THE Houſe of Lorrain is one of the moſt Illuſtrious Families of Europe, whether we examine its Alliances, or conſider the extraordinary number of great Men that are ſprung from thence.

Claude of Lorrain was the firſt of this Name, who came and ſetled in France, where he married Antoinette de Bourbon, the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde's Aunt.

He was one of the greateſt Captains of his Age; and it was in favour of him, that King Francis the Firſt Erected the County of Guiſe into a Dutchy, an honour which, till then, had been reſerved only for Princes of the Blood.

Claude had ſeveral Children, the Eldeſt of whom was Francis, whoſe Life we write. He made his firſt Apprentiſhip under his Father, and was in the Army that was ſent to Therouenne, under the Conduct of Anthony Duke of Vendoſme.

It was eaſie to judge then, what he afterwards proved to be. He diſtinguiſhed himſelf from the young Perſons of his Age, by his Valour, and the vivacity of his Wit; inſomuch, that they already conſidered him as their Chief, and took it for an honour to follow him in all occaſions.

As that Army was only drawn together to put relief into Therouenne, Guiſe went into the Town by reaſon it was nearer the Enemies than the Camp, and was followed by Laval, Saint Andre, Dampierre, la Chataigneraye, and all the young Perſons of Quality in thoſe Troops.

He was daily out upon Parties, and never returned without ſome conſiderable advantage. In ſhort, he acquired in a little time ſo great a Reputation, that he raiſed a jealouſie, even in the Duke of Vendoſme his General.

He received two great wounds in his Youth: the firſt at the Siege of Luxembourg, where he had his Anclebone ſhot through with a Musquetbullet: and the Second at Boulogne, which happened in this manner.

Francis the Firſt had an Army before Boulogne, which the Engliſh had taken a little before, and though the Siege was not yet formed, there were daily great Skirmiſhes between the French and them. Guiſe being one day gone forth to ſee one that was very warmly diſputed, he obſerved that the French were hardly able to reſiſt any longer, and that they were going to be cut in pieces by a Troop of Engliſh, who were coming to charge them in the Flanck. Then without conſidering that he had ſcarce any body with him, he galloped directly towards this laſt Troop, routed thoſe he firſt met with, and put a ſtop to the others, leſs by the force of his blows, than the amazement they were in at ſo bold an action.

But as he valiantly oppoſed their Efforts to give the French time to rally. He was ſtruck with a Lance which run into his Head, between his Noſe and right Eye, and which being broken with the violence of the blow, leſt all the Iron with a piece of the Wood in the wound.

He was no more ſtunned with this wound, than if he had not felt it: He did not ſo much as loſe his Seat, and returned to the Camp as if he came back from a match of Hunting.

His Life was long deſpaired of; but at length he was cured, and with that ſucceſs, that his Face was not in the leaſt disfigured by this accident. Which is, perhaps, what made the Hiſtorians of that time, believe that there was ſomething miraculous in that Cure, which ſome attributed to the happineſs, others to the misfortune of France, according to the different Sentiments they had of Guiſe.

Henry the Second being come to the Crown; Guiſe, in the flower of his Age, ſaw himſelf raiſed at one clap to the higheſt degree of favour, and ſhared all the Authority of the Government with the Conſtable of Montmorency.

Theſe two Lords had very diligently applyed themſelves to the King, even when he was no more than Dauphin; but though they ſeemed to be equally in favour of their Maſter, they made their Court to him however, after a very different manner.

The Conſtable was very old. He had governed the Kingdom, during ſeveral years under Francis the Firſt, and had been in four Battels, wherein he had acquired much honour. Thus ſeeing no one above him, either for Affairs, or for War, he only thought of maintaining the Peace, that he might enjoy in repoſe his Reputation and his Grandeur. He applyed himſelf wholly to his Maſter, but had no regard for any body elſe; and thinking that his fidelity ought to ſerve him inſtead of all things, he often diſpenced himſelf from thoſe little Complaiſances that are requiſite to be had for Soveraigns, even when we render them great Services. His Counſels had ever ſomething of that ſeverity, which is ordinary to old Men, and which was natural to him; and they were often contrary to the humour of the Prince, who being young and liberal, loved pleaſures and magnificence.

Guiſe on the contrary, of the ſame age as his Maſter, and having the ſame inclinations, rendered himſelf uſeful in Affairs of importance, and agreeable in Divertiſements. He performed, to a wonder, all exerciſes of the Body, which the Prince was a paſſionate lover of; and as with a wit ſupple and capable of all things, he had a ſecret ambition which made him carefully ſeek for all occaſions to pleaſe; he always entertained the King according to his humour. He ſpoke to him at the ſame time of the Siege of a place and the deſign of a Turnament, inſomuch that Henry finding in one and the ſame Man, what might both contribute to his Glory, and his Pleaſure, was ſo taken with him, as not to be able to be without him.

Thus we may ſay of Henry, in reſpect of Guiſe, and the Conſtable, what was ſaid of Alexander in regard of Craterus and Hoepheſtion, that he honoured the former, but that he loved the other.

He ſent each of them with an Army of between four and five thouſand men, to appeaſe a furious Sedition, that was kindled upon account of Taxes, in Guyenne, and the neighbouring Provinces.

Their Conduct was as different as their humour. The Conſtable came to Bourdeaux, where he left terrible marks of the diſpleaſure of a Prince juſtly irritated. Guiſe overrun Saintonge, Poitou and Aunis. He pacified all things without uſing violence, preferring the pleaſure of ſeeing the people return to their Duty, to the glory of having reduced them by the ſeverity of puniſhments; and when he was come back to the King, he moved him to moderate ſeveral too ſevere puniſhments that the Conſtable had impoſed upon the inhabitants of Bourdeaux.

This Conduct begun from that time to acquire him the affection of the People, which ſo augmented afterwards, that we may ſay it was even to exceſs.

It was then he married Ann, Daughter of the Duke of Ferrara, and of Rence of France, they ſay, that having always affected to paſs for one of the Royal Family, he took the name of Anjou in the Contract of marriage, which was Signed a Ferrara. This is moſt certain, that ſeveral Writers of that Countrey making mention of the Duke of Guiſo, and of the Cardinal his Brother, give them the name of Anjou, which they never durſt have taken in France, and which thoſe forreign Authors would never have bethought themſelves of giving them, if they had not made appear that it was pleaſing to them.

The War being broke out between the King and the Emperour; it ſeemed that Fortune was grown weary of having ſo long favoured Charles the Fifth, and that ſhe was willing to repair in the Perſon of Henry the injuſtices ſhe had done to Francis the Firſt.

The Conſtable took in the Cities of Metz, Toul, and Verdun. This was as the Signal of ſo great a change; and the Emperour was ſo lively concerned at this loſs, that from that time he thought of retiring from the World: but to appear great even in his retreat, he reſolved to ſignalize it by ſome conſiderable exploit that might be as the End and Coronation of all thoſe he had performed during his Reign.

And to that intent he reſolved to recover Metz, and neglected nothing of all that might aſſure the ſucceſs of ſo important an enterprize.

He drew together all the Forces he had in Spain, in Italy, and the Low Countries: He raiſed all Germany, and proteſted to the Princes in his Army, that he would ſooner cauſe himſelf to be interred at the foot of the Walls of the Town, than raiſe the Siege.

Henry was alarm'd at all theſe preparations; and his oldeſt Captains did not believe that place was able to hold out a Week againſt all the Forces of the Empire, with which it was menaced. He choſe Guiſe for ſo glorious and ſo difficult an Employ, and gave him by this choice, the greateſt mark he was able to give him of the eſteem he had of his Valour and his Conduct.

Guiſe thereupon departed, after having received his Orders, and paſſing through Toul, notwithſtanding the Plague was then in that Town; he cauſed the Fortifications to be repaired, and gave ſeveral neceſſary Orders for the ſecurity of the place: in ſhort, he arrived at Metz about the end of the Month of Auguſt, in the Year, 1552.

He was received by Gonnor, the Governour of the Town, who came to meet him at the head of his Troops, accompanied by the Duke of Nemours, the Vidame de Chartres, and Luxembourgh Martigues.

The Town of Metz is watered on the North and Weſt, by the Moſelle, which divides it ſelf into two Branches, the one whereof comes into the Town by the means of a Cannal which brings it thither; the other paſſes by the Walls: the Seille does the ſame on the Eaſt and South. Thus it is almoſt wholly included between two Rivers, if you except that part which is between the South and Weſt.

Guiſe having viſited the place, found it unprovided of all that was neceſſary for the ſupporting a great Siege. This Town having been long lulled aſleep in a profound Peace, there was hardly any thing that reliſhed of War. Its compaſs being between eight and nine thouſand Paces, was only guarded by a ſingle Wall, without a rampart behind, and by conſequence incapable of reſiſting the leaſt efforts of Cannon; the Moats were partly crumbled, and partly taken up with the buildings of private Perſons. In ſhort, nothing was ſeen but Gardens, and Houſes of pleaſure, in places where nothing ought to have been ſeen beſides Baſtions and Halfmoons: The Granaries almoſt empty, the Gunpowder forty years old, and in a very ſmall quantity; very little Artillery, and for the moſt part ſo ill caſt, that it was hardly fit to be made uſe of. The Harveſt being then gathering in, and the Vintages going to begin, had cauſed all the labouring people to leave the Town, and there was hardly left for the carrying of Earth, any beſides Women and little Children.

However, an extraordinary diligence was requiſite for the repairing all theſe defects before the Emperour came. They begun with beating down the Houſes that were upon the Town Walls, and which took up the place of the Rampart: They ruined the Gardens and the Buildings in the Suburbs, that might have been ſerviceable to the Imperialiſts: Inſomuch, that during ſome days, Metz had rather the air of a City that was in the power of its Enemies, than of a Town that prepared to repulſe them.

Guiſe knew ſo well how to gain in that occaſion the hearts of the Inhabitants, by his ſweetneſs of behaviour, an eloquence, that was natural to him, that thoſe perſons whoſe houſes were taken down were ſo far from complaining, that they themſelves helped the Souldiers; and preferring the publick good to their private intereſts, they willingly bore with, for the defending their Town, the ſame dammages they might have been affraid of, in caſe it had been taken. Guiſe was every where himſelf, ordering all, diſpoſing the Works, haſtening the Labourers, and eating with them at the Carriages, to ſave the time that would have been ſpent in going to his own Houſe: He himſelf would needs carry the Doſſer for ſome hours every day; and thus having, as we may ſay, rendered this Trade noble by his example, there was not one but took a pride in it: Inſomuch, that in a ſhort time the Works were in a much greater forwardneſs than they durſt have hoped they could have been with a greater number of hands. Not but that Guiſe knew well enough, that it was almoſt impoſſible to put the Town in a poſture of Defence: He even told his particular Friends, that he obſerved ſeveral very dangerous places, which the ingenious did not take notice of; but that it was to no purpoſe to ſpeak of them, at a time when they could not be repaired, and that it would only help to make them known. He ſpared neither Cares, nor his Money, nor the Benefices of his Brother, which were not far diſtant, and ordered his ouſineſs ſo well, that in a ſhort time there was Ammunition enough in the City for the maintaining a Siege of a whole year.

He likewiſe made proviſion of a great number of Gabions, Beams, Sheds of Boards, Sacks full of Wool and of Earth, that he might thereby ſupply what ſhould be wanting to the Fortifications, and be always in a poſture of defending the Breaches.

There was in the Suburbs a great number of Churches, which might have ſerved the Beſiegers for a Platform to plant their Cannon. Guiſe cauſed ſome of them to be taken down, and contented himſelf with propping the others, by having Beams put in place of the Pillars, which ſupported the Vaults, that it might be eaſie upon occaſion, either to re-eſtabliſh them by raiſing up the Pillars that had been taken down, or overturn them by ſetting fire to the ſupporters of Wood; as they were conſtrained to do fifteen days after.

But there was neceſſity of ruining entirely the Abbey of St. Arnould, which commanded a whole Quarter of the City. It was conſiderable both for its Antiquity, and the Tombs of a great number of Princes of the Family of Charlemain, from whom Guiſe boaſted that he was deſcended. He cauſed their Bodies to be removed into the City, with the Relicks and the ſacred Veſſels, having ordered for that end a general proceſſion, at which he aſſiſted bareheaded, and with a Flambeau in his hand, as making a kind of reparation for the diſorders which the War obliged him to againſt his will, and for appeaſing the people, who never ſuffer without regret the deſtruction of thoſe great Edifices, which they look upon as marks of Nobility and Grandeur. He afterwards put out of the Town all unneceſſary Perſons, permitting thoſe who went away, either to carry with them their moveables, or to leave them with an Inventory, which he charged himſelf with the rendering an account of at the end of the Siege. He ſuffered the Souldiers to have neither Horſes nor Servants, but what they had abſolutely an occaſion for; forbidding any one to lay hand to Sword for private quarrels, upon pain of having their hands cut off.

After having ſpent the day in giving orders, and cauſing them to be put in execution, he employed what time he had left, in exerciſing the twelve Companies of Foot he had found in the City, and who had not yet bore Arms.

