaſticall perſons of the town, all with great ſhewe of ioye, and hope of happie and quiet Reigne of his ſaid Maieſtie: wherein they were the more confirmed by the anſweres which they receiued likewiſe from him, in excellent tearmes, and kingly eloquence. The ſame day the Embaſſador of Venice was graunted audience: where hee preſented firſt of all the letters of the Signiorie vnto his Maieſtie, and afterward declared the ioy they had of his happie Succeſsion vnto the Crown; beſeeching him to accept the offer of the friendſhip of the ſaid Signiorie vnto his Maieſtie, & to promiſe and aſſure them of his, to maintaine the good intercourſe betweene his Crowne, and the ſaide Signiorie: whereunto his Maieſtie aunſwered verie well and wiſely. Hee was determined to haue ſtaid but one day at Towers, but they were ſo deſirous to ſee him, that hee could not depart vntill the Saturday following. At which time, with one iourney hee went vnto his Armie at the Caſtle of Loyre, which is ten good leagues off, & and departed thence the morrow after for to goe toward Mans, which long time hee was deſirous to be ſiege. He lodged twiſe by the way. And being arriued at Yuray leueſque the xxvij. daye, one league diſtance from the ſaid towne of Mans, which hee had cauſed to be inuironed the day before by the Lord of Fargeſſe: he ſent to ſummon the ſaid town. Vnto whom the Lord of Boisdauphin (which commaunded in it for the League) made an anſwere, as if hee had been reſolute to burie himſelfe in it, and all thoſe that were with him, rather than to depart out of it, & began to burne a great part of the Suburbes of La Couſture, eſpeciallie that part which was without the retrenchment of the ſaid Suburbes. But the ſaid Lord of Fargeſſe came vpon them with his troupe, and ſaued a great part of the aforenamed Suburbes. Immediately after the Baron Byron, and Chaſtalion arriued with the greateſt part of the French Infanterie, by whome the ſame night was the aforeſaid retrenchment wonne, which was in ſome place twentie foote high, and might eaſelie haue attended the Cannon: and from that time it was ſuppoſed, that they were eaſier to be dealt with, than was looked for. The morrow after the xxviij. of the ſaid moneth of Nouember, his Maieſtie came and lodged in the ſaid Suburbes, which is faire, and in a manner more commodious to lodge in, than the Towne. And the ſame daye hee cauſed all the other Suburbes to be wonne, except the Suburbes of Saint Iohn, that was on the other ſide of the Riuer of Sarthe, which was wonne the morrow after, the ſaid Boyſdauphin hauing cauſed more than halfe to bee burned, and that which was next to the bridge, which was the faireſt houſing. All their valour appeared in nothing but in that. For three daies folowing, whilſt the Gabeons wer a making and other preparatiues neceſſarie for the batterie, and the pieces brought to their places, his Maieſtie himſelfe hauing paſſed whole nights therein, vppon the ſecond day of September, began to beat certaine defences of the wall of the ſaid Towne. Immediatelie after the firſt vollies of the Cannon, that braue ſpeach which they had giuen at the ſummoning of the Towne, was turned quite contrarie into ſubmiſsion. So that Boiſdauphin and his people not imagining that they ſhould haue been ſo ſharplie delt withall (for within three houres they ſhoulde haue had aſſault giuen them, which they were not wel reſolued to abide) demaunded a Parley; and in fine before two of the clocke in the afternoone, the ſaide Towne was yeelded vnto his Maieſtie: notwithſtanding that there were in it no more than an hundred gentlemen, and twentie enſignes of footemen, who during the time of the Parley, did diſhonour each other publiquely. The Gentlemen ſaid, that the Souldiers would not fight, and the Souldiers ſaid, that agaynſt their wills the Gentlemen would compound. As in truth it was a thing verie ſtrange, hauing cauſed the people to ſpend more than 5000. crownes in the fortefying of the Suburbs of their Townes, burnt more than a 100000. crownes worth of houſing, and (as it is ſaid) ruined the Countrey ſix times as much more, for to abide three vollyes of the Cannon, and afterward to yeeld the Towne: which without the great care that his Maieſtie had had of it, had neuer beene kept from pillage: but hee commaunded the gates to be kept ſhut. And to the intent that none ſhould take occaſion to go into it, he would not lodge in it himſelfe, but kept in the ſuburbes where he firſt was lodged. There were two ſoldiers found with a Chalice which they had ſtollen, and were hanged immediately, although they were knowen to be men of value. The thundring of the Cannon was heard at Le Fort-berne-herd, when the Counte Briſaac was arriued with two Regiments to ſuccour the ſaid Town of Mans: who was ſo made afraid, that he ran back againe 12 leagues; and in retiring, fell by chance into the Reiſters quarter that ſerued his Maieſtie, who would not diſlodge as they were appointed, & carried away for their bootie 30. or 40. horſe and chariots without the loſſe of anie man. His Maieſtie reſtored firſt into the towne of Mans, the Biſhop and the Lord of Fargeſſe his brother, which had been Gouernour before, & pardoned the reſt of the inhabitants, who came all, aſwell Eccleſiaſticall, as other, to giue him thankes, with proteſtation of their fidelitie and perfect obedience. During the aboad, which the King made at Mans, fiue daies after the taking of it, the Caſtle of Beaumont yeelded firſt of all, and the Caſtle of Touvoie, and likewiſe the greateſt part of the Gentlemen, which were in the Towne of Mans, and others which had been ſeduced by the League, & put them ſelues into the Kings ſeruice; who was accompanied in that ſiege with more than fiue hundred Gentlemen of the Prouinces thereabout. Amongſt whom there were manie Marqueſſes, Counties, and other great Lords.

