Good newes from Fraunce.
A true Discourse of the winning of sundry cheefe Townes, Castles, and holdes in Fraunce, which are now in the obedience of the French King.
With the great Victorie which his Maiestie hath had in sundry late Battels, Skirmishes, and pursuites made vpon the enemy at Mouncounter in Brittanie, and else where, since the winning of Chartres, which was in Aprill last.
Together with the defeating, drowning, and taking of much victuaile, corne, and mony sent by the Enemy to the Cittie of Paris.
Published by Authoritie.
AT LONDON Printed for Thomas Nelson, and are to be solde by William Wright.
To the Curteous Reader.
WHo so beholdeth and considereth the present estate of the French King, may easily see and perceiue how vnspeakable and of what power the woorkes of God are, in the defence of those that put their trust in him: he still preserueth this good King from danger, he giueth him strength being weake to ouercome those that are the mightye enemies of his trueth.
It cannot be otherwise saide, but that the God of heauen dooth aide and assist his Maiestie, that beateth downe his enemies in the high way, that daunteth them with feare, and giueth him a magnanimious [Page] minde against them: Terror and maiestie sitteth in the forehead of this christian King, and the Creator of all creatures preserueth him as the apple of his eye: if then it cannot be denied but that euen in all his honourable and Princely actions against the rebellious and wilfull people of that nation (who are risen vp in great multitudes and armies against him) the God of heauen goeth foorth before him, and as it were with a Clubbe striketh downe that wicked and rebellious rout, to the amazement and terrour of the whole worlde: how dare they then resist him and repugne him of his right? naye how dare they attempt to take armes against God and their lawfull Soueraigne? not fearing that God, yea that God whose power is vnspeakable, whose terrour in the defence of his trueth is as a burning Swoord, and whose right hand woorketh their destruction.
O peruerse rabble of traiterous subiects, O blinde and wilfull in all wickednes and
A true discourse of all such things as hath happened in Fraunce, since the yeelding vppe of Chartres vnto his Maiestie.
Faithfully translated out of French.
THE Kings Maiestie, hauing entred into ye Town of Chartres, vpon the 19. day of Aprill last,His Ma. departure frō Chartres after hee had beene most roially receiued into the same. (according to the Romane Computation,) and beeing receiued with great triumph into the same, and all thinges performed vnto his Maiestie, according to certaine Articles already published, [Page] his Maiestie béeing accompanied with a great troupe of Horsemen,The Duke de Maine flyeth, and retyreth towardes Rheims. went towardes the Castell of Thiery, purposing to rayse the siedge which the Duke De Mayne had layde against it. But the Duke, contrary to his Maiesties expectation, durst not be so bolde as to stay there, but gotte from thence by flight, although contrary to the promise of the Gouernour, the saide Castell Thiery was surrendred to the enemies vse, wheras the said Gouernour had promised to hold it one Moneth longer, vntill the comming of hys Maiestie.
Neuerthelesse, his Maiestie left not to pursue the Duke De Mayne, who was retyred towards Rheimes, meaning there to stay himselfe for a space: but by reason of the brute which was noysed all ouer the Countrey, that the Duke had deuided his Armie into sundry parts, and that they shoulde continue in that sorte for certaine dayes,The Castle of Dowsery and of Clay yeelded. was the onely cause that the Kings Maiestie staied three dayes at Senlis, to the end that in the meane while, the Castell of Dousery and Claye lying neere to Aumartin, where the Enemies kept some Souldiours, might be taken, which was speedily doone: whereupon his Maiestie in the pursute,Tremblay yeelded. commaunded the Towne of Tremblay by Montfort to yeelde to his obedience, which they did, which Towne is a great hurt, to the passage.