But theſe were not the only cares he was poſſeſſed with. Albert Marqueſſe of Brandenburgh was near Metz with an Army of twenty thouſand men, chaffering between the Emperour and the King, and ready to ſide with them who ſhould offer him moſt, or, to ſpeak more properly, waiting for an occaſion of rendering himſelf uſeful to one or other of the two Parties. Thus Guiſe was obliged to live in appearance with him, as with a Prince who gave Teſtimonies of his being for the Kings Intereſts, and who indeed might have been very uſeful to him; but at the bottom he diſtruſted him as a Traytor, who only waited for an opportunity to ſeize the Town, and ſell it very dear to the Emperour.

And indeed he made ſeveral Tryals, which only tended to that end; ſometimes making ridiculous demands, as when he made a propoſal to Guiſe of coming out of the Town to confer with him, ſometimes making ſuch complaints as there was no ground for, and in which it was impoſſible to give him ſatisfaction. But Guiſe knowing the man he had to do with, and the reaſons there were to manage him; he governed himſelf ſo dexteroufly, ſometimes granting one thing, and ſometimes not ſeeming to ſee others, that he broke all his meaſures, without giving him the leaſt reaſon to complain.

In the mean while the Emperours Army approached, which Guiſe having had notice of, he recalled his Cavalry, which he had left till then in the gathering in of the Harveſt, and to ſpare the Proviſions of the Town: He ordered them to break down all the Mills that were in the Emperours way, and to burn all the Amunition that they were not able to bring along with them.

The Duke of Alva came with fourteen thouſand men within half a League of the Town to view it. Guiſe knowing of what importance it is to a Commander, in the beginnings of a great Enterprize, to inſpire his Souldiers with a contempt of the Enemies, and the Enemies with a dread of his Souldiers, cauſed Strozzy to ſally out with a ſmall number of choſen men. The Skirmiſh laſted longer than was expected. Strozzy withſtood the effort of the Enemies, who were relieved three ſeveral times; and after having killed two hundred of their men, he returned to the Town, having loſt but five of his.

On the morrow Guiſe received a Letter from Lewis d' Avila General of the Spaniſh Cavalry. He redemanded of him a Slave who had made his eſcape into the Town, with a Horſe of great value that he had ſtoln from his Maſter. Guiſe ſent him back the Horſe, after having payed for him to the man whoſe Houſe he had found him at; but as for the Slave, he made anſwer, he ſhould never think of ſending back a man who was become free by ſetting foot upon the Territories of France, nor violate the moſt glorious priviledge of the Kingdom, which conſiſts in reſtoring all thoſe to their liberty who come to ſeek it there.

The King having ſent thrice to Marqueſs Albert to treat of an accommodation with him, and receiving only general anſwers, and which ſignified nothing, he begun to conſider him as an Enemy. This hindered the Troops and Artillery from paſſing to Metz, that were to be ſent thither, by reaſon he was poſted upon the way.

The Duke of Holſtein was already before the Town with Aiguemont and Brabanſon, who had brought an Army from the Low Countries: His Quarters were at the Mount de Chaſtillon; the Duke of Alva with his poſſeſſed the Abby of St. Arnould: Albert, after having defeated the Forces of the Marqueſs a' Aumale, who had attacked him indiſcreetly, and having taken D' Aumale himſelf Priſoner, made without difficulty his Treaty with the Emperour, and quitting the white Scarf for the red, he came and encamped at the Mount St. Martin with all his Troops. Thus Guiſe, having only a ſmall number of men in a great and ill fortified Town, ſaw himſelf beſieged by three Armies that mounted to above a hundred thouſand Foot, twenty three thouſand Horſe, a hundred and twenty pieces of Cannon, and ſeven thouſand Pioneers.

The truth is, that he reckoned much more upon thoſe he had with him, than he ſhould have done upon a much greater number. The rumour of this Siege, and the glory that was there to be acquired, had drawn ſeveral Volunteers, and all the conſiderable Perſons of Quality in the Kingdom. There were three Princes of the Blood, Anguien and Conde, Brothers to the King of Navarre, and Charles de la Roche-yon their Couſin; the Grand Priour of France, the Marqueſs d'Elborut; Guiſes his Brother, James of Savoy, Duke of Nemours, Francis of Vendoſme, Vidame of Chartes, Montmorency, and Danville, the Conſtable's Sons Horace Farneze, Duke of Caſtre, and ſeveral others whoſe names are found in particular Relations.

Guiſe was not ignorant what he might expect from ſo many brave men; but he knew likewiſe very well how difficult it is to rule Volunteers, who uſually thinking how to make appear their valour, pretend to ſerve after their own mode, will be in all places, and almoſt ever render themſelves uſeleſs by their over-eagerneſs for too great performances. Wherefore he ſhared the Compaſs of the Walls amongſt all the Princes and Lords in the Town: He made them agree that every one ſhould keep the Poſt that ſhould be allotted him, without undertaking to be in other places; and ordered, that all the Volunteers ſhould chuſe Companies, wherein they ſhould perform the duty of Souldiers, obeying their Captains, and doing nothing but by their orders, upon pain of being put out of the Town.

The Emperour having made ſome ſtay at Thionville, at length arrived at his Camp, and had his quarters in the Caſtle of Lorgne, behind the Abby of Saint Arnoul: His preſence having redoubled the ardour of his men, and after all his Artillery having been planted, they battered the Town after the moſt furious manner that was ever heard of. They fired in one day alone, forty thouſand Shots of Cannon, againſt that part of the Wall that is between the Platform of St. Mary, and the Gate of Champagn. This horrible Tempeſt continued for ſeveral days with the ſame fury, and with ſo great a noiſe, that Hiſtorians do aſſure, that it was heard forty Leagues from the Town.

The Beſieged did oppoſe ſuch violent efforts with an invincible courage, and a continual labour; Men and Women, Souldiers and Citizens being equally animated by the example of Guiſe, who found nothing below him, but ſpent Days and Nights in carrying Earth to repair the Ruines the Artillery had made, and to prevent thoſe it might make. At length the Tower of St. Michel, and that of Lignieres, not having been able to reſiſt the fury of the Cannon, were beaten to Powder: That of Vaſſieux was almoſt totally ruined; and in a few days after the whole Pan of the Wall that was between thoſe two Towers, of about a hundred and twenty paces in length, was overturned into the Falſe-bray.

But the French not being of a humour to ſpend their time in defending themſelves againſt Cannon Bullets, and repairing Breaches, cauſed Sallies to be daily made; and more Beſiegers than beſieged, they went to ſeek out their Enemies in their very Tents.

Guiſe himſelf choſe thoſe who were to ſally out every day; he ſtayed at the Gate with a body of reſerve to ſecond them, in caſe they were too much preſſed: and when they returned, he received them with that ſweetneſs, which is ſo agreeable in perſons who are raiſed above others, and gave them Commendations, which both recompenced and augmented their valour. And indeed this Conduct made his Men do things that are hardly credible. A Serjeant was ſeen with his Halbert, and followed only by five or ſix Souldiers, to clear a Trench, and drive from thence above three hundred Men: others went and nailed the Artillery, after having killed the Cannoneers upon their very Cannons. An infinite number of ſuch like actions may be ſeen in the Relation that Salignac has given of that Siege.

Guiſe from thence concluded, that the Emperour would not eaſily become Maſter of the Town. He wrote to the King, whom this Siege put in pain, that his Majeſty might turn his Arms where he pleaſed, and that he undertook to defend Metz ten Months entire. The King having received this News, cauſed his Army to march into Picardy, when he very luckily recovered Heſdin.

The Emperours Army had been already two Months before Metz without doing any thing, and were hardly able to reſiſt any longer againſt the rigour of the Winter, againſt Famine, and the diſeaſes the Camp was full of, and the continual Sallies of the beſieged.

This Prince ſeeing that the courage of his Men did daily diminiſh with their ſtrength; that there was a vaſt number whom miſery and cold had rendered uncapable of ſerving; and that of thoſe who were ſick, ſome quitted the Camp, others threatned to leave it: He reſolved to try at length a general Aſſault; The breach was ſufficiently great, and the Souldiers cryed dayly that they might be led to it, rather than ſuffer them to periſh thus miſerably by hunger and cold.

Guiſe being informed of this deſign, and ſeeing the Enemies were ranging in Battle, he on his ſide prepared to receive them. He gave his Orders with that chearfulneſs which is ſo neceſſary for inſpiring courage into Souldiers, who being not for the moſt part capable to judg of things by themſelves, ſeek in the looks of their Commander for what they are to hope or fear from the ſucceſs of an enterprize. He was ever ſaying ſomething that was obliging to all thoſe he met with, ſometimes commending the valour of ſome, and then again, promiſing recompence to others. In ſhort, all the brave Men in the Town being aſſembled upon the Rampart, Guiſe ſhewing them that long ſpace of Wall that was battered down, and through which the Enemies were preparing to mount; I am overjoyed, Gentlemen, ſaid he, to ſee that the Enemies have at length overturned that Barrier which put a ſtop to your Courage, and which was more uſeful to them than to us. It is very juſt, that after you had been ſo often to ſeek them out in their very Camp, they ſhould at leaſt come once, and take a view of this City, which they boaſted they would ſo eaſily Conquer. Here is now an occaſion of acquiring the Glory, which they will not often offer to you. Take advantage of it, Gentlemen, and acquaint all Europe, that have at preſent their Eyes upon you, that it has not been impoſſible for a ſmall number of French-men, to put a ſtop to an Emperour who beſieged them with three Armies, who vaunted that the Pillars of Hercules were not capable to put a ſtop to his Career. In the mean time the Emperour caus'd his Souldiers to advance; but they had no ſooner perceived the French in the Breach, and Guiſe at the head of them, than that they gave back, as if the French were coming to attacque them. It was to no purpoſe he joyn'd Prayers to threatnings; it was not in his Power to make Soldiers advance that were trembling, and full of all they had ſeen performed during the Siege: they were fain to carry the Emperour back to his Tents, out-raged with grief, and crying that he was abandoned, and had no longer any Men about him.

This enterprize having had ſuch ill ſucceſs, he had nothing left, but the deſpair of being obliged to raiſe the Siege. Famine, Cold, Diſeaſes, and the continual Salies of the Beſieged, had cauſed above a third part of his Army to periſh. The reſt could not be ſaved otherwiſe than by a Retreat, which he was forced to reſolve of, notwithſtanding all the Oaths he had made of taking the Town. It was then he was heard to ſay, That Fortune abandoned him to run to his Rival, who was younger than he.

Perhaps, never was a more ſhameful Retreat ſeen. The Emperour, who, it may be ſaid, made his eſcape to Thionville, had before his departure the vexation of ſeeing thoſe he beſieged come and kill his Soldiers in the very ſight of his Quarters. The Duke of Alva diſlodged in the Night, without beat of Drum, leaving all the Ammunition in the Camp, and all the Tents ſtanding. Guiſe having cauſed four pieces of Canon to be brought into a little Iſland, he pointed them againſt the Tents of Albert, and quickly commanded him to follow the reſt.

The Beſieged did not fail to ſally out after them; but their Fury was quickly changed into Compaſſion: They found in the Camp that was newly abandoned, all they could have found moſt dreadful in a Field of Battle, where a great Army had been cut to pieces, a horrible multitude of diſeaſed and wounded; the Earth covered with the Dead, and dying, weltring upon one another in the dirt; the Bodies of thoſe they had buried, lying half out of the Earth, with which they were ill-covered. Thoſe who were retreated were not in a much better condition. Moſt of them caſt away their Arms, as not having ſtrength to carry them any longer, and being hardly able to ſupport themſelves.

The Prince of Roche-ſur-Yon having overtaken ſome Troops of Spaniſh Cavalry, and offering to fight them, their Commander turning towards him, How do you think, ſaid he to him, we ſhould have Force to fight? You ſee that we have not enough left to run away from you.

Guiſe made appear as much Humanity in this occaſion, as he had ſhewn Valour and Conduct, during the Siege. He gave orders for the Burial of the Dead that were in the Camp. He cauſed the Sick to be brought into the Town, and having diſtributed them into Hoſpitals, he appointed Money to be given them for their return home, when they were recovered.

He ſent back to the Duke of Alva all ſuch of his Domeſticks as were Priſoners, and offered him as many covered Boats as he ſhould have occaſion of, for the carrying his Sick to Thionville.

Thus Guiſe ſtayed the Emperour three Months before a Town, that did not ſeem to be in a poſture of reſiſting one moment, againſt all Forces, with which it was attacqued. He gave ſuch good Orders, during the whole Siege, that the Enemies durſt never mount to the Aſſault, though the Place was but imperfectly fortified: While that with a ſmall number of Men, he daily made Sallies, which did more damage to Charles his Army, than the loſs of a Battle could have done.

He appointed a general Proceſſion for the rendring thanks to God; and to compleat that Ceremony by, as he would have it, an agreeable Sacrifice, he cauſed all ſuch of Luthers Books as were found in the Town, to be publickly burnt. After which he recalled the Inhabitants who had abſented themſelves during the Siege, and re-eſtabliſhed the uſuall Policy: and having, as well as he could, made amends to thoſe who had ſuffered any damages, he returned to Court.

