The second part of the booke of battailes, fought in our age taken out of the best authors and writers in sundrie languages. Published for the profit of those that practise armes, and for the pleasure of such as loue to be harmlesse hearers of bloudie broiles.

The battaile at Dreux in France, fought betweene Lewes of Burbon, Prince of Condee, Generall of the Protestants their forces, and An∣na Montmorencie, high Constable of France, and Generall of the Catholike armie, in the yeere of our Lord 1562. and the 19. of December, taken out of Popelliniere.

LEWES the Prince of Condee, hauing receiued aides out of Ger∣manie, and also gathered together the French forces of the Religion, did take the field with about 8000. foote men, and fiue or sixe thousand horse men, two Canons, one Cul∣uerin, and foure field péeces, & came before Paris the xxviii. daie of No∣uember in Anno. 1562. and departed from thence the tenth daie of December following, after a vaine parle of peace, & that he despaired of taking the Citie, partlie for the resolute courage of the Citizens, who wonted at other times to bée fearefull, and cowardlie, and partlie, yea, and speciallie, be∣cause the Catholikes had drawen into the Citie a great ar∣mie of Frenchmen, and forreners: and marched towardes

Normandie, for to receiue the succours of men, monie, & pro∣uision brought out of England vnto New Hauen, & thereby to be able to content the Almaines, that now began to mur∣mure & to demand paie. But on the other side to stop & let the ioyning of the Prince with the English, the Catholike armie parted out of Paris, vnder the conduct of Anna Mont∣morencie, the high Constable of France, & coasting to rights by waies nothing good, was on y^e 17. of Decēber come to the side of the towne of Dreux, & the riuer of Eure, within two litle leagues of the prince, who by an incōuenient ouersight (which yet was the falt of the Marshals of the camp) lodged y^e night with the battaile at Yuoy, beyond & more néere to the enimie by one league, then the auantgard lead by the Admi∣rall, who had his quartier at the village of Neron, but the next daie the Admirall repairing vnto the Prince, it was a∣gréed vpon that the daie following the auantgard should be∣times march forth beyond the lodging, and battaile of the Prince, and so take againe their old & due order & range, and by this time had all the Catholikes passed the water, the which when the confederats vnderstood, some of thē thought that the battaile would be presentlie presented them: but the Admirall was of another opinion, because the Sun was not then aboue an houre & a halfe high, and thervpon euerie man fell to fantasying & imagining the good & the ill, the which might come of so great a masse of occurrents, which were presented on the one side & the other: and séeing that the most part assured themselues, y^t some notable battaile would be fought, euerie man iudged of the euent thereof, according to his knowledge & practise in the feates of armes. Neuer∣thelesse feare in some, heate in other, & ignorance in diuerse, made their iudgements so diuerse, that it was a wonder to see it. Many marked on the parte of the Protestants two faults, so much the more to bée blamed, as they are of great consequence, and yet ordinarie with the warriours of this age and time. The first was, that no man was sent forth to suruey and take view of the enimie, for the Catholikes, which the Protestants might sée, were gone to sound y^e foord

that they might then passe ouer their armie presentlie, or els that night, as in truth they did. The second fault was, that in liew of going to lodge in the good and strong villages néere the riuer, and the which the Catholikes seized the next daie, euerie man returned to his quarter, whereby the night following the Catholikes had meanes inough to passe the water, & to lodge themselues in the villages about to their aduantage, there being so little order & good looking to things on the Princes side, that he was neuer aduertised thereof, although there was scarcelie two leagues of ground be∣twéene the two armies. Likewise also many of the Catho∣likes did iudge that their Chieftaines did manifestlie amisse in this, that they did prepare themselues to giue battaile directlie in a place where the Campaine of Beause did end, considering that al their force was in their footmen, and the Princes in his horsemen: wherevnto adde the great mul∣titude of wagons that the Reisters carrie with them: it being a thing of certaintie, that if they had let the Prince passe to the borough of Trion, as he pretended, he shuld haue had such déepe and hollow waies, both on this side, and be∣yond, and in passing further should haue found the Countrie so full of trées, that the Catholikes might with the third part onelie of their footmen haue defeated the Prince, and taken all his cariages without anie hazard, and another thing there was (saie they) which made their falt more in excusable, that séeing they were maisters of all the Countrie of Norman∣die on this side and beyond the riuer of Seine, it was in their power to constraine the Prince to yéeld himselfe to their mercie, or else to driue him backe euen to the gates of Orleans, without hazarding of themselues anie whit at all.

The Prince (hauing in that, better iudgement than the Admirall) armed himselfe two houres before daie, & signed many dispatches to be sent into Albemaigne, & other places frō whence he hoped great succors wold come, & because the auantgard which was to come frō Neron séemed to be slow, (wherof y^e prince complained much) he sent many gentlemen

one after another for to hasten them, but for all that euer he could do, it was farre forth daies before that they came. So then at length his armie marched, but after the accustomed manner, without aduertising the companies perticularly, to prepare themselues to the battaile, either by solempne spee∣ches, or perticular, or by anie other aduertisements, than a few wordes, short, but verie couragious, and with a good grace: insomuch that many Gentlemen found themselues disarmed when they should go to the charge, & fought with∣out either harnesse on their backe, or helmet on their head, of this armie parted into two bodies of men of armes, the vantgard lead by the Admiral had about 305. French horse, foure Cornets of Reisters, sixe Ensignes of Almaines, and twelue of French men: the battaile, whereof the Prince had the conduct, contained 450. lances Frenchmen, sixe Cor∣nets of Reisters, sixe Ensignes of Almaines, and twelue of Frenchmen, besides sixe cornets of Argoulets, which might serue for light horse, vnder the conduct of La Curec, but they had not marched aboue a leage and a halfe, when the vant∣courers aduertised the Admirall that they had discouered on this side the water a great troupe of horse: whome he ha∣uing commanded them to assaile at a signall giuen as they did) with assurance that himselfe would follow them at the héeles, sodainlie the battaile which the Constable lead ap∣peared at the side of a village. The which being reported to the Admirall, and afterward to the Prince, they caused all their horsemen to set their launces vpright, ranging their battailes within a good Culuerine shot of them. Afterward séeing that their enimies came not forth, they two went fur∣ther with only Dandelut (who had a third daie Ague, & was mounted on an hackney, & apparelled for all harnesse with a furred robe) vntill they came to a place, from whence they might easilie iudge who had the aduauntage of the place, whereby they were perswaded that it was not for them to assaile the enimie whereas he was, that is to wit, at the head of a village betwéene Nogent and Lormay, towardes the which place the Countrie séemed to be plaine, but it was