Meanewhiles Mounsier, the Duke Despernon, and the Lords Deo and Vicq. vnderstanding of a great number of Boates passing the Riuer, which were of the bignesse of Lighters, and that they were going downe towards Parris, laden with Corne and other commodities, which came from the saide Castell of Thiery, Certaine boates laden from ye Castle of Thiery, with wheat and money willingly drowned to hinder the enemie. they omitted no time, but with force sette forward with great dilligence to ouertake them: which hauing speedily doone, they presently drowned foureteene or fifteene of the greatest of them, with all the prouision in the same: and aswell drowned all their cheefe prouision of Wheate, as also prouision of money, which was carried in the same Boates, so that there escaped but a fewe small Boates,Some small boates escaped. which with some small prouision of Corne, saued themselues by flight.
The Kings Maiestie departed from his Armie to Auneau & Macheuiuille, Auneau & Macheuiuille yelded. which Townes are also reduced vnder hys Maiesties obedience, and shortly after, the Kings Armie remooued to Dourdan, Durdon entered by force. which Towne they immediatly entred by force, wherein was founde great store of victuals, which were gathered, and intended also to be conueied to Parris.
Thus the Kings Maiesties power hauing cutte them off, and defeated the Enemie of great [Page] store of victuals, the Marshall Biron gaue aduise to the Kinges Maiestie, for the speedy taking of the Castell: howbeit it was very strong, but being obtained, it is the onely meane to depryue them of Parris, of all manner of commodities and succour whatsoeuer.
The inhabitants of Parris, Paris depriued of all passage for prouision or victuals. are now striken into a great feare by reason of the losse of Chartres, and also by finding themselues depriued of victuals, money, Munition, and all other warlike prouisions for theyr strength and succour, as hath béene lately séene by sundry Letters intercepted, from the Bishop of Pleasance, and Mounsier Belin, who is the chiefe Commaunder or Ruler in the said Cittie of Parris.
Nowe hys Maiestie lying at Senlis, came from thence to Crespij in Valloyes, from whence the next day he departed earely in the morning, intending to goe and charge vpon some troupes, of whom his Maiestie had secrete intelligence, and that they were to be lodged in eyght or tenne Villages, betweene La fere and the Castell Thiery, The Castle Thiery very stronge. which in troth was the greatest part of Horsmen that the Enemie had.
Notwithstanding this his Maiesties verie suddaine, secrete, and speedy departure towards them, yet by that time hee had passed but fyue [Page] myles, hys Highnesse heard, that the brute of hys cōming was already blazed among those troupes of Horsemen,The Leagars flyeth through the Riuer of Marne. whereby in the euening and night before, they fledde and were passed beyonde the Riuer of Marne, and that with such great feare, as if his Maiesties forces had come thether in tyme, the most part of them had been taken and slaine.
Héereupon hys Maiestie returned to Crespij, and from thence on the first of May last, to Campaigne, béeing resolued to passe to Chauny, entending then to take the Castels of Manican and Genlis, and for the better effecting of hys Maiesties purpose therein, two great Cannons and diuers other Ordinaunce was brought frō Campaigne, which those that were in Manican did not attend but sled, and left the place before his Maiestie was there arriued.
The King vppon the fourth day of this moneth,,Ordinance brought before Genlis. made a viewe of the sayde Genlis and caused the sayde Ordenance and Munition to be brought thether, with other that came from Saint Quintaines, to the ende, to make short worke therof: but thereuppon the sayde place of Genlis was immediatly yeelded to his Maiestie.
Soone after it pleased God, that an other good happe fortuned to his Maiestie, in thys his pursute [Page] and iourney:The succes of the Duke de Maine to his Troupes of Almaines for the Duke de Maine hauing sent into those quarters, the regiment of the Almaines, which last came vnto him, beeing nyne Ensignes, onely to bee placed in some Townes, which traytorously held with the Leagors, against his Maiestie: who Marching to Coussy, had the Gates of the Towne kept fast against them, by meanes of which resistaunce at the gates of Coussy, (wher they supposed to be receiued)The succes which commonly followeth Traytors. together with the brute of his Maiesties comming towards them, they suddainly retyred, and beeing greatly terrified, they ranne fiercely into the Forrest, hoping thereby to saue themselues.