The following Year the King having over-run the Low Countries with an Army of Fifty thouſand men, uſed all poſſible means to come to a Battle, before the Emperours Army ſhould be ſtrengthened by the Succours that were coming to him from Germany. He beſieged the Caſtle at Renty, concluding that the Emperour not being far diſtant, would run immediately to raiſe the Siege. He was not miſtaken in that Conjecture. Guiſe went to view the Town, and had like to have been killed by a Muſquet Bullet, which pierced his Cloaths; and the Emperour being come to encamp within a League of the Town, the French reſolved to take the advantage of an opportunity they had ſo long waited for.

The two Armies were ſeparated only by a Hill, which concealed them from one another. Upon this Hill there was a Wood, which neither Party had yet poſſeſſed themſelves of; notwithſtanding that it was extreamly neceſſary to them both: but it was principally to the Imperialiſts, whoſe Artillery might have incommoded extreamly the French Kings Army in the Valley at the bottom of this Hill, and without further trouble would have obliged him to have raiſed the Siege.

Guiſe making no doubt but that the Emperour would ſend men to take in that Poſt, cauſed three hundred Harquebuſiers, whom he himſelf had choſen out, to be conceal'd there, and placed ſome Corſebiteers before the Wood on the Enemies ſide, that he might the more eaſily draw them into the Ambuſcade, by Retreating when they ſhould be Attacqued.

The Imperialiſts fell into the Ambuſcade, and were repulſed with a very great loſs; but the Emperour hearing the noiſe of the Artillery, with which the Caſtle was continually battered, reſolved to make an Effort for the ſecuring it, and to hazzard all for the driving the French from their Poſt.

He drew up his Army in Battalia, and ſent two thouſand Horſe, four ſmall Field-pieces, and four thouſand Harquebuſiers, to diſ-lodge thoſe who were in the Woods.

Guiſe advanced to ſecond them with ſome Troops of Horſe, while that the King, to whom he had cauſed notice to be given, did himſelf diſpoſe and prepare his Army for the Fight.

Guiſe cauſed his Harquebuſiers to retire, and Retreated himſelf by little and little, that he might oblige the Imperialiſts to traverſe the Wood, and draw them into a little Plain, which was on the other ſide of the Hill, and near the French King's Quarters. They took this Retreat for a Flight, and no longer doubted of the Victory. Gonzagues ſent word to the Emperour, that he ſhould cauſe his Army to march in all haſte, and that the Vanguard of the French was put to rout. All the Imperial Army advanced immediately, with four ſmall pieces of Cannon, which were called the Emperours Piſtols, becauſe they were mounted upon four Wheels, and were eaſily turned on all ſides.

The firſt Battalions of the Enemies already appeared out of the Woods, and fired upon thoſe of the French Army, when that Guiſe ſeeing-them at length where he wiſhed them, came to the Head of his Regiment, that was moſt advanced in the Plain, and gave the Signal to the Duke of Nemours to begin the Charge. This firſt Attacque was very furious, and the French were ſharpely repulſed with the loſs of ſeveral Officers. But Guiſe and Nevers having rallied their Troops, and being ſeconded by all the Light Cavalry, commanded by d' Aumalle, they routed the firſt Battalion of the Germans: And the Duke of Nevers with his Regiment falling then upon, the Spaniſh Harquebuſiers, who were not able to reſiſt him, all the Enemies Army was put to rout. The Count of Vulfenfourt was obliged to fly as well as the reſt; though he had promiſed to tread the French Gendarmes under Feet, with two thouſand Rheiſtres, or German Horſe he Commanded; and who to appear the more terrible, had horribly coloured their Faces with black. The French gain'd in that Battle ſeventeen Enſignes Colours, five Cornets, and the four Field-Pieces that were brought into the Wood, and the Emperours Piſtols. About two hundred men were ſlain on their ſide, and two thouſand on the Enemies.

However, the Spaniards, if we may believe the Count of Rocca, who has written the Hiſtory of Charles the Fifth, imagined ſome time after that it was they who had gained the Victory; inſomuch that Don Lewis d' Avila diſtruſting, perhaps, the Teſtimony that the Hiſtorians give thereof, cauſed that Battle to be painted in his Country-Houſe, where the French were ſeen flying from their Enemies: And that Charles the Fifth, through a modeſty which the Author of his Hiſtory does not ſail to commend him for, was of Opinion the Piece ſhould be reformed, and that they ſhould draw the French making a Retreat; becauſe, ſaid he, it was rather an honourable Retreat, than a ſhameful Flight.

That day gave Birth to the hatred that broke out afterwards, between Guiſe and Admiral Chaſtillon, and which has had ſuch fatal Conſequences. Theſe two Lords had been ſuch Friends, during their Youth, as that they were not able to live without one another, wearing the ſame Colours, and dreſſing themſelves after the ſame manner. This ardour begun to cool, and Guiſe complained, that the Admiral had given him inſincere Connſels, in an affair of importance. The Admiral, whether through Reſentment or Envy, reported after the Battle, that Guiſe was not to be found where he ought to have been, during the Fight. They thereupon quarrelled in the Kings Chamber, who commanded them to embrace, and be as good Friends as formerly: but theſe kind of Injuries are never forgotten, nor are they ever pardoned.

In the mean time a Truce was made for five years, between the Emperour and the King. But Cardinal Caraffa would not ſuffer it to laſt long. This turbulent and reſtleſs Man, being ſhock'd with all that had an appearance of Peace, reported every where, that the King could not make an agreement, having an offenſive and defenſive League with his Unkle. He came Legate into France, and made ſo much noiſe againſt the Truce, that he made the King reſolve to break it.

The Council were in no wiſe for this Rupture; neither was it on that ſide that the Cardinal had made his Cabal. He gained the fair Dutcheſs of Valentinois, by his Gallantries, and the fine preſents he made her from the Pope and himſelf. She perſwaded the King to War, both out of acknowledgment to the Legate, and that Guiſe might have the Command of the Armies, with whom ſhe had contracted a great Friendſhip. Caraffa aſſured him of the Conqueſt of the Kingdom of Naples, which the Pope promiſed him the Inveſtiture of, and to which all thoſe of the Houſe of Lorrain have always had pretentions. Guiſe being naturally ambitious, ſuffered himſelf to be eaſily flattered with the hopes of a Crown; and he was likewiſe drawn in by the Counſels of the Cardinal of Lorrain his Brother, for whom he had ever too much deference. This was a violent Man, and to whom nothing appeared difficult; hold to undertake all things indifferently; and often abuſed the Authority of his Brother, that he might bring his own deſigns to paſs.

The King not knowing how to deny the Dutcheſs, ſent only for form ſake to the Emperour, and to Philip his Son, who was then King of Spain, to exhort them to withdraw their Troops out of the Territories of the Holy See. This Propoſition was received as a Declaration of War; and Guiſe full of great hopes, marched into Italy, at the Head of fifteen thouſand Men.

He was looked upon as one of the greateſt Generals of his Age, and beloved as the moſt Civil, beſt Bred Perſon of Quality at Court. Thus almoſt all the Nobility of France attended him in this expedition; ſome to learn their Trade under ſo great a Maſter; others to acquire Glory under a Commander, who being ſure of his own, bore no envy to that of his Souldiers.

It is in this occaſion that it muſt be confeſſed, that all the times of the Lives of great Men are not alike; for it is certain that Guiſe did not perform, in that War, all that was expected from him, whether he had not the Succours he ought to have had, or that he was ſo happy, as not to be able to ſucceed in a War that appeared manifeſtly unjuſt.

He immediately attacqued the City of Valenza, which he took without difficulty, and made but a kind of ſorry anſwer to the Emperours Lieutenant, in the Land of Milan, who complained of the infraction of the Truce.

After the taking of Valenza, the Council of War was of Opinion, that advantage ſhould be taken of the general Conſternation, and of the want of Men at that time in Milan. It is certain, that Guiſe might eaſily have conquered it: But he would never be perſwaded to ſtay, notwithſtanding the remonſtrances that were made him; whether, as he ſaid, he had moſt expreſs Orders to march on, or that the Idea of the Conqueſt of the Kingdom of Naples did not permit him to think of any thing elſe. Perhaps, one of the Reaſons that made him paſs on ſo faſt, was the fear of being obliged to yield the Command to the Duke of Ferrara, his Father in Law, who in the League that was made with the Pope, was nominated Generaliſſimo of the Kings Armies in Italy. For he knew very well, that this Prince, having Reaſons not to abſent himſelf from his Dominions, would never think of following the Army as far as Naples.

Whereupon he came to Bologne, where he neither found the Forces, nor the Ammunition they had given him hopes of. He made great Complaints thereof to Caraffa, who ſatisfied him with ill Reaſons, and Promiſes that had no effect; whether he had already made his Accomodation under-hand with the Spaniard, as ſeveral perſons have believed; or that he was a turbulent Man, who made it his buſineſs to breed Quarrels, and never troubled himſelf how to weather them.

Guiſe having ſent his Army to Geſi, came to Rome to pay his reſpects to the Pope; he ſtayed there near a Month, to wait perhaps, and ſollicite for the Succours that were promiſed him; but no Body did approve of this ſtay. And indeed though he could not have been reproached with leaving the Kings Forces uſeleſs, through his negligence; it was not very honourable to France to ſee a General that is ſent to be at the head of it's Armies, ſtay a whole Month amongſt Monks, and have the loweſt place at a Table of Cardinals. Upon which account there runs a Story of a Maſter of Requeſts of his Train, who went and placed himſelf below him, without being invited, that he might prevent, ſaid he, a General of the Armies of the King of France from having the loweſt place at Table.

Some were of opinion that he ſtayed at Rome to ſecure the Pontificate to his Brother, in caſe it ſhould come to be vacant. Whatſoever the reaſon was, being returned to his Army, he beſieged Civitella, and was obliged to raiſe the Siege after having ſtayed there three Weeks. He was likewiſe vigorouſly repulſed at an Aſſault he made, wherein he loſt above two hundred Men.

The famous Battle of Saint Quentin having brought France within an Ace of its Ruin, Guiſe was recalled in all haſte, and he joyfully quitted a Country where he met with no ſucceſs.

Never was Man received with a more general Applauſe. The King did him the Honour to tell him, that he was returned for the preſervation of the Kingdom: The People, who uſually are as eaſily comforted as they are afflicted, forgot at the ſight of him the misfortune that had occaſioned his coming back; and thoſe who two days before did not think themſelves ſecure in the midſt of Paris, demanded nothing more than to be led forth againſt the Enemy.

It was propoſed that Guiſe ſhould be made Vice-Roy: but this Title being new, and almoſt unknown in France, he was nominated Lieutenant General of the Kings Armies, within and without the Kingdom; and the Letters were verified in all the Parliaments.

Though it was then the midſt of Winter, it was thought important, for the Glory and Security of the Kingdom, to make ſome conſiderable enterprize.

It was not thought fit to go to Saint Quentin, which the Spaniards had fortified, and the ſight of which would only have ſerved to abate the Courage of the Souldiers, by renewing the remembrance of their defeat.

The reſolution having thereupon been taken in the Council, the Duke of Nevers, with one part of the Army, marched towards Campagne, giving out that he was going to take Luxembourg and Arlon. Guiſe came into Picardy, under the pretext of guarding the Frontier: after which he advanced, as if he deſigned to go re-inforce the Garriſons of Ardres, and of Bologne; and at length, the Forces of the Duke of Nemours having joyned him after great days Journeys, he cauſed his Army to march with incredible diligence, and came on the firſt of January before Calice, where he was not expected.

This Town did at that time belong to the Engliſh; but it was looked upon as the Spaniards, becauſe that Philip King of Spain wore then the Crown of England, having married Mary the Queen at that time.

The place is defended on one ſide by the Sea, and on the other by deep Marſhes, and by a River which almoſt wholly environs it.

Thus on the Land ſide you cannot approach it, but by a Ditch which is guarded by the Fort of Nieulay; and on the Sea ſide it has the Fort of Risban, which abſolutely Commands all the Port, and which can hinder all Ships, both great and ſmall, from coming in.

The ſucceſs of this enterprize conſiſted in diligence. Guiſe cauſed the two Forts to be Attacqued, and took them both in one day: after which, having raiſed a Battery againſt that part of the Town which is called the Water-gate, he began to Fire upon the Fortifications, as if he would have made his principal Attacque on that ſide: But the Enemies thinking they had only that part to defend, were much aſtoniſhed to ſee in an inſtant fifteen pieces of Canon pointed againſt the Caſtle, that was only environed by a ſimple Wall without Ramparts. The noiſe of the Artillery was ſo great, that it was heard as far as Antwerp; but it was not a noiſe to no purpoſe; for the ſame Evening the Breach was great enough to amount to the Aſſault.

