Newes out of Fraunce, on the first of March. 1592.

THe Troubles of Fraunce grow­ing from a popular discontent of sundrie ill affected persons to­wardes their naturall Liedge king, in that hee séekes to with­draw them from mans traditi­ons to the puritie of the gospel, shewes not onely the long sufferance of God towards the wicked, but his iust punish­ment vppon stubborne and head-strong Nations, that hearken not vnto the voyce of the charmer, charme he neuer so wiselie. Yet the sundrie victories the French King hath had against his enemies, discouers not only the equitie of his cause, but assured testimonie that God will pull down the plumes of such rebellious subiects as resist the Lords annointed.

A manifest instance of the which fell out of late, by a great victorie the French Kinges forces hath had against the Duke of Parma which was in this maner. The Duke of Parma intrenched himselfe strongly by Noue Chastell not far from Deepe, whereof Moun­sieur de Vitrey was Gouernour, and there in warlike manner fortified himselfe with Baricados and other muniments to withstand the sodaine inuasion of his e­nemies: yet neither so warilie, nor so strongly, but the kings forces plaid vpon him so hard, that what inforced [Page 2] by the Kings power, whose valour was more then his multitudes, and drawen on by a mutinie of the french companies that were with him, who could not brooke the imperious gouernment of the proud Spaniard, he was constrained to breake vppe his trench and retire home-ward as well as hee might for his owne safety. For though hee had sundrie Squadrons of the French that were both the Kings professed enemies, and of the Leagar: yet the French Gentlemen béeing some­what haughtie of themselues, did with the more impa­tience suffer the insolence of the commaunding and o­uer-wéening Spaniards. Where vppon the Duke of Parma grew offended, and for that speciall reason reti­red, as he did manifest in a letter sent to Mounsieur de Villiers gouernour of Roan for the Leager, the con­tents whereof are these.

I came to aid you, but I could not performe what I intended, for that I cannot assure my selfe of the French, who (as I am not their maister, so they will not obey me, which occasion mooues me thus sodain­lie to depart: but I meane to returne againe shortlie, with greater forces and more strength, and such as shall obey me. Wherefore, I pray you continue stead­fast, and be of good comfort. Yet had there not bene a more speciall reason, happilie he would haue taken order both to haue quieted the French gentlemen, and haue gotten more supplies to haue counteruailed the Kinges power: but God who is called therefore, the Lord of hoasts, because hee hath victorie in his hand to suppresse and conquer at his pleasure, stretched out a mightie arme against the Duke, and as hee punished Pharao with plagues for his disobedience, so hee sent a gréeuou [...] scarcitie, darth, and famin amongst the dukes forces, not onely for victuals, which though they were extreamelie scant, and that the souldiers were so pined [Page 3] and almost weakned euen to the death, that the gnaw­ing of their bowels began to bréed the bloudie-flixe a­mongst them: but their greatest plague was, that ther was no prouision for his horse, neither prouand, hey, stubble, nor straw: in so much that as much hay as is sould in England for 4. pence, was worth there euen at the Dukes owne hands 40. shillings, which famin lighting amongst the horses, bred suche mortall con­tagion amongest them, that such as died not (as there perished dailie multitudes of them) had straunge and sundry diseases, especially there grew out of their sides great swellinges like wens, which going in againe, straight kild them, and being dead, their flesh so stunk, that it bred a mortality amongst the souldiers. Wher­by we may sée the iust iudgement of God, that kicke a­gainst the pricke, and resist a manifest truth, vnto the maintenance of their papisticall and ceremonious reli­gion.

The Duke of Parma driuen thus to retire, sent be­fore him to take vp a conuenient place to lodg his men in: some 400. horsemen, and 800. footmen, but Mouns. de Longueuille hearing how they marcht, although his power was but small, yet vpon a zeale to God, his Liege and Countrey, with a determined resolution set vppon them, and in short time, discomfited them, & put all of them to the sword. Which newes being brought to the Duke of Parmas eares, hee began straight to doubt of himselfe, and after consultation had for his be­ter safetie, hee retreated in one night seauen leagues, and so hee concluded to passe ouer the riuer of Soan at Amiens, and his companie to get ouer the riuer at A­beuille, making such great hast, that in the way he left behind many Charets and Waggens: in some place four, in other sixe, and other whiles ten: to the number of 200. and more: rather yéelding such luggage a pray [Page 4] to the enemies then anie more of his forces should bee impaired. The King hearing of the Duke of Parmas retire, or rather sodaine escape (to shadowe his flight with more honourable names) leauing Roan suffici­entlie blockt vp with troupes and men of resolution to leager it in his absence: amongst whom Mounsieur de Giury was one. Then in his owne person marcht for­ward after the Duke of Parma, accompanied with a braue troupe of horse, with intent to fight with the Duke if by any means he might chance to méet him in his iorney.

