A TRVE RELATION of the French Kinge his good successe, in winning from the Duke of Parma, his Fortes and Trenches, and slaieng 500. of his men, with the great Famine that is now in the sayd Dukes Campe. With other intelligences giuen by other Letters since the second of May. 1592. A most wonderfull and rare example, the like wherof, neuer happened since the beginning of the world, of a certaine mountaine in the Ile of Palme, which burned continually, for fiue or six weeks together, with other both fearful & strāge sightes, seene in the ayre, ouer the same place.
Imprinted at London by Iohn Wolfe, and are to be sold at his shop, ouer against the Southdore of Paules. 1592.
A true Relation of the Frenche Kinge his good successe, in winning from the Duke of Parma, his forts and trenches, and slaieng 500. of his men, and the great famine that is now in the sayd Dukes Campe.
MOst true it is which the Apostle saint Paule in the 13. to the Romans auoucheth of Kinges and Princes, saieng there is no power but of God, and the powers that bee are ordained by God. And no lesse true is that Golden sayeng of the princelie Prophet Dauid, speking in the person of God: by me kinges rule, and by me doo princes exercise authoritie.
Then it followeth necessarilie, that as kings and princes vppon earth are the ordinance of God, (and therefore those that do resist or rebell against them doo resist the power of God, and purchase to themselues eternall damnation, [Page 2] as the same Apostle beareth record: so the Lord will, and dailie dooth (as wee see by experience euery daye) blesse the same his ordinaunce, confounding, scattering, and dispersing the practises, or rather the trecherous conspiraces of all those that rise vp against his annointed.
Which thing the Lord hath moste notablie perfourmed euen the last day vpon the French King, that valiant souldiar of his, giuing vnto him most happie and fortunate successe against the Duke of Parma. VVho albeit he be otherwise a man of puissance and valor, yet the Lord our God (blessed be his holie name therfore) to manifest to the worlde, how muche his attempt in aiding the rebellious Leaguers, against their Soueraigne Kinge and liege Lord, dooth displease him, he crosseth him in his actions, and as it were standeth before him, and fighteth against him, sometimes striking a suddaine terror and feare into his heart, with the rest of his complices, and other-sometimes ouerthrowing them altogither in their owne plats and deuises, according to the sayeng of the Psalmist, The wicked hath digged a pitte for others, but is fallen into it himselfe.
But to come to the matter, as it pleased god it fell out thus.
The Duke of Parma hauing now the second or third time inuaded the kingdom of France [Page 3] with a puissant and mightie Armie, with intent to aide the rebellious Leaguers, agaynste their lawfull Kinge, passing the confines, and entring (as it were) into the bowelles of the Realme, approched with his armie neere vnto the Cyttie Roane, who beeing pursued by the King and his people, drew himselfe farther off towardes Newhauen, and there hee incamped himselfe, raising most strong Fortes, and erecting (as hee thought) trenches inuincible for his owne and his souldiers better defence: yea so stronglie had he intrenched himselfe there, planting ordinance, Baricadoes, and other militarie munition of infinite varietie, that hee thought himselfe not onelye able to counteruaile what strength the king should be able to bende against him, but also he supposed himselfe to be in effect inexpugnable.
But as the prophet Esaias saith, there is no wisedome, there is no pollycie, there is no power, nor strength against the Lord, nor against his annointed.
For the King by secret intelligences or spials, beeing aduertised of the Duke his proceedings, and how stronglie he had fortified him selfe in Trenches and bulwarks, with all possible speed marched towardes him, taking with him such a competent number of horssemen, and footmen, as he thought sufficient to withstand the forces of the aduersarie.
Being come somewhat neere the place, he caused his armie to march forwarde both leasurelie and aduisedlie, the better to preuent secret ambushes: and viewing with prouidente eie the manner of his enimies lyeng, their Fortes, their trenches, and other their munytions, at the last with mature aduise, and most peremptorie resolution (as one that fighteth the Lords battels) in most fierce manner assailed his enimies on euerie side.
And albeit the fight was both long and cruell, and seemed a great while to hang in equall ballance, neither inclining vnto the one nor to the other, yet it pleased God, who continually fighteth for his seruantes, that the Kinge preuayled.
And although he had not in his band so manie as the Enimie was by oddes, yet he wanne the Duke of Parma his Fortes and Trenches, mauger the heads of all his enimies, and forced his men to flie back and to retire to a more narrower place, beeing constrained to fortifie themselues anew, in such place as they coulde get on the suddaine, and it is verilye thought that they can not be able to holde out longe against the forces of the King.
The Duke of Parma also (such was the mightie hand of God against him) not onelye loste his fortes and trenches, but 500. of his chiefest souldiers also, besides other munition & great [Page 5] spoiles.
The Duke is nowe presentlie so driuen to the wall, and so corbed vp, al hope of new supplies of viandes or victuals, being in some sorte intercepted and cut off from him, that he with his whole armie are so sore assailed with famin, as that they are forced to eate their horsses for verie hunger.