Guiſe having cauſed Grammont to advance with three thouſand choſen Harquebuſiers, to hinder the Enemies from Re-trenching themſelves upon the Breach; he cauſed fifteen hundred Souldiers to paſs along the Port, under the Conduct of Dandelot, with order to ſink a Trench, and afterwards a Traverſe, which anſwered to the Canal of the Ditch they broke: and the Waters being emptied to the height of the Traverſe, Guiſe paſſed through the Water to the middle at the head of his Souldiers; and notwithſtanding the obſtinate reſiſtance of the Enemies, he became Maſter of the Caſtle, whither the Engliſh brought him the Keys of the Town the next day, and received the Conditions he thought fit to impoſe upon them.

Thus was that Town taken in leſs than ten days, which the Engliſh had held for two hundred and ten years. They took it in the Reign of Philip of Valois, in the year 1347. though it was not fortified at that time: the Siege laſted a whole year; and John of Vienna, who Commanded there for the King, did not deliver it up till that he ſaw his Souldiers half dead of Hunger, and that they were no longer able to bear their Arms. But ſince that time, the Engliſh had fortified it after ſuch a manner, as that it paſſed for impregnable, and for this reaſon the French had been ſo long without daring to undertake to drive them from thence.

He afterwards took, with the ſame Rapidity, the Town of Guines, and that of Hames: He made himſelf Maſter of all the County of Oye, and in leſs than a Month drove the Engliſh out of France, after their having been ſettled there for two Ages, without the French being able to force them thence.

The year after he beſieged Thionville, with the Duke of Nevers, This place was taken with a great deal of pain; and Guiſe had like to have been killed there, by a Cannon Shot, which took away Marſhal Strozzy, upon whoſe Shoulder he was leaning.

But while that his Army, after the taking of Thionville, ſpent their time in ſeeing the little City of Arlon on Fire, which the Enemies had abandoned, and in making Skirmiſhes near Luxemburg, they received news of the defeat of Thermes, whoſe Troops had been cut in pieces by the Count d' Aiguemont in the Neighbourhood of Gravelines.

This loſs had like to have ruined France. Some have laid the fault upon Guiſe, who might have prevented it by joyning with Thermes as ſoon as the Siege was at an end. They likewiſe ſay, that it was ſo reſolved in the Kings Council. Perhaps there might be ſome neglect on his ſide. But I cannot believe what a famous Author ſays, that he affected this delay to give occaſion to this defeat, which he looked upon as the augmentation of his Authority.

There was a great number of Rheiſtres, or German Troopers, in the Army, of whom the Baron of Lunebourg was one of the principal Commanders. As Guiſe was one day viſiting the Camp, that German, who was brave and violent, and in whom Wine had that day augmented his natural fierceneſs, fell into ſuch a paſſion againſt Guiſe, as to offer to fire at him. Guiſe having drawn his Sword without being concerned, ſtruck his Piſtol out of his hand; and ſeeing that Montpeſat was going to kill that inſolent Man, Hold, Montpeſat, cryed he to him, you know not how to kill a man better than I do. I could kill him, if I had a mind. I pardon thee, ſaid he to the Baron, the Injury thou haſt done me; I might have revenged my ſelf: but as for that which thou haſt done to the King, whoſe Perſon I here repreſent, it is for him to do what Juſtice he ſhall think fit. And taking him immediatly by the Belt, he ſent him to Priſon, and proceeded to viſit the Camp, with a hundred Horſe, not one of the Rheiſtres daring to ſtir, though they are naturally mutinous and ſeditious.

The Marriage of the Dauphin with Mary Steward, which was celebrated towards the end of the War, had raiſed Guiſe, who was Uncle to the Dauphineſs, above all others in the Kingdom.

It was he, who at the Ceremony of the Nuptials, had performed the Office of Lord High Steward, in the Conſtables abſence, who was taken Priſoner at the Battle of Saint Quentin.

The Peace was made, and the Conſtable returned; and Guiſe being become leſs neceſſary, quickly ſaw the favour he was in diminiſhed. He had rendered great Services to his Maſter, but he affected too much to make him ſenſible of the importance of them: and Soveraigns make little difference between the Injuries and the Services that are valued to them at too high a rate. And indeed, Guiſe believing that nothing could be refuſed to his merrit, had had the boldneſs to demand of the King the Charge of Lord High Steward, which the Conſtable was poſſeſſed of. The King refuſed it him, however, and then remembred the Counſel that Francis the Firſt had given him, as he lay a dying; which was, to be diffident of the natural Ambition of the Guiſes, and to remove them from the Government, that otherwiſe their their riſe would be the fall of the Royal Family.

On the other ſide, the Dutcheſs of Valentinois, whom the Guiſes were indebted to for one part of their Grandeur, complained of their change of Conduct towards her. Guiſe did no longer pay her thoſe devoirs; and the Cardinal of Lorrain, inſolent in good Fortune, and as proud of the fine actions of his Brother, as if he had performed them himſelf, begun to treat her very ſcornfully.

This haughty and imperious Woman, who ſaw all bend before her, was not of a humour to bear with the Contempts of the Cardinal, whom ſhe looked upon as her Creature, and hardly ever called him otherwiſe than Maſter Charles. She made her complaints to the King, whoſe mind was already perfectly diſpoſed to receive them, and it is certain, that he was reſolved to remove thoſe two Brothers, with both whom he was equally diſſatisfied, when he was prevented by his Death, which happenned in ſuch a manner as all the World knows.

Never had the Guiſes ſeen themſelves ſo near their ruin, and never did they ſee themſelves ſo raiſed. It ſeemed as if all things would have conſpired to render them Maſters of the Kingdom. King Francis the Second, weak in Body, and yet more feeble in mind, ſuffered himſelf to be abſolutely governed by his Wife, who was their Niece. The Queen-Mother, who hated the Conſtable, and ſtood in fear of the Princes of the Blood, cauſed the firſt to be diſcharged by the King, and removed the others upon divers pretexts: The Guiſes remained alone at Court, and ſhe was obliged to contribute to the Augmentation of their Authority, for the ſupporting her own.

The King declared to the Depuputies of the Parliament, who came to kiſs his Hand, that he had ſhared the Government of the State amongſt his Uncles; that Guiſe ſhould have care of the War, and that the Cardinal ſhould govern the Revenue.

The Dutcheſs of Valentinois was put away, and the Conſtable conſtrained to yield up at length his Charge of Lord High Steward to Guiſe, who had ſo long aimed at it.

Thus Guiſe being Maſter of the Armies, by the diviſion that was newly made, and Maſter of the Kings Perſon by this laſt Office, had the ſame Authority in the Kingdom as the Maires of the Palace had under the King of the former Race; and we may ſay that it was he who reigned in the King and Regents Name.

The laſt Wars had drained the Treaſury, and the Demeſn was almoſt wholly engaged; in the mean time nothing was ſeen at Fountainbleau, where the Court was at that time, but People who demanded ſome Payments, others Recompences, with an extraordinary Importunity. The Cardinal of Lorrain bethought himſelf of a way conformable to his humour, to free himſelf from theſe troubleſom Sollicitors. He cauſed Proclamation to be made by ſound of Trumpet, that all thoſe who were at Court upon account of Petitioning, ſhould be gone within four and twenty hours, upon pain of being Hanged upon a Gibbet that was ſet up before the Caſtle.

It is incredible how much this extravagant Order did incenſe People againſt its Author, and againſt Guiſe likewiſe; though he had no Hand in it. For notwithſtanding that he was naturally mild and moderate, we may ſay that he rendered himſelf an Accomplice of the violences and extravagances of his Brother, by not hindring them, and often likewiſe by helping him to put in execution ſuch deſignes as he ought to have oppoſed.

Thus the Publick, ſeeking uſually in its misfortunes only whom to complain of, almoſt equally accuſed them both.

The Princes of the Blood, and the Collignies made uſe of that occaſion to diſturb the Government, which they had but little reaſon to be ſatisfied with, being they had no ſhare in it. They formed the famous Conſpiracy of Amboiſe, which I ſhall not here give an account of, becauſe it is not a Hiſtory, but a Life that I write: And beſides it has been ſo exactly deſcribed by all our Hiſtorians, that it would be only a uſeleſs Repetition.

Their deſign was to kill Guiſe and his Brother, and afterwards to oblige the King to give to the Princes and the Collignies the ſhare they pretended was due to them in the Adminiſtration of the Kingdom. The Liberty of Conſcience, which they demanded, did only help them to cover their intentions with a ſpecious Title, and to increaſe their Party, by engaging therein the Hugonots, who hated the Guiſes mortally, as having always been perſecuted by them.

The Court was at Blois when they had the firſt notice of this Conſpiracy. The Cardinal, more fearful than a Woman, already fancied that all was loſt, and would have had them cryed out to Arms. But Guiſe, who was not eaſily ſtartled, did rightly gueſs that ſuch a Buſtle would only help to defer the miſchief, inſtead of curing it; that it was requiſite to diſſemble, that the Plotters might come and deliver themſelves up; and that their preſence being their Conviction, would at the ſame time ſpare the trouble of ſeeking and convicting them.

In the mean time, as able Men know how to take advantage even of the misfortunes that happen to them; Guiſe ſo ordered the buſineſs, that this Plot, which was laid to deſtroy his Authority, did only help the more to augment and ſettle it.

He made known to the King, that there was a horrible Conſpiracy againſt the Royal Family, and that the Princes had reſolved to deprive him of his Crown, and his Life. The King being in a fright, and not knowing what Reſolution to take, deſired Guiſe to ſuccour him in an occaſion wherein he did not find himſelf capable of doing any thing himſelf; and at the ſame time declared him Lieutenant General in all the Provinces of his Dominions, with full Power to do all he ſhould judge uſeful for the good of the Kingdom: Theſe are the terms of the Commiſſion that was given him. The Chancellour oppoſed it with all his Power, but his reſiſtance was abſolutely to no purpoſe; and the Queen Mother, who was the beſt in the World at ſeeming to deſire things which ſhe could not hinder, was conſtrained to be aiding to it.

The Rendevouze of the Conſpirators was at Blois: Guiſe, to break their meaſures, carried the King to Amboiſe. They came thither, without being ſtartled at this change: but the prudence of Guiſe, and the good Orders he gave every where, rendered their deſigns Abortive. A great number of them were killed in the Woods, where they had hid themſelves, and amongſt others la Renaudie their Leader. Others, were carried to Amboiſe, where during ſeveral days there was nothing ſeen but horrible Executions, which they obliged the King to look at from a Window. The blood flowed along the Streets, and the Walls of the Caſtle were covered with Bodies of the Conſpirators, whom they hanged at the Battlements, all Booted, and without any form of Proceſs, but only as they were brought into the Town.

What care ſoever the Guiſes took to perſwade the King, that this Conſpiracy was only deſigned againſt his Perſon, and againſt his Royal Brothers; they could not prevent his hearing ſometimes Rumours of the averſion the People had for them. This poor Prince frighted with hearing them ſay every moment, that there was a deſign to kill him, and to ſee ſo many Wretches put to Death dayly, told them ſometimes weeping: What have I then done to my People, that ſhould oblige them to have ſuch an averſion for me? Is it not you, My Lords, they aim at? And would it not be convenient that you ſhould withdraw for ſome time, that we might ſee if your abſence would not put an end to theſe diſorders? But they did not think fit to take this courſe; and beſides, it would have been imprudent in them to have abandoned the Kings Perſon to Rebellious Subjects, who had only taken up Arms becauſe they were not ſatisfied with the Government.

The Prince of Conde, who was without doubt the chief of the Conſpirators, was come to Amboiſe to favour their enterprize. The King being perfectly informed of it, forbid him to go out of the Town without his Order, and appointed Guards to attend him.

But the Conſpiracy being entirely diſſipated, he beſeeched the King to call his Council, and to cauſe all the Ambaſſadours to be there. Having complained there with that confidence, which does ſo well immitate Innocence, of the ill Impreſſions ſome Perſons would have inſinuated into the King of his Conduct, and principally as to what had newly happened; he ended his diſcourſe with ſaying, That if there was any one who durſt maintain that he had had a Hand in the Conſpiracy, he offered to give him the Lie at the point of his Sword, and for that purpoſe would renounce the Priviledges that his Quality gave him.

Guiſe knowing well enough that this Diſcourſe was meant to him, anſwered with ſuch a diſſimulation as equalled the Princes aſſurance; That the reports which the Princes complained of, ought not to be ſuffered; that no body ought to doubt, but that he was very innocent: but that if he ſhould come to Fight, for to prove his innocence, he ſhould have no greater Joy than to offer him his Sword, and to ſerve him for a Second.

Theſe fine Proteſtations did not hinder him from adviſing the King to cauſe the Prince to be taken into Cuſtody: but as they had reaſon to believe that the King of Navarre his Brother had a hand in the Conſpiracy, and that it would have been to no purpoſe to have confined the one without the other, they thought convenient to refer the doing it till another opportunity.

The Conſtable, who was retired to Chantilly, had order to come and inform the Parliament of what had paſſed at Amboiſe. He acquitted himſelf of this Commiſſion after ſuch a manner, as was diſagreeable to the Guiſes; for he made known that the Plot was only againſt them, and that there was no Conſpiracy againſt the Kings Perſon, as they would have had it believed. He added That however the Conſpirators had been juſtly treated after the manner they had been: For if particular Perſons of Quality cannot ſuffer without ſhame, that their Domeſticks, or thoſe they take under their Protection, ſhould be inſulted; it was not ſtrange that the King had taken an exemplary vengeance of the attempt they had had the boldneſs to make upon the Principal Miniſters of State.