At which tyme some few Souldiours, mounted on horsebacke, béeing fifty in number,The Garrison of Sant Goubin. belonging to the Garrison of Saint Goubin, onely conducted by a Sargeant, who in the Forrest marching with about foure score boores of the Countrey, hearing of the arriuall of the Kings Maiestie, were greatly encouraged, and began to pursue them, and immediatly set vpon them, crying: Ʋiue le Roy, A straunge and vnlooked for victorie. God saue the King. Whereuppon these Almaynes were wonderously amazed, and supposing that his Maiestie had béene there personally present, they fled immediatly, without offering any resistance: wherupon this small company, little thinking of any such good successe, did with great courage pursue them: by meanes [Page] of which pursute, they were all discomfited, slaine, and taken, and their Collonell slayne also,Seauen companies of Almaines slayne. onely two Ensignes of those nine Companies were besides saued in La Fere, with some fiftie or three score men, who were weaponlesse and vnarmed, which they had flung away, the better to saue themselues by flight. Thus were these companies discomfited, and the Countrey well purged of them, so that his Maiestie founde his desire sufficiently effected, without putting his hand thereunto.
Not many dayes before, the sayd Garrison of Saint Goubin, had discomfited two or thrée Regiments of the Leagors,Three Regiments of the League taken and slayne. which were gone out of their Garrisons, to goe to the Duke de Maine, and put many of them to the sworde.
About thrée dayes after, Mounsier Humiers knowing that the companie of horsemen of Mountcaure had assembled in a Burroughe or village there about, hee departed with a power from Corbeylle, intending to sette vpon them, and hauing by chaunce founde by the way, the company of the horsemen of Dour Lay, A company of horsemē slayne. hee by a fierce assault, hadde soone discomfited, hauing slaine many of them and taken the moste parte of the rest, by meanes whereof few or none of them escaped: neuerthelesse, he ceased not to prosecute his former purpose and intent, which fell out so [Page] happily, that hee had soone surprysed all the sayde companie of Mountcaure, A company at Mountcaure discomfited. in the Burrough, where the most part of them were at play, guarded with a small watch, little thinking of that which in a moment came to passe.
Thys good successe made his Maiestie not little ioyfull, who giuing heartie thankes to God for the same, was determined to staie with hys Armie so little as hee might: hoping neuerthelesse, to reape yet some greater benefite of this his iourney.
In Brittanie the enimies had taken the Towne of Moncounter, Moncounter taken. but the Castle helde out, attending, the succour which was ready: for Mounsier de la Tremblay, Commander of that place, who being gone about some exployt, fiftéen Leagues from thence, had speedie intelligence that his place was taken, and therefore resolued to enter the Castle with fortie light horsemen, whome he caused to goe one foote, aboute a quarter of a myle from the sayde Moncounter, A good fore-sight. because no men could issue into the sayde Castle but with Ladders,A great slaughter happened among his Maiesties enemies. whereinto he entered by force, and suddainly slewe two watches, making sithence two or thrée issues for assault: by meanes whereof, there hath happened a great slaughter vppon his Maiesties enimies.
Many of the Nobilitie beeing then at Rennis, were resolued to take horse and to commaund all the Garrisons thereabout to goe straight to the said Towne of Moncounter, Mounsier the Prince Dumbis absent at the taking of Mouncounter. and to make what resistaunce they might, and the rather for that they sawe Mounsier the Prince Dumbes was at that time ridden foorth about fiftéene or eightéene myles from that said town of Rennis, mustered vp imediatlye so many as they might procure vpon the suddaine, which was a hundreth and fiftie Horsemen, well appointed, and two hundreth footemen: who beeing well furnished with harquebuzzers, were foorthwith sent about two forlonges from the saide Moncounter, Power sent from Rennis and other places. to the intent onely to ioyne with the like company of Souldiours, who came from another towne being sent for the same purpose.