not so indéede, but they must néeds go vp an hill and downe againe: insomuch that the Prince to passe ouer his men, and to auoide the furie of their artilerie, wherwith all they were well furnished, was forced to hasten his people to march so fast that he put them out of breath, but because they marched slowlie, they abid at the least thrée volées of their péeces, which might make a great checke and affright the armie, in the which not all men had their eares accusto∣med to the sound of such flutes. Furthermore, the armie Ca∣tholike did couer so great a compasse of ground, that if they encountered in that place, one part of them might compasse in, and charge the Prince in the side, and so by that meanes he being inclosed, should bée at the mercie of his enimies. These things being considred, and presupposing also that the Catholikes were not verie sharplie set to fight, a resolution was takē to go directly for to lodge at Trion, following y^e in∣tention y^e they had when they departed frō Ormoy, & thether were the Marshals of the lodgings sent. The better to re∣present vnto you one of the most renowmed battailes that euer was fought in this Realme, I will first figure out vn∣to you the seate and qualitie of the place, which afterward was embrued w^t the bloud of so many gallant men. After∣ward I will set as it were before your eies, the estate and disposition wherein these two armies maintained them∣selues before, during, and after the conflict. Which béeing done, yée may easilie iudge, to whom the aduantage of one so notable occurance ought to be giuen, vpon the end of the league and leuell champains of Beause, Nogent le Roy doth present it selfe to Normandie, pretie néere to Dreux, a little towne at the foote of an hill (wherevpon stands a Castle of sufficient strength within the towne, by the side whereof passeth the riuer) a Countrie fertile & well peopled, betwéen the which two Countries that are separated by the course of Eure (the which comming out of Beause for to water Chartres, doth trauerie No••mandie euen to Pont de L'arche, & below the same doth léese it selfe in the Seine, the nurse of Paris) is a couert of certaine woodes, and a number of little

Towneshippes, of whome the Catholickes had alwaies to that daye, kept the aduantages, as they that séeing them∣selues stronger in footemen, and weaker in horsemen then the Prince, would not hazard ought, but where the place did fauour footemen, for lacke of whome the Prince was constrained to take a contrarie course. The which was the cause that at his parting from Lormoy néere Nogent, he had purposed to take Dreux, more for to force the Catholickes to an open and generall fight, then for the importaunce of the place: where Sourdeual commanded, with an hundreth light horse, and fiue Ensignes of footemen. But the Cheif∣taines Catholickes followed him, (coasting alwaies) with∣in fiue or sixe leagues, but holding their waye thorough countries so strong and such couerts, that the Prince could not finde any possibilitie to encounter them, but with his disaduantage. And in the ende the Catholickes séeing oc∣casions and meanes to preuaile in that countrie, by reason of the great number of their footemen, resolued for to fight: and therefore the .xix. daye, did set forward to get before the Protestants, and if they could get to Dreux before the Prince, there to offer him battaile at the head of the towne vpon an high péece of ground, lodging in the village two great Bataillons of footemen, which garded xiiii. Canons, placed and prest to play before them, and a little before on the side a number of Enfans perdus, whome they had chosen out of all the Regiments. The two flankes of these Batail∣lons were two great troupes of horsemen, for mutuall in∣tersuccour of the footemen and horsemen, as was best for their behoofe. Moreouer, they had chosen a place so fauou∣rable, that the Confederates could not charge neither thone nor the other, but by one way of a xiiii. or xv. hundreth pa∣ces, the which also the Herquebuzes Catholicke, did no lesse scoure, then dyd their Artillerie. Also a little below, they had a small vnwalled towne for to gard their baggage, & the Riuer of Eure néere to their back. But being resolute, & hot to fight, they aduanced themselues farther, for to get betwen two Villages, by a woods side, with far greater aduantage

then before. Herevpon the Prince following his resolution, begā to turne head towards Trion, shewing his right side to his enimies, who perceuing the Argolets, & one esquadrō of Reisters to be a faire marke, discharged vpon thē one volée of great Ordenance, which did affraie them in such sort, that almost all the Argolets ran awaye, & the Reisters tooke the way in a litle valley for to couer thē against y^e Canon shot. Wherevpon Anna de Montmorency Constable of France, & general of that Armie, taking occasion to goe to y^e charge, for to ouerthrow & break thē all intirely (as he had assured many y^e his owne battel alone was more then sufficient for to ouerthrow all the Protestant Armie) caused the prin∣cipal of his troupes to come néere to him, vnto whome he made such a like speach.

At the length (my maisters & friends) I haue brought you within sight of our enimies, who haue alwaies hether∣to made semblance that they sought battel, the which now they cannot flye, but also with y^e losse thereof, & cōsequentlie of all the rest y^e they haue & possesse in France. For whether ye be assailants, or defēdants, the aduantage is assured you, as well for number of men, that doubleth theirs, for the or∣der & disposition of the Armie, for the qualities of the armes & furniture, as also for the commoditie of the places, which fauoreth vs in all sorts, if they wil come to vs. Adde there∣vnto a thing more considerable, that we doe maintaine the cause of God, who wil haue but one Religion in the world, that is to wit, the aūcient Catholick Romane, frō the which these mescreans & infidels haue lewdely cut of themselues: we doe also vphold y^e partie of our king & soueraigne prince, who cannot permit other exercise in his Realme, then y^e of his predecessours: & finally, we fight for the weale of our na∣tural coūtrie, for the suertie whereof, we hauing euer to this day done infinit exploites, & fought in so many places, with such honour and profit, as your vertuous and holie de∣sires haue deserued: we should now be of lesse beléefe then they are, and more timorous then women, if we should not assure vs all, that this acte as the last of so manie trauailes

passed, shall be crowned with the good honor and felicitie that all good and couragious people cannot but desire. More∣ouer, thinke ye y^t we are not héere to quarrel for other mens lands, nor for the defence of the borders of anie Lordes, nor to enlarge the Empire of the Crowne of France, but for the saluation of our soules, for the maintenance of the Religi∣on of our ancestors, for the holie alters, for the sacred reliks, for the reuerent Priests, and the wonderfull and awefull mysteries of our Religion. In sum, it is for the honour of Jesus Christ, and then secondarilie for the conseruation of our owne liues, and of the life of our Prince, and of his Of∣ficers, and by a consequent, for the honour, good, and suretie of the state, the which these mischiouous heretikes would no lesse reuerse, than they haue done alreadie our true and Catholike faith so defiled by the mortall venim of their pe∣stiferous heresies. We might well haue hastned the bat∣taile, but that the counsaile haue alwaies bene of aduise for to staie for the cōming of all our forces, as wel naturals, as alies and strangers, for to make them all pertakers of the present honour attended of all, yet neuerthelesse rather remitted than denied anie one of you. Wherefore assure your selues of the victorie, if ye do not beelie and denie your valour héeretofore: march resolutelie to the fight, kéepe wel your rankes, succour one another as shal be néedfull, holde your selues certaine and assured that this one daie will bée the beginning of your honourable libertie, and of a treble miserable bondage of the enimies of God, of the king, and of all good people.