After the Duke thus had made his retire from No­ue Chastell, Mounsieur de Vitrey the gouernor there­of yéelded both it and himselfe and all his souldiers, to the number of a hundreth to the mercy and fauour of the King, who receiued him with al acustomed clemen­cie. Beside that, most part of the French Gentlemen that were of the Leager, whether toucht in conscience that they striue against their lawfull Soueraigne, or doubting that God wil so fauour the kings forces that his enemies shall goe by the worst, as daily they doe. Well howsoeuer moued I know not, but they make continuall sute to the king to haue a passeport to with­draw themselues to their houses, promising neuer to beare armes any more, except it bee in his Maiesties seruice, and alwayes and in all places to bee ready to execute any thing his Highnes shall commaund them: but how the king accepts of their sute, we haue not as yet any certaine intelligence: where we may note that although they haue continued long mutinous a­gainst his Maiestie, yet at last, the touch of their own guilty minds makes them in a tremblinge forme of o­bedienc [...] sue for fauour at his handes, whome so con­temptuously, they haue hetherto rebelled against.

Of these French gentlemen that had bene with [Page 5] the Duke of Parma, three hundred very well horst, drew themselues toward Roan, and by the way were all ouerthrowne and slaine.

Further when the king was remoued with some of his forces to follow the Duke of Parma, they of the Faulcon which is a Castell scituate neere vnto Roan, did come forth with two hundreth horse, to geue an at­tempt vpon the kinges power that was left behinde, euery man promising to himselfe, large spoyles out of the kinges tentes, but it fell out contrary to their ex­pectation, for Monsieur de Giury, being by some se­crete espials, forewarned of this, was not onely in a readinesse to receiue them, but laide diuers ambushes to circumuent them, placing some shotte so cunningly and closely, that they found as sharpe intertainemente as might bee, for the kinges power brake out vppon them before, and the shot so galled the horse on the o­ther side, that of two hundred, there escaped away a­liue, but seauenteene persons, to the great incourage­ment of the kinges part, and the dismay of them in Roan. Thus doth the Lord helpe the cause of the righ­teous, and breakes the iaw-bones of his enemies, and brings his foes to confusion, Farewell.

The true report of a great Galley, that was brought to Rochell, on the 6. of Februarie last.

IF we enter with déepe conside­ration, to censure of the late prosperitie of the Spaniards, or ra­ther hard fortune inflicted vpon them by God for their mani­fest opposing themselues against the truth and his Gospell: wee shall find that their sundrie mis­haps presageth their fall to be néere, and that their sins being ripe, wrath cannot long be deferd. But as Silo, so their pride shall vanish like a smoke, and their ruine shall be like the destruction of those fiue Citties, wher­in fiue righteous persons could not be found out. The wealth of Tyre, the glorie of Sidon, the pompe of So­dom could not saue them from incurring the fatal iudg­ment of Gods wrath, because they had eaten sower grapes, and their childrens teeth were set on edge: so that they deliuered sinnes to their posteritie, and dis­pleased the almightie from generation to generation. euen so, the Spaniards gilden mines, their hauty sto­mackes, their honors, their worldly glories, no not the praiers of their Cardinals, Abbots, Moonks, and Fri­ars, their Agnus dei, their holy water, and such trash, cannot with-hold the wrath of God from them, while [Page 2] any said, they kicke against the pricke, and are mani­fest persecutors of his truth and religion, but he driues them on by degrees, to féele the daunger of their fore­warned destruction: and to shew you an instance what happened to them of late, it fell out thus.

In Brittanie the King of Spaine had two great Ga­leasses and foure Gallies, the which hee appointed to kéepe the seas vpon the coast of Brittanie, and so along from S. Malo to Rochel. Of these in Nouember last returned into Portingall the two Galeasses and one Galley. Of the three Gallies that remained, this that was brought into Rochell was the Admirall, this gal­ley had fiue and twentie oares of a side, and to euerie oar was chained fiue slaues to row them, and was left Admirall for those which remained behind. Shee bée­ing verie wel prouided, both of victuals, ordinance, and other furniture of warre, hauing within her both ma­riners & souldiers about 500. men, some Spaniards, others Portingals, but the greatest number were of Spaine. But their imperious commandings (as the Spaniard is most insolent) drew these two nations to a secret tumult and priuate mutinie, especially seeing rancour yet remained in the hearts of the Portingals, for their late abuse offered to their king Don Antho­nie, and a mortall hatred fretted the mind of the Spa­niard, least the Portingall might in time make recoue­rie of their losses. Enuie thus burning in both partes, it grew vnto such a controuersie, that the matter was faine to bee taken vp by the chiefe Captaine and other principall Gentlemen and officers in the saide Gal­ley.