In the meane while, Mounsier de S. Laurent, chéefe Marshall of the armie and troupes, appertaining to the Duke of Mercurie, who was gon into the said Town of Mouncounter, The number of horsse and foot which had entred Mouncounter. with thrée hundreth Horsemen well appointed, togither with a thousand Harquebuzzers being immediatly aduertised of the comming of his Maiestie with his royall troupes attending his person, and séeing the minstring vp of men [...] euerye side to make resistance, he resolued to leaue the same towne, supposing it better to departe thence, then to enioye the same as it might fall out to his greater damage: And forasmuch as he [...]ew the Kings maiestie polliticke and wi [...]e, and [...]e [...]ing he would haue found meanes at his comming thither, either to haue fumished them in time, [...]to haue entred the walles by force, he departe [...] [...] Mouncounter abou [...] eleuen [Page] of the clock in the euening,Their departure frō thence by night to Londiace. hauing with him two hundreth Horsemen, and six hundreth harquebuzzers, and taking then the aduantage to trauell in the night, he came to Londiac, by six of the clocke on the next morning, where his Maiestie with his armie laye, who hauing intelligence of his comming, delayed no time, but immediatly went into the Feelde to battell.
The enemy perceiuing that the King was imediatly bent to bid him battaile, and that his Maiestie at his comming thither, had sent some of his troupes into the feelde for that purpose, he left his Harquebuzzers before the trench of the town, thinking thereby to force the Barricados or trenche to yeelde themselues, which they would not doo.
Whervpon the enemye aduaunced themselues and marched into the feelde, setting themselues in battell raye, and deuided his Horsemen and Harquebuzzars into two troupes or companies: on the one troupe there was fiftie Horsemen, and on the other cheefe troupe there was two hundreth Horse men, besides other troupes which was on the enemies side.
On the Kings side, there were not in the Féelde of battell, aboue sixe score horsemen, whereof there were also made two troupes,The battell at Londiace where his maiestie had the victorie. the one troupe had but thirtie Horsemen, and the other head troup had fourescore and ten: The footmen of either parte being set in battell raye (the Kinges Maiestie being then personally present) after that his Maiestie had desired aide of the God of heauen in whome only he put his trust, and hauing cheered vp his Sould [...] ours to fight in the behalfe of his Majesties [...]ighte [Page] both the armies ioyned aswell Horsemen as footemen, in the ende whereof the enemye hauing made very small resistance, was by the wonderfull prouidence of God, suddenly stricken with a great feare, insomuch as they might scarse staye any longer: which his Maiesties Souldiours and leaders perceiuing, gaue them such a hotte charge,The flying and pursuit of the enemy. that they turned their backs and fled: Wherevpon his maiesties power pursued them two miles from Londiac, where the enemie staied with those Horsemen that escaped in a Towne or hold, helde by their fauourers, hauing lost many footemen, beside fiftie Horsemen slaine, as manye more taken prisoners, and sundry other that were sore hurt.
The footemen that were scattered and dispearced in multitudes, seeing their horsemen fled, slaine, or taken prisoners: sought to saue themselues by flight, who so speedily as they might ranne into the woods which were neere at hand, and there hid themselues.
This newes came to Mouncounter The enemy flieth from Mouncounter. which was spéedily blazed throughout all the enemies troups, by meanes wherof there arose such a generall feare among them, that they retired from Mouncounter with all possible speed, leauing the Town frée from any strength of the enemy.
But the saide Mounsier de la Tremblaye béeing in the Castle, and séeing how wonderfullye it had pleased God to bring these thinges to passe for the ease and quietnes of his Maiestie, and for the ouerthrowe of his enemies, he with his company issued [Page] foorth of the Castle, and séeing them gone out of Mouncounter, The enemy by flight was pursued and all of them slaine. he with his forces made a greater charge vpon the enemy then was at the firste, and followed them imediatly, when setting vpon them with great courage, they were all in generall slain and taken Prisoners, by meanes whereof they got both bagge and baggage from the Leagars.