But now he had caused the Artilerie to plaie vppon the formost of the Protestants, who were therewithall so gal∣led and affrighted, that many going out of the rankes, made them beléeue that their Generall refused the battaile for to gaine still ground: which caused them to begin to make to∣wards the troupes of the Prince, who shewed vnto them his side with a dismarch, and an araie and appearaunce so proude, that the armie shewed how great Captaines dyd leade it. The Catholike armie was compassed of fiue

fiue great battailons of footemen, intermedled and interla∣ced still with their horsemen, because they were weaker than the Princes horses, as their footmen were stronger by a treble. The Catholike armie séemed to bée diuided into partes, rather in the respect of the Chieftaines that gouerned it, than for anie difference of troupes (as the ancient fashion was to diuide an armie into an auantgard, a battaile and a rereward) for the Catholikes represented the forme of an hedge, the which béeing bias, high, low, straight, and crooked, according to the nature of the places where they stood, made the confederates to sée more or lesse the bands Catholyke, according as the nature of the passage did permit, wherein the thrée chiefe Captaines seemed to bée well accomoded and placed, either to receiue, or to giue the charge in this battaile. If you will call the troupes lead by the Marshall of Saint Andre, the auantgard, it was composed of nine∣téene companies of men of armes Frenchmen, thirteene en∣signes of Spaniards, so many of French, and eleauen of Al∣manes, with foure péeces of Artillerie, all placed on the left of the Constable, who béeing chiefe of the armie, lead the battaile, which was néerer the enimie than all the rest of the troupes, and it consisted of xvii. Estanders of men of armes, three of horsemen, xxii. ensignes of Suisses, and xvii. of Frenchmen and Britons, with eight péeces of Artillerie. The Duke of Guise lead the rereward for to helpe the oc∣currents which might be presented, but had but a few men: they almost all standing on the right side of the Constable, who stoode formost of them all, and euerie one of the thrée Chieftaines hauing before them their Enfans Perdus on foot to begin the game. The summe of their armie amounted to 19000. footemen, and 2000. horsemen, and the Prince was about 4000. horsemen, all apparelled in white Casaques, the which the Prince had caused them to weare for a marke of the purenesse of their conscience in the dessigne by them made for to maintaine the honour of God, and the pub∣like, with 6000. footemen diuided into two battaillens of Almaines and Frenchmen.

Then the armie Catholike marching in this order a∣gainst the Princes, that shewed them his side, ariued be∣twéene two villages L'Espine, and Blainuille, distant asun∣der 1200. pace. The which space not béeing capable to com∣prehend the armie Catholike in length, it happened that the battel Catholike was farre beyond the auantgard Pro∣testant, so that it stoode much behinde it. Wherefore the Prince imagining that they marched directlie to him for to fight, hée without farther leasure to make publike pray∣ers to God for the victorie, as the Parisians did (that made the shrine of Saint Geneuiefue to come downe, for to emploie her as an intercesseresse to God for their behoofe) made his troupes tourne head with as much spéede as hée could: but as a whole armie is not easilie remoued, so specially by Chieftaines, that haue alwayes made more of the estate of actions of the bodie, than of the spirit, and wit, prising higher a furious valliance, shan an order and a∣raie militarie, (whereby the troupes accustomed to tourne, and change in all sortes, and in a moment, doe carrie awaie moe victories without great losse, than all those hardie and outragious feeses, the which cannot bring but a mise∣rie irreparable) the disorder shewed it selfe to bée such, that the Admirall and the auantgard found themselues ouer∣right against the Constable, and the Battaile: and the Prince and his battaile that was opposed and set agaynst the auantgard of the Catholikes, was so farre behinde it, as wée sayde, that the Prince coulde scarce sée it at all. Moreouer, the onelie battaile of the Constable stretched almost as farre in length as all the whole armie of the Prince. And for lacke of order, if that the constant resolu∣tion of some had not serued for an example vnto the rest of the armie, the Protestants had béene that daie the more vn∣happie. In summe, that backwardnesse was the cause, that the Prince and the Constable bare all the brunt, the Con∣stables horsemen that strengthned his battaillon béeing charged at one end by the Admirall, and the Battaillon of the Suisses that made the other ende, by the Prince, as I

will tell you.

But as the troupes of the horsemen Protestant were seuered in diuerse small Battaillons of two or thrée com∣panies Frenchmen, with as manye or moe Reisters on their side, so they made diuerse charges. And to set the battaile abroach, the Prince set forth out of a little valley, wherevpon he marched, and resolued to go to the charge, be∣cause that the Artillerie of the Catholikes being well leuel∣led, lighted among his bandes, with great slaughter of good men, as well of one Nation as of the other: but in stead of going directlie against the auantgard Catholike, which was farre from him, hée left it on his left hand, tourning head a∣gainst the side of the esquadron of the Suisses which stren∣thened the end and vttermost side of the battaile of the Con∣stable, the which some went about to disswade him from, as well because he should thereby leaue all the auantgard of the enimie whole, who might charge him on the backe or side at their pleasure, as also because his footemen tarried thereby behinde all naked, and abandoned to the mercie of the rest of the Catholikes. Moreouer, seeing that he was the stronger in horsemen, he ought not to assaile the footmen of the enimies, who would of themselues either break, or yéeld shortlie after, if the horsemen of the Catholikes were defai∣ted, but the heate of the Prince pricked him forward to ef∣fects, and inconueniences, which yée shall sée. For hauing as∣sembled the principal chiefe men of the armie, with the Mar∣shall of Hessen, and certaine other that vnderstoode French, for to report afterward the substaunce of that hée shoulde saie, vnto their Captaines and souldiers, hée spake to this effect.

My companions and good friends, if that I had not long time, and namelie by the false alarme yesterdaie, know∣en your couragiousnesse and resolution to fight, I woulde stretch out my selfe in discourses and remonstraunces as much as my leasure woulde permit, for to represent vnto you your deuoire in an accident of so greate

consequence as this is, but the néerenesse of these tyrantes which doe attend vs, without daring to attach vs, and your determinate courages which are knowen vnto mée by so many feates of armes, whereby ye haue alwaies gotten ho∣nour ouer your enimies, doe dispense with me for saying of anie other thing vnto you, but that time, occasion, & meanes doe present themselues to daie more than euer héeretofore, not onelie to make the fame of your valiance to runne throughout the whole world, but (that which is farre grea∣ter and iuster praise of so many paines passed, and of the vertuous indeauour which you haue shewed in this action) the rest and tranquilitie of your Gentlemanlie soules, the enfranchisment of your bond consciences, and the free exer∣cise of your religion: for maintenance whereof God, yea, the great God of Hosts, hath assembled you héere out of so many Countries and quarters, so that it is more than a worldlie hononour that yée ought to séeke for in the issue of this battaile, although that you cannot want it, as also yée shall gaine and get an incredible bootie of so many noble men, who haue alwaies feared you, and fledde your fight, neither durst they now approch you in anie equall and indif∣ferent manner, but fortified on all partes, for the iust di∣strust that they haue of their partie, & the feare of your ap∣proued prowesse. But for the honor of God, by whose secret motion wée bée incited to the defence of his holie name, yée must assure your selues that hée will leade and guide you himselfe, that hée will double the force and dexteritie of your arme, and will in such sorte fauour your furious es∣fortes to the mischiefe of this rascall Papist, which is no∣thing but a blowen bladder, and a vaine bragger without heart or hardinesse: so that yée hauing resolutelie charged, broken, dispoiled, and slaine these men, the rest of the run∣awayes will send vnto you the white paper for to per∣mit you to liue as yée will your selues. Haue not yée made them runne away in all parts of France? Haue ye not couped them vp in Paris, as it were foxes in their earthes?