In the mean time the Parliament wrote a Letter to the King, upon what had newly happened; and another to Guiſe, wherein they gave him the glorious Name of Preſerver of their Country; what ſervices ſoever he might have rendred to the State in this Rencounter, the Parliaments acknowledgment ſeemed extraordinary, and ſomething below the Dignity of ſo great a Company.

In the mean time an Aſſembly was Convened at Fontainbleau, to deliberate about the means of appeaſing the Troubles which aroſe in the Kingdome: For thoſe who in good truth did demand Liberty of Conſcience, and thoſe who conſidered it only as a pretext to revolt, made more noiſe than ever.

In this Aſſembly, Guiſe and the Cardinal of Lorrain gave publickly an account of their Adminiſtration. After which, ſeveral means were propoſed to accommodate affairs of Religion: but the minds of People were too much heated; and neither Party would come to an accommodation, though they ſeemed ſo earneſt for it. The Guiſes were reſolved to ſpare nothing for the preſerving their Power; and the others were determined to attempt all things for the deſtroying it, and put themſelves in the place of their Enemies.

The King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde could not be perſwaded to come thither, notwithſtanding all the Inſtances that had been made them. Thus the Admiral, who after them was the moſt conſiderable of their Party, was the Man who ſpoke for the Hugonots. He preſented a Requeſt to the King in their Name, by which they demanded Churches in all the Cities of the Kingdom, and a full liberty for the Exerciſe of their Religion. The King received the requeſt; and it being wondered at, that it was not Signed, the Admiral had the boldneſs to anſwer, That he would eaſily cauſe it to be Signed by fifty thouſand men. He added, That it was ſtrange that they ſhould bring up the King, as they did, in diſtruſt and fear, and that he was always environed with Soldiers, as if he had been in the midſt of his Enemies.

The Guiſes replyed, with a great deal of ſharpneſs, to what the Admiral had ſaid: That if the King was obliged to keep Souldiers about his Perſon, the fault was in them who had dared to Conſpire againſt his Life; and that if there were fifty thouſand Rebels ready to Sign the Requeſt that was preſented, there would be found millions of Subjects, that were faithful to their Religion and their Prince, and would be able to ſuppreſs the enterpriſe that ſhould be made againſt either of them. The Aſſembly ſeparated without doing any thing, they only Convened the States at Meaux, for the Month of December following, and gave Orders, that they ſhould ceaſe putting to Death thoſe of the new Religion, who were at that time too numerous to hope they could be deſtroyed by Puniſhments.

The Prince of Conde was retired to his Brother in Bearne, where he was contriving a new Conſpiracy againſt the Guiſes. La Sague, whom he had ſent to Paris, was taken into Cuſtody at Eſtampes, as he was upon his return encharged with Letters and Memoires. It was diſcovered that the Princes were to come to Court, and that they had taken meaſures to ſeize on, in their paſſage, the beſt Cities that were in their way. Theſe things were confeſſed by La Sague, whom they had terrified; for the Letters did contain in appearance, only meer Civilities, that had nothing Criminal. But when, by the Information of that Man, they had made them have a hand in the Plot, they found the Papers were to be interpreted after another way, and ſeveral things were diſcovered. They found written by Dardoir the Conſtables Secretary's hand, that his Maſter ſtill perſiſted in the Deſign of ridding himſelf of the Guiſes; which might be effected, maugre the Queen and the States; and in order to that; the preſence of the Princes was only expected. Dardoir added of his own Head, that the execution of this Deſign appeared difficult to ſeveral, and that it would be more expedient, that the Princes, at their arrival at Court, ſhould cauſe the Guiſes to be killed by truſty people; that this would change in an inſtant the face of things; and that then they would not find it difficult to get all affairs into their own hands.

Guiſe kept theſe Memoires, without making any noiſe, being reſolved to make uſe of them upon occaſion.

And indeed the States, who were appointed to meet at Meaux, having been removed to Orleans, Guiſe ordered his buſineſs ſo well, that he engaged the two Princes to come thither, notwithſtanding the earneſt advice of all their Friends, who would have diverted them from that Journey; and notwithſtanding the juſt reaſons they had of themſelves to diſtruſt the uſages they ſhould meet with there.

The Prince of Conde was taken into Cuſtody at his arrival, and within a few days having been brought to a Tryal before Commiſſioners, whom the King had nominated, he was condemned to loſe his Head.

We cannot read without horrour what was reported at that time, and which has ſince been written, That the Guiſes fearing the reſentments of the King of Navarre, and concluding beſides, that their Authority would never be peaceable nor ſecure, as long as there ſhould remain a Prince of the Blood to conteſt it, they had undertaken to rid themſelves of them; but by ſuch means, as, if they had been ſucceſsful, would have cauſed the whole Royal Family to have periſhed by it ſelf; that the King, whom they had made to comprehend how important it was, not to ſuffer a Prince to live who might revenge the Death of the Prince of Conde, was to ſend for the King of Navarre to his Chamber, that he ſhould reproach him in very ſharp terms, with the Crimes of his Brother, and the juſt reaſons of complaint he had againſt himſelf; the Prince would either confidently deny, or at leaſt vindicate himſelf with too much heat, and thereupon he was to be ſtabbed to Death by People the King ſhould give a ſign to, and who were to be in Ambuſcade. Others add, that this Prince had notice of the danger which threatned him, and after having conſidered a long time of what he had to do, he reſolved to run the hazzard of what might happen; and that having told his mind to one of his faithfulleſt Domeſticks, as he was upon the point of going into the Kings Chamber, If it happen, ſaid he to him, that I fall under the multitude and the treachery of my Enemies, take my Shirt all bloody, carry it to my Wife and my Son; they will read in my Blood what they ought to do to revenge me. That then he went to the King, who durſt not, or who would not give the Signal they had agreed of; and that Guiſe being vexed to ſee his enterpriſe thus fail, cryed out to thoſe who were with him, What a poor Prince have we?

Though the recital alone of this Story makes it ſeem incredible, principally in regard of Guiſe, who was not capable of adviſing an Aſſaſſinate; I thought my ſelf obliged to mention it here, as I have found it written by the Hiſtorians of that time.

The King being ſeized by a violent ſickneſs, the ſtate of things was very much changed: The Guiſes ſeeing that it muſt needs have a very ill iſſue, preſſed the Queen to put the Prince of Conde to Death, and to take the King of Navarre into Cuſtody.

But this Princeſs being ambitious to Govern, and no longer able to bear with the Authority of the Guiſes, did not think fit to do a thing that would have contributed to the confirming it.

She took meaſures wholly contrary: She came to an accommodation with the Princes; and the King being dead, the Prince was ſet at liberty. As he was haughty and imperious, he did not conceal his reſentments againſt ſuch perſons as he believed to have been the Authors of his Impriſonment; and he cauſed thoſe to tremble in their turn, who two days before thought themſelves Maſters of his Life. And the King of Navarre, conſenting that the Queen ſhould have the Regency, was declared Lieutenant General of the Kingdom.

The agitation of a Court filled with ſo many ſeveral Intereſts, and the Devoirs which they crowded to pay the new King, cauſed thoſe to be forgotten which they owed the King who was newly expired. His Body was carried to Saint Denis, being only attended by Sanſac and la Broſſe, who had been his Governours, and Lewis Guillard Biſhop of Senlis, who was blind.

People were not ſatisfied with the Guiſes, though they excuſed themſelves that they had ſtayed with their Niece to comfort her: It was thought ſtrange, that there being ſix Brothers of them at Court, not one had accompanied the Corps of a Prince who had been ſo kind to them during his Life. They were likewiſe reproached with their ingratitude, after a very ingenuous manner. There was faſtened upon the Pall of the Coffin a Ticket, wherein theſe words were written: Tanneguy du Chaſtel, Where art thou? This Tanneguy du Chaſtel had been Lord High Chamberlain under Charles the Seventh, who had baniſhed him, though he had rendered great Services to the King and the State. But this ill uſage not having been able to ſtifle the acknowledgements of the benefits he had formerly received, as ſoon as he knew of the Death of his Maſter, he came to bewail him upon his Coffin, and did at his own charges the Funeral Rites which no one would take care of.

The Queens Ambition was the preſervation of the Guiſes, but without their being obliged to her for it. She was affraid, that by their removal, the Princes would abſolutely become Maſters: Thus ſhe entertained both Parties, that ſhe might make uſe of the one to poiſe the Authority of the other.

Things were, during ſome days, in a pretty great Tranquillity: But the moſt prudent eaſily perceived that this Calm could not laſt long. The King of Navarre being grown haughty with his new Authority, and thinking that he might at length oblige Guiſe to renounce the Government, ſought only to vex him upon all occaſions. He quarrelled with him for keeping the Keys of the Caſtle, as Lord High Steward, and pretended that they were to be brought to him, as being Lieutenant General of the Kingdom. The Queen not daring to Condemn this Prince openly, propoſed the bringing the Keys to her: but this temperament did not pleaſe him, he threatned her to retire, if Guiſe was not removed, and to take with him all the Princes of the Blood, and the Conſtable likewiſe, whoſe Authority was very great at that time. The Queen, in this perplexity, cauſed the Conſtable to be forbidden to leave the Court: he obeyed more willingly than was expected, and this ſtayed the King of Navarre, who was affraid they would accuſtom themſelves to be without him, as they had done in the former Reign.

In the mean time the Admiral had got ſuch an influence over the Queen, that ſhe did nothing but by his Counſel, both as to Religion and the Government of the State. The Conſtable, who was fixed to the Catholick Religion, preferrably to all the Intereſts at Court, was ſhocked at the Queen's Conduct. He could not bear ſhe ſhould permit the Hugonots to exerciſe their Religion in the very Louvre, nor that ſhe obliged the King to aſſiſt at the Sermons of the Biſhop of Valence, whoſe Sentiments were but too much ſuſpected. He repreſented to her that it was againſt the Kings honour and Conſcience, to ſuffer the exceſſes that were daily committed in his very Family, contrary to the Religion he made profeſſion of. But ſeeing that his Remonſtrances were to no purpoſe, and that this Princeſs only conſidered things as they might augment or diminiſh her Authority, he begun to withdraw himſelf from her intereſts.

The Marſhal de Saint Andre did dexterouſly make uſe of that Conjuncture to unite the Conſtable with Guiſe, who deſired nothing more: He ſucceeded in his undertaking. Theſe two Lords had ever had a very pure and ſincere affection for the Catholick Religion; and we may ſay that it is to them France is indebted for the Conſervation of it in that Kingdom.

Thus they paſſed over the ſeveral Intereſts which ſeparated them from one another, and forgot their ancient Enmities, to unite themſelves in the Deſign of oppoſing the enterprizes of the Hugonots. The Conſtable went to the Communion with Guiſe on Eaſter-day, and in the Evening they ſupped together at the Conſtable's Houſe, with the Prince of Joinville, Guiſe's Son, and the Marſhal de Saint Andre. The Conſtable going afterwards to Chantilly, Guiſe retired to his Houſe at Nanteuil, which is not far diſtant, and from whence he wrote to him very often. He ſtayed there till Spring, and then followed the King who was going to be Crowned at Rheimes.

Upon the occaſion of this Ceremony, there aroſe a diſpute for precedence between Guiſe and the Princes of the Blood, the ſource of which was as followeth.

There was formerly but twelve Peers of France, ſix Eccleſiaſticks, and ſix Laicks: But all the Titles of the Laicks having been ſuppreſſed, whether by the Re-union of their Lands to the Crown, or otherwiſe, the Kings have reſerved to themſelves the power of honouring with that Quality thoſe they ſhall think fit, without confining themſelves to the number which is no longer limited. However, for the preſerving the memory of the firſt Inſtitution, the Cuſtom is, That at the Coronation of Kings, beſides the ſix Eccleſiaſtick Peers who aſſiſt at the Ceremony, ſix others are choſen from amongſt the Laicks, who repreſent the ſix ancient ones, and who aſſiſting there only in Quality of Peers, have no other Rank amongſt them than that of their Seniority, without having regard to the Offices they are otherwiſe poſſeſſed of: Inſomuch, by example, that a meer Gentleman would take place there of the Conſtable, if he had been made Peer before him.

The diſpute was to know if this Cuſtome ought to reach to the Princes of the Blood. The Prince of Montpenſier pretended to go before Guiſe, though Guiſe was a more ancient Peer than he. He ſaid that the quality of a Prince of the Blood eminently contained all the others; and that this was the reaſon that thoſe who had the honour to be ſo, did not take their Rank among them according to their Dignities, but according as they were more or leſs related to the Kings Perſon. Guiſe made anſwer, That Montpenſier, not aſſiſting at that Ceremony as Prinoc of the Blood, but only as Peer of France, his quality ought not to regulate the precedence in that occaſion. But his beſt reaſon was, that Cuſtome was for him; his Father at the Coronation of Henry the Second, and he himſelf at that of Francis the Second, having preceeded the Princes of the Blood. Thus he walked immediately after the King of Navarre, and before the Prince of Montpenſier, though Prince Alexander, who was afterwards King, under the name of Henry the Third, went before the King of Navarre.