At that time the Townes of Sablee, Lauall, Chaſteaugountere, which are all Townes of importance, and manie others which are not of ſo great name, were reduced vnto the King.

Before his departure from Mans, his Maieſtie was determined to take the Towne and Caſtle of Alanſon: and whileſt his Armie marched thether, vnder the conduct of the Lord Marſhall Byron, and of the Lord Baron Byron his ſonne Marſhall of the Campe, he thought good to make a ſmall voyage to Lauall, to the intent, by his preſence to comfort the Nobilitie and people of the Countrey, which were newly reduced vnto his obedience, and likewiſe to cauſe the Prince Dumbees to come thether whom his Maieſtie deſired to ſee.

He arriued at the ſaid Lauall the ix. day of December, and there came and met him a great way without the Towne, all the Eccleſiaſticall perſons, aſwell Chanons, as other religious perſons, with their ornaments, as they were accuſtomed to goe in Proceſſion: and hauing by the mouth of one of them made their ſubmiſsion, and proteſtation of their fidelitie and obedience, accompanied the King vntill he entred the Towne, ſinging alwaies Viue le Roy, in verie good muſicke. There came out likewiſe the Maieſtrates of the Towne, and met him: and the people cried each where with an inceſſaunt crye, Viue le Roy, whileſt that his Maieſtie paſſed thorough the Towne.

He abode there eight or tenne dayes, and the afore ſayd Prince Dumbees arriued with a great Companie of the Nobilitie of Britaine, to whome it was great honour to be knowen vnto his Maieſtie, and he was moſt courteouſly receiued.

Certaine of his Troupe departing from the Companie, tooke in their waye comming the Caſtle of Chaſteubriant, and brought with them the Captaine and manie others priſoners.

His Maieſtie hauing ſpent certaine dayes with the Prince Dumbees, and taking order for the affaires of that Prouince, he ſent him againe to his charge; and diſpatched Mounſieur Marſhall D’aumount, for to gather his ſtrange Forces together. And the King came from Lauall vnto the Towne of Maienna-la-Iabes, where he was verie well receiued, and aſſured himſelfe of the Caſtle, without leauing anie other Garriſon in the Towne. Hee arriued at Alanſon the three and twentieth daye, hauing paſſed a moſt foule Countrey.

And as concerning my Lord Marſhall Byron, who departed with the Armie from the Towne of Mans the ninth day of the ſaid moneth of December, hee could not arriue at Alanſon till the fifteenth daye following, by reason of the foule waie, which hindred the carriage of the Ordinaunce: Here the Engliſh entred a bulwarke or rauelin, wel inuironed and defended with water, by pulling downe a draw bridg with a hooke, and wold haue aſſaied to to enter the towne, but the marſhal Byron forbad them expreſlie. and hauing cauſed the Towne to be inuironed certaine dayes before by the Lord of Artray, who at his firſt comming tooke the Suburbes, and droue them of the Towne afterward to come to compoſition, and yeeld, Captaine Lago (which was Gouernour) retiring himſelfe into the Caſtle with foure hundred and fiftie Souldiers, making ſhewe that he woudl defend it; the place being verie good and ſtrong, inuironed with water, good walls, good flankes, and great Towers.