Haue not ye beseaged and beate them so often in this the chiefe Citie of the world? out of the which they durst not put their heads for feare of blowes? doe ye think that they are now more hardie? What other spurre doe you expect to prick you forward, for to purchase their ruine, then so many losses of your goods, so many of your places ruined, so many of your wiues, so many of your daughters defiled, so manie blasphemies, so many denyings of the name of God. Such and infinit other barbarous facts farre more detestable, will be, I doe assure my selfe, a sufficient occasiō for you to grow in heart, strength and diligence, for to clense the world of such wicked soules. This doth greatly gréeue mée, that wée must blouddie our hands in the bodies of our cosins, of our allies, of our neighbours, and good friends. Our victorie can∣not be but lamentable, but theirs deadly, and what ende so euer then counter shall haue, it will rest pitifull to either of the two, that shalbe blessed and embraced, with a good houre, But because we must iudge of the desert of all actions by the vprightnesse of the occasions of them, we haue a strong consolation in this, that seeing the motife of these diuisions came of the ambition of the Triumuirate, we shall neuer be thought to haue caused, much lesse to haue begunne these warres. We haue neuer sought ought then to liue peacea∣bly vnder the Edicts of our king. On the contrarie side they armed themselues for to destroy and murder our poore bre∣theren at Vassy, onely for this, because they dyd pray vnto God according to the libertie which the king had caused to be published thoroughout his whole Realme. Seing then that they would take our liues from vs, what dishonour and punishable vilanie will that be not to vse meanes de∣sensiue? True it is, that first nature, then a certaine con∣formitie of maners, entertained by certaine lawes, which we doe call bandes politicke, (the spring of the amiable ciui∣litie y^t goeth betweene man and man) hath so allied vs that few doe hold them for friends. But if that they degenera∣ting from vertuous passions, doe pursue vs as enimies, we haue so much the more iust cause to estéeme them for such,

because the honor of God is the true and first foundation of their hatred: for the maintenance whereof, we ought to ex∣pose all that we haue, and leaue vs nothing at all. And for the rest, assure your selues, that a multitude of men assem∣bled against the ordinance of God, against right, against all reason diuine, & humane, shall neuer doe faire exploite, ver∣tue hath no sympathie with wickednesse. So then kéepe your selues together without forsaking one an other, and for to enter, succour one an other, when néede shall bée. After the first charge rallye your selues spéedely, and disperse not your selues to pillage, which is yours assuredly after the death of the owners: folow the victorie so sagely, that theni∣mie, and all those whose eares the bruite of this acte shall beate, may haue occasion to admire, & no lesse to feare your discretion, then your valiāce, whereof you haue made so ma∣ny prooues heretofore. Now for to shew you, that I will not spare my selfe, but giue and receiue my parts of the first blowes: I doe praye God that he will make you all goe as resolutelie to the charge, as I shall giue you example.

This being done, euery man returned to his troupe, to encourage them by the same reasons that they had learned of the Prince: whereof they had no sooner assured the re∣solution to their people, but they dyd set them all in araye, for to folow their chieftaines, in the same order, and with such dismarch as I will tell you.

First and formost Mouy, with his troupe incorporated with Danaretts, the successor of Genlys, (both of them being of the Auantgard, prepared for the first shockes) were also the first that charged the Suisses in the flanke, with such force, that being resolutely entred their ranks, they passed thorough them trauerse. The Prince that folowed them, not onely pierced their bataillon, but also brake all y^e whole taile with great mortalitie of those footemen, as good pike∣men as they were. The Reisters that folowed, gaue in also after him, and dyd a meruailous execution. The which Danuille, who was with thrée companies of men of armes

and the light horse, betwéene the Bataillons of y^e Suisses, & Almans séeing, did set foorth for to make head to the Prince, but two cornets of Reisters setting vpon him, did breake him in such sort, that he was forced to retire himselfe to the Auantgard Catholicke, which was a good distance of, which yet remained still firme. In this encounter was Monbron, one of the Constables sonnes slaine by an Esquire of the Prince, who had promised it him before Paris. Vpon these dismarches, Rochefoucaut with about an hundreth lances, who were also of the troupe of the Prince, who hadde not thought it good to leaue their footemen without succour, was also constrained to take the same course, & charged the Suis∣ses in the front, whome he found so close together, & so well prouided of courage, or perhaps not dismarching with such resolution as the Prince did, and therefore could not break them, gained nothing but thrusts of the pike, although he slew some, and among them the Colonnell.

On thother side, at the verie same instaunt that the Prince charged, the Admirall with two cornettes of Rei∣sters that were on his right side, marched with his owne regiment, and the troupe of the Prince of Portian directly to the Constable his Vnckle, and seuen or eight standers of men of armes, that strengthned the other ende of the batail Catholicke. And after he hadde borne one vollée of their Artillerie, and certaine Harqueburiers Enfans perdus, that endamaged them a good litle, brake all that he encountred, notwithstanding anie resistaunce that could be made a∣gainst him.

Many dyd then their best, but their number was no∣thing equall to them, that made more deere accompt of lyfe then of honour, and who béeing better prouided of good spurres, then assured of heart, fledde with such spéede that a great number were the next daye at the gates of Pa∣ris, by eight of the clocke in the morning, crying that all was lost.

Now y^e Cōstables horse was stain, & he remoūted by Dorai∣sō, vpō his own, but yet anon after, he was so hurt w^c a blow

of a Pistolle on the lower iawe (whereby he loft some of his téeth) and so enclosed, that he yéelded vnto Vezines, from whome yet the Raisters that came to the spéede, pulled him by force, and tooke away his sword, & making him to giue his faith, ledde him away prisoner. Vpon this the Prince of Portian sonne of the Countesse of Seniguan, to whome the Constable hadde done many displeasures, came to him: But (as he was of a good and gentlemanly nature) in steed of his pistolle, offered him his hand, promising him all help and fauour.

The Bataillon composed of xvii. Ensignes of French men and Bretons that sided the Suisses, were eaiely bro∣ken, and so all the whole battaile of the Constable was scat∣tered and entirely defaited after a great slaughter of men, the rest that fledde were pursued euen to the Riuer, where many were drowned, whiles that they that were more de∣sirous of botie then of honor, rifeled the bagage, which was almost all spoiled.