As it was difficult, after what had paſſed, but that the Prince of Conde, who was at Court, ſhould daily meet with Guiſe, without ſhowing him his diſpleaſure in ſuch a manner as might have very ill conſequences, there was an accommodation propoſed between them, which was effected after this manner. The King having ſent for them both to him, in the preſence of all the Court, and having ordered Guiſe to ſpeak firſt, he told the Prince: Sir, I neither have had, nor would have had a hand in any thing which ſhould he againſt your Honour or your Life, nor was I the Author, Motive, nor Inſtigator of your Impriſonment: To which the Prince made anſwer: Sir, I look upon the Perſon or Perſons as baſe and wicked, who were the occaſion of it. Thereupon Guiſe replyed: I am of the ſame Opinion; but it does not at all touch me. After which the King deſired them to embrace one another, and to remain good Friends.

In the mean time the Admirals Credit augmented every day, and Guiſe not being able to bear with the publick contempt there was had of Religion, nor perhaps of the diminution of his Authority, withdrew to his own Houſe, after having complained to the Queen of the Protection ſhe gave to the Hugonots. The Conſtable, the Marſhal of Saint Andre, the Cardinal of Lorrain, and the Duke of Nemours were all of the ſame Cabal, and retired likewiſe at the ſame time.

Guiſe did not remain idle in his Retreat. He intereſſed the King of Spain in his diſcontent: and this Prince ſhared in it the more willingly, in that he ſought nothing more, than an occaſion of ſhowing his Zeal for the Catholick Religion, by ſeizing on the reſt of the Territories of the King of Navarre, who openly countenanced the Hugonots.

Guiſe advantageouſly made uſe of that occaſion with Anthony, who was naturally fearful. He thereupon promiſed him a match between him and Mary Steward, and to cauſe the Kingdom of Scotland to be given him, or to cauſe the King of Spain to deliver to him Sardaign.

Anthony, who knew himſelf well enough, to judge that of himſelf he could never oblige the King of Spain to reſtore Navarre to him, liſtened greedily to theſe propoſitions; and was at length ſo well perſwaded, that he entered into very ſtrict engagements with Guiſe, and withdrew himſelf wholly from the Hugonots Party, which his Brother the Prince of Conde was the Head of.

Then Guiſe knowing that having the King of Navarre on his ſide, who was Lieutenant General of the Kingdom, he ſhould be ſtronger than his Enemies, he reſolved to return to Paris, where he was impatiently expected.

As he paſſed through Vaſſy, a ſmall City of Champagne, word was brought him, that the Hugonots held their meeting in a Barn hard by. A Company of inſolent and uſeleſs people, who are ever following great Perſons, run thither immediately, and who never ſhow any Zeal to their Religion, but by out-raging thoſe who were not of it: They begun to exclaim againſt the Hugonots, calling them Dogs and Rebels to their King. Theſe injuries were repulſed by others: in ſhort, they came to blows; and Guiſe running thither to put an end to this diſorder, received by chance a blow with a Stone, which covered all his Face with Blood. Then his Domeſticks, believing their Violence authorized by his wound, could not be withheld by his threatnings or his Prayers: they fell upon the Hugonots, who had not Armes; there was about two hundred wounded in that unlucky Encounter, and near ſixty killed upon the place.

This is what was called the Maſſacre of Vaſſy, and which has been ſo diverſly reported, according to the ſeveral intereſts of thoſe who have written thereof, inſomuch that one Writer has had the Confidence to affirm, that Guiſe led his Men to the attacque of that Barn, as to an Aſſault, the Trumpets ſounding, and himſelf marching at the head of them with his Sword drawn.

The Prince of Conde, waiting only for an occaſion to be ſtirring, did not fail to make a great Buſtle for what happened at Vaſſy. Francour and Beza came to the King at Monceaux, to complain thereof, in the name of all the Hugonot Party. But the King of Navarre, being no longer on their ſide, treated them as ſeditious in the Kings preſence, and ſent them back with ſmall ſatisfaction.

But the Queen, who countenanced the Hugonots more than ever, had entered into ſuch ſtrict engagements with the Prince of Conde, and the Admiral, that they governed in her name. In ſhort, the Catholick Religion was upon the point of being baniſhed France, if Guiſe, the Conſtable, and the Marſhal de Saint Andre, who ſaw that on its ruin that of their Authority depended, had not reſolved to oppoſe vigorouſly all that the Queen ſhould do in order to its deſtruction. The Hugonots hereupon called this Union the Triumvirate.

The buſineſs of Vaſſy had made ſo much noiſe, as that it was impoſſible but that it ſhould have very ill Cenſequences; and Guiſe meditated a Journey to Paris that was ſuſpected by the Prince of Conde and the Queen. He was come from Joinville to his houſe of Nanteuil, where he received Letters, by which ſhe ordered him not to go to Paris, and to come to the King without being accompanied. But Guiſe, finding himſelf ſupported by the King of Navarre, and being willing to make known to the Hugonots that he did not fear them, made anſwer, that he was taken up with receiving his Friends, and that after he ſhould have acquitted himſelf of that Devoir, he would ſee what he had to do. The Marſhal de Saint Andre uſed the ſame language, and told the Queen, who ordered him to retire from his Government, that conſidering the poſture Affairs were in, it was the Duty of his place not to abandon the Kings Perſon.

However, notwithſtanding the Queens Orders, Guiſe came to Paris with a numerous Train. The Provoſt of the Merchants and the Sheriffs went to meet him, and the people received him as a Man ſent from Heaven for the preſervation of their Religion: And indeed there was no longer any hopes but in him. The Queen ſeemed to approve of the enterprizes of the Hugonots, inſtead of ſuppreſſing them, and her protection had rendered them ſo inſolent, that they daily committed new Diſorders, inſomuch that the Prieſts could hardly carry the Hoſt through the Streets, without being expoſed to the inſults of the Rabble.

The Queen, outraged at Guiſes contemning her Orders, and fearing the effects of the ſtrict Union that was formed between him and the King of Navarre, reſolved to unmask, and to put her own and the Kings Perſon into the hands of the Prince of Conde. The Prince was at Paris with a great Train when Guiſe arrived there. He went from thence ſome days after, upon Condition that Guiſe ſhould do the like; and retired to his Houſe de la Ferte, where he ſecretly raiſed Men, and took meaſures with the Queen for the putting their deſign in Execution.

Guiſe, who let nothing eſcape his knowledge, ſeeing of what moment it was to prevent them, put a Garriſon of fifteen hundred Men into Paris, and being followed by a great number of armed Men, and accompanied by the King of Navarre, whoſe timidity he reaſſured by his Reſolution, he went to the Queen at Fontainbleau.

He repreſented to her that the Prince of Conde was arming underhand; that he was juſtly ſuſpected of having dangerous deſigns; and that it was not convenient the King ſhould remain any longer in a place where he was too much expoſed to the attempts that might be made upon his Perſon.

The Queen, ſurprized to ſee her ſelf diſcovered, asked them with great concern, if they had forgot the reſpect that was due to her, and if they were come to uſe violence? To which Guiſe made anſwer for the King of Navarre and himſelf. We know, Madam, the reſpect that is due to you, and we will never be wanting in it, as long as we live; but we ought to anſwer to the State for the Kings Perſon. You are Miſtreſs, and may ſtay here as long as you pleaſe; but the fidelity we owe our Prince, obliges us to carry him this very day to a place where he may have nothing to fear from his Rebel Subjects. And immediately they carried the King to Paris; and the Queen, not being able to hinder it, was obliged to follow them, after having written a Letter to the Prince of Conde, to teſtifie to him how ſorry ſhe was that they had been ſo prevented by their Enemies.

It is certain, that it is this enterprize that has preſerved the Catholick Religion in the Kingdom; for conſidering the ſtate things were in, the two Parties being equal, it was eaſie to ſee that that which could have the Kings Perſon on its ſide, would be looked upon as the Loyal Party, and that the others would be conſidered as Rebels. The King was not of an age to make choice himſelf of a Religon, and the Regent, who, according to all appearances, affected no one in particular, ſeemed fully determined to inſpire him with that which ſhould ſuit beſt with the deſign ſhe had of being always at the Helm.

The Prince of Conde was preparing to go to Fontainebleau with the Men he had about him, when he learnt that he was prevented. Then ſeeing that there were no more hopes for him, but in open force, and believing he ſhould ſtill be ſupported by the Queen, he ſeized on Orleans; and having thereby given a Signal to the Rebellion, all the beſt Cities of the Kingdom found themſelves almoſt at the ſame time in the hands of the Hugonots.

The Queen, who till then had countenanced them, ſeeing her ſelf in the power of the Catholicks, begun to act as if ſhe had always been an the intereſt of theſe laſt; and while ſhe wrote ſecret Letters to the Prince of Conde, wherein ſhe imputed to Guiſe all the misfortunes that had already happened to the Kingdom, and thoſe it was threatned with for the future: She treated the Hugonots in publick as Rebels; and took meaſures in Council to reduce them by force of Arms. Some days were ſpent in proclaiming Manifeſto's on both ſides, and in making Propoſitions for an accomodation, which could not fail of being abortive, becauſe neither of the two Parties had a mind to Peace.

The Prince of Conde pretended to prove by Letters from the Queen, that he had taken Arms by her Order, and that he only kept himſelf in that poſture to free the King and her out of the Captivity they were detained in by the Triumvirate. The King iſſued out Declarations wholly contrary, and wherein he aſſured that the Qeeen and himſelf were at full liberty.

But conſidering the Circumſtances the Queen was then under, the enterprizes of the Prince of Conde were of no uſe to her, and the iſſue of them could not be otherwiſe than a Civil War, that would be very fatal to both Parties. Wherefore ſhe cauſed ſeveral Propoſitions of Peace to be made him; and at length engaged him to declare by writing, That for the putting an end to the troubles which divided the Kingdom, he offered to leave it immediatly, upon condition that Guiſe, the Conſtable, and the Marſhal de St. Andre ſhould retire from Court.

This propoſition was accepted Guiſe and his two Friends departed the ſame day, teſtifying a great deal of Joy, in that France was pacified at ſo cheap a rate.

But the Prince could not be perſwaded to keep his word, having given it only becauſe he thought it would not have been accepted: All the Conferences were broken off, and their thoughts were wholly bent to War.

Guiſe, after having retaken Blois and Tours from the Hugonots, laid Siege to Bourges with fifteen thouſand Foot and three thouſand Horſe. The King and Queen were perſonally in the Army. Yvoy the Governour of the Town defended it courageouſly during five Weeks, and it would not have been eaſily taken, if he had not let himſelf be tempted by the promiſes of the Court.

From Bourges Guiſe went to Rouven, and having himſelf taken a view of the Place, he aſſured the King that he would take it by Aſſault in four and twenty hours time. But it was thought more covenient to ſpin out the Siege, that the Inhabitants might have time to recollect themſelves, and not expoſe to pillage ſo rich and populous a City.

But the Mount Saint Katherine, and the Suburbs of Saint Hillary having been taken, and yet the Beſieged not bating any thing of the inſolence, with which they made anſwer to the firſt Orders of the King; it was at length reſolved a general Aſſault ſhould be made.

He choſe a very hopeful young Man, called Saint Colombe, to begin the Attacque, and having permitted him to pick out fifty Men, he promiſed him he would follow very cloſely. Then having aſſembled all the Officers and Souldiers who were to mount to the Aſſault, amongſt whom was Caſtlenau, who gives all his Speech in his Book, he repreſented to them, That true Souldiers ought only to fight for Glory, and were not capable of ſaccaging a Town againſt their Sovereigns will, who was deſirous to preſerve it. Remember, ſaid he to them, that thoſe you are going to fight againſt will be no longer your Enemies, than while they are up in Arms. But as ſoon as they ſhall be rendered uncapable of defending themſelves, they will be your Brethren, and againſt whom it is with regret his Majeſty ſends you. And thereupon having made all thoſe who ſurrounded him, promiſe that the Town ſhould not be pillaged, he gave the Signal. The Beſieged made very little reſiſtance; and Guiſe his Souldiers ill remembring what they had promiſed their Leader, and no longer knowing the voice of their Officers, they plundered one of the richeſt Towns of the Kingdom, which it was impoſſible to hinder them from doing.

As Guiſe was going the next day to meet the Queen, who was coming to lodge in the City, he perceived afar off ſome Souldiers carrying a wounded Man upon a Chair; and being informed that it was Saint Colombe, who firſt mounted to the Aſſault: Ha! My dear Saint Colombe, ſaid he to him, how doſt thou do? I am going to dye, Sir, anſwered the wounded Perſon, but it will be without regret, provided you aſſure me that the King and you are ſatisfied with my Services. And how ſhould we be otherwiſe, replyed Guiſe? it is certain, that had it not been for you, the King would not yet have been Maſter of the Town; but think of being Cured, and aſſure your ſelf, you ſhall be ſatisfied with the Recompence that the King prepares for you, and that I ſhall look upon you as long as I live, as my Brother and Companion in War. Having ſaid theſe words, he left him with Tears in his Eyes, and Saint Colombe being dead the next day, Guiſe himſelf did aſſiſt at his Funeral, teſtifying and extream regret for his loſs, and was always ſpeaking of him with extream applauſe. He likewiſe made inquiry after all the Soldiers who had accompanied him, and took care to recompence them every one according to his Merit.