The ſaide Lord Marſhall beeing entered into the Towne, kept ſo good order in it, that it was not ſeen that it had been beſieged, the ſhops beeing kept open the ſame daye, as if it had been in peace.

At the hower of the entrie, he cauſed the artillerie to be brought before the Caſtle, and ſhot at the defences, and had ſo farre proceeded in this buſineſſe, that hauing found meanes to take away their water, he could in little ſpace haue made breach. His Maieſtie being arriued as aforeſaid, he ſhewed him all that was done, and alſo what was intended to bee done: who anſwered immediatelie that the ſiege wold not be long.

The ſaid Captaine Lago that was in the Caſtle did imagine little leſſe, and at the ſummons which his Maieſtie did cauſe to be made, for to declare that hee was come, he began to be aſtonied: and the morrow after he parleyed, and the ſame day the compoſition was agreed vppon, to ſaue his life and his ſouldiers, with their armes and baggage.

His Maieſtie hauing foreſeene for the aſſurance of the ſaid place, left for Gouernor the Lord Artray, with a good garriſon in the Towne and Caſtle, and departing the ſeuen and twentieth daye, he went and lodged at Seas, where the Biſhop and Cleargie with the Maieſtrates came and met him, and receuied him ſo well, that hee truſted vnto the inhabitants of the place, without leauing therein anie other Garriſon.

He departed thence the morrow after for to go to Argenton, which is a good Towne, in which there is a Caſtle of reaſonable ſtrength: and there was in the ſaid Towne and Caſtle three Enſignes of footemen, which the Countie of Briſaac had lefte there: who with the Cheualier Picard and his Regiment were come from Paris, and had promiſed to ſhew himſelfe at all the ſieges which his Maieſtie woulde take in hand, and impeach him from the taking of anie of the Townes in the Countrey of Maine, and baſe Normandie: notwithſtanding hee ſhewed himſelfe at none.

Thoſe of the Towne of Argenton, being determimined to yeeld vnto his Maieſtie, came & met him, moſt humbly beſeeching him to receuie them into his fauour, which he graunted them moſt willingly, which the Souldiers ſeeing, retired them into the Caſtle, beſeeching his Maieſtie to ſuffer them to depart with their liues & baggage, which he counſeted vnto.

His Maieſtie was aduertiſed the ſame day, that thoſe of the Garriſon of the Caſtle of Damfront, vnderſtanding that he had ſummoned the Inhabitants of the Towne, and that they were determined to acknowledge the King, entered into conſultation what they ſhould doo, being of contrarie opinions, and therevpon put themſelues in Armes one againſt another: It hapned, that thoſe that would ſubmit themſelues to his Maieſtie although they were not halfe ſo manie in number as as the others were, encouraged with the Iuſtice of their cauſe, had the Victorie: and the Baron of Vernie gouernour of the ſaid Caſtle was ſlaine, and certeine other: whereupon aſwell thoſe of the Caſtle as thoſe of the Towne ſent vnto the King to craue his fauour and clemencie, which they obteined. And he ſent vnto the Towne to bee aſſured of both parties, which was done, without omitting anie force or exceſſe.

The King remaining for this cauſe one whole day at Argenton, departed thence vpon Sundaye the one and thirtieth of December, for to goe to the ſiege of Faleſe, the Caſtle whereof is verie ſtrong, & eſteemed to be the beſt place in baſe Normandie, next vnto the Caſtle of Caen, and therefore the Counte of Briſac put himſelfe into it, with the Cheualier Picard and his Regiment, hauing wonne vnto them manie Gentlemen and Souldiers of the Countrey, vaunting that they would repay the honour of their companions, who had yeelded and loſt all the other Townes, and that at this place, all the ſpoyles that had been gotten, ſhould be ſurrendred.