Herevpon the Lansquenets of the Prince, séeing so great a foile fallen on the Suisses, would also lift vppe their hands, and doe also some thing on their partie, worthie of memorie vpon them, namely, whome they saw as men a∣stonied after two so furious escheckes, to rest halfe broken, attending their entire mischaunce: beside an olde deadly hatred that they had borne against that nation, with whom they haue long contended for honor, the which neuer thelesse the Suisses doe carie awaye from all the footemen of the worlde. So then they dismarched towards the Suisses, who were now closed together againe, notwithstanding all that had bene done before, but so faintly, that as soone as they sawe that the Suisses that were left, did in stéede of being dismayed, buskle themselues to goe straight to them, they lost their harts, flying without giuing one push with y^e pike. The which gaue occasion at the same time to two cornetts of Reisters, and certaine French horses that were rallied, to giue a newe charge on those Suisses. But in déede they found them so lustie and of so haughtie courage, by reason

of the flight of those that durst not so much as looke them in the face, that they could not wholie breake them, but their front remained still whole, and made countenance to re∣couer their eight péeces of Artillerie, which they had forsa∣ken, and with the which they might bring great domage to the troupes, that the Prince and the Admiral rallied with all diligence and spéede: Wherefore for to méete with, and fullie to defaite thē, that vanted that they could not be, van∣quished by reason of their courage, their araie, & martial dis∣cipline (whereof other Nations being ignorant, for the most part make so light account of) they were againe attached so lustilie, that they were forced to leaue all to the vnresistable furie of the desperate French, before whome they fledde in small bandes, yet neuerthelesse hoped to rallie and to sight againe. And in truth they did retire in good number, and with some order towards the auantgard, sundrie times ten or a dousen of them that remained behinde ioyning toge∣ther, and defending themselues with stones (which was all the weapons that many of them had left them) euen to the death, in such sort, that neuer Nation did better than they did this daie. All the time of these hot attaches, the auant∣gard Catholike kept themselues close together, and stirred not one foote for the space of about an houre and an halfe, beholding with a discontented eie the euents of so me••tall encounters, the feare of whome bredde soone inough in some a desire to take backe againe the waie to Dreux, after that they vnderstoode, and in parte had seene the entire discom∣fiture of their battaile, with the taking of the Constable. But the Duke of Guise had soone inough considered, that after such charges and endeauours, the Protestants could haue neither weapons, nor araie for themselues nor their horses, to sustaine and abide the shock of so many fresh men, and furnished fullie with all necessaries. Moreouer, hée knew that their batthillon of French footemen, amounting to 500. ill armed, and destitute of horsemen (who nowe went about to rallie with them) was not able to abide him, béeing resolued to die, or else to carrie awaie the ho∣nour

of so renowmed a battaile: Wherefore vsing the counsaile of Biron, he drew out 200. horses of his troupes, making a good number of Harquebuziers to march on his right side, and the Bataillon of Spaniardes after them, while in the meane time hée made this spéech vnto the Chieftaines and personages of greatest marke, that hée found néere him in that quarter.

Maisters, & good friends, the onelie discouerie of this bed of honor on the which are now laid so many braue warri∣ors, your kinsmen, your neighbours, your allies, and your friends, cannot be vnto you otherwise than verie lamenta∣ble: but againe, therefore it is the stronger & more forcible occasion for to make you runne with bowed heads against these mischieuous murthering Lutheranes, who making no account of the léesing and damning of their owne soules in the fire of euerlasting punishment, after that they hadde defiled our Churches and holie places with so many villa∣nies, haue with a more than brutish furie, massacred so many good Catholikes throughout the whole Realme, are also so rashe, and so shamelesse, as to attainde the sacred person of the King, and of his most faithfull Officers, for to confound the Stater, for to tourne all thinges vpside downe, and for to establish a tyrannie most agréeable to their proude passions, and haue gathered together a troupe of Théeues, of Roagues, of Banqueroutes, and spend∣thriftes, and of men condemned to diuerse punishmentes, and other sortes of malcontents. Who haue bewitched by certaine Preachers, and other Huguenotes, and so strong∣lie inchaunted my Lorde the Prince of Condee, that hée is made head of this vnhappie troupe, which you doe sée alreadie defaited by those violent endeuours, that they haue sustained by our battaile. Séeing then that they are so broken, what resteth for you but that raising vp againe the honour of the Generall of this armie, their Prisoner, yée goe noblie to the charge, and bring awaie the victorie, the which otherwise the enimie will carrie awaie, with their no lesse honour, than the vnrepayable domage of vs

and all Christendome? Yée néede doe no more but looke them in the face. For their horses tired with so many char∣ges and long carriers, will no more than the men weari∣ed and vnfurnished of weapons, sustaine one moment the gallant lustinesse of your fresh dismarch. Doe but dare to attempt it, and yée shall get the noblest victorie that euer Nation gained: as on the contrarie part it will redound to so much your greater dispraise, if that séeing yée haue ad∣uauntage in all things, you doe let so faire an occasion slip, and holding your armes a crosse, and fighting onelie with your eies, ye will suffer the enimies to remaine maisters of the field of the battaile. But to the end that the valiant may not be without knowledge of their reward, and that these villaines doe not remaine vnpunished for their villanies, I doe assure you of the liberall recompence of our king, I doe sweare vnto you by God, that I will shew my selfe so libe∣rall towards them that I shall sée or heare, beare themselues valiantlie, that they shall neuer lacke goods, besides the cur∣tesie of the bountie of their Maiesties, and the honours which the lawe of armes, and the custome of the Countrie doe giue. But those Chelmes and enimies of God shall bée fullie assured of the same, yea, and a more cruell death, whih they doe thinke to escape by running awaie, for recom∣pence of their villanie, and punishment of example to all other, that dare vsurpe the name of Souldiours, and men of warre: with an euerlasting inhibition of burying them, but to lie in the field to haue none other graue than the bel∣lies of dogs, of wolues, of birds, & other beasts, that shal glut themselues of thē at their pleasure. On, on then my friends, and let vs sée who hath most desire to sacrifice honourablie the rest of his daies for the seruice of God, of the king, and of France.

Vpon this resolution, and béeing well followed by these troupes, hée charging on all partes this Bataillon of foote∣men, had a faire daie, they béeing first retired, that should haue conducted other, and as well by wordes as Gentle∣manlike examples of their persons, haue encouraged them

to doe their beuoire, and afterward all the Souldiours, but not so spéedelie as they could, because they were on horse∣backe, and the other on soote, so that none of them fought, but the thrée or foure of the first rankes, after they had shot off one volée of their foure field yéeces. At the same time the Marshall of Saint Andre, with all the rest of his horse∣men, went to range with the two sides of the battaillon of the Almans, which did close vp the vtter boūd of the auant∣gard. In the front whereof were seauen or eight hundreth French Harquebuziers, shooting at the Reisters, which had rallied themselues returning from the chase of those that had béene broken, as I tolde you before: Who séeing their French footemen, and Lansquenets defaited, and so greate forces comming against them, retourned with a pretie trot towardes a woode that was néere them. In the meane while Dandelot, although hée were pressed with his a∣gue, yet hée forced himselfe to giue order for all thinges that were néedfull. And séeing those Lansquenets of the Prince to flie crosse the village of Blaynuille, néere where∣vnto the Constable had béene taken, hée gallopped to cut of their waie, and to make them make head to a troupe of horsemen, that chased them a good waie off: but they had no order once to staie, they were so afrighted, it being most certaine, that these fiftie yéeres there entered not into France more errant cowardes than they were, although they had the fairest apparaunce in the worlde. So that Dandelot, with whome abode not aboue seauen or eight horses, and who by reason of his age had no other armour than a furred Cloake, could not reioyne with his fellowes, but retired without great impeachment towards Trion, in∣to a place where he reposed and rested himselfe as he could, finding meanes the next daie to get againe to the armie both finelie and fortunatelie.