The Captaine being a Spaniard, and his Ancient beeing Portingall, vppon this speciall mutinie that grewe thro [...]gh vnknowen grudges, dealt so with per­swading reasons and faire spéeches, that betweene [Page 3] them two, they appeased the brawle, and set downe a present order for punishing of the chiefe offenders: so that presently there were hanged thrée Portingals, to the great terrour and affrighting of the rest. They in the Galley, looking when anye of the Spaniardes should be hanged for the same offence: but séeing no in­tent meant by the Captaine, to the punishment of the Spaniard, the Ancient-bearer tooke it in verie il part, and the more, that the Captaine vttered some woords of disgrace against the Portingals and their king. The want of execution, and the opprobrious spéeches vsed to himselfe and the state of Portingall, made the Anci­ent to murmure, which the Captaine perceiuing, drew to Bell Isle, there to prouide better for his safetie: but the Ancient being as politicke as he was, prouidently prooued to take occasion as fitted his turne, first to deale with the Marriners, who were the rather pliant to his motion, in that they were Portingals: so that hee wan them easilie to the resolute execution of his purpose, which was to be reuenged fatally vpon the spaniards: hauing thus brought the Marriners to his contented determination, he then broake with the Turkes, & the other slaues that were in the Galley, promising them their libertie if they would sticke to him, and followe his aduice: the poore, whom seruile bondage had déep­lie tormented, beeing in a second hell vppon earth, and glad to bee deliuered from his thraldome, agréed all in one simpathie of mind, and ioyfullie praied and wished for fit and conuenient oportunitie. In this hope it so fell out, that they came to Bell Isle, according vnto the cheife Captaines determination, where hee with diuers other Spaniards of most account, went on land thinking themselues to bee safe when they were there ariued, going merrily to their friendes to bee frolicke. The Ancient careful, taking time by the forehead, sée­ing [Page 4] the most of the Spaniards to bee a sléepe by wearines of some seruice: they had before deliuered ares vnto the slaues which were Turks, Portingals, & french men, therewith to vnloose and breake their chaines when some of the Spaniards perceiued that weapons were deliuered vnto the slaues, they began to be feare­ful and suspitious of some present mutinie. But while they were in this dumpe, they were presently set vp­pon by the Ancient-bearer, Portingals, Turkes, and Frenchmen his confederates. The Spaniards despe­rate, séeing flight could not helpe them, stucke to their tackling, and fought lustelie: but the Auncient-bearer armed with reuenge, buckled himselfe to the skirmish and though he were sore wounded, yet hee slew three-score persons, and with the helpe of the slaues, put all the Spaniards to the sword, and so hoising sailes, bent their course towardes Don Anthonie their King in England. But as they were in this hope, the winde came about and blew contrarie, so that they were fain to put into the haye of Rochell. On the sixt day of Februarie, where after discourse made of their present fortunes, they were well entertained of the French. The Auncient-bearer offering in his name, and the rest their seruice to the King in these his wars against the Leagars, graunting in forme of a frée gift their Galley, ordinance, and all other prouision. The barke had store of ordinance of great value, in so much that diuers which wer aboord on her, said: that she had store of field péeces, all cast in brasse, which were carri­ed into Rochell to the Kings vse. Aboue the rest, there was one thing wondrous and worth the noting, that the Lanthorne that gaue her light, was valued worth 500. pound and few or none such beeing euer séene in Christendom before, it was giuen to the French king for a iewell. Then if the Lanthorne were of such cost, [Page 5] the wealth of the ship is more easilie to be coniectured. Beside she had great store of wine and other victuals, so that it was imagined, that this spring shee shoulde haue made for new-Hauen in the riuer of Roan. But now she lieth tied within the chains of Rochel, There came out of her great store of people, among the which were many spanish women or grosse widowes. Be­sides it is reported, that in great brauerie the Portin­gall is gone to the French King, and all the Turkes and other slaues vncommitted and set at liberty, to the great ioy of all good christian hearts, that ioy to heare, either the controuersie or confusion of the Spaniards. Thus you heare how God deliuered the Portingals and poore slaues from thraldome by a priuate mutiny, as hee ouerthrew the pride of Babell, whereby we re­ceiue this comfort, that as GOD cherisheth his chosen people, so hee will confound the deuises of such as are opposed enemies to his truth and glorie.