His Maieſtie the night before, had ſent the Baron of Byron to inuiron it, with certaine Troupes of men of warre, aſwell foote as horſe, who came thether ſo happely, that he found the Conte of Briſac come out of the Towne, purpoſing to burne the Towne of Guibray, which is as it were one of the Suburbes of Faleze. Who perceiuing the ſaid Troupes, the fier he brought with him was not anye waye able to heate him ſo much as to make him abide them, but returning with all ſpeede into the Towne, hee lefte Guibray whole: and the ſaid Baron de Byron did not onely ceaze vpon it to lodge his Maieſtie, but alſo at the ſame inſtant did make them runne away out of the Suburbes of the Towne, ioyning euen to the gate, part whereof they themſelues had burned a litle before.

His Maieſtie beeing arriued, went preſently with the Mareſhall of Byron to viewe the Towne and Caſtle, which are both ſtrong; the ſaid Towne beeing inuironed with a great poole, whoſe water could not be drawen away, the wall being good, and flanked with good towers, and the approaches difficile for the planting of Ordinaunce; the Caſtle beeing much ſtronger, garniſhed with great and ſtrong towers and verie good wals, with a donion ſeperated, ditched with good and great ditches: and beſides all this the Counte of Briſac well accompanied with Gentlemen, Captaines and Souldiers, with a great ſhowe that hee would not haue made this proofe but with intent to get honour, and to defend the place effectuallie, as in deed vnto the Summons which his Maieſtie did make the next day, he made an anſwere conuenient vnto ſuch a reſolution, which was that he had vowed vnto God, that he would neuer ſpeak of anie compoſition for that Towne, which made all men thinke, that he would haue defended it better than he did.

His Maieſtie (whoſe preſence in ſuch like affaires is the perfect ſchoole of extreame diligence, determined ſo to begin, as that he would not make 2. workes of one) did batter the Caſtle; for that the Caſtle being wonne, the Towne could not hold out, and cauſed the morrowe after, with great expedition, Gabions to be made for the batterie, bags to be filled with earth, and all things neceſſarie to be done. Which was ſo diligently followed, that in leſſe than three dayes all was in a readineſſe, and had begun to batter vpon the Thurſday, but that he ſtayed for three Cannons which Mounſieur Montpenſier brought him out of the Caſtle of Caen: which could not arriue at the ſaid ſiege vntill that verie day.

With the Duke Montpenſier there came betwixt twelue and fifteene hundred French Souldiers, and a good Troupe of the Gentlemen of the Countrey, & certaine Companies of men of Armes. Thoſe with in the Towne did neeur ſallye out: but otherwiſe made alwaies a good ſhewe of a reſolution in them, and in their words were ouer lauiſh, performing afterward ſo little as they did.

His Maieſtie pretending to make three batteries, two of which, from ſundrie parts ſhould batter at the breach of the ſaid Caſtle; and the third to bee placed vpon a Rocke, which ſhould ſcoure curtaine wiſe along, behinde the breach of the ſaid Caſtle. Hee began vpon Friday the fifth day of Ianuarie at eight of the clocke to beate two great towers, which flanked from the one vnto the other; the one of which ſerued for a defence vnto the breach, which he purpoſed to make. After the beſtowing of foure hundred Cannon ſhot, the top of one of the Towers beeing fallen, and a hole being made in the other tower that defended the breache, which hole opened into the ſaid Caſtle, his Maieſtie cauſed it to be battered for the ſpeedie breach which would be made in it: for there needed but the beating away of a little piece of the wall. Then he commaunded certaine Troupes of Souldiers, to goe and viewe if they could lodge in the ſaid Tower, vpon which certain of them entring the hole, which was pierced through the Tower into the Caſtle, finding no reſiſtance, called their companions, and ſo entring one after another, in verie ſhort ſpace they became Maſters both of Caſtle and Towne.

Thoſe within being ſore diſmaied, without anie fight they retired them ſelues into the Donion ſpoken of before; out of which they ſent three Gentlemen the ſame daye, to beſeech the King to receaue them vpon anie compoſition; who aunſwered, that he would not receaue them, but at his own pleaſure; and that they ſhould prooue his clemencie, without binding himſelfe vnto anie condition. Yet notwithſtanding, the morrowe after ſuffering the Countie Briſac to come and ſubmit himſelfe vnto him, he being ouercome with the pitie he had vpon the young Gentleman, graunted to chuſe fifteene of the beſt of them, whom he would keepe priſoners as warlike enemies, and the reſt ſhould be at his Maieſties diſpoſition.