Vpon this the Prince and the Admiral séeing the auant∣gard also to come vppon them, who hadde not yet rallyed moe than about two hundred Frenchmen, of whome one onelie hadde a Launce, praied the Reisters to staie

readie for the recharge. But they being alr••••ie packing a∣way sayd that they must goe to recharge their Pistolles. Moreouer when they saw their footemen both French and Allemans ranne away, & themselues pursuen, they flung away a galloppe, and the French men with them: so that the Prince was constrained to doe so likewise, & was hurt in the hand, & his horse, that had receaued an Harquebusse shot in his legge, had not gone aboue 300. pace, but that he halted downe right, and before he could be remounted O. Anuille was on the backe of him, to whome he yéelded. The Reisters and the French men, hauing crossed a woode cut downe, found a little valley the which they passed, & stayed vpon an high péece of ground in the sight of the Admiral: who had taken his flight more on the right hande, with a number of other a long the side of the same wood, to make head to their enimies, that closed it vpon thother side, and both thone & thother were aboue a good quarter of an houre without other aduauncing, or making in one to thother, wherein a number of Catholickes curious quite to ouer∣throw thenimie, noted a grosse fault committed by S. An∣dre and the Duke of Guyse, assuring that if they had li∣uely folowed their victorie, the Protestants trembling at such fearefull accidents, would neuer haue rallyed together in grosse. But the Admirall, as a wise, resolute, and diligent Capitaine, had done all that he could possible to rallye his horsemen dispersed thorough the whole field, and in great disorder, and finding that he had assembled about 250. hor∣ses French, that had nothing but their swords & pistolles, and about 1000. Reisters, of whome he set thone halfe on his right side, and thother on his left, and being accompani∣ed with the Prince of Portian, Rochfoucaut, and other gen∣tlemen, well deliberated, he resolued to goe yet once more to fight with thenimie, what price so euer if shold cost him, after that he had vsed a few words to the Chiefe men of the Horsemen, that accompanied him, and the Marshall of Hes∣sen, the Truchmen, and certaine Captaines Allemains, that vnderstoode French, for to encourage them the better to the

charge.

Although it séemeth to mée a matter néedelesse to vse a∣nie speach to them that haue sufficient assurance in their owne vertue and valour, and to make tryall whereof ye are come: yet whilest we doe stay vntill all our people be rallied, I may well saye vnto you, that vnlesse great enter∣prises were accompanied with great perills and difficul∣ties, the praise could be but small to them that should at∣taine to the honour of them. But as the high desseines for to maintaine the honour of God, and the good of theyr Countrie, can not be executed without infinite bazardes, and paines incredible, so must they also assure them∣selues, that the price and rewarde of so manie extreame labours is not onelie prest and certaine, but also great, when the vertue is great whereof we constantlie poursue the end. This is the reason, why that hearts that would be knowen to be gentlemanly, doe alwayes pourpose and at∣tempt enterprises of great hazard, because that they doe know that héereby they shall gette them eternall honour, and their long trauailes be recognised with immortall re∣nowne.

On the contrarie part, those that are of small stomacke, baselie minded, and of a vile cowardise, doe neuer addresse themselues but to things base and easie, as also their name doeth dye as soone as the effect of that they enterprised. Moreouer, as assurance of the will of God is necessarie for to testifie all actions, can we fight more lawfully, or for a thing of so great importaunce, then for the libertie of our conscience, (and doe they not take away the bright light of the worlde, that will take from vs the libertie of our faith) or can wée kéepe warres more iust then this which is of necessitie? Be not our weapons forced, and therefore con∣sequently holy and religious in the handes of them, that haue no other hope to liue, but by the helpe and endeuour of them? In, in, valiant hearts, In, in. It is not the multitude, but the valour of courage, that giueth the vic∣torie.

God fighteth for vs, as he hath done heretofore for so manie small troupes, which you haue séene, and heard of, being well conducted to haue broken those, that were ten times greater then themselues. And otherwise also ye shall mightely enrich your selues as well by the incredible boo∣tie and spoile, as for the great raunsomes, that ye shall get. As touching the rest, ye haue alreadie vanquished the grea∣test part, which are rallied with them, that durst not ad∣uaunce themselues vppon vs after the taking of their Ge∣nerall. Is it likely to be true, that they which haue bene alreadie tamed, and subdued, haue taken force by their fall? and that the victorious haue ben made more vile & worse by their felicitie? March then resolutely to the defaite of the rest, folowing the good houre that hath louingly welcomed you. It is a common saying, he that hath begon well hath halfe done, which is not spoken to make slouthfull or to bring a sléepe him whose first attempts haue bene happie: no but contrarie for to prick him forward still so much the more to the poursuit and perfecting of his desseine. But as it is more dishonor for him that through negligence or lack of courage doth let the satisfaction & contentment to be lost, the which he had almost thoroughly gotten, thē for him that had alwaies bene infortunate at the beginning, in the poursuite, and at the ende of his enterprise: so you must assure your selues, that God dyd not send into your hands the beginning of so renowmed victorie through the strange hardinesse, and not credible valoure of my Lord the Prince, but for to heate and enchafe you to attempt the aduaunce∣ment, and entier gaine of accomplished happinesse.

O thrise fortunate, ye that shall retourne vnto your houses triumphing of the victorie, loaden with the spoiles of your enimies, which ye shall bring out of the field, and sée your selues embrased, and swéetely welcomed home by your kinsfolkes, wiues, children, neighbours, and allies, who shall for euer from Father to sonne sing the eternall praises of you, that haue so willniglie expo∣sed your liues for the honour and glorie of God, suretie

of the king, and publick good of your countrie. For although to die be a thing common both to the good and the wicked, whatsoeuer they be, yet death is not honorable, nor worthie of praise in any man, but in those, y^e shot at no other marke then the vertuous actions of their life. Goe then my mai∣sters, and shew thenimie by effect, that our courage redou∣bleth in aduersities, making them to know that with the losse of our braue companions, we will reuenge the woun∣ding and taking of our Generall. March then forward gal∣lantly and lustely, and as they that doe fight with heartie hatred, making all y^e world sée, that as Germanie & France are two Nations of one originall, so that thone can not bring foorth more resolute souldiours then the other.