The Prince of Conde, deſigning to re-animate the hopes of his Party by ſome conſiderable enterprize, they being very much dejected at the taking of Rouen, led his Army to Paris. He imagined that it would be eaſie for him to take in that great Town, being it was without Fortifications, and full of a people that were eaſie to be terrified. But Guiſe going thither in all haſte, diſperſed their fears, as his Father had done twenty years before, when that Charles the Fifth had taken Chaſteau-Thierry; and during the eight days that the Army was at the Gates, the people did not for one moment interrupt their uſual employs: The Shops and Colledges were opened as was Cuſtomary, and the Courts of Juſtice as full of Advocates, as in a time of profound Peace.

The Prince having perceived the folly of his deſign, raiſed the Siege, and marched towards Normandy, where he hoped to receive the Money and Forces that were coming to him from England. He was followed by the Kings Army, which was lead by Guiſe and the Conſtable.

The Prince did not deſign to fight; but his Army having loſt one days March through his Major General's fault, the Conſtable overtook him near Dreux. He cauſed his Army and his Artillery to paſs over the little River of Eure by Moonlight, and with ſo great a ſilence, that the Enemies did not in the leaſt perceive it: Inſomuch that when they were going to continue their March the next day, they were much amazed to ſee the Royal Army poſted in the way through which they were to paſs.

The Conſtable had poſted himſelf between two Villages, having Blainville on the right, and Spinal on the left; and as he was very weak in Cavalry, he had diſpoſed it by little Squadrons amongſt the great Battalions of Infantry, which the Army was compoſed of. Thus joining to the Village of Blainville was the Spaniſh Infantry under cover of the Houſes, and the Trees of the Village: On the left ſide of it was Guiſe and la Broſſe his Lieutenant at the Head of the Companies of Ordnance; then were the old Troops of Piemont, and after them the Marſhal de Saint Andre, with four Cornets of Horſe.

Near the Marſhal de Saint Andre, ſtill drawing towards the left, you had the German Infantry, and at laſt the Squadron of Daumale and Damville, who compleated the Vanguard, before which was placed fourteen pieces of Cannon. Something farther in the Plain, however ſtill drawing towards Spinal, was the great Battalion of the Suiſſes, having on the left hand eight pieces of Cannon, and the Cavallery of the Conſtable, and of Brichanteau, then the Regiments of Brittany and of Picardy. Sanſac made up the Body of the Army, having the light Horſe, who reached from this Battalion to the Village of Spinal.

Guiſe would not take any Command that day, that he might not be obliged to obey the Conſtable, and ſaid that he took care only of his Company of Ordonnance, and ſome Volunteers that had joyned themſelves to him. But his Name Commanded for him in all Places where he came, and we may ſay that it was he who led the Vanguard.

The Princes Army was divided into two: There was in the Vanguard, led by the Admiral, five hundred French Horſe, ſix French Colours, and ſix German. The Body of the Army which was led by the Prince, was compoſed of ſix hundred French Lances, ſix Cornets of German Cavalry, ten Enſigns of Germans, twelve of French, and ſix Troops of light Horſe.

Dandelot, having been to diſcover the Royal Army, was not of Opinion a Battle ſhould be hazarded, and the Prince already cauſed his Men to March towards Treon, where he hoped to Intrench himſelf: But as he could not make this motion without laying his right Wing full open to his Enemy; the Conſtable having cauſed the fourteen pieces of Canon, we have mentioned, to be fired upon him, obliged him to come briskly to the Charge. The Body of the Conſtables Battalia was advanced into the Plain; for as there was not a ſufficient ſpace between the two Villages to contain all the Army, it advanced in the Form of a demicircle; and the right Wing that lay behind, and was hidden by the Trees and the Houſes of the Village of Blainville, did hardly appear at all. Thus the Prince, who was below Blainville, marching towards the Conſtable, thought he ſaw all the Army, and advanced in all haſte without taking notice what he left on one ſide of him. And the Admiral, who was yet further, turning about likewiſe at the ſame time, they both found themſelves directly oppoſite to the Body of the Conſtables Battalia. In the mean time the Prince, inſtead of falling upon the Cavalry, that was not ſo ſtrong as his, attacqued the Battalion of Suiſſes immediately. Mouy and Avaret having Attacqued the Front, pierced it through intirely, and made their way through to the very Baggage, which was plundered. Then the Prince took them in the Rear, and Damville being advanced to them with three Companies of Genſdarmes, he was ſo ſharply repulſed by the German Horſe, that he was obliged to retreat to the Vanguard, to rally his Men.

The Admiral on his ſide having Attacqued the Conſtables Cavalry, put it to the rout without much difficulty. The Regiments of Brittany and Picardy, were cut to pieces. Sanſac's Cavilry, being as it were ſeized with a panick fear, fell a running without making any reſiſtance; and ſeveral of them having galloped full ſpeed, as far as Paris, brought news thither of the Kings Army being defeated, and of the Hugonots having gained the Victory.

At length the Conſtable, being wounded with a Piſtol Bullet, and having had his Horſe killed under him, was taken Priſoner by the German Horſe. Daumale had his Arm broken in endeavouring to ſuccour him, and the Enemies made themſelves Maſters of the Artillery.

Guiſe ſaw all this without quitting his Poſt, raiſing himſelf up from time to time in his Stirrups to obſerve the Enemies. Damville was near him, and deſperate with having ſeen his Brother Montberon killed; and ſeeing that the Enemies were carrying his Father away Priſoner, would by all means have obliged Guiſe to have run after him, in order to his ſuccour.

But the violent Tranſports of this young Lord could not move him, and he only anſwered him with a great deal of ſweetneſs: My Son, we will be revenged, but it is not yet time.

At length, when he ſaw that the Enemies, by over purſuing a Victory they thought themſelves ſure of, had brought themſelves into a Condition of being infallibly conquered, and that they had loſt all their Ranks; he detachued a hundred and fifty Horſe under the Conduct of la Broſſe, to begin the Charge, and turning towards thoſe who followed him, Come, my Companions, ſaid he to them, the Battle is won. Then he cauſed the Vanguard to advance, marching himſelf at the head of them, with a boldneſs as ſeemed to anſwer for the Victory. La Broſſe having made the German Horſe ſomething give way, he himſelf put them perfectly to the Rout. He cut in pieces the German and French Infantry: it is in vain that the Admiral and the Prince do all they can to rally ſome Cavalry; they were hindred by eight hundred Harquebuſiers▪ whom Saint Andre had placed on purpoſe, and who fired continually. The Prince himſelf is taken Priſoner by Damville, as he was changing his Horſe; and the Admiral, after having returned furiouſly to the Charge, and put Guiſe ſeveral times in danger of his Life, was at length obliged to retreat to Neuville, and to leave his Enemy Maſter of the Field of Battle.

Though all the World agree that the ſucceſs of this Battle, which was of a very great Conſequence for the Kingdom, was due to Guiſe alone, they have however talked diverſly of his Conduct in this occaſion. He is reproached with not having Attacqued the Enemies ſoon enough, though he might have charged them in the Rear, and with having ſuffered the whole Army to be put to the rour, without ſtirring in the leaſt to its relief.

But beſides, that it was to be feared, that the Runaways coming to fall upon his Battalions, might have put them in diſorder, which would have happened, if he had moved ſooner than he did; I believe that in thoſe extraordinary occaſions, we muſt ſometimes judge of the Conduct of great Men by the Event.

Beſides, that ſtratagem of War is not without example, and it was practiſed a long time before, by Philopoemen, with as happy a ſucceſs. This great Captain, in a Battle he fought againſt Machanidas the Tyrant of the Lacedemonians, ſeeing all his Vanguard put to the rout, and the Enemies paſs hard by him, in purſuit of the Runaways, remained firm in his Poſt, and did not ſtir till he ſaw that his Enemy, after having entirely defeated the Vangu • rd, returned in diſorder, and were no longer in a Condition to oppoſe him.

Guiſe treated the Prince of Conde with all the humanity that can be expected from a generous Conquerour. Theſe two Generals, whoſe thoughts had for ſo long a time been taken up wholly with contriving how to ruine one another, ſupped together, and ſuſpended in that occaſion reſentments that were too lively to be ſo quickly forgotten.

As all the Baggage had been plundered, Guiſe, who had but one Bed left, offered it to the Prince, who accepted the half of it, fearing it would be either too great an Incivility, to receive entirely the offer that was made him, or too much haughtineſs to refuſe it.

In which I find that the moderation of the vanquiſhed merits no leſs praiſe than the Civility of the Conquerour: for as much as great Courages have mildneſs in proſperity; ſo much have they uſually Haughtineſs in their Misfortunes, ſome being deſirous to make appear that the favours of Fortune cannot elevate them, and others, that Diſgraces cannot deject them.

Guiſe has himſelf written, that eight thouſand were killed upon the place. He diſpatched Loſſes, Captain of the Guards, to the Queen, who immediatly confirmed to him the Charge of General, of which the Victory had already put him in poſſeſſion.

It was in that Quality that Damville had preſented the Prince of Conde to him, after having taken him: But Guiſe who was the moſt civil perſon of Quality of that Age, returned him again into his Hands on the morrow, telling him very agreeably, I reſtore you your Priſoner, take care to keep him; he may help you to pay my Lord the Conſtables ranſome.

Some days after he went to the Queen at Rambouillet, to whom he rendered a publick account of all that had paſſed in the Battle of Dreux. He enlarged extreamly in Commendations of the Conſtable, of the Marſhal de Saint Andre who was killed, and of all thoſe who had ſhown any valour in that occaſion. He even ſpoke very well of ſeveral Officers who had abandoned their Poſts, and who baſely run away; and he told his Friends, who ſeemed amazed at ſo much Generoſity, that it was not juſt to ruine people for a misfortune that had happened to them, and which, perhaps, would never happen again; and that his carriage towards them would perhaps oblige them to Correct themſelves, and ſhow more courage in the future.

Certainly we cannot ſufficiently admire this wiſe anſwer, when we conſider, that there is in War, as elſe-where, certain unluckly moments, wherein the greateſt Courages are not Maſters of themſelves; and are ſometimes hurried by unvoluntary motions, to actions they would willingly afterwards waſh away the memory of at the price of all their Blood: Witneſs what happened to Auſſin. This brave Captain, who had given in Italy ſo many Teſtimonies of his Valour, that it was become a Proverb; being at the Battle of Dreux, was taken, as well as others, with the panick fear that ſpread through the Conſtables Forces. But coming the next day to make reflection on what had happened to him, it put him into ſo great a deſpair, that he ſtarved himſelf to Death, notwithſtanding all the inſtances of Guiſe, and the principal Officers of the Army, who uſed all their efforts to oblige him to pardon himſelf.

After the Battle Guiſe went to lay Siege to Orleans. This Town was as the Fortreſs of the Hugonots; and he ſaid, that after having taken it, he would in a Months time bring them perfectly to reaſon, and render the Kingdom as peaceable as it had ever been.

However, whether that for ſecret Reaſons this Deſign was not pleaſing to the Queen, or that hazzard alone oppoſed his putting it in Execution, he was traverſed in at all manner of ways. The Gunpowder in the Arſenal of Paris having taken Fire, without being known how, conſumed in an inſtant all the Ammunitions of War deſigned for that Siege. Guiſe was forced to wait a long time for the Cannons he wanted to begin the Siege with, and when he was upon the point of making the firſt approaches, Caſtlenau arrived from Blois, to order him in the Queens Name, who was then there, to raiſe the Siege, and to go purſue the Admiral into Normandy, and give ſuccours to the Marſhal de Briſſac, who complained he had not Forces ſufficient to keep the Field.

All theſe diſappointments did not alter his Reſolution of taking the Town. He told Caſtlenau, that thé buſineſs in hand was of ſo great importance, as to deſerve ſome time to conſider of it: In the mean time that he would ſhow him his Infantry, which was the fineſt that had been yet ſeen in France; and having commanded him to follow him, he came to it within two hundred Paces of the Suburbs of Portereau, where they expected him without noiſe, according to the Orders they had received.

Caſtlenau, thinking he was carried to a Review, was much amazed to ſee Guiſe light off his Horſe, and cauſe four Culverins to advance, drawn by Pioneers, falling Pell-mell upon the Suburbs. The Culverins having over-turned the Gabions and Barrels the Enemies had covered themſelves with; he cauſed his Souldiers to march with Sword in Hand, who took the Suburbs after a very obſtinate Fight, and taking advantage of the Enemies diſorder, they had like to have entered the Town with them. During the heat of the Attacque, Guiſe told Caſtlenau, I am grieved the Marſhal de Briſſac is not here; I believe he would take delight to ſee the Performances of our Foot, and that he would find them much better employed in taking this Town, and in freeing the Conſtable, than in croſſing the Kingdom to run after the Admiral's Cavalry.