It were not well done to take away the Souldiers honour that were at this ſiege, who in truth did their indeuour: but wee muſt acknowledge this to haue been Gods worke, as a thing moſt admirable vnto vs that ſaw it, that at one inſtant thoſe that ſeemed to be furious Lions, were metamorphoſid into meeker things than Lambes. The Towne being thus taken by aſſault, could not be preſerued from pillaging and ſaccaging: ſo that by this may compariſon be made, between the intertainment that thoſe receiue, which flie vnto his Maieſties clemencie, and thoſe which obſtinately attend the force of his Armie; the one being made whollie deſolate, and the other reioycing in a full and perfect quietnes, making a profit of their loſſe, obtaining by their taking and reduction free libertie, in ſtead of the hard captiuitie which they ſuffered vnder the vnlawfull gouernment of others.

It is to be well conſidered, of what great value the wiſe and happie gouernement of his Maieſtie hath been; his enemies being conſtrained to confeſſe, that it is to be wondered at, and vntill this time vnknowen, hauing in leſſe than two moneths trauailed eight-ſcore leagues, with ſuch a great Armie at his, troubled with a great deale of Ordinaunce, manie Switzers, and other ſtrange Nations; and in this time taking the Suburbes of Paris, made fiue or ſixe notable ſieges, taken fourteene or fifteene notable towns, hauing cleared the Prouinces of Vandoſme, Tourain, Aniou, and Maine, of all that his enemies helde: and not onelie recouered the Townes, but the hearts and affections of thoſe that moſt hated him. All his exploites being done by the force of his armes, and preſence, and terror of the ſame; without practiſes of treaſons, murders, monopoles, or fraudes: leauing thoſe guiles, vnto thoſe that deale with vniuſt actions, aſſuring himſelfe his cauſe to bee ſo iuſt, that it was able to ſupport it ſelfe without the helpe of anie thing of a contrarie nature, hauing alwaies this commendable maxime in regard, that euil can neuer ſerue to anie good purpoſe.

Is it poſsible that God hath ſo condemned the poore inhabitants of Towns, that he wil ſuffer them anie longer to be ſo blinded in ſpirit and bodie, as not to conſider of the miſchiefes wherin they haue plunged themſelues, and how thoſe vnto whome they giue themſelues ouer, and receiue for friendes, become immediatelie the cruelleſt enemies they can haue: who after they haue ſucked from them al that they can drawe, while they are with them, and by little and little made them ſubiects to the ſimpleſt ſoldiers of their troupes, if there bee anie brute of the Kings Armie comming, in ſtead of preparing to preſerue the people, vſe no other induſtrie, but to burne halfe their Townes, and the greateſt part of the Villages within two miles round about, then making them to trauaile daye and night in making rampiers and retrenchments: and yet when they are beſieged, if they doo but ſee the Cannon, thinke themſelues excuſed of their honour, in making their compoſition to depart with their liues and baggage ſaued; leauing no token behinde them of their protection, but one halfe of the Townes in aſhes, & the peopel with a halter about their neckes: ſo that if the Prince they haue to deale with were not mercifull, a whole forreſt could not furniſh for gallowes that would be employed.

Is it poſsible that they ſee not nor know not (that thoſe which haue beene ſo readie to mooue vp theſe ſeditions, are now ſo audacious & malicious as to maintaine them? and that his Maieſtie defending his kingdome againſt tyrannie, his people againſt ſtrangers, and iuſtice againſt iniquitie) the ſucceſſe of his enterpriſes, muſt needes be correſpondent to the equitie of his cauſe; that ineuitable deſtruction will come vpon them that reſiſt him, if the word of God (as it is) be true. For our parts, we moſt humblie beſeech God, to make them able to conſider and acknowledge it, and aboue all things, that it woulde pleaſe God to preſerue his Maieſtie, from al miſhaps that might happen vnto his perſon, and prolong his life: for ſo great need haue we of France of his preſence, that the ordinarie courſe of the longeſt liuers would be but too ſhort.

 

After the ſiege of Faleſe, the King gaue the Engliſh men leaue to depart; and he himſelfe with his Armie, to weete, the French men and Switzers, Rutters & Lantſ-knights went unto Lizeux, which within ten dayes after he tooke: and from thence his Maiestie went unto Humflet, which he did batter vpon Fridaie the xvi. of Ianuarie. At which time, part of our Engliſh Forces were ſhipped at Dines in Normandie, and the reſt, the morrow after.

Finis.