Thus they being all encouraged, marched directly to the village of Blaineuille, wher the first fight was made. There the Catholickes were in great number ranged in thrée es∣quadrons, manie of whome imagined a while, that the Ad∣mirall and his people séeing they came againe so soone, and specially séeing that they had neuer a lance, were come to yéelde themselues to their mercie: but they soone knew that it was to begin againe the battaile. For although their for∣ces were vtterlie vnequal in number, specially the Reisters on the left side, being slipt away without doing ought, yet the reencounter was very furious and mortall to a great number of gallant men, In so much, y^t the Duke of Guyse the better to breake, or to slacke this furious dismarch that the Admirall made vpon him, folowing his first point néere to the Mill against y^e village of Maumontell, caused to come with all speed y^e French footemen, lead by the young Chunte de Brissac, their Colonel in Piemont, Martigues and other, which yet could not be perceiued because he had set them in battell behinde the horsemen, they being without pike∣men, were 2000. harquebuziers, with the Spaniards, who all shooting incessantly against the Admirall, hurt manie horses, and a number of the Confederates, thorough theyr so hot and so long a showre of harque busse shot. Who yet could not let but that the horsemen of the Catholicke, were

perced lustelie by the Admirall with two hundred horse, and by 600. Reisters in another quarter, and in the end were forced to recoile and giue place to blowes, and they had ben wholie broken if that the Harquebushes had not slacked the course of the horses, and the furie of the Protestants, who hauing now changed their trot into a gallop, & béeing cha∣fed valiantlie to execute the charge, behaued their hands so well, y^t of all the horsemen on the side of the Duke of Guise, there remained not with him vppon the place aboue foure score or an hundreth, who in the end went to rallie them∣selues by the helpe of their great bataillon of Frenchmen, who bare all the brunt, for the which it was well cheapned by the Admirall, who turned round about to finde a place of breach and ouerture, whereby he might doe some great mat∣ter, to the losse and euerthrow of the whole bodie of the ar∣mie. But for lacke of lances, and because the Admiral was not followed by all the Frenchmen, nor the Almans, they could neuer pearce them nor do other God, than destroie and endomage many of their troupes. The sight had now endu∣red aboue fiue houres, and hardlie could one discerne the white scarfes which the Admiral and his ware, from the red of their enimies, when he caused his troupes to close toge∣ther, putting y^e Reisters that he had left in two esquadrons, and marching in the middest with the French horsemen, and commanding Bouchauanes the Lieuetenant of the prin∣ces Cornet, for to tarrie in the taile with about 50. horses. The Duke of Guise likewise rallied his men, & séeing that the Admirall retired, assaied for to pursue him with all his footemen, as long as their breath wold serue them, and a ve∣rie few horsemen that were left about his person, but they had scarce gone seauen or eight hundred paces, but that the darknesse of the night did take awaie the sight one of ano∣ther. So the Admirall retired a pace with those footemen that were saued, the great artillerie, and all the baggage of the armie, a good league from the place of the Battaile to the village of Neufuille, where hée lodged. You sée howe the Protestantes retyred from the place where they had

attached their enimie, whom they left in the possession ther∣of, for to search, spoile, and burne the dead, and to lift vp at leasure the spoiled confederates. At the same time the Duke of Guise went to lodge in the suburbes of Dreux, a little league from thence: the place of the battaile remaining voide, vnlesse it were of them that were appointed for the effects before said, & a great number of dead men lying héere and there spoiled of all about them, and the Artillerie of the Constable, with foure field péeces of the Princes.

Such was the end of the battaile of Dreux, in the which God balancing the victorie as it pleased him, made manie warriours to marke thrée notable occurrances, and verie rare in such feats of armes. The first, that ther was no skir∣mish before the battaile: the second, that both the Generals were taken prisoners: and thirdlie, that they rallied so of∣ten. As touching the dead, the Catholikes sayd, after y^t they had buried them, the next daie, that they found them to bée eight or nine thousand. But other said assuredlie, that there were dead on the place not aboue 5000. without accounting the hurt men that died shortlie after, who were no small number. At the reuiew which the Admiral made foure daies after, he found that there remained of the French footmen neere one thousand of about 2500. that had ben there, & neere 900. Almanes, of thrée thousand that should haue béene in their regiments: of whome about 1400. (that had yéelded themselurs prisoners in the chase that we spake of) were sent home into their Countrie. Now of horsemen, to speake the most, he found not missing aboue 140. both of French & Reisters, not comprehending those y^t were taken prisoners. So that there died on the Prince his side but about 2200. footmen. But on the Catholikes their part, the abatement of the Suisses was meruailous, of whom 17. Captaines were slaine, their Colonell Freulich being dead before at Paris of a laske. The rest of the men slaine on that side were almost all horsemen, who were hardlie handled by the Reisters as well at the taking of the Constable, as at the last charge: in the which among other, the Marshall of Saint Andre, the

Chieftaine of the auantgard hauing béene taken prisoner, and charged behinde by a Gentleman to get a great raun∣some: Baubigny who had at another time taken at the heart a certaine displeasure done by him, comming vpon him slew him, with a Pistoll shot ouerthwart his head. Many other knights and Lordes were slaine there, as D'Annebault, D^r Gemy with his Guidon, and the Marshall of the Logis, la Brosse, a great fauourite of the Duke of Guise, and a sonne of his.

It was a long time an opinion, both during & after the bat∣taile, that the Duke of Guise was slaine. But some had ta∣ken his Esquire from him, who was not much vnlike him in stature, & whom the Duke had mounted on one of his best horses, vpon whom he was slaine, euerie man taking him for his maister. Le Conte of Rochfort, called Damoisel de Comeri, & de Beauuois, & Brichanteau were sore hurt, Beau∣uois died in the end, the rest escaped. Saint Heran was saued by the meanes of one of the Princes Trumpetters, y^t was his Countriman, wherefore he was afterward in great dan∣ger to be hanged. Pienne, whom we told you departed from Orleans, fell into the hands of la Loue, an honest & valiant Gentleman, one of his olde friends. Who notwithstanding rehearsing vnto him his fault, wold haue carried him away prisoner, but he could do and speake wel, so assuring him at the last, that he should soone die in his armes, he was so sore hurt, that he let him goe, and Pienne recouered. D'aumalle was hurt, & had one of his shoulder plate thrust out of ioynt, whereof he remained long time hurt. Ausson a gentleman of Gascogne so renowned in the parts of Piemont, y^t he had made a Prouerbe of his hardinesse, ran away with the first, euen to Chartes, where he died of an ague, that he tooke for griefe & sorrow: so much can the feare to léese reputation do in a gentlemanly heart. But the death of Frances of Cleues duke of Niuernois, gouernor of Champagne, the heire of the late Frances of Cleues his Father, is most remarkable, of all things that happened in this Battaile. This young Lorde béeing so wonne by Desbordes a Gentleman