The River of Loire, which runs along the Walls of Orleans, ſeparates the City from the Suburbs of Portereau, and the Bridge which makes the Communication of the one with the other, is guarded by the Fort of Tourelles. Guiſe became Maſter of it in a few days, and the Town was ſo preſt, that it was impoſſible for it to hold out four and twenty hours longer, when there happened a Misfortune which changed the ſtate of things.

There was in the Camp a Gentleman called Poltrot, of a gloomy and cloſe humour, and having all the manners of Spain, where he had been brought up, but was reſolute beſides, and capable of the greateſt Crimes. He had let himſelf be perſwaded by Guiſes Enemies, that he could not render a greater piece of Service to the State, than by diſpatching Guiſe out of the World. This Man, by much thinking of this Deſign, which at firſt raiſed a horrour in him, and overcome with the continual Inſtances of thoſe who moved him to it, imagined that it would be really an Heroical action, and of the greateſt advantage to his Country. He came thereupon and offered himſelf to Guiſe, as having abandoned the Reformed Religion; and Guiſe having received him with a great deal of humanity, appointed him Quarters amongſt the Harbingers, and cauſed him to eat often at his Table.

This Traytor having waited a pretty while for a convenient opportunity to put his deſign in Execution, and knowing that Guiſe who had ſpent the day at Portereau, in giving Orders for the general Aſſault, was returning, being attended only by a Page and Triſtan Roſtain, who was mounted upon a Mule, he hid himſelf behind a Nut-Tree, near which Guiſe was to paſs, and having fired his Piſtols at him at five or ſixpaces diſtance, he ſhot three Bullets into his Shoulder, and gallopped away full ſpeed on a Spaniſh Horſe that he had bought for that purpoſe.

This accident put all the Army in a Conſternation; and the Queen came in all haſte to the Camp, ſeeming more grieved than, perhaps, ſhe really was.

The Murderer ſpent the Night in Gallopping up and down the Wood, whither he had made his eſcape: But whether the horrour of what he had done had diſturbed his mind, or that Heaven would not that ſo great a Crime ſhould remain unpuniſhed, it was impoſſible for this wretch to get from the place where he had committed it, and he was taken the next day, being ſo weary that he was not able to ſtir any longer.

The Queen cauſed him to be examined in her preſence; he declared that it was the Admiral who perſuaded him to kill the Duke of Guiſe; that at firſt he had found a repugnance to this action, and that having been once already in the Camp upon the ſame deſign, he had been touched with Repentance, and returned to Orleans, but that the Admiral and two Miniſters, of whom Beza was one, had ſo preſſed him, that he was not able to reſiſt their perſuaſions. But they cleared themſelves of this buſineſs by publick Writings, and perfect Demonſtrations, of their being no ways concerned in this Aſſaſſinate, and deſired likewiſe, that Poltrot might be kept ſo long till the Truth was found out. And though the Admiral confeſſed in his Letter to the Queen, that he could not be ſorry for an accident that freed the Reformed Religion from its greateſt Enemy, he proteſted, that he had never ſpoken to Poltrot, and that he did not ſo much as know his Face.

In the mean time, Guiſe finding his death approaching, prepared himſelf for it by all the actions of Piety that can be done by a Man under thoſe Circumſtances. I ſhall mention here ſome of his laſt Words, not ſuch as I have imagined them, as moſt Hiſtorians do, but as they have been written by the Biſhop of Ries, who aſſiſted him to his laſt gaſp, and who has Collected them in a Letter he Addreſſes to Charles the Ninth.

After having told the Queen, that he had no other regret in leaving the World, than to leave it in a time when the King and She might have ſome occaſion for his Service; He adviſed her to employ all things to make Peace; and that it was the only means of appeaſing the troubles that ſet France in a Cumbuſtion; that ſhe knew very well, that he had never given her any other Counſel; and that at the very time when he thought himſelf ſure of taking Orleans, it was his Advice, That new Propoſitions of accomodation ſhould be made to the Hugonots; and that in ſhort, all thoſe who Counſelled a War, were neither good French-men, nor good Servants to the King.

Then turning towards his Wife, who was all in Tears near his Bed, and having put her in mind of the Affection he had always had for her, he recommended to her the Education of their mutual Children, giving her an abſolute Power over them, and permitting her to retrench a third part of their ſhares who ſhould be diſobedient to her, to recompence thoſe ſhe ſhould be moſt ſatisfied with; praying God to puniſh her likewiſe, as ſhe would merrit it, in caſe ſhe had not for them the Sentiments that a good Mother ought to have. Farewell, ſaid he to her, graſping her Hand, I perceive I have but a ſhort time to ſee you: remember me without deſiring to revenge my Death, ſince that God Commands us to pardon our Enemies, and that I do pardon him who has ſo grievouſly aſſaſſinated me. Then cauſing the young Prince of Joinville, his Eldeſt Son, to come to him, My Son, ſaid he to him, you have heard what I have ſaid to your Mother: The Condition thou ſeeſt me in, will be to thee, as long as thou liveſt, a fine Inſtruction of the Vanity of the things of this World, as often as thou ſhalt remember, that a Great General, in the midſt of his Army, was not able to defend himſelf from the treachery of a ſimple Souldier. I do not ſay this out of Vanity, but to make thee comprehend the better, that what ſ • ems greateſt in the Eyes of men, is nothing before God, and perhaps deſtroyed in a moment. I have had great Offices, which I have always endeavoured to acquit my ſelf of, as I ought to do: Do you the ſame in thoſe it ſhall pleaſe the King and Queen to honour thee with; but above all, think rather of meriting them by thy Services, than of obtaining them by thy Cares, and by Intrigues, which are very often Criminal. My dear Child, have always the Fear of God, and Love of Vertue, before thy Eyes: but remember, that theſe Sentiments are only learnt and kept in the Commerce of good People; wherefore contract Friendſhip with ſuch Perſons as are Vertuous, and carefully avoid irregular Companies, which the Court is but too full of, and where the greateſt Crimes are excuſed under the Notion of Follies of Youth. God judges otherwiſe of them than men do, and there are no ſmall Crimes before him. I heartily beſeech him, that he would beſtow on thee the Grace to follow theſe Counſels: it is all that I wiſh thee, in giving thee my Benediction, and is what I am going to demand of him in Heaven, where I hope his Goodneſs will not diſdain to receive me.

Then looking upon all his Friends and his Brothers, who were weeping, he thanked them for their Cares, and deſired them not to grieve for his Death: and as they exclaimed againſt the blackneſs of that horrible Aſſaſſinate, I avow to you, ſaid he to them, that I am troubled at it for the Honour of France. I ſhould never have believed that it could have born Men capable of committing an Action that would raiſe a horrour in Barbarians. But God, from whom I expect Pardon for my Faults, commands us to pardon our Enemies: I heartily pardon them, and I take him to Witneſs the ſincerity of the intentions I have had all my Life time, for the good and repoſe of this Kingdom.

After that, he would hear no more talk of things of this World, and dyed at length, on the ſixth day after he had received his Wound, being hardly fifty years old.

He was ſenſibly regretted by all thoſe whom his Death was of no advantage to. The Souldiers deplored him as their Father; and they run through all the Camp, asking one another, where they ſhould find ſuch another General as they had newly loſt; who is it that would expoſe himſelf to dangers before them? And who would henceforward make inquiry for the wounded, and diſtribute to them Money with his own Hands? And, in ſhort, who would ſhelter them from the rigours and hardneſs of the Conſtable? The Catholicks ſaid, that they had loſt their Protectour, and looked upon his Death, as a Martyr, who had ſuffered for the defence of the Faith.

He left his Family incommoded and charged with Debts, which is perhaps as glorious to a Man who has had the chiefeſt Places and Offices of the Kingdom, as it is ſhameful for a private Perſon.

He had all the Qualities, which have ever made the greateſt Heroes; and if his Enemies have reproached him with any thing, he was not ſo much to be accuſed, as the Misfortune of the Age, and the diſorders which happened during his time.

He was a true Friend, a Quality pretty rare at Court: and having made the Fortune of a great number of Perſons, even thoſe who moſt decryed his Conduct, have been obliged to allow, that he never advanced any other than Perſons of a known and extraordinary Merit. He was exact, even to the doing all himſelf, when he was in War, going always in Perſon to view the Places he deſigned to Attacque, which he underſtood better than any Man of that Age. He wrote all his Diſpatches with hs own Hand, and he ſpent whole Nights ſometimes in ſo doing.

When he was wounded at Boulogne, his Life was deſpaired of, the Chyrurgions were obliged to ſet their Feet againſt his Head to draw out the piece of the Lance that ſtuck in it; and they feared that the violence of the pain would make him expire in their Hands. But he was the firſt to encourage them; and du Bellay ſays, that he ſuffered all that cruel Operation with the ſame Tranquillity, as if they had only pulled away a Hair.

His Civility and the ſweetneſs of his Carriage procured him the love of all People: He never ſaid any thing that any body could be offended at: and if ſome haſty Word eſcaped from him, he repaired it with an extraordinary care. He was told that a Gentleman, called Saint Val, complained that he had ſtruck him with his Sword on that day that the Battle of Renty was fought, becauſe he was too eager to engage the Enemies, and out-went his Ranks. He promiſed to give him ſatisfaction therein. And indeed, having met with him in the Kings Tent, he told him before all the Company, Mounſieur de Saint Val, you ought not to be diſpleaſed at my happening to ſtrike you with my Sword, ſince far from being diſadvantageous to you, it makes appear how much ardour you had to ſight the Enemies. I take all theſe Gentlemen here to Witneſs; and deſire of you that we may live Friends as before.

He was ſo brave, as never to be amazed at any thing; and from thence comes the preſence of mind which he preſerves in the greateſt dangers.

They once ſhewed him a Man who had ſeveral times boaſted that he would kill him. He looked ſquintingly upon him, and told thoſe who had ſhown him to him, That Man will never kill me; he is not worth the trouble of taking into Cuſtody.

After the Death of the King of Navarre, who was kill'd at the Siege of Rouen, it was the general apprehenſion, that the Kings Army would disband of it ſelf, being no longer commanded by a Prince of the Blood: And the Queen was told, that all the Officers talked of going to the Prince of Conde. No, no, Madam, ſaid Guiſe to her, be not affraid, the number of thoſe who ſhall quit your Army will be very ſmall; and beſides, they will be ſuch as that we ſhall gain by loſing them. Traytors do but hurt where they are; but if there be any here, I ſhall ſtick to them ſo cloſe, and have them ſo well watched, that they ſhall not dare ſo much as to make a Leaf tremble.

I cannot forbear adding one word more, which will help extreamly to make known the Character of his mind and his humour. Some Company talking one day of the Troubles that begun to be a brooding in France, after the Death of Henry the Second, Montluc, quick and boiling, like a Gaſcon as he was, ſaid, That there was no other cauſes of theſe ills, than the Ambition of the King of Navarre, who envy'd the great Actions of Guiſe, and complain'd every where that he had uſurped over him the Government of the State. He had diſcourſed thereof to me, continued Montluc, Whereupon I made him anſwer, That if he had ſuch great pretenſions, you ought each of you, ſome fair Morning, to examin them with a good Sword, and that I was ſure you would make good my Words. Guiſe, who eaſily foreſaw the Conſequences that ſuch a Diſcourſe might have, anſwered him very coldly, Montluc, have you an Order ſigned from the King of Navarre, to talk to me after this manner? And Montluc replying, that he had not, and that he had framed all this himſelf; You think, ſaid he to him, that you are ſtill in Piemont, diverting your ſelf, in ſeeing your Souldiers fight againſt one another; learn a little, that the King of Navarre and I am not born to exerciſe your Imaginations. I do not believe that I have any thing to diſpute with him, or that he does complain of me. When he lets me hear from him, he ſhall hear from me. We have long known one another.

All the learned Men of his time ſtrove to make Epitaphs on him, which are ſtill in being. But if it is a great honour to be commended by a Man who himſelf merits the higheſt Applauſes, we may ſay that nothing is more glorious to the memory of Guiſe, than the Verſes which have been made of him by the Illuſtrious Chancellour of the Hoſpital.

His Virtue was as much admired by Strangers, as by French-men: The Italians, and the Spaniards themſelves, who cannot be reproached with Commending others to exceſs, call'd him The Great Duke of Guiſe; and at the interview of Bayonne, which was two years after his Death, they ſeemed extream earneſt to ſee his Widow, and the Prince of Joinville his Son, never calling them otherwiſe than la muger y el hijo d'aquel gran Ducque di Guiſa.

His Body was carried to the Chartreux, and from then to Noſtre Dame, where the Funeral Rites were very Magnificent, before they carried him to Joinville, where he was buried. The wretched Poltrot had the ſame puniſhment inflicted on him, as thoſe have who have made attemps upon the ſacred Perſons of our Kings. But this was not the leaſt vengeance that was taken of this Crime, and we may ſay, that never any one Mans Death has ſet ſo much blood a flowing, nor drawn after it ſo great a number of Illuſtrious Victimes.