Sithence that time my saide Lord the Prince of Dumbes being departed towards Quimparcorentem in Lowe Brittainie Other garrisons of the enemy slaine. the Garrisons of the enemye would haue charged vpon some of his troupes that went foorth of the saide Towne: but hauing béene preuented by good foresight, the saide Garrisons were ouerthrowne by the said Lord Prince of Dumbes, who lost not one man in the saide ouerthrowe of the enemy.
There was slaine on the enemies side three Captaines of name,Some slaine other taken prisoners. who were of great estimation and chéefe account among the Leaguers: there was also seauen Gentlemen taken prisoners, who are yet liuing: Neuertheles all the rest were followed in chase, and vpon the pursuite were all put to the Swoord.
THus may you sée how the Lord dayly fighteth for his Maiestie, how he saueth the godly and destroieth the wicked, how the King prospereth while his enemies perisheth, how contrarye to mans expectation the King in shew being weakest, is found in the ende to be the strongest: and that which his enemies for a while by force holdeth frō him, they are by ye outstretched arme of God compelled [Page] in the end to render vnto him. O vnspeakable blessing and heauenlye comfort, a comfort farre excelling all earthly comforts: which appertaineth to none but to the faithfull beleeuers, seruants and followers of Christ Iesus.
And although the cheefest Citties appertaining to his Maiestie haue béene for a while by force detained from him, as Paris, Roan, and such like: yet there is no doubt but that God in the end, yea and that speedily wil compell them either to deliuer the same to his Maiestie, or else by famine, to weaue the web of their own confusion.
And now to you I doo addresse my pen O ye disloyall subiects of Fraunce, that contend, rebell and resist against your lawfull soueraigne: when it is bye time for you to be better aduised. Sée you not your perrill, or rather is it so deepe as hell, which though you cannot thorowly measure it, yet maye you iustly feare it: remember your selues betimes and know that your disturbance of the state is like to be the ouerthrow of the state, without almightie God doo woork your spéedyer conuersion: eche man séeeth the horrour of your fact, and yet your selues cannot or at least will not behold the same: come out of darkenes if you loue your owne welfare, open your eyes that you maye see your owne misdemeanours, and humble your selues vnto his Maiestie: yea I admonishe you for the honor of God, for the quietnes of the Realme, for the safety of your selues, your liues, possessions, wiues and children, yea and for the preseruation of your own soules from euerlasting death: that you withdraw your selues from disloyall dealing against your soueraigne, [Page] your taking armes against his maiestie, is an act most detestable, yea your fact is odious and not pardonable: and yet knowe your King is gratious, he is mercifull, naye readier to conceiue well of you, then he is to condemne you: if [...]e you would leaue following of your vngodlye leaders, that haue by wicked perswasion incensed you to this disloialty You take arme against your King, and are parties with Arch-traitors, who to discredit the title of his Maiestie, haue drawne false pedigrées, to cullour their treason, shewing by great falsshood, that the house of the Guize in whose behalfe you fight is the next and right heire to the inheritance of the diadem of Fraunce: which how far they are from trueth, let the Princes and chéefe peeres examine and iudge without affection, then shall trueth ouerthrowe your traiterous perswaders, and you the most forwardest that now standeth in the defence therof, shall sée manifest proofe, that none but Henry of Burbone is your lawfull King, and whom you ought dayly to pray for, and dutifully to obeye.
The God of heauen prosper and blesse his Maiestie, graunt vnto him victorie still ouer his enemies, that either his Subiectes may with speede be reconciled to obedience, or else that they may be speedily confounded in thir wilfull stubbornnes.
Amen.