of Niuernos, by whome and by his Secretarie called Vige∣naire, he let himselfe be so wholie possessed, that notwith∣standing that he had made profession of the same religion that the Protestants did, and had twice promised the prince to come vnto him and follow him, yet he liked better to fight that daie for the Catholikes, whome he had before follow∣ed. But it happened vpon the pricke of the first charge, that Desbordes himselfe ill handling his Pistoll, wounded the Duke in the thigh thrée fingers belowe the hanch, and to∣wards the knee, so grieuouslie, that there could be no meanes found to saue his life. And being so hurt, hée was carried as well as it could then be, vnto a village, and from thence to Dreux, passing vpō the waie with fiue or six of his men, who carried him néere to Dandelot, who enquiring what he was, and hauing vnderstood that it was the Duke of Ne∣uers wounded to death, would not staie him, but bidde him thinke vpon his faultes and offences. But as for Desbordes hée leauing his maister, did for despaire that he had slaine him, or for some other cause, runne so farre into the thickest of the enimies, that hée left his life in the place. But the poore Lord dyd sore torment himself, but hee was somwhat comforted by Mouie, who onelie of all the Chieftaines of the Prince, had béene taken in the last charge, and hée ha∣uing beene in his youth greatlie loued of the Duke of Ne∣uers, serued him for a comforter, and as a minister, euen vn∣til he died. The principall prisoners besides the Constable, was D'Oraison, De Rochfort, D'Esclauoles, & certain other Gentlemen. On the Princes part were slaine, the Baron of Arpaion, de Saux, de Chandien, de Liencourt, de Ligneris, de la Fredonniere, de la Carliere, de Rougnac de Mazelles, Saint Germier, almost all of them of the Cornet of Mouy, who was taken prisoner in the last charge, hauing ben hurt, and afterward tarrying long on foote in the wood adioyning. Throckmorton y^e Ambassador of England, & Fances Perrucel the princes minister, thinking y^e all had been lost, saued thē∣selues in y^e néere town of Nogeant, wher was the Dewager of Bouillon, the daughter of the great Seneshall, who had

giuen a tast to the Prince the day before. And although they were deliuered prisoners to the Catholickes the next daye, yet Perrucel was afterward sent to the Prince, to whom he serued well for to fortifie him, during the time of his im∣prisonment. Also two other Ministers were sore hurt, but neither of them dyed: they were both gentlemen and bare armes. The one being Minister of Mouy his company, had scarsely made an ende of prayers going to the charge, but that he was stroken to the ground with the blow of a stone that hit him on the reines, and from thence after a thousand strange chaunces, carried to the next village, and afterward to Dreux, and finally to Paris, and was so well thought of among his enimies, without euer being knowen, or con∣strained to doe any thing against his conscience, that in the ende he came againe safe and sound to Orleans. The other being brother of de la Cour de Chire, a learned gentleman of Poitou, had receaued an harquebusse shot in his reines, which carried a peece of his harnesse into his bodie, and the bullet going to the other side euen to the skinne, néere to the nauell, was so well thought of, and holpen the euening after the battaile, that the péece of the harnesse being taken out at the entrie of the wound, and the bullet at the ende, & he being shut vp in the castell of Maintenon, was readie to take horse againe within thrée wéekes.

The newes of the battaile was soone brought by the run∣awaies, both to Paris, and to Orleans, both the one and the other reporting that all was lost on their side. The first that gaue the affright to Paris, was Guilaureau d' Orleans, folowed by many other, of whome some were good great ones, who all affirmed the ouerthrow of the battaile, and the taking of the Constable, as true it was, in so much that the partakers of the Catholickes stoode in no great sure state: when Losses ariued, reporting the taking of the Ge∣nerall of the Protestants, and how the Duke of Guyse had recouered all: adding also, that the Admiral was intierly defaited. Vpon the which report there were made at Paris, and in all other places, to whome these newes were writ∣ten

with all diligence, all kinde of ioye, as bonefires, feasts, dauncings, Maskes, accompanied with Processions, & ring∣ing of Bells, with all ioye and mirth On the other side the most speedie to flie, made all things vncertaine at Orleans, but not quite desperate, which helde all the people in sus∣pense vntill the next day being the xx. of the moneth, when certaine newes came with them that brought the Consta∣ble prisoner, to whome they had giuen but a little refresh∣ment on the way after his taking, they making him march without once resting all that night, and the day folowing, vntill he came to Orleans, and was put in the Princes lod∣ging. He was not rescued as he looked for, by 100. light hor∣ses, & eight companies of French men ouer whome Charry commaunded at Chartres, within sight of whom they made him passe a pace. But for to come againe to the two armies, the Duke of Guyse encamped néere Dreux, vsing all gra∣ciositie towards the Prince: who also on his part shewed himselfe nothing astonned, and so they passed the night, ha∣uing supped simply enough. In the morning the Duke who now remained sole Chiefeteine of the armie, hauing caused halfe a score or a dosen péeces of Ordenance to be shot of, for to assemble his people, made all the hurt men to be sent into Dreux, and all the dead that could be found, to be buri∣ed. Also the Ensignes that had bene wonne from the foote∣men of the Prince, were brought vnto him, which he sent afterward to Paris, in signe of victorie, because the field was left vnto him. On the other side, the Admiral being at Neu∣fuille, & hauing but slenderly rested, & giuen order to all that was possible, assembled all the Captains, aswel Frenchmen as Reisters, that he could, vnto whome, for to encourage them to an intiere & assured victorie, he proposed the hope of certaine victorie, if that at the very breake of the daye the next morning, they would charge their enimies, whome he knew were in great feare, hauing lost their two principall Chiefeteines, and their horsemen being for the greatest part slaine, and the rest very much scatered, insomuch, that they should scarcely finde an hundreth horses together, as

he also learned by certaine souldiours prisoners, that had escaped, and came backe to the Campe last night. Where∣vnto the Reisters made aunswere, that his counsell was verie couragious and good, but that it was impossible for them to execute it, many of their horses being hurt, and the other tired, besides that, many of their people were yet dis∣persed, with a good part of their Wagons, the which they would not léese, and that they must néedes mend and re∣paire their pistolles. So by this meanes was that enter∣prise broken of. Yet neuerthelesse they went foorth the next day in battaile araie out of the village, and marched a lit∣le way ouer against the quartier of the Catholickes, where he tarried about an houre, considering the countenaunce of his people, and for to reuoke as manie of his men as he could, that had bene scattered in the wood: and in the ende seeing himselfe out of hope to be followed for to beginne a∣gaine the fight: drew directly to Gallardon, and the next day being the xxi. hauing left by the way one of his great peeces, to wit, a Couluerine, which was mired, but after∣ward waied vp, and carryed away by them of Chartres, he lodged at the village of Arneau, where he was chosen Ge∣nerall of the armie in the absence of the Prince. And from thence into Beausse, and Salogne, and from hence into Nor∣mandie, to méete with the English, winning many townes in those parts. As Guyse tooke Estampes, and was faire for Orleans when he was slaine by Poltrot: wherevpon ensued a peace.

Notes

• So be•••••• Guys•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cō••••••••••.
• The most reproch∣full name in Dutch.