Thus haste thou heard Gentle Reader the noble exploits of that valiant King of France, with his good successe (which God continue:) and the present state of the duke of Parma with his retinue, whose hande the Lorde of Hostes shorten, and strengthen that illustrious and renoumed French King, that he may fighte the Lords Battels still, that once (if it be his blessed will) poperie, superstition and Idolatrie maye bee cleane rooted out, and true religion maie vniuersally be planted in all Christian Kingedomes of the world, Amen.
By letters receiued on the second of May. 1592.
ON Thursday last beyng the seuen and twentith day of Aprill, 1592. The Duke of Parma did go away by night to Cleere, which is within foure leagues of Roane, without anie drumme or trumpet sounding, and on the next daie being Friday, the king followed him with a number of hys horsemen, to moue him to the battaile. The Duke left behind him his artillerie, and his baggage.
On the Saterday before, the king had taken the Dukes Trenches, and one Fort which hee had made, and at the same time there was about eight hundred of the Dukes menne slaine.
The Duke of Sauoy, hath bene forced to retire out of Prouence.
The cittie of Aix, which held for the said Duke of Sauoie, who maried the king of Spain his daughter is reuolted from him, and nowe presentlie houldeth for the king.
The Muscouites haue giuen a great ouerthrow to the Tartarians.
There is in Germanie some rumor of ciuill wars amongest themselues.
Cicilia and Italie doo feare an other great dearth this next yeare.
Newes out of the Low Countries.
THe Countie Mauritz hauing assembled a great power is nowe before Steinwiche in Frizeland, with fiftye good peeces of ordinance and dooth besiege it fiercelie, with purpose to recouer the same if by anie possible meanes it may be perfourmed. The Lord grant such successe as may stand with his glorie, and the good of his church, Amen.
A MOST VVONDERfull and rare example, the like whereof, neuer happened since the beginning of the world. OF A CERTAINE MOVNtaine in the Ile of Palme, which burned continually, for fiue or sixe weeks together. With other both fearefull, and strange sights, seene in the ayre, ouer the same place.
Imprinted at London by Iohn Wolfe,
TO THE COVRTEous Reader: Grace and peace.
GEntle Reader, thou hast heere before thine eyes a most rare example, and no lesse strange instance, of the vvonderfull vvorks of God, the trueth vvherof is such, as is auouched by diuers, both honorable and vvorshipfull, and others of good credite. VVherfore read it vvith iudgement, make thy profite of it, and giue God the glorie, vvho be blessed and praised for euer.
A most vvonderful and rare example, the like whereof neuer happened since the beginning of the world, of a certain mountaine, in the Ile of Palme, which burned continually, for fiue or sixe weekes together, with other both fearefull and straunge sightes, seen in the ayre, ouer the same place.
IN the Gospel of S. Mathew, the 24. Chapter, our sauiour Christ telleth vs of many signes and tokens, which shal be sent vnto vs and appeare before the day of iudgment, as that the sonne shalbe darkened, the Moone shall loose hir light, the Starres shall fall from heauen, the earth shall tremble, and shake vnder vs, the hilles shalbe supplanted and remoued out of their places: the Seas shall roare and make a hideous noyse, there shall be wars and rumours of warres in all countries, and such like. All which signes and tokens we see to be come to passe alreadie. For if wee take [Page 14] the sonne in that place, for the sonne of God Christ Iesus (as all sound expositions and interpretors haue done:) howe often haue wee seene him darkened, and obscured with the filthy mistes, and stincking vapors of mens traditions. The Moone that is the Churche of God, how was shee darkened, yea almost depriued of her light vnder the tyrannie of Antechrist the pope of Rome and his shauelings? The Starres, that is the pastors, and ministers of the Church, how were they driuen away amongst the Papistes, from the firmament of sounde doctrine, and pure conuersation. But if we take these signes literally, howe manie times haue we seene the sunne and moone to be eclipsed, and almost manie times to lose their whole light. What woonderfull and strange coniunctions of Starres of signes and plannets, threatning euen an vniuersall consummation of all things haue we seene of late yeares. The like was neuer seen of many yeares before. What firie meteers, blasing Starres, Comets, and other fearefull impressions haue we seene in the ayre of late yeers? What inundations and ouerflowings of the seas and waters? What fearefull earthquakes? What remouing of hilles out of their places? What Abortiues, fearefull and monstrous birthes? What warres and rumours of warres in all countries, doe we heare of in these daies? All which are [Page 15] infallible tokens, and apparant arguments that the day of iudgement is at hand, and as it were before the dores. But although the Lord our God hath and doth dayly as well by these signes and tokens aboue named, and the like, as also by others of infinite varietie, summon vs to the doome, and warneth vs to be alwaies readie and prepared, yet hath hee not in anie age, nor to anie people, sent a more fearefull, strange, or woonderfull example (as it were a warning or caueat to all the world) then this that followeth, the trueth whereof was thus.
There is a certaine Iland called Palme nere to the Ingenio of Tertia court, three leagues from the Citie, and a league and a halfe from the sea side, wherein grewe a certaine mountain or hil of three hundred faddam in height, and a league and a halfe in compasse. This mountaine or hill, the 19. of May beganne to burne, and so continued still burning till the 19. of Iulie next after, in most strange and fearfull maner.
Vpon the top of which hill there seemed to be a great caue or gulfe: whereat issued out great flames of fire; burning in suche forcible and vehement maner, as they raised vp withall and cast foorth huge and mightie stones into the ayre, stinging them vp with great violence, which stones at the length descending downe againe foorth of the ayre, fell downe at the [Page 16] foote of the same hill. And yet notwithstanding that it continually burned in this sort, and cast forth infinite great and monstrous stones, yet the said hill remained still in all mens iudgments as bigge as it was before. The heate of which fire was such, and so great that the inhabitants thereabouts were sore annoyed thereby, hauing their vineyards and their corn scorched and burnt vp thorow the rage and vyolence of the flames of fire that issued thereout. And in this sorte it continued vntill the 20. of Iulie about midnight at which time the sayd mount or hill, brake in sunder, and shiuered in peeces, caused such great cracks and roringes, as though it had thundered, or a hundred cannons had beene shot off, to the great terror of the hearers.
It beeing thus disseuered and broken, continued burning: And burning (contrarye to the nature thereof before) consumed and wasted, till it came to be as it were a great coale of fire, from which cole there seemed to ascende and to rise vppe into the aire as it were great mountaines of smoke and sparkles of fire, as bigge in appearance as little barrels, and so at the laste the whole mountaine consumed and burned away.
There gushed also foorth of the sayd mountaine (before it was consumed) great streames of water, burning like oile in the fire, and casting [Page 17] vp woonderfull flames into the aire, which entred into the Sea fourty faddame, makinge all the water thereabout so extreame hot, as it melted the pitch and rosine wherewith the Fishers botes were pitched.
The heat of this burning water was such, as it scalded and killed all the fishe neere thereabouts, so that aboundance of fishe of all sortes was found dead many dayes after.
From this mountaine also there tumbled downe to the Sea-side, beeing distante from thence a league and a halfe three mighty great stones, one of them being 25. faddom in compasse, and with a woonderfull violence threw themselues into the Sea fiftie faddame at the least.
The hill being in this sort quite consumed, the second of August next following there rained downe foorth of the aire, as it had beene whole shewers of blacke ashes, like gunpowder in bignesse, which spoiled and consumed all the Corne, grasse, and vines in the whole countrey about.
After this, namelie the fourth of August, it rained againe great store of white ashes in the Cittie, the streets being so thicke couered therwith as the people coulde not trauaile about their necessarie businesse. Immediatlie after this: to wit, the fourth of September folowing, there appeared ouer the same Iland in the aire, [Page 18] other strange and wonderfull sights, as namely armed men to the number (as a man would haue thought) of 40000, one fighting againste another in most cruell & bloudie maner, with such fearefull thundering, and terrible lightening, as the like was neuer heard nor seen before. The people seeing these strange sightes, and feareful wonders, called to God for mercie: repented of their sinnes, and instantlye besought the Lord that he would not enter into iudgement with them, nor punish them according to their desertes: whiche done, the Lord in mercy withdrew his plagues, and punishmentes, (messengers of his wrath) from them, and receiued them to mercie. Thus hast thou heard courteous Reader, the true narration of the wonderfull iudgementes of God against this people. The Lord giue both them and vs all grace, to make profite of them, and to amend our liues, that we may altogether in the great day of the Lord receiue the crown of euerlasting glorie, promised vnto vs thorough Iesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
TO THE READER.
COurteous Reader, this note comming to my hands before the impression hereof vvas ended, I thought it good to impart it vnto thee, rather out of place, then not at all, as a thing vvhich vvill giue thee great light to the great vnderstanding of the vvhole book.
This Ile of Palme spoken of before, is one of the seuen Ilandes of the Canaris, vvell knovvne to diuerse merchantes here in London. Ingenio is scituate vvithin the same Iland.
Manie of the inhabitantes vvhereof I meane of the Ile of Palme, vvere forced to go out, and to depart from thence, forsaking their landes, goodes and all, and to dvvell some of them at Gomorra, some [Page 20] of them in the Ile of Tenerife, and othersome to the graund Canaris, supposing verily that the same Iland vvoulde haue sunke. And for the great aboundance of ashes, vvhich rained dovvne, they coulde not sovv their corne in October follovving.
The lieuetenant of the Iland, sent the narration heereof to the court of Spaine being at Madrill, penned by a notarie publick, vvith three other notaries hands to it, desiring certaine Lordes of the same Court, to send their opinion, vvhat these fearefull tokens might prognosticate.